Xtera Communications Reports Notice of Termination of Master Manufacturing Agreement with Foxconn

Xtera Communications (NASDAQ: XCOM) disclosed in an SEC filing:

On August 17, 2016, Xtera Communications, Inc. (“Xtera” or the “Company”) received a notice of termination (the “Notice”) of the Master Manufacturing Agreement between the Company and NSG Technology, Inc. (“Foxconn”), dated as of January 1, 2013 (the “Agreement”), pursuant to the default and termination provisions contained therein. The Company uses Foxconn, an independent contract manufacturer, to manufacture and assemble its products. In the Notice, Foxconn cited that it was terminating the Agreement due to Xtera’s nonpayment of the outstanding accounts receivable, as well as unpaid material and inventory liabilities, in each case under the Agreement.

Foxconn’s Notice states that it intends to terminate the Agreement, and that upon such termination and pursuant to Section 12.3 of the Agreement, Xtera is fully responsible for any outstanding accounts receivables and material liabilities incurred under Section 3 of the Agreement. Foxconn’s Notice requests that the Company provide a transition plan addressing the material liabilities, accounts receivable payments and transfer of ownership inventory, and further states that “its service continuity upon termination of the Agreement will be contingent on Xtera’s plan to fulfill its contractual obligations. Xtera will continue to work with Foxconn to reach a mutually agreeable solution.

Item 3.01. Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

Also on August 17, 2016, Xtera received notification from The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) indicating that the Company no longer complies with the requirements of Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5450(b)(1)(A) for continued listing on The Nasdaq Global Market because the Company's stockholders’ equity has fallen below $10 million as reported on its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2016. Xtera’s stockholders’ equity as of June 30, 2016 was approximately negative $9,989,000. Nasdaq's notice has no immediate effect on the listing of the Company's common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market. Pursuant to Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5810(c)(2)(C), the Company has been provided 45 calendar days, or until October 3, 2016, to submit a plan to Nasdaq to regain compliance. If the plan is accepted, Nasdaq can grant an extension of up to 180 calendar days from the date of the notice, or until February 13, 2017, to evidence compliance. If the plan is not accepted, the Company will have the right to appeal and the common stock would remain listed on The Nasdaq Global Market until the completion of the appeal process. To regain compliance, the Company must have stockholders' equity of at least $10 million.

The Company is currently evaluating various alternative courses of action to regain compliance, and the Company intends to submit a plan with Nasdaq before October 3, 2016 to maintain its Nasdaq listing. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to regain compliance with the minimum stockholders’ equity requirement or maintain compliance with the other listing requirements.

Source: StreetInsider.com

ANALYSIS: Although these announcements appear more dramatic than their actual immediate effect, they certainly indicate that Xtera has an immediate cash flow problem and a longer-term financing problem. The company can buy time in each case by developing an acceptable plan to restore the breaches. However, it will immediately be more difficult for Xtera to execute any more supply contracts that are in the pipeline as customers are likely to be unwilling to take the risk that Xtera is unable to deliver.
Subsequent filings to the SEC in the past month show re-financing activities, including the injection of funding into the company from its Managing Director, Jon Hopper, and multiple transfers of beneficial ownership.

Xtera has some unique intellectual property associated with Raman amplifiers used in unrepeatered systems. They have recently developed their own repeater technology although this appears to be a "me too" product. If it comes to winding up the company, there may be some interest in the company's IP and there would be some very good technicians looking for a job, if they aren't already.