<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
ANNUAL REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended Commission file number
July 31, 2000 0-14884
Exact name of the registrant as specified in its charter
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
(FORMERLY SAND TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL INC.)
Jurisdiction of Incorporation
CANADA
Address of principal executive offices:
4141 SHERBROOKE STREET WEST, SUITE 410
WESTMOUNT, QUEBEC, CANADA H3Z 1B8
TELEPHONE (514) 939-3477
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
NONE
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
CLASS A COMMON SHARES
SECURITIES FOR WHICH THERE IS A REPORTING OBLIGATION
PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE ACT:
NONE
On July 31, 2000, the Company had outstanding 9,627,145 Class A Common Shares
which is the Company's only class of common stock.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X No
----- -----
Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected
to follow.
Item 17 Item 18 X
----- -----
The Exhibit Index is located on page 53.
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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
GENERAL
Sand Technology Inc. was incorporated in 1983 under the Canada Business
Corporations Act and carried on business under the name Sand Technology Systems
(Canada) Inc. until 1988. From 1988 until 1999, we used the name Sand Technology
Systems International Inc. On January 1, 2000, we changed our name to Sand
Technology Inc. All references to dollars are to Canadian dollars unless
otherwise indicated. The average rate of exchange during the fiscal year ended
July 31, 2000 was Canadian $1.47 for each United States dollar.
Until recently, Sand sold and serviced mainframe peripheral products
manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd. of Japan, through Hitachi Data Systems Inc. ("HDS
Canada"). HDS Canada marketed a broad range of information processing solutions,
including enterprise servers, storage subsystems, peripheral products and
professional services.
Until August 1999, Sand was the legal and beneficial owner of 40% of the
issued and outstanding shares of HDS Canada; Hitachi Data Systems Corporation
("HDSC") of Santa Clara, California was the legal and beneficial owner of the
remaining 60%. In August 1999, Sand sold its 40% interest in HDS Canada to HDSC
for a cash consideration of approximately $7,300,000 and withdrew from the
mainframe computer market and the peripheral hardware market.
We have now fully shifted our focus to the design, development, marketing
and support of software products that enable users to retrieve content-oriented
information from enormous amounts of data, upon demand and without having to
design a system which accomplishes only pre-specified requirements. Our software
products, which are known as the Nucleus product suite, are designed to provide
an efficient and cost-effective way to make inquiries of large databases. They
facilitate the use of data mining, data marts, data warehouses, and on-line
analytical processing thereby enabling effective e-commerce, B2B, B2C, B2E, CRM,
supply choice management and other critical web-enabled systems. Our Nucleus
products permit more timely and accurate decision processing by desktop,
workgroup, departmental and enterprise computer systems turning "business
intelligence" into "customer intelligence".
As a result of this shift in focus, we should now be viewed as a company
which has refocused its development in a rapidly evolving market. Our revenues
consist of license fees for software products and fees for professional services
and for a range of associated services, including software maintenance and
support, training and system implementation consulting. Our plans to achieve
profitability in the future require us to devote substantial financial resources
to grow our work force, improve our infrastructure, continue the development and
the marketing and distribution of our products and generally support our
expanding operations.
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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
We have developed a unique data storage and manipulation architecture known
as the Nucleus product suite which allows ad hoc queries on enormous amounts of
data to be performed efficiently and cost-effectively. Our Nucleus product suite
represents a patented breakthrough in the storage and integration of data and
the speed and flexibility at which data can be analyzed. These technologies are
based on a new tokenized in-memory database engine designed to perform very
unstructured inquiries on large databases for the emerging "post relational
era". We provide performance, scalable software solutions for date mining, data
marts, data warehouses and on-line analytical processing.
The Nucleus Exploration Warehouse and the Nucleus Exploration Data Mart, as
well as the Nucleus Prototype Warehouse and the Nucleus Prototype Mart, are
software products that enable organizations to maximize the business value of
corporate information through intuitive, interactive data access and analysis,
resulting in more informed business decisions. Our Nucleus products are being
used in the retail, finance, healthcare, transportation, telecommunication,
manufacturing, government and insurance sectors to support strategic corporate
initiatives including e-business, customer relationship management, reporting,
supply chain management, risk analysis and management, product trend and
profitability analysis, fraud detection, emerging markets, competitive analysis
and quality control.
Our Nucleus product suite incorporates a number of advanced technologies.
Development of the Nucleus product suite has already required and will continue
to require substantial investment in research and development. For example,
substantial work and expenditures were required to develop the Intel-based
Microsoft WIN/NT and WIN/95 versions of Nucleus. In fiscal 1999, development
work was completed on an advanced version of the Nucleus Prototype
Warehouse/Mart. The Nucleus Massively Parallel Server Option (MPSO), a major
architectural enhancement to the Nucleus product suite, was made available in
December 1999.
The latest addition to the Nucleus product suite is Nucleus-E!-TM- which
enables the management of structured Internet search capabilities. The engine of
Nucleus-E! has been validated in customer trials and large-scale bench marks
with major server manufacturers. Our first beta customer is scheduled for
production in December 2000.
MARKETING AND SALES
We operate offices in Iselin, New Jersey and Pasadena, California, through
Sand Technology Systems, Inc. ("Sand USA"), to provide for the marketing and
distribution of our Nucleus product suite in the United States. In 1999, we
opened an office in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England, through Sand Technology
(U.K.) Limited ("Sand UK"), to provide for the marketing and distribution of our
Nucleus product suite in the United Kingdom and Europe.
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In 1996, we entered into strategic agreements with HDSC to distribute our
Nucleus product suite in the United States, Canada and Australia and with
Digital Equipment Corporation to allow HDSC to distribute the Digital-Registered
Trademark- Alpha Server with the Nucleus Software as a complete hardware and
software solution. We have entered into important strategic alliances or
marketing and distribution agreements with, among others, Brio Technology, Inc.,
Information Builders, Inc., Acxiom-Corporation, Oracle Corporation and Acta
Technology, Inc. The United States General Services Administration (GSA) has
officially approved the addition of the Nucleus product suite to a GSA Supply
Schedule.
We have historically sold our products primarily through a distribution
network of value-added resellers, resellers and distributors located in the
United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Direct sales have not played a
large role in the past.
We are now supplementing our indirect sales capabilities by growing our
direct sales organization and marketing capabilities in North America and
Europe. Our direct sales force will perform some or all of the following
functions: sales and marketing; systems implementation and integration; software
development and customization; and ongoing consulting, training, service and
technical support. This increase in direct sales will require additional
personnel which will increase our expenses. In addition, we will continue to
leverage and grow our existing network of value-added resellers, resellers and
distributors to expand our indirect distribution channel.
ORDER BACKLOG
We have an order backlog of approximately $3 million as of September 1,
2000.
COMPETITION
We now compete in the highly competitive computer software industry as a
result of bringing our Nucleus product suite to market. The market in which we
operate is still developing and is intensively competitive, highly fragmented
and characterized by rapidly changing technology and evolving standards. Our
competitive position in the market is uncertain, due principally to the variety
of current and potential competitors and the emerging nature of the market. Our
current and potential competitors offer a variety of software solutions and
generally fall within four categories: vendors of business intelligence
software; vendors offering alternative approaches to delivering analysis
capabilities to users; database vendors that offer products which operate
specifically with their proprietary database; and other companies that may in
the future announce offerings of enterprise business intelligence solutions. We
have experienced and expect to continue to experience increased competition from
current and potential competitors, many of whom have significantly greater
financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we do. Our 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 we can.
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We compete primarily on the basis of product features, time to market, ease
of use, product performance, product quality, analytical capability, user
scalability, open architecture, customer support and price.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
In 1994, Sand acquired all the rights, title and interest in the Nucleus
Database Engine Subsystem. In addition to trademarks, trade names and other
proprietary rights, these interests included patents related to bit vector
compression and boolean operation processing capability.
We currently have five United States patents and one patent application
relative to the Nucleus product suite.
In October 1997, Sand acquired the Advanced Technology Group of XDB
Systems, Inc. as well as the rights to the source code of Quantum Leap. Quantum
Leap was designed to provide a more flexible architecture for customization and
incorporation of new technology quickly and effectively using small footprint
engines.
We currently rely primarily on a combination of copyright and trademark
laws, trade secrets, confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to
protect our proprietary rights. We have entered into source code agreements with
a number of our customers and indirect channel partners requiring release of
source code under certain conditions.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Our strategy emphasizes developing and introducing on a timely and
cost-effective basis products that offer functionality and performance equal to
or better than competitive product offerings. We believe that our future success
depends upon our ability to develop and market products which meet changing user
needs, and to successfully anticipate or respond to changes in technology and
standards on a cost-effective and timely basis.
Certain expenditures which were part of selling, general and administrative
expenses prior to 1998 have been reclassified to reflect the shift in the nature
of our operations from the mainframe peripheral hardware market to the design,
development, marketing and support of software products.
Research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries and other
personnel-related costs of technical and engineering personnel associated with
our research and product development activities, including the enhancement and
localization of existing products, quality assurance and testing. Research and
development expenses decreased by 2% to $3,790,025 for the fiscal year ended
July 31, 2000 from $3,871,534 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1999. As a
percentage of total revenues, research and development expenses decreased to 55%
for the fiscal year 2000 from 185% for the fiscal year 1999. The stable dollar
amount devoted to research and development expenses reflects the current stage
of development of the Nucleus product suite. We believe that significant
investment
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for research and development is essential to product and technical leadership
and expect that we will continue to commit substantial resources to research
and development in the future. We expect that research and development
expenditures will increase in absolute dollars, although such expenses may
vary as a percentage of total revenues.
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
On July 31, 2000, the Company had 69 employees, including 38 full-time
employees with Sand, and 16 full-time employees with Sand USA and 10 full-time
employees with Sand UK, and three part-time employees with Sand, one part-time
employee with Sand USA and one part-time employee with Sand UK. No employee of
the Company is represented by a labour union or is covered by a collective
bargaining agreement. The Company believes that its employee relations are
excellent.
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC OPERATIONS AND EXPORT SALES
We operate in Canada and the United States and consider North America to be
one geographical area. We also have operations in the United Kingdom.
YEAR 2000
See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" - "Year 2000
Compliance" found in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR PURPOSES OF THE "SAFE HARBOR" OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES
LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
This Annual Report on Form 20-F includes forward-looking statements that
involve risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to future events or our
future financial performance. We use words like "believe", "anticipate",
"expect", "may", "will", "should", "plan", "estimate", "product", "potential",
"continue", and similar expressions to help identify these forward-looking
statements. These statements are only predictions. Such statements are intended
to be subject to the safe harbor protections of the Securities Act of 1933 and
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Our actual results could differ materially
from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many
factors. Such factors include, among others, the matters described in the
section entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations" - "Factors That May Affect Future Results" found in
this Annual Report on Form 20-F and on pages 9 through 18 of Sand's Annual
Report to Shareholders. Additional factors are described in our other public
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date made. Except as required by applicable laws, we do not
intend to publish updates or revisions of any forward-looking statement we make
to reflect new information, future events or otherwise.
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ITEM 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY
As at July 31, 2000, we leased a total of approximately 13,040 square feet
of office space in three cities across North America and a total of
approximately 625 square feet in the United Kingdom. The weighted average
annualized cost per square foot of the space occupied is $33.26 including real
estate taxes and operating expenses. No lease extends beyond November 1, 2003.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
No outstanding legal actions are expected to have a material adverse effect
on our consolidated financial position.
ITEM 4. CONTROL OF REGISTRANT
The following are the only persons who, to our knowledge, beneficially own
or exercise control or direction over shares carrying more than ten (10%)
percent of the votes attached to shares of the Company at September 8, 2000:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF CLASS PERCENTAGE OF CLASS A
A SHARES OWNED, CONTROLLED COMMON SHARES OWNED,
OR DIRECTED CONTROLLED OR DIRECTED
--------------------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Arthur G. Ritchie 1,996,938 * 24.74%
Jerome Shattner 1,023,000 10.63%
</TABLE>
* In addition, 112,862 Class A Common Shares are owned by two companies
controlled by trusts of which Arthur G. Ritchie is a trustee.
The total number of Class A Common Shares owned, controlled or directed by
the officers and directors of Sand as a group, is 3,374,388 at September 8,
2000.
There are no known contractual arrangements which may result in a change of
control of the Company at a subsequent date.
ITEM 5. NATURE OF TRADING MARKET
Our Class A Common Shares are listed on the Nasdaq National Market and
trade under the symbol SNDT. There is no non-United States trading market for
our Class A Common Shares. The following table presents the high and low sale
prices for our Class A
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Common Shares quoted in United States dollars for each quarter ended on the
dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
HIGH LOW
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1999
January 29 $ 6.125 $ 5.75
April 30 $ 7.937 $ 7.625
July 30 $ 4.50 $ 4.375
October 29 $ 3.625 $ 3.531
December 31 $ 6.25 $ 5.031
2000
January 31 $ 5.50 $ 5.375
April 28 $ 6.00 $ 5.813
July 28 $ 5.125 $ 4.125
September 22 $ 4.969 $ 4.375
</TABLE>
As at September 8, 2000, we estimate that more than 50% of our outstanding
Class A Common Shares were held by approximately 475 holders of record with
addresses in the United States. Most of our Class A Common Shares are held in
the name of intermediaries.
ITEM 6. EXCHANGE CONTROLS AND OTHER LIMITATIONS AFFECTING SECURITY HOLDERS
There are no laws, decrees or regulations in Canada that restrict the
export or import of capital, including, but not limited to, foreign exchange
controls, or that affect the remittance of dividends, interest or other payments
to non-resident holders of our Class A Common Shares.
There are no limitations on the right of non-resident or foreign owners to
hold or vote the Class A Common Shares under Canadian legislation or our
organizational documents. Under the CANADA BUSINESS CORPORATIONS ACT, a majority
of our directors must be Canadian residents.
ITEM 7. TAXATION
We are a resident of Canada under the INCOME TAX ACT (CANADA) and any
dividends paid by us to non-residents of Canada are subject to withholding tax.
The general rate of withholding tax on dividends paid by a company to
non-residents is 25% unless reduced by tax treaty.
Under the present Canada-United States Income Tax Convention (1980) as
amended, if the non-resident does not carry on business in Canada through a
permanent
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establishment or if the Class A Common Shares are not effectively connected
with a permanent establishment, the rate of withholding tax is reduced to:
(a) 5% if the beneficial owner is a company residing in the United States
which owns at least 10% of our voting stock, and
(b) 15% in all other cases.
ITEM 8. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
Our audited consolidated financial statements for the 2000 fiscal year and
the notes relating to them (the "Financial Statements") which are included at
Item 18 are presented in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting
principles ("Canadian GAAP"). The monetary figures throughout this Annual Report
on Form 20-F are presented consistent with Canadian GAAP except where otherwise
indicated.
The following data expressed in Canadian dollars are derived from the
Financial Statements that have been audited by Deloitte & Touche, our auditors.
The information set forth below is not necessarily indicative of the results of
future operations and should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in
its entirety by, the Financial Statements appearing elsewhere in this Annual
Report on Form 20-F.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Dollars in Thousands (000's) except for Per Share Data and Rates of Exchange)
FISCAL YEAR ENDED
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7/31/96 7/31/97 7/31/98 7/31/99 7/31/00
--------------- ---------------- ---------------- --------------- ----------------
CA CA CA CA CA
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Rates of exchange
At period end - US$ $1.37 $1.39 $1.52 $1.51 $1.49
Average for the period $1.37 $1.37 $1.43 $1.51 $1.47
Results of Operations
Net Sales $7,198 $2,989 $3,088 $2,091 $6,895
Research and Development Costs ($400) ($778) ($2,080) ($3,872) ($3,790)
Selling, General and
Administrative Expenses ($1,950) ($1,700) ($2,923) ($4,458) ($7,837)
Cost of Sales and Product
Support ($5,616) ($2,069) ($662) ($345) ($2,343)
Net Income (Loss) $672 ($549) ($907) ($4,961) ($2,867)
Financial Position
Working Capital $8,291 $5,802 $6,000 $1,427 $4,475
Total Assets $16,659 $13,774 $10,908 $8,273 $9,071
Total Liabilities $2,495 $2,221 $262 $2,532 $2,522
Shareholders Equity $14,164 $11,553 $10,647 $5,741 $6,549
Earnings (Loss) per Share $0.08 ($0.06) ($0.11) ($0.58) ($0.32)
Weighted Average Numbers of Shares
outstanding during each period 8,864 8,913 8,520 8,523 8,919
(000's)
</TABLE>
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The same data, presented in conformity with US GAAP, is shown below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(Dollars in Thousands (000's) except for Per Share Data and Rates of Exchange)
FISCAL YEAR ENDED
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7/31/96 7/31/97 7/31/98 7/31/99 7/31/00
------- ------- ------- -------- --------
CA CA CA CA CA
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Rates of exchange
At period end -- US$ $1.37 $1.39 $1.52 $1.51 $1.49
Average for the period $1.37 $1.37 $1.43 $1.51 $1.47
Results of Operations
Net Sales $7,198 $2,989 $3,088 $2,091 $6,895
Research and Development Costs ($400) ($778) ($2,080) $3,872 ($3,790)
Selling, General and
Administrative Expenses ($1,950) ($1,700) ($2,923) ($4,458) ($7,837)
Cost of Sales and Product
Support ($5,616) ($2,069) ($662) ($345) ($2,343)
Net Income (Loss) $672 ($549) ($907) ($4,961) ($2,867)
Financial Position
Working Capital $8,291 $5,802 $6,000 $1,427 $4,475
Total Assets $16,659 $13,774 $10,908 $8,273 $9,071
Total Liabilities $2,495 $2,221 $262 $2,532 $2,522
Shareholders Equity $14,164 $11,553 $10,647 $5,741 $6,549
Earnings (Loss) per Share $0.08 ($0.06) ($0.11) ($0.58) ($0.32)
Weighted Average Numbers of
Shares outstanding during each 8,864 8,913 8,520 8,523 8,919
period (000's)
</TABLE>
ITEM 9. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with
our Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes to them and the other
information included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 20-F. Certain
statements contained in this discussion are forward-looking statements that
involve risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, statements
regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the
future. All forward-looking statements included in this discussion are based on
current expectations and on information available to us on the date of this
Annual Report on Form 20-F. Our actual results could differ materially from
those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various
risks and uncertainties, including those set forth under "Factors That May
Affect Future Results" below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 20-F.
The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
All figures given in this discussion are in Canadian dollars and are
presented in conformity with Canadian GAAP. As noted in Note 15 to the Financial
Statements, there are no material differences which would result in the reported
amounts of net consolidated earnings from the application of US GAAP. "Fiscal
1998", "fiscal 1999" and "fiscal 2000"
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mean the fiscal years of the Company ended July 31, 1998, July 31, 1999 and
July 31, 2000 respectively.
OVERVIEW
Until recently, an important part of our business was the sale and service
of mainframe peripheral products manufactured by Hitachi Ltd. of Japan, through
HDS Canada, a 40% owned affiliate of Sand. In August 1999, we sold our 40%
interest in HDS Canada to Hitachi Data Systems Corporation of Santa Clara,
California, U.S.A.
We have now fully shifted our focus to the design, development, marketing
and support of a unique data storage and manipulation architecture known as the
Nucleus product suite which allows ad hoc queries on enormous amounts of data to
be performed efficiently and cost-effectively. The Nucleus Exploration
Mart/Warehouse and the Nucleus Prototype Mart/Warehouse are products which turn
operational data and warehoused data into business intelligence rapidly and
simply.
As a result of this shift in focus, we should now be viewed as a company
which has refocused its development in a rapidly evolving market. Our revenues
consist of license fees for software products and fees for professional services
and for a range of associated services, including software maintenance and
support, training and system implementation consulting. Our plans to achieve
profitability in the future require us to devote substantial financial resources
to grow our work force, improve our infrastructure, continue the development and
the marketing and distribution of our products and generally support our
expanding operations.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FISCAL 2000 COMPARED WITH FISCAL 1999
Sales in fiscal 2000 were $6,895,016, an increase of 230% from sales of
$2,091,067 in fiscal 1999. A net loss of $2,866,907 was incurred in fiscal 2000
as compared to a net loss of $4,960,964 in fiscal 1999, a decrease of 42%.
The increase in sales is due to an increase in software license revenue, an
increase in customer service contracts and a growing support and maintenance
base. We believe that the increase during fiscal 2000 is due to the expansion of
our direct sales and marketing capabilities in North America and Europe which
has helped bring about broader acceptance of our Nucleus product suite. We have
an order backlog of approximately $3,000,000 as at September 1, 2000.
We recognize revenues from software licenses in accordance with the
provisions of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Statement
of Position which requires companies to defer revenue and profit recognition if
four criteria of a sale are not met. In addition, we are required to allocate
revenue to multiple element arrangements. We typically contract professional
services on a time-and-materials basis and such revenues are recognized as
services when they are performed. Revenues from support and
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maintenance are recognized rateably over the term of the applicable support
and maintenance agreement.
Certain expenditures which were part of selling, general and administrative
expenses in prior years were reclassified in fiscal 1998 to reflect the shift in
the nature of our operations from the mainframe peripheral hardware market to
the design, development, marketing and support of software products.
Selling, general and administrative expenses include salaries, commissions
and other personnel-related costs, travel expenses, advertising programs and
other promotional activities associated with the selling and marketing of our
Nucleus products. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 76%
to $7,836,833 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2000 from $4,458,200 for the
fiscal year ended July 31, 1999. The increase is primarily due to increased
costs associated with building our direct sales force and increased marketing
efforts to address international and specific markets.
Research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries and other
personnel-related costs of technical and engineering personnel associated with
our research and product development activities, including the enhancement and
localization of existing products, quality assurance and testing. Research and
development expenses decreased by 2% to $3,790,025 for the fiscal year ended
July 31, 2000 from $3,871,534 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1999. As a
percentage of total revenues, research and development expenses decreased to 55%
for the fiscal year 2000 from 185% for the fiscal year 1999. The stable dollar
amount devoted to research and development expenses reflects the current stage
of development of the Nucleus product suite. We believe that significant
investment for research and development is essential to product and technical
leadership and expect that we will continue to commit substantial resources to
research and development in the future. We expect that research and development
expenditures will increase in absolute dollars, although such expenses may vary
as a percentage of total revenues.
Cost of sales consists primarily of the costs related to the sale of
third-party software, including certain license fees and royalties, and costs
related to providing support services. Cost of sales increased by 579% to
$2,343,191 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2000 from $345,265 for the fiscal
year ended July 31, 1999. This increase is primarily due to increased costs
associated with software licenses and salaries and other personnel-related
expenses incurred in providing professional services, including consulting and
customer support.
Losses from operations were higher for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2000,
reaching an amount of $6,990,465, an increase of 14%, as compared to a loss of
$6,147,819 for the fiscal year ended July 31, 1999. Substantial expenditures
were incurred to bring our Nucleus products to market and to establish the
infrastructure associated with our direct sales force and to support our
products. There can be no assurance that we will be profitable on a quarterly or
annual basis in the future. Further operating results will depend on many
factors, including the demand for our products, the level of product and price
competition, our success in selling our Nucleus products and establishing our
direct
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sales force and distribution channels, the state of the market for our
products and general economic conditions.
FISCAL 1999 COMPARED WITH FISCAL 1998
Sales in fiscal 1999 were $2,091,067, a decrease of $996,974 or 32% from
sales of $3,088,041 in fiscal 1998. A net loss of $4,960,964 was incurred in
fiscal 1999 as compared to a net loss of $906,722 in fiscal 1998, an increase of
447%.
We derived sales of approximately $2,000,000 in fiscal 1999 from software
products targeting the data mart and the data warehouse markets compared to
sales of approximately $3,000,000 to the same markets in fiscal 1998, a decline
of 33%. We believe that the decrease during fiscal 1999 related to then current
market conditions, length of sales cycles, average revenue per transaction and
other factors such as Y2K concerns and funding priorities. We expanded our
direct sales and marketing capabilities in North America and Europe to ensure
broad acceptance of the Nucleus product suite as a precursor to indirect sales
activities by our channel partners.
Certain expenditures which were part of selling, general and administrative
expenses in prior years were reclassified in fiscal 1998 to reflect the shift in
the nature of our operations from the mainframe peripheral hardware market to
the design, development, marketing and support of software products.
Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") consist primarily of
salaries and other personnel costs, travel, marketing programs such as the cost
of participating in trade shows and seminars, promotion costs and general and
administrative expenses which cover primarily personnel costs for general
management, professional fees and unallocated overhead expenses. SG&A increased
by 53% from $2,923,221 in fiscal 1998 to $4,458,200 in fiscal 1999.
Substantially all of the increase was due to increased personnel and related
costs necessary to continue and further the marketing of the Nucleus product
suite, and in particular the Nucleus Exploration Mart/Warehouse and the Nucleus
Prototype Mart/Warehouse. We expect that our SG&A will increase in absolute
dollars as we incur additional expenses to support expanded operations. We
expect that such expenses will vary as a percentage of total revenues.
Research and development expenses consist primarily of personnel and
related costs associated with the development of new products, the enhancement
and localization of existing products, quality assurance and testing. Research
and development expenses increased by 86% from $2,079,738 in fiscal 1998 to
$3,871,534 million in fiscal 1999. The increase from year to year was primarily
due to increased personnel and related costs required to continue to develop and
enhance the Nucleus product suite while developing new products. We believe that
significant investment for product research and development is essential to
product and technical leadership and expect that we will continue to commit
substantial resources to research and development in the future. We expect that
research and development expenditures will continue to increase in absolute
dollars, although such expenses may vary as a percentage of total revenues.
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Net interest income for fiscal 1999 was $436,113 down from $597,726 or 27%
in fiscal 1998, and reflects a lower level of funds available for investment by
us.
Losses from operations were considerably higher in fiscal 1999, reaching an
amount of $6,147,819, an increase of 211%, as compared to a loss of $1,978,926
in fiscal 1998. Substantial expenditures were incurred to bring the Nucleus
Exploration Mart/Warehouse and the Nucleus Prototype Mart/Warehouse to market
and to establish the infrastructure to support these software products. There
can be no assurance that we will be profitable on a quarterly or annual basis in
the future. Future operating results will depend on many factors, including the
demand for our products, the level of product and price competition, our success
in selling our products and in establishing distribution channels, the state of
the data warehouse market, and general economic conditions.
YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE
Many currently installed computer systems and software products were coded
to accept only two-digit entries in date code fields. These date code fields
need to accept four-digit entries to enable the computer systems and software
products to distinguish 21st Century dates from 20th Century dates. Any of our
computer programs or hardware that have date-sensitive software or embedded
computer chips which have not been upgraded to be compliant with the
requirements of the Year 2000 changeover may recognize a date using "00" as the
year 1900 rather than the year 2000. This could result in a system failure or
miscalculations causing disruptions of operations, including, among other
things, a temporary inability to properly process transactions internally or in
conjunction with external computer systems on which we depend to provide our
customers with our product and services. Although we have not suffered from any
of these types of events following the change to calendar year 2000, we may do
so in the future.
Substantially all of our software was developed after awareness of these
issues became widespread in the software industry, such that our software was
designed with reference to preventing Year 2000-related difficulties from
arising. There can be no assurances, however, that our current products do not
contain undetected errors or defects associated with Year 2000 date functions
that may result in material costs to the Company.
To the best of our knowledge, none of our internal systems or equipment
which are necessary for the conduct of our business has any defects, errors or
deficiencies relating to the Year 2000 which are not capable of being remedied,
and all expenses associated with this remedial work have been fully provided for
in our business plans. Based on our current assessment, we believe that all
reasonable and necessary steps were taken to prevent the Year 2000 issue from
having a material adverse impact on our results of operations or financial
condition, but there can be no assurance that this is in fact the case.
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FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS
In August 1999, the Company sold its 40% interest in HDS Canada and
withdrew from the mainframe computer market and the peripheral hardware market
in which the Company competed through its affiliate HDS Canada.
Our prospects in the design, development, marketing and support of software
products, and in particular the Nucleus product suite, must be considered in
light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently encountered by
companies in their early stage of development, particularly companies in rapidly
evolving markets. In general, our business is subject to the inherent risks and
uncertainties characteristic of high-technology industries. Many factors may
adversely affect our earnings. Such factors include, among others, the general
economic and business conditions; the success of operating initiatives;
development and operating costs; the acceptance of new products; changes in
business strategy or development plans; the quality of management; the
availability, terms, and deployment of capital; and changes in government
regulation. All in all, there are risk factors associated with our financial
results and with our business and operations and risk factors which may affect
the market price of our Class A Common Shares.
RISK ASSOCIATED WITH OUR FINANCIAL RESULTS
Because we have not been profitable in the past three years, we have had to
fund our losses through a combination of sales of our liquid investments and
non-core assets. We incurred losses of $906,722 in fiscal 1998, $4,960,964 in
fiscal 1999 and $2,866,907 in fiscal 2000. We expect to continue to incur losses
in the near future and possibly longer. If we are not successful in increasing
net revenues, or if there is a material increase in our expenses, we may be
unable to achieve profitability in the future. If we do not achieve
profitability in the future, we would have to obtain additional financing to
fund our operations.
We plan to increase our operating expenses significantly in the foreseeable
future and our operating results will be adversely affected if our revenues do
not increase. We must, among other things, obtain market awareness and
acceptance of our products, increase the scope of our operations, respond to
competitive developments, continue to attract, retain and motivate qualified
personnel and continue to commercialize products incorporating advanced
technologies. These efforts may prove more expensive than we currently
anticipate. We cannot be sure that we will be successful in addressing these
risks, and the failure to do so would have a material adverse effect on our
business, operating results and financial condition.
On July 31, 2000, we had cash reserves of $2,387,112. If we do not have
sufficient capital to fund our operations, we may be forced to discontinue
product development, reduce our sales and marketing efforts or forego attractive
businesses opportunities. Any of these outcomes could adversely impact our
ability to respond to competitive pressures or prevent us from conducting all or
a portion of our planned operations. If our available cash and existing sources
of revenue are insufficient to fund our operations, we may need to raise
additional funds, and additional financing may not be
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available on acceptable terms, if at all. If we issue additional equity
securities to raise funds, the ownership percentage of shareholders will be
reduced.
On June 1, 2000, we sold to AMRO International, S.A. 315,789 Class A Common
Shares and warrants to purchase an additional 32,609 Class A Common Shares. All
or part of the warrants may be exercised from time to time during the period
beginning on June 1, 2000 and ending on May 31, 2003 at an exercise price of
$10.00 per share. The exercise price and the number of shares covered by the
warrant are subject to adjustment in the event of stock splits, stock dividends
and similar dilutive events described in the warrant.
The Class A Common Shares were sold to AMRO International, S.A. for a
purchase price of US$4.75 per share. Under the terms of the agreement governing
the sale of these shares, this purchase price may be adjusted at the option of
AMRO International, S.A. during the period ending on November 28, 2000 in the
event that the average of the bid prices for 20 consecutive trading days is less
than US$5.938 per share. This adjustment in the purchase price is to be made in
accordance with a formula set forth in the agreement. We are required to satisfy
the adjusted purchase price by issuing additional Class A Common Shares, unless
we would be required to issue more than 902,424 Class A Common Shares (including
common shares issued upon exercise of the warrants by AMRO International, S.A.).
In that event, we can satisfy the purchase price adjustment by a cash payment.
On May 26, 2000 we signed a Common Share Purchase Agreement with Sundowner
Investments Limited providing for the future issuance and purchase of our Class
A Common Shares. The Common Share Purchase Agreement establishes what is
sometimes called an equity line of credit. In general, it operates in the
following manner. Sundowner Investments Limited has committed to purchase up to
US$30,000,000 of our Class A Common Shares over a 12-month period. Once every 22
trading days, we may request a draw-down of up to US$3,000,000 of that money,
subject to a formula based on the volume-weighted average price and average
trading volume of our Class A Common Shares. At the end of a 22-day trading
period following our draw-down request, we and Sundowner Investments Limited
will calculate the amount of money that Sundowner Investments Limited will
provide to us and the number of shares we will issue to Sundowner Investments
Limited in return for that money, based upon the formula in the Common Share
Purchase Agreement.
Sundowner Investments Limited will receive a ten percent (10%) discount to
the volume weighted average market price for the 22-day period and we will
receive the amount of the draw-down less an escrow agent fee of US$1,500 and a
six percent (6%) cash placement fee to the placement agent, Ladenburg Thalmann &
Co. Inc. Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. is not required to purchase any of our
shares, but as an additional placement fee, we have issued to Ladenburg Thalmann
& Co. Inc. warrants to purchase 182,278 Class A Common Shares at an exercise
price of $5.6781 per share. We have also issued to Sundowner Investments Limited
warrants to purchase 182,278 of our Class A Common Shares at an exercise price
of $5.6781 per share.
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The facility is based on a "use-it-or-lose-it" principle. We are under no
obligation to request a draw for any period. However, if we do not request a
draw-down for a given period, we may never to be able to draw those funds again.
We may make up to a maximum of twelve (12) draws; however, the aggregate total
of all draws cannot exceed US$30,000,000 and no single draw can be less than
US$250,000 or more than US$3,000,000.
We may not be able to draw down all $30 million under the Common Share
Purchase Agreement with Sundowner Investments Limited if our stock price and
trading volumes do not reach certain levels. The maximum amount we may request
for any draw-down is subject to a formula based on the volume-weighted average
price and average trading volume of our Class A Common Shares. Based upon the
application of that formula, the maximum amount available to us under our first
request for a draw-down on September 6, 2000 was US$600,000. In addition,
business and economic conditions may not make it feasible to draw down under
that agreement at every opportunity, and draw-downs are available only every 22
trading days.
Our placement agreement with Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. restricts us
from raising investment capital until March 15, 2001 except through Ladenburg
Thalmann & Co. Inc., with limited exceptions. Our Common Share Purchase
Agreement with Sundowner Investments Limited also limits our ability to sell our
securities for cash at a discount to market price until August 2001. If we need
capital but are unable to draw down under the Common Share Purchase Agreement
for any reason, we may need to separately negotiate with Ladenburg Thalmann &
Co. Inc. and Sundowner Investments Limited to lift those restrictions so we can
obtain capital from other sources.
On July 15, 1994, Sand entered into a Purchase Agreement with Nucleus
International Corporation pursuant to which Sand acquired all of the rights in
the Nucleus System including software, hardware and intellectual property. On
July 31, 2000, Sand and Nucleus International Corporation entered into an
agreement to modify their existing agreement so as to enable Sand to defer
payment of a sum of US$350,038 to Nucleus International Corporation from August
15, 2000 to November 15, 2000 and to convert future payments in the amount of
US$1,250,000 into the issue of Class A Common Shares to Nucleus International
Corporation. 263,150 Class A Common Shares were issued by Sand to Lakeside
Financial Services, a nominee of Nucleus International Corporation, on July 31,
2000 at a price of US$4.75 per share. George Wicker, a director of Sand, is the
Chief Operating Officer and Secretary of Nucleus International Corporation and
an officer, director and shareholder of Lakeside Financial Services.
Our operating results have varied on a quarterly basis in the past and may
fluctuate significantly in the future as a result of a variety of factors
outside of our control. As a result, we may not be able to accurately predict
our necessary cash expenditures during each quarter or obtain timely financing
to cover any shortfalls. We also believe that period-to-period comparisons of
our operating results may not be meaningful and one should not rely on any such
comparisons as an indication of our future performance. In addition, it is
likely that in one or more future quarters, our operating results will fall
below the expectations
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of securities analysts and investors. In such event, the trading price of our
Class A Common Shares could be materially harmed.
Stock markets have recently experienced extreme price and volume
fluctuations, particularly for the shares of technology companies. These
fluctuations are often unrelated to the operating performance of particular
companies. The broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the market price
of our Class A Common Shares. When the market price of a company's stock drops
significantly, shareholders sometimes institute securities class actions
lawsuits against that company. A lawsuit against us could cause us to incur
substantial costs and could divert the time and attention of our management and
other resources.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
An evaluation of our business is more difficult because of our limited
operating history as a developer and marketer of software. Our prospects are
difficult to predict and may change rapidly. Consideration should be given to
the risks, expenses and difficulties that we may encounter or incur as a company
now operating in a new and rapidly evolving market, including our substantial
dependence on a single line of products and our need to manage expanding
operations. Our business strategy may not be successful, and we may not
successfully address these risks.
We have historically sold our products primarily through a distribution
network of value-added resellers, resellers and distributors located in the
United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Direct sales have not played a
large role in the past. We have increased our direct sales force and intend to
continue to do so. This increase in direct sales will require additional
personnel which will increase our expenses. Competition for sales personnel
qualified for these positions is intense. Many of our competitors have
substantially greater resources than we do or have dedicated greater resources
to hiring qualified sales personnel. In addition, we may experience a
significant turnover of our sales force. Turnover tends to slow sales efforts
until replacement personnel are recruited and trained. We cannot assure you that
we will be able to attract and retain adequate sales and marketing personnel,
even after spending significant resources to do so, and the failure to do so
could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and
financial condition.
Our success depends to a significant degree upon the continued
contributions of our key management, engineering, sales and marketing personnel,
many of whom would be difficult to replace. We have an employment contract with
and maintain "key person" life insurance on only one employee, Arthur G.
Ritchie, our Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. We do
not believe the proceeds of Mr. Ritchie's life insurance would adequately
compensate us for his loss. We believe our future success will also depend in
large part upon our ability to attract and retain highly skilled managerial,
engineering, sales and marketing, and finance personnel. Competition for such
personnel is intense, and there can be no assurance that we will be successful
in attracting and retaining such personnel. We have in the past experienced
difficulties in hiring highly qualified sales and engineering personnel, and we
believe that we may have difficulty in attracting such personnel with equity
incentives given that we are a public company. For example, as a
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result of market forces, companies in the enterprise software industry have
historically experienced significant fluctuations in the market price of
their shares. To the extent that our Class A Common Shares trade at a premium
relative to historical industry averages or to other companies in the
enterprise software industry, we may experience difficulty in attracting
qualified personnel. The loss of the services of any of our key personnel,
the inability to attract or retain qualified personnel in the future or
delays in either hiring required personnel or the rate at which new people
become productive, particularly sales personnel and engineers, could have a
material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
conditions.
The purchase of our products often requires significant, executive-level
investment and system design decisions by our customers. Sales take a long time
to conclude because we must provide a significant level of education about the
use and benefits of our products. We believe that most companies currently are
not yet aware of the benefits of enterprise-wide business intelligence solutions
or of our products and capabilities, nor have such companies deployed business
intelligence solutions on an enterprise-wide basis. Accordingly, the sales cycle
associated with the purchase of our enterprise business intelligence products is
typically three to nine months in length. During this period, a potential sale
is subject to a number of significant risks over which we have little or no
control, including customers' budgeting constraints and internal acceptance
review procedures. Additionally, the sales cycle for our products in the United
Kingdom has historically been, and is expected to continue to be shorter than
the sales cycle in the United States and Canada. However, as we expand into
Europe, we expect that the sales cycle will be longer than it has been in the
United Kingdom. Based in part upon, among other things, our lengthy sales cycle,
we believe that our quarterly revenues and operating results could vary
significantly in the future, and that excessive delay in product sales could
have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
condition.
Although we plan to expand our direct sales force, our success in
maintaining our indirect channels, value-added resellers, resellers and
distributors will determine our ability to achieve revenue growth and improved
operating margins on product sales, as well as increased worldwide sales, in the
future. Despite the fact that we continue to invest significant resources to
develop our indirect channels, no assurance can be given that we will be able to
continue to attract and retain additional companies in our indirect channels
that will be able to market our products effectively and that we will be able to
provide timely and cost-effective customer support and services. Also, no
assurance can be given that we will be able to manage conflicts within our
indirect channels or that increasing sales through our indirect channels will
not divert management resources and attention from direct sales. In addition,
our agreements with companies in our indirect channels do not restrict such
companies from distributing competing products, and in many cases may be
terminated by either party without cause. No assurance can be given that we will
be able to successfully expand our indirect channels or that any such expansion
will result in an increase in revenues, and failure to do so could have a
material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
condition.
Our market is developing and intensely competitive. It is highly fragmented
and characterized by rapidly changing technology and evolving standards. Our
current and
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potential competitors offer a variety of software solutions and generally
fall within four categories: vendors of business intelligence software;
vendors offering alternative approaches to delivering analysis capabilities
to users; database vendors that offer products which operate specifically
with their proprietary database; and other companies that may in the future
announce offerings of enterprise business intelligence solutions.
Our competitive position in our market is uncertain, due principally to the
variety of current and potential competitors and the emerging nature of the
market. We have experienced and we expect to experience increased competition
from current and potential competitors, many of whom have significantly greater
financial, technical, marketing and other resources than we do. Our competitors
may be able to respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies and changes
in customer requirements or devote greater resources to the development,
promotion and sales of products than we can. We expect additional competition as
other established and emerging companies enter into the business intelligence
software market and new products and technologies are introduced. Increased
competition could result in price reductions, fewer customer orders, reduced
gross margins, longer sales cycles and loss of market share, any of which could
have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
condition.
Current and potential competitors may make strategic acquisitions or
establish cooperative relationships among themselves or with third parties,
thereby increasing the ability of their products to address the needs of our
prospective customers. Our current or future indirect channel partners may
establish cooperative relationships with our current or potential competitors
and limit our ability to sell products through particular distribution channels.
Accordingly, it is possible that new competitors or alliances among current and
new competitors may emerge and rapidly gain significant market share. Such
competition could have a material adverse effect on our ability to enter into
new licenses and maintenance and support renewals for existing licenses of our
products on favourable terms. Competitive pressures may also require us to
reduce the price of our products, which could have a material adverse effect on
our business, operating results and financial condition.
We compete primarily on the basis of product features, time to market, ease
of use, product performance, product quality, analytical capability, user
scalability, open architecture, customer support and price. While we believe
that we presently compete favourably with respect to each of these factors, our
market is evolving at a rapid pace.
No assurance can be given that we will be able to compete successfully
against current and future competitors, and the failure to do so could have a
material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
condition.
Sales to customers outside of the United States and Canada, including sales
generated by our U.K. subsidiary, represented 0%, 6% and 67% of our total
revenue for fiscal 1998, 1999 and 2000, respectively. We have a direct sales
office in the United Kingdom.
A key component of our strategy is our planned expansion into additional
international markets. To facilitate this international expansion, we need to
localize our
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products for these additional foreign markets. If the revenues generated by
these expanded international operations do not offset the expense of
establishing and maintaining these foreign operations, there could be a
material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
condition. To date, we have only limited experience in developing localized
versions of our products and marketing and distributing our products
internationally. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully
localize, market, sell and deliver our products in these markets.
There are also additional risks in doing business on an international
level, such as increased difficulty in controlling operating expenses,
unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, tariffs and other trade barriers,
difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations, longer payment cycles,
problems in collecting accounts receivable, political instability, fluctuations
in currency exchange rates, seasonal reductions in business activity, and
potentially adverse tax consequences. These risks could adversely impact the
success of our international operations. It is important to realize that our
international sales are generally denominated and collected in foreign
currencies, and we have not historically undertaken foreign exchange hedging
transactions to cover the potential foreign currency exposure. In fiscal 2000,
we incurred a gain on foreign currency translations from our foreign
subsidiaries in an amount of $47,753. No assurance can be given that one or more
of these factors will not have a material adverse effect on our future
international operations and, consequently, on our business, operating results
and financial condition.
We expect the sale of our Nucleus products to constitute most of our
revenue for the foreseeable future. If customers do not purchase these products,
we do not currently offer any other products or services that would enable us to
become profitable.
The market for our products is characterized by rapidly changing
technology, evolving industry standards and customer requirements, emerging
competition and frequent new product introductions. Our products incorporate a
number of advanced technologies, including a proprietary data analysis engine, a
distributed architecture, as well as Web access and delivery technology. We may
be required to change and improve our products in response to changes in
operating systems, applications, networking and connectivity software, computer
and communications hardware, programming tools and computer language technology.
As a result, the life cycle of our products is difficult to estimate. Our
ability to make such changes and improvements will be affected by our ability to
hire and retain highly qualified engineering personnel. In addition, we attempt
to establish and maintain partner alliances with influential companies in a
variety of core technology areas. Our failure to establish such alliances with
leading companies in particular technology areas could have a material adverse
effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. No assurance
can be given that we can successfully respond to changing technology, identify
new product opportunities or develop and bring new products to market in a
timely and cost-effective manner.
We have in the past experienced delays in software development and there
can be no assurance that we will not experience delays in connection with our
current or future product development activities. In particular, development
efforts in the UNIX server environment are complex, and we have in the past
encountered delays in developing
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products for this environment. Delays and difficulties associated with new
product introductions or product enhancements could have a material adverse
effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. Our
failure, for technological or other reasons, to develop and introduce new
products and product enhancements on a timely basis that are compatible with
industry standards and that satisfy customer requirements would have a
material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
condition.
In addition, we or our competitors may announce enhancements to existing
products, or new products embodying new technologies, industry standards or
customer requirements that have the potential to supplant or provide lower cost
alternatives to our existing products. The introduction of such enhancements or
new products could render our existing products obsolete and unmarketable. No
assurance can be given that the announcement or introduction of new products by
us or our competitors or any change in industry standards will not cause
customers to defer or cancel purchases of existing products, which could have a
material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
condition. Furthermore, introduction by us of products with reliability, quality
or compatibility problems could result in reduced orders, delays in collecting
accounts receivable and additional service costs. The failure to introduce a new
product or product enhancement on a timely basis could delay or hinder market
acceptance. Research and development efforts may require us to expend
significant capital and other resources. Any such event could have a material
adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
We are focusing our selling efforts increasingly on larger, enterprise-wide
implementations of our products, and we expect such sales to constitute an
increasing portion of our future revenue growth, if any. To date, our selling
efforts have resulted in limited enterprise-wide implementations of the our
products. We believe that most companies currently are not yet aware of the
benefits of enterprise-wide business intelligence solutions or of our products
and capabilities, nor have such companies deployed business intelligence
solutions on an enterprise-wide basis. While we have devoted resources to
promoting market awareness of our products and the needs our products address
(including training our sales personnel and demonstrating our products at
industry conferences and trade shows), no assurance can be given that these
efforts will be sufficient to build market awareness of the need for enterprise
business intelligence or acceptance of our products. Failure of a significant
market for enterprise business intelligence products to develop, or failure of
enterprise-wide implementations of our products to achieve broad market
acceptance, would have a material adverse effect on our business, operating
results and financial condition.
Despite our testing of new products and their use by current and potential
customers when first introduced or new enhancements are released, no assurance
can be given that there will be no defects or errors in new products or
enhancements after we commence commercial shipments. Although we have not
experienced material adverse effects resulting from any such defects and errors
to date, no assurance can be given that defects and errors will not be found in
new products or enhancements after we commence commercial shipments, resulting
in loss of revenues, delay in market acceptance or damage
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to our reputation, which could have a material adverse effect upon our
business, operating results and financial condition. While our license
agreements with our customers typically contain provisions designed to limit
our exposure for potential claims based on errors or malfunctions of our
products, it is possible, however, that these provisions may not be effective
under the laws of certain jurisdictions. Although we have not experienced any
product liability claims to date, the sale and support of our products
entails the risk of such claims. Although we carry insurance against product
liability risks, no assurance can be given that such insurance would be
adequate to cover a potential claim. A product liability claim brought
against us could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating
results and financial condition.
We currently rely primarily on a combination of copyright and trademark
laws, trade secrets, confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to
protect our proprietary rights. We also believe that factors such as the
technological and creative skills of our personnel, new product developments,
frequent product enhancements, name recognition and reliable product maintenance
are essential to establishing and maintaining a technology leadership position.
We seek to protect our software, documentation and other written materials under
trade secret and copyright laws, which afford only limited protection. We
currently have five United States patents and one patent application. No
assurance can be given that our patent application will result in the issuance
of a patent, or that our patents or our patents applications, if granted, will
not be invalidated, circumvented or challenged, or that the rights granted
thereunder will provide competitive advantages to us or that any of our future
patent applications, if any, will be issued with the scope of the claims sought
by us, if at all. Furthermore, no assurance can be given that others will not
develop technologies that are similar or superior to our technology or design
around any patent that may come to be owned by us. Despite our efforts to
protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects
of our products or to obtain and use information that we regard as proprietary.
Policing unauthorized use of our products is difficult, and while we are unable
to determine the extent to which piracy of our software products exists, we can
expect software piracy to be a persistent problem.
In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect our
proprietary rights as fully as do the laws of the United States and Canada.
There can be no assurance that our means of protecting our proprietary rights in
North America or abroad will be adequate or that competitors will not
independently develop similar technology. We have entered into source code
escrow agreements with a number of our customers and indirect channel partners
requiring release of source code under certain conditions. Such agreements
provide that such parties will have a limited, non-exclusive right to use such
code in the event that there is a bankruptcy proceeding by or against us, if we
cease to do business or, in some cases, if we fail to meet our contractual
obligations. The provision of source code escrows may increase the likelihood of
misappropriation by third parties.
Although we are not currently aware of any claims asserted by third parties
that we infringe on their intellectual property, in the future, we expect that
software product developers will increasingly be subject to infringement claims
as the number of products and competitors in our industry segment grows and the
functionality of products in different industry segments overlaps. Any such
claims, with or without merit, could be time
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consuming to defend, result in costly litigation, divert management's
attention and resources, cause product shipment delays or require us to enter
into royalty or licensing agreements. Such royalty or licensing agreements,
if required, may not be available on terms acceptable to us, if at all. In
the event of a successful claim of product infringement against us and our
failure or inability to license the infringed or similar technology, our
business, operating results and financial condition would be materially
adversely affected.
Finally, in the future, we may rely upon certain software that we may
license from third parties, including software that may be integrated with our
internally developed software and used in our products to perform key functions.
No assurance can be given that these third-party software licenses will be
available to us on commercially reasonable terms or indeed that their suppliers
will remain in business. Our inability to obtain or maintain any such software
licenses could result in shipment delays or reductions until equivalent software
could be developed, identified, licensed and integrated, which could have a
material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial
condition.
RISKS WHICH MAY AFFECT THE CLASS A COMMON SHARES
The trading price of our Class A Common Shares on The Nasdaq National
Market System has been and continues to be volatile. During the past twelve
months, our stock price has ranged from a high of $12 to a low of $2 19/32. The
market price may be affected by, among other things, announcements of new
products by our competitors, fluctuations in our operating results and changes
in our financial position.
The exercise of existing outstanding warrants and options and the number of
shares available for future issuance to Sundowner Investments Limited under our
equity line of credit may substantially dilute the equity interest of our
existing shareholders and could result in a significant decrease to the market
price of our Class A Common Shares. Although it is impossible to predict market
influences and prospective values for securities, it is possible that, in and of
itself, the increase in the number of shares available for public sale could
have a depressive effect on the market and the price of our Class A Common
Shares.
Our Class A Common Shares are currently listed on The Nasdaq National
Market System. To maintain our listing, we must, among other things, meet the
minimum US$4,000,000 net tangible asset requirement for continued listing on The
Nasdaq National Market System. On June 12, 2000, the staff of The Nasdaq Stock
Market, Inc. notified us that we no longer met the minimum US$4,000,000 net
tangible asset requirement. The letter also indicated that Nasdaq's staff was
reviewing our eligibility for continued listing on The Nasdaq National Market.
As of July 31, 2000, our net tangible assets exceeded US$4,000,000. The
delisting of our shares from the National Market would result in a significantly
less active market for our Class A Common Shares. There is no assurance that we
would be able to satisfy the criteria for listing our Class A Common Shares on
the Nasdaq SmallCap Market in the event our shares were delisted from the
National Market.
While we cannot predict what effect these various factors may have on our
financial results, the aggregate result of any one of these factors in itself or
in combination
24
<PAGE>
with any one or more of these factors or any other factors could have a
material adverse effect on our business and on our operating results and
financial condition.
ITEM 9A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are not subject to material market risk exposures, except for risks
related to interest rate fluctuations and foreign currency exchange rates.
Our exposure to market rate risk for changes in interest rates relates
primarily to our investment portfolio. We have not used derivative financial
instruments in our investment portfolio. We invest in high quality issuers and
limit the amount of our credit exposure with any one issuer. We are averse to
principal loss and ensure the safety and preservation of our invested funds by
limiting default, market and reinvestment risk. We do not make use of a bank
line of credit and do not have any long term debt.
Although we currently earn revenues and incur expenses in United States
dollars, British pounds and Canadian dollars, exchange rates for these and other
local currencies in countries where we may operate in the future may fluctuate
in relation to the Canadian dollar and such fluctuations may have an adverse
effect on our earnings or assets when United States dollars, British pounds or
local currencies are exchanged for Canadian dollars. We have not entered into
forward foreign exchange contracts. To date, losses and gains resulting from the
translation of revenue and expenses denominated in United States dollars or
British pounds into Canadian dollars have been included in our results of
operations.
25
<PAGE>
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Information as to the directors and executive officers of the Company is as
follows as of September 8, 2000:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLASS A COMMON SHARES
BENEFICIALLY OWNED OR
OVER WHICH CONTROL OR
NAME PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DIRECTOR SINCE DIRECTION IS EXERCISED
---- -------------------- -------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Arthur G. Ritchie Director, Chairman of the Board, 1983 1,996,938(1)
President and Chief Executive
Officer of Sand
Georges Dube Director, Corporate Secretary of 1996 3,000
Sand, Partner Lavery, de Billy,
Barristers and Solicitors
Josephine Munroe Director, Consultant 1990 1,800
Martin Shindler Director, Accountant and 1987 2,140
Business Consultant
George Wicker Director, Executive, 1996 273,550
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Jerome Shattner President, Sand Technology 1,023,000
Systems, Inc.
Susan Waxman Vice President, Administration --- 73,460
of Sand
Peter Sampson Chief Financial Officer, Sand --- 500
Robert Acquaviva Director of Technical Support --- ---
Operations, Sand
Michael McCool Chief Scientist for Nucleus, Sand --- ---
Duncan Painter European General Manager --- ---
</TABLE>
(1) In addition, 2,862 Class A Common Shares are owned by two companies
controlled by trusts of which Arthur G. Ritchie is a trustee.
Messrs. Dube and Wicker and Ms. Munroe comprise the Audit Committee. The
Audit Committee has adopted a written Audit Committee Charter.
Ms. Munroe and Mr. Shindler comprise the Option Committee which administers
the Share Option Plan, the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan and the 1996 Stock Option
Plan which are described under Item 12 -- "Options to Purchase Securities".
Mr. Dube is currently and has been a Partner of Lavery, de Billy, a law
firm, for more than five years. During the year and in the ordinary course of
business, we consulted
26
<PAGE>
and continue to consult Lavery, de Billy. Mr. Shattner was a founder of Sand
and was an executive with Sand in the early 1980s until Sand formed a joint
venture in Canada with National Advanced Systems in 1987. Mr. Shattner was
President of NAS Canada Inc. (which was renamed Hitachi Data Systems Inc.)
from 1987 to 1999. Mr. Shattner became President of Sand Technology Systems,
Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sand, on February 1, 2000. Prior to joining
Sand, Mr. Sampson was the Manager of Internal Audit for Equifax Canada Inc.
from 1993 to 1997, and prior to that held similar positions within a number of
multi-national companies. Mr. Painter was Solution Sales and Delivery European
Director of Hitachi Data Systems Limited from 1994 to 1999 and prior to that
he worked for the largest UK electronics retailer in a senior management role
within the IT department. All other nominees have held their present positions
or other executive positions with the same or associated firms during the past
five years.
There is no arrangement or understanding between any director or executive
officer and any other person pursuant to which the director was elected or the
executive officer was appointed.
Directors serve until the next annual meeting of shareholders or until
their respective successors are duly elected or appointed. Executive officers
are elected annually after each annual meeting of shareholders.
There are no family relationships between any director or executive officer
and any other director or executive officer other than Mr. Ritchie and Ms.
Waxman who are husband and wife.
ITEM 11. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2000, the aggregate cash remuneration
paid by Sand to eight (8) executive officers for services rendered in all
capacities to the Company and its subsidiaries was $1,621,117.
For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2000 each director, other than those
directors who are salaried executive officers of Sand, was paid a basic annual
retainer of $5,000 for serving as a director plus an additional amount of $1,500
per year for serving as a member of a standing committee of the Board of
Directors.
The aggregate value of other compensation did not exceed the lesser of
$10,000 times the number of executive officers or ten percent (10%) of the cash
compensation paid to such executive officers.
We have an informal employee compensation plan which also applies to
management pursuant to which, if employees fulfil stated goals with respect to
sales revenue, new account penetration, profit contribution and other criteria,
their incomes will increase proportionately above the guaranteed base until the
noted target income is earned or exceeded. The informal employee compensation
plan is not a mathematical formula with respect to management, but is the
subject of individual negotiation.
27
<PAGE>
ITEM 12. OPTIONS TO PURCHASE SECURITIES
SHARE OPTION PLAN
On November 1, 1989, the Board of Directors adopted a Share Option Plan
(the "Plan") pursuant to which beneficiaries selected by a committee of the
Board of Directors were granted the right to subscribe for Class A Common
Shares. The Plan was administered by a committee (the "Committee") consisting of
members of the Board of Directors who were not eligible, or had waived the
right, to receive options under the Plan.
The total number of shares which could be issued under the Plan was limited
to 10% of the outstanding Class A Common Shares. The number of Class A Common
Shares subject to options in favour of a single beneficiary could not exceed 5%
of the outstanding Class A Common Shares. The term and number covered by each
option as well as the permitted frequency of exercise of such options were
determined by the Committee at the time the options were granted to the
beneficiaries. The exercise price of each option was the closing price of the
Class A Common Shares on The Nasdaq National Market System on the trading day
prior to the day the option was granted or, if there was no transaction on that
day, the average of the bid and ask prices on that day, less any discount as
decided by the Board of Directors within the extent permitted by the applicable
regulatory provisions. Options granted under the Plan could not be assigned or
pledged. An optionee could obtain, upon exercise of the option, a loan bearing
no interest, within the limit established by the Board of Directors, to pay for
the shares subscribed for by him or her under the Plan. The recipient of such a
loan was required to pledge the shares subscribed for by him or her under the
Plan as security for the repayment of the loan. We have the right to terminate
the Plan at any time subject to vested rights.
On May 17, 1990, the Board of Directors granted to each of Jerome Shattner
and Arthur G. Ritchie 440,000 stock options (as adjusted to reflect the share
subdivision on a two-for-one basis on December 31, 1996) entitling the holder of
each option to purchase one Class A Common Share per stock option at an exercise
price of US$0.25 per Class A Common Share. These options were exercisable at any
time over a ten-year period. Jerome Shattner exercised all his outstanding
options on October 23, 1996 and Arthur G. Ritchie exercised all his outstanding
options on November 11, 1999. The Board of Directors approved a demand loan in
the amount of US$110,000 in favour of Arthur G. Ritchie upon the exercise of his
options within the limits established by the Plan and Mr. Ritchie pledged the
shares subscribed for by him as security for repayment of the loan. Mr. Ritchie
subsequently repaid the full amount of the loan. There are no options
outstanding under the Plan. We have terminated the Plan.
1996 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
On July 8, 1996, the Board of Directors adopted the 1996 Stock Incentive
Plan (the "Incentive Plan") pursuant to which the beneficiaries selected by a
committee of the Board of Directors may be granted options to subscribe for
Class A Common Shares. The
28
<PAGE>
Incentive Plan was confirmed, approved and ratified at the Annual and Special
Meeting of the shareholders held on December 17, 1996. Prior to November 9,
2000, the Incentive Plan provided that a maximum of 800,000 Class A Common
Shares (as adjusted to reflect the share subdivision on a two-for-one basis on
December 31, 1996) were issuable pursuant to options granted under the
Incentive Plan. On November 9, 1999, by resolution, the Board of Directors
amended the Incentive Plan to increase the maximum aggregate number of Class A
Common Shares which may be issued and sold pursuant to options granted under
the Incentive Plan by an additional 300,000 Class A Common Shares. This
resolution of the directors was confirmed, approved and ratified at the Annual
and Special Meeting of the shareholders held on December 17, 1999. The total
number of Class A Common Shares authorized for grants of options is 1,100,000
(as adjusted to reflect the share subdivision on a two-for-one basis on
December 31, 1996) subject to adjustment to take into account any changes in
our capital structure. As at September 1, 2000, 287,500 options had been
granted and remained outstanding under the Incentive Plan and 812,500 options
remained available for grant.
The Incentive Plan is administered by a committee (the "Committee")
consisting of not less than two (2) members of the Board of Directors each of
whom is a "disinterested person" as defined under the SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934 and an "outside director" as defined in the UNITED STATES INTERNAL
REVENUE CODE. The Plan permits the granting of incentive stock options on terms
designed to gain certain advantages under United States Federal income tax law.
The term and number of Class A Common Shares covered by each option as well
as the permitted frequency of exercise of such options are determined by the
Committee at the time the options are granted to the recipients. The number of
Class A Common Shares which may be subject to option in favour of a single
recipient may not exceed 5% of our outstanding Class A Common Shares. An option
is to be exercised within a period of ten (10) years after the date on which the
option is granted. The exercise price of each option for Class A Common Shares
is not less than the closing price of the Class A Common Shares on the The
Nasdaq National Market System on the trading day prior to the day the option is
granted or, if there was no transaction on that day, the average of the bid and
ask prices on that day, less any discount as decided by the Board of Directors
within the extent permitted by the applicable regulatory provisions. Options
granted under the Incentive Plan may not be assigned or pledged. No financial
assistance is available to recipients in connection with the exercise of an
option. We may terminate the Incentive Plan at any time, subject to vested
rights.
During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2000, the Committee granted options
to purchase an aggregate of 22,000 Class A Common Shares to two officers and an
aggregate of 77,250 Class A Common Shares to 15 employees at exercise prices
which vary from US$3.625 to US$8.625 per share which were not less than the
respective closing prices of the Class A Common Shares on The Nasdaq National
Market System on the day prior to each grant and 426,750 options were cancelled.
One officer exercised options as to 14,000 Class A Common Shares at US$5.00 per
share and one employee exercised options as to 2,000 Class A Common Shares at
US$3.75 per share.
29
<PAGE>
1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
On July 8, 1996, the Board of Directors adopted the 1996 Stock Option Plan
(the "Option Plan") pursuant to which the beneficiaries selected by a committee
of the Board of Directors may be granted options to subscribe for Class A Common
Shares. The Option Plan was confirmed, approved and ratified at the Annual and
Special Meeting of the shareholders held on December 17, 1996. Prior to November
9, 2000, the Option Plan provided that a maximum of 700,000 Class A Common
Shares (as adjusted to reflect the share subdivision on a two-for-one basis on
December 31, 1996) were issuable pursuant to options granted under the Option
Plan. On November 9, 1999, the Board of Directors amended the Option Plan to
increase the maximum aggregate number of Class A Common Shares which may be
issued and sold pursuant to options granted under the Option Plan by an
additional 200,000 Class A Common Shares. This resolution of the directors was
confirmed, approved and ratified at the Annual and Special Meeting of the
shareholders held on December 17, 1999. The total number of Class A Common
Shares authorized for grants of options is 900,000 (as adjusted to reflect the
share subdivision on a two-for-one basis on December 31, 1996) subject to
adjustment to take into account any changes in our capital structure. As at
September 1, 2000, 674,500 options had been granted and remained outstanding
under the Option Plan and 225,500 remained available for grant.
The Plan is administered by a committee (the "Committee") consisting of not
less than two (2) members of the Board of Directors each of whom is a
"disinterested person" as defined under the SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
and an "outside director" as defined in the UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.
The term and number of Class A Common Shares covered by each option as well
as the permitted frequency of exercise of such options are determined by the
Committee at the time the options are granted to the recipients. The number of
Class A Common Shares which may be subject to option in favour of a single
recipient may not exceed 5% of our outstanding Class A Common Shares. An option
is to be exercised within a period of ten (10) years after the date on which the
option is granted. The exercise price of each option for Class A Common Shares
is not less than the price of the Class A Common Shares as determined by the
Committee within the extent permitted by the applicable regulatory provisions.
Options granted under the Option Plan may not be assigned or pledged. No
financial assistance is available to recipients in connection with the exercise
of an option. Options which expire or are terminated or surrendered or
unexercised are thereafter available for the granting of other options. We may
terminate the Option Plan at any time subject to vested rights.
During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2000, the Committee granted options
to purchase an aggregate of 10,000 Class A Common Shares to one officer and an
aggregate of 162,000 Class A Common Shares to 40 employees at exercise prices
which vary from US$5.00 to US$6.313 per share which were not less than the
respective closing prices of the Class A Common Shares on The Nasdaq National
Market System on the day prior to each grant and 78,000 options were cancelled.
One officer exercised options as to 64,000 Class A Common Shares at US$0.6562
per share.
30
<PAGE>
ITEM 13. INTEREST OF MANAGEMENT IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Arthur G. Ritchie, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
Officer and a Director, entered into an employment agreement ("the Agreement")
with Sand upon the expiry of his previous employment agreement on December 31,
1993. The Agreement, effective January 1, 1994 was for an initial term of five
(5) years and is automatically extended for additional periods of twelve (12)
months each unless Sand or Mr. Ritchie shall have given the other a notice of
termination of the Agreement not less than three (3) months prior to the end of
its term. In the event the employment of Mr. Ritchie (i) is terminated by Sand
for any reason other than for Cause (as defined in the Agreement) or death or
(ii) is terminated by Mr. Ritchie for Good Reason (as defined in the Agreement),
Mr. Ritchie will be entitled to receive, among other things, a lump sum payment
equivalent to two (2) times the sum of his then current annual base salary and
the amount of the bonuses received by him in the immediate past year and Mr.
Ritchie shall continue for a period of two (2) years to participate in all
benefit plans and programs to the extent such participation is possible, and, if
such continued participation is barred, to receive amounts equal to the
out-of-pocket costs of participation in plans and programs providing
substantially similar benefits. On January 1, 2000, the employment of Mr.
Ritchie was automatically extended to December 31, 2000 on terms similar to
those in the Agreement and it is expected that his employment shall be extended
beyond January 1, 2001 either on terms similar to those in the Agreement or on
terms to be agreed upon.
DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' LIABILITY INSURANCE
Sand maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance which, subject
to the provisions and exclusions contained in the policy, protects the directors
and officers, as such, against any claims made during the term of their office
against any of them for a wrongful act, provided they acted honestly and in good
faith with a view to the best interests of Sand. The policy provides coverage
with a limit of US$2,000,000 in each policy year, subject to a corporate
reimbursement deductible of US$100,000 per loss. The current annual premium is
paid entirely by Sand and amounts to US$48,275. To the extent permitted by law,
Sand has entered into an indemnification agreement with each of its directors
and senior officers.
31
<PAGE>
PART II
ITEM 14. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED
NOT APPLICABLE
PART III
ITEM 15. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES
NONE
ITEM 16. CHANGES IN SECURITIES, CHANGES IN SECURITY FOR REGISTERED SECURITIES
AND USE OF PROCEEDS
NONE
PART IV
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ITEM 17. NOT APPLICABLE.
ITEM 18. SEE ATTACHED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES THEREON AS FOUND ON
PAGES 33 THROUGH 50 OF THIS ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 20-F.
32
<PAGE>
[LOGO]
-------------------------------------------------------
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
1 Place Ville-Marie Telephone: (514) 393-7115
Suite 3000 Facsimile: (514) 390-4113
Montreal QC H3B 4T9
AUDITORS' REPORT
To the Directors of
Sand Technology Inc.
We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of Sand Technology Inc. as at
July 31, 2000 and 1999 and the consolidated statements of operations,
shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years ended July 31,
2000, 1999 and 1998. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Corporation's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain
reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
In our opinion, these consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of the Corporation as at July 31, 2000
and 1999 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the
three years ended July 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998 in accordance with Canadian
generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
------------------------------
Chartered Accountants
September 8, 2000
[LOGO]
33
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS AT JULY 31, 2000 AND 1999
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ $
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash 664,918 124,078
Investments 1,722,194 885,440
Accounts receivable 4,351,788 815,695
Due from affiliated company - 4,537
Inventories 43,100 47,142
Prepaid expenses 114,543 12,147
Loan bearing interest at 8% 100,000 100,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6,996,543 1,989,039
Prepaid royalties 1,608,744 2,413,117
Investment in affiliated company (Note 2) - 3,219,670
Equipment (Note 3) 140,104 181,456
Other assets (Note 4) 325,370 469,978
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9,070,761 8,273,260
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 1,622,739 262,080
Deferred revenue 382,036 -
Current portion of balance of purchase price (Note 5) 517,300 300,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2,522,075 562,080
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance of purchase price (Note 5) - 1,970,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commitments (Note 8)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock (Note 6)
Authorized
An unlimited number of Class "A" common shares,
without par value
Issued and outstanding
9,627,145 common shares (8,528,206 in 1999) 12,455,748 8,781,335
Deficit (5,907,062) (3,040,155)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6,548,686 5,741,180
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9,070,761 8,273,260
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
See notes to the consolidated financial statements.
34
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ $ $
<S> <C> <C> <C>
NET SALES 6,895,016 2,091,067 3,088,041
Cost of sales and product support (2,343,191) (345,265) (661,734)
Research and development costs (3,790,025) (3,871,534) (2,079,738)
Selling, general and
administrative expenses (7,836,833) (4,458,200) (2,923,221)
Net interest and profits on sale of
investments 84,568 436,113 597,726
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss from operations (6,990,465) (6,147,819) (1,978,926)
Profit on sale of affiliated company (Note 2) 3,792,296 - -
Equity earnings of affiliated company (Note 2) 283,510 1,170,499 1,166,230
Foreign exchange gain (loss) 47,753 16,356 (94,026)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss before income taxes (2,866,907) (4,960,964) (906,722)
Income taxes (Note 7) - - -
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NET LOSS (2,866,907) (4,960,964) (906,722)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loss per share (0.321) (0.582) (0.106)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average number of
shares outstanding 8,919,211 8,522,873 8,520,206
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
/s/ Arthur G. Ritchie /s/ Georges Dube
----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
ARTHUR G. RITCHIE, DIRECTOR GEORGES DUBE, DIRECTOR
See notes to the consolidated financial statements.
35
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock Retained
Exchange ------------------------------ earnings
rate Shares Amount (deficit)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
US$ $ $
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE, JULY 31, 1997 0.72 8,520,206 8,725,920 2,827,531
Net loss 0.73 - - (906,722)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE, JULY 31, 1998 0.66 8,520,206 8,725,920 1,920,809
Net loss - - (4,960,964)
Exercise of stock options 0.69 8,000 55,415 -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE, JULY 31, 1999 0.66 8,528,206 8,781,335 (3,040,155)
Net loss - - (2,866,907)
Exercise of stock options 0.68 520,000 335,130 -
Private placement 0.68 315,789 1,885,723 -
Balance of purchase price
exchanged for shares 263,150 1,453,560 -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE, JULY 31, 2000 0.68 9,627,145 12,455,748 (5,907,062)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
See notes to the consolidated financial statements.
36
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ $ $
<S> <C> <C> <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss (2,866,907) (4,960,964) (906,722)
Items not affecting cash
Depreciation of equipment 94,704 109,814 32,744
Depreciation of other assets 144,608 144,608 108,456
Decrease in prepaid royalties 804,373 29,590 1,091,657
Decrease in deferred revenue - - (518,400)
Equity earnings of affiliated company (Note 2) (283,510) (1,170,499) (1,166,230)
Profit on sale of affiliated company (3,792,296) - -
Changes in non-cash operating
working capital items (Note 12) (2,269,251) 516,351 (2,236,667)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(7,786,243) (5,331,100) (3,595,162)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Net (increase) decrease in short-term investments (836,754) 3,634,391 1,937,577
Proceeds on sale of affiliated company 7,295,476 - -
Dividend from affiliated company (Note 2) - 1,600,000 2,400,000
Purchase of equipment (53,352) (81,283) (220,615)
Decrease in other assets - - (723,042)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6,405,370 5,153,108 3,393,920
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issue of common shares 2,220,853 55,415 -
Deferred revenue 382,036 - -
Repayment of balance of purchase price (299,140) - -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2,303,749 55,415 -
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash inflow (outflow) 540,840 (122,577) (201,242)
Cash, beginning of year 124,078 246,655 447,897
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH, END OF YEAR 664,918 124,078 246,655
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
There were no interest or income taxes paid during the three-year period ended
July 31 2000.
See notes to the consolidated financial statements.
37
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On December 17, 1999, the shareholders of Sand Technology Systems International
Inc. approved a special resolution to change the name of the Corporation to Sand
Technology Inc. The Corporation is involved in research and development to bring
to market its Nucleus Exploration series of products, including the Nucleus
Exploration Mart/Warehouse and the Nucleus Prototype Mart/Warehouse. The
Corporation is considered to have only one business segment.
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Corporation follows Canadian generally accepted accounting principles
in the preparation of its financial statements. This requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets
and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at
the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue
and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from
those estimates.
BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the
Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Sand Technology Corp., Sand
Technology (U.K.) Ltd. and STSI Licensing, LLC. All significant
intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.
REVENUE RECOGNITION
The Corporation's revenue is earned from licences of off-the-shelf software
which do not require customization. This revenue is recognized once
remaining obligations under the sales agreements are considered
insignificant.
Revenue from product support contracts is recognized over the life of the
contract. Incremental costs directly attributable to the acquisition of
product support contracts are deferred and expensed in the period the
related revenue is recognized.
Revenue from education, consulting, and other services is recognized at the
time such services are rendered.
38
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
Short-term investments are recorded at the lower of cost and market value.
Market value at July 31, 2000 is $1,739,015 (1999 - $885,440).
INVENTORIES
Inventories include finished products which are valued at the lower of
average cost and net realizable value.
PREPAID ROYALTIES
The Corporation entered into a three-year agreement which provided for
initial cash payments. These cash payments are reflected on the balance
sheets as prepaid royalties and are being amortized at the higher of i) the
amount calculated on a straight-line basis or ii) as royalties become due.
INVESTMENT
The investment in the affiliated company is accounted for by the equity
method whereby the share of earnings or losses attributable to the period
following the date of acquisition is included in operations. All
significant unrealized intercompany profits have been eliminated.
EQUIPMENT AND OTHER ASSETS
The Corporation records its office equipment and other assets at cost and
depreciates such assets over their estimated useful lives using the
straight-line method at an annual rate of 20%.
DEFERRED REVENUE
Revenue related to maintenance contracts covering periods subsequent to the
balance sheet date is deferred.
39
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
FOREIGN EXCHANGE TRANSLATION
Revenues and expenses denominated in foreign currencies are translated into
Canadian dollars at rates prevailing on the transaction dates. Monetary
assets and liabilities are translated at year-end rates. Non-monetary
assets and liabilities are translated at historical exchange rates.
The accounts of the subsidiaries included in the consolidated financial
statements are translated into Canadian dollars using the temporal method.
Under this method, monetary items are translated at exchange rates in
effect at the balance sheet dates; non-monetary items are translated at
historical exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are translated at average
exchange rates for the year, with the exception of depreciation of assets
which is translated at the same historical exchange rates as the related
assets. Translation losses and gains are included in operations.
EARNINGS PER SHARE
Per share computations are based on the weighted average number of shares
outstanding during the year.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS
Research and development costs are charged to operations in the period in
which they are incurred. Related tax credits are recorded as a reduction of
research and development expenses in the period the funds are received.
2. INVESTMENT IN AFFILIATED COMPANY
HITACHI DATA SYSTEMS INC.
On August 20, 1999, the Corporation sold its 40% investment in Hitachi Data
Systems Inc. to Hitachi Data Systems Corporation of Santa Clara for
$7,295,476 in cash.
The Corporation's equity in Hitachi Data Systems Inc. for fiscal 1999 and
1998 is based on the March 31, 1999 and 1998 audited financial statements,
adjusted for the results of operations for the four-month periods ended
July 31, 1999 and 1998.
The audited financial statements of Hitachi Data Systems Inc., the
results of operations for the 20 day period ended August 20, 1999 and
the four-month periods ended July 31, 1999 and 1998, and the carrying
value of the related investment, accounted for under the equity method,
are summarized below:
40
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. INVESTMENT IN AFFILIATED COMPANY (CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
March 31 March 31
1999 1998
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
$ $
Financial position
Current assets 17,309,867 14,893,436
Current liabilities 12,120,456 10,044,576
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Working capital 5,189,411 4,848,860
Other assets 6,476,403 6,311,611
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11,665,814 11,160,471
Other liabilities 4,291,312 2,409,511
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity 7,374,502 8,750,960
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Results of operations
Revenue 51,130,495 49,093,974
Operating expenses and
income taxes 48,506,953 46,883,789
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings 2,623,542 2,210,185
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends paid 4,000,000 6,000,000
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
20 day period
ended 4-month period ended
August 20 July 31 July 31
1999 1999 1998
-----------------------------------------------------------
$ $ $
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Results of operations
Revenue 4,372,657 14,619,371 12,898,950
Operating expenses and
income taxes 3,663,882 13,944,698 12,526,983
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net earnings (loss) 708,775 674,673 371,967
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
July 31 July 31 July 31
2000 1999 1998
-----------------------------------------------------------
$ $ $
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Equity earnings for the year 283,510 1,170,499 1,166,230
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carrying value of
investment as at July 31 - 3,219,670 3,649,171
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
41
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. EQUIPMENT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2000 1999
----------------------------------
$ $
<S> <C> <C>
Office equipment 344,603 291,251
Accumulated depreciation 204,499 109,795
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
140,104 181,456
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
4. OTHER ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2000 1999
--------------------------------------------------- -----------------
Accumulated Net Book Net Book
Cost Depreciation Value Value
------- ---------------------- --------------- -----------------
$ $ $ $
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Product source codes 723,042 397,672 325,370 469,978
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
5. BALANCE OF PURCHASE PRICE
The balance of purchase price resulted from the acquisition of the Nucleus
rights. This balance of purchase price was non-interest bearing, repayable
with annual principal repayments from 2000 to 2004 and reimbursable under
certain conditions.
On July 31, 2000 the agreement was modified and the Corporation committed
to settle the balance of purchase price as follows:
cash in the amount of US$350,038 (Can$517,300) payable by November
15, 2000; and
263,150 shares of common stock issued as of July 31, 2000.
42
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. COMMON STOCK
During the year ended July 31, 1999, 8,000 common shares were issued under
the Stock Option Plan for proceeds of $55,415.
During the year ended July 31, 2000, 440,000 common shares were issued
under the Share Option Plan for proceeds of $159,698, 16,000 common shares
were issued under the 1996 Stock Incentive Plan for proceeds of $112,693
and 64,000 common shares were issued under the 1996 Stock Option Plan for
proceeds of $62,740.
On June 1, 2000, the Corporation completed a private placement involving
the issuance of 315,789 common shares for net cash proceeds of $1,885,723.
Under the terms of the agreement, the shares were sold for a purchase price
of US$4.75 per share; however the purchase price may be adjusted at the
option of the purchaser during the period ending on November 28, 2000 in
the event that the average of the bid prices for 20 consecutive trading
days is lower than US$5.938 per share. The Corporation also issued 65,217
warrants which may be exercised from time to time during the period
beginning June 1, 2000 and ending on May 31, 2003 at an exercise price of
US$10.00 per share.
On July 31, 2000, the Corporation agreed to satisfy $1,453,560 of its
obligation resulting from the acquisition of the Nucleus rights by issuing
263,150 shares of common stock (Note 5).
On June 1, 2000, the Corporation entered into a Common Share Purchase
Agreement ("CSPA") allowing the Corporation to access up to US$30,000,000
through a common share equity line. Pursuant to the CSPA, the Corporation
may, at its option, issue and sell to the purchaser up to US$30,000,000 of
the Corporation's common shares over a period of 12 months at a discount of
10% from the average daily price of the common stock. The Corporation also
issued 364,556 warrants which may be exercised from time to time over the
period of 12 months at an exercise price of US$5.6781 per share.
43
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under the Corporation's Share Option Plan, 1996 Stock Incentive Plan and
1996 Stock Option Plan, exercise of the options granted is generally
restricted to a maximum of 20% of the options granted per annum beginning
one year after each grant date and expiring 10 years after. A maximum of
1,896,000 common shares is reserved for issuance under each of these plans.
The Corporation has the following outstanding options as at July 31, 2000
and 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price
range Outstanding
Options per share 2000 1999
Granted Plan Granted US$
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1990 Share Option Plan 880,000 0.25 0 440,000
1996 1996 Stock Option Plan 440,000 0.69 to 3.38 296,000 360,000
1996 1996 Stock Incentive Plan 400,000 5.00 36,000 400,000
1997 1996 Stock Option Plan 80,000 5.56 80,000 80,000
1998 1996 Stock Option Plan 62,500 4.00 to 5.50 52,500 62,500
1998 1996 Stock Incentive Plan 187,500 3.75 to 8.38 66,500 125,000
1999 1996 Stock Option Plan 142,000 5.75 to 7.00 79,500 142,000
1999 1996 Stock Incentive Plan 107,000 5.00 to 7.56 92,250 106,000
2000 1996 Stock Option Plan 172,000 5.00 to 6.313 166,500 0
2000 1996 Stock Incentive Plan 99,250 3.63 to 8.63 92,750 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
At July 31, 2000, there were 402,750 exercisable options outstanding to
purchase common shares at prices ranging from US$0.69 to $8.38 per share.
44
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. INCOME TAXES
The Corporation and its subsidiaries have non-capital losses carried
forward for income tax purposes amounting to approximately $9,489,000 which
may be utilized to reduce taxable income of future years and which expire
as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
$
<S> <C>
2005 12,000
2006 210,000
2011 87,000
2012 496,000
2013 1,856,000
2014 3,377,000
2015 3,451,000
</TABLE>
The Corporation has research and experimental development expenses
estimated at $4,443,000 for federal tax purposes and $4,858,000 for
provincial tax purposes which can be carried forward indefinitely against
its taxable income.
The Corporation also has non-refundable investment tax credits amounting to
$1,163,000 which it can apply against its future federal income tax
payable. This can be carried forward over the next ten years.
No recognition has been given in the financial statements with regard to
the potential future tax benefits resulting from the availability of any of
these items.
8. COMMITMENTS
LEASE COMMITMENTS
Minimum lease payments for office premises under non-cancellable operating
leases for the next five years are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
$
<S> <C>
2001 489,926
2002 226,971
2003 188,706
2004 42,390
2005 NIL
---------------------------------------
947,993
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
</TABLE>
45
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
In 1999 and 1998, sales to Hitachi Data Systems Inc. under supply
agreements accounted for approximately 9% and 27%, respectively of the
Corporation's total sales.
One of the Corporation's directors was also the president of Nucleus
International Corporation, the Company from which the Corporation acquired
the Nucleus rights.
The Corporation believes that each of the related party transactions
described above were on terms as fair to the Corporation as could have been
obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
10. SEGMENTED INFORMATION
The Corporation is considered to have only one business segment.
The Corporation has two geographic reportable segments commencing with the
1999 fiscal year. Both the North American and European segments distribute
a full range of Nucleus Exploration series of products, including the
Nucleus Exploration Mart/Warehouse and the Nucleus Prototype
Mart/Warehouse. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as
described in the summary of significant accounting policies. The Company
evaluates segment performance based on income before taxes. Sales for each
segment are based on the location of the third party customer. All
intercompany transactions between segments have been eliminated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
North America Europe
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
2000
Net sales 2,265,340 4,629,676
Income (loss) before taxes (3,352,230) 485,323
Identifiable assets 5,639,068 3,431,693
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999
Net sales 1,979,103 111,964
Income before taxes (4,950,672) (10,292)
Identifiable assets 8,114,124 159,136
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
For the year ended July 31, 1998 Hitachi Data Systems Inc. was the only
customer which accounted for more than 10% of the total sales of the
Corporation.
46
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
FAIR VALUE
At July 31, 2000, the estimated fair market value of cash, accounts
receivable, loan and accounts payable and accrued liabilities is equal to
the book value given the short-term nature of these items.
Short-term investments are recorded at the lower of cost and market value.
The fair value of long-term liabilities is not significantly different than
the book value.
The Corporation does not hold or issue financial instruments for trading
purposes.
CREDIT RISK
Credit risk concentration with respect to trade receivables is limited due
to the Corporation's large client base.
12. CHANGES IN NON-CASH OPERATING WORKING CAPITAL ITEMS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
2000 1999 1998
---------------------------------------------------
$ $ $
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Accounts receivable (3,536,093) 31,532 (721,277)
Due from affiliated company 4,537 182,574 (187,111)
Inventories 4,042 181,046 165,237
Prepaid expenses (102,396) 120,823 (52,977)
Accounts payable and
accrued liabilities 1,360,659 376 (58,139)
Notes payable to affiliated company - - (1,382,400)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changes in non-cash operating
working capital items (2,269,251) 516,351 (2,236,667)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
13. SUBSEQUENT EVENT
On August 1, 2000, the Corporation entered into an agreement with a
consultant whereby the Corporation may be required to issue up to 25,000
common shares on November 29, 2000. The Corporation also committed to issue
up to 100,000 share purchase warrants to the consultant during the period
November 29, 2000 to July 31, 2001, provided that the share price exceeds
certain established thresholds. Issued warrants are exercisable up to July
31, 2003.
47
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. COMPARATIVE FIGURES
Certain figures for prior years have been reclassified in order to conform
to the presentation adopted in the current year.
15. RECONCILIATION OF CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES
GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES
The Corporation does not have material differences between Canadian and
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
The Corporation has adopted SFAS 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income".
There are no material differences between the Corporation's net loss as
reported and its comprehensive income as defined by SFAS 130. Accordingly,
a separate statement of comprehensive income has not been presented.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The Corporation accounts for its stock compensation using the intrinsic
value method prescribed by the Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25,
Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. U.S. GAAP requires companies that
follow this method make pro forma disclosures of net income and earnings
per share, as if the fair value based methodology prescribed by FAS
No. 123, Accounting for Stock Based Compensation, had been applied.
The Corporation's Share Option Plan, 1996 Stock Option Plan and 1996 Stock
Incentive Plan govern the granting of options to purchase common shares of
the corporation to eligible full-time employees, directors and officers of
the corporation. The purpose of the plans is to advance the interests of
the corporation and its shareholders by providing to the grantees a
performance incentive for the continued and improved service with the
corporation. Options are granted at a price not less than the closing price
of the corporation's shares on the last trading day immediately before the
grant. Options granted generally expire in ten years from the date of grant
and vest at a rate of 20% per annum on the anniversary date of the grant.
The following table presents net earnings and earnings per share in
accordance with U.S. GAAP on a pro forma basis giving effect to the pro
forma compensation expense relating to stock options granted to employees,
in accordance with FAS 123.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 2000 July 31, 1999 July 31, 1998
$ $ $
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net (loss) reported (2,866,907) (4,960,964) (906,722)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pro forma compensation benefit
(expense) 165,293 (315,265) (406,710)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pro forma net (loss) (2,701,614) (5,276,229) (1,313,432)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pro forma basic (loss) per share (0.303) (0.619) (0.154)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
48
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. RECONCILIATION OF CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING
PRINCIPLES (CONTINUED)
The Corporation recognized compensation benefit of $165,293 in 2000. The
benefit resulted from the reversal of previously recorded stock
compensation expense on the forfeitude of unexercised options. The 2000
benefit is reconciled as follows : (1) stock compensation expense $451,711
for employee based stock option plans in accordance with FAS 123 and (2)
reversal of previously recorded stock compensation expense on the
forfeitude of unexercised option of $617,004.
FAS 123 requires that pro forma compensation expense be recognized over the
vesting period based on the fair value of options granted to employees. The
pro forma compensation expense presented above has been estimated using the
Black Scholes option pricing model. In order to perform the calculation the
following weighted average assumptions were made for fiscal years 2000,
1999 and 1998:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 31, 2000 July 31, 1999 July 31, 1998
$ $ $
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Risk-free interest rate 5.90% 5.68% 5.46%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividend yield 0% 0% 0%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Volatility factor of the expected
market price of the Corporation's
common stock 97% 94% 99%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Term to maturity 7 years 7 years 7 years
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
FAS 123 requires that pro forma compensation expense be reported for
options granted in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1994, which in
the case of the corporation is the year ended July 31, 1996. Since the
compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period, the pro forma
compensation expense presented above is not indicative of the pro forma
compensation expense that will be reported in future years if the
corporation continues to grant options to employees.
49
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED JULY 31, 2000, 1999 AND 1998
(IN CANADIAN DOLLARS)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15. RECONCILIATION OF CANADIAN AND UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING
PRINCIPLES (CONTINUED)
NEW STANDARDS
The United States FASB has issued new standards on the accounting of
derivative financial instruments and hedging activities under Statement No.
133, which are effective for fiscal years beginning on or after June 15,
2000. Statement No. 133 establishes accounting and reporting standards
requiring that all derivative instruments (including certain derivative
instruments embedded in other contracts) be recorded in the balance sheet
as either an asset or a liability measured at its fair value. In addition,
Statement No. 133 requires that changes in the derivative's fair value be
recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria
are met. Special accounting for qualifying hedges allows a derivative's
gains and losses to offset related results on the hedged item in the income
statement, and requires that a company must formally document, designate
and assess the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting.
In June 2000, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 138,
"Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging
Activities - an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133" ("SFAS 138"). SFAS 138
amends certain of the accounting and reporting standards of SFAS 133 for
certain derivative instruments and certain hedging activities. The
Corporation will adopt SFAS 133, as amended, in its quarter ending October
31, 2000. The Corporation has not engaged in hedging activities or invested
in derivative instruments and, accordingly, the adoption of SFAS No. 133 is
not currently expected to have a material impact on financial position,
results of operations or cash flows.
In March 2000, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation ("FIN") No. 44,
"Accounting for Certain Transactions Involving Stock Compensation." FIN No.
44 provides guidance for issues arising in applying APB No. 25. FIN No. 44
applies specifically to new awards, exchanges of awards in a business
combination, modification to outstanding awards and changes in grantee
status that occur on or after July 1, 2000, except for the provisions
related to repricings and the definition of an employee which apply to
awards issued after December 15, 1998. The adoption of FIN No. 44 is not
expected to have a material effect on the Corporation's financial
statements.
50
<PAGE>
ITEM 19. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(a) DOCUMENT LIST
1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The financial statements filed hereunder may be found
at Item 18 beginning on page 33 of this Annual Report on Form
20-F.
2. FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
All schedules are omitted because of the absence of
the conditions under which they are required or because the
required information is included in the Financial Statements.
3. EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit
<S> <C>
2.1* Common Share Purchase Agreement dated May 26, 2000 between
Registrant and Sundowner Investments Limited
2.2* Registration Rights Agreements dated May 26, 2000 between
Registrant and Sundowner Investments Limited
2.3* Escrow Agreement dated May 26, 2000 between Registrant,
Sundowner Investments Limited, and Epstein Becker &
Green, P.C.
2.4* Letter Agreement dated March 15, 2000 between Registrant
and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.
2.5* Share Purchase Warrant dated May 30, 2000 issued to
Sundowner Investments Limited
2.6* Share Purchase Warrant dated May 30, 2000 issued to
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. (182,278 shares)
2.7* Common Shares and Warrants Purchase Agreement dated
May 24, 2000 between the Registrant and AMRO
International, S.A.
2.8* Registration Rights Agreement dated May 24, 2000 between
the Registrant and AMRO International, S.A.
2.9* Escrow Agreement dated May 24, 2000 between the
Registrant, AMRO International, S.A., and Epstein,
Becker & Green, P.C.
51
<PAGE>
2.10* Share Purchase Warrant dated May 24, 2000 issued to AMRO
International, S.A.
2.11* Share Purchase Warrant dated May 24, 2000 issued to
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. (32,608 shares)
2.12* Amendment to Common Share Purchase Agreement dated
June 26, 2000 between the Registrant and Sundowner
Investments Limited
2.13 Agreement dated July 31, 2000 between the Registrant and
Nucleus International Corporation
3.1** Articles of Incorporation, as amended on December 20, 1996
and December 31, 1996
3.2* Amendment to Articles of Incorporation dated January 1,
2000
10.1*** Sand Technology Systems International Inc. 1996 Stock
Option Plan
10.2**** Sand Technology Systems International Inc. 1998 Stock
Incentive Plan
11 Statement detailing computation of per share earnings
21.1 Subsidiaries
23.2 Consent of Deloitte & Touche
</TABLE>
* Incorporated by reference from Amendment No. 1 to the registrant's
Form F-2 Registration Statement (333-12216) filed on August 18, 2000
** Incorporated by reference from the registrant's Form 20-F for July
31, 1996
*** Incorporated by reference from the registrant's Form S-8
(333-7462)
**** Incorporated by reference from the registrant's Form S-8
(333-8538)
52
<PAGE>
SAND TECHNOLOGY INC.
2000 FORM 20-F ANNUAL REPORT
EXHIBIT INDEX
The following exhibits are being filed herewith on pages 54 through 58:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit Description
------- -----------
<S> <C>
2.13 Agreement with Nucleus International Corporation dated July 31, 2000
11. Statement detailing Computation of Per Share Earnings (Loss)
22. Subsidiaries of the Company.
23. Consent of Chartered Accountants
</TABLE>
53
