What the changes say
- CEVA highlights heightened competition from Arm, Cadence, and open-source RISC-V architectures in NPU and wireless IP.
- New US tariff uncertainty and shifting Israeli R&D grants threaten financial results.
- Customer concentration remains high, with UNISOC accounting for 15% of revenues.
What changed since the prior 10-K
New
- NewRisks Related to Our Global Operating Business
Our research and development expenses may increase if the grants we currently receive from the Israeli government are reduced or withheld
Reductions in Israeli government R&D grants could increase our research and development expenses.
- NewRisks Related to Our Industry and Markets
CPU / Configurable CPU / RISC-V
Competition from Arm, Cadence, GlobalFoundries, and RISC-V open-source alternatives may intensify pricing pressure and reduce demand for our licensable CPU IP.
- NewRisks Related to Our Industry and Markets
In-House / Vertical Integration Risk
In-house silicon development by major tech companies and custom ASIC providers like Marvell, Broadcom, and NXP could reduce demand for our DSP, AI, and wireless IP.
- NewRisks Related to Our Global Operating Business
Each of the above factors is difficult to forecast and could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, we license our technology to OEMs and semiconductor companies for incorporation into their end products for consumer, mobile and industrial products
First-quarter royalty revenues typically decline due to post-holiday seasonality, impacting our consumer and mobile product shipments.
- NewRisks Related to Our Global Operating Business
Changes in the U.S. trade environment, including uncertainty over global tariffs and the financial impact of tariffs, as well as economic uncertainty associated with geopolitics, may negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations
New U.S. tariffs and retaliatory trade measures could cause customers to delay projects and reduce global consumer demand for our technology.
Dropped
- DroppedRisks Related to Our Global Operating Business
Our research and development expenses will increase relative to past periods due to our receiving fewer grants from the Israeli government and the EU
- DroppedRisks Related to Our Global Operating Business
reductions in demand for consumer and digital devices due to lockdowns or overall financial difficulties caused by future pandemic outbreaks or public health threats
Reworded
- 100% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Industry and Markets
The markets in which we operate are highly competitive, and as a result we could experience a loss of sales, lower prices and lower revenues
Swapped a broad disclosure about semiconductor competition and AI with a specific warning on the risk of customers failing to incorporate our IP.
- 100% rewrittenRisks Related to Finance, Accounting and Taxation
Changes in our tax rates or exposure to additional income tax liabilities or assessments could adversely impact our cash flow, financial condition and results of operations
Replaced global tax jurisdiction details with specific risks concerning French and Greek tax benefits, currency fluctuations, and customer credit exposure.
- 100% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Industry and Markets
The markets in which we operate are highly competitive, and as a result we could experience a loss of sales, lower prices and lower revenues
Replaced end-product incorporation risk with a broad market competition warning regarding NPU, signal processing, and wireless IP.
Was: The markets in which we operate are highly competitive, and as a result we could experience a loss of sales, lower prices and lower revenues
- 100% rewrittenRisks Related to Finance, Accounting and Taxation
Changes in our tax rates or exposure to additional income tax liabilities or assessments could adversely impact our cash flow, financial condition and results of operations
Shifted detailed Israeli tax benefit language to general multinational tax jurisdiction disclosures.
Was: Changes in our tax rates or exposure to additional income tax liabilities or assessments could adversely impact our cash flow, financial condition and results of operations
- 59% rewrittenRisks Related to Finance, Accounting and Taxation
The French and Greece tax benefits that we currently receive and the government programs in which we participate require us to meet certain conditions and may be terminated or reduced in the future, which could increase our tax expenses
Expanded on the French IP Box regime conditions and favorable 10.3% tax rate requirements.
Was: The Israeli and French tax benefits that we currently receive and the government programs in which we participate require us to meet certain conditions and may be terminated or reduced in the future, which could increase our tax expenses
- 53% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Global Operating Business
Our operations in Israel may be adversely affected by instability in the Middle East region
Updated Middle East conflict disclosures to reference the 2025 ceasefire agreements with Hamas and Lebanon.
- 37% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Global Operating Business
Royalty and other payment rates could decrease for existing and future license agreements and other customer agreements, which could materially adversely affect our operating results
Added specific warnings regarding potential negative impacts from the U.S. trade environment and global tariffs.
- 31% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Global Operating Business
We rely significantly on revenues derived from a limited number of customers who contribute to our royalty and license revenues
Updated customer concentration figures, noting UNISOC contributed 15% of revenues and top royalty payers accounted for 39% in 2025.
- 27% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Global Operating Business
New tariffs, trade measures and other geopolitical risks and instability could adversely affect our consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows
- 27% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Global Operating Business
Terrorist attacks, acts of war or military actions and/or other civil unrest may adversely affect the territories in which we operate and our business, financial condition and operating results
- 26% rewrittenRisks Related to Finance, Accounting and Taxation
We are exposed to fluctuations in currency exchange rates
- 23% rewrittenRisks Related to Our Industry and Markets
If we are unable to meet the changing needs of our end-users or address evolving market demands, our business may be harmed
All 41 risk factors
Headings as the filing states them, in filing order.
Risks Related to Our Industry and Markets
- 01The markets in which we operate are highly competitive, and as a result we could experience a loss of sales, lower prices and lower revenues100% rewritten
- 02We depend on market acceptance of third-party semiconductor intellectual property
- 08The markets in which we operate are highly competitive, and as a result we could experience a loss of sales, lower prices and lower revenues100% rewritten
- 09CPU / Configurable CPU / RISC-VNew
- 10In-House / Vertical Integration RiskNew
- 11We compete in the Spatial Audio and Motion Sensing software market with Waves, Dolby, and CyweeMotion and internal engineering teams at companies such as Apple
- 12Because our IP solutions are components of end products, if semiconductor companies and electronic equipment manufacturers do not incorporate our solutions into their end products, or if the end products of our customers do not achieve market acceptance, we may not be able to generate adequate sales of our products
- 13If we are unable to meet the changing needs of our end-users or address evolving market demands, our business may be harmed23% rewritten
- 14Our operating results are affected by the highly cyclical nature of and general economic conditions in the semiconductor industry, including in connection with significant supply chain disruptions
Risks Related to Our Global Operating Business
- 03Royalty and other payment rates could decrease for existing and future license agreements and other customer agreements, which could materially adversely affect our operating results37% rewritten
- 04Our success will depend on our ability to successfully manage our geographically dispersed operations
- 05Our research and development expenses may increase if the grants we currently receive from the Israeli government are reduced or withheldNew
- 06Because our IP and related solutions are complex, the detection of errors in our products may be delayed, and if we deliver products with defects, our credibility will be harmed, the sales and market acceptance of our products may decrease and product liability claims may be made against us
- 15Our quarterly operating results fluctuate from quarter to quarter due to a variety of factors, including our lengthy sales cycle, and may not be a meaningful indicator of future performance
- 16Each of the above factors is difficult to forecast and could harm our business, financial condition and results of operations. Also, we license our technology to OEMs and semiconductor companies for incorporation into their end products for consumer, mobile and industrial productsNew
- 17We rely significantly on revenues derived from a limited number of customers who contribute to our royalty and license revenues31% rewritten
- 18Our business is dependent on IP licensing and related revenues, which may vary from period to period
- 19Because we have significant international operations, with a significant concentration of revenues in China, we may be susceptible to political, economic and other conditions relating to our international operations that could increase our operating expenses and disrupt our revenues and business
- 20changes in diplomatic and trade relationships
- 21New tariffs, trade measures and other geopolitical risks and instability could adversely affect our consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows27% rewritten
- 22Changes in the U.S. trade environment, including uncertainty over global tariffs and the financial impact of tariffs, as well as economic uncertainty associated with geopolitics, may negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operationsNew
- 23Our operations in Israel may be adversely affected by instability in the Middle East region53% rewritten
- 24Terrorist attacks, acts of war or military actions and/or other civil unrest may adversely affect the territories in which we operate and our business, financial condition and operating results27% rewritten
- 25We face a highly competitive employment market and depend on a limited number of key personnel who would be difficult to replace, and changes in our management and sales teams may adversely affect our operations
- 26The sales cycle for our IP and related solutions is lengthy, and even approved projects may have structured payment terms, which makes forecasting of our customer orders and revenues difficult
- 27We may seek to expand our business in ways that could result in diversion of resources and extra expenses
- 28potential loss of key employees of acquired organizations
- 29Our product development efforts are time-consuming and expensive and may not generate an acceptable return, if any
- 30We may not be able to adequately protect our IP
- 31Our business will suffer if we are sued for infringement of the IP rights of third parties or if we cannot obtain licenses to these rights on commercially acceptable terms
- 32Cybersecurity threats or other security breaches could compromise sensitive information belonging to us or our customers and could harm our business and our reputation
- 33Any actual or perceived failure to comply with new or existing laws, regulations and other requirements relating to the privacy, security and processing of Personal Information could adversely affect our business, results of operations, or financial condition
Risks Related to Finance, Accounting and Taxation
- 07Changes in our tax rates or exposure to additional income tax liabilities or assessments could adversely impact our cash flow, financial condition and results of operations100% rewritten
- 34Changes in our tax rates or exposure to additional income tax liabilities or assessments could adversely impact our cash flow, financial condition and results of operations100% rewritten
- 35The French and Greece tax benefits that we currently receive and the government programs in which we participate require us to meet certain conditions and may be terminated or reduced in the future, which could increase our tax expenses59% rewritten
- 36We are exposed to fluctuations in currency exchange rates26% rewritten
- 37Royalty reporting by our licensees may be inaccurate or understated or not sent on a timely basis
- 38We are exposed to the credit and liquidity risk of our customers, and to credit exposure in weakened markets, which could result in material losses
- 39If we determine that our goodwill and intangible assets have become impaired, we may incur impairment charges, which would negatively impact our operating results
Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
- 40The anti-takeover provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws could prevent or discourage a third party from acquiring us
- 41Our stock price may be volatile so you may not be able to resell your shares of our common stock at or above the price you paid for them
Other CEVA 10-Ks
- FY2024 10-K risk factors38 risks
CEVA relies heavily on semiconductor IP licensing in China, facing risks from US export controls, Middle East conflict, and high competition.
Filed Feb 27, 2025
About this page
The headings are the filing's own. The one-line readings and the overview are automated and can be wrong: read Item 1A of the 10-K for the exact wording.