ARCH COMMUNICATIONS GROUP INC /DE/
10-Q, 1999-05-14
RADIOTELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS
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                   QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 0R 15 (d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    Form 10-Q

             (Mark One)

            [X] Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                  For the quarterly period ended March 31, 1999
                                       or
            [ ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                         For the transition period from
                         ______________ to _____________


                     Commission File Numbers 0-23232/1-14248

                         ARCH COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)

             DELAWARE                                31-1358569
    (State of incorporation)            (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

      1800 West Park Drive, Suite 250
        Westborough, Massachusetts                      01581
  (address of principal executive offices)            (Zip Code)

                                 (508) 870-6700
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


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 the number of shares  outstanding  of each of the  issuer's  classes of
common  stock,  as of the  latest  practicable  date:  21,215,583  shares of the
Company's Common Stock ($.01 par value) were outstanding as of May 10, 1999

<PAGE>

                         ARCH COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.
                          QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
                                      INDEX



PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                            Page

Item 1.  Financial Statements:

         Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of March 31, 1999 
         and December 31, 1998                                              3

         Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations for the 
         Three Months Ended March 31, 1999 and 1998                         4

         Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the
         Three Months Ended March 31, 1999 and 1998                         5

         Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements               6

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
         and Results of Operations                                          7

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk        16

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal  Proceedings                                                16 
Item 2.  Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds                         16 
Item 3.  Defaults upon Senior  Securities                                  16 
Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders               17  
Item 5.  Other Information                                                 17 
Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                                  18


                                       2
<PAGE>

                          PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

                         ARCH COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 (in thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                      March 31,    December 31,
                                                        1999           1998
                                                        ----           ----
                                  ASSETS             (unaudited)

<S>                                                  <C>            <C>        
Current assets:
     Cash and cash equivalents                       $    12,102    $     1,633
     Accounts receivable, net                             30,757         30,753
     Inventories                                           9,803         10,319
     Prepaid expenses and other                            9,348          8,007
                                                     -----------    -----------
         Total current assets                             62,010         50,712
                                                     -----------    -----------
Property and equipment, at cost                          439,563        428,173
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization          (220,955)      (209,128)
                                                     -----------    -----------
Property and equipment, net                              218,608        219,045
                                                     -----------    -----------
Intangible and other assets, net                         602,814        634,528
                                                     -----------    -----------
                                                     $   883,432    $   904,285
                                                     ===========    ===========

     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)

Current liabilities:
     Current maturities of long-term debt            $     1,250    $     1,250
     Accounts payable                                     26,564         25,683
     Accrued restructuring                                11,032         11,909
     Accrued interest                                     17,187         20,997
     Accrued expenses and other liabilities               26,701         27,175
                                                     -----------    -----------
         Total current liabilities                        82,734         87,014
                                                     -----------    -----------
Long-term debt, less current maturities                1,036,441      1,003,499
                                                     -----------    -----------
Other long-term liabilities                               26,844         27,235
                                                     -----------    -----------
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
     Preferred stock-- $.01 par value                          3              3
     Common stock-- $.01 par value                           212            212
     Additional paid-in capital                          378,590        378,077
     Accumulated deficit                                (641,392)      (591,755)
                                                     -----------    -----------
         Total stockholders' equity (deficit)           (262,587)      (213,463)
                                                     -----------    -----------
                                                     $   883,432    $   904,285
                                                     ===========    ===========
</TABLE>





        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
                        condensed financial statements.


                                       3
<PAGE>

                         ARCH COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.
                 CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
        (unaudited and in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         Three Months Ended
                                                              March 31,
                                                        1999            1998
                                                        ----            ----
<S>                                                <C>             <C>         
Service, rental, and maintenance revenues          $     90,529    $     91,397
Product sales                                            10,359          10,642
                                                   ------------    ------------
  Total revenues                                        100,888         102,039
Cost of products sold                                    (6,926)         (7,366)
                                                   ------------    ------------
                                                         93,962          94,673
                                                   ------------    ------------
Operating expenses:
  Service, rental, and maintenance                       20,293          20,189
  Selling                                                13,011          11,870
  General and administrative                             25,626          28,318
  Depreciation and amortization                          51,118          53,714
                                                   ------------    ------------
     Total operating expenses                           110,048         114,091
                                                   ------------    ------------
Operating income (loss)                                 (16,086)        (19,418)
Interest expense, net                                   (26,477)        (25,366)
Equity in loss of affiliate                              (3,200)         (1,055)
                                                   ------------    ------------
Income (loss) before accounting change                  (45,763)        (45,839)
Cumulative effect of accounting change                   (3,361)           --
                                                   ------------    ------------
Net income (loss)                                       (49,124)        (45,839)
Preferred stock dividend                                   (513)           --
                                                   ------------    ------------
Net income (loss) to common stockholders           $    (49,637)   $    (45,839)
                                                   ============    ============

Basic/diluted net income (loss) per common
    share before accounting change                 $      (2.18)   $      (2.20)
Cumulative effect of accounting change per
    basic/diluted common share                            (0.16)           --
                                                   ------------    ------------
Basic/diluted net income (loss) per common share   $      (2.34)   $      (2.20)
                                                   ============    ============
Basic/diluted weighted average number of common
    shares outstanding                               21,215,583      20,877,076
                                                   ============    ============
</TABLE>





        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
                        condensed financial statements.



                                       4
<PAGE>

                         ARCH COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.
                 CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                          (unaudited and in thousands)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        Three Months Ended
                                                             March 31,
                                                         1999        1998
                                                         ----        ----
<S>                                                   <C>         <C>     
     Net cash provided by operating activities        $ 12,379    $  9,992
                                                      --------    --------

     Cash flows from investing activities:
        Additions to property and equipment, net ..    (21,125)    (15,915)
        Additions to intangible and other assets ..     (4,403)     (5,404)
        Net proceeds form sale of tower site assets        618        --
                                                      --------    --------
     Net cash used for investing activities            (24,910)    (21,319)
                                                      --------    --------

     Cash flows from financing activities:
        Issuance of long-term debt                      23,000      24,500
        Repayment of long-term debt                       --       (12,259)
        Net proceeds from sale of common stock            --           298
                                                      --------    --------
     Net cash provided by financing activities          23,000      12,539
                                                      --------    --------

     Net increase in cash and cash equivalents          10,469       1,212
     Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period      1,633       3,328
                                                      --------    --------
     Cash and cash equivalents, end of period         $ 12,102    $  4,540
                                                      ========    ========

     Supplemental disclosure:
        Interest paid                                 $ 20,212    $ 15,289
        Accretion of discount on senior notes         $  9,942    $  8,880

</TABLE>









        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
                        condensed financial statements.




                                       5
<PAGE>

                         ARCH COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.
              NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                   (unaudited)


   (a) Preparation of Interim Financial Statements - The consolidated  condensed
financial  statements  of  Arch  Communications   Group,  Inc.  ("Arch"  or  the
"Company")  have been prepared in accordance  with the rules and  regulations of
the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  The financial  information  included
herein,  other than the consolidated  condensed balance sheet as of December 31,
1998, has been prepared by management  without audit by independent  accountants
who do not express an opinion thereon. The consolidated  condensed balance sheet
at  December  31,  1998 has been  derived  from,  but does not  include  all the
disclosures contained in, the audited consolidated  financial statements for the
year  ended  December  31,  1998.  In the  opinion of  management,  all of these
unaudited  statements  include all adjustments  and accruals  consisting only of
normal recurring accrual adjustments which are necessary for a fair presentation
of the  results of all  interim  periods  reported  herein.  These  consolidated
condensed   financial   statements  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with  the
consolidated  financial  statements  and  accompanying  notes included in Arch's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31, 1998. The results of
operations  for the periods  presented  are not  necessarily  indicative  of the
results that may be expected for a full year.

   (b)  Intangible  and  Other  Assets -  Intangible  and other  assets,  net of
accumulated amortization, are comprised of the following (in thousands):

                                                        March 31,  December 31,
                                                           1999       1998
                                                           ----       ----
                                                       (unaudited)
    Goodwill                                             $261,782   $271,808
    Purchased FCC licenses                                247,193    256,519
    Purchased subscriber lists                             49,456     56,825
    Deferred financing costs                               22,463     22,072
    Investment in Benbow PCS Ventures, Inc. ("Benbow")      8,953     11,347
    Investment in CONXUS Communications, Inc.               6,500      6,500
    Non-competition agreements                              1,525      1,790
    Other                                                   4,942      7,667
                                                         --------   --------
                                                         $602,814   $634,528
                                                         ========   ========


   (c) Change in Accounting  Principle - In April 1998, the Accounting Standards
Executive Committee of the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Position 98-5 ("SOP 98-5")  "Reporting on the Costs of Start-Up  Activities".
SOP 98-5 requires  costs of start-up  activities  and  organization  costs to be
expensed as incurred.  Arch adopted SOP 98-5 effective January 1, 1999.  Initial
application  of SOP 98-5 resulted in a $3.4 million charge which was reported as
the  cumulative  effect  of  a  change  in  accounting  principle.  This  charge
represents the unamortized  portion of start-up and organization costs which had
been deferred in prior years.

   (d) Divisional  Reorganization - As of March 31, 1999, 258 employees had been
terminated  due to the  divisional  reorganization  announced in June 1998.  The
Company's  restructuring  activity  as of  March  31,  1999  is as  follows  (in
thousands):

                                  Reserve
                                 Initially    Utilization of   Remaining
                                Established      Reserve        Reserve
                                -----------      -------        -------
    Severance costs               $ 9,700        $ 2,875        $ 6,825
    Lease obligation costs          3,500            508          2,992
    Other costs                     1,500            285          1,215
                                  -------        -------        -------
      Total                       $14,700        $ 3,668        $11,032
                                  =======        =======        =======

                                       6
<PAGE>

Item 2. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
        of Operations

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   This Form 10-Q contains  forward-looking  statements.  For this purpose,  any
statements  contained  herein that are not statements of historical  fact may be
deemed to be  forward-looking  statements.  Without limiting the foregoing,  the
words "believes",  "anticipates", "plans", "expects" and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. There are a number of important
factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ  materially from
those indicated or suggested by such forward-looking  statements.  These factors
include,  without  limitation,  those set forth below under the caption "Factors
Affecting Future Operating Results".

PENDING MOBILEMEDIA MERGER

   On August 18, 1998, the Company  entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger
(as amended as of September 3, 1998,  December 1, 1998 and February 8, 1999, the
"MobileMedia  Merger  Agreement")  providing  for  a  merger  (the  "MobileMedia
Merger") of MobileMedia  Communications,  Inc.  ("MobileMedia")  with and into a
subsidiary of Arch.  The  MobileMedia  Merger is part of  MobileMedia's  Plan of
Reorganization (as amended, the "Reorganization Plan") to emerge from Chapter 11
bankruptcy.  Arch's stockholders  approved the MobileMedia Merger on January 26,
1999. On February 5, 1999,  the Federal  Communications  Commission  (the "FCC")
released an order approving the transfer of  MobileMedia's  FCC licenses to Arch
in connection with the MobileMedia Merger,  subject to approval and confirmation
of the  Reorganization  Plan.  The order  granting the  transfer  became a final
order,  no longer subject to  reconsideration  or judicial  review,  on March 8,
1999. The Reorganization Plan was confirmed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the
District of Delaware on April 12, 1999.  Consummation of the MobileMedia  Merger
and the associated debt and equity financings  (described below)  (collectively,
the "MobileMedia  Transactions")  is subject to the performance by third parties
of their contractual  obligations,  the availability of sufficient financing and
other  conditions.  There can be no  assurance  the  MobileMedia  Merger will be
consummated.

   Pursuant to the  MobileMedia  Merger,  Arch will: (i) issue certain stock and
warrants;  (ii) pay $479.0 million in cash to certain  creditors of MobileMedia;
(iii) pay approximately $50.0 million of administrative, transaction and related
costs;  (iv) raise $217.0 million in cash through rights offerings of its common
stock (the "Rights Offering");  and (v) cause its wholly owned subsidiary,  Arch
Communications,  Inc.  ("ACI") and ACI's principal  operating  subsidiary,  Arch
Paging Inc. ("API"),  to borrow a total of approximately  $312.0 million.  After
consummation of the MobileMedia Transactions, which is expected to occur late in
the second quarter of 1999, MobileMedia will become a wholly owned subsidiary of
API.

DIVISIONAL REORGANIZATION

   In June  1998,  the Arch  Board  approved a  divisional  reorganization  (the
"Divisional Reorganization"). As part of the Divisional Reorganization, which is
being  implemented  over a period of 18 to 24 months,  Arch has consolidated its
former Midwest,  Western,  and Northern  divisions into four existing  operating
divisions,   and  is  in  the   process  of   consolidating   certain   regional
administrative  support  functions,  such  as  customer  service,   collections,
inventory  and  billing,  to reduce  redundancy  and take  advantage  of various
operating efficiencies.

   In connection with the Divisional Reorganization,  Arch (i) anticipates a net
reduction of approximately 10% of its workforce,  (ii) is closing certain office
locations  and  redeploying  other  real  estate  assets  and (iii)  recorded  a
restructuring  charge of $14.7 million  during 1998.  The  restructuring  charge
consisted of approximately  (i) $9.7 million for employee  severance,  (ii) $3.5
million for lease obligations and terminations,  and (iii) $1.5 million of other
costs.  The  severance  costs and lease  obligations  will  require cash outlays
throughout the 18 to 24 month  restructuring  period. Upon the completion of the
MobileMedia  Merger,  Arch's  management will reassess the size and scope of the
Divisional Reorganization. The Company will also determine the size and scope of
additional restructuring reserves required as a direct result of the MobileMedia
Merger. There can be no assurance that the desired cost savings will be achieved
or that the anticipated  reorganization  of Arch's business will be accomplished
smoothly,  expeditiously  or successfully.  See Note (d) to Arch's  Consolidated
Condensed Financial Statements.



                                       7
<PAGE>

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

   Total  revenues  decreased  $1.2 million,  or 1.1%, to $100.9  million in the
three months ended March 31, 1999 from $102.0  million in the three months ended
March 31, 1998,  and net revenues  (total  revenues less cost of products  sold)
decreased  slightly to $94.0  million  from $94.7  million over the same period.
Total revenues and net revenues in the 1999 period were adversely  affected by a
general slowing of paging  industry  growth,  compared to prior years.  Revenues
were also  adversely  affected by: (i) Arch's  decision in the fourth quarter of
1998, in anticipation of the MobileMedia Merger, not to replace normal attrition
among direct sales  personnel;  (ii) the reduced  effectiveness  of the reseller
channel of  distribution;  and (iii) reduced sales through  Arch's company owned
stores. Arch expects revenue to continue to be adversely affected in 1999 due to
these factors. Service, rental and maintenance revenues, which consist primarily
of recurring  revenues  associated  with the sale or lease of pagers,  decreased
slightly to $90.5  million in the three  months  ended March 31, 1999 from $91.4
million  in  the  three  months  ended  March  31,  1998.  Maintenance  revenues
represented less than 10% of total service,  rental and maintenance  revenues in
the three  months  ended  March 31, 1999 and 1998.  Arch does not  differentiate
between service and rental revenues.  Product sales, less cost of products sold,
increased  4.8% to $3.4  million in the three  months  ended March 31, 1999 from
$3.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 1998.

   Service,  rental  and  maintenance  expenses,   which  consist  primarily  of
telephone  line and site rental  expenses,  increased to $20.3 million (21.6% of
net revenues) in the three months ended March 31, 1999 from $20.2 million (21.3%
of net revenues) in the three months ended March 31, 1998.  The increase was due
primarily  to  increased  expenses  associated  with system  expansions  and the
provision of paging  services to a greater number of units.  As existing  paging
systems  become more  populated  through the addition of new paging  units,  the
fixed  costs of  operating  these  paging  systems  are  spread  over a  greater
subscriber base. Annualized service, rental and maintenance expenses per unit in
service  decreased  to $19 in the three  months ended March 31, 1999 from $20 in
the three months ended March 31, 1998.

   Selling  expenses  increased to $13.0 million  (13.8% of net revenues) in the
three months ended March 31, 1999 from $11.9 million  (12.5% of net revenues) in
the three  months  ended March 31, 1998 due  primarily  to  increased  hiring of
direct sales personnel.

   General and administrative  expenses decreased to $25.6 million (27.3% of net
revenues) in the three months ended March 31, 1999 from $28.3 million  (29.9% of
net  revenues) in the three  months  ended March 31, 1998.  The decrease was due
primarily to reduction of headcount as a result of the divisional reorganization
which began in June 1998.

   Depreciation and amortization  expenses  decreased to $51.1 million (54.4% of
net revenues) in the three months ended March 31, 1999 from $53.7 million (56.7%
of net  revenues)  in the three  months  ended March 31,  1998.  These  expenses
principally  reflect Arch's  acquisitions of paging  businesses in prior periods
accounted for as purchases,  and investment in pagers and other system expansion
equipment to support growth.

   Operating loss decreased to $16.1 million in the three months ended March 31,
1999 from $19.4  million in the three months ended March 31, 1998 as a result of
the factors outlined above.

   Net interest  expense  increased  to $26.5  million in the three months ended
March 31, 1999 from $25.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 1998.  The
increase was  attributable  to an increase in Arch's average  outstanding  debt.
Interest  expense in the three  months  ended March 31,  1999 and 1998  includes
approximately $9.9 million and $8.9 million,  respectively, of non-cash interest
accretion on Arch's 107/8% Senior Discount Notes due 2008 (the "Senior  Discount
Notes").

   On  January  1, 1999,  Arch  adopted  SOP 98-5.  SOP 98-5  requires  costs of
start-up  activities and organization costs to be expensed as incurred.  Initial
application  of SOP 98-5 resulted in a $3.4 million charge which was reported as
the  cumulative  effect  of  a  change  in  accounting  principle.  This  charge
represents the unamortized  portion of start-up and organization costs which had
been deferred in prior years.

   Net losses  increased  to $49.1  million in the three  months ended March 31,
1999 from $45.8  million in the three months ended March 31, 1998 as a result of
the factors outlined above.



                                       8
<PAGE>

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

   Arch's business  strategy  requires the availability of substantial  funds to
finance the expansion of existing  operations,  to fund capital expenditures for
pagers and paging system equipment, to service debt and to finance acquisitions.

Capital Expenditures and Commitments

   Arch's capital expenditures  increased from $21.3 million in the three months
ended March 31, 1998 to $25.5  million in the three months ended March 31, 1999.
Arch  generally  has funded its capital  expenditures  with net cash provided by
operating activities and the incurrence of debt. Arch believes that it will have
sufficient  cash  available from  operations  and credit  facilities to fund its
capital expenditures for the remainder of the year.

   Arch is obligated,  to the extent such funds are not available to Benbow from
other sources and subject to the approval of Arch's  designee on Benbow's  Board
of  Directors,  to  advance  to  Benbow  sufficient  funds  to  service  the FCC
license-related  debt  obligations  incurred  by Benbow in  connection  with its
acquisition  of its  N-PCS  licenses  and to  finance  construction  of an N-PCS
system.

   Arch is currently  evaluating the prospects for Benbow's N-PCS system and its
other N-PCS  investments  and services and the  likelihood of Benbow  generating
sufficient revenue to repay the advances from Arch (or other sources) that would
be required in order to fund Benbow's  remaining  N-PCS license  obligations and
the  construction of its N-PCS system.  Arch is unable to predict whether Benbow
will obtain  sufficient  financing  to fund  Benbow's  remaining  N-PCS  license
obligations and the construction of Benbow's N-PCS system or whether Benbow will
be able to repay Arch's  existing  advances or any future  advances from Arch or
other sources.

Sources of Funds

   Arch's net cash provided by operating  activities was $12.4 million and $10.0
million in the three  months  ended March 31, 1999 and 1998  respectively.  Arch
believes that its capital needs for the  foreseeable  future will be funded with
borrowings  under  current and future  credit  facilities,  net cash provided by
operations and, depending on the Company's needs and market conditions, possible
sales of equity or debt securities.

FACTORS AFFECTING FUTURE OPERATING RESULTS

   The following  important  factors,  among  others,  could cause Arch's actual
operating  results to differ  materially  from those  indicated  or suggested by
forward-looking  statements  made in this Form 10-Q or  presented  elsewhere  by
Arch's management from time to time.

Growth and Acquisition Strategy

   Arch believes that the paging industry has experienced,  and will continue to
experience,  consolidation due to factors that favor larger, multi-market paging
companies,  including (i) the ability to obtain additional radio spectrum,  (ii)
greater  access to capital  markets and lower costs of  capital,  (iii)  broader
geographic  coverage of paging systems,  (iv) economies of scale in the purchase
of capital  equipment,  (v) operating  efficiencies  and (vi) enhanced access to
executive personnel.

   Arch has pursued,  and intends to continue to pursue,  acquisitions of paging
businesses as a key component of its growth  strategy.  However,  the process of
integrating  acquired paging businesses may involve unforeseen  difficulties and
may  require  a  disproportionate  amount  of the time and  attention  of Arch's
management.  No  assurance  can  be  given  that  suitable  acquisitions  can be
identified,  financed and  completed  on  acceptable  terms,  or that any future
acquisitions by Arch will be successful.

   Implementation  of Arch's growth  strategy will be subject to numerous  other
contingencies beyond the control of its management.  These contingencies include
national and regional economic conditions, interest rates, competition,  changes
in  regulation  or  technology  and the  ability to attract  and retain  skilled
employees.  Accordingly,  no assurance can be given that Arch's growth  strategy
will prove effective or that its goals will be achieved.



                                       9
<PAGE>

Future Capital Needs; Uncertainty of Additional Funding

   Arch's business  strategy  requires the availability of substantial  funds to
finance  the  continued  development  and  future  growth and  expansion  of its
operations,  including possible acquisitions.  The amount of capital required by
Arch  following  the  MobileMedia  Merger  will depend upon a number of factors,
including  growth in the number of units in service,  the type of paging devices
and   services   demanded  by   customers,   service   revenues,   technological
developments,  marketing and sales expenses,  competitive conditions, the nature
and  timing  of  Arch's  N-PCS   strategy   and   acquisition   strategies   and
opportunities.  No  assurance  can be  given  that  additional  equity  or  debt
financing will be available to Arch when needed on acceptable  terms, if at all.
The  unavailability  of sufficient  financing  when needed would have a material
adverse effect on Arch.

Competition and Technological Change

   Arch faces  competition from other paging service providers in all markets in
which it  operates,  as well as from  certain  competitors  who hold  nationwide
licenses.  Monthly fees for basic paging services have, in general,  declined in
recent  years,  due in  part  to  competitive  conditions,  and  Arch  may  face
significant  price-based  competition  in the future which could have a material
adverse  effect on Arch.  Since 1997,  industry  growth in basic paging units in
service has slowed  considerably.  Certain  competitors of Arch possess  greater
financial,  technical and other resources than Arch. A trend towards  increasing
consolidation   in  the  paging   industry  in   particular   and  the  wireless
communications  industry in general in recent years has led to competition  from
increasingly  larger  and  better  capitalized  competitors.   If  any  of  such
competitors were to devote additional  resources to the paging business or focus
on Arch's particular markets, there could be a material adverse effect on Arch.

   Competitors  are currently  using and  developing a variety of two-way paging
technologies.  Arch does not presently provide such two-way services, other than
as  a  reseller.  Although  such  services  generally  are  higher  priced  than
traditional one-way paging services,  technological improvements could result in
increased  capacity and  efficiency for such two-way  paging  technologies  and,
accordingly,   could  result  in   increased   competition   for  Arch.   Future
technological  advances in the  telecommunications  industry  could increase new
services or products  competitive  with the paging services  provided by Arch or
could  require  Arch to  reduce  the  price of their  paging  services  or incur
additional  capital  expenditures to meet competitive  requirements.  Recent and
proposed   regulatory   changes  by  the  FCC  are  aimed  at  encouraging  such
technological  advances  and new  services.  Other  forms  of  wireless  two-way
communications   technology,   including   cellular   and   broadband   personal
communications  services ("PCS"),  and specialized  mobile radio services,  also
compete  with the  paging  services  that Arch  currently  provides.  While such
services  are  primarily  focused  on  two-way  voice  communications,   service
providers are, in many cases,  electing to provide paging services as an adjunct
to their primary services. Technological change also may affect the value of the
pagers  owned by Arch and  leased  to its  subscribers.  If  Arch's  subscribers
request more  technologically  advanced pagers,  including,  but not limited to,
two-way  pagers,  Arch  could  incur  additional  inventory  costs  and  capital
expenditures  if required to replace pagers leased to its  subscribers  within a
short period of time. Such additional  investment or capital  expenditures could
have a material adverse effect on Arch. There can be no assurance that Arch will
be able to compete  successfully  with  current  and future  competitors  in the
paging  business  or  with  competitors   offering   alternative   communication
technologies. Pursuant to the 1994 Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement
Act ("CALEA"), all telecommunications  carriers,  including Arch, are subject to
certain law enforcement  assistance  capability  requirements.  These capability
requirements will likely  necessitate  equipment  modifications.  Although CALEA
requires  the federal  government  to reimburse  carriers for certain  equipment
modifications,   it  is  unclear  whether  Arch  will  be  entitled  to  such  a
reimbursement and if so, how much Arch will receive.

Government Regulation, Foreign Ownership and Possible Redemption

   The  paging  operations  of Arch are  subject  to  regulation  by the FCC and
various state regulatory  agencies.  The FCC paging licenses granted to Arch are
for varying terms of up to 10 years,  at the end of which  renewal  applications
must be approved by the FCC. In the past,  paging license  renewal  applications
generally  have been  granted by the FCC upon a showing of  compliance  with FCC
regulations  and of  adequate  service  to the  public.  Arch is  unaware of any
circumstances  which would  prevent  the grant of any pending or future  renewal
applications;  however,  no  assurance  can be given that any of Arch's  renewal
applications  will be free of  challenge  or will be granted  by the FCC.  It is


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<PAGE>

possible  that  there may be  competition  for radio  spectrum  associated  with
licenses  as  they  expire,  thereby  increasing  the  chances  of  third  party
interventions in the renewal proceedings.  Other than those renewal applications
still  pending,  the FCC has thus far granted each license  renewal  application
that Arch has filed.  There can be no assurance  that the FCC and various  state
regulatory  agencies will not propose or adopt  regulations or take actions that
would have a material adverse effect on Arch.

   The FCC's review and revision of rules affecting  paging companies is ongoing
and  the   regulatory   requirements   to  which  Arch  is  subject  may  change
significantly over time. For example, the FCC has decided to adopt a market area
licensing  scheme for all paging channels under which carriers would be licensed
to operate on a  particular  channel  throughout  a broad  geographic  area (for
example,  a Major  Trading  Area as defined by Rand  McNally)  rather than being
licensed on a site-by-site basis. These geographic area licenses will be awarded
pursuant to auction.  Incumbent paging licensees that do not acquire licenses at
auction  will be  entitled  to  interference  protection  from the  market  area
licensee.  Arch is participating actively in this proceeding in order to protect
its existing  operations  and retain  flexibility,  on an interim and  long-term
basis,  to modify systems as necessary to meet subscriber  demands.  The FCC has
issued a Further Notice of Proposed  Rulemaking in which the FCC sought comments
on, among other  matters,  whether it should  impose  coverage  requirements  on
licensees with  nationwide  exclusivity  (such as Arch),  whether these coverage
requirements   should  be  imposed  on  a  nationwide  or  regional  basis,  and
whether--if  such  requirements  are  imposed--failure  to meet the requirements
should  result in a  revocation  of the  entire  nationwide  license or merely a
portion  of  the  license.   If  the  FCC  were  to  impose  stringent  coverage
requirements  on  licensees  with  nationwide  exclusivity,  Arch  might have to
accelerate the build-out of its systems in certain areas.

   Changes in regulation of Arch's paging  businesses or the allocation of radio
spectrum for services that compete with Arch's business could  adversely  affect
its results of operations.  In addition,  some aspects of the Telecommunications
Act of 1996 (the  "Telecommunications  Act") may place  additional  burdens upon
Arch or subject Arch to increased competition.  For example, the FCC has adopted
rules  that  govern  compensation  to be paid to pay phone  providers  which has
resulted in increased  costs for certain  paging  services  including  toll-free
1-800  number  paging.   Arch  has  generally  passed  these  costs  on  to  its
subscribers,  which makes Arch's  services more expensive and which could affect
the  attraction  or retention of customers;  however,  there can be no assurance
that Arch will be able to continue to pass on these costs. In addition,  the FCC
also has adopted rules regarding payments by telecommunications companies into a
revamped   fund  that  will   provide  for  the   widespread   availability   of
telecommunications  services,  including  to  low-income  consumers  ("Universal
Service").  Prior to the implementation of the Telecommunications Act, Universal
Service obligations largely were met by local telephone companies,  supplemented
by   long-distance   telephone   companies.   Under  the  new   rules,   certain
telecommunications  carriers,  including  Arch,  are required to contribute to a
revised fund created for Universal  Service (the "Universal  Service Fund").  In
addition,  certain state regulatory  authorities have enacted, or have indicated
that they  intend to enact,  similar  contribution  requirements  based on state
revenues.  Arch can not yet know the full  impact  of these  state  contribution
requirements.  Moreover, Arch is not able at this time to estimate the amount of
any such  payments that it will be able to bill to their  subscribers;  however,
payments into the Universal  Service Fund will likely increase the cost of doing
business.

   Moreover, in a rulemaking  proceeding  pertaining to interconnection  between
local exchange  carriers  ("LECs") and commercial mobile radio services ("CMRS")
providers  such as  Arch,  the FCC has  concluded  that  LECs  are  required  to
compensate  CMRS  providers for  reasonable  costs incurred by such providers in
terminating  traffic  that  originates  on  LEC  facilities,   and  vice  versa.
Consistent  with this ruling,  the FCC has determined that LECs may not charge a
CMRS provider or other  carrier for  terminating  LEC-originated  traffic or for
dedicated  facilities used to deliver  LEC-originated  traffic to one-way paging
networks. Nor may LECs charge CMRS providers for number activation and use fees.
These interconnection issues are still in dispute, and it is unclear whether the
FCC will maintain its current position.  Depending on further FCC disposition of
these  issues,  Arch may or may not be successful  in securing  refunds,  future
relief or both, with respect to charges for termination of LEC-originated  local
traffic.  If these  issues are  ultimately  resolved by the FCC in favor of CMRS
providers,  then  Arch  will  pursue  relief  through  settlement  negotiations,
administrative  complaint  procedures  or both.  If these issues are  ultimately
decided in favor of the LECs,  Arch likely would be required to pay all past due


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<PAGE>

contested  charges and may also be assessed  interest  and late  charges for the
withheld  amounts.  Although these  requirements have not to date had a material
adverse effect on Arch, these or similar requirements could in the future have a
material adverse effect on Arch.

   The  Communications  Act also limits  foreign  investment in and ownership of
entities  that are  licensed as radio common  carriers by the FCC.  Arch owns or
controls  several  radio  common  carriers and is  accordingly  subject to these
foreign investment  restrictions.  Because Arch is the parent company of certain
radio common carriers (but is not a radio common carrier  itself),  Arch may not
have  more   than  25%  of  its  stock   owned  or  voted  by  aliens  or  their
representatives,  a  foreign  government  or its  representatives  or a  foreign
corporation if the FCC finds that the public interest would be served by denying
such ownership.  In connection with the World Trade Organization  Agreement (the
"WTO  Agreement")--agreed  to by 69  countries--the  FCC adopted rules effective
February 9, 1998 that create a very strong  presumption in favor of permitting a
foreign interest in excess of 25% if the foreign  investor's home market country
signed the WTO  Agreement.  Arch's  subsidiaries  that are radio common  carrier
licensees are subject to more stringent requirements and may have only up to 20%
of their  stock  owned or voted by  aliens or their  representatives,  a foreign
government or their  representatives  or a foreign  corporation.  This ownership
restriction  is  not  subject  to  waiver.   Arch's   Restated   Certificate  of
Incorporation,  as amended  permits the  redemption of shares of Arch's  capital
stock from foreign  stockholders where necessary to protect FCC licenses held by
Arch  or  its  subsidiaries,  but  such  redemption  would  be  subject  to  the
availability  of capital to Arch and any  restrictions  contained in  applicable
debt instruments and under the Delaware General  Corporation Law ("DGCL") (which
currently  would not permit any such  redemptions).  The  failure to redeem such
shares  promptly  could  jeopardize  the  FCC  licenses  held  by  Arch  or  its
subsidiaries.

Turnover of Units in Service

   The results of operations of wireless  messaging service  providers,  such as
Arch, can be significantly affected by units in service cancellations. The sales
and marketing  costs  associated with attracting new subscribers are substantial
relative to the costs of providing  service to existing  customers.  Because the
paging business is characterized by high fixed costs, cancellations directly and
adversely affect earnings before interest,  taxes, depreciation and amortization
("EBITDA").  An increase in the unit in service  cancellation  rate could have a
material adverse effect on Arch.

Dependence on Third Parties

   Arch does not  manufacture  any of the pagers used in its paging  operations.
Arch buys pagers primarily from Motorola,  Inc. ("Motorola"),  NEC America, Inc.
and  Panasonic  Communications  & Systems  Company and therefore is dependent on
such  manufacturers to obtain  sufficient pager inventory for new subscriber and
replacement  needs.  In addition,  Arch  purchases  terminals  and  transmitters
primarily from Glenayre Electronics,  Inc. and Motorola and thus is dependent on
such  manufacturers  for  sufficient  terminals and  transmitters  to meet their
expansion  and  replacement  requirements.  To date,  Arch  has not  experienced
significant delays in obtaining pagers, terminals or transmitters, but there can
be no assurance that Arch will not experience such delays in the future.  Arch's
purchase agreement with Motorola expires on June 19, 1999,  although it contains
a provision  for  renewals for one-year  terms.  There can be no assurance  that
Arch's  agreement  with  Motorola  will be  renewed  or, if  renewed,  that such
agreement  will be on terms and  conditions  as favorable to Arch as those under
the current  agreements.  Although  Arch believes  that  sufficient  alternative
sources of pagers,  terminals and transmitters  exist, there can be no assurance
that Arch would not be materially adversely affected if it were unable to obtain
these  items from  current  supply  sources or on terms  comparable  to existing
terms. Finally,  Arch relies on third parties to provide satellite  transmission
for some aspects of their  paging  services.  To the extent there are  satellite
outages or if satellite  coverage is otherwise  impaired,  Arch may experience a
loss of service until such time as satellite  coverage is restored,  which could
have a material adverse effect on Arch.

Possible Acquisition Transactions

   Arch believes that the paging  industry will undergo  further  consolidation,
and Arch expects to participate in such continued industry  consolidation.  Arch
has  evaluated  and  expects  to  continue  to  evaluate  possible   acquisition
transactions  on an  ongoing  basis  and at any  given  time may be  engaged  in
discussions   with   respect  to  possible   acquisitions   or  other   business
combinations.  The process of integrating acquired paging businesses may involve


                                       12
<PAGE>

unforeseen  difficulties and may require a  disproportionate  amount of the time
and  attention  of Arch's  management  and  financial  and other  resources.  No
assurance can be given that suitable acquisition transactions can be identified,
financed and completed on acceptable terms, that Arch's future acquisitions will
be successful,  or that Arch will participate in any future consolidation of the
paging industry.

Dependence on Key Personnel

   The success of Arch will depend, to a significant  extent, upon the continued
services of a relatively small group of executive personnel.  Arch does not have
employment  agreements  with, or maintain life insurance on the lives of, any of
its current executive officers, although certain executive officers have entered
into  non-competition  agreements  and all executive  officers have entered into
executive  retention  agreements with Arch. The loss or unavailability of one or
more of its  executive  officers  or the  inability  to  attract  or retain  key
employees in the future could have a material adverse effect on Arch.

Impact of the Year 2000 Issue

   The Year 2000 problem is the result of computer  programs being written using
two  digits  (rather  than four) to define the  applicable  year.  Any of Arch's
programs  that have  time-sensitive  software may recognize a date using "00" as
the year 1900 rather than the year 2000.  This could result in a system  failure
or miscalculations  causing  disruptions of operations,  including,  among other
things, a temporary inability to process  transactions,  send invoices or engage
in similar normal business  activities.  As a result,  the computerized  systems
(including  both  information  and   non-information   technology  systems)  and
applications  used by Arch are  being  reviewed,  evaluated  and,  if and  where
necessary,  modified or replaced to ensure that all financial,  information  and
operating systems are Year 2000 compliant.

   Arch has created a  cross-functional  project group (the "Y2K Project Group")
to work on the  Year  2000  problem.  The Y2K  Project  Group is  finishing  its
analysis of external and  internal  areas likely to be affected by the Year 2000
problem. It has classified the identified areas of concern into either a mission
critical  or  non-mission   critical  status.   For  external  areas,  Arch  has
distributed  vendor  surveys to its primary and secondary  vendors.  The surveys
requested  information  about hardware and/or  software  supplied by information
technology  vendors as well as  non-information  technology  system vendors that
might use embedded  technologies  in their systems or products.  Information was
requested regarding the vendor's Year 2000 compliance planning,  timing, status,
testing  and  contingency  planning.  As part  of its  evaluation  of Year  2000
vulnerability  related  to its  pager and  paging  equipment  vendors,  Arch has
discussed with them their efforts to identify  potential issues  associated with
their  equipment  and/or  software  and has  concluded  that,  to the extent any
vulnerability exists, it has been addressed.  Internally,  Arch is completing an
inventory  audit of hardware and  software  testing for both its  corporate  and
divisional  operations.  These areas of operation include:  information systems,
finance,  operations,  inventory,  billing,  pager  activation  and  purchasing.
Additional testing is scheduled to conclude in the second quarter of 1999.

   Arch expects that it will incur costs to replace existing hardware,  software
and paging equipment, which will be capitalized and amortized in accordance with
Arch's existing  accounting  policies,  while maintenance or modification  costs
will be expensed as incurred.  Arch has upgraded  hardware to enable  compliance
testing  to  be   performed  on   dedicated   test   equipment  in  an  isolated
production-like environment.  Based on Arch's costs incurred to date, as well as
estimated  costs to be incurred over the next nine months,  Arch does not expect
that resolution of the Year 2000 problem will have a material  adverse effect on
its  results  of  operations  and  financial  condition.  Costs of the Year 2000
project are based on current estimates and actual results may vary significantly
from such estimates once detailed plans are developed and implemented.

   While it is Arch's  stated goal to be  compliant,  on an internal  basis,  by
September  30,  1999,  Arch  may face  the  possibility  that one or more of its
mission critical vendors,  such as its utility providers,  telephone carriers or
satellite carriers, may not be Year 2000 compliant. Because of the unique nature
of such vendors,  alternative  providers of these services may not be available.
Additionally, although Arch has initiated its test plan for its business-related
hardware and software applications,  there can be no assurance that such testing
will detect all  applications  that may be  affected  by the Year 2000  problem.
Lastly, Arch does not manufacture any of the pagers or paging-related  equipment
used by its customers or for its own paging operations.  Although Arch is in the
process  of  testing of such  equipment  it has relied to a large  extent on the
representations  and assessments of its vendors with respect to their readiness.


                                       13
<PAGE>

Arch can offer no assurances as to the accuracy of such vendors' representations
and assessments.

   Arch is designing and  implementing  contingency  plans  relating to the Year
2000 problem.  To this end, each  department is identifying the likely risks and
determining   commercially  reasonable  solutions.  The  Y2K  Project  Group  is
collecting and reviewing the  determinations on both a  department-by-department
and  company-wide  basis.  Arch  intends to complete  its Year 2000  contingency
planning during calendar year 1999.

No Dividends

   Arch has never  declared  or paid  cash  dividends,  nor does Arch  intend to
declare or pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable  future.  Certain covenants
in the Company's credit facility and in other Arch debt instruments, effectively
prohibit  the  declaration  or  payment  of  cash  dividends  by  Arch  for  the
foreseeable  future.  In  addition,  the terms of the Series C  Preferred  Stock
generally  prohibit the payment of cash  dividends on Arch's Common Stock unless
all accrued  and unpaid  dividends  on the Series C Preferred  Stock are paid in
full.

History of Losses

   Since its inception,  Arch has not reported any net income. Arch reported net
losses of $114.7 million,  $181.9 million and $206.1 million in the fiscal years
ended  December 31, 1996,  1997 and 1998,  respectively.  These  historical  net
losses have resulted principally from substantial  depreciation and amortization
expense, primarily related to intangible assets and pager depreciation, interest
expense and other costs of growth. Substantial and increased amounts of debt are
expected to be  outstanding  for the  foreseeable  future,  which will result in
significant  additional  interest  expense  which could have a material  adverse
effect  on  Arch.  Arch  expects  to  continue  to  report  net  losses  for the
foreseeable  future,  whether or not the MobileMedia Merger is consummated.  See
Arch's Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements included elsewhere herein.

Volatility of Trading Price

   The market price of Arch's Common Stock is subject to significant fluctuation
and has  recently  declined.  Between  January  1,  1998 and May 12,  1999,  the
reported  sale price of Arch's  Common Stock on the NASDAQ  National  Market has
ranged from a low of $.6875 per share (in October 1998) to a high of $6.1875 per
share (in June 1998).  The trading  price of Arch's  Common Stock  following the
MobileMedia  Merger will likely be affected by numerous  factors,  including the
risk factors set forth  herein,  as well as  prevailing  economic and  financial
trends and conditions in the public securities  markets.  During recent periods,
share prices of paging  companies  such as Arch have  exhibited a high degree of
volatility.  Shortfalls in revenues or EBITDA from the levels anticipated by the
public  markets could have an immediate and  significant  adverse  effect on the
trading price of Arch's Common Stock in any given period.  Such  shortfalls  may
result  from  events  that  are  beyond  Arch's  immediate  control  and  can be
unpredictable.  The  trading  price of Arch's  shares  may also be  affected  by
developments,  including  reported financial results and fluctuations in trading
prices of the shares of other  publicly  held  companies in the paging  industry
generally,  which may not have any direct  relationship  with Arch's business or
long-term prospects.

Indebtedness and High Degree of Leverage

   Arch is highly  leveraged.  At March 31, 1999, Arch and its  subsidiaries had
outstanding $1.0 billion of total debt,  including (i) $125.0 million  principal
amount of ACI's 9 1/2%  Senior  Notes due 2004  (the "ACI 9 1/2%  Notes"),  (ii)
$100.0 million principal amount of ACI's 14% Senior Notes due 2004 (the "ACI 14%
Notes"),  (iii) $127.7 million  accreted value of ACI's 12 3/4% Notes  (together
with the ACI 9 1/2% Notes and the ACI 14% Notes,  the "ACI Notes"),  (iv) $379.4
million  accreted  value of Arch's  10 7/8%  Senior Discount  Notes (the "Senior
Discount  Notes"),   (v)  $13.4  million  principal  amount  of  Arch's  6  3/4%
Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2003 (the "Arch Convertible Debentures")
and (vi)  $290.0  million  of  borrowings  under  the API  Credit  Facility.  In
addition,  on April 9, 1999, an affiliate of Arch issued $139.8 million accreted
value of 13 3/4% Senior  Discount  Notes due 2008 (the "13 3/4% Senior  Discount
Notes")  which  will be  assumed  by ACI upon  consummation  of the  MobileMedia
Merger.  Arch's high degree of leverage may have adverse  consequences for Arch,
including:   (i)  the  ability  of  Arch  to  obtain  additional  financing  for
acquisitions,  working capital,  capital expenditures or other purposes,  may be
impaired or  extinguished  or such  financing may not be available on acceptable
terms,  if at all;  (ii) a  substantial  portion of the Adjusted  EBITDA will be
required  to pay  interest  expense,  which will  reduce the funds  which  would


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<PAGE>

otherwise be available for operations and future business  opportunities;  (iii)
the API Credit Facility and the indentures (the "Arch  Indentures")  under which
the ACI Notes are  outstanding  (and the 13 3/4% Senior  Discount  Notes will be
outstanding  after their  assumption by ACI) contain  financial and restrictive
covenants,  the  failure to comply  with which may result in an event of default
which,  if not cured or waived,  could have a material  adverse  effect on Arch;
(iv) Arch may be more highly  leveraged than its competitors  which may place it
at a competitive  disadvantage;  (v) Arch's high degree of leverage will make it
more vulnerable to a downturn in its business or the economy generally; and (vi)
Arch's  high degree of leverage  may impair its  ability to  participate  in the
future  consolidation  of the  paging  industry.  Arch has  implemented  various
initiatives to reduce capital costs while sustaining  acceptable  levels of unit
and revenue  growth.  As a result,  Arch's  rate of internal  growth in units in
service has slowed and is expected to remain below the rates of internal  growth
previously achieved by Arch, but Arch has not yet reduced its financial leverage
significantly.  There can be no  assurance  that Arch will be able to reduce its
financial  leverage  significantly  or that Arch  will  achieve  an  appropriate
balance  between growth which it considers  acceptable and future  reductions in
financial  leverage.  If Arch is not able to achieve continued growth in EBITDA,
it may be precluded  from  incurring  additional  indebtedness  due to cash flow
coverage  requirements under existing debt instruments.  EBITDA is not a measure
defined in GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for
measures of performance  prepared in accordance  with GAAP.  Adjusted EBITDA may
not  necessarily  be  comparable  to  similarly  titled  data  of  other  paging
companies.  See  Arch's  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  and Notes  thereto
included elsewhere herein.

MobileMedia Merger Cash Requirements

   To fund the estimated  cash payments  required by the  MobileMedia  Merger of
approximately  $312.0 million (consisting of $262.0 million to fund a portion of
the cash payments to MobileMedia's  secured  creditors and $50.0 million to fund
estimated  transaction and  administrative  expenses) API, The Bank of New York,
Toronto Dominion  (Texas),  Inc.,  Royal Bank of Canada,  Barclays Bank, PLC and
Conseco Capital  Management,  Inc. have executed a commitment  letter for a $181
million increase to API's existing $400 million credit facility. In addition, on
April 9, 1999, an affiliate of Arch issued $139.8 million  accreted value of the
13 3/4% Senior Discount Notes which will be assumed by ACI upon  consummation of
the  MobileMedia  Merger  and the  proceeds  used to fund a portion  of the cash
payments  in  connection  with the  MobileMedia  Merger.  If Arch is not able to
arrange financing to make the cash payments  required by the MobileMedia  Merger
and therefore could not consummate the MobileMedia Merger, and Arch's failure to
perform its obligations under the MobileMedia  Merger Agreement is not otherwise
excused, Arch will be liable to pay a $32.5 million breakup fee to MobileMedia.

API Credit Facility and Indenture Restrictions

   The API Credit  Facility  and the Arch  Indentures  impose  (or will  impose)
certain  operating and financial  restrictions  on Arch. The API Credit Facility
requires API and, in certain cases, ACI, to maintain specified financial ratios,
among other obligations,  including a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum fixed
charge coverage ratio, each as defined in the API Credit Facility.  In addition,
the API Credit Facility limits or restricts,  among other things,  API's ability
to: (i) declare  dividends or redeem or repurchase  capital stock;  (ii) prepay,
redeem  or  purchase  debt;  (iii)  incur  liens and  engage  in  sale/leaseback
transactions;  (iv) make  loans and  investments;  (v)  incur  indebtedness  and
contingent obligations; (vi) amend or otherwise alter debt instruments and other
material agreements; (vii) engage in mergers,  consolidations,  acquisitions and
asset sales;  (viii) engage in transactions with affiliates;  and (ix) alter its
lines of business or accounting methods. In addition, the Arch Indentures limit,
among other things:  (i) the incurrence of additional  indebtedness  by Arch and
its Restricted  Subsidiaries (as defined therein); (ii) the payment of dividends
and other  restricted  payments by Arch and its Restricted  Subsidiaries;  (iii)
asset sales; (iv) transactions with affiliates; (v) the incurrence of liens; and
(vi) mergers and  consolidations.  Arch's  ability to comply with such covenants
may be affected by events beyond its control,  including prevailing economic and
financial  conditions.  A breach  of any of these  covenants  could  result in a
default  under the API  Credit  Facility  and/or the Arch  Indentures.  Upon the
occurrence  of an event of  default  under the API Credit  Facility  or the Arch
Indentures,  the  creditors  could  elect to declare  all  amounts  outstanding,
together with accrued and unpaid interest, to be immediately due and payable. If
Arch were unable to repay any such amounts,  the creditors could proceed against
the collateral  securing certain of such indebtedness.  If the lenders under the
API Credit Facility accelerate the payment of such indebtedness, there can be no


                                       15
<PAGE>

assurance  that the  assets of Arch  would be  sufficient  to repay in full such
indebtedness  and the other  indebtedness of Arch,  including the ACI Notes and,
when assumed,  the 13 3/4% Senior Discount  Notes. In addition,  because the API
Credit  Facility  and the Arch  Indentures  limit (or will limit) the ability of
Arch to engage in certain transactions except under certain circumstances,  Arch
may be prohibited  from entering into  transactions  that could be beneficial to
Arch.

Possible Fluctuations in Revenues and Operating Results

   Arch believes that future  fluctuations in its revenues and operating results
are possible as the result of many factors,  including competition,  turnover of
units in service,  new service  developments and  technological  change.  Arch's
current and planned debt repayment  levels are, to a large extent,  fixed in the
short term, and are based in part on its expectations as to future revenues, and
Arch may be unable to adjust  spending in a timely manner to compensate  for any
revenue  shortfall.  Due to the foregoing or other factors,  it is possible that
due to future fluctuations, Arch's revenue or operating results may not meet the
expectations  of  securities  analysts or  investors,  which may have a material
adverse effect on the price of Arch's Common Stock.

Divisional Reorganization

   In June 1998,  the Arch Board approved the  Divisional  Reorganization.  Once
fully implemented, the Divisional Reorganization is expected to result in annual
cost savings of approximately $15.0 million.  Arch expects to reinvest a portion
of these cost savings to expand its sales activities.  There can be no assurance
that the expected  cost savings will be achieved or that the  reorganization  of
Arch's business will be accomplished  smoothly,  expeditiously  or successfully.
The  difficulties  of  such  reorganization  may be  increased  by the  need  to
integrate  MobileMedia's  operations  in multiple  locations  and to combine two
corporate  cultures.  The inability to successfully  integrate the operations of
MobileMedia would have a material adverse effect on Arch.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

   Arch's Restated  Certificate of Incorporation,  as amended and Arch's By-laws
include  provisions for a classified Board of Directors,  the issuance of "blank
check"  preferred  stock  (the  terms  of which  may be fixed by the Arch  Board
without further  stockholder  approval),  a prohibition on stockholder action by
written  consent  in lieu  of a  meeting  and  certain  procedural  requirements
governing  stockholder  meetings.  Arch also has a stockholders  rights plan. In
addition,  Section 203 of the DGCL will, with certain exceptions,  prohibit Arch
from engaging in any business combination with any "interested  stockholder" (as
defined  therein)  for  a  three-year   period  following  the  date  that  such
stockholder  becomes an interested  stockholder.  Such  provisions  may have the
effect of delaying,  making more  difficult or preventing a change in control or
acquisition of Arch.


Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   The  majority of the  Company's  long-term  debt is subject to fixed rates of
interest or interest rate protection. In the event that the interest rate on the
Company's non-fixed rate debt fluctuates by 10% in either direction, the Company
believes  the  impact on its  results of  operations  would be  immaterial.  The
Company transacts  infrequently in foreign currency and therefore is not exposed
to significant foreign currency market risk.


                           PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

   The Company is involved in various  lawsuits and claims arising in the normal
course of business.  The Company  believes that none of such matters will have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business or financial condition.

Item 2. Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds

   None.

Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities

   None.


                                       16
<PAGE>

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   At the Company's Special Meeting of Stockholders held on January 26, 1999 the
following proposals were adopted by the vote specified below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                          Broker
Proposal                                                               For          Against     Abstain   Nonvotes
- --------                                                               ---          -------     -------   --------
<S>                                                                    <C>            <C>        <C>            
1. To  approve the  issuance of  shares  of Arch's  Common  Stock,     15,649,868     638,332    38,767       --
   shares of Arch Class B Common  Stock and rights and warrants to
   acquire  shares  of  Arch  Common  Stock  pursuant  to  (x)  an
   Agreement  and Plan of Merger dated August 18, 1998, as amended
   among  Arch,  a  subsidiary  of Arch,  MobileMedia  Corporation
   ("Parent") and  MobileMedia  Communications,  Inc.  ("MMC" and,
   together with its subsidiaries,  "MobileMedia"),  (y) a related
   Third  Amended  Joint  Plan of  Reorganization  of  Parent  and
   MobileMedia  dated  as of  December 1,  1998   and (z)  certain
   standby  commitment  letters  dated as of August 18,  1998,  as
   amended,  among Arch,  MMC and certain  unsecured  creditors of
   Parent and MobileMedia

2. To  approve  an  amendment  to  the  Restated   Certificate  of     15,484,725     765,859    42,447   33,936
   Incorporation of Arch increasing  (i) the  number of authorized  
   shares of Arch  Common  Stock  from 75,000,000  to  365,000,000
   shares, 65,000,000 shares  of which will be designated  Class B
   Common Stock and (ii) the number of authorized shares of Arch's
   Series B Junior  Participating Preferred  Stock from 200,000 to
   300,000 shares

3. To  approve  an  amendment  to  the  Restated   Certificate  of     15,327,701     945,601    53,665       --
   Incorporation of Arch to effect a reverse stock split

4. To  approve an  amendment to  Arch's 1997 Stock  Option Plan to     11,905,818   4,325,081    62,132   33,936
   increase  the  number  of shares of Arch Common  Stock issuable
   under such plan from 1,500,000 to 6,000,000

5. To approve Arch's 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan                 15,180,761     939,414   172,856   33,936
</TABLE>


Item 5. Other Information

   Stockholder Proposals for 2000 Annual Meeting

   As set forth in the Company's  Proxy Statement for its 1999 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders,  stockholder  proposals submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the
Exchange Act for inclusion in the Company's  proxy materials for its 2000 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders  must be received by the Secretary of the Company at the
principal offices of the Company no later than December 17, 1999.

                                       17
<PAGE>

   In addition,  the Company's By-laws require that the Company be given advance
notice  of  stockholder  nominations  for  election  to the  Company's  Board of
Directors and of other matters which  stockholders wish to present for action at
an annual meeting of stockholders  (other than matters included in the Company's
proxy statement in accordance with Rule 14a-8). The required notice must be made
in  writing  and  delivered  or mailed to the  Secretary  of the  Company at the
principal  offices of the  Company,  and received not less than 80 days prior to
the 2000 Annual Meeting; provided, however, that if less than 90 days' notice or
prior  public  disclosure  of the  date  of the  meeting  is  given  or  made to
stockholders,  such  nomination  shall  have  been  mailed or  delivered  to the
Secretary  not later than the close of  business on the 10th day  following  the
date on which the notice of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was
made,  whichever occurs first. The 2000 Annual Meeting is currently  expected to
be held on May 16, 2000.  Assuming  that this date does not change,  in order to
comply with the time  periods set forth in the  Company's  By-Laws,  appropriate
notice would need to be provided no later than February 25, 2000.

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

         (a) The exhibits listed on the accompanying index to exhibits are filed
             as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

         (b) The  following  reports on Form 8-K was filed for the  quarter  for
             which this report is filed:

               Current  Report on Form 8-K dated  March 2, 1999  (reporting  the
            status of the  pending  MobileMedia  Acquisition)  filed on March 3,
            1999.

               Current  Report on Form 8-K dated April 28, 1999  (reporting  the
            distribution  of supplements to Arch's  prospectus  dated January 5,
            1999 and proxy  statement/prospectus  dated December 18, 1998) filed
            on April 29, 1999.





                                       18
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES



   Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  the
Registrant  has duly caused this report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31,  1999,  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned  thereunto  duly
authorized.



                                            ARCH COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.





Dated:  May 13, 1999                        By: /s/ J. Roy Pottle
                                               -------------------------------
                                               J. Roy Pottle
                                               Executive Vice President and
                                               Chief Financial Officer



                                       19
<PAGE>


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS



 Exhibit            Description
 -------            -----------
  27.1*             Financial Data Schedule.


   * Filed herewith

<TABLE> <S> <C>
                                             
<ARTICLE>                                    5
<CIK>                                        0000915390
<NAME>                                       Arch Communications Group, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                 1,000
<CURRENCY>                                   USD
                                                   
<S>                                               <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                     3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      Dec-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                         Jan-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                           Mar-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                                  1
<CASH>                                                      12,102
<SECURITIES>                                                     0
<RECEIVABLES>                                               30,757
<ALLOWANCES>                                                     0
<INVENTORY>                                                  9,803
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            62,010
<PP&E>                                                     439,563
<DEPRECIATION>                                             220,955
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                             883,432
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                       82,734
<BONDS>                                                  1,036,441
                                            0
                                                      3
<COMMON>                                                       212
<OTHER-SE>                                                (262,802)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                               883,432
<SALES>                                                     10,359
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                           100,888
<CGS>                                                        6,926
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                6,926
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                            20,293
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                          26,477
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                            (45,763)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                     0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                        (45,763)
<DISCONTINUED>                                                   0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                  0
<CHANGES>                                                   (3,361)
<NET-INCOME>                                               (49,124)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                (2.34)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                (2.34)
        
 

</TABLE>


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