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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 10-K
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-19903
METRICOM, INC.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 77-0294597
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (IRS EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
333 WEST JULIAN STREET, SAN JOSE, CA 95110-2335
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES, INCLUDING ZIP CODE)
(408) 282-3000
(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, $.001 PAR VALUE PER SHARE
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 III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [X]
The approximate aggregate market value of the Common Stock held by
non-affiliates of the Registrant, based upon the last sale price of the Common
Stock reported on the Nasdaq National Market on February 28, 2001 was
$99,357,000. Shares of Common Stock held by persons who hold more than 5% of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock have been excluded because such persons may
be deemed to be affiliates. This determination is not necessarily conclusive.
The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of February 28, 2001
was 30,910,645.
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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Certain portions of the Metricom, Inc. Proxy Statement relating to the 2001
Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Proxy Statement") are incorporated by
reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.
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SPECIAL NOTE ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This document contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, that are based on our current expectations about our
company and our industry. We use words such as "plan," "expect," "intend,"
"believe," "anticipate," "estimate" and other similar expressions to identify
some forward-looking statements, but not all forward-looking statements include
these words. Some of these forward-looking statements relate to our plans to the
timing and extent of our financing needs, our plans and ability to obtain
additional financing, the extent of our planned network deployment, our market
opportunities, our strategy, our anticipated revenues from WorldCom, Inc., our
competitive position, and our management's discussion and analysis of our
financial condition and results of operations. All of our forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ
significantly from our expectations and from the results expressed in or implied
by these forward-looking statements. The section captioned "Risk Factors"
appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K describes those factors that we
currently consider material and that could cause these differences. We urge you
to consider these cautionary statements carefully in evaluating our
forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we undertake no
obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect
subsequent events and circumstances.
PART I
ITEM 1 -- BUSINESS
Metricom, Inc. was incorporated in California in December 1985 and
reincorporated in Delaware in April 1992. Unless the context otherwise requires,
references in this Form 10-K to "we," "us," "Metricom" or the "Company" refer to
Metricom, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Our principal executive offices are located
at 333 West Julian Street, San Jose, California 95110-2335, and our telephone
number is (408) 282-3000. Our website is www.metricom.com.
OVERVIEW
Metricom is a high-speed wireless data services company. Using our patented
Micro Cellular Data Network (MCDN) technology we are able to deliver wireless
data faster and less expensively than any other wireless data service
commercially available in the market today. Our first generation network
operated at speeds of 28.8 kilobits per second or kbps. Through the first
quarter of 2001, we have announced the availability of our next generation
high-speed network, which provides average communication speeds of 128 kbps, in
thirteen markets: Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los
Angeles, Minneapolis, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego and San
Francisco. We continue to operate our previous generation 28.8 kbps speed
service in portions of San Francisco and in the Seattle and Washington D.C.
metropolitan areas while these markets are converted to the high-speed service.
We plan to expand our high-speed networks to additional metropolitan areas in
the U.S., including expansion of coverage in the markets that have already been
announced; however, our expansion plans as well as our ability to maintain our
existing operations are dependent on our ability to obtain additional financing.
Our customers include individuals, corporations, educational institutions
and federal, state and local governments. As of December 31, 2000, there were
approximately 34,000 subscribers, including 21,800 subscribers of our 28.8 kbps
service and 12,200 subscribers of our newly launched 128 kbps service.
Our technology and network allow us to meet the exploding demand for
connectivity in a wide range of mobile and non-mobile applications. Our service
and networks support communication among a wide range of devices including
laptops and personal digital assistants, or PDA's, for the mobile professional
to desktop computers in fixed location wireless applications in commercial,
educational, governmental and home applications. In a world where connectivity
is a requirement, Metricom provides the greatest flexibility for access without
compromising performance.
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Our first service marketed under the name Ricochet is targeted at the
growing number of professionals who require full access to their corporate
networks and the Internet while away from the office. Ricochet provides these
mobile professionals with higher speed access to data than any other mobile
wireless technology commercially available today. It also appeals to consumers
who desire high-speed mobile access to the Internet. Ricochet enables users to
replicate wirelessly the look and feel of their desktop computers, providing
them with features customarily associated with working on a desktop computer at
the office. By connecting a Ricochet wireless modem to a laptop computer or
other portable electronic device, users can access their corporate networks and
the Internet whenever they want and wherever they are within our service areas,
just as they would with a wired modem. Users pay only a flat fee for the
service, unlike many other remote access services.
We offer our high-speed Ricochet service through channel partners who
resell the service, co-branded with the Ricochet name and logo, to their
customers and through other channels. The channel partners also provide billing
and the first level of customer support. We currently have six primary channel
partner relationships. WorldCom, Juno Online Services Inc., Wireless
WebConnect!, Inc., GoAmerica Communications Corp., Aether Systems, Inc. and IP
Communications, Inc. have all entered into agreements with us to sell our
high-speed service to their customers. Additionally, our primary channel
partners sell through other channels, including Staples, Fry's and CompUSA
stores as well as other resellers such as Earthlink and Hewlett-Packard. In our
agreement with WorldCom, WorldCom has agreed to pay us at least $388 million in
revenue over the five years following the launch of our service, subject to the
timely deployment of our network, our ability to meet agreed performance
standards and our ability to attract a significant number of subscribers through
other channel partners. This relationship provides us with access to a large and
sophisticated sales force that has experience in selling products and services
to businesses and consumers in our target market. Our agreements with our other
channel partners do not have minimum revenue commitments or incentives related
to our deployment and performance.
We continue to seek additional channel partners that have experience
selling products and services to businesses and consumers in our target market.
Potential channel partners include local telephone companies, wireless carriers,
digital subscriber line or other high-speed Internet access providers, laptop
computer and other portable electronic device manufacturers and system
integrators or networking consulting firms that recommend large-scale purchases
of access services such as ours to their customers.
To date we have financed the deployment of our high-speed network by
issuing both public and private equity and debt. In November 1999, WorldCom,
Inc., and Vulcan Ventures Incorporated, the private investment vehicle of
Microsoft Corporation co-founder Paul Allen, each purchased shares of our
preferred stock for $300 million in cash. In February 2000, we completed
concurrent public offerings of 5,750,000 shares of our common stock at $87.00
per share for gross proceeds of $500 million and $300 million aggregate
principal amount of our 13% senior notes due 2010, together with warrants to
purchase an aggregate of 1,425,000 shares of our common stock at an initial
exercise price of $87.00 per share. The aggregate available net proceeds of
these offerings was approximately $692 million, after deducting underwriting
discounts and commissions and offering expenses, and after establishing the
required interest reserve to secure the first four interest payments on the
notes.
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RISK FACTORS
Set forth below are a number of risk factors applicable to us. If any of
the following risks actually occurs, our business could be harmed substantially.
You should carefully consider the specific factors discussed below, together
with all of the other information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS
WE NEED ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO CONTINUE OUR OPERATIONS DUE TO OUR CURRENT
COMMITMENTS AND THE EXPENSE INVOLVED IN DEPLOYING OUR HIGH-SPEED NETWORK.
We have suffered recurring losses from operations and have incurred
significant financial commitments that raise substantial doubt about our ability
to continue as a going concern through 2001 without obtaining additional
financing. At our current level of operations and rate of negative cash flow, we
anticipate that our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will be
adequate to satisfy our operating loss and capital expenditure requirements
through August 2001. At February 28, 2001, we had working capital of
approximately $327 million and outstanding purchase commitments for capital
equipment, network construction labor and modems of approximately $346 million.
Expenditures associated with developing our high-speed service have contributed
substantially to our cumulative net losses of approximately $583 million at
December 31, 2000.
We believe that, in addition to the current funds on hand at December 31,
2000, to achieve positive cash flow from operations, we will require additional
cash resources of approximately $500 million. However, the funds we actually
will require may vary materially from our estimates. In addition, we could incur
unanticipated costs or be required to alter our plans in order to respond to
changes in competitive or other market conditions, which could require us to
raise additional capital sooner than we expect. Further, although we do not
currently believe that we need to do so, we may decide to use a portion of our
cash resources to acquire licensed spectrum or to license, acquire or invest in
new products, technologies or businesses that we consider necessary to further
the growth and development of our business.
In order to extend the availability of our cash, we have postponed
deployment in most of our originally planned 46 markets until we obtain
additional financing. We are attempting to reduce our financial commitments and
reduce future cash outflows by negotiating alternative terms with our suppliers.
We are also working with our channel partners to increase revenues through new
marketing programs and promotions, and we are exploring potential additional
sources of revenue. We are working with advisors to obtain additional financing
and are currently in discussions with candidates that could potentially provide
financing. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in increasing
revenues, reducing cash outflows or obtaining additional financing. In addition,
there are other limitations in our ability to raise additional financing. First,
the terms of our outstanding senior notes restrict our ability to incur
additional indebtedness and may prevent us from being able to obtain additional
financing. Second, Vulcan Ventures has a control position and WorldCom has a
large investment in us, both of which may deter investors who otherwise might
desire to provide financing to us. Furthermore, if we are able to raise
additional funds, we may need to do so through the sale of additional equity or
equity-linked securities, which could be dilutive to holders of our common
stock, warrants and other securities. In the event that we both do not obtain
additional financing and are unable to extend our availability of cash beyond
our current expectations, we plan to significantly reduce our operations in the
third quarter of 2001 to enable us to continue as a going concern through 2001.
WE MAY ENCOUNTER SIGNIFICANT LEGAL COSTS AND LITIGATION AS A RESULT OF
POSTPONING OUR DEPLOYMENT AND CANCELING CONTRACTS.
Over the past eighteen months, we have entered into contracts with several
contractors and suppliers to deploy our network in 46 markets and supply us with
equipment. Recently, after our contractors had begun deployment, we postponed or
halted network construction in many of these markets to preserve our cash. We
are currently in the process of terminating agreements with several of these
contractors and restructuring contracts with some equipment suppliers and other
contractors. As a result, we may be required to hire
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attorneys to effectively negotiate with these outside parties and we may have to
defend ourselves against litigation as a result of our non-performance under
these agreements. Therefore, we may face significant costs associated with our
legal defense or costs associated with any adverse determination from
litigation. Such costs would negatively impact our results of operations. Any
adverse determination from litigation may also harm our reputation and impede
our ability to engage new contractors should we decide to restart network
deployment in the future.
WE ARE DELAYING THE COMPLETE DEPLOYMENT OF OUR HIGH-SPEED NETWORK TO CONSERVE
CASH, AND THIS DELAY MAY CAUSE US TO BE IN DEFAULT OF SOME OF OUR COMMERCIAL
CONTRACTS AND MAY PREVENT US FROM COMPETING EFFECTIVELY AND ATTRACTING USERS TO
OUR HIGH-SPEED SERVICE.
In order to extend the availability of our cash resources, we have
postponed further deployment of our network in most of our originally planned
markets until we obtain additional financing. We also reduced the size of the
coverage areas of the markets that we are still constructing. This deployment
postponement could cause us to be in noncompliance with some of our commercial
agreements and may prevent us from attracting users to our service, due to the
limited scope of our network in part because we may not be able to compete with
similar wireless services that are offered more broadly.
Some of our commercial agreements require us to make minimum financial
commitments, some of which we may not be able to meet with our modified
deployment plan. We are working with our vendors and suppliers to reduce our
financial commitments and reduce our future cash outflows. We may not be able to
successfully negotiate reductions to these commitments, and we may incur
incremental legal costs associated with these negotiations or with litigation
that may arise if these negotiations are unsuccessful and we are not able to
comply with the terms of these agreements.
WE MAY RELY HEAVILY ON ONE CHANNEL PARTNER, WORLDCOM, TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIAL
PORTION OF THE SUBSCRIPTION SALES AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS.
We have agreements with six channel partners, one of which is WorldCom. In
the first quarter of 2001, WorldCom began marketing and selling our service to
customers in some markets. If WorldCom does not sell our service as effectively
or as widely as anticipated, or if WorldCom terminates its agreement with us,
now or in the future, it could disrupt our operations, adversely affect our
sales and harm our competitive position and our business. Although WorldCom is
only one of several channel partners, we may be heavily dependent on WorldCom to
sell subscriptions to our service because it is our largest channel partner and
is the only one with national brand name recognition. Our agreement with
WorldCom is non-exclusive, allowing it to market and sell the services of our
competitors, and WorldCom may terminate the agreement without penalty if we
breach our material obligations under the agreement. We believe that the extent
to which WorldCom devotes resources to marketing and selling our service will
substantially affect the development of our user base. We cannot predict whether
WorldCom will sell our service effectively or, even if it does, whether it will
decide to support future competing technologies in preference to ours.
WE HAVE LIMITED EXPERIENCE OPERATING OUR HIGH-SPEED NETWORK AND CONSUMER DEMAND
FOR OUR SERVICE IS UNPREDICTABLE.
We only recently placed our new high-speed network into commercial
operation and we cannot reliably project potential demand for our high-speed
service, including whether there will be sufficient demand at the prices we need
to be profitable. We cannot reliably predict demand because the market for
mobile wireless data access services is in the early stages of development and
critical issues concerning wireless communications and data access, including
security, reliability, cost, regulatory issues, ease of use and quality of
service, remain unresolved and are likely to affect the demand for our
high-speed service. In addition, unlike with our original 28.8 kbps service, we
are not selling our high-speed service directly to users. Instead, we have
implemented a business strategy that relies on channel partners to sell our new
service to customers.
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THE SUCCESS OF OUR BUSINESS ULTIMATELY WILL DEPEND UPON THE ACCEPTANCE OF OUR
HIGH-SPEED SERVICE BY USERS WHO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR SERVICE THROUGH OUR CHANNEL
PARTNERS.
Under our current strategy, we will not be successful if our channel
partners are unable to sell our service. There is only a limited market today
for our service and we bear the risk that our channel partners will not sell
enough subscriptions to our service or generate sufficient revenue for us to
recoup the substantial expenditures we have made and will continue to make to
deploy and commercially launch our network. Moreover, if the user base for our
high-speed service does not expand at the rate required to support the
deployment of our network, our revenue and business will suffer, and we may be
unable to complete our national deployment. In addition, competition to provide
wireless data access services of the type we offer could result in a high
turnover rate among our users, which could have an adverse effect on our
business and results of operations.
OUR SUCCESS DEPENDS, IN PART, ON OUR ABILITY AND THE ABILITY OF OUR CHANNEL
PARTNERS TO MARKET OUR SERVICE.
We believe that a substantial marketing effort is necessary to stimulate
demand for our high-speed Ricochet service. We expect our channel partners to be
marketing our service to their customers and other potential users of our
service. We also are undertaking a marketing plan to attract users to our
service. We cannot be certain that these marketing efforts will be successful
and attract the users that we will need to sustain our growth, business and
operations. If we, or our channel partners are unable to market our high-speed
service successfully, or at all, our ability to attract users and generate
revenues will be adversely affected and our business will be harmed.
WORLDCOM MAY REDUCE OR CANCEL ITS OBLIGATIONS TO US IF WE FAIL TO MEET
PERFORMANCE THRESHOLDS.
If we do not satisfy specified performance targets under our WorldCom
agreement, WorldCom could reduce or terminate its payment obligations to us or
suspend or terminate any sales and marketing services we receive under our
agreement with WorldCom, which would impair the growth of our user base and
adversely affect our business and results of operations. Although WorldCom has
agreed to pay us at least $388 million in revenue over the five years following
the launch of our service, our agreement with WorldCom provides that if our
deployment schedule is delayed or if we fail to meet deployment schedule
deadlines or fail to comply with quality-of-service standards relating to data
transmission performance, network availability, coverage and latency, ease of
use and size of modems, all as specified in the agreement, WorldCom may delay or
reduce its minimum payments to us or, in the case of a deployment delay in
excess of 12 months, may terminate the contract. We currently are assessing the
impact that our deployment delays and postponement will have on our minimum
revenue commitment from WorldCom. Because the WorldCom revenue amounts represent
minimum commitments, the ultimate impact, if any, of our deployment,
postponement and delays on total revenues from WorldCom cannot be predicted, but
could be significant. In addition, in the event that, in any agreement year,
subscribers provided by WorldCom represent more than a specified percentage of
our total subscribers, then WorldCom's guaranteed revenue commitment for that
agreement year could be reduced. If we fail to correct any deficiency for
sustained periods of time, WorldCom may suspend its obligations to us or
terminate the agreement.
WE MUST ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH CHANNEL PARTNERS TO SELL OUR SERVICE TO USERS
AND PROVISIONS IN OUR AGREEMENT WITH WORLDCOM AND OUR STANDARD CHANNEL PARTNER
AGREEMENT COULD DETER POTENTIAL CHANNEL PARTNERS FROM ENTERING INTO AGREEMENTS
WITH US.
We are seeking to enter into non-exclusive agreements with other channel
partners to sell our service to users. If we are unable to establish additional
agreements with appropriate channel partners at the rate needed to keep pace
with the growth of our network, or at all, the growth of our customer base and
revenues will be reduced. Our agreement with WorldCom contains provisions that
may deter other potential channel partners from entering into agreements with us
or limit the number of potential users to which our service is marketed. For
example, our agreement with WorldCom contains a "most favored nation" clause,
which assures WorldCom no less favorable terms than we grant any other channel
partner. The agreement also restricts us and other channel partners from
marketing our service to three specified entities to which WorldCom may seek to
resell our service. In addition, our standard agreement with channel partners
requires them to offer our
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service at a flat rate that each channel partner will determine. This provision
could allow a single channel partner to undercut our other channel partners,
which could deter potential channel partners from entering into agreements with
us.
THE SUCCESS OF OUR SERVICE DEPENDS, IN PART, ON OUR ABILITY AND THE ABILITY OF
OUR CHANNEL PARTNERS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE CUSTOMER SUPPORT.
We rely on our channel partners to provide the initial level of customer
support, which we supplement with higher level technical support. We cannot be
certain that either we or the users of our service will be satisfied with the
performance of any channel partner with which we enter into an agreement. If we
or our channel partners are unable to provide adequate customer service, our
ability to retain users could be adversely affected and our reputation and
business could be harmed.
WE EXPECT TO CONTINUE TO GENERATE LOSSES AS WE CONTINUE TO DEPLOY, DEVELOP AND
MARKET OUR NETWORK AND SERVICE.
If we are able to secure additional financing and continue the deployment
of our network, we expect to incur significant operating losses and to generate
negative cash flow from operating activities during the next few years. We have
a history of losses and expect to incur additional losses in the future. If we
are unable to achieve or sustain profitability or positive cash flow from
operating activities, we may be unable to develop our network or conduct our
business effectively or competitively. We cannot assure you that we will be able
to achieve or sustain profitability as we build our user base and market our
service.
WE MAY BE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE AND CARRY EXCESS MODEM INVENTORY IF WE DO NOT
MEET OUR SUBSCRIBER FORECASTS.
Under agreements with modem suppliers, we have committed to purchase a
minimum number of units in the first year of delivery of the modems and to
reimburse these suppliers for a portion of their development costs.
Consequently, we could have more modems than we need if we do not meet our
subscriber forecasts. In addition, we could owe a substantial amount, up to
approximately $100 million in the aggregate, as of December 31, 2000, to these
modem suppliers. These amounts may not be offset in whole or in part by
subscriber revenues if consumer demand is less than we currently anticipate.
OUR QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS ARE LIKELY TO FLUCTUATE SIGNIFICANTLY,
PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE UNCERTAIN DEMAND FOR OUR SERVICE.
As we continue to deploy and develop a market for our high-speed Ricochet
service, our operating results are likely to fluctuate significantly. As a
result, it is likely that in some future quarters, as has occurred in certain
quarters of 2000, our operating results will be below the expectations of
securities analysts and investors, which could cause the trading prices of our
securities to decline, perhaps substantially. We are unable to forecast our
revenues with certainty because of the unknown demand for our high-speed service
and the emerging nature of the mobile wireless data access industry. Our
revenues could fall short of our expectations if our channel partners experience
delays in launching sales and marketing operations for Ricochet or if we are not
able to enter into agreements with additional channel partners. We have limited
experience marketing our new service or operating the high-speed network through
which the service is provided. This lack of experience could cause us to
inaccurately estimate the demand for our new high-speed service, which would
adversely affect our results of operations. Our operating results may fluctuate
as a result of the factors described below and elsewhere in these "Risk
Factors," including:
- Lower than expected subscriber adoption rates
- unanticipated costs of building our network, including costs associated
with postponing and resuming the deployment of our network in some
markets;
- delays in the introduction of our service into new markets;
- changes in the rate of market acceptance of our high-speed service;
- new offerings of, and pricing strategies for, competitive services;
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- changes in the regulatory environment; and
- general economic conditions, as well as economic conditions specific to
the data access markets.
WE MAY BE UNABLE TO ATTRACT USERS AND COMPETE WITH OTHER DATA ACCESS PROVIDERS
IF WE DO NOT EXPAND OUR NETWORK COVERAGE AREA.
We have started offering our high-speed Ricochet service in only 13 markets
thus far and are postponing further deployment and development of our high-speed
network in some of those markets and in additional markets until we are able to
obtain additional funding. Competitive factors may require that we offer our
service in additional markets as well as further develop our high-speed network
in the markets where we have already started offering service. If we are unable
to resume fully deploying our network, we may be unable to attract users and
compete with other data access providers, which offer a competing service with a
broader coverage area, and consequently our revenues and results of operations
may be severely harmed.
THE DEPLOYMENT OF OUR NETWORK MAY BE IMPEDED DUE TO DELAYS CAUSED BY
MUNICIPALITY APPROVALS AND OTHER LOCAL PROBLEMS.
The complete deployment of our high-speed network in some markets has been
delayed due to construction and leasing delays, municipality approvals and
utility agreement negotiations. If we continue to experience delays in the
markets we are currently developing, and, if we obtain additional financing, in
the markets we plan to develop, or if we are unable to meet continuing
deployment needs, such as continuing to deploy network radios and wired access
points to maintain performance levels, we may not be able to compete effectively
or attract users and our business will suffer. We initially planned to announce
the availability of our high-speed service in 12 markets during the late summer
of 2000. By the end of the summer of 2000, we had deployed our service in nine
markets. Although we had planned to launch our service in Chicago and Los
Angeles as part of our initial launch phase, we did not launch in these markets
during that phase due to delays in obtaining zoning approvals and negotiating
utility agreements. In addition, in one market, New York, we have not deployed
our service in all areas of the market because of delays in obtaining necessary
local regulatory clearances. In Washington, D.C. and Seattle, two of our initial
markets, access is available only at 28.8 kbps as we have not completed
construction of the network infrastructure for our high-speed service.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS CONTINGENCIES INVOLVED IN DEPLOYING OUR NETWORK, SOME OF
WHICH ARE OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL. UNFAVORABLE OR UNTIMELY RESOLUTION OF THESE
CONTINGENCIES COULD LEAD TO FURTHER DELAYS IN OUR DEPLOYMENT IN SOME MARKETS.
In order to offer our high-speed service to users in our targeted
metropolitan markets, we must successfully achieve a number of regulatory,
design and implementation objectives. We may not be able to meet these
objectives on a timely basis or at the cost that we have assumed, or at all.
Deployment of our high-speed network involves various risks and contingencies,
many of which are not within our control, including:
- delays or refusals by local governments or other third parties to enter
into the agreements we need to deploy our network, such as in the
Chicago, Los Angeles and New York markets;
- inability of third parties on whom we depend to meet delivery schedules;
- failure of our network to perform as expected;
- hardware reliability and performance problems;
- failure to receive, or loss of, necessary Federal Communications
Commission certification;
- and changes in existing laws and regulations.
In addition, as we transition to our high-speed service in markets where
our 28.8 kbps service is in use, users of our new high-speed service may
experience difficulty in receiving and maintaining our higher speed service and
may occasionally be routed to the 28.8 kbps service. We are currently
implementing system modifications that should eliminate these high-speed service
interruptions. If we are not able to minimize or
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eliminate these disruptions, our ability to attract users of our high-speed
service in these markets could be severely affected and our business could be
harmed.
WE NEED TO OBTAIN RIGHTS-OF-WAY FROM LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, PUBLIC UTILITIES AND
OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES TO LOCATE OUR POLETOP RADIOS AND FAILURE TO OBTAIN
THESE RIGHTS-OF-WAY COULD INCREASE COSTS AND FURTHER DELAY THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THE NETWORK.
The development, expansion and operation of our network depend to a
significant degree on our ability to obtain and maintain rights-of-way for the
location of our poletop radios from local municipalities, public utilities or
other local government entities. We have faced delays and may face future delays
or rejections in attempting to obtain the approvals and agreements necessary to
deploy our network and commercially launch our service. For example, in the
Chicago, Los Angeles and New York markets, variations in local regulations,
including zoning and franchise fee regulations, have delayed our obtaining
agreements we need in order to install our poletop radios. When site agreements
are not executed in a timely manner and on commercially reasonable terms, or at
all, we must seek alternative sites, such as commercial buildings, residential
dwellings or similar structures, on which to install network radios. Deploying a
large area in this manner could be time-consuming and significantly more
expensive than installing poletop radios on street lights and may be restricted
or prohibited by one or more municipalities.
WE NEED TO LEASE SPACE ON ROOFTOPS OR TOWERS FROM THIRD PARTIES TO INSTALL OUR
WIRED ACCESS POINTS AND IF THESE LEASES ARE NOT OBTAINED OR ARE AVAILABLE ON
UNFAVORABLE TERMS, OUR BUSINESS EXPANSION WILL BE IMPAIRED.
The deployment of our service also depends on our ability to lease space
for our wired access points on building rooftops or on transmission towers owned
by third parties, and there is substantial competition from a variety of
communications companies for these sites. We employ third parties to locate
appropriate sites and negotiate leases on our behalf. If these third parties are
unable to identify and negotiate these leases on terms favorable or acceptable
to us, the deployment of our network will be impaired. The rate at which we are
acquiring these leases has been slower and the cost of acquiring these leases
has been higher than we anticipated. Consequently, we must commit more time,
effort and capital resources to acquiring these leases in order to meet our
deployment plans.
WE DEPEND ON THIRD-PARTY SUPPLIERS TO DELIVER KEY COMPONENTS OF OUR NETWORK AND
DELAYS IN THE SHIPMENT OF THESE COMPONENTS COULD AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT
OUR SERVICE.
We depend on sole or limited source suppliers for many of the principal
components of our network, including our network radios and wired access points.
Some of our suppliers have experienced shipment delays, either as a result of
capacity limitations at their production facilities or because they were unable
to obtain raw materials or parts necessary for the network components they
manufacture. Some of these supply shortages are ongoing. If we continue to
experience these or future supply problems and are unable to develop alternative
sources of supply quickly and on a cost-effective basis, our ability to obtain
and install the equipment we need to implement our service will be impaired.
DELAYS IN THE SUPPLY OF CIRCUITS NECESSARY TO DEPLOY OUR NETWORK HAVE NEGATIVELY
IMPACTED, AND MAY CONTINUE TO IMPEDE, THE AVAILABILITY OF OUR SERVICES.
We depend on third-party suppliers to provide data communications circuits
required to deploy our network. To date, we have experienced some delays in
obtaining data communications circuits from vendors. These delays have
negatively impacted both the commercial availability dates and the size of
coverage areas of some of the markets in which we have begun to offer service,
as well as some markets that are not yet developed or offering service. If we do
not obtain data communications circuits on a timely basis, we may be required to
delay the commercial availability of future markets, launch markets with smaller
than optimal coverage areas, or both.
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THE FAILURE OF THE CONTRACTORS WE USE TO INSTALL AND CONSTRUCT OUR NETWORK TO
COMPLETE THE CONSTRUCTION ON A TIMELY, EFFICIENT BASIS COULD IMPEDE FURTHER
IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR SERVICE.
We have outsourced the physical construction of our high-speed Ricochet
network to contractors and our reliance on these contractors reduces our control
over deployment schedules, quality assurance and costs. The failure of these
contractors to complete the installation of our network on a timely,
cost-effective basis, in the markets where we continue to build, could delay the
future deployment of our network, which would damage our business and prospects.
We rely on these third parties, among other things, to install our poletop
radios and wired access points, deliver and install circuits at our wired access
points and network interface facilities, establish and maintain our connection
to corporate networks and the Internet and provide radio frequency engineering.
The successful and timely deployment of our network by these parties is subject
to numerous factors, including the supply of labor, materials and equipment, as
well as prevailing weather conditions, all of which are beyond our control.
WE RELY ON A LIMITED NUMBER OF SUPPLIERS TO PROVIDE THE MODEMS THROUGH WHICH OUR
USERS ACCESS OUR SERVICE AND THEREFORE, IF OUR MODEM SUPPLY WAS REDUCED OR
INTERRUPTED OUR BUSINESS WOULD BE HARMED. ALSO, OUR BUSINESS COULD BE DISRUPTED
AND WE COULD INCUR SUBSTANTIAL COSTS IF OUR MODEM SUPPLIERS DO NOT PROVIDE
ENOUGH MODEMS TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR OUR SERVICE.
We depend on a limited number of third-party manufacturers to develop,
assemble and manufacture our modems. If any of our modem suppliers were to
experience financial, operational, production or quality assurance difficulties,
allocate resources to others in lieu of us or experience a catastrophic event
that results in a reduction or interruption in supply of modems, our business
would be impaired. In addition, if these manufacturers are not able to keep pace
with production schedules, and consumer demand, we may not be able to provide
our customers with modems, which would disrupt our operations and negatively
impact our revenues.
OUR INABILITY TO ARRANGE FOR AN ADDITIONAL SUPPLY OF MODEMS TO MEET FORECASTED
DEMAND FOR SUBSEQUENT PERIODS MAY LIMIT THE ABILITY OF OUR CHANNEL PARTNERS TO
SECURE NEW SUBSCRIBERS.
The projected future demand for our service requires that we obtain more
modems. If we cannot make arrangements for the manufacture of additional modems,
our channel partners may be unable to secure new subscribers to our service,
which would harm our competitive position and our business. Further, if our
channel partners sell more subscriptions than we anticipate or if we decide to
accelerate deployment of our high-speed Ricochet network, our current supplies
may prove inadequate. We cannot assure you that, if any of these events occur,
modems from alternate suppliers will be available at favorable prices, if at
all.
OUR MANUFACTURERS MAY EXPERIENCE SHORTAGES OF SUPPLY OF COMPONENTS FOR OUR
POLETOP, NETWORK RADIOS, MODEMS OR OTHER PRODUCTS, WHICH COULD INVOLVE
SUBSTANTIAL COST AND DELAY AND REDUCE AVAILABILITY OF OUR SERVICE.
Some of the component parts that our manufacturers use in our products,
including our modems and network radios, are available only from sole or limited
source vendors. In early 2000, an industry-wide component shortage caused delays
to the production of our poletop and network radios assembled under contract by
Sanmina Corporation, which resulted in delays to our network deployment. If our
manufacturers are unable to obtain sufficient components, we may need to
reconfigure our modems or radios, which could involve substantial cost and delay
and limit availability of our modems or radios necessary for the deployment of
our network. This could further delay our deployment, which would reduce the
availability of our service to users and harm our business. Our manufacturers'
reliance on sole or limited source vendors involves risks, including the
possibility of a shortage of key component parts and reduced control over
delivery schedules, manufacturing capability, quality and costs. In addition,
some key component parts require long delivery times. If the global supply
shortage continues, or if our other manufacturers are unable to obtain
components, we may experience further delays and may not be able to timely
deploy our network, which could have an adverse effect on our channel partners'
ability to market our service.
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WE DEPEND ON A NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE LARGELY MAINTAINED BY THIRD PARTIES AND
SUBJECT TO DISRUPTION BY EVENTS OUTSIDE OUR CONTROL.
Our success will depend upon the adequacy, reliability and security of the
networks used to carry data between our network and corporate networks and the
Internet. If there is any failure of the Internet backbone, our network
interface facilities or any other link in the delivery chain, whether from
operational disruption, natural disaster or otherwise, our service could be
interrupted and our business and results of operations could be adversely
affected. Because the networks used to carry the data are owned or controlled by
third parties, we have no control over their quality and maintenance. Currently,
we have agreements with WorldCom and others to support the exchange of traffic
between our wired access points, our network interface facilities, the
telecommunications infrastructure and corporate networks and the Internet. Our
operations also depend on our ability to avoid damages from fires, earthquakes,
floods, power losses, communications failures, network software flaws,
transmission cable cuts and similar events. The occurrence of any of these
events could disrupt our service and harm our business.
THE DATA ACCESS MARKET IN WHICH WE OPERATE IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AND INCLUDES A
NUMBER OF COMPANIES THAT HAVE MORE RESOURCES AND BRAND NAME RECOGNITION THAN WE
DO, WHICH MAY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND MAINTAIN USERS OF OUR SERVICE.
Competition in the market for data access and communications services is
intense, and increasing competition may force us to reduce prices, which would
result in reduced gross margins and cause us to lose market share, any of which
could harm the growth of our business and our results of operations. A number of
privately and publicly held communications and data access companies, such as
Qualcomm, Inc. and Sprint Corp., have developed or are developing new wireless
and wired communications and data access services and products using
technologies that may compete with ours. Some wireless data services, such as
Motient, BellSouth and AT&T, have operated for many years and are already
broadly deployed in major markets and well-recognized. Many of these companies
have significantly greater resources, more established brand names and larger
customer bases than we do. In addition, several companies in various other
industries, such as the satellite communications industry, are expected to enter
the market for mobile high-speed data access in the future. Further, we may face
competition from Internet service providers that could offer Internet, online or
data access services at prices lower than those offered by our channel partners,
which could limit our ability to increase our user base and cause us to obtain
lower than anticipated selling prices or incur additional selling, marketing and
product development expenses.
THE DATA ACCESS MARKET IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING, WITH FASTER AND MORE EFFECTIVE
PRODUCTS INTRODUCED REGULARLY. WE MUST CONTINUALLY DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT NEW
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THAT KEEP PACE WITH TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES. IF WE DO NOT,
OUR PRODUCTS MAY BECOME NON-COMPETITIVE OR OBSOLETE, IMPAIRING OUR ABILITY TO
COMPETE FOR CUSTOMERS.
The market for data access and communications services is characterized by
rapidly changing technology and evolving industry standards in both the wireless
and wireline industries as customers demand greater speed and increased access
and mobility. If we do not develop new technologies or systems in a timely
manner upon the introduction of alternative technologies, our products and
services may become non-competitive or obsolete and we may lose users to
competing service providers. Our success will depend to a substantial degree on
our ability to develop and introduce, in a timely and cost-effective manner,
enhancements to our high-speed service and new products that meet changing user
requirements and evolving industry standards. For example, wired data access
technologies, such as digital subscriber lines, may provide faster data rates
than our high-speed network and this may affect user perceptions as to the
attractiveness of our wireless service. Increased data rates also may result in
the widespread development and acceptance of applications that require a higher
data transfer rate than our high-speed service provides.
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WE MAY NOT EFFECTIVELY MANAGE OUR GROWTH INTO NEW GEOGRAPHIC MARKETS, WHICH
COULD IMPEDE OUR ABILITY TO EXPAND OUR BUSINESS AND DEPLOY OUR NATIONWIDE
NETWORK.
In the last year, we have expanded operations such that we now operate our
high-speed service in 13 markets and we are in various stages of development in
33 other markets. If we are unable to manage effectively our future growth and
development, or if we experience difficulties in managing the deployment of our
network, such as the delays in deployment we have experienced related to local
regulatory approvals, our business, results of operations, reputation and
prospects for growth could be harmed. As we continue to deploy our network, we
must manage the design, deployment, installation, maintenance and support of a
nationwide mobile wireless data access network, as well as the coordination and
support of our channel partners. In addition, management of our growth requires,
among other things:
- continued development of our financial and management controls;
- accurate assessment of potential markets;
- stringent cost controls;
- increased marketing activities; and
- retention of qualified personnel and training of personnel and third
parties on whom we depend to deploy and maintain our service.
WE MAY BE UNABLE TO ADEQUATELY PROTECT OUR PROPRIETARY RIGHTS OR TO OBTAIN
ADEQUATE RIGHTS TO USE PROPRIETARY INFORMATION RELATED TO THE TECHNOLOGY USED IN
OUR PRODUCTS.
We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret
protection laws and non-disclosure agreements to establish and protect our
proprietary rights. If these protections do not adequately protect our
proprietary rights, we could lose valuable assets or become involved in costly
litigation. Our current patents may not preclude competitors from developing
equivalent or superior products and technology. We also have pending patent
applications relating to our technology. With respect to our pending patent
applications, we cannot be certain that patents will issue or, if patents do
issue, that claims allowed will be sufficiently broad to protect our technology.
Our trademarks also may be challenged, and we may be precluded from using
trademarks that users identify with our service, thus frustrating the ability of
our channel partners to market our service. Further, we cannot assure you that
we will be able to maintain our trade secrets or that the confidentiality
agreements upon which we rely will provide meaningful protection of our trade
secrets or adequate remedies in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure of
confidential information.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INFRINGEMENT CLAIMS AGAINST US COULD BE COSTLY AND TIME
CONSUMING TO DEFEND AND COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF VALUABLE ASSETS.
Our commercial success also may depend in part on our not infringing the
proprietary rights of others or not breaching technology licenses that cover
technology that we use in our products. If claims are made, even if they are not
meritorious, costly litigation could result, which could divert management
attention, preclude sales of affected products or services and reduce resources.
Third-party patents may require us to develop alternative technology or to alter
our products or processes, obtain licenses or cease some of our activities. If
these licenses are required, we may be unable to obtain them on commercially
favorable terms, if at all. If we are unable to obtain licenses to any
technology required to effectively deploy or market our products and service,
our business could be harmed.
WE ARE SUBJECT TO TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY REGULATIONS AND ARE REQUIRED TO
OBTAIN REGULATORY APPROVALS AND ABIDE BY REGULATORY RESTRICTIONS THAT AFFECT HOW
WE OPERATE OUR BUSINESS. CHANGES TO THE REGULATORY SCHEME OR OUR ABILITY TO
OBTAIN APPROVALS OR COMPLY WITH REGULATIONS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE NATURE
AND EXTENT OF THE SERVICE WE OFFER.
We may not be able to secure the necessary Federal Communications
Commission approvals for some of the equipment that we use as part of our
network and the approval process could result in delays or additional
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costs. In the frequency bands where we operate on a license-free basis, the FCC
requires that we not cause harmful interference to licensed users in the band
and we must accept any interference present in the bands. In our licensed
frequencies, we are subject to an FCC requirement that we not cause interference
to certain services operating in nearby bands and it might even be subject to
interference. Satisfying interference requirements could involve substantial
time and expense and, if we fail to satisfy them, could lead us to curtail our
operations in the affected locations.
In addition, excessive harmful interference in either the licensed or
license-free frequency bands could discourage users from subscribing to or
retaining our service, which would harm our reputation, affect our competitive
position, and impair our business and results of operations. We may desire or,
as a result of changes in regulations, be required to seek to operate in other
license-free or licensed frequency bands. We may not be able to obtain
appropriate licensed or unlicensed spectrum on commercially acceptable terms, if
at all. In addition, redesigning our products to operate in other frequency
bands could be expensive and time-consuming, and may not result in commercially
viable products. Further, some state and local jurisdictions may attempt to
impose additional regulatory requirements, including regulating the terms and
conditions of our service. This regulation could hinder or limit the flexibility
that we have to respond to changes in the markets we serve, thus adversely
affecting our business and results of operations.
OUR SUCCESS DEPENDS ON OUR RETENTION OF KEY PERSONNEL AND OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT
ADDITIONAL KEY EMPLOYEES.
We believe our success will depend largely on our ability to attract and
retain highly skilled engineering and managerial personnel. If we are unable to
retain our management and engineering personnel or if we fail to attract
additional key personnel, we may have difficulty implementing our business plan,
which would adversely affect our ability to expand our business. In February
2001, Timothy A. Dreisbach resigned as our chairman and chief executive officer.
Ralph C. Derrickson, a member of our board of directors, was named interim chief
executive officer. In March 2001, our chief financial officer and senior vice
president of engineering and manufacturing resigned.
The industry in which we operate is characterized by intense competition
for these personnel and a high level of employee mobility. Many of our key
employees hold stock options that are vested or may be fully vested before we
achieve significant revenues or profitability. In addition, the strike price of
many of our key employees' stock options is significantly above the current
market price of our stock. As a result, our ability to retain these key
employees is at risk. We intend to grant additional options and provide other
forms of incentive compensation to attract and retain our key personnel, but we
cannot guarantee these efforts will be successful. In March 2001, we reduced our
workforce by approximately 22%. This reduction may further reduce our ability to
attract and retain key personnel.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EXPAND INTO FOREIGN MARKETS IF WE ARE UNABLE TO LOCATE
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS. IF WE DO EXPAND OVERSEAS, WE WILL BECOME SUBJECT TO
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY.
We are currently at the early stages of evaluating international expansion
opportunities and, to date, we have not generated any revenues outside the
United States. Any international expansion plans we pursue could fail if we are
unable to locate qualified local suppliers and other third parties to deploy our
network or if we cannot establish agreements with channel partners to promote
our service in foreign markets. In addition, deployment of our network and
expansion of our service internationally could subject us to burdens of
complying with a variety of foreign laws and trade standards, particularly
regulatory requirements affecting wireless data and Internet access services,
complexities related to obtaining agreements from foreign municipalities and
third parties to deploy our network, foreign taxes and tariffs, as well as
financial risks, such as those related to foreign currency fluctuations. In
addition, there is greater uncertainty regarding protection and enforcement of
intellectual property rights in certain foreign countries and we may not be able
to adequately protect our intellectual property rights. If we expand
internationally, we also will be subject to general geopolitical risks, such as
political and economic instability and changes in diplomatic and trade
relationships. The risks associated with international expansion could adversely
affect our ability to expand our business.
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RISKS RELATED TO OUR CAPITAL STRUCTURE
OUR PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS CAN CONTROL OR MAY BE ABLE TO EXERT SUBSTANTIAL
INFLUENCE OVER US, AND WE MAY EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST WITH
THEM.
After assuming conversion of all of our outstanding preferred into common
stock, Vulcan Ventures would hold approximately 43% of our common stock and
WorldCom would hold approximately 34% of our common stock, based on capital
stock outstanding on December 31, 2000. In addition, as holders of our preferred
stock, Vulcan Ventures and WorldCom each has the right to elect one director.
Vulcan Ventures, by reason of its large common stock holdings, will continue to
have the ability to control most matters submitted to a vote of our
stockholders, including significant corporate transactions and the election of a
majority of our board of directors. Moreover, in light of WorldCom's substantial
preferred stock holdings and right to elect one director, WorldCom may be able
to substantially influence actions we take.
Conflicts of interest may arise as a consequence of the positions of
control and influence of Vulcan Ventures and WorldCom. For example, conflicts of
interest may arise when Vulcan Ventures or WorldCom is faced with decisions that
could have different implications for us, on the one hand, as compared with
Vulcan Ventures or WorldCom or their various affiliates, on the other hand.
These decisions may relate to matters such as the following:
- corporate opportunities that we or Vulcan Ventures or WorldCom, or any of
their affiliates, could pursue;
- our strategic direction;
- offers to acquire us;
- potential acquisitions by us of other businesses;
- contractual relationships between us and Vulcan Ventures or WorldCom, or
any of their affiliates;
- network deployment priorities;
- businesses that compete or potentially compete with us;
- the issuance or disposition of our securities; and
- the election of new or additional directors or officers.
In particular, WorldCom is one of our channel partners and has discretion
to determine the extent of the marketing resources it devotes to help develop
our user base. WorldCom can terminate its agreement with us without penalty if
we breach our material obligations under the agreement and fail to cure that
breach. Although one of our agreements with Vulcan Ventures contains measures
designed for the protection of our public stockholders with respect to Vulcan
Ventures, such as requiring approval of three directors not affiliated with
Vulcan Ventures for certain matters involving Vulcan Ventures, these stockholder
protection measures may not be effective in any particular case.
CONCENTRATION OF OUR OWNERSHIP BY VULCAN VENTURES AND WORLDCOM COULD DETER,
DELAY OR PREVENT CHANGE OF CONTROL OR OTHER TRANSACTIONS THAT COULD BE
BENEFICIAL TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS.
The concentration of our ownership by Vulcan Ventures and WorldCom, as well
as other rights of Vulcan Ventures and WorldCom, could deter, delay or prevent
third parties, particularly other data access or communications companies, from
investing in us, reselling our service, or initiating or completing a potential
merger with us, a tender offer for our shares, a proxy contest or other
transaction intended to change control or management. These transactions could
involve premium prices or other benefits to our stockholders. Concentration of
ownership could also depress the market price of our common stock or otherwise
adversely affect stockholders, or deter potential channel partners from entering
into agreements with us.
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FUTURE SALES OF OUR COMMON STOCK MAY CAUSE OUR STOCK PRICE TO DECLINE.
If our stockholders sell substantial amounts of our common stock in the
public market, the market price of our common stock could decline, possibly
significantly. As of December 31, 2000, we had 30,795,473 shares of common stock
outstanding, all of which are freely tradable in the public market, subject in
some cases to volume limitations and manner of sale restrictions imposed by Rule
144 under the Securities Act. In addition to our outstanding common stock,
Vulcan Ventures and WorldCom each owns 31,950,000 shares of our preferred stock,
each of which is convertible into one share of common stock automatically upon
transfer to an unaffiliated transferee. The shares of common stock issuable upon
conversion of the preferred stock owned by Vulcan Ventures and WorldCom became
eligible for sale in the public market, subject to volume limitations and manner
of sale restrictions imposed by Rule 144, on November 15, 2000. The shares of
Series A2 preferred are convertible into shares of common stock at any time. The
shares of Series A1 preferred become convertible into shares of common stock
beginning May 2002. Furthermore, subject to certain exceptions, Vulcan Ventures
and WorldCom, together with any person holding at least 500,000 shares of
preferred stock, or common stock issued upon conversion thereof, transferred by
either of them, are entitled to require us to use our best efforts to register
their shares for resale under the Securities Act.
THE MARKET PRICE OF OUR STOCK HAS BEEN, AND MAY CONTINUE TO BE, HIGHLY VOLATILE,
WHICH COULD SUBJECT US TO LITIGATION.
The market price of our common stock, along with the market prices of
securities of many other companies engaged in emerging industries, has been
highly volatile. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market
price of our common stock and could lead to litigation. Announcements like the
ones listed below could have a significant impact on the market price of our
securities. These announcements may include:
- technological innovations, such as faster data access speeds or new
commercial services by us or our competitors;
- comments made by securities analysts, including changes in securities
analysts' estimates of our financial performance or the outlook for other
data access providers;
- further delays in deployment of our high-speed network or launch of our
high-speed service;
- quarterly fluctuations in our revenues and financial results;
- regulatory developments in both the U.S. with regard to the FCC or local
authorities in particular markets we are seeking to enter, and foreign
countries;
- developments concerning proprietary rights, including patents;
- litigation matters;
- timing of additional financing, if at all;
- general market conditions; or
- changes in key personnel.
If securities litigation did result, there could be substantial costs and a
diversion of management's attention and resources, which could have an adverse
effect on our revenues and earnings. Any adverse determination in this type of
litigation could also subject us to significant liabilities.
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WE HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF DEBT, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS,
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
As a result of our February 2000 issuance of 13% senior notes due 2010, we
have substantial indebtedness. This large amount of indebtedness could adversely
affect our business, financial condition and results of operations by
potentially:
- making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations under the
notes or other indebtedness and, if we fail to comply with the
requirements of the indebtedness, resulting in an event of default;
- requiring us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from
operations to required payments on indebtedness, thereby reducing the
availability of cash flow for working capital, capital expenditures and
other general corporate purposes;
- limiting our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for
working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate
purposes;
- limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our
business and the industry in which we operate;
- detracting from our ability to successfully withstand a downturn in our
business or the economy generally; and
- placing us at a competitive disadvantage against other less leveraged
competitors.
We had approximately $241.6 million of senior notes payable outstanding at
December 31, 2000 that will accrete to an aggregate principal amount at maturity
of $300.0 million. We need to raise more capital to maintain our operations and
finance our continued network deployment, which may be in the form of
substantial additional indebtedness.
The indenture and the supplemental indentures governing the notes permit us
to incur additional debt to fund the development, construction, expansion or
operation of, or acquisition of assets used in or the majority of the voting
stock of, communications and data access businesses and up to $275 million under
one or more credit facilities. We can also incur additional indebtedness based
on our financial performance and the amount of equity capital that we raise in
the future. If we incur debt in addition to the notes, the related risks could
intensify.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GENERATE SUFFICIENT CASH FLOW TO MEET OUR EXPECTED DEBT
SERVICE OBLIGATIONS.
Our future cash flow may be insufficient to meet our payment obligations
under our outstanding senior notes when those payments become due. If we are
unable to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our debt obligations or to
refinance our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms, there could be an
adverse effect on our ability to operate our business as well as on our
financial condition and results of operations. Our ability to generate cash flow
from operations to make scheduled payments on our debt obligations as they
become due will depend on our future financial performance, which will be
affected by a range of economic, competitive and business factors, many of which
are outside our control.
If we do not generate sufficient cash flow from operations to satisfy our
debt obligations, we may have to undertake alternative financing plans, such as
refinancing or restructuring our debt, selling assets, reducing or delaying
capital investments or seeking to raise additional capital. We cannot assure you
that any refinancing would be possible, that any assets could be sold or, if
sold, of the timing of the sales and the amount of proceeds realized from those
sales or that additional financing could be obtained on acceptable terms, if at
all.
THE TERMS OF OUR OUTSTANDING SENIOR NOTES IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS ON US AND ON OUR
ABILITY TO TAKE ACTIONS SUCH AS INCURRING ADDITIONAL INDEBTEDNESS OR MAKING
INVESTMENTS. THESE RESTRICTIONS MAY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO SUCCESSFULLY OPERATE
OUR BUSINESS.
We are restricted by the terms of our outstanding senior notes from taking
various actions, such as incurring additional indebtedness, paying dividends,
repurchasing junior indebtedness, making investments,
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entering into transactions with affiliates, merging or consolidating with other
entities and selling all or substantially all of our assets. These restrictions
could also limit our ability to obtain future financing, which we require to
continue our operations after August 2001, make needed capital expenditures,
withstand a future downturn in our business or the economy in general or
otherwise conduct corporate activities. We may also be prevented from taking
advantage of business opportunities that arise because of the limitations
imposed on us by the restrictive covenants under the indenture and supplemental
indentures. A breach of any of these provisions will result in a default under
the indenture and supplemental indentures governing the senior notes and could
result in a default under agreements relating to other indebtedness that we may
have in the future that would allow those lenders to declare that indebtedness
immediately due and payable. If we were unable to pay those amounts because we
did not have sufficient cash on hand or were unable to obtain alternative
financing on acceptable terms, the lenders could initiate a bankruptcy or
liquidation proceeding or proceed against any assets that serve as collateral to
secure that indebtedness. We cannot assure you that our assets would be
sufficient to repay that amount and amounts due under the notes in full. In
addition, upon the occurrence of certain events specified in the senior notes,
including connection with certain types of change in control, we will be
required to make an offer to purchase all the outstanding notes at a premium, in
which case we may not have sufficient funds to pay for all the notes that are
tendered, which also would constitute an event of default.
OUR SOLUTION AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
Our high-speed Ricochet service provides users with secure and reliable
high-speed mobile access to corporate networks and the Internet for a flat fee.
We believe the competitive strengths of Ricochet effectively address the growing
demand for high-speed mobile wireless data access through the following
combination of benefits:
Access to data at speeds equal to or greater than any other remote mobile
wireless technology commercially available today. Ricochet provides effective
data transfer rates that are equal to or higher than any other remote mobile
wireless data access service commercially available today. Our quality of
service commitment is to provide users with an average speed of 128 kbps, which
is as fast or faster than today's high-speed integrated service digital network,
or ISDN, telephone lines. Our high-speed service operates at an average upstream
data transfer rate of more than 50 kilobits per second, which is faster than the
average data transmission rate of 33 kbps typical of commonly available "56k"
wired modems.
Look and feel of a desktop computer. Our target users are mobile workers
who require full access to corporate resources from remote locations. Because of
our fast data transfer speeds, we believe that a user working on a laptop
computer connected to our network will perceive a substantial advantage over any
other remote mobile wireless data access technology commercially available
today. Moreover, Ricochet offers mobile workers the ability to connect to their
corporate networks and the Internet from any place within our service area,
without the inconvenience of having first to locate a telephone modem dataport
to establish a remote, and generally slower, connection to e-mail, databases and
file and facsimile transmission servers. Furthermore, we have designed our
service for laptop computers and other portable electronic devices with
relatively large screen areas and relatively large storage capacities to enable
our users to better emulate the look, feel and functionality of their desktop
computers. By contrast, although data-enabled wireless telephones may offer a
convenient means of engaging in simple tasks, such as checking stock prices or
sports scores, they are not suitable for displaying data-rich graphics or
creating and editing documents, functions frequently performed at desktop
computers. Accordingly, we believe that we offer a service that is complementary
to, rather than competitive with, data-enabled wireless telephones.
Packet-switched technology. We believe that data networks, such as ours,
that utilize packet-switched technology offer a number of advantages over
circuit-switched networks. In a packet-switched network, data is transmitted in
discrete units called packets, rather than in a continuous stream, as with a
telephone modem using a circuit-switched telephone line. The network software
sends each discrete packet through the network via a uniquely selected path,
with the software reassembling the packets into their proper order when they
arrive at their destination. By allowing multiple users to share our network
capacity, this technology can reduce network congestion and virtually eliminate
busy signals. In addition, because our network does not
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require a dedicated connection between modems at each end of a circuit, users
utilize our network capacity only when the network actually transmits data
packets. A circuit-switched network, in contrast, requires a dedicated
connection between modems at each end of a circuit, thus limiting network
capacity to the number of circuits available and modems installed. Moreover, in
a circuit-switched network, once the user establishes a connection, neither the
modem nor the circuit in use is available to other users even when data is not
being transmitted. Because of these factors, busy signals occur in
circuit-switched networks when the number of users exceeds the number of
connections available. Further, many circuit-switched networks will "time out" a
connection after the user has been connected for a specified time in order to
create capacity for other users. Because our network uses packet-switched
technology, our users can remain online indefinitely. In addition, the equipment
required to construct our network is less expensive than circuit-switched
technology employed by traditional wireless carriers.
Security and reliability. In addition to the reliability benefits that
result from using packet-switched technology, our network's use of
frequency-hopping, spread spectrum technology, combined with optional
encryption, makes unauthorized interception of data packets extremely difficult
and provides greater security than is generally available from other wired and
wireless data communications services. Our very low equipment failure rate
contributes to the reliability of our service. Moreover, if a network radio is
busy or not functioning properly, our network routes data along a different path
to its destination within the network, minimizing apparent network disruption or
reduced data transfer rates to our users. By providing secure and reliable
access to corporate networks, Ricochet service appeals to organizations with
mobile workforces.
Access to WorldCom's large and sophisticated sales force. In the first
quarter of 2001, WorldCom began marketing and selling subscriptions to our
high-speed service. This relationship provides us with the benefit of support
from a large and sophisticated sales force that has experience selling products
and services to businesses and consumers in our target market. Moreover,
WorldCom now markets and sells our high-speed service through multiple sales
channels that have experience with the needs of network and Internet users and
users of other mobile access technologies. In addition, WorldCom provides
customer support to the users of our service.
Scalable and cost-effective network. Our network architecture allows us to
react quickly to expand our network to respond to positive consumer demand for
our service. We can increase network coverage and capacity and reduce system
congestion quickly and inexpensively by installing additional network or wired
access point radios in areas of high use. Moreover, our network relies primarily
on unlicensed radio frequency spectrum that we are able to use without paying
any license fee or other similar acquisition cost.
OUR STRATEGY
Our objective is to be the leading provider of high-speed wireless data
access to the exploding markets of digital devices (computers, laptops, PDA's)
that require constant connectivity. The key elements of our current strategy are
as follows:
Operate our existing high-speed network. Through the first quarter of 2001,
we have deployed our network and announced availability of our high-speed
Ricochet service in a total of 13 of the largest markets in the United States,
and continue to operate two additional markets where our original 28.8 kbps
service is available. In the near term, we plan to focus on operating our
existing high-speed network and demonstrating and validating its viability in
the marketplace. We will continue to build our network in some target markets,
but our expansion to additional markets will depend on both our ability to
generate revenue from existing markets and our access to growth capital.
Target professionals and others who require constant high-speed
connectivity. To date, our product marketing has been focused on mobile
professionals. These are people who already use laptop computers and require
access in a wide range of working environments (home, office, off-site). These
include salespeople, consultants, lawyers, accountants, computer professionals
as well as a growing consumer group. We plan to continue to focus on this market
but expect to expand our offerings to include services targeted at consumers and
users of portable devices (PDA's, two-way pagers, mobile communication devices).
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Capitalize on the distribution strength of a select group of channel
partners. Under our current strategy, we do not sell our high-speed service or
provide customer support directly to users. Instead, we rely on our channel
partners, which generally have significant marketing and customer support
experience, to generate demand for our service. These partners market and sell
subscriptions to our service to their customers on a co-branded basis,
displaying the Ricochet name and logo in addition to their own in promotional
and other materials they use to offer our service. We currently have agreements
with six channel partners: WorldCom, GoAmerica, Juno Online Services, Wireless
Webconnect!, Aether Systems and IP Communications. In addition, our channel
partners use additional channels such as Staples, Fry's, CompUSA retail stores
or resellers such as Earthlink and Hewlett Packard. In selecting channel
partners, we focus on organizations with experience selling products and
services to businesses and consumers in our target market. Additional potential
channel partners include local telephone companies, wireless carriers, digital
subscriber line or other high-speed Internet access providers, laptop computer
and other portable electronic device manufacturers and system integrators or
networking consulting firms that recommend large-scale purchases of access
services such as ours to their customers. In the future, we may pursue
additional or alternative distribution strategies that allow us to grow our user
base more quickly.
Maintain network performance and cost advantages. We intend to continue our
commitment to research and development so that we can continue to offer our
users faster data transmission rates on a more cost-effective basis than
competing remote mobile wireless data access services. We believe our core
technologies -- and particularly our utilization of packet-switched
communications and unlicensed portions of the radio frequency spectrum -- will
enable us to maintain performance and cost advantages over competing services in
the future, as technological advancements increase the standard for data
transmission speeds and network performance. Outsourcing some business functions
is a key part of our strategy to maintain network performance and cost
advantages for our users. We have contracted with several companies to fulfill
our manufacturing and network deployment needs, and, to the extent that we
continue our deployment, we plan to continue to utilize other companies to
perform these functions in the future. The functions that we have outsourced
include manufacturing network radios designed by us, manufacturing the modems
used by our users, acquiring municipal rights-of-way and other similar rights
necessary to deploy our network, physically installing our network equipment and
provisioning the circuits required for our network to connect to the Internet or
other corporate networks. By outsourcing these functions to organizations for
which they are core competencies, we free our own resources to concentrate on
recruiting and managing channel partners, managing our network and advancing our
core technologies to enhance our network's performance and cost-effectiveness in
the future.
Consider international opportunities. To date, we have concentrated almost
exclusively on domestic opportunities and have engaged in only limited
exploration of international opportunities. Though we have no immediate plans to
do so, we may pursue opportunities to offer service based on our technologies in
markets outside the U.S. We believe that the advantages of our core
technologies, and particularly the relatively low deployment cost of our
network, should enable us to provide a service that is attractive to customers
in other countries that have large populations of knowledge workers.
OUR NETWORK AND TECHNOLOGY
Users of our high-speed Ricochet service connect to our network through
wireless external and personal computer card modems attached to laptop computers
or other portable electronic devices. In the future, we also expect that users
will be able to connect to our network through advanced integrated circuits
built-in to end-user devices. Our high-speed network architecture consists of
four basic elements:
- compact, inexpensive network radios, called poletop radios, which we
deploy on streetlights, utility poles and building rooftops in a
geographical mesh pattern and which communicate with our users' laptop
computers or other portable electronic devices through wireless modems;
- wired access points, which we deploy on building rooftops or other
locations, many of which also serve as the sites for existing cellular or
other wireless base stations and which connect to our poletop radios
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by wireless links. The wired access points connect with one of our
network interface facilities via high-speed dedicated wired connections;
- network interface facilities, which aggregate traffic to and from all
wired access points in a market and provide connections to the Internet
and other networks; and
- our network operations center, which provides central management of our
entire network.
Our network utilizes a hardware and software platform based on spread
spectrum, frequency-hopping, packet-switched digital radio technology. In a
packet-switched network such as ours and the Internet, data are communicated in
discrete units, called packets, rather than in a continuous stream. With
frequency-hopping radios such as our poletop and wired access point radios, the
radios communicate with each other on multiple frequencies, or channels. Each
radio changes the channel on which it is communicating frequently in a pattern
that is known to the surrounding radios but difficult for outside parties to
predict. This unpredictability results in a high level of security by making
interception of data by unauthorized users difficult. It also provides high
network reliability, because if a radio encounters interference on any given
channel, it automatically switches to another channel. We will incorporate an
optional encryption capability for users desiring an additional level of
security.
Poletop radios are the primary component of our hardware platform, and we
deploy them in a geographically dispersed pattern referred to as "mesh"
architecture. Our mesh network architecture and proprietary technology for
routing data packets across the network enable us to move the data packets along
a number of alternative paths, thus allowing packets to be routed around busy or
non-functioning radios. We believe that our mesh architecture provides
advantages over the more typical network topology, known as the star topology,
in which all communications are required to pass through one or more central
base stations, or hubs. In a star topology system, congestion and impaired
signal communications resulting from weak signal strength must generally be
addressed by installing another hub, typically a costly and time-consuming
process. With our network, we can reduce system congestion and increase network
coverage and capacity by installing one or more relatively inexpensive poletop
or wired access point radios where needed.
Upstream data transmitted from a user's wireless modem travels through one
or more poletop radios wirelessly to a wired access point, from which the data
is routed over high-speed dedicated wired connections to a network interface
facility, where we connect our network directly to the Internet or another
network, which in turn delivers the data packet to its destination. Downstream
data travels to the user along a similar return route. We typically install our
poletop radios at an average density of five radios per square mile and we
generally install a wired access point approximately every five to ten square
miles, depending on population density. We have designed our network so that a
data packet transmitted by a user typically requires no more than one or two
transmissions, if any, from one poletop radio to another before reaching a wired
access point. Each wired access point is connected by high-speed dedicated wired
connections to one of our network interface facilities. Each network interface
facility aggregates traffic to and from all wired access points in a market and
connects to the Internet and other networks. Currently, we have agreements with
WorldCom and others to support the exchange of traffic between our wired access
points, our network interface facilities, the telecommunications infrastructure
and corporate networks and the Internet.
Our network's performance is monitored and controlled by our network
operations center located in Plano, Texas. The network operations center has the
ability to monitor performance of each network interface facility, wired access
point, poletop and modem on the system.
Our network operates in the unlicensed 900 megahertz and 2.4 gigahertz
frequency bands of spectrum. We may also operate in the 2.3 gigahertz frequency
band pursuant to licenses purchased from the FCC in 1997. We have licensed
wireless communication service, or WCS, spectrum covering areas with 127 million
in population, according to 1990 population statistics. Two areas have licenses
for 20 MHz (Seattle and Portland; 7 million population), four have licenses for
5 MHz (Boston, New York, Buffalo and Philadelphia; 47 million population) and 15
have 10 MHz (St. Louis, Houston, Dallas -- Ft Worth, Denver, Omaha, Wichita,
Tulsa, Oklahoma City, San Antonio, El Paso -- Albuquerque, Phoenix,
Spokane -- Billings, Salt Lake City, San Francisco -- Oakland, and Los
Angeles -- San Diego; 73 million population). This licensed
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spectrum provides us with the ability to transmit at higher power in those
regions and thus attain greater network coverage with fewer wired access points.
In areas not covered by our licensed spectrum, we can achieve the same coverage
results by deploying additional wired access points. We use the 900 megahertz
band primarily for transmissions to and from a user's modem to a poletop radio
and from a poletop radio to a network radio or wired access point, and the 2.4
gigahertz band primarily for communication between network radios and between
poletop radios and wired access points. Wired access points that use the 900
megahertz band and the 2.4 gigahertz band are referred to as industrial,
scientific and medical band wired access points, called ISM WAPs. Wired access
points that use the 2.3 gigahertz band are referred to as WCS WAPs. We intend to
use the 2.3 gigahertz band only for downstream (toward the subscriber) traffic
from wired access points to poletop radios and only where we have licenses to
use 2.3 gigahertz spectrum and when we cannot route the downstream traffic to
the user in one radio hop using the 2.4 gigahertz band. We do not currently use
or intend to use the 2.3 gigahertz band for upstream traffic.
Finally, we also intend to provide a traditional dial-in service to enable
users travelling outside our service areas to access their corporate networks or
the Internet through standard telephone modems.
NETWORK DEPLOYMENT
We have deployed our Ricochet service in the following markets thus far:
ESTIMATED POPULATION(1)
UNDER COVERAGE AT
SERVICE AREA DATE AVAILABLE MARCH 2, 2001
------------ -------------- -----------------------
San Diego.............................. July 2000 2.0 million
Atlanta................................ August 2000 0.8 million
Baltimore.............................. September 2000 1.4 million
Dallas/Fort Worth...................... September 2000 2.9 million
Houston................................ September 2000 2.3 million
New York City.......................... September 2000 6.0 million
Philadelphia........................... September 2000 2.0 million
Phoenix................................ September 2000 1.6 million
San Francisco.......................... September 2000 3.3 million
Minneapolis............................ November 2000 1.4 million
Denver................................. December 2000 1.0 million
Detroit................................ December 2000 2.3 million
Los Angeles............................ February 2001 6.1 million
------------
Total high-speed coverage.... 33.1 million
------------
Seattle................................ 1996 2.4 million
Washington D.C. ....................... 1996 1.5 million
------------
Total network coverage....... 37.0 million
============
- ---------------
(1) Source: 1998 United States Government Census Estimates
The deployment process for our network involves:
- obtaining agreements permitting us to deploy our poletop radios and wired
access points, which include:
-- agreements with municipalities, known as right-of-way use agreements,
which grant us the right to enter and utilize a municipal right-of-way
to deploy our poletop radios, the right to attach our poletop radios to
municipally owned property, if any, in the public way and the right to
attach our poletop radios to third-party owned property in the public
way, such as utility property;
-- pole attachment agreements with utility companies or municipalities
governing the use of utility poles for the deployment of our poletop
radios;
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-- supply agreements with utility companies governing the supply of
electricity to our poletop radios; and
-- lease agreements with the owners of buildings or radio towers governing
the lease of space for the deployment of our wired access points;
- designing the network configuration;
- to the extent necessary, acquiring zoning and construction approvals to
build or locate wired access points on radio towers or building rooftops;
- arranging for circuit installation to wired access points and network
interface facilities, and
- acquiring equipment, installing and testing the network.
We install most of our poletop radios on street light arms or distribution
poles owned by electric and other utilities, municipalities or other local
government entities. In addition, we are required to enter into agreements with
municipalities as owners of the rights-of-way in which street lights and
distribution poles are located and supply agreements with providers of
electricity to power our radios. Typically, the right-of-way agreements have
terms of five to 10 years with three five-year renewal options. Many agreements
require us to pay an annual right-of-way use fee, sometimes referred to as a
franchise fee, to the municipality or other governmental agency that controls
the right-of-way. These franchise fees, where permitted, currently average about
5% of the adjusted gross revenues collected from subscribers with billing
addresses located in the municipality covered by the right-of-way agreement. The
electrical supply agreements for our poletop radios typically have a term of 10
years and require us to pay a monthly fee for electricity, which is determined
by tariff, if appropriate, or by a private rate agreement. In addition, we are
typically required to pay an annual fee for the use of each streetlight or other
pole to which a poletop radio has been directly attached. The combined
electrical and rental fees currently average about $110 per year per poletop
radio.
In the event we are unable to negotiate site agreements in a timely manner
and on commercially reasonable terms or at all, we will seek to obtain sites to
deploy radios on commercial buildings or similar structures. While deploying a
large area in this manner could be significantly more expensive than installing
radios on street lights, we did use this technique on a limited basis in
connection with the deployment of our original 28.8 kbps service to reduce the
delays experienced in the deployment process.
We are sometimes required to obtain zoning approvals from local
municipalities or other governmental entities to build or locate wired access
points on radio towers or building rooftops. Zoning restrictions may impose
limitations on the amount of electrical load on a rooftop, radio frequency
emissions or aesthetic characteristics of our network radios. The zoning process
and length of time involved in obtaining approval varies from city to city. We
also must negotiate leases for our wired access points, which can take a
substantial amount of time.
In October 1999, we entered into agreements with Wireless Facilities, Inc.,
General Dynamics Worldwide Telecommunications Systems and Whalen & Company to
provide us with expertise and personnel to assist us with the deployment of our
network in 21 markets. Wireless Facilities also has been assisting us with radio
frequency engineering related to the physical deployment of the wired access
point components of our network. All three companies have been responsible for
many of the tasks involved in the deployment of our network wired access points,
including assisting us with acquiring sites for our wired access points,
obtaining necessary zoning approvals, network architectural and engineering
management, construction management and the installation of wired access point
services. As a result of our recent reduction in deployment, these vendors
continue to perform these services for us though in reduced volumes.
In the fourth quarter of 2000, we entered into agreements with American
Tower, Delta Groups Engineering, Divine Tower International, Professional
Telecom Services and Whalen & Company to assist us with network deployment in 25
additional markets. However, in order to conserve cash in these currently tight
financial markets, we are terminating our agreements and have postponed
construction in these markets until we can obtain sufficient financing under
acceptable terms.
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MARKETING, SALES AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Our high-speed Ricochet service is currently available through four channel
partners: GoAmerica, Juno Online Services, Wireless WebConnect!, and WorldCom.
We have also entered into agreements with Aether Systems and IP Communications
to resell our service and are currently working with them to initiate their
sales and marketing operations for Ricochet. Our channel partners market and
sell subscriptions to our service and bill and provide the initial level of
customer support for users. In addition, some of our channel partners offer our
service through additional resellers such as Earthlink and Hewlett-Packard, and
through retail stores such as Staples, Fry's and CompUSA. Our channel partner
strategy is designed to capitalize on the distribution strength, customer
support expertise and experience our channel partners may have in selling
multiple services, such as long-distance, mobile voice or Internet services, to
organizations and individuals. We do not sell subscriptions or provide customer
support directly to users. Instead, we sell subscriptions to, and receive
payment from, channel partners on a wholesale basis at flat monthly rates. Our
channel partners, in turn, resell the service at flat monthly rates under
various pricing plans. Service plans offered by our channel partners vary, but
typically range from $70 to $80 per month for unlimited usage. External and PC
card Ricochet modems are offered through our channel and distribution partners
for prices ranging from $99 to $299.
We are aggressively co-marketing Ricochet with our channel partners in
specific target markets, through television, radio, newspaper and other media
advertising as well as additional marketing programs. In addition to promoting
the Ricochet brand through co-branding arrangements with our channel partners,
we have promoted the Ricochet brand independently. Our Ricochet logo and brand
identity focus on the mobile benefits of our high-speed service, and our goal is
to make the Ricochet brand synonymous with speed, reliability and security.
WorldCom began marketing our service in the first quarter of 2001. Under
our agreement with WorldCom, WorldCom has agreed to pay us a per-subscriber fee,
subject to an agreed minimum revenue level of at least $388 million over the
five years following the launch of our service, assuming that we deploy our
network on a timely basis and meet quality-of-service and network performance
standards. However, in the event that, in any agreement year, WorldCom's sales
efforts result in fewer subscribers than WorldCom has agreed contractually to
provide, but subscribers provided by WorldCom and its authorized resellers
nevertheless represent more than a threshold percentage of our total users, then
WorldCom will pay us only the greater of a per-subscriber rate for each of its
users or the subscription fees we receive from all of our other channel
partners, which could be substantially less than the minimum revenues we
currently expect from WorldCom. Accordingly, our ability to achieve the minimum
revenue levels we expect from our agreement with WorldCom may depend on our
ability to enter into channel agreements with one or more large channel partners
that can successfully sell subscriptions to our service so that subscribers
provided by WorldCom and its resellers represent less than the threshold
percentage of our total users. Further, if our deployment schedule is delayed or
if we fail to meet deployment schedule deadlines or fail to comply with
quality-of-service standards relating to data transmission performance, network
availability, coverage and latency, ease of use and size of modems, all as
specified in our agreement, WorldCom may delay or reduce its minimum payments to
us or, in the case of a deployment delay in excess of 12 months, may terminate
the contract. We are currently assessing the impact that our deployment delays
will have on our minimum revenue commitment from WorldCom. If we fail to correct
any deficiency for sustained periods of time, WorldCom may suspend its
obligations to us under the agreement or terminate the agreement. Additionally,
under this agreement, we have the right, at our expense, to co-brand our service
with WorldCom. With our consent, WorldCom has agreed to display the Ricochet
name and logo in all of the promotional and other materials it will use to offer
our service to subscribers and to provide us with a six-month rolling forecast
of projected new subscribers. In addition, we have agreed to provide sales
support to WorldCom's direct sales team. This agreement also contains a "most
favored nation" clause, which assures WorldCom no less favorable terms than we
grant any other channel partner. The agreement also precludes us and any other
channel partners that we may have from marketing our service to three specified
entities with which WorldCom may enter into reselling arrangements. Our
agreement with WorldCom can be canceled by either party upon 30 days written
notice in the event the
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other party has failed to fulfill its material obligations under the agreement.
WorldCom and its affiliates are not prevented under the agreement from
supporting competing technologies.
We rely on our channel partners to provide all first level customer support
to the users of our high-speed Ricochet service. This level of support requires
our channel partners to receive and attempt to fulfill a subscriber's request
for customer support. Typically, the provider of this level of customer support
handles all non-network related questions, such as those regarding features of
our service, installation or formatting, how the service works or billing
questions. We provide all second and third level customer support to the users
of our service. Second level customer support includes responding to
network-related questions, directed to us by our channel partners' customer
support personnel, not by the subscriber directly. Third level customer support
includes repairing or modifying our network in response to customer problems. We
provide this second and third level support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Although we have eliminated our marketing and sales activities with respect
to our original 28.8 kbps Ricochet service, we continue to provide that service
to our existing customers and provide customer support Monday through Saturday
through an inbound toll-free customer service line. In 2000 we entered into an
agreement with Wireless WebConnect! to assume responsibilities for Internet
service, billing and customer support operations for our 28.8 kbps service, and
we expect to transition these responsibilities to them over the course of 2001.
Backlog for all Ricochet product and service orders at December 31, 2000 and
1999 was not material.
COMPETITION
We face intense competition in the market for mobile wireless data access
services targeted at users of laptop computers and other portable electronic
devices. The mobile wireless data access market has received increased attention
in recent years, and a number of companies have developed or are developing
mobile wireless data access services and products using competing technologies.
In addition, a large number of companies in diverse industries are expected to
enter the market in the future. We believe the principal factors on which
companies compete in this market are effective data transmission rate,
reliability, network coverage, ease of use and price. Except for our currently
limited network coverage, we believe our high-speed Ricochet service compares
favorably to available alternatives with respect to these competitive factors.
However, the pace of innovation in the wireless communications industry is
rapid, and we cannot be sure that our service will achieve or maintain
competitiveness with available alternatives in the future.
Our current and anticipated future competitors can be categorized based on
the types of communications networks they use to transmit data. These networks
include: terrestrial networks that are dedicated to data communications;
terrestrial networks designed for cellular telephone service or personal
communications services, or PCS; satellite communications networks; and
traditional communications networks using wired fixed-point access, as well as
future enhancements of other wireless technologies.
Services utilizing dedicated data communications networks. Three companies
currently offer their subscribers general mobile data access services like ours
utilizing terrestrial networks dedicated to data communications that have been
operating for many years and are broadly deployed in major metropolitan markets.
BellSouth Wireless Data LP offers a service utilizing a network formerly
operated under the name RAM Mobile Data, and Motient Corporation offers a
service utilizing its ARDIS network. AT&T Wireless offers a data service
utilizing a cellular digital packet data network. In addition to these general
services, 3Com Corporation in 1999 began offering mobile data access services to
users of its Palm VII personal digital assistant utilizing the BellSouth and
AT&T networks. Further, two-way paging companies have begun to offer limited
information access services, such as headline news and stock quotes. Based on
published reports, we believe the effective data transmission rates available to
customers of these services are limited to approximately 8 kbps. This limitation
constrains the ability of users of these services to engage in relatively
data-intensive applications, such as web browsing, file transfers and exchanging
e-mail involving graphical or other large attachments. For example, web access
for users of the Palm VII product is limited to those web sites that support the
"web clipping" software application provided with the Palm VII device. This
application
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permits a Palm VII user to download selected portions of the information
available on participating Web sites but does not permit full access to the
participating sites or any access to non-participating sites.
We believe our high-speed service is complementary to relatively low-speed
services, such as those utilizing the BellSouth, AT&T and ARDIS networks, and
that many users of wireless data access services may find it valuable to have
access to both types of service. Lower-speed services are ideally suited for
providing rapid access to limited amounts of data, such as stock quotes, while a
higher-speed service such as Ricochet is required for effective access to larger
amounts of data, such as full web browsing or transmitting e-mail with
attachments.
Services utilizing cellular telephone and PCS networks. Many
telecommunications companies that operate terrestrial networks designed to
provide cellular telephone or PCS services are offering or have announced plans
to offer their customers data communications services utilizing those networks.
Subscribers to these services can transmit and receive data using a variety of
electronic devices, including conventional mobile telephones functioning as
modems and connected to laptop computers or other portable electronic devices,
as well as newer mobile telephones with built-in Internet browsing capabilities.
These services are or will be based on a number of different communications
technologies that vary by network, including code division multiple access, or
CDMA; time division multiple access, or TDMA; and global system for mobile
communications, or GSM.
Cellular telephone and PCS networks have the advantage of being widely
deployed in major metropolitan markets and elsewhere, which enables network
operators to offer services that are widely available geographically. To date,
however, based on published reports, we believe the effective data transmission
rates available to customers of these services have been limited to an average
data transmission rate approximately 19.2 kbps or less. For this reason, these
services are subject to the same limitations as the services based on existing
dedicated data communications networks. In addition, the providers of cellular
telephone and PCS services have available only a finite amount of licensed radio
spectrum and must allocate this spectrum among the various voice and data
communications services they elect to make available to their subscribers. The
amount of spectrum these service providers will allocate to data communications
services is uncertain.
Services utilizing satellite communications networks. Many companies offer
one-way and two-way paging or other data communications services utilizing
satellite communications networks alone or in conjunction with terrestrial
networks. Based on published reports, we believe the average data transmission
rates offered by these systems range from 5 to 10 kbps. Due to the power and
other requirements associated with transmitting data from the earth to an
orbiting satellite and the difficulty of transmitting data directly between a
satellite and a user working with a small, mobile device inside a building, we
believe it will not be practicable in the foreseeable future for satellite
system operators to offer commercial two-way mobile data access service at a
competitive price.
Teledesic LLC has announced plans to offer a very high-speed wireless
"Internet-in-the-sky" service utilizing a proprietary network of LEO satellites.
However, Teledesic has stated that handheld mobile service will not be available
with this network. Moreover, Teledesic's laptop-sized terminals with large
antennae, although transportable, are fixed-point devices that are unlikely to
provide service inside buildings. For that reason, we do not believe the
Teledesic service is intended to meet the wireless data access needs of mobile
professionals.
Services utilizing wired fixed-point access. Although not providing
wireless mobility, wired fixed-point access to traditional communications
networks offers virtually universal geographic coverage and very high potential
data transmission rates. For example, commonly available "56k" wired modems that
can be used to access the Internet through the public telephone network offer
users average effective downstream data transmission rates of up to
approximately 40 kbps. In recent years, fixed-point network connections have
been made available at an increasing number of locations frequented by visitors
using laptop computers or other portable electronic devices. These locations
include airports and other transportation hubs, hotels, business office
conference rooms, government buildings, and eating and other retail
establishments. If this trend toward increasing availability of fixed-point
access to traditional communications networks continues, the mobility offered by
wireless services such as ours could become less important to users, which would
negatively affect
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our business. This could be true at current effective data transmission rates
and would be particularly true if the effective data transmission rates
available through fixed-point connections were to increase significantly. This
could happen if, for example, it became easy for users at a wide range of
commonly-visited locations to gain access to and communicate using services
based on a high-speed fixed point wireless solution or possibly digital
subscriber line, or DSL, technology. DSL technology enables service providers to
offer users effective data transmission rates of 384 kbps and higher.
Future enhancement of other wireless technologies. In addition to Metricom,
many other companies are aggressively seeking to develop or enhance the
capabilities of their wireless communications technologies with the objective of
providing increasingly high-speed wireless data access services. For example, it
is widely believed that over the next several years there will be a worldwide
evolution of cellular telephone and PCS networks -- whether currently based on
GSM, TDMA or CDMA technology -- toward "third generation," or 3G, technologies.
These 3G networks, utilizing approaches known as wideband CDMA, or WCDMA, and
CDMA2000-3xRTT, are predicted to allow theoretical peak data transmission rates
of 384 kbps and average data transmission rates of 128 kbps in many mobile
applications and up to 2 megabits per second in fixed applications in limited
areas. In the recent re-auction of the 1900 MHz "C" and "F" Block, the FCC
received $16.9 billion for spectrum that may be used for 3G networks.
Prior to deployment of 3G network infrastructure, many networks are
anticipated to evolve through intermediate stages involving escalating data
transmission rates, including approaches known as high-speed circuit switched
data, or HSCSD; general packet radio service, or GPRS; enhanced data rates for
GSM evolution, or EDGE; and CDMA2000-1xRTT. In addition, Qualcomm Incorporated
has developed a CDMA variant known as high data rate, or HDR, which it claims
will provide effective data transmission rates comparable to 3G networks and
will be commercially deployed as early as 2001. HDR requires the carrier to
dedicate a separate channel to data transmission, which could require the
carrier to carry fewer voice channels.
Based on published information about the way multiple users are expected to
share the available data and voice communications capacity of networks based on
these technologies, we believe our technology is better designed to provide
users with high effective data transmission rates in typical mobile data access
applications at a lower cost per bit delivered. Further, we are pursuing various
improvements in our data transmission speeds in an attempt to retain our current
speed advantages.
If network equipment based on 3G or other technologies were to succeed in
cost-effectively providing users with higher effective data transmission rates
than those available with our service or if Teledesic or others were to provide
a satellite-based service with increased mobility or higher speeds, our business
could be seriously harmed. Many of our present and future competitors have
greater financial, marketing, technical and management resources than we have,
and it is possible that our competitors will succeed in developing new
technologies, products and services that achieve broader market acceptance or
that render our high-speed service noncompetitive. Information on third-party
systems under development that we have described in this Form 10-K is based on
available information and may be incomplete or inaccurate and is subject to
change.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
We intend to maintain a technology leadership position by continuing to
invest in research and development of our networking products to increase speed
and performance of our services, to develop additional applications for our
services and to continue to improve and upgrade our network and service to meet
the emerging demands for mobile data access services. Research and development
expense was approximately $44.5 million, $33.0 million and $26.9 million in
2000, 1999, and 1998, respectively. Because the markets in which we participate
and intend to participate are characterized by rapid technological change, we
expect that for the foreseeable future, we will be required to make significant
investments of resources in research and development. See "Risk Factors -- The
data access market is constantly evolving, with faster and more effective
products introduced regularly. We must continually develop and implement new
products and services that keep pace with technological advances. If we do not,
our products may become non-competitive or obsolete, impairing our ability to
compete for customers."
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MANUFACTURING
We currently outsource all manufacturing of our subscriber modems and
network components. We currently purchase our proprietary external modems and
sell them to our channel partners for resale to their customers. Alps Electric
(USA), Inc. manufactured and delivered to us approximately 57,700 Ricochet GS
external modems in 2000. In 2000, we contracted with NatSteel Electronics Ltd.
to manufacture approximately 150,000 Ricochet GT external modems. We began
taking delivery of these modems in the fourth quarter of 2000.
In 2000, we entered into two-year agreements with Sierra Wireless Inc. and
Novatel Wireless Inc. to custom develop and manufacture personal computer card
modems. We committed to purchase a minimum of 150,000 modems from each of these
suppliers in the first year of deliveries and to reimburse these suppliers for a
portion of their development costs. Our purchase commitment is reduced by the
amount of modems purchased by our channel partners. Currently, Sierra Wireless
and Novatel sell their modems both to us and to our channel partners, though we
anticipate that in the future, the majority of these suppliers' sales we have
committed to will be made to our channel partners. Novatel commenced shipments
of modems in December 2000 and we anticipate that Sierra Wireless will begin
shipping modems in the first half of 2001. Further, under these agreements, we
have agreed to license to Sierra Wireless and Novatel our technology to build
other modems or devices. We will receive royalty payments for any devices
incorporating our technology that Sierra Wireless and Novatel sell to third
parties.
In April 2000, we entered into an agreement with National Semiconductor
Corporation to integrate Ricochet modem technology onto a microchip set. We
anticipate we will complete the reference design in late 2001. We expect that
National Semiconductor will be able to produce the chipset in commercial volumes
by early 2002.
We may need to arrange for additional modems to meet forecast demand for
subsequent periods. If we cannot secure arrangements for the manufacture of
additional modems beyond the initial period, users would be unable to subscribe
to our service, which would harm our business. If any of our modem suppliers
were to experience financial, operational, production or quality assurance
difficulties, allocate resources to others in lieu of us or experience a
catastrophic event that results in a reduction or interruption in supply of
modems, our business would be impaired. In addition, if our channel partner
sells more subscriptions than we anticipate or if we decide to accelerate
deployment of our high-speed network, presently anticipated modem supplies may
prove inadequate. If any of the foregoing events occurs, we cannot assure you
that we will be able to obtain the modems we require from alternate suppliers at
favorable prices, or at all.
In July 1999, we entered into a two-year agreement with Sanmina Corporation
to custom manufacture the poletop radios and network radios installed at our
wired access points. As of December 31, 2000, Sanmina has delivered
approximately 140,000 radios. We are committed to Sanmina to purchase
approximately 86,000 additional radios for a total cost of approximately $138
million. Our current radios on-hand, installed and on-order are expected to be
sufficient for our current deployment plans. Beyond our commitments described
above, we do not anticipate receiving further shipments of radios from Sanmina
in 2001. We are currently negotiating with Sanmina to reduce our commitments. We
cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully negotiate reductions to
these commitments, and we may incur incremental legal costs associated with
these negotiations. If we are not successful in negotiating reductions to these
commitments, we may be obligated to pay Sanmina $138 million for our current
outstanding commitments. See "Risk Factors -- We are delaying the complete
deployment of our high-speed network to conserve cash, and this delay may cause
us to be in default of some of our commercial contracts and may prevent us from
competing effectively and attracting users to our high-speed service." If we
obtain additional financing and decide to significantly expand our deployment
plans in 2001, we may be required to quickly obtain another source for the
supply of radios in large quantities. If we are unable to quickly secure another
supplier that can ramp up to large volume production in a short timeframe, any
potential expansion plans may be delayed.
Some of the component parts that our manufacturers use in our products,
including our modems and poletop and network radios, are available only from
sole or limited source vendors. Our manufacturers' reliance on these sole or
limited source vendors involves risks, including the possibility of a shortage
of key
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component parts and reduced control over delivery schedules, manufacturing
capability, quality and costs. In addition, some key component parts require
long delivery times. We have in the past experienced delays because key
component parts have been unavailable from suppliers. If we were unable to
obtain components, we may need to reconfigure our modems or radios, which could
involve substantial cost and delay and reduce availability of our modems or
radios necessary for the deployment of our network. This could delay any future
deployment, which would reduce the availability of our service to users.
PATENTS, PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AND LICENSES
We rely on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret
protection laws and non-disclosure agreements to establish and protect our
proprietary rights. We have been issued 28 patents in the U.S., and patents
corresponding to some of our domestic patents have been granted in eight foreign
countries. Further patents are pending in the U.S. and foreign countries. Our
patents expire in various years ranging from 2009 to 2016. We cannot assure you
that patents will issue from any pending applications or, if patents do issue,
that claims allowed will be sufficiently broad to protect our technology. We
also own 15 U.S. trademark registrations and have registered trademarks in 25
foreign countries. Any of our current or future patents or trademarks may be
challenged, invalidated, circumvented or rendered unenforceable, and the rights
granted under the patents and trademarks may not provide significant proprietary
protection or commercial advantage to us. Moreover, our patents may not preclude
competitors from developing equivalent or superior products and technology.
We also rely upon trade secrets, know-how, continuing technological
innovations and licensing opportunities to develop and maintain our competitive
position. Others may independently develop equivalent proprietary information or
otherwise gain access to or disclose our information. It is our policy to
require our employees, some contractors, consultants, directors and parties to
collaborative agreements to execute confidentiality agreements upon the
commencement of such relationships with us. However, we cannot assure you that
these agreements will provide meaningful protection of our trade secrets or
adequate remedies in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure of such
information. In addition, our trade secrets could otherwise become known or be
independently discovered by our competitors.
Our commercial success may also depend in part on our not infringing the
proprietary rights of others or not breaching technology licenses that cover
technology we use in our products. Third-party patents may require us to develop
alternative technology or to alter our products or processes, obtain licenses or
cease some of our activities. If any such licenses are required, we may be
unable to obtain these licenses on commercially favorable terms, if at all. Our
inability to obtain licenses to any technology that we may require to
effectively deploy or market our products and services could have an adverse
effect on our business. We may have to resort to potentially costly litigation
to enforce any patents issued or licensed to us or to determine the scope and
validity of third-party proprietary rights.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF COMMUNICATIONS ACTIVITIES
Federal regulation. Many aspects of the telecommunications industry are
subject to various regulations at the federal, state and local levels. This
regulatory environment, which is subject to constant change, directly affects
the breadth and quality of services we are able to offer, as well as the rates
for, and terms and conditions of, those services. Any of the regulatory entities
that have jurisdiction over our business may adopt regulations or take other
actions as a result of its own regulatory process or as directed by legislation,
the courts or executive directive, which could have an adverse effect on our
business.
The FCC regulates non-governmental use of the electromagnetic spectrum in
the U.S., including the license-free frequency bands currently used by our radio
products and the licensed bands on which we are proposing commercial operations
in the near future. Operations are subject to specific FCC rules for particular
services. Part 15 of the FCC's rules governs operations in license-free
frequency bands, so-called because transmitters may be operated in these bands
without a license. The rules require that only FCC-approved equipment may be
operated. We also have licenses for, and may operate in, a licensed band, the
Wireless Communications Service, or WCS, governed by Part 27 of the FCC's rules.
FCC-approved equipment is also
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necessary for operation in this frequency band. We design our products to
conform with, and be approved under, applicable FCC rules. We cannot assure you
that we will be able to secure the necessary FCC approvals for the equipment
that we intend to deploy in 2001 and thereafter. The need to obtain these
approvals could result in delays or additional costs.
In the license-free frequency bands, there are also various other uses by
industrial, scientific and medical equipment, the U.S. government, amateur radio
services and other licensed services. These other uses are governed by different
rule provisions, and they have priority over the license-free operation of our
products. Under applicable FCC rules, our products must not cause harmful
interference to any authorized equipment operating in the band, and must accept
interference from all authorized equipment operating in the band. If we are
unable to eliminate harmful interference caused by our products through
technical or other means or if interference with our service caused by others
causes the performance of our service to be unattractive to users, we or our
users could be required to cease operations in the band in the affected
locations. Additionally, while we design our equipment to operate in the
presence of other users, in the event the license-free bands become unacceptably
crowded, our business could be adversely affected.
We may operate in the WCS frequency band pursuant to licenses we purchased
at an FCC spectrum auction. These licenses authorize the provision of service
only in the Northeastern, Central and Western United States Regional Economic
Areas, and in the St. Louis, Missouri, Portland Oregon and Seattle, Washington
Major Economic Areas. While we believe we can obtain authority to operate WCS
facilities in additional geographic areas, we cannot assure you that we will
obtain such authorization. The WCS licenses have certain conditions associated
with them. For example, we are required to provide protection for users of
Wireless Cable and Instructional Television Fixed services in areas where we are
providing WCS. While we believe we can provide the requisite protection, we
cannot assure you that we can provide this protection in a technically or
economically feasible manner. In addition, the WCS licenses, like all FCC
licenses, are subject to subsequent Acts of Congress and international treaties
and agreements to which the U.S. is a signatory.
On an ongoing basis, the FCC proposes and issues new policies, rules and
amendments to existing rules that affect our business. We closely monitor the
FCC's activities and, when appropriate, actively participate in policy and
rulemaking proceedings. We are currently monitoring and participating in
selected proceedings at the FCC that could potentially have an adverse impact on
our business. For example, the FCC has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
encouraging the further use of radio frequency lighting devices in one of the
license-free frequency bands. While these industrial, scientific and medical
devices would be accorded a higher priority than our use of the band, we have
argued that the FCC must limit the high-powered emissions from radio frequency
lighting devices in the band so that these devices and license-free devices can
co-exist in the band as intended by the FCC.
Changes in the regulations affecting our operations by the FCC, including
changes in the allocation or availability of frequency spectrum, could require
or prompt us to move to another of the license-free bands or to obtain the right
to operate in additional licensed spectrum. Redesigning products to operate in
other frequency bands could be expensive and time consuming, and we cannot
assure you that redesign would result in commercially viable products. In
addition, we cannot assure you that, if needed, we could obtain appropriate
licensed or unlicensed spectrum on commercially acceptable terms, if at all.
State and local regulation. We often require the siting of our network
radios and wired access points on public rights-of-way and other public
property. Due to state and local right-of-way, zoning and franchising issues, we
are not always able to place our radios in the most desirable locations, on an
optimal schedule or in the most cost-effective manner. It is possible that state
and local processes associated with radio location will harm our business.
As a result of amendments to the Communications Act of 1934, some states
may attempt to regulate us with respect to the terms and conditions of service
offerings. While we believe that state regulations, if any, will be minimal,
these regulations, if enacted, could harm our business.
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UTILINET BUSINESS
Over the past few years, our UtiliNet business provided customer-owned
wireless data communications for industrial control and monitoring primarily in
the electric utility, waste water and natural gas industries. In February 2000,
in order to focus our operations on deployment of our high-speed network, we
entered into an agreement to license our UtiliNet technology to Schlumberger
Resources Management Services, Inc. The agreement grants Schlumberger Resources
the exclusive right to design, manufacture and sell UtiliNet products in return
for license and royalty fees. UtiliNet was not a significant source of revenue
in 2000 and we do not expect it to be a significant source of revenues in the
future. For additional segment information, see "Part II. Item 8. Financial
Statements and Supplementary Financial Data -- Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements."
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 2000, we employed approximately 776 people, all of whom
were based in the U.S. Of our employees, 413 were in network operations and
deployment and network real estate and customer support, 112 were in research
and development, 141 were in administration, 55 were in sales and marketing and
55 were in manufacturing. The number of employees included in research and
development reflects a combination of engineers, technicians and designers. We
are highly dependent on some members of our management and engineering staff,
the loss of the services of one or more of whom may impede the achievement of
our development, deployment and commercialization of our products and services.
None of these individuals has an employment contract with us. None of our
employees is represented by a labor union. We have not experienced any work
stoppage and consider our relations with our employees to be good. In March
2001, we announced a reduction in our workforce by approximately 179 employees.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The names, ages and positions held by executive officers are as follows:
NAME AGE POSITION
---- --- --------
Ralph C. Derrickson.................. 42 Director and Interim Chief Executive Officer
Glen Estell.......................... 58 President and Chief Operating Officer
Dale W. Marquart..................... 42 General Counsel, Senior Vice President of Administration
and Secretary
David J. Pangburn.................... 36 Vice President, Corporate Controller and Interim Chief
Financial Officer
John G. Wernke....................... 42 Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Ralph C. Derrickson has served as a director since April 1998 and as our
Interim Chief Executive Officer since February 2001. Previously, Mr. Derrickson
was founding partner of Watershed Capital, LLC, a private equity investment
firm, since September 1998. From December 1996 to September 1998, Mr. Derrickson
was employed in a business development position at Vulcan Northwest, Inc.
Previously, he served as a Vice President of Product Development at Starwave
Corporation, an Internet technology company and creator and producer of online
sports, news and entertainment services, from June 1993 to December 1996. He has
also held senior management positions with NeXT Computer and Sun Microsystems.
Glen Estell has served as our President and Chief Operating Officer since
October 2000. Previously, Mr. Estell held various senior executive positions at
BellSouth Corporation, including President -- Interconnect Services from 1999 to
2000, Vice President and General Manager responsible for BellSouth's cellular
businesses in Georgia from 1998 to 1999, and Vice President and General Manager
responsible for BellSouth's cellular businesses in Louisiana from 1997 to 1998.
From 1994 to 1997, he was Vice President of Sales role for Los Angeles Cellular
Telephone Company. Mr. Estell has also held senior management positions in the
computer industry at IBM Corporation, responsible for sales, operations,
customer service, field engineering, and account marketing.
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Dale W. Marquart has served as our General Counsel, Senior Vice President
of Administration and Secretary since June 1998. Prior to joining us, he served
as General Counsel and Vice President of International Sales at Premenos
Technology Corporation, an electronic commerce software company from June 1997
to June 1998. Previously, Mr. Marquart served as the Senior Director of Business
Development and Field Operations at Boole & Babbage, an enterprise management
software company, from April 1993 to June 1997.
David J. Pangburn has served as our Interim Chief Financial Officer since
March 2001 and our Vice President, Corporate Controller since June 1998. Prior
to joining us, Mr. Pangburn was employed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. as Senior
Finance Manager and Controller of the Java Software Division from October 1995
to June 1998 and as Corporate Finance Manager from April 1994 to September 1995.
Previously, Mr. Pangburn held management positions at Ernst & Young LLP in their
High Technology Consulting and Audit practices.
John G. Wernke has served as our Senior Vice President of Sales and
Marketing since August 1998. Prior to joining us, Mr. Wernke was the Vice
President of Enterprise Product Marketing for Harbinger Corporation, a
business-to-business electronic commerce company, from March 1997 to August
1998. Previously, Mr. Wernke served as a Product Marketing Manager for
OpenVision Technologies, Inc., a supplier of client/ server systems management
solutions, from September 1993 to March 1997.
ITEM 2 -- PROPERTIES
The largest part of our operations and headquarters are located in
approximately 145,000 square-feet of leased office, manufacturing and warehouse
space located in San Jose, California. The lease on this space expires in 2010.
In March 2000, we entered into a 10-year agreement to lease approximately
145,000 additional square feet of office space in a building adjacent to our
headquarters in San Jose, beginning in May 2001. We lease two facilities for our
network operations centers: a 17,000 square-foot facility in Houston, Texas
under a lease that expires in 2001, and a 24,000 square foot facility in Plano,
Texas under a lease that expires in 2004. We also lease small offices and
warehouse space in approximately 35 other metropolitan areas in the United
States. We believe this space will be adequate to provide the office space
required for the next year; furthermore, we plan to vacate certain offices in
markets where we have postponed deployment.
ITEM 3 -- LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On February 21, 2001, Grant D. Murphy d.b.a. GDM Electronic and Medical
Assembly filed a complaint against us in California Superior Court, Santa Clara
County, alleging that neither we nor Anicom, Inc., formerly one of our
suppliers, paid GDM for materials that GDM supplied to Anicom for purchase by us
in connection with a supply agreement between us and Anicom. The complaint
further alleges that when GDM threatened to cease providing materials to Anicom
because of nonpayment, we asked GDM to continue shipping materials and promised
to be directly responsible for payment. GDM is seeking $854,021.98 in damages
against us plus costs and attorneys' fees. We intend to defend against these
claims in the ordinary course and express no opinion as to the ultimate outcome
of this matter.
Additionally, Anicom has threatened to file a complaint against us alleging
that we are liable to it for approximately $9.1 million in materials it
allegedly ordered on our behalf in connection with the supply agreement between
us and Anicom. If a lawsuit results, we intend to defend against it in the
ordinary course and express no opinion as to the ultimate outcome of this
matter.
ITEM 4 -- SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
Subsequent to our Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June 26, 2000,
there were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders in the remainder
of 2000. The voting results from the Annual Meeting of Stockholders were
included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
2000.
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PART II
ITEM 5 -- MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"MCOM." The following table shows the intraday high and low sale prices per
share of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market for the
periods indicated:
HIGH LOW
------- ------
FISCAL YEAR 1999
First Quarter............................................. $ 9.44 $ 5.00
Second Quarter............................................ 20.19 6.50
Third Quarter............................................. 56.50 19.38
Fourth Quarter............................................ 104.50 21.88
FISCAL YEAR 2000
First Quarter............................................. $109.50 $40.63
Second Quarter............................................ 53.75 18.94
Third Quarter............................................. 49.50 23.81
Fourth Quarter............................................ 26.44 5.63
On February 28, 2001, the last reported sale price of our common stock on
the Nasdaq National Market was $4.56 per share. As of February 28, 2001, there
were 427 holders of record of our common stock.
Dividend Policy. The holders of the shares of our outstanding preferred
stock, which were originally issued on November 15, 1999, have the right to
receive cumulative dividends payable, at our option, in cash or additional
shares of preferred stock, at the annual rate of $0.65 per share, until November
15, 2002. We paid the 1999 dividend in cash, and the 2000 dividend in preferred
stock. We have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock.
Other than the payment of dividends on the shares of preferred stock, we
currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance the growth and
development of our business, and we do not intend to pay any cash dividends on
our common stock in the foreseeable future. Moreover, the terms of our
outstanding preferred stock and the covenants contained in the senior notes
issued in February 2000 restrict our ability to pay cash dividends on our common
stock. Subject to these restrictions, future dividends, if any, will be
determined by our board of directors.
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ITEM 6 -- SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in
conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations" and the Consolidated Financial Statements and the
Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
--------- --------- -------- -------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE
AMOUNTS)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenues:
Service revenues................ $ 8,808 $ 10,088 $ 8,419 $ 6,642 $ 2,158
Product revenues................ 3,038 8,437 7,440 6,797 4,996
--------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Total revenues.......... 11,846 18,525 15,859 13,439 7,154
--------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Costs and expenses:
Cost of service revenues........ 110,682 20,997 21,095 21,533 11,653
Provision for network
replacement.................. -- -- 14,392 -- --
Cost of product revenues........ 10,440 6,014 5,050 4,558 2,528
Research and development........ 44,476 33,019 26,907 12,769 13,435
Selling, general and
administrative............... 65,145 19,004 21,350 19,599 16,755
Depreciation and amortization... 20,462 4,717 9,205 8,366 4,135
Provision for Overall
Wireless..................... -- -- -- 3,611 --
--------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Total costs and
expenses.............. 251,205 83,751 97,999 70,436 48,506
--------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Loss from operations............ (239,359) (65,226) (82,140) (56,997) (41,352)
Interest expense.................. (11,600) (5,884) (3,939) (4,151) (1,310)
Interest and other income......... 62,812 4,818 1,915 1,820 3,317
--------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Net loss................ $(188,147) $ (66,292) $(84,164) $(59,328) $(39,345)
Preferred stock dividends......... (57,213) (38,234) -- -- --
--------- --------- -------- -------- --------
Net loss attributable to common
stockholders.................... $(245,360) $(104,526) $(84,164) $(59,328) $(39,345)
Basic and diluted net loss
attributable to common
stockholders per share.......... $ (8.15) $ (5.13) $ (4.63) $ (4.35) $ (2.93)
========= ========= ======== ======== ========
Weighted average shares
outstanding..................... 30,091 20,375 18,195 13,641 13,413
AS OF DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
---------- -------- -------- -------- --------
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and investments............... $ 526,819 $499,341 $ 19,141 $ 14,474 $ 65,221
Working capital.................... $ 425,264 $478,618 $ 9,396 $ 6,980 $ 57,738
Property and equipment............. $ 251,885 $ 48,515 $ 42,345 $ 40,301 $ 33,606
Network construction in progress... $ 463,535 $ 22,034 -- -- --
Total assets....................... $1,253,560 $546,647 $ 34,466 $ 51,103 $101,799
Long-term debt..................... $ 244,667 $ 385 $ 55,098 $ 45,000 $ 45,000
Redeemable convertible preferred
stock............................ $ 614,976 $573,329 -- -- --
Stockholders' equity (deficit)..... $ 264,399 $(54,200) $(42,259) $(13,817) $ 43,306
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ITEM 7 -- MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
OVERVIEW
Since 1999, we have focused our efforts and resources primarily on the
development, deployment and commercialization of our high-speed Ricochet network
in various markets across the United States. Through December 31, 2000, we have
incurred cumulative net losses of approximately $583 million. As we continue to
deploy our high-speed network and launch our high-speed Ricochet service, we
expect to continue to generate substantial net losses for the foreseeable
future.
To date, we have derived substantially all of our revenues from
subscription fees paid to us by users of our original 28.8 kbps Ricochet service
and from sales of our UtiliNet products. In the future, we expect to derive
substantially all of our revenues from subscription fees paid to us by channel
partners, which resell our Ricochet service directly to their customers. We have
entered into an agreement with one of our channel partners, Wireless
WebConnect!, to assume responsibilities for internet service, billing and
customer support operations relating to our 28.8 kbps Ricochet service.
In February 2000, in order to focus our operations on deployment of our
high-speed network, we entered into an agreement to license our UtiliNet
technology to Schlumberger Resources Management Services, Inc. The agreement
grants Schlumberger the exclusive right to design, manufacture and sell UtiliNet
products in return for license and royalty fees. We do not expect UtiliNet to be
a significant source of revenues in the future.
This Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements that are subject to
many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
significantly from expectations. For more information on forward-looking
statements, refer to the "Special Note on Forward Looking Statements" at the
front of this Annual Report on Form 10K.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain
operational data as a percentage of total revenues:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------
2000 1999 1998
------- ----- -----
REVENUES:
Service revenues.......................................... 74% 54% 53%
Product revenues.......................................... 26% 46% 47%
------ ---- ----
Total revenues.................................... 100% 100% 100%
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Cost of service revenues.................................. 934% 113% 133%
Provision for network replacement......................... -- -- 91%
Cost of product revenues.................................. 88% 33% 32%
Research and development.................................. 376% 178% 170%
Selling, general and administrative....................... 550% 103% 134%
Depreciation and amortization............................. 173% 25% 58%
------ ---- ----
Total costs and expenses.......................... 2,121% 452% 618%
------ ---- ----
Loss from operations........................................ (2,021)% (352)% (518)%
Interest expense............................................ (98)% (32)% (25)%
Interest and other income................................... 531% 26% 12%
------ ---- ----
Net loss.................................................... (1,588)% (358)% (531)%
Preferred dividends......................................... (483)% (206)% --
------ ---- ----
Net loss attributable to common stockholders................ (2,071)% (564)% (531)%
====== ==== ====
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YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2000 COMPARED WITH YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
Revenues. Currently, we derive service revenues from Ricochet subscriber
fees and modem rentals and derive product revenues from the sale of Ricochet
modems. We recognize revenue in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin
("SAB") No. 101, "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements." In accordance
with SAB 101 we recognize revenue when there is pervasive evidence of an
arrangement, delivery of the product or performance of the service has occurred,
the selling price is fixed and determined and collectibility is reasonably
assured. We defer product revenues from high-speed modem sales and recognize
them over the estimated average subscription term of 24 months. We defer the
cost of the modem and recognize it over the estimated average subscription term,
up to the amount of the related revenue. Any losses on delivery of the modems
are recognized on shipment. Revenues from the sale of first generation modems,
which are estimated to have limited subscription life, are recognized upon
shipment. Service revenues are recognized ratably over the service period.
Total revenues decreased to $11.8 million in 2000 from $18.5 million in
1999. The decline in 2000 was primarily due to a decrease in product revenue to
$3.0 million in 2000 from $8.4 million in 1999 as a result of the licensing of
our UtiliNet technology to Schlumberger. Product revenues also decreased due to
our deferral of product revenue on shipments of our new high-speed modems. At
December 31, 2000, deferred product revenue and deferred product cost associated
with our high-speed modem shipments both totaled approximately $1.2 million,
compared with zero at December 31, 1999. Service revenues decreased to $8.8
million in 2000 from $10.1 million in 1999. The decline was attributable to
lower subscriber fees from our original 28.8 kbps Ricochet service and lower
UtiliNet support revenues, offset by approximately $1.0 million in revenues from
our new high-speed Ricochet service. As a result of our focus on our high-speed
Ricochet service, we expect our UtiliNet revenues to be insignificant in the
future and our revenues from our original 28.8 kbps Ricochet service to decline
over time.
We expect to derive substantially all of our future revenues from
subscription fees paid to us by channel partners that resell the high-speed
service. We require each of our channel partners to charge its subscribers a
flat rate for use of our services, although each channel partner will set the
particular rate it charges its customers. We currently have six channel partner
relationships. WorldCom, Juno Online Services, Wireless WebConnect!, GoAmerica,
Aether Systems and IP Communications have all entered into agreements with us to
sell our high-speed service to their customers. In our agreement with WorldCom,
WorldCom has agreed to pay us a per-subscriber fee, subject to an agreed minimum
revenue level of at least $388 million over the five years following the launch
of our service, assuming that our deployment schedule is not delayed, that we
place our network into service on schedule and that we meet quality-of-service
and network performance standards. Subject to these limitations, and potentially
subject to pro-rata adjustment in the fifth year as a result of deployment
delays experienced in certain markets thus far, the agreement specifies that
WorldCom make payments to us ranging from $5.6 million in the first year up to
$141.0 million in the fifth year after the availability of our service.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if WorldCom's sales efforts result in fewer
subscribers than WorldCom has agreed contractually to provide, but the number of
subscribers provided by WorldCom and its authorized resellers nevertheless
represent more than a specified percentage of our total users, WorldCom will pay
us only the greater of a per-subscriber rate for each of its subscribers or the
subscription fees we receive from all of our other channel partners, which could
be substantially less than the minimum revenues we currently expect from
WorldCom. Accordingly, our ability to achieve the minimum revenue levels we
expect from our agreement with WorldCom may depend on our ability to enter into
channel agreements with one or more large channel partners that can successfully
sell subscriptions to our service so that subscribers provided by WorldCom and
its resellers represent less than the threshold percentage of our total users.
In addition, if our deployment schedule is delayed or if we fail to meet
deployment schedule deadlines or fail to comply with quality-of-service
standards relating to data transmission performance, network availability,
coverage and latency, ease of use and size of modems, all as specified in our
agreement, WorldCom may delay or reduce its minimum payments to us or, in the
case of a deployment delay in excess of 12 months, may terminate the contract.
We currently are assessing the impact that our deployment delays and
postponement will have on our minimum revenue commitment from WorldCom. Because
the WorldCom revenue amounts specified above represent minimum commitments, the
ultimate impact, if any, of deployment delays on total revenues from WorldCom
cannot be predicted, but it could be significant.
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Cost of Service Revenues. Cost of service revenues consists primarily of
network operations costs and real estate management costs on network equipment.
Network operations costs include the costs associated with the field managers,
engineers and technicians who operate and maintain our high-speed network, as
well as the costs associated with field offices we maintain, including our
network operations centers. Network operations costs also include the
telecommunications costs we incur to transmit data between our wired access
points and network interface facilities and the Internet. Real estate management
costs include the costs associated with the maintenance of lease agreements for
our poletop radios, wired access points and network interface facilities and the
ongoing rental payments for these sites. Real estate management costs also
consist of the internal and external labor costs associated with maintaining
right-of-way and other real estate-related agreements in the markets where our
network is currently deployed. In 2000, cost of service revenues included
approximately $87.2 million of network operations costs and approximately $23.5
million of real estate management costs.
Cost of service revenues increased to $110.7 million in 2000 compared with
$21.0 million in 1999. The significant increase in 2000 was due to higher
expenditures in staffing, property, telecommunications and support costs
associated with the deployment of our new high-speed service in various markets.
Staffing of personnel who manage network deployment and operations increased by
over 100% from approximately 200 employees at December 31, 1999 to approximately
400 employees at December 31, 2000. In the past year, we have entered into
approximately 2,100 site leases for network equipment and opened up twenty-five
new field operations offices. Rent expenses for leased network facilities
increased to $21.3 million in 2000 compared with $2.7 million in 1999. We expect
site leasing and communications costs to increase in 2001 as a result of our
increase in deployed sites in the second half of 2000. We expect that growth in
staffing and facilities costs will slow as a result of our postponement of
expansion into new markets.
Cost of Product Revenues. Cost of product revenues consists primarily of
the product costs associated with Ricochet modem product sales. Cost of product
revenues increased to $10.4 million in 2000 from $6.0 million in 1999. Ricochet
cost of product revenues as a percentage of Ricochet product revenues increased
to 830% in 2000 from 102% in 1999. These increases were due in part to the
commencement of volume shipments of high-speed Ricochet modems to our channel
partners. In addition, the higher costs as a percentage of revenues are partly
due to the implementation of SAB 101, which requires costs in excess of revenues
to be charged directly to operations. As part of our marketing strategy, we
frequently sell modems at prices below cost and below market in order to
increase subscribers and service revenues. The average loss incurred on the
current generation high-speed modems exceeds the loss on the 28.8 kbps modems
that were sold in 1999. Consistent with the wireless services industry, we
charge these losses to cost of goods sold at the time of shipment to our
customers. In 2000, net inventories increased by $31.1 million due to increased
receipts of high-speed modems. We expect to sell these and additional modems to
be received at prices below our cost. We therefore expect to continue to incur
significant losses on modems in the future. In subsequent years, we anticipate
that most of the modems purchased by our channel partners will be acquired
directly from our licensed third-party manufacturers.
Research and Development. Research and development costs include the costs
incurred to develop our network technology and subscriber modems, as well as to
obtain rights-of-way and related site agreements in markets where we plan to
offer service. Research and development expenses increased to $44.5 million in
2000 from $33.0 million in 1999. The increases in 2000 compared with 1999 were
primarily due to a rise in engineering activities associated with the
development of our next generation of networking products and services. The
increases also reflect an increase in costs incurred to obtain right-of-way and
site agreements in metropolitan areas where we currently plan to offer service.
Right-of-way acquisition costs included in research and development in 2000
increased to $14.6 million from $14.0 million in 1999. We plan to continue to
incur staffing and support costs needed to obtain right-of-way agreements in
markets under development. We intend to continue to invest in the development of
our networking products to increase the speed and performance of our services
and develop additional applications for our services. We also plan to continue
to improve and upgrade our network and service to address the emerging demands
for mobile data access. As a result, we expect that research and development
costs will continue to increase in absolute dollars in 2001.
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Selling, General and Administrative. Selling, general and administrative
expenses include our corporate overhead and the costs associated with our
efforts to obtain and support our channel partners, promote the Ricochet brand
and our high-speed service, and develop and implement our marketing strategy for
our service and modems. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased
to $65.1 million in 2000 from $19.0 million in 1999 primarily due to increased
product marketing, advertising and public relations expenditures related to
commercialization of our high-speed Ricochet service. Approximately $9.3 million
of the increase in 2000 was due to increases in administrative staff and the
labor, travel and support costs associated with supporting the widespread
deployment of our high-speed service. In 2001, we expect selling, general and
administrative costs to grow more slowly as we slow our operational growth, but
continue targeted marketing expenditures to increase the number of subscribers
of our high-speed Ricochet service.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expenses
increased to $20.5 million in 2000 from $4.7 million in 1999. The increase was
driven principally by the start of depreciation on $165.0 million of network
construction in progress that was transferred to property and equipment in 2000
as a result of the launching of high-speed service in new markets. The increases
also resulted from the purchase and lease of over $39 million of property, plant
and equipment, primarily computer equipment and software. We expect depreciation
and amortization to increase in future years as we continue to launch our
commercial high-speed Ricochet service in new markets and expand our coverage in
existing markets.
Interest and Other Income. Interest income increased to $62.8 million in
2000 from $4.8 million in 1999 due to a significantly higher average balance of
cash, cash equivalents and investments on hand in 2000. As a result of the
November 1999 sale of our preferred stock for net proceeds of $573.2 million,
the February 2000 sale of common stock, the 13% senior notes due 2010 and
warrants to purchase common stock, we have approximately $526 million in cash
and investments on hand. We are using these cash resources to fund the
deployment of our network, to fund operating losses and working capital
requirements through our network deployment, and to fund interest on long-term
debt and dividends on our preferred stock outstanding. Pending these uses, we
have invested this cash in high-quality, short-term, interest-bearing
securities. Accordingly, although in the short-term we expect to generate a
substantial amount of interest income, this interest income will decline rapidly
over time as we use this cash.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased to $11.6 million in 2000 from
$5.9 million in 1999. The rise in interest expense was caused by our increase in
outstanding debt, offset by a reduction of approximately $30.7 million as a
result of capitalization of interest into network construction in progress. Due
to our senior notes and warrants offering in February 2000, we have
approximately $300 million in face value of outstanding debt. The senior notes
require semi-annual cash interest payments, the first of which was paid on
August 15, 2000. We therefore will continue to incur a substantial expense, a
portion of which will be non-cash, for
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interest on these obligations. If we incur additional debt in the future to fund
our expansion plans, our interest costs will increase. The following table
summarizes our expected interest charges related to the senior notes:
WARRANT
ACCRETION AND TOTAL
CASH FEE INTEREST
YEAR INTEREST AMORTIZATION CHARGES
---- -------- ------------- --------
2000......................... $ 34.1 $ 5.6 $ 39.7
2001......................... 39.0 6.5 45.5
2002......................... 39.0 6.7 45.7
2003......................... 39.0 6.8 48.8
2004......................... 39.0 7.0 46.0
2005......................... 39.0 7.1 46.1
2006......................... 39.0 7.2 46.2
2007......................... 39.0 7.4 46.4
2008......................... 39.0 7.5 46.5
2009......................... 39.0 7.7 46.7
2010......................... 4.9 1.0 5.9
------ ----- ------
Total.............. $390.0 $70.6 $463.6
====== ===== ======
Preferred Stock Dividends. In November 1999, we issued 60,000,000 shares of
preferred stock to Vulcan Ventures Incorporated and WorldCom, Inc. for gross
proceeds of $600 million. Each share of preferred stock bears a cumulative
dividend at the rate of $0.65 per year for the first three years after issuance,
which we may pay in cash or in additional shares of preferred stock. In 1999, we
paid the dividend in cash, and in 2000, we paid the dividend in preferred stock.
Because the preferred stock issued to Vulcan Ventures is immediately convertible
into common stock at the holder's option at a conversion price of $10.00 per
share, which was below the per share closing price of our common stock on both
the date immediately prior to our execution of the preferred stock purchase
agreement and the date of our 2000 dividend issuance, we recorded additional
dividends of $5.3 million and $31.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2000 and
1999, respectively, to reflect the beneficial conversion privilege associated
with this series of preferred stock. The preferred stock issued to WorldCom is
also deemed to have a beneficial conversion privilege. However, that series of
preferred stock does not begin to become convertible into common stock at the
holder's option until May 2002. As a result, this discount will be amortized
over the 48-month period, which began in November 1999, during which this series
of preferred stock becomes convertible into common stock at the holder's option.
Both series of preferred stock will accrete at approximately $2.7 million
per year in total over the ten-year period from the beginning aggregate net book
value of $573 million up to its aggregate face value of $600 million. This
accretion will be charged against retained earnings (accumulated deficit). In
2000, preferred dividends included $39.0 million of accrued dividends payable,
$15.5 million of beneficial conversion privilege and $2.7 million of accretion
related to the preferred stock.
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For both series of preferred stock in the aggregate, we have recorded or
expect to record preferred stock dividends and accretion as follows:
6.5% BENEFICIAL CONVERSION BENEFICIAL CONVERSION TOTAL
YEAR DIVIDEND AND FEE ACCRETION ON INITIAL ISSUE ON 2000 DIVIDEND DIVIDENDS
---- -------- ---------------------------------- --------------------- ---------
1999................. $ 3.3 $34.9 $ -- $ 38.2
2000................. 39.0 12.8 5.4 57.2
2001................. 39.0 12.8 2.6 54.4
2002................. 35.7 10.5 1.9 48.1
2003................. -- 5.3 0.6 5.9
2004................. -- 2.7 -- 2.7
2005................. -- 2.7 -- 2.7
2006................. -- 2.7 -- 2.7
2007................. -- 2.7 -- 2.7
2008................. -- 2.7 -- 2.7
2009................. -- 2.4 -- 2.4
------ ----- ----- ------
Total...... $117.0 $92.2 $10.5 $219.7
====== ===== ===== ======
In December 2000, for payment of the 6.5% dividend on the convertible
preferred stock, we issued 1.95 million shares of Series A1 preferred stock at a
price of $10 per share to WorldCom, and 1.95 million shares of Series A2
preferred stock at a price of $10 per share to Vulcan Ventures.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999 COMPARED WITH YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
Revenues. Total revenues increased to $18.5 million in 1999 from $15.9
million in 1998, primarily due to an increase in service revenues. Service
revenues increased to $10.1 million in 1999 from $8.4 million in 1998,
reflecting an increase in Ricochet service revenues to $9.1 million in 1999 from
$7.5 million in 1998. This increase was primarily attributable to higher
aggregate subscriber fees resulting from an approximate 15% increase in the
number of Ricochet subscribers in 1999. Product revenues increased to $8.4
million in 1999 from $7.4 million in 1998, principally as a result of increased
shipments of UtiliNet products. A significant portion of UtiliNet product
revenues was derived from sales to Southern California Edison, which accounted
for 13% and 10% of total product revenues in 1999 and 1998, respectively.
UtiliNet revenues in total increased to $6.5 million in 1999 from $5.1 million
in 1998.
Cost of Revenues. Cost of service revenues was $21.0 million in 1999
compared with $21.1 million in 1998. Cost of product revenues increased to $6.0
million in 1999 from $5.1 million in 1998. Ricochet cost of product revenues
increased to $3.0 million in 1999 from $2.7 million in 1998. Ricochet cost of
product revenues as a percentage of Ricochet product revenues increased to 102%
in 1999 from 84% in 1998. The increase over 1998 was primarily due to an
increase in product revenues derived from the sale of high cost Ricochet SX
modems at lower average selling prices. UtiliNet cost of product revenues
increased to $3.0 million in 1999 from $2.3 million in 1998 as a result of
increased shipments of UtiliNet products.
Provision for Network Replacement. In the fourth quarter of 1998, we
recorded a one-time charge of $14.4 million to write down the carrying value of
the network equipment associated with our original 28.8 Kbps Ricochet service.
This charge was recorded as a result of our plans to replace this equipment with
our high-speed network equipment in the near future.
Research and Development. Research and development expenses increased to
$33.0 million in 1999 from $26.9 million in 1998. The increase was due to the
costs to obtain right-of-way and site agreements in metropolitan areas where we
planned to offer service.
Selling, General and Administrative. Selling, general and administrative
expenses decreased to $19.0 million in 1999 from $21.4 million in 1998 primarily
due to charges of approximately $3.5 million in severance to employees
terminated in the third and fourth quarters of 1998. Partially offsetting this
decrease was an increase in marketing expenditures related to commercialization
of our new high-speed network.
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Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expenses
decreased to $4.7 million in 1999 from $9.2 million in 1998 primarily due to
write-down of the carrying value of the Ricochet network equipment in the fourth
quarter of 1998. This decrease was partially offset by the higher capital
expenditures in property, plant and equipment in 1999.
Interest Income and Expense. Interest income increased to $4.8 million in
1999 from $1.9 million in 1998 due to a significantly higher average balance of
cash, cash equivalents and investments in the last two months of 1999. Interest
expense increased to $5.9 million in 1999 from $3.9 million in 1998 due to the
increase in debt outstanding from Vulcan Ventures through the first ten months
of 1999, as well as the amortization of approximately $1 million in debt
issuance costs as a result of the call for redemption of our 8% Convertible
Subordinated Notes due 2003.
Preferred Stock Dividends. Refer to the discussion of preferred stock
dividends previously in this report, which compares results for the year ended
December 31, 2000 with the year ended December 31, 1999.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
We have suffered recurring losses from operations and have incurred
significant financial commitments that raise substantial doubt about our ability
to continue as a going concern through 2001 without obtaining additional
financing. At our current level of operations and rate of negative cash flow, we
anticipate that our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will be
adequate to satisfy our operating loss and capital expenditure requirements
through August 2001. At February 28, 2001, we had working capital of
approximately $327 million and outstanding purchase commitments for capital
equipment, network construction labor and modems of approximately $346 million.
Expenditures associated with developing our high-speed service have contributed
substantially to our cumulative net losses of approximately $583 million at
December 31, 2000.
We believe that, in addition to the current funds on hand at December 31,
2000, to achieve positive cash flow from operations, we will require additional
cash resources of approximately $500 million. However, the funds we actually
will require may vary materially from our estimates. In addition, we could incur
unanticipated costs or be required to alter our plans in order to respond to
changes in competitive or other market conditions, which could require us to
raise additional capital sooner than we expect. Further, although we do not
currently believe that we need to do so, we may decide to use a portion of our
cash resources to acquire licensed spectrum or to license, acquire or invest in
new products, technologies or businesses that we consider necessary to further
the growth and development of our business.
In order to extend the availability of our cash, we have postponed
deployment in most of our originally planned 46 markets until we obtain
additional financing. We are attempting to reduce our financial commitments and
reduce future cash outflows by negotiating alternative terms with our suppliers.
We are also working with our channel partners to increase revenues through new
marketing programs and promotions, and we are exploring potential additional
sources of revenue. We are working with advisors to obtain additional financing
and are currently in discussions with candidates that could potentially provide
financing. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in increasing
revenues, reducing cash outflows or obtaining additional financing. In addition,
there are other limitations in our ability to raise additional financing. First,
the terms of our outstanding senior notes restrict our ability to incur
additional indebtedness and may prevent us from being able to obtain additional
financing. Second, Vulcan Ventures has a control position and WorldCom has a
large investment in us, both of which may deter investors who otherwise might
desire to provide financing to us. Furthermore, if we are able to raise
additional funds, we may need to do so through the sale of additional equity or
equity-linked securities, which could be dilutive to holders of our common
stock, warrants and other securities. In the event that we both do not obtain
additional financing and are unable to extend our availability of cash beyond
our current expectations, we plan to significantly reduce our operations in the
third quarter of 2001 to enable us to continue as a going concern through 2001.
We have financed our operations and capital expenditures primarily through
the public and private sale of equity and debt securities. In January 1998, we
completed a private placement of common stock with Vulcan Ventures with net
proceeds of approximately $53.7 million. In November 1999, we completed a
private
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placement of redeemable convertible preferred stock with Vulcan Ventures and
WorldCom with net proceeds of approximately $573 million. In February 2000, we
completed a public offering of common stock with net proceeds of approximately
$473 million and a public offering of 13% senior notes due 2010 and warrants to
purchase common stock with available net proceeds of approximately $219 million,
after establishing the required reserve to secure the first four interest
payments on the notes. This amount of indebtedness could adversely affect our
business, for example, by requiring us to dedicate a substantial portion of our
cash flow from operations to required payments on indebtedness or limiting our
ability to acquire additional financing in the future. See "Risk Factors -- We
have a substantial amount of debt, which could adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations".
Since inception, we have devoted significant resources to the development,
deployment and commercialization of wireless network products and services. As a
result, as of December 31, 2000, we had incurred an accumulated deficit of
$583.3 million. Our operations have required substantial capital investments for
the purchase of network equipment, modems and computer and office equipment.
Including network construction in progress, capital expenditures were $645.7
million and $33.1 million in 2000 and 1999 respectively. As of December 31,
2000, we had cash, cash equivalents and investments of approximately $526.8
million and working capital of approximately $425.3 million. Inventories
increased to $31.7 million in 2000 from $0.6 million in 1999 due primarily to
purchases of GS and GT high-speed modem inventory. Network construction in
progress at December 31, 2000 and 1999 included approximately $170 million and
$0, respectively, of radios, equipment and component inventory not yet placed in
service. We expect that accounts receivable and inventories will increase in the
future as a result of our ongoing deployment and commercialization of the
high-speed network in our planned markets. We expect that capital expenditures
will continue at similar levels in the first quarter of 2001 and decrease in the
last three quarters as a result of our postponement of network deployment in
most markets. Network equipment inventory not yet placed in service may also
increase if we are unable to effectively defer or cancel our outstanding
commitments discussed below.
Our principal uses of cash for the foreseeable future will be to fund the
deployment of our high-speed network, to fund operating losses and to pay
interest on our debt securities issued in February 2000, and dividends on our
preferred stock. Our current and future operations will require substantial
capital investments for the purchase of our network equipment, which consists
primarily of network radios, wired access points and network interface
facilities. Significant labor costs associated with deploying our network
equipment include design of the network, site acquisition, zoning, construction
and installation of equipment.
In July 1999, we entered into an agreement with Sanmina Corporation to
manufacture our poletop radios and network radios installed at wired access
points. We have received approximately 140,000 radios from Sanmina to date. At
December 31, 2000, we had commitments outstanding to purchase approximately
86,000 additional radios for a total cost of approximately $138 million. We are
currently negotiating with Sanmina to reduce our commitments. We cannot assure
you that we will be able to successfully negotiate reductions to these
commitments, and we may incur incremental legal costs associated with these
negotiations. If we are not successful in negotiating reductions to these
commitments, we may be obligated to pay Sanmina $138 million for our current
outstanding commitments. See "Risk Factors -- We are delaying the complete
deployment of our high-speed network to conserve cash, and this delay may cause
us to be in default of some of our commercial contracts and may prevent us from
competing effectively and attracting users to our high-speed service."
In October 1999, we entered into agreements with Wireless Facilities, Inc.,
General Dynamics Worldwide Telecommunications Systems and Whalen & Company to
provide us with expertise and personnel to assist with the deployment of our
network in the first 21 markets. In October 2000, we entered into agreements
with American Tower, Delta Groups Engineering, Divine Tower International,
Professional Telecom Services and Whalen & Company to assist us with network
deployment in 25 additional markets. As of February 28, 2001, we had
approximately $143 million of outstanding commitments to these and other vendors
providing network design, construction and related products and services. In
February 2001, we began canceling or deferring our remaining commitments under
these contracts.
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In November 1999 and October 1999, we entered into agreements with Sierra
Wireless and Novatel, respectively to develop and manufacture custom personal
computer card modems. We have agreed with both Sierra Wireless and Novatel to
purchase a minimum of 150,000 units in the first year of deliveries from each,
representing a total commitment of approximately $68 million. Our purchase
commitment to both Sierra Wireless and Novatel is reduced by the amount of
modems purchased by our channel partners. Novatel began shipping modems to our
channel partners in late 2000. We anticipate that Sierra Wireless will begin
shipping modems in the first half of 2001. In January 2000, we entered into a
two-year agreement with NatSteel Electronics, Ltd for the purchase of modems,
under which, as of February 28, 2001, we have outstanding remaining commitments
to purchase approximately 116,000 modems at a cost of approximately $26 million.
In April 2000, we entered into an agreement with National Semiconductor
Corporation to integrate the Ricochet modem technology onto a microchip set.
As of December 31, 2000, we had net operating loss carryforwards for
Federal and California income tax purposes of approximately $327 million and
$131 million, respectively, and research and development tax credit
carryforwards of approximately $9.8 million. To the extent not used, these
carryforwards expire at various times through 2020. Our ability to utilize the
net operating loss carryforwards in any given year may be limited upon the
occurrence of certain events, including significant changes in ownership
interests.
New Accounting Standards. In June 2000, the Financial Accounting Standards
Board issued SFAS No. 138, "Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and
Hedging Activities," an amendment of SFAS No. 133, which is effective for all
fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000. SFAS No. 138 establishes accounting
and reporting standards requiring that every derivative instrument be recorded
in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value.
The statement also requires that changes in the derivative's fair value be
recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are
met. Because we do not currently hold any derivative instruments and do not
currently engage in any material hedging activities, we believe that the
application of SFAS No. 138 will not have a material impact on our financial
position or results of operations.
ITEM 7A -- QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our exposure to financial market risk, including changes in interest rates
and marketable securities prices, relates primarily to our investment portfolio
and redeemable convertible preferred stock outstanding at December 31, 2000. Our
cash equivalents and short-term investments subject to interest rate risk are
primarily highly liquid corporate debt securities from high credit quality
issuers. We do not have any significant investments in foreign currencies and we
do not have any foreign exchange contracts or derivative instruments. The fair
value of our investment portfolio would not be significantly impacted by either
a 100 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates due primarily to the
fixed rate, short-term nature of our investment portfolio. In addition, the fair
value of our redeemable convertible preferred stock would not change materially
in the event of a 100 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates, due
primarily to the fixed and relatively short-term nature of its three-year 6.5%
coupon rate.
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ITEM 8 -- FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
METRICOM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
ASSETS
DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------
2000 1999
---------- ---------
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents................................. $ 315,309 $ 354,820
Restricted cash and cash equivalents...................... 11,331 --
Short-term investments.................................... 143,928 144,521
Restricted short-term investments......................... 38,085 --
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $2,198 in 2000
and $2,148 in 1999..................................... 2,409 2,387
Inventories, net.......................................... 31,686 586
Prepaid expenses and other................................ 11,480 3,116
---------- ---------
Total current assets.............................. 554,228 505,430
Property and equipment, net................................. 202,891 12,233
Network construction in progress............................ 463,535 22,034
Other assets, net........................................... 14,740 6,950
Restricted long-term investments............................ 18,166 --
---------- ---------
Total assets...................................... $1,253,560 $ 546,647
========== =========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable.......................................... $ 89,115 $ 9,649
Accrued liabilities and other............................. 38,973 12,642
Current portion of other long-term liabilities............ 876 4,521
---------- ---------
Total current liabilities......................... 128,964 26,812
---------- ---------
Senior notes payable........................................ 241,608 --
---------- ---------
Other long-term liabilities................................. 3,613 706
---------- ---------
Redeemable convertible preferred stock, $0.001 par value per
share: authorized -- 72,000,000 shares; issued and
outstanding -- 63,900,000 shares in 2000 and 60,000,000
shares in 1999............................................ 614,976 573,329
---------- ---------
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5)
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, 8,000,000
shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding..... -- --
Common stock, $0.001 par value per share: authorized --
500,000,000 shares; issued and
outstanding -- 30,794,460 shares in 2000 and 24,344,697
shares in 1999......................................... 31 25
Warrants to purchase common stock........................... 61,869 --
Additional paid-in capital.................................. 783,252 283,763
Accumulated deficit......................................... (583,348) (337,988)
Accumulated other comprehensive income...................... 2,595 --
---------- ---------
Total stockholders' equity (deficit).............. 264,399 (54,200)
---------- ---------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity........ $1,253,560 $ 546,647
========== =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
42
44
METRICOM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
--------- --------- --------
Revenues:
Service revenues....................................... $ 8,808 $ 10,088 $ 8,419
Product revenues....................................... 3,038 8,437 7,440
--------- --------- --------
Total revenues................................. 11,846 18,525 15,859
--------- --------- --------
Costs and expenses:
Cost of service revenues............................... 110,682 20,997 21,095
Provision for network replacement...................... -- -- 14,392
Cost of product revenues............................... 10,440 6,014 5,050
Research and development............................... 44,476 33,019 26,907
Selling, general and administrative.................... 65,145 19,004 21,350
Depreciation and amortization.......................... 20,462 4,717 9,205
--------- --------- --------
Total costs and expenses....................... 251,205 83,751 97,999
--------- --------- --------
Loss from operations................................ (239,359) (65,226) (82,140)
Interest expense....................................... (11,600) (5,884) (3,939)
Interest and other income.............................. 62,812 4,818 1,915
--------- --------- --------
Net loss............................................ (188,147) (66,292) (84,164)
Preferred stock dividends.............................. 57,213 38,234 --
--------- --------- --------
Net loss attributable to common stockholders........ $(245,360) $(104,526) $(84,164)
========= ========= ========
Basic and diluted net loss attributable to common
stockholders per share.............................. $ (8.15) $ (5.13) $ (4.63)
========= ========= ========
Weighted average shares outstanding.................... 30,091 20,375 18,195
========= ========= ========
Pro forma amounts assuming the new capitalization policy
for network equipment is applied retroactively --
Net loss attributable to common stockholders........... $(245,360) $(104,526) $(85,456)
========= ========= ========
Basic and diluted net loss attributable to common
stockholders per share.............................. $ (8.15) $ (5.13) $ (4.70)
========= ========= ========
Weighted average shares outstanding.................... 30,091 20,375 18,195
========= ========= ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
43
45
METRICOM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
WARRANTS TO ACCUMULATED
COMMON STOCK ADDITIONAL PURCHASE OTHER
------------------- PAID-IN COMMON COMPREHENSIVE ACCUMULATED
SHARES AMOUNT CAPITAL STOCK INCOME DEFICIT TOTAL
---------- ------ ---------- ----------- ------------- ----------- ---------
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1997............. 13,819,276 $14 $135,466 $ -- $ 1 $(149,298) $ (13,817)
---------- --- -------- ------- ------ --------- ---------
Exercise of options to purchase common
stock................................ 187,053 -- 911 -- -- -- 911
Common stock issued to employees....... 136,726 -- 1,094 -- -- -- 1,094
Private placement of common stock...... 4,650,000 5 53,713 -- -- -- 53,718
Net loss............................... -- -- -- -- (1) (84,164) (84,165)
---------- --- -------- ------- ------ --------- ---------
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1998............. 18,793,055 $19 $191,184 $ -- $ -- $(233,462) $ (42,259)
---------- --- -------- ------- ------ --------- ---------
Exercise of options to purchase common
stock................................ 2,537,677 3 18,109 -- -- -- 18,112
Common stock issued to employees....... 100,156 -- 622 -- -- -- 622
Common stock issued upon the exercise
of warrants.......................... 118,197 -- -- -- -- -- --
Conversion of 8% Convertible
Subordinated Notes due 2003 to common
stock................................ 2,795,612 3 40,693 -- -- -- 40,696
Preferred dividends.................... -- -- 33,155 -- -- (38,234) (5,079)
Net loss............................... -- -- -- -- -- (66,292) (66,292)
---------- --- -------- ------- ------ --------- ---------
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1999............. 24,344,697 $25 $283,763 $ -- $ -- $(337,988) $ (54,200)
---------- --- -------- ------- ------ --------- ---------
Exercise of options to purchase common
stock................................ 255,286 -- 1,852 -- -- -- 1,852
Common stock issued to employees....... 148,681 -- 2,500 -- -- -- 2,500
Common stock offering.................. 5,750,000 6 473,625 -- -- -- 473,631
13% Senior notes and warrants
offering............................. -- -- 1,749 61,869 -- -- 63,618
Conversion of 8% Convertible
Subordinated Notes due 2003 to common
stock................................ 295,796 -- 4,304 -- -- -- 4,304
Preferred dividends.................... -- -- 15,459 -- -- (57,213) (41,754)
Unrealized gain on investment.......... -- -- -- -- 2,595 -- 2,595
Net loss............................... -- -- -- -- -- (188,147) (188,147)
---------- --- -------- ------- ------ --------- ---------
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2000............. 30,794,460 $31 $783,252 $61,869 $2,595 $(583,348) $ 264,399
========== === ======== ======= ====== ========= =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
44
46
METRICOM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
--------- --------- --------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss.................................................... $(188,147) $ (66,292) $(84,164)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
operating activities --
Depreciation and amortization............................... 20,462 4,717 9,205
Loss on retirement of property and equipment................ 1,083 1,301 --
Accretion of long-term debt................................. 5,226 -- --
Non-cash compensation expense............................... 741 -- --
Gain on purchase of minority interest....................... -- (184) --
Provision for network replacement........................... -- -- 14,392
Reserve for excess and obsolete inventory................... 1,561 9 809
Reserve for uncollectible accounts receivable............... 1,412 1,334 1,400
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, prepaid expenses
and other current assets.................................. (9,798) (3,865) (970)
(Increase) decrease in inventories.......................... (32,661) 2,451 1,161
Increase in accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other
liabilities............................................... 75,201 4,710 6,667
--------- --------- --------
Net cash used in operating activities..................... (124,920) (55,819) (51,500)
--------- --------- --------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of property and equipment.......................... (39,095) (11,085) (4,994)
Network construction in progress............................ (571,852) (22,034) --
Increase in other assets.................................... (15,926) (4,249) (226)
Purchase of short-term investments.......................... (406,215) (144,521) --
Proceeds from the sale of short-term investments............ 371,372 -- 4,390
Purchase of long-term investments........................... (18,166) -- --
--------- --------- --------
Net cash used in investing activities..................... (679,882) (181,889) (830)
--------- --------- --------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock...................... 478,992 18,734 56,549
Proceeds from sale of warrants to purchase common stock..... 61,869 -- --
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance
costs..................................................... -- 573,000 --
Proceeds from issuance of notes payable and long-term
debt...................................................... 236,382 49,835 10,138
Reduction of notes payable and long-term debt............... (621) (59,932) (5,000)
Payment of preferred dividends.............................. -- (3,250) --
Purchase of minority interest............................... -- (5,000) --
--------- --------- --------
Net cash provided by financing activities................. 776,622 573,387 61,687
--------- --------- --------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents........ (28,180) 335,679 9,357
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year................ 354,820 19,141 9,784
--------- --------- --------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year...................... $ 326,640 $ 354,820 $ 19,141
========= ========= ========
SUMMARY OF NON-CASH TRANSACTIONS:
Property and equipment acquired under capital lease....... -- 561 --
Network construction in progress acquired under capital
lease................................................... 3,954 -- --
Common stock issued upon conversion of long-term debt..... 4,304 40,690 --
Preferred dividends....................................... 57,212 34,984 --
Preferred stock issued for preferred dividend payment..... 39,000 -- --
CASH PAID DURING THE YEAR FOR INTEREST...................... 35,750 5,339 3,657
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
45
47
METRICOM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION
Metricom, Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, designs, develops
and markets low cost, high performance, easy to use, mobile wireless data access
products and services. The Company's primary service, Ricochet, provides
subscriber-based, high-speed wireless data communications for users of portable
and desktop computers and hand-held computing devices. During 2000, the Company
announced availability of high-speed Ricochet service in various markets across
the United States. As of December 31, 2000, Ricochet service is available in
Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Minneapolis, New York
City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, and San Francisco with high-speed
service; and Seattle and Washington, D.C. with the original 28.8 kbps service.
In February 2000, the Company licensed its UtiliNet technology to Schlumberger
Resources Management Services, Inc. The agreement grants Schlumberger the
exclusive right to design, manufacture and sell UtiliNet products in return for
license and royalty fees.
The Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and has incurred
significant financial commitments that raise substantial doubt about its ability
to continue as a going concern through 2001. At December 31, 2000, the Company
had working capital of approximately $425 million and outstanding purchase
commitments for capital equipment, network construction labor and modems of
approximately $353 million. At the current level of operations and rate of
negative cash flow, management anticipates that its cash, cash equivalents and
short-term investments will be adequate to satisfy the operating loss and
capital expenditure requirements through August 2001. Expenditures associated
with developing the Company's high-speed service have contributed substantially
to its accumulated deficit of approximately $583 million at December 31, 2000.
In order to extend the availability of its cash, management has postponed
deployment in most of its originally planned 46 markets until it obtains
additional financing. Management is attempting to reduce its financial
commitments and reduce future cash outflows by negotiating alternative terms
with its suppliers. It is also working with its channel partners to increase
revenues through new marketing programs and promotions, and is exploring
potential additional sources of revenue. The Company is working with advisors to
obtain additional financing and is currently in discussion with candidates that
could potentially provide financing. There can be no assurance that the Company
will be successful in increasing revenues, reducing cash outflows or obtaining
additional financing. In the event that the Company does not obtain additional
financing and is unable to extend its availability of cash beyond its current
expectations, management plans to significantly reduce operations in the third
quarter of 2001 to enable the Company to continue as a going concern through
2001. However, these factors raise substantial doubt about the ability of the
Company to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial
statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of
this uncertainty.
Since its inception, the Company has incurred significant operating losses.
These losses resulted primarily from expenditures associated with the
development, deployment and commercialization of the Company's wireless network
products and services. The Company expects to incur significant operating losses
and to generate negative cash flows from operating activities during the next
few years while it continues to develop and deploy networks and build its
customer base. The ability of the Company to achieve profitability will depend
upon the successful and timely deployment and marketing of its new high-speed
service in major metropolitan areas of the United States. The market for mobile
wireless data access services is in the early stages of development. As a
result, the Company cannot reliably project potential demand for its high-speed
service, particularly whether there will be sufficient demand at the volume and
prices needed for the Company to be profitable. In addition, the Company is
subject to additional risks, including the risks of developing technology,
competition from companies with substantially greater financial, technical,
marketing and management resources than the Company and potential changes in the
regulatory environment.
46
48
METRICOM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation. The accompanying consolidated financial statements
include the accounts of the Company and all subsidiaries after elimination of
significant intercompany accounts and transactions. Certain amounts have been
reclassified from the previously reported balances to conform to the 2000
presentation.
Use of Estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at
the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
Limited Number of Suppliers. In 2000, the Company purchased all of its
network radios from one supplier. To date, the Company has purchased its modems
principally from two suppliers. During 1999, the Company entered into contracts
with two additional suppliers that will provide PC card modems which are
interoperable with the Company's high-speed Ricochet network. Additional changes
in suppliers could cause a delay in manufacturing and a possible loss of sales,
which would affect operating results adversely.
Cash and Cash Equivalents. For the purposes of the Statements of Cash
Flows, all highly liquid monetary instruments with an original maturity of 90
days or less from the date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents.
Inventories. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in,
first-out) or market, and primarily represent modem components and finished
modems purchased from suppliers. As part of its marketing strategy, the Company
frequently sells its modems at prices below cost and below market in order to
increase subscribers and service revenues. Losses on sales of modems at prices
below cost are charged to cost of goods sold at time of shipment. Net
inventories consisted of the following (in thousands):
DECEMBER 31,
---------------
2000 1999
------- ----
Raw materials and component parts.......................... $15,982 $207
Work-in-process............................................ 900 139
Finished goods and consigned inventory..................... 14,804 240
------- ----
Total............................................ $31,686 $586
======= ====
Property and Equipment. Property and equipment are stated at cost and are
depreciated using the straight-line method over the shorter of their estimated
useful lives of three to five years or the lease term. Property and equipment
consisted of the following (in thousands):
DECEMBER 31,
--------------------
2000 1999
-------- --------
Machinery and equipment................................ $ 47,461 $ 21,264
Network equipment...................................... 184,820 22,256
Ricochet modems........................................ 267 1,007
Furniture and fixtures................................. 7,680 2,453
Leasehold improvements................................. 11,657 1,535
-------- --------
251,885 48,515
Less -- Accumulated depreciation and amortization...... (48,994) (36,282)
-------- --------
Total........................................ $202,891 $ 12,233
======== ========
Accounting Change. Effective January 1, 1999, the Company changed its
capitalization policy for network equipment. In the construction of the first
generation Ricochet network, costs incurred for site
47
49
METRICOM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
acquisition and radio frequency engineering were expensed as incurred due to the
network's early stage of development. The Company believes that its new
high-speed network currently being deployed is no longer in the early stages of
development. Because site acquisition and radio frequency engineering are
integral steps in the design and construction of the high-speed network, these
costs are now being capitalized as part of the total cost of the assets.
Management believes the changed policy is preferable. The effect of the change
in accounting principle in 1999 was to reduce the net loss available to common
stockholders by approximately $15.9 million or $0.78 per share in 1999. The
effect was also to increase net loss by $1.3 million, or $0.07 per share in
1998. There was no effect as of January 1, 1999.
Network Construction in Progress. In 1999, the Company began deployment of
its high-speed Ricochet networks in various markets across the United States. As
of December 31, 2000 and 1999, the Company had approximately $463.5 million and
$22.0 million, respectively, of construction in progress associated with network
deployment of the high-speed service. Network deployment costs include
principally labor costs for site acquisition, radio frequency engineering,
zoning and construction management for the Company's wired access points,
material costs for radios, equipment and component inventory, as well as
capitalized interest. Capitalized interest totaled $30.7 million as of December
31, 2000. Network construction in progress at December 31, 2000 and 1999
included approximately $170 million and $0, respectively, of radios, equipment
and component inventory not yet placed in service. As commercial high-speed
service is launched in each market, the capitalized costs associated with
network assets placed in service are transferred to Property and Equipment and
depreciated over an estimated useful life of four years. In 2000, $165.0 million
of network deployment costs were transferred from network construction in
progress to property and equipment.
Accrued Liabilities. Accrued liabilities consisted of the following (in
thousands):
DECEMBER 31,
------------------
2000 1999
------- -------
Interest................................................. $15,383 $ --
Employee stock purchase plan............................. 818 658
Current portion of deferred revenue...................... 2,584 3,122
Payroll and related...................................... 11,297 6,147
Royalties................................................ 201 236
State and local taxes.................................... 2,287 235
Warranty................................................. 256 256
Preferred dividends...................................... 1,606 1,500
Co-op marketing programs................................. 1,483 33
Fringe benefits.......................................... 2,036 25
Other.................................................... 1,022 430
------- -------
Total.......................................... $38,973 $12,642
======= =======
Debt Issuance Costs. Debt issuance costs of approximately $8.1 million at
December 31, 2000 are included in other assets in the accompanying consolidated
balance sheet. The costs are amortized over the life of the debt instrument and
amortization expense is reflected as a component of interest expense.
Licensed Spectrum. In fiscal 1997, the Company paid $1.45 million for
licensed spectrum in the Wireless Communication Services auction. This spectrum
is used by the Company's new high-speed Ricochet network. This amount is
included in other assets in the accompanying balance sheet and is amortized over
its estimated useful life of 10 years commencing with commercial use in July
2000.
Revenue Recognition. In the fourth quarter of 2000, the Company adopted
Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") No. 101, "Revenue Recognition in Financial
Statements." In accordance with SAB 101, revenue is recognized when there is
pervasive evidence of an arrangement, delivery of the product or performance of
the
48
50
METRICOM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
service has occurred, the selling price is fixed and determined and
collectibility is reasonably assured. The adoption of SAB 101 had no impact on
the accompanying financial statements.
The Company defers product revenues from high-speed modem sales and
recognizes them over the estimated average subscription term of 24 months. The
cost of the modems is also deferred and recognized over the estimated average
subscription term, up to the amount of the related revenue with any losses on
delivery of the modems recognized on shipment. Revenues from the sale of first
generation modems, which are estimated to have limited subscription life, are
recognized upon shipment. Service revenues, which consist of subscriber fees and
equipment rentals from Ricochet, are recognized ratably over the service period.
Cash received from customers in advance of providing services is deferred and
included in accrued liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
Research and Development Expenditures. Research and development
expenditures consist of salaries and direct expenses and are charged to
operations as incurred.
New Accounting Standards. In June 2000, the Financial Accounting Standards
Board issued SFAS No. 138, "Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and
Hedging Activities," an amendment of SFAS No. 133, which is effective for all
fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000. SFAS No. 138 establishes accounting
and reporting standards requiring that every derivative instrument be recorded
in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value.
The statement also requires that changes in the derivative's fair value be
recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are
met. Because the Company does not currently hold any derivative instruments and
does not currently engage in any material hedging activities, management
believes that the application of SFAS No. 138 will not have a material impact on
the Company's financial position or results of operations.
3. INVESTMENTS
The Company's investments in securities are considered available-for-sale
and are recorded at their fair values as determined by quoted market prices with
any unrealized holding gains or losses classified as a separate component of
stockholders' equity. Upon sale of the investments, any previously unrealized
gains or losses are recognized in results of operations. As of December 31, 2000
and 1999, the aggregate fair value equaled the cost basis of the Company's
investments. The value of the Company's investments by major security type is as
follows (in thousands):
AS OF DECEMBER 31,
--------------------
SECURITY TYPE 2000 1999
------------- -------- --------
United States Treasury and Agencies.................... $105,403 $ 76,140
Corporate debt and money market........................ 421,416 423,201
-------- --------
Total........................................ $526,819 $499,341
======== ========
As of December 31, 2000, investments in obligations of the United States
Treasury and Agencies and corporate debt and money market securities had
maturities of 0 to 14 months. Approximately $326.6 million and $354.8 million of
the total investments as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively, are
included in cash and cash equivalents. Restricted investments represent amounts
deposited in a restricted pledge account to secure three scheduled interest
payments on the 13% Senior Notes due 2010. One interest payment totaling $19.5
million was made out of restricted investments in 2000.
In June 1995, Metricom Investments, Inc. ("Metricom Investments"), a
subsidiary of the Company, and PepData, Inc. ("PepData"), a subsidiary of
Potomac Electric Power Company, formed Metricom DC, L.L.C. ("Metricom DC") to
own and operate a Ricochet network in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
Metricom Investments contributed $1,000 and rights to use proprietary technology
employed by the Company's Ricochet networks in exchange for an 80% interest in
Metricom DC. PepData committed to
49
51
METRICOM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
contributing up to $7.0 million in exchange for a 20% interest in Metricom DC
and certain preferential rights to available cash distributions. In November
1999, the Company paid $5.0 million to PepData to acquire the minority interest
of Metricom DC from PepData.
4. SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS
For the year ended December 31, 2000, combined product and service revenues
from Wireless WebConnect! and WorldCom, a holder of the Company's convertible
preferred stock, accounted for 19% and 12% respectively, of total revenues. No
other customers accounted for more than 10% of revenues in any of the three
years ended December 31, 2000.
5. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company has entered into contracts with various suppliers in order to
deploy its high-speed network. At December 31, 2000, the Company had commitments
to purchase network equipment and network design, construction and related
services totaling approximately $353 million. The Company also has entered into
contracts with high-speed modem suppliers. At December 31, 2000, the Company had
commitments to purchase modems totaling approximately $100 million, and expects
to take delivery of most of these modems in 2001. Due to reductions in the
Company's planned network deployment in 2001, the Company is currently working
with its suppliers to reduce these commitments. There can be no assurance that
the Company will be able to successfully negotiate reductions to these
commitments, and may incur incremental legal costs associated with these
negotiations.
The Company leases various facilities and equipment under operating lease
agreements. Rent expense under these agreements for the years ended December 31,
2000, 1999, and 1998, was approximately $4.7 million, $1.6 million, and $1.9
million, respectively. In March 2000, the Company entered into a 10-year
agreement to lease approximately 145,000 additional square feet of office space
beginning in May 2001.
The Company has also entered into various agreements with electric
utilities, municipalities and building owners for the use of utility poles and
building rooftops on which network equipment is installed. Payment under
agreements for use of utility poles is generally contingent upon the number of
network radios installed during the year. Rent expense under these agreements
for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999, and 1998 was approximately $21.3
million, $2.7 million, and $1.1 million, respectively.
Approximate future minimum rental payments under operating lease agreements
are as follows (in thousands):
YEARS ENDING DECEMBER 31,
2001...................................................... $ 58,728
2002...................................................... 61,433
2003...................................................... 62,977
2004...................................................... 64,181
2005...................................................... 44,373
Thereafter................................................ 79,736
--------
Total........................................... $371,428
========
50
52
METRICOM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
6. CAPITALIZED LEASES
The Company has leased equipment under various capital lease agreements. As
of December 31, 2000, the cost of the leased assets was $4.7 million and the
related accumulated depreciation was $0.6 million. The weighted average interest
rate on the outstanding leases is 6.7%. The following is a schedule of future
minimum payments under the equipment leases together with the present value of
the net minimum lease payments at December 31, 2000 (in thousands):
YEARS ENDING DECEMBER 31,
2001........................................................ $1,083
2002........................................................ 1,004
2003........................................................ 1,004
2004........................................................ 989
2005........................................................ 381
------
Total net minimum lease payments.................. 4,461
Less amount representing interest........................... (526)
------
Present value of net minimum lease payments................. 3,935
Less current portion........................................ (876)
------
Long-term portion........................................... $3,059
======
7. LONG-TERM DEBT
Senior Notes Payable. In February 2000, the Company, together with its
wholly owned finance subsidiary, Metricom Finance, Inc., as co-issuers and
co-obligors, issued $300 million aggregate principal amount of 13% Senior Notes
due 2010 ("Senior Notes"). Metricom Finance has no independent assets or
operations. The Company has fully and unconditionally guaranteed the obligations
of Metricom Finance, Inc. under the Senior Notes. Interest on the Senior Notes
is payable on February 15 and August 15 of each year and the Senior Notes will
mature on February 15, 2010. The first interest payment was made on August 15,
2000. The Senior Notes were offered together with warrants to purchase 1,425,000
shares of common stock of the Company at an initial exercise price of $87.00 per
share. For each $1,000 of note principal purchased, the purchaser was issued a
warrant to purchase 4.75 shares of common stock and each warrant is exercisable
on or after August 15, 2000. The Company estimated the fair market value of each
warrant to be $212.06, which was credited to paid-in capital in the accompanying
balance sheet. The warrants will expire on February 15, 2010. Net proceeds to
the Company from the Senior Notes and warrants offering was approximately $291.8
million, $73.1 million of which was deposited in a restricted pledge account to
secure the payment of the first four scheduled interest payments on the Senior
Notes. Of the gross proceeds, $236.4 million and $63.6 million was allocated to
the Senior Notes and warrants, respectively. The value of the warrants and
issuance costs accrete over the life of the Senior Notes using the effective
interest rate method. The total obligation of the Senior Notes at maturity will
be $300 million.
The Company is restricted by the terms of the Senior Notes from taking
various actions, such as incurring additional indebtedness, paying dividends,
repurchasing junior indebtedness, making certain investments, entering into
transactions with affiliates, merging or consolidating with other entities and
selling all or substantially all of its assets. A breach of any of these
provisions will result in a default under the indenture and supplemental
indentures governing the Senior Notes and could result in a default under
agreements relating to other indebtedness that the Company may have in the
future that would allow those lenders to declare that indebtedness immediately
due and payable. In addition, upon the occurrence of certain events specified in
the Senior Notes, including connection with certain types of change in control,
the Company will be required to make an offer to purchase all of the outstanding
notes at a premium.
51
53
METRICOM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Other Liabilities. In August 1996, the Company issued $45 million principal
amount of unsecured, 8% Convertible Subordinated Notes (the "Convertible Notes")
due September 15, 2003, with interest payments due semi-annually on March 15 and
September 15, commencing March 15, 1997. In December 1999, the Company called
for redemption of the Convertible Notes on January 10, 2000. As of December 31,
1999, $40.7 million of the Convertible Notes had been converted into
approximately 2.8 million shares of common stock. In January 2000, all remaining
Convertible Notes were converted into approximately 0.3 million shares of common
stock.
The Company's other liabilities consist of the following:
AS OF DECEMBER 31,
-------------------
2000 1999
------- --------
Convertible notes payable................................. $ -- $ 4,304
Deferred rent............................................. -- 321
Deferred revenue.......................................... 554 --
Leases payable............................................ 3,935 602
------ -------
Total........................................... 4,489 5,227
Less current portion...................................... (876) (4,521)
------ -------
Other long-term liabilities............................. $3,613 $ 706
====== =======
8. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Common Stock Offering. In February 2000, the Company issued 5,750,000
shares of common stock at $87.00 per share in a public offering. Net proceeds to
the Company were approximately $473.2 million, after deducting underwriting
discounts, commissions and offering expenses.
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock. In November 1999, the Company
issued and sold to WorldCom, Inc. 30 million shares of newly-designated Series
A1 preferred stock at a price of $10 per share, and the Company issued and sold
to Vulcan Ventures 30 million shares of newly-designated Series A2 preferred
stock at a price of $10 per share, for gross aggregate proceeds to the Company
of $600 million. Both series of preferred stock bear cumulative dividends at the
rate of 6.5% per annum for three years, payable in cash or additional shares of
preferred stock. In addition, each series has the right to elect one director to
the Company's Board of Directors, although voting rights otherwise will be
generally limited to specified matters. The preferred stock is subject to
mandatory redemption by the Company at the original issuance price in 10 years
following initial issuance and to redemption at the option of the holder upon
the occurrence of specified changes in control or major acquisitions. Both
series of preferred stock accrete at approximately $2.7 million per year over
the 10-year periods from the beginning aggregate net book value of $573 million
up to the redemption value of $600 million. This accretion is charged against
accumulated deficit.
In December 2000, the Company issued to WorldCom, Inc. 1.95 million shares
of Series A1 preferred stock at a price of $10 per share, and the Company issued
to Vulcan Ventures 1.95 million shares of Series A2 preferred stock at a price
of $10 per share, for the 2000 payment of the 6.5% dividend on the redeemable
convertible preferred stock.
Because the preferred stock issued to Vulcan Ventures is immediately
convertible into common stock at the holder's option at a conversion price of
$10.00 per share, which was below the per share closing price of common stock on
both the date immediately prior to the execution of the preferred stock purchase
agreement and the date of the 2000 dividend issuance, the Company recorded
additional dividends of $5.3 million and $31.8 million in the fourth quarter of
2000 and 1999, respectively, to reflect the beneficial conversion privilege
associated with this series of preferred stock. The preferred stock issued to
WorldCom is also deemed to have a beneficial conversion privilege. However, that
series of preferred stock does not begin to become convertible
52
54
METRICOM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
into common stock at the holder's option until May 2002. As a result, this
discount will be amortized over the 48-month period, which began in November
1999, during which this series of preferred stock becomes convertible into
common stock at the holder's option.
Common Stock Warrants. In September 1994, the Company issued warrants to
purchase 200,000 shares of common stock at $13.75 per share in exchange for
certain investment banking services. In June 1997, the Company repurchased
100,000 of these warrants for $1,000. The remaining warrants expired in
September 1998.
In July 1997, the Company issued a warrant to purchase 150,000 shares of
common stock at $7.50 per share in exchange for certain strategic and financial
advisory services. In November 1999, 118,198 shares of common stock were issued
upon net exercise of the warrant.
9. STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS
Stock Options. In March 1988, the Company adopted the 1988 Stock Option
Plan ("The 1988 Plan"). Under the 1988 Plan, as amended, the Company is
authorized to grant up to 4,119,500 incentive or non-qualified stock options to
purchase shares of common stock. Incentive stock options may be granted to
employees at prices not lower than the market value of the stock at the date of
grant. Non-qualified stock options may be granted to employees, officers,
directors and consultants at prices not lower than 85% of the market value of
the stock at the date of the grant. Options granted under the 1988 Plan are
exercisable as determined by the Board of Directors and will expire no later
than ten years from the date of grant. Options generally vest 25% after the
first year and ratably over the following three years. During 2000, 1999 and
1998, options to purchase 18,794, 243,109 and 501,857 shares expired without
exercise, respectively.
In February 1993, the Company adopted the 1993 Non-Employee Directors'
Stock Option Plan (the "1993 Plan"). Under the 1993 Plan, as amended, the
Company is authorized to grant up to 575,000 non-qualified stock options to
purchase shares of common stock at the market value at the date of grant.
Options granted under the 1993 Plan are exercisable in three equal annual
installments commencing one year from the date of grant and will expire no later
than 10 years from the date of grant. During 2000, 1999 and 1998, the Company
granted to members of the Board of Directors options to purchase an aggregate of
42,000, 35,000 and 52,000 shares, respectively, of common stock at fair market
value of the stock at the date of grant.
In May 1997, the Company adopted the 1997 Equity Incentive Plan (the "1997
Plan"). Under the 1997 Plan, as amended, the Company is authorized to grant up
to 5,275,000 incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted
stock purchase awards, and stock bonuses (collectively "Stock Awards") to
employees, directors and consultants. Incentive stock options may be granted to
employees at prices not lower than the market value of the stock at the date of
grant. Other Stock Awards may be granted to employees, officers, directors and
consultants at prices not lower than 85% of the market value of the stock at the
date of the grant. Options granted under the 1997 Plan are exercisable as
determined by the Board of Directors and typically vest 25% after the first year
and ratably over the following three years. Options granted will expire no later
than ten years from the date of grant.
In May 1997, the Company adopted the 1997 Non-Officers Equity Incentive
Plan (the "Non-officers Plan"). Under the Non-Officers Plan, the Company is
authorized to grant up to 1,850,000 incentive stock options, non-qualified stock
options, restricted stock purchase awards, and stock bonuses (collectively
"Stock Awards") to employees and consultants. Incentive stock options may be
granted to employees at prices not lower than the market value of the stock at
the date of grant. Other Stock Awards may be granted to employees and
consultants at prices not lower than 85% of the market value of the stock at the
date of the grant. Options granted under the Non-Officers Plan are exercisable
as determined by the Board of Directors and typically vest 25% after the first
year and ratably over the following three years. Options granted will expire no
later than ten years from the date of grant. In 2000, the Company granted to
members of the
53
55
METRICOM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Technical Advisory Board options to purchase 11,000 shares of common stock at
fair value at the date of grant.
In April 2000, the Company adopted the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan (The
"2000 Plan"). Under the 2000 Plan, the Company is authorized to grant up to
1,500,000 non-qualified stock options, restricted stock purchase awards, and
stock bonuses (collectively "Stock Awards") to employees, directors and
consultants. Stock Awards may be granted at prices not lower than 85% of the
market value of the stock at the date of the grant. Options granted under the
2000 Plan are exercisable as determined by the Board of Directors and typically
vest 25% after the first year and ratably over the following three years.
Options granted will expire no later than ten years from the date of grant.
Stock option activity under the 1988 Plan, the 1993 Plan, the 1997 Plan,
the Non-officers Plan, the 2000 Plan and options issued to members of the Board
of Directors and Advisory Board for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1998,
1999 and 2000 was as follows:
SHARES WEIGHTED
AVAILABLE AVERAGE
FOR FUTURE OPTIONS EXERCISE
GRANT OUTSTANDING PRICE
---------- ----------- --------
Balance, December 31, 1997........................... 990,195 3,973,678 $ 6.99
Authorized......................................... 1,150,000 -- --
Grants............................................. (2,334,301) 2,334,301 $ 9.24
Exercises.......................................... -- (187,053) $ 4.90
Cancellations...................................... 872,132 (872,132) $ 7.84
Expired............................................ (501,857) -- --
---------- ---------- ------
Balance, December 31, 1998........................... 176,169 5,248,794 $ 7.89
---------- ---------- ------
Authorized......................................... 1,400,000 -- --
Grants............................................. (1,969,270) 1,969,270 $30.01
Exercises.......................................... -- (2,537,677) $ 7.14
Cancellations...................................... 689,481 (689,481) $ 7.75
Expired............................................ (243,109) -- --
---------- ---------- ------
Balance, December 31, 1999........................... 53,271 3,990,906 $19.21
---------- ---------- ------
Authorized......................................... 4,500,000 -- --
Grants............................................. (3,637,023) 3,637,023 $36.93
Exercises.......................................... -- (255,286) $ 7.26
Cancellations...................................... 644,408 (644,408) $34.51
Expired............................................ (18,794) -- --
---------- ---------- ------
Balance, December 31, 2000........................... 1,541,862 6,728,235 $27.73
========== ========== ======
54
56
METRICOM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
The following table summarizes information concerning stock options
outstanding and exercisable as of December 31, 2000:
OPTIONS OUTSTANDING OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
------------------------ ----------------------
WEIGHTED WEIGHTED WEIGHTED
AVERAGE AVERAGE AVERAGE
RANGE OF SHARES REMAINING EXERCISE SHARES EXERCISE
EXERCISE PRICES OUTSTANDING LIFE IN YEARS PRICE EXERCISABLE PRICE
- --------------- ----------- ------------- -------- ----------- --------
$ 3.00 - $ 7.91 705,505 6.45 $ 5.88 473,848 $ 5.67
$ 7.97 - $10.38 1,017,108 7.52 $ 9.98 577,611 $10.11
$10.42 - $22.56 572,533 8.36 $17.99 183,997 $16.77
$22.59 - $22.69 757,000 9.17 $22.68 32,624 $22.62
$22.88 - $26.34 759,907 9.27 $25.58 91,540 $25.13
$26.41 - $27.75 142,000 9.24 $27.25 13,997 $26.99
$27.81 - $29.25 774,932 8.85 $29.17 188,967 $29.22
$29.28 - $35.50 995,628 9.35 $34.17 17,172 $31.79
$36.00 - $77.25 710,172 9.16 $55.42 65,773 $50.58
$77.28 - $97.81 293,450 9.07 $86.92 8,000 $87.22
--------- ---- ------ --------- ------
6,728,235 8.56 $27.73 1,653,529 $15.19
========= ==== ====== ========= ======
Stock Purchase Plan. In 1991, the Board of Directors adopted the 1991
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan"). An aggregate of 1,050,000
shares of common stock have been authorized for issuance under the Purchase
Plan. Employees may designate up to 15% of their earnings, as defined, to
purchase shares at 85% of the lesser of the fair market value of the common
stock at the beginning of the offering period or on any purchase date during the
offering period, as defined. In 2000, 1999 and 1998, the Company issued 148,681,
88,156 and 84,650 shares, respectively, under this Stock Purchase Plan. In
January 2001 the Company issued 88,447 shares under the Purchase Plan.
Stock-Based Compensation. In January 1996, the Company adopted the
disclosure provision of FASB Statement No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation" ("Statement 123"). Statement 123 defines a fair value method of
accounting for stock-based compensation plans. Under the fair value method,
compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award
and is recognized over the service period. As permitted under Statement 123, the
Company continues to apply the provisions of Accounting Principals Board Opinion
No. 25 and related interpretations in accounting for its stock-based
compensation plans. If the Company had elected to recognize compensation cost
based on the fair value of the stock options and employee stock purchase rights
under the Purchase Plan at the grant date as prescribed by Statement 123, net
income and earnings per share would have been as follows (in thousands, except
per share amounts):
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
--------- --------- --------
Net loss attributable to common stockholders --
As reported.................................... $(245,360) $(104,526) $(84,164)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders --
Pro forma...................................... $(301,627) $(112,800) $(89,309)
Basic and diluted net loss per share -- As
reported....................................... $ (8.15) $ (5.13) $ (4.63)
Basic and diluted net loss per share -- Pro
forma.......................................... $ (10.02) $ (5.54) $ (4.91)
55
57
METRICOM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
The weighted average fair value of stock options granted during 2000, 1999
and 1998 was $32.77, $26.42 and $3.20 per share, respectively. The fair value of
these options was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option
pricing model using the following assumptions:
YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
--------------------
2000 1999 1998
---- ---- ----
Risk-free interest rate..................................... 5.1% 5.6% 5.2%
Dividend Yield.............................................. 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Volatility factor of expected market price of the Company's
stock..................................................... 1.60 1.60 0.50
Weighted average expected option life from Vest date (in
years).................................................... 1.37 1.38 1.03
The weighted average fair value of employee stock purchase rights granted
during 2000, 1999 and 1998 was $14.12, $5.58 and $3.75 per share, respectively.
The fair value of these purchase rights was estimated at the date of grant using
a Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following assumptions:
YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
--------------------
2000 1999 1998
---- ---- ----
Risk-free interest rate..................................... 5.1% 5.6% 5.2%
Dividend Yield.............................................. 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Volatility factor of expected market price of the company's
stock..................................................... 1.60 1.60 0.50
Weighted average expected option life from Vest date (in
years).................................................... 1.37 1.38 0.70
Common Stock Reserved for Future Issuance. As of December 31, 2000 the
Company had reserved the following shares of common stock for future issuance:
Exercise of stock options................................ 8,270,097
Conversion of redeemable convertible preferred stock..... 63,900,000
Exercise of common stock warrants........................ 1,425,000
Employee stock purchase plan............................. 468,503
----------
Total.......................................... 74,063,600
==========
10. 401(K) PLAN
In November 1987, the Company adopted a tax-qualified savings and
retirement plan (the "401(k) Plan"). Pursuant to the terms of the 401(k) Plan,
employees may elect to contribute up to 15% of their gross compensation. The
Company matches employee contributions annually in cash at the rate of 50% for
the first $2,400 contributed. Contributions by the Company to date have not been
material.
56
58
METRICOM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
11. INCOME TAXES
Deferred taxes are provided to reflect the net tax effects of temporary
differences between the financial reporting and income tax bases of assets and
liabilities using the currently enacted tax rate. The tax effect of temporary
differences and carryforwards, which give rise to a significant portion of
deferred tax assets, consisted of the following (in thousands):
DECEMBER 31,
----------------------
2000 1999
--------- ---------
Reserves and accrued liabilities..................... $ 24,616 $ 6,868
Depreciation......................................... 15,114 (7,680)
Capitalized research and development................. 50,027 34,853
--------- ---------
Total...................................... 89,757 34,041
NOL and other credit carryforwards................... 128,912 83,574
Valuation allowance.................................. (218,669) (117,615)
--------- ---------
Total...................................... $ -- $ --
========= =========
As of December 31, 2000 and 1999, a valuation allowance was provided for
the net deferred tax assets as a result of uncertainties regarding their
realization. During 2000, the valuation allowance increased by approximately
$101.1 million due to increases in temporary differences and additional losses
incurred during the year. Approximately $22.0 million of the valuation allowance
relates to disqualifying dispositions on employee stock options and accordingly
will be credited directly to stockholders' equity and will not be available to
reduce the provision for income taxes in future years.
As of December 31, 2000, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards
for Federal and California income tax purposes of approximately $327 million and
$131 million, respectively, and research and development tax credit
carryforwards of approximately $9.8 million. To the extent not used, these
carryforwards expire at various times through 2020. The Company's ability to
utilize the net operating loss carryforwards in any given year may be limited
upon the occurrence of certain events, including significant changes in
ownership interests.
12. EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic and diluted net loss per share data has been computed using the
weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. For the years
ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, the following common shares have been
excluded from the calculation as their effect would be anti-dilutive (in
thousands):
AS OF DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------
2000 1999 1998
------ ------ -----
ENDING COMMON SHARES ISSUABLE UPON:
Exercise of options..................................... 6,728 3,991 5,249
Conversion of redeemable preferred stock................ 63,900 60,000 --
Exercise of warrants.................................... 1,425 -- --
Conversion of convertible subordinated notes............ -- 296 3,091
------ ------ -----
Shares excluded from earnings per share
calculation........................................ 72,053 64,287 8,340
57
59
METRICOM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
The following table summarizes the numerators and denominators used in the
calculation of basic earnings per share (in thousands except per share amounts):
INCOME SHARES
(NUMERATOR) (DENOMINATOR) AMOUNT
----------- ------------- ------
FOR THE YEAR 2000
Basic loss per share
Net loss....................................... $(188,147)
Preferred dividends............................ (57,213)
---------
Net loss attributable to common stockholders... $(245,360) 30,091 $(8.15)
FOR THE YEAR 1999
Basic loss per share
Net loss....................................... $ (66,292)
Preferred dividends............................ (38,234)
---------
Net loss attributable to common stockholders... $(104,526) 20,375 $(5.13)
FOR THE YEAR 1998
Basic loss per share
Net loss....................................... $ (84,164)
Preferred dividends............................ --
---------
Net loss attributable to common stockholders... $ (84,164) 18,195 $(4.63)
13. SEGMENT REPORTING
The Company adopted SFAS No. 131 "Disclosures about Segments of an
Enterprise and Related Information," during the fourth quarter of 1998. SFAS No.
131 established standards for reporting information about operating segments in
annual financial statements and requires selected information about operating
segments in interim financial reports issued to stockholders. It also
established standards for related disclosures about products and services and
geographic areas. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise
about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated
regularly by chief operating decision makers or decision making groups, in
deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.
The information in the following table is derived directly from the
Company's internal financial reporting used for corporate management purposes.
The Company evaluates its segments' performance based on several factors, of
which the primary financial measures are revenue and gross margin. Corporate
overhead and other costs are not allocated to business segments for management
reporting purposes. The accounting policies followed by the Company's business
segments are the same as those described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial
statements. The Company does not allocate assets by segment for management
reporting purposes.
All of the Company's operations are located in the United States. The
Company's reportable operating segments include Ricochet and UtiliNet. Ricochet
designs, manufactures and markets wireless data communications solutions.
UtiliNet manufactures and markets customer-owned networks and related products.
In February 2000, UtiliNet technology was licensed to Schlumberger Resources
Management Services, Inc. The agreement grants Schlumberger the exclusive right
to design, manufacture and sell UtiliNet products in return
58
60
METRICOM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
for license and royalty fees. A summary of operating results by reportable
operating segment is as follows (in thousands):
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
-------- ------- -------
Ricochet Revenue..................................... $ 9,881 $12,039 $10,775
UtiliNet Revenue..................................... 1,965 6,486 5,084
-------- ------- -------
Total Revenue.............................. $ 11,846 $18,525 $15,859
======== ======= =======
Cost of Product Ricochet............................. $ 8,858 $ 3,037 $ 2,741
Cost of Product UtiliNet............................. 1,582 2,977 2,309
-------- ------- -------
Total Cost of Product...................... $ 10,440 $ 6,014 $ 5,050
======== ======= =======
Cost of Service Ricochet............................. $110,682 $20,997 $20,655
Cost of Service UtiliNet............................. -- -- 440
-------- ------- -------
Total Cost of Service...................... $110,682 $20,997 $21,095
======== ======= =======
14. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
WorldCom, Inc. owns approximately 32 million shares of the Company's
preferred stock, and has also entered into an agreement with the Company to
resell the Company's high-speed service. In fiscal 2000, the Company recorded
revenue from WorldCom and its subsidiaries totaling approximately $1.5 million.
In fiscal 2000 and 1999, the Company paid WorldCom and its subsidiaries a total
of approximately $11.9 million and $2.9 million, respectively, for the purchase
of telecommunications services in the normal course of business.
15. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
FISCAL 2000 QUARTER ENDED:
---------------------------------------------------
MARCH 31 JUNE 30 SEPTEMBER 30 DECEMBER 31
-------- -------- ------------ -----------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
Net revenues................................ $ 3,223 $ 2,307 $ 3,932 $ 2,384
Total costs and expenses.................... 31,662 47,313 62,855 109,376
Net loss.................................... (19,317) (31,335) (41,525) (95,971)
Net loss attributable to common
stockholders.............................. $(32,259) $(44,274) $(54,467) $(114,361)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders
per share................................. $ (1.15) $ (1.44) $ (1.77) $ (3.71)
FISCAL 1999 QUARTER ENDED:
---------------------------------------------------
MARCH 31 JUNE 30 SEPTEMBER 30 DECEMBER 31
-------- -------- ------------ -----------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
Net revenues................................ $ 4,186 $ 4,663 $ 4,795 $ 4,880
Total costs and expenses.................... 18,134 19,805 19,956 25,858
Net loss.................................... (15,018) (16,557) (16,653) (18,065)
Net loss attributable to common
stockholders.............................. $(15,018) $(16,557) $(16,654) $(56,299)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders
per share................................. $ (0.80) $ (0.86) $ (0.80) $ (2.51)
16. EVENT SUBSEQUENT TO DATE OF AUDITOR'S REPORT
59
61
METRICOM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
A supplier has threatened to file a complaint against the Company alleging
that the Company is liable to it for approximately $9.1 million in materials it
ordered on the Company's behalf in connection with the supply agreement between
the Company and the supplier. If a lawsuit results, the Company intends to
vigorously defend it.
Additionally, a third party has made a claim against the Company of
approximately $1 million in relation to materials they sold to the above
supplier for the Company's products. The Company intends to vigorously defend
itself against these claims in the ordinary course.
60
62
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF METRICOM, INC.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Metricom,
Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000 and 1999
and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2000.
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements 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 financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Metricom, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2000, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States.
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the
Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the
financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations
and has significant financial commitments for network equipment, network
construction labor, and modems. These factors raise substantial doubt about its
ability to continue as a going concern. At December 31, 2000, the Company had
working capital of approximately $425 million and outstanding purchase
commitments for network equipment, network construction labor and modems of
approximately $353 million. Management's plans in regard to these matters are
also described at Note 1. The financial statements do not include any
adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, in 1999,
the Company changed its capitalization policy for network equipment.
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
San Jose, California
January 30, 2001, except
with respect to the matter discussed
in Note 16, as to which the date
is March 28, 2001.
61
63
ITEM 9 -- CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL REPORTING DISCLOSURE
None.
PART III
ITEM 10 -- DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
IDENTIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
The information required by this Item concerning our directors is
incorporated by reference from the sections captioned "Proposal 1: Election of
Directors" contained in our definitive Proxy Statement related to our 2001
Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Proxy Statement").
IDENTIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The information required by this Item concerning our executive officers is
set forth in Part 1 of this report.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(a) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the
section captioned "Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities and Exchange
Act of 1934" contained in the Proxy Statement.
ITEM 11 -- EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the
section captioned "Executive Compensation" contained in the Proxy Statement.
ITEM 12 -- SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the
section captioned "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management" contained in the Proxy Statement.
ITEM 13 -- CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference from the
sections captioned "Certain Transactions" and "Executive Compensation" contained
in the Proxy Statement.
62
64
PART IV
ITEM 14 -- EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND
REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules.
Our consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules for
each of the three years ended December 31, 2000 and related notes, together with
the report thereon of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K.
No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the fourth quarter of the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2000.
(c) Exhibits.
EXHIBIT
NUMBER EXHIBIT
------- -------
3.1a(17) Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
3.1b(17) Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation dated August 2, 2000.
3.2(7) Bylaws of the Company.
4.2(1) Specimen stock certificate.
4.3(12) Senior Debt Indenture among Metricom, Inc., Metricom Finance
Inc., and Bank One Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.
4.4(12) Subordinated Debt Indenture among Metricom, Inc., Metricom
Finance, Inc., and Bank One Trust Company, N.A.
4.5(13) First Supplemental Indenture for Senior Notes dated February
7, 2000 between the Company, Metricom Finance, Inc. and Bank
One Trust Company, N.A.
4.6(13) Global Note dated February 7, 2000 in an aggregate principal
amount of $300,000,000, issued by the Company and Metricom
Finance, Inc.
10.1a(1) Form of Indemnity Agreement entered into between the Company
and its directors and officers, with related schedule.
10.1b(2)(8) Executive Compensation Agreement between the Company and
Timothy A. Dreisbach, former Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer.
10.2(2)(5) 1988 Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan"), as amended
November 1, 1993.
10.3(1)(2) Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the Option
Plan.
10.4(1)(2) Form of Supplemental Stock Option Agreement under the Option
Plan.
10.5(1)(2) Form of Notice of Exercise under the Option Plan, as
amended.
10.6(1)(2) Form of Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement and promissory
note under the Option Plan.
10.7(17) 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended.
10.9(3) Agreement between the Company and Southern California Edison
dated October 1, 1992.
10.10(2)(5) 1993 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, as amended
November 1, 1993 (the "Directors' Plan").
10.11(2)(3) Form of Supplemental Stock Option under the Directors' Plan.
10.12(4) Purchase Agreement, dated October 3, 1993, between the
Company and Vulcan Ventures Incorporated.
10.13(6) Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 10, 1997,
between the Company and Vulcan Ventures Incorporated, a
Washington Corporation.
63
65
EXHIBIT
NUMBER EXHIBIT
------- -------
10.14(9) Loan Agreement, dated October 29, 1998, between the Company
and Vulcan Ventures Incorporated.
10.15(10) Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 20,
1999, among the Company, WorldCom, Inc., and Vulcan Ventures
Incorporated.
10.16(15) Amended and Restated Registration Rights, dated as of
November 15, 1999, among the Company, WorldCom, Inc., and
Vulcan Ventures, Inc.
10.17(17) 1997 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
10.18(11) Ricochet Reseller Agreement, dated as of June 20, 1999,
between the Company and WorldCom, Inc.
10.19(11) Amendment to Ricochet Reseller Agreement, dated as of
November 12, 1999, between the Company and WorldCom, Inc.
10.20(13) Underwriting agreement dated February 1, 2000 among the
Company, Metricom Finance, Inc. and the underwriters named
therein.
10.21(13) Terms Agreement dated February 2, 2000 among the Company and
the underwriters named therein, relating to the issuance and
sale of 5,750,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock.
10.22(13) Terms Agreement dated February 2, 2000 among the Company,
Metricom Finance, Inc. and the underwriters named therein
relating to the issuance and sale of 300,000 warrants to
purchase an aggregate of 1,425,000 shares of the Company's
Common Stock.
10.23(13) Warrant Agreement dated February 7, 2000 among the Company,
Bank One Trust Company, as initial warrant agent and
BankBoston N.A., as warrant agent.
10.24(13) Warrant Certificate dated February 7, 2000 between the
Company and Bank One Trust Company, as initial warrant agent
and BankBoston, N.A., as warrant agent.
10.26(14) Terms Agreement dated February 2, 2000 among the Company,
Metricom Finance, Inc. and the underwriters named therein
relating to the issuance and sale of $300,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 13% Senior Notes due 2010.
10.27(16) Agreement and Supplemental Agreement No. 1 for Electronic
Manufacturing Services between the Company and Sanmina
Corporation, dates as of July 2, 1999.
10.28(17) 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.
12.1 Schedule of Deficiency of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
18.1(15) Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public
Accountants, regarding change in accounting principle.
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Company.
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public
Accountants.
23.2 Report of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public
Accountants, on Schedule II.
- ---------------
(1) Incorporated by reference from the indicated exhibit in our Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-46050), as amended.
(2) Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
(3) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1992.
(4) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October
1, 1993.
(5) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1993.
(6) Incorporated by reference from our Form 8-K dated as of October 13, 1997.
(7) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1997.
64
66
(8) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 1998.
(9) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1998.
(10) Incorporated by reference from our Form 8-K filed July 9, 1999.
(11) Incorporated by reference from our Form 8-K filed December 21, 1999, as
amended.
(12) Incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File
No. 333-91359), as amended.
(13) Incorporated by reference from our Form 8-K filed February 10, 2000.
(14) Incorporated by reference from our Form 8-K/A filed February 16, 2000.
(15) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1999.
(16) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 2000.
(17) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
2000.
65
67
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the
29th day of March, 2001.
METRICOM, INC.
By /s/ RALPH C. DERRICKSON
------------------------------------
Ralph C. Derrickson
Interim Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Ralph C. Derrickson and David J.
Pangburn, jointly and severally, his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this
Report on Form 10-K, and file the same, with exhibits thereto and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his
substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
NAME TITLE DATE
---- ----- ----
/s/ RALPH C. DERRICKSON Interim Chief Executive Officer March 29, 2001
- ----------------------------------------------------- and Director
(Ralph C. Derrickson) (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ DAVID J. PANGBURN Vice President, Corporate March 29, 2001
- ----------------------------------------------------- Controller and Interim Chief
(David J. Pangburn) Financial Officer (Principal
Financial and Accounting
Officer)
/s/ ROBERT P. DILWORTH Director March 29, 2001
- -----------------------------------------------------
(Robert P. Dilworth)
/s/ WILLIAM D. SAVOY Director March 29, 2001
- -----------------------------------------------------
(William D. Savoy)
/s/ JUSTIN JASCHKE Director March 29, 2001
- -----------------------------------------------------
(Justin Jaschke)
/s/ DAVID MOORE Director March 29, 2001
- -----------------------------------------------------
(David Moore)
/s/ BRAM JOHNSON Director March 29, 2001
- -----------------------------------------------------
(Bram Johnson)
66
68
SCHEDULE II
METRICOM, INC.
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(IN THOUSANDS)
BALANCE AT CHARGED TO BALANCE AT
BEGINNING COSTS AND DEDUCTION/ END OF
DESCRIPTION OF YEAR EXPENSES WRITEOFF YEAR
----------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE:
Year ended December 31, 1998:
Accounts receivable allowances................ $ 799 $1,400 $ 533 $1,666
====== ====== ====== ======
Year ended December 31, 1999:
Accounts receivable allowances................ $1,666 $1,334 $ 852 $2,148
====== ====== ====== ======
Year ended December 31, 2000:
Accounts receivable allowances................ $2,148 $1,412 $1,362 $2,198
====== ====== ====== ======
INVENTORY:
Year ended December 31, 1998:
Inventory reserves............................ $1,520 $ 809 $ 51 $2,278
====== ====== ====== ======
Year ended December 31, 1999:
Inventory reserves............................ $2,278 $ 9 $ 909 $1,378
====== ====== ====== ======
Year ended December 31, 2000:
Inventory reserves............................ $1,378 $1,561 $ 163 $2,776
====== ====== ====== ======
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69
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
NUMBER EXHIBIT
- ------- -------
3.1a(17) Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
3.1b(17) Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate
of Incorporation dated August 2, 2000.
3.2(7) Bylaws of the Company.
4.2(1) Specimen stock certificate.
4.3(12) Senior Debt Indenture among Metricom, Inc., Metricom Finance
Inc., and Bank One Trust Company, N.A., as trustee.
4.4(12) Subordinated Debt Indenture among Metricom, Inc., Metricom
Finance, Inc., and Bank One Trust Company, N.A.,
4.5(13) First Supplemental Indenture for Senior Notes dated February
7, 2000 between the Company, Metricom Finance, Inc. and Bank
One Trust Company, N.A.
4.6(13) Global Note dated February 7, 2000 in an aggregate principal
amount of $300,000,000, issued by the Company and Metricom
Finance, Inc.
10.1a(1) Form of Indemnity Agreement entered into between the Company
and its directors and officers, with related schedule.
10.1b(2)(8) Executive Compensation Agreement between the Company and
Timothy A. Dreisbach, former Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer.
10.2(2)(5) 1988 Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan"), as amended
November 1, 1993.
10.3(1)(2) Form of Incentive Stock Option Agreement under the Option
Plan.
10.4(1)(2) Form of Supplemental Stock Option Agreement under the Option
Plan.
10.5(1)(2) Form of Notice of Exercise under the Option Plan, as
amended.
10.6(1)(2) Form of Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement and promissory
note under the Option Plan.
10.7(17) 1991 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended.
10.9(3) Agreement between the Company and Southern California Edison
dated October 1, 1992.
10.10(2)(5) 1993 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, as amended
November 1, 1993 (the "Directors' Plan").
10.11(2)(3) Form of Supplemental Stock Option under the Directors' Plan.
10.12(4) Purchase Agreement, dated October 3, 1993, between the
Company and Vulcan Ventures Incorporated.
10.13(6) Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 10, 1997,
between the Company and Vulcan Ventures Incorporated, a
Washington Corporation.
10.14(9) Loan Agreement, dated October 29, 1998, between the Company
and Vulcan Ventures Incorporated.
10.15(10) Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 20,
1999, among the Company, WorldCom, Inc., and Vulcan Ventures
Incorporated.
10.16(15) Amended and Restated Registration Rights, dated as of
November 15, 1999, among the Company, WorldCom, Inc., and
Vulcan Ventures, Inc.
10.17(17) 1997 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.
10.18(11) Ricochet Reseller Agreement, dated as of June 20, 1999,
between the Company and WorldCom, Inc.
10.19(11) Amendment to Ricochet Reseller Agreement, dated as of
November 12, 1999, between the Company and WorldCom, Inc.
70
EXHIBIT
NUMBER EXHIBIT
- ------- -------
10.20(13) Underwriting agreement dated February 1, 2000 among the
Company, Metricom Finance, Inc. and the underwriters named
therein.
10.21(13) Terms Agreement dated February 2, 2000 among the Company and
the underwriters named therein, relating to the issuance and
sale of 5,750,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock.
10.22(13) Terms Agreement dated February 2, 2000 among the Company,
Metricom Finance, Inc. and the underwriters named therein
relating to the issuance and sale of 300,000 warrants to
purchase an aggregate of 1,425,000 shares of the Company's
Common Stock.
10.23(13) Warrant Agreement dated February 7, 2000 among the Company,
Bank One Trust Company, as initial warrant agent and
BankBoston N.A., as warrant agent.
10.24(13) Warrant Certificate dated February 7, 2000 between the
Company and Bank One Trust Company, as initial warrant agent
and BankBoston, N.A., as warrant agent.
10.26(14) Terms Agreement dated February 2, 2000 among the Company,
Metricom Finance, Inc. and the underwriters named therein
relating to the issuance and sale of $300,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 13% Senior Notes due 2010.
10.27(16) Agreement and Supplemental Agreement No. 1 for Electronic
Manufacturing Services between the Company and Sanmina
Corporation, dates as of July 2, 1999.
10.28(17) 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.
12.1 Schedule of Deficiency of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
18.1(15) Letter from Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public
Accountants, regarding change in accounting principle.
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Company.
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public
Accountants.
23.2 Report of Arthur Andersen LLP, Independent Public
Accountants, on Schedule II.
- ---------------
(1) Incorporated by reference from the indicated exhibit in our Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-46050), as amended.
(2) Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
(3) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1992.
(4) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October
1, 1993.
(5) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1993.
(6) Incorporated by reference from our Form 8-K dated as of October 13, 1997.
(7) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1997.
(8) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 1998.
(9) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1998.
(10) Incorporated by reference from our Form 8-K filed July 9, 1999.
(11) Incorporated by reference from our Form 8-K filed December 21, 1999, as
amended.
(12) Incorporated by reference from our Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File
No. 333-91359), as amended.
(13) Incorporated by reference from our Form 8-K filed February 10, 2000.
(14) Incorporated by reference from our Form 8-K/A filed February 16, 2000.
(15) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1999.
(16) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 2000.
(17) Incorporated by reference from our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
2000.