<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 9, 1998
REGISTRATION NO. 333-50307
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
------------------------
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
------------------------
IDT CORPORATION
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
DELAWARE 4813 22-3415036
(State or Other Jurisdiction of (Primary Standard Industrial (I.R.S. Employer Identification
Incorporation or Organization) Classification Code Number) Number)
</TABLE>
------------------------
190 MAIN STREET
HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY 07601
(201) 928-1000
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of
Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
------------------------------
HOWARD S. JONAS
CHAIRMAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND TREASURER
IDT CORPORATION
190 MAIN STREET
HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY 07601
(201) 928-1000
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,
of Agent for Service)
------------------------------
COPIES TO:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
IRA A. GREENSTEIN, ESQ. JOYCE J. MASON, ESQ.
MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP GENERAL COUNSEL
1290 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS IDT CORPORATION
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10104-0050 190 MAIN STREET
(212) 468-8000 HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY 07601
(201) 928-1000
</TABLE>
------------------------
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with
general Instruction G, check the following box. / /
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. / /
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. / /
------------------------
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
<PAGE>
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 9, 1998
PROSPECTUS
[LOGO]
OFFER TO EXCHANGE ALL OUTSTANDING
8 3/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2006
FOR 8 3/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2006
THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK
TIME, ON , 1998, UNLESS EXTENDED.
IDT Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby offers, upon
the terms and conditions set forth in this Prospectus and the accompanying
letter of transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal," which, together with this
Prospectus, constitutes the "Exchange Offer") to exchange up to $100,000,000
aggregate principal amount of its 8 3/4% Senior Notes Due 2006 (the "New Notes")
for a like aggregate principal amount of the issued and outstanding 8 3/4%
Senior Notes Due 2006 (the "Old Notes," and collectively with the New Notes, the
"Notes"), of which $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount is outstanding. See
"The Exchange Offer."
The Company will accept for exchange any and all Old Notes which are
properly tendered in the Exchange Offer and not withdrawn on or prior to 5:00
p.m., New York City time, on July 13, 1998, unless the Exchange Offer is
extended by the Company (the "Expiration Date"). Tenders of Old Notes may be
withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration
Date. The Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum principal amount of
Old Notes being tendered for exchange. However, the Exchange Offer is subject to
certain customary conditions which may be waived by the Company. The Company has
agreed to pay the expenses of the Exchange Offer. See "The Exchange Offer."
There will be no cash proceeds to the Company from the Exchange Offer. See "Use
of Proceeds."
Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account pursuant to
the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such New Notes. See "The Exchange Offer--Resales
of the New Notes" and "Plan of Distribution." The Letter of Transmittal states
that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will
not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). This Prospectus, as
it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a
broker-dealer in connection with resales of New Notes received in exchange for
Old Notes where such Old Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result
of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed
that, starting on the Expiration Date and ending on the close of business on the
60th day following the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus available
to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See "Plan of
Distribution."
The Old Notes were originally issued and sold (the "Initial Offering") to BT
Alex. Brown Incorporated, Hambrecht & Quist LLC, Jefferies & Company, Inc. and
Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc. (the "Initial Purchasers") pursuant to a
Purchase Agreement, dated February 12, 1998 (the "Purchase Agreement"), among
the Company and the Initial Purchasers. The Initial Purchasers subsequently
resold the Old Notes in reliance on Rule 144A and Regulation S under the
Securities Act. The Company and the Initial Purchasers also entered into a
Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 18, 1998 (the "Registration Rights
Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company granted certain registration rights
for the benefit of the holders of the Old Notes. The New Notes are being offered
for exchange in order to satisfy certain obligations of the Company under the
Registration Rights Agreement. The New Notes will be obligations of the Company
evidencing the same indebtedness as the Old Notes and will be issued under and
entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, dated as of February 18, 1998 (the
"Indenture"), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust National Association,
formerly known as First Trust National Association, as trustee (in such
capacity, the "Trustee"). The form and terms of the New Notes are identical in
all material respects to the Old Notes, except that the offer and exchange of
the New Notes will be registered under the Securities Act, and therefore such
New Notes will not be subject to certain transfer restrictions and registration
rights provisions applicable to the Old Notes. See "The Exchange Offer--Purpose
and Effect."
This Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal are first being mailed to
holders of the Old Notes on June 12, 1998.
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 12 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS
THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY HOLDERS IN EVALUATING THE EXCHANGE OFFER.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this Prospectus is , 1998.
<PAGE>
The New Notes will mature on August 15, 2006. Interest on the New Notes will
be payable semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 of each year commencing
August 15, 1998. Holders whose Old Notes are accepted for exchange will have the
right to receive interest accrued thereon from the date of original issuance to
the date of issuance of the New Notes, such interest to be payable with the
first interest payment on the New Notes. Interest on the Old Notes accepted for
exchange will cease to accrue on the day prior to the issuance of the New Notes.
See "Description of the Notes." The New Notes will be redeemable at the option
of the Company, in whole or in part, at any time on or after February 15, 2002,
at the redemption prices set forth herein, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if
any, to the date of redemption. See "Description of the Notes--Redemption."
The New Notes will be general unsecured obligations of the Company, and will
rank PARI PASSU or senior in right of payment to any future unsecured
indebtedness of the Company. The Notes are effectively subordinated to all
indebtedness of the Company to the extent of the value of the assets securing
such indebtedness and to all indebtedness of subsidiaries of the Company. At
January 31, 1998, after giving effect to the sale of the Notes and the
application of the net proceeds therefrom, the Company would have had total
outstanding indebtedness of $118.6 million.
There has previously been only a limited secondary market, and no public
market, for the Old Notes. The Old Notes are eligible for trading in the Private
Offering, Resales and Trading through Automatic Linkages ("PORTAL") market of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. In addition, the Initial
Purchasers have advised the Company that they currently intend to make a market
in the New Notes; however, the Initial Purchasers are not obligated to do so and
any market making activities may be discontinued by the Initial Purchasers at
any time. Therefore, there can be no assurance that an active market for the New
Notes will develop. If such a trading market develops for the New Notes, future
trading prices will depend on many factors, including, among other things,
prevailing interest rates, the Company's results of operations and the market
for similar securities. Depending on such factors, the New Notes may trade at a
discount from their face value. See "Risk Factors--Lack of Public Market."
Any Old Notes not tendered and accepted in the Exchange Offer will remain
outstanding and will be entitled to all the same rights and will be subject to
the same limitations applicable thereto under the Indenture (except for those
rights which terminate upon consummation of the Exchange Offer). Following
consummation of the Exchange Offer, the holders of the Old Notes will continue
to be subject to the existing restrictions upon transfer thereof and the Company
will have no further obligation to such holders (other than to the Initial
Purchasers under certain limited circumstances) to provide for registration
under the Securities Act of the Old Notes held by them. To the extent that Old
Notes are tendered and accepted in the Exchange Offer, a holder's ability to
sell untendered Old Notes could be adversely affected. See "Risk
Factors--Consequences of Failure to Exchange."
THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION. HOLDERS OF OLD NOTES ARE URGED TO READ THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE
RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO TENDER THEIR
OLD NOTES PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER. THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE
TO, NOR WILL THE COMPANY ACCEPT SURRENDERS FOR EXCHANGE FROM, HOLDERS OF OLD
NOTES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE EXCHANGE OFFER OR THE ACCEPTANCE THEREOF
WOULD NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS OF SUCH
JURISDICTION.
The Old Notes were issued originally in global form (the "Global Old Note").
The Global Old Note was deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust
Company ("DTC"), as the initial depositary with respect to the Old Notes (in
such capacity, the "Depositary"). The Global Old Note is registered in the name
of Cede & Co. ("Cede"), as nominee of DTC, and beneficial interests in the
Global Old Note are shown on, and transfers thereof are effected only through,
records maintained by the Depositary and its
ii
<PAGE>
participants. The use of the Global Old Note to represent certain of the Old
Notes permits the Depositary's participants, and anyone holding a beneficial
interest in an Old Note registered in the name of such a participant, to
transfer interests in the Old Notes electronically in accordance with the
Depositary's established procedures without the need to transfer a physical
certificate. New Notes issued in exchange for the Global Old Note will also be
issued initially as a note in global form (the "Global New Note," and, together
with the Global Old Note, the "Global Notes") and deposited with, or on behalf
of, the Depositary. After the initial issuance of the Global New Note, New Notes
in certificated form will be issued in exchange for a holder's proportionate
interest in the Global New Note only as set forth in the Indenture.
------------------------
THIS PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE WHICH ARE NOT
PRESENTED HEREIN OR DELIVERED HEREWITH. THESE DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON
REQUEST FROM JOYCE J. MASON, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY, IDT CORPORATION, 190
MAIN STREET, HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY 07601 (201-928-1000). IN ORDER TO ENSURE
TIMELY DELIVERY OF THE DOCUMENTS, ANY REQUEST SHOULD BE MADE BY JUNE 26, 1998.
iii
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
-----
<S> <C>
Prospectus Summary......................................................................................... 1
Risk Factors............................................................................................... 12
The Exchange Offer......................................................................................... 33
Use of Proceeds............................................................................................ 41
Capitalization............................................................................................. 42
Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Data......................................................... 43
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations...................... 45
Business................................................................................................... 55
Management................................................................................................. 79
Principal Stockholders..................................................................................... 82
Description of Capital Stock............................................................................... 84
Description of the Notes................................................................................... 86
Book-Entry; Delivery and Form.............................................................................. 111
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations............................................................. 113
Plan of Distribution....................................................................................... 116
Legal Matters.............................................................................................. 117
Experts.................................................................................................... 117
Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements........................................................... 117
Available Information...................................................................................... 117
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............................................................ 118
Glossary of Terms.......................................................................................... 119
</TABLE>
iv
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY, AND SHOULD BE READ IN
CONJUNCTION WITH, THE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION APPEARING ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS. AS USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES,
THE TERMS THE "COMPANY" AND "IDT" REFER TO IDT CORPORATION, A DELAWARE
CORPORATION, ITS PREDECESSOR, INTERNATIONAL DISCOUNT TELECOMMUNICATIONS, CORP.,
A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("IDT NEW YORK"), AND THEIR SUBSIDIARIES, COLLECTIVELY.
ALL INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS GIVES EFFECT TO THE 1996 REINCORPORATION OF
THE COMPANY IN DELAWARE. THE COMPANY'S FISCAL YEAR ENDS ON JULY 31 OF EACH
CALENDAR YEAR. ALL REFERENCES TO FISCAL YEARS IN THIS PROSPECTUS REFER TO THE
FISCAL YEARS ENDING IN THE CALENDAR YEARS INDICATED (E.G., FISCAL 1997 REFERS TO
THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 1997). CERTAIN TERMS USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS ARE
DEFINED IN THE GLOSSARY BEGINNING ON PAGE 118.
THE COMPANY
IDT is a leading emerging multinational carrier that combines its position
as an international telecommunications operator, its experience as an Internet
service provider and its leading position in Internet telephony to provide a
broad range of telecommunications services to its wholesale and retail customers
worldwide. The Company provides its customers with integrated and competitively
priced international and domestic long distance, Internet access and, through
its Net2Phone product offerings, Internet telephony services. IDT delivers these
services over a high-quality network consisting of 15 switches in the U.S. and
Europe and owned and leased transmission capacity on 11 undersea fiber optic
cables, together with resale capacity obtained from other carriers. The Company
terminates its international traffic worldwide pursuant to resale arrangements
with domestic carriers and through terminating agreements with 17 PTTs and
competitive foreign carriers. In addition, IDT maintains a domestic Internet
backbone to support both its traditional Internet access services as well as its
Internet telephony services. The Company has grown considerably in recent years,
generating revenues of $11.7 million, $57.7 million and $135.2 million in Fiscal
1995, Fiscal 1996 and Fiscal 1997, respectively, and $125.7 million in the six
months ended January 31, 1998.
The Company believes that it is well positioned to capitalize on the
opportunities presented by the large and growing market for international
telecommunications services. According to industry sources, revenues generated
by the international telecommunications industry increased to $61.3 billion in
1996 from $23.9 billion in 1987, a compound annual growth rate of 11.0%. The
market for international voice and data telecommunications is undergoing
fundamental changes and has experienced significant growth as a result of (i)
the deregulation and privatization of telecommunications markets worldwide; (ii)
the convergence of traditional voice and packet switching technology; and (iii)
the growth of the Internet as a communications medium, including Internet
telephony. As a result of these factors, as well as general increases in demand
for telecommunications services, industry sources have projected that
international telecommunications revenues may approach $85.7 billion by 2000, a
compound annual growth rate of 8.7% from 1996.
As of January 31, 1998, the Company had approximately 110 wholesale
customers located in the U.S. and Europe. IDT supplements this wholesale
customer base by offering retail long distance services to individual and
business customers in the U.S. and over 170 other countries. Within the U.S.,
IDT provides dedicated and dial-up Internet access services to approximately
75,000 retail customers. The Company's Net2Phone service, which allows customers
to make telephone calls from any multimedia PC to any telephone, and the
Company's recently launched Net2Phone Direct service, which enables users to
make phone-to-phone calls over the Internet, have been used by over 300,000
registered customers worldwide.
The Company operates a growing facilities-based telecommunications network
consisting of (i) 14 Excel and Nortel switches in the U.S. and Europe; (ii)
owned and leased transmission capacity on 11 undersea fiber optic cables
connecting the Company's U.S. facilities with its international facilities and
with the facilities of its foreign partners in Europe, Latin America and Asia;
and (iii) resale capacity obtained on a per-minute basis from other carriers.
The Company monitors its network 24 hours a day, seven days a week through an
automated network operations center. The Company follows a disciplined,
1
<PAGE>
incremental approach to network expansion, investing in facilities when the
Company determines that such investments are justified by traffic volumes. The
Company plans to expand its global telecommunications network infrastructure in
order to reduce its operating costs, ensure service quality and facilitate the
expansion of its customer base. IDT plans to install Company-owned switches in
France, Germany and Italy by the end of Fiscal 1998 and to continue to pursue
operating agreements with foreign carriers in order to terminate traffic
directly at advantageous rates. IDT also operates a domestic Internet network
comprised of multiple leased DS3 lines, creating a 45 mbps high speed backbone,
and leased T1 lines. IDT operates one of the nation's largest Internet access
networks, providing local dial-up access through more than 75 POPs owned by the
Company, and more than 375 additional POPs owned by local and regional ISPs (the
"Alliance Partners"). This Internet network, combined with the Company's
telecommunications network, is also used to route IDT's Internet telephony
traffic.
IDT's background as a leading alternative provider of wholesale and retail
international telecommunications services, combined with its experience as a
domestic ISP and its leadership role in the field of Internet telephony,
position it to capitalize on continuing deregulation in the international
telecommunications marketplace and the convergence of voice and data
telecommunications technologies. The Company leverages its customer base,
existing carrier relationships and technology platforms to (i) develop new, low-
cost termination arrangements; (ii) offer new services such as prepaid calling
cards and Internet telephony to wholesale and retail customers in target
countries; and (iii) negotiate partnership arrangements with existing and
emerging carriers to market the Company's Internet telephony services.
STRATEGY
The Company's objective is to be a leading provider of high-quality,
low-cost international telecommunications services to wholesale and retail
customers in both the U.S. and abroad. Key elements of the Company's strategy
include:
FOCUS ON INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS. The Company believes that the
international long distance market provides attractive opportunities due to its
higher revenue and gross profit per minute, and higher projected growth rate
compared to the domestic long distance market. The Company targets international
markets with high volumes of traffic, relatively high per-minute rates and
favorable prospects for deregulation and privatization. The Company believes
that the ongoing trend toward deregulation and privatization will create new
opportunities for the Company to increase its revenues and to reduce its
termination costs, while maintaining balanced growth in wholesale and retail
traffic.
EXPAND SWITCHING AND TRANSMISSION FACILITIES. The Company is continuing to
expand and enhance its network facilities by investing in switching and
transmission facilities where traffic volumes justify such investments. Through
Fiscal 1999, the Company intends to invest in (i) undersea cables connecting the
U.S. and Europe, the U.S. and Asia, and points within Europe; (ii) switching
facilities in the U.S., the U.K., France, Italy, Germany and other European
countries; and (iii) additional network compression equipment. The Company
believes that these investments will allow it to reduce its cost of service and
to enhance its service offerings, while maintaining carrier-grade service
quality.
EXPAND SERVICE OFFERINGS AND MARKETING ACTIVITIES. The Company will
continue to develop value-added services and to market them on a wholesale and
retail basis in order to increase margins, optimize network utilization and
improve customer loyalty. IDT has historically used technology to capitalize on
regulatory opportunities and market niches by offering innovative value-added
services such as call reorigination, international prepaid calling cards and
Internet telephony. In addition, the Company intends to capitalize on its
strategic alliances and other relationships with U.S. and foreign companies in
order to expand its customer base.
COMBINE VOICE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INTERNET TELEPHONY EXPERTISE. The
Company's knowledge of international voice telecommunications technology, packet
switching technology and Internet telephony provides the Company with a
significant competitive advantage as voice and Internet technologies converge.
The efficiencies of packet switching technology and the artificially high costs
of terminating
2
<PAGE>
international voice traffic resulting from the Accounting Rate Mechanism (a
negotiated rate which international long distance providers pay one another to
terminate traffic) are expected to result in high growth for Internet telephony
and the transmission of voice telecommunications using packet switching
technology. The Company expects that its leadership in Internet telephony and
its knowledge of voice telecommunications systems will enable it to partner with
foreign carriers seeking to provide inexpensive international termination to
their customers.
PURSUE STRATEGIC ALLIANCES AND INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS. The Company has
capitalized on its significant traffic volume and technological expertise to
negotiate favorable termination agreements with international carriers. The
Company intends to continue to seek new termination relationships with
established and emerging carriers to reduce its termination costs for
traditional international voice telephony, and to seek foreign partners for the
expansion of its Internet telephony offerings. To date, the Company has entered
into 17 agreements with carriers that provide for the termination of its calls
in 27 countries. In addition, the Company has negotiated partnership
arrangements with Daewoo Corporation and Naray Mobile Telecom Inc. in South
Korea and Marubeni Corporation in Japan to market its Internet telephony
services. In addition, the Company will selectively pursue strategic
acquisitions as they become available.
MAINTAIN LOW OPERATING COSTS AND IMPROVE PROFITABILITY. The Company seeks
to continue to improve its profitability by (i) maintaining a streamlined
general and administrative staff; (ii) leveraging its general and administrative
staff across its complementary telecommunications services businesses; (iii)
capitalizing on its wholesale traffic volumes to arrange cost-effective resale
and termination arrangements, while continuing to increase its sales of higher
margin retail international minutes; and (iv) investing in network
infrastructure and selling, general and administration expenses when such
investment is justified by traffic volumes.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
DEBT AND EQUITY FINANCING. The Company completed a public offering of
5,318,750 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"),
in February 1998, 5,093,750 shares of which were sold by the Company and 225,000
shares of which were sold by certain stockholders of the Company (the "Equity
Offering"). The net proceeds to the Company from the Equity Offering were $119.8
million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated
offering expenses and after adding the proceeds from the exercise of stock
options exercised by certain selling stockholders. In addition, in February
1998, the Company completed the offering of the Old Notes (the "Initial
Offering"). The net proceeds to the Company from the Initial Offering were $96.5
million, after deducting commissions and expenses. The Company intends to use
the net proceeds from the Equity Offering and the Initial Offering for the
expansion of its international and domestic telecommunications networks, product
development, expansion of its sales and marketing activities, and working
capital and other general corporate purposes, including potential acquisitions.
ACQUISITION OF IX. In April 1998, the Company entered into an Agreement and
Plan of Merger (the "IX Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which it agreed to
purchase all of the outstanding capital stock of InterExchange, Inc, a Delaware
corporation, and four related corporations acquired by InterExchange, Inc.
immediately prior to the transaction (collectively, "IX"), in exchange for
3,242,323 shares of the Company's Common Stock and $20.0 million in cash, which
was funded out of the Company's working capital. The closing of this transaction
took place on May 6, 1998. A portion of the shares of the Company's Common Stock
to be distributed pursuant to the IX Merger Agreement were deposited into an
escrow account to be delivered to the former stockholders of IX in five equal
installments and a second portion of such shares will remain in escrow until
October 2002 in order to satisfy certain indemnification obligations that the
former stockholders of IX may have under the IX Merger Agreement. This
transaction will be treated as a purchase for accounting purposes and is
intended to qualify as a tax-free reorganization under the provisions of Section
368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. IX provides satellite
frame relay networking and carrier-grade Internet telephony to several
international destinations,
3
<PAGE>
and operates one of the nation's largest international debit card platforms.
Prior to the transactions contemplated by the IX Merger Agreement, Dr. David L.
Turock, the Company's Director of Technology, owned 50% of the outstanding
shares of InterExchange, Inc. and served as its Chairman of the Board. With the
acquisition of IX, the Company expects to both cut its costs and facilitate its
rapid network expansion plan.
PRELIMINARY OPERATING RESULTS. The following is a summary of the Company's
preliminary unaudited consolidated operating results for the nine months ended
April 30, 1997 and 1998, together with certain balance sheet information as of
April 30, 1998. The preliminary historical operating results set forth below are
not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year or
future periods and are provided for information purposes only.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NINE MONTHS ENDED
APRIL 30,
---------------------
1997 1998
--------- ----------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT
PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenues................................................................................... $ 94,174 $ 212,815
Income (loss) from operations.............................................................. (4,751) 10,399
Net income (loss).......................................................................... (4,776) 9,953
Net income (loss) per share-basic.......................................................... (0.18) (0.36)
Net income (loss) per share-diluted........................................................ (0.18) (0.32)
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AS OF
-------------
APRIL 30,
1998
-------------
<S> <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments............................................... $ 179,527
Total assets....................................................................................... 321,907
Total stockholders' equity......................................................................... 172,858
</TABLE>
------------------------
The Company is incorporated in the State of Delaware. The Company's
principal executive offices are located at 190 Main Street, Hackensack, New
Jersey 07601, its telephone number is (201) 928-1000, and its Internet address
is http://www.idt.net.
------------------------
IDT-Registered Trademark-, IDT and design-Registered Trademark-, and
Genie-Registered Trademark- are registered service marks of the Company. All
other trademarks and service marks referred to in this Prospectus are the
property of their respective owners.
4
<PAGE>
THE EXCHANGE OFFER
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Notes Offered....................... Up to $100.0 million aggregate principal amount of
8 3/4% Senior Notes due 2006, which will be
registered under the Securities Act. The form and
term of the New Notes are substantially identical to
the Old Notes in all material respects, except that
the New Notes will be registered under the Securities
Act, and therefore will not be subject to certain
transfer restrictions and registration rights
provisions applicable to the Old Notes.
The Exchange Offer.................. $1,000 principal amount of New Notes in exchange for
each $1,000 principal amount of Old Notes. The New
Notes are being offered in exchange for up to $100.0
million principal amount of Old Notes. The issuance
of the New Notes is intended to satisfy certain
obligations of the Company contained in the
Registration Rights Agreement. See "The Exchange
Offer--Terms of the Exchange Offer."
Expiration Date..................... The Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on July 13, 1998, or such later date and
time to which it is extended. See "The Exchange
Offer--Terms of the Exchange Offer."
Withdrawal.......................... Tenders of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer
may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New
York City time, on the Expiration Date. See "The
Exchange Offer-- Expiration Date; Extensions;
Amendments."
Conditions of the Exchange Offer.... The Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any
minimum principal amount of Old Notes being tendered
for exchange. The only condition to the Exchange
Offer is the declaration by the Commission of the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement of which
this Prospectus constitutes a part. See "The Exchange
Offer--Conditions of the Exchange Offer."
Procedures for Tendering Old
Notes............................. Each holder of Old Notes desiring to accept the
Exchange Offer must complete, sign and date the
Letter of Transmittal according to the instructions
contained herein and therein, and mail or otherwise
deliver the Letter of Transmittal, together with the
Old Notes and any other required documents, to the
Exchange Agent (as defined herein) at the address set
forth herein prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the Expiration Date. Any beneficial owner whose
Old Notes are registered in the name of a broker,
dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other
nominee and who wishes to tender such Old Notes in
the Exchange Offer should instruct such entity or
person to promptly tender on such beneficial owner's
behalf.
</TABLE>
5
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Guaranteed Delivery Holders
Procedures........................ Holders of Old Notes who wish to tender their Old
Notes and (i) whose Old Notes are not immediately
available or (ii) who cannot deliver their Old Notes
together with the Letter of Transmittal to the
Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date may
tender their Old Notes according to the guaranteed
delivery procedures set forth in the Letter of
Transmittal. See "The Exchange Offer--Guaranteed
Delivery Procedures."
Acceptance of Old Notes and Delivery
of New Notes...................... Upon effectiveness of the Registration Statement of
which this Prospectus constitutes a part and
consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Company will
accept any and all Old Notes that are properly
tendered in the Exchange Offer prior to 5:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on the Expiration Date. The New
Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be
delivered promptly after acceptance of the Old Notes.
See "The Exchange Offer--Acceptance of Old Notes for
Exchange; Delivery of New Notes."
The Exchange Agent.................. U.S. Bank Trust National Association, formerly known
as First Trust National Association has agreed to
serve as the exchange agent (in such capacity, the
"Exchange Agent") in connection with the Exchange
Offer. See "The Exchange Offer--Acceptance of Old
Notes for Exchange; Delivery of New Notes."
Certain Federal Income Tax
Considerations.................... See "Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations."
Use of Proceeds..................... There will be no proceeds to the Company from the
exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer. See "Use of
Proceeds."
Fees and Expenses................... All expenses incident to the Company's consummation
of the Exchange Offer and compliance with the
Registration Rights Agreement will be borne by the
Company. The Company will also pay certain transfer
taxes applicable to the Exchange Offer. See "The
Exchange Offer--Fees and Expenses."
Accrued Interest.................... The New Notes will bear interest at a rate equal to
8 3/4% per annum from their date of issuance. Holders
whose Old Notes are accepted for exchange will have
the right to receive interest accrued thereon from
the date of original issuance or date of the last
interest payment, as applicable, to, but not
including, the date of issuance of the New Notes,
such interest to be payable with the first interest
payment date on the New Notes. Interest on the Old
Notes accepted for exchange will cease to accrue on
the day prior to the issuance of the New Notes. See
"Description of the Notes--Maturity, Interest and
Principal of the Notes."
</TABLE>
6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Resales of New Notes................ Based on the position of the staff of the Commission
as set forth in certain interpretive letters issued
to third parties in other transactions, the Company
believes that the New Notes issued pursuant to the
Exchange Offer to any holder of Old Notes in exchange
for Old Notes may be offered for resale, resold and
otherwise transferred by a holder (other than (i) a
broker-dealer who purchased the Old Notes directly
from the Company for resale pursuant to Rule 144A
under the Securities Act or (ii) a person that is an
affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule
405 under the Securities Act), without further
compliance with the registration and prospectus
delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided
that such holder is acquiring the New Notes in the
ordinary course of business and is not participating,
and has no arrangement or understanding with any
person to participate, in a distribution of the New
Notes. Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for
its own account in exchange for Old Notes, where such
Old Notes were acquired by such broker as a result of
market-making or other trading activities, must
acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such New Notes. See
"The Exchange Offer--Resales of the New Notes" and
"Plan of Distribution."
Effect of Not Tendering Old Notes
for Exchange...................... Old Notes that are not tendered or that are not
properly tendered will, following the expiration of
the Exchange Offer, continue to be subject to the
existing restrictions upon transfer thereof. The
Company will have no further obligations to provide
for the registration under the Securities Act of such
Old Notes and such Old Notes will, following the
expiration of the Exchange Offer, bear interest at
the same rate as the New Notes.
</TABLE>
DESCRIPTION OF NEW NOTES
The form and terms of the New Notes will be identical in all material
respects to the form and terms of the Old Notes, except that the New Notes will
be registered under the Securities Act, and therefore will not be subject to
certain transfer restrictions, and registration rights provisions applicable to
the Old Notes. The Exchange Offer shall be deemed consummated upon the
occurrence of the delivery by the Issuer to the Exchange Agent of New Notes in
the same aggregate principal amount as the aggregate principal amount of Old
Notes that are validly tendered by holders thereof pursuant to the Exchange
Offer. See "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering Old Notes" and
"Description of the Notes."
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Notes Offered....................... Up to $100.0 million in aggregate principal amount of
8 3/4% Senior Notes due 2006.
Maturity Date....................... February 15, 2006.
Interest Payment Dates.............. February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing
August 15, 1998.
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Indenture........................... The New Notes will be issued pursuant to an Indenture
(the "Indenture"), dated February 18, 1998, between
the Company and U.S. Bank Trust National Association,
formerly known as First Trust National Association,
as Trustee (the "Trustee"). The Indenture provides
for the issuance of up to $275.0 million aggregate
principal amount of the Notes, of which up to $100.0
million will be issued in the Exchange Offer.
Optional Redemption................. The New Notes will be redeemable at the option of the
Company, in whole or in part, at any time on or after
February 15, 2002, at the redemption prices set forth
herein, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date
of redemption. In addition, at any time on or prior
to February 15, 2001, the Company may redeem up to
35% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes
issued under the Indenture with the net proceeds of
one or more public offerings of Common Stock at a
redemption price equal to 108.75% of the principal
amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to
the date of redemption; provided that at least 65% of
the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued
under the Indenture remains outstanding immediately
after such redemption. See "Description of the
Notes--Redemption."
Ranking............................. The New Notes will be general unsecured obligations
of the Company and will rank senior in right of
payment to all future Indebtedness of the Company
that is, by its terms or by the terms of the
agreement or instrument governing such Indebtedness,
expressly subordinated in right of payment to the
Notes and PARI PASSU in right of payment with all
existing and future unsecured liabilities of the
Company that are not so subordinated. See
"Description of the Notes--Ranking."
Subsidiary Guarantees............... Certain of the Company's subsidiaries are not
permitted to guarantee certain indebtedness of the
Company unless such subsidiary guarantees the
Company's obligations under the Notes. See
"Description of the Notes--Certain Covenants--
Limitation on Issuances of Guarantees by Restricted
Subsidiaries."
Change of Control................... Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control (as
defined), holders of the New Notes will have the
right to require the Company to purchase their Notes,
in whole or in part, at a purchase price equal to
101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus
accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.
See "Description of the Notes--Change of Control."
</TABLE>
8
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Certain Covenants................... The Indenture contains certain covenants, including,
but not limited to, covenants limiting the Company
with respect to the following: restricted payments,
incurrence of additional indebtedness, liens,
transactions with affiliates, asset sales,
investments, payment restrictions affecting
subsidiaries and mergers and consolidations. See
"Description of the Notes-- Certain Covenants."
Exchange Rights..................... Holders of the New Notes will not be entitled to any
exchange or registration rights with respect to the
New Notes. Holders of the Old Notes are entitled to
certain exchange rights pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement entered into concurrently with the
Initial Offering by and among the Issuer and the
Initial Purchasers. This Exchange Offer is intended
to satisfy the Company's obligation under the
Registration Rights Agreement. Once the Exchange
Offer is consummated, the Company will generally have
no further obligations to register any of the Old
Notes not tendered by the holders for exchange. See
"Risk Factors--Consequences of Failure to Exchange."
Use of Proceeds..................... The Company will not receive any cash proceeds from
the issuance of the New Notes in connection with the
Exchange Offer. See "Use of Proceeds."
</TABLE>
For additional information concerning the Notes, see "Description of the Notes."
9
<PAGE>
SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
The summary consolidated financial and operating data set forth below is
qualified in its entirety by, and should be read together with, "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and
the other financial information included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIX
MONTHS ENDED
YEAR ENDED JULY 31, JANUARY 31,
----------------------------------------------------- ------------------
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1997 1998
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA AND OTHER OPERATING DATA)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
DATA:
Revenues:
Telecommunications..... $ 1,675 $ 3,169 $10,789 $ 35,708 $ 99,937 $40,041 $110,854
Internet access........ -- -- 875 21,986 32,895 19,210 10,044
Net2Phone.............. -- -- -- -- 2,355 472 4,806
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------
Total revenues....... 1,675 3,169 11,664 57,694 135,187 59,723 125,704
Costs and expenses:
Direct cost of
revenues............. 272 990 7,544 36,438 92,214 38,874 92,310
Selling, general and
administrative....... 1,019 2,402 5,992 35,799 41,545 23,843 23,706
Depreciation and
amortization......... 79 106 303 1,212 4,873 2,047 3,788
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------
Total costs and
expenses........... 1,370 3,498 13,839 73,449 138,632 64,764 119,804
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------
Income (loss) from
operations............. 305 (329) (2,175) (15,755) (3,445) (5,041) 5,900
Other, net(1)............ (3) 31 30 112 (392) 104 (783)
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------
Net income (loss)........ $ 302 $ (298) $(2,145) $(15,643) $ (3,837) $(4,937) $ 5,117
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------
Net income (loss) per
share-basic............ $ 0.02 $ (0.02) $ (0.13) $ (0.86) $ (0.18) $ (0.24) $ 0.23
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------
Weighted average number
of shares used in
calculation of net
income (loss) per
share-basic............ 16,241 16,241 16,241 18,180 21,153 20,857 22,638
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------
Net income (loss) per
share-diluted.......... $ 0.02 $ (0.02) $ (0.13) $ (0.86) $ (0.18) $ (0.24) $ 0.20
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------
Weighted average number
of shares used in
calculation of net
income (loss) per
share-diluted.......... 16,241 16,241 16,241 18,180 21,153 20,857 26,087
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------- -------
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:
EBITDA(2)................ $ 384 $ (223) $(1,872) $(14,543) $ 1,428 $(2,994) $ 9,688
EBITDA margin(3)......... 22.9% (7.0)% (16.0)% (25.2)% 1.1% (5.0)% 7.7%
Capital expenditures..... $ 229 $ 717 $ 1,326 $ 11,895 $ 18,049 $12,324 $12,668
Ratio of earnings to
fixed charges(4)....... 31.2x -- -- -- -- -- 9.5x
OTHER OPERATING DATA:
Billed telecommunications
minutes of use (in
thousands)(5).......... -- -- 10,900 88,300 233,800 84,900 271,900
Revenue per billed
telecommunications
minute of use(5)....... -- -- $ 0.79 $ 0.36 $ 0.40 $ 0.44 $ 0.42
Number of employees at
end of period.......... 14 49 96 485 360 535 382
Number of switches at end
of period.............. -- -- 1 3 9 4 14
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
JANUARY 31, 1998
------------------------
ACTUAL PRO FORMA(6)
--------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
(IN THOUSANDS)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and cash equivalents................................................................ $ 8,641 $ 224,921
Total assets............................................................................. 90,344 310,124
Total long-term debt..................................................................... 18,636 118,636
Total liabilities........................................................................ 49,969 149,869
Total stockholders' equity............................................................... 40,375 160,155
</TABLE>
10
<PAGE>
(1) For the year ended July 31, 1996, includes an extraordinary loss on
retirement of debt of $233,500.
(2) EBITDA represents net earnings (loss) before interest, income taxes,
depreciation and amortization. While EBITDA is not a measurement of
financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles and
should not be construed either as a substitute for net earnings (loss) as a
measure of performance or cash flow from operations as a measure of
liquidity, it is included herein because it is a measure commonly used in
the telecommunications industry.
(3) Represents EBITDA divided by total revenues.
(4) For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings
consist of income before income taxes and fixed charges. Fixed charges
consist of interest expense plus the interest component of rent expense. For
the years ended July 31, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 and for the six months
ended January 31, 1997, earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges. The
coverage deficiencies were $298,000, $2.1 million, $15.6 million, $3.8
million and $4.9 million, respectively.
(5) Excludes minutes of use and revenues from domestic long distance services.
The Company did not derive a material portion of its telecommunications
revenues on a per-minute basis in Fiscal 1993 and Fiscal 1994.
(6) Pro forma to give effect to (i) the Equity Offering after deducting
underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses paid
by the Company; (ii) the receipt by the Company of proceeds from the
exercise of stock options for 200,000 shares sold by certain selling
stockholders in the Equity Offering; and (iii) the Initial Offering after
deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses paid by the Company,
as if each of these events had occurred January 31, 1998. Additional pro
forma information reflecting the above transactions and the transactions
contemplated by the IX Merger Agreement is set forth in and incorporated by
reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 21, 1998,
as amended.
11
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
THE NOTES OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. IN EVALUATING THE
EXCHANGE OFFER, THE FOLLOWING RISK FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY, IN
ADDITION TO THE OTHER INFORMATION WHICH APPEARS IN THIS PROSPECTUS. THE
DISCUSSION IN THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT
INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, SUCH AS STATEMENTS OF THE COMPANY'S PLANS,
OBJECTIVES, EXPECTATIONS AND INTENTIONS. THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS COULD
DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE DISCUSSED HEREIN. FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE OR
CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH DIFFERENCES INCLUDE THOSE DISCUSSED BELOW AS WELL AS THOSE
DISCUSSED ELSEWHERE HEREIN. THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE
MADE AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS, AND THE COMPANY ASSUMES NO OBLIGATION TO
UPDATE SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS OR TO UPDATE THE REASONS THAT ACTUAL
RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE ANTICIPATED IN SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS. SEE "MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" AND "INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS."
EFFECTS OF LEVERAGE
On January 31, 1998, after giving pro forma effect to the Initial Offering
and the Equity Offering, the Company would have had total indebtedness of
approximately $118.6 million (of which $100.0 million would have consisted of
the Notes, and the balance would have consisted of other obligations) and
stockholders' equity of approximately $160.2 million. The Company's coverage
deficiency was $3.8 million for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997 and its
ratio of earnings to fixed charges was 9.5 for the six months ended January 31,
1998. Moreover, the Company will be permitted to incur additional indebtedness
in the future. See "Capitalization" and "Description of the Notes--Certain
Covenants--Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness."
The Company's ability to make scheduled payments of principal of, or to pay
the interest on, or to refinance, its indebtedness (including the Notes), or to
fund planned capital expenditures or future acquisitions will depend on its
future performance, which, to a certain extent, is subject to general economic,
financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are
beyond its control. Based upon the current level of operations and anticipated
revenue growth, management believes that cash flow from operations and available
cash will be adequate to meet the Company's anticipated future requirements for
working capital, budgeted capital expenditures and scheduled payments of
principal and interest on its indebtedness, including the Notes, for at least
the next 12 months. The Company cannot predict the impact of future acquisitions
on its cash requirements. The Company may need to refinance all or a portion of
the principal of the Notes on or prior to maturity. There can be no assurance
that the Company's business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations
or that anticipated revenue growth will be realized in an amount sufficient to
enable the Company to service its indebtedness, including the Notes, make
anticipated capital expenditures or fund future acquisitions. In addition, there
can be no assurance that the Company will be able to effect any such refinancing
on reasonable terms or at all. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital Resources."
The degree to which the Company has become leveraged as a result of the
Initial Offering could have important consequences to holders of the Notes,
including but not limited to: (i) increasing the Company's vulnerability to
adverse economic and industry conditions, (ii) limiting the Company's ability to
obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital
expenditures, future acquisitions and other general corporate purposes, (iii)
requiring the dedication of a substantial portion of the Company's cash flow
from operations to the payment of principal of, and interest on, its
indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of such cash flow to fund
acquisitions, working capital, capital expenditures or other general corporate
purposes, (iv) limiting the Company's flexibility in planning for, or reacting
to, changes in its business and the industry and (v) placing the Company at a
competitive disadvantage relative to less leveraged competitors. In addition,
the Indenture contains financial and other restrictive covenants that limit the
ability of the Company to, among other things, borrow additional funds. Failure
by the Company to comply with such covenants could result in an event of default
which, if not cured or waived, could have
12
<PAGE>
a material adverse effect on the Company. In addition, the degree to which the
Company is leveraged, could prevent it from repurchasing all of the Notes
tendered to it upon the occurrence of a Change of Control. See "Description of
Certain Indebtedness" and "Description of the Notes--Change of Control."
RISKS RELATING TO A CHANGE OF CONTROL
Upon a Change of Control (as defined) holders of the Notes will have the
right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part of such holders'
Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and
unpaid interest to the date of repurchase. There can be no assurance that the
Company would have sufficient financial resources available to satisfy all of
its obligations under the Notes in the event of a Change of Control. The
Company's failure to purchase the Notes would result in a default under the
Indenture, which could have adverse consequences for the Company and the holders
of the Notes. See "Description of the Notes--Change of Control." The definition
of "Change of Control" in the Indenture includes a sale, lease, exchange or
other transfer of "all or substantially all" of the assets of the Company and
its subsidiaries taken as a whole to a person or a group of persons. There is no
clearly established meaning for the phrase "all or substantially all" in the
context of an indenture. Because there is no precise established definition of
this phrase, the ability of a holder of the Notes to require the Company to
repurchase such Notes as a result of a sale, lease, exchange or other transfer
of all or substantially all of the Company's assets to a person or group of
persons may be uncertain.
RESTRICTIVE LOAN COVENANTS
The Indenture contains numerous financial and operating covenants that will
limit the discretion of the Company's management with respect to certain
business matters. These covenants place significant restrictions on, among other
things, the ability of the Company to incur additional indebtedness, to create
liens or other encumbrances, to make certain payments and investments, and to
sell or otherwise dispose of assets and merge or consolidate with other
entities. See "Description of the Notes--Certain Covenants." A failure to comply
with the obligations contained in the Indenture could result in an event of
default under the Indenture which could result in acceleration of the related
debt and the acceleration of debt under other instruments evidencing
indebtedness that may contain cross-acceleration or cross-default provisions.
RISKS OF EXPANSION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF GROWTH STRATEGY
The Company's ability to continue to grow may be affected by various
factors, many of which are not within its control, including governmental
regulation of the telecommunications industry in the U.S. and other countries,
competition and technological developments. Although the Company has experienced
significant growth in a relatively short period of time and intends to continue
to grow rapidly, there can be no assurance that the growth experienced by the
Company will continue or that the Company will be able to expand its
telecommunications infrastructure, add services, expand its customer bases and
markets, install additional POPs or implement the other features of its business
strategy at the rate or to the extent presently planned. The Company has
experienced significant revenue growth and has expanded the number of its
employees and the geographic scope of its operations. These factors have
resulted in increased responsibilities for its management personnel. The
Company's ability to continue to manage its growth successfully will require it
to further expand its network and infrastructure, to enhance its management,
financial and information systems and controls and to effectively expand, train
and manage its employee base. In addition, as the Company increases its service
offerings and expands its target markets, there will be additional demands on
its customer service support and sales, marketing and administrative resources.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully manage
its expanding operations. If the Company's management is unable to manage growth
effectively, the Company's business, financial condition or results of
operations could be materially and adversely affected.
As of January 31, 1998, the Company had 382 employees. The Company believes
that it will need, both in the short-term and in the long-term, to hire
additional sales and marketing and technical
13
<PAGE>
personnel, as well as additional qualified administrative and management
personnel in its accounting and finance areas to manage its financial control
systems. Although the Company has hired additional personnel and upgraded
certain of its systems, there can be no assurance that the Company's
administrative, operating and financial control systems, infrastructure,
personnel and facilities will be adequate to support the Company's future
operations or to effectively adapt to future growth. The inability to continue
to upgrade the operating and financial control systems, the inability to recruit
and hire necessary personnel or the emergence of unexpected expansion
difficulties could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition or results of operations.
Part of the Company's growth strategy is dependent upon the continued
deregulation of foreign telecommunications markets. There can be no assurance
that such deregulation will occur when or to the extent anticipated. The effect
of foreign deregulation on the Company is also uncertain. While the Company
expects that deregulation will give rise to new opportunities, the increase in
competition expected to result from deregulation could cause the Company's
international long distance business to suffer and could have other material
adverse effects on the Company's business, financial condition or results of
operations.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH GROWTH OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS AND CUSTOMER BASE
Historically, the Company has relied primarily on leased transmission
capacity for the delivery of its telecommunications services. The Company's
telecommunications expenses have in the past primarily been variable, based upon
minutes of use, consisting largely of payments to other long distance carriers,
customer/carrier interconnect charges, leased fiber circuit charges and switch
facility costs. However, since Fiscal 1995, the Company has made considerable
capital expenditures in order to expand its network, and intends to continue to
do so in the future. See "Use of Proceeds" and "Business--Strategy." Although
the Company's strategy is to seek to establish significant traffic volumes prior
to investing in fixed-cost facilities, the development of such facilities
entails significant costs and prior planning, which are based in part on the
Company's expectations concerning future revenue growth and market developments.
As the Company expands its network and the volume of its network traffic, the
cost of revenues will increasingly consist of fixed costs arising from the
ownership and maintenance of its switches and undersea fiber optic cables. While
the Company believes that in the long-term these investments will allow it to
reduce its cost of service and to enhance its service offerings, in the
short-term, cost increases and a decrease in the Company's profit margins may
occur. In addition, the fixed nature of these costs is also expected to lead to
larger fluctuations in gross margins, depending on the minutes of traffic and
the associated revenues generated by the Company. If the Company's traffic
volume were to decrease, or fail to increase to the extent expected or necessary
to make efficient use of its network, the Company's costs as a percentage of
revenues would increase significantly, which would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
In addition, the Company's business depends in part on its ability to obtain
transmission facilities on a cost-effective basis. Because undersea fiber optic
cables typically take several years to plan and construct, carriers generally
make investments based on a forecast of anticipated traffic. Therefore, the
Company's operations are subject to the risk that it will not adequately
anticipate the amount of traffic over its network, and may not procure
sufficient network equipment in order to ensure the cost-effective transmission
of customer traffic. The Company does not control the planning or construction
of undersea fiber optic transmission facilities and must seek access to such
facilities through partial ownership positions. If ownership positions are not
available, the Company must seek access to such facilities through lease
arrangements on negotiated terms that may vary with industry and market
conditions. The Company currently owns or leases transmission capacity on 11
undersea fiber optic cables. There can be no assurance that the Company will be
able to continue to obtain sufficient transmission facilities or access to
undersea fiber optic cable on economically viable terms. The failure of the
Company to obtain telecommunications facilities that are sufficient to support
its network traffic in a manner that ensures the reliability and quality
14
<PAGE>
of its telecommunications services may have a material adverse effect on its
business, financial condition or results of operations.
DEPENDENCE ON OTHERS
The Company is dependent on other carriers of network transmission services
for many of its services, and generally does not have long-term contracts with
these carriers. These carriers are not restricted from competing against the
Company. To the extent that any of these carriers raise their rates, change
their pricing structure or provide the Company with a reduced amount of
capacity, the Company may be adversely affected. Also, the Company faces the
risk that there may be a disruption in the service provided by these carriers,
causing a disruption in the services provided by the Company to its customers.
The Company is dependent upon WorldCom, Inc. ("WorldCom"), which is the primary
provider to the Company of leased-line network capacity and data communications
facilities, and leases to the Company physical space for switches, modems and
other equipment. If WorldCom becomes unable to expand its network or becomes
unwilling to provide or expand its current level of service to the Company in
the future, the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations
could be materially adversely affected.
The Company's ability to compete in the long distance telecommunications
market depends, in part, on its ability to procure advantageous rates from PTTs
and from other interexchange carriers ("IXCs"), and on the ability of such
parties to carry the calls the Company routes to their networks. If, as a result
of a termination of its relationship with a PTT or an IXC, or the inability of a
PTT or an IXC to carry traffic routed to it, the Company routed the traffic to
another IXC providing service at a less advantageous rate, or with lesser
quality, there could be a material adverse effect on the Company's profit
margins or network service quality. A reduction of the Company's service quality
could result in a loss of customers, which in turn could reduce the Company's
profit margins. Similarly, if the facilities-based providers whose services the
Company resells were unable to sell such services to the Company, there could be
a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or
results of operations.
The Company is also dependent upon established LECs, WorldCom and other
CLECs to provide telecommunications services to the Company's customers.
Although certain leased data communications services are currently available
from several alternative suppliers, including AT&T Corp. ("AT&T") and Sprint
Corp. ("Sprint"), there can be no assurance that the Company would be able to
obtain substitute services from other suppliers at reasonable or comparable
terms and prices or in a timely fashion.
IDT also depends on other companies to provide Internet access in areas not
serviced by its POPs. The Company depends upon the continued viability and
financial stability of its Alliance Partners and other suppliers, as well as on
the performance of their networks. If a material number of such networks suffer
operational problems or failure, or are unable to expand to satisfy customer
demand, there could be a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company has
from time to time experienced delays in the timely connection of customer
accounts to the Internet by certain of its Alliance Partners. If a material
number of Alliance Partners fail to serve accounts on a timely basis or are
unable to serve accounts generated by the Company's growth, the Company could
lose customers, which may have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition or results of operations.
The Company currently is dependent on software licensed from Netscape
Communications Corporation ("Netscape") and Microsoft Corporation ("Microsoft")
for the front-end software of its Internet access services. The Company uses and
reproduces certain Netscape and Microsoft products, and distributes such
products to distributors and end users together with IDT configuration software.
The occurrence of any operating difficulties in connection with such software
could deter customers from using the Company's Internet access services, which
could result in a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition or results of operations.
The Company is dependent on certain third-party suppliers of equipment and
hardware components, including Sun Microsystems, Inc., Cisco Systems, Inc.
("Cisco"), Northern Telecom Limited ("Nortel"),
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Excel Switching Corp. ("Excel") and Ascend Communications, Inc. A failure by a
supplier to deliver quality services or products on a timely basis, or the
inability to develop alternative sources if and as required, could result in
delays which could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
DEPENDENCE ON SALES REPRESENTATIVES AND RETAILERS
The Company is dependent on its independent sales representatives,
particularly with respect to sales of its international long distance
telecommunications services in key foreign markets. Most of the Company's
independent sales representatives also sell services or products of other
companies. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that these sales
representatives will devote sufficient efforts to promoting and selling the
Company's services, or that the Company will be able to find capable sales
representatives in the new markets into which it is entering. The failure of any
significant sales representative to effectively distribute the Company's
products, would substantially impair the Company's ability to generate revenues
from the sales of these products, which could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
HISTORICAL LOSSES
The Company incurred net losses in Fiscal 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 of
$298,000, $2.1 million, $15.6 million and $3.8 million, respectively. The
Company has only recently begun to generate profits, generating net income of
$161,000, $939,000, $2.0 million and $3.1 million for each of the three-month
periods ended April 30, 1997, July 31, 1997, October 31, 1997, and January 31,
1998, respectively. Although the Company has experienced significant growth in
recent periods, such growth may not be sustainable and should not be considered
indicative of future growth of its business, revenues or profits.
A substantial portion of the Company's revenues in Fiscal 1997 were derived
from telecommunications services. The Company has only a limited operating
history with respect to certain of its services in these areas, and no assurance
can be given regarding the Company's future performance. In addition, the
Company intends to enter markets where it has limited or no operating
experience. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Company's future
operations will continue to generate operating income, and the Company's
prospects must be considered in light of the risks, expenses, problems and
delays inherent in establishing a new business in a rapidly changing industry.
NEED FOR ADDITIONAL CAPITAL TO FINANCE GROWTH AND CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
The Company believes that it must continue to enhance and expand its network
and build out its telecommunications network infrastructure in order to maintain
its competitive position and continue to meet the increasing demands for service
quality, capacity and competitive pricing. The Company's ability to grow
depends, in part, on its ability to expand its operations through the ownership
and leasing of network capacity, which requires significant capital
expenditures, that are often incurred prior to the Company's receipt of the
related revenue.
The Company believes that, based upon its present business plan, the
proceeds from the Initial Offering and the Equity Offering, together with the
Company's existing cash resources and expected cash flow from operating
activities, will be sufficient to meet its currently anticipated working capital
and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next 12 months. If the
Company's growth exceeds current expectations, if the Company obtains one or
more attractive opportunities to purchase the business or assets of another
company, or if the Company's cash flow from operations after the end of such
period is insufficient to meet its working capital and capital expenditure
requirements, the Company will need to raise additional capital from equity or
debt sources. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to raise
such capital on favorable terms or at all. If the Company is unable to obtain
such additional capital, the Company may be required to reduce the scope of its
anticipated expansion, which could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
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DEPENDENCE ON MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
The Company is dependent upon its information systems and switching
equipment to provide service to its customers, manage its network, collect
billing information and perform other vital functions. The Company is
particularly dependent upon its maintenance of an effective billing and
collection system, especially with respect to its call reorigination business,
in which its clients are geographically dispersed. The Company's management
information systems and switching equipment are subject to hardware defects and
software bugs, the existence of which may be outside of the Company's control.
The Company may experience technical difficulties with its hardware or software
which could materially adversely affect the Company's business, financial
condition or results of operations.
RISKS OF NETWORK FAILURE
The success of the Company is largely dependent on its ability to deliver
low-cost, uninterrupted international and domestic long distance telephone
services. Any system or network failure that causes interruptions in the
Company's operations could have a material adverse effect on its business,
financial condition or results of operations. At times, the Company's call
reorigination switching equipment has experienced failures, which temporarily
prevented customers from using its call reorigination services. The Company's
operations are dependent on its ability to successfully expand its network and
integrate new and emerging technologies and equipment into its network, which
are likely to increase the risk of system failure and to cause strain upon the
network. The Company's operations also are dependent on the Company's protection
of its hardware and other equipment from damage from natural disasters such as
fires, floods, hurricanes and earthquakes, or other sources of power loss,
telecommunications failures or similar occurrences. Significant or prolonged
telephone network failures, or difficulties for customers in completing long
distance telephone calls, could damage the reputation of the Company and result
in the loss of customers. Such damage or losses could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's ability to obtain new subscribers and customers, and on
the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
The success of the Company's Internet-related business is dependent on its
ability to deliver high-quality, uninterrupted access to the Internet. In the
past, the Company experienced failures relating to individual POPs, and the
Company's subscribers experienced difficulties in accessing, and maintaining
their connection to, the Internet. The Company maintains a substantial portion
of its Internet accounts, e-mail services, and other systems essential to the
Company's service offerings at its primary operational facilities in Hackensack,
New Jersey. Significant or prolonged system failures or difficulties for
subscribers in accessing and maintaining connection with the Internet could
damage the reputation of the Company and result in the loss of subscribers,
which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition or results of operations.
YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE
Currently, many computer systems and software products are coded to accept
only two digit entries in the date code field. These date code fields will need
to accept four digit entries to distinguish 21st century dates from 20th century
dates. As a result, many companies' software and computer systems may need to be
upgraded or replaced in order to comply with such "Year 2000" requirements. The
Company and third parties with which the Company does business rely on numerous
computer programs in their day to day operations.
The Company is evaluating the Year 2000 issue as it relates to the Company's
internal computer systems and third party computer systems with which the
Company interacts. The Company expects to incur internal staff costs as well as
consulting and other expenses related to these issues; these costs will be
expensed as incurred. In addition, the Company may be required to replace or
upgrade certain systems or equipment at substantial cost. There can be no
assurance that the Year 2000 issues of the Company, or of the third parties with
which the Company interacts (and over which it has no control), will be resolved
in
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1998 or 1999. If not resolved, this issue could have a material adverse impact
on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
The markets the Company services are characterized by rapidly changing
technology, evolving industry standards, emerging competition and the frequent
introduction of new services, software and other products. The Company's success
is dependent in part upon its ability to enhance existing products, software and
services and to develop new products, software and services that meet changing
customer requirements on a timely and cost-effective basis. There can be no
assurance that the Company can successfully identify new opportunities and
develop and bring new products, software and services to market in a timely and
cost-effective manner, or that products, software, services or technologies
developed by others will not render the Company's products, software, services
or technologies noncompetitive or obsolete. In addition, there can be no
assurance that products, software or service developments or enhancements
introduced by the Company will achieve or sustain market acceptance or that they
will effectively address the compatibility and interoperability issues raised by
technological changes or new industry standards.
Fundamental changes in the technologies for delivering telephone, Internet
access and content, and Internet telephony services expose the Company to
substantial risks. For example, although the Company's Internet access services
are currently accessed primarily by computers through telephone lines, several
companies have recently introduced delivery of Internet access services through
cable television lines. If the Internet becomes accessible by other methods or
if there are advancements in the delivery of telephone services, the Company
will need to develop new technology or modify its existing technology to
accommodate these developments. The Company's pursuit of these technological
advances may require substantial time and expense, and there can be no assurance
that the Company will succeed in adapting its businesses to alternate access
devices, conduits or other technological developments.
NEW AND UNCERTAIN MARKETS
Many of the overseas markets in which the Company currently markets long
distance telephone services are undergoing dramatic changes as a result of
privatization and deregulation. The EU has mandated competitive markets for the
European telecommunications industry by January 1998 and the member states of
the EU are at different stages of opening their telecommunications markets. As a
result of privatization and deregulation, a new competitive environment is
emerging in which major European telephone companies, media companies and
utilities are entering the telecommunications market and forming new alliances
which are radically changing the landscape of international and domestic
telephone services. Open markets for telecommunications services are expected to
evolve in other parts of the world as well. While the Company is focused on
exploiting the imbalances brought about by deregulation, the Company frequently
enters new markets and is unable to predict how the regulatory environments of
such markets will evolve. There can be no assurance that changes in the
marketplace and new strategic alliances among companies with greater resources
than the Company will not adversely affect the Company's ability to continue its
efforts to increase its overseas telecommunications customer base and its
traffic volume, or its ability to recover the cost of building out its
international telecommunications switching infrastructure.
The markets for Internet access, content and telephony services and related
software products are relatively new, and the Company's current and future
competitors are likely to introduce competing Internet access and/or online
services and products. Therefore, it is difficult to predict the rate at which
these markets will grow or at which new or increased competition will result in
market saturation. If demand for Internet services fails to grow, or grows more
slowly than anticipated, or if the market becomes saturated with competitors,
the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations could be
adversely affected. Although the Company intends to support emerging standards
in the market for Internet access, there can be no assurance that industry
standards will emerge or if they become
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established, that the Company will be able to conform to these new standards in
a timely fashion and maintain a competitive position in the market. See
"Business--Research and Development."
In August 1996, the Company began offering Net2Phone, the first commercial
telephone service to bridge calls between multimedia PCs and telephones via the
Internet, and in October 1997, the Company introduced Net2Phone Direct, a
service that allows for phone-to-phone calling via the Internet. The Company
believes that these services expand the role of the Internet as a communications
medium, and enable users to benefit from substantially reduced long distance
telecommunications rates. However, Internet telephony is in the early stages of
development, and there continue to be issues regarding quality and consistency
of such service. Although Internet telephony continues to be an area of intense
focus of various Internet software providers, traditional telephone service
companies and telephone equipment manufacturers, there can be no assurance that
Internet telephony will gain market acceptance or prove to be a viable
alternative to traditional telephone service. Notwithstanding the potential cost
savings, many international telephone callers, accustomed to the convenience and
quality of phone-to-phone international calling, may not switch to Internet
telephony services. The failure of Internet telephony to develop as a viable
industry may adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition or
results of operations.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS; CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS
In Fiscal 1995, 1996, 1997 and in the six-month period ended January 31,
1998, international customers accounted for approximately 56%, 23%, 25% and 14%
of the Company's total revenues, respectively. The Company anticipates that
revenues from international customers will continue to account for a significant
percentage of its total revenues. In addition, part of the Company's growth
strategy is to install a gateway switching infrastructure in foreign countries.
Therefore, a significant portion of the Company's total revenues, as well as a
portion of its equipment and other property, will be subject to risks associated
with international operations, including unexpected changes in legal and
regulatory requirements; changes in tariffs, exchange rates and other barriers;
the collection and payment of applicable value-added taxes ("VAT"); political
and economic instability; difficulties in collecting accounts receivable; longer
payment cycles; difficulties in establishing, maintaining and managing
independent foreign sales organizations; difficulties in staffing and managing
international operations; difficulties in maintaining and repairing equipment
abroad; difficulties in protecting the Company's intellectual property overseas;
possible confiscation of property and equipment; potentially adverse tax
consequences; and the regulation of telecommunications companies and ISPs by
foreign jurisdictions. Although the Company's sales to date have generally been
denominated in U.S. dollars, some of the Company's recent contracts are
denominated in foreign currencies, and the value of the U.S. dollar in relation
to foreign currencies may also adversely affect the Company's sales to
international customers as well as the cost of procuring, installing and
maintaining equipment abroad. To the extent the Company expands its
international operations or begins to denominate prices in foreign currencies,
the Company will be exposed to increased risks of currency fluctuation. The
Company does not, and has no plans to, engage in hedging activities designed to
manage currency fluctuations. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Business--Sales and
Marketing."
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH COLLECTIONS OF RECEIVABLES
The Company's business as a wholesale provider of international long
distance services makes it highly dependent upon traffic carried by the Company
for other long distance providers, and the collection of receivable balances
from such customers. While the Company's most significant customers vary from
quarter to quarter, the Company's five largest customers accounted for 20.8% of
revenues in the year ended July 31, 1997, and 37.1% of revenues in the six month
period ended January 31, 1998. This concentration of revenues amplifies the risk
of non-payment by customers, and other carriers have experienced significant
receivable writeoffs related to the provision of wholesale carrier services.
While the Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers, it
generally does not require collateral to
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support accounts receivable from its customers. If the Company experiences
difficulties in the collection of its accounts receivable from its major
customers, the Company's financial condition and results of operations could be
materially adversely affected.
Historically, the Company has experienced losses from the uncollectability
of receivables in its Internet access and call reorigination businesses. The
call reorigination business is particularly susceptible to credit risks because
the customers for such services reside in a wide range of countries, many of
which do not have established credit bureaus, thereby making it more difficult
for the Company to ascertain the creditworthiness of potential customers. The
Company's Internet access business is characterized by a large number of small
dollar value receivables. As a result, the collection costs associated with
delinquent Internet access receivables are high relative to the receivable
balances.
In addition, the Company expends considerable resources to collect
receivables from customers who fail to make payment in a timely manner. While
the Company continually seeks to minimize bad debt, and at times requires
collateral to support accounts receivable from certain customers, the Company's
experience indicates that a certain portion of past due receivables will never
be collected and that such bad debt is a necessary cost of conducting business.
As of January 31, 1998, the Company reserved approximately $2.8 million for
receivables expected to be uncollectible. There can be no assurance, however,
that, with regard to any particular time period or periods or any particular
geographic location or locations, bad debt expense will not rise significantly
above historical or anticipated levels. Any significant increase in bad debt
levels could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition or results of operations.
The telecommunications and Internet access industries have historically
incurred losses due to fraud. Although the Company has implemented anti-fraud
measures in order to control losses relating to fraudulent practices, there can
be no assurance that the Company can effectively control fraud when operating in
the international or domestic telecommunications arena. The Company's failure to
effectively control fraud could have a material adverse effect on its business,
financial condition or results of operations.
INCREASING COMPETITION
The markets in which the Company operates are extremely competitive and can
be significantly influenced by the marketing and pricing decisions of larger
industry participants. There are limited barriers to entry in many of the
telecommunications and Internet markets in which the Company competes. The
Company expects competition in these markets to intensify in the future.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Currently, the Company competes with (i) IXCs and other long distance
resellers and providers, including large carriers, such as AT&T, MCI, Sprint,
and WorldCom; (ii) foreign PTTs; (iii) other providers of international long
distance services such as STAR Telecommunications, Inc., Pacific Gateway
Exchange, Inc., RSL Communications Ltd. and Telegroup, Inc.; (iv) alliances that
provide wholesale carrier services, such as "Global One" (Sprint, Deutsche
Telekom AG and France Telecom S.A.) and Uniworld (AT&T, Unisource-Telecom
Netherlands, Telia AB, Swiss Telecom PTT and Telefonica de Espana S.A.); (v) new
entrants to the domestic long distance market such as the regional bell
operations companies ("RBOCs") in the U.S., who have entered or have announced
plans to enter the U.S. interstate long distance market pursuant to recent
legislation authorizing such entry, and utilities such as RWE Aktiengesellschaft
in Germany; and (vi) small long distance resellers. Moreover, some of the
Company's competitors have announced business plans similar to the Company's
regarding the expansion of telecommunications networks into Europe. Many of the
Company's competitors are significantly larger and have substantially greater
market presence as well as greater financial, technical, operational, marketing
and other resources and experience than the Company.
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The Company competes for customers in the telecommunications markets
primarily based on price and, to a lesser extent, on the type and quality of
service offered. Increased competition could force the Company to reduce its
prices and profit margins if its competitors are able to procure rates or enter
into service agreements that are comparable to or better than those the Company
obtains, or if they are able to offer other incentives to existing and potential
customers. Similarly, the Company has no control over the prices set by its
competitors in the long distance resale carrier-to-carrier market. The Company
could also face significant pricing pressure if it experiences a decrease in the
volume of minutes that it carries on its network, as the Company's ability to
obtain favorable rates and tariffs from its carrier suppliers depends, to a
significant extent, on the Company's total volume of international long distance
call traffic. There is no guarantee that the Company will be able to maintain
the volume of international and domestic long distance traffic necessary to
obtain favorable rates and tariffs. Although the Company has no reason to
believe that its competitors will adopt aggressive pricing policies that could
adversely affect the Company, there can be no assurance that such price
competition will not occur or that the Company will be able to compete
successfully in the future. In addition, the Company is aware that its ability
to market its long distance resale services depends upon the existence of
spreads between the rates offered by the Company and those offered by the IXCs
with which it competes, as well as those from which it obtains service. A
decrease in such spreads could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition or results of operations. See "Risk
Factors--Dependence on Others" and "Business-- Competition."
Because of their close ties to their respective national regulatory
authorities, PTTs may indirectly pressure the Company in their home countries by
influencing regulatory authorities to outlaw the provision of call reorigination
services or by blocking access to the call reorigination services the Company
markets. Deregulation in foreign countries also could result in competition from
other service providers that have large, established customer bases and close
ties to governmental authorities in their home countries. Deregulation and
increased competition in foreign markets could cause prices for direct-dial
international calls to decrease so much that customers will no longer be willing
to use the Company's international call reorigination services. The ability of a
deregulated PTT or another home country service provider to compete on the basis
of greater size and resources, pricing flexibility or long-standing
relationships with customers in its own country could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
The large U.S. long distance carriers have, in the past, been reluctant to
enter the international call reorigination business and attempt to capture a
significant market share of the domestic customers of the incumbent overseas
PTTs. Because of their ability to compete on the basis of superior financial and
technical resources, the entry of any large U.S. long distance carrier into the
international call reorigination business in a country in which the Company has
a significant customer base could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition or results of operations. Also, the
FCC's approval of call reorigination services where no foreign country
proscribes it is likely to stimulate additional entry by small carriers who
might target the same customer base as the Company does, which could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or
results of operations.
The prepaid calling card industry is extremely competitive, and the Company
expects competition to increase in the future. The Company estimates that there
are more than 100 companies that offer prepaid calling cards in the U.S. Several
of these companies have greater financial and operating resources than the
Company. The failure of the Company to capture a significant share of the
prepaid calling card market may have an adverse effect on its business,
financial condition or results of operations.
INTERNET ACCESS
The Company's current and prospective competitors in the Internet access
market include many large companies that have substantially greater market
presence, as well as greater financial, technical, operational, marketing and
other resources and experience than the Company. The Company's Internet access
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business competes or expects to compete directly or indirectly with the
following categories of companies: (i) other national and regional commercial
ISPs, such as Netcom (which has agreed to be acquired by ICG Communications,
Inc.); (ii) established on-line services companies that offer Internet access,
such as America Online, Inc. ("AOL"), CompuServe Corp. ("CompuServe") and
Prodigy Services Company ("Prodigy"); (iii) computer software and other
technology companies, such as Microsoft; (iv) national long distance
telecommunications carriers, such as AT&T, MCI and Sprint; (v) RBOCs; (vi) cable
television operators, such as Comcast Corporation ("Comcast"),
Tele-Communications, Inc. ("TCI") and Time Warner Inc. ("Time Warner"); (vii)
nonprofit or educational ISPs; (viii) newly-licensed providers of spectrum-based
wireless data services; and (ix) CLECs such as Teleport Communications Group
Inc. ("TCG") and WorldCom. See "Business--Competition."
Many of the established on-line services companies and telecommunications
companies have begun to offer or have announced plans to offer expanded Internet
access services. In addition, the Company believes that new competitors,
including large computer hardware and software, cable, media, wireless and
wireline telecommunications companies, may enter the Internet access market,
resulting in even greater competition for the Company. The ability of these or
other competitors to bundle services and products that are not offered by the
Company together with Internet access services could place the Company at a
significant competitive disadvantage. In addition, certain telecommunications
companies that compete with the Company may be able to provide customers with
reduced communications costs or other incentives in connection with their
Internet access services, reducing the overall cost of their Internet access
services and significantly increasing price pressures on the Company. This price
competition could result in significant reductions in the average selling price
of the Company's services. In addition, increased competition for new
subscribers could result in increased sales and marketing expenses and related
subscriber acquisition costs, which could materially adversely affect the
Company's profitability. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able
to offset the effects of any such price reductions or incentives with an
increase in the number of its customers, higher revenue from enhanced services,
cost reductions or otherwise.
The Company believes that its ability to compete successfully in the
Internet access market depends upon a number of factors including: (i) market
presence; (ii) the adequacy of the Company's customer support services; (iii)
the capacity, reliability and security of its network infrastructure; (iv) the
ease of access to and navigation of the Internet; (v) the pricing policies of
its competitors and suppliers; (vi) regulatory price requirements for
interconnection to and use of existing local exchange networks by ISPs; (vii)
the timing of introductions of new products and services by the Company and its
competitors; (viii) the Company's ability to support existing and emerging
industry standards; and (ix) trends within the industry as well as the general
economy. There can be no assurance that the Company will have the financial
resources, technical expertise or marketing and support capabilities to continue
to compete successfully in the Internet access market.
Moreover, the Company uses LEC networks to connect its Internet customers to
its POPs. Under current federal and state regulations, the Company and its
Internet customers pay no charges for using the LEC networks in this manner,
other than the monthly service charges that apply to basic telephone service.
LECs have asked the FCC to change its rules and require ISPs to pay additional,
per-minute charges for their use of local networks. Per-minute access charges
could significantly increase the Company's costs of doing business and could,
therefore, have a material adverse effect on the Company's competitive position
and on its business, financial condition or results of operations. In May 1997,
the FCC determined that it would not impose interstate access charges on ISPs.
However, the FCC is currently conducting and planning various proceedings in
which it is exploring the impact of the Internet on the public switched network.
No assurances can be given as to whether the FCC will continue to permit ISPs to
use basic business telecommunications services without imposing any additional
charges.
Competition is also expected to increase in overseas markets, where Internet
access services are just beginning to be introduced. The Company does not
currently plan to increase its Internet access services outside the U.S. To the
extent the ability to provide access to locations and services overseas becomes
a
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competitive advantage in the Internet access industry, failure of the Company to
penetrate overseas markets or to increase its presence in the few overseas
markets it presently serves may result in the Company being at a competitive
disadvantage relative to other Internet access providers.
INTERNET TELEPHONY
The market for Internet telephony services is expected to be extremely
competitive. Most of the current Internet telephony products enable voice
communications over the Internet between two parties simultaneously connected to
the Internet via multimedia PCs, where both parties are using identical Internet
telephony software products. Current product offerings include VocalTec
Communications, Ltd.'s Internet Phone, QuarterDeck Corporation's WebPhone and
Microsoft's NetMeeting. In addition, a number of large, well-capitalized
companies such as Intel Corporation ("Intel"), Cisco, Lucent Technologies Inc.
("Lucent"), Nortel and Dialogic Corp. ("Dialogic") have announced their
intentions to offer server-based products that are expected to allow
communications over the Internet between parties using a multimedia PC and a
telephone and between two parties using telephones where both parties have
specialized servers at each end of the call. Several other companies, such as
AT&T, MCI, Sprint and Qwest Communications International Inc ("Qwest
Communications"), have recently commenced offering or announced plans to offer
Internet telephony products and services. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to successfully compete in the developing Internet
telephony market, or that other large companies will not enter the market as
suppliers of Internet telephony services or equipment. In addition, the
Company's competitors may introduce products that permit origination and
termination of calls at a telephone through the Internet.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ACQUISITIONS, INVESTMENTS AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
In furtherance of its business strategy, the Company expects to enter into
strategic alliances with, acquire assets or businesses from, or make investments
in, companies that are complementary to its current operations. Any such future
strategic alliances, investments or acquisitions would be accompanied by the
risks commonly encountered in such transactions. Such risks include, among other
things, the difficulty of absorbing the operations and personnel of the acquired
companies, the potential disruption of the Company's ongoing business, costs
associated with the development and integration of such operations, the
inability of management to maximize the financial and strategic position of the
Company by the successful incorporation of licensed or acquired technology into
the Company's service offerings, the maintenance of uniform standards, controls,
procedures and policies, the impairment of relationships with employees and
customers as a result of changes in management, and higher customer attrition
with respect to customers obtained through acquisitions.
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GOVERNMENT REGULATORY POLICY RISKS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
As a multinational telecommunications company, the Company is subject to
varying degrees of regulation in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates.
As a non-dominant carrier in the U.S., the Company's provision of international
and domestic long distance telecommunications services is generally regulated on
a streamlined basis. Despite recent trends toward deregulation, some of the
countries in which the Company intends to provide telecommunications services do
not currently permit the Company to provide public-switched voice
telecommunications services. In those countries not yet open to switched voice
service competition, the Company provides services to closed user groups
("CUGs") and a variety of value-added services, as permitted by each country's
laws.
REGULATION OF DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES. In the U.S., provision
of the Company's services is subject to the provisions of the Communications
Act, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the "Telecommunications
Act") and the FCC regulations promulgated thereunder, as well as the applicable
laws and regulations of the various states administered by the relevant state
authorities. The recent trend in the U.S., for both federal and state regulation
of telecommunications service providers, has been in the direction of reducing
regulation. Nonetheless, the FCC and relevant state authorities continue to
regulate ownership of transmission facilities, provision of services and the
terms and conditions under which the Company's services are provided.
Non-dominant carriers, such as the Company, are required by federal and state
law and regulations to file tariffs listing the rates, terms and conditions for
the services they provide. In October 1996, the FCC adopted an order ("the
Detarriffing Order") which eliminated the requirement that non-dominant
interstate carriers such as the Company maintain tariffs on file with the FCC
for domestic interstate services. The FCC's proposed rules are pursuant to
authority granted to the FCC in the Telecommunications Act to forbear from
regulating any telecommunications service provider if the FCC determines that
the public interest will be served. The FCC subsequently adopted its proposal
and eliminated the requirement that interstate carriers file domestic tariffs in
most circumstances. That decision has been appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the D.C. Circuit, and a stay has been issued pending a decision on the
merits of the appeal. It is unclear when the Court will rule on the appeal.
On May 8, 1997, the FCC issued an order to implement the provisions of the
Telecommunications Act relating to the preservation and advancement of universal
telephone service (the "Universal Service Order"). The Universal Service Order
requires all telecommunications carriers providing interstate telecommunications
services to contribute to universal support by contributing to a fund (the
"Universal Service Fund"). These contributions became due beginning in 1998 for
all providers of interstate telecommunications services. Such contributions are
assessed based on intrastate, interstate and international end user
telecommunications revenues. Contribution factors vary quarterly, and carriers,
including the Company, are billed each month. Contribution factors for the first
three quarters of 1998 have been determined by the FCC as follows: first
quarter, second quarter and third quarter factors are 3.19%, 3.14% and 3.08%,
respectively, for the high cost and low income funds (interstate and
international end user telecommunications revenues) and 0.72%, 0.76% and 1.54%
respectively, for the schools, libraries and rural health care funds
(intrastate, interstate and international end user telecommunications revenues).
In addition, many state regulatory agencies have instituted proceedings to
revise state universal support mechanisms to make them consistent with the
requirements of the Telecommunications Act. As a result, the Company will be
subject to state, as well as federal, universal service fund contribution
requirements, which will vary from state to state. Several parties have appealed
the FCC's May 8th order, and these appeals have been consolidated in the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. In addition, a number of
telecommunications companies have filed a petition for stay with the FCC, which
is currently pending.
Pursuant to the Universal Service Order, all carriers were required to
submit a Universal Service Fund worksheet in September 1997. The Company has
filed its Universal Service Fund worksheet. The amounts remitted to the
Universal Service Fund may be billed to the Company's customers. If the Company
does
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not bill these amounts to its customers, its profit margins may be less than if
it had elected to do so. However, if the Company elects to bill these amounts to
its customers, customers may reduce their use of the Company's services, or
elect to use the services provided by the Company's competitors, which may have
a material adverse effect upon the Company's business, financial condition, or
results of operations.
In addition to regulation by the FCC, the majority of the states require the
Company to register or apply for certification prior to initiating intrastate
interexchange telecommunications services. To date, the Company, together with
its subsidiaries, is authorized through certification, registration or on a
deregulated basis to provide intrastate interexchange telecommunications
services in 46 states. State issued certificates of authority to provide
intrastate interexchange telecommunications services 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.
U.S. REGULATION OF INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES. International
common carriers, such as the Company, are required to obtain authority under
Section 214 of the Communications Act and file a tariff containing the rates,
terms and conditions applicable to their services prior to initiating their
international telecommunications services. The Company has obtained a global
Section 214 authority from the FCC to use, on a facilities and resale basis,
various transmission media for the provision of international switched and
private line services. Non-dominant international carriers such as the Company
must file their international tariffs and any revisions thereto with one day's
notice. Additionally, international telecommunications service providers are
required to file copies of their contracts with other carriers, including
foreign carrier agreements, with the FCC within 30 days of execution. The FCC's
rules also require that the Company file periodically a variety of reports
regarding the volume of its international traffic and revenues and use of
international facilities. In addition to the general common carrier principles,
and as discussed below, the Company is also required to conduct its
facilities-based international business in compliance with the FCC's
International Settlements Policy (the "IS Policy"), or an FCC approved
alternative settlement arrangement.
The Company's FCC authorizations also permit the Company to resell
international private lines interconnected to the PSTNs for the provision of
switched services in those countries that have been found by the FCC to offer
"equivalent opportunities" to U.S., carriers or to WTO member countries without
a finding of equivalency where certain settlement rate requirements are met. To
date, the FCC has approved interconnected international private line resale to
Canada, the U.K., Sweden, Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Germany,
France, Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg and Norway. The FCC currently imposes
certain restrictions upon the use of the Company's private lines between the
U.S. and such approved countries. The Company may not route traffic to or from
the U.S. over a private line between the U.S. and an "approved" country (such as
the U.K.) if such traffic originates or terminates in a third country at rates
that are not publicly available, if the third country has not been approved by
the FCC. Following implementation of the Full Competition Directive by member
states of the European Union (the "EU"), and the World Trade Organization
("WTO") Basic Telecommunications Agreement (the "WTO Agreement") by the
signatories, the FCC may authorize the Company to originate and terminate
traffic over its private line between the U.S. and the U.K. and (pursuant to ISR
authority) over additional private lines to additional member states if the FCC
finds that such additional member states are "approved" countries or that such
authority would otherwise promote competition.
With regard to international services, the FCC administers a variety of
international service regulations, including the IS Policy. The IS Policy
governs the permissible arrangements between U.S. carriers and their foreign
correspondents to settle the cost of terminating traffic over each other's
networks, the rates for such settlement and permissible deviations from these
policies. As a consequence of the increasingly competitive global
telecommunications market, the FCC has adopted a number of policies that permit
carriers to deviate from the IS Policy under certain circumstances that promote
competition.
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The FCC also requires carriers such as the Company to report any affiliations,
as defined by the Commission, with foreign carriers.
The Company offers its call reorigination services pursuant to an FCC
authorization (the "Section 214 Switched Voice Authorization") under Section 214
of the Communications Act and certain relevant FCC decisions. The FCC has
determined that call reorigination services that use uncompleted call signaling
do not violate U.S. or international law, but has held that U.S. companies
providing such services must comply with the laws of the countries in which they
operate as a condition of such companies' Section 214 Switched Voice
Authorizations. The FCC reserves the right to condition, modify or revoke any
Section 214 Authorizations and impose fines for violations of the Communications
Act or the FCC's regulations, rules or policies promulgated thereunder, or for
violations of the clear and explicit telecommunications laws of other countries
that are unable to enforce their laws against call reorigination using
uncompleted call signaling. FCC policy provides that foreign governments that
satisfy certain conditions may request FCC assistance in enforcing their laws
against call reorigination providers based in the U.S. that are violating the
laws of these jurisdictions. 30 countries have formally notified the FCC that
call reorigination services violate their laws. The FCC has held that it would
consider enforcement action against companies based in the U.S. engaged in call
reorigination by means of uncompleted call signaling in countries where this
activity is expressly prohibited. The FCC has granted a complaint by the
Philippines Long Distance Company, Inc. and required U.S. carriers to stop
providing call reorigination to customers in the Philippines. This decision is
subject to petitions for reconsideration. There can be no assurance that it will
not take further action in the future. Enforcement action could include an order
to cease providing call reorigination services in such country, the imposition
of one or more restrictions on the Company, monetary fines or, in extreme
circumstances, the revocation of the Company's Section 214 Switched Voice
Authorization, and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations. The FCC is currently
considering a petition filed by the Telecommunications Resellers Association
requesting that the FCC cease enforcing foreign laws against call reorigination.
Regulatory requirements pertinent to the Company's operations will continue
to evolve as a result of the WTO Agreement, federal legislation, court
decisions, and new and revised policies of the FCC. In particular, the FCC
continues to refine its international service rules to promote competition,
reflect and encourage liberalization in foreign countries and reduce
international accounting rates toward cost. Indeed, the FCC recently adopted new
lower accounting rate benchmarks that became effective on January 1, 1998. Under
the FCC's new benchmarks, after a transition period of one to four years
depending on a country's income level, U.S. carriers may be required to pay
foreign carriers significantly lower rates for the termination of international
services. These rates range from a $0.15/minute benchmark for upper income
countries such as the U.K. to $0.23/minute for lower income countries such as
China. Moreover, the FCC has recently revised its Foreign Carrier Entry Policy
as part of its efforts to change its rules to implement the WTO Agreement.
To date, the FCC has made no pronouncement as to whether refiling
arrangements are inconsistent with the regulations of the U.S. or the
International Telecommunication Union (the "ITU"), and a 1995 petition to the
FCC for declaratory ruling regarding Sprint's Fonaccess service was recently
withdrawn. Although it is possible that the FCC will determine that refiling
violates U.S. and/or international law and that such a finding could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results and
financial condition, the FCC currently is not considering such issues in any
active proceeding.
No assurances can be given that changes to the existing international or
domestic regulatory framework will not occur. Such changes may increase the
Company's legal, administrative or operating costs, or may otherwise limit or
constrain the Company's activities, any of which could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition, or results of operations.
EUROPEAN REGULATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES. In Europe, the
regulation of the telecommunications industry is governed at a supra-national
level by the EU. The EU's institutions, such as the
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European Commission, are responsible for creating pan-European policies. Through
its legislation, the EU has developed a regulatory framework aimed at creating
an open, competitive telecommunications market. The EU was established by the
Treaty of Rome and subsequent conventions and the European Commission and the
Council of Ministers of the European Union are authorized by such treaties to
issue EU "directives." EU member states are required to implement these
directives through national legislation. If an EU member state fails to adopt
such directives, the European Commission may take action, including referral to
the European Court of Justice, to enforce the directives.
In 1990, the EU issued the Services Directive requiring each EU member state
to abolish existing monopolies in telecommunications services, with the
exception of voice telephony. The intended effect of the Services Directive was
to permit the competitive provision of all services, except the provision of
real-time voice services to the public between network termination points
("reserved services"). Accordingly, non-reserved services have been liberalized,
including voice telephony services to CUGs and value-added services. However, as
a consequence of local implementation of the Services Directive through the
adoption of national legislation, there are differing interpretations of the
definition of reserved voice telephony services and permitted value-added and
CUG services. Voice services accessed by customers through leased lines are
permissible in all EU member states. The European Commission has generally taken
a narrow view of the services classified as reserved public voice telephony,
declaring that voice services may not be reserved to the ITOs if (i) dedicated
customer access is used to provide the service; (ii) the service confers new
value-added benefits on users; or (iii) calling is limited by a service provider
to a group having legal, economic or professional ties.
In March 1996, the EU adopted the Full Competition Directive containing two
provisions which required EU member states to allow the creation of alternative
telecommunications infrastructures by July 1, 1997, and which reaffirmed the
obligation of EU member states to abolish the ITOs' monopolies in voice
telephony by 1998. The Full Competition Directive encouraged EU member states to
accelerate the liberalization of voice telephony. Certain EU countries may delay
the abolition of monopolies in reserved public voice telephony services based on
derogations established in the Full Competition Directive. These countries
include Luxembourg (July 1998), Spain (December 1998), Portugal and Ireland
(2000) and Greece (2001). The European Commission has brought infringement
proceedings against the following countries for failure to comply with EU
Directives: Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg and Portugal.
In addition to the foregoing regulations, the EU has adopted the
Interconnection Directive and the Licensing Directive. These measures attempt to
harmonize telecommunications regulations among the member states of the EU. The
Interconnection Directive provides that ITOs are obliged to interconnect with
other licensed operators requesting to do so, and to enter into such
arrangements on transparent, objective and non-discriminatory terms. Disputes
over interconnection rates, terms and conditions have arisen in several member
states, and there can be no guarantee that they will be resolved in a manner
that will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's operation in
Europe. The Licensing Directive provides for the establishment of a national
regulatory authority independent of the ITO in each member state of the EU, and
provides that member states may reject applications for licenses only upon
certain narrowly-defined grounds.
Each EU member state in which the Company currently conducts or plans to
conduct its business has a different regulatory regime, and such differences
have continued and will continue beyond January 1998. The requirements for the
Company to obtain necessary approvals vary considerably from one member state to
another and are likely to change as competition is permitted in new service
sectors. In addition, member states may require individual licenses for reserved
services and the creation of alternative infrastructure, but not for data,
value-added or CUG services.
No assurances can be given that any changes to the existing European
regulatory framework will not occur. Changes to existing regulations may
decrease the opportunities that are available for the Company
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to enter into those markets, or may increase the Company's legal, administrative
or operational costs, or may otherwise constrain the Company's activities, any
of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition, or results of operations.
OTHER OVERSEAS MARKETS. The Company is subject to the regulatory regimes in
each of the countries in which it conducts business. Local regulations range
from permissive to restrictive, depending upon the country. In the past, the
Company has experienced problems in certain countries and has, in certain
instances, modified or terminated its services to comply with local regulatory
requirements.
INTERNET ACCESS
ISPs are generally considered "enhanced service providers" within the U.S.
and are exempt from U.S. federal and state regulations governing common
carriers. Accordingly, the Company's provision of Internet access services are
currently exempt from tariffing, certification and rate regulation.
Nevertheless, regulations governing disclosure of confidential communications,
copyright, excise tax and other requirements may apply to the Company's
provision of Internet access services. The Company cannot predict the likelihood
that state, federal or foreign governments will impose additional regulation on
the Company's Internet business, nor can it predict the impact that future
regulation will have on the Company's operations.
The 1996 Telecommunications Act imposes criminal liability on persons
sending or displaying indecent material on an interactive computer service such
as the Internet in a manner available to minors. The Telecommunications Act also
imposes criminal liability on an entity knowingly permitting facilities under
its control to be used for such activities. Entities solely providing access to
facilities not under their control are exempt from liability, as are service
providers that take good faith, reasonable, effective and appropriate actions to
restrict access by minors to the prohibited communications. The
constitutionality of these provisions has been successfully challenged in
federal appellate court, and their interpretation and enforcement is uncertain.
The Telecommunications Act may decrease demand for Internet access, chill the
development of Internet content, or have other adverse effects on ISPs such as
the Company. In addition, in light of the uncertainty attached to interpretation
and application of this law, there can be no assurances that the Company would
not have to modify its operations to comply with the statute, including, among
other things, prohibiting users from maintaining home pages on the World Wide
Web.
In December 1996, the FCC initiated a Notice of Inquiry regarding whether to
impose regulations or surcharges upon providers of Internet access and
Information Service (the "Internet NOI"). The Internet NOI, and several ongoing
FCC proceedings, seek public comment as to whether to impose or to continue to
forebear from regulation of Internet and other packet-switched network service
providers. The Internet NOI specifically identifies Internet telephony as a
subject for FCC consideration. In addition, on April 10, 1998, the FCC issued a
Report to Congress on its implementation of the universal service provisions of
the Telecommunications Act. In that Report, the FCC indicated that it would
reexamine its policy of not requiring an ISP to contribute to the universal
service mechanisms when the ISP provides its own transmission facilities and
engages in data transport over those facilities in order to provide an
information service. Any such contribution would be related to the ISP's
provision of telecommunications services itself. The Company can not predict the
outcome of any future proceedings that may impact the Company's provision of
Internet access or that may impose additional requirements, regulations or
charges upon IDT's provision of Internet access services.
INTERNET TELEPHONY
The use of the Internet to provide telephone service is a recent market
development. Currently, the FCC is considering whether or not to impose
surcharges or additional regulations upon certain providers of Internet
telephony. On April 10, 1998, the FCC issued its Report to Congress concerning
its implementation of the universal service provisions of the Telecommunications
Act. In the Report, the FCC indicated
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that it would examine the question of whether certain forms of "phone-to-phone"
Internet Protocol ("IP") telephony are information services or
telecommunications services. It noted that the FCC did not have, as of the date
of the Report, an adequate record on which to make any definitive
pronouncements, but that the record before it suggested that certain forms of
phone-to-phone Internet telephony appear to have the same functionality as
non-IP telecommunications services and lack the characteristics that would
render them information services. If the FCC were to determine that certain
services are subject to FCC regulations as telecommunications services, the FCC
noted that it may find it reasonable to require ISPs to make universal service
contributions, pay access charges or to be subject to traditional common carrier
regulation.
To the Company's knowledge, there are currently no domestic and few foreign
laws or regulations that prohibit voice communications over the Internet.
Several efforts have been made to enact federal legislation that would either
regulate or exempt from regulation services provided over the Internet. State
public utility commissions may also retain jurisdiction to regulate the
provision of intrastate Internet telephony services, and could initiate
proceedings to do so. A number of countries that currently prohibit competition
in the provision of voice telephony have also prohibited Internet telephony.
Other countries permit but regulate Internet telephony. If Congress, the FCC,
state regulatory agencies or foreign governments begin to regulate Internet
telephony, there can be no assurances that any such regulation will not
materially adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition or
results of operations.
PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
The Company relies on a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and
trade secret laws and contractual restrictions to establish and protect its
technology. The Company does not currently have any issued patents or registered
copyrights, although it has registered service marks in connection with its name
and logo and its GENIE services and other pending applications for certain
trademarks. The Company's policy is to require its employees and consultants to
execute confidentiality and technology ownership agreements upon the
commencement of their relationships with the Company. There can be no assurance
that the steps taken by the Company will be adequate to prevent misappropriation
of its technology or other proprietary rights, or that the Company's competitors
will not independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or
superior to the Company's technology. There can be no assurance that the
Company's trademark applications will result in any trademark registrations, or
that, if registered, any registered trademark will be held valid and enforceable
if challenged. In addition, there can be no assurance that licenses for any
intellectual property that might be required in connection with the Company's
development of its services or products would be available on reasonable terms
if at all. See "Business--Intellectual Property."
The Company has applied for a patent in connection with its development of
the systems and methodology comprising the technologies underlying Net2Phone.
There can be no assurance that this application will result in any patent being
issued or that, if issued, such patent will provide adequate protection against
competitive technology or that it will be held valid and enforceable if
challenged. There can be no assurance that the Company's competitors would not
be able to design around any such patent or that others will not obtain patents
that the Company would need to license or circumvent in order to exploit its
patent.
Although the Company does not believe that its products infringe the
proprietary rights of any third parties, and no third parties have asserted
patent infringement or other such claims against the Company, there can be no
assurance that third parties will not assert such claims against the Company in
the future or that any such claims will not be successful. The Company is aware
that patents have been recently granted to others based on fundamental
technologies in the communications, multimedia and Internet telephony areas, and
patents may be issued which relate to fundamental technologies incorporated in
the Company's services and products. Because patent applications in the U.S. are
not publicly disclosed until the relevant patent is issued, applications may
have been filed which, if issued as patents, could relate to
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the Company's services and products. The Company could incur substantial costs
and diversion of management resources in defending or pursuing any claims
relating to proprietary rights, which could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
Furthermore, parties making such claims could secure a judgment awarding
substantial damages, as well as injunctive or other equitable relief which could
effectively block the Company's ability to provide services or products in the
U.S. or abroad. Such a judgment could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
SECURITY RISKS
Despite the implementation of network security measures by the Company, such
as limiting physical and network access to its routers, the Company's Internet
access systems and GENIE entertainment and information services are vulnerable
to computer viruses, break-ins and similar disruptive problems caused by its
customers or other Internet users. Such problems caused by third parties could
lead to interruption, delays or cessation in service to the Company's Internet
customers. Furthermore, such inappropriate use of the Internet by third parties
could also potentially jeopardize the security of confidential information
stored in the computer systems of the Company's customers and other parties
connected to the Internet, which may deter potential subscribers. Persistent
security problems continue to plague public and private data networks. Break-ins
reported in the press and otherwise have reached computers connected to the
Internet at major corporations and ISPs. A number of these break-ins have
involved the theft of information, including incidents in which hackers bypassed
firewalls through fraudulent means. Alleviating problems caused by computer
viruses, break-ins or other problems caused by third parties may require
significant expenditures of capital and resources by the Company. Until more
comprehensive security technologies are developed, the security and privacy
concerns of existing and potential customers may inhibit the growth of the
Internet service industry in general and the Company's customer base and
revenues in particular. Moreover, if the Company experiences a breach of network
security or privacy, there can be no assurance that the Company's customers will
not assert or threaten claims against the Company based on or arising out of
such breach, or that any such claims will not be upheld, which could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or
results of operations.
POTENTIAL LIABILITY FOR INFORMATION DISSEMINATED THROUGH NETWORK
ISPs and Internet content providers face potential liability of uncertain
scope for the actions of subscribers and others using their systems, including
liability for infringement of intellectual property rights, rights of publicity,
defamation, libel and criminal activity under the laws of the U.S. and foreign
jurisdictions. For example, an action against Prodigy alleging libel and
negligence in connection with an electronic message posted by a Prodigy
subscriber through Prodigy's Internet access system attempted to impose
liability upon ISPs for information, messages and other materials disseminated
across and through their systems. Prodigy lost a summary judgment motion related
to the scope of its potential liability exposure. While the parties subsequently
settled their dispute, the court refused to vacate its opinion on the summary
judgment motion, which still stands as precedent. Another action is currently
pending against Netcom relating to Netcom's potential liability for vicarious
copyright infringement arising out of electronic messages posted by a
subscriber. Netcom lost a summary judgment motion related to the scope of its
potential vicarious copyright liability exposure, but this case has yet to come
to trial. Recently, a Hong Kong court permitted a local company to sue a
California ISP for copyright violation based on content included by a subscriber
on a Web site.
The Company carries errors and omissions insurance. However, such insurance
may not be adequate to compensate the Company for liability that may be imposed.
Any imposition of liability in excess of the Company's coverage could have a
material adverse effect on the Company. In addition, recent legislative
enactments and pending legislative proposals aimed at limiting the use of the
Internet to transmit indecent or pornographic materials could, depending upon
their interpretation and application, result in significant
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potential liability to ISPs including the Company, as well as additional costs
and technological challenges in complying with any statutory or regulatory
requirements imposed by such legislation. See "--Government Regulatory Policy
Risks--Internet." In addition, CompuServe faced action by German authorities in
response to which CompuServe temporarily restricted the scope of the Internet
access it provides to all subscribers, both in the U.S. and internationally, and
a number of countries are considering content restrictions based on such factors
as political or religious views expressed, pornography or indecency. The
operation of the GENIE on-line service has increased the Company's exposure to
such legislation, and to libel and defamation suits, primarily because of the
increased level of content being provided by or through the Company.
LACK OF PUBLIC MARKET
The Old Notes are eligible for trading in the Private Offering, Resales and
Trading through Automatic Linkages ("PORTAL") market of the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc. The New Notes constitute a new issue of securities,
have no established trading market and may not be widely distributed. The
Initial Purchasers have informed the Company that they currently intend to make
a market in the New Notes as permitted by applicable laws and regulations.
However, the Initial Purchasers are not obligated to do so and may discontinue
market making at any time without notice. In addition, such market-making will
be subject to the limits imposed by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and
may be limited during the Exchange Offer and the pendency of any shelf
registration statement. There can be no assurance as to the development of any
market or liquidity of any market that may develop for the New Notes. If a
market does develop, the New Notes may trade at prices lower than the offering
price applicable to the Initial Offering, and liquidity may be limited. If a
market for the New Notes does not develop, purchasers may be unable to resell
such securities for an extended period of time, if at all. Further, the
liquidity of, and trading market for, the New Notes may also be materially and
adversely affected by declines in the market for high-yield securities
generally. Such a decline may materially and adversely affect such liquidity and
tracking independently of the financial performance of, and prospects for, the
Company. The Company does not intend to apply for listing of the New Notes on
any securities exchange or for quotation through the Nasdaq National Market.
RESTRICTIONS ON EXCHANGE OFFER
Issuance of New Notes in exchange for Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange
Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Exchange Agent of a properly
completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, including all other documents
required by such Letter of Transmittal. Therefore, holders of Old Notes desiring
to tender such Old Notes in exchange for New Notes should allow sufficient time
to ensure timely delivery. The Exchange Agent and the Company are under no duty
to give notification of defects or irregularities with respect to the tenders of
Old Notes for exchange. Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes. See "The Exchange
Offer--Resales of the New Notes" and "Plan of Distribution."
CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO EXCHANGE
Holders of Old Notes who do not exchange their Old Notes for New Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer will continue to be subject to the restrictions
on transfer of such Old Notes as set forth in the legend thereon as a
consequence of the issuance of the Old Notes pursuant to exemptions from, or in
transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act
and applicable state securities laws. In general, the Old Notes may not be
offered or sold, unless registered under the Securities Act, except pursuant to
an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and
applicable state securities laws. The Company does not currently anticipate that
it will register the Old Notes under the Securities Act. To the extent that Old
Notes are tendered and accepted in the Exchange Offer, the trading
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market for untendered and tendered but unaccepted Old Notes could be adversely
affected. Generally, the rights of holders of Old Notes under the Registration
Rights Agreement would also terminate with respect to Old Notes which are not
exchanged for New Notes in the Exchange Offer.
DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL
The Company is highly dependent on the technical and management skills of
its key employees, including technical, sales, marketing, financial and
executive personnel, and on its ability to identify, hire and retain qualified
personnel. Competition for such personnel is intense and there can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to retain existing personnel or to
identify or hire additional personnel. In particular, the Company is dependent
on the services of Howard S. Jonas, its Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the
Board and founder, Howard S. Balter, its Chief Operating Officer and Vice
Chairman of the Board and James A. Courter, its President. The loss of Mr.
Jonas', Mr. Balter's or Mr. Courter's services could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations.
See "Management."
CONTROL BY PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDER
Howard S. Jonas, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the
Board and founder, is the beneficial owner of substantially all of the Company's
outstanding shares of Class A Stock and therefore, currently holds more than 50%
of the combined voting power of the Company's outstanding capital stock. As a
result, Mr. Jonas is able to control matters requiring approval by the
stockholders of the Company, including the election of all of the directors and
the approval of significant corporate matters, including any merger,
consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets. See
"Principal Stockholders."
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THE EXCHANGE OFFER
The summary herein of certain provisions of the Registration Rights
Agreement does not purport to be complete and reference is made to the
provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, which has been incorporated by
reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus
constitutes a part, and a copy of which is available upon request to the
Company.
PURPOSE AND EFFECT
The Old Notes were sold by the Company to the Initial Purchasers on February
18, 1998. The Initial Purchasers subsequently resold the Old Notes in reliance
on Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The Company and the Initial Purchasers
entered into the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which the Company
agreed, with respect to the Old Notes and subject to the Company's determination
that the Exchange Offer is permitted under applicable law, to (i) cause to be
filed, on or prior to April 19, 1998, a registration statement with the
Commission under the Securities Act concerning the Exchange Offer, and, (ii) use
its best efforts (a) to cause such registration statement to be declared
effective by the Commission on or prior to July 18, 1998, and (b) to consummate
the Exchange Offer on or prior to the 45th day following the date on which the
Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission. The Company will
keep the Exchange Offer open for a period of not less than 30 days (or longer if
required by applicable law) after the date the notice of the Exchange Offer is
mailed to the holders of the Old Notes. This Exchange Offer is intended to
satisfy the Company's exchange offer obligations under the Registration Rights
Agreement.
CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO EXCHANGE OLD NOTES
Following the expiration of the Exchange Offer, holders of Old Notes not
tendered, or not properly tendered, will not have any further registration
rights and such Old Notes will continue to be subject to the existing
restrictions on transfer thereof. Accordingly, the liquidity of the market for a
holder's Old Notes could be adversely affected upon expiration of the Exchange
Offer if such holder elects not to participate in the Exchange Offer.
TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
The Company hereby offers, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth herein and in the accompanying Letter of Transmittal, to exchange up to
$100 million aggregate principal amount of New Notes for up to $100 million
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Old Notes. The Company will accept
for exchange any and all Old Notes that are validly tendered on or prior to 5:00
p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. The Company will issue $1,000
principal amount of New Notes in exchange for each $1,000 principal amount of
outstanding Old Notes accepted in the Exchange Offer. Holders may tender some or
all of their Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. However, Old Notes may be
tendered only in integral multiples of $1,000. Tenders of the Old Notes may be
withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration
Date. The Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum principal amount of
Old Notes being tendered for exchange. However, the Exchange Offer is subject to
the terms and provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement. See "--Conditions
of the Exchange Offer."
As of the date of this Prospectus, $100.0 million in aggregate principal
amount of the Old Notes is outstanding. The Indenture authorizes the issuance of
$275.0 million aggregate principal amount of Notes. As of March 31, 1998, there
was one registered holder of the Old Notes, and 21 DTC participants. Only a
holder of the Old Notes (or such holder's legal representative or
attorney-in-fact) may participate in the Exchange Offer. There will be no fixed
record date for determining holders of the Old Notes entitled to participate in
the Exchange Offer. The Company believes that, as of the date of this
Prospectus, no holder of Old Notes is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 405 under
the Securities Act) of the Company.
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The Company shall be deemed to have accepted validly tendered Old Notes
when, as and if the Company has given oral or written notice thereof to the
Exchange Agent. The Exchange Agent will act as agent for the tendering holders
of Old Notes and for the purposes of receiving the New Notes from the Company.
If any tendered Old Notes are not accepted for exchange because of an
invalid tender, the occurrence of certain other events set forth herein or
otherwise, certificates for any such unaccepted Old Notes will be returned,
without expense, to the tendering holder thereof as promptly as practicable
after the Expiration Date.
Holders who tender Old Notes in connection with the Exchange Offer will not
be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions
in the Letter of Transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of Old
Notes in connection with the Exchange Offer. The Company will pay all charges
and expenses, other than certain applicable taxes described below, in connection
with the Exchange Offer. See "--Fees and Expenses."
NEITHER THE COMPANY NOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY MAKES ANY
RECOMMENDATION TO HOLDERS OF OLD NOTES AS TO WHETHER TO TENDER OR REFRAIN FROM
TENDERING ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THEIR OLD NOTES PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER.
IN ADDITION, NO ONE HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO MAKE ANY SUCH RECOMMENDATION. HOLDERS
OF OLD NOTES MUST MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS WHETHER TO TENDER PURSUANT TO THE
EXCHANGE OFFER AND, IF SO, THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF OLD NOTES TO TENDER BASED ON
SUCH HOLDERS' OWN FINANCIAL POSITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.
EXPIRATION DATE; EXTENSIONS; AMENDMENTS
The Expiration Date shall be July 13, 1998 at 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
unless the Company, in its sole discretion, extends the Exchange Offer, in which
case the Expiration Date shall be the latest date and time to which the Exchange
Offer is extended.
In order to extend the Exchange Offer, the Company will notify the Exchange
Agent of any extension by oral or written notice and will make a public
announcement thereof, each prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next
business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date.
Subject to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company
reserves the right, in its sole discretion, (i) to delay accepting any Old
Notes, (ii) to extend the Exchange Offer, in which event the term "Expiration
Date" shall mean the latest time and date to which the Exchange Offer is
extended, and (iii) to amend the terms of the Exchange Offer in any manner. If
the Exchange Offer is amended in a manner determined by the Company to
constitute a material change, the Company will promptly disclose such amendments
by means of a prospectus supplement that will be distributed to the registered
holders of the Old Notes. In order to extend the Exchange Offer, the Company
will notify the Exchange Agent of any extension by oral or written notice and
will make a public announcement thereof, each prior to 9:00 a.m., New York City
time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date.
CONDITIONS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
The Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum principal amount of
the Old Notes being tendered for exchange. However, the Exchange Offer is
conditioned upon the declaration by the Commission of the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus constitutes a part.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Exchange Offer, or any extension
of the Exchange Offer, the Company will not be required to accept for exchange,
or to exchange, any Old Notes for any New Notes and, as described below, may
terminate the Exchange Offer (whether or not any Old Notes have
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theretofore been accepted for exchange) or may waive any conditions to or amend
the Exchange Offer, if any of the following conditions have occurred or exists
or have not been satisfied:
(a) there shall occur a change in the current intepretation by the staff
of the Commission which permits the New Notes issued pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in exchange for Old Notes to be offered for resale, resold
and otherwise transferred by holders thereof (other than broker-dealers and
any such holder which is an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of
Rule 405 under the Securities Act) without compliance with the registration
and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such
New Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holders' business and
such holders have no arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate in the distribution of such New Notes; or
(b) any law, statute, rule or regulation shall have been adopted or
enacted which, in the judgment of the Company, would reasonably be expected
to impair its ability to proceed with the Exchange Offer; or
(c) a stop order shall have been issued by the Commission or any state
securities authority suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement, or proceedings shall have been initiated or, to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened for that purpose, or any governmental approval has
not been obtained, which approval the Company shall, in its sole discretion,
deem necessary for the consummation of the Exchange Offer as contemplated
hereby.
If the Company determines in its sole and absolute discretion that any of
the foregoing events or conditions has occured or exists or has not been
satisfied, it may, subject to applicable law, terminate the Exchange Offer
(whether or not any Old Notes have theretofore been accepted for exchange) or
may waive any such condition or otherwise amend the terms of the Exchange Offer
in any respect. If such waiver or amendment constitutes a material change to the
Exchange Offer, the Company will promptly disclose such waiver or amendment by
means of a prospectus supplement that will be distributed to the registered
holders of the Old Notes and will extend the Exchange Offer to the extent
required by Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act.
ACCRUED INTEREST
The New Notes will bear interest at a rate equal to 8 3/4% per annum from
and including their date of issuance. Holders whose Old Notes are accepted for
exchange will have the right to receive interest accrued thereon from the last
date on which interest was paid on the Old Notes, or if no interest had been
paid on such Old Notes, from the date of their original issue, to, but not
including, the date of issuance of the New Notes accepted for exchange, which
interest accrued at the rate of 8 3/4% per annum, and will cease to accrue on
the day prior to the issuance of the New Notes. See "Description of the
Notes--Maturity, Interest and Principal of the Notes."
PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING OLD NOTES
VALID TENDER
The tender of a holder's Old Notes as set forth below and the acceptance
thereof by the Company will constitute a binding agreement between the tendering
holder and the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in
this Prospectus and in the accompanying Letter of Transmittal. Except as set
forth below, a holder who wishes to tender Old Notes for exchange pursuant to
the Exchange Offer must transmit such Old Notes, together with a properly
completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, including all other documents
required by such Letter of Transmittal, to the Exchange Agent at the address set
forth on the back cover page of this Prospectus prior to 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the Expiration Date.
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THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF OLD NOTES, LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE HOLDER. IF SUCH DELIVERY
IS BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT REGISTERED MAIL, PROPERLY INSURED, WITH
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, BE USED. INSTEAD OF DELIVERY BY MAIL, IT IS
RECOMMENDED THAT THE HOLDER USE AN OVERNIGHT OR HAND DELIVERY SERVICE. IN ALL
CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY.
BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER
Any financial institution that is a participant in DTC's Book-Entry Transfer
Facility system may make book-entry delivery of the Old Notes by causing DTC to
transfer such Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account in accordance with
DTC's procedures for such transfer. In connection with a book-entry transfer, a
Letter of Transmittal need not be transmitted to the Exchange Agent, provided
that the book-entry transfer procedure is made in accordance with DTC's ATOP (as
defined below) procedures for transfer and such procedures are complied with
prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.
DTC's Automated Tender Offer Program ("ATOP") is the only method of
processing exchange offers through DTC. To accept the Exchange Offer through
ATOP, participants in DTC must send electronic instructions to DTC through DTC's
communication system, prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration
Date, in place of sending a signed, hard copy Letter of Transmittal. DTC is
obligated to communicate those electronic instructions to the Exchange Agent by
an "Agent's Message." To tender Old Notes through ATOP, the electronic
instructions sent to DTC and transmitted by DTC to the Exchange Agent must
contain the participant's acknowledgement of its receipt of and agreement to be
bound by the Letter of Transmittal for such Old Notes.
DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO DTC IN ACCORDANCE WITH DTC'S PROCEDURES DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.
SIGNATURE GUARANTEES
Each signature on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the
case may be, must be guaranteed unless the Old Notes surrendered for exchange
pursuant hereto are tendered (i) by a registered holder of the Old Notes who has
not completed either the box entitled "Special Exchange Instructions" or the box
entitled "Special Delivery Instructions" in the Letter of Transmittal, or (ii)
by an Eligible Institution (as defined below). In the event that a signature on
a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, is
required to be guaranteed, such guarantee must be by a firm which is a member of
a registered national securities exchange or the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., a commercial bank or trust company having an office or
correspondent in the United States or otherwise be an "eligible guarantor
institution" within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act
(collectively, "Eligible Institutions"). If the Letter of Transmittal is signed
by a person other than the registered holder of the Old Notes, the Old Notes
surrendered for exchange must either (i) be endorsed by the registered holder,
with the signature thereon guaranteed by an Eligible Institution or (ii) be
accompanied by a bond power, in satisfactory form as determined by the Company
in its sole discretion, duly executed by the registered holder, with the
signature thereon guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. The term "registered
holder" as used herein with respect to the Old Notes means any person in whose
name the Old Notes are registered on the books of the Registrar.
DETERMINATION OF VALIDITY
All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of
receipt), acceptance and withdrawal of Old Notes tendered for exchange will be
determined by the Company in its sole discretion, which
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determination shall be final and binding. The Company reserves the absolute
right to reject any and all Old Notes not properly tendered and to reject any
Old Notes the Company's acceptance of which might, in the judgment of the
Company or its counsel, be unlawful. The Company also reserves the absolute
right to waive any defects or irregularities or conditions of the Exchange Offer
as to particular Old Notes either before or after the Expiration Date (including
the right to waive the ineligibility of any holder who seeks to tender Old Notes
in the Exchange Offer). The interpretation of the terms and conditions of the
Exchange Offer (including the Letter of Transmittal and the instructions
thereto) by the Company shall be final and binding on all parties. Unless
waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of Old Notes
for exchange must be cured within such period of time as the Company shall
determine. The Company will use reasonable efforts to give notification of
defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of Old Notes for exchange but
shall not incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders of
the Old Notes will not be deemed to have been made until such irregularities
have been cured or waived.
If any Letter of Transmittal, endorsement, bond power, power of attorney or
any other document required by the Letter of Transmittal is signed by a trustee,
executor, corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative
capacity, such person should so indicate when signing, and, unless waived by the
Company, proper evidence satisfactory to the Company, in its sole discretion, of
such person's authority to so act must be submitted.
Any beneficial owner of the Old Notes (a "Beneficial Owner") whose Old Notes
are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company
or other nominee and who wishes to tender Old Notes in the Exchange Offer should
contact such registered holder promptly and instruct such registered holder to
tender on such Beneficial Owner's behalf. If such Beneficial Owner wishes to
tender directly, such Beneficial Owner must, prior to completing and executing
the Letter of Transmittal and tendering Old Notes, make appropriate arrangements
to register ownership of the Old Notes in such Beneficial Owner's name.
Beneficial Owners should be aware that the transfer of registered ownership may
take considerable time.
By tendering, each registered holder will represent to the Company that,
among other things, (i) the New Notes to be acquired in connection with the
Exchange Offer by the holder and each Beneficial Owner of the Old Notes are
being acquired by the holder and each Beneficial Owner in the ordinary course of
business of the holder and each Beneficial Owner, (ii) the holder and each
Beneficial Owner are not participating, do not intend to participate, and have
no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate, in the
distribution of the New Notes, (iii) the holder and each Beneficial Owner
acknowledge and agree that any person participating in the Exchange Offer for
the purpose of distributing the New Notes must comply with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a
secondary resale transaction of the New Notes acquired by such person and cannot
rely on the position of the staff of the Commission set forth in no-action
letters that are discussed herein under "Resales of New Notes," (iv) that if the
holder is a broker-dealer that acquired Old Notes as a result of market making
or other trading activities, it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any
resale of New Notes acquired in the Exchange Offer, (v) the holder and each
Beneficial Owner understand that a secondary resale transaction described in
clause (iii) above should be covered by an effective registration statement
containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 of
Regulation S-K of the Commission, and (vi) neither the holder nor any Beneficial
Owner is an "affiliate," as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of the
Company except as otherwise disclosed to the Company in writing. In connection
with a book-entry transfer, each participant will confirm that it makes the
representations and warranties contained in the Letter of Transmittal.
GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES
Holders who wish to tender their Old Notes and (i) whose Old Notes are not
immediately available or (ii) who cannot deliver their Old Notes or any other
documents required by the Letter of Transmittal to the Exchange Agent prior to
the Expiration Date (or complete the procedure for book-entry transfer on a
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timely basis), may tender their Old Notes according to the guaranteed delivery
procedures set forth in the Letter of Transmittal. Pursuant to such procedures:
(i) such tender must be made by or through an Eligible Institution and a Notice
of Guaranteed Delivery (as defined in the Letter of Transmittal) must be signed
by such Holder; (ii) on or prior to the Expiration Date, the Exchange Agent must
have received from the Holder and the Eligible Institution a properly completed
and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (by facsimile transmission, mail
or hand delivery) setting forth the name and address of the Holder, the
certificate number or numbers of the tendered Old Notes, and the principal
amount of tendered Old Notes, stating that the tender is being made thereby and
guaranteeing that, within five New York Stock Exchange trading days after the
date of delivery of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, the tendered Old Notes, a
duly executed Letter of Transmittal and any other required documents will be
deposited by the Eligible Institution with the Exchange Agent; and (iii) such
properly completed and executed documents required by the Letter of Transmittal
and the tendered Old Notes in proper form for transfer (or confirmation of a
book-entry transfer of such Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC)
must be received by the Exchange Agent within five New York Stock Exchange
trading days after the Expiration Date. Any Holder who wishes to tender Old
Notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures described above must ensure
that the Exchange Agent receives the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and Letter of
Transmittal relating to such Old Notes prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the Expiration Date. DTC participants may also submit the Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery through ATOP.
ACCEPTANCE OF OLD NOTES FOR EXCHANGE; DELIVERY OF NEW NOTES
Upon satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions to the Exchange Offer, the
Company will accept any and all Old Notes that are properly tendered in the
Exchange Offer prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date.
The New Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be delivered promptly
after acceptance of the Old Notes. For purposes of the Exchange Offer, the
Company shall be deemed to have accepted validly tendered Old Notes, when, as,
and if the Company has given oral or written notice thereof to the Exchange
Agent.
In all cases, issuances of New Notes for Old Notes that are accepted for
exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be made only after timely receipt
by the Exchange Agent of such Old Notes, a properly completed and duly executed
Letter of Transmittal and all other required documents (or of confirmation of a
book-entry transfer of such Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC);
provided, however, that the Company reserves the absolute right to waive any
defects or irregularities in the tender or conditions of the Exchange Offer. If
any tendered Old Notes are not accepted for any reason, such unaccepted Old
Notes will be returned without expense to the tendering Holder thereof as
promptly as practicable after the expiration or termination of the Exchange
Offer.
WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS
Tenders of the Old Notes may be withdrawn by delivery of a written notice
(or for DTC participants, transmission of notice through ATOP) to the Exchange
Agent, at its address set forth in this Prospectus, at any time prior to 5:00
p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration Date. Any such notice of withdrawal
must (i) specify the name of the person having deposited the Old Notes to be
withdrawn (the "Depositor"), (ii) identify the Old Notes to be withdrawn
(including the certificate number or numbers and principal amount of such Old
Notes, as applicable), (iii) be signed by the Holder in the same manner as the
original signature on the Letter of Transmittal by which such Old Notes were
tendered (including any required signature guarantees) or be accompanied by a
bond power in the name of the person withdrawing the tender, in satisfactory
form as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, duly executed by the
registered holder, with the signature thereon guaranteed by an Eligible
Institution together with the other documents required upon transfer by the
Indenture, and (iv) specify the name in which such Old Notes are to be
re-registered, if different from the Depositor, pursuant to such documents of
transfer. Any questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time
of receipt) of such notices will be determined by the
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Company, in its sole discretion. The Old Notes so withdrawn will be deemed not
to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the Exchange Offer.
Any Old Notes which have been tendered for exchange but which are withdrawn will
be returned to the Holder thereof without cost to such Holder as soon as
practicable after withdrawal. Properly withdrawn Old Notes may be retendered by
following one of the procedures described under "The Exchange Offer--Procedure
for Tendering Old Notes" at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date.
THE EXCHANGE AGENT; ASSISTANCE
U.S. Bank Trust National Association, formerly known as First Trust National
Association, is the Exchange Agent. All tendered Old Notes, executed Letters of
Transmittal and other related documents should be directed to the Exchange
Agent. Questions and requests for assistance and requests for additional copies
of the Prospectus, the Letter of Transmittal and other related documents should
be addressed to the Exchange Agent as follows:
By Hand, or Overnight Courier:
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
180 East Fifth Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
Attn: Specialized Finance Department
Facsimile Transmissions (Eligible Institutions Only):
(612) 244-0711
To confirm by telephone or for information call:
(612) 244-5000
By Mail:
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
180 East Fifth Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
Attn: Specialized Finance Department
FEES AND EXPENSES
All expenses incident to the Company's consummation of the Exchange Offer
and compliance with the Registration Rights Agreement will be borne by the
Company, including, without limitation: (i) all applicable Securities and
Exchange Commission, stock exchange or National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") registration and filing fees; (ii) all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws
(including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel in connection
with blue sky qualifications of any of the New Notes) and the determination of
eligibility of the New Notes for investment under the laws of such jurisdiction
and compliance with the rules of the NASD; (iii) all applicable expenses
incurred by the Company in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing,
printing and distributing any registration statement, any prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto, and in preparing or assisting in preparing
any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with the
Registration Rights Agreement; (iv) all rating agency fees, if any; and (v) the
fees and disbursements of the Company's counsel and independent public
accountants.
The Company has not retained any dealer-manager in connection with the
Exchange Offer and will not make any payments to brokers, dealers or others
soliciting acceptance of the Exchange Offer. The Company, however, will pay the
Exchange Agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and will reimburse
it for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith.
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The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange
of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however, a transfer tax is
imposed for any reason other than the exchange of Old Notes pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, then the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on
the registered holder or any other persons) will be payable by the tendering
holder. If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption is not
submitted with the Letter of Transmittal, the amount of such transfer taxes will
be billed directly to such tendering holder.
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
The New Notes will be recorded at the same carrying value as the Old Notes,
as reflected in the Company's accounting records on the date of the exchange.
Accordingly, no gain or loss will be recognized by the Company for accounting
purposes. The expenses of the Exchange Offer will be amortized over the term of
the New Notes.
RESALES OF THE NEW NOTES
Based on the position of the staff of the Commission as set forth in certain
interpretive letters issued to third parties in other transactions, the Company
believes that the New Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer to any holder
of Old Notes in exchange for Old Notes may be offered for resale, resold and
otherwise transferred by such holder (other than (i) a broker-dealer who
purchased Old Notes directly from the Company for resale pursuant to Rule 144A
under the Securities Act or any other available exemption under the Securities
Act, or (ii) a person that is an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of
Rule 405 under the Securities Act) without further compliance with the
registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided
that such holder is acquiring the New Notes in the ordinary course of business
and is not participating, and has no arrangement or understanding with any
person to participate, in the distribution of the New Notes. However, the
Company has not sought its own interpretive letter and there can be no assurance
that the Commission would make a similar determination with respect to the
Exchange Offer. The Company and holders of Old Notes are not entitled to rely on
interpretive advice provided by the staff of other persons, which advice was
based on the facts and conditions represented in such letters. However, the
Exchange Offer is being conducted in a manner intended to be consistent with the
facts and conditions represented in such letters. If any holder acquires New
Notes in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing or participating in
a distribution of the New Notes, such holder cannot rely on the position of the
staff of the Commission enunciated in Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
(available June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available May
13, 1989), or interpreted in the Commission's letter to Shearman and Sterling
(available July 2, 1993), or similar no-action or interpretive letters and must
comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction, unless an
exemption from registration is otherwise available. Each broker-dealer that
receives New Notes for its own account in exchange for Old Notes, where such Old
Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market making or other
trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such New Notes. See "Plan of Distribution."
It is expected that the New Notes will be freely transferable by the holders
thereof, subject to the limitations described in the immediately preceding
paragraph. Sales of New Notes acquired in the Exchange Offer by holders who are
"affiliates" of the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act will be
subject to certain limitations on resale under Rule 144 of the Securities Act
(if applicable). Such persons will only be entitled to sell New Notes in
compliance with the volume limitations set forth in Rule 144, and sales of New
Notes by affiliates will be subject to certain Rule 144 requirements as to the
manner of sale, notice and the availability of current public information
regarding the Company. The foregoing is a summary only of Rule 144 as it may
apply to affiliates of the Company. Any such persons must consult their own
legal counsel for advice as to any restrictions that might apply to the resale
of their New Notes.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
There will be no cash proceeds payable to the Company from the issuance of
the New Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
This Exchange Offer is intended to satisfy certain of the Company's
obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement. In consideration for
issuing the New Notes as contemplated in this Prospectus, the Company will
receive in exchange Old Notes in like principal amount, the form and terms of
which are the same in all material respects as the form and terms of the New
Notes except that the New Notes will be registered under the Securities Act and
hence do not include certain rights to registration thereunder. The Old Notes
surrendered in exchange for New Notes will be retired and canceled and cannot be
reissued. Accordingly, issuance of the New Notes will not result in any increase
in the indebtedness of the Company.
Net proceeds from the Initial Offering (after deducting the Initial
Purchasers' commissions discount and expenses payable by the Company) were
approximately $96.5 million.
The Company intends to use the proceeds from the Initial Offering for the
expansion of its international and domestic telecommunications networks, product
development, expansion of its sales and marketing activities, and working
capital and other general corporate purposes. In addition, the Company may use
the proceeds from the Initial Offering for acquisitions of complementary
products, technologies or businesses, although the Company is not currently a
party to any agreements with respect to any such acquisitions. Pending such
uses, the Company has invested the proceeds from the Initial Offering in short-
term, investment grade, interest-bearing securities.
41
<PAGE>
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the (i) actual capitalization of the Company
at January 31, 1998; and (ii) the capitalization of the Company on a pro forma
basis giving effect to the Equity Offering and the Initial Offering and the
exercise of options to purchase 200,000 shares of Common Stock in connection
with the Equity Offering, as if each had occurred on January 31, 1998. The table
does not give effect to the transactions contemplated by the IX Merger
Agreement.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
JANUARY 31, 1998
(IN THOUSANDS)
-----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
ACTUAL PRO FORMA
---------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents................................................................. $ 8,641 $ 224,921
---------- -----------
---------- -----------
Notes payable--long-term portion.......................................................... $ 5,581 $ 5,581
Capital lease obligations--long-term portion.............................................. 5,555 5,555
Senior Notes due 2006..................................................................... -- 100,000
Convertible debentures.................................................................... 7,500 7,500
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and
outstanding........................................................................... -- --
Common Stock, $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 13,502,536 shares issued
and outstanding (actual) and 18,821,286 shares issued and outstanding (pro
forma)(1)............................................................................. 135 188
Class A Common Stock; $0.01 par value; 35,000,000 shares authorized; 10,255,868 (actual)
and 10,230,868 shares issued and outstanding (pro forma)(2)........................... 103 103
Additional paid-in capital.............................................................. 56,970 176,697
Accumulated deficit..................................................................... (16,833) (16,833)
---------- -----------
Total stockholders' equity................................................................ 40,375 160,155
---------- -----------
Total capitalization................................................................ $ 59,011 $ 278,791
---------- -----------
---------- -----------
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) Actual and pro forma Common Stock issued and outstanding as of January 31,
1998 excludes (i) 4,686,222 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of outstanding options at January 31, 1998 granted to the Company's
directors, officers and other employees at a weighted average exercise price
of $6.17 per share (of which 324,475 shares were exercised between February
1, 1998 and March 31, 1998); (ii) 500,741 shares of Common Stock issuable
upon conversion of the Company's 3.0% Convertible Subordinated Debentures at
a conversion price of $15.16 per share (of which 435,811 were issued in
March 1998); (iii) 170,004 shares issuable upon exercise of warrants at a
weighted average exercise price of $10.32 per share (of which 35,000 shares
were issued between February 1, 1998 and April 15, 1998); and (iv) 312,500
shares issuable in connection with the Company's purchase of Rock
Enterprises, Inc. in November 1997. Includes 25,000 shares of Common Stock
that were issued upon conversion of 25,000 shares of Class A Stock sold by
Mr. Howard S. Jonas in connection with the Equity Offering. Actual Common
Stock issued and outstanding as of January 31, 1998 excludes the 200,000
shares of Common Stock that were issued upon the exercise of stock options
by the Selling Stockholders in connection with the Equity Offering.
(2) Pro forma Class A Stock issued and outstanding as of January 31, 1998
excludes 25,000 shares of Class A Stock that were converted into Common
Stock upon the sale of such shares by Howard S. Jonas in connection with the
Equity Offering.
42
<PAGE>
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
The selected consolidated financial data presented below for each of the
five years in the period ended July 31, 1997 have been derived from the
Company's consolidated financial statements, which have been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP, independent auditors. The consolidated financial statements for the
years ended July 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997 are included in the Company's annual
report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1997. The
selected consolidated financial data for the six months ended January 31, 1997
and 1998 and at January 31, 1998 have been derived from the unaudited
consolidated financial statements of the Company that have been prepared on the
same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements and, in the opinion
of management, include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring
adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for
the periods presented. Operating results for any period are not necessarily
indicative of the results for any future period. The selected consolidated
financial and operating data should be read in conjunction with "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and is
qualified in its entirety by the other financial information appearing elsewhere
in this Prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIX MONTHS
YEAR ENDED JULY 31, ENDED JANUARY 31,
----------------------------------------------------- --------------------
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1997 1998
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA AND OTHER OPERATING DATA)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
DATA:
Revenues:
Telecommunications... $ 1,675 $ 3,169 $10,789 $ 35,708 $ 99,937 $ 40,041 $110,854
Internet access...... -- -- 875 21,986 32,895 19,210 10,044
Net2Phone............ -- -- -- -- 2,355 472 4,806
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total revenues..... 1,675 3,169 11,664 57,694 135,187 59,723 125,704
Costs and expenses:
Direct cost of
revenues........... 272 990 7,544 36,438 92,214 38,874 92,310
Selling, general and
administrative..... 1,019 2,402 5,992 35,799 41,545 23,843 23,706
Depreciation and
amortization....... 79 106 303 1,212 4,873 2,047 3,788
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total costs and
expenses......... 1,370 3,498 13,839 73,449 138,632 64,764 119,804
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income (loss) from
operations........... 305 (329) (2,175) (15,755) (3,445) (5,041) 5,900
Other, net(1).......... (3) 31 30 112 (392) (104) (783)
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net income (loss)...... $ 302 $ (298) $(2,145) $(15,643) $ (3,837) $ (4,937) $ 5,117
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net income (loss) per
share-basic.......... $ 0.02 $ (0.02) $ (0.13) $ (0.86) $ (0.18) $ (0.24) $ 0.23
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Weighted average number
of shares used in
calculation of net
income (loss) per
share-basic.......... 16,241 16,241 16,241 18,180 21,153 20,857 22,638
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net income (loss) per
share-diluted........ $ 0.02 $ (0.02) $ (0.13) $ (0.86) $ (0.18) $ (0.24) $ 0.20
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Weighted average number
of shares used in
calculation of net
income (loss) per
share-diluted........ 16,241 16,241 16,241 18,180 21,153 20,857 26,087
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
------- ------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:
EBITDA(2).............. $ 384 $ (223) $(1,872) $(14,543) $ 1,428 $ (2,994) $ 9,688
EBITDA margin(3)....... 22.9% (7.0)% (16.0)% (25.2)% 1.1% (5.0)% 7.7%
Capital expenditures... $ 229 $ 717 $ 1,326 $ 11,895 $ 18,049 $ 12,324 $ 12,668
Ratio of earnings to
fixed charges(4)..... 31.2x -- -- -- -- -- 9.5x
OTHER OPERATING DATA:
Billed
telecommunications
minutes of use (in
thousands)(5)........ -- -- 10,900 88,300 233,800 84,900 271,900
Revenue per billed
telecommunications
minute of use(5)..... -- -- $ 0.79 $ 0.36 $ 0.40 $ 0.44 $ 0.42
Number of employees at
end of period........ 14 49 96 485 360 535 382
Number of switches at
end of period........ -- -- 1 3 9 4 14
</TABLE>
43
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
JULY 31, JANUARY 31,
----------------------------------------------------- -----------
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and cash equivalents................................. $ 302 $ 754 $ 232 $ 14,894 $ 7,674 $ 8,641
Working capital (deficit)................................. 826 1,289 (884) 13,547 4,887 14,657
Total assets.............................................. 1,302 2,795 4,197 43,797 58,537 90,344
Total stockholders' equity................................ 1,045 2,062 911 26,843 25,259 40,375
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) For the year ended July 31, 1996, includes an extraordinary loss on
retirement of debt of $233,500.
(2) EBITDA represents net earnings (loss) before interest, income taxes,
depreciation and amortization. While EBITDA is not a measurement of
financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles and
should not be construed either as a substitute for net earnings (loss) as a
measure of performance or cash flow from operations as a measure of
liquidity, it is included herein because it is a measure commonly used in
the telecommunications industry.
(3) Represents EBITDA divided by total revenues.
(4) For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings
consist of income before income taxes and fixed charges. Fixed charges
consist of interest expense plus the interest component of rent expense. For
the years ended July 31, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 and for the six months
ended January 31, 1997, earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges. The
coverage deficiencies were $298,000, $2.1 million, $15.6 million, $3.8
million and $4.9 million, respectively.
(5) Excludes minutes of use and revenues from domestic long distance services.
The Company did not derive a material portion of its telecommunications
revenues on a per-minute basis in Fiscal 1993 and Fiscal 1994.
44
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH
"SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA" IN THIS PROSPECTUS. THE
DISCUSSION IN THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE
RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, SUCH AS STATEMENTS OF THE COMPANY'S PLANS, OBJECTIVES,
EXPECTATIONS AND INTENTIONS. THE CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS MADE IN THIS PROSPECTUS
SHOULD BE READ AS BEING APPLICABLE TO ALL RELATED FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
WHEREVER THEY APPEAR IN THIS PROSPECTUS. THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS COULD
DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE ANTICIPATED IN SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.
FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH DIFFERENCES INCLUDE THOSE
DISCUSSED IN "RISK FACTORS," AS WELL AS THOSE DISCUSSED ELSEWHERE HEREIN. THE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE MADE AS OF THE DATE OF THIS
PROSPECTUS, AND THE COMPANY ASSUMES NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS OR TO UPDATE THE REASONS ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM
THOSE ANTICIPATED IN SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. SEE "RISK FACTORS" AND
"INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS."
OVERVIEW
IDT is a leading emerging multinational carrier that combines its position
as an international telecommunications operator, its experience as an Internet
service provider and its leading position in Internet telephony to provide a
broad range of telecommunications services to its wholesale and retail customers
worldwide. The Company provides its customers with integrated and competitively
priced international and domestic long distance, Internet access and, through
its Net2Phone product offerings, Internet telephony services. IDT delivers these
services over a high-quality network consisting of 15 switches in the U.S. and
Europe and owned and leased transmission capacity on 11 undersea fiber optic
cables, together with resale capacity obtained from other carriers. The Company
terminates its international traffic worldwide pursuant to resale arrangements
with domestic carriers and through terminating agreements with 17 PTTs and
competitive foreign carriers. In addition, IDT maintains a domestic Internet
backbone to support both its traditional Internet access services as well as its
Internet telephony services. The Company has grown considerably in recent years,
generating revenues of $11.7 million, $57.7 million and $135.2 million in Fiscal
1995, Fiscal 1996 and Fiscal 1997, respectively, and $125.7 million in the six
months ended January 31, 1998.
The Company entered the international call reorigination business in 1990 to
capitalize on the opportunity created by the spread between U.S. and
foreign-originated international long distance telephone rates. IDT leveraged
the expertise derived from, and calling volume generated by, its call
reorigination business to enter the domestic long distance business in late
1993, by reselling long distance telecommunications services of other carriers
to IDT's domestic customers. As a value-added service for its domestic long
distance customers, the Company began offering Internet access in early 1994,
eventually offering dial-up and dedicated Internet access to individuals and to
businesses as stand-alone services. In 1995, IDT began reselling to other long
distance carriers access to the favorable telephone rates and special tariffs
the Company receives as a result of the calling volume generated by its call
reorigination customers. IDT entered the Internet telephony market in August
1996 with its introduction of Net2Phone, and expanded its Internet telephony
offerings in October 1997 with the introduction of its Net2Phone Direct service.
The Company began marketing its prepaid calling cards in January 1997.
In Fiscal 1997, the Company began to place increased emphasis on its
international telecommunications operations and less emphasis on its Internet
access services. As a result, the Company's telecommunications revenues as a
percentage of total revenues increased from 67.0% for the six months ended
January 31, 1997 to 88.2% for the six months ended January 31, 1998. In
addition, the Company's revenues from telecommunications operations increased
from $40.0 million during the six months ended January 31, 1997 to $110.9
million during the six months ended January 31, 1998. Revenues from the
Company's telecommunications operations are derived primarily from the following
activities: (i) wholesale carrier services to other long distance carriers; (ii)
prepaid calling cards; (iii) international retail long distance services to
45
<PAGE>
individuals and businesses worldwide (primarily provided through call
reorigination services); and (iv) domestic long distance services to individuals
and businesses. Revenues from the Company's Internet operations are derived
primarily from providing Internet access services to individuals and businesses.
The Company's Net2Phone revenues are derived from the marketing of Net2Phone and
Net2Phone Direct services and equipment to individuals, businesses and the
Company's foreign partners.
Direct cost of revenues for the Company's telecommunications services
include costs associated with the transmission and termination of international
and domestic long distance services. Historically, this expense has primarily
been variable, based upon minutes of use, and consists mainly of payments to
other long distance carriers and, to a lesser extent, customer/carrier
interconnect charges, leased fiber circuit charges and switch facility costs.
The direct cost of revenues for Internet access and Net2Phone services consists
primarily of leased circuit and network costs and local access costs. Direct
cost of revenues for Internet services also include fees paid to the Company's
Alliance Partners.
The Company operates a growing facilities-based telecommunications network
consisting of (i) 15 Excel and Nortel switches in the U.S. and the U.K.; (ii)
owned and leased transmission capacity on 11 undersea fiber optic cables
connecting the Company's U.S. facilities with its international facilities, and
with the facilities of its foreign partners in Europe, Latin America and Asia;
and (iii) resale capacity obtained on a per-minute basis from other carriers.
The Company seeks to follow a disciplined strategy of establishing significant
traffic volumes prior to investing in fixed-cost facilities. As the Company
expands its network and the volume of its traffic, the cost of revenues will
increasingly consist of fixed costs associated with leased and owned lines, as
well as costs arising from the ownership and maintenance of its switches. The
Company expects that these factors will cause the direct cost of revenues to
decline as a percentage of revenues over time. The fixed nature of these costs
may also lead to larger fluctuations in gross margins, depending on the minutes
of traffic and associated revenues generated by the Company.
Selling expenses consist primarily of sales commissions paid to independent
agents and internal salespersons, which are the primary cost associated with the
acquisition of customers. General and administrative expenses include salaries,
benefits, bad debt expenses and other corporate overhead costs. These costs have
increased in recent fiscal years due to the development and expansion of the
Company's operations and corporate infrastructure.
The Company's telecommunications revenues are generally associated with
lower selling, general and administrative expenses than the Company's Internet
revenues, and the Company's revenues from its wholesale sales of
telecommunications services have generally had lower selling, general and
administrative expenses than other types of telecommunications revenues. As a
result of these factors, and as a result of the increasing percentage of the
Company's revenues that are derived from telecommunications services and the
decreased emphasis placed on Internet access services, the Company's selling,
general and administrative expenses generally have declined as a percentage of
total revenues. However, as the Company expects its prepaid calling card and
Internet telephony businesses to grow, it is likely that selling, general and
administrative expenses will also grow as a percentage of revenues.
In October 1997, the Company created a new subsidiary, Net2Phone, Inc., for
the development of its Internet telephony business, based on its current view
that a separate entity would provide the necessary flexibility to attract
management personnel and to otherwise develop the business. In January 1998, Mr.
Clifford Sobel, the President of Net2Phone, Inc., purchased 10% of the capital
stock of Net2Phone, Inc. for $100,000. The purchase was effected through the
exercise of stock options that Mr. Sobel received pursuant to his employment
agreement. Mr. Sobel holds these shares subject to certain provisions that limit
the Company's ability to dilute his ownership interest in Net2Phone, Inc. Mr.
Sobel's employment agreement provides that he will endeavor to position the
subsidiary for a possible initial public offering at such time as such an
offering may be practical; the Company will make available up to 9% of the
subsidiary's shares for additional management incentive plans; and for a
one-year period commencing on September 5, 1999, Mr. Sobel will have the right
to purchase 1,000,000 shares of IDT's Common Stock in
46
<PAGE>
return for his ownership interest in Net2Phone plus $6.50 in cash for each share
of Common Stock. There is no assurance that a public offering of the stock of
the subsidiary will occur; however, if and to the extent that any such offering
does take place, the Company currently intends to maintain at least a majority
of the voting power of the subsidiary.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth certain items in the Company's statement of
operations as a percentage of total revenues for the periods indicated:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIX
MONTHS ENDED
YEAR ENDED JULY 31, JANUARY 31,
--------------------- -------------
1995 1996 1997 1997 1998
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues:
Telecommunications............... 92.5% 61.9% 74.0% 67.0% 88.2%
Internet access.................. 7.5 38.1 24.3 32.2 8.0
Net2Phone........................ -- -- 1.7 0.8 3.8
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total revenues................. 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Costs and expenses:
Direct cost of revenues.......... 64.7 63.2 68.2 65.1 73.4
Selling, general and
administrative................. 51.4 62.0 30.7 39.9 18.6
Depreciation and amortization.... 2.5 2.1 3.6 3.4 3.2
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Total costs and expenses....... 118.6 127.3 102.5 108.4 95.2
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Income (loss) from operations...... (18.6) (27.3) (2.5) (8.4) 4.8
Other, net......................... 0.2 0.6 (0.3) 0.2 (0.6)
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Income before taxes and
extraordinary item........... (18.4) (26.7) (2.8) (8.2) 4.2
Income taxes....................... -- -- -- -- --
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Income (loss) before extraordinary
item............................. (18.4) (26.7) (2.8) (8.2) 4.2
Extraordinary loss on retirement of
debt............................. -- (0.4) -- -- --
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net income (loss).................. (18.4)% (27.1)% (2.8)% (8.2)% 4.2%
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
</TABLE>
SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1998 COMPARED TO SIX MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1997
REVENUES. Revenues increased 110.6% from approximately $59.7 million for
the six months ended January 31, 1997 to approximately $125.7 million for the
six months ended January 31, 1998. Revenues from the Company's
telecommunications operations increased 177.3% from approximately $40.0 million
for the six months ended January 31, 1997 to approximately $110.9 million for
the six months ended January 31, 1998. Revenues from the Company's Internet
operations decreased 47.7% from approximately $19.2 million for the six months
ended January 31, 1997 to approximately $10.0 million for the six months ended
January 31, 1998, reflecting the Company's decision to deemphasize its
activities in this area. Internet telephony revenues increased from
approximately $472,000 for the six months ended January 31, 1997 to
approximately $4.8 million for the six months ended January 31, 1998.
Telecommunications revenues increased 177.3%, primarily as a result of a
220.1% increase in minutes of use, from approximately 84.9 million to
approximately 271.9 million, offset in part by a decline in revenue per minute
from $0.44 to $0.42. Telecommunications minutes increased primarily due to the
addition of wholesale carrier service clients, increased usage by existing
clients, and increased marketing of the Company's prepaid calling cards. The
offsetting decline in revenue per minute resulted from variations in the mix of
telecommunications revenue. The addition of wholesale carrier services clients
and the increased use by existing clients resulted in an increase in wholesale
carrier services revenues of 226.6%,
47
<PAGE>
from approximately $22.7 million for the six months ended January 31, 1997 to
approximately $74.1 million for the six months ended January 31, 1998. As a
percentage of telecommunications revenues, wholesale carrier service revenues
increased from approximately 56.7% to 66.8%. Revenues from the Company's prepaid
calling card business, which the Company began to market in January 1997,
increased from approximately $170,000 for the six months ended January 31, 1997
to approximately $23.4 million for the six months ended January 31, 1998. As a
percentage of telecommunications revenues, prepaid calling card revenues
increased from 0.4% to 21.1%. As a percentage of telecommunications revenues,
international retail services revenues decreased form 36.0% to 9.8%.
As a percentage of total revenues, Internet access revenues decreased from
approximately 32.2% for the six months ended January 31, 1997 to approximately
8.0% for the six months ended January 31, 1998. This decrease was due to the
substantial increase in telecommunications revenues as a percentage of total
revenues, as well as a dollar decrease in Internet access revenues due to a
decrease in total dial-up subscribers.
Internet telephony revenues as a percentage of total revenues increased from
0.8% for the six months ended January 31, 1997 to 3.8% for the six months ended
January 31, 1998. The increase in Internet telephony revenues was primarily due
to an increase in billed-minute usage, and the sale of $1.5 million of equipment
during the six months ended January 31, 1998.
DIRECT COST OF REVENUES. The Company's direct cost of revenues increased by
137.5%, from approximately $38.9 million in the six months ended January 31,
1997 to approximately $92.3 million in the six months ended January 31, 1998. As
a percentage of total revenues, these costs increased from 65.1% in the six
months ended January 31, 1997 to 73.4% in the six months ended January 31, 1998.
The dollar increase is primarily due to increases in underlying carrier costs,
because the Company's telecommunications minutes of use, and associated revenue,
grew substantially. As a percentage of total revenues, the increase in direct
costs reflects lower gross margins associated with wholesale carrier services as
compared with international retail and Internet access services.
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE. Selling, general and administrative
costs decreased 0.6% from approximately $23.8 million in the six months ended
January 31, 1997 to approximately $23.7 million in the six months ended January
31, 1998. As a percentage of total revenues, these costs decreased from 39.9% in
the six months ended January 31, 1996 to 18.9% in the six months ended January
31, 1998. The decrease in these costs in dollar terms and as a percentage of
total revenues was due primarily to the shift of focus of the Company's Internet
access marketing efforts from aggressive mass marketing to new reseller programs
and the increase in wholesale carrier services revenues relative to total
revenues.
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION. Depreciation and amortization costs
increased 85.1% from approximately $2.0 million in the six months ended January
31, 1997 to approximately $3.8 million in the six months ended January 31, 1998.
As a percentage of revenues, these costs decreased from 3.4% in the six months
ended January 31, 1997 to 3.0% in the six months ended January 31, 1998. These
costs increased in absolute terms primarily as a result of the Company's higher
fixed asset base during the six months ended January 31, 1998 as compared with
the six months ended January 31, 1997 due to the Company's efforts to expand its
telecommunications network infrastructure, enhance its Internet network and
expand its facilities. The Company anticipates that depreciation and
amortization costs will continue to increase as the Company continues to
implement its growth strategy.
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS. Income from operations for the Company's
telecommunications business increased to approximately $7.9 million in the six
months ended January 31, 1998 from $2.1 million in the six months ended January
31, 1997. As a percentage of telecommunication revenues, income from operations
for the telecommunications business increased to 7.2% in the six months ended
January 31, 1998 from approximately 5.2% in the six months ended January 31,
1997.
48
<PAGE>
Loss from operations for the Internet access segment of the Company's
business decreased to approximately $3.0 million in the six months ended January
31, 1998 from approximately $6.1 million in the six months ended January 31,
1997. The decreased loss of the Internet access segment is largely due to the
refocusing of the Company's marketing efforts from aggressive mass marketing to
new reseller programs. Income generated from the operations of the Net2Phone
division increased to approximately
$927,000 for the six months ended January 31, 1998, compared to a loss of
approximately $1.0 million for the six months ended January 31, 1997. This
change is due to the substantial increase in Net2Phone revenues since the
product's introduction to the market in July 1996, and the sale of equipment in
the six months ended January 31, 1998.
INCOME TAXES. The Company did not record an income tax benefit in the six
months ended January 31, 1997 because the realization of available net operating
loss ("NOL") carryforwards was not probable. In the six months ended January 31,
1998 the Company did not recognize income tax expense as a result of the
utilization of NOL carryforwards. As of July 31, 1997, the Company had federal
carryforwards of approximately $21.0 million. The amount of these NOL
carryforwards that can be used in any given year may be limited in the event of
certain changes in the ownership of the Company. The Company does not believe
that prior ownership changes will significantly limit its ability to use its NOL
carryforwards.
FISCAL YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 1997 COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 1996
REVENUES. Revenues increased 134.3% from approximately $57.7 million in
Fiscal 1996 to approximately $135.2 million in Fiscal 1997. Telecommunications
revenues increased 179.8% from approximately $35.7 million in Fiscal 1996 to
approximately $99.9 million in Fiscal 1997. Internet access revenues increased
49.5% from approximately $22.0 million in Fiscal 1996 to approximately $32.9
million in Fiscal 1997. The Company generated revenues of approximately $2.4
million from its Internet telephony services in Fiscal 1997 through its
Net2Phone service, which was launched in August 1996.
In Fiscal 1997, international telecommunications revenues constituted a
greater percentage of total revenues as compared to Fiscal 1996, due to the
Company's increased focus in that area as compared to its Internet access
services. The 179.9% increase in telecommunications revenues was due primarily
to a 169.3% increase in telecommunications minutes of use from approximately 88
million minutes of use to approximately 234 million minutes of use combined with
an increase in revenue per minute from $0.36 to $0.40. The increase in
telecommunications minutes of use was due to the addition of wholesale carrier
services clients, a substantial increase in international retail customers and
migration of existing customers to the Company's least cost routing switch
platform. The increase in telecommunications revenues per minute resulted from
variations in the mix of the Company's telecommunications revenues. As a
percentage of telecommunications revenues, international retail services
revenues decreased from approximately 36.8% to 27.3%. The addition of wholesale
carrier services clients resulted in an increase in wholesale carrier services
revenues from approximately $18.6 million in Fiscal 1996 to approximately $64.7
million in Fiscal 1997. As a percentage of telecommunications revenues,
wholesale carrier services revenues increased from approximately 52.1% to 64.7%.
As a percentage of total revenues, Internet access revenues decreased from
approximately 38.1% in Fiscal 1996 to approximately 24.3% in Fiscal 1997. The
dollar increase in Internet access revenues was due primarily to the increase in
the dial-up subscribers base, and to a lesser degree increased revenues from
online services and dedicated customers from Fiscal 1996 to Fiscal 1997. The
decrease in Internet access revenue as a percentage of total revenue was due to
the increase of telecommunications revenue as compared to Internet access
revenue, consistent with the change in the focus of the Company's operations.
Internet access revenues also included approximately $3.4 million of online
service revenues for Fiscal 1996 and $1.2 million for Fiscal 1997. The Company
introduced Net2Phone in August 1996 and generated Internet telephony revenues of
approximately $2.4 million in Fiscal 1997.
49
<PAGE>
DIRECT COST OF REVENUES. The Company's direct cost of revenues increased by
153.3% from approximately $36.4 million in Fiscal 1996 to approximately $92.2
million in Fiscal 1997. As a percentage of total revenues, these costs increased
from 63.2% in Fiscal 1996 to 68.2% in Fiscal 1997. The dollar increase is
primarily due to increases in underlying carrier costs because the Company's
telecommunications minutes of use, and the associated revenue, grew
substantially. To a lesser extent, the increase is due to the increase in fees
paid to Alliance Partners and the costs of leased circuits and networks, and of
access lines and network connectivity to support subscriber growth in both
Internet access and international call reorigination.
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE. Selling, general and administrative
costs increased from approximately $35.8 million in Fiscal 1996 to approximately
$41.5 million in Fiscal 1997. As a percentage of total revenues, these costs
decreased from 62.0% in Fiscal 1996 to 30.7% in Fiscal 1997. The decrease in
selling, general and administrative costs as a percentage of total revenues was
primarily due to the shift of the focus of the Internet division's marketing
efforts from aggressive mass marketing to new reseller programs which entail
lower selling costs, together with the growth of the Company's wholesale carrier
services business.
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION. Depreciation and amortization costs
increased 308.3% from approximately $1.2 million in Fiscal 1996 to approximately
$4.9 million in Fiscal 1997. As a percentage of total revenues, these costs
increased from 2.1% in Fiscal 1996 to 3.6% in Fiscal 1997. These costs increased
in absolute terms and as a percentage of revenues primarily as a result of the
Company's higher fixed asset base during Fiscal 1997 as compared with Fiscal
1996 due to the Company's installation of additional Company-owned POPs,
enhancement of its network infrastructure and expansion of its facilities.
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS. Income from operations from the
telecommunications segment increased to approximately $5.7 million in Fiscal
1997 from $2.8 million in Fiscal 1996 and as a percentage of telecommunications
revenues decreased to 5.7% from 7.7%. The dollar increase resulted primarily
from increased revenue generated by the expansion of operations. The decrease as
a percentage of telecommunication revenues resulted primarily from increased
selling, general and administrative expenses. Loss from operations for the
Internet access segment decreased to approximately $8.1 million in Fiscal 1997
from approximately $17.9 million in Fiscal 1996. The loss from operations from
the Internet access segment was principally due to the initial costs of
acquiring customers and increased personnel and facilities costs to sustain
growth. The decreased loss of the Internet access segment is largely due to the
refocusing of its marketing efforts from aggressive mass marketing to new
reseller programs. The loss generated from the development and marketing of
Net2Phone was approximately $1.1 million and $660,000 for Fiscal 1997 and 1996
respectively.
INCOME TAXES. The Company did not record an income tax benefit in Fiscal
1996 or 1997, because the realization of available tax losses was not probable.
FISCAL YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 1996 COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR ENDED JULY 31, 1995
REVENUES. Revenues increased 393.2% from approximately $11.7 million in
Fiscal 1995 to approximately $57.7 million in Fiscal 1996. Telecommunications
revenues increased 230.6% from approximately $10.8 million in Fiscal 1995 to
approximately $35.7 million in Fiscal 1996. Internet access revenues increased
from $875,000 in Fiscal 1995 to approximately $22.0 million in Fiscal 1996, a
25-fold increase.
The increase in the Company's telecommunications revenues was due primarily
to an eight-fold increase in telecommunications minutes of use, from
approximately 11 million to nearly 88 million. The increase in
telecommunications minutes of use was due to a substantial increase in
international retail customers, migration of existing customers to the Company's
least cost routing switch platform and the addition of wholesale carrier
services clients. During this period, the number of international retail
customers increased 208.0% from approximately 6,358 at July 31, 1995 to 19,582
customers at July 31,
50
<PAGE>
1996. As a percentage of telecommunications revenues international retail
services revenues decreased from approximately 66.7% to 36.7%. The addition of
wholesale carrier services clients resulted in an increase in wholesale carrier
services revenues from approximately $1.4 million in Fiscal 1995 to
approximately $18.6 million in Fiscal 1996. As a percentage of
telecommunications revenues, wholesale carrier services revenues increased from
approximately 13.0% to 52.1%.
As a percentage of total revenues, Internet access revenues increased from
approximately 7.5% in Fiscal 1995 to approximately 38.1% in Fiscal 1996. The
increase in Internet access revenues both in dollars and as a percentage of
revenues was due primarily to a 12-fold increase in dial-up subscribers from
10,839 as of July 31, 1995 to approximately 142,700 as of July 31, 1996.
DIRECT COST OF REVENUES. The Company's direct cost of revenues increased by
385.3% from approximately $7.5 million in Fiscal 1995 to approximately $36.4
million in Fiscal 1996. As a percentage of total revenues, these costs decreased
from 64.7% in Fiscal 1995 to 63.2% in Fiscal 1996. The dollar increase was
primarily due to increases in underlying carrier costs as the Company's
telecommunications minutes of use, and associated revenue, grew substantially.
To a lesser extent, the increase is due to the increase in fees paid to Alliance
Partners, the costs of leased circuits, access lines and network connectivity to
support subscriber growth in both Internet access and international retail
services.
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE. Selling, general and administrative
costs increased 496.7% from approximately $6.0 million in Fiscal 1995 to
approximately $35.8 million in Fiscal 1996. As a percentage of total revenues,
these costs increased from 51.4% in Fiscal 1995 to 62.0% in Fiscal 1996. The
increase in these costs both in dollars and as a percentage of revenues was due
primarily to the addition of sales, marketing and technical and customer support
personnel hired to support the growth of the Company's Internet access business,
the increased advertising to attract Internet dial-up subscribers, the increased
license fees paid to Netscape, and costs incurred in developing and marketing
Net2Phone. During Fiscal 1995, the Company recorded a non-cash compensation
expense of approximately $1.0 million as compared to $70,000 in Fiscal 1996 due
to the grant of options to employees and consultants.
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION. Depreciation and amortization costs
increased 296.0% from approximately $303,000 in Fiscal 1995 to approximately
$1.2 million in Fiscal 1996. As a percentage of revenues, these costs decreased
from 2.5% in Fiscal 1995 to 2.1% in Fiscal 1996. These costs increased primarily
as a result of the Company's higher fixed asset base during Fiscal 1996 as
compared with Fiscal 1995 due to the Company's aggressive efforts to install
additional Company-owned POPs, enhance its network infrastructure and expand its
facilities.
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS. Income from operations for the
telecommunications segment increased to approximately $2.8 million in Fiscal
1996 from $830,000 in Fiscal 1995. The increase resulted principally from
increased volume. Loss from operations for the Internet access segment increased
to $17.9 million in Fiscal 1996 from approximately $3.0 million in Fiscal 1995.
The loss from operations from the Internet access segment was principally due to
the initial costs of acquiring customers, increased personnel and facilities
costs to sustain growth and substantial marketing expenses to create customer
awareness. The increased loss of the Internet access segment is largely due to
the growth in Internet customer base, because the initial costs of acquiring
customers exceeds the initial revenue received from such customers. The customer
base increased 12-fold from 10,839 to 142,700 customers during Fiscal 1996. The
loss generated from the development and marketing of Net2Phone was approximately
$660,000 for the year ended July 31, 1996.
INCOME TAXES. The Company did not record an income tax benefit in the
periods ended July 31, 1995 or 1996, because the realization of available tax
losses was not probable.
51
<PAGE>
QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following tables set forth certain quarterly financial data for the ten
quarters ended January 31, 1998. This quarterly information is unaudited, has
been prepared on the same basis as the annual financial statements and, in the
opinion of the Company's management, reflects all adjustments (consisting only
of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of the
information for periods presented. Operating results for any quarter are not
necessarily indicative of the results for any future period.
CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY INCOME STATEMENT
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THREE MONTHS ENDED
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OCTOBER 31, JANUARY 31, APRIL 30, JULY 31, OCTOBER 31, JANUARY 31, APRIL 30,
1995 1996 1996 1996 1996 1997 1997
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues:
Telecommunications............... $ 4,808 $ 5,852 $ 11,338 $ 13,710 $ 18,102 $ 21,939 $ 26,061
Internet access.................. 1,793 3,862 6,888 9,442 10,137 9,074 7,555
Net2Phone........................ -- -- -- -- 79 392 836
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total revenues................. 6,601 9,714 18,226 23,152 28,318 31,405 34,452
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs..................... 4,173 5,926 12,289 14,050 18,013 20,862 23,681
Selling, general and
administrative................. 3,953 8,506 10,135 13,205 12,598 11,245 9,163
Depreciation and amortization.... 131 175 264 642 963 1,083 1,317
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Total costs and expenses....... 8,257 14,607 22,688 27,897 31,574 33,190 34,161
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income (loss) from operations...... (1,656) (4,893) (4,462) (4,745) (3,256) (1,785) 291
Other, net......................... 3 (32) 59 316 150 (45) (130)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Income (loss) before taxes......... (1,653) (4,925) (4,403) (4,429) (3,106) (1,830) 161
Taxes.............................. -- -- -- -- -- -- --
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income (loss) before
extraordinary item............... (1,653) (4,925) (4,403) (4,429) (3,106) (1,830) 161
Extraordinary item................. -- -- (234) -- -- -- --
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income (loss).................. $ (1,653) $ (4,925) $ (4,637) $ (4,429) $ (3,106) $ (1,830) $ 161
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income (loss) per
share-basic...................... $ (0.10) $ (0.30) $ (0.25) $ (0.21) $ (0.15) $ (0.09) $ 0.01
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Weighted average shares
outstanding-basic................ 16,241 16,241 18,541 20,841 20,841 20,873 21,258
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income (loss) per
share-diluted.................... $ (0.10) $ (0.30) $ (0.25) $ (0.21) $ (0.15) $ (0.09) 0.01
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Weighted average shares
outstanding-diluted.............. 16,241 16,241 18,541 20,841 20,841 20,873 23,249
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<CAPTION>
THREE MONTHS ENDED
-------------------------------------
JULY 31, OCTOBER 31, JANUARY 31,
1997 1997 1998
----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues:
Telecommunications............... $ 33,835 $ 47,804 $ 63,050
Internet access.................. 6,129 4,850 5,194
Net2Phone........................ 1,049 2,097 2,709
----------- ----------- -----------
Total revenues................. 41,013 54,751 70,953
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs..................... 29,659 40,861 51,449
Selling, general and
administrative................. 8,539 9,835 13,871
Depreciation and amortization.... 1,510 1,745 2,043
----------- ----------- -----------
Total costs and expenses....... 39,708 52,441 67,363
----------- ----------- -----------
Income (loss) from operations...... 1,305 2,310 3,590
Other, net......................... (367) (347) (436)
----------- ----------- -----------
Income (loss) before taxes......... 938 1,963 3,154
Taxes.............................. -- -- --
----------- ----------- -----------
Net income (loss) before
extraordinary item............... 938 1,963 3,154
Extraordinary item................. -- -- --
----------- ----------- -----------
Net income (loss).................. $ 938 $ 1,963 $ 3,154
----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- -----------
Net income (loss) per
share-basic...................... $ 0.04 $ 0.09 $ 0.14
----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- -----------
Weighted average shares
outstanding-basic................ 21,648 21,999 23,330
----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- -----------
Net income (loss) per
share-diluted.................... 0.04 0.08 0.12
----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- -----------
Weighted average shares
outstanding-diluted.............. 23,641 25,480 27,054
----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- -----------
</TABLE>
CONSOLIDATED QUARTERLY INCOME STATEMENT
(AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL REVENUES)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THREE MONTHS ENDED
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OCTOBER 31, JANUARY 31, APRIL 30, JULY 31, OCTOBER 31, JANUARY 31, APRIL 30, JULY 31,
1995 1996 1996 1996 1996 1997 1997 1997
----------- ----------- --------- -------- ----------- ----------- --------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues:
Telecommunications.......... 72.8% 60.2% 62.2% 59.2% 63.9% 69.9% 75.7% 82.5%
Internet access............. 27.2 39.8 37.8 40.8 35.8 28.9 21.9 14.9
Net2Phone................... -- -- -- -- 0.3 1.2 2.4 2.6
----------- ----------- --------- -------- ----------- ----------- --------- --------
Total revenues............ 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs................ 63.2 61.0 67.4 60.7 63.6 66.4 68.8 72.3
Selling, general and
administrative............ 59.9 87.6 55.6 57.0 44.5 35.8 26.6 20.8
Depreciation and
amortization.............. 2.0 1.8 1.5 2.8 3.4 3.5 3.8 3.7
----------- ----------- --------- -------- ----------- ----------- --------- --------
Total costs and
expenses................ 125.1 150.4 124.5 120.5 111.5 105.7 99.2 96.8
Income (loss) from
operations.................. (25.1) (50.4) (24.5) (20.5) (11.5) (5.7) 0.8 3.2
Other, net.................... 0.1 (0.3) 0.3 1.4 0.5 (0.1) (0.4) (0.9)
----------- ----------- --------- -------- ----------- ----------- --------- --------
Income (loss) before taxes.... (25.0) (50.7) (24.2) (19.1) (11.0) (5.8) 0.4 2.3
Taxes......................... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
----------- ----------- --------- -------- ----------- ----------- --------- --------
Net income (loss) before
extraordinary item.......... (25.0) (50.7) (24.2) (19.1) (11.0) (5.8) 0.4 2.3
Extraordinary item............ -- -- (1.3) -- -- -- -- --
----------- ----------- --------- -------- ----------- ----------- --------- --------
Net income (loss)............. (25.0)% (50.7)% (25.5)% (19.1)% (11.0)% (5.8)% 0.4% 2.3%
----------- ----------- --------- -------- ----------- ----------- --------- --------
----------- ----------- --------- -------- ----------- ----------- --------- --------
<CAPTION>
THREE MONTHS ENDED
-------------------------
OCTOBER 31, JANUARY 31,
1997 1998
----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Revenues:
Telecommunications.......... 87.3% 88.8%
Internet access............. 8.9 7.3%
Net2Phone................... 3.8 3.9%
----------- -----------
Total revenues............ 100.0 100.0
Costs and expenses:
Direct costs................ 74.6 72.5
Selling, general and
administrative............ 18.0 19.5
Depreciation and
amortization.............. 3.2 2.9
----------- -----------
Total costs and
expenses................ 95.8 94.9
Income (loss) from
operations.................. 4.2 5.1
Other, net.................... (0.6) (0.6)
----------- -----------
Income (loss) before taxes.... 3.6 4.5
Taxes......................... -- --
----------- -----------
Net income (loss) before
extraordinary item.......... 3.6 4.5
Extraordinary item............ -- --
----------- -----------
Net income (loss)............. 3.6% 4.5%
----------- -----------
----------- -----------
</TABLE>
52
<PAGE>
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Historically, the Company has satisfied its cash requirements through a
combination of cash flow from operating activities, sales of equity securities
and borrowings from third parties (including borrowings from certain of its
stockholders and under certain credit facilities). In September 1997, the
Company completed a $7.5 million private placement of 3.0% convertible
debentures with a group of institutional investors. In March and April 1998,
$6.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the convertible debentures were
converted into shares of the Company's Common Stock, and the Company redeemed
the remaining convertible debentures. The Company also received approximately
$2.9 million and $2.2 million on the exercise of stock options in the six months
ended January 31, 1998 and in Fiscal 1997, respectively. As of January 31, 1998,
the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $8.6 million and working capital of
approximately $14.7 million.
In February 1998, the Company completed the Equity Offering, raising net
proceeds of $119.7 million, after deducting underwriting discounts and
commissions and offering expenses, and after adding proceeds from the exercise
of stock options by certain selling stockholders. In addition, in February 1998,
the Company completed the Initial Offering, raising net proceeds of $96.5
million, after deducting commissions and expenses. As of January 31, 1998, on a
pro forma basis after giving effect to the Equity Offering and the Initial
Offering, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $224.9 million and
working capital of approximately $230.9 million.
The Company generated negative cash flow from operating activities of
approximately $2.9 million during the six months ended January 31, 1998,
compared with negative cash flow from operating activities of approximately $7.2
million during the six months ended January 31, 1997. The improvement in cash
flow from operating activities from the six months ended January 31, 1997 to the
six months ended January 31, 1998 was primarily due to the decrease in the
Company's net loss. Cash flow from operations varied significantly from quarter
to quarter, depending upon the timing of operating cash receipts and payments,
especially accounts receivable and accounts payable. Accounts receivable (net of
allowances) were approximately $17.1 million and $31.8 million at January 31,
1997 and 1998, respectively. Accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued
expenses have increased from period to period as the Company's businesses have
grown.
The Company's capital expenditures increased from approximately $12.3
million in the six months ended January 31, 1997 to approximately $12.7 million
in the six months ended January 31, 1998, as the Company continued to expand its
international and domestic telecommunications network infrastructure. The
Company financed a large portion of its capital expenditures since the beginning
of Fiscal 1997 through capital leases and notes payable. Payments on purchases
of fixed assets increased from approximately $7.3 million in the six months
ended January 31, 1997 to approximately $8.8 million in the six months ended
January 31, 1998.
The Company intends to, where appropriate, make strategic acquisitions to
increase its telecommunications customer base. The Company may also make
strategic acquisitions related to its Internet business. From time to time, the
Company evaluates potential acquisitions of companies, technologies, products
and customer accounts that complement the Company's businesses. In Fiscal 1997,
the Company purchased the equipment and networks of two of its Alliance Partners
for approximately $4.4 million. The purchase price included a cash payment of
$2.3 million, which the Company financed through a four-year convertible note,
assumption of trade liabilities of approximately $280,000 (excluding $429,000
due to the Company), and the issuance of promissory notes totaling approximately
$1.4 million, of which $690,000 is a two-year note paying interest at 8.25% per
annum, and $750,000 is a four-year note paying interest at 10% per annum. In
December 1997, the four-year convertible note was converted by the holder into
shares of the Company's Common Stock.
53
<PAGE>
In November 1997, the Company purchased the outstanding capital stock of
Rock Enterprises, Inc. in exchange for 625,000 shares of the Company's Common
Stock, all shares of which have been issued.
In April 1998, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
"IX Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which it agreed to purchase all of the
issued and outstanding capital stock of IX, in exchange for 3,242,323 shares of
the Company's Common Stock and $20.0 million in cash, which was funded out of
the Company's working capital. The closing of this transaction took place on May
6, 1998. A portion of the shares of the Company's Common Stock to be distributed
pursuant to the IX Merger Agreement were deposited into an escrow account to be
delivered to the former stockholders of IX in five equal installments through
October 2002, and a second portion of such shares will remain in escrow in order
to satisfy certain claims that the Company would be entitled to raise against
the former stockholders of IX pursuant to the IX Merger Agreement. This
transaction will be treated as a purchase for accounting purposes and is
intended to qualify as a tax-free reorganization under the provisions of Section
368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
In April 1998, the Company entered into a joint venture with Mr. Carlos
Gomez, a distributor of telephone calling cards. Pursuant to the terms of the
transaction, the Company agreed to issue up to 200,000 shares of its Common
Stock, of which 100,000 of such shares were issued in April 1998. Subject to the
satisfaction of certain performance criteria, up to an additional 100,000 of
such shares will be issued in 1999.
The Company believes that, based upon its present business plan, the
proceeds from the Equity Offering and the Initial Offering, together with the
Company's existing cash resources, credit facilities and expected cash flow from
operating activities, will be sufficient to meet its currently anticipated
working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next
twelve months. If the Company's growth exceeds current expectations, if the
Company acquires the business or assets of another company, or if the Company's
cash flow from operations after the end of such period is insufficient to meet
its working capital and capital expenditure requirements, the Company will need
to raise additional capital from equity or debt sources. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to raise such capital on favorable terms
or at all. If the Company is unable to obtain such additional capital, the
Company may be required to reduce the scope of its anticipated expansion, which
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition or results of operations.
The Company is conducting a review of its computer hardware and software to
ensure that its computer-related applications will not fail or create erroneous
results as a result of the use of two digits in various program date fields (the
"Year 2000 issue"). The Company does not currently expect that its cost of
addressing the Year 2000 issue will be material. However, the consequences of an
incomplete or untimely resolution of the Year 2000 issue could be expected to
have a negative effect on the future financial results of the Company. See "Risk
Factors--Year 2000 Compliance."
54
<PAGE>
BUSINESS
THE COMPANY
IDT is a leading emerging multinational carrier that combines its position
as an international telecommunications operator, its experience as an Internet
service provider and its leading position in Internet telephony to provide a
broad range of telecommunications services to its wholesale and retail customers
worldwide. The Company provides its customers with integrated and competitively
priced international and domestic long distance, Internet access and, through
its Net2Phone product offerings, Internet telephony services. IDT delivers these
services over a high-quality network consisting of 15 switches in the U.S. and
Europe and owned and leased transmission capacity on 11 undersea fiber optic
cables, together with resale capacity obtained from other carriers. The Company
terminates its international traffic worldwide pursuant to resale arrangements
with domestic carriers and through terminating agreements with 17 PTTs and
competitive foreign carriers. In addition, IDT maintains a domestic Internet
backbone to support both its traditional Internet access services as well as its
Internet telephony services. The Company has grown considerably in recent years,
generating revenues of $11.7 million, $57.7 million and $135.2 million in Fiscal
1995, Fiscal 1996 and Fiscal 1997, respectively, and $125.7 million in the six
months ended January 31, 1998.
INDUSTRY
OVERVIEW
The international long distance industry, which principally consists of the
transmission of voice and data between countries, is undergoing a period of
fundamental change that has resulted, and is expected to continue to result, in
significant growth in usage of international telecommunications services.
According to industry sources, in 1996, the international long distance
telecommunications industry accounted for approximately $61.3 billion in
revenues and 70.0 billion minutes of use, an increase from approximately $23.9
billion in revenues and 19.1 billion minutes of use in 1987. Industry sources
have estimated that by 2000 this market may approach $85.7 billion in revenues
and 122.4 billion minutes of use, representing compound annual growth rates from
1996 of 8.7% and 15.0%, respectively.
The Company believes that growth in international long distance services is
being driven by (i) the globalization of the world's economies and the worldwide
trend toward deregulation of the telecommunications sector; (ii) declining
prices arising from increased competition generated by privatization and
deregulation; (iii) increased worldwide telephone density and accessibility
arising from technological advances and greater investment in telecommunications
infrastructure, including the deployment of wireless networks; (iv) a wider
selection of products and services; and (v) the growth in the transmission of
data traffic via internal company networks and the Internet. The Company
believes that growth of traffic originated in markets outside the U.S. will be
higher than growth in traffic originated within the U.S. due to recent
deregulation in many foreign markets, relative economic growth rates and
increasing access to telecommunications facilities in emerging markets.
REGULATORY AND COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT
Consumer demand and competitive initiatives have acted as catalysts for
government deregulation, especially in developed countries. Deregulation
accelerated in the U.S. in 1984 with the divestiture by AT&T of the RBOCs.
Today, there are over 500 U.S. long distance companies, most of which are small
or medium-sized companies. In order to be successful, these small and
medium-sized companies typically offer their customers a full range of services,
including international long distance. However, most of these carriers do not
have the critical mass of customers to receive volume discounts on international
traffic from the larger facilities-based carriers such as AT&T, MCI, Sprint and
WorldCom. In addition, these companies have only a limited ability to invest in
international facilities. Alternative international carriers, such as the
Company, have capitalized on this demand for less expensive international
transmission facilities. These alternative international carriers are able to
take advantage of larger traffic volumes in order to
55
<PAGE>
obtain volume discounts on international routes (resale traffic) and/or invest
in facilities when the volume of particular routes justifies such investments.
As these emerging international carriers have become established, they have also
begun to carry overflow traffic from the larger long distance providers that own
overseas transmission facilities.
Deregulation in the U.K. began in 1981 when Mercury, a subsidiary of Cable &
Wireless plc, was granted a license to operate a facilities-based network and
compete with British Telecommunications plc. Deregulation spread to other
European countries with the adoption of the "Directive on Competition in the
Markets for Telecommunication Services" in 1990. A series of subsequent EU
directives, reports and actions are expected to result in substantial
deregulation of the telecommunications industries in most EU member states by
the end of 1998. Further deregulation of the EU telecommunications market will
occur in 2000 upon the implementation of the EU's Amending Directive to the
Interconnection Directive, which mandates the introduction of equal access and
carrier pre-selection by 2000. A similar movement toward deregulation has
already taken place in Australia and New Zealand, and is also taking place in
Japan, Mexico, Hong Kong and other markets. Other governments have begun to
allow competition for value-added and other selected telecommunications services
and features, including data and facsimile services and certain restricted voice
services. Deregulation and privatization have also allowed new long distance
providers to emerge in other foreign markets. In many countries, however, the
rate of change and emergence of competition remain slow, and the timing and
extent of future deregulation is uncertain.
On February 15, 1997, the U.S. and 68 other countries signed the WTO
Agreement and agreed to open their telecommunications markets to competition and
foreign ownership starting in January 1998. These 69 countries represent
approximately 95% of worldwide telecommunications traffic. The Company believes
that the WTO Agreement will provide IDT with significant opportunities to
compete in markets where it did not previously have access, and to provide
end-to-end facilities-based services to and from these countries. The FCC
recently released an order that significantly changes U.S. regulation of
international services in order to implement the U.S. open market commitments
under the WTO Agreement. This order is expected to increase opportunities for
foreign carriers to compete in the U.S. communications market, while increasing
opportunities for U.S. carriers to enter foreign markets and to develop
alternative termination arrangements with non-dominant carriers in other
countries.
Deregulation has encouraged competition, which in turn has prompted carriers
to offer a wider selection of products and services at lower prices. The Company
believes that the lower price environment resulting from increased competition
has been more than offset by cost decreases and increases in telecommunications
usage. For example, based on FCC data for the period 1989 through 1995,
per-minute settlement payments by U.S.-based carriers to foreign PTTs fell
31.4%, from $0.70 per minute to $0.48 per minute. Over this same period,
however, per-minute international billed revenues fell only 13.7%, from $1.02 in
1989 to $0.88 in 1995. The Company believes that as settlement rates and
capacity costs continue to decline, international long distance will continue to
provide opportunities to generate relatively high revenues and per-minute gross
profits.
INTERNATIONAL SWITCHED LONG DISTANCE SERVICES
International switched long distance services are provided through switching
and transmission facilities that automatically route calls to circuits based
upon a predetermined set of routing criteria. In the U.S., an international long
distance call typically originates on a LEC's network and is switched to the
caller's domestic long distance carrier. The domestic long distance provider
then carries the call to its own or to another carrier's international gateway
switch. From there it is carried to a corresponding gateway switch operated in
the country of destination by the ITO of that country and then is routed to the
party being called though that country's domestic telephone network.
International long distance providers can generally be categorized by the
extent, if any, of their ownership and use of their own switches and
transmission facilities. The largest U.S. carriers, AT&T, MCI, Sprint and
WorldCom primarily utilize owned U.S. transmission facilities and have operating
agreements
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with, and own transmission facilities that carry traffic to, the countries to
which they provide service. A significantly larger group of long distance
providers own and operate their own switches and generally carry the overflow
traffic of other long distance providers. These carriers either rely solely on
resale agreements with other long distance carriers to terminate traffic or use
a combination of resale agreements and leased or owned facilities in order to
terminate their traffic, as discussed below.
OPERATING AGREEMENTS. Operating agreements provide for the termination of
traffic in, and return traffic from, the international long distance providers
that have rights in facilities in different countries at a negotiated Accounting
Rate. Under a traditional operating agreement, the international long distance
provider that originates more traffic compensates the other long distance
provider by paying an amount determined by multiplying the net traffic imbalance
by the latter's share of the accounting rate. Under a typical operating
agreement, each carrier has a right in its portion of the transmission
facilities between two countries. A carrier gains ownership rights in a fiber
optic cable by purchasing direct ownership in a particular cable (usually prior
to the time that the cable is placed in service), by acquiring an Indefeasible
Right of Use ("IRU") in a previously installed cable, or by leasing or obtaining
capacity from another long distance provider that either has direct ownership or
IRU rights in the cable. In situations where a long distance provider has
sufficiently high traffic volume, routing calls across leased or IRU cable
capacity is generally more cost-effective on a per-call basis than the use of
resale arrangements with other long distance providers. However, leased capacity
and acquisition of IRU rights require a substantial initial capital investment
based on the amount of capacity acquired.
TRANSIT ARRANGEMENTS. In addition to utilizing an operating agreement to
terminate traffic delivered from one country directly to another, an
international long distance provider may enter into transit arrangements
pursuant to which a long distance provider in an intermediate country carries
the traffic to the country of destination.
SWITCHED RESALE ARRANGEMENTS. A switched resale arrangement typically
involves the wholesale purchase of termination services on a variable,
per-minute basis by one long distance provider from another. A single
international call may pass through the facilities of multiple long distance
resellers before it reaches the foreign facilities-based carrier that ultimately
terminates the call. Such resale, first permitted with the deregulation of the
U.S. market, enabled the emergence of alternative international providers that
relied, at least in part, on transmission services acquired on a wholesale basis
from other long distance providers. Resale arrangements set per-minute prices
for different routes, that may be guaranteed for a set time period or subject to
fluctuation following notice. The resale market for international transmission
is constantly changing, as new long distance resellers emerge, and as existing
providers respond to fluctuating costs and competitive pressures. In order to
effectively manage costs when utilizing resale arrangements, long distance
providers need timely access to changing market data and must quickly react to
changes in costs through pricing adjustments or routing decisions.
ALTERNATIVE TRANSIT/TERMINATION ARRANGEMENTS. As the international long
distance market began to deregulate, long distance providers developed
alternative transit/termination arrangements in an effort to decrease their
costs of terminating international traffic. Some of the more significant of
these arrangements include refiling, ISR and ownership of switching facilities
in foreign countries.
Refiling and transiting of traffic, which take advantage of disparities in
settlement rates between different countries, allow traffic to a destination
country to be treated as if it originated in another country that benefits from
lower settlement rates with the destination country, thereby resulting in a
lower overall termination cost. The difference between transit and refiling is
that, with respect to transit, the long distance provider in the destination
country has a direct relationship with the originating long distance provider
and is aware of the arrangement, while with refiling, it is likely that the long
distance provider in the destination country is not aware of the country in
which the traffic originated or of the originating carrier. To date, the FCC has
made no pronouncement as to whether refiling complies with either U.S. or ITU
regulations.
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Under ISR, a long distance provider completely bypasses the Accounting Rate
system by connecting an international leased private line (i) to the PSTN of two
countries or (ii) directly to the premises of a customer or partner in one
country and the PSTN in the other country. While ISR currently is only
sanctioned by applicable regulatory authorities on a limited number of routes,
including U.S.-U.K., U.S.-Canada, U.S.-Sweden, U.S.-New Zealand, U.S.-Australia,
U.S.-Netherlands, U.K.-worldwide and Canada-U.K., it is increasing in use and is
expected to expand significantly as deregulation of the international
telecommunications market continues. In addition, deregulation has made it
possible for U.S.-based long distance providers to establish their own switching
facilities in certain foreign countries, enabling them to terminate traffic
directly.
COMPETITIVE OPPORTUNITIES AND ADVANCES IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
The combination of a continually expanding global telecommunications market,
consumer demand for lower prices with improved quality and service, and ongoing
deregulation has created competitive opportunities in many countries. Similarly,
new technologies, including fiber optic cable and improvements in digital
compression, have improved quality and increased transmission capacities and
speed, with transmission costs decreasing as a result. In addition, the growth
of the Internet as a communications medium, and advances in packet switching
technology and Internet telephony are expected to have an increasing impact on
the international telecommunications market.
Advances in technology have created a variety of ways for telecommunications
carriers to provide customer access to their networks and services. These
include customer-paid local access, international and domestic toll-free access,
direct digital access through a dedicated line, equal access through automated
routing from the PSTN, call reorigination and Internet telephony. The type of
access offered depends on the proximity of switching facilities to the customer,
the needs of the customer, and the regulatory environment in which the carrier
competes. Overall, these changes have resulted in a trend towards bypassing
traditional international long distance operating agreements as international
long distance companies seek to operate more efficiently.
In a deregulated country such as the U.S., carriers can establish switching
facilities, own or lease fiber optic cable, enter into operating agreements with
foreign carriers and, accordingly, provide direct access service. In markets
that have not deregulated or are slow in implementing deregulation, such as
Lebanon, international long distance carriers have used advances in technology
to develop innovative alternative access methods, such as call reorigination. In
other countries, such as Japan and most EU member states, where deregulation has
commenced but has not been completed, carriers are permitted to offer
facilities-based data and facsimile services, as well as limited voice services
including those to CUGs, but are not yet permitted to offer full voice
telephony. As countries deregulate, the demand for alternative access methods
typically decreases because carriers are permitted to offer a wider range of
facilities-based services on a transparent basis.
The most common form of alternative international access, traditional call
reorigination, avoids the high international rates offered by the ITO in a
particular regulated country by providing dial tone from a deregulated country,
typically the U.S. To place a call using traditional call reorigination, a user
dials a unique phone number to an international carrier's switching center and
then hangs up after it rings. The user then receives an automated callback
providing dial tone from the U.S. which enables the user to complete the call.
Technical innovations, ranging from inexpensive dialers to sophisticated
in-country switching platforms, have enabled telecommunications carriers to
offer a "transparent" form of call reorigination. The customer dials into the
local switch, and then dials the international number in the usual fashion,
without the "hang-up" and "callback," and the international call is
automatically and rapidly processed. The Company believes that as deregulation
occurs and competition increases in various markets around the world, the
pricing advantage of traditional call reorigination to most destinations
relative to conventional international direct dial service will diminish in
those markets.
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DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INTERNET INDUSTRY
Use of the Internet has grown rapidly since its initial commercialization in
the early 1990's. However, determining the precise number of Internet users is
extremely difficult because (i) the Internet does not have a single point of
control from which statistics may be recorded; (ii) computers are connected and
disconnected from the Internet on a continual basis; and (iii) a large number of
users may access the Internet through a single network. According to the
estimates of the International Telecommunication Union (the "ITU"), there were
approximately 60 million Internet users worldwide at the end of 1996. In
addition, the ITU estimates that the number of Internet users may increase to
300 million by 2001.
The Internet has evolved dramatically over the last several years as a
result of several trends affecting the computer and communications industries.
These trends include (i) the migration by organizations from proprietary
mainframe environments to open systems and distributed computing; (ii) the
emergence of low-cost, high-capacity telecommunications bandwidth; (iii) the
increased use of PCs in the home; (iv) the increased percentage of PCs that are
equipped with modems; (v) the growth of commercial on-line services; (vi) the
growth of information, entertainment and commercial applications; and (vii) the
increase in the number and variety of services available on the Internet.
Through an Internet connection, users can access commercial, educational and
governmental databases, software, graphics, newspapers, magazines, library
catalogs, industry newsletters, and other information. Currently, the primary
uses of the Internet include e-mail, Web browsing, electronic commerce, file
transfers, remote log-in, news, bulletin board and chat services and other
on-line services.
In addition, during the last years, several navigational and utility tools
have become available that have enabled easier access to the resources of the
Internet. Navigational software such as Netscape Navigator and Microsoft's
Internet Explorer, and search tools from such companies as Excite, Inc. and
InfoSeek, Inc., help users access information from the Internet.
As the volume of information available on organizations' computer systems
has increased and the use of data communications has grown as a preferred means
of day-to-day communications, organizations increasingly seek a number of
geographically dispersed access points to their own networks and to the networks
of other organizations. In the commercial sector, the number of interconnections
that businesses desire to establish with networks, customers, suppliers and
affiliates generally has made the development of proprietary access systems on a
case-by-case basis costly and time consuming. As a result, many organizations
seek reliable, high-speed and cost-effective means of internetworking and
increasingly rely on the Internet. As reliance on the Internet for the
transmission of data, applications and electronic commerce continues to grow
among organizations, the Company believes that these organizations will require
reliable, geographically dispersed and competitively priced Internet access and
services.
INTERNET TELEPHONY
The Internet telephony industry began in 1995, when experienced Internet
users began to transfer voice messages from one PC to another. In 1995, VocalTec
Communications, Ltd. ("VocalTec") introduced software that allowed PC users to
place international calls via the Internet to other PC users for the price of a
local call. In its early months, the growth of Internet telephony was
constrained due to the poor sound quality of the calls and because calls were
mainly limited to those placed from one PC to another.
The poor sound quality of Internet telephony was due to the fact that the
Internet was not created to provide for simultaneous voice traffic. Unlike
conventional voice communication circuits, in which the entire circuit is
reserved for a call, Internet telephony uses packet switching technology, in
which voice data is divided into discrete packets that are transmitted over the
Internet. These packets must travel through several routers in order to reach
their destination, which may cause misrouting, and delays in transmission and
reception. The limited capacity of the Internet has also restrained the growth
rate of Internet telephony.
However, as the industry has grown, substantial improvements have been made.
New software algorithms have substantially reduced delays. The use of private
networks or intranets to transmit calls as
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an alternative to the public Internet has alleviated capacity problems. Another
key development has been the introduction of gateway servers, which connect
packet-switched data networks such as the Internet to circuit-switched public
telephone networks. Developments in hardware, software and networks are expected
to continue to improve the quality and viability of Internet telephony. In time,
packet-switched networks may become substantially less expensive to operate than
circuit-switched networks, because carriers can compress voice traffic and place
more calls on a single line.
The Internet telephony market has grown in terms of the number and size of
companies offering products. Established long distance providers such as AT&T,
Bell Atlantic and Deutsche Telekom, as well as other major companies such as
Motorola, Microsoft, Intel and Netscape, have all entered or plan to enter the
Internet telephony market, in certain cases by investing in companies engaged in
the development of Internet telephony products.
Internet telephony provides customers with substantial savings compared to
conventional long distance calls, because the total cost of an Internet
telephone call is based on the local calls to and from the gateways of the
respective ISPs, thereby bypassing the international settlements process.
According to industry sources, the market for calls carried by Internet
telephony systems is expected to be approximately $30 million in 1998, and may
increase to as much as $1.0 billion in 2002.
MARKET OPPORTUNITY
The market for international voice and data telecommunications is undergoing
fundamental change and has experienced significant growth as a result of: (i)
deregulation and privatization of telecommunications markets worldwide; (ii) the
convergence of traditional voice and packet switching technology; and (iii) the
growth of the Internet as a communications medium, including Internet telephony.
DEREGULATION AND PRIVATIZATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKETS
WORLDWIDE. Significant legislation and agreements have been adopted since the
beginning of 1996 which are expected to lead to increased liberalization of the
majority of the world's telecommunication markets, including:
- the U.S. Telecommunications Act, signed in February 1996, which
establishes parameters for the implementation of full competition in the
U.S. domestic long distance markets;
- the EU's Services Directive, adopted in 1990, which abolishes exclusive
rights for the provision of voice telephony services throughout the EU and
the PSTNs of any member country of the EU by January 1, 1998, subject to
extension by certain EU member countries; and
- the WTO Agreement, signed in February 1997, which creates a framework
under which 69 countries have committed to liberalize their
telecommunications laws in order to permit increased competition and, in
most cases, foreign ownership in their telecommunications markets,
beginning in 1998.
The Company believes that these initiatives, as well as other proposed
legislation and agreements, will provide increased opportunities for emerging
competitive carriers such as IDT to provide telecommunications services in
targeted markets. Deregulation has encouraged competition, which in turn has
prompted carriers to offer a wider selection of services and reduce prices. The
industry's projections for substantially increased international minutes of use
and revenue by 2000 are based in part on the belief that reduced pricing as a
result of deregulation and competition will result in a substantial increase in
the demand for telecommunications services in most markets.
CONVERGENCE OF TRADITIONAL VOICE AND PACKET SWITCHING
TECHNOLOGY. Technological advancements have allowed the use of packet switching
technology for the transmission of voice telecommunications traffic, enabling a
substantial increase in network efficiency, as well as the use of the Internet
for voice communications. The use of the Internet as a voice communications
medium provides significant reductions in the network cost of transmitting
traffic, while bypassing the cumbersome and expensive settlement process
inherent in international voice telecommunications. The development of voice
applications for the Internet is part of a larger trend of convergence of
standard voice and data networks. Internet telephony
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services are expected to be one of the fastest growth segments in the
telecommunications industry. Industry sources have estimated that the size of
the total market may reach $1.0 billion by 2002. The Company believes that the
providers of packet switching technology will be able to offer quality
communications services at rates that are significantly less than the rates
currently charged for long distance calls.
THE IDT APPROACH
IDT's background as a leading alternative provider of wholesale and retail
international telecommunications services, combined with its experience as a
domestic ISP and its leadership role in the field of Internet telephony,
position it to capitalize on continuing deregulation in the international
telecommunications marketplace and the convergence of voice and data
telecommunications technologies. The Company leverages its customer base,
existing carrier relationships and technology platforms to (i) develop new, low-
cost termination arrangements; (ii) offer new services such as prepaid calling
cards and Internet telephony to wholesale and retail customers in target
countries; and (iii) negotiate partnership arrangements with existing and
emerging carriers to market the Company's Internet telephony services.
STRATEGY
The Company's objective is to be a leading provider of high-quality,
low-cost international telecommunications services to wholesale and retail
customers in both the U.S. and abroad. Key elements of the Company's strategy
include:
FOCUS ON INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS. The Company believes that the
international long distance market provides attractive opportunities due to its
higher revenue and gross profit per minute, and higher projected growth rate
compared to the domestic long distance market. The Company targets international
markets with high volumes of traffic, relatively high per-minute rates and
favorable prospects for deregulation and privatization. The Company believes
that the ongoing trend toward deregulation and privatization will create new
opportunities for the Company to increase its revenues and to reduce its
termination costs, while maintaining balanced growth in wholesale and retail
traffic.
EXPAND SWITCHING AND TRANSMISSION FACILITIES. The Company is continuing to
expand and enhance its network facilities by investing in switching and
transmission facilities where traffic volumes justify such investments. Through
Fiscal 1999, the Company intends to invest in (i) undersea cables connecting the
U.S. and Europe, the U.S. and Asia, and points within Europe; (ii) switching
facilities in the U.S., the U.K., France, Italy, Germany and other European
countries; and (iii) additional network compression equipment. The Company
believes that these investments will allow it to reduce its cost of service and
to enhance its service offerings, while maintaining carrier-grade service
quality.
EXPAND SERVICE OFFERINGS AND MARKETING ACTIVITIES. The Company will
continue to develop value-added services and to market them on a wholesale and
retail basis in order to increase margins, optimize network utilization and
improve customer loyalty. IDT has historically used technology to capitalize on
regulatory opportunities and market niches by offering innovative value-added
services such as call reorigination, international prepaid calling cards and
Internet telephony. In addition, the Company intends to capitalize on its
strategic alliances and other relationships with U.S. and foreign companies in
order to expand its customer base.
COMBINE VOICE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INTERNET TELEPHONY EXPERTISE. The
Company's knowledge of international voice telecommunications technology, packet
switching technology and Internet telephony provides the Company with a
significant competitive advantage as voice and Internet technologies converge.
The efficiencies of packet switching technology and the artificially high costs
of terminating international voice traffic resulting from the Accounting Rate
Mechanism are expected to result in high growth for Internet telephony and the
transmission of voice telecommunications using packet switching technology. The
Company expects that its leadership in Internet telephony and its knowledge of
voice telecommunications systems will enable it to partner with foreign carriers
seeking to provide inexpensive international termination to their customers.
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PURSUE STRATEGIC ALLIANCES AND INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS. The Company has
capitalized on its significant traffic volume and technological expertise to
negotiate favorable termination agreements with international carriers. The
Company intends to continue to seek new termination relationships with
established and emerging carriers to reduce its termination costs for
traditional international voice telephony, and to seek foreign partners for the
expansion of its Internet telephony offerings. To date, the Company has entered
into 17 agreements with carriers that provide for the termination of its calls
in 27 countries. In addition, the Company has negotiated partnership
arrangements with Daewoo Corporation and Naray Mobile Telecom Inc. in South
Korea and Marubeni Corporation in Japan to market its Internet telephony
services. In addition, the Company will selectively pursue strategic
acquisitions as they become available.
MAINTAIN LOW OPERATING COSTS AND IMPROVE PROFITABILITY. The Company seeks
to continue to improve its profitability by (i) maintaining a streamlined
general and administrative staff; (ii) leveraging its general and administrative
staff across its complementary telecommunications services businesses; (iii)
capitalizing on its wholesale traffic volumes to arrange cost-effective resale
and termination arrangements, while continuing to increase its sales of higher
margin retail international minutes; and (iv) investing in network
infrastructure and selling, general and administration expenses when such
investment is justified by traffic volumes.
SERVICES
The Company provides its customers with integrated and competitively priced
international and domestic telecommunications, Internet access and Internet
telephony services.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
The Company's four primary telecommunications services are: (i) wholesale
carrier services; (ii) prepaid calling cards; (iii) international retail
services for individuals and businesses; and (iv) domestic long distance
services in the U.S. The Company generated revenues from its telecommunications
business of approximately $110.8 million during the six months ended January 31,
1998.
WHOLESALE CARRIER SERVICES
The Company sells its wholesale carrier services to other U.S. and
international carriers. In offering this service, the Company leverages the
rates that it is able to obtain through (i) its extensive relationships in the
long distance telecommunications industry; (ii) its ability to generate a high
volume of long distance call traffic; and (iii) the advantageous rates
negotiated with foreign PTTs and competitive carriers. The Company generated
revenues from its wholesale carrier services business of approximately $74.1
million during the six months ended January 31, 1998.
PREPAID CALLING CARDS
The Company sells prepaid debit and rechargeable calling cards providing
access to more than 230 countries and territories. The Company's rates are
between 10% and 50% less than the rates for international calls that are charged
by the major facilities-based carriers. The Company's debit cards are marketed
primarily to ethnic communities in the U.S. that generate high levels of
international traffic to specific countries where the Company has favorable
termination agreements. The Company's COLUMBIANITA and COLUMBIANA CARDS OFFER
ATTRACTIVE RATES TO COLUMBIA, AND THE COMPANY'S DOMINICALL, MERENGUE AND
DISCOVERY cards offer attractive rates to the Dominican Republic. In addition,
the Company's MEGATEL and METROPOLIS cards provide favorable rates to a variety
of countries. The Company's NEW YORK EXCLUSIVE and NEW JERSEY EXCLUSIVE cards
are distributed primarily in the New York and New Jersey area. The Company's
rechargeable cards permit users to place calls from 39 countries through
international toll-free services. The Company generated revenues from its
prepaid calling card business of approximately $23.4 million during the six
months ended January 31, 1998.
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INTERNATIONAL RETAIL SERVICES
The Company offers international retail services to customers outside of the
U.S., primarily through call reorigination. Through this service, the Company
enables customers to access a U.S. dial tone from overseas and place
international calls that are reoriginated in the U.S., thereby benefitting from
more favorable U.S. outbound long distance rates, superior transmission quality
and enhanced services. The Company generated revenues from its international
retail services business of approximately $10.8 million during the six months
ended January 31, 1998.
The Company also provides its call reorigination customers with access to
enhanced U.S. telecommunications service options at U.S. long distance rates.
These options include: voicemail, itemized billing, speed dial codes that allow
customers convenient access to the call reorigination service, personalized
voice prompts that allow customers to be called back at extensions where the
party being dialed must be requested by name, remote programmable service that
allows customers the flexibility of selecting the number called back instead of
receiving the call at a preprogrammed number, access to U.S. toll-free 888 and
800 numbers, and simplified billing that combines the cost of the call back to
the customer and the cost of the customer's outbound call from the U.S. in one
bill for convenient and orderly presentation. The Company markets its call
reorigination service to businesses and individuals.
As an alternative service, the Company provides international long distance
services to certain overseas customers, currently in the U.K., via standard
international direct-dial network services. Through this service, the Company
offers a foreign customer the ability to place a direct call to an international
destination over the Company's leased network at competitive rates without the
need for call reorigination. In markets that are deregulating, the Company's
strategy is to migrate its call reorigination customers to international
direct-dial service, where operating environments warrant. The Company expects
to offer international direct-dial service in France and Germany by the end of
Fiscal 1998.
DOMESTIC LONG DISTANCE SERVICES
The Company markets certain long distance services directly to retail
customers in the U.S. The Company's customers pay rates that are between 10% and
50% less than the rates for domestic long distance service charged by the major
facilities-based carriers. The Company markets the long distance service as a
value-added bundled service with its dial-up Internet access, and offers
customers who maintain minimum monthly long distance billing levels savings that
are approximately 20% less than the rates for dial-up Internet access that are
charged by the major national ISPs. The Company generated revenues from its
domestic long distances services of approximately $2.5 million during the six
months ended January 31, 1998.
INTERNET ACCESS
The Company's three primary Internet access and online services are: (i)
dial-up Internet access for individuals and businesses; (ii) direct-connect
dedicated Internet services for corporate customers; and (iii) the GENIE online
entertainment and information services. The Company generated revenues from its
Internet access business of $7.4 million during the six months ended January 31,
1998.
DIAL-UP ACCESS SERVICES
The Company's dial-up service offers individuals unrestricted Internet
access with an easy-to-use point-and-click graphical user interface for a fixed
monthly fee. IDT provides its customers with access to a full range of Internet
applications, including e-mail functions, Web sites, Usenet news groups,
databases and public domain software, as well as a full graphics package and
browser software.
The Company provides its individual customer base with various pricing
options. Currently, the Company offers Basic Accounts for $19.95 per month and
Premium Accounts for $29.95 per month. Each is a fully graphical SLIP/PPP
account bundled with an Internet browser, unlimited dial-up Internet access, and
an e-mail account. Premium Account customers are entitled to the Reuters news
service, a second
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e-mail address, 8MB of personal Web space storage, and special customer support
services. The Company also offers basic Internet access accounts for $15.95 per
month for those customers who sign up for IDT's long distance telephone service
and maintain their monthly long distance telephone billings at or above $40 per
month. The Company offers free Basic Accounts for those customers who sign up
for IDT's long distance telephone service and maintain their monthly telephone
billings at or above $150 per month.
DIRECT CONNECT DEDICATED SERVICES
The Company offers a variety of Internet access options and applications
specifically designed to address the unique needs of medium to large-sized
businesses. These corporate clients typically require high-speed dedicated
circuits because either they desire to put up a Web site, the nature of their
business requires the transfer of large data files, or it would be impractical
for them to maintain dial-up accounts for all their employees who require
Internet access. IDT employs both frame relay technology and dedicated
connections to connect its clients' computers to the Internet through local area
networks ("LANs") and through both T1 lines and fractional T1 lines. The Company
currently charges clients using 56Kbps lines approximately $350 per month for
direct connect service and clients utilizing full T1s approximately $1,400 per
month for direct connect service.
GENIE SERVICES
In addition, the Company offers the GENIE online service, giving subscribers
access to roundtables, bulletin boards and chat areas, individual and
multiplayer games, and premium news, travel, entertainment, weather and other
information services. Currently, the Company markets the Genie content as an
online service available only to subscribers. The Company offers Internet access
to Genie online subscribers for an additional fee.
INTERNET TELEPHONY
In August 1996, the Company began offering Net2Phone, the first commercial
telephone service to bridge calls between multimedia PCs and telephones via the
Internet, and to charge for this service on a per-minute basis. Upon
installation of the Net2Phone software, which is provided by the Company
primarily through the Internet without charge, a Net2Phone user receives an
account number, and chooses a personal identification number as an added
security feature. Once the Net2Phone software is installed, a user may place
toll-free "800" or "888" calls from anywhere in the world without incurring any
charges for such calls. Upon a user's prepayment for Net2Phone minutes, the user
may begin using Net2Phone to place telephone calls worldwide. In July 1997,
Net2Phone was recognized as the "Product of the Week" by PC Magazine.
A user places a Net2Phone call after establishing a connection to the
Internet. The call is routed over the Internet, at no charge to the customer, to
the Company's telecommunications switches in the U.S. The call is then routed in
the same manner as other voice telephony calls, using the Company's LCR platform
in order to increase the savings realized by international callers. For calls
originating overseas, the cost of placing and terminating the call with
Net2Phone is up to 95% below the rates generally charged by traditional foreign
carriers to place and terminate standard international telephone calls.
In October 1997, the Company introduced Net2Phone Direct, a commercial
telephone service that allows for international and domestic phone-to-phone
calling via the Internet using packet switching technology. Net2Phone Direct
enables phone-to-phone calling between two parties using telephones, while using
the Internet to transport the long-haul components of the call. Users of
Net2Phone Direct are able to call a local or toll-free access number, which
connects the call to an outbound switch server that connects the call to the
Internet. Through such use of the Internet, the Company expects to significantly
reduce the cost of international calling by extending the benefits of placing
Internet telephone calls to customers with access to a regular telephone without
requiring the use of PCs or individual Internet access. The Company also intends
to develop a global network of switches and servers, thereby expanding the
Company's reach for providing competitively priced Internet telephony solutions.
The Company generated
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revenues from its Internet telephony business of $5.0 million during the three
months ended January 31, 1998.
In October 1997, the Company created a new subsidiary, Net2Phone, Inc., for
the development of its Internet telephony business, based on its current view
that a separate entity would provide the necessary flexibility to attract
management personnel and to otherwise develop the business. In January 1998, Mr.
Clifford Sobel, the President of Net2Phone, Inc., purchased 10% of the capital
stock of Net2Phone, Inc., for $100,000. The purchase was effected through the
exercise of stock options that Mr. Sobel received pursuant to his employment
agreement. Mr. Sobel holds these shares subject to certain provisions that limit
the Company's ability to dilute his ownership interest in Net2Phone, Inc. Mr.
Sobel's employment agreement provides that he will endeavor to position the
subsidiary for a possible initial public offering at such time as such an
offering may be practical; the Company will make available up to 9% of the
subsidiary's shares for additional management incentive plans; and for a
one-year period commencing on September 5, 1999, Mr. Sobel will have the right
to purchase 1,000,000 shares of IDT's Common Stock in return for his ownership
interest in Net2Phone plus $6.50 in cash for each share of Common Stock. There
is no assurance that a public offering of the stock of the subsidiary will
occur; however, if and to the extent that any such offering does take place, the
Company currently intends to maintain at least a majority of the voting power of
the subsidiary.
SALES, MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The Company primarily markets its international telecommunications services
through its direct wholesale carrier services sales staff. The staff primarily
relies on, and benefits from, (i) the Company's extensive relationships and
increasing international exposure and recognition throughout the long distance
industry for marketing its carrier services; (ii) the Company's substantial
traffic volumes, which enable the Company to negotiate for lower rates; and
(iii) favorable terminating rates negotiated with foreign PTTs and carriers.
The Company primarily markets its international call reorigination services
through its overseas network of independent sales representatives. The foreign
sales representatives, who are supervised by the Company's U.S.-based sales
managers, provide the Company with access to local business clientele and
residential customers and new opportunities in the local markets they serve. The
Company pays its foreign sales representatives on a commission basis. As of
January 31, 1998, the Company was represented by over 300 foreign sales
representatives in over 170 countries. In recent months, the Company also has
commenced direct sales efforts, primarily through overseas advertising in
international print media to penetrate particular market segments that it does
not currently serve.
The Company currently markets its prepaid debit cards to retail outlets
throughout the U.S. though a joint venture company, of which the Company owns
51% of the outstanding capital stock. The Company's rechargeable calling cards
are distributed primarily through in-flight magazines.
INTERNET ACCESS
The Company established itself as a leading national provider of Internet
access services primarily through extensive broadcast and print advertising to
the consumer market. In Fiscal 1997, the Company refocused the marketing efforts
of its Internet access operations in order to lower the cost of acquiring new
customers. While the Company intends to continue various means of broadcast
advertising in select markets, the Company's sales and marketing efforts now are
focused primarily on increasing its Internet customer base through (i) OEM
transactions, including hardware, software and operating system bundling; (ii)
retail channel distribution agreements; and (iii) bundling Internet access with
long distance telephone service. By applying the above strategies, the Company
believes it will increase its exposure to the millions of computer users who are
potential customers of the Company's Internet access services, while reducing
its customer acquisition costs as compared to traditional broadcast and print
advertising. As of January 31,
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1998, the Internet sales force consisted of approximately 13 salespersons. The
Company's Internet sales staff is closely supervised and undergoes customized
and ongoing training to ensure a high level of knowledge and service.
BUNDLING OF SERVICE OFFERINGS
The Company bundles its Internet access services with its domestic long
distance telephone services. By bundling its long distance phone service with
its $15.95 per month discounted dial-up Internet access, the Company is
currently able to compete with many major national providers of Internet access
by offering rates that are on average 20% lower. At the same time, the Company
differentiates itself from its competitors in the Internet access market who are
unable to offer their customers significant savings on their monthly long
distance bills. The Company leverages its existing Internet sales force for the
sale of its bundled long distance and Internet access service.
INTERNET TELEPHONY
The Company currently markets its Net2Phone Internet telephony services
primarily by distributing its Net2Phone software without charge via the Internet
and acquiring commercial Net2Phone customers through its prepaid platform. IDT
currently promotes its Net2Phone service through online and Internet-based
advertising venues, traditional print advertising in international publications,
and electronic media. In addition, the Company has entered into agreements to
bundle the required software for Net2Phone, as a value-added component, with the
software of other companies, and with other PC and computer equipment. The
Company has entered into exclusive agreements with resellers in certain
countries, pursuant to which such resellers purchase bulk amounts of Net2Phone
minutes in advance, and resell such minutes to users in their own countries as
representative sellers of Net2Phone. The Company currently offers Net2Phone
Direct in over 50 cities in the U.S., and has entered into agreements with
Daewoo and Naray in South Korea and Marubeni in Japan to market Net2Phone Direct
in those countries. The Company also seeks to sell Net2Phone Direct switch
servers to additional third parties in strategic markets worldwide.
CUSTOMERS
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
As of January 31, 1998, the Company had approximately 110 wholesale
customers located in the U.S. and Europe. The Company supplements this wholesale
customer base by offering retail long distance services to individuals and
business customers in the U.S. and over 170 countries including over 28,000 call
reorigination customers. Since January 1997, the Company has sold over 4,000,000
prepaid calling cards and over 70,000 rechargeable debit cards.
INTERNET ACCESS
IDT is one of the nation's largest ISPs. The Company offers local dial-up
access to approximately 75,000 retail customers, and provides dedicated access
to approximately 350 medium and large-sized businesses as of January 31, 1998.
INTERNET TELEPHONY
As of January 31, 1998, the Company's Net2Phone service has been used by
over 400,000 registered customers worldwide. Total usage of Net2Phone increased
from approximately 135,000 minutes in October 1996 to more than five million
minutes in January 1998. In addition, since its inception in October 1997,
approximately 66,000 customers have registered for the Company's Net2Phone
Direct service.
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CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND BILLING
IDT believes that reliable, sophisticated and flexible billing and
information systems are essential to its ability to remain competitive in the
global telecommunications market. Accordingly, the Company has invested
substantial resources to develop and implement its proprietary management
information systems.
The Company's billing system enables the Company to (i) accurately analyze
its network traffic, revenues and margins by customer and by route on an
intra-day basis; (ii) validate carrier settlements; and (iii) monitor least cost
routing of customer traffic. The entire process is fully automated and increases
efficiencies by reducing the need for monitoring by the Company's employees. The
Company believes that the accuracy and efficiency of its management information
systems provide it with a significant strategic advantage over other emerging
carriers.
The Company has also developed a sophisticated real-time management
information system for its Internet telephony services. The Company is able to
monitor the length and quality of the calls that are placed over its Net2Phone
and Net2Phone Direct systems, thereby helping to ensure a high level of service
and more efficient routing of calls. In addition, this system helps the Company
prevent fraud, and assists in the customer management process by automatically
informing customers of new information, including system upgrades.
The Company believes that its ability to provide adequate customer support
services is a crucial component of its ability to retain customers. The Company
has successfully focused on improving such service through measures including
the addition of support personnel and the monitoring of customer waiting time.
The customer support staff provides 24-hour technical assistance in addition to
general service assistance. Customer support personnel communicate with
subscribers via telephone, e-mail and fax. The Company requires that each
customer support staff member field a minimum number of calls and e-mails each
day. The Company also employs liaisons between the customer support and
technical staffs to ensure maximum responsiveness to changing customer demands.
NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE
The Company maintains an international telecommunications switching
infrastructure and U.S. domestic network, consisting of owned and leased lines
that enable it to provide an array of telecommunications, Internet access and
Internet telephony services to its worldwide customer base. IDT believes it
enjoys competitive advantages by utilizing this network to carry both voice and
Internet traffic, resulting in the optimization of both its network utilization
and associated capital.
IDT's network is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a
year by its network operations center. The entire network is centrally managed
from IDT's control center through the use of a standardized communications
protocol. In addition, two proprietary monitoring systems are used to manage
modem pools.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK
PRIVATE LINE NETWORK
The Company operates a growing telephone network consisting of resold
international switched services, U.S. domestic dedicated leased fiber optic
lines, and Company-owned switch equipment in the U.S. which are interconnected
to major international PTTs, emerging carriers and domestic IXCs, LECs and
CLECs. IDT's major switching facilities are located in Piscataway, N.J.,
Westfield, N.J., New York, N.Y. and London. These varied locations serve to
provide the network with redundancy and diversity. All of these locations are
linked with the dominant LEC as well as at least one of the CLECs, allowing the
Company to interconnect with all major IXCs to switch traffic via the Company's
leased private-line DS3 network. Furthermore, all of the Company's locations are
interconnected via leased lines to enhance network reliability and redundancy as
each location interconnects with the various carriers.
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In addition, the Company owns and leases switched services to connect its
U.S. and U.K. facilities. These services are used to originate traffic from
IDT's customer base in the U.K. and to terminate existing carrier and call
reorigination traffic to the U.K. The Company has 17 terminating agreements that
provide for the termination of traffic in 27 countries, including recent
agreements with companies based in Spain, the Dominican Republic, Italy,
Bangladesh, Cyprus and Chile. The Company also plans to obtain leased lines to
these destinations, which will result in reduced costs for termination to these
countries. The Company has also targeted countries such as France, Italy and
Germany for network expansion due to the large number of minutes the Company
presently terminates and the size of the Company's installed base of
telecommunications customers in these countries.
SWITCHING PLATFORMS
The Company utilizes two major switching platforms. The Company uses its
Excel LNX switches for its application-based products such as call reorgination,
direct dial, call through, prepaid calling cards, and value-added services such
as voice prompts, speed dialing, voice mail and conferencing. The Excel LNX is
flexible and programmable, and is designed to implement network-based
intelligence quickly and efficiently. The Company currently owns 13 Excel LNX
switches. The other platform is the Nortel DMS250-300, which serves as an
international gateway and generic carrier switch. The Company currently owns two
Nortel switches, and expects to install one additional Nortel switch by the end
of the fourth quarter of Fiscal 1998. All of the Company's switches are modular,
scaleable and equipped to signal in such protocols as ISDN or SS7 so as to be
compatible with either domestic or foreign networks.
The Company plans to use other technologies, including Nortel ERS switches,
which allow for the dynamic allocation of voice and data traffic, to enable the
Company's Internet network to be used for the transmission of traditional
telephone minutes. If successfully developed, this leveraging of IDT's Internet
network could provide considerable cost efficiencies for transporting a
substantial portion of the Company's domestic voice traffic.
SOFTWARE
The Company's Excel LNX switch incorporates Company-developed software which
efficiently performs all the applications the Company requires to provide
value-added services, as well as billing and traffic analysis. The software
enables the Excel LNX to route all calls via the Company's LCR platform. LCR is
a process by which the Company optimizes the routing of calls over the least
cost route on its switch for over 230 countries. In the event that traffic
cannot be handled over the least cost route due to capacity or network
limitations, the LCR system is designed to transmit the traffic over the next
least cost route. The LCR system analyzes the following variables that may
affect the cost of a long distance call: different suppliers, different time
zones and multiple choices of terminating carrier per country. In some
instances, instead of routing a call directly between two overseas points, the
LCR system may backhaul an overseas carrier's minutes using resold switched
services to the Company's U.S.-based switch in order to terminate the traffic in
a third country while taking advantage of the Company's competitive U.S.-based
international long distance rates. The LCR system is continually reviewed in
light of rates available from different suppliers to different countries to
determine whether the Company should add new suppliers to its switch to further
reduce the cost of routing traffic to a specific country and to maintain
redundancy, diversity and quality within the switching network.
INTERNET NETWORK
The Company operates a national Internet network comprised of a leased DS3
45 mbps backbone of high speed fiber optic lines connecting eight major cities
across the U.S., and leased dedicated T1 fiber optic lines connecting smaller
cities to the network. The network backbone uses state-of-the-art routing
platforms including Cisco Series 7000 routers and Nortel ERS Magellan switches.
The DS3 backbone connects traffic at four major Internet "meet" points where the
Company maintains switching and routing
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equipment and has peering arrangements to exchange Internet traffic with over 50
other Internet backbone providers. To minimize the potential detrimental effects
of single points of failure, the Company deploys a minimum of two dedicated
leased data lines to each backbone node and remotely positions secondary servers
for all configuration and authentication hosts. Multiple data segments are used
in high traffic areas to minimize packet loss and to reduce the frequency of
congestion in the network. Also, major IDT backbone nodes employ routing
switches for directing network traffic. To further enhance network performance,
the Company employs an "Open Shortest Path First" protocol, which allows data
traffic to be routed most efficiently.
The Company seeks to retain flexibility and to maximize its opportunities by
utilizing a continuously changing mix of routing alternatives. This diversified
approach is intended to enable the Company to take advantage of the rapidly
evolving Internet market in order to provide low-cost service to its customers.
The Company utilizes the local dial-up switching infrastructure of several
Alliance Partners across the country to supplement the Company's owned and
operated local dial-up infrastructure. The Alliance Partners, which are
independently-owned ISPs, employ routing and modem equipment which meet the
Company's standards for providing dial-up access services. The Company offers
the Alliance Partners a monthly fee for each customer account routed through
their local access networks. The Company also provides billing, advertising,
marketing and customer acquisition services, in exchange for which the Alliance
Partners provide local Internet access. The agreements with Alliance Partners
generally have one year terms and do not prohibit the Company from constructing
its own local installed POP where warranted. Finally, the Company entered into
an agreement with PSINet Inc. ("PSINet") in June 1996 to use PSI as the primary
Alliance Partner for the Company's dial-up Internet access customers in areas
where PSI has POPs and where there are no other Alliance Partners. The Company
leases and operates a dedicated T3 connection to the PSI network in order to
maintain control of the Company's provisioning of customers and to provide
customers with access to electronic mail and newsfeeds. Through the buildout of
its own infrastructure and its agreement to utilize the PSI network as well the
local networks of its Alliance Partners, IDT now operates one of the nation's
largest networks, providing local dial-up Internet access through over 450 POPs,
of which the Company owns more than 75 POPs.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Company employs a technical staff that is devoted to the improvement and
enhancement of the Company's existing telecommunications and Internet products
and services, including switching technologies and the development of new
technologies and products, such as Net2Phone and Net2Phone Direct. The Company
believes that the ability to adjust and improve existing technology and to
develop new technologies in response to, and in anticipation of, customers'
changing demands is necessary to compete in the rapidly changing
telecommunications and Internet industries. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to successfully develop new technologies or effectively
respond to technological changes or new industry standards or developments on a
timely basis, if at all. See "Risk Factors--Rapid Technological Development."
COMPETITION
The markets in which the Company operates are extremely competitive and can
be significantly influenced by the marketing and pricing decisions of the larger
industry participants. The barriers to entry are not insurmountable in any of
the telecommunications or Internet markets in which the Company competes. The
Company expects competition in these markets to intensify in the future.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Currently, the Company competes with (i) IXCs and other long distance
resellers and providers, including large carriers such as AT&T, MCI, Sprint, and
WorldCom; (ii) foreign PTTs; (iii) other providers
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of international long distance services such as STAR Telecommunications, Inc.,
Pacific Gateway Exchange, Inc., RSL Communications Ltd. and Telegroup, Inc.;
(iv) alliances that provide wholesale carrier services, such as "Global One"
(Sprint, Deutsche Telekom AG and France Telecom S.A.) and Uniworld (AT&T,
Unisource-Telecom Netherlands, Telia AB, Swiss Telecom PTT and Telefonica de
Espana S.A.); (v) new entrants to the domestic long distance market such as the
RBOCs in the U.S., who have entered or have announced plans to enter the U.S.
interstate long distance market pursuant to recent legislation authorizing such
entry, and utilities such as RWE Aktiengesellschaft in Germany; and (vi) small
long distance resellers. Moreover, some of the Company's competitors have
announced business plans similar to the Company's regarding the expansion of
telecommunications networks into Europe. Many of the Company's competitors are
significantly larger and have substantially greater market presence, as well as
greater financial, technical, operational, marketing and other resources and
experience than the Company.
The Company competes for customers in the telecommunications markets
primarily based on price and, to a lesser extent, the type and quality of
service offered. Increased competition could force the Company to reduce its
prices and profit margins if its competitors are able to procure rates or enter
into service agreements that are comparable to or better than those the Company
obtains, or are able to offer other incentives to existing and potential
customers. Similarly, the Company has no control over the prices set by its
competitors in the long distance resale carrier-to-carrier market. The Company
could also face significant pricing pressure if it experiences a decrease in the
volume of minutes that it carries on its network, as the Company's ability to
obtain favorable rates and tariffs from its carrier suppliers depends, to a
significant extent, on the Company's total volume of international long distance
call traffic. There is no guarantee that the Company will be able to maintain
the volume of international and domestic long distance traffic necessary to
obtain favorable rates and tariffs. Although the Company has no reason to
believe that its competitors will adopt aggressive pricing policies that could
adversely affect the Company, there can be no assurance that such price
competition will not occur or that the Company will be able to compete
successfully in the future. In addition, the Company is aware that its ability
to market its long distance resale services depends upon the existence of
spreads between the rates offered by the Company and those offered by the IXCs
with which it competes, as well as those from which it obtains service. A
decrease in such spreads could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition or results of operations. See "Risk
Factors--Increasing Competition--Telecommunications."
INTERNET ACCESS
The Company's current and prospective competitors in the Internet access
market include many large companies that have substantially greater market
presence, as well as greater financial, technical, operational, marketing and
other resources and experience than the Company. The Company's Internet access
business competes or expects to compete directly or indirectly with the
following categories of companies: (i) other national and regional commercial
ISPs, such as Netcom; (ii) established online services companies that offer
Internet access, such as AOL, CompuServe and Prodigy; (iii) computer software
and technology companies such as Microsoft; (iv) national long distance
telecommunications carriers, such as AT&T, MCI and Sprint; (v) RBOCs; (vi) cable
television operators, such as Comcast, TCI and Time Warner; (vii) nonprofit or
educational ISPs; (viii) newly-licensed providers of spectrum-based wireless
data services; and (ix) competitive local telephone service providers such as
TCG and WorldCom.
The Company believes that its ability to compete successfully in the
Internet access market depends upon a number of factors including: (i) market
presence; (ii) the adequacy of the Company's customer support services; (iii)
the capacity, reliability and security of its network infrastructure; (iv) the
ease of access to and navigation of the Internet; (v) the pricing policies of
its competitors and suppliers; (vi) regulatory price requirements for
interconnection to and use of existing local exchange networks by ISPs; (vii)
the timing of introductions of new products and services by the Company and its
competitors; (viii) the Company's ability to support existing and emerging
industry standards; and (ix) trends within the industry as well as the general
economy. There can be no assurance that the Company will have the
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financial resources, technical expertise or marketing and support capabilities
to continue to compete successfully in the Internet access market. See "Risk
Factors--Increasing Competition--Internet Access."
INTERNET TELEPHONY
The market for Internet telephony services is expected to be extremely
competitive. Most of the current Internet telephony products enable voice
communications over the Internet between two parties simultaneously connected to
the Internet via multimedia PCs, where both parties are using identical Internet
telephony software products. Current product offerings include VocalTec's
Internet Phone, QuarterDeck's WebPhone and Microsoft's NetMeeting. In addition,
a number of large, well-capitalized companies such as Intel, Cisco, Lucent,
Nortel and Dialogic have announced their intentions to offer server-based
products that are expected to allow communications over the Internet between
parties using a multimedia PC and a telephone and between two parties using
telephones where both parties have specialized servers at each end of the call.
Several other companies, such as AT&T, MCI and Qwest Communications, have
recently commenced offering or announced plans to offer Internet telephony
products and services during the first half of 1998. There can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to successfully compete in the developing Internet
telephony market, or that other large companies will not enter the market as
suppliers of Internet telephony services or equipment. In addition, the
Company's competitors may introduce products that permit origination and
termination of calls at a telephone through the Internet.
REGULATION
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
As a multinational telecommunications company, the Company is subject to
varying degrees of regulation in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates.
As a nondominant carrier in the U.S., the Company's provision of international
and domestic long distance telecommunications services is generally regulated on
a streamlined basis. Despite recent trends toward deregulation, some of the
countries in which the Company intends to provide telecommunications services do
not currently permit the Company to provide public switched voice
telecommunications services. In those countries not yet open to switched voice
service competition, the Company provides services to closed user groups
("CUGs") and a variety of value-added services as permitted by each country's
laws.
REGULATION OF DOMESTIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES. In the U.S., provision
of the Company's services is subject to the provisions of the Communications
Act, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the "Telecommunications
Act") and the FCC regulations promulgated thereunder, as well as the applicable
laws and regulations of the various states administered by the relevant state
authorities. The recent trend in the U.S., for both federal and state regulation
of telecommunications service providers, has been in the direction of reducing
regulation. Nonetheless, the FCC and relevant state authorities continue to
regulate ownership of transmission facilities, provision of services and the
terms and conditions under which the Company's services are provided.
Non-dominant carriers, such as the Company, are required by federal and state
law and regulations to file tariffs listing the rates, terms and conditions for
the services they provide. In October 1996, the FCC adopted an order (the
"Detariffing Order") which eliminated the requirement that non-dominant
interstate carriers such as the Company maintain tariffs on file with the FCC
for domestic interstate services. The FCC's proposed rules are pursuant to
authority granted to the FCC in the Telecommunications Act to forbear from
regulating any telecommunications service provider if the FCC determines that
the public interest will be served. The FCC subsequently adopted its proposal
and eliminated the requirement that interstate carriers file domestic tariffs in
most circumstances. That decision has been appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the D.C. Circuit, and a stay has been issued pending a decision on the
merits of the appeal. It is unclear when the Court will rule on the appeal.
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On May 8, 1997, the FCC issued an order to implement the provisions of the
Telecommunications Act relating to the preservation and advancement of universal
telephone service (the "Universal Service Order"). The Universal Service Order
requires all telecommunications carriers providing interstate telecommunications
services to contribute to universal support by contributing to a fund (the
"Universal Service Fund"). These contributions became due beginning in 1998 for
all providers of interstate telecommunications services. Such contributions are
assessed based on intrastate, interstate and international end user
telecommunications revenues. Contribution factors vary quarterly, and carriers,
including the Company, are billed each month. Contribution factors for the first
three quarters of 1998 have been determined by the FCC as follows: first
quarter, second quarter and third quarter factors are 3.19%, 3.14% and 3.08%,
respectively, for the high cost and low income funds (interstate and
international end user telecommunications revenues) and 0.72%, 0.76% and 1.54%
respectively, for the schools, libraries and rural health care funds
(intrastate, interstate and international end user telecommunications revenues).
In addition, many state regulatory agencies have instituted proceedings to
revise state universal support mechanisms to make them consistent with the
requirements of the Telecommunications Act. As a result, the Company will be
subject to state, as well as federal, universal service fund contribution
requirements, which will vary from state to state. Several parties have appealed
the FCC's May 8th order, and these appeals have been consolidated in the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. In addition, a number of
telecommunications companies have filed a petition for stay with the FCC, which
is currently pending.
Pursuant to the Universal Service Order, all carriers were required to
submit a Universal Service Fund worksheet in September 1997. The Company has
filed its Universal Service Fund worksheet. The amounts remitted to the
Universal Services Fund may be billed to the Company's customers. If the Company
does not bill these amounts to its customers, its profit margins may be less
than if it had elected to do so. However, if the Company elects to bill these
amounts to its customers, customers may reduce their use of the Company's
services, or elect to use the services provided by the Company's competitors,
which may have a material adverse effect upon the Company's business, financial
condition, or results of operations.
In addition to regulation by the FCC, the majority of the states require the
Company to register or apply for certification prior to initiating intrastate
interexchange telecommunications services. To date, the Company, together with
its subsidiaries, is authorized through certification, registration or on a
deregulated basis to provide intrastate interexchange telecommunications
services in 46 states. State issued certificates of authority to provide
intrastate interexchange telecommunications services 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.
U.S. REGULATION OF INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES. International
common carriers, such as the Company, are required to obtain authority under
Section 214 of the Communications Act and file a tariff containing the rates,
terms and conditions applicable to their services prior to initiating their
international telecommunications services. The Company has obtained a global
Section 214 authority from the FCC to use, on a facilities and resale basis,
various transmission media for the provision of international switched and
private line services. Non-dominant international carriers such as the Company
must file their international tariffs and any revisions thereto with one day's
notice. Additionally, international telecommunications service providers are
required to file copies of their contracts with other carriers, including
foreign carrier agreements, with the FCC within 30 days of execution. The FCC's
rules also require that the Company file periodically a variety of reports
regarding the volume of its international traffic and revenues and use of
international facilities. In addition to the general common carrier principles,
and as discussed below, the Company is also required to conduct its
facilities-based international business in compliance with the FCC's
International Settlements Policy (the "IS Policy"), or an FCC approved
alternative settlement rate arrangement.
The Company's FCC authorizations also permit the Company to resell
international private lines interconnected to the PSTNs for the provision of
switched services in those countries that have been found
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by the FCC to offer "equivalent opportunities" to U.S. carriers or to WTO member
countries without a finding of equivalency where certain settlement rate
requirements are met. To date, the FCC has approved interconnected international
private line resale to Canada, the U.K., Sweden, Australia, the Netherlands, New
Zealand, Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg and Norway. The FCC
currently imposes certain restrictions upon the use of the Company's private
lines between the U.S. and such "approved" countries. The Company may not route
traffic to or from the U.S. over a private line between the U.S. and an
"approved" country (such as the U.K.) if such traffic originates or terminates
in a third country at rates that are not publicly available, if the third
country has not been approved by the FCC. Following implementation of the Full
Competition Directive by member states of the EU, and the WTO Agreement by the
signatories, the FCC may authorize the Company to originate and terminate
traffic over its private line between the U.S. and the U.K. and (pursuant to ISR
authority) over additional private lines to additional member states if the FCC
finds that such additional member states are "approved" countries or that such
authority would otherwise promote competition.
With regard to international services, the FCC administers a variety of
international service regulations, including the IS Policy. The IS Policy
governs the permissible arrangements between U.S. carriers and their foreign
correspondents to settle the cost of terminating traffic over each other's
networks, the rates for such settlement and permissible deviations from these
policies. As a consequence of the increasingly competitive global
telecommunications market, the FCC has adopted a number of policies that permit
carriers to deviate from the IS Policy under certain circumstances that promote
competition. The FCC also requires carriers such as the Company to report any
affiliations, as defined by the Commission, with foreign carriers.
The Company offers its call reorigination services pursuant to an FCC
authorization (the "Section 214 Switched Voice Authorization") under Section 214
of the Communications Act and certain relevant FCC decisions. The FCC has
determined that call reorigination services that use uncompleted call signaling
do not violate U.S. or international law, but has held that U.S. companies
providing such services must comply with the laws of the countries in which they
operate as a condition of such companies' Section 214 Switched Voice
Authorizations. The FCC reserves the right to condition, modify or revoke any
Section 214 Authorizations and impose fines for violations of the Communications
Act or the FCC's regulations, rules or policies promulgated thereunder, or for
violations of the clear and explicit telecommunications laws of other countries
that are unable to enforce their laws against call reorigination using
uncompleted call signaling. FCC policy provides that foreign governments that
satisfy certain conditions may request FCC assistance in enforcing their laws
against call reorigination providers based in the U.S. that are violating the
laws of these jurisdictions. 30 countries have formally notified the FCC that
call reorigination services violate their laws. The FCC has held that it would
consider enforcement action against companies based in the U.S. engaged in call
reorigination by means of uncompleted call signaling in countries where this
activity is expressly prohibited. The FCC has granted a complaint by the
Philippines Long Distance Company, Inc. and required U.S. carriers to stop
providing call reorigination to customers in the Philippines. This decision is
subject to petitions for reconsideration. There can be no assurance that it will
not take further action in the future. Enforcement action could include an order
to cease providing call reorigination services in such country, the imposition
of one or more restrictions on the Company, monetary fines or, in extreme
circumstances, the revocation of the Company's Section 214 Switched Voice
Authorization, and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations. The FCC is currently
considering a petition filed by the Telecommunications Resellers Association
requesting that the FCC cease enforcing foreign laws against call reorigination.
Regulatory requirements pertinent to the Company's operations will continue
to evolve as a result of the WTO Agreement, federal legislation, court
decisions, and new and revised policies of the FCC. In particular, the FCC
continues to refine its international service rules to promote competition,
reflect and encourage liberalization in foreign countries and reduce
international accounting rates toward cost. Indeed, the FCC recently adopted new
lower accounting rate benchmarks that became effective on
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January 1, 1998. Under the FCC's new benchmarks, after a transition period of
one to four years depending on a country's income level, U.S. carriers may be
required to pay foreign carriers significantly lower rates for the termination
of international services. These rates range from a $0.15 per minute benchmark
for upper income countries such as the U.K. to $0.23 per minute for lower income
countries such as China. Moreover, the FCC has recently revised its Foreign
Carrier Entry Policy as part of its efforts to change its rules to implement the
WTO Agreement.
To date, the FCC has made no pronouncement as to whether refiling
arrangements are inconsistent with the regulations of the U.S. or International
Telecommunications Union ("ITU"), and a 1995 petition to the FCC for declaratory
ruling regarding Sprint's Fonaccess service was recently withdrawn. Although it
is possible that the FCC will determine that refiling violates U.S. and/or
international law and that such a finding could have a material adverse effect
on the Company's business, operating results and financial condition, the FCC
currently is not considering such issues in any active proceeding.
No assurances can be given that changes to the existing international or
domestic regulatory framework will not occur. Such changes may increase the
Company's legal, administrative or operating costs, or may otherwise limit or
constrain the Company's activities, any of which could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition, or results of operations.
EUROPEAN REGULATION OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES. In Europe, the
regulation of the telecommunications industry is governed at a supranational
level by the EU. The EU's institutions, such as the European Commission, are
responsible for creating pan-European policies. Through its legislation, the EU
has developed a regulatory framework aimed at creating an open, competitive
telecommunications market. The EU was established by the Treaty of Rome and
subsequent conventions and the European Commission and the Council of Ministers
of the European Union are authorized by such treaties to issue EU "directives."
EU member states are required to implement these directives through national
legislation. If an EU member state fails to adopt such directives, the European
Commission may take action, including referral to the European Court of Justice,
to enforce the directives.
In 1990, the EU issued the Services Directive requiring each EU member state
to abolish existing monopolies in telecommunications services, with the
exception of voice telephony. The intended effect of the Services Directive was
to permit the competitive provision of all services, including value-added
services and voice services to CUGs, other than voice telephony. However, as a
consequence of local implementation of the Services Directive through the
adoption of national legislation, there are differing interpretations of the
definition of prohibited voice telephony and permitted value-added and CUG
services. Voice services accessed by customers through leased lines are
permissible in all EU member states. The European Commission has generally taken
a narrow view of the services classified as voice telephony, declaring that
voice services may not be reserved to the ITOs if (i) dedicated customer access
is used to provide the service; (ii) the service confers new value-added
benefits on users; or (iii) calling is limited by a service provider to a group
having legal, economic or professional ties.
In March 1996, the EU adopted the Full Competition Directive containing two
provisions which required EU member states to allow the creation of alternative
telecommunications infrastructures by July 1, 1996, and which reaffirmed the
obligation of EU member states to abolish the ITOs' monopolies in voice
telephony by 1998. The Full Competition Directive encouraged EU member states to
accelerate the liberalization of voice telephony. Certain EU countries may delay
the abolition of monopolies in voice telephony based on exemptions established
in the Full Competition Directive. These countries include Luxembourg (July
1998), Spain (1998), Portugal and Ireland (2000) and Greece (2001). The European
Commission has brought infringement proceedings against the following countries
for failure to comply with EU Directives: Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Italy,
Luxembourg and Portugal.
In addition to the foregoing regulations, the EU has adopted the
Interconnection Directive and the Licensing Directive. These measures attempt to
harmonize telecommunications regulations among the member states of the EU. The
Interconnection Directive provides that ITOs are obliged to interconnect
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with other operators requesting to do so, and to enter into such arrangements on
transparent, objective and non-discriminatory terms. Disputes over
interconnection rates, terms and conditions have arisen in several member
states, and there can be no guarantee that they will be resolved in a manner
that will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations in
Europe. The Licensing Directive provides for the establishment of a national
regulatory authority independent of the ITO in each member state of the EU, and
provides that member states may reject applications for licenses only upon
certain narrowly-defined grounds.
Each EU member state in which the Company currently conducts or plans to
conduct its business has a different regulatory regime, and such differences
have continued and will continue beyond January 1998. The requirements for the
Company to obtain necessary approvals vary considerably from one member state to
another and are likely to change as competition is permitted in new service
sectors. In addition, member states may require individual licenses for reserved
services and the creation of alternative infrastructure, but not for data,
value-added or CUG services.
No assurances can be given that any changes to the existing European
regulatory framework will not occur. Changes to existing regulations may
decrease the opportunities that are available for the Company to enter into
those markets, or may increase the Company's legal, administrative or
operational costs, or may otherwise constrain the Company's activities, any of
which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition, or results of operations.
OTHER OVERSEAS MARKETS. The Company is subject to the regulatory regimes in
each of the countries in which it conducts business. Local regulations range
from permissive to restrictive, depending upon the country. In the past, the
Company has experienced problems in certain countries and has, in certain
instances, modified or terminated its services to comply with local regulatory
requirements.
INTERNET ACCESS
ISPs are generally considered "enhanced service providers" within the U.S.
and are exempt from U.S. federal and state regulations governing common
carriers. Accordingly, the Company's provision of Internet access services are
currently exempt from tariffing, certification and rate regulation.
Nevertheless, regulations governing disclosure of confidential communications,
copyright, excise tax, and other requirements may apply to the Company's
provision of Internet access services. The Company cannot predict the likelihood
that state, federal or foreign governments will impose additional regulation on
the Company's Internet business, nor can it predict the impact that future
regulation will have on the Company's operations.
The 1996 Telecommunications Act imposes criminal liability on persons
sending or displaying indecent material on an interactive computer service such
as the Internet in a manner available to minors. The 1996 Telecommunications Act
also imposes criminal liability on an entity knowingly permitting facilities
under its control to be used for such activities. Entities solely providing
access to facilities not under their control are exempted from liability, as are
service providers that take good faith, reasonable, effective and appropriate
actions to restrict access by minors to the prohibited communications. The
constitutionality of these provisions has been successfully challenged in
federal appellate court, and their interpretation and enforcement is uncertain.
The Telecommunications Act may decrease demand for Internet access, chill the
development of Internet content, or have other adverse effects on ISPs such as
the Company. In addition, in light of the uncertainty attached to interpretation
and application of this law, there can be no assurances that the Company would
not have to modify its operations to comply with the statute, including, among
other things, prohibiting users from maintaining home pages on the Web.
In December 1996, the FCC initiated a Notice of Inquiry regarding whether to
impose regulations or surcharges upon providers of Internet access and
Information Service (the "Internet NOI"). The Internet NOI, and several ongoing
FCC proceedings, seek public comment as to whether to impose or to continue to
forebear from regulation of Internet and other packet-switched network service
providers. The Internet
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NOI specifically identifies Internet telephony as a subject for FCC
consideration. In addition, on April 10, 1998, the FCC issued a Report to
Congress on its implementation of the universal service provisions of the
Telecommunications Act. In that Report, the FCC indicated that it would
reexamine its policy of not requiring an ISP to contribute to the universal
service mechanisms when the ISP provides its own transmission facilities and
engages in data transport over those facilities in order to provide an
information service. Any such contribution would be related to the ISP's
provision of telecommunications services itself. The Company can not predict the
outcome of any future proceedings that may impact the Company's provision of
Internet access or that may impose additional requirements, regulations or
charges upon IDT's provision of Internet access services.
INTERNET TELEPHONY
The use of the Internet to provide telephone service is a recent market
development. Currently, the FCC is considering whether or not to impose
surcharges or additional regulations upon certain providers of Internet
telephony. On April 10, 1998, the FCC issued its Report to Congress concerning
its implementation of the universal service provisions of the Telecommunications
Act. In the Report, the FCC indicated that it would examine the question of
whether certain forms of "phone-to-phone" Internet Protocol ("IP") telephony are
information services or telecommunications services. It noted that the FCC did
not have, as of the date of the Report, an adequate record on which to make any
definitive pronouncements, but that the record before it suggested that certain
forms of phone-to-phone Internet telephony appear to have the same functionality
as non-IP telecommunications services and lack the characteristics that would
render them information services. If the FCC were to determine that certain
services are subject to FCC regulations as telecommunications services, the FCC
noted that it may find it reasonable to require ISPs to make universal service
contributions, pay access charges or to be subject to traditional common carrier
regulation.
To the Company's knowledge, there are currently no domestic and few foreign
laws or regulations that prohibit voice communications over the Internet.
Several efforts have been made to enact federal legislation that would either
regulate or exempt from regulation services provided over the Internet. State
public utility commissions may also retain jurisdiction to regulate the
provision of intrastate Internet telephony services, and could initiate
proceedings to do so. A number of countries that currently prohibit competition
in the provision of voice telephony have also prohibited Internet telephony.
Other countries permit but regulate Internet telephony. If Congress, the FCC,
state regulatory agencies or foreign governments begin to regulate Internet
telephony, there can be no assurances that any such regulation will not
materially adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition or
results of operations.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The Company's success and ability to compete is dependent in part upon its
technology, although the Company believes that its success is more dependent
upon its technical expertise than its proprietary rights. The Company relies on
a combination of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret laws and
contractual restrictions to establish and protect its technology. The Company
does not currently have any issued patents or registered copyrights. The
Company's policy is to require its employees and consultants to execute
confidentiality agreements upon the commencement of their relationships with the
Company. These agreements provide that confidential information developed or
made known during the course of a relationship with the Company is to be kept
confidential and may not be disclosed to third parties except in specific
circumstances. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by the Company
will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of its technology or other
proprietary rights or that the Company's competitors will not independently
develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to the
Company's technology. In addition, there can be no assurance that licenses for
any intellectual property that might be required by the Company for it to
provide its services or products would be available on reasonable terms, if at
all.
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The Company owns a service mark registration for the mark GENIE. The Company
has also registered service marks relating to its name and logo. In addition,
the Company has applications pending with respect to the registration of the
service marks Net2Phone, N2P, Amtalk, Amtalk design and Net2Fax, and trademarks
relating to its prepaid calling card business. In addition, the Company has
applied for a patent in connection with its development of the systems and
methodology comprising the technologies underlying Net2Phone. There can be no
assurance that the Company's competitors will not develop the ability to provide
similar or better services than that of Net2Phone. In addition, there can be no
assurance that the Company's patent application relating to the systems and
methodology comprising the technologies underlying Net2Phone will result in any
patent being issued or that, if issued, such patent will provide protection
against competitive technology or that it will be held valid and enforceable if
challenged. There can be no assurance that the Company's competitors would not
be able to design around such patent or that others will not obtain patents that
the Company would need to license or circumvent in order to exploit its patent.
See "Risk Factors--Dependence on Technological Development."
In addition, the Company has entered into an agreement pursuant to which it
has received a non-exclusive license to utilize in certain European countries
the technologies covered by a European patent relating to the processing of
calls made with prepaid calling cards. Under the agreement, the Company is
entitled to receive royalties from companies selling prepaid calling cards in
Europe who acquire license rights under the patent or against which the patent
is successfully enforced. Under the patent agreement, the Company is permitted
to grant sublicenses with respect to prepaid calling cards in Europe, and
receive royalties from such sublicenses. The Company expects that this
arrangement will be attractive to European carriers because it will enable them
to fulfill demand for their services without raising their total costs, and the
Company believes that it will help to accelerate the growth of its carrier
business in Europe.
The Company has received correspondence from a company that claims to own a
registered U.S. trademark, which asserts that the Company's use of the mark
"Net2Phone" in connection with its Internet telephony services infringes the
relevant trademark, and requests that the Company cease and desist from using
the mark. The trademark in question does not purport to relate to Internet
telephony services, and no legal proceedings have been commenced against the
Company with respect to this matter. The Company is currently conducting an
investigation with respect to this claim.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In December 1995, Surfers Unlimited, L.L.C. filed a breach of contract
action in the New Jersey Superior Court, Bergen County. The suit names a
subsidiary of the Company as defendant and seeks restitutional and consequential
damages in an unspecified amount for interference with prospective business
advantages, breach of contract and improper use of confidential and proprietary
information. Howard S. Jonas, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, has also been named as a defendant in the action. The suit is currently
in the discovery phase, which is scheduled to end on June 30, 1998, and a
settlement conference is planned for mid-July 1998.
In January 1997, six former employees alleging employment discrimination
commenced a suit in New Jersey Superior Court, Bergen County. Howard S. Jonas,
the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, has also been named as
a defendant in the action. The action claims that the Company has made hiring
and promotion decisions based upon the religious backgrounds of the relevant
individuals. The complaint seeks compensatory and punitive damages in an
unspecified amount and also seeks statutory multiples of damages. The case is
currently in the discovery stage. The previously set trial date of March 17,
1998 has been adjourned, and a status conference has been scheduled for July 14,
1998.
In June 1997, an uncertified class-action suit seeking compensatory damages
in an unspecified amount was brought against the Company in New York Supreme
Court, New York County. The suit concerns advertisements that are no longer used
by the Company, and advertising practices that were voluntarily
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terminated by the Company following a prior investigation of the Company by the
Attorneys General of several states. The case is currently in preliminary stages
of discovery.
In September 1997, DigiTEC 2000, Inc. ("DigiTEC") filed a complaint
(subsequently amended) in New York Supreme Court, New York County against the
Company alleging that in connection with its sale of prepaid calling cards, the
Company engaged in unfair competition and tortiously interfered with an
exclusive business relationship between DigiTEC and two co-defendants, CG Com,
Inc. and Mr. Carlos Gomez. The complaint seeks compensatory and consequential
damages in an unspecified amount of not less than $50 million and also seeks an
unspecified amount of punitive damages. The complaint also alleges that CG Com,
Inc. and Mr. Gomez owe DigiTEC more than $500,000. In November 1997, the Court
denied DigiTEC's motion for a preliminary injunction to bar CG Com, Inc. and Mr.
Gomez from distributing the Company's calling cards. The case is currently in
preliminary stages of discovery.
The Company filed a lawsuit against Mr. Glen Miller in August 1997 in the
New Jersey Superior Court, Bergen County. The action was based upon various
matters arising out of Mr. Miller's employment with IDT. Mr. Miller answered the
complaint and filed a counterclaim against the Company seeking compensatory and
punitive damages for breach of his employment contract and breach of the
covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Mr. Miller alleges that the Company
breached his employment agreement by failing to compensate him as contemplated
by his employment agreement, including by failing to deliver to him 20,000
shares of the Company's Common Stock. Mr. Miller also filed a third-party
complaint against Howard Balter, the Chief Operating Officer of the Company, and
Jonathan Rand, the Company's former Director of Human Resources, for fraudulent
conduct and misrepresentation. The Company filed its answer to Mr. Miller's
counterclaim in December 1997. In January 1998, the Court partially granted Mr.
Miller's motion for summary judgment, awarding him severance pay in the amount
of approximately $50,000. The Company's motion for leave to appeal this award
has been denied, and the action is currently in the discovery phase.
The Company is subject to other legal proceedings and claims which have
arisen in the ordinary course of its business and have not been finally
adjudicated. Although there can be no assurances in this regard, in the opinion
of the Company's management, such proceedings, as well as aforementioned
actions, will not have a material adverse effect on results of operations or the
financial condition of the Company.
EMPLOYEES
As of January 31, 1998, the Company had 382 full-time employees, including
approximately 176 in technical support and customer service, 39 in sales and
marketing, 46 in its technical staff, 62 in general operations and 59 in
management and finance. The Company believes that its relations with its
employees are good. None of the Company's employees are represented by a labor
union or covered by a collective bargaining agreement and the Company has never
experienced a work stoppage.
PROPERTIES
The Company's principal facilities total approximately 35,300 square feet
and are located in three buildings in Hackensack, New Jersey. The Company also
leases space (typically less than 500 square feet) in various geographic
locations to house the telecommunications equipment for each of its POPs. The
Company occupies one building under a lease which expires on June 30, 1999. The
Company leases this facility from an entity in which Howard S. Jonas, the
Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is the sole stockholder. The
Company occupies facilities in a second building pursuant to a lease which
expires on September 30, 1998 and facilities in a third building, which the
Company also leases from an entity controlled by Mr. Jonas, pursuant to a lease
which expires in December 1998.
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MANAGEMENT
The current directors and executive officers of the Company are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE POSITION
- ------------------------------------------ --- ---------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Howard S. Jonas........................... 41 Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and Treasurer
Howard S. Balter.......................... 36 Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman of the Board
James A. Courter.......................... 56 President and Director
Stephen R. Brown.......................... 41 Chief Financial Officer
Joyce J. Mason............................ 38 General Counsel, Secretary and Director
Marc E. Knoller........................... 37 Vice President and Director
Hal Brecher............................... 39 Executive Vice President of Operations and Director
Ilan M. Slasky............................ 27 Executive Vice President of Finance
Joshua Winkler............................ 42 Executive Vice President of Sales
Meyer A. Berman........................... 64 Director
J. Warren Blaker.......................... 65 Director
Denis A. Bovin............................ 50 Director
James R. Mellor........................... 68 Director
Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr....................... 77 Director
</TABLE>
HOWARD S. JONAS founded IDT in August 1990 and has served as Chairman of the
Board and Treasurer since its inception and as Chief Executive Officer since
December 1991. He served as President of the Company from December 1991 through
September 1996. Mr. Jonas is also the founder and has been President of Jonas
Publishing Corp. ("Jonas Publishing"), a publisher of trade directories, since
its inception in 1979. Mr. Jonas received a B.A. degree in Economics from
Harvard University.
HOWARD S. BALTER has served as Chief Operating Officer of the Company since
1993 and served as the Company's Chief Financial Officer from 1993 to May 1995.
Mr. Balter has been a director of the Company since December 1995 and became
Vice Chairman of the Board in October 1996. From 1985 to 1993, Mr. Balter
operated his own real estate development firm. Mr. Balter holds a B.A. degree in
Mathematics and Computers from Yeshiva University and attended New York
University School of Business.
JAMES A. COURTER joined the Company as President in October 1996 and has
been a director of the Company since March 1996. Mr. Courter has been a senior
partner in the New Jersey law firm of Courter, Kobert, Laufer & Cohen since
1972. He was also a partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm of Verner,
Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson & Hand from January 1994 to September 1996. Mr.
Courter was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 12 years, retiring
in January 1991. From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Courter was Chairman of the President's
Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. Mr. Courter also serves on the
Board of Directors of Envirogen, Inc. He received a B.A. degree from Colgate
University and a J.D. degree from Duke University Law School.
STEPHEN R. BROWN joined the Company as its Chief Financial Officer in May
1995. From 1985 to May 1995, Mr. Brown operated his own public accounting
practice servicing medium-sized corporations as well as high net worth
individuals. Mr. Brown received a B.A. degree in Economics from Yeshiva
University and a B.B.A. degree in Business and Accounting from Baruch College.
JOYCE J. MASON has served as General Counsel, Secretary and director of the
Company since its inception. Ms. Mason received a B.A. degree from the City
University of New York and a J.D. degree from New York Law School.
MARC E. KNOLLER joined the Company as Vice President and director in March
1991. From 1988 until March 1991, Mr. Knoller was director of national sales for
Jonas Publishing. Mr. Knoller received a B.B.A. degree from Baruch College.
HAL BRECHER has served as the Company's Executive Vice President of
Operations since he joined the Company in November 1996, and became a director
of the Company in April 1997. Mr. Brecher also serves as Chief Operating Officer
of Net2Phone. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Brecher was the Executive Vice
President of DME Marketing, a private direct marketing firm. He holds a B.S.
degree in Computer Science from Brooklyn College, and an M.B.A. degree from the
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
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ILAN M. SLASKY joined the Company in April 1996 and served as Director of
Carrier Services from November 1996 to July 1997. Since July 1997, Mr. Slasky
has served as Executive Vice President of Finance in charge of investor
relations and mergers and acquisitions. From 1991 to 1996, Mr. Slasky worked for
Merrill Lynch in various capacities including risk management, fixed income
trading and equity derivatives. Mr. Slasky holds an M.B.A. degree from New York
University in Finance and Management, and a B.A. degree in Economics from the
University of Pittsburgh.
JOSHUA WINKLER joined the Company in October 1996 as Vice President of
Finance, and was named Executive Vice President of Sales in November 1997. From
1985 to 1995, Mr. Winkler served as president of Rophe Management, a private
company which owned and operated medical facilities, and served as an adjunct
professor of accounting and business management at Touro College from 1992 to
1996. Mr. Winkler is a certified public accountant, and holds a B.S. degree in
accounting from Brooklyn College.
MEYER A. BERMAN has been a director of the Company since March 1996. Mr.
Berman founded M.A. Berman Co. in 1981, a broker-dealer that services high net
worth individuals and institutions, and has served as its President from its
inception. Prior to such time Mr. Berman held various positions in the stock
brokerage business. Mr. Berman has a B.A. degree from the University of
Connecticut.
J. WARREN BLAKER has been a director of the Company since March 1996. Dr.
Blaker has been Professor of Physics and Director of the Center for Lightwave
Science and Technology at Fairleigh Dickinson University since 1987. Prior to
such time he worked in various capacities in the optics industry, including
serving as Chief Executive Officer of University Optical Products, Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of University Patents, Inc., from 1982 to 1985. Dr.
Blaker received a B.S. degree from Wilkes University and a Ph.D. from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
DENIS A. BOVIN joined the Company as a Director in February 1998. Mr Bovin
also currently serves as Vice Chairman of Investment Banking and Senior Managing
Director of Bear Stearns & Co. Prior to joining Bear Stearns, Mr. Bovin spent
more than two decades in the Investment Banking Corporate Coverage and Capital
Markets divisions as well as the Communications and Technology Group of Salomon
Brothers, Inc. Mr. Bovin has more than 25 years of experience in strategic and
financial concerns of domestic and foreign companies, and played significant
roles in the growth of several international telecommunications companies. Mr.
Bovin was named as one of the country's most outstanding bankers by
Institutional Investor magazine, and is listed in the Who's Who in Finance and
Industry. Mr. Bovin received a B.S. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology and an M.B.A. degree from Harvard University.
JAMES R. MELLOR joined the Company as a director in August, 1997. Since
1981, Mr. Mellor had been working for General Dynamics Corporation ("General
Dynamics"), a leader in nuclear submarines, surface combatant ships and combat
systems. From 1994 until 1997, Mr. Mellor served as CEO of General Dynamics.
Before joining General Dynamics, Mr. Mellor served as President and Chief
Operating Officer of AM International, Inc., now Multigraphics, Inc. Prior to
that, Mr. Mellor spent 18 years with Litton Industries in a variety of
engineering and management positions, including Executive Vice President in
charge of Litton's Defense Group from 1973 to 1977. Mr. Mellor has a B.S. degree
and an M.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan.
ELMO R. ZUMWALT, JR. became a director of the Company in February 1997. He
is a retired U.S. Navy Admiral and served as Chief of Naval Operation and a
member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1970 to 1974. Since 1991, he has been
President of Admiral Zumwalt & Consultants, Inc., a Washington-based consulting
firm. Admiral Zumwalt is a director of Magellan Aerospace Corporation, Dallas
Semiconductor Corporation and NL Industries Inc. He is also a member of the
President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, Chairman of the International
Consortium for Research on the Health Effects of Radiation, Chairman of the
Morrow Foundation and Chairman of the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Admiral
Zumwalt received a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the United States
Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
Each of the Company's directors holds office until that director's successor
has been duly elected and qualified. The Company's Board of Directors is divided
into three classes with Messrs. Blaker, Courter, Knoller and Zumwalt
constituting Class I, Messrs. Balter, Berman and Brecher constituting Class II
and Messrs. Jonas, Mellor and Ms. Mason constituting Class III. Mr. Bovin will
be a Class III director at such time as he takes office. Upon the expiration of
the term of each class of directors, directors comprising such class of
directors will be elected for a three year term at the next succeeding annual
meeting of
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stockholders. Executive officers of the Company are elected by the Board of
Directors on an annual basis and serve until their successors are duly elected
and qualified.
Mr. Jonas and Ms. Mason are brother and sister.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has established an Executive Committee consisting of
Messrs. Jonas and Balter. In addition, the Board of Directors has established a
Compensation Committee, which currently consists of Messrs. Berman, Mellor and
Blaker, and an Audit Committee consisting of Messrs. Berman and Blaker. The
Compensation Committee makes recommendations concerning the salaries and
incentive compensation of employees of, and consultants to, the Company and
administers the Company's Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option and Incentive
Plan. The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing the results and scope of
audits and other services provided by the Company's independent auditors.
KEY EMPLOYEES AND ADVISORS
In addition to the foregoing individuals, the Company employs the following
key employees and advisors:
JACK KEMP has served as a Senior Strategic Advisor to the Company's Board of
Directors since April 1998. Mr. Kemp, a former vice-presidential candidate,
co-founded Empower America, a public policy and advocacy organization focused on
promoting economic growth and entrepreneurship in America. From 1989 to 1992,
Mr. Kemp served as a member of the U.S. Cabinet as the Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development. From 1971 to 1989, Mr. Kemp represented the western New York
area in the U.S. House of Representatives, and from 1980 to 1987, he served as
Chairman of the House Republican Conference.
DR. DAVID L. TUROCK became Director of Technology of the Company in November
1997 at the time that the Company acquired Rock Enterprises, Inc. ("Rock"), a
telecommunications company which Dr. Turock founded in 1992. Dr. Turock provided
consulting services to the Company through Rock since 1992. Pursuant to an
agreement with the Company, Dr. Turock is permitted to provide certain
consulting services to, and serve as a director of, certain telecommunications
businesses outside of IDT, subject to certain limitations. Prior to joining IDT,
Dr. Turock also founded a number of other telecommunications companies,
including TPS Call Sciences. In addition, Dr. Turock has conducted research on
human information processing and telecommunications systems at Bell
Communications Research Inc. between 1988 and 1992, and at AT&T Bell
Laboratories between 1982 and 1988. Dr. Turock holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive
Science from Rutgers University, an M.S.E. degree in Engineering and Computer
Science from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.S. degree in Experimental
Psychology from Rutgers University, a B.S. degree in Psychology from Syracuse
University, an A.A. degree from Keystone College, and executive certificates
from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Sloan School
of Management at M.I.T.
CLIFFORD M. SOBEL has been employed as the President of the Company's
Net2Phone subsidiary since September 1997. Prior to his employment with the
Company, Mr. Sobel founded several import-export companies, including DVMI,
Bon-Art International and Bauchet International. Mr. Sobel holds a B.A. degree
in Economics from the University of Vermont, and a B.S. degree in Accounting,
Foreign Trade and Management and Marketing from New York School of Commerce.
H. JEFF GOLDBERG has served as the Director of Technology of the Company's
Net2Phone division and as a consultant to the Company since 1995. Prior to his
employment with the Company, Mr. Goldberg served as a developer of multimedia
communications software at AT&T Bell Laboratories between 1977 and 1979, and as
a Vice President of Software at Charles River Data Systems in Massachusetts
between 1979 and 1985. In addition, Mr. Goldberg has worked as an independent
software consultant between 1985 and 1995. Mr. Goldberg holds a B.S. degree in
Electrical Engineering from Cooper Union and an S.M. degree in Computer Science
from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial
ownership of the Common Stock and Class A Stock of the Company (assuming
conversion of all of the shares of Class A Stock into Common Stock) as of May 6,
1998 with respect to (i) each person known by the Company to own beneficially
more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock based solely on publicly
available filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission received by the
Company; (ii) each of the Company's directors; (iii) the four most highly
compensated executive officers of the Company (other than the Chief Executive
Officer) who were serving as executive officers as of July 31, 1997; and (iv)
all executive officers and directors as a group, in each case after giving
effect to the Equity Offering. Except as otherwise indicated, each of the
stockholders has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares
beneficially owned.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY OWNED
------------------------
NAME AND ADDRESS OF STOCKHOLDERS NUMBER PERCENT
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Howard S. Jonas(1).............................................................. 13,337,247 40.3
190 Main Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601
David L. Turock................................................................. 1,880,356 5.7
InterExchange, Inc.
225 Old New Brunswick Road, Suite 300
Piscataway, New Jersey 08854
Howard S. Balter(3)............................................................. 421,620 1.3
James A. Courter(4)............................................................. 217,000 *
Joyce J. Mason(5)............................................................... 73,032 *
Meyer A. Berman(6).............................................................. 62,100 *
Hal Brecher(7).................................................................. 22,500 *
Stephen R. Brown(8)............................................................. 34,920 *
J. Warren Blaker(9)............................................................. 28,000 *
Marc E. Knoller(9).............................................................. 180,000 *
Denis A. Bovin(9)............................................................... 70,000 *
James R. Mellor(9).............................................................. 10,000 *
Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr.(9)......................................................... 16,000 *
All directors and executive officers as a group (14 persons).................... 16,377,775 48.3
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
* Less than 1%.
(1) Includes (i) 10,230,868 shares of Class A Stock which are convertible on a
share-for-share basis into Common Stock at the option of the holder,
consisting of (a) 4,962,169 shares held by Mr. Jonas directly, (b) 14,242
shares held by The Jonas Family Limited Partnership, (c) 3,695,270 shares
held by the Howard S. Jonas 1996 Annuity Trust and (d) 1,559,228 shares held
by the Howard S. Jonas 1998 Annuity Trust and (ii) 3,106,379 shares of
Common Stock held by the former sharesholders of IX, who have granted to Mr.
Jonas a proxy to vote such shares in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the IX Merger Agreement.
(2) Includes 1,567,856 shares which Mr. Howard Jonas has been granted the right
to vote pursuant to a proxy granted in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the IX Merger Agreement and which are subject to certain
transfer limitations. 223,130 of such shares are held in an escrow account
to indemnify the Company in the event of a breach of certain representations
and warranties contained in the IX Merger Agreement.
(3) Includes 290,920 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options.
(4) Includes 110,000 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options.
(5) Includes 62,700 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options. Includes
3,999 shares held by members of Ms. Mason's immediate family.
(6) Includes 10,000 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options.
(7) Includes 12,500 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options.
(8) Includes 24,920 shares issuable upon exercise of stock options.
(9) Common Stock issuable upon exercise of stock options.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following brief description of the Company's capital stock does not
purport to be complete and is subject in all respects to applicable Delaware law
and to the provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and by-laws
(the "By-Laws"). The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of
100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, 35,000,000 shares of Class A
Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "Class A Stock") and 10,000,000 shares of
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value (the "Preferred Stock").
COMMON STOCK AND CLASS A STOCK
GENERAL
The rights of holders of Common Stock and holders of Class A Stock are
identical except for voting and conversion rights and restrictions on
transferability. As of May 6, 1998, the Company had 33,063,893 shares of capital
stock outstanding, consisting of 22,833,025 shares of Common Stock and
10,230,868 shares of Class A Stock.
VOTING RIGHTS
The holders of Class A Stock are entitled to three votes per share and the
holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share. Except as otherwise
required by law or as described below, holders of Class A Stock and Common Stock
will vote together as a single class on all matters presented to the
stockholders for their vote or approval, including the election of directors.
Stockholders are not entitled to vote cumulatively for the election of
directors, and no class of outstanding Common Stock acting alone is entitled to
elect any directors. As of May 6, 1998, Howard S. Jonas, the Chairman of the
Board, Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer of the Company, beneficially owned
10,230,868 shares of Class A Stock, and retains effective control of the Company
by holding more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Company's
outstanding capital stock, including 3,106,379 shares of Common Stock held by
proxy pursuant to the IX Merger Agreement, as of such date. Therefore, Mr. Jonas
has the ability to elect all of the directors of the Company and to effect or
prevent certain corporate transactions which require majority or supermajority
approval of the combined classes, including mergers and other business
combinations.
TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS
Class A Stock is subject to certain limitations on transferability that do
not apply to the Common Stock. The Certificate of Incorporation provides that if
there is a Transfer (as defined therein) of shares of Class A Stock to a person
other than a Permitted Transferee (as hereinafter defined) then such shares
automatically convert into an equal number of shares of Common Stock, other than
when such shares are pledged pursuant to a bona fide pledge. In the event of
foreclosure, however, such shares will convert automatically into Common Stock
30 days after notice of foreclosure has been given, unless the Class A Shares
are transferred to a Permitted Transferee or the foreclosure action has been
canceled or annulled. "Permitted Transferee" means, (A) with respect to each
holder of shares of Class A Stock, the Company, and (B) with respect to each
holder who is a natural person, (i) the spouse of such holder, lineal ancestors
of such holder or spouse and any person who is a lineal descendant of a
grandparent of such holder or the spouse, or a spouse of any such lineal
descendant or such lineal ancestor (collectively referred to as the "Family
Members" of such holder); (ii) the trustee of a trust exclusively for the
benefit of such holder, any Family Member, or certain charitable organizations;
(iii) a charitable organization established solely by one or more of such
holders or Family Members; (iv) any IRA or 401(k) employee benefit plan of such
holder; (v) the estate or any appointed guardian or custodian of such holder;
and (vi) any corporation or partnership controlled by such holder. Shares of
Class A Stock acquired by the Company will be canceled and may not be reissued.
The provision in the Certificate of Incorporation regarding conversion of Class
A Stock may not be amended without the affirmative vote of holders of the
majority of the shares of Class A Stock and the affirmative vote of holders of a
majority of the shares of Common Stock, each voting separately as a class.
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DIVIDENDS AND LIQUIDATION
Holders of Class A Stock and holders of Common Stock have an equal right to
receive dividends when and if declared by the Company's Board of Directors out
of funds legally available therefor. If a dividend or distribution payable in
Class A Stock is made on the Class A Stock, the Company must also make a pro
rata and simultaneous dividend or distribution on the Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock. Conversely, if a dividend or distribution payable in
Common Stock is made on the Common Stock, the Company must also make a pro rata
and simultaneous dividend or distribution on the Class A Stock payable in shares
of Class A Stock. In the event of the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of
the Company, holders of the shares of Class A Stock and Common Stock are
entitled to share equally, share-for-share, in the assets available for
distribution after payment of all creditors and the liquidation preferences of
the Preferred Stock of the Company.
OPTIONAL CONVERSION RIGHTS
Each share of Class A Stock may, at any time and at the option of the
holder, be converted into one fully paid and nonassessable share of Common
Stock. Upon conversion, such shares of Common Stock would not be subject to
restrictions on transfer that applied to the shares of Class A Stock prior to
conversion except to the extent such restrictions are imposed under applicable
securities laws.
The shares of Common Stock are not convertible into or exchangeable for
shares of Class A Stock or any other shares or securities of the Company.
OTHER PROVISIONS
Holders of Class A Stock and Common Stock have no preemptive rights to
subscribe to any additional securities of any class which the Company may issue
and there are no redemption provisions or sinking fund provisions applicable to
either such class, nor is the Class A Stock or the Common Stock subject to calls
or assessments by the Company. The rights, preferences, and privileges of the
holders of Common Stock and Class A Stock are subject to, and may be adversely
affected by, the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock which
the Company may designate and issue in the future.
PREFERRED STOCK
The Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Company may
issue up to 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and as
may be determined by the Company's Board of Directors who may establish from
time to time the number of shares to be included in each such series, to fix the
designation, powers, preferences and relative rights of the shares of each such
series and any qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereof, and to
increase or decrease the number of shares of any such series without any further
vote or action by the stockholders. The Board of Directors of the Company may
authorize, without stockholder approval, the issuance of Preferred Stock with
voting and conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power and
other rights of holders of Common Stock. Preferred Stock could thus be issued
quickly with terms designated to delay or prevent a change in control of the
Company or to make the removal of management more difficult. In certain
circumstances, this could have the effect of decreasing the market price of the
Common Stock. There are no shares of Preferred Stock outstanding.
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Common Stock is American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
The New Notes will be issued under an Indenture (the "Indenture") dated as
of February 18, 1998 between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust National
Association, formerly known as First Trust National Association, as trustee (the
"Trustee"). The following summary of certain provisions of the Indenture does
not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to, the United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
"Trust Indenture Act"), and to all of the provisions of the Indenture and the
Registration Rights Agreement, including the definitions of certain terms
therein and those terms made a part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust
Indenture Act. Copies of the Indenture may be obtained upon request to the
Company at its address set forth elsewhere herein. The definitions of certain
terms used in the following summary are set forth under "--Certain Definitions."
References in this "Description of the Notes" section to "the Company" mean only
IDT Corporation and not any of its Subsidiaries. Except as otherwise indicated
below, the following summary applies to both the Old Notes and the New Notes.
GENERAL
The Notes will be issued only in registered form, without coupons, in
denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. The Company has
appointed the Trustee to serve as registrar and paying agent under the Indenture
at its offices at 180 East 5th Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101; Attention:
Specialized Finance Department; 612-244-0721. No service charge will be made for
any registration of transfer or exchange of the Notes, except for any tax or
other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
The form and term of the New Notes will be identical in all material
respects to the form and terms of the Old Notes, except that the New Notes will
be registered under the Securities Act, and therefore such New Notes will not be
subject to certain transfer restrictions and registration rights applicable to
the Old Notes. See "The Exchange Offer."
RANKING
The Notes will be general unsecured obligations of the Company and will rank
senior in right of payment to all future Indebtedness of the Company that is, by
its terms or by the terms of the agreement or instrument governing such
Indebtedness, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and PARI
PASSU in right of payment with all existing and future unsecured liabilities of
the Company that are not so subordinated.
Any right of the Company and its creditors, including holders of the Notes,
to participate in the assets of any of the Company's subsidiaries upon any
liquidation or administration of any such subsidiary will be subject to the
prior claims of the creditors of such subsidiary. The claims of creditors of the
Company, including holders of the Notes, will be effectively subordinated to all
existing and future third-party indebtedness and liabilities, including trade
payables, of the Company's subsidiaries. The Company and its subsidiaries may
incur other debt in the future, including secured debt.
The Notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any guarantees, except as
described under "--Certain Covenants--Limitation on Issuances of Guarantees by
Restricted Subsidiaries."
MATURITY, INTEREST AND PRINCIPAL OF THE NOTES
The Notes are limited to $275.0 million aggregate principal amount. Old
Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $100.0 million were issued in the
Initial Offering. Up to $100.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the New
Notes will be issued in the Exchange Offer, and will be exchanged for, and will
evidence the same indebtedness of the Company as the Old Notes. The Notes will
mature on February 15, 2006. Interest on the Notes will accrue at the rate of
8 3/4% per annum and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on each February
15 and August 15, commencing August 15, 1998, to the holders of record of Notes
(the "Holders") at the close of business on February 1 and August 1,
respectively, immediately preceding such interest payment date. Interest on the
Notes will accrue from the most recent
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<PAGE>
interest payment date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has
been paid, from the Issue Date. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360
day year of twelve 30-day months.
The New Notes will bear interest at a rate equal to 8 3/4% per annum from
and including their date of issuance. Holders whose Old Notes are accepted for
exchange will have the right to receive interest accrued thereon from the last
date on which interest was paid on the Old Notes, or if no interest had been
paid on such Old Notes, from the date of their original issue, to, but not
including, the date of issuance of the New Notes accepted for exchange, which
interest accrued at the rate of 8 3/4% per annum, and will cease to accrue on
the day prior to the issuance of the New Notes.
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
The Notes will be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or in
part, at any time on or after February 15, 2002, at the redemption prices
(expressed as a percentage of principal amount) set forth below, plus accrued
and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date fixed for redemption, if
redeemed during the 12-month period beginning on February 15 of the years
indicated below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR REDEMPTION PRICE
- -------------------------------------------------------- ----------------
<S> <C>
2002.................................................... 104.375%
2003.................................................... 102.188%
2004 and thereafter..................................... 100.000%
</TABLE>
In addition, prior to February 15, 2001, the Company may redeem up to 35% of
the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued under the Indenture at a
redemption price equal to 108.75% of the principal amount of the Notes so
redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of
redemption with the net cash proceeds of one or more Public Equity Offerings;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes
issued under the Indenture would remain outstanding immediately after giving
effect to any such redemption (excluding any Notes owned by the Company or any
of its Affiliates). Notice of any such redemption must be given within 60 days
after the date of the applicable Public Equity Offering.
SELECTION AND NOTICE OF REDEMPTION
In the event that less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time
pursuant to an optional redemption, selection of such Notes for redemption will
be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal
national securities exchange, if any, on which the Notes are listed or, if the
Notes are not then listed on a national securities exchange, on a pro rata
basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no Notes of a principal amount of $1,000 or less shall
be redeemed in part; PROVIDED, FURTHER, HOWEVER, that if a partial redemption is
made pursuant to the provisions described in the second paragraph under
"--Optional Redemption," selection of the Notes or portions thereof for
redemption shall be made by the Trustee only on a PRO RATA basis or on as nearly
a PRO RATA basis as is practicable (subject to the procedures of The Depository
Trust Company), unless such method is otherwise prohibited. Notice of redemption
shall be mailed by first-class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before
the date of redemption to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered
address. If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption
that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount
thereof to be redeemed. A new Note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed
portion thereof will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon
cancellation of the original Note. On and after the date of redemption, interest
will cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption as long
as the Company has deposited with the paying agent for the Notes funds in
satisfaction of the redemption price together with accrued and unpaid interest
pursuant to the Indenture.
CHANGE OF CONTROL
Following the occurrence of a Change of Control (the date of such occurrence
being the "CHANGE OF CONTROL DATE"), the Company shall notify the Holders of
such occurrence in the manner prescribed by the
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Indenture and shall, within 20 days after the Change of Control Date, make an
Offer to Purchase all Notes then outstanding at a purchase price in cash equal
to 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid
interest thereon, if any, to the Purchase Date. The Company's obligations may be
satisfied if a third party makes the Offer to Purchase in the manner, at the
times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements of the Indenture
applicable to an Offer to Purchase made by the Company and purchases all Notes
validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Offer to Purchase.
If an Offer to Purchase is made, there can be no assurance that the Company
will have available funds sufficient to pay for all of the Notes that might be
tendered by Holders seeking to accept the Offer to Purchase. If the Company
fails to purchase all of the Notes tendered for purchase upon the occurrence of
a Change of Control, such failure will constitute an Event of Default. See
"--Events of Default" and "Risk Factors--Failure to Purchase Notes Upon Change
of Control."
If the Company makes an Offer to Purchase, the Company will comply with all
applicable tender offer laws and regulations, including, to the extent
applicable, Section 14(e) and Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, and any other
applicable Federal or state securities laws and regulations and any applicable
requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes are listed.
CERTAIN COVENANTS
LIMITATION ON RESTRICTED PAYMENTS. The Company shall not, and shall not
cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly,
(i) declare or pay any dividend or any other distribution on any Equity
Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or make any
payment or distribution to the direct or indirect holders of Equity
Interests (in their capacity as such) of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary (other than any dividends, distributions and payments made to
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and dividends or distributions
payable to any Person solely in Qualified Equity Interests or in
options, warrants or other rights to purchase Qualified Equity
Interests);
(ii) redeem any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
(other than any such Equity Interests owned by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary);
(iii) redeem or make any principal payment on, prior to any scheduled
maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment, any
Subordinated Indebtedness (other than any Subordinated Indebtedness
held by any Restricted Subsidiary); or
(iv) make any Investment (other than Permitted Investments) (any of the
foregoing, a "Restricted Payment"), unless
(a) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of
or after giving effect to such Restricted Payment;
(b) immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the
Company would be able to Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness
under the first paragraph of "--Limitation on Incurrence of
Indebtedness"; and
(c) immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the
aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments (including the Fair
Market Value of any non-cash Restricted Payment) declared or made
on or after the Issue Date (excluding any Restricted Payment
described in clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) of the next
paragraph) does not exceed an amount equal to the sum of the
following (the "Basket"):
(1) (x) the Cumulative Operating Cash Flow determined at the time of
such Restricted Payment less (y) 200% of cumulative Consolidated
Fixed Charges determined for the period (treated as one
accounting period) commencing on the first day of the fiscal
quarter in which the Issue Date occurs and ending on the last
day of the most recent fiscal quarter immediately preceding the
date of such Restricted Payment; plus
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(2) the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company either
(x) as capital contributions to the Company after the Issue Date
or (y) from the issue and sale (other than to a Subsidiary of
the Company) of Qualified Equity Interests after the Issue Date
(other than (A) any issuance and sale of Qualified Equity
Interests financed, directly or indirectly, using funds (i)
borrowed from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries until and
to the extent such borrowing is repaid or (ii) contributed,
extended, guaranteed or advanced by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, in respect of any
employee stock ownership or benefit plan) and (B) any such net
cash proceeds counted toward clause (iv)(x) of paragraph (b)
under "--Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness"); PLUS
(3) the aggregate amount by which Indebtedness (other than any
Subordinated Indebtedness) of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary is reduced on the Company's consolidated balance
sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a
Subsidiary of the Company) subsequent to the Issue Date into
Qualified Equity Interests (less the amount of any cash, or the
fair value of property, distributed by the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary upon such conversion or exchange); PLUS
(4) in the case of the disposition or repayment of any Investment
that was treated as a Restricted Payment made after the Issue
Date, an amount (to the extent not included in the computation
of Cumulative Operating Cash Flow) equal to the lesser of: (x)
the return in cash of capital with respect to such Investment
and (y) the amount of such Investment that was treated as a
Restricted Payment, in either case, less the cost of the
disposition of such Investment and net of taxes; PLUS
(5) so long as the Designation thereof was treated as a Restricted
Payment made after the Issue Date, with respect to any
Unrestricted Subsidiary that has been redesignated as a
Restricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date in accordance with
"--Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries," the Company's
proportionate interest in an amount equal to the excess of (x)
the total assets of such Subsidiary, valued on an aggregate
basis at Fair Market Value, over (y) the total liabilities of
such Subsidiary, determined in accordance with GAAP (and
provided that such amount shall not in any case exceed the
Designation Amount with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary
upon its Designation); MINUS
(6) with respect to each Subsidiary of the Company which has been
designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Issue Date in
accordance with "--Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries,"
the greater of (x) $0 and (y) the Designation Amount thereof
(measured as of the Date of Designation); PLUS
(7) $60.0 million.
The foregoing provisions will not prevent (i) the payment of any dividend or
distribution on Equity Interests within 60 days after the date of declaration of
such dividend or distribution, if at the date of such declaration, such dividend
or distribution would comply with the provisions of the Indenture; (ii) the
redemption of any Equity Interests of the Company in exchange for, or out of the
net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent issue and sale (other than to
a Subsidiary of the Company) of, Qualified Equity Interests; (iii) any
Investment to the extent that the consideration therefor consists of Qualified
Equity Interests; (iv) the redemption of Subordinated Indebtedness made in
exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of, a substantially concurrent
issue and sale (other than to a Subsidiary) of, (x) Qualified Equity Interests
or (y) other Subordinated Indebtedness having no stated maturity for the payment
of principal thereof prior to the final stated maturity of the Notes; or (v) the
redemption of any Equity Interests of the Company held by directors, officers or
employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries upon their death, retirement
or other termination not to exceed $500,000 in the aggregate in any calendar
year; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any unused amount may be used only in the next
succeeding calendar year; PROVIDED, FURTHER, HOWEVER, that (A) in the case of
each of clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v), no Default shall have
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occurred and be continuing or would arise therefrom and (B) no issuance of
Qualified Equity Interests pursuant to clause (ii), (iii) or (iv) shall increase
the Basket or count toward clause (iv)(x) of paragraph (b) under "-- Limitation
on Incurrence of Indebtedness."
LIMITATION ON INCURRENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS. (a) The Company shall not, and
shall not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly,
Incur any Indebtedness; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company may Incur
Indebtedness if, at the time of such Incurrence, the Leverage Ratio would be
less than or equal to (i) 5.5 to 1.0 if Incurred within the first three years of
the Issue Date and (ii) 5.0 to 1.0 if Incurred thereafter.
(b) The foregoing limitations of paragraph (a) of this covenant will not
apply to any of the following:
(i) the Notes issued on the Issue Date and Permitted Refinancings
thereof, and the Exchange Notes;
(ii) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to the
extent outstanding on the date of the Indenture, and Permitted
Refinancings thereof;
(iii) Indebtedness (including Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary
Incurred and outstanding on or prior to the date on which such subsidiary
was acquired by the Company) of the Company Incurred to finance the cost
(including the cost of design, construction, acquisition (including
acquisitions by way of capital lease or by way of acquisitions of the
capital stock of a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary to the
extent of the fair market value of the equipment, inventory or assets so
acquired), installation or integration) of equipment used in the
Telecommunications Business or ownership rights with respect to
indefeasible rights of use or minimum investment units (or similar
ownership interests) in transnational fiber optic cable or other
transmission facilities, in each case purchased or leased by the Company
after the Issue Date, and Permitted Refinancings thereof;
(iv) Indebtedness of the Company in an aggregate amount not to exceed
2.0 times (x) the net cash proceeds received after the Issue Date by the
Company from the issuance and sale of its Common Stock (other than to a
Subsidiary of the Company) (PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such net cash
proceeds shall not increase the Basket) and (y) the Fair Market Value of
Common Equity Interests of the Company issued as consideration in a
Telecommunications Acquisition; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any Indebtedness
Incurred under this clause (iv) shall have a Weighted Average Life to
Maturity greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Notes
and shall not require repayment or redemption (including pursuant to any
required offer to purchase) prior to the Maturity Date (other than a
redemption upon a change of control of the Company pursuant to provisions
similar to those under "-- Change of Control");
(v) (1) Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary owed to and held by
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and (2) Indebtedness of the
Company owed to and held by any Restricted Subsidiary which is unsecured
and subordinated in right of payment to the payment and performance of
the Company's obligations under the Notes; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that an
Incurrence of Indebtedness that is not permitted by this clause (v) shall
be deemed to have occurred upon (x) any sale or other disposition of any
Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary referred to in
this clause (v) to any Person other than the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary or (y) any Restricted Subsidiary that holds Indebtedness of
the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted
Subsidiary;
(vi) Interest Rate Protection Obligations of the Company relating to
Indebtedness of the Company (which Indebtedness (x) bears interest at
fluctuating interest rates and (y) is otherwise permitted to be Incurred
under this covenant); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the notional principal
amount of such Interest Rate Protection Obligations does not exceed the
principal amount of the Indebtedness to which such Interest Rate
Protection Obligations relate;
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(vii) Indebtedness of the Company under Currency Agreements to the
extent relating to (x) Indebtedness of the Company and/or (y) obligations
to purchase assets, properties or services incurred in the ordinary
course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that such Currency Agreements do not increase the Indebtedness
or other obligations of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries
outstanding other than as a result of fluctuations in foreign currency
exchange rates or by reason of fees, indemnities or compensation payable
thereunder;
(viii) Indebtedness of the Company and/or any Restricted Subsidiary
in respect of performance bonds of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary or surety bonds provided by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary incurred in the ordinary course of business and on ordinary
business terms in connection with the construction or operation of a
Telecommunications Business;
(ix) Indebtedness of the Company under one or more Credit Facilities,
and guarantees by Restricted Subsidiaries thereof (in compliance with the
provisions of "--LIMITATION ON ISSUANCES OF GUARANTEES BY RESTRICTED
SUBSIDIARIES"), in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time the
greater of (x) $35.0 million and (y) 65% of accounts receivable reflected
on the Company's latest consolidated balance sheet;
(x) Indebtedness of the Company, to the extent that the net proceeds
thereof are promptly (A) used to repurchase Notes tendered in an Offer to
Purchase in connection with a Change of Control or (B) deposited to
defease all of the Notes as described under "--Satisfaction and Discharge
of Indenture; Defeasance"; and
(xi) Indebtedness Incurred in an aggregate amount which, when taken
together with the aggregate amount of all other Indebtedness of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred under this clause
outstanding on the date of such Incurrence (other than Indebtedness
permitted by clauses (i) through (x) above or paragraph (a)) does not
exceed $200.0 million.
(c) For purposes of determining any particular amount of Indebtedness
under this covenant, Guarantees, Liens or obligations with respect to
letters of credit supporting Indebtedness otherwise included in the
determination of such particular amount shall not be included; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the foregoing shall not in any way be deemed to limit the
provisions of "--Limitation on Issuances of Guarantees by Restricted
Subsidiaries."
(d) For purposes of determining compliance with the foregoing covenant,
(i) in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more
than one of the types of Indebtedness described above, the Company, in its
sole discretion, will classify such item of Indebtedness and only be
required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of the
above clauses and (ii) an item of Indebtedness may be divided and classified
in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described above.
LIMITATION ON RESTRICTIONS AFFECTING RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES. The Company
shall not, and shall not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly
or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective
any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to
(x) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any other
Restricted Subsidiary on its Equity Interests or with respect to any other
interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or pay any
Indebtedness owed to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary, (y) make
loans or advances to, or guarantee any Indebtedness or other obligations of, the
Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary or (z) transfer any of its properties
or assets to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary.
The foregoing shall not prohibit (a) any encumbrance or restriction existing
under or by reason of any agreement in effect on the Issue Date, as any such
agreement is in effect on such date or as thereafter amended or supplemented but
only if such encumbrance or restriction is no more restrictive than in the
agreement being amended; (b) any encumbrance or restriction existing under or by
reason of any agreement relating to any Acquired Indebtedness; PROVIDED such
encumbrance or restriction shall not apply
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to any assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the
Restricted Subsidiary acquired or its assets; (c) customary provisions contained
in an agreement that has been entered into for the sale or disposition of all or
substantially all of the Capital Stock or assets of a Restricted Subsidiary;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER that (x) such encumbrance or restriction is applicable only to
such Restricted Subsidiary or assets and (y) such sale or disposition is made in
accordance with "--Limitation on Asset Sales"; (d) any encumbrance or
restriction existing under or by reason of applicable law; (e) customary
provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing any
leasehold interest of any Restricted Subsidiary; (f) covenants in purchase money
obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business restricting
transfer of such property; or (g) covenants in security agreements securing
Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary (to the extent that such Liens were
otherwise incurred in accordance with "--Limitation on Liens") that restrict the
transfer of property subject to such agreements.
DESIGNATION OF UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES. (a) The Company may designate any
Subsidiary of the Company as an "Unrestricted Subsidiary" under the Indenture (a
"Designation") only if:
(i) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of
or after giving effect to such Designation;
(ii) at the time of and after giving effect to such Designation, the
Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the first
paragraph of "--Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness"; and
(iii) the Company would be permitted to make an Investment (other
than a Permitted Investment) at the time of Designation (assuming the
effectiveness of such Designation) pursuant to the first paragraph of
"--Limitation on Restricted Payments" in an amount (the "Designation
Amount ") equal to the Fair Market Value of the Company's proportionate
interest in the net worth of such Subsidiary on such date.
All Subsidiaries of Unrestricted Subsidiaries shall be Unrestricted
Subsidiaries.
The Company shall not, and shall not cause or permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, at any time (x) provide credit support
for, subject any of its properties or assets (other than the Equity Interests of
any Unrestricted Subsidiary) to the satisfaction of, or guarantee, any
Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary (including any undertaking,
agreement or instrument evidencing such Indebtedness), (y) be liable for any
Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or (z) be liable for any
Indebtedness which provides that the holder thereof may (upon notice, lapse of
time or both) declare a default thereon or cause the payment thereof to be
accelerated or payable prior to its final scheduled maturity upon the occurrence
of a default with respect to any Indebtedness of any Unrestricted Subsidiary.
(b) The Company may revoke any Designation of a Subsidiary as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary (a "Revocation") only if:
(i) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of
and after giving effect to such Revocation; and
(ii) all Liens and Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary
outstanding immediately following such Revocation would, if Incurred at
such time, have been permitted to be Incurred for all purposes of the
Indenture.
All Designations and Revocations must be evidenced by resolutions of the
Board of Directors of the Company, delivered to the Trustee certifying
compliance with the foregoing provisions.
LIMITATION ON LIENS. The Company shall not, and shall not cause or permit
any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Lien (other than
any Permitted Lien) of any kind against or upon any of their respective
properties or assets now owned or hereafter acquired, or any proceeds, income or
profits therefrom, unless contemporaneously therewith or prior thereto, (i) in
the case of any Lien securing an obligation that ranks PARI PASSU with the
Notes, effective provision is made to secure the Notes equally and ratably with
or prior to such obligation with a Lien on the same collateral and (ii) in the
case of any Lien securing an obligation that is subordinated in right of payment
to the Notes, effective provision is made to
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secure the Notes with a Lien on the same collateral that is prior to the Lien
securing such subordinated obligation, in each case, for so long as such
obligation is secured by such Lien.
LIMITATION ON ASSET SALES. The Company shall not, and shall not cause or
permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, make any Asset
Sale, unless (x) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be,
receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair
Market Value of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of and (y) at least 85% of
such consideration consists of (i) cash or Cash Equivalents, (ii) Replacement
Assets or (iii) any combination of the foregoing. The amount of any Indebtedness
(other than any Subordinated Indebtedness) of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary that is actually assumed by the transferee in such Asset Sale and
from which the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries are fully released shall
be deemed to be cash for purposes of determining the percentage of cash
consideration received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary. Any Net
Cash Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not (x) invested in Replacement
Assets or (y) used to reduce Indebtedness under Credit Facilities (with a
permanent concomitant reduction of commitments thereunder) within 270 days of
the consummation of such Asset Sale shall constitute "Excess Proceeds" subject
to disposition as provided below.
Within 30 days after the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds equals or
exceeds $10.0 million, the Company shall make an Offer to Purchase, from all
Holders, that aggregate principal amount of Notes as can be purchased with the
Note Portion of Excess Proceeds at a price in cash equal to 100% of the
principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to any
purchase date. To the extent that the aggregate amount of principal and accrued
interest of Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to an Offer to
Purchase is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use such surplus for
general corporate purposes. If the aggregate amount of principal and accrued
interest of Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn by Holders thereof exceeds
the amount of Notes that can be purchased with the Note Portion of Excess
Proceeds, Notes to be purchased will be selected PRO RATA based on the aggregate
principal amount of Notes tendered by each Holder. Upon completion of an Offer
to Purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds with respect to the applicable Asset
Sale shall be reset to zero.
In the event that any other Indebtedness of the Company that ranks PARI
PASSU with the Notes (the "Other Debt") requires an offer to purchase to be made
to repurchase such Other Debt upon the consummation of an Asset Sale, the
Company may apply the Excess Proceeds otherwise required to be applied to an
Offer to Purchase to offer to purchase such Other Debt and to an Offer to
Purchase so long as the amount of such Excess Proceeds applied to purchase the
Notes is not less than the Note Portion of Excess Proceeds. With respect to any
Excess Proceeds, the Company shall make the Offer to Purchase in respect thereof
at the same time as the analogous offer to purchase is made pursuant to any
Other Debt and the Purchase Date in respect thereof shall be the same as the
purchase date in respect thereof pursuant to any Other Debt.
For purposes of this covenant, "Note Portion of Excess Proceeds" means (1)
if no Other Debt is being offered to be purchased, the amount of the Excess
Proceeds and (2) if Other Debt is being offered to be purchased, the amount of
the Excess Proceeds equal to the product of (x) the Excess Proceeds and (y) a
fraction the numerator of which is the aggregate amount of all Notes tendered
pursuant to the Offer to Purchase related to such Excess Proceeds (the "Note
Amount") and the denominator of which is the sum of the Note Amount and the
aggregate amount as of the relevant purchase date of all Other Debt tendered and
purchased pursuant to a concurrent offer to purchase such Other Debt made at the
time of such Offer to Purchase.
In the event that the Company makes an Offer to Purchase the Notes, the
Company shall comply with any applicable securities laws and regulations,
including any applicable requirements of Section 14(e) of, and Rule 14e-1 under,
the Exchange Act, and any other applicable Federal or state securities laws and
regulations and any applicable requirements of any securities exchange on which
the Notes are listed.
LIMITATION ON TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. The Company shall not, and
shall not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly,
conduct any business or enter into any transaction or series
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of related transactions with or for the benefit of any Affiliate, any holder of
5% or more of any class of Equity Interests or any officer, director or employee
of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (each, an "Affiliate Transaction"),
unless such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than could reasonably
be obtained at such time in a comparable transaction with an unaffiliated third
party. For any such transaction that involves value in excess of $2.0 million,
the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that a
majority of the Disinterested Directors has determined that the transaction
satisfies the above criteria and shall evidence such a determination by a Board
Resolution delivered to the Trustee. For any such transaction that involves
value in excess of $10.0 million, the Company shall also obtain a written
opinion from an Independent Financial Advisor to the effect that such
transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the restrictions set forth in this covenant
shall not apply to (i) transactions exclusively between or among the Company and
one or more Restricted Subsidiaries or exclusively between or among Restricted
Subsidiaries; (ii) customary directors' fees, indemnification and similar
arrangements, employee salaries, bonuses or employment agreements, compensation
or employee benefit arrangements and incentive arrangements with any officer,
director or employee of the Company entered into in the ordinary course of
business; (iii) transactions pursuant to agreements in effect on the Issue Date,
as such agreements are in effect on the Issue Date or as thereafter amended or
supplemented in a manner not adverse to the Holders; (iv) loans and advances to
officers, directors and employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
for travel, entertainment, moving and other relocation expenses, in each case
made in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past business
practices; and (v) any Restricted Payments permitted by the Indenture.
LIMITATION ON ISSUANCES OF GUARANTEES BY RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES. The
Company shall not cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or
indirectly, to guarantee any Indebtedness of the Company ("Guaranteed
Indebtedness"), unless (i) such Restricted Subsidiary simultaneously executes
and delivers a supplemental indenture to the Indenture pursuant to which such
Restricted Subsidiary guarantees (a "Subsidiary Guarantee") all of the Company's
obligations under the Notes and the Indenture and (ii) such Restricted
Subsidiary waives and will not in any manner whatsoever claim or take the
benefit or advantage of, any rights of reimbursement, indemnity or subrogation
or any other rights against the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary as a
result of any payment by such Restricted Subsidiary under its Subsidiary
Guarantee. If the Guaranteed Indebtedness is (A) PARI PASSU with the Notes, then
the guarantee of such Guaranteed Indebtedness shall be PARI PASSU with, or
subordinated to, the Subsidiary Guarantee or (B) subordinated to the Notes, then
the guarantee of such Guaranteed Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the
Subsidiary Guarantee at least to the extent that the Guaranteed Indebtedness is
subordinated to the Notes.
Any Subsidiary Guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary shall provide by its
terms that it shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged
upon (i) any sale, exchange or transfer, to any Person not an Affiliate of the
Company, of all of the Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary in, or all or substantially all the assets of, such Restricted
Subsidiary (which sale, exchange or transfer is made in accordance with the
Indenture) or (ii) the release or discharge of the guarantee which resulted in
the creation of such Subsidiary Guarantee, except a discharge or release by or
as a result of payment under such guarantee.
LIMITATION ON THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF EQUITY INTERESTS OF RESTRICTED
SUBSIDIARIES. The Company shall not sell, and shall not cause or permit any
Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to issue or sell, any Equity
Interests of a Restricted Subsidiary, except (i) to the Company or a Wholly
Owned Restricted Subsidiary; (ii) if, immediately after giving effect to such
issuance or sale, such Restricted Subsidiary would no longer constitute a
Restricted Subsidiary; or (iii) in the case of issuance of Equity Interests by a
non-Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary if, after giving effect to such issuance,
the Company maintains its direct or indirect percentage of beneficial and
economic ownership of such non-Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary.
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MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS, ETC. The Company shall not consolidate with or merge
with or into (whether or not the Company is the Surviving Person) any other
Person and the Company shall not, and shall not cause or permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, sell, convey, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all
or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company and the
Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person or Persons in a single
transaction or series of related transactions, unless: (i) either (x) the
Company shall be the Surviving Person or (y) the Surviving Person (if other than
the Company) shall be a corporation organized and validly existing under the
laws of the United States of America or any State thereof or the District of
Columbia, and shall, in any such case, expressly assume by a supplemental
indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on the
Notes and the performance and observance of every covenant of the Indenture and
the Registration Rights Agreement to be performed or observed on the part of the
Company; (ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default
shall have occurred and be continuing; and (iii) immediately after giving effect
to such transaction, the Company or the Surviving Person (as the case may be)
could Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the first paragraph
of "--Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness" (if the Company shall not be the
Surviving Person, all references to the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries
in the definitions used to determine the Leverage Ratio shall be to the
Surviving Person and its Subsidiaries after giving effect to such transaction
(excluding any Unrestricted Subsidiaries)).
For purposes of the foregoing, the transfer (by lease, assignment, sale or
otherwise, in a single transaction or series of transactions) of all or
substantially all the properties and assets of one or more Restricted
Subsidiaries the Equity Interests of which constitutes all or substantially all
the properties and assets of the Company shall be deemed to be the transfer of
all or substantially all the properties and assets of the Company.
In the event of any transaction (other than a lease) described in and
complying with the conditions listed in the first paragraph of this covenant in
which the Company is not the Surviving Person and the Surviving Person is to
assume all the Obligations of the Company under the Notes, the Indenture and the
Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to a supplemental indenture, such
Surviving Person shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise
every right and power of, the Company and the Company shall be discharged from
its Obligations under the Notes, the Indenture and the Registration Rights
Agreement.
PROVISION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION. Whether or not the Company is subject
to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision
thereto, the Company shall file with the SEC (if permitted by SEC practice and
applicable law and regulations) the annual reports, quarterly reports and other
documents which the Company would have been required to file with the SEC
pursuant to such Section 13(a) or 15(d) or any successor provision thereto if
the Company were so required, such documents to be filed with the SEC on or
prior to the respective dates (the "Required Filing Dates") by which the Company
would have been required so to file such documents if the Company were so
required. The Company shall also in any event (a) within 15 days of each
Required Filing Date (whether or not permitted or required to be filed with the
SEC) (i) transmit (or cause to be transmitted) by mail to all Holders, as their
names and addresses appear in the Note register, without cost to such Holders,
and (ii) file with the Trustee, copies of the annual reports, quarterly reports
and other documents which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant
to the preceding sentence, or, if such filing is not so permitted, information
and data of a similar nature, and (b) if, notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, filing such documents by the Company with the SEC is not permitted by
SEC practice or applicable law or regulations, promptly upon written request
supply copies of such documents to any Holder. In addition, for so long as any
Notes remain outstanding, the Company will furnish to the Holders and to
securities analysts and prospective investors, upon their request, the
information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the
Securities Act, and, to any beneficial holder of Notes, if not obtainable from
the SEC, information of the type that would be filed with the SEC pursuant to
the foregoing provisions, upon the request of any such holder.
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PAYMENTS FOR CONSENT. The Company shall not, and shall not cause or permit
any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any
consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for
or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or
provisions of the Notes, the Indenture or the Registration Rights Agreement
unless such consideration is offered to be paid or agreed to be paid to all
Holders that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the
solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
The occurrence of any of the following will be defined as an "Event of
Default" under the Indenture: (a) failure to pay principal of any Note when due,
at Stated Maturity or upon redemption, acceleration or otherwise; (b) failure to
pay any interest on any Note when due, continued for 30 days or more; (c)
failure to perform or comply with any of the provisions under "--Certain
Covenants--Merger, Sale of Assets, etc." or "--Change of Control"; (d) failure
to perform any other covenant, warranty or agreement of the Company under the
Indenture or in the Notes continued for 30 days or more after written notice to
the Company by the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the outstanding Notes; (e) there shall be, with respect to any issue
or issues of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary having an
outstanding principal amount of $5.0 million or more in the aggregate for all
such issues of all such Persons, whether such Indebtedness now exists or shall
hereafter be created, (x) an event of default that has caused the holders
thereof (or their representative) (I) to declare such Indebtedness to be due and
payable prior to its scheduled maturity and such Indebtedness has not been
discharged in full or such acceleration has not been rescinded or annulled
within 45 days following such acceleration and/or (II) to commence judicial
proceeding to foreclose upon, or to exercise remedies under applicable law or
applicable security documents to take ownership of, the property or assets
securing such Indebtedness and/or (y) the failure to make a principal payment at
the final (but not any interim) fixed maturity and such defaulted payment shall
not have been made, waived or extended within 45 days of such payment default;
(f) the rendering of a final judgment or judgments against the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary in an amount of $5.0 million or more which remains
undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days; or (g) certain events of
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization affecting the Company or any
Significant Restricted Subsidiary.
If an Event of Default with respect to the Notes (other than an Event of
Default with respect to the Company described in clause (g) of the preceding
paragraph) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25%
in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes by notice in writing to
the Company may declare the unpaid principal of and accrued interest to the date
of acceleration on all the outstanding Notes to be due and payable immediately
and, upon any such declaration, such principal amount and accrued interest,
notwithstanding anything contained in the Indenture or the Notes to the
contrary, will become immediately due and payable; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that after
such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on acceleration, the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding Notes may,
under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all Events
of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal, have been cured
or waived as provided in the Indenture. If an Event or Default specified in
clause (g) of the preceding paragraph with respect to the Company occurs under
the Indenture, the Notes will IPSO FACTO become immediately due and payable
without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
Any such declaration with respect to the Notes may be annulled by the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes
upon the conditions provided in the Indenture. For information as to waiver of
defaults, see "--Modification and Waiver."
The Indenture provides that the Trustee shall, within 30 days after the
occurrence of any Default with respect to the Notes, give the Holders notice of
all uncured Defaults thereunder known to it; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, except in
the case of an Event of Default in payment with respect to the Notes or a
Default or Event of Default in complying with "--Certain Covenants--Merger, Sale
of Assets, etc.," the Trustee
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shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a committee of
its trust officers in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice
is in the interest of the Holders.
No Holder will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to
the Indenture or for any remedy thereunder, unless the Trustee (i) shall have
failed to act for a period of 60 days after receiving written notice of a
continuing Event of Default by such Holder and a request to act by Holders of at
least 25% in aggregate principal amount of Notes outstanding, (ii) shall have
been offered indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and (iii) shall not have
received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Notes a direction inconsistent with such request. However, such
limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a Holder of any Note for
enforcement of payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on
such Note on or after the due date expressed in such Note.
The Company will be required to furnish to the Trustee quarterly a statement
as to the performance by it of certain of its obligations under the Indenture
and as to any default in such performance.
NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, INCORPORATOR AND
STOCKHOLDERS
No director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company
or any of its Affiliates, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations
of the Company or any of its Affiliates under the Notes or the Indenture or for
any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their
creation. Each Holder by accepting a Note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of
the Notes.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE
The indenture will permit the Company to terminate all of its obligations
under the Indenture, other than the obligation to pay interest on and the
principal of the Notes and certain other obligations, at any time by (i)
depositing in trust with the Trustee, under an irrevocable trust agreement,
money or U.S. government obligations in an amount sufficient to pay principal of
and interest on the Notes to their maturity or redemption; and (ii) complying
with certain other conditions, including delivery to the Trustee of an opinion
of counsel or a ruling received from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect
that Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes as a result of the Company's exercise of such right and will be subject
to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same
times as would have been the case otherwise.
In addition, the Indenture will permit the Company to terminate all of its
obligations under the Indenture (including the obligations to pay interest on
and the principal of the Notes), at any time by (i) depositing in trust with the
Trustee, under an irrevocable trust agreement, money or U.S. government
obligations in an amount sufficient to pay principal of and interest on the
Notes to their maturity or redemption; and (ii) comply with certain other
conditions, including delivery to the trustee of an opinion of counsel or a
ruling received from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that Holders
will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a
result of the Company's exercise of such right and will be subject to federal
income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as
would have been the case otherwise, which opinion of counsel is based upon a
change in the applicable federal tax law since the date of the Indenture.
In addition, the Indenture will permit the Company to terminate all of its
obligations under the Indenture (including the obligations to pay interest on
and the principal of the Notes), at any time that all of the Notes have become
due and payable or will become due and payable within on year, either by the
terms of such Notes or upon redemption (and if upon redemption the Company has
deposited with the Trustee irrevocable instructions to redeem such Notes) by (i)
depositing in trust with the Trustee, under an irrevocable trust agreement,
money or U.S. government obligations in an amount sufficient to pay principal of
an interest on the Notes to their maturity or redemption, and (ii) complying
with certain other
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conditions, including delivery to the Trustee of an opinion of counsel that all
conditions precedent to termination have been complied with.
MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
Modifications and amendments of the Indenture may be made by the Company and
the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Notes (including consents obtained in connection with a tender
offer or exchange offer for such Notes); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such
modification or amendment to the Indenture may, without the consent of the
Holder of each Note affected thereby, (a) change the maturity of the principal
of any such Note; (b) alter the optional redemption or repurchase provisions of
any such Note or the Indenture in a manner adverse to the Holders of such Notes;
(c) reduce the principal amount of any such Note; (d) reduce the rate of or
extend the time for payment of interest on any such Note; (e) change the place
or currency of payment of principal of or interest on any such Note; (f) modify
any provisions of the Indenture relating to the waiver of past defaults (other
than to add sections of the Indenture or the Notes subject thereto) or the right
of the Holders of Notes to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on
or with respect to any such Note in respect thereof or the modification and
amendment provisions of the Indenture and such Notes (other than to add sections
of the Indenture or such Notes which may not be amended, supplemented or waived
without the consent of each Holder therein affected); (g) reduce the percentage
of the principal amount of outstanding Notes necessary for amendment to or
waiver of compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the Notes or for
waiver of any Default in respect thereof; (h) waive a default in the payment of
principal of, interest on, or redemption payment with respect to, such Note
(except a rescission of acceleration of the relevant Notes by the Holders
thereof as provided in the Indenture and a waiver of the payment default that
resulted from such acceleration); (i) modify the ranking or priority of any
Note; or (j) modify the provisions of any covenant (or the related definitions)
in the Indenture requiring the Company to make an Offer to Purchase in a manner
adverse to the Holders of Notes affected thereby.
The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Notes, on behalf of all Holders, may waive compliance by the Company with
certain restrictive provisions of the Indenture. Subject to certain rights of
the Trustee as provided in the Indenture, the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Notes, on behalf of all Holders, may waive any past
default under the Indenture (including any such waiver obtained in connection
with a tender offer or exchange offer for such Notes), except a default in the
payment of principal or interest or a default arising from failure to purchase
any Notes tendered pursuant to an Offer to Purchase pursuant thereto, or a
default in respect of a provision that under the Indenture cannot be modified or
amended without the consent of the Holder of each Note that is affected.
GOVERNING LAW
The Indenture and the Notes will be governed by the laws of the State of New
York without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.
THE TRUSTEE
Except during the continuance of a Default, the Trustee will perform only
such duties as are specifically set forth in the Indenture. During the existence
of a Default under the Indenture, the Trustee will exercise such rights and
powers vested in it under the Indenture and use the same degree of care and
skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances
in the conduct of such person's own affairs.
The Indenture and provisions of the Trust Indenture Act incorporated by
reference therein contain limitations on the rights of the Trustee, should it
become a creditor of the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes, to obtain
payment of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property received by
it
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in respect of any such claim as the Notes or otherwise. The Trustee is permitted
to engage in other transactions with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if it acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in
the Indenture or in the Trust Indenture Act), it must eliminate such conflict or
resign.
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the Indenture. Reference
is made to the Indenture for a full disclosure of all such terms, as well as any
other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided.
"ACQUIRED INDEBTEDNESS" means Indebtedness of a Person (a) assumed in
connection with an Acquisition from such Person or (b) existing at the time such
Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated with or into
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such
Indebtedness was not Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such
Acquisition, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary or such merger or
consolidation.
"ACQUIRED PERSON" means, with respect to any specified Person, any other
Person which merges with or into or becomes a Subsidiary of such specified
Person.
"ACQUISITION" means (i) any capital contribution (by means of transfers of
cash or other property to others or payments for property or services for the
account or use of others, or otherwise) by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary to any other Person, or any acquisition or purchase of Equity
Interests of any other Person by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, in
either case pursuant to which such Person shall become a Restricted Subsidiary
or shall be consolidated, merged with or into the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary or (ii) any acquisition by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
of the assets of any Person which constitute substantially all of an operating
unit or line of business of such Person or which is otherwise outside of the
ordinary course of business.
"ADDITIONAL INTEREST" has the meaning provided in the Registration Rights
Agreement.
"AFFILIATE" of any specified person means any other person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified person. For purposes of this definition, "CONTROL"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "CONTROLLING," "CONTROLLED BY"
and "UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH"), as used with respect to any person, shall mean
the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.
"AMEND" means amend, modify, supplement, restate or amend and restate,
including successively; and "AMENDING" and "AMENDED" have correlative meanings.
"ASSET SALE" means any direct or indirect sale, conveyance, transfer, lease
(that has the effect of a disposition) or other disposition (including, without
limitation, any merger, consolidation or sale-leaseback transaction) to any
Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, in one transaction or
a series of related transactions, of any Equity Interest of any Restricted
Subsidiary or any other property or asset of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary (including the receipt of proceeds paid on account of the loss of or
damage to any property or asset and awards of compensation for any asset taken
by condemnation, eminent domain or similar proceedings). For the purposes of
this definition, the term "Asset Sale" shall not include (a) any transaction
consummated in compliance with "--Certain Covenants--Merger, Sale of Assets,
etc."; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any transaction consummated in compliance with
"--Certain Covenants--Merger, Sale of Assets, etc." involving a sale,
conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposal of less than all of
the properties or assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall be
deemed to be an Asset Sale with respect to the properties or assets of the
Company and Restricted Subsidiaries that are not so sold, conveyed, assigned,
transferred, leased or otherwise disposed of in such transaction; (b) sales of
property or equipment that has become worn out,
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obsolete or damaged or otherwise unsuitable for use in connection with the
business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be; and
(c) any transaction consummated in compliance with "--Certain
Covenants--Limitation on Restricted Payments." In addition, solely for purposes
of "-- Certain Covenants--Limitation on Asset Sales," sales, conveyances,
transfers, leases or other dispositions of properties or assets involving assets
with a Fair Market Value not in excess of $500,000 in the aggregate in any
fiscal year shall be deemed not to be an Asset Sale.
"BASKET" has the meaning set forth in "--Certain Covenants--Limitation on
Restricted Payments."
"CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATION" means, at the time any determination thereof is
to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would
at such time be so required to be capitalized on the balance sheet in accordance
with GAAP.
"CASH EQUIVALENTS" means: (a) U.S. dollars; (b) securities issued or
directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or
instrumentality thereof having maturities of not more than six months from the
date of acquisition; (c) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits
with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers'
acceptances with maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank
deposits, in each case with any domestic commercial bank having capital and
surplus in excess of $500 million; (d) repurchase obligations with a term of not
more than seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses
(b) and (c) entered into with any financial institution meeting the
qualifications specified in clause (c) above; and (e) commercial paper rated
P-1, A-1 or the equivalent thereof by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, respectively, and in each case maturing within
six months after the date of acquisition.
"CHANGE OF CONTROL" shall mean the occurrence of any of the following events
(whether or not approved by the Board of Directors of the Company): (a) any
"person" or "group" other than a Permitted Holder (1) is or becomes the
"beneficial owner," directly or indirectly, of 30% or more of the total voting
power of the Voting Equity Interests of the Company or (2) has the power,
directly or indirectly, to elect a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors of the Company; (b) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or
into, another Person or the Company or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries sell,
assign, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
to any Person (other than a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary), or any Person
consolidates with, or merges with or into, the Company, in any such event other
than pursuant to a transaction in which the Person or Persons that "beneficially
owned," directly or indirectly, a majority of the Voting Equity Interests of the
Company immediately prior to such transaction, "beneficially own," directly or
indirectly, a majority of the total voting power of the Voting Equity Interests
of the surviving or transferee Person; (c) during any consecutive two-year
period, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of
Directors of the Company (together with any new directors whose election by the
Board of Directors of the Company or whose nomination for election by the
stockholders of the Company was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the
directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of
such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so
approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company then in office; (d) there shall occur the liquidation
or dissolution of the Company. For purposes of this definition, (I) "group" has
the meaning under Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor
provision to either of the foregoing, including any group acting for the purpose
of acquiring, holding or disposing of securities within the meaning of Rule
13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act, (II) "Permitted Holder" means Mr. Howard S.
Jonas or any Permitted Transferee (as defined under the caption "--Description
of Capital Stock--Transfer Restrictions," but excluding any charitable
organization established solely by one or more of such holders or Family Members
(as defined)), and (III) "beneficial ownership" has the meaning set forth in
Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that a Person shall be
deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of all securities that such Person has the
right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after
the passage of time, upon the happening of an event or otherwise.
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"CHANGE OF CONTROL DATE" has the meaning set forth under "--Change of
Control."
"COMMON EQUITY INTERESTS" means any Equity Interests other than Preferred
Equity Interests.
"CONSOLIDATED INCOME TAX EXPENSE" means, with respect to any period, the
provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes payable by the
Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period as determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
"CONSOLIDATED FIXED CHARGES" means, for any period, Consolidated Interest
Expense plus dividends declared and payable on Preferred Equity Interests of the
Company.
"CONSOLIDATED INTEREST EXPENSE" means, for any period, the aggregate amount
of interest in respect of Indebtedness (including capitalized interest,
amortization of original issue discount on any Indebtedness and the interest
portion of any deferred payment obligation, calculated in accordance with the
effective interest method of accounting; all commissions, discounts and other
fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers' acceptance
financing; the net costs associated with Interest Rate Protection Obligations;
and interest on Indebtedness that is guaranteed or secured by the Company or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries) and all but the principal component of rentals
in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations paid, accrued or scheduled to be
paid or to be accrued by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such
period.
"CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME" means, with respect to any period, the net income
of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, adjusted, to the extent included in
calculating such net income, by excluding, without duplication, (a) all
extraordinary gains or losses for such period, (b) all gains or losses from the
sales or other dispositions of assets out of the ordinary course of business
(net of taxes, fees and expenses relating to the transaction giving rise
thereto) for such period; (c) that portion of such net income derived from or in
respect of investments in Persons other than Restricted Subsidiaries, except to
the extent actually received in cash by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
(subject, in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary, to the provisions of clause
(f) of this definition); (d) the portion of such net income (or loss) allocable
to minority interests in any Person (other than a Restricted Subsidiary) for
such period, except to the extent the Company's allocation portion of such
Person's net income for such period is actually received in cash by the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary (subject, in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary,
to the provisions of clause (f) of this definition); (e) the net income (or
loss) of any other Person combined with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
on a "pooling of interests" basis attributable to any period prior to the date
of combination; and (f) the net income of any Restricted Subsidiary to the
extent that the declaration of dividends or similar distributions by that
Restricted Subsidiary of that income is not at the time (regardless of any
waiver) permitted, directly or indirectly, by operation of the terms of its
charter or any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or
governmental regulations applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary or its Equity
Interest holders.
"CONSOLIDATED NET WORTH" of any Person means the consolidated stockholders'
equity of such Person, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with
GAAP, less (without duplication) amounts attributable to (x) Disqualified Equity
Interests of such Person and its Subsidiaries or (y) Unrestricted Subsidiaries.
"CONSOLIDATED OPERATING CASH FLOW" means, with respect to any period,
Consolidated Net Income for such period increased (without duplication), to the
extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income, by (a) Consolidated
Income Tax Expense for such period; (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such
period; and (c) depreciation, amortization and any other non cash items for such
period (other than any non cash item which requires the accrual of, or a reserve
for, cash charges for any future period) of the Company and the Restricted
Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, amortization of capitalized debt
issuance costs for such period, all of the foregoing determined on a
consolidated basis in accordance with
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GAAP minus non-cash items to the extent they increase Consolidated Net Income
(including the partial or entire reversal of reserves taken in prior periods)
for such period.
"CREDIT FACILITY" means a senior term loan or senior revolving credit
facility provided by one or more financial institutions that provide credit in
the ordinary course of their business.
"CUMULATIVE OPERATING CASH FLOW" means, as at any date of determination, the
positive cumulative Consolidated Operating Cash Flow realized during the period
commencing on the Issue Date and ending on the last day of the most recent
fiscal quarter immediately preceding the date of determination for which
consolidated financial information of the Company is available or, if such
cumulative Consolidated Operating Cash Flow for such period is negative, the
negative amount by which cumulative Consolidated Operating Cash Flow is less
than zero.
"CURRENCY AGREEMENT" shall mean any foreign exchange contract, currency swap
agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement, which may include the use
of derivatives, designed to protect the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
against fluctuations in currency values.
"DEFAULT" means any event that is, or with the passage of time or the giving
of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
"DESIGNATION" has the meaning set forth in "--Certain Covenants--Designation
of Unrestricted Subsidiaries."
"DESIGNATION AMOUNT" has the meaning set forth in "--Certain
Covenants--Designation of Unrestricted Subsidiaries."
"DISINTERESTED DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board of Directors of the
Company who does not have any direct or indirect financial interest in or with
respect to the transaction being considered.
"DISPOSITION" means, with respect to any Person, any merger, consolidation
or other business combination involving such Person (whether or not such Person
is the Surviving Person) or the sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or
other disposition of all or substantially all of such Person's assets.
"DISQUALIFIED EQUITY INTEREST" means any Equity Interest which, by its terms
(or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any
event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund
obligation or otherwise, or redeemable, at the option of the holder thereof, in
whole or in part, on or prior to the earlier of the maturity date of the Notes
or the date on which no Notes remain outstanding; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any
Equity Interests that would not constitute Disqualified Equity Interests but for
provisions thereof giving holders thereof the right to require the Company to
repurchase or redeem such Equity Interests upon the occurrence of a change in
control occurring prior to the final maturity date of the Notes shall not
constitute Disqualified Equity Interests if the change in control provisions
applicable to such Equity Interests are no more favorable to the holders of such
Equity Interests than the provisions described under "--Change of Control" and
such Equity Interests specifically provide that the Company will not repurchase
or redeem any such Equity Interests pursuant to such provisions prior to the
Company's repurchase of the Notes as are required to be repurchased pursuant to
the provisions described under "--Change of Control."
"DOLLAR EQUIVALENT" shall mean, with respect to a monetary amount in a
currency other than U.S. Dollars, at any time for the determination thereof, the
amount of U.S. Dollars obtained by converting such other currency involved in
such computation into U.S. dollars at the rate for the purchase of U.S. dollars
with the applicable currency as set forth in the Key Currency Cross Rates table
of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (or a successor table) on the date that is two
business days prior to such determination.
"EQUITY INTEREST" in any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights
to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or
interests in (however designated) corporate stock or other
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equity participations, including partnership interests, whether general or
limited, in such Person, including any Preferred Equity Interests.
"EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder.
"EXPIRATION DATE" has the meaning set forth in the definition of "OFFER TO
PURCHASE."
"FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, with respect to any asset, the price (after
taking into account any liabilities relating to such assets) which could be
negotiated in an arm's-length free market transaction, for cash, between a
willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of which is under any
compulsion to complete the transaction; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Fair Market
Value of any such asset or assets shall be determined by the Board of Directors
of the Company acting in good faith, which determination shall be evidenced by a
resolution of such Board delivered to the Trustee.
"GAAP" means, at any date of determination, generally accepted accounting
principles in effect in the United States which are applicable at the date of
determination and which are consistently applied for all applicable periods.
"GUARANTEE" means, as applied to any obligation, (i) a guarantee (other than
by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course
of business), direct or indirect, in any manner, of any part or all of such
obligation and (ii) an agreement, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise,
the practical effect of which is to assure in any way the payment or performance
(or payment of damages in the event of non-performance) of all or any part of
such obligation, including, without limiting the foregoing, the payment of
amounts drawn down by letters of credit. A guarantee shall include, without
limitation, any agreement to maintain or preserve any other person's financial
condition or to cause any other Person to achieve certain levels of operating
results.
"INCUR" means, with respect to any Indebtedness or other obligation of any
Person, to create, issue, incur (including by conversion, exchange or
otherwise), assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect of such
Indebtedness or other obligation or the recording, as required pursuant to GAAP
or otherwise, of any such Indebtedness or other obligation on the balance sheet
of such Person (and "INCURRENCE," "INCURRED" and "INCURRING" shall have meanings
correlative to the foregoing). Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time
such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated with or
into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall be deemed to be Incurred at
such time.
"INDEBTEDNESS" means (without duplication), with respect to any Person,
whether recourse is to all or a portion of the assets of such Person and whether
or not contingent, (a) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed; (b)
every obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other
similar instruments, including obligations incurred in connection with the
acquisition of property, assets or businesses; (c) every reimbursement
obligation of such Person with respect to letters of credit, bankers'
acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such Person; (d)
every obligation of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price
of property or services (but excluding trade accounts payable incurred in the
ordinary course of business and payable in accordance with industry practices,
or other accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business which
are not overdue or which are being contested in good faith); (e) every Capital
Lease Obligation of such Person; (f) every net obligation under interest rate
swap or similar agreements or foreign currency hedge, exchange or similar
agreements of such Person; (g) every obligation of the type referred to in
clauses (a) through (f) of another Person and all dividends of another Person
the payment of which, in either case, such Person has guaranteed or is
responsible or liable for, directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor or
otherwise; and (h) any and all deferrals, renewals, extensions and refundings
of, or amendments, modifications or supplements to, any liability of the kind
described in any of the preceding clauses (a) through (g) above. Indebtedness
(i) shall never be calculated taking into account any cash and cash equivalents
held by such Person; (ii) shall not include obligations of any Person (x)
arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a
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check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient
funds in the ordinary course of business, provided that such obligations are
extinguished within two Business Days of their incurrence unless covered by an
overdraft line, (y) resulting from the endorsement of negotiable instruments for
collection in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past business
practices and (z) under stand-by letters of credit to the extent collateralized
by cash or Cash Equivalents; (iii) which provides that an amount less than the
principal amount thereof shall be due upon any declaration of acceleration
thereof shall be deemed to be incurred or outstanding in an amount equal to the
accreted value thereof at the date of determination determined in accordance
with GAAP; and (iv) shall include the liquidation preference and any mandatory
redemption payment obligations in respect of any Disqualified Equity Interests
of the Company and any Preferred Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary.
"INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISOR" means a nationally recognized, accounting,
appraisal, investment banking firm or consultant with experience in a
Telecommunications Business that is, in the judgment of the Company's Board of
Directors, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged (i) which
does not, and whose directors, officers and employees or Affiliates do not, have
a direct or indirect financial interest in the Company and (ii) which, in the
judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, is otherwise independent and
qualified to perform the task for which it is to be engaged.
"INTEREST" means, with respect to the Notes, the sum of any cash interest
and any Additional Interest on the Notes.
"INTEREST RATE PROTECTION OBLIGATIONS" means, with respect to any Person,
the Obligations of such Person under (i) interest rate swap agreements, interest
rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements, and (ii) other
agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations
in interest rates.
"INVESTMENT" means, with respect to any Person, any direct or indirect loan,
advance, guarantee or other extension of credit or capital contribution to (by
means of transfers of cash or other property or assets to others or payments for
property or services for the account or use of others, or otherwise), or
purchase or acquisition of capital stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other
securities or evidences of Indebtedness issued by, any other Person. The amount
of any Investment shall be the original cost of such Investment, PLUS the cost
of all additions thereto, and MINUS the amount of any portion of such Investment
repaid to such Person in cash as a repayment of principal or a return of
capital, as the case may be, but without any other adjustments for increases or
decreases in value, or write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to such
Investment. In determining the amount of any investment involving a transfer of
any property or asset other than cash, such property shall be valued at its fair
market value at the time of such transfer, as determined in good faith by the
board of directors (or comparable body) of the Person making such transfer.
"ISSUE DATE" means February 18, 1998, the original issue date of the Notes.
"LEVERAGE RATIO" means the ratio of (a) the Total Consolidated Indebtedness
as of the date of calculation (the "DETERMINATION DATE") to (b) two times the
Consolidated Operating Cash Flow for the latest two fiscal quarters for which
financial information is available immediately preceding such Determination Date
(the "MEASUREMENT PERIOD"). For purposes of calculating Consolidated Operating
Cash Flow for the Measurement Period immediately prior to the relevant
Determination Date, (I) any Person that is a Restricted Subsidiary on the
Determination Date (or would become a Restricted Subsidiary on such
Determination Date in connection with the transaction that requires the
determination of such Consolidated Operating Cash Flow) will be deemed to have
been a Restricted Subsidiary at all times during such Measurement Period, (II)
any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary on such Determination Date (or
would cease to be a Restricted Subsidiary on such Determination Date in
connection with the transaction that requires the determination of such
Consolidated Operating Cash Flow) will be deemed not to have been a Restricted
Subsidiary at any time during such Measurement Period, and (III) if the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have in any manner (x) acquired (through an
Acquisition or the commencement
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of activities constituting such operating business) or (y) disposed of (by way
of an Asset Sale or the termination or discontinuance of activities constituting
such operating business) any operating business during such Measurement Period
or after the end of such period and on or prior to such Determination Date, such
calculation will be made on a PRO FORMA basis in accordance with GAAP as if, in
the case of an Acquisition or the commencement of activities constituting such
operating business, all such transactions had been consummated on the first day
of such Measurement Period and, in the case of an Asset Sale or termination or
discontinuance of activities constituting such operating business, all such
transactions had been consummated prior to the first day of such Measurement
Period (it being understood that in calculating Consolidated Operating Cash Flow
the exclusions set forth in clauses (a) through (f) of the definition of
Consolidated Net Income shall apply to an Acquired Person as if it were a
Restricted Subsidiary).
"LIEN" means any lien, mortgage, charge, security interest, hypothecation,
assignment for security or encumbrance of any kind (including any conditional
sale or capital lease or other title retention agreement, any lease in the
nature thereof, and any agreement to give any security interest).
"MATURITY DATE" means the date, which is set forth on the face of the Notes,
on which the Notes will mature.
"NET CASH PROCEEDS" means the aggregate proceeds in the form of cash or Cash
Equivalents received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of
any Asset Sale, including all cash or Cash Equivalents received upon any sale,
liquidation or other exchange of proceeds of Asset Sales received in a form
other than cash or Cash Equivalents, net of (a) the direct costs relating to
such Asset Sale (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment
banking fees, and sales commissions) and any relocation expenses incurred as a
result thereof; (b) taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into
account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing
arrangements); (c) amounts required to be applied to the repayment of
Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were the subject of
such Asset Sale; (d) amounts deemed, in good faith, appropriate by the Board of
Directors of the Company to be provided as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP,
against any liabilities associated with such assets which are the subject of
such Asset Sale (provided that the amount of any such reserves shall be deemed
to constitute Net Cash Proceeds at the time such reserves shall have been
released or are not otherwise required to be retained as a reserve); and (e)
with respect to Asset Sales by Subsidiaries, the portion of such cash payments
attributable to Persons holding a minority interest in such Subsidiary.
"OBLIGATIONS" means any principal, interest (including, without limitation,
post-petition interest), penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursement
obligations, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation
governing any Indebtedness.
"OFFER" has the meaning set forth in the definition of "OFFER TO PURCHASE."
"OFFER TO PURCHASE" means a written offer (the "Offer") sent by or on behalf
of the Company by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each holder at his
address appearing in the register for the Notes on the date of the Offer
offering to purchase up to the principal amount of Notes specified in such Offer
at the purchase price specified in such Offer (as determined pursuant to the
Indenture). Unless otherwise required by applicable law, the Offer shall specify
an expiration date (the "Expiration Date") of the Offer to Purchase, which shall
be not less than 20 Business Days nor more than 60 days after the date of such
Offer, and a settlement date (the "Purchase Date") for purchase of Notes to
occur no later than five Business Days after the Expiration Date. The Company
shall notify the Trustee at least 15 Business Days (or such shorter period as is
acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the mailing of the Offer of the Company's
obligation to make an Offer to Purchase, and the Offer shall be mailed by the
Company or, at the Company's request, by the Trustee in the name and at the
expense of the Company. The Offer shall contain all the information required by
applicable law to be included therein. The Offer shall also contain information
concerning the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries which the Company in
good faith believes will enable such Holders to make an informed decision with
respect to the Offer to Purchase
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(which at a minimum will include (i) the most recent annual and quarterly
financial statements and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" contained in the document required to be
filed with the Trustee pursuant to the Indenture (which requirements may be
satisfied by delivery of such documents together with the Offer), (ii) a
description of material developments in the Company's business subsequent to the
date of the latest of such financial statements referred to in clause (i)
(including a description of the events requiring the Company to make the Offer
to Purchase), (iii) if applicable, appropriate PRO FORMA financial information
concerning the Offer to Purchase and the events requiring the Company to make
the Offer to Purchase and (iv) any other information required by applicable law
to be included therein). The Offer shall contain all instructions and materials
necessary to enable such Holders to tender Notes pursuant to the Offer to
Purchase. The Offer shall also state:
(1) the Section of the Indenture pursuant to which the Offer to Purchase
is being made;
(2) the Expiration Date and the Purchase Date;
(3) the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes offered to
be purchased by the Company pursuant to the Offer to Purchase (including, if
less than 100%, the manner by which such amount has been determined pursuant
to the Section of the Indenture requiring the Offer to Purchase) (the
"Purchase Amount");
(4) the purchase price to be paid by the Company for each $1,000
aggregate principal amount of Notes accepted for payment (as specified
pursuant to the Indenture) (the "Purchase Price");
(5) that the holder may tender all or any portion of the Notes
registered in the name of such holder and that any portion of a Note
tendered must be tendered in an integral multiple of $1,000 principal amount
at maturity;
(6) the place or places where Notes are to be surrendered for tender
pursuant to the Offer to Purchase;
(7) that interest on any Note not tendered or tendered but not purchased
by the Company pursuant to the Offer to Purchase will continue to accrue;
(8) that on the Purchase Date the Purchase Price will become due and
payable upon each Note being accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer to
Purchase and that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after the
Purchase Date;
(9) that each holder electing to tender all or any portion of a Note
pursuant to the Offer to Purchase will be required to surrender such Note at
the place or places specified in the Offer prior to the close of business on
the Expiration Date (such Note being, if the Company or the Trustee so
requires, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed
by, the holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing);
(10) that holders will be entitled to withdraw all or any portion of
Notes tendered if the Company (or its Paying Agent) receives, not later than
the close of business on the fifth Business Day next preceding the
Expiration Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting
forth the name of the holder, the principal amount of the Note the holder
tendered, the certificate number of the Note the holder tendered and a
statement that such holder is withdrawing all or a portion of his tender;
(11) that (a) if Notes in an aggregate principal amount less than or
equal to the Purchase Amount are duly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to
the Offer to Purchase, the Company shall purchase all such Notes and (b) if
Notes in an aggregate principal amount in excess of the Purchase Amount are
tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, the Company
shall purchase Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the
Purchase Amount on a PRO RATA basis (with such
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adjustments as may be deemed appropriate so that only Notes in denominations
of $1,000 principal amount at maturity or integral multiples thereof shall
be purchased); and
(12) that in the case of any holder whose Note is purchased only in
part, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver to the holder of such Note without service charge, a new Note or
Notes, of any authorized denomination as requested by such holder, in an
aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unpurchased
portion of the Note so tendered.
An Offer to Purchase shall be governed by and effected in accordance with
the provisions above pertaining to any Offer.
"PERMITTED INVESTMENTS" means (a) Cash Equivalents; (b) Investments in
prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, utility
and workers' compensation, performance and other similar deposits; (c) loans and
advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business not to exceed
$500,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding; and (d) Interest Rate
Protection Obligations and Currency Agreements permitted under "--Certain
Covenants--Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness."
"PERMITTED LIENS" means (a) Liens on property of a Person existing at the
time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such Liens were in existence
prior to the contemplation of such merger or consolidation and do not secure any
property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the
property or assets subject to the Liens prior to such merger or consolidation;
(b) Liens existing on the Issue Date; (c) Liens securing Indebtedness Incurred
solely for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or
cost of design, development, construction, or installation of property or assets
used in the business of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries, or repairs,
additions or improvements to such assets; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (I) such Liens
secure Indebtedness in an amount not in excess of the original purchase price or
the original cost of any such assets or repair, addition or improvement thereto
(plus an amount equal to the reasonable fees and expenses in connection with the
incurrence of such Indebtedness), (II) such Liens do not extend to any other
assets of the Company or the Restricted Subsidiaries (and, in the case of
repair, addition or improvements to any such assets, such Lien extends only to
the assets (and improvements thereto or thereon) repaired, added to or
improved), (III) the Incurrence of such Indebtedness is permitted by "--Certain
Covenants--Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness" and (IV) such Liens attach
within 90 days of such purchase, construction, installation, repair, addition or
improvement; (d) Liens to secure any Refinancings, in whole or in part, of any
Indebtedness secured by Liens referred to in the clauses above so long as such
Lien does not extend to any other property (other than improvements thereto);
(e) Liens securing letters of credit entered into in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with past business practice; (f) Liens securing
Indebtedness under Credit Facilities Incurred under clause (ix) of paragraph (b)
or under paragraph (a) of the covenant described under "--Limitation on
Incurrence of Indebtedness"; (g) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental
charges or claims that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently
concluded, PROVIDED that any reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be
required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefore; (h) Liens of
landlords or of mortgagees of landlords arising by operation of law, PROVIDED
that the rental payments secured thereby are not yet due and payable; (i) Liens
incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with
workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social
security; (j) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, minor defects or
irregularities in title and other similar charges or encumbrances not
interfering in any material respect with the business of the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries; (k) judgments or attachment Liens not giving rise
to an Event of Default; (l) any interest or title of a lessor in property
subject to any Capital Lease Obligation or other lease; and (m) Liens incurred
in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
of the Company with respect to obligations that do not exceed $2.0 million at
any one time outstanding and that (a) are not incurred in connection
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with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit (other than
trade credit in the ordinary course of business) and (b) do not in the aggregate
materially detract from the value of the property or materially impair the use
thereof in the operation of business by the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary.
"PERMITTED REFINANCING" means, with respect to any Indebtedness,
Indebtedness to the extent representing a Refinancing of such Indebtedness;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (1) the Refinancing Indebtedness shall not exceed the
sum of the amount of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, PLUS the amount of
accrued interest or dividends thereon, the amount of any reasonably determined
prepayment premium necessary to accomplish such Refinancing and reasonable fees
and expenses incurred in connection therewith; (2) the Refinancing Indebtedness
shall have a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the
Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced and shall
not permit redemption or other retirement (including pursuant to any required
offer to purchase to be made by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) of
such Indebtedness at the option of the holder thereof prior to the final stated
maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, other than a redemption or other
retirement at the option of the holder of such Indebtedness (including pursuant
to a required offer to purchase made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary)
upon a change of control of the Company pursuant to provisions substantially
similar to those contained in the Indenture described under "--Change of
Control"; (3) Indebtedness that ranks PARI PASSU with the Notes may be
Refinanced only with Indebtedness that is made PARI PASSU with or subordinate in
right of payment to the Notes, and Indebtedness that is subordinated in right of
payment to the Notes may be Refinanced only with Indebtedness that is
subordinate in right of payment to the Notes on terms no less favorable to the
Holders than those contained in the Indebtedness being Refinanced; and (4) the
Refinancing Indebtedness shall be Incurred by the obligor on the Indebtedness
being Refinanced or by the Company.
"PERSON" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, limited liability company, limited liability
partnership, limited partnership, trust, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"PERMITTED TRANSFEREE" means with respect to any Person: (a) in the case of
any person who is a natural person, such individual's spouse or children, any
trust for such individual's benefit or the benefit of such individual's spouse
or children, or any corporation or partnership in which the direct and
beneficial owner of all of the equity interest is such Person or such
individual's spouse or children or any trust for the benefit of such persons;
(b) in the case of any Person who is a natural person, the heirs, executors,
administrators or personal representatives upon the death of such Person or upon
the incompetency or disability of such Person for purposes of the protection and
management of such individual's assets; and (c) in the case of any Person who is
not a natural Person, any Affiliate of such Person.
"PREFERRED EQUITY INTEREST," in any Person, means an Equity Interest of any
class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of
dividends or distributions, or as to the distribution of assets upon any
voluntary or involuntary liquidation or dissolution of such Person, over Equity
Interests of any other class in such Person.
"PRINCIPAL" of a debt security means the principal of the security plus,
when appropriate, the premium, if any, on the security.
"PUBLIC EQUITY OFFERING" means an underwritten public offering of Common
Equity Interests of the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement
filed under the Securities Act (excluding registration statements filed on Form
S-8).
"PURCHASE AMOUNT" has the meaning set forth in the definition of "OFFER TO
PURCHASE."
"PURCHASE DATE" has the meaning set forth in the definition of "OFFER TO
PURCHASE."
"PURCHASE PRICE" has the meaning set forth in the definition of "OFFER TO
PURCHASE."
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"QUALIFIED EQUITY INTEREST" means any Equity Interest of the Company other
than any Disqualified Equity Interest.
"REDEEM" means redeem, repurchase, defease or otherwise acquire or retire
for value; and "REDEMPTION" and "REDEEMED" have correlative meanings.
"REFINANCE" means refinance, renew, extend, replace, defease or refund,
including successively; and "REFINANCING" and "REFINANCED" have correlative
meanings.
"REPLACEMENT ASSETS" means (x) properties and assets (other than cash or any
Equity Interests or other security) that will be used in a Telecommunications
Business of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (y) Equity Interests
of any Person engaged primarily in a Telecommunications Business, which Person
will become on the date of acquisition thereof a Restricted Subsidiary as a
result of the Company's acquiring such Equity Interests.
"RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" means any Subsidiary of the Company that has not
been designated by the Board of Directors of the Company, by a resolution of the
Board of Directors of the Company delivered to the Trustee, as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary pursuant to "--Certain Covenants--Designation of Unrestricted
Subsidiaries." Any such designation may be revoked by a resolution of the Board
of Directors of the Company delivered to the Trustee, subject to the provisions
of such covenant.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"SIGNIFICANT RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" means, at any date of determination, (a)
any Restricted Subsidiary that, together with its Subsidiaries that constitute
Restricted Subsidiaries (i) for the most recent fiscal year of the Company
accounted for more than 5.0% of the consolidated revenues of the Company and the
Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) as of the end of such fiscal year, owned more
than 5.0% of the consolidated assets of the Company and the Restricted
Subsidiaries, all as set forth on the consolidated financial statements of the
Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such year prepared in conformity
with GAAP, and (b) any Restricted Subsidiary which, when aggregated with all
other Restricted Subsidiaries that are not otherwise Significant Restricted
Subsidiaries and as to which any event described in clause (g) of "--Events of
Default" has occurred and is continuing, would constitute a Significant
Restricted Subsidiary under clause (a) of this definition.
"STATED MATURITY," when used with respect to any Note or any installment of
interest thereon, means the date specified in such Note as the fixed date on
which the principal of such Note or such installment of interest is due and
payable.
"SUBORDINATED INDEBTEDNESS" means any Indebtedness of the Company which is
expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Notes.
"SUBSIDIARY" means, with respect to any Person, (a) any corporation of which
the outstanding Voting Equity Interests having at least a majority of the votes
entitled to be cast in the election of directors shall at the time be owned,
directly or indirectly, by such Person, or (b) any other Person of which at
least a majority of Voting Equity Interests are at the time, directly or
indirectly, owned by such first named Person.
"SURVIVING PERSON" means, with respect to any Person involved in or that
makes any Disposition, the Person formed by or surviving such Disposition or the
Person to which such Disposition is made.
"TAX" shall mean any tax, duty, levy, impost, assessment or other
governmental charge (including penalties, interest and any other liabilities
related thereto).
"TAXING AUTHORITY" shall mean any government or political subdivision or
territory or possession of any government or any authority or agency therein or
thereof having power to tax.
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"TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACQUISITION" means an Acquisition of properties or
assets to be used in a Telecommunications Business or of the Equity Interests of
any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that such
Person's properties and assets shall consist principally of properties or assets
that will be used in a Telecommunications Business.
"TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUSINESS" means any business of owning, constructing,
financing and operating a telephone and/or communications system, including any
Internet services system, Internet telephony system, and any business conducted
by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary on the Issue Date.
"TOTAL CONSOLIDATED INDEBTEDNESS" means, as at any date of determination, an
amount equal to the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness of the Company and the
Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding as of such date of determination, after
giving effect to any Incurrence of Indebtedness and the application of the
proceeds therefrom giving rise to such determination.
"U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS" means direct obligations of, or obligations
guaranteed by, the United States of America for the payment of which guarantee
or obligations the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged.
"UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" means any Subsidiary of the Company designated as
such pursuant to "--Certain Covenants--Designation of Unrestricted
Subsidiaries." Any such designation may be revoked by a resolution of the Board
of Directors of the Company delivered to the Trustee, subject to the provisions
of such covenant.
"VOTING EQUITY INTERESTS" means Equity Interests in a corporation or other
Person with voting power under ordinary circumstances entitling the holders
thereof to elect the Board of Directors or other governing body of such
corporation or Person.
"WEIGHTED AVERAGE LIFE TO MATURITY" means, when applied to any Indebtedness
at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (a) the sum of the
products obtained by multiplying (i) the amount of each then remaining
installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required scheduled payment
of principal, including payment of final maturity, in respect thereof, by (ii)
the number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse
between such date and the making of such payment, by (b) the then outstanding
aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness.
"WHOLLY OWNED RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" means any Restricted Subsidiary all of
the outstanding Voting Equity Interests (other than directors' qualifying
shares) of which are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.
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BOOK-ENTRY; DELIVERY AND FORM
Except as described below, the New Notes will be issued in the form of one
Global New Note. The Global New Note will be deposited with, or on behalf of,
The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York ("DTC") and registered in the
name of Cede & Co. ("Cede"), as nominee of DTC. The Global New Note may be
transferred, in whole but not in part, only to DTC, its successors or their
respective nominees.
DTC has advised the Company as follows: DTC is a limited purpose trust
company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the
Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the
Uniform Commercial Code and a "Clearing Agency" registered pursuant to the
provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold
securities of institutions that have accounts with DTC ("participants") and
facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between
participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its
participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of
certificates. Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust
companies and clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Indirect
access to the DTC system is available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers
and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with
a participant, either directly or indirectly ("indirect participants").
Notes held by QIBs who elect to take physical delivery of their certificates
instead of holding their interests through the Global New Note (the "Non-Global
Purchasers") will be issued in registered form (the "Certificated Security").
Certificated Securities shall initially be registered in the name of DTC or the
nominee of DTC and shall be deposited with the trustee or custodian on behalf of
DTC. Upon the transfer to a QIB, foreign purchaser or institutional Accredited
Investor of any Certificated Security initially issued to a Non-Global
Purchaser, such Certificated Security will, unless the transferee requests
otherwise or the Global New Note has previously been exchanged in whole for
Certificated Securities, be exchanged for an interest in the Global New Note.
THE GLOBAL NEW NOTE. The Company expects that pursuant to procedures
established by DTC (i) upon the issuance of the Global New Note, DTC or its
custodian will credit, on its internal system, the principal amount of New Notes
of the individual beneficial interests represented by such Global New Note to
the respective accounts of persons who have accounts with such depositary and
(ii) ownership of beneficial interests in the Global New Note will be shown on,
and the transfer of such ownership will be effected only through, records
maintained by DTC or its nominee (with respect to interests of participants) and
the records of participants (with respect to the owners of beneficial interests
in the Global New Note other than participants). Holders may hold their
interests in the Global New Note directly through DTC if they are participants
in such system, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in
such system.
So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner or holder of the New
Notes, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole
owner or holder of the New Notes represented by such Global New Note for all
purposes under the Indenture. No beneficial owner of an interest in the Global
New Note will be able to transfer that interest except in accordance with DTC's
procedures, in addition to those provided for under the Indenture with respect
to the New Notes.
Payments of principal of premium (if any) or interest (including Additional
Interest) on, the Global New Note will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the
case may be, as the registered owner thereof. None of the Company, the Trustee
or any paying agent will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of
the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests in the Global New Note or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing
any records relating to such beneficial ownership interest or for any other
aspect of the relationship between DTC and its participants or the relationship
between such participants and the owners of beneficial interests in the Global
New Note owning through such participants.
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The Company expects that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of
principal, premium (if any) or interest (including Additional Interest) on the
Global New Note, will credit participants' accounts with payments in amounts
proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount
of the Global New Note as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. The
Company also expects that payments by participants to owners of beneficial
interests in the Global New Note held through such participants will be governed
by standing instructions and customary practice, as is now the case with
securities held for the accounts of customers registered in the names of
nominees for such customers. Such payments will be the responsibility of such
participants.
Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in the ordinary way
through DTC's same-day funds system in accordance with DTC rules and will be
settled in same-day funds. If a holder requires physical delivery of a
Certificated Security for any reason, including to sell New Notes to persons in
jurisdictions which require physical delivery of the New Notes, or to pledge
such securities, such holder must transfer its interest in the Global New Note,
in accordance with the normal procedures of DTC and with the procedures set
forth in the Indenture.
DTC has advised the Company that it will take any action permitted to be
taken by a holder of New Notes only at the direction of one or more participants
to whose account the DTC interests in the Global New Note are credited and only
in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of Notes as to
which such participant or participants has or have given such direction.
Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate
transfers of interests in the Global New Note among participants of DTC, it is
under no obligation to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be
discontinued at any time. Neither the Company, the Trustee or the Paying Agent
will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants or
indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and
procedures governing their operations.
CERTIFICATED SECURITIES. Interests in the Global New Note will be exchanged
for Certificated Securities if (i) DTC notifies the Company that it is unwilling
or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes and a successor
depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice or (ii)
an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Registrar has
received a written request from DTC to issue Certificated Securities.
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CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income
tax considerations relevant to the exchange of the Old Notes for New Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer and the ownership and disposition of the New
Notes by Holders who acquire the New Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
However, the following discussion does not purport to be a complete analysis of
all potential tax effects. The discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), U.S. Treasury Regulations
("Regulations"), Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") rulings and pronouncements and
judicial decisions all in effect as of the date hereof, all of which are subject
to change at any time, and any such change may be applied retroactively in a
manner that could adversely affect a Holder of the New Notes. The discussion
does not address all of the U.S. federal income tax consequences that may be
relevant to a Holder in light of such Holder's particular circumstances or to
Holders subject to special rules, such as certain financial institutions,
insurance companies, dealers in securities, tax-exempt organizations and persons
holding the New Notes as part of a "straddle," "hedge" or "conversion
transaction." In addition, this discussion is limited to persons exchanging the
Old Notes for New Notes. Moreover, the effect of any applicable state, local or
foreign tax laws is not discussed. The discussion deals only with New Notes held
as "capital assets" within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code.
As used herein, "U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of the New Notes who
or that (i) is a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) is a
corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the
laws of the United States or political subdivision thereof (unless, in the case
of a partnership, the U.S. Treasury provides otherwise by Regulations), (iii) is
an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation
regardless of its source, (iv) is a trust if (A) a U.S. court is able to
exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and (B) one or
more U.S. persons, within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code ("U.S.
Persons"), have authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or
(v) is otherwise subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis in
respect of the New Notes. As used herein, a "Non-U.S. Holder" means a Holder who
or that is not a U.S. Holder.
The Company has not sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS with
respect to the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance that the IRS
will not take a different position concerning the tax consequences of the
purchase, ownership or disposition of the Notes or that any such position would
not be sustained.
PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH REGARD TO
THE APPLICATION OF THE TAX CONSIDERATIONS DISCUSSED BELOW TO THEIR PARTICULAR
SITUATIONS AS WELL AS THE APPLICATION OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN OR OTHER TAX
LAWS, INCLUDING GIFT AND ESTATE TAX LAWS.
EXCHANGE OFFER
The exchange of Old Notes for New Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer will
not be treated as an exchange or other taxable event for U.S. federal income tax
purposes because, under the Regulations, the New Notes do not differ materially
in kind or extent from the Old Notes. Rather, the New Notes received by a Holder
will be treated as a continuation of the Old Notes in the hands of such Holder.
As a result, there will be no U.S. federal income tax consequences to Holders
who exchange Old Notes for New Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any such
holder will have the same tax basis and holding period in the New Notes as it
had in the Old Notes immediately before the exchange.
U.S. HOLDERS
INTEREST. The stated interest on the New Notes generally will be taxable to
a U.S. Holder as ordinary income at the time that it is paid or accrued, in
accordance with the U.S. Holder's method of accounting for U.S. federal income
tax purposes. It is not anticipated that the New Notes will give rise to
"original issue discount" income in the hands of U.S. Holders.
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SALE, RETIREMENT OR REDEMPTION OF A NOTE. A U.S. Holder of a New Note will
recognize gain or loss upon the sale, retirement, redemption or other taxable
disposition of such New Note in an amount equal to the difference between (a)
the amount of cash and the fair market value of other property received in
exchange therefor (other than amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid stated
interest) and (b) the U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in such New Note. The
Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 made certain changes to the Code with respect to the
taxation of capital gains of noncorporate taxpayers. In general, the maximum tax
rate for noncorporate taxpayers on long-term capital gain has been lowered to
20% from the previous 28% rate with respect to capital assets (including the New
Notes), but only if they have been held for more than 18 months at the time of
disposition. Capital gain on assets, having a holding period of more than one
year but not more than 18 months, are taxed as "mid-term gain" at a maximum 28%
rate in the hands of noncorporate taxpayers.
U.S. Holders should be aware that the resale of the New Notes may be
affected by the "market discount" rules of the Code under which a purchaser of a
New Note acquiring the New Note at a market discount generally would be required
to include as ordinary income a portion of the gain realized upon the
disposition or retirement of such New Note, to the extent of the market discount
that has accrued but not been included in income while the debt instrument was
held by such purchaser.
NON-U.S. HOLDERS
U.S. WITHHOLDING TAX
Interest paid to Non-U.S. Holders of the New Notes will not be subject to
U.S. income or withholding tax, provided that (i) the Non-U.S. Holder does not
actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock of the Company, (ii) the Non-U.S. Holder is not (a) a
"controlled foreign corporation" for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is
related to the Company through stock ownership or (b) a bank that received the
New Note on an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered
into in the ordinary course of its trade or business, and (iii) the beneficial
owner of the New Note provides a statement signed under penalties of perjury
that includes its name and address and certifies that it is not a U.S. Person in
compliance with applicable requirements or an exemption is otherwise
established. If these requirements cannot be met, a Non-U.S. Holder will be
subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or lower treaty rate, if
applicable) on interest payments on the New Notes.
In general, any gain realized by any Non-U.S. Holder upon the sale, exchange
or redemption of a New Note will not be subject to U.S. income or withholding
tax. However, such gain will be subject to U.S. withholding tax if (i) a
Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for a total
of 183 days or more during the taxable year in which the gain is realized and
certain other conditions are satisfied or (ii) the Non-U.S. Holder is subject to
tax pursuant to the provisions of U.S. tax law applicable to certain U.S.
expatriates.
U.S. ESTATE TAX
New Notes owned or treated as owned by an individual who is not a citizen or
resident (as specially defined for U.S. federal estate tax purposes) of the
United States at the time of death ("Nonresident Decedent") will not be
includible in the Nonresident Decedent's gross estate for U.S. federal estate
tax purposes as a result of the Nonresident Decedent's death, provided that, at
the time of death, the Nonresident Decedent does not own, actually or
constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company and payments with respect to such Notes would not have been
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United
States by the Nonresident Decedent. A Nonresident Decedent's estate may be
subject to U.S. federal estate tax on property includible in the estate for U.S.
federal estate tax purposes.
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INFORMATION REPORTING AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING
Certain noncorporate U.S. Holders may be subject to information reporting
and backup withholding at a rate of 31% on payments of principal and interest on
the New Notes, and the proceeds from a disposition of the New Notes. Backup
withholding will be imposed where the U.S. Holder (i) fails to furnish its
taxpayer identification number ("TIN"), which, for an individual, would
ordinarily be his or her social security number, (ii) furnishes an incorrect
TIN, (iii) is notified by the IRS that he or she has failed to properly report
payments of interest or dividends, or (iv) under certain circumstances, fails to
certify, under penalties of perjury, that he or she has furnished a correct TIN
and has not been notified by the IRS that he or she is subject to backup
withholding. The Company also will institute backup withholding with respect to
payments made on a New Note to a U.S. Holder if instructed to do so by the IRS.
In general, interest paid with respect to a New Note and received by a Non-U.S.
Holder will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding if the
payor has received appropriate certification statements and provided that the
payor does not have actual knowledge that the Non-U.S. Holder is a U.S. Person.
Holders of the New Notes should consult their own tax advisors regarding their
qualification for exemption from backup withholding and the procedure for
obtaining such an exemption, if applicable.
The payment of the proceeds from the disposition of New Notes to or through
the U.S. office of any U.S. or foreign broker will not be subject to information
reporting and possibly backup withholding if the owner certifies as to its
non-U.S. status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes an
exemption, provided that the broker does not have actual knowledge that the
Holder is a U.S. Person or that the conditions of any other exemption are not,
in fact, satisfied. The payment of the proceeds from the disposition of a New
Note to or through a non-U.S. broker that is not a U.S. related person will not
be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. For this purpose, a
"U.S. related person" is (i) a "controlled foreign corporation" for U.S. federal
income tax purposes or (ii) a foreign person 50% of more of whose gross income
from all sources for the three-year period ending with the close of its taxable
year preceding the payment (or for such part of the period that the broker has
been in existence) is derived from activities that are effectively connected
with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business.
In the case of the payment of proceeds from the disposition of New Notes to
or through a non-U.S. office of a broker that is a U.S. related person, the
Regulations require information reporting on the payment unless the broker has
documentary evidence in its files that the owner is a Non-U.S. Holder and the
broker has no knowledge to the contrary. Backup withholding will not apply to
payments made through foreign offices of a broker that is a U.S. Person or a
U.S. related person (absent actual knowledge that the payee is a U.S. Person).
Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a
Non-U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against such Non-U.S. Holder's U.S.
federal income tax liability, if any, or be refundable, provided that the
requisite procedures are followed.
PROSPECTIVE FINAL REGULATIONS
On October 6, 1997, new Regulations ("New Regulations") were issued that
modify the requirements imposed on a Non-U.S. Holder and certain intermediaries
for establishing the recipient's status as a non-U.S. Holder eligible for
exemption from or reduction in U.S. withholding tax and backup withholding
described above. In general, the New Regulations do not significantly alter the
substantive withholding and information reporting requirements but rather unify
current certification procedures and forms and clarify reliance standards. The
New Regulations are generally effective for payments made after December 31,
1999, subject to certain transition rules. In addition, the New Regulations
impose more stringent conditions on the ability of financial intermediaries
acting for a Non-U.S. Holder to provide certifications on behalf of the Non-U.S.
Holder, which may include entering into an agreement with the IRS to audit
certain documentation with respect to such certifications. Non-U.S. Holders
should consult their own tax advisors to determine the effects of the
application on the New Regulations to their particular circumstances.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account pursuant to
the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such New Notes. This Prospectus, as it may be
amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in
connection with resales of New Notes received in exchange for Old Notes where
such Old Notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities. The Company has agreed that, starting on the Expiration Date
and ending 60 days after the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale. In addition, until such date, all dealers effecting
transactions in the New Notes may be required to deliver a prospectus.
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sales of New Notes by
broker-dealers or others. New Notes received by broker-dealers for their own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or
more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions,
through the writing of options on the New Notes or a combination of such methods
of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related
to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be
made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive
compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such
broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New Notes. Any broker-dealer
that resells New Notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to
the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution
of such New Notes may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
Securities Act and any profit from any such resale of New Notes and any
commissions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting
compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that by
acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act.
The Company is making the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the
staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), as set forth
in certain interpretive letters issued to third parties in other transactions.
However, the Company has not sought its own interpretive letter, and there can
be no assurance that the Commission would make a similar determination with
respect to the Exchange Offer. Based on the Commission's interpretations, the
Company believes that New Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer to any
holder of Old Notes in exchange for Old Notes may be offered for resale, resold
and otherwise transferred by such holder (other than a broker-dealer who
purchased Old Notes directly from the Company for resale pursuant to Rule 144A
under the Securities Act or any other available exemption under the Securities
Act) without further compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery
provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such holder is not an
"affiliate" of the Company (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities
Act), is acquiring the New Notes in the ordinary course of business and is not
participating, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate, in the distribution of the New Notes. Holders wishing to accept the
Exchange Offer must represent to the Company that such conditions have been met.
In addition, if such holder is not a broker-dealer, it must represent that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of the New
Notes. Each broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account in
exchange for Old Notes, where such Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as
a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must
acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such New Notes. See "The Exchange Offer--Resales of the New Notes." This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New Notes received in exchange
for Old Notes where such Old Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a
result of market-making or other trading activities.
For a period of 60 days after the Expiration Date, the Company will promptly
send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to
this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the Letter
of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the
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Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the holders of the
Notes) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will
indemnify the holders of the Notes (including any broker-dealers) against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the New Notes offered hereby will be passed upon for the
Company by Morrison & Foerster LLP, New York, New York.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of the Company at July 31, 1997 and
1996, and for each of the three years in the period ended July 31, 1997
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and the related Registration
Statement have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set
forth in their report thereon incorporated herein by reference, and are included
in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.
The combined financial statements of InterExchange, Inc. and Combined
Affiliates as of December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 and for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 1997 incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus and the related Registration Statement have been audited by Amper,
Politziner & Mattia P.A., independent auditors, as set forth in their report
thereon incorporated herein by reference, and are included in reliance upon such
report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.
INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
When used in this Prospectus, the words "expects," "anticipates,"
"estimates" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking
statements. Such statements include but are not limited to statements under the
captions "Risk Factors," "Use of Proceeds," "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," "Business" and
elsewhere in this Prospectus as to the Company's plans to implement its growth
strategy, improve its financial performance, expand its infrastructure, develop
new products and services, expand its sales force, expand its customer base and
enter international markets. Such forward-looking statements also include the
Company's expectations concerning factors affecting the markets for its
products, such as demand for long distance telecommunications, Internet access
and online services, and Internet telephony services. These forward-looking
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties
include, but are not limited to, those risks discussed herein. The cautionary
statements made in this Prospectus should be read as being applicable to all
related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this Prospectus. The
Company assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements or to
update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated
in such forward-looking statements. See "Risk Factors."
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-4 (the "Exchange Offer Registration Statement") under the Securities Act with
respect to the New Notes being offered by this Prospectus. This Prospectus does
not contain all the information set forth in the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto, certain portions of which have
been omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Commission. Statements
made in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other
document are not necessarily complete. With respect to each such contract,
agreement or other document filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, reference is made to such exhibit for
a more complete description of the matter involved, and each such statement is
qualified in its entirety by such reference.
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The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and, in accordance
therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the
Company may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's regional offices located
at Seven World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048, and Citicorp
Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511.
Copies of such material can be obtained by mail from the Public Reference Room
of the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549, at prescribed rates. Information on the operation of the Public Reference
Room may be obtained by calling the Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition,
reports, proxy statements and other information that the Company files with the
Commission electronically are contained in the Internet Web site maintained by
the Commission. The Commission's Web site address is http://www.sec.gov. The
Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market. Reports, proxy statements
and other information concerning the Company may be inspected at the offices of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. at 1735 K Street,
Washington, D.C. 20006.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents heretofore filed by the Company with the Commission
pursuant to the Exchange Act, are incorporated herein by reference:
(1) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the fiscal
year ended July 31, 1997;
(2) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months
ended October 31, 1997;
(3) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as amended, for the
three months ended January 31, 1998; and
(4) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated February 19, 1998.
(5) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 21, 1998, as
amended.
All reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant
to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
Prospectus and prior to the termination of the Exchange Offer hereunder shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the
date of the filing of such reports and documents.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein
or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of the Registration Statement or this
Prospectus.
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GLOSSARY OF TERMS
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Accounting Rate Mechanism..... A negotiated rate which international long distance
providers pay one another to terminate traffic.
Backbone...................... A centralized high-speed network that connects smaller,
independent networks.
Call reorigination
Traditional call A form of dial-up access that allows a user to access a
reorigination............. telecommunications company's network by placing a telephone
call, hanging up, and waiting for an automated callback. The
company then provides the user with a dial tone that enables
the user to initiate and complete a call.
Transparent call Technical innovations have enabled telecommunications
reorigination............. carriers to offer a "transparent" form of call reorigination
without the usual "hang-up" and "callback" whereby the call
is automatically and swiftly processed by a programmed
switch.
Call-through.................. The provision of international long distance service through
conventional long distance or transparent call
reorigination.
Circuit-switched network...... A communications network in which a dedicated communication
path is established between the sender and receiver along
which all packets travel. The telephone system is an example
of a circuit switched network.
CLEC.......................... Competitive Local Exchange Carrier.
CUG........................... Closed User Group. A group of specified users, such as
employees of a company, permitted by applicable regulations
to access a private voice or data network, which access
would otherwise be denied to them as individuals.
Dedicated telephone Telecommunications lines dedicated or reserved for use by
circuits.................... particular customers along predetermined routes.
DS3........................... A data communications line capable of transmission speeds of
45 Mbps; also known as T3.
Electronic mail............... An application that allows a user to send or receive
messages to or from any other user with an Internet address;
commonly termed e-mail.
EU............................ European Union.
Facilities-based carrier...... A carrier which transmits a significant portion of its
traffic over owned transmission facilities.
Firewall...................... A gateway between two networks that buffers and screens all
information that passes between such networks in order to
prevent unauthorized access.
Frame Relay................... A protocol for transmitting small data packets over a
network, which tends to require less error checking than
other forms of packet switching. It efficiently handles
high-speed data over wide-area networks at lower cost and
with higher performance than traditional point-to-point
services.
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Gateway server................ Equipment used to connect packet-switched data networks
(such as the Internet) to circuit-switched public telephone
networks.
Graphical user interface...... A means of communicating with a computer by manipulating
icons and windows rather than using text commands.
Host.......................... A computer with a direct connection to the Internet, as
opposed to a dial-up connection.
Internet...................... An open global network of interconnected commercial,
educational and governmental computer networks which utilize
a common communications protocol, TCP/IP.
IRU........................... Indefeasible Right of Use, the right to use a
telecommunications system, usually an undersea cable, with
most of the rights and duties of ownership, but without the
right to control or manage the facility and, depending upon
the particular agreement, without any right to salvage or
duty to dispose of the cable at the end of its useful life.
ISDN.......................... Integrated Services Digital Network. A digital network that
combines voice and digital network services through a single
medium, making it possible to offer customers digital data
services as well as voice connections.
ISP........................... Internet Service Provider.
IS Policy..................... International Settlements Policy. FCC international service
regulation which governs the permissible arrangements
between U.S. carriers and their foreign correspondents to
settle the cost of terminating traffic over each others
networks, settlement rates and permissible deviations from
these policies.
ISR........................... International Simple Resale. The use of international leased
lines for the resale of switched telephony services to the
public, bypassing the current system of accounting rates.
ITO........................... Incumbent Telecommunications Operator, the dominant carrier
or carriers in each country, often, but not always,
government-owned or protected (alternatively referred to as
the PTT of that country).
IXC........................... Interexchange Carrier. A carrier of telecommunications
services between local exchanges.
Kbps.......................... Kilobits per Second. A rate of digital information
transmission. One kilobit equals 1,000 bits.
LAN........................... Local Area Network. A data communications network designed
to interconnect personal computers, workstations,
minicomputers, file servers and other communications and
computing devices within a localized environment.
LCR........................... Least-Cost Routing. A process by which the Company optimizes
the routing of calls over the least cost route on its switch
for over 230 countries. Minimizes per-minute resale cost to
the third party IXC by routing the IXC customer's minutes
through the LCRs switching platform enabling the carrier
customer to benefit from the competitive rates offered by
the Company.
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
LEC........................... Local Exchange Carrier. A carrier which provides local dial
tone and long distance access services.
Local exchange................ A geographic area, determined by the appropriate regulatory
authority, in which calls are generally transmitted without
toll charges to the calling or called party.
Mbps.......................... Megabits per Second. A rate of digital information
transmission. One megabit equals 1,000 kilobits.
Modem......................... A piece of equipment that connects a computer to an analog
transmission line (typically a telephone line).
Multiplexer................... A device that combines several signals for transmission on
the same shared medium, such as a telephone wire.
Node.......................... A specially-configured multiplexer that provides an
interface between the local PSTN where the node is located
and the Company's switch. A node collects and concentrates
call traffic from its local area and transfers it to the
Company's switches over private lines for call processing.
On-line services.............. Commercial information services that offer a computer user
access through a modem to a specified slate of information,
entertainment and communications menus. These services are
generally closed systems but may offer Internet access at
additional cost.
Packet-switched network....... A communications network in which packets (messages or
fragments of messages) are individually routed between hosts
with no previously established communication path. Packets
are routed to their destination through the most expedient
route. Not all packets travelling between the same two
hosts, even those from a single message, will necessarily
follow the same route. The destination computer reassembles
the packets into their appropriate sequence. Packet
switching is used to optimize the use of the bandwidth
available in a network and to minimize latency.
POPs.......................... Points of Presence. An interlinked group of modems, routers
and other computer equipment, located in a particular city
or metropolitan area, that allows a nearby subscriber to
access the Internet through a local telephone call.
PPP........................... Point-to-Point Protocol. An information transfer standard
for transmitting Internet protocol packets over asynchronous
data connections as well as certain synchronous systems.
Private line.................. A dedicated telecommunications connection between end user
locations.
Protocol...................... A formal description of message formats and the rules two or
more machines must follow in order to exchange data.
PSTN.......................... Public Switched Telephone Network. A telephone network which
is accessible by the public through private lines, wireless
systems and pay phones.
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
PTT........................... The Postal, Telephone and Telegraph monopolies of foreign
countries, which have undergone varying levels of
privatization. Examples include NTT of Japan, Deutsche
Telekom AG, France Telecom, British Telecom plc and
Telefonica de Espana S.A.
RBOCs......................... Regional Bell Operating Companies. The seven local telephone
companies established by the 1982 agreement between AT&T and
the U.S. Department of Justice.
Resale/Reseller............... The wholesale purchase of termination services on a
variable, per minute basis by one long distance provider
from another.
Router........................ A device that receives and transmits data between segments
in one or more networks.
Server........................ Software that allows a computer to offer a service to
another computer. Other computers contact the server program
by means of matching client software. The term also refers
to the computer on which server software runs.
SLIP.......................... Serial Line Internet Protocol. An information transfer
standard for transmitting Internet protocol packets over
asynchronous data connections between two points.
SS7........................... Signaling System 7. A protocol used for communication with,
and control of, telephone central office switches and their
attached processors.
Switching system or A system which uses devices that open or close circuits or
switches.................... select the paths or circuits to be used for transmission of
information.
T1............................ A data communications line capable of transmission speeds of
1.554 Mbps.
Transiting.................... The practice whereby a carrier routes, through its
facilities in a third country, traffic originating from one
country and destined for another country.
Undersea fiber optic cable.... Cables placed at the bottom of the oceans making them immune
to electrical interference and environmental factors, in
order to connect the Company's facilities and support its
operating agreements between Europe, North America, Asia and
Latin America.
Usenet........................ User Network. A distributed bulletin board system supported
mainly by the individuals who post and read articles
thereon. Usenet has rapidly grown to become international in
scope and is now one of the largest decentralized
information utilities in existence, hosting 1200 newsgroups
and an average of 40 megabytes (the equivalent of several
thousand paper pages) of new technical articles, news,
discussion and other information every day.
World Wide Web or the Web..... A network of computer servers that uses a special
communications protocol to link different servers throughout
the Internet and permits communications of graphics, video
and sound.
</TABLE>
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ALL TENDERED OLD NOTES, EXECUTED LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL AND OTHER RELATED
DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT. QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR
ASSISTANCE AND REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS, THE LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL AND OTHER RELATED DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE EXCHANGE
AGENT AS FOLLOWS:
THE EXCHANGE AGENT FOR THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS:
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
180 East Fifth Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
Attn: Specialized Finance Department
Facsimile Transmissions
(Eligible Institutions Only)
(612) 244-1537
To confirm by telephone
or for information call:
(612) 244-1197
By mail:
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
180 East Fifth Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
Attn: Specialized Finance Department
(ORIGINALS OF ALL DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY FACSIMILE SHOULD BE SENT PROMPTLY BY
HAND, OVERNIGHT COURIER, OR REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL.)
------------------------
NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION, OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER MADE HEREBY. IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED
BY THE COMPANY. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE, OR TO ANY PERSON TO
WHOM, IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF
THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE
ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY
SINCE THE DATE AS OF WHICH INFORMATION IS GIVEN IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
------------------------
UNTIL , 1998, ALL DEALERS EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN THE NEW NOTES,
WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THIS EXCHANGE OFFER, MAY BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER
A PROSPECTUS.
Offer To Exchange
All Outstanding
8 3/4% Senior Notes due 2006
for
8 3/4% Senior Notes due 2006
[LOGO]
____________
PROSPECTUS
JUNE , 1998
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<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 20. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Reference is made to Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware (the "DGCL"), which provides for indemnification of directors,
officers and other employees in certain circumstances, and to Section 102(b)(7)
of the DGCL, which provides for the elimination or limitation of the personal
liability for monetary damages of directors under certain circumstances. Article
Sixth of the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation eliminates the
personal liability for monetary damages of directors under certain circumstances
and indemnifies the Company's directors and officers to the fullest extent
permitted by the DGCL. Among other things, these provisions provide (i)
indemnification for officers and directors against liabilities for judgments in
and settlements of lawsuits and other proceedings and (ii) for the advance and
payment of fees and expenses reasonably incurred by the director or officer in
defense of any such lawsuit or proceeding.
ITEM 21. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
EXHIBITS:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
- ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S>
4.1* Indenture, dated as of February 18, 1998, by and between the Registrant and First Trust National
Association, as Trustee.
4.2* Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of February 18, 1998, by and among the Registrant and BT
Alex. Brown Incorporated, Hambrecht & Quist LLC, Jefferies & Company, Inc. and Friedman, Billings,
Ramsey & Co., Inc., as the Initial Purchasers.
5.1** Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP.
12.1 Statement regarding Computation of Ratios.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2 Consent of Amper, Politziner & Mattia, P.A.
23.3** Consent of Morrison & Foerster LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1** Power of Attorney.
25.1** Form of T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of
First Trust National Association.
99.1 Form of Letter of Transmittal with respect to the Exchange Offer.
99.2 Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
* Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Form 10-Q filed on March 17,
1998.
** Previously filed.
II-1
<PAGE>
ITEM 22. UNDERTAKINGS.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:
(a) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), each filing of the Registrant's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (and, where
applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant
to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act), that is incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of
such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
offering thereof.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests
for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus
pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), 11 or 13 of this form, within one business day
of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first
class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information
contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the
Registration Statement through the date of responding to the request.
(c) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a
post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the
company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and
included in the Registration Statement when it became effective.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 20 above, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-2
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
has duly caused this amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Hackensack,
State of New Jersey, on June 9, 1998.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
IDT CORPORATION
By /s/ HOWARD S. JONAS
-----------------------------------------
Howard S. Jonas
CHAIRMAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND
TREASURER
</TABLE>
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLES DATE
- ------------------------------ -------------------------- -------------------
<C> <S> <C>
Chairman and Chief
/s/ HOWARD S. JONAS Executive Officer
- ------------------------------ (Principal Executive June 9, 1998
Howard S. Jonas Officer)
* President and Director
- ------------------------------ (Principal Executive June 9, 1998
James A. Courter Officer)
* Chief Operating Officer
- ------------------------------ and Director (Principal June 9, 1998
Howard S. Balter Financial Officer)
* Chief Financial Officer
- ------------------------------ (Principal Accounting June 9, 1998
Stephen R. Brown Officer)
*
- ------------------------------ Director June 9, 1998
Marc E. Knoller
*
- ------------------------------ Director June 9, 1998
Joyce J. Mason
*
- ------------------------------ Director June 9, 1998
Meyer A. Berman
*
- ------------------------------ Director June 9, 1998
J. Warren Blaker
- ------------------------------ Director
Denis A. Bovin
</TABLE>
II-3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLES DATE
- ------------------------------ -------------------------- -------------------
<C> <S> <C>
- ------------------------------ Director
James Mellor
- ------------------------------ Director
Elmo R. Zumwalt
- ------------------------------ Director
Hal Brecher
</TABLE>
*By: /s/ HOWARD S. JONAS
-------------------------
*Howard S. Jonas, as
ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
II-4
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 12.01
IDT CORPORATION
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIX MONTHS ENDED
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, JANUARY 31,
------------------------------------------------------ --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1997 1998
--------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------
Earnings:
Income (loss) before income taxes and
extraordinary item................... $ 302 $ (298) $ (2,145) $ (15,410) $ (3,837) $ (4,937) $ 5,117
Interest expense....................... -- -- -- 113 863 231 1,048
Portion of rents representative of an
interest factor...................... 10 8 10 60 130 56 59
--------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------
Total earnings..................... $ 312 $ (290) $ (2,135) $ (15,237) $ (2,844) $ (4,650) $ 6,224
--------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------
Fixed Charges:
Interest expense....................... $ -- $ -- $ -- $ 113 $ 863 $ 231 $ 1,048
Portion of rents representative of an
interest factor...................... 10 8 10 60 130 56 59
--------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------
Total fixed charges................ $ 10 $ 8 $ 10 $ 173 $ 993 $ 287 $ 1,107
--------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
(excess of fixed charges over
earnings).............................. 31.2x $ (298) $ (2,145) $ (15,410) $ (3,837) $ (4,937) 5.6x
--------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the references to our firm under the captions "Selected
Consolidated Financial and Operating Data" and "Experts" in Amendment No. 1 to
the Registration Statement on Form S-4 and related Prospectus of IDT Corporation
for the registration of $100,000,000 8 3/4% Senior Notes due 2006 and to the
incorporation by reference therein of our report dated September 25, 1997 with
respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of IDT Corporation
included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended July 31, 1997,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
New York, New York
June 4, 1998
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement on Form S-4 and the related Prospectus of IDT Corporation
("the Company") for the registration of $100,000,000 8 3/4% Senior Notes due
2006 and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated April 28,
1998, with respect to the financial statements of InterExchange, Inc. and
Combined Affiliates as of December 31, 1997, 1996, and 1995, and for three years
then ended, which is included in the Form 8-K/A filed by the Company on May 26,
1998.
/s/ Amper, Politziner & Mattia P.A.
--------------------------------------
Amper, Politziner & Mattia P.A.
June 8, 1998
Edison, New Jersey
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.1
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
IDT CORPORATION
OFFER TO EXCHANGE ALL OUTSTANDING
8 3/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2006
FOR
8 3/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2006
PURSUANT TO THE PROSPECTUS DATED , 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON JULY 13,
1998, UNLESS THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS EXTENDED (THE "EXPIRATION DATE").
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO: U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, EXCHANGE AGENT
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
BY MAIL: BY HAND OR OVERNIGHT COURIER:
U.S. Bank Trust National Association U.S. Bank Trust National Association
180 East Fifth Street 180 East Fifth Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
Attn: Specialized Finance Department Attn: Specialized Finance Department
</TABLE>
BY FACSIMILE (FOR ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS ONLY):
(612) 244-1537
Confirm by Telephone:
(612) 244-1197
DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS, OR TRANSMISSION VIA
FACSIMILE, OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.
THE INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED.
HOLDERS WHO WISH TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE NEW NOTES FOR THEIR OLD NOTES
PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER MUST VALIDLY TENDER (AND NOT WITHDRAW) THEIR OLD
NOTES TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.
By execution hereof, the undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus
dated (the "Prospectus"), of IDT Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and this Letter of Transmittal and the instructions hereto (the
"Letter of Transmittal"), which together constitute the offer to exchange (the
"Exchange Offer") an aggregate principal amount of up to $100,000,000 8 3/4%
Senior Notes due 2006 (the "New Notes") for an equal principal amount of the
outstanding 8 3/4% Senior Notes Due 2006 (the "Old Notes" and, together with the
New Notes, the "Notes").
The Company reserves the right, at any time or from time to time, to extend
the Exchange Offer at its sole discretion, in which event the term "Expiration
Date" shall mean the latest time and date to which the Exchange Offer is
extended. The Company shall notify the holders of the Old Notes of any extension
by means of a press release or other public announcement prior to 9:00 a.m., New
York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled
Expiration Date.
This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by a holder of Old Notes
either if certificates are to be forwarded herewith or if a tender of
certificates for Old Notes, if available, is to be made by book-entry transfer
to the account maintained by the Exchange Agent at The Depository Trust Company
(the "Book-Entry Transfer Facility") pursuant to the procedures set forth in
"The Exchange Offer" section of the Prospectus. Holders that are tendering by
book-entry transfer to the Exchange Agent's account at DTC can execute the
tender through the DTC Automated Tender Offer Program ("ATOP") for which the
transaction is eligible. DTC participants should transmit their acceptance of
the Exchange Offer to DTC, which will verify the acceptance and execute a
book-entry delivery to the Exchange Agent's account at
<PAGE>
DTC. DTC will then send an "Agent's Message" to the Exchange Agent for its
acceptance. Holders of Old Notes whose certificates are not immediately
available, or who are unable to deliver their certificates or confirmation of
the book-entry tender of their Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at
the Book-Entry Transfer Facility (a "Book-Entry Confirmation") and all other
documents required by this Letter to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the
Expiration Date, must tender their Old Notes according to the guaranteed
delivery procedures set forth in "The Exchange Offer--Guaranteed Delivery
Procedures" section of the Prospectus. See Instruction 1. Delivery of documents
to the Book-Entry Transfer Facility does not constitute delivery to the Exchange
Agent.
The undersigned has completed, executed and delivered this Letter of
Transmittal to indicate the action the undersigned desires to take with respect
to the Exchange Offer. Holders who wish to tender their Old Notes must complete
this letter in its entirety.
All capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the
respective meanings given to them in the Prospectus.
HOLDERS WHO WISH TO ACCEPT THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND TENDER THEIR OLD NOTES
MUST COMPLETE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IN ITS ENTIRETY.
List below the Old Notes to which this Letter of Transmittal relates. If the
space provided below is inadequate, list the certificate numbers and principal
amounts on a separately executed schedule and affix the schedule to this Letter
of Transmittal.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION OF OLD NOTES
- -------------------------------------
AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF
NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) OF HOLDER(S) CERTIFICATE OLD NOTES TENDERED
(PLEASE FILL IN, IF BLANK) NUMBER(S)* (IF LESS THAN ALL)**
<S> <C> <C>
- -------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------
TOTAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF OLD NOTES TENDERED
- -------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* Need not be completed by holders tendering Old Notes by book-entry transfer.
** Need not be completed by holders who wish to tender with respect to all Old
Notes listed. See Instruction 2.
2
<PAGE>
/ / CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY DTC TO THE EXCHANGE
AGENT'S ACCOUNT AT DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
Name of Tendering Institution: _____________________________________________
DTC Book-Entry Account No.: ________________________________________________
Transaction Code No. _______________________________________________________
If holders desire to tender Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer and (i)
certificates representing such Old Notes are not lost but are not immediately
available, (ii) time will not permit this Letter of Transmittal, certificates
representing such Old Notes or other required documents to reach the Exchange
Agent prior to the Expiration Date or (iii) the procedures for book-entry
transfer cannot be completed prior to the Expiration Date, such holders may
effect a tender of such Old Notes in accordance with the guaranteed delivery
procedures set forth in the Prospectus under "The Exchange Offer--Guaranteed
Delivery Procedures."
/ / CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF
GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY DELIVERED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT AND COMPLETE
THE FOLLOWING:
Name of Holder of Old Notes: _______________________________________________
Window Ticket No. (if any): ________________________________________________
Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery: ________________________
Name of Eligible Institution that Guaranteed Delivery: _____________________
If delivered by Book-Entry Transfer:
Name of Tendering Institution: _____________________________________________
DTC Book-Entry Account No.: ________________________________________________
Transaction Code No.: ______________________________________________________
/ / CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER WHO HOLDS OLD NOTES ACQUIRED FOR YOUR
OWN ACCOUNT AS A RESULT OF MARKET-MAKING OR OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES AND
WISH TO RECEIVE COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR
SUPPLEMENTS THERETO FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH RESALES OF NEW NOTES RECEIVED
FOR YOUR OWN ACCOUNT IN EXCHANGE FOR SUCH OLD NOTES.
Name: ______________________________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Aggregate Principal Amount of Old Notes so held: $__________________________
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
The undersigned hereby tenders to the Company the aggregate principal amount
of Old Notes indicated in this Letter of Transmittal, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions of the Exchange Offer. Subject to, and effective upon, the
acceptance for exchange of the Old Notes tendered hereby, the undersigned hereby
sells, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, the Company all right,
title and interest in and to such Old Notes as are being tendered hereby and
hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Exchange Agent as
attorney-in-fact of the undersigned with respect to such Old Notes, with full
power of substitution (such power of attorney being an irrevocable power coupled
with an interest), to: (a) deliver such Old Notes in registered certificated
form, or transfer ownership of such Old Notes through book-entry transfer at the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility, to or upon the order of the Company, upon receipt
3
<PAGE>
by the Exchange Agent, as the undersigned's agent, of the same aggregate
principal amount of New Notes; and (b) receive, for the account of the Company,
all benefits and otherwise exercise, for the account of the Company, all rights
of beneficial ownership of the Old Notes tendered hereby in accordance with the
terms of the Exchange Offer.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full
power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Old Notes tendered
hereby and that the Company will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title
thereto, free and clear of all security interests, liens, restrictions, charges,
encumbrances, conditional sale agreements or other obligations relating to their
sale or transfer, and not subject to any adverse claim when the same are
accepted by the Company. The undersigned hereby further represents that any New
Notes acquired in exchange for Old Notes tendered hereby will have been acquired
in the ordinary course of business of the person receiving such New Notes,
whether or not such person is the undersigned, that neither the holder of such
Old Notes nor any such other person is engaged in, or intends to engage in, a
distribution of such New Notes, or has an arrangement or understanding with any
person to participate in the distribution of such New Notes, and that neither
the holder of such Old Notes nor any such other person is an "affiliate," as
defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), of the Company. The undersigned has read and agrees to all of
the terms of the Exchange Offer.
The undersigned also acknowledges that the Company is making this Exchange
Offer in reliance on the position of the staff of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"), as set forth in certain interpretive letters
issued to third parties in other transactions. Based on the Commission
interpretations, the Company believes that the New Notes issued in exchange for
the Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold
and otherwise transferred by holders thereof (other than a broker-dealer who
purchased Old Notes directly from the Company for resale pursuant to Rule 144A
under the Securities Act or any other available exemption under the Securities
Act or any such holder that is an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning
of Rule 405 under the provisions of the Securities Act) without further
compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the
Securities Act, provided that such New Notes are acquired in the ordinary course
of such holders' business and such holders are not engaged in, and do not intend
to engage in, a distribution of such New Notes and have no arrangement with any
person to participate in the distribution of such New Notes. However, the
Company does not intend to request the Commission to consider, and the
Commission has not considered, the Exchange Offer in the context of an
interpretive letter, and there can be no assurance that the staff of the
Commission would make a similar determination with respect to the Exchange Offer
as in other circumstances.
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that
it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New
Notes and has no arrangement or understanding to participate in a distribution
of New Notes. If any holder is an affiliate of the Company, is engaged in or
intends to engage in or has any arrangement or understanding with respect to the
distribution of the New Notes to be acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer,
such holder (i) could not rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff of
the Commission and (ii) must comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale
transaction. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive New Notes
for its own account in exchange for Old Notes acquired as a result of
market-making or other trading activities (a "Participating Broker-Dealer"), it
represents that the Old Notes to be exchanged for the New Notes were acquired by
it as a result of market-making or other trading activities and acknowledges
that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New
Notes and that such resale transaction may only be effected pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities Act; however, by so
acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, such Participating Broker-Dealer
will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of
the Securities Act.
4
<PAGE>
The Company has agreed that, subject to the provisions of the Registration
Rights Agreement, the Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, may be used by a Participating Broker-Dealer in connection with resales
of New Notes received in exchange for Old Notes which were acquired by such
Participating Broker-Dealer for its own account as a result of market-making or
other trading activities, for a period ending 60 days after the Expiration Date,
or, if earlier, when all such New Notes have been disposed of by such
Participating Broker-Dealer. In that regard, each Participating Broker-Dealer by
tendering such Old Notes and executing this Letter of Transmittal, agrees that,
upon receipt of notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event or the
discovery of any fact which makes any statement contained or incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which causes the
Prospectus to omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements contained or incorporated by reference therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, such Participating
Broker-Dealer will suspend the sale of New Notes pursuant to the Prospectus
until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such
misstatement or omission and has furnished copies of the amended or supplemented
Prospectus to the Participating Broker-Dealer or the Company has given notice
that the sale of the New Notes may be resumed, as the case may be. If the
Company gives such notice to suspend the sale of the New Notes, it shall extend
the 60-day period referred to above during which Participating Broker-Dealers
are entitled to use the Prospectus in connection with the resale of New Notes by
the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving
of such notice to and including the date when Participating Broker-Dealers shall
have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to
permit resales of the New Notes or to and including the date on which the
Company has given notice that the sale of New Notes may be resumed, as the case
may be.
The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional
documents deemed by the Company to be necessary or desirable to complete the
sale, assignment and transfer of the Old Notes tendered hereby. All authority
conferred or agreed to be conferred in this Letter of Transmittal and every
obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the successors,
assigns, heirs, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy and legal
representatives of the undersigned and shall not be affected by, and shall
survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned. This tender may be
withdrawn only in accordance with the procedures set forth in "The Exchange
Offer--Withdrawal Rights" section of the Prospectus.
Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box entitled "Special Issuance
Instructions" below, please deliver the New Notes (and, if applicable,
substitute certificates representing Old Notes for any Old Notes not exchanged)
in the name of the undersigned or, in the case of a book-entry delivery of Old
Notes, please credit the account indicated above maintained at the Book-Entry
Transfer Facility. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under the box entitled
"Special Delivery Instructions" below, please send the New Notes (and, if
applicable, substitute certificates representing Old Notes for any Old Notes not
exchanged) to the undersigned at the address shown above in the box entitled
"Description of Old Notes."
SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS 3 AND 4)
Unless otherwise indicated in the box entitled "Special Issuance
Instruction" or in the box entitled "Special Delivery Instructions" in this
Letter of Transmittal, certificates for New Notes delivered in exchange for
tendered Old Notes, and any Old Notes delivered herewith but not exchanged, will
be registered in the name of the undersigned and will be delivered to the
undersigned at the address shown below the signature of the undersigned. If a
New Note is to be mailed to someone other than the person(s) signing this Letter
of Transmittal or to person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal at an address
different than the address shown on this Letter of Transmittal, the appropriate
boxes of this Letter of Transmittal should be completed. If Notes are
surrendered by Holder(s) that have completed either the box entitled "Special
Issuance Instruction" or the box entitled "Special Delivery Instructions" in
this Letter of
5
<PAGE>
Transmittal, signature(s) on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an
Eligible Institution (defined in Instruction 3).
------------------------
To be completed ONLY if the New Notes issued in consideration of Old Notes
exchanged, or certificates for Old Notes in a principal amount not surrendered
for exchange, are to be mailed to someone other than the undersigned or to the
undersigned at an address other than that below.
- -------------------------------------------
SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS
Issue and mail check to:
Name _______________________________________________________________________
(Please Print: First, Middle & Last Name)
Address ____________________________________________________________________
(Number and Street)
------------------------------------------------------
(City, State and Zip Code)
------------------------------------------------------
(Tax Identification or Social Security No.)
- ------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------
SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1, 2, 4, 5 AND 6)
Deliver New Notes to:
Name _______________________________________________________________________
(Please Print: First, Middle & Last Name)
Address ____________________________________________________________________
(Number and Street)
------------------------------------------------------
(City, State and Zip Code)
- -----------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
THE UNDERSIGNED, BY COMPLETING THE BOX ENTITLED "DESCRIPTION OF OLD NOTES"
ABOVE AND SIGNING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE TENDERED
THE OLD NOTES AS SET FORTH IN SUCH BOX ABOVE.
IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR, IF APPLICABLE, A FACSIMILE HEREOF
(TOGETHER WITH THE OLD NOTES OR A BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED
DOCUMENTS OR THE NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY) MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE
AGENT PRIOR TO 5:00 PM., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.
6
<PAGE>
PLEASE SIGN HERE
(TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS OF
OLD NOTES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OLD NOTES ARE
BEING PHYSICALLY DELIVERED HEREWITH)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
X Date:
X Date:
Signature of Owner
</TABLE>
If a holder is tendering any Old Notes, this Letter of Transmittal must be
signed by the holder(s) of Old Notes exactly as the name(s) of the holder(s)
appear(s) on the certificate(s) for the Old Notes or by any person(s) authorized
to become (a) holder(s) by endorsements and documents transmitted herewith. If
signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, officer or other
person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person must
provide the following information:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Name(s): Address:
(Please Print) (Include Zip Code)
Capacity: Telephone Number:
(Include Area Code)
</TABLE>
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE (SEE INSTRUCTION 3 HEREIN)
CERTAIN SIGNATURES MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION
Signature(s) Guaranteed by: ____________________________________________________
(Authorized Signature)
________________________________________________________________________________
(Title of Officer Signing this Guarantee)
________________________________________________________________________________
(Name of Eligible Institution Guaranteeing Signatures -- Please Print)
________________________________________________________________________________
(Address and Telephone Number of Eligible Institution Guaranteeing Signatures)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Date:
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
PLEASE COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
PAYER'S NAME: U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
SUBSTITUTE PART 1--PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR Social Security Number
TIN IN THE BOX AT RIGHT AND OR
CERTIFY BY SIGNING AND Employer Identification
DATING BELOW Number
PART 2--Certificates--Under penalties of perjury, I
certify that:
(1) The number shown on this form is my correct Taxpayer
Identification Number (or I am waiting for a number to be
issued or to me); and
(2) I am not subject to backup withholding because (a) I
am exempt from backup withholding or (b) I have not been
notified by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS")
FORM W-9
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY that I am subject to backup (TIN) withholding as a
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE result of a failure to report all interest or
dividends or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no
longer subject to backup withholding.
/ /
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
PAYER'S REQUEST FOR CERTIFICATION INSTRUCTIONS--You must
TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION cross out item (2) above if you have
NUMBER (TIN) been notified by the IRS that you are
currently subject to backup
withholding because of underreporting
interest or dividends on your tax
return. However, if after being PART 3
notified by the IRS that you were Awaiting TIN / /
subject to backup withholding you
received another notification from
the IRS that you are no longer
subject to backup withholding, do not
cross out item (2).
SIGNATURE DATE
</TABLE>
NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP
WITHHOLDING OF 31% OF ANY PAYMENT (IF ANY) MADE TO YOU WITH RESPECT TO OLD NOTES
TENDERED IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OFFER. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING
CERTIFICATE IF YOU CHECKED THE BOX IN PART 3 OF SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9
CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
I certify under penalties of perjury that a taxpayer identification number
has not been issued to me, and either (a) I have mailed or delivered an
application to receive a taxpayer identification number to the appropriate
Internal Revenue Service Center or Social Security Administration Office or
(b) I intend to mail or deliver an application in the near future. I
understand that because I have not provided a taxpayer identification
number, 31% of all reportable payments made to me thereafter will be
withheld until I provide a number. If I provide a properly certified
taxpayer identification number within 60 days, you will refund the tax if I
so request.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
SIGNATURE DATE
</TABLE>
8
<PAGE>
INSTRUCTIONS
FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER OF IDT CORPORATION TO
EXCHANGE ITS 8 3/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2006 FOR ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING 8 3/4%
SENIOR NOTES DUE 2006.
1. DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER AND OLD NOTES; GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES.
This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by holders of Old Notes either
if certificates for Old Notes are to be forwarded herewith or if tenders are to
be made pursuant to the procedures for delivery by book-entry transfer set forth
in "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering Old Notes" section of the
Prospectus. Physically tendered Old Notes, or Book-Entry Confirmation, as the
case may be, as well as a properly completed and duly executed Letter of
Transmittal (or facsimile thereof) and any other documents required by this
Letter, must be received by the Exchange Agent at the address set forth herein
on or prior to the Expiration Date, or the tendering holder must comply with the
guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below.
Holders whose certificates for Old Notes are not immediately available or
who cannot deliver their certificates for Old Notes and all other required
documents to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date, or who
cannot complete the procedure for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, may
tender their Old Notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth
in "The Exchange Offer-- Guaranteed Delivery Procedures" section of the
Prospectus. Pursuant to such procedures: (i) such tender must be made by or
through an Eligible Institution, (ii) on or prior to the Expiration Date, the
Exchange Agent must have received from the holder and the Eligible Institution a
properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (by facsimile
transmission, mail or hand delivery) setting forth the name and address of the
holder of Old Notes, the certificate number or numbers of the tendered Old
Notes, and the principal amount of tendered Old Notes, stating that the tender
is being made thereby and guaranteeing that, within five New York Stock Exchange
trading days after the Expiration Date, the certificates for the tendered Old
Notes, or a Book-Entry Confirmation of such Old Notes, a duly executed Letter of
Transmittal and any other required documents will be deposited by the Eligible
Institution with the Exchange Agent, and (iii) such properly completed and
executed documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, as well as the
certificates for the tendered Old Notes in proper form for transfer (or Book-
Entry Confirmation of such Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC)
must be received by the Exchange Agent within five New York Stock Exchange
trading days after the Expiration Date. Any holder who wishes to tender Old
Notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures described above must ensure
that the Exchange Agent receives the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and Letter of
Transmittal relating to such Old Notes prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on the Expiration Date.
THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER, THE OLD NOTES AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED
DOCUMENTS IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE TENDERING HOLDERS, BUT THE DELIVERY
WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED OR CONFIRMED BY THE EXCHANGE
AGENT. IF OLD NOTES ARE SENT BY MAIL, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE MAILING BE MADE
SUFFICIENTLY IN ADVANCE OF THE EXPIRATION DATE TO PERMIT DELIVERY TO THE
EXCHANGE AGENT PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.
See "The Exchange Offer" section of the Prospectus.
DO NOT SENT THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR ANY OLD NOTES TO THE COMPANY.
9
<PAGE>
2. PARTIAL TENDERS (NOT APPLICABLE TO HOLDERS OF OLD NOTES WHO TENDER BY
BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER).
If less than the entire principal amount of any submitted Old Note is to be
tendered, the tendering holder(s) should fill in the aggregate principal amount
to be tendered in the box above entitled "Description of Old Notes--Aggregate
Principal Amount of Old Notes Tendered." A reissued certificate representing the
balance of non-tendered principal of any submitted Old Notes will be sent to
such tendering holder, unless otherwise provided in the appropriate box of this
Letter of Transmittal, promptly after the Expiration Date. THE ENTIRE PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF ANY OLD NOTES DELIVERED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE
BEEN TENDERED UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED.
3. SIGNATURES ON THIS LETTER; ASSIGNMENTS AND ENDORSEMENT; GUARANTEE OF
SIGNATURES.
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder of the Old
Notes tendered hereby, the signature must correspond exactly with the name as
written on the face of the Old Notes without any change whatsoever.
If any tendered Old Notes are owned of record by two or more joint owners,
all such owners must sign this letter of Transmittal.
If any tendered Old Notes are registered in different names on several Old
Notes, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate copies
of this Letter of Transmittal as there are different registrations of Old Notes.
When this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the
Old Notes specified herein and tendered hereby, no endorsements of the submitted
Old Notes or separate instruments of assignment are required. If, however, the
New Notes are to be issued, or any untendered Old Notes are to be reissued, to a
person other than the registered holder(s), then endorsements of any Old Notes
transmitted hereby or separate instruments of assignment are required.
Signatures on such Old Notes must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the
registered holder(s) of any Old Notes specified herein, such Old Notes must be
endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments of assignment, in either case
signed exactly as the name of the registered holder appears on the Old Notes and
the signatures of such Old Notes must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
If this Letter of Transmittal or any Old Notes or instruments of assignment
are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact,
officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative
capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and, unless waived by
the Company, proper evidence satisfactory to the Company of their authority to
so act must be submitted.
Endorsements on Old Notes or signatures on instruments of assignment
required by this Instruction 3 must be guaranteed by a firm which is a member of
a registered national securities exchange or a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., by a commercial bank or trust company
having an office or correspondent in the United States or by an "eligible
guarantor" institution within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Eligible Institution").
Signatures of this Letter of Transmittal need not be guaranteed by a
Eligible Institution, provided the Old Notes are tendered: (i) by a registered
holder of Old Notes (which term, for purposes of the Exchange Offer, includes
any participant in the Book-Entry Transfer Facility system whose name appears on
a security position listing as the holder of such Old Notes) who has not
completed the box entitled "Special Issuance Instructions" or "Special Delivery
Instructions" on this Letter of Transmittal, or (ii) for the account of an
Eligible Institution.
10
<PAGE>
4. SPECIAL ISSUANCE AND DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS.
Tendering holders of Old Notes should indicate in the applicable box the
name and address to which New Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer and/or
substitute certificates evidencing Old Notes not exchanged are to be issued or
sent, if different from the name or address of the person signing this Letter of
Transmittal. In the case of issuance in a different name, the Employer
Identification or Social Security Number of the person named must also be
indicated. A holder of Old Notes tendering Old Notes by book-entry transfer may
request that New Notes and Old Notes not exchanged be credited to such account
maintained at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility as such holder of Old Notes may
designate hereon. If no such instructions are given, such New Notes and Old
Notes not exchanged will be returned to the name or address of the person
signing this Letter of Transmittal or credited to the account listed beneath the
box entitled "Description of Old Notes," as the case may be.
5. TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
Federal income tax law generally requires that a tendering holder whose Old
Notes are accepted for exchange must provide the Company (as payor) with such
Holder's correct Taxpayer Identification Number ("TIN") on Substitute Form W-9
above, which, in the case of a tendering holder who is an individual, is his or
her Social Security Number. If the Company is not provided with the Current TIN
or an adequate basis for an exemption, such tendering holder may be subject to a
$50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, delivery of
New Notes to such tendering holder may be subject to backup withholding in an
amount equal to 31% of all reportable payments made after the exchange. If
withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained.
Exempt holders of Old Notes (including, among others, all corporations and
certain foreign individuals) are not subject to these backup withholding and
reporting requirements. See the enclosed Guidelines of Certification of Taxpayer
Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 (the "W-9 Guidelines") for
additional instructions.
To prevent backup withholding, each tendering holder of Old Notes must
provide its correct TIN by completing the "Substitute Form W-9" set forth above,
certifying that the TIN provided is correct (or that such holder is awaiting a
TIN) and that (i) the holder is exempt from backup withholding, (ii) the holder
has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that such holder is
subject to a backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest
or dividends or (iii) the Internal Revenue Service has notified the holder that
such holder is no longer subject to backup withholding. If the tendering holder
of Old Notes is a nonresident alien or foreign entity not subject to backup
withholding, such holder must give the Company a completed Form W-8, Notice of
Foreign Status. These forms may be obtained from the Exchange Agent. If the Old
Notes are in more than one name or are not in the name of the actual owner, such
holder should consult the W-9 Guidelines for Instructions on applying for a TIN,
check the box in Part 2 of the Substitute Form W-9 and write "applied for" in
lieu of its TIN. Note: checking this box and writing "applied for" on the form
means that such holder has already applied for a TIN or that such holder intends
to apply for one in the near future. If such holder does not provide its TIN to
the Company within 60 days, backup withholding will begin and continue until
such holder furnishes its TIN to the Company.
6. TRANSFER TAXES.
The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the transfer
of Old Notes to it or its order pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however, New
Notes and/or substitute Old Notes not exchanged are to be delivered to, or are
to be registered or issued in the name of, any person other than the registered
holder of the Old Notes tendered hereby, or if tendered Old notes are registered
in the name of any person other than the person signing this Letter of
Transmittal, or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the
transfer of Old Notes to the Issuer or its order pursuant to the Exchange Offer,
the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder
or any other person) will be
11
<PAGE>
payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory evidence of payment of such
taxes or exemption therefrom is not submitted herewith, the amount of such
transfer taxes will be billed directly to such tendering holder.
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS INSTRUCTION 6, IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR TRANSFER
TAX STAMPS TO BE AFFIXED TO THE OLD NOTES SPECIFIED IN THIS LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL.
7. DETERMINATION OF VALIDITY/WAIVER OF CONDITIONS.
The Company will determine, in its sole discretion, all questions as to the
form of documents, validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and
acceptance for exchange of any tender of Old Notes, which determination shall be
final and binding on all parties. The Company reserves the absolute right to
reject any and all tenders determined by it not to be in proper form or the
acceptance of which, or exchange for which, may, in the view of counsel to the
Company, be unlawful. The Company also reserves the absolute right, subject to
applicable law, to waive any of the conditions of the Exchange Offer set forth
in the Prospectus under the caption "The Exchange Offer" or any conditions or
irregularity in any tender of Old Notes of any particular holder whether or not
similar conditions or irregularities are waived in the case of other holders.
The Company's interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange
Offer (including this Letter of Transmittal and the instructions hereto) will be
final and binding. No tender of Old Notes will be deemed to have been validly
made until all irregularities with respect to such tender have been cured or
waived. Although the Company intends to notify holders of defects or
irregularities with respect to tenders of Old Notes, neither the Company, any
employees, agents, affiliates or assigns of the Company, the Exchange Agent, nor
any other person shall be under any duty to give notification of any
irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give such
notification.
8. NO CONDITIONAL TENDERS.
No alternative, conditional, irregular or contingent tenders will be
accepted. All tendering holders of Old Notes, by execution of this Letter of
Transmittal, shall waive any right to receive notice of the acceptance of their
Old Notes for exchange.
Neither the Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other person is obligated to
give notice of any defect or irregularity with respect to any tender of Old
Notes nor shall any of them incur any liability for failure to give any such
notice.
9. MUTILATED, LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED OLD NOTES.
Any holder whose Old Notes have been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed
should contact the Exchange Agent at the address indicated above for further
instructions.
10. REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR ADDITIONAL COPIES.
Questions relating to the procedure for tendering, as well as requests for
additional copies of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal, may be
directed to the Exchange Agent, at the address and telephone number indicated
above.
12
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.2
NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY FOR
IDT CORPORATION
WITH RESPECT TO
8 3/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2006
---------------------
PURSUANT TO THE PROSPECTUS DATED , 1998
---------------------
This form or one substantially equivalent hereto must be used by a holder of
the 8 3/4% Senior Notes due 2006 (the "Old Notes") of IDT Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), to accept the Company's Exchange Offer
made pursuant to the Prospectus, dated , 1998 (the "Prospectus"),
and the related Letter of Transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal") if
certificates for the Old Notes are not immediately available or if the procedure
for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis or time will not
permit all required documents to reach First Trust National Association (the
"Exchange Agent") prior to 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on the Expiration Date
of the Exchange Offer. This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered or
transmitted by facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery to the Exchange
Agent as set forth below. In addition, in order to utilize the guaranteed
delivery procedure to tender Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, a
completed, signed and dated Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof) must
also be received by the Exchange Agent prior to 5:00 P.M., New York City time,
on the Expiration Date. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the respective
meanings given to them in the Prospectus or the Letter of Transmittal.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON ,
1998, UNLESS THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS EXTENDED (THE "EXPIRATION DATE").
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO: U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
BY MAIL: BY HAND OR OVERNIGHT COURIER:
U.S. Bank Trust National Association U.S. Bank Trust National Association
180 East Fifth Street 180 East Fifth Street
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101 St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
Attn: Specialized Finance Department Attn: Specialized Finance Department
</TABLE>
BY FACSIMILE (FOR ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS ONLY):
(612) 244-1537
Confirm by Telephone
(612) 244-1197
DELIVERY OF THIS INSTRUMENT TO AN ADDRESS, OR TRANSMISSION VIA FACSIMILE,
OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE, WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.
This form is not to be used to guarantee signatures. If a signature on a
Letter of Transmittal is required to be guaranteed by an "Eligible Institution"
under the instructions thereto, such signature guarantee must appear in the
applicable space provided in the signature box on the Letter of Transmittal.
<PAGE>
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
The undersigned hereby tender(s) to the Company upon the terms and
conditions set forth in the Prospectus and the related Letter of Transmittal,
receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the aggregate principal amount of Old
Notes set forth below pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth
in the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal.
The undersigned hereby tenders the Old Notes listed below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION OF OLD NOTES
- -------------------------------------
AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF
NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) OF HOLDER(S) CERTIFICATE OLD NOTES TENDERED
(PLEASE FILL IN, IF BLANK) NUMBER(S)* (IF LESS THAN ALL)**
<S> <C> <C>
- -------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------
TOTAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF OLD NOTES TENDERED
- -------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* Need not be completed by holders tendering Old Notes by book-entry transfer.
** Need not be completed by holders who wish to tender with respect to all Old
Notes listed. See Instruction 2.
If Old Notes will be delivered by book-entry transfer to The Depository
Trust Company, provide account number. Account Number:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE SIGN HERE
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
X Date:
X Date:
</TABLE>
SIGNATURE(S) OF OWNER OR AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY
This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery must be signed by the holder(s) of Old
Notes exactly as the name(s) of the holder(s) appear(s) on the certificate(s)
for the Old Notes or by any person(s) authorized to become (a) holder(s) by
endorsements and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by a trustee,
2
<PAGE>
executor, administrator, guardian, officer or other person acting in a fiduciary
or representative capacity, such person must provide the following information.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Name(s): Address:
(PLEASE PRINT) (INCLUDE ZIP CODE)
Capacity: Telephone Number:
(INCLUDE AREA CODE)
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE ACCOMPANYING GUARANTEE MUST BE COMPLETED.
GUARANTEE
(NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)
The undersigned, a firm that is a member firm of a registered national
securities exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
a commercial bank or trust company having an office correspondent in the United
States or any "eligible guarantor institution" within the meaning of Rule
17Ad-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, hereby (a)
represents that each holder of Old Notes on whose behalf this tender is being
made "own(s)" the Old Notes covered hereby within the meaning of Rule 14e-4
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (b) represents that such
tender of Old Notes complies with Rule 14e-4 and (c) guarantees to deliver to
the Exchange Agent, at its address set forth above, the Old Notes described
above, in proper form for transfer (or confirmation of the book-entry transfer
of such Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at The Depository Trust
Company, pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer set forth in the
Prospectus), together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of
Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), any required signature guarantees, and any
other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal by 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, within five New York Stock Exchange trading days following the
Expiration Date.
The undersigned acknowledges that it must deliver the Letter of Transmittal
and Old Notes tendered hereby to the Exchange Agent within the time period set
forth above and that failure to do so could result in financial loss to the
undersigned.
Name of Firm: __________________________________________________________________
By: ____________________________________________________________________________
(Authorized Signature)
Name: __________________________________________________________________________
Title: _________________________________________________________________________
Address: _______________________________________________________________________
Telephone Number: ______________________________________________________________
(Include Area Code)
Date: __________________________________________________________________________
DO NOT SEND OLD NOTES WITH THIS FORM, ACTUAL SURRENDER OF OLD NOTES MUST BE
MADE PURSUANT TO, AND BE ACCOMPANIED BY, AN EXECUTED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
3
<PAGE>
INSTRUCTIONS
1. DELIVERY OF THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY.
A properly completed and duly executed copy of this Notice of Guaranteed
Delivery and any other documents required by this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
must be received by the Exchange Agent at its address set forth herein prior to
the Expiration Date. The method of delivery of this Notice of Guaranteed
Delivery and any other required documents to the Exchange Agent is at the
election and sole risk of the holder, and the delivery will be deemed made only
when actually received by the Exchange Agent. If delivery is by mail, registered
mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. As an
alternative to delivery by mail, the holders may wish to consider using an
overnight or hand delivery service. In all cases, sufficient time should be
allowed to assure timely delivery.
2. SIGNATURES ON THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY.
If this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is signed by the registered holder(s)
of the Notes referred to herein, the signature must correspond with the name(s)
written on the face of the Notes without alteration, enlargement, or any change
whatsoever. If this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is signed by a participant of
the Book-Entry Transfer Facility whose name appears on a security position
listing as the owner of the Notes, the signature must correspond with the name
shown on the security position listing as the owner of the Notes.
If this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is signed by a person other than the
registered holder(s) of any Notes listed or a participant of the Book-Entry
Transfer Facility, this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery must be accompanied by
appropriate bond powers, signed as the name of the registered holder(s) appears
on the Notes or signed as the name of the participant shown on the Book-Entry
Transfer Facility's security position listing.
If this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is signed by a trustee, executor,
administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation, or other
person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person should so
indicate when signing and submit with the Letter of Transmittal evidence
satisfactory to the Company of such person's authority to so act.
3. REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR ADDITIONAL COPIES.
Questions and requests for assistance and requests for additional copies of
the Prospectus may be directed to the Exchange Agent at the address specified in
the Prospectus. Holders may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank,
trust company, or other nominee for assistance concerning the Exchange Offer.
4
