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PROSPECTUS
1,250,064 SHARES
[LOGO]
SOURCINGLINK.NET, INC.
COMMON STOCK
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This prospectus relates to the offer and sale of up to 1,250,064 shares of
our common stock which are held by some of our current stockholders.
The prices at which such stockholders may sell the shares in this offering
will be determined by the prevailing market price for the shares or in
negotiated transactions. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale
of the shares.
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Small Cap Market under the symbol
SNET. On December 15, 1999, the closing price of our common stock was $20
3/8 per share.
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 4 TO READ ABOUT THE RISKS YOU SHOULD
CONSIDER CAREFULLY BEFORE BUYING SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE
ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS DECEMBER 22, 1999.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Where You Can Find Additional Information................... 2
The Company................................................. 3
Risk Factors................................................ 4
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............. 13
Material Changes............................................ 14
Use of Proceeds............................................. 15
Selling Stockholders........................................ 15
Plan of Distribution........................................ 17
Legal Matters............................................... 17
Experts..................................................... 17
Indemnification of Directors and Officers................... 17
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NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS, OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING DESCRIBED HEREIN, AND, IF GIVEN OR
MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS OR ANY UNDERWRITERS,
BROKERS OR AGENTS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
BY ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR SUCH PERSON TO
MAKE SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS
NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CREATE AN IMPLICATION
THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO
THE DATE HEREOF.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 with respect
to the common stock offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of
the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in
the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules which are part of the
registration statement. For further information with respect to SourcingLink.net
and the common stock, reference is made to the registration statement and the
exhibits and schedules thereto. You may read and copy any document we file at
the SEC's public reference room in Washington, DC. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our SEC
filings are also available to the public from the SEC's website at
http://www.sec.gov.
We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, will continue to file
periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such
periodic reports, proxy statements and other information will be available for
inspection and copying at the SEC's public reference rooms, our website and the
SEC's website referred to above. Information on our website does not constitute
a part of this prospectus.
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THE COMPANY
We have developed an Internet-based turnkey solution for
business-to-business eCommerce that enables retailers to organize, automate and
significantly reduce the cost of their preorder merchandise sourcing activities
by connecting directly with their retail merchandise suppliers around the globe.
As opposed to traditional Electronic Data Interchange, or EDI, providers who
largely address the post-order process, our solution is primarily focused on the
preorder merchandise sourcing process. To date, communications between retailers
and merchandise suppliers for preorder merchandise sourcing have largely been
carried out through paper-based systems, telephone calls, faxes, courier
services or travel and personal visits. This traditional process is time
consuming, expensive, inefficient, error prone, labor intensive and results in
low productivity for both the retailer and merchandise supplier. Our solution,
which uses proprietary software to link and manage the data and oral
communications between the retailer and merchandise supplier, organizes and
automates the preorder merchandise sourcing function over the Internet. In
addition, the Company's solution can also provide traditional EDI capabilities.
To date, our eCommerce solution has been adopted by PETsMART (the largest
specialty retailer of pet food and supplies in the United States) and Promodes
(a leading European operator of hypermarkets), both of whom are in the early
stage of rolling out our solution to their merchandise suppliers. In addition,
Carrefour (the fifth largest retailer in the world), a longstanding customer of
our desktop solution, will convert to our eCommerce solution. Customers who are
using our solution have experienced significant reduction in costs and
improvement in productivity relating to the sourcing activity. Our eCommerce
solution has also been evaluated and adopted by Mars Music Company (a rapidly
growing U.S.-based specialty retailer of musical instruments and supplies) for
linking its buyers with suppliers for the exchange of electronic forms. We are
also in discussions with various retailers and two trading companies, Trade
Services International and Dayman Corporation, regarding pilot evaluations of
our preorder merchandise sourcing solution.
We have designed our pricing structure to offer merchandise suppliers, as
well as retailers, what we believe is a compelling value. The up-front cost to
implement our solution is limited to connectivity to the Internet, mapping and
forms specifications, creation of electronic catalogs and training. Thereafter,
each merchandise supplier pays a fixed monthly fee of $95.00 or a fixed annual
fee of $1025.00 regardless of the number of retailers they are connected to or
the number of transactions they process. As a result, we believe the ability of
retailers and merchandise suppliers to leverage the SourcingLink.net solution is
significant.
To cost-effectively provide our customers with global support,
SourcingLink.net entered into a strategic alliance with IBM Global Network which
includes co-marketing and worldwide infrastructure and connectivity support. As
a partner in IBM's e-commerce solutions we receive active promotion of our
preorder merchandise sourcing solution, use of the IBM logo on all our marketing
material, including our website, and participation with IBM at its e-commerce
trade show booths. In addition, IBM houses our servers in its secure data
management center.
We believe our solution has significant benefits for retailers and
merchandise suppliers including (1) low implementation and maintenance costs;
(2) increased productivity and lower costs of doing business; (3) more effective
buying decisions; (4) increased retailer and merchandise supplier connectivity;
and (5) enhanced revenue opportunities.
Our objective is to become the leading provider of Internet solutions to
manage the sourcing and procurement of merchandise for retailers and their
merchandise suppliers. Key elements of our strategy include: (1) leveraging our
global presence; (2) developing our sales and marketing infrastructure;
(3) focusing our sales and marketing efforts on retailers; (4) offering our
merchandise suppliers a compelling price/value relationship; and (5) adopting
leading edge technology and service.
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Our company was founded in 1993 in France by Marcel van Heesewijk, our
Chairman, to develop desktop software that would enable retailers to manage
their preorder merchandise sourcing activities over a private network. By the
end of 1994, we had successfully developed a proprietary desktop software
solution that enabled retailer to transact sourcing activities over a private
network.
In 1997, we recognized that the Internet would become the standard for
business-to-business eCommerce. We began to web-enable our proprietary software
to substantially reduce the connectivity cost and enable broader distribution of
our solution. During 1998, we completed this development effort and pilot tested
our Internet solution with PETsMART and Promodes. Based upon the successful
completion of these pilots, we believe we have successfully transitioned from a
proprietary desktop software solution to a secure Internet-based communications
system, and are well positioned to benefit from first-to-market advantages. To
further our objectives, we recently strengthened our management team by hiring
Sean Maloy as our President and Chief Executive Officer, Gary Davidson as our
Chief Financial Officer, Mark Simonsen as our Chief Technology Officer and Steve
Pulver as our Vice President of Sales and Services. We believe we are now poised
to implement our strategic plan to achieve significant growth.
We are located at 16855 West Bernardo Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92127,
telephone (858) 385-8900. Our principal website is located at
www.sourcinglink.net. Information contained on our website does not constitute
part of this Prospectus.
RISK FACTORS
THE FOLLOWING FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED CAREFULLY IN EVALUATING THE
COMPANY AND ITS BUSINESS BEFORE MAKING AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED
HEREBY, TOGETHER WITH ALL OF THE OTHER INFORMATION SET FORTH OR INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS
WE ARE AN EARLY-STAGE COMPANY. OUR LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY MAKES IT DIFFICULT
TO EVALUATE OUR FUTURE PROSPECTS.
We were founded in 1993 and have a limited operating history. Our limited
operating history makes the evaluation of our future prospects difficult or
impossible. Our prospects must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and
difficulties frequently encountered by companies in their early stage of
development, particularly companies in new, unproven and rapidly evolving
markets. To address these risks, we must, among other things, continue to
upgrade our technology, commercialize products incorporating such technology,
continue to attract, retain and motivate qualified persons and respond to
competitive developments. Since competition for experienced information
technology personnel is intense, we cannot be certain that we will be able to
attract such required personnel. There can be no assurance that we will be
successful in addressing such risks. If we do not successfully address these
risks, our business will be seriously harmed.
The growth of our quarterly revenues is especially subject to fluctuation
because it depends on the adoption of our solution by a small number of
relatively large retailers , who then strongly encourage their merchandise
suppliers to subscribe to our solution. As a result, the growth of our quarterly
revenue may be effected if we are unable to complete one or more substantial
retailer rollouts in any given quarter. Therefore, if we do not attract a
sufficient number of retailers who adopt our solution in a particular quarter,
our revenues in future periods could be lower than expected.
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THE MARKET FOR OUR SOLUTION IS AT AN EARLY STAGE. WE NEED A CRITICAL MASS OF
RETAILERS AND THEIR MERCHANDISE SUPPLIERS TO IMPLEMENT AND USE OUR SOLUTION.
The market for Internet-based supply chain management solutions and services
is at an early stage of development. Our success depends on a significant number
of large retailers implementing our solution and requiring their merchandise
suppliers to subscribe to our solution. The implementation of our solution by
major retailers and their merchandise suppliers is controlled by multiple
parties in the retail organization. In many cases, these organizations must
change established business practices and conduct business in new ways. Our
ability to attract additional customers for our solution will depend on
leveraging our existing customers as reference accounts. As of July 31, 1999,
only three retailers had adopted our solution and approximately 480 merchandise
suppliers had subscribed to our Internet solution. Accordingly, our solution may
not achieve significant market acceptance. Unless a critical mass of retailers
and their merchandise suppliers implement our solution, our solution may not
achieve widespread market acceptance and our business would be seriously harmed.
WE HAVE A HISTORY OF LOSSES AND EXPECT TO INCUR LOSSES IN THE FUTURE.
We incurred net losses of $2.8 million in fiscal 1998 and $1.5 million in
fiscal 1999. Fiscal 1999 is a nine month accounting period. As of March 31,
1999, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $14.4 million. The report
of our independent accountants accompanying our consolidated financial
statements notes that our recurring operating losses raise substantial doubt
about our ability to continue as a going concern, however, note 2 to our
consolidated financial statements described management's plan in regard to these
matters. On August 9, 1999, we completed a private offering of equity securities
for $8.1 million. We expect to derive substantially all of our revenues for the
foreseeable future from subscription fees for our solution, which is based on an
unproven business model. Although these revenues have grown slightly in the most
recent quarter, we may not be able to sustain growth in the future necessary to
achieve profitability. In fact, we may not have any revenue growth, and our
revenues could decline. Moreover, we expect to incur significant sales and
marketing, product development, and general and administrative expenses. As a
result, we expect to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future.
OUR QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS ARE VOLATILE AND DIFFICULT TO PREDICT. IF WE
FAIL TO MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF PUBLIC MARKET ANALYSTS OR INVESTORS, THE
MARKET PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK MAY DECREASE SIGNIFICANTLY.
Our quarterly operating results have varied significantly in the past and
will likely vary significantly in the future. We believe that period-to-period
comparisons of our results of operations are not meaningful and should not be
relied upon as indicators of future performance. Our operating results could
fall below the expectations of securities analysts or investors in some future
quarter or quarters. Our failure to meet these expectations would likely
adversely affect the market price of our Common Stock.
Our quarterly operating results may vary depending on a number of factors,
including:
- Demand for our solution and services;
- Actions taken by our competitors, including new product introductions and
enhancements;
- Delays or reductions in spending for, or the implementation of, supply
chain management solutions by our potential customers as companies attempt
to stabilize their computer systems prior to January 1, 2000 in order to
reduce the risk of computer system problems associated with the Year 2000;
- Ability to scale our network and operations infrastructure;
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- Ability to develop, introduce and market new solutions and enhancements to
our existing solution on a timely basis;
- Changes in our pricing policies or those of our competitors;
- Ability to expand our sales and marketing operations, including hiring
additional sales personnel;
- Size and timing of sales of our solution and services;
- Success in maintaining and enhancing existing relationships and developing
new relationships with strategic partners;
- Ability to control costs;
- Technological changes in our markets;
- Deferrals of customer subscriptions in anticipation of new enhancements or
features of our solution;
- Customer budget cycles and changes in these budget cycles; and
- General economic factors.
We plan to increase our operating expenses substantially to expand our sales
and marketing operations, fund greater levels of product development, increase
general and administrative support, develop new partnerships, increase our
professional services and support capabilities and improve our operational and
financial systems. If our revenues do not increase along with these expenses,
our business, operating results and financial condition could be seriously
harmed and net losses in a given quarter could be even larger than expected.
In addition, because our expense levels are relatively fixed in the near
term and are based in part on expectations of our future revenues, any decline
in our revenues to a level that is below our expectations would have a
disproportionately adverse impact on our operating results.
WE EXPECT TO DEPEND ON OUR SOLUTION FOR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF OUR REVENUES FOR
THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
Our solution and related services accounted for substantially all of our
revenues in fiscal 1999. We anticipate that revenues from our solution and
related services will continue to constitute substantially all of our revenues
for the foreseeable future. Consequently, a decline in the price of, or demand
for, our solution, or its failure to achieve broad market acceptance, would
seriously harm our business.
IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR SOLUTION BY LARGE RETAILERS IS TIME CONSUMING. WE
FREQUENTLY EXPERIENCE LONG SALES AND IMPLEMENTATION CYCLES.
Our supply chain management solution is an enterprise-wide solution that
must be deployed with many users within a large retailer's sourcing
organization. Its adoption by large retailers is characterized by long sales
cycles beginning with pilot studies and concluding with retailers strongly
encouraging their merchandise suppliers to subscribe to our solution. In many
cases, our customers must change established business practices and conduct
business in new ways. In addition, they must generally consider a wide range of
other issues before committing to purchase our product, including product
benefits, integration, interoperability with existing computer systems,
scalability, functionality, security and reliability. As a result, we must
educate potential customers on the use and benefits of our solution. It
frequently takes several months to finalize a retailer commitment to adopt our
solution and the commitment must often be approved by a number of management
levels within the customer organization. The implementation of our solution
requires a commitment of resources by our customers and third-party and
professional services organizations. Delay of these commitments may adversely
affect our financial results of any particular quarter.
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WE CURRENTLY DEPEND ON IBM FOR MARKETING OF OUR SOLUTION AND FOR THE MANAGEMENT
AND SECURITY OF OUR NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE.
We have an alliance with IBM for co-marketing and customer support. We are
currently dependent on IBM for most of our marketing and support activities.
Therefore, IBM's decisions and performance with respect to these matters have a
material impact on our ability to market our solution. While we are currently
negotiating new agreements to cover our relationship, we have taken over our
sales and a substantial portion of marketing activities, we may not be able to
do so effectively in our sales and marketing activities. IBM is under no
contractual obligation to continue to market our solution. A decision by IBM to
cease or reduce substantially its marketing efforts would have an immediate and
material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
There can be no assurance that, in such an event, we would succeed in
alternative marketing methods.
In addition, we depend on IBM Global Network, or IGN, for certain services
relating to our infrastructure, including maintenance of communications lines
and management of network data centers. IGN may terminate its performance of
these services for us at any time. If IGN were to terminate these services, we
would have to obtain them from another service provider or perform them
ourselves. There can be no assurance that we would be able to obtain or perform
these services on a timely or cost-effective basis. If we were able to obtain
such services from a third party, we would be entirely dependent on them to
manage and maintain our network infrastructure and to provide security for it.
WE FACE INTENSE COMPETITION. IF WE ARE UNABLE TO COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY, OUR
BUSINESS WILL BE SERIOUSLY HARMED.
The market for business-to-business eCommerce solutions in general, and
supply chain management solutions in particular, is extremely competitive,
evolving and characterized by continuous rapid development of technology.
Competition to capture business users is intense and is expected to increase
dramatically in the future, which will likely result in price reductions,
reduced profit margins and a decrease in our market share, which could have a
serious adverse impact on our business.
Indirect competitors are traditional VAN solution providers that have
extended their VAN connections over the Internet and new Internet companies that
are focused on trading exchanges that allow merchandise buyers and sellers to
access each other on channels within existing portals. Companies which offer EDI
over VANs include General Electric Information Services, Sterling Commerce,
Harbinger Corporation, QRS Inc. and IBM. Companies which offer exchange
solutions include VerticalNet, Wiznet (E.C. Portal), Commerce One, Netscape,
Ariba.com and Cyber Merchants Exchange, Inc. Some of these companies have longer
operating histories, significantly greater financial, technical, marketing and
other resources than us, significantly greater name recognition and a larger
installed base of customers. In addition, many of our competitors have
well-established relationships with our current and potential customers and have
extensive knowledge of our industry. One or more of these companies may develop
and add preorder merchandise sourcing capabilities to their existing product
offerings, giving them a more comprehensive solution than our solution, which
could adversely affect our business. We expect that additional established and
emerging companies will seek to enter our market as it continues to develop and
expand. We may not be able to compete successfully against future competitors,
especially those with significantly greater financial, marketing, service,
support, technical and other resources.
WE DEPEND ON THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW VERSIONS OF OUR PROPRIETARY SOLUTION AND ON
ENHANCING THE FUNCTIONALITY AND SERVICES OFFERED BY OUR SOLUTION.
If we are unable to develop new software or enhancements to our existing
solution on a timely and cost-effective basis, or if new software or
enhancements do not achieve market acceptance, our business
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would be seriously harmed. The life cycle of our solution is difficult to
predict because the market for our solution is new and emerging, and is
characterized by rapid technological change, changing customer needs and
evolving industry standards. The introduction of services employing new
technologies and emerging industry standards could render our existing solution
obsolete and unmarketable.
To be successful, our solution must keep pace with technological
developments and emerging industry standards, address the ever-changing and
increasingly sophisticated needs of our customers and achieve market acceptance.
In developing new features of our solution, we may:
- Fail to develop and market features that respond to technological changes
or evolving industry standards in a timely or cost-effective manner;
- Encounter products, capabilities or technologies developed by others that
render our solution obsolete or noncompetitive or that shorten the life
cycles of our existing solution;
- Experience difficulties that could delay or prevent the successful
development, introduction and marketing of these new features; or
- Fail to develop new features that adequately meet the requirements of the
marketplace or achieve market acceptance.
OUR SOFTWARE MAY CONTAIN ERRORS OR DEFECTS.
Our software is complex and, accordingly, may contain undetected errors or
failures when first introduced. This may result in loss of, or delay in, market
acceptance of our solution. We have in the past discovered programming errors in
our new releases after their introduction. We have experienced delays in release
and customer frustration during the period required to correct these errors. We
may discover errors in the future, including Year 2000 errors and additional
scalability limitations, in new versions after release.
WE DEPEND ON OUR KEY PERSONNEL.
Our future performance depends on the continued service of our senior
management, product development and sales personnel, in particular Marcel van
Heesewijk, our Chairman, and Sean Maloy, our President and Chief Executive
Officer. The loss of the services of one or more of our key personnel could
seriously harm our business. Our future success also depends on our continuing
ability to attract, hire, train and retain a substantial number of highly
skilled managerial, technical, sales, marketing and customer support personnel.
We are particularly dependent on hiring additional personnel to increase our
direct sales and product development organizations. In addition, new hires
frequently require extensive training before they achieve desired levels of
productivity. Competition for qualified personnel is intense, and we may fail to
retain our key employees or to attract or retain other highly qualified
personnel.
PROTECTION OF OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MAY NOT BE ADEQUATE.
We depend on our ability to develop and maintain the proprietary aspects of
our solution. To protect our proprietary technology, we rely primarily on a
combination of contractual provisions, confidentiality procedures, trade
secrets, and patent, copyright and trademark laws.
We do not sell our software and we require our customers to enter into user
agreements, which impose restrictions on their ability to utilize the software.
In addition, we seek to avoid disclosure of our trade secrets, including but not
limited to, requiring those persons with access to our proprietary information
to execute confidentiality agreements with us and restricting access to our
source code. We
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seek to protect our software, documentation and other written materials under
trade secret and copyright laws, which afford only limited protection. We cannot
assure you that any of our proprietary rights with respect to our solution will
be viable or of value in the future because the validity, enforceability and
type of protection of proprietary rights in Internet-related industries are
uncertain and still evolving.
Despite our efforts to protect our proprietary rights, unauthorized parties
may attempt to copy aspects of our solution or obtain and use information that
we regard as proprietary. Policing unauthorized use of our solution is
difficult, and while we are unable to determine the extent to which unauthorized
use exists, it can be expected to be a persistent problem. In addition, the laws
of some foreign countries do not protect our proprietary rights to as great an
extent as do the laws of the United States. Our means of protecting our
proprietary rights may not be adequate and our competitors may independently
develop similar technology, duplicate our solution or our other intellectual
property.
There has been a substantial amount of litigation in the Internet industry
regarding intellectual property rights. It is possible that in the future, third
parties may claim that we or our current or potential future solutions infringe
their intellectual property. Any claims, with or without merit, could be
time-consuming, result in costly litigation, cause delays in the introduction of
new versions or features or require us to enter into royalty or licensing
agreements. Royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may not be available
on terms acceptable to us or at all, which could seriously harm our business.
We must now, and may in the future have to, license or otherwise obtain
access to intellectual property of third parties. For example, we are currently
dependent on licenses of IBM's Lotus Domino software for our solution, and may
in the future be dependent on developers' licenses from enterprise resource
planning, database and other system software merchandise suppliers in order to
ensure compliance of our solution with their systems. We may not be able to
obtain any required third party intellectual property in the future.
IN ORDER TO MANAGE OUR GROWTH AND EXPANSION, WE WILL NEED TO IMPROVE AND
IMPLEMENT NEW SYSTEMS, PROCEDURES AND CONTROLS.
We currently plan to hire a significant number of employees and to expand
the geographic scope of our customer base and operations. This expansion will
result in substantial demands on our management resources. Our ability to
compete effectively and to manage future expansion of our operations, if any,
will require us to continue to improve our financial and management controls,
reporting systems and procedures on a timely basis, and expand, train and manage
our employee work force. We may encounter difficulties in transitioning to new
management information software systems and our personnel, systems, procedures
and controls may be inadequate to support our future operations.
OUR BUSINESS IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO NUMEROUS RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONAL
OPERATIONS.
We market our solution to retailers worldwide, and historically have derived
a significant portion of our revenues from international sales. As such, we are
subject to a number of risks associated with international business activities.
These risks generally include:
- Seasonal fluctuations in purchasing patterns;
- Unexpected changes in regulatory requirements;
- Tariffs, export controls and other trade barriers;
- Longer accounts receivable payment cycles and difficulties in collecting
accounts receivable;
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- Difficulties in managing and staffing international operations;
- Potentially adverse tax consequences, including restrictions on the
repatriation of earnings;
- The burdens of complying with a wide variety of foreign laws;
- The risks related to global economic turbulence and adverse economic
circumstances;
- Political instability; and
- Currency exchange rate fluctuations.
OUR BUSINESS COULD BE AFFECTED BY YEAR 2000 ISSUES.
The risks posed by Year 2000 issues could adversely affect our business in a
number of significant ways. Although we believe that our internally developed
systems and technology are Year 2000 compliant, our information technology
systems nevertheless could be substantially impaired or cease to operate due to
Year 2000 problems. Additionally, we rely on information technology supplied by
third parties, and our participating sellers also are heavily dependent on
information technology systems and on their own third-party merchandise supplier
systems. Year 2000 problems experienced by us or any of these third parties
could materially adversely affect our business. Additionally, the Internet could
face serious disruptions arising from the Year 2000 problem.
Many of our customers and potential customers have implemented policies that
prohibit or strongly discourage making changes or additions to their internal
computer systems until after January 1, 2000. We will experience lower net
revenues if potential customers who might otherwise subscribe to our solution
delay such subscriptions until after January 1, 2000 due to the risk of Year
2000 issues. If our potential customers delay subscribing to our solution in
anticipation of the Year 2000 problem, our business would be seriously harmed.
We cannot guarantee that any of our participating retailers or merchandise
suppliers will be Year 2000 compliant in a timely manner, or that there will not
be significant interoperability problems among information technology systems.
We also cannot guarantee that retailers and merchandise suppliers will be able
to use our solution without serious disruptions arising from the Year 2000
problem. Given the pervasive nature of the Year 2000 problem, we cannot
guarantee that disruptions in other industries and market segments will not
adversely affect our business. Moreover, the costs related to Year 2000
compliance, which thus far have not been material, could ultimately be
significant. In the event that we experience disruptions as a result of the Year
2000 problem, our business could be seriously harmed.
OUR BUSINESS COULD BE AFFECTED AS A RESULT OF ANY FUTURE ACQUISITIONS.
In order to remain competitive, we may find it necessary to acquire
additional businesses, products or technologies. If we identify an appropriate
acquisition candidate, we may not be able to negotiate the terms of the
acquisition successfully, finance the acquisition, or integrate the acquired
business, products or technologies into our existing business and operations.
Further, completing a potential acquisition and integrating an acquired business
will cause significant diversions of management time and resources. If we
consummate one or more significant acquisitions in which the consideration
consists of stock or other securities, your equity could be significantly
diluted. If we were to proceed with one or more significant acquisitions in
which the consideration included cash, we could be required to use a substantial
portion of our available cash, including proceeds of this Offering, to
consummate any acquisition. Acquisition financing may not be available on
favorable terms, or at all. In addition, we may be required to amortize
significant amounts of goodwill and other intangible assets in connection with
future acquisitions, which would seriously harm our business.
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RISKS RELATED TO THE INTERNET INDUSTRY
WE DEPEND ON INCREASING USE OF THE INTERNET AND ON THE GROWTH OF ECOMMERCE. IF
THE USE OF THE INTERNET AND ECOMMERCE DO NOT GROW AS ANTICIPATED, OUR BUSINESS
WILL BE SERIOUSLY HARMED.
Our success depends on the increased acceptance and use of the Internet as a
medium of commerce on a global basis. Rapid growth in the use of the Internet is
a recent phenomenon. As a result, acceptance and use may not continue to develop
at historical rates and a sufficiently broad base of business customers may not
adopt or continue to use the Internet as a medium of commerce. Demand and market
acceptance for recently introduced services and products over the Internet are
subject to a high level of uncertainty, and there exist few proven services and
products.
Our business would be seriously harmed if:
- Use of the Internet, the web and other online services does not continue
to increase or increases more slowly than expected;
- The infrastructure for the Internet, the web and other online services
does not effectively support expansion that may occur; or
- The Internet, the web and other online services do not create a viable
commercial marketplace, inhibiting the development of eCommerce and
reducing the need for our solution.
CAPACITY CONSTRAINTS MAY RESTRICT THE USE OF THE INTERNET AS A COMMERCIAL
MARKETPLACE.
The Internet may not be accepted as a viable long-term commercial
marketplace for a number of reasons. These include:
- Potentially inadequate development of the necessary communication and
network infrastructure;
- Delayed development of enabling technologies and performance improvements;
- Delays in the development or adoption of new standards and protocols; and
- Increased governmental regulation.
SECURITY RISKS AND CONCERNS MAY DETER THE USE OF THE INTERNET FOR CONDUCTING
ECOMMERCE.
A significant barrier to eCommerce and communications is the secure
transmission of confidential information over public networks. Advances in
computer capabilities, new discoveries in the field of cryptography or other
events or developments could result in compromises or breaches of our security
systems or those of other web sites to protect proprietary information. If any
well-publicized compromises of security were to occur, it could have the effect
of substantially reducing the use of the web for commerce and communications.
Anyone who circumvents our security measures could misappropriate proprietary
information or cause interruptions in our services or operations. The Internet
is a public network, and data is sent over this network from many sources. In
the past, computer viruses, software programs that disable or impair computers,
have been distributed and have rapidly spread over the Internet. Computer
viruses could be introduced into our systems or those of our customers or
merchandise suppliers, which could disrupt our network or make it inaccessible
to customers or merchandise suppliers. We may be required to expend significant
capital and other resources to protect against the threat of security breaches
or to alleviate problems caused by breaches. To the extent that our activities
may involve the storage and transmission of proprietary information, such as
credit card numbers, security breaches could expose us to a risk of loss or
litigation and possible liability. Our security measures may be inadequate to
prevent security breaches, and our business would be harmed if we do not prevent
them.
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<PAGE>
OUR SOFTWARE SOLUTION MAY EXPERIENCE DELAYS AS A RESULT OF HIGH VOLUMES OF
TRAFFIC.
Our solution is currently operating on a limited basis. Our software may not
be fully scalable, if the volume of traffic on the website for our solution
significantly increases, our solution may experience slower response times or
other problems. In addition, users will depend on Internet Service Providers,
telecommunications companies and the efficient operation of their computer
networks and other computer equipment for access to our solution. Each of these
has experienced significant outages in the past and could experience outages,
delays and other difficulties due to system failures unrelated to our systems.
Any delays in response time or performance problems could cause users of our
solution to perceive this service as not functioning properly and therefore
cause them to use other methods to manage their sourcing and procurement
activities.
Even if the Internet infrastructure is adequately developed and maintained,
we may incur substantial expenditures in order to adapt our solution to changing
Internet technologies. Such additional expenses could severely harm our
financial results.
INCREASING GOVERNMENT REGULATION COULD LIMIT THE MARKET FOR, OR IMPOSE SALES AND
OTHER TAXES ON THE SALE OF OUR SOLUTION AND SERVICES.
As eCommerce evolves, we expect that federal, state or foreign agencies will
adopt regulations covering issues such as user privacy, pricing, content and
quality of products and services. It is possible that legislation could expose
companies involved in eCommerce to liability, which could limit the growth of
eCommerce generally. Legislation could dampen the growth in Internet usage and
decrease its acceptance as a communications and commercial medium. If enacted,
these laws, rules or regulations could limit the market for our solution and
services.
We do not collect sales or other similar taxes in respect of registration
and subscription fees for the use of our solution. However, one or more states
or countries may seek to impose use tax on companies like us. Legislation
limiting the ability of the states to impose taxes on Internet-based
transactions has been adopted by the U.S. Congress. This legislation could
contain a limited time period in which this tax moratorium will apply. In the
event that the tax moratorium is imposed for a limited time period, legislation
could be renewed at the end of this period. Failure to enact or renew this
legislation could allow various states to impose taxes on eCommerce, and the
imposition of these taxes could seriously harm our business.
OTHER RISKS
OUR STOCK PRICE MAY BE VOLATILE.
An active public market for our Common Stock may not develop or be
sustained. The market price of the Common Stock may fluctuate significantly in
response to the following factors, some of which are beyond our control:
- Variations in our quarterly operating results;
- Changes in securities analysts' estimates of our financial performance;
- Changes in market valuations of similar companies;
- Announcements by us or our competitors of significant contracts,
acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures or capital
commitments;
- Loss of a major customer or strategic partner;
- Additions or departures of key personnel; and
- Fluctuations in stock market price and volume, which are particularly
common among highly volatile securities of software and Internet-based
companies.
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<PAGE>
WE ARE AT RISK OF SECURITIES CLASS ACTION LITIGATION DUE TO OUR EXPECTED STOCK
PRICE VOLATILITY.
In the past, securities class action litigation has often been brought
against a company following periods of volatility in the market price of its
securities. We may in the future be the target of similar litigation. Securities
litigation could result in substantial costs and divert management's attention
and resources.
OUR STOCK PRICE COULD BE AFFECTED BY SHARES BECOMING AVAILABLE FOR SALE.
Sales of a substantial number of shares of Common Stock in the public market
could depress the market price of the Common Stock and could impair our ability
to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities.
WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED CERTAIN ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS.
Provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and
bylaws, as well as provisions of Delaware law, could make it more difficult for
a third party to acquire us, even if doing so would be beneficial to our
stockholders.
OUR EXISTING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS CONTROL
THE COMPANY.
Our executive officers, directors and principal stockholders beneficially
own, in the aggregate, approximately 35% of our outstanding voting stock. As a
result, these stockholders will be able to exercise substantial control over all
matters requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and
approval of significant corporate transactions. This could have the effect of
delaying or preventing a change of control of SourcingLink.net.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.
Some of the statements under "Company," "Risk Factors," and elsewhere in
this Prospectus constitute forward-looking statements. These statements involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our or
our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements
to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking
statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by
terminology such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates,"
"believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "continue" or the negative of
these terms or other comparable terminology.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking
statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of
activity, performance or achievements. Moreover, neither we nor any other person
assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of these statements. We
are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date
of this prospectus to conform these statements to actual results.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with
the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring to those documents. We incorporate by reference the documents listed
below and any additional documents filed by us with the SEC under Section 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until this offering of
securities is terminated. The information we incorporate by reference is part of
this prospectus, and any later information we file with the SEC will
automatically update and supercede this information.
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<PAGE>
The documents we incorporate by reference are:
1. Our Transition Report on Form 10-KSB for the transition period from
July 1, 1998 to March 31, 1999;
2. Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended June 30, 1999;
3. Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended September 30,
1999.
4. Our Proxy Statement, dated June 18, 1999;
5. The description of our capital stock contained in our registration
statement on Form 8-A;
6. Our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on June 28,
1999;
7. Our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on July 30,
1999;
8. All other reports filed by us pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act since March 31, 1999.
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or calling
us at SourcingLink.net, Inc., Attention: Gary Davidson, 16855 West Bernardo
Drive, Suite 100, San Diego, California 92127, telephone number (858) 385-8900.
MATERIAL CHANGES
RECENT STOCKHOLDERS MEETING
Our stockholders recently approved all of the following items at our 1999
Annual Meeting of the Stockholders on July 20, 1999: (1) election of five
nominees to serve as directors until the next annual meeting of stockholders or
until their successors are elected and have qualified; (2) ratification of the
adoption of our 1999 Stock Option Plan which authorizes the grant of options to
purchase up to 1,000,000 shares of common stock; (3) ratification of the
adoption of our Employee Stock Purchase Plan which authorizes the sale of up to
500,000 shares of common stock; (4) amendment and restatement of our Certificate
of Incorporation which effected changes to our Certificate of Incorporation by:
(a) changing our name to SourcingLink.net, Inc., (b) increasing the number of
authorized shares of common stock to 60,000,000 shares, (c) increasing the
number of authorized shares of preferred stock to 15,000,000 shares, which
provides for 10,000,000 shares of blank check preferred stock, and
(d) providing for other technical and clarifying amendments; and (5) approval of
a Certificate of Amendment which has since been filed effecting a 1-for-4
reverse stock split.
COMPLETION OF ISSUANCE OF COMMON STOCK
On August 9, 1999, we completed a private offering of 5,031,875 shares of
our common stock, (1,257,971 shares on a split-adjusted basis) at an offering
price per share of $1.60 ($6.40 on a split-adjusted basis). Gross proceeds from
the offering were $8,051,000 and net proceeds were $7,300,000. In connection
with the offering, we issued 201,275 warrants to purchase common stock (50,319
warrants on a split-adjusted basis) at $1.60 per share ($6.40 on a
split-adjusted basis) to our Placement Agent, Needham & Company, Inc.
LISTING ON NASDAQ SMALLCAP MARKET
We have recently applied for listing on and as of December 10, 1999 are now
listed on Nasdaq's SmallCap Market under the trading symbol SNET.
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<PAGE>
USE OF PROCEEDS
The proceeds from the sale of each selling stockholder's common stock will
belong to the selling stockholders. We will not receive any proceeds from those
sales.
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
We issued 5,031,875 shares of common stock to the selling stockholders on
August 9, 1999, in a private offering. We effected a 1-for-4 reverse stock split
on August 26, 1999 and therefore the shares sold in our private offering are now
equal to 1,257,971 shares of common stock. In connection with the private
offering, we agreed to file this registration statement with the SEC to register
substantially all the shares purchased by the selling stockholders for resale by
them, and to keep the registration statement effective until August 9, 2000.
The following table sets forth the following information as of November 30,
1999:
- names of the selling stockholders;
- number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by each selling
stockholder;
- number of shares each selling stockholder may offer to sell; and
- number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by each selling
stockholder upon completion of this offering, assuming all of the offered
shares are sold.
Other than as set forth in the footnotes to the table below, none of the
selling stockholders has, or during the past three years has had, any position,
office or other material relationship with us or any of our predecessors or
affiliates.
As of November 30, 1999, we had 7,157,694 shares of common stock
outstanding. For purposes of computing the number and percentage of shares
beneficially owned by each selling stockholder as of November 30, 1999, only
shares which such stockholder has the right to acquire on or before January 29,
2000 are deemed outstanding, but are not deemed outstanding for the purpose of
computing the percentage ownership of any other selling stockholder.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES OWNED
AFTER OFFERING
SHARES PRIOR SHARES -------------------
NAME TO OFFERING OFFERED NUMBER PERCENT
- ---- ------------ --------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Seligman New Technologies Fund, Inc. ................ 421,875 421,875 0 0
c/o J&W Seligman Co.
100 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Seligman Investment Opportunities (Master) .......... 46,875 46,875 0 0
Fund-NTV Portfolio
c/o J&W Seligman Co.
100 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Wallington Investments Ltd.(1) ...................... 239,584 156,250 83,334 1.1
c/o Nomina Financial Services, Ltd.
Waldmanstrasse 8
P.O. Box 319
CH-8024 Zurich Switzerland
</TABLE>
15
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES OWNED
AFTER OFFERING
SHARES PRIOR SHARES -------------------
NAME TO OFFERING OFFERED NUMBER PERCENT
- ---- ------------ --------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Oakwood Holdings Ltd.(2) ............................ 240,134 156,250 83,884 1.1
c/o Nomina Financial Services, Ltd.
Waldmanstrasse 8
P.O. Box 319
CH-8024 Zurich Switzerland
Manasa Corporation .................................. 46,875 46,875 0 0
c/o V. & J. Saad
P.O. Box 165726
Achrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon
UT Technology Partners LDC .......................... 62,500 62,500 0 0
c/o Unterberg Tobin Capital
10 East 50th Street
New York, New York 10022
UT Capital Partners International LDC ............... 15,625 15,625 0 0
c/o Unterberg Tobin Capital
10 East 50th Street
New York, New York 10022
Cazenove Nominees Limited(3) ........................ 62,500 37,500 25,000 *
12 Tokenhouse Yard
London EC2R 7AN England
Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder, Inc. ................... 156,250 156,250 0 0
1345 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10105
Needham & Company, Inc.(4) .......................... 104,438 104,438 0 0
445 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Needham Emerging Growth Partners, L.P.(5) ........... 39,063 39,063 0 0
445 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Lord Gavron ......................................... 6,563 6,563 0 0
c/o Mercury Asset Management Ltd.
33 King William Street
London EC4R 9AS England
Totals:............................................ 1,442,282 1,250,064 192,218 2.7
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
* Less than one percent
(1) Represents 83,334 shares owned prior to the August 9, 1999 private offering.
The 83,334 shares are not being registered.
(2) Represents 83,884 shares owned prior to the August 9, 1999 private offering.
The 83,884 shares are not being registered.
(3) Represents 25,000 shares owned prior to the August 9, 1999 private offering.
The 25,000 shares are not being registered.
(4) Needham & Company, Inc. served as our placement agent for our recent private
offering of common stock and continues to serve as our placement agent for
the issuance of additional shares.
(5) Needham Emerging Growth Partners, L.P. is an affiliate of Needham &
Company, Inc.
- ------------------------
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<PAGE>
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
All or a portion of the common stock offered by this prospectus may be
offered for sale from time to time on the Nasdaq Small Cap Market or on one or
more exchanges, or otherwise at prices and terms then obtainable, or in
negotiated transactions. The distribution of these securities may be effected in
one or more transactions that may take place on the over-the-counter market,
including, among others, ordinary brokerage transactions, privately negotiated
transactions or through sales to one or more dealers for resale of such
securities as principals, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at
prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Usual
and customary or specifically negotiated brokerage fees or commissions may be
paid by the selling stockholders.
We will not receive any part of the proceeds from the sale of common stock.
The selling stockholders and intermediaries through whom such securities are
sold may be deemed "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act, in
which event commissions received by such intermediary may be deemed to be
underwriting commissions under the Securities Act. We will pay all expenses of
the registration of securities covered by this prospectus. The selling
stockholders will pay any applicable underwriters' commissions and expenses,
brokerage fees or transfer taxes.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the shares of common stock offered by the prospectus will be
passed by Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, a Professional Corporation, Newport
Beach, California.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by
reference to the Transition Report on Form 10-KSB for the transition period
ended as of March 31, 1999, have been incorporated in reliance on the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of
said firm as experts in auditing and accounting, which report includes an
explanatory paragraph appearing therein.
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that to the fullest extent
permitted by Delaware law, a director will not be liable for monetary damages
for breach of the director's fiduciary duty of care to SourcingLink.net and our
stockholders. This provision in the Certificate of Incorporation does not
eliminate a director's fiduciary duty of care, and, in appropriate
circumstances, equitable remedies such as an injunction or other forms of
non-monetary relief would remain available under Delaware law. Each director
will continue to be subject to liability for (i) breach of the director's duty
of loyalty to SourcingLink.net or our stockholders for acts or omissions not in
good faith or involving intentional misconduct or knowing violations of law,
(ii) acts or omissions that the director believes to be contrary to the best
interests of SourcingLink.net or our stockholders, (iii) any transaction from
which the director derives an improper personal benefit, (iv) acts or omissions
involving reckless disregard for the director's duty to SourcingLink.net or our
stockholders when the director was aware or should have been aware of the risk
of serious injury to SourcingLink.net or our stockholders, (v) acts or omissions
that constitute an unexpected pattern of inattention that amounts to an
abdication of the director's duty to SourcingLink.net or our stockholders, (vi)
improper transactions between a director and SourcingLink.net, and (vii)
improper distributions and loans to directors and officers. This provision does
not affect a director's responsibilities under any laws, such as the federal
securities laws or state or federal environmental laws.
In addition, our Bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and
executive officers and may indemnify our other officers, employees and other
agents to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. We are also empowered
under our Bylaws to enter into indemnification contracts with
17
<PAGE>
our directors and officers and to purchase insurance on behalf of any person
whom we are required or permitted to indemnify. We have entered into agreements
with our directors and executive officers, which requires us to indemnify them
to the fullest extent permitted by law against certain losses they may incur in
legal proceedings arising in connection with their services to SourcingLink.net.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities under the Securities Act may be
permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling SourcingLink.net
pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, we have been informed that in
the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
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1,250,064 SHARES
[LOGO]
SOURCINGLINK.NET, INC.
COMMON STOCK
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PROSPECTUS
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DECEMBER 22, 1999
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