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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
-----------------------
FORM 10-K
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED]
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED]
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM _______ TO _______
COMMISSION FILE NO. 0-21766
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PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its Charter)
DELAWARE 56-1615990
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
4024 STIRRUP CREEK DR.
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA 27703
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(919) 544-0015
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
NONE
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
COMMON STOCK,
$.01 PAR VALUE
(Title of Class)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained
herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in
definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III
of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.
Yes [ ] No [X]
The aggregate market value of voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the
registrant, as of March 23, 2000, was approximately $135,034,685 (based on the
last bid price of such stock as reported by the Over The Counter Bulletin Board
[OTCBB]).
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock, $.01
par value, as of March 23, 2000, was 13,637,102.
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<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
FORM 10-K INDEX
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PART I
Item 1. Business........................................................................................1-25
General..........................................................................................1
Restructuring..................................................................................1-2
Recent Developments............................................................................2-4
Products and Development Services..............................................................4-8
Market........................................................................................8-11
Competition..................................................................................11-12
Regulation of Customers......................................................................12-13
Research and Product Development.............................................................13-14
Sales, Marketing and Customer Support...........................................................14
Manufacturing and Supplies......................................................................15
Backlog.........................................................................................16
Patents and Protection of Other Proprietary Information.........................................16
Employees.......................................................................................17
Environmental Affairs...........................................................................17
Risk Factors.................................................................................17-25
Item 2. Properties........................................................................................25
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.................................................................................26
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders............................................26-30
PART II
Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholders Matters........................31
Item 6. Selected Financial Data........................................................................31-32
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of
Operations.....................................................................................33-38
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.....................................38-39
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data....................................................40-61
Item 9. Changes In and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure........................................................................................62
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K................................62-66
SCHEDULE II ................................................................................................67
SIGNATURES ................................................................................................68
EXHIBITS ................................................................................................69
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ON
FORM 10-K
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
GENERAL
Pliant Systems, Inc. (formerly BroadBand Technologies, Inc.) was organized in
the State of North Carolina in July 1988 and reincorporated in the State of
Delaware in December 1988. The term "Company" as used in our audited financial
statements in Item 8 of this report refers to Pliant Systems, Inc. Our executive
offices are located at 4024 Stirrup Creek Drive, Durham, NC 27703. Our telephone
number is (919) 544-0015.
We are engaged principally in designing, engineering, manufacturing and
marketing a sophisticated electronics hardware and software product for
operators of local exchange telephone networks in the United States. Our product
will address the access portion of the local exchange telephone network. Access
equipment is equipment that provides the connection between a customer's
premises equipment and a carrier's network. It enables operators of these local
exchange telephone networks to transmit voice, video and data over fiber optic
cable and copper wire. Our products will provide a wide range of services,
including voice, private line and data service.
Our business operates in a single business segment as described above. We have
presented information about our major customers and geographic areas in Footnote
16 of our audited financial statements in Part II, Item 8 of this 10-K report.
After 1997, we have not had material sales to foreign countries. Since we are
focusing our current business strategy on the U.S. market, we have no risks
associated with operations in foreign countries. We do not anticipate having
risks associated with foreign country operations in the near future.
RESTRUCTURING
In 1998, we developed and implemented a strategy that focused on the local
exchange network access markets and leveraged our advanced technologies. Our
strategic plan resulted in executing several new agreements with Lucent
Technologies, Inc. ("Lucent") and a strategic alliance with Bosch Telecom GmbH
and Bosch Telecom, Inc. ("Bosch"). These agreements resulted in several one-time
revenues and cash payments to us, product development revenues and recognition
of certain nonrefundable deposits as revenue in 1999 and 1998. In 1999, we
earned most of our revenue from contract manufacturing and development projects
with Lucent. The Bosch Telecom public networks product group was recently
purchased by Marconi p.l.c. (See Recent Developments.)
In August 1998, we began developing a next generation access product, our
Pliant(TM) 3000 Integrated Access Platform, to address the new trends in the
network access market. To reflect our new strategic
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
RESTRUCTURING (CONTINUED)
direction and product focus, on December 7, 1999 we changed our name from
BroadBand Technologies, Inc. to Pliant Systems, Inc.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
New Product Announcement
On December 15, 1999 we announced a next generation access product, our Pliant
3000 Integrated Access Platform. Our product's concept is to provide a single
platform that can support traditional and emerging telecommunication services
simultaneously and efficiently. High-speed access to the Internet is an example
of emerging telecommunication services. We intend to provide an access platform
that can support the expected transition from traditional circuit-based networks
to the emerging cell-based networks. Circuit-based networks have a fixed
connection all the way through the network. For example, when you use a modem to
connect your computer to another computer, you are making a fixed connection
through the telephone line. Cell-based networks do not have fixed connections.
Instead, they have multiple possible paths through which a packet of data can be
transmitted from one point to another. Our Pliant 3000 will be a highly flexible
system that offers a full range of narrowband and broadband services with the
ability to migrate from one to the other.
Our Pliant 3000 product is designed to relieve the strain on local exchange
telephone networks caused by the limited ability of traditional digital
switching and digital loop carrier (DLC) equipment to provide fast-growing
Internet service. It features a distributed product design that will accommodate
bandwidth growth. DLC technology uses digital techniques to provide a wide range
of services over copper and fiber optic telephone lines. Our Pliant 3000 will
enable carriers to extend digital subscriber line (DSL) services beyond the
traditional limit by distributing DSL closer to end users. DSL technology
provides high-speed data and voice over existing copper cable. For a more
complete description of our Pliant 3000 and its technologies, see the Product
section of this report.
We displayed our Pliant 3000 at the ComNet trade show in late January 2000. We
expect to complete final system testing of the first release at the end of the
first quarter of 2000. We anticipate field trials by customers will begin in the
second quarter and we have received commitments for field trials from four
potential customers. If the field trials are successful, we expect initial
product shipments will begin in the third quarter of 2000. There can be no
assurance that the final system testing and/or field trials will be on schedule
or successful or that we will have orders for the product.
Proposals Approved by Stockholders
We held our annual meeting of stockholders on December 7, 1999. At that meeting,
our stockholders approved an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to
change our name from BroadBand Technologies, Inc. to Pliant Systems, Inc. Our
stockholders also approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to
increase the number of authorized shares of our common stock from 30 million to
65 million shares.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS (CONTINUED)
Bosch Telecom Sells its Public Networks Product Group to Marconi p.l.c.
On May 18, 1998, we entered into a strategic alliance with the public networks
product group of Bosch Telecom to further develop and market the iFLX product,
which is the international version of our FLX-2500 product.
Our agreement with Bosch provides for the migration of the product towards full
service access network standards, which are being developed by a large group of
domestic and international network operators. Under the agreement, we will have
exclusive rights to market the Full Service Access Network (FSAN) product of
Bosch in North America for a specified period of time after its availability, if
Bosch develops this product. The FSAN product, defined as "full service,"
focuses on bandwidth sufficient to provide voice, data, broadcast video and
video on demand. The FSAN concept was the core of our pre-1998 business
strategy, but due to the lack of carrier demand, telecommunications regulatory
issues and uncertain timing of market developments, we stopped further
development of FSAN products in 1998.
We have received little revenue from the 1998 Bosch Alliance, and we are
uncertain whether we will ever derive future revenues from FSAN products. Bosch
has no obligation to continue to develop FSAN products.
In late 1999, Bosch Telecom GmbH and Marconi p.l.c. ("Marconi") signed a
contract for the sale of the Bosch public networks product group to Marconi. The
sale was completed in February 2000. Marconi also owns RELTEC, one of the
potential competitors of our Pliant 3000 access product. Although Marconi has
assumed all of Bosch's existing agreements with us, we are uncertain about the
effect of this sale on future FSAN development.
Changes to Lucent Manufacturing Agreement and Research and Development Agreement
On February 4, 1998, we entered into several agreements with Lucent
Technologies, Inc. ("Lucent"). These nonexclusive agreements replaced our prior
exclusive North American relationship we entered into in 1995 with respect to
our joint Switched Digital Broadband Access System (SDBAS(TM)), which included
our FLX Platform. SDBAS is an access system that delivers broadband signals,
including video on demand, to residential subscribers. The terms of these
agreements are summarized in detail in a Form 8-K dated March 5, 1998.
Under the Manufacturing Agreement with Lucent, Lucent agreed that if Lucent
failed to order products in sufficient volume to absorb $18.0 million of our
manufacturing overhead for three years, Lucent would pay us the amount that is
not absorbed by their orders. In August 1999, Lucent discontinued the product we
were manufacturing due to decreased demand for the product. Final shipments
occurred during December 1999, with some residual shipments in early 2000.
During 1999, we recognized $7.0 million of revenue, reduced by the credit for
our manufacturing overhead that was absorbed by Lucent's
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS (CONTINUED)
Changes to Lucent Manufacturing Agreement and Research and Development Agreement
(continued)
orders. In January 2000, we agreed with Lucent to cancel the Manufacturing
Agreement and to amend the Research and Development Agreement discussed below.
In the Research and Development Agreement (the "R&D Agreement"), Lucent agreed
to pay us $21.0 million to develop products for Lucent's new AnyMedia digital
loop carrier product. During 1998, we agreed with Lucent to specific development
projects, worth $17.6 million of the $21.0 million under the R&D Agreement.
During 1999, we recognized $7.3 million of service revenue resulting from
development projects related to the R&D Agreement.
In January 2000, we agreed with Lucent to cancel our manufacturing agreement,
which was one of the 1998 agreements and is discussed above. We agreed with
Lucent to transfer the remaining $9.0 million in payments due under that
agreement to the R&D Agreement. We also agreed with Lucent on additional project
letters to cover all but $5.3 million of the payments due us. Although we
anticipate agreeing with Lucent on additional research and development projects
and/or equivalent activities to complete Lucent's $5.3 million commitment, we
cannot be certain that the remaining balance will be agreed upon. Lucent has
agreed to pay the $9.0 million transferred to the R&D Agreement to us, whether
we are successful in completing the development or not.
We have the right to use the technology we develop for Lucent in our Pliant 3000
product we are currently developing, subject to restrictions that are described
in Products and Development Services: Lucent AnyMedia Development. Not all the
technology we develop for Lucent will be usable in our Pliant 3000 product.
PRODUCTS AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
Introduction
Our mission is to provide products and services to implement strong, flexible
and economical electronic connections between network customers and service
providers. These connections will provide residential and business customers
with advanced voice services, high-speed data and digital video capabilities.
These services will allow network customers to communicate, to participate in
e-commerce and to access on-line information, entertainment and other
multi-media services. Our current product development efforts focus on our
Pliant 3000, a next generation access product. We also are developing an optical
network unit for Lucent's AnyMedia digital loop carrier as part of the Lucent
R&D Agreement disclosed above. Our other products relate to an alliance with
Bosch Telecom to deliver a global access platform to meet emerging FSAN
specifications, using the FLX-2500 as a basis for new product development. The
FLX-2500 was our primary product before we began developing our Pliant 3000
product.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
PRODUCTS AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (CONTINUED)
Pliant 3000 - A Next Generation Access Product
Our Pliant 3000, a next generation access product, is aimed at the opportunity
created by the demand for higher speed Internet access and the need to provide
both narrowband and broadband access services over the same network. We are
still developing this product. Our new product will combine our core
technologies and new emerging technologies, such as:
o Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) - a technique for transmitting many
separate digital signals at once over one transmission medium by
combining the lower rate signals into one higher rate data stream
o Digital Loop Carrier (DLC) - a technology using digital techniques to
provide a wide range of telecommunication services over copper and
fiber optic telephone lines
o xDigital Subscriber Line (xDSL) - a family of technologies that
provides high-speed data and voice on existing copper telephone lines
o Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) - a very high speed transmission
technology that uses fixed-length packets or cells to switch voice,
data and video traffic over local and wide area networks
o Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) - a networking standard that
utilizes fiber optics to create backbone networks that are capable of
transmitting at very high speeds and accommodating very high bandwidths
In addition, our Pliant 3000 access product will use technology we receive
through the Lucent development and technology license agreements. We believe
this combination of technologies will position us to participate in an existing
and fast-growing market. This represents a significant change from our prior
product development efforts, which targeted a market that had not yet developed.
Our product concept is to provide a single product that can support traditional
and emerging telecommunication services simultaneously and efficiently. We
intend to provide an access product that can support the expected transition
from traditional circuit-based networks to emerging cell-based networks. We
believe that a transitional product will be attractive to network operators
because they can derive maximum benefit from their existing network investment.
Our Pliant 3000 product consists of three primary subsystems: the host
controller shelf, one or more node shelves and an Element Manager System (EMS).
o The controller shelf connects to the telephone company's Central Office
switching location. It serves as the integration point for narrowband,
wideband and broadband subscriber services. The controller shelf will
gather cell-based traffic and interface to data networks via industry
standard guidelines. The controller shelf will also gather voice
circuit-based communication and route it to the network operator voice
switch.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
PRODUCTS AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (CONTINUED)
Pliant 3000 - A Next Generation Access Product (continued)
o The node shelves or remote service nodes connect to businesses, small
offices and subscriber homes. They are designed to support highly
distributed network designs over both copper and fiber optic spans. In
a highly distributed network, the network resources are not
concentrated in any one place but are distributed over many locations.
A local area network (LAN) is an example of a highly distributed
network. In a LAN, each desktop computer provides a part of the
resources used by the network. In contrast, a mainframe computer
provides all the resources used by terminals that connect to it. We
plan to offer our node shelves in a range of capacities and sizes to
meet expected industry needs. We will also provide a family of rack
mounted, indoor and outdoor cabinets of different sizes to house the
remote nodes.
o Our EMS provides operations, administration, maintenance and software
updates for our Pliant 3000 and can manage many controller shelves at
one time.
When it is fully developed, our new product could be deployed by network
operators as:
o a Next Generation Digital Loop Carrier, or NGDLC - network access
equipment that uses high bandwidth fiber optic and/or copper telephone
lines in the local loop;
o a distributed Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer, or DSLAM -
access equipment that delivers high-speed Internet access and voice
simultaneously;
o a multi-service access device - access equipment that provides both
narrowband and broadband services simultaneously; and
o a single integrated access platform in a convergent network - a
telecommunication platform that combines multiple technologies to
support voice, data and video transmissions.
Pliant 3000 - Product Availability
Our current plan is to make our product commercially available in several
phases. The first release will provide traditional narrowband and data and voice
services, including traditional telephony line services. We plan to complete
final system testing of the first release of our product at the end of the first
quarter of 2000 with field trials starting in the second quarter. We expect
initial revenues from our first release in the third quarter of 2000.
Our product's second release will feature distributed DSLAM functionality and
additional data and voice, as well as broadband services. It is planned for the
fourth quarter of 2000.
A third release is planned for the third quarter of 2001. It will implement a
variety of converged networking and data service enhancements.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
PRODUCTS AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (CONTINUED)
Pliant 3000 - Product Availability (continued)
Our business plan is focused on completing the development of and selling our
Pliant 3000 product. We have defined future enhancements and more advanced
products; however, no specific schedules have been set beyond the third release.
These future products will depend upon customer demand. We cannot be certain
that we will meet these development schedules or that we will be able to
generate sales orders for our Pliant 3000.
Lucent AnyMedia Development
Under our R&D Agreement with Lucent described above, we are developing
subsystems for Lucent's AnyMedia digital loop carrier product.
We will co-own, with Lucent, the technology we develop under the R&D Agreement
with certain restrictions on its use. The R&D Agreement restricts us from:
o licensing the co-owned technology to third parties;
o using the co-owned technology in products that are plug compatible with
Lucent's products; and
o using the co-owned technology with any product other than our access
platform product.
The projects involve development of an optical network unit for the AnyMedia
system including telephony and data interfaces. We intend to reuse some of the
technology we develop in these projects in our Pliant 3000 product. If we are
unable to reuse substantial amounts of the technology we develop for Lucent, the
R&D Agreement will have less value to us than we expected.
Our ability to reuse technology developed for Lucent in our products will depend
upon a number of factors, including:
o the products Lucent wants us to design;
o how similar our products will be to Lucent's; and
o the design schedules for our products and Lucent's.
Our company and Lucent also entered into a Technology Transfer Agreement and
Element Manager Agreement on February 4, 1998. Under this agreement, Lucent
granted us the right to use certain existing narrowband technology with
restrictions on its use. These restrictions are similar to the restrictions
under the R&D Agreement mentioned above. Lucent also has paid us $2.0 million to
support the development of our Element Manager System.
The R&D Agreement and the Technology Transfer Agreement described above contain
provisions that would allow Lucent to terminate the agreements. If Lucent
terminates the agreements, we would have 18 months to redesign our Pliant 3000
product to exclude technology that Lucent provided to us under the agreements.
We have used very little of this technology. The termination provisions include
bankruptcy by Pliant Systems, material breach by us or a "change in control" of
Pliant Systems. Change
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
PRODUCTS AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES (CONTINUED)
Lucent AnyMedia Development (continued)
in control is very broadly defined in the agreements. We may lose the benefits
of our agreements with Lucent if any of the following or similar events occur
before February 4, 2003:
o we acquire another company;
o another company acquires us;
o we enter into a strategic alliance with another company; or
o another company acquires a control position in our stock by market
purchases without our consent.
Other Product Development and Previous Products
On June 8, 1998, we closed an Alliance Agreement with Bosch. Under this
agreement, Bosch has paid us approximately $12.0 million in revenue and $2.0
million for expense reimbursement. Bosch has agreed to pay us royalties on their
sales of FSAN products in the U.S. and Canada. As a result of the agreement, we
transferred intellectual property, employees and equipment to Bosch. Bosch
agreed to develop new intellectual property for FSAN products if Bosch
determines that a market will develop that justifies the development expenses.
Bosch will license any new FSAN intellectual property back to us. Except for the
initial $12.0 million of revenue, we have received little revenue from the 1998
Bosch Alliance, and we do not know whether we will derive future revenues or
technology from the Bosch Alliance. We also do not know how the acquisition of
Bosch Telecom by Marconi will affect FSAN product development. (See Recent
Developments.)
In 1997, we completed development of our FLX-2500 product, a second generation
FLX System. We delivered units for system integration and testing. These systems
are being used at Southwestern Bell Communications (SBC) and RCN Corporation for
telephony services, and Telus in Canada for data and video services. Our
FLX-2500 product consists of switched digital architecture, which supports both
broadband and telephony elements of a local access system. We designed the
broadband and telephony elements to be integrated with the telephony and analog
video elements of other telecommunication systems suppliers. The announcement of
new products and technologies has contributed to the lack of demand for the
product. For example, network operators are now focused on high-speed Internet
access. We are maintaining minimal support capability to serve existing
customers because we are not anticipating the FLX-2500 product will be widely
deployed. If Marconi moves forward with FSAN development, we will consider
whether to devote more resources to this type of product.
MARKET
Access Market Focus for Our Pliant 3000
Our Pliant 3000 Integrated Access Platform is targeted to the telecommunications
equipment access market. Access equipment provides the connection between a
customer's premises and a carrier's
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
MARKET (CONTINUED)
Access Market Focus for Our Pliant 3000 (continued)
switching network. Deregulation of the telecommunications industry and
double-digit growth of the Internet for business and personal use is creating a
growing opportunity for access equipment suppliers. Deregulation has opened the
door for new Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) to compete with
traditional telephone companies for telecommunication services. Also, Internet
growth has increased demand for both low-speed and high-speed access lines.
These two trends have generated the significant growth in access lines served by
DLC and integrated access systems.
The CLEC network deployment model calls for a large switching hub, leased or
owned backbone transmission facilities and distributed access terminals. These
access terminals may be located in existing telephone company Central Offices,
in customer buildings and in outdoor enclosures. This results in almost 100% of
the CLEC access lines being served by access equipment.
Another fast growing access market is the Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier
(ILEC) market. The ILEC market includes the Regional Bell Operating Companies
(RBOCs) and Independent Operating Companies (IOCs). The ILEC access market shows
significant growth as demand for Internet access continues to outpace the rate
at which ILECs are losing access line customers to CLECs.
Deregulation and growth have created a strong and volatile telecommunications
access equipment market. This market is characterized by:
o rapid change in the number and type of network operators due to overall
telecommunications market growth, voice/data convergence and reactions
to the 1996 Telecommunications Reform Act;
o continued pressure by the FCC and Congress on the ILECs to open local
services to competition; and
o continued new opportunities for suppliers and products.
Our Pliant 3000 product is designed to be an attractive solution for CLECs and
ILECs who want to deploy next generation digital loop carrier and digital
subscriber line technology. We estimate that the market for these market
segments, including narrowband access systems and DLC-based xDSL systems, is
$3.2 billion in annual revenue in 2000. These combined market segments are
forecasted to grow to $4.2 billion in annual revenue by 2002.
Initial Customer Focus for Our Pliant 3000: CLECs and IOCs
We intend to seek early success by focusing our marketing efforts for our Pliant
3000 product on market segments where we expect reasonable market entry
requirements and lower competition. We have designed our new product for low-
and medium-density applications, which we believe is an extremely fast-growing
segment of the access equipment market. Our initial market entry will be focused
at CLECs and the IOCs by our direct sales force. The CLEC market is the fastest
growing market segment, while
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
MARKET (CONTINUED)
Initial Customer Focus for Our Pliant 3000: CLECs and IOCs (continued)
the IOCs present the lowest market entry barriers. We may later market the
product for other targeted customer segments such as the RBOCs,
private/government networks and wireless applications. Some product enhancements
would be required to enter these markets.
Previous Products
FLX-2500 PRODUCT
In 1997, we released to the market our FLX-2500 system. Based on a customer's
desire for both cost effective telephony and high-speed data and broadband
services, we aligned with Lucent Technologies to incorporate FLX-2500 as part of
Lucent's Switched Digital Broadband Access System (SDBAS). SBC has deployed
SDBAS for telephony services as part of a 30,000-home field evaluation.
Additionally, RCN Corporation deployed SDBAS for telephony services, and Telus
deployed it for a video and data system trial in Canada.
Our FLX-2500 product positioned telephone companies to compete with cable
television companies by offering a wide range of advanced video products over
telephone networks. We continue to support these systems, but the
telecommunications companies' merger activity and their lack of strategic
emphasis on switched digital video services have delayed large-scale deployment
of video oriented access networks. The delay in deploying fiber-based solutions
for broadband access solutions has been caused by the following:
o explosive growth of the Internet over existing copper lines;
o growing telecommuting market;
o development of new technologies and products such as xDSL that offer
higher bandwidth, speed and reliability than previously available using
the existing copper lines; and
o failure of the RBOCs to make a significant strategic shift toward
digital video services in competition with cable television operators
that has lowered the demand for bandwidth to a level that xDSL over
copper wire can meet.
Because of this trend, we do not expect wide deployment of our FLX-2500. Since
early 1998, we have been focusing our resources on developing our Pliant 3000 to
compete in the North American access market. We did not receive significant
revenues in 1999 from the FLX-2500 nor do we anticipate receiving such revenues
in the future. If the current trend reverses and switched digital video becomes
a strategic concern for local exchange carriers, our FSAN efforts with Bosch may
have future value. (See next section.)
IFLX PRODUCT
Our iFLX product is the international version of our FLX-2500. In our 1998
strategic Alliance with Bosch, Bosch was to evolve our iFLX product to meet the
emerging FSAN standard. The Alliance gives
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
MARKET (CONTINUED)
Previous Products (continued)
IFLX PRODUCT (CONTINUED)
Bosch worldwide sales and development rights outside the U.S. and Canada. We
have the right to manufacture FSAN products for the U.S. and Canada. If we
decline to manufacture the product for Bosch, then Bosch will pay us royalties
on their future sales of FSAN products in the U.S. and Canada. We have received
little revenue from the Bosch Alliance and we do not expect to receive
significant revenues from the iFLX and FSAN products in the future.
Telecommunications Industry Evaluation and Purchasing Procedures
The RBOC network operators generally evaluate new equipment and software through
a lengthy and complicated process. Evaluation can take as little as a few months
for products that are only a small change from existing products in the
telephone network. The evaluation can take as long as several years for complex
products based on completely new technologies. Our previous product, the
FLX-2500, was targeted primarily at RBOCs. Our Pliant 3000 product is initially
targeted at the CLECs and IOCs, which do not normally have lengthy evaluation
processes. The process may vary to some extent, depending on the network
operator and the product being evaluated. It can also depend upon the priorities
of the network operators, their budgets and the efficiency with which they make
decisions about priorities and new products.
COMPETITION
Our Pliant 3000 product combines the functionality of TDM and ATM based access
systems into a single integrated platform. We believe that new "combination
platforms" are being developed because:
o the demand for bandwidth in the access network is growing and is
expected to continue to grow; and
o an integrated platform will provide greater flexibility of traditional
and new telecommunication services at a more competitive price than
stand-alone or overlay products.
Our new product will attempt to provide a solution based upon the needs of CLECs
and ILECs. We will focus our product on this need in the geographic areas where
there is a low to medium density of network customers per square mile. We will
also focus on network operators who are building new networks.
Our new product competes in the NGDLC, emerging integrated systems and DSLAM
markets. In the North American NGDLC market, competitors include:
o AFC o Marconi (RELTEC)
o Alcatel o Nortel Networks
o Lucent
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
COMPETITION (CONTINUED)
Our competitors in the emerging integrated access system market include:
o Accelerated Networks o Lucent
o AFC o Mainsail
o Alcatel o Marconi (RELTEC)
o ANDA o Next Level
o Integral Access o Nortel Networks
Our competitors in the DSLAM market providing Central Office based and remotely
deployable DSLAM systems include:
o Alcatel o Nokia
o Copper Mountain o Nortel Networks
o Cisco Systems o Paradyne
o Fujitsu/Orckit o Pulsecom
We compete in a segment of the telecommunications industry characterized by
consolidation, fast change, rapid growth and intense competition. These
characteristics not only apply to vendors but also to service providers. Also,
these characteristics provide both positive and negative qualities. Some
customers, particularly CLECs, may want vendors that have a total system
solution, including switching, transport, access, financing and turnkey
services. It will be difficult for us to compete for customers who base their
decisions on these criteria, because we cannot offer this wide range of products
and services. Instead, we will focus on customers who want to select products
and services that meet their particular service or market situations.
REGULATION OF CUSTOMERS
Telephone companies are subject to extensive regulations. Both the federal and
state governments regulate the provision of basic and other telecommunication
services. The 1996 Telecommunications Reform Act was intended to liberalize the
regulations that govern the telephone companies, which constitute our primary
market. In addition, the Act allowed other network operators into the
telecommunications marketplace.
Increased competition for local residential narrowband and broadband services
has not materialized to the extent predicted and is one of the factors that
prevented deployment of our FLX-2500 product. Deployment of the FLX-2500 product
required telephone companies to obtain cable television franchises or comply
with federal requirements on "open video system" operators. ILECs have not
pursued this initiative as we had expected.
Local exchange carriers already offer data services and require no special
government approval to deliver these services other than the normal state and
federal telecommunication services regulations. We expect
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
REGULATION OF CUSTOMERS (CONTINUED)
that government regulations will play a less important role in the purchasing
decisions of customers for our Pliant 3000 product than for our FLX-2500
product. Future regulations by the various federal and state regulatory agencies
are uncertain. Any significant changes in those regulations regarding data
services could adversely impact our ability to generate revenue from our Pliant
3000 product.
RESEARCH AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Our Pliant 3000 Integrated Access Platform and Lucent's AnyMedia access system
remain the focus of our research and development efforts. The first release of
our Pliant 3000 is on schedule and is in its final testing phase. Parallel
development is underway for the second release of our Pliant 3000 product, which
supports narrowband and ATM-based services. We plan the second release for the
fourth quarter of 2000. A third release that incorporates a variety of
networking and data service enhancements is planned for the third quarter of
2001. As our development progresses, we continue to make investments in both
core access and application specific technologies. These investments span a wide
range of product technologies including, TDM, ATM, SONET and xDSL.
Our technology focus is concentrated mainly in four key areas:
o advanced broadband services, including custom TDM/ATM integrated
circuits and ATM networking software;
o advanced Element Manager Systems (EMS);
o product standardization testing, including GR 303 Conformance (a
signaling, control and concentration standard for integrated access
systems), local digital switch interoperability, and xDSL customer
premise equipment(CPE) interoperability; and
o product cost reduction and reliability improvements.
We supplement our development efforts in these areas by using outside
contractors with very special skills. We also purchase certain specialized
software, primarily source code, that we will integrate with our proprietary
software. This software will then be integrated with the internally developed
hardware - primarily the controller shelf and node shelves which house various
telecommunication service cards.
The first product we are developing for Lucent's AnyMedia access system is on
schedule and is in the final testing phase. The second development project is
also underway. The Lucent R&D Agreement was expanded in early January 2000 to
include three new development projects. Two of these new development projects
have been defined as to scope, deliverables and delivery schedule. The third
development project, valued at $5.3 million for additional work, has not been
defined. These new projects will benefit from our technology investments in
ATM-based xDSL and enhanced TDM service cards and will continue into 2001.
To remain competitive and to survive in the rapidly changing telecommunications
industry, we must continue to invest aggressively in research and development
activities. Our success with our Pliant 3000 product and future products will
depend upon many factors, including our ability to attract and retain
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
RESEARCH AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT (CONTINUED)
qualified development and test engineering personnel. These hardware and
software development personnel are in great demand and limited supply, both
nationally and in the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina where we are
located. There can be no assurance that our Pliant 3000 and future products will
be developed on schedule or that their performance and features will be
attractive to customers.
Our research and product development costs charged to expense were approximately
$21.5 million in 1999, $18.7 million in 1998, and $28.1 million in 1997.
Approximately $3.0 million of AnyMedia research and development costs were
charged to cost of sales in 1999 and $1.5 million in 1998. No AnyMedia
development costs were incurred in 1997. Software development costs of $0.6
million were capitalized in 1999. We had no capitalized software development
costs in 1998 and 1997.
SALES, MARKETING AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT
We have repositioned ourselves in the marketplace with the development and
introduction of our Pliant 3000 Integrated Access Platform. Our repositioning
and new branding strategy involved:
o a new product direction - an integrated access product;
o new target markets - next generation digital loop carriers, DSLAM and
xDSL;
o new targeted customers - CLECs and IOCs;
o a new company name - Pliant Systems, Inc.; and
o a new company logo.
We significantly reduced our sales and marketing organization in late 1997 as we
began our market repositioning. We started to rebuild our direct sales force
before our announcement of our Pliant 3000 product in December 1999. We
currently have six direct field sales representatives that are making sales
calls on the CLEC and IOC customers in the United States for field trials. Our
sales representatives have substantial experience in marketing products to
CLECs, IOCs and RBOCs. We believe that their knowledge about the personnel,
business plans and customer order cycles will generate field trials and possible
sales orders. Potential customers have accepted four field trial proposals and
we are making efforts to obtain additional field trials.
Equally experienced marketing personnel support our sales representatives. They
provide competitive product analysis, develop promotional sales material, assist
in sales presentations and coordinate trade shows. We view our marketing support
personnel as an extension of our existing sales team.
Our customer services organization provides support to our customers in
engineering, installing, maintaining and operating our previous products. They
will also support the field trials and sales of our Pliant 3000 product. Their
work involves close coordination with technical and operational personnel of our
customers. Our customer support personnel provide documentation, training and
technical assistance to our customers.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLIES
Our manufacturing personnel build prototypes, assemble and test products and
provide technical support for our subcontractors. We test our products
extensively before we ship them to our customers. We have the in-house
capability to test all of our products for compliance to design specifications,
with emphasis on simulation of electrical and optical signals as they relate to
the commercial market place. We have substantial knowledge, equipment and
processes for assuring reliability, and we test a broad range of thermal
variation to which our products may be subjected. Our automated testing
equipment and processes incorporate proprietary procedures.
We depend on third party suppliers for the continued availability of components,
materials and services, including most printed circuit board assemblies. For the
foreseeable future, we expect to continue having our products' subsystems and
components manufactured by third parties.
Many of the components we use in our products, including our Pliant 3000
product, are standard parts available from multiple sources. However, we use
some electronic and mechanical electro-optic components that are only available
from a single source. Others are available from a limited number of sources. The
overall electronic components market is experiencing capacity constraints and
allocations for many of our components. It is possible that we will not be able
to obtain enough components to meet our customer requirements.
We continue to actively review our supplier base to meet and upgrade our
technological, service and component availability requirements. Although we
carefully evaluate new suppliers, some may prove to be unreliable sources of
supply.
From time to time, we have experienced minimal supply problems. We have been
able to manage these problems so that our business has not been adversely
affected. To date, however, we have not sold sufficient volumes of products to
require large volumes of parts or materials. If we are successful in obtaining
larger volumes of orders from customers, it is possible that supply problems
will limit our ability to fulfill customer orders.
Under our Manufacturing Agreement with Lucent, we provided contract
manufacturing services for Lucent in 1999. In January 2000, we agreed with
Lucent to cancel the Manufacturing Agreement. We continue to investigate other
partners to increase utilization of our manufacturing resources and supplier
base, but we have no volume commitments at this time. (See Recent Developments:
Changes to Lucent Manufacturing Agreement and Research and Development
Agreement.)
Our primary manufacturing activity in 2000 will be building prototypes for our
Pliant 3000 product and assembling the initial Pliant 3000 product shipments for
the third and fourth quarters of 2000, if we receive customer orders. Also, we
may manufacture small volumes of our previous products in 2000.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
BACKLOG
Our backlog includes sales orders we have received that have a scheduled
delivery date before December 31, 2000. The aggregate sales price of orders
received and included in backlog was approximately $2.9 million on December 31,
1999 and $0.3 million on December 31, 1998. The increase in backlog is due to
two orders received in December 1999 for our previous products.
We believe that the orders included in the backlog are firm orders and will be
shipped before December 31, 2000. We may allow our customers to cancel or delay
orders where it is in our best interest to do so.
PATENTS AND PROTECTION OF OTHER PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
We have been awarded patents in the United States. Additional patent
applications are pending in the United States and some foreign countries. These
applications may not result in the award of a patent. Also, we may not be
successful in defending our patent rights in any patent infringement litigation.
In 1996, as competition for our previous products increased, we began to focus
greater attention on evaluating our intellectual property. Our patent portfolio
covers the basic technology for implementing switched digital broadband systems
using a fiber to the curb architecture. We believe that our patents give us a
competitive advantage over other providers of switched digital broadband
products. We are continuing to pursue patent protection for our other
intellectual property. During our development efforts for our Pliant 3000
integrated access product, we have identified several potential patent
applications. These applications are currently being pursued, and we anticipate
we will file other U.S. and international patent applications.
Because of the large number of patents in the telecommunications field and the
rapid issuance of new patents, some components of our Pliant 3000 or other
products may be covered by patents of others without our knowledge. If this
occurs, we would seek to obtain necessary licenses or rights under any infringed
patents. Based on industry practice, we believe most licenses would be
obtainable on reasonable financial terms, which may include a cross license of
our patents, that would not have an adverse material financial effect on us.
We have received Notice of Publication for registration for "Pliant" and "Pliant
Systems" as trademarks for use in the United States, in addition to "BroadBand
Technologies" and "BBT." In addition to the patent protection described above,
we protect our software through contractual arrangements with our customers and
through copyright protection procedures.
We transferred to Bosch in June 1998 ownership rights to our international
patents, international patent applications and co-ownership rights to our U.S.
and Canadian patents. We also transferred to Bosch co-ownership rights to other
intellectual property used in our iFLX product. In return for the transfer of
intellectual property rights for our iFLX product, Bosch paid us $10.0 million
at that time. They also paid us an additional $2.0 million in August 1999. We do
not expect any future payments.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 1999, we had a total of 251 employees. We are not a party to
any collective bargaining agreement.
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
Our manufacturing operations are subject to numerous federal, state and local
laws and regulations designed to protect the environment. There are no
administrative or judicial proceedings pending or threatened against us alleging
violations of such environmental laws or regulations. We have not had, and do
not expect to have, material costs associated with compliance with these laws
and regulations.
RISK FACTORS
In connection with the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, readers of this document are advised that this
document contains both statements of historical facts and forward-looking
statements. Our forward-looking statements include statements related to our
customers, business partners and competitors, our previous product, our new
product introduction and our future financial requirements. Our forward-looking
statements also relate to our field trials, discontinued debt restructuring
activities and relationships with Lucent, Bosch and Marconi. Words such as
"anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates"
and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Our
forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the
forward-looking statements.
Our forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and
projections about our industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions
made by management. These statements are not guarantees of future performance
and actual actions or results may differ materially. These statements are
subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to
predict. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking
statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless
required by law.
You should carefully consider the risks described below, together with all of
the other information included in this Form 10-K, before making an investment
decision. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we
face. If any of the following risks actually occur, it is likely that our
business, financial condition or operating results would be harmed. In such
case, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you could lose all
or part of your investment.
Financial Risks
WE HAVE INCURRED NET LOSSES EVERY YEAR AND WE MAY NEVER ACHIEVE PROFITABILITY.
Our net loss for 1999 was $26.4 million. We have never been profitable on an
annual basis and may never achieve profitability. As of December 31, 1999, we
have an accumulated deficit of approximately $202.2 million.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
RISK FACTORS (CONTINUED)
Financial Risks (continued)
WE HAVE NO ESTABLISHED PRODUCT THAT GENERATES SIGNIFICANT REVENUE.
We expect sales volume for our previous product, the FLX-2500, to remain low.
Except for the R&D development contracts, we anticipate low revenues until our
Pliant 3000 access product starts to generate sales in the third quarter of
2000. We must continue to invest substantial resources to develop and market our
Pliant 3000 access product. We do not expect significant revenues from our new
product until 2001.
PRICE COMPETITION MAY PREVENT US FROM ACHIEVING PROFITABILITY.
We expect price competition to continue to be an important competitive factor.
Our current contracts with Lucent for our FLX-2500 are forward priced, requiring
us to deliver these products at prices that would be profitable only at high
volumes. We believe it is unlikely that high volume demand will ever develop for
these products. Potential customers for our Pliant 3000 product may also require
long-term contracts at fixed prices. If these volumes do not materialize and if
we are unable to achieve planned cost reductions, our new product may not be
profitable.
ON MAY 15, 2001, OUR CONVERTIBLE BONDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $115.0 MILLION BECOME
DUE, AND WE WILL NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO PAY THEM, UNLESS WE ARE ABLE TO RAISE
ADDITIONAL EQUITY OR DEBT FINANCING.
On May 17, 1996, we issued $115.0 million of 5% convertible subordinated notes
due May 15, 2001. Interest is payable on May 15 and November 15 of each year.
The holders may convert these notes into shares of our common stock at a
conversion rate of $41.48 per share. Since our current stock price is
significantly lower than $41.48, we expect that we will need additional equity
and/or debt financing to repay the notes when they become due. If our new Pliant
3000 product fails to generate investor confidence in our ability to earn future
revenue and minimize our losses, we will be unable to obtain the additional
financing needed to repay the notes when due. Also, we may be unable to obtain
such financing on favorable terms. Failure to pay principal and interest when
due would have a material adverse effect on our company.
RESTRUCTURING OUR DEBT MAY CAUSE OUR EQUITY OWNERS TO SUFFER SUBSTANTIAL
DILUTION.
In late 1998, we began negotiating with a committee of note holders to
restructure our $115.0 million of convertible subordinated notes. Our financial
advisor, CIBC Oppenheimer Corp., assisted us in these negotiations. We were
seeking to extend the maturity date of a significant portion of the notes until
after we begin substantial shipments of our Pliant 3000 access product. In
November 1999, we decided not to undertake a debt restructuring transaction at
that time. Implementing a debt restructuring plan would have resulted in the
reduction of our cash resources, dilution of our equity, an increase in our
interest payments and/or other adverse consequences. We may consider such a
transaction after we begin selling our new Pliant 3000 access product as part of
an overall refinancing plan.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
RISK FACTORS (CONTINUED)
Financial Risks (continued)
WE WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FINANCING TO FUND OUR OPERATIONS.
We estimate that we will have adequate cash resources to operate our business
and develop our product until our convertible notes become due on May 15, 2001.
In addition to the financing needed to repay the notes, we will require
additional financing to fund our operations, primarily our product development
activities. We cannot be certain that we will be able to obtain additional
financing, or that the financing will be on favorable terms. If we are unable to
obtain sufficient financing, we will be unable to continue upgrading our product
to meet customer requirements and compete effectively.
OUR PLIANT 3000 ACCESS PRODUCT IS OUR ONLY NEW PRODUCT UNDER DEVELOPMENT, AND IF
WE EXPERIENCE DELAYS IN ITS DEVELOPMENT OR OBTAINING CUSTOMER ORDERS, WE MAY BE
UNABLE TO OBTAIN FINANCING TO REPAY OUR CONVERTIBLE NOTES.
To survive, we must develop our Pliant 3000 access product on schedule. To
obtain the financing that we will need to repay our convertible notes, we expect
investors will want to confirm that the second release of our Pliant 3000
product performs as anticipated and generates revenue. We do not expect
significant revenue from sales of our Pliant 3000 product until after the second
release is completed and marketed. The second release is not scheduled for
shipment until the fourth quarter of 2000. Any delay in the second release or in
receiving orders for the second release is likely to adversely affect our
ability to raise capital before our convertible notes become due on May 15,
2001.
IF WE ARE INITIALLY SUCCESSFUL IN DEVELOPING AND MARKETING OUR PLIANT 3000
PRODUCT, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GENERATE SUSTAINED REVENUE.
Our Pliant 3000 product must compete in the market on price, architecture,
features and other factors. Our development of our Pliant 3000 access product
will be subject to significant technical and customer acceptance challenges. The
development will require us to invest substantial money and time. We cannot be
certain that we will be able to complete the development of this access product,
or that our product will be attractive to customers and priced competitively
with the products of our competitors. If our Pliant 3000 product does not
compete effectively, we will be unable to generate sustained revenue. As the
Pliant 3000 product is the only product we have that we believe will generate
substantial revenue in the foreseeable future, our company will be materially
and adversely affected if it is not a competitive product.
Even with successful development results, competitors already are selling
products to customers in the market we targeted, and competitors may develop new
competing technology and products that are more attractive to customers than our
Pliant 3000 product. Many of our competitors are larger and financially
stronger. They may be able to offer products at lower prices.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
RISK FACTORS (CONTINUED)
Financial Risks (continued)
VARIATIONS IN OUR QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS MAY CAUSE VOLATILITY IN OUR STOCK
PRICE.
Since 1997, sales of our older products have decreased each year, and we expect
the decline to continue. We are developing our Pliant 3000 access product, but
shipments of this product will not generate significant revenue until at least
2001. Both older product sales and new product sales are difficult for us to
project and may fluctuate from quarter to quarter. Also, the timing of our
operating expenses may vary between quarters. These factors may cause volatility
in our stock price.
OUR STOCK HAS BEEN DELISTED FROM THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET TO THE OVER THE
COUNTER BULLETIN BOARD AND THIS MAY CAUSE VOLATILITY IN OR ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR
STOCK PRICE.
On February 12, 1999, the Nasdaq National Market delisted our shares of common
stock because we failed to achieve compliance with continued listing criteria.
Our shares are now traded on the Over The Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB). The
OTCBB is a regulated quotation service that displays real-time quotes and volume
information in over-the-counter equity securities. The OTCBB does not impose
listing standards or requirements, does not provide automatic trade executions
and does not maintain relationships with quoted issuers. Stocks traded on the
OTCBB may face a loss of market makers and a lack of readily available bid and
ask prices. These stocks may also experience a greater spread between the bid
and ask price and a general loss of liquidity. Certain investors have policies
against purchasing or holding OTCBB securities. The delisting and subsequent
trading on the OTCBB have had, and will continue to have, a material adverse
effect on both trading volume and market value of our stock. Since delisting,
our stock price has traded from a low of $1.06 to a high of $16.06 per share.
Customer Risks
MOST OF OUR PROJECTED REVENUE FOR 2000 IS FROM OUR CONTRACTS WITH LUCENT, AND
THE FAILURE OF LUCENT OR US TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT COULD HAVE
A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON OUR FINANCIAL RESULTS.
We expect that Lucent will provide more than 75% of our projected 2000 revenue.
We will remain substantially dependent upon revenue from Lucent until we develop
and successfully market our Pliant 3000 product. Our agreements with Lucent
provide that Lucent will pay us significant fees for our development services.
If Lucent failed to make the payments as scheduled, our cash flow would be
adversely affected. We have given Lucent a one-year notice of our intention to
discontinue manufacturing the FLX-2500 product. This notice will take effect on
April 8, 2000. By October 2000, Lucent must take delivery of all products
ordered. Failure by Lucent or us to comply with existing agreements would have a
material adverse effect on us.
Although the relationship with Lucent has provided revenue opportunities to us
and we believe it will continue to do so, the relationship includes certain
risks as well. As we disclosed in our prior SEC filings, the relationship
between us and Lucent relating to SDBAS, arising out of the November 1995
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
RISK FACTORS (CONTINUED)
Customer Risks (continued)
MOST OF OUR PROJECTED REVENUE FOR 2000 IS FROM OUR CONTRACTS WITH LUCENT, AND
THE FAILURE OF LUCENT OR US TO COMPLY WITH THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT COULD HAVE
A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON OUR FINANCIAL RESULTS. (CONTINUED)
exclusive agreement, did not meet our expectations. This resulted in
substantially lower than expected sales volume. It is possible that the current
relationship with Lucent will also fail to meet our expectations.
Our relationship with Lucent may adversely affect our ability to partner with
others in the telecommunications industry, due to the change in control
provisions contained in the Lucent agreements. If Lucent decides to change its
relationship with us, or if there are rumors that Lucent will change its
relationship with us, there could be an adverse effect on the market price of
our stock.
In addition, Lucent is a vendor of digital loop carrier and integrated access
products, and our Pliant 3000 product may compete with Lucent in some
circumstances. Such competition could adversely affect Lucent's cooperation with
us to the extent required under our agreements with Lucent.
CUSTOMERS IN OUR CLEC TARGET MARKET FOR OUR PLIANT 3000 HAVE INTENSIVE CAPITAL
REQUIREMENTS AND MAY NOT PURCHASE OUR PRODUCTS UNLESS WE OFFER VENDOR FINANCING.
The CLEC market is growing very rapidly and requires extensive capital
investments. Many of our target customers in that market may require financing
of our product sales to them. Such financing may be extended credit terms and/or
equipment leasing. Many CLECs already have substantial debt. Credit risks of
these customers may prevent us from borrowing to provide them with vendor
financing. Other vendors with whom we will be competing regularly provide vendor
financing and have the financial resources to provide financing to customers
with high credit risk. If we are unable to provide financing, these customers
may not purchase our Pliant 3000 product. If we are able to provide vendor
financing but are unable to collect from our customers, our financial condition
will be adversely affected.
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH BOSCH MAY NOT GENERATE SIGNIFICANT REVENUES.
Although we believe that the Bosch Alliance Agreement may still provide us with
opportunities, we have received little revenue from the agreement since 1998. We
do not know whether we will obtain material revenues from the iFLX and/or FSAN
products. We are focusing our business on sales of our Pliant 3000 access
product and our business plan does not include iFLX or FSAN revenues after 2000.
Given the current market and customer environment, which have delayed acceptance
of our iFLX product, there can be no assurance that there will be market demand
for any Bosch FSAN products. Under the Alliance Agreement, there is no
commitment by Bosch to continue development of FSAN products, if sufficient
market demand does not develop. In such case, if Bosch ceases its development
efforts, we will not achieve all the benefits intended by this Agreement.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
RISK FACTORS (CONTINUED)
Customer Risks (continued)
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH BOSCH MAY NOT GENERATE SIGNIFICANT REVENUES. (CONTINUED)
If Bosch completes its development of FSAN products, we do not know whether such
products will be competitive with products of other telecommunications equipment
suppliers.
IF TELEPHONE COMPANIES DO NOT WIDELY DEPLOY OUR PRODUCTS IN THEIR LOCAL
DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS, OUR PROJECTED REVENUES WILL BE REDUCED.
There is the possibility that telephone companies may not widely deploy all or
part of our new product or future products in their local distribution networks.
Regulatory delays may slow down competition in the local loop, which may delay
the rollout of our next generation access products. For example, during 1997,
SBC decided to discontinue the video portion of its trial in Texas. SBC
attributed this to federal regulatory actions, which forced SBC to sell its
services to competitors at prices below actual cost. Also, our new and future
products must meet the industry standards established by Telcordia and must be
compatible with the products of other telephone company suppliers, including our
competitors.
Industry Risks
OUR PRODUCT WILL HAVE TO COMPETE WITH THOSE OF LARGER AND MORE FINANCIALLY
STABLE COMPANIES IN OUR TARGET MARKET.
Even if our development results are successful, our competitors already are
selling products to customers in the market we have targeted. Most of these
competitors are larger than we are, and many are profitable. Our competitors may
develop new competing technologies and products that are more attractive to
customers than are our technologies and products. Also, our competitors may
offer their products at materially lower prices or on favorable financing terms.
NEW PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENTS MAY DELAY OR PREVENT SALES OF OUR PRODUCTS.
As we announce new products to better meet the changing requirements of
customers, our customers may delay orders of existing products until the new
products are available for shipment or until small volumes of new products are
adequately field tested. Announcements by Lucent of its new digital loop carrier
product, AnyMedia, had this adverse effect on sales of our FLX-2500 product, and
the same could occur in the future with respect to our Pliant 3000 product we
are developing.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
RISK FACTORS (CONTINUED)
Industry Risks (continued)
IF COMPETING TECHNOLOGIES THAT OFFER ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO OUR PLIANT 3000
PRODUCT ACHIEVE SIGNIFICANT ACCEPTANCE, THE DEMAND FOR OUR PRODUCT MAY NOT
DEVELOP.
Technologies that compete with our Pliant 3000 access product may include other
telecommunications-related wireline technologies, cable-based technologies,
fixed wireless technologies and satellite technologies. If our potential
customers choose these alternative technologies, our business, financial
condition and results of operations could be harmed. Cable operators are
currently deploying products that will be capable of delivering voice,
high-speed data and video services over cable. Our technology may not be able to
compete effectively against these technologies on price, performance or
reliability.
IF WE DO NOT RESPOND QUICKLY TO CHANGING CUSTOMER NEEDS AND FREQUENT NEW PRODUCT
INTRODUCTIONS BY OUR COMPETITORS, OUR PRODUCTS MAY BECOME OBSOLETE.
Our position in existing markets or potential markets could be eroded rapidly by
product advances. The life cycles of our products are difficult to estimate. Our
growth and future financial performance will depend in part upon our ability to
enhance existing products and to develop and introduce new products that keep
pace with:
o the increased use of the Internet;
o the growth in remote access by telecommuters;
o the increasingly diverse distribution sources for high quality digital
video; and
o other industry and technological trends.
We expect that our product development efforts will continue to require
substantial investments. We may not have sufficient resources to make the
necessary investments. If we fail to timely and cost effectively develop new
products that respond to new technologies and customer needs, the demand for our
products may fall, and we could lose revenues.
Other Risks
OUR LIMITED BARGAINING POWER WITH CUSTOMERS AND VENDORS MAY NEGATIVELY IMPACT
OUR NEW PRODUCT SALES AND GROSS MARGINS.
As fewer large, potential customers dominate our market, we may not have
sufficient bargaining power to sell our products on favorable terms. If we
succeed in expanding our sales, growth will place significant strain on our
operational resources and systems. In some cases, we depend on single source
suppliers. Delays in filling orders of our customers resulting from supplier
delays may cause customer dissatisfaction.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
RISK FACTORS (CONTINUED)
Other Risks (continued)
OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MAY NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR
FUTURE REVENUES.
Our patents and other proprietary rights may not prevent our competitors from
developing non-infringing technology and products that are more attractive to
customers than our technology and products. Our technology and products could be
determined to infringe the patents or other proprietary rights of others. If
this were to occur, we may not be able to generate future revenues.
OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN KEY DEVELOPMENT PERSONNEL COULD NEGATIVELY
IMPACT OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT.
We began developing our Pliant 3000 product in 1998, and many challenges exist
to complete the development. We will need to retain our current key engineers,
as well as attract additional engineers who have hardware and software
experience in digital loop carrier products. We are also managing multiple,
concurrent projects that will require critical program management expertise to
efficiently allocate scarce engineering resources among competing projects.
There can be no assurance we will be successful in such effort.
The value of our stock options for management and employees may be reduced at
times due to delisting to the OTCBB. This decline in our stock value would be
caused by lower stock prices, lower trading volume, and other financial reasons.
This could have a material adverse effect on our ability to recruit and retain
key personnel unless we provide other recruiting and retention incentives, which
will be expensive. If we fail to recruit and retain key employees, this would
have a material adverse effect on our ability to implement our business plan,
including our ability to develop and sell our Pliant 3000 access product.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.
We have made forward-looking statements in this document, all of which are
subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include
information concerning our possible or assumed future business success or
financial results. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited
to, statements as to our expectations regarding:
o the future development and sales opportunities for our Pliant 3000
product;
o the future adoption of our planned products and services;
o future revenue opportunities;
o the establishment and future growth of our customer base;
o our ability to successfully develop and introduce our Pliant 3000
product;
o future expense levels (including cost of revenues, research and
development, sales and marketing, and general and administrative
expenses);
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 1. BUSINESS (CONTINUED)
RISK FACTORS (CONTINUED)
Other Risks (continued)
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. (CONTINUED)
o future sales and marketing efforts;
o future capital needs;
o our ability to raise capital to repay our $115.0 million of convertible
notes due May 15, 2001;
o the future effectiveness of our intellectual property rights; and
o the effect of any litigation in which we would become involved.
When we use words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate" or similar words, we
are making forward-looking statements.
You should note that an investment in our common stock involves certain risks
and uncertainties that could affect our future business success or financial
results. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in
these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those
set forth in this "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in this Form 10-K.
We believe that it is important to communicate our expectations to our
investors. However, there may be events in the future that we are not able to
predict accurately or over which we have no control. Before you invest in our
common stock, you should be aware that the occurrence of the events described in
this "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in this Form 10-K could materially and
adversely affect our business, financial condition and operating results.
We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
We lease approximately 109,000 square feet in an office park located outside of
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Substantially all of our business
operations are conducted at this facility. The lease had an original term, which
began in April 1993 and ended in December 1998, with two three-year renewal
options. In June 1998, we entered into a five-year sublease agreement for 19,300
square feet of our office space with Bosch. We renewed the facility lease on
December 28, 1998 for a five-year term ending in December 2003. In August 1999,
we exercised an option to lease additional space for the remainder of the lease
term. Part of the additional space acquired was for sublease by Bosch. The total
space subleased by Bosch is 25,400 square feet. We believe that the
above-described facilities are suitable and adequate to meet our requirements.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are not currently involved in any material litigation.
We recently decided to discontinue negotiations for the restructuring of our 5%
convertible subordinated notes due 2001. A Committee of Creditors, representing
certain holders of these notes during the negotiations for the restructuring of
our debt, has claimed that we are in default under the terms of the note. They
claimed that we indirectly admitted our inability to pay our debts as they
become due by delivering to the Committee a business plan that does not show us
generating sufficient cash flow from operations between now and May 2001 to
repay the notes in full. However, we are paying all of our obligations as they
become due, including interest on the notes. We have a new product under
development that we expect to generate revenue before the due date of the notes.
We also have a business plan that we believe will enable us to raise additional
capital before the due date of the notes to repay the notes in full. At December
31, 1999, we had $69.5 million to fund implementation of our business plan. We
do not believe any default exists under the indenture for the notes, and we
would vigorously defend against any action by the noteholders to have a default
declared under the indenture.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
Our annual meeting of stockholders was held on Tuesday, December 7, 1999. At
this meeting our stockholders voted on five proposals. These proposals are
described below, along with the voting results.
PROPOSAL 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Our stockholders voted in favor of our nominees for two Class III directors to
serve three-year terms which will expire at the 2002 annual meeting of
stockholders. There was no solicitation in opposition to our nominees. The
voting results are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Votes For Votes Against Votes Abstaining
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Dr. Charles T. Lee 11,152,077 0 203,086
Alan E. Negrin 11,154,552 0 200,611
</TABLE>
The following table shows information about our current directors:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FIRST
YEAR ELECTED TERM
NAME AS DIRECTOR AGE EXPIRES
---- ----------- --- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Richard P. Clark 1992 52 2001
Dr. John R. Hutchins, III 1989 65 2000
Dr. J. Richard Jones 1988 52 2001
Dr. Charles T. Lee 1989 60 2002
Alan E. Negrin 1998 61 2002
David E. Orr 1997 48 2000
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS (CONTINUED)
PROPOSAL 2: AMENDMENT TO OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION TO CHANGE OUR NAME
Our stockholders approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation to
change the company name from BroadBand Technologies, Inc. to Pliant Systems,
Inc. The voting results are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Votes Votes Votes
For Against Abstaining
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Votes to change
corporate name 11,124,367 182,002 48,794
</TABLE>
PROPOSAL 3: AMENDMENT TO OUR CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION INCREASING THE NUMBER
OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK
Our stockholders approved an amendment to increase the number of authorized
shares of our common stock from 30 million to 65 million shares. The voting
results are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Votes Votes Votes
For Against Abstaining
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Votes to increase number of
shares of common stock 10,720,753 588,041 46,369
</TABLE>
PROPOSAL 4: AMENDMENT TO OUR EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN
Our stockholders approved an amendment to our Equity Compensation Plan
increasing the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under
the plan by 650,000 shares. The voting results are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Votes Votes Votes
For Against Abstaining
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Votes to amend Equity
Compensation Plan 10,710,298 586,731 58,134
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS (CONTINUED)
PROPOSAL 5: RATIFY OUR SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Our stockholders ratified our selection of Ernst & Young LLP to serve as our
auditors for the year ended December 31, 1999. The voting results are as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Votes Votes Votes
For Against Abstaining
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Votes to ratify independent
auditors 11,278,962 37,515 38,686
</TABLE>
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Executive officers are elected annually and serve at the pleasure of the Board
of Directors. Our current executive officers are:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME OFFICE OFFICER SINCE AGE
<S> <C> <C> <C>
David E. Orr President, Chief Executive Officer and 1997 48
Director
Dr. John R. Hutchins, III Chairman of the Board and Director 1988 65
Dr. J. Richard Jones Executive Vice President, Assistant Secretary and 1988 52
Director
John T. Autrey Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary 1998 49
and Treasurer
Julia S. LaColle Assistant Treasurer 1998 50
</TABLE>
As of the end of 1999, the following people held these positions:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME OFFICE OFFICER SINCE AGE
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Leonard D. Hayes Vice President of Operations 1997 49
David J. McLean Vice President of Engineering 1998 39
Craig M. Swinn Vice President of Sales and Marketing 1998 49
Loretta M. Woodall Vice President of Human Resources 1998 49
</TABLE>
BIOGRAPHIES OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Mr. Autrey began with Pliant Systems as an interim Chief Financial Officer while
a partner with Tatum CFO Partners, LLP and became Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer in November 1998. Mr. Autrey was elected Secretary and
Treasurer in May 1999. He was previously employed from 1997 to
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS (CONTINUED)
BIOGRAPHIES OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (CONTINUED)
1998 as a partner with Tatum CFO, LLP, serving as an interim CFO with several
small to midsize companies. From 1988 to 1996, he was employed as Vice President
of Finance and Administration at a subsidiary of IKON Office Solutions.
Mr. Clark was the President and Chief Executive Officer of M/A-COM, Inc. (a
wholly owned subsidiary of AMP, Incorporated, a supplier of connectors for
electronic products) from July 1995 until his retirement in 1999. He was also
Vice President of Global Wireless Products Group of AMP, Incorporated during the
same period. From July 1989 to July 1995, Mr. Clark was the Associate Director
of Corporate Development of AMP Incorporated.
Mr. Hayes joined Pliant Systems in March 1992 as Director of Materials. From
March 1997, Mr. Hayes has served as Vice President of Operations and is
responsible for all manufacturing and procurement functions, including contract
negotiations and administration. In his 23 years in materials and manufacturing
operations, he has held executive positions responsible for materials,
logistics and manufacturing at Commodore International Ltd., where he was
responsible for worldwide activities in support of a $1.1 billion revenue
stream, and senior management positions in materials and operations at Data
General Corporation.
Dr. Hutchins is a founder of Pliant Systems and has served as its Chairman of
the Board (except for a period during 1997 and 1998 during which he was Chairman
Emeritus) and Director since its formation in July 1988. Except for a period
during 1990 and 1991, he also served as company Treasurer and Secretary until
November 1992. Before July 1988, Dr. Hutchins was Executive Vice President at
Siecor Corporation, which he joined in September 1985. Before joining Siecor,
Dr. Hutchins served as Senior Vice President, Vice President and Director of
Research and Development at Corning Incorporated for 12 of his 25 years there.
Since March 1, 1991, we have employed Dr. Hutchins on a part-time basis. On
February 1, 1998, Dr. Hutchins replaced Mr. Bhatia as Chairman of the Board of
Directors.
Dr. Jones is a founder of Pliant Systems and has served as Executive Vice
President and a Director since its formation in July 1988. He is our Chief
Technical Officer and is responsible for overseeing the development of advanced
technology. From February 1987 until July 1988, he worked for Siecor
Corporation, where he held the position of Director of Broadband Development.
Before February 1987, Dr. Jones held management and development-oriented
positions at FiberLAN, Inc. (a Siecor-BellSouth joint venture), Siecor
Corporation, Harris Corporation (a manufacturer of communications systems for
military and industrial markets) and Bell Laboratories.
Dr. Lee is the Chairman and founder of Charles Lee Enterprise, an information
industry business development firm with a specialty in Asia/Pacific alliances
since 1989. He was General Partner of Abacus Ventures, a venture capital
investment company, from 1985 to 1997.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS (CONTINUED)
BIOGRAPHIES OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (CONTINUED)
Mr. McLean joined Pliant Systems in October 1996 as Director of Broadband
Programs. In June 1997, he was named Vice President of Technical Services. On
March 2, 1998, Mr. McLean was appointed Vice President of Engineering. He is
responsible for introducing our Pliant 3000 access product as well as
maintaining responsibility for Technical Services. From 1981 to 1996, he held
several senior management positions in marketing, development and manufacturing
at IBM Corporation.
Mr. Negrin is a telecommunications industry consultant. He previously founded
and was CEO of E/O Networks in 1993 and co-founded Optilink Corporation, where
he was Executive Vice President.
Mr. Orr has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director since he
joined Pliant Systems in April 1997. From August 1991 until joining Pliant, he
was employed at Alcatel Network Systems, Inc. as President and Chief Executive
Officer. At Alcatel Network Systems, which designs, manufactures and markets a
full line of telecommunication systems products for the transport and management
of voice, data and image traffic, he was responsible for operations in Raleigh
and Clinton, North Carolina; Longview, Texas; Nogales, Mexico; Georgetown,
Canada; and San Jose, California. Before joining Alcatel, he was Vice President
and General Manager of Rockwell International's Network Transmission Systems
Division. He held various management positions at Rockwell after joining that
company in 1985. Before joining Rockwell, he held various positions with GTE
including Network Director for General Telephone Company of Wisconsin.
Mr. Swinn, who joined Pliant Systems in October 1998, is responsible for
marketing and sales of our new access product. With more than 26 years of
domestic and international telecommunications experience, he has worked for
organizations such as DSC, Alcatel, Seimens, Northern Telecom and Commonwealth
Telephone Enterprises. His assignments included engineering, project management,
network planning and customer service as well as marketing and sales for access
products.
Ms. Woodall joined Pliant Systems in April 1995 and was appointed to her current
position in July 1998. She is responsible for directing the compensation,
benefit and recruiting programs as well as organization and career development,
change management and employee relations. Ms. Woodall has 25 years of human
resource experience in such diverse industries as pharmaceuticals, financial
services and manufacturing. She has held leadership positions in human resources
with CIGNA Corporation and Smithkline Beecham Corporation and has also done
consulting work with several companies, including Glaxo Wellcome, Inc.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
We believe that all of our executive officers, directors and all other persons
we know to be subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
filed all reports required to be filed during 1999 under Section 16(a) of that
Act on a timely basis. Our belief is based solely on our review of Forms 3, 4
and 5 and attached amendments furnished to us for our most recent fiscal year by
persons known to be subject to Section 16.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDERS
MATTERS
Our common stock, $.01 par value, is traded in the over-the-counter market and
is quoted on the Over The Counter Bulletin Board under the symbol "PLNS,"
formerly "BBTK." Before February 12, 1999, we were quoted on the Nasdaq National
Market System under the symbol "BBTK." The following tables show the high and
low daily bid prices for each quarter during the past two fiscal years as
reported by Nasdaq. Such quotations reflect inter-dealer prices without markup,
markdown or commissions and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 LOW HIGH
- ---- --- ----
<S> <C> <C>
First Quarter $1.06 $ 4.13
Second Quarter 1.50 3.09
Third Quarter 1.84 2.75
Fourth Quarter 1.81 16.06
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998 LOW HIGH
- ---- --- ----
<S> <C> <C>
First Quarter $3.75 $8.25
Second Quarter 4.12 9.12
Third Quarter 2.12 5.18
Fourth Quarter 1.19 4.94
</TABLE>
We have not declared or paid any cash dividends, and we have no present
intention of declaring a cash dividend.
As of March 23, 2000, there were approximately 9,000 holders of record and
beneficiary stockholders of our common stock.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following is a summary of our statements of operations and balance sheets
for the five years ended December 31, 1999. You should read this summary in
conjunction with our financial statements and their footnotes in Part II, Item 8
of this report. All amounts, except per share amounts, are presented in
thousands. We have not declared or paid cash dividends in any of the years
presented.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA (CONTINUED)
(In thousands, except per share data)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA
Revenues
Product sales & contract revenues $ 24,350 $ 8,276 $ 15,012 $ 23,144 $ 22,705
Services revenue 7,332 3,341 -- -- --
Nonrefundable prepayment revenue 2,300 10,700 -- -- --
Technology transfer & license agreement -- 17,000 -- -- --
----------------------------------------------------------------
Net revenues $ 33,982 $ 39,317 $ 15,012 $ 23,144 $ 22,705
Costs & expenses
Cost of sales $ 21,719 $ 7,105 $ 12,297 $ 21,744 $ 23,917
Research & development 21,506 18,747 28,062 22,785 19,434
Selling, general & administrative 12,348 14,623 13,725 11,648 11,627
Restructuring costs -- 2,578 -- -- --
Performance fees & obsolete equipment -- -- 1,841 -- --
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total costs & expenses $ 55,573 $ 43,053 $ 55,925 $ 56,177 $ 54,978
Operating loss (21,591) (3,736) (40,913) (33,033) (32,273)
Interest income (expense) (2,528) 127 1,092 2,014 4,371
Other income (expense) (2,320) 848 -- -- --
----------------------------------------------------------------
Net loss $ (26,439) $ (2,761) $ (39,821) $ (31,019) $ (27,902)
================================================================
Average common shares outstanding 13,456 13,411 13,278 13,200 13,092
================================================================
Loss per share $ (1.96) $ (0.21) $ (3.00) $ (2.35) $ (2.13)
================================================================
BALANCE SHEET DATA (DECEMBER 31)
Cash, cash equivalents & investments,
including restricted cash $ 69,484 $ 106,030 $ 117,152 $ 148,758 $ 65,351
Total assets 89,612 124,608 135,918 171,347 85,958
Long-term debt 115,000 115,000 115,000 115,000 43
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity $ (45,971) $ (12,878) $ (10,461) $ 28,901 $ 58,868
================================================================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
REVENUES
Our net revenues in 1999 were $34.0 million, compared to $39.3 million in 1998
and $15.0 million in 1997. Our revenues for 1999 included $2.3 million from
one-time nonrefundable prepayments we received in prior years. In 1998, we
recognized $27.7 million of revenue for the following one-time items: a) $10.7
million earned from nonrefundable prepayments we received in prior years; b)
$5.0 million from the settlement of patent litigation and a license agreement
with Next Level Communications; and c) $12.0 million for the cross transfer of
intellectual property relating to our Alliance with Bosch Telecom GmbH and Bosch
Telecom, Inc.
Our product sales and contract revenues increased to $24.4 million in 1999 from
$8.3 million in 1998. Our contract manufacturing for Lucent generated $13.9
million of this $16.1 million increase. This contract manufacturing was
completed in 1999, with some residual revenue received in early 2000. In 1999,
we had $3.9 million of revenue from sales of our FLX-2500 product and our first
generation product, the FLX-1100, compared to $8.3 million in 1998 and $15.0
million in 1997 from sales of these products. The decline in these older product
sales reflects reduced demand for the FLX-2500, which is dependent upon sales of
Lucent's Switched Digital Broadband Access System (SDBAS). Lucent no longer
markets the SDBAS.
We no longer devote resources to actively market our FLX platform products. We
do not expect significant future revenues from these products. We have received
little revenue from our 1998 Alliance with Bosch, and we do not know whether we
will receive future revenues from the FSAN products Bosch is developing. (See
Item 1, Business: Recent Developments; and Risk Factors.)
We expect that we will not have initial revenues from our Pliant 3000, our new
access product announced in December 1999, until the third quarter of 2000. We
anticipate that we will not receive substantial revenues from our Pliant 3000
access product until after we complete and demonstrate to customers the second
and third releases of that product. We plan to introduce the second release of
that product in the fourth quarter of 2000. We expect to introduce the third
release of our Pliant 3000 access product during the third quarter of 2001.
The revenue we earn from providing services increased to $7.3 million in 1999
compared to $3.3 million in 1998. We provide development services to Lucent in
connection with our 1998 agreements with Lucent. We had no services revenue
before 1998. (See Item 1, Business: Recent Developments - Changes to Lucent
Manufacturing Agreement and Research and Development Agreement; and Bosch
Telecom Sells its Public Networks Product Group to Marconi p.l.c.)
COST OF SALES AND GROSS MARGIN
Our cost of sales for 1999 was $21.7 million, compared to $7.1 million in 1998
and $12.3 million in 1997. Our costs for 1999 were higher than in 1998 because a
large part of our 1999 sales was contract
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
COST OF SALES AND GROSS MARGIN (CONTINUED)
manufacturing sales for Lucent, and costs for these sales were higher than for
our other products and services. In 1998, our costs decreased from 1997 due to
the reduction in sales of our FLX platform products. Lucent development services
costs were $3.0 million in 1999 and $1.5 million in 1998.
Excluding the one-time revenues of $2.3 million in 1999 and $27.7 million in
1998, our gross margin as a percent of revenues was 31% in 1999, compared to 39%
in 1998 and 18% in 1997. Our gross margins for 1999 were lower than during 1998
because of lower margins for the contract manufacturing revenues in 1999. Our
gross margins for 1998 were higher than during 1997 because of higher margins
for the services revenue from our development and manufacturing agreements with
Lucent. Our margins also increased because lower product sales meant that we
could reduce our warranty reserves. Our gross margin improvement in 1998 would
have been higher except that we established an inventory reserve for most of our
FLX-2500 inventory related to Lucent's SDBAS product.
We expect that price competition will have an adverse impact on our gross
margins. If we fail to meet our cost reduction goals on our Pliant 3000 access
product, our profitability will be adversely affected. We expect that margins
will fluctuate because we cannot predict the timing of shipments of our older
products and our Pliant 3000 access product that is under development, and
because during 2000 a larger portion of our revenue will be derived from
services for Lucent. (See Item 1, Business: Risk Factors.)
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES
Our research and development expenses for 1999 were $21.5 million, compared to
$18.7 million in 1998 and $28.1 million in 1997. The increase in 1999 was due to
expenditures for developing our Pliant 3000 access product, including for
increased personnel, contractors and building prototypes. Our research and
development expenses decreased in 1998 because we transferred 44 engineering
employees to Bosch during the second quarter of 1998. In 1998, we also
redirected our engineering resources to the initial development of our Pliant
3000 access product. (See Item 1, Business.)
We anticipate that our research and development expenses will increase in 2000
as we continue to develop our new product. A tight labor market in the Research
Triangle Park area of North Carolina and extremely competitive engineering
salaries for our development staff are likely to increase our research and
development expenses. (See Item 1, Business: Recent Developments; and Risk
Factors.)
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
Our selling, general and administrative expenses for 1999 were $12.3 million,
compared to $14.6 million in 1998 and $13.7 million in 1997. These expenses
include salaries, benefits and related expenses for personnel engaged in direct
marketing, sales and field service support. They also include executive and
administrative personnel, professional fees and other general corporate
expenses. Our 1999 expenses
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES (CONTINUED)
decreased primarily because our legal fees and payroll costs decreased. Our
expenses for purchased services, however, increased. Selling and marketing
expenses began to increase in the second half of 1999 and will continue to
increase during 2000 as we reestablish a sales force and launch our Pliant 3000
access product.
Our expenses increased in 1998 compared to 1997 primarily because our legal
expenses increased as a result of settlement of our patent infringement lawsuit
against Next Level Communications, L.P. and General Instrument Corporation
during the second quarter of 1998. This increase would have been higher, except
that we spent less to sell our FLX-2500 product.
RESTRUCTURING COSTS
We determined in 1998 that a restructuring charge of $2.6 million was required
to cover the cost of implementing our corporate strategy. This amount includes
charges of $0.7 million for FLX-2500 inventory reserves, a write-off of $0.6
million for lab and computer equipment, as well as $1.2 million for employee
transfer and severance expenses and $0.1 million of other costs. (See Item 1,
Business: Recent Developments.)
OTHER INCOME AND (EXPENSE)
In 1999, our interest expense was $2.5 million higher than our interest income
from investments. In 1998, our interest income was higher than our interest
expense by $0.1 million. In 1997, our interest income was $1.1 million higher
than our interest expense. Interest income is earned on cash, cash equivalents
and both short- and long-term investment balances. Our interest income decreased
in 1999 and 1998 because we had less cash to invest and because short-term and
long-term interest rates were lower. Our interest expense in 1999, 1998 and 1997
was the result of interest on the $115.0 million of 5% convertible notes that we
issued in May 1996. Interest expense will continue to exceed interest income in
2000 because we will use our cash and investments to develop and market our
Pliant 3000 access product. (See Item 1, Business: Recent Developments.)
We incurred $2.3 million of legal and financial advisory fees during 1999 in
connection with our efforts to restructure $115.0 million of our 5% convertible
subordinated notes due in May 2001. We initially deferred these expenses, but
they were charged to other expense when we discontinued negotiations with our
note holders. In 1998, we had a $0.7 million gain on the sale of equipment to
Bosch. (See Item 1, Business: Recent Developments; and Risk Factors.)
NET LOSS
During 1999, we lost $26.4 million or $1.96 per share, compared to a net loss of
$2.8 million or $0.21 per share in 1998 and $39.8 million or $3.00 per share in
1997. Our 1999 net loss was worse than our
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
NET LOSS (CONTINUED)
1998 net loss because of several favorable, one-time items in 1998 and our
increased research and development expenses in 1999. Our 1998 net loss included
$27.7 million of one-time revenue and a $2.5 million reduction to our warranty
reserve, which were partially offset by a reserve for FLX-2500 inventory and a
restructuring charge. After adjusting for one-time items, our net loss decreased
in 1999 compared to 1998. This decrease in 1999 was due primarily to an increase
in services revenue from our Lucent agreements. Our 1997 net loss included $1.9
million in performance fees and obsolete equipment. If these one-time items are
excluded, we would have lost $31.5 million or $2.35 per share during 1998,
compared to $37.9 million or $2.86 per share for 1997. The decrease in our loss,
after adjustment for one-time items for 1998, compared to 1997 was due primarily
to lower research and development expenses.
Our operating results continue to reflect a lack of demand for our older
products and the expenses for developing our new Pliant 3000 access product. We
have been implementing our business strategy announced in early 1998 for six
full quarters and we expect to incur substantial losses in future periods.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
At the end of 1999, we had $69.5 million of cash and cash equivalents,
short-term investments and long-term investments, compared to $106.0 million at
the end of 1998 and $117.2 million at the end of 1997. These amounts include our
restricted cash as described below. Restricted cash is cash that we cannot
withdraw or use without restrictions and is not available to fund our general
operations.
Our cash and investment assets decreased by $36.5 million in 1999. Our net loss
of $26.4 million during 1999, which was partially offset by $5.5 million of
depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges, represented most of the
cash we used. We acquired $4.3 million of test equipment and software to support
development of our Pliant 3000 access product, which also contributed to the
$36.5 million decrease in cash. We paid $7.3 million to settle equity put
options. We also paid $4.0 million into a secular trust for our chief executive
officer.
Our cash assets decreased by $11.1 million in 1998 primarily because we used
$8.9 million of cash for operations. Our cash used for operations during 1998
was only $8.9 million primarily because we received $15.0 million of one-time
payments from Bosch and Next Level Communications. Purchases of $2.4 million of
test equipment and software also contributed to the $11.1 million reduction in
cash.
Our cash included restricted cash of $1.1 million at the end of 1999, $11.4
million at the end of 1998 and $13.0 million at the end of 1997. Our 1999
restricted cash balance consisted of $1.0 million for an outstanding standby
letter of credit and $50,000 on deposit with our primary bank for a corporate
procurement card. Our 1998 restricted cash balance consisted of $0.2 million for
a corporate procurement card, $4.1 million associated with executive
compensation for our chief executive officer and $7.1 million associated with
the equity put option agreement entered into in April 1997.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES (CONTINUED)
The details of these restricted cash balances are more fully described in Note 4
(Employment Agreement and Restricted Cash) to our audited financial statements.
The 1997 restricted cash balance consisted of $3.0 million for an outstanding
letter of credit, $4.1 million associated with executive compensation of our
chief executive officer and $6.0 million associated with an equity put option.
Note 4 (Employment Agreement and Restricted Cash) to our audited financial
statements describes the $7.1 million of restricted cash in 1998 associated with
the equity put option agreement. When the market value of our common stock
declined below the put option price of $9.11, we were required to reflect the
difference as restricted cash on our balance sheet. In March and April 1999, we
paid $7.3 million in a series of payments to settle the put options. These
payments were recorded as a reduction of paid-in capital. We have no further
obligations under the option agreement.
Based on our current projections of operations, we expect that cash, cash
equivalents and investments at December 31, 1999, along with cash we will
receive from our development service contract with Lucent, will be adequate to
fund our operating requirements and property and equipment expenditures in 2000.
Sales of our older products and our new Pliant 3000 access product will not
generate significant cash in 2000.
On May 17, 1996, we issued $115.0 million of 5% convertible subordinated notes
due May 15, 2001. The holders may convert these notes into shares of our common
stock at a conversion rate of $41.48 per share. Interest is payable on May 15
and November 15 of each year. Additional information about our convertible
subordinated notes is described in Note 8 (Long-Term Debt) to our audited
financial statements. We are current on all interest payments, and we anticipate
making interest payments in the future.
In late 1998, we began negotiating with a committee of note holders to
restructure our $115.0 million of convertible subordinated notes. Our financial
advisor, CIBC Oppenheimer Corp., assisted us in these negotiations. We were
seeking to extend the maturity date of a significant portion of the notes until
after we began substantial shipments of our Pliant 3000 access product. In
November 1999, we decided not to undertake a debt restructuring transaction at
that time. Implementing a debt restructuring plan would have resulted in the
reduction of our cash resources, dilution of our equity, an increase in our
interest payments, and/or other adverse consequences. We may consider such a
transaction after we begin selling our new Pliant 3000 access product.
We expect that additional equity and/or debt financing will be required to repay
the $115.0 million of notes when they become due on May 15, 2001. Failure to pay
principal and interest when due would have a material adverse effect on our
company. If our business strategy fails to generate investor confidence in our
ability to earn future revenue and minimize our losses, we will be unable to
obtain the additional financing needed to repay the notes when due. Also, we may
be unable to obtain such financing on favorable terms.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
YEAR 2000
We did not experience any material disruptions in our operations or activities
as a result of the so-called "Y2K Problem." Nor did we incur material expenses
in correcting perceived or suspected Y2K problems. In addition, we are not aware
that any of our suppliers, customers or partners have experienced any material
disruptions in their operations or activities. We do not expect to encounter any
significant Y2K problems in the foreseeable future, although we continue to
monitor our computer operations for signs or indications of a problem.
It is possible, however, that if Y2K problems are incurred by our suppliers,
customers or partners, these problems could have a negative impact on our future
operations and financial performance. We have not been able to specifically
identify any problems among our suppliers, customers or partners. Furthermore,
the Y2K Problem may impact other entities with which we transact business, and
we cannot predict the effect of Y2K problems on our business.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
QUANTITATIVE DISCLOSURES
The following table provides information about our financial instruments,
primarily investments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. For
investment securities and debt obligations, the table presents principal cash
flows and related interest rates by expected maturity dates. Our investments are
classified as both short- and long-term investments. All short-term investments
are scheduled to mature within 12 months after December 31, 1999. Our long-term
investments are scheduled to mature in 2001.
EXPECTED MATURITY DATES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fair Value
(dollars in 000's) 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Total 12/31/99
- ------------------------------ ----------- ------------ ----------- ---------- ---------- ------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
ASSETS:
Short-term investments $ 21,656 $ -- -- -- -- $ 21,656 $ 21,656
Long-term investments -- 5,296 -- -- -- 5,296 5,296
Average interest rate 5.6% 6.3%
LIABILITIES:
Long-term debt -- 115,000 -- -- -- 115,000 59,000
Average interest rate 5.0%
</TABLE>
QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES
Our investments are held for non-trading purposes and are subject to market risk
for interest rates. We maintain our short- and long-term investments principally
in U.S. Treasury obligations and commercial
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK (CONTINUED)
QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES (CONTINUED)
paper with various financial institutions. These institutions are located in
different areas of the United States and our policy is designed to limit
exposure to any one institution, as well as credit and maturity risks. We
perform periodic evaluations of the relative standing of those financial
institutions that participate in our investment strategy. While we cannot
predict or manage future interest rates, we evaluate our investment positions on
an ongoing basis.
The long-term debt, which accrues interest at a fixed rate of 5%, is subject to
market risk for interest rates. The 5% fixed rate may no longer approximate
current market prices for such instruments.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC. - INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
A. Financial Statements
Report of Independent Auditors .........................................41
Statements of Operations for the years ended
December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 .......................................42
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1999 and 1998......................43-44
Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) for the years ended
December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 .......................................45
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997........................................46
Notes to Financial Statements .......................................47-60
B. Supplemental Financial Information - Unaudited............................61
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Pliant Systems, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Pliant Systems, Inc.
(formerly BroadBand Technologies, Inc.) as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, and
the related statements of operations, stockholders' equity (deficit), and cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1999. Our
auditors also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at
Item 14(a). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of
the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements and schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Pliant Systems, Inc. at
December 31, 1999 and 1998 and the results of its operations and its cash flows
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1999 in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Also, in our
opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation
to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all
material respects the information set forth therein.
January 21, 2000
Raleigh, North Carolina
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
1999 1998 1997
-----------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Revenues:
Product sales and contract revenues $ 24,350,110 $ 8,276,105 $ 15,012,117
Services revenue 7,332,397 3,340,985 -
Nonrefundable prepayment revenue (NOTE 2) 2,300,000 10,700,000 -
Technology transfer & license agreement (NOTES 3 AND 9) - 17,000,000 -
-----------------------------------------------------
Net revenues 33,982,507 39,317,090 15,012,117
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales 21,719,580 7,105,515 12,296,689
Research and development 21,506,518 18,746,581 28,062,349
Selling, general and administrative 12,347,879 14,623,444 13,725,044
Restructuring costs (NOTE 3) - 2,577,678 -
Performance fees and obsolete equipment - - 1,841,258
-----------------------------------------------------
Toal costs and expenses 55,573,977 43,053,218 55,925,340
-----------------------------------------------------
Loss from operations (21,591,470) (3,736,128) (40,913,223)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense (6,495,643) (6,500,563) (6,508,486)
Interest income 3,967,949 6,627,467 7,600,754
Other income (expense) (NOTES 3 AND 8) (2,320,053) 848,513 -
-----------------------------------------------------
Net loss $(26,439,217) $(2,760,711) $ (39,820,955)
=====================================================
Net loss per share $ (1.96) $ (.21) $ (3.00)
=====================================================
Average number of shares used in per share calculations 13,456,206 13,411,208 13,277,735
=====================================================
</TABLE>
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31
1999 1998
--------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 41,481,289 $ 45,403,692
Restricted cash (NOTE 4) 1,050,000 7,283,500
Short-term investments (NOTE 5) 21,655,887 48,787,993
Accounts receivable, trade, less allowances of
$148,000 in 1999 and $250,879 in 1998 8,284,549 5,638,024
Account receivable, other (NOTE 3) - 2,000,000
Inventories (NOTE 6) 1,578,157 1,861,372
Prepaid and other current assets 798,035 1,210,778
--------------------------------------
Total current assets 74,847,917 112,185,359
Long-term investments (NOTE 5) 5,296,678 408,780
Restricted cash (NOTE 4) -- 4,146,563
Furniture, fixtures and equipment:
Equipment 16,240,184 14,626,531
Software 5,554,299 4,804,929
Furniture and fixtures 728,341 723,411
Leasehold improvements 1,377,899 1,316,276
--------------------------------------
23,900,723 21,471,147
Accumulated depreciation and amortization (17,891,388) (15,381,974)
--------------------------------------
Net furniture, fixtures and equipment 6,009,335 6,089,173
Deferred debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization of
$2,707,213 in 1999 and $1,959,713 in 1998 (NOTE 8) 1,030,287 1,777,787
Other noncurrent assets (NOTE 4) 2,427,580 --
--------------------------------------
Total assets $ 89,611,797 $124,607,662
======================================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31
1999 1998
------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 7,738,270 $ 3,244,472
Accrued expenses 5,570,599 5,912,028
Deferred revenue (NOTE 2) 6,442,623 5,659,015
Deposits -- 3,245,072
Accrued warranty reserve 830,852 724,851
------------------------------------
Total current liabilities 20,582,344 18,785,438
Long-term liabilities:
Convertible debt (NOTE 8) 115,000,000 115,000,000
Deferred compensation (NOTE 4) -- 1,400,000
Other liabilities (NOTE 2) -- 2,300,000
------------------------------------
Total long-term liabilities 115,000,000 118,700,000
Commitments (NOTES 4, 7 AND 9) -- --
Stockholders' deficit:
Series A preferred stock, $ .01 par value; 100,000 shares authorized;
no shares issued and outstanding -- --
Convertible preferred stock, $.01 par value; 7,500,000 shares authorized;
no shares issued and outstanding -- --
Common stock, $.01 par value; 65,000,000 shares in 1999 and 30,000,000
shares in 1998 authorized; 13,605,073 and 13,436,686 shares
outstanding (NOTE 13) 136,051 134,367
Additional paid-in capital 156,573,170 163,428,408
Deferred compensation (NOTE 4) (450,000) (650,000)
Accumulated deficit (202,229,768) (175,790,551)
------------------------------------
Total stockholders' deficit (45,970,547) (12,877,776)
------------------------------------
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit $ 89,611,797 $ 124,607,662
====================================
</TABLE>
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COMMON ADDITIONAL
STOCK PAID-IN DEFERRED ACCUMULATED
PAR VALUE CAPITAL COMPENSATION DEFICIT TOTAL
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at December 31, 1996 $ 132,495 $161,977,629 $ -- $(133,208,885) $ 28,901,239
Exercise of stock options for 25,097 shares 251 73,840 -- -- 74,091
Issuance of 25,635 shares for 401(k) Plan 256 234,612 -- -- 234,868
Restricted stock grant, 80,000 shares 800 999,200 (1,000,000) -- -
Amortization of restricted stock grant -- -- 150,000 -- 150,000
Net loss for the year -- -- -- (39,820,955) (39,820,955)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 1997 133,802 163,285,281 (850,000) (173,029,840) (10,460,757)
Exercise of stock options for 26,900 shares 269 6,621 -- -- 6,890
Issuance of 28,912 shares for 401(k) Plan 289 126,320 -- -- 126,609
Restricted stock grant, 1,892 shares 19 27,033 -- -- 27,052
Amortization of restricted stock grant -- - 200,000 -- 200,000
Restricted stock surrendered (12) (16,847) -- -- (16,859)
Net loss for the year -- - -- (2,760,711) (2,760,711)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 1998 134,367 163,428,408 (650,000) (175,790,551) (12,877,776)
Exercise of stock options for 120,500
shares 1,205 383,198 -- -- 384,403
Issuance of 47,918 shares for 401(k) plan 479 107,934 -- -- 108,413
Amortization of restricted stock grant -- -- 200,000 -- 200,000
Settlement of put option -- (7,346,370) -- -- (7,346,370)
Net loss for the year -- -- -- (26,439,217) (26,439,217)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 1999 $ 136,051 $156,573,170 $ (450,000) $(202,229,768) $(45,970,547)
============================================================================
</TABLE>
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
1999 1998 1997
---------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss $(26,439,217) $ (2,760,711) $(39,820,955)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
operating activities:
Depreciation 3,048,431 3,295,953 4,486,273
Amortization of debt issuance costs 747,500 747,500 747,500
Amortization of deferred compensation 800,000 800,000 600,000
Amortization of restricted stock grant 200,000 200,000 150,000
(Decrease) increase in inventory reserve (119,211) 644,415 204,742
Loss on disposal of equipment 752,342 2,118,495 850,518
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, trade and others, net (646,525) (5,266,891) 3,913,084
Inventories 402,426 708,574 (1,886,196)
Prepaid and other current assets 412,743 335,686 (592,176)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 4,152,369 612,688 (1,834,782)
Deferred revenue 783,608 4,628,015 (3,844,000)
Deposits (3,245,072) (13,018,062) 10,004,818
Accrued warranty reserve 106,001 (4,215,576) (993,600)
Other long term liabilities (2,300,000) 2,300,000 --
--------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used in operating activities (21,344,605) (8,869,914) (28,014,774)
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Acquisition of furniture, fixtures & equipment (3,720,935) (2,395,516) (3,899,820)
Acquisition of product software (627,580) -- -
Net decrease (increase) in investments 22,244,208 7,458,557 (15,570,400)
--------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 17,895,693 5,063,041 (19,470,220)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Issuance of common stock 492,816 143,692 308,959
Cash payment to secular trust (4,000,000) -- --
Settlement of put option (7,346,370) -- --
Net decrease (increase) in restricted cash 10,380,063 1,602,744 (12,581,765)
--------------------------------------------------------
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (473,491) 1,746,436 (12,272,806)
--------------------------------------------------------
Decrease in cash & cash equivalents (3,922,403) (2,060,437) (59,757,800)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 45,403,692 47,464,129 107,221,929
--------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 41,481,289 $ 45,403,692 $ 47,464,129
========================================================
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash paid for interest $ 5,750,442 $ 5,753,063 $ 5,750,058
========================================================
</TABLE>
THE ACCOMPANYING NOTES ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1999
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
This summary of significant accounting policies is presented to assist the
reader in understanding and evaluating the financial statements. These policies
are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and have been
applied consistently in all material respects.
BUSINESS DESCRIPTION
The Company is engaged principally in the design, engineering, manufacturing and
marketing of a sophisticated electronics and software platform for operators of
local exchange telephone networks in the United States. The Company's product
platform addresses the access portion of the telephone network and has enabled
operators of these local exchange telephone networks to transmit voice, video
and data over fiber optics and copper wire in order to provide a wide array of
services, including voice and private line and data service.
In 1998, the Company developed and implemented a new strategy that focused on
the network access markets while leveraging its advanced technologies. The
Company's new strategic plan resulted in executing several new agreements with
Lucent Technologies, Inc. ("Lucent") (see Note 2) and a strategic alliance with
Bosch Telecom GmbH and Bosch Telecom, Inc. ("Bosch") (see Note 3). These
agreements resulted in several one-time revenues and cash payments to the
Company, product development revenues and recognition of certain nonrefundable
deposits as revenue in 1999 and 1998.
In August 1998, the Company began development of a next generation access
product to address the new trends in the network access market. During 2000, the
Company expects to complete final system testing of the first release of its new
product in the first quarter, with field trials scheduled for early second
quarter and shipments commencing in the third quarter. The Company currently
derives most of its revenue from contract manufacturing and development
projects. To reflect the Company's new strategic direction and product focus, on
December 7, 1999, the Company's shareholders approved changing the Company's
name from BroadBand Technologies, Inc. to Pliant Systems, Inc.
USE OF ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three
months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist
principally of funds in demand deposit accounts, U.S. Treasury obligations and
commercial paper.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1999
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
INVESTMENTS IN DEBT SECURITIES
Management determines the appropriate classification of its investments in debt
securities at the time of purchase. Debt securities for which the Company has
both the intent and ability to hold to maturity are classified as held to
maturity. These securities are carried at amortized cost. At December 31, 1999
and 1998, the Company had no investments that qualified as trading or available
for sale.
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
The Company's principal financial instrument subject to potential concentration
of credit risk is accounts receivable, which are unsecured. The Company's
exposure to credit loss in the event that payment from a customer is not
received for revenue recognized equals the net outstanding accounts receivable
balance from that customer.
INVENTORIES
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using
the first-in, first-out (FIFO) cost flow assumption.
FURNITURE, FIXTURES AND EQUIPMENT
Furniture, fixtures and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is determined
for financial reporting purposes using the straight-line method over the
estimated useful lives of the individual assets, ranging from three to five
years, or for leasehold improvements, over the terms of the related leases if
shorter. Straight-line and accelerated methods of depreciation have been used
for income tax purposes.
DEFERRED DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS
The Company capitalized certain costs relating to the issuance of debt. The
costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the term of the debt.
REVENUE RECOGNITION
Generally, revenue is recognized when products are shipped. Revenue related to
the Lucent Research and Development Agreement and related project letters are
recognized on the percentage of completion method of accounting. Percentage of
completion under the contract is measured principally by the percentage of costs
incurred to date, to the estimated total project costs.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1999
1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
INCOME TAXES
Income taxes are accounted for using the liability method in accordance with
Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 109, "Accounting for Income
Taxes" (see Note 14).
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS
Research and development costs are charged to operations when incurred.
STOCK OPTIONS
The Company accounts for its employee stock option grants in accordance with
Accounting Principle Board Opinion No. 25, ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK ISSUED TO
EMPLOYEES ("APB 25"). Under APB 25, no compensation expense has been recognized
since the number of shares granted is fixed and the exercise price of the
Company's employee stock options equals the market price of the underlying stock
on the date of grant.
LOSS PER SHARE
Basic and diluted earnings per share is calculated in accordance with Financial
Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 128 "Earnings per Share." The Company
has potential common stock equivalents related to its outstanding stock options.
These potential common stock equivalents were not included in diluted earnings
per share for all periods because the effect would have been antidilutive.
Accordingly, basic and diluted net loss per share are the same for all periods
presented.
NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 133,
"Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," ("SFAS 133")
which is required to be adopted in years beginning after June 15, 2000. Because
of the Company's minimal use of derivatives, the adoption of this Statement is
not expected to have a significant effect on earnings or the financial position
of the Company.
2. LUCENT TECHNOLOGY, INC. RELATIONSHIP
On February 4, 1998, the Company entered into several agreements with Lucent
that establish a new nonexclusive relationship which replaces the exclusive
relationship between the Company and Lucent entered into in 1995 with respect to
the Switched Digital Broadband Access Systems (SDBAS) joint product. The
long-term agreements with Lucent included a $21.0 million research and
development contract, an original equipment manufacturing agreement, an
intellectual property license, a contract manufacturing agreement and other
consideration related to the resolution of outstanding contracts. One of the
agreements, a Research and Development Agreement (the "R&D Agreement") provided
for the
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1999
2. LUCENT TECHNOLOGY, INC. RELATIONSHIP (CONTINUED)
Company to develop products for Lucent's new AnyMedia digital loop carrier
product. Under the R&D Agreement, the Company and Lucent identified and agreed
to specific development projects worth approximately $17.3 million out of the
total $21.0 million.
In March 1999, the Company and Lucent agreed upon a Product Letter related to
the Company's manufacturing agreement with Lucent which details the product
specifications, pricing and other terms and conditions of the product the
Company will manufacture for a Lucent customer. In August 1999, Lucent informed
the Company that it was canceling the Product Letter due to decreased demand for
the manufactured product. Final shipments occurred during the fourth quarter of
1999 with some residual revenue occurring in early 2000. In January 2000, the
Company and Lucent agreed to cancel the manufacturing agreement and amend the
R&D Agreement. The remaining payments due to the Company, totaling $9.0 million
under the former manufacturing agreement, were transferred to the amended R&D
Agreement.
The Company has recognized $13.2 million of revenue in 1999 from the various
agreements and has recorded a $7.8 million trade accounts receivable from
Lucent. Deferred revenue was $6.4 million at December 31, 1999 of which
approximately $4.3 million represents the contractual billings under the R&D
Agreement, net of the revenue recognized under the percentage of completion
accounting method, and $2.0 million under the manufacturing agreement. These
amounts will be applied to various Project Letters under the amended R&D
Agreement in 2000.
In late 1998, as a result of the agreements with Lucent and the decrease in the
demand for the SDBAS joint product, the Company recognized as revenue the $13.0
million of nonrefundable prepayments received in prior years net of $2.3 million
relating to certain potential contractual obligations. On April 1, 1999 the
Company and Lucent agreed that due to the continued lack of demand for the SDBAS
joint product from certain customers and Lucent's new product development,
AnyMedia, future contractual obligations are unlikely to occur; therefore, the
Company recognized the remaining $2.3 million of one-time revenue in 1999.
3. STRATEGIC ALLIANCE AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AGREEMENT
In 1998, the Company entered into an alliance agreement with Bosch. The
agreement includes $12.0 million in cash payments and approximately $2.0 million
in development and support expense reimbursement over a two year period, cross
transfer of intellectual property, royalty payments to the Company,
international manufacturing and distribution agreements, as well as future cross
supply agreements. The Company recognized $12.0 million of one-time revenue
related to the alliance and recorded reimbursements for expenses as incurred.
Account receivable-other at December 31, 1998 included a $2.0 million
contractual payment due by Bosch upon completion of product development or
August 1999, whichever occurred first. This receivable was collected in August
1999.
During the second quarter of 1998, the Company determined that a restructuring
charge of $2.6 million was required to cover the cost of implementing the Bosch
alliance as well as the various Lucent
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1999
3. STRATEGIC ALLIANCE AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AGREEMENT (CONTINUED)
agreements. The restructuring charge includes a charge of $0.7 million for
legacy product inventory reserves, a write-off of $0.6 million for obsolete lab
and computer equipment, a $1.2 million provision for the transfer of 40
employees to Bosch and related severance expenses and $0.1 million of other
costs. Other income included a $0.7 million gain on the sale of equipment to
Bosch. The restructuring reserve had a remaining balance of approximately
$153,000 at December 31, 1999, which represents the remaining 2000 obligation.
4. EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT AND RESTRICTED CASH
The Company has an outstanding stand-by letter of credit in the amount of $1.0
million at December 31, 1999, which expires in March 2000. The letter of credit
was collateralized by restricted cash of the same amount. The Company also has
restricted cash in the amount of $50,000 at December 31, 1999 and $200,000 at
December 31, 1998 on deposit with its primary bank for a corporate procurement
card.
In connection with the hiring of the Company's President and CEO, David E. Orr,
on April 1, 1997, the Company entered into an employment agreement whereby it
deposited $4.0 million into a rabbi trust. This amount is being recognized as
compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the employment
agreement of five years. Mr. Orr is entitled to receive the interest earnings
from the rabbi trust and such earnings are reported as compensation to him. The
$4.0 million is payable to Mr. Orr on the fifth anniversary of his employment or
based upon certain triggering events as described in the employment agreement.
In August 1999, Mr. Orr's employment agreement was amended to effect the
transfer of the $4.0 million from a rabbi trust to a secular trust. All other
terms of the employment agreement remained unchanged, including the term of Mr.
Orr's employment. Interest earnings from the secular trust will be paid annually
to Mr. Orr. The accounting effects of transferring the $4.0 million from a rabbi
trust to a secular trust resulted in the removal of the restricted cash
classification on the balance sheet along with the removal of the long-term
deferred compensation liability. The remaining amount of the $4.0 million that
was not charged to compensation expense at the time of this amendment has been
recorded as prepaid compensation. This balance, $1.8 million, is included in
other noncurrent assets and will be amortized to compensation expense over the
remaining term of the employment agreement. Mr. Orr was also granted 80,000
shares of restricted common stock valued at $1.0 million. Upon issuance of this
stock, deferred compensation expense equivalent to the market value at the date
of grant, $1.0 million, was charged to shareholders' equity and is being
amortized as compensation expense over the term of the employment agreement of
five years.
In connection with a stock repurchase program authorized by the Board of
Directors, the Company, during 1997, entered into an agreement with an
investment banker. Up to 1.0 million shares of the Company's common stock could
be purchased through the use of put and/or call option agreements. Based on the
decline in the market value of the Company's common stock below the put option
price of $9.11, the Company was required to reflect the differential as
restricted cash. At December 31, 1998, the restricted cash was $7,083,500. The
put option was exercised in March and April 1999 and the Company paid the option
holder $7.3 million in a series of payments. All payments were recorded as a
reduction of paid-in capital. The Company has no further obligations under the
agreement.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1999
5. INVESTMENT IN DEBT SECURITIES
At December 31, 1999 and 1998, the Company's investments in debt securities were
classified as cash and cash equivalents and both short- and long-term
investments. The Company maintains these balances principally in demand deposit
accounts, U.S. Treasury obligations and commercial paper with various financial
institutions.
These financial institutions are located in different areas of the U.S. and
Company policy is designed to limit exposure to any one institution, as well as
credit and maturity risks. The Company performs periodic evaluations of the
relative standing of those financial institutions that participate in the
Company's investment strategy.
The following is a summary of cash and cash equivalents and short- and long-term
investments by balance sheet classification at:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31
1999 1998
---------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Cash and cash equivalents:
Demand deposit accounts $ 29,651,381 $13,019,247
Commercial paper 11,829,908 13,228,613
U.S. Treasury obligations - 19,155,832
---------------------------------
$ 41,481,289 $45,403,692
=================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31
1999 1998
---------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Short-term investments:
Commercial paper $13,090,581 $46,255,410
U.S. Treasury obligations 8,565,306 2,532,583
---------------------------------
$21,655,887 $48,787,993
=================================
Long-term investments:
Commercial paper $ 5,296,678 $ 408,780
=================================
</TABLE>
The estimated fair value of each investment approximates the amortized cost and,
therefore, there are no unrealized gains or losses as of December 31, 1999 and
1998.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1999
6. INVENTORIES
Inventories consist of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31
1999 1998
--------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Electronic parts and other components $ 3,616,080 $ 4,264,671
Work-in-process 941,399 291,310
Finished goods 1,086,363 1,490,287
--------------------------------
5,643,842 6,046,268
Inventory valuation reserve (4,065,685) (4,184,896)
--------------------------------
$ 1,578,157 $ 1,861,372
================================
</TABLE>
7. LEASES
In December 1998, the Company renewed its noncancelable operating lease for the
rental of its primary facilities. The new lease agreement terminates in December
2003 with an option for renewal. In August 1999, the Company exercised an option
to lease additional space for the remainder of the lease term. The total monthly
commitment for the renewed lease is approximately $87,000. The Company also
entered into various year to year operating leases related to certain equipment.
In June 1998, the Company entered into a five-year, noncancelable sublease for a
portion of its office facilities to a third party. Part of the additional space
acquired in August 1999 was for sublease to the same third party.
Future minimum lease payments, net of sublease income, under the noncancelable
leases at December 31, 1999 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
2000 $ 739,600
2001 1,103,200
2002 1,062,400
2003 1,042,000
-------------
Total $ 3,947,200
=============
</TABLE>
Future rental income payments under the noncancelable sublease at December 31,
1999 are approximately $385,000 for the year 2000. Although the term of the
sublease equals the term of the base lease, the sublease is cancelable upon 12
months written notice; therefore, no future rental income has been netted
against future rent expense in the years after 2000 in the table presented
above. Rent expense was approximately $1,055,000, $1,170,000, and $1,500,000,
for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998, and 1997, respectively.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1999
8. LONG-TERM DEBT
The Company issued on May 17, 1996, $115.0 million of 5% convertible
subordinated notes due May 15, 2001, that entitle the holder to convert the
notes into shares of the Company's common stock. Interest is payable on May 15
and November 15 of each year. Each $1,000 note is convertible into 24.1080
shares of common stock of the Company at a conversion price of $41.48 per share.
The notes were not redeemable by the Company prior to May 15, 1999. Thereafter,
the Company can redeem the notes initially at 102%, and at decreasing prices
thereafter to 100% at maturity, in each case together with accrued interest.
Costs associated with this financing have been deferred and are being amortized
on a straight-line basis over the term of the notes. The Company was negotiating
a debt restructuring of the convertible subordinated notes and decided in
November 1999 not to undertake a debt restructuring transaction at this time.
Therefore, deferred costs of $2.3 million related to the discontinued debt
restructuring negotiations were charged to other expense in December 1999. At
December 31, 1999 the estimated fair value of the convertible subordinated
notes, determined by the average of the bid and ask prices on that date, was
approximately $59.0 million.
9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company commenced legal action in civil court in March 1997 against a
competitor claiming infringement of a patent the Company owns. The competitor
immediately countered to have the Company's patent declared invalid and
unenforceable, and further claimed infringement by the Company of two of its
patents. In April 1998, the Company and its competitor announced that they had
ended their patent litigation. As part of the settlement, the Company and the
competitor entered into a perpetual cross license agreement of patents currently
issued or applied for and for future patents issued during the next five years.
The Company received $5.0 million for the perpetual cross license agreement and
has included this amount in "technology transfer and license agreement" revenue
in the accompanying financial statements.
The Company has entered into contracts with various suppliers for the production
of certain components and subassemblies used in the Company's products. Under
the terms of the contract, the Company had firm purchase commitments to purchase
from the suppliers approximately $1,550,000 of these components and
subassemblies at December 31, 1999. Approximately $1,000,000 of the 1999
commitments are related to a contract with a major customer. The customer
terminated the contract and the Company received reimbursement for this
commitment in January 2000.
10. STOCK OPTION PLANS
The Company had previously adopted an incentive stock option plan for employees,
a non-qualified stock option plan for consultants and others, a nonqualified
stock option plan in connection with the CEO employment agreement, and a
directors stock option plan for Directors. On May 19, 1998 the shareholders
approved an equity compensation plan that replaced all of the existing stock
option plans. Under the plan, the Company may grant incentive stock options,
nonqualified stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights and
other stock awards or stock rights.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1999
10. STOCK OPTION PLANS (CONTINUED)
Information concerning outstanding stock options to purchase common stock
pursuant to the plan as of December 31, 1999 is summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PER SHARE AGGREGATE
EXERCISE NUMBER OF EXERCISE
PRICE SHARES PRICE
-----------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Incentive and nonqualified stock options outstanding:
Vested $ 1.50 - $ 17.25 1,003,657 $3,784,633
Unvested $ 1.50 - $ 17.25 2,252,662 $6,088,380
-----------------------------------------------
Totals 3,256,319 $9,873,013
==========================
</TABLE>
Options are granted at not less than fair market value at the date of grant as
determined by the Board of Directors and may be exercised upon terms approved by
the Board. During 1999, 1,271,450 options were granted under the incentive stock
option plan and 152,000 nonqualified options were granted. Certain nonqualified
grants include provisions, which prohibit exercise, until near the option
expiration date or until the end of the full vesting period or prior to the
Company attaining profitability. Vested options are exercisable at dates ranging
from six months to nine years and nine months from date of grant. Shares not yet
vested are not exercisable. All options granted expire between five and one half
and ten years from the grant date.
The following table summarizes stock option activity from January 1, 1997
through December 31, 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF RANGE OF EXERCISE OPTION PRICE
DESCRIPTION SHARES PRICES PER SHARES TOTAL
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Options outstanding at December 31, 1996 1,449,778 $0.10 to $35.75 $25,417,958
Options exercisable at December 31, 1996 731,231 0.10 to 35.75 10,489,122
Options granted during 1997 2,306,971 3.63 to 13.38 19,503,623
Options canceled during 1997 1,161,512 3.16 to 35.75 22,351,674
Options exercised during 1997 25,097 0.80 to 9.75 74,092
Options outstanding at December 31, 1997 2,570,140 0.10 to 31.75 22,495,815
Options exercisable at December 31, 1997 693,474 0.10 to 31.75 6,647,310
Options granted during 1998 2,458,362 1.63 to 7.94 8,634,041
Options canceled during 1998 2,608,326 0.10 to 31.75 16,550,830
Options exercised during 1998 26,900 0.10 to 2.70 6,890
Options outstanding at December 31, 1998 2,393,276 1.63 to 17.25 8,256,802
Options exercisable at December 31, 1998 764,536 1.63 to 17.25 3,188,115
Options granted during 1999 1,423,450 1.50 to 4.47 3,400,197
Options canceled during 1999 437,907 1.50 to 9.75 1,395,549
Options exercised during 1999 122,500 2.20 to 4.05 389,148
Options outstanding at December 31, 1999 3,256,319 1.50 to 17.25 9,873,013
Options exercisable at December 31, 1999 854,207 1.50 TO 17.25 3,429,689
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1999
10. STOCK OPTION PLANS (CONTINUED)
The Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25,
"Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" ("APB 25") due to the fact that the
alternative fair value accounting provided for under Financial Accounting
Standards Board Statement No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,"
("SFAS 123") requires the use of option valuation models that were not developed
for use in valuing employee stock options.
Pro forma information regarding net loss and loss per share is required by SFAS
123, and has been determined as if the Company accounted for its employee stock
options granted subsequent to December 31, 1994, under the fair value method of
SFAS 123. The fair value for these options was estimated at the date of grant
using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average
assumptions for 1999 and 1998:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998
--------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Risk free interest rate 6.48% 4.67%
Dividends - -
Volatility factor 1.0200 .9127
</TABLE>
The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the
fair value of traded options, which have no vesting restrictions and are fully
transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly
subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because
changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value
estimate, in management's opinion, the existing models do not necessarily
provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock
options.
For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the options
is amortized to expense over the options' vesting period. The Company's pro
forma information follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31
1999 1998
---------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Pro forma net loss $29,471,430 $6,164,227
Pro forma loss per share $2.19 $0.46
</TABLE>
Exercise prices for options outstanding as of December 31, 1999 ranged from
$1.50 to $17.25. The weighted average remaining contractual life of those
options is 7.95 years. The weighted average exercisable price of outstanding
options at December 31, 1999 is $4.015.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1999
11. COMMON STOCK RESERVED FOR FUTURE ISSUANCE
At December 31, 1999, the Company had reserved a total of 4,524,910 of its
authorized 65,000,000 shares of common stock for future issuance as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Granted and outstanding stock options 3,256,319
Future issuance of stock options 216,997
Outstanding warrants related to a lease line 7,813
Outstanding warrants 1,000,000
Possible future issuance under 401(k) plan 43,781
------------
Total shares reserved 4,524,910
============
</TABLE>
12. WARRANTS
During 1995, the Company received $7.0 million for six-year warrants that
entitle the purchaser of the warrants to acquire 1,000,000 shares of the
Company's common stock for $41.75 per share.
13. CAPITAL STOCK
On December 7, 1999, the Company's shareholders authorized an amendment of the
Company's certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized
shares of common stock from 30,000,000 to 65,000,000 shares. The increase in
authorized shares was undertaken to allow the Company more flexibility to issue
common shares in connection with a possible debt restructuring transaction,
equity financings, future expansion of the business through investments or
acquisitions, management and employee incentive plans and for other general
corporate purposes.
On November 19, 1996, the Board of Directors declared a dividend distribution of
one preferred share purchase right ("right") for each share of common stock
outstanding on December 23, 1996. The right becomes exercisable only if a person
or group acquires, or obtains the right to acquire, 15% or more of the Company's
common stock or commences a tender offer or exchange offer which, if
consummated, would result in that person or group owning at least 15% of the
Company's outstanding common stock.
In connection with the November 19, 1996 preferred share dividend distribution,
the Company restated its articles of incorporation, thereby creating a series of
Series A preferred stock. 100,000 shares of this series have been authorized,
which have a dividend rate of the greater of $10.00 per share or 1,000 times the
aggregate per share amount of common stock dividends. Each share is entitled to
one vote and shall have a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share, plus
accrued and unpaid dividends. None of the Series A preferred stock have been
issued at December 31, 1999.
14. INCOME TAXES
At December 31, 1999 and 1998, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards
and research and development credits of approximately $191.6 million and $165.5
million, and $6.1 million and $5.2
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1999
14. INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
million, respectively, for income tax purposes that expire in years 2003 through
2014. The Company has North Carolina net economics loss carryforwards of $58.8
million that expire in years 2000 through 2003. For financial reporting
purposes, a valuation allowance of $89.5 million ($78.0 million in 1998) has
been recognized to offset the deferred tax assets at December 31, 1999. When and
if realized, the tax benefit for those items will be reflected in current
operations as a reduction of income tax expense. Significant components of the
Company's deferred tax liabilities and assets at December 31, 1999 and 1998 are
as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 31
1999 1998
-------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards $ 76,637,000 $ 66,601,000
Research and experimental credit carryforwards 6,060,000 5,162,000
Executive compensation 1,100,000 700,000
Bad debt allowance 59,000 -
Book over tax depreciation 1,059,000 366,000
Deferred revenue 2,577,000 2,264,000
Inventory reserve 1,902,000 1,674,000
Warranty reserve 56,000 290,000
Other long-term liabilities - 920,000
Other 59,000 59,000
------------------------------------
Total deferred tax assets 89,509,000 78,036,000
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets (89,509,000) (78,036,000)
Net deferred tax assets -- --
------------------------------------
Net deferred taxes $ -- $ --
====================================
</TABLE>
Based on the number of shares of common and preferred stock issued in 1992 and
1993, the Company exceeded the limits allowable under the Tax Reform Act of 1986
related to changes in ownership percentage governing future utilization of net
operating loss carryforwards. The effect of this occurrence limits the annual
utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards to an amount determined by
multiplying the fair market value of the Company immediately prior to the change
in ownership percentage by the federal long-term tax exempt interest rate at the
time of the change. As of December 31, 1999, future use of a portion of the net
operating loss carryforwards are limited to approximately $27.0 million of
taxable income per year. This limitation applies to all losses incurred through
November 12, 1993 in the amount of $50.2 million; the remaining loss of $141.4
million is not currently limited.
15. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
The Company has a 401(k) Plan and Trust covering substantially all employees.
Employees at least 21 years of age are eligible for the Plan. The Company will
provide a matching contribution of up to 50%
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1999
15. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN (CONTINUED)
of employee contributions to a maximum employee contribution of 6% of the
employee's wages. In addition, the Company may make annual discretionary profit
sharing contributions to the Plan. The Company's contributions are subject to a
five-year vesting period. Contributions are invested in one or more of eleven
investment choices, including the Company's common stock, at the discretion of
the employee. The Company pays the Plan expenses which totaled approximately
$21,000, $44,000, and $49,000 in the years 1999, 1998 and 1997. Company
contributions to the plan for 1999, 1998 and 1997 totaled approximately
$462,000, $458,000, and $503,000, respectively.
16. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company is engaged in a single business segment consisting of the
development, manufacture, marketing and service of electronic equipment for the
telecommunications industry. Regional Bell Operating Companies ("RBOCs"),
independent telephone companies and competitive local exchange carriers are the
primary users of the Company's products. In 1998, the Company entered into
several agreements with Lucent, which utilized the Company's research and
development and manufacturing resources.
Revenues from Lucent, Bosch, direct sales to RBOCs and others as a percentage of
the Company's total revenues (exclusive of the $2.3 million and $10.7 million
nonrefundable prepayment revenue in 1999 and 1998, respectively, and the $17.0
million technology transfer and license agreement in 1998) are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
-------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Lucent 97.0% 79.0% 43.0%
RBOCs 1.0 6.0 15.0
Others 2.0 15.0 42.0
-------------------------------------
100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
=====================================
</TABLE>
Revenues by geographic area as a percentage of the Company's total revenues
(exclusive of the nonrefundable prepayment revenue and the technology transfer
and license agreement) are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
-------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
United States 97.0% 97.0% 67.0%
Korea -- -- 22.0
All other countries 3.0 3.0 11.0
-------------------------------------
100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
=====================================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1999
16. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
Accounts receivable trade and other concentrations were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998
-----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Lucent 92.0% 62.0%
Bosch Telecom 3.0 32.0
RBOCs 3.0 6.0
Others 2.0 --
-----------------------
100.0% 100.0%
=======================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
QUARTERLY RESULTS
(In thousands, except per share data)
17. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FOURTH THIRD SECOND FIRST
------ ----- ------ -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenue $ 9,421 $ 12,467 $7,910 $4,184
Gross margin 2,745 3,073 4,248 2,197
Net loss ($10,895) ($ 5,879) ($4,272) ($5,393)
========= ========= ======== ========
Net loss per share ($0.80) ($0.44) ($0.32) ($0.40)
======= ======= ======= =======
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1998
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FOURTH THIRD SECOND FIRST
------ ----- ------ -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenue $13,986 $3,017 $19,807 $ 2,507
Gross margin 13,123 1,064 17,706 319
Net income/(loss) $ 6,630 ($5,722) $ 7,405 ($11,074)
======= ======== ======= =========
Net income/(loss) per share $0.49 ($0.43) $0.55 ($0.83)
===== ======= ===== =======
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1997
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FOURTH THIRD SECOND FIRST
------ ----- ------ -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenue $2,344 $ 2,125 $5,233 $5,310
Gross margin 264 248 1,190 1,013
Net loss ($6,054) ($16,510) ($8,795) ($8,462)
======== ========= ======== ========
Net loss per share ($0.45) ($1.25) ($0.66) ($0.64)
======= ======= ======= =======
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(A) The following financial statements are included in Part II, Item 8 of this
Form 10-K.
1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Auditors.
Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998
and 1997.
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1999 and 1998.
Statements of Stockholders' (Deficit) Equity for the years ended
December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997.
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998
and 1997.
Notes to Financial Statements.
2. FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
The following financial statement schedule is filed as part of this
report:
II. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
All other schedules are omitted because they are not required or the
required information is shown in the financial statements or notes
thereto.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(CONTINUED)
3. EXHIBITS
See Exhibit Index and Exhibits attached to this report.
(B) Reports on Form 8-K
We filed no reports on Form 8-K.
(C) See Exhibit Index and Exhibits attached to this report.
(D) Financial Statement Schedules
EXHIBIT INDEX AND EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
- ------ -----------
<S> <C>
3.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. (1)
3.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws (2)
4.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Included as Exhibit
3.1 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K)
4.2 Amended and Restated Bylaws (Included as Exhibit 3.2 to this Annual
Report on Form 10-K)
4.3 Form of Common Stock Certificate (1)
4.4 Warrant Agreement, dated March 30, 1995, by and between the Registrant
and Bell Atlantic Corporation (4)
4.5 Form of Warrant Certificate (Included as exhibit to Exhibit 4.4 to
this Annual Report on Form 10-K)
4.6 Rights Agreement, dated November 19, 1996, between the Registrant and
First Union National Bank, as Rights Agent, including the form of
Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A
Preferred Stock as Exhibit A, the form of Rights Certificate as
Exhibit B, and the Summary of Rights as Exhibit C (6)
4.7 Form of 5% Subordinated Convertible Notes, due May 15, 2001 (8)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(CONTINUED)
EXHIBIT INDEX AND EXHIBITS (CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
4.8 Form of 5% Subordinated Convertible Notes, due May 15, 2001 (8)
10.1 Technology Purchase Agreement dated as July 16, 1988, between and
among the Registrant, Siecor Corporation and FiberLAN, Inc. (1)
10.2 Equipment Lease Schedule VL-2 dated October 2, 1990, between the
Registrant and Comdisco, Inc. (1)
10.3 Master Equipment Lease Agreement between the Registrant and MMC/GATX
Partnership No. 1 dated September 30, 1992. (1)
10.4 Equipment Lease Schedule No. 1 dated September 30, 1992, between the
Registrant and MMC/GATX Partnership No. 1. (1)
10.5 Warrant Agreement dated September 30, 1992, between the Registrant and
MMC/GATX Partnership No. 1. (1)
10.6 Form of Investors' Rights Agreement dated November 13, 1992, between
the Registrant and certain investors. (1)
10.7 Standstill Agreement dated December 4, 1991, between the Registrant
and AMP Incorporated. (1)
10.8 Volume Purchase Agreement executed February 25, 1993, between the
Registrant and Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc., as amended by a
Further Agreement and Amendment No. 1 dated May 3, 1993. (3)
10.9 Further Agreement and Amendment No. 2, dated November 15, 1993 to
Volume Purchase Agreement executed February 25, 1993 between the
Registrant and Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. (4)
10.10 Office Lease dated February 25, 1993, between the Registrant and The
Wachovia Real Estate Fund. (1)
10.11 Amended and Restated 1988 Incentive Stock Option Plan (2)
10.12 Amended and Restated 1992 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan (2)
10.13 Directors' Stock Option Plan (2)
10.14 1993 Flexible Benefits Plan (1)
10.15 Amended 401 (k) Plan dated November 17, 1998 (14)
10.16 Warrant Agreement, dated March 30, 1995, between the Registrant and
Bell Atlantic Corporation (4)
10.17 Agreement Between Pliant Systems, Inc. and Lucent Technologies
Executed November 15, 1995. (4) (9)
10.18 Indenture, dated May 22, 1996, between the Registrant and Marine
Midland Bank, as Trustee (5)
10.18A Cross Reference Sheet (8)
10.19 Purchase Agreement, dated May 17, 1996, between the Registrant and
Goldman, Sachs & Co., and Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. (5)
10.20 Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 17, 1996, between the
Registrant and Goldman, Sachs & Co., and Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc. (5)
10.21 Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc. and Pliant Systems, Inc.
Procurement Agreement, Contract No. BA 14494, dated July 1, 1996 (7)
(10)
10.22 First Amendment to Agreement LGC-A65-D executed July 12, 1996, between
the Registrant and Lucent Technologies, Inc. (7) (10)
10.23 Rights Agreement, dated November 19, 1996, between the Registrant and
First Union National Bank, as Rights Agent, including the form of
Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A
Preferred Stock as Exhibit A, the form of Rights Certificate as
Exhibit B, and the Summary of Rights as Exhibit C (6)
10.24 Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Salim A.L. Bhatia,
dated March 5, 1997 (11)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(CONTINUED)
EXHIBIT INDEX AND EXHIBITS (CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
10.25 Employment Agreement between the Registrant and David E. Orr, dated
March 10, 1997 (11)
10.26 Umbrella Settlement Agreement dated February 4, 1998, between Pliant
Systems, Inc. and Lucent Technologies, Inc. (13)
10.27 Form of Release dated February 4, 1998, between Pliant Systems, Inc.
and Lucent Technologies, Inc. (12)
10.28 Form of Release dated February 4, 1998, between Pliant Systems, Inc.
and Lucent Technologies, Inc. (12)
10.29 Supply Agreement, dated February 4, 1998, between Pliant Systems, Inc.
and Lucent Technologies, Inc. (13)
10.30 Technology Transfer Agreement, dated February 4, 1998, between Pliant
Systems, Inc. and Lucent Technologies, Inc. (13)
10.31 Manufacturing Agreement, dated February 4, 1998, between Pliant
Systems, Inc. and Lucent Technologies, Inc. (13)
10.32 BBT OEM Agreement, dated February 4, 1998, between Pliant Systems,
Inc. and Lucent Technologies, Inc. (13)
10.33 Lucent OEM Agreement, dated February 4, 1998, between Pliant Systems,
Inc. and Lucent Technologies, Inc. (13)
10.34 Research and Development Agreement, dated February 4, 1998, between
Pliant Systems, Inc. and Lucent Technologies, Inc. (13)
10.35 Element Manager Software Letter Agreement, dated February 4, 1998,
between Pliant Systems, Inc. and Lucent Technologies, Inc. (12)
10.36 Goldman Sachs & Co. and Pliant Systems, Inc. agreements, dated April
8, 1997. (14)
10.37 Alliance Agreement between Pliant Systems, Inc. and Bosch Telecom GmbH
and Bosch Telecom, Inc. dated June 8, 1998. (15)
10.38 Amendment to the Pliant Systems, Inc. 401(k) Plan dated June 7, 1998.
(16)
10.39 Amendment to the Pliant Systems, Inc. 401(k) Plan dated November 17,
1998. (16)
10.40 Supplemental Deferred Compensation Plan of Pliant Systems, Inc. dated
December 1, 1998. (16)
10.41 Office Lease between Pliant Systems, Inc. and Highwoods Realty Limited
Partnership dated December 28, 1998. (16)
10.42 Amendment to Research and Development Agreement dated January 6, 2000
between Pliant Systems, Inc. and Lucent Technologies, Inc. (17)(18)
24.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP for 1999. (17)
27.0 Financial Data Schedule (This exhibit is required to be submitted
electronically pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Security
and Exchange Commission and shall not be deemed filed for purposes of
Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
</TABLE>
(1) (Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 33-62754 declared effective on June
30, 1993.)
(2) (Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with the Company's Form 10-Q
for the period ended June 30, 1994.)
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(CONTINUED)
EXHIBIT INDEX AND EXHIBITS (CONTINUED)
(3) (Confidential treatment was granted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission on June 30, 1993.)
(4) (Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with Registrant's Current
Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 0-21766, dated March 30, 1995.)
(5) (Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with Registrant's Current
Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 0-21766, dated May 22, 1996.)
(6) (Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with Registrant's Current
Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 0-21766, dated November 19, 1996.)
(7) (Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with Registrant's Quarterly
Report, dated August 14, 1996, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated
November 26, 1996.)
(8) (Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with Amendment No. 1 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3, No. 333-09661, dated
September 17, 1996.)
(9) (Confidential treatment was granted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission on May 10, 1996.)
(10) (Confidential treatment was granted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission on December 12, 1996.)
(11) (Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with Registrant's Annual
Report, dated March 31, 1997.)
(12) (Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with Registrant's Current
Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 0-21766, dated March 5, 1998.)
(13) (Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with Registrant's current
report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 0-21766, dated March 5, 1998.)
(14) (Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with Registrant's Annual
Report, dated March 31, 1998.)
(15) (Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with Registrant's Current
Report on Form 8-K, Commission File No. 0-21766, dated June 8, 1998.)
(16) (Incorporated by reference to exhibit filed with Registrant's Annual Report
dated March 29, 1999.)
(17) Attached exhibits.
(18) Confidential treatment for certain portions of this agreement is being
requested pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
SCHEDULE II
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ADDITIONS DEDUCTIONS
BALANCE AT CHARGED TO CREDITED TO
BEGINNING COSTS AND COSTS AND BALANCE AT END
DESCRIPTION OF YEAR EXPENSES EXPENSES OF YEAR
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1999
Allowances deducted from related balance sheet accounts:
Accounts receivable $ 250,879 $ -- $ 102,879 $ 148,000
Inventories 4,184,896 -- 119,211 4,065,685
Warranty reserves 724,851 106,001 -- 830,852
1998
Allowances deducted from related balance sheet accounts:
Accounts receivable -- 250,879 -- 250,879
Inventories 3,540,481 3,727,672 3,083,257 4,184,896
Warranty reserves 4,940,427 65,016 4,280,592 724,851
1997
Allowances deducted from related balance sheet accounts:
Accounts receivable -- -- -- --
Inventories 3,335,739 204,742 -- 3,540,481
Warranty reserves 5,934,027 -- 993,600 4,940,427
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Pliant Systems, Inc.
Dated March 30, 2000 By: /s/ John T. Autrey
---------------------
John T. Autrey
Title: Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report
has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ David E. Orr President (Principal Executive March 30, 2000
- ------------------------------- Officer) and Director
David E. Orr
/s/ John T. Autrey Vice President (Principal Financial March 30, 2000
- ------------------------------- Officer and Principal Accounting
John T. Autrey Officer)
/s/ Dr. John R. Hutchins, III
- -------------------------------
Dr. John R. Hutchins, III Chairman of the Board March 30, 2000
/s/ Dr. J. Richard Jones
- -------------------------------
Dr. J. Richard Jones Director March 30, 2000
/s/ Richard P. Clark
- -------------------------------
Richard P. Clark Director March 30, 2000
/s/ Dr. Charles T. Lee
- -------------------------------
Dr. Charles T. Lee Director March 30, 2000
/s/ Alan E. Negrin
- -------------------------------
Alan E. Negrin Director March 30, 2000
</TABLE>
1
EXHIBIT 10.42
** CERTAIN INFORMATION OMITTED AND FILED SEPARATELY WITH THE COMMISSION PURSUANT
TO A CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUEST UNDER RULE 24B-2 OF THE COMMISSION.
AMENDMENT 2
TO
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDMENT is made effective as of January 6, 2000,
between LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC., a Delaware corporation, having its principal
office at 600 Mountain Avenue, Murray Hill, New Jersey 07974 ("Lucent") and
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC. ("Pliant"), previously known as BROADBAND TECHNOLOGIES,
INC. ("BBT"), a Delaware corporation, having an address at 4024 Stirrup Creek
Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27709-3737, (hereinafter collectively the
"Parties").
WHEREAS, Lucent and Pliant entered into a Manufacturing
Agreement dated as of February 4, 1998;
WHEREAS, Lucent and Pliant entered into a Research and
Development Services Agreement dated as of February 4, 1998 and amended on
February 23, 1999 (hereinafter the "R&D Agreement");
WHEREAS, Lucent and Pliant entered into Product Letter #1
dated as of March 22, 1999 (hereinafter the "PiPON Product Letter");
WHEREAS, the Parties desire that their business relationship
be redirected from manufacturing and focused on research and development
projects in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, Lucent and Pliant desire that the Manufacturing
Agreement and any and all amendments, modifications and revisions to the
Manufacturing
<PAGE>
2
Agreement and the PiPON Product Letter be terminated, rescinded and superseded
by this Amendment to the R&D Agreement (hereinafter this "Amendment").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and other
terms set forth herein, Lucent and Pliant do hereby agree as follows:
Section 1. Termination of Manufacturing Agreement . Subject to
the terms, conditions and exceptions set forth herein, including, without
limitation, the provisions of Section 4 below, Lucent and Pliant agree that the
Manufacturing Agreement and any and all amendments, modifications and revisions
to the Manufacturing Agreement and the PiPON Product Letter are hereby
terminated. Lucent and Pliant agree that Lucent is under no further obligation
to purchase Material (as that term is defined in Section 2.0 of the
Manufacturing Agreement) from Pliant or to make any deficiency payments to
Pliant under Section 7.0 or any other provision of the Manufacturing Agreement.
Section 2. Amendment to the R&D Agreement. In consideration of
the cancellation of the Parties' respective obligations under the Manufacturing
Agreement and PiPON Product Letter, as provided in Section 1 above, Lucent and
Pliant agree as follows:
A. The Projects (as such term is defined in Section 1.14 of
the R&D Agreement) to be completed under the R&D Agreement
shall be supplemented to include any or all of the Projects
described on Schedule A, which is attached hereto and
incorporated herein by reference. The Parties may revise or
supplement the Projects to be performed under this Amendment
upon written agreement. Any Project to be undertaken in
<PAGE>
3
connection with this Amendment shall be subject to the
requirements of Section 2.02 of the R&D Agreement pertaining
to Project Letters.
B. The Parties acknowledge that Project Letter No. 5 on
Schedule A is currently a place-holder for additional work
to be performed by Pliant upon agreement of the Parties. The
subject matter and scope of the Project to be performed
under Project Letter No. 5 on Schedule A shall be determined
by the Parties no later than June 1, 2000 and shall have a
completion date no later than December 31, 2001. Lucent
acknowledges that the payments listed on Schedule B for
Project Letter No. 5 are to be made to Pliant even if there
is no agreement as to the subject matter of Project Letter
No. 5.
C. Lucent shall pay Pliant for each Project in accordance
with the payment schedule set forth in Schedule B, which is
attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. The
payment schedule set forth in Schedule B shall rescind and
supersede all prior payment obligations to which the Parties
have agreed in the R&D Agreement and Manufacturing Agreement
as amended.
D. The aggregate sum to be paid by Lucent to Pliant for any
and all Projects performed under this Amendment is $18.75
million (hereinafter "the Balance") plus Conversion Costs.
The Parties acknowledge that $9 million of the Balance was
transferred
<PAGE>
4
from the Manufacturing Agreement to the R&D Agreement in
connection with this Amendment and $5.3 million of the
Balance is attributable to work to be performed under
Project Letter No. 5, which is currently undefined. The
Parties agree that payment by Lucent to Pliant of the
aforementioned $9 million, which is related to Project
Letters No. 3, 4, and 5 and displayed on Schedule B, is a
firm obligation of Lucent to Pliant which obligation is not
contingent upon performance of the Projects by Pliant, and
shall not be affected if any other provision of the R&D
Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable.
Section 3. Possible Modifications to Payment for Project
Letter No. 5.
A. If Pliant incurs Conversion Costs (as hereinafter
defined) as a result of terminating the existing
Manufacturing Agreement and PiPON Product Letter,
Lucent agrees to reimburse such reasonable
Conversion Costs up to a maximum of $1.1 million
for Project Letters No. 1, Phase 3; Project Letter
No. 3; and Project Letter No. 4. Conversion Costs
for the aforementioned Projects and for Project
Letter No. 5 are dependent on the scope of the
Project and will be mutually agreed by the Parties
as the Project Letters are executed. All Conversion
Costs to be reimbursed by Lucent shall be
identified in the respective Project Letter and
added to the payment owed for that Project. All
Conversion Costs are payable to Pliant by Lucent by
December 31, 2001.
<PAGE>
5
Reimbursement of Conversion Costs shall be
conditioned upon Lucent's receipt of satisfactory
documentation of Pliant's actual costs. "Conversion
Costs" means incremental cost/expense incurred by
the Pliant's development organization to complete
the Project Letter work associated with the $9
million Manufacturing Absorption obligation
transferred from the Manufacturing Agreement to the
R & D Agreement. Conversion Costs include but are
not limited to: engineering and project management
resources, project build and qualification
resources, travel, and service expenses.
B. Pliant may elect to license Lucent's Voice
Frequency Data Enhancement ("VFDE") technology, on
a non-exclusive basis, within forty-five (45) days
of the effective date of this Amendment. The
granting of such a non-exclusive license by Lucent
shall be contingent upon the Parties' written
agreement to mutually acceptable terms and
conditions for such license. The Parties agree that
such license for use of Lucent's VFDE technology in
accordance with the terms of the license agreement
shall, among other things, include a license fee to
be negotiated by the Parties, but which fee shall
in no event be more than $3.5 million.
Section 4. Continuing Obligations. Notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 1 above regarding termination of the Manufacturing
Agreement and PiPON Product Letter, the Parties shall have continuing
obligations regarding
<PAGE>
6
PiPON product already delivered to Lucent under the following provisions of the
Manufacturing Agreement: Section 22, "Indemnity," Section 23, "Infringement,"
Section 39, "Repair Not Covered Under Warranty," Section 40.0, "Repair
Procedures," Section 51.0, "Warranty," and under the following provisions of
Product Letter #1 (the "PiPON" Product Letter): Section 14, "Warranty," Section
15, "Warranty Tracking," and Section 16, "Product Repair," which provisions are
incorporated herein by reference. The obligations in Sections 39, 40 and 51 of
the Manufacturing Agreement, and Sections 14, 15, 16 of the PiPON Product Letter
shall continue for one (1) year from the effective date of this Amendment. The
Parties agree that Materials required for product repair will be supplied by
Lucent to Pliant. Pliant's fees for out of warranty repairs and No Trouble Found
conditions are listed in Schedule B. The Parties agree that obligations
contained in PiPON Product Letter, Section 11.4, "BBT and Lucent Obligations for
Material", currently outstanding purchase orders from Lucent to Pliant, and
currently outstanding invoices from Pliant to Lucent shall continue. In the
event the Manufacturing Agreement and PiPON Product Letter contain conflicting
terms, the terms of the PiPON Product Letter shall control. The obligations of
Sections 22 and 23 of the Manufacturing Agreement shall survive the termination
or expiration of this Amendment.
Section 5. Original Equipment Manufacturer's (OEM) Agreement.
Lucent will at its sole discretion, and approval of Pliant, enter into an OEM
Agreement with Pliant whereby Lucent may purchase Pliant's Pliant(TM)3000
Integrated Access Platform product and certain plug-ins ("the Products") subject
<PAGE>
7
to, among other things, satisfactory and timely completion by Pliant of the
design and development of the Products, acceptable pricing of the Products by
Pliant, the market demands of Lucent's customers, Lucent's strategic direction
and the negotiation of mutually acceptable written terms and conditions in an
OEM agreement. Upon execution of an OEM Agreement and upon prior written
approval, the Parties will issue a press release or other public announcements
relating to an OEM Agreement.
Section 6. Definitions. All capitalized terms in this
Amendment which are not defined shall have the meaning set forth in the
Manufacturing Agreement or the R&D Agreement, as the case may be.
Section 7. All terms and conditions of the R&D Agreement which
are not specifically modified herein shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 8. Assignment of VFDE. The rights of Pliant, under
this Amendment No. 2 to enter into a license with Lucent with respect to VFDE
technology pursuant to Section 3B hereof and any such license that may be
entered into, may not be assigned by Pliant to any third party. In the event
that Pliant undergoes a Change of Control as such term is defined in Section
1.10 of the R&D Agreement, Pliant shall obtain Lucent's prior written consent to
the assignment of any such right or license in connection with the Change of
Control, it being understood that under no circumstances shall such right or
license be assigned or otherwise transferred to a competitor of Lucent. In the
event of a Change of Control involving a competitor of Lucent, Pliant's license
to use VFDE technology, if any, shall immediately terminate and Pliant shall
return to Lucent all proprietary information pertaining to VFDE.
<PAGE>
8
Section 9. Simultaneously with the execution of this
Amendment, and as a condition of execution of this Amendment, Pliant will
deliver to Lucent a release executed by Pliant in the form attached as Schedule
C and Lucent will deliver to Pliant a release executed by Lucent in the form
attached Schedule D.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Lucent and Pliant have caused this
Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC. LUCENT TECHNOLOGILES INC.
By: Original signed by David E. Orr By: Original signed by David W. Heard
----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
Name: David E. Orr Name: David W. Heard
----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
Title: President and CEO Title: Access Product Management Vice President
----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
Date: January 6, 2000 Date: January 6, 2000
----------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Amendment 2 to Research and Development Services Agreement
Schedule A
PROJECT LETTER 1 - PHASE 1
Scope of Work:
- --------------
*******************************************************************
*********************************************************************
PLIANT Deliverables:
- -------------------
- **********************************************
- ***************************************************
- ***********************************************
PLIANT Delivery Schedule:
- ------------------------
***************************************************************
**********************************************************
***************************************************************
Cost of Project:
- ---------------
***********
PROJECT LETTER 1 - PHASE 2
Scope of Work:
- --------------
***************************************************************
*****************************
PLIANT Deliverables:
- -------------------
- ************************************
- **********************
PLIANT Delivery Schedule:
- ------------------------
************************************************************
******************
Cost of Project:
- ---------------
******
PROJECT LETTER 1 - PHASE 3
Scope of Work:
- --------------
****************************************************************
********************************************
PLIANT Deliverables:
- -------------------
- ***************************************************************
**************************************
PLIANT Delivery Schedule:
- ------------------------
**************************************************************
Cost of Project:
- ---------------
*************************
Page 1
<PAGE>
Amendment 2 to Research and Development Services Agreement
Schedule A
PROJECT LETTER 2
Scope of Work:
- --------------
**************************************************************
********************************************************
PLIANT Deliverables:
- -------------------
- **************************************************************
**************
*******************************
- ****************************
PLIANT Delivery Schedule:
- ------------------------
*************************************************************
Cost of Project:
- ---------------
*****
PROJECT LETTER 3
Scope of Work:
- --------------
**************************************************************
PLIANT Deliverables:
- -------------------
- *************************************************************
************************************************
- ************************************************************
PLIANT Delivery Schedule:
- ------------------------
*****************************************************************
Cost of Project Letter:
- ----------------------
***************************
PROJECT LETTER 4
Scope of Work:
- --------------
**************************************************************
**************************************************************
****
PLIANT Deliverables:
- -------------------
- ************************************
- ************************************
- ****************************************************************
PLIANT Delivery Schedule:
- ------------------------
***************************************************************
**********************************************************
Cost of Project:
- ---------------
***************************
Page 2
<PAGE>
Amendment 2 to Research and Development Services Agreement
Schedule A
PROJECT LETTER 5
Scope of Work:
- --------------
**************************************************************
*************************************************************
**************************************************************
**************************************************************
**************************************************************
**********************************
PLIANT Deliverables:
- -------------------
****************
PLIANT Delivery Schedule:
- ------------------------
*****************************************************************
*****************************************
Cost of Project:
- ---------------
***************************
Page 3
<PAGE>
Schedule B
LUCENT / PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
AMENDMENT 2 TO RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT PAYMENT
SCHEDULE AND REPAIR PRICES
(IN MILLIONS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAYMENT DUE DATE / AMOUNT DELIVERABLE DUE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
PROJECT LETTER # 1-1 31-MAR-00
- --------------------
AMOUNT PAID TO DATE $10.00
1-JAN-00 $1.75
1-APR-00 $0.75
REMAINING AMOUNT $2.50
-----
PROJECT TOTAL $12.50
PROJECT LETTER # 1-2 31-JUL-00
- --------------------
AMOUNT PAID TO DATE $1.25
31-JAN-00 $0.80
1-APR-00 $0.75
REMAINING AMOUNT $1.55
-----
PROJECT TOTAL $2.80
PROJECT LETTER # 1-3 31-JUL-00
- --------------------
AMOUNT PAID TO DATE $0.00
31-JAN-00 $0.50
1-APR-00 $0.10
31-JUL-00 $0.40
-----
PROJECT TOTAL $1.00
PROJECT LETTER #2 31-DEC-00
- -----------------
AMOUNT PAID TO DATE $0.00
31-JAN-00 $0.45
31-JUL-00 $0.50
31-OCT-00 $0.50
31-JAN-01 $2.60
1-APR-01 $0.15
-----
PROJECT TOTAL $4.20
PROJECT LETTER #3 01-JAN-00 TO 31-DEC-01
- -----------------
AMOUNT PAID TO DATE $0.00
31-JAN-00 $0.15
1-APR-00 $0.15
31-JUL-00 $0.15
31-OCT-00 $0.15
31-JAN-01 $0.15
1-APR-01 $0.15
31-JUL-01 $0.30
-----
PROJECT TOTAL $1.20
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
PROJECT LETTER #4 30-SEP-01
- -----------------
AMOUNT PAID TO DATE $0.00
31-JAN-01 $1.00
1-APR-01 $1.00
31-MAY-01 $1.00
-----
PROJECT TOTAL $3.00
PROJECT LETTER #5 TBD
AMOUNT PAID TO DATE $0.00
31-JAN-00 $1.10
31-JUL-00 $1.70
31-OCT-00 $1.10
1-APR-01 $0.70
31-MAY-01 $0.70
-----
PROJECT TOTAL $5.30
REMAINING AMOUNT: ALL $18.75
PROJECTS PLUS
CONVERSION
COSTS
</TABLE>
PRICES FOR REPAIRS
o OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIRS: $150 PER HOUR PLUS MATERIALS.
o LUCENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THE MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR REPAIR.
o FOR PURPOSES OF CLARIFICATION, OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIRS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT
LIMITED TO, DIAGNOSTICS, ASSEMBLY, AND TESTING PERFORMED BY PLIANT WHICH IS
NOT ATTRIBUTABLE TO PLIANT'S WORKMANSHIP DEFECTS.
o NO TROUBLE FOUND FOR "IN WARRANTY" REPAIRS: $150 PER HOUR WITH A ONE-HOUR
MINIMUM.
o LUCENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL TRANSPORTATION COSTS.
<PAGE>
1
Schedule C
----------
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
RELEASE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME OR MAY CONCERN, KNOW
THAT PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Pliant") previously known as
BROADBAND TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (BBT"), on behalf of itself, its divisions, heirs,
successors and assigns, its wholly owned subsidiaries and their respective
divisions, heirs, successors and assigns, and all other persons that Plaint has
the power and authority to bind through its execution of this Release and
Covenant Not to Sue (herein, separately and collectively, the "Releasors"), in
consideration of good and valuable consideration received from Lucent
Technologies Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Lucent"), the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, hereby release, acquit and forever
discharge Lucent, each of Lucent's wholly owned subsidiaries, each of the
above's respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, agents and
attorneys and the respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and
assigns of each of the foregoing (herein, separately and collectively, the
"Releasees"), from any and all actions, complaints, causes of action, demands,
damages, costs and expenses, liabilities, suits and claims, in law or in equity,
whether now known or unknown, whether asserted or unasserted (collectively
"Claims") arising out of or related to the Manufacturing Agreement between
Lucent and BBT dated as of February 4, 1998 and Product Letter # 1 dated as of
March 22, 1999 which the Releasors ever had, now have, or hereinafter can, shall
or may have from the beginning of the world to the date of this Release
(hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Released Claims"), except that
such release, acquittal and discharge shall not apply to, and the Released
Claims shall
<PAGE>
2
Schedule C
----------
not include, any Claims arising out of or related to Lucent's Continuing
Obligations as defined in Section 4 of Amendment 2 to the Research and
Development Services Agreement dated as of January 6, 2000.
Pliant represents and warrants that it has duly considered,
approved and authorized this Release and Covenant Not To Sue, has taken all
necessary actions for this Release and Covenant Not To Sue to be valid and
binding and warrants that the execution of this Release and Covenant Not To Sue
by the undersigned on behalf of Pliant duly binds and commits all Releasors.
Releasors covenant and agree that they will forever refrain
from instituting, reinstating, maintaining or prosecuting any action or
proceeding against Releasees upon any Claims, whether or not now or hereafter
known, suspected or claimed which Releasors ever had, now have or hereafter can,
shall or may have or allege against Releasees on account of any of the Released
Claims.
Notwithstanding Section 1542 of the California Civil Code,
which provides:
"A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does
not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the
release, which if known by him must have materially affected his
settlement with the debtor,"
this Release and Covenant Not to Sue shall constitute a full release in
accordance with its terms. Pliant knowingly and voluntarily waives the
provisions of Section 1542, if applicable, and any provisions of similar effect
in the law of the State of Minnesota or federal law or statutes, if applicable,
and acknowledges and agrees that this waiver is an essential part of this
Release and Covenant Not To Sue. Pliant further acknowledges that this Release
and Covenant Not To Sue has been negotiated and agreed to in light of such
<PAGE>
3
Schedule C
----------
possible damages, losses, fees, costs or expenses and that Pliant took that into
account in agreeing to execute this Release and Covenant Not To Sue.
Releasors represent and warrant that Releasors have not sold,
assigned, transferred, conveyed or otherwise disposed of any claim, demand or
cause of action or any part thereof relating to any matter covered by this
Release and Covenant Not To Sue and agree to indemnify Releasees against any and
all claims by third persons resulting from any such sale, assignment, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition.
This Release and Covenant Not To Sue shall not be altered or
modified in any way except by written consent of authorized representatives of
Releasors and Releasees.
This Release and Covenant Not To Sue shall be governed by the
laws of the State of New Jersey.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, RELEASORS have caused this Release to be
executed by their duly authorized agent as of January 6, 2000.
PLIANT SYSTEMS, INC.
By: Original signed by David E. Orr
----------------------------------
Name: David E. Orr
----------------------------------
Title: President and CEO
<PAGE>
1
Schedule D
----------
LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
RELEASE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME OR MAY CONCERN, KNOW
THAT LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC., a Delaware corporation ("Lucent"), on behalf of
itself, its divisions, heirs, successors and assigns, its wholly owned
subsidiaries and their respective divisions, heirs, successors and assigns, and
all other persons that Lucent has the power and authority to bind through its
execution of this Release and Covenant Not to Sue (herein, separately and
collectively, the "Releasors"), in consideration of good and valuable
consideration received from Pliant Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Pliant") previously known as Broadband Technologies Inc. ("BBT"), the receipt
and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, hereby release, acquit and
forever discharge Pliant, each of Plaint's wholly owned subsidiaries, each of
the above's respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, agents and
attorneys and the respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and
assigns of each of the foregoing (herein, separately and collectively, the
"Releasees"), from any and all actions, complaints, causes of action, demands,
damages, costs and expenses, liabilities, suits and claims, in law or in equity,
whether now known or unknown, whether asserted or unasserted (collectively
"Claims") arising out of or related to the Manufacturing Agreement between
Lucent and BBT dated as of February 4, 1998 and Product Letter # 1 dated as of
March 22, 1999 which the Releasors ever had, now have, or hereinafter can, shall
or may have from the beginning of the world to the date of this Release
(hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Released Claims"), except that
such release, acquittal and discharge shall not apply to, and the Released
Claims shall not include, any Claims
<PAGE>
2
arising out of or related to Plaint's Continuing Obligations as defined in
Section 4 of Amendment 2 to the Research and Development Services Agreement
dated as of January 6, 2000.
Lucent represents and warrants that it has duly considered,
approved and authorized this Release and Covenant Not To Sue, has taken all
necessary actions for this Release and Covenant Not To Sue to be valid and
binding and warrants that the execution of this Release and Covenant Not To Sue
by the undersigned on behalf of Lucent duly binds and commits all Releasors.
Releasors covenant and agree that they will forever refrain
from instituting, reinstating, maintaining or prosecuting any action or
proceeding against Releasees upon any Claims, whether or not now or hereafter
known, suspected or claimed which Releasors ever had, now have or hereafter can,
shall or may have or allege against Releasees on account of any of the Released
Claims.
Notwithstanding Section 1542 of the California Civil Code,
which provides:
"A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does
not know or suspect to exist in his favor at the time of executing the
release, which if known by him must have materially affected his
settlement with the debtor,"
this Release and Covenant Not to Sue shall constitute a full release in
accordance with its terms. Lucent knowingly and voluntarily waives the
provisions of Section 1542, if applicable, and any provisions of similar effect
in the law of the State of Minnesota or federal law or statutes, if applicable,
and acknowledges and agrees that this waiver is an essential part of this
Release and Covenant Not To Sue. Lucent further acknowledges that this Release
and Covenant Not To Sue has been negotiated and agreed to in light of such
possible damages, losses, fees, costs or expenses and that Lucent took that into
account in agreeing to execute this Release and Covenant Not To Sue.
<PAGE>
3
Releasors represent and warrant that Releasors have not sold,
assigned, transferred, conveyed or otherwise disposed of any claim, demand or
cause of action or any part thereof relating to any matter covered by this
Release and Covenant Not To Sue and agree to indemnify Releasees against any and
all claims by third persons resulting from any such sale, assignment, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition.
This Release and Covenant Not To Sue shall not be altered or
modified in any way except by written consent of authorized representatives of
Releasors and Releasees.
This Release and Covenant Not To Sue shall be governed by the
laws of the State of New Jersey.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, RELEASORS have caused this Release to be
executed by their duly authorized agent as of January 6, 2000.
Lucent Technologies Inc.
By: Original signed by David W. Heard
-------------------------------------------
Name: David W. Heard
-------------------------------------------
Title: Access Product Management Vice President
EXHIBIT 24.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration
Statements: Form S-8 No. 33-67076 and Form S-8 No. 33-87630 pertaining to the
BroadBand Technologies, Inc. 1988 Incentive Stock Option Plan; Form S-8 No.
33-67724 pertaining to the BroadBand Technologies, Inc. 1992 Nonqualified Stock
Option Plan; Form S-8 No. 33-73802 pertaining to the BroadBand Technologies,
Inc. 401 (k) Plan; Form S-8 No. 333-09661 pertaining to the BroadBand
Technologies, Inc. 5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due May 15, 2001 and Form
S-8 No. 333-10443 pertaining to the BroadBand Technologies, Inc. 1,000,000
shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants of our
report dated January 21, 2000, with respect to the financial statements and
schedules of Pliant Systems, Inc. (formerly BroadBand Technologies, Inc.)
included in the Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1999.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
---------------------
Ernst & Young LLP
Raleigh, North Carolina
March 24, 2000
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1999
<CASH> 42,531,289
<SECURITIES> 26,952,565
<RECEIVABLES> 8,284,549
<ALLOWANCES> 148,000
<INVENTORY> 1,578,157
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 74,847,917
<PP&E> 23,900,723
<DEPRECIATION> 17,891,388
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 89,611,797
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 20,582,344
<BONDS> 115,000,000
0
0
<COMMON> 136,051
<OTHER-SE> 156,123,170
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 89,611,797
<SALES> 24,350,110
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 33,982,507
<CGS> 21,719,580
<TOTAL-COSTS> 21,719,580
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 33,854,397
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,527,694
<INCOME-PRETAX> (26,439,217)
<INCOME-TAX> 0
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (26,439,217)
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> (26,439,217)
<EPS-BASIC> (1.96)
<EPS-DILUTED> (1.96)
</TABLE>
