Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2008

OR

 

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

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number 0000-26251

 

 

NETSCOUT SYSTEMS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware   04-2837575
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation
or Organization)
  (IRS Employer Identification No.)

310 Littleton Road, Westford, MA 01886

(978) 614-4000

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    YES  x    NO  ¨

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

Large accelerated filer  ¨    Accelerated filer  x    Non-accelerated filer  ¨    Smaller reporting company  ¨

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    YES  ¨    NO  x

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, as of February 5, 2009 was 40,162,440.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

NETSCOUT SYSTEMS, INC.

FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

   Unaudited Financial Statements:   
  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets:
As of December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008

   3
  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations:
For the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007

   4
  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:
For the nine months ended December 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007

   5
  

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

   6

Item 2.

  

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

   20

Item 3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   36

Item 4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   36

PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

  

Legal Proceedings

   37

Item 1A.

  

Risk Factors

   37

Item 2.

  

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   38

Item 6.

  

Exhibits

   38

SIGNATURES

   39

EXHIBIT INDEX

   40

 

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PART I: FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Unaudited Financial Statements

NetScout Systems, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     December 31,
2008
    March 31,
2008
 
Assets     

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 63,204     $ 56,702  

Marketable securities

     25,353       10,465  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $186 and $86 at December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008, respectively

     45,979       32,048  

Inventories

     7,955       12,083  

Refundable income taxes

     5,751       5,036  

Deferred income taxes

     4,257       6,052  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     5,673       13,546  
                

Total current assets

     158,172       135,932  

Fixed assets, net

     13,965       16,729  

Goodwill

     131,754       131,802  

Acquired intangible assets, net

     61,095       65,569  

Deferred income taxes

     35,812       34,891  

Long-term marketable securities

     30,658       33,764  

Other assets

     1,542       2,250  
                

Total assets

   $ 432,998     $ 420,937  
                
    
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity     

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 6,688     $ 9,207  

Accrued compensation

     22,719       23,594  

Accrued other

     7,067       7,805  

Income taxes payable

     5,076       1,065  

Long-term debt, current portion

     10,000       6,250  

Deferred revenue

     69,330       74,257  
                

Total current liabilities

     120,880       122,178  

Other long-term liabilities

     804       917  

Accrued long-term retirement benefits

     1,309       1,245  

Long-term deferred revenue

     7,476       6,764  

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     85,000       92,500  
                

Total liabilities

     215,469       223,604  
                

Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value:

    

5,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding at December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008

     —         —    

Common stock, $0.001 par value:

    

150,000,000 shares authorized; 43,890,018 and 43,370,802 shares issued and 39,358,001 and 38,838,785 shares outstanding at December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008, respectively

     44       43  

Additional paid-in capital

     189,491       182,789  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (635 )     246  

Treasury stock at cost, 4,532,017 shares at December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008

     (28,939 )     (28,939 )

Retained earnings

     57,568       43,194  
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     217,529       197,333  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 432,998     $ 420,937  
                
    

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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NetScout Systems, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

    Three Months
Ended December 31,
    Nine Months Ended
December 31,
 
    2008     2007     2008     2007  

Revenue:

       

Product

  $ 42,940     $ 36,085     $ 117,370     $ 72,509  

Service

    29,110       17,656       84,148       38,757  
                               

Total revenue

    72,050       53,741       201,518       111,266  
                               

Cost of revenue:

       

Product (1)

    10,755       11,627       33,158       21,483  

Service (1)

    5,271       4,056       15,551       7,665  
                               

Total cost of revenue

    16,026       15,683       48,709       29,148  
                               

Gross profit

    56,024       38,058       152,809       82,118  
                               

Operating expenses:

       

Research and development (1)

    9,900       9,272       30,208       18,518  

Sales and marketing (1)

    25,219       21,463       75,017       43,817  

General and administrative (1)

    7,149       9,454       19,760       15,479  

Amortization of acquired intangible assets

    490       314       1,471       320  
                               

Total operating expenses

    42,758       40,503       126,456       78,134  
                               

Income (loss) from operations

    13,266       (2,445 )     26,353       3,984  

Interest and other income (expense), net:

       

Interest income

    473       866       1,741       2,973  

Interest expense

    (1,560 )     (1,955 )     (5,134 )     (1,986 )

Other expense, net

    (180 )     (254 )     (1,055 )     (260 )
                               

Total interest and other income (expense), net

    (1,267 )     (1,343 )     (4,448 )     727  
                               

Income (loss) before income taxes

    11,999       (3,788 )     21,905       4,711  

Income tax expense (benefit)

    4,064       (682 )     7,531       1,886  
                               

Net income (loss)

  $ 7,935     $ (3,106 )   $ 14,374     $ 2,825  
                               

Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders

  $ 0.20     $ (0.09 )   $ 0.37     $ 0.08  

Diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders

  $ 0.20     $ (0.09 )   $ 0.35     $ 0.08  

Weighted average common shares outstanding used in computing:

       

Weighted average shares outstanding—basic

    39,334       36,495       39,164       33,651  

Weighted average shares outstanding—diluted

    40,506       36,495       40,707       35,065  

 

(1)    Share-based compensation expenses included in these amounts are as follows:

      

   

Cost of product revenue

  $ 27     $ 2     $ 80     $ 23  

Cost of service revenue

    57       15       151       42  

Research and development

    278       80       889       264  

Sales and marketing

    532       152       1,573       473  

General and administrative

    328       94       908       254  
                               
  $ 1,222     $ 343     $ 3,601     $ 1,056  
                               

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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NetScout Systems, Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended
December 31,
 
     2008     2007  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 14,374     $ 2,825  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     10,614       5,077  

Loss on disposal of fixed assets

     333       13  

Inventory write-down

     340       205  

Share-based compensation expense associated with equity awards

     3,601       1,056  

Deferred income taxes

     1,796       (138 )

Changes in assets and liabilities , net of the effects of acquisitions

    

Accounts receivable

     (13,931 )     (9,531 )

Inventories

     3,788       (1,082 )

Refundable income taxes

     (715 )     (621 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     7,911       (948 )

Other assets

     749       397  

Accounts payable

     (2,519 )     2,780  

Accrued compensation and other expenses

     (1,662 )     1,801  

Income taxes payable

     4,011       647  

Deferred revenue

     (4,215 )     11,939  
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     24,475       14,420  
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchase of marketable securities

     (27,254 )     (16,372 )

Proceeds from maturity of marketable securities

     13,352       68,379  

Purchase of fixed assets

     (3,702 )     (3,433 )

Acquisition of Network General, net of cash acquired

     —         (30,929 )
                

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     (17,604 )     17,645  
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options

     2,541       2,343  

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of issuance costs

     —         99,040  

Repayment of long-term debt

     (3,750 )     (100,000 )

Excess tax benefit from stock options exercised

     561       —    
                

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (648 )     1,383  
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     279       124  
                

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     6,502       33,572  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     56,702       18,925  
                

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 63,204     $ 52,497  
                

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities:

    

Common stock issued in connection with the acquisition of Network General

   $ —       $ 56,100  

Issuance of Debt in connection with the acquisition of Network General

   $ —       $ 100,000  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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NetScout Systems, Inc.

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

 

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2008 and for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, have been prepared by NetScout Systems, Inc., or NetScout or the Company, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial reports and the instructions for Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared under generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such regulations. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for the year ending March 31, 2009. The balance sheet at March 31, 2008 has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements.

For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, as filed with the SEC on June 16, 2008.

 

2. Concentration of Credit Risk and Significant Customers

Financial instruments, which include cash, cash equivalents, short-term marketable securities, accounts receivable and accounts payable are carried at their approximate fair values. Long-term marketable securities, which consist of auction rate securities, are stated at fair value based on discounted cash flow calculations. At December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008, no one customer or channel partner accounted for more than 10% of the accounts receivable balance. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, no one direct customer or indirect channel partner accounted for more than 10% of total revenue. Historically, the Company has not experienced any significant non-performance by its customers nor does the Company anticipate non-performance by its customers in the future, and, accordingly, the Company does not require collateral.

 

3. Share-Based Compensation

The 1999 Stock Option Plan and the 2007 Equity Incentive Plan, which replaced the 1999 Stock Option Plan effective as of September 12, 2007, permit the granting of stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units, collectively referred to as “share-based awards.” Periodically, the Company grants share-based awards to employees, officers and directors of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company accounts for these share-based awards in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment”, or SFAS 123R, which requires the measurement and recognition of compensation expense based on estimated fair values for all share-based payment awards made to employees, officers and directors. Share-based award grants are measured at fair value on the date of grant based on the number of shares granted, the quoted price of the Company’s common stock and certain assumptions used in the valuation model. Such value is recognized as a cost of revenue or an operating expense over the corresponding vesting period depending upon to whom the underlying award has been granted. During the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, share-based compensation expense was $1.2 million, $343 thousand, $3.6 million and $1.1 million, respectively.

 

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4. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Marketable Securities

The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents and those investments with original maturities greater than three months to be marketable securities. Cash equivalents, short-term marketable securities and long-term marketable securities are stated at fair value. Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of money market instruments and cash maintained with various financial institutions.

Marketable Securities

The following is a summary of marketable securities held by NetScout at December 31, 2008 classified as short-term and long-term (in thousands):

 

     Amortized
Cost
    Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
    Fair
Value
 

Type of security (see Note 5):

      

U.S. government and municipal obligations

   $ 22,355     $ 103     $ 22,458  

Corporate bonds

     1,336       7       1,343  

Commercial paper

     2,738       5       2,743  

Less: restricted investment

     (1,153 )     (38 )     (1,191 )
                        

Total short-term investments

     25,276       77       25,353  
                        

Auction rate securities

     33,056       (2,398 )     30,658  
                        

Total long-term investments

     33,056       (2,398 )     30,658  
                        
   $ 58,332     $ (2,321 )   $ 56,011  
                        

Maturity dates for short-term marketable securities held at December 31, 2008 range from January 2009 to October 2009. Maturity dates for long-term marketable securities held at December 31, 2008, which consist of auction rate securities, range from December 2032 to December 2039.

The following is a summary of marketable securities held by NetScout at March 31, 2008, classified as short-term and long-term (in thousands):

 

     Amortized
Cost
    Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
    Fair
Value
 

Type of security (see Note 5):

      

U.S. government and municipal obligations

   $ 11,532     $ 92     $ 11,624  

Less: restricted investment

     (1,150 )     (9 )     (1,159 )
                        

Total short-term investments

     10,382       83       10,465  
                        

Auction rate securities

     34,048       (284 )     33,764  
                        

Total long-term investments

     34,048       (284 )     33,764  
                        
   $ 44,430     $ (201 )   $ 44,229  
                        

Maturity dates for short-term marketable securities held at March 31, 2008 range from June 2008 to December 2008. Maturity dates for long-term marketable securities held at March 31, 2008, which consist of auction rate securities, range from December 2032 to December 2039.

The Company’s long-term marketable securities include investments in auction rate securities valued at $30.7 million at December 31, 2008, including accrued interest. Auction rate securities are publicly issued securities with long-term maturities for which interest rates reset through a Dutch auction in short-term intervals,

 

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in the case of its securities every 35 days. This mechanism was structured to allow existing investors to rollover their holdings and continue to own their respective securities or to liquidate their holdings by selling at par value through the auction process. The Company invested in these securities as part of its cash management program. Historically, this auction process provided liquidity and supported a short-term classification of these securities on the consolidated balance sheet. Beginning in February 2008 and continuing through the date of this report, uncertainties in the credit markets have resulted in failed auctions and a lack of short-term liquidity for these securities, which has caused the Company to classify its auction rate securities within long-term marketable securities on the consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2008, the Company’s auction rate securities consisted of six positions issued by municipal agencies with a total par value of $33.1 million and a current estimated market value totaling $30.7 million. These auction rate securities have maturity dates ranging from December 2032 through December 2039. These investments range from AAA to A rated and are collateralized by student loans with underlying support by the federal government through the Federal Family Education Loan Program, or FFELP, and by monoline insurance companies. The Company has the ability and intent to hold these securities until a recovery in the auction process or other liquidity event occurs. For further information on the Company’s approach to valuing these securities refer to Note 5. During the quarter ended December 31, 2008, a partial call transaction was closed related to one of its auction rate securities. As a result of the call, NetScout received proceeds of $400 thousand, which represented a recovery of the full par value of a portion of this particular security.

Based on the Company’s expected operating cash flows and the Company’s other sources of cash, the Company does not expect the lack of liquidity in these investments to affect its ability to execute its current business plan.

Restricted Cash

NetScout has a cash balance of $122 thousand at December 31, 2008 in the form of a deposit in a money market fund that was restricted from withdrawal. The deposit serves as collateral for a letter of credit relating to a leasehold improvement on one of its facilities and is included under restricted cash in its consolidated balance sheet. The restriction on the money market fund has no impact on the fair value as the restriction would not pass to another party in the event of the transfer of the cash.

Restricted Investment

NetScout has a restricted investment account related to a deferred compensation plan of $1.2 million, which is included in prepaid and other current assets. As of December 31, 2008, there were unrealized losses of $38 thousand recorded as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to this investment. At March 31, 2008, there were unrealized gains of $9 thousand recorded as accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The restriction on the investment account has no impact on the fair value as the restriction would not pass to another party in the event of the sale of the investments.

 

5. Fair Value Measurements

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or the FASB, issued SFAS No.157, “Fair Value Measurements”, or SFAS 157. SFAS 157 clarifies the principle that fair value should be based on the assumptions market participants would use when pricing an asset or liability and establishes a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions. Under the standard, fair value measurements are separately disclosed by level within the fair value hierarchy. The Company adopted SFAS 157 as of April 1, 2008.

SFAS 157 clarifies the definition of fair value as an exit price representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market

 

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participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, SFAS 157 establishes a three-tier value hierarchy, which prioritizes, in descending order, the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

 

Level I

  

—     Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets,

Level II

  

—     Inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly, and

Level III

  

—     Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which requires the Company to develop its own assumptions.

This hierarchy requires the Company to use observable market data, when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. On a recurring basis, the Company measures certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value, including its marketable securities. The Company’s investment instruments, except for auction rate securities, listed below are classified within Level I of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted market prices or alternative pricing sources with reasonable levels of price transparency. The Company’s auction rate securities are classified as Level III of the fair value hierarchy due to the limited market data for pricing these securities.

The following table summarizes the valuation of the Company’s marketable securities by the above SFAS No. 157 categories as of December 31, 2008 (in thousands):

 

     Total
Fair value
    Level I     Level II    Level III

Commercial paper

   $ 2,743     $ 2,743     $ —      $ —  

Corporate bonds

     1,343       1,343       —        —  

Auction rate securities

     30,658       —         —        30,658

U.S. government and municipal obligations

     22,458       22,458       —        —  

Less: restricted investment

     (1,191 )     (1,191 )     —        —  
                             
   $ 56,011     $ 25,353     $ —      $ 30,658
                             

At December 31, 2008, the Company valued its auction rate securities at their fair value using a discounted cash flow model. This model estimated future interest income using maximum rate formulas applicable to each of these securities which consider historical spreads for benchmark rates included in these formulas as well as rates for U.S. Treasuries. The model then discounts the estimated future interest income using a risk based discount rate that considers known U.S. Treasury yields as of December 31, 2008, historical spreads in comparison to U.S. Treasuries at the last date which the market was considered active for these securities, and a liquidity risk premium of 300 basis points. As these securities have retained investment grade credit ratings, the Company has not applied a credit spread to its discount rate. The valuation also includes assumptions as to when these securities will return to liquidity, of which the weighted average period is currently estimated at 37 months. This valuation resulted in a cumulative temporary decline in value of approximately $1.5 million net of tax as of December 31, 2008 recorded within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the balance sheet. This represents an incremental decline in value of approximately $86 thousand net of tax during the quarter resulting from a decline in the underlying interest rates used in its valuation models. The Company has concluded that no other-than-temporary impairment has occurred because it believes that the declines in fair value that have occurred during fiscal 2009 are due to general market conditions, these investments continue to be of high credit quality, and the Company has the intent and ability to hold these investments until the anticipated recovery in market value occurs. The Company will continue to analyze its auction rate securities each reporting period for impairment and it may be required to record an impairment charge in the consolidated statement of operations if the decline in fair value is determined to be other-than-temporary. The estimated fair value of the Company’s auction rate securities could change significantly based on market and economic conditions, including: changes

 

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in market rates, the estimated timing until a liquidity event, or the discount factor associated with illiquidity and the credit ratings of its securities. There is no assurance as to when liquidity will return to this investment class, and therefore, the Company continues to monitor and evaluate these securities.

On October 10, 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. 157-3 “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset is Not Active”. This FSP clarifies the application of SFAS 157 for markets that are dislocated and not active and illustrates key considerations for companies when determining the fair value of financial assets in such markets. The Company believes that the market for its auction rate securities is not active and consequently considered the principles of FSP 157-3 in its determination of fair value of such securities. Specifically, the Company completed an assessment of these securities by applying judgment and assumptions to its internal risk-adjusted cash flow models in order to derive the fair value of the auction rate securities presented as of December 31, 2008.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of changes in the fair value of financial assets classified as Level III in the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):

 

     Fair Value Measurements
Using Significant
Unobservable Inputs
Level III
 

Balance at September 30, 2008

   $ 31,487  

Total gains or (losses) (realized or unrealized)

  

Change in accrued interest receivable

     (689 )

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)

     (140 )
        

Balance at December 31, 2008

   $ 30,658  
        

Balance at April 1, 2008

   $ 33,764  

Total gains or (losses) (realized or unrealized)

  

Change in accrued interest receivable

     (992 )

Included in other comprehensive income (loss)

     (2,114 )
        

Balance at December 31, 2008

   $ 30,658  
        

 

6. Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of actual cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined by using the first-in, first-out, or FIFO method. Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 31,
2008
   March 31,
2008

Raw materials

   $ 4,456    $ 4,068

Work in process

     237      216

Finished goods

     3,262      7,799
             
   $ 7,955    $ 12,083
             

 

7. Acquisition

On November 1, 2007, the Company acquired Network General Central Corporation, or Network General. The results of Network General’s operations have been included in the consolidated financial statements since that date. The acquisition enables NetScout to offer customers best-of-breed early-warning capability, real-time and historical application flow analysis, and deep packet forensics. As a result, the combined company possesses the scale, technology, and resources required to address and meet the substantial operational challenges posed by virtualization, convergence, service-oriented architectures, high speed/high availability service requirements and highly distributed network-centric operations.

 

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The aggregate purchase price was $212 million, including $53 million of cash, $100 million of NetScout’s senior secured floating rate notes (see Note 9), six million shares of common stock valued at $56 million, and $3 million of capitalized acquisition costs. The value of the common shares was determined for purchase accounting purposes based on the average market price of NetScout’s common shares over the period commencing 2 days before and ending 2 days after the date the terms of the acquisition were publicly announced. Capitalized acquisition costs consist of fees for legal, consulting, and accounting services. The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting in accordance with SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations”, or SFAS 141, and SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, or SFAS 142. The purchase price allocation includes a liability of $4.6 million associated with work force reductions in the acquired business. This liability includes severance and benefits for 47 employees, of which $4.1 million was paid through December 31, 2008. The following table summarizes the allocation of the purchase price (in thousands):

 

Total Consideration:

  

Value of common stock issued

   $ 56,100  

Cash paid

     52,631  

Senior notes issued

     100,000  

Transaction costs

     3,357  
        

Total purchase consideration

   $ 212,088  
        

Allocation of the purchase consideration:

  

Current assets, including cash and cash equivalents of $25,554

   $ 58,802  

Fixed assets

     8,760  

Deferred tax assets

     31,214  

Identifiable intangible assets

     68,036  

Other assets

     1,957  

Goodwill

     95,193  
        

Total assets acquired

     263,962  

Deferred revenue

     (20,766 )

Fair value of other liabilities assumed

     (31,108 )
        

Net assets acquired

   $ 212,088  
        

Goodwill was recognized for the excess purchase price over the fair value of the assets acquired. Goodwill is primarily attributable to the expected growth from newer product lines, increased market share and synergies related to the integration of Network General with the Company’s nGenius Performance Management System. Goodwill from the Network General acquisition will be included within the Company’s one reporting unit and will be included in the Company’s enterprise-level annual review for impairment. Goodwill resulting from the acquisition of Network General is not deductible for tax purposes. Based on information obtained during the three months ended September 30, 2008, goodwill was reduced by a total of $48 thousand due to adjustments related to the opening balance sheet amounts of Network General’s accounts receivables and accrued liabilities. The purchase price is no longer preliminary.

The following table reflects the fair value of the acquired identifiable intangible assets (in thousands) and related estimates of useful lives:

 

     Fair Value    Useful Life
(Years)

Developed product technology

   $ 19,900    5

Customer relationships

     29,200    15.5

Trade name

     18,600    Indefinite

Net beneficial leases

     336    4.2
         
   $ 68,036   
         

 

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The following unaudited pro forma information presents a summary of the historical combined statements of operations of the Company and Network General for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2007, giving effect to the acquisition as if it occurred on October 1, 2007 and April 1,2007, respectively (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31, 2007
    Nine Months Ended
December 31, 2007
 

Pro forma revenue

   $ 68,298     $ 194,189  

Pro forma net loss

     (3,236 )     (5,050 )

Pro forma loss per share:

    

Basic

     (0.08 )     (0.13 )

Diluted

     (0.08 )     (0.13 )

Pro forma shares outstanding:

    

Basic

     38,517       39,651  

Diluted

     38,517       39,651  

The pro forma net loss and net loss per share for each period presented is principally comprised of adjustments for amortization of intangibles, interest income and interest expense. This pro forma information does not purport to indicate the results that would have actually been obtained had the acquisition been completed on the assumed date, or which may be realized in the future.

 

8. Goodwill & Acquired Intangible Assets

Goodwill

The carrying amount of goodwill was $131.8 million as of December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008. The Company’s goodwill resulted from the acquisition of Network General in November 2007 (see Note 7), the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Quantiva, Inc., or Quantiva, in April 2005 and the acquisition of NextPoint Networks, Inc. in July 2000. In accordance with SFAS No. 142, goodwill is not amortized, but instead is reviewed for impairment at least annually or more frequently when events and circumstances occur indicating that the recorded goodwill may be impaired. If an indication of goodwill impairment arises, the Company tests for impairment at the reporting unit level using a two-step, fair-value based approach. The first step determines the fair value of the reporting unit and compares it to the reporting unit’s carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, a second step is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss. The second step allocates the fair value of the reporting unit to its tangible and intangible assets and liabilities, deriving an implied fair value for the reporting unit’s goodwill. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of that goodwill, an impairment loss is recognized in income equal to that excess.

Acquired Intangible Assets

The carrying amounts of acquired intangible assets were $61.1 million and $65.6 million as of December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2008, respectively. Intangible assets acquired in a business combination are recorded under the purchase method of accounting at their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The Company amortizes acquired intangible assets over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis, except for the acquired trade name which has an indefinite life and thus, is not amortized. The carrying value of the indefinite lived trade name will be evaluated for potential impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.

 

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Acquired intangible assets consist of the following as of December 31, 2008 (in thousands):

 

     Cost    Accumulated
Amortization
   Net

Developed product technology

   $ 19,900    $ 4,643    $ 15,257

Customer relationships

     29,200      2,198      27,002

Indefinite lived trade name

     18,600      —        18,600

Net beneficial leases

     336      100      236

Software

     1,255      1,255      —  
                    
   $ 69,291    $ 8,196    $ 61,095
                    

Amortization of developed product technology and acquired software included as cost of product revenue was $995 thousand and $3.0 million for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008, respectively. Amortization of other acquired intangible assets included as operating expense was $490 thousand and $1.5 million for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008, respectively.

Acquired intangible assets consist of the following as of March 31, 2008 (in thousands):

 

     Cost    Accumulated
Amortization
   Net

Developed product technology

   $ 19,900    $ 1,658    $ 18,242

Customer relationships

     29,200      785      28,415

Indefinite lived tradename

     18,600      —        18,600

Net beneficial leases

     336      41      295

Software

     1,255      1,238      17
                    
   $ 69,291    $ 3,722    $ 65,569
                    

Amortization of developed product technology and software included as cost of product revenue was $768 thousand and $977 thousand for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2007, respectively. Amortization of other acquired intangible assets included as operating expense was $314 thousand and $320 thousand for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2007, respectively.

The following is the expected future amortization expense as of December 31, 2008 for the years ended March 31 (in thousands):

 

2009 (remaining three months)

   $ 1,485

2010

     5,941

2011

     5,941

2012

     5,926

2013

     4,206

Thereafter

     18,996
      
   $ 42,495
      

The weighted average useful life of acquired intangible assets is 11 years.

 

9. Long-term Debt

In December 2007, the Company entered into a credit facility with a syndicate of lenders led by KeyBank National Association, or KeyBank, providing a term loan of $100 million and a $10 million revolving credit facility, or the Credit Facility, pursuant to a Credit Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2007, by and among the Company, KeyBank and the other parties thereto, or the Credit Agreement. The proceeds of the $100 million term loan were used to redeem all of the Company’s outstanding senior secured floating rate notes issued in

 

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connection with the acquisition of Network General (see Note 7). The $10 million revolving credit facility replaced a previous $5 million revolving credit facility with Silicon Valley Bank. No amounts are outstanding under the revolving credit facility as of December 31, 2008.

At the Company’s election, revolving loans and the term loan under the Credit Agreement bear interest at either (1) a rate per annum equal to the greater of KeyBank’s prime rate or 0.5% in excess of the federal funds effective rate, or the Alternative Base Rate, or (2) the one-, two-, three-, or six-month per annum LIBOR, as selected by the Company, multiplied by the statutory reserve adjustment, collectively the Eurodollar Rate, in each case plus an applicable margin. From December 21, 2007 until February 29, 2008, the applicable margin for Alternative Base Rate loans was 175 basis points and 300 basis points for Eurodollar Rate loans. For the period December 21, 2007 through February 29, 2008, the term loan incurred interest at 7.75%. Commencing with the delivery of the Company’s financial statements for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, the applicable margin began to vary depending on the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio ranging from 175 basis points for Alternative Base Rate loans and 300 basis points for Eurodollar Rate loans if the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio is 2.50 to 1.00 or higher, down to 75 basis points for Alternative Base Rate loans and 200 basis points for Eurodollar Rate loans if the Company’s consolidated leverage ratio is 1.00 to 1.00 or less. The consolidated leverage ratio is the ratio of funded indebtedness to adjusted EBITDA. At March 31, 2008, the term loan incurred interest at 7.50%. As of December 31, 2008, the applicable interest rate on the term loan was 4.375%, and the Company expects this to be the rate in effect until June 30, 2009. While outstanding, the Company’s senior secured floating rate notes incurred interest at 9.91%.

Payments of principal on the term loan commenced on March 31, 2008, and will be made in regular quarterly installments. As of December 31, 2008, the aggregate annual repayment amounts are as follows for the years ended March 31 (in thousands):

 

2009 (remaining three months)

   $ 2,500

2010

     10,000

2011

     11,250

2012

     15,000

2013

     56,250
      
   $ 95,000
      

The Credit Agreement contains financial covenants that stipulate a maximum leverage ratio of 3.00 to 1.00 and a minimum fixed-charge coverage ratio of 1.25 to 1.00. As of December 31, 2008, the Company was in compliance with all covenants. Substantially all of the Company’s assets serve as collateral under the Credit Agreement. Subject to certain exceptions, the Credit Agreement contains provisions for mandatory prepayments including from (a) 100% of the net proceeds from asset sales by the Company and its subsidiaries, (b) 100% of the net proceeds from the issuance of debt, (c) subject to the Company’s leverage ratio, either 25% or 50% of the annual excess cash flow of the Company and its subsidiaries commencing as of March 31, 2009, (d) 50% of the net proceeds from the issuance of equity by the Company and its subsidiaries and (e) 100% of the net proceeds from insurance recovery and condemnation events of the Company and its subsidiaries. For the nine months ended December 31, 2008, there were no required payments relating to the annual excess cash flows of the Company. The Company may also prepay loans under the Credit Agreement, including the term loan, at any time, without penalty, subject to certain notice requirements.

The Company capitalized $1.0 million of debt issuance costs associated with the origination of the Credit Facility, which are being amortized over the life of the term loan. The unamortized balance of $766 thousand as of December 31, 2008 is included as deferred financing costs in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.

 

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10. Commitments and Contingencies

Contingencies

On December 14, 2006, the Company was sued for patent infringement by Diagnostic Systems Corporation, or DSC, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, along with several other co-defendants. In its Complaint, DSC requests injunctive relief, unspecified damages, expenses, and reasonable attorneys’ fees. Specifically, DSC alleges that the Company is infringing United States Letters Patent Nos. 5,701,400, and 5,537,590. The Company’s Answer to DSC’s Complaint denied the allegations of patent infringement and asserted counterclaims seeking a judgment that it has not infringed and that the patents are invalid. On June 17, 2008, the Company amended its defenses and counterclaims to allege that the patents are also unenforceable due to inequitable conduct as a result of the patent holder’s committing fraud on the Patent Office in connection with the prosecution of the patents’ applications. DSC has added additional co-defendants over the course of the proceedings. On August 12, 2008, the Court granted our motion to compel DSC to produce hundreds of documents that the Court ruled DSC had improperly withheld on grounds of attorney-client privilege. The Company’s motion was successful, because the Court agreed with our position that, among other things, hundreds of documents DSC was seeking to protect were not privileged simply because in-house counsel was engaged in DSC’s business operations. DSC appealed the order to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the District Court stayed the case pending the appeal. The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the lower court’s decision granting Company’s motion to compel and requiring DSC to disclose the documents requested during discovery. On January 14, 2009, the Court lifted the stay. The Company believes the plaintiff’s claims have no merit; however, in accordance with SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies”, the Company has accrued in the quarter ended December 31, 2008, an amount reflecting its best estimate of its exposure to resolve this litigation. The Company believes that the amount accrued at December 31, 2008 is not material to the ongoing operations and financial condition of the Company.

On or about August 1, 2008, certain former shareholders of Fidelia Technology, Inc., or Fidelia, filed a one count complaint for fraud in the Superior Court of California, San Francisco County, against Network General and certain officers and directors of Network General relating to the consideration received by the shareholders in the merger between Fidelia and Network General in January 2006. As discussed in Note 7, the Company acquired Network General in November 2007. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the defendants made material misrepresentations or omissions to the plaintiff shareholders regarding the value of the shares of Network General’s common stock that had been issued to them in connection with the Fidelia acquisition. The plaintiffs are seeking damages, alleged to be in the range of $6.2 million to $9.2 million. The plaintiffs had previously filed a substantially similar complaint in the Superior Court of New Jersey that was dismissed on May 30, 2008. On September 23, 2008 the defendants moved to dismiss the complaint in its entirety on several grounds. The plaintiffs opposed that motion, and following a hearing, on October 23, 2008 the Court ruled that the complaint was defective and dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims in their entirety, but granted the plaintiffs’ leave to replead within 20 days. The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint and the Company responded on January 5, 2009, by filing a motion to dismiss plaintiff’s amended complaint. The Company believes the plaintiffs’ claims have no merit and will defend the lawsuit vigorously.

 

11. Treasury Stock

On September 17, 2001, the Company announced an open market stock repurchase program to purchase up to one million shares of outstanding Company common stock, subject to market conditions and other factors. Any purchases under the Company’s stock repurchase program may be made from time to time without prior notice. On July 26, 2006, the Company announced that it had expanded the existing open market stock repurchase program to enable the Company to purchase up to an additional three million shares of the Company’s outstanding common stock, bringing the total number of shares authorized for repurchase to four million shares. Through December 31, 2008, the Company had repurchased a total of 486,794 shares of common stock. The Company did not repurchase any shares during the nine months ended December 31, 2008.

 

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12. Net Income (Loss) Per Share

Calculations of the basic and diluted net income (loss) per share and potential common shares are as follows (in thousands, except share and per share data):

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Nine Months Ended
December 31,
     2008    2007     2008    2007

Basic:

          

Net income (loss)

   $ 7,935    $ (3,106 )   $ 14,374    $ 2,825
                            

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     39,334,140      36,495,420       39,163,963      33,651,053
                            

Basic net income (loss) per share

   $ 0.20    $ (0.09 )   $ 0.37    $ 0.08
                            

Diluted:

          

Net income (loss)

   $ 7,935    $ (3,106 )   $ 14,374    $ 2,825
                            

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     39,334,140      36,495,420       39,163,963      32,651,053

Weighted average stock options

     764,149      —         1,047,591      1,231,037

Weighted average restricted stock units

     407,638      —         495,028      182,746
                            

Diluted weighted average shares

     40,505,927      36,495,420       40,706,582      35,064,836
                            

Diluted net income (loss) per share

   $ 0.20    $ (0.09 )   $ 0.35    $ 0.08
                            

The following table sets forth common stock and restricted stock units excluded from the calculation of diluted net income per share, since their inclusion would be antidilutive:

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
   Nine Months Ended
December 31,
     2008    2007    2008    2007

Stock options

   324,902    1,643,438    223,719    260,256

Restricted stock units

   145,735    218,003    37,806    736
                   

Total

   470,637    1,861,441    261,525    260,992
                   

 

13. Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Other comprehensive income (loss) typically consists of unrealized gains and losses on marketable securities and restricted investments and foreign currency translation adjustments. Comprehensive income (loss) for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Nine Months Ended
December 31,
     2008    2007     2008     2007

Net income (loss)

   $ 7,935    $ (3,106 )   $ 14,374     $ 2,825

Unrealized gain (loss) on cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted investment, net of tax

     905      38       (1,169 )     81

Foreign currency translation

     —        59       288       59
                             

Comprehensive income (loss)

   $ 8,840    $ (3,009 )   $ 13,493     $ 2,965
                             

 

14. Income Taxes

In June 2006, the FASB, issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”, or FIN 48. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes by prescribing the minimum recognition

 

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threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 utilizes a two-step approach for evaluating tax positions. Recognition (Step 1) occurs when an enterprise concludes that a tax position, based solely on its technical merits, is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. Measurement (Step 2) is only addressed if Step 1 has been satisfied. Under Step 2, the tax benefit is measured at the largest amount of benefit, determined on a cumulative probability basis, that is more likely than not to be realized upon settlement. As used in FIN 48, the term “more likely than not” means that the likelihood of an occurrence is greater than 50%. The Company adopted FIN 48 as of April 1, 2007, as required. There was no cumulative adjustment to beginning retained earnings related to the implementation of FIN 48.

All of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits, if recognized prior to April 1, 2009, would be recorded as a decrease to the goodwill related to the Network General acquisition. However, following adoption of SFAS No. 141R effective April 1, 2009 (see Note 16), changes to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits will be recorded through the provision for income taxes. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS 141R on its financial position and results of operations.

The Company’s policy is to include interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of interest expense on the condensed consolidated statements of operations. There were no accrued interest or penalties as of December 31, 2008.

On October 3, 2008, Congress passed the “Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008” which retroactively reinstated the federal research and development credit to January 1, 2008. In its fiscal third quarter, the Company recognized a reduction of 1.64% in its fiscal year 2009 effective tax rate related to this reinstated credit.

The estimated annual effective tax rate as of December 31, 2008 for fiscal year 2009 is 34%, compared to an estimated annual benefit of 53% as of December 31, 2007 for fiscal year 2008. The Company expects to generate profit before tax in fiscal year 2009 as compared to an annual loss incurred in fiscal year 2008. The difference in the tax rate year over year is due to the disproportionate impact the rate adjustments have in relation to the amount of pre-tax loss incurred in fiscal year 2008. Generally, the estimated annual effective tax rates differ from the statutory rates primarily due to the impact of federal and state tax credits, tax-exempt interest income, state taxes, and qualified production activities deduction.

Significant accounting judgments and estimates are made when determining whether it is more likely than not that the Company’s deferred income tax assets will be realized and, accordingly, do not require a valuation allowance. If these judgments and estimates prove to be materially inaccurate, a valuation allowance may be required and the Company’s financial results could be materially and adversely impacted in the future. If the Company determines that it will not be able to realize some or all of its deferred income taxes in the future, an adjustment to the deferred income tax assets will be charged to income tax expense in the period such determination is made.

 

15. Geographic Information

The Company reports revenues and income under one reportable industry segment. The Company’s management assesses operating results on an aggregate basis to make decisions about the allocation of resources.

The Company manages its business in the following geographic areas: United States, Other Americas (including Canada, Mexico and Latin America), EMEA (including Europe, the Middle East, and Africa) and Asia Pacific (including Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan).

 

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Total revenue by geography is as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
   Nine Months Ended
December 31,
     2008    2007    2008    2007

United States

   $ 55,354    $ 38,031    $ 155,390    $ 84,235

Other Americas

     5,183      2,371      12,220      4,296

EMEA

     8,212      10,015      23,116      16,677

Asia Pacific

     3,301      3,324      10,792      6,058
                           
   $ 72,050    $ 53,741    $ 201,518    $ 111,266
                           

The United States revenue includes sales to resellers in the United States. These resellers fulfill customer orders based upon joint selling efforts in conjunction with the Company’s direct sales force and may subsequently ship the Company’s products to international locations. The Company reports these shipments as United States revenue since the Company ships the products to a United States location. Revenue attributable to locations outside of the United States is a result of export sales. Substantially all of the Company’s identifiable assets are located in the United States.

 

16. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets”, or FSP 142-3. FSP 142-3 amends the factors an entity should consider in developing renewal or extension assumptions used in determining the useful life of recognized intangible assets under SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. This new guidance applies prospectively to intangible assets that are acquired individually or with a group of other assets in business combinations and asset acquisitions. FSP 142-3 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2008 (fiscal year 2010 for the Company). Early adoption is prohibited. The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of FSP 142-3 on its financial position and results of operations.

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” or SFAS 161. SFAS 161 requires enhanced disclosures about derivative instruments and hedging activities to allow for a better understanding of their effects on an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Among other things, SFAS 161 requires disclosure of the fair values of derivative instruments and associated gains and losses in a tabular format. SFAS 161 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008 (fiscal year 2010 for the Company), with early application encouraged. SFAS 161 also encourages but does not require comparative disclosures for earlier periods at initial adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS 161 on its financial position and results of operations. The Company did not have any derivative instruments or hedging activities as of December 31, 2008.

On February 12, 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No 157,” which delays the effective date of SFAS 157 for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on at least an annual basis until 2009. The Company adopted FSP 157-2 beginning April 1, 2008 and deferred the application of SFAS 157 to nonfinancial assets and liabilities until April 1, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS 157 on its nonfinancial assets and liabilities.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51”, or SFAS 160. SFAS 160 requires the ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent be clearly identified in the consolidated statement of financial position within equity, but separate from the parent’s equity. This standard also requires the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest be clearly

 

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identified and presented on the face of the consolidated statement of operations. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 (fiscal year 2010 for the Company). The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS 160 on its financial position and results of operations. The Company did not have any minority interests as of December 31, 2008.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations”, or SFAS 141R, which replaces SFAS 141. SFAS 141R requires assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination, contingent consideration, and certain acquired contingencies to be measured at their fair values as of the date of acquisition. SFAS 141R also requires that acquisition-related costs and restructuring costs be recognized separately from the business combination. SFAS 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 (fiscal year 2010 for the Company). The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS 141R on its financial position and results of operations.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following information should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial information and the notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. In addition to historical information, the following discussion and other parts of this Quarterly Report contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Actual events or results may differ materially due to competitive factors and other factors referred to in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report. These factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement.

Overview

NetScout designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells and supports a family of integrated products that enable performance management and optimization of complex, high-speed networks, enabling delivery of critical business applications, services, and content efficiently to customers and end-users. We manufacture and market these products in integrated hardware and software solutions that have been used by commercial enterprises, large governmental agencies and telecommunication service providers worldwide. We have a single operating segment and substantially all of our identifiable assets are located in the United States.

NetScout was incorporated in 1984 as a consulting services company. In 1992, we began to develop, manufacture and market our first infrastructure performance management products. Our operations have been financed principally through cash provided by operations and through the sale of NetScout securities in conjunction with our initial public offering in August 1999.

On November 1, 2007, we completed the acquisition of Network General and embarked upon an extensive integration program to combine our respective organizations, operations and customer bases, and to merge our largely complementary products and technologies into a unified service assurance platform. The transaction was valued at $212 million for purchase accounting purposes. The acquisition was financed with a combination of 6 million shares of our common stock, $100 million of senior secured floating rate notes, and $53 million in cash. Included in the $212 million is $3 million in transaction costs. The integration of our back office systems was completed at April 1, 2008. The integration of the sales forces took place in the fiscal first quarter of 2009 and the product line and technology integration is occurring throughout fiscal 2009. Therefore in the comparative financial results for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 nine full months of the integrated Network General business is included in the results for the period ended December 31, 2008 compared to only two months for the same period in the prior year. Additionally the financial results for the three months ended December 31, 2008 include a full three months of the integrated Network General business compared to only two months for the three months ended December 31, 2007. These differentials have a significant impact on understanding the financial statements and related year over year explanations.

Our operating results are influenced by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the mix of products and services sold, pricing, costs of materials used in our products and the expansion of our operations. Factors that affect our ability to maximize our operating results include, but are not limited to, our ability to introduce and enhance existing products, the marketplace acceptance of those new or enhanced products, continued expansion into international markets, development of strategic partnerships, competition, successful integration efforts and current economic conditions.

For the nine months ended December 31, 2008, our total revenue increased $90.3 million, or 81%, to $201.5 million compared to $111.3 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2007. This increase is primarily attributable to the acquisition of Network General on November 1, 2007. Our cost of revenue increased by $19.6 million, or 67%, to $48.7 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 compared to $29.1 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2007. This increase is primarily due to the increased revenue associated

 

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with the acquisition of Network General. Gross profit of $152.8 million, or 76% of revenue, for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 increased from $82.1 million, or 74% of revenue, for the nine months ended December 31, 2007. This increase in gross margin percentage is attributable to product mix and synergies with the combined businesses. Our gross margin is primarily impacted by the mix and volume of our product and service revenue. Product revenue for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 increased $44.9 million, or 62%, to $117.4 million from $72.5 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2007. Service revenue for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 increased $45.4 million, or 117%, to $84.1 million from $38.8 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2007. We realize significantly higher gross margins on service revenue relative to product revenue.

For the nine months ended December 31, 2008, our total operating expenses, which include research and development, sales and marketing, general and administrative expenses and amortization of intangible assets, were $126.5 million, increasing by $48.3 million, or 62%, compared to $78.1 million of total operating expenses in the nine months ended December 31, 2007. The primary contributor to this increase in operating expenses was higher employee related expenses due to increased headcount as a result of the Network General acquisition in November 2007 as well as higher sales and marketing expenses including sales commissions commensurate with the higher sales volume. Net income for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 increased by $11.5 million, or 409%, to $14.4 million compared to net income of $2.8 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2007. This increase was primarily attributable to the contribution of the acquired Network General business and growth in the NetScout business, partially offset by an increase of $3.1 million in interest expense associated with debt entered into as a result of the acquisition of Network General.

We have continued to see significant benefit from operating leverage and remain focused on increasing our operating margin by growing revenue while containing expenses. For the nine months ended December 31, 2008, our income from operations was $26.4 million, increasing by $22.4 million, or 561%, compared to $4.0 million in the nine months ended December 31, 2007. We continue to see increased interest by the market and our customers in the importance of application performance monitoring from within the network. As networks and applications become increasingly complex, high-speed and converged, and web services and service oriented architectures become more pervasive, our products are ideally positioned for this new paradigm. During fiscal year 2009, we released new products that will help our customers stay ahead of performance issues across large, globally distributed enterprise, service provider, and government networks. First, we introduced the industry’s first packet-flow-based service performance dashboard in the form of nGenius K2, an intelligent early warning system for network and application performance and service health dashboard. Later, we launched Sniffer Global, successor to the market-defining Sniffer Portable, which allows large IT organizations to implement personalized packet analysis policies for preserving maximum security and privacy throughout the troubleshooting process. We also announced two new key releases within the Sniffer Intelligence line of advanced, service-aware expert troubleshooting solutions, in the form of Sniffer Financial Intelligence (optimizations for financial trading environments) and Sniffer Mobile Intelligence (optimizations for mobile communications operators). Finally, we released a software upgrade fulfilling our promise to our customers to deliver a single software solution unifying the two product lines from the acquisition of Network General, nGenius AFMON and Network General Infinistream, into the new nGenius InfiniStream platform.

Backed by orders coming from the government and wireless telecommunications markets, we are entering the fourth quarter with combined product backlog, consisting of unshipped orders, and deferred product revenue of $20 million. We believe that product backlog is firm and both product backlog and deferred product revenue to be material to an understanding of our financial results. However, due to the fact that most if not all of our customers have the contractual ability to cancel unshipped orders prior to shipment we cannot provide assurance that our product backlog at any point in time will ultimately become revenue.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America consistently applied. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make significant estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. These items are regularly monitored and analyzed by management for changes in facts and circumstances, and material changes in these estimates could occur in the future. Changes in estimates are recorded in the period in which they become known. We base our estimates on historical experience and various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from our estimates.

While all of our accounting policies impact the consolidated financial statements, certain policies are viewed to be critical. Critical accounting policies are those that are both most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and that require management’s most subjective or complex judgments and estimates. We consider the following accounting policies to be critical in fully understanding and evaluating our financial results:

 

   

revenue recognition;

 

   

valuation of inventories;

 

   

assumptions related to purchase accounting;

 

   

valuation of goodwill and acquired intangible assets;

 

   

capitalization of software development costs and purchased software;

 

   

share-based compensation; and

 

   

income taxes.

Please refer to the critical accounting policies set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on June 16, 2008, for a description of all critical accounting policies.

 

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Results of Operations

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the percentage of total revenue of certain line items included in our consolidated statements of operations:

NetScout Systems, Inc.

Statements of Operations

Percentages of Total Revenue

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Nine Months Ended
December 31,
 
         2008             2007             2008             2007      

Revenue:

        

Product

   59.6 %   67.1 %   58.2 %   65.2 %

Service

   40.4     32.9     41.8     34.8  
                        

Total revenue

   100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0  
                        

Cost of revenue:

        

Product

   15.0     21.6     16.5     19.3  

Service

   7.3     7.6     7.7     6.9  
                        

Total cost of revenue

   22.3     29.2     24.2     26.2  
                        

Gross margin

   77.7     70.8     75.8     73.8  
                        

Operating expenses:

        

Research and development

   13.7     17.3     15.0     16.6  

Sales and marketing

   35.0     39.9     37.3     39.4  

General and administrative

   9.9     17.6     9.8     13.9  

Amortization of acquired intangible assets

   0.7     0.6     0.7     0.3  
                        

Total operating expenses

   59.3     75.4     62.8     70.2  
                        

Income (loss) from operations

   18.4     (4.6 )   13.0     3.6  

Interest and other income (expense), net

   (1.8 )   (2.5 )   (2.2 )   0.6  
                        

Income (loss) before income taxes

   16.6     (7.1 )   10.8     4.2  

Income tax expense (benefit)

   5.6     (1.3 )   3.7     1.7  
                        

Net income (loss)

   11.0 %   (5.8 )%   7.1 %   2.5 %
                        

Three Months Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

Revenue

Product revenue consists of sales of our hardware products and licensing of our software products. Service revenue consists of customer support agreements, consulting and training. No one customer or indirect channel partner accounted for more than 10% of our total revenue during the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
    Change  
     2008     2007    
          % of
Revenue
         % of
Revenue
    $    %  

Revenue:

               

Product

   $ 42,940    60 %   $ 36,085    67 %   $ 6,855    19 %

Service

     29,110    40       17,656    33       11,454    65 %
                                   

Total Revenue

   $ 72,050    100 %   $ 53,741    100 %   $ 18,309    34 %
                                   

 

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ProductThe 19%, or $6.9 million, increase in product revenue was primarily due to the Network General acquisition. Product revenue as a percent of total revenue decreased seven points when compared to the three months ending December 31, 2007. The acquisition of Network General has shifted the revenue mix as Network General had a larger service component to its business.

Service. The 65%, or $11.5 million, increase in service revenue was primarily due to the expansion of our customer base due to the acquisition of Network General and an increase in the number of customer support agreements attributable to new product sales generated during the last 12 months, combined with continued renewals of customer support agreements from our expanding installed product base.

Total product and service revenue from direct and indirect channels are as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
    Change  
     2008     2007    
          % of
Revenue
         % of
Revenue
    $    %  

Indirect

   $ 45,900    64 %   $ 32,368    60 %   $ 13,532    42 %

Direct

     26,150    36       21,373    40       4,777    22 %
                                   

Total Revenue

   $ 72,050    100 %   $ 53,741    100 %   $ 18,309    34 %
                                   

The 42%, or $13.5 million, increase in indirect channel revenue is primarily the result of additional revenue generated as a result of the Network General acquisition as well as increased sales to the federal sector, which we sell to entirely through channel partners, and increased international sales which are almost exclusively sold through channel partners. Sales to customers outside the United States are primarily export sales through indirect channel partners, who are generally responsible for distributing our products and providing technical support and service to customers within their territories. All sales arrangements are primarily transacted in United States dollars. Our reported international revenue does not include any revenue from sales to customers outside the United States that are shipped to our United States-based indirect channel partners. These domestic resellers fulfill customer orders based upon joint selling efforts in conjunction with our direct sales force and may subsequently ship our products to international locations; however, we report these shipments as United States revenue since we ship the products to a domestic location. The 22%, or $4.8 million, increase in direct channel revenue is primarily the result of additional revenue generated as a result of the Network General acquisition.

Total revenue by geography is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
    Change  
     2008     2007    
          % of
Revenue
         % of
Revenue
    $     %  

United States

   $ 55,354    77 %   $ 38,031    71 %   $ 17,323     46 %

International:

              

Other Americas

     5,183    7       2,371    4       2,812     119 %

Europe—Middle East—Africa

     8,212    11       10,015    19       (1,803 )   (18 )%

Asia Pacific

     3,301    5       3,324    6       (23 )   (1 )%
                                    

Subtotal International:

     16,696    23       15,710    29       986     6 %
                                    

Total Revenue

   $ 72,050    100 %   $ 53,741    100 %   $ 18,309     34 %
                                    

Revenue from sales to customers outside the United States increased 6%, or approximately $1.0 million, primarily as a result of the acquisition of Network General and increased sales to international

 

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telecommunications customers. However, the net $1.0 million increase in international revenue as a percent of total revenue decreased 6 points for the three months ended December 31, 2008 to 23% versus 29% for the three months ended December 31, 2007 due to a decline in EMEA sales. Sales for EMEA were impacted by the deferral of revenue for some large shipments in the third quarter of fiscal 2008 due to undelivered functionality. We expect revenue from sales to customers outside the United States to continue to account for a significant portion of our total revenue in the future.

Cost of Revenue and Gross Profit

Cost of product revenue consists primarily of material components, manufacturing personnel expenses, media duplication, manuals, packaging materials, licensed technology fees, overhead and amortization of capitalized software and developed product technology. Cost of service revenue consists primarily of personnel, material, overhead and support costs.

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
    Change  
     2008     2007    
           % of
Revenue
          % of
Revenue
    $     %  

Cost of revenue

            

Product

   $ 10,755     15 %   $ 11,627     22 %   $ (872 )   (7 %)

Service

     5,271     7       4,056     7       1,215     30 %
                                      

Total cost of revenue

   $ 16,026     22 %   $ 15,683     29 %   $ 343     2 %
                                      

Gross profit:

            

Product $

   $ 32,185     45 %   $ 24,458     46 %   $ 7,727     32 %

Product gross margin %

     75 %       68 %      

Service $

   $ 23,839     33 %   $ 13,600     25 %   $ 10,239     75 %

Service gross margin %

     82 %       77 %      

Total gross profit $

   $ 56,024       $ 38,058       $ 17,966     47 %

Total gross margin %

     78 %       71 %      

Product. The 7%, or $872 thousand, decrease in cost of product revenue was primarily due to product mix. There was a 19%, or $6.9 million increase in product revenue during the three months ended December 31, 2008. A majority of the increase in revenue was a result of the acquisition of Network General. The product gross margin percentage increased by seven points from 68% to 75% for the three months ended December 31, 2008. This increase was due to product mix, the realization in the third quarter of fiscal 2009 of cost synergies resulting from the integration of the Network General acquisition and the impact of purchase accounting adjustments in the prior year. Average headcount in cost of product revenue was 26 and 34 for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Service. The 30%, or $1.2 million, increase in cost of service revenue was primarily due to a $811 thousand increase in personnel costs associated with our customer support and training groups and increases in allocated overhead costs such as higher internal IT spending, both resulting from the Network General acquisition. The three months ended December 31, 2007 only included two months of increased expenses since the Network General acquisition occurred on November 1, 2007. The 75%, or $10.2 million, increase in service gross profit corresponds with the 65%, or $11.5 million, increase in service revenue, offset by the 30%, or $1.2 million, increase in cost of services. Average headcount in cost of service revenue was 101 and 94 for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Gross profit. Our gross profit increased 47%, or $18.0 million. This increase was consistent with our revenue growth of 34%, or $18.3 million combined with the reduction in product cost of revenue. The net effect of the combined increases in revenue and cost of revenue was a seven point increase in gross margin percentage

 

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from the three months ended December 31, 2007 to the three months ended December 31, 2008. This increase in gross margin percentage is primarily attributable to cost reductions that we have been making over the last several quarters to the legacy Network General product hardware, favorable product mix towards new integrated hardware platforms, improved revenue mix with an increase in higher margin service revenues, acquisition related synergies and a $5.5 million reduction in purchase accounting adjustments.

Operating Expenses

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
    Change  
     2008     2007    
          % of
Revenue
         % of
Revenue
    $     %  

Research and development

   $ 9,900    14 %   $ 9,272    17 %   $ 628     7 %

Sales and marketing

     25,219    35       21,463    40       3,756     17 %

General and administrative

     7,149    10       9,454    18       (2,305 )   (24 %)

Amortization of acquired intangible assets

     490    1       314    1       176     56 %
                                    

Total Operating Expenses

   $ 42,758    59 %   $ 40,503    76 %   $ 2,255     6 %
                                    

Research and development. Research and development expenses consist primarily of personnel expenses, fees for outside consultants, overhead and related expenses associated with the development of new products and the enhancement of existing products.

The 7%, or $628 thousand, increase in research and development expenses is primarily due to increases in employee related expenses. Although headcount decreased, these expenses increased due to the fact that the three months ended December 31, 2007 only included two months of increased expenses since the Network General acquisition occurred on November 1, 2007. Average headcount in research and development was 237 and 274 for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Sales and marketing. Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of personnel expenses, including commissions, overhead and other expenses associated with selling activities and marketing programs such as trade shows, seminars, advertising, and new product launch activities.

The 17%, or $3.8 million, increase in total sales and marketing expenses was primarily due to a $3.4 million increase in employee related expenses primarily due to increased sales incentive compensation tied directly to the 34% increase in revenue and $453 thousand in increased allocated overhead costs such as higher internal IT spending. The three months ended December 31, 2007 only included two months of increased expenses since the Network General acquisition occurred on November 1, 2007. Average headcount in sales and marketing was 304 and 324 for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

General and administrative. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel expenses for executive, financial, legal and human resource employees, overhead and other corporate expenditures.

The 24%, or $2.3 million, decrease in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to a decrease of $4.0 million in Network General integration and acquisition related expenses, offset by a $1.3 million increase in employee related expenses, a $105 thousand increase in additional software licenses required for the additional headcount as a result of the Network General acquisition, a $181 thousand increase in reserves for bad debt and a $211 thousand increase in legal expenses. The three months ended December 31, 2007 only included two months of increased expenses since the Network General acquisition occurred on November 1, 2007. Average headcount in general and administrative was 112 and 111 for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

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Amortization of acquired intangible assets. Amortization of acquired intangible assets consists primarily of amortization of customer relationships related to the acquisition of Network General.

The 56%, or $176 thousand, increase in amortization of acquired intangible assets was due to the fact that amortization of the customer relationships and net beneficial leases acquired in the acquisition of Network General did not begin until November 2007.

Interest and Other Income (Expense), Net. Interest and other income (expense), net includes interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted investments and interest expense.

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
    Change  
     2008     2007    
           % of
Revenue
          % of
Revenue
    $    %  

Interest and other income (expense), net

   $ (1,267 )   (1.8 )%   $ (1,343 )   (2.5 )%   $ 76    6 %

The 6%, or $76 thousand, increase in interest and other income (expense), net was primarily due to the $395 thousand decrease in interest expense due to a reduction in the variable interest rate associated with debt that we entered into as a result of the acquisition of Network General, a $393 thousand decrease in interest income due to a decrease in market interest rates received on investments, and a $74 thousand decrease in foreign currency transaction expense due to the settlement of transactions, such as the collection of accounts receivable or the payment of liabilities related to our international locations, which were denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.

Income Tax Expense. We estimate our income tax expense based on our estimated annual effective tax rate. The estimated annual effective tax rate as of December 31, 2008 for fiscal year 2009 is 34.0%, compared to an estimated annual benefit of 53% as of December 31, 2007 for fiscal year 2008. We expect to generate profit before tax in fiscal year 2009 as compared to an annual loss incurred in fiscal year 2008. The difference in the tax rate year over year is due to the disproportionate impact the rate adjustments have in relation to the amount of pre-tax loss incurred in fiscal year 2008.

Generally, the estimated annual effective tax rates differ from the statutory rates primarily due to the impact of federal and state tax credits, tax-exempt interest income, state taxes, and qualified production activities deduction. On October 3, 2008, Congress passed the “Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008” which retroactively reinstated the federal research and development credit. The Company recognized a reduction of 1.64% in its fiscal year 2009 effective tax rate related to the reinstated credit.

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
    Change  
     2008     2007    
          % of
Revenue
          % of
Revenue
    $    %  

Income tax expense (benefit)

   $ 4,064    6 %   $ (682 )   (1 )%   $ 4,746    696 %

Net Income (Loss). Net income (loss) for the three months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
    Change  
     2008     2007    
          % of
Revenue
          % of
Revenue
    $    %  

Net income (loss)

   $ 7,935    11 %   $ (3,106 )   (6 )%   $ 11,041    355 %

 

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The $11.0 million increase in net income (loss) for the three months ended December 31, 2008 was mainly attributable to the increase in total product and service gross profit of 47%, or $18.0 million, as well as a decrease of $5.7 million of non-recurring integration expenses. This was offset by a 6%, or $2.3 million, increase in operating expenses mainly due to increased employee related expenses and incentive compensation.

Nine Months Ended December 31, 2008 and 2007

Revenue

Product revenue consists of sales of our hardware products and licensing of our software products. Service revenue consists of customer support agreements, consulting and training. No one customer or indirect channel partner accounted for more than 10% of our total revenue during the nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007.

 

     Nine Months Ended
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
    Change  
     2008     2007    
          % of
Revenue
         % of
Revenue
    $    %  

Revenue:

               

Product

   $ 117,370    58 %   $ 72,509    65 %   $ 44,861    62 %

Service

     84,148    42       38,757    35       45,391    117 %
                                   

Total Revenue

   $ 201,518    100 %   $ 111,266    100 %   $ 90,252    81 %
                                   

Product. The 62%, or $44.9 million, increase in product revenue was primarily due to the Network General acquisition. Product revenue as a percent of total revenue decreased seven points when compared to the nine months ending December 31, 2007. This shift in revenue mix is attributable to the acquired Network General business.

Service. The 117%, or $45.4 million, increase in service revenue was primarily due to the expansion of our customer base due to the acquisition of Network General and an increase in the number of customer support agreements attributable to new product sales generated during the last 12 months, combined with continued renewals of customer support agreements from our expanding installed product base.

Total product and service revenue from direct and indirect channels are as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
    Change  
     2008     2007    
          % of
Revenue
         % of
Revenue
    $    %  

Indirect

   $ 113,718    56 %   $ 70,324    63 %   $ 43,394    62 %

Direct

     87,800    44       40,942    37       46,858    114 %
                                   

Total Revenue

   $ 201,518    100 %   $ 111,266    100 %   $ 90,252    81 %
                                   

The 62%, or $43.4 million, increase in indirect channel revenue is primarily the result of additional revenue generated as a result of the Network General acquisition as well as increased sales to the federal sector, which we sell to entirely through channel partners, and increased international sales which are almost exclusively sold through channel partners. Direct revenue as a percent of total revenue increased 7 points to 44% when compared to the nine months ended December 31, 2007 primarily due to one large customer order placed which caused our channel mix to shift to direct revenue from indirect. Sales to customers outside the United States are primarily export sales through indirect channel partners, who are generally responsible for distributing our products and

 

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providing technical support and service to customers within their territories. Our sales arrangements are primarily transacted in United States dollars. Our reported international revenue does not include any revenue from sales to customers outside the United States that are shipped to our United States-based indirect channel partners. These domestic resellers fulfill customer orders based upon joint selling efforts in conjunction with our direct sales force and may subsequently ship our products to international locations; however, we report these shipments as United States revenue since we ship the products to a domestic location. The 114%, or $46.9 million, increase in direct channel revenue is primarily the result of additional revenue generated as a result of the Network General acquisition.

Total revenue by geography is as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
    Change  
     2008     2007    
          % of
Revenue
         % of
Revenue
    $    %  

United States

   $ 155,390    77 %   $ 84,235    76 %   $ 71,155    84 %

International:

               

Other Americas

     12,220    6       4,296    4       7,924    184 %

Europe—Middle East—Africa

     23,116    12       16,677    15       6,439    39 %

Asia Pacific

     10,792    5       6,058    5       4,734    78 %
                                   

Subtotal International:

     46,128    23       27,031    24       19,097    71 %
                                   

Total Revenue

   $ 201,518    100 %   $ 111,266    100 %   $ 90,252    81 %
                                   

Revenue from sales to customers outside the United States increased 71%, or $19.1 million, primarily as a result of the acquisition of Network General and increased sales to international telecommunications customers. This increase is due to a broad increase in international business but most notably in Other Americas where we had a 184% increase in revenue. We expect revenue from sales to customers outside the United States to continue to account for a significant portion of our total revenue in the future.

Cost of Revenue and Gross Profit

Cost of product revenue consists primarily of material components, manufacturing personnel expenses, media duplication, manuals, packaging materials, licensed technology fees, overhead and amortization of capitalized software and developed product technology. Cost of service revenue consists primarily of personnel, material, overhead and support costs.

 

     Nine Months Ended
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
    Change  
     2008     2007    
           % of
Revenue
          % of
Revenue
    $    %  

Cost of revenue

             

Product

   $ 33,158     16 %   $ 21,483     19 %   $ 11,675    54 %

Service

     15,551     8       7,665     7       7,886    103 %
                                     

Total cost of revenue

   $ 48,709     24 %   $ 29,148     26 %   $ 19,561    67 %
                                     

Gross profit:

             

Product $

   $ 84,212     42 %   $ 51,026     46 %   $ 33,186    65 %

Product gross margin %

     72 %       70 %       

Service $

   $ 68,597     34 %   $ 31,092     28 %   $ 37,505    121 %

Service gross margin %

     82 %       80 %       

Total gross profit $

   $ 152,809       $ 82,118       $ 70,691    86 %

Total gross margin %

     76 %       74 %       

 

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Product. The 54%, or $11.7 million, increase in cost of product revenue was primarily due to the 62% increase in product revenue during the nine months ended December 31, 2008. A majority of the increase in revenue was associated with the acquisition of Network General. The product gross margin percentage increased by two points from 70% to 72% for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively, due to product mix and realized cost synergies resulting from the Network General acquisition. Average headcount in cost of product revenue was 27 and 33 for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Service. The 103%, or $7.9 million, increase in cost of service revenue was primarily due to a $4.5 million increase in personnel costs associated with our customer support and training groups as a result of the Network General acquisition and increases in allocated overhead costs such as higher internal IT spending. The 121%, or $37.5 million, increase in service gross profit corresponds with the 117%, or $45.4 million, increase in service revenue, offset by the 103%, or $7.9 million, increase in cost of service revenue. The service gross margin percentage increased by two points from 80% to 82% for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 and 2008, respectively, due to a decline in purchase accounting valuation adjustments year over year. The acquisition of the Network General business has also shifted the revenue mix with service revenue accounting for a greater percentage of total revenue. Average headcount in cost of service revenue was 98 and 92 for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Gross profit. Our gross profit increased 86%, or $70.7 million. This increase was consistent with our revenue growth of 81%, or $90.3 million. The net effect of the combined increases in revenue and cost of revenue was a two point increase in gross margin percentage from the nine months ended December 31, 2007 to the nine months ended December 31, 2008. This increase in gross margin percentage is primarily attributable to favorable product mix, a shift in revenue mix towards our higher margin service business and realized cost synergies in fiscal 2009 as a result of the Network General integration.

Operating Expenses

 

     Nine Months Ended
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
    Change  
     2008     2007    
          % of
Revenue
         % of
Revenue
    $    %  

Research and development

   $ 30,208    15 %   $ 18,518    17 %   $ 11,690    63 %

Sales and marketing

     75,017    37       43,817    39       31,200    71 %

General and administrative

     19,760    10       15,479    14       4,281    28 %

Amortization of acquired intangible assets

     1,471    1       320    —         1,151    360 %
                                   

Total Operating Expenses

   $ 126,456    63 %   $ 78,134    70 %   $ 48,322    62 %
                                   

Research and development. Research and development expenses consist primarily of personnel expenses, fees for outside consultants, overhead and related expenses associated with the development of new products and the enhancement of existing products.

The 63%, or $11.7 million, increase in research and development expenses is primarily due to an $8.6 million increase in employee related expenses, $1.9 million in increased overhead costs such as higher internal IT spending and a $1.0 million in increased depreciation as a result of the Network General acquisition. Although headcount decreased, these expenses increased due to the fact that the nine months ended December 31, 2007 only included two months of increased expenses since the Network General acquisition occurred on November 1, 2007. Average headcount in research and development was 244 and 276 for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

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Sales and marketing. Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of personnel expenses, including commissions, overhead and other expenses associated with selling activities and marketing programs such as trade shows, seminars, advertising, and new product launch activities.

The 71%, or $31.2 million, increase in total sales and marketing expenses was primarily due to a $23.3 million increase in employee related expenses and sales incentive compensation tied directly to the 81% increase in revenue as a result of the acquisition of Network General, $2.5 million in increased travel expenses, $1.8 million in increased overhead costs such as higher internal IT spending, $1.2 million in increased sales office and rent expense from the additional sales offices and $475 thousand increase in sales meeting expenses. Although headcount decreased, these expenses increased due to the fact that the nine months ended December 31, 2007 only included two months of increased expenses since the Network General acquisition occurred on November 1, 2007. Average headcount in sales and marketing was 303 and 325 for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

General and administrative. General and administrative expenses consist primarily of personnel expenses for executive, financial, legal and human resource employees, overhead and other corporate expenditures.

The 28%, or $4.3 million, increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to a $5.4 million increase in employee related expenses, a $1.2 million increase in depreciation as a result of the Network General acquisition as well as the implementation of an Enterprise Resource Planning, or ERP, system on August 1, 2007, a $542 thousand increase in additional software licenses required for the additional headcount as a result of the Network General acquisition, a $1.1 million increase in accounting related fees and expenses and a $348 thousand increase in legal expenses offset by a decrease of $3.6 million in Network General integration expenses. Although headcount decreased, these expenses increased due to the fact that the nine months ended December 31, 2007 only included two months of increased expenses since the Network General acquisition occurred on November 1, 2007. Average headcount in general and administrative was 107 and 111 for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Amortization of acquired intangible assets. Amortization of acquired intangible assets consists primarily of amortization of customer relationships related to the acquisition of Network General.

The $1.2 million increase in amortization of acquired intangible assets was due to amortization of the customer relationships and net beneficial leases acquired in the acquisition of Network General in November 2007, offset by a $6 thousand decrease in Quantiva non-compete agreement amortization expense which became fully amortized during the first quarter of fiscal year 2008.

Interest and Other Income (Expense), Net. Interest and other income (expense), net includes interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents, marketable securities and restricted investments and interest expense.

 

     Nine Months Ended
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
    Change  
     2008     2007    
           % of
Revenue
         % of
Revenue
    $     %  

Interest and other income (expense), net

   $ (4,448 )   (2 %)   $ 727    1 %   $ (5,175 )   (712 %)

The $5.2 million decrease in interest and other income (expense), net was primarily due to the $3.1 million increase in interest expense associated with debt that we entered into as a result of the acquisition of Network General, a $1.2 million decrease in interest income due to the decrease in the balance of marketable securities as well as a decrease in market interest rates received on these investments, and a $795 thousand increase in foreign currency transaction expense due to the settlement of transactions, such as the collection of accounts receivable or the payment of liabilities related to our international locations, which were denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar.

 

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Income Tax Expense. We estimate our income tax based on our estimated annual effective tax rate. The estimated annual effective tax rate as of December 31, 2008 for fiscal year 2009 is 34%, compared to an estimated annual benefit of 53% as of December 31, 2007 for fiscal year 2008. The Company expects to generate profit before tax in fiscal year 2009 as compared to an annual loss incurred in fiscal year 2008. The difference in the tax rate year over year is due to the disproportionate impact the rate adjustments have in relation to the amount of pre-tax loss incurred in fiscal year 2008.

Generally, the estimated annual effective tax rates differ from the statutory rates primarily due to the impact of federal and state tax credits, tax-exempt interest income, state taxes, and qualified production activities deduction. On October 3, 2008, Congress passed the “Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008” which retroactively reinstated the federal research and development credit. The Company recognized a reduction of 1.64% in its fiscal year 2009 effective tax rate related to the reinstated credit.

 

     Nine Months Ended
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
    Change  
     2008     2007    
          % of
Revenue
         % of
Revenue
    $    %  

Income tax expenses

   $ 7,531    4 %   $ 1,886    2 %   $ 5,645    299 %

Net income. Net income for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 is as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended
December 31,
(Dollars in Thousands)
    Change  
     2008     2007    
          % of
Revenue
         % of
Revenue
    $    %  

Net income

   $ 14,374    7 %   $ 2,825    3 %   $ 11,549    409 %

The $11.5 million increase in net income for the nine months ended December 31, 2008 was mainly attributable to the increase in total product and service gross profit of $70.7 million, offset by a $48.3 million increase in operating expenses mainly due to increased employee related expenses and incentive compensation as well as a $5.2 million increase in net interest expense.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements. As such, we are not exposed to any financing, liquidity, market or credit risk that could arise if we had engaged in such relationships.

Commitment and Contingencies

From time to time we are subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of business. In our opinion, the amount of ultimate expense with respect to any current legal proceedings and claims, if determined adversely, will not have a significant adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations. For additional information with respect to legal proceedings, refer to Part II, Item 1 “Legal Proceedings”.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 31,
2008
   March 31,
2008

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 63,204    $ 56,702

Short-term marketable securities

     25,353      10,465

Long-term marketable securities

     30,658      33,764
             

Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities

   $ 119,215    $ 100,931
             

At December 31, 2008, we had a revolving credit facility with a syndicate of lenders led by KeyBank which allows us to borrow up to $10 million for working capital purposes and to obtain letters of credit subject to a sublimit. Amounts outstanding under the facility bear interest at a floating interest rate dependent upon, at our election, LIBOR or KeyBank’s prime rate, in each case plus a margin, and are collateralized by substantially all of our assets. Under the agreement, we are required to comply with certain financial covenants which require that we maintain minimum amounts of liquidity, the most restrictive of which is a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of no less than 1.25 to 1.00 and a maximum leverage ratio of less than 3.00 to 1.00. As of December 31, 2008, we were in compliance with such covenants. As of December 31, 2008, no amounts were outstanding under the revolving credit facility.

Our long-term marketable securities include investments in auction rate securities valued at $30.7 million at December 31, 2008, including accrued interest. Auction rate securities are publicly issued securities with long-term maturities for which interest rates reset through a Dutch auction in short-term intervals, in the case of our securities every 35 days. This mechanism was structured to allow existing investors to rollover their holdings and continue to own their respective securities or liquidate their holdings by selling at par value through the auction process. The Company invested in these securities as part of its cash management program. Historically, this auction process provided liquidity and supported a short-term classification of these securities on the consolidated balance sheet. Beginning in February 2008 and continuing through the date of this report, uncertainties in the credit markets resulted in failed auctions and a lack of short-term liquidity for these securities, which has caused us to classify our auction rate securities within long term marketable securities on the consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2008 our auction rate securities consisted of six positions issued by municipal agencies with a total par value of $33.1 million and a current estimated market value totaling $30.7 million. During the quarter ended December 31, 2008, a partial call transaction was closed related to one of our auction rate securities. As a result of the call we received proceeds of $400 thousand, which represented a recovery of the full par value of a portion of this particular security. The auction rate securities held by NetScout at December 31, 2008 have maturity dates ranging from December 2032 through December 2039. These investments range from AAA to A rated and are collateralized by student loans with underlying support by the federal government through the FFELP and by monoline insurance companies. We have the ability and intent to hold these securities until a recovery in the auction process or other liquidity event occurs. The fair value of these securities has been estimated by management based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset in a current transaction in accordance with SFAS 157 “Fair Value Measurements” and FSP 157-3 “Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active” as further disclosed in Note 5 to our consolidated financial statements. We will continue to analyze our auction rate securities each reporting period for impairment and we may be required to record an impairment charge in the Consolidated Statement of Operations if the decline in fair value is determined to be other-than-temporary. The estimated fair value of our auction rate securities could change significantly based on market and economic conditions, including: changes in market rates, the estimated timing until a liquidity event, or the discount factor associated with illiquidity and the credit ratings of our securities. There is no assurance as to when liquidity will return to this investment class, and therefore, we continue to monitor and evaluate these securities. Based on our expected operating cash flows, and our other sources of cash, we do not expect the lack of liquidity in these investments to affect our ability to execute our current business plan.

 

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     Nine Months Ended
December 31,
(In Thousands)
     2008     2007

Net cash provided by operating activities

   $ 24,474     $ 14,420

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

   $ (17,604 )   $ 17,645

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

   $ (648 )   $ 1,383

Net cash provided by operating activities

Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to $24.5 million and $14.4 million during the nine months ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The primary sources of operating cash flow in the nine months ended December 31, 2008 included net income of $14.4 million, adjusted to exclude the effects of non-cash items of $16.7 million, including depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expense and other, an $8.7 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets mainly due to in-sourcing the Network General inventory, and a $3.8 million decrease in inventories, offset by a $13.9 million increase in accounts receivable resulting from increased revenue and billing and the timing of cash collections and shipments. The primary sources of operating cash flow in the nine months ended December 31, 2007 included net income of $2.8 million, adjusted to exclude the effects of non-cash items of $6.2 million, including depreciation and amortization and share-based compensation expense, an $11.9 million increase in deferred revenue including incremental maintenance contract renewals from Network General customers, a $2.8 million increase in accounts payable due to timing of payments, and a $1.8 million increase in accrued compensation resulting from increased sales commissions due to higher revenue attainment for the NetScout business and incremental revenue from the Network General acquisition and the timing of cash collections and sales, and a $1.1 million increase in inventory associated with increased order volume. The overall increase in cash provided by operating activities is attributable to net income improvement over the prior year.

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $17.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. This includes the purchase of marketable securities of $27.3 million offset by the proceeds from the maturity of marketable securities due to cash management activities of $13.4 million and the purchase of fixed assets to support our infrastructure of $3.7 million. Net cash provided by investing activities was $17.6 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2007. This includes the acquisition of Network General for $30.9 million, net of cash acquired in such transaction, proceeds from the maturity of marketable securities due to cash management activities of $68.4 million offset by the purchase of marketable securities of $16.4 million, and the purchase of fixed assets to support our infrastructure of $3.4 million.

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

Net cash used in financing activities was $648 thousand for the nine months ended December 31, 2008. This includes the proceeds from the issuance of common stock in connection with the exercise of stock options in the amount of $2.5 million, and a tax benefit from stock options exercised of $561 thousand offset by a $3.8 million repayment of long-term debt. Net cash provided by financing activities was $1.4 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2007. The primary source was proceeds received from the issuance of long-term debt in connection with the re-financing senior secured floating rate notes, due in 2012, totaling $99.0 million net of deferred financing costs, offset by the repayment of $100.0 million of long-term debt when the senior secured floating rate notes were redeemed in full. Cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended December 31, 2007 also included the exercise of stock options in the amount of $2.3 million.

Liquidity

We believe that our cash balances, short-term marketable securities classified as available-for-sale and future cash flows generated by operations will be sufficient to meet our anticipated cash needs for working

 

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capital, capital expenditures and scheduled principal and interest payments on our debt for at least the next 12 months. If demand for our product were to decrease substantially, our ability to generate cash flow sufficient for our short-term working capital and expenditure needs could be materially impacted.

Additionally, a portion of our cash may be used to acquire or invest in complementary businesses or products or to obtain the right to use complementary technologies. From time to time, in the ordinary course of business, we evaluate potential acquisitions of such businesses, products or technologies such as our recent acquisition of Network General. If our existing sources of liquidity are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, we may seek to sell additional equity or debt securities. The sale of additional equity or debt securities could result in additional dilution to our stockholders.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. 142-3, “Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets”, or FSP 142-3. FSP 142-3 amends the factors an entity should consider in developing renewal or extension assumptions used in determining the useful life of recognized intangible assets under SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. This new guidance applies prospectively to intangible assets that are acquired individually or with a group of other assets in business combinations and asset acquisitions. FSP 142-3 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2008. Early adoption is prohibited. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of FSP 142-3 on our financial position and results of operations.

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” or SFAS 161. SFAS 161 requires enhanced disclosures about derivative instruments and hedging activities to allow for a better understanding of their effects on an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. Among other things, SFAS 161 requires disclosure of the fair values of derivative instruments and associated gains and losses in a tabular format. SFAS 161 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008, with early application encouraged. SFAS 161 also encourages but does not require comparative disclosures for earlier periods at initial adoption. We are currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS 161 on our financial position and results of operations. We did not have any derivative instruments or hedging activities.

On February 12, 2008, the FASB issued FSP No. FAS 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No 157,” which delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for all nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on at least an annual basis until 2009. We adopted FSP 157 beginning April 1, 2008 and deferred the application of SFAS 157 to nonfinancial assets and liabilities until April 1, 2009. We are currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS 157 on our nonfinancial assets and liabilities.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements—an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51”, or SFAS No. 160. SFAS 160 requires the ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent be clearly identified in the consolidated statement of financial position within equity, but separate from the parent’s equity. This standard also requires the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the noncontrolling interest be clearly identified and presented on the face of the consolidated statement of operations. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. We are currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS No. 160 on our financial position and results of operations. We did not have any minority interests as of December 31, 2008.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations”, or SFAS 141R, which replaces SFAS 141. SFAS 141R requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize the full fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction, requires certain

 

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contingent assets and liabilities acquired to be recognized at their fair values on the acquisition date, requires contingent consideration to be recognized at its fair value on the acquisition date and changes in the fair value to be recognized in earnings until settled, requires the expensing of most transactions and restructuring costs, and generally requires the reversals of valuation allowances related to acquired deferred tax assets and changes to acquired income tax uncertainties to also be recognized in earnings. SFAS 141R is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. We are currently evaluating the impact, if any, of the adoption of SFAS 141R on our financial position and results of operations.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Long-term marketable securities, which consist primarily of auction rate securities, are stated at fair value based on risk adjusted discounted cash flow calculations. Cash equivalents and short-term marketable securities consist primarily of money market instruments, U.S. Treasury bills and municipal obligations. NetScout’s primary market risk exposures are in the areas of illiquidity of auction rate securities, interest rate risk and foreign currency exchange rate risk. As a result of their illiquidity, we have recorded a temporary impairment at December 31, 2008 against the carrying value of our auction rate securities. We currently do not hedge interest rate exposure, but do not believe that a fluctuation in interest rates would have a material impact on the value of our cash equivalents and marketable securities. We are exposed to interest rate risk related to our term loan. As of December 31, 2008, we owed $95 million on this loan with a weighted average interest rate of 4.375%. Should the current weighted average interest rate increase or decrease by 10%, the resulting annual increase or decrease to interest expense would be approximately $399 thousand.

NetScout’s exposure to currency exchange rate fluctuations historically has been limited. Prior to the acquisition of Network General, all of our revenue transactions were executed in U.S. dollars. Currently, the substantial majority of our revenue transactions are executed in U.S. dollars. NetScout pays for certain foreign operating expenses such as payroll, rent and office expense in local currency, and, therefore, currency exchange rate fluctuations could have an adverse impact on our operating results and financial condition. Currently, NetScout does not engage in foreign currency hedging activities. The impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations on the translation of foreign currency denominated account balances and transactions is recorded in the period incurred.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

As of December 31, 2008, NetScout, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2008, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective in ensuring that material information relating to NetScout, including its consolidated subsidiaries, required to be disclosed by NetScout in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, including ensuring that such material information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There were no changes in our internal controls that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II: OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

On December 14, 2006, we were sued for patent infringement by Diagnostic Systems Corporation, or DSC, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, along with several other co-defendants. In its complaint, DSC requests injunctive relief, unspecified damages, expenses, and reasonable attorneys’ fees. Specifically, DSC alleges that we are infringing United States Letters Patent Nos. 5,701,400, and 5,537,590. Our Answer to DSC’s complaint denied the allegations of patent infringement and asserted counterclaims seeking a judgment that we have not infringed and that the patents are invalid. On June 17, 2008, we amended our defenses and counterclaims to allege that the patents are also unenforceable due to inequitable conduct as a result of the patent holder’s committing fraud on the Patent Office in connection with the prosecution of the patents’ applications. DSC has added additional co-defendants over the course of the proceedings. On August 12, 2008, the Court granted our motion to compel DSC to produce hundreds of documents that the Court ruled DSC had improperly withheld on grounds of attorney-client privilege. Our motion was successful, because the Court agreed with our position that, among other things, hundreds of documents DSC was seeking to protect were not privileged simply because in-house counsel was engaged in DSC’s business operations. DSC appealed the order to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the District Court stayed the case pending the appeal. The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the lower court’s decision granting our motion to compel and requiring DSC to disclose the documents requested during discovery. On January 14, 2009, the Court lifted the stay. We believe the plaintiff’s claims have no merit; however, in accordance with SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies”, we have accrued in the quarter ended December 31, 2008, an amount reflecting our best estimate of our exposure to resolve this litigation. We believe that the amount accrued at December 31, 2008 is not material to our ongoing operations and financial condition.

On or about August 1, 2008, certain former shareholders of Fidelia Technology, Inc., or Fidelia, filed a one count complaint for fraud in the Superior Court of California, San Francisco County, against Network General and certain officers and directors of Network General relating to the consideration received by the shareholders in the merger between Fidelia and Network General in January 2006. As discussed in Note 7, we acquired Network General in November 2007. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the defendants made material misrepresentations or omissions to the plaintiff shareholders regarding the value of the shares of Network General’s common stock that had been issued to them in connection with the Fidelia acquisition. The plaintiffs are seeking damages, alleged to be in the range of $6.2 million to $9.2 million. The plaintiffs had previously filed a substantially similar complaint in the Superior Court of New Jersey that was dismissed on May 30, 2008. On September 23, 2008 the defendants moved to dismiss the complaint in its entirety on several grounds. The plaintiffs opposed that motion, and following a hearing, on October 23, 2008 the Court ruled that the Complaint was defective and dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims in their entirety, but granted the plaintiffs leave to replead within 20 days. The plaintiffs filed an amended complaint and we responded on January 5, 2009, by filing a motion to dismiss plaintiff’s amended complaint. We believe the plaintiffs’ claims have no merit and will defend the lawsuit vigorously.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 and on our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. The risks discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and on our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 could materially affect our business, financial condition and future results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and on our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results.

 

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

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, the Company did not repurchase any shares of its outstanding common stock pursuant to its open market stock repurchase program further described above in Note 11 to the condensed consolidated financial statements attached hereto.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

(a) Exhibits

 

  10.1    Amendment No. 2 to Agreement Related to Employment, dated December 22, 2008 by and between the company and Anil K. Singhal (filed herewith).
  31.1    Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
  31.2    Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
  32.1    Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith).
  32.2    Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith).

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

    NETSCOUT SYSTEMS, INC.
Date: February 6, 2009     /s/    ANIL K. SINGHAL        
    Anil K. Singhal
   

President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman

(Principal Executive Officer)

Date: February 6, 2009     /s/    DAVID P. SOMMERS        
    David P. Sommers
   

Senior Vice President, General Operations and

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

Date: February 6, 2009     /s/    JEFFREY R. WAKELY        
    Jeffrey R. Wakely
   

Vice President, Finance and Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

10.1    Amendment No. 2 to Agreement Relating to Employment, dating December 22, 2008 by and between the Company and Anil K. Singhal (filed herewith).
31.1    Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
31.2    Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).
32.1    Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith).
32.2    Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith).

 

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