United States Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 20-F
[ ]
REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) or (g) OF THESECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
OR
[x ]
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTIONS “13” OR “15(d)” OF THESECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
For the fiscal year ended ………December 31, 2004…………………………………
OR
[ ]
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THESECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.
For the transition period from …………………………………………………………….…
Commission file number: 0-30942
STREAM COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK AND MEDIA INC.
________________________________________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
British Columbia, Canada
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Suite 1020 – 400 Burrard Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3A6
(Address of principal executive offices)
__________
-- Form 20-FR --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.
None.
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.
Common Shares, without par value.
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.
None.
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.
37,833,800 common shares at December 31, 2004
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of theSecurities Exchange Act of 1934during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes: ___ü___
No:
N/A
Indicate by checkmark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:
Item 17
ü
Item 18 _______
II
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
FORM 20-F
INDEX
Item 1 – Identity Of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers
Item 2 - Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
History of losses, likelihood of future losses and dependence on additional financing
Further acquisitions of cable television and Internet access businesses
Regulation and permitting requirements
Risks relating to the amended Polish Copyright Act
Conflicts between the interests of large shareholders and minority shareholders
Shareholders’ rights are different in Canadian corporations
Holders of our shares may not be able to obtain enforcement of civil liabilities
We are subject to Canadian taxation
Item 4 - Information on the Company
Stream Communications Sp. z o.o.
Stream’s Cable Television Services
Stream’s Cable Television Programmes
Table: List of programmes licensed by Stream
Overview of the Polish cable television industry
Stream Poland’s customer base and market share
Regulation of Stream Poland’s services
Stream Poland’s Organization, Management and Personnel
IEWS (formerly: International Eco-Waste Systems) S.A.
Streamline Media (formerly: Polvoice.com) Sp. z o.o.
Item 5 – Operating and Financing Review and Prospects
Rates of exchange of PLN/USD, PLN/EUR and PLN/CAD in the years 2003-2004
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Subsequent Events
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
Changes in Accounting Policies including Initial Adoption
Financial Instruments and Other Instruments
ITEM 6 – Directors, Senior Management and Employees
Directors and Senior Management
ITEM 7 – Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
ITEM 8 – Financial Information
Item 10 – Additional Information
Exchange Control and Other Limitations Affecting Security Holders
Taxation - Certain Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences to United States Investors
Item 11 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Currency and Exchange Rate Risk
Rates of exchange of PLN/USD, PLN/EUR and PLN/CAD in the years 2003-2004
Item 12 – Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities
ITEM 13 – Defaults, Dividends, Arrearages and Delinquencies
ITEM 14 – Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds
IITEM15 - Disclosure Controls and Procedures
ITEM 16A - AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
ITEM 16C - PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 17 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ITEM 18 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ITEM 19 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
-- Form 20-FR --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
CONVERSION TABLE
For ease of reference, the following conversion factors are provided:
1 mile = 1.6093 kilometres | 1 metric ton (tonne) = 2,205 pounds |
1 foot - 0.305 metres | 1 troy ounce = 31.103 grams |
1 acre = 0.4047 hectare | 1 imperial gallon = 4.546 litres |
1 long ton = 2,240 pounds | 1 imperial gallon = 1.2010 U.S. gallons |
GLOSSARY OF NAMES AND TERMS
Broadband | Broadband refers to telecommunication that provides multiple channels of data over a single communications medium, typically using some form of frequency or wave division |
CATV | Community Antenna Television, the original name for Cable TV. |
Coaxial cable | Coaxial cable is called "coaxial" because it includes one physical channel that carries the signal surrounded (after a layer of insulation) by another concentric physical channel, both running along the same axis. The outer channel serves as a ground. Many of these cables or pairs of coaxial tubes can be placed in a single outer sheathing and, with repeaters, can carry information for a great distance. |
Czestochowa | A city of southern Poland north of Katowice. It is heavily industrialized. Population, 251,000 |
Digital | Describes any system based on discontinuous data or events. Computers are digital machines because at their most basic level they can distinguish between just two values, 0 and 1, or off and on. There is no simple way to represent all the values in between, such as 0.25. All data that a computer processes must be encoded digitally, as a series of zeroes and ones. The opposite of digital is analog. A typical analog device is a clock in which the hands move continuously around the face. Such a clock is capable of indicating every possible time of day. In contrast, a digital clock is capable of representing only a finite number of times (every tenth of a second, for example). |
EU (European Union) | An economic association of European countries founded by the Treaty of Rome in 1957 as a common market for six nations. It was known as the European Community until January 1, 1994 and since 1 May 2004 comprises 25 European countries. Its goals are a single market for goods and services without any economic barriers, and a common currency with one monetary authority. The 25 countries are, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. |
Euro | The basic unit of currency among 12 European Union countries. |
GSM | Global System for Mobile communications. A world standard for digital cellular communications using narrowband TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), which allows up to eight calls at a time on 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequencies. Introduced in 1991, it is the standard most commonly used in Europe and Asia, but not in the United States. |
Headend | A headend is the originating point of a signal in a cable television system (distribution center). Headend equipment receives satellite and local broadcast TV signals and converts them to a form that can travel down coaxial cable to subscribers. |
HFC | A hybrid fibre coaxial (HFC) network is a telecommunication technology in which optical fibre (glass or plastic wire) cable and coaxial cable are used in different portions of a network to carry broadband content (such as video, data, and voice). Using HFC, a local CATV company installs fibre optic cable from the cable head-end to serving nodes located close to business and residential users and from these nodes uses coaxial cable to individual businesses and homes. An advantage of HFC is that some of the characteristics of fibre optic cable can be brought close to the user without having to replace the existing coaxial cable that is installed all the way to the home and business. Both cable TV and telephone companies are using HFC in new and upgraded networks and, in some cases, sharing the same infrastructure to carry both video and voice conversations in the same system. |
ISDN | Integrated Services Digital Network, a fast method of service access and transferring data world-wide and an international communications standard for sending voice, video, and data over digital telephone lines or normal telephone wires. |
Katowice | A city of southern Poland 50 miles west-northwest of Krakow. Chartered in 1865, it is an important mining and industrial center. Population, 328,000. |
Krakow | A city of southern Poland on the Vistula River south-southeast of Warsaw. Founded in the eighth century A.D., it was the national capital from 1305 to 1595. Population, 758,000. |
KRRiT | National Council for Radio and Television in Poland. |
MDU | Multiple dwelling units |
OIGKK | The Polish Cable Communications Chamber of Commerce with headquarters in Warsaw unites 136 companies. Its members are cable TV operators representing over 80% of the domestic cable TV market as well as manufacturers and distributors of equipment and services used by operators in their business activity. Services rendered by operators - members of the Chamber - are used by 4.5 million households in the whole country. OIGKK is a member of the National Economic Chamber and the European Cable Communication Association. |
Rzeszów | A city, capital of Podkarpackie Province in southeastern Poland. Population 160,000. |
Silesia | Region in Southwest Poland bordering on the Sudety Mountains |
URTiP | The Telecommunication and Post Regulation Office in Poland. |
UOKiK | Office of Competition and Consumer Protection in Poland. |
Voice mail | A computerized system for receiving, recording, and sometimes forwarding audio messages. A voice mail system plays a pre-recorded message to the caller when the line is not answered, and may provide choices such as paging, talking to an operator, or selecting a number by touchtone to choose between message boxes. |
VoIP | An acronym for Voice Over Internet Protocol. An emerging technology, voice delivered using the Internet Protocol, is a term used in IP telephony for a set of facilities for managing the delivery of voice information using the Internet Protocol (IP). In general, this means sending voice information in digital form in discrete packets rather than in the traditional circuit committed protocols of the public switched telephone network. A major advantage of VOIP and Internet telephony is that it avoids the tolls charged by ordinary telephone service. |
Warsaw | The capital of Poland, in the east-central part of the country on the Vistula River. Founded in the 13th century, it replaced Kraków as Poland's capital in 1596. Warsaw was ruled by Russia as an independent kingdom (1815–1917) and became capital of Poland again in 1918. Warsaw was rebuilt after 1945 and is today a major cultural, commercial, and industrial center. Population:1,689,000. |
Wroclaw | A city of southwest Poland on the Oder River, assigned to Poland by the Potsdam Conference (1945). Population, 641,000. |
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-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Stream Communications Network, Inc. (“we”, “us” and “our”, as the context requires) (the “Company”) cautions you that certain important factors (including without limitation those set forth in our Form 20-F) may affect our actual results and could cause such results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements that may be deemed to have been made in this Form 20-F annual statement, or that are otherwise made by us or on our behalf. For this purpose, any statements contained in this annual statement that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as “may,” “except,” believe,” anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” estimate,” or “continue,” or the negative or other variations of comparable terminology, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
PART 1
Item 1 – Identity Of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers
Not applicable
Item 2 - Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
Not applicable
Item 3 – Key Information
A. Selected Financial Data
Financial Highlights
The following table sets forth our selected consolidated financial data for the years ended December 31, 2004, December 31, 2003, December 31, 2002, the two months ended December 31, 2001 and the two years ended October 31, 2001 prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (“Canadian GAAP”). The table also summarizes certain corresponding information prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”). This selected consolidated financial data include the accounts of our parent and our subsidiaries.
2
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Exchange Rates
In this report, unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars (“CDN”). Equivalents will be given in U.S. dollars (“USD”) or Polish zloty (“PLN”), or Canadian dollars where the first currency stated indicates that a contract, a fee or agreement was made pursuant to a currency other than the Canadian dollar.
Since June 1, 1970, the Government of Canada has permitted a floating exchange rate to determine the value of the Canadian dollar against the U.S. dollar. The high and low exchange rates, the average rates (average of the exchange rates on the last day of each month during the period) and the end of the period rates for Canadian dollars, expressed in U.S. dollars, from November 1, 2001 to December 31, 2004 were as follows:
U.S. DOLLARS PER $1.00 (CDN.)
Year ended December 31, | Year ended December 31, | Two months ended December 31, | Year ended October 31, | Year ended October 31, | |
2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2001 | |
High | .8532 | .7747 | .6653 | .6418 | .6714 |
Low | .7138 | .6327 | .6175 | .6227 | .6316 |
Average | .7701 | .7163 | .63724 | .6306 | .6498 |
End of Period | .8303 | .7727 | .6344 | .6287 | .6340 |
The high and low exchange rates for Canadian dollars, expressed in U.S. dollars, for each month from January 1, 2005 to May 31, 2005 were as follows:
U.S. DOLLARS PER $1.00 (CDN.)
Monthly
January 2005 | February 2005 | March 2005 | April 2005 | May 2005 | |
High | .8368 | .8173 | .8347 | .8286 | .8091 |
Low | .8016 | .7944 | .8001 | .7923 | .7851 |
In this report, several references are made to business in Poland and the Polish currency, the zloty. The high and low exchange rates, the average rates (average of the exchange rates on the last day of each month during the period) and the end of the period rates for Polish zloty (zloty), expressed in U.S. dollars, from November 1, 2001 to December 31, 2004 were as follows:
3
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
U.S. DOLLARS PER 1 POLISH ZLOTY (zloty)
Year ended December 31, | Year ended December 31, | Two months ended December 31, | Year ended October 31, | Year ended October 31, | |
2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2001 | |
High | .3366 | .2825 | .3065 | .2538 | .2549 |
Low | .2453 | .2428 | .2325 | .2428 | .2132 |
Average | .2757 | .2577 | .2463 | .2468 | .2410 |
End of Period | .3339 | .2665 | .2603 | .2518 | .2450 |
The high and low exchange rates for Polish zloty, expressed in U.S. dollars, for each month from January 31, 2005 to May 31, 2005 were as follows:
U.S. DOLLARS PER 1 POLISH ZLOTY (zloty)
Monthly
January 2005 | February 2005 | March 2005 | April 2005 | May 2005 | |
High | .3351 | .3393 | .3442 | .3210 | .3138 |
Low | .3125 | .3164 | .3066 | .2994 | .2971 |
On June 15, 2005 the Canadian dollar and the Polish zloty closed at the following rates:
$1.00 USD
= $1.2534 CDN
$1.00 USD
= 3.3565 Polish Zloty (zloty)
B. Capitalization and Indebtedness
N/A
C. Risk Factors
History of losses, likelihood of future losses and dependence on additional financing
We have not been profitable in the past. The aggregate of our net losses (accumulated deficit) of $36,589,727 CDN to December 31, 2004, has been financed by private placements and the exercise of stock options and warrants. We may not be profitable in the future.
The continued development and improvement of our business will require substantial amounts of additional financing. If we are unable to secure such financing on acceptable terms and on a timely basis, our financial results may be adversely affected.
In addition, our future prospects must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered in establishing new businesses, which can be characterised by intense competition and rapidly changing events. Our auditors have included an explanatory paragraph regarding our ability to continue as a going concern in the notes to the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2004. The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, however, indicating that the concern is not a probability, but a possibility.
There can be no assurance that our financial plans will be achieved.
Further acquisitions of cable television and Internet access businesses
The completion of acquisitions and the integration of acquired cable television and Internet access businesses constitutes a material part of our growth strategy. Before acquiring a new network or operator, we endeavour to perform a detailed analysis of integration-related costs and technical requirements, the financial standing of the business to be acquired, and our own capacity to finance the additional development of the acquired networks. We may encounter difficulties in the future in acquiring new businesses that meet growth and profitability criteria or difficulties in integrating acquired businesses, which may result in additional costs and in the frustration of our development strategy. We cannot rule out the possibility that future acquisitions of other cable television operators may be more time-consuming than originally assumed. Furthermore, we may not be able to acquir e cable operators on terms and conditions that are advantageous. While we seek to mitigate these risks, any of the foregoing may adversely affect our business and financial performance.
Competition
We operate in markets that are open to a variety of competitors, including large, well-established companies in the cable, satellite (the so called, digital platforms) and Internet access businesses, among others. The current legal environment makes it possible for competitors to build parallel and competing networks in the same regions in which we operate.
Currently, less than 20% of our aggregate networks are overbuilt by our competitors. Therefore, even where our competitors operate in the same markets as we do, these competitors are typically not wiring the same subscribers as we do. However, if competitors are willing to significantly overbuild our networks and are able to obtain programming that is appealing to subscribers at reasonable costs and we are unable to do so, our business may be materially adversely affected.
In addition, the cable television and Internet access businesses are subject to rapid and significant changes in technology. Currently, no single method of television signal transmission dominates in Poland. We use flexible and modern technology which enables us to adjust to technological changes with relative ease, but we cannot predict the effect of technological changes. We anticipate that the role of cable in the transmission of television signals will continue to grow. However, the profitability of other methods of transmission may adversely affect our business. Rapid technological changes and the profitability of transmission technology other than cable may adversely affect our business.
In addition, should competitors with better access to funding sources prove swifter in adjusting to technological changes than us, this may adversely affect our business.
We also face competition from other means of television and Internet distribution, including in the case of television direct-to-home satellite TV and terrestrial broadcasting, and from alternative forms of entertainment and information provision.
4
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Agreements with TPSA
Approximately 30% of our network has been constructed using pre-existing conduits of the Polish national telephone company, TPSA. Compared to most of our competitors, this represents a relatively small portion of our network. Agreements with TPSA provide that we may use TPSA conduits to offer services over our network, and gain access to the conduits to upgrade, repair, and maintain the network.
Our agreements with TPSA permit TPSA to terminate these agreements without penalty at any time either immediately (upon the occurrence of certain conditions relating principally to substantial breaches of the agreement, misuse of conduits or a change in control) or upon three to six months’ notice (without cause). TPSA is the top provider of Internet access services in Poland; it is, therefore, a competitor of us. We believe that it is unlikely that a termination of these agreements will occur. Nevertheless, if these agreements were terminated, we could, at least for a period of time, be prevented from accessing its network, in which case we would have to incur significant expenditures to build or lease alternative conduits and otherwise continue providing our services.
Loss of key personnel
We compete with other cable television providers for qualified operating, sales, marketing, administrative and technical personnel. Our success will significantly depend upon our ability to hire and retain such personnel. We may not be able to attract, recruit and retain sufficient qualified personnel. Furthermore, we are currently managed by a small number of key management and operating personnel. Our business success depends significantly on the efforts and abilities of these individuals. If we were to lose the services of key management and operating personnel, our business would be negatively affected.
Regulation and permitting requirements
Cable television operators in Poland are regulated by various regulatory bodies and are required to comply with laws providing for, among other things, intellectual property rights protections.
Cable operators are required to register at the Polish telecommunications regulatory (the “URTiP”, The Telecommunication and Post Regulation Office). URTiP has the right to verify the technical quality of the networks.
Our programme channels have to be registered at the National Council for Radio and Television (the “KRRiT”). A registration is valid for the periods of three years, mostly. The channels have either valid registration or appropriate application for registration have been made. KRRiT has the authority to reject applications to extend existing registrations for programme channels if any such channels violate the Radio and Television Broadcasting Act. Our applications to register or extend the registration of the registration of programme channels have never been rejected. In the unlikely event that a regulatory body was to refuse the extension of or amendment to our telecommunication approval, the extension of existing programme registrations or the approval of additional programme registrations, our business could be materially adversely affected.
The president of theOffice of Competition and Consumer Protection (“UOKiK”)has broad powers to sanction companies in the interests of consumer protection by ordering companies to comply and by levying fines against companies that act against consumer interests. Polish law does not clearly define the extent of the powers of this agency. We believe we have not engaged in any activity that might subject us to such sanctions. However, because of the broad powers of this agency, it is possible that our business may be adversely affected in the future by consumer protection related sanctions imposed against us or by sanctions directed at other businesses that in turn would indirectly affect how we conducts our business.
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-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
We cannot be sure that existing laws and regulations affecting our operations, or the interpretation or enforcement thereof, will not change. Some changes, including the implementation of new provisions in connection with Poland’s accession to the European Union, might have an adverse effect on our business. Changes could include rules restricting the prices that we may charge for cable television subscriptions or Internet access, or regulations concerning the level of fees we may be required to pay to organisations for collective copyright administration and protection.
Risks relating to the amended Polish Copyright Act
Before 1 May 2004 (i.e. the date ofPoland’s accession to the European Union), cable operators in Poland, including us, re-transmitted works that were broadcast by radio and television stations in a given area pursuant to a so-called “statutory licence”. In order to be effective, the statutory licence required the cable operator to broadcast all programmes simultaneously and integrally with the primary broadcast. With an effective statutory licence, it was possible to show such works without being required to enter into separate agreements with their primary broadcasters, except in the case of encoded programmes.
The amendments to the Polish Copyright Act made on 25 July 2003 removed the statutory licence scheme, making it necessary for cable operators to enter into separate agreements with broadcasters. These amendments became effective on 1 May 2004. As a result, we are required to possess agreements with the broadcasters of all radio and television programmes which are broadcast on Stream’s networks. Time and market pressure might adversely affect the terms and conditions of the agreements negotiated with these broadcasters, potentially resulting in higher fees payable by us to them. Our operating costs and costs per viewer may be significantly increased, and our programming offerings containing its most expensive programming may be curtailed. In addition, if broadcasters are not granted the right to broadcast their programmes within Poland, they will not be able to enter into agreements with us, also causing curtailment of our programme offerings. Reduced programme offerings or increased costs or subscriber fees may harm our business.
In addition, we are required to enter into agreements with organisations responsible for the collective management of copyrights and to pay through them remuneration to authors for our re-broadcasting of the authors’ works. Pursuant to such agreements, we are obliged to pay remuneration at the rates specified in tariffs approved by the government-appointed Copyright Commission. Polish law does not impose a ceiling on remuneration to be collected by such organisations.
Polish law at present does not contemplate cable operators entering into one agreement for each programme channel covering the copyrights of all material broadcast over that channel. Instead, Polish cable operators, including us, must negotiate licence agreements with the associations responsible for the collective management of copyrights of a certain cathegory, e.g. of directors, actors, composers (in exchange for a fee set by tariff). Even if we enter into a licence agreement with an association for a givencategory, we cannot be assured that such an agreement will fully cover all copyrights and related rights with respect to suchcategory.
We expect that any cost increase resulting from these additional fees paid to broadcasters and organisations responsible for the collective management of copyrights will be offset by the reduction of other operating costs as a result of the anticipated increase in the number its subscribers. However, there is no certainty that we will be able to offset these costs. If our costs increase as a result of this uncertainty, we expect that the costs of our competitors also will increase for the same reasons. The legislative process with respect to this issue is ongoing.
6
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Currency risk
We do not hedge currency risk. Our revenues are generated in zlotys, while our programming costs (constituting 20.4% compared to our revenues in 2004) and our expenditures for technical equipment purchases, among certain other costs, are denominated in foreign currencies. Accordingly, significant fluctuations of the zloty in relation to those currencies may adversely affect our business and our financial results.
Dilution of share capital
As at June 15, 2005, there exist options to purchase a total of 3,810,000 of our shares and warrants to purchase an additional 2,976,579 shares (6,786,579 shares in total). If all of these options and warrants were exercised, shares issued as a result of such exercise would constitute 17.0% of all of our outstanding shares. The exercise of these options and warrants and the resale of the resulting shares on a public market may adversely affect the market price of our shares and our ability to raise future equity financing upon favourable terms.
As of June 15, 2005, our constituent documents authorise the issuance of up to 150,000,000 shares of common stock. Consistent with our strategy, we may issue some or all of such shares to acquire one or more businesses or other types of property or to provide additional financing. In addition, we may grant additional options and issue additional warrants in the future. The issuance of those shares may result in a reduction of the market price of our outstanding shares. The issuance of any additional shares will cause a reduction in the proportionate ownership and voting power of all other shareholders. Further, any such issuance may result in a change of our voting control.
No dividends
In the past, we have not paid any dividends to our shareholders in any form. We do not intend to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future.
Conflicts between the interests of large shareholders and minority shareholders
It is possible that a holder of a large number of our shares will be able to control (individually or jointly with others) our activities or exert a significant influence on our governing bodies or our business, including the ability to effect changes to our constituent documents and other material issues.
We believe that there presently is no shareholder able to exercise such control. However, the concentration of share ownership in the hands of a few shareholders in the future may make it impossible, without the consent of such shareholders, to effect a change in control or to appoint or remove a director. Possible conflicts among shareholders holding large numbers of our shares and possible conflicts between such shareholders and minority shareholders may adversely affect us.
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-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Shareholders’ rights are different in Canadian corporations
We are a corporation incorporated under the laws of British Columbia, Canada. The rights of holders of our shares are governed by the laws of the province of British Columbia and the federal laws of Canada and by our constituent documents. These rights may differ in certain respects from the rights of shareholders in the United States.
Holders of our shares may not be able to obtain enforcement of civil liabilities
While most of our assets are located in Poland, a majority of the members of our board of directors and officers are residents of countries other than Poland (primarily Canada). As a result, it may be more difficult for holders of our shares to effect service of process on us, our directors and our officers and to enforce against us, our assets or these persons any judgements in civil and commercial matters. In addition, a Canadian court may not permit holders of our shares to enforce in Canada a judgement by a non-Canadian court related to claims under securities or other laws or otherwise related to their ownership of our shares. Canada is not a signatory to the Lugano Convention on Jurisdiction and Enforcement of Judgements in Civil and Commercial Matters.
We are subject to Canadian taxation
As a British Columbia corporation, income, and dividend payments to shareholders are subject to Canadian tax laws and regulations. Depending on the jurisdiction of residence of our investors and on tax treaties, laws and regulations applicable to them, our investors may be subject, directly or indirectly, to various Canadian tax laws and regulations. We advise our investors to contact their tax advisors to determine how the tax laws and regulations of Canada and other jurisdictions applicable to them apply to them and their investments in us.
Item 4 - Information on the Company
General
We have business interests in the country of Poland. Our principal business is providing cable TV and high-speed Internet access.
We were incorporated on March 28, 1979 under the name of “Clear Mines Ltd.” by registration of its Memorandum and Articles under the Company Act of British Columbia, Canada (the “British Columbia Company Act”). We consolidated our shares on a one new for 3.9 old shares basis and changed our name to “Redwood Resources Inc.” on August 16, 1985. We again consolidated our shares on a one new for three old shares basis and changed our name to “Trooper Explorations Ltd.” on May 29, 1992.
On May 4, 1995 we changed our name to “Trooper Technologies Inc.” and on October 19, 2001 we changed our name to “Stream Communications Network, Inc.”. On August 9, 2004 we changed our name to “Stream Communications Network and Media Inc.” (“Stream”). We changed our year-end from October 31 to December 31 starting in 2001.
Our authorized capital is 150,000,000 common shares without par value.
Our registered office is Suite 703-938 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1N9, Canada. Our principal offices are located at 1020 – 400 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3A6, Canada, telephone (604) 669-2826.
We have the following operating subsidiary company:
1.
Stream Communications Sp. z o.o. (“Stream Poland”) was incorporated on October 26, 1999, under the laws of Poland. We own a 100% interest in Stream Poland which is in the business of operating cable television and high-speed Internet in Poland. Stream Poland’s growth is being accomplished through acquisitions of small, independent cable TV and high-speed Internet providers and through its own marketing efforts. Stream Poland is located at al. 29 Listopada 130, 31-406 Krakow, Poland.
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-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
The following companies are subsidiaries, but no longer have operating businesses. We had previously decided to dispose of these companies as there was no purpose to have them, however, since we are expanding in the cable TV and Internet business, these companies may serve some useful purpose in the near future. Accordingly we will keep these entities as non-operating subsidiaries.
1.
Streamline Media Sp. z o.o., (formerly Polvoice.com, “Streamline”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of our Company being organized on August 11, 1999, under the laws of Poland;
2.
IEWS S.A. (formerly International Eco-Waste Systems “IEWS”) is a wholly owned subsidiary of our Company being incorporated on September 24, 1996 under the laws of Poland.
We are a reporting issuer in the Province of British Columbia, Canada and our common shares are listed for trading on the OTC BB under the trading symbol “SCNWF”.
Office Space in Canada
We utilize about 2,500 square feet of office space in Vancouver, British Columbia. Our rent is $6,875 CDN per month increasing 6% per annum in October of each year until May 2009. In addition, we pay approximately $8,000 CDN per month for office support that includes a photocopier, telephones, a fax machine, computers, printers, scanners, secretarial services, reception services and consumables.
Stream Communications Sp. z o.o.
Overview
Streamprovides cable television services and high-speed Internet access in the Polish districts of Slaskie, Malopolskie, Swietokrzyskie and Podkarpackie through its hybrid fibre coax (“HFC”) networks. Recently, it has also begun offering limited Internet telephony services based on Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”), on a trial basis. Stream has approximately 54,400 cable television subscribers (as of 15 June 2005), which represents a penetration rate of approximately 69% of homes passed. In addition Stream has some 4,100 internet subscribers. Stream Poland provides its customers with a high quality product by employing modern, reliable networks, a broad selection of programmes, professional management and customer service.
We own and control business activities in Poland through a group of companies, in particular through our wholly owned subsidiary Stream Communications Sp. z o.o. (“Stream Poland”) with a registered office in Krakow, ul. Aleja 29 Listopada 130, 31-406 Krakow, and indirectly, through the following subsidiaries of Stream Poland:
Bielsat.com Sp. z o.o. (“Bielsat”)
Telewizja Kablowa Gimsat Sp. z o.o. (“Gimsat”)
ASK Stream Sp. z o.o. (“ASK”)
Vega Sp. z o.o. (“Vega”)
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-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Business Description
Stream Communications Network & Media Inc. and Stream Poland are collectively referred to as “Stream”. Stream provides cable television services and high-speed Internet access in the Polish districts of Slaskie, Malopolskie, Swietokrzyskie, and Podkarpackie through its hybrid fibre coax (“HFC”) networks. Recently, it has also begun offering limited Internet telephony services based on Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”). As of the release of the first quarter 2005 financials Stream has approximately 54,400 cable television subscribers, which represents a penetration rate of approximately 69% of homes passed in its network region. Stream provides its customers with a high quality product by employing modern, reliable networks, a broad selection of programmes, professional management, and customer service. Although cable television services account ed for over 92% of its consolidated net sales in 2004, Stream has a growing number of Internet subscribers. The Company has been introducing high-speed Internet access over all its networks and currently has 4,100 Internet subscribers bringing the total revenue generating units or (RGU’s) to 58,500 subscribers.
Stream conducts its business in Southern Poland’s most densely populated region, with approximately 11.5 million inhabitants and 3.2 million television homes but only about 0.8 million cable subscribers. Stream has targeted this area of Poland because of the number of mid-sized cities that remain underserved by larger cable operators. Stream has funded its growth and operations principally through equity. Stream’s management possesses cable-business expertise and experience and, in particular, knowledge of its local target markets.
Most of Stream’s networks have an 862 MHz bandwidth and potentially are able to transmit up to 94 analogue television channels and 68 radio stations. A portion of Stream’s networks can already be used for two-way transmission, which is necessary for Internet access and other interactive services. Stream’s policy is to upgrade the networks it has acquired, including for the provision of two-way data transmission.
Stream Poland has made a number of cable television acquisitions, all of which have been successfully integrated into its business. These acquisitions include:
Date | Name of acquisition | Region of operation |
April 2005 | Vega II | Czestochowa |
April 2005 | Internet in Bytom | Bytom |
Oct 2004 | 98% of Vega | Czestochowa |
Sept 2004 | Miechowice | Bytom |
May 2004 | 60% of ASK | Sosnowiec |
March 2004 | Channel 69 | Sosnowiec |
June 2001 | 100% of Gimsat | Jaslo, Sanok, Brzozow |
July 2001 | MTK | Czestochowa |
July 2001 | A portion of the assets of AZART S.C.: | |
AZART SC Telekom | Kielce | |
AZART TK Trybinowski | Busko, Zdroj |
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-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Bielsat
Stream Poland is one of the founders of Bielsat and, since Bielsat was incorporated on 8 March 2000, has held 51% of its shares. PPUH Bielsat owns the remaining 49% of its shares.
Gimsat
Stream Poland owns 100% of Gimsat, having made the final payment in May 2004. On 5 June 2001 Stream Poland and the Gimsat Shareholders concluded the agreement to sell 0,21% of the Gimsat share capital and a preliminary agreement to sell to Stream Poland shares representing 99.79% of the Gimsat share capital.
ASK
ASK was purchased on May 5, 2004, wherein we paid some $200,000 for a 60% interest in share capital of ASK. ASK currently has approximately 1,300 Internet subscribers.
Miechowice
Some 4,300 CATV subscribers were purchased in September 2004 in the Bytom region. In April 2005 some 2,000 Internet subscribers were purchased in the same region.
Vega
A 98% interest in Vega was purchased in October 2004 by Stream Poland to acquire some 4,200 subscribers. In addition, within the Vega area, Stream has added additional 1,500 CATV subscribers in June 2005 by way of the issuance of 260,000 shares from treasury (and the additional 1% of interest in Vega).
Our operating companies consist primarily of highly penetrated, mature broadband systems that generate stable cash flow. We also operate a number of earlier stage broadband businesses. Our primary goal in the majority of these regions is to capitalize on the opportunity to increase revenues and cash flows through the introduction of new and expanded programming and the delivery of Internet access services and telephony over our cable communications networks.
Stream’s Cable Television Services
Stream Poland currently offers four programme packages and one bundled package:
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TELE Miniatura (Basic Tier): targeted to reach up to 8 channels for most subscribers, including all four Polish public television channels and Stream Poland's own information channel; and
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TELE Krajobraz (Intermediate Tier): targeted to reach up to 18 channels for most subscribers, including all Basic Tier channels, plus Polish terrestrial channels and channels received free-of-charge;
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TELE Panorama (Top Tier): targeted to reach up to 45 channels for most subscribers, including all Intermediate Tier channels and certain pay channels including e.g. Viasat History and Explorer, Eurosport, National Geographic, Fox Kids, BBC Prime, Polsat Sport and three music channels of VIVA;
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TELE Panorama Plus (Premium Tier): targeted to reach up to 45 channels for most subscribers, including all Top Tier channels and premium channels Canal+. Canal+ Film and Canal+ Sport;
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TELE Strada:the Top Tier along with high-speed always-on Internet access.
The different programming packages are designed to attract the maximum number of subscribers in a given franchise area, in order to obtain the highest possible penetration. Stream markets to subscribers of lower priced tiers to encourage them to move to higher priced tiers. In the future Stream intends to offer add-on premium channel packages of additional channels.
Because Stream has acquired its cable television network through acquisitions, the exact channels in program packages offered to customers vary across the network. One of Stream’s strategic goals is to unify channel offerings, which it has already begun doing. Over the longer term, Stream also intends to unify pricing structures across its networks. To the extent Stream has so far unified programmes and prices, it has not experienced high levels of customer churn.
Because regulatory authorities in Poland do not currently set or oversee retail prices for either cable television subscriptions or Internet access services, Stream is free to charge a market price for these services.
Stream performs regular audits of customer installations to prevent piracy and maintains technology to help minimize potential signal piracy. Stream does not believe that its signals are pirated extensively enough to have a material adverse effect on its business.
Stream’s Cable Television Programmes
Polish cable television operators have more than 200 channels from which to choose when building their programme offerings. These channels are transmitted via satellites, the most popular of which are the Eutelsat and Astra satellites. When deciding which channels to offer its subscribers, Stream takes into account programme demand analysis, subscribers’ opinions, and cost. Most of the licence agreements that Stream has entered into relating to programme purchases will be in effect for the next three to five years and may be extended. Most of these licence agreements also provide that as Stream’s subscriber base increases, Stream may be able to modify the agreements to obtain more favorable terms.
Cable TV attracted a rate of 22% VAT in 2003, which was reduced to 7% in 2004. Internet access was at a rate of 7% VAT and; and on March 1, 2005 it changed to 22%.
Stream’s programming providers are: (a) Polish public television; (b) Polish privateterrestrial television stations licensed by KRRiT; (c) Polish and foreign satellite programme providers; and (d) local programme producers.
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The table below contains the list of programmes for which Stream has signed licence agreements or obtained broadcasting permits from programme providers.
Table: List of programmes licensed by Stream
Channel No. | Name | Characteristics | Language |
1 | TVP 1 | public television | Polish |
2 | TVP 2 | public television | Polish |
3 | TVP POLONIA | public television | Polish |
4 | TVP 3 | public television | Polish |
5 | POLSAT | private terrestrial | Polish |
6 | TVN | private terrestrial | Polish |
7 | TVN 7 | entertainment | Polish |
8 | POLSAT 2 | entertainment | Polish |
9 | TV 4 | private terrestrial | Polish |
10 | TV Puls | general | Polish |
11 | Polonia 1 | entertainment | Polish |
12 | Tele 5 | entertainment | Polish |
13 | TV Trwam | catholic | Polish |
14 | BBC World | information | English |
15 | BBC Prime | entertainment | English |
16 | POLSAT Sport | sport | Polish |
17 | TVN Meteo | weather | Polish |
18 | TVN Turbo | cars etc. | Polish |
19 | TVN 24 | information | Polish |
20 | Explorer | science | Polish |
21 | History | science | Polish |
22 | MINI MINI | children | Polish |
23 | Kino Polska | movies | Polish |
24 | TVN Style | entertainment | Polish |
25 | Ale Kino! | movies | Polish |
26 | Zig Zap | children | Polish |
27 | National Geographic | science | Polish |
28 | Planete | documentary | Polish |
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29 | VIVA PL | music | Polish |
30 | VIVA | music | German |
31 | VIVA+ | music | German |
32 | RTL | entertainment | German |
33 | RTL 2 | entertainment | German |
34 | SAT 1 | entertainment | German |
35 | VOX | entertainment | German |
36 | Club | entertainment | Polish |
37 | Jetix | Children | Polish |
38 | Eurosport | Sport | Polish |
39 | Canal+ | Entertainment | English |
40 | Canal+ sport | Entertainment | English |
41 | Canal+ film | Entertainment | English |
For most subscribers, Channels 1-6 are available in Stream’s Basic Tier and Channels 1-14 are available in Stream’s Intermediate Tier. Stream includes all these programmes in its Top Tier offering. These offerings are subject to change as Stream effects the licensing changes required under the recent amendments to the Polish Copyright Act.
In compliance with Polish law, Stream carries the Polish terrestrial television channels for its subscribers. Stream is currently involved in discussions to obtain rights to new channels. Stream is not dependent on any one programme provider.
Stream’s data services
Data transmission over HFC networks is much faster and more reliable than over telephone lines. Stream intends to upgrade 100% of its network to make high-speed Internet access available to all individual and business customers.
Stream’s VoIP service
These services offer substantial decreases in the costs of long distance and international calls as well as calls to mobile networks due to sound compression and the use of VoIP for transmission instead of standard voice channels. At this time Stream has some VoIP customers, and will continue to offer VoIP services based on demand.
Marketing and sales
Most of the cable television providers that Stream has acquired did not advertise or market their services. Stream does advertise and market its services in order to both retain its subscriber base and to add more subscribers.
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Stream’s marketing and sales strategy is currently delivered through the use of professionally trained salespeople working at eight permanent customer care and marketing offices and through periodicpromotions of its services. Stream also uses a preview channel, an information channel, promotional material mailed with monthly invoices and its website (www.streamcn.pl) to inform its customers of existing and new programmes and services. Stream undertakes a number of additional marketing initiatives, including market research, radio advertising, newspaper advertising and subscriber contests. All these efforts are aimed at limiting customer churn, moving customers into more expensive tiers of service and helping Stream gain market acceptance.
Stream has registered its trademark, its logo, and the names of its cable television programme packages.
Overview of the Polish cable television industry
Poland has approximately 38.2 million inhabitants and 12.5 million households with a TV set. Prior to 1989, during the Communist political regime, the Polish government controlled and regulated the television industry. All frequencies and channel offerings were limited principally to government broadcast programmes. In the early years of the post-Communist era, there was no effective regulatory authority. This led to a proliferation of small cable operators building low-cost, poorly constructed cable systems in densely populated urban areas of Poland.
In more recent years, due in part to Poland’s economic development and the introduction of cable industry regulations, Poland’s cable industry has developed rapidly. In addition, large cable operators, such as @Entertainment (later: UPC; United Pan-Europe Communications), have constructed high-quality cable systems and offered numerous programming choices.
Despite these developments, the Polish cable television market remains underdeveloped. According to the OIGKK, there are currently about 518 operators with 1,086 networks providing services to 4.5 million of the country’s 12.5 million TV-homes, of which 70% are passed by cable. The average monthly salary as of 31 December 2004 was approximately Cdn $1,200, while the average monthly cable subscription rates of the five biggest Polish cable operators was approximately Cdn $16.00 (including VAT).
Stream believes that there is significant potential for further consolidation among Polish cable television providers. Stream believes that currently the top twelve operators (including Stream) control approximately 65% of the built-out market, with the remaining 35% serviced by 506 operators. Stream expects consolidation among these providers, particularly as smaller operator’s face the regulatory compliance burdens of being required to meet minimum cable television network technical standards and pay for programming produced by others.
Stream believes that there are several reasons why Poland represents a favorable market for the provision of multi-channel cable services. First, Poland is one of the largest single-language markets in Central Europe.
Second, watching television is a significant leisure activity in Poland, partly because cable television provides relatively inexpensive entertainment. Latest research indicates that each Polish household watches an average of 252 minutes of television per day.
Third, middle-income families living in multiple dwelling units, or MDUs, account for approximately 70% of residential housing in Polish cities. This high housing density results in comparatively low costs for building cable television networks. Currently Stream’s average network density is about 320 homes passed per kilometre of cable plant. By comparison, the average housing density in the United States is 48 homes per kilometre of cable plant.
Fourth, in Poland the right to build cable television networks reaching MDUs is acquired through agreement with the owner of the MDU and does not require any permits from regulatory telecommunications authorities. Under such agreements, the operator is allowed to connect all apartments located in a given building to its network. Stream has entered into such agreements for renewable terms varying from ten to 20 years.
Technology
One of the most important aspects of Stream Poland’s strategy is the acquisition of other cable television networks from various operators. These networks have different organisational structures and marketing policies and use differing equipment of varying capabilities. Valid telecommunications permits are in place for all acquired networks.
At a technical level, the acquired systems are all well suited to the transmission of television and radio programmes, and about nine per cent of them (the networks in Jaslo, Sosnowiec and Bytom) are already capable of providing the two-way transmission necessary for the provision of Internet access services. Because Stream Poland plans to increase its revenues by selling premium programme packages and data transmission services throughout its network, further modernisation of Stream Poland’s network will be necessary.
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Configuration of a typical cable television network
A modern CATV network generally follows the scheme above. Networks that are constructed as in this scheme have a hybrid structure based on both fibre-optic and coaxial cables and are referred to as HFC, or hybrid fibre coax, networks.
When acquiring systems from other cable operators, Stream Poland also acquires the existing infrastructures of those systems. When evaluating these infrastructures, Stream Poland focuses particularly on the number of subscribers connected to each headend, the configuration of the existing network, the configuration of the network within subscribers’ buildings and the network transmission bandwidth.
So far, the operators that Stream Poland has acquired have been small, and it is inherent in small cable network systems that subscribers’ plug-ins are in close proximity to the headends. Because of their proximity, small cable networks usually do not use fibre optic cables to connect headends with plug-ins. In the context of the figure above, this would be illustrated by replacing the headend with a fibre optic node.
As a result of past acquisitions, Stream Poland now has more headends than are required to meet its current subscriber demandThe benefits of reducing the number of headends include a substantial decrease in network maintenance costs and in the costs of adapting headends when introducing new services.
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The process of merging headends is related to the construction of new fibre optic cables, which, to the extent possible, are laid in a ring as shown in the diagram above. In this process, a part of the network and headends are being replaced with fibre optic nodes. This will allow the number of series or cascade amplifiers to be reduced, leading to improved signal quality and reduced line maintenance costs. Additionally, whilst modernising the network, Stream Poland intends to replace local power sources with a smaller number of power supplies equipped with stand-by power capability. This will help eliminate power failure as the principal reason for network disruption.
Almost all of the network installations at subscribers' premises have already been modernised and now possess a "radial" structure. A radial structure allows for the simultaneous powering of subscriber plug-ins, which both removes signal disturbance and allows Stream Poland to disconnect subscribers more easily should the need arise.
The frequency spectrum is divided into different bands that are allocated by the applicable Polish regulatory body (URTiP) for the use of telecommunications operators. The following bands are available to cable television operators:
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5.0 - 60.0 MHz for path return;
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87.5 - 108.0 MHz for radio channels; and
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110.0 - 862.0 MHz for television channels.
The nominal capacity of Stream Poland’s networks is 68 radio channels with a bandwidth of 0.3 MHz and 94 television channels with a (European) bandwidth of 8.0 MHz. The actual capacity of the networks is smaller because some frequencies are used by governmental bodies, mobile telephone operators and terrestrial radio and television operators.
At present, 75% of Stream Poland’s networks are engineered for the 862 MHz bandwidth, 20% operate at the 606 MHz bandwidth and 5% operate at 550 MHz. Stream Poland estimates that, by the end of 2005, all of its networks will have been upgraded to the maximum 862 MHz bandwidth.
As part of Stream Poland’s efforts to adopt a common set of programme offerings across its network, all channels are processed at 720 MHz and the higher band is reserved for future transmission of a digital signal.
The cable television networks purchased by Stream Poland consist of equipment of varying quality, age and manufacturers. Stream Poland constructs and upgrades the networks using equipment of recognised manufacturers. The growth of cable television in Poland has led to the presence of representatives in Poland of the leading manufacturers of such equipment, including Scientific Atlanta, Motorola, Cisco and Times Fibre. As it increases the size of its networks Stream Poland expects to be able to negotiate better prices for future equipment purchases.
Stream Poland’s customer base and market share
Stream Poland has a total of approximately 54,000 CATV subscribers, which, as Stream Poland estimates, represents a seven percent market share in the districts in which Stream Poland operates. Nearly all of Stream Poland’s customers are in MDUs. As of the end of December 2004, Stream Poland’s penetration rate, calculated as the number of Stream Poland’s subscribers divided by the number of homes passed by Stream Poland, was approximately 69%. Stream Poland has generally been able to improve upon the penetration rates of it’s acquired companies shortly after their acquisition.
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Stream Poland experienced customer churn of approximately 9% in 2004 (an average of 0.75% per month), approximately 12% in 2002 (an average of 1% per month) and approximately 11% in 2003.
Stream Poland’s primary market is located in south-eastern Poland and includes the following districts: Slaskie, Malopolskie, Swietokrzyskie and Podkarpackie. The map below illustrates the locations of Stream Poland’s cable television networks.
Locations of Stream Poland’s cable television networks
Stream Poland’s market has approximately 11.5 million people and 3.2 million television households, but only about 0.8 million cable television subscribers. The region is the most densely populated in Poland, containing roughly 30% of the nation’s population. There are 92 towns with more than 50,000 inhabitants in all of Poland, and 35 of them are located in this region.
Competition among cable television operators is not as strong in Stream Poland’s market as in the largest Polish towns, where the market is relatively mature and where competing networks often overlap. Stream Poland believes that there are good acquisition opportunities in its market because the operators who initially moved into this market were, and generally remain, small and independent.
Competition
In general, the cable television market in Poland is not overbuilt. At present, Stream Poland’s competitors have overbuilt only approximately 20% of Stream Poland’s network area. The following is a list of major cable television operators in Poland, who together hold approximately 50% of the Polish cable television market but currently have limited presence in the markets where Stream Poland focuses its business. They may, however enter Stream Poland’s markets in the future, and also may compete with Stream Poland in acquiring network assets. They are:
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UPC Telewizja Kablowa, a subsidiary of the European cable television operator UGC Europe Inc. (formerly United Pan-Europe Communications) with approximately 1,000,000 subscribers in eight out of the ten of largest cities in Poland.
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Vectra, with approximately 600,000 subscribers in Poland and operates in Wroclaw, Walbrzych, Bielsko Biala, Elblag, Olsztyn, Slupsk, Bialystok, Radom, Zabrze, and 80 other Polish cities.
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Aster, a subsidiary of a consortium of investments funds, with 380,000 subscribers in Warsaw (Aster), Krakow (Autocom) and Zielona Gora (ZTP).
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Multimedia Polska, with approximately 500,000 subscribers in Poland, mainly in Kalisz, Szczecin, Gorzow Wielkopolski, Lublin, Rzeszow, Gdynia, Torun and Plock.
Direct-to-home satellite television (the so-called digital platform), which is widely accessible in Poland, also competes with cable television. Two entities provide high quality direct-to-home satellite services in Poland:
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Cyfra+, which has approximately 650,000 subscribers, and
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Polsat Cyfrowy, which has approximately 280,000 subscribers.
There are up to six terrestrial channels available in Poland that also compete with cable television. However, in most cases the reception of aerial signals is generally so poor that, with the exception of viewers in the largest cities, most viewers are only able to receive some of these channels. The majority of viewers require access to cable television in order to receive even these six channels.
Regulation of Stream Poland’s services
Radio and Television Act
The Polish Radio and Television Act regulates the broadcasting of radio and television programmes and of cable channels. The Radio and Television Act established the National Radio and Television Council (“KRRiT”). KRRiT’s mandate is to support freedom of speech in radio and television, to support the independence of broadcasting organisations, to protect viewers’ interests and to ensure the open and pluralistic nature of radio and television. KRRiT also seeks to prevent steps aimed at the establishment of a monopoly in radio and television, to eliminate censorship and to ensure, through its licencing policy, the pluralistic nature of the audio-visual mass media. KRRiT also functions as the oversight authority for all activities of broadcasting organisations.
The Radio and Television Act ensures the independence of broadcasting organisations as they transmit information, entertainment, cultural and artistic events and other ideas by imposing on broadcasters norms and conditions for their programming structures and by allocating broadcasting time to specific programme items. Such norms also apply to advertising, tele-shopping and sponsoring. In order to enforce such restrictions, KRRiT is entitled to monitor the contents and reception of all radio and television programmes broadcast in Poland.
The Radio and Television Act requires cable operators to obtain a licence to produce and broadcast radio and television programmes. In addition, cable operators who distribute entire channels of a domestic or foreign broadcasting organisation must register such channels in the register kept by the Chairman of KRRiT. The Chairman of KRRiT is authorised to issue such licences and to register channels. The registration requirement applies to all channels, except for nation-wide public radio and television and other programmes of domestic broadcasting organisations which can be received within such cable operator’s area with common aerial reception equipment.
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The application for registration of a channel must be filed no later than two months prior to the start of distribution. A cable operator may commence transmission two months after the filing of the application for registration unless the Chairman of KRRiT has denied the registration within that time. After the registration of a channel, a cable operator is obliged to notify KRRiT within 14 days if the contents of such channel have materially changed.
KRRiT may refuse to register a channel if a cable operator does not have a valid broadcasting licence or otherwise is not in material compliance with applicable law. KRRiT may also refuse to register a channel if the content of the channel itself is in violation of applicable law.
A broadcasting organisation is also obliged to introduce its channels into the network in a specified order. The Chairman of KRRiT may allow for a different sequence than indicated by law under justifiable circumstances.
The Radio and Television Act also provides for the possibility that the broadcasting of a particular channel may be prohibited if such broadcasting would violate any provisions of the Radio and Television Act or if the cable operator fails to broadcast its channels in the prescribed order, introduces changes to a channel, or fails to broadcast such channel in full or simultaneously.
At present, the Polish legislature is in the process of reviewing the Radio and Television Act. Proposed modifications would be applicable to cable network operators, specifically concerning the registration of channels, the statutory channel sequence, the contents of channel registration applications and the criteria on which denial of registration or the prohibition of a channel offering would be based.
Copyrights
Cable operators broadcast the works of authors whose rights are protected by copyrights. The Copyright Act protects such copyrights.
Under the Copyright Act, cable operators may broadcast protected works only pursuant to an agreement with an organisation responsible for the collective management of copyrights or related rights. Cable operators are required to pay a fee for the use of such works as specified in tariffs approved by the Copyright Commission, which in turn is appointed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage. At present, Polish law does not limit the amount payable to authors under such agreements. The Arbitration Commission of the Copyright Commission settles any disputes arising from the tariffs applied and, as of 1 May 2004, also settles disputes arising from agreements entered into by cable operators and the organisations responsible for the collective management of copyrights.
Although it has been assumed that the latest amendments to the Copyright Act would fully conform its provisions to EU law, Polish law does not reflect EU law completely. For instance, there is no clear provision for so-called “general contracts” whereby copyrights as well as related rights are collectively managed. General contracts are permitted in EU countries to ensure that cable operators can acquire all rights associated with a work. Consequently, the lack of such regulation in Poland means that many agreements may have to be negotiated with organisations responsible for the collective management of copyrights without a cable operator being able to ascertain that such agreements would fully cover all copyrights and related rights.
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The amended Copyright Act, which became effective as of 1 May 2004, removed a statutory licence that enabled cable operators to broadcast the works broadcast by other radio and television broadcasters in a given area provided the programme was broadcasted simultaneously and integrally with the primary broadcast, it being understood that the initial broadcaster retained its right to remuneration. The removal of the statutory licence follows from the approximation of the Copyright Act to EU law, in particular to the provisions of Directive No. 93/83 on the Co-ordination of Certain Rules Concerning Copyright and Rights Related to Copyright Applicable to Satellite Broadcasting and Cable Broadcasting of 27 September 1993.
As the statutory licence is no longer available, it is now necessary for cable operators, including Stream Poland, to enter into agreements with all broadcasters, organisations responsible for the collective management of copyrights and television organisations for related rights protecting programmes produced by them.
Telecommunications law
All Polish telecommunications activities are regulated by under the Polish Telecommunications Act, which took effect on January 1, 2001. The Telecommunications Act imposes regulations on telecommunications activities and technical requirements for equipment to be used for telecommunications activities. The term “telecommunications activity” is defined as the providing or making available of any type of telecommunications service and the use of telecommunications networks. Moreover, the Telecommunications Act contains detailed provisions concerning telecommunications permits, radio permits, frequency usage, telecommunications secrecy, the connection of networks, the co-operation of operators, telecommunications infrastructure and the functioning and organisation of the Telecommunications and Post Regulation Office (“URTiP”), among other pr ovisions. The Telecommunications Act replaced provisions concerning telecommunications activities contained in the Communications Act of November 23, 1990.
Under the Telecommunications Act, a permit is required to use the public telephone network. To operate a public network to broadcast or retransmit radio or television programmes a registration application is required, solely. The Telecommunications Act does not contain any detailed prohibitions or restrictions on the area of telecommunications activity or the kind of services a cable operator may provide.
The Telecommunications Act does not separately regulate Internet telephony services, because these services are considered data transmission services rather than the operation of a public telephone network. As described above, Stream Poland needs only to notify URTiP that it is providing such services. Since URTiP’s President did not object to Stream Poland providing these services, Stream Poland is permitted to provide them throughout Poland.
Competition and consumer protection
The Polish Competition Protection Act regulates, among other things, conditions that further competition, procedures for counteracting competition-restraining practices and the violation of consumer interests. The governmental office responsible for enforcing the Act is the President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (“UOKiK”). Detailed provisions applicable to entities operating in the telecommunications industry, and in particular relating to dominant or significant market positions, are also contained in the Telecommunications Act.
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Competition Protection Act
The threshold question of whether the Competition Protection Act applies turns on whether the entity in question holds a dominant market position. A dominant market position typically exists if the entity is able to prevent efficient competition in a given market by being able to operate to a large extent independently of its competitors, business partners and consumers. The Competition Protection Act assumes that an entity holds a dominant position when its market share exceeds 40%. The Competition Protection Act prohibits any activities that are designed to restrict competition through the acquiring or strengthening of a dominant position in the relevant market. Therefore, the Competition Protection Act prohibits specific activities aimed at the elimination or the restriction of competition; a list of such activities is contained in the Competition Protection Act. &nb sp;
Activities related to the concentration of entities are also subject to regulation. The Competition Protection Act imposes an obligation to notify the President of UOKiK of specific transactions, including any intended merger, share exchange, acquisition, or other transaction having a consolidating effect. The President of UOKiK may prohibit such business combinations if, following such a transaction, the entities involved would acquire or strengthen a dominant position in the affected market that would substantially restrict competition. If an entity fails to notify the UOKiK or takes other steps that violate the Competition Protection Act, UOKiK may levy fines against all parties participating in the combination and the individual members of their governing bodies.
The above notification requirement with regard to intended mergers applies to all entities whose total sales in the financial year preceding the year of notification exceed an equivalent of EUR 50,000,000. However, the notification requirement does not apply if the turnover of the proposed target did not exceed the equivalent of EUR 10,000,000 in the two financial years preceding the notification. In addition, no notification is required if the combined market share of both entities does not exceed 20% or if the concentration is affected by entities belonging to the same capital group. According to an official interpretation of UOKiK, transactions among foreign entities that exert influence on market conditions in Poland may also be required to file a notification with the President of UOKiK.
Competition and the Telecommunications Act
The Telecommunications Act contains several provisions applicable to entities that hold a dominant or significant market position. Whether a public operator holds a dominant position in a given market is determined under the provisions of the Competition Protection Act. In order to establish whether a cable operator holds a significant market position in a given market, a cable operator must have a market share of at least 25%. On the basis of certain criteria, it is also possible to establish that a cable operator whose market share is less than 25% holds a significant market position. The President of URTiP, acting jointly with the President of UOKiK, decides whether a cable operator in a given area holds a dominant or significant market position.
The Telecommunications Act imposes several obligations on cable operators that hold dominant or significant market positions. Such obligations, depending on the position of such operator, may include submission to the review of common services agreements (and amendments thereto) or of bylaws for the provision of common services (and amendments thereto). Such obligations may also include following certain procedures to establish rates for common services or that require that services be provided in accordance with certain rules. In connection with such obligations, the President of URTiP may use several means of enforcement against operators holding a significant market position.
The President of URTiP publishes a list of operators that hold a significant and dominant position once a year.
Special obligations in exceptional situations
Under the Telecommunications Act, operators are required to take into consideration, while planning, constructing, developing, using or merging telecommunications networks, the possibility of force majeure events, such as the imposition of martial or emergency laws or natural calamities. Special obligations in such situations include, among other obligations, co-operating with officials, securing networks and telecommunications equipment, maintaining continuity of operation and ensuring access for emergency services and governmental officials to telecommunications equipment.
Certain special limitations are also imposed by the Act on Common Duty to Defend the Republic of Poland (“Defence Act”) of November 21, 1967 (Journal of Laws 1992, No. 4, item, 16). In the event of operational reviews conducted by the armed forces, military drills, training in civil defence or common self-defence in peacetime, as well as in the event of an announcement of army mobilisation or at time of war, operators may be obliged to provide material services to the armed forces, such as renting real property and movables to the armed forces or to further state defence.
Stream Poland’s Organization, Management and Personnel
As a Polish limited liability company, Stream Poland has two levels of management:
Management Board; and
Supervisory Board.
The Management Board has the responsibility of making all executive management decisions, while the Supervisory Board has the responsibility of periodically monitoring and approving the activities of the Management Board.
The Supervisory Board directors of Stream Poland are elected by the shareholders (Parent Company) at each annual general meeting, or, in the event of a vacancy, they are appointed by the Supervisory Board of Directors then in office, to serve until the next annual general meeting or until their successors are elected and ratified.
Management Board:
Stream Poland’s Management Board comprises of:
Adam Wójcik
- President and CEO
Supervisory Board:
Stream Poland ’s Supervisory Board currently comprises of the following members:
Grzegorz Namyslowski,
Tadeusz Fox,
Robert Dziublowski
22
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Stream Poland Locations
Stream Poland currently rents 8,000 square feet in an office building, close to the center of Kraków and is considered adequate for the company’s head office needs for the foreseeable future. The customer database and the call center (to manage customer calls) are also located here.
Stream Poland also maintains small separate offices in Rzeszów, Bielsko-Biala, Jaslo, Sanok, Sosnowiec and Czestochowa to act as a base for local customer service and sales representatives. These local offices are connected with the head-office in Kraków and are able to access its database on-line.
Office
Stream Poland utilizes about 8,000 square feet of office space in Krakow, Poland. Stream Poland’s rent is approximately $17,512 CDN per month.
IEWS (formerly: International Eco-Waste Systems) S.A.
IEWS was in the business of constructing and operating rendering plants in Poland. IEWS does not currently have any rendering plants in operation; however, it was planned to construct three animal-waste rendering plants in Zabokliki, Torun and Rawa Mazowiecka, Poland.
In view of developments and uncertainty with BSE issues and as a result of our focus on cable TV and the operations of Stream Poland, we decided that the operations of IEWS did not fit with our current objectives.
Stream owns 100% of shares of IEWS. Stream has liquidated the business affairs of IEWS and intends to launch new activities compatible with the telecommunication services.
23
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Streamline Media (formerly: Polvoice.com) Sp. z o.o.
Since October of 1999, Polvoice had been working on the development of software to offer Internet services in Poland. In November of 1999, Polvoice applied to the Ministry for Telecommunication in Poland for a license that is essential for Polvoice to operate in that sector in Poland. Polvoice received its telecommunications license as of August 22, 2000.
Polvoice’s business objective was to become an Internet, data transmission, and VOoIP provider in Poland. Polvoice services did include VoIP services, data transmission, teleconferencing, web site development, and maintenance. Polvoice is presently inactive, but the Company may launch new activities sometime in the future.
Item 5 – Operating and Financing Review and Prospects
Overview
We prepare our financial statements in Canadian dollars and in accordance with Canadian GAAP reconciled to US GAAP.
Our core business is considered to be our cable TV operations. At December 31, 2004 some $15 million CDN had been spent on the acquisition of cable television network equipment and $6.6 million CDN on the acquisition of licenses and subscribers. Our future business growth is expected to consist of buying subscribers from independent operators, building networks in areas where existing operators are unwilling to sell us their subscribers, buying interests in existing cable operations and reconstructing old systems by preparing them for the transmission of new services, including pay-per-view, internet, and video-on-demand.
Results of Operations
Year ended December 31, 2004 compared to the year ended December 31, 2003
Revenue increased by 32.5% in the 4th quarter period ended December 31, 2004 and 19.3% for the current year compared with last year. In terms of the Polish zloty, the currency in which revenue is actually realized, sales increased by 20.1% in the current year as compared to the previous year. Over the comparable periods the exchange rate changed to 2.8049 from to 2.7850, or approximately 0.7%.
One of our main objectives is to increase revenue which we are achieving through continuing to make acquisitions of subscribers, building out new services, continuing to offer new services and increased channels for viewing and spending money on marketing campaigns. Last year we acquired approximately 10,000 subscribers and the full effect of these additions will be seen in 2005. Using a weighted average the effect of the 10,000 subscribers acquired in 2004 is equivalent to some 3,500 subscribers on a full-year basis. This then would account for an 8.3% increase in revenues for 2004. From the advertising campaigns carried out there was an increase in the Internet subscribers late in 2004. In May of 2004 the VAT rate on CATV services decreased from 22% to 7%; since we did not alter the prices we charged our customers this amounts to an effective price increase for us. Additional marketing campa igns target new users to take on new channels and new products not previously available to them.
24
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Loss from operations (before amortization and other items) created a loss of $2,297,842. Included in the loss are stock-based compensation charges of $2,071,510 being a non-cash expense created from the granting of stock options in 2004. Also business development and other costs of some $680,000 were paid by the issuance of shares and represent costs that are not recurring. Adjusting these items, there would be a profit from operations of some $400,000 as compared to the previous year’s loss of some $900,000. On average there has been a decrease in the cost of line maintenance, billing, access to the Internet and customer services.
As the number of subscribers increases there are variable costs that increase, some in direct proportion and some at a lesser rate. Our fixed operating costs should support our existing subscriber base plus a 50% or better increase. The 2004 expenses show some moderation as compared to 2003 with the exception of sales and marketing that increased as a result of various cable TV and Internet sales campaigns. The sale and marketing cost will vary according to opportunity, corporate mission, and competition. As Stream operates in non-competitive areas as a result of selective acquisitions, competition is not presently a major factor.
Included in the financing expenses is the issuance of 1.1 million shares from treasury at $0.41 USD per share for a total expense of $543,365. Mr. Mazur, a previous director, received 1.1 million shares as a bonus for providing capital to the Company by way of private placements and loans at prices and rates which were very favourable to the Company. Mr. Mazur is owed a total of $4.2 million at December 31, 2004.
In addition to cable TV and Internet services, Stream does offer VoIP services and has some VoIP customers. This is a sector of unknown direction, but Stream is ready and able to handle a demand for VoIP services.
During 2004 Stream begun the development of providing television program content. The Company is in the development of various strategies to market and provide content in Poland and neighbouring areas. To this end Stream conducted various surveys. Pursuant to the development of content, Stream issued 3 million shares from treasury at a deemed price of $0.49 per share. The next phase of development will require an operating budget of $2 million per annum.
Year ended December 31, 2003 compared to the year ended December 31, 2002
In the year ended December 31, 2003, Revenue decreased 0.98% compared with last year in terms of Canadian dollars. The actual net sales increased from 9,705,000 to 10,304,982 Polish zloty in 2003. The increase of net sales in Polish zloty was 6.18%. The difference is attributable to the change in the exchange rates between the Canadian dollar and the Polish zloty. The average exchange rate for the year increased from 2.5972 to 2.7850 in 2003. The increase in net sales is attributable to existing subscribers’ switching to more expensive programme packages and to increases in the rates charged for each programme package. Some of the increase in revenue has been offset as a result of churn. Churn is a measure of the turnover of Stream’s customer base. Stream’s churn rate has been approximately 12% over the past year; for an average of approximately 1% of Stream’s c ustomer base being disconnected and replaced by new customers each month. In 2002, Stream’s churn amounted to approximately 8% (or approximately 0.65% per month) whilst significantly adding to its subscriber base through acquisitions. The increase in churn is attributable to Stream continuing to raise prices throughout its network, to Stream vigorously applying its policy of prompt disconnection of non-paying subscribers and to the loss of some customers.
Total expenses for the current year has increased 8.95 % compare with last year. Excluding one-time write-off of deferred charges being the amount of $2,400,713, the total expenses were decreased by 18.16%.
25
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
To test for impairment of intangibles, the Company hired Evans & Evans to write a report on the carrying values for the acquisition of MTK and Gimsat. According to the report, a value of $249.50 per subscriber acquired gave a fair value below the book value of $1,960,000. This amount was written off in the statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2003.
Year ended December 31, 2002 compared to the Two Months ended December 31, 2001
Average monthly revenue is relatively unchanged from the previous period, as the subscriber base has not materially changed in the past fourteen months. On a calendar year basis revenue has increased 41%.This growth was due principally to Stream’s take-over of subscribers of other operators through the acquisition of those operators. The increase in net sales was also attributable to existing subscribers’ switching to more expensive programme packages and to increases in the rates charged for each programme package.Although there has been an increase in rates charged to subscribers in 2002, revenue did not change as a result of churn. Churn is a measure of the turnover of Stream Poland’s customer base. In 2002, Stream’s churn rate was approximately 12%; therefore, during 2002 on average of approximately 1% of Stream’s customer base was disconnected and replaced by new customers each month. In 2001, Stream’s churn amounted to approximately 8% (or approximately 0.65% per month) whilst significantly adding to its subscriber base through acquisitions. The increase in churn from 2001 to 2002 is attributable to Stream continuing to raise prices throughout its network, to Stream vigorously applying its policy of prompt disconnection of non-paying subscribers and to the loss of some customers in the months following Stream’s acquisition of their accounts from their former cable service providers. Bad debt expense for the year ended December 31, 2002 was approximately 1.5% of sales.
The average monthly costs of expenses for the year ended December 31, 2002 was Cdn $484,785 before amortization for a total of $5,817,419 for the year as compared to the two months ended December 31, 2001 of Cdn $645,400 per month. This shows a decrease of about 25%. On a calendar year basis there was a decrease in the cost of line maintenance, billing, access to the internet and customer services. On the other hand, the cost of television programmes and licence fees increased, as did sales and marketing costs.
In June of 2001, Stream Poland and the Gimsat shareholders concluded a preliminary purchase and sale agreement by which Stream Poland would acquire 100% of Gimsat shares. This preliminary agreement contemplated the consummation of the purchase and sale to occur on or before June 30, 2003. Pursuant to the preliminary agreement an irrevocable power of attorney covering 99.79% of Gimsat’s shares and a registered pledge agreement covering 99.79% of Gimsat’s shares secures the repayment of Stream Poland’s advance in the event the purchase of Gimsat does not close on or before June 30, 2003. The closing date was re-negotiated to 29 May 2004. As at December 27, 2001, Stream Poland had advanced a total sum of Cdn $3.5 million to the Gimsat shareholders. Under Canadian GAAP the operations of Gimsat were consolidated as of January 1, 2002. The remaining amount of Cdn $1.6 million was paid to the Gimsat shareholders on 28 May 2004 thereby completing the transaction.
In July 2001, the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants approved the new handbook section 1581, “Business Combinations”, replacing section 1580, that require all business combinations to use the purchase method of accounting. It has also approved a new section 3062, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, that will require intangible assets with an indefinite life and goodwill to be tested for impairment on an annual basis. Goodwill and indefinite life intangibles will no longer be amortized. Intangible assets with a definite life will continue to be amortized over their useful lives. The company determined that the cable TV licences have indefinite life. The company evaluated its existing intangible assets and goodwill and concluded that no provisions for impairment were required. The subscriber base is amortized using the straight-line method at rate of 5%.
26
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Exchange Rates
Stream is exposed to the risk of exchange rate fluctuations. Programming costs, which constituted about 13.5% of Stream’s operating costs (defined as cost of sales, selling and marketing costs and general administrative expenses of continuing operations, net of amortisation/depreciation) in 2002, are incurred primarily in US dollars, while all revenues are realised in Polish zlotys. Certain other costs are incurred in Canadian dollars. Under its subscription agreements, Stream may modify its subscription rates to adjust for major fluctuations of currency exchange rates. However, high increases in subscription rates could decrease demand for Stream’s services. Most of Stream’s technical equipment is purchased locally, but prices are indexed in US dollars. Moreover, in connection with the agreement for the purchase of Gimsat, the price of which is set in US dollars, Stream has not taken steps to hedge against the risk of exchange rate fluctuations. The amount owing was some $1.2 million USD. At December 31, 2002 this amount translated to Cdn $1,637,715. At December 31, 2003 the amount booked to Gimsat was Cdn $1,519,281. On May 28, 2004 the amount was paid in full including interest charges of Cdn $1,654,000. The table below reflects changes in the exchange rates of the currencies in which Stream conducts its operations as at the end of and as average during each year.
Rates of exchange of PLN/USD, PLN/EUR and PLN/CAD in the years 2003-2004
31 December 2004 | Average Rate for 2004 | 31 December 2003 | Average Rate for 2003 | |
USD | 2.9987 | 3.6523 | 3.7569 | 3.8887 |
EUR | 4.0914 | 4.5338 | 4.7175 | 4.400 |
CAD | 2.4898 | 2.8049 | 2.9029 | 2.7850 |
The effect of foreign currency fluctuations has affected the book value of property, plant and equipment and intangibles. The value of the property, plant, and equipment was $7.2 million at December 31, 2003 or approximately 20.9 million zloty. This same value at December 31, 2004 translates in the financial statements at a rate of 2.4898 approximately $8.4 million. See note 11 in the financial statements that gives an analysis of the cumulative translation account.
Liquidity, Capital Resources and Subsequent Events
Our working capital deficiency as at December 31, 2004 was $2,845,579. As over 93% of our assets are plant, property and equipment and intangibles pursuant to the subscriber base, there is room to finance our activities with commercial loans. At December 31, 2004 we had a bank credit facility in Poland of $500,000 USD.
Most of the capital flowing into Stream during 2004 was loans of some $4 million from Edward Mazur, a former director. Mr. Mazur has loaned the sum of some $3.4 million USD of which $2 million USD is secured by certain Polish cable TV networks. The loan is repayable on demand by giving notice of one year and presently is not repayable before March 31, 2006.
In December 2004, Stream borrowed the sum of $650,000 from Quest Capital Corp. (“Quest”) to cover short-term needs. This loan is to be repaid on or before June 30, 2005. The loan is personally guaranteed by Stan Lis, Casey Forward and Edward Mazur. In addition, Quest has a general security over the assets of Stream and 3 million shares of Stream as collateral security. The loan attracts interest at 1% per month, with interest payable monthly. A fee of 175,000 shares of Stream was paid to Quest as a loan fee. Stream is endeavouring to find additional equity capital or debt to repay the Quest loan and to make further acquisitions.
27
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
In 2005 the Company has conducted a private placement of up to 1,500,000 units ("Unit") at a price of $0.60 USD per unit. Each Unit is comprised of one common share and one half non-transferable share purchase warrant, with each two warrants entitling the holder to purchase an additional common share of the Company at a purchase price of $0.80 USD per common share for a period of two years. Originally the Company had proposed pricing of $0.75 per unit, but market pressure caused a price reduction. In response to the private placement Stream has additionally received various financing proposals that are being evaluated either as an adjunct to the private placement or as a separate issue.
For the year ended December 31, 2003, we received Cdn $1,264,542 (2002 - $2,005,646) from the exercise of warrants to purchase 702,526 (2002 – 986,470) shares.
For the two months ended December 31, 2001, we raised an additional Cdn $1,557,095 from private placement of equity in the company’s stock. During the year ended October 31, 2001, we raised Cdn $347,300 from the exercise of stock options and $6,983,523 CDN from private placements. For the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 the following warrants were exercised:
Year | Number of Units | Price ($CDN) | Amount ($CDN) | Cash Commission ($CDN) | Net ($CDN) | |
Subscriptions | 2002 | 1,136,728 | 1,136,728 | |||
Exercise of warrants | 2002 | 200,000 | 2.85 | 570,000 | 570,000 | |
Exercise of warrants | 2002 | 100,000 | 2.00 | 100,000 | 100,000 | |
Exercise of warrants | 2002 | 1,036,770 | 1.80 | 1,866,186 | 1,866,186 | |
Exercise of warrants | 2003 | 702,526 | 1.80 | 1,264,542 | 1,264,542 | |
Stock options | Nil |
We continue to raise cash from equity sources and we will continue with this program until we achieve sufficient cash flow to allow for debt financing and debt servicing. We believe the Company is at the threshold of being able to make acquisitions by way of debt financing.
Our senior management establishes our overall funding and capital policies, monitors the availability of sources of financing and reviews the foreign exchange risk. We will continue to raise funds by way of private placements in our capital stock and exercise of stock options and warrants although there can be no guarantee that such funds will be available in the future. We have received the majority of funding by way of private placement of our common shares.
Contractual Obligations
Contractual obligations at December 31, 2004 are as follows:
Total | Less than 1 year | 1-3 years | 4-5 years | After 5 years | |
Contractual Obligations | $ 916,237 | $ 101,530 | $ 86,827 | $ 69,744 | $ 61,129 |
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company has not entered any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with Canadian GAAP requires the Company to select from possible alternative accounting principles, and to make estimates and assumptions that determine the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date, and reported costs and expenditures during the reporting period. Estimates and assumptions may be revised as new information is obtained, and are subject to change. The Company’s accounting policies and estimates used in the preparation of the Financial Statements are considered appropriate in the circumstances, but are subject to judgments and uncertainties inherent in the financial reporting process.
28
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
The Company follows accounting guidelines in determining the fair value of stock-based compensation, as disclosed in Note 11(c) to the Financial Statements. This calculated amount is not based on historical cost, but is derived based on subjective assumptions input into an option-pricing mode. The model requires that management made several assumptions as to future events: 1) estimate the average future hold period of issued stock options before exercise, expiry or cancellation; 2) future volatility of the Company’s share price in the expected hold period (using historical volatility as a reference); 3) and the appropriate risk-free rate of interest. The resulting value calculated is not necessarily the value which the holder of the option could receive in an arm’s length transaction, given that there is no market for the options and they are not transferable. ;It is management’s view that the value derived is highly subjective and dependent entirely upon the input assumptions made.
The Company records an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated credit losses based on the Company’s knowledge of the financial condition of its customers. A change to these various assumptions could impact the valuation of accounts receivable.
Changes in Accounting Policies including Initial Adoption
There was no change in accounting policies in 2004. Effective January 1, 2003, the Company changed its accounting policy on a prospective basis with respect to the method of accounting for stock-based compensation. The Company adopted Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants Handbook section 3870, Stock-based Compensation and Other Stock-based Payments, and has chosen to account for all grants of options to employees, non-employees and directors after January 1, 2003 in accordance with the fair value method for accounting for stock-based compensation as defined by accounting principles generally accepted in Canada. Stock-based compensation awards are calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model ("Black-Scholes"). Previously, the Company used the intrinsic value method for valuing stock-based compensation awards granted to employees and directors where compensation expen se was only recognized for the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the Company's common shares over the common share exercise price on the day that options are granted.
Financial Instruments and Other Instruments
The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities and long-term debt approximate their carrying values due to the short term or demand nature of these instruments. It is management's opinion that the Company is not exposed to significant interest or credit risks arising from these financial instruments.
IFRS implementation
The Company may have to adopt International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) by fiscal year 2005/2006 ending December 31, 2005, as required under European Regulation applicable to European public companies. The full set of IFRS remains subject to changes and endorsement by the European Commission.
In March 2004, the SEC proposed an amendment to the Form 20-F that would allow foreign private issuers that change their basis of accounting to IFRS to include only two years of audited financial statements in their SEC filings. This amendment would apply for the first year of reporting under IFRS. As we are a Canadian based company we also have to prepare our statements in accordance with Canadian GAAP. Under new rules provided by the British Columbia Securities Commission, we will be able to utilize US GAAP statements by providing Canadian GAAP reconciliation. We will have to conform to all standards, but we wish to minimize our auditing costs.
We are currently assessing the impact, that the application of IFRS will have on our 2004/05 financial statements and will disclose, as soon as practically possible the full impact of these changes.
ITEM 6 – Directors, Senior Management and Employees
Our board of directors is elected by our shareholders as indicated in our Articles. Directors have not entered into any service agreements and do not receive any remuneration. Our executive officers are appointed by our board of directors and have service agreements with us. The normal notice period for executive officers is 12 months. In the case of Stream Poland, both the Supervisory Board and the Management Board are elected by the General Meeting of Shareholders (in practice – by the only shareholder i.e. the Parent Company). The following sets out our directors and officers.
29
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Directors and Senior Management
The Company | ||||
Stanislaw L. Lis | President, CEO, Director | |||
Adam Wójcik | COO, Director | |||
Iwona Kozak | Vice-President of Corporate Affairs, Secretary, Director | |||
Casey Forward, CGA | Chief Financial Officer | |||
Robert Wussler | Director | |||
Robert Wooldridge | Director | |||
Boyce Butler | Director | |||
Stream Communications Sp. z o.o. | ||||
Adam Wójcik | President | |||
Dobroslaw Ploskonka | General Manager | |||
Tadeusz Fox | Supervisory Board | |||
Robert Dziublowski | Supervisory Board | |||
Grzegorz Namyslowski | Supervisory Board | |||
Stanislaw Lis has been a Director and President of the Company since 25 February 1994. He is a Canadian national. Since 23 April 1999 he has also been performing the function of Chief Executive Officer. He commenced his education in Poland. In 1976 he had emigrated to Canada where he continued his studies at the management and administration department at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. At the beginning of the 1980’s he worked in the finance economy department of the company Allcorp in Vancouver controlling a number of public companies. In 1988 he founded International UNP Holdings, an investment company engaged in the business of buying and financing Polish State-owned companies. In the years 1989-1992 he was the president of that company. In 1992 he created a joint venture company with the participation of the American company Emergency One and WSK Mielec whose business act ivities included the production and sale of fire trucks. In the years 1992-1994 he was the vice-president of that company.
Adam Wójcik since 2 November 1999 he has been President of the Management Board of Stream Poland. He is also our Chief Operating Officer. He graduated from the Jagiellonian University of Krakow, Department of Mathematics and Physics and holds a Ph.D. in mathematical sciences. In the years 1978-1995 he held a research and teaching position at the Mathematics Department of Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza. That time he also spoke many lectures at the universities in Sweden, France and USA. In the years 1993-1995 he was Marketing Manager at Polska Telewizja Kablowa Krakow S.A and in the years 1995-1997 Vice-President of that company. In the years 1997-1999, Adam Wójcik was Vice-President and South Regional Director of Polska Telewizja Kablowa Operator Sp. z o.o.
Iwona Kozak since 1 March 1996 she has been a Director and Vice President for Corporate Affairs and since 23 April 1999 she has been its Secretary. Born in Poland, she has been living in British Columbia since 1984. She graduated from the British Columbia Institute of Technology with a diploma in marketing. She has a broad experience in the area of marketing and public relations. She perfected her managerial and business skills as the co-founder and president of a division of the Canadian Polish Chamber of Commerce in British Columbia. In the years 1993-1995 she published a magazine dedicated to economics called ”Partners with Poland” (“Partnerstwo z Polska”) and provided advisory services to Canadian companies in the area of investments in Polish markets.
30
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Casey Forward became Chief Financial Officer of the Company on 18 January 2001. As a Certified General Accountant he has been running an independent accountancy practice in Canada since 1990. He has worked for public companies in Canada, the United States, and Great Britain. He has owned companies in Canada and, in particular, in the years 1980-1985 he was the owner and president of a company which was active in the sector of building investments in Edmonton, Canada, and in the years from 1977-1982 he was the owner and president of Gateway Cartage & Storage Ltd, with its seat in Edmonton, engaged in the business of storage and transport.
Robert Wussler was appointed on May 4, 2004. Bringing an impressive background in broadcasting and telecommunications to the company, Mr. Wussler is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Ted Turner Pictures and Ted Turner Documentaries. An acknowledged leader in the television industry for over three decades, he has been responsible for groundbreaking advances in news production at CBS News and CNN. The former President of both CBS Sports, and the CBS Television Network, Mr. Wussler was a co-founder of CNN, TNT and WTBS, and Senior Executive Vice President of Turner Broadcasting. Bringing an extraordinary background in cable telecommunications to his work with Stream, Mr. Wussler was also President and CEO of Comsat Video Enterprises, where he led the company through unprecedented growth.
Robert Wooldridge was appointed June 8, 2005. Mr. Wooldridge has extensive experience in many areas of investment banking including equity fundraising and mergers and acquisitions advice with a focus on Poland and other emerging markets. Since 2003 he has worked as a senior executive at EMG Corporate Finance Limited, a specialist investment banking operation based in London, UK and previously was a Managing Director in the Equity Capital Markets department at HSBC Investment Bank where he worked for nearly ten years. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales and a graduate of Cambridge University.
Boyce Butler was appointed to the board on May 29, 2003. Mr. Butler has been a practising accountant in the Province of British Columbia since 1964. He has been in public practice since 1973 and was the auditor for 30 public companies. He also was an auditor for Canada Customs and Revenue agency for four years. Mr. Butler has been a member of the Rotary Club since 1972 and served as president for the chapters in Kelowna and Vancouver.
Grzegorz Namyslowski has been a director since 2001. He graduated from the Warsaw Polytechnic with a M.Sc. in engineering. He held the position of the chief designer responsible for the design and construction of major power plants in Poland in the 1970s. He was a senior manager at Solco Basel, a Swiss pharmaceutical firm in Warsaw. Since 1991 he has been an active co-worker at INVESCO. In the years 1992-1999 he was a member of the supervisory board of the company ZP Zywiec S.A. and in the years 1993-2001 a member of the supervisory board of Zywiec Trade Sp. z o.o. At present he is a member of the supervisory board of IEWS. He is at present the president of the Supervisory Board of Stream.
Dobroslaw Ploskonka was one of co-founders of Stream Poland in October 1999. He has worked in the Polish Internet business for the years 1999 and 2000, and has successfully established Kraknet S.A., an Internet services provider in Kraków (acquired by Stream Poland). Mr. Ploskonka also has real estate business interests and is very conversant with the procedures to obtain building permits, etc. Mr. Ploskonka also has very good relationships with many housing co-operatives throughout Southern Poland.
31
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Executive Compensation
For the purpose of this annual statement, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
“Equity security” means securities of a company that carry a residual right to participate in earnings of that company and, upon liquidation or winding up of that company, its assets;
“Option” means all options, share purchase warrants and rights granted by a company or any of its subsidiaries (if any) as compensation for services rendered or otherwise in connection with office or employment;
“LTIP” means a long-term incentive plan, which is any plan providing compensation intended to serve as incentive for performance to occur over a period longer than one financial year, whether the performance is measured by reference to financial performance of the company or an affiliate of the company, the price for the company’s securities, or any other measure, but does not include Option or SAR plans or plans for compensation through restricted shares or restricted share units.
The total compensation we paid during the last fiscal period to all of our directors and officers as a group for services in all capacities was $755,341 CDN.
The following table details the compensation paid to our executive officers for the year ended December 31, 2004
Summary Compensation Table | |||||
Name | Salary ($CDN) | Bonus ($) | All Other and annual Compensation and LTIP Payouts ($CDN) | Securities under Option | Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units |
Stanislaw Lis | $119,790 | Nil | $209,224 | 600,000 | Nil |
Iwona Kozak | $95,832 | Nil | $49,507 | 250,000 | Nil |
Adam Wójcik | $83,990 | Nil | Nil | 450,000 | Nil |
Casey Forward | $95,832 | Nil | $101,166 | 400,000 | Nil |
Long-term Incentive Plans - Awards in most recently completed financial period
During its most recently completed financial year, and for the two previously completed financial years, we have not awarded or instituted any LTIP's in favour of its executive officers.
Defined Benefit Plans
We do not have, and at no time during its most recently completed financial year have had, any defined benefit or actuarial plans in respect of which any of its executive officers were eligible to participate.
32
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Options to Purchase Securities From Our Company
In order to create a mechanism for the recruiting of and providing incentives to certain persons and to recognise and reward their contributions to our growth, the Board of Directors adopted the Stock Option Plan (“Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to encourage such persons to acquire our shares and perceive such transaction as a long-term investment. Options to purchase shares under the Plan are granted to Directors, employees and affiliates of the foregoing.
The Board of Directors is entitled, at its own discretion, to determine which persons will be granted options under the Plan. If the Board of Directors grants any options, it will specify the number of shares that may be purchased pursuant to the option.
While the decision to grant options is in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, they may base decisions to grant options on the following factors: the annual remuneration of the person in relation to the total of the remuneration paid by us, the duration of employment of such person and the quality of work done by such person, amongst other factors.
As a confirmation of the option grant, the option holder is issued a certificate specifying the date, number of the shares allocated, share purchase price, and the period of time during which the option may be exercised. The Plan and the granting of options constitutes neither a guarantee to potential option holders that they will continue to perform their functions nor a guarantee that we will continue to employ such persons.
The Plan was amended at the Annual General Meeting of the shareholders held on June 30, 2004 where the shareholders authorized the directors to issue up to 5,941,135 stock options to directors, employees and consultants. At the Annual General Meeting to be held on June 29, 2005, the shareholders are being asked to amend the Plan to the maximum number of stock options allowable to 7,992,212. Other than the maximum number of shares allowable for distribution there are no other changes to the Plan. In summary the basic restrictions are:
(a) One person may not receive more than 5% of the outstanding shares;
(b) Options granted to one person in a given year may not exceed 5% of the outstanding shares;
(c) Shares allocated to all persons employed in contacts with investors may not exceed 2% of the outstanding shares, unless the rules of the TSX allow for a different limit; and
(d) Shares earmarked for consultants may not exceed 2% of the outstanding shares.
In the event that an option has lapsed for any reason whatsoever without having been exercised in full, the shares with respect to which the option has lapsed may again be issued for the purposes of the Plan. The expiration date of an option is the date determined by the Board of Directors with respect to individual options, which date, however, may not be later than ten years after the option was granted.
The Board of Directors is also exclusively entitled to determine the purchase price of shares by option holders.
33
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
The following tables provide options granted to all directors and officers
Director, Officer | Date Granted | Stock Options at June 15, 2005 | Price per Share | Expiry Date |
Adam Wójcik | June 2, 2004 | 250,000 | USD $0.60 | June 2, 2009 |
Adam Wójcik | January 7, 2005 | 200,000 | USD $0.60 | December 17, 2009 |
Casey Forward | June 2, 2004 | 150,000 | USD $0.60 | June 2, 2009 |
Casey Forward | January 7, 2005 | 250,000 | USD $0.60 | December 17, 2009 |
Dobroslaw Ploskonka | June 2, 2004 | 225,000 | USD $0.60 | June 2, 2009 |
Dobroslaw Ploskonka | January 7, 2005 | 200,000 | USD $0.60 | December 17, 2009 |
Grzegorz Namyslowski | June 2, 2004 | 200,000 | USD $0.60 | June 2, 2009 |
Iwona Kozak | June 2, 2004 | 250,000 | USD $0.60 | June 2, 2009 |
Stanislaw Lis | June 2, 2004 | 300,000 | USD $0.60 | June 2, 2009 |
Stanislaw Lis | January 7, 2005 | 300,000 | USD $0.60 | December 17, 2009 |
Employees
The average number of employees was as follows:
Year ended December 31, 2004 | Year ended December 31, 2003 | Year ended December 31, 2002 | |
Parent | 5 | 3 | 3 |
Stream | 76 | 75 | 76 |
34
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
ITEM 7 – Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
Major Shareholders
To the best of our knowledge, we are not owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by another corporation or by any foreign government.
As at the date of this annual statement the following persons or groups are known to us to each own more than 10% of our issued and outstanding common shares, which as of June 10, 2005 was.
Name and Address of Shareholder | Number of Securities owned | Percentage of Securities owned |
CDS & Co NCI Account 25 The Esplanade Toronto, Ontario, M5W 1G5 Canada (Canadian depository for brokerage houses) | 14,403,388 Common shares | 36.0% |
Cede & Co PO Box 20 Bowling Green Station New York, NY, 10274 (US depository for brokerage houses) | 4,840,779 Common shares | 12.1% |
Edward Mazur Glenview, IL 60025 | 5,257,195 Common shares | 13.2% |
To the best of our knowledge, there are no arrangements, the operation of which at a subsequent date will result in a change in control of our company. Registered shareholders in the United States account for 764 holders having 17,726,051 shares of 44.4% of the total issued.
Related Party Transactions
The amount due to a related party, Mr. Edward Mazur, a former director, bears interest at 5%, compounded annually. Mr. Mazur has agreed that the loan will not be repaid before March 31, 2006. The total amount due (including accrued interest) is $3,516,054 USD (equivalent to $4.2 million CAD), of which $2,000,000 USD was secured by various cable TV networks, with the remaining debt being unsecured. Accrued interest of $113,333 USD (equivalent to $136,544 CAD) was included at December 31, 2004.
35
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
ITEM 8 – Financial Information
Legal Proceedings
The Company is defending an action from 310047 B.C. Ltd. S.C.B.C. No. S040725, Vancouver, British Columbia pursuant to unpaid legal invoices submitted to us by Clark Wilson. The lawsuit demands the sum of $17,245 CDN. The plaintiff has offered to settle for $11,000 and we have offered to pay some $9,000 CDN to settle the account.
ITEM 9 – The Listing
Nature of Trading Market
Our common shares are listed on the OTC BB Exchange n the United States, under the symbol “SCNWF. We started trading on the OTC BB on March 11, 2004.
Trading on the OTC BB
The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices on the OTC BB for our common shares for each monthly period in the past six months.
Month Ended | High | Low | Volume |
May 31, 2005 | USD $ 0.76 | USD $ 0.56 | 1,983,900 |
April 30, 2005 | USD $ 0.86 | USD $ 0.65 | 3,868,600 |
Mar 31, 2005 | USD $ 0.90 | USD $ 0.66 | 2,043,400 |
Feb 28, 2005 | USD $ 1.01 | USD $ 0.67 | 2,848,300 |
Jan 31, 2005 | USD $ 1.14 | USD $ 0.57 | 1,428,400 |
Dec 31, 2004 | USD $ 0.70 | USD $ 0.46 | 575,000 |
For the period of the start of trading to December 31, 2004, the following table following table sets forth the high and low sale prices
Period from March 12, 2004 (start) to December 31, 2004 | High | Low | Volume |
USD $ 1.45 | USD $ 0.30 | 10,711,556 |
Trading on the TSX Venture Exchange
Our shares used to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange (the “TSX”) in Canada under the symbol “TPP”. The last trade was at $2.00 CDN on January 25, 2001. Our shares halted trading on the TSX in connection with a change in business.
According to the TSX Policy 5.2, a “Change of Business” or “COB” means:
“A transaction or series of transactions which will redirect an Issuer’s resource towards a business which is of a substantially different nature than its current business, so that over the next 12 months at least 25% of the assets, liabilities, planned expenditures or revenues, management time commitment or issued shares of the Issuer will be devoted to the new business.”
36
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Since a majority of our resources are directed towards the operations of Stream that is different than our original business of constructing and operating rendering plants in Poland, we are required by Policy 5.2 to issue a news release and notify the TSX of the proposed Change of Business. We did not complete our change of business with the TSX, but we applied to the TSX to be delisted from the TSX exchange. Following the approval of the listing on the OTC BB, the TSX allowed the delisting of Stream on the TSX.
The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices on the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSX”) for our common shares for the past five years ended October 31, 1999 to December 31, 2003.
Year Ended | High | Low | Volume |
$CDN | $CDN | ||
Dec 31, 2002 | - | - | - |
Dec 31, 2001 | - | - | - |
Oct 31, 2001 | 2.24 | 1.93 | 1,075,621 |
Oct 31, 2000 | 4.70 | 1.18 | 9,853,601 |
Oct 31, 1999 | 1.80 | 1.01 | 3,209,466 |
Item 10 – Additional Information
Share Capital
Our authorized share capital as at December 31, 2004 was 150,000,000 common shares without par value. Our issued and outstanding share capital at December 31, 2004 was 37,833,800. At June 15, 2005 our issued and outstanding share capital was 39,961,058.
All our shares, both issued and unissued, are common shares of the same class and rank equally as to dividends, voting powers and participation in assets upon liquidation. At any general meeting, subject to the restrictions on joint registered owners of our common shares, on a show of hands every shareholder who is present in person and entitled to vote has one vote and on a poll every shareholder has one vote for each share of which he or she is the registered owner and may exercise such vote either in person or by proxy. Our directors may, from time to time, declare and authorize payment of dividends. No common shares have been issued subject to call or assessment. There are no pre-emptive or conversion rights. There are no provisions for surrender, sinking or purchase funds. There are no issued and outstanding escrow or performance shares. On April 23, 1997, 246,999 escrowed common shares w ere cancelled.
Options to acquire common shares granted to our directors and officers are described under “Item 6 – Directors, Senior Management and Employees – Executive Compensation.
Memorandum and Articles
We are registered in British Columbia, Canada, certificate of incorporation No. 188691. We do not have any stated "objects" or "purposes" as the Company Act of the Province of British Columbia does not require it. Our memorandum (“Memorandum”) has authorized 150,000,000 common shares without par value.
Pursuant to the laws of British Columbia, the province has enacted a new company act, the Business Corporations Act. We registered our transition documents with the registrar of companies, we obtained shareholder approval at the June 30, 2004 Annual General Meeting to change to the provisions of the new company act and we filed on August 9, 2005 to be registered under the new company act. Our new articles (“Articles”) contain the following provisions:
37
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Voting Rights
(i)
Shareholders shall have the right to receive notice of, to attend and to vote at all general meetings. Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Association, on a show of hands each holder of shares present in person and entitled to vote shall have one vote and upon a poll each such holder who is present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall have one vote in respect of every share held by him.
Variation of Class Rights and Alteration of Capital
(i)
We may by ordinary resolution increase the share capital, and cancel any shares which at the date of the passing of the resolution have not been taken or agreed to be taken by any person.
(ii)
By special resolution that requires a three-fourths majority, we may consolidate and divide all or any of the share capital into shares of larger amount, sub-divide the shares into shares of smaller amount.
Transfer of Shares
(i)
Any member can transfer shares by delivering an instrument of transfer to our transfer agent.
Directors
(i)
Our business is managed by the Directors who may exercise all powers subject to the provisions of the Articles of Association and the Company Act of British Columbia.
(ii)
The number of Directors shall be not less than three. At our last annual general meeting, the number of directors was five. A Director shall not be required to hold any shares in the capital of our Company. At each annual general meeting of our Company, all of the board of directors retire and our shareholders elect a new board.
(iii)
A Director shall not vote but can be counted in the quorum present on any motion in respect of any contract, arrangement, transaction or any other proposal in which he has an interest that is to his knowledge a material interest.
(iv)
The Directors shall be paid for their services as Directors such sums (if any) as the Directors may from time to time determine.
(v)
The Directors may be paid all reasonable travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in attending and returning from meetings of the Directors or any committee of the Directors or general meetings or otherwise in connection with our business.
(vi)
Directors can vote to remove a director at a directors meeting.
Borrowing Powers
(i)
The Directors may exercise all of the powers to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertakings, properties, assets and uncalled capital, or any part thereof, and, subject to the provisions of the Articles of Association, to issue debentures, debenture stock and other securities whether outright or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of us or of any third party.
38
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Dividends and Distributions on Liquidation to Shareholders
(i)
The Directors may declare dividends, and need not give notice to any member. Subject to any priority, preference or special rights, all dividends shall be declared and paid according to the number of shares held on a specified date with respect of the period of which the dividend is paid.
(ii)
The Directors may pay such interim dividends as they may determine.
(iii)
No dividend shall bear interest.
General Meetings
(i)
Each year we hold a general meeting as the annual general meeting in addition to any other meetings in that year, and not more than 13 months shall elapse between the date of one annual general meeting and that of the next. The annual general meeting shall be held at such time and place, as the Directors shall appoint.
(ii)
All general meetings other than annual general meetings are extraordinary general meetings. The Directors may, whenever they think fit, convene an extraordinary general meeting.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Our board of directors has established an audit committee. Our audit committee will recommend a firm to be appointed as independent auditors to audit financial statements and to perform services related to the audit, review the scope and results of the audit with the independent auditors, review with management and the independent auditors our annual operating results and consider the adequacy of the internal accounting procedures and the effect of the procedures relating to the auditors' independence. In addition, the audit committee will monitor the board's corporate governance practices, propose nominees annually for election to the board, make recommendations as to the composition of the committees of the board and review the functioning of the board and the powers, mandates and performance of the committees.
Audit Committee Members:
1.
Stan Lis
2.
Robert Wooldridge – independent director with financial experience
3.
Robert Wussler – independent director with financial experience
Our board of directors has established a compensation committee to review remuneration paid to senior officers of the Company.
Compensation Committee Members:
1.
Stan Lis
2.
Adam Wojcik
3.
Robert Wussler
Our board of directors has established a corporate governance committeeto (1) identify and select qualified individuals to serve as directors of the Company and nominate such individuals for election as directors at the Company's annual meeting of shareholders (2) develop and establish corporate governance policies and procedures for the Company and (3) administer the Code of Ethics adopted by the Company
39
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Corporate Governance Committee
1.
Stan Lis
2.
Iwona Kozak
3.
Robert Wooldridge
Exchange Control and Other Limitations Affecting Security Holders
There is no law or government decree of regulation in Canada that restricts the export or import of capital, or that affects the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments to a non-resident holder of common shares, other than withholding tax requirements.
There is no limitation imposed by Canadian law or by the articles or other charter documents of a company on the right of a non-resident to hold or vote common shares of a company, other than as provided in theInvestment Canada Act, as amended (the “Investment Act”).
The Investment Act generally prohibits implementation of a reviewable investment by an individual, government, corporation, partnership, trust or joint venture that is non-Canadian unless the minister responsible for the Investment Act is satisfied that the investment is likely to be of net benefit to Canada. If an investment by a non-Canadian is not a reviewable investment, it requires the filing of a short notice.
An investment in common shares of a company by a non-Canadian that is a “WTO investor” would be reviewable if the value of the assets of the Company equalled or exceeded $184 million, the threshold established for 1999. In subsequent years, the threshold amount may be increased or decreased in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Act. A WTO investor is a member of the World Trade Organization, current members of which include the European Community, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the United States, or a WTO investor-controlled entity, as defined in the Investment Act.
An investment in common shares of a company by a non-Canadian, other than a WTO investor, would be reviewable under the Investment Act if it were an investment to acquire control of a company and the value of the assets were $5.0 million.
The Investment Act would not apply to certain transactions in relation to our common shares, including:
An acquisition of common shares of a company by any person made in the ordinary course of that person’s business as a trader or dealer in securities;
An acquisition of control of a company by an amalgamation, merger, consolidation or corporate reorganization following which the control of the Company remains unchanged.
A company with foreign share holdings formed in Poland is under Polishlaw andtreated in the same manner as a company with Polish share holdings. Full repatriation of after-tax profits and capital is allowed, and companies with 100% foreign participation are permitted. Capital introduced into Poland by foreign investors may be freely withdrawn. Full repatriation of profits and divided payments is allowed without obtaining a permit. Companies must account for withholding tax to the Polish Tax authorities on any distributed dividends unless a treaty provided otherwise. To avoid double taxation, Poland has devised tax treaties with more than 60 countries.
Taxation - Certain Canadian Federal Income Tax Consequences to United States Investors
This section is to make United States persons aware and caution them as to some of the consequences of investing in the Company (a Canadian company). Taxation of our Company in Poland from a business perspective is discussed in the immediately following section.
40
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
A brief description of certain provisions of the tax treaty between Canada and the United States is included below. The consequences of state and local taxes are not considered. The following information is general and security holders should seek the advice of their own tax advisors.
TAXATION OF DIVIDENDS
A holder of a common share who is not resident in Canada for purposes of the Income Tax Act will be subject to Canadian withholding tax on dividends paid or credited to the holder of the common share. The rate of withholding tax on dividends is 25% of the amount of the dividend. This rate may be reduced under the provisions of an international tax treaty to which Canada is a party. Under the tax treaty that Canada has entered into with the United States, the rate of Canadian withholding tax is generally reduced to 15%, or 5% in the case of a corporate holder which owns 10% or more of the voting shares. A foreign tax credit for the tax withheld may be available to a holder resident in the United States against U.S. federal income taxes.
DISPOSITION OF COMMON SHARES
A non-resident holder of a common share will not be subject to tax under the Income Tax Act in respect of a capital gain realized on the disposition of a common share unless the common share is a "taxable Canadian property" (as defined in the Income Tax Act). Shares of a corporation that are listed on a prescribed stock exchange are generally not considered to be taxable Canadian property. Taxable Canadian property includes any common share held by a non-resident if used in carrying on a business (other than an insurance business) in Canada. A non-resident whose common shares constitute taxable Canadian property will realize upon disposition, a capital gain (or a capital loss).
One-half of any capital gain realized by a holder (a taxable capital gain) will be included in computing the holder's income.
Non-residents are advised to consult their tax advisers with regard to the availability of a treaty exemption and their own particular circumstances.
Passive Foreign Investment Company
A foreign corporation with one or more U.S. shareholders is a PFIC if 75% or more of its income is passive income or if at least 50% of its assets would be invested in instruments which produce interest, dividends and/or capital gains. Unlike a controlled foreign corporation or a foreign personal holding company, there is no minimum percentage ownership by U.S. shareholder to trigger application of the PFIC rules. If a foreign corporation has a high enough percentage of passive income or assets, it is a PFIC as regards any U.S. shareholder no matter how small their ownership percentage of the foreign corporation and regardless of whether the U.S. shareholders, individually or in the aggregate, have the ability to control the business or investments of the foreign corporation.
If a person owns shares in a PFIC and sells them for a profit, that person must generally pro-rate its profit over all the years it held the shares in the PFIC, pay U.S. income tax on the profit allocated to each year at the highest U.S. rate in effect for that year, and pay interest on all the prior year’s tax, computed from the tax return due date for the year to which the income is attributable.
The above rule may not apply if a person elects to treat its investment as a "Qualified Electing Fund" (QEF). This election is made by attaching Form 8621 to the annual tax return. This will permit the annual inclusion of the QEF in a person’s pro-rata share of ordinary income and long-term capital gains.
We do not believe the Company was a passive foreign investment company during the fiscal period ended December 31, 2001 or any other year.
41
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Future Developments
The foregoing discussion is based on existing provisions of the United States tax laws, existing and proposed regulations thereafter, and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change. Any such changes could affect the validity of this discussion. In addition, the implementation of certain aspects of the PFIC rules requires the issuance of regulations which in many such instances have not yet been promulgated and which may have retroactive effect. Furthermore, legislation has been proposed which would replace the PFIC provisions with a consolidated anti-deferral regime. While this legislation was vetoed, it may be re-introduced in subsequent years.
ALL PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PURCHASING THE COMMON SHARES.
Taxation in Poland
The Polish tax system has been modernized in recent years. In 1992, corporate income tax and personal income tax were introduced, followed by value-added tax (VAT) in 1993. Poland also taxes real property, transport vehicles, inheritance and gifts.
Corporate Profits Tax
Polish resident companies are subject to corporate income tax on their worldwide income, while non-residents are subject to corporate income tax only on income derived in the territory of Poland. Worldwide income is a tax base for business entities with registered offices or seats or places of management in Poland. Other entities are taxed on profits earned in Poland only.
Corporations are subject to corporate income tax at a rate of 19% in 2004 and in 2005.
Depreciation and depletion
Tax depreciation is carried out in accordance with the Corporate Income Tax Act. Tax depreciation generally follows the straight - line method, although accelerated depreciation may be available in some circumstances.
Net operating losses
A Polish corporate has the right to carry forward a loss incurred in an accounting period by deducting the loss from its taxable income over the next five years to a maximum of 50% in any one year. No loss carry backs are allowed.
Payments to foreign affiliates
A Polish corporate can deduct royalties, management services and interest charges paid to foreign affiliates, provided exchange control regulations and transfer-pricing restrictions are observed.
Deduction for taxes paid
Taxes on income are not deductible. However, input VAT is deductible for corporate income tax purposes if it cannot be offset against the company's output VAT. Other taxes that are part of expenses are deductible in full.
Non-deductible expenditures
A Polish corporate may not deduct certain expenditures, including the following:
Costs of assets subject to depreciation,
Expenditure borne on abandoned investments,
Unrealised foreign exchange losses,
Non-public advertising costs in excess of 0.25 percent of turnover.
42
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Value-Added Tax
VAT applies to the goods sold and the services provided. The standard rate is 22% and may be reduced to rate of 7% for e.g. food products, children's clothing, and other goods and services. Exports are not taxed, however a number of conditions must be met for export of services to have zero tax rate. Exempt from VAT are e.g. agricultural products and finance and insurance services.
Cable television services were subject to 22% VAT till 30 April 2004. Since 1 May 2004, cable television services are subject to 7% VAT.
Internet services were subject to 7% VAT till 30 April 2004. Since 1 May 2004, Internet services were either exempt from VAT for individual subscribers or subject to 22% VAT for the other subscribers. Since 1 March 2005, all Internet services are subject to 22% VAT.
Item 11 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Currency and Exchange Rate Risk
We are exposed to changes in financial market conditions as a result of transacting in various foreign currencies and funding of foreign operations.
We determine our market risk utilizing sensitivity analysis, which measures the potential losses in fair value resulting from one or more selected hypothetical changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
We do not hedge currency risk. All of the business operations are in Poland that do not normally import or export products or supplies. The functional currency is the Polish zloty.
If there were a large fluctuation in the exchange rates between Poland and Canada this will impact on the operating results of the company. This could impact in a positive or negative manner. If the Canadian dollar increased against the zloty, then any Canadian funds invested in Poland would be exchanged for a larger number of zloty, thereby making more money available in Poland for the businesses. The converse would create a shortfall of funding. Advancing funds as required so that the time interval for currency fluctuations is as short as possible minimizes risk.
We do not presently believe we have material exposure to potential change in fair value of market sensitive instruments, near-term losses in future earnings and/or cash flows from reasonably possible near-term changes in market rates.
We did not have any foreign currency derivatives outstanding at December 31, 2004. Accordingly, no market risk existed for such instruments at this date.
Rates of exchange of PLN/USD, PLN/EUR and PLN/CAD in the years 2003-2004
31 December 2004 | Average Rate for 2004 | 31 December 2003 | Average Rate for 2003 | |
USD | 2.9987 | 3.6523 | 3.7569 | 3.8887 |
EUR | 4.0914 | 4.5338 | 4.7175 | 4.400 |
CAD | 2.4898 | 2.8049 | 2.9029 | 2.7850 |
The effect of foreign currency fluctuations has affected the book value of property, plant and equipment and intangibles. The value of the property, plant and equipment was $7.2 million at December 31, 2003 or approximately 20.9 million zloty. This same value at December 31, 2004 translates in the financial statements at a rate of 2.4898 approximately $8.4 million. See note 11 in the financial statements that gives an analysis of the cumulative translation account.
43
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Item 12 – Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities
Warrants
In the past, we issued warrants as part of our private placements. The terms and conditions governing these warrants are provided for in applicable subscription agreements and warrant certificates. Shares that will be issued pursuant to these warrants contain certain restrictions, including resale restrictions. The following table shows the number of shares to which each warrant holder is entitled after exercise of the warrants:
The changes in warrants were as follows: | Number of common shares permitted to be purchased | ||||||
|
| Number of warrants | Price per share | Expiry date | Fair value of Warrants | ||
Total balance December 31, 2002 | 4,530,391 | 4,029,749 |
|
| $ 2,740,669 | ||
Expired | (701,286) | (350,644) | 1.80 | 28-Dec-03 | $ (228,318) | ||
Exercised | (702,526) | (702,526) | $ 1.80 | 28-Dec-03 | $ (486,904) | ||
Total Balance December 31, 2003 | 3,126,579 | 2,976,579 |
|
| $ 2,025,447 | ||
Outstanding December 31, 2003 | 300,000 | 150,000 | 1.80 | 28-Dec-04 | 103,962 | ||
2,701,579 | 2,701,579 | 1.80 | 28-Dec-04 | 1,872,405 | |||
125,000 | 125,000 | 2.25 USD | 28-Dec-04 | 49,080 | |||
Total Balance December 31, 2003 | 3,126,579 | 2,976,579 |
|
| $ 2,025,447 | ||
Expired | nil | ||||||
Exercised | nil | ||||||
Total Balance December 31, 2004 | 3,126,579 | 2,976,579 |
| 28-Dec-05 | $ 2,025,447 |
Shares issued upon exercise of a warrant may not be resold until the hold period on the private placement has ended. There are no hold periods on the above-mentioned warrants.
PART II
ITEM 13 – Defaults, Dividends, Arrearages and Delinquencies
Not applicable
ITEM 14 – Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds
Not applicable
IITEM15 - Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Within 90 days prior to the date of this report, we performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that the material financial and non-financial information required to be disclosed in the Annual Report on Form 20-F and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is recorded, processed, summarized and reported timely. The evaluation was performed with the participation of each senior manager who reports to our Chief Executive Officer and under the supervision of our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Stan Lis. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, rather than absolute, assurance of achieving the desired control o bjectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the foregoing, our management, including the CEO and our Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. There have been no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of the evaluation. Therefore, no corrective actions were taken.
44
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Under Sarbanes-Oxley and in view of the attestation requirement where the Company’s auditor will be required to provide a report on management’s assessment of its internal control over financing reporting, the Company is preparing to implement fully assessable procedures by the end of 2005. We are required to have attestation done for our year ended December 31, 2006.
In addition the audit committee is playing a larger role in this process. The primary roles and responsibilities of the Audit Committee include:
·
reviewing and recommending to the Board for approval, the Company’s annual financial statements and the related discussion and analysis of management;
·
reviewing and approving the Company’s interim financial statements (prior to their publication, filing or delivery to securityholders) and the related discussion and analysis of management;
·
reviewing and approving, as prescribed, other financial information;
·
evaluating and ensuring the independence of the Company’s auditor;
·
reviewing and pre-approving the terms of the annual external audit engagement plan, as well as non-audit services the auditor is to perform; reviewing results of external audit activities;
·
reviewing the Company’s ongoing relationship with its auditor;
·
reviewing and assessing regularly:
o
the quality and acceptability of accounting policies and financial reporting practices used by the Company;
o
any significant proposed changes in financial reporting and accounting policies and practices to be adopted by the Company;
o
any new or pending developments, in accounting and reporting standards that may affect the Company;
·
reviewing and obtaining reasonable assurance that the Company’s internal financial control and information systems are properly designed and effectively implemented to produce accurate, appropriate and timely financial information;
·
receiving a report on the Company’s material subsidiaries concerning any material non-routine structures; reviewing corporate policies within the scope of its responsibility and monitoring compliance with such policies;
·
in respect of matters within the Audit Committee’s purview and delegation, assisting the Board in its oversight of the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements; and,
·
reporting to the Board at each regularly scheduled meeting following any Audit Committee meeting.
The Audit Committee has the authority to engage independent counsel and other advisers having special competencies, as it determines necessary to carry out its duties, and it determines the appropriate amount of funding the Company is to provide for compensation of such advisors.Since the commencement of the Company's most recently completed financial year, the Audit Committee has not made any recommendations to nominate or compensate an external auditor which were not adopted by the board of directors of the Company.
ITEM 16A - AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT
The chairman of our audit committee is Mr. Robert Wooldridge. Mr. Wooldridge is an independent director of the Company and he is a chartered accountant. His attributes as an audit committee expert are:
(1) An understanding of generally accepted accounting principles and financial statements;
(2) The ability to assess the general application of such principles in connection with the accounting for estimates, accruals and reserves;
(3) Experience preparing, auditing, analysing or evaluating financial statements;
(4) An understanding of internal controls and procedures for financial reporting; and
(5) An understanding of audit committee functions.
ITEM 16B - CODE OF ETHICS
Our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and other senior executives and principal accounting officers are bound to adhere to the company’s Code of Ethics, which applies to Senior Financial Officers and all employees.
A copy of the Code of Ethics is available upon request.
ITEM 16C - PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
During the financial years ended 2003 to 2004 we employed the following auditing firms. Their remunerations and services performed are as follows:
Year ended December 31, 2004
Firm | Services | Fees |
MacKay LLP, Chartered Accountants | Audit services Other fees | $50,000 CDN $2,000 CDN |
Year ended December 31, 2003
Firm | Services | Fees |
MacKay LLP, Chartered Accountants | Audit services Disbursements | $60,000 CDN $5,286 CDN |
PART III
ITEM 17 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
See Financial Statements attached hereto.
ITEM 18 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Not applicable.
ITEM 19 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
1.
Auditors’ Report;
2.
Consolidated Balance Sheet;
3.
Consolidated Statement of Operations and Deficit;
4.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow; and
5.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
45
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
Exhibits
1.
Articles
99.1
2.
Financial statements
99.2
3.
Certifications
99.3
4.
Certifications
99.4
5.
Auditors consent
99.5
46
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --
SIGNATURE PAGE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of theSecurities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and has duly caused this annual statements to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated:
ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY,
STREAM COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK, INC.
Per:
“Casey Forward”
Casey Forward, Chief Financial Officer
47
-- Form 20-F --
-- Stream Communications Network, Inc. --