<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 5, 1997
REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
---------------
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
---------------
PREMIERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
GEORGIA 59-3074176
<S> <C>
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION OR (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
ORGANIZATION)
</TABLE>
3399 PEACHTREE ROAD, N.E.
LENOX BUILDING, SUITE 400
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30326
(404) 262-8400
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
BOLAND T. JONES
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PREMIERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
3399 PEACHTREE ROAD, N.E.
LENOX BUILDING, SUITE 400
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30326
(404) 262-8400
(NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
THE COMMISSION IS REQUESTED TO SEND COPIES OF ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO:
JOEL J. HUGHEY PATRICK G. JONES GLENN W. STURM
ALSTON & BIRD LLP SENIOR VICE JAMES WALKER IV
ONE ATLANTIC CENTER PRESIDENT FINANCE NELSON MULLINS
1201 WEST PEACHTREE AND LEGAL PREMIERE RILEY &
STREET ATLANTA, TECHNOLOGIES, INC. SCARBOROUGH, L.L.P.
GEORGIA 30309-3424 3399 PEACHTREE FIRST UNION PLAZA,
(404) 881-7000 ROAD, N.E. LENOX SUITE 1400 999
BUILDING, SUITE 400 PEACHTREE STREET,
ATLANTA, GEORGIA N.E. ATLANTA,
30326 (404) 262- GEORGIA 30309 (404)
8400 817-6000
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the
following box. [_]
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [_]
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering: [_]
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering: [_]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box: [_]
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================
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<CAPTION>
PROPOSED MAXIMUM PROPOSED MAXIMUM
AMOUNT TO BE AGGREGATE AGGREGATE PRICE AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF SHARES TO BE REGISTERED REGISTERED OFFERING PRICE (1) PER SHARE (1) REGISTRATION FEE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
share.......................... 3,373,910 $113,869,463 $33.75 $34,506
</TABLE>
================================================================================
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457(c) based upon the average of the high and low price
of the Registrant's Common Stock on October 30, 1997 as reported on the
Nasdaq National Market.
---------------
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID
SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
===============================================================================
<PAGE>
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 5, 1997
PROSPECTUS
, 1997
2,933,835 SHARES
[LOGO OF PREMIERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC. APPEARS HERE]
COMMON STOCK
All of the 2,933,835 shares (the "Shares") of common stock, $0.01 par value
per share (the "Common Stock"), of Premiere Technologies, Inc., a Georgia
corporation ("Premiere" or the "Company"), offered hereby (the "Offering") are
being sold by certain selling shareholders of the Company (the "Selling
Shareholders"). See "Principal and Selling Shareholders." The Company will not
receive any of the proceeds from the sale of Shares by the Selling
Shareholders.
The Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"PTEK." On November 4, 1997, the last reported sales price on the Nasdaq
National Market was $34 3/8 per share. See "Price Range of Common Stock and
Dividend Policy."
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 9 FOR INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS
THE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRICE UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS TO
TO THE DISCOUNTS AND THE SELLING
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS(1) SHAREHOLDERS(2)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Per Share................................. $ $ $
Total(3).................................. $ $ $
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) The Company and the Selling Shareholders have agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). See
"Underwriting."
(2) The Company will pay expenses in connection with the Offering estimated at
$600,000.
(3) The Company has granted the Underwriters an option, exercisable within 30
days of the date hereof, to purchase up to 440,075 additional shares of
Common Stock at the Price to the Public less Underwriting Discounts and
Commissions, solely to cover over-allotments, if any. If such option is
exercised in full, the total Price to the Public and Underwriting Discounts
and Commissions will be $ and $ , respectively, and the
Proceeds to the Company will be $ (before deducting expenses estimated
at $600,000, which will be paid by the Company). See "Underwriting."
The shares of Common Stock are being offered by the several Underwriters
when, as and if delivered to and accepted by the Underwriters against payment
therefor and subject to various prior conditions, including their right to
reject orders in whole or in part. It is expected that the delivery of share
certificates representing the Common Stock will be made in New York, New York
on or about , 1997.
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
SECURITIES CORPORATION
BANCAMERICA ROBERTSON STEPHENS
BT ALEX.BROWN
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A +
+REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE +
+SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY +
+OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT +
+BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR +
+THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE +
+SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE +
+UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF +
+ANY SUCH STATE. +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
<PAGE>
CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE COMMON STOCK.
SPECIFICALLY, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVERALLOT IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING
AND MAY BID FOR AND PURCHASE SHARES OF THE COMMON STOCK IN THE OPEN MARKET.
FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING."
----------------
THIS PROSPECTUS INCLUDES PRODUCT NAMES, TRADE NAMES, SERVICE MARKS AND
TRADEMARKS OF PREMIERE AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND OTHER COMPANIES INCLUDING,
WITHOUT LIMITATION, PREMIERE WORLDLINK, ORCHESTRATESM, VOICE-TEL(TM),
VOICECOM(TM) AND VOICECOM ACCESS ONESM.
2
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to, and
should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed information, including
"Risk Factors" and financial statements and notes thereto, appearing elsewhere
or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated,
the information in this Prospectus assumes no exercise of the Underwriters'
over-allotment option. See "Underwriting." This Prospectus contains forward-
looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual
results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-
looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are
not limited to, those discussed in "Risk Factors." Unless otherwise indicated,
the terms "Premiere" and the "Company" refer collectively to Premiere
Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
THE COMPANY
Premiere designs, develops, markets and provides enhanced personal
communications services. The Company's network-based computer telephony
technology links together two or more stand-alone communications services, such
as calling card long distance, voice mail, e-mail, fax mail and paging, and
allows access to these services through telephones or computers. The Company
bundles these stand-alone services to allow users to store, manage, prioritize,
deliver and distribute incoming and outgoing information in an easy, efficient
and economical manner. Although Premiere offers stand-alone communications
services, it primarily targets users who have multiple communications devices
and a need to integrate them for greater functionality and convenience.
Today, many stand-alone communications services are provided through legacy
systems, including landline telephone systems, messaging devices and LANs, that
reside in whole or in part at a customer's location. The architecture of the
customer premises equipment, or "CPE," that comprises such systems is often
closed in nature, which makes integration with other systems and networks
difficult and expensive. However, users are increasingly demanding that their
legacy CPE be integrated with more open and intelligent worldwide
communications networks such as the Internet. The Company believes that, due to
the complexity of such integration, users will increasingly outsource their
communications requirements to third parties such as Premiere. Premiere
believes that customers will prefer the Company's network-based service
solution for personal communications to traditional CPE-based product solutions
because the Company's solution reduces customers' costs of equipment ownership
and exposure to technology obsolescence.
The core of the Premiere solution is its "intelligent network" which links,
or integrates, stand-alone communications services using technology developed
by the Company's research and development team. The intelligent network
consists of (i) a state-of-the-art proprietary platform that integrates digital
switching technology with enhanced personal communications features and (ii) a
private frame relay digital messaging network. The Company's modular and
scaleable intelligent network incorporates an open-system design, which allows
the Company to easily expand capacity and provides the Company with the
flexibility to develop and customize its service offerings. Premiere offers
bundled services in a variety of packages and tailors these packages to meet
the requirements of strategic marketing and co-brand partners. Premiere's
private frame relay network, with approximately 210 points of presence
("POPs"), reaches approximately 90% of the United States population and
approximately 100% of the Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand populations via
local access. Premiere anticipates reaching a significant portion of the United
Kingdom population via local access in the near future. The Company plans to
invest $40-$50 million in capital expenditures over the next 12 months as part
of its effort to integrate its proprietary platform with its recently acquired
private frame relay network. Once integration is completed, the Company
believes that its intelligent network will allow the Company to offer its
customers enhanced personal communications services through either local or 800
access via telephone or computer.
3
<PAGE>
The Company currently markets its services: (i) directly under the Premiere
WorldLink, Voice-Tel, VoiceCom and VoiceCom Access One names; (ii) indirectly
through strategic partners such as American Express Travel Related Services,
Inc. ("American Express") and CompuServe Incorporated ("CompuServe");
(iii) indirectly through co-brand relationships with Companies such as First
Union National Bank ("First Union"), Discover Card Services, Inc. ("Discover
Card") and others; and (iv) indirectly through licensing or wholesale
arrangements with companies including WorldCom, Inc. ("WorldCom"), NationsBanc
Services, Inc. ("NationsBank"), an affiliate of NationsBank Corporation,
UniDial, Incorporated ("UniDial") and Cincinnati Bell Long Distance. Although
Premiere has historically focused its direct marketing efforts on print
advertising and direct mailings targeted at mobile professionals, the Company
recently acquired a nationwide direct sales force with a national accounts
program.
CUSTOMER CASE STUDIES
Some examples of Premiere's enhanced personal communications services, which
illustrate the convenience of and benefits provided by Premiere's technology
innovations and intelligent network, include the following:
E-mail Over the Phone. A consultant calls in to hear her voice mail messages.
During the same call, she can have her e-mail messages read to her over the
phone via Premiere's text-to-speech technology and save, delete, forward or
return all of her e-mail messages using one of a list of preprogrammed
responses.
Personal Assistant Services. A field salesperson presents a bid to a project
approval committee. After submitting her proposal, she leaves for her next
meeting. Upon review of the proposal, the committee notices several issues that
need immediate clarification. Rather than trying to track down the salesperson
at multiple locations, the committee calls her personal assistant number, which
automatically locates her by pager, which she had designated as her preferred
method of contact on that day. If she has selected the "call connect" feature,
she can call the Premiere platform and automatically be connected to the
committee's incoming call.
The Company's Orchestrate product, which currently is in limited release, is
expected to offer the following additional features:
Universal Inbox. A busy executive can go to any Internet browser-enabled
computer to check all of his messages -- voice mail, e-mail and fax mail. After
looking at a list of incoming voice and text messages, he can choose which
messages to hear or read. He can then choose to save, delete, forward or return
his messages.
Click 'n' Call Conference Calling. A manager with employees in eight
different offices holds weekly staff meetings by conference call. Rather than
going through the time and expense of arranging for a conference bridge with an
outside supplier, he is able to go to his computer, click on his contact
database list with his mouse and initiate the conference call without ever
picking up a telephone. After initiating the conference call, the manager
simply answers the call that the Premiere platform places to his telephone,
enters his account and PIN numbers and presses the "star" key to command the
Premiere platform to add additional parties sequentially. In the future,
features are expected to include muting and addition and deletion of selected
callers.
STRATEGY
Premiere's goal is to become the world's leading provider of network-based
enhanced personal communications services. The Company's strategy to achieve
this goal is to:
Increase Service Offerings and Cross-Media Functionality. The Company
believes that changes in technology continually create new business
opportunities for providers of enhanced personal communications services. The
Company continually strives to make its interfaces more user friendly and its
services functionally equivalent regardless of the customer's chosen access
device or message transport medium. For example, the Company has introduced
such features as text-to-speech e-mail delivery, a unified messaging interface
utilizing the World Wide Web ("Web") and an integrated Web-based contact
database manager. Possible future service features include, among others,
speech recognition.
4
<PAGE>
Leverage Network Facilities. To date, the majority of the Company's services
have been accessed by 800 toll free service. The Company recently acquired an
international private frame relay network. Once fully integrated with the
Company's proprietary platform, the Company plans to use the private frame
relay network and local messaging systems to provide users local access to
certain of its enhanced services, which the Company believes will make its
enhanced personal communications services more attractive to a broader market.
In addition, through transitioning more of its subscribers to local access,
Premiere expects to realize a reduction in transmission costs.
Expand Customer Base and Distribution Channels. The Company believes that an
increasing number of businesses will transition their communications systems
from CPE-based products to network-based services. Premiere believes that a
substantial opportunity exists to meet the outsourcing needs of these
companies. The Company intends to use its direct sales force and national
accounts program as part of its effort to expand its customer base and to
improve cross-selling of its services. Premiere also plans to continue to enter
into strategic alliances and wholesale and licensing relationships in order to
reach additional customers that the Company believes are likely to be extensive
users of its services.
Pursue Strategic Acquisitions. Historically, the Company has engaged in
acquisitions in order to obtain new technology, build its infrastructure and
increase its sales force and customer base. The Company intends to continue to
examine acquisition and joint venture opportunities, which may accelerate its
growth, add new customers, develop new technologies or penetrate new geographic
markets. See "-- Recent Developments."
Expand International Presence. Premiere intends to deliver its services to
more international users through strategic partnerships, third-party
distribution agreements, direct sales efforts and relationships with existing
customers that have international operations. To accommodate these prospective
users, Premiere has opened a data and switching center in London and has also
begun development of a similar center in Toronto. Targeting the Pacific Rim,
Premiere expects to begin installation of a data and switching center in New
Zealand during 1998. These international centers are designed to reduce
transmission costs associated with system access from international locations
and to allow Premiere to more effectively pursue opportunities with
international customers and strategic partners. Additionally, the Company
expects to increase the international scope of its private frame relay network
by installing POPs in additional overseas locations, specifically targeting the
United Kingdom for local messaging in the near future.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
VOICE-TEL ACQUISITIONS
On June 12, 1997, the Company announced the completion of the acquisitions of
Voice-Tel Enterprises, Inc. ("VTE"), its affiliate Voice-Tel Network Limited
Partnership ("VTN") and substantially all of its franchisees (the
"Franchisees") (VTE, VTN and such Franchisees are collectively referred to as
the "Voice-Tel Entities" or "Voice-Tel," and such acquisitions are referred to
collectively as the "Voice-Tel Acquisitions"). The Voice-Tel Entities provide
interactive digital voice messaging products on a service bureau basis through
approximately 210 POPs in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Australia and
New Zealand, reaching approximately 90% of the United States population and
approximately 100% of the Canadian, Australian and New Zealand populations via
local access. In connection with the Voice-Tel Acquisitions, Premiere acquired
various components of, and now operates, VoiceTel's digital private frame relay
network and POPs.
Premiere believes that the Voice-Tel Acquisitions will broaden the Company's
customer base by allowing the Company to offer local access to certain of its
enhanced personal communications services. While the Company's measured 800
access products have appealed primarily to a mobile customer base, Premiere
believes that a local access product will appeal to a broader base of
customers. In addition to the anticipated advantages
5
<PAGE>
of interconnected local access, the Voice-Tel Acquisitions provide the Company
with a direct sales force of approximately 300 persons in four countries, an
expanded subscriber base and the potential for greater cross-selling
opportunities. The Company is currently consolidating these separate businesses
by eliminating duplicative and unnecessary costs, merging them under common
management and integrating Voice-Tel's service offerings, operations and
systems with those of the Company. In connection with the Voice-Tel
Acquisitions, the Company took a charge in the second quarter of 1997 of
approximately $45.4 million, consisting of transaction expenses and
restructuring and related costs attributable to the Voice-Tel Acquisitions. See
"Risk Factors -- Integration of Voice-Tel Acquisitions."
VOICECOM ACQUISITION
Effective September 30, 1997, Premiere acquired approximately 97.5% of the
outstanding capital stock of VoiceCom Holdings, Inc. ("VoiceCom") in exchange
for approximately 445,737 shares of Premiere Common Stock. In addition,
Premiere converted existing VoiceCom options into options to acquire
approximately 76,054 shares of Premiere Common Stock. VoiceCom, based in
Atlanta, Georgia, is a provider of personal communications management services
and telecommunication outsourcing solutions to large corporations, government
entities and mobile professionals. Its service offerings include voice
messaging, mobile communications, full-service conference calling and voice
response programming.
The VoiceCom acquisition provides Premiere with Fortune 500 customers,
including Abbott Laboratories ("Abbott Labs"), Beverly Enterprises, Inc.
("Beverly Enterprises") and ConAgra, Inc. ("ConAgra"). The Company plans to
cross-sell its product offerings to VoiceCom's customer base. In connection
with the VoiceCom acquisition, the Company will take a charge in the third
quarter of 1997, consisting of transaction expenses and restructuring and
related costs attributable to the VoiceCom acquisition.
XPEDITE SYSTEMS, INC.
The Company recently submitted to Xpedite Systems, Inc. ("Xpedite") (Nasdaq:
XPED) an offer to enter into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which
Premiere would acquire Xpedite in a stock-for-stock merger which is intended to
qualify as a "pooling of interests" for accounting purposes and as a tax-free
reorganization. Xpedite is a provider of computer and fax-based services
focused primarily on high volume electronic document distribution. Under the
terms of the Company's offer, each share of Xpedite common stock would be
converted into $30 of Premiere's Common Stock, the precise exchange ratio to be
based on the average trading price of Premiere Common Stock prior to closing,
subject to certain limitations. Premiere cannot predict whether its offer will
be acceptable to Xpedite's board of directors or Xpedite's or Premiere's
shareholders, whether an agreement will be reached with Xpedite on the terms of
the definitive merger agreement or whether necessary approvals will be obtained
or any other condition precedent to such transaction will be satisfied. If a
definitive agreement is entered into, consummation of the merger would be
conditioned on, among other things, approval of the shareholders of both
Xpedite and Premiere, consummation of Xpedite's pending acquisition of Xpedite
Systems, Limited, its U.K. affiliate, pursuant to the terms of their existing
purchase agreement and compliance with the premerger notification requirements
of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and of the European
Community.
ADDITIONS AND CHANGES TO MANAGEMENT
To support its continuing growth, the Company has recently added new
management personnel. These additions have included Jeffrey A. Allred,
Executive Vice President of Strategic Development; Curtis L. Garner, Jr.,
President of Premiere Communications, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company
("PCI"); William E. Welsh, President of VTE; and Randolph W. Salisbury, Senior
Vice President of Marketing of PCI. See "Management." In addition, D. Gregory
Smith, a co-founder of the Company, recently resigned as director, Executive
Vice President and Assistant Secretary of the Company and as a director and
officer of PCI and certain other subsidiaries of the Company. See "Risk
Factors -- Dependence on Key Management and Personnel."
6
<PAGE>
THE OFFERING
<TABLE>
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Common Stock offered by the
Selling
Shareholders................. 2,933,835 shares
Common Stock outstanding after
the
Offering(1).................. 32,235,160 shares
Use of proceeds............... The Company will not receive any of the proceeds
from the sale of Shares by the Selling
Shareholders. Assuming the Underwriters
exercise the over-allotment option, the Company
intends to use the net proceeds therefrom for
general corporate purposes, including capital
expenditures and working capital, and for
possible future acquisitions of complimentary
businesses, products or technologies. See "Use
of Proceeds."
Nasdaq National Market symbol. PTEK
</TABLE>
- --------------------
(1) Includes 402,748 shares of Exchangeable Non-Voting Shares of Voice-Tel
Canada Limited, a subsidiary of the Company (the "Exchangeable Shares"),
issued to the former shareholders of the Canadian Voice-Tel Entities, which
are convertible at any time into a like number of shares of Common Stock,
and of which 72,908 are being converted and sold in this Offering.
Excludes: (i) 10,389,362 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
options and warrants outstanding as of November 2, 1997 with a weighted
average exercise price of $10.54; (ii) approximately 5,227,000 shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Company's 5 3/4% Convertible
Subordinated Notes due 2004 (the "Convertible Notes").
7
<PAGE>
SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth certain consolidated financial and other
operating data of the Company. This information should be read in conjunction
with the selected financial data of the Company set forth under "Use of
Proceeds," "Selected Consolidated Financial Data," "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the financial
statements of the Company, including the notes thereto, which are incorporated
herein by reference in this Prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIX MONTHS
ENDED
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30,
------------------------- ---------------
1994 1995 1996 1996 1997
(UNAUDITED)
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenues............................ $61,790 $91,016 $142,154 $65,598 $85,936
Gross margin........................ 47,801 70,222 108,961 50,286 65,186
Operating income (loss)(1).......... (4,959) 8,199 5,856 8,138 (28,196)
Net income (loss)(1)................ (6,846) 4,924 3,016 6,109 (23,605)
Pro forma net income (loss)
attributable to common shareholders
for primary earnings per share(2).. (7,001) 5,105 2,987 6,109 (22,332)
Pro forma net income (loss) per
common and common equivalent shares
-- primary(1)(3)................... $ (0.54) $ 0.21 $ 0.10 $ 0.22 $ (0.67)
Shares used in computing earnings
per common and common equivalent
shares -- primary.................. 13,012 24,658 28,801 28,162 33,156
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
JUNE 30, 1997
-----------------------
ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED(4)
(UNAUDITED)
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash, cash equivalents and investments.................. $179,250 $193,078
Working capital......................................... 151,838 165,666
Total assets............................................ 313,236 327,063
Total debt.............................................. 159,771 159,771
Total shareholders' equity.............................. 94,281 108,110
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Excluding charges for purchased research and development and accrued
litigation and settlement costs incurred by the Company in the amounts of
approximately $0 and $2.5 million, respectively, in fiscal 1995, and
approximately $11.0 million and $1.3 million, respectively, in fiscal 1996,
operating income, net income and pro forma net income per share would have
been approximately $10.7 million, $7.4 million and $0.31, respectively, for
1995 and approximately $18.1 million, $15.3 million and $0.53,
respectively, for 1996. Excluding charges for restructuring and other
special charges attributable to the Voice-Tel Acquisitions and accrued
litigation and settlement costs of $45.4 million and $1.5 million,
respectively, operating income, net income and pro forma net income per
share would have been approximately $18.7 million, $23.3 million and $0.74,
respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 1997.
(2) Supplementary pro forma earnings per share assuming the conversion of
Series A Preferred Stock and the retirement of notes payable for the year
ended December 31, 1995 are not presented because the effect of the pro
forma adjustments is immaterial.
(3) Pro forma net income (loss) per share is computed using the weighted
average number of shares of common stock and dilutive common stock
equivalents from convertible preferred stock (using the if-converted
method) and from stock options (using the modified treasury stock method).
Fully diluted data is not presented as the effect is anti-dilutive or
immaterial for all periods presented. For the year ended December 31, 1994,
earnings per share was not calculated under the modified treasury stock
method as the results were antidilutive. Accordingly, basic earnings per
share was used for the year ended December 31, 1994.
(4) Assuming the Underwriters exercise the over-allotment option, adjusted to
give effect to the sale by the Company of 440,075 shares of Common Stock at
an assumed public offering price of $34 3/8 and the application of the net
proceeds therefrom as set forth under "Use of Proceeds."
8
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
Prospective purchasers of the Common Stock offered hereby should carefully
consider the risk factors set forth below, as well as the other information
contained in this Prospectus, in evaluating an investment in the Common Stock.
This Prospectus and the documents incorporated herein contain certain forward-
looking statements which are inherently uncertain. The Company's actual
results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-
looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those set forth
below and elsewhere in this Prospectus.
INTEGRATION OF VOICE-TEL ACQUISITIONS
In June 1997, the Company completed the acquisitions of the Voice-Tel
Entities. Prior to the acquisitions, the Voice-Tel Entities operated
approximately 210 POPs in five countries. VTE operated as a franchisor, and
each of the approximately 100 Franchisees was independently owned and
operated. The Company is in the process of consolidating these separate
businesses by eliminating duplicative and unnecessary costs and merging them
under common management. Potential challenges to the successful consolidation
of the Voice-Tel Entities include, but are not limited to: (i) centralization
and consolidation of financial, operational and administrative functions; (ii)
consolidation of the service centers, network and work force; (iii)
elimination of unnecessary costs; and (iv) realization of economies of scale.
The Company is in the process of integrating Voice-Tel's service offerings,
operations and systems with those of the Company, and therefore, the Voice-Tel
integration plans may materially change in the future. Challenges to the
successful integration of the Voice-Tel Entities include, but are not limited
to: (i) localization of Premiere products; (ii) integration of the Premiere
platform with the Voice-Tel network; (iii) cross-selling of products and
services to the combined Company's customer base; (iv) integration of new
personnel; and (v) compliance with regulatory requirements.
Because of the size and fragmented nature of the facilities and businesses
of the Voice-Tel Entities and the technical complexity of integrating the
Company's products with those of Voice-Tel, the integration process is
particularly complex and will place significant demands on the Company's
management, engineering, financial and other resources. There can be no
assurance that the Voice-Tel Entities will be successfully consolidated or
integrated with the Company's operations on schedule or at all, that the
Voice-Tel Acquisitions will result in sufficient net sales or earnings to
justify the Company's investment therein or the expenses related thereto, or
that operational synergies will develop. The successful consolidation of the
Voice-Tel Entities and their integration into the Company's operations are
critical to the Company's future performance, especially because the combined
revenues for the Voice-Tel Entities approximated 70.9% and 54.3% of the
Company's revenues in fiscal year 1996 and the six months ended June 30, 1997,
respectively. Failure to successfully consolidate and integrate the Voice-Tel
Entities or to achieve operating synergies would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations.
In connection with the Voice-Tel Acquisitions, the Company took a charge in
the second quarter of 1997 of approximately $45.4 million, consisting of
transaction expenses and restructuring and related costs attributable to the
Voice-Tel Acquisitions. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations -- Restructuring and Other Special
Charges." The amount of the charge is based on the Company's current estimate
as to the amount of the costs and expenses that will be incurred. There can be
no assurance that the actual amount of the costs and expenses incurred will
not exceed such estimate. If the actual amount of the costs and expenses
exceeds the Company's estimate, the Company may take additional charges in the
future. In addition, the Company has recorded approximately $14.8 million of
goodwill and other intangible assets in connection with the Voice-Tel
Acquisitions. The Company is amortizing the goodwill on a straight-line basis
over 40 years, and the Company believes the useful life of the Voice-Tel
Entities to be at least 40 years. If the amortization period is accelerated
due to a reevaluation of the useful life of the Voice-Tel Entities or
otherwise, amortization expense may initially increase on a quarterly basis or
require a write-down of the goodwill. An increase in the rate of amortization
of goodwill or future write-downs and restructuring charges could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
results of operations.
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COMPETITION
The market for the Company's services is intensely competitive, rapidly
evolving and subject to rapid technological change. The Company expects
competition to increase in the future. Many of the Company's current and
potential competitors have longer operating histories, greater name
recognition, larger customer bases and substantially greater financial,
personnel, marketing, engineering, technical and other resources than the
Company. The Company believes that existing competitors are likely to expand
their service offerings and that new competitors are likely to enter the
personal communications market and to attempt to integrate such services,
resulting in greater competition for the Company. Such competition could have
a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
results of operations.
The Company attempts to differentiate itself from its competitors by
offering an integrated suite of enhanced personal communications services.
Other providers currently offer each of the individual services and certain
combinations of the services offered by the Company. The Company's worldwide
mobile communications services and features compete with services provided by
companies such as AT&T Corp. ("AT&T"), MCI Communications Corp. ("MCI") and
Sprint Corp. ("Sprint") as well as smaller interexchange long distance
providers. The Company's voice mail services, including those acquired in the
Voice-Tel Acquisitions and the VoiceCom acquisition, compete with voice mail
services provided by AT&T, certain regional Bell Operating Companies ("RBOCs")
and other service bureaus as well as by equipment manufacturers, such as Octel
Communications Corporation ("Octel"), Northern Telecom, Inc. ("Northern
Telecom"), Siemens Business Communications Systems, Inc. ("Siemens"),
Centigram Communications Corporation ("Centigram"), Boston Technology, Inc.
("Boston Technology") and Digital Sound Corporation ("Digital Sound"). The
Company's enhanced travel, concierge, news and e-mail services compete with
services provided by America Online, Inc. ("America Online"), Prodigy Services
Co. ("Prodigy") and numerous Internet service providers. The Company's paging
services compete with paging services offered by companies such as AT&T and
MCI.
When fully implemented, the Company's Orchestrate service is expected to
compete with products offered by companies such as Octel, Microsoft Corp.
("Microsoft"), Novell, Inc. ("Novell"), Lucent Technologies, Inc. ("Lucent")
and numerous other entities. In addition, the number of companies offering
call center technology, including AT&T, MCI and Lucent, has grown dramatically
over the past few years, primarily in response to major outsource initiatives
and significantly lower technology costs. The Company expects that other
parties will develop and implement information and telecommunications service
platforms similar to its platform, thereby increasing competition for the
Company's services. For example, Octel and Microsoft recently announced a
service, called "Unified Messenger," which places all voice mail, e-mail and
fax messages in a single mailbox accessible by computer or telephone.
In addition, on February 8, 1996, President Clinton signed into law the
Telecommunications Act of 1996, as amended (the "1996 Act"), which allows
local exchange carriers ("LECs"), including the RBOCs, to provide long
distance telephone service between Local Access and Transport Areas ("LATAs"),
which will likely significantly increase competition for long distance
services. The new legislation also grants the Federal Communications
Commission (the "FCC") the authority to deregulate other aspects of the
telecommunications industry, which in the future may, if authorized by the
FCC, facilitate the offering of an integrated suite of information and
telecommunications services by regulated entities, including the RBOCs, in
competition with the Company. Such increased competition could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations.
Telecommunications companies compete for consumers based on price, with
major long distance carriers conducting extensive advertising campaigns to
capture market share. There can be no assurance that a decrease in the rates
charged for communications services by the major long distance carriers or
other competitors, whether caused by general competitive pressures or the
entry of the RBOCs and other LECs into the long distance market, would not
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations.
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The Company expects that the information and telecommunications services
markets will continue to attract new competitors and new technologies,
possibly including alternative technologies that are more sophisticated and
cost effective than the technology of the Company. The Company does not have
the contractual right to prevent its Premiere WorldLink subscribers from
changing to a competing network, and the Company's subscribers may generally
terminate their service with the Company at will. See "Business --
Competition."
DEPENDENCE ON KEY MANAGEMENT AND PERSONNEL
The Company's success is largely dependent upon its executive officers and
other key personnel, the loss of one or more of whom could have a material
adverse effect on the Company. The Company believes that its continued success
will depend to a significant extent upon the efforts and abilities of Boland
T. Jones, Chairman and President, and certain other key executives. Mr. Jones
has entered into an employment agreement with the Company which expires in
December 1999, and the Company maintains key man life insurance on Mr. Jones
in the amount of $3.0 million. See "Management." D. Gregory Smith, a co-
founder of the Company, recently resigned as director, Executive Vice
President and Assistant Secretary of the Company and as a director and officer
of PCI and certain other subsidiaries of the Company. See "Prospectus Summary
- -- Recent Developments -- Additions and Changes to Management."
The Company also believes that to be successful it must hire and retain
highly qualified engineering and product development personnel. Competition in
the recruitment of highly qualified personnel in the information and
telecommunications services industry is intense. The inability of the Company
to locate, hire and retain such personnel may have a material adverse effect
on the Company. No assurance can be given that the Company will be able to
retain its key employees or that it will be able to attract qualified
personnel in the future.
ABILITY TO MANAGE GROWTH; ACQUISITION RISKS
The Company has experienced substantial growth in revenue and personnel in
recent years. A substantial portion of such growth has been accomplished
through acquisitions, including the Voice-Tel Acquisitions and the recent
acquisition of VoiceCom. The Company's growth has placed significant demands
on all aspects of the Company's business, including its administrative,
technical and financial personnel and systems. Additional expansion by the
Company may further strain the Company's management, financial and other
resources. There can be no assurance that the Company's systems, procedures,
controls and existing space will be adequate to support expansion of the
Company's operations. The Company's future operating results will
substantially depend on the ability of its officers and key employees to
manage changing business conditions and to implement and improve its
technical, administrative, financial control and reporting systems. If the
Company is unable to respond to and manage changing business conditions, then
the quality of the Company's services, its ability to retain key personnel and
its results of operations could be materially adversely affected. At certain
stages of growth in network usage, the Company is required to add capacity to
its computer telephony platform and its digital central office switches and
will need to continually add capacity to its frame relay and local voice
messaging network, thus requiring the Company continuously to attempt to
predict growth in its network usage and add capacity accordingly. Difficulties
in managing continued growth, including difficulties in predicting the growth
in network usage, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company is currently considering and expects to regularly evaluate
acquisition opportunities and intends to grow in substantial part through
acquisitions of complementary services, products, technologies and businesses.
The Company recently submitted to Xpedite an offer to enter into a definitive
merger agreement pursuant to which Premiere would acquire Xpedite in a stock-
for-stock merger which is intended to qualify as a "pooling of interests" for
accounting purposes and as a tax-free reorganization. Xpedite is a provider of
computer and fax-based services focused primarily on high volume electronic
document distribution. Under the terms of the Company's offer, each share of
Xpedite common stock would be converted into $30 of Premiere's Common Stock,
the precise exchange ratio to be based on the average trading price of
Premiere Common Stock prior to closing, subject to certain limitations.
Premiere cannot predict whether its offer will be acceptable to Xpedite's
board of directors or Xpedite's or Premiere's shareholders, whether an
agreement will be reached with Xpedite on the terms of the definitive merger
agreement or whether necessary approvals will be obtained or any other
condition precedent to such transaction will be satisfied. If a definitive
agreement is entered into,
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consummation of the merger would be conditioned on, among other things,
approval of the shareholders of both Xpedite and Premiere, consummation of
Xpedite's pending acquisition of Xpedite Systems, Limited, its U.K. affiliate,
pursuant to the terms of their existing purchase agreement and compliance with
the premerger notification requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act and of the European Community. See "Prospectus Summary --
Recent Developments -- Xpedite Systems, Inc."
Acquisitions may result in potentially dilutive issuances of equity
securities, the incurrence of additional debt, the assumption of known and
unknown liabilities, the write-off of software development costs and the
amortization of expenses related to goodwill and other intangible assets, all
of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations. For example, the Voice-Tel
Entities and VoiceCom established reserves for certain potential tax
liabilities that management believes to be adequate based on certain
assumptions which management believes are reasonable. If, however, such
assumptions prove to be incorrect and the potential liabilities ultimately
exceed established reserves, the Company's business, financial condition and
results of operations could be materially adversely affected. The Company has
taken, and in the future may take, charges in connection with acquisitions. In
connection with the Voice-Tel Acquisitions, the Company took a charge of
approximately $45.4 million, and the Company expects to take a charge in
connection with the VoiceCom acquisition. The Company may take additional
charges in connection with future acquisitions. There can be no assurance that
the costs and expenses incurred will not exceed the estimates upon which such
charges are based. Acquisitions also involve numerous additional risks,
including difficulties in the assimilation of the operations, services,
products and personnel of the acquired company, the diversion of management's
attention from other business concerns, entering markets in which the Company
has little or no direct prior experience and the potential loss of key
employees of the acquired company. The Company is unable to predict whether or
when any prospective acquisition candidate will become available or the
likelihood that any acquisition will be completed.
RELIANCE ON AMWAY RELATIONSHIP
Historically, the Voice-Tel Entities have relied on sales through Amway
Corporation ("Amway") for a substantial portion of their revenue. Such sales
accounted for approximately 44.5%, 32.9% and 28.4% of the Company's revenue
for 1995, 1996 and the six months ended June 30, 1997, respectively. Amway's
relationship with VTE commenced in 1990 when VTE began managing the voice
messaging operations previously conducted by Amway's subsidiary, Amvox, Inc.
("Amvox"). VTE subsequently acquired and franchised the former Amvox service
centers from Amway in exchange for an equity interest in VTE. Amway later
invested in the development of the private frame relay digital messaging
network through VTN. As a result of these transactions, Amway also became the
single largest equity holder in VTE and VTN. VTE and Amway have entered into a
service and reseller agreement (the "Amway Agreement") providing, among other
things, for the sale by VTE of voice messaging and network transmission
services on an exclusive basis to Amway in the United States, Canada, New
Zealand and Australia for resale by Amway to its independent distributors
under the "Amvox" tradename. The Amway Agreement does not bind the Amway
distributors, who are free to acquire messaging services from alternative
vendors. The Amway Agreement may be canceled by either party upon 180 days
prior written notice or upon shorter notice in the event of a breach. The
Amway Agreement does not prohibit VTE from continuing to provide voice
messaging and network transmission services to Amway's distributors following
termination of the Amway Agreement. However, in the event that Amway
recommended a voice messaging and network transmission services provider other
than the Company, there can be no assurance that Amway's distributors would
not follow such recommendation. Amway intends to sell a significant portion of
the Common Stock that it acquired in the Voice-Tel Acquisitions in this
Offering. See "Principal and Selling Shareholders." Such sale will decrease
Amway's interest in the Company and may increase the possibility that Amway
will recommend a voice messaging and network transmission services provider
other than the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company's
relationship with Amway and the Amway distributors will continue at historical
levels or at all, nor can there be any assurance of long-term price protection
for services provided to Amway. Loss or diminution in the Amway relationship,
or a decrease in average sales price without an offsetting increase in volume,
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition and results of operations.
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TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE; RISK OF OBSOLESCENCE; DEPENDENCE ON NEW SERVICES
The market for the Company's services is characterized by rapid
technological change, frequent new product introductions and evolving industry
standards. The Company's future success will depend in significant part on its
ability to anticipate industry standards, continue to apply advances in
technologies, enhance its current services, develop and introduce new services
in a timely fashion, enhance its software and its computer telephony platform
and compete successfully with products and services based on evolving or new
technologies. The Company expects new products and services, and enhancements
to existing products and services, to be developed and introduced which will
compete with the services offered by the Company. Among the new and evolving
technologies with which the Company expects to compete are notebook computers
equipped with sound cards, fax modems and cellular modems, portable Internet
appliances which would allow connection to the Internet over wireless networks
and personal digital assistants with enhanced communications features. In
addition, aspects of the Company's Orchestrate product line, currently
available under a limited release, is expected to compete within markets where
larger companies are working to provide a unified messaging solution. The
Company is also aware that products currently exist which provide text-to-
voice e-mail conversion and "call connect/call screening" services.
The Voice-Tel Acquisitions constitute a significant investment by the
Company in a frame relay network architecture. Alternative architectures
currently exist, and technological advances may result in the development of
additional network architectures. There can be no assurance that the
telecommunications industry will not standardize on a protocol other than
frame relay or that the Company's frame relay architecture will not become
obsolete. Such events would require the Company to invest significant capital
in upgrading or replacing its frame relay network and could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations.
The Company must continually introduce new products in response to evolving
industry standards and customer demands for enhancements to the Company's
existing products. There can be no assurance that: (i) the Company will be
successful in developing and marketing service enhancements or new services
that respond to these or other technological changes or evolving industry
standards; (ii) the Company will not experience difficulties that could delay
or prevent the successful development, introduction and marketing of its
services, including Orchestrate; or (iii) its new services and the
enhancements thereto will adequately meet the requirements of the marketplace
and achieve market acceptance. Delays in the introduction of new services, the
inability of the Company to develop such new services or the failure of such
services to achieve market acceptance could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
UNCERTAINTY OF MARKET ACCEPTANCE OF COMPUTER TELEPHONY
The Company's future success depends upon the market acceptance of its
existing and future computer telephony product lines and services. Computer
telephony integrates the functionality of telephones and computers and thus
represents a departure from standards for information and telecommunications
services. Market acceptance of computer telephony products and services
generally requires that individuals and enterprises accept a new way of
exchanging information. The Company believes that broad market acceptance of
its computer telephony product lines and services will depend on several
factors, including ease of use, price, reliability, access and quality of
service, system security, product functionality and the effectiveness of
strategic marketing and distribution relationships. There can be no assurance
that the Company's computer telephony products will achieve broad market
acceptance or that such market acceptance will occur at the rate which the
Company currently anticipates. A decline in the demand for, or the failure to
achieve broad market acceptance of, the Company's computer telephony product
lines and services would have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations.
LIMITED PROTECTION OF PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AND TECHNOLOGY
The Company relies primarily on a combination of intellectual property laws
and contractual provisions to protect its proprietary rights and technology.
These laws and contractual provisions provide only limited protection of the
Company's proprietary rights and technology. Premiere has three patent
applications pending and nine trademark or service mark registrations pending.
Premiere has two registered service marks. Voice-Tel
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has been issued two U.S. patents and has one U.S. patent application pending.
Voice-Tel also has five registered U.S. trademarks or service marks and
approximately 40 foreign trademark or service mark registrations or pending
applications. VoiceCom has two registered U.S. trademarks and one registered
foreign trademark. Despite the Company's efforts to protect its proprietary
rights and technology, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of the
Company's software or services or to obtain and use information that the
Company regards as proprietary. Although the Company is not aware of any
current or previous infringement on its proprietary rights and technology,
there can be no assurance that the Company's means of protecting its
proprietary rights and technology will be adequate or that the Company's
competitors will not independently develop similar technology. In addition,
the laws of some foreign countries do not protect the Company's proprietary
rights to as great an extent as the laws of the U.S. See "Business --
Proprietary Rights and Technology."
RISKS OF INFRINGEMENT CLAIMS
Many patents, copyrights and trademarks have been issued in the general
areas of information and telecommunications services and computer telephony.
The Company believes that in the ordinary course of its business third parties
will claim that the Company's current or future products or services infringe
the patent, copyright or trademark rights of such third parties. No assurance
can be given that actions or claims alleging patent, copyright or trademark
infringement will not be brought against the Company with respect to current
or future products or services, or that, if such actions or claims are
brought, the Company will ultimately prevail. Any such claiming parties may
have significantly greater resources than the Company to pursue litigation of
such claims. Any such claims, whether with or without merit, could be time
consuming, result in costly litigation, cause delays in introducing new or
improved products and services, require the Company to enter into royalty or
licensing agreements, or cause the Company to discontinue use of the
challenged technology, tradename or service mark at potentially significant
expense to the Company associated with the marketing of a new name or the
development or purchase of replacement technology, all of which could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
results of operations. See "Business -- Proprietary Rights and Technology."
In February 1997, the Company entered into a long-term nonexclusive license
agreement with AudioFAX IP LLC ("AudioFAX") settling a patent infringement
suit filed by AudioFAX in June 1996. In the third quarter of 1996, the Company
took a one-time charge for the estimated legal fees and other costs that the
Company expected to incur to resolve this matter. See "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." In September
1997, VoiceCom also entered into a long-term nonexclusive license agreement
with AudioFAX.
UNCERTAINTY OF STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS
A principal element of the Company's strategy is the creation and
maintenance of strategic relationships that will enable the Company to offer
its services to a larger customer base than the Company could otherwise reach
through its direct marketing efforts. The Company has experienced growth in
its existing strategic relationships during 1996 and 1997 and has entered into
or initiated new strategic relationships with several companies, including
WorldCom, American Express and CompuServe. Although the Company intends to
continue to expand its direct marketing channels, the Company believes that
strategic partner relationships may offer a potentially more effective and
efficient marketing channel. Consequently, the Company's success depends in
part on the ultimate success of these relationships and on the ability of
these strategic partners to market the Company's services effectively. Failure
of one or more of the Company's strategic partners to successfully develop and
sustain a market for the Company's services, or the termination of one or more
of the Company's relationships with a strategic partner, could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's overall performance. The telecommunications
industry is experiencing rapid consolidation. Recently WorldCom, which is a
strategic partner of the Company, announced a proposal to acquire MCI, which
competes with the Company with respect to certain services. Consolidation in
the communications industry, including consolidations involving the Company's
customers and strategic partners, could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
In November 1996, the Company entered into a strategic alliance agreement
with WorldCom, the fourth largest long distance carrier in the United States,
whereby WorldCom is required, among other things, to provide
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the Company with the right of first opportunity to provide certain enhanced
computer telephony services for a period of at least 25 years. In connection
with this agreement, the Company issued to WorldCom 2,050,000 shares of Common
Stock valued at approximately $25.2 million (based on an independent
appraisal) and paid WorldCom $4.7 million in cash. The Company recorded the
value of this agreement as an intangible asset. While the Company believes
that the intangible asset will be recovered over the life of the agreement,
this recoverability is dependent upon the success of the strategic
relationship. The Company will continually evaluate the realizability of the
intangible asset recorded, and there can be no assurance that future
evaluations will not require a write-down of this asset.
Although the Company views its strategic relationships as a key factor in
its overall business strategy and in the development and commercialization of
its services, there can be no assurance that its strategic partners view their
relationships with the Company as significant for their own businesses or that
they will not reassess their commitment to the Company in the future. The
Company's arrangements with its strategic partners do not always establish
minimum performance requirements for the Company's strategic partners, but
instead rely on the voluntary efforts of these partners in pursuing joint
goals. Certain of these arrangements prevent the Company from entering into
strategic relationships with other companies in the same industry as the
Company's strategic partners, either for specified periods of time or while
the arrangements remain in force. In addition, even when the Company is
without contractual restriction, it may be restrained by business
considerations from pursuing alternative arrangements. The ability of the
Company's strategic partners to incorporate the Company's services into
successful commercial ventures will require the Company, among other things,
to continue to successfully enhance its existing services and develop new
services. The Company's inability to meet the requirements of its strategic
partners or to comply with the terms of its strategic partner arrangements
could result in its strategic partners failing to market the Company's
services, seeking alternative providers of communications and information
services or canceling their contracts with the Company, any of which could
have a material adverse impact on the Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations. See "Business -- Sales, Marketing and
Distribution."
DEPENDENCE ON LICENSING AND STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS
The Company has licensing relationships with companies that have chosen to
outsource part or all of their communications card services to Premiere.
License fees accounted for approximately 9.7% of Premiere's revenues in 1996
and 14.4% of Premiere's revenues during the six months ended June 30, 1997.
One licensee, Communications Network Corporation ("CNC"), accounted for
approximately 19.6% of Premiere's 1996 license fees and approximately 1.9% of
the Company's total 1996 revenues. On August 6, 1996, CNC was placed into
bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. CNC owed the
Company approximately $627,000 as of December 31, 1996. However, CNC's
transmission provider, WorldCom Network Services, Inc., d/b/a WilTel, is also
obligated to pay this amount to the Company. In addition, WorldCom accounted
for approximately 43.5% of the Company's 1996 license fees and approximately
4.2% of the Company's total 1996 revenues, and approximately 76.0% of the
Company's license fees and 11.0% of the Company's total revenues for the six
months ended June 30, 1997. The Company believes that through a combination of
new licensing agreements, the strategic alliance agreement with WorldCom and
increased revenues from existing licensees, the Company has replaced all of
the anticipated CNC revenue.
The Company intends to increase its number of licensees and its licensee
transaction volume in the future. The Company's success depends in part upon
the ultimate success or failure of its licensees. The telecommunications
industry is intensely competitive and rapidly consolidating. The majority of
companies that have chosen to outsource communications card services to
Premiere are small or medium-sized telecommunications companies that may be
unable to withstand the intense competition in the telecommunications
industry. Licensees that ceased doing business with Premiere due to financial
difficulties contributed in the aggregate approximately $2.9 million of
Premiere's 1996 revenues. Although the Company was able to add new licensees
in 1996 and the first two quarters of 1997, there can be no assurance that the
failure of one or more of the Company's licensees to develop and sustain a
market for the Company's services, or termination of one or more of the
Company's licensing relationships, will not have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
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SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE; REGISTRATION RIGHTS
Upon completion of this Offering, the Company will have outstanding
32,235,160 shares of Common Stock (including 402,748 of Exchangeable Shares,
which are convertible at any time into a like number of shares of Common
Stock, and of which 72,908 are being converted and sold in this Offering),
assuming no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option. See
"Underwriting." Of these shares, approximately 18,159,498 shares of Common
Stock will be freely transferable without restriction or limitation under the
Securities Act. The remaining shares (approximately 14,075,662 shares) are
"restricted securities" ("the Restricted Shares") within the meaning of Rule
144 ("Rule 144") adopted under the Securities Act. Approximately 7,158,332
Restricted Shares will be immediately eligible for sale in the public market
pursuant to Rule 144. Beginning on November 13, 1997, April 30, 1998 and
September 30, 1998, an additional 2,050,000 shares, 4,421,593 shares and
approximately 445,737 shares, respectively, will be eligible for sale pursuant
to Rule 144, subject to the volume, manner of sale and notice requirements of
Rule 144.
As of November 2, 1997, options and warrants to purchase an aggregate of
10,389,362 shares of Common Stock are outstanding, of which options and
warrants to purchase 3,580,345 shares of Common Stock are vested and
immediately exercisable. Substantially all of the shares issuable upon the
exercise of outstanding options and warrants will be eligible for resale, if
and when issued, under Rule 701 adopted under the Securities Act or pursuant
to Registration Statements on Form S-8.
On September 26, 1997, the Company filed a shelf registration statement on
Form S-3 with respect to the Convertible Notes, which may convert into a
maximum of approximately 5,227,000 shares of Common Stock at any time prior to
final maturity at a conversion price of $33.00 per share, subject to
adjustment. The Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Notes
will be registered under the Securities Act and will be, if and when issued,
freely tradeable.
The holders of approximately 8,629,210 shares of Common Stock and their
permitted transferees are entitled to certain rights with respect to the
registration of such shares under the Securities Act.
Prior to the Company's initial public offering in March 1996, the Company
granted certain registration rights to holders of convertible preferred stock
and warrants. Although these contractual rights remain in force, the shares
subject to such registration rights may be freely disposed of pursuant to Rule
144 under the Securities Act.
Subsequent to the Company's initial public offering, the Company has granted
registration rights in connection with the Company's execution of a strategic
alliance agreement with WorldCom, and the Company's acquisitions of TeleT, the
Voice-Tel Entities and VoiceCom. In each of these instances, the Company is
required to notify the holders of the Company's intent to register any of its
Common Stock under the Securities Act and allow such holders an opportunity to
include their shares of Common Stock in the Company's registration; provided,
however, that: (i) with respect to WorldCom and VoiceCom such notice must be
given only if the Company intends to register and sell newly issued shares;
(ii) with respect to CMG@Ventures, L.P. ("CMG"), such notice must be given
only if 20% of the shares held by CMG remain outstanding; and (iii) with
respect to the former owners of the Voice-Tel Entities, such notice must be
given only until April 30, 1998. These registrations rights are subject to
certain limitations and restrictions, including the right of the underwriters
of an underwritten offering to limit the number of shares offered in such
registration if such underwriter determines that the number of shares
requested to be registered cannot be underwritten.
WorldCom has a one-time right to require the Company to file a registration
statement under the Securities Act, provided that such request is made: (i)
between November 13, 1998 and November 13, 1999; or (ii) within 60 days from
the date of a change in control of Premiere, the termination of either Boland
T. Jones or D. Gregory Smith as executive officers or the termination of the
strategic alliance agreement with WorldCom if the events described in clause
(ii) occur prior to November 13, 1999. WorldCom currently has the right to
require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act
as a result of Mr. Smith's resignation.
16
<PAGE>
See "Prospectus Summary -- Recent Developments -- Additions and Changes to
Management." In addition, the registration must be with respect to such
minimum number of shares of Common Stock having an aggregate proposed offering
price equal to $10.0 million.
With respect to the former owners of the Voice-Tel Entities, such persons
collectively have the one-time demand right to require the Company to use all
reasonable efforts to file a registration statement under the Securities Act,
provided that (i) such request must be initiated by an Amway entity or holders
of 10% or more of the Registrable Securities (as defined) and (ii) such one-
time demand must be made after July 15, 1997 and before the nine-month
anniversary of the closing of the VTE Acquisitions. The registration statement
which includes this Prospectus was filed pursuant to the exercise of such
rights by the Voice-Tel holders. In addition, the Company has agreed to file a
shelf registration statement as soon as practicable following 90 days after
the date of this Prospectus to include any shares of Common Stock then held by
the former owners of the Voice-Tel Entities.
No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that the availability of
additional shares for sale will have on the market prices of the Common Stock
prevailing from time to time. Nevertheless, sales of substantial amounts of
the Common Stock in the public market could adversely affect prevailing market
prices of the Common Stock and the ability of the Company to raise equity
capital in the future. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
POTENTIAL ADVERSE IMPACT OF PENDING LITIGATION
The Company has several litigation matters pending, which the Company is
defending vigorously. Due to the inherent uncertainties of the litigation
process and the judicial system, the Company is unable to predict the outcome
of such litigation matters. If the outcome of one or more of such matters is
adverse to the Company, it could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. See
"Business -- Legal Proceedings."
DEPENDENCE ON SWITCHING FACILITIES AND COMPUTER TELEPHONY PLATFORMS; DAMAGE,
FAILURE AND DOWNTIME
The Company currently maintains switching facilities and computer telephony
platforms in Atlanta, Georgia, Dallas, Texas and London, England. The
Company's network service operations are dependent upon its ability to protect
the equipment and data at its switching facilities against damage that may be
caused by fire, power loss, technical failures, unauthorized intrusion,
natural disasters, sabotage and other similar events. The Company has taken
precautions to protect itself and its subscribers from events that could
interrupt delivery of the Company's services. These precautions include
physical security systems, uninterruptible power supplies, on-site power
generators, upgraded backup hardware and fire protection systems. The
Company's network is further designed such that the data on each network
server is duplicated on a separate network server. Notwithstanding such
precautions, there can be no assurance that a fire, act of sabotage, technical
failure, natural disaster or a similar event would not cause the failure of a
network server and its backup server, other portions of the Company's network
or one of the switching facilities as a whole, thereby resulting in an
interruption of the Company's services. Such an interruption could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
results of operations. While the Company has not experienced any significant
downtime of its network due to natural disasters or similar events, on
occasion the Company has experienced downtime due to various technical
failures. When such failures have occurred, the Company has worked to remedy
the failure as soon as possible. Although the Company maintains business
interruption insurance providing for aggregate coverage of approximately $10.8
million per policy year, there can be no assurance that the Company will be
able to maintain its business interruption insurance, that such insurance
would continue to be available at reasonable prices or that such insurance
would be sufficient to compensate the Company for losses it experiences due to
the Company's inability to provide services to its subscribers.
17
<PAGE>
FACTORS AFFECTING OPERATING RESULTS; POTENTIAL FLUCTUATIONS IN QUARTERLY
RESULTS
The Company's operating results have varied significantly in the past and
may vary significantly in the future. Special factors that may cause the
Company's future operating results to vary include: (i) the unique nature of
strategic relationships into which the Company may enter in the future; (ii)
changes in operating expenses resulting from such strategic relationships and
other factors; (iii) the continued acceptance of the Company's licensing
program; (iv) the financial performance of the Company's licensees; (v) the
timing of new service announcements; (vi) market acceptance of new and
enhanced versions of the Company's services; (vii) potential acquisitions;
(viii) changes in legislation and regulation that may affect the competitive
environment for the Company's communications services; and (ix) general
economic and seasonal factors.
In the future, revenues from the Company's strategic relationships may
become an increasingly significant portion of the Company's total revenues.
Due to the unique nature of each strategic relationship, these relationships
may change the Company's mix of expenses relative to revenues.
Quarterly revenues are difficult to forecast because the market for the
Company's services is rapidly evolving. The Company's expense levels are
based, in part, on its expectations as to future revenues. If revenue levels
are below expectations, the Company may be unable or unwilling to reduce
expenses proportionately and operating results would likely be adversely
affected. As a result, the Company believes that period-to-period comparisons
of its results of operations are not necessarily meaningful and should not be
relied upon as indications of future performance. Due to all of the foregoing
factors, it is likely that in some future quarter the Company's operating
results will be below the expectations of public market analysts and
investors. In such event, the market price of the Company's Common Stock will
likely be materially adversely affected.
RISK OF SOFTWARE FAILURES OR ERRORS
The software developed and utilized by the Company in providing its services
may contain undetected errors. Although the Company engages in extensive
testing of its software prior to introducing the software onto its network,
there can be no assurance that errors will not be found in the software after
the software goes into use. Any such error may result in partial or total
failure of the Company's network, additional and unexpected expenses to fund
further product development or to add programming personnel to complete a
development project, and loss of revenue because of the inability of
subscribers to use Premiere's network or the cancellation by subscribers of
their service with Premiere, any of which could have a material adverse effect
on the Company. The Company maintains technology errors and omissions
insurance coverage of $10.0 million per policy aggregate.
DEPENDENCE UPON TELECOMMUNICATION PROVIDERS; NO GUARANTEED SUPPLY
The Company does not own a transmission network and, accordingly, depends on
WorldCom, LCI International Telecom Corp. ("LCI"), MCI, Sprint and other
facilities-based and non-facilities based carriers for transmission of its
subscribers' long distance calls. These long distance telecommunications
services generally are procured pursuant to supply agreements for terms of
three to five years, subject to earlier termination in certain events. Certain
of these agreements provide for minimum purchase requirements. Further, the
Company is dependent upon LECs for call origination and termination. If there
is an outage affecting one of the Company's terminating carriers, the
Company's platform automatically switches calls to another terminating carrier
if capacity is available. The Company has not experienced significant losses
in the past due to interruptions of service at terminating carriers, but no
assurance can be made in this regard in the future. The Company's ability to
maintain and expand its business depends, in part, on its ability to continue
to obtain telecommunication services on favorable terms from long distance
carriers and the cooperation of both interexchange and LECs in originating and
terminating service for its subscribers in a timely manner. The partial or
total loss of the ability to receive or terminate calls would result in a loss
of revenues by the Company and could lead to a loss of subscribers, which
could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
18
<PAGE>
The Company leases capacity on the WorldCom backbone to provide connectivity
and data transmission within the Company's frame relay network. The lease
agreement expires in September 2000. The Company's hub equipment is collocated
at various WorldCom sites pursuant to co-location agreements that are
terminable by either party upon 30 days written notice. The Company's ability
to maintain network connectivity is dependent upon its access to transmission
facilities provided by WorldCom or an alternative provider. The Company has no
assurance that it will be able to continue such relationship with WorldCom
beyond the terms of its current agreements with WorldCom or that it will be
able to find an alternative provider on terms as favorable as those offered by
WorldCom or on any other terms. If the Company were required to relocate its
hub equipment or change its network transmission provider, it could experience
shutdowns in its service and increase costs which could have a material
adverse effect on its customer relationships and customer retention and,
therefore, its business, financial condition and results of operations.
RELIANCE ON SUPPLIER OF VOICE MESSAGING EQUIPMENT
The Company does not manufacture voice messaging equipment used at its voice
messaging service centers, and such equipment is currently available from a
limited number of sources. Although the Company has not historically
experienced any significant difficulty in obtaining equipment required for its
operations and believes that viable alternative suppliers exist, no assurance
can be given that shortages will not arise in the future or that alternative
suppliers will be available. The inability of the Company to obtain this
equipment could result in delays or reduced delivery of messages which would
materially and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations.
REGULATION
Various regulatory factors affect the Company's financial performance and
its ability to compete. The Company's operating subsidiaries that provide
regulated long distance telecommunications services ("Operating Subsidiaries")
are subject to regulation by the FCC and by various state public service and
public utility commissions ("PUCs"), and are otherwise affected by regulatory
decisions, trends and policies made by these agencies. FCC rules currently
require interexchange carriers to permit resale of their transmission
services. FCC rules also require LECs to provide all interexchange carriers
with equal access to local exchange facilities for purposes of origination and
termination of long distance calls. If either or both of these requirements
were eliminated, the Company could be adversely affected. Moreover, the
underlying carriers that provide services to the Operating Subsidiaries or
that originate or terminate the Operating Subsidiaries traffic may increase
rates or experience disruptions in service due to factors outside the
Company's control, which could cause the Operating Subsidiaries to experience
increases in rates for telecommunications services or disruptions in
transmitting their subscribers' long distance calls.
PCI, one of the Operating Subsidiaries, has made the requisite filings with
the FCC to provide interstate and international long distance services.
VoiceCom Systems, Inc. ("VCOM"), another Operating Subsidiary, is in the
process of making the requisite filings with the FCC to provide interstate and
international long distance services. There can be no assurance that the FCC
will approve VCOM's filings. Failure by VCOM to comply with FCC requirements
in connection with its provision of interstate and international long distance
services could have a material adverse effect on the Company's or on VCOM's
business, financial condition and results of operation.
In order to provide intrastate long distance service, the Operating
Subsidiaries generally are required to obtain certification from state PUCs,
to register with such state PUCs or to be found exempt from registration by
such state PUCs. Each of PCI and VCOM has either filed the applications
necessary to provide intrastate long distance telecommunications services
throughout the United States or is in the process of filing such applications.
To date, PCI is authorized to provide long distance telecommunications
services in 46 states and in the District of Columbia and is seeking
authorization to provide long distance telecommunications services in four
states. With the exception of three states, Colorado, Michigan and Arizona, in
which PCI's applications to provide operator service (i.e., "0+") are pending,
PCI is authorized to provide operator service in each state where PCI
19
<PAGE>
provides long distance telecommunications service. VCOM, on the other hand, is
authorized to provide long distance telecommunications services in 13 states
and in the District of Columbia and is in the process of filing applications
for certificates to provide long distance telecommunications services in 37
states. The Operating Subsidiaries' facilities do not prevent subscribers from
using the facilities to make long distance calls in any state, including
states in which the Operating Subsidiaries currently are not authorized to
provide intrastate telecommunications services and operator services. There
can be no assurance that the Operating Subsidiaries' provision of long
distance telecommunications and operator services in states where the
Operating Subsidiaries are not authorized to provide such services will not
have a material adverse effect on the Company's or on the Operating
Subsidiaries' business, financial condition and results of operations.
The 1996 Act is intended to increase competition in the long distance and
local telecommunications markets. The 1996 Act opens competition in the local
services market and, at the same time, contains provisions intended to protect
consumers and businesses from unfair competition by incumbent LECs, including
the RBOCs. The 1996 Act allows RBOCs to provide long distance service outside
of their local service territories but bars them from immediately offering in-
region interLATA long distance services until certain conditions are
satisfied. An RBOC must apply to the FCC to provide in-region interLATA long
distance services and must satisfy a set of pro-competitive criteria intended
to ensure that RBOCs open their own local markets to competition before the
FCC will approve such application. The Company is unable to determine how the
FCC will rule on any such application. Moreover, as a result of the 1996 Act,
the Company may experience increased competition from others, including the
RBOCs. In addition, the Operating Subsidiaries may be subject to additional
regulatory requirements and fees, including universal service assessments,
access charge assessments and payphone compensation surcharges resulting from
the implementation of the 1996 Act.
In conducting its business, the Company is subject to various laws and
regulations relating to commercial transactions generally, such as the Uniform
Commercial Code and is also subject to the electronic funds transfer rules
embodied in Regulation E promulgated by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve"). Congress has held hearings regarding,
and various agencies are considering, whether to regulate providers of
services and transactions in the electronic commerce market. For example, the
Federal Reserve recently completed a study, directed by Congress, regarding
the propriety of applying Regulation E to stored value cards. The Department
of Treasury recently promulgated proposed rules applying record keeping,
reporting and other requirements to a wide variety of entities involved in
electronic commerce. It is possible that Congress, the states or various
government agencies could impose new or additional requirements on the
electronic commerce market or entities operating therein. If enacted, such
laws, rules and regulations could be imposed on the Company's business and
industry and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations. The Company's proposed
international activities also will be subject to regulation by various
international authorities and the inherent risk of unexpected changes in such
regulation.
RISKS OF LEVERAGE
In connection with the issuance of the Convertible Notes, the Company
incurred $172.5 million in indebtedness. As a result of this increased
leverage, the Company's principal and interest obligations have increased
substantially. The degree to which the Company is leveraged could adversely
affect the Company's ability to obtain additional financing for working
capital, acquisitions or other purposes and could make it more vulnerable to
economic downturns and competitive pressures. The Company's increased leverage
could also adversely affect its liquidity, as a substantial portion of
available cash from operations may have to be applied to meet debt service
requirements, and in the event of a cash shortfall, the Company could be
forced to reduce other expenditures and forego potential acquisitions to be
able to meet such requirements. See "Capitalization," "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and
Capital Resources" and "Selected Consolidated Financial Information."
20
<PAGE>
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION
A key component of the Premiere strategy is its planned expansion into
international markets. In 1996, the Company opened a POP site in London,
England which is currently being upgraded to a full switching facility and
computer telephony platform. In addition, the Company intends to pursue long
term strategic relationships with European partners. Premiere also intends to
establish high speed client/server networks of personal computers (called
"Telnodes") and PCs utilizing the Company's proprietary software (called
"Network Managers") in Canada, New Zealand and potentially other countries in
1998. The Company currently has voice messaging service centers in Canada,
Australia, New Zealand and Puerto Rico, If international revenues are not
adequate to offset the expense of establishing and maintaining these
international operations, Premiere's business, financial condition and results
of operations could be materially adversely affected. To date, Premiere has
only limited experience in marketing and distributing its services
internationally. There can be no assurance that Premiere will be able to
successfully establish the proposed international Telnodes and Network
Managers or to market, sell and deliver its services in these markets. In
addition to the uncertainty as to Premiere's ability to expand its
international presence, there are certain difficulties and risks inherent in
doing business on an international level, such as burdensome regulatory
requirements and unexpected changes in these requirements, export
restrictions, export controls relating to technology, tariffs and other trade
barriers, difficulties in staffing and managing international operations,
longer payment cycles, problems in collecting accounts receivable, political
instability, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, seasonal reductions in
business activity during the summer months in Europe and certain other parts
of the world and potentially adverse tax consequences, all of which could have
a material adverse effect on the performance of Premiere's international
operations.
RISK OF LOSS FROM RETURNED TRANSACTIONS; FRAUD; BAD DEBT; THEFT OF SERVICES
The Company uses two principal financial payment clearance systems: the
Federal Reserve's Automated Clearing House for electronic fund transfers; and
the national credit card systems for electronic credit card settlement. In its
use of these established payment clearance systems, the Company generally
bears credit risks similar to those normally assumed by other users of these
systems arising from returned transactions caused by insufficient funds, stop
payment orders, closed accounts, frozen accounts, unauthorized use, disputes,
theft or fraud. From time to time, persons have gained unauthorized access to
the Company's network and obtained services without rendering payment to the
Company by unlawfully using the access numbers and PINs of authorized users.
No assurance can be given that future losses due to unauthorized use of access
numbers and PINs will not be material. The Company attempts to manage these
risks through its internal controls and proprietary billing system. The
Company's computer telephony platform is designed to prohibit a single access
number and PIN from establishing multiple simultaneous connections to the
platform, and the Company establishes preset spending limits for each
subscriber. Although the Company believes that its risk management and bad
debt reserve practices are adequate, there can be no assurance that the
Company's risk management practices or reserves will be sufficient to protect
the Company from unauthorized or returned transactions or thefts of services
which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations.
VOLATILITY OF STOCK PRICE
There may be significant volatility in the market price for the Common
Stock. The Company believes factors such as actual or anticipated quarterly
fluctuations in financial results, changes in earnings estimates by securities
analysts and announcements of material events by the Company, its major
strategic partners or licensees or its competitors may cause the market price
for the Common Stock to fluctuate, perhaps substantially. These fluctuations,
as well as general economic conditions, may have a material adverse effect on
the market price of the Common Stock. In addition, in recent years the stock
market in general, and technology-related stocks in particular, have
experienced price and volume fluctuations that often have been unrelated or
disproportionate to the operating performance of companies.
21
<PAGE>
ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ARTICLES, BYLAWS AND THE
GEORGIA CODE
The Board of Directors of the Company is empowered to issue preferred stock
without shareholder action. The existence of this "blank-check" preferred
could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the
Company by means of a tender offer, merger, proxy contest or otherwise. The
Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws (the "Bylaws") divide the Board of
Directors into three classes, as nearly equal in size as possible, with
staggered three-year terms. One class is elected each year. The classification
of the Board of Directors could have the effect of making it more difficult
for a third party to acquire control of the Company. The Company is also
subject to certain provisions of the Georgia Business Corporation Code, as
amended (the "Georgia Code"), which relate to business combinations with
interested shareholders. In addition to considering the effects of any action
on the Company and its shareholders, the Articles of Incorporation, as amended
(the "Articles"), permit the Board of Directors and the committees and
individual members thereof to consider the interests of various
constituencies, including employees, customers, suppliers, and creditors of
the Company, communities in which the Company maintains offices or operations
and other factors which such directors deem pertinent, in carrying out and
discharging the duties and responsibilities of such positions and in
determining what is believed to be in the best interests of the Company. See
"Description of Capital Stock -- Certain Provisions of the Articles, Bylaws
and the Georgia Code."
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND ASSOCIATED RISKS
When used in this Prospectus and elsewhere by management or the Company from
time to time, the words "believes," "anticipates," "expects" and similar
expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements concerning the
Company's operations, economic performance and financial condition, including
in particular, the Company's business strategy and means to implement the
strategy, the Company's goals, the amount of capital expenditures and the
likelihood of the Company's success in developing and expanding its business.
These statements are based on a number of assumptions and estimates which are
inherently subject to significant risks and uncertainties, many of which are
beyond the control of the Company and reflect future business decisions which
are subject to change. A variety of factors, some of which are set forth under
"Risk Factors" in this Prospectus, could cause actual results to differ
materially from those anticipated in the Company's forward-looking statements.
These factors include, without limitation, the Company's ability to
successfully complete and integrate acquisitions in existing and new markets
(including, without limitation, the integration of VTE and certain VTE
affiliates and independent franchisees and the integration of VoiceCom), to
manage the Company's growth and to respond to rapid technological change and
risk of obsolescence of the Company's products, services and technology.
Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this Prospectus
are qualified by these cautionary statements, and readers are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release
the results of any revisions to such forward-looking statements that may be
made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or thereof, as
the case may be, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
22
<PAGE>
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Shares
offered by the Selling Shareholders. See "Prinicipal and Selling
Shareholders."
Assuming the Underwriters exercise the over-allotment option, the net
proceeds to the Company from the sale of the 440,075 shares of Common Stock
are estimated to be approximately $13.8 million, assuming a public offering
price of $34 3/8 per share and after deduction of the estimated underwriting
discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company. The
Company intends to use such net proceeds for general corporate purposes,
including capital expenditures and working capital, and for possible future
acquisitions of complimentary businesses, products or technologies. As part of
its ongoing corporate development activites, the Company is currently
considering, and expects that it will continue to consider, acqusition
opportunities on a regular basis. The Company recently submitted an offer to
acquire Xpedite, a provider of computer and fax-based services. See
"Prospectus Summary -- Recent Developments -- Xpedite Systems, Inc." There can
be no assurance, however, that suitable acquisition candidates will be
identified or that any acquisition will be consummated. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations --
Liquidity and Capital Resources."
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDEND POLICY
The Common Stock has traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"PTEK" since its initial public offering on March 5, 1996. The following table
sets forth the range of high and low sales prices of the Common Stock as
reported on the Nasdaq National Market for the periods indicated:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
HIGH LOW
<S> <C> <C>
1996
First Quarter (from March 5, 1996)....................... $27 3/4 $21 3/4
Second Quarter........................................... 50 23 5/8
Third Quarter............................................ 35 3/4 16
Fourth Quarter........................................... 31 1/4 14 1/2
1997
First Quarter............................................ 27 1/2 16 1/2
Second Quarter........................................... 30 1/2 19 1/4
Third Quarter............................................ 34 1/2 22 7/8
Fourth Quarter (through November 4, 1997)................ 38 1/2 28
</TABLE>
On November 4, 1997, the last reported sale price of the Common Stock as
reported by the Nasdaq National Market was $34 3/8 per share. As of November
4, 1997, there were approximately 444 record holders of the Common Stock.
The Company has never paid cash dividends on its Common Stock, and the
current policy of the Company's Board of Directors is to retain any available
earnings for use in the operation and expansion of the Company's business.
Therefore, the payment of cash dividends on the Common Stock is unlikely in
the foreseeable future. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be
at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon the Company's
earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and any other factors
deemed relevant by the Board of Directors.
23
<PAGE>
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the short-term debt, long-term debt and
capitalization of the Company as of June 30, 1997 and, assuming the
Underwriters exercise the over-allotment option, as adjusted to give effect to
the sale of the 440,075 shares of Common Stock offered by the Company hereby
(at an assumed public offering price of $34 3/8 per share), after deducting
the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses
payable by the Company. The following table should be read in conjunction with
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and the Company's consolidated financial statements and the notes
thereto incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AS OF JUNE 30, 1997
---------------------
ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED
(UNAUDITED)
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
Current maturities of long-term debt (including capital
lease obligations)...................................... $ 5,892 $ 5,892
======== ========
Long-term debt:
Notes payable, non-current.............................. 8,774 8,774
5 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2004, net..... 145,105 145,105
-------- --------
Total long-term debt................................... 153,879 153,879
-------- --------
Shareholders' equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 150,000,000 shares
authorized; 31,645,386 shares issued and
outstanding(1)......................................... 316 321
-------- --------
Additional paid-in capital.............................. 146,468 160,292
-------- --------
Cumulative translation adjustment....................... (2) (2)
-------- --------
Accumulated deficit..................................... (52,501) (52,501)
-------- --------
Total shareholders' equity............................. 94,281 108,110
-------- --------
Total capitalization................................. $248,160 $261,989
======== ========
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Includes 402,748 Exchangeable Shares which are convertible at any time
into a like number of shares of Common Stock, and of which 72,908 are
being converted and sold in this Offering. Excludes: (i) 10,389,362 shares
of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options and warrants outstanding
as of November 2, 1997 with a weighted average exercise price of $10.54;
and (ii) approximately 5,227,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Convertible Notes.
24
<PAGE>
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following consolidated statement of operations data for the years ended
December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, and the consolidated balance sheet data as
of December 31, 1995 and 1996, have been derived from the consolidated
financial statements of the Company incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus, which have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public
accountants, as indicated in their report incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus, and are qualified by reference to such consolidated financial
statements including the related notes thereto. The unaudited consolidated
balance sheet data at December 31, 1992, 1993 and 1994 and June 30, 1996 and
1997 and the unaudited consolidated statement of operations data for the years
ended December 31, 1992 and 1993 and the six month periods ended June 30, 1996
and 1997 are derived from unaudited consolidated financial statements of the
Company incorporated by reference and include all adjustments, consisting only
of normal recurring accruals, which the Company considers necessary for a fair
presentation thereof. The selected consolidated financial data should be read
in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" and the Company's consolidated financial
statements and the notes thereto incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIX MONTHS ENDED
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30,
----------------------------------------------- -----------------
1992(1) 1993(1) 1994 1995 1996 1996 1997
(UNAUDITED) (UNAUDITED)
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
DATA:
Revenues:
Subscriber services.... $ 20,409 $ 37,697 $ 58,387 $83,775 $126,631 $59,560 $ 73,008
License fees........... -- 93 1,935 5,935 13,778 5,085 12,404
Other revenues......... 766 1,257 1,468 1,306 1,745 953 524
-------- -------- -------- ------- -------- ------- --------
Total revenues......... 21,175 39,047 61,790 91,016 142,154 65,598 85,936
Cost of services........ 4,822 7,808 13,989 20,794 33,193 15,312 20,750
-------- -------- -------- ------- -------- ------- --------
Gross margin............ 16,353 31,239 47,801 70,222 108,961 50,286 65,186
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and
administrative........ 16,105 27,911 47,336 51,671 79,240 36,937 39,517
Depreciation and
amortization.......... 2,459 4,144 5,424 7,852 11,585 5,211 6,941
Charge for purchased
research and
development........... -- -- -- -- 11,030 -- --
Restructuring and other
special charges....... -- -- -- -- -- -- 45,423
Accrued litigation and
settlement costs...... -- -- -- 2,500 1,250 -- 1,500
-------- -------- -------- ------- -------- ------- --------
Total operating
expenses.............. 18,564 32,055 52,760 62,023 103,105 42,148 93,381
Operating income
(loss)(2).............. (2,211) (816) (4,959) 8,199 5,856 8,138 (28,196)
-------- -------- -------- ------- -------- ------- --------
Other income (expense):
Interest income........ 39 15 272 489 2,808 1,102 1,426
Interest expense....... (1,005) (1,823) (2,960) (4,033) (3,943) (1,845) (1,685)
Other, net............. 35 (17) 245 313 (286) (146) 102
-------- -------- -------- ------- -------- ------- --------
Total other income
(expense)............. (931) (1,825) (2,443) (3,231) (1,421) (889) (157)
-------- -------- -------- ------- -------- ------- --------
Net income (loss) before
income taxes
and extraordinary loss. (3,142) (2,641) (7,402) 4,968 4,435 7,249 (28,353)
Provision for (benefit
from) income taxes..... (51) (615) (556) 44 1,360 1,140 (4,748)
-------- -------- -------- ------- -------- ------- --------
Net income (loss) before
extraordinary loss..... (3,091) (2,026) (6,846) 4,924 3,075 6,109 (23,605)
Extraordinary loss on
early extinguishment
of debt, net of tax
effect of $37,880...... -- -- -- -- 59 -- --
-------- -------- -------- ------- -------- ------- --------
Net income (loss)(2).... (3,091) (2,026) (6,846) 4,924 3,016 6,109 (23,605)
Preferred stock
dividends.............. -- -- 320 308 29 -- --
-------- -------- -------- ------- -------- ------- --------
Net income (loss)
attributable to common
shareholders........... $ (3,091) $ (2,026) $ (7,166) $ 4,616 $ 2,987 $ 6,109 $(23,605)
======== ======== ======== ======= ======== ======= ========
Pro forma net income
(loss) attributable to
common shareholders for
primary earnings per
share(3)............... $ (3,068) $ (1,890) $ (7,001) $ 5,105 $ 2,987 $ 6,109 $(22,332)
======== ======== ======== ======= ======== ======= ========
Pro forma net income
(loss) per common and
common equivalent
shares --
primary(2)(4).......... $ (0.32) $ (0.20) $ (0.54) $ 0.21 $ 0.10 $ 0.22 $ (0.67)
======== ======== ======== ======= ======== ======= ========
Shares used in computing
earnings per common
and common equivalent
shares -- primary(4)... 9,501 9,501 13,012 24,658 28,801 28,162 33,156
======== ======== ======== ======= ======== ======= ========
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AT DECEMBER 31, AT JUNE 30,
--------------------------------------------- -----------
1992(1) 1993(1) 1994 1995 1996 1997
(UNAUDITED) (UNAUDITED)
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash, cash equivalents
and investments........ $ 2,553 $ 4,460 $ 7,014 $ 9,295 $ 79,763 $179,250
Working capital......... (3,470) (5,907) (8,750) (9,714) 53,550 151,838
Total assets............ 20,363 29,464 43,561 62,726 184,559 313,236
Total debt.............. 19,403 24,601 39,627 44,533 40,251 159,771
Total shareholders'
equity (deficit)....... (7,212) (5,707) (12,321) (6,410) 109,363 94,281
</TABLE>
25
<PAGE>
- --------
(1) Years ended December 31, 1992 and 1993 data was derived from the nine
months ended December 31, 1992 and 1993 and interim data for the three
months ended March 31, 1992 and 1993 consolidated with Voice-Tel.
(2) Excluding charges for purchased research and development and accrued
litigation and settlement costs incurred by the Company in the amounts of
approximately $0 and $2.5 million, respectively, in fiscal 1995, and
approximately $11.0 million and $1.3 million, respectively, in fiscal
1996, operating income, net income and pro forma net income per share
would have been approximately $10.7 million, $7.4 million and $0.31,
respectively, for 1995 and approximately $18.1 million, $15.3 million and
$0.53, respectively, for 1996. Excluding charges for restructuring and
other special charges attributable to the Voice-Tel Acquisitions and
accrued litigation and settlement costs of $45.4 million and $1.5 million,
respectively, operating income, net income and pro forma net income per
share would have been approximately $18.7 million, $23.3 million and
$0.74, respectively, for the six months ended June 30, 1997.
(3) Supplementary pro forma earnings per share assuming the conversion of
Series A Preferred Stock and the retirement of notes payable for the year
ended December 31, 1995 are not presented because the effect of the pro
forma adjustments is immaterial.
(4) Pro forma net income (loss) per share is computed using the weighted
average number of shares of common stock and dilutive common stock
equivalents from convertible preferred stock (using the if-converted
method) and from stock options (using the modified treasury stock method).
Fully diluted data is not presented as the effect is anti-dilutive or
immaterial for all periods presented. Further, for the years ended
December 31, 1992, 1993, and 1994, earnings per share was not calculated
under the modified treasury stock method as the results were antidilutive.
Accordingly, basic earnings per share calculations were used for the years
ended December 31, 1992, 1993 and 1994.
26
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company's
consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto incorporated
by reference in this Prospectus. Effective December 31, 1994, the Company
changed its fiscal year-end from March 31 to December 31. The Company has
changed the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994 to include 12 months of
operations.
OVERVIEW
Premiere designs, develops, markets and provides enhanced personal
communications services. The Company delivers its services through its
proprietary platform and an international private frame relay network that
integrates digital switching technology with enhanced personal communications
features such as calling card long distance, e-mail, voice mail, fax mail,
conference calling and call forwarding. The Company's platform is modular and
scalable, with an open-systems design and an advanced electronic billing and
information system ("EBIS"), which allows the Company to quickly customize its
services to meet the needs of its subscribers and business partners and to
easily expand system capacity.
Premiere's revenues consist of: (i) subscriber services from mobile
communications and integrated messaging; (ii) license fees from use of its
computer telephony platform by companies that have licensing relationships
with Premiere; and, to a lesser extent (iii) other revenues, including long-
distance charges from hospitality services. Subscriber services revenues are
based primarily on a combination of per minute charges, service initiation
fees, monthly fees and usage fees. License fees are contracted on a long-term
basis and are generally based on a per minute charge and, in certain
circumstances, monthly fees and usage charges.
Cost of services consists primarily of transmission costs. Licensees
generally arrange for, and directly bear the cost of, transmission.
Consequently, while the per minute fees for licensee platform usage are lower
than those for the subscriber services, the gross margin from license
arrangements is considerably higher than for subscriber services.
Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") include commissions,
the cost of print advertisements, salaries and benefits, travel and
entertainment expenses, bad debt expense, rent and facility expense,
accounting and audit fees, legal fees exclusive of amounts included in accrued
litigation and settlement costs, property taxes and other administrative
expenses.
Depreciation and amortization include depreciation of computer and network
operations equipment and amortization of intangible assets. The Company
provides for depreciation using the straight-line method of depreciation over
the estimated useful lives of the assets, which range from five to ten years.
Amortization of specifically identifiable intangible assets includes deferred
software development costs and the WorldCom strategic alliance contract
intangible, which are amortized over five and 25 years, respectively.
Amortization of goodwill primarily represents goodwill acquired in the Voice-
Tel Acquisitions. The Company is amortizing goodwill on a straight-line basis
over 40 years.
Generally, Premiere bills subscribers either by means of its real-time EBIS
by charging a subscriber's credit card or bank account or through an invoice
that is generally processed monthly. The Company bills subscribers through its
EBIS at least monthly and in certain instances more frequently if a subscriber
exceeds his preset spending limits. License fees are generally billed and
invoiced on a 30-day basis.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period. Actual results could differ from the estimates. The Company
periodically reviews the values assigned to long-lived assets, such as
property and equipment and
27
<PAGE>
software costs, to determine whether any impairments are other than temporary.
Management believes that the long-lived assets in the accompanying balance
sheets are appropriately valued.
In connection with the VoiceCom acquisition, the Company will take a charge
in the third quarter of 1997, consisting of transaction expenses and
restructuring and related costs attributable to the VoiceCom acquisition. In
connection with the Voice-Tel Acquisitions, the Company took a charge in the
second quarter of 1997 of approximately $45.4 million consisting of
transaction expenses and restructuring and related costs attributable to the
Voice-Tel Acquisitions. In addition, in connection with the CNC litigation
discussed under "Business -- Legal Proceedings," the Company established a
reserve in the second quarter of 1997 for anticipated legal expenses and
settlement costs in an amount of $1.5 million.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table presents, for the periods indicated, the percentage
relationship of certain statements of operations items to total revenues.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS SIX MONTHS ENDED
ENDED DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30,
----------------------- ------------------
1994 1995 1996 1996 1997
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues:
Subscriber services............. 94.5% 92.1% 89.1% 90.8% 85.0%
License fees.................... 3.1 6.5 9.7 7.7 14.4
Other revenues.................. 2.4 1.4 1.2 1.5 0.6
------ ------ ------ -------- --------
Total revenues................. 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
====== ====== ====== ======== ========
Cost of services................. 22.6% 22.8% 23.3% 23.3% 24.1%
------ ------ ------ -------- --------
Gross margin..................... 77.4 77.2 76.7 76.7 75.9
------ ------ ------ -------- --------
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administra-
tive........................... 76.6 56.8 55.7 56.3 46.0
Depreciation and amortization... 8.8 8.6 8.2 8.0 8.1
Charge for purchased research
and development -- -- 7.8 -- --
Restructuring and other special
charges........................ -- -- -- -- 52.9
Accrued litigation and settle-
ment costs..................... -- 2.8 0.9 -- 1.7
------ ------ ------ -------- --------
Total operating expenses....... 85.4 68.2 72.6 64.3 108.7
------ ------ ------ -------- --------
Operating income (loss).......... (8.0) 9.0 4.1 12.4 (32.8)
------ ------ ------ -------- --------
Other income (expense):
Interest income................. 0.4 0.5 2.0 1.7 1.7
Interest expense................ (4.8) (4.4) (2.8) (2.9) (2.0)
Other, net...................... 0.4 0.4 (0.2) (0.2) 0.1
------ ------ ------ -------- --------
Total other income (expense)... (4.0) (3.5) (1.0) (1.4) (0.2)
------ ------ ------ -------- --------
Net income (loss) before income
taxes and extraordinary loss.... (12.0) 5.5 3.1 11.0 (33.0)
Provision for (benefit from) in-
come taxes...................... (0.9) 0.1 0.9 1.7 5.5
------ ------ ------ -------- --------
Net income (loss) before extraor-
dinary loss..................... (11.1) 5.4 2.2 9.3 (27.5)
Extraordinary loss on early
extinguishment
of debt, net of tax effect of
$37,880......................... -- -- 0.1 -- --
------ ------ ------ -------- --------
Net income (loss)................ (11.1)% 5.4% 2.1% 9.3% (27.5)%
====== ====== ====== ======== ========
</TABLE>
28
<PAGE>
SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996 COMPARED TO SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997
Revenues. Total revenues increased $20.3 million, or 30.9%, from $65.6
million in the six months ended June 30, 1996 to $85.9 million in the six
months ended June 30, 1997. Subscriber services revenues increased $13.4
million, or 22.5%, from $59.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 1996 to
$73.0 million in the six months ended June 30, 1997. This increase was due
primarily to strong demand for the Company's calling card programs. License
fee revenues increased $7.3 million, or 143.1%, from $5.1 million in the six
months ended June 30, 1996 to $12.4 million in the six months ended June 30,
1997. This increase was due to the establishment of additional licensing
relationships and increased revenues from existing licensees. Other revenues
decreased $429,000, or 45.0%, from $953,000 in the six months ended June 30,
1996 to $524,000 in the six months ended June 30, 1997. This decrease was
attributable primarily to nonrecurring system design and development revenues
in the six months ended June 30, 1996.
Cost of Services. Cost of services increased $5.5 million, or 35.9%, from
$15.3 million in the six months ended June 30, 1996 to $20.8 million in the
six months ended June 30, 1997. These expenses increased as a percentage of
revenues from 23.3% in the six months ended June 30, 1996 to 24.1% in the six
months ended June 30, 1997.
Selling, General and Administrative. SG&A increased $2.6 million, or 7.0%,
from $36.9 million in the six months ended June 30, 1996 to $39.5 million in
the six months ended June 30, 1997. This increase was due primarily to
increased numbers of employees and related expenses to support the Company's
growth and to greater expenditures on print advertising and other selling and
marketing costs related to the increase in subscribers and revenues. These
expenses decreased as a percentage of revenues from 56.3% in the six months
ended June 30, 1996 to 46.0% in the six months ended June 30, 1997. This
decrease resulted from improved operating leverage related to increased
revenues.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization increased $1.7
million, or 32.7%, from $5.2 million in the six months ended June 30, 1996 to
$6.9 million in the six months ended June 30, 1997. This increase was due
primarily to depreciation of additional equipment acquired by the Company.
Restructuring and Other Special Charges. Restructuring and other special
charges recorded during the six months ended June 30, 1997 were $45.4 million
compared to $0 in the six months ended June 30, 1996. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations --
Restructuring and Other Special Charges."
Accrued Litigation and Settlement Costs. Accrued litigation and settlement
costs incurred during the six months ended June 30, 1997 were $1.5 million
compared to $0 in the six months ended June 30, 1996.
Operating Income (Loss). Operating income decreased $36.3 million from $8.1
million in the six months ended June 30, 1996 to a loss of $28.2 million in
the six months ended June 30, 1997. Excluding the $1.5 million accrued
litigation and settlement costs and the effect of $45.4 million of
restructuring and other special charges, operating income increased $10.6
million or 130.9% from $8.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 1996 to
$18.7 million in the six months ended June 30, 1997.
Income Taxes. Income taxes decreased $5.8 million from a tax expense of $1.1
million in the six months ended June 30, 1996 to a tax benefit of $4.7 million
in the six months ended June 30, 1997. The Company's effective tax rate varied
from the statutory rate during these periods as a result of the tax savings
effect of investing in certain non-taxable and tax-reduced instruments,
partially offset by the effect of certain non-deductible expenses incurred in
connection with the Voice-Tel Acquisitions.
Net Income (Loss). As a result of the foregoing, net income decreased $29.7
million from net income of $6.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 1996
to a net loss of $23.6 million in the six months ended June 30, 1997.
Excluding the charges for restructuring and other special charges and accrued
litigation and settlement costs and the related tax effect, net income would
have decreased 32.8% from $6.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 1996
to a net loss of $4.1 million in the six months ended June 30, 1997.
29
<PAGE>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
Revenues. Total revenues increased 56.3% from $91.0 million in the year
ended December 31, 1995 to $142.2 million in the year ended December 31, 1996.
Subscriber services revenues increased 51.1% from $83.8 million in the year
ended December 31, 1995 to $126.6 million in the year ended December 31, 1996.
This increase was due primarily to strong demand for the Company's calling
card programs and voice messaging services. License fees increased 133.9% from
$5.9 million in the year ended December 31, 1995 to $13.8 million in the year
ended December 31, 1996. This increase was due primarily to the establishment
of additional licensing relationships and increased revenues from existing
licensees. Other revenues increased 30.8% from $1.3 million for the year ended
December 31, 1995 to $1.7 million for the year ended December 31, 1996. This
increase was attributable primarily to nonrecurring system design and
development revenues.
On August 6, 1996, CNC was placed into bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the
Bankruptcy Code. CNC accounted for 19.6% and 1.9% of the Company's licensing
revenues and total revenues, respectively, during the year ended December 31,
1996. CNC owed the Company approximately $627,000 as of December 31, 1996.
However, CNC's transmission provider, WilTel, is also obligated to pay this
amount to the Company. The Company believes that through a combination of new
licensing agreements, the strategic alliance agreement with WorldCom and
increased revenues from existing licensees, the Company has replaced all of
the anticipated CNC revenue.
Cost of Services. Cost of services increased 59.6% from $20.8 million in the
year ended December 31, 1995 to $33.2 million in the year ended December 31,
1996 and increased as a percentage of revenues from 22.8% in the year ended
December 31, 1995 to 23.3% for the same period of 1996. This increase in cost
of services was due primarily to the increase in subscriber services revenue.
Selling, General and Administrative. SG&A increased 53.2% from $51.7 million
in the year ended December 31, 1995 to $79.2 million in the year ended
December 31, 1996 and decreased as a percentage of revenues from 56.8% to
55.7%. The increase in SG&A was due primarily to greater expenditures on print
advertising and other selling and marketing costs related to the increase in
subscribers and revenues, including commissions, and an increase in bad debt
expense during the fourth quarter of 1996.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization increased 46.8%
from $7.9 million in the year ended December 31, 1995 to $11.6 million in the
year ended December 31, 1996. This increase was due to depreciation of
additional equipment acquired during the period and the amortization of the
strategic alliance contract intangible.
Charge for Purchased Research and Development. This is a charge in an amount
equal to the estimated value of in-process research and development projects
acquired in the acquisition of TeleT Communications LLC ("TeleT").
Accrued Litigation and Settlement Costs. This is a charge for the estimated
legal fees and other costs that the Company expected to incur to resolve the
patent infringement suit filed by AudioFAX. On February 11, 1997, the Company
entered into a long-term nonexclusive license agreement with AudioFAX settling
the litigation. This charge was adequate to cover the actual costs of
litigation, and the cost of the license agreement is not expected to have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
results of operations.
Income Taxes. Income taxes increased from a provision of $44,000 in the year
ended December 31, 1995 to a provision of $1.4 million in the year ended
December 31, 1996. In the year ended December 31, 1995, the Company's
effective income tax rate was less than the statutory rate due to the use of
net operating loss carryforwards. At December 31, 1996, the Company had a
total deferred tax asset of $12.0 million, principally due to net operating
losses for tax purposes generated upon the exercise by employees of
nonqualified stock options, which generated compensation expense for tax
purposes in excess of compensation expense as recorded
30
<PAGE>
by the Company in accordance with GAAP. In accordance with GAAP, the related
tax benefit of this deduction was credited to additional paid-in capital and,
accordingly, did not reduce operating tax expense recognized by the Company.
Net Income (Loss). The Company recognized net income of $4.9 million in the
year ended December 31, 1995 and $3.0 million in the year ended December 31,
1996. Excluding the charges for in-process research and development and
accrued litigation and settlement costs and the related tax effect, net income
would have increased 60.9% from $6.4 million in the year ended December 31,
1995 to $10.3 million in the year ended December 31, 1996.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994
Revenues. Total revenues increased 47.2% from $61.8 million in the year
ended December 31, 1994 to $91.0 million in the year ended December 31, 1995.
Subscriber services revenues increased 43.5% from $58.4 million in the year
ended December 31, 1994 to $83.8 million in the year ended December 31, 1995.
This increase was due primarily to strong demand for the Company's calling
card programs and voice messaging services. License fees increased 210.5% from
$1.9 million in the year ended December 31, 1994 to $5.9 million in the year
ended December 31, 1995 due to the establishment of additional licensing
relationships and increased revenues from existing licensees. A portion of
this increase was due to the Company's relationship with CNC which accounted
for approximately $1.5 million of the increase in license fees from the year
ended December 31, 1995 compared to year ended December 31, 1994. Other
revenues decreased 13.3% from $1.5 million for the year ended December 31,
1994 to $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 1995.
Cost of Services. Cost of services increased 48.6% from $14.0 million in the
year ended December 31, 1994 to $20.8 million in the year ended December 31,
1995 and increased as a percentage of revenues from 22.6% in the year ended
December 31, 1994 to 22.8% for the same period of 1995. The increase in cost
of services was due primarily to the increase in subscriber services revenue.
Selling, General and Administrative. SG&A increased 9.3% from $47.3 million
in the year ended December 31, 1994 to $51.7 million in the year ended
December 31, 1995 and decreased as a percentage of revenues from 76.6% to
56.8%. The increase in SG&A was due primarily to greater expenditures on print
advertising and other selling and marketing costs related to the increase in
subscribers and revenues.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization increased 46.3%
from $5.4 million in the year ended December 31, 1994 to $7.9 million in the
year ended December 31, 1995. This increase was due to depreciation of
additional equipment acquired during the period.
Accrued Litigation and Settlement Costs. In 1995, VTE settled a lawsuit for
$2.5 million plus interest at 8%. VTE commenced this action to seek a
declaratory judgment that no joint venture agreement or other relationship
existed with the defendant relative to the development of any international
voice messaging markets. The charge was adequate to cover the actual costs of
litigation and the cost of settlement and is not expected to have a material
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations.
Income Taxes. Income taxes increased from a benefit of $556,000 in the year
ended December 31, 1994 to a provision of $44,000 in the year ended December
31, 1995, reflecting the Company's net loss in the year ended December 31,
1994 and net income in the year ended December 31, 1995. The Company's
effective income tax rate was less than the statutory rate due to the use of
net operating loss carryforwards. At December 31, 1995, the Company had a
deferred tax asset of $5.1 million, principally due to net operating losses
for tax purposes generated upon the exercise by employees of nonqualified
stock options, which generated compensation expense for tax purposes in excess
of compensation expense as recorded by the Company in accordance with GAAP. In
accordance with GAAP, the related tax benefit of this deduction was credited
to additional paid-in capital and, accordingly, did not reduce operating tax
expense recognized by the Company.
31
<PAGE>
Net Income (Loss). The Company recognized a net loss of $6.8 million in the
year ended December 31, 1994 and net income of $4.9 million in the year ended
December 31, 1995. This increase reflects a growth in margin contribution from
increased calling card and voice mailbox subscribers and licensees, and the
resulting increase in revenues. Excluding the charge for accrued litigation
and settlement costs and the related tax effect, net income would have
increased from a net loss of $6.8 million in the year ended December 31, 1994
to $6.4 million in the year ended December 31, 1995.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In March 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") released
Statement of Financial Accounting Standard ("SFAS") No. 128 ("SFAS 128"),
"Earnings Per Share," which is effective for fiscal years ending after
December 15, 1997. Early adoption is not permitted. SFAS 128 may significantly
change reported earnings per share for companies with complex capital
structures, such as the Company, as compared to the modified treasury stock
method.
In addition, during 1997 the FASB issued SFAS No. 130, "Reporting
Comprehensive Income," and SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures About Segments of an
Enterprise and Related Information." The Company does not believe that these
statements will have a material effect on its financial statements.
RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER SPECIAL CHARGES
Restructuring and other special charges of $45.4 million recorded in the
second quarter of 1997 consist of transaction costs and expenses incurred in
the Voice-Tel Acquisitions and estimated costs to execute management's plan to
comprehensively restructure Voice-Tel's post-acquisition operations.
Management's plan involves transforming Voice-Tel's business from a franchise
to a consolidated business group model. This initiative involves eliminating
redundant business activities and infrastructure, closing facilities by
centralizing certain administrative and operations management functions and
replacing certain operating assets with more efficient and effective
applications. Management believes the restructuring will lower its operating
costs by reducing employee headcount and associated compensation costs and
improving the utilization of productive assets.
Restructuring and other special charges consist of $16.6 million of
transaction costs and expenses, $9.5 million of severance and associated
costs, $8.6 million of asset impairments and $10.7 million of other exit costs
consisting primarily of costs to terminate lease and other contractual
obligations. All costs accrued as restructuring and other special charges,
except charges for asset impairments, will require cash outlays. Approximately
$12.8 million of cash expenditures associated with these charges were made
prior to June 30, 1997. Such expenditures consist of approximately $1.2
million of severance and related costs associated with terminating 115
employees and $11.6 million of transaction costs and expenses. Management
anticipates this initiative will be completed in 1998 and that remaining cash
outlays of approximately $24.0 million will be funded by existing working
capital and will occur ratably over the period this program is being executed.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company's primary sources of funds are from cash and cash equivalents,
investments (including the net proceeds of the Company's initial public
offering and the sale of the Convertible Notes) and operations. The Company's
principal uses of cash are for working capital and capital expenditures and to
fund acquisitions.
The Company's investing activities used cash of $82.5 million and provided
cash of $10.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 1996 and 1997,
respectively.
The Company's financing activities provided cash of $71.7 million and $121.8
million for the six months ended June 30, 1996 and 1997, respectively. Cash
provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 1997
consisted primarily of net proceeds from the Company's sale of the Convertible
Notes.
32
<PAGE>
In June 1997, the Company issued the Convertible Notes, which may convert
into a maximum of approximately 5,227,000 shares of Common Stock at any time
prior to final maturity at a conversion price of $33.00 per share, subject to
adjustment. The Company received net proceeds of $166.8 million after paying
the underwriting discounts and commissions and the related expenses of the
Convertible Notes offering.
In October 1996, the Company established a $5.0 million line-of-credit with
NationsBank, N.A. to facilitate interim capital equipment financing needs. As
of October 27, 1997, the Company had no borrowings under the line-of-credit.
In April 1997, the Company established a $30.0 million short-term line-of-
credit with NationsBank, N.A. (the "NationsBank Loan") that matured on June
30, 1997. The Company repaid the NationsBank Loan with the proceeds of
maturing investments in the Company's investment portfolio.
The Company believes that funds provided by operations, available borrowings
under its line-of-credit, current amounts of cash, cash equivalents and short
term investments, including the net proceeds of the Company's initial public
offering and the net proceeds from the issuance of the Convertible Notes, will
be sufficient to meet its capital requirements for at least the next 12
months.
The Company's operating activities provided cash of $3.7 million in the year
ended December 31, 1994, $10.6 million in the year ended December 31, 1995 and
$31.5 million in the year ended December 31, 1996. Cash provided by operating
activities for the year ended December 31, 1994 reflects the Company's
attainment of a level of operating revenues sufficient to cover its operating
costs due to increased subscribers to the Company's services. The increase in
cash provided by operating activities in the year ended December 31, 1995, as
compared to earlier periods, reflects the acceleration of the growth of the
Company's subscriber base during that period and the relatively greater
contribution from license fees with their associated higher gross margin. The
increase in cash provided by operating activities in the year ended December
31, 1996 reflects the acceleration of the growth of the Company's subscriber
base during the period and increased income from the investment of the net
proceeds from the Company's initial public offering.
The Company's investing activities used cash of $16.7 million for the year
ended December 31, 1994, $11.5 million for the year ended December 31, 1995
and $92.7 million for the year ended December 31, 1996. The Company's
investing activities for the year ended December 31, 1994 consisted primarily
of purchases of investments for $3.5 million financed by the Company's sale of
Series 1994 Preferred Stock (which was converted into Series A Preferred Stock
in December 1995), and purchases of property and equipment of $13.3 million
funded primarily through the issuance of debt. Cash used in investing
activities for the year ended December 31, 1995 consisted primarily of
purchases of property and equipment of $12.2 million funded primarily through
the issuance of debt. The Company's investing activities for the year ended
December 31, 1996 consisted primarily of purchases of investments in the
amount of $63.8 million. Additionally, the Company purchased property and
equipment of $21.9 million. The Company also used cash to partially fund
certain acquisitions and strategic alliances during the year ended December
31, 1996.
The Company's financing activities provided cash of $12.1 million in the
year ended December 31, 1994, $3.2 million for the year ended December 31,
1995 and $67.9 million for the year ended December 31, 1996. Cash provided by
financing activities for the year ended December 31, 1994 reflects proceeds
from issuance of debt to finance purchases of property and equipment and from
proceeds from issuance of preferred stock. Cash provided by financing
activities for the year ended December 31, 1995 reflects proceeds from the
issuance of debt to finance purchases of property and equipment and exercises
of stock options. Cash provided in the year ended December 31, 1996 was
primarily from the net proceeds of the Company's initial public offering in
March 1996. Additionally, proceeds from the repayment of the above-mentioned
subscriptions for Common Stock also provided cash of $2.4 million in 1996.
These sources of cash were partially offset in 1996 by the repayment of notes
payable outstanding at December 31, 1995 as well as payment of dividends on
preferred stock.
At December 31, 1996, the Company had working capital of $53.6 million. At
December 31, 1995, the Company had a working capital deficit of $9.7 million.
The Company has financed its cash requirements through a combination of equity
and debt financing and through cash flows from operating activities. In May
1992, the
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Company borrowed $1.0 million (the "First Sirrom Note") from Sirrom Capital
Corporation ("Sirrom"), an independent lender unaffiliated with the Company,
which was used to fund the Company's operations and for capital expenditures.
In December 1993, the Company borrowed an additional $1.0 million from Sirrom
(the "Second Sirrom Note") (the First Sirrom Note and Second Sirrom Note are
referred to as the "Notes"). In connection with entering into the Notes, the
Company granted Sirrom warrants to purchase an aggregate of 568,392 shares of
Common Stock at $0.042 per share, the terms of which do not require the
cancellation or exercise of the warrants upon repayment of the Notes. The
Company used $2.0 million of the net proceeds of its initial public offering
to retire the Notes in March 1996. In January 1994, the Company issued 8%
cumulative Series A Preferred Stock to NationsBanc Capital Corporation
("NationsBanc"), from which it realized net proceeds of $3.9 million. In
connection with the issuance of the Company's Series A Preferred Stock, all of
the Company's outstanding preferred stock and debentures that were issued in
1993 were converted into Common Stock. A portion of the net proceeds of the
Second Sirrom Note and the issuance of the Series A Preferred Stock was used
to fund operations. The Company invested the remainder of the proceeds of the
Second Sirrom Note and the Series A Preferred Stock, amounting to $3.5
million, in short-term interest-bearing securities. On January 19, 1996, the
Company exercised its right to redeem the Series A Preferred Stock from
NationsBanc. On February 1, 1996, NationsBanc elected to convert all of the
Series A Preferred Stock into Common Stock. Thus, effective February 1, 1996,
all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock were converted into
3,095,592 shares of Common Stock. In connection with the conversion, the
Company paid NationsBanc $677,000 in accrued but unpaid dividends and interest
on the Series A Preferred Stock during the year ended December 31, 1996. In
connection with the Company's initial public offering, the Company issued
4,570,000 shares of Common Stock in March 1996. The Company received net
proceeds of $74.6 million after paying the underwriting discounts and
commissions and the expenses of the offering.
The Company's principal commitments consist of various notes due to
shareholders and banks. These notes are primarily used to fund investments in
switching and voice messaging equipment needed to accommodate the increase in
calling card and voice messaging subscribers and licensees. The Company
believes that cash on hand, cash from operations and other working capital
will be sufficient to fund the Company's capital requirements. The Company
may, depending upon conditions in the capital markets and other factors,
consider other capital transactions to increase the Company's financial
flexibility.
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BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
Premiere designs, develops, markets and provides enhanced personal
communications services. The Company's network-based computer telephony
technology links together two or more stand-alone communications services,
such as calling card long distance, voice mail, e-mail, fax mail and paging,
and allows access to these services through telephones or computers. The
Company bundles these stand-alone services to allow users to store, manage,
prioritize, deliver and distribute incoming and outgoing information in an
efficient and economical manner. Although Premiere offers stand-alone
communications services, it primarily targets users who have multiple
communications devices and a need to integrate them for greater functionality
and convenience.
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
Managing the evolving enhanced personal communications environment has
become more complex as a result of increased service and device options,
rapidly changing technology standards and shortened product life cycles. The
proliferation of communications devices and the advent of multiple messaging
platforms have dramatically increased the average employee's accessibility and
the number of messages he or she manages. Employees today face a demanding
communications environment in which they must utilize a number of
communications systems and convert information from one medium to another. A
study by the Institute for the Future, the Gallup Organization, Pitney-Bowes
and San Jose State University, based on responses from more than 1000
employees of Fortune 1000 companies, found that workers send and receive an
average of 178 messages each day.
Today, many stand-alone communications services are provided through legacy
systems, including landline telephone systems, messaging devices and LANs,
that reside in whole or in part at a customer's location. The architecture of
the CPE that comprises such systems is often closed in nature, which makes
integration with other systems and networks difficult and expensive. However,
users are increasingly demanding that their legacy CPE be integrated with more
open and intelligent worldwide communications networks such as the Internet.
The Company believes that, due to the complexity of such integration, users
will increasingly outsource their personal communications requirements to
third parties such as Premiere. Premiere believes that customers will prefer
the Company's network-based service solution for personal communications to
traditional CPE-based product solutions because the Company's solution reduces
customer costs of equipment ownership and exposure to technology obsolescence.
THE PREMIERE SOLUTION
The core of the Premiere solution is its "intelligent network" which links,
or integrates, stand-alone communications services using technology developed
by the Company's research and development team. The intelligent network
consists of (i) a state-of-the-art proprietary platform that integrates
digital switching technology with enhanced personal communications features
and (ii) a recently acquired private frame relay digital messaging network.
The Company's modular and scalable intelligent network incorporates an open-
system design, which allows the Company to easily expand capacity and provide
the Company with the flexibility to develop and customize its service
offerings. Premiere offers bundled services in a variety of packages and
tailors these packages to meet the requirements of strategic marketing and co-
brand partners. Premiere's private frame relay network, with approximately 210
POPs, reaches approximately 90% of the United States population and
approximately 100% of the Canadian, Australian and New Zealand populations via
local access. Premiere anticipates reaching a significant portion of the U.K.
population via local access in the near future. The Company plans to invest
$40-$50 million in capital expenditures over the next 12 months as part of its
effort to integrate its proprietary platform with its recently acquired
private frame relay network. Once integration is completed, the Company
believes that its intelligent network will allow the Company to offer its
customers enhanced personal communications services through either local or
800 access via telephone or computer.
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<PAGE>
Mobile Communications Services. Mobile communications services are
communications services which (i) route incoming calls to predefined locations
and (ii) allow users to make outbound calls while away from their home or
office. The Company offers its mobile communications services on a direct or a
wholesale basis to its customers. The following table describes available
mobile communications features.
MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE DESCRIPTION
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Calling Card Long Distance Subscribers can place worldwide long distance calls at
attractive rates.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Call Connect/Call Inbound callers are routed by Premiere's platform to a
Screening predetermined phone number that is programmed by the
subscriber. The platform records an announcement of the
inbound caller and plays this announcement for the
subscriber. The subscriber can then either accept the call
or send it to voice mail. If the programmed phone number is
a subscriber's pager, he or she is able to call into the
platform and connect with the inbound caller upon receiving
notification of the call.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message Notification Subscribers can instruct the platform to notify them of
receipt of messages in their mailboxes by means of a message
sent to their pagers or by a call to a predesignated number.
Special pager codes are used to identify the type of message
(voice, fax or e-mail) that has been received.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personal 800 Numbers Premiere can provide subscribers a personal 800 number that
serves as a single point of access for callers to select
various messaging options or attempt to locate the
subscriber at predetermined phone numbers.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conference Calling Subscribers can initiate conference calls by commands
delivered through a telephone key pad.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information Services Subscribers can access news, weather, sports and financial
and other information updates provided by CNN or the Chicago
Tribune.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Speed Dial Subscribers can create their own personal speed dial
directory which they can access each time they use the
platform.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electronic Bill Payment In connection with a relationship with CheckFree
Corporation, subscribers can pay bills electronically
through the platform.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Travel & Concierge Subscribers can make lodging, airline, rental car, dining
and golf reservations and can obtain theater, concert and
sporting event tickets without leaving the platform or
dialing additional phone numbers. In addition, the platform
offers travel assistance services, including emergency
medical referrals, legal referrals and pre-trip destination
information.
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
Mobile Communications Services. Mobile communications services are
communications services which (i) route incoming calls to predefined locations
and (ii) allow users to make outbound calls while away from their home or
office. The Company offers its mobile communications services on a direct or a
wholesale basis to its customers. The following table describes available
mobile communications features.
MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE DESCRIPTION
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Calling Card Long Distance Subscribers can place worldwide long distance calls at
attractive rates.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Call Connect/Call Inbound callers are routed by Premiere's platform to a
Screening predetermined phone number that is programmed by the
subscriber. The platform records an announcement of the
inbound caller and plays this announcement for the
subscriber. The subscriber can then either accept the call
or send it to voice mail. If the programmed phone number is
a subscriber's pager, he or she is able to call into the
platform and connect with the inbound caller upon receiving
notification of the call.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Message Notification Subscribers can instruct the platform to notify them of
receipt of messages in their mailboxes by means of a message
sent to their pagers or by a call to a predesignated number.
Special pager codes are used to identify the type of message
(voice, fax or e-mail) that has been received.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personal 800 Numbers Premiere can provide subscribers a personal 800 number that
serves as a single point of access for callers to select
various messaging options or attempt to locate the
subscriber at predetermined phone numbers.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conference Calling Subscribers can initiate conference calls by commands
delivered through a telephone key pad.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information Services Subscribers can access news, weather, sports and financial
and other information updates provided by CNN or the Chicago
Tribune.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Speed Dial Subscribers can create their own personal speed dial
directory which they can access each time they use the
platform.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Electronic Bill Payment In connection with a relationship with CheckFree
Corporation, subscribers can pay bills electronically
through the platform.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Travel & Concierge Subscribers can make lodging, airline, rental car, dining
and golf reservations and can obtain theater, concert and
sporting event tickets without leaving the platform or
dialing additional phone numbers. In addition, the platform
offers travel assistance services, including emergency
medical referrals, legal referrals and pre-trip destination
information.
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
Integrated Messaging. Premiere's integrated messaging services support all
three major forms of messaging: voice mail; fax mail; and e-mail. Premiere
offers integrated messaging services such as those described below.
INTEGRATED MESSAGING SERVICES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE DESCRIPTION
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Voice Mail Subscribers are provided with traditional voice mail
features allowing them to customize their mailbox greetings
and to receive, save and delete voice mail messages.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enhanced Voice Messaging Subscribers can obtain a locally accessed voice mail box
that provides the subscriber with network messaging to any
mailbox on the system in the United States, Canada,
Australia and New Zealand. Enhanced features include, among
others, distribution lists, return receipt and confidential
and urgent tagging.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fax Mail Subscribers can receive and store fax transmissions and
later instruct the platform to forward the faxes to a
specified location. Callers may also attach a voice
introduction.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E-mail Subscribers are provided with an e-mail address by Premiere
or one of its partners. Messages can be read over the
telephone using proprietary text-to-speech functionality or
sent to a fax machine. Subscribers can also respond to an e-
mail over the telephone by choosing from a variety of
standard responses.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cross-Media Messaging Subscribers can convert messages from one format to another.
Premiere currently offers the following conversion options:
voice mail to an e-mail attachment; fax to an e-mail
attachment; e-mail to fax; and e-mail to voice.
</TABLE>
Internet-Based Communications Services. Premiere's primary Internet-based
service is Orchestrate, a Web-based interface into the Company's computer
telephony platform, which is currently in limited release. Orchestrate is
designed to allow subscribers to view and interact with a universal inbox and
contact manager that support the Company's integrated messaging services, fax
broadcast and conference call initiation services. Orchestrate is also
designed to provide its subscribers with a virtual receptionist, a Web page
that contains the user's contact information (e-mail address, home/work phone
number, pager number, text or audio greeting) and subscriber defined links to
other Web sites. Subscribers' Web pages are automatically generated by the
Premiere platform from input provided by subscribers. Orchestrate operates
using an Internet browser in connection with any PC connected to the Internet
and does not require subscribers to purchase any additional specialized
hardware or software.
In addition, the Company is developing additional Internet-based
communications services and features, including:
. Third-Party PIM Compatibility. Subscribers would be able to transfer
contact information from popular Personal Information Managers
("PIMs") into Orchestrate. Currently, the Company is testing the
integration of Orchestrate with the Symantec ACT PIM and intends to
integrate Orchestrate with other popular PIMs in the future.
. Enhanced Conference Call Control. Similar to features available to a
conference call bridge operator, subscribers would be able to control
conference calls in session from their PCs. Features are expected to
include muting and addition and deletion of selected callers.
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<PAGE>
Call Center Management and Other Services. Premiere streamlines and enhances
call processing and call routing for financial institutions and other large
corporations. In a typical financial services application, such as the one
currently being implemented for NationsBank. Premiere's platform is used to
enhance call processing for checking, savings and other account information
available through toll free telephone access.
Through its recent acquisition of VoiceCom, Premiere also offers full
service conference calling and voice response programming. Conference calling
is currently resold under the VoiceCom name and is provided by a third-party
service bureau. Voice response programming consists of a variety of
applications that use custom voice prompts and commands input by the
subscriber from the subscriber's telephone key pad to retrieve certain
information by phone or fax and to respond to automatic messages or reminders
sent by the voice response platform.
PREMIERE PLATFORM AND NETWORK
Premiere has designed its platform and network to provide its subscribers
with efficient and reliable service and to be easily expandable as network
usage increases. The modular and scalable design of the platform and related
software allows expansion of network capacity without requiring replacement of
existing hardware or software or interrupting service. Premiere's open systems
design approach enables Premiere to utilize readily available third party
hardware and software in constructing its platform and facilitates the
integration of services and information provided by third parties into the
system. The platform delivers and distributes its services to users through
its voice and data switching centers and is currently being integrated with
the private frame relay network and locally deployed voice messaging POPs
acquired by the Company in the Voice-Tel Acquisitions. This delivery
infrastructure incorporates both third party and proprietary equipment as well
as leased transmission facilities.
Computer Telephony Platform. The computer telephony platform consists of
digital telecommunications switches which interface with high speed
client/server networks of personal computers, database servers, application
servers and Web servers. Telnodes, clients on the network, are controlled by
PCs which act as Network Managers. Servers on the network are responsible for
performing functions requested by the Telnodes and Network Managers and are
also responsible for storing and providing access to data. Web servers
connected to the network firewall interface with the Internet and allow
Premiere to offer access to certain of its services from any PC connected to
the Internet. The network architecture is designed to be modular and scalable.
To increase the capacity of the platform, the Company adds additional Network
Managers, Telnodes and servers and, at certain points, must add additional
modules to the digital switch, but is not required to replace existing Network
Managers, Telnodes and servers. This modular systems approach also allows
Premiere, at the request of licensees and strategic partners, to provide
custom applications for subscribers. The client/server network utilizes a
fault tolerant network operating system, and the network configuration
provides for data on each server to be mirrored on a separate server, thereby
providing redundancy for improved system reliability. Premiere maintains the
ability to generate power in the event of a prolonged power outage, or if its
uninterruptible power supply fails.
The platform is controlled by proprietary application and database access
software that was developed by the Company and is designed to be versatile and
adaptable to meet the demands of strategic partners, licensees or individual
subscribers. Applications written for custom or specific functions can be
quickly developed and implemented across the network and offered to all of the
Company's subscribers. Premiere maintains an internal development program in
order to continually enhance its software.
Switching and Transmission Facilities. Incoming and outgoing communications
to the platform are transmitted via fiber optic trunk lines, which are
provided by interexchange long distance service providers pursuant to
contractual relationships with the Company. Premiere obtains transmission
services from multiple carriers, thus enhancing Premiere's ability to avoid
service interruptions caused by technical problems at a single carrier.
Because each carrier's trunk lines physically terminate at Premiere's
facility, Premiere can readily alter the routing of its transmission traffic
in the event of technical difficulties.
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<PAGE>
The Company opened an additional domestic switching facility in Dallas,
Texas in September 1996. This facility is designed to provide geographical
redundancy and increased capacity. The Dallas center is capable of handling
300 million transaction minutes per month, which is the same capacity as
Premiere's core hub in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition, the Company established
a data and switching center in London, England during 1996 and has begun
development of a similar center in Toronto, Canada during 1997. These
international centers are designed to reduce transmission costs associated
with system access from international locations and allow Premiere to more
effectively pursue opportunities with international customers and partners.
Frame Relay Network and Local Messaging POPs. Premiere's private frame relay
network connects messaging customers in dispersed locations through a secure
private wide area network that reaches approximately 90% of the U.S.
population and approximately 100% of the Canadian, Australian and New Zealand
populations via local access. Messages are captured and digitized at one of
approximately 210 local POPs using a Centigram voice processing system. Users
access these POPs through local direct inward dial numbers that are purchased
from the appropriate LEC. Network interface boxes located at the POP then
convert the digitized data from DDCMP protocol (the data processing protocol
standard of Centigram's system) to the TCP/IP protocol. Once converted to
TCP/IP format, the message's path is determined by a router, which directs the
data to one of the 13 network hubs. These network hubs are co-located in sites
utilized by WorldCom. The Company's Cascade frame relay switches, placed in
the network hubs, then route the message data over leased frame relay
connections to other hub sites or POPs within a hub region for delivery to the
end user. The Company plans to integrate its private frame relay network and
local messaging POPs with its computer telephony platforms in order to offer
certain of its enhanced personal communications services on a local access
basis.
Billing. Depending on the services to which the customer subscribes,
Premiere bills the customer either by its real-time EBIS or through an
invoice. The Company bills customers at least monthly and in certain instances
more frequently if the customer exceeds certain preset spending limits.
Premiere's EBIS is designed to allow instant activation of subscribers'
accounts, monitor subscribers' activity in real time and, while operating in
the background without interrupting subscribers' service, interface with
multiple financial institutions and electronically bill subscribers' credit
cards or bank accounts. Customers also receive a monthly statement that
provides a detailed accounting of their calling activity. The EBIS is
configurable for the billing requirements of various financial institutions
and currently interfaces electronically with approximately 3,000 banks and
other financial institutions.
Invoices are created by extracting call record data from either the platform
or local voice messaging equipment. This data is collected, consolidated and
processed to produce a customer invoice that can then be billed to either a
business, corporate department or an individual.
SALES, MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
Premiere markets its services through multiple distribution channels that
encompass: (i) direct marketing efforts where Premiere is responsible for lead
generation and sales; (ii) co-brand relationships in which Premiere offers its
services to the customers of other companies, such as financial institutions,
that are seeking to increase their revenue from and their goodwill with their
customer base by offering value-added services; (iii) strategic relationships
where Premiere may develop custom applications for its platform and market its
services jointly with its strategic partners; and (iv) licensing arrangements
where other companies market and sell Premiere's services under their names
without significant assistance from Premiere. In all distribution channels,
except licensing arrangements, Premiere enters into agreements pursuant to
which it agrees to pay commissions to or share revenues with the parties who
assist Premiere in marketing its services. The Premiere marketing staff is
primarily responsible for providing marketing support to the four channels
described above at varying levels of involvement, depending on the channel.
The marketing staff is also responsible for promoting the Premiere corporate
image in the marketplace.
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<PAGE>
Direct Channels. Premiere markets its services directly under the Premiere
WorldLink, Voice-Tel, AFCOM and VoiceCom names. Direct marketing and sales
efforts have traditionally focused on print advertising and direct mailings
targeted at mobile professionals or, with respect to AFCOM, direct marketing
done in conjunction with financial institutions located on military bases.
However, with its recent acquisitions, the Company acquired a nationwide
direct sales force with a national accounts program. The Company believes that
the direct sales force will enable it to broaden its base of business
customers.
The direct sales force has been recently organized by the Company into a
regional reporting structure and a centrally managed national accounts
program. Regional sales managers and their direct sales people have the
ability to generate sales leads for all of Premiere's products and services
within their defined geographic territories. These sales people target
primarily single location small to medium-sized businesses. Other types of
leads generated may be passed on to the appropriate group or channel (e.g.
national accounts program or wholesale channel). The centrally managed
national accounts program focuses on multi-location businesses that are better
served by dedicated representatives with ultimate responsibility across
different geographic regions. If appropriate, these national accounts sales
people form account teams that include regional sales people when greater
geographic coverage is needed or that include wholesale channel
representatives when necessary. The direct sales organization also has
traditionally marketed and continues to market to multilevel marketing
organizations, such as Amway, and their independent representatives and
distributors.
Co-brand Relationships. Premiere has relationships with a number of other
companies, including First Union, Discover Card and the Royal Bank of Scotland
PLC, under which Premiere provides its services to customers of those
companies. The other company generally offers its customers access to
Premiere's services, and Premiere pays subscriber and usage based fees to the
other company with respect to each subscriber who subscribes to a co-branded
service. Premiere believes that companies which enter into co-brand
relationships with Premiere are motivated by the ability to offer additional
value to their customers, reinforce brand equity through custom voice prompts
that their customers hear each time they access the service, communicate with
their customers by broadcasting voice, fax or e-mail messages, and derive
additional revenue. Marketing and fulfillment materials are generally issued
under the Premiere WorldLink name, with the other company also placing its
logo on the materials.
Strategic Partners. The Company also markets its services by establishing
strategic relationships with parties including American Express and CompuServe
whose customers have an anticipated need for enhanced communications services
provided by Premiere. Strategic relationships are intended to provide the
Company's strategic partners with: (i) an efficient means of communicating
with their customers through Premiere's voice mail, e-mail and fax mail
features; (ii) increased visibility to their customers through customized
greetings and a private branded communications card; (iii) the ability to
provide customized services to their customers over Premiere's platform; and
(iv) an additional source of revenue. These relationships provide the Company
with the opportunity to develop specialized services for the strategic
partner's customers which, in certain circumstances, the Company can later
offer to its subscribers. In connection with these strategic relationships,
services are generally issued in the name of Premiere's strategic partner and
bear a logo and design of the strategic partner's choosing. The fulfillment
materials generally state that services are provided by Premiere.
Licensing and Wholesale Relationships. Companies such as WorldCom,
NationsBank, UniDial and Touch 1 Communications, Inc. ("Touch 1
Communications") have chosen to outsource part or all of their personal
communications services to Premiere. Premiere licenses use of its platform,
voice messaging network and call center technology to these companies. Such
relationships enable these companies to: (i) provide enhanced services to
their customers; (ii) generate additional revenue without developing or
investing in their own infrastructure; and (iii) reduce costs and improve
operational efficiencies through the use of more advanced technologies than
are internally available. The platform's and network's open architecture
allows customization of services for the licensee or wholesale customer.
Premiere generally provides its licensee or wholesale customers with access to
customer and billing records for marketing and billing purposes. Licensee and
41
<PAGE>
wholesale customers generally are responsible for billing the end user and
generally provide their own transmission facilities for use with Premiere's
services. Services are private labeled by the licensee or wholesale customer
with Premiere's contribution transparent to the end user. Services are also
generally provided under agreements with 24- to 48-month terms which require
the payment of a minimum monthly fee if specified minimum targets are not met.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Premiere's research and development and engineering personnel are
responsible for developing, testing and supporting proprietary software
applications, as well as creating and improving enhanced system features and
services. Premiere's research and development strategy is to focus its efforts
on enhancing its proprietary software and integrating its software with
readily available software and hardware when feasible. Premiere maintains an
internal software development program pursuant to which the Company introduces
major and minor enhancements of its software.
As of September 30, 1997, Premiere employed 60 people in research and
development and engineering positions. Premiere's research and development
team continuously monitors and performs necessary improvements to the
operation of the computer telephony platform, the EBIS and other billing
systems and messaging systems and network connections to determine if software
or hardware modifications are necessary. Premiere's research and development
and engineering personnel also engage in joint development efforts with
Premiere's strategic partners and vendors.
CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Premiere believes that effective customer service is essential to attracting
and retaining subscribers. Premiere's customer service department is
responsible for educating and assisting subscribers in using Premiere's
services, for resolving billing related issues and, in consultation with
Premiere's technical support personnel, for resolving technical problems
subscribers may have in using Premiere's services. As of September 30, 1997,
Premiere employed a staff of approximately 262 people in customer service
positions. Premiere provides customer service through either Atlanta-based
call centers or regionally located representatives. Regionally located
representatives are primarily responsible for supporting Voice-Tel voice
messaging customers while Premiere's call centers provide 24 hours per day,
seven days per week coverage to assist customers using all other services.
Premiere employs separate personnel who are responsible for technical
support functions. These employees are responsible for performing more
technically demanding support activities, such as voice messaging and certain
other types of account provisioning and administration, consulting with
Premiere's strategic partners and licensees regarding technical issues and
resolving technical issues brought to their attention by the customer service
department. As of September 30, 1997, Premiere employed 65 people in technical
support positions, the majority of which were located in Atlanta.
COMPETITION
Premiere's competitive strategy is to seek to gain a competitive advantage
by being among the first companies to offer an integrated personal
communications solution, being an innovator in the integrated personal
communications services market and offering unique and innovative services to
its subscribers. The Company intends to capitalize on strategic relationships
with WorldCom, American Express and others in order to build its subscriber
base and to maintain and increase subscriber loyalty. The Company believes
that the principal competitive factors affecting the market for personal
communications services are price, quality of service, reliability of service,
degree of service integration, ease of use, service features and name
recognition. The Company believes that it competes effectively in these areas.
The market for the Company's services is intensely competitive, rapidly
evolving and subject to rapid technological change. The Company expects
competition to increase in the future. Many of the Company's
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current and potential competitors have longer operating histories, greater
name recognition, larger customer bases and substantially greater financial,
personnel, marketing, engineering, technical and other resources than the
Company. Although the Company is aware of several companies that are marketing
enhanced calling cards, it is not aware of any major competitor that is
marketing an integrated personal communications service identical to the
service marketed by the Company. Many of the Company's competitors have
substantial resources and technical expertise and could likely develop such a
service if they chose to expend sufficient resources. The Company believes
that existing competitors are likely to expand their service offerings and
that new competitors are likely to enter the personal communications market
and to attempt to integrate such services, resulting in greater competition
for the Company. Such competition could materially adversely affect the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company attempts to differentiate itself from its competitors in part by
offering an integrated suite of enhanced personal communications services.
Other providers currently offer each of the individual services and certain
combinations of the services offered by the Company. The Company's worldwide
long distance services and features, including those acquired pursuant to the
Voice-Tel Acquisitions, compete directly with services provided by companies
such as AT&T, MCI and Sprint as well as smaller interexchange long distance
providers. The Company's voice mail services, including those acquired in the
Voice-Tel Acquisitions and the VoiceCom acquisition, compete with voice mail
services provided by AT&T, certain RBOCs and other service bureaus as well as
by equipment manufacturers, such as Octel, Northern Telecom, Siemens,
Centigram, Boston Technology and Digital Sound. The Company's enhanced travel,
concierge, news and e-mail services compete with services provided by America
Online, Prodigy and numerous Internet service providers. The Company's paging
services compete with paging services offered by companies such as AT&T and
MCI.
When fully implemented, the Company's Orchestrate product line is expected
to compete with products offered by companies such as Octel, Microsoft,
Novell, Lucent and numerous smaller entities. In addition, over the past few
years, the number of companies offering call center technology, including
AT&T, MCI and Lucent, has grown dramatically, primarily in response to major
outsource initiatives as well as significantly lower technology costs. The
Company expects that other parties will develop and implement information and
telecommunications service platforms similar to its platform, thereby
increasing competition for the Company's services. For example, Octel and
Microsoft recently announced a service, called "Unified Messenger," which
places all voice mail, e-mail and fax messages in a single mailbox accessible
by computer or telephone.
In addition, the 1996 Act allows LECs, including the RBOCs, to provide
inter-LATA long distance telephone service, which will likely significantly
increase competition for long distance services. The new legislation also
grants the FCC the authority to deregulate other aspects of the
telecommunications industry, which in the future may, if authorized by the
FCC, facilitate the offering of an integrated suite of personal communications
services by regulated entities, including the RBOCs, in competition with the
Company. Such increased competition could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
Telecommunications companies compete for consumers based on price, with
major long distance carriers conducting extensive advertising campaigns to
capture market share. There can be no assurance that a decrease in the rates
charged for communications services by the major long distance carriers or
other competitors, whether caused by general competitive pressures or the
entry of the RBOCs and other LECs into the long distance market, would not
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations.
The Company expects that information and telecommunications services markets
will continue to attract new competitors and new technologies, possibly
including alternative technologies that are more sophisticated and cost
effective than the Company's technology. The Company does not have the
contractual right to prevent its subscribers from changing to a competing
network, and the Company's subscribers may generally terminate their service
with the Company at will. See "Risk Factors -- Competition."
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LEGISLATIVE MATTERS
The 1996 Act was intended to increase competition in the long distance and
local telecommunications markets. The 1996 Act opens competition in the local
services market and, at the same time, contains provisions intended to protect
consumers and businesses from unfair competition by incumbent LECs, including
the RBOCs. The 1996 Act allows RBOCs to provide long distance service outside
of their local service territories but bars them from immediately offering in-
region inter-LATA long distance services until certain conditions are
satisfied. An RBOC must apply to the FCC to provide in-region inter-LATA long
distance services and must satisfy a set of pro-competitive criteria intended
to ensure that RBOCs open their own local markets to competition before the
FCC will approve such application. Further, while the FCC has final authority
to determine whether an RBOC application is granted, the FCC must consult with
the Department of Justice to determine if, among other things, the entry of
the RBOC would be in the public interest, and with the relevant state to
determine that the pro-competitive criteria have been satisfied. The Company
is unable to determine how the FCC will rule on any such applications.
The 1996 Act provides a framework for the Company's Operating Subsidiaries
and other long distance carriers to compete with LECs by reselling local
telephone service, by interconnecting the LEC network facilities at various
points in the network, or by building new local service facilities. In the
future, the Operating Subsidiaries may decide to buy and resell unbundled
network services, which could also be used as a platform to provide total
access services, or to build local service facilities. The Operating
Subsidiaries' decision to enter the local services market is dependent on the
economic viability of the options and on the regulatory environment, which
will likely vary by state.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
The Operating Subsidiaries provide both telecommunications and information
services. Consequently, the Operating Subsidiaries are subject to extensive
federal and state regulation in the United States. Various international
authorities may also seek to regulate the services provided by the Operating
Subsidiaries.
Tariffs and Detariffing. The Operating Subsidiaries are classified by the
FCC as non-dominant carriers for their domestic interstate and international
common carrier telecommunications services. Common carriers that provide
domestic interstate and international telecommunications services must
maintain tariffs on file with the FCC describing rates, terms and conditions
of service. While the tariffs of non-dominant carriers, such as the Operating
Subsidiaries, are subject to FCC review, they are presumed to be lawful upon
filing with the FCC. Currently, the Operating Subsidiaries either have applied
for and received, or are in the process of applying for and receiving, all
necessary authority from the FCC to provide domestic interstate and
international telecommunications services. However, at this time, only PCI has
been granted authority by the FCC to provide domestic interstate and
international telecommunications services.
In October 1996, the FCC issued an order detariffing long distance services
which prohibited non-dominant long distance carriers from filing tariffs for
domestic, interstate, long distance services in the future. The FCC's
scheduled detariffing rules were to become effective September 22, 1997. The
detariffing rules were appealed by several parties, and in February 1997, the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a temporary
stay preventing the rules from taking effect pending judicial review. The
Company and the Operating Subsidiaries are currently unable to predict what
impact the outcome of the FCC's detariffing proceeding will have on the
Company or the Operating Subsidiaries.
Local Interconnection and Resale. In August 1996, the FCC adopted an order
(the "Interconnection Order") which established a minimum set of rules
relating to the manner in which all telecommunications carriers would be able
to interconnect with the LECs' networks. The Interconnection Order addressed
several important interconnection issues, including unbundled network element
purchase, resale discounts, and negotiation and arbitration procedures between
LECs and long distance carriers.
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Several states, companies, associations and other entities appealed the
Interconnection Order. On July 18, 1997, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the
Eighth Circuit overturned many of the rules established by the FCC's
Interconnection Order governing, among other things, the pricing of
interconnection, resale and unbundled network elements. The Court's decision
substantially limits the FCC's jurisdiction and expands the state regulators'
jurisdiction to set and enforce rules governing the development of local
competition. The Company is currently considering entering the local exchange
market as a so-called competitive local exchange carrier ("CLEC"). If the
Company becomes a CLEC, it will face rules that are likely to vary
substantially from state to state. A patchwork of state regulations could make
competitive entry by the Operating Subsidiaries in some markets more difficult
and expensive than in others and could increase the costs of regulatory
compliance associated with local entry.
The FCC has announced its intent to appeal the Court's ruling to the U.S.
Supreme Court and other parties are also expected to appeal the Court's
decision. Due to this uncertainty, the Company and the Operating Subsidiaries
are unable to predict what impact the Court's decision will have on the
Operating Subsidiaries' ability to offer competitive local service, and no
assurance can be given that the Court's decision will not have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations.
Universal Service Reform. On May 8, 1997, the FCC released an order
establishing a significantly expanded federal telecommunications subsidy
regime. For example, the FCC established new subsidies for schools and
libraries with an annual cap of $2.25 billion and for rural health care
providers with an annual cap of $400 million. Providers of interstate
telecommunications service, such as the Operating Subsidiaries, as well as
certain other entities, must pay for the federal programs. The Operating
Subsidiaries' share of the schools, libraries and rural health care funds will
be based on their share of the total industry for telecommunications services
and on certain defined telecommunications end user revenues. The Operating
Subsidiaries' share of all other federal subsidy funds will be based on their
share of total interstate (including certain international) telecommunications
services and on certain defined telecommunications end user revenues. Several
parties have appealed the May 8, 1997 order, and those appeals have been
consolidated in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. No assurance
can be given that the FCC's universal service order will not have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations.
Access Charge Reform. On May 16, 1997, the FCC released an Access Charge
Reform Order, which revised rules governing the interstate switched access
charge rate structure. The new rules are intended to eliminate implicit
subsidies and to establish rate structures that better reflect the manner in
which costs are incurred. The new rules substantially increase the costs that
price cap LECs recover through monthly, non-traffic sensitive access charges
and substantially decrease the costs that price cap LECs recover through
traffic sensitive access charges. The manner in which the FCC implements its
approach to lowering access charge levels will have an effect on the prices
the Operating Subsidiaries pay for originating and terminating interstate
traffic. Portions of the Access Charge Reform Order have been appealed. In
light of the uncertainty regarding ultimate disposition of the Access Charge
Reform proceeding by the FCC and the courts, the Company is unable to predict
what impact the FCC's revised access charge scheme will have on the Operating
Subsidiaries' access charge cost structure.
Payphone Compensation. In September 1996, the FCC adopted rules to implement
the 1996 Act's requirements establishing "a per call compensation plan to
ensure all payphone service providers are fairly compensated for each and
every completed call using their payphone." This order included a specific fee
to be paid to each payphone service provider by long distance carriers and
intra-LATA toll providers (including LECs) on all "dial around" calls,
including debit card and calling card calls. On July 1, 1997, the U.S. Court
of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit overturned some of the FCC rules for the
implementation plan.
In addition, the court found unlawful both the methodology used to determine
the long distance carriers' payment obligations and the absence of any
compensation for some types of payphones and services. These issues have been
remanded to the FCC. Although the Operating Subsidiaries expect to incur
additional costs to receive "dial around" calls that originate from payphones,
the Company is unable to predict what impact the
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payphone rules will have on the Operating Subsidiaries' costs for such calls
until the FCC adopts revised payphone compensation rates based on the circuit
court's ruling.
State Regulation. Most PUCs require carriers that wish to provide intrastate
common carrier services to be authorized to provide such services. The
Operating Subsidiaries either have applied for and received, or are in the
process of applying for and receiving, all necessary authorizations to provide
intrastate long distance services.
The Operating Subsidiaries are generally not subject to price regulation or
to rate of return regulation for their intrastate services. In most states,
however, the Operating Subsidiaries are required to file tariffs setting forth
the terms, conditions and prices for their intrastate services. In some state
jurisdictions, the tariff can list a rate range for intrastate services. The
Operating Subsidiaries may be subject to additional regulatory burdens in some
states, such as compliance with quality of service requirements or remittance
of contributions to support state sponsored universal service. The Operating
Subsidiaries' ability to incur long-term indebtedness is subject to prior PUC
approval in some state jurisdictions. In addition, some state PUCs regulate
the issuance of securities and the transfer of control of entities subject to
their jurisdiction. These state regulations may have attached to the Company's
recent acquisitions of one or more of the Operating Subsidiaries. Currently,
the Company is reviewing whether and to what extent additional regulatory
compliance is required in this regard.
Other. In conducting its business, the Company is subject to various laws
and regulations relating to commercial transactions generally, such as the
Uniform Commercial Code and is also subject to the electronic funds transfer
rules embodied in Regulation E promulgated by the Federal Reserve. Congress
has held hearings regarding, and various agencies are considering, whether to
regulate providers of services and transactions in the electronic commerce
market. For example, the Federal Reserve recently completed a study, directed
by Congress, regarding the propriety of applying Regulation E to stored value
cards. The Department of Treasury recently promulgated proposed rules applying
record keeping, reporting and other requirements to a wide variety of entities
involved in electronic commerce. It is possible that Congress, the states or
various government agencies could impose new or additional requirements on the
electronic commerce market or entities operating therein. If enacted, such
laws, rules and regulations could be imposed on the Company's business and
industry and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition or results of operations. The Company's proposed
international activities also will be subject to regulation by various
international authorities and the inherent risk of unexpected changes in such
regulation.
PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AND TECHNOLOGY
The Company's ability to compete is dependent in part upon its proprietary
technology. The Company relies primarily on a combination of intellectual
property laws and contractual provisions to protect its proprietary rights and
technology. These laws and contractual provisions provide only limited
protection of the Company's proprietary rights and technology. Premiere has
three patent applications pending and nine trademark or service mark
registrations pending. Premiere has two registered service marks. Voice-Tel
has been issued two U.S. patents and has one U.S. patent application pending.
Voice-Tel also has five registered U.S. trademarks or service marks and
approximately 40 foreign trademark or service mark registrations or pending
applications. VoiceCom has two registered U.S. trademarks and one registered
foreign trademark. Despite the Company's efforts to protect its proprietary
rights and technology, there can be no assurance that others will not be able
to copy or otherwise obtain and use the Company's proprietary technology
without authorization, or independently develop technologies that are similar
or superior to the Company's technology. However, the Company believes that,
due to the rapid pace of technological change in the information and
telecommunications service industry, factors such as the technological and
creative skills of its personnel, new product developments, frequent product
enhancements and the timeliness and quality of support services are more
important to establishing and maintaining a competitive advantage in the
industry. See "Risk Factors -- Limited Protection of Proprietary Rights and
Technology."
Many patents, copyrights and trademarks have been issued in the general
areas of information and telecommunications services and computer telephony.
The Company believes that in the ordinary course of its business third parties
will claim that the Company's current of future products or services infringe
the patent, copyright or trademark rights of such third parties. The Company
is aware of other companies that use the terms
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"WorldLink" or "Premiere" in describing their products and services, including
telecommunications products and services. Certain of those companies hold
registered trademarks which incorporate the names "WorldLink" or "Premiere."
The Company has received correspondence from a provider of prepaid calling
cards which claims that the Company's use of the term "WorldLink" infringes
upon its trademark rights. In addition, the Company has received
correspondence from a major bank, which is among the holders of registered
trademarks incorporating the term "WorldLink," inquiring as to the nature of
the Company's use of the term "WorldLink" as part of its mark "Premiere
WorldLink." Based on, among other things, the types of businesses in which the
other companies are engaged and the low likelihood of confusion, the Company
believes these claims to be without merit.
In October 1996, VTE received a letter from a third party claiming that
certain aspects of VTE's products and services may be infringing upon one or
more of the third party's patents. The Company has reviewed the patent claims
of the third party and does not believe that the Company's products or
services infringe on the claims of the third party. No patent infringement
claims against the Company have been filed by the third party at this time.
Should the third party file patent infringement claims against the Company,
the Company believes that it would have meritorious defenses to any such
claims. However, due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation, the Company
is unable to predict the outcome of any potential litigation with the third
party, and any adverse outcome could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, results of operations or financial condition. Even if the
Company were to ultimately prevail, the Company's business could be adversely
affected by the diversion of management attention and litigation costs.
Because of this risk, the Company withheld in escrow approximately 176,000
shares of Common Stock from the purchase price of VTE and VTN. This escrow
arrangement terminates in April 2000. There can be no assurance that such
escrow will be sufficient to fully cover the Company's exposure in the event
of litigation or an adverse outcome to the potential infringement claims.
In February 1997, the Company entered into a long-term nonexclusive license
agreement with AudioFAX settling a patent infringement suit filed by AudioFAX
in June 1996. In the third quarter of 1996, the Company took a one-time charge
for the estimated legal fees and other costs that the Company expected to
incur to resolve this matter. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations." In September 1997, VoiceCom
also entered into a long-term nonexclusive license agreement with AudioFAX.
In May 1997, Premiere received a letter from a manufacturer and marketer of
certain telecommunications equipment asserting that Premiere is offering
certain "calling card and related enhanced services," "single number service"
and "call connecting services" covered by three patents held by that company
and inviting Premiere to obtain a license. Premiere has preliminarily reviewed
the subject patents and, based on that review, presently believes that its
products and services currently being marketed do not infringe two of the
patents. Premiere intends, however, to conduct a further review of these two
patents in order to determine whether it would be helpful to its future
products and services to license the patents. The third patent relates to
certain call reorigination technology. Premiere is conducting a further review
of this patent to determine if its call reorigination system would infringe
any valid rights under this patent. If Premiere ultimately determines that it
is infringing this patent, it could seek to license the technology or
discontinue using it and employ an alternate technology. There can be no
assurance that Premiere would be able to license the technology on
commercially reasonable terms or that it could easily and inexpensively
migrate to a new call reorigination technology. Premiere's call reorigination
service is only one service that it offers, and management does not believe
that this service is critical to the marketing of Premiere's overall suite of
services. Consequently, Premiere does not believe that its inability to
license the technology or migrate to a new technology would have a material
adverse effect on its business, financial condition and results of operations.
No claim has been asserted beyond this letter, but no assurance can be given
that the third party will not commence an infringement action against
Premiere. If a patent infringement claim is brought against Premiere, there
can be no assurance that Premiere would prevail and any adverse outcome could
have a material adverse effect on Premiere's business, financial condition and
results of operations.
In May 1997, the Company received a letter from counsel for a provider of
goods and services in the telecommunications field objecting to the Company's
use of the phrase "personal assistant" based on that company's federally
registered "personal assistant" service mark. On June 18, 1997, counsel for
the Company responded to the objections, noting that the Company did not
intend to use, nor would it use in the future, the words "personal assistant"
as a trademark or service mark, but instead would merely use these words to
describe the nature of its product. The Company has not heard anything further
from the potential claimant and believes that the matter has been resolved.
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In July 1997, the Company received a letter from counsel for a French
publishing company objecting to the Company's use of the "Premiere" trademark.
Based on, among other things, the type of business in which the French company
is engaged and the low likelihood of confusion, the Company believes that
these claims are without merit. Due to the inherent uncertainties of
litigation, however, the Company is unable to predict the outcome of any
potential litigation with the French company, and any adverse outcome could
have a material effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
results of operations. Even if the Company were to prevail in such a
challenge, the Company's business could be adversely affected by the diversion
of management attention and litigation costs.
No assurance can be given that actions or claims alleging patent, copyright
or trademark infringement will not be brought against the Company with respect
to current or future products or services, or that, if such actions or claims
are brought, the Company will ultimately prevail. Any such claiming parties
may have significantly greater resources than the Company to pursue litigation
of such claims. Any such claims, whether with or without merit, could be time
consuming, result in costly litigation, cause delays in introducing new or
improved products and services, require the Company to enter into royalty or
licensing agreements, or cause the Company to discontinue use of the
challenged technology, tradename or service mark at potentially significant
expense to the Company associated with the marketing of a new name or the
development or purchase of replacement technology, all of which could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and
results of operation. See "Risk Factors -- Risk of Infringement Claims" and
"-- Legal Proceedings."
EMPLOYEES
As of October 28, 1997, the Company employed 922 persons on a full-time
basis and 29 persons on a part-time basis. None of the Company's employees are
members of a labor union or are covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
PROPERTIES
Premiere's corporate headquarters occupy approximately 103,400 square feet
of office space in Atlanta, Georgia under a lease expiring August 31, 2007.
Voice-Tel's headquarters occupy approximately 30,000 square feet of office
space in Cleveland, Ohio under a lease expiring in October 1999. VoiceCom's
headquarters occupy approximately 26,400 square feet of office space in
Atlanta, Georgia under a lease expiring April 30, 2001. The Company also has
data and switching centers in Atlanta, Georgia, Dallas, Texas, London, England
and has begun development of a similar center in Toronto, Canada. The Company
believes that its current office space is sufficient to meet its present needs
and does not anticipate any difficulty securing additional space, as needed,
on terms acceptable to the Company.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On January 30, 1996, Eric Bott, E.B. Elliott and Cost Recovery Systems, Inc.
("CRS") filed a complaint against PCI and the Company's president, Boland T.
Jones, in the Superior Court of Fulton County, Georgia. In the complaint, the
plaintiffs allege that: (i) Mr. Bott, a former company employee, is entitled
to options to purchase 10,000 shares of common stock of PCI at $5.00 per
share; (ii) Mr. Bott is entitled to a commission equal to 10% of all revenues
that have been and in the future are collected as a result of the Company's
licensing arrangement with one of its customers; (iii) Mr. Bott is entitled to
$7,000 for consulting work allegedly performed for the Company; (iv) Mr. Bott
is entitled to unspecified damages resulting from his sale in June 1995 of 750
shares of common stock of PCI to an unrelated third party for an unspecified
amount; (v) Mr. Elliott or CRS, an affiliate of Mr. Elliott, is entitled to
options to purchase 5,000 or 10,000 shares of common stock of PCI at an
unspecified exercise price arising out of work allegedly performed by CRS for
the Company; and (vi) CRS is owed an unspecified amount of commissions from
the Company relating to sales of the Company's telecommunications services by
CRS. Subsequent to the filing of the complaint, the plaintiffs dismissed
without prejudice count (iv) above. The plaintiffs also seek attorneys' fees
and unspecified amounts of punitive damages. The Company filed an answer and
counterclaim denying all allegations of the complaint and asserting various
affirmative defenses. Assuming that the allegations concerning stock options
and stock sales relate to the common stock of Premiere Technologies, Inc.
rather than PCI, as alleged, the Company believes that the share numbers and
exercise prices have not been adjusted for the 24-to-1 stock split effected in
December
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1995. In this regard, the plaintiffs filed a motion to add the Company as a
defendant and to amend their complaint to assert their claims against the
Company. Adjusting the share numbers and exercise prices of these options to
reflect the 24-to-1 stock split, the plaintiffs' claims relate to options to
purchase up to a total of 480,000 shares of Common Stock and the alleged
exercise price of $5.00 per share with regard to a portion of such options
becomes approximately $0.21 per share. The plaintiffs' motion was denied on
December 17, 1996, and the plaintiffs dismissed the case without prejudice on
January 13, 1997. The plaintiffs filed a new complaint against PCI and the
Company on January 21, 1997 setting forth the same allegations as described
above, except that Mr. Bott no longer alleges that he is entitled to
unspecified damages resulting from his sale in June 1995 of 750 shares of
common stock of PCI, and that Mr. Bott and Mr. Elliott allege that the stock
options relate to the Common Stock. The Company and PCI have filed an answer
and counterclaim denying all allegations of the complaint and asserting
various affirmative defenses with respect to the counts of the complaint
against the Company, and the parties are currently engaged in discovery. The
Company believes it has meritorious defenses to the plaintiffs' allegations,
but due to the inherent uncertainties of the litigation process, the Company
is unable to predict the outcome of this litigation. If the outcome of this
litigation is adverse to the Company, it could have a material adverse effect
on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
On August 6, 1996, CNC, a licensing customer of the Company, was placed into
bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (the
"Bankruptcy Code"). On August 23, 1996, CNC filed a motion to intervene in a
separate lawsuit brought by a CNC creditor in the United States District Court
for the Southern District of New York against certain guarantors of CNC's
obligations and to file a third-party action against numerous entities,
including such CNC creditor and PCI for alleged negligent misrepresentations
of fact in connection with an alleged fraudulent scheme designed to damage
CNC. The court has not ruled on CNC's request. Based upon the bankruptcy
examiner's findings and the subsequently appointed bankruptcy trustee's
investigation of potential actions directed at PCI, including an avoidable
preference claim under the Bankruptcy Code of an amount up to approximately
$950,000, the trustee and PCI recently reached a tentative agreement of all
issues between the parties, including dismissal of the above referenced
lawsuit, subject to Bankruptcy Court approval. The terms of the proposed
settlement have been incorporated into a proposed plan of reorganization filed
by the trustee with the Court. Based upon initial hearings before the
Bankruptcy Court, the trustee expects to file an amendment to the plan and
disclosure statements before mid-October, 1997. Due to the inherent
uncertainties of the litigation process, the Company is unable to predict the
outcome of this litigation. If the outcome of this litigation is adverse to
the Company, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operation.
On September 20, 1996, Peter Lucina ("Lucina") filed a complaint against the
Company, Donald B. Gasgarth ("Gasgarth") and Patrick G. Jones ("Jones") in the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Illinois. In the
complaint, Lucina alleges, among other things, that: (i) in November 1995, he
sold 1,563 shares of the Company's common stock to Gasgarth, a former director
of the Company, for $31,260; (ii) Jones offered to "facilitate" the sale;
(iii) in December 1995, the Company filed a registration statement relating to
the initial public offering of its common stock; (iv) prior to his sale of
stock to Gasgarth, neither Gasgarth nor Jones told Lucina that the Company
planned an initial public offering; and (v) the 1,563 shares sold to Gasgarth,
adjusted for the 24-to-1 stock split subsequently effected, were worth
$675,216 based on the Company's initial public offering at $18 per share in
March 1996. In his complaint, Lucina asserts violations of the Exchange Act
and the rules promulgated thereunder, the Illinois Consumer Fraud and
Deceptive Business Practices Act and common law fraud. Lucina seeks the return
of 37,512 shares of Common Stock of the Company or, in the alternative,
compensatory damages in the amount of $975,312 with interest thereon, punitive
damages in the amount of $1 million and costs of the suit, including
reasonable attorneys' fees and other associated costs. The Company has filed
an answer to the complaint denying allegations of the complaint and asserting
various defenses. Discovery is continuing, and no trial date has been set. The
Company believes that it has meritorious defenses to the Lucina complaint;
however, due to the inherent uncertainties of the litigation process, the
Company is unable to predict the outcome of this litigation. If the outcome of
this litigation is adverse to the Company, it could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operation.
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On September 1, 1995, VTE settled a lawsuit for monthly payments over the
next 33 months aggregating $2.5 million plus interest at 8%. VTE originally
commenced this action to seek a declaratory judgment that no joint venture
agreement or other relationships existed with the defendant relative to the
development of any international voice messaging markets. Without admitting
liability, VTE agreed to this settlement subsequent to a jury verdict against
it for breach of contract in the amount of $5.3 million. Should VTE default on
its obligation under the settlement agreement, it may be liable for the full
amount of the jury verdict. The settlement also provides for the acceleration
of payments if certain assets are sold during the settlement payment period.
VTE's lenders agreed to waive any violation or event of default that may occur
as a result of this settlement.
Due to the inherent uncertainties of the litigation process and the judicial
system, the Company is unable to predict the outcome of the foregoing
litigation matters. If the outcome of one or more of such matters is adverse
to the Company, it could have a natural adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations. See "Risk Factors --
Potential Adverse Impact on Pending Litigation."
50
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, KEY EMPLOYEES AND DIRECTORS
The executive officers, key employees and directors of the Company and their
ages as of October 1, 1997 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TERM AS
DIRECTOR
NAME AGE POSITION EXPIRES
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Boland T. Jones(1)(5)... 37 Chairman of the Board of Directors and President 2000
of the Company
Jeffrey A. Allred....... 43 Executive Vice President of Strategic --
Development of the Company
Patrick G. Jones........ 46 Senior Vice President of Finance and Legal --
and Secretary of the Company
Julianne F. Vaio........ 33 Treasurer of the Company --
Curtis L. Garner, Jr.... 50 President of PCI --
William E. Welsh........ 55 President of VTE --
Randolph W. Salisbury... 43 Senior Vice President of Marketing of PCI --
Thomas E. Houlihan...... 42 Vice President of Engineering and Operations of PCI --
Raja Rajaraman.......... 54 Vice President of Operations and Development of VTE --
George W. Baker, 61 Director 2000
Sr.(3)(5)(6)...........
Eduard J. May- 44 Director 1998
er(2)(4)(6)............
Raymond H. Pirtle, 56 Director 1999
Jr.(2)(3)(4)...........
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Member of the Executive Committee.
(2) Member of the Audit Committee.
(3) Member of the Compensation Committee.
(4) Member of the Strategic Planning Committee.
(5) Member of the 1994 Stock Option Plan Committee.
(6) Member of the 1995 Stock Plan Committee.
Boland T. Jones, a founder of the Company, has served as a Director and
Chief Executive Officer or President of the Company since its inception in
July 1991. Since September 1993, Mr. Jones has served as the Chairman of the
Board of Directors. From 1986 until founding the Company, Mr. Jones served as
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of American Network Exchange,
Inc., a diversified transmission provider specializing in niche markets.
Jeffrey A. Allred has served as Executive Vice President of Strategic
Development of the Company since August 1997. From June 1996 until August
1997, Mr. Allred was a partner in the Atlanta, Georgia office of the law firm
of Alston & Bird LLP. From February 1992 until June 1996, Mr. Allred was a
partner in the Atlanta, Georgia office of the law firm of Nelson Mullins Riley
& Scarborough, L.L.P.
Patrick G. Jones has served as Senior Vice President of Finance and Legal of
the Company since November 1995. Since December 1995, Mr. Jones has also
served as the Company's Secretary. From February 1993 until November 1995, Mr.
Jones was a partner in the Atlanta, Georgia office of the law firm of Nelson
Mullins Riley & Scarborough, L.L.P. From February 1989 until February 1993,
Mr. Jones was a partner in the Atlanta, Georgia law firm of Long, Aldridge &
Norman.
51
<PAGE>
Julianne F. Vaio has served as Treasurer of the Company since September
1996. From January 1995 until September 1997, Ms. Vaio served as Senior
Director of Finance/Controller of PCI. From 1992 through 1994 Ms. Vaio served
as Controller of Novato National Bank and Accounting Manager of Pillar
Corporation (now Hyperion Software Corp.) and from 1987 until 1992 she was
with Arthur Andersen.
Curtis L. Garner, Jr. has served as President of PCI since November 1, 1997.
From 1981 until October 1997, Mr. Garner served in various senior management
positions with AT&T, most recently as Chief Financial Officer,
Southern/Southwest Regions, AT&T Consumer Markets Division.
William E. Welsh has served as President of VTE since April 1997. From 1993
to April 1997, Mr. Welsh served as the Executive Director to the VTE National
Accounts Program, an unincorporated association of Voice-Tel franchisees. From
1986 to April 1997, Mr. Welsh served as the President and Chief Executive
Officer of William E. Welsh and Associates, Inc., a consultant to
manufacturing and distribution companies. From 1989 to April 1997, Mr. Welsh
also served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Steel Products
Corp. of Akron.
Randolph W. Salisbury has served as Senior Vice President of Marketing of
PCI since September 1997. From 1985 to 1997, Mr. Salisbury served as Senior
Vice President and Partner of Fitzgerald & Company, an independent advertising
agency in Atlanta, Georgia, which has assisted the Company since January 1996
in the development and implementation of its marketing programs.
Thomas E. Houlihan has served as Vice President of Engineering and
Operations of PCI since September 1997, and from May 1996 to September 1997 he
served as Director of Network Operations of PCI. From 1992 to 1996, Mr.
Houlihan served as Vice President of Network for Corporate Telemanagement
Group, Inc.
Raja Rajaraman has served as Vice President of Operations and Development of
VTE since July 1994. From 1989 to 1994, Mr. Rajaraman held the positions of
Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Business Development, and Vice
President, Technology and Architecture for British Telecom North America.
Mr. Rajaraman has an MBA and Ph.D. in Management Science from the State
University of New York in Buffalo.
George W. Baker, Sr. has been a Director of the Company since the Company's
inception in July 1991. Since July 1988, Mr. Baker has served as a Director,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Taco Tico, Inc., a Wichita, Kansas
based franchisor of Mexican restaurants. Mr. Baker's prior experience also
includes service on the Board of Directors of Kentucky Fried Chicken
Corporation, as President of Kentucky Fried Chicken Operating Company and as
President, Chief Executive Officer and shareholder of Mr. Gatti's, Inc., a
pizza restaurant chain.
Eduard J. Mayer has been a Director of the Company since August 1992. Since
December 1988, Mr. Mayer has been President and owner of Acorn Ventures Inc.,
a venture capital management company. Acorn Ventures Inc. is the manager of
two Canadian venture capital companies, BG Acorn Capital Fund (since December
1988) and FESA Enterprise Venture Capital Fund of Canada Ltd. (since July
1995). Mr. Mayer is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of International
UNP Holdings Ltd., an investment company. Mr. Mayer is also a director of
Mosaid Technologies, Incorporated, a semiconductor design company, and Trojan
Technologies Inc., an environmental services company, as well as several
private companies.
Raymond H. Pirtle, Jr. has been a managing director and a member of the
Board of Directors of Equitable Securities Corporation since February 1989.
Prior to that date, Mr. Pirtle was a general partner of J.C. Bradford & Co.
Mr. Pirtle is a member of the Board of Directors of Sirrom Capital
Corporation, a publicly traded small business investment company.
52
<PAGE>
PRINCIPAL AND SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information known to the Company with
respect to the beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of
November 2, 1997, and as adjusted to reflect the sale of the Common Stock
offered hereby, by: (i) all persons known by the Company to own beneficially
more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock; (ii) each of the
Company's directors and executive officers; (iii) the Selling Shareholders;
and (iv) all directors and executive officers as group. Except as set forth in
the footnotes to the table, the Company believes that each person named below
has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares beneficially
owned, subject to community property laws where applicable.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
PRIOR TO OFFERING (1) NUMBER AFTER OFFERING (1)
----------------------- OF ----------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES NUMBER OF
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER SHARES PERCENT OFFERED SHARES PERCENT
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
WorldCom, Inc. (2)...... 2,050,000 6.4% -- 2,050,000 6.4%
Boland T. Jones (3)..... 3,901,098 11.5 -- 3,901,098 11.5
D. Gregory Smith (4).... 3,093,338 9.3 -- 3,093,338 9.3
George W. Baker, Sr.
(5).................... 130,832 * -- 130,832 *
Eduard J. Mayer (6)..... 164,400 * -- 164,400 *
Raymond H. Pirtle, Jr.
(7).................... 60,000 * -- 60,000 *
Patrick G. Jones (8).... 507,728 1.6 -- 507,728 1.6
Jeffrey A. Allred (9)... 150,000 * -- 150,000 *
Barbara Jane Allan (10)
....................... 36,456 * 32,811 3,645 *
Barbara Joan Allan (11)
....................... 16,523 * 7,153 9,370 *
Karin Allan (12) ....... 36,604 * 32,944 3,660 *
Amway Corporation (13).. 331,062 1.0 254,919 76,143 *
Pat W. Andresen (14).... 98,965 * 89,069 9,896 *
Fran Andresen (14)...... 98,965 * 89,069 9,896 *
Automated Messaging,
Inc.................... 39,453 * 17,000 22,453 *
James R. Averette (14).. 7,302 * 5,300 2,002 *
Preston G. Averette
(14)................... 7,302 * 5,000 2,302 *
Preston G. and James R.
Averette .............. 10,417 * 10,417 -- *
Major Bashinsky (15).... 79,394 * 15,000 64,394 *
Alan Beale (14)......... 2,984 * 2,418 566 *
Joan S. Boggess (14).... 22,614 * 20,353 2,261 *
John P. Boggess (14).... 22,614 * 20,353 2,261 *
Joseph T. Braverman
(16)................... 140,777 * 4,000 136,777 *
Stephen C. Cadwallader
(14)................... 7,167 * 5,550 1,617 *
Alan J. Carter (17)..... 124,439 * 80,000 44,439 *
Warren E. Carter II .... 11,012 * 11,012 -- *
Carter Voice, Inc. (18). 181,358 * 137,084 44,274 *
Michael C. Chacho (14).. 64,500 * 14,000 50,500 *
Foster H. and Brenda J.
Chase (14)............. 57,142 * 7,572 49,570 *
George G. Clark (19).... 30,930 * 9,750 21,180 *
Frederick W. Clarke IV
(20)................... 28,874 * 5,000 23,874 *
Kendall J. Cooper (21).. 1,295 * 120 1,175 *
E. Thomas Costello (14). 7,245 * 3,800 3,445 *
Cecil D. Crow, Jr. (14). 3,003 * 2,703 300 *
Geoffrey W. Crowley
(14)................... 5,437 * 1,894 3,543 *
Donald J. Dally (22).... 66,757 * 57,207 9,550 *
</TABLE>
53
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
PRIOR TO OFFERING (1) NUMBER AFTER OFFERING (1)
------------------------ OF -----------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES NUMBER OF
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER SHARES PERCENT OFFERED SHARES PERCENT
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Kitty C. Dally (23)..... 44,504 * 38,138 6,366 *
Joseph P. DeFelice (14). 27,975 * 13,000 14,975 *
Lawrence J. Diana (24).. 102,763 * 5,000 97,763 *
John and Eileen Dodson
(14)................... 45,100 * 15,000 30,100 *
Sean Dowd (14).......... 28,583 * 10,000 18,583 *
Marjorie Dowd (14)...... 28,583 * 10,000 18,583 *
Barney Edwards (14)..... 32,549 * 8,788 23,761 *
Mitchell E. Eil (14).... 28,734 * 7,000 21,734 *
David A. Ellsworth (14). 54,593 * 8,500 46,093 *
Estate of Robert McDon-
ald (14)............... 111,705 * 100,535 11,170 *
Peter D. Fagan (14)..... 79,122 * 50,000 29,122 *
David Feldstein (14).... 7,962 * 7,166 796 *
Charles M. Feuer ....... 42,718 * 14,240 28,478 *
Marshall Field, Jr.
(25)................... 32,752 * 31,825 927 *
Eugene Gertler (14)..... 82,350 * 50,000 32,350 *
Mark Ginella (14)....... 37,273 * 12,400 24,873 *
Neal E. Gold (14)....... 64,500 * 14,000 50,500 *
Allen Goldsher (14)..... 37,273 * 12,400 24,873 *
Steven Grapstein (14)... 2,984 * 2,686 298 *
Alan D. Hebert (14)..... 8,366 * 7,530 836 *
Elberta A. Holt (26).... 7,514 * 3,500 4,014 *
Benton B. Holt III (27). 7,820 * 3,500 4,320 *
Nathan A. Horowitz (14). 21,500 * 19,350 2,150 *
Banner K. Hughes (14)... 104,380 * 40,000 64,380 *
John A. Hughes (28)..... 102,763 * 55,000 47,763 *
James R. and Betty M.
Humphrey (29).......... 26,936 * 5,000 21,936 *
Henry C. and Mary E.
Johnson (14)........... 55,849 * 30,000 25,849 *
Jewish Home of
Cincinnati............. 500 * 500 -- *
Jewish Federation of
Cincinnati............. 500 * 500 -- *
Edward P. Kalankiewicz
(14)................... 7,245 * 3,800 3,445 *
Marvin Kasoff Revocable
Trust (14)............. 68,897 * 50,000 18,897 *
Barbara Kasoff (30)..... 71,668 * 50,000 21,668 *
David Kasoff (14)....... 31,589 * 20,000 11,589 *
H. William King (14).... 21,691 * 6,500 15,191 *
Robert A. Larson (14)... 20,401 * 9,000 11,401 *
Richard A. LaSalle (14). 214,699 * 50,000 164,699 *
Lee Smith Family Trust
(31)................... 26,654 * 21,989 4,665 *
Lee Charitable Remainder
Unitrust .............. 20,000 * 20,000 -- *
David M. Lewis (32)..... 12,310 * 9,280 3,030 *
Kenneth Lile (14)....... 10,619 * 9,558 1,061 *
Kenneth and Ruth Lile
(14)................... 71,549 * 64,395 7,154 *
Marion Gene Matthews
(33)................... 29,370 * 27,559 1,811 *
Doug McMillan (14)...... 51,756 * 13,000 38,756 *
Mark Monro (14)......... 53,163 * 15,000 38,163 *
Julie and Mark Monroe,
joint tenants (14)..... 678 * 611 67 *
Thomas E. Nemic (14).... 42,762 * 6,272 36,490 *
Robert B. Nesmith (34).. 32,212 * 28,000 4,212 *
Barbara Page (14)....... 6,705 * 2,000 4,705 *
Jeet Pahwa (14)......... 21,491 * 2,500 18,991 *
Neerja Ranee Pahwa (14). 20,648 * 2,500 18,148 *
</TABLE>
54
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
PRIOR TO OFFERING (1) NUMBER AFTER OFFERING (1)
----------------------- OF ----------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES NUMBER OF
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER SHARES PERCENT OFFERED SHARES PERCENT
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Alex Papagan (35)........ 17,811 * 10,000 7,811 *
Charlene Papagan (14).... 7,423 * 3,000 4,423 *
Alex and Charlene
Papagan, Jt. Ten........ 1,481 * 1,481 -- *
Irene Pasarew (14)....... 130,878 * 33,000 97,878 *
Barry and Marilyn Pasarew
(14).................... 143,098 * 10,000 133,098 *
Bradley R. Patullo (14).. 8,096 * 2,000 6,096 *
Dorothy Paul (14)........ 29,177 * 26,260 2,917 *
Russell Paul (14) ....... 29,177 * 26,260 2,917 *
Edward P. Pearsall (36).. 50,409 * 40,000 10,409 *
D. Conrad Pearson (14)... 8,096 * 665 7,431 *
Phillip C. Perry (14).... 4,154 * 2,804 1,350 *
Premiere Holdings, LLC
(37).................... 6,946 * 4,192 2,754 *
Aaron Prysock (14)....... 12,214 * 2,000 10,214 *
Joseph P. Rawley (14).... 51,063 * 25,000 26,063 *
Linda C. Roaseau (14).... 89,907 * 24,500 65,407 *
Arthur A. Rotelli (14)... 31,956 * 19,000 12,956 *
Mary L. Schwartz (38).... 7,963 * 7,000 963 *
James H. Shumock (39).... 3,091 * 2,791 300 *
Greg Simmons (40)........ 12,297 * 7,415 4,882 *
David Skiba (14)......... 21,691 * 5,000 16,691 *
Roger B. and Gail L.
Smith (41) ............. 201,922 * 100,000 101,922 *
Kenneth Snyder (14)...... 1,233 * 100 1,133 *
St. Matthew's Episcopal
Church.................. 285 * 285 -- *
William H. Stephens ..... 113,683 * 70,000 43,683 *
W. David Sweatt (42)..... 49,174 * 7,222 41,952 *
C. Kenneth Sweet (14).... 89,991 * 60,000 29,991 *
Steven F. Trief (14)..... 53,717 * 48,346 5,371 *
Barbara Vaughan (14)..... 15,720 * 3,000 12,720 *
Paul J. Vincent (14)..... 130,423 * 117,000 13,423 *
Virginia Voice, Inc.
(43).................... 125,887 * 80,000 45,887 *
Chris J. Washko (14)..... 46,654 * 20,000 26,654 *
Kathryn H. Welsh (14).... 25,732 * 2,000 23,732 *
William E. Welsh (14).... 109,341 * 1,000 108,341 *
Thomas Widdoes (44)...... 36,934 * 28,440 8,494 *
Widdoes Enterprises (45). 159,899 * 115,625 44,274 *
Gary J. Wilberg (46)..... 59,634 * 31,500 28,134 *
Gene Wilberg (47)........ 21,289 * 10,000 11,289 *
Michael E. Williams (14). 22,304 * 2,000 20,304 *
Thomas D. Woltjer (14)... 41,085 * 6,685 34,400 *
Zee Corp (14)............ 26,806 * 5,000 21,806 *
Elinor C. Ziv (14)....... 56,745 * 18,000 36,745 *
William S. Ziv (14)...... 29,159 * 26,244 2,915 *
All executive officers
and directors as a group
(6 persons) (48)........ 4,914,058 14.3 -- 4,914,058 14.3
</TABLE>
- --------
* Less than one percent.
(1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission that deem shares to be beneficially
owned by any person who has or shares voting or investment power with
respect to such shares. Shares of Common Stock subject to warrants or
options that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of
November 2, 1997 are deemed to be outstanding and to be
55
<PAGE>
beneficially owned by the person holding such warrants or options for the
purpose of computing the percentage ownership of such person but are not
treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage
ownership of any other person.
(2) Based upon shares owned as of December 31, 1996 and information the
Company has obtained from WorldCom, Inc.'s Schedule 13D. The address of
WorldCom, Inc. is 515 East Amite Street, Jackson, Mississippi 39201-2702.
(3) Includes 2,132,594 shares held of record by Mr. Jones, 1,623,624 shares
subject to warrants or options exercisable immediately or which become
exercisable within 60 days, 590 shares held of record by Mr. Jones' wife
for which Mr. Jones holds the right to vote pursuant to an irrevocable
proxy granted by Mrs. Jones to Mr. Jones, and 144,290 shares held of
record by 22 shareholders for which Mr. Jones holds the right to vote
pursuant to irrevocable proxies granted by such shareholders to Mr. Jones.
The address of Mr. Jones is 3399 Peachtree Road, N.E., The Lenox Building,
Suite 400, Atlanta, Georgia 30326.
(4) Includes 2,199,714 shares held of record by Mr. Smith and 893,624 shares
subject to warrants or options exercisable immediately. The address of Mr.
Smith is 1907 Oakmont Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33629.
(5) Includes 110,832 shares held of record by Mr. Baker and 20,000 shares
subject to warrants or options exercisable immediately or which become
exercisable within 60 days. Does not include 44,000 shares held of record
by Mr. Baker's wife for which Mr. Baker disclaims beneficial ownership.
(6) Includes 94,400 shares held of record by Mr. Mayer and 70,000 shares
subject to warrants or options exercisable immediately or which become
exercisable within 60 days.
(7) Includes 50,000 shares held in a 401(k) plan for the benefit of Mr. Pirtle
and 10,000 shares subject to warrants or options exercisable immediately
or which become exercisable within 60 days.
(8) Includes 10,028 shares held of record by Mr. Jones, 225,000 shares subject
to warrants or options exercisable immediately or which become exercisable
within 60 days and 272,700 shares owned by six trusts of which Mr. Jones
is the sole trustee.
(9) Includes 150,000 shares subject to warrants or options exercisable
immediately or which become exercisable within 60 days.
(10) Includes 32,811 Exchangeable Shares, which are convertible at any time
into a like number of shares of Premiere Common Stock, and which will be
converted to Common Stock and sold in this Offering. Also includes 3,645
Exchangeable Shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta.
(11) Includes 14,871 Exchangeable Shares, which are convertible at any time
into a like number of shares of Premiere Common Stock, and of which 7,153
will be converted to Common Stock and sold in this Offering. Also
includes 1,652 Exchangeable Shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank,
Atlanta.
(12) Includes 32,944 Exchangeable Shares, which are convertible at any time
into a like number of shares of Premiere Common Stock, and which will be
converted to Common Stock and sold in this Offering. Also includes 3,660
Exchangeable Shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta.
(13) Includes 76,143 shares of Common Stock held in escrow by SunTrust Bank,
Atlanta, as escrow agent, for which the Selling Shareholder retains the
right to vote. Historically, the Voice-Tel entities have relied on sales
through Amway for a substantial portion of their revenue. Such sales
accounted for approximately 44.5%, 32.9% and 28.4% of the Company's
revenue for 1995, 1996 and the six months ended June 30, 1997,
respectively. Amway's relationship with VTE commenced in 1990 when VTE
began managing the voice messaging operations previously conducted by
Amway's subsidiary, Amvox. VTE subsequently acquired and franchised the
former Amvox service centers from Amway in exchange for an equity
interest in VTE. Amway later invested in the development of the private
frame relay digital messaging network through VTN. As a result of these
transactions, Amway also became the single largest equity holder in VTE
and VTN. See "Risk Factors -- Reliance on Amway Relationship."
(14) Ten percent of the shares beneficially owned by each Selling Shareholder
are held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow agent. Each
Selling Shareholder retains the right to vote such shares.
(15) Includes 7,878 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. Bashinsky retains the right to vote such shares.
(16) Includes 13,388 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as
escrow agent. Mr. Braverman retains the right to vote such shares.
56
<PAGE>
(17) Includes 8,482 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. Carter retains the right to vote such shares.
(18) Includes 27,579 shares which are held in escrow by SunTrust Bank,
Atlanta, as escrow agent. Carter Voice, Inc. retains the right to vote
such shares.
(19) Incluldes 2,731 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as
escrow agent. Mr. Clark retains the right to vote such shares.
(20) Includes 2,468 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. Clarke retains the right to vote such shares.
(21) Includes 124 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. Cooper retains the right to vote such shares.
(22) Includes 6,184 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. Dally retains the right to vote such shares.
(23) Includes 4,123 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Ms. Dally retains the right to vote such shares.
(24) Includes 10,212 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as
escrow agent. Mr. Diana retains the right to vote such shares.
(25) Includes 927 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. Field retains the right to vote such shares.
(26) Includes 203 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Ms. Holt retains the right to vote such shares.
(27) Includes 211 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. Holt retains the right to vote such shares.
(28) Includes 10,212 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as
escrow agent. Mr. Hughes retains the right to vote such shares.
(29) Includes 2,569 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey retain the right to vote such shares.
(30) Includes 6,785 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Ms. Kasoff retains the right to vote such shares.
(31) Includes 4,665 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. The trust retains the right to vote such shares.
(32) Includes 1,115 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. Lewis retains the right to vote such shares.
(33) Includes 1,811 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Ms. Matthews retains the right to vote such shares.
(34) Includes 3,210 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. Nesmith retains the right to vote such shares.
(35) Includes 742 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. Papagan retains the right to vote such shares.
(36) Includes 4,815 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. Pearsall retains the right to vote such shares.
(37) Includes 1,780 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Premiere Holdings, LLC retains the right to vote such shares.
(38) Includes 504 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Ms. Schwartz retains the right to vote such shares.
(39) Includes 300 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Ms. Schumock retains the right to vote such shares.
(40) Includes 488 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. Simmons retains the right to vote such shares.
(41) Includes 19,356 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as
escrow agent. Mr. and Mrs. Smith retain the right to vote such shares.
57
<PAGE>
(42) Includes 1,952 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. Sweatt retains the right to vote such shares.
(43) Includes 28,912 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as
escrow agent. Virginia Voice, Inc. retains the right to vote such shares.
(44) Includes 8,494 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. Widdoes retains the right to vote such shares.
(45) Includes 27,579 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as
escrow agent. Widdoes Enterprises retains the right to vote such shares.
(46) Includes 5,743 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. Wilberg retains the right to vote such shares.
(47) Includes 2,036 shares held in escrow by SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, as escrow
agent. Mr. Wilberg retains the right to vote such shares.
(48) Includes 2,098,624 shares subject to warrants or options exercisable
immediately or which become exercisable within 60 days.
58
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 150,000,000 shares
of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of Preferred
Stock, par value $0.01 per share. The following summary does not purport to be
complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by the provisions of
the Company's Articles and the Bylaws, and by the provisions of applicable
law.
COMMON STOCK
As of November 2, 1997, there were 32,235,160 shares of Common Stock
outstanding (including 402,748 Exchangeable Shares which are convertible at
any time into a like number of shares of Common Stock, and of which 72,908
will be converted and sold in this Offering), held of record by approximately
444 shareholders. The holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for
each share held of record for matters on which Common Stock shareholders are
entitled to vote. There are neither sinking fund provisions nor cumulative
voting, preemptive, redemption, or conversion rights applicable to the Common
Stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of Common Stock are
subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of any
shares of any series of Preferred Stock which may be issued by the Company's
Board of Directors from time to time in the future. Subject to the preference
rights of the holders of any outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, holders of
Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be
declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor
and, upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Company, are entitled
to share ratably in all assets of the Company after the payment of its debts
and other liabilities. The outstanding shares of Common Stock are, and the
shares issuable upon conversion of the Notes will be, when issued and paid
for, fully paid and non-assessable.
PREFERRED STOCK
The Board of Directors has the authority pursuant to the Articles, without
the approval of or any action by the shareholders, to issue up to 5,000,000
shares of Preferred Stock in such series and with such preferences, powers,
limitations and relative rights as may be determined by the Board from time to
time. The terms of the voting, conversion, dividend, liquidation, preemptive
and redemption rights and preferences, and other qualifications, powers and
privileges conferred upon the holders of any such Preferred Stock, may be more
favorable than those, if any, granted to holders of Common Stock. The
designation of any Preferred Stock with greater rights, privileges and
preferences than those applicable to the Common Stock may adversely affect the
voting power, market price and other rights and privileges of the Common
Stock, and may hinder or delay the removal of directors, attempted tender
offers, proxy contests or takeovers, or other attempts to change control of
the Company, some or all of which may be desired by holders of the Common
Stock.
Of the 5,000,000 authorized shares of Preferred Stock, one share has been
designated "Series B Voting Preferred Stock," par value $0.01 per share (the
"Series B Preferred"). The one share of the Company's Series B Preferred was
issued for the benefit of the former shareholders of the Canadian Voice-Tel
Entities that the Company acquired on April 30, 1997. Pursuant to the terms of
the acquisition agreements, the former shareholders of the Canadian Voice-Tel
Entities were issued 402,748 Exchangeable Shares, which may be converted at
any time into a like number of shares of the Company's Common Stock, and of
which 72,908 will be converted and sold in this Offering. Upon conversion,
such shares of Common Stock are subject to the same registration rights that
are applicable to the other shares of Common Stock issued in connection with
the Voice-Tel Acquisitions.
For voting purposes, the holder of record of the Series B Preferred is
entitled to have a number of votes equal to the number of votes that the
holders of the outstanding Exchangeable Shares (other than those held by the
Company or its affiliates) would be entitled if all such Exchangeable Shares
were exchanged by the holders thereof for shares of the Company's Common
Stock. The Series B Preferred and the Common Stock of the
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Company vote as a single class. The Company's transfer agent, Sun Trust Bank,
Atlanta, serves as the voting trustee for the Series B Preferred.
In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company,
and subject to any prior rights of holders of preferred stock ranking senior
to the Series B Preferred, the holder of the share of Series B Preferred will
be paid in an amount equal to $1.00, together with payment to any class of
stock ranking equally with the Series B Preferred. At such time as the Series
B Preferred has no votes attached to it because there are no Exchangeable
Shares outstanding which are not owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company
and no options or other agreements which could give rise to the issuance of
Exchangeable Shares to any person other than the Company, the Series B
Preferred will be canceled without any action required by the holder thereof
or the Company.
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE ARTICLES, BYLAWS AND THE GEORGIA CODE
Certain provisions of the Georgia Code and the Company's Articles and
Bylaws, summarized in the following paragraphs, may be considered to have
anti-takeover effects and may hinder, delay, deter or prevent a tender offer,
proxy contest or other attempted takeover that a shareholder may deem to be in
such shareholder's best interest, including such an attempted transaction as
might result in payment of a premium over the market price for shares held by
such shareholder.
Number, Term and Removal of Directors. The Company's Bylaws provide that the
size of the Company's Board of Directors shall be comprised of three to seven
members as determined from time to time by resolution of the Board (provided
that the term of an incumbent director may not be shortened by a reduction in
the number of directors constituting the Board). The Board is divided into
three classes of directors, each serving for staggered three year terms.
Directors may be removed from the Board only for cause and only upon the
affirmative vote of at least 75% of the shareholders entitled to vote thereon
taken at a duly held shareholders' meeting for which notice of the removal
action was properly given. Unless at the same meeting the shareholders vote to
appoint a successor director for the remainder of the removed director's term,
upon a vacancy created in the Board of Directors pursuant to such removal
action or for any other reason (including an increase in the size of the Board
pursuant to resolution of the Board), a successor or new director may be
appointed only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in
office.
Call of and Notices Relating to Shareholder Meetings; Actions by Written
Consent of Shareholders. The Company's Bylaws provide that special meetings of
shareholders or a class or series of shareholders may be called at any time by
the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President of the
Company, and that such meetings shall be called upon the written request of
the holders of shares representing at least 75% of the votes entitled to be
cast on each issue presented at such meeting (25% at any time the Company has
fewer than 100 shareholders of record). The Bylaws also provide that
shareholders seeking to bring business before a meeting of shareholders or to
nominate candidates for election as directors at a meeting of shareholders,
must provide notice thereof not less than 60 nor more than 90 days prior to
the meeting, and, in such notice, provide to the Company certain information
concerning the proposal or nominee. Actions required to be taken at a
shareholder meeting may be taken without a meeting only if the unanimous
written consent of the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting is
obtained and delivered to the Company for inclusion in its minute book or
other corporate records.
Georgia Business Combination Statute. Pursuant to its Bylaws, the Company is
subject to the provisions of the Georgia Code, including provisions
prohibiting various "business combinations" involving "interested
shareholders" for a period of five years after the shareholder becomes an
interested shareholder of the Company. Such provisions prohibit any business
combination with an interested shareholder unless either (i) prior to such
time, the Board of Directors approves either the business combination or the
transaction by which such shareholder became an interested shareholder, (ii)
in the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested
shareholder, the interested shareholder became the beneficial owner of at
least 90% of the outstanding voting stock of the Company which was not held by
directors, officers, affiliates thereof, subsidiaries or certain
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employee stock option plans of the Company, or (iii) subsequent to becoming an
interested shareholder, such shareholder acquired additional shares resulting
in such shareholder owning at least 90% of the outstanding voting stock of the
Company and the business combination is approved by a majority of the
disinterested shareholders' shares not held by directors, officers, affiliates
thereof, subsidiaries or certain employee stock option plans of the Company.
Under the relevant provisions of the Georgia Code, a "business combination" is
defined to include, among other things, (i) any merger, consolidation, share
exchange or any sale, transfer or other disposition (or series of related
sales or transfers) of assets of the Company having an aggregate book value of
10% or more of the Company's net assets (measured as of the end of the most
recent fiscal quarter), with an interested shareholder of the Company or any
other corporation which is or, after giving effect to such business
combination, becomes an affiliate of any such interested shareholder, (ii) the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company, (iii) the receipt by an interested
shareholder of any benefit from any loan, advance, guarantee, pledge, tax
credit or other financial benefit from the Company, other than in the ordinary
course of business and (iv) certain other transactions involving the issuance
or reclassification of securities of the Company which produce the result that
5% or more of the total equity shares of the Company, or of any class or
series thereof, is owned by an interested shareholder. An "interested
shareholder" is defined by the Georgia Code to include any person or entity
that, together with its affiliates, beneficially owns or has the right to own
10% or more of the outstanding voting shares of the Company, or any person
that is an affiliate of the Company and has, at any time within the preceding
two-year period, been the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the outstanding
voting shares of the Company. The restrictions on business combinations shall
not apply to any person who was an interested shareholder before the adoption
of the Bylaw which made the provisions applicable to the Company nor to any
persons who subsequently become interested shareholders inadvertently,
subsequently divest sufficient shares so that the shareholder ceases to be an
interested shareholder and would not, at any time within the five-year period
immediately before a business combination involving the shareholder have been
an interested shareholder but for the inadvertent acquisition.
Constituency Provisions. In addition to considering the effects of any
action on the Company and its shareholders, the Company's Articles permit the
Board of Directors and the committees and individual members thereof to
consider the interests of various constituencies, including employees,
customers, suppliers, and creditors of the Company, communities in which the
Company maintains offices or operations, and other factors which such
directors deem pertinent, in carrying out and discharging the duties and
responsibilities of such positions and in determining what is believed to be
in the best interests of the Company.
Supermajority Provisions. The Board of Directors or the holders of 75% or
more of the outstanding shares may alter, amend or repeal the Company's Bylaws
and adopt new Bylaws. The shareholders also have the power to specify that any
Bylaw adopted by the shareholders may not be altered, amended or repealed by
the Board of Directors.
DIRECTOR EXCULPATION AND INDEMNIFICATION
The Company's Articles provide that no director shall be personally liable
to the Company or any of its shareholders for any breach of the duties of such
position, except that such elimination of liability does not apply to (i)
appropriations of business opportunities from the Company in violation of such
director's duties, (ii) knowing or intentional misconduct or violation of law,
(iii) liability for assent to distributions which are illegal or improper
under the Georgia Code or the Company's Articles and (iv) liability for any
transaction in which an improper personal benefit is derived. In addition, the
Articles state that if the Georgia Code is ever amended to allow for greater
exculpation of directors than presently permitted, the directors shall be
relieved from liabilities to the fullest extent provided by the Georgia Code,
as so amended, without further action by the Board or the shareholders of the
Company, unless the Georgia Code provides otherwise. No modification or repeal
of this provision will adversely affect the elimination or reduction in
liability provided thereby with respect to any alleged act occurring before
the effective date of such modification or repeal. The Company has entered
into indemnification agreements with each of the directors that provide the
directors similar rights to indemnification and contribution.
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TRANSFER AGENT
The transfer agent and registrar for the Company's Common Stock is SunTrust
Bank in Atlanta, Georgia.
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Upon completion of this Offering, the Company will have outstanding
32,235,160 shares of Common Stock (including 402,748 Exchangeable Shares,
which are convertible at any time into a like number of shares of Common
Stock, and of which 72,908 are being converted and sold in this Offering),
assuming no exercise of the Underwriters' over-allotment option. See
"Underwriting." Of these shares, approximately 18,159,498 shares of Common
Stock will be freely transferable without restriction or limitation under the
Securities Act. The remaining shares (approximately 14,075,662 shares) are
Restricted Shares under Rule 144. The Restricted Shares were issued and sold
by the Company in private transactions in reliance upon exemptions from
registration under the Securities Act and may not be sold except in compliance
with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or pursuant to an
exemption from registration, such as the exemption provided by Rule 144.
Upon completion of this Offering, approximately 7,158,332 Restricted Shares
will be eligible for sale in the public market pursuant to Rule 144. Beginning
on November 13, 1997, April 30, 1998 and September 30, 1998, an additional
2,050,000 shares, 4,421,593 shares and approximately 445,737 shares,
respectively, will be eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 144, subject to the
volume, manner of sale and notice requirements of Rule 144. In general, under
Rule 144 as currently in effect, any person (or persons whose shares are
aggregated), including an affiliate of the Company, who has held shares for at
least a one-year period (as computed under Rule 144) is entitled to sell
within any three-month period a number of shares that does not exceed the
greater of (i) 1.0% of the then outstanding shares of the Company's Common
Stock (approximately 322,352 shares after giving effect to this Offering) and
(ii) the average weekly trading volume in the Company's Common Stock during
the four calendar weeks immediately preceding the date on which the notice of
sale is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Sales under Rule
144 are also subject to certain provisions relating to the manner of sale, the
filing of a notice of sale and the availability of current public information
about the Company. A person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) who is
not deemed an affiliate of the Company at any time during the 90 days
immediately preceding a sale, and who has held shares for at least a two-year
period (as computed under Rule 144), would be entitled to sell such shares
under Rule 144(k) without regard to the volume limitation and other conditions
described above. Rule 144A under the Securities Act permits the immediate sale
by the current holders of Restricted Shares of all or a portion of their
shares to certain qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A.
As of November 2, 1997, options and warrants to purchase an aggregate of
10,389,362 shares of Common Stock are outstanding, of which options and
warrants to purchase 3,580,345 shares of Common Stock are vested and
immediately exercisable. Substantially all of the shares issuable upon the
exercise of outstanding options and warrants will be eligible for resale, if
and when issued, under Rule 701 adopted under the Securities Act or pursuant
to Registration Statements on Form S-8. In general, under Rule 701 as
currently in effect, an employee, officer, director, consultant or advisor of
the Company who purchased shares from the Company pursuant to a written
compensatory benefit plan or written contract relating to compensation is
eligible to resell such shares without compliance with restrictions contained
in Rule 144. Shares obtained pursuant to Rule 701 may be sold by non-
affiliates without regard to the holding period, volume limitations,
information or notice requirements of Rule 144, and by affiliates without
regard to the holding period requirements.
On September 26, 1997, the Company filed a shelf registration statement on
Form S-3 with respect to the Convertible Notes, which may convert into a
maximum of approximately 5,227,000 shares of Common Stock at any time prior to
final maturity at a conversion price of $33.00 per share, subject to
adjustment. This Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Convertible
Notes will be registered under the Securities Act and will be, if and when
issued, freely tradeable.
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No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that market sales of
shares or the availability of such shares for sale will have on the market
price of the Common Stock. Nevertheless, sales of substantial amounts of
Common Stock in the public market may have an adverse impact on such market
price.
The Company has agreed not to offer, sell, sell short or otherwise dispose
of any shares of Common Stock (other than the shares offered by the Company in
this Offering) in the public market for a period of 90 days from the date of
this Prospectus without the prior consent of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation. Directors, executive officers and certain shareholders
of the Company have agreed not to offer, sell, sell short or otherwise dispose
of any such shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by them or any shares
issuable upon exercise of stock options for a period of 90 days from the date
of this Prospectus without the prior written consent of Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette Securities Corporation. See "Underwriting."
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
The holders of approximately 8,629,210 shares of Common Stock and their
permitted transferees are entitled to certain rights with respect to the
registration of such shares under the Securities Act.
Registration Rights Granted Prior to IPO. Prior to the Company's initial
public offering in March 1996, the Company granted registration rights to
holders of convertible preferred stock and warrants. Pursuant to these
registration rights agreements, the Company is required to notify these
holders of the Company's intent to register any of its Common Stock under the
Securities Act and allow such holders an opportunity to include their shares
of Common Stock in the Company's registration. These registration rights are
subject to certain limitations and restrictions, including the right of the
underwriters of an underwritten offering to limit the number of shares offered
in such registration if such underwriter determines that the number of shares
requested to be registered cannot be underwritten.
Certain of the holders have the right to require the Company, no more than
two times, and with respect to a minimum percentage of the shares of Common
Stock held by such holders at such times, to file a registration statement
under the Securities Act (other than on Form S-3). In addition, these same
holders are entitled to require the Company, no more than one time after the
Company becomes eligible to effect a registration thereunder and provided such
offering is for not less than $1.0 million, to use all reasonable efforts to
register such holders' shares on Form S-3 (or a successor form). Subject to
certain limitations and conditions, including provisions granting such holders
preferences over the rights of other parties, both of such registrations may
include other securities of the Company with respect to which registration
rights have been granted, and may include securities sold for the account of
the Company.
Although these contractual rights remain in force, the shares subject to
such registration rights may be freely disposed of pursuant to Rule 144 under
the Securities Act.
Registration Rights Granted Subsequent to IPO. Subsequent to the Company's
initial public offering, the Company granted registration rights in connection
with the Company's execution of a strategic alliance with WorldCom, the
Company's acquisitions of TeleT, the Voice-Tel Entities and VoiceCom. In each
of these instances, the Company is required to notify the holders of the
Company's intent to register any of its Common Stock under the Securities Act
and allow such holders an opportunity to include their shares of Common Stock
in the Company's registration; provided, however, that: (i) with respect to
WorldCom and VoiceCom such notice must be given only if the Company intends to
register and sell newly issued shares; (ii) with respect to CMG@Ventures, L.P.
("CMG"), such notice must be given only if 20% of the shares held by CMG
remain outstanding; and (iii) with respect to the former owners of the Voice-
Tel Entities, such notice must be given only until April 30, 1998. These
registration rights are subject to certain limitations and restrictions,
including the right of the underwriters of an underwritten offering to limit
the number of shares offered in such registration if such underwriter
determines that the number of shares requested to be registered cannot be
underwritten.
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WorldCom has a one-time right to require the Company to file a registration
statement under the Securities Act, provided that such request is made: (i)
between November 13, 1998 and November 13, 1999; or (ii) within 60 days from
the date of a change in control of Premiere, the termination of either Boland
T. Jones or D. Gregory Smith as executive officers or the termination of the
strategic alliance with WorldCom if the events described in clause (ii) occur
prior to November 13, 1999. WorldCom currently has the right to require the
Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act as a result
of Mr. Smith's resignation. See "Prospectus Summary -- Recent Developments --
Additions and Changes to Management." In addition, the registration must be
with respect to such minimum number of shares of Common Stock having an
aggregate proposed offering price equal to $10.0 million.
With respect to the former owners of the Voice-Tel Entities, such persons
collectively have the one-time demand right to require the Company to use all
reasonable efforts to file a registration statement under the Securities Act,
provided that (i) such request must be initiated by an Amway entity or holders
of 10% or more of the Registrable Securities (as defined) and (ii) such one-
time demand must be made after July 15, 1997 and before the nine-month
anniversary of the closing of the VTE Acquisitions. The registration statement
which includes this Prospectus was filed pursuant to the exercise of such
rights by the Voice-Tel holders. In addition, the Company has agreed to file a
shelf registration statement as soon as practicable following 90 days after
the date of this Prospectus to include any shares of Common Stock then held by
the former owners of the Voice-Tel Entities.
In each of the above instances, subject to certain limitations and
conditions, including provisions granting certain preferences, such
registrations may include securities sold for the account of the Company or
other shareholders, or both.
With a few exceptions, the Company generally is required to bear the expense
relating to the sale of the Holders' securities under registrations, except
for underwriting discounts and commissions, and in certain cases the fees and
expenses of the Holders' counsel and filing fees related to the registration
statement. The Company also is obligated to indemnify the Holders whose shares
are included in any of the Company's registrations against certain losses and
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and state
securities laws.
COSALE RIGHTS
Pursuant to contractual agreement, some of the registration rights holders
and their transferees have a right to participate in any sale of Common Stock
by certain other shareholders (other than sales to certain related parties of
such shareholders). The percentage of shares of Common Stock owned by such
registration rights holder which can be put by such holder as its
participation interest in such sale is obtained by dividing the number of
shares of Common Stock owned or obtainable by such holder by the number of
shares of all Common Stock owned or obtainable by both the holder and the
selling shareholder.
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UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Underwriting Agreement,
dated , 1997 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), the Underwriters named below,
who are represented by Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
("DLJ"), BancAmerica Robertson Stephens, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated and
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (the "Representatives"), have severally
agreed to purchase from the Selling Shareholders the respective number of
shares of Common Stock set forth opposite their respective names below.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER
UNDERWRITER OF SHARES
<S> <C>
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation............
BancAmerica Robertson Stephens.................................
BT Alex.Brown Incorporated.....................................
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated..............................
---------
Total......................................................
=========
</TABLE>
The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the several
Underwriters to purchase and accept delivery of the shares of Common Stock
offered hereby are subject to approval by their counsel of certain legal
matters and to certain other conditions. The Underwriters are obligated to
purchase and accept delivery of all the shares of Common Stock offered hereby
(other than those shares covered by the over-allotment option described below)
if any are purchased.
The Underwriters initially propose to offer the shares of Common Stock in
part directly to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on
the cover page of this Prospectus and in part to certain dealers (including
the Underwriters) at such price less a concession not in excess of $ per
share. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may re-allow, to certain
other dealers a concession not in excess of $ per share. After the initial
offering of the Common Stock, the public offering price and other selling
terms may be changed by the Representatives at any time without notice.
The Company has granted to the Underwriters an option, exercisable within 30
days after the date of this Prospectus, to purchase, from time to time, in
whole or in part, up to an aggregate of 440,075 additional shares of Common
Stock at the initial public offering price less underwriting discounts and
commissions. The Underwriters may exercise such option solely to cover over-
allotments, if any, made in connection with the Offering. To the extent that
the Underwriters exercise such option, each Underwriter will become obligated,
subject to certain conditions, to purchase its pro rata portion of such
additional shares based on such Underwriter's percentage underwriting
commitment as indicated in the preceding table.
The Company and the Selling Shareholders have agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters against certain liabilities, including under the Securities Act,
or to contribute to payments that the Underwriters may be required to make in
respect thereof.
Each of the Company, its executive officers and directors and certain
shareholders of the Company (including the Selling Shareholders) will agree,
subject to certain exceptions, not to (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to
sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract
to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer
or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or
(ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers all or a portion
of the economic consequences associated with the ownership of any Common Stock
(regardless of whether any of the transactions described in clause (i) or (ii)
is to be settled by the delivery of Common Stock, or such other securities, in
cash or otherwise) for a period of 90 days after the date of this Prospectus
without the prior written consent of DLJ. In addition, during such period, the
Company has also agreed not to file any registration statement with respect
to, and each of its executive officers, directors and certain shareholders of
the Company will agree not to make any demand for, or exercise
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any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or
any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common
Stock without DLJ's prior written consent. In addition, each of the Selling
Shareholders will agree not to make any demand for, or exercise any right with
respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock without DLJ's
prior written consent, except that Selling Shareholders may exercise
preexisting registration rights with respect to registration statements that
are filed with the prior written consent of DLJ.
Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by the Company,
the Selling Shareholders or the Underwriters that would permit a public
offering of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby in any jurisdiction
where action for that purpose is required. The shares of Common Stock offered
hereby may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this
Prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with
the offer and sale of any such shares of Common Stock be distributed or
published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in
compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of such jurisdiction.
Persons into whose possession this Prospectus comes are advised to inform
themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the Offering of
the Common Stock and the distribution of this Prospectus. This Prospectus does
not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any
shares of Common Stock offered hereby in any jurisdiction in which such an
offer or a solicitation is unlawful.
The Underwriters and dealers may engage in passive market making
transactions in the Common Stock in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M
promulgated by the Commission. In general, a passive market maker may not bid
for or purchase shares of Common Stock at a price that exceeds the highest
independent bid. In addition, the net daily purchases made by any passive
market maker generally may not exceed 30% of its average daily trading volume
in the Common Stock during a specified two-month prior period, or 200 shares,
whichever is greater. A passive market maker must identify passive market
making bids as such on the Nasdaq electronic inter-dealer reporting system.
Passive market making may stabilize or maintain the market price of the Common
Stock above independent market levels. Underwriters and dealers are not
required to engage in passive market making and may end passive market making
activities at any time.
In connection with the Offering, the Underwriters may engage in transactions
that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the Common Stock.
Specifically, the Underwriters may overallot the Offering, creating a
syndicate short position. The Underwriters may bid for and purchase shares of
Common Stock in the open market to cover such syndicate short position or to
stabilize the price of the Common Stock. These activities may stabilize or
maintain the market price of the Common Stock above independent market levels.
The Underwriters are not required to engage in these activities and may end
any of these activities at any time.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be passed
upon for the Company by Alston & Bird LLP, Atlanta, Georgia. Certain legal
matters will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Nelson Mullins Riley &
Scarborough, L.L.P., Atlanta, Georgia.
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INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 1995
and 1996, and for the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 as
contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996 and the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated September
26, 1997 and the financial statements of VTE, VTN and the Significant
Franchisees as contained in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
April 30, 1997 as amended by the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed
with the Commission on June 16, 1997 and the Company's Current Report on Form
8-K dated May 16, 1997 as amended by the Company's Current Report on Form 8-
K/A filed with the Commission on June 26, 1997 for the periods included
therein, incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been audited by
Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, as indicated in their
reports with respect thereto, and are included herein in reliance upon the
authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said
reports.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Company has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 under the
Securities Act with the Commission with respect to the shares of Common Stock
offered hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set
forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto. For further
information with respect to the Company and the Common Stock offered hereby,
reference is made to the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto.
Statements contained in this Prospectus regarding the contents of any contract
or other document to which reference is made are not necessarily complete, and
in each instance reference is made to the copy of such contract or other
document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such
statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. A copy of the
Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto may be inspected without
charge at the offices of the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street,
Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies of all or any part of the Registration
Statement may be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission,
Washington, D.C. 20549 upon the payment of the fees prescribed by the
Commission.
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act
and, in accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other
information with the Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and other
information filed by the Company can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the Commission's regional offices
located at 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048 and 500
West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies of such
material can also be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed
rates. The Commission also makes electronic filings publicly available on the
Internet within 24 hours of acceptance. The Commission's Internet address is
http://www.sec.gov. The Commission Web site also contains reports, proxy and
information statements, and other information regarding registrants that file
electronically with the Commission. The Common Stock of the Company is quoted
on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "PTEK." Reports, proxy and
information statements and other information concerning the Company may be
inspected at the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. at 1735 K
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed by the Company with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are hereby incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus and made a part hereof:
(a)the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996 (including those portions of the Company's definitive
proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on June 11,
1997 incorporated by reference therein);
67
<PAGE>
(b)the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters
ended March 31, 1997 and June 30, 1997;
(c)the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated April 2, 1997, June
12, 1997, June 25, 1997, July 25, 1997 and September 26, 1997,
respectively;
(d)the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 30, 1997, as
amended by the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the
Commission on June 16, 1997;
(e)the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 13, 1996, as
amended by the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the
Commission on February 25, 1997; and
(f)the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated May 16, 1997, as
amended by the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the
Commission on June 26, 1997.
All reports and other documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to
the termination of this Offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
reports and documents. Any statement incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this
Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other
subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or
superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus. The Company will not
update this Prospectus for events occurring subsequent to the date of this
Prospectus.
The Company will provide without charge to each person, including any
beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this Prospectus has been delivered, upon
written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the foregoing
documents incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits to such
documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference
into such documents). Requests for such documents should be made orally or in
writing to the attention of Director of Corporate Communications, Premiere
Technologies, Inc., 3399 Peachtree Road, N.E., The Lenox Building, Suite 400,
Atlanta, Georgia 30326, Telephone: (404) 262-8400.
68
<PAGE>
================================================================================
NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS,
AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED
UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY, ANY OF THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
OR BY ANY OF THE UNDERWRITERS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO
SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY THE SHARES BY ANYONE IN ANY
JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED, OR IN
WHICH THE PERSON MAKING THE OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO,
OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.
NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL,
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED
HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
PAGE
----
<S> <C>
Prospectus Summary.......................................................... 3
Risk Factors................................................................ 9
Use of Proceeds............................................................. 23
Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend Policy............................. 23
Capitalization.............................................................. 24
Selected Consolidated Financial Data........................................ 25
Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations.................................................. 27
Business.................................................................... 35
Management.................................................................. 51
Principal and Selling Shareholders.......................................... 53
Description of Capital Stock................................................ 59
Shares Eligible for Future Sale............................................. 62
Underwriting................................................................ 65
Legal Matters............................................................... 66
Independent Public Accountants.............................................. 67
Additional Information...................................................... 67
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............................. 67
</TABLE>
================================================================================
================================================================================
2,933,835 SHARES
[LOGO OF PREMIERE TECHNOLOGIES APPEARS HERE]
COMMON STOCK
----------------
PROSPECTUS
----------------
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
SECURITIES CORPORATION
BANCAMERICA ROBERTSON STEPHENS
BT ALEX. BROWN
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
, 1997
================================================================================
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The expenses in connection with the distribution of the Common Stock, other
than underwriting discounts, are set forth in the following table. All amounts
except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee and the NASD
filing fee are estimated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee................... $ 34,506
NASD Filing Fee....................................................... 11,887
Printing and Engraving Expenses ...................................... *
Accountants' Fees and Expenses ....................................... *
Legal Fees and Expenses .............................................. *
Blue Sky Fees and Expenses ........................................... 2,500
Transfer Agent and Registrar Fees .................................... *
Miscellaneous ........................................................ *
--------
Total................................................................ $600,000
========
</TABLE>
- --------
* To be filed by amendment
ITEM 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
The Georgia Business Corporation Code permits a corporation to eliminate or
limit the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its
shareholders for monetary damages for breach of duty of care or other duty as
a director, provided that no provision shall eliminate or limit the liability
of a director: (i) for an appropriation, in violation of his duties, of any
business opportunity of the corporation; (ii) for acts or omissions which
involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) for
unlawful corporate distributions; or (iv) for any transaction from which the
director received an improper personal benefit. This provision relates only to
breaches of duty by directors in their capacity as directors (and not in any
other corporate capacity, such as officers) and limits liability only for
breaches of fiduciary duties under Georgia corporate law (and not for
violation of other laws, such as the federal securities laws). The Company's
Articles of Incorporation, as amended, exonerate the Company's directors from
monetary liability to the extent described above.
In addition to such rights as may be provided by law, the Company's Bylaws
provide broad indemnification rights to the Company's directors and such
officers, employees and agents as may be selected by such directors, with
respect to various civil and criminal liabilities and losses which may be
incurred by such director, officer, agent or employee pursuant to any pending
or threatened litigation or other proceedings, except that such
indemnification does not apply in the same situations described above with
respect to the exculpation from liability of the Company's directors. The
Company is also obligated to reimburse such directors and other parties for
expenses, including legal fees, court costs and expert witness fees, incurred
by such person in defending against any such liabilities and losses, as long
as such person in good faith believes that he or she acted in accordance with
the applicable standard of conduct with respect to the underlying accusations
giving rise to such liabilities or losses and agrees to repay to the Company
any advances made under the Bylaws. Any amendment or other modification to the
Bylaws which limits or otherwise adversely affects the rights to
indemnification currently provided therein shall apply only to proceedings
based upon actions and events occurring after such amendment and delivery of
notice thereof to the indemnified parties. Such amendments can only made upon
the affirmative vote of (i) the holders of at least 75% of the shares entitled
to vote to alter, amend or repeal the provisions of the Bylaws or (ii) a
majority of the Board of Directors present at the meeting at which the votes
is are taken.
The Company has entered into separate indemnification agreements with each
of its directors and certain of its officers and employees, whereby the
Company agreed, among other things, to provide for indemnification
II-1
<PAGE>
and advancement of expenses in a manner and subject to terms and conditions
similar to those set forth in the Bylaws. These agreements may not be
abrogated by action of the shareholders. In addition, the Company holds an
insurance policy covering directors and officers under which the insurer
agrees to pay, subject to certain exclusions, for any claim made against the
directors and officers of the Company for a wrongful act that they may become
legally obligated to pay or for which the Company is required to indemnify the
directors or officers.
The Company believes that the above protections are necessary in order to
attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.
Reference is hereby made to Section 6 of the Underwriting Agreement, the
form of which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 hereto, in which the Underwriters agree
to indemnify the directors and officers of the Company and certain other
persons against certain civil liabilities.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has
been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-2
<PAGE>
ITEM 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
------- -------------------
<C> <S>
1.1 Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
3.1 Articles of Incorporation of the
Registrant (Incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to
the Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-
80547)).
3.2 Articles of Amendment to
Articles of Incorporation
(Incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the
Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (No. 333-
29787)).
3.3 Amended and Restated Bylaws of
the Registrant (Incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit
3.02 to Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (No. 33-80547)).
4.1 See Exhibits 3.1-3.3 for
provisions of the Articles of
Incorporation, as amended, and
Amended and Restated Bylaws
defining the rights of the
holders of Common Stock of the
Registrant.
5.1 Opinion of Alston & Bird.*
23.1 Consent of Alston & Bird
(Included in Exhibit 5.1
above).*
23.2 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
24.1 Powers of Attorney (see Page II-
4).
</TABLE>
- --------
* To be filed by amendment
ITEM 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of
this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a
form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or
(4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act
of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-3
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the city of Atlanta, and State of Georgia, on November 5, 1997.
PREMIERE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
/s/ Boland T. Jones
By: _________________________________
Boland T. Jones
President and Chief Executive
Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Boland T. Jones, Jeffrey A. Allred and Patrick
G. Jones and each of them, with the power to act without the other, as his
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement and any Registration Statement
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to
file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in
and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-
in-fact and agents, or either of them, or their or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on November 5, 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE
--------- -----
<S> <C>
/s/ Boland T. Jones Chairman of the Board of Directors and
___________________________________________ Chief Executive Officer (Principal
BOLAND T. JONES Executive Officer)
/s/ Patrick G. Jones Senior Vice President of Finance and Legal
___________________________________________ and Secretary (Principal Financial and
PATRICK G. JONES Accounting Officer)
/s/ George W. Baker, Sr. Director
___________________________________________
GEORGE W. BAKER, SR.
/s/ Eduard J. Mayer Director
___________________________________________
EDUARD J. MAYER
/s/ Raymond H. Pirtle, Jr. Director
___________________________________________
RAYMOND H. PIRTLE, JR.
</TABLE>
II-4
<PAGE>
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this registration statement of our reports included in Premiere
Technologies, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K dated February 11, 1997;
Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 30, 1997 as amended by the Company's
Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the Commission on June 16, 1997;
Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 16, 1997 as amended by the Company's
Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed with the Commission on June 26, 1997;
Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 26, 1997 and to all references to
our Firm included in this registration statement.
Arthur Andersen LLP
Atlanta, GA
October 30, 1997
