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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For The Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 1998
Commission File Number 0-22047
GO2NET, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 91-1710182
(State or other jurisdiction (IRS Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification Number)
999 THIRD AVENUE, SUITE 4700, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98104
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(206) 447-1595
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
COMMON STOCK $.01 PAR VALUE
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
NONE
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No
--- ---
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. X
---
The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of
the registrant as of December 29, 1998 was $167,520,842 (based on the last
reported sale price on the Nasdaq National Market on that date).
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's Common Stock as of
December 29, 1998 was 5,976,632.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Specifically identified information in the definitive Proxy Statement for
the 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on March 8, 1999, is
incorporated by reference into Part III herein.
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GO2NET, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PART I
Item 1. Business............................................................... 3
Item 2. Properties............................................................. 11
Item 3. Legal Proceedings...................................................... 12
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.................... 12
Item 4A. Executive Officers of the Registrant................................... 12
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.. 13
Item 6. Selected Financial Data................................................ 14
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operation................................................... 15
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data............................ 28
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants
on Accounting and Financial Disclosure................................. 44
PART III
Item 10. Executive Officers of the Registrant................................... 44
Item 11. Executive Compensation................................................. 44
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management......... 44
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions......................... 44
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K....... 44
Signatures....................................................................... 46
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This Report contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those discussed in
"Factors Affecting the Company's Business, Operating Results and Financial
Condition" section herein. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the
date on which they are made, and the Company cautions readers not to place undue
reliance on such statements.
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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
COMPANY OVERVIEW
Go2Net, Inc. (the "Company") offers through the World Wide Web a
network of branded, technology and community-driven Web sites. Go2Net's
properties available through the Go2Net Network (www.go2net.com) include:
MetaCrawler (www.metacrawler.com), a metasearch service that combines various
existing search/index guides into one service; PlaySite (www.playsite.com), a
Java-based multiplayer games site; StockSite (www.stocksite.com), a business and
finance site which offers proprietary articles, portfolio tracking tools,
company research and news relating to business and finance; Silicon Investor
(www.siliconinvestor.com), the Web's premier financial discussion community;
HyperMart (www.hypermart.net), the Web's leading provider of free business
hosting services; and WebMarket (www.webmarket.com), a one-stop comparison
shopping service. The Go2Net's Labs division develops innovative technologies to
enhance the features and functionality of the Go2Net sites and for licensing to
other Internet companies. The Company focuses on utilizing innovative
technologies to deliver its content and to enhance the attractiveness and
utility of its product offerings.
Since the commercial launch of the Company's first Web site in
November 1996, traffic on the Go2Net Network has increased significantly to
approximately 6.7 million average page views per day and over one million unique
users per day during the month of September 1998.
The Company believes that the traffic and user demographics on its
Web sites provide an attractive platform for measurable, targeted,
cost-effective and interactive advertising on the Internet. As of December 15,
1998, the Company had relationships with over 225 advertisers, including IBM,
Hewlett-Packard, Micron Technology, Amazon.com, Datek and Cyberian Outpost.
Through the Marketplace, the Company has also entered into electronic commerce
and sponsorship arrangements with several companies, including Cyberian Outpost,
Bid.com, NECX, CarSmart, Priceline and Phillips' 1-800-Florals. Since the
Company's inception, the majority of the Company's revenue have been derived
from advertising sales. In order to leverage its marketing resources and to
facilitate the distribution of certain of the Company's services, the Company
has entered into strategic co-branding relationships with several companies,
including Earthlink, Lycos, Mindspring and USA Today.
As part of its strategy to enhance its product offerings, the Company
has completed acquisitions or licenses of businesses and technologies that are
complementary or related to the Company's business. Since its inception in 1996,
the Company has enhanced its product offerings through the following
acquisitions or exclusive licenses:
On January 31, 1997, the Company sublicensed from Netbot, Inc.
("Netbot") on an exclusive basis (with certain limited exceptions) MetaCrawler,
a metasearch engine developed by the University of Washington and Netbot, and
associated intellectual property rights (the "MetaCrawler Service"). Netbot was
acquired by Excite, Inc. in November 1997. The MetaCrawler Service is a free
World Wide Web search service that sends search queries to several Web search
engines. The Company integrated the MetaCrawler Service into the Company's
product offerings in March 1997.
On July 22, 1997, the Company announced that it had formed a
multi-user gaming network through its July 15, 1997 acquisition of PlaySite, a
Java-based multi-user games site, and certain gaming infrastructure technology
from Internet Games Corporation. PlaySite is based on a proprietary, 100% Java,
multi-user communication system and game-building toolkit. Through PlaySite, the
Company is focused on developing latency-tolerant multi-user board, card,
trivia, party, adventure and simulation games, as well as chat, messaging and
bulletin boards.
On June 23, 1998, the Company announced the acquisition of Silicon
Investor. Silicon Investor ("SI") operates a site on the Web focused on personal
finance. SI's primary focus is its discussion community, which has over
6,000,000 messages currently in its database. SI was incorporated in April 1995
and has since attracted over 75,000 subscribers who participate in SI's
financial discussion and other features.
On August 3, 1998, the Company acquired HyperMart, Inc., a provider
of free Web hosting for businesses. Hypermart currently hosts over 115,000
member businesses, and is adding new member businesses at the rate of over
15,000 per month. HyperMart offers free registration and hosting of virtual
domains, Common Gateway Interface (CGI) access, unlimited Web site traffic
capacity and an SSL secure
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server option. In exchange for receiving free hosting by HyperMart, member
businesses agree to allow Go2Net to sell advertising on their sites.
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
Growth of the Internet and the World Wide Web
The Internet is a global collection of thousands of computer networks
interconnected to enable commercial organizations, educational institutions,
government agencies and individuals to communicate electronically, access and
share information, and conduct business. Much of the growth to date in the use
of the Internet by businesses and individuals is due to the emergence of the
World Wide Web. The World Wide Web is a network medium that includes a wide
range of content and activities. Within the World Wide Web there can be found
content such as magazines, news and sports information, radio broadcasts, and
corporate, product, educational, research and political information, as well as
technologies and activities such as customer service, electronic commerce, hotel
and airline reservations, banking, games and discussion groups. Electronic
documents or "Web pages," which may contain textual, audio and video
information, are published on the World Wide Web on what is referred to as a
"Web site" in a common format. Users can view and move among these Web pages by
using software called "Web browsers" such as Netscape Communicator, Netscape
Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer. Users specify which electronic
documents they wish to view with their Web browser by entering a document's
unique electronic Web address, or Universal Resource Locator ("URL").
The rapidly increasing number of Web users and easy access to the
Internet have resulted in the emergence of the Web as a new mass medium. Jupiter
Communications estimates the Web viewer population will grow from approximately
49 million viewers in 1997 to approximately 116 million viewers by 2002.
According to a 1998 Jupiter Communications report, 31% of US households are
online, and 60% of US households are projected to be online by the year 2002.
The Company believes that the growth in the number of Internet users and Web
sites has been fueled principally by significant investments by leading
technology and computer software companies, public interest and the potential
pervasive effect of the Internet on virtually every industry. In particular, the
existing and increasing number of personal computers in the workplace and at
home, improvements in the performance and speed of personal computers and
modems, the development of easy-to-use graphical user interfaces, improvements
in the network infrastructure, the enhanced ease of access to the Internet by
Internet service providers, consumer-oriented Internet services and
long-distance telephone companies, the emergence of standards for Internet
navigation and information access and the declining costs of Internet service
have all been contributing factors to the current growth in the use of the
Internet and the World Wide Web by businesses and individuals.
The Internet and Traditional Media
The World Wide Web provides the opportunity for Internet technology
application and content providers to create products and services that are
timely, interactive, and offer information in a manner not typically produced by
traditional forms of media. While the print media can be comprehensive with
respect to its subject matter and the television broadcast media is well-suited
to conveying content with a high degree of audio and visual information, each
generally lacks interactivity, and the information provided thereby cannot be
personalized or customized. In addition, the print media lacks the ability to
provide real-time information and the television broadcast media typically
offers only a broad coverage of the subject matter. Web sites can offer the user
archives, related stories and other tools to enhance the attractiveness and
utility of the information received. The World Wide Web also makes it possible
to deliver personalized, real-time information to the user through software
applications that allow the user to customize and manipulate the information
accessed. The delivery of Internet content may be used not only to address a
user's preferences, but also to optimize, among other things, the utility
thereof based on the user's computer hardware, software and bandwidth. The
Company believes that many of the more prominent Web sites have been successful
in creating "virtual communities" by offering the user opportunities to, among
other things, congregate, trade information, make purchases and interact with
other Internet users, the content and/or technologies. The Company believes that
Web sites that have been successful in building a "virtual community" among its
users have been able to significantly increase the number of users accessing
their particular Web site.
The Company believes that new technologies developed specifically for
use on the Internet, such as the "Java" programming language developed by Sun
MicroSystems, Inc., will help to fuel continued growth in the use of the
Internet.
Business Opportunities on the Internet
The Company believes that the leading Internet technology application
and content providers will benefit from the increasing number of Internet users
since advertisers will more likely advertise on Web sites that demonstrate a
high volume of user traffic and provide advertising programs designed for
specific demographic groups. As a result, the Company believes that a
significant opportunity exists for companies providing unique technologies,
communities, products and services on the Internet. The Company believes that a
significant opportunity exists to attract certain niches of the Internet user
community by providing search technologies, Java-based games and gaming
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technologies, finance content and technology tools, small business services and
ecommerce opportunities. The Company believes that the Internet market for
advertising will continue to grow in the foreseeable future. According to
Jupiter Communications, the market for Internet-based advertising and
sponsorships amounted to approximately $940 million in 1997, and is forecast to
grow to approximately $7.6 billion by the year 2002.
The Company believes that an important factor in the recognition of
the World Wide Web as a legitimate advertising medium is the ability to direct
advertising to specific demographic groups. The Company is currently focused on
implementing registration capabilities across its sites that will allow it to
gather demographic information on a substantial portion of its users. This will
enable the Company to target ads to specific demographic groups. The Company
also monitors the demographics of its users and delivers specific user
information to advertisers and advertising agencies. The Company believes that
continued improvements in the tools and technologies used to target
advertisements on the Internet and to track user behavior and purchasing
decisions should increase the effectiveness and attractiveness of Internet-based
advertising. Another advantage of Internet-based advertising is that such
advertising can be evaluated and monitored daily, and even in real-time. If an
Internet-based advertisement is not delivering the anticipated results, an
advertiser can remove the advertisement within a short period of time and
replace it with an advertisement that may be more likely to deliver the desired
results.
In light of increased growth in the number of Internet users, certain
Internet sites charge a subscription fee for users to access certain of their
products and/or services as an additional revenue source. These subscription
fees are charged to either supplement advertising revenues or as an entirely
independent revenue model. The Company currently accepts subscription fees for
members of both Silicon Investor and HyperMart. Additionally, the growth of the
Internet and its adaptation to commercial use presents a significant new
opportunity for merchants to reach a wider customer base. A growing number of
users are transacting business over the Web, including trading securities,
buying goods, purchasing airline tickets and paying bills. Jupiter
Communications estimates that the value of goods and services purchased over the
Internet will increase from $2.6 billion in 1997 to $37.5 billion in 2002.
Companies such as Amazon.com, CDnow, Preview Travel, Cyberian Outpost and many
others have realized significant revenues via product sales over the Internet.
The Company currently operates WebMarket, a comparison shopping service, and
will continue to pursue ecommerce initiatives as part of its strategy.
STRATEGY
The Company's strategy is to draw a large number of users to The
Go2Net Network by providing branded, technology and community-driven Web sites.
The inability of the Company to achieve its strategic goals may have a material
adverse effect on its business, financial condition and operating results. There
can be no assurances that the Company will be able to achieve these goals and,
if not so achieved, that it will be able to develop and implement alternative
strategic goals. Key elements in the Company's strategy include:
Generate and Sustain a High Volume of Usage. The Company seeks to
draw a large number of users to the Company's Internet sites by generally
providing its products and services to users free of charge and making them as
widely accessible as possible. The Company is also focused on building its
brands and believes its brand building will be a significant contributor to
usage growth in the future.
Create Innovative Advertising Solutions. The Company believes that
the traffic flow generated on its Web sites provides an attractive platform for
measurable, targeted, cost-effective and interactive advertising on the
Internet. The Company seeks to provide differentiated solutions to advertisers,
helping them exploit the capabilities of the Internet as an advertising medium.
The Company is actively and continually seeking to develop innovative ways for
advertisers to reach their target audiences through the Internet.
Enhance and Expand the Company's Product Offerings. The Company
intends to enhance its product offerings with additional content, features and
functionality to maintain and enhance its market position. The Company also
plans to incorporate into its product offerings new technologies developed
internally or licensed from other companies that it believes will further
differentiate its product offerings and provide users with a unique, value-added
experience. In order to expand its product offerings, the Company has completed
acquisitions of businesses, technologies, content and services that are
complementary or related to the Company's operations and may pursue other
acquisitions in the future. The Company plans to pursue integration of
additional subscription and other commerce areas in its existing and new Web
sites.
Provide Original, Compelling and Targeted Sites. The Company's Web
sites focus on community and interactivity and offer what the Company believes
are areas that are currently among the most popular areas of interest on the
Internet: search; games; business and finance; business hosting; and ecommerce.
These specific areas offer the Company opportunities to deliver premium
advertising opportunities to a user base with attractive demographics and
diversify its revenue stream.
Establish Market Awareness and Brand Recognition. The Company
believes that maintaining and building the Go2Net brand is a critical element of
its strategy. In this regard, the Company has placed significant emphasis on
establishing brand identity for its Internet sites and product offerings. The
Company's brand and corporate identity seeks to reflect an Internet network that
provides technology and user-
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driven Web sites. The Company seeks to build and reinforce its brand through
advertising on the Internet; in trade magazines and in other traditional forms
of media; editorial coverage; and an aggressive public relations strategy.
Leverage Strategic Relationships. The Company seeks to leverage its
current resources and infrastructure by entering into strategic relationships
with third party technology and content companies, as well as traditional media
companies, advertising agencies, large advertisers and others. The Company
believes that these relationships will enhance the Company's product offerings
and add to the Company's development, sales and licensing revenues. The Company
has established relationships with a number of leading information providers and
technology companies with respect to a significant portion of the information
included on the Company's Internet sites. These relationships enable the Company
to complement its proprietary offerings with information developed or compiled
by third parties.
PRODUCTS
The Company offers various Internet sites, products and services.
Internet users access these sites, products and services directly through The
Go2Net Network home page or through the individual homepages of the Company's
Internet sites.
Go2Net Personal (www.go2net.com) provides users with a comprehensive
Internet start page featuring the critically acclaimed MetaCrawler search
technology. In addition to general metasearch, Go2Net Personal offers
customizable news, discussion, and stock information, as well as direct access
to Go2Net's own finance, free Web hosting, shopping and Java multiplayer game
sites. As a portal to the Go2Net Network and the Web as a whole, Go2Net Personal
is What's Next (SM).
In operation since 1995, Silicon Investor (www.siliconinvestor.com)
is the Web's premier financial discussion community. On Silicon Investor's
message boards, users can discuss stocks with some of the top financial minds.
It also offers comprehensive charting services and stock research resources.
Silicon Investor is one of the most trafficked Web sites in the personal finance
category.
StockSite (stocksite.com) provides investors with tools to track
their assets and offers insights into financial markets. In addition to full
research reports and the Stock Picks virtual portfolio, StockSite features
regular commentary from industry professionals. StockSite also offers a
customizable Java stock ticker and all the key research tools: quotes,
interactive Java graphs, historical data, portfolio creation, company news,
company profiles, company-earnings estimates and company filings. StockSite has
been the recipient of numerous editorial awards and has been included on
listings of the most trafficked finance-related sites on the Web.
MetaCrawler (www.metacrawler.com) provides users with the ability to
search simultaneously several of the Web's most popular search/directory
services. Rated the #1 metasearch service on the World Wide Web, MetaCrawler
continues to garner popularity and acclaim. MetaCrawler offers Web users with a
compelling alternative to the Web's traditional search/directory services. In
response to every user query, MetaCrawler incorporates results from the top
search engines on the Web. It then collates results, eliminates duplication,
scores the results and provides the user with a comprehensive list of relevant
sites. MetaCrawler offers a low-bandwidth version, power-search options, and
other customizable features. Additional value-added features include the
MetaCrawler Marketplace, an online shopping center; directory services;
MiniCrawler, a small desktop version of MetaCrawler; and the unique MetaSpy
feature, which allows users to view other users' queries-in-progress. In the
December 1998 PC Magazine search engine review, MetaCrawler received the
Editors' Choice award for the second consecutive year.
HyperMart (www.hypermart.net) is the Web's leading provider of free
Web hosting services to businesses. The popularity of HyperMart has resulted in
the creation of one of the Web's premier communities for business owners and
professionals. Advertisers can reach these users through targeted advertising on
both the HyperMart.net site, which caters to Web entrepreneurs and developers,
and the individual HyperMart business sites, which are classified by category
and sub-category and attract both consumer and business users. In addition to
free Web hosting services, HyperMart offers its member businesses upgraded
services and other resources with which to improve their online business
presence.
WebMarket (www.webmarket.com) provides users with access to
comprehensive Web-based shopping technologies and tools which enable the user to
efficiently shop the Web. Currently, WebMarket has introduced "metashopping" to
the Web by offering online shoppers the ability to comparison shop from over 80
online merchants. It also provides reports and ratings on the Web's top merchant
sites. Comparison shopping technology transmits each user query through a
comprehensive database of merchant Web sites. The search technology then returns
to the user a list of prices on the item searched. Users can also sort results
by merchant, brand, availability, shipping parameters and more. Each result has
a link to the corresponding merchant site so that the user can immediately
purchase the desired product from the vendor of choice.
PlaySite (www.playsite.com) offers 100% Java, multiplayer board and
card games that incorporate chat, messaging, tournaments and player ratings.
PlaySite has won numerous editorial awards, and was nominated for the 1997
online gaming Webby award, and its technical
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advances have been recognized by the multiplayer gaming industry and various
media outlets, including CNBC, Yahoo! Internet Life magazine, P.O.V. magazine,
The Web magazine, PC Games magazine and PC magazine. PlaySite currently offers
the following games: Backgammon, Chess, Checkers, Go-moku, Hex, Mancala,
Reversi, Renju, Hearts, Spades, Euchre, Cribbage, Bridge, and Tangleword.
STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS
In order to leverage its marketing resources and to facilitate the
distribution of certain of the Company's products, the Company has entered into
co-branding relationships with Lycos, Earthlink and Mindspring to provide their
users with access to Go2Net's Playsite games. The Company has also entered into
a relationship with USA Today in which users of USA Today's pro football engine
on it's Web site have access through a co-branded service to the MetaCrawler
Service. The Company also intends to leverage its current development resources
and infrastructure by entering into strategic and licensing relationships with
third party developers of content and technologies. The Company has established
relationships with a number of leading information providers. The Company has
agreements with information providers including S&P Comstock, Dow Jones &
Company, Inc., New York Stock Exchange, Inc., The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.,
News Alert, Edgar Online, Reuters, and Market Guide Inc. The Company has also
established a relationship with InterNAP Network Services, L.L.C., a
Seattle-based private NAP (network access point). The InterNAP headquarters,
where the Company's servers are located, maintains multiple DS-3 circuits with
some of the largest Internet service providers. This relationship helps to
maximize the speed and accessibility of the Company's Web sites for users.
In January 1997, the Company licensed the MetaCrawler Service from
Netbot. See "Metacrawler License Agreement."
The Company has ongoing advertising barter relationships with various
Internet companies and Web sites, which the Company believes, help it enhance
its brand recognition and potentially expand its user base. The Company has also
licensed its Java graphing software to Frontier Globalcenter, a leading digital
distribution company.
REVENUE SOURCES
Advertisers - As of December 15, 1998, the Company had relationships
with over 225 advertisers, including IBM, Hewlett Packard, Micron Technology,
Amazon.com, Datek and Cyberian Outpost. The typical advertiser being sought by
the Company for its Internet sites is a large corporation or organization that
currently advertises nationally in print, radio, television or electronic media,
in addition to other types of corporations or organizations that currently
advertise in electronic media. The Company seeks to establish advertising
relationships with potential advertisers through its own advertising sales
department and to supplement these efforts from time to time through independent
advertising sales agencies. The pricing strategy is generally based on the
number of impressions delivered or sponsorship of certain areas, with the goal
of incentivizing advertisers to sign long-term agreements. No assurance,
however, can be given that such strategy will continue to deliver advertising
revenues to the Company.
Subscriptions, Memberships, Licensing, Commerce, and Other
Transactions: The Company believes that there may be possibilities to segment
certain areas on the Company's Internet sites as subscription areas. The Company
offers subscription services on Silicon Investor and HyperMart. The Company also
offers for sale products and services from certain of its advertisers, for which
it, in certain cases, receives a percentage of any revenues generated. There can
be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to successfully
operate electronic commerce through its Web sites. The Company also seeks to
license certain internally developed technologies used on the companies Internet
sites to third parties. Although the Company has signed technology licensing
agreements with both Lycos and Frontier Globalcenter, there can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to successfully license such technologies to third
parties in the future.
ADVERTISING SALES
As of December 15, 1998, the Company's advertising sales staff,
marketing and advertising sales support staff consisted of 29 full-time
employees, 23 of which were located at the Company's executive offices in
Seattle, Washington. The Company also maintains advertising sales offices in
Chicago, New York and San Francisco. The Company expects that its Internet-based
advertising revenues will continue to be derived from the sale of advertising
and sponsorships by the Company's direct sales department supplemented by
independent advertising sales agencies. As of December 15, 1998, the Company had
relationships with over 225 advertisers. While the Company has developed and is
implementing the advertising sales strategy described in this Report, there can
be no assurance that such strategy will be successful in the future.
The Company believes that the sponsorship of Internet-based products
and services will play an increasingly important role in generating advertising
revenues. The Company believes that tasteful, authentic sponsorships will lead
the user to believe that the sponsor is not being forced upon them, but rather
is presenting a value-added product and/or service. Indeed, sponsored content on
the Web is becoming more and more prevalent.
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The Company offers each of its advertisers the opportunity to access
the number of times their advertisements are viewed, and clicked on, on a daily
basis through a private, dedicated URL located on the Company's Web servers.
This process makes it easier for the advertiser to monitor the success of a
particular advertisement on a daily basis, and gives the advertiser more
confidence in the accuracy of the number of advertisement impressions delivered
on the Company's Web site. In order to further serve the advertiser, the Company
has from time to time established a page on its Web sites where users are asked
to respond to a short survey in return for the opportunity to win prizes. The
Company believes that the demographic information derived from such surveys has
resulted in generating more interest in specific sites and attracting advertiser
interest.
Use of the Internet by consumers is at an early stage of development,
and market acceptance of the Internet as a medium for information,
entertainment, commerce and advertising is subject to a certain level of
uncertainty. The Company believes that its success depends upon its ability to
obtain significant revenues from its Internet operations, which will require the
continued development and acceptance of the Internet as an advertising medium.
The Company believes that most advertisers and advertising agencies have limited
experience with the Internet as an advertising medium and neither advertisers
nor advertising agencies have devoted a significant portion of their advertising
budgets to Internet-related advertising to date. In order for the Company to
generate advertising revenues, advertisers and advertising agencies must direct
a portion of their budgets to the Internet as a whole, and specifically to the
Company's Internet sites. There can be no assurance that advertisers or
advertising agencies will be persuaded, or able, to allocate or continue to
allocate portions of their budgets to Internet-based advertising, or if so
persuaded or able, that they will find Internet-based advertising to be more
effective than advertising in traditional media such as television, print or
radio, or in any event decide to advertise on the Company's Internet sites.
Advertisers and advertising agencies that have invested resources in traditional
methods of advertising are sometimes reluctant to modify their media buying
behavior or their systems and infrastructure to use Internet-based advertising.
Furthermore, no standards to measure the effectiveness of Internet-based
advertising have yet gained widespread acceptance, and there can be no assurance
that such standards will be adopted or adopted broadly enough to support the
continued growth of Internet-based advertising. If Internet-based advertising
does not continue to grow, the Company's business, financial condition and
operating results will be materially adversely affected and the Company may
cease to be a commercially viable enterprise.
MARKETING
The Company's marketing strategy is to enhance, promote and support a
perception that the Company's Internet sites and product offerings are both
original and compelling. The Company believes that it is necessary to provide
Internet users with products and services that allow them a unique, value-added
experience. To that end, the Company has focused on developing and offering
Internet sites and technologies in areas where it believes it is positioned to
offer unique, value-added products and services. This enhances the ability of
the Company to provide Internet sites that it believes to be original and
compelling, as well as unique to the Internet medium.
The Company currently is focusing on a marketing strategy to maintain
and build the Go2Net brand that includes periodic press releases promoting the
Company's Internet sites and new products, services and technologies; important
hires and other strategic relationships; and advertising on Web sites and in
trade magazines. In addition, the Company's public relations strategy includes
the development of relationships with various media to encourage editorial and
press coverage.
The Company conducted a marketing campaign in San Francisco in
support of Silicon Investor in the fall of 1998, which included trade and
consumer print, outdoor and product packaging advertising. In 1999, the Company
intends to increase awareness of the Go2Net Network by advertising nationally in
monthly consumer publications, trade publications and on Web sites, in addition
to outdoor marketing efforts specific to multiple US media markets.
Each of these elements of the Company's marketing plan will depend
upon the Company's continued ability to provide original and compelling products
and services, which cannot be assured. If the Company introduces new products,
services or Web sites, or enters into new business relationships or strategies
that are not favorably received, the Company would likely be unsuccessful in
getting a significant return on its marketing plan. Furthermore, in order to
attract and retain users and to promote and implement its marketing plan,
particularly in response to competitive pressures, the Company may find it
necessary to commit greater financial and personnel resources to providing its
Internet sites or creating or maintaining its brand recognition. If the Company
is unable to build brand recognition, or if the Company incurs excessive
expenses in an attempt to improve its products and services or implement its
marketing plan, the Company's business, financial condition and operating
results would be materially adversely affected.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
A focus of the Company's research and development efforts is the
enhancement of its technology applications and content through the use of
Java-based software applications. The Company's programming staff devotes a
portion of its time and efforts to the development of Java
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and other software applications, which are primarily used in connection with
existing Company Internet sites and offerings. No assurance can be given that
the Company will be able to develop enhancements to its product offerings or
develop any new Java-based software applications, or if so developed, that such
enhancements or applications will be commercially viable. Product development
expenses for the years ended September 30, 1998 1997, and 1996 were $1,124,623,
$612,923 and $163,408, respectively.
COMPETITION
The market for Internet products and services is highly competitive.
Furthermore, the Company expects the market for Internet advertising to become
intensely competitive, as there are no substantial barriers to entry. The
Company believes the principal competitive factors in this market are name
recognition, performance, ease of use, variety of value-added products and
services, features and quality of support.
The Company competes with other Internet sites for the time and
attention of consumers and for advertising and subscription revenues.
Competition among Internet sites is intense and is expected to increase
significantly in the future. The Company's Internet sites compete against a
variety of companies that provide similar offerings through one or more media,
such as print, radio, television and the Internet. To compete successfully, the
Company must develop and deliver popular, useful, efficient, unique,
entertaining, informative and compelling product offerings to attract Internet
users and to support advertising, subscription fees, licensing and ecommerce. In
the Company's areas of focus of search; games; business and finance; business
hosting and ecommerce; in addition to competing with numerous newspapers,
magazines, television programs and radio broadcasts that cover the same
material, the Company competes with various companies and Internet sites, such
as Microsoft Corporation, c/net, Inc., America OnLine, Inc., Excite, Inc.,
Infoseek Corporation, Lycos, Inc., Netscape Communications Corporation, Wired
Ventures, Inc., GeoCities Corporation, Xoom, Inc. and Yahoo! Inc. Many, if not
all, of these competitors also offer a wider range of products and services than
does the Company, which products and services may be sufficiently attractive to
Internet users to attract users to their services and, consequently, dissuade
them from accessing the Company's Internet sites. If the Company is unable to
continue to attract a significant number of Internet users to its Internet
sites, the Company's business, financial condition and operating results will be
materially adversely affected and the Company may cease to be a commercially
viable enterprise.
The market for Internet-based products and services is relatively
new, intensely competitive and rapidly evolving. There are minimal barriers to
entry, and current and new competitors can launch new Internet sites at
relatively low cost within relatively short time periods. In addition, the
Company competes for the time and attention of Internet users with thousands of
non-profit Internet sites operated by, among other persons, individuals,
government and educational institutions. Existing and potential competitors also
include magazine and newspaper publishers, cable television companies and
start-up ventures attracted to the Internet market. Accordingly, the Company
expects competition to persist and intensify and the number of competitors to
increase significantly in the future. Should the Company seek in the future to
attempt to expand the scope of its product offerings, it will compete with a
greater number of Internet sites and other companies. Because the operations and
strategic plans of existing and future competitors are undergoing rapid change,
it is extremely difficult for the Company to anticipate which companies are
likely to offer competitive products and services in the future. There can be no
assurance that the Company's Internet sites and product offerings will compete
successfully.
The Company believes that the competitive factors attracting Internet
users include the quality of presentation and the relevance, timeliness, depth
and breadth of information and services offered by the Company. With respect to
attracting advertisers and advertising agencies, the Company believes that the
competitive factors include, among others, the number of users accessing the
Company's Internet sites, the demographics of such user base, the Company's
ability to deliver targeted advertising and rich-media advertising through its
Internet sites, and the overall cost-effectiveness and value of advertising
offered by the Company. In addition, the success of the Company's business
strategy depends on the sale of future Internet advertising at premium prices,
based in part on the demographic characteristics of the Company's Internet
users. With respect to attracting subscription-based users, the Company believes
that the competitive factors include, among others, the quality, uniqueness and
usefulness of the product or service provided, the price charged for such
product or service and the cost and accessibility of similar products and
services through the Internet or competing media. Given the intense competition
among Internet sites and other media, there can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to continue to compete successfully with respect to any of these
factors.
Many, if not all, of the Company's current and potential competitors
have significantly greater financial, editorial, technical and marketing
resources, longer operating histories, greater name recognition, and greater
experience than the Company; and also have established relationships with more
advertisers and advertising agencies. Many, if not all, of such competitors may
be able to undertake more extensive marketing campaigns, adopt more aggressive
advertising and subscription price policies and devote substantially more
resources to developing Internet-based products and services than the Company.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to compete
successfully against current or future competitors or that competitive pressures
faced by the Company will not materially adversely affect the Company's
business, financial condition and operating results. In addition, in response to
competitive pressures, the Company may make
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<PAGE> 10
certain pricing, business development and/or marketing decisions, or enter into
acquisitions or new ventures that could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and operating results.
EMPLOYEES
As of September 30, 1998, the Company had a total of 69 employees, 62
of whom were based at the Company's executive offices in Seattle, Washington, 2
of which were located at New York, 2 of which were located in Chicago and 3 of
which were located in Atlanta. Of the total of 69 employees, 29 were in sales
and marketing, 8 were in providing and editing content for the Internet sites,
12 were in programming, 10 in design, quality assurance, technical support,
documentation and product development, and 10 were in administrative and finance
functions. In addition, as of September 30, 1998, the Company had agreements
with 10 independent contractors to provide various services. None of the
Company's employees are represented by a labor union and the Company considers
its employee relations to be good.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The Company is dependent upon obtaining existing technology related
to its operations. To the extent new technological developments are unavailable
to the Company on terms acceptable to it or if at all, the Company may be unable
to continue to implement its business plan and its business, financial condition
and operating results would be materially adversely affected.
The success of the Company is dependent upon its ability to protect
and leverage the value, if any, of its original Internet technologies, software,
content and its trademarks, trade names, service marks, domain names and other
proprietary rights it either currently has or may have in the future. The
Company has filed service marks for its logo and name, as well as for the names
of each of its Internet sites. In addition, given the uncertain application of
existing copyright and trademark laws to the Internet, there can be no assurance
that existing laws will provide adequate protection for the Company's
technologies, Internet sites or domain names. Policing unauthorized use of the
Company's technologies, content and other intellectual property rights entails
significant expenses and could otherwise be difficult or impossible to do given,
among other things, the global nature of the Internet.
METACRAWLER LICENSE AGREEMENT
On January 31, 1997, The Company and Netbot entered into the
MetaCrawler License Agreement pursuant to which Netbot granted the Company an
exclusive (subject to certain limited exceptions), worldwide license to provide
the MetaCrawler Service. Netbot was acquired by Excite, Inc. in November 1997.
As part of the MetaCrawler License Agreement, the Company has the exclusive
right to operate, modify and reproduce the MetaCrawler Service (including,
without limitation, the exclusive right to use, modify and reproduce the name
"MetaCrawler" and the MetaCrawler URL in connection with the operation of the
MetaCrawler Service). Netbot licensed the MetaCrawler Service and the other
intellectual property rights associated therewith from the University of
Washington ("UW") on an exclusive basis. The license has been granted to the
Company by Netbot on an exclusive basis, but Netbot has reserved the right to
use, modify, reproduce and license the MetaCrawler search engine for any purpose
other than the provision of the MetaCrawler Service and the license is subject
to the rights of UW to use, modify and reproduce the MetaCrawler search engine
and derivatives of the MetaCrawler site to operate Internet sites for internal
purposes within the UW domain and to use, modify and reproduce any of the
licensed technologies for research, instructional and academic purposes. The
search technology underlying the MetaCrawler Service and the MetaCrawler
trademark is licensed to or owned by Netbot and sublicensed to the Company
pursuant to the MetaCrawler License Agreement. A substantial portion of the
traffic to the Company's Internet sites is currently derived from users of the
MetaCrawler Service. Although the MetaCrawler License Agreement may be
terminated by Netbot only upon a material default by the Company thereunder, the
termination of the MetaCrawler License Agreement could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and operating results.
Moreover, the termination of the License Agreement between UW and Netbot
relating to Netbot's license of the MetaCrawler Service would result in the
inability of the Company to continue to provide the MetaCrawler Service under
the MetaCrawler License Agreement, which could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and operating results. In addition,
any failure by the Company to continue the MetaCrawler Service for any reason
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and operating results.
The MetaCrawler License Agreement provided for an initial license fee
of $100,000 to be paid by the Company to Netbot. Commencing on January 1, 1999,
the Company is required to pay to Netbot an annual fee of $25,000. The Company
has agreed to pay Netbot annual royalties based on the Company's gross revenues
received from the MetaCrawler Service, which royalties will be reduced by the
$25,000 minimum annual payment.
PLAYSITE ACQUISITION
On July 22, 1997, the Company announced that it had formed a
multi-user gaming network through its July 15, 1997 acquisition of PlaySite, a
Java-based multi-user games site, and certain gaming infrastructure technology
from Internet Games Corporation for $500,000 in
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cash and 16,667 shares of the Company's common stock. PlaySite is based on a
proprietary, 100% Java, multi-user communication system and game-building
toolkit. Through PlaySite, the Company is focused on developing latency-tolerant
multi-user board, card, trivia, party, adventure and simulation games, as well
as chat, messaging and bulletin boards.
SILICON INVESTOR ACQUISITION
On June 23, 1998, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated
as of April 22, 1998, by and among the Company, Silicon Acquisition Corp.,
Silicon Investor, Inc. ("SI") and certain shareholders of SI, the Company
acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Silicon Investor, Inc. ("SI").
Silicon Investor, Inc. operates a site on the Web focused on personal finance.
SI's primary focus is its discussion community, which has over 6,000,000
messages currently in its database. SI was incorporated in April 1995 and has
since attracted over 75,000 subscribers participate in SI's financial
discussions and other features.
The Company issued 1,238,043 shares of common stock and assumed all outstanding
options in connections with the acquisition of Silicon Investor. This
transaction was accounted for as a pooling of interests.
HYPERMART ACQUISITION
In August 1998, the Company acquired HyperMart, Inc. a provider of
free Web hosting for businesses. In connection with this acquisition, the
Company issued approximately 157,499 shares of Common Stock. This transaction
was accounted for as a pooling of interests. Because the results of operations
and financial position of HyperMart were not material to Go2Net's quarterly
financial statements prior to June 30, 1998, quarterly financial information
prior to the date of acquisition will not be restated.
GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
As a publisher and a distributor of content over the Internet, the
Company faces potential liability for defamation, negligence, copyright, patent
or trademark infringement and other claims based on the nature and content of
the materials that it publishes or distributes. Such claims have been brought,
and sometimes successfully pressed, against Internet services. In addition, the
Company could be exposed to liability with respect to the content or
unauthorized duplication of material indexed in its search services. Although
the Company carries general liability insurance, the Company's insurance may not
cover potential claims of this type or may not be adequate to indemnify the
Company for all liability that may be imposed. Any imposition of liability that
is not covered by insurance or is in excess of insurance coverage could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
operating results.
As a provider of Internet content, the Company is subject to the
provisions of existing and future United States federal legislation that can be
applied to the Company's undertakings. Although there are currently few laws and
regulations directly applicable to the Internet, it is possible that new laws
and regulations will be adopted covering issues such as, among other things,
privacy, copyrights, obscene or indecent communications and the pricing,
characteristics and quality of Internet-based products and services. The
adoption of restrictive laws and regulations could decrease the growth of the
use of the Internet or expose the Company to significant liabilities associated
with content available on or through the Company's Internet sites or otherwise
cause a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition
and operating results. Application to the Internet of existing laws and
regulations governing issues such as, among other things, property ownership,
libel and personal privacy is also subject to substantial uncertainty.
The adoption of such laws and regulations and the potential adoption
of new and more restrictive laws and regulations may decrease the growth of the
Internet, which in turn could decrease the attractiveness of the Company's
Internet sites and reduce the demand for advertising thereon. In addition, the
need to monitor and comply with existing and future laws and regulations will
increase the Company's cost of doing business. Moreover, the applicability to
the Internet of existing laws governing issues such as property ownership, libel
and personal privacy is uncertain.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company's executive offices are located in downtown Seattle,
Washington in an office building in which the Company leases 13,481 square feet
under a sublease that expires in September 2003. The Company has also leased an
additional 3,791 square feet of office space under a three-year sublease
expiring in October 2003 in the same office building. In addition, the Company
also maintains offices in New York, Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco. The
Company believes its office space will be adequate for its needs for the present
and the immediate future.
The Company's operations are dependent in part upon its ability to
protect against physical damage from fire, floods, earthquakes, power loss,
telecommunications failures, break-ins and similar events. The Company does not
have a disaster recovery plan or sufficient
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<PAGE> 12
business interruption insurance to compensate it for losses that may occur as a
result of any of these events. The occurrence of any of these events could
result in interruptions, delays or cessation in service to users of the
Company's Internet sites, which could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and operating results.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is not currently involved in any legal proceedings that
it believes could have, either individually or in the aggregate, a material
adverse effect on its business or financial condition.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the
last quarter of the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998.
ITEM 4A. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Information required by Item 10 of Form 10-K with respect to
executive officers of the Company is set forth below. Executive officers of the
Company are elected by the Board of Directors on an annual basis and serve until
their successors have been duly elected and qualified. There are no family
relationships among any of the executive officers or directors of the Company.
The executive officers of the Company are:
NAME AGE POSITION
------------------------------
Russell C. Horowitz...... 32 President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief
Financial Officer, and Chairman of the Board
John Keister............. 32 Chief Operating Officer, Director
RUSSELL C. HOROWITZ IS a founder of the Company and has served as its
President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and a director since
its inception in February 1996. In March 1996, Mr. Horowitz founded Xanthus
Capital, L.P., a Seattle, Washington-based merchant bank that focuses primarily
on developing companies in emerging growth industries or special situations. Mr.
Horowitz serves as the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Xanthus
Management, L.L.C., the general partner of Xanthus Capital, L.P., and of DMR
Investments, L.L.C., the investment advisor to Xanthus Capital, L.P. In July
1992, Mr. Horowitz was a founder of Active Apparel Group, Inc., a New York-based
apparel supplier. From 1992 until April 1994, Mr. Horowitz served as its Chief
Financial Officer; and from May 1994 until May 1997, Mr. Horowitz served as its
Director of Corporate Development and Investor Relations. Prior to July 1992,
Mr. Horowitz served as a financial advisor to start-up and developing companies.
Mr. Horowitz received a B.A. in Economics from Columbia College of Columbia
University in 1988.
JOHN KEISTER is a founder of the Company and has served as the
Company's Chief Operating Officer since its inception in February 1996 and since
September 1997 as a director. From 1994 to February 1996, Mr. Keister served as
the President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of ViewCom Technology
International, Inc., a Seattle, Washington-based computer software developer.
From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Keister managed European marketing operations for Dorian
International, Inc., a White Plains, New York-based export management company.
Mr. Keister received a B.A. in International Affairs and Philosophy from
Occidental College in 1989.
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PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDERS'
MATTERS
The Common Stock of the Company has traded on the NASDAQ SmallCap
Market under the symbol "GNET" since the Company's initial public offering on
April 23, 1997. Prior to that time, there was no public market for the Company's
Common Stock. The following table sets forth the high and low last reported
sales prices for the Company's Common Stock for the period indicated as reported
by the NASDAQ SmallCap Market. On October 1, 1998, the Company's Common Stock
was approved for trading on the NASDAQ National Market.
YEAR FISCAL QUARTER ENDED HIGH LOW
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 June 30, 1997 (commencing April 23, 1997) ....... 11 5 1/4
September 30, 1997 .............................. 9 13/16 5 5/8
1998 December 31, 1997 ............................... 10 1/4 6 5/8
March 31, 1998 .................................. 17 3/4 7
June 30, 1998 ................................... 35 16 13/16
September 30, 1998 .............................. 33 3/4 13 13/16
October 1, 1998 (through December 28, 1998) ..... 43 3/8 15
As of December 28, 1998, the Company had 5,976,632 shares of Common
Stock outstanding held by approximately 66 shareholders of record. This does not
reflect persons or entities who hold their stock in nominee or "street" name
through various brokerage firms.
The Company has not paid dividends on its Common Stock. The Company
anticipates it will continue to reinvest earnings to finance future growth, and
therefore does not intend to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.
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ITEM 6: SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth financial data and other operating
information of the Company. The selected financial data presented in the table
is derived from the financial statements of the Company. The data should be read
in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations" and the Financial Statements and Notes thereto
included elsewhere in this Report.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PERIOD
FROM
INCEPTION
(APRIL 27,
YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED 1995) TO
SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
1998 1997 1996 1995
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenues $ 4,830,882 $ 528,595 $ 8,000 $ -
Cost of revenues 1,803,895 228,597 7,000 -
Operating expenses:
Advertising and marketing 1,281,312 102,042 14,255 -
Product development 1,124,623 612,923 163,408 3,818
General and administrative 2,066,962 1,602,791 329,594 13,635
Merger and acquisition related costs 1,035,494 - - -
Impairment loss 398,126 - - -
----------- ----------- ---------- --------
Total operating expenses 5,906,517 2,317,756 507,257 17,453
----------- ----------- ---------- --------
Loss from operations (2,879,530) (2,017,758) (506,257) (17,453)
Interest income 508,405 261,511 11,818 -
----------- ----------- ---------- --------
Net loss $(2,371,125) $(1,756,247) $ (494,439) $(17,453)
=========== =========== ========== ========
Net loss per share $ (0.41) $ (0.39) $ (0.38) $(145.44)
Shares used in computing net loss per share(1) 5,781,937 4,518,390 1,318,299 120
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
1998 1997 1996 1995
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities $ 8,414,991 $10,926,781 $1,206,824 $ -
Working capital 8,726,221 10,841,073 812,325 -
Total assets 11,334,212 12,811,065 1,500,651 43,184
Stockholders' equity 10,289,568 12,473,847 1,097,936 43,184
</TABLE>
(1) Net loss per share is calculated using the weighted average number of shares
of Common Stock outstanding during such period. See Note 1 to Financial
Statements.
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ITEM 7: MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
THE MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS REPORT CONTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL RESULTS
COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE DISCUSSED HEREIN. FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE OR
CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH DIFFERENCES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE DISCUSSED
IN "FACTORS AFFECTING THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS OPERATING RESULTS AND FINANCIAL
CONDITION" AS WELL AS THOSE DISCUSSED IN THIS SECTION AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
REPORT.
OVERVIEW
Go2Net, Inc. (the "Company") offers through the World Wide Web a network of
branded, technology and community-driven Web sites. Go2Net's properties
available through the Go2Net Network (www.go2net.com) include: MetaCrawler
(www.metacrawler.com), a metasearch service that combines various existing
search/index guides into one service; PlaySite (www.playsite.com), a Java-based
multiplayer games site; StockSite (www.stocksite.com), a business and finance
site which offers proprietary articles, portfolio tracking tools, company
research and news relating to business and finance; Silicon Investor
(www.siliconinvestor.com), the Web's premier financial discussion community;
HyperMart (www.hypermart.net), the Web's leading provider of free business
hosting services; and WebMarket (www.webmarket.com), a one-stop comparison
shopping service. The Go2Net's Labs division develops innovative technologies to
enhance the features and functionality of the Go2Net sites and for licensing to
other Internet companies. The Company focuses on utilizing innovative
technologies to deliver its content and to enhance the attractiveness and
utility of its product offerings.
The Company has a limited operating history upon which an evaluation of the
Company and its prospects can be based. The Company anticipates that advertising
revenues from the Company's Internet sites will constitute a majority of the
Company's revenues during the foreseeable future. The Company believes that its
success will depend upon its ability to generate revenues from advertising and
subscription fees from its Internet sites, which cannot be assured. The
Company's ability to generate revenues is subject to substantial uncertainty.
The Company's prospects must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and
difficulties frequently encountered by emerging growth companies in general, and
specifically with respect to the new and rapidly evolving market for
Internet-based products and services. To address these risks, the Company must,
among other things, effectively establish, develop and maintain relationships
with advertising customers, advertising agencies and other third parties, enter
into distribution relationships and strategic alliances to drive traffic to its
Websites, provide original and compelling products and services to Internet
users, develop and upgrade its technology, respond to competitive developments,
attract new qualified personnel and retain existing qualified personnel. There
can be no assurance that the Company will succeed in addressing such risks and
the failure to do so would have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and operating results. Additionally, the Company's
lack of an extensive operating history makes prediction of future operating
results difficult. Accordingly, although the Company reported an operating
profit (before one-time charges) for the quarter ended September 30, 1998, there
can be no assurance that the Company will be able to generate significant
revenues or that the Company will achieve, or maintain profitability or generate
revenues from operations in the future. Since inception, the Company has
incurred significant losses on an annual basis and, as of September 30, 1998,
had an accumulated deficit of $4,639,264. The Company currently intends to
substantially increase its operating expenses in order to, among other things,
expand and improve its Internet operations, fund increased advertising and
marketing efforts, expand and improve its Internet user support capabilities and
develop new Internet technologies, applications and other products and services.
The Company's quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly as a
result of a variety of factors, many of which are outside of the Company's
control. Factors that may adversely affect the Company's quarterly operating
results include the level of use of the Internet, demand for advertising,
seasonal trends in both Internet use and advertising placements, the addition or
loss of advertisers, advertising budgeting cycles of individual advertisers, the
level of use of the Company's Internet sites, the amount and timing of capital
expenditures and other costs relating to the development, operation and
expansion of the Company's Internet operations, the introduction of new sites
and services by the Company or its competitors, price competition or pricing
changes in the industry, technical difficulties or system failures, general
economic conditions and economic conditions specific to the Internet and
Internet media. In seeking to effectively execute its operating strategy, the
Company may elect from time to time to make certain advertising and marketing or
acquisition decisions that could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and operating results. The Company believes that
period to period comparisons of its operating results are not meaningful and
should not be relied upon for an indication of future performance. Due to all of
the foregoing factors, it is likely that in some future quarters, the Company's
operating results may be below the expectations of public market analysts and
stockholders. In such event, the price of the Company's Common Stock would
likely be materially adversely affected.
On June 23, 1998, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
April 22, 1998, by and among the Company, Silicon Acquisition Corp., Silicon
Investor, Inc. ("Silicon Investor") and certain shareholders of Silicon
Investor, the Company exchanged all of the outstanding capital stock of Silicon
Investor for 1,238,043 shares of common stock of the Company in a transaction
accounted for as a pooling of interests. Silicon Investor (URL:
http://www.siliconinvestor.com) operates a site on the Web focused on personal
finance. Silicon Investor's primary focus is its discussion community, which has
over 6,000,000 messages currently in its database. Silicon Investor was
incorporated in April
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<PAGE> 16
1995 and has since attracted over 75,000 subscribers who have in certain cases
paid a membership fee to participate in Silicon Investor's financial discussions
and other features.
On August 3, 1998, the Company merged with HyperMart, Inc. a provider of free
Web hosting for businesses. In connection with this acquisition, the Company
issued approximately 157,499 shares of Common Stock. This transaction was
accounted for as a pooling of interests. Because the results of operations and
financial position of HyperMart were not material to Go2Net's consolidated
financial statements prior to June 30, 1998, financial information prior to the
date of acquisition was not restated.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
REVENUES
Revenues increased from $8,000 for the year ended September 30, 1996 to $528,595
in 1997 and to $4,830,882 in 1998. These increases were primarily the result of
increases in the number of advertisers on the Company's web sites as well as
increases in the size of advertising contracts. The Company expects to continue
to derive a significant portion of its revenue from selling advertisements on
its network of sites. Given the competitive nature of Web based advertising,
advertising rates are subject to intensive price pressure. A reduction in the
Company's advertising rates, the number of advertisers or the value of
advertising contracts as a result of competition or otherwise, could adversely
affect revenues in the future.
COST OF REVENUES
Cost of revenues includes hosting costs, royalties and other cost of revenues,
and amortization of certain purchased technology. Hosting costs relate to the
maintenance and technical support of the Company's websites, which consist of
personnel costs, third party hosting costs, equipment depreciation and overhead
allocations. Royalties and other cost of revenues include expenses related to
royalties, license agreements and revenue sharing agreements for content and
other services. Cost of revenues increased by $1,575,298 from $228,597, or 43%
of revenues for 1997, to $1,803,895, or 37% of revenues, for 1998. This increase
was primarily due to the increased hosting costs to support the Company's sites.
Cost of revenues for 1996 are not comparable to 1997 and 1998 as the nature of
the Company's revenues changed significantly with the launch of the Company's
sites in 1997.
OPERATING EXPENSES
SALES AND MARKETING. Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of public
relations, travel and costs of marketing literature. Sales and marketing
expenses increased from $14,255, or 178% of revenues in 1996, to $102,042, or
19% of revenues in 1997. Sales and marketing expenses increased to $1,281,312,
or 27% of revenues in 1998. The increase in sales and marketing expenses is
primarily due to hiring of sales and marketing personnel, the launching or
redevelopment of new Web sites and the marketing of such Web sites. In order to
continue promoting its brands the Company intends to significantly increase its
sales and marketing expenses in future periods.
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT. Product development expenses consist of expenses incurred
by the Company in the development and creation of its Internet sites and product
offerings. Product development expenses include compensation and related
expenses, costs of computer hardware and software, and the cost of acquiring,
designing, and developing Internet technologies, products and services. All of
the costs incurred to date in connection with the development of the Company's
websites have been expensed. Product development expenses increased from
$163,408 for 1996 to $612,923 for 1997. Product development expenses increased
to $1,124,623, or 23% of revenues for 1998. The increase in product development
expenses is the result of the increased staff required to develop and enhance
the Company's web sites. The Company believes that significant investments in
enhancing its websites and product offerings will be necessary to be
competitive. As a result, the Company may continue to incur, or increase the
level of, product development expenses. The Company recognized a charge of
$398,126 in 1998 related to reflect permanent impairment in the Company's
original investment in certain technology licenses for which the Company no
longer uses the acquired product code. These technology licenses were included
as intangible assets. This charge is disclosed as an impairment loss in the
statement of operations for 1998.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE. General and administrative expenses consist
primarily of compensation not otherwise attributable to development expenses,
rent expense, fees for professional services and other general expenses. General
and administrative expenses increased from $329,594 in 1996 to $1,602,791 in
1997. General and administrative expenses increased to $2,066,962, or 43% of
revenues in 1998. The increase in general and administrative expenses is due to
the increase in personnel, professional services and the expansion of the
Company's corporate infrastructure. The Company expects general and
administrative expenses to continue to increase in future periods as a result of
adding infrastructure and assimilating acquisitions of acquired technologies and
businesses.
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<PAGE> 17
MERGER AND ACQUISITION RELATED COSTS. Merger and acquisition related costs,
totaled $1,035,494 in 1998. The charge included $319,512 associated with the
merger with HyperMart, and $715,982 related to the merger with Silicon Investor,
Inc. There were no merger and acquisition related costs in 1997 or 1996.
INTEREST INCOME. Interest income was $11,818, $261,511 and $508,405 for 1996,
1997 and 1998, respectively. The increase reflected interest earned on
investments from cash received from the Company's initial public offering in
April of 1997.
INCOME TAXES. The Company has not recorded an income tax expense because it has
incurred net operating losses since its inception. As of September 30, 1998, the
Company had Federal net operating loss carry forwards of approximately
$2,892,000. The Federal net operating loss carry forwards will expire beginning
in 2011 if not utilized. Utilization of the net operating losses may be subject
to a substantial annual limitation due to the ownership change limitations
provided in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and similar state
provisions. See Note 3 of Notes to Financial Statements.
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<PAGE> 18
SELECTED QUARTERLY DATA: The following table sets forth the selected quarterly
data for the years ended September 30, 1997 and 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL 1998 QUARTER ENDED FISCAL 1997 QUARTER ENDED
-------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
SEPT. 30 JUNE 30 MARCH 31 DEC. 31 SEPT. 30 JUNE 30 MARCH 31 DEC. 31
---------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenue $1,955,243 $ 1,330,865 $ 935,498 $ 609,276 $ 310,152 $ 218,443 $ - $ -
Cost of revenue 554,946 533,609 469,827 245,513 96,107 132,490 - -
Gross Profit 1,400,297 797,256 465,671 363,763 214,045 85,953 - -
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing 408,993 319,594 275,291 277,434 63,768 16,118 10,735 11,421
Product development 308,420 272,574 275,371 268,258 161,290 234,689 156,591 60,353
General and administrative 679,170 661,586 415,407 310,799 535,805 379,484 318,939 368,563
Merger and acquisition
related costs 319,512 715,982 - - - - - -
Impairment loss - 398,126 - - - - - -
---------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total operating expenses 1,716,095 2,367,862 966,069 856,491 760,863 630,291 486,265 440,337
---------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Loss from operations (315,798) (1,570,606) (500,398) (492,728) (546,818) (544,338) (486,265) (440,337)
Interest income, net 126,831 134,476 122,772 124,326 146,072 107,238 603 7,598
---------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net loss $ (188,967) $(1,436,130) $ (377,626) $ (368,402) $ (400,746) $ (437,100) $ (485,662) $ (432,739)
========== =========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Net loss per share $ (0.03) $ (0.25) $ (0.07) $ (0.06) $ (0.09) $ (0.10) $ (0.12) $ (0.11)
Shares used in computing
basic and diluted net
loss per share 5,869,714 5,753,093 $5,743,967 5,740,153 4,522,753 4,334,622 3,891,214 3,876,957
</TABLE>
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
At September 30, 1998, the Company's principal source of liquidity was
$8,414,991 in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities derived primarily
from the Company's initial public offering in April 1997, in which it issued
1,840,000 shares of its Common Stock to the public at a price of $8.00 per
share. The Company received approximately $12.8 million in cash, net of
underwriting discounts, commissions and other offering costs. As of September
30, 1998, the Company also had a $1,000,000 revolving line of credit that
expires on February 13, 1999. All borrowings under such line of credit accrue
interest at such bank's prime annual lending rate. As of September 30, 1998, no
borrowings were outstanding under this line of credit. The Company has primarily
financed its operations through the sale of equity securities.
Operating activities used cash of $414,809, $1,993,266, and $1,545,954 in 1996,
1997 and 1998, respectively. The increased use of cash was primarily due to
increased operating losses and increases in accounts receivable and deposits
reduced by increases in accounts payable and deferred revenue. The Company has
in the past, and may in the future, acquire businesses which may result in an
increase in the use of cash to support operations.
Investing activities used cash of $262,978, $1,137,173 and $8,956,379 in 1996,
1997 and 1998, respectively. The use of cash in 1996 was the result of capital
expenditures of $262,978. In 1997, the increased use of cash was the result of
capital expenditures along with the acquisition of intangibles. The increased
use of cash in 1998 was due to the net purchase of marketable securities and the
use of $1,068,771 for the acquisition of capital equipment. The Company has no
material commitments for capital expenditures other than approximately $100,000
relating to the purchase of computer hardware and software. The Company
anticipates a substantial increase in its capital expenditures in 1999
consistent with its anticipated growth.
The Company maintains a short-term investment portfolio consisting of interest
bearing securities with an average maturity of less than one year. These
securities are subject to interest rate risk and will fall in value if market
interest rates increase. Because the Company has the ability to hold its fixed
income investments until maturity, it does not expect its operating results or
cash flows to be affected to any significant degree by a sudden change in market
interest rates on its securities portfolio.
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<PAGE> 19
Financing activities generated cash of $1,884,611, $12,850,396 and $46,294 in
1996, 1997 and 1998. Financing activities in 1996 consisted primarily of the
sale of Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock totaling $1,425,000. Financing
activities in 1997 consisted of the sale of the Company's Common Stock in its
initial public offering totaling $12.8 million. In 1998, financing activities
consisted of proceeds from stock option exercises and short-term financing
offset repayments on shareholder notes and short-term debt.
The Company currently believes that available funds, cash flows expected to be
generated from operations, if any, and the existing line of credit will be
sufficient to fund its working capital and capital expenditures requirements for
at least the next twelve months. Thereafter, the Company may need to raise
additional funds. The Company's ability to grow will depend in part on the
Company's ability to expand and improve its Internet operations, expand its
advertising and marketing efforts, expand and improve its Internet user support
capabilities and develop new Internet-based products and services. In connection
therewith, the Company may need to raise additional capital in the foreseeable
future from public or private equity or debt sources in order to finance such
possible growth. In addition, the Company may need to raise additional funds in
order to avail itself to unanticipated opportunities (such as more rapid
expansion, acquisitions of complementary businesses or the development of new
products or services), to react to unforeseen difficulties (such as the loss of
key personnel or the rejection by Internet users or potential advertisers of the
Company's Internet products and services) or to otherwise respond to
unanticipated competitive pressures. If additional funds are raised through the
issuance of equity securities, then the percentage ownership of the Company's
then existing stockholders will be reduced, stockholders may experience
additional and significant dilution and such equity securities may have rights,
preferences or privileges senior to those of the Company's Common Stock. There
can be no assurance that additional financing will be available on terms
acceptable to the Company or at all. If adequate funds are not available or are
not available on terms acceptable to the Company, the Company may be unable to
implement its business, sales or marketing plan, respond to competitive forces
or take advantage of perceived business opportunities, which could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
operating results.
YEAR 2000 RISKS
Many currently installed computer systems and software products are coded to
accept only two-digit entries in the date code field and cannot distinguish 21st
century dates from 20th century dates. These date code fields will need to
distinguish 21st century dates from 20th century dates and, 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.
State of Readiness
The Company has completed its assessment of all current versions of its
information technology systems and believes they are year 2000 compliant. The
supplier of the Company's current financial and accounting software has informed
the Company that such software is year 2000 compliant. The Company has been
informed by its financial institutions that they are in the process of making
their information systems year 2000 compliant, and that this process will be
complete by the beginning of 1999.
Costs
To date, the Company has not incurred any material expenditure in connection
with identifying or evaluating year 2000 compliance issues. Most of its expenses
have related to the retention of an outside consultant to evaluate the Company's
financial and accounting software, and the opportunity cost of time spent by
employees of the Company evaluating this software and year 2000 compliance
matters generally. Although the Company is not aware of any material operational
issues or costs associated with preparing its internal systems for the year
2000, there can be no assurances that the Company will not experience serious
unanticipated negative consequences and/or material costs caused by undetected
errors or defects in the technology used in its internal systems, which are
comprised predominantly of acquired technology and the Company's own software
developments. The Company believes that internally generated funds or available
cash would be sufficient to cover the costs of year 2000 compliance. At this
time, based upon the information provided to the Company, the Company does not
believe there exists a material impact of year 2000 compliance issues relating
to its non-IT systems, its vendors, its customers and other parties. The Company
continues to update its assessment of year 2000 issues as it relates to its
non-IT systems, its vendors, its customers and other parties.
Contingency Plan
As the Company is not aware of any material year 2000 compliance issues, it has
not developed a year 2000-specific contingency plan. The Company continues to
assess the impacts of year 2000 issues, and if year 2000 compliance issues are
discovered, the Company will evaluate the need for one or more contingency plans
relating to such issues.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS, OPERATING RESULTS AND FINANCIAL
CONDITION
The following risk factors should be considered in conjunction with
the other information included in this Report. This Report may include
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. In addition to
those risk factors discussed elsewhere in this Report,
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<PAGE> 20
the Company identifies the following risk factors which could affect the
Company's actual results and cause actual results to differ materially from
those in the forward-looking statements.
Limited Operating History; Accumulated Deficit; No Assurance of
Profitability. The Company was incorporated in February 1996 and for the year
ended September 30, 1998 generated $4,830,882 in revenues. The Company has a
limited operating history upon which an evaluation of the Company and its
prospects can be based. The Company anticipates that advertising revenues from
the Company's Internet sites will constitute a significant portion of the
Company's revenues during the foreseeable future. The Company believes that its
success will depend upon its ability to generate revenues from advertising,
commerce and subscription fees from its Internet sites, which cannot be assured.
The Company's ability to generate revenues is subject to substantial
uncertainty. The Company's prospects must be considered in light of the risks,
expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by emerging growth companies in
general, and specifically with respect to the new and rapidly evolving market
for Internet-based products and services. To address these risks, the Company
must, among other things, effectively establish, develop and maintain
relationships with advertising customers, advertising agencies and other third
parties, enter into distribution relationships and strategic alliances to drive
traffic to its Websites, provide original and compelling products and services
to Internet users, develop and upgrade its technology, effectively respond to
competitive developments, attract new qualified personnel and retain existing
qualified personnel. There can be no assurance that the Company will succeed in
addressing such risks and the failure to do so would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and operating results.
Additionally, the Company's lack of an extensive operating history makes
prediction of future operating results difficult. Accordingly, although the
Company reported an operating profit (before one-time charges) for the quarter
ended September 30, 1998, there can be no assurance that the Company will be
able to generate significant revenues or that the Company will achieve, or
maintain profitability or generate revenues from operations in the future. Since
inception, the Company has incurred significant losses on an annual basis and,
as of September 30,1998, had an accumulated deficit of $4,639,264. The Company
currently intends to increase substantially its operating expenses in order to,
among other things, expand and improve its Internet operations, fund increased
advertising and marketing efforts, expand and improve its Internet user support
capabilities and develop new Internet technologies, products and services.
Unpredictability of Future Revenues; Potential Fluctuations in
Quarterly Operating Results. As a result of the Company's limited operating
history and the emerging nature of the Internet, including Internet-based
advertising, subscription services and electronic commerce, the Company is
unable to forecast its expenses and revenues accurately. The Company's current
and future estimated expense levels are based largely on its estimates of future
revenues and may increase because many of its significant operating expenses are
either fixed, such as rent for office space, or subject to likely increases.
Few, if any, of the Company's operating expenses can be quickly or easily
reduced, such as the laying off of personnel, in a manner which would not cause
a material adverse effect to the Company's business, financial condition and
operating results. In addition, the Company may be unable to adjust spending in
a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected expenditures; and a shortfall
in actual revenues as compared to estimated revenues would have an immediate
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
operating results.
The Company's quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly
as a result of a variety of factors, many of which are outside of the Company's
control. For example, the Company believes that advertising sales in traditional
media are generally lower in the first and third calendar quarters of each year
than in the second and fourth quarters and that advertising expenditures
fluctuate significantly with economic cycles. Depending on the extent to which
the Internet is accepted as an advertising medium, seasonality and cyclicality
in the level of advertising expenditures generally could become more pronounced
for Internet-based advertising. Seasonality and cyclicality in advertising
expenditures generally, or with respect to Internet-based advertising
specifically, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and operating results. Other factors that may adversely
affect the Company's quarterly operating results include the level of use of the
Internet, demand for advertising, seasonal trends in both Internet use and
advertising placements, the addition or loss of advertisers, advertising
budgeting cycles of individual advertisers, the level of use of the Company's
Internet sites, the amount and timing of capital expenditures and other costs
relating to the development, operation and expansion of the Company's Internet
operations, the introduction of new Internet sites, products and services by the
Company or its competitors, price competition or pricing changes in the
industry, technical difficulties or system failures, general economic conditions
and economic conditions specific to the Internet and Internet media. In seeking
to effectively execute its operating strategy, the Company may elect from time
to time to make certain advertising and marketing or acquisition decisions that
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and operating results. The Company believes that period to period
comparisons of its operating results are not meaningful and should not be relied
upon for an indication of future performance. Due to all of the foregoing
factors, it is likely that in some future quarters, the Company's operating
results may be below the expectations of public market analysts and
stockholders. In such event, the price of the Company's Common Stock would
likely be materially adversely affected.
Dependence on Advertising Revenues; Risks Related to Sponsorships.
The Company expects to derive a significant portion of its revenues in the
foreseeable future from the sale of advertising on its Internet sites. For the
year ended September 30, 1998, the Company generated $4,830,882 in revenues, of
which approximately 71.7% of revenues were attributable to advertising. Many of
the Company's relationships with advertisers are terminable within a short
period of time. Consequently, the Company's advertising customers may move
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<PAGE> 21
their advertising to competing Internet sites, or from the Internet to
traditional media, quickly and at relatively low costs, thereby increasing the
Company's exposure to competing pressures and fluctuations in revenues and
operating results. In selling Internet-based advertising, the Company will
likely depend in part on advertising agencies, which exercise substantial
control over the placement of advertising for their clients. The Company's
success will depend on its ability to retain, broaden and diversify its future
base of advertising customers. In order to generate significant advertising
revenues, the Company will depend on the development of a larger base of users
of the Company's Internet sites possessing demographic characteristics
attractive to advertisers. If the Company is unable to retain paying advertising
customers or is forced to offer lower than anticipated advertising rates in
order to retain advertising customers or to attract new advertising customers,
the Company's business, financial condition and operating results will be
materially adversely affected and the Company may cease to be a commercially
viable enterprise.
The Company has recently entered into certain advertising
arrangements with third parties to provide services on the Company's Websites
which are a departure from traditional CPM-driven advertising. In connection
with these arrangements, the Company may receive sponsorship fees as well as a
portion of transaction revenues received by such third party sponsors from users
originated through the Company's Websites, in return for minimum levels of user
impressions or "click throughs" to be provided by the Company. To the extent
implemented, these arrangements expose the Company to potentially significant
financial risks, including the risk that the Company fails to deliver required
minimum levels of user impressions or click throughs (in which case, these
agreements typically provide for adjustments to the fees payable thereunder or
"make good" periods) and that third party sponsors do not renew the agreements
at the end of their terms. Certain of these arrangements also require the
Company to integrate advertisers' or sponsors' content with the Company's
services, which requires the dedication of resources and significant programming
and design efforts to accomplish. There can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to attract additional advertisers or sponsors or that it will be
able to renew existing advertising arrangements when they expire. In addition,
the Company has granted exclusivity provisions to certain of its sponsors, and
may in the future grant additional exclusivity provisions. Such exclusivity
provisions may have the effect of preventing the Company, for the duration of
such exclusivity arrangements, from accepting advertising or sponsorship
arrangements within a particular subject matter in the Company's Websites or
across the Company's entire service. The inability of the Company to enter into
further sponsorships or advertising arrangements as a result of its exclusivity
arrangements could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and operating results.
Uncertain Acceptance of the Internet as an Advertising Medium; Lack
of Measurement Standards. Use of the Internet by consumers is at an early stage
of development and market acceptance of the Internet as a medium for
information, entertainment, commerce and advertising is subject to a certain
level of uncertainty. The Company believes that its success depends upon its
ability to obtain significant revenues from its Internet operations, which will
require the continued acceptance of the Internet as an advertising medium. The
Company believes that most advertisers and advertising agencies have limited
experience with the Internet as an advertising medium and most advertisers and
advertising agencies have not devoted a significant portion of their advertising
budgets to Internet-related advertising to date. In order for the Company to
continue to generate advertising revenues, advertisers and advertising agencies
must direct more of their budgets to the Internet as a whole, and specifically
to the Company's Internet sites. There can be no assurance that advertisers or
advertising agencies will continue to allocate larger portions of their budgets
to Internet-based advertising, or, that they will find Internet-based
advertising to be more effective than advertising in traditional media such as
television, print or radio. Moreover, there can be no assurance that the
Internet advertising market will continue to develop as an attractive and
sustainable medium.
Acceptance of the Internet among advertisers and advertising agencies
will also depend on the level of use of the Internet by consumers, which is
highly uncertain, and on the acceptance of the alternative new model of
conducting business and exchanging information presented by the Internet.
Advertisers and advertising agencies that have invested resources in traditional
methods of advertising may be reluctant to modify their media buying behavior or
their systems and infrastructure to use Internet-based advertising. Furthermore,
no standards to measure the effectiveness of Internet-based advertising have yet
gained widespread acceptance, and there can be no assurance that such standards
will be adopted or adopted broadly enough to support widespread acceptance of
Internet-based advertising. If Internet-based advertising is not widely accepted
by advertisers and advertising agencies, the Company's business, financial
condition and operating results will be materially adversely affected and the
Company may cease to be a commercially viable enterprise.
Uncertain Acceptance of the Company's Internet Products and Services.
The Company's commercial viability depends in large part upon its continued
ability to develop and provide on the Internet original and compelling products
and services that will successfully attract and retain users with demographic
characteristics valuable to the various advertisers and advertising agencies the
Company is targeting and to charge users a subscription fee for access to
certain portions of such products and services, such as Silicon Investor. There
can be no assurance that the Company's products and services will be attractive
enough to a sufficient number of Internet users to generate advertising revenues
or to allow the charging of a subscription fee for certain portions thereof.
There also can be no assurance that the Company will be able to anticipate,
monitor and successfully respond to rapidly changing consumer tastes and
preferences so as to attract a growing number of users to its Internet sites
within the demographics desirable to advertisers and advertising agencies or
those users who are otherwise willing to pay to access certain portions of the
Company's products and services. Internet users can freely navigate and
instantly switch among a large number of Internet sites, many of which offer
competitive products and services, making it difficult for the Company to
distinguish its product
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<PAGE> 22
offerings and attract users. In addition, many other Internet sites offer very
specific, highly targeted products and services that may have greater appeal
than the products and services offered on the Company's Internet sites. If the
Company is unable to develop original and compelling Internet-based products and
services in a manner that allows it to attract, retain and expand a loyal user
base desirable to advertisers and advertising agencies or Internet users who are
willing to pay to access certain portions of such Internet-based products and
services, then the Company will be unable to generate sufficient advertising or
subscription revenues, and its business, financial condition and operating
results will be materially adversely affected and the Company may cease to be a
commercially viable enterprise.
Competition. The Company competes with other Internet sites for the
time and attention of consumers and for advertising and subscription revenues.
Competition among Internet sites is intense and is expected to increase
significantly in the future. The Company's Internet sites compete against a
variety of companies that provide similar offerings through one or more media,
such as print, radio, television and the Internet. To compete successfully, the
Company must develop and deliver popular, original, entertaining, informative
and compelling product offerings to attract Internet users and to support
advertising and subscription fees. In the Company's areas of focus of search;
games; business and finance; business hosting; and ecommerce, the Company
competes with various companies and Internet sites, such as Microsoft
Corporation, c/net, Inc., America OnLine, Inc., Excite, Inc., Infoseek
Corporation, Lycos, Inc., Netscape Communications Corporation, Wired Ventures,
Inc., GeoCities Corporation, Xoom, Inc. and Yahoo! Inc. Many, if not all, of
these competitors also offer a wider range of products and services than does
the Company, which products and services may be sufficiently attractive to
Internet users to attract users to their services and, consequently, dissuade
them from accessing the Company's Internet sites. If the Company is unable to
continue to attract a significant number of Internet users to its Internet
sites, the Company's business, financial condition and operating results will be
materially adversely affected and the Company may cease to be a commercially
viable enterprise.
Low Barriers to Entry. The market for Internet-based products and
services is relatively new, intensely competitive and rapidly evolving. There
are minimal barriers to entry, and current and new competitors can launch new
Internet sites at a relatively low cost within relatively short time periods. In
addition, the Company competes for the time and attention of Internet users with
thousands of non-profit Internet sites operated by, among other persons,
individuals, government and educational institutions. Existing and potential
competitors also include magazine and newspaper publishers, cable television
companies and start-up ventures attracted to the Internet market. Accordingly,
the Company expects competition to persist and intensify and the number of
competitors to increase significantly in the future. Should the Company seek in
the future to attempt to expand the scope of its Internet sites and product
offerings, it will compete with a greater number of Internet sites and other
companies. Because the operations and strategic plans of existing and future
competitors are undergoing rapid change, it is extremely difficult for the
Company to anticipate which companies are likely to offer competitive products
and services in the future. There can be no assurance that the Company's
Internet sites will compete successfully.
Competitive Factors. The Company believes that the competitive
factors attracting Internet users include, among others, the quality of
presentation and the relevance, timeliness, depth and breadth of information and
services offered by the Company. With respect to attracting advertisers and
advertising agencies, the Company believes that the competitive factors include,
among others, the number of users accessing the Company's Internet sites, the
demographics of such user base, the Company's ability to deliver targeted
advertising and rich-media advertising through its Internet sites and the
overall cost effectiveness and value of advertising offered by the Company. In
addition, the success of the Company's business strategy depends on the sale of
future Internet advertising at premium prices, based in part on the demographic
characteristics of the Company's Internet users. With respect to attracting
subscription-based users, the Company believes that the competitive factors
include, among others, the quality, uniqueness and usefulness of the products
and services provided, the price charged for such products and services and the
cost and accessibility of similar products and services through the Internet or
competing media. Given the intense competition among Internet sites and other
media, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to continue to
compete successfully with respect to any of these factors.
Strength of Competitors. Many, if not all, of the Company's current
and potential competitors have significantly greater financial, editorial,
technical and marketing resources, longer operating histories, greater name
recognition, and greater experience than the Company; and also have established
relationships with more advertisers and advertising agencies. Many, if not all,
of such competitors may be able to undertake more extensive marketing campaigns,
adopt more aggressive advertising and subscription price policies and devote
substantially more resources to developing Internet-based products and services
than the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
compete successfully against current or future competitors or that competitive
pressures faced by the Company will not materially adversely affect the
Company's business, financial condition and operating results. In addition, in
response to competitive pressures, the Company may make certain pricing,
business development and/or marketing decisions, or enter into acquisitions or
new ventures that could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and operating results.
Uncertain Acceptance and Maintenance of the Go2Net Brand. The Company
believes that maintaining and building the Go2Net brand is a critical aspect of
its efforts to attract an Internet audience and that the importance of brand
recognition will increase due to the anticipated increase in the number of
Internet sites and the relatively low barriers to entry to providing
Internet-based products and services. Promoting the Go2Net brand name will
depend on the Company's continued ability to develop and deliver original and
compelling Internet-
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<PAGE> 23
based products and services, which it cannot assure. If Internet users do not
continue to perceive the Company's Internet sites to be of sufficient interest
and usefulness, the Company will be unsuccessful in promoting and maintaining
its brand. To the extent the Company chooses in the future to seek to expand the
focus of its operations beyond providing its current Internet sites, the Company
risks diluting its brand, confusing users and advertisers, and decreasing the
attractiveness of its audience to advertisers. In order to attract and retain
Internet users and to promote and maintain the Go2Net brand in response to
competitive pressures, the Company may find it necessary to increase its budget
for developing its products and services or otherwise to increase substantially
its financial commitment to creating and maintaining a distinct brand loyalty
among users. If the Company is unable to provide Internet-based products and
services as described herein or otherwise fails to promote and maintain the
Go2Net brand, or the Company incurs significant expenses in an attempt to
improve its products and services or promote and maintain its brand, the
Company's business, financial condition and operating results will be materially
adversely affected and the Company may cease to be a commercially viable
enterprise.
Expansion of Operations and Managing Potential Growth. Since its
inception, the Company has grown rapidly and as of September 30, 1998 had 69
full-time employees and 10 independent contractors. This growth has placed, and
is expected to continue to place, a significant strain on the Company's
management, physical and capital resources. It is expected that the Company will
need to hire additional key personnel in order to fully implement its business
strategy. No assurance can be given as to whether, when, if ever, and under what
terms the Company will be able to attract such new personnel. In order to manage
such growth successfully, the Company will be required to, among other things,
implement and manage its operational and financial systems on a timely basis and
to train, manage and expand its growing employee base. Further, the Company's
management will be required to successfully maintain relationships with various
advertising customers, advertising agencies, other Internet sites and services,
Internet service providers and other third parties and to maintain control over
the strategic direction of the Company in a rapidly changing marketplace. There
can be no assurance that the Company's current personnel, systems, procedures
and quality and accounting controls will be adequate to support the Company's
future operations, that management will be able to identify, hire, train,
motivate or manage needed and qualified personnel, or that management will be
able to identify and exploit existing and potential opportunities. If the
Company is unable to effectively manage growth, the Company's business,
financial condition and operating results will be materially adversely affected.
Need for Additional Capital to Finance Growth and Capital
Requirements. The Company expects to seek to enhance and expand its Internet
sites in order to improve its competitive position and meet the increasing
demands for quality Internet-based products and services and competitive
advertising and subscription pricing. The Company's ability to grow will depend
in part on the Company's ability to expand and improve its Internet operations,
expand its advertising and marketing efforts, expand and improve its Internet
user support capabilities and develop new Internet technologies, products and
services. In connection therewith, the Company may need to raise additional
capital in the foreseeable future from public or private equity or debt sources
in order to finance such possible growth. In addition, the Company may need to
raise additional funds in order to avail itself to unanticipated opportunities
(such as more rapid expansion, acquisitions of complementary businesses or the
development of new products or services), to react to unforeseen difficulties
(such as the loss of key personnel or the rejection by Internet users or
potential advertisers of the Company's Internet-based products and services) or
to otherwise respond to unanticipated competitive pressures. If additional funds
are raised through the issuance of equity securities, the percentage ownership
of the Company's then existing stockholders would be reduced, stockholders may
experience additional and significant dilution and such equity securities may
have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of the holders of Common
Stock. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available on
terms acceptable to the Company or at all. If adequate funds are not available
or are not available on terms acceptable to the Company, the Company may be
unable to implement its business, sales or marketing plan, respond to
competitive forces or take advantage of perceived business opportunities, which
could have a material adverse effect in the Company's business, financial
condition and operating results.
Dependence on Key Personnel. The Company's performance is
substantially dependent on the continued services of Russell C. Horowitz, John
Keister and the other members of its management team, as well as on the
Company's ability to retain and motivate its officers and key employees. Each of
Messrs. Horowitz and Keister has entered into employment agreements with the
Company. The Company maintains a $5,000,000 "key man" life insurance policy on
the life of Mr. Keister and a $10,000,000 "key man" life insurance policy on the
life of Mr. Horowitz. The Company's future success also depends on its
continuing ability to attract and retain highly qualified technical and
managerial personnel. The development of technologies, products and services for
the Company's Internet sites requires the services of highly skilled employees
and independent contractors. The number of such personnel available is extremely
limited and competition for such personnel among Internet and other companies is
intense. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to retain its
existing employees and independent contractors or that it will be able to
attract, assimilate or retain sufficiently qualified personnel in the future.
The inability to attract and retain the necessary technical, managerial, design,
editorial, sales and marketing personnel could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and operating results.
Dependence on Third Parties for Internet Operations and Content
Development. The Company believes that the ability to advertise its Internet
sites on other Internet sites and the willingness of the owners and operators of
such sites to direct users to the Company's Internet sites through hypertext
links are critical to the success of the Company's Internet operations. Other
Internet sites, particularly search/index
23
<PAGE> 24
guides and other companies with strategic ability to direct user traffic,
significantly affect traffic to the Company's Internet sites. There can be no
assurance that the Company will establish or maintain such arrangements in the
future. In addition, the Company relies on the cooperation of owners and
operators of Internet sites and search/index guides in connection with the
operation of the MetaCrawler Service. There can be no assurance that such
cooperation will continue to be available on terms acceptable to the Company or
at all. The inability of the Company to include third-party search/index guides
in the MetaCrawler Service could result in the decrease in use of the
MetaCrawler Service, which would have a material, adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and operating results. The Company's
ability to develop original and compelling Internet-based products and services
is also dependent on maintaining relationships with and using products provided
by third-party vendors. Developing and maintaining satisfactory relationships
with third parties could become more difficult and more expensive as competition
increases among Internet sites. If the Company is unable to develop and maintain
satisfactory, relationships with such third parties on terms acceptable to the
Company, or if the Company's competitors are better able to leverage such
relationships, the Company's business, financial condition and operating results
will be materially adversely affected. In these efforts, the Company has relied,
and will continue to rely substantially, on the product and service development
efforts of third parties. For example, the Company relies on S&P Comstock, Dow
Jones & Company. Inc., New York Stock Exchange, Inc., The Nasdaq Stock Market,
Inc., News Alert, Junglee, Edgar Online, Reuters and Market Guide, Inc. to
provide a significant portion of the information included on the Company's
Internet sites. There can be no assurance the Company will maintain these
relationships in the future. Any failure of these third parties to provide this
information to the Company could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and operating results.
Dependence on Continued Growth in the Use of the Internet. Rapid
growth in the use of and interest in the Internet is a relatively new
phenomenon, and there can be no assurance that acceptance and use of the
Internet will continue to develop or that a sufficient base of users will emerge
to support the Company's business. Revenues from the Company's Internet
operations will depend largely on the continued acceptance and use of the
Internet as a source of information and entertainment and as a vehicle for
commerce in goods and services. The Internet may not be universally accepted as
a viable commercial medium for a number of reasons, including potentially
inadequate development of the necessary infrastructure, lack of timely
development of enabling technologies or lack of commercial support for
Internet-based ecommerce and advertising. To the extent that the Internet
continues to experience an increase in users, an increase in frequency of use or
an increase in the bandwidth requirements of users, there can be no assurance
that the Internet infrastructure will be able to support the demands placed upon
it. In addition, the Internet could lose its viability as a commercial medium
due to delays in the development or adoption of new standards and protocols
required to handle increased levels of Internet activity, or due to increased
government regulation. Changes in or insufficient availability of
telecommunications services to support the Internet also could result in slower
response times and could adversely affect use of the Internet generally and of
the Company's Internet sites in particular. If use of the Internet does not
continue to grow or grows more slowly than expected, or if the Internet
infrastructure does not effectively support growth that may occur, the Company's
business, financial condition and operating results would be materially
adversely affected.
Dependence on the MetaCrawler License. The Company and Netbot entered
into a License Agreement (the "MetaCrawler License Agreement") pursuant to which
Netbot, Inc. ("Netbot") has granted the Company an exclusive (subject to certain
limited exceptions), worldwide license to provide the MetaCrawler Service.
Netbot was acquired by Excite, Inc. in November 1997. As part of the MetaCrawler
License Agreement, the Company has the exclusive right to operate, modify and
reproduce the MetaCrawler Service (including, without limitation, the exclusive
right to use, modify and reproduce the name "MetaCrawler" and the MetaCrawler
URL in connection with the operation of the MetaCrawler Service). Netbot has
licensed the MetaCrawler Service and the other intellectual property rights
associated therewith from UW on an exclusive basis. The license has been granted
to the Company by Netbot on an exclusive basis, but Netbot has reserved the
right to use, modify, reproduce and license the MetaCrawler search engine for
any purpose other than the provision of the MetaCrawler Service and the license
is subject to the rights of UW to use, modify and reproduce the MetaCrawler
search engine and derivatives of the MetaCrawler site to operate Internet sites
for internal purposes within the UW domain and to use, modify and reproduce any
of the licensed technologies for research, instructional and academic purposes.
The search technology underlying the MetaCrawler Service and the MetaCrawler
trademark is licensed to or owned by Netbot and sublicensed to the Company
pursuant to the MetaCrawler License Agreement. A substantial portion of the
traffic to the Company's Internet sites is currently derived from users of the
MetaCrawler Service. Although the MetaCrawler License Agreement may be
terminated by Netbot only upon a material default by the Company thereunder, the
termination of the MetaCrawler License Agreement could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and operating results.
Moreover, the termination of the License Agreement between UW and Netbot
relating to Netbot's license of the MetaCrawler Service would result in the
inability of the Company to continue to provide the MetaCrawler Service under
the MetaCrawler License Agreement, which could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and operating results. In addition,
any failure by the Company to continue to provide the MetaCrawler Service for
any reason could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and operating results.
Risks of New Business Areas. The long-term success of the Company's
business strategy will depend to a significant extent on the Company's ability
to successfully diversify its revenue streams. The Company currently derives
revenue from advertising, licensing, subscriptions and ecommerce. However, the
company is largely dependent on advertising revenues, and continues to seek out
ways to develop these other sources of revenue. This includes the investigation
of new business areas. Expansion into new business areas and new Internet
24
<PAGE> 25
sites may bring the Company into direct competition with new competitors. Any
expansion of product offerings or operations, or new Internet sites developed
and launched by the Company that are not favorably received by Internet users
could damage the Company's reputation or the go2net brand. Expansion into new
business areas or the development and launching of new Internet sites will also
require significant additional expenses and programming and other resources and
will strain the Company's management, financial and operational resources.
Furthermore, any expansion of business areas and the developing and launching of
new Internet sites, as well as the enhancement of the Company's existing
Internet sites, will necessarily rely on untested business models. To date, the
Company has generated revenues primarily from Internet-based advertising, and
there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to generate substantial
advertising revenues in the future. The Company's failure to expand its business
operations or develop and launch new Internet sites in a cost effective and
timely manner could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and operating results.
From time to time, the Company may entertain new business
opportunities and ventures in a broad range of areas. For example, the Company
has acquired Silicon Investor and Hypermart. Typically, such opportunities
require extended negotiations, the outcome of which cannot be predicted. If the
Company were to enter into such a venture, the Company could be required to
invest a substantial amount of capital, which could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's financial condition and its ability to implement its
existing business strategy. Such an investment could also result in large and
prolonged operating losses for the Company. Further, such negotiations or
ventures could place additional, substantial burdens on the Company's management
personnel and its financial and operational systems. There can be no assurance
that such a venture would ever achieve profitability, and a failure by the
Company to recover the substantial investment required to launch and operate
such a venture would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and operating results.
Risks of Technological Change. The market for Internet-based products
and services is characterized by rapid technological developments, frequent new
product introductions and evolving industry standards. The emerging character of
these products and services and their rapid evolution will require that the
Company continually improve the performance, features and reliability of its
Internet-based products and services, particularly in response to competitive
offerings. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in
responding quickly, cost effectively and sufficiently to these developments. In
addition, the widespread adoption of new Internet technologies or standards
could require substantial expenditures by the Company to modify or adapt its
Internet sites and services and could fundamentally affect the character,
viability and frequency of Internet-based advertising, either of which could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition
and operating results. In addition, new Internet-based products, services or
enhancements offered by the Company may contain design flaws or other defects
that could require costly modifications or result in a loss of consumer
confidence, either of which could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and operating results.
Capacity Constraints and System Disruptions. The satisfactory
performance, reliability and availability of the Company's Internet sites and
its computer network infrastructure are critical to attracting Internet users
and maintaining relationships with advertising customers. The Company's
Internet-based advertising revenues will be directly related to the number of
advertisement impressions delivered by the Company. System interruptions that
result in the unavailability of the Company's Internet sites or slower response
times for users would reduce the number of advertisements delivered and reduce
the attractiveness of the Company's Internet sites to users and advertisers. The
Company may experience periodic systems interruptions from time to time in the
future. Additionally, any substantial increase in traffic on the Company's
Internet sites may require the Company to expand and adapt its computer network
infrastructure. The Company's inability to add additional computer software,
hardware and bandwidth to accommodate increased use of its Internet sites may
cause unanticipated system disruptions and result in slower response times.
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to expand its computer
network infrastructure on a timely basis to meet increased use. Any system
interruptions or slower response times resulting from the foregoing factors
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and operating results. The Company is dependent on third parties for
uninterrupted Internet access. In addition, the Company is dependent on various
third parties for substantially all of its news and information. Loss of such
services from any one or more of such third parties may have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and operating results. No
assurance can be given as to whether, or on what terms, the Company would be
able to obtain such services from other third parties in the event of the loss
of any of such services.
The Company's Internet operations are vulnerable to interruption by
fire, earthquake, power loss, telecommunications failure and other events beyond
the Company's control. There can be no assurance that interruptions in service
will not materially adversely affect the Company's operations in the future.
While the Company carries business interruption insurance to compensate the
Company for losses that may occur, there can be no assurance that such insurance
will be sufficient to provide for all losses or damages incurred by the Company.
Liability for Internet Content; Government Regulations. As a
publisher and a distributor of content over the Internet, the Company faces
potential liability for defamation, negligence, copyright, patent or trademark
infringement and other claims based on the nature and content of the materials
that it publishes or distributes. In addition, the Company could be exposed to
liability with respect to the content or unauthorized duplication of material
indexed in its search services. Although the Company carries liability
insurance, the Company's insurance may not cover potential claims of this type
or may not be adequate to indemnify the Company for all liability that may be
imposed.
25
<PAGE> 26
Any imposition of liability that is not covered by insurance or is in excess of
insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and operating results. Although there are
currently few laws and regulations directly applicable to the Internet, it is
possible that new laws and regulations will be adopted covering issues such as,
among other things, access, obscene or indecent communications and the pricing,
characteristics and quality of Internet products and services. As a provider of
Internet-based products and services, the Company is subject to the provisions
of existing and future federal and local legislation that could be applied to
the Company's operation. Such legislation could also dampen the growth of the
Internet generally and decrease the acceptance of the Internet as an advertising
medium, and could, thereby, have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and operating results.
Liability for Information Retrieved From the Internet. Materials may
be printed from or downloaded into users' computers from the Internet-based
services provided by the Company or from the Internet access or information
providers with whom the Company has a relationship. Given that materials may be
subsequently distributed to third parties, without the Company's knowledge or
consent, there is a potential that claims will be made against the Company for
defamation, negligence, copyright or trademark infringement or other theories
based on the nature and content of such materials. Such claims have been
brought, and successfully pressed, against Internet-based services in the past.
Although the Company carries liability insurance, the Company's insurance may
not cover potential claims of this type, or may not be adequate to indemnify the
Company for all liability that may be imposed. Any imposition of liability that
is not covered by insurance or is in excess of insurance coverage would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
operating results.
Security Risks. The Company has instituted certain security measures
designed to protect its Internet sites and other operations from unauthorized
use and access. Such measures cannot guarantee complete security, however, and a
party who is able to circumvent the Company's security measures could
misappropriate proprietary information or cause interruptions in the Company's
Internet operations. The Company may be required to expend significant capital
and resources to protect against the threat of such security breaches or to
alleviate problems caused by such breaches. Concerns over the security of
Internet transactions and the privacy of users may also inhibit the growth of
the Internet generally, particularly as a means of conducting commercial
transactions. To the extent that activities of the Company or any third party
contractors involve the storage and transmission of proprietary information,
such as computer software or credit card numbers, security breaches could expose
the Company to a risk of loss or litigation and possible liability. There can be
no assurance that contractual provisions attempting to limit the Company's
liability in such areas will be successful or enforceable, or that parties will
accept such contractual provisions as part of the Company's agreements.
Dependence on Licensed Technology; Protection of Intellectual
Property. The Company is dependent upon obtaining existing technology related to
its operations. To the extent new technological developments are unavailable to
the Company on terms acceptable to it or if at all, the Company may be unable to
continue to execute its business plan and its business, financial condition and
operating results would be materially adversely affected. The success of the
Company is dependent upon its ability to protect and leverage the value of its
original Internet technologies, software, content and its trademarks, trade
names, service marks, domain names and other proprietary rights it either
currently has or may have in the future. The Company has filed service marks for
its logo and name, as well as for the names of each of its sites. In addition,
given the uncertain application of existing copyright and trademark laws to the
Internet, there can be no assurance that existing laws will provide adequate
protection for the Company's technologies, sites or domain names. Policing
unauthorized use of the Company's technologies, content and other intellectual
property rights entails significant expenses and could otherwise be difficult or
impossible to do given, among other things, the global nature of the Internet.
From time to time, the Company may be subject to legal proceedings and claims in
the ordinary course of business, including claims of alleged infringement of the
trademarks and other intellectual property of third parties by the Company or
its licensees. Such claims, even if not meritorious, could result in the
expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources. The Company is
not currently aware of any legal proceedings or claims that the Company believes
will have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and operating results.
Risks Associated with Potential Acquisitions and Investments. The
Company has, and may in the future, pursue acquisitions of companies,
technologies or assets that complement the Company's business. For example, the
Company has recently acquired Silicon Investor and Hypermart. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to identify additional suitable
acquisition candidates available for sale at reasonable prices, consummate any
acquisition or successfully integrate any acquired business into the Company's
operations. Acquisitions may result in the potentially dilutive issuance of
equity securities, the incurrence of additional debt, the write-off of
in-process research and development or software acquisition and development
costs, and the amortization of expenses related to goodwill and other intangible
assets, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations. Acquisitions would
involve numerous additional risks, including difficulties in the assimilation of
the operations, services, products and personnel of the acquired company, the
diversion of management's attention from other business concerns along with the
risks involved in entering markets in which the Company has little or no
experience. Problems with an acquired business could have a material adverse
effect on the performance of the Company as a whole. The Company has, and may in
the future, make investments in companies involved in the development of
technologies or services that are complementary or related to the Company's
operations.
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<PAGE> 27
The acquisitions of Silicon Investor and Hypermart involve a number
of risks which could adversely affect the Company's business, results of
operations and financial condition. For example, the assimilation of the
operations of Silicon Investor and Hypermart with the Company's operations will
require, among other things, the integration of Web sites and services,
coordination of research and development and sales and marketing efforts of the
sites and services. Also, the assumption of liabilities and costs associated
with the relocation of employees, as well as the distraction of the Company's
management from the day-to-day business of the Company could adversely affect
the Company's business or results of operations. There can be no assurance that
any future acquisition, if consummated, would not have a material adverse effect
on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.
Susceptibility to General Economic Conditions. The Company's
business, financial condition and operating results will be subject to
fluctuations based upon general economic conditions. If there were to be a
general economic downturn or a recession, however slight, then the Company
expects that business entities, including the Company's advertisers and
potential advertisers, could substantially and immediately reduce their
advertising and marketing budgets. In addition, the Company's ability to charge
subscription fees for access to certain portions of its Internet sites or to
engage in commerce via the Internet would be adversely affected, thereby
resulting in a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and operating results.
Volatility of Stock Price. The price of the Company's Common Stock
has been and may continue to be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a
number of events and factors such as quarterly variations in results of
operations, announcements of new technological innovations or new products and
media properties by the Company or its competitors, changes in financial
estimates and recommendations by securities analysts, the operating and stock
price performance of other companies that investors may deem comparable to the
Company, and news relating to trends in the Company's markets. In addition, the
stock market in general, and the market prices for Internet-related companies in
particular, have experienced extreme volatility that often has been unrelated to
the operating performance of such companies. These broad market and industry
fluctuations may adversely affect the price of the Company's Common Stock,
regardless of the Company's operating performance.
Year 2000 Compliance. The "Year 2000" issue concerns the potential
exposures related to the automated generation of business and financial
misinformation resulting from the application of computer programs which have
been written using two digits, rather than four, to define the applicable year
of business transactions. The Company has completed its review of the potential
impact of year 2000 issues and does not anticipate any significant costs,
problems or uncertainties associated with becoming Year 2000 compliant. Failure
of the Company or its software providers to adequately address the Year 2000
issue could result in misstatement of reported financial information or
otherwise adversely affect the Company's business operations.
ITEM 7A: QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference from the
section labeled "Liquidity and Capital Resources" in Item 7 Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation.
27
<PAGE> 28
ITEM 8: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Go2Net, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Go2Net, Inc. as of September
30, 1998 and 1997 and the related statements of operations, and cash flows for
each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 1998. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the management of Go2Net, Inc. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Go2Net, Inc. at September 30,
1998 and 1997, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of
the three years in the period ended September 30, 1998, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.
Seattle, Washington Ernst & Young LLP
November 9, 1998
28
<PAGE> 29
GO2NET, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
1998 1997
------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents ................................ $ 470,742 $ 10,926,781
Marketable securities .................................... 7,944,249 --
Receivables, net ......................................... 1,043,295 99,031
Prepaid expenses and other assets ........................ 312,579 152,479
------------ ------------
Total current assets ............................. 9,770,865 11,178,291
Property and equipment, net ................................ 1,220,599 621,986
Intangibles and other assets ............................... 42,748 703,423
Deposits ................................................... 300,000 307,365
------------ ------------
Total assets ..................................... $ 11,334,212 $ 12,811,065
============ ============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses ................... $ 527,455 $ 151,920
Accrued compensation and benefits ....................... 123,775 --
Notes payable to stockholders ........................... -- 130,081
Short term debt ......................................... 90,616 34,580
Deferred revenue ........................................ 302,798 20,637
------------ ------------
Total current liabilities ........................ 1,044,644 337,218
Commitments ................................................ -- --
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 50,000,000
shares; 5,939,232 shares at September 30, 1998 and
5,739,110 shares at September 30, 1997 outstanding ..... 14,928,832 14,741,986
Accumulated deficit ...................................... (4,639,264) (2,268,139)
------------ ------------
Total stockholders' equity ....................... 10,289,568 12,473,847
------------ ------------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity ....... $ 11,334,212 $ 12,811,065
============ ============
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
29
<PAGE> 30
GO2NET, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
1998 1997 1996
------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Revenue .......................................... $ 4,830,882 $ 528,595 $ 8,000
Cost of revenue .................................. 1,803,895 228,597 7,000
----------- ----------- -----------
Gross profit ........................... 3,026,987 299,998 1,000
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing ............................ 1,281,312 102,042 14,255
Product development ............................ 1,124,623 612,923 163,408
General and administrative ..................... 2,066,962 1,602,791 329,594
Merger and acquisition related costs ........... 1,035,494 -- --
Impairment loss ................................ 398,126 -- --
----------- ----------- -----------
Total operating expenses ............... 5,906,517 2,317,756 507,257
----------- ----------- -----------
Loss from operations ............................. (2,879,530) (2,017,758) (506,257)
Interest income, net ............................. 508,405 261,511 11,818
----------- ----------- -----------
Net loss ......................................... $(2,371,125) $(1,756,247) $ (494,439)
=========== =========== ===========
Net loss per share ............................... $ (0.41) $ (0.39) $ (0.38)
Shares used in computing basic and diluted
net loss per share ............................. 5,781,937 4,518,390 1,318,299
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
30
<PAGE> 31
GO2NET, INC.
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CUMULATIVE REDEEMABL
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED COMMON STOCK SUBSCRIPTION TOTAL
--------------------- ------------------------- NOTES ACCUMULATED STOCKHOLDERS'
SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT RECEIVABLE DEFICIT EQUITY
-------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ------------ ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at October 1, 1995 - $ - 1,195,716 $ 58,636 $ - $ (17,453) $ 41,183
Sale of common stock - - 1,426,981 44,828 - - 44,828
Issuance of common stock at
no cost - - 229,100 - - - -
Sale of preferred stock 927,500 1,505,000 - - (80,000) - 1,425,000
Capital contribution by
certain stockholders - - - 81,364 - - 81,364
Net loss - - - - - (494,439) (494,439)
-------- ----------- ----------- ------------ -------- ----------- ------------
Balance at September 30, 1996 927,500 1,505,000 2,851,797 184,828 (80,000) (511,892) 1,097,936
Payment of note receivable - - - - 80,000 - 80,000
Issuance of common stock at
no cost - - 35,500 - - - -
Conversion of preferred stock (927,500) (1,505,000) 927,500 1,505,000 - - -
Sale of common stock/exercise
of stock options - - 76,196 150,500 - - 150,500
Repurchase of common stock - - (13,550) (556) - - (556)
Issuance of common stock for
services rendered - - 5,000 28,000 - - 28,000
Issuance of common stock, net
of related expenses of $1,930,788 - - 1,840,000 12,789,21 - - 12,789,212
Common stock issued in
connection with acquisition
of license - - 16,667 85,002 - - 85,002
Net loss - - - - - (1,756,247) (1,756,247)
-------- ----------- ----------- ------------ -------- ----------- ------------
Balance at September 30, 1997 - - 5,739,110 14,741,986 - (2,268,139) 12,473,847
Repurchase of common Stock - - (6,000) (60) - - (60)
Issuance of common stock for
services rendered - - 1,000 7,875 - - 7,875
Exercise of stock options and
warrants - - 47,623 123,889 - - 123,889
Issuance of common stock to
HyperMart founders - - 157,499 55,142 - - 55,142
Net loss - - - - - (2,371,125) (2,371,125)
-------- ----------- ----------- ------------ -------- ----------- ------------
Balance at September 30, 1998 - $ - 5,939,232 $ 14,928,832 $ - $(4,639,264) $ 10,289,568
======== =========== =========== ============ ======== =========== ============
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
31
<PAGE> 32
GO2NET, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
------------- ------------- -------------
1998 1997 1996
---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Operating activities:
Net loss ........................................ $ (2,371,125) $ (1,756,247) $ (494,439)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization .................... 764,760 183,263 32,911
Writedown of intangibles ......................... 398,126 -- --
Stock compensation ............................... 11,365 28,000 --
Loss on sale of equipment ........................ 10,580 5,080 --
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other assets .............. (160,100) (136,898) (8,216)
Receivables .................................... (944,264) (99,031) --
Deposits and other assets ...................... (36,767) (320,696) (14,359)
Deferred revenue ............................... 282,161 20,637 --
Accounts payable ............................... 499,310 82,626 69,294
------------ ------------ -----------
Net cash used in operating activities ............. (1,545,954) (1,993,266) (414,809)
Investing activities:
Purchase of marketable securities ............... (28,685,810) -- --
Sales and maturities of marketable securities ... 20,741,561 -- --
Acquisition of property and equipment ........... (1,068,771) (481,463) (262,978)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment .... 1,500 5,494 --
Cash received in merger ......................... 55,141 -- --
Acquisition of intangibles ...................... -- (661,204) --
------------ ------------ -----------
Net cash used in investing activities ............. (8,956,379) (1,137,173) (262,978)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net ..... 120,399 12,939,712 44,828
Repurchase of common stock ...................... (60) (556) --
Capital contribution by stockholder ............. -- -- 81,364
Proceeds from stockholder notes ................. -- -- 72,543
Payment on stockholder notes .................... (130,081) -- (89,151)
Borrowings on line of credit .................... 200,000 500,000 --
Payments on line of credit ...................... (200,000) (500,000) --
Short term borrowings ........................... 152,578 223,041 350,027
Payments on short term borrowings ............... (96,542) (391,801) --
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock ....... -- -- 1,425,000
Proceeds from note receivable ................... -- 80,000 --
------------ ------------ -----------
Net cash provided by financing activities ......... 46,294 12,850,396 1,884,611
------------ ------------ -----------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents .. (10,456,039) 9,719,957 1,206,824
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of
period .......................................... 10,926,781 1,206,824 --
------------ ------------ -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period ........ $ 470,742 $ 10,926,781 $ 1,206,824
============ ============ ===========
Supplemental cashflow disclosure:
Cash paid for interest .......................... $ 5,961 $ 11,692 $ 2,204
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
32
<PAGE> 33
GO2NET, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Go2Net, Inc. ("The Company") (http://www.go2net.com) offers a network of
technology and community-driven Web sites focused on the following categories:
personal finance, search, commerce, and games. The Company also develops
Web-related software. Go2Net's properties include: Silicon Investor
(http://www.siliconinvestor.com), the Web's premier financial discussion site;
StockSite (http://www.stocksite.com), which offers proprietary articles,
portfolio tracking tools, company research and news relating to business and
finance; MetaCrawler (http://www.metacrawler.com), a metasearch service that
combines various existing search/index guides into one service; HyperMart
(http://www.hypermart.net), the Web's leading provider of free business hosting
services; WebMarket (http://www.webmarket.com), a one-stop comparison shopping
service; and PlaySite (http://www.playsite.com), a Java-based multiplayer online
games site.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of
three months or less to be cash equivalents.
MARKETABLE SECURITIES
The Company classifies its marketable securities as available for sale. At
September 30, 1998 the difference between fair market value and cost was
immaterial, accordingly, unrealized gains and losses on these securities have
not been reflected in the accompanying financial statements. The cost of
securities sold is based on specific identification.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed using the
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of 3 to 5 years.
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible assets consist primarily of the costs associated with acquired and
licensed technology and are recorded at cost. Amortization of intangibles is
recorded using the straight-line method over the shorter of useful lives,
generally 3 years, or the term of the agreement. The recoverability of carrying
values of intangible assets is evaluated on a recurring basis and adjustments,
if any, are made at that time.
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers' financial
conditions and generally does not require collateral on accounts receivable. The
Company maintains allowances for credit losses and such losses have been within
management's expectations. Direct write-offs of account receivable were $68,935
for the year ended September 30, 1998. There were no direct write-offs of
account receivable for the years ended September 30, 1997 and 1996,
respectively. No single customer accounted for greater than 10% of total
revenues during the years ended September 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996.
USE OF ESTIMATES
The Company's management has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating
to the reporting of assets, liabilities, and expenses to prepare these financial
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
33
<PAGE> 34
GO2NET, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
REVENUE RECOGNITION
The Company derives its revenue from the sale of advertisements on short-term
contracts. Advertising revenues are recognized ratably over the period in which
the advertisements are displayed. Deferred revenues result from billings in
excess of recognized revenue relating to contracts. Barter transactions are
recorded at the lower of the estimated fair value of advertisements received or
the estimated fair value of the advertisements given. Barter revenue and the
related advertising is recorded based on impressions delivered and received with
the difference recorded as an advance or prepaid. Barter revenue was immaterial
for the years ending September 30, 1998 and 1996 and represented $163,390 of
revenue for the year ended September 30, 1997.
ADVERTISING AND MARKETING EXPENSE
The Company expenses costs associated with advertising and marketing as they are
incurred. Advertising expense was $99,079, $9,717, and $1,730 for 1998, 1997 and
1996, respectively.
NET LOSS PER SHARE
The Company recognizes earnings per share in accordance with Financial
Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 128, Earnings Per Share. The Company
has excluded all convertible preferred stock, warrants and employee stock
options from the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share because all
such securities are anti-dilutive for all periods presented. As a result,
diluted loss per share is the same as basic loss per share, and has not been
presented separately. The computation of basic and diluted earnings per share is
set forth in the statement of operations.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The Company grants stock options for a fixed number of shares to employees with
an exercise price generally equal to the fair value of the shares at the date of
grant. The Company has elected to adopt the disclosure only provisions of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 123, "Accounting for
Stock Based Compensation", and accordingly accounts for stock options grants in
accordance with APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.
Generally, the Company recognizes no compensation expense for its stock option
grants when the exercise price is equal to the fair value of the shares at the
grant date.
RECLASSIFICATIONS
Certain balances have been reclassified to conform to the current year
presentation.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In June 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income,"
which establishes standards for reporting and display of income and its
components (revenue, expenses, gains, and losses) in a full set of
general-purpose financial statements. This statement is effective for fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 1997. Reclassification of financial
statements for earlier periods provided for comparative purposes are required.
The Company expects to adopt SFAS 130 for the year ending September 30, 1999.
The adoption of this new accounting standard is not expected to have a material
effect on the Company's financial statements.
In June 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 131, "Disclosure about Segments of an
Enterprise and Related Information," which changes the way public companies
report information about operating segments. SFAS No. 131, which is based on the
management approach to segment reporting, establishes requirements to report
selected segment information quarterly and to report entity-wide disclosures
about products and
34
<PAGE> 35
GO2NET, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
services, major customers, and the material countries in which the entity holds
assets and reports revenue.
This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997.
Reclassification of financial statements for earlier periods provided for
comparative purposes are required. The Company expects to adopt SFAS 131 for the
year ending September 30, 1999. The adoption of this new accounting standard is
not expected to have a material effect on the Company's financial statements.
In March 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued
Statement of Position 98-1 ("SOP 98-1"), "Accounting for the Costs of Computer
Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use", which establishes guidelines
for the accounting for the costs of all computer software developed or obtained
for internal use. The Company is required to adopt SOP 98-1 effective October 1,
1998. The adoption SOP 98-1 is not expected to have a material impact on the
Company's financial statements.
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 133
("SFAS 133"), "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities",
which requires that all derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet
at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each
period in current earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on whether a
derivative is designated as part of a hedge transaction and, if it is the type
of hedge transaction. The Company currently expects to adopt SFAS 133 for the
year ending September 30, 1999. Management has determined there will be no
material impact on its financial statements resulting from the adoption of SFAS
133 because the Company currently does not use derivative instruments.
2. BALANCE SHEET COMPONENTS
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents consisted of:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
1998 1997
------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
Cash..................................... $470,742 $ 120,915
Money market and time deposit balances... - 10,805,866
-------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents................ $470,742 $10,926,781
======== ===========
</TABLE>
35
<PAGE> 36
GO2NET, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
The carrying value of the Company's cash equivalents approximate their fair
values based on quoted market prices.
MARKETABLE SECURITIES
All available-for-sale investments generally mature in one year or less.
SEPTEMBER 30, 1998
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Gross
Unrealized
Historical Holding
Cost Gain/(Loss) Fair Value
---------- ----------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Municipal Bonds $6,700,000 $2,357 $6,702,357
Corporate Bonds 1,244,249 6,668 1,250,917
---------- ------ ----------
Total $7,944,249 $9,025 $7,953,274
========== ====== ==========
</TABLE>
There were no realized gains or losses from sales of securities in the periods
presented.
RECEIVABLES
A summary of receivable reserves is as follows.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
1998 1997 1996
------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Accounts receivable.................... $1,150,758 $99,031 $ --
Less allowance for doubtful accounts... (107,463) (--) (--)
---------- ------- ----
Net accounts receivable................ $1,043,295 $99,031 $ --
========== ======= ====
</TABLE>
Provisions for doubtful accounts were $176,737, $0 and $0 for the years ended
September 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
A summary of property and equipment follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
1998 1997
------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
Computer equipment.................... $1,460,888 $ 718,034
Office equipment...................... 59,095 25,100
Leasehold improvements................ 40,129 27,540
Software.............................. 259,939 --
---------- ---------
1,820,051 770,674
Less accumulated depreciation (599,452) (148,688)
---------- ---------
$1,220,599 $ 621,986
========== =========
</TABLE>
Depreciation expense was $464,359 and $125,164 and $32,911 for the periods ended
September 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
36
<PAGE> 37
GO2NET, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
INTANGIBLES
A summary of intangibles follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
1998 1997
------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C>
License fees............................. $ -- $746,206
Trademarks and other assets.............. 59,448 21,595
-------- --------
59,448 767,801
Less accumulated amortization (16,700) (64,378)
-------- --------
$ 42,748 $703,423
======== ========
</TABLE>
Amortization expense was $300,401 and $62,884 and $1,404 for the periods ended
September 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
The Company recognized a charge of $398,126 in 1998 to reflect permanent
impairment in the Company's original investment in certain technology licenses
for which the Company no longer uses the acquired product code. These technology
licenses were included as intangible assets. This charge is disclosed as an
impairment loss in the statement of operations for 1998.
3. INCOME TAXES
As of September 30, 1998 and September 30, 1997, the Company had approximately
$2,892,000 and $2,259,000, respectively, of net operating loss carryforwards for
federal income tax purposes, which expire beginning in 2011. Utilization of the
Company's net operating loss carry forwards may be subject to annual limitations
if there is deemed to be a change in control (Section 382).
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions
of deferred tax assets are presented below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
1998 1997
------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
Depreciation and amortization......... $ 70,999 $ (7,606)
Net operating loss carryforwards...... 983,358 767,976
Accruals, reserves and other.......... 21,010 --
----------- ---------
1,075,367 760,370
Less valuation allowance.............. (1,075,367) (760,370)
----------- ---------
$ -- $ --
=========== =========
</TABLE>
4. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
9% Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock
In November 1996, the holders of all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock
converted their Preferred Stock into 927,500 shares of common stock.
37
<PAGE> 38
GO2NET, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Common Stock
The Company has the right, at any time after termination of certain employees'
and independent contractors' employment or service, to repurchase certain common
shares at the price per share paid by the employee or independent contractor.
The Company's right to repurchase lapses with respect to the shares held by the
employees and independent contractors over varying periods of time but generally
within three years of the purchase or issuance date. There were 10,500 shares of
common stock subject to repurchase by the Company at September 30, 1998.
In 1998, the Company issued 1,000 shares to an employee with a fair market value
of $7.875 per share. In 1997, the Company issued 5,000 shares to an employee
with a fair market value of $5.60 per share. Compensation expense of $7,875 and
$28,000 associated with these grants was recorded during the year ended
September 30, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
In April 1997, the Company completed its initial public offering and issued
1,600,000 shares of its common stock to the public at a price of $8.00 per
share. In May 1997, pursuant to the exercise of an over-allotment option granted
to the underwriters of the Company's initial public offering, the Company issued
an additional 240,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $8.00 per share.
The Company received approximately $12.8 million of cash, net of underwriting
discounts, commissions and other offering costs.
On July 15, 1997, the Company acquired PlaySite, a Java-based multi-user games
site, and certain gaming infrastructure technology from Internet Games
Corporation for $500,000 in cash and 16,667 shares of the Company's common
stock, with a value of $85,002.
5. STOCK OPTION PLAN
In 1996, the Board of Directors adopted a Stock Option Plan under which an
aggregate of 750,000 shares of common stock were reserved for grants to
employees and members of the Board of Directors and independent contractors.
Options granted under this plan may be designated as incentive or nonqualified
at the discretion of the Plan Administrator. During 1998, the Company authorized
an additional 1,750,000 shares of common stock under the Plan.
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors determines the option price
for stock options granted under the Stock Option Plan. Incentive stock options
may be granted at not less than 100% of the fair market value per share at the
date of grant as determined by the Board of Directors or committee thereof,
except for incentive options granted to a person owning greater than 10% of the
total combined voting power of all classes of the Company's stock, for which the
exercise price of the options must be not less than 110% of the fair market
value. Options generally have a term of 6 years and which generally vest
annually over a three to four year period. Stock options exercised, granted and
canceled during periods ended September 30, 1998, 1997 and 1996, are as follows:
38
<PAGE> 39
GO2NET, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTIONS WEIGHTED
SHARES OUTSTANDING AVERAGE
AVAILABLE NUMBER OF EXERCISE
FOR GRANT SHARES PRICE
---------- ----------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Initial Shares Authorized ...... 750,000
Options Granted ................ (79,500) 79,500 $ 8.00
Options Exercised .............. -- -- --
Options Cancelled .............. -- -- --
---------- ---------- ------
Balance at September 30, 1996 .. 670,500 79,500 $ 8.00
Options Granted ................ (600,646) 600,646 $ 7.55
Options Exercised .............. -- (1,196) $ .05
Options Cancelled .............. 68,177 (68,177) $ 6.27
---------- ---------- ------
Balance at September 30, 1997 .. 138,031 610,773 $ 7.73
Shares Authorized .............. 1,750,000
Options Granted ................ (1,334,600) 1,334,600 $18.73
Options Exercised .............. -- (24,833) $ 8.30
Options Cancelled .............. 42,833 (42,833) $ 8.25
---------- ---------- ------
Balance at September 30, 1998 .. 596,264 1,877,707 $15.63
========== ========== ======
</TABLE>
Options exercisable as of September 30, 1998 and 1997 were 449,645 and 422,659
at weighted average exercise prices of $8.26 and $6.35 per share, respectively.
The weighted average remaining contractual life of the outstanding options at
September 30, 1998 and 1997 was 4.37 years and 6.43 years, respectively.
Pro forma information regarding net loss and loss per share required by
Statement 123 has been determined as if the Company had accounted for its
employee stock options under the fair value method of that Statement. The fair
value for these options was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes
option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions on the
option grant date:
YEARS ENDED
----------------
1998 1997
------ -----
Average risk-free interest rate 5.59% 6.39%
Average expected life (in years) 4.00 2.37
Dividend yield 0% 0%
Expected volatility .9169 .548
39
<PAGE> 40
GO2NET, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Under 123, if the Company had elected to recognize the compensation cost based
upon the fair value of the options granted at the grant date, net loss would
have been increased as follows (the estimated fair value of the options is
amortized to expense over the options' vesting period.)
SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30,
1998 1997
------------- -------------
Net loss:
As reported................. $(2,371,125) $(1,756,247)
Pro forma................... $(5,350,384) $(2,294,366)
Net loss per share:
As reported................. $ (.41) $ (.39)
Pro forma................... $ (.93) $ (.51)
The Statement 123 pro forma disclosures above are not necessarily indicative of
future pro forma disclosures because of the manner in which Statement 123
calculations are phased in over time.
The following table summarizes information about fixed stock options outstanding
at September 30, 1998:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTIONS OUTSTANDING WEIGHTED AVERAGE EXERCISE PRICE
------------------- -------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Beginning Outstanding 610,773 $ 7.73
Granted:
Price=Market Value 1,334,600 $18.73
Exercised (24,833) $ 8.30
Cancelled (42,833) $ 8.25
--------
Ending Outstanding 1,877,707 $15.63
=========
Exercisable as of
September 30, 1998 449,645 $ 8.26
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Options Outstanding Options Exercisable
--------------------------------------- ------------------------
Weighted
Average Weighted Weighted
Number Remaining Average Number Average
Range of Exercise Outstanding as Contractual Exercise Exercisable Exercise
Prices of 9/30/98 Life Price as of 9/30/98 Price
- ----------------- -------------- ----------- -------- ------------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$ 0.42-$ 7.75 48,707 5.19 $ 5.53 9,479 $ 2.69
$ 8.00-$10.75 872,000 4.26 $ 8.31 425,166 $ 8.01
$15.00-$18.75 331,500 5.55 $18.51 15,000 $18.75
$19.75-$28.00 625,500 5.77 $25.08 0 $ 0.00
--------- -------
$ .042-$28.00 1,877,707 5.02 $15.63 449,645 $ 8.26
========= =======
</TABLE>
40
<PAGE> 41
GO2NET, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
6. COMMITMENTS
The Company has several noncancelable leases for its administrative facilities
and sales offices. Rental expense from these leases amounted to approximately
$303,567 and $176,134 and $48,566 for the years ended September 30, 1998, 1997
and 1996, respectively.
Future minimum payments under noncancelable operating leases with an initial
term of one year or more were as follows at September 30, 1998:
1999.......................................... $ 427,669
2000.......................................... 433,586
2001.......................................... 435,613
2002.......................................... 384,619
2003.......................................... 358,075
Thereafter.................................... 3,974
----------
Total Minimum Lease Payments.................. $2,043,536
==========
7. REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
On December 12, 1997, the Company entered into a revolving credit agreement with
a bank that provides for the Company to borrow up to $1,000,000 at the bank's
prime lending rate (8.0% per annum as of September 30, 1998) and all amounts
outstanding under the agreement are due by February 13, 1999. No amounts were
outstanding under the line of credit at September 30, 1998.
8. MERGERS
HYPERMART, INC.
On August 3, 1998, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
August 3, 1998, by and among the Company, HyperMart, Inc. and certain
shareholders of HyperMart, the Company exchanged all of the outstanding capital
stock of HyperMart for 157,499 shares of common stock of the Company. HyperMart
(URL: HTTP://WWW.HYPERMART.COM) operates a Web site focused on providing free
Web hosting for businesses.
In connection with the merger, the Company incurred $319,512 in merger-related
expenses primarily for legal and other professional fees.
Separate results for the combined entities for the period ended August 3, 1998
are as follows. HyperMart did not have any activity in 1997.
FOR THE PERIOD
FROM OCTOBER 1,
1997 TO AUGUST 3,
1998
-----------------
Revenues:
Go2Net $ 4,723,030
HyperMart 107,852
-----------
$ 4,830,882
===========
Net Income/(Loss):
Go2Net $(2,350,886)
HyperMart (20,239)
-----------
$(2,371,125)
===========
There were no significant intercompany transactions between the two companies
and no significant conforming accounting adjustments.
41
<PAGE> 42
GO2NET, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
SILICON INVESTOR, INC.
On June 23, 1998, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding capital
stock of Silicon Investor Inc., which began operations in April 1995, in
exchange for 1,238,043 shares of the Company's Common Stock. In addition, the
Company assumed options to purchase capital stock of Silicon Investor, of which
11,957 are exercisable. This acquisition was accounted for as a pooling of
interests.
In connection with the merger, the Company incurred approximately $715,982 in
merger-related expenses primarily for legal and other professional fees in the
third quarter of 1998.
Separate results for the combined entities for the approximate nine-month period
ended June 23, 1998 are as follows.
FOR THE PERIOD
FROM OCTOBER 1,
1997 TO
JUNE 23, 1998
---------------
Revenues:
go2net $ 1,812,238
Silicon Investor 1,063,402
-----------
2,875,640
===========
Net Income/(Loss):
go2net $(2,472,524)
Silicon Investor 290,366
-----------
$(2,182,158)
===========
There were no significant intercompany transactions between the two companies
and no significant conforming accounting adjustments.
9. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On November 3, 1998, the Company purchased 13,158 shares of Series D Preferred
Stock of Conducent Technologies, Inc. ("Conducent") valued at $250,000. The
investment, carried at cost, represents an approximate 1.3% stake in Conducent
on a fully diluted basis. Conducent is the owner of the AdGateway service, a
leading provider of software advertising solutions. Go2Net has partnered with
Conducent on a number of strategic initiatives, including ad sales and software
distribution from Go2Net's StockSite. The CEO of Conducent is a member of the
Board of Directors of Go2Net, Inc.
42
<PAGE> 43
ITEM 9: CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
PART III
In accordance with General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K, except as
indicated in the following sentence, the information called for by Items 10, 11,
12 and 13 is incorporated by reference from the registrant's definitive proxy
statement pursuant to Regulation 14A for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to
be held on March 8, 1999. As permitted by General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K
and Instruction 3 to Item 401(b) of Regulation S-K, the information on executive
officers called for by Item 10 is included in Part I of this Annual Report on
Form 10-K.
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) Financial Statements and Schedules
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION PAGE
<S> <C> <C>
Item 1................................................
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors..... 30
Financial Statements:
Balance Sheets................................... 31
Statements of Operations......................... 32
Statements of Stockholders' Equity............... 33
Statements of Cash Flows......................... 34
Notes to Financial Statements.................... 35
PART II............................................... FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULE
</TABLE>
All schedules have been omitted since they are either not applicable,
not required or the information is included elsewhere herein.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
Form 8-K was filed by the Company on July 6, 1998 with respect to the
acquisition of Silicon Investor, Inc. Form 8-K/A was filed by the
Company on August 13, 1998with respect to the acquisition of Silicon
Investor, Inc.
(c) List of Exhibits
43
<PAGE> 44
Exhibit
No. Title
- ------- -----
3.2* Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
3.3* Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company.
4.1* Specimen stock certificate representing the shares of Common Stock.
10.1* Form of Preferred Stock Subscription Agreement.
10.2* Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 1996, between the Company and
Russell C. Horowitz.
10.3* Employment Agreement, dated March 1, 1996, between the Company and
John Keister.
10.4* Promissory Note, dated November 20, 1996, in the aggregate principal
amount of $500,000 made by the Company and payable to US Bank of
Washington.
10.5* Commercial Guaranty of Russell C. Horowitz, dated November 20, 1996,
guaranteeing all amounts due under the $500,000 Line of Credit
between the Company and US Bank of Washington.
10.6** Sublease Agreement, dated March 18, 1997, between the Company and
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
10.7* Go2Net, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan.
10.8* License Agreement dated as of January 31, 1997 between Netbot, Inc.
and the Company.
10.9* Subscription Agreement dated as of August 7, 1996 between Sports
Ticker Enterprises, L.P. and the Company.
10.10* S&P Comstock Information Distribution License Agreement dated as of
August 16, 1996 between S&P Comstock, Inc. and the Company.
10.11* Distributor Agreement dated as of September 6, 1996 between Comtex
Scientific Corporation and the Company.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.
27.1 Financial Data Schedule.
- -----------------
* Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-19051).
** Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended September 30, 1997.
44
<PAGE> 45
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Go2Net, Inc.
By: /s/ Russell C. Horowitz
--------------------------------------------
Name: Russell C. Horowitz
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: December 29, 1998
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
- --------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Russell C. Horowitz President, Chief Executive December 29, 1998
- -------------------------- Officer, Chief Financial
Russell C. Horowitz Officer and Director
(principal executive,
financial and accounting
officer)
/s/ John Keister Chief Operating Officer December 29, 1998
- -------------------------- and Director
John Keister
/s/ Dennis Cline Director December 29, 1998
- --------------------------
Dennis Cline
/s/ Michael J. Riccio Jr. Director December 29, 1998
- --------------------------
Michael J. Riccio, Jr.
/s/ Martin L. Schoffstall Director December 29, 1998
- --------------------------
Martin L. Schoffstall
/s/ Oren Etzioni Chief Scientist and Director December 29, 1998
- --------------------------
Oren Etzioni
</TABLE>
45
<PAGE> 1
Schedule 23.1
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8 No. 333-63729) pertaining to the Go2Net, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan and
Silicon Investor, Inc. 1996 Stock Plan, and in the Registration Statement (Form
S-3 No. 333-63725) pertaining to the registration of 1,395,536 shares of Common
Stock of Go2Net, of our report dated November 9, 1998, with respect to the
financial statements of Go2Net, Inc. included in the Annual Report (Form 10-K)
for the year ended September 30, 1998.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Seattle, Washington
December 29, 1998
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<CASH> 470,742
<SECURITIES> 7,944,249
<RECEIVABLES> 1,150,758
<ALLOWANCES> (107,463)
<INVENTORY> 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 9,770,865
<PP&E> 1,820,051
<DEPRECIATION> 599,452
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 11,334,212
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,044,644
<BONDS> 0
0
0
<COMMON> 14,928,832
<OTHER-SE> 0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 10,289,568
<SALES> 4,830,882
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 4,830,882
<CGS> 1,803,895
<TOTAL-COSTS> 5,906,517
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 0
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<INCOME-PRETAX> (2,371,125)
<INCOME-TAX> 0
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,371,125)
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> (2,371,125)
<EPS-PRIMARY> (.41)
<EPS-DILUTED> (.41)
</TABLE>
