UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
x | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2007
or
¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Transition Period From to
Commission File Number 001-32887
VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 11-3547680 | |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
23 Main Street, Holmdel, NJ | 07733 | |
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (732) 528-2600
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report): Not Applicable
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 whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No x
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class |
Outstanding at October 31, 2007 | |
Common Stock, par value $0.001 | 155,863,949 shares |
INDEX
Part I Financial Information
Item 1. | Financial Statements |
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except par value)
(Unaudited)
September 30, 2007 |
December 31, 2006 |
|||||||
Assets | ||||||||
Assets |
||||||||
Current assets: |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 129,010 | $ | 210,253 | ||||
Marketable securities |
148,734 | 289,483 | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,400 and $476, respectively |
21,823 | 16,544 | ||||||
Inventory, net of allowance of $2,131 and $1,270, respectively |
19,898 | 24,390 | ||||||
Deferred customer acquisition costs, current |
17,060 | 13,022 | ||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
23,564 | 16,080 | ||||||
Restricted cash |
78,146 | | ||||||
Total current assets |
438,235 | 569,772 | ||||||
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation |
127,856 | 128,247 | ||||||
Deferred customer acquisition costs, non-current |
38,635 | 34,067 | ||||||
Deferred financing costs, net |
6,371 | 7,861 | ||||||
Restricted cash |
31,134 | 8,042 | ||||||
Due from related parties |
4 | 60 | ||||||
Intangible assets, net |
8,346 | 4,300 | ||||||
Other assets |
15,181 | 5,175 | ||||||
Total assets |
$ | 665,762 | $ | 757,524 | ||||
Liabilities and Stockholders Equity (Deficit) | ||||||||
Liabilities |
||||||||
Current liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 58,121 | $ | 58,899 | ||||
Accrued expenses |
273,698 | 161,505 | ||||||
Deferred revenue, current portion |
51,038 | 38,504 | ||||||
Current maturities of capital lease obligations |
1,018 | 1,020 | ||||||
Total current liabilities |
383,875 | 259,928 | ||||||
Convertible notes, net |
253,310 | 253,430 | ||||||
Deferred revenue, net of current portion |
43,023 | 37,730 | ||||||
Capital lease obligations, net of current maturities |
22,483 | 23,235 | ||||||
Other liability, net of current portion |
26,000 | | ||||||
Total liabilities |
728,691 | 574,323 | ||||||
Commitments and Contingencies |
||||||||
Stockholders Equity (Deficit) |
||||||||
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share; authorized 596,950 shares at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006; |
||||||||
157,235 and 156,353 shares issued at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively; |
||||||||
155,882 and 155,059 shares outstanding at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively |
157 | 156 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
943,107 | 922,097 | ||||||
Stock subscription receivable |
(5,273 | ) | (5,721 | ) | ||||
Accumulated deficit |
(988,645 | ) | (720,857 | ) | ||||
Treasury stock, at cost, 1,353 shares at September 30, 2007 and 1,294 shares at December 31, 2006 |
(12,428 | ) | (12,342 | ) | ||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
153 | (132 | ) | |||||
Total stockholders equity (deficit) |
(62,929 | ) | 183,201 | |||||
Total liabilities and stockholders equity (deficit) |
$ | 665,762 | $ | 757,524 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
1
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Operating Revenues: |
||||||||||||||||
Telephony services |
$ | 203,724 | $ | 155,611 | $ | 593,561 | $ | 405,732 | ||||||||
Customer equipment and shipping |
6,810 | 6,235 | 18,815 | 20,202 | ||||||||||||
210,534 | 161,846 | 612,376 | 425,934 | |||||||||||||
Operating Expenses: |
||||||||||||||||
Direct cost of telephony services (excluding depreciation and amortization of $4,312, $3,022, $12,616 and $8,707, respectively) |
54,463 | 41,396 | 162,364 | 119,753 | ||||||||||||
Royalty |
11,139 | | 32,606 | | ||||||||||||
Total direct cost of telephony services |
65,602 | 41,396 | 194,970 | 119,753 | ||||||||||||
Direct cost of goods sold |
17,057 | 16,934 | 41,633 | 50,561 | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
217,939 | 72,052 | 397,133 | 191,036 | ||||||||||||
Marketing |
61,885 | 91,316 | 220,641 | 269,768 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
8,563 | 5,946 | 24,613 | 16,645 | ||||||||||||
371,046 | 227,644 | 878,990 | 647,763 | |||||||||||||
Loss from operations |
(160,512 | ) | (65,798 | ) | (266,614 | ) | (221,829 | ) | ||||||||
Other Income (Expense): |
||||||||||||||||
Interest income |
4,238 | 7,721 | 15,066 | 14,442 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(5,424 | ) | (3,999 | ) | (15,700 | ) | (13,977 | ) | ||||||||
Other, net |
(36 | ) | (108 | ) | (69 | ) | (116 | ) | ||||||||
(1,222 | ) | 3,614 | (703 | ) | 349 | |||||||||||
Loss before income tax benefit (expense) |
(161,734 | ) | (62,184 | ) | (267,317 | ) | (221,480 | ) | ||||||||
Income tax benefit (expense) |
(94 | ) | | (471 | ) | | ||||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (161,828 | ) | $ | (62,184 | ) | $ | (267,788 | ) | $ | (221,480 | ) | ||||
Net loss per common share: |
||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted |
$ | (1.04 | ) | $ | (0.40 | ) | $ | (1.72 | ) | $ | (2.99 | ) | ||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding: |
||||||||||||||||
Basic and diluted |
155,784 | 154,775 | 155,482 | 73,955 | ||||||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
2
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (267,788 | ) | $ | (221,480 | ) | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
23,159 | 16,412 | ||||||
Amortization of intangibles |
1,454 | 233 | ||||||
Beneficial conversion on interest in kind on convertible notes |
32 | 22 | ||||||
Accrued interest |
597 | 3,295 | ||||||
Allowance for doubtful accounts |
1,087 | 191 | ||||||
Allowance for obsolete inventory |
1,443 | 827 | ||||||
Amortization of deferred financing costs |
1,490 | 1,503 | ||||||
Loss on disposal of fixed assets |
118 | 16 | ||||||
Share-based compensation |
20,079 | 19,980 | ||||||
Other |
| (49 | ) | |||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||
Accounts receivable |
(6,220 | ) | (6,608 | ) | ||||
Inventory |
3,350 | (2,764 | ) | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
(8,047 | ) | (13,512 | ) | ||||
Deferred customer acquisition costs |
(8,284 | ) | (16,908 | ) | ||||
Due from related parties |
74 | 25 | ||||||
Other assets |
185 | (129 | ) | |||||
Accounts payable |
(1,108 | ) | 40,732 | |||||
Accrued expenses |
106,147 | (10,159 | ) | |||||
Deferred revenue |
17,243 | 27,681 | ||||||
Other liability |
26,000 | | ||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
(88,989 | ) | (160,692 | ) | ||||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
||||||||
Capital expenditures |
(19,981 | ) | (32,472 | ) | ||||
Purchase of intangible assets |
| (5,268 | ) | |||||
Purchase of marketable securities |
(210,325 | ) | (559,507 | ) | ||||
Maturities and sales of marketable securities |
351,032 | 303,043 | ||||||
Acquisition and development of software assets |
(12,737 | ) | (1,126 | ) | ||||
Increase in restricted cash |
(101,160 | ) | (1,870 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
6,829 | (297,200 | ) | |||||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
||||||||
Principal payments on capital lease obligations |
(754 | ) | (593 | ) | ||||
Proceeds from notes issuance |
| 2,047 | ||||||
Debt issuance costs |
| (283 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from subscription receivable, net |
279 | 131 | ||||||
Proceeds from common stock issuance, net |
| 493,497 | ||||||
Purchase of treasury stock |
| (11,723 | ) | |||||
Payments for directed share program, net |
169 | (4,017 | ) | |||||
Proceeds from exercise of stock options |
780 | 290 | ||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
474 | 479,349 | ||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash |
443 | 10 | ||||||
Net change in cash and cash equivalents |
(81,243 | ) | 21,467 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
210,253 | 132,549 | ||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
$ | 129,010 | $ | 154,016 | ||||
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: |
||||||||
Cash paid during the periods for: |
||||||||
Interest |
$ | 15,167 | $ | 8,501 | ||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
3
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
Common Stock |
Additional Paid-in Capital |
Stock Subscription Receivable |
Accumulated Deficit |
Treasury Stock |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss |
Total | ||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2006 |
$ | 156 | $ | 922,097 | $ | (5,721 | ) | $ | (720,857 | ) | $ | (12,342 | ) | $ | (132 | ) | $ | 183,201 | ||||||||
Stock option exercises |
1 | 779 | 780 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based compensation |
20,079 | 20,079 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Share-based award activity |
(86 | ) | (86 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Convertible notes converted into common stock |
152 | 152 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Directed share program transactions, net |
169 | 169 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stock subscription receivable payments |
279 | 279 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive loss: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale investments |
(42 | ) | (42 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
327 | 327 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
(267,788 | ) | (267,788 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total comprehensive loss |
| | | (267,788 | ) | | 285 | (267,503 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Balance at September 30, 2007 |
$ | 157 | $ | 943,107 | $ | (5,273 | ) | $ | (988,645 | ) | $ | (12,428 | ) | $ | 153 | $ | (62,929 | ) | ||||||||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
4
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Note 1. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations
Vonage Holdings Corp. (Vonage, Company, we, our, us) is incorporated as a Delaware corporation. The original Certificate of Incorporation was filed in May 2000 as MIN-X.COM, INC., our original name, which was changed in February 2001 to Vonage Holdings Corp. We are a provider of broadband Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services to residential and small business and home office customers. We launched service in the United States in October 2002, in Canada in November 2004 and in the United Kingdom in May 2005.
We have incurred significant operating losses since inception. As a result, we have generated negative cash flows from operations, and have an accumulated deficit at September 30, 2007 of $988,645. Our primary source of funds to date has been through the issuance of equity and debt securities, including net proceeds from our initial public offering (IPO) of $491,144 in May 2006, which includes costs of $1,896 incurred in 2005.
Unaudited Interim Financial Information
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and information have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these financial statements contain all normal and recurring adjustments considered necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, cash flows and statement of stockholders equity for the periods presented. The results for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in our 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on April 17, 2007.
Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Vonage and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.
On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including the following:
| those related to the average period of service to a customer (the customer relationship period) used to amortize deferred revenue and deferred customer acquisition costs associated with customer activation; |
| the useful lives of property and equipment and intangible assets; and |
| assumptions used for the purpose of determining stock-based compensation using the Black-Scholes option model (Model), and on various other assumptions that we believed to be reasonable. The key inputs for this Model are stock price at valuation date, strike price for the option, the dividend yield, risk-free interest rate, life of option in years and volatility. |
We base our estimates on historical experience, available market information, appropriate valuation methodologies, and on various other assumptions that we believed to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities.
Restricted Cash and Letters of Credit
In March 2007, a judgment was entered against us in the amount of $58,000 in our Verizon patent litigation. In April 2007, we posted a cash-collateralized $66,000 bond, which reflected the $58,000 jury award plus pre- and post-judgment interest and costs of
$8,000, to stay execution of the monetary judgment pending appeal. In July 2007, we made an additional payment into escrow of $11,885 for the second quarter 2007 royalty. This bond, escrow payment and the interest earned on the bond were reflected as short-term restricted cash, which balance was $78,146 at September 30, 2007.
5
VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Our credit card processors have established reserves to cover any exposure that they may have as we collect revenue in advance of providing services to our customers, which is a customary practice for companies that bill their customers in advance of providing services. As such, we have provided our credit card processors with cash reserves of $13,855 and a cash collateralized letter of credit for $10,000. In addition, we have a cash collateralized letter of credit for $7,000 as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 related to lease deposits for our offices. The total amount of collateralized letters of credit was $17,279 and $7,549 at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. In the aggregate, cash reserves and collateralized letters of credit of $31,134 and $8,042 were recorded as long-term restricted cash at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.
Software Costs
We capitalize certain costs, such as purchased software and internally developed software that we use for customer acquisition and customer care automation tools, in accordance with Statement of Position 98-1, Accounting for Costs of Computer Software Development or Obtained for Internal Use. These costs are classified as Other Assets in the consolidated balance sheet. In addition, in the third quarter of 2007, we reclassified computer software originally recorded in prior periods as property and equipment to Other Assets. Computer software is stated at cost less accumulated amortization and the estimated useful life is three years. Total computer software was $20,669 at September 30, 2007 and $7,931 at December 31, 2006, respectively, substantially all of which were external costs. Amortization expense was $1,023 and $250 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $2,547 and $865 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Patents
Patent rights acquired in the settlement of litigation or by direct purchase are accounted for based upon the fair value of assets received.
In June 2006, we purchased three patents related to the compression of packetized digital signals commonly used in VoIP technology. In July 2006, we began amortizing the cost of these patents over their estimated useful lives of 2.7 years. Amortization expense was $484 and $233 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $1,453 and $233 for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Annual amortization will be approximately $1,940.
In October 2007, in connection with the settlement of our patent litigation with Sprint, we acquired a license to use Sprints portfolio of Voice over Packet patents. The fair value assigned to these patents was $5,500. We began amortizing the cost of these patents in October 2007 over their estimated useful lives of 6.6 years. Annual amortization will be approximately $825.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts of our financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, marketable securities, accounts receivable and accounts payable, approximate fair value because of their short maturities. The carrying amounts of our capital leases approximate fair value of these obligations based upon managements best estimates of interest rates that would be available for similar debt obligations at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006. As of September 30, 2007, the estimated fair value of our convertible notes was approximately $212,906 based on the average price from private transactions as there is no public market for the convertible notes.
Reclassification
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior years financial statements in order to conform to the current years presentation.
Loss per Share
Basic and diluted loss per common share is calculated by dividing loss to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. The effects of potentially dilutive common shares, including shares issued under our 2001 Stock Incentive Plan and 2006 Incentive Plan using the treasury stock method and our convertible preferred stock (that converted on a 2.86-to-1 basis) using the if-converted method, have been excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per common share because of their anti-dilutive effects.
6
VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
The following were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per common share because of their anti-dilutive effects:
Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||
2007 | 2006 | |||
Common stock warrants |
3,085 | 3,085 | ||
Convertible notes |
17,824 | 17,835 | ||
Restricted stock units |
3,797 | 983 | ||
Employee stock options |
19,116 | 16,569 | ||
43,822 | 38,472 | |||
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (SFAS 159). SFAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. It also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between entities that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS 159 is effective as of the beginning of an entitys first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007 (our 2008 fiscal year). We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this pronouncement on our consolidated financial statements.
On January 1, 2007, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48 (FIN No. 48), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, which prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, measure, present and disclose in its financial statements uncertain income tax positions that the Company has taken or expects to take on a tax return (including a decision whether to file or not to file a return in a particular jurisdiction). The adoption of FIN No. 48 on January 1, 2007 did not result in a cumulative-effect adjustment or have an effect on our consolidated financial statements.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157 Fair Value Measurements. The Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This Statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently assessing the impact of adopting SFAS 157 on our consolidated financial statements.
In September 2006, the FASB ratified the consensus on EITF Issue No. 06-3, How Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should Be Presented in the Income Statement (EITF No. 06-3). The scope of EITF No. 06-3 includes any tax assessed by a governmental authority that is directly imposed on a revenue-producing transaction between a seller and a customer and may include, but is not limited to, sales, use, value added, Universal Service Fund (USF ) contributions and excise taxes. The Task Force concluded that entities should present these taxes in the income statement on either a gross or net basis, based on their accounting policy, which should be disclosed pursuant to APB Opinion No. 22, Disclosure of Accounting Policies. If such taxes are significant and are presented on a gross basis, the amount of those taxes should be disclosed. The consensus on EITF No. 06-3 will be effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2006. We currently record sales, use and excise taxes on a net basis in our consolidated financial statements whereas USF contributions are recorded on a gross basis in our consolidated financial statements. The adoption of EITF No. 06-3 did not have a material effect on our consolidated results of operations.
In February 2006, FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Instruments (SFAS 155). SFAS 155 allows financial instruments that have embedded derivatives to be accounted for as a whole (eliminating the need to bifurcate the derivative from its host) if the holder elects to account for the whole instrument on a fair value basis. This statement is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of an entitys first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. The adoption of SFAS 155 did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
Note 2. Commitments and Contingencies
Litigation
State Attorney General Proceedings.
| On May 3, 2005, the Office of the Attorney General for the State of Connecticut filed a complaint against us, alleging that our advertising and provision of emergency calling service violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act and certain state regulations. We answered the complaint on July 7, 2005 and denied its allegations. We have undertaken settlement |
7
VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
discussions with the Connecticut Attorney General and have voluntarily provided information requested during the course of those discussions. The state recently sent Vonage a proposed settlement agreement focused on consumer disclosures relating to our 911 dialing services, and we are in the process of negotiating the terms and conditions of a settlement. If we are not successful in finalizing this settlement agreement, we intend to vigorously defend against the lawsuit. |
| On March 7, 2006, the Attorney General of Missouri issued a civil investigative demand (CID), for documents related to our emergency calling service. We responded to the CID on April 3, 2006. The Missouri Attorney General has not filed a complaint against us or taken other formal action. |
| We received a subpoena dated September 29, 2006 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection seeking a wide variety of documents. The Attorney Generals office has since agreed to narrow the scope of documents it seeks to certain materials relating to advertising to, and subscriptions by, Pennsylvania consumers, and the training and general form of compensation paid to personnel that market and provides customer care functions for our service. We made a rolling production of responsive materials, which was completed in 2006. |
| On November 9, 2007, the Assistant Attorney General for the Wisconsin Department of Justice issued a CID for documents related to our business, including our marketing efforts, local number portability (LNP) process, and cancellation practices. We are currently preparing a response to the CID. To date, the Wisconsin Attorney General has not filed a complaint against us or taken other formal action. |
Federal Trade Commission Investigation. On August 31, 2005, the Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, issued a CID to us which requested information regarding our 911 service and complaints or notices pertaining to that service, our residential unlimited calling plan and our compliance and our telemarketing vendors compliance with the FTCs Telemarketing Sales Rule including, but not limited to, the requirement to refrain from telemarketing to persons who appear on the National Do Not Call Registry. No formal action has been filed against Vonage at this time. We are unable at this time to predict the outcome of the FTCs investigation, whether a formal action will be filed against Vonage, to assess the likelihood of a favorable or unfavorable outcome in that event, or to estimate the amount of liability in the event of an unfavorable outcome.
Patent Litigation.
| Sprint. On October 4, 2005, a lawsuit was filed against us by Sprint Communications Company L.P. in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. Sprint alleged that Vonage infringed seven patents in connection with providing VoIP services. On September 25, 2007, a jury found Vonage liable for having infringed the Sprint patents at issue. The jury awarded damages in the amount of $69,500, representing 5% of our revenue over the infringing period. On October 7, 2007, we entered into a Binding Memorandum of Understanding (the MOU) with Sprint pursuant to which we agreed to settle our ongoing patent dispute and agreed to enter into a licensing arrangement under Sprints Voice over Packet patent portfolio. Pursuant to the terms of the MOU, each party agreed not to assert infringement against the other party for any partys current commercial business activities as of the date of the MOU or previously provided commercial business activities. We also agreed not to assert any other infringement action against Sprint unless Sprint first files a patent infringement claim against us for activities not licensed or not covered by the MOU. These covenants not to sue are non-transferable. The MOU provides that we shall pay Sprint the following: |
| $5,000 as a prepayment for telecommunications services to be purchased from Sprint by us over a two year period; and |
| $75,000 for a license for past and future use of Sprints patents. |
The $5,000 prepayment for services will be recorded as an asset in the consolidated balance sheet in the fourth quarter of 2007 and will be expensed as we use the services. We believe that $69,500, the amount of the jury award, is a good indicator of fair value for past use of the license and has been recorded as selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007. The remaining $5,500 has been recorded as an intangible asset in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2007 and will be amortized over the remaining life of the patents.
The MOU also provides that Sprint may, at its option, elect to accept the terms and conditions of our settlement with Verizon in lieu of the terms of the MOU (the Election Provision). The MOU provides, however, that Sprint shall not be entitled to the financial terms of our settlement with Verizon for any funds paid to Verizon after the one-year period following the execution of the MOU, and the Election Provision will not apply to the extent that there are objective material adverse changes that would negatively effect us (Vonage Material Adverse Change) in the legal situation in the Verizon matter. An example of a Vonage Material Adverse Change that is expressly set forth in the MOU is if the stay of the injunction is lifted that would prevent us from adding new customers. We do not believe we will be obligated to make any additional payment to Sprint as a result of our settlement with Verizon.
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VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| Verizon. On June 12, 2006, a lawsuit was filed against us and our subsidiary Vonage America Inc., by Verizon Services Corp., Verizon Laboratories Inc., and Verizon Communications, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Verizon alleged that we infringed seven patents in connection with providing VoIP services and sought injunctive relief, compensatory and treble damages and attorneys fees. After trial on the merits, a jury returned a verdict finding that Vonage infringed three of the patents-in-suit. The jury rejected Verizons claim for willful infringement, treble damages, and attorneys fees, and awarded compensatory damages in the amount of $58,000 through February 2007. The trial court subsequently indicated that it would award Verizon $1,578 in prejudgment interest on the $58,000 jury award. The trial court issued a permanent injunction with respect to the three patents the jury found to be infringed effective April 12, 2007. The trial court further granted a partial stay which permits us to continue to service existing customers pending appeal, subject to deposit into escrow of a 5.5% royalty on a quarterly basis. In addition, in April 2007, we posted a cash-collateralized $66,000 bond, which reflected the $58,000 jury award plus pre-and-post judgment interest and costs of $8,000, to stay execution of the monetary judgment pending appeal. In July 2007, we made an additional payment into escrow of $11,885 for the royalty for the second quarter of 2007. These bond and escrow payments are reflected as short-term restricted cash on the consolidated balance sheet at September 30, 2007. |
On April 6, 2007, we filed an amended notice of appeal as well as a motion for a full stay pending its appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC). On September 26, 2007, the CAFC issued an opinion, affirming in part and reversing in part, the jury verdict. In particular, the CAFC reversed the jury verdict concerning infringement on the 880 patent. The CAFC vacated the $58,000 damage award, as well as the 5.5% royalty and remanded the case to the U.S. District Court for further proceedings. On October 10, 2007, we filed a motion for a review of the September 26th decision by the original three-judge panel or the full panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit sitting en banc.
On October 25, 2007, we resolved our litigation and executed a settlement agreement with Verizon. The terms of the agreement require us to make a minimum payment of $80,000. We may also be required to pay Verizon an additional $40,000 unless there is an adverse decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Verizon Adverse Decision) against Verizon as follows:
| a new claim construction for any of the terms of the claims of the patents and a remand for a new trial on such claim construction; |
| a remand for a new trial of the patents on our defense of obviousness; or |
| the permanent injunction order entered by the Court is vacated, and/or vacated and remanded for further proceedings, with respect to the patents. |
However, if there is a Verizon Material Adverse Change, we would not be obligated to pay Verizon any more than the $80,000 payment. We believe that it is not probable that there will be a Verizon Adverse Decision and therefore the maximum payment of $120,000 has been recorded in the consolidated financial statements at September 30, 2007. Through September 30, 2007, we have recorded $83,950 as a royalty expense included in cost of revenue and $3,424 as interest expense related to the Verizon patents of which $51,345 and $1,170, respectively, were recorded in the year ended December 31, 2006. The remaining $32,626 has been recorded as selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statement of operations for the period ended September 30, 2007.
| Klausner Technologies. On July 10, 2006, a lawsuit was filed against us and Vonage America by Klausner Technologies, Inc., (Klausner), in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. Klausner alleged that we infringed one of its patents concerning voice mail technology. Klausner sought injunctive relief, compensatory and treble damages and attorneys fees. On October 10, 2007, we reached a settlement with Klausner which provides us with a patent license related to voicemail services. The settlement has been recorded as selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statement of operations for the period ended September 30, 2007 and was not material to our financial statements. |
| Rates Technology. On October 31, 2007, we settled a dispute with Rates Technology (Rates) regarding two patents held by Rates relating to the least cost routing of telephone calls over the public switched telephone network. The settlement has been recorded as selling, general and administrative expense in the consolidated statement of operations for the period ended September 30, 2007 and was not material to our financial statements. |
| Web Telephony, LLC. On March 14, 2007, Web Telephony, LLC filed suit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against us and several other defendants. Web Telephony alleges that we are infringing two telecommunications patents held by Web Telephony and seeks injunction relief, compensatory and treble damages and attorneys fees. On September 1, 2007, Web Telephony filed an amended complaint, which dropped claims against AT&T, Inc., but retained claims against another AT&T entity (AT&T Corporation). Vonage filed its answer to the amended complaint and counterclaims on September 18, 2007. We intend to contest Web Telephonys infringement allegations vigorously. The Court has not set a discovery or trial schedule in this matter. We presently are unable to assess the likelihood of a favorable or unfavorable outcome in this matter or to estimate the amount of liability in the event of an unfavorable outcome. |
9
VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
IPO Litigation. During September and July 2006, Vonage, several of our officers and directors, and the firms who served as the underwriters in our initial public offering (IPO) were named as defendants in several purported class action lawsuits arising out of our IPO. The cases were filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, the Supreme Court of the State of New York, which was subsequently removed to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and the Superior Court of New Jersey, which was subsequently removed to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
The complaints assert claims under the federal securities laws on behalf of a professed class consisting of all those who were allegedly damaged as a result of acquiring our common stock in connection with our IPO. The complaints allege, among other things, that we omitted and/or misstated certain facts concerning the IPOs Customer Directed Share Program. Some complaints also allege the IPO prospectus contained misrepresentations or omissions concerning certain of our products and/or the prior experience of some of our management. One complaint which was voluntarily dismissed included an allegation of open market securities fraud during a purported class period of May 24, 2006 to September 19, 2006 in addition to claims arising out of the IPO. On January 9, 2007, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation transferred all remaining complaints to the District of New Jersey. Following briefing by the various plaintiffs in order to appoint lead plaintiff, the Court held a hearing on July 25, 2007 to select the lead plaintiff. By Order dated September 7, 2007, the Court appointed Zyssman Group as the lead plaintiff, and the law firm of Zwerling, Schachter & Zwerling, LLP as lead counsel. By Order dated September 26, 2007, the Court entered a stipulation by which the plaintiffs agreed to file a consolidated complaint by November 19, 2007, with the defendants responding to the consolidated complaint by January 18, 2008.
Although we believe that we and the individual defendants have meritorious defenses to the claims made in each of the aforementioned complaints and intend to contest each lawsuit vigorously, an adverse resolution of any of the lawsuits may have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations in the period in which the lawsuits are resolved. We are not presently able to reasonably estimate potential losses, if any, related to the lawsuits.
Consumer Class Action Litigations. We have been named in several purported class actions venued in California, New Jersey, and Washington alleging a wide variety of deficiencies with respect to our business practices, marketing disclosures, email marketing and quality issues for both phone and fax service.
For example, there are various class actions, on behalf of both nationwide and state classes, pending in New Jersey, Washington and California generally alleging that we delayed and/or refused to allow consumers to cancel their Company service; failed to disclose procedural impediments to cancellation; failed to adequately disclose that their 30-day money back guarantee does not give consumers 30 days to try out our services; suppressed and concealed the true nature of our services and disseminated false advertising about the quality, nature and terms of our services; imposed an unlawful early termination fee; and invoked unconscionable provisions of our Terms of Service to the detriment of customers. On May 11, 2007, plaintiffs in one action petitioned the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (the Panel), seeking transfer and consolidation of the pending actions to a single court for coordinated pretrial proceedings pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1407. The motion was heard on July 26, 2007 in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the Panel, in an Order dated August 15, 2007, transferred the pending actions to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. On October 1, 2007, plaintiffs in one action moved before the Court for Consolidation and Appointment of Co-Lead Counsel of the actions, and requested time to file an Amended Consolidated Complaint. The Court has not yet ruled on the motion.
Although we believe that we have meritorious defenses to the claims made in each of the aforementioned complaints and intend to contest each lawsuit vigorously, an adverse resolution of any of the lawsuits may have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations in the period in which the lawsuits are resolved. We are not presently able to reasonably estimate potential losses, if any, related to the lawsuits.
Regulation
Telephony services are subject to a broad spectrum of state and federal regulations. Because of the uncertainty over whether VoIP should be treated as a telecommunications or information service, we have been involved in a substantial amount of state and federal regulatory activity. Implementation and interpretation of the existing laws and regulations is ongoing and is subject to litigation by various federal and state agencies and courts. Due to the nature of the technology in use, there is no guarantee that we will not be subject to new regulations or existing regulations under new interpretations.
On June 1, 2007, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals vacated the portion of the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) USF Order which required interconnected VoIP providers to make double USF payments in violation of the carriers carrier rule. However, the Court failed to decide how interconnected VoIP providers would recover the USF payments made to underlying carriers. Vonage continues to pursue actions to recover all methods of payments that were made from the FCCs violation of double payments and the carriers carrier rule.
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VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
On September 15, 2007, the FCC released its Order extending the disability access requirements of Section 255 and 225 to interconnected VoIP services and to manufacturers of specially designed equipment used to provide VoIP services. The Order also required interconnected VoIP providers to contribute to the TRS Fund and offer 711 dialing for access to relay services. Vonage has complied effective October 5, 2007.
On October 9, 2007, the FCCs Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau issued an Order granting in part several waiver requests related to VoIP 711 dialing. The Order waives for six months the requirement that interconnected VoIP service providers transmit 711 calls to an appropriate relay provider. In the second part of the waiver, the Bureau waived for six months traditional TRS providers obligation to call an appropriate PSAP when receiving, via interconnected VoIP services, a 711 call concerning an emergency.
Under the direction of the FCC waiver, Vonage, as an interconnected VoIP service, is providing reminders to subscribers to dial 911 directly in the event of an emergency.
E-911
On September 3, 2005, the FCC released its VoIP E-911 order (the Order). Pursuant to the Order, we were required (i) to notify our customers of the differences between the emergency services available through us and those available through traditional telephony providers and to receive affirmative acknowledgment from all of our customers that they understand the nature of the emergency services available through our service and (ii) to provide E-911 services to 100% of our subscribers by November 28, 2005. We have received affirmative acknowledgment from substantially all of our customers that they understand our emergency services and therefore we are substantially in compliance with both aspects of the Order. On November 28, 2005, we filed a petition for extension of time and limited waiver of certain of the enhanced emergency service requirements. To the extent the waiver is necessary and remains ungranted, we are at risk of an enforcement action including fines, penalties and/or an order to cease and desist selling and marketing our services in certain areas where E-911 service is unavailable. We regularly update the FCC on our E-911 deployment efforts.
CALEA
On August 5, 2005, the FCC released an Order extending the obligations of Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) to interconnected VoIP providers. Under CALEA, telecommunications carriers must assist law enforcement in executing electronic surveillance, which include the capability of providing call content and call-identifying information to a local enforcement agency, or LEA, pursuant to a court order or other lawful authorization.
The FCC required all interconnected VoIP providers to become fully CALEA compliant by May 14, 2007. To date, we have taken significant steps towards CALEA compliance, which include testing the CALEA solution with the FBI and delivering lawful CALEA requests. We have also implemented alternative solutions that allow CALEA access to call content and call-identifying information. The FCC and law enforcement officials have been advised as to our CALEA progress and our efforts at implementing alternative solutions. We could be subject to an enforcement action by the FCC if our CALEA solution is deemed not fully operational.
CPNI
On April 2, 2007, the FCC released its Order extending the application of the customer proprietary network information (CPNI) rules to interconnected VoIP providers. The Commissions CPNI rules were published with an effective date of December 8, 2007. Vonage is preparing to comply.
CPNI includes information such as the phone numbers called by a consumer; the frequency, duration, and timing of such calls; and any services/features purchased by the consumer, such as call waiting, call forwarding, and caller ID.
Under the FCCs existing rules, carriers may not use CPNI without customer approval except in circumstances related to their provision of existing services, and must comply with detailed customer approval processes when using CPNI outside of these circumstances. The new CPNI requirements are aimed at establishing more stringent security measures for access to a customers CPNI data in the form of enhanced passwords for on-line access and call-in access to account information as well as customer notification of account or password changes.
At the present time we do not utilize our customers CPNI in a manner which would require us to obtain consent from our customers, but in the event that we do in the future, we will be required to adhere to specific CPNI rules aimed at marketing such services. Within the next six months we will be required to implement internal processes in order to be compliant with all the CPNI rules. We have engaged all affected business units and compliance is expected by the deadline.
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VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
State and Municipal Taxes
For a period of time, we did not collect or remit state or municipal taxes (such as sales, excise, and ad valorem taxes), fees or surcharges (Taxes) on the charges to our customers for our services, except that we have historically complied with the New Jersey sales tax. We have received inquiries or demands from a number of state and municipal taxing and 911 agencies seeking payment of Taxes that are applied to or collected from customers of providers of traditional public switched telephone network services. Although we have consistently maintained that these Taxes do not apply to our service for a variety of reasons depending on the statute or rule that establishes such obligations, a number of states have changed their statutes as part of the streamlined sales tax initiatives and we are now collecting and remitting sales taxes in those states. In addition, a few states address how VoIP providers should contribute to support public safety agencies, and in those states we began to remit fees to the appropriate state agencies. We have also contacted authorities in each of the other states to discuss how we can financially contribute to the 911 system. We do not know how all these discussions will be resolved, but there is a possibility that we will be required to pay or collect and remit some or all of these Taxes in the future. Additionally, some of these Taxes could apply to us retroactively. As such, we have recorded a reserve of $5,541 at September 30, 2007 as our best estimate of the potential tax exposure for any retroactive assessment. We believe the maximum estimated exposure for retroactive assessments is $14,890 as of September 30, 2007.
Purchase Obligations
At September 30, 2007, future commitments for purchase obligations include $8,300 for the purchase of integrated circuit chips through 2009 and $5,135 for device handsets through 2010.
Note 3. Directed Share Program
In connection with our IPO, we requested that our underwriters reserve 4,219 shares for our customers to purchase at the initial public offering price of $17.00 per share through the Vonage Customer Directed Share Program (DSP). In connection with our IPO, we also entered into an Underwriting Agreement, dated May 23, 2006, pursuant to which we agreed to indemnify the Underwriters for any losses caused by the failure of any participant in the DSP to pay for and accept delivery of the shares that had been allocated to such participant in connection with our IPO. In the weeks following the IPO, certain participants in the DSP that had been allocated shares failed to pay for and accept delivery of such shares. As a result of this failure and as part of the indemnification obligations, we acquired from the Underwriters or their affiliates 1,056 shares of our common stock which had an aggregate fair market value of $11,723. These shares were recorded as treasury stock on the consolidated balance sheet using the cost method. We will not make any further purchases of securities pursuant to our indemnification obligations under the Underwriting Agreement. Because we are pursuing the collection of monies owed from the DSP participants who failed to pay for their shares, we recorded a stock subscription receivable of $6,110 representing the difference between the aggregate IPO price value of the unpaid DSP shares and the $11,723 we paid for these shares.
In 2006, we reimbursed $6,110 of the indemnification obligation due to the Underwriters in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement. For the year ended December 31, 2006 and the nine months ended September 30, 2007, we received $684 and $169, respectively, in payments from certain participants in the DSP that had been allocated shares and failed to pay for such shares.
Note 4. Subsequent Events
Patent Litigation and Disputes
Subsequent to September 30, 2007, we settled various patent litigation and disputes. For more information please see Note 2.
AT&T Patent Litigation
On October 17, 2007, AT&T filed a patent infringement claim against us in the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Wisconsin. AT&T is seeking injunctive relief, compensatory and treble damages and attorneys fees in unspecified amounts. The complaint relates to a single patent for a wide area packet telephony system. We have been in discussions with AT&T to resolve this matter for some time, and on November 5, 2007, we reached an agreement in principle with AT&T to settle this matter. The general terms of the agreement would require us to pay $39,000 over a five-year period. Also, AT&T would agree to dismiss the lawsuit against us, and we would agree to dismiss a case against AT&T. If negotiations of a definitive settlement agreement fails, then we intend to vigorously defend ourselves in this matter. We believe that the agreement to settle this matter requires us to record the settlement in the third quarter of 2007 in accordance with SFAS No.5 Accounting for Contingencies. In the third quarter of 2007, we have recorded $29,000 in our consolidated statement of operations as selling, general and administrative expense, which is the present value of the $39,000, using a discount rate of 12%. We will amortize the difference between the present value of $29,000, of which $26,000 was recorded as a long-term liability, and the $39,000 to interest expense over the term of the payments using the effective interest method.
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VONAGE HOLDINGS CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Regulation
Local Number Portability
On October 31, 2007, the FCC adopted an Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding LNP. The Order was released by the Commission on November 8, 2007, but has not been published in the Federal Register. The Order will not become effective until published in the Federal Register. In the announcement of the Order, the FCCs Wireline Competition Bureau reported that the Order is to clarify that LNP obligations extend to interconnected VoIP providers, such as Vonage, and the telecommunications carriers that obtain numbers for them. It was further announced by the FCC, that the Order clarifies the roles of traditional telephone companies and that they may not obstruct or delay number porting by demanding excess information from the customers new provider. The FCC specifically concluded that a simple port should be based on four fields: (1) 10-digit telephone number, (2) customer account number, (3) 5-digit zip code, and (4) pass code, if applicable. Finally, the FCC tentatively concluded that it should require the industry to complete a simple port in 48 hours.
Upon the release of the Order, we provided all business units with an initial analysis of the Order and its requirements. We also intend to have discussions with our telecommunications carriers and other industry partners concerning the support of meet these compliance obligations.
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Item 2. | Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
You should read the following discussion together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and our audited financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those we currently anticipate as a result of many factors, including the factors we describe under Risk Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.
Overview
We are a leading provider of broadband telephone services with over 2.5 million subscriber lines as of September 30, 2007. Our services use Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, technology, which enables voice communications over the Internet through the conversion and compression of voice signals into data packets. In order to use our service offerings, customers must have access to a broadband Internet connection with sufficient bandwidth (generally 60 kilobits per second or more) for transmitting those data packets.
We earn revenue and generate cash primarily through our broadband telephone service plans, each of which offers a different pricing structure based on a fixed monthly fee. We generate most of our revenue from those fees, substantially all of which we bill to our customers credit cards, debit cards or electronic check payments, or ECP, one month in advance.
We have invested heavily in an integrated marketing strategy to build strong brand awareness that supports our sales and distribution efforts. We acquire customers through a number of sales channels, including our websites, toll free numbers and a presence in major retailers located in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. We also acquire new customers through Refer-a-Friend, our online customer referral program.
We launched our service in the United States in October 2002, in Canada in November 2004 and in the United Kingdom in May 2005. Since our U.S. launch, we have experienced rapid revenue and subscriber line growth. While our revenue has grown rapidly, we have incurred an accumulated deficit of $988.6 million from our inception through September 30, 2007. Although our net losses initially were driven primarily by start-up costs and the cost of developing our technology, more recently our net losses have been driven by our growth strategy and litigation costs. In order to grow our customer base and revenue, we chose to spend a significant amount on marketing, rather than seeking to generate net income. In addition, we plan to continue to invest in research and development and customer care. In the first quarter of 2007, we announced a plan to balance growth with profitability and chose to reduce our marketing expense in 2007 as compared to 2006. We incurred marketing expense of $220.6 million and $269.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. We incurred a net loss of $267.8 million, which includes $168.0 million in royalty, interest and litigation settlement costs related to the Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and other patent settlement agreements, and $221.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. We intend to continue to pursue a balance of growth with profitability because we believe it will position us as a strong competitor in the long term. Although we believe we will achieve profitability in the future, we ultimately may not be successful and we may never achieve profitability.
On April 11, 2007, we determined to reduce our total workforce by approximately 10% in the second quarter of 2007 to reduce costs and improve efficiency. We anticipate incurring a charge of approximately $5.0 million in 2007, all of which would be for one-time employee termination benefits. As of September 30, 2007, we recorded $4.2 million of such cost.
Trends in Our Industry and Business
A number of trends in our industry and business have a significant effect on our results of operations and are important to an understanding of our financial statements. These trends include:
Broadband adoption. The number of U.S. households with broadband Internet access has grown significantly. We expect this trend to continue. We benefit from this trend because our service requires a broadband Internet connection and our potential addressable market increases as broadband adoption increases.
Changing competitive landscape. We are facing increasing competition from other companies that offer multiple services such as cable television, voice and broadband Internet service. These competitors are offering VoIP or other voice services as part of a bundle, in which they offer voice services at a lower price than we do to new subscribers. In addition, we believe several of these competitors are working to develop new integrated offerings that we cannot provide and that could make their services more attractive to customers. We also compete against established alternative voice communication providers and independent VoIP service providers. Some of these service providers may choose to sacrifice revenue in order to gain market share and have offered their services at lower prices or for free. SunRocket, an independent VoIP service provider, ceased operations in July 2007. The negative press surrounding SunRocket and the offerings from other providers could negatively affect our ability to acquire new customers or retain our existing customers.
Subscriber line growth. Since our launch, we have experienced rapid subscriber line growth. For example, we grew from 390,566 subscriber lines as of December 31, 2004 to 1,269,038 as of December 31, 2005 and to 2,224,111 as of December 31, 2006. In addition, we grew from 2,057,844 subscriber lines as of September 30, 2006 to 2,524,211 as of September 30, 2007, or approximately
14
500,000 incremental subscriber lines. We believe we will continue to add subscriber lines in future periods; however, we do not expect to sustain our historical subscriber line growth rate on a percentage basis due to a combination of increased competition, a significantly larger and growing customer base and increasing saturation among our initial target customer base, which included many early adopters.
Average monthly customer churn. For the three months ended September 30, 2007, we experienced average monthly customer churn of 3.0% compared to 2.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2006. We believe this increase was driven, in part, by inconsistent user experience with our service, quality of our service, increased competition and the uncertainty surrounding our patent infringement litigation with Verizon and Sprint. We believe that our churn will fluctuate over time due to increased competitive pressures and market place perception of our services.
Average monthly revenue per line. Our average monthly revenue per line increased to $28.24 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $27.59 for the three months ended September 30, 2006. We continue to expect stability in our pricing environment. In October 2006, we began collecting Universal Service Fund (USF) from our customers, which has increased average monthly revenue per line. In addition, an increasing number of customers are choosing the residential unlimited plan as a result of the first month free promotion which has a positive effect on longer term average monthly revenue per line. These increases could be negatively affected by the timing and duration of promotions such as the second line promotion introduced in late May 2006. In addition, in May 2006 we started offering free calls to certain countries in Europe for customers on our unlimited plans, which will decrease average monthly revenue per line. In March 2007, we also reduced international rates to certain countries to one cent per minute, which we believe will also decrease our average monthly revenue per line.
Average monthly total direct cost of telephony services per line. Our average monthly total direct cost of telephony services per line increased to $8.80 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $7.06 for the three months ended September 30, 2006. This increase was due to the Verizon royalty that we are required to escrow of $1.49 per line in 2007 and taxes we pay on our services including government-imposed taxes such as USF. This was offset by a decrease for changes in customers calling patterns as international calling is a lower portion of our overall call volume and our fixed network costs are being spread over a larger subscriber line base.
Regulation. Our business has developed in an environment largely free from regulation. However, the United States and other countries have begun to examine how VoIP services should be regulated, and a number of initiatives could have an impact on our business. For example, the FCC has concluded that wireline broadband Internet access, such as DSL and Internet access provided by cable companies, is an information service and is subject to lighter regulation than telecommunications services. This order may give providers of wireline broadband Internet access the right to discriminate against our services, charge their customers an extra fee to use our service or block our service. We believe it is unlikely that this will occur on a widespread basis, but if it does it would have a material adverse effect on us. Other regulatory initiatives include the assertion of state regulatory authority over us, FCC rulemaking regarding emergency calling services, local number portability, disability access and proposed reforms for the intercarrier compensation system. In addition, in 2006 the FCC concluded that VoIP providers must begin contributing to the USF on October 1, 2006. The Internal Revenue Service, however, has discontinued the requirement to collect the Federal Excise Tax, which we stopped collecting on September 24, 2006. Complying with regulatory developments may affect our business by increasing our operating expenses, including legal and consulting fees, requiring us to make significant capital expenditures or increasing the taxes and regulatory fees we pay.
Operating Revenues
Operating revenues consists of telephony services revenue and customer equipment and shipping revenue.
Telephony services revenue. Substantially all of our operating revenues are telephony services revenue. In the United States, we offer two residential plans, Residential Premium Unlimited and Residential Basic 500, and two small business and home office plans, Small Business Unlimited and Small Business Basic. Each of our unlimited plans offers unlimited domestic calling as well as unlimited calling to Puerto Rico, Canada and selected European countries, subject to certain restrictions, and each of our basic plans offers a limited number of domestic calling minutes per month. Also, we currently offer international calling plans that are bundled with our Residential Premium Unlimited plan where a customer can make calls to a chosen international region. Under our basic plans, we charge on a per minute basis when the number of domestic calling minutes included in the plan is exceeded for a particular month. International calls (except for calls to certain European countries under our unlimited plans and a variety of countries under international calling plans) are charged on a per minute basis. These per minute fees are not included in our monthly subscription fees. We offer similar plans in Canada and the United Kingdom.
We derive most of our telephony services revenue from monthly subscription fees that we charge our customers under our service plans. We also offer residential fax service, virtual phone numbers, toll free numbers and other services, for each of which we charge an additional monthly fee. One business fax line is included with each of our two small office and home office plans, but we charge monthly fees for additional business fax lines. We automatically charge these fees to our customers credit cards, debit cards or ECP monthly in advance. We also automatically charge the per minute fees not included in our monthly subscription fees to our customers credit cards, debit cards or ECP monthly in arrears unless they exceed a certain dollar threshold, in which case they are charged immediately.
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By collecting monthly subscription fees in advance and certain other charges immediately after they are incurred, we are able to reduce the amount of accounts receivable that we have outstanding, thus allowing us to have lower working capital requirements. Collecting in this manner also helps us mitigate bad debt losses, which are recorded as a reduction to revenue. If a customers credit card, debit card or ECP is declined, we generally suspend international calling capabilities as well as the customers ability to incur domestic usage charges in excess of their plan minutes. Historically, in most cases, we are able to correct the problem with the customer within the current monthly billing cycle. Through March 31, 2007, if the customers credit card, debit card or ECP could not be successfully processed during two billing cycles (i.e., the current and subsequent months billing cycle), we terminated the account. Beginning on April 1, 2007, this period was extended to three billings cycles.
We also generate revenue by charging a fee for activating service. We charge an activation fee to our direct channel customers, or those customers who purchase equipment directly from us and to our retail channel customers, or customers who purchase equipment from retail stores. For our direct channel customers, activation fees, together with the related customer acquisition amounts for equipment, are deferred and amortized over the estimated average customer relationship period of 60 months. For our retail channel customers, rebates and retailer commissions up to but not exceeding the activation fee, are also deferred and amortized over the estimated average customer relationship period of 60 months. The amortization of deferred customer equipment expense is recorded to direct cost of goods sold. The amortization of deferred rebates is recorded as a reduction to telephony services revenue. The amortization of deferred retailer commissions is recorded as marketing expense.
In the United States, we charge regulatory recovery fees on a monthly basis to defray the costs associated with regulatory consulting and compliance as well as related litigation, E-911 compliance and to cover taxes that we are charged by the suppliers of telecommunications services. In addition, beginning in October 1, 2006 we began charging customers Federal USF. We record these fees as revenue.
Prior to August 15, 2007, we accepted returns of customer equipment up to 30 days. Subsequent to August 15, 2007, customers have up to 60 days to return equipment. For all subscribers who became our customers from July 1, 2005 to February 1, 2007, we charged a disconnect fee to customers who terminated their service within one year of activation. For subscribers who became customers after February 1, 2007, we charge a disconnect fee to those customers who terminate their service within two years of activation. Disconnect fees are recorded as revenue and are recognized at the time the customer terminates service.
Telephony services revenue is offset by the cost of certain customer acquisition activities, such as rebates and promotions.
Customer equipment and shipping revenue. Customer equipment and shipping revenue consists of revenue from sales of customer equipment to our wholesalers or directly to customers and retailers. In addition, customer equipment and shipping revenue includes the fees that we charge our customers for shipping any equipment to them.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses consist of direct cost of telephony services, royalties, direct cost of goods sold, selling, general and administrative expense, marketing expense and depreciation and amortization.
Total direct cost of telephony services. Total direct cost of telephony services primarily consists of fees that we pay to third parties on an ongoing basis in order to provide our services. These fees include:
| Access charges that we pay to other telephone companies to terminate domestic and international calls on the public switched telephone network. These costs represented approximately 43% and 60% of our direct cost of telephony services for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, with a portion of these payments ultimately being made to incumbent telephone companies. When a Vonage subscriber calls another Vonage subscriber, we do not pay an access charge. |
| The cost of leasing interconnections to route calls over the Internet and transfer calls between the Internet and the public switched telephone networks of various long distance carriers. |
| The cost of leasing from other telephone companies the telephone numbers that we provide to our customers. We lease these telephone numbers on a monthly basis. |
| The cost of co-locating our regional data connection point equipment in third-party facilities owned by other telephone companies, internet service providers, or collocation facility providers. |
| The cost of providing local number portability, which allows customers to move their existing telephone numbers from another provider to our service. Only regulated telecommunications providers have access to the centralized number databases that facilitate this process. Because we are not a regulated telecommunications provider, we must pay other telecommunications providers to process our local number portability requests. |
| The cost of complying with FCC regulations regarding VoIP emergency services, which require us to provide enhanced emergency dialing capabilities to transmit 911 calls for all of our customers. |
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| Taxes that we pay on our purchase of telecommunications services from our suppliers or imposed by government agencies such as Federal USF. |
| Royalties for use of third-party intellectual property. |
Direct cost of goods sold. Direct cost of goods sold primarily consists of costs that we incur when a customer first subscribes to our service. These costs include:
| The cost of the equipment that we provide to customers who subscribe to our service through our direct sales channel in excess of activation fees. The remaining cost of customer equipment is deferred and amortized over the estimated average customer relationship period. |
| The cost of the equipment that we sell directly to retailers. |
| The cost of shipping and handling for customer equipment, together with the installation manual, that we ship to customers. |
| The cost of products or services that we give customers as promotions. |
Selling, general and administrative expense. Selling, general and administrative expense includes:
| Compensation and benefit costs for all employees, which is the largest component of selling, general and administrative expense and includes customer care, research and development, network engineering and operations, sales and marketing, executive, legal, finance, human resources and business development personnel. |
| Compensation expense related to stock-based awards to employees and directors. |
| Outsourced labor related to customer care and retail in-store support activities. |
| Transaction fees paid to credit card, debit card or ECP companies, which include a per transaction charge in addition to a percent of billings charge. |
| Rent and related expenses. |
| Professional fees for legal, accounting, tax, public relations, lobbying and development activities. |
| Litigation settlements. |
Marketing expense. Marketing expense consists of:
| Advertising costs, which comprise a majority of our marketing expense and include online, television, print and radio advertising, direct mail, alternative media, promotions, sponsorships and inbound and outbound telemarketing. |
| Creative and production costs. |
| The costs to serve and track our online advertising. |
| Certain amounts we pay to retailers for newspaper insert advertising, product placement and activation commissions. |
| The cost associated with our customer referral program. |
Depreciation and amortization expenses. Depreciation and amortization expenses include:
| Depreciation of our network equipment, furniture and fixtures, and employee computer equipment. |
| Amortization of leasehold improvements and purchased and internally developed software. |
| Amortization of intangible assets (patents). |
Other Income (Expense)
Other Income (Expense) consists of:
| Interest income on cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. |
| Interest expense on notes payable, the Verizon patent litigation judgment and capital leases. |
| Amortization of deferred financing costs. |
| Accretion of convertible notes. |
| Gain or loss on disposal of property and equipment. |
| Debt conversion expense relating to the conversion of notes payable to equity. |
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For 2007 and subsequent years through 2010, we will have annual interest expense on our convertible notes of at least $12.7 million unless the convertible notes are converted, repaid prior to maturity date or the holders require us to repurchase all or any portion of the convertible notes on December 16, 2008. This amount will increase if we pay interest in kind on these notes.
Key Operating Data
The following table contains certain key operating data that our management uses to measure the growth of our business and our operating performance:
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
Gross subscriber line additions |
299,978 | 359,148 | 869,311 | 1,158,044 | ||||||||||||
Net subscriber line additions |
77,763 | 204,591 | 300,100 | 788,806 | ||||||||||||
Subscriber lines (at period end) |
2,524,211 | 2,057,844 | 2,524,211 | 2,057,844 | ||||||||||||
Average monthly customer churn |
3.0 | % | 2.6 | % | 2.7 | % | 2.4 | % | ||||||||
Average monthly revenue per line |
$ | 28.24 | $ | 27.59 | $ | 28.66 | $ | 28.45 | ||||||||
Average monthly telephony services revenue per line |
$ | 27.32 | $ | 26.52 | $ | 27.78 | $ | 27.10 | ||||||||
Average monthly total direct cost of telephony services per line |
$ | 8.80 | $ | 7.06 | $ | 9.12 | $ | 8.00 | ||||||||
Marketing costs per gross subscriber line addition |
$ | 206.30 | $ | 254.26 | $ | 253.81 | $ | 232.95 | ||||||||
Employees (excluding temporary help) (at period end) |
1,559 | 1,675 | 1,559 | 1,675 |
Gross subscriber line additions. Gross subscriber line additions for a particular period are calculated by taking the net subscriber line additions during that particular period and adding to that the number of subscriber lines that terminated during that period. This number does not include subscriber lines both added and terminated during the period, where termination occurred within the first 30 days after activation. The number does include, however, subscriber lines added during the period that are terminated within 30 days of activation but after the end of the period.
Net subscriber line additions. Net subscriber line additions for a particular period reflect the number of subscriber lines at the end of the period, less the number of subscriber lines at the beginning of the period.
Subscriber lines. Our subscriber lines include, as of a particular date, all subscriber lines from which a customer can make an outbound telephone call on that date. Our subscriber lines include fax lines and SoftPhones but do not include our virtual phone numbers or toll free numbers, which only allow inbound telephone calls to customers. We added approximately 500,000 subscribers from 2,057,844 subscriber lines as of September 30, 2006 to 2,524,211 as of September 30, 2007.
Average monthly customer churn. Average monthly customer churn for a particular period is calculated by dividing the number of customers that terminated during that period by the simple average number of customers during the period, and dividing the result by the number of months in the period. The simple average number of customers during the period is the number of customers on the first day of the period, plus the number of customers on the last day of the period, divided by two. Terminations, as used in the calculation of churn statistics, do not include customers terminated during the period if termination occurred within the first 30 days after activation. Our average monthly customer churn was 3.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2007 compared to 2.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2006. We monitor churn on a daily basis and use it as an indicator of the level of customer satisfaction. Other companies may calculate churn differently, and their churn data may not be directly comparable to ours. Customers who have been with us for a year or more tend to have a significantly lower churn rate than customers who have not. Our churn will fluctuate over time and may increase due to competitive pressures, market place perception of our services and our ability to add future innovative products and services.
Average monthly revenue per line. Average monthly revenue per line for a particular period is calculated by dividing our total revenue for that period by the simple average number of subscriber lines for the period, and dividing the result by the number of months in the period. The simple average number of subscriber lines for the period is the number of subscriber lines on the first day of the period, plus the number of subscriber lines on the last day of the period, divided by two. Our average monthly revenue per line was $28.24 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 compared to $27.59 for the three months ended September 30, 2006.
Average monthly telephony services revenue per line. Average monthly telephony services revenue per line for a particular period is calculated by dividing our total telephony services revenue for that period by the simple average number of subscriber lines for the period, and dividing the result by the number of months in the period. Our average monthly telephony services revenue per line was $27.32 for the three months ended September 30, 2007 compared with $26.52 for the three months ended September 30, 2006.
Average monthly total direct cost of telephony services per line. Average monthly direct total cost of telephony services per line for a particular period is calculated by dividing our direct cost of telephony services for that period by the simple average number of subscriber lines for the period, and dividing the result by the number of months in the period. We use the average monthly total direct cost of telephony services per line to evaluate how effective we are at managing our costs of providing service. Our average monthly total direct cost of telephony services per line increased from $7.06 for the three months ended September 30, 2006 to $8.80 for the three months ended September 30, 2007, primarily due to the Verizon royalty of $1.49 per line that we were required to put in escrow.
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Marketing cost per gross subscriber line addition. Marketing cost per gross subscriber line addition is calculated by dividing our marketing expense for a particular period by the number of gross subscriber line additions during the period. Marketing expense does not include the cost of certain customer acquisition activities, such as rebates and promotions, which are accounted for as an offset to revenues, or customer equipment subsidies, which are accounted for as direct cost of goods sold. As a result, it does not represent the full cost to us of obtaining a new customer.
Employees. Employees represent the number of personnel that are on our payroll and exclude temporary or outsourced labor. We reduced our total workforce by approximately 10% in the second quarter of 2007 to reduce costs and improve efficiency. We anticipate incurring a charge of approximately $5.0 million in 2007, all of which would be for one-time employee termination benefits. We recorded $0.5 million and $4.2 million of such cost for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007.
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Results of Operations
The following table sets forth, as a percentage of consolidated operating revenues, our consolidated statement of operations for the periods indicated:
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | 2007 | 2006 | |||||||||
Operating Revenues: |
||||||||||||
Telephony services |
97 | % | 96 | % | 97 | % | 95 | % | ||||
Customer equipment and shipping |
3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | ||||||||
100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | |||||||||
Operating Expenses: |
||||||||||||
Direct cost of telephony services (excluding depreciation and amortization) |
27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | ||||||||
Royalty |
5 | | 5 | | ||||||||
Total direct cost of telephony services |
32 | 26 | 32 | 28 | ||||||||
Direct cost of goods sold |
8 | 10 | 7 | 12 | ||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
104 | 45 | 65 | 45 | ||||||||
Marketing |
29 | 56 | 36 | 63 | ||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | ||||||||
177 | 141 | 144 | 152 | |||||||||
Loss from operations |
(77 | ) | (41 | ) | (44 | ) | (52 | ) | ||||
Other Income (Expense): |
||||||||||||
Interest income |
2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||
Interest expense |
(3 | ) | (1 | ) | (3 | ) | (3 | ) | ||||
(1 | ) | 4 | (1 | ) | | |||||||
Loss before income tax benefit (expense) |
(78 | ) | (37 | ) | (45 | ) | (52 | ) | ||||
Income tax benefit (expense) |
| | | | ||||||||
Net loss |
(78 | )% | (37 | )% | (45 | )% | (52 | )% | ||||
Three Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2006
Telephony Services Revenue, Direct Cost of Telephony Services and Royalty
Three Months Ended September 30, |
$ Change |
% Change |
||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||
Telephony services |
$ | 203,724 | $ | 155,611 | $ | 48,113 | 31 | % | ||||
Direct cost of telephony services (excluding depreciation and amortization of $4,312 and $3,022, respectively) |
54,463 | 41,396 | 13,067 | 32 | % | |||||||
Royalty |
11,139 | | 11,139 | * |
Telephony services revenue. The increase in telephony services revenue of $48.1 million, or 31%, was primarily due to an increase of $33.5 million in monthly subscription fees resulting from an increased number of subscriber lines, which grew from 2,057,844 at September 30, 2006 to 2,524,211 at September 30, 2007. Also, the growing number of subscriber lines generated additional revenue from activation fees of $1.1 million, increased revenue of $1.7 million from a higher volume of international calling, increased revenue of $0.4 million from customers exceeding their plan minutes and increased revenue of $14.4 million in regulatory fees we collected from customers, including $11.6 million of USF which we began collecting on October 1, 2006. Additionally, add-on features to our service plans generated an increase of $0.9 million. We also had a $0.8 million increase in the fees we charge for disconnecting our service, offset by a $0.5 million increase in credits we issued and a $4.5 million increase in bad debt expense partially attributable to the extension to our customer grace period for non-payment in the second quarter of 2007. We believe that telephony services revenue will continue to increase in 2007 compared to 2006, as we expect an increase in the number of subscribers. However, we do not expect the same rapid growth as in prior years.
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Direct cost of telephony services. The increase in direct cost of telephony services of $13.1 million, or 32%, was primarily due to the taxes that we pay on our purchase of telecommunications services from our suppliers and imposed by government agencies of $11.6 million for USF fees we began collecting on October 1, 2006. Our network costs, which includes costs for co-locating in other carriers facilities, for leasing phone numbers, routing calls on the Internet, and transferring calls to and from the Internet to the public switched telephone network, increased by $2.9 million. In addition, the cost of porting phone numbers for our customers increased by $0.4 million. This was offset by the decrease in termination cost of $1.6 million, primarily related to the decrease in domestic usage cost due to better per minute rates as a result of competition.
Royalty. The increase in royalty of $11.1 million was due to the judgment entered against us in our patent litigation with Verizon.
Customer Equipment and Shipping Revenue and Direct Cost of Goods Sold
Three Months Ended September 30, |
$ Change |
% Change |
||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||||
Customer equipment and shipping |
$ | 6,810 | $ | 6,235 | $ | 575 | 9 | % | ||||||
Direct cost of goods sold |
17,057 | 16,934 | 123 | 1 | % | |||||||||
Customer equipment and shipping gross loss |
$ | (10,247 | ) | $ | (10,699 | ) | $ | 452 | 4 | % | ||||
Customer equipment and shipping revenue. Our customer equipment and shipping revenue increased by $0.6 million, or 9%, was due to a decrease in the number of rebates issued in 2007 of $3.7 million offset by a reduction in customer equipment sales of $2.7 million and $0.4 million in shipping revenue due to fewer period-over-period subscriber line additions and a free shipping promotion to attract former SunRocket customers to subscribe to our service.
Direct cost of goods sold. The increase in direct cost of goods sold of $0.1 million, or 1%, was due to an increase in the cost of customer equipment of $0.2 million offset by a decrease in shipping costs.
Selling, General and Administrative
Three Months Ended September 30, |
$ Change |
% Change |
||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
$ | 217,939 | $ | 72,052 | $ | 145,887 | 202 | % |
Selling, general and administrative. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses of $145.9 million, or 202%, was due to several reasons. Settlement expenses for $133.0 million related to our patent litigation with Sprint, AT&T, Verizon and others were recorded in the quarter ended September 30, 2007 and account for a substantial majority of the increase. There were increases in recruiting expense and outsourced labor costs of $2.7 million offset by a reduction in salaries and employee-related benefits of $1.5 million. As we continued to add customers, our credit card, debit card and ECP fees have increased as well by $1.3 million. We also experienced an increase in professional fees of $6.3 million primarily related to legal fees for our patent infringement litigation, which was offset by the decrease in compensation expense for stock-based awards of $1.1 million. Also, our facility maintenance and other administrative expenses increased by $1.7 million as well. We started our Kiosk sales channels in 2007, which increased our expense by $3.0 million for operating and start-up related expenses during the three months ended September 30, 2007.
Marketing
Three Months Ended September 30, |
$ Change |
% Change |
|||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||
Marketing |
$ | 61,885 | $ | 91,316 | $ | (29,431 | ) | (32 | )% |
Marketing. The decrease in marketing expense of $29.4 million, or 32%, was driven by the plan to balance growth with profitability with decreases in television, online, retail, telemarketing and direct mail advertising, which was offset by an increase in alternative media advertising.
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Depreciation and Amortization
Three Months Ended September 30, |
$ Change |
% Change |
||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
$ | 8,563 | $ | 5,946 | $ | 2,617 | 44 | % |
Depreciation and amortization. The increase in depreciation and amortization of $2.6 million, or 44%, was due to an increase in capital expenditures primarily for the continued expansion and upgrade of our network and amortization related to patents.
Other Income (Expense)
Three Months Ended September 30, |
$ Change |
% Change |
|||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Interest income |
$ | 4,238 | $ | 7,721 | (3,483 | ) | (45 | )% | |||||||
Interest expense |
(5,424 | ) | (3,999 | ) | (1,425 | ) | (36 | )% | |||||||
Other, net |
(36 | ) | (108 | ) | 72 | 67 | % | ||||||||
$ | (1,222 | ) | $ | 3,614 | $ | (4,836 | ) | ||||||||
Interest income. The decrease in interest income of $3.5 million, or 45%, was due to the decrease in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities for the three months ended September 30, 2007 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2006.
Interest expense. Interest expense was primarily related to interest on our convertible notes that were issued in December 2005 and January 2006, which was the same for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006. The increase in interest expense was partially due to the interest expense on the Verizon judgment and royalty.
Provision for Income Taxes
We have net losses for financial reporting purposes. Recognition of deferred tax assets will require generation of future taxable income. There can be no assurance that we will generate sufficient taxable income in future years. Therefore, we established a valuation allowance on net deferred tax assets of $386.4 million as of September 30, 2007.
As of September 30, 2007, we had net operating loss carryforwards for U.S. federal and state tax purposes of $542.3 million and $521.6 million, respectively, expiring at various times from years ending 2020 through 2027. In addition, we had net operating loss carryforwards for Canadian tax purposes of $55.7 million expiring through 2014. We also had net operating loss carryforwards for United Kingdom tax purposes of $23.9 million with no expiration date.
Net Loss
Three Months Ended September 30, |
$ Change |
% Change |
|||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (161,828 | ) | $ | (62,184 | ) | $ | (99,644 | ) | (160 | )% |
Net Loss. Based on the explanations described above, our net loss of $161.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007 increased by $99.6 million, or 160%, from $62.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006.
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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006
Telephony Services Revenue, Direct Cost of Telephony Services and Royalty
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
$ Change |
% Change |
||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||
Telephony services |
$ | 593,561 | $ | 405,732 | $ | 187,829 | 46 | % | ||||
Direct cost of telephony services (excluding depreciation and amortization of $12,616 and $8,707, respectively) |
162,364 | 119,753 | 42,611 | 36 | % | |||||||
Royalty |
32,606 | | 32,606 | * |
Telephony services revenue. The increase in telephony services revenue of $187.8 million, or 46%, was primarily due to an increase of $136.8 million in monthly subscription fees resulting from an increased number of subscriber lines, which grew from 2,057,844 at September 30, 2006 to 2,524,211 at September 30, 2007. Also, the growing number of subscriber lines generated additional revenue from activation fees of $4.1 million, increased revenue of $7.1 million from a higher volume of international calling, increased revenue of $2.7 million from customers exceeding their plan minutes and increased revenue of $44.4 million in regulatory fees we collected from customers including $31.4 million of USF which we began collecting on October 1, 2006. Additionally, add-on features to our service plans generated an increase of $4.1 million. We also had a $4.6 million increase in the fees we charge for disconnecting our service offset by a $12.2 million increase in bad debt expense and a $4.3 million increase in credits we issued.
Direct cost of telephony services. The increase in direct cost of telephony services of $42.6 million, or 36%, was primarily due to the increase in the number of subscriber lines, which increased the costs that we pay other phone companies for terminating phone calls by $6.2 million. Our network costs, which includes costs for co-locating in other carriers facilities, for leasing phone numbers, routing calls on the Internet, and transferring calls to and from the Internet to the public switched telephone network, increased by $6.9 million and our costs for E911 increased by $0.5 million. In addition, the taxes that we pay on our purchase of telecommunications services from our suppliers and imposed by government agencies increased our costs by $30.6 million, including $31.4 million of USF fees paid, which we began collecting on October 1, 2006, offset by a decrease of $1.8 million based on a ruling we won in June 2007 that double charging of USF by our suppliers is inappropriate. These increases were partially offset by a reduction in the cost of porting phone numbers for our customers by $2.1 million.
Royalty. The increase in royalty of $32.6 million was due to the judgment entered against us in our patent litigation with Verizon.
Customer Equipment and Shipping Revenue and Direct Cost of Goods Sold
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
$ Change |
% Change |
|||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Customer equipment and shipping |
$ | 18,815 | $ | 20,202 | $ | (1,387 | ) | (7 | )% | ||||||
Direct cost of goods sold |
41,633 | 50,561 | (8,928 | ) | (18 | )% | |||||||||
Customer equipment and shipping gross loss |
$ | (22,818 | ) | $ | (30,359 | ) | $ | 7,541 | 25 | % | |||||
Customer equipment and shipping revenue. Our customer equipment and shipping revenue decreased by $1.4 million, or 7%, primarily due to a decrease in shipping revenue due to fewer period-over-period subscriber line additions.
Direct cost of goods sold. The decrease in direct cost of goods sold of $8.9 million, or 18%, was due to the period-over-period decrease in new subscriber line additions which decreased the customer equipment cost by $6.8 million and costs for shipping customer equipment by $2.1 million.
23
Selling, General and Administrative
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
$ Change |
% Change |
||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
$ | 397,133 | $ | 191,036 | $ | 206,097 | 108 | % |
Selling, general and administrative. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses of $206.1 million, or 108%, was due to several reasons. Settlement expenses of $133.0 million related to our patent litigation with Sprint, AT&T, Verizon and others were recorded in the quarter ended September 30, 2007 and account for a substantial majority of the increase. There was an increase in average employees for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2006. This increase resulted in higher wages, employee-related benefits and outsourced labor costs of $30.3 million offset by a reduction in recruiting costs of $1.1 million. Due to the 10% workforce reduction in April 2007, we incurred additional severance cost of $3.7 million in 2007. As we continued to add customers, our credit card, debit card and ECP fees have increased as well by $5.2 million. We also experienced an increase in professional fees of $23.8 million primarily related to legal fees for our patent infringement litigation offset by a reduction of $1.9 million in tax expense for what we potentially might owe for sales tax. Also, our facility maintenance and other administrative expenses increased by $7.4 million as well. We started our Kiosk sales channels in 2007, which increased our expense by $5.6 million for operating and start-up expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2007.
Marketing
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
$ Change |
% Change |
|||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||
Marketing |
$ | 220,641 | $ | 269,768 | $ | (49,127 | ) | (18 | )% |
Marketing. The decrease in marketing expense of $49.1 million, or 18%, was driven by the plan to balance growth with profitability with decreases in television, online, retail, telemarketing and direct mail advertising, which was offset by an increase in alternative media advertising.
Depreciation and Amortization
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
$ Change |
% Change |
||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
$ | 24,613 | $ | 16,645 | $ | 7,968 | 48 | % |
Depreciation and amortization. The increase in depreciation and amortization of $8.0 million, or 48%, was due to an increase in capital expenditures primarily for the continued expansion and upgrade of our network and amortization related to patents.
Other Income (Expense)
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
$ Change |
% Change |
|||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Interest income |
$ | 15,066 | $ | 14,442 | 624 | 4 | % | ||||||||
Interest expense |
(15,700 | ) | (13,977 | ) | (1,723 | ) | (12 | )% | |||||||
Other, net |
(69 | ) | (116 | ) | 47 | 41 | % | ||||||||
$ | (703 | ) | $ | 349 | $ | (1,052 | ) | ||||||||
Interest income. The increase in interest income of $0.6 million, or 4%, was due to an increase in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities primarily from our initial public offering in May 2006.
Interest expense. Interest expense was primarily related to interest on our convertible notes that were issued in December 2005 and January 2006. For the first quarter 2007, interest expense on our convertible notes was accrued at 5% which is the cash rate of interest compared to 7% for first quarter 2006 which is the in kind interest rate. The decrease of $0.7 million on our convertible notes interest expense was partially offset by interest expense of $2.4 million on the Verizon judgment and royalty.
24
Net Loss
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
$ Change |
% Change |
|||||||||||||
2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||||
(dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Net loss |
$ | (267,788 | ) | $ | (221,480 | ) | $ | (46,308 | ) | (21 | )% |
Net Loss. Based on the explanations described above, our net loss of $267.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 increased by $46.3 million, or 21%, from $221.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
The following table sets forth a summary of our cash flows for the periods indicated:
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||
2007 | 2006 | |||||||
(dollars in thousands) | ||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
$ | (88,989 | ) | $ | (160,692 | ) | ||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
6,829 | (297,200 | ) | |||||
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
474 | 479,349 |
We have incurred significant operating losses since our inception. As a result, we have generated negative cash flows from operations, and have an accumulated deficit of $988.6 million at September 30, 2007. Our primary sources of funds have been proceeds from private placements of our preferred stock, a private placement of our convertible notes, an initial public offering of our common stock, operating revenues and borrowings under notes payable from our principal stockholder and Chairman, which were subsequently converted into shares of our preferred stock. In 2006, we raised $491.1 million in net proceeds from an initial public offering, or IPO, of our common stock which includes costs of $1.9 million incurred in 2005. We have used the proceeds from the IPO for working capital and other general corporate purposes, including funding operating losses.
Historically, our principal uses of cash have been to fund operating losses, which were initially driven by start-up costs and the costs of developing our technology, and, more recently, have been driven by litigation costs and marketing expense. We anticipate incurring net losses in the near future but intend to continue to pursue a balance of growth with profitability because we believe it will position us as a strong competitor in the long term. Although we believe we will achieve profitability in the future, we ultimately may not be successful and we may never achieve profitability. We believe that revenue and cash on hand will fund our operations for the next twelve months.
We will have to continue paying quarterly interest on our convertible notes. Interest will accrue on our convertible notes at a rate of 5% per annum and be payable quarterly in arrears. The interest rate will increase upon certain events, including if we decide to pay interest in kind rather than in cash and upon certain events of default. The notes are convertible into shares of our common stock. The convertible notes provide for customary events of default. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, we paid interest in cash of $9.5 million and intend to pay interest in cash on these convertible notes in the future unless we do not have adequate cash available.
We also have contingent liabilities for state and local sales taxes. As of September 30, 2007, we had a reserve of $5.5 million. If our ultimate liability exceeds this amount, it could have a material adverse effect on us. However, we do not believe it would significantly impair our liquidity.
On October 7, 2007, we agreed to settle our ongoing patent dispute with Sprint and agreed to enter into a licensing arrangement under Sprints Voice over Packet patent portfolio. The agreement provides that we shall pay Sprint $5.0 million as a prepayment for telecommunications services to be purchased from Sprint by us and $75.0 million for a license for past and future use of Sprints patents. The total amount of $80.0 million was paid in the fourth quarter of 2007.
On October 25, 2007, we resolved our litigation and executed a settlement agreement with Verizon. The terms of the agreement require us to make a minimum payment of $80.0 million or a maximum payment of $120.0 million based upon the outcome of our pending appeal. Through September 30, 2007, we have recorded $84.0 million as a royalty and $3.4 million as interest. The remaining $32.6 million will be paid into escrow in the fourth quarter and will be released upon completion of our appeal.
On November 8, 2007, we reached an agreement in principle with AT&T to settle our IP litigation suit. The general terms of the agreement would require us to pay $39.0 million over a five year period.
These settlement payments have recently reduced our cash balance significantly.
As of September 30, 2007, we had convertible notes outstanding in the aggregate principal amount of $253.5 million. For 2007 and subsequent years through 2010, we will have annual interest expense on our convertible notes of at least $12.7 million unless the convertible notes are converted or repaid prior to maturity date. This amount will increase if we pay interest in kind on these notes. On December 16, 2008, the holders of our convertible notes may require us to repurchase all or a portion of our outstanding notes. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash or are unable to refinance or restructure our convertible notes, obtain additional debt or equity capital (if available on acceptable terms, or if at all), by December 16, 2008, we may not be able to meet our debt and other obligations and may be required to significantly reduce our marketing expense in 2008 or take certain other actions in order to meet these obligations. It may not be possible to accomplish any of these or other alternatives on a timely basis or on satisfactory terms, if at all.
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To the extent we change our plans, or if our expectations are wrong, we may need to seek additional funding by accessing the equity or debt capital markets. In addition, although we do not currently anticipate any acquisitions, we may need to seek additional funding if an attractive acquisition opportunity is presented to us. However, our significant losses to date may prevent us from obtaining additional funds on favorable terms or at all. Because of our historical net losses and our limited tangible assets, we do not fit traditional credit lending criteria, which, in particular, could make it difficult for us to obtain loans or to access the debt capital markets. For example, we discussed a revolving credit facility with commercial banks in the summer of 2005. As a result of those discussions, we believe most commercial lenders will require us to very significantly reduce our loss from operations before they will lend us money. In addition, the terms of our outstanding convertible notes provide for additional shares to be issued upon conversion if we sell shares of our common stock after our initial public offering at a price that is less than the average trading price of our common stock over the 10-day period prior to any such sale, which might limit our access to the capital markets. Further, the ability to raise additional capital through the issuance of equity securities may be impeded due to the events surrounding our IPO and our current stock price.
Capital expenditures
Capital expenditures are mainly for the purchase of network equipment and computer hardware as we continue to expand and upgrade our network. We continue to invest in networking equipment, technology and information technology infrastructure. Our capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 were $20.0 million. In addition, we incurred $12.7 million for the development of software assets.
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 Compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006
Cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 was $89.0 million and consisted of a net loss of $267.8 million and $129.3 million provided by working capital and other activities, offset by adjustments for non-cash items of $49.5 million. Adjustments for non-cash items consisted primarily of depreciation and amortization of $24.6 million and $20.1 million for stock option compensation. Working capital and other activities primarily consisted of a net increase in cash of $131.0 million for accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liability primarily related to our patent litigation settlements and marketing, an increase of $9.0 million for deferred revenue net of deferred product costs and $3.4 million increase in inventory offset by a decrease in accounts receivable of $6.2 million and a decrease in cash of $8.0 million for prepaid expenses.
Cash used in operating activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $160.7 million and consisted of a net loss of $221.5 million, offset by adjustments for non-cash items of $42.4 million and $18.4 million provided by working capital and other activities. Adjustments for non-cash items consisted primarily of depreciation and amortization of $16.6 million, $20.0 million for stock option compensation and $3.3 million for accrued interest primarily for our convertible notes. Working capital activities primarily consisted of a net increase in cash of $30.6 million for accounts payable and accrued expenses primarily related to marketing and $10.8 million for deferred revenue net of deferred product costs offset by a decrease in cash of $13.5 million for prepaid expenses, $6.6 million for accounts receivable and $2.8 million for inventory.
Cash provided by investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 of $6.8 million was attributable to net sales and purchases of marketable securities of $140.7 million offset by capital expenditures and development of software assets of $32.7 million and $101.2 million for the increase in restricted cash.
Cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 of $297.2 million was attributable to net purchases and sales of marketable securities of $256.5 million and capital expenditures and development of software assets of $33.6 million, $5.3 million for the acquisition of three patents, and an increase in restricted cash of $1.9 million. Cash from our initial public offering in May 2006 and debt offering in December 2005 and January 2006 was invested in marketable securities, pending use to fund our loss from operations.
Cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 of $0.5 million was attributable to net proceeds received from the exercise of stock options, stock subscription receivable and monies received from customers that owed money through our Directed Share Program related to our initial public offering in May 2006 which was offset for capital lease payments.
Cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 of $479.3 million was primarily attributable to net proceeds from our initial public offering in May 2006 of $493.6 million, net of costs, offset by the purchase of treasury stock of $11.7 million related to customers that committed to purchase our common stock through our Directed Share Program and subsequently defaulted on payment and $4.0 million of net payments to Underwriters related to our Directed Share Program indemnification.
Summary of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our significant accounting policies are summarized in Note 1 to our financial statements. The following describes our critical accounting policies and estimates:
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Use of Estimates
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates.
On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including the following:
| those related to the average period of service to a customer (the customer relationship period) used to amortize deferred revenue and deferred customer acquisition costs associated with customer activation; |
| the useful lives of property and equipment; and |
| assumptions used for the purpose of determining stock-based compensation using the Black-Scholes option model (Model), and on various other assumptions that we believed to be reasonable. The key inputs for this Model are stock price at valuation date, strike price for the option, the dividend yield, risk-free interest rate, life of option in years and volatility. |
We base our estimates on historical experience, available market information, appropriate valuation methodologies, and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities.
Revenue Recognition
Operating revenues consist of telephony services revenue and customer equipment (which enables our telephony services) and shipping revenue. The point in time at which revenue is recognized is determined in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, Revenue Recognition, and Emerging Issues Task Force Consensus No. 01-9, Accounting for Consideration Given by a Vendor to a Customer (Including a Reseller of the Vendors Products).
Substantially all of our operating revenues are telephony services revenue, which is derived primarily from monthly subscription fees that customers are charged under our service plans. We also derive telephony services revenue from per minute fees for international calls and for any calling minutes in excess of a customers monthly plan limits. Monthly subscription fees are automatically charged to customers credit cards, debit cards or ECP in advance and are recognized over the following month when services are provided. Revenue generated from international calls and from customers exceeding allocated call minutes under limited minute plans are recognized as services are provided, that is, as minutes are used, and are billed to a customers credit cards, debit cards or ECP in arrears. As a result of our multiple billing cycles each month, we estimate the amount of revenue earned from international calls and from customers exceeding allocated call minutes under limited minute plans but not billed from the end of each billing cycle to the end of each reporting period. These estimates are based primarily upon historical minutes and have been consistent with our actual results.
We also generate revenue by charging a fee for activating service. Through September 2005, we charged an activation fee to customers in the direct channel. Beginning in July 2005, we also began charging an activation fee in the retail channel. Customer activation fees, along with the related customer acquisition amounts for customer equipment in the direct channel and for rebates and retailer commissions in the retail channel up to but not exceeding the activation fee, are deferred and amortized over the estimated average customer relationship period. The amortization of deferred customer equipment is recorded to direct cost of goods sold. The amortization of deferred rebates is recorded as a reduction to telephony services revenue. The amortization of deferred retailer commissions is recorded as marketing expense. For 2006 and 2007, the estimated customer relationship period has been determined to be 60 months.
We also provide rebates to customers who purchase their customer equipment from retailers and satisfy minimum service period requirements. These rebates in excess of activation fees are recorded as a reduction of revenue over the service period based upon the estimated number of customers that will ultimately earn and claim the rebates.
Inventory
Inventory consists of the cost of customer equipment and is stated at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined using the average cost method. We provide an inventory allowance for customer equipment that has been returned by customers but may not be able to be re-issued to new customers or returned to the manufacturer for credit.
Income Taxes
We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts using tax rates in effect for the year the differences are expected to reverse. We have recorded a valuation allowance on the assumption that we will not generate taxable income.
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Net Operating Loss Carryforwards
As of September 30, 2007, we had net operating loss carryforwards for U.S. federal and state tax purposes of $542.3 million and $521.6 million, respectively, expiring at various times from years ending 2020 through 2027. In addition, we had net operating loss carryforwards for Canadian tax purposes of $55.7 million expiring through 2014. We also had net operating loss carryforwards for United Kingdom tax purposes of $23.9 million with no expiration date.
Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, if a corporation undergoes an ownership change (generally defined as a greater than 50% change (by value) in its equity ownership over a three-year period), the corporations ability to use its pre-change of control net operating loss carry forward and other pre-change tax attributes against its post-change income may be limited. The Section 382 limitation is applied annually so as to limit the use of our pre-change net operating loss carryforwards to an amount that generally equals the value of our stock immediately before the ownership change multiplied by a designated federal long-term tax-exempt rate. In addition, we may be able to increase the base Section 382 limitation amount during the first five years following the ownership change to the extent it realizes built-in gains during that time period. A built-in gain generally is gain or income attributable to an asset that was held at the date of the ownership change and that had a fair market value in excess of the tax basis at the date of the ownership change. Section 382 provides that any unused Section 382 limitation amount can be carried forward and aggregated with the following years available net operating losses. Due to the cumulative impact of our equity issuances over the past three years, a change of ownership occurred upon the issuance of our previously outstanding Series E Preferred Stock at the end of April 2005. As a result, $171.1 million of the total U.S. net operating losses will be subject to an annual base limitation of $39.4 million. As noted above, we believe we may be able to increase the base Section 382 limitation for built-in gains during the first five years following the ownership change.
We evaluated the potential for additional Section 382 limitations in light of our initial public offering in May 2006. The results of our analysis confirms that no additional limitation in the utilization of the $371.1 million in domestic net operating losses accumulated since our Series E preferred stock issuance in April 2005 is necessary.
Stock-Based Compensation
Prior to the adoption of SFAS 123(R), we accounted for stock-based awards to employees and directors using the intrinsic value method in accordance with APB 25, as allowed under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, or SFAS 123. Under the intrinsic value method, no stock-based compensation expense for employee stock options had been recognized in our results of operations in prior periods unless the exercise price of the stock options granted to employees and directors was less than the fair market value of the underlying common stock at the date of grant. In accordance with the modified prospective transition method that we used in adopting SFAS 123(R), the consolidated financial statements prior to 2006 have not been restated to reflect, and do not include, the possible impact of SFAS 123(R).
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standard Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (SFAS 159). SFAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. It also establishes presentation and disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons between entities that choose different measurement attributes for similar types of assets and liabilities. SFAS 159 is effective as of the beginning of an entitys first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007 (our 2008 fiscal year). We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this pronouncement on our consolidated financial statements.
On January 1, 2007, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48 (FIN No. 48), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, which prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, measure, present and disclose in its financial statements uncertain income tax positions that the Company has taken or expects to take on a tax return (including a decision whether to file or not to file a return in a particular jurisdiction). The adoption of FIN No. 48 on January 1, 2007 did not result in a cumulative-effect adjustment or have an effect on our consolidated financial statements.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157 Fair Value Measurements. The Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This Statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently assessing the impact of adopting SFAS 157 on our consolidated financial statements.
In September 2006, the FASB ratified the consensus on EITF Issue No. 06-3, How Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should Be Presented in the Income Statement (EITF No. 06-3). The scope of EITF No. 06-3 includes any tax assessed by a governmental authority that is directly imposed on a revenue-producing transaction between a seller and a customer and may include, but is not limited to, sales, use, value added, USF contributions and excise taxes. The Task Force concluded that entities should present these taxes in the income statement on either a gross or net basis, based on their accounting policy, which should be disclosed pursuant to APB Opinion No. 22, Disclosure of Accounting Policies. If such taxes are significant and are presented on a gross basis, the amount of those taxes should be disclosed. The consensus on EITF No. 06-3 will be effective
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for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2006. We currently record sales, use and excise taxes on a net basis in our consolidated financial statements whereas USF contributions are recorded on a gross basis in our consolidated financial statements. The adoption of EITF No. 06-3 did not have a material effect on our consolidated results of operations.
In February 2006, FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 155, Accounting for Certain Hybrid Instruments (SFAS 155). SFAS 155 allows financial instruments that have embedded derivatives to be accounted for as a whole (eliminating the need to bifurcate the derivative from its host) if the holder elects to account for the whole instrument on a fair value basis. This statement is effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after the beginning of an entitys first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. The adoption of SFAS 155 did not have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk |
We are exposed to financial market risks, including changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates.
Foreign Exchange Risk
Our exposure to foreign currency transaction gains and losses is the result of certain net receivables due from our foreign subsidiaries and customers being denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily the British Pound, the Euro, and the Canadian Dollar. Our foreign subsidiaries conduct their businesses in local currency.
Interest Rate Risk
We invest in a variety of securities, consisting primarily of investments in interest-bearing demand deposit accounts with financial institutions, money market funds and highly liquid debt securities of corporations and municipalities. By policy, we limit the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer.
Investments in both fixed rate and floating rate interest earning products carry a degree of interest rate risk. Fixed rate securities may have their fair market value adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates, while floating rate securities may produce less income than predicted if interest rates fall. Due in part to these factors, our income from investments may decrease in the future.
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures |
Our management, with the participation of our interim chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2007. The term disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SECs rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the companys management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Our management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2007, our interim chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
Section 404 compliance project.
Beginning with the year ending December 31, 2007, Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 will require us to include managements report on our internal control over financial reporting in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.
In order to achieve compliance with Section 404 within the prescribed period, management has been conducting a Section 404 compliance project under which management has hired dedicated internal Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance personnel, third-party consultants, adopted a detailed project work plan and has commenced testing of controls over financial reporting. In connection with this compliance project, we have, among other things, implemented critical accounting policies and procedures and evaluated our information technology controls and procedures. It may be necessary to make changes to remediate any control deficiencies that may be identified as a result of our testing, as appropriate, in our internal control over financial reporting during the periods prior to December 31, 2007 in connection with our Section 404 compliance project.
Except as described above, for the three months ended September 30, 2007, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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Item 1. | Legal Proceedings |
We are subject to a number of lawsuits, government investigations and claims arising out of the conduct of our business. See a discussion of our litigation matters in Notes 2 and 4 of Notes to our Consolidated Financial Statements, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1A. | Risk Factors |
Except for the risk factor below, there have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 and Item 1A of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31 and June 30, 2007.
Our cash flow and capital resources may not be sufficient for the future repurchase of our convertible notes
On December 16, 2008, the holders of our convertible notes may require us to repurchase all or a portion of our outstanding notes at a price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest. As of September 30, 2007, we had convertible notes outstanding in the aggregate principal amount of $253.5 million. Our ability to repurchase our convertible notes in December 2008 if required, depends on our ability to generate sufficient cash from our future operations or raise additional capital. Our future operating performance in turn depends in part on factors that are not within our control, including general economic, financial, competitive, market, regulatory and other factors. If our cash flow and capital resources are insufficient to fund our convertible note repayment obligations or if we are unable to refinance or restructure our notes or obtain additional debt or equity capital (if available on acceptable terms), we may face substantial liquidity challenges and we may be forced to reduce or delay capital or other material expenditures, including significantly reducing our marketing expenditures, or disposing of material assets to meet our potential repurchase and other obligations. However, in light of the uncertainties in the sub-prime mortgage market, these alternatives may not be capable of being accomplished on a timely basis or on satisfactory terms, if at all. Although we are currently evaluating our options with respect to our convertible notes, the inability to repurchase, refinance or restructure our convertible notes could lead to the bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency or liquidation of the company.
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
Use of Proceeds from Initial Public Offering
On May 23, 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission declared effective our Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-131659) relating to our IPO. After deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses, our net proceeds from the offering equaled approximately $491.1 million, which includes $1.9 million of costs incurred in 2005. We have invested the net proceeds of the offering in short-term, interest bearing securities pending their use to fund our expansion, including funding marketing expenses and operating losses. There has been no material change in our planned use of proceeds from our IPO as described in our final prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b). Between May 23, 2006 and September 30, 2007, we used $111.5 million of the net proceeds from the IPO to fund operating activities and $32.7 million of such net proceeds for capital expenditures, software development and patent purchases.
Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities |
None
Item 4. | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders |
None
Item 5. | Other Information |
None
Item 6. | Exhibits |
Exhibit Number |
Description of Exhibit | |
3.1 | Vonage Holdings Corp. Amended and Restated By-Laws, as amended(1) | |
10.1 | Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release, dated May 17, 2007, between Vonage Holdings Corp. and Michael Snyder(1) | |
10.2 | Form of Indemnification Agreement between Vonage Holdings Corp. and its directors and certain officers(1) | |
31.1 | Certification of the Companys Interim Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1) | |
31.2 | Certification of the Companys Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1) | |
32.1 | Certification of the Companys Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1) |
(1) | Filed herewith. |
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Pursuant to the requirements 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.
Vonage Holdings Corp. | ||||
Dated: November 14, 2007 | By: | /s/ JOHN S. REGO | ||
John S. Rego | ||||
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||||
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized Officer) |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number |
Description of Exhibit | |
3.1 | Vonage Holdings Corp. Amended and Restated By-Laws, as amended(1) | |
10.1 | Confidential Separation Agreement and General Release, dated May 17, 2007, between Vonage Holdings Corp. and Michael Snyder(1) | |
10.2 | Form of Indemnification Agreement between Vonage Holdings Corp. and its directors and certain officers(1) | |
31.1 | Certification of the Companys Interim Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1) | |
31.2 | Certification of the Companys Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1) | |
32.1 | Certification of the Companys Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002(1) |
(1) | Filed herewith. |
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