ITEM 1. BUSINESS
General
We are an integrated telecommunications services provider offering a portfolio of international and domestic voice, wireless, Internet, voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP), data and hosting services to business and residential retail customers and other carriers located primarily in the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and western Europe. Our focus is to service the demand for high quality, competitively priced communications services that is being driven by the globalization of the world’s economies, the worldwide trend toward telecommunications deregulation and the growth of broadband, Internet, VOIP, wireless and data traffic.
We target customers with significant telecommunications needs, including small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), multinational corporations, residential customers, and other telecommunications carriers and resellers. We provide services over our global network, which consists of:
•
16 carrier-grade international gateway and domestic switching systems (the hardware/software devices that direct the voice traffic across the network) in the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe and Japan;
•
approximately 350 interconnection points to the Company’s network, or points of presence (POPs), within its service regions and other markets;
•
undersea and land-based fiber optic transmission line systems that we own or lease and that carry voice and data traffic across the network; and
•
global network and data centers that use a high-bandwidth network standard (asynchronous transfer mode) and Internet-based protocol (ATM+IP) to connect with the network. The global VOIP network is based on routers and gateways with an open network architecture which connects our partners in over 150 countries.
The services we offer can be classified into three main product categories: voice, data/Internet and VOIP services. Within these three main product categories, we offer our customers a wide range of services, including:
•
international and domestic long distance services over the traditional network;
•
wholesale and retail VOIP services;
•
wireless services;
•
prepaid services, toll-free services and reorigination services;
•
dial-up, dedicated and high-speed Internet access;
•
local voice services;
•
ATM+IP broadband services; and
•
managed and shared Web hosting services and applications.
Generally, we price our services competitively or at a discount with the major carriers and service providers operating in our principal service regions. We seek to continue to generate net revenue through sales and marketing efforts focused on customers with significant communications needs (international and domestic voice, wireless, VOIP, high speed and dial-up Internet and data), including SMEs, multinational corporations, residential customers, and other telecommunications carriers and resellers. We also seek growth opportunities through acquisitions.
We have selectively targeted opportunities to participate in growth areas for telecommunications-local, wireless, broadband, and VOIP, which we call our new initiatives or new strategic initiatives. These initiatives have been accelerated in response to competitive developments described under “Item 7 - Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A)-Recent Competitive Developments; Our Four-Pronged Action Plan.” Our approach in these areas has common elements: focus on bundling services to end-user customers; leverage our existing global voice, data and Internet network; and utilize established distribution channels and back-office systems. The year 2004 was highlighted by the accelerated implementation of our new strategic initiatives, to which we continued to devote substantial resources in 2005.
Operating Highlights and Accomplishments in 2005 and Subsequent Events:
•
On February 27, 2006 we exchanged $26.5 million principal amount of our 5 3/4% convertible subordinated debentures due 2007 (“2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures”) for $26.5 million principal amount of our step up convertible subordinated debentures due 2009 (“Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures”) (see Note 25-“Subsequent Events”).
•
In January 2006, our wholly owned Canadian subsidiary entered into an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (the “Amended Agreement”) related to its existing secured non-revolving term loan facility with a Canadian financial institution. The Amended Agreement, among other things, extended the maturity date to April 2008. On February 1, 2006 the Company drew the remaining $15 million available under the loan facility (see Note 25-“Subsequent Events”).
•
We reduced debt in January 2006 by retiring $2.5 million principal amount of our 12 3/4% senior notes due 2009 (“October 1999 Senior Notes”) for 1,825,000 shares of our common stock (see Note 25-“Subsequent Events”).
•
We invested throughout 2005 in improving our competitive position by transforming PRIMUS into a fully integrated provider of voice, broadband, VOIP, wireless and data services. Our new initiatives net revenue increased by $75.8 million to $89.1 million in 2005 from $13.3 million in 2004. This investment included the build-out of digital subscriber line (DSL) networks in Australia and Canada.
•
Net revenue decreased by 12% to $1.2 billion for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $1.4 billion for the year ended December 31, 2004 primarily due to decreases in prepaid services, retail voice and dial-up Internet services.
•
As a result of cost containment efforts, our fourth quarter 2005 results included a $9.6 million decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses to $83.8 million from $93.4 million in the third quarter 2005.
•
Our income (loss) from operations was a loss of ($79.9) million for the year ended December 31, 2005, a $119.0 million decrease from income of $39.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. However, our fourth quarter 2005 loss from operations improved by $26.9 million to ($6.0) million down from ($32.9) million in the third quarter 2005. Our fourth quarter 2005 results were substantially aided by a $9.6 million decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses to $83.8 million from $93.4 million in the third quarter 2005.
•
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities decreased by $124.9 million to $(51.5) million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $73.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2004.
•
We reduced certain debt in 2005 including retiring $25.6 million in principal amount of our senior notes and convertible subordinated debentures. In particular, the following debt securities were retired during the year ended December 31, 2005; $17.0 million of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures and $8.6 million of the October 1999 Senior Notes as well as payments of scheduled principal amortization.
•
On February 18, 2005 our direct wholly-owned subsidiary, Primus Telecommunications Holding, Inc. (PTHI), secured a six-year, $100 million senior secured term loan facility (the “Facility”). Terms of the Facility include pricing at the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) + 6.50% and no financial maintenance covenants. The Facility is guaranteed by the Company and certain of PTHI’s subsidiaries and is secured by certain assets of PTHI and its guarantor subsidiaries.
Operating Highlights and Accomplishments from our Inception through 2004:
•
We were incorporated in February 1994 and began generating revenue during March 1995.
•
In March 1996, we completed our first acquisition with the purchase of Axicorp Pty. Ltd., a switchless reseller in Australia.
•
In November 1996, we made our initial public offering to fund growth of our operating subsidiaries.
•
In 1996, we entered the United Kingdom market as a start-up operation.
•
In 1997, we raised $225 million in senior notes and warrants for continued expansion, including network equipment purchases, funding for general corporate purposes, and potential acquisitions. We entered the Canadian market, the Japanese market, the German market and expanded our service offerings in Australia through acquisitions.
•
In June 1998, we acquired the operations of TresCom which expanded the scope and coverage of our communications network.
During 1998 and 1999, to continue our expansion, we raised an additional $645.5 million from three senior note issuances and conducted a secondary equity offering of 8 million shares which raised $169 million in equity capital.
In 1999, among other things, we:
•
expanded our Canadian operations by acquiring London Telecom, a Canadian long distance provider and purchasing a residential long distance customer base, customer support assets and residential Internet customers and network from AT&T Canada and ACC;
•
purchased Telegroup’s global retail customer businesses, which included retail customers primarily in North America and Europe; and
•
organized our Internet and data services business into a new subsidiary, iPRIMUS.com; acquired GlobalServe, a Canadian Internet service provider (ISP); a majority interest in Matrix, a Brazilian ISP; TCP/IP and TouchNet, two independent German ISPs; and the remaining interest in Hotkey Internet Services in Australia; entered into agreements with Covad Communications and NorthPoint Communications to offer DSL services in the United States; acquired Digital Select, a provider of DSL Internet access and Web content; 1492 Technologies, a Web site development, consulting and service firm; and began to build an IP-based network platform in Australia.
In 2000, among other things, we:
•
acquired LCR Telecom Group, Plc, an international telecommunications company operating principally in European markets, providing least cost routing, international callback and other value-added services, primarily to SMEs; purchased CTE Networks (CTE), a Canadian long distance reseller; purchased A-Tel GmbH, a German reseller of voice traffic to SMEs;
•
expanded our Internet and data services business, enhanced by acquisitions such as Eco Software, Inc. (“Shore.Net”), a United States-based business- focused ISP, Seker BBS S.A. and Nexus Comunicaciones S.A., two Spanish ISPs, and Infinity Online Systems, a Canada-based ISP; and
•
issued $300 million in principal amount of 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures, which were convertible into shares of our common stock at an initial conversion price of $49.7913 per share.
In 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, we focused on a three-pronged strategy that was initiated at the end of 2000, which involved improving operating results, reducing debt, and raising additional financing.
Initiatives and results from our efforts to improve operating results:
•
We focused on higher margin retail customers and services.
•
We de-emphasized or exited certain low margin businesses, and emphasized operations in core markets including the United States, Australia, Canada and western Europe.
•
In September 2002, we signed an agreement to acquire the United States-based SME voice customer base of Cable & Wireless. We acquired that portion of the SME voice customer base that was migrated to our network over a four-month period.
•
In 2003, we acquired three Canadian ISPs, one Canadian local wireless service provider and a Canadian prepaid calling card company for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $14.8 million in cash. The purchase price for the prepaid calling card company includes $4.0 million of additional consideration paid in 2004 and 2005, resulting from the acquired company’s adjusted revenues exceeding certain targeted levels, as provided by the terms of the acquisition agreement.
•
In 2004, we introduced retail VOIP products in the United States and Canada. In January 2004, we launched a retail VOIP product in Canada. In June 2004, we launched in the United States our LINGO retail VOIP product, which offers unlimited calling plans including destinations in western Europe and certain countries in Asia, unlimited calling between LINGO subscribers and the issuance of phone numbers that are local for calls originating in certain foreign countries. We also launched new wireless service on a resale basis in Canada and the United States.
•
Also in 2004, we acquired Australian-based AOL/7 Pty Ltd (AOL/7) which was a joint venture between America Online Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., AAPT Limited, a unit of the Telecom New Zealand Group, and Seven Network Limited. This acquisition provided us with the customer base, content, content development and online advertising business of AOL/7, as well as a license for the AOL brand in Australia for a fixed period. We acquired Magma Communications Ltd. (“Magma”), a provider of Internet solutions to corporate, government and residential customers; Canada-based Onramp Network Services Inc. (“Onramp”), a provider of Internet services and solutions for businesses; certain assets of Canadian based 3588599 Canada Inc., dba Sun Telecom Group (“Sun Telecom”), a Canadian telecommunications provider; and we acquired certain assets of Wiznet Inc., a provider of Internet services and solutions.
Initiatives and results from our efforts to reduce debt:
•
We reduced debt during 2001, 2002 and 2003 through a combination of open-market purchases, debt for equity exchanges and negotiated settlements by $588.9 million, $66.6 million and $58.5 million, respectively, to an aggregate $542.5 million at December 31, 2003 from $1.3 billion in 2000, with a gain on early extinguishment of debt of $491.8 million, $36.7 million and $12.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003.
•
We reduced interest expense to $60.7 million in 2003 from $132.1 million in 2000 from the principal reduction of senior notes, convertible debentures and vendor and equipment financing.
•
In 2004, we continued our debt reduction efforts and improved liquidity by retiring $198.5 million in principal amount of our senior notes and convertible subordinated debentures, which were funded in part through the proceeds from the 8% senior notes due 2014 (“2004 Senior Notes”). In particular, the following debt securities were retired during the year ended December 31, 2004: $109.9 million principal amount of the 11 1/4% senior notes due 2009 (“January 1999 Senior Notes”), $46.6 million of the 9 7/8% senior notes due 2008 (“1998 Senior Notes”), $33.0 million of the October 1999 Senior Notes, $5.0 million of the 2004 Senior Notes and $4.0 million of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures.
•
In 2004, we further reduced debt by repaying early 13.0 million Canadian dollars (CAD) ($10.0 million at December 31, 2003) of a financing agreement and a $6.1 million debt obligation with Cable & Wireless (C&W), which were funded in part through the proceeds from the 2004 Senior Notes.
Initiatives and results from our efforts to raise additional funds:
In 2002:
•
We signed an agreement to issue and sell $42 million of Series C convertible preferred stock (“Series C Preferred”), including commitments of $39.9 million from fund affiliates of American International Group, Incorporated (AIG). We received $33 million on December 31, 2002 in the initial closing of the Series C Preferred offering.
In 2003:
•
We received stockholder approval for and closed the remaining $9 million investment in our Series C Preferred by fund affiliates of AIG.
•
All outstanding shares of our Series C Preferred were converted into an aggregate of 22,616,990 shares of our common stock on November 4, 2003.
•
We obtained $9.5 million of funding through an extension of an accounts receivable facility with Textron Financial, Inc. (“Textron”).
•
We completed an offering of $132.0 million in principal amount of 3 3/4% convertible senior notes due 2010 (“2003 Convertible Senior Notes”), which we used primarily to retire higher interest debt and to extend our debt maturity profile. The 2003 Convertible Senior Notes are convertible into shares of our common stock at an initial conversion price of $9.3234 per share.
In 2004:
•
We completed the sale of $240.0 million of the 2004 Senior Notes, which we used primarily to retire higher interest debt and also to extend our debt maturity profile.
Other Events:
•
Our 2002 results reflect the deconsolidation of three non-core foreign investments, which resulted from: the partial divestment of interests in Cards & Parts, our German wireless accessories business, which subsequently filed for insolvency administration; the relinquishment of control rights concerning Bekkoame Internet, Inc. (“Bekko”), our Internet and data investment in Japan; and an insolvency administration filing for InterNeXt, our Internet and data subsidiary in France.
•
In 2003, our common stock once again traded on the Nasdaq National Market after a period of trading on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market.
•
On June 30, 2003, the Russell 3000 Index included our common stock.
Strategy
Having essentially completed our global network infrastructure deployment, except for the final portion of the Australia DSL network build-out and a Canada DSL network build-out, our primary objectives are to continue to build scale in our core markets by adding customers, traffic and new services; and continue to improve our profitability, cash flow and balance sheet. Key elements of our strategy to achieve these objectives are the following:
•
Provide Integrated Voice, VOIP, Broadband and Wireless Services: In 2004, we began the process to transform the company from its core businesses of long distance voice and dial-up ISP services into an integrated provider of local and long distance voice, VOIP, broadband and wireless services. We have introduced new strategic initiatives in local, wireless, broadband and VOIP services and implemented these initiatives throughout 2004 and 2005. These efforts have enhanced our bundled service capabilities, and as a result, we believe that these efforts have reduced the competitive vulnerability of our core retail voice long distance and ISP businesses. The new initiatives will also provide us with long-term growth potential in local, wireless and broadband markets where we have previously not been a significant provider.
•
Bundling of Traditional Voice Services with New Product Initiatives: By bundling our traditional long distance voice services with local, broadband and wireless services, we seek to increase net revenue per customer and improve our ability to attract and retain business and residential customers. To this end, we have added new services to offer to both existing and new customers. We are specifically targeting growth areas of local, broadband and wireless. Our approach in these areas has common elements: focus on bundling services to end-user customers with international calling patterns; leverage our existing global voice, data and Internet network; and utilize our established distribution channels and back-office systems.
•
Focus on Profitable Markets and Higher Margin Retail Customers and Services: We are focused on specific, large, developed markets, where we look to take market share away from the dominant telecommunications carriers. We also are looking to develop the global VOIP market. Our target customer base consists of SMEs, multinational corporations and residential customers, particularly ethnic customers, who have international telecommunications needs, in addition to needs for domestic voice, Internet, wireless and data services.
•
Maximize Cash Flow: Our primary objective in 2006 is to manage the business to maximize cash flow. To this end, we will be less concerned about absolute revenue growth; in some cases, we may consciously shed low-margin revenue. From an investment perspective, we will concentrate our resources on initiatives that offer the most attractive returns and growth potential, such as our local, DSL and VOIP initiatives in Canada and Australia. While we believe other initiatives-such as LINGO in the United States-have significant potential, we currently do not have the resources to support fully all such deserving projects. That is why another principal focus for management during 2006 is to develop and execute strategies to generate additional cash to fund promising projects through a combination of external funding for LINGO, potential balance sheet deleveraging, opportunistic equity capital infusion, continued cost cutting and selected asset sales.
•
Leverage Our Global Network Infrastructure: We have invested in developing our global, voice and data network and our product capabilities. By increasing the volume of voice and data traffic that we carry over our network, we are able to reduce transmission costs and other operating costs as a percentage of net revenue, improve service quality and enhance our ability to introduce new products and services. In addition, by leveraging multiple customer segments in different geographical regions, including retail and carrier customers, we achieve greater utilization of our network assets, because our network experiences multiple periods of peak usage throughout each day. We believe the current network meets the near-term needs of our current and prospective voice customers. However, to support broadband services in Australia and in Canada, we are building out our DSL networks in Australia and Canada. We expect our capital expenditures to be approximately $30 million to $35 million in 2006, as compared to $50 million in 2005.
Description of Operating Markets
Our operations in each of our four primary markets are described below. Management organizes the enterprise into four geographic areas-United States and Other, Canada, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The United States and Canadian operating markets are the significant portions of our North America market, and the Australian market is the substantial portion of the Asia-Pacific market. See the footnote within Item 8 - “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data-Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements-Operating Segment and Related Information,” for further information regarding our segments.
United States. The United States is one of our four primary markets, representing 17% of our 2005 net revenue. We provide international and domestic voice, data, Internet and VOIP services to SMEs, residential customers, multinational corporations and other telecommunication carriers. In 2005, we began to provide wireless service on a resale basis. We operate international gateway telephone switches in the New York City area and Los Angeles, which are connected with Canada and countries in Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region through owned and leased international fiber cable systems. In 2005, we deployed a newer switch
technology, our intelligent softswitch architecture and our gateways, in New York, Los Angeles and Puerto Rico. We lease and own domestic fiber in the United States to interconnect our switches, data centers, and POPs. POPs are our interconnection points with other networks. We use a direct sales organization to sell to business customers and have inbound telemarketing centers in Florida and Iowa. To reach residential customers, we advertise in national and regional ethnic newspapers, other publications, and on television to offer competitive rates for international and domestic telephone calls, data, Internet and VOIP services. We also sell retail VOIP services through Web-based on-line interactive marketing. We also utilize independent agents to reach and enhance sales to both business and residential customers and have a direct sales force for marketing international services to other telecommunication service providers, including long distance companies, ISPs and VOIP service providers. We maintain customer service centers in Florida, Virginia and Iowa and also outsource selected customer service functions. We operate a 24-hour global network management control center in Virginia which monitors our global voice, Internet and data. We offer Internet access services to business and residential customers. We also provide managed and shared Web hosting services through our data center located in Lynn, Massachusetts. Additionally, we provide local and international long distance voice services, VOIP, and Internet services in Puerto Rico.
Australia. We are Australia’s fourth largest fixed-line telecommunications carrier and ISP, based on revenues. Our Australian operations represented 29% of our 2005 net revenue. The Company offers a comprehensive range of voice, data, Internet and Web hosting products, servicing both residential and business sectors. The Primus network offers nationwide coverage through its own backbone network facilities in 66 cities across Australia. The network enables the Company to provide nationwide long distance services and local call Internet access. Primus operates its own fiber network in the five major capital cities, delivering a range of business direct-connect services including Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), frame relay, ATM, telephone line and broadband DSL, as well as telephone line and broadband DSL services direct to residential customers. We have almost finished the initial build-out of the DSL network with 171 of 181 sites completed.
We have a data center in Melbourne which offers hosting and e-commerce applications and services; plus we have co-location facilities in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
We market our services through a combination of direct sales to corporate and SME customers and independent agents, which market to retail business and residential customers, and media advertising aimed at residential customers.
We operate a call center in Melbourne that services all of Australia as well as employing staff in Sydney who run our Australian Network Management Centre. Both of these centers run 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Canada. Canada is another of our primary markets, representing 22% of our 2005 net revenue. We are one of the largest alternative consumer carriers in Canada based on net revenue. We provide international and domestic long distance, local , Internet, data, VOIP and wireless services to SMEs, residential customers, enterprises, government agencies and other telecommunication carriers and have sales and customer service offices in key cities throughout Canada, including Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. We operate international gateway switches in Toronto and Vancouver and a nationwide SS7 network with STPs in Vancouver and Toronto. We maintain POPs in all major cities in Canada, and operate a nationwide integrated network backbone for our voice, data, Internet and private line services. Each of the 24 nodes on the backbone is equipped with Sonet add/drop, ATM, frame and IP equipment to provide a complete spectrum of voice and data communications products to our customers. We operate two Nortel DMS 500 switches in Toronto and Vancouver and four next generation IP voice switches which provide on-net equal access coverage to an estimated 90% of the population of Canada. With a local competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) we have central office collocations at over 20 incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) central offices to provide DSL services, T1 access, network interconnection and local dial-tone via our CLEC partner. We operate a voice dial access network which consists of some 60 POPs across the country. We also operate a 7,500 square foot Internet data center in Ottawa, a 2,000 square foot Internet data center in Toronto and a 2,000 square foot data centre in Vancouver through which we offer shared and dedicated hosting and co-location services.
We have an extensive Internet network and provide dial-up and ISDN Internet coverage to over 700 communities across Canada through a network of 51 POPs.
We market our services through a combination of direct sales to corporate and SME customers and media advertising aimed at residential customers, and affinity channels.
Europe. We operate as a licensed carrier in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands. The European market represents 30% of our 2005 net revenue. Our network consists of core backbone voice/data nodes in London, Frankfurt and Paris with nodes in Milan, Madrid, Amsterdam and Zurich. Our European network interconnects with our global network. In London, we have a data center for Web hosting and other services.
Our European operation is headquartered in London. We provide voice and data services to residential customers, small businesses, and other telecommunications carriers. We maintain a European multilingual customer service call center in Glasgow, Scotland. We market our services across Europe using a combination of direct sales, agents, and direct-media advertising. Through our Netherlands company we offer prepaid services in most major European countries and other countries in the world, which are our largest products by net revenue in Europe. Throughout Europe, a large portion of call origination is via wireless phones. In most cases, wireless carriers’ tariffs for terminating international minutes are higher than fixed line operators. Through the sale of prepaid services to wireless phone users, our European businesses are now targeting international minutes originated from a wireless phone to bring onto our global network for termination. We operate Ericsson AXE-10 switches and provide services to retail business and residential and carrier customers in Paris, Frankfurt, and London.
Services
We offer a broad array of communications services:
•
International and Domestic Long Distance. We provide international long distance voice services terminating in over 240 countries, and domestic long distance voice services in our core operating markets.
•
VOIP Services. We offer retail and wholesale VOIP services to ISPs, telecommunications carriers worldwide, and retail customers both over the public Internet as well as direct point-to-point VOIP services over our ATM+IP network.
•
Internet and Data Services. We offer ATM, frame relay, and Internet/IP services which are available to customers in the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. In Australia, we offer data transfer services over ATM and frame relay networks in addition to Internet access services through DSL, dial-up, and accelerated dial-up. We also offer Web hosting, managed hosting, dedicated hosting, virtual private networking (VPN) and co-location services in our primary operating markets.
•
Prepaid Service. We offer prepaid services that may be used by customers for domestic and international telephone calls both within and outside of their home country. In Europe, we offer prepaid services to wireless phone users which bring international minutes originating from a wireless phone onto our global network.
•
Toll-free Services. We offer domestic and international toll-free services within selected countries in our principal service regions.
•
Reorigination Services. In selected countries, we provide call reorigination services which allow non-United States country to country calling to originate from the United States, thereby taking advantage of lower United States rates.
•
Local Switched Services. With the build-out of the Australia and Canada DSL networks, we offer local services as a facilities-based carrier. We also offer local service on a resale basis, primarily in Australia and Canada.
•
Wireless. We offer wireless services on a resale basis in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and in the United States. In Europe, we also offer a service that allows customers to access directly our network by pressing a single button located on the handset.
Network
General. We operate a global telecommunications network consisting of traditional and next-generation international and domestic switches, soft switches and media gateways and related peripheral equipment, carrier-grade routers and switches for Internet and data services, undersea and trans-continental fiber optic cable systems, leased satellite and cable capacity. To ensure high-quality communications services, our network employs digital switching and fiber optic technologies, incorporates the use of SS7/C7 signaling, and is supported by comprehensive network monitoring and technical support services. Our global network consists of the following:
•
a global backbone connecting our international gateway switches, each of which is connected to our domestic and international network as well as those of major carriers in each particular market;
•
a domestic long distance network presence within certain countries;
•
a combination of owned and leased transmission facilities, resale arrangements and foreign carrier agreements; and
•
ATM switches and IP routers in select markets around the world, which leverage our fiber optic cable facilities and are connected to our approximately 350 POPs, as well as Internet peering/transit points with other carriers. This network also allows us to provide VOIP on a global basis. In select markets, we have installed or leased DSL equipment to offer high-speed Internet access.
Switching Systems. Our network consists of 16 carrier-grade domestic and international gateway switch systems and media gateways throughout Europe, North America, Australia, and Japan.
The locations and types of our switching systems are as follows:
We also operate a global VOIP network with an open network architecture which connects with our partners in over 150 countries through the use of open settlement protocol (OSP).
Fiber Optic Cable Systems. We have purchased and leased undersea and land-based fiber optic cable transmission capacity to connect our various switching systems. We either lease lines on a term basis for a fixed cost or purchase economic interests in transmission capacity through minimum assignable ownership units (MAOUs) or indefeasible rights of use (IRUs) to international traffic destinations. The following chart sets forth a listing of the undersea fiber optic cable systems in which we have capacity (which includes both MAOUs and IRUs):
In December 1999, we agreed to purchase $23.2 million of fiber capacity from Qwest Communications, which provides us with ATM+IP based international broadband backbone. The backbone is comprised of nearly 11,000 route miles of fiber optic cable in the United States and overseas as well as private Internet peering at select sites in the United States and overseas. In March 2000, we agreed to purchase an additional $20.8 million of fiber capacity. The total purchase obligation has been fulfilled and paid in full.
In June 2000, we purchased from AT&T Canada for $20.6 million (26.7 million CAD) six rings of SONET protected OC-12 capacity across Canada. This capacity provides a national backbone network for Primus Canada. This purchase price has been paid in full.
In December 2000, we entered into a financing arrangement to purchase fiber optic capacity in Australia for $38.3 million (51.1 million Australian dollars (AUD)) from Optus Networks Pty. Limited. As of December 31,
2001, we had fulfilled the total purchase obligation. We signed a promissory note payable over a four-year term ending in April 2005. During the three months ended June 30, 2003, we renegotiated the payment terms extending the payment schedule through April 2007. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, we had a liability recorded in the amount of $9.0 million (12.4 million AUD) and $16.5 million (21.3 million AUD), respectively.
In the three months ended September 30, 2001, we accepted delivery of fiber optic capacity on an IRU basis from Southern Cross Cables Limited (SCCL). We and SCCL entered into an arrangement financing the capacity purchase. In the three months ended December 31, 2001, we renegotiated the payment terms with SCCL. Under the new terms, the payments for each capacity segment will be made over a five-year term ending in April 2008, which added two years to the original three-year term. We further agreed to purchase $12.2 million of additional fiber optic capacity from SCCL under the IRU agreement. As of December 31, 2003, we had fulfilled the total purchase obligation to SCCL. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, we had a liability recorded under this agreement in the amount of $10.7 million and $16.6 million, respectively.
Foreign Carrier Agreements. In selected countries where competition with the traditional Post Telegraph and Telecommunications companies (PTTs) is limited, we have entered into foreign carrier transit agreements with PTTs or other service providers which permit us to provide traffic into and receive return traffic from these countries. We have existing foreign carrier agreements with PTTs and other licensed operators in nearly every major country.
Network Management and Control. We own and operate network management control centers in McLean, Virginia; Toronto, Canada; London, England; and Sydney, Australia, which are used to monitor and control a majority of the switching systems, global data network, and other digital transmission equipment used in our network. These network management control centers operate seven days per week, 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.
Network for Data and Internet Services. We have built an Internet backbone network that enables our global network to carry Internet and data traffic for our business, residential, carrier and ISP customers. This network uses packet switched technology, including IP and ATM. This network allows us to offer to existing and new customers data and voice communications services, including, in selected geographic areas, dial-up and dedicated Internet access, Web hosting, e-commerce, managed VPN services, VOIP, ATM and frame relay data services.
Customers
Our residential sales and marketing strategy has traditionally targeted residential customers who generate high international and domestic long distance traffic volumes, particularly ethnic customers. We believe that such customers are attracted to us because of competitive pricing as compared to traditional carriers, and in-language customer service and support. We are now offering VOIP, broadband and dial-up Internet access, local access and wireless products to our residential customers in select markets and expanding our Internet and data offerings to additional markets and bundling them with traditional voice services.
Our business sales and marketing efforts primarily target SMEs with significant international long distance traffic and broadband Internet needs. We also target large multinational businesses. Many of the services we provide in the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe include long distance voice, Internet, data and the resale of wireless services.
We compete for the business of other telecommunications carriers and resellers primarily on the basis of price and service quality. Sales to other carriers and resellers help us increase the utilization of our network and thereby reduce our fixed costs per minute of use, as well as permitting our network to be interconnected with other major carriers, thereby providing global coverage.
Business, residential and carrier revenues for the year ended December 31, 2005 were distributed 25%, 55%, and 20%, respectively, and for the year ended December 31, 2004 were distributed 24%, 57%, and 19%, respectively. No single customer accounted for greater than 10% of net revenue for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003.
Sales and Marketing
We market our services through a variety of sales channels, as summarized below:
•
Direct Sales Force. As of December 31, 2005, our direct sales force included 227 full-time employees who focus on business customers with substantial international traffic, including multinational businesses and international governmental organizations. Direct sales personnel are compensated with a base salary plus commissions. We currently have sales offices in Boston (vicinity), McLean, Puerto Rico, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, London, Frankfurt, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Tokyo. In addition, approximately 76 full-time sales representatives focus on residential consumers, and 19 direct sales representatives exclusively sell services to other long distance carriers and resellers.
•
Independent Sales Agents. We also sell our services through independent sales agents and representatives, who typically focus on residential consumers and SMEs. An agent receives commissions based on revenue generated by customers obtained for us by the agent. We usually grant nonexclusive sales rights and require our agents and representatives to maintain minimum revenues.
•
Telemarketing. We employ full-time inbound telemarketing sales personnel, and we selectively outsource certain telemarketing functions to supplement sales efforts to residential consumers, particularly ethnic consumers, and SMEs.
•
Media and Direct Mail. We use a variety of print, television and radio advertising to increase name recognition and generate new customers. We reach ethnic residential customers by print advertising campaigns in ethnic newspapers, and by advertising on select radio and television programs.
•
Interactive Marketing. We use a variety of web-based tools, including banner ads and pop-up windows to target Internet users for our retail VOIP service.
•
Third Party Distribution Agreements and Affinity Channels. With the growing recognition of the Primus brand, we have been able to establish relationships to market our services through external retailers, manufacturers, affinity and preferred partnerships and programs. These relationships allow us to increase awareness and credibility of our services among customers and reduce the cost of customer acquisition.
Management Information and Billing Systems
We operate various management information, network and customer billing systems in our different operating subsidiaries to support the functions of network and traffic management, customer service and customer billing. For financial reporting, we consolidate information from each of our markets into a single database. For our billing requirements in the United States, we use a billing system developed by Electronic Data Systems Inc. (EDS) which supplies, operates and maintains this system and is responsible for providing backup facilities and disaster recovery. The EDS system is widely used in the telecommunications industry and has been customized to meet our specific needs.
We also use several systems developed in-house to handle our billing requirements as well as a few third party systems.
We believe that our financial reporting and billing systems are generally adequate to meet our needs in the near term. As we continue to grow, we will need to invest additional capital to purchase hardware and software, license more specialized software and increase our capacity.
Competition
Voice
The telecommunications industry is highly competitive and significantly affected by regulatory changes, marketing and pricing decisions of the larger industry participants and the introduction of new services made possible by technological advances. We believe that long distance service providers compete on the basis of price, customer service, product quality and breadth and bundling of services offered. In each country of operation, we have numerous competitors including wireline, wireless, VOIP and cable competitors. We believe that as the international telecommunications markets continue to deregulate, competition in these markets will increase. Prices for long distance voice calls in the markets in which we compete have declined historically and are likely to continue to decrease. In addition, many of our competitors are significantly larger, have substantially greater financial, technical and marketing resources, larger networks and more products for bundling.
Privatization and deregulation have had, and are expected to continue to have, significant effects on competition in the industry. For example, as a result of legislation enacted in the United States, Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs) are allowed to enter the long distance market; Sprint and other long distance carriers are allowed to enter the local telephone services market (although recent judicial and regulatory developments have diminished this opportunity); and cable television companies and utilities are allowed to enter both the local and long distance telecommunications markets. A consolidation of these large companies is also occurring, such as the acquisition by Verizon of MCI and the acquisition by SBC of AT&T, which could change the dynamics of pricing and marketing. In addition, competition has begun to increase in the European Union (EU) communications markets in connection with the deregulation of the telecommunications industry. In most EU countries full liberalization took place in January 1998. In addition, alternatives to wireline services, such as wireless and VOIP services, are significant competitive threats. This increase in competition adversely affects net revenue per minute and usage of traditional wireline services.
The following is a brief summary of the competitive environment in our principal service regions:
United States. In the United States, which is among the most competitive and deregulated long distance markets in the world, competition is based on pricing, customer service, network quality and the ability to provide value-added services and the bundling of services. AT&T (composed of the former SBC and AT&T) and Verizon (which now includes the former MCI) are the largest suppliers of long distance services. Wireless carriers have gained significant ground particularly in the domestic long distance markets, and VOIP cable-based service providers present an emerging threat.
Australia. Australia is one of the most deregulated and competitive communications markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Our principal competitors in Australia are Telstra, the dominant carrier, SingTel Optus and Telecom New Zealand. Recent pricing actions by Telstra present serious competitive challenges (see Government Regulation-Australia).
Canada. The Canadian communications market is highly competitive and is dominated by a few established carriers whose marketing and pricing decisions have a significant impact on the other industry participants, including us. In residential markets, we compete with each of the incumbent telecommunication companies (of which the largest are those owned by BCE in eastern Canada, and Telus and MTS in western Canada) in their respective territories and the large cable companies who have launched their telecom service portfolio during the past year. We also compete against smaller resellers. In the highly competitive business market, we compete with BCE and Telus, who are both expanding beyond their traditional territories and competing with each other across the country, and with the national division of MTS (formerly Allstream), Rogers Telecom and other smaller carriers. Major wireless carriers are also a significant source of competition.
United Kingdom. Our principal competitors in the United Kingdom are British Telecommunications (BT), the dominant provider of telecommunications services in the United Kingdom, Cable & Wireless UK, Colt Telecom and MCI/Verizon. Major wireless carriers are also a significant source of competition.
Internet and Data
The market for Internet services and data services is extremely competitive. We anticipate that competition will continue to intensify. Our current and prospective competitors offering these services include national, international, regional and local ISPs such as AOL and EarthLink, Web hosting companies, other long distance and international long distance telecommunications companies, including AT&T and Sprint, local exchange carriers (LECs) such as Verizon and SBC, cable television, direct broadcast satellite, wireless communications providers and on-line service providers. Many of these competitors have significantly greater resources, market presence and brand recognition than we do.
Government Regulation
We are subject to varying degrees of regulation in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Local laws and regulations, and the interpretation of such laws and regulations, differ among the jurisdictions in which we operate. There can be no assurance that (1) future regulatory, judicial and legislative changes will not have a material adverse effect on us; (2) domestic or international regulators or third parties will not raise material issues with regard to our compliance or noncompliance with applicable regulations; or (3) regulatory activities will not have a material adverse effect on us.
Regulation of the telecommunications industry has and continues to change rapidly both domestically and globally. Privatization and deregulation have had, and will continue to have, significant effects on competition in the industry. Competition has increased in the EU as a result of legislation enacted at the EU level. Since 1990, a number of legislative measures were adopted that culminated in the full liberalization of telecommunications markets throughout most EU member states as of 1998. This increase in competition has and likely will continue to reduce net revenue per minute. In addition, the World Trade Organization Agreement, which reflects efforts to dismantle government-owned telecommunications monopolies throughout Europe and Asia, may affect us. Although we believe that these deregulation efforts will create opportunities for new entrants in the telecommunications service industry, there can be no assurance that they will be implemented in a manner that would benefit us. Further the increase in providers vying for a limited market share will require us to maintain competitive rate structures.
The regulatory frameworks in certain jurisdictions in which we provide services are described below:
United States
In the United States, our services are subject to the provisions of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations, and the applicable laws and regulations of the various states and state regulatory commissions.
As a carrier offering telecommunications services to the public, we must comply with the requirements of common carriage under the Communications Act of 1934, including the offering of service on a nondiscriminatory basis at just and reasonable rates, and obtaining FCC approval prior to any assignment of authorizations or any transfer of legal or actual control of the company.
Our telecommunications services are subject to various specific common carrier telecommunications requirements set forth in the FCC’s rules, including operating, reporting and fee requirements. Both federal and state regulatory agencies have broad authority to impose monetary and other penalties on us for violations of regulatory requirements.
International Service Regulation. International common carriers like us are required to obtain authority from the FCC under Section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934. We have obtained all required authorizations from the FCC to use, on a facilities and resale basis, various transmission media for the provision of international switched services and international private line services on a non-dominant carrier basis. The FCC is considering a number of international service issues in the context of several policy rulemaking
proceedings in response to specific petitions and applications filed by other international carriers. We are unable to predict how the FCC will resolve the pending international policy issues or how such resolution will affect our international business. In recent years, the FCC has taken steps to streamline regulation of international services, including detariffing of international services, where competition can provide consumers with lower rates and choices among carriers and services. To that end, with some exceptions, current FCC rules require facilities-based United States carriers, like us, with operating agreements with dominant foreign carriers, to abide by the International Settlements Policy by following uniform accounting rates, even split in settlement rates, and proportionate return of traffic, for agreements with carriers on certain routes. United States carrier arrangements with non-dominant foreign carriers or on a substantial number of international routes where competition exists are not subject to these requirements. We may take advantage of these more flexible arrangements with non-dominant foreign carriers, and the greater pricing flexibility that may result, but we may also face greater price competition from other international service carriers.
Domestic Service Regulation. We are considered a non-dominant domestic interstate carrier subject to minimal regulation by the FCC. We are not required to obtain FCC authority to initiate or expand our domestic interstate operations, but we are required to obtain FCC approval to transfer control or discontinue service and to file various reports and pay various fees and assessments. Among other things, interstate common carriers must offer service on a nondiscriminatory basis at just and reasonable rates. In addition, as a non-dominant carrier, we are subject to the FCC’s complaint jurisdiction. In particular, we may be subject to complaint proceedings in conjunction with alleged noncompliance such as unauthorized changes in a customer’s preferred carrier or violations of the FCC’s Do-Not-Call telemarketing rules. We are also subject to the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) and certain FCC regulations which require telecommunications common carriers to modify their networks to allow law enforcement authorities to perform electronic surveillance. The recently enacted Do-Not-Call Registry and related restrictions set out the specific parameters for telemarketing solicitation and prohibit outbound telemarketing in some circumstances. We also are subject to the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (the CAN SPAM Act). The CAN SPAM Act requires that all senders of commercial electronic mail include a label indicating that the electronic mail is an advertisement, a disclosure notifying the recipient how to opt-out of receiving future e-mails, and the sender’s physical address in the e-mail.
Our costs of providing long distance services will be affected by changes in the switched access charge rates imposed by LECs for origination and termination of calls over local facilities. FCC rules currently cap the rates that both incumbent and competitive LECs may charge for switched access, and restrain incumbent LECs’ ability to change their charges. The FCC continues to grant incumbent LECs greater pricing flexibility and relaxed regulation of access services in those markets where there are other providers of access services. Depending on the outcome of future FCC proceedings or litigation, the new rules promulgated by the FCC and the manner in which such these rules are implemented, we may have fewer competitive choices among LECs and, as a result, could see an increase in our termination and origination costs over time.
Interstate telecommunications carriers are required to contribute to the federal Universal Service Fund (USF). The FCC is considering revising its USF mechanisms and the services considered when calculating the USF contribution. We cannot predict the outcome of these proceedings or their potential effect on our USF contributions. Some of our services are considered traditional telecommunications services and we are required to contribute a percentage of our revenue derived from those services to the USF. Certain of our services are not subject to USF, although future changes in the FCC’s rules may require that we make USF contributions on these services.
Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VOIP). Our VOIP services are currently not subject to substantial regulation by the FCC or state regulatory commissions to the extent that they qualify as “enhanced” or “information” services. The FCC defines enhanced services as services that (1) employ computer processing applications that act on the format, content, code, protocol or similar aspects of the subscriber’s transmitted information, (2) provide the subscriber additional, different, or restructured information, or (3) involve subscriber interaction
with stored information. Our VOIP service can be classified as an enhanced service because it uses broadband connections using the public Internet and performs a net protocol conversion. Regulators are struggling to determine the appropriate regulatory treatment of VOIP services because these services resemble both traditional telephony and information services.
In March 2004, the FCC released a comprehensive Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding IP-enabled services, including VOIP service. The NPRM addresses the regulatory classification of, and jurisdiction over, VOIP and how to preserve key public policy objectives such as 911/emergency services and the needs of persons with disabilities. The FCC also is considering whether USF and access charges should apply to IP-enabled services. The FCC has yet to resolve comprehensively the regulatory classification of IP-enabled services and this proceeding remains open. However, in November 2004, the FCC ruled that services provided by a particular VOIP provider are interstate in nature, and not subject to entry regulations of the various state Public Service Commissions. Also in 2004, the FCC issued an order determining that pulver.com’s specific computer-to-computer IP service is an “information” service and not subject to traditional telephone regulation. In a subsequent order, the FCC ruled that AT&T’s phone-to-phone (“IP in the middle”) VOIP service is a telecommunications service under the 1996 Telecommunications Act subject to traditional regulation and obligations such as the payment of access charges. In addition, in December 2004, the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit ruled that a VOIP provider’s service is an information service and not subject to state regulation. The FCC continues to examine the appropriate regulatory treatment of VOIP. Changes to, and further clarifications of, the treatment of VOIP services could result in the imposition of burdensome regulation and fees on some of our services and/or increase certain of our operating costs.
In August 2005, the FCC determined that VOIP providers interconnected with the public switched telephone network (PSTN) must ensure that their equipment can accommodate law enforcement wiretaps under CALEA. Our VOIP products are capable of complying with these requirements. In June 2005, the FCC adopted new rules requiring VOIP providers interconnected to the PSTN to provide emergency 911 service in a manner similar to traditional carriers by November 2005. We contracted with a third-party provider that is a market leader in emergency 911 service solutions to provide these services. We are also participating in a legal challenge to these rules pending before the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Our ability to expand our VOIP services in the future may depend upon the ability of our third-party provider to provide enhanced 911 (E911) access or the outcome of these legal proceedings.
State Regulation. Our intrastate long distance operations are subject to various state laws and regulations, including, in most jurisdictions, certification and tariff filing requirements. Primus Telecommunications, Inc. (PTI), our principal operating subsidiary in the United States, maintains the necessary certificate and tariff approvals, where approvals are necessary, to provide intrastate long distance service in 49 states and Puerto Rico. PTI also maintains the necessary certificate to provide local services in Puerto Rico. Certain of our other subsidiaries, such as Trescom USA, Inc. and Least Cost Routing, Inc., also maintain certificates and tariffs in some states. Our consumer wireless operations are subject to more limited state regulation. Some states also require the filing of periodic reports, the payment of various fees and surcharges and compliance with service standards and consumer protection rules. States often require prior approval or notification for certain stock or asset transfers or, in several states, for the issuance of securities, debt or for name changes. As a certificated carrier, consumers may file complaints against us at the public service commissions. Certificates of authority can generally be conditioned, modified, canceled, terminated, or revoked by state regulatory authorities for failure to comply with state law and/or the rules, regulations and policies of the state regulatory authorities. Fines and other penalties also may be imposed for such violations. Public service commissions also regulate access charges and other pricing for telecommunications services within each state. The RBOCs and other LECs have been seeking reduction of state regulatory requirements, including greater pricing flexibility which, if granted, could subject us to increased price competition. We may also be required to contribute to universal service funds in some states.
Wireless Service Regulations. Through subsidiaries of TresCom International, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary, we hold several wireless licenses issued by the FCC. As a licensee authorized to provide microwave
and satellite earth station services, we are subject to Title III of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and related FCC regulations. Pursuant to Title III, foreign entities may not directly hold more than 20% of the stock or other ownership interests in an entity, including us, that holds certain types of FCC licenses, such as the wireless licenses held by the TresCom International, Inc. subsidiaries referred to above. In addition, unless granted an FCC waiver, foreign citizens and entities may not indirectly hold 25% or more of the stock or other ownership interest in such entities.
Australia
The provision of our services is subject to federal regulation in Australia. The two primary instruments of regulation are the Australian Telecommunications Act 1997 and federal regulation of anti-competitive practices pursuant to the Australian Trade Practices Act 1974. The current regulatory framework came into effect in July 1997.
We are licensed under the Telecommunications Act 1997 to own and operate transmission facilities in Australia. Under the regulatory framework, we are not required to maintain a carriage license in order to supply carriage services to the public using network facilities owned by another carrier. Instead, with respect to carriage services, we must comply with legislated “service provider” rules contained in the Telecommunications Act 1997 covering matters such as compliance with the Telecommunications Act 1997, operator services, regulation of land access, directory assistance, provision of information to allow maintenance of an integrated public number database and itemized billing.
Two federal regulatory authorities exercise control over a broad range of issues affecting the operation of the Australian telecommunications industry. The Australian Communications & Media Authority (ACMA) is the authority regulating matters including the licensing of carriers and technical matters, and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has the role of promotion of competition and consumer protection and in particular dealing with carrier to carrier interconnection and network access. Telstra, the dominant carrier and former monopoly, presently challenges many of the key principles applied by the ACCC to access pricing and endeavors to have some key decisions removed from the charter of the ACCC. If Telstra is successful, for example, with regard to the pricing of access to unbundled local loop lines, the access costs would substantially and adversely impact margin outcomes as compared to projections.
We are required to comply with the terms of our own license, are subject to the greater controls applicable to licensed facilities-based carriers and are under the regulatory control of the ACMA and the ACCC. In addition, other federal legislation, various regulations pursuant to delegated authority and legislation, ministerial declarations, codes, directions, licenses, statements of Australian government policy and court decisions affecting telecommunications carriers also apply to us.
There is no limit to the number of carriers that may be licensed. Any company that meets the relevant financial and technical standards and complies with the license application process can become a licensed carrier permitted to own and operate transmission facilities in Australia. Carriers are licensed individually, are subject to charges that are intended to cover the costs of regulating the telecommunications industry and are obliged to comply with license conditions (including obligations to comply with the Telecommunications Act 1997 and with the telecommunications access regime and related facilities access obligations). Carriers also must meet the Universal Service Obligations (USO), to assist in providing all Australians, particularly in remote areas, with reasonable access to standard telephone services and digital data services. Telstra is currently the sole universal service provider. One of our subsidiaries, Hotkey Internet Services, has been approved as a special digital service provider. Since 2000, the responsible Minister of the Australian government may make a determination of the amount of USO subsidies, with advice from the ACA. No methodology is provided in legislation and the Minister could make a determination of a Universal Service Legislation (USL) that would be material to us. However, the USL has been set previously at reasonable levels that we do not consider to have a material impact.
We do not expect the calculation of the 2005 USO liability to vary significantly. However, if the Minister were to adopt a different methodology resulting in a substantially larger amount, that methodology may adversely impact margins.
Fair Trading Practices. The ACCC enforces legislation for the promotion of competition and consumer protection, particularly rights of access (including pricing for access) and interconnection. The ACCC can issue a competition notice to a carrier which has engaged in anti-competitive conduct. Where a competition notice has been issued, the ACCC can seek pecuniary penalties, and other carriers can seek damages, if the carrier continues to engage in the specified conduct.
The Trade Practices Act 1974 package of legislation includes a telecommunications access regime that provides a framework for regulating access rights for specific carriage services and related services through the declaration of services by the ACCC. The regime establishes mechanisms within which the terms and conditions of access can be determined. The Australian government intends that the telecommunications specific provisions in the Trade Practices Act will ensure fair competitive access to monopoly and dominant facilities and deal with anti-competitive conduct of dominant carriers such as Telstra. These provisions would also apply to any carrier who may come to own or control important infrastructure or services necessary for competition. Primus would not be considered at this stage to be a dominant carrier.
Consumer Protection. The ACCC’s consumer protection role is shared with other regulators. Each state has its own Fair Trading Act administered by consumer affairs authorities and ACMA undertakes some activities in consumer protection predominantly in connection with industry codes of conduct. As a carrier we must also be a member of the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) Scheme. The TIO is responsible for handling complaints from consumers about carriers and Internet service providers. The TIO may impose financial penalties upon carriers that do not satisfactorily deal with consumer complaints.
Canada
We are a reseller of telecommunications services in Canada and are, therefore, largely unregulated by the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Because we do not own or operate transmission facilities in Canada, we are not subject to direct regulation by the CRTC pursuant to the Canadian Telecommunications Act. Therefore, we may resell long distance service, local telephone service, wireless service and Internet access without the regulation of our rates, prices or the requirement to file tariffs. In addition, as described below, as a reseller we are not subject to restrictions on foreign ownership or control.
In 2000, the CRTC implemented a revenue-based contribution regime to replace the per minute contribution charge formerly in place to support universal access. The revenue-based contribution mechanism collects from a wider base of telecommunications service providers and has lowered our contribution expenses since 2001.
In a price cap decision issued in May 2002, the CRTC lowered the prices incumbent providers can charge competitors for a range of competitor services-i.e., facilities and services required by competitors to provide telecommunications services to their end-customers. Several CRTC decisions recently issued have resulted in significant savings on competitor services for resellers. One decision, dated February 3, 2005, expanded the suite and geographical reach of competitor services and significantly reduced prices in some cases. Some of the reduced rates were effective on a retroactive basis to June 1, 2002. The current Price Cap formula requires the ILECs to revise the rates of selected services (primarily local telecommunications services) yearly by the rate of inflation minus a productivity factor of 3.5%. The rates of other service grouping are frozen and others are “uncapped” with upward pricing constraints. The CRTC has typically relied on a four-year Price Cap Period, but in 2005 it decided to extend the current period by one year. There will be a proceeding in 2006 to set the parameters of the next four-year period.
Competition. Long distance competition has been in place in Canada since 1990 for long distance resellers and since 1992 for facilities-based carriers. In June 1992, the CRTC issued Telecom Decision CRTC 92-12
requiring the incumbent LECs to interconnect their networks with their facilities-based, as well as reseller, competitors. Since 1994, the ILECs have been required to provide “equal access,” which eliminated the need for customers of competitive long distance providers to dial additional digits when placing long distance calls. However, the ILECs disbanded the Stentor alliance in 1999, and former Stentor companies, Bell Canada and TELUS Communications, the two largest ILECs in Canada, have begun to compete against each other. MTS, the ILEC serving the Canadian province of Manitoba, has acquired Allstream (formerly AT&T Canada Corp.) and is now competing nationally as well. The other nationwide competitor, Call-Net Enterprises Inc., which operated as Sprint Canada, was acquired by Rogers Communications Inc. in 2005. Cable TV companies, such as Rogers, Shaw and Videotron, launched their local telephone services in July 2005 and have had a great deal of success thus far. Their local service is provided either via their cable network and/or acquired CLECs (i.e., Call-Net) or on a resold basis from an underlying LEC.
Foreign Ownership Restrictions. Under Canada’s Telecommunications Act and certain regulations promulgated pursuant to the Act (i.e. the Canadian Telecommunications Common Carrier Ownership and Control Regulations), foreign ownership restrictions apply to facilities-based carriers (“Canadian carriers”), CLECs and microwave license holders, but not to companies that do not own or operate transmission facilities such as resellers. Resellers may be wholly foreign-owned and controlled. The regulations limit the amount of foreign investment in Canadian carriers to no more than 20% of the voting equity of a Canadian carrier operating company and no more than 33 1/3% of the voting equity of a Canadian carrier holding company. The restrictions also limit the number of seats which may be occupied by non-Canadians on the board of directors of a Canadian carrier company to 20%. In addition, under Canadian law, a majority of Canadians must occupy the seats on the board of directors of a Canadian carrier holding company. Although it is possible for foreign investors to also hold non-voting equity in a Canadian carrier, the law requires that the Canadian carrier not be “controlled in fact” by non-Canadians. Primus Canada, along with several other telecommunications service providers, has sought to have the Canadian government review foreign ownership restrictions with a view to lowering these restrictions or eliminating them.
In April 2003, the Industry Committee of the House of Commons recommended removing these restrictions in their entirety, for both telecommunications common carriers and for broadcasting distribution undertakings (BDUs) such as cable companies. In June 2003, however, another committee of the House of Commons (the Heritage Committee) expressed concerns that changes in ownership restrictions for either telecommunications common carriers or BDUs could have an adverse impact on the broadcasting system. In its September 2003 response to the Industry Committee’s recommendation, the government acknowledged the appropriateness of the committee’s conclusion that removing foreign investment restrictions would benefit the telecommunications industry. However, the government also noted the concerns expressed by the Heritage Committee. The government recognized that it has a responsibility to determine how best to reconcile the conflicting recommendations of the two committees and undertook to analyze this question and be in a position to examine possible solutions by the spring of 2004. However, no solutions were brought forward in 2005 although the issue was raised once again by the Telecom Policy Review Process that was launched by Industry Canada. As of the end of January 2006, the Telecom Policy Review Panel is preparing to issue its report to the new Conservative government. The report will include recommendations on the issue. The nature of any recommendation is not clear at this time. Therefore, it is premature to predict whether any recommendation to remove the restrictions for telecommunications common carriers will be implemented.
European Union
In Europe, the regulation of telecommunications is governed at a supranational level by the European Parliament, Council and Commission, consisting of members including the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. These institutions are responsible for creating European Union-wide policies and, through legislation, have progressively developed a regulatory framework aimed at ensuring an open, competitive telecommunications market.
In February 2002, the Council agreed to a new European regulatory framework for the communications sector, which was adopted formally on March 7, 2002. The new regime comprises the following legislative texts:
•
Directive 2002/21 on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services (“Framework Directive”);
•
Directive 2002/20 on the authorization of electronic communications networks and services (“Authorization Directive”);
•
Directive 2002/19 on access to, and interconnection of, electronic communications networks and associated facilities (“Access Directive”); and
•
Directive 2002/22 on universal service and users rights relating to electronic communications networks and services (“Universal Service Directive”).
EU member states were obligated to implement these directives by July 25, 2003. As of December 31, 2005, these directives have not materially affected our business operations in Europe.
One of the requirements of the Authorization Directive is that no company seeking to provide electronic communications networks or services is required to obtain prior authorization, although such a company could be required to notify relevant regulatory authorities in the member states where it intends to operate.
The package of these directives also recommended for “relevant markets”, that the member states have to review them to determine whether any players have significant market power (SMP). There are various relevant products and services markets that require assessment at both the retail level and wholesale level. The effectiveness of this new regulatory framework must be reviewed by the end of 2006, with revised directives to be formally agreed by mid-2008 and member states to implement the new Framework by 2010.
A further directive relating to privacy and electronic communications (Directive 2002/58) was added to the new regime. This directive aims to harmonize national laws regarding personal data protection in the electronic communications age and deals with matters including the confidentiality of billing information, the use of caller identification devices, the use of subscriber directories and unsolicited communications. The directive was supposed to be implemented by EU member states and incorporated into the regulatory regime of each member state by October 31, 2003, but as was also the case with the earlier directives referred to above, a number of member states missed this deadline. Court proceedings are pending before the European Court of Justice against Belgium, Greece and Luxembourg.
Each EU member state in which we currently conduct or plan to conduct our business has historically had a different regulatory regime and we expect that, even with the adoption of the new EU regulatory regime, differences will continue for the foreseeable future. There may well be differences in the manner in which the new EU regulatory regime is implemented from one member state to another. The requirements for us to obtain necessary approvals have varied considerably from one country to another. We have obtained and will continue to seek to obtain interconnection agreements with other carriers within the EU. While previous EU directives have required that carriers with SMP offer cost-based and non-discriminatory interconnection to competitors, individual EU member states have implemented this requirement differently and may continue to do so under the new EU regulatory regime. As a result, we may be delayed in obtaining or may not be able to obtain interconnection in certain countries that would allow us to compete effectively.
Further, Member States must now introduce domestic legislation to implement the EC Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) and the EC Directive on the Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS). The WEEE seeks to implement legislation on electrical and electronic equipment in relation to its composition and levels to which it should be recycled, while making producers responsible for financing most of these activities. IT and telecommunications equipment is WEEE, and subject to the WEEE Directive. RoHS seeks to restrict hazardous substances in WEEE.
The Commission also is concerned with new services, such as VOIP, and has published a working paper applicable to VOIP based services - Commission Staff Working Document of 14 June 2004 on the Treatment of VOIP under the EU Regulatory Framework- an Information and Consultation Document, which identifies various issues that can arise in relation to VOIP. The introduction of 3G mobile broadband services has raised new regulatory issues and the Commission has published a ‘Communication on Mobile Broadband Services (30 June 2004- COM (2004) 447),’ which covers issues, such as spectrum trading.
Prepaid Services: Developments in UK VAT position
In 2004, a trial court ruled that a provider of prepaid services located in Ireland was not required to charge VAT in the UK when such cards were sold or redeemed for services in the United Kingdom (UK). The UK tax authority, Customs & Excise, appealed this decision to the Court of Appeals. In January 2006, the Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s decision and held that the sale of such cards in the UK is subject to VAT in the UK. The Court of Appeal’s decision may be appealed to the House of Lords (see Item 7 - MD&A-Recent Competitive Developments; Our Four-Pronged Action Plan).
Employees
The following table summarizes the number of our full-time employees as of December 31, 2005, by region and classification:
We have never experienced a work stoppage. Only some of our employees in Australia are represented by a labor union and covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We consider our employee relations to be excellent.
Our Internet address is www.primustel.com. We make available free of charge through our Internet website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to the Securities Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.
ITEM 1A.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
A wide range of factors could materially affect our performance. In addition to factors affecting specific business operations and the financial results of those operations identified elsewhere in this report, the following factors, among others, could adversely affect our operations:
The unqualified opinion with a matter of emphasis regarding our ability to continue as a going concern from our independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the filing of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, could adversely affect our operations by potentially increasing our immediate need for additional capital and disrupting supplier relationships.
Our independent registered public accounting firm has included in their report concerning our consolidated financial statements for 2005 an explanatory paragraph that our recurring losses from operations, the maturity of $23.6 million of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures due February 15, 2007, negative working capital,
and stockholders’ deficit raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. This opinion may adversely affect our ability to manage our accounts payable and potentially cause some suppliers to deal with us on a cash-on-delivery or prepaid basis only or to terminate the supplier relationship. If this were to occur, this would adversely affect our operations by increasing our immediate need for additional capital.
If competitive pressures continue or intensify and/or the success of our new initiatives is not adequate in amount or timing to offset the decline in results from our core businesses, we may not be able to service our debt or other obligations.
We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents, future sales of equity, internally generated funds from operating activities, continued cost reduction efforts, our ability to moderate capital expenditures, combined with existing and potential debt financing alternatives and potential proceeds from opportunistic asset sales and interest savings from balance sheet deleveraging should be sufficient to fund our debt service requirements and other fixed obligations (such as capital leases, vendor financing and other long-term obligations), resolution of vendor disputes, and other cash needs for our operations through at least 2006. However, there are substantial risks, uncertainties and changes that could cause actual results to differ from our current belief, particularly as aggressive pricing and bundling strategies by certain incumbent carriers and ILECs have intensified competitive pressures in the markets where we operate, and/or if we have insufficient financial resources to market our services. The aggregate anticipated margin contribution from our new initiatives may not be adequate in amount or timing to offset the declines in margin from our core business. In addition, regulatory decisions could have a material adverse impact on our operations and outlook. See also information regarding our 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures due February 15, 2007 and other information under “Item 7 - MD&A-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Short- and Long-Term Liquidity Considerations and Risks” and in these Risk Factors. If adverse events referenced therein were to occur, we may not be able to service our debt or other obligations and could, among other things, be required to seek protection under the bankruptcy laws of the United States or other similar laws in other countries.
Our high level of debt may adversely affect our financial and operating flexibility.
We currently have substantial indebtedness and anticipate that we and our subsidiaries may incur additional indebtedness in the future. The level and/or terms of our indebtedness (1) could make it difficult for us to make required payments of principal and interest on our outstanding debt; (2) could limit our ability to obtain any necessary financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements or other purposes; (3) requires that a substantial portion of our cash flow, if any, be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on outstanding indebtedness and other obligations and, accordingly, such cash flow will not be available for use in our business; (4) could limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business; (5) results in our being more highly leveraged than many of our competitors, which places us at a competitive disadvantage; (6) will make us more vulnerable in the event of a downturn in our business; and (7) could limit our ability to sell assets partially or fund our operations due to covenant restrictions.
If we are delisted from the Nasdaq National Market and/or Nasdaq Capital Market, it could result in a more limited public market for our common stock.
On June 17, 2005, we received a notice of potential delisting of our common stock from Nasdaq National Market due to the fact that our common stock had not met the minimum prescribed trading prices for continued listing on the Nasdaq National Market. On December 13, 2005, we received a Staff Determination Letter from the Nasdaq National Market that our common stock was subject to delisting from the Nasdaq National Market for failing to meet the minimum bid requirement. On December 20, 2005, the Company requested a hearing that was held on January 12, 2006 before the Nasdaq Listings Qualification Panel (the “Panel”). The delisting of our common stock was stayed pending the outcome of the hearing. On February 14, 2006, the Company received the Panel’s determination to continue the listing of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq National Market conditioned upon the following exception: on or before March 10, 2006, the Company must have evidenced a
closing bid price of at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of ten consecutive trading days. The Panel also noted that the Company meets the listing standards for inclusion in the Nasdaq Capital Market, and that a transfer to that market would provide the Company with an additional 180 days (from December 13, 2005) to comply with the minimum bid price rule. In order to meet the minimum bid price rule, we may take certain steps to increase the minimum bid of our common stock, including, subject to appropriate authorizations and approvals, effecting a reverse split of our common stock. On February 7, 2006, the Company applied for listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market to be effective March 14, 2006. Effective March 14, 2006, the Company’s common stock trades on the Nasdaq Capital Market. If we do not meet the minimum bid price rule by June 12, 2006, however, our common stock would be delisted from trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market and could trade on the OTC Bulletin Board. The OTC Bulletin Board is a substantially less liquid market than the Nasdaq National Market or Capital Market. As a result, if our common stock is delisted from the Nasdaq markets or if we effect a reverse split of our common stock, our stockholders may have greater difficulty disposing of their shares in acceptable amounts and at acceptable prices and we may have greater difficulty issuing equity securities or securities convertible into common stock in such circumstances. If delisted, we cannot assure you when, if ever, our common stock would once again be eligible for listing on either the Nasdaq National Market or Capital Market.
Given our limited experience in delivering our new product initiatives and in providing bundled local, wireless, broadband, DSL, Internet, data and VOIP services, we may not be able to operate successfully or expand these parts of our business.
During 2004, we accelerated initiatives to provide wireless, broadband, VOIP and local wireline services in certain markets where we operate. During the third quarter of 2004 we accelerated initiatives to become an integrated wireline, wireless and broadband service provider in order to counter competitive pricing pressures initiated by large incumbent providers in certain of the principal markets where we operate and to stem the loss of certain of our wireline and dial-up ISP customers to our competitors’ bundled wireless, wireline and broadband service offerings. Our experience in providing these new products in certain markets and in providing these bundled service offerings is limited. Our primary competitors include incumbent telecommunications providers, cable companies and other ISPs that have a significant national or international presence. Many of these operators have substantially greater resources, capital and operational experience than we do. We also expect that we will experience increased competition from traditional telecommunications carriers and cable companies and other new entrants that expand into the market for broadband, VOIP, Internet services and traditional voice services, and regulatory developments may impair our ability to compete. Therefore, future operations involving these individual or bundled services may not succeed in this new competitive environment, and we may not be able to expand successfully; may experience margin pressure; may face quarterly revenue and operating results variability; and have heightened difficulty in establishing future revenues or results. As a result, there can be no assurance that we will reverse recent revenue declines or maintain or increase revenues or be able to generate income from operations or net income in the future or on any predictable or timely basis.
We may be exposed to significant liability resulting from our noncompliance with FCC directives regarding enhanced 911 (E911) services.
In June 2005, the FCC adopted new rules requiring VOIP providers interconnected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to provide E911 service in a manner similar to traditional wireline carriers by November 2005. LINGO, our subsidiary which sells VOIP services, was unable to meet this deadline for all of its customers. As of February 28, 2006, approximately 35% of our LINGO customers were without E911 service. We have sought a waiver from the FCC asking for an additional nine months to complete deploying our E911 service, but the FCC has not yet addressed our waiver petition. We also are participating in a legal challenge to these rules pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
LINGO’s current services are more limited than the 911 services offered by traditional wireline telephone companies. These limitations may cause significant delays, or even failures, in callers’ receipt of the emergency assistance they need. We have notified our customers of the differences between our Emergency Calling Service
and E911 services and those available through traditional telephony providers and have received affirmative acknowledgement from substantially all of our customers. Nevertheless, injured customers may attempt to hold us responsible for any loss, damage, personal injury or death suffered as a result of our failure to comply with the FCC mandated E911 service. Our resulting liability could be significant, although the likelihood is remote.
In addition, if and to the extent that we are determined to be out of compliance with the FCC order regarding E911 services we may be subject to fines or penalties or injunctions prohibiting LINGO from providing service in some markets.
We are substantially smaller than our major competitors, whose marketing and pricing decisions, and relative size advantage, could adversely affect our ability to attract and retain customers and are likely to continue to cause significant pricing pressures that could adversely affect our net revenues, results of operations and financial condition.
The long distance telecommunications, Internet, broadband, DSL, data and wireless industry is significantly influenced by the marketing and pricing decisions of the larger long distance industry, Internet access, broadband, DSL and wireless business participants. Prices in the long distance industry have continued to decline in recent years, and as competition continues to increase within each of our service segments and each of our product lines, we believe that prices are likely to continue to decrease. Our competitors in our core markets include, among others: Sprint, the regional bell operating companies (RBOCs) and the major wireless carriers in the United States; Telstra, SingTel Optus and Telecom New Zealand in Australia; Telus, BCE, Allstream (formerly AT&T Canada) and the major wireless and cable companies in Canada; and BT, Cable & Wireless United Kingdom, Colt Telecom, Energis and the major wireless carriers in the United Kingdom. Customers frequently change long distance, wireless and broadband providers, and ISPs in response to the offering of lower rates or promotional incentives, increasingly as a result of bundling of various services by competitors. Moreover, competitors’ VOIP and broadband product rollouts have added further customer choice and pricing pressure. As a result, generally, customers can switch carriers and service offerings at any time. Competition in all of our markets is likely to remain intense, or even increase in intensity and, as deregulatory influences are experienced in markets outside the United States, competition in non-United States markets is becoming similar to the intense competition in the United States. Many of our competitors are significantly larger than we are and have substantially greater financial, technical and marketing resources, larger networks, a broader portfolio of service offerings, greater control over network and transmission lines, stronger name recognition and customer loyalty, long-standing relationships with our target customers, and lower debt leverage ratios. As a result, our ability to attract and retain customers may be adversely affected. Many of our competitors enjoy economies of scale that result in low cost structures for transmission and related costs that could cause significant pricing pressures within the industry. Several long distance carriers in the United States, Canada and Australia and the major wireless carriers and cable companies, have introduced pricing and product bundling strategies that provide for fixed, low rates for calls. This strategy of our competitors could have a material adverse effect on our net revenue per minute, results of operations and financial condition if our pricing, set to remain competitive, is not offset by similar declines in our costs. Many companies emerging out of bankruptcy might benefit from a lower cost structure and might apply pricing pressure within the industry to gain market share. We compete on the basis of price, particularly with respect to our sales to other carriers, and also on the basis of customer service and our ability to provide a variety of telecommunications products and services. If such price pressures and bundling strategies intensify, we may not be able to compete successfully in the future, may face quarterly revenue and operating results variability, and may have heightened difficulty in estimating future revenues or results.
Our repositioning in the market place places a significant strain on our resources, and if not managed effectively, could result in operational inefficiencies and other difficulties.
Our repositioning in the market place may place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources, and increase demand on our systems and controls. To manage this change effectively, we must continue to implement and improve our operational and financial systems and controls, invest in critical
network infrastructure to maintain or improve our service quality levels, purchase and utilize other transmission facilities, and expand, train and manage our employee base. If we inaccurately forecast the movement of traffic onto our network, we could have insufficient or excessive transmission facilities and disproportionate fixed expenses. As we proceed with our development, operational difficulties could arise from additional demand placed on customer provisioning and support, billing and management information systems, product delivery and fulfillment, on our support, sales and marketing and administrative resources and on our network infrastructure. For instance, we may encounter delays or cost-overruns or suffer other adverse consequences in implementing new systems when required. In addition, our operating and financial control systems and infrastructure could be inadequate to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting.
We have experienced significant historical, and may experience significant future, operating losses and net losses which may hinder our ability to meet our debt service or working capital requirements.
As of December 31, 2005, we had an accumulated deficit of $(850.0) million. We incurred net losses of $(63.6) million in 1998, $(112.7) million in 1999, $(174.7) million in 2000, $(306.2) million in 2001, $(34.6) million in 2002, $(10.6) million in 2004 and $(154.4) million in 2005. During the year ended December 31, 2003, we recognized net income of $54.8 million, of which $39.4 million is the positive impact of foreign currency transaction gains. We cannot assure you that we will recognize net income, or reverse net revenue declines in future periods. If we cannot generate net income or operating profitability, we may not be able to meet our debt service or working capital requirements.
Integration of acquisitions ultimately may not provide the benefits originally anticipated by management and may distract the attention of our personnel from the operation of our business.
We strive to increase the volume of voice and data traffic that we carry over our existing global network in order to reduce transmission costs and other operating costs as a percentage of net revenue, improve margins, improve service quality and enhance our ability to introduce new products and services. We may pursue acquisitions in the future to further our strategic objectives. Acquisitions of businesses and customer lists, a key element of our historical growth strategy, involve operational risks, including the possibility that an acquisition does not ultimately provide the benefits originally anticipated by management. Moreover, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in identifying attractive acquisition candidates, completing and financing additional acquisitions on favorable terms, or integrating the acquired business or assets into our own. There may be difficulty in migrating the customer base and in integrating the service offerings, distribution channels and networks gained through acquisitions with our own. Successful integration of operations and technologies requires the dedication of management and other personnel, which may distract their attention from the day-to-day business, the development or acquisition of new technologies, and the pursuit of other business acquisition opportunities, and there can be no assurance that successful integration will occur in light of these factors.
We experience intense domestic and international competition which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
The local and long distance telecommunications, data, broadband, Internet, VOIP and wireless industries are intensely competitive with relatively limited barriers to entry in the more deregulated countries in which we operate and with numerous entities competing for the same customers. Recent and pending deregulation in various countries may encourage new entrants to compete, including ISPs, wireless companies, cable television companies, who would offer voice, broadband, Internet access and television, and electric power utilities who would offer voice and broadband Internet access. For example, the United States and many other countries have committed to open their telecommunications markets to competition pursuant to an agreement under the World Trade Organization which began on January 1, 1998. Further, in the United States, as certain conditions have been met under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the RBOCs have been allowed to enter the long distance market, and other long distance carriers have been allowed to enter the local telephone services market (although
recent judicial and regulatory developments have diminished the attractiveness of this opportunity), and many entities, including cable television companies and utilities, have been allowed to enter both the local service and long distance telecommunications markets. Moreover, the rapid enhancement of VOIP technology may result in increasing levels of traditional domestic and international voice long distance traffic being transmitted over the Internet, as opposed to traditional telecommunication networks such as ours. Currently, there are significant capital investment savings and cost savings associated with carrying voice traffic employing VOIP technology, as compared to carrying calls over traditional networks. Thus, there exists the possibility that the price of traditional long distance voice services will decrease in order to be competitive with VOIP. Additionally, competition is expected to be intense to switch customers to VOIP product offerings, as is evidenced by numerous recent market announcements in the United States and internationally from industry leaders and competitive carriers concerning significant VOIP initiatives. Our ability effectively to retain our existing customer base and generate new customers, either through our network or our own VOIP offerings, may be adversely affected by accelerated competition arising as a result of VOIP initiatives, as well as regulatory developments that may impede our ability to compete, such as restrictions on access to broadband networks owned and operated by others and the requirements to provide E911 services. As competition intensifies as a result of deregulatory, market or technological developments, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.
If the fair value of our long-lived assets is determined to be less than its carrying value, any resulting impairment charge could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition.
We assess the recoverability of our long-lived assets to be held and used whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable. Our judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on expected operational performance, market conditions, legal factors and future plans. If we conclude that a triggering event for impairment has occurred, we will compare the carrying value of the assets with the undiscounted cash flows expected to be derived from the usage of the asset. If there is a shortfall and the fair value of the asset is less than its carrying value, we will record an impairment charge for the excess carrying value over fair value. We estimate fair value using a discounted cash flow model. Any resulting impairment charge could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
A deterioration in our relationships with facilities-based carriers could have a material adverse effect upon our business.
We primarily connect our customers’ telephone calls and data/Internet needs through transmission lines that we lease under a variety of arrangements with other facilities-based long distance carriers. Many of these carriers are, or may become, our competitors. Our ability to maintain and expand our business depends on our ability to maintain favorable relationships with the facilities-based carriers from which we lease transmission lines. If our relationship with one or more of these carriers were to deteriorate or terminate, it could have a material adverse effect upon our cost structure, service quality, network diversity, results of operations and financial condition.
Uncertainties and risks associated with international markets could adversely impact our international operations.
We have significant international operations and, as of December 31, 2005, derive more than 80% of our revenues by providing services outside of the United States. In international markets, we are smaller than the principal or incumbent telecommunications carrier that operates in each of the foreign jurisdictions where we operate. In these markets, incumbent carriers are likely to control access to, and pricing of, the local networks; enjoy better brand recognition and brand and customer loyalty; generally offer a wider range of product and services; and have significant operational economies of scale, including a larger backbone network and more correspondent agreements. Moreover, the incumbent carrier may take many months to allow competitors, including us, to interconnect to its switches within its territory, and we are dependent upon their cooperation in migrating customers onto our network. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain the permits and
operating licenses required for us to operate; obtain access to local transmission facilities on economically acceptable terms; or market services in international markets. In addition, operating in international markets generally involves additional risks, including unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, taxes, tariffs, customs, duties and other trade barriers, difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations, problems in collecting accounts receivable, political risks, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, restrictions associated with the repatriation of funds, technology export and import restrictions, and seasonal reductions in business activity. Our ability to operate and grow our international operations successfully could be adversely impacted by these risks and uncertainties particularly in light of the fact that we derive such a large percentage of our revenues from outside of the United States.
Because a significant portion of our business is conducted outside the United States, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could adversely affect our results of operations.
A significant portion of our net revenue is derived from sales and operations outside the United States. The reporting currency for our consolidated financial statements is the United States dollar (USD). The local currency of each country is the functional currency for each of our respective entities operating in that country. In the future, we expect to continue to derive a significant portion of our net revenue and incur a significant portion of our operating costs outside the United States, and changes in exchange rates have had and may have a significant, and potentially adverse, effect on our results of operations. Our primary risk of loss regarding foreign currency exchange rate risk is caused by fluctuations in the following exchange rates: USD/AUD, USD/CAD, USD/GBP, and USD/EUR. For the year ended December 31, 2005, our results were unfavorably impacted by a weakening of the USD compared to the AUD, the CAD and the GBP and our revenue results were favorably impacted by a strengthening of the USD compared to the EUR. See “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.” Due to the large percentage of our operations conducted outside of the United States, strengthening or weakening of the USD relative to one or more of the foregoing currencies could have an adverse impact on future results of operations. We historically have not engaged in hedging transactions and do not currently contemplate engaging in hedging transactions to mitigate foreign exchange risks. In addition, the operations of affiliates and subsidiaries in foreign countries have been funded with investments and other advances denominated in foreign currencies. Historically, such investments and advances have been long-term in nature, and we accounted for any adjustments resulting from currency translation as a charge or credit to accumulated other comprehensive loss within the stockholders’ deficit section of our consolidated balance sheets. In 2002, agreements with certain subsidiaries were put in place for repayment of a portion of the investments and advances made to those subsidiaries. As we anticipate repayment in the foreseeable future of these amounts, we recognize the unrealized gains and losses in foreign currency transaction gain (loss) on the consolidated statements of operations, and depending upon changes in future currency rates, such gains or losses could have a significant, and potentially adverse, effect on our results of operations.
The telecommunications industry is rapidly changing, and if we are not able to adjust our strategy and resources effectively in the future to meet changing market conditions, we may not be able to compete effectively.
The telecommunications industry is changing rapidly due to deregulation, privatization, consolidation, technological improvements, availability of alternative services such as wireless, broadband, DSL, Internet, VOIP, and wireless DSL through use of the fixed wireless spectrum, and the globalization of the world’s economies. In addition, alternative services to traditional fixed wireline services, such as wireless, broadband, Internet and VOIP services, are a substantial competitive threat. If we do not adjust our contemplated plan of development to meet changing market conditions and if we do not have adequate resources, we may not be able to compete effectively. The telecommunications industry is marked by the introduction of new product and service offerings and technological improvements. Achieving successful financial results will depend on our ability to anticipate, assess and adapt to rapid technological changes, and offer, on a timely and cost-effective basis, services including the bundling of multiple services, that meet evolving industry standards. If we do not anticipate, assess or adapt to such technological changes at a competitive price, maintain competitive services or obtain new technologies on a timely basis or on satisfactory terms, our financial results may be materially and adversely affected.
If we are not able to operate a cost-effective network, we may not be able to successfully grow our business.
Our long-term success depends on our ability to design, implement, operate, manage and maintain a reliable and cost-effective network. In addition, we rely on third parties to enable us to expand and manage our global network and to provide local, broadband Internet and wireless services. If we fail to generate additional traffic on our network, if we experience technical or logistical impediments to our ability to develop necessary network (such as our DSL networks in Australia and Canada) or to migrate traffic and customers onto our network, or if we experience difficulties with our third-party providers, we may not achieve desired economies of scale or otherwise be successful in growing our business.
If we are not able to use and protect our intellectual property domestically and internationally, it could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Our ability to compete depends, in part, on our ability to use intellectual property in the United States and internationally. We rely on a combination of trade secrets, trademarks and licenses to protect our intellectual property. We are also subject to the risks of claims and litigation alleging infringement of the intellectual property rights of others. The telecommunications industry is subject to frequent litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights. We rely upon certain technology, including hardware and software, licensed from third parties. There can be no assurance that the technology licensed by us will continue to provide competitive features and functionality or that licenses for technology currently used by us or other technology that we may seek to license in the future will be available to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Although our existing intellectual property are on standard commercial terms made generally available by the companies providing the licenses and, individually, their costs and terms are not material to our business, the loss of, or our inability to maintain existing licenses, could result in shipment delays or reductions until equivalent technology or suitable alternative products could be developed, identified, licensed and integrated. Such delays or reductions in the aggregate could harm our business.
The loss of our key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business.
The loss of the services of K. Paul Singh, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, or the services of our other key personnel, or our inability to attract and retain additional key management, technical and sales personnel, could have a material adverse effect upon us.
We are subject to potential adverse effects of regulation which may have a material adverse impact on our competitive position, growth and financial performance.
Our operations are subject to constantly changing regulation. There can be no assurance that future regulatory changes will not have a material adverse effect on us, or that regulators or third parties will not raise material issues with regard to our compliance or noncompliance with applicable regulations, any of which could have a material adverse effect upon us. As a multinational telecommunications company, we are subject to varying degrees of regulation in each of the jurisdictions in which we provide our services. Local laws and regulations, and the interpretation of such laws and regulations, differ significantly among the jurisdictions in which we operate. Enforcement and interpretations of these laws and regulations can be unpredictable and are often subject to the informal views of government officials. Recent widespread regulatory changes in the United Kingdom and potential future regulatory, judicial, legislative and government policy changes in other jurisdictions where we operate could have a material adverse effect on us. Domestic or international regulators or third parties may raise material issues with regard to our compliance or noncompliance with applicable regulations, and therefore may have a material adverse impact on our competitive position, growth and financial performance. Regulatory considerations that affect or limit our business include (1) United States common carrier requirements not to discriminate unreasonably among customers and to charge just and reasonable rates; (2) general uncertainty regarding the future regulatory classification of and taxation of VOIP telephony, the need to provide emergency calling services in a manner required by the FCC that is not yet available commercially on
a nation-wide basis and the ability to access broadband networks owned and operated by others; if regulators decide that VOIP is a regulated telecommunications service, our VOIP services may be subject to burdensome regulatory requirements and fees, we may be obligated to pay carriers additional interconnection fees and operating costs may increase; (3) general changes in access charges, universal service and regulatory fee payments would affect our cost of providing long distance services; and (4) general changes in access charges and contribution payments could adversely affect our cost of providing long distance, wireless, broadband, VOIP, local and other services. Any adverse developments implicating the foregoing could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, result of operations and prospects.
Natural disasters may affect the markets in which we operate, our operations and our profitability.
Many of the geographic areas where we conduct our business may be affected by natural disasters, including hurricanes and tropical storms. Hurricanes, tropical storms and other natural disasters could have a material adverse effect on the business by damaging the network facilities or curtailing voice or data traffic as a result of the effects of such events, such as destruction of homes and businesses.
Terrorist attacks and other acts of violence or war may affect the markets in which we operate, our operations and our profitability.
We are a United States-based corporation with significant international operations. Terrorist attacks, such as the attacks that occurred in New York City and Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001, and subsequent worldwide terrorist actions, including apparent action against companies operating abroad, may negatively affect our operations. We cannot assure you that there will not be further terrorist attacks that affect our employees, network facilities or support systems, either in the United States or in any of the other countries in which we operate. Certain losses resulting from these types of events are uninsurable and others are not likely to be covered by our insurance. Terrorist attacks may directly impact our business operations through damage or harm to our employees, network facilities or support systems, increased security costs or the general curtailment of voice or data traffic. Any of these events could result in increased volatility in or damage to our business and the United States and worldwide financial markets and economies.
A small group of our stockholders could exercise influence over our affairs.
As of February 28, 2006, funds affiliated with American International Group, Incorporated (AIG Entities) beneficially owned 15% of our outstanding common stock, which was acquired through the conversion of their Series C Preferred Stock. As a result of such share ownership, these holders can exercise influence over our affairs through the provisions of a certain Governance Agreement between such holders and us, dated November 4, 2003, that provide for their right to nominate a candidate for election by our stockholders to our board of directors and nominate one non-voting board observer, in each case subject to the maintenance of certain minimum ownership levels of our common stock and our board’s right to exercise its fiduciary duties.
In addition, these holders’ significant ownership levels could have an influence on: amendments to our certificate of incorporation; other fundamental corporate transactions such as mergers and asset sales; and the general direction of our business and affairs.
Also, the applicable triggering provisions of our rights agreement with StockTrans, Inc., as Rights Agent, dated December 23, 1998 (as amended, the “Rights Agreement”) contain exceptions with respect to the acquisition of beneficial ownership of our shares by such holders and the other former holders of Series C Preferred Stock. As a result, such holders could gain additional control over our affairs without triggering the provisions of the Rights Agreement.
Finally, other stockholders that acquire a significant portion of our common stock, either in the market or in future issuances by us, could potentially exercise influence over our affairs.
Significant future sales of our common stock in the public market could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and could impair our ability to raise funds in additional stock offerings.
Significant future sales of our common stock in the public market, including in particular the shares offered under the Common Stock Resale Registration Statement (defined below) and the Note Registration Statement (defined below) and shares issuable upon conversion of the 2009 Debentures, could lower our stock price and impair our ability to raise funds in new stock offerings. Of 22.6 million shares of our common stock originally issued upon conversion of our Series C Preferred stock (the “Series C Registered Securities”) in November 2003, which were registered for resale under an effective registration statement (the “Common Stock Resale Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act, 16.5 million shares were, as of February 23, 2006, held by a group of affiliated holders. These shares, in general, may be freely resold under the Securities Act pursuant to the Common Stock Resale Registration Statement. The holders of the 2010 Notes have a registration statement that has been declared effective under the Securities Act (the “Note Registration Statement”) covering these notes and the 14.2 million shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of these notes, and the 22.3 million shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the outstanding 2009 Debentures will be unrestricted and freely transferable under the Securities Act. Sales of a substantial amount of this common stock in the public market, or the perception that these sales may occur, could create selling pressure on our common stock and adversely affect the market price of our common stock prevailing from time to time in the public market and could impair our ability to raise funds in additional stock offerings.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
We currently lease our corporate headquarters facility, which is located in McLean, Virginia. Additionally, we lease administrative, technical and sales office space, as well as space for our switches and data centers, in various locations in the countries in which we operate. Total leased space in the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as other countries in which we operate, approximates 752,000 square feet and the total annual lease costs are approximately $17.3 million. The operating leases expire at various times with the longest commitment expiring in 2014. We believe that our present administrative and sales office facilities are adequate for our anticipated operations and that similar space can be obtained readily as needed, and we further believe that the current leased facilities are adequate to house existing communications equipment.
Certain communications equipment which includes network switches and transmission lines are leased through operating leases, capital leases and vendor financing agreements.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Litigation
Federal Securities Class Action. We and four of our officers (the “Primus Defendants”) were defendants in a consolidated class action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, “In re Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated Securities Litigation.” Plaintiffs sued on behalf of certain purchasers (the “Class”) of Primus securities between February 14, 2003 and July 29, 2004 (the “Class Period”). In December 2004, plaintiffs filed their Consolidated and Amended Complaint (“CAC”). Plaintiffs alleged that the Primus Defendants violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5. Plaintiffs sought damages, among other things, on the theory that the Primus Defendants fraudulently published false and misleading statements and/or fraudulently concealed adverse, non-public information about Primus, thereby artificially inflating the price of Primus’s securities. The CAC also covered matters related to: (i) Primus Telecommunications, Inc.’s (“PTI’s”) acquisition in 2002 of Cable & Wireless’s customers in the United States
and migration and attrition of such customers; (ii) VOIP initiatives and challenges faced by Primus with respect to launching the various VOIP products; and (iii) Primus’s network and decisions to lease capacity versus purchase capacity. The Primus Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the CAC in January 2005. On March 11, 2005, the court dismissed the CAC with prejudice. The court ruled that plaintiffs would not be permitted to amend further their complaint. Plaintiffs did not appeal the decision dismissing their complaint, and the time in which to appeal has lapsed. Accordingly, this matter has been finally determined.
Shareholder Derivative Action. In September 2004, Richard J. Taddy filed a shareholder derivative action in the Alexandria Division of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against members of our Board of Directors, a former director, a board observer and three of our executive officers (the “Primus Derivative Defendants”) on behalf of Primus for alleged violations of state law, including breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment. Damages were sought based on allegations that, between “November 2003 and the present,” the Primus Derivative Defendants (1) publicly issued false and misleading statements and concealed adverse, non-public information about Primus, (2) engaged in, or permitted, illegal insider trading, and (3) engaged in, or permitted, various acts of “gross mismanagement” and “corporate waste.” In November 2004, the Primus Derivative Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the derivative action. In December 2004, the court granted our motion to dismiss the shareholder derivative action. The court dismissed the complaint because plaintiff failed to: (1) make a demand on our Board of Directors before filing the action as required by Delaware law or (2) allege with the requisite specificity that such a demand would have been futile. The court denied plaintiff’s request to amend the complaint and dismissed the complaint with prejudice. Plaintiff appealed this decision to the 4th Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals. In June 2005, plaintiff dismissed this action with prejudice. Accordingly, this matter has been finally determined.
Hondutel. In December 1999, Empresa Hondurena de Telecomunicaciones, S.A. (“Plaintiff”), based in Honduras, filed suit in Florida State Court in Broward County against TresCom and one of TresCom’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, St. Thomas and San Juan Telephone Company, Inc. (“STSJ”), alleging that such entities failed to pay amounts due to plaintiff pursuant to contracts for the exchange of telecommunications traffic from December 1996 through September 1998. We acquired the stock of TresCom in June 1998. Plaintiff had been seeking over $18 million in damages, plus interest and costs. In October 2005, we agreed to settle this matter by agreeing to provide certain services to Plaintiff at no cost. We have accrued amounts sufficient to cover the anticipated costs of providing such services. We realized a reduction of cost of revenue of $2 million during 2005. Accordingly, this matter has been finally determined.
Other. We are subject to certain other claims and legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of our business. Each of these matters is subject to various uncertainties, and it is possible that some of these matters may be decided unfavorably to us. We believe that any aggregate liability that may ultimately result from the resolution of these other matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
None.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Common Stock
Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated (“we” or “us”) common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “PRTL.” On March 10, 2006, the last sale price of our common stock was $0.80. The following table provides the high and low sale prices for our common stock on the Nasdaq National Market for all periods indicated below. These prices do not include retail markups, markdowns or commissions.
Dividend Policy
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock to date. The payment of dividends, if any, in the future is within the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on our earnings, our capital requirements and financial condition. Dividends are currently restricted by the term loan and senior note indentures, and may be restricted by other credit arrangements entered into in the future by us. It is the present intention of the Board of Directors to retain all earnings, if any, for use in our business operations, and accordingly, the Board of Directors does not expect to declare or pay any dividends in the foreseeable future.
Holders
As of February 28, 2006, we had approximately 518 holders of record of our common stock.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
In February 2006, we exchanged $26.5 million principal amount of our 5 3/4% convertible subordinated debentures due February 2007 for $26.5 million principal amount of our Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures due August 2009. These sales of securities were performed pursuant to an exemption under Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
In January 2006, we exchanged 1,825,000 shares of our common stock for the extinguishment of $2.5 million principal amount of the October 1999 Senior Notes. These sales of securities were performed pursuant to an exemption under Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
During the year ended December 31, 2005, we exchanged 9,820,000 shares of our common stock for the extinguishment of $17.0 million in principal amount of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures and exchanged 5,165,175 shares for the extinguishment of $8.6 million in principal amount of the October 1999 Senior Notes. These sales of securities were performed pursuant to an exemption under Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
In April 2004, Primus Canada acquired Magma, a provider of Internet solutions to corporate, government and residential customers. Primus Canada acquired 100% of the outstanding stock of Magma by paying $5.2 million in cash and issuing to eight former Magma stockholders 734,018 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to an exemption under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
In September 2003, we completed the sale of $132 million in aggregate principal amount of our 2003 Convertible Senior Notes with semi-annual interest payments due on March 15th and September 15th, with the first payment due on March 15, 2004. Holders of these notes may convert their notes into our common stock at any time prior to maturity at an initial conversion price of $9.3234 per share, which is equivalent to an initial conversion rate of 107.257 shares per $1,000 principal amount of the notes, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The notes are convertible in the aggregate into 14,157,925 shares of our common stock.
In December 2002, we signed an agreement to sell 559,950 newly-authorized shares of our Series C Preferred for an aggregate purchase price of $42 million. On December 31, 2002, we issued 438,853 shares of Series C Preferred stock for approximately $32.3 million, net of $0.6 million of offering costs. At a special meeting of our stockholders on March 31, 2003, our stockholders voted to approve the issuance of the remaining 121,097 shares of Series C Preferred for approximately $9 million in cash. These issuances were pursuant to an exemption under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In November 2003, all 559,950 shares of Series C Preferred were converted into 22,616,990 shares of common stock which have been registered for resale. The issuance of our common stock pursuant to the conversion was affected in accordance with an exemption under Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. During a 270-day period commencing November 4, 2003, certain selling security holders’ shares were subject to the terms of a lock-up agreement with us, which generally prohibited the resale of 13,540,008 of such shares. Also, in consideration for the lock-up agreement and voluntary conversion, we agreed, subject to our board’s exercise of fiduciary duties, to permit the former holders of the Series C Preferred Stock to nominate a candidate for election by stockholders to the board of directors; to maintain a non-voting board observer; and to require that certain matters be determined by the board of directors by a majority vote of the non-management directors, in each case subject to these holders maintaining specific ownership levels.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following sets forth our selected consolidated financial data for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 and 2001 as derived from our historical financial statements:
Statement of Operations Data:
Balance Sheet Data:
ITEM 7.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OVERVIEW
Introduction
We are an integrated telecommunications services provider offering a portfolio of international and domestic voice, wireless, Internet, voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP), data and hosting services to business and residential retail customers and other carriers located primarily in the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and western Europe. Our focus is to service the demand for high quality, competitively priced communications services that is being driven by the globalization of the world’s economies, the worldwide trend toward telecommunications deregulation and the growth of broadband, Internet, VOIP, wireless and data traffic.
Recent Product Initiatives Overview
We have selectively targeted opportunities to participate in major growth areas for telecommunications-local, wireless, broadband, and VOIP-which we call our new initiatives or new strategic initiatives. These initiatives have been accelerated in response to competitive developments described under “-Recent Competitive Developments; Our Four-Pronged Action Plan.” Our approach in these areas has common elements: focus on bundling services to end-user customers; leverage our existing global voice, data and Internet network; and utilize established distribution channels and back-office systems. The year 2004 was highlighted by the accelerated implementation of our new strategic initiatives, to which we have continued to devote substantial resources in 2005.
We believe the local services market is a major opportunity for revenue growth for us. During the third quarter of 2004, we began offering local line service in Canada on a resale basis. We bundle these services with our other product offerings of long distance voice and Internet access, in competition with the ILECs. In Canada, fourth quarter 2005 revenue growth driven by the strengthening of the Canadian dollar, showed growth from local, wireless and VOIP products offset by the revenue decline from long distance voice services. As a result, our Canadian subsidiary posted record net revenues of $68 million in the fourth quarter 2005. The Canadian residential local telephone offering grew slightly to approximately 74,000 lines in service, which is a significant increase from 2004 but during the fourth quarter was impeded by labor strikes affecting incumbent carriers which delayed customer implementations. Approximately 90% of new local customers in Canada add a bundled long distance offering at an average monthly revenue of $36 (42 Canadian dollars (CAD)) as compared to $10 (12 CAD) for a stand-alone long distance customer. In Canada, we believe the ability to bundle local services with our core long distance service presents future growth opportunities for us. During the fourth quarter, we launched an important new initiative in Canada-the build-out of a digital subscriber line (DSL) infrastructure-to position us for profitable growth in the local and broadband markets and to enhance product bundling opportunities. As of December 31, 2005, 20 nodes have been installed with a goal of reaching 66 nodes in 2006.
In 2004 we began the process of building our own DSL network infrastructure in Australia in order to provide voice and broadband Internet services to residential customers on such network. The build-out of our Australian DSL infrastructure is on track with 171 nodes installed and ten more installations in progress. In Australia, we now have over 125,000 DSL customers and exceeded our previously stated goal of 120,000 DSL customers by the end of 2005. Migration of existing resale local and broadband customers to our network began in the second quarter 2005 and has now reached approximately 58,000 services on-net. Most new Australian broadband customers sign a two-year contract and approximately 67% also take a bundled local and long distance voice package. Australian residential customers taking a bundled broadband solution now generate over $69 (95 Australian dollars (AUD)) per month in revenue.
Our wireless services are targeted at residential users in our existing major markets. In the United States and Europe, we target customers who wish to save money on their international calls using their wireless phones, and throughout each of our major markets, we target customers whose calls are mostly local and domestic long
distance. Currently, many wireless users are blocked by their service provider from making international calls, and those that can make international calls are charged high rates. Through a combination of mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) and reseller service agreements with wireless carriers, we are able to offer wireless services to our customers at substantially reduced international rates. Even with reduced international rates, we believe our services have the potential to contribute to our profitability. Our wireless services are an early-2005 addition to our product portfolio and have not yet generated significant revenue.
The target customers for our retail VOIP products will ultimately be anyone who has a broadband connection anywhere in the world. We have been in the carrier VOIP market now for several years and carried over one billion minutes of international voice traffic in 2005 over the public Internet. In January 2004, we launched our retail VOIP TalkBroadband® service in Canada. In June 2004, we launched our retail LINGO product in the United States, which offers unlimited calling plans including destinations in Western Europe and certain countries in Asia, unlimited calling between two LINGO subscribers and the issuance of phone numbers that are local for calls originating in certain foreign countries. These services have grown to approximately 104,000 customers; growth slowed significantly during the third and fourth quarters of 2005 as we moderated our investment in LINGO due to financial resource limitations and the disruption in marketing activities raised by the emergency 911 regulations. LINGO customers generate approximately $29 in average monthly revenues. While we are pleased with the early results, significant further investment will be required to continue strengthening the LINGO brand and support an expanding customer base before contributing to our profitability.
Based on fourth quarter 2005 results of $29 million of net revenue, our new initiatives exceeded an aggregate revenue run rate of $100 million annually.
Also, it should be recognized that our marketing efforts across our broadband and local initiatives, initially increase near-term pressure on profitability and cash flow due to migration and installation charges imposed by the incumbent carriers for each customer transferred to our network. The relative impact of such fees, which currently range between $40 per customer in Canada and $110 per customer in Australia, should lessen as the rate of new customer additions becomes a lower percentage of the growing customer base. In 2005, we incurred $11 million in such fees.
We believe that progress to date in transforming the company and growing our broadband, local, and VOIP businesses has not only strengthened the company, but has enhanced the competitive positioning and the franchise values of our major operating subsidiaries in Australia and Canada. As those franchises continue to generate a substantial portion of our results, we will focus efforts during 2006 on substantially improving the profitability of our United States and European operations.
Recent Competitive Developments; Our Four-Pronged Action Plan
Our fundamental challenge continues to be generating sufficient sales volume from new initiatives in broadband, local, wireless and VOIP services to offset the declining contribution from our core long distance voice and dial-up Internet service provider (ISP) businesses. To address this challenge, we have implemented a four-pronged action plan (“Action Plan”): first, to continue to drive strong revenue growth from the new initiatives in the broadband, local, wireless and VOIP businesses and to concentrate resources on the most promising initiatives (discussed within “Recent Product Initiatives Overview”); second, to enhance margin by increasing scale on the new initiatives and by investing in broadband infrastructure in high density locations as well as migrating customers onto our network (discussed within “Recent Product Initiatives Overview”); third, to continue cost cutting and cost management programs partially to offset margin erosion caused by the continued decline of our high-margin core retail revenues; and fourth, to strengthen the balance sheet through potential deleveraging and equity capital infusion on a prudent basis.
Our operating results continue to reflect increased competition from product bundling in virtually all of our markets; product substitution (e.g., wireless for fixed line; broadband for dial-up Internet); declining usage patterns for traditional fixed line voice services as use of wireless, e-mail and instant messaging services
expands; and continued competitive pricing pressures. As a result, our revenue growth and profitability have been strongly challenged by a changing industry environment, and this has caused variability in our operating results, as described below. In the past several quarters, we experienced pricing pressure on our core long distance services, reduced margins on our resale of DSL in Australia and significant churn in our dial-up ISP products in Australia, and reduced pricing on long distance offerings to encourage customers to subscribe to bundled local, wireless and broadband services. However, in Canada we have recently experienced a reduction of competitive pressures as incumbent providers are retracting low rate offers for long distance services.
Our 2005 operating results as compared to 2004 reflect $76 million in net revenue declines in our prepaid services business caused by continuing competitive pressures, as well as the effect of a United Kingdom (UK) court decision which favored our competitors. As a licensed, facilities based operator in the UK, we are required to collect and remit VAT on our prepaid services sold in the UK. Accordingly, we built VAT into the price of our services. As a consequence of the court’s decision, our competitors’ products had no VAT factored into their price, making their products an attractive lower cost alternative. In response, we no longer operate a prepaid services business in the UK, but rather support service providers through a wholesale relationship. As a result, the revenue decline was not unexpected. During the second quarter 2005, we expanded our geographic markets offering prepaid services.
Another important element of our Action Plan is the reduction of costs to offset partially the decline in core long-distance voice and dial-up ISP revenues. Over the course of the second quarter we began to implement cost reductions and these actions continued throughout the balance of 2005. Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense was $84 million in the fourth quarter 2005, $9 million less than the third quarter 2005.
The fourth element of our Action Plan is to reduce interest expense through further debt reduction. In 2005, we exchanged 9,820,000 shares of our common stock for the extinguishment of $17.0 million in principal amount of the 5 3/4% convertible subordinated debentures due 2007 (“2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures”), resulting in a $5.9 million loss on early extinguishment of debt, and we exchanged 5,165,175 shares of our common stock for the extinguishment of $8.6 million in principal amount of the 12 3/4% senior notes due 2009 (“October 1999 Senior Notes”), resulting in a gain on early extinguishment of debt of $4.2 million. These exchanges will reduce our annual interest expense for 2006 by $2.1 million. On February 27, 2006, we exchanged $26.5 million principal amount of our 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures for $26.5 million principal amount of our step up convertible subordinated debentures due 2009 (“Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures”) (see Note 25-“Subsequent Events”). These debt reduction actions are somewhat offset in January 2006 by our wholly owned Canadian subsidiary entering into an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (the “Amended Agreement”) related to its existing secured non-revolving term loan facility with a Canadian financial institution. The Amended Agreement, among other things, extended the maturity date to April 2008. On February 1, 2006 the Company drew the remaining $15 million available under the loan facility. We will continue to reduce debt through regularly scheduled principal payments and may pursue opportunistic means to reduce debt, including further exchanges of our common stock for debt.
Overview of Historic Global Operations
Generally, we price our services competitively with the major carriers and service providers operating in our principal service regions. We seek to continue to generate net revenue through sales and marketing efforts focused on customers with significant communications needs (international and domestic voice, wireless, VOIP, high speed and dial-up Internet and data), including small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), multinational corporations, residential customers, and other telecommunications carriers and resellers and through acquisitions.
Prices in the long distance industry continue to decline over the years we have been in business, and as competition continues to increase in each of the service segments and each of the product lines, we believe that prices are likely to continue to decrease. Long distance minutes of use per customer also continue to decline as more customers are using wireless phones and the Internet as alternatives to the use of wireline phones. Also, product substitution (e.g., wireless/Internet for fixed line voice; broadband for dial-up ISP services) has resulted
in revenue declines in our core long distance voice and dial-up ISP businesses. Additionally, we believe that because deregulatory influences have begun to affect telecommunications markets outside the United States, the deregulatory trend will result in greater competition from the existing wireline and wireless competitors and from new entrants, such as cable companies and VOIP companies, which could continue to affect adversely our net revenue per minute.
As the portion of traffic transmitted over leased or owned facilities increases, cost of revenue increasingly is comprised of fixed costs. In order to manage such costs, we pursue a flexible approach with respect to the expansion of our network capacity. In most instances, we initially obtain transmission capacity on a variable-cost, per-minute leased basis, then acquire additional capacity on a fixed-cost basis when traffic volume makes such a commitment cost-effective, and ultimately purchase and operate our own facilities when traffic levels justify such investment. We also seek to lower the cost of revenue through:
•
optimizing the cost of traffic by using the least expensive cost routing;
•
negotiating lower variable usage based costs with domestic and foreign service providers and negotiating additional and lower cost foreign carrier agreements with the foreign incumbent carriers and others;
•
continuing to expand the capacity of our network when traffic volumes justify such investment; and
•
increasing use of the public Internet.
Overall carrier revenue accounted for 20% of total net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2005, and 19% of total net revenue for year ended December 31, 2004. The provision of carrier services also allows us to connect our network to all major carriers, which enables us to provide global coverage. Our overall margin may fluctuate based on the relative volumes of international versus domestic long distance services; carrier services versus business and residential long distance services; prepaid services versus traditional post-paid voice services; Internet, VOIP and data services versus fixed line voice services; the amount of services that are resold; and the proportion of traffic carried on our network versus resale of other carriers’ services. Increased pressure will occur on our margin from customer set-up fees as we accelerate customer additions with our new product initiatives. For example, we pay a charge to transfer a new local customer in Canada, and charges to migrate DSL and local customers in Australia. However, migrating customers to our own networks, such as the DSL networks being constructed in Australia and Canada, enable us to increase our margin on such services as compared to resale of services using other carriers’ networks.
Selling, general and administrative expenses are comprised primarily of salaries and benefits, commissions, occupancy costs, sales and marketing expenses, advertising, professional fees, and administrative costs. All selling, general and administrative expenses are expensed when incurred, with the exception of direct-response advertising, which is expensed in accordance with Statement of Position 93-7, “Reporting on Advertising Costs.”
We will continue to reduce debt further through regularly scheduled principal payments and may pursue opportunistic means to reduce debt, including further exchanges of our common stock for debt.
Foreign Currency
Foreign currency can have a major impact on our financial results. Currently in excess of 80% of our net revenue is derived from sales and operations outside the United States. The reporting currency for our consolidated financial statements is the USD. The local currency of each country is the functional currency for each of our respective entities operating in that country. In the future, we expect to continue to derive the majority of our net revenue and incur a significant portion of our operating costs from outside the United States, and therefore changes in exchange rates have had and may continue to have a significant, and potentially adverse, effect on our results of operations. Our primary risk of loss regarding foreign currency exchange rate risk is caused primarily by fluctuations in the following exchange rates: USD/CAD, USD/AUD, USD/British pound (GBP), and USD/Euro (EUR). Due to the large percentage of our revenue derived outside of the United States, changes in the USD relative to one or more of the foregoing currencies could have an adverse impact on our
future results of operations. We have agreements with certain subsidiaries for repayment of a portion of the investments and advances made to these subsidiaries. As we anticipate repayment in the foreseeable future, we recognize the unrealized gains and losses in foreign currency transaction gain (loss) on the consolidated statements of operations. We historically have not engaged in hedging transactions. However, the exposure of our income from operations to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is reduced in part because a majority of the costs that we incur in connection with our foreign operations are also denominated in local currencies.
We are exposed to financial statement gains and losses as a result of translating the operating results and financial position of our international subsidiaries. We translate the local currency statements of operations of our foreign subsidiaries into USD using the average exchange rate during the reporting period. Changes in foreign exchange rates affect the reported profits and losses and cash flows and may distort comparisons from year to year. By way of example, when the USD strengthens compared to the EUR, there could be a negative or positive effect on the reported results for Europe, depending upon whether Europe is operating profitably or at a loss. It takes more profits in EUR to generate the same amount of profits in USD and a greater loss in EUR to generate the same amount of loss in USD. The opposite is also true. For instance, when the USD weakens there is a positive effect on reported profits and a negative effect on the reported losses for Europe.
In the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2004, the USD was weaker on average as compared to the CAD, AUD and GBP and stronger on average as compared to the EUR. The following tables demonstrate the impact of currency fluctuations on our net revenue for the year ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 (in thousands, except percentages):
Net Revenue by Location-in USD
Revenue by Country-in Local Currencies
*
Europe includes only subsidiaries whose functional currency is the EUR.
Recent Operating Highlights and Other Events
In order to better understand our discussion of results of operations, financial condition and liquidity presented herein, we refer you to “Item I-Business-Operating Highlights and Accomplishments” concerning certain operating highlights and other events.
Critical Accounting Policies
To aid in the understanding of our financial reporting, our most critical accounting policies are described below. These policies have the potential to have a more significant impact on our financial statements, either
because of the significance of the financial statement item to which they relate, or because they require judgment and estimation due to the uncertainty involved in measuring, at a specific point in time, events which are continuous in nature.
Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue-Net revenue is derived from carrying a mix of business, residential and carrier long distance traffic, data and Internet traffic, and also from the provision of local and wireless services.
For voice and wholesale VOIP, net revenue is earned based on the number of minutes during a call and is recorded upon completion of a call, adjusted for allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, service credits and service adjustments. Revenue for a period is calculated from information received through our network switches. Customized software has been designed to track the information from the switch and analyze the call detail records against stored detailed information about revenue rates. This software provides us the ability to do a timely and accurate analysis of revenue earned in a period. Separate prepaid services software is used to track additional information related to prepaid service usage such as activation date, monthly usage amounts, fees and charges, and expiration date. Revenue on these prepaid services is recognized as service is provided until expiration when all unused minutes, which are no longer available to the customers, are recognized as revenue.
Net revenue is also earned for the provision of data/Internet services (including retail VOIP). Data/Internet services include monthly fees collected for the provision of dedicated and dial-up access at various speeds and bandwidths. These fees are recognized as access is provided on a monthly basis. Additionally, service activation and installation fees are deferred and amortized over the longer of the average customer life or the contract term. We record payments received in advance for prepaid services and services to be provided under contractual agreements, such as Internet broadband and dial-up access, as deferred revenue until such related services are provided.
A portion of revenue, representing less than 1% of total revenue, is earned from the sale of wireless handsets and VOIP routers. We apply the provisions of Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 00-21, “Accounting for Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables,” which provides guidance on when and how an arrangement involving multiple deliverables should be divided into separate units of accounting. We have concluded that EITF No. 00-21 requires us to account for the sale of wireless handsets and VOIP routers and the related cost of handset and router revenues as a separate unit of accounting when title to the handset or router passes to the customer. Revenue recognized is the portion of the activation fees allocated to the router or handset unit of accounting in the statement of operations when title to the router or handset passes to the customer. We defer the portion of the activation fees allocated to the service unit of accounting, and recognize such deferred fees on a straight-line basis over the contract life in the statement of operations.
Net revenue represents gross revenue, net of allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, service credits and service adjustments.
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivable-Determining our allowance for doubtful accounts receivable requires significant estimates. Due to the large number of customers that we serve, it is impractical to review the creditworthiness of each of our customers, although a credit review is performed for larger carrier and retail business customers. We consider a number of factors in determining the proper level of the allowance, including historical collection experience, current economic trends, the aging of the accounts receivable portfolio and changes in the creditworthiness of our customers. Systems to detect fraudulent call activity are in place within our network, but if these systems fail to identify such activity, we may realize a higher degree of uncollectible accounts. If the estimate of uncollectible revenue was 10% higher than our current estimates, net revenue would have been reduced by approximately $2.2 million, $2.0 million and $2.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Cost of revenue-Cost of revenue is comprised primarily of costs incurred from other domestic and foreign telecommunications carriers to originate, transport and terminate calls. The majority of our cost of revenue is
variable, based upon the number of minutes of use, with transmission and termination costs being the most significant expense. Call activity is tracked and analyzed with customized software that analyzes the traffic flowing through our network switches and calculates the variable cost of revenue with predetermined contractual rates. If the domestic or foreign telecommunications carriers have tracked and invoiced the volume of minutes at levels different than what our activity shows or have invoiced at different rates, we will dispute the charges invoiced. There is no guarantee that we will prevail in such disputes. We use significant estimates to determine the level of success in dispute resolution and consider past historical experience, basis of dispute, financial status and current relationship with vendor, and aging of prior disputes in quantifying our estimates.
Valuation of long-lived assets-We review intangible and other long-lived assets whenever events or changes indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. In making such evaluations, we compare the expected future cash flows to the carrying amount of the assets. If the total of the expected future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets, we are required to make estimates of the fair value of the long-lived assets in order to calculate the impairment loss equal to the difference between the fair value and carrying value of the assets. We make significant assumptions and estimates in this process regarding matters that are inherently uncertain, such as estimating cash flows, remaining useful lives, discount rates and growth rates. The resulting cash flows are computed over an extended period of time, which subjects those assumptions and estimates to an even larger degree of uncertainty. While we believe that our estimates are reasonable, different assumptions regarding such cash flows could materially affect the valuation of the long-lived assets. During 2005, we completed an evaluation of our expected future cash flows compared to the carrying value of our assets based on conservative estimates of our expected results of operations. If we had projected less future cash flows an impairment condition may have existed.
Accounting for income taxes-We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of transactions and events. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement bases and the tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. If necessary, deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance to an amount that is determined to be more likely than not recoverable. We must make significant estimates and assumptions about future taxable income and future tax consequences when determining the amount of the valuation allowance. In addition, tax contingency reserves (if any) are established or released based on assumptions about the expected outcomes of current or anticipated tax examinations, refund claims and/or tax related litigation and estimates regarding additional tax liability (including interest and penalties thereon) or refunds resulting therefrom.
At present, our subsidiaries in the major jurisdictions in which we operate have significant deferred tax assets resulting from tax loss carryforwards. With the exception of our Canadian companies, these deferred tax assets are fully offset with valuation allowances. The appropriateness and amount of these valuation allowances are based on our assumptions about the future taxable income of each affiliate. Except in the case of our Canadian companies, if our assumptions have significantly underestimated future taxable income with respect to a particular affiliate, all or part of the valuation allowance for the affiliate would be reversed and additional income may result. With the exception of our Canadian affiliates, if our assumptions have significantly overestimated future taxable income with respect to a particular affiliate, there would be no change in the net value of the deferred tax asset and no additional income or tax expense would result. If our assumptions with respect to our Canadian affiliates have significantly overestimated future taxable income, a full or partial valuation allowance would be applied to the corresponding deferred tax assets and additional tax expense would result.
Results of Operations
The following information for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 reflects all the items included in consolidated statements of operations as a percentage of net revenue:
The following information reflects net revenue by product line for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands, except percentages) and is provided for informational purposes and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes.
Results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2004
Net revenue decreased $163.5 million or 12.1% to $1,187.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $1,350.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 for the reasons described below. Our data/Internet and VOIP revenue contributed $182.3 million and $99.6 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2005, as compared to $174.1 million and $74.1 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2004.
United States and Other: United States and Other net revenue decreased $40.4 million or 16.3% to $207.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $247.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The decrease is primarily attributed to a decrease of $33.7 million in retail voice services (including declines in residential and small business voice services and prepaid services), a decrease of $23.1 million in carrier services and a $4.7 million decrease in Internet services which was partially offset by an increase of $20.1 million in retail VOIP and an increase of $1.1 million in wireless services.
Canada: Canada net revenue increased $17.4 million or 7.1% to $261.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $244.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase is primarily attributed to an increase of $30.4 million in new initiatives which include local, VOIP and wireless services, an $11.2 million increase in prepaid services, and a $10.7 million increase in Internet services (mainly due to the April 2004 acquisition of Magma Communications Ltd. (“Magma”)), which was partially offset by a decrease of $34.4 million in retail voice services. The strengthening of the CAD against the USD accounted for a $17.9 million increase to revenue, which is included in the services explanation above, and which reflects changes in the exchange rates for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2004.
The following table reflects net revenue for each major country in North America (in thousands, except percentages):
Revenue by Country-in USD
Europe: European net revenue decreased $98.8 million or 21.9% to $352.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $451.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease of $104.5 million in prepaid services in the UK, a $21.7 million decrease in retail voice services, a $1.9 million decrease in wireless services, and a $0.8 million decrease in Internet and other services, partially offset by an increase in prepaid services of $24.2 million in the Netherlands and $3.9 million in Sweden and an increase of $2.0 million in carrier services. The European prepaid services business declined primarily in the UK due to a UK court decision regarding the application of VAT which favored our competitors and made PRIMUS’ products uncompetitive from a pricing standpoint. As of the first half of 2005, we no longer operate a prepaid service business in the UK, but rather are a support service provider through a wholesale relationship. During the second quarter 2005 we launched prepaid services operations in new geographic markets. The restructuring of the prepaid services business in the UK also reduced the collectibility of our receivables and resulted in a $2.5 million write-down of receivables. The weakening of the European currencies against the USD accounted for a $1.4 million decrease to revenue, which is included in the above explanation, and which reflects changes in the exchange rates for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2004. The following table reflects net revenue for each major country in Europe (in thousands, except percentages):
Revenue by Country-in USD
Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific net revenue decreased $41.7 million or 10.2% to $365.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $407.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The decrease is primarily attributable to a $32.8 million decrease in residential voice services, a $32.3 million decrease in dial-up Internet services, an $8.3 million decrease in business voice services, and a $3.5 million decrease in prepaid services, partially offset by a $32.0 million increase in Australia DSL services, and a $3.3 million increase in carrier services. The strengthening of the AUD against the USD accounted for a $14.0 million increase to revenue, which is included in the above explanation, and which reflects changes in the exchange rates for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2004. The following table reflects net revenue for each major country in Asia-Pacific (in thousands, except percentages):
Revenue by Country-in USD
Cost of revenue decreased $36.6 million to $784.8 million, or 66.1% of net revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $821.5 million, or 60.8% of net revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2004. We continue to experience a shift from higher margin core long distance voice and dial-up Internet revenues to new product sets that include bundled services and lower margin prepaid and resold services. We are also experiencing significant pressure on our margins with the increased customer and service migration fees in Canada and Australia.
United States and Other: United States and Other cost of revenue decreased $25.8 million primarily due to a decrease of $22.6 million in carrier services, a decrease of $12.0 million in retail voice services, a decrease of $3.1 million for prepaid services and a decrease of $2.6 million for Internet services. The decreases were partially offset by an increase of $13.1 million in VOIP services, and an increase of $1.4 million in wireless services, as these businesses expand further.
Canada: Canada cost of revenue increased $20.9 million primarily due to an increase of $25.3 million in new initiatives, which include local, VOIP and wireless services and customer migration fees, $5.7 million in prepaid services and $3.9 million in Internet services. The increases were partially offset by a decrease in retail voice services of $13.5 million. The strengthening of the CAD against the USD accounted for a $7.4 million increase to cost of revenue, which is included in the services explanation above, and which reflects changes in the exchange rates for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2004.
Europe: European cost of revenue decreased by $26.6 million. The decrease is primarily attributable to a $26.9 million decrease in prepaid services including a decrease of $62.9 million in the UK, offset by increases of $32.0 million in the Netherlands and $4.0 million in Sweden. Retail voice decreased $5.3 million primarily in Austria and the UK. These decreases were offset by increases of $3.4 million in carrier services primarily due to a $7.2 million increase in Germany, a $5.6 million increase in Italy, a $1.4 million increase in Spain, and an increase of $0.7 million in France, offset by a $10.1 million decrease in the UK. The weakening of the European currencies against the USD accounted for a $1.5 million decrease to cost of revenue, which is included in the services explanation above, and which reflects changes in the exchange rates for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2004.
Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific cost of revenue decreased $5.2 million primarily due to a decrease of $11.6 million in residential voice services, a decrease of $9.6 million of Internet services, a decrease of $4.3 million in business
services, and a decrease of $2.3 million in prepaid services. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $19.1 million for DSL services including customer migration fees, and an increase of $2.8 million for carrier services. Strengthening of the AUD against the USD accounted for an $8.1 million increase to cost of revenue, which is included in the services explanation above, and which reflects changes in the exchange rates for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2004.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $12.6 million to $381.4 million, or 32.1% of net revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $394.0 million, or 29.2% of net revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2004. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses is attributable to a decrease of $21.8 million in sales and marketing expenses primarily for agent commissions, a decrease of $5.6 million in advertising expenses for new initiatives and a decrease of $2.3 million for general and administrative expenses. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $9.2 million in salaries and benefits which reflects $3.5 million of severance expense and additional spending for VOIP, local, broadband and wireless initiatives, a $6.3 million increase in professional fees which includes efforts related to Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and consulting support of the LINGO and wireless businesses, and an increase of $1.6 million in occupancy.
United States and Other: United States and Other selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.9 million to $96.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $97.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The decrease is attributable to a decrease of $3.2 million in salaries and benefits expense due to cost cutting/staff reduction efforts which is net of $1.4 million of related severance expenses, a decrease of $1.2 million in sales and marketing expense primarily for agent commissions, and a decrease of $0.8 million in advertising expenses. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $3.8 million in professional fees which includes efforts related to Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and consulting support of the LINGO and wireless businesses, and an increase of $0.8 million in occupancy.
Canada: Canada selling, general and administrative expense increased $7.2 million to $97.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $90.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase is attributable to an increase of $8.9 million in salaries and benefits expense which reflects $0.8 million of severance expense and additional spending for new initiatives, and an increase of $1.4 million in professional fees. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $3.3 million in advertising expenses.
Europe: Europe selling, general and administrative expense decreased $16.1 million to $89.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $106.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The decrease is attributable to a decrease of $20.1 million in sales and marketing expense primarily for agent commissions related to prepaid services. This decrease was partially offset by an increase of $1.5 million in professional fees, an increase of $1.2 million in general and administrative expenses and an increase of $1.2 million in salaries and benefits expense which reflects $0.4 million of severance expense.
Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific selling, general and administrative expense decreased $2.9 million to $97.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $100.3 for the year ended December 31, 2004. The decrease is attributable to a decrease of $2.9 million in general and administrative expenses, and a decrease of $1.7 million in advertising expenses. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $2.3 million in salaries and benefits expense which reflects $0.9 million of severance expense.
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $5.0 million to $87.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $92.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The decrease consisted of a decrease in amortization expense of $3.5 million and a decrease in depreciation expense of $1.5 million as assets become fully depreciated.
Loss on sale of assets was $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The loss was primarily the result of a sale of network equipment which was decommissioned when it was replaced by newer technology during the three months ended June 30, 2004.
Loss on disposal of assets was $13.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. We recognized a charge associated with the disposal of specific long-lived assets which were taken out of service. The charge included $8.5 million in the United Kingdom, $3.1 million in the United States, $1.3 million in Germany and $0.1 million in Spain and was comprised of network fiber, peripheral switch equipment, software development costs and other network equipment. The charge also included $0.4 million of wireless handset development costs in the United Kingdom determined to be obsolete.
Asset impairment write-down was $1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The $1.6 million impairment consisted of specific long-lived asset write-offs which included $0.6 million of networking equipment and $0.9 million of leasehold improvements on a vacated property in the United States.
Interest expense increased $2.9 million to $53.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $50.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase is the result of $8.8 million in interest from our February 2005 senior secured term loan facility, offset by $5.9 million in interest saved from the reduction of senior debt and other refinancing arrangements.
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt was ($1.7) million for the year ended December 31, 2005. The ($1.7) million loss resulted from the exchange of our common stock for the extinguishment of $17.0 million in principal amount of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures and $8.6 million in principal amount of the October 1999 Senior Notes including the write-off of deferred financing costs. The ($11.0) million loss in the year ended December 31, 2004 consisted of $10.0 million in premium payments related to our purchase of $194.5 million in principal amount of senior notes and a $3.1 million write-off of deferred financing costs; a $1.0 million gain related to our purchase of $4.0 million in principal amount of our convertible subordinated debentures, prior to maturity; and a $1.1 million gain on the settlement of a $6.1 million outstanding payment obligation from the acquisition of Cable & Wireless’ United States-based retail switched voice services customer bases.
Interest and other income decreased $9.0 million to $2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, from $11.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The decrease is primarily due to the release of a provision for a tax assessment in the year ended December 31, 2004, including interest and penalties, related to a business acquisition in March 1999. In August 2004, we were released from the tax assessment in its entirety and recorded a $9.2 million gain.
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss) was a loss of ($17.7) million for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared to a gain of $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The loss is attributable to the impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes on intercompany debt balances and on receivables and payables denominated in a currency other than the subsidiaries’ functional currency.
Income tax expense decreased to $4.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 from $5.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The expense for both periods primarily consists of foreign withholding tax on intercompany interest and royalty fees owed to our United States subsidiary by our Canadian and Australian subsidiaries, and the decrease is due to lower interest and fees.
Results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2003
Net revenue increased $63.1 million or 4.9% to $1,350.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 from $1,287.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. Our data/Internet and VOIP revenue contributed $174.1 million and $74.1 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2004, as compared to $129.9 million and $70.4 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2003.
North America: North American net revenue decreased $14.6 million or 2.9% to $491.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 from $506.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The decrease is primarily attributed to a decrease of $42.1 million and $9.4 million in the United States, in retail voice services (including declines in residential and small business voice services and prepaid services) and Internet services, respectively.
This decrease was partially offset by an increase in prepaid services of $16.0 million in Canada, an increase of $14.1 million in Internet services in Canada (primarily due to the April 2004 acquisition of Magma), an increase of $5.4 million in carrier services in the United States and a $4.8 million increase related to retail VOIP in the United States and Canada in the year ended December 31, 2004 compared to the year ended December 31, 2003. The strengthening of the CAD against the USD accounted for a $17.4 million increase to revenue, which is included in the services explanation above and which reflects changes in exchange rates for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2003. The following table reflects net revenue for each major country in North America (in thousands, except percentages):
Revenue by Country-in USD
Europe: European net revenue increased $26.6 million or 6.3% to $451.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 from $425.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. There was an increase of $36.2 million in prepaid services, along with an increase of $6.3 million in wireless handsets and services, offset by a decrease in retail voice services of $12.6 million and a decrease in carrier services of $3.9 million. A shift of revenues occurred as part of the prepaid services business was moved out of the Netherlands’ operation to the United Kingdom’s operation. The strengthening of the European currencies against the USD accounted for a $42.3 million increase to revenue, which is included in the services explanation above and which reflects changes in exchange rates for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2003. The following table reflects net revenue for each major country in Europe (in thousands, except percentages):
Revenue by Country-in USD
Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific net revenue increased $51.1 million or 14.3% to $407.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 from $356.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase is attributable to an increase of $48.2 million from our Australian operation, which was comprised of an increase in residential voice services of $13.1 million, business voice services of $3.4 million and Internet services of $29.6 million, including the acquisition of Australian-based AOL/7 Pty Ltd (AOL/7) which contributed $18.7 million. The strengthening of the AUD against the USD accounted for a $45.7 million increase to revenue, which is included in the services explanation above and which reflects changes in exchange rates for the year ended December 31, 2004 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2003. The following table reflects net revenue for each major country in Asia Pacific (in thousands, except percentages):
Revenue by Country-in USD
Cost of revenue increased $35.2 million to $821.5 million, or 60.8% of net revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2004 from $786.3 million, or 61.1% of net revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2003. The decrease in cost of revenue as a percentage of net revenue is primarily a result of a change in product mix reflecting proportionately less low margin carrier revenue and more higher margin revenue products such as prepaid services and Internet services. The majority of cost of revenue is variable, based on minutes of use.
North America: North American cost of revenue decreased $10.6 million primarily due to the decline in costs of $26.8 million and $5.3 million related to the revenue decrease in retail voice and Internet services in the United States, partially offset by an increase of $4.5 million associated with the increase in carrier services in the United States, an increase of $11.0 million in prepaid services in Canada, a $4.9 million increase in Internet services in Canada with the acquisition of Magma and a $3.9 million increase in VOIP services in the United States and Canada. The strengthening of the CAD against the USD accounted for a $6.3 million increase to cost of revenue, which is included in the services explanation above, and which reflects changes in exchange rates for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2004.
Europe: European cost of revenue increased $15.5 million primarily due to an increase in prepaid services of $22.6 million and an increase of $5.5 million for wireless handsets and services partially offset by a decrease of $12.5 million in retail voice services. The strengthening of the European currencies against the USD accounted for a $31.7 million increase to cost of revenue, which is included in the services explanation above, and which reflects changes in exchange rates for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2004.
Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific cost of revenue increased $30.3 million attributable to a $29.3 million increase in Australia, mostly in the residential and business voice traffic, along with the increase in Internet services costs from AOL/7, since the February 2004 acquisition. The strengthening of the AUD against the USD accounted for a $25.6 million increase to cost of revenue, which is included in the services explanation above, and which reflects changes in exchange rates for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2004.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $51.6 million to $394.0 million, or 29.2% of net revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2004 from $342.4 million, or 26.6% of net revenue, for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses is attributable to a $16.8 million increase in salaries and benefits which reflects additional spending for retail VOIP, local, broadband and wireless initiatives; a $15.3 million increase in sales and marketing expenses for advertising of our new product initiatives; $8.7 million in professional fees which includes efforts related to Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and strategic tax planning; a $6.4 million increase in other administrative expenses; and a $3.4 million increase in occupancy costs, primarily for the two data centers acquired as part of the acquisitions of Magma and AOL/7.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased $6.7 million to $92.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 from $86.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase consists of an
increase in depreciation expense of $7.5 million primarily as a result of acquisitions in Australia and Canada slightly offset by a decrease in amortization expense of $0.8 million as several customer lists became fully amortized in 2003.
Loss on sale of assets increased $1.1 million to $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 from $0.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The loss in the year ended December 31, 2004 was primarily the result of a sale of network equipment which was decommissioned when it was replaced by newer technology during the three months ended June 30, 2004. The loss in 2003 was associated with the sale of our satellite earth station in the United Kingdom during the three months ended June 30, 2003.
Asset impairment write-down decreased to $1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 from $2.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The $1.6 million impairment consisted of specific long-lived asset write-offs which included $0.6 million of networking equipment and $0.9 million of leasehold improvements on a vacated property in the United States. The impairment for the year ended December 31, 2003 consisted of write-offs of $1.0 million of switching equipment in the United Kingdom, $0.8 million for switching equipment in the United States, and $0.5 million in assets related to our fax-over-IP business in India.
Interest expense decreased $10.2 million to $50.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 from $60.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The decrease is a result of $32.7 million in interest saved from the reduction of senior debt and other financing arrangements in the past year, offset by $21.6 million in interest expense from our debt offerings in September 2003 and January 2004, and a $0.9 million early termination penalty for reduction of debt.
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt was a loss of $11.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, from a gain of $12.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The loss of $11.0 million resulted from our purchase of $194.5 million in principal amount of our senior notes, prior to maturity, for $204.5 million in cash; the purchase of $4.0 million in principal amount of our convertible subordinated debentures, prior to maturity, for $3.0 million; a gain on the settlement of $6.1 million outstanding payment obligation from the acquisition of Cable & Wireless’ United States-based retail switched voice services customer bases for $5.0 million in cash; and $3.1 million in write-offs of related deferred financing costs. The gain of $12.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2003 consisted of an $8.6 million net gain as a result of our purchase of $97.4 million in principal amount of senior notes, prior to maturity, for $86.1 million in cash, slightly offset by the write-off of related deferred financing costs and discount on the notes, and a $4.3 million gain related to the settlement of an outstanding vendor debt obligation of $14.9 million in Europe for approximately $10.6 million in cash.
Interest and other income increased $10.5 million to $11.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004, from $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase is primarily due to the release of a provision for a tax assessment, including interest and penalties, related to a business acquisition in March 1999. In August 2004, we were released from the tax assessment in its entirety and recorded a $9.2 million gain.
Foreign currency transaction gain (loss) decreased $32.8 million to a gain of $6.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 from a gain of $39.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The $6.6 million is attributable to the positive impact of period-end foreign currency exchange rate changes on intercompany debt balances and on receivables and payables denominated in a currency other than the subsidiaries’ functional currency where the settlement of debt is anticipated within the foreseeable future.
Income tax expense increased to $5.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004 from $5.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2003. The expense for the year ended December 31, 2004 primarily consists of foreign withholding tax on intercompany interest and royalty fees owed to our United States subsidiaries by our Canadian and Australian subsidiaries. For the year ended December 31, 2003, the expense primarily consists of $1.7 million of income tax recognized by our Canadian subsidiary and $3.8 million of foreign withholding tax on intercompany interest owed to our United States subsidiary by our Canadian and Australian subsidiaries.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Changes in Cash Flows
Our principal liquidity requirements arise from cash used in operating activities, purchases of network equipment including switches, related transmission equipment and capacity, DSL network build-out, development of back-office systems, interest and principal payments on outstanding debt and other obligations, and acquisitions. We have financed our growth and operations to date through public offerings and private placements of debt and equity securities, vendor financing, capital lease financing and other financing arrangements.
Net cash used in operating activities was $50.7 million for year ended December 31, 2005 as compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $73.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. For the year ended December 31, 2005, operations used $19.0 million of cash. In addition, we used $46.1 million to reduce our accounts payable and accrued interconnection costs, $7.4 million to reduce our accrued expenses, accrued interest, accrued income tax and other liabilities and $1.6 million to increase other assets. During year ended December 31, 2005 cash was increased by reductions in accounts receivable of $19.3 million and a decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $4.1 million as prepaid balances, inventories and non-trade receivables were reduced. For the year ended December 31, 2004, operations generated $106.4 million of cash, $27.1 million of which was used to reduce our accounts payable, accrued interconnection costs, accrued expenses, accrued income taxes and other liabilities. Additional payments were made primarily for inventory of the wireless handsets and prepaid expenses of $5.6 million.
Net cash used by investing activities was $44.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 compared to $75.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. Net cash used by investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2005 included $49.8 million of capital expenditures primarily for additions to our global network, especially the Australian DSL network, and back office support systems, offset by a $5.8 million decrease in restricted cash. Net cash used in investing activities during the year ended December 31, 2004 included $41.8 million of capital expenditures primarily for our global network asset additions for product development and back-office support systems, along with cash used for business acquisitions in the amount of $29.6 million-mostly for AOL/7 in Australia, and Magma and Onramp in Canada. Also in 2004, an additional $4.2 million of cash was restricted for operating purposes.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $89.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2005 as compared to net cash used in financing activities of $6.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. During the year ended December 31, 2005, net cash provided by financing activities consisted of $97.0 million from the issuance of our $100 million senior secured term loan facility, net of $3.0 million in financing costs, and $12.8 million issued through the loan agreement with a Canadian financial institution, partially offset by $20.3 million of principal payments on capital leases, leased fiber capacity, financing facilities and other long-term obligations. During the year ended December 31, 2004, cash provided by financing activities consisted of $233.0 million in net proceeds from the issuance of our 8% senior notes due 2014 (“2004 Senior Notes”) and $2.2 million in other financing, offset by $207.5 million used for the purchase or redemption of certain of our debt securities and $35.6 million of principal payments on capital leases, vendor financing and other long-term obligations.
Short- and Long-Term Liquidity Considerations and Risks
As of December 31, 2005, we had $43.0 million of cash and cash equivalents; in February 2006, we drew the remaining $15 million available under the Canadian loan facility, and in March 2006, we sold $5.0 million of equity (see Note 25-“Subsequent Events”). We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our debt service requirements, the repayment of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures and other fixed obligations (such as capital leases, vendor financing and other long-term obligations), and other cash needs for our operations for the next twelve months, if we timely realize sufficient benefit from the actions detailed below.
As of December 31, 2005, we had $50.1 million of our 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures outstanding. So far in 2006, we have exchanged $26.5 million of our 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures which were due in February 2007 for Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures due in August 2009. Although we may conclude similar transactions for the remaining $23.6 million, there can be no assurance that such transactions will be completed. If no further transactions are completed, the remaining $23.6 million will be due on February 15, 2007. Our ability to repay the maturing $23.6 million of 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures on February 15, 2007, along with the ability to meet the cash needs for our operations, will be dependent on our timely ability to realize sufficient benefit from the following actions: improved operating performance, continued cost reduction efforts, moderation of capital expenditures, potential debt financing alternatives, potential future sales of equity, certain opportunistic asset sales, and interest expense savings from balance sheet deleveraging. Our financial statements have been prepared assuming that we will continue as a going concern. Our ability to realize sufficient benefit from the actions described above raises substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Our financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from this uncertainty. Our independent registered public accounting firm has included in their report concerning our consolidated financial statements for 2005 an explanatory paragraph that our recurring losses from operations, the maturity of $23.6 million of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures due February 2007, negative working capital, and stockholders’ deficit raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern.
We will continue to have significant debt and debt service obligations during the next year and on a long-term basis. However, there can be no assurance that changes in assumptions or conditions, including those referenced under “Legal Proceedings” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” will not adversely affect our financial condition or short-term or long-term liquidity position.
As of December 31, 2005, we have $8.8 million in future minimum purchase obligations, $50.7 million in future operating lease payments and $635.2 million of indebtedness. Payments of principal and interest are due as follows:
(1)
Does not include impact of 2006 debt conversion or debt exchange or the additional borrowing and maturity date extension on our Canadian term loan facility (see Note 25-“Subsequent Events”).
(2)
For the purpose of preparation of this table, we have assumed the interest rate of the $100 million Senior Secured Term Loan Facility to be 10.7%.
In February 2006, we exchanged $26.5 million principal amount of our 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures due February 2007 for $26.5 million principal amount of our Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures due August 2009.
In January 2006, our wholly owned Canadian subsidiary entered into an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (the “Amended Agreement”) related to its existing secured non-revolving term loan facility with a Canadian financial institution. The Amended Agreement, among other things, extended the maturity date to April 2008. On February 1, 2006 we drew the remaining $15 million available under the loan facility.
In January 2006, we exchanged 1,825,000 shares of our common stock for the extinguishment of $2.5 million principal amount of the October 1999 Senior Notes.
We have contractual obligations to utilize an external vendor for certain back-office support functions and to utilize network facilities from certain carriers with terms greater than one year. We generally do not purchase or commit to purchase quantities in excess of normal usage or amounts that cannot be used within the contract term. We have minimum annual purchase obligations of $8.8 million remaining in 2006.
The indentures governing the senior notes, convertible senior notes, convertible subordinated debentures, and the senior secured term loan facility, as well as other credit arrangements, contain certain financial and other covenants which, among other things, will restrict our ability to incur further indebtedness and make certain payments, including the payment of dividends and repurchase of subordinated debt and certain debt issued by our subsidiaries. We were in compliance with the above covenants at December 31, 2005.
From time to time, we consider the feasibility and timing of transactions that could raise capital for additional liquidity, debt reduction, refinancing of existing indebtedness and for additional working capital and growth opportunities. There can be no assurance we will be successful in any of these efforts to obtain any such financing on acceptable terms or at all. If we are successful in raising additional financing, securities comprising a significant percentage of our diluted capital may be issued in connection with the completion of such transactions. Additionally, if our plans or assumptions change or prove inaccurate, including those with respect to our debt levels, competitive developments, developments affecting our network or new product initiatives, services, operations or cash from operating activities, if we consummate additional investments or acquisitions, if we experience unexpected costs or competitive pressures or if existing cash and any other borrowings prove to be insufficient, we may need to obtain such financing and/or relief sooner than expected. In such circumstances, there can be no assurance we will be successful in these efforts to obtain new capital at acceptable terms.
In light of the foregoing, we and/or our subsidiaries will evaluate and determine on a continuing basis, depending on market conditions and the outcome of events described herein under “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” the most efficient use of our capital and resources, including investment in our new product initiatives, network, systems and lines of business, purchasing, refinancing, exchanging, tendering for or retiring certain of our outstanding debt securities and other instruments in privately negotiated transactions, open market transactions or by other means directly or indirectly to the extent permitted by our existing covenant restrictions.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.” SFAS No. 154 changes the accounting for, and reporting of, a change in accounting principle to require retrospective application of the change to prior periods’ financial statements, unless it is impracticable to determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of the change. The provisions of SFAS No. 154 will be effective for a change in accounting principle in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005, with earlier application permitted. We believe the adoption of SFAS No. 154 will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In March 2005, FASB issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations.” FIN No. 47 requires an entity to recognize a liability for a conditional asset retirement
obligation when incurred if the liability can be reasonably estimated. The Interpretation also clarifies that the term Conditional Asset Retirement Obligation refers to a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and/or method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the control of the entity. FIN No. 47 also clarifies when an entity would have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the fair value of an asset retirement obligation. We believe the adoption of FIN No. 47 will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In December 2004, FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004) (“SFAS No. 123(R)”), “Share-Based Payment”, which revised SFAS No. 123. This statement supercedes Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25. The revised statement addresses the accounting for share-based payment transactions with employees and other third parties, eliminates the ability to account for share-based compensation transactions using APB Opinion No. 25 and requires that the compensation costs relating to such transactions be recognized in the consolidated statement of operations. The revised statement is effective as of the beginning of the fiscal year beginning after June 15, 2005. We will adopt the statement on January 1, 2006, using the Modified Prospective Method. Had we adopted SFAS No. 123(R) in prior periods, the impact of that standard would have approximated the impact of SFAS No. 123 as described in the disclosure of pro forma income (loss) and income (loss) per common share in the stock-based compensation accounting policy included in this Note to the consolidated financial statements. We have $0.7 million stock based compensation expense to be recognized over the next 3 years related to options outstanding at December 31, 2005.
Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and elsewhere constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are based on current expectations, and are not strictly historical statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements set forth in this document and elsewhere regarding, among other things:
•
expectations of future growth, creation of shareholder value, revenue, foreign revenue contributions and net income, as well as income from operations, margins, earnings per share, cash flow and cash sufficiency levels, working capital, network development, customer migration and related costs, spending on and success with new product initiatives, including the development of broadband Internet, VOIP, wireless and local services, traffic development, capital expenditures, selling, general and administrative expenses, income tax expense, goodwill impairment charges, service introductions and cash requirements;
•
increased competitive pressures, declining usage patterns, and our new product initiatives, bundled service offerings and DSL network build-out;
•
financing, refinancing, de-levering and/or debt repurchase, restructuring, exchange or tender plans or initiatives, and potential dilution of existing equity holders from such initiatives;
•
liquidity and debt service forecasts;
•
assumptions regarding currency exchange rates;
•
timing, extent and effectiveness of cost reduction initiatives and management’s ability to moderate or control discretionary spending;
•
management’s plans, goals, expectations, guidance, objectives, strategies, and timing for future operations, acquisitions, product plans, performance and results;
•
the impact of matters described under “Business-Legal Proceedings”; and
•
management’s assessment of market factors and competitive developments.
Factors and risks that could cause actual results or circumstances to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in forward-looking statements include those set forth in “Item 1A - Risk Factors” as well as, without limitation:
•
changes in business conditions causing changes in the business direction and strategy by management;
•
accelerated competitive pricing and bundling pressures in the markets in which we operate;
•
risks, delays and costs in seeking to reestablish our prepaid services business managed from Europe in pre-existing and new markets;
•
accelerated decrease in minutes of use on wireline phones;
•
fluctuations in the exchange rates of currencies, particularly of the USD relative to foreign currencies of the countries where we conduct our foreign operations;
•
adverse interest rate developments affecting our variable interest rate debt;
•
difficulty in maintaining or increasing customer revenues and margins through our new product initiatives and bundled service offerings, and difficulties, costs and delays in constructing and operating a proposed DSL networks in Australia and Canada, and migrating broadband and local customers to such networks;
•
inadequate financial resources to promote and to market the new product initiatives;
•
fluctuations in prevailing trade credit terms or revenues due to the adverse impact of, among other things, further telecommunications carrier bankruptcies or adverse bankruptcy related developments affecting our large carrier customers;
•
the possible inability to raise additional capital when needed, on attractive terms, or at all;
•
the inability to reduce, repurchase, exchange, tender for or restructure debt significantly, or in amounts sufficient to conduct regular ongoing operations;
•
further changes in the telecommunications or Internet industry, including rapid technological changes, regulatory changes in our principal markets and the nature and degree of competitive pressure that we may face;
•
adverse tax or regulatory rulings from applicable authorities;
•
broadband, DSL, Internet, wireless, VOIP and telecommunications competition;
•
changes in financial, capital market and economic conditions;
•
changes in service offerings or business strategies, including the need to modify business models if performance is below expectations;
•
difficulty in retaining existing long distance wireline and dial-up ISP customers;
•
difficulty in migrating or retaining customers associated with acquisitions of customer bases, or integrating other assets;
•
difficulty in selling new services in the marketplace;
•
difficulty in providing broadband, DSL, local, VOIP or wireless services;
•
changes in the regulatory schemes or requirements and regulatory enforcement in the markets in which we operate;
•
restrictions on our ability to follow certain strategies or complete certain transactions as a result of our inexperience with new product initiatives, or limitations imposed by our capital structure or debt covenants;
•
risks associated with our limited DSL, Internet, VOIP, Web hosting and wireless experience and expertise, including cost effectively utilizing new marketing channels such as interactive marketing utilizing the Internet;
•
entry into developing markets;
•
aggregate margin contribution from the new initiatives are not sufficient in amount or timing to offset the margin decline in our long distance voice and dial-up ISP businesses;
•
the possible inability to hire and/or retain qualified executive management, sales, technical and other personnel, and to change in size;
•
risks associated with international operations;
•
dependence on effective information systems;
•
dependence on third parties for access to their networks to enable us to expand and manage our global network and operations and to offer broadband, DSL, local, VOIP and wireless services, including dependence upon the cooperation of incumbent carriers relating to the migration of customers;
•
dependence on the implementation and performance of our global standard asynchronous transfer mode and Internet-based protocol (ATM+IP) communications network;
•
adverse regulatory rulings or actions affecting our operations, including the imposition of obligations upon VOIP providers to provide enhanced 911 (E911) services and restricting access to broadband networks owned and operated by others;
•
the potential elimination or limitation of a substantial amount or all of our United States or foreign operating loss carryforwards due to significant issuances of equity securities, changes in ownership or other circumstances, which carryforwards would otherwise be available to reduce future taxable income; and
•
the outbreak or escalation of hostilities or terrorist acts and adverse geopolitical developments.
As such, actual results or circumstances may vary materially from such forward-looking statements or expectations. Readers are also cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date these statements were made. We are not necessarily obligated to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our primary market risk exposures relate to changes in foreign currency exchange rates and to changes in interest rates.
Foreign currency-A significant portion of our net revenue is derived from sales and operations outside the United States. The reporting currency for our consolidated financial statements is the USD. The local currency of each country is the functional currency for each respective entity. In the future we expect to continue to derive a significant portion of our net revenue and incur a significant portion of our operating costs outside the United States, and changes in exchange rates have had and may continue to have a significant, and potentially adverse effect on our results of operations. Our primary risk of loss regarding foreign currency exchange rate risk is caused primarily by fluctuations in the following exchange rates: USD/AUD, USD/CAD, USD/GBP, and USD/EUR. Due to the large percentage of our revenues derived outside of the United States, strengthening of the USD relative to one or more of the foregoing currencies, could have an adverse impact on our future results of operations. In addition, the operations of affiliates and subsidiaries in foreign countries have been funded with investments and other advances. Prior to 2002, such investments and advances have been long-term in nature, and we accounted for any adjustments resulting from translation as a charge or credit to “accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” within the stockholders’ deficit section of the consolidated balance sheets. In 2002, agreements with certain subsidiaries were put in place for repayment of a portion of the investments and advances made to the subsidiaries. As we are anticipating repayment in the foreseeable future of these amounts, we recognize the unrealized gains and losses in foreign currency transaction gain (loss) on the consolidated statements of operations.
We are exposed to financial statement gains and losses as a result of translating the operating results and financial position of our international subsidiaries. We translate the local currency statements of operations of our foreign subsidiaries into USD using the average exchange rate during the reporting period. Changes in foreign exchange rates affect our reported profits and losses and cash flows and may distort comparisons from year to year. By way of example, when the USD strengthens compared to the EUR, there could be a negative or positive effect on the reported results for Europe, depending upon whether Europe is operating profitably or at a loss. It takes more profits in EUR to generate the same amount of profits in USD and a greater loss in EUR to generate the same amount of loss in USD. The opposite is also true. For instance, when the USD weakens there is a positive effect on reported profits and a negative effect on the reported losses for Europe.
In the year ended December 31, 2005, the USD weakened compared to the CAD, AUD and GBP and strengthened compared to the EUR. As a result, our revenue of the subsidiaries whose local currency is CAD, AUD, GBP and EUR increased (decreased) 0%, (14)%, (53)% and 15% in local currency compared to the year ended December 31, 2004, but increased (decreased) 7%, (11)%, (53)% and 15% in USD, respectively.
Interest rates-The majority of our long-term debt obligations are at fixed interest rates at December 31, 2005. In February 2005, we obtained a senior secured loan facility, which has a variable interest rate feature. We are exposed to interest rate risk as additional financing may be required. Our primary exposure to market risk stems from fluctuations in interest rates. We do not currently anticipate entering into interest rate swaps and/or similar instruments.
The interest rate sensitivity table below summarizes our market risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates as of December 31, 2005 in USD, which is our reporting currency. The table presents principal cash flows and related weighted average interest rates by year of expected maturity for our senior notes, convertible senior notes, convertible subordinated debentures, leased fiber capacity, and other long-term obligations in effect at December 31, 2005. In the case of the convertible senior notes and convertible subordinated debentures the table excludes the potential exercise of the relevant redemption and conversion features and does not include the impact of the debt exchange of $26 million of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures for the new Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures (see Note 25-“Subsequent Events”).
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Page
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2005 and 2004
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.
Our management evaluated, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. Disclosure controls and procedures mean our controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Evaluation of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.
Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005 appears on page and is incorporated herein by reference. The report of Deloitte & Touche LLP on management’s assessment and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting are set forth in Part IV, Item 15 of this annual report.
Changes in Internal Control.
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls over financial reporting, that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2005, that have materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting, except as indicated below. A U.S. subsidiary billing system was successfully migrated from Westlake, Ohio to Plano, Texas. This change is considered an improvement to the internal controls over financial reporting and an operating efficiency.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
Certain of the information required by Part III will be provided in our definitive proxy statement for our 2006 annual meeting of stockholders (involving the election of directors and possibly other matters), which definitive proxy statement will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than April 30, 2006 (“2006 Proxy Statement”), and is incorporated herein by this reference.
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Information relating to our directors is set forth under the caption entitled “Election of Directors” in our 2006 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference. Information relating to our executive officers is set forth in our 2006 Proxy Statement under the caption “Executive Officers, Directors and Key Employees” and is incorporated herein by reference.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Our executive officer, directors and 10% stockholders are required under Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission reports of ownership and changes in ownership in their holdings in our stock. Based solely on an examination of these reports, all such reports have been timely filed.
Code Of Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Ethics applicable to all directors, officers and employees, including the chief executive officer, senior financial officers and other persons performing similar functions. The Code of Ethics is a statement of business practices and principles of behavior that support our commitment to conducting business while maintaining the highest standards of business conduct and ethics. Our Code of Ethics covers topics including, but not limited to, compliance resources, conflicts of interest, compliance with laws, rules and regulations, internal reporting of violations and accountability for adherence to the Code. A copy of the Code of Ethics is available on our website at www.primustel.com. Any amendment of the Code of Ethics or any waiver of its provisions for a director, executive officer or senior financial officer must be approved by the Board of Directors. We will publicly disclose any such waivers or amendments pursuant to applicable SEC and NASDAQ Stock Market regulations.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information regarding compensation of our officers and directors is set forth under the caption entitled “Executive Compensation” in our 2006 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Information regarding ownership of certain of our securities is set forth under the captions entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners” and “Security Ownership of Management” in our 2006 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Information regarding certain relationships and related transactions with us is set forth under the caption entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in our 2006 Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The following table summarizes the aggregate fees billed to us by Deloitte & Touche LLP, the member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, and their respective affiliates (in thousands):
(a)
Fees for audit services include audit of annual financial statements, attestation of management’s assessment of internal control, as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, Section 404, reviews of quarterly financial statements, statutory and regulatory audits, comfort letters, consents and other matters related to SEC filings.
(b)
Fees for audit-related services include acquisition due diligence.
(c)
Fees for tax services include corporate tax compliance and tax planning and advice for subsidiaries in the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Japan and Germany.
(d)
Fees for other services include fees billed for permitted non-audit services.
In considering the nature of the services provided by Deloitte & Touche LLP, the Audit Committee determined that such services are compatible with the provision of independent audit services. The Audit Committee discussed these services with the independent registered public accounting firm and management to determine that they are permitted under the rules and regulations concerning auditor independence promulgated by the SEC to implement the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as well as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Pre-Approval Policy
The services performed by the independent registered public accounting firm in 2005 were pre-approved in accordance with the pre-approval policy and procedures adopted by the Audit Committee at its February 4, 2004 meeting, as amended at its February 9, 2005 meeting. This policy describes the permitted audit, audit-related, tax, and other services (collectively, the “Disclosure Categories”) that the independent auditor may perform.
On a quarterly basis, the Audit Committee reviews a description of services (the “Service List”) expected to be performed by the independent registered public accounting firm in each of the Disclosure Categories, the status of services and fees incurred year-to-date against the original Service List and pre-approval limits and the forecast of remaining services and fees for the fiscal year.
Services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm during the year and included in the Service List were pre-approved in accordance with the policies and procedures of the Audit Committee.
Any requests for audit, audit-related, tax, and other services contemplated on the Service List must be submitted to the Audit Committee for specific pre-approval and cannot commence until such approval has been granted. Normally, pre-approval is provided at regularly scheduled meetings. However, the authority to grant specific pre-approval between meetings, as necessary, has been delegated to the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Chairman must update the Audit Committee at the next regularly scheduled meeting of any services that were granted specific pre-approval.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15. EXHIBIT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
a)
Financial Statements and Schedules
The financial statements as set forth under Item 8 of this report on Form 10-K are incorporated herein.
All other financial statement schedules have been omitted since they are either not required, not applicable, or the information is otherwise included.
b)
Exhibit listing
*
Filed herewith.
**
Compensatory benefit plan.
***
This certification is being “furnished” and will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78r) and will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on March 16, 2006.
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
By:
/s/ K. PAUL SINGH
K. Paul Singh
Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints K. Paul Singh, Thomas R. Kloster and Tracy B. Lawson, and each of them, his and her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and her and in his and her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments to this Form 10-K of the Securities and Exchange Commission for the fiscal year of Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated ended December 31, 2005, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or either of them, or their or his and her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULE
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
The management of Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated (“Primus” or the “Company”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company’s internal control system over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that:
1.
pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company;
2.
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and
3.
provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in condition, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on management’s assessment and those criteria, management believes that Primus maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005.
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, has issued an audit report on management’s assessment and the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. This report appears on page.
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated and subsidiaries
McLean, Virginia
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ deficit, cash flows and comprehensive income (loss) for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 15, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s recurring losses from operations, the maturity of $23.6 million of the 5 3/4% convertible subordinated debentures due February 2007, negative working capital, and stockholders’ deficit raise substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans concerning these matters are also described in Note 2. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
McLean, Virginia
March 15, 2006
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated and subsidiaries
McLean, Virginia
We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, that Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated and subsidiaries (the Company) maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005 based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, management’s assessment that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended December 31, 2005 of the Company and our report dated March 15, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedule and includes a matter of emphasis paragraph concerning the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
McLean, Virginia
March 15, 2006
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(thousands, except share amounts)
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
(in thousands)
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands)
See notes to consolidated financial statements.
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS
Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated, (“Primus” or the “Company”) is an integrated telecommunications services provider offering a portfolio of international and domestic voice, wireless, Internet, voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP), data and hosting services to business and residential retail customers and other carriers located primarily in the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and western Europe. The Company’s focus is to service the demand for high quality, competitively priced communications services that is being driven by the globalization of the world’s economies, the worldwide trend toward telecommunications deregulation and the growth of broadband, Internet, VOIP, wireless and data traffic.
The Company targets customers with significant telecommunications needs, including small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), multinational corporations, residential customers, and other telecommunications carriers and resellers. The Company provides services over its global network, which consists of:
•
16 carrier-grade international gateway and domestic switching systems (the hardware/software devices that direct the voice traffic across the network) in the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe and Japan;
•
approximately 350 interconnection points to the Company’s network, or points of presence (POPs), within its service regions and other markets;
•
undersea and land-based fiber optic transmission line systems that the Company owns or leases and that carry voice and data traffic across the network; and
•
global network and data centers that use a high-bandwidth network standard (asynchronous transfer mode) and Internet-based protocol (ATM+IP) to connect with the network. The global VOIP network is based on routers and gateways with an open network architecture which connects the Company’s partners in over 150 countries.
The Company is incorporated in the state of Delaware and operates as a holding company of wholly-owned operating subsidiaries in the United States, Canada, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Going Concern Matters and Management’s Plans-The consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. The factors described below raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. These financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from this uncertainty.
As of December 31, 2005, the Company had $43.0 million of cash and cash equivalents; in February 2006, the Company drew the remaining $15 million available under the Canadian loan facility, and in March 2006, it sold $5.0 million of equity (see Note 25-“Subsequent Events”). The Company believes that its existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund its debt service requirements, the repayment of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures and other fixed obligations (such as capital leases, vendor financing and other long-term obligations), and other cash needs for its operations for the next twelve months, if the Company timely realizes sufficient benefit from the actions detailed below.
As of December 31, 2005 the Company had $50.1 million of its 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures outstanding. So far in 2006, it has exchanged $26.5 million of its 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures which were due in February 2007 for Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures due in August 2009. Although the Company may conclude similar transactions for the remaining $23.6 million, there can be no assurance that such transactions will be completed. If no further transactions are completed, the remaining
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
$23.6 million will be due on February 15, 2007. The Company’s ability to repay the maturing $23.6 million of 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures on February 15, 2007, along with the ability to meet the cash needs for its operations, will be dependent on its timely ability to realize sufficient benefit from the following actions: improved operating performance, continued cost reduction efforts, moderation of capital expenditures, potential debt financing alternatives, potential future sales of equity, certain opportunistic asset sales, and interest expense savings from balance sheet deleveraging.
Principles of Consolidation-The consolidated financial statements include the Company’s accounts, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and all other subsidiaries over which the Company exerts control. The Company owns 51% of the common stock of Matrix Internet, S.A. (“Matrix”) and 51% of CS Communications Systems GmbH and CS Network GmbH (“Citrus”), in all of which the Company has a controlling interest. The Company has agreed to purchase an additional 39% of Matrix and is awaiting certain conditions to be met before closing can be completed. Additionally, the Company has the ability to control Direct Internet Limited (“DIL”) through the majority representation on its Board of Directors and pursuant to a convertible loan which can be converted into equity of DIL as may be permitted under local law. All intercompany profits, transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company uses the equity method of accounting for its investment in Bekkoame Internet, Inc. (“Bekko”).
Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue-Net revenue is derived from carrying a mix of business, residential and carrier long distance traffic, data and Internet traffic, and also from the provision of local and wireless services.
For voice and wholesale VOIP, net revenue is earned based on the number of minutes during a call and is recorded upon completion of a call, adjusted for allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, service credits and service adjustments. Revenue for a period is calculated from information received through the Company’s network switches. Customized software has been designed to track the information from the switch and analyze the call detail records against stored detailed information about revenue rates. This software provides the Company the ability to do a timely and accurate analysis of revenue earned in a period. Separate prepaid services software is used to track additional information related to prepaid service usage such as activation date, monthly usage amounts and expiration date. Revenue on these prepaid services is recognized as service is provided until expiration when all unused minutes, which are no longer available to the customers, are recognized as revenue.
Net revenue is also earned for the provision of data/Internet services (including retail VOIP). Data/Internet services include monthly fees collected for the provision of dedicated and dial-up access at various speeds and bandwidths. These fees are recognized as access is provided on a monthly basis. Additionally, service activation and installation fees are deferred and amortized over the longer of the average customer life or the contract term. The Company records payments received in advance for services and services to be provided under contractual agreements, such as Internet broadband and dial-up access, as deferred revenue until such related services are provided.
A portion of revenue, representing less than 1% of total revenue, is earned from the sale of wireless handsets and VOIP routers. We apply the provisions of Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 00-21, “Accounting for Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables,” which provides guidance on when and how an arrangement involving multiple deliverables should be divided into separate units of accounting. We have concluded that EITF Issue No. 00-21 requires us to account for the sale of wireless handsets and VOIP routers and the related cost of handset and router revenues as a separate unit of accounting when title to the handset or router passes to the customer. Revenue recognized is the portion of the activation fees allocated to the router or handset unit of accounting in the statement of operations when title to the router or handset passes to the customer. We defer the portion of the activation fees allocated to the service unit of accounting, and recognize such deferred fees on a straight-line basis over the contract life in the statement of operations.
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Net revenue represents gross revenue, net of allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, service credits and service adjustments.
Cost of Revenue-Cost of revenue includes network costs that consist of access, transport and termination costs. A portion of cost of revenue, representing less than 1% of total cost of revenue, consists of the product cost of wireless handsets and VOIP routers. The majority of the Company’s cost of revenue is variable, primarily based upon minutes of use, with transmission and termination costs being the most significant expense. Such costs are recognized when incurred in connection with the provision of telecommunications services.
Foreign Currency Transaction-Foreign currency transactions are transactions denominated in a currency other than a subsidiary’s functional currency. A change in the exchange rates between a subsidiary’s functional currency and the currency in which a transaction is denominated increases or decreases the expected amount of functional currency cash flows upon settlement of the transaction. That increase or decrease in expected functional currency cash flows is reported by the Company as a foreign currency transaction gain (loss). The primary component of the Company’s foreign currency transaction gain (loss) is due to written agreements in place with certain subsidiaries in foreign countries regarding intercompany loans. The Company anticipates repayment of these loans in the foreseeable future, and recognizes the realized and unrealized gains or losses on these transactions that result from foreign currency changes in the period in which they occur as foreign currency transaction gain (loss).
Income Taxes-The Company recognizes income tax expense for financial reporting purposes following the asset and liability approach for computing deferred income taxes. Under this method, the deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities based on enacted tax rates. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.
Foreign Currency Translation-The assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated at the exchange rates in effect on the reporting date. The net effect of such translation gains and losses are reflected within accumulated other comprehensive loss in the stockholders’ deficit section of the balance sheet. Income and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate during the period.
Cash and Cash Equivalents-Cash and cash equivalents are comprised principally of amounts in money market accounts, operating accounts, certificates of deposit, and overnight repurchase agreements with original maturities of three months or less. Cash and cash equivalents are stated at cost which approximates market value.
Restricted Cash-Restricted cash consists of bank guarantees and certificates of deposit utilized to support letters of credit and contractual obligations. Restricted cash is stated at cost which approximates market value.
Advertising Costs-In accordance with Statement of Position 93-7, “Reporting on Advertising Costs,” costs for advertising are expensed as incurred except for direct-response advertising costs, which are capitalized and amortized over the lesser of the life of the customers obtained from these efforts or year following the provisioning of the customer.
Property and Equipment-Property and equipment is recorded at cost less accumulated depreciation, which is provided on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Cost includes major expenditures for improvements and replacements which extend useful lives or increase capacity of the assets as well as expenditures necessary to place assets into readiness for use. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. The estimated useful lives of property and equipment are as follows: network equipment, including fiber optic and submarine cable-5 to 25 years, furniture and equipment-5 years, leasehold improvements and leased equipment-shorter of lease or useful life. In accordance with Statement of
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Position 98-1, “Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use,” costs for internal use software that are incurred in the preliminary project stage and in the post-implementation stage are expensed as incurred. Costs incurred during the application development stage are capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life of the software.
Fiber Optic and Submarine Cable Arrangements-The Company obtains capacity on certain fiber optic and submarine cables under three types of arrangements. The Indefeasible Right of Use (“IRU”) basis provides the Company the right to use a cable for the estimated economic life of the asset according to the terms of the IRU agreement with most of the rights and duties of ownership. The Minimum Assignable Ownership Units (“MAOU”) basis provides the Company an ownership interest in the fiber optic cable with certain rights to control and to manage the facility. The Company accounts for both IRU and MAOU agreements under network equipment and depreciates the recorded asset over the term of the agreement which is generally 25 years. The Company also enters into shorter-term arrangements with other carriers which provide the Company the right to use capacity on a cable but without any rights and duties of ownership. Under these shorter-term arrangements, the costs are expensed in the period the services are provided.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets-In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” the Company tests goodwill for impairment at least on an annual basis. Testing for impairment is a two-step process as prescribed in SFAS No. 142. The first step is a screen for potential impairment, while the second step measures the amount of impairment, if any. Under the guidelines of SFAS No. 142, the Company is required to perform an impairment test at least on an annual basis at any time during the fiscal year provided the test is performed at the same time every year. The Company has elected October 1st as its testing date. An impairment loss would be recognized when the assets’ fair value is below their carrying value (see Note 6-”Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”).
Valuation of Long-Lived Assets-The Company evaluates the recoverability of its long-lived assets under the provisions of SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” SFAS No. 144 requires the review for impairment of long-lived assets, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset might not be recoverable and exceeds its fair value.
Significant factors, which would trigger an impairment review, include the following:
•
significant negative industry trends,
•
significant changes in technology,
•
significant underutilization of assets, and
•
significant changes in how assets are used or are planned to be used.
When such an event occurs, the Company estimates the future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. These impairment evaluations involve estimates of asset useful lives and future cash flows. If the undiscounted expected future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset and the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized. Management utilizes an expected present value technique, which uses a risk-free rate and multiple cash flow scenarios reflecting the range of possible outcomes, to estimate fair value of the asset. Actual useful lives and cash flows could differ from those estimated by management using these techniques, which could have a material affect on our results of operations and financial position.
Deferred Financing Costs-Deferred financing costs incurred in connection with the senior secured term loan facility (the “Facility”), the 8% senior notes due 2014 (“2004 Senior Notes”), the 3 3/4% convertible senior
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
notes due 2010 (“2003 Convertible Senior Notes”), the 2000 Convertible Debentures, the 12 3/4% senior notes due 2009 (“October 1999 Senior Notes”), the 11 1/4% senior notes due 2009 (“January 1999 Senior Notes”), the 9 7/8% senior notes due 2008 (“1998 Senior Notes”), the 11 3/4% senior notes due 2004 (“1997 Senior Notes”), and other financing arrangements are reflected within other assets and are being amortized over the life of the respective financing arrangements using the effective interest method. As the Company makes debt repurchases, corresponding amounts of deferred financing costs are written-off in determining the gain or loss on early extinguishment of debt.
Stock-Based Compensation-At December 31, 2005, the Company had three stock-based employee compensation plans, which are described more fully in Note 13-“Stock-Based Compensation.” The Company uses the intrinsic value method to account for these plans under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and related interpretations. There were no stock-based employee compensation costs for the year ended December 31, 2005 under the intrinsic value method reflected in net income. The following table illustrates the effect on net loss and loss per share if the company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” to stock-based employee compensation.
The weighted average fair value at date of grant for options granted during 2005, 2004 and 2003 was $0.46, $3.09 and $0.82 per option, respectively. The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
Use of Estimates-The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of net revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Significant estimates include allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, accrued interconnection cost disputes, market assumptions used in estimating the fair values of certain assets and liabilities such as marketable securities and long-term obligations, the calculation used in determining the fair value of the Company’s stock options for use in the pro forma disclosures required by SFAS No. 123, various tax contingencies, the asset impairment write-down, and purchase price allocations.
Concentration of Credit Risk-Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentration of credit risk principally consist of trade accounts receivable. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its larger carrier and retail business customers but generally does not require collateral to support customer receivables. The Company maintains its cash with high quality credit institutions, and its cash equivalents are in high quality securities.
Income (Loss) Per Common Share-Basic income (loss) per common share is computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the year. Diluted income (loss) per common share is computed using the weighted average number of shares of common stock, adjusted for the dilutive effect of potential common stock and related income. Potential common stock, computed using the treasury stock method or the if-converted method, includes options, warrants, convertible preferred stock and convertible debt securities. In 2005 and 2004, the Company incurred losses, and the effect of potential common stock was excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share as the effect was antidilutive. If the effect of potential common stock had been included, there would have been additional shares outstanding of 24,480,512 and 24,148,299 for the years ended December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, respectively. The potential common stock included in the diluted income per common share for the year ended December 31, 2003 was 29,061,885 with a related income effect of $3.1 million. In 2003, an additional 1,942,039 shares of potential common stock were not included in the diluted income per common share calculation as the effect was antidilutive.
Reclassification-Certain previous year amounts have been reclassified to conform with current year presentations.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.” SFAS No. 154 changes the accounting for, and reporting of, a change in accounting principle to require retrospective application of the change to prior periods’ financial statements, unless it is impracticable to determine either the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of the change. The provisions of SFAS No. 154 will be effective for a change in accounting principle in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005, with earlier application permitted. The Company believes the adoption of SFAS No. 154 will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In March 2005, FASB issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations.” FIN No. 47 requires an entity to recognize a liability for a conditional asset retirement obligation when incurred if the liability can be reasonably estimated. FIN No. 47 also clarifies that the term Conditional Asset Retirement Obligation refers to a legal obligation to perform an asset retirement activity in which the timing and/or method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within the control of the entity. FIN No. 47 also clarifies when an entity would have sufficient information to reasonably estimate the fair value of an asset retirement obligation. The Company believes the adoption of FIN No. 47 will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
In December 2004, FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004) (“SFAS No. 123(R)”), “Share-Based Payment”, which revised SFAS No. 123. This statement supercedes APB Opinion No. 25. The revised statement addresses the accounting for share-based payment transactions with employees and other third parties, eliminates the ability to account for share-based compensation transactions using APB Opinion No. 25 and requires that the compensation costs relating to such transactions be recognized in the consolidated statement of operations. The revised statement is effective as of the beginning of the fiscal year beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company will adopt the statement on January 1, 2006, using the Modified Prospective Method. Had the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R) in prior periods, the impact of that standard would have approximated the impact of SFAS No. 123 as described in the disclosure of pro forma income (loss) and income (loss) per common share in the stock-based compensation accounting policy included in this Note to the consolidated financial statements. However, in anticipation of the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company accelerated the vesting of certain “out of the money” stock options (see also Note 13-”Stock Compensation”). The Company also has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan which allows for employees to elect to purchase stock at 85% of fair market value (determined monthly) and is considered compensatory under SFAS No. 123(R). In addition, the Company has $0.7 million of stock based compensation expense to be recognized over the next 3 years related to options outstanding at December 31, 2005.
3. ACQUISITIONS
In December 2004, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Magma Communications Ltd. (“Magma”) acquired certain assets of Wiznet Inc. (“Wiznet”), a provider of Internet services and solutions, for a total consideration of $1.3 million (1.6 million “Canadian dollars” (CAD)), of which $0.9 million (1.1 million CAD) was paid in cash and the balance of $0.4 million (0.5 million CAD) is payable in promissory notes to be paid in three equal installments due in December 2005, 2006 and 2007. The first installment of $0.1 million (0.2 million CAD) was paid in cash in December 2005.
In June 2004, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, 3082833 Nova Scotia Company (“Primus Canada”) acquired Onramp Network Services Inc. (“Onramp”), a provider of Internet services and solutions for businesses. Primus Canada acquired 100% of the issued stock of Onramp for a total consideration of $4.1 million (5.6 million CAD), paid in cash.
In February 2004, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary in Australia, Primus Telecommunications Pty Ltd (“Primus Telecom”) acquired the Internet service and interactive media businesses of AOL/7 Pty Ltd (“AOL/7”). AOL/7 was a joint venture between America Online Inc. (“AOL”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., AAPT Limited, a unit of the Telecom New Zealand Group, and Seven Network Limited. Primus Telecom acquired 100% of the issued stock of AOL/7 which provided the Company with the customer base, content, content development and online advertising businesses, as well as a license for the AOL brand in Australia (until February 2006), for a total consideration of approximately $19.5 million (25.3 million Australian dollars (AUD)), paid in cash.
In June 2003, Primus Canada acquired 100% of Telesonic Communications, Inc. (“TCI”), a Canadian prepaid card company, for $6.2 million (8.5 million CAD) in cash. The last installment of the $6.2 million, in the amount of $1.2 million (1.5 million CAD) was paid on April 30, 2005. The terms of the acquisition agreement that provided for additional consideration to be paid if the acquired company’s adjusted revenues exceeded certain targeted levels through May 2005 have expired. The final purchase price including additional consideration was $10.2 million. All additional consideration has been recorded and the final payment for the additional consideration was paid in July 2005. The additional amounts were calculated as a percentage of the excess adjusted revenue earned over a specified target with no stated maximum, and were recorded as additional cost of the acquired company in accordance with SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations.”
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following chart shows the additional consideration recorded (in thousands) as a result of revenue exceeding targeted levels:
The following table summarizes (in thousands) the final allocation of the consideration paid for the fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition of TCI, Wiznet, Onramp and AOL/7. The additional consideration paid of $2.2 million for TCI in the year ended December 31, 2005 increased goodwill.
4. ADVERTISING
The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred except for direct response advertising costs, which are capitalized and amortized over the expected period of future benefits. Direct-response advertising consists primarily of direct-mail advertisements, newspaper and television advertising. These costs are amortized over the lesser of the life of the customers obtained from these efforts or year following the provisioning of the customer. There were no capitalized advertising costs at December 31, 2005 and 2004 because of the Company’s shift from deferrable to non-deferrable types of advertising. Advertising expense for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 was $35.4 million, $44.9 million and $34.5 million, respectively.
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
5. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment consisted of the following (in thousands):
Depreciation and amortization expense for property and equipment including equipment under capital leases and vendor financing obligations for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 was $71.3 million, $72.9 million and $65.4 million, respectively. The Company recorded asset impairment write-downs of $0.0 million, $1.6 million and $2.7 million in 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively (see Note 19-“Asset Impairment”).
At December 31, 2005, the total equipment under capital lease and vendor financing obligations consisted of $86.2 million of network equipment and $1.2 million of administrative equipment, with accumulated depreciation of $25.5 million and $0.6 million, respectively. At December 31, 2004, the total equipment under capital lease and vendor financing obligations consisted of $89.0 million of network equipment and $2.6 million of administrative equipment, with accumulated depreciation of $23.9 million and $1.2 million, respectively.
6. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Acquired intangible assets subject to amortization consisted of the following (in thousands):
Amortization expense for customer lists and other intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 was $16.4 million, $19.9 million and $20.6 million, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 the Company acquired $0.2 million and $20.3 million of customer lists which had a weighted average life of less than one year and 4.6 years, respectively. Customer lists had a weighted average life of 2.8 years at December 31, 2005 and 2004. The brand name acquired had a life of 0.2 years at December 31, 2005. The useful life of the Company’s customer lists range from two to five years. The Company expects amortization expense for customer lists and other intangible assets for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 to be approximately $5.1 million, $3.3 million, $2.4 million and $0.6 million, respectively. There was no intangible asset impairment in 2005 and 2004.
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Acquired intangible assets not subject to amortization consisted of the following (in thousands):
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004 are as follows (in thousands):
7. LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS
Long-term obligations consisted of the following (in thousands):
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Payments of principal and interest were due as follows:
(1)
Does not include impact of 2006 debt conversion or debt exchange or the additional borrowing and maturity date extension on our Canadian term loan facility (see Note 25-”Subsequent Events”).
(2)
For the purpose of preparation of this table, we have assumed the interest rate of the $100 million Senior Secured Term Loan Facility to be 10.7%.
The indentures governing the senior notes, senior secured term loan facility, convertible senior notes and convertible subordinated debentures, as well as other credit arrangements, contain certain financial and other covenants which, among other things, will restrict the Company’s ability to incur further indebtedness and make certain payments, including the payment of dividends and repurchase of subordinated debt held by the Company’s subsidiaries. The Company was in compliance with the above covenants at December 31, 2005.
Senior Secured Term Loan Facility
In February 2005, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, Primus Telecommunications Holding, Inc. (PTHI), completed a six-year, $100 million senior secured term loan facility (the “Facility”). Each borrowing made under the Facility may be, at the election of PTHI at the time of the borrowing, a London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) loan (which will bear interest at a rate equal to LIBOR + 6.50%), or a base rate loan (which will bear interest at a rate equal to the greater of the prime rate plus 5.50% or the federal funds effective rate plus 6.0%). The Facility contains no financial maintenance covenants. The Company borrowed $100 million under this facility in February 2005. The Facility will be repaid in 24 quarterly installments, which began on June 30, 2005, at a rate of one percent of the principal per year over the next five years and nine months, and the remaining balance repaid on the sixth anniversary date of the Facility, with early redemption at a premium to par at PTHI’s option at any time after February 18, 2006. The Facility is guaranteed by the Company and certain of PTHI’s subsidiaries and is secured by certain assets of PTHI and its guarantor subsidiaries.
Senior Notes, Convertible Senior Notes and Convertible Subordinated Debentures
In January 2004, PTHI, a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, completed the sale of $240 million in aggregate principal amount of 2004 Senior Notes with semi-annual interest payments due on January 15th and July 15th, with early redemption at a premium to par at PTHI’s option at any time after January 15, 2009. The Company recorded $6.7 million in costs associated with the issuance of the 2004 Senior
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Notes, which have been recorded as deferred financing costs in other assets. The effective interest rate at December 31, 2005 was 8.4%. During specified periods, PTHI may redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings of the Company. During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company reduced the principal balance of the senior note through $5.0 million of open market purchases.
In September 2003, the Company completed the sale of $132 million in aggregate principal amount of 3 3/4% convertible senior notes due 2010 (“2003 Convertible Senior Notes”) with semi-annual interest payments due on March 15th and September 15th. The Company recorded $5.2 million in costs associated with the issuance of the 2003 Convertible Senior Notes, which have been recorded as deferred financing costs in other assets. The effective interest rate at December 31, 2005 was 4.4%. Holders of these notes may convert their notes into the Company’s common stock at any time prior to maturity at an initial conversion price of $9.3234 per share, which is equivalent to an initial conversion rate of 107.257 shares per $1,000 principal amount of the notes, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The notes are convertible in the aggregate into 14,157,925 shares of the Company’s common stock.
In February 2000, the Company completed the sale of $250 million in aggregate principal amount of 5 3/4% convertible subordinated debentures due 2007 (“2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures”) with semi-annual interest payments due on February 15th and August 15th. On March 13, 2000, the Company announced that the initial purchasers of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures had exercised their $50 million over-allotment option granted pursuant to a purchase agreement dated February 17, 2000. The debentures were convertible into approximately 6,025,170 shares of the Company’s common stock based on a conversion price of $49.7913 per share. During the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, the Company reduced the principal balance of the debentures through $36.4 million of open market purchases and $192.5 million of conversions to its common stock. The principal that was converted to common stock was retired upon conversion and in February 2002, the Company retired all of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures that it had previously purchased in December 2000 and January 2001. The retired principal had been held by the Company as treasury bonds and had been recorded as a reduction of long-term obligations. During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company retired $4.0 million principal amount of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures through open market purchases. During the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company exchanged 9,820,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for the extinguishment of $17.0 million in principal amount of these debentures. In accordance with SFAS No. 84, “Induced Conversion of Convertible Debt,” the Company recognized an induced conversion expense of $6.1 million in connection with this conversion. (See Note 25-“Subsequent Events”).
In October 1999, the Company completed the sale of $250 million in aggregate principal amount of October 1999 Senior Notes. The October 1999 Senior Notes are due October 15, 2009, with semi-annual interest payments due on October 15th and April 15th with early redemption at a premium to par at the Company’s option at any time after October 15, 2004. During the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, the Company reduced the principal balance of these senior notes through open market purchases. In June and September 2002, the Company retired all of the October 1999 Senior Notes that it had previously purchased in the principal amount of $134.3 million in aggregate. The retired principal had been held by the Company as treasury bonds and had been recorded as a reduction of long-term obligations. During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company retired $33.0 million principal amount of the October 1999 Senior Notes through open market purchases. During the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company exchanged 5,165,175 shares of the Company’s common stock for the extinguishment of $8.6 million in principal amount of these senior notes. (See Note 25-“Subsequent Events”).
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
Leased Fiber Capacity, Equipment Financing and Other Long-Term Obligations
Beginning December 31, 2001, the Company accepted delivery of fiber optic capacity on an IRU basis from Southern Cross Cables Limited (“SCCL”). The Company and SCCL entered into an arrangement financing the capacity purchase. During the three months ended December 31, 2001, the Company renegotiated the payment terms with SCCL. Under the new terms, the payments for each capacity segment will be made over a five-year term ending in April 2008, which added two years to the original three-year term. The effective interest rate on current borrowings is 7.3%. The Company further agreed to purchase $12.2 million of additional fiber optic capacity from SCCL under the IRU agreement. The Company has fulfilled the total purchase obligation and made additional purchases of $3.8 million in 2004. At December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, the Company had a liability recorded under this agreement in the amount of $10.7 million and $16.6 million, respectively.
In December 2000, the Company entered into a financing arrangement to purchase fiber optic capacity in Australia for 51.1 million AUD ($28.5 million at December 31, 2000) from Optus Networks Pty. Limited. As of December 31, 2001, the Company had fulfilled the total purchase obligation. The Company signed a promissory note payable over a four-year term ending in April 2005 bearing interest at a rate of 14.31%. During the three months ended June 30, 2003, the Company renegotiated the payment terms extending the payment schedule through March 2007, and lowering the interest rate to 10.2%. At December 31, 2005 and 2004, the Company had a liability recorded in the amount of $9.0 million (12.4 million AUD) and $16.5 million (21.3 million AUD), respectively.
Other Long-Term Obligations
In November 2005, Primus Australia entered into a financing arrangement with Alleasing Finance Australia United for network equipment. Payments will be made over a five-year term ending October 2010. The effective interest rate on the current borrowing is 9.5%. At December 31, 2005, the Company had a liability recorded under this agreement in the amount of $6.1 million (8.4 million AUD).
In April 2004, Primus Canada entered into a loan agreement with a Canadian financial institution. The agreement provides for a $34.6 million (42 million CAD) two-year non-revolving term loan credit facility, bearing an interest rate of 7.75%. The agreement allows the proceeds to be used for general corporate purposes of the Company and is secured by the assets of Primus Canada’s operations. In October 2004, Primus Canada signed an amendment to the April 2004 loan agreement that extended the maturity date one year to April 2007. The agreement is now a three-year non-revolving term loan credit facility bearing an interest rate of 7.75%. At December 31, 2004, the Company had no outstanding liability under this loan agreement. At December 31, 2005, the Company had an outstanding liability of $12.8 million (15.0 million CAD). An affiliate of Primus Canada has an additional loan facility agreement with the Canadian financial institution of $2.6 million (3.0 million CAD) and at December 31, 2005, had a $2.6 million liability under this facility. (See Note 25-“Subsequent Events”).
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
8. INCOME TAXES
The total provision for income tax for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003 is as follows (in thousands):
The provision for income taxes differed from the amount computed by applying the federal statutory income tax rate to income (loss) before income taxes, and extraordinary items due to the following (in thousands):
Deferred income taxes are recognized to account for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts of each period-end, based on enacted tax laws and statutory income tax rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Deferred income taxes reflect the net income tax effect of temporary differences between the basis of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and for income tax purposes. Net deferred tax balances are comprised of the following (in thousands):
Change in net deferred taxes is due to change in foreign currency translation.
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands):
As of December 31, 2005, the Company had foreign operating loss carryforwards of approximately $255.3 million of which $52.3 million expire periodically from 2006 through 2020 and the remainder of which carryforward without expiration.
At December 31, 2005, the Company had United States operating loss carryforwards of $262.0 million available to reduce future United States taxable income, which expires periodically between 2014 through 2025. Of the operating loss carryforwards, $132.9 million are subject to limitations in the future, in accordance with Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Company incurred $3.3 million and $5.2 million of expense in 2005 and 2004, respectively, related to foreign withholding tax on intercompany interest and royalties owed to our United States subsidiary.
No provision was made in 2005 for United States income taxes on the undistributed earnings of the foreign subsidiaries as it is the Company’s intention to utilize those earnings in the foreign operations for an indefinite period of time or to repatriate such earnings only when tax effective to do so. It is not practicable to determine the amount of income or withholding tax that would be payable upon the remittance of those earnings.
The Company is subject to challenge from various taxing authorities relative to certain tax planning strategies, including certain intercompany transactions as well as regulatory tax. The Company accrues for tax contingencies when it is probable that a liability to a taxing authority has been incurred and the amount of the contingency can be reasonably estimated, based on past experience. The Company’s tax contingency reserve is adjusted for changes in circumstances and additional uncertainties, such as significant amendments to existing tax law, both legislated and concluded through various jurisdictions’ tax court systems. The Company has recorded a tax contingency reserve of $6.1 million and $6.2 million as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. It is the opinion of the Company’s management that the possibility is remote that costs in excess of those reserved for will have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and liquidity.
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
9. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The carrying amounts reported in the consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate fair value due to relatively short period to maturity. The estimated fair value of the Company’s 2004 Senior Notes, 2003 Convertible Senior Notes, 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures and October 1999 Senior Notes (carrying value of $491 million and $517 million, at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively), based on quoted market prices, was $251 million and $444 million, respectively, at December 31, 2005 and 2004. The Term Loan Facility’s carrying value approximates fair value because of the variable interest rate.
10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Future minimum lease payments under capital leases and leased fiber capacity financing (“Vendor Financing”), purchase obligations and non-cancelable operating leases as of December 31, 2005 are as follows (in thousands):
The Company has contractual obligations to utilize an external vendor for certain back-office support functions and to utilize network facilities from certain carriers with terms greater than one year. The Company does not purchase or commit to purchase quantities in excess of normal usage or amounts that cannot be used within the contract term or at rates below or above market value. The Company made purchases under purchase commitments of $25.5 million, $22.3 million, and $3.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Rent expense under operating leases was $19.0 million, $17.9 million and $15.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
Litigation
Federal Securities Class Action. The Company and four of its officers (the “Primus Defendants”) were defendants in a consolidated class action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, “In re Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated Securities Litigation.” Plaintiffs sued on behalf of certain purchasers (the “Class”) of Primus securities between February 14, 2003 and July 29, 2004 (the “Class Period”). In December 2004, plaintiffs filed their Consolidated and Amended Complaint (“CAC”). Plaintiffs alleged that the Primus Defendants violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5. Plaintiffs sought damages, among other things, on the theory that the Primus Defendants fraudulently published false and misleading statements and/or fraudulently concealed adverse, non-public information about Primus, thereby artificially inflating the price of Primus’s securities. The CAC also covered matters related to: (i) Primus Telecommunications, Inc.’s (“PTI’s”) acquisition in 2002 of Cable & Wireless’s customers in the United States and migration and attrition of such customers; (ii) VOIP initiatives and challenges faced by Primus
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
with respect to launching the various VOIP products; and (iii) Primus’s network and decisions to lease capacity versus purchase capacity. The Primus Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the CAC in January 2005. On March 11, 2005, the court dismissed the CAC with prejudice. The court ruled that plaintiffs would not be permitted to amend further their complaint. Plaintiffs did not appeal the decision dismissing their complaint, and the time in which to appeal has lapsed. Accordingly, this matter has been finally determined.
Shareholder Derivative Action. In September 2004, Richard J. Taddy filed a shareholder derivative action in the Alexandria Division of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against members of Primus’s Board of Directors, a former director, a board observer and three of Primus’s executive officers (the “Primus Derivative Defendants”) on behalf of Primus for alleged violations of state law, including breach of fiduciary duty, abuse of control, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment. Damages were sought based on allegations that, between “November 2003 and the present,” the Primus Derivative Defendants (1) publicly issued false and misleading statements and concealed adverse, non-public information about Primus, (2) engaged in, or permitted, illegal insider trading, and (3) engaged in, or permitted, various acts of “gross mismanagement” and “corporate waste.” In November 2004, the Primus Derivative Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the derivative action. In December 2004, the court granted Primus’s motion to dismiss the shareholder derivative action. The court dismissed the complaint because plaintiff failed to: (1) make a demand on Primus’s Board of Directors before filing the action as required by Delaware law or (2) allege with the requisite specificity that such a demand would have been futile. The court denied plaintiff’s request to amend the complaint and dismissed the complaint with prejudice. Plaintiff appealed this decision to the 4th Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals. In June 2005, plaintiff dismissed this action with prejudice. Accordingly, this matter has been finally determined.
Hondutel. In December 1999, Empresa Hondurena de Telecomunicaciones, S.A. (“Plaintiff”), based in Honduras, filed suit in Florida State Court in Broward County against TresCom and one of TresCom’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, St. Thomas and San Juan Telephone Company, Inc. (“STSJ”), alleging that such entities failed to pay amounts due to plaintiff pursuant to contracts for the exchange of telecommunications traffic from December 1996 through September 1998. The Company acquired the stock of TresCom in June 1998. Plaintiff had been seeking over $18 million in damages, plus interest and costs. In October 2005, the Company agreed to settle this matter by agreeing to provide certain services to Plaintiff at no cost. The Company has accrued amounts sufficient to cover the anticipated costs of providing such services. During 2005, the Company realized a reduction of cost of revenue of $2 million which was the difference between the accrued balance and the settlement amount. Accordingly, this matter has been finally determined.
Other. The Company is subject to certain other claims and legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. Each of these matters is subject to various uncertainties, and it is possible that some of these matters may be decided unfavorably to the Company. The Company believes that any aggregate liability that may ultimately result from the resolution of these other matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
11. CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
In December 2002, the Company signed an agreement to sell 559,950 newly-authorized shares of its Series C convertible preferred stock (the “Series C Preferred”) for an aggregate purchase price of $42 million. On December 31, 2002, the Company issued 438,853 shares of Series C Preferred for approximately $32.3 million, net of $0.6 million of offering costs.
When issued on December 31, 2002, the Series C Preferred accrued dividends at the rate of 8.0% per annum on the outstanding accreted value, subject to elimination upon meeting certain performance criteria. The
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
performance criteria was met in February 2003, eliminating the dividend requirement. The Company accreted dividends of $0.3 million in 2003. The accreted dividends were effected through a modification of the conversion ratio. When originally issued, each Series C Preferred share was convertible into 40 shares of common stock. Upon meeting the performance criteria, the conversion ratio was modified to convert each Series C Preferred share into 40.3911 shares of common stock. The preferred-to-common stock conversion ratio and the conversion price were subject to certain antidilution adjustments.
At a special meeting of the Company’s stockholders on March 31, 2003, its stockholders voted to approve the issuance of the remaining 121,097 shares of Series C Preferred for approximately $8.9 million in cash, net of $0.2 million of offering costs. Each Series C Preferred share was convertible into 40.3911 shares of common stock. At the time of issuance, the fair value of the Company’s stock was greater than the conversion price. The Company calculated a beneficial conversion feature of $1.4 million, which was recorded as a deemed dividend at the time of issuance.
Each Series C Preferred share was convertible into common stock at any time. All shares were mandatorily convertible if (i) two-thirds of the holders elected to convert or (ii) the average closing price of the Company’s common stock for any period of 20 consecutive trading days exceeded three times the then effective conversion price, and all of the then outstanding shares of Series C Preferred were no longer subject to transfer restrictions as contained in, and may be sold or transferred by such Series C holders in compliance with, Rule 144(k) and Rule 145 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Series C Preferred shareholders were entitled to vote on all matters submitted to the common stock holders on an as-if-converted basis.
On April 30, 2003, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an amendment to the Company’s Stockholder Rights Plan which provides if the rights issued to stockholders under the Rights Plan are triggered, the Company may exchange for each right one share of Company common stock (or 1/1000 of a share of Series B Company Preferred Stock). With this amendment, the issuance of common stock or Series B Company Preferred Stock is no longer elective on the part of the rights holder, but is elective on the part of the Company. Because the decision regarding the issuance of common stock in exchange for rights is under the control of the Company, the Series C Preferred shares were no longer considered mezzanine financing and have been reclassified to the equity section of the balance sheet as of April 30, 2003.
In November 2003, the selling security holders converted 559,950 shares of convertible preferred stock, representing 100% of the outstanding Series C Preferred, into 22,616,990 shares of common stock. During a 270-day period commencing November 4, 2003, certain selling security holders’ shares were subject to the terms of a lock-up agreement with the Company, which generally prohibited the resale of 13,540,008 of such shares. As of December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2005, no shares were subject to the terms of the lock-up agreement.
12. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
During the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company exchanged 9,820,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for the extinguishment of $17.0 million in principal amount of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures and exchanged 5,165,175 shares for the extinguishment of $8.6 million in principal amount of the October 1999 Senior Notes (see Note 7-“Long-Term Obligations”).
In April 2004, Primus Canada acquired 100% of the issued stock of Magma for a total consideration of $11.3 million (15.1 million CAD), a portion of which was paid in cash and the balance in 734,018 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $6.1 million.
In November 2003, the Company issued 22,616,990 shares of common stock pursuant to the conversion of the Series C Preferred (see Note 11-“Convertible Preferred Stock”).
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
13. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
In December 1998, the Company established the 1998 Restricted Stock Plan (the “Restricted Plan”) to facilitate the grant of restricted stock to selected individuals (excluding executive officers and directors of the Company) who contribute to the development and success of the Company. The total number of shares of common stock that may be granted under the Restricted Plan is 750,000. The Company did not issue any restricted stock under the Restricted Plan for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003. During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company cancelled 494 shares of restricted stock (which were issued prior to 2001) due to the termination of certain employees and agents, respectively. As of December 31, 2005, of the remaining issued shares, none are considered restricted.
The Company sponsors an employee stock option plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan”). The total number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan is 13,000,000. Under the Equity Incentive Plan, awards may be granted to key employees of the Company and its subsidiaries in the form of Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options. The Equity Incentive Plan allows the granting of options at an exercise price of not less than 100% of the stock’s fair value at the date of grant. The options vest over a period of up to three years, and no option will be exercisable more than ten years from the date it is granted. On June 16, 2004, the stockholders of the Company approved amendments to the Equity Incentive Plan, including (i) renaming the employee stock option plan the “Equity Incentive Plan”; (ii) expanding the forms of awards permitted to be granted, including stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, stock units and other equity securities, and authorizing a tax deferral feature for executive officers; (iii) prohibiting the repricing of stock options in the future without stockholder approval; and (iv) requiring three-year vesting of restricted stock and stock unit awards, unless accelerated following the first anniversary of the award due to the satisfaction of predetermined performance conditions.
The Company sponsors a Director Stock Option Plan (the “Director Plan”) for non-employee directors. Under the Director Plan, an option is granted to each qualifying non-employee director to purchase 45,000 shares of common stock, which vests in one-third increments as of the grant date and the first and second anniversaries of the grant date, over a two-year period. The option price per share is the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date the option is granted. No option will be exercisable more than five years from the date of grant. On June 16, 2004, the stockholders of the Company approved amendments to the Director Plan to (i) increase the number of shares of common stock issuable pursuant to awards under the Director Plan by 300,000 to a total of 900,000; and (ii) authorize the issuance of restricted stock (in lieu of cash compensation at the discretion of individual Directors).
On December 21, 2005, the Company accelerated the vesting of certain unvested stock options previously awarded under the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan and Director Plan. The Company took this action because the future costs to be recognized if this action were not taken were disproportionate to the employee retention value of the stock options. As a result of this action, stock options to purchase up to 1.5 million shares of common stock, which would otherwise have vested over the next three years, became exercisable effective December 21, 2005. These stock options have exercise prices ranging from $1.61 to $6.30 per share. Based upon the closing stock price for the Company’s common stock of $0.82 per share on December 21, 2005, all of these stock options were “under water” or “out-of-the-money.” Of the stock options whose vesting is being accelerated, 0.6 million stock options are held by executive officers and 30,000 stock options are held by non-employee directors. Outstanding unvested stock options to purchase 1.5 million shares of the Company’s common stock, with per share exercise prices ranging from $0.62 to $0.92, were not accelerated.
Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” the Company will be required to apply expense recognition provisions beginning January 1, 2006. As a result of the
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
acceleration, the Company expects to eliminate anticipated stock option expense of approximately $2.1 million in 2006 and approximately $1.1 million in 2007 on a pre-tax basis, based upon the Company’s fair value calculations using the Black-Scholes methodology.
A summary of stock option activity during the three years ended December 31 is as follows:
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at December 31, 2005:
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
14. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
The Company sponsors a 401(k) employee benefit plan (the “401(k) Plan”) that covers substantially all United States based employees. Employees may contribute amounts to the 401(k) Plan not to exceed statutory limitations. The 401(k) Plan provides an employer matching contribution in cash of 50% of the first 6% of employee annual salary contributions which are subject to three-year cliff vesting. During the year ended December 31, 2003, the 401(k) Plan provided an employer matching contribution in the Company’s common stock or cash and issued 135,807 shares of common stock as contributions and made remaining contributions in the form of cash.
The following table summarizes information about the matching contribution the Company made in both the Company’s common stock and cash during the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands):
Effective January 1, 1998, the Company adopted an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”). The ESPP allows employees to contribute up to 15% of their compensation to purchase the Company’s common stock at 85% of the fair market value. An aggregate of 2,000,000 shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under the ESPP. During the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, the Company issued 223,228 shares, 124,292 shares and 102,537 shares under the ESPP, respectively.
15. RELATED PARTIES
The Company had a reciprocal services agreement with a vendor to provide and to receive domestic and international termination of telecommunication services. A Director of the Company is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the vendor providing such services. The contract was on a month-to-month basis. The Company recorded revenue of approximately $46,000, $331,000 and $375,000 and costs of $82,000, $687,000 and $125,000 in 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively, for services provided and other discrete services received under this agreement. The Company had no amounts due from the vendor at December 31, 2005 and approximately $54,000 at December 31, 2004. As of December 31, 2005, the reciprocal services agreement is terminated.
During the year ended 2005, 2004 and 2003, the Company provided international telecommunications services to a customer for which a Director of the Company is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the customer. The Company recorded revenue of approximately $46,000, $75,000 and $121,000 in 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively, for services provided. The Company had amounts due from the customer of approximately $3,000, $4,000 and $11,000 at December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively.
16. OPERATING SEGMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION
The Company has four reportable operating segments based on management’s organization of the enterprise into geographic areas-United States and Other, Canada, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Canada was determined to be a separate segment at the end of 2004, as management had begun to focus on its results as a separate market and operations. The Company evaluates the performance of its segments and allocates resources to them based upon
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
net revenue and income (loss) from operations. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. Net revenue by reportable segment is reported on the basis of where services are provided. The Company has no single customer representing greater than 10% of its revenues. Operations and assets of the United States and Other segment include shared corporate functions and assets, which the Company does not allocate to its other geographic segments for management reporting purposes.
Summary information with respect to the Company’s segments is as follows (in thousands):
The above capital expenditures exclude assets acquired in business combinations and under terms of capital lease and vendor financing obligations.
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The Company offers three main products-voice, data/Internet and VOIP in all of our segments. Summary net revenue information with respect to the Company’s products is as follows (in thousands):
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
17. QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
The following is a tabulation of the unaudited quarterly results of operations for the two years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004.
Quarterly and year-to-date computations of per share amounts are made independently; therefore, the sum of per share amounts for the quarters may not agree with per share amounts for the year.
18. LOSS ON DISPOSAL OF ASSETS
During the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company recognized a charge of $13.4 million associated with the disposal of specific long-lived assets which were taken out of service in connection with the Company’s efforts to reduce costs. The charge included $8.5 million in the United Kingdom, $3.1 million in the United States, $1.3 million in Germany and $0.1 million in Spain and was comprised of network fiber, peripheral switch equipment, software development costs, and other network equipment. The charge also included $0.4 million of wireless handset development costs in the United Kingdom determined to be obsolete.
19. ASSET IMPAIRMENT
During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company recognized a $1.6 million asset impairment charge of specific long-lived asset write-offs which included $0.6 million of networking equipment and $0.9 million of leasehold improvements on a vacated property in the United States.
During the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company recognized a $2.7 million asset impairment charge, which included $1.0 million of networking equipment in the United Kingdom, $0.8 million of network equipment in the United States, $0.2 million of networking equipment in Germany, and a write-off of assets of $0.5 million related to the fax-over-IP business in India in connection with assets no longer in use.
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
The following table outlines the Company’s asset impairment write-down by segment (in thousands):
20. EQUITY INVESTMENT WRITE-OFF AND LOSS
As of October 1, 2002, the Company amended its contractual agreements to give up its right to control the Board of Directors and the operations of Bekko, its data/Internet investment in Japan. As a result, the Company deconsolidated Bekko in October 2002 and recorded an equity investment. The Company recorded a loss of $0.2 million in 2005 which brought the equity investment balance to $0, a loss of $0.4 million in 2004 and a loss of $2.7 million after the investment was deemed to be permanently impaired in 2003.
21. GAIN (LOSS) ON EARLY EXTINGUISHMENT OF DEBT
In 2005, the Company exchanged 14,985,175 shares of the Company’s common stock for the extinguishment of $25.6 million principal amount of its 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures and October 1999 Senior Notes prior to maturity resulting in a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $1.7 million, including the write-off of related deferred financing costs. In particular, the following debt securities were extinguished: $17.0 million principal amount of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures were exchanged for 9,820,000 shares of the Company’s common stock resulting in a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $5.9 million, and $8.6 million principal amount of the October 1999 Senior Notes were exchanged for 5,165,175 shares of the Company’s common stock resulting in a gain on early extinguishment of debt of $4.2 million.
In 2004, the Company made open market purchases of $198.5 million principal amount of its Convertible Subordinated Debentures and Senior Notes, prior to maturity for $207.5 million and fully paid its debt obligations with Cable & Wireless (C&W) for $6.1 million resulting in a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $11.0 million, including the write-off of related deferred financing costs. In particular, the following high yield debt securities were purchased: $109.9 million of the January 1999 Senior Notes for $116.1 million resulting in a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $7.4 million; $46.6 million of the 1998 Senior Notes for $48.9 million resulting in a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $3.0 million; $33.1 million principal amount of the October
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
1999 Senior Notes for $35.0 million resulting in a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $2.5 million; $4.0 million of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures for $3.0 million resulting in a gain on early extinguishment of debt of $0.9 million; and $5.0 million principal amount of the 2004 Senior Notes for $4.5 million resulting in a gain on early extinguishment of debt of $0.4 million. The Company fully paid its debt obligation of $6.1 million with C&W from the purchase of its retail voice switched services customer base for $5.0 million in cash resulting in a gain on early extinguishment of debt of $1.1 million.
In 2003, the Company made open market purchases or satisfied and discharged $97.4 million principal amount of its Senior Notes prior to maturity for $86.1 million in cash, fully paid an outstanding debt obligation of $56.0 million prior to maturity and settled an outstanding vendor obligation of $14.9 million in Europe for $10.6 million, resulting in an aggregate gain on early extinguishment of debt of $12.9 million including the write-off of related deferred financing costs and warrant amortization. In particular, the following high yield debt securities were purchased or satisfied and discharged: $43.7 million of open market purchases and $43.6 million discharge of the remaining principal amount of the 1997 Senior Notes at par plus accrued interest to the date of redemption for $79.8 million resulting in a gain on early extinguishment of debt of $6.3 million; $6.5 million of the January 1999 Senior Notes for $4.1 million resulting in a gain on early extinguishment of debt of $2.3 million; and $3.6 million of the 1998 Senior Notes for $2.3 million resulting in a gain on early extinguishment of debt of $1.3 million. In addition the Company recognized a loss of $1.1 million for fees related to the Company’s purchase of senior notes. The Company fully paid an outstanding vendor debt obligation of $56.0 million prior to maturity resulting in a write-off of deferred financing costs of $0.2 million. The Company settled an outstanding vendor debt obligation of $14.9 million in Europe for $10.6 million in cash and recognized a gain of $4.3 million.
22. BASIC AND DILUTED INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
Basic income (loss) per common share is calculated by dividing income (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding during the period.
Diluted income per common share adjusts basic income per common share for the effects of potentially dilutive common share equivalents. Potentially dilutive common shares primarily include the dilutive effects of common shares issuable under the Company’s stock option compensation plans computed using the treasury stock method and the dilutive effects of shares issuable upon conversion of its Series C Preferred issued in December 2002 and March 2003, September 2003 Convertible Senior Notes and 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures. The Series C Preferred was converted into common stock on November 4, 2003. The warrants expired on August 1, 2004.
The Company had no dilutive common share equivalents during the year ended December 31, 2005, due to the results of operations being a net loss. For the year ended December 31, 2005, the following could potentially dilute income per common share in the future but were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per common share due to their antidilutive effects:
•
9.3 million shares issuable under the Company’s stock option compensation plans, and
•
14.2 million shares issuable upon conversion of the 2003 Convertible Senior Notes, and
•
1.0 million shares issuable upon the conversion of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures.
The Company had no dilutive common share equivalents during the year ended December 31, 2004, due to the results of operations being a net loss. For the year ended December 31, 2004, the following could have
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS-(Continued)
potentially diluted income per common share in the future but were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per common share due to their antidilutive effects:
•
8.6 million shares issuable under the Company’s stock option compensation plans, and
•
14.2 million shares issuable upon conversion of the 2003 Convertible Senior Notes, and
•
1.3 million shares issuable upon the conversion of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures.
A reconciliation of basic income (loss) per common share to diluted income (loss) per common share is below (in thousands, except per share amounts):
23. EXTRAORDINARY ITEM
In connection with the purchase of certain businesses in 2003, the fair value of the net assets acquired exceeded the purchase price (excess of cost). In accordance with SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations,” the excess of cost was allocated as a reduction to the acquired assets except for monetary assets, such as cash and deferred tax assets. The remaining excess of cost after this allocation was recognized as an extraordinary gain of approximately $0.9 million.
24. GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
PTHI’s 2004 Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated (“PTGI”) on a senior basis as of December 31, 2005. Accordingly, the following consolidating condensed financial information as of December 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004, and for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 are included for (a) PTGI on a stand-alone basis; (b) PTHI and its subsidiaries; and (c) PTGI on a consolidated basis. PTHI was established on October 29, 2003 and was inactive until 2004. For comparative purposes for the 2003 periods presented, the PTHI column represents the consolidated subsidiaries that were contributed to PTHI during the capital restructuring in 2004.
Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for using the equity method for purposes of the consolidating presentation. The principal elimination entries eliminate investments in subsidiaries, intercompany balances and intercompany transactions.
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands)
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands)
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands)
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
(in thousands)
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
(in thousands)
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
25. SUBSEQUENT EVENT
On March 13, 2006, the Company entered into a subscription agreement (the “Subscription Agreement”) with an existing stockholder (the “Investor”), pursuant to which it sold 6,666,667 shares of the Company’s common stock pursuant to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-110241), as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement dated March 13, 2006. On March 15, 2006, the closing of the offering was completed. The aggregate number of shares of common stock issued by the Company under the Subscription Agreement represents approximately 5.86% of the Company’s outstanding common stock as of March 13, 2006 after giving effect to the issuance of such shares. The purchase price per share of $0.75 represents a discount of 6.13% from the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq National Market on March 10, 2006.
In February 2006, the Company exchanged $26.5 million principal amount of the Company’s 5 3/4% convertible subordinated debentures due 2007 for $26.5 million principal amount of the Company’s step up convertible subordinated debentures due August 2009 (“New Convertible Debentures”). The New Convertible Debentures will mature on August 15, 2009. Interest will be payable from February 27, 2006 to December 31, 2006 at the rate of 6% per annum; from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007 at the rate of 7% per annum; and from January 1, 2008 to maturity at the rate of 8% per annum. Accrued interest will be paid each February 15 and August 15, beginning August 15, 2006, to holders of record on the preceding February 1 and August 1, respectively. The New Convertible Debentures are convertible into the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $1.187 per share of common stock through August 15, 2009. The Indenture, dated February 27, 2006, contains various events of default, including payment defaults, breach of covenants, acceleration of any indebtedness of $25.0 million or more, failure to pay a judgment in excess of $25.0 million and bankruptcy events. The New Convertible Debentures are subordinated to all indebtedness of the Company, except for other subordinated indebtedness.
In January 2006, the Company’s wholly owned Canadian subsidiary entered into an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (the “Amended Agreement”) related to its existing secured non-revolving term loan facility with a Canadian financial institution. The Amended Agreement extended the maturity date for the facility to April 2008 from April 2007, reaffirmed the interest rate of 7.75%, altered selected financial covenants including reducing the minimum quarterly EBITDA (as defined by the agreement) requirement and increasing the allowable leverage ratio, reduced the maximum loan balance from 42 million CAD ($37 million United States dollar (USD) at January 31, 2006) to 32 million CAD ($28 million USD at January 31, 2006) and established quarterly principal payments of 1 million CAD ($0.9 million USD at January 31, 2006) commencing in April 2007. On February 1, 2006 the Company drew the remaining 17 million CAD ($15 million USD at January 31, 2006) available under the loan facility.
In January 2006, the Company exchanged 1,825,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for the extinguishment of $2.5 million principal amount of the October 1999 Senior Notes resulting in a gain on early extinguishment of debt of $1.2 million.
SCHEDULE II
PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
Activity in the Company’s allowance accounts for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003 was as follows (in thousands):
S-1