<PAGE>
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 29, 1999
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY
NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH
OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR
QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
<PAGE>
FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(a)
REGISTRATION NO. 333-56627
PROSPECTUS
3,352,500 SHARES
[LOGO]
COMMON STOCK
Of the 3,352,500 shares of Common Stock offered hereby, 2,100,000 shares are
being sold by Catapult Communications Corporation ("Catapult" or the "Company")
and 1,252,500 shares are being sold by the Selling Stockholders. The Company
will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares by the Selling
Stockholders. See "Principal and Selling Stockholders."
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock
of the Company. It is currently estimated that the initial public offering price
will be between $9.00 and $11.00 per share. See "Underwriting" for a discussion
of the factors to be considered in determining the initial public offering
price. The Common Stock has been approved for quotation on the Nasdaq National
Market under the symbol CATT.
--------------
THE SHARES OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK.
SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON PAGE 5.
-------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PROCEEDS TO
PRICE TO UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS TO SELLING
PUBLIC DISCOUNT (1) COMPANY (2) STOCKHOLDERS
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Per Share..................... $ $ $ $
Total (3)..................... $ $ $ $
</TABLE>
(1) See "Underwriting" for indemnification arrangements with the several
Underwriters.
(2) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated at $1,044,000.
(3) A Selling Stockholder has granted to the Underwriters a 30-day option to
purchase up to 502,875 additional shares of Common Stock, solely to cover
over-allotments, if any. If all such shares are purchased, the total Price
to Public, Underwriting Discount and Proceeds to Selling Stockholders will
be $ , $ and $ , respectively. See "Underwriting."
--------------
The shares of Common Stock are offered by the several Underwriters subject
to prior sale, receipt and acceptance by them and subject to the right of the
Underwriters to reject any order in whole or in part and certain other
conditions. It is expected that certificates for such shares will be available
for delivery on or about , 1999, at the offices of the agent of Hambrecht
& Quist LLC in New York, New York.
HAMBRECHT & QUIST
CIBC OPPENHEIMER
C.E. UNTERBERG, TOWBIN
, 1999
<PAGE>
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act")
with respect to the shares of Common Stock offered hereby. This Prospectus does
not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement and
the exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information with respect to the
Company and such Common Stock, reference is made to the Registration Statement
and the exhibits and schedules filed as a part thereof. Statements contained in
this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract or any other document
referred to are not necessarily complete and, in each instance, if such contract
or document is filed as an exhibit, reference is made to the copy of such
document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. The Registration
Statement, including exhibits and schedules thereto, may be inspected without
charge at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room
1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the
regional offices of the Commission located at Room 1228, Seven World Trade
Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048 and Citicorp Center, 500 West
Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies of such materials
may be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission, Room 1024,
Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and its public
reference facilities in New York, New York and Chicago, Illinois, at prescribed
rates. In addition, the Commission maintains a Website on the Internet that
contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission. The address
of the Commission's Website is http://www.sec.gov.
CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS THAT
STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE MARKET PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK,
INCLUDING BY ENTERING STABILIZING BIDS, EFFECTING SYNDICATE COVERING
TRANSACTIONS OR IMPOSING PENALTY BIDS. FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES,
SEE "UNDERWRITING."
Catapult, DCT and DCPL are trademarks of the Company. This Prospectus also
includes trade names, trademarks and registered trademarks of companies other
than the Company.
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION AND THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES THERETO
APPEARING ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS. THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVES
A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. SEE "RISK FACTORS." CERTAIN TECHNICAL AND OTHER TERMS
USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS ARE DEFINED IN THE GLOSSARY LOCATED ON PAGE G-1.
THE COMPANY
Catapult Communications Corporation ("Catapult" or the "Company") designs,
develops, manufactures, markets and supports an advanced software-based test
system offering an integrated suite of testing applications for the global
telecommunications industry. Catapult's Digital Communications Tester ("DCT") is
a comprehensive test solution designed to enable equipment manufacturers and
network operators to deliver complex digital telecommunications equipment and
services more quickly and cost-effectively, while helping to ensure
interoperability and reliability. The Company's advanced software and hardware
assist customers in the design, integration, installation and acceptance testing
of a broad range of digital telecommunications equipment and services. The
Company markets its products through a direct sales force to industry leaders
such as Cable & Wireless Communications PLC ("Cable & Wireless"), Fujitsu
Limited ("Fujitsu"), LM Ericsson ("Ericsson"), Lucent Technologies, Inc.
("Lucent"), Marconi Communications Ltd. ("Marconi"), Motorola Inc. ("Motorola"),
NEC Corporation ("NEC"), Nippon Telephone and Telegraph ("NTT"), Northern
Telecom Limited ("Nortel"), and Tellabs Inc. ("Tellabs").
Technological advances, increasing competition resulting from deregulation
and privatization and a proliferation of standards are fundamentally changing
the telecommunications industry. Today, network operators are able to choose
heterogeneous products from multiple equipment manufacturers to obtain the best
set of features and reduce network cost. Consequently, to remain competitive,
equipment manufacturers must be able to rapidly provide cost-effective equipment
with enhanced features. At the same time, manufacturers and operators must
ensure that these advanced new products satisfy the telecommunications
industry's rigorous standards of seamless interoperability and high reliability
under variable traffic conditions. To address these needs, manufacturers and
operators require versatile test systems that can identify and locate errors in
network equipment, enhance the performance of the network, verify conformance to
industry standards and help ensure the interoperability of equipment from
various vendors.
The DCT system performs a variety of test functions, including simulation,
load and stress testing, feature verification, conformance testing and
monitoring. Catapult maintains an extensive library of software modules that
support more than 100 variants of approximately 30 protocols. The Company's
emphasis is on complex, high-level and emerging protocols, including Signaling
System 7 (SS7), Intelligent Network (IN), Global Systems for Mobile
Communications (GSM), V5, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Integrated
Services Digital Network (ISDN), Internet telephony and Frame Relay. The
Company's extensive technical know-how and proprietary software development
tools enable the Company to implement new protocols and protocol variants
rapidly in response to customer needs. With its extensive library of software
protocol modules, large selection of physical interfaces and versatile platform,
the DCT system is easily configured to support a wide variety of digital testing
functions, thereby reducing a customer's need for multiple test systems. In
addition, the DCT system's multi-protocol, multi-user capability allows multiple
testing operations to be performed simultaneously, helping the Company's
customers to accelerate their product development cycles.
The Company's objective is to become the leading supplier of advanced
software-based test systems for the global telecommunications industry. The
Company's strategy is to expand its direct sales and technical support presence
worldwide to increase market penetration, continue to support new and complex
protocols and variants, broaden the market for the DCT system by enhancing ease
of use through a graphical user interface and development of pre-programmed
applications, leverage its installed base of customers to gain access to
additional customers and pursue strategic acquisitions as appropriate
opportunities are identified.
The Company's predecessor was incorporated in California in October 1985 and
reincorporated in Nevada in June 1998. As used in this Prospectus, "Catapult"
and the "Company" refer to Catapult Communications Corporation and its three
wholly-owned subsidiaries, Catapult Communications Ltd., a corporation organized
under the laws of the United Kingdom, and Catapult Communications K.K., a
corporation organized under the laws of Japan, both of which provide sales and
technical support, and ISDN Technologies, Ltd., a foreign sales corporation
organized under the laws of Barbados. The Company's principal executive offices
are located at 160 South Whisman Road, Mountain View, California 94041. Its
telephone number is (650) 960-1025.
3
<PAGE>
THE OFFERING
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Common Stock offered by the Company................. 2,100,000 shares
Common Stock offered by the Selling Stockholders.... 1,252,500 shares
Common Stock to be outstanding after the offering... 12,568,037 shares (1)
Use of proceeds..................................... For working capital and general corporate
purposes. See "Use of Proceeds."
Proposed Nasdaq National Market symbol.............. CATT
</TABLE>
SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THREE MONTHS ENDED
FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------------------------- --------------------
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1997 1998
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME DATA:
Total revenues.............................. $ 3,816 $ 6,869 $ 9,252 $ 13,352 $ 18,206 $ 3,446 $ 5,229
Gross profit................................ 3,000 5,933 7,903 11,432 15,790 3,026 4,429
Operating income (2)........................ 1,407 3,047 3,730 5,400 7,590 1,492 2,105
Net income (2).............................. $ 975 $ 2,172 $ 2,288 $ 3,338 $ 4,525 $ 860 $ 1,191
Earnings per share--diluted (2)(3).......... $ 0.10 $ 0.22 $ 0.22 $ 0.31 $ 0.41 $ 0.08 $ 0.11
Weighted average shares--diluted............ 9,701 10,058 10,301 10,605 10,940 10,809 10,953
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31, 1998
------------------------
PRO FORMA
AS
ACTUAL ADJUSTED(4)
--------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and cash equivalents............................................................ $ 13,759 $ 33,014
Working capital...................................................................... 14,988 34,243
Total assets......................................................................... 19,658 38,913
Redeemable common stock (5).......................................................... 5,000 --
Total stockholders' equity........................................................... 11,107 35,362
</TABLE>
- --------------------------
(1) Based on the number of shares outstanding at December 31, 1998. Excludes, as
of December 31, 1998, 692,733 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
of outstanding options at a weighted average exercise price of $1.14 per
share and an aggregate of 2,849,107 shares reserved for future grant under
the Company's 1989 Stock Option Plan, 1998 Stock Plan and 1998 Employee
Stock Purchase Plan (the "Stock Plans"). See "Management--Stock Plans" and
Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
(2) Includes $769,000 in offering costs charged to operating expenses in the
fourth quarter of fiscal 1998 related to the Company's delayed initial
public offering.
(3) See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the method used
to calculate earnings per share.
(4) Adjusted to reflect (i) the reclassification of $5.0 million of redeemable
common stock which will no longer be redeemable upon completion of this
offering and (ii) the sale of 2,100,000 shares of Common Stock offered by
the Company hereby at an assumed initial public offering price of $10.00 per
share and the application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom. Estimated
net proceeds do not reflect $769,000 in offering costs that were charged to
operating expenses in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998 related to the
Company's delayed initial public offering. See "Use of Proceeds" and
"Capitalization."
(5) See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
--------------------------
UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE INDICATES, ALL REFERENCES TO THE "COMPANY" AND
"CATAPULT" MEAN CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES,
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS LTD., A CORPORATION ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE
UNITED KINGDOM, CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS K.K., A CORPORATION ORGANIZED UNDER THE
LAWS OF JAPAN, AND ISDN TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., A FOREIGN SALES CORPORATION
ORGANIZED UNDER THE LAWS OF BARBADOS. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL INFORMATION
IN THIS PROSPECTUS (I) GIVES EFFECT TO THE REINCORPORATION OF THE COMPANY FROM
CALIFORNIA INTO NEVADA IN JUNE 1998 IN WHICH SHAREHOLDERS OF THE CALIFORNIA
CORPORATION RECEIVED THREE SHARES OF STOCK OF THE NEVADA CORPORATION FOR EVERY
TWO SHARES OF STOCK OF THE CALIFORNIA CORPORATION AND (II) ASSUMES NO EXERCISE
OF THE UNDERWRITERS' OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION. SEE "UNDERWRITING."
4
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES. ACTUAL RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE DISCUSSED IN
THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF CERTAIN FACTORS, INCLUDING THOSE
SET FORTH BELOW AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS. THE FOLLOWING RISK FACTORS
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY IN ADDITION TO THE OTHER INFORMATION IN THIS
PROSPECTUS BEFORE PURCHASING THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY.
FLUCTUATIONS IN QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS; LENGTHY SALES CYCLE. The
Company has experienced, and anticipates that it will continue to experience,
significant fluctuations in quarterly revenues and operating results. The
Company's revenues and operating results are relatively difficult to forecast
for a number of reasons, including (i) the variable size and timing of
individual purchases by customers, (ii) seasonal factors that may affect capital
spending by customers, such as the varying fiscal year ends of customers and the
reduction in business during the summer months, particularly in Europe, (iii)
the relatively long sales cycles for the Company's products, (iv) the timing of
hiring sales and technical personnel, (v) changes in timing and amount of sales
incentive compensation, (vi) competitive conditions in the Company's markets,
(vii) exchange rate fluctuations, (viii) changes in the mix of products sold,
(ix) the timing of the introduction and market acceptance of new products or
product enhancements by the Company, its customers, competitors or suppliers,
(x) costs associated with developing and introducing new products, (xi) product
life cycles, (xii) changes in the level of operating expenses relative to
revenues, (xiii) software defects and other product quality problems, (xiv)
customer order deferrals in anticipation of new products, (xv) delays in
purchasing decisions or customer orders due to customer consolidation, (xvi)
supply interruptions, (xvii) changes in the regulatory environment and (xviii)
changes in global or regional economic conditions or in the telecommunications
industry.
The Company's revenues in any period generally have been, and are likely to
continue to be, derived from relatively small numbers of sales and service
transactions with relatively high average revenues per order. Therefore, the
loss of any orders or delays in closing such transactions could have a more
significant impact on the Company's quarterly revenues and results of operations
than on those of companies with relatively high volumes of sales or low revenues
per order. The Company's products generally are shipped within 15 to 30 days
after orders are received and revenues are recognized upon shipment of the
products, provided no significant vendor obligations remain and collection of
the related receivable is deemed probable. As a result, the Company generally
does not have a significant backlog of orders, and revenues in any quarter are
substantially dependent on orders booked and shipped in that quarter.
A customer's decision to purchase the Company's products typically involves
a significant technical evaluation, internal procedural delays associated with
large capital expenditure approvals and testing and acceptance of new systems
that affect key operations. For these and other reasons, the sales cycle
associated with the Company's products is typically lengthy and subject to a
number of significant risks over which the Company has little or no control.
Historically, the period between initial customer contact and purchase of the
Company's products has typically ranged from two to nine months, with sales to
new customers (including new divisions within existing customers) at the longer
end of this range. Because of the lengthy sales cycle and the relatively small
number and large size of customers' orders, if revenues forecast from a specific
customer for a particular quarter are not realized in that quarter, the
Company's operating results for that quarter could be materially adversely
affected.
The Company's expectations for future revenues are predicated, to a large
extent, on the recruitment and hiring of a significant number of employees,
particularly experienced sales and technical personnel. Failure to hire, or
delays in hiring, sufficient sales and technical personnel could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's results of operations for any period.
Due to the relatively fixed nature of most of the Company's costs, including
personnel and facilities costs, and because operating expenses are based on
anticipated revenue, a decline in revenue from even a limited number of
transactions, failure to achieve expected revenue in any fiscal quarter or
unanticipated variations in the timing of recognition of specific revenues can
cause significant variations in operating results from quarter to
5
<PAGE>
quarter and may in some future quarter result in losses or have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations. The Company believes, therefore, that period-to-period comparisons
of its operating results should not be relied upon as an indication of future
performance.
For all of the foregoing factors, as well as other unanticipated factors, it
is possible that in some future quarter the Company's results of operations
could fail to meet the expectations of public market analysts or investors. In
such event, or in the event that adverse conditions prevail or are perceived to
prevail generally or with respect to the Company's business, the price of the
Company's Common Stock will likely be materially adversely affected. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations."
DEPENDENCE ON LIMITED NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS. The Company's customer base is
highly concentrated, and a relatively small number of companies has accounted
for substantially all of the Company's revenues to date. Revenues from the top
four customers represented approximately 54%, 60% and 73% of total revenues in
fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The Company's largest customer over
this period has been Motorola, which accounted for approximately 23%, 28% and
15% of total revenues in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. In the three
months ended December 31, 1998, the Company's top four customers represented
approximately 77% of total revenues. These customers, NTT, Motorola, NEC and
Marconi, accounted for approximately 27%, 22%, 20% and 7% of total revenues,
respectively, in that period. The Company's top four customers in fiscal 1998
were NTT, NEC, Motorola and Lucent, which accounted for approximately 24%, 21%,
15% and 12% of total revenues, respectively. The Company expects that it will
continue to depend upon a relatively limited number of customers for
substantially all of its revenues in future periods, although no customer is
presently obligated either to purchase a specific amount of products or to
provide the Company with binding forecasts of purchases for any period. The loss
of a major customer or the reduction, delay or cancellation of orders from one
or more of the Company's significant customers could materially adversely affect
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and "Business--Customers."
COMPETITIVE MARKET FOR TECHNICAL AND SALES PERSONNEL. The Company's success
depends in part on its ability to attract, hire, train, retain and motivate
qualified technical and sales personnel with appropriate levels of managerial
and technical capabilities. The Company believes that a significant level of
expertise is required to develop and market the Company's products and services
effectively. The Company has in the past experienced, and expects to continue to
experience, difficulty in recruiting qualified technical and sales personnel.
The Company believes that the pool of potential applicants with the requisite
expertise is very limited. Recruiting qualified personnel is an intensely
competitive and time-consuming process. The Company competes for such personnel
with a number of other companies, many of which have substantially greater
resources than the Company. Such competition has also resulted in demands for
increased compensation from qualified applicants, and the Company may not be
able to compete effectively for such personnel with companies that provide more
attractive compensation arrangements. There can be no assurance that the Company
will be successful in attracting and retaining the technical and sales personnel
it requires to conduct and expand its operations successfully on a timely basis.
The failure to attract, hire, train, retain and motivate qualified technical and
sales personnel in the future would have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. See
"Business--Sales and Marketing."
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONAL SALES AND OPERATIONS; FOREIGN EXCHANGE
RISK. International sales constituted approximately 55%, 53%, 72% and 69% of
the Company's total revenues in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998 and the three months
ended December 31, 1998, respectively. The Company expects that international
sales will continue to account for a significant portion of its revenues in
future periods. The Company sells its products worldwide through its direct
sales force. The Company has offices located in Ottawa, Canada, Chippenham,
United Kingdom and Tokyo, Japan and plans to open new offices in continental
Europe. International sales and operations are subject to inherent risks,
including difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations, longer
customer payment cycles, greater difficulty in accounts receivable collection,
changes in
6
<PAGE>
regulatory requirements or in economic or trade policy, costs related to
localizing products for foreign countries, potentially weaker protection for
intellectual property in certain foreign countries, the burden of complying with
a wide variety of foreign laws and practices, tariffs and other trade barriers,
and potentially adverse tax consequences, including restrictions on repatriation
of earnings. During the last two fiscal years a significant portion of the
Company's sales has been to customers in Japan. If economic conditions in Japan
continue to deteriorate to a significant extent, the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely
affected. In addition, although the Company cannot predict the potential
consequences to the Company's business of the adoption of the Euro as a common
currency in Europe, the transition to the Euro presents a number of risks,
including increased competition from European firms as a result of increased
pricing transparency. An inability to obtain necessary regulatory approvals in
foreign markets on a timely basis could also have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
Most of the Company's international sales, including its sales in Japan, are
denominated in local currencies. Although the Company currently engages in
hedging transactions with respect to certain receivables resulting from certain
intercompany sales, there can be no assurance that the Company will continue to
do so or that its hedging activities will be successful. Fluctuations in foreign
currency exchange rates may contribute to fluctuations in the Company's
operating results. For example, changes in foreign currency exchange rates could
adversely affect revenues, net income, earnings per share and cash flow of the
Company's operations in the affected markets. Similarly, such fluctuations may
cause the Company to raise prices, which could affect demand for the Company's
products and services. In addition, if exchange or price controls or other
restrictions are imposed in countries in which the Company does business, the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations would be
materially adversely affected. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operation--Overview" and "--Foreign Exchange
Risk."
MANAGEMENT OF GROWTH. The Company's growth has placed, and is expected to
continue to place, significant demands on its management, administrative and
operational resources. During fiscal 1998, the Company's employee base grew by
approximately 50%. To manage expansion effectively, the Company needs to
continue to develop and improve its operational and financial systems, sales and
marketing capabilities, and expand, train, retain, manage and motivate its
employee base. Some of the Company's senior management have not previously
managed a business of the Company's size, and these individuals have limited or
no experience managing a public company. There can be no assurance that the
Company's systems, procedures or controls will be adequate to support the
Company's operations or that the Company's management will be able to exploit
successfully future market opportunities or successfully manage the Company's
relationships with customers and other third parties. There can be no assurance
that the Company will continue to grow or, if it does, that the Company will
effectively manage such growth. Any failure to manage growth would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
results of operations.
DEPENDENCE ON CUSTOMER OUTSOURCING OF TEST SYSTEMS. The Company's success
will depend on continued growth in the market for telecommunications test
systems and services and the continued commercial acceptance of the Company's
products as a solution to address the testing requirements of telecommunications
equipment manufacturers and network operators. While most of the Company's
existing and potential customers have the technical capability and financial
resources to produce their own test systems and perform test services
internally, to date, many have chosen to outsource a substantial proportion of
their test system and service requirements. There can be no assurance that the
Company's customers will continue, or that new customers will choose, to
outsource any of their test systems and service requirements or that the
Company's products and services will be widely adopted. If the market for
telecommunications test systems and services, or the demand for outsourcing,
declines or fails to grow, or if the Company's products and services are not
widely adopted as a telecommunications test solution, the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations would be materially adversely
affected. See "Business--Industry Background."
COMPETITION. The market for telecommunications test systems is
characterized by intense competition. The Company believes that its ability to
compete successfully depends on several factors, both within and
7
<PAGE>
outside its control, including availability of a broad range of protocols and
variants, system performance, length of operating history and industry
experience, product reliability, ease of use, quality of service and support,
status as an independent vendor and price. In addition, the Company believes
that potential customers consider other factors, such as whether the test system
vendor sells competing telecommunications equipment.
The Company believes its principal competitors are Able Communications Inc.
("Able"), Hewlett-Packard Company ("HP"), IFR Systems Inc. ("IFR"), INET, Inc.
("INET"), Schlumberger, Ltd. ("Schlumberger"), Tekelec, Tektronix Inc.
("Tektronix") and Wavetek Corporation ("Wavetek"). Many of the Company's
existing and potential competitors are large domestic and international
companies that have substantially greater financial, manufacturing,
technological, marketing, sales, distribution and other resources, larger
installed customer bases, greater name recognition and longer-standing customer
relationships than the Company. Accordingly, such competitors or potential
competitors may be able to respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies
and changes in customer requirements or to devote greater resources to the
development, promotion and sales of their products than the Company.
The Company also competes with internal test system groups of its customers
and potential customers. Many of the Company's existing and potential customers
have the technical capability and financial resources to produce their own test
systems and perform test services internally. These systems and services would
be competitive with the test systems offered by the Company. There can be no
assurance that the Company's customers will continue, or that new customers will
choose, to outsource any of their test systems and service requirements or that
the Company's products and services will be widely adopted. If the market for
telecommunications test systems and services, or the demand for outsourcing,
declines or fails to grow, or if the Company's products and services are not
widely adopted as a telecommunications test solution, the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations would be materially adversely
affected.
The Company expects competition to increase in the future from existing
competitors and from other companies that may enter this market with solutions
that may be less costly or provide higher performance or offer more features
than the Company's solutions. Current and potential competitors have established
or may establish cooperative relationships among themselves or with third
parties to develop new test solutions for internal use or for sale to third
parties in the Company's markets. Accordingly, it is possible that new
competitors may emerge and acquire significant market share. Increased
competition may result in price reductions, reduced gross margins and loss of
market share, any of which would have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations. See
"Business--Competition."
DEPENDENCE ON RAPIDLY EVOLVING TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY. The Company's
future success is dependent upon the continued growth of the telecommunications
industry. The global telecommunications industry is evolving rapidly, and it is
difficult to predict its potential growth rate or future trends in technology
development. There can be no assurance that the deregulation, privatization and
economic globalization of the worldwide telecommunications market that has
resulted in increased competition and escalating demand for new technologies and
services will continue in a manner favorable to the Company or its business
strategies. In addition, there can be no assurance that the growth in demand for
Internet services and the resulting need for high speed or enhanced
telecommunications equipment will continue at its current rate or at all.
While the Company's operations are not directly regulated, the Company's
existing and potential customers are subject to a variety of United States and
foreign governmental regulations. Such regulations may adversely affect the
telecommunications industry, limit the number of potential customers for the
Company's products and services or otherwise have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Recently
enacted legislation deregulating the telecommunications industry, including the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the "Telecommunications Act"), has caused
significant changes in the telecommunications industry, including the entrance
of new competitors and possible industry consolidation, which could in turn
affect demand for the Company's telecommunications test solutions or otherwise
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations. Currently, the Federal Communications Commission
("FCC") and state authorities are implementing the provisions of the
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Telecommunications Act, and several of the decisions by the FCC and state
authorities are being challenged in court. Therefore, the Company cannot at this
time predict the extent to which such legislation and related litigation will
affect the Company's current and potential customers or ultimately affect the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. See
"Business--Industry Background."
The Company's future success is dependent upon the increased utilization of
its test solutions by network operators and telecommunications equipment
manufacturers. Industry-wide network equipment and infrastructure development
driving the demand for the Company's products and services may be delayed or
prevented by a variety of factors, including cost, regulatory obstacles or the
lack of or reduction in consumer demand for advanced telecommunications products
and services. There can be no assurance that telecommunications equipment
manufacturers and network operators will develop new technology or enhance
current technology or, if developed, that such new technology or enhancements
will create demand for the Company's products or services. See
"Business--Industry Background."
DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL. The Company's future growth and success depend
to a significant extent upon the continuing services of its executive officers
and other key employees. The Company does not have long-term employment
agreements or non-competition agreements with any of its employees. Competition
for qualified management and other high-level telecommunications industry
personnel is intense, and there can be no assurance that the Company will be
successful in attracting and retaining such personnel. The loss of services of
any key employees would have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations. The Company maintains
and is the beneficiary under a key person life insurance policy in the amount of
$2 million with respect to Dr. Richard A. Karp, the Company's President, Chief
Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. See "Management."
RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE; UNCERTAINTY OF ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMPANY'S
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. The market for telecommunications test systems and
services is subject to rapid technological change, evolving industry standards,
rapid changes in customer requirements and frequent product and service
introductions and enhancements. The Company's future success will depend in part
on its ability to anticipate and respond to these changes by enhancing its
existing products and services and by developing and introducing, on a timely
and cost-effective basis, new products, features and services that address the
needs of its customer base. There can be no assurance that the Company will be
successful in identifying, developing and marketing new products, product
enhancements and related services that respond to technological change or
evolving industry standards or that adequately meet new market demands. In
addition, because of the rapid technological change characteristic of the
telecommunications industry, the Company may be required to support legacy
systems used by its customers, which may place additional demands on the
Company's personnel and other resources and may require the Company to maintain
an inventory of otherwise obsolete components.
The Company's test systems currently operate only on the UNIX operating
system. The Company's current and prospective customers may require other
operating systems to be used in their telecommunications test systems, such as
Windows 95, Windows NT or Windows 98 or may require the integration of other
industry standards. There can be no assurance that the Company would be able to
successfully adapt its products to such operating systems on a timely or
cost-effective basis, if at all. The failure of the Company to respond to
rapidly changing technologies and to develop and introduce new products and
services in a timely manner would have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company's success will depend in part on whether a large number of
telecommunications equipment manufacturers and network operators purchase the
Company's products and services. Because the telecommunications market is
rapidly evolving, it is difficult to predict the future success of products and
services in this market. The customers in this market use products from a number
of competing suppliers for various testing purposes, and there has not been
broad adoption of the products of one company. There can be no assurance that
the Company's current or future products or services will achieve widespread
acceptance among network operators, telecommunications equipment manufacturers
or other potential customers or that solutions developed by competitors will not
render the Company's products obsolete or uncompetitive. In the event the
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telecommunications industry does not broadly adopt the Company's products or
services or does so less rapidly than expected by the Company, or in the event
the Company's products are rendered obsolete or uncompetitive by more advanced
solutions, the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations
would be materially adversely affected. See "Business--Competition."
DEPENDENCE ON SOLE AND SINGLE SOURCE SUPPLIERS. The Company purchases many
key components, including certain microprocessors, workstations, bus interface
and other chips, connectors and other hardware, from the sole supplier of a
particular component. For other components, even though multiple vendors may
exist, the Company may purchase components from only a single source. The
Company does not have any long-term supply agreements with these vendors to
ensure uninterrupted supply of these components. An inability to develop
alternative sources for these components or to obtain sufficient quantities of
them could result in delays or reductions in product shipments. In the event of
reduction or an interruption in the supply of a key component, a significant
amount of time could be required to qualify alternative suppliers and receive an
adequate flow of replacement components. In addition, certain components used by
the Company are purchased from single source suppliers in Japan. As a result,
currency fluctuations may affect the pricing of such components, which could
require the Company to seek other vendors. Reconfiguration of the Company's
products to adapt to new components may also be required and could entail
substantial time and expense. In either event, the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations would be materially adversely affected. In
addition, the process of manufacturing certain of these components is extremely
complex, and the Company's reliance on the suppliers of these components exposes
the Company to potential production difficulties and quality variations, which
could negatively affect cost and timely delivery of the Company's products. The
Company has from time to time in the past experienced supply problems as a
result of financial or operational difficulties of its suppliers,
discontinuations resulting from component obsolescence or other shortages or
allocations of supplies. Although the Company, to date, has not experienced
material delays in product deliveries to its customers resulting from such
supply problems, there can be no assurance that supply problems will not recur
or, if such problems do recur, that satisfactory solutions would be found. Any
prolonged inability to obtain adequate amounts of fully functional components or
any other circumstances that would require the Company to seek alternative
sources of supply could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
relationship with its customers as well as on its business, financial condition
and results of operations. See "Business--The Catapult DCT System" and
"--Manufacturing."
DEPENDENCE ON THIRD-PARTY MANUFACTURERS. The Company relies on a limited
number of independent manufacturers, some of which are small, privately held
companies, to provide certain assembly services to the Company's specifications.
The Company does not have any long-term supply agreements with any third-party
manufacturer. In the event that the Company's subcontractors were to experience
financial, operational, production or quality assurance difficulties or allocate
production resources to others in lieu of the Company or experience a
catastrophic event that resulted in a reduction or interruption in assembly
services to the Company, the Company's business, financial condition and results
of operations would be materially adversely affected until the Company was able
to establish sufficient manufacturing supply from alternative sources. There can
be no assurance that alternative assembly services from alternative sources will
be able to meet the Company's future requirements or that existing or
alternative sources will continue to be available to the Company at favorable
prices. See "Business--Manufacturing."
RISK OF PRODUCT DEFECTS. Products as complex as those offered by the
Company may contain undetected errors or "bugs," particularly when first
introduced or when new versions are released. Although the Company conducts
extensive testing, the Company may discover errors only after a product has been
installed and used by customers, possibly resulting in a loss or delay in sales.
Such errors or "bugs" have been detected by the Company in the past both before
and after release of the Company's products. There can be no assurance that
errors will not be found in future releases of the Company's software or that
any such errors will not generate adverse publicity, impair the market
acceptance of these products, create customer concerns and adversely affect
operating results due to product returns, the costs of generating corrective
releases or otherwise. The Company does not maintain "errors and omissions"
insurance. There can be no assurance that the failure to
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maintain "errors and omissions" insurance, in the event of the successful
assertion against the Company of one or a series of large uninsured claims,
would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations. Difficulties encountered by customers with
the installation and implementation of new product releases or problems with the
performance of the Company's products, particularly in light of the rigorous
standards of low-fault tolerance characteristic of the telecommunications
industry, would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations. See "Business--Product
Development."
PRODUCT LIABILITY. The Company's license agreements with its customers
typically contain provisions designed to limit the Company's exposure to
potential product liability claims. However, it is possible that the limitation
of liability provisions contained in the Company's license agreements may not be
effective under the laws of certain jurisdictions, particularly since the
Company sells a majority of its products internationally. Although the Company
has not experienced any product liability claims to date, the sale and support
of products by the Company may entail the risk of such claims, and there can be
no assurance that the Company will not be subject to such claims in the future.
A successful product liability claim brought against the Company could have a
material adverse effect upon the Company's business, financial condition and
results of operations. The Company does not maintain product liability
insurance. There can be no assurance that the failure to maintain product
liability insurance, in the event of the successful assertion against the
Company of one or a series of large uninsured claims, would not have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations.
PRODUCT CONCENTRATION. To date, substantially all of the Company's revenues
have been attributable to sales of the DCT family of products and related
services. The Company currently expects the DCT family of products and related
services to account for substantially all of its revenues for the foreseeable
future. As a result, factors adversely affecting the pricing of or demand for
DCT products, such as competition or technological change, could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations. The Company's future financial performance will depend, in
significant part, on the successful development, introduction and customer
acceptance of new and enhanced versions of the DCT family of products. There can
be no assurance that the Company will continue to be successful in developing
and marketing the DCT family of products and related services.
CONTROL BY PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDER. Upon completion of this offering, Richard
A. Karp will beneficially own 7,800,000 shares or approximately 62.1% of the
Company's outstanding Common Stock (59.7% if the Underwriters' over-allotment
option is exercised in full), which will include 3,600,000 shares beneficially
owned by Nancy H. Karp (3,097,125 shares if the Underwriters' over-allotment
option is exercised in full). Dr. Karp will have voting control through a voting
trust, but not dispositive power, with respect to the shares beneficially owned
by Ms. Karp. As a result, upon completion of this offering, Dr. Karp will be
able to control matters requiring approval by the stockholders of the Company,
including the election of directors. Such a concentration of ownership may have
the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company. See
"Principal and Selling Stockholders" and "Certain Transactions."
LIMITED PROTECTION OF PROPRIETARY RIGHTS; ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS. The
Company's success and its ability to compete effectively is dependent in part
upon its proprietary technology. The Company relies on a combination of
trademark, copyright and trade secret laws, as well as nondisclosure agreements
and other contractual restrictions, to establish and protect its proprietary
rights. The Company generally enters into nondisclosure and invention assignment
agreements with its employees and consultants, and into nondisclosure agreements
with its customers and suppliers. To date, the Company has not sought patent
protection for its proprietary technology. However, there can be no assurance
that patent protection will not become a more significant factor in the
Company's industry in the future. Likewise, there can be no assurance that the
measures the Company undertakes will be adequate to protect its proprietary
technology. To date, the Company has not federally registered any of its
trademarks or copyrights. The Company's practice is to affix copyright notices
on software, hardware and product literature in order to assert copyright
protection for these works. There can be no
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assurance that the lack of federal registration of the Company's trademarks and
copyrights would not have a material adverse effect on the Company's
intellectual property rights in the future. Additionally, the Company may be
subject to further risks as it enters into transactions in countries where
intellectual property laws are unavailable, do not provide adequate protection
or are difficult to enforce. Despite the Company's efforts to protect its
proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to duplicate aspects of the
Company's products or to obtain and use information that the Company regards as
proprietary. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by the Company to
protect its proprietary technology will be adequate to prevent misappropriation
of such technology or that they will preclude competitors from independently
developing products with functionality or features similar to the Company's
products. The failure of the Company to protect its proprietary technology would
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations. See "Business--Intellectual Property."
RISKS OF THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS OF INFRINGEMENT. The telecommunications
industry is characterized by a relatively high level of litigation based on
allegations of infringement of proprietary rights. While to date, the Company
has not been subject to claims of infringement or misappropriation of
intellectual property of third parties, there can be no assurance that third
parties will not assert infringement claims against the Company, that any such
assertion of infringement will not result in litigation or that the Company
would prevail in such litigation. Furthermore, any such claims, with or without
merit, could result in substantial cost to the Company and diversion of its
personnel, require the Company to develop new technology, or require the Company
to enter into royalty or licensing arrangements. Such royalty or licensing
agreements, if required, may not be available on terms acceptable to the Company
or at all. Because the Company does not rely on patents to protect its
technology, the Company will not be able to offer a license for patented
technology in connection with any settlement of patent infringement lawsuits. In
the event of a successful claim of infringement or misappropriation against the
Company and failure or inability of the Company to develop non-infringing
technology or license the infringed, misappropriated or similar technology at a
reasonable cost, the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations would be materially adversely affected. In addition, the Company
indemnifies its customers against claimed infringement of patents, trademarks,
copyrights and other proprietary rights of third parties. Any requirement for
the Company to indemnify a customer could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. See
"Business--Intellectual Property."
RISKS RELATING TO POTENTIAL ACQUISITIONS. As part of its business strategy,
the Company may make acquisitions of, or significant investments in, companies,
products or technologies that it believes are complementary, although no such
acquisitions or investments are currently pending. Any such future transactions
would be accompanied by the risks commonly encountered in making acquisitions of
companies, products and technologies. Such risks include, among others, the
difficulties associated with assimilating the personnel and operations of
acquired companies, the potential disruption of the Company's ongoing business,
the distraction of management and other resources, the integration of personnel
and technology of an acquired Company, difficulties in evaluating the technology
of a potential target, inability to motivate and retain new personnel, the
maintenance of uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies, and the
impairment of relationships with employees and clients as a result of the
integration of new management personnel. The Company has no experience in
assimilating acquired companies or product lines into its operations. There can
be no assurance that the Company will be successful in overcoming these risks or
any other problems encountered in connection with any such acquisitions.
Furthermore, future acquisitions by the Company could result in the issuance of
dilutive equity securities, the incurrence of debt or contingent liabilities or
amortization 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 operation or on the market price of the Company's
Common Stock. See "Use of Proceeds."
BENEFITS OF THIS OFFERING TO CURRENT STOCKHOLDERS. The completion of this
offering will provide significant benefits to the current stockholders of the
Company, including certain of the Company's directors and executive officers.
The Company will not receive any of the net proceeds from the sale of shares by
the Selling
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Stockholders, which will be $11,648,250 ($16,324,988 if the Underwriters'
over-allotment option is exercised in full), based upon an assumed initial
public offering price of $10.00 per share, after deducting estimated
underwriting discounts and commissions. The completion of this offering will
also create a public market for the Common Stock, which is likely to increase
the market value of the investment by the current stockholders in shares of the
Company. Upon completion of the offering and after giving effect to the sale of
Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders, based upon an assumed initial offering
price of $10.00 per share, the present directors and executive officers of the
Company will beneficially own Common Stock of the Company having an aggregate
market value equal to approximately $87,379,500, and the current stockholders of
the Company will beneficially own Common Stock of the Company having an
aggregate market value equal to approximately $92,680,370. The total
consideration paid by the current stockholders for such shares was approximately
$221,000. See "Dilution" and "Principal and Selling Stockholders."
IMPACT OF YEAR 2000. Many currently installed computer systems and software
products are coded to accept only two-digit entries in the date code field.
These date code fields will need to accept four-digit entries to distinguish
21(st) century dates from 20(th) century dates. As a result, computer systems
and/or software used by many companies may need to be upgraded to comply with
such "Year 2000" requirements. The Company's internal information systems,
including its financial accounting, product development and operations systems,
utilize software and hardware provided by third parties. In most cases, the
Company employs widely available software applications and other products from
leading third-party vendors and has been advised by such vendors that such
products are Year 2000 compliant or that Year 2000 versions will be provided in
a timely fashion. However, the failure of such third-party products to operate
properly with regard to the Year 2000 or thereafter could require the Company to
incur unanticipated expenses to remedy any problems or otherwise disrupt the
Company's business.
Non-information technology systems that utilize embedded technology, such as
microcontrollers, may also need to be replaced or upgraded to become Year 2000
compliant. The Company does not believe that it uses any non-information
technology systems the failure of which would be material to the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations, although there can be
no assurance in this regard.
The Company generally represents to its customers that it has achieved Year
2000 compliance for its products and believes this to be the case. The Company's
products do not contain hardware components or software which involve the
rollover of dates. The Company's products may be integrated by the Company or
its customers with, or otherwise interact with, non-compliant hardware and
software produced by other companies, which may expose the Company to claims
from its customers. The foregoing may result in the loss of or delay in market
acceptance of the Company's products and services or increase service and
warranty costs to the Company, both of which would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
Given the large number of such third-party hardware and software products and
the Company's limited resources, the Company does not intend to review such
products for Year 2000 compliance.
The Company plans to survey its key vendors in February 1999 regarding their
readiness and exposure with respect to the Year 2000 problem. The Company
believes that it will have adequate inventory on hand of all key components and
will therefore have adequate time to find a replacement vendor in the event
supplies from one of its key vendors are disrupted due to Year 2000 issues.
However, there can be no assurance that its plans will be adequate and that it
will not experience unanticipated disruption in the supply of components which
could delay or result in the loss of revenue.
The Company's customers are large companies with complex operations and, as
a result, the Company cannot adequately assess the impact which Year 2000 issues
might have on their operations. In addition, since the Company's sales are
highly concentrated, with its top four customers accounting for 73% of its
business in fiscal year 1998, operational disruptions caused by the Year 2000
could have an adverse effect on the timing and size of the Company's sales
during the Year 2000 and a material impact on its business, financial condition
and results of operations.
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The Company does not intend to develop any specific contingency plans to
address the effects of any Year 2000 problems. The Company believes that it has
adequate liquidity to sustain a temporary disruption in its business as a result
of such problems. However, since it cannot forecast with any certainty the
impact, extent and duration of any Year 2000 problems on the Company, its
customers or its suppliers, there can be no assurance that the Company's
resources will be adequate to withstand any prolonged disruption. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations--Year 2000 Compliance."
BROAD MANAGEMENT DISCRETION OVER USE OF PROCEEDS. The principal purposes of
this offering are to obtain additional working capital, establish a public
market for the Company's Common Stock, facilitate future access to public
capital markets, provide liquidity to existing stockholders, provide increased
visibility and credibility, enhance the ability of the Company to acquire other
businesses or technologies and attract and retain key personnel. A significant
portion of the anticipated net proceeds to the Company from this offering has
not been designated for specific uses. Accordingly, management of the Company
will have broad discretion with respect to the use of these funds. See "Use of
Proceeds."
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE; POTENTIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON MARKET
PRICE. Sales of substantial numbers of shares of Common Stock in the public
market following this offering could adversely affect the market price for the
Common Stock. Upon completion of this offering, the Company will have an
aggregate of 12,568,037 shares of Common Stock outstanding, assuming no exercise
of outstanding options. Of these shares, all of the 3,352,500 shares sold in
this offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further
registration under the Securities Act, unless purchased by an affiliate of the
Company who may only sell such shares pursuant to the public information,
volume, manner of sale and notice requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities
Act. The remaining 9,215,537 shares outstanding upon completion of this offering
will be "restricted securities" as that term is defined in Rule 144 (the
"Restricted Shares"). Restricted Shares may be sold in the public market only if
registered or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under Rules
144, 144(k) or 701 promulgated under the Securities Act. Of these Restricted
Shares, 9,061,475 are subject to lock-up agreements under which the holders have
agreed not to offer, sell, contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of any of
their shares for a period of 180 days following the offering, without the prior
written consent of Hambrecht & Quist LLC. All holders of options to purchase
Common Stock of the Company (as of December 31, 1998) are also bound by lock-up
agreements. Taking into account the lock-up agreements, the number of shares
that will be available for sale in the public market under the provisions of
Rules 144, 144(k) and 701, including certain shares issuable upon exercise of
options, will be as follows: (i) 93,125 Restricted Shares will be eligible for
sale immediately after the effective date of the Registration Statement; (ii)
60,937 additional Restricted Shares will be eligible for public resale beginning
90 days after the effective date of the Registration Statement; and (iii)
9,061,475 additional Restricted Shares (plus 421,837 shares of Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of outstanding options) will be eligible for public
resale beginning 180 days after the effective date of the Registration
Statement, subject in some cases to the public information, volume, manner of
sale and notice requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. See
"Description of Capital Stock" and "Shares Eligible for Future Sale." Except as
described in "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and "Underwriting," Hambrecht &
Quist LLC does not have any agreements or understandings regarding the release
of any securities from the prohibitions on sales and other dispositions imposed
by these lock-up agreements. Hambrecht & Quist LLC, however, retains the right
at any time and without notice to release from the scope of the lock-up
restrictions all or any portion of the securities currently subject to such
restrictions. The release of any securities from such prohibitions and the
subsequent sale of such shares may have an adverse effect on the ability of the
Company to raise capital and could adversely affect the market price of the
Company's Common Stock. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and
"Underwriting."
NO PRIOR PUBLIC MARKET; POSSIBLE VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE. Prior to this
offering, there has been no public market for the Company's Common Stock, and
there can be no assurance that an active public trading market for the Common
Stock will develop or be sustained after the offering. The initial public
offering price will be determined through negotiations between the Company, the
Selling Stockholders and the representatives of the Underwriters based upon
several factors and is not necessarily indicative of the market price at which
the Common Stock of the Company will trade after this offering. The market
prices for securities of technology
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companies have been highly volatile and the market has experienced significant
price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of
particular companies. Announcements of technological innovations or new products
or service offerings by the Company or its competitors, developments concerning
proprietary rights, domestic or international regulatory developments affecting
the telecommunications industry, general market conditions, any shortfall in
revenues or earnings from expected levels or other failures by the Company to
meet expectations of securities analysts and other factors may have a
significant impact on the market price of the Common Stock. In addition, the
stock market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume
fluctuations that have particularly affected the market prices for the common
stocks of emerging growth companies and that have often been unrelated to the
operating performance of such companies. These broad market fluctuations may
adversely affect the market price of the Company's Common Stock. In the past,
following periods of volatility in the market price of a particular company's
securities, securities class action litigation has often been brought against
that company. There can be no assurance that such litigation will not occur in
the future with respect to the Company. Such litigation could result in
substantial costs and a diversion of management's attention and resources, which
could have a material adverse effect upon the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations. See "Underwriting."
ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECT OF NEVADA LAW AND CHARTER AND BYLAW PROVISIONS;
AVAILABILITY OF PREFERRED STOCK FOR ISSUANCE. Nevada law and the Company's
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws contain provisions that could discourage a
proxy contest or make more difficult the acquisition of a substantial block of
the Company's Common Stock. In addition, the Board of Directors is authorized to
issue, without stockholder approval, up to 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock
with voting, conversion and other rights and preferences that may be superior to
those of the Common Stock and that could adversely affect the voting power or
other rights of the holders of Common Stock. The issuance of Preferred Stock or
of rights to purchase Preferred Stock could be used to discourage an unsolicited
acquisition proposal. See "Description of Capital Stock--Preferred Stock" and
"--Nevada Anti-Takeover Statutes."
IMMEDIATE AND SUBSTANTIAL DILUTION. Investors purchasing shares of Common
Stock in this offering will incur immediate and substantial dilution in net
tangible book value of the Common Stock of $7.19 per share (based on an assumed
initial public offering price of $10.00). To the extent that currently
outstanding options to purchase the Company's Common Stock are exercised, there
will be further dilution. See "Dilution."
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. This Prospectus contains forward-looking
statements, which may be deemed to include, but are not limited to, the
Company's business strategy, timing of and plans for the introduction of new
products, services and enhancements, plans for hiring additional personnel,
timing of and plans for opening new offices and the adequacy of anticipated
sources of cash, including the proceeds from this offering, to fund the
Company's operations through the next 18 months. Words such as "believes,"
"anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends" and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means
of identifying such statements. Actual results could differ materially from
those projected in any forward-looking statements for the reasons detailed in
other sections of this "Risk Factors" portion of the Prospectus, or elsewhere in
this Prospectus. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking
statement.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the 2,100,000 shares of
Common Stock offered by the Company hereby at an assumed initial public offering
price of $10.00 per share are estimated to be approximately $18,486,000, after
deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering
expenses. As a result of the delay in the Company's initial public offering,
$769,000 in offering costs were charged to expense in the fourth quarter of
fiscal 1998. The principal purposes of this offering are to obtain additional
working capital, to establish a public market for the Company's Common Stock, to
facilitate future access to public capital markets, to provide liquidity to
existing stockholders, to provide increased visibility and credibility, to
enhance the ability of the Company to acquire other businesses, products or
technologies and to attract and retain key personnel.
The net proceeds of this offering will be used for general corporate
purposes, including working capital. Pending such uses, the proceeds will be
invested in short-term, investment-grade, interest-bearing securities. A portion
of the proceeds may also be used to acquire or invest in complementary
businesses or products or to obtain the right to use complementary technologies.
While from time to time the Company evaluates potential acquisitions of such
businesses, products or technologies, there are no present understandings,
commitments or agreements with respect to any acquisition of other businesses,
products or technologies. The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from
the sale of Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders. See "Risk Factors-- Broad
Management Discretion over Use of Proceeds," "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and Capital
Resources" and "Principal and Selling Stockholders."
DIVIDEND POLICY
The Company has never paid or declared any cash dividends. It is the present
policy of the Company to retain earnings to finance its business and, therefore,
the Company has not paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock to date and does
not anticipate paying any dividends on its Common Stock in the foreseeable
future.
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CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth (i) the actual capitalization of the Company
as of December 31, 1998, (ii) the pro forma capitalization after giving effect
to the reclassification of $5.0 million of redeemable common stock, which will
no longer be redeemable upon completion of this offering and (iii) the
capitalization as adjusted to reflect the sale by the Company of 2,100,000
shares of common stock offered hereby at an assumed initial public offering
price of $10.00 per share and the application of the estimated net proceeds
therefrom. As a result of the delay in the Company's initial public offering,
$769,000 in offering costs were charged to expense in the fourth quarter of
fiscal 1998. Consequently, for purposes of calculating the pro forma, as
adjusted data in the capitalization table below, the estimated net proceeds of
this offering are $19,255,000. This table should be read in conjunction with the
Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto included elsewhere in
this Prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31, 1998
-------------------------------------
PRO FORMA,
AS
ACTUAL PRO FORMA ADJUSTED(1)
--------- ----------- -------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Redeemable Common Stock, 500,000 shares actual, no shares pro forma and pro
forma as adjusted......................................................... $ 5,000 $ -- $ --
--------- ----------- -------------
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized;
none issued and outstanding........................................... -- -- --
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 40,000,000 shares authorized, 9,968,037
issued and outstanding actual; 10,468,037 shares issued and
outstanding pro forma; 12,568,037 shares issued and outstanding pro
forma as adjusted(1).................................................. 10 11 13
Additional paid-in capital.............................................. 17 1,081 20,334
Deferred compensation................................................... (559) (559) (559)
Retained earnings....................................................... 11,947 15,882 15,882
Cumulative translation adjustment....................................... (8) (8) (8)
Treasury stock.......................................................... (300) (300) (300)
--------- ----------- -------------
Total stockholders' equity............................................ 11,107 16,107 35,362
--------- ----------- -------------
Total capitalization................................................ $ 16,107 $ 16,107 $ 35,362
--------- ----------- -------------
--------- ----------- -------------
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) Excludes 692,733 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
outstanding options as of December 31, 1998 at a weighted average exercise
price of $1.14 per share and an aggregate of 2,849,107 shares reserved for
future grant under the Company's Stock Plans. See "Management--Stock Plans"
and Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
17
<PAGE>
DILUTION
As of December 31, 1998, the Company had a pro forma net tangible book value
of approximately $16,107,000 or approximately $1.54 per share of Common Stock.
Pro forma net tangible book value per share represents the amount of total
tangible assets less total liabilities divided by the number of shares of Common
Stock outstanding, after giving effect to reclassification of $5 million of
redeemable common stock which will no longer be redeemable upon completion of
this offering. After giving effect to the receipt by the Company of the net
proceeds from the sale of 2,100,000 shares of Common Stock offered by the
Company hereby at an assumed initial public offering price of $10.00 per share,
the pro forma net tangible book value of the Company as of December 31, 1998
would have been approximately $35,362,000 or approximately $2.81 per share. (1)
This represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value per
share of $1.27 to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $7.19 per
share to new investors. The following table sets forth this per share dilution:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Assumed initial public offering price per share.......................... $ 10.00
Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of December 31, 1998.... $ 1.54
Increase per share attributable to new investors....................... 1.27(1)
---------
Pro forma net tangible book value per share after the offering........... 2.81(1)
---------
Dilution per share to new investors...................................... $ 7.19(1)
---------
---------
</TABLE>
The following table summarizes, on a pro forma basis as of December 31,
1998, the differences between existing stockholders and new investors with
respect to the number of shares of Common Stock purchased from the Company, the
total consideration paid and average price per share paid:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES PURCHASED TOTAL CONSIDERATION AVERAGE
-------------------------- ------------------------ PRICE PER
NUMBER PERCENT AMOUNT PERCENT SHARE
------------ ------------ ------------- --------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Existing Stockholders(2)..................... 10,468,037 83.3% $ 287,000 1.3% $ .03
New Investors(2)............................. 2,100,000 16.7 21,000,000 98.7 10.00
------------ ------------ ------------- ---------
Total................................ 12,568,037 100.0% $ 21,287,000 100.0%
------------ ------------ ------------- ---------
------------ ------------ ------------- ---------
</TABLE>
The above calculations assume no exercise of stock options after December
31, 1998. As of December 31, 1998, there were options outstanding to purchase
692,733 shares of Common Stock under the Company's 1989 Stock Option Plan, 1998
Stock Option Plan and the UK Executive Share Option Scheme at a weighted average
exercise price of $1.14 per share and an aggregate of 2,849,107 shares remained
available for future grant under the Company's Stock Plans. To the extent
outstanding options are exercised, or shares reserved for future option grants
are issued, there will be further dilution to new investors. See
"Management--Stock Plans" and Note 4 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
- ------------------------
(1) As a result of the delay in the Company's initial public offering, $769,000
in offering costs were charged to expense in the fourth quarter of fiscal
1998. Consequently, for purposes of calculating the increase per share
attributable to new investors, the pro forma net tangible book value per
share after offering and the dilution per share to new investors, the
estimated net proceeds are $19,255,000.
(2) Sales by the Selling Stockholders in this offering will reduce the number of
shares held by existing stockholders to 9,215,537 shares, or approximately
73.3% of the total shares of Common Stock after the offering (8,712,662
shares or approximately 69.3% if the Underwriters over-allotment option is
exercised in full), and will increase the number of shares held by new
investors to 3,352,500, or approximately 26.7% (3,855,375 shares or
approximately 30.7% if the Underwriters over-allotment option is exercised
in full) of the total shares of Common Stock outstanding after the offering.
See "Principal and Selling Stockholders."
18
<PAGE>
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected financial data is qualified by reference to and
should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and Consolidated Financial
Statements and Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Prospectus. The
consolidated statements of income for the fiscal years ended September 30, 1996,
1997 and 1998 and the consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 1997 and
1998, are derived from, and are qualified by reference to, the audited
Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere herein. The consolidated
balance sheet data at September 30, 1995 and 1996 are derived from audited
financial statements of the Company not included herein. The consolidated
statement of income for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1994 and the
consolidated balance sheet data at September 30, 1994 are derived from unaudited
financial statements of the Company not included herein. The selected historical
financial data set forth below for the three-month periods ended December 31,
1997 and 1998 were derived from unaudited consolidated financial statements of
the Company included elsewhere in this Prospectus. In the opinion of management,
the unaudited consolidated financial statements include all adjustments,
consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair
presentation of the financial position and results of operations for these
periods. The results for an interim period are not necessarily indicative of the
results to be expected for the full fiscal year.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THREE MONTHS
ENDED DECEMBER 31,
FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
----------------------------------------------------- --------------------
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1997 1998
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME DATA:
Revenues:
Product sales................................... $ 3,147 $ 5,857 $ 7,690 $ 11,519 $ 15,833 $ 2,853 $ 4,524
Services........................................ 669 1,012 1,562 1,833 2,373 593 705
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total revenues................................ 3,816 6,869 9,252 13,352 18,206 3,446 5,229
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Cost of revenues:
Product sales................................... 674 804 1,103 1,576 1,852 310 611
Services........................................ 142 132 246 344 564 110 189
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total cost of revenues........................ 816 936 1,349 1,920 2,416 420 800
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Gross profit...................................... 3,000 5,933 7,903 11,432 15,790 3,026 4,429
Operating expenses:
Research and development........................ 504 697 908 1,419 2,001 414 553
Sales and marketing............................. 719 1,300 1,881 2,550 3,242 670 1,192
General and administrative...................... 370 889 1,384 2,063 2,188 450 579
Offering costs.................................. -- -- -- -- 769 -- --
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total operating expenses...................... 1,593 2,886 4,173 6,032 8,200 1,534 2,324
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Operating income.................................. 1,407 3,047 3,730 5,400 7,590 1,492 2,105
Interest income................................... 85 224 269 380 594 114 151
Other income (expense)............................ 5 126 (209) (6) (263) (100) (166)
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Income before taxes............................... 1,497 3,397 3,790 5,774 7,921 1,506 2,090
Provision for taxes............................... 522 1,225 1,502 2,436 3,396 646 899
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income........................................ $ 975 $ 2,172 $ 2,288 $ 3,338 4,525 $ 860 $ 1,191
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Earnings per share(1):
Basic........................................... $ 0.10 $ 0.23 $ 0.24 $ 0.35 $ 0.44 $ 0.08 $ 0.11
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Diluted......................................... $ 0.10 $ 0.22 $ 0.22 $ 0.31 $ 0.41 $ 0.08 $ 0.11
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Weighted average shares:
Basic........................................... 9,569 9,581 9,621 9,630 10,369 10,163 10,517
Diluted......................................... 9,701 10,058 10,301 10,605 10,940 10,809 10,953
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEPTEMBER 30,
----------------------------------------------------- DECEMBER 31,
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1998
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and cash equivalents............................ $ 2,903 $ 5,438 $ 7,171 $ 10,672 $ 15,229 $ 13,759
Working capital...................................... 2,238 4,260 6,496 9,698 14,006 14,988
Total assets......................................... 3,289 6,760 9,542 14,035 19,495 19,658
Redeemable common stock(2)........................... -- -- -- -- 5,000 5,000
Total stockholders' equity........................... 2,398 4,557 6,832 10,170 10,150 11,107
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------
(1) See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the method used
to calculate earnings per share.
(2) See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
19
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH
"SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA" AND THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND NOTES THERETO INCLUDED ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS. THE
FOLLOWING DISCUSSION CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS THAT INVOLVE RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, STATEMENTS OF THE COMPANY'S PLANS,
OBJECTIVES, EXPECTATIONS AND INTENTIONS. THE CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS MADE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE READ AS BEING APPLICABLE TO ALL RELATED FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS WHEREVER THEY MAY APPEAR IN THIS PROSPECTUS. THE COMPANY'S ACTUAL
RESULTS COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE ANTICIPATED OR IMPLIED BY THE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS DISCUSSED HERE. FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE OR
CONTRIBUTE TO SUCH DIFFERENCES ARE DISCUSSED IN "RISK FACTORS," AS WELL AS
ELSEWHERE HEREIN.
OVERVIEW
Catapult Communications Corporation ("Catapult" or the "Company") designs,
develops, manufactures, markets and supports an advanced software-based digital
telecommunications test system offering an integrated suite of testing
applications for equipment manufacturers and network operators. The Company
introduced the Digital Communications Tester (the "DCT") in 1985. Catapult
maintains an extensive library of software modules that support more than 100
variants of approximately 30 protocols. The DCT system performs simulation, load
and stress testing, feature verification, conformance testing and monitoring.
The DCT system consists of advanced software and hardware running on a
third-party UNIX-based workstation. In addition, the Company offers customer
support under software support contracts, as well as installation and training.
The Company's revenues are derived from product sales, which include both
licenses of the DCT system software and sales of hardware, and from services,
which includes customer support under software support contracts, as well as
installation and training. Prices for the DCT system vary widely depending upon
overall system configuration, including the number and type of software protocol
modules and the number of physical interfaces required by the customer. A DCT
system sale typically ranges in price from approximately $50,000 to $150,000. In
addition to the initial system purchase, customers also may upgrade their
systems by purchasing additional software protocol modules and hardware.
Customers have the option to purchase a third-party workstation from Catapult or
provide a workstation to the Company for configuration. Revenues from product
sales are recognized upon shipment to the customer, provided that no significant
obligations on the part of the Company remain and collection is considered
probable.
The Company offers product warranties for various lengths of time, depending
on the product and country of purchase or operation. Customers may elect to
purchase an annual software support contract, which includes both ongoing
technical support and any new software releases made available during the term
of the support contract. These software releases include protocol variants for
protocols already purchased by the customer. Revenues from software support
contracts are recognized ratably over the contract period, which is generally
one year. New customers typically purchase onsite installation and training,
which are charged on a fixed-price basis and recognized as the services are
performed.
The Company's overall gross margin is a result of gross margin on product
sales, gross margin on services and the relative percentages of revenues from
sales of products and services. Gross margin on services has declined each
fiscal year since fiscal 1995, from 87% for fiscal 1995 to 76% for fiscal 1998.
This decline has been offset by an increase in gross margin on product sales
from 86% to 88% over these same periods. In addition, the relative contribution
of services revenue to total revenues varied over these same periods from 15% in
fiscal 1995 to 13% in fiscal 1998. Although the Company's overall gross margins
were relatively constant over the last three fiscal years, gross margin declined
from 88% for the three months ended December 31, 1997 to 85% for the three
months ended December 31, 1998 due to changes in product mix and increases in
support personnel. To date, the declining margin on services revenues has not
materially affected the Company's overall business strategy.
20
<PAGE>
The Company derives a majority of its total revenues from international
customers. These revenues constituted approximately 55%, 53%, 72% and 69% of
total revenues for fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998 and the three months ended
December 31, 1998, respectively. The Company expects that international sales
will continue to account for a significant portion of its revenues in future
periods. Most of the Company's international sales, including its sales in
Japan, are denominated in local currencies. Although the Company currently
engages in hedging transactions with respect to receivables resulting from
certain intercompany sales, there can be no assurance that the Company will
continue to do so or that its hedging activities will be successful.
Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may contribute to fluctuations
in the Company's operating results. For example, changes in foreign currency
exchange rates could adversely affect the Company's revenues, net income,
earnings per share and cash flow from operations. Similarly, such fluctuations
may cause the Company to raise prices, which could affect demand for the
Company's products and services. International sales are also subject to a
number of inherent risks, such as longer customer payment cycles, greater
difficulty in accounts receivable collection, tariffs and other trade barriers.
During the last two fiscal years a significant portion of the Company's sales
has been to customers in Japan. If economic conditions in Japan continue to
deteriorate to a significant extent, the Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In addition,
if exchange or price controls or other restrictions are imposed in countries in
which the Company does business, the Company's business, financial condition and
results of operations would be materially adversely affected. See "Risk
Factors--Risks Associated with International Sales and Operations; Foreign
Exchange Risk" and "--Foreign Exchange Risk."
Revenues from the Company's top four customers represented approximately
54%, 60% and 73% of total revenues in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.
The Company's largest customer over this period has been Motorola, which
accounted for approximately 23%, 28% and 15% of total revenues in fiscal 1996,
1997 and 1998, respectively. Total sales to Motorola were approximately $2.2
million, $3.8 million and $2.9 million in these same periods. In the three
months ended December 31, 1998, the Company's top four customers represented
approximately 77% of total revenues. These customers, NTT, Motorola, NEC and
Marconi, accounted for approximately 27%, 22%, 20% and 7% of total revenues,
respectively, in that period. Total sales to Motorola were approximately $1.2
million in the same period. The Company's four largest customers in fiscal 1998
were NTT, NEC, Motorola and Lucent, which accounted for approximately 24%, 21%,
15% and 12% of total revenues, respectively. Separate engineering groups of the
same customer at different locations generally make independent decisions to
purchase the Company's products. The Company expects that it will continue to
depend upon a relatively limited number of customers for substantially all of
its revenues in future periods, although no customer is presently obligated
either to purchase a specific amount of products or to provide the Company with
binding forecasts of purchases for any period. The loss of a major customer or
the reduction, delay or cancellation of orders from one or more of the Company's
significant customers could materially adversely affect the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations. See "Risk Factors--Dependence on
Limited Number of Customers."
21
<PAGE>
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the percentage
relationship of certain items from the Company's consolidated statements of
income to total revenues.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL REVENUES
-----------------------------------------------------
THREE MONTHS ENDED
FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------- --------------------
1996 1997 1998 1997 1998
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues:
Product sales....................................................... 83.1% 86.3% 87.0% 82.8% 86.5%
Services............................................................ 16.9 13.7 13.0 17.2 13.5
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total revenues.................................................... 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Cost of revenues:
Product sales....................................................... 11.9 11.8 10.2 9.0 11.7
Services............................................................ 2.7 2.6 3.1 3.2 3.6
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total cost of revenues............................................ 14.6 14.4 13.3 12.2 15.3
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Gross profit.......................................................... 85.4 85.6 86.7 87.8 84.7
Operating expenses:
Research and development............................................ 9.8 10.6 11.0 12.0 10.6
Sales and marketing................................................. 20.3 19.1 17.8 19.4 22.8
General and administrative.......................................... 15.0 15.5 12.0 13.1 11.0
Offering costs...................................................... -- -- 4.2 -- --
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total operating expenses.......................................... 45.1 45.2 45.0 44.5 44.4
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Operating income...................................................... 40.3 40.4 41.7 43.3 40.3
Interest income....................................................... 2.9 2.8 3.3 3.3 2.9
Other income (expense)................................................ (2.3) -- (1.5) (2.9) (3.2)
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Income before taxes................................................... 40.9 43.2 43.5 43.7 40.0
Provision for taxes................................................... 16.2 18.2 18.6 18.7 17.2
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income............................................................ 24.7% 25.0% 24.9% 25.0% 22.8%
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Gross margin on product sales......................................... 85.7% 86.3% 88.3% 89.1% 86.5%
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Gross margin on services.............................................. 84.3% 81.2% 76.2% 81.5% 73.2%
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
</TABLE>
THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1998
REVENUES. Revenues increased by approximately 52% from $3.4 million for the
three months ended December 31, 1997 to $5.2 million for the three months ended
December 31, 1998. Over the same period, product sales increased by
approximately 59% from $2.9 million to $4.5 million, and services revenue
increased by approximately 19% from $593,000 to $705,000. The increase in
product sales was primarily attributable to increased system sales to customers
in Japan. The increase in services revenue was primarily due to sales of
software support contracts associated with new system sales as well as contract
renewals. Services revenue will vary depending in part on the relative
contribution of each sales region. In Japan, the Company has historically
received lower services revenue in proportion to its product sales, principally
due to market factors affecting the pricing of such services.
COST OF REVENUES. Cost of product sales consists of the costs of board
assembly by independent contractors, purchased components, payroll and benefits
for personnel in product testing, purchasing, shipping and inventory management,
as well as supplies, media and freight. Cost of services consists primarily of
the costs of payroll and benefits for customer support personnel, installation
and training. Cost of product sales increased from
22
<PAGE>
$310,000 for the three months ended December 31, 1997 to $611,000 for the three
months ended December 31, 1998. Product sales increased by approximately 59%
during the three months ended December 31, 1998 compared to the three months
ended December 31, 1997 while the cost of product sales increased by 97%. As a
result, gross margin decreased from 89.1% for the three months ended December
31, 1997 to 86.5% for the three months ended December 31, 1998, due primarily to
a lower proportion of sales of higher margin proprietary products, such as MPI
cards, during the three months ended December 31, 1998 compared to the three
months ended December 31, 1997. Cost of services increased by approximately 72%
from $110,000 for the three months ended December 31, 1997 to $189,000 for the
three months ended December 31, 1998 due to personnel additions. Gross margin on
services decreased from 81.5% for the three months ended December 31, 1997 to
73.2% for the three months ended December 31, 1998 as the Company added support
personnel in anticipation of increased sales. Gross margin on services will vary
depending in part on the amount of sales to Japan, where the Company has
historically generated lower margins on services revenue due to market factors
affecting pricing.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. Research and development expenses consist
primarily of the costs of payroll and benefits for engineers, equipment and
consulting services. The Company's policy is to evaluate software development
projects for technological feasibility to determine if they meet capitalization
requirements. To date, all software development costs have been expensed as
research and development expenses as incurred. Research and development expenses
increased by approximately 34% from $414,000 for the three months ended December
31, 1997 to $553,000 for the three months ended December 31, 1998. As a
percentage of total revenues, research and development expenses decreased from
12.0% to 10.6% over the same period. Research and development expenses increased
in absolute dollars due primarily to an increase in engineering personnel. The
Company expects that research and development expenses will increase in absolute
dollars for the foreseeable future as the Company intends to continue to invest
in product development.
SALES AND MARKETING. Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of the
costs of payroll, benefits, commissions and bonuses, and travel and promotional
expenses, such as brochures and trade shows. Sales and marketing expenses
increased from $670,000 for the three months ended December 31, 1997 to $1.2
million for the three months ended December 31, 1998. As a percentage of total
revenues, sales and marketing expenses increased from 19.4% for the three months
ended December 31, 1997 to 22.8% for the three months ended December 31, 1998.
These increases were due primarily to an overall increase in personnel. The
Company expects that sales and marketing expenses will increase in absolute
dollars for the foreseeable future as the Company intends to invest in its sales
and marketing capabilities.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE. General and administrative expenses include
costs associated with the Company's general management, human resources and
finance functions. General and administrative expenses increased 29% from
$450,000 for the three months ended December 31, 1997 to $579,000 for the three
months ended December 31, 1998 due primarily to an overall increase in personnel
and deferred compensation expense. As a percentage of total revenues, general
and administrative expenses decreased from 13.1% to 11.0% over the same period.
The Company anticipates hiring additional administrative personnel and incurring
additional costs as a public company, including directors' and officers'
liability insurance, investor relations programs and professional services fees.
Accordingly, the Company anticipates that general and administrative expenses
will increase for the foreseeable future.
In the three months ended December 31, 1998, the Company recorded
amortization of deferred compensation expense of $50,000 related to the issuance
of options to purchase the Company's Common Stock at exercise prices
subsequently deemed to be below fair market value. Total compensation expense
related to options granted in fiscal 1997 and 1998 aggregated $805,000, which
will be amortized to general and administrative expense over the respective
four-year vesting periods of the options. At December 31, 1998, approximately
$559,000 of deferred compensation expense remained to be amortized at a rate not
exceeding $50,000 per quarter.
23
<PAGE>
INTEREST INCOME. Interest income consists primarily of interest earned on
cash balances. Interest income increased from $114,000 for the three months
ended December 31, 1997 to $151,000 for the three months ended December 31, 1998
due to an increase in the Company's cash and cash equivalent balances and short-
term investments.
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE). Other income (expense) represents gains and losses
from fluctuations in exchange rates on transactions denominated in foreign
currencies and other miscellaneous expenses. Other expense was $100,000 for the
three months ended December 31, 1997 and $166,000 for the three months ended
December 31, 1998 due to exchange losses related to transactions denominated in
foreign currencies.
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES. Provision for income tax consists of federal,
state and international income taxes. The Company's effective tax rate was 42.9%
for the three months ended December 31, 1997 and 43.0% for the three months
ended December 31, 1998. These tax rates primarily reflect the significant
percentage of revenues derived by the Company from international operations,
particularly its operations in Japan, which has a relatively high tax rate. The
Company expects that its future tax rate may vary depending in part on the
relative income contribution by its domestic and foreign operations.
FISCAL YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND 1998
REVENUES. Revenues increased by approximately 36% from $13.4 million in
fiscal 1997 to $18.2 million in fiscal 1998. Over the same period, product sales
increased by approximately 37% from $11.5 million in fiscal 1997 to $15.8
million in fiscal 1998. Services revenue increased by approximately 29% from
$1.8 million in fiscal 1997 to $2.4 million in fiscal 1998. The increase in
product sales was primarily attributable to increased system sales to
international customers as well as increased sales of the Company's MPI cards.
The increase in services revenue was primarily due to sales of software support
contracts associated with new system sales as well as contract renewals.
Services revenue will vary depending in part on the relative contributions of
each sales region. In Japan, the Company has historically received lower
services revenue in proportion to its product sales, principally due to market
factors affecting the pricing of such services.
COST OF REVENUES. Cost of product sales increased by approximately 18% from
$1.6 million for fiscal 1997 to $1.9 million in fiscal 1998. Gross margin on
product sales increased from 86.3% for fiscal 1997 to 88.3% in fiscal 1998. This
increase was due primarily to a significantly higher proportion of higher margin
international sales and to increased sales of higher margin proprietary
products, such as MPI cards, in fiscal 1998. Cost of services increased by
approximately 64% from $344,000 for fiscal 1997 to $564,000 for fiscal 1998 due
to personnel additions. Gross margin on services decreased from 81.2% for fiscal
1997 to 76.2% for fiscal 1998 as the Company added support personnel in
anticipation of increased sales. Gross margin on services will vary depending in
part on the amount of sales to Japan, where the Company has historically
generated lower margins on services revenue due to market factors affecting
pricing.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. Research and development expenses increased by
approximately 41% from $1.4 million for fiscal 1997 to $2.0 million in 1998. As
a percentage of total revenues, research and development expenses increased
slightly from 10.6% to 11.0% over the same period. These increases were due
primarily to an increase in engineering personnel.
SALES AND MARKETING. Sales and marketing expenses increased by
approximately 27% from $2.6 million for fiscal 1997 to $3.2 million in fiscal
1998 as the Company hired additional personnel. As a percentage of total
revenues, sales and marketing expenses decreased from 19.1% for fiscal 1997 to
17.8% in fiscal 1998.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE. General and administrative expenses increased
slightly from $2.1 million for fiscal 1997 to $2.2 million in fiscal 1998. As a
percentage of total revenues, general and administrative expenses decreased from
15.5% to 12.0% over the same period. This percentage decrease was due primarily
to a decrease of approximately $500,000 in executive bonuses, offset in part by
personnel additions, settlement of a claim (see
24
<PAGE>
"Certain Transactions") and $176,000 of deferred compensation expense related to
employee stock option grants.
OFFERING COSTS. In fiscal 1998, the Company expensed $769,000 of costs
related to its delayed initial public offering. There were no such costs in the
comparable period of fiscal 1997.
INTEREST INCOME. Interest income increased from $380,000 for fiscal 1997 to
$594,000 in fiscal 1998 due to an increase in the Company's cash and cash
equivalent balances and short-term investments.
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE). Other expense was $6,000 for fiscal 1997 and was
$263,000 in fiscal 1998, due to exchange losses related to transactions
denominated in foreign currencies.
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES. The Company's effective tax rate was 42.2% in
fiscal 1997 and 42.9% in fiscal 1998. The increase in the tax rate primarily
reflects the higher percentage of revenues derived by the Company from
international operations in fiscal 1998, particularly its operations in Japan,
which has a relatively higher tax rate.
FISCAL YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1997
REVENUES. Revenues increased by approximately 44% from $9.3 million in
fiscal 1996 to $13.4 million in fiscal 1997. Over this period, product sales
increased by approximately 50% from $7.7 million in fiscal 1996 to $11.5 million
in fiscal 1997. The increase in product sales was primarily attributable to
increased sales to an expanded customer base in Japan and North America as well
as sales of the Company's MPI cards, which were introduced in late fiscal 1996.
Services revenue increased by approximately 17% from $1.6 million in fiscal 1996
to $1.8 million in fiscal 1997 due primarily to sales of software support
contracts associated with new system sales as well as contract renewals.
COST OF REVENUES. Cost of product sales increased by approximately 43% from
$1.1 million in fiscal 1996 to $1.6 million in fiscal 1997. Gross margin on
product sales increased slightly from 85.7% for fiscal 1996 to 86.3% for fiscal
1997 due primarily to increased sales of higher margin MPI cards, offset in part
by an increase in sales of lower margin workstations. Cost of services increased
by approximately 40% from $246,000 in fiscal 1996 to $344,000 in fiscal 1997 due
to personnel additions. Gross margin on services decreased from 84.3% in fiscal
1996 to 81.2% in fiscal 1997, reflecting increased lower margin services revenue
from customers in Japan and the addition of support personnel in anticipation of
increased sales.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. Research and development expenses increased by
approximately 56% from $908,000 in fiscal 1996 to $1.4 million in fiscal 1997.
Research and development expenses as a percentage of total revenues increased
from 9.8% in fiscal 1996 to 10.6% in fiscal 1997. These increases in research
and development expenses were due primarily to an increase in engineering
personnel.
SALES AND MARKETING. Sales and marketing expenses increased by
approximately 36% from $1.9 million in fiscal 1996 to $2.6 million in fiscal
1997. Sales and marketing expenses as a percentage of total revenues decreased
from 20.3% in fiscal 1996 to 19.1% in fiscal 1997. Sales and marketing expenses
increased in absolute dollars due primarily to personnel additions to staff the
sales office in Japan and higher bonus payments to the Company's sales force in
fiscal 1997.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE. General and administrative expenses increased
by approximately 49% from $1.4 million in fiscal 1996 to $2.1 million in fiscal
1997. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues
increased from 15.0% in fiscal 1996 to 15.5% in fiscal 1997. These increases in
general and administrative expenses were due primarily to an increase of
$550,000 in executive bonuses and two personnel additions in fiscal 1997.
INTEREST INCOME. Interest income increased from $269,000 in fiscal 1996 to
$380,000 in fiscal 1997, reflecting an increase in the Company's cash and cash
equivalent balances and short-term investments.
25
<PAGE>
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE). Other expense was $209,000 in fiscal 1996 and
$6,000 in fiscal 1997, consisting primarily of exchange losses related to
transactions denominated in foreign currencies.
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES. The Company's effective tax rate was 39.6% in
fiscal 1996 and 42.2% in fiscal 1997. The increase in the tax rate primarily
reflects the higher percentage of revenues derived by the Company from
international operations in fiscal 1997, particularly its operations in Japan,
which has a relatively high tax rate.
SELECTED QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth certain unaudited consolidated statements of
income data for each of the nine quarters through the quarter ended December 31,
1998, as well as such data expressed as a percentage of total revenues for the
periods indicated. This unaudited quarterly information has been prepared on the
same basis as the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto
contained herein and, in management's opinion, includes all adjustments
(consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair
presentation of the information for the quarters presented when read in
conjunction with the Company's annual audited Consolidated Financial Statements
and Notes thereto presented elsewhere in this Prospectus. The results of
operations for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for any
subsequent period or for the entire fiscal year.
26
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
QUARTER ENDED
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEC. 31, MAR. 31, JUNE 30, SEPT. 30, DEC. 31, MAR. 31, JUNE 30, SEPT. 30, DEC. 31,
1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1998 1998 1998 1998
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
INCOME DATA:
Revenues:
Product sales................ $ 4,384 $ 2,333 $ 2,856 $ 1,946 $ 2,853 $ 4,440 $ 4,092 $ 4,448 $ 4,524
Services..................... 483 444 407 499 593 573 529 678 705
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Total revenues............. 4,867 2,777 3,263 2,445 3,446 5,013 4,621 5,126 5,229
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Cost of revenues:
Product sales................ 652 250 364 310 310 379 569 594 611
Services..................... 87 82 82 93 110 129 150 175 189
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Total cost of revenues..... 739 332 446 403 420 508 719 769 800
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Gross profit................... 4,128 2,445 2,817 2,042 3,026 4,505 3,902 4,357 4,429
Operating expenses:
Research and development..... 324 359 387 349 414 471 534 582 553
Sales and marketing.......... 624 583 622 721 670 677 847 1,048 1,192
General and administrative... 530 475 510 548 450 597 549 592 579
Offering costs............... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 769 --
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Total operating expenses... 1,478 1,417 1,519 1,618 1,534 1,745 1,930 2,991 2,324
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Operating income............... 2,650 1,028 1,298 424 1,492 2,760 1,972 1,366 2,105
Interest income................ 81 88 106 105 114 135 168 177 151
Other income (expense)......... (55) (95) 153 (9) (100) (37) (166) 40 (166)
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Income before taxes............ 2,676 1,021 1,557 520 1,506 2,858 1,974 1,583 2,090
Provision for taxes............ 1,129 431 657 219 646 1,226 849 675 899
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Net income..................... $ 1,547 $ 590 $ 900 $ 301 $ 860 $ 1,632 $ 1,125 $ 908 $ 1,191
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Earnings per share(1):
Basic........................ $ 0.16 $ 0.06 $ 0.09 $ 0.03 $ 0.08 $ 0.16 $ 0.11 $ 0.09 $ 0.11
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Diluted...................... $ 0.15 $ 0.06 $ 0.08 $ 0.03 $ 0.08 $ 0.15 $ 0.10 $ 0.08 $ 0.11
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Weighted average shares:
Basic........................ 9,630 9,630 9,630 9,630 10,163 10,398 10,424 10,492 10,517
Diluted...................... 10,332 10,667 10,697 10,724 10,809 10,925 10,933 11,095 10,953
<CAPTION>
AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL REVENUES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEC. 31, MAR. 31, JUNE 30, SEPT. 30, DEC. 31, MAR. 31, JUNE 30, SEPT. 30, DEC. 31,
1996 1997 1997 1997 1997 1998 1998 1998 1998
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues:
Product sales................ 90.1% 84.0% 87.5% 79.6% 82.8% 88.6% 88.6% 86.8% 86.5%
Services..................... 9.9 16.0 12.5 20.4 17.2 11.4 11.4 13.2 13.5
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Total revenues............. 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Cost of revenues:
Product sales................ 13.4 9.0 11.2 12.7 9.0 7.5 12.3 11.6 11.7
Services..................... 1.8 3.0 2.5 3.8 3.2 2.6 3.2 3.4 3.6
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Total cost of revenues..... 15.2 12.0 13.7 16.5 12.2 10.1 15.5 15.0 15.3
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Gross profit................... 84.8 88.0 86.3 83.5 87.8 89.9 84.5 85.0 84.7
Operating expenses:
Research and development..... 6.7 12.9 11.8 14.3 12.0 9.4 11.6 11.4 10.6
Sales and marketing.......... 12.8 21.0 19.1 29.5 19.4 13.5 18.3 20.4 22.8
General and administrative... 10.9 17.1 15.6 22.4 13.1 11.9 11.9 11.5 11.0
Offering costs............... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 15.0 --
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Total operating expenses... 30.4 51.0 46.5 66.2 44.5 34.8 41.8 58.3 44.4
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Operating income............... 54.4 37.0 39.8 17.3 43.3 55.1 42.7 26.7 40.3
Interest income................ 1.7 3.2 3.2 4.3 3.3 2.7 3.6 3.5 2.9
Other income (expense)......... (1.1) (3.4) 4.7 (0.3) (2.9) (0.8) (3.6) 0.7 (3.2)
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Income before taxes............ 55.0 36.8 47.7 21.3 43.7 57.0 42.7 30.9 40.0
Provision for taxes............ 23.2 15.5 20.1 9.0 18.7 24.4 18.4 13.2 17.2
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
Net income..................... 31.8% 21.3% 27.6% 12.3% 25.0% 32.6% 24.3% 17.7% 22.8%
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
-------- -------- -------- --------- -------- -------- -------- --------- --------
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------
(1) See Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for the method used
to calculate earnings per share.
27
<PAGE>
Although the Company's total revenues have increased on an annual basis over
each of the last five years, the Company has experienced significant quarterly
fluctuations in total revenues. Total revenues in the quarters ended March 31,
1997 and September 30, 1997 were unusually low due to a decision by the Company
to manage its growth in fiscal 1996 and 1997 in order to build the
infrastructure necessary to support its growing base of customers. The decline
in sales in the quarter ended March 31, 1997 resulted from the unusually high
sales volume in the previous quarter as shipments of customer orders were
delayed by the Company from the last quarter of fiscal 1996 to the first quarter
of fiscal 1997 so that it could expand its customer support operations. Sales in
the quarter ended September 30, 1997 were lower than the previous quarter for
similar reasons. Quarterly gross profits as a percentage of total revenues vary
from quarter to quarter due to changes in product mix, including variations in
configurations of DCT systems. During the quarter ended September 30, 1997,
sales and marketing expenses were relatively higher than in previous quarters,
due primarily to an increase in marketing personnel and related recruiting
expenses. During the quarter ended September 30, 1998 the Company expensed
$769,000 of costs related to its delayed initial public offering.
The Company has experienced, and anticipates that it will continue to
experience, significant fluctuations in quarterly revenues and operating
results. The Company's revenues and operating results are relatively difficult
to forecast for a number of reasons, including (i) the variable size and timing
of individual purchases by customers, (ii) seasonal factors that may affect
capital spending by customers, such as the varying fiscal year ends of customers
and the reduction in business during the summer months, particularly in Europe,
(iii) the relatively long sales cycles for the Company's products, (iv) the
timing of hiring of sales and technical personnel, (v) changes in timing and
amount of incentive compensation, (vi) competitive conditions in the Company's
markets, (vii) exchange rate fluctuations, (viii) changes in the mix of products
sold, (ix) the timing of the introduction and market acceptance of new products
or product enhancements by the Company, its customers, competitors or suppliers,
(x) costs associated with developing and introducing new products, (xi) product
life cycles, (xii) changes in the level of operating expenses relative to
revenues, (xiii) software defects and other product quality problems, (xiv)
customer order deferrals in anticipation of new products, (xv) delays in
purchasing decisions or customer orders due to customer consolidation, (xvi)
supply interruptions, (xvii) changes in the regulatory environment and (xviii)
changes in global or regional economic conditions or in the telecommunications
industry.
The Company's revenues in any period generally have been, and are likely to
continue to be, derived from relatively small numbers of sales and service
transactions with relatively high average revenues per order. Therefore, the
loss of any orders or delays in closing such transactions could have a more
significant impact on the Company's quarterly revenues and results of operations
than on those of companies with relatively high volumes of sales or low revenues
per order. The Company's products generally are shipped within 15 to 30 days
after orders are received and revenues are recognized upon shipment of the
products, provided no significant vendor obligations remain and collection of
the related receivable is deemed probable. As a result, the Company generally
does not have a significant backlog of orders, and revenues in any quarter are
substantially dependent on orders booked and shipped in that quarter.
A customer's decision to purchase the Company's products typically involves
a significant technical evaluation, internal procedural delays associated with
large capital expenditure approvals and testing and acceptance of new systems
that affect key operations. For these and other reasons, the sales cycle
associated with the Company's products is typically lengthy and subject to a
number of significant risks over which the Company has little or no control.
Historically, the period between initial customer contact and purchase of the
Company's products has typically ranged from two to nine months, with sales to
new customers (including new divisions within existing customers) at the longer
end of this range. Because of the lengthy sales cycle and the relatively small
number and large size of customers' orders, if revenues forecast from a specific
customer for a particular quarter are not realized in that quarter, the
Company's operating results for that quarter could be materially adversely
affected.
The Company's expectations for future revenues are predicated, to a large
extent, on the recruitment and hiring of a significant number of employees,
particularly experienced sales and technical personnel. Failure to
28
<PAGE>
hire, or delays in hiring, sufficient sales and technical personnel could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations for any period.
Due to the relatively fixed nature of most of the Company's costs, including
personnel and facilities costs and because operating expenses are based on
anticipated revenue, a decline in revenue from even a limited number of
transactions, failure to achieve expected revenue in any fiscal quarter, or
unanticipated variations in the timing of recognition of specific revenues can
cause significant variations in operating results from quarter to quarter and
may in some future quarter result in losses or have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. The
Company believes, therefore, that period-to-period comparisons of its operating
results should not be relied upon as an indication of future performance. For
all of the foregoing factors, as well as other unanticipated factors, it is
possible that in some future quarter the Company's results of operations could
fail to meet the expectations of public market analysts or investors. In such
event, or in the event that adverse conditions prevail or are perceived to
prevail generally or with respect to the Company's business, the price of the
Company's Common Stock will likely be materially adversely affected.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Historically, the Company has financed its operations, including increases
in accounts receivable and capital equipment acquisitions, primarily through
cash generated from operations.
The Company's operating activities provided cash of $2.3 million, $3.4
million and $4.8 million in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively,
principally from net income in those periods and used $1.1 million in the three
months ended December 31, 1998. The use of cash in the Company's operations for
the three months ended December 31, 1998 was primarily attributable to a
significant increase in accounts receivable due to increased sales late in the
period. Investing activities, consisting primarily of purchases and sales of
short-term investments and additions to property and equipment, provided cash of
$257,000 and $167,000 in fiscal 1996 and 1997 and used cash of $562,000 in
fiscal 1998 and $49,000 in the three months ended December 31, 1998,
respectively. Financing activities were immaterial in fiscal 1996 and fiscal
1997. Financing activities provided cash of $212,000 in fiscal 1998 from the
exercise of stock options and used cash of $283,000 in the three months ended
December 31, 1998, primarily as a result of a repurchase of stock from an
executive officer. See "Certain Transactions."
As of December 31, 1998, the Company had working capital of $15.0 million
and cash and cash equivalents of $13.8 million. As of December 31, 1998, the
Company had no bank indebtedness and no long-term commitments other than
operating lease obligations. The Company expects that capital expenditures will
total approximately $700,000 in fiscal 1999. Accounts receivable increased from
$2.0 million at September 30, 1998 to $3.4 million at December 31, 1998 due
primarily to the timing of sales within each quarter.
The Company believes that the net proceeds from this offering, together with
existing cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and funds generated
from operations, will provide the Company with sufficient funds to finance its
operations for at least the next 18 months. The Company may require additional
funds to support its working capital requirements or for other purposes. There
can be no assurance that additional financing will be available or that, if
available, such financing will be obtainable on terms favorable to the Company
or its stockholders.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE RISK
The Company's foreign subsidiaries operate and sell the Company's products
in various global markets. As a result, the Company is exposed to changes in
interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates on foreign currency
denominated sales made to foreign subsidiaries. The Company utilizes foreign
currency forward exchange contracts and options to hedge against future
movements in foreign exchange rates that affect certain foreign currency
denominated intercompany receivables. The Company attempts to match the forward
contracts with the underlying receivables being hedged in terms of currency,
amount and maturity. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments
for speculative or trading purposes. Because the impact of movements in currency
exchange rates on forward contracts offsets the related impact on the exposures
hedged,
29
<PAGE>
these financial instruments do not subject the Company to speculative risk that
would otherwise result from changes in currency exchange rates. Realized gains
and losses on forward exchange contracts offset foreign exchange transaction
gains or losses from revaluation of foreign currency denominated intercompany
receivable balances which otherwise would be charged to other income (expense).
To date, the Company has not fully hedged all risk associated with its sales
denominated in foreign currencies, and there can be no assurance that the
Company's hedging activities, if any, will be successful.
At September 30, 1998, the Company had forward exchange contracts maturing
in fiscal 1999 to sell approximately $560,000 in Japanese yen. At September 30,
1997, the Company had no forward exchange contracts outstanding. The fair market
value of the contracts at September 30, 1998 was immaterial. In addition, at
September 30, 1998, the Company had a foreign currency option to sell 435
million Japanese yen maturing in fiscal 1999. This option was out of the money
at September 30, 1998 and had an immaterial fair market value. The cost of the
option has been included in other income (expense).
The Company has evaluated the potential near-term losses in future earnings,
fair values and cash flows from reasonably possible near-term changes in market
rates or prices and believes that any such losses would not be material.
YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE
Many currently installed computer systems and software products are coded to
accept only two-digit entries in the date code field. These date code fields
will need to accept four-digit entries to distinguish 21(st) century dates from
20(th) century dates. As a result, computer systems and/or software used by many
companies may need to be upgraded to comply with such "Year 2000" requirements.
The Company's internal information systems, including its financial accounting,
product development and operations systems, utilize software and hardware
provided by third parties. In most cases, the Company employs widely available
software applications and other products from leading third-party vendors and
has been advised by such vendors that such products are Year 2000 compliant or
that Year 2000 versions will be provided in a timely fashion. However, the
failure of such third-party products to operate properly with regard to the Year
2000 or thereafter could require the Company to incur unanticipated expenses to
remedy any problems or otherwise disrupt the Company's business.
Non-information technology systems that utilize embedded technology, such as
microcontrollers, may also need to be replaced or upgraded to become Year 2000
compliant. The Company does not believe that it uses any non-information
technology systems the failure of which would be material to the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations, although there can be
no assurance in this regard.
The Company generally represents to its customers that it has achieved Year
2000 compliance for its products and believes this to be the case. The Company's
products do not contain hardware components or software which involve the
rollover of dates. The Company's products may be integrated by the Company or
its customers with, or otherwise interact with, non-compliant hardware and
software produced by other companies, which may expose the Company to claims
from its customers. The foregoing may result in the loss of or delay in market
acceptance of the Company's products and services or increase service and
warranty costs to the Company, both of which would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
Given the large number of such third-party hardware and software products and
the Company's limited resources, the Company does not intend to review such
products for Year 2000 compliance.
The Company plans to survey its key vendors in February 1999 regarding their
readiness and exposure with respect to the Year 2000 problem. The Company
believes that it will have adequate inventory on hand of all key components and
will therefore have adequate time to find a replacement vendor in the event
supplies from one of its key vendors are disrupted due to Year 2000 issues.
However, there can be no assurance that its plans will be adequate and that it
will not experience unanticipated disruption in the supply of components which
could delay or result in the loss of revenue.
30
<PAGE>
The Company's customers are large companies with complex operations and as
such the Company cannot adequately assess the impact which Year 2000 issues
might have on their operations. In addition, since the Company's sales are
highly concentrated, with its top four customers accounting for 73% of its
business in fiscal year 1998, operational disruptions caused by the Year 2000
could have an adverse effect on the timing and size of the Company's sales
during the Year 2000 and a material impact on its business, financial condition
and results of operations.
To date, the Company has not incurred material costs associated with its
efforts to become Year 2000 compliant. Furthermore, based on its assessment to
date, the Company believes that any future costs associated with its Year 2000
compliance efforts will not be material.
The Company does not intend to develop any specific contingency plans to
address the effects of any Year 2000 problems. The Company believes that it has
adequate liquidity to sustain a temporary disruption in its business as a result
of such problems. However, since it cannot forecast with any certainty the
impact, extent and duration of any Year 2000 problems on the Company, its
customers or its suppliers, there can be no assurance that the Company's
resources will be adequate to withstand any prolonged disruption.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In June 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information"
("SFAS 131"). This statement will be effective for the Company's fiscal year
ending September 30, 1999. The statement requires the Company to report certain
financial information about operating segments. It also requires that the
Company report certain information about its services, the geographic areas in
which it operates and its major customers. The method specified in SFAS 131 for
determining information to be reported is referred to as the "management
approach." The management approach is based on the way that management organizes
the segments within the enterprise for making operating decisions and assessing
performance. The adoption of SFAS 131 is not expected to have a significant
impact on the Company's financial statement disclosures.
In October 1997, March 1998 and December 1998, the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA") issued Statements of Position ("SOP")
97-2, 98-4 and 98-9, "Software Revenue Recognition," which provide guidance on
applying generally accepted accounting principles in recognizing revenue on
software transactions. SOP 97-2 and 98-4 are effective for the Company's fiscal
year ending September 30, 1999. SOP 98-9 is effective for the Company's fiscal
year ending September 30, 2000. Earlier application is encouraged as of the
beginning of fiscal year or interim periods for which financial statements or
information have not been issued. Retroactive application of the provisions of
this SOP is prohibited. The Company has assessed the provisions of SOP 97-2 and
98-4 and does not expect that adoption will have a material impact on its
financial statements.
In March 1998, the AICPA issued SOP 98-1, "Software for Internal Use," which
provides guidance in accounting for the costs of computer software developed or
obtained for internal use. SOP 98-1 is effective for the Company's fiscal year
ending September 30, 1999. The Company does not expect the adoption of SOP 98-1
to have a material impact on its financial statements.
In June 1998, the FASB issued FAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("FAS 133"). The Company is required to
adopt FAS 133 in fiscal 2000. FAS 133 established methods of accounting for
derivative financial instruments and hedging activities related to those
instruments as well as other hedging activities. The Company has not yet
determined what the effect of FAS 133 will be on the operations and financial
position of the Company.
31
<PAGE>
BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
Catapult Communications Corporation ("Catapult" or the "Company") designs,
develops, manufactures, markets and supports an advanced software-based test
system offering an integrated suite of testing applications for the global
telecommunications industry. Catapult's Digital Communications Tester ("DCT") is
a comprehensive test solution designed to enable equipment manufacturers and
network operators to deliver complex digital telecommunications equipment and
services more quickly and cost-effectively, while helping to ensure
interoperability and reliability. The Company's advanced software and hardware
assist customers in the design, integration, installation and acceptance testing
of a broad range of digital telecommunications equipment and services. The
Company markets its products through a direct sales force to industry leaders
such as Cable & Wireless Communications PLC ("Cable & Wireless"), Fujitsu
Limited ("Fujitsu"), LM Ericsson ("Ericsson"), Lucent Technologies, Inc.
("Lucent"), Marconi Communications Ltd. ("Marconi"), Motorola Inc. ("Motorola"),
NEC Corporation ("NEC"), Nippon Telephone and Telegraph ("NTT"), Northern
Telecom Limited ("Nortel"), and Tellabs Inc. ("Tellabs").
The Company's predecessor was incorporated in California in October 1985 and
reincorporated into Nevada in June 1998. The Company has three subsidiaries,
Catapult Communications Ltd., a corporation organized under the laws of the
United Kingdom and Catapult Communications K.K., a corporation organized under
the laws of Japan, both of which provide sales and technical support, and ISDN
Technologies, Ltd., a foreign sales corporation organized under the laws of
Barbados.
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
Consumer demand for new wireless telecommunications services and enhanced
wireline services has created significant need for new telecommunications
equipment and infrastructure. Technological advances have made wireless
telecommunications services more widely available and increasingly affordable,
resulting in the build-out of a significant number of new wireless networks to
meet consumer demand. At the same time, the explosive growth of the Internet and
the convergence of telephony and computing are driving demand for high-speed
telecommunications services, as well as enhanced services integrating voice,
data and video. In addition, the deregulation and the increasing privatization
and globalization of the telecommunications industry are intensifying
competition among existing operators of telecommunications networks and
promoting the entrance of new telecommunications equipment manufacturers and
service providers, such as Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs). The
entry of new market participants has resulted in an increased demand for more
equipment to satisfy infrastructure needs.
As a result of these trends, operators of telecommunications networks are
investing aggressively in new technologies such as SS7, CDMA, Frame Relay and
Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM); new services, including IN-based services such
as Caller ID, voice messaging and Local Number Portability (LNP); satellite
telecommunications services such as Iridium; and digital wireless services such
as Personal Communications Services (PCS). These new technologies and services
have led to a proliferation of standards, protocols (sets of rules relating to
transmissions between two devices) and protocol variants, making the design and
operation of telecommunications networks even more complex.
The technological advances in wireless and wireline telecommunications,
increasing competition between existing service providers and new entrants, and
the proliferation of standards, are fundamentally changing the
telecommunications industry. Historically, one equipment provider would
typically supply the network operator with most of the equipment necessary for
the network, with the result that interoperability problems were relatively
minimal. However, the recent entry of many new telecommunications equipment
manufacturers into the market has complicated the operation of
telecommunications networks, increasing the problem of interoperability among
equipment from multiple vendors. Today, network operators are able to choose
heterogeneous products from multiple equipment manufacturers to obtain the best
set of features and reduce network cost. Consequently, to remain competitive,
equipment manufacturers must be able to rapidly provide cost-effective
32
<PAGE>
equipment with enhanced features. At the same time, manufacturers and operators
are required to ensure that these products satisfy the telecommunications
industry's rigorous standards of seamless interoperability and high reliability
under variable traffic conditions.
To address these needs, telecommunications equipment manufacturers and
network operators require versatile test systems that can help ensure the
interoperability of equipment from various vendors, identify and locate errors
in network equipment, enhance the performance of the network and verify
conformance to industry standards. In order to address these requirements
effectively, test systems should:
- PROVIDE A COMPLETE SOLUTION. Equipment manufacturers must be able to test
their products efficiently and rigorously throughout design, development,
network integration, installation and acceptance testing. A single test
system that can be used in each of these phases can lower test costs and
allow personnel to develop familiarity with the test system, enabling them
to progress more efficiently through the entire development and testing
process.
- ACCELERATE TEST CYCLES. Because of customers' needs to develop and
introduce new products and services rapidly, test systems must perform a
wide variety of test functions quickly and reliably.
- RAPIDLY SUPPORT A BROAD RANGE OF NEW AND INCREASINGLY COMPLEX
PROTOCOLS. As the number of technologies, services, protocols and protocol
variants grows, equipment manufacturers and network operators increasingly
require a powerful and versatile test system capable of supporting a broad
range of testing applications. In addition, manufacturers and operators
require access to a broad range of protocols and protocol variants, as
well as timely support of new protocols and protocol variants.
- ADAPT TO A VARIETY OF TESTING ENVIRONMENTS. Because equipment
manufacturers and network operators may already use a variety of test
systems, any new test system must be sufficiently adaptable to function on
a stand-alone basis or to be integrated into customers' diverse test
environments.
- INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AMONG A BROAD RANGE OF USERS. In view of the
increasing scarcity of skilled technical personnel, users with less
technical sophistication often become involved in the testing process. As
a result, test systems must be usable by personnel with varying degrees of
technical skills.
Although many equipment manufacturers and network operators have used
internally developed test systems, manufacturers and operators increasingly
recognize that developing these systems internally may not allow them to
introduce reliable new products and services as rapidly and cost effectively as
desired. The Company believes that the shortage of skilled and experienced
technical staff caused by the rapid growth of the telecommunications industry
has caused companies in this industry to utilize scarce personnel in design
rather than in testing of new products. In addition, internal development by the
same manufacturer of both the test system and the device under test may
perpetuate rather than reduce design error. As a result, network operators are
increasingly requesting equipment manufacturers to use independently developed
test systems. These and other factors are causing equipment manufacturers and
network operators to outsource their telecommunications test systems needs,
creating a market opportunity for companies that provide independently developed
test systems.
THE CATAPULT SOLUTION
Catapult designs, develops, manufactures, markets and supports an advanced
software-based test system offering an integrated suite of testing applications
for the global telecommunications industry. Catapult's DCT is a comprehensive
test solution designed to enable equipment manufacturers and network operators
to deliver complex digital telecommunications equipment and services faster and
more cost-effectively, while helping to ensure reliability and interoperability.
The Company's advanced software and hardware assist its customers in the design,
development, network integration, installation and acceptance testing of new and
existing telecommunications equipment and services. The DCT system is designed
for use principally in the following applications: (i) simulation, which enables
the DCT system to emulate a networking environment; (ii) load and stress
testing, which tests the performance of a device under high traffic loads; (iii)
feature verification, which verifies
33
<PAGE>
that the features of a device function correctly; (iv) conformance testing,
which validates operation of a device to published specifications; and (v)
monitoring, which is used to determine whether devices are functioning properly
within a network.
The DCT system provides the following key customer benefits:
- COMPREHENSIVE DIGITAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS TEST SOLUTION. With its extensive
library of software protocol modules, large selection of physical
interfaces and a platform designed to support multi-protocol, multi-user
testing, the DCT system is easily configured to support a wide variety of
digital testing needs. The DCT system can be used throughout the design,
development, network integration, installation and acceptance testing of
digital telecommunications equipment and services, thereby reducing a
customer's need for multiple test systems.
- IMPROVED TIME TO MARKET. The DCT system's multi-protocol, multi-user
capability allows multiple testing operations to be performed
simultaneously by different users, helping customers to accelerate their
product development cycles. The system also supports automated testing,
further reducing development and test cycles.
- ACCESS TO AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF PROTOCOLS AND VARIANTS. Catapult maintains
an extensive library of software modules that support more than 100
variants of approximately 30 protocols, with an emphasis on complex,
high-level and emerging protocols. Using its extensive library of software
protocol test modules, the technical expertise and know-how of its
engineers and its proprietary software development tools, the Company can
rapidly implement new protocols and protocol variants in response to the
needs of its customers.
- IMPROVED PRODUCT RELIABILITY. By simulating a wide range of operating
situations, including protocol errors, network failures and heavy network
traffic, the Company's products can help to detect, diagnose and isolate
network telecommunications problems. This simulation helps ensure that
telecommunications equipment will operate reliably, thereby reducing
costly failures after installation. In addition, the Company believes that
the independent development of test solutions can reduce errors that may
occur when the same manufacturer develops both the test system and the
device under test.
- ADAPTABILITY TO DIVERSE TESTING ENVIRONMENTS. While the DCT system can
serve as a powerful and versatile stand-alone test solution, the system's
UNIX-based platform and flexible design facilitate integration of the
system into customers' diverse test environments. The DCT system is also
designed to provide customers with a migration path to future testing
needs.
- FLEXIBLE PROGRAMMING CAPABILITIES. In order to run test scenarios,
particularly on advanced test systems, users may need to create customized
test scripts. To make the DCT system accessible to a broad range of users,
the Company offers a number of programming options. The Company's fully
featured Digital Communications Programming Language ("DCPL") allows users
to write their own code to customize their testing applications. The
Company also provides a Graphical User Interface ("GUI") to make it easier
and faster for customers to develop these applications. In addition, the
Company offers pre-programmed conformance test suites to reduce the amount
of programming required by its customers.
- COMPREHENSIVE TECHNICAL SUPPORT. The Company believes its high level of
customer support provides a key competitive advantage. Catapult employs
highly skilled applications engineers in each of its locations to provide
pre- and post-sales support to its customers. Applications engineers
provide on-site training and installation and assist customers in
developing test applications and troubleshooting problems. Further,
Catapult develops protocol variants at the request of existing customers
and typically releases several software updates per year.
34
<PAGE>
STRATEGY
The Company's objective is to become the leading supplier of advanced
software-based test systems for the global telecommunications industry.
Catapult's strategy to achieve this objective includes the following key
elements:
- EXPAND DIRECT SALES AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT PRESENCE. In order to increase
its market penetration and to capitalize on opportunities in the global
market, the Company plans to continue to expand its sales, marketing and
support capabilities. The Company believes that a physical presence in key
customer locations provides an important advantage in developing and
maintaining new and existing customer relationships. In addition to
expanding each of its current offices, the Company plans to open new
offices in North America and Europe. The Company opened an office in
Ottawa, Canada in January 1998 and an office in Dallas, Texas in July
1998.
- CONTINUE TO SUPPORT NEW AND COMPLEX PROTOCOLS AND VARIANTS. Catapult plans
to continue to capitalize on its expertise and software development tools
to develop software modules rapidly as new and more complex protocols and
protocol variants are introduced. The Company believes that its extensive
library of software-based protocol modules, together with its proprietary
software development tools and extensive technical know-how, provide a
significant competitive advantage.
- BROADEN MARKET BY ENHANCING EASE OF USE. The Company is continually
seeking to make the DCT system easier to use in order to expand its market
to include a broader range of users. The DCT system employs a GUI which is
designed to reduce the time and resources needed by customers to develop
test scripts. In addition, the Company has recently introduced
pre-programmed applications to perform load generation and network entity
simulation. Catapult believes that these additional product offerings will
appeal to companies with limited programming resources.
- LEVERAGE INSTALLED BASE OF CUSTOMERS. The Company intends to continue to
leverage its existing customer base not only for follow-on and upgrade
sales but also to gain access to new customers. For example, because users
of identical test systems can benefit from sharing test scripts and
results, an initial sale to one customer can facilitate subsequent sales
to other equipment manufacturers and network operators.
- PURSUE STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS AND ALLIANCES. The Company intends to pursue
strategic acquisitions of complementary businesses or technologies to
expand its product offerings, to obtain additional customer relationships
and to add technical and sales personnel, as appropriate opportunities are
identified. The Company may also seek to create alliances with companies
that supply technologies and products that are complementary to the
capabilities of the DCT system.
- SPECIALIZE IN PROVIDING TEST SOLUTIONS FOR THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS
INDUSTRY. The Company intends to continue its focus on providing
telecommunications test solutions. Some of the Company's competitors also
offer telecommunications equipment that, in many instances, competes with
their customers' products. Because some customers may prefer not to buy
products from competitors, the Company believes that its sole focus on
test solutions provides it with a competitive advantage.
THE CATAPULT DCT SYSTEM
Catapult designs, develops, manufactures, markets and supports an advanced
software-based digital telecommunications test system offering an integrated
suite of testing applications under the DCT system family name. The Company's
advanced software and hardware can be used both in the lab and in the field to
assist its customers in the design, development, network integration,
installation and acceptance testing of new and existing digital
telecommunications equipment and services. The DCT system's multi-protocol,
multi-user capability allows multiple testing operations to be performed
simultaneously by different users, helping customers to accelerate their product
development cycles.
35
<PAGE>
The DCT system consists of advanced software and hardware running on a
third-party UNIX-based workstation. In a system sale, customers typically
license one or more software modules and purchase hardware and ongoing software
support. Customers may upgrade their systems by purchasing additional software
protocol modules and hardware to meet future testing needs. Customers have the
option to purchase a third-party workstation from Catapult or provide a
workstation to the Company for configuration. Prices for the DCT system vary
widely depending upon the overall system configuration, including the number and
type of software protocol modules and the number of physical interfaces required
by the customer. A DCT system sale typically ranges in price from approximately
$50,000 to $150,000.
APPLICATIONS
The principal applications of the DCT system are simulation, load and stress
testing, feature verification, conformance testing and monitoring.
SIMULATION. The simulation function of the DCT system enables it to act
like one or more network devices, emulating their actions and responses. By
simulating various network devices, such as digital switches, wireless base
stations, network access nodes and network databases, the Company's products
assist engineers to cost-effectively develop equipment that will be compatible
with the networks within which they will be deployed. This helps ensure that
equipment will interoperate reliably, thereby reducing costly failures after
installation.
LOAD AND STRESS TESTING. Load and stress testing enables the DCT system to
verify that a device under test can successfully handle its designed traffic
capacity and that its performance will degrade gradually, rather than fail
completely, when stressed beyond its specifications. Distributed interface
processing and a high-performance UNIX-based platform enable the DCT system to
initiate and maintain high traffic volumes.
FEATURE VERIFICATION. The DCT system performs feature verification by
simulating one or more network devices and testing a wide variety of possible
scenarios to verify that the device under test handles all features specified by
the protocol. The user is able to initiate multiple simultaneous calls across
one or many links, create correct call scenarios, send messages out of sequence
to verify error response mechanisms and use the DCT system's traffic channel
facilities to verify a voice or data path.
CONFORMANCE TESTING. The DCT system tests for conformance by enabling
manufacturers and network operators to verify that devices meet specified
standards. Conformance test suites validate the implementation of new features
and the functionality of existing features against a standardized set of
predefined criteria. Catapult provides pre-packaged V5 and SS7 conformance test
suites which assist in this testing.
MONITORING. The DCT system monitors network links and stores network
activity information for future analysis, typically without affecting network
traffic. By collecting and analyzing traffic, the DCT system helps ensure that
the link has been brought into service and that the devices connected by the
link are functioning properly. The DCT system also provides notice of network
device failure. The DCT system can be used to set traps and triggers, count
error messages and filter packets by address or selected field criteria. The DCT
system can simultaneously monitor multiple links, each of which may be using
different protocols.
DCT SYSTEM SOFTWARE
The DCT system software, based on a UNIX operating system, consists of
protocol encoders and decoders, protocol state machines, protocol validation
tests and conformance test suites. The DCT system supports more than 100
variants of approximately 30 protocols, enabling the DCT system to be configured
for many different test applications. The Company's customers can choose to
program the DCT system using Catapult's GUI or by writing their own code using
the Company's DCPL, a fully featured optimized communications language. In
addition, the Company has recently introduced pre-programmed applications to
perform load generation and network entity simulation. Finally, customers can
also choose to integrate their own libraries of subroutines written in industry
standard programming languages such as C or C++.
36
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The following table sets forth certain information, as of December 31, 1998,
with respect to the directors and executive officers of the Company:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE POSITION WITH THE COMPANY
- ----------------------------------- --- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Richard A. Karp.................... 54 President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Joan M. Varrone.................... 47 Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Barry R. Hoglund................... 50 Vice President of Sales
Glenn Stewart...................... 48 Vice President of Engineering
Guy R. Simpson..................... 40 Vice President of Applications Development
Barbara J. Fairhurst............... 50 Director of Operations
Nancy H. Karp...................... 53 Secretary and Director
John M. Scandalios (1)(2).......... 68 Director
Charles L. Waggoner (1)(2)......... 59 Director
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) Member of Audit Committee
(2) Member of Compensation Committee
RICHARD A. KARP founded the Company in 1985 and has served as President,
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of the Company since
inception. Prior to founding Catapult in 1985, Dr. Karp was Vice President of
Software Development for Tri-Data, Inc., a supplier of protocol conversion
equipment, from 1982 to 1985. Previously, he was a founder and Vice President of
Software of Sequoia Systems, a fault-tolerant computer systems manufacturer. Dr.
Karp has also served as an independent software consultant, and he spent five
years as a systems programmer and project leader at Burroughs Corporation. Dr.
Karp holds a Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford University, an M.S. in
mathematics from the University of Wisconsin and a B.S. in science from the
California Institute of Technology.
JOAN M. VARRONE joined Catapult in September 1997 as Vice President,
Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. From 1994 to 1997, Ms. Varrone
was Treasurer of Watkins-Johnson Company, a semiconductor equipment
manufacturer, where she was responsible for finance, real estate, employee
benefits and environmental compliance. From 1985 to 1993, she was employed by
Raychem Corporation, where she held a number of financial positions in the areas
of planning, international tax and treasury management. Prior to that, Ms.
Varrone was employed at Exxon Corporation. Ms. Varrone holds an M.B.A. in
finance and international business from New York University, an M.S. in
operations research from Purdue University and a B.A. in mathematics from the
College of New Rochelle.
BARRY R. HOGLUND joined Catapult in 1993 as Vice President of Sales. From
1992 to 1993, he was Vice President of North American Sales and Service at
Spectra-Physics Lasers. Prior to that, he was employed for 17 years by
Watkins-Johnson Company, where his last position was Vice President of Sales and
Marketing. Mr. Hoglund received an M.S. in physics from the University of
Illinois and a B.S. in physics from the University of Minnesota.
GLENN STEWART joined the Company in 1992 as Vice President of Engineering.
Prior to joining the Company, he was Director of Engineering at Tektronix/LP
Com. Previously, he spent nine years at Bell Northern Research as a manager of
development of telecommunications products and services. Mr. Stewart holds an
M.Sc. and a B.Sc. in computer science from the University of Toronto.
GUY R. SIMPSON has served as Deputy Chairman of Catapult Communications
Ltd., the Company's UK subsidiary ("CCL"), since October 1996 and was elected
Vice President of Applications Development of the Company in May 1998. Mr.
Simpson joined the Company in 1989 and has held a number of technical and
management positions with the Company and CCL since that time. From October 1996
to April 1998,
45
<PAGE>
Mr. Simpson was the Director of Field Test Systems for the Company. From July
1994 to September 1996, Mr. Simpson was Managing Director of CCL. From July 1992
to June 1994, he was Secretary of CCL. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Simpson
was employed for eight years by AT&T Bell Laboratories, where he held a variety
of engineering and management positions in the area of advanced digital
switching systems. Mr. Simpson holds a B.Sc. degree in computer science from
Hatfield Polytechnic at the University of Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
BARBARA J. FAIRHURST joined Catapult in June 1995 as Director of Operations.
From 1994 to 1995, Ms. Fairhurst was Principal at BJF Consulting, a consulting
firm, where she developed business plans and implemented operating systems. From
1990 to 1993, Ms. Fairhurst was Corporate Vice President at Intersource
Technologies, Inc., where she was responsible for operations and manufacturing.
Prior to that time, Ms. Fairhurst spent 10 years as President and Chief
Operating Officer of Sequential Circuits, a manufacturer of electronic music
equipment. Ms. Fairhurst holds an M.B.A. from the Santa Clara University and a
B.A. from San Jose State University.
NANCY H. KARP has served as director and Secretary of the Company since its
inception and served as the Company's Treasurer from inception to September
1997. In addition, from time to time during that period, she provided a variety
of services to the Company. Beginning in June 1998, she also entered into a
three-year consulting agreement with the Company. See "Certain Transactions."
Ms. Karp holds an M.B.A. from Claremont Graduate School, an M.A. in public
health from the University of California at Berkeley and a B.S. from Texas
Technical University.
JOHN M. SCANDALIOS has served as a director of the Company since November
1987. Since 1994, Mr. Scandalios has been a director and Vice President of Sales
at Flowpoint Corporation, a computer networking company ("Flowpoint"). From 1993
to 1994, he served as Vice President of Sales of Combinet Inc., a computer
networking company. From 1990 to 1993, Mr. Scandalios was President of LIR
Corporation ("LIR"), a network software company. From 1987 to 1990, he served as
Vice-President of Sales of ARIX Corporation, a UNIX-based computer manufacturing
company. Mr. Scandalios is also a director of Ancot Corporation, a SCSI and
fiber channel test equipment company. Mr. Scandalios holds an M.B.A. and a B.A.
from the University of Chicago.
CHARLES L. WAGGONER has served as a director of Catapult since January 1991.
Since 1993, Mr. Waggoner has served as President of Flowpoint. From 1992 to
1993, Mr. Waggoner was Vice President of Development of LIR. From 1990 to 1992,
he was an independent consultant at Waggoner Associates. From 1986 to 1990, Mr.
Waggoner served as Vice President of Operations of GRiD Systems, Inc., a
portable laptop computer company. Mr. Waggoner holds a B.S. in electrical
engineering from South Dakota State University.
Each director holds office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders
of the Company or until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. Each
officer serves at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Richard A. Karp and
Nancy H. Karp were recently divorced.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The Company's non-employee directors do not currently receive any cash
compensation for service on the Company's Board of Directors or any committee
thereof, but directors may be reimbursed for certain expenses incurred in
connection with attendance at Board and committee meetings. Pursuant to the 1989
Stock Option Plan (the "1989 Plan"), in fiscal 1997 Messrs. Scandalios and
Waggoner were each granted an option to purchase 37,500 shares of Common Stock
at an exercise price of $0.83 per share. No options were granted to members of
the Company's Board of Directors in fiscal 1998. In addition, non-employee
directors will be eligible for option grants under the Company's 1998 Stock Plan
(the "1998 Plan"), which was adopted by the Board of Directors and approved by
the stockholders in June 1998. Beginning in June 1998, Ms. Karp entered into a
three-year consulting agreement with the Company. See "Management--Stock Plans"
and "Certain Transactions."
46
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors has an Audit Committee and a Compensation Committee,
each consisting of Messrs. Waggoner and Scandalios. The Audit Committee was
formed in June 1998 and makes recommendations to the Company's Board of
Directors regarding the selection of independent auditors, reviews the results
and scope of annual audit and reviews and evaluates the Company's internal
control functions.
The Compensation Committee was formed in June 1998 and makes recommendations
to the Board of Directors concerning salaries and incentive compensation for the
Company's executive officers and administers the Company's Stock Plans.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Compensation Committee is currently composed of Messrs. Scandalios and
Waggoner. Neither of these individuals has at any time been an officer or
employee of the Company. Prior to formation of the Compensation Committee,
determinations regarding compensation were made by the entire Board of
Directors. Since formation of the Compensation Committee and until consummation
of this offering, compensation decisions for officers who were also board
members and for each individual whose total compensation in any fiscal or
calendar year exceeded $1 million were made by recommendation of the President,
subject to approval of the full Board of Directors, and all other compensation
decisions were delegated to the President of the Company. No member of the
Compensation Committee of the Company serves as a member of the board of
directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive
officers serving as a member of the Company's Board of Directors or Compensation
Committee. In June 1998, in connection with the settlement of divorce
proceedings between Dr. and Ms. Karp, the Company and Dr. and Ms. Karp entered
into a Voting Trust Agreement governing the voting of shares of the Company's
Common Stock held by Ms. Karp. Concurrently, the Company and Ms. Karp entered
into a Severance Agreement and Mutual Release providing for full settlement of
claims asserted by Ms. Karp against the Company in early 1998 for compensation
for past services rendered by her to the Company. The Company and Ms. Karp also
concurrently entered into a Consulting and Non-Competition Agreement under which
the Company would retain Ms. Karp as a consultant for a period of three years.
See "Certain Transactions."
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION MATTERS
The Company's Articles of Incorporation limit, to the maximum extent
permitted by Section 78.751 of the Nevada General Corporation Law, the personal
liability of directors and officers for monetary damages for breach of their
fiduciary duties as directors and officers (other than liabilities arising from
acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct, fraud or knowing
violations of law or the payment of distributions in violation of Nevada General
Corporation Law). The Articles of Incorporation provide further that the Company
shall indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by Nevada General Corporation
Law any person made a party to an action or proceeding by reason of the fact
such person was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company. Subject
to the Company's Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws provide that the Company
shall indemnify directors and officers for all costs reasonably incurred in
connection with any action, suit or proceeding in which such director or officer
is finally adjudged to have been derelict in the performance of his duties as
such director or officer. The Company has entered into indemnification
agreements with its officers and directors containing provisions which may
require the Company, among other things, to indemnify the officers and directors
against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service
as directors or officers (other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct
of a culpable nature), and to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any
proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.
At the present time, there is no pending material litigation or proceeding
involving a director, officer, employee or other agent of the Company in which
indemnification would be required or permitted. The Company is not aware of any
threatened material litigation or proceeding which may result in a claim for
such indemnification.
47
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
compensation earned by the Company's Chief Executive Officer and other executive
officers whose aggregate salary and bonus exceeded $100,000 during the fiscal
year ended September 30, 1998 (the "Named Executive Officers").
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
-------------
AWARDS
-------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION SECURITIES
----------------------- UNDERLYING
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION SALARY($) BONUS($)(1) OPTIONS(#)(2)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Richard A. Karp ................................................. $ 360,000 $ 251,200 --
President, Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of the Board
Barry R. Hoglund ................................................ 140,000 173,308 --
Vice President of Sales
Joan M. Varrone ................................................. 147,188 55,308 157,500
Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer
Glenn Stewart ................................................... 136,667 59,308 --
Vice President of Engineering
Guy R. Simpson .................................................. 112,500 58,475 --
Vice President of Applications Development
Barbara J. Fairhurst ............................................ 98,000 31,406 --
Director of Operations
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(1) Includes bonuses paid in fiscal 1999 for services rendered in fiscal 1998.
(2) The Company has not granted any SARs.
OPTION GRANTS DURING FISCAL YEAR 1998
The following table sets forth certain information concerning the stock
option granted to the only Named Executive Officer who received an option in the
fiscal year ended September 30, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POTENTIAL
REALIZABLE
VALUE AT
ASSUMED
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS ANNUAL
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RATES OF
NUMBER OF STOCK
SECURITIES PERCENT OF TOTAL PRICE
UNDERLYING OPTIONS GRANTED EXERCISE DEEMED VALUE PER APPRECIATION($)(6)
OPTIONS TO EMPLOYEES IN PRICE EXPIRATION SHARE FOR DATE OF ---------
NAME GRANTED(#)(1) 1998(2) ($/SH)(3) DATE(4) GRANT(5) 0%
- ------------------------------ --------------- ---------------- ----------- ----------- ------------------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Richard A. Karp............... -- --% $ -- -- $ -- $ --
Barry R. Hoglund.............. -- -- -- -- -- --
Joan M. Varrone............... 157,500 76.4 1.27 11/21/07 4.33 482,000
Glenn Stewart................. -- -- -- -- -- --
Guy R. Simpson................ -- -- -- -- -- --
Barbara J. Fairhurst.......... -- -- -- -- -- --
<CAPTION>
NAME 5% 10%
- ------------------------------ --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
Richard A. Karp............... $ -- $ --
Barry R. Hoglund.............. -- --
Joan M. Varrone............... 912,219 1,570,728
Glenn Stewart................. -- --
Guy R. Simpson................ -- --
Barbara J. Fairhurst.......... -- --
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(1) This option is an incentive stock option granted pursuant to the 1989 Stock
Plan and has a term of 10 years, subject to earlier termination in certain
events related to termination of employment. This option vests as to 1/8th
of the underlying shares six months after the date of grant, and as to
1/48th of the shares each month thereafter.
48
<PAGE>
(2) Based on an aggregate of 206,100 shares subject to options granted in fiscal
1998.
(3) Exercise price is equal to fair market value as determined by the Board of
Directors at the time of grant. In determining the fair market value of the
Company's Common Stock, the Board of Directors considered various factors,
including the Company's financial condition and business prospects, its
operating results, the absence of a market for its Common Stock and the
risks normally associated with technology companies.
(4) Options may terminate before their expiration dates if the optionee's status
as an employee or consultant is terminated or upon the optionee's death or
disability.
(5) The deemed value for the date of grant was determined after the date of
grant solely for financial accounting purposes.
(6) The potential realizable value is calculated based on the term of the option
(10 years) and assumes that the deemed value at the date of grant
appreciates at the indicated annual rate, compounded annually for the entire
term of the option, and that the option is exercised and sold on the last
day of its term for the appreciated stock price. The 0%, 5% and 10% assumed
annual rates of compounded stock price appreciation are mandated by rules of
the Commission and do not represent the Company's estimate or projection of
the Company's future Common Stock prices. The assumed rate of appreciation
of 0% indicates the value at the effective date of the offering based on the
deemed value for financial accounting purposes less the exercise price.
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION
VALUES
The following table sets forth certain information regarding exercisable and
unexercisable stock options held by the Named Executive Officers as of September
30, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED IN-THE- MONEY OPTIONS AT
SHARES OPTIONS AT 9/30/98 (#) 9/30/98 ($)(2)
ACQUIRED ON VALUE -------------------------- ---------------------------
NAME EXERCISE (#) REALIZED($)(1) EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
- ------------------------- ------------- -------------- ----------- ------------- ------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Richard A. Karp.......... -- $ -- -- -- $ -- $ --
Barry R. Hoglund......... 390,000 1,615,899 24,998 50,002 218,316 436,517
Joan M. Varrone.......... 19,687 112,807 13,125 124,688 114,624 1,088,526
Glenn Stewart............ 255,000 1,051,699 8,123 14,377 74,461 131,794
Guy R. Simpson........... -- -- 151,249 1,751 1,478,108 15,286
Barbara J. Fairhurst..... 15,000 58,050 19,683 10,317 187,776 98,424
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) Based on the deemed fair market value of the shares acquired on exercise on
the date of exercise ($4.33, $4.33, $4.33 and $8.00 per share for Mr.
Hoglund, Mr. Stewart, Ms. Fairhurst and Ms. Varrone, respectively) as
determined by the Board of Directors, minus the exercise price.
(2) Value of unexercised in-the-money options is based on the assumed initial
public offering price of $10.00 per share less the exercise price payable
for such shares.
STOCK PLANS
1989 STOCK OPTION PLAN. The Company's 1989 Stock Option Plan (the "1989
Plan") was adopted by the Board of Directors and approved by the stockholders of
the Company in August 1989. As of December 31, 1998, options to purchase a total
of 961,160 shares of Common Stock had been exercised, options to purchase a
total of 499,383 shares at a weighted average exercise price of $1.05 per share
were outstanding and 201,692 shares remained available for future option grants.
The 1989 Plan provides for the grant to employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries (including officers and employee-directors) of "incentive stock
options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code"), and for the grant of options which do not so qualify
("nonstatutory stock
49
<PAGE>
options") to employees, officers, directors and consultants, advisors and other
independent contractors to the Company. The 1989 Plan is administered by the
Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors (the
"Administrator"). The exercise price of all incentive stock options granted
under the 1989 Plan must be at least equal to the fair market value of the
Common Stock of the Company on the date of grant. The exercise price of
nonstatutory stock options cannot be less than 85% of the fair market value of
the Common Stock of the Company on the date of grant. Generally, options granted
under the 1989 Plan provide that they must be exercised within 30 days of the
end of optionee's status as an employee or consultant of the Company, or within
12 months after such optionee's termination by death or disability, but in no
event later than the expiration of the option's 10-year term. The term of any
stock option granted under the 1989 Plan may not exceed 10 years. Options
granted to employees under the 1989 Plan generally become exercisable as to
1/8th of the total number of shares subject to the option six months after the
date of grant, and as to 1/48th of the shares each month thereafter.
In the event of certain changes in control of the Company, the 1989 Plan
requires that each outstanding option be assumed or substituted by the successor
corporation. If the successor corporation does not assume or substitute an
option, the vesting and exercise period of such option will be accelerated as of
a date prior to the change in control, as the Administrator so determines. Any
options not assumed or exercised as of the date of the change in control of the
Company will terminate, effective as of the date of such change in control. If
not terminated earlier, the 1989 Plan will terminate in 1999.
UK EXECUTIVE SHARE OPTION SCHEME. The Company's UK Executive Share Option
Scheme (the "UK Plan") was adopted by the Board of Directors and approved by the
stockholders of the Company in August 1989. As of December 31, 1998, no options
to purchase shares of Common Stock had been exercised, and options to purchase a
total of 154,500 shares at a weighted average exercise price of $0.22 per share
were outstanding. As of such date, the Board had authorized no additional shares
for future option grants under the UK Plan.
The UK Plan provides for the grant to employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries who satisfy certain criteria as set forth in the 1989 Plan. The UK
Plan contains restrictions intended to comply with UK taxation laws, including
restrictions on exercise, limitations on the size of option grants, requirements
with respect to changes in capitalization and other matters.
The UK Plan is administered by the Board of Directors or a committee of the
Board of Directors (the "Administrator"). The Administrator determines the terms
of options granted under the UK Plan, including the number of shares subject to
the option, exercise price, term and exercisability. Payment of the exercise
price may be made in cash or other consideration determined by the
Administrator. An option may not be transferred by the optionee. Options granted
to each employee under the UK Plan generally vest at the rate of 1/36th of the
total number of shares subject to such option each month, commencing on the
first anniversary of the date of grant. Options granted under the UK Plan must
generally be exercised at the end of the optionee's status as an employee of the
Company, or within 12 months after such optionee's termination by retirement,
disability or death but in no event after the 10-year term of the option.
In the event of certain changes in control of the Company, optionees under
the UK Plan have the right to exercise or substitute their options for six
months from the date of a change in control of the Company. The Administrator
has the authority to alter the UK Plan as long as such action does not adversely
affect any outstanding option, subject to approval of the Board of Inland
Revenue as well as stockholder approval for any amendment which materially
increases benefits accruing to participants.
1998 STOCK PLAN. The Company's 1998 Stock Plan (the "1998 Plan") was
adopted by the Board of Directors and approved by the stockholders of the
Company in June 1998. A total of 1,800,000 shares of Common Stock has been
reserved for issuance under the 1998 Plan. As of December 31, 1998, no options
to purchase shares of Common Stock had been exercised and options to purchase a
total of 38,850 shares at a weighted average exercise price of $6.00 per share
were outstanding. The 1998 Plan provides for the grant to employees of the
Company (including officers and employee directors) of incentive stock options
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, and for the grant of nonstatutory
stock options to employees, officers,
50
<PAGE>
directors (including non-employee directors) and consultants of the Company.
Stock purchase rights may also be granted under the 1998 Plan.
The 1998 Plan is administered by the Board of Directors or a committee of
the Board of Directors (the "Administrator"). The Administrator determines the
terms of options and stock purchase rights granted under the 1998 Stock Option
Plan, including the number of shares subject to the option or right, exercise
price, term and exercisability. No employee may be granted options to purchase
more than 300,000 shares in any fiscal year. The exercise price of options and
stock purchase rights granted under the 1998 Plan must be at least equal to the
fair market value of the Common Stock of the Company on the date of grant. The
term of an incentive stock option granted under the 1998 Plan may not exceed 10
years. Options granted under the 1998 Plan must generally be exercised within 30
days of the end of optionee's status as an employee or consultant of the
Company, or within 12 months after such optionee's termination by death or
disability, but in no event later than the expiration of the option's 10-year
term. Options granted to employees under the 1998 Plan generally become
exercisable at the rate of 1/8th of the total number of shares subject to the
option six months after the date of grant, and as to 1/48th each month
thereafter. Stock purchased upon exercise of stock purchase rights is subject to
repurchase upon the termination of the purchaser's employment with the Company
for any reason (including death or disability). The repurchase option lapses at
a rate determined by the Administrator.
The 1998 Plan provides that in the event of certain changes in control of
the Company, each option or right must be assumed or an equivalent option or
right substituted by the successor corporation. If the outstanding options or
rights are not assumed or substituted, the vesting and exercise period of such
option or stock purchase right will be accelerated for a period of 15 days, and
the option or stock purchase right will terminate upon the expiration of such
period. If not terminated earlier, the 1998 Plan will terminate in 2008.
1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN. The Company's 1998 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan") was adopted by the Board of Directors and
the stockholders in June 1998. A total of 750,000 shares of Common Stock has
been reserved for issuance under the Purchase Plan. In addition, the number of
shares under the Purchase Plan will be increased automatically each year by an
amount equal to the lesser of (i) 52,500 shares, (ii) 1% on the outstanding
shares on such date or (iii) a lesser amount determined by the Board. The
Purchase Plan, which is intended to qualify under Section 423 of the Code, has
consecutive six-month offering periods. The offering periods generally begin on
the first trading day on or after May 1 and November 1 of each year, except that
the first offering period commences 91 days after the effective date of this
offering and ends on the last trading day on or before October 31, 1999. The
Purchase Plan will be administered by the Board of Directors or by a committee
appointed by the Board. Employees will be eligible to participate if they are
customarily employed by the Company or any participating subsidiary for at least
30 hours per week and more than five months in any calendar year. However, any
employee who (i) immediately after grant owns stock possessing 5% or more of the
total combined voting power or value of all classes of the capital stock of the
Company, or (ii) whose rights to purchase stock under all employee stock
purchase plans of the Company accrues at a rate which exceeds $25,000 for each
calendar year may not be granted an option to purchase stock under the Purchase
Plan. The Purchase Plan permits eligible employees to purchase Common Stock
through payroll deductions of up to 7% of an employee's total compensation. The
price of stock purchased under the Purchase Plan will generally be 85% of the
lower of the fair market value of the Common Stock at the beginning of the
offering period or at the end of the relevant purchase period. The maximum
number of shares a participant may purchase during a single offering period is
200 shares. Employees may end their participation at any time during an offering
period, and they will be paid their payroll deductions to date. Participation
ends automatically upon termination of employment with the Company. The Purchase
Plan will terminate in 2008.
51
<PAGE>
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
In connection with a divorce proceeding, in June 1998 Richard A. Karp and
Nancy H. Karp entered into a Voting Trust Agreement. Under the Agreement, Ms.
Karp placed all shares of the Company's Common Stock that she owned into a
voting trust of which Dr. Karp is the trustee. She also agreed to place shares
that she acquires in the future into the trust. The agreement gives Dr. Karp the
power to vote the shares while they are in the trust. Ms. Karp has the ability
to sell the shares which are the subject of the voting trust, which would
terminate the voting trust as to any shares sold. Unless sooner terminated by
Dr. Karp's resignation as trustee, his death or permanent disability, or a sale
or merger of the Company, the voting trust will expire in June 2013.
In early 1998, Ms. Karp asserted a claim against the Company for
compensation for past services rendered by her to the Company. In June 1998, to
settle these claims, the Company and Ms. Karp entered into a Severance Agreement
and Mutual Release under which the Company paid her (i) $80,000 in full and
complete settlement of her claims and (ii) payments totalling $17,500 for
attorney's fees and costs she may incur in retaining a career counseling firm.
The Company has also agreed to reimburse her up to $500 per month for up to one
year for expenses related to conversion of her health and life insurance
coverages to an individual plan.
The Company and Ms. Karp also concurrently entered into a Consulting and
Non-Competition Agreement under which Ms. Karp is retained as a consultant to
the Company for three years to assist in the areas of human resources,
facilities expansion and relocation, marketing and general business at a rate of
not less than $4,500 per month regardless of the nature and amount of services
rendered. She has agreed during this period in exchange for a lump sum payment
of $18,000 not to engage in certain activities which would be competitive with
the Company. She continues to serve without pay as a director and Secretary of
the Company.
The Company will pay the expenses of the Selling Stockholders in connection
with the offering made by this Prospectus, excluding underwriting discounts and
commissions. Sales by Dr. and Ms. Karp will account for substantially all of the
shares to be sold by Selling Stockholders, including any shares that may be sold
by Ms. Karp upon exercise of the over-allotment option granted by her to the
Underwriters.
On December 24, 1998 the Company repurchased 50,000 shares of stock from
Barry R. Hoglund at a price of $6.00 per share.
The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with its executive
officers and directors containing provisions that may require the Company, among
other things, to indemnify its executive officers and directors against certain
liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as executive
officers or directors (other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct of
a culpable nature) and to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any
proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. The Company also
intends to execute such agreements with its future directors and executive
officers. See "Management--Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters."
52
<PAGE>
PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of December 31, 1998
(except as indicated) and as adjusted to reflect the sale of Common Stock
offered hereby for (i) each person or entity who is known to the Company to
beneficially own 5% or more of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company; (ii)
each of the Company's directors; (iii) each of the Named Executive Officers;
(iv) all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group, and (v) the
Selling Stockholders.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES BENEFICIALLY SHARES BENEFICIALLY
OWNED PRIOR TO
OFFERING(1) NUMBER OF OWNED AFTER OFFERING(1)
----------------------- SHARES -----------------------
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND 5% STOCKHOLDERS NUMBER PERCENT OFFERED NUMBER PERCENT
- --------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ---------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Richard A. Karp(2)....................................... 9,000,000 86.0% 243,000 7,800,000 62.1%
Nancy H. Karp(2)......................................... 4,557,000 43.5 957,000 3,600,000 28.6
Barry R. Hoglund(3)...................................... 372,809 3.6 -- 372,809 3.0
Joan M. Varrone(3)....................................... 49,217 * -- 49,217 *
Glenn Stewart(3)......................................... 266,247 2.5 -- 266,247 2.1
Guy R. Simpson(3)........................................ 151,562 1.4 -- 151,562 1.2
Barbara J. Fairhurst(3).................................. 39,370 * -- 39,370 *
John M. Scandalios(3).................................... 29,372 * -- 29,372 *
Charles L. Waggoner(3)................................... 29,372 * -- 29,372 *
All executive officers and directors as a group (9
persons)(3)............................................ 9,937,949 92.5 1,200,000 8,737,949 68.0
OTHER SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
- ---------------------------------------------------------
Katherine F. Dollard..................................... 60,000 * 52,500 7,500 *
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
* Less than 1%.
(1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the
Commission. In computing the number of shares beneficially owned by a person
and the percentage ownership of that person, shares of Common Stock subject
to options held by that person that are currently exercisable or are
exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 1998 are deemed outstanding. Such
shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purposes of computing
the percentage ownership of any other individual. Percentage ownership of
shares is based on 10,468,037 shares outstanding as of December 31, 1998
before the offering and 12,568,037 shares outstanding after the offering.
Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table and pursuant to
applicable community property laws, each stockholder named in the table has
sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares set forth
opposite such stockholder's name.
(2) Includes in the case of Dr. Karp 4,500,000 shares beneficially owned by Ms.
Karp with respect to which Dr. Karp has sole voting power pursuant to a
voting trust agreement. Ms. Karp has retained dispositive power over such
shares. See "Certain Transactions." The shares shown as beneficially owned
by Ms. Karp include 57,000 shares beneficially owned by Dr. Karp at December
31, 1998 which he will transfer to Ms. Karp for sale by her in the offering
made by this Prospectus. The information with respect to shares beneficially
owned by Dr. and Ms. Karp after the offering assumes no exercise of the
over-allotment option granted to the Underwriters by Ms. Karp with respect
to a total of 502,875 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by her. The
address for Dr. and Ms. Karp is c/o Catapult Communications Corporation, 160
South Whisman Road, Mountain View, California 94041.
(3) Includes the following shares subject to options exercisable within 60 days
of December 31, 1998: Barry R. Hoglund 32,809; Joan M. Varrone 29,529; Glenn
Stewart 11,247; Guy R. Simpson 151,562; Barbara J. Fairhurst 24,370; John M.
Scandalios 21,872; Charles L. Waggoner 3,905; and all executive officers and
directors as a group (9 persons) 275,294.
53
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
Upon completion of this offering, the authorized capital stock of the
Company will consist of 40,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value, and
5,000,000 shares of undesignated Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value.
COMMON STOCK
As of December 31, 1998, there were 10,468,037 shares of Common Stock
outstanding that were held of record by 24 stockholders. There will be
12,568,037 shares of Common Stock outstanding (assuming no exercise of the
Underwriters' over-allotment option and no exercise of outstanding options after
December 31, 1998) after giving effect to the sale of Common Stock offered
hereby.
The holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of
record on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Subject to
preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of Preferred Stock,
the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if
any, as may be declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available
for the payment of dividends. See "Dividend Policy." In the event of a
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of Common
Stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of
liabilities, subject to preferences of Preferred Stock then outstanding, if any.
The Common Stock has no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription
rights. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the
Common Stock. All outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and
non-assessable, and the shares of Common Stock to be issued upon completion of
this offering will be fully paid and non-assessable.
PREFERRED STOCK
Pursuant to the Company's Restated Articles of Incorporation, the Board of
Directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to
issue up to 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and to fix
the designations, powers, preferences, privileges, and relative participating,
optional or special rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions
thereof, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of
redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than
the rights of the Common Stock. The Board of Directors, without stockholder
approval, can issue Preferred Stock with voting, conversion or other rights that
could adversely affect the voting power and other rights of the holders of
Common Stock. Preferred Stock could thus be issued quickly with terms calculated
to delay or prevent a change in control of the Company or make removal of
management more difficult. Additionally, the issuance of Preferred Stock may
have the effect of decreasing the market price of the Common Stock, and may
adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of Common Stock.
Effective upon completion of this offering, there will be no shares of Preferred
Stock outstanding, and the Company has no plans to issue any Preferred Stock.
NEVADA ANTI-TAKEOVER STATUTES
The Company is subject to the provisions of Sections 78.411 through 78.444
of the General Corporation Law of Nevada. In general, this statute prohibits a
publicly held Nevada corporation from engaging in a "business combination" with
an "interested stockholder" for a period of three years after the date of the
transaction in which the person becomes an interested stockholder, unless the
business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. An "interested
stockholder" is a person who, directly or indirectly, owns (or, if an affiliate
or associate within the prior three years, did own) 10% or more of the
corporation's voting stock.
Nevada has also adopted a "control shares" statute which limits the
acquisition of a "controlling interest" in the corporation, as defined in the
statute. This statute is designed to prevent an "acquiring person" from gaining
voting control of the corporation without the approval of the corporation's
stockholders. It provides that an acquiring person obtains only such voting
rights in the control shares as are conferred by a resolution of the
54
<PAGE>
stockholders. Nevada's control shares statute applies to any issuing corporation
which has 200 or more stockholders, at least 100 of whom are stockholders of
record and residents of Nevada. The Company did not meet this requirement prior
to this offering.
EFFECT OF THE CALIFORNIA GENERAL CORPORATION LAW
The General Corporation Law of the State of California includes provisions
that govern the operation of corporations incorporated in states other than
California if such corporations are doing a majority of their business in
California and have a majority of their outstanding voting securities held of
record by persons residing in California. These provisions, which are generally
more restrictive than their counterparts under Nevada law, presently apply by
their terms to the Company and are expected to continue to apply following
completion of this offering. In some cases, these provisions conflict with the
laws of the State of Nevada.
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Company's Common Stock in
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., and its telephone number is (415)
743-1444.
55
<PAGE>
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock
of the Company. Future sales of substantial amounts of Common Stock in the
public market could adversely affect market prices prevailing from time to time.
Furthermore, since only a limited number of shares will be available for sale
shortly after this offering because of certain contractual and legal
restrictions on resale described below, sales of substantial amounts of Common
Stock of the Company in the public market after the restrictions lapse could
adversely affect the prevailing market price and the ability of the Company to
raise equity capital in the future.
Upon completion of this offering, the Company will have an aggregate of
12,568,037 shares of Common Stock outstanding, assuming no exercise of options
after December 31, 1998. Of these shares, the 3,352,500 shares sold in this
offering will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration
under the Securities Act, unless purchased by an affiliate of the Company who
may only sell such shares pursuant to the public information, volume, manner of
sale and notice requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. The remaining
9,215,537 shares outstanding upon completion of this offering will be
"restricted securities" as that term is defined under Rule 144 ("Restricted
Shares"). Restricted Shares may be sold in the public market only if registered
or if they qualify for an exemption from registration under Rules 144, 144(k) or
701 promulgated under the Securities Act, which are summarized below.
The Company's officers, directors, certain stockholders and all holders of
options to purchase Common Stock of the Company have agreed, during the 180-day
period after the date of this Prospectus (the "Lock-Up Period"), that they will
not, without the prior written consent of Hambrecht & Quist LLC, directly or
indirectly offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of
Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable
for Common Stock. The Company has agreed that it will not, without the prior
written consent of Hambrecht & Quist LLC, directly or indirectly offer, sell,
contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock or any
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock
during such 180-day period except for the sale of the shares of Common Stock in
this offering and the issuance of options and shares of Common Stock pursuant to
employee benefit plans described in this Prospectus. Any shares subject to the
lock-up agreements may be released at any time, without notice, by Hambrecht &
Quist LLC. See "Underwriting."
Taking into account the lock-up agreements, the number of shares that will
be available for sale in the public market under the provisions of Rules 144,
144(k) and 701, including certain shares issuable upon exercise of options, will
be as follows: (i) approximately 93,125 Restricted Shares will be eligible for
public resale immediately after the effective date of the Registration
Statement; (ii) approximately 60,937 additional Restricted Shares will be
eligible for public resale beginning 90 days after the effective date of the
Registration Statement; and (iii) approximately 9,061,475 additional Restricted
Shares (as well as an additional 421,837 shares issuable upon exercise of
outstanding options) will be eligible for public resale beginning 180 days after
the effective date of the Registration Statement, subject in some cases to the
public information, volume, manner of sale and notice requirements of Rule 144
under the Securities Act.
In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, a person (or persons
whose shares are aggregated) who has beneficially owned shares at least one year
(including the holding period of any prior owner other than an Affiliate) is
entitled to sell in "broker's transactions" or to market makers, within any
three-month period commencing 90 days after the date of this Prospectus, a
number of shares that does not exceed the greater of (i) one percent of the
number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding (approximately 125,680 shares
immediately after this offering) or (ii) the average weekly trading volume of
the Common Stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the required filing of
a Form 144 with respect to such sale. Sales under Rule 144 are generally subject
to certain manner of sale provisions and notice requirements and to the
availability of current public information about the Company. Under Rule 144(k),
a person who is not deemed to have been an Affiliate at any time during the 90
days preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be
sold for at least two years (including the holding period of any prior owner
other than an Affiliate), is entitled to sell
56
<PAGE>
such shares without having to comply with the manner of sale, public
information, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144.
Under Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act, employees, officers or
directors of or consultants to the Company who purchased or were awarded shares
or options to purchase shares pursuant to a written compensatory plan or
contract are entitled to sell such shares 90 days after the effective date of
this offering, without having to comply with the holding period requirements of
Rule 144 and, in the case of non-affiliates, without having to comply with the
public information, volume limitation or notice provisions of Rule 144.
The Company intends to file a registration statement on Form S-8 under the
Securities Act covering approximately 2,849,107 shares of Common Stock reserved
for issuance under the Stock Plans. Such registration statement is expected to
be filed and become effective as soon as practicable after the effective date of
this offering. Accordingly, shares registered under such registration statement
will, subject to Rule 144 volume limitations applicable to Affiliates, be
available for sale in the open market 180 days after the effective date of the
offering, except to the extent that such shares are subject to vesting
restrictions. As of December 31, 1998, options to purchase 692,733 shares were
issued and outstanding under the Stock Plans. See "Management-- Stock Plans."
57
<PAGE>
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the
Underwriters named below, through their Representatives, Hambrecht & Quist LLC,
CIBC Oppenheimer Corp. and C.E. Unterberg, Towbin, have severally agreed to
purchase from the Company and the Selling Stockholders the following respective
numbers of shares of Common Stock.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
NAME SHARES
- ---------------------------------------------------------------- -----------
<S> <C>
Hambrecht & Quist LLC...........................................
CIBC Oppenheimer Corp...........................................
C.E. Unterberg, Towbin..........................................
-----------
Total........................................................... 3,352,500
-----------
-----------
</TABLE>
The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the Underwriters
are subject to certain conditions precedent, including the absence of any
material adverse change in the Company's business and the receipt of certain
certificates, opinions and letters from the Company, its counsel and independent
auditors. The nature of the Underwriters' obligation is such that they are
committed to purchase all shares of Common Stock offered hereby if any of such
shares are purchased.
The Underwriters propose to offer the shares of Common Stock directly to the
public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this
Prospectus and to certain dealers at such price less a concession not in excess
of $ per share. The Underwriters may allow and such dealers may reallow a
concession not in excess of $ per share to certain other dealers. After the
initial public offering of the shares, the offering price and other selling
terms may be changed by the Representatives of the Underwriters. The
Representatives have informed the Company that the Underwriters do not intend to
confirm discretionary sales in excess of 5% of the shares of Common Stock
offered hereby.
Nancy H. Karp, a Selling Stockholder, has granted to the Underwriters an
option, exercisable no later than 30 days after the date of this Prospectus, to
purchase up to 502,875 additional shares of Common Stock at the initial public
offering price, less the underwriting discount, set forth on the cover page of
this Prospectus. To the extent that the Underwriters exercise this option, each
of the Underwriters will have a firm commitment to purchase approximately the
same percentage thereof which the number of shares of Common Stock to be
purchased by it shown in the above table bears to the total number of shares of
Common Stock offered hereby. Ms. Karp will be obligated, pursuant to the option,
to sell shares to the Underwriters to the extent the option is exercised. The
Underwriters may exercise such option only to cover over-allotments made in
connection with the sale of shares of Common Stock offered hereby.
The offering of the shares is made for delivery when, as and if accepted by
the Underwriters and subject to prior sale and to withdrawal, cancellation or
modification of the offering without notice. The Underwriters reserve the right
to reject an order for the purchase of shares in whole or in part.
The Company and the Selling Stockholders have agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act, and to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required
to make in respect thereof.
The Selling Stockholders, certain other stockholders and certain holders of
options to purchase Common Stock of the Company, including the executive
officers and directors, who will own (or have the right to purchase) in the
aggregate 9,061,475 shares (including shares issuable upon exercise of options
to purchase
58
<PAGE>
Common Stock) after the offering, have agreed that they will not, without the
prior written consent of Hambrecht & Quist LLC, offer, sell or otherwise dispose
of any shares of Common Stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of Common
Stock or securities exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock
owned by them during the 180-day period following the date of this Prospectus.
The Company has agreed that it will not, without the prior written consent of
Hambrecht & Quist LLC, offer, sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common
Stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock or securities
exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock during the 180-day
period following the date of this Prospectus, except that the Company may issue
shares upon the exercise of options granted prior to the date hereof, and may
grant additional options under its stock option plans.
Prior to the offering, there has been no public market for the Common Stock.
The initial public offering price for the shares of Common Stock will be
determined by negotiation among the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the
Representatives. Among the factors to be considered in determining the initial
public offering price are prevailing market and economic conditions, revenues
and earnings of the Company, estimates of the business potential and prospects
of the Company, the present state of the Company's business operations, the
Company's management and other factors deemed relevant. The estimated initial
public offering price range set forth on the cover of this Preliminary
Prospectus is subject to change as a result of market conditions and other
factors.
Certain persons participating in this offering may over-allot or effect
transactions which stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of
the Common Stock at levels above those which might otherwise prevail in the open
market, including by entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering
transactions or imposing penalty bids. A stabilizing bid means the placing of
any bid or effecting of any purchase, for the purpose of pegging, fixing or
maintaining the price of the Common Stock. A syndicate covering transaction
means the placing of any bid on behalf of the underwriting syndicate or the
effecting of any purchase to reduce a short position created in connection with
the offering. A penalty bid means an arrangement that permits the Underwriters
to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member in connection with the
offering when shares of Common Stock sold by the syndicate member are purchased
in syndicate covering transactions. Such transactions may be effected on the
Nasdaq Stock Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. Such
stabilizing, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the issuance of the securities
being offered hereby will be passed upon for the Company and the Selling
Stockholders by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, Palo
Alto, California. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be
passed upon for the Underwriters by Cooley Godward LLP, San Francisco,
California.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Catapult Communications Corporation
as of September 30, 1997 and 1998 and for each of the three years in the period
ended September 30, 1998 included in this Prospectus have been so included in
reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants,
given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
CHANGE IN ACCOUNTANTS
In December 1997, the Company retained PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the
Company's independent accountants and replaced Ireland San Filippo, LLP
("Ireland San Filippo"), the Company's former accountants. The decision to
change independent accountants was ratified by the Company's Board of Directors.
During the periods audited by Ireland San Filippo through December 1997, there
were no disagreements with Ireland San Filippo regarding any matters with
respect to accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or
audit scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the
satisfaction of the former accountants,
59
<PAGE>
would have caused Ireland San Filippo to make reference to the subject matter of
the disagreement in connection with its report. The former accountants reports
for the years audited by them are not a part of the financial statements of the
Company included in this Prospectus and the related financial statement
schedules included elsewhere in the Registration Statement. Such reports did not
contain an adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion or qualifications or
modifications as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles. Prior to
retaining PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Company had not consulted with
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP regarding the application of accounting principles.
60
<PAGE>
GLOSSARY
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Asynchronous Transfer A cell-based network technology protocol that supports
Mode (ATM) simultaneous transmission of data, voice and video typically at
T-1 or higher speeds.
Code Division Multiple A digital wireless technology that uses a modulation technique
Access (CDMA) in which many channels are independently coded for transmission
over a single wideband channel.
E-1 A digital transmission link used by European carriers to
transmit thirty-two 64 Kbps digital channels for voice or data.
Frame Relay An access standard which employs a form of packet switching to
facilitate high-speed data communications.
Global System for Mobile A digital wireless technology that is widely deployed in Europe
Communications (GSM) and, increasingly, in other parts of the world.
Graphical User Interface A graphics-based computer interface that usually incorporates
(GUI) icons, pull- down menus and a mouse.
Intelligent Network (IN) A network that allows functionality to be distributed flexibly
to a variety of nodes on and off the network and allows that
architecture to be modified to control network services.
Integrated Services An international telecommunications standard for transmitting
Digital Network (ISDN) voice, data and video over digital lines at transmission speeds
of up to 142 Kbps.
IS-41 (Interim Standard A signalling protocol used in the North American cellular
41) applications.
Personal Communication A digital cellular communication service offered by some North
Service (PCS) American operators.
Personal Digital A digital cellular communication service used in Japan.
Cellular (PDC)
Protocol A specific set of rules, procedures or conventions governing the
format, means and timing of transmissions between two devices.
System Signalling 7 A message-based protocol for exchanging signalling and control
(SS7) information between telephony network entities.
T-1 A point-to-point dedicated line with transmission speeds of up
to 1.544 Mbps widely used for private networks and high-speed
links to the Internet.
V5 A European standard protocol for the interface between the
access network and the carrier switch principally for basic
telephony.
Variant A specific implementation of a protocol, typically unique to a
country or region.
X.25 A switched communications protocol that defines how data streams
are to be assembled into packets, controlled, routed and
protected as they cross a network.
</TABLE>
G-1
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
---------
<S> <C>
Report of Independent Accountants.......................................................................... F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets................................................................................ F-3
Consolidated Statements of Income.......................................................................... F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity............................................................ F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows...................................................................... F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements................................................................. F-7
</TABLE>
F-1
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Catapult Communications Corporation
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related
consolidated statements of income, of stockholders' equity and of cash flows
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Catapult
Communications Corporation and its subsidiaries at September 30, 1997 and 1998,
and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended September 30, 1998, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management; our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our
audits of these statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
San Jose, California
December 24, 1998
F-2
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRO FORMA
SHAREHOLDERS
SEPTEMBER 30, EQUITY
-------------------- DECEMBER 31, AT DECEMBER 31,
1997 1998 1998 1998 (NOTE 1)
--------- --------- ------------- ------------------
(UNAUDITED)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents............................. $ 10,672 $ 15,229 $ 13,759
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $59, $75 and
$75 (unaudited)..................................... 892 2,007 3,420
Inventories........................................... 421 612 573
Prepaid expenses...................................... 992 95 379
Deferred income taxes................................. 556 406 406
--------- --------- -------------
Total current assets................................ 13,533 18,349 18,537
Property and equipment, net............................. 442 778 750
Other assets............................................ 60 368 371
--------- --------- -------------
Total assets........................................ $ 14,035 $ 19,495 $ 19,658
--------- --------- -------------
--------- --------- -------------
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE COMMON STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable...................................... $ 150 $ 782 $ 492
Accrued liabilities................................... 2,720 2,339 2,066
Deferred revenue...................................... 965 1,222 991
--------- --------- -------------
Total current liabilities........................... 3,835 4,343 3,549
Deferred income taxes................................... 30 2 2
--------- --------- -------------
Total liabilities................................... 3,865 4,345 3,551
--------- --------- -------------
Redeemable common stock (Note 5)........................ -- 5,000 5,000 $ --
--------- --------- ------------- -------
Commitments (Note 8)
Stockholders' Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares
authorized; none issued and outstanding............. -- -- -- --
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 40,000,000 shares
authorized; 9,629,443, 9,992,317 and 9,968,037
(unaudited) issued and outstanding actual;
10,468,037 (unaudited) issued and outstanding pro
forma............................................... 10 10 10 11
Additional paid-in capital............................ 264 -- 17 1,081
Deferred compensation................................. (196) (609) (559) (559)
Retained earnings..................................... 10,166 10,756 11,947 15,882
Cumulative translation adjustment..................... (74) (7) (8) (8)
Treasury stock (50,000 shares at cost)................ -- -- (300) (300)
--------- --------- ------------- -------
Total stockholders' equity.......................... 10,170 10,150 11,107 $ 16,107
--------- --------- ------------- -------
-------
Total liabilities, redeemable common stock and
stockholders' equity.............................. $ 14,035 $ 19,495 $ 19,658
--------- --------- -------------
--------- --------- -------------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-3
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THREE MONTHS ENDED
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------- --------------------
1996 1997 1998 1997 1998
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(UNAUDITED)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues:
Product sales............................................ $ 7,690 $ 11,519 $ 15,833 $ 2,853 $ 4,524
Services................................................. 1,562 1,833 2,373 593 705
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
9,252 13,352 18,206 3,446 5,229
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Cost of revenues:
Product sales............................................ 1,103 1,576 1,852 310 611
Services................................................. 246 344 564 110 189
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
1,349 1,920 2,416 420 800
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Gross profit........................................... 7,903 11,432 15,790 3,026 4,429
Operating expenses:
Research and development................................. 908 1,419 2,001 414 553
Sales and marketing...................................... 1,881 2,550 3,242 670 1,192
General and administrative............................... 1,384 2,063 2,188 450 579
Offering costs........................................... -- -- 769 -- --
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
4,173 6,032 8,200 1,534 2,324
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Operating income........................................... 3,730 5,400 7,590 1,492 2,105
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Other income and expense:
Interest income.......................................... 269 380 594 114 151
Other income (expense), net.............................. (209) (6) (263) (100) (166)
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
60 374 331 14 (15)
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Income before provision for income taxes................... 3,790 5,774 7,921 1,506 2,090
Provision for income taxes................................. 1,502 2,436 3,396 646 899
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net income................................................. $ 2,288 $ 3,338 $ 4,525 $ 860 $ 1,191
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Earnings per share:
Basic.................................................... $ 0.24 $ 0.35 $ 0.44 $ 0.08 $ 0.11
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Diluted.................................................. $ 0.22 $ 0.31 $ 0.41 $ 0.08 $ 0.11
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Shares used in computing earnings per share:
Basic.................................................... 9,621 9,630 10,369 10,163 10,517
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Diluted.................................................. 10,301 10,605 10,940 10,809 10,953
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-4
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COMMON STOCK ADDITIONAL CUMULATIVE
----------------------- PAID-IN DEFERRED RETAINED TRANSLATION TREASURY
SHARES AMOUNT CAPITAL COMPENSATION EARNINGS ADJUSTMENT STOCK
---------- ----------- ----------- --------------- --------- ------------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at September 30, 1995.... 9,595,094 $ 10 $ 41 $ -- $ 4,540 $ (34) $ --
Issuance of common stock......... 34,187 -- 7 -- -- -- --
Currency translation
adjustment..................... -- -- -- -- -- (20) --
Net income....................... -- -- -- -- 2,288 -- --
--
---------- ----------- ----- --------- --- -----
Balance at September 30, 1996.... 9,629,281 10 48 -- 6,828 (54) --
Issuance of common stock......... 162 -- -- -- -- -- --
Deferred stock compensation...... -- -- 216 (216) -- -- --
Amortization of deferred stock
compensation................... -- -- -- 20 -- -- --
Currency translation
adjustment..................... -- -- -- -- -- (20) --
Net income....................... -- -- -- -- 3,338 -- --
--
---------- ----------- ----- --------- --- -----
Balance at September 30, 1997.... 9,629,443 10 264 (196) 10,166 (74) --
Issuance of common stock......... 862,874 1 211 -- -- -- --
Deferred stock compensation...... -- -- 589 (589) -- -- --
Amortization of deferred stock
compensation................... -- -- -- 176 -- -- --
Redeemable common stock.......... (500,000) (1) (1,064) -- (3,935) -- --
Currency translation
adjustment..................... -- -- -- -- -- 67 --
Net income....................... -- -- -- -- 4,525 -- --
--
---------- ----------- ----- --------- --- -----
Balance at September 30, 1998.... 9,992,317 10 -- (609) 10,756 (7) --
Issuance of common stock
(unaudited).................... 25,720 -- 17 -- -- -- --
Purchase of treasury stock
(unaudited).................... (50,000) -- -- -- -- -- (300)
Amortization of deferred stock
compensation (unaudited)....... -- -- -- 50 -- -- --
Currency translation adjustment
(unaudited).................... -- -- -- -- -- (1) --
Net income (unaudited)........... -- -- -- -- 1,191 -- --
--
---------- ----------- ----- --------- --- -----
Balance at December 31, 1998
(unaudited).................... 9,968,037 $ 10 $ 17 $ (559) $ 11,947 $ (8) $ (300)
--
--
---------- ----------- ----- --------- --- -----
---------- ----------- ----- --------- --- -----
<CAPTION>
TOTAL
STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY
------------
<S> <C>
Balance at September 30, 1995.... $ 4,557
Issuance of common stock......... 7
Currency translation
adjustment..................... (20)
Net income....................... 2,288
------------
Balance at September 30, 1996.... 6,832
Issuance of common stock......... --
Deferred stock compensation...... --
Amortization of deferred stock
compensation................... 20
Currency translation
adjustment..................... (20)
Net income....................... 3,338
------------
Balance at September 30, 1997.... 10,170
Issuance of common stock......... 212
Deferred stock compensation...... --
Amortization of deferred stock
compensation................... 176
Redeemable common stock.......... (5,000)
Currency translation
adjustment..................... 67
Net income....................... 4,525
------------
Balance at September 30, 1998.... 10,150
Issuance of common stock
(unaudited).................... 17
Purchase of treasury stock
(unaudited).................... (300)
Amortization of deferred stock
compensation (unaudited)....... 50
Currency translation adjustment
(unaudited).................... (1)
Net income (unaudited)........... 1,191
------------
Balance at December 31, 1998
(unaudited).................... $ 11,107
------------
------------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-5
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THREE MONTHS ENDED
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------- ----------------------
1996 1997 1998 1997 1998
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
(UNAUDITED)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income................................................. $ 2,288 $ 3,338 $ 4,525 $ 860 $ 1,191
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization............................ 120 121 226 40 77
Amortization of deferred stock compensation.............. -- 20 176 35 50
Deferred income taxes.................................... (184) (51) 122 -- --
Gain on sale of fixed assets............................. (4) (7) -- -- --
Change in current assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable.................................... (207) (397) (1,115) (746) (1,413)
Inventories............................................ (172) 171 (191) (20) 39
Prepaid expenses....................................... (30) (959) 897 356 (284)
Other assets........................................... 5 (26) (308) 4 (3)
Accounts payable....................................... 107 (34) 632 108 (290)
Accrued liabilities.................................... 55 989 (381) (429) (273)
Deferred revenue....................................... 337 189 257 222 (231)
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities..... 2,315 3,354 4,840 430 (1,137)
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of investments, net................... 425 402 -- -- --
Purchase of property and equipment....................... (182) (242) (562) (65) (49)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment............. 14 7 -- -- --
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
Net cash provided (used) by investing
activities......................................... 257 167 (562) (65) (49)
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Stock issuances.......................................... 7 -- 212 167 17
Purchase of treasury stock............................... -- -- -- -- (300)
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
Net cash provided (used) by financing
activities......................................... 7 -- 212 167 (283)
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
Effect of exchange rate changes............................ (19) (20) 67 17 (1)
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
Net change in cash and cash equivalents.................... 2,560 3,501 4,557 549 (1,470)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period............. 4,611 7,171 10,672 10,672 15,229
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period................... $ 7,171 $ 10,672 $ 15,229 $ 11,221 $ 13,759
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid during the period for:
Income taxes........................................... $ 1,666 $ 3,291 $ 2,400 $ 304 $ 1,072
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-6
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1--THE COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
THE COMPANY
Catapult Communications Corporation (the "Company") designs, develops,
manufactures, markets and supports an advanced software-based test system
offering an integrated suite of testing applications for the global
telecommunications industry. The Company's advanced test systems assist its
customers in the design, integration, installation and acceptance testing of a
broad range of digital telecommunications equipment and services. The Company
was incorporated in California in October 1985 and has operations in the United
States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Japan.
REINCORPORATION IN NEVADA AND RECAPITALIZATION
On June 19, 1998, the Company reincorporated in Nevada. In connection with
the reincorporation, the Company authorized 45,000,000 shares of capital stock,
consisting of 40,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.001 par value, and 5,000,000
shares of undesignated Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value. In addition,
stockholders of the California corporation received three shares of common stock
of the Nevada corporation for every two shares of common stock of the California
corporation. All share and per share amounts have been restated to give
retroactive effect to the changes in authorized shares and par values, and the
three-for-two stock exchange.
BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Catapult Communications Limited,
Catapult Communications K.K., and ISDN Technologies, Ltd. All significant
intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
USE OF ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
CASH EQUIVALENTS
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original
maturity of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents. At September 30, 1997 and
1998, cash equivalents consisted principally of U.S. treasury bills and money
market funds with fair values which approximate cost. The Company maintains its
cash in bank deposit accounts at high credit quality financial institutions in
the United States, United Kingdom and Japan. Approximately $657,000 and
$1,567,000 of cash at September 30, 1997 and 1998, respectively, were held in
financial institutions in Japan which exceeded insured levels.
REVENUE RECOGNITION
Product sales are recognized upon shipment provided that no significant
vendor obligations remain and collection is considered probable.
Services revenue consists primarily of post-contract customer support,
training, consulting and installation services. Post-contract customer support
revenues are recognized ratably over the support period, which is
F-7
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 1--THE COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (CONTINUED)
generally one year. Revenues from training, consulting services and installation
are recognized as the services are performed.
FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION
The functional currencies of the Company's foreign subsidiaries are the
respective local currencies. In consolidation, assets and liabilities are
translated at year-end exchange rates and revenue and expense items are
translated at average rates prevailing during the year. Gains and losses from
foreign currency translation are accumulated as a separate component of
stockholders' equity. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency
transactions are included in the consolidated statement of income.
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company's foreign subsidiaries operate and sell the Company's products
in various global markets. As a result, the Company is exposed to changes in
interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates on foreign currency
denominated sales made to foreign subsidiaries. The Company utilizes foreign
currency forward exchange contracts and options to hedge against future
movements in foreign exchange rates that could affect certain foreign currency
denominated intercompany receivables. The Company attempts to match the forward
contracts with the underlying receivables being hedged in terms of currency,
amount, and maturity. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments
for speculative or trading purposes. Because the impact of movements in currency
exchange rates on forward contracts offsets the related impact on the exposures
hedged, these financial instruments do not subject the Company to speculative
risk that would otherwise result from changes in currency exchange rates.
Realized gains and losses on forward exchange contracts offset foreign exchange
transaction gains or losses for revaluation of foreign currency denominated
intercompany receivable balances which otherwise would be charged to other
income (expense).
At September 30, 1998, the Company had forward exchange contracts maturing
in fiscal 1999 to sell approximately $560,000 in Japanese yen. At September 30,
1997, the Company had no forward exchange contracts outstanding. The fair market
value of the contracts at September 30, 1998 was not material.
In addition, at September 30, 1998 the Company had a foreign currency option
to sell 435 million Japanese yen maturing in fiscal 1999. This option was out of
the money at September 30, 1998 and had an immaterial fair market value. The
cost of the option has been included in other income (expense).
FAIR VALUE
The carrying value of the Company's financial instruments, other than
foreign currency instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts
receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate their fair
values due to their relatively short maturities. The Company does not hold or
issue financial instruments for trading purposes.
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to a
concentration of credit risk consist of cash, cash equivalents, short-term
investments and accounts receivable. The Company's accounts receivable are
derived from revenue earned from customers located in North America, Europe and
Japan. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers'
financial condition and, generally, requires no collateral
F-8
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 1--THE COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (CONTINUED)
from its customers. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts
receivable based upon the expected collectibility of its accounts receivable.
The following table summarizes the revenues from customers in excess of 10%
of total revenues:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
----------------------------------
1996 1997 1998
---------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Customer A............................................................................... -- -- 24%
Customer B............................................................................... -- 17% 21%
Customer C............................................................................... 23% 28% 15%
Customer D............................................................................... 10% -- 12%
Customer E............................................................................... 12% -- --
</TABLE>
At September 30, 1997, three customers accounted for 53%, 17% and 14% of
total accounts receivable, respectively. At September 30, 1998, four customers
accounted for 39%, 13%, 13% and 10% of total accounts receivable, respectively.
INVENTORIES
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, using the first-in
first-out ("FIFO") method.
CAPITALIZED SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT COSTS
Software development costs not qualifying for capitalization are included in
research and development and are expensed as incurred. After technological
feasibility is established, material software development costs are capitalized.
The capitalized cost is then amortized on a straight-line basis over the greater
of the estimated product life or on the ratio of current revenues to total
projected product revenues. The Company defines technological feasibility as the
establishment of a working model, which typically occurs upon completion of the
first beta version. To date, the period between achieving technological
feasibility, and the general availability of such software has been short and
software development costs qualifying for capitalization have been
insignificant. Accordingly, the Company has not capitalized any software
development costs.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is computed using
the straight-line method over estimated useful lives, generally four years, or
the lease term of the respective assets.
WARRANTY
The Company provides a limited warranty for its products. A provision for
the estimated warranty cost is recorded at the time revenue is recognized based
on the Company's historical experience.
INCOME TAXES
The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method, which
requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the future tax
consequences of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and
liabilities and their reported amounts.
F-9
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 1--THE COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (CONTINUED)
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The Company accounts for stock-based employee compensation arrangements in
accordance with provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25,
"Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," ("APB 25") and complies with the
disclosure provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123,
"Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation ("SFAS 123").
EARNINGS PER SHARE
In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued
Financial Accounting Standard No. 128, "Earnings per Share" ("SFAS 128"). The
Company has presented earnings per share for all periods in accordance with the
new standard. SFAS 128 requires the presentation of basic and diluted earnings
per share. Basic earnings per share is computed using the weighted average
number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per
share includes the effect of dilutive potential common shares (options) issued
during the period (using the treasury stock method). The following data is
presented in thousands except per share data:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THREE MONTHS ENDED
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------- --------------------------
1996 1997 1998 1997 1998
--------- --------- --------- ----------- -------------
(UNAUDITED)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net income............................................... $ 2,288 $ 3,338 $ 4,525 $ 860 $ 1,191
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ------
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ------
Weighted average shares outstanding...................... 9,621 9,630 10,369 10,163 10,517
Dilutive options......................................... 680 975 571 646 436
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ------
Weighted average shares assuming dilution................ 10,301 10,605 10,940 10,809 10,953
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ------
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ------
Earnings per share:
Basic.................................................. $ 0.24 $ 0.35 $ 0.44 $ 0.08 $ 0.11
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ------
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ------
Diluted................................................ $ 0.22 $ 0.31 $ 0.41 $ 0.08 $ 0.11
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ------
--------- --------- --------- ----------- ------
</TABLE>
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
As of October 1, 1998, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting
Standard No. 130 ("SFAS 130"), "Reporting Comprehensive Income". SFAS 130
requires separate reporting of comprehensive income which is defined as "the
change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and
other events and circumstances from non-owner sources". Comprehensive income is
summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THREE MONTHS ENDED
YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------- --------------------
1996 1997 1998 1997 1998
--------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(UNAUDITED)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net income................................... $ 2,288 $ 3,338 $ 4,525 $ 860 $ 1,191
Translation adjustments...................... (19) (20) 67 17 (1)
--------- --------- --------- --- ---------
Comprehensive income......................... $ 2,269 $ 3,318 $ 4,592 $ 877 $ 1,190
--------- --------- --------- --- ---------
--------- --------- --------- --- ---------
</TABLE>
F-10
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 1--THE COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (CONTINUED)
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In June 1997, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 131 "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information"
("SFAS 131"). This statement will be effective for the Company's fiscal year
ending September 30, 1999. The statement requires the Company to report certain
financial information about operating segments. It also requires that the
Company report certain information about its services, the geographic areas in
which it operates and its major customers. The method specified in SFAS 131 for
determining what information to report is referred to as the "management
approach". The management approach is based on the way that management organizes
the segments within the enterprise for making operating decisions and assessing
performance. The adoption of SFAS 131 is not expected to have a significant
impact on the Company's financial statement disclosures.
In October 1997, March 1998 and December 1998, the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants ("AICPA") issued Statements of Position ("SOP")
97-2, 98-4 and 98-9, respectively, which provide guidance on applying generally
accepted accounting principles in recognizing revenue on software transactions.
SOP 97-2, and 98-4 are effective for the Company's fiscal year ending September
30, 1999. SOP 98-9 is effective for the Company's fiscal year ending September
30, 2000. The Company has assessed the provisions of SOP 97-2, 98-4 and 98-9 and
does not expect that adoption will have a material impact on its financial
statements.
In March 1998, the AICPA issued SOP 98-1, "Software for Internal Use," which
provides guidance in accounting for the costs of computer software developed or
obtained for internal use. SOP 98-1 is effective for the Company's fiscal year
ending September 30, 1999. The Company does not expect the adoption of SOP 98-1
to have a material impact on its financial statements.
In June 1998, the FASB issued FAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities" ("FAS 133"). The Company is required to
adopt FAS 133 in fiscal 2000. FAS 133 established methods of accounting for
derivative financial instruments and hedging activities related to those
instruments as well as other hedging activities. The Company has not yet
determined what the effect of FAS 133 will be on the operations and financial
position of the Company.
UNAUDITED INTERIM RESULTS
The accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 1998, the
consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for the three months ended
December 31, 1997 and 1998 and the consolidated statements of stockholders'
equity for the three months ended December 31, 1998 are unaudited.
In the opinion of management, these statements have been prepared on the
same basis as the audited financial statements and include all adjustments,
consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for the fair
statement of the results of interim periods. The data disclosed in notes to the
consolidated financial statements for these periods are unaudited.
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA BALANCE SHEET
On June 10, 1998, the Company entered into a settlement of a claim by an
officer and director. As a result of this settlement, common shares held by this
individual will be redeemable, up to $5 million. Therefore, 500,000 shares have
been reclassified as redeemable common stock based on the assumed offering price
of $10 per share. If the planned initial public offering is consummated or other
certain events occur, as described in Note 5, these
F-11
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 1--THE COMPANY AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: (CONTINUED)
shares will no longer be redeemable. The pro forma balance sheet as of December
31, 1998 reflects the reclassification of the redeemable securities as equity
which will occur upon the effectiveness of the planned offering.
F-12
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 2--BALANCE SHEET COMPONENTS:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEPTEMBER 30,
-------------------- DECEMBER 31,
1997 1998 1998
--------- --------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
(UNAUDITED)
<CAPTION>
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
PREPAID EXPENSES:
Income taxes.................................................................. $ 874 $ -- $ --
Other......................................................................... 118 95 379
--------- --------- ------
$ 992 $ 95 $ 379
--------- --------- ------
--------- --------- ------
INVENTORIES:
Raw materials................................................................. $ 364 $ 391 $ 468
Work-in-process............................................................... 21 39 26
Finished goods................................................................ 36 182 79
--------- --------- ------
$ 421 $ 612 $ 573
--------- --------- ------
--------- --------- ------
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT:
Equipment..................................................................... $ 992 $ 1,348 $ 1,397
Leasehold improvements........................................................ 120 329 329
--------- --------- ------
1,112 1,677 1,726
Less accumulated depreciation................................................. (670) (899) (976)
--------- --------- ------
$ 442 $ 778 $ 750
--------- --------- ------
--------- --------- ------
ACCRUED LIABILITIES:
Payroll and related expenses.................................................. $ 1,708 $ 961 $ 668
Income taxes.................................................................. 666 666 560
Other......................................................................... 346 712 838
--------- --------- ------
$ 2,720 $ 2,339 $ 2,066
--------- --------- ------
--------- --------- ------
</TABLE>
NOTE 3--RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS:
In fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998, the Company's principal stockholder earned
compensation for his duties as President and Chief Executive Officer of
approximately $860,000, $1,410,000 and $611,000, respectively.
In connection with the settlement on June 10, 1998 of claims by an officer
and director of the Company, the Company entered into a three-year consulting
agreement with the officer and director at the rate of $1,500 per day, with a
minimum obligation of $4,500 per month.
See Note 5 for other related party transactions.
F-13
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 4--INCOME TAXES:
Consolidated income before income taxes includes non-U.S. income of
approximately $807,000, $1,260,000 and $1,723,000 in fiscal 1996, 1997 and 1998,
respectively.
The provision for income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
-------------------------------
1996 1997 1998
--------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
CURRENT:
U.S. federal....................................................................... $ 1,100 $ 1,591 $ 1,853
State.............................................................................. 168 311 490
Foreign............................................................................ 418 585 931
--------- --------- ---------
1,686 2,487 3,274
--------- --------- ---------
DEFERRED:
U.S. federal....................................................................... (149) (21) 230
Foreign............................................................................ (35) (30) (108)
--------- --------- ---------
(184) (51) 122
--------- --------- ---------
$ 1,502 $ 2,436 $ 3,396
--------- --------- ---------
--------- --------- ---------
</TABLE>
A reconciliation of the U.S. federal income tax rate to the Company's effective
tax rate is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
------------------------
1996 1997
--- ---
<S> <C> <C>
Tax at federal rate........................................................................... 34% 34%
State taxes, net of federal benefit........................................................... 5 5
Excess foreign tax rate....................................................................... 1 2
Other......................................................................................... -- 1
-- --
40% 42%
-- --
-- --
<CAPTION>
1998
---
<S> <C>
Tax at federal rate........................................................................... 34%
State taxes, net of federal benefit........................................................... 5
Excess foreign tax rate....................................................................... 3
Other......................................................................................... 1
--
43%
--
--
</TABLE>
Deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEPTEMBER 30,
--------------------
1997 1998
--------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS:
Accruals and reserves......................................................................... $ 426 $ 209
Other......................................................................................... 130 197
--- ---
556 406
--- ---
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES:
Excess tax depreciation....................................................................... (30) (2)
--- ---
Net deferred tax assets......................................................................... $ 526 $ 404
--- ---
--- ---
</TABLE>
NOTE 5--REDEEMABLE SECURITIES:
In connection with the settlement on June 10, 1998 of claims by an officer
and director for compensation for past services rendered to the Company, the
Company agreed that, if it did not complete its planned initial public offering
by December 31, 1998, it would repurchase common stock held by this individual
at a rate of up to
F-14
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 5--REDEEMABLE SECURITIES: (CONTINUED)
50,000 shares per annum, in quarterly installments of up to 12,500 shares,
beginning on March 31, 1999, until the earliest of certain events, including the
cumulative receipt of $5 million by the individual from sales of the
individual's stock, an initial public offering of stock by the Company, an
acquisition of the Company or 12 years from March 31, 1999. The repurchase price
will be the fair market value of the shares as determined by the Board of
Directors. As a result of this agreement, 500,000 shares of common stock with a
fair market value of $5 million, based on the assumed fair market value at the
date of the agreement of $10 per share, are reflected as redeemable securities
beginning as of the date of this settlement.
NOTE 6--EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS:
STOCK OPTION PLANS
At September 30, 1997, 1,800,000 shares and 154,500 shares of common stock
had been reserved for issuance to employees under the 1989 Incentive Stock
Option Plan (the "1989 Plan") and the UK Executive Share Option Scheme (the "UK
Scheme"), respectively. In June 1998, the Board of Directors adopted the 1998
Stock Plan (the "1998 Plan") which provided for the issuance of an additional
1,800,000 stock options. The Board of Directors has the authority to determine
optionees, the number of shares, the term of each option and the exercise price.
Options under the 1989 and 1998 Plans generally become exercisable at a rate of
1/8th of the option shares six months after the option grant date and then at a
rate of 1/48th per month thereafter. Options under the UK Scheme become
exercisable at the rate of 1/36th of the option shares per month following
twelve months after the option grant date. Options will expire, if not
exercised, upon the earlier of 10 years from the date of grant or 30 days after
termination as an employee of the Company. Options are granted with exercise
prices equal to the fair value of the common stock as determined by the Board of
Directors.
In the years ended September 30, 1997 and 1998, the Company recorded
deferred compensation expense of approximately $216,000 and $589,000,
respectively, related to the issuance of stock options at prices subsequently
determined to be below fair market value. These expenses are being amortized
over a period of four years from the date of option issuance. Amortization of
deferred compensation expense related to these options of approximately $20,000
and $176,000 was included in general and administrative expenses in the years
ended September 30, 1997 and 1998, respectively.
F-15
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 6--EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS: (CONTINUED)
Information with respect to stock option activity from September 30, 1994
through June 30, 1998 is set forth below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF WEIGHTED AVERAGE
SHARES EXERCISE PRICE
---------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Balance, September 30, 1995........................................................ 1,079,250 0.22
Options granted.................................................................. 135,750 0.71
Options exercised................................................................ (34,456) 0.21
Options canceled................................................................. (24,044) 0.33
---------- -----
Balance, September 30, 1996........................................................ 1,156,500 0.27
Options granted.................................................................. 296,475 0.99
Options exercised................................................................ (162) 0.46
Options canceled................................................................. (94,713) 0.85
---------- -----
Balance, September 30, 1997........................................................ 1,358,100 0.39
Options granted.................................................................. 206,100 2.01
Options exercised................................................................ (862,874) 0.25
Options canceled................................................................. (876) 1.12
---------- -----
Balance, September 30, 1998........................................................ 700,450 $ 1.04
---------- -----
---------- -----
</TABLE>
As of September 30, 1998, 2,117,107 options remained available for grant.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTIONS OUTSTANDING AT
SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 OPTIONS EXERCISABLE AT
----------------------------------------- SEPTEMBER 30, 1998
WEIGHTED ------------------------
AVERAGE WEIGHTED WEIGHTED
REMAINING AVERAGE AVERAGE
NUMBER CONTRACTUAL EXERCISE NUMBER EXERCISE
RANGE OF EXERCISE PRICE OUTSTANDING LIFE PRICE OUTSTANDING PRICE
- ---------------------------------------------------- ----------- --------------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$0.19 - $0.24....................................... 168,000 5.2 $ 0.22 167,937 $ 0.22
$0.46............................................... 77,124 6.9 0.46 47,505 0.46
$0.83 - $1.27....................................... 414,226 8.6 1.09 126,952 1.00
$2.00 - $8.00....................................... 41,100 9.6 4.99 2,530 2.40
----------- -----------
700,450 1.04 344,924 0.56
----------- -----------
----------- -----------
</TABLE>
FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES
The Company calculated the fair value of each option grant on the date of
grant using the minimum value method with the following assumptions: dividend
yield at 0%; weighted average expected option life of five years; and risk free
interest rate of 6.1%, 6.2% and 5.7% for the years ended September 30, 1996,
1997 and 1998, respectively. The weighted average fair value of options granted
during 1996 was $0.17 per share.
F-16
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 6--EMPLOYEE STOCK PLANS: (CONTINUED)
The weighted average fair values of options granted during 1997 and 1998
were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WEIGHTED AVERAGE WEIGHTED AVERAGE
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 EXERCISE PRICE FAIR VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Exercise price equal to market value......................................... $ 0.83 $ 0.22
Exercise price less than market value........................................ 1.27 2.37
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WEIGHTED AVERAGE WEIGHTED AVERAGE
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 EXERCISE PRICE FAIR VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Exercise price equal to market value......................................... $ 7.51 $ 1.50
Exercise price less than market value........................................ 1.39 3.46
</TABLE>
Had compensation cost for the Company's stock-based compensation plan been
determined based on the fair value at the grant dates for the awards under the
minimum value method prescribed by SFAS No. 123, the Company's net income would
not have been materially different.
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
In June 1998, the Company adopted the 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
"Purchase Plan"). A total of 750,000 shares of Common Stock have been reserved
for issuance under the Purchase Plan. The Purchase Plan permits eligible
employees to purchase Common Stock through payroll deductions of up to 7% of an
employee's total compensation. The price of the Common Stock will generally be
85% of the lower of the fair market value at the beginning of the offering
period or the end of the relevant purchase period. The maximum number of shares
a participant may purchase during a single offering period is 200 shares.
NOTE 7--PROFIT-SHARING PLAN:
The Company maintains a qualified profit-sharing plan for eligible
employees. Contributions to the profit-sharing plan are discretionary and are
determined by the Board of Directors. There were no contributions to the plan
during the years ended September 30, 1996, 1997 and 1998.
NOTE 8--COMMITMENTS:
The Company leases its facility in Mountain View, California under a
noncancelable operating lease agreement which expires in 2002. The lease
agreement provides for minimum annual rent of $165,000. Under this agreement,
the Company pays certain shared operating expenses of the facility. The
agreement provides for rent increases at scheduled intervals. The Company leases
other facilities in Illinois, Texas, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom under
leases that expire through October 2001.
Rent expense for all facilities for the years ended September 30, 1996, 1997
and 1998 was approximately $123,000, $197,000 and $287,000, respectively.
F-17
<PAGE>
CATAPULT COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 8--COMMITMENTS: (CONTINUED)
Future minimum annual rental payments under noncancelable operating leases as of
September 30, 1998 are as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
1999................................................................. $ 265
2000................................................................. 209
2001................................................................. 214
2002................................................................. 62
---
$ 750
---
---
</TABLE>
NOTE 9--SEGMENT REPORTING:
The Company operates in one industry segment: the design, development
manufacture, marketing and support of an advanced software based test system.
The Company's operations and assets by geographical region as of and for
each fiscal year end were as follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
UNITED UNITED CONSOLIDATED
STATES KINGDOM JAPAN TOTAL
--------- ----------- --------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1996
- ------------------------------------------------
Sales to unaffiliated customers................. $ 4,136 $ 1,719 $ 3,397 $ 9,252
Net income...................................... 1,868 298 122 2,288
1997
- ------------------------------------------------
Sales to unaffiliated customers................. $ 6,261 $ 2,716 $ 4,375 $ 13,352
Net income...................................... 2,642 405 291 3,338
Total assets.................................... 9,714 2,669 1,652 14,035
1998
- ------------------------------------------------
Sales to unaffiliated customers................. $ 5,020 $ 3,649 $ 9,537 $ 18,206
Net income...................................... 3,626 400 499 4,525
Total assets.................................... 14,905 1,447 3,143 19,495
</TABLE>
The result of operations by geographic region includes significant sales
principally from the United States to the Company's foreign locations at agreed
upon transfer prices. Transfers to other geographic regions from the United
States for the years ended September 30, 1996, 1997 and 1998 were $3.7 million,
$4.1 million and $9.6 million, respectively.
NOTE 10--SUBSEQUENT EVENTS:
On December 24, 1998, the Company repurchased from an officer and director
50,000 shares of common stock at $6 per share, the then fair market value as
determined by the Board of Directors.
F-18
<PAGE>
- ------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------
NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN
THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS
MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY, ANY
SELLING STOCKHOLDER OR THE UNDERWRITERS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE
AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY TO ANY PERSON IN ANY
JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL OR TO ANY
PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR
ANY OFFER OR SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY
IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY OR
THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT
TO THE DATE HEREOF.
--------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C>
Additional Information.................................................... 2
Prospectus Summary........................................................ 3
Risk Factors.............................................................. 5
Use of Proceeds........................................................... 16
Dividend Policy........................................................... 16
Capitalization............................................................ 17
Dilution.................................................................. 18
Selected Consolidated Financial Data...................................... 19
Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations................................................... 20
Business.................................................................. 32
Management................................................................ 45
Certain Transactions...................................................... 52
Principal and Selling Stockholders........................................ 53
Description of Capital Stock.............................................. 54
Shares Eligible for Future Sale........................................... 56
Underwriting.............................................................. 58
Legal Matters............................................................. 59
Experts................................................................... 59
Change in Accountants..................................................... 59
Glossary.................................................................. G-1
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements................................ F-1
</TABLE>
--------------
UNTIL , 1999 (25 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS),
ALL DEALERS EFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN THE COMMON STOCK, WHETHER OR NOT
PARTICIPATING IN THIS DISTRIBUTION, MAY BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS.
THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF DEALERS TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS
WHEN ACTING AS UNDERWRITERS AND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR
SUBSCRIPTIONS.
3,352,500 SHARES
[LOGO]
COMMON STOCK
--------------
PROSPECTUS
--------------
HAMBRECHT & QUIST
CIBC OPPENHEIMER
C.E. UNTERBERG, TOWBIN
, 1999
- ------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------
