<PAGE>
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2000
Registration No. 333-92657
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
--------------
AMENDMENT NO. 7
TO
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under The Securities Act of 1933
--------------
PALM, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
--------------
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Delaware 3571 94-3150688
(State or other jurisdiction of (Primary Standard Industrial (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Classification Code Number) Identification Number)
</TABLE>
5470 Great America Parkway
Santa Clara, CA 95052
(408) 326-9000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
Registrant's principal executive offices)
--------------
Carl J. Yankowski
Palm, Inc.
5470 Great America Parkway
Santa Clara, CA 95052
(408) 326-9000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)
--------------
Copies to:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Larry W. Sonsini, Esq. Stephen Yu, Esq. John L. Savva, Esq.
Aaron J. Alter, Esq. Palm, Inc. Steven B. Stokdyk, Esq.
Katharine A. Martin, Esq. 5470 Great America Parkway Sullivan & Cromwell
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Santa Clara, CA 95052 1888 Century Park East
Professional Corporation (408) 326-9000 Suite 2100
650 Page Mill Road Los Angeles, CA 90067-1725
Palo Alto, CA 94304 (310) 712-6600
(650) 493-9300
</TABLE>
--------------
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box. [_]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. [_]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
check the following box. [_]
--------------
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effectiveness until the Registrant shall
file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration
Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be +
+changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement +
+filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This +
+preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to +
+buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not +
+permitted. +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Subject to Completion. Dated March 1, 2000.
23,000,000 Shares
[PALM, INC. LOGO APPEARS HERE]
Palm, Inc.
Common Stock
----------
This is an initial public offering of shares of common stock of Palm, Inc.
All of the 23,000,000 shares of common stock are being sold by Palm.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the common stock.
We estimate that the initial public offering price will be between $30.00 and
$32.00 per share. Our common stock has been approved for quotation on the
Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "PALM".
See "Risk Factors" on page 7 to read about factors you should consider before
buying shares of the common stock.
----------
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body
has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or
adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
----------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Per Share Total
--------- -----
<S> <C> <C>
Initial public offering price.................................. $ $
Underwriting discount.......................................... $ $
Proceeds, before expenses, to Palm............................. $ $
</TABLE>
To the extent that the underwriters sell more than 23,000,000 shares of the
common stock, the underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional
3,450,000 shares from Palm at the initial public offering price less the
underwriting discount.
----------
The underwriters expect to deliver the shares in New York, New York on
, 2000.
Goldman, Sachs & Co. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Merrill Lynch & Co.
Robertson Stephens
----------
Prospectus dated , 2000.
<PAGE>
[Blue Palm logo with small picture of Palm V handheld device]
"Simply Palm. In all aspects of our business we strive to create solutions
that are simple and intuitive to use, elegant in their design and truly
useful in their function. These are the ideas that are driving our company
to create a world class brand. Example: Palm V handheld."
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
You should read the following summary together with the more detailed
information regarding our company and the common stock being sold in this
offering and our historical consolidated financial statements and notes to
those statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
PALM
We are the leading global provider of handheld computing devices. We develop,
design and market our Palm-branded handheld devices, which currently include
our Palm III, Palm V and Internet-enabled Palm VII product families. According
to International Data Corporation, in 1998 we had a 68% market share of the
worldwide personal companion handheld device market, which International Data
Corporation defines as small, pocket-sized devices that feature pen-based input
and allow users to automatically copy and conform, or synchronize, information
between the device and a personal computer. We believe our emphasis on
simplicity, elegance and ease of use and our focus on consumer needs have
contributed to our success to date. Our devices have also won numerous awards,
including Business Week's "Design of the Decade--Gold Award" and PC Computing's
Most Valuable Product award for "Best Pocket PC" in 1999. We intend to build on
our global market leadership in handheld computing devices through continued
innovation and focus on addressing customer needs.
The Palm operating system and related software, which we refer to as our Palm
platform, have been the cornerstone of our success in the handheld device
market. The Palm platform combines the distinctive look, feel and ease of use
of our Palm OS operating system with HotSync technology that enables users to
synchronize information between a Palm device and a personal computer,
pen-based input technology and personal information management applications
such as datebook and address book. Our Palm VII product also includes web-
clipping software that allows Internet content providers and users to send and
receive information via the Internet in a format optimized for handheld
devices. In addition to including the Palm platform in our Palm-branded
devices, we license the Palm platform to manufacturers of information
appliances, which we define as handheld devices that enable users to access and
manage information. Most recently, Nokia and Sony agreed to license the Palm
platform for use in their future products. We intend to establish our Palm
platform as the leading operating system in the rapidly converging markets of
handheld computing devices, information appliances, mobile phones and handheld
entertainment devices.
We have also established a wireless Internet access service, Palm.net, which
supports the Palm VII device and generates revenue from monthly subscription
fees. Palm.net subscribers can obtain wireless access to information such as
real-time stock quotes, news headlines and airline flight schedules. In
addition, our Palm.net service enables mobile users to access an increasing
array of enterprise data and applications. We have also developed our Palm.com
website, which is emerging as an important destination site for our customers,
users and developer community. As part of our Internet strategy, we are
expanding our Internet destination sites to provide new web-clipping
applications and facilitate e-commerce.
We believe that the continued adoption of handheld devices as well as our
strategic focus on Palm platform licensing and Internet services present us
with significant growth opportunities. We will continue our efforts to identify
and respond to customer needs as handheld computing devices become more
sophisticated, reach a broader customer base and become an increasingly
important means of Internet access on a global basis.
3
<PAGE>
As of December 31, 1999, we had sold over 5.5 million Palm devices worldwide.
As of December 31, 1999, more than 33,000 third-party developers had registered
to create applications based on the Palm platform. Our revenues have increased
from approximately $1 million in fiscal 1995 to $564 million in fiscal 1999. We
outsource the manufacturing of all of our devices to Manufacturers' Services
Limited and Flextronics.
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH 3COM
We are currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3Com Corporation. After the
completion of this offering and the private placements, 3Com will own
approximately 94.6% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, or
approximately 94.0% if the underwriters fully exercise their option to purchase
additional shares. 3Com currently plans to complete its divestiture of Palm
approximately six months following this offering by distributing all of the
shares of Palm common stock owned by 3Com to the holders of 3Com's common
stock. However, 3Com is not obligated to complete the distribution, and the
distribution may not occur by the anticipated time or at all.
3Com will, in its sole discretion, determine the timing, structure and all
terms of its distribution of our common stock that it owns. 3Com's distribution
is subject to receiving a private letter ruling from the Internal Revenue
Service that the distribution of its shares of Palm common stock to 3Com
stockholders will be tax-free to the stockholders and that our separation from
3Com qualifies as a reorganization for United States federal income tax
purposes.
Prior to the completion of this offering, we will enter into agreements with
3Com related to the separation of our business operations from 3Com. These
agreements provide for, among other things:
. the transfer from 3Com to us of assets and the assumption by us of
liabilities relating to our business;
. the allocation of intellectual property between us and 3Com; and
. various interim and ongoing relationships between us and 3Com.
The agreements regarding the separation of our business operations from 3Com
are described more fully in the section entitled "Arrangements Between Palm and
3Com" included elsewhere in this prospectus. The terms of these agreements,
which are being negotiated in the context of a parent-subsidiary relationship,
may be more or less favorable to us than if they had been negotiated with
unaffiliated third parties. See "Risk Factors--Risks Related To Our Separation
From 3Com." The assets and liabilities to be transferred to us are described
more fully in our consolidated financial statements and notes to those
statements that are also included elsewhere in this prospectus.
CONCURRENT PRIVATE PLACEMENTS
America Online, Inc., Motorola, Inc. and Nokia have agreed to purchase from
us shares of our common stock in private placements that will occur
concurrently with the closing of this offering. These investors will pay a per
share purchase price for this common stock equal to the initial public offering
price in this offering. Based on an assumed public offering price of $31.00,
America Online will purchase 2,580,645 shares, Motorola will purchase 2,096,775
shares and Nokia will purchase 2,580,645 shares of our common stock.
4
<PAGE>
THE OFFERING
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Common stock offered....................... 23,000,000 shares
Common stock to be outstanding immediately
after this offering and the private
placements................................ 562,258,065 shares
Common stock to be held by 3Com immediately
after this offering and the private
placements................................ 532,000,000 shares
Use of proceeds............................ For payment of a dividend of at least
$50 million to 3Com and up to $184.4
million based on an assumed initial public
offering price of $31.00 per share,
repayment of our intercompany payable to
3Com, which was approximately $58 million
as of November 26, 1999, capital
expenditures, marketing expenses, working
capital and potential investments in, or
acquisitions of, other businesses or
technologies.
Nasdaq Stock Market symbol................. PALM
</TABLE>
This information is based on 532,000,000 shares outstanding immediately prior
to this offering and the private placements, all of which are owned by 3Com.
Unless we specifically state otherwise, the information in this prospectus does
not take into account the issuance of up to 3,450,000 shares of common stock
that the underwriters have the option to purchase. If the underwriters exercise
in full their option to purchase additional shares, 565,708,065 shares of
common stock will be outstanding after this offering and the private
placements.
The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding immediately after
this offering listed above does not take into account approximately 25,500,000
shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under our stock plans, of
which no options to purchase shares have been granted as of January 27, 2000,
but does include an aggregate of 7,258,065 shares to be issued to America
Online, Motorola and Nokia in private placements concurrently with the closing
of this offering. In addition, we will assume substantially all of the 3Com
options held by our employees on the date 3Com distributes our common stock,
which options will convert into options to purchase our common stock.
We were incorporated in California in January 1992 as Palm Computing, Inc. In
connection with this offering and our separation from 3Com, we intend to
reincorporate in Delaware and change our name to Palm, Inc. We were acquired by
3Com in June 1997 as part of 3Com's acquisition of U.S. Robotics Corporation.
We had been acquired by U.S. Robotics in September 1995. From June 1997 to the
time of this offering, we have been operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of
3Com. Our principal executive offices are located at 5400 Bayfront Plaza, Santa
Clara, California 95052-8145, and our telephone number is (408) 326-9000. Our
websites are http://www.palm.com and http://www.palm.net. The information on
these websites is not a part of this prospectus.
In this prospectus, "Palm," "we," "us" and "our" each refers to Palm, Inc.
and its subsidiaries, and not to the underwriters or 3Com. "3Com" refers to
3Com Corporation and its subsidiaries.
Palm, our logo and other trademarks of Palm mentioned in this prospectus are
the property of Palm. All other trademarks or trade names referred to in this
prospectus are the property of their respective owners.
5
<PAGE>
SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following tables present our summary consolidated financial data. The
data presented in these tables are from "Selected Consolidated Financial Data"
and our historical consolidated financial statements and notes to those
statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. You should read those
sections for a further explanation of the financial data summarized here.
The historical financial information may not be indicative of our future
performance and does not reflect what our financial position and results of
operations would have been had we operated as a separate, stand-alone entity
during the periods presented.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended Six Months Ended
---------------------------------------------- -----------------
June 30, May 26, May 25, May 31, May 28, Nov. 27, Nov. 26,
1995(1) 1996(2) 1997 1998 1999 1998 1999
-------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Consolidated Statements
of Operations Data:
Revenues................ $ 1,403 $ 7,054 $114,157 $272,137 $563,525 $263,302 $435,060
Gross profit............ 1,229 2,575 36,472 114,388 247,909 116,015 188,718
Operating income
(loss)................. (2,231) (6,777) (13,513) 6,461 48,339 26,389 36,745
Net income (loss)....... (2,166) (3,062) (7,862) 4,171 29,628 16,187 22,520
Basic and diluted net
income (loss) per
share.................. $ -- $ (.01) $ (.01) $ .01 $ .06 $ .03 $ .04
Shares used in computing
basic and diluted net
income (loss) per
share.................. 532,000 532,000 532,000 532,000 532,000 532,000 532,000
Unaudited pro forma
basic and diluted net
income per share(3).... $ .06 $ .04
Shares used in computing
unaudited pro forma
basic and diluted net
income per share(3).... 538,389 538,389
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Nov. 26, 1999
-----------------------
Pro Forma
Actual As Adjusted(4)
-------- --------------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C>
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
Cash and cash equivalents............................... $ 29,568 $676,026
Working capital......................................... 3,765 623,812
Total assets............................................ 247,369 764,101
Payable to 3Com Corporation............................. 57,935 --
Stockholder's net investment............................ 26,431 646,478
</TABLE>
- -------
Notes:
(1) Our fiscal year end was June 30 prior to our acquisition by U.S. Robotics.
(2) Fiscal 1996 includes only eleven months of operating results.
(3) Pro forma basic and diluted net income per share amounts are calculated
using the common shares outstanding prior to the offering of 532,000,000
shares plus the 6,389,158 shares of common stock whose proceeds will be
used to pay an assumed $184.4 million dividend to 3Com, based on an assumed
initial public offering price of $31.00, reduced by the estimated per share
offering costs.
(4) Pro forma as adjusted amounts give effect to the following actions as
though these actions had been taken as of November 26, 1999:
. our sale of 23,000,000 shares of common stock in this offering at an
assumed initial public offering price of $31.00 per share and after
deducting an assumed underwriting discount and estimated offering
expenses payable by us;
. our sale of 7,258,065 shares of common stock to America Online, Motorola
and Nokia concurrently with the closing of this offering at an assumed
offering price of $31.00 per share;
. for administrative convenience, 3Com intends to retain most of our
accounts receivable and accounts payable at the time of our separation;
accordingly, such accounts receivable and accounts payable are excluded
from our pro forma balance sheet as of November 26, 1999;
. payment of a dividend to 3Com of an assumed $184.4 million; and
. repayment of an intercompany payable to 3Com, which was approximately $58
million at November 26, 1999.
6
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the risks described below and the other
information in this prospectus before investing in our common stock.
Risks Related to Our Business
If we fail to develop and introduce new products and services rapidly and
successfully, we will not be able to compete effectively and our ability to
generate revenues will suffer.
We operate in a highly competitive, quickly changing environment, and our
future success depends on our ability to develop and introduce new products and
services that our customers and end users choose to buy. If we are unsuccessful
at developing and introducing new products and services that are appealing to
end users, our business and operating results would be seriously harmed because
we would not be able to compete effectively and our ability to generate
revenues would suffer.
The development of new products and services can be very difficult and
requires high levels of innovation. The development process is also lengthy and
costly. If we fail to anticipate our end users' needs and technological trends
accurately or are otherwise unable to complete the development of products and
services quickly, we will be unable to introduce new products and services into
the market on a timely basis, if at all. For example, our most recently
introduced handheld device product, the Palm VII device, took more than two
years to develop. In addition, because the Palm VII device requires Internet
services and applications to support it, we must also continue to develop new
services to maintain and broaden its user appeal.
Because the sales and marketing life cycle of our handheld devices is
generally 12 to 18 months or less, we must:
. continue to develop updates to our Palm platform, new handheld devices
and new Internet services, or our existing products and services will
quickly become obsolete;
. manage the timing of new product introductions so that we minimize the
impact of customers delaying purchases of existing products in
anticipation of new product releases;
. manage the levels of existing and older product and component
inventories to minimize inventory write-offs; and
. adjust the prices of our existing products in order to increase customer
demand for these products.
If we do not correctly anticipate demand for our products, we may not be able
to secure sufficient quantities or cost-effective production of our handheld
devices or we could have costly excess production or inventories.
Historically, we have seen steady increases in demand for our products and
have generally been able to increase production to meet that demand. However,
the demand for our products depends on many factors and will be difficult to
forecast. We expect that it will become more difficult to forecast demand as we
introduce and support multiple handheld device products and as competition in
the market for our products intensifies. Significant unanticipated fluctuations
in demand could cause the following problems in our operations:
. If demand increases beyond what we forecast, we would have to rapidly
increase production at our third-party manufacturers. We would depend on
suppliers to provide
7
<PAGE>
additional volumes of components and those suppliers might not be able
to increase production rapidly enough to meet unexpected demand. Even if
we are able to procure enough components, our third-party manufacturers
might not be able to produce enough of our devices as fast as we need
them. The inability of either our manufacturers or our suppliers to
increase production rapidly enough could cause us to fail to meet
customer demand.
. Rapid increases in production levels to meet unanticipated demand could
result in higher costs for manufacturing and supply of components and
other expenses. These higher costs could lower our profit margins.
Further, if production is increased rapidly, manufacturing yields could
decline, which may also lower our margins.
. If forecasted demand does not develop, we could have excess production
resulting in higher inventories of finished products and components,
which would use cash and could lead to write-offs of some or all of the
excess inventories. Lower than forecasted demand could also result in
excess manufacturing capacity at our third-party manufacturers and
failure to meet some minimum purchase commitments, each of which could
result in lower margins.
Our quarterly operating results are subject to fluctuations and seasonality,
and if we fail to meet the expectations of securities analysts or investors,
our share price may decrease significantly.
Our operating results are difficult to predict. Our future quarterly
operating results may fluctuate significantly and may not meet the expectations
of securities analysts or investors. If this occurs, the price of our stock
would likely decline. Factors that may cause fluctuations in our operating
results include the following:
. Seasonality. Historically, our revenues have usually been weaker in the
first and third quarters of each fiscal year and have, from time to
time, been lower than the preceding quarter. This weakness is due to the
fact that our devices are highly consumer-oriented, and consumer buying
is traditionally lower in these quarters. As our licensing revenues
grow, we expect that they will contribute to the fluctuations in our
quarterly results because the products offered by our licensees are also
primarily consumer-oriented. In addition, we attempt to time our new
product releases to coincide with relatively higher consumer spending in
the second and fourth fiscal quarters, which contributes to these
seasonal variations.
. Increases in Operating Expenses. As we expand our operations, we expect
that our operating expenses, particularly our sales, marketing and
research and development costs, will continue to increase. We also
expect to make significant expenditures, including using a portion of
the proceeds from this offering, to expand our Internet services through
increased marketing activities and investments in network expansion
related to our subscription-based Internet access service. These
Internet services expenditures as well as a significant portion of our
sales, marketing and research and development costs are fixed, at least
in the short term. If revenues decrease and we are unable to reduce
those costs rapidly, our operating results would be negatively affected.
In addition, we will add new fixed costs to build an independent
business and administration infrastructure after we separate from 3Com.
Over the next several quarters we expect expenses to grow more rapidly
than revenues, which will hurt our quarterly operating results.
. Product Mix. Our profit margins differ among the handheld device, Palm
platform licensing and Internet services parts of our business. In
addition, the product mix of our device sales affects profit margins in
any particular quarter. As our business evolves and the mix of revenues
from devices, licenses and services varies from quarter to quarter, our
operating results will likely fluctuate.
8
<PAGE>
. New Product Introductions. As we introduce new products and services,
the timing of these introductions will affect our quarterly operating
results. We may have difficulty predicting the timing of new product and
service introductions and the user acceptance of these new products and
services. If products and services are introduced earlier or later than
anticipated, or if user acceptance is unexpectedly high or low, our
quarterly operating results may fluctuate unexpectedly. In addition, we
typically increase sales and marketing expenses to support new product
introductions.
. Use of Purchase Orders with Customers. We rely on one-time purchase
orders rather than long-term contracts with our distributor customers.
Because we cannot predict with certainty incoming purchase orders,
decreases in orders or failure to fulfill orders may cause our operating
results to fluctuate.
We rely on third-party manufacturers to produce our handheld devices, and our
reputation and results of operations could be adversely affected by our
inability to control their operations.
We outsource all of our manufacturing to Manufacturers' Services Limited and
Flextronics. We depend on these third-party manufacturers to produce sufficient
volume of our products in a timely fashion and at satisfactory quality levels.
If our third-party manufacturers fail to produce quality products on time and
in sufficient quantities, our reputation and results of operations would
suffer. We depend on Flextronics to manufacture some of our device products at
its facilities in Mexico, California and Malaysia, and the rest of our device
products are manufactured by Manufacturers' Services Limited at its Utah
facility. The cost, quality and availability of third-party manufacturing
operations are essential to the successful production and sale of our handheld
devices. Our reliance on third parties exposes us to the following risks
outside our control:
. unexpected increases in manufacturing costs;
. interruptions in shipments if one of our manufacturers is unable to
complete production;
. inability to control quality of finished device products;
. inability to control delivery schedules;
. unpredictability of manufacturing yield;
. potential lack of adequate capacity; and
. potential inability to secure adequate volumes of components.
We began working with Manufacturers' Services Limited when it purchased
3Com's Utah facility in November 1999. As a result, we have not had significant
working experience with Manufacturers' Service Limited. If we are unable to
manage our relationship with Manufacturers' Services Limited successfully, our
ability to manufacture our products would be harmed and our results of
operations would suffer.
We do not have a manufacturing agreement with Flextronics, upon whom we rely
to manufacture a significant number of our device products. We presently order
our products on a purchase order basis from Flextronics. The absence of a
manufacturing agreement means that, with little or no notice, Flextronics could
refuse to continue to manufacture all or some of the units of our devices that
we require or change the terms under which it manufactures our device products.
If Flextronics were to stop manufacturing our devices, we may be unable to
replace the lost manufacturing capacity on a timely basis and our results of
operations could be harmed. In addition, if Flextronics were to change the
terms under which they manufacture for us, our manufacturing costs could
increase and our profitability could suffer.
9
<PAGE>
We depend on our suppliers, many of which are the sole source for our
components, and our production would be seriously harmed if these suppliers are
not able to meet our demand and alternative sources are not available.
Our products contain components, including liquid crystal displays, touch
panels, memory chips and microprocessors, that are procured from a variety of
suppliers. The cost, quality and availability of components are essential to
the successful production and sale of our device products. In particular, some
components, such as displays, power supply integrated circuits, digital signal
processors, Motorola microprocessors, crystals and several radio frequency and
discrete components, come from sole or single source suppliers. Alternative
sources are not currently available for these sole and single source
components. If suppliers are unable to meet our demand for sole source
components and if we are unable to obtain an alternative source or if the price
for an alternative source is prohibitive, our ability to maintain timely and
cost-effective production of our handheld computing device products would be
seriously harmed. In addition, because we rely on one-time purchase orders with
our suppliers, including our sole and single source suppliers, we cannot
predict with certainty our ability to procure components in the longer term.
For example, we recently had to modify the design of our Palm VII device as a
result of our inability to obtain adequate supplies of the radio crystals that
our original design required because of limited supply and unexpectedly high
demand from cellular telephone manufacturers. We are also aware of a current
shortage in the availability of memory chips, and we have modified the design
of our Palm VII device because of this shortage. If either the shortage in
radio crystals or memory chips or any other key component persists or worsens,
we will likely not be able to deliver sufficient quantities of our products to
satisfy demand.
We do not know if the Palm platform licensing and Internet services parts of
our business will be able to generate significant revenue in the future, and we
will continue to rely on our handheld device products as the primary source of
our revenue for the foreseeable future.
Our future growth and a significant portion of our future revenue depend on
the commercial success of our Palm handheld devices, which comprise the primary
product line that we currently offer. Palm handheld devices accounted for
approximately 99% of our revenues in the six months ended November 26, 1999. We
expanded our Palm platform licensing and Internet services parts of our
business only recently, and these parts of our business have not yet generated
a material portion of our revenues. If revenues from our device business do not
grow, our other business activities will not be able to compensate for this
shortfall.
A significant portion of our revenues currently comes from a small number of
distributors, and any decrease in revenues from these distributors could harm
our results of operations.
A significant portion of our revenues comes from only a small number of
distributors. Ingram Micro represented approximately 34% of our revenues in the
six months ended November 26, 1999 and 24% of our revenues in fiscal 1999. Tech
Data represented approximately 8% of our revenues in the six months ended
November 26, 1999 and 14% of our revenues in fiscal 1999. We expect that the
majority of our revenues will continue to depend on sales of our handheld
devices to a small number of distributors. Any downturn in the business of
these customers could seriously harm our revenues and results of operations.
We rely on distributors, retailers and resellers to sell our products, and
disruptions to these channels would adversely affect our ability to generate
revenues from the sale of our handheld devices.
Because we sell a significant portion of our products to distributors,
retailers and resellers, we are subject to many risks, including risks related
to their inventory levels and support for our products. The products we sell to
distributors and retailers accounted for approximately 89% of our revenues in
the six months ended November 26, 1999 and 88% of our revenues in fiscal 1999.
Our
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distributors, retailers and resellers maintain significant levels of our
products in their inventories. If distributors, retailers and resellers attempt
to reduce their levels of inventory or if they do not maintain sufficient
levels to meet customer demand, our sales could be negatively impacted. If we
reduce the prices of our products to these customers, we may have to compensate
them for the difference between the higher price they paid to buy their
inventory and the new lower prices. In addition, like other manufacturers, we
are exposed to the risk of product returns from distributors, either through
their exercise of contractual return rights or as a result of our strategic
interest in assisting distributors in balancing inventories.
Our distributors, retailers and resellers also sell products offered by our
competitors. If our competitors offer our distributors, retailers and resellers
more favorable terms, those distributors, retailers and resellers may de-
emphasize or decline to carry our products. In the future, we may not be able
to retain or attract a sufficient number of qualified distributors, retailers
and resellers. Further, distributors, retailers and resellers may not
recommend, or continue to recommend, our products. If we are unable to maintain
successful relationships with distributors, retailers and resellers or to
expand our distribution channels, our business will suffer.
We believe our distributors, retailers and resellers are experiencing
heightened competition from Internet-based suppliers that distribute directly
to end-user customers. We also sell our products directly to end-user customers
from our Palm.com website. These actions could cause conflict among our
channels of distribution, which could seriously harm our revenues and results
of operations.
If we are unable to compete effectively with existing or new competitors, our
resulting loss of competitive position could result in price reductions, fewer
customer orders, reduced margins and loss of market share.
We compete in the handheld device, operating system software and Internet
services markets. The markets for these products and services are highly
competitive and we expect competition to increase in the future. Some of our
competitors or potential competitors have significantly greater financial,
technical and marketing resources than we do. These competitors may be able to
respond more rapidly than us to new or emerging technologies or changes in
customer requirements. They may also devote greater resources to the
development, promotion and sale of their products than we do.
. Our handheld computing device products compete with a variety of smart
handheld devices, including keyboard-based devices, sub-notebook
computers, smart phones and two-way pagers. Our principal competitors
include Casio, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Psion, Sharp and Palm platform
licensees such as TRG and Handspring, which was formed by two of our
original founders.
. Our Palm platform competes primarily with operating systems such as
Microsoft's Windows CE for palm-sized personal computers and Symbian's
EPOC for wireless devices.
. Our Internet services compete with a variety of alternative technologies
and services, such as those based on different industry standards for
wireless Internet access, information appliances that provide Internet
connectivity and other traditional and developing methods.
We expect our competitors to continue to improve the performance of their
current products and services and to introduce new products, services and
technologies. Successful new product introductions or enhancements by our
competitors could reduce the sales and market acceptance of our products and
services, cause intense price competition or make our products obsolete. To be
competitive, we must continue to invest significant resources in research and
development, sales and marketing and customer support. We cannot be sure that
we will have sufficient resources to make these investments or that we will be
able to make the technological advances necessary to be competitive. Increased
competition could result in price reductions, fewer customer orders, reduced
margins and loss of market share. Our failure to compete successfully against
current or future competitors could seriously harm our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
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If we fail to effectively respond to competition from products introduced by
licensees of our Palm platform or if our licensees fail to sell products based
on the Palm platform, our results of operations may suffer as the revenues we
receive from license fees may not compensate for the loss of revenues from our
device products.
The success of our business depends on both the sale of handheld device
products and the licensing of our Palm platform. However, licensees of our Palm
platform offer products that compete directly or indirectly with our handheld
computing devices. For example, licensees such as Nokia, Sony or QUALCOMM may
use our Palm platform in devices such as mobile phones or other similar
products that can compete indirectly with our handheld devices. In addition,
while we expect to receive licensing revenue from Handspring and TRG, our
device products compete directly for users and distributors with their devices.
If revenues from our handheld devices suffer because of competition from
licensees of our Palm platform, our results of operations would suffer and our
ability to implement our business model would be seriously challenged. In
addition, our licensees may not be successful in selling products based on the
Palm platform, which could harm our business and results of operations.
Our Palm platform and handheld devices may contain errors or defects, which
could result in the rejection of our products and damage to our reputation, as
well as lost revenues, diverted development resources and increased service
costs and warranty claims.
Our Palm platform and our devices are complex and must meet stringent user
requirements. We must develop our software and hardware products quickly to
keep pace with the rapidly changing handheld device market. Products and
services as sophisticated as ours are likely to contain undetected errors or
defects, especially when first introduced or when new models or versions are
released. We have in the past experienced delays in releasing some models and
versions of our products until problems were corrected. Our products may not be
free from errors or defects after commercial shipments have begun, which could
result in the rejection of our products, damage to our reputation, lost
revenues, diverted development resources and increased customer service and
support costs and warranty claims. Any of these results could harm our
business.
If we fail to manage expansion effectively, we may not be able to successfully
manage our business, which could cause us to fail to meet our customer demand
or to attract new customers.
Our ability to successfully offer our products and implement our business
plan in a rapidly evolving market requires an effective planning and management
process. We continue to increase the scope of our operations domestically and
internationally and have grown our shipments and headcount substantially. Our
handheld device shipments grew from approximately 461,000 units in fiscal 1997
to approximately 2 million units in fiscal 1999. At December 31, 1997, we had a
total of approximately 220 employees and at December 31, 1999, we had a total
of approximately 652 employees. In addition, we plan to continue to hire a
significant number of employees this year. This growth has placed, and our
anticipated growth in future operations will continue to place, a significant
strain on our management systems and resources.
We expect that we will need to continue to improve our financial and
managerial controls, reporting systems and procedures. For example, we intend
to implement an enterprise-wide supply chain management system that we
anticipate will cost up to $7 million to implement. If we experience delays or
cost overruns in implementing this system or if this system is not as effective
as we anticipate, we could experience significant difficulties in managing our
supply chain. While we are currently implementing stand-alone versions of most
of the transaction processing systems historically used by 3Com, we may decide
to purchase new systems in the future that more closely match our business
needs and incur significant additional expenses in connection with those
systems. In addition, we will need to continue to expand, train and manage our
work force worldwide.
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Furthermore, we expect that we will be required to manage multiple
relationships with various customers and other third parties. In particular,
after our separation from 3Com, we will have to implement a new administrative
and managerial infrastructure. Our future success depends on the implementation
of this infrastructure.
The market for the delivery of Internet services through handheld devices is
new and rapidly evolving, and our business and our ability to generate revenues
from our handheld devices, Palm platform or Internet services could suffer if
this market does not develop or we fail to address this market effectively.
The market for the delivery of Internet services through handheld devices is
new and rapidly evolving. In addition, our Internet services strategy has been
developed only recently, and we must continue to adapt it to compete in the
rapidly evolving Internet services market. We only recently introduced our
Palm.net service, a subscription-based wireless access service that enables
Palm VII users to access web-clipped content on the Internet. Other competitors
have introduced or developed, or are in the process of introducing or
developing, products that facilitate the delivery of Internet services through
handheld devices. We cannot assure you that individuals currently using
competing products to access the Internet remotely, such as portable personal
computers and wireless telephones, will widely adopt handheld devices as a
means of accessing Internet services. Accordingly, it is extremely difficult to
predict which products will be successful in this market or the future size and
growth of this market. In addition, given the limited history and rapidly
evolving nature of this market, we cannot predict the price that wireless
subscribers will be willing to pay for these products and services. These risks
could affect our ability to support the Palm.net service on a large scale and
price the service at a level that produces expected returns.
We may not be able to deliver Internet access if our telecommunications carrier
raises its rates, discontinues doing business with us or does not deliver
acceptable service.
The future success of our Internet services business substantially depends on
the capacity, affordability, reliability and security of our telecommunications
networks. Only a small number of telecommunications providers offer the network
services we require. We currently rely on BellSouth to provide all of our Palm
VII wireless network services pursuant to an agreement. Our agreement with
BellSouth permits each party to terminate the agreement on an annual basis. If
BellSouth failed to provide us with service at rates acceptable to us or at
all, we may not be able to provide Internet access to our users. In addition,
our Palm VII products are configured around the frequency standard used by
BellSouth. If we needed to switch to another telecommunications carrier, we
would have to redesign significant portions of our software and hardware to
permit transmission on a different frequency and service to users of existing
Palm VII products would be disrupted. If we were required to redesign these
elements, our Internet services part of our business could be adversely
affected. If BellSouth delivers unacceptable service, the quality of our
Internet services would suffer and we would likely lose users who are
dissatisfied with our service. In addition, BellSouth provides service only in
the continental United States. We intend to expand our network services to
support Internet services internationally, but doing so will require us to
enter into new relationships with telecommunications providers abroad. Many
international telecommunications providers use different standards and transmit
data on different frequencies than BellSouth, which will require us to redesign
significant portions of our software and hardware.
Our reputation and ability to generate revenues will be harmed if demand for
our Internet services exceeds our telecommunications and network capacity.
We may from time to time experience increases in our Internet services usage
which exceed our available telecommunications capacity and the capacity of our
third-party network servers. As a result, users may be unable to register or
log on to our service, may experience a general slow-down
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in their Internet access or may be disconnected from their sessions. Excessive
user demand could also result in system failures of our third-party network
servers' networks. Inaccessibility, interruptions or other limitations on the
ability to access our service due to excessive user demand, or any failure of
our third-party network servers to handle user traffic, would have a material
adverse effect on our reputation and our revenues.
We plan to expand our direct e-commerce operation, and our ability to generate
revenues from our Internet services could be harmed if this operation is not
successful.
We may not be able to achieve any or all of the necessary components of a
successful e-commerce operation. We intend to expand our Palm.com and Palm.net
websites. This expansion will require additional expenditures, including the
use of part of the proceeds of this offering. These expenditures are
anticipated to exceed revenues from these services over the next few years. We
have little experience in implementing or operating a direct e-commerce
business, and if we are not successful in operating it or in successfully
managing our current sales channels alongside our direct e-commerce channel,
our business and financial condition could be materially harmed.
Our Internet services business prospects could suffer if the Internet does not
continue to grow as a medium for interactive content and services.
Our future success depends in part on the continued growth and reliance by
consumers and businesses on the Internet, particularly in the market for
Internet services and networking of handheld computing devices. Use and growth
of the Internet will depend in significant part on continued rapid growth in
the number of households and commercial, educational and government
institutions with access to the Internet. The use and growth of the Internet
will also depend on the number and quality of products and services designed
for use on the Internet. Because use of the Internet as a source of
information, products and services is a relatively recent phenomenon, it is
difficult to predict whether the number of users drawn to the Internet will
continue to increase and whether the market for commercial use of the Internet
will continue to develop and expand. Internet use patterns may decline as the
novelty of the medium recedes.
The rapid rise in the number of Internet users and the growth of electronic
commerce and applications for the Internet has placed increasing strains on the
Internet's communications and transmission infrastructure. This could lead to
significant deterioration in transmission speeds and the reliability of the
Internet as a commercial medium and could reduce the use of the Internet by
businesses and individuals. The Internet may not be able to support the demands
placed upon it by this continued growth. Any failure of the Internet to support
growth due to inadequate infrastructure or for any other reason would seriously
limit its development as a viable source of commercial and interactive content
and services. This could impair the development and acceptance of our Internet
services which could in turn harm our business prospects.
If the security of our websites is compromised, our reputation could suffer and
customers may not be willing to use our Internet services, which could cause
our revenues to decline.
A significant barrier to widespread use of electronic commerce sites, such as
our Palm.com site, and network services sites, such as our Palm.net site, is
concern for the security of confidential information transmitted over public
networks. Despite our efforts to protect the integrity of our Palm.com and
Palm.net sites, a party may be able to circumvent our security measures and
could misappropriate proprietary information or cause interruptions in our
operations and damage our reputation. Any such action could negatively affect
our customers' willingness to engage in online commerce with us. We may be
required to expend significant capital and other resources to protect against
these security breaches or to alleviate problems caused by these breaches.
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We may not be able to maintain and expand our business if we are not able to
retain, hire and integrate sufficient qualified personnel.
Our future success depends partly on the continued contribution of our key
executive, technical, sales, marketing, manufacturing and administrative
personnel. It also depends on our ability to expand, integrate and retain our
management team after our separation from 3Com. Many members of our senior
management have been with the business only a short time. In particular, our
Chief Executive Officer has only been employed with us since December 1999 and
we have only limited experience under his leadership. In addition, recruiting
and retaining skilled personnel, including software and hardware engineers, is
highly competitive. If we fail to retain, hire and integrate qualified
employees and contractors, we will not be able to maintain and expand our
business.
Third parties have claimed and may claim in the future we are infringing their
intellectual property, and we could suffer significant litigation or licensing
expenses or be prevented from selling products if these claims are successful.
In the course of our business, we frequently receive claims of infringement
or otherwise become aware of potentially relevant patents or other intellectual
property rights held by other parties. We evaluate the validity and
applicability of these intellectual property rights, and determine in each case
whether we must negotiate licenses or cross-licenses to incorporate or use the
proprietary technologies in our products. Third parties may claim that we or
our customers or Palm platform licensees are infringing their intellectual
property rights, and we may be found to infringe those intellectual property
rights and require a license to use those rights. We may be unaware of
intellectual property rights of others that may cover some of our technology,
products and services. Moreover, in connection with future intellectual
property infringement claims, we will not have the benefit of asserting
counterclaims based on 3Com's intellectual property portfolio, and we will not
be able to offer licenses to 3Com's intellectual property rights in order to
resolve claims.
Xerox Corporation has filed suit against us alleging willful infringement of
a Xerox United States patent relating to computerized interpretation of
handwriting. See "Business--Legal Proceedings" for a description of the matter.
In particular, an adverse determination in the Xerox litigation could subject
us to substantial damages and require us to indemnify our customers and
licensees for damages that they may suffer. Moreover, if there is an adverse
determination, a license may be necessary to continue using the Grafitti script
recognition software in our Palm devices and Palm platform. A license may not
be available at all or on terms acceptable to us. If upon an adverse
determination we were unable to obtain a license on terms acceptable to us, we
could be required to modify our script recognition software or license
alternative script recognition software from third parties for inclusion in our
Palm devices and our Palm platform.
WaveWare Communications, Inc. has filed suit against us alleging, among other
things, breach of contract, fraud and deceit and misappropriation of trade
secrets. We are in the preliminary stages of investigating the allegations
contained in the suit, and we have not yet responded to the complaint. See
"Business--Legal Proceedings" for a description of this matter. An adverse
determination in this litigation could subject us to substantial damages and
require us to obtain a license from WaveWare or to modify our software. A
license may not be available at all or on terms acceptable to us.
Telxon Corporation and Penright! Corporation have filed suit against us
alleging copyright infringement, unfair competition and theft of trade secrets
and seeking damages and to enjoin the sale of our Palm OS operating system. We
are in the preliminary stages of investigating the allegations contained in the
suit, and we have not yet responded to the complaint. See "Business--Legal
Proceedings" for a description of this matter. An adverse determination in this
litigation could subject us to substantial damages and require us to obtain a
license to continue using our Palm OS operating system or to modify our
software. A license may not be available at all or on terms acceptable to us.
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E-Pass Technologies has filed suit against 3Com alleging, among other things,
infringement and induced infringement of a United States patent related to a
method and device for simplifying the use of credit cards. We are in the
preliminary stages of investigating the allegations contained in the suit, and
we have not yet responded to the complaint. See "Business-Legal Proceedings"
for a description of this matter. An adverse determination in this litigation
could prevent us from selling our products and subject us to substantial
damages unless we obtain a license from E-Pass Technologies, Inc. or modify our
software. A license may not be available at all or on terms acceptable to us.
In connection with our separation from 3Com, pursuant to the terms of the
Indemnification and Insurance Matters Agreement, we will indemnify and hold
3Com harmless for any damages or losses which may arise out of the Xerox,
WaveWare and Telxon and Penright! suits.
Any litigation regarding patents or other intellectual property could be
costly and time-consuming, and divert our management and key personnel from our
business operations. The complexity of the technology involved and the
uncertainty of intellectual property litigation increase these risks. Claims of
intellectual property infringement might also require us to enter into costly
royalty or license agreements or indemnify our Palm platform licensees.
However, we may not be able to obtain royalty or license agreements on terms
acceptable to us, or at all. We also may be subject to significant damages or
injunctions against development and sale of our products.
We often rely on licenses of intellectual property for use in our business.
We cannot assure you that these licenses will be available in the future on
favorable terms or at all. In addition, our position with respect to the
negotiation of licenses may deteriorate after our separation from 3Com. For
example, we are currently re-negotiating a Patent Cross License Agreement
between 3Com and IBM to name us as an additional licensee. The re-negotiation
may require us to pay additional royalties to IBM. If we do not successfully
re-negotiate this agreement, we may not be able to continue to license certain
IBM technology after our separation from 3Com on favorable terms, or at all,
which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
If third parties infringe our intellectual property, we may expend significant
resources enforcing our rights or suffer competitive injury.
Our success depends in large part on our proprietary technology. We rely on a
combination of patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets,
confidentiality provisions and licensing arrangements to establish and protect
our proprietary rights. If we fail to protect or to enforce our intellectual
property rights successfully, our competitive position could suffer, which
could harm our operating results.
Our pending patent and trademark registration applications may not be allowed
or competitors may challenge the validity or scope of these patent applications
or trademark registrations. In addition, our patents may not provide us a
significant competitive advantage.
We may be required to spend significant resources to monitor and police our
intellectual property rights. We may not be able to detect infringement and may
lose competitive position in the market before we do so. In addition,
competitors may design around our technology or develop competing technologies.
Intellectual property rights may also be unavailable or limited in some foreign
countries, which could make it easier for competitors to capture market share.
Over the last twelve months, there have been several thefts of computer
equipment from us and our employees. This computer equipment has contained
proprietary information. We have formulated a security plan to reduce the risk
of any future thefts and have cooperated with state and federal law enforcement
officials in an investigation of past incidents. We may not be successful in
preventing future thefts, or in preventing those responsible for past thefts
from using our technology to produce competing products. The unauthorized use
of Palm technology by competitors could have a material adverse effect on our
ability to sell our products in some markets.
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Our future results could be harmed by economic, political, regulatory and other
risks associated with international sales and operations.
Since we sell our products worldwide, our business is subject to risks
associated with doing business internationally. We anticipate that revenue from
international operations will represent an increasing portion of our total
revenue. In addition, two of the facilities where our devices are manufactured
are located outside the United States. Accordingly, our future results could be
harmed by a variety of factors, including:
. changes in foreign currency exchange rates;
. changes in a specific country's or region's political or economic
conditions, particularly in emerging markets;
. trade protection measures and import or export licensing requirements;
. potentially negative consequences from changes in tax laws;
. difficulty in managing widespread sales and manufacturing operations;
and
. less effective protection of intellectual property.
We intend to pursue strategic acquisitions and we may not be able to
successfully manage our operations if we fail to successfully integrate
acquired businesses.
We often evaluate acquisition opportunities that could provide us with
additional product or services offerings or additional industry expertise. Any
future acquisition could result in difficulties assimilating acquired
operations and products, diversion of capital and management's attention away
from other business issues and opportunities and amortization of acquired
intangible assets. Integration of acquired companies may result in problems
related to integration of technology and inexperienced management teams. Our
management has had limited experience in assimilating acquired organizations
and products into our operations. We may not successfully integrate any
operations, personnel or products that we may acquire in the future. If we fail
to successfully integrate acquisitions, our business could be materially
harmed.
Potential year 2000 problems associated with our products, our internal systems
or the products of our suppliers and customers could harm our reputation or
cause us to make expenditures to fix the problems.
Many currently installed computer systems and software were written to accept
and process only two digit entry codes for the year when storing dates.
Beginning with the year 2000, these entry codes will need to accept four digit
entries to distinguish 21st century dates from 20th century dates. As a result,
computer systems and products may need to be upgraded to solve this problem to
avoid incorrect or lost data. To date we have not experienced any material
problems attributable to the inability to recognize dates beginning with the
year 2000 in our products or internal systems. It is possible that our current
products contain undetected errors or defects associated with year 2000 date
functions that may result in material costs or liabilities to us in the future.
Although we believe the products we are currently offering are year 2000 ready,
the first generation of our handheld device product, which is no longer being
sold, does not properly display the European date format. We released a
downloadable software patch to fix this problem. If any of our products
experienced a material year 2000 error, we could have increased warranty costs,
customer satisfaction issues, litigation or other material costs or
liabilities. We have relied on 3Com to address any year 2000 readiness issues
in the internal and external systems we currently use. If 3Com's year 2000
readiness preparations are insufficient, we may be required to bear the costs
of upgrading or replacing any systems after our separation from 3Com. In
addition, if we experienced a material year 2000 related failure, we could
experience delays in our ability to manufacture and ship products and deliver
services, disruptions in our customer service and technical support facilities
and interruptions of customer access
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to our online products and services. We cannot assure you that all year 2000
problems have been identified or corrected in time to prevent serious harm to
us. In addition, we have relied on assurances from third parties, including our
suppliers and manufacturers in the United States and abroad and our wireless
telecommunications network provider, BellSouth, that they and the products and
services they supply are year 2000 compliant. We have not independently
verified these assurances in many cases, and any failure of these third-party
products and services to be year 2000 compliant could harm us. There is a risk
that our users could initiate litigation against us for damages arising from
our products that are not year 2000 compliant. Year 2000 issues could harm our
future results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.
Risks Related to Our Separation from 3Com
We currently use 3Com's operational and administrative infrastructure, and our
ability to satisfy our customers and operate our business will suffer if we do
not develop our own infrastructure quickly and cost-effectively.
We currently use 3Com's systems to support our operations, including systems
to manage inventory, order processing, human resources, shipping, accounting,
payroll and internal computing operations. Many of these systems are
proprietary to 3Com and are very complex. These systems have been modified, and
are in the process of being further modified, to enable us to separately track
items related to our business. These modifications, however, may result in
unexpected system failures or the loss or corruption of data.
We are in the process of creating our own systems to replace 3Com's systems.
We may not be successful in implementing these systems and transitioning data
from 3Com's systems to ours.
Any failure or significant downtime in 3Com's or our own information systems
could prevent us from taking customer orders, shipping products or billing
customers and could harm our business. In addition, 3Com's and our information
systems require the services of employees with extensive knowledge of these
information systems and the business environment in which we operate. In order
to successfully implement and operate our systems, we must be able to attract
and retain a significant number of highly skilled employees. If we fail to
attract and retain the highly skilled personnel required to implement,
maintain, and operate our information systems, our business could suffer.
In addition, we currently have office space in 3Com's Santa Clara campus. We
have entered into arrangements with 3Com to lease these facilities under a
lease that is terminable with six months notice beginning in July 2001 and
expires in July 2002. After this transition period, we will need to find
alternative facilities. If we fail to find replacement facilities in a timely
fashion, our business will be harmed.
Our stock price may decline and we will not be able to operate our business
without 3Com's control if 3Com does not complete its distribution of our common
stock.
3Com currently intends that, subject to obtaining approval by the 3Com board
of directors and a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service that the
distribution will be tax-free to 3Com stockholders and that our separation from
3Com qualifies as a reorganization, it will distribute to its stockholders all
of our common stock that it owns approximately six months after this offering,
although it is not obligated to do so. This distribution may not occur by that
time or at all. At the time of this offering, we will not know what the ruling
from the Internal Revenue Service regarding the tax treatment of the separation
and the distribution will be. If 3Com does not receive a favorable tax ruling,
it is not likely to make the distribution in the expected time frame or at all.
In addition, until this distribution occurs, the risks discussed below relating
to 3Com's control of us and the potential business conflicts of interest
between 3Com and us will continue to be relevant to our stockholders. If the
distribution is
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delayed or not completed at all, the liquidity of our shares in the market will
be severely constrained unless and until 3Com elects to sell some of its
significant ownership. There are no limits on these sales and the sale or
potential sale by 3Com could adversely affect market prices. In addition,
because of the limited liquidity until the distribution occurs, relatively
small trades of our stock will have a disproportionate effect on our stock
price. Also, if 3Com does not distribute its shares, we will face significant
difficulty hiring and retaining key personnel, many of whom are attracted by
the potential of operating our business as a fully independent entity.
We will be controlled by 3Com as long as it owns a majority of our common
stock, and our other stockholders will be unable to affect the outcome of
stockholder voting during such time.
After the completion of this offering and the private placements to America
Online, Motorola and Nokia, 3Com will own approximately 94.6% of our
outstanding common stock, or approximately 94.0% if the underwriters exercise
in full their option to purchase additional shares. As long as 3Com owns a
majority of our outstanding common stock, 3Com will continue to be able to
elect our entire board of directors and to remove any director, with or without
cause, without calling a special meeting. Investors in this offering will not
be able to affect the outcome of any stockholder vote prior to the planned
distribution of our stock to the 3Com stockholders. As a result, 3Com will
control all matters affecting us, including:
. the composition of our board of directors and, through it, any
determination with respect to our business direction and policies,
including the appointment and removal of officers;
. the allocation of business opportunities that may be suitable for us and
3Com;
. any determinations with respect to mergers or other business
combinations;
. our acquisition or disposition of assets;
. our financing;
. changes to the agreements providing for our separation from 3Com;
. the payment of dividends on our common stock; and
. determinations with respect to our tax returns.
3Com is not prohibited from selling a controlling interest in us to a third
party.
Our historical financial information may not be representative of our results
as a separate company.
Our consolidated financial statements have been carved out from the
consolidated financial statements of 3Com using the historical results of
operations and historical bases of the assets and liabilities of the 3Com
handheld computing business that we comprise. Accordingly, the historical
financial information we have included in this prospectus does not necessarily
reflect what our financial position, results of operations and cash flows would
have been had we been a separate, stand-alone entity during the periods
presented. 3Com did not account for us, and we were not operated, as a
separate, stand-alone entity for the periods presented. Our costs and expenses
include allocations from 3Com for centralized corporate services and
infrastructure costs, including:
. legal;
. accounting;
. treasury;
. real estate;
. information technology;
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. distribution;
. customer service;
. sales;
. marketing; and
. engineering.
These allocations have been determined on bases that 3Com and Palm considered
to be reasonable reflections of the utilization of services provided to or the
benefit received by Palm. The historical financial information is not
necessarily indicative of what our results of operations, financial position
and cash flows will be in the future. We have not made adjustments to our
historical financial information to reflect many significant changes that will
occur in our cost structure, funding and operations as a result of our
separation from 3Com, including increased costs associated with reduced
economies of scale, increased marketing expenses related to building a company
brand identity separate from 3Com and increased costs associated with being a
publicly traded, stand-alone company.
We will not be able to rely on 3Com to fund our future capital requirements,
and financing from other sources may not be available on favorable terms or at
all.
In the past, our capital needs have been satisfied by 3Com. However,
following our separation, 3Com will no longer provide funds to finance our
working capital or other cash requirements. We cannot assure you that financing
from other sources, if needed, will be available on favorable terms or at all.
We believe our capital requirements will vary greatly from quarter to
quarter, depending on, among other things, capital expenditures, fluctuations
in our operating results, financing activities, acquisitions and investments
and inventory and receivables management. We believe that the proceeds from
this offering, along with our future cash flow from operations, will be
sufficient to satisfy our working capital, capital expenditure and research and
development requirements for the foreseeable future. However, we may require or
choose to obtain additional debt or equity financing in order to finance
acquisitions or other investments in our business. Future equity financings
would be dilutive to the existing holders of our common stock. Future debt
financings could involve restrictive covenants. We will likely not be able to
obtain financing with interest rates as favorable as those that 3Com could
obtain.
We may have potential business conflicts of interest with 3Com with respect to
our past and ongoing relationships and, because of 3Com's controlling
ownership, we may not resolve these conflicts on the most favorable terms to
us.
Conflicts of interest may arise between 3Com and us in a number of areas
relating to our past and ongoing relationships, including:
. labor, tax, employee benefit, indemnification and other matters arising
from our separation from 3Com;
. intellectual property matters, including the re-negotiation of the IBM
Patent Cross License Agreement;
. employee retention and recruiting;
. sales or distributions by 3Com of all or any portion of its ownership
interest in us;
. the nature, quality and pricing of transitional services 3Com has agreed
to provide us; and
. business opportunities that may be attractive to both 3Com and us.
Nothing restricts 3Com from competing with us.
20
<PAGE>
We may not be able to resolve any potential conflicts, and even if we do, the
resolution may be less favorable than if we were dealing with an unaffiliated
party. The agreements we have entered into with 3Com may be amended upon
agreement between the parties. While we are controlled by 3Com, 3Com may be
able to require us to agree to amendments to these agreements that may be less
favorable to us than the current terms of the agreements.
Our directors and executive officers may have conflicts of interest because of
their ownership of 3Com common stock.
Many of our directors and executive officers have a substantial amount of
their personal financial portfolios in 3Com common stock and options to
purchase 3Com common stock. Their options to purchase 3Com common stock may not
convert into options to purchase our common stock if the distribution does not
occur. Ownership of 3Com common stock by our directors and officers after our
separation from 3Com could create, or appear to create, potential conflicts of
interest when directors and officers are faced with decisions that could have
different implications for 3Com and us.
If the transitional services being provided to us by 3Com are not sufficient to
meet our needs, or if we are not able to replace these services after our
agreements with 3Com expire, we will be unable to manage critical operational
functions of our business.
3Com has agreed to provide transitional services to us, including services
related to:
. information technology systems;
. supply chain;
. human resources administration;
. product order administration;
. customer service;
. buildings and facilities;
. treasury; and
. legal, finance and accounting.
Although 3Com is contractually obligated to provide us with these services,
these services may not be provided at the same level as when we were part of
3Com, and we may not be able to obtain the same benefits. We will also lease
and sublease office space from 3Com. These transitional service and leasing
arrangements generally have a term of less than two years following the
separation. After the expiration of these various arrangements, we may not be
able to replace the transitional services or enter into appropriate leases in a
timely manner or on terms and conditions, including cost, as favorable as those
we will receive from 3Com.
These agreements were made in the context of a parent-subsidiary relationship
and were negotiated in the overall context of our separation from 3Com. The
prices charged to us under these agreements may be lower than the prices that
we may be required to pay third parties for similar services or the costs of
similar services if we undertake them ourselves.
Risks Related to the Securities Markets and Ownership of Our Common Stock
Substantial sales of common stock may occur in connection with the
distribution, which could cause our stock price to decline.
3Com currently intends to distribute all of the 532,000,000 shares of our
common stock it owns to 3Com stockholders approximately six months after this
offering. Substantially all of these shares
21
<PAGE>
will be eligible for immediate resale in the public market. We are unable to
predict whether significant amounts of common stock will be sold in the open
market in anticipation of, or following, this distribution, or by 3Com if the
distribution does not occur. We are also unable to predict whether a sufficient
number of buyers will be in the market at that time. Any sales of substantial
amounts of common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales
might occur, whether as a result of this distribution or otherwise, could harm
the market price of our common stock.
Our securities have no prior market, and we cannot assure you that our stock
price will not decline after the offering.
Before this offering, there has not been a public market for our common
stock, and an active public market for our common stock may not develop or be
sustained after this offering. The market price of our common stock could be
subject to significant fluctuations after this offering. Among the factors that
could affect our stock price are:
. quarterly variations in our operating results;
. changes in revenue or earnings estimates or publication of research
reports by analysts;
. speculation in the press or investment community;
. strategic actions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions or
restructurings;
. actions by institutional stockholders or by 3Com prior to its
distribution of our stock;
. general market conditions; and
. domestic and international economic factors unrelated to our
performance.
The stock markets in general, and the markets for high technology stocks in
particular, have experienced extreme volatility that has often been unrelated
to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market
fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock. In
particular, we cannot assure you that you will be able to resell your shares at
or above the initial public offering price, which will be determined by
negotiations between the representatives of the underwriters and us.
Provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law may delay or prevent
acquisition of us, which could decrease the value of your shares.
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Delaware law contain
provisions that could make it harder for a third party to acquire us without
the consent of our board of directors, although these provisions have little
significance while we are controlled by 3Com. These provisions include a
classified board of directors and limitations on actions by our stockholders by
written consent. In addition, our board of directors has the right to issue
preferred stock without stockholder approval, which could be used to dilute the
stock ownership of a potential hostile acquirer. Delaware law also imposes some
restrictions on mergers and other business combinations between us and any
holder of 15% or more of our outstanding common stock. Although we believe
these provisions provide for an opportunity to receive a higher bid by
requiring potential acquirers to negotiate with our board of directors, these
provisions apply even if the offer may be considered beneficial by some
stockholders.
Purchasers in this offering will experience immediate dilution in net tangible
book value per share.
Purchasers of our common stock in this offering and the America Online,
Motorola and Nokia private placements will experience immediate dilution of
$29.87 in net tangible book value per share.
22
<PAGE>
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
You should not rely on forward-looking statements in this prospectus. This
prospectus contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. We use words such as "anticipates," "believes," "plans,"
"expects," "future," "intends," "may," "will," "should," "estimates,"
"predicts," "potential," "continue" and similar expressions to identify these
forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially from the
results contemplated by these forward-looking statements due to a number of
factors, including those discussed in "Risk Factors", "Managements' Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and elsewhere in
this prospectus. This prospectus also contains forward-looking statements
attributed to third parties relating to their estimates regarding the growth of
our markets. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, as well as
those of the markets we serve, levels of activity, performance, achievements
and prospects to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the
forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors
include, among others, those identified in "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this
prospectus.
23
<PAGE>
OUR SEPARATION FROM 3COM
Overview
On September 13, 1999, 3Com announced its plan to make Palm, a wholly-owned
subsidiary, into an independent, publicly-traded company focused on the
handheld device industry. Until the completion of this offering, we will
continue as a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3Com. We expect that the separation of
our business from 3Com, including the transfer of related assets, liabilities
and intellectual property rights, will be substantially completed before the
completion of this offering.
Benefits of the Separation
We believe that we will realize benefits from our complete separation from
3Com, including the following:
Greater Strategic Focus. In addition to the Palm handheld computing
business, 3Com generates significant revenue from other lines of products,
including switches, hubs, remote access systems, routers, network
management software, network interface cards and modems. Our focus will be
on developing businesses and strategic opportunities for handheld devices.
This effort will be supported by our own board of directors, management
team and employees.
Increased Speed and Responsiveness. As a company smaller in size than
3Com, we expect to be able to make decisions more quickly, deploy resources
more rapidly and efficiently and operate with more agility than we could as
a part of a larger organization. In addition, we expect to enhance our
responsiveness to customers and partners.
Better Incentives for Employees and Greater Accountability. We expect the
motivation of our employees and the focus of our management will be
strengthened by incentive compensation programs tied to the market
performance of our common stock. The separation will enable us to offer our
employees compensation directly linked to the performance of the Palm
business, which we expect to enhance our ability to attract and retain
qualified personnel.
More Direct Access to Capital Markets. As a separate company, we will
have more direct access to the capital markets to issue debt or equity
securities and to grow through acquisitions.
Separation and Transitional Arrangements
We and 3Com, and, in some cases, our respective subsidiaries, will enter into
agreements providing for the separation of our businesses from 3Com, including
a master separation and distribution agreement. These agreements generally
provide for, among other things:
. the transfer from 3Com to us of assets and the assumption by us of
liabilities relating to our business;
. the allocation of intellectual property between us and 3Com; and
. various interim and ongoing relationships between us and 3Com.
The Distribution by 3Com of Our Common Stock
After completion of this offering and the private placements, 3Com will own
approximately 94.6% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, or
approximately 94.0% if the underwriters fully exercise their option to purchase
additional shares. 3Com currently plans to complete its divestiture of Palm
approximately six months after this offering by distributing all of its shares
of our common
24
<PAGE>
stock to the holders of 3Com's common stock. However, 3Com is not obligated to
complete the distribution, and we cannot assure you as to whether or when it
will occur.
3Com has advised us that it would not complete the distribution if its board
of directors determines that the distribution is no longer in the best interest
of 3Com and its stockholders. 3Com has further advised us that it currently
expects that the principal factors that it would consider in determining
whether and when to complete the distribution include:
. the relative market prices of our common stock and 3Com's common stock;
. the issuance by the Internal Revenue Service of a ruling that the
distribution will be tax-free to 3Com stockholders and that the
transaction will qualify as a reorganization for United States federal
income tax purposes;
. the absence of any court orders or regulations prohibiting or
restricting the completion of the distribution; and
. other conditions affecting our business or 3Com's business.
25
<PAGE>
USE OF PROCEEDS
We estimate that our net proceeds from this offering will be approximately
$663.8 million, based on an assumed initial public offering price of $31.00 per
share and after deducting an assumed underwriting discount and estimated
offering expenses payable by us. We estimate that our net proceeds from the
private placements to America Online, Motorola and Nokia will be approximately
$225 million, based on an assumed offering price of $31.00 per share. We intend
to use the proceeds of this offering and the private placements for:
. payment of a dividend to 3Com of at least $50 million, provided that if
the aggregate estimated net proceeds of this offering and the private
placements exceed $620 million, 3Com may elect to receive an additional
dividend of up to 50% of the amount of the aggregate estimated net
proceeds in excess of $620 million, which would permit a dividend to
3Com of $184.4 million based on an assumed initial public offering price
of $31.00 per share, which may result in additional taxes payable by
3Com;
. repayment of an intercompany payable to 3Com, which was approximately
$58 million at November 26, 1999;
. increased capital expenditures of approximately $25 million to support
anticipated growth in operations, infrastructure for our wireless and
Internet services and hardware and software for our information systems
and personnel;
. increased marketing expenses of approximately $30 million to establish
our Palm brand;
. replacing the working capital retained by 3Com and funding our increased
working capital needs associated with revenue growth; and
. potential investments in, or acquisitions of, other businesses or
technologies.
DIVIDEND POLICY
We currently intend to retain any future earnings to fund the development and
growth of our business. Therefore, other than the cash dividend to 3Com to be
paid with a portion of the proceeds of this offering, we do not anticipate
paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
26
<PAGE>
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our capitalization as of November 26, 1999.
Our capitalization is presented:
. on an actual basis;
. on a pro forma basis to give effect to the retention of most of our
accounts receivable and accounts payable by 3Com at the time of our
separation, as though such retention had occurred as of November 26,
1999, the declaration of a dividend payable to 3Com of an assumed
$184.4 million; and
. on a pro forma as adjusted basis to reflect our receipt of the estimated
net proceeds from the sale of 23,000,000 shares of common stock in this
offering and our sale of 7,258,065 shares in the private placements to
America Online, Motorola and Nokia and the payment of the amounts
payable to 3Com Corporation.
You should read the information set forth below together with "Selected
Consolidated Financial Data," our historical consolidated financial statements
and the notes to those statements and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included elsewhere in this
prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
November 26, 1999
------------------------------
Pro Forma
Actual Pro Forma As Adjusted
------- --------- -----------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Payable to 3Com
Corporation(1)(2)............ $57,935 $ 242,328 $ --
======= ========= =========
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock............. $ -- $ -- $ --
Common stock................ -- -- 562
Additional paid-in capital.. -- -- 888,224
3Com Corporation equity
(deficiency)(1)............ 26,395 (242,344) (242,344)
Accumulated other
comprehensive income
(loss)..................... 36 36 36
------- --------- ---------
Total stockholders' equity
(deficiency)............. $26,431 $(242,308) $ 646,478
======= ========= =========
Total capitalization.... $26,431 $(242,308) $ 646,478
======= ========= =========
</TABLE>
- --------
Notes:
(1) We intend to declare a dividend payable to 3Com of at least $50 million,
provided that if the aggregate estimated net proceeds of this offering and
the private placements exceed $620 million, 3Com may elect to receive an
additional dividend of up to 50% of the amount of the aggregate estimated
net proceeds in excess of $620 million. Based on an assumed initial public
offering price of $31.00 per share, 3Com could elect to receive up to
$184.4 million as a dividend, which may result in additional taxes payable
by 3Com. We intend to pay this dividend using a portion of the proceeds
from this offering.
(2) We intend to repay our intercompany payable to 3Com, which was
approximately $58 million as of November 26, 1999, using a portion of the
proceeds of this offering.
27
<PAGE>
DILUTION
Our net tangible book value at November 26, 1999 was approximately $14.6
million, or $.03 per share. Pro forma net tangible book value per share is
determined by dividing our pro forma tangible net worth, which is total
tangible assets less total liabilities after giving effect to the retention of
most of our accounts receivable and accounts payable by 3Com at the time of our
separation as though such retention had occurred as of November 26, 1999 and
the payment to 3Com of an assumed dividend of $184.4 million, by the number of
shares of common stock outstanding immediately before this offering and the
private placements. Dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share
represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers of
shares of our common stock in this offering and the private placements and the
pro forma net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately
afterwards. After giving effect to the following:
. our sale of 23,000,000 shares of common stock in this offering at an
assumed initial public offering price of $31.00 per share and after
deducting an assumed underwriting discount and estimated offering
expenses payable by us; and
. our sale of 7,258,065 shares of common stock to America Online, Motorola
and Nokia in private placements concurrently with the closing of this
offering at an assumed offering price of $31.00 per share;
our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value at November 26, 1999 would
have been approximately $634.7 million, or $1.13 per share. This represents an
immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of $1.61 per share to
our existing stockholder and an immediate dilution in pro forma net tangible
book value of $29.87 per share to new investors purchasing shares of common
stock in this offering and the private placements. The following table
illustrates this dilution per share:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Assumed initial public offering price per share.................. $31.00
Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of November 26,
1999.......................................................... $(.48)
Increase in pro forma book value per share attributable to new
investors (including the private placements).................. 1.61
-----
Pro forma, as adjusted, net tangible book value per share after
this offering and the private placements........................ 1.13
------
Dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share to new
investors (including the private placements).................... $29.87
======
</TABLE>
The discussion and table above assume no exercise of options outstanding
under our 1999 Stock Plan and no issuance of shares reserved for future
issuance under our 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. As of November 26, 1999,
there were no options outstanding to purchase shares of common stock. To the
extent that any options are granted and exercised, there will be further
dilution to new investors.
28
<PAGE>
The following table sets forth, as of November 26, 1999 on the pro forma as
adjusted basis described above, the differences between the number of shares of
common stock purchased from us, the total price paid and average price per
share paid by our existing stockholder and by the new investors in this
offering and the private placements at an assumed initial public offering price
of $31.00 per share, before deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and
commissions and offering expenses payable by us.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Average
Shares Purchased Total Consideration Price
---------------------- ----------------------- Per
Number Percentage Amount Percentage Share
----------- ---------- ------------ ---------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Existing stockholder.... 532,000,000 94.6% $ -- --% $ --
New investors (including
the private
placements)............ 30,258,065 5.4 938,000,000 100.0 31.00
----------- ----- ------------ ----- -------
Total................. 562,258,065 100.0% $938,000,000 100.0% $ 1.67
=========== ===== ============ ===== =======
</TABLE>
No cash was paid by 3Com in consideration for our common stock. Accordingly,
the cash consideration related to the existing stockholder is reported as zero
in the above table.
If the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares is exercised in
full, the following will occur:
. the number of shares of common stock held by our existing stockholder
will decrease to approximately 94.0% of the total number of shares of
common stock outstanding; and
. the number of shares held by new investors will be increased to
33,708,065 shares or approximately 6.0% of the total number of shares of
our common stock outstanding after this offering.
29
<PAGE>
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following tables present our selected consolidated financial data. The
information set forth below should be read together with "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and
our historical consolidated financial statements and notes to those statements
included in this prospectus. Our consolidated statements of operations data set
forth below for the years ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
the consolidated balance sheet data as of May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 are
derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included in this
prospectus which have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
auditors, whose report is also included in this prospectus.
The consolidated statements of operations data for the year ended June 30,
1995 and the eleven month period ended May 26, 1996 and the consolidated
balance sheet data as of June 30, 1995, May 26, 1996 and May 25, 1997 are
derived from our unaudited consolidated financial data that is not included in
this prospectus. The consolidated statements of operations data for the six
months ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999 and the consolidated
balance sheet data as of November 26, 1999 are derived from unaudited
consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus and, in the
opinion of management, include all adjustments, consisting only of normal
recurring accruals, that are necessary for a fair presentation of our financial
position and results of operations for these periods. The historical financial
information may not be indicative of our future performance and does not
reflect what our financial position and results of operations would have been
had we operated as a separate, stand-alone entity during the periods presented.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended Six Months Ended
------------------------------------------------ ------------------
June 30, May 26, May 25, May 31, May 28, Nov. 27, Nov. 26,
1995(1) 1996(2) 1997 1998 1999 1998 1999
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(in thousands, except per share data)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Consolidated Statements
of Operations Data:
Revenues................ $ 1,403 $ 7,054 $114,157 $272,137 $563,525 $263,302 $435,060
Cost of revenues........ 174 4,479 77,685 157,749 315,616 147,287 246,342
------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Gross profit........... 1,229 2,575 36,472 114,388 247,909 116,015 188,718
------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing.... 1,099 2,783 30,305 70,765 127,726 57,862 102,686
Research and
development........... 1,384 4,716 13,442 21,863 46,027 20,460 28,551
General and
administrative........ 977 1,853 6,238 15,299 23,692 11,304 16,956
Purchased in-process
technology............ -- -- -- -- 2,125 -- --
Separation costs....... -- -- -- -- -- -- 3,780
------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total operating
expenses............. 3,460 9,352 49,985 107,927 199,570 89,626 151,973
------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating income
(loss)................. (2,231) (6,777) (13,513) 6,461 48,339 26,389 36,745
Interest and other
income (expense), net.. 65 81 (515) (56) (223) (100) 214
------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income (loss) before
income taxes........... (2,166) (6,696) (14,028) 6,405 48,116 26,289 36,959
Income tax provision
(credit)............... -- (3,634) (6,166) 2,234 18,488 10,102 14,439
------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net income (loss)....... $(2,166) $(3,062) $ (7,862) $ 4,171 $ 29,628 $ 16,187 $ 22,520
======= ======= ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Basic and diluted net
income (loss) per
share.................. $ -- $ (.01) $ (.01) $ .01 $ .06 $ .03 $ .04
======= ======= ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Shares used in computing
basic and diluted net
income (loss) per
share.................. 532,000 532,000 532,000 532,000 532,000 532,000 532,000
======= ======= ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Unaudited pro forma
basic and diluted net
income per share(3).... $ .06 $ .04
======== ========
Shares used in computing
unaudited pro forma
basic and diluted net
income per share(3).... 538,389 538,389
======== ========
<CAPTION>
June 30, May 26, May 25, May 31, May 28, Nov. 26,
1995(1) 1996(2) 1997 1998 1999 1999
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital.................. $ 987 $ 3,899 $ 26,963 $ 53,354 $ 12,682 $ 3,765
Total assets..................... 2,432 9,618 45,984 115,359 152,247 247,369
Payable to 3Com Corporation...... -- 752 4,412 15,617 40,509 57,935
Stockholder's net investment..... 627 6,466 31,245 65,675 34,018 26,431
</TABLE>
- -------
Notes:
(1) Our fiscal year end was June 30 prior to our acquisition by U.S. Robotics.
(2) Fiscal 1996 includes only eleven months of operating results.
(3) Pro forma basic and diluted net income per share amounts are calculated
using the common shares outstanding prior to the offering of 532,000,000
shares plus the 6,389,158 shares of common stock whose proceeds will be
used to pay an assumed $184.4 million dividend to 3Com, based on an assumed
initial public offering price of $31.00 per share, reduced by the estimated
per share offering costs.
30
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations
should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and notes to
those statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Overview
We were founded in 1992 and introduced our first handheld device in 1996. We
are currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3Com. Our business has focused
primarily on developing and selling our Palm-branded handheld devices, and as
of December 31, 1999, we had sold over 5.5 million Palm devices worldwide. In
1999, we expanded our strategy of licensing our Palm platform and developed our
wireless Internet access service to support Internet-enabled handheld devices.
On September 13, 1999, 3Com announced its plan to make us an independent,
publicly-traded company focused on the handheld device industry. After the
completion of this offering and the private placements, 3Com will own
approximately 94.6% of our outstanding common stock, or approximately 94.0% if
the underwriters fully exercise their option to purchase additional shares.
3Com currently intends to complete its divestiture of Palm approximately six
months after this offering by distributing all of its shares of our common
stock to the holders of 3Com's common stock.
We have entered into various agreements related to interim and ongoing
relationships with 3Com. These agreements provide for transitional services and
support in the areas of information technology systems, supply chain, human
resources administration, product order administration, customer service,
buildings and facilities, treasury, legal and finance and accounting. Specified
charges for transitional services are generally at cost plus 5%, but may
increase to cost plus 10% if the services extend beyond a one-year period. The
transition period varies depending on the agreement but is generally less than
two years. Although the fees provided for in the agreements are intended to
represent the fair market value of these services, we cannot assure you that
these fees necessarily reflect the costs of obtaining the services from
unrelated third parties or of our providing these services internally. However,
we believe that purchasing these services from 3Com provides an efficient means
of obtaining these services during the transition period.
We must also negotiate new or revised agreements with various third parties
as a separate, stand-alone entity. We cannot assure you that the terms we will
be able to negotiate will be as favorable as those that we enjoyed as part of
3Com. In addition, as part of 3Com, we benefited from various economies of
scale including shared global administrative functions, facilities and volume
purchase discounts. We expect our costs will increase as a result of the loss
or renegotiation of these arrangements, although the amount of the cost
increase is not determinable at this time.
Our Business
Approximately 99% of our revenues to date have been generated from sales of
our handheld devices and related peripherals and accessories. Less than 1% of
our revenues to date have been derived from licensing our Palm platform or from
subscriptions to our wireless Internet access service. As we expand our focus
on Palm platform licensing and Internet services, we expect that an increasing
portion of our revenues in future periods will come from these sources.
International revenues represented 29% of our total revenues in fiscal 1999 and
32% of our total revenues for the six months ended November 26, 1999.
Revenues from our handheld device products, which have accounted for
approximately 99% of our revenues to date, consist primarily of sales to
distributors, retailers and resellers and to end users who buy through our
Palm.com website. Revenue is recognized when earned in accordance with
applicable accounting standards, including American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants (AICPA)
31
<PAGE>
Statement of Position (SOP) No. 97-2, Software Revenue Recognition, as amended.
Revenue from sales of handheld device products is recognized when a purchase
order has been received, the product has been shipped, the sales price is fixed
and determinable, and collection of the resulting receivable is probable. We
provide for estimated product returns, price protection, warranty, royalties
and post-sale telephone support in the period in which revenue is recognized.
Revenues from licensing of the Palm platform to manufacturers of other
handheld devices, which have accounted for less than 1% of our revenues to
date, are derived from agreements with our licensees that range from three to
five years in length. Revenue is recognized on a per-unit royalty basis and any
prepaid royalties received under the license agreements are deferred and
recognized as earned on a per-unit basis. Deferred revenue is recorded for post
contract support and any other future deliverables, and is recognized over the
support period or as the elements of the agreement are delivered. Vendor
specific objective evidence for the fair value of the elements contained in our
software license agreements is based on the price determined by management
having the relevant authority when the element is not yet sold separately.
Because most of our licensing activity has occurred relatively recently, none
of these agreements has been renewed to date.
Revenues from Internet services, which have accounted for less than 1% of our
revenues to date, consist primarily of fees paid by subscribers for our
wireless Internet access service, Palm.net. We recognize subscription service
revenues over the period during which services are provided, typically one
month. As of December 31, 1999 we had approximately 34,000 subscribers to our
Palm.net service.
To date we have earned no enterprise application hosting fees or advertising
revenues related to our Palm.com and Palm.net Internet services.
The mix of our device products has a significant impact on gross margins. In
the past, prices of specific models of handheld devices have declined over
time. Our average selling prices across our product lines have increased
moderately due to our introduction of new and higher priced products. We cannot
be sure that we will continue to maintain our average selling prices in the
future and we expect our ability to do so will be challenged by increased
competition. If we are unable to maintain our average selling prices, our gross
margins will decline. Other factors that will affect our gross margins include
the product and services mix in any particular period, competitive pressures,
manufacturing costs, levels of volume discounts for components and sub-
assemblies and distribution costs. Historically, a majority of our products
were manufactured by 3Com at a facility that was sold to Manufacturer's Service
Limited in November 1999. We have contracted with Manufacturer's Service
Limited to manufacture products for us at a price that is not significantly
different from the historical 3Com manufacturing cost. Therefore, we do not
expect that the change from 3Com to Manufacturer's Service Limited as one of
our contract manufacturers will have a material impact on our future results of
operations or cash flows.
We also expect our gross margins to fluctuate due to changes in our product
and services mix as we expand our focus on licensing the Palm platform and
selling our Internet services. As the relatively low gross margin of our
Internet subscription service revenues grow as a percentage of total Palm
revenues, we expect our overall gross margins to decline. In the short term, we
expect Internet services gross margins to be negative because we have
significant fixed costs associated with providing our Internet access service.
We expect that over time the growth of our licensing revenue, which we expect
to continue to have a higher gross margin than our device and Internet service
revenues, will contribute positively to our overall gross margins.
We expect to increase our operating expenses significantly as we invest in
the Palm platform and Internet services areas of our business. In addition, we
expect sales and marketing expenses to increase significantly as we focus on
establishing ourselves as a stand-alone entity. We also plan to increase
branding activities for our devices as well as for the Palm platform and our
Internet services. We expect research and development expenses to increase
significantly as we focus on developing the
32
<PAGE>
Palm platform for our licensees in the handheld device and other markets and on
building our Internet services. In addition, for a period of time before the
separation from 3Com and during the transition period thereafter, we will
increase general and administrative expenses as we implement our own
information system infrastructure and build the corporate resources required to
operate as a public company. During this transition period, we will incur
duplicative costs until we can operate solely on our own infrastructure. As a
result of these increased operating expenses, we expect to incur net losses and
negative cash flows from operations for several quarters following this
offering.
We do not expect that changes in foreign currency exchange rates will have a
material effect on our financial position or results of operations, as
substantially all of our revenues are denominated in U.S. dollars, and the
effect of any significant remaining foreign currency exposures would be offset
by hedging strategies.
Basis of Presentation
Prior to June 1, 1998, our 52-53 week fiscal year ended on the Sunday nearest
to May 31. Effective June 1, 1998, we changed our fiscal year to a 52-53 week
fiscal year ending on the Friday nearest to May 31. Unless otherwise stated,
all years and dates refer to our fiscal year and fiscal periods.
Our consolidated financial statements have been carved out from the
consolidated financial statements of 3Com using the historical results of
operations and historical bases of the assets and liabilities of the 3Com
business that Palm comprises. The consolidated financial statements also
include allocations to us of 3Com corporate expenses, including centralized
legal, accounting, treasury, real estate, information technology, distribution,
customer services, sales, marketing, engineering and other 3Com corporate
services and infrastructure costs. The expense allocations have been determined
on bases that 3Com and we considered to be reasonable reflections of the
utilization of the services provided to us or the benefit received by us.
Expenses were allocated based on relative revenues, headcount or square
footage.
The financial information presented in this prospectus is not indicative of
our financial position, results of operations or cash flows in the future, nor
is it necessarily indicative of what our financial position, results of
operations or cash flows would have been had we been a separate, stand-alone
entity for the periods presented. The financial information presented in this
prospectus does not reflect the many significant changes that will occur in our
funding and operations as a result of our becoming a stand-alone entity and
this offering.
33
<PAGE>
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth consolidated statements of operations data
expressed as a percentage of revenues for the periods indicated:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended Six Months Ended
----------------------- -----------------
May 25, May 31, May 28, Nov. 27, Nov. 26,
1997 1998 1999 1998 1999
------- ------- ------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues............................ 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Cost of revenues.................... 68 58 56 56 57
--- --- --- --- ---
Gross profit........................ 32 42 44 44 43
--- --- --- --- ---
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing................ 27 26 23 22 24
Research and development........... 12 8 8 8 6
General and administrative......... 5 5 4 4 4
Purchased in-process technology.... -- -- 1 -- --
Separation costs................... -- -- -- -- 1
--- --- --- --- ---
Total operating expenses......... 44 39 36 34 35
--- --- --- --- ---
Operating income (loss)............. (12) 3 8 10 8
Interest and other income (expense),
net................................ -- -- -- -- --
--- --- --- --- ---
Income (loss) before income taxes... (12) 3 8 10 8
Income tax provision (credit)....... (5) 1 3 4 3
--- --- --- --- ---
Net income (loss)................... (7)% 2% 5% 6% 5%
=== === === === ===
</TABLE>
Six Months Ended November 26, 1999 and November 27, 1998
Revenues
Revenues in the six months ended November 26, 1999 and November 27, 1998
consisted almost entirely of revenues from sales of our handheld device
products. Revenues were $435.1 million in the six months ended November 26,
1999, a 65% increase over revenues of $263.3 million in the six months ended
November 27, 1998. The increase in revenues during this period was driven by
increased demand for our handheld devices, which reflects the growing market
adoption of our products. Average selling prices over this period decreased
slightly due to a price reduction in October 1999 on existing products not
fully offset by sales of the new Palm Vx and Palm VII devices which have higher
average selling prices. International revenues have become an increasing
percentage of our total revenues, representing 32% of total revenues in the six
months ended November 26, 1999 compared to 25% in the six months ended November
27, 1998. As we continue to expand the number of international markets we
serve, we expect our international business to continue to increase as a
percentage of our overall business. Revenues from new handheld device products
introduced during the preceding four quarters represented substantially all of
our revenues for the six months ended November 26, 1999.
Gross Margin
Gross margin is the excess of revenues over cost of revenues expressed as a
percentage of revenues. Cost of revenues includes product manufacturing,
warranty and technical support costs and, beginning in the six months ended
November 26, 1999, costs related to our wireless Internet service resulting
from the introduction of our Palm VII product. Gross margin was 43% of revenues
in the six months ended November 26, 1999, a one percentage point decline from
a gross margin of 44% of revenues in the six months ended November 27, 1998.
The decline in gross margin in the six months ended November 26, 1999 was a
result of cost of revenues including $5.2 million of fixed costs related to our
wireless Internet service, which we expect to continue to incur.
Sales and Marketing
Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of employee compensation and
commissions, advertising, promotional materials, conferences, meetings and
marketing development. Sales and
34
<PAGE>
marketing expenses were $102.7 million in the six months ended November 26,
1999, a 77% increase over expenses of $57.9 million in the six months ended
November 27, 1998. Sales and marketing expenses represented 24% of revenues in
the six months ended November 26, 1999 compared to 22% in the six months ended
November 27, 1998. Approximately $25.1 million of the increase in expenses was
due to additional spending on U.S. demand generation activities and media
advertising production and placement. Approximately $9.2 million of the
increase in expenses was due to increased sales and marketing activities in
Europe and approximately $3.5 million of the increase was due to increased
headcount.
Research and Development
Research and development expenses consist primarily of employee compensation
and related costs associated with our product development efforts, including
third-party consulting and prototyping costs. Research and development expenses
were $28.6 million in the six months ended November 26, 1999, a 40% increase
over expenses of $20.5 million in the six months ended November 27, 1998.
Research and development expenses represented 6% of revenues in the six months
ended November 26, 1999 compared to 8% in the six months ended November 27,
1998. Approximately $6.1 million of the increase in research and development
spending from period to period was a result of increased personnel and related
costs associated with a larger research and development organization that is
designing new handheld devices as well as developing new releases of the Palm
platform. Incremental spending resulting from the acquisition of Smartcode in
February 1999 accounted for approximately $1.0 million of the increase in
research and development spending.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of employee
compensation, professional and contractor fees and provisions for doubtful
accounts receivable. General and administrative expenses were $17.0 million in
the six months ended November 26, 1999, an increase of 50% over expenses of
$11.3 million in the six months ended November 27,1998. General and
administrative expenses represented 4% of revenues in the six months ended
November 26, 1999 as well as in the six months ended November 27, 1998. The
$5.7 million increase in expenses was due to approximately $4.1 million of
increased infrastructure costs as we continue to build our infrastructure to
support a stand-alone, publicly-held company and a $3.7 million increase in
allocated costs from 3Com due to our revenue growth. These increases were
offset by a $2.1 million reduction in the provision for doubtful accounts
receivable.
Separation Costs
Separation costs consist of one-time costs, such as consulting and
professional fees, associated with the process of becoming a stand-alone,
publicly held company. Separation costs were $3.8 million in the six months
ended November 26, 1999. We expect these costs to continue at similar to
slightly increased levels for the remainder of the fiscal year.
Income Tax Provision
Our operating results historically have been included in 3Com's consolidated
United States federal and state income tax returns. The provision for income
taxes in our consolidated financial statements has been determined on a
separate return basis. Our effective tax rate in the six months ended November
26, 1999 was 39% compared to 38% in the six months ended November 27, 1998.
This rate is based on estimates of our income before taxes for federal and
state tax jurisdictions. As foreign subsidiaries are established in the future,
our mix of income before taxes in the various tax jurisdictions could cause the
effective tax rate to fluctuate. Our tax liability for periods prior to the
date of 3Com's distribution will be determined in accordance with our tax
sharing agreement with 3Com.
35
<PAGE>
Years Ended May 28, 1999, May 31, 1998 and May 25, 1997
Revenues
Revenues were $563.5 million in fiscal 1999, an increase of 107% over fiscal
1998. Revenues in fiscal 1998 were $272.1 million, an increase of 138% over
revenues of $114.2 million in fiscal 1997. Revenues from new handheld device
products introduced during the preceding four quarters represented over 85% of
our revenues for fiscal 1999, 1998 and 1997. The growth in revenues in fiscal
1999 and fiscal 1998 was primarily due to increasing unit sales as a result of
increasing demand for our handheld devices. We have increased demand by
regularly adding new differentiated products to our product line. We added the
Palm IIIx, Palm V and Palm VII devices to our product line in fiscal 1999. We
introduced the Palm III device late in fiscal 1998. We introduced the PalmPilot
Professional and PalmPilot Personal devices in late fiscal 1997.
Declining prices of existing products over the three-year period have been
offset by introducing an increasingly broad range of new products with
additional features such as increased memory, backlit screens, higher
resolution screens, sleeker styling, thinner and lighter form factor, and
wireless Internet capability. As a result, average selling prices have
increased moderately, although we do not expect this trend to continue in
future years.
Gross Margin
Gross margin was 44% of revenues in fiscal 1999, a two percentage point
increase over fiscal 1998. Gross margin was 42% of revenues in fiscal 1998, a
10 percentage point increase over gross margin of 32% of revenues in fiscal
1997. The improvement in gross margin in fiscal 1999 reflects increased sales
of higher margin Palm IIIx and Palm V products, as well as reduced
manufacturing costs due to better pricing that we were able to obtain from our
component suppliers and contract manufacturers. The improvement in gross margin
in fiscal 1998 reflects product cost improvements through engineering design
changes, volume-related cost reductions from component suppliers and contract
manufacturers and reduced period costs relative to fiscal 1997, which had
higher than normal period costs as a result of establishing manufacturing
operations and introducing new products.
Sales and Marketing
Sales and marketing expenses were $127.7 million in fiscal 1999, an 80%
increase over fiscal 1998. Sales and marketing expenses were $70.8 million in
fiscal 1998, a 134% increase over expenses of $30.3 million in fiscal 1997.
Sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of revenues were 23% in fiscal
1999 compared to 26% in fiscal 1998 and 27% in fiscal 1997. Sales and marketing
expenses have increased in each period, but have declined as a percentage of
revenues due to fixed costs being spread over a higher revenue base. The
absolute dollar increase in sales and marketing expenses in fiscal 1999
resulted primarily from an increase in advertising of $29.6 million, which
includes expenditures on our "Simply Palm" national advertising campaign, and
increased product introduction activities associated with the launches of our
Palm IIIe, Palm IIIx, Palm V and Palm VII handheld devices. These launch
activities included increased personnel-related expenses associated with
increasing the size of our marketing organization, increased trade show
activities and related travel expenses, point of sale displays, sales
collateral and marketing development. In addition, marketing expenses increased
by $15.7 million due to our expansion into the European market. The absolute
dollar increase in sales and marketing expenses in fiscal 1998 was primarily
the result of an increase of $25.1 million in costs associated with the
continued growth of our sales and marketing organization in the United States.
In addition, approximately $11.3 million of the increase was due to the
expansion of our sales organization into Europe and our first international
product launch for the Palm III handheld devices at the CBIT technology show in
Germany in March 1998.
36
<PAGE>
Research and Development
Research and development expenses were $46.0 million in fiscal 1999, a 110%
increase over fiscal 1998. Research and development expenses were $21.9 million
in fiscal 1998, a 63% increase over expenses of $13.4 million in fiscal 1997.
Research and development expenses as a percentage of revenues were 8% in fiscal
1999 compared to 8% in fiscal 1998 and 12% in fiscal 1997. The absolute dollar
increase in research and development expenses in fiscal 1999 resulted primarily
from an increase of $8.2 million in personnel-related expenses associated with
expanding the size of our engineering organization and an increase of $4.0
million in expenses related to contractors, consultants and project materials.
During fiscal 1999, we also incurred an additional $6.9 million in engineering
costs to develop our wireless Internet access service that supports our
wireless Palm VII device. The absolute dollar increase in research and
development expenses in fiscal 1998 resulted primarily from the expansion of
our development activities, including personnel-related expenses, contractor
and consulting fees and product development expenditures. The decrease in
research and development expenses as a percentage of revenues from fiscal 1997
to fiscal 1998 resulted from economies of scale as fixed costs were spread over
a higher revenue base.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expenses were $23.7 million in fiscal 1999, a 55%
increase over fiscal 1998. General and administrative expenses were $15.3
million in fiscal 1998, an increase of 147% over expenses of $6.2 million in
fiscal 1997. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenues
were 4% in fiscal 1999 compared to 5% in fiscal 1998 and fiscal 1997. The
absolute dollar increases in general and administrative expenses in fiscal 1999
resulted from an increase in allocated costs from 3Com of $4.3 million to
support the growth of our business. In addition, general and administrative
expenses were higher in fiscal 1998 compared to fiscal 1997 as a result of an
increased provision of $3.3 million for doubtful accounts receivable.
Approximately half of the increased provision for doubtful accounts was due to
specific reserves provided for a number of different customer account balances.
The remaining increase in the provision resulted from the overall increase in
our level of accounts receivable, which increased by nearly 200% over the
previous year.
Purchased In-Process Technology
We acquired Smartcode Technologie SARL on February 8, 1999 for $17.4 million
in cash, including approximately $0.2 million in costs directly related to the
acquisition. Approximately $2.1 million of the purchase price represented
purchased in-process technology that had not yet reached technological
feasibility, had no alternative future use and was charged to operations in the
third quarter of fiscal 1999. Approximately $5.4 million of the purchase price
was allocated to existing technology, with this amount being amortized over
four years.
The purchased in-process technology acquired related primarily to
Globalpulse, a software GSM terminal adapter which acts as a software modem for
products utilizing the Palm operating system. The estimated value for the in-
process technology was determined using the income approach which discounted to
present value the cash flows expected to be derived from products that were
still in the process of development at the date of acquisition. The projections
were based on future expectations of the revenue and expenses to be generated
in connection with the products that were still under development. Revenues and
operating profit attributable to the in-process technology were estimated to
total $50.0 million and $9.4 million, respectively, over a five-year projection
period. The resulting projected net cash flows were discounted to their present
value of $2.1 million using a discount rate of 40%, which was calculated based
on the weighted average cost of capital, adjusted for the technology risk
associated with the purchased in-process technology, which was considered to be
significant due to the nature of the technology under development. For
projected cash flows attributable to existing technology, a discount rate of
35% was used, which reflects the weighted average cost of capital, adjusted for
the technology risk associated with these technologies.
37
<PAGE>
The nature of the efforts required to develop the purchased in-process
technology into commercially viable products principally relates to the
completion of all planning, designing, prototyping, verification and testing
activities that are necessary to establish whether the products will be able to
meet its design specifications, including functions, features and technical
performance requirements. The estimated cost to develop the in-process
technology was approximately $0.3 million, all of which was expected to be
incurred before the end of fiscal 2000. The actual cost to develop the in-
process technology has been consistent with the forecasted amount. The primary
project was completed in July 1999 and Palm began to derive revenue beginning
in the second quarter of fiscal 2000. As of November 26, 1999, revenues have
been as expected.
Income Tax Provision
Our effective tax rate was 38% in fiscal 1999 and 35% in fiscal 1998, and in
fiscal 1997 we recorded a tax credit. The primary reasons for the fluctuation
in our tax rate are less research and development credit being available in
fiscal 1999 than in fiscal 1998 and our net loss in fiscal 1997.
38
<PAGE>
Quarterly Results of Operations
The following tables present our operating results for each of the ten fiscal
quarters in the period ended November 26, 1999, in dollars and as a percentage
of revenues. The information for each of these quarters is unaudited and has
been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial
statements included in this prospectus. In the opinion of management, all
necessary adjustments, which consist only of normal and recurring accruals,
have been included to fairly present the unaudited quarterly results. This data
should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and the
notes to those statements included in this prospectus.
The historical financial information may not be indicative of our future
performance and does not necessarily reflect what our financial position and
results of operations would have been had we operated as a separate, stand-
alone entity during the periods presented.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three Months Ended
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aug. 31, Nov. 30, Mar. 1, May 31, Aug. 28, Nov. 27, Feb. 26, May 28, Aug. 27, Nov. 26,
1997 1997 1998 1998 1998 1998 1999 1999 1999 1999
-------- -------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(in thousands)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Consolidated Statements
of Operations Data:
Revenues................ $51,675 $69,997 $65,766 $84,699 $116,069 $147,233 $125,889 $174,334 $176,505 $258,555
Cost of revenues........ 29,906 42,115 37,392 48,336 62,998 84,289 67,583 100,746 98,324 148,018
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Gross profit............ 21,769 27,882 28,374 36,363 53,071 62,944 58,306 73,588 78,181 110,537
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing..... 11,314 20,286 17,335 21,830 23,969 33,893 28,725 41,139 42,648 60,038
Research and
development............ 4,538 5,170 5,209 6,946 9,738 10,722 10,989 14,578 12,507 16,044
General and
administrative......... 2,470 3,290 3,181 6,358 6,233 5,071 5,739 6,649 7,160 9,796
Purchased in-process
technology............. -- -- -- -- -- -- 2,125 -- -- --
Separation costs........ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 3,780
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total operating
expenses............... 18,322 28,746 25,725 35,134 39,940 49,686 47,578 62,366 62,315 89,658
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating income
(loss)................. 3,447 (864) 2,649 1,229 13,131 13,258 10,728 11,222 15,866 20,879
Interest and other
income (expense), net.. (35) (44) (5) 28 (25) (75) (15) (108) (63) 277
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income (loss) before
income taxes........... 3,412 (908) 2,644 1,257 13,106 13,183 10,713 11,114 15,803 21,156
Income tax provision
(credit)............... 1,190 (317) 922 439 5,036 5,066 4,116 4,270 6,145 8,294
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net income (loss)....... $ 2,222 $ (591) $ 1,722 $ 818 $ 8,070 $ 8,117 $ 6,597 $ 6,844 $ 9,658 $ 12,862
======= ======= ======= ======= ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
As a Percentage of
Revenues:
Revenues................ 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Cost of revenues........ 58 60 57 57 54 57 54 58 56 57
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Gross profit............ 42 40 43 43 46 43 46 42 44 43
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing..... 22 29 26 26 22 23 23 24 24 23
Research and
development............ 9 7 8 8 8 7 9 8 7 6
General and
administrative......... 5 5 5 7 5 4 4 4 4 4
Purchased in-process
technology............. -- -- -- -- -- -- 2 -- -- --
Separation costs........ -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total operating
expenses............... 36 41 39 41 35 34 38 36 35 34
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating income
(loss)................. 6 (1) 4 2 11 9 8 6 9 9
Interest and other
income (expense), net.. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income (loss) before
income taxes........... 6 (1) 4 2 11 9 8 6 9 9
Income tax provision
(credit)............... 2 -- 1 1 4 3 3 2 4 4
------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net income (loss)....... 4% (1)% 3% 1% 7% 6% 5% 4% 5% 5%
======= ======= ======= ======= ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
39
<PAGE>
We have experienced seasonal variations in our operating results.
Historically, our revenues have been weaker in the first and third fiscal
quarters and have often been lower than the preceding quarter. This seasonal
variation is due to the fact that our products are highly consumer-oriented,
and consumer buying patterns traditionally reflect reduced purchases in those
quarters. As our licensing revenues grow, we expect that they will contribute
to the fluctuations in our quarterly results because the products offered by
our licensees are also primarily consumer-oriented. In addition, we attempt to
time our new product releases to coincide with relatively higher consumer
spending in the second and fourth fiscal quarters, which contributes to these
seasonal variations.
In the second quarter of fiscal 1998, our gross margin declined compared to
the prior and subsequent quarters primarily due to price reductions. Sales and
marketing expenses increased in this same quarter as a result of costs related
to our first third-party developer conference and start-up costs incurred for
setting up our international sales and marketing organization. In addition,
sales and marketing expenses increased after the first quarter of fiscal 1998
in preparation for the worldwide launch of the Palm III product family in the
fourth quarter of fiscal 1998. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998, our
general and administrative expenses were higher due to increased provisions for
doubtful accounts receivable identified during the quarter.
In the first and third quarters of fiscal 1999, our gross margin improved due
to the mix of new products with higher gross margins consisting of the Palm
III, Palm IIIx, and Palm V devices. Research and development expenses and
general and administrative expenses decreased as a percentage of revenues in
the second quarter of fiscal 1999 compared to the prior and subsequent quarters
as a result of seasonally strong second quarter revenues and a lower provision
for doubtful accounts receivable than in the first quarter. In the third
quarter of fiscal 1999, we incurred a one-time charge of $2.1 million for
purchased in-process technology as a result of the Smartcode acquisition.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Historically, 3Com has managed cash on a centralized basis. Cash receipts
associated with our business have been transferred to 3Com on a periodic basis
and 3Com has provided funds to cover our disbursements. Accordingly, we have
reported no cash or cash equivalents at May 31, 1998 and May 25, 1997. At May
28, 1999, we reported cash of $478,000 acquired in the Smartcode acquisition
and at November 26, 1999, we reported cash of $29.6 million as a result of a
transfer from 3Com.
In accordance with our separation agreement, 3Com will transfer to us the
3Com-owned assets and liabilities which relate to our business prior to the
separation date, except for most of our accounts receivable and accounts
payable which 3Com will retain for administrative convenience. We will receive
the net proceeds of the offering and the private placements to America Online,
Motorola and Nokia and will pay a dividend to 3Com of $50 million, provided
that if the aggregate estimated net proceeds of this offering and the private
placements exceed $620 million, 3Com may elect to receive an additional
dividend of up to 50% of the amount of the aggregate estimated net proceeds in
excess of $620 million. Based on an assumed initial public offering price of
$31.00 per share, 3Com could elect to receive up to $184.4 million as a
dividend, which may result in additional taxes payable by 3Com. In addition, we
will make a payment to 3Com of an intercompany payable, which was approximately
$58 million as of November 26, 1999. We anticipate that we will use some of the
proceeds from the offering and the private placements to America Online,
Motorola and Nokia to replace the working capital retained by 3Com, fund our
increased working capital needs associated with revenue growth and fund
increased capital and marketing expenditures.
Cash provided by operating activities was $66.3 million for the six months
ended November 26, 1999. Cash provided by operating activities was $84.0
million in fiscal 1999, cash used in operating activities was $21.4 million in
fiscal 1998 and $31.2 million in fiscal 1997. Cash provided by operating
activities in fiscal 1999 resulted primarily from net income adjusted for non-
cash charges for
40
<PAGE>
depreciation and amortization and changes in working capital. Cash used in
operating activities in fiscal 1998 resulted primarily from an increase in
accounts receivable which more than offset net income, and adjustments for non-
cash charges and other working capital items. Cash used in operating activities
in fiscal 1997 resulted primarily from our net loss as well as increases in
accounts receivable and inventories.
We had capital expenditures of $5.7 million in the six months ended November
26, 1999, $5.3 million in fiscal 1999, $8.8 million in fiscal 1998 and $2.5
million in fiscal 1997. In addition, in fiscal 1999, we expended $16.8 million,
net of cash acquired, for the acquisition of Smartcode.
Our future capital requirements will depend on a number of factors, including
the timing and rate of the expansion of our business. We anticipate a
substantial increase in our capital expenditures to support anticipated growth
in operations, infrastructure for our wireless and Internet services plus
hardware and software for our information systems and personnel. We believe
that our cash, cash equivalents and proceeds from this offering and the private
placements to America Online, Motorola and Nokia will provide sufficient
capital to fund our operations for the foreseeable future. We cannot assure
you, however, that the underlying assumed levels of revenues and expenses will
prove to be accurate. We may need to raise additional funds through public or
private financings or other arrangements in order to:
. support more rapid expansion of our business than we anticipate;
. develop and introduce new or enhanced products or services;
. respond to competitive pressures;
. invest in or acquire businesses or technologies; or
. respond to unanticipated requirements or developments.
We cannot be certain that financing will be available to us when we need it
on favorable terms or at all. If additional funds are raised through the
issuance of equity securities, dilution to existing stockholders may result. If
insufficient funds are available, we may not be able to introduce new products
and services, expand the development of our Palm platform and our Internet
services or compete effectively in any of our markets, any of which could
materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Interest Rate Sensitivity
As of November 26, 1999, we had cash and cash equivalents of $29.6 million
which consisted of highly liquid money market instruments with maturities less
than 90 days. Because of the short maturities of these instruments, a sudden
change in market interest rates would not have a material impact on the fair
value of the portfolio. We would not expect our operating results or cash flows
to be affected to any significant degree by the effect of a sudden change in
market interest rates on our portfolio.
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
Historically, our exposure to exchange rate risk has been managed on an
enterprise-wide basis as part of 3Com's risk management strategy. This strategy
has utilized foreign exchange forward and option contracts to hedge certain
balance sheet exposures and intercompany balances against future movements in
foreign exchange rates. Gains and losses on the forward and option contracts
are largely offset by gains and losses on the underlying exposure and
consequently a sudden or significant change in foreign exchange rates would not
have a material impact on future net income or cash flows. We are currently
evaluating our exchange rate risk management strategy. We do not currently and
do not intend in the future to utilize derivative financial instruments for
trading purposes.
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Equity Security Price Risk
We do not own any equity investments. Therefore, we do not currently have any
direct equity price risk.
Effects of Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 1998 and June 1999, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or
FASB, issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 133,
"Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" and SFAS No.
137, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities-Deferral of
the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 133." These statements require
companies to record derivatives on the balance sheet as assets or liabilities,
measured at fair value. Gains or losses resulting from changes in the values of
those derivatives would be accounted for depending on the use of the derivative
and whether it qualifies for hedge accounting. SFAS 133 will be effective for
our fiscal year ending May 31, 2002. We believe that adoption of these
statements will not have a significant impact on our financial results.
In March 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued
Statement of Position No. 98-1, "Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software
Developed or Obtained for Internal Use." Statement of Position 98-1 requires
that entities capitalize costs related to internal-use software once certain
criteria have been met. We adopted Statement of Position 98-1 in our first
quarter of fiscal 2000. The adoption of this statement did not have a
significant impact on our financial results.
Year 2000 Compliance
Many computer systems and software programs were written to accept and
process only two digit entry codes for the year when storing dates. Beginning
with the year 2000 these entry codes will need to accept four digit entries to
distinguish 21st century dates from the 20th century dates. As a result,
computer systems and software programs may need to be updated to solve this
problem and avoid incorrect or lost data.
To date we have not experienced any material problems attributable to the
inability to recognize dates beginning with the year 2000 in our products or
internal systems. We face risks associated with the year 2000 issue if we
encounter undetected errors or defects. Our operations could be adversely
affected if systems do not correctly recognize date information when the year
changes to 2000. We face risks primarily in the following areas:
. systems used by us and 3Com to run our business including information
systems, equipment and facilities;
. systems used by our and 3Com's suppliers; and
. potential warranty or other claims from our customers.
We have relied on 3Com to address any year 2000 readiness issues in the
internal and external systems we currently use. If 3Com's year 2000 readiness
preparations are insufficient, we may be required to bear the costs of
upgrading or replacing any systems after our separation from 3Com. We continue
to evaluate and mitigate our exposure in these areas where appropriate. We
intend for some of our disclosures and announcements concerning our products
and year 2000 programs, including those in this prospectus, to constitute "Year
2000 Readiness Disclosures" as defined in the recently enacted Year 2000
Information and Readiness Disclosure Act. We cannot be certain that year 2000
issues will not have a material adverse impact on us.
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State of Readiness and Risks
We have identified four key exposure internal areas with respect to the year
2000 issue, namely: key transaction processing applications, equipment and
facilities, products and key suppliers.
Key transaction processing applications. Key transaction processing
applications include those used to run our business, finance, order processing
and distribution operations. 3Com has completed its evaluation of these
applications for year 2000 readiness and has been upgrading or replacing
systems, where necessary. If we or 3Com identify significant new non-compliance
issues, or if we encounter unexpected difficulties in areas previously
considered to be year 2000 ready, our ability to conduct our business or record
transactions could be disrupted, which could adversely affect our results of
operations or financial condition.
Equipment and facilities. We have evaluated year 2000 readiness of our
equipment and facilities. We have contacted our key suppliers to ascertain year
2000 compliance of our critical equipment. We expect our critical equipment to
be ready for year 2000. If our year 2000 assessment is incorrect, our design,
production and shipping capabilities could be disrupted, which could adversely
affect our results of operations or financial condition.
Products. We have conducted an extensive evaluation of our currently
available products. We believe that the products we are currently offering are
year 2000 ready. However, the first generation of our handheld device product,
which is no longer being sold, does not properly display the European date
format. We released a downloadable software patch to fix this problem. If any
of our products experienced a material year 2000 error, we could have increased
warranty costs, customer satisfaction issues, litigation or other material
costs and liabilities, which could adversely affect our results of operations
or financial condition.
Key suppliers. We have contacted our critical suppliers of products and
services to determine that the suppliers' operations and the products and
services they provide are year 2000 ready. Our third-party manufacturers
advised us that their manufacturing operations are or will be year 2000
compliant by December 31, 1999. If key suppliers fail to adequately address the
year 2000 issue for the products or services they provide to us, critical
materials, products and services may not be delivered in a timely manner, which
could adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.
Most Reasonably Likely Worst-Case Scenario
We believe that our most reasonably likely worst-case year 2000 scenario
would relate to problems with the systems and services of third parties rather
than with our internal systems or products.
We cannot identify all possible disruption scenarios. We are preparing
contingency plans specifying our actions if failures occur in key internal
systems and/or critical third party systems and services. The process includes
identifying and prioritizing risks, assessing the business impact of those
risks, evaluating risk mitigation alternatives, and preparing written
contingency plans for those failures with the greatest business risk to us.
Contingency plans for critical business operations have been implemented and
these plans will be validated and modified as needed.
Costs to Address Year 2000 Issues
Although we currently do not expect future year 2000 compliance costs to be
material, the costs could include:
. hardware and software upgrades or replacements primarily related to
desktop systems and telephone equipment;
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. consultant and contractor fees to assist in assessments and to perform
remediation and integration testing; and
. a contingency for potential unexpected costs associated with replacing
or repairing systems previously considered to be year 2000 ready.
If we identify unexpected problems relating to the year 2000 issue, we may
incur additional costs in identifying and responding to the problems.
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BUSINESS
Introduction
We are the leading global provider of handheld computing devices. We believe
that we have achieved our leadership position by focusing on customer needs and
emphasizing simplicity and ease of use in design and engineering. We design,
develop and market our Palm-branded handheld devices, which currently include
our Palm III, Palm V and Internet-enabled Palm VII families. According to
International Data Corporation, in 1998 we had a 68% market share of the
worldwide personal companion handheld device market.
We believe that the success of our devices is attributable to our innovative
product designs, our Palm platform, our technology leadership and the strength
of the Palm brand. We are building on these strengths to expand our business by
licensing the Palm platform to other device and information appliance
manufacturers. In addition, we are expanding our wireless and Internet
offerings through Palm.net, our subscription-based wireless access service, and
Palm.com, our Internet destination site. As the functionalities of handheld
computing devices, information appliances, mobile phones and handheld
entertainment devices converge, we believe that we are well-positioned to
establish the Palm platform as an industry standard.
The rapid proliferation of our devices based on our Palm platform has led to
the emergence of a community of developers who create applications for the Palm
platform as well as peripherals and accessories that increase the functionality
of Palm platform-based devices. These developers have created over 6,900
applications for Palm devices to date, enhancing the functionality and
usefulness of products based on the Palm platform. We believe the Palm platform
is attractive to our licensees because it has been widely adopted by end users
and has broad third-party development support. This adoption further drives an
increase in the size of the Palm platform user base. We refer to this
reinforcing community of users, developers and licensees as the Palm economy.
Industry Overview
As professionals have become increasingly mobile, often spending long periods
of time away from traditional work settings, they have sought out tools to
access and manage critical personal and professional information.
Traditionally, these professionals used paper-based organizers and, later,
stand-alone electronic pocket organizers or portable computers to accomplish
these tasks. These early tools met with mixed success and often were slow,
large, expensive and difficult to use and offered limited functionality.
The introduction of Palm's first device ushered in a new generation of
handheld devices that offered users a combination of simplicity and
functionality. Innovations in design, synchronization technology, user
interface, programmability, functionality and battery power management
transformed these devices into convenient productivity tools. These
enhancements significantly accelerated user demand. According to International
Data Corporation, annual worldwide sales of personal companions will increase
from approximately one million units in 1997 to an estimated 14 million units
in 2003. We believe that further market growth will be driven by continued
innovation, increased wireless data connectivity and the emergence of new usage
patterns driven by Internet content and enterprise data.
We believe that continued technological innovations that address end-user
needs are an important component of industry growth. Technological advances
have led to significant reductions in size and weight, as well as improvements
in battery life, reliability and storage capacity, of handheld devices. Third
party developers, who create software applications and complementary hardware
peripherals and accessories, supplement manufacturers' innovations and allow
users to customize and enhance their devices. These feature enhancements and
performance improvements, driven by both manufacturers and third party
developers, continue to attract new users and encourage device upgrades.
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The emergence of technologies enabling wireless access to the Internet and
enterprise data is again transforming the handheld device industry. The
Internet has become an important way for consumers and professionals to access
personal and business information, download new applications and access new
services. We believe that wireless access to Internet content and enterprise
data will make handheld computing devices increasingly valuable to users. This
value proposition is driving a variety of handheld information appliance makers
to add Internet connectivity features to products such as mobile phones.
As handheld devices are adopted in greater numbers and handheld device
applications become increasingly integrated into other handheld information
appliances, an opportunity exists for operating system developers to extend
their platforms for use on other handheld devices. We believe that the
extension of an operating system to a diverse set of handheld information
appliances, including mobile phones, increases the utility of all devices that
use the operating system and expands the scope and potential market for both
operating system developers and device manufacturers.
Business Summary
In 1996, we introduced our first handheld device product, based on our
innovative Palm platform, and quickly established global market leadership in
the handheld device industry. Our revenues have grown from approximately $1
million in fiscal 1995 to $564 million in fiscal 1999. Our international
business accounted for 29% of revenues in fiscal 1999. We believe that our
users associate the Palm brand with high-quality products that offer a
combination of portability, connectivity, simplicity and style. By capitalizing
on the market-leading position of our handheld devices in domestic and
international markets and on our Palm platform and emerging Internet services
and applications, we believe we can extend our leadership in this evolving
industry.
Handheld Devices. We currently have three families of handheld devices, the
Palm III, Palm V and Palm VII product families, each of which is based on the
Palm platform. We develop our handheld devices by focusing on customer needs.
While all Palm devices are designed to offer a combination of utility,
simplicity, wearability and mobility, we have further differentiated individual
products to appeal to specific market segments. For example, to appeal to users
who place the most value on wearability, we introduced the Palm V product,
which combines the traditional functionality of our products with a sleek,
compact and light-weight form factor. In fiscal 1999, the Palm V product family
became our largest product line measured in terms of revenues. Similarly, to
appeal to mobile professionals and enterprise customers that want to provide
their employees with convenient remote access to enterprise data, we introduced
the Palm VII product, which combines connectivity and mobility. Customers
buying our devices receive a Palm handheld device, a cradle to connect the
device to a personal computer and personal information management and
synchronization software which runs on a personal computer and serves as a
conduit between the device and other personal computer applications.
Palm Platform. The Palm platform combines the distinctive look, feel and ease
of use of our Palm OS operating system with our HotSync synchronization
technology, pen-based input technology, personal information management
applications such as address book and datebook, and, in our Palm VII product,
web-clipping software that allows content providers and users to send and
receive Internet data in a handheld device format. We also make development
tools available for our developer community, and we share select parts of the
Palm OS operating system source code in order to enable developers to optimize
the interface of their applications with the Palm platform. As a result, the
Palm OS operating system has emerged as a highly flexible, efficient operating
system.
In addition to including the Palm platform in our Palm-branded devices, we
have expanded our strategy of licensing the platform to device and information
appliance manufacturers. In October
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1999, we announced a non-exclusive agreement with Nokia, the world's leading
provider of mobile phones, to integrate the Palm platform into several of
Nokia's mobile phone products. We believe this agreement represents a
significant endorsement of the Palm platform for the worldwide wireless phone
market. Similarly, in November 1999 we entered into an agreement with Sony to
license and develop the Palm platform for use in future Sony products. We
believe that the potential of these and other new markets represents a
significant growth opportunity for us and our developer community.
Internet Services and Applications. The Internet allows enhanced contact with
our users by allowing us to offer products and services directly to our users
and by creating an online destination where users, resellers and developers can
participate in the Palm economy. We offer users of our Palm VII device a new
way to access and navigate the Internet through our web-clipping software,
which allows users to download specific information from the Internet. To
support the wireless connectivity of our Palm VII device, we offer Palm.net
which is a monthly fee, subscription-based Internet access service. In
addition, we have developed a website that is also called Palm.net, an Internet
destination where content providers and third party developers can post web-
clipping applications for users to download. We have also developed our
Palm.com website, which is emerging as an important destination site for our
customers, users and developer community. These Internet services and
applications increase the functionality of our products, provide us with
expanded opportunities for product sales, advertising and transaction revenue
and keep us at the forefront of technology and innovation in our rapidly
changing markets.
The Palm Economy. Our broad user base has attracted a large community of
third-party developers that create software applications and peripherals that
increase the performance and functionality of Palm devices. As of December 31,
1999, more than 33,000 developers had registered to use Palm developer tools to
create software applications for the Palm platform. We provide these developer
tools at no charge to our developer community. While no license revenue is
derived directly from these developers, we believe the existence of software
applications developed by third-party developers helps to increase the market
for our handheld device products and services. In addition, we distribute
approximately 80 peripherals and accessories developed by us and third parties
ranging from wireless modems to keyboards to leather cases. This expanding Palm
economy has, in turn, encouraged licensees to integrate the Palm platform with
new handheld information appliances providing new opportunities to grow the
Palm economy. The Internet is further expanding the Palm economy by attracting
new users and by encouraging developers to create Internet-specific
applications. We believe that the Palm economy creates opportunities for all
participants by continually extending the functionality and market appeal of
both existing and next-generation Palm-branded products and products based on
the Palm platform.
Strategy
Our objective is to increase our handheld device market leadership and
establish our Palm platform as the industry standard operating system for the
next generation of handheld computing devices, mobile information appliances,
mobile phones and handheld devices for entertainment such as games and music.
In addition, we plan to further develop our Internet services and expand our
enterprise sales. The key elements of our strategy to achieve these objectives
are to:
Extend Market Leadership through Continued Dedication to the Palm Design
Philosophy. Our design philosophy carefully balances elegant form with simple
and useful functions. We intend to continue to increase the size of the
handheld device market by extending this philosophy to products targeted at new
market segments. We have recently accelerated our market segmentation
activities by identifying specific user needs across consumer, mobile
professional and enterprise markets and by introducing new versions of our
handheld devices that combine features tailored to address these specific
needs. For example, we introduced both an entry-level Palm IIIe product for
price-sensitive consumers and the Palm V product for consumers seeking a
slimmer, sleeker Palm device. Underlying our design philosophy is a fundamental
commitment to innovation. We have been first to market with a number of
innovative technologies that we have incorporated
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into our products ranging from our first Palm device to our recently introduced
Palm VII product. We believe that continuing product and technology innovation
will be important to our overall success.
Accelerate Adoption of Palm Products and Services in the Enterprise
Market. We believe the enterprise market represents a significant opportunity
for Palm. Most Palm devices are used in professional environments but have
historically been purchased by users on an individual basis rather than by
corporations or institutions for enterprise-wide deployment. With the recent
introduction of wireless-enabled devices, the development of enterprise
customer support programs and the addition of a direct enterprise salesforce,
we are focusing on increasing the adoption of Palm devices by enterprise
customers. For example, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is deploying Palm VII
devices to manage patient information. To accelerate the adoption of our
devices by enterprises, we have established relationships with enterprise
software vendors such as Oracle, PeopleSoft, Remedy and SAP to develop
applications that provide access to enterprise databases using devices based on
the Palm platform. Additionally, we are developing synchronization features and
network security capabilities tailored to enterprise networks and computer
servers and working with third party developers to design enterprise-specific
software applications.
License the Palm Platform to Establish a Standard, Open Operating System for
Information Appliances. We intend to further expand the use of the Palm
platform in a wide variety of handheld devices and information appliances. This
strategy involves licensing the Palm platform to other handheld device
manufacturers such as Sony and to manufacturers of other information appliances
that are looking to incorporate an operating system that is widely adopted by
consumers and has broad third-party developer support. We plan to continue to
pursue licensing agreements with wireless telephone companies such as Nokia and
QUALCOMM as well as providers of other mobile information appliances.
Continue to Develop Products and Services that Leverage Wireless Connectivity
and the Internet. The introduction of the Palm VII product represents the first
step in our rollout of wireless Internet-enabled devices. Our Internet services
strategy has four complementary components. First, through strategic
relationships we plan to expand the geographic coverage of our Palm.net
wireless access service on a global basis. Second, we intend to develop
hardware and software solutions to enable previous generations of Palm products
to access Palm.net. Third, we intend to enhance the wireless functionality of
our Palm.net service to increase its utility for enterprise and carrier
applications. Finally, we believe that the proliferation of wireless devices
that link to the Internet will enable us to leverage our Internet properties.
In this regard, we believe that Palm may be particularly well-positioned to
build an Internet access portal around our Palm.net and Palm.com properties.
For example, in addition to providing access for Palm devices through Palm.net,
we plan to make content, such as Internet calendaring and information
management, available through the Palm.net site.
Expand International Business. We intend to continue to expand our
international business. For the first six months of fiscal 2000, revenues
outside the United States accounted for 32% of our total revenues compared to
25% for the first six months of fiscal 1999. With the help of the Palm
developer community, we have introduced localized versions of Palm devices in
five languages. According to International Data Corporation, we had a 72%
market share of the personal companion market in Europe and 59% market share in
Asia in 1998. We plan to build on this success by expanding our international
product offerings, introducing additional local-language versions of the Palm
platform and broadening our distribution channels overseas.
Support the Palm Economy. As the community of users, licensees and hardware
and software developers for Palm products has grown, we have expanded our
efforts to support the Palm economy. Support of the developer community takes a
variety of forms, ranging from offering software tools and technical support
services for third-party developers to hosting PalmSource
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conferences that allow us to give direction regarding product and strategy
trends. In addition, we expect to make strategic investments in new companies
or make acquisitions that we believe will support or expand the Palm economy.
We may also selectively develop applications designed to increase the
functionality of Palm-based devices and support expansion of the Palm economy.
We expect to continue these efforts to support the Palm economy to stimulate
overall demand for products based on the Palm platform.
Products and Services
Handheld Devices. Each of our handheld devices is designed with the Palm
philosophy of providing the user with a simple, elegant and useful productivity
tool. People use our handheld devices for many different purposes, including
managing both personal information and enterprise data and accessing e-mail and
content from the Internet. Users can also customize their devices by adding a
wide range of applications, peripherals and accessories. We have developed each
of our three current product families to address specific customer needs.
The Palm III product family combines the small form factor, seamless desktop
synchronization, ease of use and fast data access that have been the hallmark
of our handheld devices. The Palm IIIe device is our most affordable, entry-
level product. The Palm IIIe special edition product combines the traditional
features of the Palm III device with a new, translucent enclosure and is
targeted at the student market. The Palm IIIx device allows users to upgrade
both memory and operating system and includes application software such as
enhanced links to Microsoft Outlook. The Palm IIIxe product is designed for
users such as professionals or enterprise customers who work with many
applications or large data needs and who desire to add hardware capabilities
and software applications. The Palm IIIc device is our first product with a
color display, and it is designed for users who place a high value on
readability and the ability to use color to categorize information, create
images or play graphics-intensive games.
The Palm V product family emphasizes wearability, combining all of the
functions of the Palm III product family with a sleek and stylish form-factor
featuring an anodized aluminum case. It also features advanced display
technology and a rechargeable battery. The Palm Vx device, introduced in the
fall of 1999, has additional pre-bundled software and more memory than the Palm
V device.
The Palm VII, which integrates wireless communications functionality, is the
first device in our newest product family. The Palm VII device builds on the
features of our other product families by adding wireless access to Internet
content, enterprise data, e-mail, messaging and e-commerce services such as
online shopping, auctions and stock trading. The Palm VII device incorporates
our web-clipping technology, which presents Internet content and enterprise
data in a format optimized for handheld devices. We believe the wireless
connectivity of the Palm VII device makes it particularly well-suited for the
enterprise market as it allows mobile employees to access enterprise data
remotely. In order for users of the Palm VII device to access Internet content,
they currently must subscribe to our Palm.net access service.
As part of our enterprise market strategy, we have entered into an agreement
with Oracle to bundle OracleLite with our developer kit. This bundled product
allows mobile customers in the enterprise market to use a Palm device to gain
access to enterprise databases while working remotely. Similarly, we support
efforts by companies such as PeopleSoft, Remedy and SAP to enable enterprise
users to access their database information with Palm devices. We are also
developing the Palm Ethernet Cradle for enterprise customers. This product
allows Palm device users to connect directly to an enterprise's local area
network from various locations throughout the enterprise. The Palm Ethernet
Cradle is scheduled to be available in February 2000.
We also market and resell peripherals and accessories such as portable
keyboards, modems, leather cases, colored flip covers and other fashion
accessories for our products.
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Palm Platform. Our Palm platform, which integrates a number of components
around the Palm OS operating system, is the foundation for Palm devices as well
as for devices manufactured by our licensees. Our objective is to establish the
Palm platform as the industry standard for handheld computing devices and other
information appliances.
The Palm platform consists of several components:
. the Palm OS operating system;
. the Palm user interface, which enables users to interact with the Palm
device, and application programming interfaces, which allow developers
to write applications that run on devices based on the Palm platform;
. standard personal information management applications, including
datebook, address book, to-do list, memo pad, calculator and expense
management functions;
. development tools, including developer kits that enable third party
developers to develop applications and licensee kits with hardware
reference designs that enable licensees to design devices around the
Palm OS operating system;
. HotSync data synchronization technology, which enables a handheld device
to synchronize information with personal computers or enterprise
databases;
. Graffiti script recognition technology, which enables users to input
script data directly through our pen-based user interface; and
. Web-clipping software, which allows content providers to present and
users to receive Internet or enterprise data in a format optimized for
handheld computing devices.
The Palm platform has been optimized for handheld devices where instant
access to information, low power consumption and wireless capabilities are
important. These attributes have important benefits for Palm, our developers
and our licensees.
The Palm platform offers a variety of benefits to developers of handheld
devices. The Palm platform software code is designed to allow applications to
run quickly and reliably. It minimizes power, processing and memory
requirements without sacrificing performance, which in turn reduces component
costs for manufacturers. These attributes helped us to design the Palm V with
its slim form factor and will allow our licensees, such as Nokia and Sony, to
design products that allocate more processing resources to new applications
rather than to running a complex operating system. In addition, the
architecture of the Palm platform enables the addition of peripheral devices
and software libraries, which broadens the functionality of the device.
The Palm platform provides application developers with significant design
flexibility. The combination of simpler application programming interfaces and
a modular code architecture enables developers to quickly and easily learn to
program for the Palm platform. In addition, we share select parts of our source
code to enable developers to optimize the interface of their applications with
the Palm Platform while retaining proprietary control over key aspects of
source code. This helps us maintain a competitive advantage and preserves
future licensing opportunities for us.
The modular architecture of our Palm platform also provides benefits for our
licensees. We design separations between our software layers and the underlying
basic code, or kernel, and the hardware reference design specific to our Palm
devices. This separation breaks the Palm platform into easily configurable
components, promoting innovation and broadening its appeal to manufacturers of
different information appliances. This separation allows components of the Palm
platform to be modified and replaced to allow the Palm OS operating system to
run on a variety of handheld hardware devices.
Significant market acceptance of Palm platform-based devices is attracting an
increasing number of licensees. In October 1998, Symbol Technologies introduced
the first device based on the Palm platform incorporating bar code scanning
capabilities. Symbol has since introduced other products
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incorporating wireless local area network access and rugged packaging. These
products are targeted as vertical solutions for retail, transportation, parcel
and postal delivery, manufacturing and healthcare. Other licensees of the Palm
platform include QUALCOMM, a maker of digital mobile phones, which has
introduced its pdQ digital smart phone combining the functionality of the Palm
handheld device with a mobile phone, and Handspring, a maker of handheld
devices branded as Visor which are targeted at consumers.
Internet Services and Applications. We have developed two groups of products
and services to address the opportunities created by the emergence of the
Internet: Palm.net and Palm.com.
In 1999, we introduced Palm.net, a subscription-based wireless access service
that enables Palm users to access web-clipped content on the Internet. We
currently offer pre-paid access packages from $9.99 to $39.99 per month and
charge additional amounts for network usage in excess of the pre-paid package.
The Palm VII device currently comes with nine pre-installed web-clipping
applications. In addition, users receive a CD-ROM which contains an additional
14 web-clipping applications that can be installed on the device. Palm.net is
also the name of Palm's web-clipping destination site, which offers links to
more than 150 additional sites that users can download to their devices as well
as customer support, technical support, coverage maps and account information.
For example, Palm VII users can access Fidelity.com or E*Trade to get real-time
stock quotes, UPS.com to monitor package delivery, ESPN.com to check sports
scores, WSJ.com to get news or business headlines and Travelocity to check
airline flight times and delays.
Palm.net also serves as a resource for both content publishers and third
party developers. Content publishers can post links to their own websites that
are web-clipping enabled. In addition, developers can post applications on
Palm.net for use on wireless-enabled Palm devices. As wireless and Internet
technologies advance, we intend to expand the geographical coverage of the
Palm.net network, which currently covers over 260 metropolitan areas in the
United States, and expand the content and application offerings available
through Palm.net.
Palm.com was established as a means to increase our contact with our end
users, customers and third-party developers. Visitors to Palm.com can purchase
Palm devices, accessories and peripherals as well as download Palm software
upgrades and link to third-party software. They can also find product and
customer support information and explore links to other Palm-related websites.
Palm.com also offers important support resources for developers. Developers can
use Palm.com to register with Palm, obtain access to software development tools
and obtain technical support.
Strategic Alliances
Beginning in 1999, we expanded our strategy of licensing the Palm platform to
manufacturers of other handheld information appliances and working with other
companies to expand the use of applications running on the Palm platform. We
recently announced the following strategic alliances:
Nokia. In October 1999, we entered into a licensing and joint development
agreement with Nokia to create a new pen-based mobile phone platform that
integrates telephony and data applications with personal information management
applications. The agreement provides that the jointly developed mobile phone
platform will integrate the user and application interface components of the
Palm platform with know-how supplied by Nokia, with the intention that
applications currently available for the Palm platform will be supported by the
new platform. Pursuant to the agreement, Nokia has a non-exclusive, royalty-
bearing license to use the jointly developed platform. Concurrent with this
offering, Nokia has agreed to purchase shares of common stock equal to the
lesser of $80 million or 1 1/2% of our capital stock.
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Sony. In November 1999, we entered into a non-exclusive, royalty-bearing
licensing and joint development agreement with Sony Corporation to enable Sony
to create new handheld consumer electronics products with next generation
audio-visual functionality. Pursuant to the agreement, we will develop
extensions to the Palm platform that incorporate Sony's Memory Stick
application programming interface technology for use in the new devices. The
agreement also provides us with the right to license the Memory Stick
technology as incorporated in the Palm platform to third parties.
Sun Microsystems. In June 1999, we jointly announced with Sun Microsystems
our intention to integrate Sun's Java technology with the Palm platform. In
addition, we jointly announced with Sun in October 1999 the availability of
Sun's consulting services to help deliver enterprise applications and
capabilities for handheld devices based on the Palm platform through the newly
formed Sun.Com Consulting practice.
America Online. In December 1999, we entered into a non-binding memorandum of
understanding with America Online pursuant to which the parties intend to
establish a strategic relationship aimed at offering mobile consumer Internet
services for Palm platform-based handheld device users. The memorandum is non-
binding and there can be no assurance that the parties will be able to enter
into a definitive, binding agreement regarding this relationship. Additionally,
concurrent with this offering, America Online has agreed to purchase shares of
common stock equal to the lesser of $80 million or 1 1/2% of our capital stock.
Motorola. In December 1999, we entered into a non-binding memorandum of
understanding with Motorola pursuant to which the parties intend to conclude a
definitive license agreement in which Motorola will license the Palm OS
operating system software to develop wireless products. In addition, the
parties intend to conclude development and license agreements pursuant to which
the capabilities of the Palm OS operating system software would be expanded so
that Motorola could develop new categories of products and enter new markets.
The memorandum is non-binding and there can be no assurance that the parties
will be able to enter into a definitive, binding agreement regarding this
relationship. Additionally, concurrent with this offering, Motorola has agreed
to purchase shares of common stock equal to the lesser of $65 million or 1 1/2%
of our capital stock.
International Business Machines. In January 2000, we entered into a non-
binding memorandum of understanding with IBM pursuant to which the parties
intend to enter into a definitive agreement or set of agreements to integrate,
develop, market and deploy Palm and IBM products and services in the enterprise
market. The memorandum is non-binding, and we may not be able to enter into one
or more definitive, binding agreements with IBM regarding this relationship.
Developer Community
The combination of our large user base and the open architecture of the Palm
platform has attracted a large and growing community of third party developers
who create software applications, peripherals and accessories for Palm devices
and Palm platform-based products. The diverse offerings from this third-party
developer community in turn broaden the user appeal of our devices and other
products based on the Palm platform. As of December 31, 1999, more than 33,000
developers had registered to create applications for the Palm platform. In
addition, over 6,900 applications are currently available in a broad range of
categories, including contact and schedule management, e-mail and Internet
communications, sales force and field automation, personal productivity,
groupware, financial management and games. Developers of several major
applications, such as IBM's Lotus Organizer, Symantec's ACT! and QUALCOMM's
Eudora Internet e-mail software, have enabled these applications to be
synchronized with our devices. We have hosted three developer conferences with
attendance growing from approximately 380 in 1997 to 2,000 in 1999 and have
begun hosting these conferences internationally in Tokyo, London and Munich.
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Sales and Marketing
We sell to our end users primarily through distributors, retailers and
resellers. In the United States, we currently sell directly to six
distributors, 14 retailers and eight regional resellers. We also use our
dedicated enterprise sales force to market Palm products directly to
enterprises which then purchase devices through one of our other sales
channels. We also sell directly to consumers through our Palm.com website.
In the United States, distributors represent our largest sales channel. These
distributors generally sell to retailers on a national basis and include large
distributors targeting Internet retailers such as Buy.com. The retail channel
is our second largest United States distribution channel and encompasses office
supply and consumer electronics retailers and catalog and mail order companies.
Retailers primarily sell Palm devices to individuals, small businesses, small
offices and home offices. This channel is currently our fastest growing area of
distribution.
In Europe and the Pacific Rim, we currently sell our product exclusively
through distributors. We have approximately 111 international distributors, of
which approximately 88 are in Europe, the Middle East and South Africa and 23
are in the Pacific Rim. In addition, 3Com currently resells our products into
the Canadian and Latin American markets.
We believe there is a significant opportunity to expand the Palm economy by
selling device products through third parties such as IBM and Franklin Covey
that sell customized versions of our products under their own brand. We believe
by developing specialized and customized products that are re-branded and re-
sold by these third parties, we can quickly and cost effectively enter new
geographic and specialized vertical markets, or expand our penetration into
existing markets such as the enterprise. Our strategy is to select established
enterprise companies that have significant market presence or access to new
markets that can be more efficiently developed and managed by these third
parties than by us. For example, IBM sells Palm-based products in the
enterprise market branded as the IBM WorkPad PC Companion in the United States,
Europe, Japan, Latin America and Asia. We have entered into a relationship with
Franklin Covey to provide a series of devices based on the Palm III, V and VII
products sold to both the consumer and enterprise markets based on its popular
time and life management planning concepts. We jointly developed with Supra,
the largest provider of lock boxes for the real-estate industry, an electronic
key embedded in Palm devices for accessing their lock boxes and specialized
realtor productivity software.
We build awareness of our products and the Palm brand through mass-media
advertising, targeted advertising, public relations efforts, in-store
promotions and merchandising and through our Palm-branded Internet properties.
We also receive extensive feedback from our end users, the third-party
developer community and our channel customers through market research. We use
this feedback to continually refine our product development as well as the
position and assortment of our products in our sales channels.
Customer Service and Support
We believe that customer service and technical support are essential parts of
the sales process in our industry. In order to provide high levels of customer
service, senior management and assigned account managers work closely with our
distributor, retailer, reseller and enterprise customers. We believe these
relationships enable us to improve customer satisfaction and develop products
to meet specific customer needs. For our enterprise customers we provide a
variety of support offerings including a training program for the enterprise
help-desk, website, e-mail and telephone troubleshooting, as well as a program
to provide refurbished units to enterprises needing replacement devices.
Individual consumers also have access to website, e-mail and telephone support.
We outsource our customer service, technical support and product repairs to
regionally-based third parties.
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Product Development and Technology
Our engineering department consists of a device design group and a separate
Palm platform team. Our product development efforts are focused on both
improving the functionality of our existing products and developing new
products. We believe the industrial design of our products has played an
important role in our success. We intend to continue to identify and respond to
the needs of our customers by introducing new product designs with an emphasis
on innovations in the utility, simplicity, wearability, mobility, style and
ease of use of our products and services.
To identify and develop technologies for the next generations of Palm
devices, we use parallel development teams to avoid schedule dependency from
one product to the next. At the same time, these parallel development teams
share results to avoid duplication of effort. As a result, we have a rapid
product development cycle that targets releasing new versions of products
approximately every six months to coincide with the summer and winter selling
seasons and introducing new generation products approximately every 12 months.
In addition, our Palm platform software engineering group works both on
refining the Palm platform for our Palm-branded devices and on coordinating
development efforts with our licensees.
We have four design centers, each of which focuses on different aspects of
our products, such as wireless connectivity, flexibility and wearability. For
example, our design center in Bellevue, Washington developed the technology
that enabled the wireless connectivity of the Palm VII product, and our design
center in Santa Clara, California was responsible for the improvements in
wearability of the Palm V product. We have additional design centers in Rolling
Meadows, Illinois and Montpellier, France.
We believe that our success will depend, in part, on our ability to develop
and introduce new products and enhancements to our existing products. In the
past we have made, and intend to continue to make, significant investments in
research and development. Our research and development expenditures totaled
approximately $46.0 million in fiscal 1999, $21.9 million in fiscal 1998 and
$13.4 million in fiscal 1997. As of December 31, 1999, we had 263 people
engaged in research and development activities.
Manufacturing and Supply Chain
We currently outsource all of our manufacturing operations to Manufacturers'
Services Limited and Flextronics. This outsourcing extends from prototyping to
volume manufacturing and includes activities such as material procurement,
final assembly, test, quality control and shipment to our customers.
Manufacturers' Services Limited currently assembles Palm devices for us at its
Utah facility which it recently purchased from 3Com. Flextronics currently
assembles Palm devices at its facilities in Mexico, California and Malaysia.
Our outsourced manufacturing strategy allows us to:
. minimize our capital expenditures;
. conserve the working capital that would be required to fund inventory;
. adjust to manufacturing volumes quickly to meet changes in demand; and
. operate without dedicating any space to manufacturing operations.
We believe that additional assembly line efficiencies are realized due to our
product architecture and our commitment to process design. The components that
make up our devices are supplied by a number of vendors such as AMD, Fujitsu
and Toshiba, who each supply DRAM memory chips, and Motorola, the supplier of
our microprocessor. Although we generally use standard components for our
products and try to maintain alternative sources of supply, some key
components, such as the Motorola microprocessors we use, are purchased from
sole or single source suppliers for which alternative sources are not currently
available in the quantities and at the prices we require. Key components of our
handheld device products that we obtain from sole and single source suppliers
include displays, power supply integrated circuits, digital signal processors,
Motorola
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microprocessors, crystals and several radio frequency and discrete components.
We obtain displays from Sharp, integrated circuits from Anadigics, Analog
Devices, Burr Brown, Fairchild, Linear Tech, Linfinity, Lucent, Maxim, Micro
Linear, Motorola, Seiko Epson, Sharp, Siemens, Toko and others, digital signal
processors from Lucent, discrete components from Murata, Coilcraft, Sumida
Electronics and Toko and crystals from KDS and Murata.
Competition
We compete in the handheld device, operating system and Internet services
markets. The markets for these products and services are highly competitive.
Some of our competitors or potential competitors have significantly greater
financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. These competitors may
be able to respond more rapidly than us to new or emerging technologies or
changes in customer requirements. They may also devote greater resources to the
development, promotion and sale of their products than we do.
Our devices compete with a variety of handheld devices, including pen- and
keyboard-based devices, mobile phones and subnotebook personal computers. Our
principal competitors include Casio, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Psion and Sharp
as well as licensees of our Palm platform such as Handspring and TRG. We
believe the principal competitive factors impacting the market for our handheld
devices are functionality, features, operating system performance, styling,
availability, brand and price. We believe that we compete more favorably than
many of our current competitors with respect to some or all of these factors
due to our operating history, greater number of customers, greater number of
third-party software application and greater brand recognition.
Our Palm platform competes primarily with operating systems such as
Microsoft's Windows CE operating system for handheld personal computers and
Symbian's EPOC operating system for wireless communication devices. We believe
that the principal competitive factors affecting the market for operating
systems are the overall number of end users, technological features and
capabilities of the operating system, number and quality of third-party
applications available for use on the operating system, architecture of the
operating system and relative ease of developing compatible applications. We
believe that we compete more favorably than many of our current competitors
with respect to some or all of these factors due to our operating history,
greater number of customers, greater number of third-party software application
and greater brand recognition. In our licensing activities, our Palm platform
also competes with the proprietary operating systems of our potential
licensees.
While it currently has no directly analogous competitors, the Palm VII device
and our wireless Internet access service compete with a variety of alternative
technologies and services. Mobile phone manufacturers and service providers
including Nokia, Motorola and Sprint have recently introduced mobile phones
which offer Internet connectivity. We expect that the trend toward integrating
Internet connectivity into a diverse set of devices will continue to accelerate
as industry standards emerge. Our subscription-model access business also
competes indirectly with other providers of Internet access, ranging from
dedicated Internet service providers such as America Online and Earthlink to
local phone companies. In addition, although we currently supply Internet
access to Palm VII subscribers through our Palm.net service, competing Internet
access solutions may be developed to enable connectivity through wireless-
enabled Palm devices outside our Palm.net service.
Intellectual Property
Our software, hardware and operations rely on and benefit from an extensive
portfolio of intellectual property. We currently have 13 United States patents
issued for our technology and we have 61 United States patent applications
pending. We also have 3 foreign patents issued and 25 foreign patent
applications pending.
We own a number of trademarks, including Palm, Palm III, Palm V, Palm VII,
Palm OS, Palm Computing, PalmSource, HotSync, Graffiti, Simply Palm and
Palm.net. We are currently engaged in
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litigation against other parties to enforce our rights to these trademarks, the
protection of which is important to our reputation and branding. We also own
copyrights to the Palm platform and our software development applications.
We license a number of technologies from third parties for integration into
our products. We believe that the licensing of complementary technologies from
parties with specific expertise is an effective means of expanding the features
and functionality of our products.
In addition to our Palm platform, we also license development applications to
third-party developers of compatible products, services and applications to
increase the functionality of devices based on the Palm platform. In addition,
we have licensed software that enables numerous website hosts, including ABC
News, Bank of America, Dow Jones, ESPN, E*Trade, Fidelity.com, Fodor's,
MasterCard, Merriam-Webster, MovieFone, Starbucks, TheStreet.com, UPS, USA
Today, VISA, The Weather Channel and Yahoo!, to make their websites accessible
by devices based on the Palm platform using our web-clipping technology.
We rely on a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret
laws and restrictions on disclosure to protect our intellectual property
rights.
Backlog
We order finished products from our third-party manufacturers based upon our
forecast of worldwide customer demand and in advance of receiving orders from
our customers. Orders are generally placed by our customers on an as-needed
basis and products are shipped as soon as possible after receipt of an order,
usually within one to four weeks. With very few exceptions, orders may be
canceled or rescheduled by the customer without penalty.
Employees
As of December 31, 1999, we had a total of approximately 652 employees, of
which approximately 77 were in supply chain and service and support, 263 were
in engineering, 249 were in sales and marketing and 63 were in general and
administrative activities. Our future performance depends, in significant part,
upon our ability to attract new personnel and retain existing personnel in key
areas including engineering, technical support and sales. Competition for
personnel is intense, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area where we are
headquartered, and we cannot be sure that we will be successful in attracting
or retaining personnel in the future. None of our employees is subject to a
collective bargaining agreement. We consider our relationship with our
employees to be good.
Facilities
We occupy approximately 160,000 square feet of leased space in Santa Clara,
California. The lease of this facility is terminable with six-months notice
beginning in July 2001 and expires in July 2002. In addition to our principal
office space in Santa Clara, California, we also lease research and development
facilities in Bellevue, Washington, Rolling Meadows, Illinois and Montpellier,
France and sales and support offices internationally in Winnersh, United
Kingdom and La Defense, France. We believe that existing facilities are
adequate for our needs through calendar year 2000 and are currently in the
process of locating additional space to meet our expected requirements
thereafter. If we require additional space, we believe that we will be able to
secure such space on commercially reasonable terms without undue operational
disruption.
Legal Proceedings
On April 28, 1997, Xerox Corporation filed suit against U.S. Robotics
Corporation and U.S. Robotics Access Corp. in the United States District Court
for the Western District of New York. The case is now captioned: Xerox
Corporation v. U.S. Robotics Corporation, U.S. Robotics Access Corp., Palm
Computing, Inc. and 3Com Corporation, Civil Action No. 97-CV-6182T. The
complaint alleges
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willful infringement of a Xerox United States patent, relating to computerized
interpretation of handwriting. The complaint seeks unspecified damages and
injunctive relief. Xerox has asserted that Graffiti software and certain of our
products infringe the patent. On June 25, 1999, the Court stayed the action
pending reexamination of the patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. On
December 15, 1999, we received a Notice of Intent to Issue Reexamination
Certificate from the United States Patent and Trademark Office stating that the
reexamination has been terminated and that a certificate will be issued in due
course. The notice stated that the certificate will indicate that there will be
no changes to the patent specification or drawing and that all claims of the
patent will be confirmed without any changes. On January 18, 2000, the court
held a status hearing during which it lifted the stay of the action and
established that all of the parties' briefs relating to motions for summary
judgment would be filed with the court by April 28, 2000. We anticipate that
oral argument on these motions will be heard thereafter. No trial date has been
set. In connection with our separation from 3Com, pursuant to the terms of the
Indemnification and Insurance Matters Agreement, we will indemnify and hold
3Com harmless for any damages or losses which may arise out of this litigation.
On July 22, 1999, we filed a copyright infringement action against Olivetti
and CompanionLink in the United States District Court for the Northern District
of California and obtained a preliminary injunction against further
distribution, sale, import or export of Olivetti Office USA's "Royal daVinci"
handheld device and the daVinci OS Software Development Kit, distributed by
CompanionLink Software, Inc. The injunction is to remain in effect pending the
outcome of the lawsuit. We also initiated a copyright infringement action in
Hong Kong on July 21, 1999, against EchoLink Design Ltd., the company
responsible for developing the operating system software contained in the
daVinci products. The High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
issued an order the same day restraining EchoLink from further copying,
distribution, sale, import or export of Palm OS operating system source code or
EchoLink's "NEXUS OS" source code, which we maintain infringes our copyrights.
On December 13, 1999, WaveWare Communications, Inc. filed suit against 3Com,
Palm and others in the Superior Court of California, San Mateo County. The case
is captioned WaveWare Communications, Inc. v. 3Com Corporation; Palm Computing,
Inc.; and Mark Bercow, No. 411331. The complaint alleges breach of contract,
constructive fraud, fraud and deceit, negligent misrepresentation,
misappropriation of assets and trade secrets, unfair competition, unjust
enrichment and intentional interference with economic advantage in connection
with our and 3Com's discussions with WaveWare concerning WaveWare's potential
acquisition by 3Com. The complaint seeks unspecified monetary damages and
injunctive relief. We have not yet responded to the complaint. To date, no
trial date has been set, and no discovery has been exchanged. In connection
with our separation from 3Com, pursuant to the terms of the Indemnification and
Insurance Matters Agreement, we will indemnify and hold 3Com harmless for any
damages or losses which may arise out of this litigation.
On February 28, 2000, E-Pass Technologies, Inc. filed suit against 3Com in
the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (case
no. 00CIV1523). The complaint alleges infringement and induced infringement of
a United States patent 5,276,311 by our handheld devices in connection with a
method and device for simplifying the use of credit cards. The complaint seeks
unspecified compensatory and treble damages and, among other things, to
permanently enjoin us from infringing or inducing infringement of the patent as
alleged. We are in the preliminary stages of investigating the allegations
contained in the suit, and we have not yet responded to the complaint. To date,
no trail date has been set, and no discovery has been exchanged. In connection
with our separation from 3Com, pursuant to the terms of the Indemnification and
Insurance Matters Agreement, we will indemnify and hold 3Com harmless for any
damages or losses which may arise out of this litigation.
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MANAGEMENT
Directors, Executive Officers and Key Employees
Set forth below is information concerning our directors and executive
officers and their ages as of January 25, 2000.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Age Position
---- --- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Directors and Executive
Officers:
Carl J. Yankowski....... 51 Chief Executive Officer and Director
Eric A. Benhamou........ 44 Director
James L. Barksdale...... 57 Director
Gordon A. Campbell...... 55 Director
Michael Homer........... 41 Director
David C. Nagel.......... Director
Susan G. Swenson........ 51 Director
Alan J. Kessler......... 42 President
Judy Bruner............. 41 Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Stephen Yu.............. 34 Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Key Employees:
Mark Bercow............. 39 Vice President, Strategic Alliances & Platform Development
Gregory S. Rhine........ 42 Vice President, Worldwide Sales
Peng K. Lim............. 37 Vice President, Worldwide Product Engineering
Daniel S. Keller........ 43 Vice President, Platform Engineering
Dinesh Raghavan......... 45 Vice President, Global Supply Chain Operations
Charles Yort............ 41 Vice President, Enterprise
Byron Connell........... 39 Vice President, Product Marketing
Stewart Gill............ 48 Vice President, Human Resources
Philippe Morali......... 38 Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions
Robert Harvey........... 47 Senior Director, Palm.net Services
David de Valk........... 30 Director, Global Service and Support
</TABLE>
Carl J. Yankowski has been our Chief Executive Officer and one of our
directors since December 1999. From September 1998 to December 1999, Mr.
Yankowski was Executive Vice President of Reebok International Ltd. and
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Reebok Division. From November
1993 to January 1998, Mr. Yankowski was President and Chief Operating Officer
of Sony Electronics Inc., a subsidiary of the Sony Corporation. Mr. Yankowski
holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology as well as a Bachelor of Science degree
in management which he earned concurrently from MIT's Sloan School of
Management. Mr. Yankowski also serves as a director of Safeguard Scientifics
and Avidyne, Inc., and he is a member of the board of advisors of Boston
College Business School.
Eric A. Benhamou has served as one of our directors since September 1999. Mr.
Benhamou has been 3Com's Chief Executive Officer since September 1990 and also
served as 3Com's President from April 1990 through August 1998. Mr. Benhamou
has been 3Com's Chairman of the Board of Directors since July 1994. Mr.
Benhamou served as 3Com's Chief Operating Officer from April 1990 through
September 1990. From October 1987 through April 1990, Mr. Benhamou held various
general management positions within 3Com. Mr. Benhamou also serves as Chairman
of the Board of Cypress Semiconductor, Inc. and as a director of Legato
Systems, Inc. Mr. Benhamou is a member of President Clinton's Information
Technology Advisory Council.
James L. Barksdale has served as one of our directors since September 1999.
Mr. Barksdale has been a managing partner at The Barksdale Group since he
founded it in April 1999. Prior to that, he served as President, Chief
Executive Officer and a director of Netscape Communications Corporation, an
Internet browser company, from January 1995 to April 1999. Previously,
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Mr. Barksdale had been President and Chief Executive Officer of AT&T Wireless
Services since September 1994. From 1992 to September 1994, Mr. Barksdale had
been employed as President and Chief Operating Officer of McCaw Cellular
Communications, Inc., and from 1979 to 1992 by Federal Express Corporation. Mr.
Barksdale also serves as a director of Robert Mondavi Corporation, Sun
Microsystems, Inc., America Online, Inc., Liberate Technologies,
Homegrocer.com, Inc. and Respond.com, Inc.
Gordon A. Campbell has served as one of our directors since September 1999.
Mr. Campbell is the founder and, since 1993, has been President and Chairman of
the Board of Techfarm, Inc., a company formed to launch technology-based start-
up companies. Mr. Campbell was the founder of CHIPS and Technologies, Inc., a
company that designs and distributes very large scale integrated circuit
products, and served as its President and Chief Executive Officer from December
1984 until November 1993, and as its Chairman of the Board from December 1984
until November 1995. Mr. Campbell also serves as a director of Bell
Microproducts, Inc., Chairman of the Board of 3D/Fx Interactive Inc. and
Chairman of the Board of Cobalt Networks, Inc.
Michael Homer has served as one of our directors since February 2000. Mr.
Homer is Senior Vice President at America Online. Prior to Netscape's
acquisition by America Online, Mr. Homer held various positions at Netscape
beginning in October 1994, including Executive Vice President, Sales and
Marketing and General Manager of Netscape Netcenter. From April 1994 to October
1994, Mr. Homer was a consultant. From August 1993 to April 1994, Mr. Homer
served as Vice President, Engineering at EO Corporation, a hand-held computer
manufacturer, and from July 1991 to July 1993, Mr. Homer was Vice President,
Marketing of Go Corporation, a pen-based software company. He had previously
been Director of Product Marketing of Apple, where he held various technical
and marketing positions from 1982 through 1991. Mr. Homer holds a B.S. from the
University of California, Berkeley. Mr. Homer is also a director of TiVo, Inc.,
Charitable Way, Oscar Technologies and Eazel.
David C. Nagel has served as one of our directors since February 2000. Dr.
Nagel has been President of AT&T Labs since April 1996 and AT&T Chief
Technology Officer since August 1997. Dr. Nagel has also served as Chief
Technology Officer of Concert, a joint venture between AT&T and British
Telecom, since June 1999. Prior to joining AT&T, Dr. Nagel was a Senior Vice
President of Apple Computer, where he led the worldwide research and
development group responsible for Macintosh hardware, Mac OS software, imaging
and other peripheral products. Before joining Apple's Advance Technology Group
in 1988, Dr. Nagel was a research scientist and head of human factor research
at NASA's Ames Research Center. Dr. Nagel holds undergraduate and graduate
degrees in engineering and a doctorate in experimental psychology, all from the
University of California, Los Angeles.
Susan G. Swenson has served as one of our directors since October 1999. Ms.
Swenson has been President and Chief Operating Officer of Leap Wireless
International, Inc. and Chief Executive Officer of Cricket Communications, Inc.
since July 1999. Ms. Swenson has also been a director of Leap since July 1999.
From March 1994 to July 1999, Ms. Swenson served as President and Chief
Executive Officer for Cellular One, a joint venture between AirTouch/Vodafone
and AT&T Wireless. Ms. Swenson is also a director of Wells Fargo Bank, General
Magic and Working Assets.
Alan J. Kessler has been President of Palm since June 1999. From April 1998
to June 1999, Mr. Kessler was Senior Vice President of Global Customer Service
for 3Com. From July 1997 to April 1998, Mr. Kessler was Senior Vice President
of Worldwide Enterprise Sales and Service for 3Com. From October 1985 to July
1997, Mr. Kessler held a variety of sales and marketing management positions at
3Com, including Vice President of 3Com's North America System Sales, Vice
President and General Manager of 3Com's Internetworking Product Group and a
Director of Marketing with responsibility for key network communication product
lines. Mr. Kessler holds a
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Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California,
Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science degree in business, with honors, from San
Jose State University.
Judy Bruner has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of Palm since September 1999. From April 1998 to September 1999, Ms. Bruner was
Vice President and Corporate Controller at 3Com. From October 1996 to April
1998, Ms. Bruner was the Vice President, Finance for 3Com's Enterprise Systems
Business Unit. From June 1995 to October 1996, she served as 3Com's Vice
President and Corporate Treasurer. From April 1988 to June 1995 Ms. Bruner
served in a variety of 3Com financial management positions including Corporate
Treasurer. Prior to joining 3Com, Ms. Bruner most recently served as the Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer for Ridge Computers Inc., a privately
held company that designed and manufactured computer systems. She was with
Ridge Computers Inc. from December 1984 until April 1988. From July 1980 to
December 1984, Ms. Bruner held a variety of accounting and finance positions at
Hewlett-Packard Company. Ms. Bruner holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in
economics from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Master of
Business Administration degree from Santa Clara University.
Stephen Yu has served as Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary since
September 1999. From November 1994 to September 1999, Mr. Yu held various
positions within the 3Com legal department, most recently serving as 3Com's
Legal Director, Business Development and West Coast Product Operations. From
September 1990 to November 1994, Mr. Yu was an associate attorney with Gray
Cary Ware & Freidenrich, a law firm located in Palo Alto, California. Mr. Yu
received a Juris Doctor degree cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center
and a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Purdue
University.
Mark Bercow has been Palm's Vice President, Strategic Alliances and Platform
Development since July 1997. Prior to joining Palm, from January 1997 to July
1997, he was Director of Marketing for the Cable Access Products Division of
3Com. From September 1995 to September 1996, Mr. Bercow was Vice President,
Marketing and Business Development at FirstFloor Software, Inc. From September
1994 to September 1995 he was the General Manager of the David Systems
subsidiary of Chipcom Corporation and from September 1993 to September 1994, he
was Acting Vice President, Marketing at Chipcom Corporation. Prior to joining
Chipcom, Mr. Bercow was Group Manager, Marketing at Sun Microsystems, Inc. He
holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from California
State University, Northridge.
Gregory S. Rhine has served as Palm's Vice President of Worldwide Sales since
June 1999. From October 1997 to May 1999, Mr. Rhine served as Vice President
and General Manager for VeriFone, Inc., a division of Hewlett-Packard Company.
From January 1997 to September 1997, Mr. Rhine was Vice President of American
Channel Development and Sales at Apple. From May 1988 to December 1996, Mr.
Rhine held a variety of sales and management positions at Apple, including
Senior Director U.S. Distribution Sales, Director, Value Added Reseller (VAR)
sales, and Regional Sales Manager. Prior to Apple, from July 1979 to April
1988, Mr. Rhine worked for Olin Corporation in various areas of responsibility
including business development and marketing. Mr. Rhine holds a degree in
Business Administration from the University of Missouri and has completed
graduate work at West Coast University and executive management programs at The
Kellogg School of Business in Evanston, Illinois.
Peng K. Lim has served as Vice President, Worldwide Product Engineering of
Palm since April 1999. From June 1997 to March 1999, Mr. Lim served as Vice
President, Engineering at Fujitsu Personal Systems Inc. From July 1996 to June
1997, he was Engineering Platform Director for Texas Instruments Incorporated.
Mr. Lim was Director of Engineering for Zenith Data Systems Corporation from
September 1993 to June 1996. Prior to that, Mr. Lim was Director of Engineering
at Dauphin Technology, Inc. Mr. Lim received his Bachelor of Science degree and
Master of Science degree in electrical engineering from University of Windsor
in Canada and Master of Engineering Management
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from Northwestern University. Mr. Lim completed the executive management
program at Stanford University.
Daniel S. Keller has been Palm's Vice President of Platform Engineering since
August 1999. From June 1998 to July 1999, Mr. Keller was Director, Product
Engineering and from November 1997 to May 1998, he was Director, Corporate
Solutions Engineering. Prior to joining Palm, from April 1996 to September
1997, Mr. Keller was Vice President of Product Development for Power Agent,
Inc., an Internet company creating a large-scale, Internet system for bringing
buyers and sellers together. From November 1991 to March 1996 he was Director
of Development System Products at Taligent, Inc. From November 1980 to October
1991, Mr. Keller was at Apple Computer, Inc., where he held various positions
in the development of Apple's system software, graphical human interface,
development systems, and Japanese products. Prior to Apple, from June 1978 to
October 1980, he worked in operating system engineering at Hewlett-Packard
Company. Mr. Keller received his Bachelor of Science degree in computer
engineering with high honors from the University of California, San Diego.
Dinesh Raghavan joined Palm in October 1998 as Vice President, Global Supply
Chain Operations. Prior to joining Palm, from May 1997 to September 1998.
Mr. Raghavan held the position of Director of Manufacturing Operations for the
European Paging Subscriber Division of Motorola, Inc. based in Dublin, Ireland.
From August 1977 to April 1997, Mr. Raghavan held various positions of
increasing responsibility in development engineering and manufacturing
management with Motorola. He holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in
electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, India
and a Masters in Business Administration degree from Nova University in Fort
Lauderdale, Florida.
Charles Yort has been Vice President, Enterprise for Palm since November
1999. From September 1998 to November 1999, Mr. Yort was the Senior Director of
Palm Computing's enterprise sales team. Prior to joining Palm, from December
1996 to August 1998, Mr. Yort was the Director of Small Business Operations for
3Com. From September 1995 to November 1996, Mr. Yort was Director of Market
Development for 3Com. Prior to joining 3Com, from June 1993 to August 1995, Mr.
Yort was Marketing Manager for the PC Division of Inmac Corporation, a reseller
of computer related products. From August 1981 to June 1993, Mr. Yort worked in
various marketing, business development and engineering roles for Hewlett-
Packard Company. Mr. Yort holds a Masters in Business Administration degree
from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, with concentrations in
strategic management and finance. He earned a Bachelor of Science in
engineering and Bachelor of Arts in economics from Princeton University.
Byron Connell has been Vice President, Marketing since July 1999. From
September 1998 to December 1999, Mr. Connell was Senior Director of Product
Marketing for Palm and from July 1997 to August 1998, he was Director of
Product Marketing. From December 1994 to July 1997, Mr. Connell was the Group
Manager of Product Marketing for the Home Products Division of Hewlett- Packard
Company. From February 1993 to December 1994, Mr. Connell was the Group Manager
of Customer Requirements for Apple Computer, Inc. and from July 1988 to January
1993, he worked in a variety of sales, channel, and marketing management
positions for Apple Computer, Inc. Mr. Connell holds a Bachelor of Science
degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern California
and a Master of Management degree in marketing, international business and
management policy from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at
Northwestern University. As an international exchange student, Mr. Connell also
studied at the Rotterdam School of Management Master of Business Administration
program at Erasmus University, Netherlands.
Stewart Gill has been Vice President, Human Resources for Palm since January
2000. Prior to joining Palm, from April 1995 to January 2000, Mr. Gill was Vice
President, Corporate Human Resources for Quantum Corporation. From March 1993
to April 1995 he served as the Director of
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Compensation, Benefits, and HR Systems for Quantum Corporation. During 1992 he
was Director, Corporate Human Resources at Compaq Computer. From December 1987
to December 1992 he was Director, Compensation Benefits, and HR Systems at
Compaq Computer. From June 1973 to December 1987 Mr. Gill held a variety of
positions in Human Resources with hardware and software technology companies,
beginning with Motorola. Mr. Gill holds a Bachelor of Science degree in
education with a concentration in psychology from Kent State University, where
he graduated with honors.
Philippe Morali has served as Vice President, Mergers and Acquisitions since
February 2000. Prior to joining Palm, from May 1998 to January 2000, Mr. Morali
was the Director of Corporate Development for 3Com. Prior to joining 3Com, from
May 1987 to April 1998, Mr. Morali worked in various finance, sales and
corporate development roles for Hewlett-Packard Company, in Europe and in the
United States. Mr. Morali holds a Masters in Business Administration degree
from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, with a concentration
in finance and international business. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in
management from the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Robert Harvey has served as Director, Palm.net since December 1997. From
November 1983 to November 1997, Mr. Harvey held a variety of manufacturing and
operations positions at Apple Computer, Inc., including Director of Mobile
Computing Operations from May 1995 to November 1997. From October 1973 to
October 1983, Mr. Harvey worked with the Palo Alto Police Department, most
recently serving as Captain, Uniform Division. Mr. Harvey holds a Bachelor of
Science degree in sociology from the University of Santa Clara and a Masters of
Public Administration from California State University, Hayward.
David de Valk has been Director of Customer Service since October 1999. From
September 1998 to October 1999, Mr. de Valk served as Director, e-Business
Strategy and Architecture for 3Com Global Customer Service. From June 1997 to
September 1998, Mr. de Valk held several senior service positions in 3Com
Global Customer Service, most recently Director, Network Solutions Services.
From September 1991 to June 1997, Mr. de Valk worked in various Technical
Support positions including Manager, Applications Engineering for U.S. Robotics
Corporation. Mr. de Valk attended Eureka College.
Board Structure and Compensation
Our board of directors is divided into three classes serving staggered three-
year terms. Messrs. Yankowski's and Homer's initial terms will expire in 2000.
Mr. Campbell's and Ms. Swenson's initial terms will expire in 2001. Messrs.
Benhamou's, Barksdale's and Nagel's initial terms will expire in 2002.
Non-employee directors will be paid an annual retainer equal to $20,000 and
be eligible for stock option grants under the Director Plan at such times and
in such amounts as are set forth in the Director Plan.
Audit Committee
Mr. Campbell and Ms. Swenson are members of our audit committee. Our audit
committee reviews our auditing, accounting, financial reporting and internal
control functions and makes recommendations to the board of directors for the
selection of independent accountants. In addition, the committee monitors the
quality of our accounting principles and financial reporting, our compliance
with foreign trade regulations as well as the independence of and the non-audit
services provided by our independent accountants. In discharging its duties,
the audit committee:
. reviews and approves the scope of the annual audit and the independent
accountant's fees;
. meets independently with our internal auditing staff, our independent
accountants and our senior management; and
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. reviews the general scope of our accounting, financial reporting, annual
audit and internal audit program, matters relating to internal control
systems as well as the results of the annual audit.
Compensation Committee
Messrs. Barksdale and Campbell are members of our compensation committee. Our
compensation committee determines, approves and reports to the board on all
elements of compensation for our elected officers including targeted total cash
compensation and long-term equity based incentives.
Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers
All of our common stock is currently owned by 3Com, and thus none of our
officers, directors or director nominees own any of our common stock. To the
extent our directors and officers own shares of 3Com common stock at the time
of the distribution, they will participate in the distribution on the same
terms as other holders of 3Com common stock.
The following table sets forth the number of shares of 3Com common stock
beneficially owned on December 31, 1999 by each director, each of the executive
officers named in the Summary Compensation Table in the "--Executive
Compensation" section below, and all of our directors, director nominees and
executive officers as a group. Except as otherwise noted, the individual
director or executive officer or their family members had sole voting and
investment power with respect to such securities. The total number of shares of
3Com common stock outstanding as of December 31, 1999 was 343,174,491.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares of 3Com
Beneficially Owned
--------------------
Name of Beneficial Owner Number Percentage
------------------------ --------- ----------
<S> <C> <C>
Carl J. Yankowski....................................... -- *
Eric A. Benhamou(1)..................................... 1,788,817 *
James L. Barksdale(2)................................... 120,000 *
Gordon A. Campbell(3)................................... 55,791 *
Michael Homer........................................... -- *
David C. Nagel.......................................... -- *
Susan G. Swenson........................................ -- *
Alan J. Kessler(4)...................................... 179,716 *
Judy Bruner(5).......................................... 77,943 *
Stephen Yu(6)........................................... 11,278 *
All directors and executive officers as a group......... 2,233,545 *
</TABLE>
- --------
* Represents holdings of less than one percent.
(1) Includes 1,377,505 shares issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable
within 60 days of December 31, 1999.
(2) Includes 60,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable
within 60 days of December 31, 1999 and 60,000 shares are held by Mr.
Barksdale and his spouse.
(3) Includes 55,791 shares issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable
within 60 days of December 31, 1999.
(4) Includes 179,716 shares issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable
within 60 days of December 31, 1999.
(5) Includes 75,922 shares issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable
within 60 days of December 31, 1999.
(6) Includes 10,539 shares issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable
within 60 days of December 31, 1999.
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Executive Compensation
The following table sets forth compensation information for the chief
executive officer and the three other executive officers of Palm who, based on
salary and bonus compensation from 3Com and its subsidiaries, were the most
highly compensated for the year ended May 28, 1999. All information set forth
in this table reflects compensation earned by these individuals for services
with 3Com and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year ended May 28, 1999.
Summary Compensation Table
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Long-Term
Compensation
Annual ------------
Compensation Awards
---------------- ------------
Securities All Other
Bonus Underlying Compensation
Name and Principal Position Salary($) ($)(1) Options(#) ($)(2)
--------------------------- --------- ------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Eric A. Benhamou, Chief Executive
Officer and Director(3)........... 750,000 -- 273,425 12,092
Alan J. Kessler, President......... 400,000 -- 83,500 10,466
Judy Bruner, Senior Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer....... 204,967 16,504 35,000 5,480
Stephen Yu, Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary............. 130,242 7,946 10,950 3,564
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) The amounts shown in this column reflect payments made under 3Com's
company-wide profit-sharing plan. 3Com distributed these amounts at six-
month intervals to all employees worldwide, other than those who are paid
commissions, including executive officers, with the individual payments
determined pro rata based on salary level.
(2) All other compensation includes group term life insurance premiums,
payments made to reimburse a spouse's travel costs to 3Com events and
401(k) matching payments.
(3) Mr. Benhamou ceased serving as our Chief Executive Officer in December
1999.
Grants of Stock Options
The following table shows all grants of options to acquire shares of 3Com
common stock to the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table
in the fiscal year ended May 28, 1999.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Potential Realizable
Value at Assumed
% of Total Annual Rates of Stock
Number of Options Granted Appreciation for
Securities to 3Com Exercise or Option Term(4)
Underlying Options Employees in Base Price Expiration ---------------------
Name Granted(#)(1) Fiscal Year(2) ($/Sh)(3) Date 5%($) 10%($)
- ---- ------------------ --------------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Eric A. Benhamou........ 175,000 * 24.0000 6/1/08 $2,641,357 $6,693,718
54,675 * 25.5000 9/1/08 876,813 2,222,016
43,750 * 38.6875 11/30/08 1,064,453 2,697,534
Alan J. Kessler......... 52,500 * 24.0000 6/1/08 792,407 2,008,116
17,875 * 25.5000 9/1/08 286,658 726,448
13,125 * 38.6875 11/30/08 319,336 809,260
Judy Bruner............. 20,000 * 28.0625 7/22/08 352,967 894,488
8,000 * 20.4375 4/19/09 102,824 260,577
4,000 * 20.4375 4/19/09 51,412 130,288
Stephen Yu.............. 6,000 * 28.0625 7/22/08 105,890 268,346
4,000 * 20.4375 4/19/09 51,412 130,288
950 * 28.5000 5/19/09 17,027 43,151
</TABLE>
- --------
*Less than one percent.
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<PAGE>
(1) All of the above options are subject to the terms of 3Com's 1983 Stock
Option Plan or 1994 Stock Option Plan and are exercisable only as they
vest. The options granted to each executive officer vest and become
exercisable in equal annual increments over a four year period provided the
optionee continues to be employed by us.
(2) Based on a total of 18,938,977 shares granted to all 3Com employees in
fiscal 1999.
(3) All options were granted at an exercise price equal to the fair market
value of 3Com's common stock on the date of grant.
(4) Potential realizable values are net of exercise price, but before deduction
of taxes associated with exercise. These amounts represent certain assumed
rates of appreciation only, based on the Securities and Exchange Commission
rules, and do not represent our estimate of future stock prices. No gain to
an optionee is possible without an increase in stock price, which will
benefit all stockholders commensurately. A zero percent gain in stock price
will result in zero dollars for the optionee. Actual realizable values, if
any, on stock option exercises are dependent on the future performance of
our common stock, overall market conditions and the option holders'
continued employment through the vesting period.
Exercises of Stock Options
The following table shows aggregate exercises of options to purchase 3Com
common stock in the fiscal year ended May 28, 1999 by the executive officers
named in the Summary Compensation Table in the "--Executive Compensation"
section above.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Securities Value of Unexercised In-
Underlying Unexercised The-Money Options at
Shares Options at Fiscal Year-End(#) Fiscal Year-End ($)(1)
Acquired on Value -------------------------------- -------------------------
Name Exercise(#) Realized($) Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
---- ----------- ----------- ----------- --------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Eric A. Benhamou........ 200,000 $8,625,498 1,162,398 516,175 $15,530,295 $678,786
Alan J. Kessler......... 30,000 810,894 98,840 187,500 -- 206,305
Judy Bruner............. 10,000 185,625 63,151 51,585 433,874 302,344
Stephen Yu.............. 3,200 79,400 7,186 16,679 20,438 81,750
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Based on fair market value of $27.3125 per share as of May 28, 1999, the
closing sale price of 3Com's common stock on that date as reported by the
Nasdaq National Market System.
Employment Arrangements
Mr. Yankowski serves as our Chief Executive Officer and as a director. Under
the terms of his employment, Mr. Yankowski's annual base compensation is
$600,000 and he is eligible for a target cash bonus of $600,000 per year. In
addition, subject to board approval, Mr. Yankowski will receive an employee
stock option grant equivalent in value to $48 million based on the price per
share in this offering or no more than 2% of the shares outstanding at the time
of this offering. This option will vest 25% per year over a period of four
years and is subject to the terms and conditions of the 1999 Stock Plan. In the
event that Mr. Yankowski is terminated for any reason other than cause during
the first two years of his employment, he is entitled to receive continued
salary payments and continued vesting of his stock option for a two-year period
if the termination occurs within the first six months of his employment, an 18-
month period if the termination occurs within the second six months, or a 12-
month period if the termination occurs within the second year. Pursuant to a
management retention agreement, Mr. Yankowski is entitled to severance benefits
in the event that, within 24 months following a change of control, his
employment is terminated involuntarily other than for cause, death or
disability or by Mr. Yankowski voluntarily for good reason. These severance
benefits include a severance payment of 200% of his salary and target bonus,
continued employee benefits, pro-rated bonus payment, and full acceleration of
vesting on Mr. Yankowski's stock options.
We have entered into management retention agreements with Alan J. Kessler,
Judy Bruner and Stephen Yu. Pursuant to these agreements, each of these
employees is entitled to severance
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benefits in the event that, within 12 months following a change of control, the
employee's employment is terminated involuntarily by Palm other than for cause
or voluntarily by the employee for good reason. These severance benefits
include a severance payment of 100% of his or her salary and target bonus,
continued employee benefits, pro-rated bonus payment and full acceleration of
vesting of his or her stock options.
Treatment of 3Com Options
We intend to assume substantially all of the 3Com options held by our
employees on the distribution date. As of December 31, 1999, our employees held
options to purchase 3,389,784 shares of 3Com common stock at a weighted average
exercise price per share of $29.36. The price of 3Com common stock on that date
was $47.00. These assumed options are expected to convert at the distribution
into options to purchase our common stock. The number of shares and the
exercise price of 3Com options that convert into our options are expected to be
adjusted using a conversion formula. The conversion formula is expected to be
based on the opening per share price of our common stock on the first trading
day after the distribution relative to the closing per share price of 3Com
common stock on the last trading day before the distribution. The resulting
options are expected to maintain the original vesting provisions and option
periods.
Treatment of 3Com Restricted Stock
Under the 3Com Restricted Stock Plan, some of our key employees were granted
restricted stock awards. As of December 31, 1999, our employees held 39,000
unvested 3Com restricted shares. The unvested 3Com restricted shares held by
our employees are expected to be forfeited on the distribution. We intend to
provide our employees who forfeit 3Com restricted shares with replacement
restricted shares of our common stock granted at the time of the distribution.
The replacement restricted shares are expected to have substantially the same
vesting provisions as the forfeited 3Com restricted shares.
Incentive Plans
1999 Stock Plan
Our board of directors adopted the 1999 Stock Plan, referred to as the "1999
Plan," in November 1999, and our stockholder initially approved our 1999 Plan
in November 1999. Our 1999 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock
options to our employees, and for the grant of nonstatutory stock options and
stock purchase rights to our employees, directors and consultants.
Number of Shares of Common Stock Available under the 1999 Plan. As of January
27, 2000, a total of 20,000,000 shares of our common stock were reserved for
issuance pursuant to the 1999 Plan. No options to acquire shares of our common
stock were issued and outstanding as of that date. Our 1999 Plan provides for
annual increases in the number of shares available for issuance on the first
day of each fiscal year, beginning with our 2001 fiscal year, equal to the
lesser of 5% of our outstanding shares of common stock on that date, 25,000,000
shares or a lesser amount determined by our board.
Administration of the 1999 Plan. Our board of directors or a committee of our
board administers the 1999 Plan. In the case of options intended to qualify as
"performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the
Code, the committee will consist of two or more "outside directors" within the
meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. The administrator has the power to
determine the terms of the options or stock purchase rights granted, including
the exercise price, the number of shares subject to each option or stock
purchase right, the exercisability of the options and the form of consideration
payable upon exercise.
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<PAGE>
Options. The administrator determines the exercise price of options granted
under the 1999 Plan, but with respect to nonstatutory stock options intended to
qualify as "performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Section
162(m) of the Code and all incentive stock options, the exercise price must at
least be equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the grant date.
The term of an incentive stock option may not exceed ten years, except that
with respect to any participant who owns 10% of the voting power of all classes
of our outstanding capital stock, the term must not exceed five years and the
exercise price must at least equal 110% of the fair market value on the grant
date. The administrator determines the term of all other options.
No optionee may be granted an option to purchase more than 3,000,000 shares
in any fiscal year, except that in connection with his or her initial service,
an optionee may be granted an additional option to purchase up to 6,000,000
shares.
After termination of one of our employees, directors or consultants, he or
she may exercise his or her option for the period of time stated in the option
agreement. Generally, if termination is due to death or disability, the option
will remain exercisable for 12 months. In all other cases, the option will
generally remain exercisable for 3 months. However, an option may never be
exercised later than the expiration of its term.
Stock Purchase Rights. The administrator determines the exercise price of
stock purchase rights granted under our 1999 Plan. Unless the administrator
determines otherwise, the restricted stock purchase agreement will grant us a
repurchase option that we may exercise upon the voluntary or involuntary
termination of the purchaser's service with us for any reason, including death
or disability. The purchase price for shares we repurchase will generally be
the original price paid by the purchaser and may be paid by cancellation of any
indebtedness of the purchaser to us. The administrator determines the rate at
which our repurchase option will lapse.
Transferability of Options and Stock Purchase Rights. Our 1999 Plan generally
doesn't allow for the transfer of options or stock purchase rights and only the
optionee may exercise an option or stock purchase right during his or her
lifetime.
Adjustments upon Merger or Asset Sale. Our 1999 Plan provides that in the
event of our merger with or into another corporation or a sale of substantially
all of our assets, the successor corporation will assume or substitute an
equivalent award for each option or stock purchase right. If following such an
assumption or substitution, the holder of an option or stock purchase right is
terminated without cause within 12 months following a change of control, then
the vesting and exercisability of 50% of the then unvested shares subject to
his or her option or stock purchase right shall accelerate. If the outstanding
options or stock purchase rights are not assumed or substituted for in
connection with a merger or sale of assets, the administrator will provide
notice to the optionee that he or she has the right to exercise the option or
stock purchase right as to all of the shares subject to the option or stock
purchase right, including shares which would not otherwise be exercisable, for
a period of 15 days from the date of the notice. The option or stock purchase
right will terminate upon the expiration of the 15-day period.
Amendment and Termination of our 1999 Plan. Our 1999 Plan will automatically
terminate in 2009, unless we terminate it sooner. In addition, our board of
directors has the authority to amend, suspend or terminate the 1999 Plan,
provided it does not adversely affect any option previously granted under our
1999 Plan.
1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Concurrently with this offering, we intend to establish an Employee Stock
Purchase Plan, referred to as the "Purchase Plan."
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<PAGE>
Number of Shares of Common Stock Available under the Purchase Plan. A total
of 5,000,000 shares of our common stock will be made available for sale. In
addition, our Purchase Plan provides for annual increases in the number of
shares available for issuance on the first day of each fiscal year, beginning
with our 2001 fiscal year, equal to the lesser of 2% of the outstanding shares
of our common stock on the first day of the fiscal year, 10,000,000 shares, or
a lesser amount as may be determined by our board of directors.
Administration of the Purchase Plan. Our board of directors or a committee of
our board administers the Purchase Plan. Our board of directors or its
committee has full and exclusive authority to interpret the terms of the
Purchase Plan and determine eligibility.
Eligibility to Participate. All of our employees are eligible to participate
if they are customarily employed by us or any participating subsidiary for at
least 20 hours per week and more than five months in any calendar year.
However, an employee may not be granted an option to purchase stock under the
Purchase Plan if:
. immediately after grant the employee owns stock possessing 5% or more of
the total combined voting power or value of all classes of our capital
stock, or
. the employee's rights to purchase stock under all of our employee stock
purchase plans accrues at a rate that exceeds $25,000 worth of stock for
each calendar year.
Offering Periods and Contributions. Our Purchase Plan is intended to qualify
under Section 423 of the Code and contains consecutive and overlapping 24-month
offering periods. Each offering period includes four 6-month purchase periods.
The offering periods generally start on the first trading day on or after April
1 and October 1 of each year, except for the first such offering period which
will commence on the first trading day on or after the effective date of this
offering and will end on the last trading day on or before March 31, 2002.
Our Purchase Plan permits participants to purchase common stock through
payroll deductions of up to 10% of their eligible compensation, which includes
a participant's base salary, and commission but excludes all other compensation
paid to the participant. A participant may purchase a maximum of 4,000 shares
during a 6-month purchase period.
Purchase of Shares. Amounts deducted and accumulated by the participant are
used to purchase shares of our common stock at the end of each six-month
purchase period. The price is 85% of the lower of the fair market value of our
common stock at either the beginning or end of an offering period. If the fair
market value at the end of a purchase period is less than the fair market value
at the beginning of the offering period, participants will be withdrawn from
the current offering period following their purchase of shares on the purchase
date and will be automatically re-enrolled in a new offering period.
Participants may end their participation at any time during an offering period,
and will be paid their payroll deductions to date. Participation ends
automatically upon termination of employment with us.
Transferability of Rights. A participant may not transfer rights granted
under the Purchase Plan other than by will, the laws of descent and
distribution or designation of a beneficiary as provided under the Purchase
Plan.
Adjustments upon Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of our merger with or
into another corporation or a sale of all or substantially all of our assets, a
successor corporation may assume or substitute for each outstanding option. If
the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the outstanding
options, the offering periods then in progress will be shortened, and a new
exercise date will be set prior to the merger or sale of assets.
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Amendment and Termination of the Purchase Plan. Our Purchase Plan will
terminate in 2009. However, our board of directors has the authority to amend
or earlier terminate our Purchase Plan, except that, subject to exceptions
described in the Purchase Plan, no such action may adversely affect any
outstanding rights to purchase stock under our Purchase Plan.
1999 Director Option Plan
Our board of directors adopted the 1999 Director Option Plan, referred to as
the "Director Plan", in November 1999, and our stockholder initially approved
the Director Plan in November 1999. The Director Plan provides for the periodic
grant of nonstatutory stock options to our non-employee directors.
Number of Shares Available under the Director Plan. As of January 27, 2000, a
total of 500,000 shares were reserved for issuance under the Director Plan. No
options to acquire shares were issued and outstanding as of this date. Our
Director Plan provides for annual increases in the number of shares of common
stock available for issuance on the first day of each fiscal year, beginning
with our 2001 fiscal year, equal to 500,000 shares or a lesser amount
determined by our board.
Options. All grants of options to our non-employee directors under the
Director Plan are automatic. We will grant each non-employee director an option
to purchase 40,000 shares upon the later of the effective date of the Director
Plan and the date when such person first becomes a non-employee director,
except for those directors who became non-employee directors by ceasing to be
employee directors. In addition, all non-employee directors who have served for
at least 6 months receive an option to purchase 25,000 shares on the date of
each annual meeting of our stockholders at which the non-employee director is
re-elected to our board of directors.
All options granted under our Director Plan have a term of ten years and an
exercise price equal to the fair market value of our common stock on the date
of grant. Each 40,000 share option becomes exercisable as to 33% of the shares
subject to the option on each anniversary of the date of grant, and each 25,000
share option, becomes exercisable as to 100% of the shares subject to the
option on the first anniversary of the date of grant, provided in each case the
non-employee director remains a director on those dates.
After termination as a non-employee director, an optionee must exercise his
or her option at the time set forth in his or her option agreement. If
termination is due to death or disability, the option will generally remain
exercisable for 12 months. In all other cases, the option will generally remain
exercisable for a period of 3 months. However, an option may never be exercised
later than the expiration of its term.
Transferability of Options. A non-employee director may not transfer options
granted to him or her under our Director Plan other than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution. Only the non-employee director may exercise his or
her options during his or her lifetime.
Adjustments upon Change of Control. In the event of our merger with or into
another corporation in which our stockholders before such transaction do not
continue to hold at least 50% of the successor or resulting entity, a sale of
substantially all of our assets and other transactions set forth in the
Director Plan, the exercisability of each option granted under the Director
Plan shall accelerate as to all of the shares subject to the option. The option
will terminate following the change of control transaction.
Amendment and Termination of the Director Plan. Unless terminated sooner, our
Director Plan will automatically terminate in 2009. Our board of directors has
the authority to amend, alter, suspend, or discontinue the Director Plan, but
none of those actions may adversely affect any grant made under the Director
Plan.
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ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN PALM AND 3COM
We have provided below a summary description of the executed master
separation and distribution agreement along with the key related agreements.
This description, which summarizes the material terms of the agreements, is not
complete. You should read the full text of these agreements, which have been
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Master Separation and Distribution Agreement
The master separation and distribution agreement contains the key provisions
relating to our separation from 3Com, this offering and the distribution of our
shares to 3Com stockholders.
The Separation. The separation occurred on February 26, 2000. The separation
agreement provides for the transfer to us of assets and liabilities from 3Com
related to our business as described in this prospectus, effective on the
separation date. The various ancillary agreements that are exhibits to the
separation agreement and which detail the separation and various interim and
ongoing relationships between 3Com and us following the separation date
include:
. a general assignment and assumption agreement;
. technology, patent, and trademark ownership and license agreements;
. an employee matters agreement;
. a tax sharing agreement;
. a transitional services agreement
. a real estate matters agreement;
. a confidential disclosure agreement; and
. an indemnification and insurance matters agreement.
To the extent that the terms of any of these ancillary agreements conflict with
the separation agreement, the terms of these agreements will govern. These
agreements are described more fully below.
The Initial Public Offering. Under the terms of the separation agreement 3Com
will own at least 80.1% of our outstanding common stock following this offering
and the private placements to America Online, Motorola and Nokia. We are
obligated to use our reasonable commercial efforts to satisfy the following
conditions to the consummation of this offering, any of which may be waived by
3Com:
. the registration statement containing this prospectus must be effective;
. United States securities and blue sky laws must be satisfied;
. our common stock must be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or the
Nasdaq Stock Market;
. all our obligations under the underwriting agreement must be met or
waived by the underwriters;
. 3Com must own at least 80.1% of our stock and must be satisfied that the
distribution will be tax-free to its United States stockholders;
. no legal restraints must exist preventing the separation or this
offering;
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. the separation must have occurred; and
. the separation agreement must not have been terminated.
The Distribution. 3Com intends to, following consummation of this offering,
distribute by December 1, 2000 the remaining shares of our common stock that
3Com holds to 3Com stockholders on a pro rata basis. We will prepare an
information statement with 3Com and send it to 3Com stockholders before the
distribution becomes effective. The information statement will inform the
stockholders of the distribution and its specifics. 3Com may, in its sole
discretion, change the distribution date. 3Com intends to consummate the
distribution only if the following conditions are met, any of which may be
waived by 3Com:
. the Internal Revenue Service must issue a ruling that the distribution
of Palm common stock will be tax-free to 3Com stockholders and that the
transaction will qualify as a reorganization for United States federal
income tax purposes;
. all required government approvals must be in effect;
. no legal restraints must exist preventing this distribution; and
. nothing must have happened in the intervening time between this offering
and the distribution that makes the distribution harmful to 3Com or its
stockholders.
Covenants Between 3Com and Palm. In addition to signing documents that
transfer control and ownership of various assets and liabilities of 3Com
relating to our business, we have agreed with 3Com to enter into additional
transitional service agreements, exchange information, engage in auditing
practices and resolve disputes in particular ways.
Additional Transitional Service Agreements. 3Com and we have entered into
transitional service agreements covering the provision of various transitional
services, including financial, legal, accounting, customer service, human
resources administration, supply chain, product order administration,
facilities and information technology services by 3Com to us. These services
will generally be provided for a fee equal to direct and indirect costs of
providing the services plus 5%. The transitional service agreements will
generally have a term of one year or less from the date of separation.
Information Exchange. Both 3Com and we have agreed to share information
relating to governmental, accounting, contractual and other similar
requirements of our ongoing businesses, unless the sharing would be
commercially detrimental. In furtherance of this, both 3Com and we have agreed
as follows:
. Each party has agreed to maintain adequate internal accounting to allow
the other party to satisfy its own reporting obligations and prepare its
own financial statements.
. Each party will retain records beneficial to the other party for a
specified period of time. If the records are going to be destroyed, the
destroying party will give the other party an opportunity to retrieve
all relevant information from the records, unless the records are
destroyed in accordance with adopted record retention policies.
. Each party will use commercially reasonable efforts to provide the other
party with directors, officers, employees, other personnel and agents
who may be used as witnesses in and books, records and other documents
which may reasonably be required in connection with legal,
administrative or other proceedings.
Auditing Practices. So long as 3Com is required to consolidate our results of
operations and financial position, we have agreed to:
. not select a different independent accounting firm from that used by
3Com without 3Com's consent;
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. use reasonable commercial efforts to enable our auditors to date their
opinion on our audited annual financial statements on the same date as
3Com's auditors date their opinion on 3Com's financial statements;
. exchange all relevant information needed to prepare financial
statements;
. grant each other's internal auditors access to each other's records; and
. notify each other of any change in accounting principles.
Dispute Resolution. If problems arise between us and 3Com, we have agreed to
the following procedures:
. The parties will make a good faith effort to first resolve the dispute
through negotiation.
. If negotiations fail, the parties agree to attempt to resolve the
dispute through non-binding mediation.
. If mediation fails, the parties can resort to binding arbitration. In
addition, nothing prevents either party acting in good faith from
initiating litigation at any time if failure to do so would cause
serious and irreparable injury to one of the parties or to others.
No Representations and Warranties. Neither party is making any promises to
the other regarding:
. the value of any asset that 3Com is transferring;
. whether there is a lien or encumbrance on any asset 3Com is
transferring; or
. the legal sufficiency of any conveyance of title to any asset 3Com is
transferring.
No Solicitation. Each party has agreed not to directly solicit or recruit
employees of the other party without the other party's consent for two years
after the distribution date. However, this prohibition does not apply to
general recruitment efforts carried out through public or general solicitation
or where the solicitation is employee-initiated.
Expenses. All of the costs and expenses related to this offering as well as
the costs and expenses related to the separation and distribution will be
allocated between us and 3Com. It is anticipated that we will bear the costs
and expenses associated with this offering and 3Com will bear the costs and
expenses associated with the distribution. We will each bear our own internal
costs incurred in consummating these transactions.
Termination of the Agreement. 3Com in its sole discretion can terminate the
separation agreement and all ancillary agreements and abandon the distribution
at any time prior to the closing of this offering. Both 3Com and Palm must
agree to terminate the separation agreement and all ancillary agreements at any
time between the closing of this offering and the distribution.
General Assignment and Assumption Agreement
The general assignment and assumption agreement identifies the assets 3Com
will transfer to us and the liabilities we will assume from 3Com in the
separation. The agreement also describes when and how these transfers and
assumptions will occur.
Asset Transfer. Effective on the separation date, 3Com transferred inventory
to us that it holds related to our business, to the extent that the inventory
was, prior to the separation date, a 3Com asset.
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Excluded Assets. The general assignment and assumption agreement also
provides that 3Com did not transfer most accounts receivable related to our
business.
Assumption of Liabilities. Effective on the separation date, we assumed
liabilities from 3Com, to the extent that these liabilities were, prior to the
separation date, liabilities held by 3Com related to our business and except as
provided in an ancillary or other agreement.
Excluded Liabilities. The general assignment and assumption agreement also
provides that we will not assume specified liabilities, including:
. most accounts payable;
. any liabilities that would otherwise be allocated to us but which are
covered by 3Com's insurance policies, unless we are a named insured
under such policies; and
. other specified liabilities.
The Non-United States Plan. The transfer of international assets and
assumption of international liabilities will be accomplished through agreements
entered into between international subsidiaries. The agreement acknowledges
that circumstances in jurisdictions outside of the United States may require
the timing of the international separation to be delayed past the separation
date.
Delayed Transfers. If it is not practicable to transfer specified assets and
liabilities on the separation date, the agreement provides that these assets
and liabilities will be transferred after the separation date.
Terms of Other Ancillary Agreements Govern. If another ancillary agreement
expressly provides for the transfer of an asset or an assumption of a
liability, the terms of the other ancillary agreement will determine the manner
of the transfer and assumption.
Obtaining Approvals and Consents. The parties agree to use all reasonable
efforts to obtain any required consents, substitutions or amendments required
to novate or assign all rights and obligations under any contracts that will be
transferred in the separation.
Nonrecurring Costs and Expenses. Any nonrecurring costs and expenses that are
not allocated in the separation agreement or any other ancillary agreement
shall be the responsibility of the party that incurs the costs and expenses.
Master Technology Ownership and License Agreement
The master technology ownership and license agreement, or the master
technology agreement, allocates rights in technology other than patents, patent
applications and invention disclosures. In the master technology agreement,
3Com confirmed that we own all technology developed by us and, to the extent
that any technology is registered in 3Com's name or 3Com otherwise has any
ownership rights in that technology, 3Com will assign it to us. In addition,
specified manufacturing technology will be jointly owned. 3Com will not
restrict our right to use the assigned or jointly owned technology. We will
commit to license our operating system to 3Com on favorable terms pursuant to a
separate agreement that we will negotiate.
In the event of an acquisition of either party, the acquired party may assign
the master technology agreement, except that 3Com may not assign the commitment
to license the operating system.
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Master Patent Ownership and License Agreement
The master patent ownership and license agreement, or the master patent
agreement, allocates rights relating to patents, patent applications and
invention disclosures. In the master patent agreement, 3Com will confirm that
we own patents, patent applications and invention disclosures which were
developed by us and, to the extent that any of these patents or patent
applications are recorded in 3Com's name, 3Com will assign them to us. The
specific patents, patent applications and invention disclosures being assigned
are identified in a database. 3Com will not restrict our rights to practice the
assigned patents. 3Com will retain ownership of jointly developed patents,
patent applications and invention disclosures, but will grant us a license to
jointly developed patents, patent applications and invention disclosures that
have resulted or in the future result from our joint development with 3Com in
the wireless connectivity area. To date, there are no patents or patent
applications that have resulted from our joint development with 3Com in the
wireless connectivity area. The license is non-exclusive and royalty-free and
will permit us to make, have made, use, lease, sell, offer for sale, and import
current and future Palm products and services. The license continues for the
life of the licensed patents. 3Com will not be restricted from licensing these
wireless connectivity patents for defensive purposes, but for purposes other
than for defensive purposes, 3Com will be restricted from licensing these
wireless connectivity patents in the field of lightweight handheld mobile
computing devices and operating systems for such devices.
In addition, each party covenants not to sue the other party or the other
party's customers or suppliers for infringement of its patents that exist as of
the separation date or that are based on applications or invention disclosures
that exist as of the separation date. The products and services that are
covered by the covenant are the products and services of each party's business
as it exists as of the separation date.
In the event of an acquisition of either party, the acquired party may assign
the master patent agreement except that the licenses and covenants not to sue
may not be assigned. In addition, in the event a sale of a subsidiary or
business unit of either party, the licenses and covenants not to sue may not be
assigned. However, the non-acquired party is obligated to enter into licenses
or covenants not to sue, as applicable, with a transferee acquiring a party or
a subsidiary or business unit of a party, subject to certain reductions in the
scope of the licenses and covenants not to sue and subject to the agreement of
the acquiring party to grant a license or covenant not to sue back to the non-
acquired party.
The master patent agreement also provides that 3Com and we will assist each
other in specified ways for a period of five years after the separation date in
the event either party is subject to patent litigation.
Master Trademark Ownership and License Agreement
The master trademark ownership and license agreement, or the master trademark
agreement, allocates rights relating to trademarks, service marks and trade
names. In the master trademark agreement, 3Com confirmed that we own our
trademarks, service marks and trade names that we use in connection with our
business and, to the extent that any of our marks are registered in 3Com's name
or 3Com otherwise has any rights in those marks, 3Com will assign them to us.
In addition, 3Com will grant us a royalty-free license to mark our existing
products with, and advertise and promote these products using, specified 3Com
trademarks. The term of this license is two years after the separation date. We
may allow authorized dealers to use the trademarks in the advertisement and
promotion of our existing products. During the first two years from the
separation date, 3Com will agree not to license the trademarks it licenses to
us to third parties for use in connection with products or services that
compete with our products shipping as of the distribution date, other than any
licenses that may have previously been granted.
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3Com may terminate the license under the master trademark agreement only with
regard to products that fail to meet required quality standards, subject to a
notice and cure period.
Employee Matters Agreement
We have entered into an employee matters agreement with 3Com to allocate
assets, liabilities, and responsibilities relating to current and former
employees of Palm and their participation in the benefits plans, including
stock plans, that 3Com currently sponsors and maintains.
All eligible Palm employees will continue to participate in the 3Com benefits
plans on comparable terms and conditions to those for 3Com employees until the
distribution date or until we establish benefit plans for our employees, or
elect not to establish comparable plans, if it is not legally or financially
practical. We intend to establish our own benefit program no later than the
time of the distribution.
Once we establish our own benefits plans, we may modify or terminate each
plan in accordance with the terms of that plan and our policies. No Palm
benefit plan will provide benefits that overlap benefits under the
corresponding 3Com benefit plan at the time of the distribution. Each Palm
benefit plan will provide that all service, compensation and other benefit
determinations that, as of the distribution, were recognized under the
corresponding 3Com benefits plan will be taken into account under that Palm
benefit plan.
Assets relating to the employee liabilities will be transferred to Palm or
the related Palm plans and trusts from trusts and other funding vehicles
associated with 3Com's benefits plans.
Options. We will establish a replacement stock plan for eligible Palm
employees on or before the distribution. We will assume all 3Com options held
by Palm employees. These options will convert at the distribution into options
to purchase our common stock. The number of shares and the exercise price of
3Com options that convert into Palm options will be adjusted using a conversion
formula. The conversion formula will be based on the opening per-share price of
our common stock on the first trading day after the distribution relative to
the closing per-share price of 3Com common stock on the last trading day before
the distribution. The resulting Palm options will maintain the original vesting
provisions and option period.
Restricted Stock. On or before the distribution, 3Com restricted stock
granted under incentive stock plans and held by Palm employees is expected to
be forfeited. Each Palm employee who forfeits 3Com restricted stock will
receive Palm restricted stock in replacement of his or her forfeited 3Com
restricted stock.
Stock Purchase Plan. We anticipate that Palm employees will continue to
participate in the 3Com stock purchase plan through the date of this offering.
After that time, we will sponsor a stock purchase plan for the benefit of Palm
employees that is comparable to the 3Com stock purchase plan.
Tax Sharing Agreement
We have entered into a tax sharing agreement with 3Com that will allocate
responsibilities for tax matters between Palm and 3Com. The agreement will
require us to pay 3Com for the incremental tax costs of our inclusion in
consolidated, combined or unitary tax returns with affiliated corporations. In
determining these incremental costs, the agreement will take into account not
only the group's incremental tax payments to the Internal Revenue Service or
other taxing authorities, but also the incremental use of tax losses of
affiliates to offset our taxable income, and the incremental use of tax credits
of affiliates to offset the tax on our income. The agreement will also provide
for compensation or reimbursement as appropriate to reflect redeterminations of
our tax liability for periods during which we joined in filing consolidated,
combined or unitary tax returns.
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The tax sharing agreement also requires us to indemnify 3Com for certain
taxes and similar obligations, including:
. sales taxes on the sale of products purchased from us by 3Com before the
distribution;
. customs duties or harbor maintenance fees on products exported or
imported by 3Com on our behalf;
. the additional taxes that would result if an acquisition of a
controlling interest in our stock after the distribution causes the
distribution not to qualify for tax-free treatment to 3Com; and
. any taxes resulting from transactions undertaken in preparation for the
distribution.
Our indemnity obligations include any interest and penalties on taxes, duties
or fees for which we must indemnify 3Com.
Each member of a consolidated group for United States federal income tax
purposes is jointly and severally liable for the group's federal income tax
liability. Accordingly, we could be required to pay a deficiency in the group's
federal income tax liability for a period during which we were a member of the
group even if the tax sharing agreement allocates that liability to 3Com or
another member.
The tax sharing agreement also assigns responsibilities for administrative
matters such as the filing of returns, payment of taxes due, retention of
records and conduct of audits, examinations or similar proceedings.
Master Transitional Services Agreement
The master transitional services agreement governs the provision of
transitional services by 3Com and us to each other, on an interim basis, until
one year after the separation date, unless extended for specific services or
otherwise indicated in the agreement. The services include data processing and
telecommunications services, such as voice telecommunications and data
transmission, and information technology support services, for functions
including accounting, financial management, tax, payroll, stockholder and
public relations, legal, procurement, and other administrative functions.
Services are generally cost plus 5%, but may increase to cost plus 10% if the
services extend beyond the one year period. The master transitional services
agreement also covers the provision of additional transitional services
identified from time to time after the separation date that were inadvertently
or unintentionally omitted from the specified services, or that are essential
to effectuate an orderly transition under the separation agreement, so long as
the provision of such services would not significantly disrupt 3Com's
operations or significantly increase the scope of its responsibility under the
agreement.
Real Estate Matters Agreement
The real estate matters agreement addresses real estate matters relating to
the 3Com leased and owned properties that 3Com will transfer to or share with
us. The agreement describes the manner in which 3Com will transfer to or share
with us various leased and owned properties, including the following types of
transactions:
. leases to us of portions of specified properties that 3Com owns;
. assignments to us of 3Com's leases for specified leased properties;
. subleases to us of portions of specified properties leased by 3Com; and
. short term licenses between 3Com and us permitting short term occupancy
of selected leased and owned sites.
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The real estate matters agreement includes a description of each property to
be transferred to or shared with us for each type of transaction. The standard
forms of the proposed transfer documents, such as lease, sublease and license,
are contained in schedules.
The real estate matters agreement also requires both parties to use
reasonable efforts to obtain any landlord consents required for the proposed
transfers of leased sites, including 3Com paying commercially reasonable
consent fees, if required by the landlords, and us agreeing to provide the
security required under the applicable leases.
The real estate matters agreement further provides that we will be required
to accept the transfer of all sites allocated to us, even if a site has been
damaged by a casualty before the separation date. Transfers with respect to
leased sites where the underlying lease is terminated due to casualty or action
by the landlord prior to the separation date will not be made, and neither
party will have any liability related thereto.
The real estate matters agreement also gives the parties the right to change
the allocation and terms of specified sites by mutual agreement based on
changes in the requirements of the parties. The real estate matters agreement
provides that all reasonable costs required to effect the transfers, including
landlord consent fees and landlord attorneys' fees, will be paid by 3Com.
Master Confidential Disclosure Agreement
The master confidential disclosure agreement provides that both parties agree
not to disclose confidential information of the other party except in specific
circumstances. 3Com and we also agree not to use this information in violation
of any use restrictions in one of the other written agreements between us.
Indemnification and Insurance Matters Agreement
General Release of Pre-Separation Claims. Effective as of the separation
date, subject to specified exceptions, we will release 3Com and its affiliates,
agents, successors and assigns, and 3Com will release us, and our affiliates,
agents, successors and assigns, from any liabilities arising from events
occurring on or before the separation date, including events occurring in
connection with the activities to implement the separation, this offering and
the distribution. This provision will not impair a party from enforcing the
separation agreement, any ancillary agreement or any arrangement specified in
any of these agreements.
Indemnification. The indemnification and insurance matters agreement also
contains provisions governing indemnification. In general, we have agreed to
indemnify 3Com and its affiliates, agents, successors and assigns from all
liabilities arising from:
. our business, any of our liabilities or any of our contracts; and
. any breach by us of the separation agreement or any ancillary agreement.
3Com has agreed to indemnify us and our affiliates, agents, successors and
assigns from all liabilities arising from:
. 3Com's business other than the Palm business; and
. any breach by 3Com of the separation agreement or any ancillary
agreement.
These indemnification provisions do not apply to amounts collected from
insurance. The agreement also contains provisions governing notice and
indemnification procedures.
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Liability Arising From This Prospectus. We will bear any liability arising
from any untrue statement of a material fact or any omission of a material fact
in this prospectus.
Insurance Matters. The agreement also contains provisions governing our
insurance coverage from the separation date until the distribution date. In
general, we agree to reimburse 3Com for premium expenses related to insurance
coverage during this period. Prior to the distribution, 3Com will maintain
insurance policies on our behalf. We will work with 3Com to secure additional
insurance if desired and cost effective.
Environmental Matters. 3Com has agreed to indemnify us and our affiliates,
agents, successors and assigns from all liabilities arising from environmental
conditions existing as of the separation date at facilities transferred to us,
or which arise out of operations occurring before the separation date at these
facilities. Further, 3Com has agreed to indemnify us and our affiliates,
agents, successors and assigns from all liabilities arising from environmental
conditions caused by operations occurring at any time, whether before or after
the separation date, at any 3Com facility.
We have agreed to indemnify 3Com and its affiliates, agents, successors and
assigns from all liabilities arising from environmental conditions caused by
operations after the separation date at any of the facilities transferred to
us, and from environmental conditions at our facilities arising from an event
that occurs on or after the separation date.
Each party will be responsible for all liabilities associated with any
environmental contamination caused by that party post-separation.
Assignment. The indemnification and insurance matters agreement is not
assignable by either party without prior written consent.
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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDER
Prior to this offering and the private placements to America Online, Motorola
and Nokia, all of the outstanding shares of our common stock will be owned by
3Com. After this offering and the private placements to America Online,
Motorola and Nokia, 3Com will own about 94.6%, or about 94.0% if the
underwriters fully exercise their option to purchase additional shares of our
outstanding common stock. Except for 3Com, we are not aware of any person or
group that will beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our
common stock following this offering. None of our executive officers, directors
or director nominees currently owns any shares of our common stock, but those
who own shares of 3Com common stock will be treated on the same terms as other
holders of 3Com stock in any distribution by 3Com. See "Stock Ownership of
Directors and Executive Officers" for a description of the ownership of 3Com
stock by our directors and executive officers.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
General
Upon the completion of this offering and the private placements to America
Online, Motorola and Nokia, we will be authorized to issue 2,000,000,000 shares
of common stock, $0.001 par value, and 125,000,000 shares of undesignated
preferred stock, $0.001 par value. The following description of our capital
stock is subject to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, which are
included as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus
forms a part, and by the provisions of applicable Delaware law.
Common Stock
Prior to this offering and the private placements to America Online, Motorola
and Nokia, there were 532,000,000 shares of common stock outstanding, all of
which were held of record by 3Com.
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all
matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. Subject to preferences that may
be applicable to any outstanding preferred stock, the holders of our common
stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be
declared from time to time by our board of directors out of funds legally
available for that purpose. See "Dividend Policy." In the event of our
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of our common stock are
entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities,
subject to prior distribution rights of preferred stock, if any, then
outstanding. The holders of our common stock have no preemptive or conversion
rights or other subscription rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund
provisions applicable to our common stock.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors has the authority, without action by the stockholders,
to designate and issue preferred stock in one or more series and to designate
the rights, preferences and privileges of each series, which may be greater
than the rights of our common stock. It is not possible to state the actual
effect of the issuance of any shares of preferred stock upon the rights of
holders of our common stock until our board of directors determines the
specific rights of the holders of the preferred stock. However, the effects
might include, among other things:
. restricting dividends on our common stock;
. diluting the voting power of our common stock;
. impairing the liquidation rights of our common stock; or
. delaying or preventing a change in control of us without further action
by the stockholders.
At the closing of this offering and the private placements to America Online,
Motorola and Nokia, no shares of preferred stock will be outstanding, and we
have no present plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Our Certificate and Bylaws and Delaware Law
Some provisions of Delaware law and our certificate of incorporation and
bylaws could make the following more difficult:
. acquisition of us by means of a tender offer;
. acquisition of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or
. removal of our incumbent officers and directors.
These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive
takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions are also
designed to encourage persons seeking to
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acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We
believe that the benefits of increased protection give us the potential ability
to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to
acquire or restructure us and outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging those
proposals because negotiation of those proposals could result in an improvement
of their terms.
Election and Removal of Directors. Our board of directors is divided into
three classes. The directors in each class will serve for a three-year term,
one class being elected each year by our stockholders. See "Management--
Directors and Executive Officers." This system of electing and removing
directors may discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise
attempting to obtain control of us because it generally makes it more difficult
for stockholders to replace a majority of the directors.
Stockholder Meetings. Under our bylaws, only our board of directors, the
chairman of our board of directors, and until 3Com owns less than 50% of our
common stock, 3Com, may call special meetings of stockholders.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and
Proposals. Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to
stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as
directors, other than nominations made by or at the direction of our board of
directors or a committee of our board of directors.
Delaware Anti-Takeover Law. We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, an anti-takeover law. In general, Section 203
prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business
combination" with an "interested stockholder" for a period of three years
following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless the
"business combination" or the transaction in which the person became an
interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Generally, a
"business combination" includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other
transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder.
Generally, an "interested stockholder" is a person who, together with
affiliates and associates, owns or within three years prior to the
determination of interested stockholder status, did own, 15% or more of a
corporation's voting stock. The existence of this provision may have an anti-
takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the
board of directors, including discouraging attempts that might result in a
premium over the market price for the shares of common stock held by
stockholders. 3Com is an "interested stockholder" for this purpose.
Elimination of Stockholder Action By Written Consent. Our certificate of
incorporation eliminates the right of stockholders other than 3Com to act by
written consent without a meeting. 3Com will lose this right once it owns less
than 50% of our common stock.
Elimination of Cumulative Voting. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws
do not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors.
Undesignated Preferred Stock. The authorization of undesignated preferred
stock makes it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock
with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any
attempt to change control of us. These and other provisions may have the effect
of deferring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management of
us.
Amendment of Charter Provisions. The amendment of any of the above provisions
would require approval by holders of at least 80% of our outstanding common
stock.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is EquiServe.
81
<PAGE>
UNDERWRITING
Palm and the underwriters named below (the "Underwriters") have entered into
an underwriting agreement with respect to the shares being offered. Subject to
some conditions, each Underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the number
of shares indicated in the following table. Goldman, Sachs & Co., Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated,
and FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc. are the representatives of the
Underwriters.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Underwriters Number of Shares
------------ ----------------
<S> <C>
Goldman, Sachs & Co.........................................
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated...........................
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated..........
FleetBoston Robertson Stephens Inc..........................
----------
Total..................................................... 23,000,000
==========
</TABLE>
If the Underwriters sell more shares than the total number set forth in the
table above, the Underwriters have an option to buy up to an additional
3,450,000 shares from Palm to cover such sales. They may exercise that option
for 30 days. If any shares are purchased pursuant to this option, the
Underwriters will severally purchase shares in approximately the same
proportion as set forth in the table above.
The following tables show the per share and total underwriting discounts and
commissions to be paid to the Underwriters by Palm. Such amounts are shown
assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the Underwriters' option to
purchase 3,450,000 additional shares.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Paid by the Company
-------------------------
No Exercise Full Exercise
----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
Per Share.......................................... $ $
Total.............................................. $ $
</TABLE>
Shares sold by the Underwriters to the public will initially be offered at
the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus.
Any shares sold by the Underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a
discount of up to $ per share from the initial public offering price.
Any such securities dealers may resell any shares purchased from the
Underwriters to selected other brokers or dealers at a discount of up to
$ per share from the initial public offering price. If all the shares
are not sold at the initial offering price, the representatives may change the
offering price and the other selling terms.
Palm, 3Com and Palm's directors and officers have agreed with the
Underwriters not to dispose of or hedge any of their common stock or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock during the period
from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date 180 days after the
date of this prospectus, except with the prior written consent of the
representatives. This agreement does not apply to any grants under Palm's
existing employee benefit plans. See "Shares Eligible For Future Sale" for a
discussion of transfer restrictions. America Online, Motorola and Nokia have
agreed with Palm, for the benefit of the Underwriters, not to dispose of or
hedge any of their common stock during the period from the date of the
consummation of this offering continuing through the date 180 days after the
date of this prospectus.
82
<PAGE>
Prior to the offering, there has been no public market for the shares. The
initial public offering price will be negotiated among Palm and the
representatives. Among the factors to be considered in determining the initial
public offering price of the shares, in addition to prevailing market
conditions, will be Palm's historical performance, estimates of the business
potential and earnings prospects of Palm, an assessment of Palm's management
and the consideration of the above factors in relation to market valuation of
companies in related businesses.
At our request, the Underwriters have reserved up to seven percent of the
shares of common stock to be issued by Palm and offered in this offering for
sale, at the initial public offering price, to directors of 3Com and Palm and
persons with preexisting strategic or other relationships with Palm. The number
of shares available for sale to the general public will be reduced to the
extent that such persons purchase such reserved shares. Any reserved shares
which are not so purchased will be offered by the Underwriters to the general
public on the same basis as the other shares of common stock offered by this
prospectus.
Our common stock has been approved for quotation on the Nasdaq National
Market under the symbol "PALM".
In connection with the offering, the Underwriters may purchase and sell
shares of common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short
sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by
short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the Underwriters of a greater
number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering.
Stabilizing transactions consist of bids or purchases made for the purpose of
preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock while
the offering is in progress.
The Underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular
Underwriter repays to the Underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount
received by it because the representatives have repurchased shares sold by or
for the account of such Underwriter in stabilizing or short covering
transactions.
These activities by the Underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise
affect the market price of the common stock. As a result, the price of the
common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the
open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the
Underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected on the Nasdaq
National Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
The Underwriters do not expect sales to discretionary accounts to exceed five
percent of the total number of shares offered.
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites
maintained by one or more Underwriters or securities dealers. The Underwriters
may agree to allocate a number of shares to Underwriters for sale to their
online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by
the lead managers to Underwriters that may make Internet distributions on the
same basis as other allocations. In addition, shares may be sold by the
Underwriters to securities dealers who resell shares to online brokerage
account holders.
Palm estimates that its share of the total expenses of the offering,
excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately
$5,000,000.
Palm has agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters against specified
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
83
<PAGE>
Goldman, Sachs & Co. has been engaged by Palm to provide financial advisory
services relating to the separation of Palm from 3Com and the distribution of
shares of Palm common stock to 3Com stockholders, for which Palm had agreed to
pay a fee of $5 million upon completion of the distribution. Goldman, Sachs &
Co. has from time to time performed various investment banking services for
3Com in the past, and it may from time to time in the future perform investment
banking services for 3Com and Palm for which it has received and will receive
customary fees.
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
All of the shares of our common stock sold in this offering will be freely
tradable without restriction under the Securities Act, except for any shares
which be may acquired by an affiliate of Palm, as that term is defined in Rule
144 under the Securities Act. Persons who may be deemed to be affiliates
generally include individuals or entities that control, are controlled by, or
are under common control with, Palm and may include directors and officers of
Palm as well as significant stockholders of Palm, if any.
3Com currently plans to complete its divestiture of Palm approximately six
months following this offering by distributing all of the shares of Palm common
stock owned by 3Com to the holders of 3Com's common stock. Shares of our common
stock distributed to 3Com stockholders in the distribution generally will be
freely transferable, except for shares of common stock received by persons who
may be deemed to be affiliates. Persons who are affiliates will be permitted to
sell the shares of common stock that are issued in this offering or that they
receive in the distribution only through registration under the Securities Act,
or under an exemption from registration, such as the one provided by Rule 144.
The shares of our common stock held by 3Com before distribution and the
shares of our common stock purchased in the America Online, Motorola and Nokia
private placements are deemed "restricted securities" as defined in Rule 144,
and may not be sold other than through registration under the Securities Act or
under an exemption from registration, such as the one provided by Rule 144.
3Com, our directors and officers and we have agreed not to offer or sell any
shares of our common stock, subject to exceptions, for a period of 180 days
after the date of this prospectus, without the prior written consent of the
underwriters. America Online, Motorola and Nokia have agreed with Palm not to
dispose of or hedge any of their common stock during the period from the date
of this prospectus continuing through the date 180 days after the date of this
prospectus.
We will grant shares of our common stock pursuant to the 1999 Stock Plan
subject to restrictions. See "Management--Incentive Plans--1999 Stock Plan." We
currently expect to file a registration statement under the Securities Act to
register shares reserved for issuance under the 1999 Stock Plan and 1999
Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Shares issued pursuant to awards after the
effective date of the registration statement, other than shares issued to
affiliates, generally will be freely tradable without further registration
under the Securities Act. Shares issued pursuant to any vested and exercisable
options of 3Com converted into our options will also be freely tradable without
registration under the Securities Act after the effective date of the
registration statement. See "Management--Treatment of 3Com Options."
VALIDITY OF COMMON STOCK
The validity of the common stock offered hereby and other legal matters will
be passed upon for us by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional
Corporation, Palo Alto, California. The validity of the common stock offered
hereby will be passed upon for the underwriters by Sullivan & Cromwell, Los
Angeles, California.
84
<PAGE>
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements as of May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
for each of the three years in the period ended May 28, 1999 included in this
prospectus and the related financial statement schedule included elsewhere in
the registration statement have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
independent auditors, as stated in their reports appearing herein and elsewhere
in the registration statement, and are included in reliance upon the reports of
such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Washington, D.C.
20549, a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with
respect to the common stock offered hereby. This prospectus does not contain
all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits
and schedules to the registration statement. Some items are omitted in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information
about Palm and its common stock, reference is made to the registration
statement and the exhibits and any schedules to the registration statement.
Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or
other document referred to are not necessarily complete and in each instance,
if the contract or document is filed as an exhibit, reference is made to the
copy of the contract or other documents filed as an exhibit to the registration
statement, each statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. A
copy of the registration statement, including the exhibits and schedules to the
registration statement, may be read and copied at the SEC's Public Reference
Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information on the
operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-
800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site at
http://www.sec.gov, from which interested persons can electronically access the
registration statement, including the exhibits and any schedules to the
registration statement.
As a result of this offering, we will become subject to the full
informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
We will fulfill our obligations with respect to those requirements by filing
periodic reports and other information with the SEC. We intend to furnish our
stockholders with annual reports containing consolidated financial statements
certified by an independent public accounting firm. We also maintain Internet
sites at http://www.palm.net and http://www.palm.com. Our websites and the
information contained therein or connected thereto shall not be deemed to be
incorporated into this prospectus or the registration statement of which it
forms a part.
85
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C>
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements:
Independent Auditors' Report............................................ F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets at May 31, 1998, May 28, 1999, November 26,
1999 (unaudited) and Pro Forma at November 26, 1999 (unaudited)........ F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended May 25, 1997,
May 31, 1998, May 28, 1999 and Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and
November 26, 1999 (unaudited).......................................... F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholder's Net Investment for the Years
Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998, May 28, 1999 and Six Months ended
November 26, 1999 (unaudited).......................................... F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended May 25, 1997,
May 31, 1998, May 28, 1999 and Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and
November 26, 1999 (unaudited).......................................... F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.............................. F-7
</TABLE>
F-1
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
To the Board of Directors and Stockholder of Palm, Inc.:
We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of Palm, Inc. and its
subsidiary ("Palm" or "the Company") as of May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999, and
the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholder's net
investment, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended May
28, 1999. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Palm, Inc. and its subsidiary at
May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999, and the results of their operations and their
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended May 28, 1999 in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
San Jose, California
November 29, 1999
(January 24, 2000 as to the third, fourth and fifth paragraphs of Note 13 and
all of Note 15 and February 28, 2000 as to the sixth paragraph of Note 13)
F-2
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except par value amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Pro Forma
May 31, May 28, November 26, November 26,
1998 1999 1999 1999
-------- -------- ------------ ------------
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents....... $ -- $ 478 $ 29,568 $ 29,568
Accounts receivable, net of
allowance for doubtful accounts
of $4,451, $3,817 and $5,141... 80,985 95,839 129,726 --
Inventories..................... 13,769 12,186 36,695 36,695
Deferred income taxes........... 8,092 20,688 26,137 26,137
Prepaids and other.............. 192 1,038 2,182 2,182
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total current assets.......... 103,038 130,229 224,308 94,582
Property and equipment, net....... 9,121 8,136 10,276 10,276
Goodwill, intangibles and other
assets........................... 175 13,829 12,733 12,733
Deferred income taxes............. 3,025 53 52 52
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total assets................ $115,359 $152,247 $247,369 $117,643
======== ======== ======== ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S
NET INVESTMENT
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable................ $ 15,792 $ 35,577 $ 71,586 $ 26,206
Payable to 3Com Corporation..... 15,617 40,509 57,935 242,328
Other accrued liabilities....... 18,275 40,793 90,832 90,832
Current portion of long-term
debt........................... -- 668 190 190
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total current liabilities..... 49,684 117,547 220,543 359,556
-------- -------- -------- --------
Long-term debt.................... -- 682 395 395
Commitments and contingencies
(Notes 7 and 13)
Stockholder's net investment:
Preferred stock, $.001 par
value, 125,000 shares
authorized pro forma; none
outstanding pro forma.......... -- -- -- --
Common stock, $.001 par value,
2,000,000 shares authorized pro
forma; 532,000 shares
outstanding pro forma.......... -- -- -- --
3Com Corporation equity
(deficiency)................... 65,675 34,151 26,395 (242,344)
Accumulated other comprehensive
income (loss).................. -- (133) 36 36
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total stockholder's net
investment (deficiency)...... 65,675 34,018 26,431 (242,308)
-------- -------- -------- --------
Total liabilities and
stockholder's net
investment................. $115,359 $152,247 $247,369 $117,643
======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-3
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended Six Months Ended
---------------------------- -------------------------
May 25, May 31, May 28, November 27, November 26,
1997 1998 1999 1998 1999
-------- -------- -------- ------------ ------------
(Unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues................ $114,157 $272,137 $563,525 $263,302 $435,060
Cost of revenues........ 77,685 157,749 315,616 147,287 246,342
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Gross profit.......... 36,472 114,388 247,909 116,015 188,718
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing... 30,305 70,765 127,726 57,862 102,686
Research and
development.......... 13,442 21,863 46,027 20,460 28,551
General and
administrative....... 6,238 15,299 23,692 11,304 16,956
Purchased in-process
technology........... -- -- 2,125 -- --
Separation costs...... -- -- -- -- 3,780
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total operating
expenses........... 49,985 107,927 199,570 89,626 151,973
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Operating income
(loss)................. (13,513) 6,461 48,339 26,389 36,745
Interest and other
income (expense), net.. (515) (56) (223) (100) 214
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income (loss) before
income taxes........... (14,028) 6,405 48,116 26,289 36,959
Income tax provision
(credit)............... (6,166) 2,234 18,488 10,102 14,439
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net income (loss)....... $ (7,862) $ 4,171 $ 29,628 $ 16,187 $ 22,520
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Basic and diluted net
income (loss) per
share.................. $ (.01) $ .01 $ .06 $ .03 $ .04
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Shares used in computing
basic and diluted net
income (loss) per
share amounts.......... 532,000 532,000 532,000 532,000 532,000
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Unaudited pro forma
basic and diluted net
income per share....... $ .06 $ .04
======== ========
Shares used in computing
unaudited pro forma
basic and diluted net
income per share
amounts................ 538,389 538,389
======== ========
</TABLE>
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-4
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER'S NET INVESTMENT
(In thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Accumulated
3Com Other
Corporation Comprehensive
Equity Income (Loss) Total
----------- ------------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Balances, May 27, 1996....................... $ 6,466 $ -- $ 6,466
Net loss..................................... (7,862) -- (7,862)
Net transfers from 3Com Corporation.......... 32,641 -- 32,641
------- ---- -------
Balances, May 25, 1997....................... 31,245 -- 31,245
Net income................................... 4,171 -- 4,171
Net transfers from 3Com Corporation.......... 30,259 -- 30,259
------- ---- -------
Balances, May 31, 1998....................... 65,675 -- 65,675
Components of comprehensive income:
Net income................................. 29,628 -- 29,628
Accumulated translation adjustments........ -- (133) (133)
Total comprehensive income...............
Net transfers to 3Com Corporation............ (61,152) -- (61,152)
------- ---- -------
Balances, May 28, 1999....................... 34,151 (133) 34,018
Components of comprehensive income:
Net income*................................ 22,520 -- 22,520
Accumulated translation adjustments*....... -- 169 169
Total comprehensive income*..............
Net transfers to 3Com Corporation*........... (30,276) -- (30,276)
------- ---- -------
Balances, November 26, 1999*................. $26,395 $ 36 $26,431
======= ==== =======
</TABLE>
- --------
* Unaudited
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-5
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended Six Months Ended
---------------------------- -------------------------
May 25, May 31, May 28, November 27, November 26,
1997 1998 1999 1998 1999
-------- -------- -------- ------------ ------------
(Unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Cash flows from
operating activities:
Net income (loss)...... $ (7,862) $ 4,171 $ 29,628 $ 16,187 $ 22,520
Adjustments to
reconcile net income
(loss) to net cash
provided by (used in)
operating activities:
Depreciation and
amortization......... 685 2,029 4,565 1,488 4,395
Loss on disposal of
property and
equipment............ 36 145 2,567 889 872
Deferred income
taxes................ (3,344) (5,361) (8,880) (4,812) (5,449)
Purchased in-process
technology........... -- -- 2,125 -- --
Changes in assets and
liabilities:
Accounts receivable.. (18,842) (56,783) (13,307) (39,460) (33,887)
Inventories.......... (13,269) (397) 1,650 (6,281) (24,509)
Prepaids and other... (142) (176) (805) (480) (1,144)
Accounts payable..... 4,710 10,874 19,437 1,488 36,009
Payable to 3Com
Corporation......... 3,660 11,205 24,892 16,187 17,426
Other accrued
liabilities......... 3,217 12,867 22,133 19,032 50,039
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net cash provided by
(used in) operating
activities......... (31,151) (21,426) 84,005 4,238 66,272
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Cash flows from
investing activities:
Purchases of property
and equipment......... (2,543) (8,833) (5,347) (2,922) (5,717)
Business acquired in
purchase transaction,
net of cash acquired.. -- -- (16,831) -- --
Other, net............. 27 -- 97 -- (593)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net cash used in
investing
activities......... (2,516) (8,833) (22,081) (2,922) (6,310)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Cash flows from
financing activities:
Net transfers (to) from
3Com Corporation...... 32,641 30,259 (61,152) (1,316) (30,276)
Other, net............. -- -- (294) -- (596)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net cash provided by
(used in) financing
activities......... 32,641 30,259 (61,446) (1,316) (30,872)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Change in cash and cash
equivalents............ (1,026) -- 478 -- 29,090
Cash and cash
equivalents, beginning
of period.............. 1,026 -- -- -- 478
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Cash and cash
equivalents, end of
period................. $ -- $ -- $ 478 $ -- $ 29,568
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Other cash flow
information:
Interest paid.......... $ -- $ -- $ 10 $ -- $ 11
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Notes payable assumed
in purchase
transaction........... $ -- $ -- $ 1,481 $ -- $ --
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-6
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
1. Background and Basis of Presentation
On September 13, 1999, 3Com Corporation ("3Com") announced its plan to create
an independent publicly-traded company, Palm, Inc. ("Palm" or "the Company"),
comprised of 3Com's handheld computing business. After completion of Palm's
initial public offering, 3Com will own at least 80.1% of Palm's outstanding
common stock. 3Com currently intends, subject to the satisfactory resolution of
certain conditions, to distribute all of the shares of Palm's common stock that
3Com owns to 3Com's stockholders approximately six months ("the distribution
date") after Palm's initial public offering.
Palm develops, markets and sells a family of handheld computing device
products, licenses the Palm operating system to other device and information
appliance manufacturers and offers a wireless Internet access service. Palm
Computing, Inc. was originally incorporated in California in 1992 and was
acquired by U.S. Robotics Corporation (USR) in a pooling of interests
transaction in September 1995. Subsequent to 3Com's acquisition of USR in a
pooling of interests transaction in June 1997, Palm Computing, Inc. became a
wholly-owned subsidiary of 3Com. The accompanying consolidated financial
statements report the operations that comprised the handheld computing business
of 3Com, including Palm Computing, Inc.
3Com and Palm have entered into a Master Separation and Distribution
Agreement (see Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements). In accordance
with the separation agreement, 3Com will transfer to Palm the 3Com-owned assets
and liabilities which relate to Palm prior to the date of separation from 3Com
("the separation date"), except for most of Palm's accounts receivable and
accounts payable.
The consolidated financial statements of Palm reflect the historical results
of operations and cash flows of the handheld computing business of 3Com during
each respective period. The consolidated financial statements have been
prepared using 3Com's historical bases in the assets and liabilities and the
historical results of operations of Palm. Changes in stockholder's net
investment represent 3Com's transfer of its net investment in Palm, after
giving effect to the net income (loss) of Palm plus net cash transfers and
other transfers to and from 3Com. The financial information included herein may
not reflect the consolidated financial statements, operating results, changes
in stockholder's net investment and cash flows of Palm in the future or what
they would have been had Palm been a separate stand-alone entity during the
periods presented.
The consolidated financial statements include allocations of certain 3Com
expenses, including centralized legal, accounting, treasury, real estate,
information technology, distribution, customer service, sales, marketing,
engineering, and other 3Com corporate services and infrastructure costs. The
expense allocations have been determined on the bases that 3Com and Palm
considered to be reasonable reflections of the utilization of services provided
or the benefit received by Palm. Management believes that the expenses
allocated to Palm are representative of the operating expenses it would have
incurred had Palm been operated on a stand-alone basis.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
Fiscal Year
Prior to June 1, 1998, Palm's 52-53 week fiscal year ended on the Sunday
nearest to May 31. Effective June 1, 1998, Palm changed its fiscal year to a
52-53 week fiscal year ending on the Friday
F-7
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
nearest to May 31. These changes did not have a significant effect on the
consolidated financial statements. Fiscal 1997, 1998 and 1999 contained 52
weeks, whereas fiscal 2000 will contain 53 weeks. For fiscal 2000, the first
three quarters will contain 13 weeks, whereas the fourth quarter will contain
14 weeks.
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires Palm to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated
financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during
the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Interim Financial Information
The financial information as of November 26, 1999 and for the six months
ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999 is unaudited and includes all
adjustments, consisting only of normal and recurring accruals, that management
considers necessary for a fair presentation of its consolidated financial
position, operating results and cash flows. Results for the six months ended
November 26, 1999 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for
the full fiscal year 2000 or for any future period.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Palm and its
subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions are
eliminated in consolidation.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents are highly liquid debt investments acquired with a remaining
maturity of three months or less. Historically, 3Com has managed cash and cash
equivalents on a centralized basis. Cash receipts associated with Palm's
business have been transferred to 3Com on a periodic basis and 3Com has funded
Palm's disbursements.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments which potentially subject Palm to concentrations of
credit risk consist principally of accounts receivable. Palm sells the majority
of its products through distributors, retailers and resellers. Credit risk with
respect to accounts receivable is generally diversified due to the number of
entities comprising Palm's customer base and their dispersion across different
geographies. Palm generally sells on open account and performs periodic credit
evaluations of its customers' financial condition.
F-8
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
The following individual customers accounted for 10% or more of total
revenue:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended Six Months Ended
----------------------- -----------------
May 25, May 31, May 28, Nov. 27, Nov. 26,
1997 1998 1999 1998 1999
------- ------- ------- -------- --------
(Unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Company A............................. 28% 22% 24% 27% 34%
Company B............................. -- -- 14% 15% --
Company C............................. 11% -- -- -- --
</TABLE>
The following individual customers accounted for 10% or more of total
accounts receivable:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
May 31, May 28, Nov. 26,
1998 1999 1999
------- ------- -----------
(Unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Company A........................................... 28% 24% 34%
Company B........................................... -- 17% --
Company C........................................... -- -- --
</TABLE>
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of standard cost (which approximates
first-in, first-out cost) or market.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are
computed over the shorter of the estimated useful lives, lease or license terms
on a straight-line basis--generally three to five years.
Long-Lived Assets
Palm evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets, including goodwill,
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of
the asset may be impaired. An impairment loss is recognized when estimated
future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset, including
disposition, is less than the carrying value of the asset. Long-lived assets
include intangible assets acquired in a business combination (see Note 3 to the
consolidated financial statements). Intangible assets are being amortized as
follows: goodwill over six years, purchased technology over four years,
assembled workforce, customer list and other intangibles over two to three
years.
Software Development Costs
Costs for the development of new software and substantial enhancements to
existing software are expensed as incurred until technological feasibility has
been established, at which time any additional development costs would be
capitalized in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(SFAS) No. 86, Computer Software To Be Sold, Leased, or Otherwise Marketed.
Palm believes its current process for developing software is essentially
completed concurrently with the establishment of technological feasibility;
accordingly, no costs have been capitalized to date.
F-9
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
3Com Corporation Equity
3Com Corporation equity represents 3Com's net investment in Palm. Payable to
3Com represents the net amount due to 3Com as the result of intercompany
transactions between 3Com and Palm that had not been settled as of each balance
sheet date. No intercompany interest income or expense has been allocated to,
or included in, the accompanying financial statements.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized when earned in accordance with applicable accounting
standards, including American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Statement of Position (SOP) No. 97-2, Software Revenue Recognition, as amended.
Revenue from sales of handheld device products is recognized when a purchase
order has been received, the product has been shipped, the sales price is fixed
and determinable, and collection of the resulting receivable is probable.
Provisions are made at the time the related revenue is recognized for estimated
product returns, price protection, warranty, royalties and post-sale telephone
support. Sales of handheld device products accounted for approximately 99% of
revenues for each of the periods presented.
Revenue from software license agreements with manufacturers of other handheld
devices is recognized on a per-unit royalty basis and any prepaid royalties
received under the license agreements are deferred and recognized as earned on
a per-unit basis. Deferred revenue is recorded for post contract support and
any other future deliverables, and is recognized over the support period or as
the elements of the agreement are delivered. Vendor specific objective evidence
for the fair value of the elements contained in these software license
agreements is based on the price determined by management having the relevant
authority when the element is not yet sold separately. Revenue from wireless
Internet access service subscriptions is recognized over the service period.
Revenue from software license agreements and wireless access subscriptions
accounted for less than 1% of revenues for each of the periods presented.
Advertising
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred, and were $11.3 million, $27.2
million and $52.5 million for fiscal 1997, 1998 and 1999, respectively.
Cooperative advertising and marketing development obligations for channel
customers are expensed in the period the related revenue is recognized.
Separation Costs
Separation costs consist of one-time costs, such as consulting and
professional fees, associated with the process of becoming a stand-alone,
publicly held company.
Income Taxes
Palm's operating results historically have been included in 3Com's
consolidated U.S. and state income tax returns and in tax returns of certain
3Com foreign subsidiaries. The provision for income taxes in Palm's
consolidated financial statements has been determined on a separate-return
basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected tax
consequences of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and
liabilities and their reported amounts.
F-10
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
Foreign Currency Translation
The majority of Palm's revenue is denominated in U.S. dollars. For foreign
operations with the local currency as the functional currency, assets and
liabilities are translated at year-end exchange rates, and statements of
operations are translated at the average exchange rates during the year. Gains
or losses resulting from foreign currency translation are included as a
component of other comprehensive income (loss).
For Palm entities with the U.S. dollar as the functional currency, foreign
currency denominated assets and liabilities are translated at the year-end
exchange rates except for inventories, prepaid expenses, and property and
equipment, which are translated at historical exchange rates. Gains or losses
resulting from foreign currency translation are included in interest and other
expense, net in the consolidated statements of operations and were not
significant for any period presented.
Stock-Based Compensation
Palm accounts for employee stock plans under the intrinsic value method
prescribed by Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for
Stock Issued to Employees.
Earnings Per Share
Net Income (Loss) Per Share
All of the outstanding Palm common stock is owned by 3Com. Basic and diluted
net income (loss) per share amounts are computed by dividing the net income
(loss) for the period by the common shares outstanding after the
reincorporation of Palm in Delaware and the conversion of the 1,000 shares of
Palm common stock held by 3Com into 532,000,000 shares as discussed in Note 15
to the consolidated financial statements.
Net income (loss) per share amounts do not give effect to any conversion of
3Com stock options into Palm stock options. The actual number of 3Com stock
options to be converted into Palm stock options will not be determined until
the individual employee options are converted into Palm stock options at the
distribution date. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements for a
description of how 3Com stock options will be converted into Palm stock options
at the distribution date.
Unaudited Pro Forma Net Income Per Share
As discussed in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements, Palm
declared a dividend to 3Com in the amount of $50 million, provided that if the
aggregate estimated net proceeds of this offering and the private placements
exceed $620 million, 3Com may elect to receive an additional dividend of up to
50% of the amount of the aggregate estimated net proceeds in excess of $620
million, and intends to pay such dividend to 3Com using a portion of the
proceeds from the initial public offering. Unaudited pro forma basic and
diluted net income per share amounts include the effect of such dividend and
are calculated using common shares outstanding of 532,000,000 shares plus the
6,389,158 shares of common stock whose proceeds will be used to pay an assumed
$184.4 million dividend, assuming an initial public offering price of $31.00
per share, reduced by estimated per share offering costs.
F-11
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
Unaudited Pro Forma Balance Sheet
The unaudited pro forma balance sheet as of November 26, 1999 gives pro forma
effect to the assumed dividend discussed in the preceding paragraph, as though
it had been declared and was payable as of that date. The unaudited pro forma
balance sheet also gives effect to the authorizations of preferred and common
stock and the conversion of Palm common stock into 532,000,000 shares as
discussed in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements, as well as the
retention of most of Palm's accounts receivable and accounts payable by 3Com at
the time of separation, as described in Note 14 to the consolidated financial
statements, as though such retention had occurred as of November 26, 1999.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
On June 1, 1998, Palm adopted SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income,"
which establishes standards for reporting and displaying comprehensive income.
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) presented in the accompanying
consolidated balance sheets consists of accumulated foreign translation
adjustments.
Effects of Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 1998 and June 1999, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
issued SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities and SFAS No. 137, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities-Deferral of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 133. These
statements require companies to record derivatives on the balance sheet as
assets or liabilities, measured at fair value. Gains or losses resulting from
changes in the values of those derivatives would be accounted for depending on
the use of the derivative and whether it qualifies for hedge accounting. SFAS
133 will be effective for Palm's fiscal year ending May 31, 2002. Management
believes that the adoption of these statements will not have a significant
impact on Palm's financial results.
In March 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
("AICPA") issued Statement of Position ("SOP") No. 98-1, Accounting for the
Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use. SOP No. 98-1
requires that entities capitalize certain costs related to internal-use
software once certain criteria have been met. Palm adopted SOP 98-1 in the
first quarter of fiscal 2000. The adoption of this statement did not have a
significant impact on Palm's financial results.
3. Business Combination
The acquisition of Smartcode Technologie SARL ("Smartcode") on February 8,
1999 was accounted for as a purchase, and the consolidated statements of
operations include the operating results of the acquired company from the
acquisition date. Acquired assets and liabilities were recorded at their
estimated fair values at the date of acquisition, and the aggregate purchase
price plus costs directly attributable to the completion of the acquisition
have been allocated to the assets and liabilities acquired. No significant
adjustments were required to conform the accounting policies of the acquired
company.
The purchase price of $17.4 million was allocated as follows: net tangible
assets of $0.9 million, intangible assets of $14.4 million, and purchased in-
process technology of $2.1 million. Intangible assets consisted of the
following amounts: goodwill of $6.9 million, developed technology of $5.4
million, assembled workforce of $1.0 million, customer list of $0.9 million,
and licenses of $0.2 million.
F-12
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
Approximately $2.1 million of the total purchase price represented purchased
in-process technology that had not yet reached technological feasibility, had
no alternative future use and was charged to operations in the third quarter of
fiscal 1999. The in-process technology related primarily to Globalpulse, a
software GSM terminal adapter (which acts as a "software modem") for products
utilizing the Palm operating system. The value of the in-process technology was
determined using the income approach which discounted to present value the cash
flows expected to be derived from products that were still in the process of
development at the date of acquisition. The projections were based on future
expectations of the revenue and expenses to be generated in connection with the
products under development. The discount rate of 40% used reflected the risk
associated with the development of the in-process technology. The primary
project was completed in July 1999 and Palm began to derive revenue in the
second quarter of fiscal 2000.
Unaudited pro forma results of operations, assuming the acquisition had taken
place at the beginning of fiscal 1998, are as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended
------------------
May 31, May 28,
1998 1999
-------- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Revenues................................................. $274,892 $565,908
Net income (loss)........................................ $ (1,150) $ 26,466
Net income (loss) per share.............................. $ -- $ .05
</TABLE>
The above table gives unaudited pro forma effect to the revenues and expenses
of Smartcode prior to its acquisition by Palm, reflects the charge for in-
process research and development as if it had occurred in fiscal 1998 and gives
effect to the amortization of the acquired intangibles commencing at the
beginning of fiscal 1998.
4. Inventories
Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
May 31, May 28, November 26,
1998 1999 1999
------- ------- ------------
(Unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Finished goods..................................... $ 8,809 $ 5,900 $29,857
Work in process.................................... 1,089 4,011 5,095
Purchased components............................... 3,871 2,275 1,743
------- ------- -------
Total............................................ $13,769 $12,186 $36,695
======= ======= =======
</TABLE>
F-13
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
5. Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment, net consists of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
May 31, May 28, November 26,
1998 1999 1999
------- ------- ------------
(Unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Equipment........................................ $ 7,945 $11,971 $12,723
Leasehold improvements........................... 4,372 1,398 2,532
Furniture and fixtures........................... 60 685 1,039
------- ------- -------
Total.......................................... 12,377 14,054 16,294
Accumulated depreciation and amortization........ (3,256) (5,918) (6,018)
------- ------- -------
Property and equipment, net.................... $ 9,121 $ 8,136 $10,276
======= ======= =======
</TABLE>
6. Other Accrued Liabilities
Other accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
May 31, May 28, November 26,
1998 1999 1999
------- ------- ------------
(Unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Accrued payroll and related expenses............. $ 3,217 $ 4,871 $ 8,927
Accrued product warranty......................... 4,112 11,329 15,815
Accrued cooperative advertising and marketing
development expenses............................ 3,403 7,195 10,662
Accrued price protection......................... 224 6,994 11,892
Deferred revenue................................. 3,845 948 34,991
Other............................................ 3,474 9,456 8,545
------- ------- -------
Other accrued liabilities...................... $18,275 $40,793 $90,832
======= ======= =======
</TABLE>
7. Borrowing Arrangements and Commitments
Certain Palm facilities are leased from third parties under operating leases.
Leases expire at various dates from November 1999 through May 2005, and certain
facility leases have renewal options with rentals based upon changes in the
Consumer Price Index or the fair market rental value of the property. At the
separation date, Palm intends to lease certain facilities from 3Com for up to
29 months with annual increases of approximately 3%. See Note 14 to the
consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the Real Estate
Matters Agreement between Palm and 3Com.
Future operating lease commitments are as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Third
Fiscal Year Parties 3Com
----------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C>
2000...................................................... $ 820 $ 2,170
2001...................................................... 856 9,532
2002...................................................... 775 10,596
2003...................................................... 794 1,804
2004...................................................... 813 --
Thereafter................................................ 509 --
------ -------
Total................................................... $4,567 $24,102
====== =======
</TABLE>
F-14
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
Rent expense was $2.7 million, $2.3 million, and $3.0 million for fiscal
1997, 1998 and 1999.
As of May 28, 1999, Palm had $1.4 million of debt acquired in the Smartcode
acquisition, and the interest rate on these obligations ranged from
approximately 6% to 9%. The balance remaining is due over a four-year period
through September 2003.
On November 27, 1999, 3Com sold to a third party the manufacturing plant that
was used to produce 3Com products as well as the majority of Palm's products.
Concurrently, Palm entered into a two-year supply agreement with the buyer of
the manufacturing plant which commits Palm to purchase a minimum of 450,000
units of Palm products per quarter. Any overage in purchase of products of no
more than 20% that occurs during any quarter may be credited towards the
subsequent quarterly period commitment. Any deficit in purchase of products of
no more than 20% in any quarter may be made up in the next quarter to the
extent there is not a deficit in such subsequent quarter. Failure by Palm to
meet the minimum commitment is subject to a 90-day notice and cure period. In
addition, any failure of the manufacturer to make the minimum commitment
available to Palm in accordance with Palm's orders in any quarter relieves Palm
of its obligation to reach its minimum commitment in such quarter to the extent
of the manufacturer's shortfall.
Palm purchases product components from a vendor with which 3Com has agreed to
certain minimum purchase goals over a five-year period. 3Com's agreement with
the vendor provides for an incremental payment to be made to the vendor by 3Com
for any calendar year in which the minimum purchase goal is not met. In
connection with their separation, 3Com and Palm have agreed that Palm will
assume responsibility for 25% of the minimum purchase goal and 3Com will retain
responsibility for the remainder. In the event that Palm does not purchase its
share of the minimum annual purchase goal from the vendor in any of the five
calendar years, Palm will make an incremental payment to 3Com for the
applicable calendar year. In the event that Palm purchases none of its share of
the minimum annual purchase goal in each year, it would be required to make
payments up to a maximum of the following: $1.3 million for 1999, $1.9 million
for 2000, $2.8 million for 2001, $3.7 million for 2002 and $4.9 million for
2003. The aggregate of such incremental payments in no event will exceed
$14.6 million.
8. Employee Stock Plans
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Under the 3Com employee stock purchase plan, eligible Palm employees have
generally been able to contribute up to 10% of their compensation, as defined,
to the purchase of shares of 3Com's common stock at a price of 85% of the lower
of the fair market value as of the beginning or the end of the offering period.
Effective on or before the initial public offering of Palm common stock, Palm
intends to sponsor an employee stock purchase plan which is comparable to the
3Com plan.
Employee Stock Option Plans
3Com has stock option plans under which Palm employees and directors may be
granted options to purchase common stock. Options are generally granted at not
less than the fair market value at grant date, vest over a two- to five-year
period and expire five to ten years after the grant date.
F-15
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
A summary of options held by Palm employees under the 3Com plans follows:
(Shares in thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number
of 3Com Weighted average
shares exercise price
------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Outstanding May 27, 1996.............................. 1,872 $19.61
------ ------
Granted............................................... 679 41.95
Exercised............................................. (146) 13.47
Cancelled............................................. -- --
------ ------
Outstanding May 25, 1997.............................. 2,405 26.29
Granted............................................... 1,886 38.47
Exercised............................................. (286) 19.76
Cancelled............................................. (1,130) 48.19
------ ------
Outstanding May 31, 1998.............................. 2,875 26.31
Granted............................................... 1,401 28.85
Exercised............................................. (997) 20.47
Cancelled............................................. (229) 28.71
------ ------
Outstanding May 28, 1999.............................. 3,050 29.21
Granted*.............................................. 1,144 25.68
Exercised*............................................ (447) 19.65
Cancelled*............................................ (432) 29.62
------ ------
Outstanding November 26, 1999*........................ 3,315 $29.35
====== ======
</TABLE>
- --------
*Unaudited
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Outstanding 3Com options as of May 28, 1999 Exercisable at May 28, 1999
------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------
Weighted average Number
Number Weighted average remaining of Weighted average
Range of exercise prices of shares exercise price contractual life shares exercise price
- ------------------------ -------------- ---------------- ---------------- ------------- ------------------
(in thousands) (in years)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ .19 to $13.75....... 41 $ 5.87 4.5 41 $ 5.92
18.28 to 24.81....... 687 20.82 7.2 441 20.26
25.28 to 28.88....... 595 27.62 9.3 8 27.45
29.00 to 32.75....... 1,219 30.02 8.4 579 29.42
33.06 to 60.50....... 508 42.38 7.0 208 44.96
----- ------ --- ------------- --------------
Total................... 3,050 $29.21 8.0 1,277 $28.03
===== ====== === ============= ==============
</TABLE>
Options to purchase 2.1 million shares of 3Com common stock were exercisable
as of both May 25, 1997 and May 31, 1998 with weighted average exercise prices
of $25.00 and $23.93 per share, respectively.
F-16
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
Prior to the distribution date, Palm intends to establish a stock option plan
for eligible Palm employees. 3Com options held by Palm employees are expected
to be converted into Palm stock options at the distribution date. The number of
shares and the exercise price of the 3Com options that convert into Palm
options will be adjusted using a conversion formula. The conversion of 3Com
options into Palm options will be done in such a manner that (1) the aggregate
intrinsic value of the options immediately before and after the exchange are
the same, (2) the ratio of the exercise price per option to the market value
per share is not reduced, and (3) the vesting provisions and option period of
the replacement Palm options are the same as the original vesting terms and
option period of the 3Com options. It is currently unknown how many 3Com
options held by Palm employees will be converted into Palm options.
Restricted Stock Plan
3Com has a restricted stock plan, under which shares of common stock are
reserved for issuance at no cost to key employees. Compensation expense, equal
to the fair market value on the date of the grant, is recognized as the granted
shares vest over a one- to four-year period. Certain Palm employees participate
in the 3Com restricted stock plan. Palm employees who have 3Com restricted
stock grants will forfeit the unvested portion of their 3Com restricted stock
grants at the distribution date. To the extent that Palm grants restricted
stock in the future, compensation expense will be recognized as the granted
shares vest.
Director Stock Plan
3Com has a director stock plan, under which shares of common stock are issued
to members of its Board of Directors at an exercise price equal to the fair
market value on the date of grant and have historically vested over 24-month
increments. Grants made after July 21, 1999 were fully vested at the grant
date. Effective on or before the initial public offering of Palm common stock,
Palm also intends to sponsor a director option plan. For 3Com board members who
resign from the 3Com board and join the Palm Board of Directors, their unvested
3Com options will expire 90 days after resignation.
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
As permitted under SFAS 123, Palm has elected to follow APB 25 and related
interpretations in accounting for stock-based awards to employees. Under APB
25, Palm generally recognizes no compensation expense with respect to such
awards.
Pro forma information regarding net income (loss) and earnings per share is
required by SFAS 123. This information is required to be determined as if Palm
had accounted for stock-based awards to its employees, including employee stock
options and shares issued under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, collectively
called "options", granted subsequent to May 31, 1995 under the fair value
method of that Statement. The fair value of the options granted in fiscal 1997,
1998 and 1999 reported below has been estimated at the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Employee Stock Employee Stock
Option Plans Purchase Plan
---------------- ----------------
1997 1998 1999 1997 1998 1999
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Risk-free interest rate..................... 6.1% 5.5% 5.3% 5.4% 5.5% 4.9%
Volatility.................................. 54.0% 56.0% 62.0% 54.0% 56.0% 62.0%
Dividend yield.............................. 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
</TABLE>
F-17
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
As of May 25, 1997, the expected life of options under the Employee Stock
Option Plan was estimated at approximately one year after the vesting date for
directors and nondirectors. As of May 31, 1998, the expected lives of options
under the Employee Stock Option Plan were estimated at approximately three
years after the vesting date for directors and approximately one year after the
vesting date for nondirectors. As of May 28, 1999, the expected lives of
options under the Employee Stock Option Plan were estimated at three and one-
half years after the vesting date for directors and approximately two years
after the vesting date for nondirectors. As of May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and
May 28, 1999, the expected life of options under the Employee Stock Purchase
Plan was estimated at six months.
The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating
the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are
fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of
highly subjective assumptions, including the expected stock price volatility.
The weighted average estimated fair value of 3Com employee stock options
granted during fiscal 1997, 1998 and 1999 was $22.61, $13.30 and $15.53 per
share, respectively. The weighted average estimated fair value of shares
granted under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan during fiscal 1997, 1998 and
1999 was $11.24, $12.47 and $9.02 per share, respectively. Because 3Com options
held by Palm employees and directors have characteristics significantly
different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective
input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in the opinion
of management, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single
measure of the fair value of these options.
For purposes of pro forma disclosures under SFAS 123, the estimated fair
value of the options is assumed to be amortized to expense over the options'
vesting period. Pro forma information related to the 3Com options held by Palm
employees and directors follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended
---------------------------
May 25, May 31, May 28,
1997 1998 1999
-------- -------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Pro forma net income (loss)........................ $(22,162) $(10,235) $15,664
Pro forma net income (loss) per share.............. $ (.04) $ (.02) $ .03
</TABLE>
The effects on pro forma disclosures of applying SFAS 123 are not likely to
be representative of the effects on pro forma disclosures of future years.
Because SFAS 123 is applicable only to options granted subsequent to May 31,
1995, the full effect on pro forma net income and earnings per share was not
reflected for periods prior to fiscal 1999.
9. Financial Instruments
The following summary disclosures are made in accordance with the provisions
of SFAS No. 107, Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments, which
requires the disclosure of fair value information about both on- and off-
balance sheet financial instruments where it is practicable to estimate the
value. Fair value is defined in SFAS 107 as the amount at which an instrument
could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, rather
than in a forced or liquidation sale, which is not Palm's intent.
F-18
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
Because SFAS 107 excludes certain financial instruments and all nonfinancial
instruments from its disclosure requirements, any aggregation of the fair value
amounts presented would not represent the underlying value to Palm. Financial
instruments consist of cash and cash equivalents and notes payable. The
estimated fair value of cash and cash equivalents as of May 28, 1999 and
November 26, 1999 (unaudited) approximates the carrying amount. The difference
between the fair value of the notes payable and their carrying value is not
significant based on current market rates.
10. Income Taxes
The provision (credit) for income taxes consists of (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended
-------------------------
May 25, May 31, May 28,
1997 1998 1999
------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Current:
Federal............................................ $(2,125) $ 6,421 $22,938
State.............................................. (697) 1,173 5,174
------- ------- -------
Total current.................................... (2,822) 7,594 28,112
------- ------- -------
Deferred:
Federal............................................ (2,679) (4,526) (7,825)
State.............................................. (665) (834) (1,799)
------- ------- -------
Total deferred................................... (3,344) (5,360) (9,624)
------- ------- -------
Total................................................ $(6,166) $ 2,234 $18,488
======= ======= =======
</TABLE>
The components of net deferred tax assets consist of (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
May 31, May 28,
1998 1999
------- -------
<S> <C> <C>
Deferred tax assets:
Reserves not recognized for tax purposes..................... $ 7,828 $18,352
Tax credit carryforwards..................................... 2,966 2,024
Other........................................................ 323 365
------- -------
Deferred tax assets........................................ $11,117 $20,741
======= =======
</TABLE>
The provision (credit) for income taxes differs from the amount computed by
applying the federal statutory income tax rate to income (loss) before income
taxes as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended
------------------------
May 25, May 31, May 28,
1997 1998 1999
------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Tax computed at federal statutory rate................. (35.0)% 35.0% 35.0%
State income taxes, net of federal effect.............. (6.3) 3.4 4.5
Research tax credits................................... (2.7) (4.7) (1.2)
Other.................................................. -- 1.2 0.1
----- ---- ----
Total................................................ (44.0)% 34.9% 38.4%
===== ==== ====
</TABLE>
F-19
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
Palm has federal research credit carryforwards of approximately $2 million
available as a result of its consolidated federal tax filing with 3Com. These
carryforwards expire through the year 2014.
See Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements for discussion of the
Tax Sharing Agreement between Palm and 3Com.
11. Business Segment Information
Palm operates in one reportable segment, handheld computing.
Geographic Information
Palm's headquarters and most of its operations are located in the United
States. Palm conducts its sales, marketing and customer service activities
throughout the world and also has a research and development facility in
France. Geographic revenue information is based on the location of the end
customer. Geographic long-lived assets information is based on the physical
location of the assets at the end of each period. Revenues from unaffiliated
customers and long-lived assets by geographic region are as follows (in
thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended Six Months Ended
-------------------------- -----------------
May 25, May 31, May 28, Nov. 27, Nov. 26,
1997 1998 1999 1998 1999
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(Unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues:
United States.................... $ 96,280 $198,630 $399,944 $197,433 $296,225
Other............................ 17,877 73,507 163,581 65,869 138,835
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total.......................... $114,157 $272,137 $563,525 $263,302 $435,060
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
For fiscal 1997, 1998, 1999 and the six months ended November 27, 1998 and
November 26, 1999 (unaudited) no single country outside the United States
accounted for 10% or more of total revenues.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
May 31, May 28, Nov. 26,
1998 1999 1999
------- ------- -----------
(Unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Property and equipment:
United States..................................... $8,231 $7,247 $ 9,183
France............................................ 827 811 979
Other............................................. 63 78 114
------ ------ -------
Total........................................... $9,121 $8,136 $10,276
====== ====== =======
</TABLE>
At May 31, 1998, May 28, 1999 and November 26, 1999 (unaudited), no other
individual country had property and equipment of 10% or more of total property
and equipment. Long-lived assets also include goodwill, intangibles and other
assets, substantially all of which relate to the acquisition of a company in
France as discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements.
12. Employee Benefit Plan
401(k) Plan
Palm's eligible U.S. employees may participate in a plan known as the 3Com
401(k) Plan ("the Plan") which was adopted to provide retirement benefits to
its employees. As allowed under
F-20
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code, the Plan provides tax-deferred
salary deductions for eligible employees. Participants may elect to contribute
from 1% to 22% of their annual compensation to the Plan each calendar year,
limited to a maximum annual amount as set periodically by the Internal Revenue
Service. In addition, the Plan provides for company matching contributions as
determined by the Board of Directors. 3Com matches 50% for each dollar on the
first 6% of target income contributed by the employee. Employees become vested
in 3Com matching contributions according to a three year vesting schedule based
on initial date of hire. Palm's expense related to matching contributions to
the 401(k) was $171,000 in fiscal 1997, $178,000 in fiscal 1998 and $508,000 in
fiscal 1999.
On or about the distribution date, Palm intends to establish a separate
401(k) plan for its employees.
13. Litigation
Palm is a party to lawsuits in the normal course of its business. Litigation
in general, and intellectual property and securities litigation in particular,
can be expensive and disruptive to normal business operations. Moreover, the
results of complex legal proceedings are difficult to predict. Palm believes
that it has defenses to the cases set forth below and is vigorously contesting
these matters. Palm is not currently able to estimate the possible loss, or
range of loss, if any, from the cases listed below and an unfavorable
resolution of these lawsuits could adversely affect Palm's business, results of
operations or financial condition.
On April 28, 1997, Xerox Corporation filed suit against U.S. Robotics
Corporation and U.S. Robotics Access Corp. in the United States District Court
for the Western District of New York. The case is now captioned: Xerox
Corporation v. U.S. Robotics Corporation, U.S. Robotics Access Corp, Palm
Computing, Inc. and 3Com Corporation, Civil Action No. 97-CV-6182T. The
complaint alleges willful infringement of a United States patent relating to
computerized interpretation of handwriting. The complaint further seeks
unspecified damages and injunctive relief. Xerox has asserted that Graffiti
software and certain products of Palm Computing, Inc. infringe the patent. On
June 25, 1999, the Court stayed the action pending reexamination of the patent
by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
On December 15, 1999, Palm received a Notice of Intent to Issue Reexamination
Certificate from the United States Patent and Trademark Office stating that the
reexamination has been terminated and that a certificate will be issued in due
course. The notice stated that the certificate will indicate that there will be
no changes to the patent specification or drawings and that all claims of the
patent will be confirmed without any changes. On January 18, 2000, the court
held a status hearing during which it lifted the stay of the action and
established that all of the parties' briefs relating to motions for summary
judgment would be filed with the court by April 28, 2000. Palm anticipates that
oral argument on these motions will be heard thereafter. No trial date has been
set. In connection with Palm's separation from 3Com, pursuant to the terms of
the Indemnification and Insurance Matters Agreement, Palm will indemnify and
hold 3Com harmless for any damages or losses which may arise out of this
litigation.
On December 13, 1999, WaveWare Communications, Inc. filed suit against 3Com,
Palm and others in the Superior Court of California, San Mateo County. The case
is captioned WaveWare Communications, Inc. v. 3Com Corporation; Palm Computing,
Inc.; and Mark Bercow, No. 411331. The complaint alleges breach of contract,
constructive fraud, fraud and deceit, negligent misrepresentation,
misappropriation of assets and trade secrets, unfair competition, unjust
enrichment and intentional interference with economic advantage in connection
with Palm's and 3Com's discussions with WaveWare concerning WaveWare's
potential acquisition by 3Com. The complaint seeks unspecified monetary damages
and injunctive relief. Palm has not yet responded to
F-21
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
the complaint. To date, no trial date has been set, and no discovery has been
exchanged. In connection with Palm's separation from 3Com, pursuant to the
terms of the Indemnification and Insurance Matters Agreement, Palm will
indemnify and hold 3Com harmless for any damages or losses which may arise out
of this litigation.
On December 27, 1999, Telxon Corporation and Penright! Corporation filed a
complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, Eastern
Division (Case No. 1:99CV3157) against 3Com and Palm alleging copyright
infringement, unfair competition and theft of trade secrets. The plaintiffs
allege that the Palm OS operating system contains graphical user interface
software copied from the plaintiffs' software. The complaint seeks unspecified
compensatory and treble damages and to enjoin, among other things, distribution
and sales of the Palm OS operating system. Palm is in the preliminary stages of
investigating the allegations contained in the complaint. To date, no trial
date has been set, and no discovery has been exchanged. In connection with
Palm's separation from 3Com, pursuant to the terms of the Indemnification and
Insurance Matters Agreement, Palm will indemnify and hold 3Com harmless for any
damages or losses which may arise out of this litigation.
On February 28, 2000, E-Pass Technologies, Inc. filed suit against 3Com in
the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (case
no. 00CIV1523). The complaint alleges infringement and induced infringement of
a United States patent 5,276,311 by Palm's handheld devices in connection with
a method and device for simplifying the use of credit cards. The complaint
seeks unspecified compensatory and treble damages and, among other things, to
permanently enjoin Palm from infringing or inducing infringement, of the patent
as alleged. Palm is in the preliminary stages of investigating the allegations
contained in the suit, and has not yet responded to the complaint. To date, no
trial date has been set, and no discovery has been exchanged. In connection
with Palm's separation from 3Com, pursuant to the terms of the Indemnification
and Insurance Matters Agreement, Palm will indemnify and hold 3Com harmless for
any damages or losses which may arise out of this litigation.
Palm also files suits against others to protect its intellectual property,
such as the matter described below.
On July 22, 1999, Palm filed a copyright infringement action against Olivetti
and CompanionLink in the United States District Court for the Northern District
of California and obtained a preliminary injunction against further
distribution, sale, import or export of Olivetti Office USA's "Royal daVinci"
handheld device and the daVinci OS Software Development Kit, distributed by
CompanionLink Software, Inc. The injunction is to remain in effect pending the
outcome of the lawsuit. Palm also initiated a copyright infringement action in
Hong Kong on July 21, 1999, against EchoLink Design Ltd., the company
responsible for developing the operating system software contained in the
daVinci products. The High Court of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
issued an order the same day restraining EchoLink from further copying,
distribution, sale, import or export of Palm OS operating system source code or
EchoLink's "NEXUS OS" source code, which Palm maintains infringes its
copyrights.
F-22
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
14. Transactions with 3Com Corporation
For the periods presented, intercompany transactions and balances between Palm
and 3Com consisted of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended Six Months Ended
--------------------------- ------------------
May 25, May 31, May 28, Nov. 27, Nov. 26,
1997 1998 1999 1998 1999
------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at beginning of
period...................... $ 752 $ 4,412 $ 15,617 $ 15,617 $ 40,509
Payroll expenses............. 10,084 24,575 40,982 19,751 25,959
Marketing expenses........... -- 710 12,800 940 2,356
Development expenses......... -- 273 6,401 542 1,863
Allocation of corporate
services.................... -- 1,466 7,447 2,563 6,721
Current income tax
provision................... (2,822) 7,594 28,112 14,919 19,889
Other........................ -- 2,724 10,661 4,170 2,349
Net cash transfers to 3Com... (3,602) (26,137) (81,511) (26,698) (41,711)
======= ======== ======== ======== ========
Balance at end of period..... $ 4,412 $ 15,617 $ 40,509 $ 31,804 $ 57,935
======= ======== ======== ======== ========
Average balance during the
period...................... $ 2,582 $ 10,015 $ 28,063 $ 23,711 $ 49,222
======= ======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
Palm's costs and expenses include allocations from 3Com for centralized
legal, accounting treasury, real estate, information technology, distribution,
customer service, sales, marketing, engineering, and other 3Com corporate
services and infrastructure costs. These allocations have been determined on
bases that 3Com and Palm considered to be reasonable reflections of the
utilization of services provided or the benefit received by Palm. The
allocation methods include relative revenues, headcount or square footage.
Allocated costs included in the accompanying consolidated statements of
operations follow (in thousands).
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ended Six Months Ended
----------------------- -----------------
May 25, May 31, May 28, Nov. 27, Nov. 26,
1997 1998 1999 1998 1999
------- ------- ------- -------- --------
(Unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Cost of revenues.................... $4,374 $3,694 $ 9,238 $3,966 $ 6,333
Sales and marketing................. 1,144 7,023 16,625 7,101 13,209
Research and development............ 1,573 845 3,437 1,182 3,746
General and administrative.......... 2,574 5,212 14,085 5,521 9,657
Other (income) and expense, net..... 523 25 218 100 (214)
</TABLE>
Historically, Palm has outsourced all of its product manufacturing to 3Com
and other third parties. Products manufactured by 3Com for Palm have been
recorded in the consolidated financial statements at 3Com's actual
manufacturing cost.
For purposes of governing certain of the ongoing relationships between Palm
and 3Com at and after the separation date and to provide for an orderly
transition, Palm and 3Com have entered or will enter into various agreements. A
brief description of each of the agreements follows.
Master Separation and Distribution Agreement
The Master Separation and Distribution Agreement contains the key provisions
relating to the separation, initial public offering and the distribution. The
agreement lists the documents and items
F-23
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
that the parties must deliver in order to accomplish the transfer of assets and
liabilities from 3Com to Palm, effective on the separation date. The agreement
also contains conditions that must occur prior to the initial public offering
and the distribution. The parties also entered into both short-term and long-
term covenants, including covenants to enter into transitional services
agreements, exchange information, engage in certain auditing practices and
resolve disputes in particular ways.
General Assignment and Assumption Agreement
The General Assignment and Assumption Agreement identifies the assets that
3Com will transfer to Palm and the liabilities that Palm will assume from 3Com
in the separation. The agreement also describes when and how these transfers
and assumptions will occur. In general, the assets that will be transferred and
the liabilities that will be assumed are included in those that appear on the
consolidated balance sheet, after adjustment for certain assets and liabilities
that will be retained by 3Com, such as most of Palm's accounts receivable and
accounts payable, and for activity that occurs between the balance sheet date
and the separation date.
Intellectual Property Agreements
The Master Technology Ownership and License Agreement, the Master Patent
Ownership and License Agreement, the Master Trademark Ownership and License
Agreement and the Master Confidential Disclosure Agreement together are
referred to as the Intellectual Property Agreements. Under the Intellectual
Property Agreements, 3Com will confirm that Palm owns or will transfer to Palm
its rights in specified patents, patent applications, invention disclosures,
specified trademarks and other intellectual property related to Palm's current
business and research and development efforts. Neither 3Com nor Palm will sue
the other for claims of infringement related to existing patents. 3Com will
grant a license to Palm under certain patents owned by 3Com which were jointly
developed with Palm. Palm will commit to license its operating system to 3Com
pursuant to a separate agreement that the two parties will negotiate with
pricing and other terms more favorable than it would agree to in customary
transactions with third parties. Both 3Com and Palm have agreed not to disclose
confidential information of the other party except in specific circumstances.
Employee Matters Agreement
The Employee Matters Agreement outlines how 3Com and Palm plan to allocate
assets, liabilities and responsibilities relating to current and former
employees of Palm and their participation in the benefits plans, including
stock plans, that 3Com currently sponsors and maintains. The agreement also
contains provisions describing some of Palm's employee benefit and employee
stock plans.
All eligible Palm employees will continue to participate in the 3Com benefits
plans on comparable terms and conditions to those for 3Com employees until the
distribution date or until Palm establishes benefit plans for its employees, or
elects not to establish comparable plans if it is not legally or financially
practical. Palm intends to establish its own benefit program no later than the
time of the distribution.
Once Palm establishes its own benefits plans, it may modify or terminate each
plan in accordance with the terms of that plan and its policies. No Palm
benefit plan will provide benefits that overlap benefits under the
corresponding 3Com benefit plan at the time of the distribution. Each
F-24
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
Palm benefit plan will provide that all service, compensation and other benefit
determinations that, as of the distribution, were recognized under the
corresponding 3Com benefits plan will be taken into account under that Palm
benefit plan.
Following the date of 3Com's distribution of its Palm common stock to its
stockholders, Palm will be under no obligation to maintain these plans in the
form in which they were established or at all. The transfer to Palm of
employees at certain of 3Com's international operations, and of certain
employee benefit plans, may not take place until Palm receives consents or
approvals or has satisfied other applicable requirements.
Tax Sharing Agreement
The Tax Sharing Agreement allocates 3Com's and Palm's responsibilities for
certain tax matters. The agreement requires Palm to pay 3Com for the
incremental tax costs of Palm's inclusion in consolidated, combined or unitary
tax returns with affiliated corporations. In determining these incremental
costs, the agreement takes into account not only the group's incremental tax
payments to the Internal Revenue Service or other taxing authorities, but also
the incremental use of tax losses of affiliates to offset Palm's taxable
income, and the incremental use of tax credits of affiliates to offset the tax
on Palm's income. The agreement also provides for compensation or reimbursement
as appropriate to reflect redeterminations of Palm's tax liability for periods
during which Palm joined in filing consolidated, combined or unitary tax
returns.
The tax sharing agreement also requires Palm to indemnify 3Com for certain
taxes and similar obligations, including (a) sales taxes on the sale of
products purchased by 3Com from Palm before the distribution, (b) customs
duties or harbor maintenance fees on products exported or imported by 3Com on
behalf of Palm, (c) the additional taxes that would result if an acquisition of
a controlling interest in Palm's stock after the distribution causes the
distribution not to qualify for tax-free treatment to 3Com, and (d) any taxes
resulting from transactions undertaken in preparation for the distribution.
Palm's indemnity obligations include any interest and penalties on taxes,
duties or fees for which Palm must indemnify 3Com.
Each member of a consolidated group for U.S. federal income tax purposes is
jointly and severally liable for the group's federal income tax liability.
Accordingly, Palm could be required to pay a deficiency in the group's federal
income tax liability for a period during which Palm was a member of the group
even if the Tax Sharing Agreement allocates that liability to 3Com or another
member.
The agreement also assigns responsibilities for certain administrative
matters such as the filing of returns, payment of taxes due, retention of
records, and the conduct of audits, examinations or similar proceedings. 3Com
is responsible for filing all tax returns for all periods before the
distribution and paying any taxes shown as due on those returns. Palm must
provide 3Com with sufficient information about its activities to enable 3Com to
file these returns. Palm also must pay its share of the tax liability to 3Com
within 30 days after 3Com files the return. Palm and 3Com must retain tax
returns and related materials for periods beginning before the distribution and
make these materials available to each other upon request. In general, 3Com
will be entitled to control the contest of any claim by a taxing authority
arising from the audit of a return for any period before the distribution,
unless the return covers only Palm's activities.
F-25
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
Master Transitional Services Agreement
The Master Transitional Services Agreement governs the provision of
information technology services by 3Com and Palm to each other, on an interim
basis, for one year from the date of separation, unless extended for specific
services or otherwise indicated in the agreement. The services include data
processing and telecommunications services, such as voice telecommunications
and data transmission, and information technology support services, for
functions including accounting, financial management, tax, payroll, stockholder
and public relations, legal, procurement, and other administrative functions.
Specified charges for such services are generally intended to allow the
providing company to recover the direct and indirect costs of providing the
services, plus 5% for one year, and plus 10% for an extension of the agreements
beyond one year. The Master Transitional Services Agreement also will cover the
provision of certain additional transitional services identified from time to
time after the separation date that were inadvertently or unintentionally
omitted from the specified services, or that are essential to effectuate an
orderly transition under the separation agreement, so long as the provision of
such services would not significantly disrupt 3Com's operations or
significantly increase the scope of its responsibility under the agreement.
In addition, the Master Transitional Services Agreement will provide for the
replication of some computer systems, including hardware, software, data
storage or maintenance and support components. Generally, the party needing the
replicated system will bear the costs and expenses of replication. Generally,
the party purchasing new hardware or licensing new software will bear the costs
and expenses of purchasing the new hardware or obtaining the new software
licenses.
Real Estate Matters Agreement
The Real Estate Matters Agreement addresses real estate matters relating to
the 3Com leased and owned properties that 3Com will transfer to or share with
Palm. The agreement describes the manner in which 3Com will transfer to or
share with Palm various leased and owned properties. The Real Estate Matters
Agreement provides that Palm will be required to accept the transfer of all
sites allocated to Palm, even if a site has been damaged by a casualty before
the separation date. The Real Estate Matters Agreement also provides that all
reasonable costs required to effect the transfers, including landlord consent
fees and landlord attorneys' fees will be paid by 3Com.
Indemnification and Insurance Matters Agreement
Effective as of the separation date, subject to specified expections, Palm
and 3Com will each release the other from any liabilities arising from events
occurring on or before the separation date, including events occurring in
connection with the activities to implement the separation, the initial public
offering and the distribution. The agreement also contains provisions governing
indemnification. In general, Palm and 3Com will each indemnify the other from
all liabilities arising from their respective businesses or contracts, as well
as liabilities arising from a breach of the separation agreement or any
ancillary agreement. In addition, 3Com and Palm will each indemnify the other
against liability for specified environmental conditions. Palm will reimburse
3Com for the cost of any insurance coverage from the separation date to the
distribution date.
15. Subsequent Events
In December 1999, Palm entered into agreements with America Online, Motorola
and Nokia for their purchase of Palm's common stock in private placements to
occur concurrently with the sale of
F-26
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(Continued)
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999 and
Six Months Ended November 27, 1998 and November 26, 1999
shares offered in the initial public offering. America Online and Nokia each
agreed to purchase shares of common stock equal to the lesser of $80 million or
1 1/2% of Palm's capital stock. Motorola agreed to purchase shares of common
stock equal to the lesser of $65 million or 1 1/2% of Palm's capital stock.
On January 24, 2000, Palm's Board of Directors and sole stockholder approved
the following:
. The reincorporation of Palm Computing, Inc. in the state of Delaware as
Palm, Inc. and the conversion of the 1,000 shares of Palm common stock
held by 3Com into 532,000,000 shares at the time of reincorporation. All
shares and per share amounts in these financial statements have been
adjusted to give effect to the reincorporation and conversion of shares.
. An increase in the authorized number of shares of common stock to
2,000,000,000 shares and creation of newly undesignated preferred stock
totaling 125,000,000 shares, contingent upon the approval of the
reincorporation of Palm in Delaware and the closing of the initial public
offering.
. The payment of a dividend to 3Com of $50 million, provided that if the
aggregate estimated net proceeds of this offering and the private
placements exceed $620 million, 3Com may elect to receive an additional
dividend of up to 50% of the amount of the aggregate estimated net
proceeds in excess of $620 million.
. The 1999 Stock Plan. The 1999 Stock Plan becomes effective upon the
closing of the initial public offering. A total of 20,000,000 shares have
been reserved for issuance under the 1999 Plan. In addition, the number
of shares reserved under the plan will automatically increase on the
first day of each fiscal year, beginning with Palm's fiscal year 2001, in
an amount equal to the lesser of (a) 25,000,000 shares, or (b) 5% of the
common stock outstanding on the first day of the fiscal year, or (c) a
lesser amount determined by Palm's Board of Directors. The 1999 Stock
Plan provides for issuance of incentive stock options, nonstatutory stock
options and stock purchase rights to employees, directors and
consultants.
. The 1999 Director Option Plan. The 1999 Director Option Plan becomes
effective upon the closing of the initial public offering. Under the 1999
Director Option Plan, a total of 500,000 shares of common stock will be
reserved for the grant of nonstatutory stock options to non-employee
directors of Palm. In addition, the number of shares reserved under this
plan will automatically increase on the first day of each fiscal year,
beginning in fiscal year 2001, in an amount equal to 500,000 shares or a
lesser amount determined by Palm's Board of Directors. The initial
options granted under the 1999 Director Option Plan shall vest over three
years and any subsequent annual stock option grants will vest over one
year and expire ten years from the date of grant.
. The 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The 1999 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan becomes effective upon the closing of the initial public offering.
Under the Purchase Plan, eligible employees may purchase common stock
through payroll deductions, which may not exceed 10% of any employee's
compensation nor more than 4,000 shares in any one purchase period. A
total of 5,000,000 shares of common stock will be reserved for issuance
under the 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The number of shares
reserved for issuance under the 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan will
automatically increase annually, beginning with Palm's fiscal year 2001,
by an amount equal to the lesser of (a) 10,000,000 shares, or (b) 2% of
the common shares outstanding on the first day of the fiscal year, or (c)
a lesser amount as may be determined by Palm's Board of Directors.
* * * * *
F-27
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information
or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must not rely on
any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus is an offer to
sell only the shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in
jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this
prospectus is current only as of its date.
--------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
----
<S> <C>
Prospectus Summary....................................................... 3
Risk Factors............................................................. 7
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements........................ 23
Our Separation From 3Com................................................. 24
Use of Proceeds.......................................................... 26
Dividend Policy.......................................................... 26
Capitalization........................................................... 27
Dilution................................................................. 28
Selected Consolidated Financial Data..................................... 30
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations .......................................................... 31
Business................................................................. 45
Management............................................................... 58
Arrangements Between Palm and 3Com....................................... 70
Principal Stockholder.................................................... 79
Description of Capital Stock ............................................ 80
Underwriting............................................................. 82
Shares Eligible for Future Sale.......................................... 84
Validity of Common Stock................................................. 84
Experts.................................................................. 85
Where You Can Find More Information...................................... 85
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements............................... F-1
</TABLE>
--------------
Through and including , 2000 (the 25th day after the date of this
prospectus), all dealers effecting transactions in these securities, whether or
not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus.
This is in addition to a dealer's obligation to deliver a prospectus when
acting as an underwriter and with respect to an unsold allotment or
subscription.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23,000,000 Shares
Palm, Inc.
Common Stock
--------------
[PALM, INC. LOGO APPEARS HERE]
--------------
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter
Merrill Lynch & Co.
Robertson Stephens
Representatives of the Underwriters
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3C-B01-00
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than
underwriting discounts and commissions, payable in connection with the sale and
distribution of the securities being registered. All amounts are estimated
except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee and the
registration fee. Palm has agreed to pay these costs and expenses.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Item Amount
---- ----------
<S> <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.............. $ 223,450
NASD registration fee............................................ 30,500
Nasdaq Stock Market original and continued listing fees.......... 145,000
Blue Sky qualification fees and expenses......................... 12,000
Legal fees and expenses.......................................... 2,000,000
Accounting fees and expenses..................................... 1,500,000
Transfer agent and registrar fees................................ 25,000
Printing and engraving expenses.................................. 500,000
Miscellaneous expenses........................................... 564,050
----------
Total.......................................................... $5,000,000
==========
</TABLE>
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Palm is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Section 145
("Section 145") of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the
same exists or may hereafter be amended (the "General Corporation Law"), inter
alia, provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who were,
are or are threatened to be made, parties to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation),
by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee
or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or
enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding,
provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the corporation's best interests and, with respect
to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that
his conduct was illegal.
Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee
or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or
enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in
any such capacity, arising out of his status as such, whether or not the
corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him under Section 145.
Palm's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws provide for the
indemnification of officers and directors to the fullest extent permitted by
the General Corporation Law.
All of Palm's directors and officers will be covered by insurance policies
maintained by Palm against specified liabilities for actions taken in their
capacities as such, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended. In addition, Palm has entered into indemnity agreements with its
directors and executive officers (a form of which is filed as Exhibit 10.8 to
this Registration Statement) that obligate Palm to indemnify such directors and
executive officers to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation
Law.
II-1
<PAGE>
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a) Exhibits.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number Description
------- -----------
<C> <S>
1.1** Form of Underwriting Agreement.
2.1** Master Separation and Distribution Agreement between 3Com and the
registrant effective as of December 13, 1999, as amended.
2.2** Form of General Assignment and Assumption Agreement between 3Com and
the registrant, as amended.
2.3** Form of Master Technology Ownership and License Agreement between
3Com and the registrant.
2.4** Form of Master Patent Ownership and License Agreement between 3Com
and the registrant.
2.5** Form of Master Trademark Ownership and License Agreement between 3Com
and the registrant.
2.6** Form of Employee Matters Agreement between 3Com and the registrant.
2.7** Form of Tax Sharing Agreement between 3Com and the registrant.
2.8** Form of Master Transitional Services Agreement between 3Com and the
registrant.
2.9** Form of Real Estate Matters Agreement between 3Com and the
registrant.
2.10** Form of Master Confidential Disclosure Agreement between 3Com and the
registrant.
2.11** Form of Indemnification and Insurance Matters Agreement between 3Com
and the registrant.
2.12** Form of Non-U.S. Plan.
3.1** Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
3.2** Bylaws.
4.1** Reference is made to Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 hereof.
4.2** Specimen Stock Certificate.
5.1** Form of Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional
Corporation.
10.1** 1999 Stock Plan.
10.2** Form of 1999 Stock Plan Agreements.
10.3** 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
10.4** Form of 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan Agreements.
10.5** 1999 Director Option Plan.
10.6** Form of 1999 Director Option Plan Agreements.
10.7** Management Retention Agreement dated as of December 1, 1999 by and
between Carl J. Yankowski and the registrant.
10.8** Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into by the registrant with
each of its directors and executive officers.
10.9+** RAM Mobile Data USA Limited Partnership Value Added Reseller
Agreement between RAM Mobile Data USA Limited Partnership (now
BellSouth Wireless Data, L.P.) and the registrant.
10.10+** Supply Agreement between Manufacturers' Services Salt Lake City
Operations, Inc. and the registrant.
10.11** Common Stock Purchase Agreement between America Online and the
registrant.
10.12** Common Stock Purchase Agreement between Motorola and the registrant.
10.13** Common Stock Purchase Agreement Between Nokia and the registrant.
10.14** Form of Management Retention Agreement.
21.1** Subsidiaries of Palm.
23.1 Independent Auditors' Consent and Report on Schedule
23.2** Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (included in Exhibit
5.1).
24.1** Power of Attorney.
27.1** Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
- --------
* To be filed by amendment.
** Previously filed.
+ Confidential treatment requested on portions of this exhibit. Unredacted
versions of this exhibit have been filed separately with the Commission.
II-2
<PAGE>
(b)Financial Statement Schedules.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves........................... S-1
</TABLE>
Item 16. Undertakings
The Registrant hereby undertakes to provide the Underwriters at the closing
specified in the Underwriting Agreement certificates in such denominations and
registered in such names as required by the Underwriters to permit prompt
delivery to each purchaser.
Insofar as the indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted as to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 14, or
otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payments by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by
such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of
this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a
form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or
(4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
registration statement as of the time it was declared effective; and
(2) for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act
of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and this offering of such securities at that
time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-3
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Santa Clara, State of
California, on March 1, 2000.
*
_____________________________________
Carl J. Yankowski
Chief Executive Officer and
Director
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
* Chief Executive Officer and March 1, 2000
______________________________________ Director (Principal
Carl J. Yankowski Executive Officer)
* Senior Vice President and March 1, 2000
______________________________________ Chief Financial Officer
Judy Bruner (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
* Director March 1, 2000
______________________________________
Eric A. Benhamou
* Director March 1, 2000
______________________________________
James L. Barksdale
* Director March 1, 2000
______________________________________
Gordon A. Campbell
Director
______________________________________
Michael Homer
Director
______________________________________
David C. Nagel
* Director March 1, 2000
______________________________________
Susan G. Swenson
/s/ Stephen Yu
*By:__________________________________
Stephen Yu
Attorney-in-fact
</TABLE>
II-4
<PAGE>
PALM, INC.
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
Years Ended May 25, 1997, May 31, 1998 and May 28, 1999
(In thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Additions
Balance at Charged to Balance at
Beginning Costs and End of
Description of Period Expenses Deductions Period
----------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Year ended May 25, 1997:
Allowance for doubtful accounts... $ 39 $ 567 $ (5) $ 601
Product return reserve............ 651 10,637 (4,042) 7,246
Accrued product warranty.......... 58 5,507 (3,912) 1,653
Year ended May 31, 1998:
Allowance for doubtful accounts... $ 601 $3,893 $ (43) $ 4,451
Product return reserve............ 7,246 8,982 (10,576) 5,652
Accrued product warranty.......... 1,653 17,527 (15,068) 4,112
Year ended May 28, 1999:
Allowance for doubtful accounts... $4,451 $4,271 $ (4,905) $ 3,817
Product return reserve............ 5,652 24,145 (12,254) 17,543
Accrued product warranty.......... 4,112 25,949 (18,732) 11,329
</TABLE>
S-1
<PAGE>
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number Description
------- -----------
<C> <S>
1.1** Form of Underwriting Agreement.
2.1** Master Separation and Distribution Agreement between 3Com and the
registrant effective as of December 13, 1999, as amended.
2.2** Form of General Assignment and Assumption Agreement between 3Com and
the registrant, as amended.
2.3** Form of Master Technology Ownership and License Agreement between
3Com and the registrant.
2.4** Form of Master Patent Ownership and License Agreement between 3Com
and the registrant.
2.5** Form of Master Trademark Ownership and License Agreement between 3Com
and the registrant.
2.6** Form of Employee Matters Agreement between 3Com and the registrant.
2.7** Form of Tax Sharing Agreement between 3Com and the registrant.
2.8** Form of Master Transitional Services Agreement between 3Com and the
registrant.
2.9** Form of Real Estate Matters Agreement between 3Com and the
registrant.
2.10** Form of Master Confidential Disclosure Agreement between 3Com and the
registrant.
2.11** Form of Indemnification and Insurance Matters Agreement between 3Com
and the registrant.
2.12** Form of Non-U.S. Plan.
3.1** Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
3.2** Bylaws.
4.1** Reference is made to Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 hereof.
4.2** Specimen Stock Certificate.
5.1** Form of Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional
Corporation.
10.1** 1999 Stock Plan.
10.2** Form of 1999 Stock Plan Agreements.
10.3** 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
10.4** Form of 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan Agreements.
10.5** 1999 Director Option Plan.
10.6** Form of 1999 Director Option Plan Agreements.
10.7** Management Retention Agreement dated as of December 1, 1999 by and
between Carl J. Yankowski and the registrant.
10.8** Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into by the registrant with
each of its directors and executive officers.
10.9+** RAM Mobile Data USA Limited Partnership Value Added Reseller
Agreement between RAM Mobile Data USA Limited Partnership (now
BellSouth Wireless Data, L.P.) and the registrant.
10.10+** Supply Agreement between Manufacturers' Services Salt Lake City
Operations, Inc. and the registrant.
10.11** Common Stock Purchase Agreement between America Online and the
registrant.
10.12** Common Stock Purchase Agreement between Motorola and the registrant.
10.13** Common Stock Purchase Agreement Between Nokia and the registrant.
10.14** Form of Management Retention Agreement.
21.1** Subsidiaries of Palm.
23.1 Independent Auditors' Consent and Report on Schedule
23.2** Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (included in Exhibit
5.1).
24.1** Power of Attorney.
27.1** Financial Data Schedule.
</TABLE>
- --------
* To be filed by amendment.
** Previously filed.
+ Confidential treatment requested on portions of this exhibit. Unredacted
versions of this exhibit have been filed separately with the Commission.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.1
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT AND REPORT ON SCHEDULE
We consent to the use in Amendment No. 7 to Registration Statement No. 333-
92657 of Palm, Inc. on Form S-1 of our report dated November 29, 1999 (January
24, 2000 as to the third, fourth and fifth paragraphs of Note 13 and all of
Note 15 and February 28, 2000 as to the sixth paragraph of Note 13) appearing
in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement. We also
consent to the references to us under the headings "Selected Consolidated
Financial Data" and "Experts" in such Prospectus.
Our audit of the consolidated financial statements referred to in our
aforementioned report also included the financial statement schedule of Palm,
Inc., listed in Item 15(b). This financial statement schedule is the
responsibility of the management of Palm, Inc. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, such financial statement
schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial
statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the
information set forth therein.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
San Jose, California
March 1, 2000
