A Dark Vector Cognition product

Item 1A. Risk Factors

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Item 1A. Risk Factors

Our operations and financial results are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described in the “Risk Factors” sections in our Annual Report, that could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, liquidity, revenue, growth, prospects, demand, reputation, and the trading price of our common stock, and make an investment in us speculative or risky. We have updated below five of the risk factors in our Annual Report. The “Risk Factors” section in our Annual Report otherwise remains current in all material respects. The risk factors described in our Annual Report and this Quarterly Report do not include all of the risks that we face, and there may be additional risks or uncertainties that are currently unknown or not believed to be material that occur or become material.

We have experienced varied operating results, and our operating results for any particular fiscal period are affected by the timing of revenue recognition, particularly for our emulation and prototyping hardware, IP and certain software products.

Historical results of operations should not be viewed as reliable indicators of our future performance. Various factors affect our operating results, and some of them are not within our control. Our operating results for any period are affected by the mix of products and services sold in a given period and the timing of revenue recognition, particularly for our emulation and prototyping hardware, IP products and certain software licenses where revenue is recognized at a point in time rather than over time. In addition, we have recorded net losses in the past and may record net losses in the future. Also, our cash flows from operating activities have and will continue to fluctuate due to a number of factors, including the timing of our billings, collections, disbursements and tax payments.

A substantial portion of the product revenue related to our hardware business and our IP offerings is recognized upon delivery, and our forecasted revenue results are based, in part, on our expectations of hardware and IP to be delivered in a particular quarter. Therefore, changes in hardware and IP bookings or deliveries relative to expectations will have a more immediate impact on our revenue than changes in software or services bookings, for which revenue is generally recognized over time.

As we continue to expand our IP offerings, a portion of the revenue related to our IP bookings will be deferred until we complete and deliver the licensed IP to our customers. As a result, costs related to the research and development of IP may be incurred prior to the recognition of the related revenue.

Revenue related to our hardware and IP products is inherently difficult to predict because sales of our hardware and IP products depend on the commencement of new projects for the design and development of complex ICs and systems by our customers, our customers’ willingness to expend capital to deploy our new and existing hardware or IP products in those projects and the availability of our new and existing hardware or IP products for delivery. Therefore, our hardware or IP sales may be delayed or may decrease if our customers delay or cancel projects because their spending is constrained or if there are problems or delays with the supply, delivery or installation of our hardware or IP products or our hardware suppliers. Moreover, the market environment for hardware and IP is highly competitive, and our customers may choose to purchase a competitor’s hardware or IP product based on cost, performance or other factors. These factors may result in lower revenue, which would have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and cash flows.

A substantial portion of our software licenses yield revenue recognized over time, which may make it difficult for us to rapidly increase our revenue in future fiscal periods and means that a decrease in orders in a given period would negatively affect our revenue in future periods.

We plan our operating expenses based on forecasted revenue, expected business needs and other factors such as inflation. These expenses and the effect of long-term commitments are relatively fixed in the short term. Bookings and the related revenue are harder to forecast in a difficult economic environment. If we experience a shortfall in bookings, our operating results could differ from our expectations because we may not be able to quickly reduce our expenses in response to short-term business changes. Our operating expenses are also impacted by economic conditions, such as inflation. Unexpected increases in inflation could cause our expenses to increase at a rate faster than our product pricing to recover such increases.

The methods, estimates and judgments that we use in applying our accounting policies have a significant impact on our results of operations (see “Critical Accounting Estimates” under Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report). Such methods, estimates and judgments are subject to substantial risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and factors may arise over time that may lead us to change our methods, estimates and judgments. Changes in those methods, estimates and judgments could significantly affect our results of operations.

As we continue to acquire and invest in companies or technologies, we may not realize the expected business or financial benefits and these acquisitions could prove difficult to integrate, disrupt our business, dilute stockholder value and adversely affect our operating results and the market value of our common stock.

As part of our business strategy, we invest in, and acquire complementary businesses, joint ventures, services and technologies and IP rights, some of which may be material to our financial condition and operating results. We continue to engage in investments and acquisitions and evaluate such opportunities and expect to continue to make such investments and acquisitions in the future. There can be no guarantee that we will be able to find and identify desirable investment or acquisition targets, and we may not be successful in entering into an agreement with any particular target.

Acquisitions and other transactions, arrangements and investments involve numerous risks and potential operating difficulties and expenditures, including:

  • the failure to realize, or a delay in realizing, anticipated benefits or synergies, including as a result of any conditions placed upon approvals from governmental authorities;

  • the failure to complete transactions on a timely basis or at all, including due to a failure to obtain required approvals on a timely basis, or at all, from governmental authorities;

  • potential identified or unknown security vulnerabilities in acquired companies, technologies or products that expose us to additional security risks or delay our ability to integrate them into our organization and offerings;

  • brand or reputational harm;

  • in the case of acquisitions with large greenhouse gas emissions, the failure or perceived failure to achieve our publicly disclosed greenhouse gas emissions reduction target;

  • the failure to understand, compete and operate effectively in markets where we have limited experience or where competitors may have stronger market positions;

  • the failure to integrate, combine or manage acquired products, infrastructure, technologies and businesses effectively or to obtain customer acceptance of multiple platforms on a temporary or permanent basis;

  • difficulties in integrating and assimilating acquired employees, which may lead to retention risk with respect to both acquired and existing employees;

  • the need to integrate operations across different cultures and languages and to address the particular economic, currency, political and regulatory risks associated with specific countries;

  • diversion of financial resources and management’s attention from day-to-day business;

  • overlapping customers and product sets that impact our ability to maintain revenue at historical rates;

  • unanticipated costs or assumed liabilities, including those related to an acquired company's disclosure controls and procedures, internal control over financial reporting, cybersecurity, taxes and other compliance programs, whether discovered during due diligence or thereafter;

  • contingent payments in connection with acquisitions in the future where we may be required to make certain contingent payments without deriving the value we expect to derive from an acquisition in excess of such payments or at all;

  • unwillingness of customers, suppliers or other business partners of an acquired business to continue licensing or do business with us, or delays in such activities;

  • difficulties managing any strategic investment or collaboration that we do not control or for which we do not have sole decision-making authority;

  • impairment charges or other adverse accounting outcomes related to acquisitions or strategic investments;

  • the failure or cessation of operations by entities in which we made strategic investments or collaboration agreements;

  • the loss of some or all of the value of our investment;

  • additional stock-based compensation issued or assumed in connection with the acquisition, including the impact on stockholder dilution and our results of operations; and

  • the tax effects of any such acquisitions including related integration and business operation changes, and assessment of the impact on the realizability of our future tax assets or liabilities

Any of these risks could harm our business or negatively impact our results of operations. In addition, to facilitate acquisitions or investments, we may seek additional equity or debt financing, which may not be available on terms favorable to us or at all, which may affect our ability to complete subsequent acquisitions or investments, and which may affect the risks of owning our common stock. For example, we have and may in the future finance acquisitions or investments by issuing equity or convertible securities, or use such securities as consideration, which have and may in the future cause our existing stockholders may be diluted. We also have and may in the future finance acquisitions or investments through debt financing, and we may face constraints related to the terms (including restrictive covenants) of, and repayment obligation related to, the incurrence of indebtedness. Acquisitions or investments may also require the expenditure of substantial cash resources. These arrangements may impact our liquidity, financial position and results of operations or increase dilution of our stockholders’ equity interests in the company, all of which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock. Acquisitions are also often dilutive to margins and earnings, at least initially. In addition, in certain cases we may be required to consolidate one or more of our strategic investee's financial results into ours. Fluctuations in any such investee's financial results, due to general market conditions, bank failures or otherwise, could negatively affect our consolidated financial condition, results of operations, cash flows or the price of our common stock.

Our ability to acquire other businesses or technologies, make strategic investments or integrate acquired businesses effectively may be impaired by trade tensions and increased global scrutiny of foreign investments and acquisitions and investments in the technology sector. The United States and several other countries have adopted, or are considering adopting, restrictions on transactions involving foreign investments. Antitrust authorities in the United States and a number of countries have also reviewed acquisitions and investments in the technology industry with increased scrutiny. Governments may continue to adopt or tighten restrictions of this nature, some of which may apply to acquisitions, investments or integrations of businesses by us, and such restrictions or government actions could negatively impact our business and financial results.

Our debt obligations expose us to risks that could adversely affect our business, operating results or financial condition, and could prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under such indebtedness.

We have significant outstanding indebtedness, as well as the ability to access additional borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Subject to the limits contained in the credit agreement governing our revolving credit facility, the indenture that governs the 4.375% Senior Notes due October 15, 2024 (the “2024 Notes”), the loan agreement governing our senior non-amortizing term loan facility due September 7, 2025 (the “2025 Term Loan”), the loan agreement governing our senior non-amortizing term loan facility due May 30, 2026 (the “2026 Term Loan”) and our other debt instruments, we may be able to incur substantial additional debt from time to time to finance working capital, capital expenditures, investments or acquisitions, share repurchases or for other purposes. If we do so, the risks related to our level of debt could intensify. As of June 30, 2024, both our 2024 Notes and 2025 Term Loan will mature in the next 15 months, which could require us to consume a significant portion of our liquidity or raise additional financing in adverse capital markets conditions.

Specifically, our level of debt could have important consequences, including the following:

  • making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations to service our debt as described above;

  • limiting our ability to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other general corporate requirements;

  • requiring a substantial portion of our cash flows (including U.S. cash) to be dedicated to debt service payments instead of other purposes, thereby reducing the amount of cash flows available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes and potentially requiring repatriation of cash from outside the U.S.;

  • increasing our vulnerability to adverse economic and industry conditions;

  • exposing us to the risk of increased interest rates as certain of our borrowings are at variable rates of interest;

  • limiting our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in the industry in which we compete;

  • placing us at a disadvantage compared to other, less leveraged competitors and competitors that have greater access to capital resources;

  • limiting our interest deductions for U.S. income tax purposes; and

  • increasing our cost of borrowing.

In addition, if we incur any additional indebtedness that ranks equally with the 2024 Notes, then subject to any collateral arrangements we may enter into, the holders of that debt will be entitled to share ratably in any proceeds distributed in connection with any insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or other winding up of our company.

The terms of our debt agreements restrict our current and future operations, particularly our ability to respond to changes or to take certain actions.

The agreements governing our revolving credit facility, 2025 Term Loan, 2026 Term Loan and 2024 Notes contain a number of restrictive covenants that impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us and may limit our ability to engage in acts that may be in our long-term best interest, including restrictions on our ability to incur liens or additional indebtedness and guarantee indebtedness, enter into transactions with affiliates, alter the businesses we conduct, consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets and to enter into sale and leaseback transactions. In addition, the restrictive covenants in the agreements governing our revolving credit facility, 2025 Term Loan and 2026 Term Loan require us to maintain specified financial ratios. Our ability to meet those financial ratios can be affected by events beyond our control, and we may be unable to meet them.

A breach of the covenants or restrictions under the agreements governing our revolving credit facility, 2025 Term Loan, 2026 Term Loan and 2024 Notes could result in an event of default under the applicable indebtedness. Such a default may allow the creditors to accelerate the related debt and may result in the acceleration of any other debt to which a cross-acceleration or cross-default provision applies. In addition, an event of default under the credit agreement governing our revolving credit facility would permit the lenders under our revolving credit facility to terminate all commitments to extend further credit. In the event our lenders or note holders accelerate the repayment of our borrowings, we may not have sufficient assets to repay that indebtedness.

As a result of these restrictions, we may be limited in how we conduct our business, unable to raise additional debt or equity financing to operate during general economic or business downturns or unable to compete effectively, take advantage of new business opportunities or otherwise grow in accordance with our strategy. In addition, our financial results, our substantial indebtedness and our credit ratings could adversely affect the availability and terms of our financing.

Our variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our debt service obligations to increase significantly.

Borrowings under our revolving credit facility, 2025 Term Loan and 2026 Term Loan are at variable rates of interest and expose us to interest rate risk. When interest rates increase, our debt service obligations increase even though the amount borrowed remains the same, and our net income and cash flows, including cash available for servicing our indebtedness, could correspondingly decrease. We may enter into interest rate swaps that involve the exchange of floating for fixed rate interest payments in order to reduce interest rate volatility. However, we may not maintain interest rate swaps with respect to all of our variable rate indebtedness, and any swaps we enter into may not fully mitigate our interest rate risk.

Our revolving credit facility utilizes, at our option, either (1) Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), plus a margin between 0.750% and 1.250% per annum, plus a SOFR adjustment of 0.10% or (2) the base rate plus a margin between 0.000% and 0.250% per annum, to calculate the amount of accrued interest on any borrowings. The 2025 Term Loan utilizes, at our option, either (1) Term SOFR, plus a margin between 0.625% and 1.125% per annum, plus a SOFR adjustment of 0.10% or (2) base rate plus a margin between 0.000% and 0.125% per annum, to calculate the amount of accrued interest on borrowings. The 2026 Term Loan utilizes, at our option, either (1) Term SOFR, plus a margin of between 0.875% and 1.375% per annum, plus a SOFR adjustment of 0.10%, or (2) base rate plus a margin between 0.000% and 0.375% per annum, to calculate the amount of accrued interest on borrowings. In each case, the applicable margin within the specified ranges is determined by reference to the credit rating of our unsecured debt. Accordingly, a credit rating downgrade would increase the applicable interest rates. Assuming all loans were fully drawn and we were to fully exercise our right to increase borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility and we made no prepayments on our 2025 Term Loan or our 2026 Term Loan, each quarter point change in interest rates would result in a $5.1 million change in annual interest expense.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

We are authorized to repurchase shares of our common stock under a publicly announced program that was most recently increased by our Board of Directors on August 2, 2023. Pursuant to this authorization, we may repurchase shares from time to time through open market repurchases, in privately negotiated transactions or by other means, including accelerated share repurchase transactions or other structured repurchase transactions, block trades or pursuant to trading plans intended to comply with Rule 10b5-1 of the Exchange Act. The actual timing and amount of repurchases are subject to business and market conditions, corporate and regulatory requirements, stock price, acquisition opportunities and other factors. Our repurchase authorization does not obligate us to acquire a minimum amount of shares, does not have an expiration date and may be modified, suspended or terminated without prior notice.

The following table presents repurchases made under our publicly announced repurchase authorizations and shares surrendered by employees to satisfy income tax withholding obligations during the three months ended June 30, 2024:

PeriodTotal Number of Shares Purchased (1)Average Price Paid Per Share (2)Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plan or Program (3)Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under Publicly Announced Plan or Program (1) (In millions)
April 1, 2024 - April 30, 2024149,072$297.82137,641$1,211
May 1, 2024 - May 31, 2024184,679$287.16164,314$1,163
June 1, 2024 - June 30, 2024131,195$304.93121,498$1,127
Total464,946$295.59423,453

(1)Shares purchased that were not part of our publicly announced repurchase programs represent shares of restricted stock surrendered by employees to satisfy employee income tax withholding obligations due upon vesting, and do not reduce the dollar value that may yet be purchased under our publicly announced repurchase programs.

(2)The weighted average price paid per share of common stock does not include the cost of commissions.

(3)Our publicly announced share repurchase program was originally announced on February 1, 2017 and most recently increased by an additional $1.0 billion on August 2, 2023.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

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