SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 11-K {X} ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 { } TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED) For the transition period from to Commission file numbers 2-98306 and 33-13066 A. Full title of the plan: COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC. THE COMMON-WEALTH BUILDER B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office: Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. 100 CTE Drive Dallas, Pennsylvania, 18612-9774 Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder Report on Audits of Financial Statements As of December 31, 1999 and 1998 and for the year ended December 31, 1999 and Supplemental Schedules for the year ended December 31, 1999 Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder Index to the Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedules December 31, 1999 and 1998 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pages ----- Report of Independent Accountants 1 Financial Statements: Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits 2 Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits 3 Notes to Financial Statements 4-11 Supplemental Schedules: Schedule H, Item 4(i)* - Assets Held for Investment Purposes 12 Schedule H, Item 4(j)* - Reportable Transactions 13 *Refer to item numbers in Form 5500 (Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan) for the plan periods ended December 31, 1999, which items are incorporated herein by reference. Report of Independent Accountants To the Participants and Administrator of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder In our opinion, the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder (the "Plan") at December 31, 1999 and 1998 and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 1999 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States, which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above. Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedules of Assets Held for Investment Purposes and Reportable Transactions are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. These supplemental schedules are the responsibility of the Plan's management. These supplemental schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP - ------------------------------ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP June 28, 2000 Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits December 31, 1999 and 1998 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1999 1998 Investments (see Note 4) $30,658,042 $22,726,260 Receivables: Employer contributions 72,638 59,329 Participant contributions 162,242 140,639 Dividends 74,850 - ----------- ----------- Net assets available for benefits $30,967,772 $22,926,228 ----------- ----------- The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. -2- Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits For the year ended December 31, 1999 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additions: Employer contributions $ 887,605 Participant contributions 2,533,335 Interest 47,718 Dividends 1,339,222 Net appreciation in fair value of investments (see Note 4) 4,839,803 Transfer of assets from other plans 11,995 ------------ Total additions 9,659,678 ------------ Deductions: Benefits paid to participants 1,616,184 Administrative fees 1,950 ------------ Total deductions 1,618,134 ------------ Increase in net assets available for benefits 8,041,544 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of year 22,926,228 ------------ End of year $30,967,772 ------------ The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. -3- Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 1999 and 1998 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Description of Plan The following brief description of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder (the "Plan") is provided for general information purposes only. Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions. General The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering substantially all employees who are not covered by collective bargaining agreements of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the "Company" or "CTE"), and who have attained the age of twenty-one and have three months of enlisted service. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Contributions Participants in the Plan may contribute between 1% and 15% of their annual compensation. Participants may also contribute amounts representing distributions from other qualified defined benefit or contribution plans. The Company contributes on behalf of each participant an amount not to exceed 3.5% of the participant's compensation during the year. All Company contributions are used to purchase common stock of CTE. Contributions are subject to certain limitations. Participants may change salary deferral elections as of each of the following entry dates (January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1). Participants may change investment elections on a daily basis, subject to limitations on CTE stock. Participant's Account Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contributions and allocations of the Company's contribution and Plan earnings, and charged with an allocation of administrative expenses. Allocations are made in direct proportion to the respective amount in each participant's account. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the participant's account balance. Vesting Participants are immediately vested in their contributions plus actual earnings thereon. Vesting in the Company's matching contributions portion of their accounts, plus earnings thereon, is based on years of continuous service. A participant is 100 percent vested after five years of credited service. Plan Benefits On termination of service due to death, disability or retirement, a participant may elect to receive a lump-sum distribution if the value of the participant's account is less than or equal to $5,000. If the value of the participant's account is greater than $5,000, the participant may elect to have their benefit paid out in an annuity. A participant may elect to have the lump-sum distribution paid in cash, CTE common stock or in-kind depending upon the elected fund within which participant contributions were deposited. If a member elects to receive stock, only whole shares are distributed with cash being distributed in lieu of fractional shares. -4- Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 1999 and 1998 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additionally, the Plan permits participants to withdraw a portion or all of their vested account balance. These special distributions include in service distributions and hardship withdrawals. An active participant may request an in service distribution upon attaining age 59 1/2. A hardship withdrawal may be granted to a participant for emergency circumstances as defined by the Plan. Participant Loans Participants may borrow from their fund accounts a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum equal to the lesser of 50% of their vested account balance or $50,000. Loan transactions are treated as a transfer to (from) the investment fund from (to) the Loan Fund. Loan terms range from 1-5 years unless the loan is for the purchase of a primary residence, for which the term is 30 years. The loans are secured by the balance in the participant's account and bear interest at the prime rate plus one basis point. Principal and interest is paid ratably through monthly payroll deductions. Forfeitured Accounts At December 31, 1999 forfeited nonvested accounts totaled $69,073. These accounts will be used to reduce future employer contributions. In 1999, there were no forfeitures used to reduce employer contributions. 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Accounting The financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual method of accounting. Investment Valuation and Income Recognition The Plan's investments are stated at fair value. Shares of registered investment companies are valued at quoted market prices which represent the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year-end. The guaranteed investment contracts held in the Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust Fund are valued at fair value. The Company's stock is valued at its quoted market price on the last day of the year. Participant loans are valued at cost which approximates fair value. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The Plan presents in the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits the net appreciation (depreciation) in the fair value of its investments which consists of the realized gains or losses and the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on those investments. Investments in Common Collective Trust The Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust Fund (the "Trust Fund") invests in various term guaranteed insurance contracts and maintains a cash reserve balance with all excess funds. The average yield and the weighted average crediting interest rate are based on the underlying contracts. -5- Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 1999 and 1998 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Trust Fund's investment contracts are reported at their estimated fair value. The investment contracts are nontransferable but provide for benefit responsive withdrawals by plan participants at contract value. Benefit responsive withdrawals are provided for on a proportional basis by the issuers of the investment contracts. In determining fair value, the Plan's trustee's valuation committee primarily considers such factors as the benefit responsiveness of the investment contract and the ability of the parties to the investment contract to perform in accordance with the terms of the contract. Generally, fair value approximates contract value (contributions made plus interest accrued at the current rate, less withdrawals and fees). If, however, an event has occurred that may impair the ability of the contract issuer to perform in accordance with the contract terms, fair value may be less than contract value. The contract value of the Trust Fund at December 31, 1999 and 1998 is $5,145,642 and $4,937,448, respectively. The average yield and crediting interest rates were approximately 6.0% for the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998. Expenses of the Plan Fees and other costs incurred are paid by the Plan, then allocated to each investment fund. Payment of Benefits Benefit payments to participants are recorded when paid. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Risks and Uncertainties The Plan provides for various investment options in any combination of stocks, bonds, fixed income securities, mutual funds, and other investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in risks in the near term could materially affect participants' account balances and the amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits and the statement of changes in net assets available for benefits. 3. Investment Options The investment options of the Plan are as follows: Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust Seeks to provide preservation of capital, liquidity, and current income at levels that are typically higher than those provided by money market funds. The Trust invests primarily in a broadly diversified portfolio of Guaranteed -6- Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 1999 and 1998 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Investment Contracts and in obligations of the U.S. government and government-agency securities. Participants purchase units that the Trust seeks to maintain at $1.00 per unit, although this cannot be guaranteed. Merrill Lynch S&P 500 Index Fund Seeks to provide investment results that, before expenses, replicate the total return of the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index (S&P 500). In seeking to replicate the total return of the S&P 500, management generally will allocate investments among common stocks in approximately the same weighting of the Index. Merrill Lynch Growth Fund Seeks growth of capital and, secondarily, income through a diversified portfolio of primarily equity securities, with principal emphasis on issues believed by Fund management to be undervalued. The Fund may invest up to 40% of its total assets in foreign securities. Merrill Lynch Capital Fund Seeks the highest total investment return consistent with prudent risk primarily through a fully managed investment policy that permits management of the Fund to vary investment in equity, debt, and convertible securities based on evaluation of changes in economic and market trends. The Fund invests in high-quality stocks, corporate bonds and cash equivalents, and may invest up to 25% of its assets in foreign securities. It offers investors three distinct advantages: Flexibility, Focus on Quality, and Diversification. Merrill Lynch Basic Value Fund Seeks capital appreciation, and secondarily, income, by investing primarily in equities that appear to be undervalued. The Fund's value-oriented approach is based on the conviction that certain stocks may, at times, be at the variance with their fundamental strength and potential for long-term appreciation. The Fund offers diversification, spreading risk across a range of companies and industries. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. Merrill Lynch Corporate Bond Fund Seeks a high level of current income consistent with the investment policies of the Fund and prudent management. The Fund may invest primarily in bonds rated in the four highest rating categories with a maximum remaining maturity not to exceed 10 years. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its total assets in foreign securities. Lazard International Equity Fund The Fund invests primarily in non-U.S. equities with relatively large capitalizations. Van Kampen American Value Fund As value investors, the Fund managers are bargain hunters in every sense of the word, looking for stocks of well-run companies that are trading at prices below what they believe are below their intrinsic values. The managers believe the small- and mid-cap stocks in which they invest are only temporarily underpriced. Eventually, market forces may close the valuation gap, lifting the stock's price to a level that fully reflects the company's true worth. -7- Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 1999 and 1998 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Van Kampen Emerging Growth Fund The Fund offers long-term capital appreciation potential by investing at least 65% of its total assets in equity securities issued by small- and medium-sized companies. Van Kampen Common Stock Fund The Fund managers' approach has been to invest in well-established companies that they believe are undervalued by the stock market. The Fund offers potential for capital growth and income. PIMCO High Yield Fund Seeks maximum total return through investment in an intermediate-term portfolio of higher yielding bonds with an average duration of 2 to 6 years. State Street Research Gov't Income Fund The Fund seeks high current income. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 65% of the total assets in U.S. government securities. The Fund may invest up to 35% of the total assets in other government and private securities. Alliance Premier Growth Fund Seeks long-term growth of capital by investing in a limited number of large, carefully selected, high quality U.S. companies. Alliance's research team analyzes a universe of 600 large cap stocks and the Fund's managers distill that list into the "favored" 25 holdings, which normally comprise approximately two-thirds of the Fund. Calvert Income Fund Seeks to maximize long-term income, to the extent consistent with prudent investment management and preservation of capital, through investment in bonds and other income -producing securities. The Fund is non diversified and may include securities with long-, intermediate- and short-term maturities. Ivy International Fund The Fund's principal investment objective is to provide long-term capital growth, primarily through investment in equity securities traded in European, Pacific Basin and Latin American markets. John Hancock Small Cap Growth Fund Seeks to identify small-sized companies that are growing faster than their overall business segment for long-term capital appreciation. Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises Stock Fund Seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in CTE common stock. Loan Fund The Fund represents the outstanding principal balance for all participants. -8- Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 1999 and 1998 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. Investments The following presents investment that represent 5 percent or more of the Plan's net assets: December 31, 1999 1998 Investments at fair value: Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust $ 5,145,642 $4,937,448 Merrill Lynch Growth Fund 1,953,328 1,570,992 Merrill Lynch Capital Fund 2,826,599 2,656,046 Merrill Lynch Basic Value Fund 5,551,630 5,010,042 Shares of CTE Common Stock* 12,450,891 7,096,448 During 1999, the Plan's investments, including gains and losses on investments sold, as well as held during the year, appreciated in value by $4,839,803 as follows: Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust $ 1,835 Merrill Lynch S&P 500 Index Fund 7,154 Merrill Lynch Growth Fund 434,092 Merrill Lynch Capital Fund (193,118) Merrill Lynch Basic Value Fund (2,142) Merrill Lynch Corporate Bond Fund (22,987) Lazard International Equity Fund (176) Van Kampen American Value Fund 514 Van Kampen Emerging Growth Fund 112,476 Van Kampen Common Stock Fund (1,419) PIMCO High Yield Fund (15) State Street Research Government Fund (3) Alliance Premier Growth Fund 18,420 Calvert Income Fund (875) Ivy International Fund 48,139 John Hancock Small Cap Growth Fund 6,176 CTE Stock* 4,431,732 ---------- $4,839,803 ---------- *Participant and nonparticipant directed -9- Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 1999 and 1998 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. Nonparticipant Directed Investments Information about the net assets and significant components of the changes in net assets relating to the nonparticipant directed investments is as follows: December 31, 1999 1998 Net assets: CTE Common Stock $4,305,197 $2,031,218 ---------- ---------- Changes in net assets: Contributions 887,605 Net appreciation in fair value of investments 1,517,883 Benefits paid to participants (115,253) Administrative fees (337) Interfund transfers (15,919) ---------- $2,273,979 ---------- 6. Tax Status The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Company by a letter dated June 29, 1993, that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. The Plan administrator and Plan's legal counsel believe that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC. 7. Plan Termination Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants will become 100 percent vested in their accounts. -10- Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 1999 and 1998 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. Related Party Transactions Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by Merrill Lynch. Merrill Lynch is the trustee as defined by the Plan and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest. Fees paid by the Plan for the investment management services amounted to $1,950 for the year end December 31, 1999. As described in Note 1, participants may elect to purchase common stock of CTE, the Plan Sponsor. During 1999, purchases of $2,097,782 were made, and proceeds of $1,014,677 were received from sales of CTE's common stock. -11- Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder Schedule H Item 4(i) - Assets Held for Investment Purposes December 31, 1999 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (b) (c) (d) (e) (a) Identity of Issue Description of Asset Cost Current Value * Merrill Lynch Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust $ 5,145,642 $ 5,145,642 Merrill Lynch S&P 500 Index Fund 147,164 154,894 Merrill Lynch Growth Fund 1,811,684 1,953,328 Merrill Lynch Capital Fund 2,914,447 2,826,599 Merrill Lynch Basic Value Fund 5,140,122 5,551,630 Merrill Lynch Corporate Bond Fund 397,754 381,703 Lazard International Equity Fund 7,725 7,549 Van Kampen American Value Fund 15,257 15,770 Van Kampen Emerging Growth Fund 540,482 649,174 Van Kampen Common Stock Fund 20,319 18,919 PIMCO High Yield Fund 3,588 3,574 State Street Research Government Fund 214 211 Alliance Premier Growth Fund 208,832 222,475 Calvert Income Fund 33,663 32,787 Ivy International Fund 369,752 419,940 John Hancock Small Cap Growth Fund 25,509 31,344 * CTE Common Stock Shares of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. Common Stock 6,791,188 12,450,891 * Paticipants' Notes Participants' loans with interest rates from 7.75% to 9.50% with maturity dates from from 2000 to 2028 - 791,612 ------------- ------------- Total $ 23,573,342 $ 30,658,042 ------------- ------------- *Party-in-interest -12- Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. The Common-Wealth Builder Schedule H Item 4(j) - Reportable Transactions For the year ended December 31, 1999 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (a) (b) Number of (c) Purchase Identity of Party Description of Asset Transactions Price Merrill Lynch* Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust 220 $1,526,283 Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust 165 - Merrill Lynch Growth Fund 87 613,691 Merrill Lynch Growth Fund 143 - Merrill Lynch Capital Fund 85 848,794 Merrill Lynch Capital Fund 130 - Merrill Lynch Basic Value Fund 108 13,496,686 Merrill Lynch Basic Value Fund 131 - Commonwealth Telephone Shares of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc.* Enterprises, Inc. Common Stock 166 2,097,782 Shares of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. Common Stock 172 - * Party-in-interest (a) (b) (d) (e) Identity of Party Description of Asset Selling Price Cost Merrill Lynch* Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust - $ 1,526,283 Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust $1,321,918 1,321,918 Merrill Lynch Growth Fund - 613,691 Merrill Lynch Growth Fund 657,600 810,261 Merrill Lynch Capital Fund - 848,794 Merrill Lynch Capital Fund 486,093 463,378 Merrill Lynch Basic Value Fund - 13,496,686 Merrill Lynch Basic Value Fund 806,789 728,508 Commonwealth Telephone Shares of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc.* Enterprises, Inc. Common Stock - 2,097,782 Shares of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. Common Stock 1,014,677 693,623 (a) (b) (f) Current (g) Net Identity of Party Description of Asset Value Gain (Loss) Merrill Lynch* Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust $ 1,526,283 - Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust - - Merrill Lynch Growth Fund 613,691 - Merrill Lynch Growth Fund - $(152,661) Merrill Lynch Capital Fund 848,794 - Merrill Lynch Capital Fund - 22,715 Merrill Lynch Basic Value Fund 13,496,686 - Merrill Lynch Basic Value Fund - 78,281 Commonwealth Telephone Shares of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc.* Enterprises, Inc. Common Stock 2,097,782 - Shares of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. Common Stock - 321,054 -13- SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. COMMONWEALTH TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC. THE COMMON-WEALTH BUILDER DATE: June 28, 2000 By: /s/ Donald P. Cawley -------------------- Donald P. Cawley Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer FORM 11-K EXHIBIT INDEX EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION 20(a) Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP REQUIRED INFORMATION Table of Contents Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits Notes to Financial Statements Schedules