UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000
Commission File Number 0-27505.
CTC COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 04-3469590
(State or other jurisdiction of (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
220 Bear Hill Rd., Waltham, Massachusetts 02451
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(781) 466-8080
(Registrant's telephone number including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None.
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during 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 [X] No
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant
to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein and will not
be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive
proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part
IV of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]
Based on the closing sale price on June 19, 2000, the aggregate
market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the
Registrant was approximately $683,335,261.
At June 19, 2000, 26,186,796 shares of the Registrant's Common
Stock were outstanding.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
We are a rapidly growing single-source provider of voice and data
telecommunications services, or integrated communications provider, with 16
years of marketing, sales and service experience. We target predominantly
medium and larger-sized business customers who seek greater capacity for
voice and data traffic, a single provider for their telecommunications
requirements and improved levels of service. We have a large, experienced
sales force consisting of 214 sales people supported by 144 network
coordinators. Our sales force is located close to our customers in 30 sales
branches primarily in New England and New York State.
We are currently operating our own state-of-the-art network facilities to
carry telecommunications traffic. Our IntelliNET(sm) network uses packet-
switching, a technology which transmits data in discrete packages. It uses
internet protocol, which is a method that allows computers with different
architectures and operating systems to communicate over the internet, and
asynchronous transfer mode, or ATM, architecture, which allows the network to
transmit multiple types of media, such as voice, data and video with various
levels of Quality of Service, or QOS. The first phase of our network, which
became operational for full production mode in January 2000, included 22
Cisco Systems, or Cisco, advanced data switches and two network operations
centers. Presently, we are interconnecting our facilities with leased
transmission capacity over fiber optic cable strands from Level 3
Communications and NorthEast Optic Network. Cisco has reviewed and certified
our network design and has designated our network as a Cisco Powered Network.
In May 1999, we began testing our network with some of our customers and in
September 1999, we initiated commercial service on our network. By March 31,
2000, we were servicing 575 customers on our network.
We became an integrated communications provider, or ICP, in January 1998.
Prior to that, we were the largest independent sales agent for NYNEX Corp.
(now Bell Atlantic), based on agency revenues. At the end of 1997, before
withdrawing from the Bell Atlantic agency program, we were managing
relationships for approximately 7,000 customers, representing over 280,000
local access lines and over $200 million in annual local telecommunications
spending. As of March 31, 2000, after only 27 months as an integrated
communications provider, we were serving over 13,000 customers and had
314,616 access lines and equivalent circuits, or ALEs. ALEs are the total
number of voice circuits and equivalent data circuits we have in service.
Voice circuits are the actual number of voice circuits purchased by our
customers, while equivalent data circuits represent the data transmission
capacity purchased by our customers divided by 64 kilobits per second, which
is the capacity necessary to carry one voice circuit.
Our Services
We offer the following services:
Local Telephone Services. We offer connections between customers'
telecommunications equipment and the local telephone network, which we
currently lease from incumbent local exchange carriers. For large customers
or customers with specific requirements, we integrate their private systems
with analog or digital connections. We also provide all associated call
processing features as well as continuously connected private lines for both
voice and data applications.
Long Distance Telephone Services. We offer a full range of domestic and
international long distance services, including "1+" outbound calling,
inbound toll free service, standard and customized calling plans. We also
offer related services such as calling cards, operator assistance and
conference calling.
High Speed Data Services. We offer a wide array of both continuously
connected and switched high speed digital data services. Switched or high
speed digital data services include Integrated Services Digital Network, or
ISDN, frame relay and ATM products.
Internet Services. We offer high speed, continuously connected internet
access and services through various digital connections. We provide the
necessary configuration support and other support services on a 24-hour,
7-day a week basis.
Future Service Offerings. As we continue deploying the network, we may
offer the following additional services: hosting of web-sites, electronic
commerce over the internet, data security and storage services, systems
integration, consulting and network monitoring services, customized private
networks, virtual private networks and other data, and voice and
sophisticated network products.
Our Integrated Communications Network, or IntelliNET(sm)
We began deploying the first phase of our state-of-the-art, packet-
switched network, IntelliNET(sm), in January 1999. Today, our network is
fully operational providing customers with integrated broadband services
including voice, data, internet access and videoconferencing convergence over
a single multi-service connection. We are able to offer a broad array of
sophisticated services over our network. We believe that our network will
enable us to improve margins, enhance network and service quality and broaden
our range of product offerings. We also believe that our network will
ultimately enable us to deliver voice and data services across a single
multi-service connection. We expect our network to lower customers' overall
telecommunications costs and stimulate demand for new services.
The advantage of the IntelliNET(sm) network is that it is an open
architecture allowing us to integrate new and emerging technology to meet our
customers' increasing demand for high capacity and reliable voice, data and
video services. The network utilizes Cisco BPX and MGX IP + ATM switches,
the most reliable and proven method to handle all types of data, voice,
Internet and video traffic. Our switches and hubs are co-located with Level
3 Communications and Northeast Optic Network and Bell Atlantic facilities.
We access our customers from our network via PowerPath services, which
provide a fully converged ATM connection from the customer to our
IntelliNET(sm). Data, Internet, video and long-distance voice are
consolidated on a single access facility thus eliminating inefficiency and
expense associated with separate dedicated lines for different products and
services.
We believe the packet switched network is superior to the existing circuit
switched network. The basic technology within the existing telephone-
switching network has not changed for approximately 100 years. The circuit
switch technology dedicates a fixed amount of capacity for the entire
duration of a telephone call. In a packet switched environment, there is no
single dedicated circuit and information is broken apart and sent into
packets that are mixed with other types of data communications and then
reassembled at the end.
Our ability to transmit via packets provides for superior network
utilization and results in the ability to transmit more information through a
similar channel, thus more information, i.e. voice and data, will be
transported at a lower cost and more efficiently.
We are currently offering long-distance and data services over our
network, and local exchange will continue to be obtained from other carriers.
We believe that long-distance and data services represent over 50% of the
telecommunications spending of our target customers. We plan to incorporate
local dial tone in the first quarter of 2001, thus simplifying the transition
of existing customers onto the network. The customer will not have to
disconnect from the ILEC and then reconnect onto our network. The transition
of the customer from ILEC to our network requires only the reprogramming of
the customer's system to direct long-distance and data service traffic to our
network. This strategy enables customers to keep their existing phone
numbers as well as having the built-in redundance of the separate physical
connection to the ILEC.
We access our customer locations from our network through our
PowerPath(sm) services. Various access modes include a variety of high
capacity technologies, including digital subscriber line, or DSL, service
which permits high speed connections over existing telephone lines, leased
high capacity wireline circuits, or T-1s, wireless technologies and fiber
optic facilities, as available.
CTC on-net Internet Services
We have built an extensive IP network infrastructure supported by our
IntelliNET(sm) network. We became registered as an official Internet Service
Provider, or ISP, in early 2000, which enables us to deliver Internet access
to our customers as part of our IntelliNET(sm) converged services offering.
We plan to launch our web based mail product during the summer of 2000 and
plan to further expand this offering to a unified messaging service early
next year.
Fiber Network
With the objective to secure competitive transport capacity and improve
time to market of our IntelliNET(sm) and value added services, we launched a
major dark fiber program in early 2000 with the acquisition of over 8,300
fiber route miles (the term "dark" describes the absence of components
required for optical transmission or optronics). The program consists of two
phases. Phase 1 includes our current footprint in the Northeastern United
States continuing south through Virginia, northeast to Ohio and east to New
York. Our primary network operations center is co-located at our Waltham,
Massachusetts technology center, supported by a back-up network operations
center in Springfield, Massachusetts. We expect Phase 1 to be completed by
January 2001, although the major routes will become operational as early as
mid-year 2000. We plan to substitute the transmission capacity over fiber
optic cable strands which we presently lease from ILECs, Level 3
Communications and Northeast Optic Network with our own fiber connections.
Phase II of the network is expected to commence in December 2000 and
coverage will extend from Virginia south to Florida, west to Texas, north to
Illinois, and then east to Indiana, and Tennessee to Georgia. We expect
Phase II to be completed by January 2002.
To implement our fiber network program, we signed a $115 million agreement
to purchase more than 8,300 route miles of dark fiber covering the Eastern
half of the United States from Williams Communications ("Williams"). The
contract includes co-location space and ongoing network maintenance services
on our nationwide fiber optic network. The fiber acquired will expand our
current network presence along the Boston to Washington, D.C. corridor into
40 major markets extending from the central United States throughout the
eastern United States.
Williams, which owns and operates the largest next-generation network in
the United States, is a recognized leader in providing innovative services
and advances in fiber-optic engineering and construction and is the largest
independent source of integrated business communications solutions including
data, voice or video.
We believe that our relationship with Williams will provide us with the
ability to quickly acquire a world-class telecommunications infrastructure.
The fully integrated architecture of the Williams Multi-Service Broadband
Network combines ATM core switching with advanced optical networking
technologies and enables us to extend our networking capability outside of
our current footprint.
We recently announced that we will install and operate our own optronics
at points along the fiber routes and have selected Cisco as our optronics
provider for the fiber network. We will purchase Internet scale, carrier class
optical networking equipment, specifically Cisco's ONS 153454 Synchronous
Optical Network, or SONET, switches, and Cisco's ONS 15800 Dense Wave-link
Multiplexing, or DWM, switches. We anticipate spending approximately $75
million for the purchase of these optronics over the next two years.
Sales and Customer Care
We market telecommunications services by developing long-term business
relationships with our customers and offering them comprehensive management
of their telecommunications requirements. Each of our customers is assigned a
local dedicated team consisting of a sales executive and a network
consultant. This team provides a single point of contact for our customer's
needs. This team works together with the customer to design, implement and
maintain an integrated telecommunications solution. This team also reviews
customers' services on a regular basis through regular on-site meetings and,
based upon changes in the customers' needs or available technologies, updates
their network to make the best use of the currently available products and
services. We believe that providing localized, proactive high quality
customer care promotes continued sales of new services with much more value
and reduces customer churn.
Sales and Service Infrastructure. Our branches are currently staffed with
over 400 individuals, representing approximately 75% of our employees. As of
March 31, 2000, there were 214 sales executives, 144 network consultants, 35
branch/regional managers and 22 service managers located in 30 sales branches
serving markets in Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Customer Sales and Service Model. At the initial meeting with a prospective
customer, our sales executives first gain a detailed understanding of the
customer's business, including their method of operations, a description of
their short and long-term business plans and the communications challenges
which they currently face. A thorough, detailed inventory of the customer's
current communications services and costs is then analyzed. We then present
a communications solution to our customer based on our analysis of their
business and goals which outlines both options and recommendations designed
to eliminate unnecessary expense, implement new services to improve the
functional and financial performance of their network and position them to
make changes to their network as their business needs and available
technologies change. Sales executives also review with the customer the
benefits of the CTC comprehensive, ongoing customer care program which
focuses on timely response to daily customer needs and is a proactive
approach to an ongoing dialogue to keep the customer informed of industry
changes and trends and keep ourselves informed of changes in the plans or
needs of the customer. We believe the relationship-intensive approach of
assigning sales executives and network consultants to each customer account
results in both high customer satisfaction and retention rates.
Our sales executives regularly participate in training programs on
subjects such as solution-oriented sales, comprehensive customer care,
network design and other technical features of our services. We seek to
motivate and retain our sales executives through extensive training and a
commission structure that supports our relationship oriented sales and
service policies and reward account growth and retention.
Customer Care. Our network consultants are thoroughly trained in each of
the Customer's service offerings and are responsible for customer care.
Network consultants are located in each of our sales branches and are
responsible for individual customer accounts in direct support of the sales
executives. Each sales representative is kept informed of the unique needs
and aspects of each individual customer to whom they are assigned. Our
localized, multi-step customer care process provides an ongoing and
comprehensive service program to our customers. This process ranges from
long-term consultative planning to day-to-day handling of service issues.
Our customer care program is designed to provide prompt action in response
to customer inquiries and complaints. The local sales branches are staffed 11
hours a day, 5 days a week. At other times, incoming calls are automatically
connected to a central customer care center which is staffed 24 hours a day,
7 days a week. We believe that our network consultants are motivated to
provide the highest level of customer care because a significant portion of
their compensation is based on customer retention and satisfaction.
Our Information Systems
Our information systems include five central applications which fully
integrate our sales and account management, customer care, provisioning,
billing and financial processes. Automation of each of these processes is
designed for high transaction volumes, accuracy, timely installation,
accurate billing feeds and quality customer service. Data entered in one
application is generally exported into all other applications. Each branch
office is connected via frame relay to the central processor. Our employees
have online access to our information systems from their branch desktops or
docking stations.
We also have an electronic interface to most of our major suppliers. When
a sales executive wishes to place an order, our information systems
electronically direct it to the appropriate supplier and monitor any delays
in provisioning the order. Once the order is provisioned, our information
systems automatically remove it from the in-process order file, update the
customer's service inventory and network configuration, initiate billing,
post the sales executive's commission and update our financial reports.
Our information systems include the following applications:
Account and Sales Management. Our account management application is the hub
of our information systems. It stores all of our customer-related
information, such as location detail, contact information, transaction
history and account profile. Our account management application also
automatically exports data to our customized sales application. Our sales
application is a fully-integrated database that provides sales personnel with
access to information for pricing services, customized sales proposals,
customer correspondence, sales performance, referencing methods and
procedures, service descriptions, competitive information and historical
profiles of our current and prospective customers. These historical profiles
include details of installed services, recent transactions and billing
history. Our sales system can be used both on- and off-line. All entries made
while off-line are automatically updated to the central processor and all
relevant data is simultaneously exported to the other central applications
each time a salesperson connects to the network.
Customer Care. Our network consultants use our account care application to
review installed services, make additions, changes and deletions to accounts,
initiate and track repair and service work and review past billing for any
customer. This closed loop application provides automatic follow up and
records all transactions in a customer history file. Service orders and
repair requests input in our account care application are automatically
exported into our provisioning application.
Provisioning. We generally direct customer orders through our provisioning
application electronically to our major suppliers. We track these orders
through our account care application from initiation through completion.
Order information is entered by the account team at each branch and then
forwarded for technical design review. Upon design acceptance, an Access
Service Request (ASR) is issued to a local service provider to provision the
PowerPath access service. This interval is from the local service provider
and currently averages 20 days. Upon electronic receipt of the Firm Order
Confirmation (FOC), the Installation and Services appointment is scheduled.
Branch network coordinators are alerted of the date and they coordinate that
date with the customer. Two days before installation, network addresses and
services are assigned throughout the network and the Integrated Access Device
(IAD) is programmed and shipped to the installation depot. On the FOC date,
the access service is tested prior to acceptance. The following day, the IAD
is installed and the customer's services are activated. The total interval
from receipt of customer order to service activation now averages 24 days.
If any delay in the process occurs, our information system alerts the sales
and service team who then have the ability to take corrective action and also
notify the customer of a possible delay. Once the order has been filled the
information is automatically fed to our billing application.
Billing and Customer Interface. Our billing application gives us the
ability to provide our customers a single bill for all the services we
provide. Our billing application also allows the customer to review historic
bill detail, perform customized usage analyses and download information
directly to their own accounting applications. Using a secure Web-based
application called IntelliVIEW(tm), our customers have near real-time online
access to our billing application and are able to review and analyze their
bills and related information with many useful features including:
Call summary Time of day analysis
Call detail Day of week analysis
Click-a-Bill drill down Location summary and analysis
Line usage summary Group summary and analysis
Expensive call breakdown e-mail notification of billing
Frequent call breakdown
Customer billing statements are also available on CD ROM, diskette or paper.
Paper statements generated by our billing application offer our customers
different management formats.
Financial. Data from our billing application is electronically transferred
to our financial application. Our financial application tracks and prepares
reports on sales activity, commissions, branch operations, branch
profitability and cash flows. The financial application also compiles this
data for our periodic financial reports. In addition, this application
provides internal controls for revenue tracking and costing. The integrated
nature of our information systems allows us to operate each branch as a
separate profit and loss center.
Information Systems. We continue to upgrade our information systems in order
to support our network. Our Information Management Platform consists of a
three-tier architecture. A relational database and data warehouse from
Oracle comprises tier one. Vertical systems at the second tier support our
network operations support system, business applications used by our various
departments, a business-to-business communications server, and a suite of web
based applications. Both tiers one and two run on SUN-Microsystems and UNIX.
A web based client at the third tier allows our customers, vendors, partners
and employees access to information using Windows, Windows NT or web
browsers.
Our Information Management Platform is built on open standards, and is highly
scalable and flexible to accommodate future growth and new services. It
allows us to replace and upgrade business applications without impacting
other applications and provides us highly reliable data. All of our systems
are fully redundant. The information is mirrored on EMC storage systems
located in two distant data centers.
Competition
We operate in a highly competitive environment. We have no significant
market share in any market in which we operate. We now face and will continue
to face substantial and growing competition from a variety of data transport,
data networking and telephony service providers. We face competition from
single-source providers and from providers of each individual
telecommunications service. Many of these competitors are larger with greater
financial and other resources than we possess. In addition, many of our
competitors are incumbent providers, with long standing relationships with
their customers and greater name recognition.
Bell Atlantic is a competitor for local and data services, and, we expect
based on regulatory developments, eventually will be a competitor for long
distance services as well. Major competitors in our markets for the
provision of single-source solutions include WinStar Communications, Inc. and
Teligent, Inc. Network Plus is a competitor in our market for the provision
of long distance and, to some extent, local services. Competitors for our
data services also include AT&T Local (Teleport) and MCI Worldcom (Brooks
Fiber and MFS). Our competitors for long distance services include all the
major carriers such as AT&T, MCI Worldcom and Sprint.
The continuing trend toward business combinations and alliances in the
telecommunications industry may create significant new competitors. Many of
these combined entities have or will have resources far greater than ours.
These combined entities may provide a single package of telecommunications
products that is in direct competition with our products. These combined
entities may be capable of offering these products sooner and at more
competitive rates than we can.
Competition from Single-Source Providers. The number of single-source
providers has increased because of the current regulatory trend toward
fostering competition and the continued consolidation of telecommunications
service providers. Many single-source providers and long distance carriers
have committed substantial resources to building their own networks or to
purchasing carriers with complementary facilities. Through these strategies,
a competitor can offer single-source local, long distance and data services
similar to those that we will offer. The alternative strategies available to
these competitors may provide them with greater flexibility and a lower cost
structure.
Once the Regional Bell Operating Companies, or RBOCs, are allowed to offer
in-region long distance services under the terms of Section 271 of the
Telecommunications Act, they will be in a position to offer local and long
distance services similar to the services we offer. The FCC must approve
RBOC provision of in-region long distance services and can only do so upon
finding that the RBOC has complied with the 14-point checklist outlined in
Section 271 of the Telecommunications Act. This 14-point checklist is
designed to ensure that RBOC competitors have the ability to provide local
telephone services in competition with the RBOC. To date, only New York
Telephone d/b/a Bell Atlantic-NY has been granted Section 271 authority;
however, it is expected that other applications will be approved in the
upcoming year.
Although the Telecommunications Act and other federal and state regulatory
initiatives will provide us with new business opportunities, as competition
increases regulators are likely to provide the ILECs with more pricing
flexibility. Our revenues may be adversely affected if the ILECs elect to
lower their rates and sustain these lower rates over time. We believe that we
may be able to offset the effect of lower rates by offering new services to
our target customers, but we cannot assure you that this will occur. In
addition, if future regulatory decisions give ILECs increased pricing
flexibility or other regulatory relief, such decisions could have a material
adverse effect on our business.
Competition for Provision of Local Exchange Services. In most local
exchange markets, ILECs, including RBOCs, continue to hold near-monopoly
positions. We also face competition or prospective competition from one or
more integrated communications providers, and from other competitive
providers, including providers who do not own their own network. Many of
these competitors are larger and better capitalized than we are. Some
carriers have entered into interconnection agreements with ILECs and either
have begun, or in the near future likely will begin, offering local exchange
service in each of our markets. Further, as of February 8, 1999, the largest
long distance carriers were permitted to bundle local and long distance
services. This removes one of our competitive advantages. Other entities that
currently offer or are potentially capable of offering switched services
include cable television companies, electric utilities, other long distance
carriers, microwave carriers, and large customers who build private networks.
Wireless telephone system operators are also competitors in the provision
of local services. Cellular, personal communications service, and other
commercial mobile radio services providers may offer wireless services to
fixed locations, rather than just to mobile customers. This ability to
provide fixed as well as mobile services will enable wireless providers to
offer wireless local loop service and other services to fixed locations
(e.g., office and apartment buildings) in direct competition with us and
other providers of wireline telephone service. In addition, the FCC recently
auctioned substantial blocks of spectrum for fixed use including local
exchange services. We expect exploitation of this spectrum to increase
competition in the local market.
The World Trade Organization, or WTO, concluded an agreement that could
result in additional competitors entering the U.S. local and long-distance
markets. Under the WTO agreement, the United States committed to open
telecommunications markets to foreign-owned carriers. The FCC has adopted
streamlined procedures for processing market entry applications from foreign
carriers, making it easier for such carriers to compete in the U.S. We cannot
predict whether foreign-owned carriers will enter our markets as a result of
the WTO agreement.
Competition for Provision of Long Distance Services. The long distance
market is significantly more competitive than the local exchange market. In
the long distance market numerous entities compete for the same customers. In
addition, customers frequently change long distance providers in response to
lower rates or promotional incentives by competitors. This results in a high
average rate of customer loss, or churn, in the long distance market. The
FCC recently adopted the Coalition for Affordable Local and Long Distance
Service (CALLS) proposal which will further reduce access charges paid by
long distance carriers by $3.2 billion. The FCC's new rules also shift the
imposition of the presubscribed interexchange carrier charge, or PICC,
currently assessed by the RBOC on the long distance carrier, on to the end
user. RBOCs will be permitted to recover its cost for presubscription
through an increase in its Subscriber Line Charge (SLC). Accordingly, prices
in the long distance market are expected to significantly decline.
Data and Internet Services. The market for high speed data services and
access to the internet is highly competitive. We expect competition in this
market to continue to intensify. Our competitors in this market will include
internet service providers and other telecommunications companies, including
large interexchange carriers and RBOCs. Many of these competitors have
greater financial, technological and marketing resources than those available
to us. Pursuant to those obligations set forth under Section 251 of the Act,
ILECs are now required to provide advanced services through an unregulated
affiliate. We cannot yet predict the effect that this requirement will have
on our ability to obtain facilities and services from ILECs and on the
competition that we will face from ILECs in the data services market.
Government Regulation
The local and long distance telephony services and, to a lesser extent,
the data services we provide are regulated by federal, state, and, to some
extent, local government authorities. The FCC has jurisdiction over all
telecommunications common carriers to the extent they provide interstate or
international communications services or access thereto. Each state
regulatory commission has jurisdiction over the same carriers with respect to
the provision of intrastate communications services. Local governments
sometimes impose franchise or licensing requirements on telecommunications
carriers and regulate construction activities involving public rights-of-way.
Changes to the regulations imposed by any of these regulators could have a
material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
condition.
In recent years, the regulation of the telecommunications industry has
been in a state of flux as the United States Congress and various state
legislatures have passed laws seeking to foster greater competition in
telecommunications markets. The FCC and state utility commissions have
adopted many new rules to implement this legislation and encourage
competition. These changes, which are still incomplete, have created new
opportunities and challenges for us and our competitors. The following
summary of regulatory developments and legislation is not intended to
describe all present and proposed federal, state and local regulations and
legislation affecting the telecommunications industry. Some of these and
other existing federal and state regulations are the subject of judicial
proceedings, legislative hearings and administrative proposals which could
change, in varying degree, the manner in which this industry operates. We
cannot predict the outcome of these proceedings, or their impact on the
telecommunications industry at this time.
Federal Regulation
We are currently not subject to price cap or rate of return regulation at
the federal level and are not currently required to obtain FCC authorization
for the installation, acquisition or operation of our domestic interexchange
network facilities. However, we must comply with the requirements of common
carriage under the Communications Act. We are subject to the general
requirement that our charges and terms for our telecommunications services be
"just and reasonable" and that we not make any "unjust or unreasonable
discrimination" in our charges or terms. The FCC has jurisdiction to act upon
complaints against any common carrier for failure to comply with its
statutory obligations. The US Court of Appeals recently upheld the FCC's
1996 mandatory detariffing rules for domestic interexchange service.
Pursuant to the new rules, long distance providers must cancel tariffs for
interstate service by January 31, 2001. The Company does not anticipate any
material impact as a result of these rules.
Comprehensive amendments to the Communications Act were made by the
Telecommunications Act, which was signed into law on February 8, 1996. The
Telecommunications Act effected changes in regulation at both the federal and
state levels that affect virtually every segment of the telecommunications
industry. The stated purpose of the Telecommunications Act is to promote
competition in all areas of telecommunications. While it may take years for
the industry to feel the full impact of the Telecommunications Act, it is
already clear that the legislation provides us with new opportunities and
challenges.
The Telecommunications Act greatly expands the interconnection
requirements on the ILECs by requiring the ILECs to:
. provide physical co-location, which allows companies such as us and other
competitive local exchange carriers to install and maintain their own
network termination equipment in ILEC central offices, and virtual
collocation only if requested or if physical collocation is demonstrated
to be technically infeasible;
. unbundle components of their local service networks so that other
providers of local service can compete for a wide range of local services
customers; and establish "wholesale" rates for their services to promote
resale by competitive local exchange carriers.
In addition, all local exchange carriers must:
. establish number portability, which will allow a customer to retain its
existing phone number if it switches from the local exchange carrier to a
competitive local service provider;
. provide nondiscriminatory access to telephone poles, ducts, conduits and
rights-of-way.
. compensate other local exchange carriers on a reciprocal basis for traffic
originated on one local exchange carrier and terminated on the other local
exchange carrier.
The FCC is charged with establishing national guidelines to implement
certain portions of the Telecommunications Act. The FCC issued its
interconnection order on August 8, 1996. On July 18, 1997, however, the
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued a decision
vacating the FCC's pricing rules, as well as certain other portions of the
FCC's interconnection rules, on the grounds that the FCC had improperly
intruded into matters reserved for state jurisdiction. On January 25, 1999,
the Supreme Court largely reversed the Eighth Circuit's order, holding that
the FCC has general jurisdiction to implement the local competition
provisions of the Telecommunications Act. In so doing, the Supreme Court
stated that the FCC has authority to set pricing guidelines for unbundled
network elements, to prevent ILECs from disaggregating existing combinations
of network elements, and to establish "pick and choose" rules regarding
interconnection agreements. "Pick and choose" rules would permit a carrier
seeking interconnection to "pick and choose" among the terms of service from
other interconnection agreements between the ILECs and other competitive
local exchange carriers. This action reestablishes the validity of many of
the FCC rules vacated by the Eighth Circuit. Although the Supreme Court
affirmed the FCC's authority to develop pricing guidelines, the Supreme Court
did not evaluate the specific pricing methodology adopted by the FCC and has
remanded the case to the Eighth Circuit for further consideration. Thus,
while the Supreme Court resolved many issues, including the FCC's
jurisdictional authority, other issues remain subject to further
consideration by the courts and the FCC.
In September 1999, the FCC issued a new order which redefined those
unbundled network elements that ILECs must provide to competitive local
exchange carriers. Specifically, the FCC modified rules which eliminate
the requirement that the incumbent provide unbundled access to Directory
Assistance and Operator Services. The FCC's rules requiring incumbents to
provide unbundled local switching was modified such that the incumbent is no
longer required to offer local switching to larger carriers located in
Metropolitan Service Areas (MSAs).
In March of this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals vacated portions of
the FCC's collocation rules. Specifically, the Court vacated the FCC's
definition of what types of equipment must be collocated, its rules allowing
collocators to cross connect their equipment with other collocated carriers,
and its rule prohibiting ILECs from requiring carriers from using separate or
isolated rooms or floors. It is uncertain, what impact the vacation of these
rules will have on the Company. In November, 1999, the FCC issued rules that
allow competitive local exchange carriers to offer data services over the
same line that a consumer uses for voice services without the competitive
local exchange carrier having to provide the voice service.
Under the Communications Act, ILECs who don't qualify for rural exemption
pursuant to Section 251 of the Act have an obligation to negotiate with us in
good faith to enter into interconnection agreements. We will need
interconnection agreements to provide enhanced connectivity to our network
and to provide local dial tone services. If we cannot reach agreement, either
side may petition the applicable state commission to arbitrate remaining
disagreements. These arbitration proceedings can last up to 9 months.
Moreover, state commission approval of any interconnection agreement
resulting from negotiation or arbitration is required, and any party may
appeal an adverse decision by the state commission to federal district court.
The potential cost in resources and delay from this process could harm our
ability to compete in certain markets, and there is no guarantee that a state
commission would resolve disputes, including pricing disputes in our favor.
The Telecommunications Act permits RBOCs to provide long distance services
outside their local service regions immediately, and will permit them to
provide in-region long distance service upon demonstrating to the FCC and
state regulatory agencies that they have adhered to the Telecommunication
Act's 14- point competitive checklist. Some RBOCs have filed applications
with various state public utility commissions and the FCC seeking approval to
offer in-region long distance service. Some states have denied these
applications while others have approved them. However, to date, with the
exception of Bell Atlantic-New York, the FCC has denied each of the RBOC's
applications brought before it because it found that the RBOC had not
sufficiently made its local network available to competitors. The approval
of additional RBOC applications is expected in the upcoming year.
In May 1997, the FCC released an order establishing a significantly
expanded universal service regime to subsidize the cost of telecommunications
service to high cost areas, as well as to low-income customers and qualifying
schools, libraries, and rural health care providers. Providers of interstate
telecommunications services, like us, as well as certain other entities, must
pay for these programs. We are also eligible to receive funding from these
programs if we meet certain requirements. Our share of the payments into
these subsidy funds will be based on our share of certain defined
telecommunications end-user revenues. Currently, the FCC is assessing such
payments on the basis of a provider's revenue for the previous year. Various
states are also in the process of implementing their own universal service
programs. The FCC and most states permit carriers to recover this charge
from its end users. Consequently, the existing surcharge structure does not
materially impact the Company's costs.
On November 1, 1996, the FCC issued an order that required nondominant
interexchange carriers, like us, to cease filing tariffs for our domestic
interexchange services. The order required mandatory detariffing and gave
carriers nine months to withdraw federal tariffs and move to contractual
relationships with their customers. Subsequently stayed and later upheld
by US court of Appeals, the FCC detariffing rules went back into effect in
April, 2000. Carriers must cancel interstate interexchange services tariffs
by January 31, 2001. The Company currently maintains contractual
arrangements with all of its customer base and therefore anticipates little
or no impact from the reinstatement of these rules. Also reinstated are the
FCC rules that carriers make specific public disclosure on the carrier's
website of their rates, terms and conditions for domestic interstate service
and the requirement that carriers file annual certifications indicating that
the carrier is complying with geographic rate averaging and rate integration
obligations under Section 254(g) of the Act.
The FCC's determination last year that dial-up calls to Internet Service
Providers were not subject to reciprocal compensation was remanded by the DC
circuit court pending reconsideration. Moreover, several states are
considering this issue, and several states have held that local exchange
carriers do not need to pay reciprocal compensation for calls terminating at
internet service providers. In addition, one RBOC has petitioned the FCC for
a ruling that telephone-to-telephone calls made over the internet are subject
to regulation as a telecommunications service under the Communications Act.
Although the FCC has suggested that such internet-based telephone-to-
telephone calls may be considered a telecommunications service, it has not
reached a final decision on that issue. We cannot predict the effect that the
FCC's resolution of these issues will have on our business.
On November 17, 1999, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved
the transfer of Lockheed Martin's Communications Industry Services (CIS)
group to NeuStar, Inc, who now has responsibility for administering and
assigning local telephone numbers in each geographic region in the United
States. In July 1996, the FCC released rules requiring all local exchange
carriers to have the capability to permit both residential and business
consumers to retain their telephone numbers when switching from one local
service provider to another, known as "number portability." In May 1999, the
FCC initiated a proceeding to address the problem of the declining
availability of area codes and phone numbers. On March 31, 2000, the FCC
adopted new area code optimization rules. It is uncertain what impact these
rules will have on the Company's offerings.
A customer's choice of local or long distance telecommunications company
is encoded in a customer record, which is used to route the customer's calls
so that the customer is served and billed by the desired company. A user may
change service providers at any time, but the FCC and some states regulate
this process and require that specific procedures be followed. When these
procedures are not followed, particularly if the change is unauthorized or
fraudulent, the process is known as "slamming." Slamming is such a
significant problem that it was addressed in detail by Congress in the
Telecommunications Act, by some state legislatures, and by the FCC in recent
orders. The FCC has levied substantial fines for slamming. The risk of
financial damage and business reputation from slamming is significant. Even
one slamming complaint could cause extensive litigation expenses for us. The
FCC's slamming rules (which originally covered only long distance) apply to
local service as well. In addition, the FCC recently adopted revised
slamming rules which virtually eliminates the possibility for Carrier
compensation for charges associated with the unauthorized switch of a
consumer's service. The new rules also require Commission notification of
all unauthorized changes.
Last year the FCC adopted technical requirements for wireline, cellular, and
broadband Personal Communications Services (PCS) carriers to comply with the
assistance capability requirements of the Communications Assistance for Law
Enforcement Act of 1994 (CALEA). Specifically, the FCC required that all
capabilities of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) interim
standard (J-STD-025) and six of nine "punch list" capabilities requested by
the Department of Justice (DoJ)/Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) be
implemented by wireline, cellular, and broadband PCS carriers.
With the exception of packet-mode communications, the FCC required that all
capabilities of the interim standard be implemented by the CALEA compliance
date of June 30, 2000. The FCC required that a packet-mode communications
capability and the six punchlist capabilities be implemented by September 30,
2001. The Company does not anticipate incurring any significant additional
costs as a result of the FCC's adoption of these rules.
State Regulation
To the extent that we provide telecommunications services which originate
and terminate in the same state, we are subject to the jurisdiction of that
state's public service commission. As our local service business and product
lines expand, we will offer more intrastate service and become increasingly
subject to state regulation. The Telecommunications Act maintains the
authority of individual state utility commissions to preside over rate and
other proceedings, as discussed above, and impose their own regulation of
local exchange and interexchange services so long as such regulation is not
inconsistent with the requirements of the Telecommunications Act. For
instance, states may impose tariff and filing requirements, consumer
protection measures and obligations to contribute to universal service, and
other funds.
We are subject to requirements in some states to obtain prior approval
for, or notify the state commission of, any transfers of control, sales of
assets, corporate reorganizations, issuances of stock or debt instruments and
related transactions. Although we believe such authorizations could be
obtained in due course, there can be no assurance that the FCC or state
commissions would grant us authority to complete any of these transactions.
We have state regulatory authority to provide competitive local exchange
and/or local resold services and interexchange services in twelve states. We
also have state regulatory authority to provide intrastate interexchange
services throughout the continental U.S.
The Telecommunications Act generally preempts state statutes and
regulations that restrict the provision of competitive local services.
States, however, may still restrict competition in some rural areas. As a
result of this preemption, we will be free to provide the full range of
local, long distance, and data services in any state. While this action
greatly increases our potential for growth, it also increases the amount of
competition to which we may be subject.
Local Government Regulation
We may be required to obtain from municipal authorities, street opening
and construction permits to install our facilities in some cities. In some of
the areas where we provide service, we are subject to municipal franchise
requirements requiring us to pay license or franchise fees either on a
percentage of gross revenue, flat fee or other basis. The Telecommunications
Act requires municipalities to charge nondiscriminatory fees to all
telecommunications providers, but it is uncertain how quickly this
requirement will be implemented by particular municipalities in which we
operate or plan to operate or whether it will be implemented without a legal
challenge.
Employees
As of June 19, 2000, we employed 640 persons. None of our employees are
represented by a collective bargaining agreement.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Our headquarters and technology center are located in leased space in
Waltham, Massachusetts. We have a back-up network operations center in
Springfield, Massachusetts. We also lease offices in nine states. Although
we believe that our leased facilities are adequate at this time, we expect to
lease both additional sales facilities in connection with our planned
expansion in existing markets and into new markets.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
(a) Pending Legal Proceedings.
We are party to suits and regulatory proceedings arising in the
normal course of business which we believe are not material individually or
in the aggregate.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
None.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol "CPTL." Following is the range of high and low trading prices on the
Nasdaq National Market for our common stock for the periods indicated. All
prices reflect the March 2000 three-for-two stock split.
Price Range
---------------
High Low
------- ------
Calendar Year 1998 ...............
Second Quarter ............... $ 6.58 $4.33
Third Quarter ................ $ 5.67 $3.17
Fourth Quarter ............... $ 6.00 $2.67
Calendar Year 1999 ...............
First Quarter ................ $11.67 $5.59
Second Quarter ................ $16.00 $8.13
Third Quarter ................ $14.00 $6.67
Fourth Quarter ................ $27.83 $9.83
Calendar Year 2000
First Quarter ............... $56.13 $22.67
The last sale price of the common stock on the Nasdaq National Market on
June 19, 2000 was $39.56. Our common stock was held by 440 stockholders of
record.
We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock and we have no plans
to do so in the foreseeable future. We intend to retain earnings, if any, to
develop and expand our business. In addition, the terms of our credit
facility and the Series B preferred stock restrict our ability to pay cash
dividends on our common stock. We also expect the terms of agreements
governing any future indebtedness to restrict our ability to pay cash
dividends.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000, we issued the following
securities which were not registered under the Securities Act (does not
include issuances previously disclosed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-
Q):
(a) In January and February 2000, we issued a total of 538,023 shares of
common stock upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, adjusted for the
March 17, 2000 three-for-two stock split.
(b) On March 25, 2000, all of the holders of the Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock voluntarily converted their preferred stock into 2,376,660
shares of common stock. The 2,376,660 shares represents the value of the
initial investment plus the accrued dividends through the conversion date,
adjusted for the March 17, 2000 three-for-two stock split
All of the above securities were issued in reliance upon the exemption from
registration provided by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, as transactions by an issuer not involving a public offering.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected financial data for the five years ended March 31,
2000 are derived from our consolidated financial statements. You should read
the following financial data together with "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our
consolidated financial statements and the related notes.
All earnings per share and weighted average share information included in
the accompanying financial statements have been restated to reflect the
three-for-two stock split effected in fiscal year ended March 31, 2000.
Fiscal Year ended March 31,
---------------------------------------
- -------------
1996 1997 1998 1999
2000
------- ------- ------- ------
- - --------
(dollars in thousands, except per share
information)
Statement of Operations Data:
Agency revenues ...................... $ 25,492 $ 29,195 $ 24,775 $ --
- - $ ---
Telecommunications revenues .......... 5,383 11,095 16,172
70,964 153,101
-------- -------- -------- -------
- - ---------
Total revenues .................. 30,875 40,290 40,947
70,964 153,101
Cost of telecommunications revenue
(excluding depreciation and
amortization) ....................... 4,242 8,709 14,039
61,866 119,586
Selling, general and administrative
expenses ............................ 19,349 23,077 29,488
52,521 56,676
Depreciation and amortization ........ 660 743 1,418
3,778 18,754
-------- -------- -------- -------
- - ---------
Income (loss) from operations ........ 6,624 7,761 (3,998)
(47,201) (41,915)
Income (loss) before extraordinary item 4,094 4,683 (2,498)
(51,238) (57,073)
Net income (loss) .................... $4,094 $4,683 $(2,498)
$(51,238) $(59,504)
======== ======== =========
========= =========
Per Share Data:
Income (loss) per share before
extraordinary item
Basic ............................... 0.29 0.33 (.17)
(3.45) (2.89)
Diluted ............................. 0.25 0.29 (.17)
(3.45) (2.89)
Net income (loss) per share
Basic ............................... 0.29 0.33 (.17)
(3.45) (3.01)
Diluted ............................. 0.25 0.29 (.17)
(3.45) (3.01)
Other Financial Data:
EBITDA (loss)......................... $ 7,295 $ 8,519 $ (2,405)
$(43,346) $(23,153)
Capital expenditures .................. 759 1,222 6,109
36,041 71,187
Net cash provided (used) by operating
activities .......................... 2,192 3,572 (7,951)
(33,254) (36,984)
Net cash used in investing activities 759 1,222 4,765
6,282 43,721
Net cash provided by financing
activities ......................... 119 114 8,479
39,622 98,544
As of March 31,
---------------------------------------
- ---------------
1996 1997 1998
1999 2000
--------- --------- --------- -----
- ---- ---------
(dollars in thousands)
Balance Sheet Data
Cash and cash equivalents ............. $ 3,942 $ 6,406 $ 2,168 $
2,254 $ 20,093
Total assets .......................... 12,509 20,186 30,768
69,482 162,233
Total long-term debt, including
current portion ..................... -- -- 9,673
64,858 129,122
Series A redeemable convertible
preferred stock ..................... -- -- --
12,672 --
Stockholders' equity (deficit) ........ 9,495 14,292 11,966
(37,144) (15,700)
EBITDA consists of income (loss) before interest, income taxes,
depreciation and amortization. We have provided EBITDA because it is a
measure of financial performance commonly used in the telecommunications
industry. Other companies may calculate it differently from us. EBITDA is
not a measurement of financial performance under accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP. We do not believe you
should consider EBITDA as an alternative to net income (loss) as a measure of
results of operations or to GAAP-based cash flow data as a measure of
liquidity. Capital expenditures consists of additions to property and
equipment acquired for cash or under notes payable and capital leases.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
Historically, we have generated agency revenues and telecommunications
revenues. Agency revenues consist of commissions we formerly earned as an
agent of Bell Atlantic and other Regional Bell Operating Companies, and long
distance providers. Telecommunications revenues are generated by our sale of
local, long distance, data communications, internet access and other
communications services. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998, agency
commissions accounted for approximately 60% of our revenues, with
telecommunications revenues accounting for the other 40%. As a result of our
transition to an integrated communications provider, or ICP, strategy in
January 1998, agency commissions earned after December 31, 1997 are not
material.
Our financial information for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000
reflects
our second full year of operations under our new strategy. Our financial
information for fiscal years ended on or before March 31, 1998 primarily
reflects our operations as an agent for Bell Atlantic. Because of our
transition to our new strategy and our network buildout, most of the
financial information for these periods does not reflect our current business
and is not comparable to results for subsequent periods.
Results of Operations
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2000 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
1999.
Total revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000 were $153,101,000,
an increase of 116% from $70,964,000 for the preceding fiscal year. As an
integrated communications provider, revenues for fiscal 2000 and 1999 reflect
our direct sales of local telecommunications services in addition to our
direct sales of other telecommunications services.
A common basis for measurement of an integrated communications provider's
progress is the growth in access line equivalents, or ALEs. ALEs are the
total number of voice circuits and equivalent data circuits we have in
service. Voice circuits are the actual number of voice circuits purchased by
our customers. We calculate our equivalent data circuits by dividing the data
transmission capacity purchased by our customers by 64 kilobits per second,
which represents the capacity necessary to carry one voice circuit. During
the quarter ended March 31, 2000, voice and data ALEs in service increased by
45,148, or approximately 17% from the quarter ended December 31, 1999. This
brought our total ALEs in service to 314,616 at March 31, 2000. Data ALEs
increased by approximately 9% from the quarter ended December 31, 1999 to
62,942, or 20% of total ALEs in service as of March 31, 2000. Data ALEs at
March 31, 2000 include ALEs purchased by other carriers including internet
service providers.
Costs of telecommunications revenues, excluding depreciation and
amortization, increased to $119,586,000 for fiscal 2000 from $61,866,000 for
fiscal year 1999 as a result of our increase in direct sales of local
telecommunications services. As a percentage of telecommunications revenue,
costs of telecommunications revenues were 78% and 87% for fiscal 2000 and
1999, respectively. The decrease in the percentage of the cost of
telecommunications revenues primarily reflects lower rates obtained from our
major suppliers, Bell Atlantic and Global Crossing.
Selling, general and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation and
amortization, increased 8% to $56,677,000 in fiscal 2000 from $52,521,000 for
fiscal 1999. This increase was primarily due to the opening of additional
branch sales offices and the associated increased number of sales and service
employees hired in connection with the transition to the ICP platform. As of
March 31, 2000, we had 574 employees including 214 account executives and 144
network coordinators in 30 branch locations throughout New England and New
York.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased 396% to $18,754,000 in
fiscal 2000 from $3,778,000 in fiscal 1999. This increase was a result of
additional expense associated with the equipment and software relating to the
network deployment and the upgrade of our information systems. Network
equipment and software is being depreciated over 3-5 years, reflecting the
risk of rapid technological change.
Interest and other expense increased to $15,158,000 for the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2000, as compared to interest and other expense of $5,563,000
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999. The increase is due to increased
borrowings to fund our operating losses and the deployment of our network,
the fees associated with our credit and vendor facilities, and the
amortization of the interest expense associated with warrants issued in
connection with the financings.
The Company incurred an extraordinary item of $2,430,000 relating to the
early extinguishment of the senior secured Goldman Sachs/Fleet credit
facility from fiscal year 1999. The cost reflects the unamortized balance of
the warrants and closing costs of the credit facility that was repaid in
March 2000.
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 1999 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
1998.
Total revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1999 were $70,964,000,
an increase of 73% from $40,947,000 for the preceding fiscal year. As an
integrated communications provider, revenues for fiscal 1999 reflect our
direct sales of local telecommunications services in addition to our direct
sales of other telecommunications services. Revenue for fiscal 1998 reflect
agency commissions on local telecommunications services for the period April
1, 1997 through December 31, 1997 as well as our direct sales of other
telecommunications services for the entire year.
During the quarter ended March 31, 1999, voice and data ALEs in service
increased by 38,935, or approximately 38% from the quarter ended December 31,
1998. This brought our total ALEs in service to 142,207 at the end of our
first 15 months as an integrated communications provider. Data ALEs increased
by approximately 45% from the quarter ended December 31, 1998 to 28,502, or
20% of total ALEs in service as of March 31, 1999. Data ALEs at March 31,
1999 include 6,720 ALEs purchased by other carriers including internet
service providers.
Costs of telecommunications revenues, excluding depreciation and
amortization, increased to $61,866,000 for fiscal 1999 from $14,039,000 for
fiscal year 1998 as a result of our decision to provide local services
directly instead of providing local services on an agency basis. However, as
a percentage of telecommunications revenue, costs of telecommunications
revenues remained at 87% for fiscal 1999 and 1998. We expect that, as a
result of an agreement entered into with Bell Atlantic in mid-1999, our costs
of reselling Bell Atlantic local lines will decrease. Under the terms of this
agreement we will receive up to an additional 15% discount on the wholesale
rates Bell Atlantic is required to offer. Under this agreement, we have
committed to maintain in service over the next five years a number of resold
Bell Atlantic local telephone lines at least equal to 100,000 at the end of
the first year and 225,000 at the end of each of the remaining four years.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 78% to $52,521,000
in fiscal 1999 from $29,488,000 for fiscal 1998. This increase was primarily
due to the increased number of service and technical employees hired and
other expenses incurred in connection with operating under our new strategy.
Contributing to the increase were approximately $9,886,000 of expenses and
charges relating to the litigation and settlement with Bell Atlantic and our
decision to terminate our agency agreement with Bell Atlantic. Selling,
general and administrative expenses also increased for fiscal 1999 due to
increased expenses associated with the network buildout.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased 166% to $3,778,000 in
fiscal 1999 from $1,418,000 in fiscal 1998. This increase was a result of the
investments we made in equipment and software for our network.
Interest and other expense increased to $5,563,000 for the fiscal year
ended March 31, 1999, as compared to interest and other income of $213,000
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998. The increase is due to increased
borrowings to fund our operating losses and the deployment of our network,
the fees associated with our credit and vendor facilities, and the
amortization of the interest expense associated with warrants issued in
connection with the financings.
The benefit for income taxes, which is limited to refunds available on a
loss carryback basis, has been recognized ratably as a percentage of our
estimated pre-tax loss over each of the four quarters of the fiscal year. The
effective rate of the benefit varied with changes in management's estimates.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Working capital at March 31, 2000 was $4.7 million compared to a working
capital deficit of $6.7 million at March 31, 1999, an increase of $11.4
million. Cash balances at March 31, 2000 and March 31, 1999 totaled
$20,093,000 and $2,254,000, respectively.
The increase in working capital is due primarily to the net proceeds realized
as a result of the TD Securities (U.S.) Inc. $225 million senior secured
facility, the proceeds of which were used to retire the outstanding $75
million senior credit facility and the $25 million vendor financing facility
at March 31, 2000.
We will continue to use the balance of the proceeds realized from the senior
secured facility and the recently completed $200 million preferred stock
financing described below for general corporate purposes including, capital
expenditures, working capital and operating losses associated with the
continued deployment of our network, further penetration of our existing
region and our expansion into new markets throughout the Boston - Washington,
D.C. corridor. The Company believes that proceeds available from the
preferred stock financing described below, the senior secured facility
described below, cash on hand and the amounts expected to be available under
its bank and lease financing arrangements will be sufficient to fund its
planned capital expenditures, working capital and operating losses for at
least the next 12 months. Until utilized, the net proceeds from the credit
facility and preferred stock financing are invested in short-term, interest-
bearing instruments and other investment-grade securities.
In April 1998, we received $12.0 million from a private placement of our
Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock and warrants to Spectrum
Equity Investors II, L.P. The preferred stock was voluntarily converted by
the holder into 2,376,660 shares of common stock in March 2000.
In September 1998, we obtained a three-year $75 million senior secured credit
facility from Goldman Sachs Credit Partners and Fleet National Bank ("Goldman
Sachs/Fleet Credit Facility"). In March 2000, we repaid the outstanding
balance of approximately $43 million with proceeds from the TD Securities
(U.S.) Inc. $225 senior secured credit facility and terminated the Goldman
Sachs/Fleet credit facility.
Since September 30, 1998, we have entered into various lease and vendor
financing agreements which provide for the acquisition of equipment and
software. As of March 31, 2000, the aggregate amount borrowed under these
agreements was approximately $35.3 million.
In October 1998, we obtained a $25 million vendor financing facility from
Cisco Capital which was terminated upon repayment in March 2000 with proceeds
from the TD Securities (U.S.) Inc. $225 senior secured credit facility.
In March 1999, we entered into a Loan Agreement with Toronto Dominion
(Texas), Inc. to provide an unsecured standby credit facility for up to $30
million for capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes which
has expired. We issued warrants to purchase 103,824 shares of our stock at
$7.875 per share to the lender as part of the transaction. This facility was
terminated upon repayment in July 1999.
In July 1999, we completed a public offering (including the exercise of the
underwriters' overallotment option) of 6,037,500 shares of common stock at
$11.50 per share, adjusted for the March 2000 three-for-two stock split with
net proceeds of approximately $62.1 million. The proceeds were used for
general corporate purposes and continued deployment of the ICN and expansion
into new markets throughout New York and Washington D.C.
In March 2000, TD Securities (U.S.) Inc. underwrote a $225 million senior
secured credit facility ("TD credit facility") to fund our base plan for
expansion of our branch sales offices and our Integrated Communications
Network. The proceeds were used to retire the $43 million balance of the $75
million Goldman Sachs/Fleet Credit Facility and to repay in full the $25
million Cisco vendor financing facility. The TD credit facility includes a
$50 million senior secured 7-1/2 year revolving credit facility, a $100
million senior secured 7-1/2 year delayed draw term loan and a $75 million
senior secured 8 year term loan. As of March 31, 2000, $100 million of the
TD credit facility was available.
The TD credit facility funds our base plan for branch and network expansion
and provides us with a solid financial foundation for executing additional
growth initiatives. As a starting point, we intend to initiate the expansion
of our network coverage southward to include Washington D.C., and implement
our branch office expansion to cover the same geography.
Subsequent to March 31, 2000, we completed a private placement of $200
million Series B preferred stock financing. The preferred stock is
convertible under certain conditions into common stock of the Company at $50
per share. The net proceeds are being used to fund strategic marketing and
technology initiatives of our accelerated business plan which include: the
purchase of dark fiber and optronics, branch sales office and ICN expansion
and new ICN product and application development. These fully funded
initiatives are designed to broaden the geographic reach of CTC's Cisco
powered ICN, enhance our product portfolio and substantially boost bandwidth
availability for both the Company and our customers.
We cannot assure you that if we require funds in addition to the funds made
available through the TD credit facility and the preferred stock private
placement, such financing will be available, or if available, on terms
acceptable to us when needed. If we are unable to obtain such financing when
needed, we may postpone or abandon our development and expansion plans which
could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations
and financial condition. The actual timing and amount of our capital
requirements may be materially affected by various factors, including the
timing and actual cost of the network, the timing and cost of our expansion
into new markets, the extent of competition and pricing of telecommunications
services by others in our markets, the demand by customers for our services,
technological change and potential acquisitions.
Description of Senior Secured Facility
TD Securities (U.S.) Inc. Facility
In March 2000, we entered into a $225 million senior secured credit
facility with a consortium of banks. This TD Credit Facility is comprised of
a $50 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the "Revolver") with
a seven and one-half year term, a $100 million senior, delayed draw term
facility with a seven and one-half year term ("Term A") and a $75 million
senior secured eight year term loan facility ("Term B"). Advances under the
Revolver and Term A bear interest at prime rate plus 1.75-2.5% per annum
based upon the total leverage ratio in effect at the time. Term B borrowings
bear interest at the prime rate plus 3.25% per annum. As required by the TD
Credit Facility, Term B borrowings of $75 million were drawn down in full at
the closing date along with borrowings of $25 million under the Revolver.
Part of the proceeds were used to pay off the $25 million Cisco vendor
financing facility and the outstanding balance of the Goldman Sachs/Fleet
credit facility Revolving Line of Credit of approximately $43 million. We
paid a one-time up front fee and other closing costs, which have been
capitalized as deferred financing costs and are being amortized as interest
expense over the term of the TD Credit Facility. The unamortized balance of
deferred financing costs associated with the Goldman Sachs/Fleet credit
facility were recognized as an extraordinary item for the fiscal year ended
March 31, 2000.
The Company will pay a commitment fee of .75-1.5% per annum, depending on
the percentage of the total TD Credit Facility used. Under the terms of the
TD Credit Facility, $25 million of the Term A facility must be borrowed as of
June 30, 2000 and on certain dates thereafter. At June 30, 2003, the Company
will begin to repay the outstanding balances of Term A and Term B on a
quarterly basis through the year 2007.
The TD Credit Facility provides for certain financial and operational
covenants, including but not limited to minimum access lines installed and
billable, minimum quarterly revenue and operating cash flow, and maximum
capital expenditures. The Company has also agreed, among other things, not
to assume any other secured debt other than capital leases, agree to a
merger, sell its assets or declare dividends without the consent of the
lenders.
Year 2000 Compliance
Our information technology systems and non-information systems were year 2000
compliant prior to the end of 1999. We did not incur any year 2000 problems
in our non-information systems that required any corrective actions and did
not experience any interruptions in service as a result of the year 2000
compliance status of any of our vendors. Our systems and applications are
effectively processing information in order to support ongoing operations in
the year 2000 and beyond.
Overall, we incurred approximately $900,000 in total costs related
specifically to year 2000 issues.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No.
133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("SFAS
No. 133") was issued, as amended by SFAS No. 137, which establishes
accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including
derivative instruments embedded in other contracts (collectively referred to
as derivatives), and for hedging activities. SFAS No. 133 is effective for
all fiscal quarters of fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000. The
Company is presently analyzing the impact, if any, that the adoption of SFAS
No. 133 will have on its financial condition or results of operations.
In March 2000, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FASB
Interpretation No. 44, "Accounting for Certain Transactions involving Stock
Compensation, an interpretation of APB Opinion No. 25." The Company is
required to adopt the Interpretation on July 1, 2000. The Interpretation
requires that stock options that have been modified to reduce the exercise
price be accounted for as variable. The Company modified one stock option in
April 1999, which resulted in a stock compensation charge of approximately
$2.2 million. No other option grants have been modified by a reduction of
the exercise prices, therefore, the adoption of the Interpretation is not
expected to have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial
statements, unless modifications are made in the future.
Adoption of Staff Accounting Bulletin 101.
The Company will revise its revenue recognition policy for certain
recurring monthly fees to be consistent with applicable provisions of Staff
Accounting Bulletin 101 ("SAB 101"). Previously, monthly recurring fees for
the next month's service were recognized at the time all of the Company's
significant performance obligations had been fulfilled and the related
monthly service fee became nonrefundable based on the terms of the Company's
contract with its customers which require 60 days notice for cancellation.
Since SAB 101 now indicates that nonrefundability of revenues and
fulfillment of all significant performance obligations are not a basis for
revenue recognition, the Company has determined that deferral of the monthly
recurring service fees to the period in which the service is available to the
customer is a preferable method of accounting. The impact of the change in
recognizing recurring service fees will be reported as a cumulative effect of
a change in accounting principle as of April 1, 2000 in accordance with
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes. The
cumulative effect of this change will increase the Company's loss by
approximately $1.8 million as of April 1, 2000. This amount represents the
income attributable to the deferral, as of that date, of one month's
recurring service fee revenue totaling approximately $9.3 million. SAB 101
as amended, allows the Company to implement this change either as of the
quarter ending June 30, 2000 or as of the last quarter of fiscal 2001 which
is the quarter ending March 31, 2001. If the Company adopts as of June 30,
2000, the Company's interim unaudited consolidated financial statements for
the period ending June 30, 2000 will be prepared on the new basis of accounting.
If adoption is deferred until the last quarter, previously reported quarterly
financial information for fiscal 2001 will be restated so that annual operating
results for fiscal 2001 will be presented on the new basis. The Company is
currently evaluating the alternatives and has not yet determined the date
as of which SAB 101 will be adopted.
There will be no impact to the Company's cash flow from operations as a
result of this change. Also, it is believed that the adoption of this change
in accounting for fiscal 2000 or prior periods would not have had a material
effect on the Company's previously reported results of operations, financial
position or cash flows for those periods.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Our exposure to financial risk, including changes in interest rates,
relates primarily to outstanding debt obligations. We utilize our senior
secured credit facility to fund a substantial portion of our capital
requirements. This facility bears interest at a variable interest rate, which
is subject to market changes. We have not entered into any interest rate swap
agreements, or other instruments to minimize our exposure to interest rate
increases but will investigate such options should changes in market
conditions occur. We have not had any derivative instruments in the past and
do not plan to in the future, other than possibly to reduce our interest rate
exposure as described above.
For purposes of specific risk analysis we use sensitivity analysis to
determine the impacts that market risk exposure may have on the fair value of
our outstanding debt obligations. To perform sensitivity analysis, we assess
the risk of loss in fair values from the impact of hypothetical changes in
interest rates on market sensitive instruments. We compare the market values
for interest risk based on the present value of future cash flows as impacted
by the changes in the rates. We selected discount rates for the present value
computations based on market interest rates in effect at March 31, 2000. We
compared the market values resulting from these computations with the market
values of these financial instruments at March 31, 2000. The differences in
the comparison are the hypothetical gains or losses associated with each type
of risk. As a result of our analysis we determined at March 31, 2000, with
respect to our variable rate debt obligations, a 10% increase in interest
rates with all other variables held constant would result in increased
interest expense and cash expenditures for interest of approximately $1.1
million in fiscal 2000. A 10% decrease in interest rates would result in
reduced interest expense and cash expenditures of approximately $1.1 million
in fiscal 2000.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT*
Our executive officers and directors are as follows:
Name Current Office Held
- ---------------------- --------------------------------------
Robert J. Fabbricatore Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Steven P. Milton President and Chief Operating Officer
John D. Pittenger Executive Vice President-Finance and
Administration, Chief Financial Officer,
Treasurer and Secretary
David E. Mahan Executive Vice President--Marketing
and Strategic Planning
Michael H. Donnellan Vice President--Operations
Thomas Fabbricatore Vice President--Marketing
Anthony D. Vermette Vice President--Sales
Frederick Kunzi Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
Jeffrey C. Lavin Vice President--Corporate Development
Katherine D. Courage Director
Henry Hermann Director
Kevin J. Maroni Director
J. Richard Murphy Director
Mark E. Nunnelly Director
Carl Redfield Director
Richard J. Santagati Director
Ralph C. Sillari Director
Scott M. Sperling Director
Ralph S. Troupe Director
Robert J. Fabbricatore, a founder of the Company and a director since
its inception in 1980, became Chairman of the Board of Directors in March 1983
and served as President from October 1993 to August 1995. Robert J.
Fabbricatore is the brother of Thomas Fabbricatore, Vice President--Marketing.
Steven P. Milton has been employed by the Company since 1984 and has
served as President and Chief Operating Officer since August 1995. Prior to
that, he held various positions within the Company including Branch
Manager, District Manager, Regional Manager and Vice President--Sales and
Marketing.
John D. Pittenger has served as Chief Financial Officer since April 14,
1999, as Executive Vice President--Finance and Administration since April 1998
and as Treasurer and Secretary of the Company since August 1989. Mr. Pittenger
served as Vice President--Finance from 1991 until April 1998, and as Chief
Financial Officer from 1989 to April 1998. David E. Mahan joined the Company
in October 1995 as Vice President--Marketing and Strategic Planning and was
named Executive Vice President - Marketing and Strategic Planning in November
1999. Prior to joining the Company, Mr.Mahan held a number of senior management
level positions with NYNEX, including Vice President--Sales Channel Management
from 1993 to 1995.
Michael H. Donnellan has been employed by the Company since 1988 in a
number of positions. He was named Vice President--Operations in 1995.
Thomas Fabbricatore joined the Company in 1982. He was named Vice
President--Regulatory and Electronic Media in 1991, and was named Vice
President--Marketing in November 1998. Thomas Fabbricatore is the brother of
Robert J. Fabbricatore.
Anthony D. Vermette has been employed by the Company in a variety of
positions since 1987. Mr. Vermette was named Vice President--Sales in 1996.
Frederick Kunzi joined the Company as a Vice President and Chief
Technology Officer in August 1998. Mr. Kunzi has over 25 years experience in
information technology. From 1985 to September 1998, he was employed by Digital
Equipment Corporation, most recently as Senior Manager, Global Network Services
where he was responsible for Digital's worldwide enterprise network
infrastructure.
Jeffrey C. Lavin joined the Company in June 1998 as Vice President--
Corporate Development. Mr. Lavin has 20 years of sales and operational
management experience in the telecommunications industry. From December 1996 to
May 1998, Mr. Lavin was Vice President of Sales, Americas/Asia Pacific for
NovaSoft Systems, Inc., a software development corporation. From 1979 to 1996,
Mr. Lavin was employed by Comlink Incorporated, a communication network
integrator, most recently as Senior Vice President. Following the acquisition
of Comlink in 1996 by Williams Communications, Mr. Lavin served as Vice
President and General Manager of Network Systems Integration.
Katherine D. Courage became a director of the Company in April 1999.
Ms. Courage is a managing director in the Global Telecommunications and Media
Group in the Investment Banking Department of Credit Suisse First Boston, one
of the underwriters of our proposed offering of common stock. Prior to joining
Credit Suisse First Boston in September 1996, Ms. Courage worked at Salomon
Brothers Inc for ten years where she was a managing director in the Global
Telecommunications Group. Ms. Courage currently serves as a director of
NorthEast Optic Network, Inc. and Lightpath Technologies, Inc. Credit Suisse
First Boston Equity Partners, L.P., as a Series B preferred stockholder, has
appointed Ms. Courage as its designee to the Company's Board of Directors.
Henry Hermann became a director of the Company in September 1996.
Since November 1997, he has operated Hermann Companies, a financial services
company. Mr. Hermann is registered as an Investment Advisor with the State of
Texas, a Chartered Financial Analyst and, as an independent contractor, offers
general securities through SWS Financial. In 1997, he was employed by Kuhns
Brothers & Company, Inc., as a principal and Executive Vice President. For the
previous nine years, he was employed by WR Lazard, Laidlaw and Luther, Inc., a
securities brokerage firm, as Vice President, Securities Analyst and Portfolio
Manager. Mr. Hermann has been an NASD Board of Arbitrators Member since 1991.
Kevin J. Maroni became a director of the Company in April 1998 as one of
the two designees of the Series A preferred stockholders. Mr. Maroni is a
managing general partner of Spectrum which he joined at inception in 1994.
Spectrum is a leading private equity fund which manages over $2.7 billion of
capital for investment in the communications service and infrastructure
industries. Prior to joining Spectrum, he worked at Time Warner
Telecommunications and Harvard Management Company. Mr. Maroni is a
director of Adero, Inc.; PathNet, Inc.; Formus Communications, Inc.;
GlobeNet Communications, LTD., Inc.; and X-Media, Inc. Mr. Maroni received an
M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.
J. Richard Murphy became a director of the Company in August 1995.
Mr. Murphy is a managing director of Baldwin & Clarke Corporate Finance, Inc.,
a Bedford, New Hampshire investment banking firm which he joined August 2,
1999. Mr. Murphy was the director of the Corporate Advisory Group of Moody,
Cavanaugh and Company, LLP, a North Andover, Massachusetts public accounting
firm, from April 1996 to August 1999. Mr. Murphy was an officer, director and
principal stockholder from 1990 to 1996 of Arlington Data Corporation, a
systems integration company located in Amesbury, Massachusetts; from 1992 to
1996 of Arlington Data Consultants, Inc., a company engaged in the installation
and maintenance of computer systems and hardware; and from 1994 to 1996 of
Computer Emporium, Inc., a company engaged in processing parking violations for
municipalities. In June 1996, Arlington Data Corporation filed for bankruptcy
under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
Mark E. Nunnelly became director of the Company in June 2000 as a designee
of Bain Capital, Inc. He joined Bain Capital as a General Partner in 1990 and
has served as Managing Director since April 1993. Mr. Nunnelly also serves on
the Board of Directors of Domino's, DoubleClick, Stream International, Modus
Media International, Eschelon Telecom, and eCredit.com. Mr. Nunnelly received
an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A. from Centre College.
Carl Redfield became a director of the Company in January 1999. Hehas been
Senior Vice President, Manufacturing and Logistics of Cisco since February
1997. From September 1993 to February 1997 he was Vice President of
Manufacturing. Mr. Redfield also is a director of VA Linux Systems Inc.
and iBasis Inc.
Richard J. Santagati became a director of the Company in September
1991. He has been the President of Merrimack College in North Andover,
Massachusetts since 1994. From March 1992 to February 1994, Mr. Santagati was
the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of Artel
Communications Corp., a publicly held data communications firm located in
Hudson, Massachusetts. Mr. Santagati also serves as a director of Celebrity
Solutions, Inc., a software company.
Ralph C. Sillari became a director of the Company in October 1997.
Since 1991, Mr. Sillari has been employed by Fleet National Bank where he is
currently an Executive Vice President, Manager of Regional Banking.
Scott M. Sperling became a director of the Company in May 2000 as a
designee of Thomas H. Lee Company. He has been a Managing Director of
Thomas H. Lee Company since July 1994 and is also President of TH Lee,
Putnam Capital, Trustee of THL Equity Trust III and Managing Director of THL
Equity Advisors IV, LLC. Mr. Sperling is currently a Director of Fisher
Scientific International, Inc., GenTek, Inc., Safelite Glass Corp., LiveWire
Systems LLC, Wyndham International, GoodHome.com and several private companies.
He holds an MBA degree from Harvard University and a B.S. from Purdue
University.
Ralph S. Troupe became a director of the Company in May 1999. In October
1999, Mr. Troupe co-founded Callisma (formerly known as Rt.1 Solutions), a
network services company focusing on all key aspects of complex network
planning, design and implementation, and serves as its President and Chief
Executive Officer. From January 1993 to October 1999, Mr. Troupe was employed
by International Network Services, most recently as Vice President of North
American Field Operations, East. Mr. Troupe holds a B.S. degree from
Northeastern University and is a 1998 graduate of the Harvard Business School
Advanced Management Program for International Senior Managers.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION*
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT*
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS*
*The balance of the information required by Item 10 of Part III of this Annual
Report, and Items 11 through 13 of Part III of this Annual Report are
incorporated by reference to the corresponding items in our definitive proxy
statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 27, 2000.
PART IV
ITEM 13. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this report:
(1) Financial Statements:
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2000 and 1999
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended March 31, 2000,
1999 and 1998
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) for the years
ended March 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended March 31, 2000,
1999 and 1998
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2) Financial Statement Schedules:
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
(3) Exhibits:
The following Exhibits are either filed herewith or have
heretofore been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
and are referred to and incorporated herein by reference to such
filings.
Exhibit No. Title
- - ----------- -----
3.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation (11)
3.2 Certificate of Designation for Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock (5)
3.3 Amended and Restated By-Laws (4)
4.1 Form of Common Stock Certificate (3)
10.1 1996 Stock Option Plan, as amended (1)
10.2 1993 Stock Option Plan (3)
10.3 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (2)
10.4 Lease for premises at 360 Second Ave., Waltham, MA (3)
10.5 Sublease for premises at 360 Second Ave., Waltham, MA (3)
10.6 Lease for premises at 110 Hartwell Ave., Lexington, MA (3)
10.7 Lease for premises at 120 Broadway, New York, NY (3)
10.8 Agreement dated February 1, 1996 between NYNEX and CTC Communications
Corp. (3)
10.9 Agreement dated May 1, 1997 between Pacific Bell and CTC
Communications Corp. (3)
10.10 Agreement dated January 1, 1996 between SNET America, Inc. and CTC
Communications Corp. (3)
10.11 Agreement dated June 23, 1995 between IXC Long Distance Inc. and CTC
Communications Corp., as amended (3)
10.12 Agreement dated August 19, 1996 between Innovative Telecom Corp. and
CTC Communications Corp. (3)
10.13 Agreement dated October 20, 1994 between Frontier Communications
10.14 Agreement dated January 21, 1997 between Intermedia Communications
Inc. and CTC Communications Corp. (3)
10.16 Securities Purchase Agreement dated April 10, 1998 among CTC
Communications Corp. and the Purchasers named therein (4)
10.17 Registration Rights Agreement dated April 10, 1998 among CTC
Communications Corp. and the Holders named therein (4)
10.18 Form of Warrant dated April 10, 1998 (4)
10.19 Loan and Security Agreement dated as of September 1, 1998 by and
between CTC Communications Corp., Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P.
and Fleet National Bank (6)
10.20 Agreement with Cisco Systems Capital Corp. dated as of October 14,
1998 (7)
10.21 Warrant dated July 15, 1998 issued to Spectrum (8)
10.22 Lease for premises at 220 Bear Hill Rd., Waltham, MA (8)
10.23 Warrant dated September 1, 1998 issued to Goldman Sachs & Co. (8)
10.24 Warrant dated September 1, 1998 issued to Fleet National Bank (8)
10.25 1998 Incentive Plan, as amended (1)
10.26 Loan Agreement dated as of March 15, 1999 by and between CTC
Communications Corp, TD Dominion (Texas), Inc. and TD Securities
(USA), Inc. (9)
10.27 Warrant dated March 24, 1999 issued to Toronto Dominion (Texas), Inc.
(9)
10.28 1999 Equity Incentive Plan for Non-Employee Directors (1)
10.29 Series B Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of
March 22, 2000. (5)
10.30 Series B Preferred Stock Registration Rights Agreement
dated as of March 22, 2000. (5)
10.31 Amendment No. 1 to Loan and Security Agreement dated as of
September 30, 1999 among CTC Communications Corp., Fleet
National Bank and Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P. (12)
10.32** Dark Fiber IRU Agreement between Williams Communications, Inc.
and CTC Communications Corp. dated as of March 31, 2000 (13)
10.33** Carrier Services Agreement between Williams Communications, Inc.
and CTC Communications Corp. dated as of March 31, 2000 (13)
10.34 $225 Million Credit Agreement with TD Securities (USA) Inc. and
the other parties to the agreement dated as of March 30, 2000 (++)
10.35 Lease for premises at 115-125 Bear Hill Rd., Waltham MA 02451(++)
23 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (++)
27 Financial Data Schedule (++)
99 Risk Factors (++)
- ------------------
++ Filed herewith.
(1) Incorporated by reference to an Exhibit filed as part of the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-
93735).
(2) Incorporated by reference to an Exhibit filed as part of the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 33-
44337).
(3) Incorporated by reference to an Exhibit filed as part of the
Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year
Ended March 31, 1997.
(4) Incorporated by reference to an Exhibit filed as part of the
Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 15, 1998.
(5) Incorporated by reference to an Exhibit filed as part of the
Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 19, 2000.
(6) Incorporated by reference to an Exhibit filed as part of the
Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 2, 1998.
(7) Incorporated by reference to an Exhibit filed as part of the
Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 6,
1998.
(8) Incorporated by reference to an Exhibit filed as part of the
Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 1998.
(9) Incorporated by reference to an Exhibit filed as part of the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-
77709).
(10) Incorporated by reference to an Appendix filed as part of the
Registrant's Schedule 14A (Amendment No. 2) filed on June 4,
1999.
(11) Incorporated by reference to an Exhibit filed as part of the
Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 1, 1999.
(12) Incorporated by reference to an Exhibit filed as part of the
Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 1999.
** PORTIONS OF THIS EXHIBIT HAVE BEEN OMITTED PURSUANT TO A REQUEST FOR
CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT
(4) Reports on Form 8-K
The Company filed the following reports on Form 8-K during the quarter
ended March 31, 2000:
Date Items Reported
---- --------------
1. January 26, 2000. Announcement of commitment from Toronto
Dominion Bank to underwrite the $225 million senior secured
credit facility.
2. February 22, 2000. Announcement of three-for-two stock split.
SIGNATURES
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, THE REGISTRANT HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REPORT TO BE SIGNED ON
ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED ON THIS 26th DAY OF
JUNE 2000.
CTC Communications Group, Inc.
By: /s/ Robert J. Fabbricatore
----------------------------------------
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
THIS REPORT HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS ON BEHALF OF THE
REGISTRANT IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES INDICATED:
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Robert J. Fabbricatore Chairman of the Board June 28, 2000
- ---------------------------- and Chief Executive
Robert J. Fabbricatore Officer, Director
/s/ John D. Pittenger Chief Financial Officer June 28, 2000
- ---------------------------- and Chief Accounting
John D. Pittenger Officer
/s/ Katherine D. Courage Director June 23, 2000
- ----------------------------
Katherine D. Courage
- ---------------------------- Director
Henry Hermann
/s/ Kevin J. Maroni Director June 23, 2000
- ----------------------------
Kevin J. Maroni
/s/ J. Richard Murphy Director June 26, 2000
- - ----------------------------
J. Richard Murphy
/s/ Mark E. Nunnelly Director June 26, 2000
- ----------------------------
Mark E. Nunnelly
- ---------------------------- Director
Carl Redfield
/s/ Richard J. Santagati Director June 26, 2000
- ----------------------------
Richard J. Santagati
/s/ Ralph C. Sillari Director June 23, 2000
- - ----------------------------
Ralph C. Sillari
/s/ Scott M. Sperling Director June 26, 2000
- ----------------------------
Scott M. Sperling
/s/ Ralph S. Troupe Director June 26, 2000
- ----------------------------
Ralph S. Troupe
CTC Communications Corp.
Index to Financial Statements
Audited Financial Statements
Report of Independent Auditors............................................ F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2000 and 1999................. F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
March 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998............................................ F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) for
the years ended March 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998............................ F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
March 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998............................................ F-7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements................................ F-8
F-1
Report of Independent Auditors
Board of Directors
CTC Communications Group, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of CTC
Communications Group, Inc.,as of March 31, 2000 and 1999, and the
related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity
(deficit), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended March 31, 2000. Our audits also included the financial statement
schedule listed in the Index at Item 14(a). These financial statements
and schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements
and schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards
generally accepted in the United States. Those standards 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 financial statements. An audit also
includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to
above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated
financial position of CTC Communications Group, Inc. at March 31, 2000
and 1999, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended March 31, 2000,
in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement
schedule, when considered in relation to the financial statements taken
as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set
forth therein.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
May 18, 2000, except for Note 2,
as to which the date is June 26, 2000
F-2
CTC Communications Group, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
March 31,
-------------------------
2000 1999
------------ ------------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents......................... $ 20,093,156 $ 2,254,258
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful
accounts of $2,000,000 and $1,717,000 in 2000
and 1999, respectively........................... 39,965,335 19,200,931
Prepaid commissions............................... 2,040,482 2,500,000
Prepaid expenses and other current assets......... 1,437,051 1,022,198
Amounts due from officers and employees........... 98,500 55,572
Income taxes receivable........................... 0 2,313,070
------------ -----------
- -
Total current assets........................... 63,634,524 27,346,029
Property and equipment:
Property and equipment............................ 120,604,893 49,417,689
Accumulated depreciation and amortization ........ (29,369,433)
(10,615,766)
------------ -----------
- -
91,235,460 38,801,923
Deferred financing costs, net of amortization....... 3,099,424 3,229,865
Other assets........................................ 4,263,944 104,085
------------ ------------
- -
Total assets................................... $162,233,352 $ 69,481,902
============
=============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses............. $ 46,328,757 $27,439,488
Accrued salaries and related taxes................ 2,482,800 1,656,367
Current portion of obligations under capital
leases........................................... 8,413,414 3,230,077
Current portion of notes payable to banks......... 1,749,342 1,705,141
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities...................... 58,974,313 34,031,073
Obligations under capital leases, net of current
portion............................................ 15,031,108 8,004,366
Notes payable to banks, net of current portion...... 103,928,207 51,918,492
Commitments and contingencies
Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock,
par value $1.00 per share; authorized 1,000,000
shares in 1999, 726,631 shares issued and
outstanding at March 31, 1999.................... 0 12,671,797
Stockholders' deficit:
Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share;
authorized 10,000,000 shares in 2000, no shares
issued and outstanding at March 31, 2000......... 0 0
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share; authorized
100,000,000 shares, 25,773,578 and 10,352,513
shares (15,528,769 shares after 3-for-2 stock
split in March 2000) issued and outstanding at
March 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively............ 257,736 103,525
Additional paid in capital........................ 90,652,020 8,386,816
Deferred compensation............................. (106,410) (212,410)
Retained deficit.................................. (106,503,622) (45,390,732)
------------ ------------
(15,700,276) (37,112,801)
Amounts due from stockholders..................... 0 (31,025)
------------ ------------
Total stockholders' deficit ................. (15,700,276) (37,143,826)
------------ ------------
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit $162,233,352 $69,481,902
============ ============
See accompanying notes. F-3
CTC Communications Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Year Ended March 31,
--------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
------------ ----------- -----------
Revenues:
Telecommunications revenue.......... $153,100,934 $ 70,963,692 $16,171,716
Agency commission revenue........... 0 0 24,775,420
------------ ----------- -----------
Total revenues........................ 153,100,934 70,963,692 40,947,136
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of telecommunications revenues
(excluding depreciation and
amortization)..................... 119,585,548 61,865,904 14,038,565
Selling, general and administrative
expenses........................... 56,676,773 52,521,397 29,488,097
Depreciation and amortization....... 18,753,667 3,778,083 1,417,866
------------ ----------- -----------
Total costs and expenses.............. 195,015,988 118,165,384 44,944,528
------------ ----------- -----------
Loss from operations.................. (41,915,054) (47,201,692) (3,997,392)
Other income (expense):
Interest income..................... 996,283 184,312 145,012
Interest expense.................... (16,162,835) (5,825,328) (106,465)
Other income........................ 8,519 77,724 174,395
------------- ----------- -----------
Total other income (expense).......... (15,158,033) (5,563,292) 212,942
------------ ----------- ----------
Loss before income taxes and
extraordinary item.................. (57,073,087) (52,764,984) (3,784,450)
Income tax benefit.................... 0 (1,527,000) (1,286,760)
------------- ----------- ------------
Loss before extraordinary item........ (57,073,087) $(51,237,984) (2,497,690)
Extraordinary item - early
extinguishment of debt.............. (2,430,456) 0 0
------------- ------------- ------------
Net loss............................. $(59,503,543) $(51,237,984) $(2,497,690)
============ ============= ============
Loss per common share before
extraordinary item
Basic and diluted................... $ (2.89) $ (3.45) $ (0.17)
============= ============ ============
Net loss per common share:
Basic and diluted................... $ (3.01) $ (3.45) $ (0.17)
============= ============ ============
Weighted average number of shares used
in computing net loss per
common share:
Basic and diluted................... 20,320,626 15,196,052 14,829,000
============ ============ ============
See accompanying notes.
F-4
CTC Communications Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Common Stock Additional
Retained Amount
--------------------- Paid-In Deferred
Earnings Treasury Due From
Shares Par Value Capital Compensation
(Deficit) Stock Stockholders Total
---------- --------- ---------- ------------ -------
- ----- -------- ------------ ------------
Balance at March 31,
1997................... 9,629,407 $96,294 $4,758,454 --
$9,572,750 -- $(135,825) $14,291,673
Issuance of stock
pursuant to employee
stock purchase plan... 9,844 98 71,662 --
- -- -- -- 71,760
Exercise of employee
stock options......... 376,387 3,764 347,222 --
- -- -- -- 350,986
Acquisition of treasury
stock................. -- -- -- --
- -- (271,072) -- (271,072)
Retirement of treasury
stock................. (34,977) (350) (270,722) --
- -- 271,072 -- --
Deferred compensation.. -- -- 339,088 (318,410)
- -- -- 20,678
Net loss............... -- -- -- --
(2,497,690) -- -- (2,497,690)
---------- -------- ---------- --------- -------
- ----- -------- --------- ------------
Balance at March 31,
1998................... 9,980,661 99,806 5,245,704 (318,410)
7,075,060 -- (135,825) 11,966,335
Issuance of stock
pursuant to employee
stock purchase plan... 14,700 147 98,252 --
- -- -- -- 98,399
Exercise of employee
stock options......... 366,482 3,665 235,806 --
- -- -- (31,025) 208,446
Acquisitions of
treasury stock........ -- -- -- --
- -- (107,462) -- (107,462)
Retirement of treasury
stock................. (9,330) (93) (107,369) --
- -- 107,462 -- --
Deferred compensation.. -- -- -- 106,000
- -- -- -- 106,000
Receipt of amounts due
from stockholders..... -- -- -- --
- -- -- 135,825 135,825
Issuance of common
stock purchase
warrants.............. -- -- 2,914,423 --
- -- -- -- 2,914,423
Preferred stock
dividend.............. -- -- -- --
(1,079,364) -- -- (1,079,364)
Accretion of offering
costs related to
redeemable convertible
preferred stock....... -- -- -- --
(28,000) -- -- (28,000)
Accretion of warrants
related to Series A
Redeemable Convertible
Preferred Stock....... -- -- -- --
(120,444) -- -- (120,444)
Net loss............... -- -- -- --
(51,237,984) -- -- (51,237,984)
---------- -------- ---------- --------- -------
- ----- -------- --------- -------------
F-5
Balance at March 31,
1999................... 10,352,513 103,525 8,386,816 (212,410)
(45,390,732) -- (31,025) (37,143,826)
Issuance of stock
pursuant to employee
stock purchase plan... 16,875 169 183,465 --
- -- -- -- 183,634
Exercise of employee
stock options......... 1,339,979 13,400 7,179,737 --
- -- -- -- 7,193,137
Issuance of common
stock................. 4,025,000 40,250 61,758,528 --
- -- -- -- 61,798,778
Issuance of common
stock due to stock
split................. 7,740,882 77,408 (77,408) --
- -- -- -- --
Noncash stock
compensation.......... 10,503 105 2,456,934 --
- -- -- -- 2,457,039
Acquisition of treasury
stock................. -- -- -- --
- --(3,494,121) -- (3,494,121)
Retirement of treasury
stock................. (88,834) (888) (3,493,233) --
- -- 3,494,121 -- --
Deferred compensation.. -- -- -- 106,000
- -- -- 106,000
Receipt of amounts due
from stockholders..... -- -- -- --
- -- -- 31,025 31,025
Accretion of offering
costs related to
Series A convertible
preferred stock....... -- -- -- --
(112,000) -- -- (112,000)
Accretion of warrants
related to Series A
convertible preferred
stock................. -- -- -- --
(296,888) -- -- (296,888)
Preferred stock
dividend.............. -- -- -- --
(1,200,459) -- -- (1,200,459)
Conversion of Series A
convertible preferred
stock to common stock 2,376,660 23,767 14,257,181 --
- -- -- -- 14,280,948
Net loss............... -- -- -- --
(59,503,543) -- -- (59,503,543)
---------- -------- ---------- --------- -------
- ----- -------- --------- ------------
Balance at
March 31, 2000......... 25,773,578 $257,736 $90,652,020 $(106,410)
$(106,503,622) -- -- $(15,700,276)
========== ======== =========== =========
============== ======== ========= =============
See accompanying notes.
F-6
CTC Communications Group, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Year Ended
March 31,
----------------------
- ---------------------
2000
1999 1998
------------- ------
- ------ -------------
Operating Activities:
Net loss $(59,503,543)
$(51,237,984) $(2,497,690)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net
cash used in operating activities:
Extraordinary item-early extinguishment of debt 2,430,456
0 0
Depreciation and amortization 18,753,667
3,778,083 1,417,866
Interest related to warrants and certain fees 2,754,556
1,103,960 0
Provision for doubtful accounts 1,528,564
4,988,698 1,421,000
Deferred income taxes 0
1,597,000 (1,068,760)
Stock-based compensation 2,563,039
106,000 20,678
Gain on sale of property and equipment 0
0 (143,333)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (22,292,968)
(6,901,446) (7,804,363)
Prepaid commissions 459,518
(2,212,700) 0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (414,853)
(517,762) (382,937)
Amounts due from officers and employees (42,928)
29,182 0
Income taxes receivable 2,313,070
(122,731) (2,152,579)
Deferred financing costs and other assets (5,247,944)
(3,831,046) 4,800
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 18,889,269
19,067,013 3,240,446
Accrued salaries and related taxes 826,433
900,208 0
Deferred revenue and other 0
0 (6,588)
------------- ------
- ------- -------------
Net cash used by operating activities (36,983,664)
(33,253,525) (7,951,460)
Investing Activity
Additions to property and equipment (41,667,211) (6,282,234) (4,765,025)
Deposits for property and equipment (2,053,900) 0 0
------------- ------------- -------------
Net cash used in investing activities (43,721,111) (6,282,234) (4,765,025)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from the issuance of Series A Redeemable
Convertible Preferred Stock, net of offering costs 0
11,861,321 0
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock 65,681,228
230,408 151,674
Amounts due from stockholders, net 31,025
104,800 0
Borrowings under notes payable 185,165,892
51,461,924 8,327,071
Repayment of notes payable (147,996,587)
(23,177,071) 0
Repayment of capital lease obligations (4,337,885)
(859,295) 0
------------- ------
- ------- -------------
Net cash provided by financing activities 98,543,673
39,622,087 8,478,745
------------- ------
- ------- -------------
Increase in cash and cash equivalents 17,838,898
86,328 (4,237,740)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 2,254,258
2,167,930 6,405,670
------------- ------
- ------- -------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $20,093,156 $
2,254,258 $2,167,930
=============
============= =============
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest $13,408,279 $
2,666,613 $57,886
Cash paid (received) for income taxes $(2,463,571)
$(3,001,000) $2,160,527
Noncash investing and financing activities:
Receipt of common stock from exercise of
stock options and warrants $ 3,494,121 $
107,462 $ 271,072
Network and related equipment acquired
under capital leases $16,547,964
$10,747,665 $1,343,573
Network and related equipment acquired
under notes payable $12,972,029
$19,010,820 $ 0
Common stock purchase warrants issued in connection
with notes payable and Series A Redeemable
Convertible Preferred Stock $0 $
2,914,423 $ 0
Conversion of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock to common stock $14,280,948 $
0 $ 0
See accompanying notes.
F-7
CTC Communications Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
March 31, 2000
1. Nature of Business
The Company
CTC Communications Group, Inc., through its wholly-owned operating
subsidiary, CTC Communications Corp. (the "Company") is an integrated
communications provider ("ICP"), which offers voice and data services
predominantly to medium and larger-sized business customers in New England
and New York State. Prior to becoming an ICP in January 1998, the Company
had been a sales agent for Bell Atlantic Corp. ("Bell Atlantic") since
1984. The Company has also offered long distance and data services under
its own brand name since 1994. In late 1998, the Company began deploying a
packet-switched network in its existing markets. The Company operates in a
single industry segment providing telecommunication service to medium to
larger-sized business customers.
As more fully disclosed in Note 14, on May 15, 2000, the Company
completed a $200 million privately placed equity financing in the form of
8.25% Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.
As the Company continues to deploy its network, further penetrates its
existing region and expands into new markets throughout the Boston-
Washington, D.C. corridor, the Company may need significant additional
capital. The Company believes that proceeds available from the preferred
stock financing described above, the senior secured facility described in
Note 7, cash on hand and the amounts expected to be available under its
bank and lease financing arrangements will be sufficient to fund its
planned capital expenditures, working capital and operating losses for at
least the next 12 months. During this period the Company may seek to raise
additional capital through the issuance of debt or equity securities, the
timing of which will depend on market conditions. The Company may also seek
to raise additional capital through vendor financing, equipment lease
financing or bank loans.
There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available on
terms acceptable to the Company when needed. The agreements governing its
existing indebtedness limit its ability to obtain debt financing. If the
Company is unable to obtain financing when needed, it may delay or abandon
its development and expansion plans. That could have a material adverse
effect on its business, results of operations and financial condition. The
actual timing and amount of its capital requirements may be materially
affected by various factors, including the timing and actual cost of the
network, the timing and cost of its expansion into new markets, the extent
of competition and pricing of telecommunications services by others in its
markets, the demand by customers for its services, technological change and
potential acquisitions.
F-8
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original
maturities of three months or less as cash equivalents.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation
and amortization. The Company accounts for internal use software under the
provisions of AICPA Statement of Position 98-1 "Accounting for the Costs of
Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use" ("SOP 98-1").
Capitalization of costs commences when the preliminary project stage, as
defined under SOP 98-1, is completed. Amortization on a straight-line
basis, commences at the point that the software components have been
subjected to all significant testing phases and are substantially complete
and ready for their intended use. A significant portion of the network and
related equipment costs is subject to the risk of rapid technological
change. Accordingly, the Company's useful lives reflect this risk.
Depreciation and amortization is provided using the straight-line method
over the following estimated useful lives:
Furniture, fixture, and equipment......................... 3-5 years
Network and related equipment............................. 3-5 years
Leasehold improvements and assets under capital leases are amortized
over the lesser of the lease term or the useful life of the property,
usually 3-5 years.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS")
No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-
Lived Assets to be Disposed Of" ("SFAS No. 121"), the Company reviews its
long-lived assets, including property and equipment, and identifiable
intangibles for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances
indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully
recoverable. To determine recoverability of its long-lived assets, the
Company evaluates the probability that future undiscounted net cash flows
will be less than the carrying amount of the assets. Impairment is measured
at fair value. SFAS No. 121 had no effect on the Company's financial
statements.
Revenue Recognition
Telecommunication revenues primarily relate to customer usage of services
and recurring monthly fees to customers for certain other services.
Revenues related to usage are recognized as usage accrues while recurring
monthly fees are recognized at the time all of the Company's significant
performance obligations have been fulfilled and the related monthly service
fee becomes nonrefundable.
As described below under "Recent Accounting Pronouncements; Adoption of SAB
101", the Company will change its method of accounting for recurring
service fees to defer this revenue to the period in which the related
service is available to the customer.
F-9
Agency revenue is recognized when all of the Company's performance
obligations related to the placement of a customer's service order with a
carrier have been fulfilled. If this revenue is based on usage, revenues
are recognized as usage accrues.
Deferred Financing Costs
In connection with certain financing arrangements consummated during
fiscal 2000 and 1999, the Company capitalized $3,099,424 and $3,835,846 of
deferred financing costs, respectively. These costs represent professional
and debt origination fees. The March 31, 2000 financing arrangement is
being amortized over the life of the agreement. Due to the early
extinguishment of the fiscal 1999 financing arrangements, the unamortized
balance of the deferred financing costs and unamortized value of the
warrants relating to these agreements was recognized as an extraordinary
expense item in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2000. For the fiscal years
ended March 31, 2000 and March 31, 1999, the Company recorded amortization,
excluding the extraordinary expense item, of $1,743,958 and $605,981,
respectively, related to deferred financing costs associated with the
fiscal 1999 financing arrangements.
Income Taxes
The Company provides for income taxes under the liability method
prescribed by SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes." Under this
method, deferred income taxes are recognized for the future tax
consequences of differences between the tax and financial accounting bases
of assets and liabilities at each year end. Deferred income taxes are based
on enacted tax laws and statutory tax rates applicable to the periods in
which the differences are expected to affect taxable income (loss).
Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax
assets to the amounts expected to be realized.
Income (Loss) Per Share
The Company's income (loss) per share information is prepared in
conformity with SFAS No. 128 "Earnings per Share" ("SFAS No. 128"). SFAS
No. 128 replaced the calculation of primary and fully diluted earnings per
share with basic and diluted earnings per share. Unlike primary earnings
per share, basic earnings per share excludes any dilutive effects of
options, warrants and convertible securities. Diluted earnings per share is
similar to the previously reported fully diluted earnings per share. All
income (loss) per share amounts for all periods have been presented, and
where appropriate, restated to conform to the SFAS No. 128 requirements.
All income (loss) per share information for all periods presented in the
accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes have been
adjusted to reflect a three-for-two stock split effected March 17, 2000.
F-10
Risks and Uncertainties
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to a
concentration of credit risk principally consist of cash, cash equivalents
and accounts receivable. Concentration of credit risk with respect to
accounts receivable in fiscal 2000 was minimized by the large number of
customers across New England and New York State. The Company reduces its
risk of loss through periodic review of customer creditworthiness and
generally does not require collateral.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Under SFAS No. 107, "Disclosure About the Fair Value of Financial
Instruments," the Company is required to disclose the fair value of
financial instruments. At March 31, 2000 and 1999, the Company's financial
instruments consist of cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable,
accounts payable and accrued expenses, and notes payable. The fair value of
these financial instruments, excluding the notes payable, approximates
their cost due to the short-term maturity of these financial instruments.
Of the $105,677,549 total notes payable, the carrying value of $100,000,000
approximates fair value due to the variable interest rates on the note. The
carrying value of the remaining notes payable of $5,677,549 are not
materially different than their estimated fair value.
Significant Estimates and Assumptions
The financial statements have been prepared in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to
make significant estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported
amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant
estimates and assumptions made by management affect the Company's allowance
for doubtful accounts and certain accrued expenses. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.
Accounting for Stock Options
The Company grants stock options for a fixed number of shares to
employees with an exercise price at least equal to the fair value of the
shares at the date of the grant. The Company has elected to follow
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees" ("APB No. 25") and related interpretations in accounting for its
employee stock options because the alternative fair value accounting
provided for under SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation"
("SFAS No. 123"), requires use of option valuation models that were not
developed for use in valuing employee stock options. Under APB No. 25,
because the exercise price of the Company's employee stock options equals
the market price of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no
compensation expense is recognized.
F-11
Stock options and other stock-based awards to non-employees are
accounted for based on the provisions of SFAS No. 123.
Leases
Leases, in which the Company is the lessee and which transfer
substantially all of the risks and benefits of ownership, are classified as
capital leases. Accordingly, assets and liabilities are recorded at
amounts equal to the lesser of the present value of the minimum lease
payments or the fair value of the leased property or equipment at the
beginning of the respective lease terms. Interest expense relating to the
lease obligations is recorded to effect constant rates of interest over the
terms of the lease. Leases which do not meet capital lease criteria are
classified as operating leases and the related rentals are charged to
expense as incurred.
Segment Information
Effective April 1, 1998, the Company adopted SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures
about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information" (SFAS 131). SFAS
131 superseded FASB Statement No. 14, "Financial Reporting for Segments of
a Business Enterprise." SFAS 131 establishes standards for the way that
public business enterprises report information about operating segments in
annual financial statements and requires that those enterprises report
selected information about operating segments in interim financial reports.
SFAS 131 also establishes standards for related disclosures about products
and services, geographic areas, and major customers. The adoption of SFAS
131 did not affect results of operations, financial position, or the
footnote disclosure, as the Company operates in a single industry segment.
The Company will continue to assess the impact of SFAS No. 131 and modify
its reporting and disclosure requirements if necessary.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No.
133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("SFAS
No. 133") was issued, as amended by SFAS No. 137, which establishes
accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including
derivative instruments embedded in other contracts (collectively referred
to as derivatives), and for hedging activities. SFAS No. 133 is effective
for all fiscal quarters of fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000. The
Company is presently analyzing the impact, if any, that the adoption of
SFAS No. 133 will have on its financial condition or results of operations.
In March 2000, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued FASB
Interpretation No. 44, "Accounting for Certain Transactions involving Stock
Compensation, an interpretation of APB Opinion No. 25." The Company is
required to adopt the Interpretation on July 1, 2000. The Interpretation
requires that stock options that have been modified to reduce the exercise
price be accounted for as variable. The Company modified one stock option
in April 1999, which resulted in a stock compensation charge of
approximately $2.2 million. No other option grants have been modified by a
reduction of the exercise prices, therefore, the adoption of the
Interpretation is not expected to have an impact on the Company's
consolidated financial statements, unless modifications are made in the
future.
F-12
Adoption of Staff Accounting Bulletin 101.
The Company will revise its revenue recognition policy for certain
recurring monthly fees to be consistent with applicable provisions of Staff
Accounting Bulletin 101 ("SAB 101"). Previously, monthly recurring fees for
the next month's service were recognized at the time all of the Company's
significant performance obligations had been fulfilled and the related
monthly service fee became nonrefundable based on the terms of the Company's
contract with its customers which require 60 days notice for cancellation.
Since SAB 101 now indicates that nonrefundability of revenues and
fulfillment of all significant performance obligations are not a basis for
revenue recognition, the Company has determined that deferral of the monthly
recurring service fees to the period in which the service is available to the
customer is a preferable method of accounting. The impact of the change in
recognizing recurring service fees will be reported as a cumulative effect of
a change in accounting principle as of April 1, 2000 in accordance with
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes. The
cumulative effect of this change will increase the Company's loss by
approximately $1.8 million as of April 1, 2000. This amount represents the
income attributable to the deferral, as of that date, of one month's
recurring service fee revenue totaling approximately $9.3 million. SAB 101
as amended, allows the Company to implement this change either as of the
quarter ending June 30, 2000 or as of the last quarter of fiscal 2001 which
is the quarter ending March 31, 2001. If the Company adopts as of June 30,
2000, the Company's interim unaudited consolidated financial statements for
the period ending June 30, 2000 will be prepared on the new basis of accounting.
If adoption is deferred until the last quarter, previously reported quarterly
financial information for fiscal 2001 will be restated so that annual operating
results for fiscal 2001 will be presented on the new basis. The Company is
currently evaluating the alternatives and has not yet determined the date
as of which SAB 101 will be adopted.
There will be no impact to the Company's cash flow from operations as a
result of this change. Also, it is believed that the adoption of this change
in accounting for fiscal 2000 or prior periods would not have had a material
effect on the Company's previously reported results of operations, financial
position or cash flows for those periods.
3. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, at cost, and related accumulated depreciation
and amortization balances are as follows:
March 31,
-----------------------
2000 1999
----------- -----------
Furniture, fixtures and equipment................... $ 7,768,569 $ 4,358,950
Network and related equipment....................... 80,536,390 31,309,749
Leasehold improvements.............................. 3,660,732 1,657,752
Assets under capital lease ......................... 28,639,202 12,091,238
----------- -----------
120,604,893 49,417,689
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization...... 29,369,433 10,615,766
----------- -----------
$91,235,460 $38,801,923
=========== ===========
Assets under capital lease principally consist of network and related
equipment. Capitalized interest of $415,000 was recorded in the fiscal year
ended March 31, 2000.
F-13
4. Bell Atlantic Litigation
In December 1997, the Company terminated its agency contract and filed
suit against Bell Atlantic in Federal District Court for breach of
contract, including the failure of Bell Atlantic to pay approximately
$11,500,000 of agency commissions owed to the Company. The Company also
asserted violations by Bell Atlantic of the antitrust laws and
Telecommunications Act. On February 24, 1999 the Company settled the
lawsuit. Under terms of the settlement, the Company received cash and other
consideration. As a result of the settlement the Company wrote off
approximately $1,500,000 of accounts receivable. In connection with the
litigation, the Company incurred substantial costs, including legal costs,
to recover the Bell Atlantic receivable. During fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998,
the Company incurred $79,000, $8,386,000 and $614,000, respectively, of
legal and other costs associated with the litigation.
5. Related-Party Transactions
The installation of certain telecommunications equipment is generally
subcontracted to a company controlled by the Chairman of the Company. In
addition, equipment is purchased from this company. Amounts paid to this
company for hardware and services, based on fair market value, aggregated
$1,361,430, $499,257 and $232,775 during fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998,
respectively.
The Company leases office space from trusts in which the Chairman is a
beneficiary. Rent expense for these facilities aggregated $51,584, $125,904
and $132,656 in fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively. One of those
leases expired during fiscal 1999. The remaining lease expires during
fiscal 2002.
The Company subleases space to a company controlled by the Chairman of
the Company. Terms of the sublease are identical to those included in the
Company's lease. Sublease rental income totaled $108,326, $106,293 and
$119,416 in fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively.
In May 2000, the Company entered into a 15 year lease for approximately
71,250 feet from a limited liability company in which two executive
officers, including the Chairman, own a majority of membership interests,
and in which four executive officers each own a minority membership
interest. The annual base rental under the lease is $1,778,100.
6. Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts payable and accrued expenses consist of the following:
March 31,
----------------------
2000 1999
----------- ----------
Trade accounts payable............................ $36,571,961 $17,788,702
Accrued cost of telecommunications revenue........ 3,129,577 5,475,143
Sales tax payable................................. 6,337,569 3,829,809
Other............................................. 289,650 345,834
----------- -----------
$46,328,757 $27,439,488
=========== ===========
F-14
7. Financing Arrangements
In September 1998, the Company entered into a revolving line of credit
agreement (the "Revolving Line of Credit") with a consortium of lenders,
providing for a three year senior secured credit facility of up to
$75,000,000. Advances under the Revolving Line of Credit bear interest at
the prime rate plus 1.75% per annum. The outstanding debt is secured by all
the Company's assets excluding those acquired through purchase money
financing. The Company paid a one-time up front fee of $2,531,250,
representing 3.375% of the facility. This one-time up front fee was
capitalized as a deferred financing cost and amortized as interest expense
over the term of the Revolving Line of Credit. Warrants to purchase an
aggregate of 1,461,618 shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise
price of $4.50 per share were issued to the lenders in connection with the
transaction. The fair value of the warrants of $1,909,848 was amortized and
included in interest expense over the term of the Revolving Line of Credit.
Borrowings under the Revolving Line of Credit were repaid from the senior
secured credit facility consummated in March 2000 described below.
In October 1998, the Company entered into a three year vendor financing
facility (the "Vendor Financing Facility"). Under the terms of the
agreement, the Company agreed to a $25,000,000 volume purchase commitment
from this vendor. Outstanding borrowings bear interest at 12.5% per annum.
Borrowings under the Vendor Financing Facility were repaid from the senior
secured credit facility consummated in March 2000 described below.
In March 1999, the Company entered into an unsecured credit facility (as
amended on June 30, 1999, the "Credit Facility") with a bank. Under this
Credit Facility, the Company may borrow $30,000,000. Warrants to purchase
103,824 shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $7.875
were issued in connection with the Credit Facility. The fair value of the
warrants of $329,468 to purchase 103,824 shares of common stock was
capitalized and was amortized ratably over the term of the Credit Facility
as interest expense. This facility has been repaid.
In March 2000, the Company entered into a $225 million senior secured
credit facility (the "Senior Facility") with a consortium of banks. This
Senior Facility is comprised of a $50 million senior secured revolving
credit facility (the "Revolver") with a seven and one-half year term, a
$100 million senior, delayed draw facility with a seven and one-half year
term ("Term A") and a $75 million senior secured eight year term loan
facility ("Term B"). Advances under the Revolver and Term A bear interest
at prime rate plus 1.75-2.5% per annum based upon the total leverage ratio
in effect at the time. Term B borrowings bear interest at the prime rate
plus 3.25% per annum. As required by the Senior Facility, Term B
borrowings of $75 million were made at the closing date along with
borrowings of $25 million under the Revolver. The proceeds were used to
pay off the $25 million Vendor Financing Facility and the outstanding
balance of the Revolving Line of Credit approximating $43 million. The
Company paid a one-time up front fee and other closing costs at the
closing, which have been capitalized as deferred financing costs and are
being amortized as interest expense over the term of the Senior Facility.
F-15
The unamortized balance of deferred financing costs associated with the
Revolving Line of Credit were recognized as an extraordinary item for the
fiscal year ended March 31, 2000. The Senior Facility provides for certain
financial and operational covenants, including but not limited to minimum
access lines installed and billable, minimum quarterly revenue and
operating cash flow, and maximum capital expenditures. The Company will
pay a commitment fee of .75-1.5% per annum, depending on the percentage of
the total Senior Facility used. Under the terms of the Senior Facility,
$25 million of Term A must be borrowed as of June 30, 2000 and on certain
dates thereafter. At June 30, 2003, the Company will begin to repay the
outstanding balances of Term A and Term B on a quarterly basis through the
year 2007.
Notes payable to banks, net of the unamortized discount of related
warrants, consisted of the following:
March 31,
-------------------------
2000 1999
------------ -----------
Revolving Line of Credit....................... $ 0 $34,288,388
Senior Facility................................ 100,000,000 0
Vendor Financing Facility...................... 0 15,425,998
Notes payable for network and related equipment 5,677,549 3,909,247
----------- -----------
105,677,549 53,623,633
Less current portion........................... (1,749,342) (1,705,141)
----------- -----------
$103,928,207 $51,918,492
=========== ============
Long-term debt matures as follows:
Year ending March 31:
2001................................................... $1,749,342
2002................................................... 1,488,477
2003................................................... 1,534,389
2004................................................... 1,655,341
2005................................................... 750,000
2006................................................... 3,250,000
2007................................................... 15,750,000
2008................................................... 79,500,000
------------
$105,677,549
============
F-16
8. Leases
The Company leases office facilities under long-term lease agreements
classified
as operating leases. The following is a schedule of future minimum lease
payments,
net of sublease income, for operating leases as of March 31, 2000:
Sublease
Operating Rental
Leases Income Net
---------- --------- -----------
Year ending March 31:
2001...................................... $5,481,543 $(153,420) $5,328,123
2002...................................... 5,838,289 (154,420) 5,683,869
2003...................................... 5,439,956 (157,420) 5,282,536
2004...................................... 4,880,242 (160,620) 4,719,622
2005...................................... 3,948,552 (83,725) 3,864,827
Thereafter................................ 24,150,175 0 24,150,175
----------- --------- -----------
Net future minimum lease payments..........$49,738,757 $(709,605) $49,029,152
=========== ========= ===========
Rental expense for operating leases aggregated $2,470,340, $1,779,608
and $1,121,916 in fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Sublease rental
income amounted to $108,326, $106,293 and $119,416 in fiscal 2000, 1999 and
1998, respectively.
The Company leases certain assets, principally network and related
equipment, under capital leases. At March 31, 2000, the Company has
capitalized leased equipment totaling $28,639,202 with related accumulated
amortization of $5,362,189. Obligations under capital leases mature as
follows:
Year ending March 31:
2001...................................................... $9,704,656
2002...................................................... 9,135,853
2003...................................................... 5,753,238
2004...................................................... 876,611
2005...................................................... 362,241
Thereafter................................................ 0
-----------
25,832,599
Less amount representing interest.......................... (2,388,077)
-----------
Present value of minimum lease payments.................... 23,444,522
Less current portion of obligations under capital leases... (8,413,414)
-----------
Obligations under capital leases, net of current portion... $15,031,108
===========
F-17
9. Telecommunications Agreements
On January 15, 1996, the Company entered into a four-year non-exclusive
agreement with a long-distance service provider for the right to provide
long distance service to the Company's customers at prices affected by
volume attainment levels during the term of the agreement. The Company is
not obligated to purchase any minimum levels of usage over the term of the
agreement, but rates may be adjusted due to the failure of achieving
certain volume commitments. These provisions had no effect on the financial
statements for the year ended March 31, 2000.
On October 20, 1994, the Company entered into a three-year non-exclusive
agreement with a long-distance service provider for the right to provide
long distance service to the Company's customers at fixed prices by service
during the term of the agreement. On May 6, 1998, the Company entered into
an amendment to the agreement which extended the term of the agreement
through October 2000. On March 31, 1999, the Company entered into an
amendment which provides that the Company shall be liable for a minimum
aggregate usage commitment of $50,000,000. Based upon existing and expected
usage, these provisions had no effect on the financial statements for the
year ended March 31, 2000.
Prior to the execution of the agreements described above, and through
March 31, 1999, the Company also had provided long distance service to
customers under an informal non-exclusive arrangement with another long
distance service provider. The Company is not obligated to purchase any
minimum level of usage and there are no other performance obligations.
On January 8, 1999, the Company entered into agreements with two
communications companies for the provision of transmission and co-location
facilities for the Company's initial network build-out in New England and
New York State. The agreements, which total $11,600,000 of expenditures by
the Company over three years, provide for connectivity between the
Company's 22 network hub sites and two fully redundant network operations
centers.
In fiscal years 1999 and 2000, the Company entered into agreements with
a supplier of local services which allow for additional discounts and
rebates if certain volume and access line requirements are met. The
Company met these requirements in fiscal year 2000 and expects to meet
these requirements for the remainder of the agreements.
On March 31, 2000, the Company entered into a 20 year agreement to
purchase an exclusive, indefeasible right of use of optical dark fibers
from a fiber optic engineering and construction company. The agreement
also includes co-location facilities at points of presence and transmission
site locations and ongoing fiber maintenance services provided by the
supplier. The Company's total estimated commitment is approximately $115
million.
F-18
10. Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
In connection with the reorganization of the Company into a holding
company structure in September 1999, each share of Common Stock, $.01 par
value, and each share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, $1.00 par
value, of CTC Communications Corp., was converted into one share of Common
Stock, $.01 par value, and one share of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock, $1.00 par value, of CTC Communications Group, Inc. ("CTC Group").
CTC Group is authorized to issue up to 100 million shares of common stock,
$.01 par value, and 10 million shares of preferred stock, $1.00 par value.
As a result of the reorganization, CTC Communications Corp. became a
wholly-owned subsidiary of CTC Group.
On March 17, 2000, the Company effected a three-for-two stock split for
stockholders of record as of March 6, 2000. All common stock information
presented in Note 10 herein has been adjusted to reflect the stock split.
At March 31, 2000, 6,789,496 shares of common stock are reserved for
future issuance upon exercise of outstanding stock options and common stock
purchase warrants and conversion of outstanding preferred stock.
Preferred Stock
The dividends, liquidation preference, voting rights and other rights of
each series of preferred stock, when issued, are to be designated by the
Board of Directors prior to issuance.
In April 1998, the Company completed a private placement of Series A
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock ("Series A") through the issuance of
666,666 shares of Series A with an initial liquidation amount per share of
$18. Proceeds to the Company aggregated $12,000,000 for the Series A and
warrants to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of
$6 per share. Of the $12,000,000 in proceeds, $417,332 had been ascribed to
the warrants and $11,582,668 to the Series A. Each share of Series A
accrued a cumulative dividend equal to an annual rate of 9% of the $18 per
share initial liquidation amount, compounded every six months, which had
the effect of increasing the Series A preference amount.
On March 25, 2000, the Series A stockholders voluntarily converted their
shares of preferred stock into 2,376,660 shares of common stock. The
2,376,660 shares represents the value of the initial investment plus the
accrued dividends through the conversion date, adjusted for the 3-for-2
stock dividend effected on March 17, 2000.
On July 13, 1998, the Company received a commitment letter from a Series
A stockholder to purchase at the Company's option, an additional $5,000,000
of preferred stock on the same terms and conditions as the Series A issued
in April 1998. No shares of Series A were issued under this commitment
letter which expired on June 30, 1999.
At March 31, 2000, no shares of preferred stock were issued and
outstanding.
F-19
Common Stock Purchase Warrants
As of March 31, 2000, the Company had outstanding warrants in connection
with the issuance of the Series A and the financing arrangements disclosed
in Note 7 to purchase an aggregate of 883,123 shares of common stock at
exercise prices ranging from $4.50 to $7.87 with exercise periods extending
through March 2009. The values of the warrants range from $1.96 to $4.76
and were determined using a Black-Scholes pricing methodology. Significant
assumptions include an interest rate of 5.21%, an expected volatility of
50% and an expected life of the warrants of 2.5 to 3 years.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
The Company has an employee stock purchase plan (the "ESPP") which
enables participating employees to purchase Company shares at 85% of the
lower of the market prices prevailing on two valuation dates as defined in
the ESPP. Individuals can contribute up to 5% of their base salary. The
Company made no contributions to the ESPP during the fiscal years ended
March 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998. Indicated below is a summary of shares of
common stock purchased by the ESPP.
Date Shares Purchased Purchase Price
- ------------- ------------------ ---------------
February 2000 10,533 $10.38
July 1999 14,779 $ 5.03
February 1999 11,945 $ 4.46
July 1998 10,105 $ 4.46
February 1998 6,609 $ 5.53
July 1997 8,157 $ 4.32
Stock Option Plans
Under the terms of its 1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan, 1996 Stock
Option Plan and 1998 Incentive Plan, (collectively, the "Plans"), the
Company may grant qualified and non-qualified incentive stock options for
the purchase of common stock to all employees and, except for the 1993
Stock Option Plan, to members of the Board of Directors. The Plans
generally provide that the option price will be fixed by a committee of the
Board of Directors but for qualified incentive stock options will not be
less than 100% (110% for 10% stockholders) of the fair market value per
share on the date of grant. Non-qualified options are granted at no less
than 85% (110% for 10% stockholders) of the fair market value per share on
the date of grant. No options have a term of more than ten years and
options to 10% stockholders may not have a term of more than five years.
In the event of termination of employment, other than by reason of
death, disability or with the written consent of the Company, all options
granted to employees are terminated. Vesting is determined by the Board of
Directors.
Under the terms of the 1999 Equity Incentive Plan for Non-Employee
Directors, at each annual meeting at which a non-employee director is
reelected or is continuing as a director, he or she will be granted a five-
year, non-discretionary, option to purchase 15,000 shares of common stock,
F-20
at an exercise price equal to 100% of the fair market value of the common
stock on the day before the date of the grant. The options are exercisable
on the grant date. In addition to the foregoing options, the administrator
also has the authority to award options to eligible directors in amounts
and on terms as it determines. These options are referred to as
discretionary options. The exercise price of discretionary options will be
set by the administrator and will become exercisable and expire as the
administrator determines, but no options will expire later than 10 years
from the date of grant. If a director dies, or otherwise ceases to be a
director, all options, including those issued under the 1993, 1996, 1998
and 1999 Plans, not then exercisable will immediately terminate, unless the
board of directors otherwise determines. Any exercisable options will
remain exercisable for a period of one year following death or three months
following other termination of the individual's status as a director, but
in no event beyond the fifth anniversary of the date of grant in the case
of formula options and beyond the tenth anniversary of the date of the
grant in the case of discretionary options. Upon a merger or consolidation,
which results in a 50% change in ownership, a transfer of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets, or a dissolution or liquidation
of the Company, all options, including the 1993, 1996, 1998 and 1999 plans,
not then exercisable will become exercisable and all unexercised options
will terminate upon the consummation of the transaction. However, in lieu
of termination, the board of directors may cause the acquiring or surviving
corporation to assume all options outstanding under the plan or provide
replacement options for on substantially the same terms, with any necessary
adjustments. In addition to the option grants, the plan allows each non-
employee director to elect annually in advance to receive his or her fees
in the form of deferred grants of common stock rather than cash.
Stock Based Compensation
Pro forma information regarding net loss and net loss per common share
is required by SFAS No. 123, and has been determined as if the Company had
accounted for its employee stock options granted under the Plans and shares
issued pursuant to the ESPP under the fair value method of SFAS No. 123.
The fair value for these options and shares issued pursuant to the ESPP was
estimated at the dates of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model
with the following weighted-average assumptions:
Options ESPP
------------------- -------------------
2000 1999 1998 2000 1999 1998
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Expected life (years)................. 3.69 3.09 2.96 0.50 0.50 0.50
Interest rate......................... 6.12% 4.82% 5.93% 6.08% 5.05% 5.43%
Volatility............................ 84.12% 83.69% 85.14% 82.73% 91.23% 64.67%
Dividend yield........................ 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in
estimating the fair value of traded options which have no vesting
restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation
models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the
expected stock price volatility. Because the Company's employee stock
options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded
F-21
options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can
materially affect the fair value estimate, in management's opinion, the
existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the
fair value of its employee stock options.
For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the expense related to estimated
fair value of the options is recognized over the options' vesting period.
The Company's pro forma net loss and loss per common share, which has been
adjusted to reflect the March 2000 three-for-two stock split, are as
follows:
2000 1999 1998
------------ ------------ -----------
Pro forma net loss................. $(66,276,203) $(56,003,004) $(4,586,368)
Pro forma net loss per common share
(Basic and Diluted)............... $ (3.26) $ (3.77) $ (0.31)
The effects on fiscal 1998, 1999 and 2000 pro forma net loss and loss per
common
share of expensing the estimated fair value of stock options and shares issued
pursuant to the ESPP are not necessarily representative of the effects on
reporting
the results of operations for future years as the periods presented only include
the effects of option grants under the Company's plans.
A summary of the Company's stock option activity, and related information for
the years ended March 31, which has been adjusted to reflect the March 17, 2000
three-for-two stock split, follows:
2000 1999 1998
------------------- -------------------- -------------
- ------
Weighted Weighted
Weighted
Average Average
Average
Exercise Exercise
Exercise
Options Price Options Price Options
Price
--------- -------- ---------- -------- --------- --
- ------
Outstanding at beginning
of year................ 5,423,714 $ 4.70 4,447,511 $3.67 2,929,668
$2.91
Options granted....... 2,137,569 15.08 1,945,500 5.77 4,186,500
4.74
Options terminated.... (411,950) 4.67 (419,574) 4.33 (2,104,076)
5.57
Options exercised..... (1,242,960) 3.37 (549,723) 0.44 (564,581)
0.62
--------- ---------- ---------
Outstanding at end of
year................... 5,906,373 $8.91 5,423,714 $4.70 4,447,511
$3.67
========= ========== =========
Exercisable at end of
year................... 1,630,865 1,442,666 1,047,375
Weighted-average fair
value of options
granted during the
year................... $ 8.87 $ 3.20 $ 2.67
F-22
The following table presents weighted-average price and life information
about significant option
groups outstanding at March 31, 2000:
Options Outstanding
Options Exercisable
------------------------------------------------------- ---
- ----------------
Weighted Average
Remaining Weighted
Weighted
Range Number Contractual Average Number
Average
Exercise Prices Outstanding Life--Years Exercise Price Exercisable
Exercise Price
--------------- ----------- ---------------- -------------- ----------- --
- -----------------
$ 0.00-5.35............. 2,917,905 2.5 $ 4.57 1,028,864
$ 4.60
5.35-10.70............ 1,251,198 3.9 8.27 420,351
7.78
10.70-16.05............ 1,253,522 4.9 11.63 165,150
10.96
16.05-21.40............ 121,500 6.3 17.68 1,500
19.25
21.40-26.75............ 74,999 6.5 23.77 0
0
26.75-32.10............ 77,249 6.4 27.62 0
0
32.10-37.45............ 33,000 5.9 36.52 0
0
37.45-42.80............ 152,000 5.9 38.66 15,000
38.67
42.80-48.15............ 18,500 7.7 46.68 0
0
48.15-53.50............ 6,500 7.2 53.38 0
0
--------- ---------
5,906,373 1,630,865
========= =========
11. Benefit Plans
Defined Contribution Plan (the "401(k) Plan")
The Company maintains a defined contribution plan (the "401(k) Plan")
which covers all employees who meet certain eligibility requirements and
complies with Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC").
Participants may make contributions to the 401(k) Plan up to 15% of their
compensation, as defined under the terms of the 401(k) Plan, up to the
maximum established by the IRC.
The Company may make a matching contribution of an amount to be
determined by the Board of Directors, but subject to a maximum of 6% of
compensation contributed by each participant. Company contributions vest
ratably over three years. Company contributions to the 401(k) Plan were
$486,434, $358,100 and $310,788 in fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998,
respectively.
F-23
12. Loss Per Share
Loss per common share has been calculated as follows:
2000 1999 1998
------------ ----------- -----------
Numerator:
Loss before extraordinary item ... $(57,073,087) $(51,237,984)
$(2,497,690)
Extraordinary item-early
extinguishment of debt.............. (2,430,456) 0
0
Net loss (59,503,543) (51,237,984)
(2,497,690)
Less preferred stock dividends and
accretion to redemption value of
preferred stock...................... (1,609,351) (1,227,808) --
------------ ----------- -----------
- -
Equals: numerator for Basic and
Diluted loss per common share........ (61,112,894) (52,465,792)
(2,497,690)
Denominator:
Denominator for Basic and Diluted loss
per common share-weighted average
shares............................... 20,320,626 15,196,052
14,829,000
------------ ----------- -----------
- -
Basic and diluted loss per common share. $ (3.01) $ (3.45) $
(0.17)
============ ===========
===========
Basic and diluted loss per common share-
extraordinary item.................... $ (0.12) $ 0 $
0
============ ===========
===========
Basic and diluted loss per common share-
before extraordinary item............. $ (2.89) $ (3.45) $
(0.17)
============ ===========
===========
13. Income Taxes
The provision (benefit) for income taxes consisted of the following:
2000 1999 1998
----------- ----------- -----------
Current:
Federal................................. $ 0 $(3,124,000) $
(218,000)
State................................... 0 0 0
----------- ------------ ----------
- -
0 (3,124,000)
(218,000)
Deferred tax provision (benefit).......... 1,597,000
(1,068,760)
----------- ------------ ----------
- -
$ 0 $(1,527,000)
$(1,286,760)
=========== ============
===========
F-24
Significant components of the Company's deferred tax liabilities and
assets as of March 31, are as follows:
2000 1999
------------ ----------
Deferred tax assets:
Bad debt allowance.................................$ 810,000 $ 695,000
Accruals and allowances, other..................... 585,000 40,000
Compensation ...................................... 242,000 0
Net operating loss carryforward.................... 45,771,000 22,560,000
------------ ----------
Total deferred tax asset............................. 47,408,000 23,295,000
Deferred tax liability:
Other expenses..................................... (44,000) (46,000)
Depreciation....................................... (42,000) (784,000)
------------ ----------
Total deferred tax liability......................... (86,000) (830,000)
------------ ----------
Net deferred tax asset before valuation allowance.... 47,322,000 22,465,000
Valuation allowance.................................. (47,322,000) (22,465,000)
------------ ----------
Net deferred tax asset............................... $ 0 $ 0
============ ===========
F-25
Management has provided a valuation allowance against deferred tax
assets due to the uncertainty that the Company will realize these assets.
The Company believes that, based upon a number of factors, the available
objective evidence creates sufficient uncertainty regarding the realization
of the deferred tax assets such that a full valuation allowance has been
recorded. The Company will continue to assess the realization of the
deferred tax assets based on actual and forecasted operating results.
At March 31, 2000, the Company had federal and state net operating loss
carryforwards of approximately $112,000,000, which may be used to reduce
future income tax liabilities, and expire through 2020. Changes in the
Company's ownership will subject the net operating loss carryforwards to
limitations pursuant to Sections 382 of the IRC.
The income tax expense is different from that which would be obtained by
applying the enacted statutory federal income tax rate to loss before
income taxes. The items causing this difference are as follows:
2000 1999 1998
------------ ----------- ---------
- -
Tax (benefit) at U.S. statutory rate.... $(20,231,000)$(17,940,000)
$(1,286,760)
State income taxes, net of federal benefit (3,867,000) (3,616,000)
0
Valuation allowance and other........... 24,098,000 20,029,000
0
------------ ------------ ----------
- --
$ 0 $(1,527,000)
$(1,286,760)
============ ============
============
14. Subsequent Events
Subsequent to March 31, 2000, the Company completed a $200 million
preferred stock financing with Bain Captial Inc., Thomas H. Lee Partners,
L.P. and CSFB Private Equity. The investment is in the form of 8.25%
Series B convertible preferred stock which converts to common stock at $50
per share. Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee each invested $75 million and
CSFB Private Equity has invested $50 million. The $200 million will be
used to fund strategic marketing and technological initiatives of the
Company's business plan.
F-26
15. Quarterly Information (Unaudited)
A summary of operating results and net loss per share for the quarterly
periods in the two years ended March 31, 2000 is set forth below:
Quarter Ended
-------------------------------------------------------
- ------------
June 30 September 30 December 31 March 31
Total
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
- ------------
Year ended March 31,
2000
Total revenues.......... $31,046,851 $ 35,109,155 $ 40,369,021 $ 46,575,907
$153,100,934
Loss before extra-
ordinary item.......... (15,118,813) (12,293,504) (14,216,531) (15,444,239)
(57,073,087)
Net loss................ (15,118,813) (12,293,504) (14,216,531) (17,874,695)
(59,503,543)
Loss per common share
before extraordinary
item................... (.99) (.61) (.67) (.69)
(2.89)
Net loss per share -
Basic and diluted...... (.99) (.61) (.67) (.80)
(3.01)
Year ended March 31,
1999
Total revenues.......... $12,835,685 $ 14,516,189 $ 19,024,531 $ 24,587,287
$ 70,963,692
Net loss................ (8,029,000) (10,732,624) (11,480,025) (20,996,335)
(51,237,984)
Net loss per share -
Basic and diluted...... (.54) (.73) (.79) (1.38)
(3.45)
F-27
SCHEDULE II--VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
CTC COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.
Col. A Col. B Col. C Col. D Col. E
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Additions
(1) (2)
Balance at Charged to Charged to
Balance at
Beginning Costs and Other End
of
Description of Period Expenses Accounts Deductions(a)
Period
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Year ended March 31,
2000:
Allowance for doubtful
accounts............. $1,717,000 $1,528,564 0 $1,245,564
$2,000,000
Year ended March 31,
1999:
Allowance for doubtful
accounts............. $ 492,000 $4,988,698 0 $3,763,698
$1,717,000
Year ended March 31,
1998:
Allowance for doubtful
accounts............. $ 377,000 $1,421,000 0 $1,306,000 $
492,000
(a) Bad debts written off, net of collections.
All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable
accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not
required under the related instructions or are inapplicable, and therefore
have been omitted.