Variable Interest Entities

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

As further discussed below, we are the primary beneficiary of three variable interest entities. As of March 31, 2020, the combined book values of the assets and liabilities associated with these variable interest entities included in our condensed consolidated balance sheet were $65.3 million and $3.9 million, respectively. Assets included $23.8 million of cash and cash equivalents, $3.2 million of accounts receivable and prepaid assets, and $38.3 million of patents, net. As of December 31, 2019, the combined book values of the assets and liabilities associated with these variable interest entities included in our condensed consolidated balance sheet were $60.6 million and $5.4 million, respectively. Assets included $18.5 million of cash and cash equivalents, $1.7 million of accounts receivable, $39.3 million of patents, net, and $1.3 million of other non-current assets.

Chordant

On January 31, 2019, we launched the Company’s Chordant™ business as a standalone company. The spinout of the unit, which now includes an affiliate of Sony as an investor along with the Company, gives Chordant added independence and flexibility in driving into its core operator and smart city markets. Chordant is a variable interest entity and we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary for accounting purposes and will consolidate Chordant.  For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, we have allocated approximately $0.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively, of Chordant's net loss to noncontrolling interests held by other parties.

Convida Wireless

Convida Wireless was launched in 2013 and most recently renewed in 2018 to combine Sony's consumer electronics expertise with our pioneering IoT expertise to drive IoT communications and connectivity.  Based on the terms of the agreement, the parties will contribute funding and resources for additional research and platform development, which we will perform.  SCP IP Investment LLC, an affiliate of Stephens Inc., is a minority investor in Convida Wireless.

Convida Wireless is a variable interest entity. Based on our provision of research and platform development services to Convida Wireless, we have determined that we remain the primary beneficiary for accounting purposes and will continue to consolidate Convida Wireless.  For the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, we have allocated approximately $1.5 million and $1.1 million, respectively, of Convida Wireless's net loss to noncontrolling interests held by other parties.

Signal Trust for Wireless Innovation

During 2013, we announced the establishment of the Signal Trust for Wireless Innovation (the “Signal Trust”), the goal of which is to monetize a large InterDigital patent portfolio related to cellular infrastructure.

The more than 500 patents and patent applications transferred from InterDigital to the Signal Trust focus primarily on 3G and LTE technologies, and were developed by InterDigital's engineers and researchers over more than a decade, with a number of the innovations contributing to the worldwide standards process.

InterDigital is the primary beneficiary of the Signal Trust. The distributions from the Signal Trust will support continued research related to cellular wireless technologies.  A small portion of the proceeds from the Signal Trust will be used to fund, through the Signal Foundation for Wireless Innovation, scholarly analysis of intellectual property rights and the technological, commercial and creative innovations they facilitate.

The Signal Trust is a variable interest entity. Based on the terms of the trust agreement, we have determined that we are the primary beneficiary for accounting purposes and must consolidate the Signal Trust.