Registration Statement on Form S-3
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 12, 2005

Registration No. 333-            


UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


SYNNEX CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware   94-2703333

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

44201 Nobel Drive

Fremont, California 94538

(510) 656-3333

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)


Robert Huang

Chief Executive Officer

SYNNEX Corporation

44201 Nobel Drive

Fremont, California 94538

(510) 656-3333

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


Copies to:

Jorge del Calvo, Esq.

Davina K. Kaile, Esq.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

2475 Hanover Street

Palo Alto, California 94304

(650) 233-4500

  

Gregory C. Smith, Esq.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

525 University Avenue, Suite 1100

Palo Alto, California 94301

(650) 470-4500

Fax (650) 470-4570


Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:    As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨                     

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨                     

If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box.  ¨


Calculation of Registration Fee


Title of each class of securities to be

registered

  

Amount to be

registered(1)

  

Proposed maximum

offering price

per share(2)

  

Proposed maximum

aggregate

offering price(1)

   Amount of
registration fee

Common Stock, $0.001 par value

   6,900,000 Shares    $16.75    $115,575,000    $13,604

(1) Includes 900,000 shares that the underwriters have the option to purchase to cover over-allotments, if any.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Company’s Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on October 7, 2005.

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.



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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED OCTOBER 12, 2005

Preliminary Prospectus

 

LOGO

 

6,000,000 shares

SYNNEX Corporation

 

Common Stock

 

Certain of our stockholders, referred to in this prospectus as selling stockholders, are offering 6,000,000 shares of our common stock. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares.

 

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SNX.” The last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on October 11, 2005, was $16.76 per share.

 

See “ Risk Factors” beginning on page 5 to read about certain risks that you should consider before buying shares of our common stock.

 

 

 

 

     Per Share      Total

Public Offering Price

   $                          $                            

Underwriting Discount

   $                          $                            

Proceeds to the Selling Stockholders

   $                          $                            

 

Certain of the selling stockholders identified in this prospectus have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 900,000 additional shares to cover any over-allotments.

 

Delivery of shares will be made on or about                     , 2005.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.   Citigroup

Sole Bookrunning Manager

   

 

Raymond James   Banc of America Securities LLC

 

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2005.


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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our common stock. You should read the entire prospectus carefully, including the section entitled “Risk Factors” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes before making an investment decision.

 

SYNNEX Corporation

 

Our Business

 

We are a global information technology, or IT, supply chain services company. We offer a comprehensive range of services to IT original equipment manufacturers and software publishers, collectively OEMs, and reseller customers worldwide. The supply chain services that we offer include product distribution, related logistics, contract assembly and demand generation marketing.

 

We have been in the IT distribution business since 1980 and are one of the largest IT product distributors based on 2004 reported revenue. We focus our core wholesale distribution business on a limited number of leading IT OEMs, which allows us to enhance and increase the value we provide to our OEM suppliers and reseller customers.

 

In our distribution operations, we purchase IT systems, peripherals, system components, packaged software and networking equipment from OEM suppliers such as HP, IBM, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft and Seagate and sell them to our reseller customers. We perform the same function for our purchases of licensed software products. Our reseller customers include value added resellers, or VARs, corporate resellers, government resellers, system integrators, direct marketers and retailers. We currently distribute and market approximately 15,000 products (as measured by active SKUs) from over 100 OEM suppliers to more than 15,000 resellers.

 

Our contract assembly operations are generally related to building IT systems such as network security appliances, workstations and servers. By leveraging the inventory management capabilities and system component supplier relationships of our distribution business, we provide cost-effective IT system contract assembly.

 

Because we offer distribution, contract assembly, demand generation marketing, IT solutions and complementary logistics services, OEM suppliers and resellers can outsource to us multiple areas of their business outside of their core competencies. This model allows us to provide services at several points along the IT product supply chain. We believe that the combination of our broad range of supply chain capabilities, our focus on serving the leading IT OEMs and our efficient operations enables us to realize strong and expanding relationships with these OEMs and our reseller customers.

 

Our Strategy

 

We intend to continue to expand our business by pursuing the following strategies:

 

  Ÿ   Deepen relationships with our existing OEM suppliers and reseller customers by expanding the supply chain services we offer to them.

 

  Ÿ   Establish new strategic relationships with leading OEMs to increase the breadth of product lines that we distribute.

 

  Ÿ   Increase our reseller customer base by offering competitive pricing for a comprehensive selection of IT products and in-depth product expertise.

 

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  Ÿ   Expand our contract assembly operations to benefit from the continuing trend of OEMs outsourcing their production activities.

 

  Ÿ   Control costs by maintaining our low cost operations and seeking ways to further reduce costs in all areas of our business.

 

  Ÿ   Pursue strategic acquisitions and investments to increase our OEM and reseller relationships, enhance our supply chain capabilities and expand our geographic reach.

 

Our Relationship with MiTAC International

 

In 1992, MiTAC International Corporation, or MiTAC International, acquired a controlling interest in us and, prior to the completion of our initial public offering, had increased its beneficial ownership interest in us to approximately 98%. MiTAC International and its affiliates currently beneficially own approximately 67% of our outstanding common stock and after completion of this offering will beneficially own approximately 46% of our common stock, assuming the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option, and approximately 43% if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full. As a result of this ownership interest, MiTAC International and its affiliates control us and they will continue to control us upon completion of the offering. MiTAC International and its affiliates comprise all of the selling stockholders in this offering.

 

MiTAC International, established in 1982, is a publicly held, original design manufacturing company based in Taiwan. MiTAC International specializes in the development and manufacture of motherboards, servers, personal computers and mobile wireless handheld devices, such as wireless PDAs and smart phones. In the last 24 years, MiTAC International has expanded its presence in more than 20 countries around the world. In 1994, we began offering contract assembly services that we jointly market with MiTAC International’s manufacturing and design capabilities.

 

There are potential conflicts of interest between us and MiTAC International and its affiliates. These conflicts are more fully discussed elsewhere in this prospectus.

 


 

We were incorporated in the State of California as COMPAC Microelectronics, Inc. on November 18, 1980, and we changed our name to SYNNEX Information Technologies, Inc. on February 4, 1994. We reincorporated in the State of Delaware under the name “SYNNEX Corporation” in October 2003. Our principal offices are located at 44201 Nobel Drive, Fremont, California 94538, and our telephone number is (510) 656-3333. We have distribution, sales and assembly facilities located in Asia, Europe and North America. Our website is located at www.synnex.com. The information contained on our website is not a part of this prospectus.

 

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THE OFFERING

 

Shares of common stock being offered by the selling stockholders

6,000,000 shares

 

Shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering

28,855,726 shares

 

Use of proceeds

We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares offered by the selling stockholders. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

Dividend policy

We have not declared or paid any cash dividends since our inception. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, for use in our operations and the expansion of our business.

 

New York Stock Exchange symbol

SNX

 

The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on our outstanding shares as of August 31, 2005. These shares exclude:

 

  Ÿ   7,034,661 shares issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding at August 31, 2005 under our stock option plans with a weighted average exercise price of $9.57 per share;

 

  Ÿ   4,416,713 shares reserved for future grant under our stock option plans at August 31, 2005; and

 

  Ÿ   162,155 shares reserved for issuance under our employee stock purchase plan.

 


 

Except when otherwise indicated, all information in this prospectus assumes no exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares of common stock from some of the selling stockholders to cover over-allotments, if any.

 

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SUMMARY HISTORICAL FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA

 

The tables below summarize our consolidated statement of operations and balance sheet data as of and for the periods indicated. The summary consolidated financial data are derived from and are qualified by reference to our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus and are adjusted to give effect to the discontinued operations resulting from the sale of our Japan subsidiary during the second quarter of fiscal 2005. The data in the following tables should be read together with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this prospectus.

 

    

Fiscal Years Ended

November 30,


    Nine Months Ended
August 31,


 
     2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

    2005

 
           (in thousands, except per share data)        

Statements of Operations Data:

                                        

Revenue

   $ 3,596,265     $ 3,944,886     $ 5,150,447     $ 3,709,632     $ 4,047,681  

Cost of revenue

     (3,432,089 )     (3,766,518 )     (4,935,075 )     (3,555,520 )     (3,876,013 )
    


 


 


 


 


Gross profit

     164,176       178,368       215,372       154,112       171,668  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     (114,657 )     (121,352 )     (137,712 )     (99,562 )     (117,120 )
    


 


 


 


 


Income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest

     49,519       57,016       77,660       54,550       54,548  
    


 


 


 


 


Income from continuing operations

   $ 27,875     $ 29,708     $ 46,086     $ 31,039     $ 27,192  
    


 


 


 


 


Income from continuing operations per common share—diluted

   $ 1.15     $ 1.21     $ 1.53     $ 1.04     $ 0.87  
    


 


 


 


 


Weighted average common share outstanding—diluted

     24,251       24,555       30,111       29,899       31,177  
    


 


 


 


 


 

     August 31, 2005

     (in thousands)

Balance Sheet Data:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 9,870

Working capital

     342,200

Total assets

     998,645

Current borrowings under term loans and lines of credit

     60,491

Long-term borrowings

     1,224

Total stockholders’ equity

     419,291

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

You should consider carefully the risks described below, together with all of the other information in this prospectus, before making a decision to invest in our common stock. If any of the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition or results of operations could suffer. In this case, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment.

 

Risks Related to Our Business

 

We anticipate that our revenue and operating results will fluctuate, which could adversely affect the price of our common stock.

 

Our operating results have fluctuated and will fluctuate in the future as a result of many factors, including:

 

  Ÿ   general economic conditions and level of IT spending;

 

  Ÿ   the loss or consolidation of one or more of our significant OEM suppliers or customers;

 

  Ÿ   market acceptance and product life of the products we assemble and distribute;

 

  Ÿ   competitive conditions in our industry that impact our margins;

 

  Ÿ   pricing, margin and other terms with our OEM suppliers; and

 

  Ÿ   variations in our levels of excess inventory and doubtful accounts, and changes in the terms of OEM supplier-sponsored programs, such as price protection and return rights.

 

Although we attempt to control our expense levels, these levels are based, in part, on anticipated revenue. Therefore, we may not be able to control spending in a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected revenue shortfall.

 

Our operating results also are affected by the seasonality of the IT products industry. We have historically experienced higher sales in our fourth fiscal quarter due to patterns in the capital budgeting, federal government spending and purchasing cycles of end-users. These patterns may not be repeated in subsequent periods.

 

You should not rely on period-to-period comparisons of our operating results as an indication of future performance. The results of any quarterly period are not indicative of results to be expected for a full fiscal year. In future quarters, our operating results may be below our expectations or those of our public market analysts or investors, which would likely cause our share price to decline. For example, in March 2005, we announced that our revenue and net income for the three months ended February 28, 2005 would be lower than our previously released guidance and, as a result, our share price subsequently declined substantially.

 

We depend on a small number of OEMs to supply the IT products that we sell and the loss of, or a material change in, our business relationship with a major OEM supplier could adversely affect our business, financial position and operating results.

 

Our future success is highly dependent on our relationships with a small number of OEM suppliers. Sales of HP and IBM products represented approximately 28% and 12%, respectively, of our total revenue in the nine months ended August 31, 2004 and approximately 28% and 5%, respectively, of our total revenue for the nine months ended August 31, 2005. The decline in sales of IBM products was a result of IBM selling its PC division to Lenovo, with whom we have an ongoing business relationship. Our OEM supplier agreements typically are short-term and may be terminated without cause upon short notice. For example, our agreement with HP will expire on May 31, 2006. The loss or deterioration of our relationships with a major OEM supplier, the authorization by OEM suppliers of additional distributors, the sale of products by OEM suppliers directly to our reseller customers and end-users, or our failure to establish relationships with new OEM suppliers or to expand the distribution and supply chain services that we provide OEM suppliers could adversely affect our business,

 

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financial position and operating results. In addition, OEM suppliers may face liquidity or solvency issues that in turn could negatively affect our business and operating results.

 

Our business is also highly dependent on the terms provided by our OEM suppliers. Generally, each OEM supplier has the ability to change the terms and conditions of its sales agreements, such as reducing the amount of price protection and return rights or reducing the level of purchase discounts, rebates and marketing programs available to us. From time to time we may conduct business with a supplier without a formal agreement because the agreement has expired or otherwise. In such case, we are subject to additional risk with respect to products, warranties and returns, and other terms and conditions. If we are unable to pass the impact of these changes through to our reseller customers, our business, financial position and operating results could be adversely affected.

 

Our gross margins are low, which magnifies the impact of variations in revenue, operating costs and bad debt on our operating results.

 

As a result of significant price competition in the IT products industry, our gross margins are low, and we expect them to continue to be low in the future. Increased competition arising from industry consolidation and low demand for certain IT products may hinder our ability to maintain or improve our gross margins. These low gross margins magnify the impact of variations in revenue, operating costs and bad debt on our operating results. A portion of our operating expenses is relatively fixed, and planned expenditures are based in part on anticipated orders that are forecasted with limited visibility of future demand. As a result, we may not be able to reduce our operating expenses as a percentage of revenue to mitigate any further reductions in gross margins in the future. If we cannot proportionately decrease our cost structure in response to competitive price pressures, our business and operating results could suffer.

 

We also receive purchase discounts and rebates from OEM suppliers based on various factors, including sales or purchase volume and breadth of customers. A decrease in net sales could negatively affect the level of volume rebates received from our OEM suppliers and thus, our gross margins. Because some rebates from OEM suppliers are based on percentage increases in sales of products, it may become more difficult for us to achieve the percentage growth in sales required for larger discounts due to the current size of our revenue base. A decrease or elimination of purchase discounts and rebates from our OEM suppliers would adversely affect our business and operating results.

 

Because we sell on a purchase order basis, we are subject to uncertainties and variability in demand by our reseller and contract assembly customers, which could decrease revenue and adversely affect our operating results.

 

We sell to our reseller and contract assembly customers on a purchase order basis rather than pursuant to long-term contracts or contracts with minimum purchase requirements. Consequently, our sales are subject to demand variability by our reseller and contract assembly customers. The level and timing of orders placed by our reseller and contract assembly customers vary for a variety of reasons, including seasonal buying by end-users, the introduction of new hardware and software technologies and general economic conditions. Customers submitting a purchase order may cancel, reduce or delay their orders. If we are unable to anticipate and respond to the demands of our reseller and contract assembly customers, we may lose customers because we have an inadequate supply of products, or we may have excess inventory, either of which may harm our business, financial position and operating results.

 

We are subject to the risk that our inventory value may decline, and protective terms under our OEM supplier agreements may not adequately cover the decline in value, which in turn may harm our business, financial position and operating results.

 

The IT products industry is subject to rapid technological change, new and enhanced product specification requirements, and evolving industry standards. These changes may cause inventory on hand to decline substantially in value or to rapidly become obsolete. Most of our OEM suppliers offer limited protection from the

 

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loss in value of inventory. For example, we can receive a credit from many OEM suppliers for products held in inventory in the event of a supplier price reduction. In addition, we have a limited right to return a certain percentage of purchases to most OEM suppliers. These policies are subject to time restrictions and do not protect us in all cases from declines in inventory value. In addition, our OEM suppliers may become unable or unwilling to fulfill their protection obligations to us. The decrease or elimination of price protection or the inability of our OEM suppliers to fulfill their protection obligations could lower our gross margins and cause us to record inventory write-downs. If we are unable to manage our inventory with our OEM suppliers with a high degree of precision, we may have insufficient product supplies or we may have excess inventory, resulting in inventory write downs, either of which may harm our business, financial position and operating results.

 

We depend on OEM suppliers to maintain an adequate supply of products to fulfill customer orders on a timely basis, and any supply shortages or delays could cause us to be unable to timely fulfill orders, which in turn could harm our business, financial position and operating results.

 

Our ability to obtain particular products in the required quantities and to fulfill reseller customer orders on a timely basis is critical to our success. In most cases, we have no guaranteed price or delivery agreements with our OEM suppliers. We occasionally experience a supply shortage of certain products as a result of strong demand or problems experienced by our OEM suppliers. If shortages or delays persist, the price of those products may increase, or the products may not be available at all. In addition, our OEM suppliers may decide to distribute, or to substantially increase their existing distribution business, through other distributors, their own dealer networks, or directly to resellers. Accordingly, if we are not able to secure and maintain an adequate supply of products to fulfill our reseller customer orders on a timely basis, our business, financial position and operating results may be adversely affected.

 

We may suffer adverse consequences from changing interest rates.

 

Our short-term borrowings and off-balance sheet arrangements are variable rate obligations that could expose us to interest rate risks. At August 31, 2005, we had approximately $229.9 million in such variable rate obligations. If interest rates increase, our interest expense would increase, which would negatively affect our net income. Additionally, increasing interest rates may increase our future borrowing costs and restrict our access to capital.

 

A portion of our revenue is financed by floor plan financing companies and any termination or reduction in these financing arrangements could increase our financing costs and harm our business and operating results.

 

A portion of our distribution revenue is financed by floor plan financing companies. Floor plan financing companies are engaged by our customers to finance, or “floor,” the purchase of products from us. In exchange for a fee, we transfer the risk of loss on the sale of our products to the floor plan companies. We currently receive payment from these financing companies within approximately 15 business days from the date of the sale, which allows our business to operate at much lower relative working capital levels than if such programs were not available. If these floor plan arrangements are terminated or substantially reduced, the need for more working capital and the increased financing cost could harm our business and operating results. We have not experienced any termination or significant reduction in floor plan arrangements in the past.

 

We have significant credit exposure to our reseller customers, and negative trends in their businesses could cause us significant credit loss and negatively impact our cash flow and liquidity position.

 

We extend credit to our reseller customers for a significant portion of our sales to them. Resellers have a period of time, generally 30 days after the date of invoice, to make payment. As a result, we are subject to the risk that our reseller customers will not pay for the products they purchase. Our credit exposure risk may increase due to liquidity or solvency issues experienced by our resellers as a result of an economic downturn or a decrease in IT spending by end-users. If we are unable to collect payment for products we ship to our reseller customers or if our reseller customers are unable to timely pay for the products we ship to them, it will be more difficult or costly to utilize receivable-based financing, which could negatively impact our cash flow and liquidity position.

 

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We experienced theft of product from our warehouses and future thefts could harm our operating results.

 

From time to time we have experienced incidents of theft at various facilities. In fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2005 we experienced theft as a result of break-ins at four of our warehouses in which approximately $13.4 million of inventory was stolen. Based on our investigation, discussions with local law enforcement and meetings with federal authorities, we believe the thefts at our warehouses were part of an organized crime effort that targeted a number of technology equipment warehouses throughout the United States.

 

As a result of the losses in 2003, we reduced our inventory value by $9.4 million, and recorded estimated proceeds, net of deductibles as a receivable from our insurance company, included within “other current assets” on our balance sheet as of November 30, 2003. In January 2004 we received a final settlement from our insurance company that amounted to substantially all of the receivables recorded as of November 30, 2003.

 

In March 2005 approximately $4.0 million of inventory was stolen from our facility in the City of Industry, California. We have filed a claim with our insurance provider for the amount of the loss, less a small deductible. To date, we have received $1.8 million of the claimed amount. Based on the information we have received to date from our insurance provider, we expect the remaining claim to be collected.

 

These types of incidents may make it more difficult or expensive for us to obtain theft coverage in the future. In the future, incidents of theft may re-occur for which we may not be fully insured.

 

A significant portion of our contract assembly revenue comes from a single customer, and any decrease in sales from this customer could adversely affect our revenue.

 

As a result of product transitions, product life cycle, product acceptance and pricing pressure, our business with Sun Microsystems, our primary contract assembly customer, has decreased. Sun Microsystems accounted for approximately $400.7 million or 97% of our contract assembly revenue in the nine months ended August 31, 2004 and approximately $366.4 million or 93% in the nine months ended August 31, 2005. Our contract assembly business will remain dependent on our relationship with Sun Microsystems in the foreseeable future, subjecting us to risks with respect to the success and life cycle of Sun Microsystems products we assemble and the pricing terms we negotiate with Sun Microsystems and our suppliers. Accordingly, if we are unable to assemble new and successful products for Sun Microsystems on appropriate pricing terms, our business and operating results would be adversely affected.

 

The future success of our relationship with Sun Microsystems also depends on MiTAC International continuing to work with us to service Sun Microsystems’ requirements at an appropriate cost. We rely on MiTAC International to manufacture and supply subassemblies and components for the computer systems we assemble for Sun Microsystems. As MiTAC International’s ownership interest in us decreases as a result of this offering and subsequent sales, MiTAC International’s interest in the success of our business and operations may decrease as well. If we are unable to maintain our relationship and appropriate pricing terms with MiTAC International, our relationship with Sun Microsystems could suffer, which in turn could harm our business, financial position and operating results. In addition, if we were unable to obtain assembly contracts for new and successful products our business and operating results would suffer.

 

We have pursued and intend to continue to pursue strategic acquisitions or investments in new markets and may encounter risks associated with these activities, which could harm our business and operating results.

 

We have in the past pursued and in the future expect to pursue acquisitions of, or investments in, businesses and assets in new markets, either within or outside the IT products industry, that complement or expand our existing business. Our acquisition strategy involves a number of risks, including:

 

  Ÿ   difficulty in successfully integrating acquired operations, IT systems, customers, OEM supplier and partner relationships, products and businesses with our operations;

 

  Ÿ   loss of key employees of acquired operations or inability to hire key employees necessary for our expansion;

 

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  Ÿ   diversion of our capital and management attention away from other business issues;

 

  Ÿ   an increase in our expenses and working capital requirements;

 

  Ÿ   in the case of acquisitions that we may make outside of the United States, difficulty in operating in foreign countries and over significant geographical distances; and

 

  Ÿ   other financial risks, such as potential liabilities of the businesses we acquire.

 

Our growth may be limited and our competitive position may be harmed if we are unable to identify, finance and complete future acquisitions. We believe that further expansion may be a prerequisite to our long-term success as some of our competitors in the IT product distribution industry have larger international operations, higher revenues and greater financial resources than us. We have incurred costs and encountered difficulties in the past in connection with our acquisitions and investments. For example, our operating margins were initially adversely affected as a result of our acquisition of Merisel Canada Inc. and we have written off substantial investments in the past, one of which was eManage.com, Inc. Also, our recent acquisition of EMJ Data Systems, Ltd., or EMJ, caused an initial negative effect on our operating margins as we integrated EMJ’s systems, operations and personnel. Future acquisitions may result in dilutive issuances of equity securities, the incurrence of additional debt, large write-offs, a decrease in future profitability, or future losses. The incurrence of debt in connection with any future acquisitions could restrict our ability to obtain working capital or other financing necessary to operate our business. Our recent and future acquisitions or investments may not be successful, and if we fail to realize the anticipated benefits of these acquisitions or investments, our business and operating results could be harmed.

 

We are dependent on a variety of IT and telecommunications systems, and any failure of these systems could adversely impact our business and operating results.

 

We depend on IT and telecommunications systems for our operations. These systems support a variety of functions, including inventory management, order processing, shipping, shipment tracking and billing.

 

Failures or significant downtime of our IT or telecommunications systems could prevent us from taking customer orders, printing product pick-lists, shipping products or billing customers. Sales also may be affected if our reseller customers are unable to access our price and product availability information. We also rely on the Internet, and in particular electronic data interchange, or EDI, for a large portion of our orders and information exchanges with our OEM suppliers and reseller customers. The Internet and individual web sites have experienced a number of disruptions and slowdowns, some of which were caused by organized attacks. In addition, some web sites have experienced security breakdowns. If we were to experience a security breakdown, disruption or breach that compromised sensitive information, it could harm our relationship with our OEM suppliers or reseller customers. Disruption of our web site or the Internet in general could impair our order processing or more generally prevent our OEM suppliers or reseller customers from accessing information. The occurrence of any of these events could have an adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

We rely on independent shipping companies for delivery of products, and price increases or service interruptions from these carriers could adversely affect our business and operating results.

 

We rely almost entirely on arrangements with independent shipping companies, such as FedEx and UPS, for the delivery of our products from OEM suppliers and delivery of products to reseller customers. Freight and shipping charges can have a significant impact on our gross margin. As a result, an increase in freight surcharges due to rising fuel cost or general price increases will have an immediate adverse effect on our margins, unless we are able to pass the increased charges to our reseller customers or renegotiate terms with our OEM suppliers. In addition, in the past, UPS has experienced work stoppages due to labor negotiations with management. The termination of our arrangements with one or more of these independent shipping companies, the failure or inability of one or more of these independent shipping companies to deliver products, or the unavailability of their shipping services, even temporarily, could have an adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

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Because we conduct substantial operations in China, risks associated with economic, political and social events in China could negatively affect our business and operating results.

 

A substantial portion of our IT systems operations, including our IT systems support and software development operations, is located in China. In addition, we also conduct general and administrative activities from our facility in China. As of August 31, 2005, we had 379 personnel located in China. We expect to increase our operations in China in the future. Our operations in China are subject to a number of risks relating to China’s economic and political systems, including:

 

  Ÿ   a government controlled foreign exchange rate and limitations on the convertibility of the Chinese renminbi;

 

  Ÿ   extensive government regulation;

 

  Ÿ   changing governmental policies relating to tax benefits available to foreign-owned businesses;

 

  Ÿ   the telecommunications infrastructure;

 

  Ÿ   a relatively uncertain legal system; and

 

  Ÿ   uncertainties related to continued economic and social reform.

 

In addition, external events in Asia, such as the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, and heightened political tensions in this region may adversely affect our business by disrupting the IT supply chain, restricting travel or interfering with the electronic and communications infrastructure.

 

Our IT systems are an important part of our global operations. Any significant interruption in service, whether resulting from any of the above uncertainties, natural disasters or otherwise, could result in delays in our inventory purchasing, errors in order fulfillment, reduced levels of customer service and other disruptions in operations, any of which could cause our business and operating results to suffer.

 

Changes in foreign exchange rates and limitations on the convertibility of foreign currencies could adversely affect our business and operating results.

 

In the nine months ended August 31, 2004 and 2005, approximately 17% and 20%, respectively, of our total revenue was generated outside the United States. Most of our international revenue, cost of revenue and operating expenses are denominated in foreign currencies. We presently have currency exposure arising from both sales and purchases denominated in foreign currencies. Changes in exchange rates between foreign currencies and the U.S. dollar may adversely affect our operating margins. For example, if these foreign currencies appreciate against the U.S. dollar, it will make it more expensive in terms of U.S. dollars to purchase inventory or pay expenses with foreign currencies. This could have a negative impact to us if revenues related to these purchases are transacted in U.S. dollars. In addition, currency devaluation can result in a loss to us if we hold deposits of that currency as well as make our products, which are usually purchased by us with U.S. dollars, relatively more expensive than products manufactured locally. We currently conduct only limited hedging activities, which involve the use of currency forward contracts. Hedging foreign currencies can be risky. For example, in fiscal 2003 we incurred $3.7 million of foreign currency transaction losses as a result of purchases of forward contracts not conducted within our normal hedging practices and procedures, combined with a weakening U.S. dollar. There is also additional risk if the currency is not freely or actively traded. Some currencies, such as the Chinese renminbi, are subject to limitations on conversion into other currencies, which can limit our ability to hedge or to otherwise react to rapid foreign currency devaluations. We cannot predict the impact of future exchange rate fluctuations on our business and operating results.

 

Because of the experience of our key personnel in the IT products industry and their technological expertise, if we were to lose any of our key personnel, it could inhibit our ability to operate and grow our business successfully.

 

We operate in the highly competitive IT products industry. We are dependent in large part on our ability to retain the services of our key senior executives and other technical experts and personnel. Our employees and

 

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executives do not have employment agreements. Furthermore, we do not carry “key person” insurance coverage for any of our key executives. We compete for qualified senior management and technical personnel. The loss of, or inability to hire, key executives or qualified employees could inhibit our ability to operate and grow our business successfully.

 

We may become involved in intellectual property or other disputes that could cause us to incur substantial costs, divert the efforts of our management, and require us to pay substantial damages or require us to obtain a license, which may not be available on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.

 

We may from time to time receive notifications alleging infringements of intellectual property rights allegedly held by others relating to our business or the products we sell or assemble for our OEM suppliers and others. Litigation with respect to patents or other intellectual property matters could result in substantial costs and diversion of management and other resources and could have an adverse effect on our business. Although we generally have various levels of indemnification protection from our OEM suppliers and contract assembly customers, in many cases any indemnification to which we may be entitled is subject to maximum limits or other restrictions. In addition, we have developed proprietary IT systems that play an important role in our business. If any infringement claim is successful against us and if indemnification is not available or sufficient, we may be required to pay substantial damages or we may need to seek and obtain a license of the other party’s intellectual property rights. We may be unable to obtain such a license on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.

 

We are from time to time involved in other litigation in the ordinary course of business. For example, we are currently defending a trademark infringement action and a civil matter involving third party investors in eManage.com, Inc. and are considering the appeal of the $4.2 million judgment entered against Daisytek (Canada), Inc., a former wholly owned subsidiary of EMJ, by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. We may not be successful in defending these or other claims. Regardless of the outcome, litigation could result in substantial expense and could divert the efforts of our management.

 

Because of the capital-intensive nature of our business, we need continued access to capital, which, if not available to us or if not available on favorable terms, could harm our ability to operate or expand our business.

 

Our business requires significant levels of capital to finance accounts receivable and product inventory that is not financed by trade creditors. If cash from available sources is insufficient, proceeds from our accounts receivable securitization program are limited or cash is used for unanticipated needs, we may require additional capital sooner than anticipated. In the event we are required, or elect, to raise additional funds, we may be unable to do so on favorable terms, or at all. Our current and future indebtedness could adversely affect our operating results and severely limit our ability to plan for, or react to, changes in our business or industry. We could also be limited by financial and other restrictive covenants in any credit arrangements, including limitations on our borrowing of additional funds and issuing dividends. Furthermore, the cost of debt financing has increased recently and could significantly increase in the future, making it cost prohibitive to borrow, which could force us to issue new equity securities.

 

If we issue new equity securities, existing stockholders may experience additional dilution, or the new equity securities may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of existing holders of common stock. If we cannot raise funds on acceptable terms, we may not be able to take advantage of future opportunities or respond to competitive pressures or unanticipated requirements. Any inability to raise additional capital when required could have an adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

The terms of our indebtedness agreements impose significant restrictions on our ability to operate which in turn may negatively affect our ability to respond to business and market conditions and therefore have an adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

As of August 31, 2005, we had approximately $61.7 million in outstanding short and long-term borrowings under term loans and lines of credit, excluding trade payables. As of August 31, 2005, approximately $170.9

 

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million of our accounts receivable were sold to and held by two financial institutions under our accounts receivable securitization program. The terms of our current indebtedness agreements restrict, among other things, our ability to:

 

  Ÿ   incur additional indebtedness;

 

  Ÿ   pay dividends or make certain other restricted payments;

 

  Ÿ   consummate certain asset sales or acquisitions;

 

  Ÿ   enter into certain transactions with affiliates; and

 

  Ÿ   merge, consolidate or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets.

 

We are also required to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy certain financial condition tests, including minimum net worth and fixed charge coverage ratio as outlined in our senior secured revolving line of credit arrangement. We may be unable to meet these ratios and tests, which could result in the acceleration of the repayment of the related debt, the termination of the facility or the increase in our effective cost of funds. As a result, our ability to operate may be restricted and our ability to respond to business and market conditions limited, which could have an adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

We have significant operations concentrated in Northern California, South Carolina, Toronto and Beijing and any disruption in the operations of our facilities could harm our business and operating results.

 

Our worldwide operations could be subject to natural disasters and other business disruptions, which could seriously harm our revenue and financial condition and increase our costs and expenses. We have significant operations in our facilities located in Fremont, California, Greenville, South Carolina, Toronto and Beijing. As a result, any prolonged disruption in the operations of our facilities, whether due to technical difficulties, power failures, break-ins, destruction or damage to the facilities as a result of a natural disaster, fire or any other reason, could harm our operating results. We currently do not have a formal disaster recovery plan and may not have sufficient business interruption insurance to compensate for losses that could occur.

 

Global health, economic, political and social conditions may harm our ability to do business, increase our costs and negatively affect our stock price.

 

External factors such as potential terrorist attacks, acts of war, geopolitical and social turmoil or epidemics such as SARS and other similar outbreaks in many parts of the world could prevent or hinder our ability to do business, increase our costs and negatively affect our stock price. For example, increased instability may adversely impact the desire of employees and customers to travel, the reliability and cost of transportation, our ability to obtain adequate insurance at reasonable rates or require us to incur increased costs for security measures for our domestic and international operations. These uncertainties make it difficult for us and our customers to accurately plan future business activities. More generally, these geopolitical social and economic conditions could result in increased volatility in the United States and worldwide financial markets and economy. We are predominantly uninsured for losses and interruptions caused by terrorist acts and acts of war.

 

Part of our business is conducted outside of the United States, exposing us to additional risks that may not exist in the United States, which in turn could cause our business and operating results to suffer.

 

We have international operations in Canada, China, Mexico and the United Kingdom. In the nine months ended August 31, 2004 and 2005, approximately 17% and 20%, respectively, of our total revenue was generated outside the United States. In the nine months ended August 31, 2004 and 2005, approximately 11% and 15%, respectively, of our total revenue was generated in Canada. No other country or region accounted for more than 10% of our total revenue. Our international operations are subject to risks, including:

 

  Ÿ   political or economic instability;

 

  Ÿ   changes in governmental regulation;

 

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  Ÿ   changes in import/export duties;

 

  Ÿ   trade restrictions;

 

  Ÿ   difficulties and costs of staffing and managing operations in certain foreign countries;

 

  Ÿ   work stoppages or other changes in labor conditions;

 

  Ÿ   difficulties in collecting of accounts receivables on a timely basis or at all;

 

  Ÿ   taxes; and

 

  Ÿ   seasonal reductions in business activity in some parts of the world.

 

We may continue to expand internationally to respond to competitive pressure and customer and market requirements. Establishing operations in any other foreign country or region presents risks such as those described above as well as risks specific to the particular country or region. In addition, until a payment history is established over time with customers in a new geography or region, the likelihood of collecting receivables generated by such operations could be less than our expectations. As a result, there is a greater risk that reserves set with respect to the collection of such receivables may be inadequate. Further, if our international expansion efforts in any foreign country are unsuccessful, we may decide to cease operations, which would likely cause us to incur similar additional expenses and loss.

 

In addition, changes in policies or laws of the United States or foreign governments resulting in, among other things, higher taxation, currency conversion limitations, restrictions on fund transfers or the expropriation of private enterprises, could reduce the anticipated benefits of our international expansion. Furthermore, any actions by countries in which we conduct business to reverse policies that encourage foreign trade or investment could adversely affect our business. If we fail to realize the anticipated revenue growth of our future international operations, our business and operating results could suffer.

 

Risks Related to Our Relationship with MiTAC International

 

We rely on MiTAC International for certain manufacturing and assembly services and the loss of these services would require us to seek alternate providers that may charge us more for their services.

 

We rely on MiTAC International to manufacture and supply subassemblies and components for some of our contract assembly customers, including Sun Microsystems, our primary contract assembly customer, and our reliance on MiTAC International may increase in the future. Our relationship with MiTAC International has been informal and is not governed by long-term commitments or arrangements with respect to pricing terms, revenue or capacity commitments. Accordingly, we negotiate manufacturing and pricing terms on a project-by-project basis, based on manufacturing services rendered by MiTAC International or us. As MiTAC’s ownership interest in us decreases as a result of this offering and subsequent sales, MiTAC’s interest in the success of our business and operations may decrease as well. In the event MiTAC International no longer provides such services and components to us, we would need to find an alternative source for these services and components. We may be unable to obtain alternative services and components on similar terms, which may in turn increase our manufacturing costs. In addition, we may not find manufacturers with sufficient capacity, which may in turn lead to shortages in our product supplies. Increased costs and products shortages could harm our business and operating results.

 

Our business relationship with MiTAC International has been and will continue to be negotiated as related parties and therefore may not be the result of arms’-length negotiations between independent parties. Our relationship, including pricing and other material terms with our shared customers or with MiTAC International, may or may not be as advantageous to us as the terms we could have negotiated with unaffiliated third parties. We have a joint sales and marketing agreement with MiTAC International, pursuant to which both parties agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts to promote the other party’s service offerings to their respective customers who are interested in such product offerings. To date, there has not been a significant amount of sales

 

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attributable to the joint marketing agreement. This agreement does not provide for the terms upon which we negotiate manufacturing and pricing terms. These negotiations have been on a case-by-case basis. The agreement had an initial term of one year and will automatically renew for subsequent one-year terms unless either party provides written notice of non-renewal within 90 days of the end of any renewal term. The agreement may also be terminated without cause either by the mutual written agreement of both parties or by either party without cause upon 90 days prior written notice of termination to the other party. Either party may immediately terminate the agreement by providing written notice (a) of the other party’s material breach of any provision of the agreement and failure to cure within 30 days, or (b) if the other party becomes bankrupt or insolvent. In addition, we are party to a general agreement with MiTAC International and Sun Microsystems under which we work with MiTAC International to provide contract assembly services to Sun Microsystems.

 

Some of our customer relationships evolved from relationships between such customers and MiTAC International and the loss of such relationships could harm our business and operating results.

 

Our relationship with Sun Microsystems and some of our other customers evolved from customer relationships that were initiated by MiTAC International. Our relationship with Sun Microsystems is a joint relationship with MiTAC International and us, and the future success of our relationship with Sun Microsystems depends on MiTAC International continuing to work with us to service Sun Microsystems’ requirements. The original agreement between Sun Microsystems and MiTAC International was signed on August 28, 1999 and we became a party to the agreement on February 12, 2002. Substantially all of our contract assembly services to Sun Microsystems are covered by the general agreement. The agreement continues indefinitely until terminated in accordance with its terms. Sun Microsystems may terminate this agreement for any reason on 60 days written notice. Any party may terminate the agreement with written notice if one of the other parties materially breaches any provision of the agreement and the breach is incapable of being cured or is not cured within 30 days. The agreement may also be terminated on written notice if one of the other parties becomes bankrupt or insolvent. If we are unable to maintain our relationship with MiTAC International, our relationship with Sun Microsystems could suffer and we could lose other customer relationships or referrals, which in turn could harm our business, financial position and operating results.

 

There could be potential conflicts of interest between us and affiliates of MiTAC International, which could impact our business and operating results.

 

MiTAC International’s and its affiliates’ continuing beneficial ownership of our common stock could create conflicts of interest with respect to a variety of matters, such as potential acquisitions, competition, issuance or disposition of securities, election of directors, payment of dividends and other business matters. Similar risks could exist as a result of Matthew Miau’s positions as our Chairman, the Chairman of MiTAC International and as a director or officer of MiTAC International’s affiliated companies. For fiscal year 2005, Mr. Miau will receive a retainer of $225,000 from us. Compensation payable to Mr. Miau is based upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee and subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. We also have adopted a policy requiring material transactions in which any of our directors has a potential conflict of interest to be approved by our Audit Committee, which is composed of disinterested members of the Board.

 

Synnex Technology International Corp., or Synnex Technology International, a publicly traded company based in Taiwan and affiliated with MiTAC International, currently provides distribution and fulfillment services to various markets in Asia and Australia, and is also a potential competitor of ours. Mitac Incorporated, a privately held company based in Taiwan and a separate entity from MiTAC International, directly and indirectly owns approximately 15.6% of Synnex Technology International and approximately 9.0% of MiTAC International. MiTAC International directly and indirectly owns 0.3% of Synnex Technology International and Synnex Technology International directly and indirectly owns approximately 0.6% of MiTAC International. In addition, MiTAC International directly and indirectly owns approximately 8.9% of Mitac Incorporated and Synnex Technology International directly and indirectly owns approximately 14.4% of Mitac Incorporated. Synnex Technology International indirectly through its ownership of Peer Developments Limited owns

approximately 18.4% of our outstanding common stock. Neither MiTAC International nor Synnex Technology

 

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International is restricted from competing with us. In the future, we may increasingly compete with Synnex Technology International, particularly if our business in Asia expands or Synnex Technology International expands its business into geographies or customers we serve. Although Synnex Technology International is a separate entity from us, it is possible that there will be confusion as a result of the similarity of our names. Moreover, we cannot limit or control the use of the Synnex name by Synnex Technology International or MiTAC International, and our use of the Synnex name may be restricted as a result of registration of the name by Synnex Technology International or the prior use in jurisdictions where they currently operate.

 

As of August 31, 2005, our executive officers, directors and principal stockholders owned approximately 80% of our common stock and this concentration of ownership allows them to control all matters requiring stockholder approval and could delay or prevent a change in control of SYNNEX.

 

As of August 31, 2005, our executive officers, directors and principal stockholders beneficially owned approximately 80% of our outstanding common stock. In particular, MiTAC International, through its affiliates, beneficially owned approximately 67% of our common stock. After giving effect to this offering, MiTAC International will beneficially own approximately 46% of our common stock and if the underwriters exercise the over-allotment in full, it will beneficially own approximately 43% of our common stock.

 

MiTAC International and its affiliates own a controlling interest in us as of August 31, 2005. As a result, MiTAC International will be able to control the outcome of matters submitted to the stockholders including any acquisition or sale of us. In addition, MiTAC International’s interests and ours may increasingly conflict. For example, we rely on MiTAC International for certain manufacturing and supply services and for relationships with certain key customers. As a result of a decrease in their ownership in us, we may lose these services and relationships, which may lead to increased costs to replace the lost services and the loss of certain key customers. We cannot predict the likelihood that we may incur increased costs or lose customers if MiTAC International’s ownership percentage of us decreases in the future.

 

Risks Related to Our Industry

 

Volatility in the IT industry could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

The IT industry in which we operate has experienced decreases in demand. Softening demand for our products and services caused by an ongoing economic downturn and over-capacity were responsible, in part, for a decline in our revenue in fiscal 2001, as well as problems with the saleability of inventory and collection of reseller customer receivables.

 

The North American economy and market conditions continue to be challenging in the IT industry. As a result, individuals and companies may delay or reduce expenditures, including those for IT products. While in the past we may have benefited from the consolidation in our industry resulting from the slowdown, further delays or reductions in IT spending in particular, and economic weakness generally, could have an adverse effect on our business and operating results.

 

Our distribution business may be adversely affected by some OEM suppliers’ strategies to increase their direct sales, which in turn could cause our business and operating results to suffer.

 

Consolidation of OEM suppliers has resulted in fewer sources for some of the products that we distribute. This consolidation has also resulted in larger OEM suppliers that have significant operating and financial resources. Some OEM suppliers, including some of the leading OEM suppliers that we service, have been selling a greater volume of products directly to end-users, thereby limiting our business opportunities. If large OEM suppliers continue the trend to sell directly to our resellers, rather than use us as the distributor of their products, our business and operating results will suffer.

 

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OEMs are limiting the number of supply chain service providers with which they do business, which in turn could negatively impact our business and operating results.

 

Currently, there is a trend towards reducing the number of authorized distributors used by OEM suppliers. As a smaller market participant in the IT product distribution and contract assembly industries, than some of our competitors, we may be more susceptible to loss of business from further reductions of authorized distributors or contract assemblers by IT product OEMs. For example, the termination of Sun Microsystems’ contract assembly business with us would have a significant negative effect on our revenue and operating results. A determination by any of our primary OEMs to consolidate their business with other distributors or contract assemblers would negatively affect our business and operating results.

 

The IT industry is subject to rapidly changing technologies and process developments, and we may not be able to adequately adjust our business to these changes, which in turn would harm our business and operating results.

 

Dynamic changes in the IT industry, including the consolidation of OEM suppliers and reductions in the number of authorized distributors used by OEM suppliers, have resulted in new and increased responsibilities for management personnel and have placed, and continue to place, a significant strain upon our management, operating and financial systems and other resources. We may be unable to successfully respond to and manage our business in light of industry developments and trends. Also crucial to our success in managing our operations will be our ability to achieve additional economies of scale. Our failure to achieve these additional economies of scale or to respond to changes in the IT industry could adversely affect our business and operating results.

 

We are subject to intense competition in the IT industry, both in the United States and internationally, and if we fail to compete successfully, we will be unable to gain or retain market share.

 

We operate in a highly competitive environment, both in the United States and internationally. The IT product distribution and contract assembly industries are characterized by intense competition, based primarily on product availability, credit availability, price, speed of delivery, ability to tailor specific solutions to customer needs, quality and depth of product lines, pre-sale and post-sale technical support, flexibility and timely response to design changes, technological capabilities, service and support. We compete with a variety of regional, national and international IT product distributors and contract manufacturers and assemblers. In some instances, we also compete with our own customers, our own OEM suppliers and MiTAC International.

 

Our primary competitors are substantially larger and have greater financial, operating, manufacturing and marketing resources than us. Some of our competitors may have broader geographic breadth and range of services than us and may have more developed relationships with their existing customers. We may lose market share in the United States or in international markets, or may be forced in the future to reduce our prices in response to the actions of our competitors and thereby experience a reduction in our gross margins.

 

We may initiate other business activities, including the broadening of our supply chain capabilities, and may face competition from companies with more experience in those new areas. In addition, as we enter new areas of business, we may also encounter increased competition from current competitors or from new competitors, including some who may once have been our OEM suppliers or reseller customers. Increased competition and negative reaction from our OEM suppliers or reseller customers resulting from our expansion into new business areas may harm our business and operating results.

 

Compliance with changing regulation of corporate governance and public disclosure may result in additional expenses.

 

Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, new Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, regulations and New York Stock Exchange rules, are creating uncertainty for companies such as ours. These new or changed laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and

 

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as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies, which could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. As a result, our efforts to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards have resulted in, and are likely to continue to result in, increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities. In particular, our ongoing efforts to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related regulations regarding our management’s required assessment of our internal control over financial reporting and our independent registered public accounting firm’s attestation of that assessment has required the commitment of significant financial and managerial resources. We expect these efforts to require the continued commitment of significant resources. If our efforts to comply with new or changed laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies due to ambiguities related to practice, our reputation may be harmed.

 

While we believe that we currently have adequate internal control over financial reporting, we are exposed to risks from legislation requiring companies to evaluate those internal controls.

 

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2004 requires our management to report on, and our independent registered public accounting firm to attest to, the effectiveness of our internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting. We completed an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal controls for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2004, and we have an ongoing program to perform the system and process evaluation and testing necessary to continue to comply with these requirements. We expect to continue to incur increased expense and to devote additional management resources to Section 404 compliance. In the event that our chief executive officer, chief financial officer or independent registered public accounting firm determines that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective as defined under Section 404, investor perceptions and the reputation of our company may be adversely affected and could cause a decline in the market price of our stock.

 

Changes to financial accounting standards may affect our results of operations and cause us to change our business practices.

 

We prepare our financial statements to conform to generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. These accounting principles are subject to interpretation by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the SEC and various bodies formed to interpret and create appropriate accounting policies. A change in those policies can have a significant effect on our reported results and may affect our reporting of transactions completed before a change is announced. Changes to those rules or the questioning of current practices may adversely affect our reported financial results or the way we conduct our business. For example, accounting policies affecting many aspects of our business, including rules relating to employee stock option grants, have recently been revised or are under review. The FASB and other agencies have finalized changes to GAAP that will require us, starting in our quarter ending February 28, 2006, to record a charge to earnings for employee stock option grants and other equity incentives. We may have significant and ongoing accounting charges resulting from option grant and other equity incentive expensing that we expect will reduce our overall net income. In addition, since we historically have used equity-related compensation as a component of our total employee compensation program, the accounting change could make the use of equity-related compensation less attractive to us and therefore make it more difficult to attract and retain employees.

 

Risks Related to this Offering and Our Common Stock

 

Our common stock has been subject to substantial price and volume fluctuations due to a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control.

 

Share prices and trading volumes for many distribution and contract assembly service related companies fluctuate widely for a number of reasons, including some reasons which may be unrelated to their businesses or results of operations. This market volatility, as well as general domestic or international economic, market and

 

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political conditions, could materially adversely affect the price of our common stock without regard to our operating performance. In addition, our operating results may be below the expectations of public market analysts and investors. If this were to occur, the market price of our common stock would likely decrease.

 

Significant fluctuations in the market price of our common stock could result in securities class action claims against us, which could seriously harm our operating results.

 

Securities class action claims have been brought against companies in the past where volatility in the market price of that company’s securities has taken place. This kind of litigation could be very costly and divert our management’s attention and resources, and any adverse determination in this litigation could also subject us to significant liabilities, any or all of which could adversely affect our business and operating results.

 

Anti-takeover provisions in our certificate of incorporation may make it more difficult for someone to acquire us in a hostile takeover.

 

Our board of directors has the authority to issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock and to determine the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, of those shares without any further vote or action by our stockholders. The rights of the holders of our common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any preferred stock that we may issue in the future. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire a majority of our outstanding voting shares.

 

In addition, our certificate of incorporation contains certain provisions that, together with the ownership position of our officers, directors and their affiliates, could discourage potential takeover attempts and make attempts by stockholders to change management more difficult, which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

 

If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or reports about our business, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

 

The trading market for our common stock will depend on the research and reports that industry or securities analysts publish about us or our business. We do not have any control over these analysts. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrade our stock, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of our company or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

 

We are subject to additional rules and regulations as a public company, which will increase our administration costs which in turn could harm our operating results.

 

As a public company, we incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses. In addition, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as new rules subsequently implemented by the SEC, have required changes in corporate governance practices of public companies. In addition to final rules and rule proposals already made by the SEC, the New York Stock Exchange has adopted revisions to its requirements for companies that are NYSE-listed. These rules and regulations have increased our legal and financial compliance costs, and made some activities more time consuming or costly. We also expect these rules and regulations to make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain coverage. These rules and regulations could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors, particularly to serve on our audit committee, and qualified executive officers.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

We have made forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 7A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in this prospectus, including in the sections entitled “Prospectus Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business,” and elsewhere in this prospectus that are based on our management’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding:

 

  Ÿ   projections of expenditures, revenues, earnings, cash balances or cash flows, synergies or other financial items;

 

  Ÿ   plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations;

 

  Ÿ   future economic conditions or performance;

 

  Ÿ   our relationship with our suppliers, customers and significant stockholders such as MiTAC;

 

  Ÿ   expectation of market size and market acceptance or penetration of the distribution, contract assembly and complementary IT supply chain services we offer;

 

  Ÿ   estimates regarding our infrastructure needs and capital requirements;

 

  Ÿ   effect of thefts or other losses from our warehouses and collectibles of related insurance claims;

 

  Ÿ   our securitization program;

 

  Ÿ   impact of new rules and regulations affecting public companies;

 

  Ÿ   the adequacy of our internal controls over financial reporting; and

 

  Ÿ   any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing.

 

Forward-looking statements are only predictions not historical facts and generally can be identified by the use of terminology such as the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” or similar expressions.

 

Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements for a number of reasons, including those appearing elsewhere in this prospectus under the caption “Risk Factors” as well as those discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K incorporated by reference herein and other filings with the SEC. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus.

 

This prospectus contains statistical data that we obtained from industry publications and reports. These industry publications generally indicate that they have obtained their information from sources believed to be reliable, but do not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of their information. Although we believe that the publications are reliable, we have not independently verified their data.

 

The SYNNEX name and logo are trademarks, registered trademarks, service marks or registered service marks of SYNNEX in the United States. All other trademarks, service marks and trade names referred to in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

The net proceeds to the selling stockholders from this offering, at an assumed public offering price of $             per share, are estimated to be approximately $             million ($             million if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full), after deducting estimated underwriting discount payable by the selling stockholders. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares of our common stock in this offering. We will bear the expenses of the offering on behalf of the selling stockholders.

 

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PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

 

Our common stock has been traded publicly on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SNX” since November 25, 2003. The following table sets forth, for our common stock for the periods indicated, the high and low sale price as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

     Price Range of
Common Stock


     Low

   High

Year Ended November 30, 2003

             

Fourth Quarter (since November 25, 2003)

   $ 13.95    $ 14.60

Year Ended November 30, 2004

             

First Quarter

   $ 13.65    $ 19.85

Second Quarter

   $ 16.01    $ 21.00

Third Quarter

   $ 14.40    $ 19.10

Fourth Quarter

   $ 15.23    $ 21.89

Year Ended November 30, 2005

             

First Quarter

   $ 20.65    $ 24.63

Second Quarter

   $ 13.45    $ 23.17

Third Quarter

   $ 15.20    $ 18.95

Fourth Quarter (through October 11, 2005)

   $ 15.96    $ 18.08

 

On October 11, 2005, the last day prior to the date of this prospectus for which information was practicably available, the closing price for our common stock was $16.76 per share.

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

We have not declared or paid any cash dividends since our inception. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, for use in our operations and the expansion of our business. If we elect to pay cash dividends in the future, payment will depend on our financial condition, results of operations and capital requirements, as well as other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors. In addition, our credit facilities place restrictions on our ability to pay dividends.

 

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CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table sets forth our capitalization as of August 31, 2005.

 

     As of August 31,
2005


     (in thousands,
except par
value)

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 9,870
    

Current borrowings under term loans and lines of credit

   $ 60,491

Long-term borrowings

     1,224

Interest-bearing liabilities

     6,985
    

Total debt

     68,700

Stockholders’ equity:

      

Preferred stock: $0.001 par value, 5,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding

    

Common stock: $0.001 par value; 100,000 shares authorized; 28,856 actual shares issued and outstanding

     29

Additional paid-in capital

     155,764

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     11,353

Retained earnings

     252,145
    

Total stockholders’ equity

     419,291
    

Total capitalization

   $ 487,991
    

 

The above table excludes as of August 31, 2005:

 

  Ÿ   7,034,661 shares issuable upon exercise of options outstanding at August 31, 2005 under our stock option plans, with a weighted average exercise price of $9.57 per share;

 

  Ÿ   4,416,713 shares reserved for future grant under our stock option plans at August 31, 2005; and

 

  Ÿ   162,155 shares reserved for issuance under our employee stock purchase plan.

 

New investors will be diluted if any shares of our common stock are issued upon exercise of currently outstanding options or warrants, or other rights are granted in the future or are reserved for future issuances under our stock plans.

 

You should read the capitalization information above together with the sections of this prospectus entitled “Selected Consolidated Financial Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following selected consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended November 30, 2002, 2003 and 2004 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of November 30, 2003 and 2004 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The following selected consolidated statements of operations data for the fiscal years ended November 30, 2000 and 2001 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of November 30, 2000, 2001 and 2002 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements that are not included in this prospectus. The selected consolidated financial data is adjusted to give effect to the discontinued operations resulting from the sale of our Japan subsidiary during the second quarter of fiscal 2005. The selected consolidated statements of operations data for the nine months ended August 31, 2004 and 2005 and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of August 31, 2004 and 2005 are derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected consolidated financial data should be read together with the information appearing under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

 

   

Fiscal Years Ended

November 30,


    Nine Months Ended
August 31,


 
Statements of Operations Data:   2000

    2001

    2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

    2005

 
    (in thousands, except for per share data)  

Revenue

  $ 3,583,481     $ 3,032,041     $ 3,596,265     $ 3,944,886     $ 5,150,447     $ 3,709,632     $ 4,047,681  

Cost of revenue

    (3,426,274 )     (2,882,604 )     (3,432,089 )     (3,766,518 )     (4,935,075 )     (3,555,520 )     (3,876,013 )
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Gross profit

    157,207       149,437       164,176       178,368       215,372       154,112       171,668  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    (94,025 )     (95,168 )     (114,657 )     (121,352 )     (137,712 )     (99,562 )     (117,120 )
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest

    63,182       54,269       49,519       57,016       77,660       54,550       54,548  

Interest expense and finance charges, net

    (9,212 )     (6,722 )     (6,182 )     (7,007 )     (7,959 )     (5,166 )     (11,108 )

Other income (expense), net

    16,683       (5,628 )     1,169       (3,478 )     (900 )     (916 )     501  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest

    70,653       41,919       44,506       46,531       68,801       48,468       43,941  

Provision for income taxes

    (30,967 )     (16,885 )     (16,680 )     (17,090 )     (23,091 )     (17,749 )     (16,807 )

Minority interest in subsidiary

                49       267       376       320       58  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income from continuing operations

    39,686       25,034       27,875       29,708       46,086       31,039       27,192  

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

    (2,864 )     763       157       288       479       274       511  

Gain (loss) on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax

    (388 )                                   12,323  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net income

  $ 36,434     $ 25,797     $ 28,032     $ 29,996     $ 46,565     $ 31,313     $ 40,026  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Earnings per share:

                                                       

Basic

                                                       

Income from continuing operations

  $ 1.85     $ 1.14     $ 1.26     $ 1.34     $ 1.73     $ 1.17     $ 0.96  

Discontinued operations

  $ (0.15 )   $ 0.04     $ 0.01     $ 0.02     $ 0.01     $ 0.01     $ 0.45  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net income per common share—basic

  $ 1.70     $ 1.18     $ 1.27     $ 1.36     $ 1.74     $ 1.18     $ 1.41  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Diluted

                                                       

Income from continuing operations

  $ 1.63     $ 1.03     $ 1.15     $ 1.21     $ 1.53     $ 1.04     $ 0.87  

Discontinued operations

  $ (0.14 )   $ 0.03     $ 0.01     $ 0.01     $ 0.02     $ 0.01     $ 0.41  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net income per common share—diluted

  $ 1.49     $ 1.06     $ 1.16     $ 1.22     $ 1.55     $ 1.05     $ 1.28  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Weighted average common shares outstanding-basic

    21,466       21,919       22,061       22,091       26,691       26,438       28,439  

Weighted average common shares outstanding-diluted

    24,404       24,392       24,251       24,555       30,111       29,899       31,177  

 

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Table of Contents
     November 30,

   August 31,

     2000

   2001

   2002

   2003

   2004

   2004

   2005

     (in thousands)

Balance Sheet Data:

                                                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 20,564    $ 15,730    $ 15,503    $ 22,079    $ 28,726    $ 20,747    $ 9,870

Working capital

     116,292      187,235      200,021      217,397      316,935      307,099      342,200

Total assets

     636,434      565,034      629,075      789,928      999,697      866,284      998,645

Current borrowings under term loans and lines of credit

     32,121      18,104      19,685      69,464      74,996      31,249      60,491

Long-term borrowings

     2,090      43,036      38,714      8,134      13,074      10,708      1,224

Total stockholders’ equity

     157,823      183,372      213,218      252,814      369,656      342,598      419,291

 

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Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus or referred to herein. This discussion contains, in addition to historical information, forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed below as well as those discussed under “Risk Factors,” “Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements” and elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

Overview

 

We are a global information technology, or IT, supply chain services company. We offer a comprehensive range of services to IT original equipment manufacturers and software publishers, collectively OEMs, and reseller customers worldwide. The supply chain services that we offer include product distribution, related logistics, contract assembly and demand generation marketing.

 

We have been in the IT distribution business since 1980 and are one of the largest IT product distributors based on 2004 reported revenue. We focus our core wholesale distribution business on a limited number of leading IT OEMs, which allows us to enhance and increase the value we provide to our OEM suppliers and reseller customers.

 

Because we offer distribution, contract assembly, demand generation marketing, IT solutions and complementary supply chain services, OEM suppliers and resellers can outsource to us multiple areas of their business outside of their core competencies. This model allows us to provide services at several points along the IT product supply chain. We believe that the combination of our broad range of supply chain capabilities, our focus on serving the leading IT OEMs and our efficient operations enable us to realize strong relationships with our OEM suppliers and reseller customers. We are headquartered in Fremont, California and have distribution, sales and assembly facilities in Asia, Europe and North America.

 

Revenue and Cost of Revenue

 

We derive our revenue primarily through the distribution of IT systems, peripherals, system components, software and networking equipment, and, to a lesser extent, from contract assembly. We recognize revenue in both our distribution and contract assembly operations as products are shipped, if a purchase order exists, the sales price is fixed or determinable, collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured, risk of loss and title have transferred and product returns are reasonably estimable. Shipping terms are typically F.O.B. our warehouse. Provisions for sales returns are estimated based on historical data and are recorded concurrently with the recognition of revenue. Our distribution sales are made to reseller customers on a purchase order basis and generally relate to a specific order from a reseller’s end-user customer. Our contract assembly sales are generated from specific purchase orders received from our OEM customers for a specified unit quantity. We do not have long-term sales agreements with our reseller or contract assembly customers.

 

Revenue from our distribution business represented 90%, 94%, 89% and 90% of our total revenue in fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004, and the nine months ended August 31, 2005, respectively. In our distribution business, our primary customers are resellers. None of our reseller customers accounted for more than 10% of our total revenue in fiscal 2002, 2003, 2004 or the nine months ended August 31, 2005. Approximately 37%, 32%, 28% and 28% of our total revenue in fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004, and the nine months ended August 31, 2005, respectively, was derived from the sale of HP products. Most of our remaining revenue is derived from the distribution and assembly of the IT products of a relatively small number of other suppliers.

 

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Approximately 10%, 6%, 11% and 10% of our total revenue in fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004, and the nine months ended August 31, 2005, respectively, was derived from our contract assembly business. We provide contract assembly services primarily to IT product OEMs. Our contract assembly revenue is dependent on a small number of customers. Revenue from contract assembly provided to Sun Microsystems accounted for less than 10% of our total revenue in fiscal 2002 and 2003 and the nine months ended August 31, 2005 and approximately 10% of our total revenue in 2004.

 

The market for IT products is generally characterized by declining unit prices and short product life cycles. Our distribution business is also highly competitive on the basis of price. We set our sales price based on the market supply and demand characteristics for each particular product or bundle of products we distribute. From time to time, we also participate in the incentive and rebate programs of our OEM suppliers. These programs are important determinants of the final sales price we charge to our reseller customers. To mitigate the risk of declining prices and obsolescence of our distribution inventory, our OEM suppliers generally offer us limited price protection and return rights for products that are marked down or discontinued by them. We carefully manage our inventory to maximize the benefit to us of these supplier provided protections.

 

A significant portion of our cost of distribution revenue is the purchase price we pay our OEM suppliers for the products we sell, net of any rebates and purchase discounts received from our OEM suppliers. Cost of distribution revenue also consists of provisions for inventory losses and write-downs, and freight expenses associated with the receipt in and shipment out of our inventory. Our contract assembly cost of revenue consists primarily of cost of materials, labor and overhead.

 

Margins

 

The IT product distribution and contract assembly industries in which we operate are characterized by low gross profit as a percentage of revenue, or gross margin, and low income from operations as a percentage of revenue, or operating margin. Our gross margin has fluctuated between 4.2% and 4.9% annually over the past five years due to changes in the mix of products we sell, customers we sell to, competition, seasonality and the general economic environment. Increased competition arising from industry consolidation and low demand for IT products may hinder our ability to maintain or improve our gross margin. Generally, when our revenue becomes more concentrated on limited products or customers, our gross margin tends to decrease due to increased pricing pressure from OEM suppliers or reseller customers. Our operating margin has also fluctuated between 1.4% and 1.8% annually over the past five years, based primarily on our ability to achieve economies of scale, the management of our operating expenses, changes in the relative mix of our distribution and contract assembly revenue and the timing of our acquisitions and investments.

 

Acquisitions, Divestments and Restructuring Charges

 

We seek to augment our organic growth with strategic acquisitions of businesses and assets that complement and expand our supply chain service capabilities. Our historical acquisitions have brought us new reseller customers and OEM suppliers, extended the geographic reach of our operations, particularly in international markets, and expanded the services we provide to our OEM suppliers and customers. We account for acquisitions using the purchase method of accounting and include acquired entities within our consolidated financial statements from the closing date of the acquisition.

 

During the 12 months ended August 31, 2005, we acquired one company, EMJ, and divested two of our subsidiaries, SYNNEX K.K. and EMJ America.

 

The acquisition of Canadian-based EMJ was completed in September 2004 and we have included the results of operations from EMJ in our reported results since the acquisition date. We acquired EMJ to expand our presence in the Canadian distribution market and, to a lesser extent, our market presence in the United States.

 

In May 2005, we sold approximately 93% of the equity in our Japan subsidiary to MCJ Company Limited, or MCJ, a Japan based public company. We sold our Japan distribution business, as it was not strategic to our current

 

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North American focused distribution and assembly business model. We received shares of MCJ stock as consideration for SYNNEX K.K. We are restricted from selling the MCJ stock until one year after the sale date. As a result of this equity investment, we must record the gains or losses in our investment each period based on the closing price of MCJ stock. These non-operating gains or losses are reported in “other income (expense), net.” In order to reduce the risk of holding the MCJ shares, we have entered into forward exchange contracts to sell MCJ shares for fixed prices in April 2006. As of August 31, and October 7, 2005, such contracts covered 58% and 84%, respectively, of the MCJ shares held by the Company.

 

In June 2005, we sold our EMJ America subsidiary to the management team of EMJ America. EMJ America was a subsidiary of EMJ and was not in the same business as EMJ.

 

As a result of the acquisition of EMJ and the associated duplicative facilities and function with our existing Canadian business at the time of the acquisition, we commenced a restructuring program in the first quarter of fiscal 2005. The restructuring program was completed in the third quarter of fiscal 2005 and total charges from the program were $2.5 million.

 

Economic and Industry Trends

 

Our revenue is highly dependent on the end-market demand for the IT products that we distribute and assemble. This end-market demand is influenced by many factors including the introduction of new IT products and software by OEMs, replacement cycles for existing IT products and overall economic growth and general business activity. A difficult and challenging economic environment may also lead to consolidation or decline in the IT distribution industry and increased price-based competition.

 

Deferred Compensation Plan

 

We have a deferred compensation plan for a limited number of our directors and employees. We maintain a liability on our balance sheet for salary and bonus amounts deferred by participants and we accrue interest expense on unpaid amounts. Interest expense on the deferred amounts is classified in “interest expense and finance charges, net” on our consolidated statement of operations. The plan allows for the participants to direct investment of deferred amounts in equity securities. These equity investments are classified as trading securities. GAAP requires that gains (losses) on the deferred compensation equity securities be recorded in “other income (expense), net” and that an equal amount be charged (or credited if losses) to “selling, general and administrative expenses” relating to compensation amounts which are payable to the plan participants. Deferred compensation expense was $286,000 in fiscal 2003, $243,000 in fiscal 2004 and $1.5 million in the nine months ended August 31, 2005 and a credit of $528,000 in fiscal 2002.

 

Unearned Stock-Based Compensation

 

In prior years, in connection with the granting of employee stock options that had exercise prices determined to be below fair market value on the date of grant, we have recorded unearned stock-based compensation. Unearned stock-based compensation represents the difference between the fair market value of our common stock for financial reporting purposes on the date of grant and the exercise price of these options. Unearned stock-based compensation is included as a reduction of stockholders’ equity and is amortized over the vesting period of the applicable options, generally five years, using the straight-line method. Our stock-based compensation expense relates to stock options granted to individuals and is reflected in cost of revenue and selling, general and administrative expenses. At November 30, 2004, the stock-based compensation was fully amortized.

 

Seasonality

 

Our operating results are affected by the seasonality of the IT products industry. We have historically experienced higher sales in our fourth fiscal quarter due to patterns in the capital budgeting, federal government spending and purchasing cycles of our customers and end-users. These patterns may not be repeated in subsequent periods.

 

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Insurance Coverage

 

Although from time to time we have experienced incidents of theft at various facilities, in fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2005 we experienced theft as a result of break-ins at four of our warehouses in which approximately $13.4 million of inventory was stolen. Based on our investigation, discussions with local law enforcement and meetings with federal authorities, we believe the thefts at our warehouses were part of an organized crime effort that targeted a number of technology equipment warehouses throughout the United States.

 

As a result of the losses in 2003, we reduced our inventory value by $9.4 million, and recorded estimated proceeds, net of deductibles as a receivable from our insurance company, included within “other current assets” on our balance sheet as of November 30, 2003. In January 2004 we received a final settlement from our insurance company that amounted to substantially all of the receivable recorded as of November 30, 2003.

 

In March 2005, approximately $4.0 million of inventory was stolen from our facility in the City of Industry, California. We have filed a claim with our insurance provider for the amount of the loss, less a small deductible. To date, we have received $1.8 million of the claimed amount. Based on the information we have received to date from our insurance provider, we expect the remaining claim to be collected.

 

These types of incidents may make it more difficult or expensive for us to obtain theft coverage in the future. There is no assurance that future incidents of theft will not re-occur.

 

Equity Price Risk

 

The equity price risk associated with our marketable equity securities at November 30, 2003 and 2004 and August 31, 2005 is not material in relation to our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flow. Marketable equity securities include shares of common stock. The investments are classified as either trading or available-for-sale securities. Securities classified as trading are recorded at fair market value, based on quoted market prices and unrealized gains and losses are included in results of operations. Securities classified as available-for-sale are recorded at fair market value, based on quoted market prices and unrealized gains and losses are included in other comprehensive income. Realized gains and losses, which are calculated based on the specific identification method, are recorded in operations as incurred.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The discussions and analysis of our consolidated financial condition and results of operations are based on our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of any contingent assets and liabilities at the financial statement date, and reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, we review and evaluate our estimates and assumptions, including those that relate to accounts receivable, vendor programs, inventories, goodwill and intangible assets and other long-lived assets, income taxes, and contingencies and litigation. Our estimates are based on our historical experience and a variety of other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making our judgment about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily available from other sources. Actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

We believe the following critical accounting policies are affected by our judgment, estimates or assumptions used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

 

Accounts Receivable.    We provide allowances for doubtful accounts on our accounts receivable for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments. If the financial condition of our customers were to deteriorate, which may result in the impairment of their ability to make

 

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payments, additional allowances may be required. In estimating our allowance, we take into consideration the overall quality and aging of our receivable portfolio, the existence of a limited amount of credit insurance, our continuing credit evaluation of our customers’ financial conditions and collateral requirements from our customers in certain circumstances.

 

OEM Supplier Programs.    We receive funds from OEM suppliers for inventory price protection, product rebates, marketing and infrastructure reimbursement, and promotion programs. Inventory price protection and product rebates are recorded as a reduction of cost of revenue. Marketing, infrastructure and promotion programs are recorded, net of direct costs, in selling, general and administrative expense. Any excess funds associated with these programs are recorded in cost of revenue. We accrue rebates based on the terms of the program and sales of qualifying products. Some of these programs may extend over one or more quarterly reporting periods. Amounts received or receivable from OEM suppliers that are not yet earned are deferred on our balance sheet. Actual rebates may vary based on volume or other sales achievement levels, which could result in an increase or reduction in the estimated amounts previously accrued. In addition, if market conditions were to deteriorate due to an economic downturn, OEM suppliers may change the terms of some or all of these programs or cease them altogether. Any such change could lower our gross margins on products we sell or revenue earned. We also provide reserves for receivables on OEM supplier programs for estimated losses resulting from OEM suppliers’ inability to pay, or rejections of such claims by OEM suppliers.

 

Inventories.    Our inventory levels are based on our projections of future demand and market conditions. Any sudden decline in demand or rapid product improvements and technological changes can cause us to have excess or obsolete inventories. On an ongoing basis, we review for estimated obsolete or unmarketable inventories and write down our inventories to their estimated net realizable value based upon our forecasts of future demand and market conditions. These write downs are reflected in our cost of revenue. If actual market conditions are less favorable than our forecasts, additional inventory reserves may be required. Our estimates are influenced by the following considerations: sudden decline in demand due to economic downturns, rapid product improvements and technological changes, our ability to return to OEM suppliers a certain percentage of our purchases, and protection from loss in value of inventory under our OEM supplier agreements.

 

Goodwill, Intangible Assets and Other Long-Lived Assets.    We assess potential impairment of our goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets when there is evidence that recent events or changes in circumstances have made recovery of an asset’s carrying value unlikely. We also assess potential impairment of our goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets on an annual basis. If indicators of impairment were present in intangible assets used in operations and future cash flows were not expected to be sufficient to recover the assets’ carrying amount, an impairment loss would be charged to expense in the period identified. The amount of an impairment loss would be recognized as the excess of the asset’s carrying value over its fair value. Factors we consider important, which may cause an impairment include: significant changes in the manner of use of the acquired asset, negative industry or economic trends, and significant underperformance relative to historical or projected operating results.

 

Income Taxes.    As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we have to estimate our income taxes in each of the taxing jurisdictions in which we operate. This process involves estimating our current tax expense together with assessing any temporary differences resulting from the different treatment of certain items, such as the timing for recognizing revenue and expenses, for tax and accounting purposes. These differences may result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in our consolidated balance sheet. We are required to assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets, which include net operating loss carry forwards and temporary differences that are expected to be deductible in future years, will be recoverable from future taxable income or other tax planning strategies. If recovery is not likely, we have to provide a valuation allowance based on our estimates of future taxable income in the various taxing jurisdictions, and the amount of deferred taxes that are ultimately realizable. The provision for current and deferred taxes involves evaluations and judgments of uncertainties in the interpretation of complex tax regulations by various taxing authorities. Actual results could differ from our estimates.

 

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Contingencies and Litigation.    There are various claims, lawsuits and pending actions against us incident to our operations. If a loss arising from these actions is probable and can be reasonably estimated, we record the amount of the loss, or the minimum estimated liability when the loss is estimated using a range within which no point is more probable than another. Based on current available information, we believe that the ultimate resolution of these actions will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. As additional information becomes available, we assess any potential liability related to these actions and may need to revise our estimates. Future revisions of our estimates could materially impact the results of our operations, financial position or cash flows.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table presents certain consolidated statement of operations data for the periods indicated as a percentage of net sales and is adjusted to give effect to the discontinued operations resulting from the sale of our Japan subsidiary during the second quarter of fiscal 2005.

 

     Fiscal Years ended
November 30,


    Nine Months Ended

 
    

2002


    2003

    2004

   

August 31,

2004


   

August 31,

2005


 

Statements of Operations Data:

                              

Revenue

   100.00 %   100.00 %   100.00 %   100.00 %   100.00 %

Cost of revenue

   (95.43 )   (95.48 )   (95.82 )   (95.85 )   (95.76 )
    

 

 

 

 

Gross profit

   4.57     4.52     4.18     4.15     4.24  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   (3.19 )   (3.08 )   (2.67 )   (2.68 )   (2.89 )
    

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest

   1.38     1.44     1.51     1.47     1.35  

Interest expense and finance charges, net

   (0.17 )   (0.18 )   (0.15 )   (0.14 )   (0.27 )

Other income (expense), net

   0.03     (0.08 )   (0.02 )   (0.02 )   0.01  
    

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest

   1.24     1.18     1.34     1.31     1.09  

Provision for income taxes

   (0.46 )   (0.43 )   (0.45 )   (0.48 )   (0.42 )

Minority interest in subsidiaries

               0.01      
    

 

 

 

 

Income from continuing operations

   0.78     0.75     0.89     0.84     0.67  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

       0.01     0.01         0.01  

Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax

                   0.31  
    

 

 

 

 

Net income

   0.78 %   0.76 %   0.90 %   0.84 %   0.99 %
    

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended August 31, 2004 and 2005

 

Revenue:

 

     Nine Months Ended
August 31, 2004


   Nine Months Ended
August 31, 2005


   % Change

 
     (in thousands)    (in thousands)       

Revenue

   $ 3,709,632    $ 4,047,681    9.1 %

Distribution revenue

   $ 3,294,949    $ 3,654,781    10.9 %

Contract assembly revenue

   $ 414,683    $ 392,900    (5.3 )%

 

The increase in our distribution revenue was primarily attributable to increased demand for products through the IT distribution channel, primarily in the United States, and the acquisition of EMJ in September 2004. Our revenue increase was also a result of our increased selling efforts, including the hiring of additional sales and

 

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business development staff in the United States. The increase in our distribution revenue was somewhat mitigated by continued significant competition in the IT distribution marketplace, our desire to focus on operating income growth before revenue growth and gradual declines in the average selling price of the products we sell.

 

The decrease in contract assembly revenue was primarily the result of a decrease in demand from our largest contract assembly customer, Sun Microsystems. This decrease in demand was primarily due to product life cycles transitions currently ongoing for the products we assemble for Sun Microsystems. This decrease was partially offset by an increase in sales to our other contract assembly customers, which totaled 7% of our contract assembly sales in the nine months ended August 31, 2005 versus 3% in the nine months ended August 31, 2004.

 

Gross Profit:

 

     Nine Months Ended
August 31, 2004


    Nine Months Ended
August 31, 2005


    % Change

 
     (in thousands)     (in thousands)        

Gross profit

   $ 154,112     $ 171,668     11.4 %

Percentage of revenue

     4.15 %     4.24 %   2.2 %

 

Our gross margin has been affected by a variety of factors, including competition, the mix and average selling prices of products we sell and the mix of customers to whom we sell, rebate and discount programs from our suppliers, freight costs and reserves for inventory losses.

 

The increase in gross margin percentage was a result of higher margins in our distribution segment, mainly due to improvements in our North American pricing initiatives as well as customer and product mix, and the EMJ acquisition. Our contract assembly gross margin percentage increased slightly due to changes in product and customer mix.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:

 

     Nine Months Ended
August 31, 2004


    Nine Months Ended
August 31, 2005


    % Change

 
     (in thousands)     (in thousands)        

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   $ 99,562     $ 117,120     17.6 %

Percentage of revenue

     2.68 %     2.89 %   7.8 %

 

Our selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of salaries, commissions, bonuses, and related expenses for personnel engaged in sales, product marketing, distribution and contract assembly operations and administration. Selling, general and administrative expenses also include stock-based compensation expense, deferred compensation expense or income, temporary personnel fees, the costs of our facilities, utility expense, professional fees, depreciation expense on our capital equipment and amortization expense on our intangible assets. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased in the nine months ended August 31, 2005 from the prior year, and, as a percentage of revenue, selling, general and administrative expenses increased in the nine months ended August 31, 2005 to 2.9% from 2.7% in the prior year. The increase was primarily the result of the acquisition of Canadian-based EMJ in September 2004, the hiring of additional sales and business development personnel in the United States and a $2.0 million increase in deferred compensation expense. Netted against selling, general and administrative expenses are reimbursements from OEM suppliers of $14.9 million for the nine months ended August 31, 2005, compared to $11.6 million in the prior year.

 

In addition, our selling, general and administrative expenses increased due to a $2.5 million restructuring charge incurred in the nine months ended August 31, 2005 in our Canadian distribution segment. The restructuring charge was primarily incurred to eliminate duplicate personnel and excess facilities that occurred as a result of our acquisition of EMJ. The restructuring resulted in employee termination benefits of $0.7 million, estimated facilities exit expenses of $1.7 million and other costs of $0.1 million.

 

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Income from Continuing Operations before Non-operating Items, Income Taxes and Minority Interest:

 

     Nine Months Ended
August 31, 2004


   Nine Months Ended
August 31, 2005


   % Change

 
     (in thousands)    (in thousands)       

Income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest

   $ 54,550    $ 54,548    (0.0 )%

Distribution income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest

   $ 44,249    $ 44,491    0.5 %

Contract assembly income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest

   $ 10,301    $ 10,057    (2.4 )%

 

Income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest as a percentage of revenue of 1.3% for the nine months ended August 31, 2005 decreased slightly from 1.5% in the prior year due to the increase in selling, general and administrative expenses. Our distribution operating income percentage decreased to 1.2% in the nine months ended August 31, 2005 from 1.3% in the prior year primarily due to our restructuring charges in the first and third quarters of fiscal 2005, a $2.0 million increase in deferred compensation expense and the hiring of additional sales and business development personnel in the United States. This was partially offset by a $0.9 million decrease in the operating loss of our Mexico operation. While the increase in deferred compensation expense had an effect on operating income, there was no effect on net income as the increase in deferred compensation expense was offset by an investment gain, which is recorded in other income and expense. The decrease in the operating loss in Mexico was a result of focused efforts to reduce costs and improve operating effectiveness. Our contract assembly operating income percentage increased to 2.6% in the nine months ended August 31, 2005 from 2.5% in the prior year primarily due to product and customer mix.

 

Interest Expense and Finance Charges, net:

 

     Nine Months Ended
August 31, 2004


   Nine Months Ended
August 31, 2005


   % Change

 
     (in thousands)    (in thousands)       

Interest expense and finance charges, net

   $ 5,166    $ 11,108    115.0 %

 

Amounts recorded in interest expense and finance charges, net, are primarily interest expense paid on our lines of credit, long-term debt and deferred compensation liability, fees associated with third party accounts receivable flooring arrangements and the sale of accounts receivable through our securitization facility, offset by income earned on our excess cash investments.

 

The increase in interest expense and finance charges, net was a result of higher finance charges due to higher interest rates as compared to those in 2004 and higher debt levels in our Canadian subsidiary due to the EMJ acquisition as well as $0.5 million related to the repayment of debt resulting from the acquisition of EMJ.

 

Other Income (Expense), net:

 

     Nine Months Ended
August 31, 2004


    Nine Months Ended
August 31, 2005


   % Change

 
     (in thousands)     (in thousands)       

Other income (expense), net

   $ (916 )   $ 501    154.7 %

 

Amounts recorded in other income (expense), net, include deferred compensation, foreign currency transaction gains and losses, investment gains and losses, including those in our deferred compensation plan and other non-operating gains and losses.

 

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The increase in other income (expense), net, in the nine months ended August 31, 2005 as compared with the same period in the prior year, was primarily due to a $2.0 million increase in investment gains related to deferred compensation and a $1.5 million decrease in foreign exchange losses. These amounts were partially offset by a $0.7 million loss from the decrease in value of shares of MCJ stock we acquired as a result of the sale of our Japan subsidiary, and a one time receipt of $1.2 million from the settlement of the final purchase price related to the acquisition of our current subsidiary in the United Kingdom, which was recorded in the third quarter of 2004.

 

Provision for Income Taxes.    Our effective tax rate was 38.3% in the nine months ended August 31, 2005 as compared with an effective tax rate of 36.6% in the prior year. The increase in our effective tax rate from the first nine months of fiscal 2005 versus the first nine months of fiscal 2004 was primarily a result of permanent tax differences from exercises of non-qualified stock options.

 

Minority Interest.    Minority interest is the portion of earnings from operations from our subsidiary in Mexico attributable to others. Minority interest benefit decreased to $58,000 in the nine months ended August 31, 2005 from $320,000 in the nine months ended August 31, 2004 due to the losses at our Mexico subsidiary exceeding the minority investment amount.

 

Discontinued Operations.    During the second quarter of fiscal 2005, we sold approximately 93% of SYNNEX K.K. to MCJ, in exchange for 8,603 shares of MCJ. We have reported the results of operations and financial position of this business in discontinued operations within the consolidated statements of operations for all periods presented.

 

The results from the operations of SYNNEX K.K., prior to the sale, were as follows (in thousands):

 

     Nine Months Ended

 
     August 31,
2004


    August 31,
2005


 

Revenue

   $ 125,761     $ 64,477  

Cost of revenue

     (118,487 )     (59,916 )
    


 


Gross profit

     7,274       4,561  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     (6,360 )     (3,170 )
    


 


Income from operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest

     914       1,391  

Interest expense and finance charges, net

     (370 )     (140 )

Other income (expense), net

     33       (245 )
    


 


Income before income taxes and minority interest

     577       1,006  

Provision for income taxes

     (259 )     (434 )

Minority interest

     (44 )     (61 )
    


 


Net income

   $ 274     $ 511  
    


 


 

Fiscal Years Ended November 30, 2003 and 2004

 

Revenue:

 

     Year Ended
November 30, 2003


   Year Ended
November 30, 2004


   % Change

 
     (in thousands)    (in thousands)       

Revenue

   $ 3,944,886    $ 5,150,447    30.6 %

Distribution revenue

   $ 3,714,385    $ 4,573,438    23.1 %

Contract assembly revenue

   $ 230,501    $ 577,009    150.3 %

 

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Table of Contents

The increase in our distribution revenue was primarily attributable to market share increases, increased demand for products through the IT distribution channel, primarily in North America, and the acquisition of EMJ Data Systems Limited in September 2004, which contributed approximately $48.0 million in revenue in fiscal 2004. Our market share increases were a result of our increased selling efforts, including a 19% increase in sales staff in the United States, and overall improved service offerings, including inventory availability, financing and marketing. The increase in our distribution revenue was somewhat mitigated by continued significant competition in the IT distribution marketplace and gradual declines in the average selling price of products we sell.

 

The increase in contract assembly revenue was the result of an increase in products we assemble for our primary OEM customer, Sun Microsystems, as well as sales to new customers.

 

Gross Profit:

 

     Year Ended
November 30, 2003


    Year Ended
November 30, 2004


    % Change

 
     (in thousands)     (in thousands)        

Gross profit

   $ 178,368     $ 215,372     20.7 %

Percentage of revenue

     4.52 %     4.18 %   (7.5 )%

 

The decrease in gross margin percentage was primarily a result of lower margins in our distribution segment. Distribution gross margin percentage decreased primarily due to changes in customer mix, as sales volumes to larger customers, which generally carry lower margins due to competitive and volume reasons, increased. Our contract assembly gross margin percentage also decreased due to our overall increased business over the prior year and the associated changes in product and customer mix.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:

 

     Year Ended
November 30, 2003


    Year Ended
November 30, 2004


    % Change

 
     (in thousands)     (in thousands)        

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   $ 121,352     $ 137,712     13.5 %

Percentage of revenue

     3.08 %     2.67 %   (13.3 )%

 

While selling, general and administrative expenses increased in fiscal 2004 from the prior year, as a percentage of revenue, selling, general and administrative expenses declined in fiscal 2004 to 2.7% from 3.1% in fiscal 2003. The decrease as a percentage of sales was due to our continued efforts to control costs. The dollar increase was primarily the result of incremental expenses associated with our increased revenue in the United States, including a 19% increase in sales personnel, and the acquisition of EMJ in September 2004, which accounted for an increase of approximately $2.7 million in selling, general and administrative expenses. In addition, our general and administrative costs increased due to incremental costs associated with being a public company, including compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Netted against selling, general and administrative expenses are reimbursements from OEM suppliers of $16.3 million for fiscal 2004, compared to $13.7 million in fiscal 2003. The reimbursements relate to marketing, infrastructure and promotion programs such as advertisements in trade publications, direct marketing campaigns through mail and e-mail and product demonstrations at trade shows. We make the arrangements and pay for the advertising, facility fees and other costs of the programs, which feature the OEM suppliers’ products.

 

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Table of Contents

Income from Continuing Operations before Non-operating Items, Income Taxes and Minority Interest:

 

    Year Ended
November 30, 2003


  Year Ended
November 30, 2004


   % Change

 
    (in thousands)   (in thousands)       

Income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest

  $ 57,016   $ 77,660    36.2 %

Distribution income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest

  $ 51,885   $ 63,255    21.9 %

Contract assembly income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest

  $ 5,131   $ 14,405    180.7 %

 

Income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest as a percentage of revenue of 1.5% for fiscal 2004 improved slightly from 1.4% in fiscal 2003 due to the decline in selling, general and administrative expense as a percentage of sales, partially offset by the decline in gross margin percentage. Despite the increase in our sales, our distribution operating income percentage was essentially unchanged primarily due to additional costs associated with being a public company and an increase in the operating loss from our operations in Mexico to a loss of $1.4 million in fiscal 2004 from a loss of $0.1 million in fiscal 2003. The increase in the operating loss in Mexico was primarily a result of a weak local economy and an increase in bad debt expense. The increase in contract assembly operating margin was primarily due to a significant increase in production volumes in fiscal 2004, which allowed for the absorption of fixed overhead and other administrative expenses.

 

Interest Expense and Finance Charges, net:

 

    

Year Ended

November 30, 2003


  

Year Ended

November 30, 2004


   % Change

 
     (in thousands)    (in thousands)       

Interest expense and finance charges, net

   $ 7,007    $ 7,959    13.6 %

 

The increase in interest expense and finance charges, net, was primarily a result of a $1.2 million increase in finance charges as a result of having to finance increased working capital requirements in fiscal 2004 due to higher sales volume in fiscal 2004 compared to fiscal 2003, offset by higher interest income earned in fiscal 2004.

 

Other Income (Expense), net:

 

    

Year Ended

November 30, 2003


   

Year Ended

November 30, 2004


    % Change

 
     (in thousands)     (in thousands)        

Other income (expense), net

   $ (3,478 )   $ (900 )   74.1 %

 

Other income (expense), net decreased in fiscal 2004 from fiscal 2003 primarily due to a $3.0 million decrease in foreign currency transaction losses. The foreign currency transaction losses in fiscal 2003 were incurred primarily as a result of purchases of forward contracts not conducted within normal Company hedging practices and procedures, combined with a weakening U.S. dollar.

 

Provision for Income Taxes.    Income taxes consist of our current and deferred tax expense resulting from our income earned in domestic and foreign jurisdictions. Our effective tax rate was 33.6% in fiscal 2004 as compared with an effective tax rate of 36.7% in fiscal 2003. The decrease in our income tax provision and effective tax rate was primarily a result of tax benefits from stock option exercises and a $2.0 million income tax benefit related to the release of a valuation allowance resulting from the final tax accounting of our acquisition of Merisel Canada, Inc.

 

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Table of Contents

Minority Interest.    Minority interest is the portion of earnings from operations from our subsidiaries attributable to other owners of the subsidiaries. Our subsidiary in Mexico has minority stockholders. Minority interest benefit increased to $376,000 in fiscal 2004 from a benefit of $267,000 in fiscal 2003 due to increased losses at our Mexico subsidiary.

 

Fiscal Years Ended November 30, 2002 and 2003

 

Revenue:

 

    

Year Ended

November 30, 2002


  

Year Ended

November 30, 2003


   % Change

 
     (in thousands)    (in thousands)       

Revenue

   $ 3,596,265    $ 3,944,886    9.7 %

Distribution revenue

   $ 3,223,110    $ 3,714,385    15.2 %

Contract assembly revenue

   $ 373,155    $ 230,501    (38.2 )%

 

The increase in our distribution revenue was mainly attributable to market share increases as a result of increased selling efforts, primarily in the United States, and the acquisition of Gates/Arrow distributing in May 2002. The increase was also attributable to the commencement of our Mexico distribution operations in April 2002. Our Mexico operations accounted for $61.1 million of the distribution revenue increase in fiscal 2003 compared to fiscal 2002. Despite the significant increase in revenue from our Mexico operations, we were not satisfied with the operating margins of this entity, as discussed below. After several years of decline, product demand in the IT distribution channel stabilized in the second half of 2003, especially in the United States. The increase in our distribution revenue was somewhat mitigated by significant competition in the IT distribution marketplace, continued efforts by some OEMs, including HP, our largest OEM, to sell more of their product directly to end-users, bypassing the IT distribution channel, and general declines in average selling prices of the products we sell. The decline in contract assembly revenue was the result of a decline in demand for IT products that we assemble for our primary OEM customer, Sun Microsystems. Despite the overall decline in assembly revenue in fiscal 2003, we did experience an increase in revenues in the second half of fiscal 2003 with revenues totaling $145.4 million in the last six months of fiscal 2003 compared to $85.1 million in the first six months of fiscal 2003 due to an increase in new product sales to Sun Microsystems.

 

Gross Profit:

 

    

Year Ended

November 30, 2002


   

Year Ended

November 30, 2003


    % Change

 
     (in thousands)     (in thousands)        

Gross profit

   $ 164,176     $ 178,368     8.6 %

Percentage of revenue

     4.57 %     4.52 %   (1.1 )%

 

Gross margins of 4.5% of revenue in fiscal 2003 remained virtually flat as compared with fiscal 2002. Overall gross margin was negatively impacted as the result of the change in revenue mix between our lower gross margin distribution business and our higher gross margin contract assembly business, however this was mostly offset by an increase in contract assembly gross margins. Distribution gross margin was essentially unchanged for fiscal 2003 as compared with fiscal 2002 as a result of our efforts to maintain our pricing policies in selling our products. However, we did experience a decline in our distribution gross margins in the third and fourth quarter of fiscal 2003 primarily due to increased sales volumes to larger customers, which generally carry lower margins and competitive pricing pressures. Contract assembly margins increased, primarily in the second half of the year, in fiscal 2003 compared to fiscal 2002 as a result of a favorable mix of products with higher gross margins.

 

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Table of Contents

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:

 

    

Year Ended

November 30, 2002


   

Year Ended

November 30, 2003


    % Change

 
     (in thousands)     (in thousands)        

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   $ 114,657     $ 121,352     5.8 %

Percentage of revenue

     3.19 %     3.08 %   (3.4 )%

 

The increase in selling, general and administrative expense was primarily a result of the commencement of our Mexico distribution operations in April 2002, which accounted for $3.4 million of the selling, general and administrative expense increase, a $2.0 million charge relating to the departure of a former executive officer, and a loss on a disposition of property and equipment of $0.9 million. Incremental expenses associated with our increased revenue in North America also contribute to the rise in selling, general and administrative expenses, however these were partially offset by decreases in selling, general and administrative expenses outside of North America and Mexico. Netted against selling, general and administrative expenses are reimbursements from OEM suppliers of $13.7 million for fiscal 2003, compared to $9.5 million fiscal 2002. The reimbursements relate to marketing, infrastructure and promotion programs such as advertisements in trade publications, direct marketing campaigns through mail and e-mail and product demonstrations at trade shows. We make the arrangements and pay for the advertising, facility fees and other costs of the programs, which feature the OEM suppliers’ products.

 

Income from Continuing Operations before Non-Operating Items, Income Taxes and Minority Interest:

 

    

Year Ended

November 30, 2002


  

Year Ended

November 30, 2003


   % Change

 
     (in thousands)    (in thousands)       

Income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest

   $ 49,519    $ 57,016    15.1 %

Distribution income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest

   $ 42,124    $ 51,885    23.2 %

Contract assembly income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest

   $ 7,395    $ 5,131    (30.6 )%

 

Income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest as a percentage of revenue improved slightly to 1.4% in fiscal 2003. On a segmented basis, our distribution operating income as a percentage of distribution revenue increased to approximately 1.4% in fiscal 2003 as compared to 1.3% in fiscal 2002, and our contract assembly operating income as a percentage of contract assembly revenue was approximately 2.2% in fiscal 2003 up from 2.0% in fiscal 2002. The increase in distribution operating margin was primarily due to efficiencies realized on higher revenues resulting in lower selling, general and administrative costs as a percentage of revenue, offset somewhat by the charge relating to the departure of our former executive officer and an operating loss in our Mexico operation. The loss in Mexico was primarily related to an increase in bad debt provisions. The increase in contract assembly operating margin was primarily due to the increase in gross margins resulting from a favorable product mix, as discussed above.

 

Interest Expense and Finance Charges, net:

 

    

Year Ended

November 30, 2002


  

Year Ended

November 30, 2003


   % Change

 
     (in thousands)    (in thousands)       

Interest expense and finance charges, net

   $ 6,182    $ 7,007    13.3 %

 

The increase in interest expense and finance charges, net, was primarily the result of increased borrowing activity in fiscal 2003 compared to fiscal 2002 in order to support our increase in revenue and operations.

 

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Table of Contents

Other Income (Expense), net:

 

    

Year Ended

November 30, 2002


  

Year Ended

November 30, 2003


    % Change

 
     (in thousands)    (in thousands)        

Other income (expense), net

   $ 1,169    $ (3,478 )   (397.5 )%

 

Other income (expense), net, increased in fiscal 2003 from fiscal 2002 primarily due to a $4.7 million increase in foreign currency transaction losses. The foreign currency transaction losses were incurred primarily as a result of purchases of forward contracts not conducted within normal Company hedging practices and procedures, combined with a weakening U.S. dollar.

 

Provision for Income Taxes.    Income taxes consist of our current and deferred tax expense resulting from our income earned in domestic and foreign jurisdictions. Our effective tax rate was 36.7% in fiscal 2003 as compared with an effective tax rate of 37.4% in fiscal 2002. The decrease in our income tax provision and effective tax rate was primarily a result of the lower effective tax rate of our subsidiaries in Canada and China.

 

Minority Interest.    Minority interest is the portion of earnings from operations from our subsidiaries attributable to other owners of the subsidiaries. Our subsidiary in Mexico has minority stockholders. Minority interest benefit increased to $267,000 in fiscal 2003 from $49,000 in fiscal 2002 due to increased losses at our Mexico subsidiary.

 

Quarterly Financial Data

 

The following tables set forth certain unaudited statements of operations in thousands, for the seven quarters ended August 31, 2005. This quarterly financial data has been adjusted to give effect to the discontinued operations resulting from the sale of our Japan subsidiary during the second quarter of fiscal 2005. The unaudited statements of operations data contained herein have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, that we consider necessary for fair statement of such information when read together with the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The operating results for any quarter should not be considered indicative of the results of any future period.

 

   

Fiscal 2004

Three Months Ended


   

Fiscal 2005

Three Months Ended


 
   

Feb. 29,

2004


   

May 31,

2004


   

Aug. 31,

2004


   

Nov. 30,

2004


   

Feb. 28,

2005


   

May 31,

2005


   

Aug. 31,

2005


 
    (in thousands)  

Revenue

  $ 1,174,683     $ 1,231,208     $ 1,303,741     $ 1,440,815     $ 1,309,763     $ 1,346,328     $ 1,391,590  

Cost of revenue

    (1,124,441 )     (1,179,999 )     (1,251,080 )     (1,379,555 )     (1,253,629 )     (1,289,772 )     (1,332,612 )
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Gross profit

    50,242       51,209       52,661       61,260       56,134       56,556       58,978  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

    (33,126 )     (32,664 )     (33,772 )     (38,150 )     (39,712 )     (38,159 )     (39,249 )
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest

    17,116       18,545       18,889       23,110       16,422       18,397       19,729  

Interest expense and finance charges, net

    (2,083 )     (1,705 )     (1,378 )     (2,793 )     (3,812 )     (3,521 )     (3,777 )

Other income (expense), net

    (321 )     (836 )     241       16       709       949       (1,155 )
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest

    14,712       16,004       17,752       20,333       13,319       15,825       14,797  

Provision for income taxes

    (5,346 )     (6,021 )     (6,382 )     (5,342 )     (5,042 )     (6,006 )     (5,759 )

Minority interest in subsidiary

    150       94       76       56       26       32        
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income from continuing operations

    9,516       10,077       11,446       15,047       8,303       9,851       9,038  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

    137       134       3       205       304       207        

Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax

                                  12,323        
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net income

  $ 9,653     $ 10,211     $ 11,449     $ 15,252     $ 8,607     $ 22,381     $ 9,038  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


 

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Our operating results have fluctuated, and will fluctuate in the future, as a result of many factors, including general economic conditions and level of IT spending, the loss or consolidation of one or more of our significant OEM suppliers or customers, market acceptance and product life of the products we assemble and distribute, competitive conditions in our industry that impact our margins, pricing and other terms with our OEM suppliers, and variations in our levels of excess inventory and doubtful accounts. Although we attempt to control our expense levels, these levels are based, in part, on anticipated revenue. Therefore we may not be able to control spending in a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected revenue shortfall. You should not rely on period-to-period comparisons of our operating results as an indication of future performance. The results of any quarterly period are not indicative of results to be expected for a full fiscal year. In future quarters, our operating results may be below our expectations or those of our public market analysts or investors, which would likely cause our share price to decline.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Cash Flows

 

Our business is working capital intensive. Our working capital needs are primarily to finance accounts receivable and inventory. We rely heavily on debt, accounts receivable flooring programs and the sale of our accounts receivable under our securitization program for our working capital needs.

 

We have financed our growth and cash needs to date primarily through working capital financing facilities, bank credit lines and cash generated from operations. The primary uses of cash have been to fund increases in inventory and accounts receivable resulting from increased sales, and for acquisitions.

 

We had positive net working capital of $316.9 and $342.2 million at November 30, 2004 and August 31, 2005, respectively. We believe that cash flows from operations, our current cash balance and funds available under our working capital and credit facilities will be sufficient to meet our working capital needs and planned capital expenditures for the next 12 months.

 

To increase our market share and better serve our customers, we may further expand our operations through investments or acquisitions. We expect that this expansion would require an initial investment in personnel, facilities and operations, which may be more costly than similar investments in current operations. As a result of these investments, we may experience an increase in cost of sales and operating expenses that is disproportionate to revenue from those operations. These investments or acquisitions would likely be funded primarily by incurring additional debt or issuing additional capital stock.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was $69.3 million in fiscal 2002. Cash provided by operations in fiscal 2002 was primarily attributable to net income of $28.0 million plus depreciation and amortization of $8.3 million. Also contributing to the cash provided by operations was an increase in cash from net working capital of $32.7 million. The increase in cash from working capital was primarily attributable to a net increase in sales of our accounts receivable under our accounts receivable securitization program of $86.0 million in fiscal 2002. The cash used for working capital in fiscal 2002 was primarily due to increases in accounts receivable, inventory and other assets as well as a decrease in payable to affiliates, partially offset by increases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The fluctuations in our accounts receivable, inventory, other assets, accounts payable and accrued liabilities were primarily related to the increase in our distribution revenue in the period. The decrease in payable to affiliates was primarily related to the decline in our contract assembly operations in fiscal 2002.

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $12.7 million in fiscal 2003. Cash used in operating activities in fiscal 2003 was primarily attributable to cash generated from net income of $30.0 million and depreciation and amortization of $7.4 million offset by the use of cash for working capital of $51.2 million. The cash used for working capital in fiscal 2003 was primarily due to increases in accounts receivable, receivables from vendors and inventory, partially offset by increases in accounts payable and payables to affiliates. The fluctuations in these working capital balances were primarily due to our strategy to increase inventory levels to support market

 

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share increases and overall higher revenue levels and a net increase in sales of accounts receivable under our securitization program of $52.0 million.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was $0.2 million in fiscal 2004. Cash provided by operating activities in fiscal 2004 was primarily attributable to cash generated from net income of $46.6 million and depreciation and amortization of $7.8 million offset by the use of cash for working capital of $58.1 million. The cash used for working capital in fiscal 2004 was primarily due to increases in accounts receivable, receivables from vendors and inventory, partially offset by increases in accounts payable and payables to affiliates. The fluctuations in these working capital balances were primarily due to our over all increase in revenue in fiscal 2004. Also contributing to the cash used for working capital was a net decrease in sales of our accounts receivable under our accounts receivable securitization program of $13.7 million in fiscal 2004.

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $4.4 million in the nine months ended August 31, 2005. Cash used in operating activities in the nine months ended August 31, 2005 was primarily attributable to a decrease of $20.5 million for stock received from the sale of SYNNEX K.K. and $39.9 million from a decrease in net working capital. These amounts were partially offset by $40.0 million from net income and $6.6 million from depreciation and amortization. The decrease in cash from net working capital in the nine months ended August 31, 2005 was primarily due to increases in inventories and accounts receivable. The fluctuations in these working capital balances were also affected by a net decrease of $25.4 million in sales of accounts receivable to two financial institutions under our securitization program.

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $63.0 million in fiscal 2002, $2.3 million in fiscal 2003 and $49.6 million in fiscal 2004. The use of cash in fiscal 2004 was primarily the result of the acquisition of EMJ Data Systems Limited for $42.2 million and capital expenditures of $6.4 million, mostly for leasehold improvements and computer equipment upgrades. The use of cash in fiscal 2003 was primarily the result of a final payment of $1.5 million to Arrow Electronics for our Gates/Arrow Distributing acquisition and capital expenditures of $2.9 million. The use of cash in fiscal 2002 was primarily a result of our acquisition of Gates/Arrow Distributing for $42.9 million, net of cash acquired, and capital expenditures of $8.9 million.

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $6.3 million in the nine months ended August 31, 2005. The use of cash was primarily the result of a $3.0 million investment in Microland, the final payments for the acquisitions of EMJ and BSA Sales, Inc. of $4.8 million and capital expenditures of $4.9 million, partially offset by a decrease in restricted cash of $2.0 million. The capital expenditures were mostly for the purchase of land associated with a building we already owned at our UK subsidiary, and computer equipment upgrades.

 

Net cash used in financing activities of $7.3 million in fiscal 2002 was primarily due to the net repayment of borrowings under our credit facilities. Net cash provided by financing activities was $19.9 million in fiscal 2003 and was primarily related to our cash overdraft of $9.8 million and net borrowings under our credit facilities. Net cash provided by financing activities was $56.8 million in fiscal 2004 and was primarily related to proceeds from our initial public offering and stock option exercises of $61.0 million and our cash overdraft of $2.9 million, offset by net debt payments of $7.0 million.

 

Net cash used in financing activities was $7.4 million in the nine months ended August 31, 2005 and was primarily related to net debt payments of $12.0 million and cash overdraft of $2.5 million, offset by proceeds from issuances of common stock of $8.2 million.

 

Capital Resources

 

Our cash and cash equivalents totaled $28.7 million and $9.9 million at November 30, 2004 and August 31, 2005, respectively.

 

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We have a six-year revolving accounts receivable securitization program in the United States, which provides for the sale of up to $275.0 million of U.S. trade accounts receivable to two financial institutions. The program expires in August 2008. In connection with this program substantially all of our U.S. trade accounts receivable are transferred without recourse to our wholly owned subsidiary, which, in turn, sells the accounts receivable to the financial institutions. Sales of the accounts receivables to the financial institutions under this program result in a reduction of total accounts receivable in our consolidated balance sheet. The remaining accounts receivable not sold to the financial institutions are carried at their net realizable value, including an allowance for doubtful accounts. Our effective borrowing cost under the program is the prevailing commercial paper rate of return plus 0.90% per annum. Subsequent to August 31, 2005, the program was amended to reduce this amount to 0.75%. At November 30, 2004 and August 31, 2005, the amount of our accounts receivable sold to and held by the financial institutions under this accounts receivable securitization program totaled $196.3 million and $170.9 million, respectively. We believe that available funding under our accounts receivable financing programs provides us increased flexibility to make incremental investments in strategic growth initiatives and to manage working capital requirements, and that there are sufficient trade accounts receivable to support the U.S. financing programs. As we have in prior periods, we expect we will increase this program if our revenue levels continue to increase. Under the program, we continue to service the accounts receivable, and receive a service fee from the financial institutions. The program contains customary financial covenants, including, but not limited to, requiring us to maintain on a consolidated basis:

 

  Ÿ   a minimum net worth at the end of each fiscal quarter in each fiscal year ending on or after November 30, 2003 of not less than (i) the minimum net worth required under the arrangement for the immediately preceding fiscal year plus (ii) an amount equal to 50% of the positive net income of us and our subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for the immediately preceding fiscal year plus (iii) an amount equal to 100% of the amount of any equity raised by or capital contributed to us during the immediately preceding fiscal year;

 

  Ÿ   a fixed charge ratio for each rolling period from and after the closing of the arrangement of not less than 1.70 to 1.00. The fixed charge ratio is the ratio of EBITDA for the rolling period ending on such date to “fixed charges” for such period. Fixed charges means, with respect to any of our fiscal periods (a) cash interest expense during such period, plus (b) regularly scheduled payments of principal on our debt (other than debt owing under the amended arrangement, as defined) paid during such period, plus (c) the aggregate amount of all capital expenditures made by us during such period other than capital expenditures related to the purchase of and improvements to the building occupied by our subsidiary in China in an amount not to exceed $8.5 million, plus (d) income tax expense during such period, plus (e) any dividend, return of capital or any other distribution in connection with our capital stock. Rolling period means as of the end of any or our fiscal quarters, the immediately preceding four fiscal quarters (including the fiscal quarter then ending); and

 

  Ÿ   with respect to our wholly owned subsidiary, a net worth percentage of not less than 5.0%.

 

We are also obligated to provide periodic financial statements and investment reports, notices of material litigation and any other information relating to our U.S. trade accounts receivable as requested by the financial institutions.

 

As is customary in trade accounts receivable securitization arrangements, a credit rating agency’s downgrade of the third party issuer of commercial paper or of a back-up liquidity provider (which provides a source of funding if the commercial paper market cannot be accessed) could result in an adverse change or loss of our financing capacity under these programs if the commercial paper issuer or liquidity back-up provider is not replaced. Loss of such financing capacity could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

We have issued guarantees to certain vendors of our subsidiaries for the total amount of $77.9 million as of November 30, 2004 and $64.3 million as of August 31, 2005.

 

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We have also issued guarantees of C$25.0 million in relation to a revolving loan agreement between SYNNEX Canada and a financial institution.

 

We are obligated under these guarantees to pay amounts due should our subsidiaries not pay valid amounts owed to their vendors or lenders. The vendor guarantees are typically less than one-year arrangements, with 30-day cancellation clauses and the lender guarantees are typically for the term of the loan agreement.

 

On-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We have a senior secured revolving line of credit arrangement, or the Revolver, with a group of financial institutions, which is secured by our inventory and expires in 2008. The Revolver’s maximum commitment is 40% of eligible inventory valued at the lower of cost or market, less liquidation reserve (as defined) up to a maximum borrowing of $45.0 million. Interest on borrowings under the Revolver is based on the financial institution’s prime rate or LIBOR plus 1.75% at our option. There were no borrowings outstanding under the Revolver at November 30, 2004 or August 31, 2005.

 

Our subsidiary, SYNNEX Canada, has a revolving loan agreement with a group of financial institutions. At August 31, 2005 the credit limit was C$125.0 million and matures in September 2007. Borrowings under the loan agreement are collateralized by substantially all of SYNNEX Canada’s assets, including inventories and accounts receivable. Borrowings bear interest at the prime rate of a Canadian bank designated by the financial institution or at the financial institution’s Bankers Acceptance rate plus 1.2% for Canadian dollar denominated loans, at the prime rate of a U.S. bank designated by the financial institution or at LIBOR plus 1.2% for U.S. dollar denominated loans. The balance outstanding at November 30, 2004 and August 31, 2005 was $56.9 and $59.0 million, respectively.

 

We have other lines of credit and revolving facilities with financial institutions, which provide for borrowing capacity aggregating approximately $60.6 and $5.4 million at November 30, 2004 and August 31, 2005, respectively. At November 30, 2004 and August 31, 2005, we had borrowings of $16.5 and $1.1 million, respectively, outstanding under these facilities. We also have various term loans, bonds and mortgages with financial institutions totaling approximately $14.7 and $1.6 million at November 30, 2004 and August 31, 2005, respectively. Future principal payments due under these term loans, bonds and mortgages and payments due under our operating lease arrangements after August 31, 2005 are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Payments Due By Period

     Total

  

Less than

1 Year


  

1-3

Years


  

3-5

Years


  

>5

Years


Contractual obligations

                                  

Principal debt payments

   $ 1,583    $ 359    $ 718    $ 506    $

Interest on debt

     91      21      41      29     

Non-cancelable operating leases

     49,062      9,641      18,978      10,674      9,769
    

  

  

  

  

Total

   $ 50,736    $ 10,021    $ 19,737    $ 11,209    $ 9,769
    

  

  

  

  

 

We are in compliance with all covenants or other requirements set forth in our accounts receivable financing programs and credit agreements discussed above.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued FASB Statement No. 123R (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” which is a revision of FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” Statement 123R supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and amends FASB Statement No. 95, “Statement of Cash Flows.” Generally, the approach in Statement 123R is similar to the approach described in Statement 123. However, Statement 123R requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income

 

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statement based on their fair values. Pro forma disclosure is no longer an alternative. The new standard will be effective for us in the quarter ending February 28, 2006. We are in the process of assessing the impact of adopting this new standard. The impact will be dependent on the transition method, the option-pricing model used to compute fair values, and the inputs to that model, such as volatility and expected life.

 

On March 29, 2005, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin, or SAB, 107 which expresses the view of the SEC regarding the interaction between SFAS No. 123R and certain SEC rules and regulations and provides the SEC’s views regarding the valuation of share-based payment arrangements for public companies. In particular, SAB 107 provides guidance related to share-based payment transactions with non-employees, the transition from nonpublic to public entity status, valuation methods (including assumptions such as expected volatility and expected term), the accounting for certain redeemable financial instrument issues under shares-based payment arrangements, the classification of compensation expense, non-GAAP financial measures, first-time adoption of SFAS No. 123R in an interim period, capitalization of compensation costs related to shares-based payment arrangements, the accounting for income tax effects of share-based payment arrangements, the accounting for income tax effects of share-based payment arrangements upon adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the modification of employee share options prior to adoption of SFAS No. 123R, and disclosures in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations subsequent to adoption of SFAS No. 123R.

 

In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.” SFAS No. 154 replaces APB Opinion No. 20. “Accounting Changes” and SFAS No. 3, “Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim Financial Statements.” SFAS No. 154 requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements of changes in accounting principle, unless it is impracticable to determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of the change. We do not expect the adoption of SFAS No. 154 to have any material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

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BUSINESS

 

Overview

 

We are a global information technology, or IT, supply chain services company. We offer a comprehensive range of services to IT original equipment manufacturers and software publishers, collectively OEMs, and reseller customers worldwide. The supply chain services that we offer include product distribution related logistics, contract assembly and demand generation marketing.

 

We have been in the IT distribution business since 1980 and are one of the largest IT product distributors based on 2004 reported revenue. We focus our core wholesale distribution business on a limited number of leading IT OEMs, which allows us to enhance and increase the value we provide to our OEM suppliers and reseller customers.

 

In our distribution operations, we purchase IT systems, peripherals, system components, packaged software and networking equipment from OEM suppliers such as HP, IBM, Intel, Lenovo, Microsoft and Seagate and sell them to our reseller customers. We perform the same function for our purchases of licensed software products. Our reseller customers include value added resellers, or VARs, corporate resellers, government resellers, system integrators, direct marketers and retailers. We currently distribute and market approximately 15,000 products (as measured by active SKUs) from over 100 OEM suppliers to more than 15,000 resellers.

 

Our contract assembly operations are generally related to building IT systems such as network security appliances, servers and workstations. By leveraging the inventory management capabilities and system component supplier relationships of our distribution business, we provide cost-effective IT system assembly.

 

Because we offer distribution, contract assembly, demand generation marketing, IT solutions and complementary logistics services, OEM suppliers and resellers can outsource to us multiple areas of their business outside of their core competencies. This model allows us to provide services at several points along the IT product supply chain. We believe that the combination of our broad range of supply chain capabilities, our focus on serving the leading IT OEMs and our efficient operations enables us to realize strong and expanding relationships with these OEMs and our reseller customers.

 

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Our Industry

 

The information technology, or IT, product supply chain generally consists of original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, contract manufacturers, distributors, resellers and end-users. The roles of these participants are described in the table below:

 

IT Product Supply Chain

 

Participant   Description   Companies
IT OEMs  

Ÿ  Design IT systems, system components, peripherals and software.

 

Ÿ  Manufacture IT products, directly or on an outsourced basis.

 

Ÿ  Market and sell IT products directly or through distributors to resellers, retailers and large end-users.

 

Systems (including PCs, servers, storage systems, workstations): Apple, Dell, EMC, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Sun Microsystems, Toshiba

 

Peripherals (including monitors, printers, supplies): APC, Dell, HP, Lexmark, NEC, ViewSonic, Xerox

 

System Components (including CPUs, memory, hard disk drives): Asustek, Intel, Micron, Seagate, Western Digital

 

Software (including applications, operating systems): Adobe, Computer Associates, IBM, Intuit, Microsoft, Oracle, Symantec

 

Networking Equipment (including network interface cards, routers, switches, hubs, wireless products): Cisco, Intel, Lucent, Nortel, 3COM

 

Contract Manufacturers/ Assemblers  

Ÿ  Design IT products.

Ÿ  Source product materials.

Ÿ  Manufacture and assemble printed circuit boards.

Ÿ  Assemble and test finished products.

  Benchmark, Celestica, Flextronics, HonHai (Foxconn), MiTAC International, Sanmina-SCI, Solectron, SYNNEX
Distributors  

Ÿ  Purchase IT products from OEMs.

Ÿ  Sell IT products to resellers.

Ÿ  Provide logistics, marketing, financial, technical support and other supply chain services.

  Agilysys, Arrow, Avnet, Bell Micro, Ingram
Micro, ScanSource, SYNNEX, Tech Data,
Westcon
Resellers  

Ÿ  Sell IT products directly to end-users.

 

Ÿ  Provide value added services, including design, installation, integration and training.

 

Value Added Resellers and Solution Providers: small- to medium-sized business focused, local, regional and industry specific resellers

 

Corporate Resellers: ASAP, CompuCom, EnPointe, Pomeroy

 

Government Resellers: Apptis, Government Micro Resources, GTSI, TELOS, Westwood Computer

 

Systems Integrators: AMAX, Comptech Micro System, Equus Computer Systems, Hatch Associates, Premio Computer

 

Direct Marketers: CDW, Insight, PC Connection

 

Retailers: Amazon.com, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Fry’s Electronics

 

End-Users  

Ÿ  Use IT products for commercial or personal use.

 

Large corporations, governments and educational institutions, small- to medium-sized businesses, personal users

 

 

The IT product supply chain is fluid as participants assume changing roles in the chain based on their various products, customer demands and business objectives. For example, a contract manufacturer may perform design features for some OEM products while solely manufacturing products for the same or other OEMs. Similarly, OEMs may elect to sell products directly to resellers or end-users without the use of a distributor, particularly in the case of larger volume end-user purchasers.

 

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Distribution

 

OEMs rely on distributors because of the wide range and high complexity of IT products, the short product life cycle of some products and the desire of end-users to integrate solutions from multiple OEMs. Distributors provide an efficient and cost-effective means for OEMs to reach a broad range of resellers who sell to a large number of end-users. In addition, distributors provide OEMs with demand creation marketing, inventory management, logistics service, pre- and post-sale technical support and IT solutions.

 

Resellers depend on distributors for product information, real-time price and availability information, system configuration, marketing, credit, logistics, technical support needs and IT solutions. Resellers also rely on distributors for inventory management services. These services allow resellers to reduce their inventory, staffing levels and warehouse requirements, thereby lowering their invested capital requirements and reducing their costs.

 

In July 2005, a leading industry publication estimated that the total worldwide IT spending on hardware and packaged software was $596.2 billion in 2004 and would grow to $780.2 billion by 2009, representing a compound annual growth rate of 5.5%. The report also estimated that IT spending on hardware and packaged software in the U.S. was $222.6 billion in 2004 and would grow to $279.1 billion by 2009, representing a compound annual growth rate of 4.6%. In doing so, the report makes assumptions about economic conditions that may or may not prove accurate. The distribution business in which we and our competitors operate addresses only a portion of this total market.

 

The IT product distribution industry has undergone significant consolidation as a result of several factors. These factors include economic conditions, reductions in IT spending, overcapacity, more restrictive terms and conditions from OEMs, reductions in the number of OEM-authorized distributors, a high level of price competition among distributors and evolving OEM business models such as direct sales initiatives.

 

Contract Manufacturing and Assembly

 

In addition to using wholesale distributors, OEMs in the IT industry have increasingly outsourced their manufacturing and product assembly. Historically, OEMs were vertically integrated and invested significantly in equipment and facilities to manufacture, service and distribute their products. Contract manufacturers originated to provide additional capacity during periods of high demand by assembling and testing printed circuit boards that typically form the backbone of electronic devices and have evolved to provide full system assembly. Recently, contract manufacturers have also expanded their electronic manufacturing operations to include design, component procurement, inventory management, logistics and after-market services.

 

OEMs use contract manufacturers and assemblers for many reasons including to reduce their time to market by using a contract manufacturer’s established manufacturing expertise, broad capabilities, global presence and infrastructure, reduce the OEMs’ overall capital equipment requirements, allow OEMs to focus on core technologies and activities such as product development and marketing and to reduce production and inventory costs by using a contract manufacturer’s volume procurement capabilities and expertise in inventory management.

 

Our Solution

 

We distribute the products of leading IT product OEMs and provide complementary contract assembly and supply chain activities. Our comprehensive offerings are an essential part of our OEM suppliers’ and reseller customers’ supply chains that enable them to meet their specific sales, distribution, manufacturing and logistics objectives. The key components of our IT supply chain solution are as follows:

 

Distribution

 

Focus on leading OEMs.    We primarily serve leading OEMs in selected IT product categories. This OEM focus enables us to dedicate teams that work directly with these OEMs and develop in-depth knowledge of the

 

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OEMs’ products. Because of our intimate knowledge of the products we distribute, we are able to provide effective product marketing activities for our OEM suppliers in order to help them meet their sales objectives. In addition, our in-depth product knowledge enables us to deliver solutions to our reseller customers that integrate several products, sometimes from multiple OEMs.

 

Broad Market Reach.    Through our network of more than 15,000 reseller customers, we offer our OEM suppliers access to customers they could not reach cost-effectively otherwise. Our reseller relationships provide an important sales channel for these OEMs to connect with small- to medium-sized businesses, government agencies and educational institutions that generally buy IT products through intermediaries.

 

Low Cost Solutions.    Our ability to effectively market and sell products for leading OEMs can save our OEM suppliers money relative to selling direct. OEMs can streamline their sales organization by using us to expand their reach to additional IT product resellers. OEMs can also reduce their costs associated with warehouse facilities by utilizing our inventory management and logistics support.

 

Financing Options for Resellers.    Many resellers have limited working capital and rely on us to provide them with financing alternatives. By offering these alternatives, we enable our reseller customers to fulfill larger orders than their resources otherwise would allow.

 

Demand Creation Marketing.    We offer our OEM suppliers a full range of demand creation marketing activities targeted to specific resellers and selected market segments. These activities include database marketing, trade publication advertising, direct mail, e-mail marketing, national and regional trade show events and many Web-based marketing offerings. We also offer similar services directly to our reseller customers.

 

Local Points of Presence.    Our sales and distribution centers are geographically dispersed. Our regional locations enable us to work closely with our reseller customers to better serve them and their end-users. Our regional distribution centers also allow us to deliver products quickly. In addition, because shipping companies generally charge based on the distance shipped, our approach allows us to reduce our shipping costs, a significant component of our cost of sales.

 

Enterprise Solutions.    We enable our reseller customers to provide their end users with technology that integrates multiple systems components into solutions to solve specific business issues. These solutions focus on the market segments of storage, security and networking. The complexity and high level of integration of these solutions requires significant pre-sale and post sale engineering support provided through our certified engineering staff.

 

Electronic Commerce.    We maintain EDI, or electronic data interchange, and web-based communication links with many of our reseller customers. These links improve the speed and efficiency of our transactions with our reseller customers by enabling them to:

 

  Ÿ   search for products;

 

  Ÿ   check inventory availability;

 

  Ÿ   configure systems;

 

  Ÿ   price systems and products;

 

  Ÿ   place and track orders;

 

  Ÿ   receive invoices; and

 

  Ÿ   process returns.

 

Competitive Pricing.    We are able to offer our reseller customers competitive prices due to our high volume purchasing, low cost structure, efficient distribution methods and focus on leading OEM suppliers.

 

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Remote Management and Monitoring.    Through our investment in Microland, we offer our reseller customers and their end users remote system management and monitoring services. These offerings enable our resellers to deliver technical support as well as managed services that further enhance the value our resellers deliver to their customers. Through Microland, we also provide outsourced technical support services to our OEM vendors. Microland’s India-based team of approximately 620 engineers is able to support a wide range of reseller and OEM vendor needs.

 

Other Supply Chain Support Activities.    We provide both OEMs and resellers logistics services such as outsourced fulfillment, virtual distribution and direct ship to end-users. We also offer our reseller customers outsourced back-office support services, including management of sales and purchase orders, inventory, invoicing and collections, vendor claims and returns. Furthermore, we provide our reseller customers with pre- and post-sale technical support services.

 

Contract Assembly

 

Efficient System Components Sourcing.    We distribute many of the system components used in the assembly of our OEM customers’ products. As a result, our assembly customers are able to minimize their inventory risk because they can take advantage of the terms and conditions of our distribution relationships. A primary benefit of our distribution relationships is vendor provided price protection that allows our OEM customers to benefit from declines in component prices. We also offer increased inventory availability to our OEM customers because we stock items for both distribution and assembly. In addition, we generally can use our distribution operations to provide logistics, drop shipments to end-user customers and to sell excess system components ordered by our OEM assembly customers.

 

Flexible Product Assembly.    We provide our OEM customers with a high degree of flexibility with our build-to-order or configure-to-order capabilities. By focusing only on system-level assembly and outsourcing more capital intensive contract manufacturing activities, such as printed circuit board assembly, we are able to maintain a flexible operating structure that allows us to rapidly increase or decrease production volumes and deliver customized assembly solutions.

 

Joint Design and Manufacturing Services.    We offer contract design and manufacturing services to OEMs through our relationship with our largest indirect stockholder, MiTAC International. These activities complement our system assembly capabilities and allow us to deliver a complete design-to-delivery solution for our OEM customers. MiTAC International is a leading original design manufacturing company based in Taiwan, specializing in product design, printed circuit board assembly, power supply manufacturing, and plastic and sheet metal molding. We work closely with MiTAC International to collaborate on OEM outsourcing opportunities.

 

Product Return Services.    We provide our OEM customers with product return services for the IT systems we build for them in our contract assembly facilities. These services allow for the management of product returns directly from the OEM’s customer to us. These services include refurbishment of these systems to a like-new condition as well as the ability to re-sell the refurbished systems through authorized sales channels.

 

Our Strategy

 

Our objective is to continue to expand our business by providing IT product OEMs and other suppliers outsourcing solutions including distribution, assembly and supply chain support, and by providing our reseller customers outstanding execution, service and support. In particular, we intend to achieve this objective by pursuing the following strategies:

 

Deepen Relationships with Our Existing OEM Suppliers and Reseller Customers

 

We believe our present OEM and reseller relationships represent significant opportunities for growth. We seek to increase business opportunities with our existing OEM suppliers by expanding the distribution, assembly

 

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and supply chain support activities that we provide to them. We work closely with these suppliers to ensure that our service offerings meet their evolving needs. We aim to provide a complete supply chain solution to our OEM suppliers to decrease the costs associated with assembling, selling and distributing IT products.

 

Establish New Strategic Relationships with Leading OEMs

 

We intend to establish additional relationships with select leading IT product OEMs to increase the breadth of products we distribute. We will offer these OEMs our comprehensive range of global distribution and supply chain support activities, our ability to deliver services anywhere along the IT supply chain, our ability to assist OEMs in reaching a broad range of resellers and their end user customers.

 

Increase Our Reseller Customer Base

 

We seek to grow by increasing the number of reseller customers to which we sell IT products. Our depth of product knowledge resulting from our focus on leading OEM vendors enables us to provide a high level of service to resellers. Our efficient operating disciplines have permitted us to profitably sell a comprehensive selection of IT products at competitive prices. We also seek opportunities to increase the number of resellers that buy from us by expanding the breadth of products that we distribute.

 

Expand Our Contract Assembly Business

 

We intend to expand our contract assembly business as the continuing trend of OEMs outsourcing of production activities creates a growing market opportunity. Our strategy is to remain focused on system level assembly operations serving IT product OEMs. Within the broad spectrum of IT products, we have targeted the non-branded, or white-box, segment of the IT product market as a focus of our assembly expansion efforts. We believe the white-box market has growth potential. We are also continuing to work with MiTAC International to jointly pursue contract manufacturing opportunities where we can combine MiTAC International’s design and printed circuit board assembly operations with our system assembly capabilities to deliver an integrated, cost-effective solution to OEMs.

 

Control Costs

 

We intend to maintain our low cost operations and seek ways to further reduce costs in all areas of our operations. Our low cost structure is predicated upon our management of facility costs, capital outlays, and our effective use of IT systems and temporary labor. We also manage our costs by locating some professional and administrative functions, such as IT development, materials management and accounts payable, in low cost geographic regions, like China. Our strategy to operate numerous distribution centers that are geographically dispersed also helps us to control costs by reducing shipping costs.

 

Pursue Strategic Acquisitions and Investments

 

Over the last three years, we have completed a number of acquisitions and investments. We intend to continue to grow our business through strategic acquisitions or investments of complementary businesses or assets in order to increase our OEM and reseller relationships, enhance our service offerings and expand our geographic reach. Additionally, we plan to capitalize on the trend toward consolidation in the distribution and contract manufacturing industries. We believe that a critical part of any acquisition is proper management of the post-acquisition process. We intend to continue to devote attention and resources to the integration of management, personnel, culture, IT systems, products, customer relationships and other issues arising from recent and future acquisitions. We also intend to pursue strategic investments to leverage our core competencies in areas such as execution, IT management, logistics and systems assembly.

 

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Our Products and Suppliers

 

We distribute a full range of IT products, including IT systems, peripherals, system components, software and networking equipment for more than 100 OEM suppliers, enabling us to offer comprehensive solutions to our reseller customers. Our primary OEM suppliers for the nine months ended August 31, 2005 and representative products we currently distribute for them include the following:

 

Supplier


  

Representative Products


Acer

  

Notebook PCs, Displays and Monitors

APC

  

Uninterruptible power supplies and powerstrips

HP

  

Desktop and Notebook PCs, Printers, Imaging Products, Supplies, Servers,

Storage Products

IBM

  

Servers, Storage Systems, Software

Intel

  

CPUs, Motherboards, Networking Products

Lenovo

  

Desktop and Notebook PCs

Lexmark

  

Printers and Supplies

Microsoft

  

Operating Systems, Application Software

NEC-Mitsubishi

  

Displays and Monitors

Panasonic

  

Notebook PCs

Seagate

  

Hard Disk Drives

Symantec

  

Security Software

Toshiba America

  

Notebook PCs

ViewSonic

  

Displays and Monitors

Xerox

  

Printers and Supplies

 

Our largest OEM supplier is HP. Revenue from the sale of HP products represented approximately 32%, 28% and 28% of our revenue for fiscal 2003 and 2004, and the nine months ended August 31, 2005, respectively. We entered into a U.S. Business Development Partner Agreement with HP on November 6, 2003, which governs our relationship with HP in the United States. The agreement remains in effect until May 31, 2006 unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms. As is typical with our OEM supplier agreements, either party may terminate the agreement upon 30 days written notice. In addition, either party may terminate the agreement with cause upon 15 days written notice. “Cause” is not defined in the agreement. In the event the agreement is terminated for cause or if we in any way fail to perform any of our obligations under the agreement, any and all agreements between us and HP for the resale of any and all products, support and services shall automatically terminate upon such default or termination. In the event of any breach of the agreement by us, HP may terminate the agreement and we may be required to refund HP any discounts or program payments paid during the period we were in breach of the agreement and reimburse HP for reasonable attorney fees. If either party becomes insolvent or bankrupt, the other party may terminate the agreement without notice and cancel any unfulfilled obligations, except for payment obligations. Our subsidiaries in Canada and Mexico have territorial supplier agreements with subsidiaries of HP located in the same countries.

 

For the nine months ended August 31, 2005, our distribution product mix by category was in the following ranges:

 

Product Category:


    

Peripherals

   30%-34%

IT Systems

   28%-32%

System Components

   19%-23%

Software

   10%-14%

Networking Equipment

   3%-7%

 

We have distribution agreements with many of our suppliers. These agreements usually provide for nonexclusive distribution rights and pertain to specific geographic territories. The agreements are also generally

 

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short term, subject to periodic renewal, and often contain provisions permitting termination by either our supplier or us without cause upon relatively short notice. An OEM supplier that elects to terminate a distribution agreement will generally repurchase its products carried in our inventory.

 

Our IT distribution and assembly business subjects us to the risk that the value of our inventory will be affected adversely by suppliers’ price reductions or by technological changes affecting the usefulness or desirability of the products comprising our inventory. Many of our OEM suppliers offer us limited protection from the loss in value of our inventory due to technological change or a supplier’s price reductions. Under many of these agreements, we have a limited period of time to return or exchange products or claim price protection credits. We monitor our inventory levels and attempt to time our purchases to maximize our protection under supplier programs.

 

Our OEM suppliers generally warrant the products we distribute and allow returns of defective products, including those returned to us by our reseller customers. We generally do not independently warrant the products we distribute; however, we warrant our services with regard to products that we configure for our reseller customers, and the products that we assemble from components purchased from other sources. Historically, our warranty expense has not been material.

 

Our Customers

 

Distribution

 

We currently distribute IT products to more than 15,000 resellers. Resellers are classified primarily by the end-users to which they sell as well as the services they provide. End-users include large corporations, governments, small-to medium-sized businesses, or SMBs, and personal users. In addition, resellers vary greatly in size and geographic reach. No reseller accounted for more than 10% of our total revenue in fiscal 2003 or 2004 or for the nine months ended August 31, 2005. Our reseller customers buy from us and other distributors. Some of our larger reseller customers also buy certain products directly from OEM suppliers. Some of our largest reseller customers include Apptis, Business Depot, CDW and Insight.

 

Contract Assembly

 

The customers of our contract assembly business are IT product OEMs seeking to outsource product assembly and production logistics. Currently our primary contract assembly customer is Sun Microsystems. No contract assembly customer accounted for more than 10% of our total revenue in fiscal 2003 and the nine months ended August 31, 2005. Sun Microsystems accounted for approximately 10% of our total revenue in fiscal 2004.

 

Our Services

 

We offer a variety of services to our distribution and contract assembly customers, including the following:

 

Distribution

 

Distribution Services.    We have sophisticated pick, pack and ship operations, which allows us to efficiently receive shipments from our OEM suppliers and fill orders from our reseller customers. We generally stock or otherwise have access to the inventory of our OEM suppliers to satisfy the demands of our reseller customers.

 

Logistics Services.    We provide logistics support to our reseller customers such as outsourced fulfillment, virtual distribution and direct ship to end-users. Other logistics support activities we provide include generation of customized shipping documents, multi-level serial number tracking for customized, configured products and online order and shipment tracking. We also provide logistics support both individually and in bulk directly to resellers, other distributors and end-users.

 

Online Services.    We maintain EDI and web-based communication links with many of our reseller customers. These links improve the speed and efficiency of our transactions with our reseller customers by enabling them to search for products, check inventory availability and prices, configure systems, place and track orders, receive invoices, review account status and process returns. We also have web-application software that allows our resellers or their end-user customers to order software and take delivery online.

 

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Financing Services.    We offer our reseller customers a wide range of financing options, including net terms, third party leasing and floor plan financing, letters of credit and arrangements where we collect payment directly from the end-user. The availability and terms of our financing services are subject to our credit policies or those of third-party financing providers to our reseller customers.

 

Marketing Services.    We offer our OEM suppliers a full range of marketing activities targeting specific resellers, including direct mail, external media advertising, reseller product training, targeted telemarketing campaigns, national and regional trade shows and web-based marketing. Web-based marketing includes customized areas of our Web Site that focus on an OEM suppliers’ products, programs, and services; web banners; web casts designed to allow an OEM supplier to make presentations to a targeted group of resellers; and web-based training.

 

Technical Support Services.    We provide our reseller customers technical support services, including pre- and post-sale support. We also resell remote monitoring and management and outsourced technical support offerings that are performed by approximately 620 technical engineers located in India of Microland, a company in which we have a minority ownership interest.

 

Demand Generation Marketing.    We offer a system that generates awareness and demand for products and services, including business and channel development, integrated sales and marketing campaigns, lead development and product marketing strategic planning and consulting.

 

Contract Assembly

 

Materials Procurement and Management.    We provide our contract assembly customers with materials procurement and management activities including planning, purchasing, expediting and warehousing system components and materials used in the assembly process. Because we distribute many of the system components used in the assembly of our contract assembly customers’ products, our assembly customers are able to minimize their inventory risk by taking advantage of the terms and conditions of our distribution relationships. In addition, we also offer increased inventory availability to our contract assembly customers because we stock items for both distribution and assembly.

 

Assembly Services.    We provide our OEM assembly customers with systems design, build-to-order, or BTO, and configure-to-order, or CTO, assembly capabilities. BTO assembly consists of building a group of systems with the same pre-defined specifications, generally for our OEM customers’ inventory. CTO assembly consists of building a customized system for an OEM customer’s individual order specifications. We possess adequate systems and assembly flexibility to produce both large and small volumes of products that include numerous configurations. We also offer production value added services such as kitting, reconfiguration, asset tagging and hard drive imaging.

 

Joint Design and Manufacturing Services.    We offer contract design and manufacturing services to OEMs through our relationship with our largest indirect stockholder, MiTAC International. MiTAC International’s design capabilities complement our system assembly capabilities and allow us to deliver a complete design-to-delivery solution for our OEM customers.

 

Sales and Marketing

 

As of August 31, 2005, we employed 785 sales and marketing professionals. We serve our large government and commercial reseller customers through dedicated sales professionals. We market to smaller resellers through dedicated regional sales teams. In addition, we have dedicated product marketing and sales specialists that focus on the sale and promotion of the products of selected suppliers. These specialists are also directly involved in establishing new relationships with leading OEMs and resellers. Our sales and marketing professionals are complemented by members of our executive management team who are integral in identifying potential new customer opportunities and ensuring customer satisfaction. We have sales offices in North and Latin America and Asia and attempt to locate our sales and marketing professionals in close proximity to our reseller customers.

 

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We also have a sales team dedicated to cultivating new contract assembly opportunities with IT product OEMs. On selected opportunities, this team works with MiTAC International representatives to offer OEMs comprehensive outsourced supply chain solutions. This joint sales effort enables us to deliver complete design-to-delivery solutions for our OEM customers.

 

Our Operations

 

Distribution

 

We operate 17 distribution facilities in the United States, Canada, China and Mexico. Our distribution processes are highly automated to reduce errors, ensure timely order fulfillment and enhance the efficiency of our warehouse operations and back office administration. In the United States, we operate ten distribution facilities that are geographically dispersed to be near end-users. This regional strategy enables us to benefit from lower shipping costs and shorter delivery lead times to our customers. Furthermore, we track several performance measurements to continuously improve the efficiency and accuracy of our distribution operations. Our regional locations also enable us to make local deliveries and provide will-call fulfillment to more customers than if our distribution operations were centralized resulting in better service to our customers. Our workforce is comprised of permanent and temporary employees, enabling us to respond to short-term changes in order activity.

 

Our proprietary IT systems and processes, along with technology solutions from leading warehouse automation providers, enable us to automate many of our distribution operations. For example, we use radio frequency and bar code scanning technologies in all of our warehouse operations to maintain real time inventory records, facilitate frequent cycle counts and improve the accuracy of order fulfillment. We use palm readers to capture real time labor cost data enabling efficient management of our daily labor costs. We also scan and archive receiving documents and generate electronic freight out vouchers to streamline our accounts payable administration.

 

To enhance the accuracy of our order fulfillment and protect our inventory from shrinkage, our systems also incorporate numerous controls. These controls include order weight checks, bar code scanning, and serial number profile verification to verify that the product shipped matches the customer order. We also use digital video imaging to record our small package shipping activities by order. These images and other warehouse and shipping data are available online to our customer service representatives enabling us to quickly respond to order inquiries by our customers.

 

Contract Assembly

 

We operate our principal assembly facilities in the United States and the United Kingdom. In our contract assembly business, we source materials, assemble IT systems, and ship completed products on behalf of our OEM customers. We generally assemble IT systems, including personal computers, workstations and servers, incorporating system components from our distribution inventory and other sources. Additionally, we perform production value added services, including kitting, asset tagging, hard-drive imaging and reconfiguration. Our contract assembly facilities are ISO 9001:2000 certified.

 

We focus on system level contract assembly rather than full service manufacturing in order to minimize our capital investments in our assembly business. Because of the variability of our assembly orders, our workforce is predominantly comprised of temporary workers. We also partner with MiTAC International to provide certain manufacturing capabilities, including design and printed circuit board assembly as these activities require extensive capital investments and labor.

 

International Operations

 

Approximately 18%, 17% and 20% of our total revenue for fiscal 2003 and 2004, and the nine months ended August 31, 2005, respectively, originated outside of the United States. A key element in our business strategy has been to expand our global presence in order to provide our distribution and contract assembly capabilities to OEMs in locations that meet their regional requirements. Consistent with this strategy, we have established international operations in Canada, China, Mexico and the United Kingdom.

 

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Purchasing

 

Product costs represent our single largest expense and IT product inventory is one of our largest working capital investments. Furthermore, product procurement from our OEM suppliers is a highly complex process that involves marketing incentive programs, rebate programs, price protection, volume and early payment discounts and other arrangements. Consequently, efficient and effective purchasing operations are critical to our success.

 

Our purchasing group works closely with many areas of our organization, especially our product managers who work closely with our OEM suppliers and our sales force, to understand the volume and mix of IT products that should be purchased. In addition, the purchasing group utilizes an internally developed, proprietary information systems application tool, which further aids the purchasing group in forecasting future product demand based on several factors, including past sales levels, expected product life cycle and current and projected economic conditions. Our information systems tool also tracks warehouse and channel inventory levels and open purchase orders on a real-time basis enabling us to stock inventory at a regional level closer to the customer as well as to actively manage our working capital resources. This level of automation allows for greater efficiencies of inventory management by replenishing and turning inventory, as well as placing purchase orders, on a more frequent basis. Furthermore, our systems tool also allows for automated checks and controls to prevent the generation of inaccurate orders.

 

The purchasing group is supported by employees based in China, who handle daily back-office routine functions such as purchase order issuance, changes to purchase orders and returns. Having a purchasing support team in China allows us to benefit from highly skilled and lower cost labor.

 

Managing our OEM supplier incentive programs is another critical function of our purchasing group. We attempt to maximize the benefit of incentives, rebates and volume and early payment discounts that our OEM suppliers offer us from time-to-time. We carefully evaluate these purchasing benefits relative to our product handling and carrying costs so that we do not over-invest in our inventory. We also closely monitor inventory levels on a product-by-product basis and plan purchases to take advantage of OEM supplier provided price protection. By managing inventory levels at each of our regional distribution facilities, we can minimize our shipping costs by stocking products near to our resellers and their end-user customers.

 

Financial Services

 

We offer various credit terms to our customers as well as prepayment, credit card and cash on delivery terms. We also collect outstanding accounts receivable on behalf of our reseller customers in certain markets. In issuing credit to our reseller customers, we closely and continually monitor their credit worthiness through our information systems, which contain detailed information on each customer’s payment history, as well as through periodic detailed credit file reviews by our financial services staff. In addition, we participate in a North American credit association whose members exchange customer credit rating information. We have also purchased credit insurance in some geographies to further control credit risks. Finally, we establish reserves for estimated credit losses in the normal course of business.

 

We also sell to certain reseller customers where the transactions are financed by third-party floor plan companies. The expenses charged by these financing companies are generally paid by us. We generally receive payment from these financing institutions within 15 days from the date of sale, depending on the specific arrangement.

 

Information Technology

 

Our IT systems manage the entire order cycle, including processing customer orders, production planning, customer billing and payment tracking. These internally developed IT systems make our distribution and contract assembly operations more efficient and provide visibility into all aspects of our operations. We believe our IT infrastructure is scalable to support further growth. The continuing enhancement of our IT systems facilitates improved product and inventory management, streamlines order and delivery processes, and increases operational flexibility. Having a common enterprise resource-planning platform allows us to quickly respond to

 

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fluctuations in our customers’ orders in different parts of the world and facilitates simultaneous product introduction in multiple regions while providing visibility into product availability.

 

To allow our customers and suppliers to communicate and transact business with us in an efficient and consistent manner, we have implemented a mix of proprietary and off-the-shelf software programs, which integrate our IT systems with those of our customers and suppliers. In particular, we maintain EDI and web-based communication links with many of our reseller customers to enable them to search for products, check real-time price, inventory availability and specifications, place and track orders, receive invoices and process returns. We plan to continue making significant investments in our IT systems to facilitate the flow of information, increase our efficiency and lower transaction costs.

 

Competition

 

We operate in a highly competitive environment, both in the United States and internationally. The IT product distribution and contract assembly industries are characterized by intense competition, based primarily on product availability, credit availability, price, speed of delivery, ability to tailor specific solutions to customer needs, quality and depth of product lines, pre-sale and post-sale technical support, flexibility and timely response to design changes, technological capabilities, product quality, service and support. We compete with a variety of regional, national and international IT product distributors and contract manufacturers.

 

Our current major competitors in IT product distribution include Bell Microproducts, Ingram Micro, ScanSource and Tech Data and, to a lesser extent, regional distributors. We also face competition from our OEM suppliers, which also sell directly to resellers and end-users. The distribution industry has recently undergone, and continues to undergo, major consolidation. During this period, a number of significant players within the IT distribution industry exited or merged with other players within the distribution market. We have participated in this consolidation through our acquisitions of Merisel Canada, Gates/Arrow and EMJ Data Systems Limited, and we are continuing to evaluate other opportunities.

 

Our current competitors in contract assembly include Benchmark Electronics, Sanmina—SCI and Solectron, as well as other electronic manufacturing service providers and original design manufacturers. We also face competition from the manufacturing and assembly operations of our current and potential customers, which continually evaluate the relative benefits of internal manufacturing and assembly compared to outsourcing.

 

Many of our competitors are substantially larger and have greater financial, operating, manufacturing and marketing resources than us. Some of our competitors may have broader geographic breadth and range of services than us and may have more developed relationships with their existing customers. We attempt to offset our scale disadvantage by focusing on a limited number of leading OEMs to represent, running the most efficient and low cost operation possible and offering a high level of customer service.

 

Employees

 

As of August 31, 2005, we had 1,918 full-time employees, including 785 in sales and marketing, 723 in distribution and assembly operations, and 410 in executive, finance, IT and administration. Given the variability in our business and the quick response time required by customers, it is critical that we are able to rapidly ramp-up and ramp-down our production capabilities to maximize efficiency. As a result, we frequently use a significant number of temporary or contract workers, which totaled approximately 432 at August 31, 2005. Our employees are not represented by a labor union nor are they covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We consider our employee relations to be good.

 

Properties

 

Our principal executive offices are located in Fremont, California. We operate more than 30 distribution, assembly and administrative facilities in five different countries encompassing a total of approximately 1.6 million square feet. We lease each of these facilities, except a 62,500 square foot sales and marketing facility

 

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in Greenville, South Carolina, a 100,000 square foot distribution center in Ontario, Canada, a 40,835 square foot administrative facility in China and a 124,400 square foot administrative and assembly facility in the United Kingdom, which we own. In the United States, we operate 16 principal facilities with a total area of approximately one million square feet of space. Leases for our current facilities expire between October 2006 and July 2013. Our principal assembly facility is located in Fremont, California and our principal distribution facilities are located in Edison, New Jersey, Memphis, Tennessee, Los Angeles, California and Toronto, Ontario. We have sublet unused portions of some of our facilities. We believe our facilities are well maintained and adequate for current operating needs.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

We are from time to time involved in legal proceedings, including the following:

 

On May 1, 2002, Seanix Technology Inc. filed a trademark infringement action in the Federal Court of Canada against us and our wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, SYNNEX Canada Limited. The suit claims that we have infringed on Seanix’s exclusive rights to its Canadian Trademark Registration and caused confusion between the two companies resulting from, among other things, our use of marks confusingly similar to the Seanix trademarks. The complaint seeks injunctive relief and monetary damages in an amount to be determined. Substantial discovery has taken place; however, no trial date has been set.

 

On May 7, 2002, Acropolis Systems, Inc. and Tony Yeh filed a civil suit in Santa Clara County California Superior Court against us, Robert Huang, C. Kevin Chuang and Stephen R. Bowling. The suit alleges violation of California securities laws, fraud and concealment and breach of contract resulting from, among other things, failure to disclose the existence of a lien in favor of us on the assets of eManage.com prior to entering into stock purchase agreements for shares of eManage stock. At the time of this stock purchase, we were the majority stockholder of eManage.com. The complaint seeks monetary damages in the amount of approximately $2.0 million. Limited discovery has taken place and no trial date has been set.

 

On September 1, 2004, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas entered judgment in favor of DSLangdale Two, LLC and DSLangdale Three, LLC, Inc. in the amount of $ 4.2 million against Daisytek (Canada) Inc., a former wholly owned subsidiary of EMJ , a company that we acquired in September 2004. We had appealed this judgment. Subsequently, on November 22, 2004, plaintiffs sought to enforce the Texas judgment in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. On September 22, 2005, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas affirmed the decision of the Bankruptcy Court. We are currently considering the appeal of the District Court decision.

 

In addition, we have been involved in various bankruptcy preference actions where we were a supplier to the companies now in bankruptcy. These preference actions are filed by the trustee of a bankruptcy estate on behalf of the bankrupt entity’s debtors and generally seek to have payments made by the bankrupt entity within 90 days prior to the bankruptcy returned to the bankruptcy estate for allocation among all of the bankrupt entity’s creditors. We are not aware of any currently pending preference actions.

 

From time to time, we are also involved in legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that these proceedings will have a material adverse effect on our business or operating results.

 

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MANAGEMENT

 

Executive Officers and Directors of the Registrant

 

The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers as of September 30, 2005:

 

Name


   Age

  

Position


Matthew Miau(1)

   59   

Chairman of the Board

Robert Huang(1)

   60   

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

John Paget

   56   

President of North America and Chief Operating Officer

Peter Larocque

   43   

Executive Vice President, Distribution

Dennis Polk

   39   

Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Corporate Finance

Simon Leung

   39   

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Fred Breidenbach(2)(3)

   58   

Director

Gregory Quesnel(1)(2)

   57   

Director

David Rynne(1)(2)(3)(4)

   65   

Director

Young Sohn(3)(4)

   49   

Director

Dwight Steffensen(2)(4)

   62   

Director

James Van Horne(2)(4)

   70   

Director


(1) Member of the executive committee
(2) Member of the audit committee
(3) Member of the nominating and corporate governance committee
(4) Member of the compensation committee

 

Matthew Miau has served as a member of our Board of Directors since 1992 and as a non-executive employee since 2001. Mr. Miau is the Chairman of the Board of MiTAC International Corporation, MiTAC Incorporated, Synnex Technology International Corp. and us. Mr. Miau is also the Chairman of UPC Technology Corp. and Lien Hwa Industrial Corp. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Information Industry in Taiwan. Mr. Miau received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering/Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Business Administration degree from Santa Clara University.

 

Robert Huang founded our company in 1980 and serves as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director. Prior to founding our company, Mr. Huang served as the Headquarters Sales Manager of Advanced Micro Devices, a semiconductor company. Mr. Huang received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Kyushyu University, Japan, Master of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering and Statistics from the University of Rochester and a Master of Science degree in Management Science from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

 

John Paget is our President of North America and Chief Operating Officer and has served in this capacity since joining us in May 2004. He previously held the position of Senior Vice President and General Manager of GE Technology Financial Services, a part of GE Commercial Finance, a General Electric company since January 2003. Prior to GE Technology Financial Services, Mr. Paget served as President and Chief Executive Officer of GE Access, a worldwide distributor of Unix Products. Throughout his tenure at GE Access, Mr. Paget held a variety of executive management positions in sales and operations and was with the company since 1997. Mr. Paget received a B.S. in Administrative Services from Pepperdine University.

 

Peter Larocque has served as our Executive Vice President of Distribution since June 2001 and previously served as our Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing from September 1997 until June 2001. Mr. Larocque is responsible for our North American distribution business. Mr. Larocque received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Western Ontario, Canada.

 

Dennis Polk is our Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance and has served in this capacity since joining us in February 2002. From March 2001 through January 2002, Mr. Polk provided

 

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services, primarily in the capacity of chief financial officer, for several entities. From February 2000 to February 2001, Mr. Polk served as the Vice President, Finance at DoveBid, Inc., a capital asset disposition and valuation firm. From December 1995 to January 2000, Mr. Polk was first the Corporate Controller and later the Senior Vice President of Finance and Principal Financial Officer of Savoir Technology Group, Inc., a computer systems distributor and contract assembler. Mr. Polk received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Santa Clara University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

 

Simon Leung is our General Counsel and Corporate Secretary and has served in this capacity since May 2001. Mr. Leung joined us in November 2000 as Corporate Counsel. From December 1999 to November 2000, Mr. Leung was an attorney at the law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP. From May 1995 to December 1999, Mr. Leung was an attorney at the former law firm of Fotenos & Suttle, P.C. Mr. Leung received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.

 

Fred Breidenbach has served as a member of our Board of Directors since February 2003. Mr. Breidenbach has had his own consulting firm of FA Breidenbach & Associates, LLC since November 1997. Prior to that, he served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, an aviation company, from 1993 to 1997. Prior to joining Gulfstream, Mr. Breidenbach spent 25 years in various positions at General Electric Company, including five years as an officer of the General Electric Company and two years as President, GE Aerospace Asia Pacific, responsible for business development and Asian operations. Mr. Breidenbach received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Business Administration from Xavier University.

 

Gregory Quesnel has served as a member of our Board of Directors since September 2005. Mr. Quesnel served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Director of CNF Inc. from 1998 until his retirement in July 2004. Prior to that, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the CNF Inc. He joined CNF Inc. in 1975 following several years of professional experience with major corporations in the petroleum and wood products industries. Mr. Quesnel is on the Board of Directors of Potlatch Corporation. Mr. Quesnel earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Oregon and holds an MBA from the University of Portland.

 

David Rynne has served as a member of our Board of Directors since October 2003. Mr. Rynne served as the Chief Executive Officer of Receipt.com, a secure data transfer company, from July 1999 until its acquisition by Vali-Cert in December 1999. From August 1998 to June 1999, he served as Vice President at Nortel Networks, a networking solutions company. Mr. Rynne served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Bay Networks from January 1997 until its merger into Nortel Networks in August 1998. From July 1982 until December 1996, Mr. Rynne was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Tandem Computers, a computer manufacturer. Prior to Tandem, Mr. Rynne spent 18 years in various financial positions including Corporate Controller at Burroughs Corporation. Mr. Rynne is on the Board of Directors of Zoran Corporation and two private companies. Mr. Rynne received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Buffalo.

 

Young Sohn has served as a member of our Board of Directors since February 2001. Mr. Sohn served as the Senior Vice President and President of the Semiconductor Products Group of Agilent Technologies, Inc., a global diversified technology company, from August 2003 to April 2005. From February 1999 to August 2003, Mr. Sohn was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Oak Technology, Inc. Before joining Oak Technology, Inc., Mr. Sohn served as President of the Hard Disk Drive Group of Quantum Corporation from February 1996 to February 1999. Prior to Quantum Corporation, Mr. Sohn spent ten years in various management positions at Intel Corporation, including Marketing Director of Worldwide Channel Marketing, and PC Chipset Business Unit Manager. Mr. Sohn is a member of the Board of Directors of Cymer, Inc. Mr. Sohn received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Business Administration from the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

 

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Dwight Steffensen has served as a member of our Board of Directors since February 2002. Mr. Steffensen served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Merisel, Inc. from February 1996 until August 2000. Prior to joining Merisel, Mr. Steffensen served as President and Chief Operating Officer at Bergen Brunswig Corporation, a healthcare company. Prior to the merger of Bergen Brunswig Corporation and Synergex Corporation, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Synergex. Mr. Steffensen is a member of the Board of Directors of OmniVision Technologies, Inc. Mr. Steffensen received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Stanford University and is a certified public accountant.

 

James Van Horne has served as a member of our Board of Directors since September 2005. Mr. Van Horne joined the Stanford University Graduate School of Business faculty in 1965 after earning a doctorate degree from Northwestern University. He presently is the A.P. Giannini Professor of Finance at Stanford. He served as the Director of the MBA Program at Stanford University from 1970 to 1973 and then served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 1973 to 1975 and 1976 to 1980. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Montgomery Street Income Securities, Inc., Suntron Corporation and Bailard Opportunity Fund Group, Inc.

 

There are no family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Overview

 

We have a business relationship with MiTAC International Corporation that began in 1992 when it, through its affiliates, became our primary investor. MiTAC International presently beneficially owns approximately 67% of our common stock, and after giving effect to this offering will beneficially own approximately 46% of our common stock (43% if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full). In addition, Matthew Miau, the chairman of our board and a non-executive director since 1992, is also the chairman of MiTAC International, Synnex Technology International Corp. and MiTAC Incorporated, affiliates of MiTAC International and direct or indirect stockholders of us.

 

We work closely with MiTAC International to collaborate on OEM outsourcing opportunities and jointly market MiTAC International’s design and electronic manufacturing services and our contract assembly capabilities. This relationship has enabled us to build relationships with MiTAC International’s customers and we continue to work with and depend on MiTAC International to jointly serve our shared customers.

 

In fiscal year 2004 and the nine months ended August 31, 2005, we purchased inventories, including notebook computers, motherboard and other peripherals, from MiTAC International and its affiliates totaling approximately $406 million and $291 million, respectively. Our sales to MiTAC International and its affiliates during fiscal year 2004 and the nine months ended August 31, 2005, totaled approximately $1.7 million and $1.4 million, respectively.

 

Our business relationship to date with MiTAC International has been informal and is not governed by long-term commitments or arrangements with respect to pricing terms, revenue or capacity commitments. Accordingly, we negotiate manufacturing and pricing terms, including allocating customer revenue, on a case-by-case basis with MiTAC International and our assembly customers for a given project. Our business relationship with MiTAC International has been and will continue to be negotiated as related parties and therefore may not be the result of arms’-length negotiations between independent parties. Our relationship, including pricing and other material terms with our shared customers or with MiTAC International, may or may not be as advantageous to us as the terms we could have negotiated with unaffiliated third parties. As MiTAC International’s ownership interest in us decreases as a result of this offering and subsequent sales, MiTAC International’s interest in the success of our business and operations may decrease as well. We have adopted a policy requiring material transactions in which any of our directors has a potential conflict of interest to be approved by our Audit Committee, which is composed of disinterested members of the Board. Notwithstanding this policy, MiTAC International can generally control us and can determine the outcome of all matters submitted for stockholder approval.

 

Synnex Technology International.    Synnex Technology International Corp., or Synnex Technology International, a publicly traded company based in Taiwan and affiliated with MiTAC International, currently provides distribution and fulfillment services to various markets in Asia and Australia, and is also a potential competitor of ours. Mitac Incorporated, a privately held company based in Taiwan and a separate entity from MiTAC International, directly and indirectly owns approximately 15.6% of Synnex Technology International and approximately 9.0% of MiTAC International. MiTAC International directly and indirectly owns 0.3% of Synnex Technology International and Synnex Technology International directly and indirectly owns approximately 0.6% of MiTAC International. In addition, MiTAC International directly and indirectly owns approximately 8.9% of Mitac Incorporated and Synnex Technology International directly and indirectly owns approximately 14.4% of Mitac Incorporated. Synnex Technology International indirectly through its ownership of Peer Developments Limited owns approximately 18.4% of our outstanding common stock. Neither MiTAC International nor Synnex Technology International is restricted from competing with us. In the future, we may increasingly compete with Synnex Technology International, particularly if our business in Asia expands or Synnex Technology International expands its business into geographies or customers we serve.

 

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Although Synnex Technology International is a separate entity, from us, it is possible that there will be confusion as a result of the similarity of our names. Moreover, we cannot limit or control the use of the Synnex name by Synnex Technology International or MiTAC International, and our use of the Synnex name may be restricted as a result of registration of the name by Synnex Technology International or the prior use in jurisdictions where they currently operate.

 

Logistical Distribution Agreement.    In July 2004, our subsidiary in Canada, SYNNEX Canada Limited, entered into a logistical distribution agreement with MiTAC International. Pursuant to the agreement, SYNNEX Canada may purchase and MiTAC International may sell certain MiTAC International products for distribution in Canada. Each sale and purchase is based upon a mutually acceptable purchase order. The agreement has an initial term of one year and will automatically renew for subsequent one year terms. The agreement may be terminated without cause either by the mutual written agreement of both parties or by either party without cause upon 90 days prior written notice of termination to the other party. Either party may immediately terminate the agreement by providing written notice of (a) the other party’s material breach of any provision of the agreement and failure to cure within 30 days, or (b) if the other party becomes bankrupt or insolvent.

 

Purchase Price Settlement Agreement.    In June 2004, we entered into a purchase price settlement agreement with MiTAC International on the final purchase price related to the acquisition of our current subsidiary in the United Kingdom, Synnex Information Technologies (UK) Limited, which was acquired from MiTAC International in fiscal year 2000. As a result of this agreement, we realized a gain of approximately $1.2 million.

 

Joint Sales and Marketing Agreement with MiTAC International.    In May 2002, we entered into a joint sales and marketing agreement with MiTAC International. Pursuant to the agreement, both parties agree to use their commercially reasonable efforts to promote the other party’s capabilities to their respective customers who are interested in such product offerings. This agreement does not provide for the terms upon which we negotiate manufacturing and pricing terms, including allocating customer revenue. To date, these negotiations have been on a case-by-case basis. There are no sales attributable to the joint marketing agreement. The agreement had an initial term of one year and will automatically renew for subsequent one year terms unless either party provides written notice of non-renewal within 90 days of the end of any renewal term. The agreement may also be terminated without cause either by the mutual written agreement of both parties or by either party without cause upon 90 days prior written notice of termination to the other party. Either party may immediately terminate the agreement by providing written notice of (a) the other party’s material breach of any provision of the agreement and failure to cure within 30 days, or (b) if the other party becomes bankrupt or insolvent.

 

Agreement with MiTAC International and Sun Microsystems.    In August 1999, MiTAC International entered into a general agreement with Sun Microsystems. This agreement does not constitute a contract or obligation by Sun Microsystems to purchase products or services. In February 2002, the agreement was amended to include us as a supplier under the agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, the terms for the manufacture and purchase of each particular product awarded by Sun Microsystems are individually negotiated and if agreed upon by the parties, such terms are included in a product award letter. There is no minimum level of commitment required by any of the parties under the agreement. We negotiate manufacturing and pricing terms, including allocating customer revenue based on manufacturing services that each party provides, on a project-by-project basis with MiTAC International and Sun Microsystems for a given project. In the past, these negotiations with MiTAC International were not conducted on an arms’-length basis. In fiscal year 2004, we paid an aggregate of approximately $406 million, including amounts under this agreement, to MiTAC International. All of our contract assembly services to Sun Microsystems are covered by the general agreement. The agreement continues indefinitely until terminated in accordance with its terms. Sun Microsystems may terminate this agreement for any reason on 60 days written notice. Any party may terminate the agreement with written notice if one of the other parties materially breaches any provision of the agreement and the breach is incapable of being cured or is not cured within 30 days. The agreement may also be terminated on written notice if one of the other parties becomes bankrupt or insolvent.

 

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Registration Rights Agreement.    We have entered into a registration rights agreement with certain holders of our common stock, including the MiTAC International affiliated entities, including the selling stockholders named herein. The holders of an aggregate of 19,265,945 shares of our common stock will be entitled to registration rights with respect to their shares. These holders have waived all of their rights with respect to this offering. We have agreed to pay all of the fees and expenses of this offering estimated at $             and to indemnify MiTAC International and the selling stockholders for liabilities that may arise in connection with the sale of their shares hereby. Any group of holders of at least 30% of the securities with registration rights can require us to register all or part of their shares at any time, so long as the thresholds in the registration rights agreement are met with respect to the amount of securities to be sold. After we have completed two such registrations (excluding this offering) subject to certain exceptions, we are no longer subject to these demand rights. In addition, holders of securities with registration rights may also require us to include their shares in future registration statements we file, subject to cutback at the option of the underwriters of any such offering. Subject to our eligibility to do so, holders of registrable securities may also require us to register their shares with the SEC on Form S-3 if proceeds are at least $500,000 and if we have not completed two such registrations in any 12-month period. Upon any of these registrations, these shares will be freely tradable in the public market without restriction.

 

Additional Compensation for Mr. Miau.    In fiscal year 2004, Matthew Miau received a $225,000 retainer and a 50,000 share option grant. Mr. Miau did not receive any Board or committee meeting fees. For fiscal year 2005, Mr. Miau will receive a retainer of $225,000 from us. Compensation payable to Mr. Miau is based upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee and subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.

 

Indemnity Agreements.    We have entered into indemnification agreements with all of our directors and officers providing for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law and advancement of expenses.

 

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PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

 

The following table sets forth certain information concerning the beneficial ownership of the shares of our common stock as of August 31, 2005 by:

 

  Ÿ   each person who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our outstanding common stock;

 

  Ÿ   each of our named executive officers;

 

  Ÿ   each of our directors;

 

  Ÿ   all of our executive officers and directors as a group; and

 

  Ÿ   each of the selling stockholders.

 

Unless otherwise stated below, the address of each beneficial owner listed on the table is c/o SYNNEX Corporation, 44201 Nobel Drive, Fremont, California 94538. The percentage of common stock beneficially owned is based on 28,855,726 shares outstanding as of August 31, 2005.

 

             

Number of

Shares Offered


 

Beneficial Ownership of

Shares After the Offering(2)


 
    Beneficial Ownership of
Shares Before the Offering(2)


    Without Over-
Allotment
Exercise


  With Over-
Allotment
Exercise


 

Without Over-

Allotment

Exercise


   

With Over-

Allotment

Exercise


 

Name and Address

of Beneficial Owner(1)


      Number    

      Percent    

            Number

  Percent

    Number

  Percent

 

5% Stockholders:

                                     

MiTAC International Corporation and related parties(3)

  19,265,945   66.8 %   6,000,000   6,900,000   13,265,945   46.0 %   12,365,945   42.9 %

FMR Corp.(4)

    82 Devonshire Street

    Boston, MA 02109

  1,660,650   5.8 %       1,660,650   5.8 %   1,660,650   5.8 %

Directors and Named Executive Officers:

                                     

Matthew Miau(5)

  1,531,576   5.0 %       1,531,576   5.0 %   1,531,756   5.0 %

Robert Huang(6)

  1,895,222   6.2 %       1,895,222   6.2 %   1,895,222   6.2 %

Peter Larocque(7)

  149,447   *         149,447   *     149,447   *  

John Paget(8)

  42,500   *         42,500   *     42,500   *  

Dennis Polk(9)

  37,667   *         37,667   *     37,667   *  

Simon Leung(10)

  45,083   *         45,083   *     45,083   *  

Fred Breidenbach(11)

  14,916   *         14,916   *     14,916   *  

Gregory Quesnel

                     

David Rynne(12)

  11,583   *         11,583   *     11,583   *  

Young Sohn(13)

  31,250   *         31,250   *     31,250   *  

Dwight Steffensen(14)

  22,583   *         22,583   *     22,583   *  

James Van Horne

                     

All current directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons)(15)

  3,781,827   13.1 %       3,781,827   13.1 %   3,781,827   13.1 %

Selling Stockholders:

                                     

Silver Star Developments Ltd.(16)

  11,697,024   40.5 %   4,000,000   4,400,000   7,697,024   26.7 %   7,297,024   25.3 %

Peer Developments Ltd.(17)

  5,294,444   18.3 %   2,000,000   2,200,000   3,294,444   11.4 %   3,094,444   10.7 %

Constant Holdings Ltd.(18)

  2,274,477   7.9 %     300,000   2,274,477   7.9 %   1,974,477   6.8 %

 

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 * Amount represents less than 1% of our common stock.
(1) We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. To our knowledge, the persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to community property laws, where applicable, and the information contained in the footnotes to this table.
(2) For purposes of computing the percentage of outstanding shares held by each person or group of persons named above, shares which such person or group has the right to acquire within 60 days of August 31, 2005 are deemed to be outstanding, but are not deemed to be outstanding for the purposes of computing the percentage ownership of any other person.
(3) Based on information reported on Mr. Miau’s Form 4 filed on August 2, 2005 and as set forth in the selling stockholders’ questionnaire provided in connection with this offering, this amount represents 11,697,024 shares held by Silver Star Developments Ltd., 5,294,444 shares held by Peer Developments Ltd. and 2,274,477 shares held by Constant Holdings Ltd. Silver Star Development Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MiTAC International. Matthew Miau, Feng-Tzu Tsai, Jhi-Wu Ho and Chi-Ying Yuan, the directors of Silver Star Developments Ltd., hold shared voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Silver Star Developments Ltd. Matthew Miau and Evans S.W. Tu, the directors of Peer Developments Ltd., hold shared voting and dispositive power over the shares held by of Peer Developments Ltd. Matthew Miau and Hermie Hoi-Ming Miu, the directors of Constant Holdings Ltd., hold shared voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Constant Holdings Ltd.
(4) Based solely on information reported on a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 14, 2005, by FMR Corp. Consists of 1,660,650 shares beneficially held by FMR Corp., 213,150 shares for which it possesses sole voting power and 1,660,650 shares for which it possesses sole dispositive power.
(5) Includes 1,490,208 share subject to options exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2005. Excludes all securities held by Silver Star Developments Ltd., Peer Developments Ltd. and Constant Holdings Ltd. Mr. Miau disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by the above-listed entities, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
(6) Includes 1,664,529 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2005.
(7) Consists of 149,447 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2005.
(8) Consists of 42,500 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2005.
(9) Consists of 37,667 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2005.
(10) Consists of 45,083 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2005.
(11) Consists of 14,916 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2005.
(12) Consists of 11,583 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2005.
(13) Consists of 31,250 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2005.
(14) Consists of 22,583 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2005.
(15) Includes 3,509,766 shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days of August 31, 2005.
(16) The principal business address of Silver Star Developments Ltd. is 6F, No. 200, Wen Hua 2nd Road, Kuei San Hsiang, Taoyuan, Taiwan, R.O.C. Silver Star Development Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MiTAC International. Excludes all securities held by Peer Developments Ltd. and Constant Holdings Ltd. Matthew Miau, Feng-Tzu Tsai, Jhi-Wu Ho, and Chi-Ying Yuan, the directors of Silver Star Developments Ltd., hold shared voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Silver Star Developments Ltd.
(17) The principal business address of Peer Developments Ltd. is 75 Sec. 3 Ming Sheng E. Road, 4th Floor, Taipei F5. Excludes all securities held by Silver Star Developments Ltd. and Constant Holdings. Ltd. Matthew Miau and Evans S.W. Tu, the directors of Peer Developments Ltd., hold shared voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Peer Developments Ltd.
(18) The principal business address of Constant Holdings Ltd. is 5F, 20 Lane 478, Rueiguang Rd., Neihu 114, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C. Excludes all securities held by Silver Star Developments Ltd. and Peer Developments Ltd. Matthew Miau and Hermie Hoi-Ming Miu, the directors of Constant Holdings Ltd., hold shared voting and dispositive power over the shares held by Constant Holdings Ltd.

 

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UNDERWRITING

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement dated                     , 2005, each of the underwriters named below, through their representatives Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and Banc of America Securities LLC, has severally agreed to purchase from the selling stockholders the aggregate number of shares of common stock set forth opposite its name below at the public offering price less the underwriting discount set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

 

Underwriter


   Number of
Shares


Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.

    

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

    

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

    

Banc of America Securities LLC

    

Total

    

 

The obligations of the underwriters are several and not joint. This means that each underwriter is obligated to purchase from the selling stockholders only the number of shares of common stock set forth opposite its name in the table above. Except in limited circumstances set forth in the underwriting agreement, an underwriter has no obligation in relation to shares which any other underwriter has agreed to purchase.

 

The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters thereunder are several and subject to approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and various other conditions. Under the underwriting agreement, the underwriters are obligated to purchase and pay for all of the above shares, other than those covered by the over-allotment option described below, if they purchase any of the shares.

 

The underwriters have advised us that they propose to initially offer some of the shares directly to the public at the offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and some of the shares to dealers at this price less a concession not in excess of $             per share. The underwriters may allow, and dealers may re-allow, concessions not in excess of $             per share on sales to other dealers. After the initial offering of the shares to the public, the underwriters may change the offering price, concessions and other selling terms.

 

The selling stockholders have granted the underwriters an option exercisable for 30 days from the date of the underwriting agreement to purchase up to 900,000 additional shares, at the offering price less the underwriting discount. The underwriters may exercise this option solely to cover over-allotments, if any, made in connection with this offering. To the extent underwriters exercise this option in whole or in part, then each of the underwriters will become obligated, subject to conditions, to purchase a number of additional shares approximately proportionate to each underwriter’s initial purchase commitment as indicated in the preceding table.

 

We and the selling stockholders have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act , or to contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

 

Our directors, executive officers and the selling stockholders, who collectively have beneficial ownership of 23,047,772 shares of common stock, have agreed not to sell or offer to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our common stock (other than sales pursuant to currently-existing trading plans), for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus, without the prior written consent of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., on behalf of the underwriters.

 

In addition, we have agreed that for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus we will not offer, sell, or otherwise dispose of any shares our common stock, except for any shares offered in connection with currently existing employee benefit plans, without the consent of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., on behalf of the underwriters.

 

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We have been advised by Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. that the decision to waive or shorten any lock-up period will be made by Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. on a case-by-case basis after considering such factors as the then-current equity market conditions, the performance of our stock price since the offering and the likely impact of any waiver on our future stock price performance, and the requesting party’s motivation for making the request.

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SNX.”

 

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the Internet sites or through other online services maintained by one or more of the underwriters of this offering, or by their affiliates. The underwriters may allocate a number of shares for sale to online brokerage account holders. Any such allocation for online distributions will be made by the underwriters on the same basis as other allocations. Other than any prospectus made available in electronic format as described above, the information on any web site containing the prospectus is not a part of this prospectus or the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, has not been approved or endorsed by us or any underwriter in such capacity and should not be relied on by prospectus investors.

 

In order to facilitate this offering, the underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the price of our common stock during and after this offering. Specifically, the underwriters may over-allot or otherwise create a short position in our common stock for their own account by selling more shares than we have actually sold to them. The underwriters may elect to cover any short position by purchasing shares in the open market or by exercising the over-allotment option granted to the underwriters. In addition, the underwriters may stabilize or maintain the price of our common stock by bidding for or purchasing shares in the open market and may impose penalty bids, under which selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers participating in this offering are reclaimed if shares previously distributed in this offering are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions or otherwise. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market and these transactions may be discontinued at any time. The imposition of a penalty bid may also affect the price of shares to the extent that it discourages resales. No representation is made as to the magnitude or effect of these activities.

 

Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have in the past provided, and may, from time to time, in the future provide banking and other financial services to us for which they have in the past received, and may in the future receive, customary fees and expenses.

 

Affiliates of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Banc of America Securities LLC provide banking and other financial services to our affiliates for which they have received customary interest payments, fees and expenses. These services include short term credit facilities and cash management services.

 

The following table shows the underwriting discount to be paid to the underwriters by the selling stockholders in connection with this offering. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

 

     Per Share

   Total

       

Without

Over-Allotment

Option


  

With

Over-Allotment

Option


Assumed public offering price

              

Underwriting discounts and commissions payable by the selling stockholders

              

Proceeds to the selling stockholders

              

 

Other expenses of this offering, including the registration fees and the fees of financial printers, legal counsel, and accountants, payable on behalf of the selling stockholders by us are expected to be approximately $            .

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of our common stock offered by this prospectus is being passed upon for SYNNEX Corporation by Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, Palo Alto, California. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Palo Alto, California.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of SYNNEX Corporation as of November 30, 2003 and 2004 and for each of the three years in the period ended November 30, 2004 included in this Prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. Please call the SEC at 1-202-551-8090 for more information on its public reference room. In addition, we are an electronic filer. The SEC also maintains an Internet website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.

 

Our telephone number is (510) 656-3333 and our website address is located at http://www.synnex.com. The information contained in our website does not form any part of this prospectus. However, we make available free of charge through our website our annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file this material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement, which contains this prospectus, on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933. The registration statement relates to the common stock offered hereby. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. Please refer to the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules for further information with respect to us and the common stock. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete and, in each instance, we refer you to the copy of that contract or document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. You may read and obtain a copy of the registration statement and its exhibits and schedules from the Commission, as described in the preceding paragraph.

 

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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, except for any information superceded by information contained directly in this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (File No. 001-31892) until this offering is completed, except that we do not incorporate by reference any information furnished in any such future filings under Item 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K. The documents we incorporate by reference are:

 

  Ÿ   Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2004.

 

  Ÿ   Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended February 28, 2005, May 31, 2005 and August 31, 2005.

 

  Ÿ   Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on December 7 and December 15, 2004, January 10, February 4, March 28, March 29 (only as to Item 1.01), June 29, September 26 and September 29, 2005.

 

  Ÿ   The description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A filed on November 7, 2003.

 

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address and number:

 

44201 NOBEL DRIVE

FREMONT, CALIFORNIA 94538

(510) 656-3333

 

We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of the shares.

 

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SYNNEX CORPORATION

 

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

     Page

SYNNEX Corporation

Consolidated Financial Statements

    

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   F-4

Consolidated Statements of Operations

   F-5

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Comprehensive Income

   F-6

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

   F-7

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-8

Financial Statement Schedule

    

Schedule II: Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

   F-39

 

F-1


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

of SYNNEX Corporation:

 

We have completed an integrated audit of SYNNEX Corporation’s 2004 consolidated financial statements and of its internal control over financial reporting as of November 30, 2004 and audits of its 2003 and 2002 consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Our opinions, based on our audits, are presented below.

 

Consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the accompanying index present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of SYNNEX Corporation and its subsidiaries at November 30, 2004 and November 30, 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended November 30, 2004 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit of financial statements includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

Internal control over financial reporting

 

Also, in our opinion, management’s assessment, included in Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A, that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of November 30, 2004 based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on those criteria. Furthermore, in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of November 30, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the COSO. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on management’s assessment and on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit of internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. An audit of internal control over financial reporting includes obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we consider necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.

 

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail,

 

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accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

 

As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has restated its consolidated financial statements for each of the three years in the period ended November 30, 2004 to reflect the operations of the Company’s Japanese subsidiary as discontinued operations following the sale of that subsidiary on April 19, 2005.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

San Jose, California

February 11, 2005, except for Note 3, as to which the date is October 10, 2005

 

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SYNNEX CORPORATION

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except for par value)

 

     November 30,

   August 31,

     2003

    2004

   2005

                (Unaudited)

Assets

                     

Current assets:

                     

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 22,079     $ 28,726    $ 9,870

Restricted cash

     4,306       2,020     

Short-term investments

     3,832       5,051      21,868

Accounts receivable, net

     263,944       372,604      363,467

Receivable from vendors, net

     54,209       69,033      74,682

Receivable from affiliates

     667       1,970      7,749

Inventories

     360,686       408,346      404,601

Deferred income taxes

     15,902       17,645      17,320

Other current assets

     16,783       7,599      12,968
    


 

  

Total current assets

     742,408       912,994      912,525

Property and equipment, net

     23,938       33,851      33,257

Goodwill and intangible assets

     19,357       48,722      44,427

Deferred income taxes

     708       1,421      2,773

Other assets

     3,517       2,709      5,663
    


 

  

Total assets

   $ 789,928     $ 999,697    $ 998,645
    


 

  

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

                     

Current liabilities:

                     

Borrowings under term loans and lines of credit

   $ 69,464     $ 74,996    $ 60,491

Accounts payable

     343,071       386,638      369,749

Payable to affiliates

     54,986       68,977      63,140

Accrued liabilities

     53,279       62,611      62,950

Income taxes payable

     4,211       2,837      13,995
    


 

  

Total current liabilities

     525,011       596,059      570,325

Long-term borrowings

     8,134       13,074      1,224

Long-term liabilities

     1,123       17,772      6,985

Deferred income taxes

     260       1,054      820
    


 

  

Total liabilities

     534,528       627,959      579,354
    


 

  

Commitments and contingencies (Note 20)

               

Minority interest in subsidiaries

     2,586       2,082     
    


 

  

Stockholders’ equity:

                     

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding

               

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 100,000 shares authorised; 22,118, 27,727 and 28,856 shares issues and outstanding

     22       28      29

Additional paid-in-capital

     80,067       145,423      155,764

Unearned stock-based compensation

     (202 )         

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     7,373       12,086      11,353

Retained earnings

     165,554       212,119      252,145
    


 

  

Total stockholders’ equity

     252,814       369,656      419,291
    


 

  

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 789,928     $ 999,697    $ 998,645
    


 

  

 

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

 

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SYNNEX CORPORATION

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except for per share amounts)

 

    

Fiscal Year Ended

November 30,


    Nine Months Ended
August 31,


 
     2002

    2003

    2004

    2004

    2005

 
                       (Unaudited)  

Revenue

   $ 3,596,265     $ 3,944,886     $ 5,150,447     $ 3,709,632     $ 4,047,681  

Cost of revenue

     (3,432,089 )     (3,766,518 )     (4,935,075 )     (3,555,520 )     (3,876,013 )
    


 


 


 


 


Gross profit

     164,176       178,368       215,372       154,112       171,668  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     (114,657 )     (121,352 )     (137,712 )     (99,562 )     (117,120 )
    


 


 


 


 


Income from continuing operations before non-operating items, income taxes and minority interest

     49,519       57,016       77,660       54,550       54,548  

Interest expense and finance charges, net

     (6,182 )     (7,007 )     (7,959 )     (5,166 )     (11,108 )

Other income (expense), net

     1,169       (3,478 )     (900 )     (916 )     501  
    


 


 


 


 


Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest

     44,506       46,531       68,801       48,468       43,941  

Provision for income taxes

     (16,680 )     (17,090 )     (23,091 )     (17,749 )     (16,807 )

Minority interest in subsidiary

     49       267       376       320       58  
    


 


 


 


 


Income from continuing operations

     27,875       29,708       46,086       31,039       27,192  

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     157       288       479       274       511  

Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax

                             12,323  
    


 


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 28,032     $ 29,996     $ 46,565     $ 31,313     $ 40,026  
    


 


 


 


 


Earnings per share:

                                        

Basic

                                        

Income from continuing operations

   $ 1.26     $ 1.34     $ 1.73     $ 1.17     $ 0.96  

Discontinued operations

   $ 0.01     $ 0.02     $ 0.01     $ 0.01     $ 0.45  
    


 


 


 


 


Net income per common share—basic

   $ 1.27     $ 1.36     $ 1.74     $ 1.18     $ 1.41  
    


 


 


 


 


Diluted

                                        

Income from continuing operations

   $ 1.15     $ 1.21     $ 1.53     $ 1.04     $ 0.87  

Discontinued operations

   $ 0.01     $ 0.01     $ 0.02     $ 0.01     $ 0.41  
    


 


 


 


 


Net income per common share—diluted

   $ 1.16     $ 1.22     $ 1.55     $ 1.05     $ 1.28  
    


 


 


 


 


Weighted average common shares outstanding-basic

     22,061       22,091       26,691       26,438       28,439  
    


 


 


 


 


Weighted average common shares outstanding-diluted

     24,251       24,555       30,111       29,899       31,177  
    


 


 


 


 


 

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

 

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SYNNEX CORPORATION

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (in thousands)

 

    Common Stock

  Additional
Paid-in
Capital


   

Unearned

Stock-

based

Compen-

sation


   

Receivables

from

Stockholders


   

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss)


   

Retained

Earnings


 

Total

Stockholders’

Equity


   

Comprehensive

Income


 
    Shares

  Amount

             

Balances, November 30, 2001

  22,047     22     79,004       (1,283 )     (300 )     (1,597 )     107,526     183,372          

Tax benefits from exercise of non-qualified employee stock options

          116                             116          

Unearned stock-based compensation

          35       (35 )                              

Reversal of unearned stock based compensation due to terminations

          (4 )     4                                

Amortization of unearned stock-based compensation

                561                       561          

Issuance of common stock for cash on exercise of options

  34         100                             100          

Repayment of employee note receivable

                      300                 300          

Change in unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities

                            (66 )         (66 )   $ (66 )

Foreign currency translation adjustment

                            803           803       803  

Net income

                                  28,032     28,032       28,032  
   
 

 


 


 


 


 

 


 


Balances, November 30, 2002

  22,081     22     79,251       (753 )           (860 )     135,558     213,218     $ 28,769  
                                                           


Amortization of unearned stock-based compensation

                551                       551          

Issuance of common stock for cash on exercise of options

  37         180                             180          

Accelerated vesting of previously issued employee stock options

          636                             636          

Change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities

                            206           206     $ 206  

Foreign currency translation adjustment

                            8,027           8,027       8,027  

Net income

                                  29,996     29,996       29,996  
   
 

 


 


 


 


 

 


 


Balances, November 30, 2003

  22,118     22     80,067       (202 )           7,373       165,554     252,814     $ 38,229  
                                                           


Amortization of unearned stock-based compensation

                202                       202          

Tax benefits from exercise of non-qualified employee stock options

          4,431                             4,431          

Issuance of common stock for cash on exercise of options

  1,670     2     9,703                             9,705          

Issuance of common stock for cash on initial public offering

  3,739     4     48,796                             48,800          

Issuance of common stock for employee stock purchase plan

  200         2,426                             2,426          

Change in unrealized losses on available-for-sale securities

                            (23 )         (23 )   $ (23 )

Foreign currency translation adjustment

                            4,736           4,736       4,736  

Net income

                                  46,565     46,565       46,565  
   
 

 


 


 


 


 

 


 


Balances, November 30, 2004

  27,727     28     145,423                   12,086       212,119     369,656     $ 51,278  
                                                           


Amortization of unearned stock-based compensation (Unaudited)

                                                               

Issuance of common stock for cash on exercise of options (Unaudited)

  991     1     6,345                             6,346          

Issuance of common stock for employee stock purchase plan (Unaudited)

  138         1,769                             1,769          

Tax benefits from employee stock plan (Unaudited)

          2,227                             2,227          

Change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities (Unaudited)

           <