Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
  
 
a.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
  
The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives.
  
Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2021 . Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered in this Form 10-K, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
  
 
b.
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
  
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act). Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the issuer’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that our degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
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Our management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-K based on the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organization of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021 .
  
Grant Thornton LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-K, has issued a report, included below, on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 .
  
 
c.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
  
There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) identified in connection with management’s evaluation required by the Rules 13a-15(d) and 15d-15(d) under the Exchange Act that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM  
  
Board of Directors and Shareholders
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.
 
Opinion on internal control over financial reporting  
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control — Integrated Framework  issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control — Integrated Framework  issued by COSO.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021, and our report dated February 24, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
 
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
Definition and limitations of internal control over financial reporting  
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
 
Houston, Texas
February 24, 2022
 
  
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Item 9B.
Other Information
  
None.
 
Item 9C.
Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdiction that Prevent Inspections
 
None.
 
  
51
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PART III  
  
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
  
The information required regarding our directors is incorporated herein by reference from the information contained in our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (our “Proxy Statement”), a copy of which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 .
  
The information required regarding our executive officers is incorporated herein by reference from the information contained in our Proxy Statement.
  
The information required regarding Section 16(a) beneficial ownership reporting compliance is incorporated by reference from the information contained in our Proxy Statement.
  
The information required with respect to procedures by which security holders may recommend nominees to our board of directors, the composition of our Audit Committee, and whether the Company has an “audit committee financial expert”, is incorporated by reference from the information contained in our Proxy Statement.
  
Adoption of Code of Ethics  
  
The Company has adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the “Code”) applicable to all of our board of director members, employees and executive officers, including our Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer), and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer). The Company has made the Code available on our website at http://www.ao-inc.com.
  
The Company intends to satisfy the public disclosure requirements regarding (1) any amendments to the Code, or (2) any waivers under the Code given to our Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer by posting such information on our website at www.ao-inc.com. There were amendments to the Code or waivers granted thereunder relating to the Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer or Principal Accounting Officer during 2021 .
  
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
  
The information required regarding the compensation of our directors and executive officers is incorporated herein by reference from the information in our Proxy Statement.
 
The information required regarding pay ratio disclosure is incorporated herein by reference from the information contained in our Proxy Statement.
 
The information required regarding our Compensation Committee and the Compensation Committee Report are incorporated by reference from the information contained in our Proxy Statement.
  
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
  
The information required regarding security ownership of our 5% or greater stockholders and of our directors and management is incorporated herein by reference from the information contained in the section entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” in our Proxy Statement.
  
The information required regarding securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans is incorporated herein by reference from the information contained in the section entitled “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in our Proxy Statement.
  
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
  
The information required regarding related transactions is incorporated herein by reference from the information contained in our Proxy Statement.
 
The information required regarding the independence of our directors is incorporated herein by reference from the information contained in our Proxy Statement.
  
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
  
The information required by Part III, Item 14, regarding principal accounting fees and services is incorporated by reference from the information contained in our Proxy Statement, a copy of which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 .
 
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Part IV  
  
Item 15.
Exhibits, Financial Statements Schedules
  
(a)(1) The consolidated financial statements are listed on the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements to this Form 10-K beginning on page F-1.
  
(a)(2) Financial Statement Schedules. Financial statement schedules have been omitted, as the information required to be set forth therein is included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto appearing in this Form 10-K.
  
(a)(3)  Exhibits. See the Exhibit immediately following Item 16. Form 10-K Summary of this Form 10-K.
  
Item 16.
Form 10-K Summary
  
None.
 
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EXHIBIT INDEX  
  
 
 
 
 
Incorporated By Reference
Number
    
Exhibit Description
    
Form
    
File No.
    
Exhibit
    
Filing Date
3.1
 
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the registrant, as currently in effect
 
10-Q
 
001-36083
 
3.1
 
November 14, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.2
 
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the registrant, as currently in effect
 
10-Q
 
001-36083
 
3.2
 
November 14, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.1
 
Common Stock Specimen
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
4.1
 
November 14, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.2
 
Indenture,  dated as of March 5, 2019 between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, paying agent, and conversion agent
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
4.1
 
March 5, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.3
 
Form of Note representing the Company’s 5.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2024  (included as Exhibit A to the Indenture)
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
4.1
 
March 5, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.4
 
Description of Company’s Common Stock
 
10-K
 
001-36083
 
4.4
 
February 28, 2020
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.1
 
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the registrant each of its Directors and certain of its Executive Officers
 
S-1
 
333-190591
 
10.1
 
August 13, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.2
†
2006 Incentive Share Plan
 
S-1
 
333-190591
 
10.5
 
August 13, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.2.1
†
First Amendment to 2006 Incentive Share Plan
 
S-1/A
 
333-190591
 
10.5.1
 
August 27, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.2.2
†
Form of Stock Option Agreement under 2006 Incentive Share Plan
 
S-1
 
333-190591
 
10.5.2
 
August 13, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.3
†
Amended and Restated 2013 Equity Incentive Plan
 
10-K
 
001-36083
 
10.6
 
March 9, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.3.1
†
Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement under 2013 Equity Incentive Plan
 
S-1
 
333-190591
 
10.6.1
 
August 13, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.3.2
†
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under 2013 Equity Incentive Plan
 
S-1
 
333-190591
 
10.6.2
 
August 13, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.3.3
†
Form of Stock Appreciation Right Award Agreement under 2013 Equity Incentive Plan
 
S-1
 
333-190591
 
10.6.3
 
August 13, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.3.4
†
Form of Notice of Stock Option Award and Stock Option Award Agreement under 2013 Equity Incentive Plan
 
S-1
 
333-190591
 
10.6.4
 
August 13, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.4
†
Amended and Restated Employment Agreement regarding Change of Control or Separation of Service between the registrant and Chih-Hsiang (Thompson) Lin, dated April 16, 2013
 
S-1
 
333-190591
 
10.12.1
 
August 13, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.5
†
Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2016, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Stefan J. Murry
 
10-Q/A
 
001-36083
 
10.20
 
August 9, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.6
†
Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2016, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Mr. Joshua Yeh
 
10-Q/A
 
001-36083
 
10.21
 
August 9, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.7
†
Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2016, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Dr. Fred Chang
 
10-Q/A
 
001-36083
 
10.22
 
August 9, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.8
†
Employment Agreement, dated August 5, 2016, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and David C. Kuo
 
10-K
 
001-36083
 
10.9
 
February 28, 2018
 
54
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Incorporated By Reference  
Number  
      
Exhibit Description  
      
Form  
      
File No.  
      
Exhibit  
      
Filing Date  
10.9
 
Loan Agreement, dated September 28, 2017, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company 
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
October 4, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.9.1
 
Promissory Note, dated September 28, 2017, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36-83
 
10.2
 
October 4, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.9.2
 
Addendum to the Promissory Note, dated September 28, 2017, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36-83
 
10.3
 
October 4, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.9.3
 
BB&T Security Agreement, dated September 28, 2017, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.4
 
October 4, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.9.4
 
Trademark Security Agreement, dated September 28, 2017, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.5
 
October 4, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.9.5
 
Patent Security Agreement, dated September 28, 2017, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.6
 
October 4, 2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.10
 
Supply Agreement, effective November 8, 2017, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Facebook, Inc.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
February 24, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.11
 
Master Purchase Agreement, effective January 2, 2018, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Facebook, Inc.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.2
 
February 21, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.12
 
Translation of Lease Agreement between Global Technology, Inc. and the People’s Republic of China in Zhejiang Province, Ningbo City, Land Resources Bureau
 
10-K
 
001-36083
 
10.30
 
February 28, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.12.1
 
Translation of Investment and Construction Agreement between Global Technology, Inc. and the People’s Republic of China in Zhejiang Province, Ningbo City, Land Resources Bureau
 
10-K
 
001-36083
 
10.30.1
 
February 28, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.13
 
Translation of Construction Agreement between Global Technology, Inc. and Zhejiang Xinyu Construction Group Co., Ltd. dated February 8, 2018
 
10-Q
 
001-36083
 
10.5
 
May 8, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.14
 
First Amendment to Loan Agreement, dated March 30, 2018, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
April 5, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.14.1
 
Addendum to the Promissory Note ($60 million), dated March 30, 2018, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.2
 
April 5, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.14.2
 
Promissory Note ($26 million), dated March 30, 2018, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.3
 
April 5, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.14.3
 
Addendum to the Promissory Note ($26 million), dated March 30, 2018, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.4
 
April 5, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.14.4
 
Promissory Note ($21.5 million), dated March 30, 2018, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.5
 
April 5, 2018
 
55
Table of Contents
 
  
  
  
  
Incorporated By Reference  
Number  
      
Exhibit Description  
      
Form  
      
File No.  
      
Exhibit  
      
Filing Date  
10.14.5
 
Addendum to the Promissory Note ($21.5 million), dated March 30, 2018, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.6
 
April 5, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.14.6
 
Note Modification Agreement, dated March 30, 2018, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.7
 
April 5, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.14.7
 
Assignment of Lease and Rent, dated March 30, 2018, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.8
 
April 5, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.14.8
 
Texas Deed of Trust and Security Agreement, dated March 30, 2018, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.9
 
April 5, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.14.9
 
Environmental Certification and Indemnity Agreement, dated March 30, 2018, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.10
 
April 5, 2018
 
56
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Incorporated By Reference  
Number  
      
Exhibit Description  
      
Form  
      
File No.  
      
Exhibit  
      
Filing Date  
10.15
 
First Amendment to Lease, dated October 8, 2018, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and GIG VAOI Breckinridge, LLC.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
October 12, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.16
 
Translation of Purchase and Sale Contract, Finance Lease Agreement and Promissory Note, dated November 29, 2018, between Prime World International Holdings, Ltd., and Chailease Finance Co., Ltd.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
December 6, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.17
 
Translation of Purchase and Sale Contract, Finance Lease Agreement and Promissory Note, dated January 21, 2019, between Prime World International Holdings, Ltd. and Chailease Finance Co., Ltd.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
January 25, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.18
 
Second Amendment to Loan Agreement, dated February 1, 2019, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
February 7, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.19
 
Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2019 by and among Applied Optoelectronics, Inc., Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and Cowen and Company, LLC
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
March 5, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.19.1
 
Third Amendment to Loan Agreement, dated March 5, 2019, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.2
 
March 5, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.20
 
Translation of Approval Notice between, Prime World International Holdings, Ltd., and Far Eastern International Bank Co., Ltd., dated April 11, 2019
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
April 17, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.20.1
 
Translation of Comprehensive Credit Facilities Master Agreement between, Prime World International Holdings, Ltd., and Far Eastern International Bank Co., Ltd., dated April 11, 2019
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.2
 
April 17, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.20.2
 
Translation of Credit Terms / Financial Transaction Terms Agreement between, Prime World International Holdings, Ltd., and Far Eastern International Bank Co., Ltd., dated April 11, 2019
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.3
 
April 17, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.20.3
 
Translation of Promissory Note between, Prime World International Holdings, Ltd., and Far Eastern International Bank Co., Ltd., dated April 11, 2019
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.4
 
April 17, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.21
 
Translation of the Credit Granting Agreement, between Global Technology, Inc. and China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., dated April 19, 2019
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
April 25, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.22
 
Translation of the Working Capital Loan Contract, between Global Technology, Inc. and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd., dated April 30, 2019
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
May 6, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.23
 
Translation of the Working Capital Loan Contract (RMB 30,000,000), between Global Technology, Inc. and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd., dated May 7, 2019
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
May 13, 2019
 
10.23.1
 
Translation of the Working Capital Loan Contract (USD 2,000,000),between Global Technology, Inc. and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd., dated May 8, 2019
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.2
 
May 13, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.24
 
Translation of the Financing Credit Line Agreement, dated May 24, 2019, between Global Technology, Inc. and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
May 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.24.1
 
Translation of the Maximum Mortgage Contract (Security Agreement), dated May 24, 2019, between Global Technology, Inc. and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.2
 
May 31, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.25
 
Translation of the Maximum Loan Contract (¥100M), dated June 21, 2019, between Global Technology, Inc. and China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
June 27, 2019
 
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10.25.1
 
Translation of the Maximum Mortgage Contract (the “Real Estate Security Agreement”), dated June 21, 2019, between Global Technology, Inc. and China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.2
 
June 27, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.25.2
 
Translation of the Maximum Loan Contract (¥50M), dated June 21, 2019, between Global Technology, Inc. and China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.3
 
June 27, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.25.3
 
Translation of the Maximum Mortgage Contract (the “Machinery and Equipment Security Agreement”), dated June 21, 2019, between Global Technology, Inc. and China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.4
 
June 27, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.26
 
Translation of the Approval Notice of Credit Line, dated July 8, 2019, between Prime World International Holdings Ltd. and Taishin International Bank
 
10-Q
 
001-36083
 
10.11
 
August 8, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.26.1
 
Translation of the General Agreement for Financial Transaction, dated July 23, 2019, between Prime World International Holdings Ltd. and Taishin International Bank
 
10-Q
 
001-36083
 
10.12
 
August 8, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.26.2
 
Translation of the Credit Facility Agreement, dated July 23, 2019, between Prime World International Holdings Ltd. and Taishin International Bank
 
10-Q
 
001-36083
 
10.13
 
August 8, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.26.3
 
Translation of the Promissory Note, dated July 23, 2019, between Prime World International Holdings Ltd. and Taishin International Bank
 
10-Q
 
001-36083
 
10.14
 
August 8, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.27
**
Fourth Amendment to Loan Agreement, dated September 30, 2019, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Branch Banking and Trust Company
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
October 4, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.27.1
 
Note Modification Agreement, dated September 30, 2019, executed by Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.2
 
October 4, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.27.2
 
Addendum To Promissory Note, dated September 30, 2019, executed by Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.3
 
October 4, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.28
 
Second Amendment to Lease, dated November 11, 2019, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and ROIB2 Breckinridge, LLC.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
November 18, 2019
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.29
 
Paycheck Protection Program Loan Promissory Note, dated April 17, 2020, executed by Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
April 22, 2020
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.30
 
Translation of Amendment to the Finance Lease Agreements, dated September 15, 2020, between Prime World International Holdings Ltd., and Chailease Finance Co., Ltd.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
September 18, 2020
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.31
 
Translation of the Credit Facility Agreement, dated October 7, 2020, between Prime World International Holdings Ltd. and Taishin International Bank.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
October 13, 2020
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.31.1
 
Translation of the Notice of Credit Line Approval, dated August 24, 2020.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.2
 
October 13, 2020
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.32
 
Translation of the Credit Granting Agreement, between Global Technology Inc. and China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., dated October 19, 2020.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.2
 
October 22, 2020 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.33
 
Translation of the Maximum Loan Co ntract, between Global Technology, Inc. and China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd, dated January 6, 2021.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
January 11, 2021
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.33.1
 
Translation of the Maximum Mortgage Contract, between Global Technology, Inc. and China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd, dated January 6, 2021.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.2
 
January 11, 2021
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.34
 
Fifth Amendment to Loan Agreement and Fourth Amendment to Security Agreement, dated April 5, 2021, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Truist Bank (included as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrants Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 9, 2021).
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
April 9, 2021
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.34.1
 
Note Modification Agreement, dated April 5, 2021, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Truist Bank.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.2
 
April 9, 2021
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.34.1
 
Addendum to Promissory Note, dated April 5, 2021, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Truist Bank.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.3
 
April 9, 2021
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.35
 †
2021 Stock Incentive Plan.
 
10-Q
 
001-36083
 
10.4
 
August 5, 2021
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.35.1
†
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.
 
10Q
 
001-36083
 
10.4.1
 
August 5, 2021
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.35.2
†
Form of Performance Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under 2021 Equity Incentive Plan.
 
10Q
 
001-36083
 
10.4.2
 
August 5, 2021
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.36
 
Sixth Amendment to Loan Agreement and Fifth Amendment to Security Agreement, December 29, 2021, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Truist Bank.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.1
 
January 5, 2022
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.36.1
 
Note Modification Agreement, dated December 29, 2021, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Truist Bank.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.2
 
January 5, 2022
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10.36.2
 
Addendum to Promissory Note, dated December 29, 2021, between Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Truist Bank.
 
8-K
 
001-36083
 
10.3
 
January 5, 2022
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23.1
*
Consent of Grant Thornton LLP
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24.1
 
Power of Attorney (see the signature page in this Annual Report on Form 10-K).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
31.1
*
Certification of Principal Executive Officer Required Under Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
31.2
*
Certification of Principal Financial Officer Required Under Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
58
Table of Contents
 
  
  
  
  
Incorporated By Reference  
Number  
      
Exhibit Description  
      
Form  
      
File No.  
      
Exhibit  
      
Filing Date  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
32.1
*
Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer Required Under Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and 18 U.S.C. §1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.INS
 
Inline XBRL Instance Document
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.SCH
 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.CAL
 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.DEF
 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.LAB
 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101.PRE
 
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
104
 
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*     Filed herewith.
†     Management contract, compensatory plan or arrangement.
**   Confidential Treatment has been granted for portions of this document.
 
59
Table of Contents
 
SIGNATURES  
   
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this Form 10-K to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on February 24, 2022 .
   
 
APPLIED OPTOELECTRONICS, INC.
 
 
 
By:
/s/ Chih-Hsiang (Thompson) Lin
 
 
Chih-Hsiang (Thompson) Lin ,
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer and
 
 
Chairman of the Board of Directors
February 24, 2022
 
 
   
POWER OF ATTORNEY
   
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Chih-Hsiang (Thompson) Lin and Stefan J. Murry, and each of them, jointly and severally, his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
   
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, this Form 10-K has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
   
Signature
Date
 
 
/s/ Chih-Hsiang (Thompson) Lin
 
CHIH-HSIANG (THOMPSON) LIN,
 
President, Chief Executive Officer and
February 24, 2022
Chairman of the Board of Directors
 
(principal executive officer)
 
 
 
/s/ STEFAN J. MURRY
 
STEFAN J. MURRY,
 
Chief Financial Officer
February 24, 2022
(principal financial officer and
 
principal accounting officer)
 
 
 
Signature
Date
 
 
/s/ WILLIAM H. YEH
 
WILLIAM H. YEH,
February 24, 2022
Director
 
 
 
/s/ RICHARD B. BLACK
 
RICHARD B. BLACK,
February 24, 2022
Director
 
 
 
/s/ CHE-WEI LIN
 
CHE-WEI LIN,
February 24, 2022
Director
 
 
 
/s/ CYNTHIA (CINDY) DELANEY
 
CYNTHIA (CINDY) DELANEY,
February 24, 2022
Director
 
 
 
/s/ ELIZABETH LOBOA
 
ELIZABETH LOBOA,
February 24, 2022
Director
 
 
 
/s/ MIN-CHU (MIKE) CHEN
 
MIN-CHU (MIKE) CHEN,
February 24, 2022
Director
 
  
  
60
Table of Contents
 
 
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
  
 
Pages
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm  (PCAOB ID Number 248 )
F-2
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
F-4
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations
F-5
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
F-6
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
F-7
 
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
F-8
 
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-9
  
  
F-1
Table of Contents
 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM  
  
Board of Directors and Shareholders
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc.
 
 
 
Opinion on the financial statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss), changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in the 2013 Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”), and our report dated February 24, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion.
 
Basis for opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
Critical audit matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
 
Inventory Reserve
 
As described further in Note B to the financial statements, the Company's inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The Company assesses the valuation of its inventory on a periodic basis and provides an allowance based on several factors including products’ life span, historical changes in valuation and write-offs, and management’s estimates of future demand. One significant estimate and assumption that impacts the financial statements is inventory reserve. We identified the accounting for inventory reserve as a critical audit matter.
 
The principal considerations for our determination that accounting for inventory reserve is a critical audit matter are the judgments and estimates associated with management’s determination of lower of cost or market adjustments, due to the nature of the inputs and assumptions used in the process and are subject to estimation uncertainty and require auditor subjectivity in evaluating reasonableness. Management developed certain percentages that determine the extent of any lower of cost or market adjustments based on the age of the inventory. Such percentages were determined through analysis of the inventory to determine each product's lifespan, a review historical write-offs or scrapped inventory, and an assessment by product engineers of the possibility of obsolescence for each product.
 
Our audit procedures related to the accounting for inventory reserve included the following:
 
 
●
We assessed the qualifications and competence of management and evaluated the methodologies used to determine the inventory reserve;
 
 
●
We tested the design and operating effectiveness of key controls related to the accounting for the inventory reserve, including controls relating to management’s development of the reserve;
 
 
●
We obtained the underlying inventory aging report and agreed the balances to the general ledger to test for completeness and recalculated the unit price and agreed such unit price to inventory details;
 
 
●
We obtained the underlying inventory aging report and agreed the balances to the general ledger to test for completeness and selected inventory items to re-age; and
 
 
●
We obtained the underlying inventory aging report and agreed the balances to the general ledger to test for completeness and recalculated the inventory reserve.
 
F-2
Table of Contents
 
Impairment of Long-Lived Asset
 
As described further in Note B to the financial statements, the Company accounts for impairment of long-lived assets in accordance with ASC 360, Property, Plant and Equipment, (“ASC 360”). Long-lived assets consist primarily of property, plant and equipment, right-of-use assets and intangible assets. The Company evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets when it determines a triggering event has occurred, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. When indicators exist, recoverability of assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying value of the asset group to the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If assets are determined not to be recoverable, the Company performs an analysis of the fair value of the asset group and will recognize an impairment loss when the fair value is less than the carrying amounts of such assets. The undiscounted future net cash flows, and any subsequent fair value determination, are based on assumptions and projections that require subjective judgments. We identified the long-lived assets impairment assessment and testing as a critical audit matter.
 
The principal consideration for our determination that the accounting for impairment of long-lived assets represents a critical audit matter is the judgments and assumptions associated with management’s determination of the recoverability of the long-lived assets including any subsequent fair value assessments. Auditing the undiscounted future net cash flows involved a high degree of subjectivity, auditor judgment and audit effort in evaluating management’s significant assumptions primarily due to the complexity of the cash flow models used, as well as the sensitivity of the underlying significant assumptions. The Company used an undiscounted cash flow model to assess the recoverability of the long-lived assets, which included assumptions such as revenue growth rates, operating expenses, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”) margins, capital expenditures asset grouping, forecasting period and future sales values. These significant assumptions are forward looking and could be affected by future economic and market conditions.
 
Our audit procedures related to the accounting for impairment of long-lived assets included the following:
 
 
●
We assessed the qualifications and competence of management and evaluated the methodologies used to determine the fair value of long-lived assets;
 
 
●
We tested the design and operating effectiveness of key controls related to the accounting for possible impairment, including controls relating to management’s development of forecasts for revenue growth rates, operating expenses, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”) margins, capital expenditures asset grouping, forecasting period and future sales values;
 
 
●
We tested the assumptions, including the testing of underlying source information and the mathematical accuracy of the calculations, used within the undiscounted cash flow models to estimate the recoverability of long-lived assets, which included assumptions such as revenue growth rates, operating expenses, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”) margins, capital expenditures asset grouping, forecasting period and future sales values;
 
 
●
We tested the Company’s ability to forecast future cash flows by reviewing actual results compared to amounts previously forecasted; and
 
 
●
We tested the sensitivity of the undiscounted cash flows utilized in the recoverability test.
 
 
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
 
 
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2008.
  
Houston, Texas
February 24, 2022
 
 
 
F-3
Table of Contents
 
 
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries  
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  
(in thousands)  
  
    December 31,
 
    2021
    2020
 
ASSETS
               
Current Assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 34,656     $ 43,425  
Restricted cash
    6,480       6,689  
Accounts receivable - trade, net of allowance of $ 30 and $ 62 , respectively
    47,944       43,042  
Notes receivable
    8,148       401  
Inventories
    92,516       110,397  
Prepaid income tax
    1       2  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    4,334       5,213  
Total current assets
    194,079       209,169  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    243,035       252,984  
Land use rights, net
    5,856       5,854  
Operating right of use asset
    7,078       7,729  
Financing right of use asset
    57       88  
Intangible assets, net
    3,836       3,999  
Other assets, net
    518       982  
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 454,459     $ 480,805  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Current liabilities
               
Current portion of notes payable and long-term debt
  $ 49,689     $ 38,265  
Accounts payable
    34,402       29,482  
Bank acceptance payable
    8,198       15,860  
Current lease liability - operating
    1,062       1,012  
Current lease liability - financing
    19       18  
Accrued liabilities
    15,587       18,511  
Total current liabilities
    108,957       103,148  
Notes payable and long-term debt, less current portion
    5,000       13,904  
Convertible senior notes
    78,680       77,854  
Non-current lease liability - operating
    7,189       7,926  
Non-current lease liability - financing
    63       82  
TOTAL LIABILITIES
    199,889       202,914  
Stockholders' equity:
               
Preferred Stock; 5,000 shares authorized at $ 0.001 par value; no shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively
          —  
Common Stock; 45,000 shares authorized at $ 0.001 par value; 27,323 and 25,110 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively
    27       25  
Additional paid-in capital
    381,143       354,685  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    16,071       11,690  
Accumulated deficit
    ( 142,671 )     ( 88,509 )
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    254,570       277,891  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  $ 454,459     $ 480,805  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
F-4
Table of Contents
 
 
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS  
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
    Year ended December 31,
 
    2021
    2020
    2019
 
Revenue, net
  $ 211,565     $ 234,623     $ 190,872  
Cost of goods sold
    173,850       184,082       144,671  
Gross profit
    37,715       50,541       46,201  
Operating expenses
                       
Research and development
    41,220       43,393       43,399  
Sales and marketing
    10,899       14,087       10,060  
General and administrative
    42,362       41,903       41,489  
Total operating expenses
    94,481       99,383       94,948  
Loss from operations
    ( 56,766 )     ( 48,842 )     ( 48,747 )
Other income (expense)
                       
Interest income
    70       255       925  
Interest expense
    ( 5,620 )     ( 5,635 )     ( 5,405 )
Other income, net
    8,156       2,998       1,840  
Total other income (expense), net
    2,606       ( 2,382 )     ( 2,640 )
Loss before income taxes
    ( 54,160 )     ( 51,224 )     ( 51,387 )
Income tax expense
    ( 2 )     ( 7,228 )     ( 14,662 )
Net loss
  $ ( 54,162 )   $ ( 58,452 )   $ ( 66,049 )
Net loss per share
                       
Basic
  $ ( 2.01 )   $ ( 2.67 )   $ ( 3.31 )
Diluted
  $ ( 2.01 )   $ ( 2.67 )   $ ( 3.31 )
                         
Weighted average shares used to compute net loss per share:
                       
Basic
    26,912,141       21,866,630       19,982,363  
Diluted
    26,912,141       21,866,630       19,982,363  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
F-5
Table of Contents
 
 
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)  
(in thousands)  
 
    Year ended December 31,
 
    2021
    2020
    2019
 
Net loss
  $ ( 54,162 )   $ ( 58,452 )   $ ( 66,049 )
Gain/(Loss) on foreign currency translation adjustment
    4,381       11,260       ( 172 )
Comprehensive loss
  $ ( 49,781 )   $ ( 47,192 )   $ ( 66,221 )
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
  
F-6
Table of Contents
 
 
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Years ended December 2019, 2020 and 2021
(in thousands)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated
 
 
Retained
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred Stock
 
 
Common Stock
 
 
Additional
 
 
other
 
 
earnings/
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number
 
 
 
 
 
 
paid-in
 
 
comprehensive
 
 
(Accumulated
 
 
Stockholders'
 
 
 
of shares
 
 
Amount
 
 
of shares
 
 
Amount
 
 
capital
 
 
gain (loss)
 
 
deficit)
 
 
equity
 
January 1, 2019
 
 
—
 
 
$
—
 
 
 
19,810
 
 
$
20
 
 
$
292,480
 
 
$
602
 
 
$
35,992
 
 
$
329,094
 
Stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee tax
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
3
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
14
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
14
 
Issuance of restricted stock, net of shares withheld for employee tax
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
327
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
( 897
)
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
( 897
)
Share-based compensation
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
11,804
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
11,804
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
( 172
)
 
 
( 66,049
)
 
 
( 66,221
)
December 31, 2019
 
 
—
 
 
$
—
 
 
 
20,140
 
 
$
20
 
 
$
303,401
 
 
$
430
 
 
$
( 30,057
)
 
$
273,794
 
Public offering of common stock, net
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
4,470
 
 
 
4
 
 
 
39,306
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
39,310
 
Stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee tax
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
3
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
30
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
30
 
Issuance of restricted stock, net of shares withheld for employee tax
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
497
 
 
 
1
 
 
 
( 1,098
)
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
( 1,097
)
Share-based compensation
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
13,046
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
13,046
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
11,260
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
11,260
 
Net loss
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
 
 
 
( 58,452
)
 
 
( 58,452
)
December 31, 2020
 
 
—
 
 
$
—
 
 
 
25,110
 
 
$
25
 
 
$
354,685
 
 
$
11,690
 
 
$
( 88,509
)
 
$
277,891
 
Public offering of common stock, net
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
1,552
 
 
 
1
 
 
 
15,288
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
15,289
 
Stock options exercised, net of shares withheld for employee tax
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
2
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
8
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
8
 
Issuance of restricted stock, net of shares withheld for employee tax
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
659
 
 
 
1
 
 
 
( 959
)
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
( 958
)
Share-based compensation
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
12,121
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
12,121
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
4,381
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
4,381
 
Net loss
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
—
 
 
 
( 54,162
)
 
 
( 54,162
)
December 31, 2021
 
 
—
 
 
$
—
 
 
 
27,323
 
 
$
27
 
 
$
381,143
 
 
$
16,071
 
 
$
( 142,671
)
 
$
254,570
 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
  
F-7
Table of Contents
 
 
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS  
(in thousands)  
  
    Year ended December 31,
 
    2021
    2020
    2019
 
Operating activities:
                       
Net loss
  $ ( 54,162 )   $ ( 58,452 )   $ ( 66,049 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
Allowance of bad debt
    ( 32 )     32       —  
Lower of cost or market reserve adjustment to inventory
    3,889       3,930       6,774  
Depreciation and amortization
    25,371       24,733       24,014  
Amortization of debt issuance costs
    865       900       892  
Deferred income taxes, net
    —       7,348       14,570  
Loss on disposal of assets
    1       15       13  
Share-based compensation
    12,121       13,046       11,804  
Interest for extinguishment of debt
    ( 70 )     —       —  
Extinguishment of debt
    ( 6,229 )     —       —  
Unrealized foreign exchange gain (loss)
    645       ( 1,152 )     ( 247 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                       
Accounts receivable, trade
    ( 7,020 )     ( 8,421 )     ( 4,351 )
Notes receivable
    ( 7,585 )     ( 389 )     ( 4 )
Prepaid income tax
    1       188       961  
Inventories
    15,786       ( 23,674 )     1,562  
Other current assets
    867       1,220       5,514  
Operating right of use asset
    848       407       847  
Accounts payable
    7,069       ( 3,347 )     3,150  
Accrued income taxes
    1       1       —  
Accrued liabilities
    ( 3,092 )     44       ( 308 )
Lease liability
    ( 918 )     ( 438 )     ( 896 )
Net cash used in by operating activities
    ( 11,644 )     ( 44,009 )     ( 1,754 )
Investing activities:
                       
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
    ( 7,981 )     ( 15,795 )     ( 28,789 )
Proceeds from disposal of equipment
    114       216       1  
Deposits and prepaid for equipment
    ( 2,222 )     ( 3,279 )     ( 2,688 )
Purchase of intangible assets
    ( 457 )     ( 489 )     ( 640 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    ( 10,546 )     ( 19,347 )     ( 32,116 )
Financing activities:
                       
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable and long-term debt, net of debt issuance costs
    —       6,229       13,661  
Principal payments of long-term debt and notes payable
    ( 4,144 )     ( 5,233 )     ( 43,363 )
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings
    122,935       95,730       83,434  
Repayments of line of credit borrowings
    ( 111,287 )     ( 96,006 )     ( 88,299 )
Proceeds from bank acceptance payable
    24,622       39,958       13,638  
Repayments of bank acceptance payable
    ( 32,465 )     ( 31,338 )     ( 11,952 )
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes, net of debt issuance costs
    —       ( 18 )     76,362  
Principal payments of financing lease
    ( 18 )     ( 17 )     ( 2 )
Exercise of stock options
    8       13       14  
Payments of tax withholding on behalf of employees related to share-based compensation
    ( 960 )     ( 1,080 )     ( 897 )
Proceeds from common stock offering, net
    15,397       39,203       —  
Net cash provided by financing activities
    14,088       47,441       42,596  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
    ( 876 )     ( 999 )     298  
Net (decrease)/ increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
    ( 8,978 )     ( 16,914 )     9,025  
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period
    50,115       67,029       58,004  
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period
  $ 41,137     $ 50,115     $ 67,029  
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
                       
Cash paid (received) for:
                       
Interest
  $ 4,899     $ 4,971     $ 3,172  
Income taxes
    1       ( 364 )     ( 890 )
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
                       
Net change in accounts payable related to property and equipment additions
  $ ( 4,027 )   $ ( 2,326 )   $ 3,869  
Net change in deposits and prepaid for equipment related to property and equipment additions
    84       ( 64 )     8,801  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
 
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Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
  
 
NOTE A—ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS
  
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (“AOI” or the “Company”) was incorporated in the State of Texas on February  28, 1997. In March 2013, the Company converted into a Delaware corporation. The Company is a leading, vertically integrated provider of fiber-optic networking products, primarily for four networking end-markets: internet data center, CATV, telecom and FTTH. The Company designs and manufactures a wide range of optical communications products at varying levels of integration, from components, subassemblies and modules to complete turn-key equipment.
  
The Company has manufacturing and research and development facilities located in the U.S., Taiwan and China. At its corporate headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Sugar Land, Texas, the Company primarily manufactures lasers and laser components and performs research and development activities for laser component and optical module products. The Company operates in Taipei, Taiwan and Ningbo, China through its wholly-owned subsidiary Prime World International Holdings, Ltd. (“Prime World”, incorporated in the British Virgin Islands). Prime World is the parent of Global Technology, Inc. (“Global”, incorporated in the People’s Republic of China).  Through Global, the Company primarily manufactures certain of its data center transceiver products, including subassemblies and transceivers, as well as Cable TV Broadband (“CATV”) systems and equipment, and performs research and development activities for the CATV products. Prime World also operates a branch in Taiwan, which primarily manufactures transceivers. The Company also has a research and development center in Duluth, Georgia.
  
  
 
NOTE B—SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
  
1.
Basis of Presentation
  
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its wholly-owned subsidiaries and are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
  
2.
Use of Estimates
  
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. Actual results could differ from those estimates in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates and assumptions that impact these financial statements relate to, among other things, allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory reserve, product warranty costs, share-based compensation expense, estimated useful lives of property and equipment, and taxes.
  
3.
Foreign Currency Translation
  
The functional currency for the Company’s foreign operations is the local currency. The assets and liabilities of these operations are translated at the rate of exchange in effect on the balance sheet date and sales and expenses are translated at monthly average rates. The resulting gains or losses from translation are included in a separate component of other comprehensive income. There is no tax effect on the foreign currency translation because it is management’s intent to reinvest the undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries indefinitely. Transaction gains and losses resulting from re-measuring monetary asset and liability accounts that are denominated in a currency other than a subsidiary’s functional currency are included in net foreign exchange gain and loss and are included in net income except for those intercompany balances that are long-term investments in nature. The translation gain or losses from the long-term investment nature of intercompany balances are treated as translation adjustments and included in comprehensive income.
  
4.
Fair Value
  
The carrying value of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and note receivable approximate their historical fair values due to their short-term maturities. The carrying value of the debt approximates its fair value due to the short-term nature of the debt since it renews frequently at current interest rates. Management believes that the interest rates in effect at each year end represent the current market rates for similar borrowings.
 
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The fair value measurement standard defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The standard characterizes inputs used in determining fair value according to a hierarchy that prioritized inputs based on the degree to which they are observable. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
  
Level  1—Inputs represent quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
  
Level  2—Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level  1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets and quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active.
  
Level  3—Inputs that are not observable from objective sources, such as management’s internally developed assumptions used in pricing an asset or liability.
  
Assets and liabilities that are required to be fair valued on a recurring basis include money market funds, marketable securities, equity instruments and contingent consideration.
  
Money market funds are valued with Level  1 inputs, using quoted market prices, and are included in cash and cash equivalents on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.
  
5.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
  
The Company considers all highly liquid securities with an original maturity of ninety days or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Cash in foreign accounts was approximately $ 17.3 million and $ 10.7  million at December 31, 2021 and 2020 , respectively.
  
The Company maintains cash and cash equivalents at U.S. financial institutions for which the combined account balances in individual institutions may exceed Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) insurance coverage and, as a result, there is a concentration of credit risk related to amounts on deposit in excess of FDIC insurance coverage. As of December 31, 2021 , approximately $ 23.1 million of U.S. deposits were not covered by FDIC insurance. The Company has not experienced any losses and believes it is not exposed to any significant risk with such accounts.
  
6.
Restricted Cash/Compensating Balances
  
Restricted cash includes guarantee deposits for customs duties and compensating balances associated with credit facilities.
  
7.
Accounts Receivable/Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
  
The Company carries its accounts receivable at the net amount that it estimates to be collectible. An allowance for uncollectable accounts is maintained through a charge against operations. The allowance is determined by management review of outstanding amounts per customer, historical payments and the aging of accounts.
  
8.
Concentration of Credit Risk and Significant Customers
  
Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk include cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable. The Company places all cash and cash equivalents with high-credit quality financial institutions.
  
The Company performs ongoing credit valuations of its customers’ financial condition whenever deemed necessary and generally does not require deposits or collateral to support customer receivables. The historical amount of losses on uncollectible accounts has been within the Company’s estimates. The Company generates much of its revenue from a limited number of customers. In 2021, 2020 and 2019 , its top five customers represented 67.0 %, 73.3 %, and 80.7 % of its revenue, respectively. In 2021 , ATX, Microsoft and Cisco represented 25.6 %, 14.1 % and 11.9 % of its revenue, respectively. In 2020 , Microsoft and Amazon represented 38.3 % and 11.5 % of its revenue, respectively.  The five largest receivable balances for customers represented an aggregate of 70.6 % and 64.6 % of total accounts receivable at December 31, 2021 and 2020 , respectively. As of December 31, 2021 , ATX, Microsoft and Cisco represented 41.7 %, 13.3% and 3.5 % of total accounts receivable, respectively. As of December 31, 2020 , Microsoft and Amazon represented 20.9%, and 8.5 % of total accounts receivable, respectively. No other customer represented greater than ten percent of revenue in 2021, 2020, or 2019 had greater than ten percent of total accounts receivable at December 31, 2021 or 2020.  
 
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9.
Inventories
  
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (average-cost method) or market. Work in process and finished goods includes materials, labor and allocated overhead. The Company assesses the valuation of its inventory on a periodic basis and provides write-offs for the value of estimated excess and obsolete inventory based on estimates of future demand.
  
10.
Property, Plant and Equipment
  
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization. The Company calculates depreciation using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:
  
    Useful lives (in years)
 
         
Buildings
    20 - 42
 
Land improvements
    10
 
Machinery and equipment
    2 - 20
 
Furniture and fixtures
    3 - 7
 
Computer equipment and software
    3 - 10
 
Leasehold improvements
    The shorter of the life of the applicable lease or the useful life of the improvement
 
Transportation equipment
    5
 
 
Major improvements are capitalized and expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Construction in progress represents property, plant and equipment under construction or being installed. Costs include original cost, installation, construction and other direct costs which include interest on borrowings used to finance the asset. Construction in progress is transferred to the appropriate fixed asset account and depreciation commences when the asset has been substantially completed and placed in service.
  
Land use rights allow the Company rights for 50  years to certain land in Ningbo, China on which the Company built a facility that included office space, manufacturing operations and employee dormitories. The land use rights are recorded at cost and are amortized on the straight-line basis over the useful life of the related contract. The land use rights expire on October 7, 2054 and December 28, 2067.
  
11.
Intangible Assets
  
Intangible assets consist of intellectual property that is stated at cost less accumulated amortization. As of December 31, 2021 , the Company had 328 total patents issued. The costs incurred to obtain such patents have been capitalized and are being amortized over an estimated life between 10 and 20  years. The Company periodically evaluates its intangible assets to determine whether events or changes in circumstances indicate that a patent or trademark may not be applicable to the Company’s current products or is no longer in use. If such a determination is made, the intangible asset is impaired and the remaining value of the patent or trademark will be expensed at that time.
  
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12.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
  
The Company accounts for impairment of long-lived assets in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 360, Property, Plant and Equipment , (“ASC  360” ). Long-lived assets consist primarily of property, plant and equipment, right-of-use assets and intangible assets. In accordance with ASC  360, the Company evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets when it determines a triggering event has occurred, or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. When indicators exist, recoverability of assets is measured by a comparison of the carrying value of the asset group to the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. Examples of such triggering events include a significant disposal of a portion of such assets, an adverse change in the market involving the business employing the related asset, a significant decrease in the benefits realized from an acquired business, difficulties or delays in integrating the business, and a significant change in the operations of an acquired business. If such assets are determined not to be recoverable, the Company performs an analysis of the fair value of the asset group and will recognize an impairment loss when the fair value is less than the carrying amounts of such assets. The fair value, based on reasonable and supportable assumptions and projections, require subjective judgments. Depending on the assumptions and estimates used, the appraised fair value projected in the evaluation of long-lived assets can vary within a range of outcomes. The Company considers the likelihood of possible outcomes in determining the best estimate for the fair value of the assets. The Company did not record any asset impairment charges in 2021 , 2020 or 2019.
 
13.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
  
ASC  220, Comprehensive Income , (“ASC  220” ) establishes rules for reporting and display of comprehensive income and its components. ASC  220 requires that unrealized gains and losses on the Company’s foreign currency translation adjustments be included in comprehensive income (loss).
  
14.
Share-based Compensation
  
The Company accounts for share-based compensation in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation . Share-based compensation expense is recognized based on the grant date fair value in order to recognize compensation cost for those shares expected to vest. Compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the restricted stock units and adjusted as forfeitures occur.
  
15.
Revenue Recognition
  
The Company derives revenue from the manufacture and sale of fiber optic networking products. Revenue recognition follows the criteria of ASC  606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers . Specifically, the Company recognizes revenue when obligations under the terms of a contract with its customer are satisfied; generally this occurs with the transfer of control of products or services.
 
16.
Product Warranty
  
The Company generally offers a one -year limited warranty for its products but it can extend for longer periods of three to five years for certain products sold to certain customers. The Company estimates the costs that may be incurred under its basic limited warranty and records a liability for the amount of such costs at the time when product defects occur. Factors that affect the Company’s warranty liability include the historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims and cost to repair. While the Company believes that its warranty accrual is adequate, the actual warranty costs may exceed the accrual, in which case the cost of sales will increase in the future. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020 , the amount of accrued warranty was $ 0.3 million and $0.7 million, respectively. Changes in products warranty were as follows (in thousands):
  
    Year ended December 31,
 
    2021
    2020
    2019
 
Beginning Balance, January 1
  $ 703     $ 821     $ 995  
Warranty costs incurred
    ( 826 )     ( 457 )     ( 1,261 )
Provision for warranty
    386       339       1,087  
Ending Balance, December 31
  $ 263     $ 703     $ 821  
 
17.
Advertising Costs
  
Advertising costs are charged to operations as incurred and amounted to approximately $ 0.1 million, $ 0.4 million, and $ 0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 , respectively.
  
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18.
Research and Development
  
Research and development costs are charged to operations as incurred. The Company receives reimbursement for certain development costs, which offset with expense up to the reimbursable amount.
 
19.
Shipping and Handling Costs
  
Shipping and handling costs are included in operating expenses as fulfillment costs unless we bill our customers for shipping and handling charges, which are included in net sales for the applicable period, and the corresponding shipping and handling expense is reported in cost of sales.
 
20.
Income Taxes
  
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with the provisions of ASC 740, Income Taxes . The liability method is used to account for deferred income taxes. Under the liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The ability to realize deferred tax assets is evaluated annually and a valuation allowance is provided if it is unlikely that the deferred tax assets will not give rise to future benefits in the Company’s tax returns.
  
The Company records uncertain tax positions in accordance with ASC 740 on the basis of a two -step process in which ( 1 ) it determines whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position and ( 2 ) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than- not recognition threshold, it recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50 percent likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with the related tax authority.
  
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits on the income tax expense line in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. Accrued interest and penalties are included on the related tax liability line in the consolidated balance sheet.
 
21.
Global Intangible Low-taxed Income Provisions ("GILTI")
  
One of the base broadening provisions of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“the 2017 Act”) is the global intangible low-taxed income provisions ("GILTI"). In accordance with guidance issued by the FASB staff, the Company has adopted an accounting policy to treat any GILTI inclusions as a period cost if and when incurred. Thus, for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021, December  31, 2020, and December 31, 2019, deferred taxes were computed without consideration of the possible future impact of the GILTI provisions, and any current year impact was recorded as a part of the current portion of income tax expense.
 
22.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
   
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in 2021
 
In March 2020 , the FASB issued ASU 2020 - 04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848 ): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting”, which provides temporary optional expedients and exceptions to the GAAP guidance on contract modifications and hedge accounting to ease the financial reporting burdens related to the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. This ASU is effective beginning on March 12, 2020, and the Company may elect to apply the amendments prospectively through December 31, 2022. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2021, with no impact on its consolidated financial statements. 
 
In August 2020 , the FASB issued ASU 2020 - 06, “Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470 - 20 )” and “Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entities Own Equity” (Subtopic 815 - 40 ). This ASU simplifies accounting for convertible instruments by eliminating two of the three models in ASC 470 - 20 that requires separating embedded conversion features from convertible instruments. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2021, with no impact on its consolidated financial statements. 
 
In November 2020, the SEC issued a new rule that modernizes and simplifies various aspects and financial disclosure requirements in Regulation S-K, specifically related to  Item 301 “Selected Financial Data” ,  Item 302 “Supplementary Financial Information” and Item 303 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” (“MD&A”). The intent of this new rule is to (i) eliminate duplicative disclosures, (ii) enhance and promote more principles-based MD&A disclosures with the objective of making them more meaningful for investors, all while (iii) simplifying the compliance requirements and efforts for registrants, by providing them with the flexibility to present management’s perspective on the registrant’s financial condition and results of operations. While most of the changes involve reducing or eliminating previously required information and disclosures, the rule does expand the disclosure requirements surrounding certain aspects of the various items in Regulation S-K discussed above. The final rule was published in the Federal Register on January 11, 2021, is effective thirty days after its publication date, or February 10, 2021, and registrants are required to comply with this final rule in the registrant’s first fiscal year ending on or after the date that is 210 days after the publication date. The Company evaluated this SEC final rule, which was adopted and incorporated in this filing, and it did not have a material impact on this current SEC filing nor is it expected to have a material impact on future SEC filings.
  
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Recent Accounting Pronouncements Yet to be Adopted  
 
To date, there have been no recent accounting pronouncement not yet effective that have significance, or potential significance, to our Consolidated Financial Statements. 
 
 
NOTE C—REVENUE RECOGNITION
  
Revenue from Contracts with Customers  
    
The Company derives revenue from the manufacture and sale of fiber optic networking products. Revenue is recognized when obligations under the terms of a contract with its customer are satisfied; generally this occurs with the transfer of control of products or services. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring products or providing services. Certain customers may receive cash and/or non-cash incentives, which are accounted for as variable consideration. To achieve this core principle, the Company applies the following five steps:
  
1. Identify the contract with a customer  
  
A contract with a customer exists when (i) the Company enters into an agreement with a customer that defines each party's rights regarding the products or services to be transferred and identifies the payment terms related to these products or services, (ii) both parties to the contract are committed to perform their respective obligations, (iii) the contract has commercial substance, and (iv) the Company determines that collection of substantially all consideration for products or services that are transferred is probable based on the customer's intent and ability to pay the promised consideration. The Company applies judgment in determining the customer's ability and intention to pay, which is based on a variety of factors including the customer's payment history or, in the case of a new customer, published credit and financial information pertaining to the customer.
  
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2. Identify the performance obligations in the contract
  
Performance obligations promised in a contract are identified based on the products or services that will be transferred to the customer that are both capable of being distinct, whereby the customer can benefit from the product or service either on its own or together with other resources that are readily available from third parties or from the Company, and are distinct in the context of the contract, whereby the transfer of the products or services is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. To the extent a contract includes multiple promised products or services, the Company must apply judgment to determine whether promised products or services are capable of being distinct and distinct in the context of the contract. If these criteria are not met, the promised products or services are accounted for as a combined performance obligation. The Company has elected to account for shipping and handling activities as a fulfillment cost as permitted by the standard.
  
3. Determine the transaction price
  
The transaction price is determined based on the consideration to which the Company will be entitled in exchange for transferring products or services to the customer. To the extent the transaction price is variable, revenue is recognized at an amount equal to the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled. This estimate includes customer sales incentives which are accounted for as a reduction to revenue and estimated using either the expected value method or the most likely amount method, depending on the nature of the program. The Company will adjust its consideration for any rebates if it is more likely than not that the rebate conditions will be met.
  
4. Allocate the transaction price to performance obligations in the contract
  
If the contract contains a single performance obligation, the entire transaction price is allocated to the single performance obligation. Contracts that contain multiple performance obligations require an allocation of the transaction price to each performance obligation based on a relative standalone selling price basis unless a portion of the variable consideration related to the contract is allocated entirely to a performance obligation. The Company determines standalone selling price based on the price at which the performance obligation is sold separately.
  
5. Recognize revenue when or as the Company satisfies a performance obligation  
  
The Company generally satisfies performance obligations at a point in time. Revenue is recognized based on the transaction price at the time the related performance obligation is satisfied by transferring a promised product or service to a customer.
  
Disaggregation of Revenue  
  
Revenue is classified based on the location of where the product is manufactured. For additional information on the disaggregated revenues by geographical region, see Note R, "Segments and Geographic Information.”
 
Revenue is also classified by major product category and is presented below (in thousands):
  
    Years ended December 31,
 
            % of
            % of
            % of
 
    2021
    Revenue
    2020
    Revenue
    2019
    Revenue
 
Data Center
  $ 97,461       46.1 %   $ 173,437       73.9 %   $ 143,562       75.2 %
CATV
    94,266       44.6 %     37,944       16.2 %     37,328       19.6 %
Telecom
    16,247       7.7 %     21,092       9.0 %     8,429       4.4 %
FTTH
    957       0.5 %     110       0.0 %     190       0.1 %
Other
    2,634       1.2 %     2,040       0.9 %     1,363       0.7 %
Total Revenue
  $ 211,565       100.0 %   $ 234,623       100.0 %   $ 190,872       100.0 %
 
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NOTE D—  Leases
 
The Company leases space under non-cancellable operating leases for manufacturing facilities, research and development offices and certain storage facilities and apartments. These leases do not contain contingent rent provisions. The Company also leases certain machinery, office equipment and a vehicle under operating leases. Many of its leases include both lease (e.g. fixed payments including rent, taxes, and insurance costs) and non-lease components (e.g. common-area or other maintenance costs) which are accounted for as a single lease component as the Company has elected the practical expedient to group lease and non-lease components for all leases. Several of the leases include one or more options to renew which have been assessed and either includes or excludes from the calculation of the lease liability of the ROU asset based on management’s intentions and individual fact patterns. Several warehouses and apartments have non-cancellable lease terms of less than one -year and therefore, the Company has elected the practical expedient to exclude these short-term leases from its ROU asset and lease liabilities.
 
As most of the Company’s leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rate, which is the rate incurred to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. Based on the applicable lease terms and current economic environment, the Company applies a location approach for determining the incremental borrowing rate.
 
The Components of lease expense were as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
 
    Year ended December 31,
    Year ended December 31,
 
    2021
    2020
 
Operating lease expense
  $ 1,230     $ 1,206  
Financing lease expense
    32       32  
Short Term lease expense
    19       130  
Total lease expense
  $ 1,281     $ 1,368  
 
Maturities of lease liabilities are as follows for the future one -year periods ending December 31, ( in thousands):
 
    Operating
    Financing
 
2022
  $ 1,312     $ 22  
2023
    1,327       66  
2024
    1,231       —  
2025
    1,257       —  
2026
    1,197       —  
2027 and thereafter
    2,923       —  
Total lease payments
  $ 9,247     $ 88  
Less imputed interest
    ( 996 )     ( 6 )
Present value
  $ 8,251     $ 82  
 
The weighted average remaining lease term and discount rate for operating leases were as follows for the periods indicated:
 
    December 31,
    December 31,
 
    2021
    2020
 
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term (Years) - operating leases
    7.15
      8.09
 
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term (Years) - financing leases
    1.83
      2.83
 
Weighted Average Discount Rate - operating leases
    3.22 %
      3.23 %
 
Weighted Average Discount Rate - financing leases
    5.00 %
      5.00 %
 
 
Supplemental cash flow information related to operating leases was as follows for the periods indicated (in thousands):
 
    Year ended December 31,
    Year ended December 31,
 
    2021
    2020
 
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
               
Operating cash flows from operating leases
    1,287       1,351  
Operating cash flows from financing lease
    5       5  
Financing cash flows from financing lease
    18       17  
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities
    124       712  
 
 
 
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NOTE E—CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH
  
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the statement of financial position that sum to the total of the same such amounts in the statement of cash flows (in thousands):
 
    December 31,
    December 31,
 
    2021
    2020
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 34,656     $ 43,425  
Restricted cash
    6,480       6,689  
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows
  $ 41,136     $ 50,114  
 
Restricted cash includes guarantee deposits for customs duties, China government subsidy fund, and compensating balances associated with certain credit facilities. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020 , there was $ 3.0  million and $ 4.9 million of restricted cash required for bank acceptance notes issued to vendors, respectively. There was $ 2.4 million and $ 0.5 million certificate of deposit associated with credit facilities with a bank in China as of  December 31, 2021 and 2020 respectively. There was $ 1.0 million guarantee deposits for customs duties as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. 
  
  
 
NOTE F—EARNINGS PER SHARE
  
Basic net loss per share has been computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share has been computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock and dilutive potential common shares from options and restricted stock units outstanding during the period. In periods with net losses, normally dilutive shares become anti-dilutive. Therefore, basic and dilutive earnings per share are the same.
  
The following table presents the computation of the basic and diluted net loss per share for the periods indicated (in thousands):
  
    Year ended December 31,
 
    2021
    2020
    2019
 
Numerator:
                       
Net loss
  $ ( 54,162 )   $ ( 58,452 )   $ ( 66,049 )
Denominator:
                       
Weighted average shares used to compute net loss per share
                       
Basic
    26,912       21,867       19,982  
Effect of dilutive options and restricted stock units
    —       —       —  
Diluted
    26,912       21,867       19,982  
Net loss per share
                       
Basic
  $ ( 2.01 )   $ ( 2.67 )   $ ( 3.31 )
Diluted
  $ ( 2.01 )   $ ( 2.67 )   $ ( 3.31 )
 
 
The following potentially dilutive securities were excluded from diluted net loss per share as their effect would have been antidilutive (in thousands):
 
    As of December 31,
 
    2021
    2020
 
Employee stock options
    3       19  
Restricted stock units
    3       5  
Shares for convertible senior notes
    4,587       4,587  
Total antidilutive shares
    4,593       4,611  
  
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NOTE G—INVENTORIES
  
At December 31, 2021 and 2020 , inventories consisted of the following (in thousands):
  
    As of December 31,
 
    2021
    2020
 
Raw materials
  $ 29,469     $ 25,555  
Work in process and sub-assemblies
    41,528       52,544  
Finished goods
    21,519       32,298  
Total inventory
  $ 92,516     $ 110,397  
 
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 , the lower of cost or market reserve adjustment expensed for inventory was $ 3.9 million, $ 3.9 million, and $ 6.8 million, respectively. For the years December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 , the direct inventory write-offs related to scrap, discontinued products, and damaged inventories were $ 16.8 million, $ 20.4 million, and $ 13.4 million, respectively.
  
 
NOTE H—PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
  
Property, plant and equipment consisted of the following for the periods indicated (in thousands):
  
    December 31, 2021
    December 31, 2020
 
Land improvements
  $ 806     $ 806  
Building and improvements
    89,698       88,280  
Machinery and equipment
    266,386       253,738  
Furniture and fixtures
    5,658       5,540  
Computer equipment and software
    12,727       11,912  
Transportation equipment
    726
      699  
      376,001       360,975  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    ( 167,772 )     ( 142,434 )
      208,229       218,541  
Construction in progress
    33,705       33,342  
Land
    1,101       1,101  
Total property, plant and equipment, net
  $ 243,035     $ 252,984  
 
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 , depreciation expense of property, plant and equipment was $ 24.8 million, $ 24.2 million, and $ 23.5 million, respectively. For the years  December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 , the capitalized interest was $ 0.9 million, $ 0.4 million, and $ 0.2 million, respectively. 
 
As of December 31, 2021 , the Company concluded that its continued loss history constitutes a triggering event as described in ASC 360 - 10 - 35 - 21, Property, Plant, and Equipment .  The Company performed a recoverability test and concluded that future undiscounted cash flows exceed the carrying amount of the Company’s long-lived assets and therefore no impairment charge was recorded. 
 
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NOTE I—INTANGIBLE ASSETS
  
Intangible assets consisted of the following for the periods indicated (in thousands):
  
    December 31, 2021
 
    Gross
    Accumulated
    Intangible
 
    Amount
    amortization
    assets, net
 
Patents
  $ 8,597     $ ( 4,779 )   $ 3,818  
Trademarks
    35       ( 17 )   $ 18  
Total intangible assets
  $ 8,632     $ ( 4,796 )   $ 3,836  
 
    December 31, 2020
 
    Gross
    Accumulated
    Intangible
 
    Amount
    amortization
    assets, net
 
Patents
  $ 8,158     $ ( 4,165 )   $ 3,993  
Trademarks
    21       ( 15 )     6  
Total intangible assets
  $ 8,179     $ ( 4,180 )   $ 3,999  
 
For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 , amortization expense for intangible assets, included in general and administrative expenses on the income statement, was $ 0.5 million each year. The remaining weighted average amortization period for intangible assets is approximately six  years.
  
At December 31, 2021 , future amortization expense for intangible assets is estimated to be (in thousands):
 
2022
  $ 584  
2023
    584  
2024
    584  
2025
    584  
2026
    584  
thereafter
    916  
    $ 3,836  
 
 
NOTE J—FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
  
The following table presents a summary of the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2021 (in thousands):
  
    Quoted prices
    Significant
                 
    in active
    other
                 
    markets for
    observable
    Significant
         
    identical
    remaining
    unobservable
         
    assets (Level 1)
    inputs (Level 2)
    inputs (Level 3)
    Total
 
Assets:
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 34,656     $ —     $ —     $ 34,656  
Restricted cash
    6,480       —       —       6,480  
Note receivable
    —       8,148       —       8,148  
Total assets
  $ 41,136     $ 8,148     $ —     $ 49,284  
Liabilities:
                               
Bank acceptance payable
    —     $ 8,198       —     $ 8,198  
Convertible senior notes
    —       67,588       —       67,588  
Total liabilities
  $ —     $ 75,786     $ —     $ 75,786  
 
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The following table presents a summary of the Company’s financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of  December 31, 2020 (in thousands):
  
    Quoted prices
    Significant
                 
    in active
    other
                 
    markets for
    observable
    Significant
         
    identical
    remaining
    unobservable
         
    assets (Level 1)
    inputs (Level 2)
    inputs (Level 3)
    Total
 
Assets:
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 43,425     $ —     $ —     $ 43,425  
Restricted cash
    6,689       —       —       6,689  
Note receivable
    —       401       —       401  
Total assets
  $ 50,114     $ 401     $ —     $ 50,515  
Liabilities:
                               
Bank acceptance payable
    —     $ 15,860       —     $ 15,860  
Convertible senior notes
    —       70,225       —       70,225  
Total liabilities
  $ —     $ 86,085     $ —     $ 86,085  
 
 
NOTE K—NOTES PAYABLE AND LONG-TERM DEBT
  
Notes payable and long-term debt consisted of the following for the periods indicated (in thousands):
  
    December 31, 2021
    December 31, 2020
 
                 
Revolving line of credit with a U.S. bank up to $ 20,000 with interest at LIBOR plus 1.5 % , maturing April 2, 2021
    —     $ 18,700  
Revolving line of credit with a U.S. bank up to $ 20,000 with interest at SOFR plus 1.56 % , maturing April 15, 2023
  $ 14,373       —  
Paycheck Protection Program Term Note with interest at fixed rate 1.0 %, maturing April 16, 2022
    —       6,229  
Revolving line of credit with a Taiwan bank up to $ 3,436 with 2.2 % interest, maturing January 31, 2021
    —       1,756  
Notes payable to a finance company due in monthly installments with 3.5 % interest, maturing January 21, 2022
    —       1,941  
Notes payable to a finance company due in monthly installments with 3.1 % interest, maturing January 21, 2022
    170       2,149  
Revolving line of credit with a China bank up to $ 8,917 with interest ranging from 4.5 %, maturing October 15, 2021
    —       2,299  
Revolving line of credit with a China bank up to $ 25,449 with interest from 3.01 % to 4.57 %, maturing May 24, 2024
    19,595       11,603  
Credit facility with a China bank up to $ 14,125 with interest of 3.5 %, maturing January 1, 2024
    13,044       —  
Credit facility with a China bank up to $ 7,167 with interest of 5.7 %, maturing from June 20, 2022
    7,529       7,510  
Sub-total
    54,711       52,187  
Less debt issuance costs, net
    ( 22 )     ( 18 )
Grand total
    54,689       52,169  
Less current portion
    ( 49,689 )     ( 38,265 )
Non-current portion
  $ 5,000     $ 13,904  
                 
Bank Acceptance Notes Payable
               
Bank acceptance notes issued to vendors with a zero percent interest rate
  $ 8,198     $ 15,860  
 
The current portion of long-term debt is the amount payable within one year of the balance sheet date of December 31, 2021 .
  
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Maturities of notes payable and long-term debt are as follows for the future years ending December  31 (in thousands):
  
2022
  $ 49,689  
2023
    5,000  
Total outstanding
  $ 54,689  
 
On  September 28, 2017,  the Company entered into a Loan Agreement (“Loan Agreement”), a Promissory Note, an Addendum to the Promissory Note, a Security Agreement, a Trademark Security Agreement, and a Patent Security Agreement (together the “Credit Facility”) with Truist Bank (which acquired Branch Banking and Trust Company or BB&T in connection with a merger in  December 2019) .  The Company’s obligations under the Credit Facility are secured by the Company’s accounts receivable, inventory, intellectual property, and all business assets with the exception of real estate and equipment.
 
On  September 30, 2019,  the Company executed a Fourth Amendment to Loan Agreement (the “Fourth Amendment”) with Truist Bank. Under the terms of the Fourth Amendment (i) the maximum commitment under the line of credit was reduced from $ 25,000,000  to  $20,000,000;  (ii) the maturity date of the line of credit was extended to  April 2, 2021; ( iii) pricing of the unused line fee was adjusted to  0.30 % per annum; and (iv) the Fourth Amendment established the requirement that if, at any time during any reporting period and pursuant to the most recent loan base report received by Truist Bank, the principal balance outstanding under the line of credit exceeds the lesser of the approved maximum amount of the line of credit commitment amount or the collateral loan value reduced by the reserves, the Company shall immediately prepay the line of credit to the extent necessary to eliminate such excess. Such reserves shall, at any time that the fixed charge coverage ratio for the loan is less than  1.5  to  1.0,  tested for the period of  twelve  months ended on the applicable covenant measurement date, equal to an amount equal to  seventy-five  percent ( 75 %) of the lesser of the line of credit commitment amount or collateral loan value reduced by the sum of (i) the principal balance outstanding under the line of credit, (ii) the letter of credit exposure reserve, and (iii) the availability reserve as determined by Truist Bank from the most recent loan base report and otherwise in the sole discretion of Truist Bank after consideration of collections.
 
On  April 5, 2021,  the Company executed a Fifth Amendment to the Loan Agreement (the "Fifth Amendment") and a Fourth Amendment to a Security Agreement, a Note Modification Agreement, and an Addendum to a Promissory Note (together with the Fifth Amendment, the “Fifth Amended Credit Facility”) with Truist Bank. The Amended Credit Facility renews the $ 20  million line of credit with Truist Bank originally entered into on  September 28, 2017.  Under the terms of the Fifth Amended Credit Facility, the maturity date of the line of credit is extended from   April 2, 2021  to  October 15, 2022.  Borrowings will bear interest at a rate equal to LIBOR plus  1.5 %, with a LIBOR floor of  0.75 %.
 
On December 29, 2021, the Company executed a Sixth Amendment to the Loan Agreement (the "Sixth Amendment") and a Fifth Amendment to Security Agreement, a Note Modification Agreement, and an Addendum to Promissory Note (together the "Sixth Amended Credit Facility") with Truist Bank. The Sixth Amended Credit Facility extends the $ 20 million line of credit, originally entered into on September 28, 2017, until April 15, 2023. Borrowings will bear interest at a rate equal to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus 1.56%, with a SOFR floor of 0.75 %. As of December 31, 2021 , the Company had $ 14.4 million outstanding and was in compliance with all covenants under the Sixth Amended Credit Facility.
 
On  April 17, 2020,  the Company entered into a term note ("PPP Term Note") with Truist Bank, with a principal amount of $ 6.23  million pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”). The PPP loan is evidenced by a promissory note. The PPP Term Note bears interest at a fixed annual rate of  1.00%,  with the   first   six  months of interest deferred. Beginning in  November 2020,  the Company is required to make  18  equal monthly payments of principal and interest with the final payment due in  April 2022.  The PPP Term Note  may  be accelerated upon the occurrence of an event of default. The PPP Term Note is unsecured and guaranteed by the United States Small Business Administration ("SBA"). On  June 14, 2021,  the Company received notification from Truist Bank that the SBA approved the Company's application for forgiveness of the entire principal amount of the PPP Term Note, plus all accrued interest. The forgiveness of the PPP Term Note has been recognized as other income for the year ended  December 31, 2021 .
 
 
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On  September 15, 2020,  Prime World entered into an Amendment to the Finance Lease Agreements dated  November 29, 2018  and  January 21, 2019 ( the “Amendment”) with Chailease Finance Co., Ltd. (“Chailease”). The Amendment amends the Finance Lease Agreements, dated  November 29, 2018  and  January 21, 2019 ( hereafter collectively referred to as the “Original Finance Agreements”). Pursuant to the Amendment, Prime World agrees to pay Chailease  NT$22,311,381,  or approximately $ 0.8  million for certain leased equipment listed in the Amendment (the “Leased Equipment”). This payment will include all outstanding lease payments, costs and expenses; simultaneously, Chailease agrees to transfer title of such Leased Equipment back to Prime World. Regarding all other equipment contemplated in the Original Finance Agreements but  not  listed in the Amendment, pursuant to the terms and conditions made under the Original Finance Agreements, Prime World is obligated to pay Chailease monthly lease payments which total  NT$159,027,448,  or approximately $ 5.5  million (the “Lease Payments”). The Lease Payments will begin on  September 21, 2020  with the last lease payment due on  January 21, 2022,  title of all other equipment contemplated under the Original Finance Agreements but  not  listed in the Amendment will transfer to Prime World upon completion of the lease payments and expiration of the Original Finance Agreements. As of December 31, 2021 , the Company has fully repaid the  November 29, 2018  Finance Lease Agreement, and the Company had $ 0.2 million outstanding under the  January 21, 2019  Finance Lease Agreement.
 
On   October 7, 2020 ,  Prime World entered into a revolving credit facility totaling  NT$100  million, or approximately  $ 3.44  million (the  “NT$100M  Credit Line”) and a $ 1  million USD credit line (the  “US$1M  Credit Line”) with Taishin International Bank in Taiwan ("Taishin"). Borrowing under the  NT$100M  Credit Line will be used for short-term working capital; borrowing under the  US$1M  Credit Line will be strictly used for spot transactions in the foreign exchange market. The  NT$100M  Credit Line and the  US$1M  Credit Line are collectively referred to as the “Taishin Credit Facility”. On  January 14, 2021,  the  NT$100M  Credit Line with Taishin was extended for  three  ( 3 ) months until  April 14, 2021.  Prime World  may  draw upon the Taishin Credit Facility from  October 7, 2020  through  April 14, 2021.  The term of each draw under the  NT$100M  Credit Line shall be either  90  or  120  days and will bear interest at a rate of   2.15 % for each draw; borrowings under the  US$1M  Credit Line will bear interest equal to Taishin’s foreign exchange rate effective on the day of the applicable draw. At the end of the draw term Prime World will make payment for all principal and accrued interest. Prime World’s obligations under the Taishin Credit Facility will be secured by a promissory note between Prime World and Taishin. As of December 31, 2021 , the Company has fully repaid the Taishin Credit Facility. 
 
On April 19, 2019, the Company’s China subsidiary, Global, entered into a twelve ( 12 ) month revolving line of credit agreement, totaling 60,000,000 RMB, or approximately $ 8.9 million, (the “China Merchants Credit Line”), with China Merchants Bank Co., Ltd., in Ningbo, China (“China Merchants”). The China Merchants Credit Line will be used by Global for general corporate purposes, including the issuance of bank acceptance notes to Global’s vendors. On April 14, 2020,  the China Merchants Credit Line was extended for twelve ( 12 ) months. Global may draw upon the China Merchants Credit Line from April 19, 2019 until October 14, 2020 ( the “Credit Period”). During the Credit Period, Global may request to draw upon the China Merchants Credit Line on an as-needed basis; however, the amount of available credit under the China Merchants Credit Line and the approval of each draw may be reduced or declined by China Merchants due to changes in Chinese government regulations and/or changes in Global’s financial and operational condition at the time of each requested draw. Each draw will bear interest equal to China Merchants’ commercial banking interest rate effective on the day of the applicable draw. Global’s obligations under the China Merchants Credit Line are unsecured. The China Merchants Credit Line has been replaced by the Replacement China Merchants Credit Line on October 19, 2020.
 
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On May 24, 2019, the Company’s China subsidiary, Global, entered into a five -year revolving credit line agreement, totaling 180,000,000 RMB (the “SPD Credit Line”), or approximately $ 25.4 million, and a mortgage security agreement, with Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co., Ltd ("SPD"). Borrowing under the SPD Credit Line will be used for general corporate and capital investment purposes, including the issuance of bank acceptance notes to Global’s vendors. The total SPD Credit Line of 180 million RMB is inclusive of all credit facilities previously entered into with SPD including: a 30 million RMB credit facility entered into on May 7, 2019; and a 9.9 million RMB credit facility entered into on April 30, 2019.  Global may draw upon the SPD Credit Line on an as-needed basis at any time during the 5 -year term; however, draws under the SPD Credit Line may become due and repayable to SPD at SPD’s discretion due to changes in Chinese government regulations and/or changes in Global’s financial and operational condition. Each draw will bear interest equal to SPD’s commercial banking interest rate effective on the day of the applicable draw. Global’s obligations under the SPD Credit Line will be secured by real property owned by Global and mortgaged to the Bank under the terms of the mortgage security agreement. As of December 31, 2021 , $ 19.6 million was outstanding under the SPD Credit Line and the outstanding balance of bank acceptance notes issued to vendors was $ 5.4 million.
 
On  June 21, 2019,  the Company’s China subsidiary, Global, entered into an  18  month credit facility totaling  100,000,000  RMB (the  “¥100M  Credit Facility”), or approximately $ 14.1  million, with China Zheshang Bank Co., Ltd., in Ningbo City, China (“CZB”). Borrowing under the  ¥100M  Credit Facility will be used by Global for general corporate purposes. On  January 6, 2021,  the  ¥100M  Credit Facility with CZB was extended for  three  ( 3 ) years until  January 5, 2024.  Global  may  draw upon the  ¥100M  Credit Facility from  June 21, 2019  until  January 5, 2024 ( the  “¥100M  Credit Period”). During the  ¥100M  Credit Period, Global  may  request to draw upon the  ¥100M  Credit Facility on an as-needed basis; however, draws under the  ¥100M  Credit Facility  may  become due and repayable to CZB at CZB’s discretion due to changes in Chinese government regulations and/or changes in Global’s financial and operational condition. Each draw will bear interest equal to CZB’s commercial banking interest rate effective on the day of the applicable draw. Global’s obligations under the  ¥100M  Credit Facility will be secured by real property owned by Global and mortgaged to CZB under the terms of the Real Estate Security Agreement. The agreements for the  ¥100M  Credit Facility and the Real Estate Security Agreement also contain rights and obligations, representations and warranties, and events of default applicable to the Company that are customary for agreements of this type. As of December 31, 2021 , $ 13.0 million was outstanding under the  ¥100M  Credit Facility and the outstanding balance of bank acceptance notes issued to vendors was $ 2.7 million.
 
On  June 21, 2019,  the Company’s China subsidiary, Global, entered into a  three -year credit facility totaling  50,000,000  RMB (the  “¥50M  Credit Facility”), or approximately $ 7.1  million, with CZB. Borrowing under the  ¥50M  Credit Facility will be used by Global for general corporate purposes. Global  may  draw upon the  ¥50M  Credit Facility from  June 21, 2019  until  June 20, 2022 ( the  “¥50M  Credit Period”). During the  ¥50M  Credit Period, Global  may  request to draw upon the  ¥50M  Credit Facility on an as-needed basis; however, draws under the  ¥50M  Credit Facility  may  become due and repayable to CZB at CZB’s discretion due to changes in Chinese government regulations and/or changes in Global’s financial and operational condition. Each draw will bear interest equal to CZB’s commercial banking interest rate effective on the day of the applicable draw. Global’s obligations under the  ¥50M  Credit Facility will be secured by machinery and equipment owned by Global and mortgaged to CZB under the terms of the Machinery and Equipment Security Agreement.  As of December 31, 2021 , $ 7.5  million was outstanding under the  ¥50M  Credit Facility. 
 
On   October 19, 2020,  the Company’s China subsidiary, Global entered into a new  twelve  ( 12 ) month revolving line of credit agreement, totaling  60,000,000  RMB, or approximately $ 8.9  million (the “Replacement China Merchants Credit Line”), with China Merchants, to replace the original China Merchants Credit Line. The Replacement China Merchants Credit Line will be used by Global for general corporate purposes. Global  may  draw upon the Replacement China Merchants Credit Line during the period from  October 16, 2020  until  October 15, 2021.  During such period, Global  may  request to draw upon the Replacement China Merchants Credit Line on an as-needed basis; however, the amount of available credit under the Replacement China Merchants Credit Line and the approval of each draw  may  be reduced or declined by China Merchants due to changes in Chinese government regulations and/or changes in Global’s financial and operational condition at the time of each requested draw. Each draw will bear interest equal to the China Merchants’ commercial banking interest rate effective on the day of the applicable draw. Global’s obligations under the Replacement China Merchants Credit Line is unsecured. As of December 31, 2021 , there was  no  outstanding amount under the Replacement China Merchants Credit Line and the outstanding balance of bank acceptance notes issued to vendors was $ 0.1 million.
 
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020 , the Company had $7.4 million and $ 28.7 million of unused borrowing capacity, respectively.
  
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020 , there was each $ 5.4 million restricted cash, investments or security deposit associated mainly with the loan facilities, respectively.
 
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NOTE L—C onvertible Senior Notes
 
On March 5, 2019, the Company issued $ 80.5 million of 5 % convertible senior notes due 2024 (the “Notes”). The Notes were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of March  5, 2019 (the “Indenture”), between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, paying agent, and conversion agent (the “Trustee”). The Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.00% per year, payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on March  15 and September  15 of each year, beginning on September  15, 2019. The Notes will mature on March  15, 2024, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted in accordance with their terms.
 
The sale of the Notes generated net proceeds of $ 76.4 million, after deducting the Initial Purchasers’ discounts and offering expenses payable by the Company. The Company used approximately $ 37.8 million of the net proceeds from the offering to fully repay the CapEx Loan and Term Loan with BB&T and the remainder will be used for general corporate purposes.
 
The following table presents the carrying value of the Notes for the periods indicated (in thousands):
 
    December 31,
 
    2021
 
Principal
  $ 80,500  
Unamortized debt issuance costs
    ( 1,820 )
Net carrying amount
  $ 78,680  
 
The Notes are convertible at the option of holders of the Notes at any time until the close of business on the scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date. Upon conversion, holders of the Notes will receive shares of the Company’s common stock, together, if applicable, with cash in lieu of any fractional share, at the then-applicable conversion rate. The initial conversion rate is 56.9801 shares of the Company’s common stock per $ 1,000 principal amount of Notes (representing an initial conversion price of approximately $ 17.55 per share of common stock, which represents an initial conversion premium of approximately 30 % above the closing price of $ 13.50 per share of the Company’s common stock on February  28, 2019 ), subject to customary adjustments. If a make-whole fundamental change (as defined in the Indenture) occurs, and in connection with certain other conversions before March  15, 2022, the Company will in certain circumstances increase the conversion rate for a specified period of time.
 
Initially there are no guarantors of the Notes, but the Notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed, on a senior, unsecured basis by certain of the Company’s future domestic subsidiaries.  The Notes are the Company’s senior, unsecured obligations and are equal in right of payment with existing and future senior, unsecured indebtedness, senior in right of payment to the Company’s existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the Notes and effectively subordinated to the Company’s existing and future secured indebtedness, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing that indebtedness.  The Note Guarantee (as defined in the Indenture) of each future guarantor, if any, will be such guarantor’s senior, unsecured obligations and are equal in right of payment with existing and future senior, unsecured indebtedness, senior in right of payment to such future guarantor’s existing and future indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the Notes and effectively subordinated to such future guarantor’s existing and future secured indebtedness, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing that indebtedness.
 
Holders may require the Company to repurchase their Notes upon the occurrence of a fundamental change (as defined in the Indenture) at a cash purchase price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any.
 
The Company may not redeem the Notes prior to March  15, 2022.   On or after March  15, 2022, the Company may redeem for cash all or part of the Notes if the last reported sale price per share of the Company’s common stock exceeds 130 % of the conversion price on (i) each of at least 20 trading days, whether or not consecutive, during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the trading day immediately before the date the Company sends the related redemption notice; and (ii) the trading day immediately before the date the Company sends such redemption notice.  The redemption price is equal to 100 % of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the redemption date.  In addition, calling any Note for redemption will constitute a “make-whole fundamental change” with respect to that Note, in which case the conversion rate applicable to the conversion of that Note will be increased in certain circumstances if it is converted after it is called for redemption.
 
The Indenture contains covenants that limit the Company’s ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to, among other things: (i) incur or guarantee additional indebtedness or issue disqualified stock; and (ii) create or incur liens.
 
Pursuant to the guidance in ASC 815 - 40, Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity , the Company evaluated whether the conversion feature of the note needed to be bifurcated from the host instrument as a freestanding financial instrument. Under ASC 815 - 40, to qualify for equity classification (or non-bifurcation, if embedded) the instrument (or embedded feature) must be both ( 1 ) indexed to the issuer’s own stock and ( 2 ) meet the requirements of the equity classification guidance. Based upon the Company’s analysis, it was determined the conversion option is indexed to its own stock and also met all the criteria for equity classification contained in ASC 815 - 40 - 25 - 7 and 815 - 40 - 25 - 10. Accordingly, the conversion option is not required to be bifurcated from the host instrument as a freestanding financial instrument. Since the conversion feature meets the equity scope exception from derivative accounting, the Company then evaluated whether the conversion feature needed to be separately accounted for as an equity component under ASC 470 - 20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options .  The Company determined that notes should be accounted for in their entirety as a liability.
 
The Company incurred approximately $ 4.1 million in transaction costs in connection with the issuance of the Notes. These costs were recognized as a reduction of the carrying amount of the Notes utilizing the effective interest method and are being amortized over the term of the notes.
 
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The following table sets forth interest expense information related to the Notes (in thousands):
 
    Year ended December 31,
 
    2021
    2020
 
Contractual interest expense
  $ 4,025     $ 4,025  
Amortization of debt issuance costs
    826       831  
Total interest cost
  $ 4,851     $ 4,856  
Effective interest rate
    5.1 %     5.1 %
 
 
NOTE M—ACCRUED LIABILITIES
  
Accrued liabilities consisted of the following for the periods indicated (in thousands):
 
    December 31, 2021
    December 31, 2020
 
Accrued payroll
  $ 6,516     $ 10,517  
Accrued employee benefits
    3,471       3,057  
Accrued state and local taxes
    1,897       251  
Accrued interest
    1,475       1,256  
Advance payments
    195       303  
Accrued product warranty
    263       703  
Accrued commission expenses
    1,003       974  
Accrued professional fees
    346       377  
Accrued shipping and tariff expenses
    33       526  
Accrued other
    388       547  
Total accrued liabilities
  $ 15,587     $ 18,511  
 
 
NOTE N—OTHER INCOME AND EXPENSE
  
Other income and expense consisted of the following for the periods indicated (in thousands):
  
    Year ended December 31,
 
    2021
    2020
    2019
 
Foreign exchange transaction gain
  $ 454     $ 1     $ 20  
Government subsidy income
    1,345       2,708       1,614  
Other non-operating gain
    129       304       219  
Loan forgiveness
    6,229       —       —  
Gain (loss) on disposal of assets
    ( 1 )     ( 15 )     ( 13 )
Total other income, net
  $ 8,156     $ 2,998     $ 1,840  
 
 
NOTE O—INCOME TAXES
  
The sources of the Company’s loss from operations before income taxes were as follows (in thousands):
  
    Years ended December 31,
 
    2021
    2020
    2019
 
Domestic
  $ ( 21,229 )   $ ( 20,288 )     ( 35,279 )
Foreign
    ( 32,931 )     ( 30,936 )     ( 16,108 )
Total loss before income taxes
  $ ( 54,160 )   $ ( 51,224 )     ( 51,387 )
 
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The provision for income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, was as follows (in thousands):
  
Current:
  2021
    2020
    2019
 
Federal
  $ —     $ 41     $ —  
State
    2       2       16  
Foreign
    —       —       97  
Total
  $ 2     $ 43     $ 113  
Deferred:
                       
Federal
  $ —     $ ( 172 )   $ 16,375  
State
    —       —       1,716  
Foreign
    —       7,357       ( 3,542 )
Total
  $ —     $ 7,185     $ 14,549  
                         
Income tax (benefit) expense
  $ 2     $ 7,228     $ 14,662  
 
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities result principally from net operating losses, different methods of recognizing depreciation, reserves for doubtful accounts and inventory, research and development credits and foreign tax credits. At December  31, the net deferred tax assets and liabilities are comprised of the following approximate amounts (in thousands):
 
    2021
    2020
 
NOL carryforward
  $ 44,448     $ 31,526  
Inventory reserves
    2,872       2,241  
Unrealized gains and losses
    69       59  
Share-based compensation
    645       618  
Foreign tax credit
    4,599       4,599  
Research and development credits
    9,879       9,008  
Interest
    2,840       1,784  
ASC 842 Assets
    1,740       1,671  
Other
    728       784  
Deferred tax assets
    67,820       52,290  
Less valuation allowance
    ( 57,721 )     ( 43,462 )
Deferred tax assets, net
    10,099       8,828  
Depreciation and amortization
    ( 8,600 )     ( 7,402 )
ASC 842 Liabilities
    ( 1,499 )     ( 1,426 )
Deferred tax liabilities
    ( 10,099 )     ( 8,828 )
Deferred tax assets, net
  $ —     $ —  
 
The Company has a U.S. net operating loss carry forward of approximately $ 104.8 million, $ 32.7 million of which, if unused, expires between 2026 and 2032 and $ 72.1 million of which, can be carried forward indefinitely. The Company has U.S. and state research and development tax credits of $ 9.9 million, which, if unused, expire between 2028 and 2041. In addition, the Company has foreign tax credits of $ 4.6 million, which, if unused, will expire in 2028. Utilization of U.S. net operating losses and tax credit carry forwards are subject to an annual limitation due to the ownership change limitations set forth in Internal Revenue Code Section  382.  As of December 31, 2021, the Company had Taiwan net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $ 71.5 million and China net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $ 48.1 million.  The carryforward period for the Taiwan net operating loss carry forwards is ten years, and the expiration period begins 2028.   The carryforward period for China net operating loss carry forwards is five years, and the expiration period begins 2024.
 
Management assesses the available positive and negative evidence to estimate whether sufficient future taxable income will be generated to permit use of the existing deferred tax assets. A significant piece of objective negative evidence evaluated was the cumulative loss incurred over the three -year period ended December 31, 2021 . Such objective evidence limits the ability to consider other subjective evidence, such as our projections for future growth.
 
On the basis of this evaluation, as of December 31, 2021  and December 31, 2020, a valuation allowance of $ 57.7 million and $ 43.5 million, respectively, has been recorded to recognize only the portion of the deferred tax asset that is more likely than not to be realized. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the valuation allowance increased by $ 14.3 million and $ 17.7 million, respectively, primarily due to an increase in deferred tax assets with a full valuation allowance and recording a valuation allowance in certain jurisdictions. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be adjusted if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced or increased or if objective negative evidence in the form of cumulative losses is no longer present and additional weight is given to subjective evidence such as our projections for growth.
 
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The following table shows the change in the deferred tax valuation as follows:
 
    2021
    2020
    2019
 
Beginning Balance, January 1
  $ 43,462     $ 25,736     $ —  
Change charged to expense/(income)
    13,822       17,137       25,736  
Change charged to currency translation adjustment
    437       589       —  
Ending Balance, December 31
  $ 57,721     $ 43,462     $ 25,736  
 
A reconciliation of the U.S. federal income tax rate of 21 % for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 , respectively, to the Company’s effective income tax rate follows (in thousands):
  
    2021
    2020
    2019
 
Expected taxes at statutory rate
  $ ( 11,374 )   $ ( 10,775 )   $ ( 10,791 )
PPP loan forgiveness
    ( 1,308 )     —       —  
Non-deductible/non-taxable items
    897       1,132       962  
Foreign rate differences
    107       1,153       590  
Foreign permanent differences
    ( 1,320 )     ( 1,002 )     ( 671 )
Changes in valuation allowance
    13,822       17,137       25,736  
Share-based compensation
    468       426       607  
Research and development credits
    ( 872 )     ( 744 )     ( 1,616 )
Alternative Minimum Tax
    —       ( 172 )     —  
Foreign other
    —       12       27  
Other, net
    ( 418 )     61       ( 182 )
Tax (benefit) expense
  $ 2     $ 7,228     $ 14,662  
 
The Company's provision for income taxes in
2021
was lower than
2020
primarily due to the change of the valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets.
 
The Company's provision for income taxes in 2020 was lower than 2019 due to the recognition of a valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets, along with excess tax expense from stock-based compensation, partially offset by differences in pre-tax income and recording research and development credits.
 
The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Prime World is a tax-exempt entity under the Income Tax Code of the British Virgin Islands.
 
The Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Global Technology, Inc., has enjoyed preferential tax concessions in China as a national high-tech enterprise. In March 2007, China’s parliament enacted the PRC Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the EIT Law, under which, effective January  1, 2008, China adopted a uniform income tax rate of 25 % for all enterprises including foreign invested enterprises. Global Technology, Inc. was recognized as a National high-tech enterprise in 2008 and was entitled to a 15 % tax rate for a three year period from November 2008 to November 2011. In 2011, 2014, and 2017, Global Technology, Inc. renewed its National high-tech enterprise certificate and therefore extended its three -year tax preferential status through November 2020. In December 2020, Global Technology, Inc. again renewed its National high-tech enterprise certificate and therefore extended its three -year tax preferential status from December 2020 until December 2023. This tax holiday reduced its  2021, 2020 and 2019 income tax provision by approximately $ 0.0 million, $ 1.4 million, and $ 1.0 million, respectively. This tax holiday reduced its fiscal 2021, 2020, and 2019 diluted earnings per share by approximately $0.00, $0.05, and $ 0.05 respectively. Effective January 1, 2016, China expanded the scope of the National high-tech enterprise to include additional deductions for qualifying research and development.
  
As of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 , the total amount of unrecognized tax benefit was $ 0.2 million, $ 0.2 million, and $ 0.2 million, respectively. The following is a tabular reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits (in thousands):
  
    2021
    2020
    2019
 
Unrecognized tax benefits — January 1
  $ 181     $ 181     $ 181  
Gross increases — tax positions in prior period
    —       —       —  
Gross decreases — tax positions in prior period
    —       —       —  
Unrecognized tax benefits — December 31
  $ 181     $ 181     $ 181  
 
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The Company recognizes interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and penalties as income tax expense. Related to the unrecognized tax benefits noted above, it has not accrued penalties or interest during  2021 as a result of net operating losses. During 2020 or 2019 , the Company also accrued no penalties or interest.
  
The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and various states and foreign jurisdictions. The Company’s open tax years subject to examination in the U.S. federal and state jurisdictions are 2018 through 2020. To the extent allowed by law, the taxing authorities may have the right to examine prior periods where net operating losses or tax credits were generated and carried forward, and make adjustments up to the amount of the net operating loss or tax credit carryforward. The Company is subject to examination for tax years 2011 forward for various foreign jurisdictions.
 
The U.S. Tax Act significantly changed how the U.S. taxes corporations. The U.S. Tax Act requires complex computations to be performed that were not previously required by U.S. tax law, significant judgments to be made in interpretation of the provisions of the U.S. Tax Act, significant estimates in calculations, and the preparation and analysis of information not previously relevant or regularly produced. The U.S. Treasury Department, the IRS, and other standard-setting bodies will continue to interpret or issue guidance on how provisions of the U.S. Tax Act will be applied or otherwise administered. As future guidance is issued, the Company may make adjustments to amounts that we have previously recorded that may materially impact our provision for income taxes in the period in which the adjustments are made.
 
In response to the COVID- 19 pandemic, the CARES Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The CARES Act, among other things, includes tax provisions relating to refundable payroll tax credits, deferment of employer social security payments, net operating loss utilization and carryback periods, modifications to the net interest deduction limitations and technical corrections to tax depreciation methods for qualified improvement property (“QIP”). On December 27, 2020, the Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020 was enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, followed by the American Rescue Plan Act on March 1, 2021. These recent laws, among many other provisions, expand and extend the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), refundable employee retention tax credits previously made available under the CARES Act and allow a full deduction for business meals for the 2021 and 2022 tax years. During 2021, the Company recognized a tax benefit of $ 1.3 million on the non-taxable forgiveness of the PPP loan (see also Note K). However, the legislation had no material impact to income tax expense on the Company’s financial statements as a result of our valuation allowance. 
 
As of December 31, 2021, the Company does not have any accumulated undistributed earnings generated by foreign subsidiaries. The Company expects any earnings of foreign subsidiaries to be indefinitely invested outside the United States on the basis of estimates that future domestic cash generation will be sufficient to meet future domestic cash needs. 
 
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NOTE P—SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
  
Equity Plans  
                          
The Company’s board of directors and stockholders approved the following equity plans:
  
  ‑ the 2006 Share Incentive Plan
 
  ‑ the 2013 Equity Incentive Plan ( “2013 Plan”)
  
  ‑ the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan ( “2021 Plan”)
 
The Company issued stock options, restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) to employees, consultants and non-employee directors. Stock option awards generally vest over a four year period and have a maximum term of ten years. Stock options under these plans have been granted with an exercise price equal to the fair market value on the date of the grant. Nonqualified and Incentive Stock Options, RSAs and RSUs may be granted from these plans. Prior to the Company’s initial public offering in September 2013, the fair market value of the Company’s stock had been historically determined by the board of directors and from time to time with the assistance of third party valuation specialists.
  
Stock Options  
  
Options have been granted to the Company’s employees under the five incentive plans and generally become exercisable as to 25 % of the shares on the first anniversary date following the date of grant and semi-annually thereafter. All options expire ten years after the date of grant.
  
The following is a summary of option activity (in thousands, except per share data):
  
                    Weighted
            Weighted
         
            Weighted
    Average
            Average
         
            Average
    Share Price
    Weighted
    Remaining
    Aggregate
 
    Number of
    Exercise
    on Date of
    Average
    Contractual
    Intrinsic
 
    shares
    Price
    Exercise
    Fair Value
    Life
    Value
 
    (in thousands, except price data)
 
Outstanding, January 1, 2021
    276     $ 10.29             $ 5.41       2.67     $ 54  
Exercised
    ( 2 )     6.00     $ 9.64       0.40               7  
Forfeited
    ( 4 )     10.46               5.64               —  
Outstanding, December 31, 2021
    270       10.32               5.44       1.69       —  
Exercisable, December 31, 2021
    270       10.32               5.44       1.69       —  
Vested and expected to vest
    270       10.32               5.44       1.69       —  
 
As of December 31, 2021 , there was no unrecognized stock option expense.
  
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Restricted Stock Unit/Awards
  
The following is a summary of RSU/RSA activity (in thousands, except per share data):
  
            Weighted
                 
            Average Share
    Weighted
    Aggregate
 
    Number of
    Price on Date
    Average Fair
    Intrinsic
 
    shares
    of Release
    Value
    Value
 
    (in thousands, except price data)
 
Outstanding at January 1, 2021
    1,325             $ 14.97     $ 11,279  
Granted
    1,733               10.12       16,016  
Released
    ( 775 )   $ 8.28       15.21       6,411  
Cancelled/Forfeited
    ( 113 )             12.28       583  
Outstanding, December 31, 2021
    2,170               11.15       11,156  
Vested and expected to vest
    2,170               11.15       11,156  
 
As of  December 31, 2021 , there was $ 20.9 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to these RSUs and RSAs. This expense is expected to be recognized over  2.52 years.
  
Performance Based Incentive Plan
 
​In  June 2021 ,  the Company approved to grant performance stock units (“PSUs”) to senior executives as a part of our long-term equity compensation program. The number of shares of common stock that will ultimately be issued to settle PSUs granted ranges from  0 % to  200 % of the number granted and is determined based on certain performance criteria over a  three -year measurement period. The performance criteria for the PSUs are based on a combination of the performance of our stock price and the Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) for the performance period compared with the TSR of certain peer companies or index for the performance period. PSUs granted vest  100 % on the  third  anniversary of their grant, assuming achievement of the applicable performance criteria. We estimated the fair value of the PSUs using a Monte Carlo simulation model on the date of grant. Compensation expense is recognized ratably over the explicit service period. 
  
Share-Based Compensation  
  
The Company recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the applicable vesting term of the award and expense is adjusted as forfeitures occur.
  
In 2014, the Company ceased issuing stock options and began issuing RSUs and RSAs as share-based compensation to employees. The Company estimates the fair value of RSUs and RSAs at the fair market value on the grant date.
  
Employee share-based compensation expenses recognized for the years ended December  31, were as follows (in thousands):
  
Share-Based compensation - by expense type:
  
    2021
    2020
    2019
 
Cost of goods sold
  $ 885     $ 937     $ 772  
Research and development
    2,173       2,812       2,557  
Sales and marketing
    1,115       1,191       1,070  
General and administrative
    7,948       8,106       7,405  
Total share-based compensation expense
  $ 12,121     $ 13,046     $ 11,804  
 
 
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NOTE Q—STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  
Common Stock  
  
The Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 45,000,000  shares of common stock, all of which have been designated voting common stock.
  
Preferred Stock  
  
The Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 5,000,000  shares of preferred stock.
  
Public Offerings of Common Stock  
    
On October 24, 2019, the Company filed a Registration Statement on Form S- 3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission effective January 9, 2020, providing for the public offer and sale of certain securities of the Company from time to time, at its discretion, up to an aggregate amount of $250 million. In connection with such Form S- 3, on February 28, 2020, the Company entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement with Raymond James & Associates, Inc. pursuant to which the Company may issue and sell shares of the Company’s stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $ 55.0 million (the “Initial ATM Offering”) from time to time through Raymond James & Associates, Inc. The Company completed its Initial ATM Offering in January 2021 and sold 5.9 million shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $ 9.12 per share, providing proceeds of $ 53.9 million, net of expenses and underwriting discounts and commissions. On February 26, 2021, the Company entered into another Equity Distribution Agreement with Raymond James & Associates, Inc. pursuant to which the Company may issue and sell shares of the Company’s stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $ 35 million (the “Second ATM Offering”) from time to time through the Raymond James & Associates, Inc. As of December 31, 2021, the Company sold 0.1 million shares of common stock under the Second ATM Offering at a weighted average price of $ 9.08 per share, providing proceeds of $ 1.0 million, net of expenses and underwriting discounts and commissions.
  
 
NOTE R—SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
  
The Company operates in one reportable segment. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, who is considered to be the chief operating decision maker, manages the Company’s operations as a whole and reviews financial information presented on a consolidated basis, accompanied by information about product revenue, for purposes of evaluating financial performance and allocating resources.
  
The following tables set forth the Company’s revenue and asset information by geographic region. Revenue is classified based on the location of where the product is manufactured. Long-lived assets in the tables below comprise only property, plant, equipment and intangible assets (in thousands):  
 
 
 
Year ended December 31,
 
 
 
2021
 
 
2020
 
 
2019
 
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
 
$
14,633
 
 
$
18,380
 
 
$
9,795
 
Taiwan
 
 
99,201
 
 
 
131,076
 
 
 
97,776
 
China
 
 
97,731
 
 
 
85,167
 
 
 
83,301
 
 
 
$
211,565
 
 
$
234,623
 
 
$
190,872
 
 
 
 
As of December 31,
 
 
 
2021
 
 
2020
 
 
2019
 
Long-lived assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
 
$
87,709
 
 
$
90,999
 
 
$
94,507
 
Taiwan
 
 
63,644
 
 
 
71,080
 
 
 
73,816
 
China
 
 
108,509
 
 
 
108,575
 
 
 
97,687
 
 
 
$
259,862
 
 
$
270,654
 
 
$
266,010
 
 
The Company serves four primary markets, the internet data center, CATV, telecom and FTTH markets. Of the Company’s total revenues in 2021 , the Company earned $ 97.5 million, or 46.1 %, from the internet data center market, $ 94.3 million, or 44.6 %, from the CATV market, $ 16.2 million, or 7.7 %, from the telecom market and $ 1.0 million, or 0.5 %, from the FTTH market. Of the Company’s total revenues in 2020 , the Company earned $ 173.4 million, or 73.9 %, from the internet data center market, $ 37.9 million, or 16.2 %, from the CATV market, $ 21.1 million, or 9.0 %, from the telecom market and $ 0.1 million, or 0.0 %, from the FTTH market. Of the Company’s total revenues in 2019 , the Company earned $ 143.6  million, or  75.2 %, from the internet data center market, $ 37.3  million, or  19.6 %, from the CATV market, $ 8.4  million, or  4.4 %, from the telecom market and $ 0.2  million, or  0.1 %, from the FTTH market.
 
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NOTE S—EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
  
On August  1, 2000, the Company established a 401 (k) profit sharing plan covering employees meeting certain age and service requirements. The plan provides for discretionary Company contributions to be allocated based on the employee’s eligible contributions. The Company made contributions of $ 1.0 million, $ 0.8 million, and $ 0.8 million to the 401 (k) plan for each of the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 , respectively. 
   
Employees of Global participate in a state-mandated social security program in China. Under this program, pension costs are recorded on the basis of required monthly contributions to employees’ individual accounts during their service periods. Under the regulations of the People’s Republic of China, Global is required to make fixed contributions to a fund, which is under the administration of the local labor departments. Pension expense for Global was $ 1.0 million, $ 1.2 million, and $ 0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 , respectively.
  
Employees Prime World’s Taiwan branch participate in a pension program under the Taiwan Labor Pension Act. Pension expense for the Prime World’s Taiwan branch was $ 0.7 million, $ 0.8 million, and $ 0.8  million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 , respectively. 
 
NOTE T—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
  
Commitments  
  
The Company conducts part of its operations from leased facilities and also leases equipment. Rent expense was $ 1.3 million, $ 1.4 million, and $ 1.3 million, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 , respectively.
  
At December 31, 2021 , the approximate minimum rental commitments under noncancellable leases in excess of one year that expire at varying dates through 2029 were as follows (in thousands):  
  
Year ended December 31,
  Amount
 
2022
  $ 1,334  
2023
    1,393  
2024
    1,231  
2025
    1,257  
2026
    1,197  
thereafter
    2,923  
    $ 9,335  
 
Employment Agreements and Consultancy Agreements  
  
The Company has entered into employment and indemnification agreements with three executive officers. These agreements provide that if their employment is terminated as a result of a change of control of the Company, or if their employment is terminated for certain other reasons set forth in the agreements, the Company will be required to pay a severance payment in an amount equal to their annual base salary, and other additional compensation due under the terms of the agreements.
  
The Company has also entered into employment and indemnification agreements with one other executive officer. This agreement provides that if his employment is terminated as a result of a change of control of the Company, the Company will be required to pay a severance payment in an amount equal to six months of his annual base salary and other additional compensation due under the terms of the agreements.
  
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Contingencies  
  
From time to time, the Company may be subject to legal proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business, including, but not limited to, inquiries, investigations, audits and other regulatory proceedings, such as described below.  The Company records a loss provision when it believes it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Unless otherwise disclosed, the Company is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss for the legal proceeding described below.
  
Except for the lawsuits described below, the Company believes that there are no claims or actions pending or threatened against it, the ultimate disposition of which would have a material adverse effect on it.
 
Class Action and Shareholder Derivative Litigation
 
On  August 7, 2018,  a derivative lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas styled  Lei Jin, derivatively on behalf of Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. v. Chih-Hsiang ( “ Thompson ” ) Lin, Stefan J. Murry, William H. Yeh, Alex Ignatiev, Richard B. Black, Min-Chu Chen, Alan Moore, and Che-Wei Lin and Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. ,  No.   4:18 -cv- 02713  alleging breaches of fiduciary duties, unjust enrichment, and violations of Section  14 (a) of the Exchange Act based on similar factual allegations as in the securities class action captioned  Mona Abouzied v. Applied Optoelectronics, Inc., Chih-Hsiang (Thompson) Lin, and Stefan J. Murry, et al. , Case  No.   4:17 -cv- 02399,  which had been previously filed against the Company and was dismissed following a settlement in  2020 .   On  December 18, 2018,  a  second  derivative complaint was filed styled  Yiu Kwong Ng v.Chih-Hsiang ( “ Thompson ” ) Lin, Stefan J. Murry, William H. Yeh, Alex Ignatiev, Richard B. Black, Min-Chu Chen, Alan Moore, and Che-Wei Lin and Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. ,  No.   4:18 -cv- 4751  alleging the same causes of actions as the  Jin  complaint and additional factual allegations regarding our announcement on  September 28, 2018  that the Company had “identified an issue with a small percentage of  25G  lasers within a specific customer environment.”  On  January 11, 2019,  the Court consolidated these  two  derivative actions, and on  January 15, 2019,  the Court entered an order staying the actions pending the resolution of the securities class actions. On  June 24, 2020,  the plaintiffs filed a notice that the stay of proceedings had been terminated, and on  July 2, 2020,  the parties filed a Joint Stipulation and Proposed Scheduling Order. The Court entered the stipulated scheduling order on the same date, under which Defendants were required to file and serve their response or responsive pleading to the complaint by  August 3, 2020.  By agreement of the parties, the Court subsequently extended the deadline for Defendants to file and serve their response or responsive pleading to  December 2, 2020.  On  December 2, 2020,  Defendants filed their motion to dismiss the consolidated derivative complaint. On  December 7, 2020,  Plaintiffs filed a notice alerting the Court that they were intending to file an amended complaint, which was subsequently filed by Plaintiffs on  January 13, 2021.  Defendants filed a motion to dismiss all claims on  March 1, 2021.   On  June 25, 2021,  the parties filed a stipulation indicating that they had reached a settlement-in-principle of the action. In the stipulation, the Company agreed to implement various corporate governance reforms as specified in the Settlement Agreement in addition to having its D&O insurance carrier make a payment to the Plaintiffs in exchange for a full dismissal of all claims and customary releases. On  June 28, 2021,  the Court stayed all deadlines in the action for  30  days to allow the parties to finalize the settlement. The deadline was extended to late  August. On  August 30, 2021,  the Plaintiffs filed an unopposed Motion for Preliminary Approval of the Settlement agreed to by the parties. On November 2, 2021, the Court granted final approval of the settlement and closed the case. The deadline to appeal has now passed with no party appealing final judgement. This motion was granted on  August 31, 2021  and the Court set the Settlement Hearing date for  November 4, 2021.  The Company has complied with all requirements of the Settlement Agreement and the Settlement Hearing is on schedule to take place on  November 4, 2021.  The Company has agreed to implement various corporate governance reforms as specified in the Settlement Agreement in addition to having its D&O insurance carrier make a payment to the Plaintiffs in exchange for a full dismissal of all claims and customary releases.
 
Other Contingencies  
 
On August 9, 2021, the Company has received a Taxes Notification of Audit Result (“Notice”) from the Texas Comptroller’s Office (the “Comptroller”), for fiscal years between 2016 and 2019, informing the Company that the Comptroller believes the Company did not qualify for certain sales and use tax exemptions on various Research and Development purchases and accordingly the Company is liable for Sale and Use Tax in the amount of approximately $ 1.0 million including interest charges. The Company paid $ 0.4 million for the tax notice but challenged the remaining tax assessments and vigorously defended its position. The Comptroller’s office has not made final assessments after the Company’s defenses. However, the management estimated the additional tax assessment will be in the range of $ 0.2 million to $ 0.4 million including interest charges.
 
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NOTE U—SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
  
The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date the financial statements were issued.
 
In January 2022, the Company repaid its revolving bank line of credit of $ 14.4 million.
 
 
 
 
 
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.