<PAGE> 1
FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(b)(3)
REGISTRATION NO. 333-83307
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 2
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED OCTOBER 7, 1999)
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
GLOBAL TELESYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
[GLOBAL TELESYSTEMS
GROUP, INC. LOGO] COMMON STOCK
($.10 PAR VALUE)
</TABLE>
---------------------
This supplement amends and supplements certain information contained in the
accompanying prospectus, dated October 7, 1999, relating to the potential sale
from time to time of up to 18,161,160 shares of our common stock. This
supplement is not complete without, and may not be delivered or utilized except
in connection with, the prospectus, including any amendment or supplements to
the prospectus. The matters addressed in this supplement supersede any contrary
statements contained in the prospectus.
The table in the accompanying prospectus under the caption "Selling
Stockholders" shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
The table below has been prepared on the basis of information furnished to
us by or on behalf of the selling stockholders.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SHARES
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER BEING OFFERED
------------------------ ----------------
<S> <C>
Steven F. Andrews..................... 774,573
Christophe Beaune..................... 26,835
Gerard Caccappolo..................... 1,440,475
Laurent Desportes..................... 271,806
Stephane Goerlinger................... 16,038
Pierre Goubet......................... 9,736
John A. Green......................... 408,389
Gilles Jannez......................... 19,327
In Touch Telecom Europe B.V........... 313,868
Jean-Pierre Le Rudulier............... 17,314
Jan Locber............................ 4,122,700
Peter J. Magnus....................... 448,468
Antonin Martenne-Duplan............... 54,148
Florent Martenne-Duplan............... 218,352
Magali Martenne-Duplan................ 54,148
Sebastien Martenne-Duplan............. 54,148
Alain Nicolazzi....................... 345,704
Camille Nicolazzi..................... 11,382
Marie Nicolazzi....................... 11,382
Remi Nicolazzi........................ 11,382
Eric Node-Langlois.................... 32,091
Bruce C. Rudy......................... 388,206
Societe Civile Financiere des
Marais.............................. 266,952
Societe Civile Hesperia............... 261,676
Societe Civile Nicom
Investissements..................... 1,862,550
Societe Civile Spi & Ailes............ 11,646
John A. Shearing...................... 462,750
H. Brian Thompson..................... 736,056
Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische
Spoorwegen/Societe Nationale des
Chemins de Fer Belge................ 2,150,380
Jan G. deWispelaere................... 380,177
Phillippe Ait Yahia................... 211,324
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SHARES
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER BEING OFFERED
------------------------ ----------------
<S> <C>
Samuel Ait Yahia...................... 11,644
Laurent Barthelemy.................... 642
Stephane Beucher...................... 1,738
Martine Bourgade...................... 686
Bruno Chabert......................... 1,187
Francois Chevallier................... 1,408
Franck Chon........................... 2,515
Stephane Cohen........................ 1,325
Frederic Coudray...................... 2,908
Marc Duhamel.......................... 1,392
Rudy Dujardin......................... 54
Anne-Francoise Fauve.................. 694
Nelly Ferreira........................ 244
Laurent Gaulard....................... 295
Laurent Grill......................... 448
Elisa Isidoro......................... 2,516
Gilles Kelaidites..................... 6,930
Pascal Larue.......................... 1,019
Ludovic Leve.......................... 1,908
Pierre Mastalski...................... 1,807
Caroline Mezan de Malartic............ 2,439
Valerie Michel........................ 2,516
Alain Ohanian......................... 790
Francis Oliva......................... 8,130
Charlotte Polivka..................... 1,315
Emmanuel Poulain...................... 2,516
Bruno Scrive.......................... 1,187
Thierry Senne......................... 186
Eric Seurat........................... 1,187
Caroline Valent....................... 1,908
Eric Vernier.......................... 201
Frederic Walkowiak.................... 393
</TABLE>
---------------------
A total of 1,175,609 shares of our common stock was sold to Donaldson,
Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, as principal, by Messrs. Andrews,
Caccappolo, deWispelaere, Green, Loeber, Magnus, Rudy and Shearing. No
commission or other compensation was paid to Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation in connection with such sales. Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette Securities Corporation may offer and sell from time to time such
1,175,609 shares of our common stock at various prices.
---------------------
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS
PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
---------------------
The date of this prospectus supplement is November 16, 1999.
<PAGE> 2
PROSPECTUS
DATED OCTOBER 7, 1999
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
18,161,160 SHARES
[GLOBAL TELESYSTEMS
GROUP, INC. LOGO] GLOBAL TELESYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
COMMON STOCK
</TABLE>
---------------------
The selling stockholders listed under "Selling Stockholders" in this
prospectus intend to offer and sell from time to time, up to 18,161,160 shares
of Global TeleSystems Group, Inc.'s common stock. Our shares currently trade on
the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "GTSG."
INVESTING IN OUR COMMON STOCK INVOLVES RISKS WHICH ARE DESCRIBED IN THE
"RISK FACTORS" SECTION BEGINNING ON PAGE 8 OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
---------------------
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS
PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
---------------------
The date of this prospectus is October 7, 1999.
<PAGE> 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C>
Summary..................................................... 3
Risk Factors................................................ 8
Forward-Looking Statements.................................. 22
Use of Proceeds............................................. 22
Dividend Policy............................................. 22
Industry Overview........................................... 23
Business.................................................... 25
Selling Stockholders........................................ 62
Description of Certain Indebtedness......................... 64
Description of Capital Stock................................ 68
Summary of United States Federal Tax Consequences to
Non-United States Stockholders............................ 75
Plan of Distribution........................................ 78
Legal Matters............................................... 78
Where You Can Find More Information......................... 79
Incorporation of Information We File With the SEC........... 79
Experts..................................................... 80
</TABLE>
2
<PAGE> 4
SUMMARY
We are a leading independent provider of telecommunications services to
businesses, other high usage customers and telecommunications carriers in
Europe. We also provide telecommunications services in Russia and the
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In October 1998 we realigned our
operations into five lines of business: GTS Carrier Services, GTS Business
Services, GTS Access Services, GTS Business Services - CIS and GTS Mobile
Services - CIS. In March 1999, we added a sixth line of business, GTS Wholesale
Services. Information with respect to our shares of common stock contained in
this prospectus has been adjusted to account for our two-for-one stock split
effected in the form of a stock dividend on July 21, 1999. See "-- Recent
Developments -- Two-for-One Stock Split."
GTS CARRIER SERVICES
GTS Carrier Services has three components: Hermes Europe Railtel B.V.,
Transoceanic Services and IP Services. Through Hermes Railtel, we operate a
centrally managed fiber optic network that is designed to carry high volumes of
telecommunications traffic across national borders in Europe and to the United
States. We sell this capacity to other telecommunications carriers and, through
our subsidiary, Ebone A/S, we connect Internet service providers in Europe to
the Internet. Through Transoceanic Services, we intend to expand our ability to
provide these services between the United States and Europe by utilizing the
resources of FLAG Atlantic Limited, a joint venture in formation in which we
have a 50% equity interest. This joint venture will build and operate a new
transatlantic dual cable system, called FLAG Atlantic-1, designed to carry
voice, data and video traffic at much faster speeds than currently available on
existing transatlantic links. Through IP Services, we plan to offer Internet
services to businesses, other high usage customers and telecommunications
carriers. These services will range from providing access to and transporting
data on the Internet to other services, such as helping other companies to set
up and maintain their web sites. We intend to utilize the three components of
our Carrier Services line of business to become a leading provider of seamless
transatlantic city-to-city managed services to businesses and telecommunications
providers. For a comprehensive discussion on our Carrier Services line of
business, see "Business -- GTS Carrier Services."
GTS BUSINESS SERVICES
Through our Business Services line of business, we focus on providing high
quality, competitively priced telecommunications services to businesses and
other high usage customers. We currently conduct our Business Services line of
business through our three recently acquired subsidiaries, Esprit Telecom Group
plc, NetSource Europe ASA and Omnicom. We provide a range of telecommunications
services organized in the following two segments:
- long distance voice and fax services for corporate customers to
worldwide destinations; and
- network management services and services providing access to and
termination of traffic on our network for telecommunications service
providers who do not own their own telecommunications facilities, such
as calling card companies.
At December 31, 1998, we had over 35,000 business customers and
approximately 44,000 small office and home office and residential customers in
11 countries throughout Europe. We intend to increase our Business Services
product offering to include services such as toll free services and calling
cards. For a discussion of our Business Services line of business, see
"Business -- GTS Business Services."
GTS WHOLESALE SERVICES
In March 1999, we introduced Wholesale Services as our sixth line of
business. Wholesale Services provides international traffic termination services
to other telecommunications service providers, including public
telecommunications operators, global alliances and regional telephone companies.
Termination services involve the termination of traffic through our own network
or through other providers. Through our Wholesale Services line of business, we
expect to integrate the wholesale services activities of Esprit
3
<PAGE> 5
Telecom with the international services and switching operations of our
GTS-Monaco Access operations. At a later date, Wholesale Services will also
incorporate NetSource's wholesale activities. For a discussion of our Wholesale
Services line of business, see "Business -- GTS Wholesale Services."
GTS ACCESS SERVICES
Through our Access Services line of business, we plan to offer local access
to telecommunications networks for voice and data traffic to businesses, other
high usage customers and telecommunications carriers in 14 major Western and
Central European cities by 2001. Our existing operations in Hungary and the
Czech Republic currently provide alternative local access and other services to
businesses and governmental customers in those markets. We plan to develop our
infrastructure through one or more of the following:
- constructing, purchasing or leasing fiber optic cable networks;
- obtaining licenses for telecommunications networks utilizing microwave
transmissions; or
- forming partnerships with or acquiring existing network operators.
We intend to reduce local access costs that we now incur for our Carrier
Services and Business Services customers by providing such local access
ourselves instead of purchasing it from incumbent public telecommunications
operators or other local access providers.
GOLDEN TELECOM
Through our majority-owned subsidiary, Golden Telecom, Inc., we offer
telecommunications services to business customers and telecommunication
operators in Russia and other countries in the Commonwealth of Independent
States. These services include:
- international long distance, local telephone services and access to
domestic long distance carriers in Moscow, Kiev and St. Petersburg;
- domestic long distance services in Russia and other countries of the
CIS; and
- data services, including high-speed data transmission, electronic mail
and Internet access services.
Through Golden Telecom, we also offer cellular telephone services to
business customers in 14 regions in Russia and in Kiev, Ukraine. In September
1999, we determined to cease to provide further financial support to certain of
the ventures in less-developed urban areas. We and Golden Telecom will therefore
abandon these ventures, which are not material to our financial condition or
results of operations, and take a charge to earnings of $16-20 million in the
third quarter of 1999. Golden Telecom will also assume approximately $10-13
million in debt obligations of these ventures. Golden Telecom intends to
continue to support the ventures in the more developed urban areas. See
"-- Recent Developments -- Public Offering of Golden Telecom, Inc."
4
<PAGE> 6
BUSINESS STRATEGY
In order to achieve our objective of becoming Europe's premier independent
provider of telecommunications services to businesses, other high usage
customers and telecommunications carriers, we intend to implement the following
key strategies:
- Continue construction of the Hermes Railtel network to expand its
geographic reach;
- Develop local access infrastructure in 12 major metropolitan markets
throughout Europe by 2001;
- Expand our Internet capabilities and product offerings;
- Reinforce and extend market penetration of Hermes Railtel's network by
enhancing the scope, capacity, reliability and efficiency of our
infrastructure, and by providing our own local access;
- Increase high usage retail customer base and route traffic over our own
networks; and
- Integrate the marketing and service offerings of each of our six lines of
business.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
PUBLIC OFFERING OF GOLDEN TELECOM, INC.
In June 1999, we formed a wholly owned subsidiary, Golden Telecom, Inc., to
which we subsequently contributed all of our interests in all of our business
units through which we conducted our operations in Russia and other countries of
the CIS. In consideration of such contribution, we received 10,600,000 shares of
Golden Telecom's common stock. On October 5, 1999, Golden Telecom sold 4,650,000
shares of its common stock to the public at a price of $12.00 per share in an
initial public underwritten offering. The underwriters may also purchase an
additional 697,500 shares from Golden Telecom during the thirty-day period
following September 30, 1999 pursuant to over-allotment options. In connection
with that offering, Golden Telecom also placed a total of an additional
12,200,125 shares of its common stock with certain strategic investors and us.
Golden Telecom realized aggregate net proceeds (before offering expenses) of
approximately $128.4 million from the public offering and the placement with the
strategic investors and us. Following the offering, we own approximately 66.0%
of Golden Telecom's outstanding common stock, or 64.1% if the underwriters
exercise their over-allotment options in full.
ACQUISITION OF MINORITY INTEREST IN HERMES RAILTEL
During the second quarter of 1999, we acquired from Nationale Mantschappij
der Belgische Spoorwegen/Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer Belge, the Belgian
national railway, its approximate 7% ownership interest in Hermes Railtel for
2,150,380 shares of our common stock. These shares of our common stock are
included in the shares that may be sold from time to time under this
registration statement, of which this prospectus is a part. As a result of this
transaction we increased our ownership interest in Hermes Railtel to
approximately 95%.
TWO-FOR-ONE STOCK SPLIT
During the second quarter of 1999, our board of directors approved a
two-for-one stock split, in the form of a stock dividend. The new shares will be
issued on July 21, 1999 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on
July 1, 1999. The stock split follows the approval by our stockholders of an
increase in authorized common shares from 135 million to 270 million.
CONCURRENT SECONDARY STOCK AND DEPOSITARY SHARE OFFERINGS
On April 19, 1999, the SEC declared effective two shelf registration
statements with respect to the resale of an aggregate of approximately 48.2
million shares of our common stock owned by some of our affiliates and other
stockholders. Shortly thereafter, Apax Funds Nominees Limited and Warburg,
Pincus
5
<PAGE> 7
Ventures L.P., which together owned approximately 7.7% of our common stock as of
December 31, 1998, sold their shares in an underwritten public offering pursuant
to the shelf registration statements.
Concurrently with such secondary offering, we offered, pursuant to
exemptions from registration under the Securities Act, ten million depositary
shares (including 1.3 million depositary shares sold pursuant to exercise by the
underwriters of their over-allotment option), each representing 1/100 of a share
of 7 1/4% cumulative convertible preferred stock. Each depositary share has a
liquidation preference of $50 per share. Holders of the depositary shares are
entitled to quarterly cash payments of $.90625 per share commencing on June 15,
1999. We have registered with the SEC the depositary shares, the shares of
preferred stock, the shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the
preferred stock and the shares of common stock to be paid as dividends on the
stock. The SEC declared that registration statement effective in June 1999. We
realized net proceeds from the offering of depositary shares, after underwriting
discounts and commissions, of $485 million and intend to use such proceeds for
general corporate purposes, including business development.
OMNICOM ACQUISITION
On April 26, 1999, we purchased 52% of the shares of Omnicom, a French
corporation, for euro 194.6 million (approximately $210 million) of which we
paid 50% in cash (approximately $103 million) and 50% in shares of our common
stock (consisting of 3,700,994 shares). These shares are included in the shares
that may be sold from time to time under the registration statement of which
this prospectus is a part. Certain of the Omnicom majority shareholders have
agreed:
- to place a total of approximately 20% of the GTS shares acquired in
escrow until the later of June 30, 2000 and thirty days after the filing
of our Form 10-K report for year end December 31, 1999; and
- not to transfer a total of approximately 30% of the GTS shares acquired
until six months after the date of acquisition.
As required by French law, we filed with the Conseil des Marches Financiers
and subsequently offered to purchase the remaining outstanding shares and the
convertible bonds of Omnicom. As of the date of this prospectus, we currently
own approximately 99% of the shares of Omnicom.
Omnicom is one of France's first telecommunications providers to
successfully challenge France Telecom's network. Omnicom is the second operator
to connect with France Telecom and also holds a national network operator's
license for France. Excluding France Telecom, Omnicom is the leading provider of
telecommunications services for small and medium-sized businesses in France.
Omnicom markets its services through both a direct sales force and sales agents
throughout France. Omnicom's other service offerings include the sale and
distribution of pre-paid cards to outlets in France and the offering of
telecommunications services to residential customers.
We believe that Omnicom's business is complementary with ours and that both
companies will enjoy benefits from this combination.
OUR NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER; MANAGEMENT
In March 1999, our board of directors elected H. Brian Thompson as chairman
and chief executive officer. Mr. Thompson served as chairman and chief executive
officer of LCI International, Inc. from 1991 until June 1998, when Qwest
Communications International, Inc. acquired LCI. During Mr. Thompson's tenure at
LCI, that company grew in annual revenues from $220 million to $1.6 billion in
1997. LCI provided long-distance voice and data services in the United States
and to more than 230 international locations. In addition, our board elected
Robert J. Amman, a board member, president of our company.
In September 1999, Robert A. Schriesheim replaced William Seippel as our
Chief Financial Officer, and Jeffrey Von Deylen was appointed as our Senior Vice
President, Finance.
6
<PAGE> 8
ESPRIT TELECOM ACQUISITION
On February 2, 1999, we commenced an offer to purchase all of the issued
share capital of Esprit Telecom. On March 4, 1999, after all of the conditions
to our offer were satisfied, we accepted ordinary shares and American depositary
shares representing approximately 97.9% of the issued share capital of Esprit
Telecom. In exchange, we issued approximately 31.4 million shares of our common
stock.
We are in the process of developing our business plan and strategy for
Esprit Telecom, including the manner in which Esprit Telecom will be integrated
into our existing lines of business and corporate structure. We have accounted
for this transaction as a pooling of interests. On April 16, 1999, we announced
30-day postmerger combined financial results. The combined company generated
revenues of $59 million, net loss of $26 million and earnings per share of
$(0.32) for the 30-day postmerger period beginning March 5, 1999. In addition,
we incurred charges in the first quarter of 1999 in connection with the Esprit
Telecom combination. We recognized a charge of approximately $46 million in
transaction costs, including investment banking, advising, debt restructuring,
legal, accounting, printing and employee-related expenses. We also incurred
additional charges of $18 million to eliminate or reduce redundancies of the GTS
and Esprit Telecom networks, including, fiber lease cancellation, write-off of
excess equipment and redeployment of switches. For a discussion of risks
associated with the integration of this acquisition, see "Risk
Factors -- Failure to successfully integrate our recent acquisitions could
disrupt the operations of our businesses and prevent us from realizing intended
benefits."
HERMES DEBT OFFERING
On January 4, 1999, Hermes Railtel completed a private placement of $200
million principal amount of 10 3/8% senior notes due 2009 and E85 million
principal amount of 10 3/8% senior notes due 2006. Hermes Railtel filed an S-4
registration statement with the SEC to exchange registered senior notes with the
same terms and conditions as its 10 3/8% senior notes, for the 10 3/8% senior
notes. This exchange was completed on March 29, 1999. Hermes Railtel will use
the proceeds of this offering to finance the cost of building the remainder of
the network and increasing transatlantic capacity and enhancing the speed and
capacity of the network.
OUR COMPANY INFORMATION
We maintain our principal offices at 4121 Wilson Boulevard, 8th floor,
Arlington, McLean, VA 22203 (telephone (703) 236-3100).
7
<PAGE> 9
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our common stock will provide you with an equity ownership
interest in GTS. As a shareholder, you may be subject to risks inherent in our
business. The value of your investment may increase or decline and could result
in a loss. You should carefully consider the following factors relating to us as
well as other information contained in this prospectus before deciding to invest
in shares of our common stock.
WE MAY BE UNABLE TO RAISE THE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT OUR
BUSINESS STRATEGY
We will require additional capital to fund future acquisitions, capital
expenditures and ongoing operations. If we fail to generate sufficient funds in
the future from a combination of operating cash flow and additional debt or
equity financings, we may have to delay or abandon executing significant
elements of our business plan including:
- our plans to offer local access services in twelve major Western
European cities by 2001;
- our plans to further extend our network in Europe and in the CIS;
- our participation in the FLAG Atlantic Limited joint venture, which
plans to operate and build a new transatlantic cable; and
- capital expenditures and other costs necessary to develop and offer
Internet services.
Failure to implement elements of our business plan could have a material adverse
effect on our operations and on the market price of our common stock.
OUR SUBSTANTIAL DEBT OBLIGATIONS MAY HINDER OUR GROWTH AND PUT US AT A
COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE
We have incurred substantial debt (including the assumed debt of Esprit
Telecom) and may incur substantial additional debt to implement our business
plans.
As a result of our current high level of debt, we:
- will need significant cash to service our debt, which will reduce funds
available for operations, future business opportunities and investments
in new or developing technologies and make us more vulnerable to adverse
economic conditions;
- may not be able to refinance our existing debt or raise additional
financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, debt
service requirements, acquisitions or other general corporate
requirements;
- may be less flexible in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our
business and in the telecommunications industry that affect how we
implement our financing, construction or operating plans; and
- will have more debt than some of our competitors, which may place us at
a competitive disadvantage with respect to such competitors.
If we fail to make the required payments or to comply with our debt
covenants we will default on our debt. A default would permit our debtholders to
accelerate the maturity of the debt, which in turn would cause defaults under
our other indebtedness.
8
<PAGE> 10
COVENANTS IN OUR DEBT AGREEMENTS RESTRICT OUR ABILITY TO BORROW AND INVEST,
WHICH COULD IMPAIR OUR ABILITY TO EXPAND OR FINANCE OUR FUTURE OPERATIONS
The covenants in our currently outstanding debt may materially and
adversely affect our ability to finance our future operations or capital needs
or to engage in other business activities. Among other things, these covenants
limit our ability to:
- incur additional indebtedness;
- pay dividends, make distributions on our common stock or make certain
other restricted payments;
- limit our ability to use our assets as collateral for loans;
- dispose of our assets; or
- enter into transactions with affiliates.
FAILURE TO SUCCESSFULLY INTEGRATE OUR RECENT ACQUISITIONS COULD DISRUPT THE
OPERATIONS OF OUR BUSINESSES AND PREVENT US FROM REALIZING INTENDED BENEFITS
If we are unable to integrate our newly acquired companies, we may fail to
realize the expected cost savings, increases in revenue and other projected
benefits from such integration, and may suffer material adverse short and
long-term effects on our operating results and financial condition. The process
of integrating NetSource, Esprit Telecom and Omnicom may disrupt our respective
businesses and may cause an interruption of, or a loss of momentum in, our
respective businesses as a result of a number of obstacles such as:
- loss of key employees or customers;
- possible inconsistencies in standards, controls, procedures and policies
among the companies being combined and the need to implement common
company-wide financial, accounting, information, billing and other
systems;
- failure to maintain the quality of customer service that such companies
have historically provided;
- the need to coordinate geographically diverse organizations;
- incompatible equipment;
- changes in management may impair relationship with employees and
customers;
- limitations under existing Esprit Telecom debt covenants;
- the resulting diversion of management's attention from our day-to-day
business and the need to hire management personnel to address such
obstacles; and
- additional expenditures required to facilitate this integration.
For a discussion of the integration of recent acquisitions, see
"Summary -- GTS Wholesale Services" and "Summary -- Recent
Developments -- Esprit Telecom Acquisition."
OUR INABILITY TO IDENTIFY FUTURE ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES OR ACQUIRE THE
FINANCIAL AND MANAGEMENT RESOURCES TO PURSUE SUCH OPPORTUNITIES MAY HINDER THE
GROWTH OF OUR NETWORK
Our inability to successfully implement our acquisition strategy may hinder
the expansion of our network and make our services less attractive to customers
seeking a geographically broader network. We believe that additional attractive
acquisition opportunities currently exist in Western and Central Europe and the
United States. We continuously evaluate attractive acquisition opportunities
and, at any given time, may be engaged in discussions with respect to possible
material acquisitions or other business combinations. Some of these transactions
may involve our selling in one or more private or public transactions certain of
our Russian businesses or our interests in these businesses, or our contributing
some of our Russian businesses in exchange for an interest in the surviving
entity. Although we have discussions
9
<PAGE> 11
with other companies to assess opportunities on an ongoing basis, we do not
currently have a definitive agreement with respect to any material acquisition
or joint venture. We may be unable to identify, finance and complete, on
acceptable terms, suitable acquisitions, transactions or business combinations.
Furthermore, we may not be able to raise the additional capital necessary to
fund such acquisitions and may have to divert management's attention and our
financial and other resources from other areas. For a comprehensive discussion
of our acquisition strategy, see "Business -- GTS Carrier Services -- Business
and Marketing Strategy," "Business -- GTS Business Services -- Business and
Marketing Strategy," "Business -- GTS Wholesale Services -- Business and
Marketing Strategy," and "Business -- GTS Access Services -- Business and
Marketing Strategy."
OUR HISTORY OF SUBSTANTIAL NET LOSSES MAY CONTINUE INDEFINITELY AND MAKE IT
DIFFICULT TO FUND OUR OPERATIONS
We have historically sustained substantial operating and net losses. If we
do not become profitable in the future, the value of our common stock may fall
and we could have difficulty obtaining funds to continue our operations. For the
following periods, we reported net losses of:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PERIOD NET LOSS
- ------ --------------
<S> <C>
Year ended December 31, 1996................................ $ 76.2 million
Year ended December 31, 1997................................ $134.8 million
Year ended December 31, 1998................................ $255.8 million
Quarter ended March 31, 1999................................ $162.2 million
Quarter ended June 30, 1999................................. $109.8 million
Inception through June 30, 1999............................. $808.2 million
</TABLE>
These net losses reflect the restatement of our historical financial statements
for 1998 and prior periods to account for the acquisition of Esprit Telecom as a
pooling of interests. Since December 31, 1998, we have incurred higher net
losses as compared to the corresponding period for the previous year. We expect
to continue incurring significant operating losses during the next several years
while we develop our operations, infrastructure and customer base in new
European markets.
ESTABLISHED COMPETITORS WITH GREATER RESOURCES MAY MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR US
TO EFFECTIVELY MARKET OUR SERVICES, OFFER OUR SERVICES AT A PROFIT AND ATTRACT
AND RETAIN CUSTOMERS
Competitors may force us to lower our prices or modify our service
offerings to remain competitive. We may not be able to effectively market our
expanded service offerings, keep prices at a profitable level or attract and
retain customers. Specifically, prices for international long distance calls
have decreased substantially over the last few years in most of our current and
potential markets. We expect our prices for services to continue to decrease for
the foreseeable future.
Our competitors include large established national carriers, alliances
among telecommunications companies, competitors that own equipment and networks,
companies that purchase and resell the services of other carriers, Internet
service providers and other providers of bundled services. We may also face
competition from cable television companies, wireless telephone companies,
microwave carriers and satellite companies. Many of these competitors have
established customer bases and extensive brand name recognition and have greater
financial, management and other resources. Our medium- to large-sized business
and governmental agency customers and organizations may also be reluctant to
entrust their telecommunications needs to what they perceive to be a relatively
new and unproven operator.
In addition, various telecommunications companies, including MCI WorldCom,
Inc., Viatel, Inc., KPN N.V., Qwest Communications International, Inc., Deutsche
Telekom AG and France Telecom S.A., Global Crossing Ltd. and British
Telecommunications plc, have announced plans to construct, have begun to
construct or are operating fiber optic networks across various European
countries which do or will compete with Hermes Railtel.
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For more information on our competitors in Business Services and Access
Services lines of business, see "Business -- Competition Faced by Our Lines of
Business."
OUR COMPETITIVE POSITION MAY BE COMPROMISED BY OUR DEPENDENCE ON OTHER
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS
We need to enter into interconnection agreements with large established
national carriers and other local service providers operating in our target
markets. We may also need to enter into agreements which permit us to place our
equipment at the facilities of such third parties and/or lease
telecommunications transport capacity from such third parties. Failure to enter
into interconnection and other agreements which provide satisfactory pricing and
other terms could affect our ability to compete in a targeted market. For a
comprehensive discussion on our dependence on other telecommunications service
providers, see "Business -- Competition Faced by Our Lines of Business."
OUR ACCESS SERVICES AND BUSINESS SERVICES ACTIVITIES MAY CAUSE OUR CARRIER
SERVICES LINE OF BUSINESS TO LOSE CUSTOMERS
Our Carrier Services line of business, through Hermes Railtel, offers
services to customers that may compete with our Access Services and Business
Services lines of business. Our Business Services and Access Services lines of
business may contract with Hermes Railtel for capacity on an arms-length basis.
However, Hermes Railtel's customers and potential customers may not perceive
Hermes Railtel as an independent operator in such transactions. Such a
perception could negatively impact Hermes Railtel's ability to attract and
retain customers, which could, in turn, adversely affect our revenues.
WE MAY INCUR ADDITIONAL CHARGES UNDER OUR RESALE AGREEMENTS WITH LONG-DISTANCE
AND INTERNATIONAL CARRIERS
We enter into many telecommunications traffic resale agreements with long
distance and international carriers. These agreements often contain minimum
volume commitments. We may be obligated to pay underutilization charges if we
overestimate our need for transmission capacity. If we underestimate our need
for transmission capacity, we may need to pay more for the extra capacity
needed. Under these arrangements, we are subject to the risk of unanticipated
price fluctuations and service restrictions or cancellations. For a
comprehensive discussion on our dependence on other telecommunications service
providers, see "Business -- Competition Faced by Our Lines of Business."
OUR INABILITY TO MANAGE OUR RAPID GROWTH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR FINANCIAL
REPORTING, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND REVENUES
Our rapid expansion has placed and will continue to place significant
demands on our operating and financial control systems and infrastructure. In
order to manage our growth effectively, we expect to purchase additional
telecommunications facilities and expand, train and manage the employee base.
Inaccuracies in our forecasts of market demand could result in insufficient or
excessive telecommunications facilities and excessively increase our fixed
expenses. Additionally our business development and expansion will create
additional demands on our customer support, sales and marketing and
administrative resources and network infrastructure.
OUR FAILURE TO INTEGRATE, MANAGE AND OPERATE NEW TECHNOLOGY COULD RESULT IN
SYSTEM FAILURES
Our operations depend on our ability to successfully integrate new and
emerging technologies and equipment. These include the technology and equipment
required for dense wavelength division multiplexing, which allows multiple
signals to be carried simultaneously and Internet-data transmission using dense
wavelength division multiplexing technology. Integrating these new technologies
could increase the risk of system failure and result in further strains on our
resources. Additionally, any damage to our Carrier Services network management
center or our major Business Services switching centers could harm our ability
to monitor and manage the network operations and generate accurate call detail
reports from
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which billing information is derived. See "Business -- GTS Carrier Services" and
"Business -- GTS Business Services."
SYSTEM FAILURES OR INTERRUPTIONS IN OUR NETWORK MAY CAUSE LOSS OF CUSTOMERS
Our success depends on the seamless uninterrupted operation of our network
and on the management of traffic volumes and route preferences over our network.
Furthermore, as we continue to expand our network to increase both its capacity
and reach, and as traffic volume continues to increase, we will face increasing
demands and challenges in managing our circuit capacity and traffic management
systems. Any prolonged failure of our communications network or other systems or
hardware that causes significant interruptions to our operations could seriously
damage our reputation and result in customer attrition and financial losses.
THE TECHNOLOGY OF OUR HERMES RAILTEL NETWORK COULD BECOME OBSOLETE AND HARM OUR
COMPETITIVENESS
If our network is not able to meet its design specifications or if it is
unable to keep pace with technological changes in the telecommunications
industry, our network could become obsolete. Our network has been designed to
utilize dense wavelength division multiplexing and synchronous digital hierarchy
technology, another digital transmission standard that facilitates the
compatibility of dissimilar equipment from different vendors. In addition, the
network will be extended to support IP Services in 1999. While the currently
operational portion of our network has performed at or above design
specifications since November 1996, our network may not achieve the technical
specifications which we designed it for. Additionally, we may be unable to
allocate the funds necessary to upgrade our network as technological
improvements in telecommunications equipment are introduced. This could harm our
competitive position relative to other more technologically advanced networks.
For a more comprehensive discussion of the Hermes Railtel network technology,
see "Business -- GTS Carrier Services -- Hermes Railtel Network."
WE MAY ENCOUNTER DELAYS IN IMPLEMENTING KEY ELEMENTS OF OUR BUSINESS STRATEGY
WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR PROJECTED REVENUE GROWTH
We may be unable to successfully, timely and cost-effectively realize
numerous elements of our business plan, including:
- our plan to provide local access services in twelve major Western
European cities by 2001;
- our plan to build and operate the FLAG Atlantic-1 transatlantic cable by
the end of 2000;
- our plan to develop and offer Internet services;
- the execution of agreements with various parties regarding, among other
things, rights-of-way and development and maintenance of infrastructure
and equipment; and
- the timely performance by third parties of their contractual obligations
to engineer, design and construct the infrastructure underlying our
local access strategy, transatlantic services and Internet services.
We believe that our cost estimates and the network expansion schedule are
reasonable with respect to these projects. However, the actual construction
costs or time required to complete the plans could substantially exceed current
estimates. Any significant delay or increase in the costs to develop such plans
could have a material adverse effect on our operations.
DELAYS IN REGULATORY LIBERALIZATION IN EU MEMBER STATES COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT
OUR SERVICE OFFERINGS IN THOSE COUNTRIES
A substantial portion of our strategy depends on the timely implementation
of regulatory liberalization of the EU telecommunications market. Although EU
member states had a legal obligation to liberalize their markets in accordance
with these directives by January 1, 1998, Greece and Portugal have been
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granted extensions. In many countries where we implement our business plan and
make capital expenditures there is a risk that regulatory liberalization may not
occur. As a result, we may be unable to provide many of our services and to
proceed with the planned growth and expansion of our networks, infrastructure
and other systems.
Even if an EU member state promptly adopts liberalization measures in a
timely fashion, we may encounter difficulty in executing our business plan if
(1) established national or regional telecommunications operators, regulators,
trade unions and other sources resist implementation of such measures or (2) any
EU member state imposes greater restrictions on international services between
the EU member state and non-EU countries. For a comprehensive discussion of our
business strategy, see "Business -- Business Strategy," "Business -- GTS Carrier
Services -- Business and Marketing Strategy," "Business -- GTS Business
Services -- Business and Marketing Strategy," "Business -- GTS Wholesale
Services -- Business and Marketing Strategy," and "Business -- GTS Access
Services -- Business and Marketing Strategy."
WE MAY ENCOUNTER DELAYS, OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS AND INCREASED COSTS IF WE ARE
UNABLE TO ACQUIRE KEY EQUIPMENT FROM OUR MAJOR SUPPLIERS
We are significantly dependent on the technology and equipment which we
acquire from telecommunications equipment manufacturers that may provide vendor
financing for, and maintenance of, this equipment. Without this equipment, we
would face delays, operational disruption and higher expenses. Our main
suppliers are Alcatel, Nortel, Ericsson and Siemens. While we could obtain
equipment of comparable quality from several alternative suppliers, we may be
unable to acquire compatible equipment from such alternative sources on a timely
and cost-efficient basis.
FAILURE TO OBTAIN NEW LEASES OF TRANSMISSION CAPACITY OR RENEW EXISTING LEASES
ON OUR LEASED LINES COULD CAUSE US TO INCUR LOSSES ON THE LEASED PORTIONS OF OUR
NETWORK
We currently lease a substantial portion of our network transmission
capacity under agreements which generally have twelve-month or longer fixed
terms. These lease arrangements result in high fixed costs. If our lease
arrangements deteriorate or terminate and we are unable to enter into new
arrangements, our cost structure, service quality, network coverage, results of
operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. For a more
comprehensive discussion of our network agreements, see "Business -- GTS Carrier
Services -- Hermes Railtel Network -- Network Agreements."
FAILURE TO CARRY SUFFICIENT TRAFFIC ON OUR LEASED LINES COULD CAUSE US TO INCUR
LOSSES ON THE LEASED PORTION OF OUR NETWORK
The revenues generated by transporting traffic in these leased fiber routes
may vary with traffic volumes and prices. Accordingly, if we do not carry enough
traffic volume over the particular route or are unable to charge an appropriate
price for such traffic, we could fail to generate revenue sufficient to cover
our lease costs, and would therefore incur operating losses on the particular
route or routes. For a more comprehensive discussion of our network agreements,
see "Business -- GTS Carrier Services -- Hermes Railtel Network -- Network
Agreements."
OUR REVENUES FROM OUR WHOLESALE AND RESELLER CUSTOMERS ARE SUBJECT TO
FLUCTUATIONS AND MAY RESULT IN LOSSES OR INCONSISTENT PROFITABILITY
Customers of our Business Services line of business that purchase services
on a wholesale basis or for resale to retail customers typically change their
routing or providers to take advantage of the lowest cost alternative. This
often results in greater fluctuations in revenue generated by these customers
than by other categories of customers. Due to capacity and quality constraints
on our least-cost routes, we have occasionally been forced to carry traffic over
a higher-cost route, thereby decreasing our revenues. We may continue to
experience short term fluctuations in usage and revenue as customers change
routing and
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providers. For a discussion of our wholesale and resale customers, see
"Business -- GTS Wholesale Services -- Targeted Customers."
WE MAY BE AT A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE DUE TO RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE
FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT ON CERTAIN OF OUR BUSINESS PRACTICES
Many of our current and potential competitors are not subject to, or
constrained by the prohibitions of, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, including
the prohibition against making payments to government officials in order to
obtain commercial benefits. We are subject to, and seek to comply with, the
limitations and prohibitions of such law, and accordingly may be subject to
competitive disadvantages to the extent that our competitors are able to secure
business, licenses or other preferential treatment through the making of such
payments. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that we will be able to compete
effectively against companies free from such limitations in the emerging markets
where such commercial practices are commonplace.
WE WILL LOSE TAX BENEFITS IF WE ARE UNABLE TO USE OUR NET OPERATING LOSS
CARRYFORWARDS
As of December 31, 1998, we had net operating loss carryforwards for U.S.
federal tax purposes of approximately $251.0 million expiring in 2003 through
2018. We cannot assure you that U.S. tax authorities will allow us to apply
these loss carryforwards, in part or full, to reduce taxes on our future income.
Because of the change in ownership provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, our
ability to use the tax benefits from our net operating loss carryforwards is
subject to an annual limit as a result of the initial public offering and the
follow on stock offering, convertible senior subordinated debenture due 2010
offering carried out in July 1998 and our recent acquisitions of Esprit,
NetSource and Omnicom.
FLUCTUATIONS IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES MAY MAKE IT MORE COSTLY FOR US TO PAY OUR
U.S. DOLLAR-DENOMINATED DEBT
Changes in foreign currency exchange rates can reduce the value of our
assets and revenues and increase our liabilities and costs, as our revenue and
some of our costs, assets and liabilities are denominated in multiple local
currencies. We have substantial debt denominated in U.S. dollars. However, most
of our revenues are denominated in European currencies. Therefore, our ability
to pay interest and principal on such debt is dependent on the then current
exchange rates between U.S. dollars and the currencies in which our revenues are
denominated. We historically have not used hedging transactions to limit our
exposure to risks from doing business in foreign currencies. In April 1998,
Hermes Europe Railtel B.V. entered into a currency swap contract to limit its
exposure to some if its currency risks. For further discussion of our exposure
to currency fluctuations, see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations."
OUR RISK OF FRAUD AND BAD DEBT MAY GROW AS OUR SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED CUSTOMERS
INCREASE
We have experienced problems relating to the fraudulent use of our access
codes and the failure of some customers to make full payment for services
rendered. However, we do not believe that such problems are substantially
different from what is generally experienced in the telecommunications industry.
We expect that the credit risk characteristic of our customer base may increase
as the share of our revenue deriving from small to medium sized enterprises and
service provider/reseller customers increases.
WE MAY NOT IMPLEMENT BILLING AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS EFFECTIVELY AND
ON SCHEDULE
We may encounter difficulties in implementing and enhancing our new billing
and management information systems and in integrating new technology into such
systems. While our existing billing system is sufficient for its current
operations, we have selected a new billing system which we believe will provide
the capability and flexibility to support our anticipated growth. If our billing
and management information systems are not effectively implemented, our call
details may not be accurately recorded and customer bills may not be generated
promptly and accurately. This would adversely impact on our business since we
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would not be able to promptly collect on customer balances due to us. For a
comprehensive discussion of our Billing and Management Information Systems, see
"Business -- GTS Business Services -- Billing and Management Information
Systems" and "Business -- GTS Access Services -- Billing and Management
Information Systems."
FAILURE OF OUR COMPUTER SYSTEMS TO RECOGNIZE THE YEAR 2000 COULD DISRUPT OUR
BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
We rely greatly on computer systems and other technological devices.
However, these devices may not be capable of recognizing dates beginning on
January 1, 2000. This problem could cause any of our network, Internet or
programming operations to malfunction or fail. We are communicating with third
parties significant to our business to find out more about their Year 2000
compliance programs. We cannot assure you that our Year 2000 program or the
programs of third parties who do business with us will be effective or that our
estimates about the timing and cost of completing our program will be accurate.
We have spent approximately $4.9 million for our Year 2000 compliance
through December 31, 1998, and expect to spend approximately an additional $5.0
million to $6.0 million through the end of calendar year 1999. We currently
expect to incur $2.0 million to replace identified telecommunications equipment
and software. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations -- Year 2000 Compliance."
LOSS OF KEY PERSONNEL COULD AFFECT OUR GROWTH AND FUTURE SUCCESS
We believe that our growth and future success will depend in large part
upon a small number of key executive officers, as well as on our ability to
attract and retain highly skilled personnel to work in the emerging markets in
which we operate. Key personnel include our senior management and the heads of
our lines of business as well as senior management personnel formerly employed
by NetSource, Esprit Telecom and Omnicom, which we recently acquired. We cannot
assure you that we will be able to hire and retain qualified personnel. The
competition for qualified personnel in the telecommunications industry is
intense, particularly in the emerging markets where we operate.
SIGNIFICANT STOCKHOLDERS MAY INFLUENCE MAJOR DECISIONS IN OUR BUSINESS
At June 30, 1999, the Open Society Institute, Soros Foundation Hungary,
Soros Charitable Foundation, Soros Humanitarian Foundation, Winston Partners II
LLC, Winston Partners II LDC and Chatterjee Fund Management, L.P., which we
collectively refer to as the Soros associates, beneficially owned approximately
11.91% of our common stock and Alan B. Slifka and affiliates beneficially owned
4.60% of our common stock. In addition, two persons who are affiliated with the
Soros associates and one person who is affiliated with the Slifka affiliates
serve on our board. As a result, either of these two stockholder groups may
significantly influence decisions which stockholders must approve, such as the
election of directors and other decisions relating to the management of
business.
TURMOIL IN RUSSIA AND THE CIS CREATES SIGNIFICANT UNCERTAINTY FOR OUR OPERATIONS
To date, we have earned a significant portion of our revenue from
operations in Russia and the other countries of the CIS. All foreign companies
operating in the former Soviet Union, including our company, face significant
political, economic, regulatory, legal and tax risks, as described below.
CONTINUING POLITICAL INSTABILITY IN THE COUNTRIES WHERE WE OPERATE COULD DEPRESS
FOREIGN AND LOCAL INVESTMENT AND SPENDING, WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991, Russia and
Ukraine have been undergoing significant political and economic transformation,
the result of which is a generally unstable political climate characterized by
frequent changes in governments, political gridlock in the legislative process,
widespread corruption among government officials and a significant rise in
organized crime and other criminal activity.
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This political and economic instability in Russia, Ukraine and the other
countries where we operate could disrupt the direction and the pace of political
and economic reforms. Such a disruption could discourage foreign and local
investment and spending, in which case demand for our services could decrease
and our results of operations could deteriorate. If this were to occur, then the
market price of our stock could decrease.
In addition, a dramatic change in government policies permitting foreign
investment or the privatization of the telecommunications industry could also
have a material adverse effect on our operations.
ECONOMIC INSTABILITY IN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE DEMAND FOR
OUR SERVICES AND OUR ABILITY TO COLLECT ON OUR INVOICES
Since August 1998, the Russian and Ukrainian economies have remained in a
depression that has been exacerbated by political instability. If the political
situations in these countries do not stabilize and their economies do not
strengthen, we expect that demand for our services will remain depressed. The
failure of the Russian and Ukrainian economies has also weakened the financial
condition and the results of operations of many of our customers. As a result,
some of these customers have been unable to pay our invoices, and our revenues
have suffered accordingly.
THE RUSSIAN BANKING CRISIS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO CONVERT RUBLES
TO HARD CURRENCY AND MANAGE CASH FLOWS
The instability of the ruble and the institution of further restrictions on
certain foreign exchange payments could negatively affect our ability to convert
rubles into foreign currency and transfer foreign exchange payments out of
Russia. Through our Business Services - CIS and Mobile Services - CIS lines of
business, we have earned and continue to earn significant revenue in Russia. The
value of the ruble against the U.S. Dollar, however, has steadily declined. As a
result of the August 17, 1998 decision by the Russian Government and the Central
Bank of Russia to devalue the ruble and its aftermath, the value of the ruble
against the U.S. Dollar has fallen even more significantly, negatively affecting
our financial performance. During the quarter ended September 30, 1998, we
recorded a $13.1 million pre-tax charge, the largest portion of which consisted
of foreign currency exchange losses on our net monetary assets that are
denominated in rubles. Since the August 17th decision, the Russian authorities
have been unable to maintain a stable exchange rate. Thus, an additional
significant and sudden decline in the value of the ruble might occur which could
negatively affect our financial performance and require us to record another
significant pre-tax charge.
Our ability to hedge against further declines in the values of the ruble by
converting to other currencies is significantly limited. The ruble is generally
non-convertible outside Russia. Within Russia, the market for converting rubles
into other currencies is limited and is subject to rules that restrict the
purposes for which conversion and payment are allowed. This market may become
even more restricted or may cease to exist as a result of policies the Russian
government may implement.
The 90-day moratorium that the August 17th decision imposed on certain
foreign exchange payments delayed transfers of funds. Although the 90-day
moratorium has expired, it could be renewed or established in another form if
the Russian government and Central Bank anticipate further liquidity crises. Any
delay in converting rubles into foreign currency to make a payment or delay in
the transfer of such foreign currency could have a material adverse effect on
our operations.
We manage intercompany liquidity through a cash collateralized debt
facility offered through a Western bank operating under a Russian banking
licence. If we lose access to this or a similar hard currency facility, our
ability to manage our liquidity position and foreign exchange risk may suffer.
For a more comprehensive discussion of the economic crisis in Russia and
the other independent countries of the CIS, see "Business -- Golden
Telecom -- Background on the Political, Economic and Tax Environment in Russia."
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THE REORGANIZATION OF THE RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRIES
MAY CREATE STRONGER COMPETITION FOR US
RUSSIA
The Russian government has reorganized the telecommunications industry so
that one entity, Svyazinvest, controls Rostelecom, our partner in Sovintel, and
most of our other principal joint venture partners. According to recent reports
in the Russian business press, Rostelecom is proposed to be merged with
Svyazinvest. This reorganization could make it more difficult for us to attract
and retain customers because:
- Rostelecom may exercise its influence in Svyazinvest to cause regional
telephone companies to route domestic and international traffic
originating in the regions through Rostelecom rather than through us;
- Our business relationships with our joint venture partners, which make up
a major component of our business strategy in Russia, may suffer; and
- The effective consolidation of Rostelecom with our joint venture partners
would create greater competition for Sovintel and our regional TeleRoss
ventures.
UKRAINE
In preparation for a large-scale privatization, the Ukrainian government
has reorganized the state telecommunications sector so that Ukrtelekom, the
state telecommunications operator, holds all the government's interests in the
telecommunications industry. Furthermore, the Ukrainian government has been
negotiating with the foreign partners of Utel, its joint venture which provides
international and domestic long distance services, to buy out their interests in
the company. It is anticipated that after the foreign partners are bought out,
Utel would then merge with Ukrtelekom.
The emergence of a single powerful Ukrainian telecommunications provider
could make it more difficult for us to attract and retain customers because:
- A single Ukrainian operator with political connections would be more
likely to be able to influence the Ukrainian government to create
favorable market conditions for itself and cause unfavorable conditions
for us;
- The new company is likely to become a stronger competitor;
- Our ability to negotiate reasonable interconnection rates may suffer; and
- Any subsequent privatization of Ukrtelekom may bring in strong management
and resources from a major Western telecommunications operator,
increasing its competitive strengths.
MORE RESTRICTIVE RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICIES COULD
CONSTRAIN OUR OPERATIONS
Russian and Ukrainian telecommunications regulations govern the procurement
and continuing validity of our licenses and the terms and conditions under which
we provide services. Changes to these regulations may make it prohibitively
expensive for us to provide services and could have a material adverse effect on
our results of operations.
Russia's parliament recently adopted legislation which, if implemented,
could restrict foreign ownership of telecommunications operators if necessary to
protect the social order and national security. Any change to current government
regulations or policies that negatively affects our licenses or our ability to
obtain licenses in the future would restrict our operations in Russia.
Ukrainian regulatory authorities have established mandatory tariff
guidelines for wireline services. Our pricing structure in our wireline business
in Ukraine is in excess of the limits established in the mandatory guidelines.
Any enforcement action undertaken in regard to the pricing guidelines by
Ukrainian authority could result in fines or in the suspension or revocation of
our Ukrainian licenses.
Ukrainian legislation prohibits the establishment and operation of
telecommunications ventures that are more than 49%-owned by foreign investors.
We do not believe that this prohibition extends to indirect investment by a
foreign entity through a wholly owned Ukrainian subsidiary. Our investments in
Golden
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Telecom (Ukraine) are made both directly through a foreign company and
indirectly through a wholly owned Ukrainian subsidiary. In connection with the
initial public offering of common stock of our subsidiary Golden Telecom, Inc.,
our partner in Golden Telecom (Ukraine), an affiliate of ING Barings,
contributed to Golden Telecom, Inc. its interest in Golden Telecom (Ukraine) in
exchange for approximately 420,000 newly issued shares of Golden Telecom, Inc.
As a result, our direct and indirect investment in Golden Telecom (Ukraine) has
increased to 69%. If Ukrainian authorities determine that the prohibition
against foreign participation extends to indirect holdings, then we would be in
violation of this legislation. The consequences of this violation are
unpredictable and may include license suspension or revocation, or an order to
divest a portion of our holdings. For a more comprehensive discussion of
regulatory issues in Russia and the other independent countries of the CIS, see
"Business -- Licenses and Regulatory Issues -- Golden Telecom."
WE MAY BE UNABLE TO ENFORCE OUR RIGHTS DUE TO CONFUSION IN RUSSIA'S LAWS AND
LEGAL STRUCTURES
The current confusion with the Russian and CIS legal structure makes it
difficult to know if we would be able to enforce our rights in disputes with our
joint venture partners or other parties, or if we are in compliance with all
applicable laws, rules and regulations. Furthermore, the dispersion of
regulatory power among a number of government agencies in Russia and the other
independent countries of the CIS has resulted in inconsistent or contradictory
regulations and unpredictable enforcement. The Russian and other CIS governments
have rapidly introduced laws and regulations and have changed their legal
structures in an effort to make their economies more market-oriented, resulting
in considerable legal confusion, especially in areas of the law that directly
affect our operations. We cannot assure you that local laws and regulations will
become stable in the future. Our ability to provide services in Russia and the
other independent countries of the CIS could be adversely affected by
difficulties in protecting and enforcing our rights and by future changes to
local laws and regulations.
CORRUPTION AND ORGANIZED CRIME IN RUSSIA AND UKRAINE MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR
OPERATIONS
Russia and Ukraine are both plagued with widespread corruption and criminal
activity. High levels of corruption exist among government officials and among
commercial enterprises in which the state has an ownership interest. So long as
organized crime in Russia and Ukraine remains pervasive, we believe our
employees may be subjected to threats of violence, or property may be damaged,
or both.
OUR RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN TAX BURDENS MAY BE SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER THAN
CURRENTLY ANTICIPATED
RUSSIA
It is possible that our Russian taxes may be greater than the estimated
amount that we have expensed to date and accrued on our balance sheets. The
Russian tax system has many uncertainties and Russian tax authorities have
become increasingly aggressive in their interpretation of the tax law, and in
their enforcement and collection activities. Any additional tax liability, as
well as any unforeseen changes in the tax law, could have a material adverse
effect on the future results of operations or cash flows of our Russian
operations in a particular period. Russian tax authorities are conducting an
examination of potential of tax liability in connection with some of our
cellular operations. We cannot assure you that this examination will not result
in a fire or a revocation or suspension of cancellation licenses.
UKRAINE
Ukrainian tax law is similarly unpredictable. Sudden shifts in tax law and
policy and retroactive legislation are common. Recent decisions by the tax
authorities may subject us to significantly higher tax liability from Ukranian
currency exchange gains.
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OUR MANAGEMENT, LEGAL AND FINANCIAL CONTROLS MAY BE INADEQUATE TO ENSURE THAT
WE COMPLY WITH APPLICABLE LAWS
As a result of deficient reporting and control standards, we have been
unable to ascertain whether certain practices by our ventures were in compliance
with applicable U.S. and foreign laws. If we or any of our ventures were found
to be involved in unlawful practices we or our ventures could be exposed, among
other things, to significant fines, the risk of prosecution and the loss of our
licenses. Russia and the other independent countries of the CIS in which we
operate lack corporate management and financial reporting legal requirements,
and have underdeveloped banking, computer and other internal control systems.
Additionally, we have had difficulty hiring and retaining qualified employees in
these markets. As a result, we have had difficulty:
- establishing internal management, legal and financial controls;
- collecting financial data;
- preparing financial statements, books of account and corporate records;
and
- instituting business practices that meet Western standards.
In light of these circumstances, in the second half of 1996 we increased
our efforts to improve our management and financial controls and business
practices. In early 1997, we retained special outside counsel to conduct a
thorough review of our business practices in the emerging markets in which we
operate. In addition, in June 1999, our special counsel completed an update of
the 1997 review in Russia and Ukraine. Neither the review nor the update
identified any violations of law that we believe would have a material adverse
effect on our financial condition. However, we cannot ensure that all potential
deficiencies have been properly identified or that governmental authorities will
not disagree with our assessment. If our control procedures and compliance
programs are not effective or if governmental authorities determine that we have
violated any law, depending on the penalties assessed and the timing of any
unfavorable resolution, our future results of operations and cash flows could be
materially adversely affected.
OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR JOINT VENTURE PARTNERS LIMIT OUR INDEPENDENCE AND
FLEXIBILITY
We depend to a significant degree on local partners in our joint ventures
to provide us with interconnection with local networks, regulatory and marketing
expertise, and familiarity with the local business environment. They also help
to facilitate the acquisition of necessary licenses and permits. As a result,
any significant disruption in our relationship with these parties could make it
more difficult for us to expand our operations and to maintain our existing
services.
Under the terms of some of our joint venture agreements, we have the right
to nominate key employees, direct operations and determine strategies for these
joint ventures. However, our partners in some ventures, particularly in our
wireless operations, have the ability to frustrate our exercise of these rights.
Significant corporate decisions by most ventures, such as approving budgets and
business plans, declaring and paying dividends, and entering into substantial
transactions, effectively require the consent of our local partners. Moreover,
we would prefer not to take significant actions without the consent and support
of our partners. Accordingly, we do not have unilateral control over the
operations of our joint ventures.
In addition, Ukrainian legislation restricts the level of foreign ownership
in the telecommunications industry. These regulations may restrict our ability
to increase our holdings in ventures and increase our reliance on local partners
who may lack significant financial resources and may be unable to meet capital
calls at the level of their ownership interests. For a discussion of these joint
ventures, see "Business -- Golden Telecom -- Operations."
OUR PARTNERS ARE OFTEN ALSO OUR COMPETITORS
Notwithstanding our agreements with our joint venture partners, they
sometimes compete directly with our joint ventures. Competition with our joint
venture partners in the same markets may create
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conflicts of interest and may result in a loss of customers. For example, our
partner in Sovintel, Rostelecom, is the dominant international and domestic long
distance carrier in Russia. Similarly, most of our regional partners across
Russia offer local and long distance services in competition with our local
joint ventures and TeleRoss, and some of these partners also offer mobile
services in direct competition with some of our mobile operations. Our partners
in our mobile ventures also sometimes offer independent mobile services in
direct competition with our joint ventures.
We may consider acquiring some of our partners' interests in certain joint
ventures if we are able to do so within regulatory guidelines and on
commercially attractive terms. If we were to make such acquisitions, we expect
that we would continue to employ local personnel in order to retain the benefit
of their local expertise. After an acquisition, however, we would be directly
competing with a powerful, formerly state-owned enterprise that had been our
partner before we acquired its interest. We would have to rely on this
partner-turned-competitor to gain access from our networks to customer sites
along the so-called "last mile". It is possible that this competitor would
attempt to create adverse operating conditions for our business.
OUR TARGETED CUSTOMERS MAY NOT TRUST A PRIVATELY OWNED, FOREIGN CONTROLLED
ENTITY FOR THEIR COMMUNICATIONS NEEDS
Prior to 1991, the telecommunications industry in the countries where we
operate was wholly owned and controlled by the state. After 1991, private
companies, including foreign controlled companies, entered these markets as
telecommunications service providers. Many potential customers may be unwilling
to entrust their communications system to non-state controlled companies, and,
in particular, to private companies controlled by foreign investors.
Furthermore, state entities that require the types of services that we offer,
such as the Central Bank, may refuse to select a service provider that is
controlled by foreign investors. Because we are controlled by foreign investors,
we may in some instances be unable to reach our targeted customers.
WE HAVE ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS THAT COULD DELAY OR PREVENT A CHANGE IN
CONTROL, EVEN IF IT WOULD BENEFIT SHAREHOLDERS
We have adopted anti-takeover provisions that could delay or prevent a
third party from gaining control of us in a transaction that our board of
directors had not negotiated and approved, even if such change in control would
be beneficial to you. These anti-takeover provisions could depress the market
price of your common stock. These anti-takeover provisions include:
- Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which prohibits a
business combination between a corporation and an interested stockholder
within three years of the stockholder becoming an "interested
stockholder" except in limited circumstances.
- provisions of our charter and by-laws, including:
- a classified board of directors serving staggered three-year terms;
- restrictions on who may call a special meeting of stockholders;
- a prohibition on stockholder action by written consent;
- restrictions on the removal of directors;
- supermajority voting requirements with respect to certain amendments
to our charter;
- the authority to issue shares of preferred stock and to determine the
rights without stockholder approval; and
- a shareholders' rights plan.
For a more comprehensive discussion of the provisions of our charter and
by-laws affecting our capital stock, see "Description of Capital
Stock -- Certain Charter and By-law Provisions."
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ANY U.S. JUDGMENTS YOU MAY OBTAIN AGAINST US MAY NOT BE ENFORCEABLE IN OTHER
COUNTRIES
Substantially all of our assets are located outside the U.S. As a result,
it will be necessary for you to comply with non-U.S. laws in order to enforce
judgments obtained in a U.S. court (including those with respect to federal
securities law claims) against the non-U.S. assets of our operating ventures. We
cannot assure you that any U.S. judgments would be enforced under any such
non-U.S. laws.
OUR ABILITY TO PAY DIVIDENDS ON OUR COMMON STOCK MAY BE LIMITED
We do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Also,
our ability to pay dividends is limited under the terms of indentures governing
our outstanding debt securities. If we raise any capital in the future, we may
be restricted from paying dividends under the terms of such financings. In
addition, the decision on August 17, 1998 by the Russian government and the
Central Bank of Russia to devalue the ruble and other actions that the Russian
government may take in the future may restrict the ability of the ventures in
Russia to declare and pay dividends. For more information on these debt
securities, see "Description of Certain Indebtedness."
SUBSTANTIAL RESALES OF OUR COMMON STOCK PURSUANT TO RULE 144 MAY DEPRESS OUR
STOCK PRICE AND DILUTE YOUR OWNERSHIP INTEREST
We cannot predict what effect future sales of our common stock or the
availability of our common stock for sale would have on the market price for our
common stock. Sales of large numbers of shares of our common stock in the public
market pursuant to Rule 144 or pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act, or the perception that sales could occur, may have an
adverse effect on the market price for our common stock. Presently, we filed and
the SEC declared effective three registration statements. One registration
statement covers the resale of the 8.75% convertible bonds due 2000 and the
shares of common stock into which they are convertible. Three registration
statements on Form S-8 cover the resale of shares of common stock issued to
employees, officers and directors under our employee benefit plans. See
"Description of Capital Stock -- Prior Purchase Agreements -- Registration
Rights."
OUR STOCK PRICE HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO BE VOLATILE
The market price for your common stock could fluctuate due to various
factors. These factors include:
- failure to integrate or realize projected benefits from our recent
acquisitions;
- acquisition-related announcements;
- announcements by us or our competitors of new contracts, technological
innovations or new products;
- changes in government regulations;
- fluctuations in our quarterly and annual operating results;
- political and economic development in emerging markets (including Russia
and the other independent countries of the CIS); and
- general market conditions.
In addition, the stock markets have, in recent years, experienced
significant price fluctuations. These fluctuations often have been unrelated to
the operating performance of the specific companies whose stock is traded.
Market fluctuations, as well as economic conditions, have adversely affected,
and may continue to adversely affect, the market price of your common stock.
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus includes forward-looking statements as to how we may
perform in the future. We have based these forward-looking statements on our
current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends
affecting the financial condition of our business. These forward-looking
statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us,
including, among other things:
- Risk of delay in implementing our business plan;
- Risks of completing acquisitions and integrating acquired businesses;
- Political, economic and legal changes in the markets where we operate;
- Heightened competition; and
- Our need for additional, substantial financing.
These forward-looking statements are principally contained in the following
sections of the prospectus:
- Risk Factors;
- Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations; and
- Business.
In addition, in those and other portions of this prospectus, the words and
phrases "will likely result", "are expected to", "will continue", "is
anticipated", "estimated", "intends", "plans", "projection" and "outlook" are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements should be
viewed with caution.
These forward-looking statements may differ materially from actual results
because they involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties. In making these
forward-looking statements in this prospectus, we claim the protection of the
safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1998. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or
revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The selling stockholders will receive all of the proceeds from the sale of
their shares of our common stock and we will not receive any proceeds from the
sale of those shares.
DIVIDEND POLICY
We have not paid any dividend on our common stock and do not intend to pay
dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, the indenture governing our
9 7/8% notes currently prohibits the payment of dividends. This indenture
contains restrictions against making restricted payments (in the form of the
declaration or payment of certain dividends or distributions, the purchase,
redemption or other acquisition of any of our capital stock, the voluntary
prepayment of pari passu or subordinated indebtedness and the making of certain
investments, loans and advances) unless no default or event of default exists,
our leverage ratio does not exceed 6.0 to 1.0 and such restricted payments do
not exceed certain amounts.
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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
EUROPEAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET
Liberalization in the European telecommunications markets has proceeded
rapidly since the late 1980's. Historically, the European public
telecommunications operators monopolized the provision of telecommunications
services in their home markets and designed their networks according to national
rather than continental and international considerations. Between 1990 and 1997,
however, the European Union implemented a series of directives designed to open
up the telecommunications markets to competition. These directives required
member states to implement legislation liberalizing their respective
telecommunications markets to permit alternative telecommunications companies
both to provide telecommunications services and to access the existing
telecommunications infrastructure controlled by these national and regional
providers. In response to these European regulatory changes, a number of new
interests, including our company, have emerged to compete with the European
public telecommunications operators.
INTERNET INDUSTRY
The Internet is a global collection of interconnected computer networks
that allows commercial organizations, educational institutions, government
agencies and individuals to communicate, access and share information and
conduct business electronically. The Internet originated with the ARPAnet, a
restricted network that was created in 1969 by the United States Department of
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to provide efficient and reliable long
distance data communications among the disparate computer systems used by
government-funded researchers and academic organizations. The networks that
comprise the Internet, or its backbone, are connected in a variety of ways,
including by public switched telephone networks and by high speed, dedicated
leased lines. Communications on the Internet are enabled by Internet Protocol or
IP, which is a market-based standard computer language broadly adopted on the
Internet and elsewhere that allows computers with different architectures and
operating systems software to communicate with each other on the Internet.
Over time, as businesses have begun to utilize e-mail, file transfer and,
more recently, intranet and extranet services, commercial usage has become a
major component of Internet traffic. In 1989, the U.S. government effectively
ceased directly funding any part of the Internet backbone. In the mid-1990s,
contemporaneous with the increase in commercial usage of the Internet, a new
type of provider called an Internet service provider became more prevalent.
Internet service providers offer access, e-mail, customized content and other
specialized services and products aimed at allowing both commercial and
residential customers to obtain information from, transmit information to, and
utilize resources available on the Internet.
Internet service providers generally operate networks composed of dedicated
lines leased from public telecommunications operators, local access providers
and internet service providers using IP-based switching and routing equipment
and server-based applications and databases. Customers are connected to the
Internet service provider switching equipment by facilities obtained by the
customer or the Internet service provider from either public telecommunications
operators or local access providers through a dedicated access line or the
placement of a circuit-switched local telephone to the Internet service
provider.
IP COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
There are two widely used switching technologies in currently deployed
communications networks: circuit-switching systems and packet-switching systems.
Circuit-switch based communications systems establish a dedicated channel for
each communication (such as a telephone call for voice or fax), maintain the
channel for the duration of the call and disconnect the channel at the
conclusion of the call. Packet-switch based communications systems format the
information to be transmitted, such as e-mail, voice, fax and data, into a
series of shorter digital messages called "packets." Each packet consists of a
portion of the complete message plus the addressing information to identify the
destination and return address.
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Packet-switch based systems offer several advantages over circuit-switch
based systems, particularly the ability to commingle packets from several
communications sources together simultaneously onto a single channel. For most
communications, particularly those with bursts of information followed by
periods of "silence," the ability to commingle packets provides for superior
network utilization and efficiency, resulting in more information being
transmitted through a given communication channel. There are, however, some
disadvantages to packet-switch based systems as currently implemented. Rapidly
increasing demands for data, in part driven by the Internet traffic volumes, are
straining capacity and contributing to latency (delays) and interruptions in
communication transmissions. In addition, there are concerns about the adequacy
of the security and reliability of packet-switch based systems as currently
implemented.
Initiatives are under way to develop technology to address these
disadvantages of packet-switch based systems. We believe that the evolving IP
standard will remain a primary focus of these development efforts. We expect the
benefits of these efforts to be improved communications, reduced latency and
declining networking hardware costs.
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BUSINESS
OUR HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
We were founded in 1983 as a not-for-profit company under the name San
Francisco/Moscow Teleport, Inc. We incorporated as a for-profit corporation in
1986, and reincorporated into Delaware in 1993 and changed our name to Global
TeleSystems Group, Inc. in February 1995. Our principal business office is
located at 4121 Wilson Boulevard, 8th floor, Arlington, Virginia 22203, United
States, and our telephone number is (703) 236-3100.
From our inception until 1998, we focused on (1) providing
telecommunications services in emerging markets, particularly in Russia and (2)
establishing and developing Hermes Europe Railtel B.V., a venture designed to
provide a high speed transmission network across national borders in Western
Europe. We intended to capitalize on the rapidly growing demand for
telecommunications services in countries emerging from totalitarian rule and
state-controlled economies. In addition, in Western Europe growing
liberalization of regulations governing the provision of telecommunications
services has resulted in a proliferation of new competitors to incumbent public
telecommunications operators. At the same time, with the trend toward the
increasing globalization of business, there has been a substantial growth in
demand for high quality voice and data telecommunications. We perceived a need
for a fast, efficient and lower cost cross-border network that would carry the
traffic of established public telecommunications operators and other carriers.
Since we began operating our Hermes Railtel network in late 1996, the demand for
its services has validated our decision to build and develop such a network.
In 1998, we changed our strategy in response to the economic crisis in
emerging markets and the advent on January 1, 1998 of the deregulation of the
provision of telecommunications services in Western Europe. We also sought to
build on the success of our Hermes Railtel network by developing a plan to
provide telecommunications services, including local access services, directly
to businesses and other customers. Accordingly, during 1998, we acquired two
companies that provide such services to businesses and other high usage
customers in Western Europe and developed a plan to provide local access
services in 12 major Western European cities. In addition, we realigned our
operations into five lines of business to facilitate the coordination and
management of our activities.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
In order to achieve our objective of becoming Europe's premier independent
provider of telecommunications services to businesses, other high usage
customers and telecommunications carriers, we intend to implement the following
key strategies:
CONTINUE BUILDOUT OF HERMES RAILTEL NETWORK
We intend to make Hermes Railtel's service offerings more attractive to our
carrier customers by expanding the geographic reach and reliability of our core
network. We are continuing to build our Hermes Railtel network by extending its
coverage to include approximately 50 cities throughout Europe by the end of 2000
and by putting in place a high speed, cost-efficient transatlantic link through
our FLAG Atlantic Limited joint venture. We are also deploying dense wavelength
division multiplexing technology that will permit significant expansion of the
core network's transmission capacity and allow us to upgrade the reliability and
efficiency of the network.
DEVELOP LOCAL ACCESS INFRASTRUCTURE
In order to facilitate our customers' access to our network and to exploit
what we believe to be an expanding market, we intend to build, lease or acquire
local access infrastructure in 12 major metropolitan markets throughout Europe
by 2001. We believe that the increasing liberalization of telecommunications
regulation in Europe and the existing level of competition in Europe for local
access services offer an
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attractive opportunity to build out local access infrastructure. We believe that
implementing this strategy will also benefit our Carrier Services and Business
Services lines of business.
CAPITALIZE ON GROWTH IN DATA/IP TRAFFIC
In anticipation of continued rapid growth in data and Internet traffic, we
plan to expand our IP-based capabilities and product offerings. We intend to
apply IP technology to Hermes Railtel's fiber optic network in order to enhance
its efficiency and capacity. In addition to offering IP transport services, we
intend to offer Internet access and IP-based services, such as web site
management.
REINFORCE AND EXTEND MARKET PENETRATION OF HERMES RAILTEL'S NETWORK
We intend to reinforce and extend the market penetration of Hermes
Railtel's network by enhancing the scope, capacity, reliability and efficiency
of our infrastructure, and by providing our own local access. As a result of
these enhancements, we believe that we are well-positioned to generate
additional revenues from existing carrier customers and attract new customers as
demand for seamless transatlantic city-to-city services increases. Targeted new
customers include the U.S. regional Bell operating companies, as well as U.S.
and European Internet service providers.
INCREASE HIGH USAGE RETAIL CUSTOMER BASE AND ROUTE TRAFFIC OVER OUR OWN
NETWORK
As a result of the Esprit Telecom, NetSource and Omnicom acquisitions, we
have an established retail customer base of leading international businesses,
organizations and governmental agencies. We intend to continue to focus our
retail marketing efforts on small, medium and large-sized businesses,
governmental agencies and other organizations that have extensive
telecommunications needs and which generate substantial volumes of
telecommunications traffic. By routing this traffic over our Hermes Railtel,
Business Services and Access Services networks, we seek to realize the benefits
of owning our own infrastructure. In order to build our customer base, we
anticipate significantly increasing the size of our direct sales force. We also
seek to offer a level of service superior to that provided by incumbent
telecommunications providers. We believe that providing a high level of customer
service is a key element in establishing customer loyalty and attracting new
customers. For a discussion of the risks associated with our business strategy,
see "Risk Factors -- We may encounter delays in implementing key elements of our
business strategy which could adversely affect our projected revenues."
GTS CARRIER SERVICES
OVERVIEW
Our Carrier Services line of business is made up of three components:
- Hermes Railtel;
- Transoceanic Services; and
- IP Services.
Cross-border transmission capacity has historically been used predominantly
for the transmission of voice traffic. We believe that cross-border transmission
capacity will increasingly be used to transport data traffic and in several
years the volume of capacity used for transporting data traffic will
significantly exceed that used for transporting voice traffic. This trend is
being driven by the rapid growth of the Internet and other data-intensive
applications such as videoconferencing, multimedia, and medical and business
imaging, among others.
We intend to participate in this developing market by providing
comprehensive telecommunications transport services to established and emerging
telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers and other significant
consumers of transmission services. We believe that our customers will
increasingly demand network connection to the world's major commercial and
financial centers. In addition, we believe
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that our customers will demand Internet or IP-based services such as Internet
access, web hosting and management services in order to participate in the
expected growth of the Internet.
HERMES RAILTEL NETWORK
We are one of the leading providers of telecommunications services to other
telecommunications carriers. We operate a centrally managed fiber optic network
that is designed to carry high volumes of telecommunications traffic across
national borders in Europe and to the United States. At March 3, 1999, the
network operated over approximately 12,200 kilometers connecting 19 cities in 10
countries. We expect the network to extend approximately 25,000 kilometers with
points of presence, or equipment for switching or relaying traffic, in
approximately 50 cities in 20 European countries by the end of 2000.
Capacity on the Hermes Railtel network is sold to public telecommunications
operators, other carriers, Internet service providers, resellers of unused
telecommunications capacity and other telecommunication service providers. We
believe that we are able to provide our customers a service that is superior to
other services currently available through public telecommunications operators
or through other independent providers.
At March 3, 1999, we operated the Hermes Railtel network in Belgium, The
Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark,
Sweden and Spain, linking the following 19 cities: Brussels, Antwerp, Rotterdam,
Amsterdam, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Strasbourg, Zurich, Geneva, Stuttgart,
Dusseldorf, Munich, Milan, Berlin, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Hamburg and Madrid. If
completed as expected by the end of 2000, our network will extend approximately
25,000 kilometers. During 1999, we plan to extend our network through France to
Barcelona and commence operating in Austria, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg and
Portugal.
We currently lease capacity on transatlantic cables linking the network
with North America and are exploring various interconnectivity options to
Russia. At March 3, 1999, 54 customers were under contract for service on the
Hermes Railtel network, and at December 31, 1998 our customers were
contractually obligated to pay us an aggregate of $418 million for future
services, provided Hermes Railtel performs in accordance with contractual
specifications.
We intend to continue to build Hermes Railtel's network using
cost-efficient access to an infrastructure of railways, motorways, pipeline
companies, waterways and power companies. We have a flexible approach to the
network plan and intend to fine-tune the scope, route and design of the network
based on our evaluation of customer demand. We have entered into agreements for
the construction and/or lease of fiber optic routes for the network in the
countries where we currently operate. We continue to negotiate rights-of-way and
other infrastructure arrangements in order to extend the network. We expect to
incur approximately $750 million in additional capital expenditures, including
capital lease obligations, through 2000 in connection with the build-out of the
network.
In June 1998, we acquired a 75% interest in Ebone, a Danish company which
connects European Internet service providers to the Internet over its own
network. In May 1999, we acquired the remaining 25% interest in Ebone. As of
December 31, 1998, Ebone served 83 customers in 25 countries. As part of the
transaction, Ebone purchased approximately $100 million of long-term capacity
rights on Hermes Railtel's network. It will provide Ebone with capacity of up to
622 megabits per second between the majority of European cities that Ebone
serves. Many of Ebone's existing customers own a portion of Ebone's shares
through an association.
MANAGED BANDWIDTH SERVICES
Hermes Railtel provides primarily large capacity cross-border European
circuits and transatlantic services to carriers and service providers over an
integrated, managed network. The Hermes Railtel network, based on dense
wavelength division multiplexing and synchronous digital hierarchy technology (a
form of packet switched transmission technology), provides digital transmission
capability upon which a broad range of advanced functionality may be built. The
Hermes Railtel network offers network
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availability, flexibility, bandwidth speeds and error performance not otherwise
available to carriers for transport of telecommunications traffic across
national borders in Western and Central Europe. Our network is designed to
provide customers with a wide variety of bandwidth speeds, ranging from a data
transmission rate of 2.048 Mbps (or millions of bits per second) to a data
transmission rate of 2.5 gigabits per second (or billions of bits per second).
For more information on technology in the telecommunications industry, see
"Industry Overview -- IP Communications Technology."
Point-to-Point Transmission Capacity. The current market for cross-border
transport is also served by international private leased circuits provided by
public telecommunications operators. Traditionally, such private leased circuits
are formed by combining half-circuits from two public telecommunications
operators between customer locations, often with additional public
telecommunications operators providing transit segments. Under such private
leased circuits, overall service quality guarantees generally are not provided
and only a limited range of bandwidth is available, usually only at a data
transmission rate of 2.048 Mbps, and in certain instances, at a data
transmission rate of 34 Mbps. We provide a Point-to-Point Transmission Capacity
service to our customers. We believe this service is a significant improvement
to private leased circuits because it provides a greater range of bandwidths
from 2,048 Mbps to multiples of 140 Mbps or 155 Mbps and allows customers to
choose a service level agreement which provides service guarantees appropriate
for their applications, including guarantees for on-time service delivery and
service availability.
Our point-to-point transmission capacity consists of "integrated" and
"node-to-node" services. Our network integrated service provides an end-to-end
service between customer-specified locations where we arrange for the connection
between the network node location and the customer's location. The node-to-node
service can be selected when the customer prefers to provide its own connection
to the local network node location. In node-to-node service, we guarantee
service only on our network and not from our network node to the customer's
location. Our network prices for both services are competitive relative to
current service offerings. Our customers can choose flexible contract terms from
one to ten years in duration, with discount schemes designed to ensure that we
remain a cost-effective solution.
Virtual Network Transmission Services. As the European marketplace
liberalizes and carriers and other telecommunications service providers plan to
expand their operations across Europe, a need arises for a flexible and
cost-effective means of telecommunications transport. Such service providers
have traditionally obtained international transport service by leasing
international private leased circuits. Leasing private leased circuits requires
a carrier to lease channels on a segment-by-segment basis from multiple public
telecommunications operators, linking the target cities under arrangements
having a fixed capacity and pricing structure for each segment of the carrier's
network. Private leased circuits have several disadvantages, including (1)
difficulty in obtaining discount/volume pricing schemes since there is no single
provider of pan-European coverage, (2) delays in implementation due to numerous
contractual negotiations and the need to interconnect numerous leased circuits,
(3) limited opportunities to lease high-bandwidth pan-European capacity and (4)
variability of quality due to the absence of a centrally managed single uniform
network. Telecommunications carriers could also construct their own network,
which is expensive, time-consuming and complex and which may not be justified by
traffic volume.
Our network transmission service provides a new solution and an attractive
alternative to leasing circuits or building infrastructure. This service enables
our customers to obtain a uniform pan-European or cross-border network under one
service agreement by allowing the customer to select any number of cities along
our network with a pricing structure based on the overall amount of leased
capacity for the customer's entire network.
Ring Service. Most medium to large carriers and operators purchase network
capacity in excess of actual requirements and prefer to have control over the
physical configuration of their networks. This service connects multiple
customer locations with multiple paths in a ring configuration. We provide the
customer with reliable and direct control over the paths dedicated to its
traffic within the ring and exclusive control over the routing. We can add
additional ring capacity with no service interruption and additional customer
locations with minimal service interruption. We can provide this ring service at
a very competitive rate compared to other point-to-point services. For a
discussion of the risks associated with the
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Hermes Railtel network technology, see "Risk Factors -- The technology of our
Hermes Railtel network could become obsolete and harm our competitiveness."
INTERNET ACCESS AND IP TRANSPORT
Ebone Internet Access Services. Internet service providers, which are
companies that provide Internet access to end-users, have purchased Internet
access from Ebone since 1991. Ebone has one of the largest installed bases of
Internet service provider customers in Europe. Building on the expertise
developed since the advent of the Internet in Europe, Ebone now offers Internet
service providers a high quality Internet access service with the following
significant features:
- Reliable access to Internet service throughout Ebone's network, which is
made possible by always dedicating excess bandwidth capacity on its
network;
- Access to other Internet networks through links with major Internet
backbone providers in Europe and in the United States; and
- Access speeds ranging up to 620 Mbps.
IP Transport Services. We are developing IP transport services for service
providers that focus on building their own Internet backbone, Intranet or voice
over IP services. This IP traffic has been traditionally supported by a
combination of managed bandwidth services (like the ring or the point-to-point
services of Hermes Railtel's network) and Internet network services (like
Ebone's Internet services).
Today, large service providers building their Internet networks demand the
speed offered by fiber infrastructure, the reliability of managed bandwidth
services and the flexibility of Internet network services.
We intend to carry the international Internet traffic of service providers
between their private points of presence and/or Internet exchange points. We
expect these services to combine high quality transmission services with the
ability to upgrade transmission capacity and speed and to control configurations
which are the strengths of large Internet network providers. For a discussion of
the risks associated with the Hermes Railtel network technology, see "Risk
Factors -- The technology of our Hermes Railtel network could become obsolete
and harm our competitiveness."
BUSINESS AND MARKETING STRATEGY
The overall strategy of Hermes Railtel is to offer public
telecommunications operators and other carriers pan-European cross-border
telecommunications transport services. Our Hermes Railtel network provides a
vehicle through which a carrier can compete in markets where it does not own
infrastructure. Our primary service offering is the sale of large capacity
cross-border circuits to our customers. Our network's focus on carriers is
designed to complement and not compete with such carriers' own business
objectives in providing services to their end-users.
As a result of our acquisition of Ebone, we are now accelerating our plans
to become a leading player in the provision of seamless transatlantic
city-to-city services in order to take advantage of the increased market demand
for low cost transatlantic city-to-city services. In 1998, we contracted for
long-term leased capacity on transatlantic cables linking the Hermes Railtel
network to North America. In addition, we intend to further increase our
transatlantic capacity through the purchase of capacity from the FLAG Atlantic
Limited joint venture. We also intend to invest further in extending and
increasing the capacity of the Hermes Railtel network.
To establish ourselves as the leading provider of telecommunications
services to carriers within Europe, we offer our customers significantly higher
quality transmission and advanced network capabilities at a competitive price by
focusing on the following:
- High Capacity Cross-Border Network Facilities. Our network is designed to
offer our customers high capacity network facilities outside their
domestic markets, providing cross-border capabilities without requiring
customers to invest in network infrastructure or being constrained by a
narrow
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range of capacity offerings. By utilizing dense wavelength division
multiplexing technology over our network, we anticipate that, once fully
deployed, this technology will enable our network to provide a minimum
speed of 800 gigabits per second on all major routes. Options are in
place to expand fiber capacity further on a number of routes.
- Uniform Network Architecture. Our network is designed to offer managed
transport services from country to country and across multiple countries
utilizing a single uniform network, in contrast to services currently
available that use multiple providers over several networks with varying
technologies under the control of separate, not necessarily compatible,
network control systems. The Hermes Railtel network's uniform technology
enhances service by providing quality and reliability as well as
uniformity of features throughout the network.
- Diverse Routing. We have designed our network over multiple routes to
provide high levels of reliability so that if a failure occurs on one
route, traffic can be diverted to an alternate route. The network is
designed to provide availability of over 99.9% for most routes and to
provide customers with a wide range of telecommunications transmission
capacity. We believe that to achieve this level of reliability without
the use of a network similar to Hermes Railtel's network, carrier
customers would need to purchase additional dedicated circuits.
- Rapid Provisioning. Our customers can quickly obtain additional capacity
on our network. This ability to rapidly provide service is largely due to
our development of capacity substantially in excess of our forecasted
requirements.
- Flexibility. Our services provide customers flexibility across Hermes
Railtel's network so that the customer may minimize risk by enabling
network rerouting, eventually even under customer direct control.
- Advanced Technology. We are deploying dense wavelength division
multiplexing and synchronous digital hierarchy technology that can be
upgraded and will permit significant expansion of transmission capacity
without increasing the number of fiber pairs on a network. This
technology also provides the basis for structuring advanced operating
features, such as virtual private network services and IP-based services.
- Innovative Pricing. We believe that the price of high-bandwidth circuits
on transborder European routes is artificially high and not necessarily
related to the cost of such circuits. We offer competitive pricing with
tailored contract terms and volume discounts. This allows our customers
to plan more efficiently the fixed costs of their service portfolio. Our
customers can select varying capacity, access, guaranteed availability
and contract terms at competitive prices. Customers purchasing capacity
from public telecommunications operators generally choose from a narrow
set of capabilities under inflexible pricing plans.
For a discussion of the risks associated with our business strategy, see
"Risk Factors -- We may encounter delays in implementing key elements of our
business strategy which could adversely affect our projected revenue growth."
PRICING AND DISTRIBUTION
We primarily conduct sales of Hermes Railtel's services through Hermes
Europe Railtel (Ireland) Limited, a subsidiary.
Currently, the price of cross-border pan-European calls is often
significantly higher than the underlying cost of transport and termination of
such calls and higher than the price of intra-country calls or transborder calls
to and from liberalized markets. The low cost of operating our network enables
us to attractively and competitively price services even as overall tariffs for
telecommunication services decline. Our low cost basis is a result of, among
other things, the application of new technologies to our network, which allows
us to operate our network with fewer employees than legacy networks.
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The term of a typical customer agreement currently ranges from one to three
years in length. The customer agrees to purchase, and we agree to provide,
cross-border transmission capacity. In general, the customer agrees to pay
certain non-recurring charges upfront and recurring charges on an annual basis,
payable in twelve monthly installments. If the customer terminates the service
order prior to the end of the contract term, the customer is generally required
to pay us a cancellation charge equal to three months' service for every twelve
months remaining in the contract term. We guarantee transmission services to a
certain service level. If such levels are not met or we fail to deliver service
by the committed delivery date, the customer is eligible for a credit against
charges otherwise payable for the failed link.
CUSTOMERS
At March 3, 1999, 54 customers were under contract for service on Hermes
Railtel's network, including public telecommunications operators and other
carriers, global consortia, Internet service providers and resellers. As of
December 31, 1998, our customers were contractually obligated to pay us an
aggregate of $418 million for future services, provided our network performs in
accordance with contractual specifications. We believe that the type and quality
of our customers validate our business plan and network concept and illustrate
the type of customers we expect to be attracted to the full network. The success
of our network to date also demonstrates the demand for cross-border transport
services. We are targeting seven major market segments or customer groups, which
can be characterized as follows:
- Existing Public Telecommunications Operators. This customer segment
consists of the traditional European public telecommunications operators
that generally participate in the standard bilateral agreements for
cross-border connectivity. We provide a vehicle for public
telecommunications operators to compete in non-domestic markets. As of
January 1, 1998, all public telecommunications traffic can be transported
by carriers other than the domestic public telecommunications operator,
thus vastly expanding the potential demand from public telecommunications
operators for our services.
- Global Consortia of Telecommunications Operators. Many of the largest
public telecommunications operators and international carriers have
pooled resources and formed consortia in order to compete more
effectively in important telecommunications markets such as those in
Western Europe, particularly outside their home markets. Prior to
liberalization of the provision of switched voice services in Western
European markets, one of the primary objectives of these consortia was to
provide pan-European services to multinational business customers,
including X.25/frame relay (high speed data network) service and voice
services for a closed user group. We believe that we provide an
attractive alternative at better pricing in those environments where such
a consortium does not already own its infrastructure. Furthermore, we
believe that we are well-positioned to provide cross-border connectivity
between different domestic infrastructures of these alliances.
- International Carriers. This customer segment consists of non-European
carriers with traffic between European and other international gateways.
Existing customers in this segment include Teleglobe and targeted future
customers include the United States regional Bell operating companies. We
can provide these customers a pan-European distribution network to gather
and deliver traffic to and from their own and other hubs.
- Other Carriers. This segment consists of other European carriers
competing with existing public telecommunications operators, cable TV and
mobile carriers and competitive access providers. These other carriers
have chosen to compete with the incumbent public telecommunications
operators in their respective countries. We believe that these other
carriers will prefer to use the services of independent carriers such as
ourselves to meet their cross-border telecommunication transport needs.
- Internet Backbone Networks. Internet backbone networks are providers of
large capacity international connectivity services between Internet nodes
(points of interconnection between local Internet service providers).
These networks are a fast-emerging segment and are expected to
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generate significant demand for the services we offer. The Internet
segment is experiencing significant growth in demand for transmission
capacity.
- Resellers. Resellers are telecommunications service providers that do
not own transmission facilities, but obtain communications services from
other carriers for resale to the public. Resellers are a growing segment
of the market and are expected to increase in conjunction with the
liberalization of the European telecommunications market. In the United
States, for example, resellers were a significant factor in the expansion
of competition.
- Other Service Providers. We also target data communications systems in
which special service features enhance the basic data transmission
facilities offered to customers. Many of these networks are targeted to
the data transfer requirements of specific international customer
segments such as airlines and financial institutions. Their basic network
transmission requirement is to connect data switches or processors, and
they currently purchase their own international circuits and build
additional resiliency into their network infrastructure. We expect to
allow them to meet these needs cost-effectively and to extend their
services to new markets or customers without substantial capital
investment.
We expect that additional demand for alternative service providers will
come from increased usage of dedicated circuits for Internet access, private
lines for the deployment of wide-area networks by large corporations,
single-source local and long distance services for small and medium-sized
businesses and emerging broadband applications such as cable TV programming
distribution (other than broadcast) to the end-user.
NETWORK DESIGN
Network Architecture. Our network design is based on a layered architecture
that separates physical, optical and telecom layers of our network with standard
interfaces in order to optimize design and operation and provide flexibility for
introducing new technologies, such as IP.
Physical Layer. The physical layer of our network is based on a mesh of
routes comprised of dark fiber, or fiber optic cable that is not yet equipped or
activated for commercial use. When the network is completed, the physical layer
will interconnect cities on the network via at least two or three different
paths to minimize service interruptions when fiber or equipment failures occur.
In each major city, we intend to locate two additional customer access sites for
maximum reliability.
Optical Layer. The optical layer of our network is based on dense
wavelength division multiplexing. This is a cost-effective technology that
substantially increases the capacity of an existing fiber optic network by
multiplying the number of signals that it can carry simultaneously.
Specifically, this layer:
- supports the provision of optical services directly to customers at 2.5
gigabits per second, representing the speed for digital signal
transmission expressed in billions of bits per second; and
- provides for the operation of multiple synchronous digital hierarchy
transmission networks and/or IP systems to run concurrently on a single
fiber pair in a highly cost-efficient manner. Ciena 40 wavelength systems
are currently installed on our network in five countries with a potential
capacity of 100 gigabits per second on a fiber pair.
Telecom Layer. The synchronous digital hierarchy layer of our network,
running via dense wavelength division multiplexing channels in the core of the
network, and directly on fiber elsewhere, supports the provision of
point-to-point services to customers at speeds of 2 Mbps up to 155 Mbps. The
synchronous digital hierarchy layer is itself a multi-layered architecture
consisting of multiple synchronous digital hierarchy rings, or cables, which are
optimized for different telecommunications traffic characteristics. Each
synchronous digital hierarchy ring supports fully automatic re-routing of
traffic in the case of a break in the ring.
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We expect to add an IP layer to our network starting in the second quarter
of 1999. This layer will support high capacity IP routers, or computer devices
for routing packet-switched data traffic, which can deliver IP services to
customers at speeds up to 2.5 gigabits per second. These routers will be
supported on the dense wavelength division multiplexing layer of the network
directly and/or through asynchronous transfer mode technology in the core of our
network and on top of the synchronous digital hierarchy layer elsewhere. These
changes will also enhance the services that Ebone can offer to its Internet
service provider customers. We plan to extend our enhanced IP transport
capabilities to all cities on our network by 2000. This layer will be able to
handle failures independently of the lower layers by re-routing at the IP level.
Our network is controlled by a single active network operations center in
Brussels, Belgium. We maintain a backup center in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
that has equivalent management systems continuously synchronized with the
primary center.
Our network operations center can pinpoint potential service problems and
deal with service re-routing much more effectively than other networks that are
controlled by multiple operators in different countries. Our advanced
operational support systems also provide comprehensive support for:
- managing the large number of network components and local repair
organizations required for an extensive international network of our
size; and
- providing advanced customer support for customer operational activities.
Overall, our combination of backup paths and management components enable
recovery from individual failures at the optical, synchronous digital hierarchy
and IP layers. Our resilient approach provides for a high level of network
performance and reliability. As a result, we are able to enter into strong
performance commitments with our customers, and services on most routes of our
network have performed at or above 99.9% availability.
We expect to operate our network and to own substantially all of our
network equipment as well as some segments of the fiber optic cable. A
substantial portion of the fiber is leased from third parties on a long-term
basis. Long-term leases for fiber are advantageous to us because they reduce or
eliminate the costly burden of building large quantities of capacity before they
can be fully utilized. Where we lease dark fiber, the owner of such fiber will
generally be responsible for maintaining such fiber optic cable. In general, we
will enter into agreements with equipment vendors and infrastructure providers
and other third parties to supply and/or maintain the necessary equipment for
our network. For a discussion of the risks associated with the Hermes Railtel
network technology, see "Risk Factors -- The technology of our Hermes Railtel
network could become obsolete and harm our competitiveness."
NETWORK CAPACITY
We are building our network to include Ciena 40 dense wavelength division
multiplexing systems on a majority of our routes. This allows for synchronous
digital hierarchy and IP systems of 2.5 gigabits per second to be installed only
when required, thus providing for efficient management of capital investment.
Should capacity be required beyond the initial 100 gigabits per second on
the first fiber pair, we can bring additional fiber pair(s) into operation that
utilize either higher capacity dense wavelength division multiplexing systems at
2.5 gigabits per second or at 10 gigabits per second. Such systems have been
available on some routes on our network since 1998. The remaining routes are
planned to have this upgrade in 1999. We plan to have a minimum of two fiber
pairs on all routes. This approach will extend capacity as we implement it on
new paths and on selected existing paths over time.
NETWORK AGREEMENTS
We have entered into agreements and letters of intent with various
infrastructure providers for construction and/or leasing of dark fiber for
portions of our network. Our agreements for leases of portions of our network
typically require the infrastructure provider to provide a certain number of
pairs of dark
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fiber and in some cases facilities along our network route commencing on dates
we provide. The term of a lease agreement typically ranges from 10 to 18 years.
An agreement typically contains optical specification standards for the fiber
and methods of testing. We are allowed to use the cable for the transmission of
messages and other purposes, including increasing capacity. The infrastructure
provider is responsible for maintenance of the cable facilities. The
infrastructure provider may also provide space for the location of our equipment
and related maintenance. The agreements typically provide for termination by the
parties only for material breach, but allow the breaching party 90 days to cure
their breach. The agreements typically contain a transition period after
termination of the agreement to allow us to continue to serve our customers
until we can reach agreement with an alternative infrastructure provider. In
certain areas of our network where it is not possible to lease dark fiber, we
have signed agreements or letters of intent for the right to use managed
bandwidth. The terms of these agreements typically range from 10 to 25 years.
For a discussion of the risks associated with our network agreements, see "Risk
Factors -- Failure to obtain new leases of transmission capacity or renew
existing leases on our leased lines could cause us to incur losses on the leased
portions of our network" and "Risk Factors -- Failure to carry sufficient
traffic on our leased lines could cause us to incur losses on the leased portion
of our network."
We are also deploying our network along the rights-of-way of a variety of
alternative sources, including railways, motorways, waterways, pipelines and
utilities. We constantly evaluate multiple alternative infrastructure suppliers
in order to maximize our flexibility. Many portions of our network utilize
long-term right-of-way agreements with landowners. As a result of our network
development activities to date, we have gained access to infrastructure for our
network routes which we believe will be difficult for competitors to duplicate.
LOCAL ACCESS
We expect to provide customer access to our network primarily through our
Access Services line of business using synchronous digital hierarchy access
lines in those cities where Access Services will be present and the Hermes
Railtel network has nodes. Arrangements with our Access Services line of
business are expected to be on an arms length basis. In each city, as one of our
points of presence is deployed, we may contract with one or more suppliers to
provide local access service to customer locations. Currently, we have
contracted with a number of unaffiliated local access providers to connect our
network to intra-city networks. Pursuant to these agreements, we can offer our
carrier customers service from their premises in one city to their premises in
another city. Various local access network suppliers may also be interested in
linking the business centers in which they are active to our network. Therefore,
we believe that the relationships between ourselves and local access network
suppliers can benefit both parties.
TRANSOCEANIC SERVICES
In January 1999, we signed an agreement with FLAG Telecom, to establish a
50/50 joint venture to build and operate the world's first transoceanic dual
cable system designed to carry voice, high-speed data and video traffic at
speeds up to 1.28 terabits or trillions of bits per second. The high-capacity
fiber optic link between Europe and the United States, to be known as FLAG
Atlantic-1, is expected to begin offering services in the last quarter of 2000.
The joint venture plans to offer a direct link between New York City, London and
Paris, with connections to numerous other cities in the United States, Europe
and other countries in the Middle East and Asia Pacific. The project is subject
to financing, the execution of related agreements and other conditions.
Construction of the initial 160 Gbps portion of FLAG Atlantic-1 will cost
approximately US$1 billion. Financing will be provided by a combination of
equity contributions and capacity purchases by the joint venture participants,
customer sales, and non-recourse bank debt. A contract to build the cable has
been awarded to Alcatel Submarine Networks, the general contractor. The system's
design allows for 160 Gbps incremental upgrades as demand warrants. Under the
terms of the joint venture agreement, we will be responsible for the
construction and maintenance of the land-based portion of FLAG Atlantic-1.
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The two subsea sections of the cable are approximately 5,900 kilometers and
6,350 kilometers for each link, with an overall system length of approximately
12,500 kilometers. The joint venture will provide links from the European
landing points to the cities of Paris and London where plans are for customers
to be able to connect to Carrier Services' network as well as to other networks
that customers may choose.
BUSINESS AND MARKETING STRATEGY
We believe that a large portion of Carrier Services' market growth will
come in the form of IP-based voice and data services. Because a majority of the
world's IP traffic originates in the United States, our Carrier Services line of
business has chosen to invest in its own capacity infrastructure through
Transoceanic Services' participation in FLAG Atlantic Limited. We believe that
owning a large volume of capacity will provide us with a competitive low cost
position to serve existing and future customers. We also intend to utilize FLAG
Atlantic Limited as a lessor of transatlantic capacity to Hermes Railtel, thus
extending the Hermes Railtel network at favorable prices. Transoceanic Services
will also provide backhaul services which it will market through a newly
developed sales force. For a discussion of the risks associated with our
business strategy, see "Risk Factors -- We may encounter delays in implementing
key elements of our business strategy which could adversely affect our projected
revenue growth."
CUSTOMERS
In addition to selling capacity to Hermes Railtel, Transoceanic Services
intends to target customers, including emerging alternative carriers, incumbent
telecommunications carriers and Internet service providers that require high
quality dedicated transmission capacity to major commercial and financial
centers. Sales will be made with our direct sales forces, as well as through
indirect channels.
IP SERVICES
In order to capitalize on the projected growth in IP voice and data
transmission services and to take full advantage of Hermes Railtel's network, as
well as its Ebone subsidiary and transoceanic capacity, we intend to offer
IP-based services to telecommunications carriers, businesses and other high
usage customers. We have recently developed a strategic plan which envisions
progressing from a service offering focused on IP transport to one which focuses
on value-added IP-based service offerings.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
We intend to offer a broad array of competitively priced comprehensive IP
services to meet our customers' requirements.
- Connectivity. Connectivity services may include dial-up and dedicated
access, IP transport, voice over IP, fax over IP, virtual private
networks and IP clearinghouse services;
- Network and Management Services. These services may include security and
network integration as well as router and server management, billing and
information services to managed IP networks; and
- Value Added Services. These services may include web hosting,
collocation, unified messaging and basic Internet service provider
services such as newsgroups, mail, groupware and directory services. We
are also considering metering and billing services as well as e-commerce
and call center applications.
BUSINESS AND MARKETING STRATEGY
We estimate that a large portion of our market growth will come in IP-based
voice and data services. These services will range from Internet access and IP
transport to value-added services such as
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e-commerce and unified messaging. We expect to use a number of complementary
strategies to enter these service markets, including:
- acquisition or partnership with emerging providers of value-added
services and IP-based application companies;
- expansion of Internet access and IP transport capabilities and service
offerings;
- development of a full web hosting capability either through acquisition,
partnership or our own development; and
- expansion of virtual private network, intranet and extranet service
offerings.
For a discussion of the risks associated with our business strategy, see
"Risk Factors -- We may encounter delays in implementing key elements of our
business strategy which could adversely affect our projected revenue growth."
GTS BUSINESS SERVICES
OVERVIEW
Through our Business Services line of business we provide high quality,
competitively priced long distance voice and fax services for retail business
customers to worldwide destinations and network management, access and
termination services to telecommunications service providers such as calling
card companies and resellers in the United Kingdom, Germany, The Netherlands,
Spain, France, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark and Ireland. We provide
these services using our switches, fiber optic cable and other infrastructure,
as well as leased lines and capacity provided by other carriers and service
providers. We established our Business Services customer base and sales network
and acquired additional switches, routers and other infrastructure through the
recent acquisitions of Esprit Telecom and NetSource.
We are in the process of developing our plans for integrating Esprit
Telecom, NetSource and Omnicom into our Business Services, Carrier Services and
Wholesale Services lines of business. We may have one or more of our other
entities purchase assets from Esprit Telecom as part of our strategy. Any such
transaction must be effected in accordance with the applicable covenants in the
indentures governing the Esprit Telecom 11.5% senior notes due 2007 and 10.875%
senior notes due 2008. In addition, we may also decide in the future to execute
a tender or exchange offer or consent solicitations with respect to these notes,
if we determine that it is advisable to better integrate Esprit Telecom into our
overall corporate structure.
The following discussion of GTS Business Services does not reflect the
effect of the Omnicom Acquisition that we consummated on April 26, 1999. See
"Summary -- Recent Developments -- Omnicom Acquisition."
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
We currently offer a range of telecommunications services to two targeted
business customer segments: (i) retail business customers consisting of small,
medium and large-sized businesses, governmental agencies and other organizations
with significant international traffic and (ii) telecommunications service
providers and resellers. We have recently introduced a new category of
service -- enhanced services -- to complement our established telecommunications
services and products. In some markets, we plan to target small and medium-sized
enterprises, small and home offices and high-value residential customers.
Retail Services. The largest share of the business and corporate retail
market is currently international voice and fax transmission services. In most
of our Business Services markets, we also provide our retail clients with
national long distance services. As we integrate Esprit Telecom and NetSource
and build out local access in targeted metropolitan markets throughout Europe,
we intend to
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provide our retail clients with seamless national and international city-to-city
service through our Carrier Services and Access Services infrastructure. We
believe that customers have selected us as a provider on the basis of
competitive pricing, network quality, responsive account management and
customized services. See "-- Competition Faced by Our Lines of Business."
We distinguish our retail business customers between direct access retail
customers and indirect access retail customers. Our direct access customers use
our owned or dedicated leased lines, while our indirect access customers access
our services indirectly on a switched basis using the public telecommunications
operator network by means of an access code. Our direct access retail customers
are generally users of telecommunication services who generate relatively large
amounts of long distance traffic, with such traffic usually being important to
the execution of their core businesses. We offer retail direct access in all of
our existing Business Services markets.
Our indirect access retail clients access our services by dialing an access
code, generally either using an auto dialer or via a code programmed directly
into their own switches so that it is transparent to the user. These customers
generally consist of small and medium-size businesses whose telecommunication
requirements do not warrant the costs associated with the dedicated leased lines
of direct access service. Contracts for both direct and indirect access are
typically for a period of one year. See "-- Business and Marketing Strategy
- -- Target High Users of Long Distance Traffic." For a discussion of regulatory
issues relating to the provision of retail indirect access services, see
"-- Licenses and Regulatory Issues."
Service Provider/Reseller Services. We provide network management, access
and termination services to a number of telecommunications service providers,
such as calling card companies and Internet service providers, and to resellers
which distribute our telecommunication services to customers with average
monthly revenue levels below those that we currently target. These companies are
typically marketing-focused rather than network-focused, and we are able to
provide a high degree of telecommunication support to such providers, including
stationing their equipment at our switch sites, incoming call verification and
bill generation. In some cases, these customers use competitor carriers to
either seek lower costs overall or to have backup services. Contracts for our
service provider and reseller services are typically for a period of one year.
Enhanced Services. We focus on developing new products and services which
address the specific needs of our customer base including calling cards, an
international toll free service and itemized billing, which we target to
organizations that require their customers or employees to be able to simply and
cost-effectively call them from other countries. We plan to introduce additional
services, including unified messaging, interactive voice services, prepaid
calling cards and prepaid mobile phone services. Our target customers include
calling card operators, hotels and information technology companies. In
addition, we provide itemized billing and detailed costing for accounting and
control purposes, national freephone services, as well as limited prepaid and
account-based calling card services in some markets, and limited data services
on a trial basis.
Fixed-to-Mobile Traffic. This service allows our Business Services
customers with a router to place calls to cellular phone subscribers at more
favorable rates than if they were placed directly to the relevant cellular phone
service through the public telecommunications operator. Due to the relatively
high penetration of cellular phones throughout Europe, the cost of calls to such
phones is an increasingly significant part of companies' total telephony costs.
Consequently, we believe that this service will continue to prove attractive.
BUSINESS AND MARKETING STRATEGY
In order to achieve our objective of becoming one of the largest
pan-European independent telecommunications service providers to business and
other high-usage customers, we intend to implement the following strategies:
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TARGET HIGH USERS OF LONG DISTANCE TRAFFIC
We have an established retail customer base of leading international
businesses, organizations and governmental agencies, including a number of
international financial institutions and large global hotel chains. We intend to
continue to focus a significant part of our retail marketing efforts on medium-
to large-sized businesses, governmental agencies and other organizations that
have extensive telecommunications needs and which typically generate long
distance telecommunications expenditures in excess of $5,000 per month. We will
increasingly focus our marketing efforts on small to medium-sized enterprises
that utilize significant amounts of long distance services, and plan to target
small offices and home offices and high value residential customers in certain
countries. We believe that these market segments offer significant
opportunities, because a substantial portion of them have traditionally been
under-served by the public telecommunications operators.
PROVIDE CUSTOMER VALUE AND SERVICE
We seek to offer our business services to our customers not only at a
discount to the prices charged by public telecommunications operators, but with
a level of service superior to that provided by such other service providers. We
believe that providing a high level of customer service is a key element in
establishing customer loyalty and attracting new customers. We focus on
providing individual attention to potential and current customers, beginning
early in the sales cycle and continuing throughout a customer's relationship
with us. We offer each client direct, personalized service to ensure full access
and a smooth transition to the services we provide.
DEVELOP OUR PRODUCT AND SERVICES PORTFOLIO
We seek to develop new products and services which address the specific and
changing needs of our current customer base and to attract and retain new
customers. Our infrastructure gives us the flexibility to offer new products and
services without undertaking major network modifications, and we believe that we
are well positioned, both from a technical and marketing perspective, to add
additional products and service offerings. The provision of national long
distance services is one of our rapidly growing businesses and we expect that
this will offer us major opportunities, as liberalization leads to more
favorable public telephone operator connection rates in Europe.
NETWORK AND OPERATIONS
Through our acquisitions of Esprit Telecom and NetSource, we have acquired
a core infrastructure network for providing services to business customers. This
consists of three components: the switching equipment, the transmission
infrastructure and network between those switches, and systems to support the
management of the network.
SWITCHING EQUIPMENT
We utilize advanced digital switching equipment and network routing
architecture from recognized industry manufacturers to form a reliable network
platform for the delivery of quality telecommunications transmissions. We own
and operate three switches at switching centers in London, Dusseldorf and
Amsterdam for switching national and international long distance calls. We own
and operate a switch in Mannheim, Germany and a switch in Dublin, Ireland for
switching national and international long-distance calls. We have has also
acquired additional switches, in Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Hamburg. We have
installed and are currently testing additional switches which have been
installed in Paris and Barcelona. We will add more switches to the network as
traffic flows, capacity and business conditions warrant and as we expand into
new markets.
We continuously evaluate developments in switching technology and products
offered by other companies, and will add different platforms which are
complementary and beneficial to our service network. We maintain our switches
with up-to-date software and ensure their compatibility with the large number of
signaling systems in use in the European and United States markets. Using
least-cost routing
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technologies, each switch is programmed to select the most cost-efficient route
or carrier for the required destination. We also employ dynamic compression
equipment to improve utilization of our most costly transmission lines.
TRANSMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE AND NETWORK
We currently maintain network sites in 31 locations in 11 European
countries, 11 of which locations are primary switching centers and 20 are local
points of presence, as well as network connections to certain carriers located
in the United States. In most cases, network sites are situated at the site of
the sales offices. We intend to extend the reach of our services network by
linking new sales offices and terminating sites with a view to providing
seamless and cost-effective transmission. Overall management of our services is
carried out centrally from our network management center in the United Kingdom,
with additional support staff based locally to facilitate complete oversight of
all network functions. Thus, we are able to evaluate current and projected
traffic patterns in order to establish buildout priorities.
One of our key services is least cost routing. The equipment required to
provide this service consists of a small programmable call router which is
connected to the PBX of a corporate customer or, in the case of a smaller office
without a PBX, connected directly to an outbound telephone cable. In certain
service areas such as The Netherlands, we also market telephone equipment with
routing technology already incorporated into the equipment (called a dialer). We
offer different types of routers depending on the market being served and local
technological requirements.
MONITORING AND MAINTENANCE
From our network management center in the United Kingdom, we monitor our
equipment and facilities and provide technical assistance and support 24 hours a
day, year-round. Various quality measures are monitored on an ongoing basis,
with the aim of identifying problems at an early stage before they affect the
customer. Through the use of sophisticated network management equipment, we are
able to effectively control bandwidth and provide diagnostic services. We use an
internal staff of technicians both to install and repair electronics and to
provide service to customers.
NETWORK RESILIENCE
Our network infrastructure is designed to provide resilience through
back-up power systems, automatic traffic re-routing and computerized automatic
network monitoring. If our network experiences a failure of one of its links,
the routing intelligence of the switch is designed to enable the call to be
transferred to the next choice route or, if all other routes are unavailable, to
the public switched telephone network, thus ensuring call delivery without
affecting the customer.
SALES
The local managing directors in each country are responsible for all local
sales activities and local marketing, local regulatory compliance and licensing
requirements, and the relationship with the local telecommunications companies.
A central marketing organization is responsible for coordinating the country
market initiatives, driving product development, market research and analysis,
and promotion and advertising. From our network management center in the United
Kingdom we provide transmission, technical support and billing services to each
of our sales offices and terminating sites. In addition, our network management
center is also responsible for the implementation, upgrading and functionality
of information technology systems (including the billing and management
information systems).
Direct sales constitute our principal sales method in the United Kingdom,
Germany, Spain, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, The
Netherlands and Ireland. We support our direct sales effort by telemarketing and
telesales, and complement it to a lesser extent by independent sales
intermediaries and resellers. In Sweden, Denmark and Norway we market our
products and services principally through sales agents. In addition, because we
have begun to increase our focus on specific
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industry groups, such as financial institutions, hotels, travel service
organizations and transport companies, we have assigned specialists to
particular industries.
We currently operate in eleven countries that account for approximately 80%
of the international long distance telecommunications minutes that originated in
EU member states in the 1998 calendar year, and maintain sales offices in 42
cities. Each country's sales operation is run as a profit center by a country
manager, and varies from smaller operations in the early stages of development,
to fully operational businesses in the more developed markets consisting of
support and sales staff, as well as customer service personnel. The sales
operation in each country is responsible for originating and managing business
in its respective local market, and is staffed with employees who understand our
Business Services line of business, philosophy, products and systems and local
telecommunication systems and products, business practices, languages and
customs. As of December 31, 1998 we had approximately 245 direct sales people,
300 sales agents and 150 full-time equivalent telemarketing employees in our
Business Services line of business.
The United Kingdom. From sales offices in London, Reading, the Midlands,
Manchester and Glasgow, we currently offer both direct and indirect retail
access and service provider and reseller services to all international and
national long distance destinations in our Business Services line of business.
Germany. We offer both direct and indirect retail access and service
provider and reseller services to all international and national long distance
locations and through NetSource, we also provide services to small-office and
home-office and residential customers. In addition, we offer retail services to
businesses through six regional sales offices located in Frankfurt, Hamburg,
Berlin, Munich, Oberhausen and Stuttgart and through relationships with
third-party distributors. In June 1998, Esprit Telecom acquired the switch-based
telecommunications services business of Plusnet, which at that date offered
national and international long distance voice telephony to approximately 700
business customers.
The Netherlands. We have sales offices in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Leiden,
Zwolle, Eindhoven and Venray. We currently offer both direct and indirect retail
access, wholesale and service provider and reseller services to all
international and national long distance destinations.
Scandinavia. We operate in Sweden, Norway and Denmark as a reseller,
providing our business customers with indirect retail access and service
provider and reseller services to all international and national long distance
destinations using least cost routing.
Spain. We operate one of the few alternative telecommunications providers
currently operating in the Spanish market. From sales offices in Madrid,
Barcelona and Bilbao, we currently offer both direct and indirect retail access
and service provider and reseller services to all international and national
long distance destinations.
France. We operate sales offices in Paris, Lille, Lyon, and Strasbourg. We
currently offer both direct and indirect retail access, wholesale and service
provider and reseller services to all international and national long distance
destinations.
Belgium. From sales offices in Brussels and Antwerp, we currently offer
direct and indirect retail access wholesale and service provider and reseller
services to all international and national long distance destinations.
Italy. From a sales office in Milan, we currently offer direct and indirect
retail access to all international and national long distance destinations.
Ireland. From sales offices in Dublin and Cork, we offer both direct and
indirect retail access services to all international and national long distance
destinations.
BILLING AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Our detail records for customers we acquired through the acquisition of
Esprit Telecom are collected and backed-up locally and transmitted to the
internal billing center in the United Kingdom for processing.
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Call records are transmitted electronically to Tel Labs Inc., a data processing
company in the United States, for final processing of customer records, which
are then returned for verification, printing and distribution to customers. In
1997, we began to consider an upgrade to our information and management systems,
which we believed to be required in order to provide the capability and
flexibility to support our anticipated growth. We have selected a new customer
care and billing system from Seville Systems, a billing system vendor
headquartered in Edmonton, Canada. The new system is undergoing final
customization and testing. The introduction of the new system will be
accompanied by additional systems designed to support the critical service
activation, customer care and service assurance processes. We expect that
investment will continue with major additional systems in the billing, customer
care, network management, product management, prospect management and
information systems areas being introduced over the next several years. We
expect to integrate the acquired legacy billing systems at NetSource and Esprit
Telecom into our new Business Services billing process by mid-1999. See "Risk
Factors -- We may not implement billing and management information systems
effectively and on schedule."
GTS WHOLESALE SERVICES
OVERVIEW
By utilizing the existing infrastructure of Esprit Telecom, we are creating
a sixth line of business to be known as Wholesale Services. Wholesale Services
will provide international traffic termination services to other
telecommunication carriers, including public telecommunications companies, new
operators, global alliances and regional telephone companies, to which it is
able to provide highly responsive and flexible services. Wholesale traffic will
enable us to benefit from greater purchasing power and higher network
utilization. Through our Wholesale Services line of business, we will integrate
the wholesale services activities of Esprit Telecom with the international
switching and transit service activities of GTS -- Monaco Access. At a later
date, our Wholesale Services line of business will also incorporate the
wholesale activities of NetSource.
Through our Wholesale Services line of business, we offer competitively
priced international switching and transit services, primarily to the
"wholesale" international gateway and carrier-to-carrier portion of the
international calling market, as distinguished from "retail" services offered to
end-users. These services include:
- international switched traffic;
- international private lines;
- facilities management, including billing, customer management and fault
reduction systems;
- resale distribution for Internet service providers; and
- prepaid calling card platform services.
Wholesale customers are other international and national carriers that
connect with Wholesale Services to carry their traffic to destinations where our
rates are competitive, both on the Hermes Railtel network and on other
off-network routes. Wholesale Services has contracts with these customers, but
they generally do not include minimum usage levels. Our wholesale customers
generally maintain relationships with a number of telecommunications providers.
In several cases, Wholesale Services will also use its wholesale customers as
suppliers for termination of its off-network calls. We believe that success in
the wholesale business is predicated on high network quality at a low cost base.
At present, the majority of our Wholesale Services' wholesale customers are
located throughout Europe. We expect that demand for our Wholesale Services line
of business will further increase in other European markets as these markets
mature. As we continue to increase the capacity of Hermes Railtel's network, we
anticipate that our resultant cost base will enable us to price our wholesale
services more competitively and therefore increase the volume of such services.
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Our partner in GTS-Monaco Access, SNF, is an investment fund designated by
the Principality of Monaco to represent its interests. We exercise operational
control of the joint venture, and provide managerial and financial support,
international telecommunications expertise and strategic planning. We have
entered into an agreement with SNF and Monaco Telecom to purchase for
approximately $5 million SNF's 50% interest in GTS-Monaco Access, terminate the
GTS-Monaco Access joint venture and transfer its customers and revenues to the
UK as we combine with Esprit Telecom's wholesale activities.
By utilizing our Carrier Services and Access Services networks as well as
over 25 third-party carriers in London and 40 third-party carriers across Europe
and North America, we provide telecommunications termination to destinations
world-wide and a wide range of alternative routing paths that facilitate cost-
effective termination and ensure reliability and increased call/termination
success rates. Calls are carried from the entry switch point to the switch point
from which the call can be terminated most economically. If this exit switch
site is within the country of the termination, we consider the call to be an
"on-net" call, whereas we otherwise consider it to be an "off-net" call. Off-net
calls are passed on to other carriers for transmission and termination. In
general, we realize higher gross margins with respect to on-net calls because we
utilize our own infrastructure. We expect that the expansion of the our Carrier
Services and Access Services networks will allow us to increase the proportion
of on-net calls as well as further reduce the cost of these calls.
BUSINESS AND MARKETING STRATEGY
Our strategy for developing our Wholesale Services line of business
includes the following:
- Develop Advanced Carrier Services Offerings. Wholesale Services may
develop its "advanced carrier services" offerings to include global 0800
services and international free phone services, which we believe will
broaden customer relationships, enhance revenues and help to protect us
from price-based competition.
- Develop Relationships to Broaden Service Offerings. Our Wholesale
Services line of business may develop relationships to broaden its
service offerings. Wholesale Services has entered into agreements with
UUNET, one of its gateway customers, to provide wholesale Internet access
to Wholesale Services' carrier customers in a number of Western European
countries. The agreement allows these services to use the same brand
names as those of our affiliates.
- Pricing. Price is a critical factor in the market for international
switching as competition increases due to expanding international
capacity, advances in technology and falling regulatory barriers.
Wholesale Services intends to price its services competitively with the
prevailing price for comparable inter-public telecommunications operators
transit and gateway services. Wholesale Services is not bound by legacy
systems, infrastructure and personnel levels and can, therefore, manage
competitive cost operations.
- Attractiveness of Independence. Because our Western European activities
are not affiliated with any of the major consortia or large Western
European telecommunications companies, our Wholesale Services line of
business may be considered an attractive service provider for Western
European carriers who may otherwise be reluctant to obtain services from
the larger operators of international gateways that are often their
competitors in the retail market.
- Exploit Internal Opportunities. Wholesale Services may collaborate with
our other companies in Europe and the CIS. Wholesale Services is expected
to realize significant reductions in its cost structure through access to
low-cost European transmission capacity through an alternative
infrastructure provider such as Hermes Railtel. Wholesale Services will
act as the international carrier for traffic generated by our other lines
of business.
For a discussion of the risks associated with our business strategy, see
"Risk Factors -- We may encounter delays in implementing key elements of our
business strategy which could adversely affect our projected revenue growth."
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TARGETED CUSTOMERS
Targeted customers for our Wholesale Services line of business include:
- Non-Affiliated Public Telecommunications Operators. We believe that
various large American and Western European public telecommunications
operators that lack adequate international switching and transport
facilities of their own may be persuaded to purchase international
services from Wholesale Services rather than from competing public
telecommunications operators or consortia;
- Mobile Carriers. We believe that some of the alternative mobile
carriers, which currently provide only a small percentage of Western
European mobile telecommunications traffic, may prefer the "independent"
international gateway service offerings of Wholesale Services to those
of their public telecommunications operator competitors;
- Internet Service Providers. Growth in Internet usage creates a
significant opportunity for a nonaligned Internet access provider such
as Wholesale Services, since many Internet service providers will be in
direct competition with public telecommunications operator-owned
services in large European markets;
- Second Carriers/Resellers. We believe that many second carriers will
seek to enter new markets quickly without investing in international
switching capacity; and
- Established Public Telecommunications Operators. This customer segment
will be a niche market for Wholesale Services. As markets are
deregulated and carriers become increasingly competitive, opportunities
may emerge to leverage our non-aligned status to route traffic between
those new competitors.
GTS ACCESS SERVICES
OVERVIEW
Through Access Services, we intend to capitalize on our experience in
developing and operating local telecommunications networks in Russia and Central
Europe by building, acquiring or leasing technologically advanced fiber optic
networks in order to provide local access services in up to 14 metropolitan
markets throughout Europe, by 2001. We presently provide local telecommunication
access infrastructure and leased lines in several cities in Russia, the CIS and
Central Europe, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kiev, Prague and Budapest.
Currently, the regulatory regimes in Europe vary from country to country and
some countries do not permit alternative providers of local access to operate.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Together with our Business Services line of business, we intend to offer
through Access Services a broad array of competitively priced, comprehensive
services to meet customer telecommunications service requirements, including
private line services, local, national and international switched telephony
services, high-speed local access network interconnection services, virtual
private network services, video transmission services and IP-based services,
including voice over IP, web hosting and data transmission services. According
to industry sources, demand for data transmission in the United States is
currently growing much faster than voice, and we expect that this trend will
develop in Europe as competitively priced telecommunications services become
available. In addition, we intend to develop competitively priced value-added
telecommunications services that are tailored to the specific needs of
individual customers.
The types of services that we intend to offer in combination with our
Business Services include:
- Switched Services. Switched services involve the transmission of voice,
data or video to locations specified by end-users or carriers. Through
our Business Services, we have the technological capability to offer a
full range of switched service, including local, national and
international calls as
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well as enhanced services. We intend to own and operate switches and
enter into interconnection agreements with other telecommunication
service providers and carriers, including Hermes Railtel's network, in
order to offer to customers cost-effective local, national and
international calling services. Switched service features are expected to
include, to the extent allowed by local regulations, enhanced services
such as conference calling, call forwarding, analog or digital
connectivity, desk-to-desk calling, four digit dialing, full network
monitoring and maintenance, caller ID, voice mail/messaging and e-mail to
voice-mail conversion.
- Non-Switched Services. Non-switched services involve a fixed, dedicated
communications link between two or more specific locations. Businesses
commonly use this service to obtain a private direct link between
multiple business facilities or to another end-user/carrier. We expect to
provide high capacity, advanced technology to deliver customer traffic
with a lower cost and higher reliability as compared to the local public
telephone operator. Through a highly reliable and cost-efficient network
that can carry significant amounts of capacity, we intend to provide
non-switched voice, data and video transmission between (1) end users,
(2) end users and carriers and (3) multiple carriers, allowing our
customers the option to bypass the older, less efficient technology and
higher priced services of the incumbent public telecommunications
operators.
- Other Services. We also intend to develop service offerings to take
advantage of new market opportunities. We expect such services to include
one or more of the following: high speed data transmission services,
IP-based services, including Internet for multi-media applications, Web
hosting, voice over IP, calling card services, and enhanced voice
services. These products are expected to be developed and offered as
customer demand dictates and as the relevant regulatory environment
permits. We believe that there will be substantial demand for data and
Internet services by large business and other high-usage customers, and
that a bundled service offering of national and international data and
voice services will be attractive to this targeted customer base.
BUSINESS AND MARKETING STRATEGY
We believe that the size and growth potential of the European
telecommunications market, and the increasing liberalization of
telecommunications regulations in Europe, offer considerable opportunities to
expand into the provision of local access to retail customers in metropolitan
markets throughout Europe.
Our strategy for entering into a specific metropolitan market will be
determined through an analysis of a number of demographic and economic factors,
including:
- business concentration;
- presence of governmental, financial and business customers;
- local economic trends and prospects;
- demand and spending for switched and non-switched voice, data and video
telecommunications services;
- feasibility of construction;
- presence of existing and potential competitors;
- the regulatory environment;
- the market's proximity to the Hermes Railtel network; and
- the presence of local access companies that may be potential acquisition
candidates.
In targeting cities in which our entry strategy will be the construction of a
fiber optic cable network, we will initially focus on cities in which there are
no competitive local exchange carrier competitors providing local access
services or only one other such competitor. We commenced commercial operations
in Berlin
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in September 1999. Our current intention is to enter the Paris metropolitan
markets by the end of 1999 and to provide services in up to 14 target
metropolitan markets by 2001.
We expect to use one or more of the following strategies to enter a market:
- constructing a fiber-loop network;
- purchasing or leasing fiber optic cable which has not been equipped or
activated for commercial use;
- obtaining licenses for telecommunications networks utilizing microwave
transmissions; or
- forming partnerships with or acquiring providers of local access services
that own and operate their own fiber loops and network equipment.
CUSTOMERS
We plan to offer local access and other telecommunications services
primarily to telecommunications-intensive businesses for which reliable
telecommunications services are critical, as well as to our Carrier Services and
Business Services lines of business. We will use our fiber switches and other
equipment where available and/or reselling other carriers' equipment as needed.
These businesses include financial services companies, multi-national companies,
governmental agencies, resellers, Internet service providers and wireless
communications companies.
NETWORK
In those markets in which we determine to build our own fiber loops, we
intend to construct, acquire or lease facilities to operate advanced,
competitive local telecommunications networks employing current transmission
technology with dual ring architecture and central system monitoring and
maintenance. We believe that a base of uniform, reliable networks, which employ
the most current technology and support a broad array of high quality services,
will allow us to compete cost-effectively against products and services offered
by public telecommunications operators and, in certain markets, other
competitive providers of local access.
Our plan for our basic transmission platform is fiber optic cable deployed
in rings, equipped with high-capacity synchronous digital hierarchy equipment.
Such rings will provide redundancy by using dual paths for telecommunications
transmissions and will extend to a customer facility either directly or on a
point-to-point link from the rings. Such rings will finally connect to the
customer through customer-dedicated or shared electronics on or near the
customer premises.
NETWORK CONSTRUCTION
Prior to undertaking acquisition or construction of a network in a
particular market, we will undertake an analysis of a number of factors, as
discussed above, to determine whether such acquisition or construction is
economically justifiable. Wherever appropriate, we will seek to purchase or
lease fiber optic cable that is not equipped or has not been activated for
commercial use or utilize high-frequency short-haul microwave transmissions as a
method of accelerated entry into a selected market.
We expect that we will contract construction and installation services to
independent contractors selected through a competitive bidding process. Our
personnel are expected to provide project management services, including
contract negotiation, construction supervision, testing and certification of
installed facilities. The construction period of a network is expected to vary
greatly, depending on such factors as network route kilometers, number of
buildings involved in the initial installation and local construction
regulations. Upon completion of the first phase of construction, or the initial
loop, we expect to commence generating revenue. Further expansion of the network
will be dictated by customer growth and customers' relative proximity to the
initial loop.
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Our initial capital requirement to develop our Access Services business in
Europe will be financed with a majority of the proceeds from our July 1998 stock
and convertible debt offerings. In addition, we contemplate that we will raise
additional financing, the proceeds of which will be applied toward the
construction of our local access infrastructure. We have not yet determined the
size and timing of such financing. We cannot estimate with any degree of
certainty the amount and timing of our future capital requirements for the
development of our Access Services line of business, which will be dependent on
many factors, including the success of our Access Services business, the rate at
which we expand our networks and develop new networks, the types of services we
offer, staffing levels, acquisitions and customer growth, as well as other
factors that are not within our control including competitive conditions,
regulatory developments and capital costs. We believe that as we develop our
Access Services line of business, it is likely that we will need to raise
additional capital. See "Risk Factors -- We may be unable to raise the
additional capital necessary to implement our business strategy."
SALES AND MARKETING
In each of our target markets, we intend to establish our own direct sales
force. As we will be targeting large financial, corporate and governmental
customers with demanding telecommunications service requirements, we expect that
our internal sales force will include dedicated sales and customer service
representatives. Our Access Services sales force will offer direct local access
to Business Services customers in those metropolitan markets in which our Access
Services builds local fiber loops. In addition, our Access Services will work
closely with our Business Services to identify key customers and develop joint
service offerings.
GTS ACCESS SERVICES IN CENTRAL EUROPE
In Central Europe, we currently provide private data communications
services to government and commercial customers in Hungary, the Czech Republic,
Slovakia and Romania. In the Czech Republic, we provide outgoing voice services
and high-speed Internet access to business customers and operate an
international gateway and a data services network. In Hungary, we provide data
transmission services through a nationwide microwave network and a
satellite-based network installed at customer sites throughout the country. We
plan to develop two fiber loops in Budapest. Subject to certain regulatory
approvals, we have also obtained a license to provide international data
services in Poland and expect to begin operations during the first quarter of
1999.
In January and February 1999, we acquired an interest in two Internet
providers in Central Europe, DataNet in Hungary and NetForce in the Czech
Republic. In addition, we also acquired interests in two of the largest Internet
service providers in Poland, Internet Technologies and ATOM.
Our strategy in Central Europe is to expand our service offerings as the
regulatory environment permits, utilizing our existing infrastructure where
possible and providing a broad range of services to our target markets. The
establishment of competitive providers of local access in various Central
European cities is a major component of this strategy.
BILLING AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Sophisticated information and processing systems will be vital to the
success of Access Services. Specifically, we will need to develop systems to
enter, schedule, provision, and track a customer's order from the point of sale
to the initiation of service and such systems will need to include, or interface
with, trouble-shooting systems, management, billing, collection and customer
service systems. We expect the development of our systems to require substantial
capital and management resources. See "Risk Factors -- We may not implement
billing and management information systems effectively and on schedule."
GOLDEN TELECOM
We provide telecommunications services to business customers and
telecommunications operators in Moscow, Kiev, St. Petersburg and other major
population centers throughout Russia and other countries of
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the CIS through our majority-owned subsidiary, Golden Telecom. Golden Telecom
continues to evaluate the business environment in Russia and the CIS for
possible attractive opportunities for investments that may complement its
operations in Russia and the CIS.
OVERVIEW OF RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKETS
Russia
We believe that evolving changes in government policy over the last several
years and the overall inadequacy of basic telecommunications services throughout
Russia have created a significant opportunity, although recent political and
economic developments have created considerable uncertainty. Following the
former Soviet Union's transformation from a centralized economy to a more
market-oriented economy, increased demand from emerging private businesses and
from individuals, together with the poor state of the public telephone network,
has led to rapid growth in the telecommunications sector in Russia and the other
independent republics of the CIS.
Although it remains subject to certain restrictions, significant progress
in privatization of the telecommunications industry in Russia and the other
independent republics of the CIS has occurred. Under Russian law, state-owned
enterprises within the telecommunications sector were subject to privatization
but only pursuant to a decision of the Russian government in each individual
case and with the state retaining a certain percentage of the stock of the
privatized entity for three years, subject to extension for national security
reasons. At present, virtually all of the former state telecommunications
enterprises have been privatized and, subject to the above restrictions, shares
of the newly formed joint stock companies have been sold to the public.
Despite the recent changes in the Russian telecommunications industry, the
level and quality of telecommunications service generally available from most
public operators in Moscow remains significantly below that available in cities
of Western Europe and the United States, although in recent years, the Moscow
local telephone infrastructure has benefitted from significant capital
investment. Outside Moscow (and to a lesser extent St. Petersburg), most
standard Russian telecommunications equipment is obsolete.
Ukraine
The evolution of the telecommunications sector in Ukraine is similar to
that in Russia. The infrastructure is outdated, the industry is inefficient and
provides low-quality services. In contrast to Russia, there has been no
privatization of government telecommunications organizations in Ukraine.
MANAGEMENT, LEGAL AND FINANCIAL CONTROLS IN RUSSIA AND THE CIS
We have a policy worldwide of complying with all applicable laws. However,
emerging market countries often have commercial practices and less developed
legal and regulatory frameworks that differ significantly from practices in the
United States and other Western countries. In addition, some local practices,
such as the payment of fees for the purpose of obtaining expedited customs
clearance and other commercial benefits that may be common methods of doing
business in these markets, might be unlawful under the laws of the United States
and other countries.
In light of these circumstances, in the second half of 1996 we increased
our efforts to improve our management and financial controls and business
practices. We recruited a more experienced financial and legal team, including a
new Chief Financial Officer, a senior finance officer overseeing all of the
regions in which we operate, a senior finance officer for the CIS region, and a
senior legal officer for the CIS region and adopted a more rigorous Foreign
Corrupt Practices Act and applicable local laws compliance program.
In addition, in early 1997, we retained special outside counsel to conduct
a thorough review of certain of our business practices in the emerging markets
in which we operate to determine whether deficiencies existed that needed to be
remedied. In the course of this review, we replaced certain senior employees in
Russia and instituted additional and more stringent management and financial
controls. In addition, in June 1999, our special counsel completed an update of
the 1997 review in Russia and Ukraine. Neither
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the review nor the update identified any violations of law that we believe would
have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. However, we cannot
ensure that all potential deficiencies have been properly identified or that
governmental authorities will not disagree with our assessment. If our control
procedure and compliance provisions are not effective or the government
authorities determine that we have violated any law, depending on the penalty
assessed and the timing of any unfavorable restrictions, our future results of
operations and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
We believe that the special counsel review was properly conducted and
sufficient in scope and that the actions taken since the review to strengthen
our management, financial controls and legal compliance will be adequate to
address any possible deficiencies. However, we cannot assure you that all
potential deficiencies have been identified or that the control procedures and
compliance programs we have implemented will be effective. The audit committee
of our board recently reviewed our legal compliance procedures. We believe that
this continued oversight will help to ensure that any problems in these
procedures are addressed. For a discussion of the risks we face, see "Risk
Factors -- Our management, legal and financial controls may be inadequate to
ensure that we comply with applicable laws."
OPERATIONS
Golden Telecom provides a broad range of telecommunications services in
Russia, including international long distance services, domestic long distance
services, cellular services, high speed data transmission, Internet access and
local access services. Dedicated and leased capacity supplements our own
infrastructure, allowing us to bypass the severely congested and poorly
maintained local, domestic and long distance circuits of the Russian and
Ukrainian carriers.
Golden Telecom seeks to integrate and co-market its service offerings,
utilizing TeleRoss as the long distance provider, Sovintel as the international
gateway, TeleCommunications of Moscow and Mobile Services for local access, and
Sovam Teleport as the data communications and Internet access network for
business applications and on-line services. This integrated marketing approach
enables Golden Telecom to provide comprehensive telecommunications solutions to
multinational corporations operating throughout Russia and the other independent
countries of the CIS. For a discussion of the risks associated with Golden
Telecom's joint ventures, see "Risk Factors -- Turmoil in Russia and the CIS
creates uncertainty for our operations -- Our relationships with our joint
venture partners limit our independence and flexibility."
Sovintel. Golden Telecom owns 50% of Sovintel, a joint venture with
Rostelecom, the national long distance carrier. Sovintel markets a broad range
of high quality telecommunications services by (i) directly providing
international direct dial access to over 180 countries and private line
dedicated voice channels and (ii) leveraging the infrastructure and services of
its other Russian ventures, including TeleRoss, TeleCommunications of Moscow and
Sovam. Sovintel customers, which primarily consist of businesses, fixed-line
operators and cellular operators, are able to access these telecommunications
services through Sovintel's fully-digital overlay network in Moscow. In
addition, Sovintel continues construction of its St. Petersburg network which is
interconnected to Sovintel's Moscow network and is intended to support
Sovintel's Moscow clients which have a presence in St. Petersburg.
Telecommunications of Moscow. During the third quarter of 1998, Golden
Telecom increased its beneficial ownership of Telecommunications of Moscow to
95%. It purchased the remaining 5% interest in Telecommunications of Moscow from
MTU -- Inform in August 1999. Telecommunications of Moscow provides a licensed
numbering plan and interconnection to the Moscow city telephone network for
carriers needing basic local access service in Moscow. Telecommunications of
Moscow is currently licensed to provide and has constructed ports for 100,000
numbers in Moscow. Telecommunications of Moscow has completed agreements
required to construct and provide an additional 50,000 numbers. The construction
started in 1998 and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2000.
Telecommunications of Moscow's switching facilities are fully integrated with
the networks of Rostelecom, Sovintel, and Moscow city telephone network,
allowing it to provide high quality digital service to its customers.
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Telecommunications of Moscow acts as a local gateway by providing numbers
and ports to carriers in Moscow, including Sovintel, VimpelCom and Moscow
Cellular, and thus providing interconnectivity to the Moscow city telephone
network. Access to the Moscow city telephone network provides customers with the
higher quality and broader range of services available in Moscow, such as the
services provided by Sovintel. Access from outlying regions is typically
obtained through a domestic long distance service provider such as TeleRoss. See
"-- Sovintel" and "-- TeleRoss."
TeleRoss. TeleRoss is a wholly owned subsidiary of Golden Telecom that
operates a domestic long distance network. In addition, TeleRoss has a 50%
ownership interest in 14 regional joint ventures that originate traffic and
provide local termination of calls. The TeleRoss domestic long distance network
serves 15 major Russian cities, including Moscow and, through satellite
technology, to customers located in remote areas outside these cities. TeleRoss
provides digital domestic long distance services and other value-added services
through its own infrastructure as well as access to Sovintel's international
gateway services and access to the Moscow city telephone network through
Telecommunications of Moscow's switching facilities. Sovam uses the TeleRoss
digital channels to provide regional data service and has co-located its access
facilities with TeleRoss.
Sovam. Sovam provides traditional and high-speed data communications
services, Internet access, database access and voice over data services over a
high-speed packet/frame relay network to its customers in a large number of
major Russian and CIS cities. Sovam also offers Russia On Line, the first
Russian language Internet service. Russia on Line (which is our registered
trademark) provides direct access to the Internet as well as access to a wide
range of local and international information services and databases. Sovam
offers its services in 68 cities in Russia, 15 cities in Ukraine and 7 cities in
other counties of the CIS.
Sovam employs a dedicated sales and marketing force. Sovam's sales efforts
are focused primarily on the banking and financial communities and large
multinational companies. We frequently market bundled service packages, which
include Sovam's data and Internet service, Sovintel's international service and
TeleRoss's long distance service in order to offer customers a comprehensive
telecommunications solution.
Golden Telecom BTS. Golden Telecom BTS, a division of Golden Telecom's 69%
owned subsidiary Golden Telecom (Ukraine), provides local access services,
international and domestic long distance services and data services through a
fiber optic network that is interconnected to the local public telephone network
in Kiev and to our international gateway. Golden Telecom BTS customers primarily
consist of business customers, fixed-line operators and cellular operators.
Mobile Services. Golden Telecom also operates cellular businesses in
Russia and the Ukraine. In Russia, it currently operates thirteen cellular
companies in Russian regions located primarily in Western Russia. Golden Telecom
owns between 50% and 100% of these regional cellular operators in Russia, which
provide analog cellular telephone service based on the Advanced Mobile Phone
System, or AMPS technology. In addition, Golden Telecom operates PrimTelefone, a
50%-owned joint venture that operates an analog network in Vladivostok and other
cities in the Primorsky region of Russia based on the Nordic Mobile Telephone
System, or NMT technology. In the Ukraine, Golden Telecom has an approximately
69% beneficial interest in Golden Telecom (Ukraine), which through its Golden
Telecom GSM division operates a digital GSM-1800 cellular network in Kiev.
In accordance with its current strategy, Golden Telecom intends to cease to
provide further financial support to certain of the ventures in less-developed
urban areas. Golden Telecom will therefore abandon these ventures, which are not
material to its financial condition or results of operations, and take a charge
to earnings of $16-20 million in the third quarter of 1999. Golden Telecom will
also assume approximately $10-13 million in debt obligations of these ventures.
Golden Telecom intends to continue to support the ventures in the more developed
urban areas.
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COMPETITION FACED BY OUR LINES OF BUSINESS
The European and international telecommunications industries are highly
competitive. Our competitors in these markets include the following entities,
many of which have substantially greater technical, financial, marketing and
other resources:
- established national or regional public telecommunications operators and
providers;
- private multinational telecommunications carriers;
- other private telecommunications developers and niche providers; and
- consortia of telecommunications providers.
Historically, the European public telecommunications operators monopolized
the provision of telecommunications services in their national or regional home
markets and designed their networks according to national rather than
international considerations. Between 1990 and 1997, however, the European Union
implemented a series of directives designed to open up European
telecommunications markets to competition. These directives required EU member
states to implement legislation liberalizing their respective telecommunications
markets to permit alternative telecommunications companies both to provide
telecommunications services and to access the existing telecommunications
infrastructure controlled by these national and regional providers. In response
to these European regulatory changes, a number of companies, including our
company, have emerged to compete with the European public telecommunications
operators. We believe that competition for telecommunications services in Europe
will continue to increase as a result of continuing liberalization.
Accordingly, we compete primarily with national public telecommunications
operators and other providers which have established market presences,
fully-built networks and financial and other resources which are substantially
greater than ours and, in the case of many public telecommunications operators,
control over the intra-national transmission lines and connections to such
lines. Additionally, the ownership of such infrastructure provides them with
significant cost advantages. Since we utilize many of these networks to provide
our services, the failure to gain cost-oriented access to such networks could
have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and
financial condition.
We believe that other competitors in the European markets will include
private multinational consortia such as Unisource, Concert and Global One, as
well as resellers, microwave and satellite carriers, mobile wireless
telecommunications providers, cable television companies, utilities and other
competitive local telecommunications providers. We also compete with other
medium-sized private carriers and resellers in Europe. These companies are
generally more aggressive than the public telecommunications operators and other
dominant providers and sometimes bring experience from more mature marketplaces.
Like ourselves, these providers often target medium-to large-sized business
customers and other big market segments. In addition, the development of new
technologies could give rise to significant new competitors.
Competition in the European telecommunications industry is based upon
price, customer service, type and quality of services and customer
relationships. Our strategy is predicated on our ability to reduce our prices
below the prices charged by the public telecommunications operators or dominant
carriers in each of our markets, yet offer high-quality products and
telecommunications services. However, prices have decreased substantially over
the last few years in most of our markets. Some of our larger competitors may be
able to use their greater financial resources to cause severe price competition
in the countries in which we operate. We expect that prices will continue to
decrease for the foreseeable future and that public telecommunications operators
and other providers will continue to improve their product offerings. For a
discussion of the risks posed by our competitors' operations, see "Risk
Factors -- Established competitors with greater resources may make it more
difficult for us to effectively market our services, offer our services at a
profit and attract and retain customers and "Risk Factors-- Our competitive
position may be compromised by our dependence on other telecommunications
service providers."
We have outlined below the competitive environment with respect to each of
our six lines of business.
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GTS CARRIER SERVICES
The success of our Carrier Services line of business depends upon our
ability to compete with a variety of other telecommunications providers offering
or seeking to offer cross-border services, including (1) the respective public
telecommunications operator in each country in which Hermes Railtel's network
operates, (2) global alliances among some of the world's largest
telecommunications carriers, and (3) global operators. We expect that some of
these current and future competitors may also become our customers. We also
believe that the ongoing liberalization of the European telecommunications
market will attract additional entrants to the carrier's carrier market and
increase the intensity of competition. Competitors in this market compete
primarily on the basis of price and quality. We intend to focus on these factors
and on service innovation as well. Our Carrier Services business plan
anticipates substantial direct and indirect competition. For a discussion of the
risks associated with our Carrier Services line of business, see "Risk
Factors -- Our Access Services and Business Services activities may cause our
Carrier Services line of business to lose customers" and "Risk Factors -- The
technology of our Hermes Railtel network could become obsolete and harm our
competitiveness."
Various telecommunications companies, including MCI/WorldCom, Inc., Viatel,
Inc., KPN-Qwest, Deutsche Telekom AG, France Telecom S.A., Global Crossing Ltd.,
and British Telecommunications plc, have announced plans to construct, have
begun to construct or are operating fiber optic networks across various European
countries. Some of these networks include, or their promoters have expressed
their intentions to include, transatlantic connectivity.
GTS BUSINESS SERVICES
We have not achieved and we do not expect to achieve a significant market
share for our services in any of Business Services' markets. We expect that
prices for our Business Services line of business will continue to decrease for
the foreseeable future. In addition, certain of our customers, in particular
wholesale carriers, may sometimes use more than one service provider and may
reduce their use of our services and switch to other providers.
The following discussion of GTS Business Services does not reflect the
effect of the Omnicom Acquisition that we consummated on April 26, 1999. See
"Summary -- Recent Developments -- Omnicom Acquisition."
In each of our current Business Services markets we compete primarily with
the national public telecommunications providers. Other competitors of Business
Services include private multinational consortia as well as microwave and
satellite carriers, mobile wireless telecommunications providers, cable
television companies, utilities and competing local telecommunications providers
and other medium-sized carriers and resellers in Europe. Some of these carriers
have established their own switch sites and operate their own networks.
Competitors in this segment include MCI/WorldCom, COLT, Viatel and RSL, which
compete in multiple countries, and country-specific competitors such as Energis
(UK), Arcor (Germany), Telfort (The Netherlands), Retevision (Spain), Infostrada
(Italy) and Cegetel (France). These providers are generally more entrepreneurial
than the public telecommunications operators and other dominant providers and
sometimes bring experience from more mature markets. Like us, these providers
often target small, medium and large-sized business customers or other market
niches.
GTS WHOLESALE SERVICES
Our Wholesale Services line of business will face competition from a
consortia of telecommunications operators, large public telecommunications
operators and other international telephone operators with advanced network
infrastructures, access to large quantities of long-haul capacity and
established customer bases. Public telecommunications operators currently
providing large amounts of international traffic have already established direct
routes, transit arrangements and correspondent relations and many have excess
capacity that they resell in competition with Wholesale Services.
With deregulation of the telecommunications markets, opportunities for the
establishment of international gateways will likely develop and, as a result,
competition in the market for our Wholesale
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Services will increase. We intend to relocate and consolidate our Wholesale
Services operations in London, which is served by the Hermes Railtel network.
This will allow us to route our Wholesale Services customers' traffic through
the Hermes Railtel network and incur reduced transmission expenses, thereby
enhancing the competitiveness of Wholesale Services' operations.
GTS ACCESS SERVICES
Public telecommunications operators often offer both local and long
distance services and benefit greatly from their position as sole historic
provider in the markets they serve. We believe that the market for the provision
of local services is sufficiently attractive to cause additional competitive
local exchange carriers, including multi-national carriers, to enter the market
to offer products and services which would compete with ours.
We will compete with public telecommunications providers and, in certain
markets, competitive local exchange carriers, including, among others, COLT
TeleCom Group plc, which is providing service through networks in London,
Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Paris, Zurich, Amsterdam, Brussels, Madrid
and Dusseldorf, and MCI/WorldCom, whose pan-European fiber network connects
London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt and Paris. We believe, based on our
experience in Western and Central Europe, Russia and the CIS, that we have the
knowledge and ability to develop products and services which will be competitive
with other competitive local exchange carriers in terms of content, quality and
price.
GOLDEN TELECOM
Golden Telecom faces significant competition in virtually all of its
existing telecommunications businesses in Russia and the other independent
countries of the CIS. We believe that we have certain competitive advantages in
each of these markets because of our operating history, our ability to bundle a
broad range of telecommunications services in the region and our ability to make
rapid decisions in pursuing new business opportunities and addressing customer
service needs. We also believe that our local partnerships and reliance on
nationals in the management of its businesses and joint ventures provide us with
better knowledge of local political and regulatory structures, cultural
awareness and access to customers.
LICENSES AND REGULATORY ISSUES
OVERVIEW
The regulation of the European telecommunications industry is in the midst
of significant changes. In 1987, a policy document, the EC Green Paper on
Telecommunications, charted the course for the current changes in the EU
telecommunications industry by advancing principles such as separation of
operators from regulators, transparency of procedures and information, cost
orientation of tariffs, access to monopoly public telephone operator networks
and the liberalization of services. In 1990, the EU member states approved two
directives that established these principles in EU law: the Open Network
Provision Framework Directive and the EU Services Directive. Combined, these two
directives set forth the basic rules for access to public telephone networks and
the liberalization of the provision of all telecommunications services within
the EU except for certain reserved services, including voice telephony.
In 1992, the EU approved the Open Network Provision Leased Line Directive,
which requires the incumbent operators to lease lines to competitors and end
users, and to establish cost accounting systems for these products by the end of
1993. The national regulatory authorities were to use this cost information to
set cost-orientated tariffs for leased lines. Even though most EU member states
have established regulatory frameworks requiring public telecommunications
operators to lease lines to competitors and end users, we believe that, in some
EU member states, such lines are not yet being offered at cost-orientated
prices.
In 1996, the EU issued the Full Competition Directive, which requires EU
member states to permit the provision of telecommunications services, other than
reserved services, over (1) networks established by the provider of the
services, (2) network infrastructure provided by third parties or (3) by means
of
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sharing of networks from July 1996. Since then, there has been an increasing
supply of such capacity offered at attractive prices from such alternative
suppliers. The Full Competition Directive also established January 1, 1998 as
the date by which all EU member states must remove all remaining restrictions on
the provision of telecommunications services, including voice telephony.
However, the following EU member states were granted a delay in implementing
this liberalization directive:
(1) Greece, through December 31, 2000;
(2) Ireland, through January 1, 2000;
(3) Luxembourg, through July 1, 1998;
(4) Portugal, through January 1, 2000; and
(5) Spain, until November 30, 1998.
Ireland implemented the Full Competition Directive in December 1998.
Subject to the foregoing, each EU member state is obliged, under EU law, to
enforce the terms of the Full Competition Directive in such a manner so as to
ensure that its aim and purpose is carried out. Enforceability of the Full
Competition Directive may be challenged at the EU level or at the EU member
state level. In practice, implementation and enforcement of the directive has
been and may also continue to be delayed on a country by country basis.
As a complement to the Full Competition Directive, the European Parliament
and Council of Ministers in June 1997 adopted a directive which governs the
manner in which public network operators and service providers interconnect with
the public telecommunications operators' public networks. Among other things,
this directive requires EU member states to ensure that public
telecommunications operators with significant market power should provide
interconnection on the basis of cost-oriented charges.
In April 1997, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers adopted
a directive on a common framework for general authorizations and individual
licenses in the field of telecommunications services, including networks.
Licenses must be awarded through open, non-discriminatory and transparent
procedures and applications will be required to be dealt with in a timely
fashion. The number of licenses may be restricted only to the extent required to
ensure the efficient use of scarce resources, such as radio frequencies or
numbers.
In February 1998, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers
adopted a directive on the application of the Open Network Provision to voice
telephony and on universal service.
Despite these regulatory initiatives supporting the liberalization of the
telecommunications market, most EU member states are still in the initial stages
of liberalizing their telecommunications markets and establishing regulatory
structures suitable for a competitive environment. For example, most EU member
states have only recently established a national regulatory authority. In
addition, the implementation, interpretation and enforcement of EU directives
differs significantly among the EU member states. While some EU member states
have embraced the liberalization process and achieved a high level of openness,
others have delayed the full implementation of the directives and maintain
several levels of restrictions on full competition.
Member states of the EU are also bound as a matter of international law to
comply with certain multilateral trade rules and regulations. On February 15,
1997, over 60 members of the World Trade Organization committed to open their
telecommunications markets for basic telecommunications services to foreign
competition and ownership and to adopt regulatory measures designed to protect
foreign telecommunications providers against anticompetitive behavior by
domestic public telecommunications operators. For most signatories to this World
Trade Organization Telecommunications Agreement, these commitments took effect
on February 5, 1998 (including the EU member states). We believe that the World
Trade Organization Telecommunications Agreement will contribute to the creation
of a more competitive environment internationally. Specifically, it will result
in downward pressure on call termination charges outside the EU. For a
discussion of the regulatory risks involved, see "Risk
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Factors -- Delays in regulatory liberalization in EU member states could
adversely affect our service offerings in those countries."
As a multinational telecommunications company, we are subject to varying
degrees of regulation in each of the jurisdictions in which we provide our
services. Local laws and regulations and the interpretation of such laws and
regulations differ significantly among the jurisdictions in which we operate.
For a discussion of the regulatory risks we face, see "Risk Factors -- Delays in
regulatory liberalization in EU member states could adversely affect our service
offerings in those countries."
We are in the process of reviewing the licenses, permits and authorizations
that we obtained through our acquisition of NetSource and Esprit Telecom. It may
be possible for us to use certain of these licenses to provide services through
our Carrier Services, Business Services or Access Services lines of business.
GTS CARRIER SERVICES
HERMES RAILTEL
A summary discussion of the regulatory framework in certain countries where
Hermes Railtel has developed and is developing its network is set forth below.
This discussion is intended to provide a general outline, rather than a
comprehensive discussion, of the more relevant regulations and current
regulatory posture of the various jurisdictions.
National authorities in individual member states of the EU are responsible
for regulating the construction and operation of telecommunications
infrastructure. We believe that the adoption of the Full Competition Directive
and the various related directives adopted by the European Parliament and the
Council of the EU have resulted in the removal of most regulatory barriers to
the construction and operation of telecommunications infrastructure in the
countries of the EU where we currently operate.
Hermes Railtel requires licenses, authorizations or registrations in almost
all countries to operate the network. Licenses, authorizations or registrations
have been obtained in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The
Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the United States. No
license or authorization is required to operate a network in Denmark. Hermes
Railtel intends to file applications in other countries in anticipation of
service launch in accordance with the network roll-out plan.
Belgium. Belgium has implemented the "alternative infrastructure" provider
provision of the Full Competition Directive. Most of the EC telecommunications
liberalization package was adopted at the end of December 1997. The implementing
legislation (Royal Decrees) regarding the licensing regimes for the provision of
voice telephony services and the establishment of public network infrastructure
was approved by the Council of Ministers at the end of June 1998. The official
publication and the entry into force of that implementing legislation took place
in July 1998. Until such entry into force, the Belgian Telecommunication
Authority continued to work with the system of provisional licenses. Hermes
Railtel obtained, through a wholly owned subsidiary, a license in February 1997
from the Belgian regulatory authority to build infrastructure between major
Belgian population centers and the relevant border crossings. Hermes Railtel
also had an authorization to provide liberalized services using alternative
infrastructure. The liberalization legislation requires all previously licenced
operators to apply for new licenses or authorizations. Hermes Railtel applied
for a new license in October 1998 and was granted its license to build and
operate its network under the new regulatory framework on January 26, 1999.
Denmark. With the liberalization of infrastructure as of July 1, 1997,
Denmark has fully liberalized its telecommunications markets in accordance with
the requirements of the relevant EC Directives. According to the Danish rules,
Hermes Railtel will not require any regulatory approval in order to install or
operate the network in Denmark.
France. A new regulatory agency, the Autorite de Regulation des
Telecommunications, was established in France effective January 1, 1997. In
1996, France approved legislation to implement the Full Competition Directive
and to remove all remaining restrictions on competition from January 1998. In
October 1997, Hermes Railtel obtained authorization to operate its network in
specific regions of France.
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In August 1998, Hermes Railtel was granted an extension of its license in order
to extend its network in France to reach Italy and Spain. Such authorization
requires prior notification to and approval of the Autorite de Regulation des
Telecommunications of any substantial changes in the capital of Hermes Railtel
or its controlling shareholder.
Germany. Germany has approved legislation to implement the Full Competition
Directive and remove all remaining restrictions on competition from August 1996.
Hermes Railtel was granted a license by the German regulatory authorities on
July 18, 1997. The license permits Hermes Railtel to operate the portions of the
network in Germany connecting Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Stuttgart; Dusseldorf to
the Dutch border; and Stuttgart to the French border. In 1998, Hermes Railtel
was granted extensions to its license to include operation of routes linking
Hamburg, Hanover, Munich and Berlin and of routes to Denmark.
Italy. Although in the past Italy has been dilatory in implementing EC
liberalization measures, Italy enacted legislation on July 31, 1997 creating an
independent national regulatory authority for the telecommunications and
audiovisual sectors. On September 19, 1997, Italy enacted a regulation
implementing all EC directives in the telecommunications sector and since then
specific laws relating to licensing and interconnection and universal service
have been approved. Hermes Railtel was granted a license by the Italian
authorities in August 1998, enabling the development of its network in the
northwest region of Italy and the offering of services in Milan.
Luxembourg. A new Telecommunication Act entered into force in April 1997,
and a Royal Decree on licensing conditions entered into force in July 1998.
Hermes Railtel applied to the Luxembourg regulatory authority for a license to
build and operate its network in Luxembourg in October 1998. On February 11,
1999, we were granted a license to build and operate a public telecommunications
network.
The Netherlands. On July 1, 1997, the Dutch government abolished the
prohibition on the use of fixed infrastructure for the provision of public voice
telephony, thereby complying with the requirements of the Full Competition
Directive six months ahead of schedule. On August 1, 1996, Hermes Railtel was
granted an authorization for the installation, maintenance and use of a fixed
telecommunications infrastructure.
A new Telecommunications Act came partly into force on December 15, 1998.
The new Act confirms the full liberalization of the telecommunications market
according to European Community standards. When the new Telecommunications Act
entered into force, the authorization held by Hermes Railtel ceased to exist.
Under the new Telecommunications Act, Hermes Railtel has an obligation to
register its activities. A request for registration with the Dutch regulatory
authority ("OPTA") was filed in February 1999 and the OPTA granted Hermes
Railtel its registration as a public telecommunications operator on March 3,
1999.
Spain. Spain was granted the right to delay in liberalizing its
telecommunications market until November 30, 1998. In April 1998, Spain adopted
the LGT, its new telecommunications law. The LGT was implemented through the use
of secondary legislation. The LGT and the secondary legislation resulted in the
full liberalization of the Spanish telecommunications market on December 1,
1998. On December 3, 1998, the Spanish regulatory authority began to issue
licenses under the new regime. Hermes Railtel was granted a license to install
and operate a telecommunications network in Spain on January 14, 1999.
Sweden. Full liberalization of the Swedish telecommunications market
occurred in 1993. A new Telecommunications Act was passed in 1997 to reinforce
the powers of the national regulatory authority, to ensure conformity with EC
Directives and to supplement the pre-existing licensing regime with a general
authorization regime for certain services. Hermes Railtel registered with
Swedish authorities and has been able to provide service in Sweden since July
1998.
Switzerland. The Swiss Parliament has passed a Telecommunications Law which
entered into force on January 1, 1998. Although Switzerland is not a Member
State of the EU, the effect of the law is largely to mirror the EC
telecommunications liberalization directives. From that date, voice telephony
monopoly was abolished and services fully liberalized. In September 1998, the
Swiss regulatory authority
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granted Hermes Railtel a definitive concession (replacing an earlier provisional
concession) to build and operate its network in Switzerland.
United Kingdom. Since the elimination in 1991 of the UK telecommunications
duopoly consisting of British Telecommunications and Mercury, it has been the
stated goal of Oftel, the UK telecommunications regulatory authority, to create
a competitive marketplace from which detailed regulation could eventually be
withdrawn. The UK has already liberalized its market beyond the requirements of
the Full Competition Directive, and most restrictions on competition have been
removed in practice as well as in law. Hermes Railtel has received a license
from the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry dated December 18, 1996 which
grants it the right to run a telecommunications system or systems in the UK
connected to an overseas telecommunications system and to provide international
services over such systems. Like the licenses granted to other providers of
international facilities-based services, the license granted to Hermes Railtel
was for an initial six months' duration and thereafter is subject to revocation
on one month's notice in writing. The short duration of these initial licenses
was adopted for administrative convenience to facilitate reforms to the
licensing regime which are expected in 1999. The Department of Trade and
Industry has confirmed that it intends to replace the initial licenses with new
licenses and that it would not revoke an initial license without replacing it
with another license giving an equivalent authorization. The Department of Trade
and Industry is currently discussing with license holders the arrangements to
put these new licenses into effect. Although the Department of Trade and
Industry has indicated that the new licenses are expected to be of 25 years'
duration, we cannot assure you that this will be the case or that the new
licenses will not contain terms or conditions unfavorable to Hermes Railtel.
United States. Hermes Railtel was granted a license by the FCC pursuant to
section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934 authorizing it to provide limited
global facilities-based and global resale services (subject to the terms and
conditions imposed by the law and authorization), effective October 23, 1998.
The 214 authorization does not allow Hermes Railtel to offer US services to or
from Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Monaco, Russia, Ukraine,
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, China and India.
Hermes Railtel intends to file applications in other countries (including
Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and
Russia) in anticipation of service launch in accordance with the Hermes Railtel
network roll-out plan. With the exception of Austria and Portugal, which are
members of the EU and whose laws must comply with EC Directives, these countries
have not generally liberalized their telecommunications sector. We cannot assure
you that they will do so in a timely manner or at all. In addition, the terms
and conditions of Hermes Railtel's licenses, authorizations or registrations may
limit or otherwise affect Hermes Railtel's scope of operations.
We cannot assure you that (1) Hermes Railtel will be able to obtain,
maintain or renew licenses, authorizations or registrations to provide the
services it currently provides and plans to provide, (2) such licenses,
authorizations or registrations will be issued or renewed on terms or with fees
that are commercially viable, or (3) the licenses, authorizations or
registrations required in the future can be obtained by Hermes Railtel. The loss
of, or failure to obtain, these licenses, authorizations or registrations or a
substantial limitation upon the terms of these licenses, authorizations or
registrations could have a material adverse effect on Hermes Railtel.
TRANSOCEANIC SERVICES
A summary discussion of the regulatory framework in the United Kingdom,
United States and France that will apply to Transoceanic Services has already
been provided in the section on Hermes Railtel above. Transoceanic Services,
like Hermes Railtel, will require licenses, authorizations or registrations to
operate its own network in the United Kingdom, United States and France. Since
Hermes Railtel has obtained similar licenses, authorizations or registrations in
the United Kingdom, United States and France, Transoceanic Services will
endeavor to use the same (where allowed by national licensing frameworks) in
order to build its initial network, while it obtains its own licenses,
authorizations and registrations. Alternatively, Transoceanic Services may seek
to benefit from Hermes Railtel's licenses to the extent that
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they may be transferred from Hermes Railtel to GTS Carrier Services. The
transfer of these licenses could be undertaken in the event that the Hermes
Railtel network and Transoceanic Services can be operated under one license.
Such a transfer initially may be envisaged in France where licenses may be
transferred subject to ministerial approval. The regulatory framework in the
United Kingdom and United States, however, would require GTS Carrier Services to
obtain new licenses, authorizations or registrations.
In addition, the terms and conditions of the licenses, authorizations or
registrations may limit or otherwise affect Transoceanic Services' scope of
operations. We cannot assure you that Transoceanic Services will be able to
obtain such licenses, authorizations or registrations or that Transoceanic
Services' operations will not become subject to other regulatory, authorization
or registration requirements in the countries in which it plans to operate. For
a discussion of these risks, see "Risk Factors -- Delays in regulatory
liberalization in EU member states could adversely affect our service offering
in those countries."
IP SERVICES
At present there is no general consensus on the regulatory position of IP
services in Europe and the United States. At the moment IP services are
generally treated as unregulated or, in some European countries, as a
telecommunications service subject to minimal regulatory requirements. We cannot
assure you that IP services will not be regulated in the future in Europe or the
United States. We will continue to monitor regulatory developments that may
impact IP services' operations.
GTS BUSINESS SERVICES
A summary discussion of the regulatory framework in the countries in which
Business Services operates has already been provided in the section on Hermes
Railtel above.
The following discussion of GTS Business Services does not reflect the
effect of the Omnicom Acquisition that we consummated on April 26, 1999. See
"Summary -- Recent Developments -- Omnicom Acquisition."
UNITED KINGDOM
The telecommunications services which we provide through Business Services
are subject to and affected by licenses issued by the United Kingdom's
Department of Trade and Industry and regulations introduced by Oftel, the United
Kingdom telecommunications regulatory authority. Business Services' UK
subsidiary received an international simple resale license from the Department
of Trade and Industry in 1993, which permitted us to provide international
telecommunications services by way of resale of other carriers' facilities. In
December 1996, Business Services' UK subsidiary was among the first recipients
of an international facilities license, which permits us to purchase, lease or
build our own international infrastructure and to interconnect to the public
network. In December 1997, we were granted a domestic public telephone operator
license that will enable us to build out our network and obtain more favorable
interconnect terms from British Telecom.
Business Services' UK subsidiary also holds a license issued by the U.S.
Federal Communications Commission under Section 214 of the United States
Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Subject to certain restrictions, the
Section 214 authorization permits us to originate and terminate facilities-based
and resold private line and switched telecommunications services in the United
States, including among other things, reselling international private lines
interconnected at both ends to the public switched telephone network on the
United States-United Kingdom route for the provision of switched services. Under
the FCC's rules, such interconnected private lines may at present be used only
for switched traffic that either:
(1) originates in the United Kingdom and terminates in the United
States or vice versa;
(2) originates in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New
Zealand, Australia, Sweden, The Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium,
Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Austria,
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Switzerland, Japan, Italy, Ireland and Hong Kong and terminates in another
of those countries, having been routed through the third country via
private lines; or
(3) uses the interconnected international private lines to reach a
switching hub.
This third routing arrangement, termed "switched hubbing," may involve
several configurations:
(1) traffic originates in the United States, is carried via private
lines to the United Kingdom and is routed through a switch to points beyond
the United Kingdom;
(2) traffic originates in the United Kingdom, is carried over private
lines to the United States, and is routed through a switch to points beyond
the United States; or
(3) traffic originates in points beyond the United States or the
United Kingdom and is routed via a United States or United Kingdom switch
to terminate in another country (provided that no traffic originates or
terminates in a country that we are not authorized to serve). With respect
to switched hubbing traffic originated or terminated on the Esprit Network
at switches in EU member states other than the United Kingdom, domestic
laws of such EU member states require that the leased lines be
interconnected with the public switched telephone network at one end only.
In addition, the FCC has not made any pronouncement about the legality of
switched hubbing arrangements where the carrier in the destination country
does not consent to receiving traffic indirectly from the originating
country and does not realize the traffic it receives from the "hub" country
is actually originating from a different country.
GERMANY
Our German subsidiaries have authority to provide value-added
telecommunications services throughout Germany. In June 1997, we also received
Type 3 and Type 4 licenses authorizing us to build, acquire and operate
infrastructure and to provide public voice telephony services and to
interconnect with the incumbent public telecommunications operators' network.
These licenses applied initially to restricted areas within Dusseldorf but have
since been expanded to the whole Dusseldorf area and to permit connection to a
cable landing station in northern Germany. In addition, the acquisition of
Plusnet has provided us with a national network licensed to provide
point-to-point service on 55 national routes and 300 local routes. We have also
been granted a carrier select code to provide Indirect Access to our retail
services. We entered into an interconnect agreement with Deutsche Telekom in
November 1997. Pursuant to this agreement, we interconnect with Deutsche
Telekom's network in five locations, while Plusnet's network interconnects with
Deutsche Telekom's network in six locations.
NetSource received a Type 4 license and entered into interconnect
agreements in February 1998.
FRANCE
In March 1998, our French subsidiary was granted a public voice telephony
and public network operator license permitting us to serve all of France. This
license permits us to provide all services, including managed bandwidth on the
London-Paris ring. They also facilitate our building out the fiber optic ring to
Belgium. In July 1998, our French subsidiary was granted the right to receive
one of the seven available one digit access codes. After a challenge by a
disappointed applicant, the Conseil d'Etat, the French high court, affirmed the
ART's decision. In July 1998, our license was amended to impose certain network
deployment obligations on us. We are now in the process of building out a
national network.
THE NETHERLANDS
NetSource is qualified as a telecommunications provider and obtained a
carrier selection code license in September 1997.
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BELGIUM
The Belgian regulator, BIPT, has granted our Belgian subsidiary provisional
national voice telephony and network operator licenses, and our Belgian
subsidiary was the first independent operator to achieve interconnection with
the incumbent public telephone operator, Belgacom. Following the recent adoption
of final legislation, our Belgian subsidiary has filed an application for
definitive national voice telephony and network operator licenses and expects to
receive the same shortly. NetSource plans on using the Esprit Telecom licenses
for its Belgian operations.
SPAIN
On December 3, 1998, Business Services' Spanish subsidiary was granted
class B1 licenses for Madrid, Barcelona and Gerona. We were also granted similar
licenses for Bilbao and Valencia. These licenses permit us to provide public
telephony services and operate a network in those cities. A C1 license allowing
the installation of a national network was granted on December 17, 1998.
ITALY
Our Italian subsidiary received a closed user group voice telephony license
in May 1998. In July 1999, we received a national public-network operator
license to install infrastructure and provide services on a national basis.
IRELAND
Through NetSource we received a general telecommunications license to
operate in Ireland in December 1998.
NORWAY
Through NetSource, we are registered as a public telecommunications
provider. We expect to enter into interconnection agreements shortly.
DENMARK
Under Danish rules, we do not require any regulatory approvals to install
or operate a network in Denmark. Through a subsidiary of NetSource, we are
registered as a public telecommunications provider. We expect to enter into
interconnection agreements shortly.
SWEDEN
Through NetSource, we were registered as a public telecommunications
provider in October 1998 and we entered into interconnection agreements in
January 1999.
LUXEMBOURG
Through NetSource, we have applied for licenses to operate in Luxembourg.
WHOLESALE SERVICES
Currently, GTS-Monaco Access's telecommunications activities in Monaco
require no telecommunications license. However, GTS-Monaco Access will have to
comply with EU regulation to the extent it does business in EU member states or
its business has an effect on trade between EU member states. The regulatory
requirements established by the EU create general guidelines under which the
national agencies of EU member states regulate. Accordingly, local laws and
regulations may differ significantly among these jurisdictions, and the
interpretation and enforcement of such laws and regulations may vary. In certain
of our existing and target markets, there are laws and regulations which affect
the number and types of
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customers which we can address. For instance, certain countries may and do
require licenses for communication companies to interconnect to the public
network to originate traffic.
In addition, one of the services provided by GTS-Monaco Access is a form of
transit service, known in the industry as "re-filing." Re-filing is the practice
of routing traffic through a third country in order to take advantage of
disparities in settlement rates between different countries, thereby resulting
in lower overall costs on an end-to-end basis. Re-filing is prevalent in the
industry even though the practice is technically in contravention of ITU
regulations. In practice, because of the widespread non-observance of these
regulations, such a contravention normally does not give rise to specific legal
problems. However, we cannot assure you that GTS-Monaco Access's re-filing
services might not be disrupted or be the subject of legal process at some time
in the future. We are currently reviewing licenses we will need in connection
with our transfer of business of GTS-Monaco Access to the U.K.
ACCESS SERVICES
Access Services has been granted Type 3 (infrastructure) and Type 4 (voice
telephony) licenses authorizing it to serve seven major cities in Germany. In
April 1999, we were granted licenses authorizing us to install local access
networks and to provide voice telephony services in Geneva and Zurich. We are
currently evaluating Access Services' ability to build out fiber loops and
provide access services in its target metropolitan markets under existing
infrastructure licenses and authorizations to provide telephony services held by
our Business Services line of business.
Our determination as to which markets we may enter will depend in part on
our evaluation of the regulatory regime in such market. The detailed regulation
varies from country to country. Delays in receiving required regulatory
approvals and licenses, or the enactment of adverse regulations or regulatory
requirements, may delay or prevent us from entering a particular market or
offering our services in any European market, restrict the types of services
offered by us, constrain our deployment of its networks or otherwise adversely
affect our operations.
We cannot assure you that Access Services will be able to obtain the
necessary regulatory approvals on a timely basis or that we will not otherwise
be affected by regulatory developments, either of which may have a material
adverse effect on us.
GOLDEN TELECOM
Telecommunications operators in Russia are regulated by Goskomsvyaz, the
successor of the Russian Ministry of Communications, and its subordinated
bodies, Gossvyaznadzor and the State Radio Frequency Commission. As a practical
matter, these telecommunications authorities as well as certain other regional
and local authorities, generally regulate telecommunications operators in their
jurisdictions through their power to issue licenses and permits and conduct
periodical compliance inspections.
The Communications Law sets out a legal and regulatory framework for the
sector. It also sets forth general principles for the right to carry on
telecommunications activities, describes government involvement in
telecommunications regulation and operation, establishes the institutional
framework involved in regulation and administration of telecommunications, and
deals with various operational matters, such as ownership of networks,
protection of fair competition, interconnection, privacy and liability. Separate
legislation and administrative regulations implement this institutional
framework.
Goskomsvyaz issues licenses to provide telecommunications services on the
basis of a decision by the Licensing Commission at Goskomsvyaz. Goskomsvyaz has
generally issued no new licensing regulations since the enactment of the
Communications Law, and in practice Goskomsvyaz continues to issue licenses
based on general regulations applicable to any licensing activity in Russia,
except to the extent such regulations have been modified by licensing
regulations with respect to cellular services. According to the general
licensing regulations, licenses for rendering telecommunications services may be
issued and renewed for periods which range from 3 to 10 years and several
different licenses may be issued to one person. Under the recently enacted
cellular licensing regulations, licenses for rendering cellular services
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may be issued only on the basis of a competitive tender for longer periods
ranging from five to 15 years. Once the licenses are received, the licensee is
required to register its right to hold and operate under the license with
Gossvyaznadzor, the national authority responsible for monitoring compliance
with regulatory and technical norms. Renewals may be obtained upon application
to Goskomsvyaz and verification by appropriate government authorities that the
licensee has conducted its activities in accordance with the licenses. Officials
of Goskomsvyaz has broad discretion with respect to both the issuance and
renewal procedures. The Communications Law and general licensing regulations
provide that a license may not be transferred or assigned to another holder.
Cellular service licenses obtained through competitive tender are freely
assignable.
Regional authorities also exercise influence in the issuance of AMPS
licenses, partly because AMPS has been designated a "regional standard." In
August 1995, the Russian government created Svyazinvest, a holding company, to
hold the federal government's interests in the majority of Russian local
telecommunications operators. In addition, entities such as Svyazinvest at the
federal level, as well as other entities in Moscow and St. Petersburg and other
administrative regions within Russia exercise significant control over their
respective local telephone networks and may therefore affect the licensing
process.
Telecommunications laws and regulations in Ukraine, while relatively less
developed and less comprehensive, are similar in many respects to those of
Russia, but are subject to greater risks and uncertainties. Regulations
currently prohibit foreign entities from directly owning more than 49% of any
telecommunications operating company. Our Ukrainian joint venture agreements
provide Golden Telecom with the option of purchasing an additional 1% of the
cellular network if these rules are liberalized. The Ukrainian government has
imposed substantial frequency permit fees in connection with providing GSM
service in Ukraine, and Golden Telecom (Ukraine) has paid a one-time $2.9
million frequency license fee on Golden Telecom (Ukraine)'s license. We cannot
assure you that additional fees will not be imposed in the future upon the
reissuance and/or renewal of such license or for the continued use of assigned
frequencies, nor that the increase in fees will not be implemented again.
Ukrainian international operators are also required to make yearly investments
into PTSN as a condition of their international licenses. For a comprehensive
discussion of these regulatory risks, see also "Risk Factors -- Turmoil in
Russia and the CIS creates significant uncertainty for our operations."
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SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding ownership of
GTS common stock and rights to acquire common stock by (1) stockholders that
manage or own, either beneficially or of record, five percent or more of the
common stock of the Company and (2) each of the selling stockholders under this
prospectus. For the purposes of this table, a person or group of persons is
deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of any shares which such has the right to
acquire within 60 days after such date, but such shares are not deemed to be
outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other
person.
The percentage of ownership for each beneficial owner is based upon
173,799,901 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding as of August 31,
1999 and the number of warrants in common stock held by such beneficial owner.
The number of shares indicated and the percentage takes into account the
two-for-one common stock split approved by our board of directors during the
second quarter of 1999. We effected this stock split by the distribution of a
stock dividend on July 21, 1999 to holders of record of our common stock at the
close of business on July 1, 1999. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
The selling stockholders may sell their shares in the over-the-counter
market, in the Nasdaq National Market, in privately negotiated transactions or
otherwise. Shares will be sold at market prices prevailing at the time of sale,
at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
Transferees of these stockholders or other persons acquiring shares, including
brokers who borrow the shares to settle short sales of shares of the common
stock, may also use this prospectus.
The selling stockholders will receive all of the net proceeds from the sale
of shares and will pay any underwriting discounts and selling commissions.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES BENEFICIALLY
SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED OWNED AFTER THE
PRIOR TO SHELF OFFERING SHELF OFFERING
-------------------------- NUMBER OF -------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES BEING NUMBER OF
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER SHARES PERCENT OFFERED SHARES PERCENT
------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ --------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Steven F. Andrews..................... 1,054,435 * 1,054,435 0 0
Christophe Beaune..................... 14,192 * 14,192 0 0
Gerard Caccappolo..................... 1,898,426 1.1 1,898,426 0 0
Laurent Desportes..................... 271,806 * 271,806 0 0
Stephane Goerlinger................... 2,184 * 2,184 0 0
Pierre Goubet......................... 3,638 * 3,638 0 0
John A. Green......................... 633,547 * 633,547 0 0
Gilles Jannez......................... 9,462 * 9,462 0 0
In Touch Telecom Europe B.V........... 313,868 * 313,868 0 0
Jean-Pierre Le Rudulier............... 8,908 * 8,908 0 0
Jan Locber............................ 5,329,771 3.1 5,329,771 0 0
Peter J. Magnus....................... 762,029 * 762,029 0 0
Antonin Martenne-Duplan............... 54,148 * 54,148 0 0
Florent Martenne-Duplan............... 218,352 * 218,352 0 0
Magali Martenne-Duplan................ 54,148 * 54,148 0 0
Sebastien Martenne-Duplan............. 54,148 * 54,148 0 0
Alain Nicolazzi....................... 345,704 * 345,704 0 0
Camille Nicolazzi..................... 11,382 * 11,382 0 0
Marie Nicolazzi....................... 11,382 * 11,382 0 0
Remi Nicolazzi........................ 11,382 * 11,382 0 0
Eric Node-Langlois.................... 4,366 * 4,366 0 0
Bruce C. Rudy......................... 527,218 * 527,218 0 0
Societe Civile Financiere des
Marais.............................. 266,952 * 266,952 0 0
Societe Civile Hesperia............... 261,676 * 261,676 0 0
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES BENEFICIALLY
SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED OWNED AFTER THE
PRIOR TO SHELF OFFERING SHELF OFFERING
-------------------------- NUMBER OF -------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES BEING NUMBER OF
NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER SHARES PERCENT OFFERED SHARES PERCENT
------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ --------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Societe Civile Nicom
Investissements....................... 1,862,550 1.1 1,862,550 0 0
Societe Civile Spi & Ailes............ 11,646 * 11,646 0 0
John A. Shearing...................... 527,218 * 527,218 0 0
H. Brian Thompson..................... 736,056 * 736,056 0 0
Nationale Maatschappij der Belgische
Spoorwegen/Societe Nationale des
Chemins de Fer Belge................ 2,150,380 1.2 2,150,380 0 0
Jan G. deWispelaere................... 527,218 * 527,218 0 0
Phillippe Ait Yahia................... 211,324 * 211,324 0 0
Samuel Ait Yahia...................... 11,644 * 11,644 0 0
</TABLE>
- ---------------
* Less than one percent.
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DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS
SENIOR NOTES DUE 2005
Concurrently with the initial public offering, we offered $105 million of
9 7/8% notes. The notes were issued pursuant to an indenture between us and The
Bank of New York as trustee, dated February 10, 1998. The notes mature in 2005
and bear interest, payable semi-annually, at 9 7/8% per annum. The indenture
governing the notes does not provide for a sinking fund. The notes are subject
to redemption at any time on or after February 15, 2002, at our option, in whole
or in part, at declining redemption prices set forth in the indenture governing
the notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the first three years after the
date of the indenture, we will be permitted to redeem up to 33 1/3% of the
aggregate principal amount of the notes with the net proceeds of any public
equity offerings or strategic equity investments at 109.875% of the principal
amount thereof. We placed net proceeds of U.S.$19.6 million from the offering of
the notes representing funds that, together with the proceeds from the
investment thereof, are sufficient to pay the first four scheduled interest
payments (but not additional interest) on the notes, into an escrow account to
be held by The Bank of New York as trustee for the benefit of the holders of the
notes. We granted to the trustee for the benefit of the holders, a first
priority and exclusive security interest in the escrow account and the proceeds
thereof. Funds will be disbursed from the escrow account for interest payments
(but not additional interest) on the notes. Pending such disbursement, all funds
contained in the escrow account are invested in cash equivalents.
Upon a change of control of GTS, or in the event of asset sales (as defined
in the related indenture) in certain circumstances, we are required by the terms
of the indenture to make an offer to purchase the outstanding notes at a
purchase price equal to 101% and 100%, respectively, of the principal amount
thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of repurchase.
Our indebtedness evidenced by the 9 7/8% notes ranks pari passu in right of
payment with all of our other existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness
and senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future obligations
expressly subordinated in right of payment to the 9 7/8% notes. The indenture
governing the notes contains a number of covenants restricting our operations
and our restricted group members, including those restricting: the incurrence of
indebtedness; the making of restricted payments unless no default or event of
default exists, our leverage ratio does not exceed 6.0 to 1.0 and such
restricted payments do not exceed the basket; transactions with stockholders and
affiliates; the incurrence of liens; sale-leaseback transactions; issuances and
sales of capital stock of subsidiaries; the incurrence of guarantees by
subsidiaries; dividend and other payment restrictions affecting subsidiaries;
consolidation, merger or sale of substantially all of our assets; and requiring
the purchase of notes, at the option of the holder, upon the occurrence of a
change of control and certain asset sales.
The events of default under the indenture governing the 9 7/8% notes
include provisions that are typical of senior debt financings, including a
cross-acceleration to a default by us or any restricted group member on any
indebtedness that has an aggregate principal amount in excess of certain levels.
Upon the occurrence of such an event of default, the trustee or the holders of
not less than 25% in principal amount at maturity of the outstanding notes may
immediately accelerate the maturity of all the notes as provided in the related
indenture.
THE CONVERTIBLE BONDS
In July, 1997, we issued $144.8 million principal amount of senior
subordinated convertible bonds. The convertible bonds were initially issued
under an indenture dated as of July 14, 1997 between us and The Bank of New
York, as trustee, registrar and paying, conversion and transfer agent. The
convertible bonds mature on June 30, 2000. At December 31, 1998, U.S.$117.6
million aggregate principal amount of the convertible bonds was outstanding. An
aggregate principal amount of U.S.$27.2 million had been converted at that date
into shares of a common stock. The conversion price of the convertible bonds is
U.S.$20 per share.
The convertible bonds bear interest payable at the rate of 8.75% per annum
from and including the date of their issuance. Interest is payable semiannually
in arrears on July 15 and January 15 of each year
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commencing January 15, 1998. The convertible bonds are redeemable at our option,
in whole but not in part on or after the second anniversary of a complying
public equity offering, at the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to
the redemption date. The initial public offering in February 1998 constituted a
complying public equity offering.
Upon the occurrence of a change of control, we will be obligated to make an
offer to purchase all of the outstanding convertible bonds at a purchase price
equal to 113.5%, (if the date of such purchase occurs after June 30, 1998 but on
or before June 30, 1999) or 121.0%, (if the date of such purchase occurs after
June 30, 1999), as applicable, of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and
unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase.
DEBENTURES DUE 2010
On July 8 and July 22, 1998, we issued approximately U.S.$466.9 million of
debentures. The debentures will mature on July 1, 2010 and are unsecured senior
subordinated obligations of GTS. In the event of our change of control, holders
of the debentures will have the right to require us to purchase such holder's
debentures at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount plus accrued
interest. The debentures will bear interest payable semiannually at a rate of
5 3/4% per annum.
Each debenture will be convertible into such number of shares of our common
stock as is equal to the principal amount of such debenture divided by
U.S.$55.05. We covenanted that at all times we will cause there to be authorized
and reserved for issuance upon conversion of the debenture such number of shares
of our common stock as would be issuable upon conversion of all the debentures
then outstanding. The debentures are subordinated to all existing and future
senior indebtedness of GTS and to all current and future obligations of our
subsidiaries, including trade obligations. The debentures rank pari passu with
the convertible bonds.
We, at our option, may elect to redeem all or a portion of the debentures
commencing on July 1, 2001, at redemption prices beginning at 104.025% of
principal amount for the twelve-month period commencing July 1, 2001 declining
to par at July 1, 2008 and thereafter.
HERMES RAILTEL NOTES
Hermes Railtel sold U.S.$265 million aggregate principal amount of notes in
August 1997. These notes have a ten year maturity and are unsecured, senior
obligations of Hermes Railtel. Hermes Railtel placed approximately $56.6 million
of the net proceeds in escrow for the first two years' interest payments on the
notes. The notes were issued pursuant to an indenture containing certain
covenants for the benefit of the holders of the notes, including, among other
things, covenants limiting the incurrence of indebtedness, restricted payments,
liens, payment restrictions affecting certain subsidiaries and joint ventures,
transactions with affiliates, assets sales and mergers. The notes are redeemable
in whole or part, at the option of Hermes Railtel at any time on or after August
15, 2002 at a price ranging from 105.75% to 100.0% of the principal amount.
A portion of the notes are also redeemable at any time or from time to time
prior to August 15, 2000 at a redemption price equal to 111.5% of the principal
amount of the notes so redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if
any, to the date of redemption with the net cash proceeds of one or more public
equity offerings or strategic equity investments resulting in aggregate gross
cash proceeds to Hermes Railtel of at least U.S.$75 million. In the event of a
change of control of Hermes Railtel, holders of the notes have the right to
require Hermes Railtel to purchase such holder's notes at a price equal to 101%
of the aggregate principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to
the date of repurchase.
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NEW HERMES RAILTEL NOTES
On December 21, 1998, Hermes Railtel sold U.S.$200 million aggregate
principal amount of U.S. dollar notes and Euro 85 million aggregate principal
amount of Euro denominated notes. This transaction closed on January 4, 1999.
The U.S. dollar notes have a ten year maturity, and the Euro denominated notes
have a seven year maturity. The notes are unsecured, senior obligations of
Hermes Railtel. The notes were issued pursuant to two indentures among Hermes
Railtel and The Bank of New York as trustee, both dated January 4, 1999, which
are substantially similar to the indenture governing the notes sold in August
1997 by Hermes Railtel. Both indentures dated January 4, 1999, contain certain
covenants made by Hermes Railtel for the benefit of the holders of the notes,
including, among other things, covenants limiting the incurrence of
indebtedness, restricted payments, liens, payment restrictions affecting certain
subsidiaries, transactions with affiliates, asset sales and mergers. The U.S.
dollar notes are redeemable in whole or in part, at the option of Hermes Railtel
at any time on or after January 15, 2004 at a price ranging from 105.188% to
100.0% of the principal amount. The Euro denominated notes are redeemable in
whole or in part, at the option of Hermes Railtel at any time on or after
January 15, 2003 at a price ranging from 105.188% to 100.0% of the principal
amount.
A portion of the notes are also redeemable at any time prior to or from
time to time prior to January 15, 2002 at a redemption price equal to 110.375%
of the principal amount of the notes so redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid
interest thereon, if any, to the date of redemption with the net cash proceeds
of one or more public equity offerings or strategic equity investments resulting
in aggregate gross cash proceeds to Hermes Railtel of at least U.S.$75 million,
provided, however, that following such redemption at least two-thirds of the
principal amount of each of the original U.S. dollar notes and Euro notes remain
outstanding. In the event of a change of control of Hermes Railtel or us,
holders of the notes have the right to require Hermes Railtel to purchase such
holder's notes at a price equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount plus
accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of repurchase.
THE ESPRIT TELECOM NOTES
Pursuant to our acquisition of Esprit Telecom, we assumed all of Esprit
Telecom's outstanding indebtedness. This includes $230,000,000 principal amount
of 11 1/2% senior notes due 2007 and DM 125,000,000 principal amount of 11 1/2%
senior notes due 2007 issued in December 1997. In June 1998, Esprit Telecom also
issued $150,000,000 principal amount of 10 7/8% senior notes due 2008 and DM
150,000,000 principal amount of 11% senior notes due 2008. Interest on both the
1997 notes and the 1998 notes is paid semi-annually on each June 15 and December
15. We may redeem any 1997 notes, at our option, at any time on or after
December 15, 2002 at 105.75% of their principal amount at maturity, plus accrued
interest, declining to 100%, on or after December 2005. We may redeem any 1998
notes, at our option, at any time on or after June 15, 2003, at 105.438% of
their principal amount at maturity, plus accrued interest, declining to 100% on
or after December 2006. We may redeem, at our option, up to 35% of the principal
amount of each series of the 1997 and 1998 notes prior to December 15, 2000 and
June 15, 2001, respectively, at redemption prices equal to 111.50% of the
principal amount of the 1997 notes, and 110.875% of the principal amount of the
1998 notes, in addition to other amounts. We may also redeem, at our option, the
1997 and 1998 notes, in whole but not in part, in the event of certain changes
affecting UK withholding taxes or in the event definitive notes are issued at a
redemption price equal to their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid
interest in addition to other amounts. The 1997 and 1998 notes rank pari passu
with each other and all other senior indebtedness of Esprit Telecom.
The material terms of the indentures governing the 1997 and 1998 notes are
substantially the same and contain covenants with respect to Esprit Telecom,
including limitations on indebtedness, restricted payments, dividends and other
payments affecting Esprit Telecom subsidiaries, the issuance and sale of capital
stock of Esprit Telecom subsidiaries, transactions with stockholders and
affiliates, liens, asset sales, issuances of guarantees of indebtedness by
Esprit Telecom subsidiaries, sale-leaseback transactions, consolidations and
mergers and provision of financial statements and reports.
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EQUIPMENT FINANCING
In connection with the purchase of equipment and services for certain
cellular ventures in the CIS region, we entered into a credit agreement with a
bank providing for up to $30.7 million financing. The facility was guaranteed by
the vendor of such equipment and services, and was insured against certain
political risks by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. The loans under
the facility bore interest at LIBOR plus 35 basis points, with principal and
interest payments due semiannually in June and December of each year through
December 15, 2002. At June 30, 1999, $14.4 million in loans were outstanding
under the facility. Because of the financial condition of certain Vostok Mobile
ventures, we had made some of the principal and interest payments on behalf of
the ventures.
In early September 1999, we and Golden Telecom, Inc. reached an agreement
in principle with the vendor which has guaranteed the obligations under this
facility. We agreed in principle with the vendor that we and the vendor will
each pay, at the completion of Golden Telecom's initial public offering and on
behalf of the ventures that are borrowers under the facility, one-half of the
amount due under the facility, or a total of approximately $14.4 million. In
addition, we agreed we would pay to the vendor $2.5 million in cash, on behalf
of the borrowers, in settlement of certain accounts payable. We and the vendor
made these payments on October 6, 1999 at the completion of Golden Telecom's
initial public offering and, as a result, the credit facility was terminated.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
Our authorized capital stock consists of 270,000,000 shares of common
stock, par value $0.10 per share, of which 173,799,901 shares were issued and
outstanding as of August 31, 1999, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par
value $0.0001 per share, of which 100,000 were issued and outstanding as of
August 31, 1999.
For a discussion of the risks associated with these additional issuances of
stock, see "Risk Factors -- Substantial resales of our common stock may depress
our stock price and dilute stockholders' ownership interest."
On April 23, 1999, we issued 100,000 shares of the 7 1/4% convertible
preferred stock.
In our annual shareholders meeting on June 16, 1999, we obtained approval
to increase our authorized common stock from 135,000,000 shares to 270,000,000
shares. Furthermore, on June 21, 1999, we announced a two-for-one stock split,
in the form of a stock dividend. The dividend was issued on July 21, 1999 to
stockholders of record as of the close of business on July 1, 1999.
The following summary of the rights, privileges, restrictions and
conditions of each of the classes of shares we issue does not purport to be
complete and is subject to the detailed provisions of, and qualified in its
entirety by reference to, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, and to
the applicable provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, which we refer to as the DGCL.
OUR COMMON STOCK
Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for one share held of
record on all matters upon which shareholders have the right to vote. There are
no cumulative voting rights. All issued and outstanding shares of common stock
are, and the offered shares, when issued and paid for, will be, validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable. Holders of common stock are entitled to all
dividends that are declared from time to time by the board of directors out of
funds legally available for that purpose. For more information, we refer you to
"Dividend Policy." Upon dissolution, holders of common stock are entitled to
share pro rata in our assets remaining after payment in full of all of our
liabilities and obligations, including payment of the liquidation preference, if
any, of any preferred stock then outstanding.
OUR PREFERRED STOCK
The board of directors may authorize the issuance of one or more series of
preferred stock having rights, including voting, conversion and redemption
rights, and preferences, including dividend and liquidation preferences, that
our board of directors may determine, without further action by our
stockholders.
The issuance of preferred stock by the board of directors could adversely
affect the rights of the holders common stock. For example, the issuance of
preferred stock could result in a series of securities outstanding that would
have preferences over the common stock with respect to dividends and in
liquidation and that could, upon conversion or otherwise, have all the rights
appurtenant to the common stock. As of June 30, 1999, we have authorized 200,000
shares of Series A junior participating preferred stock, par value $.0001 per
share. Other than our convertible preferred stock, no other series of preferred
stock has been issued. There are no issued and outstanding shares of Series A
preferred stock and no Series A preferred stock is being offered by this
prospectus. A right to purchase shares of Series A preferred stock, however, is
attached to each share of common stock. We have authorized 200,000 shares of
Series A preferred stock initially for issuance upon exercise of those rights.
The units of Series A preferred stock that may be acquired upon exercise of
the rights will be nonredeemable and subordinate to any other shares of
preferred stock that we may issue. Each unit of Series A preferred stock will
have a minimum preferential quarterly dividend of $.01 per unit or any higher
per share dividend declared on the common stock. In the event of liquidation,
the holder of a unit of Series A preferred stock will receive a preferred
liquidation payment equal to the greater of $.01 per unit and the per share
amount paid in respect of a share of common stock.
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Each unit of Series A preferred stock will have one vote, voting together
with the common stock. The holders of units of Series A preferred stock, voting
as a separate class, shall be entitled to elect two directors if dividends on
the Series A preferred stock are in arrears for six fiscal quarters.
In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which
shares of common stock are exchanged, each unit of Series A preferred stock will
be entitled to receive the per share amount paid in respect of each share of
common stock. The rights of holders of the Series A preferred stock to
dividends, liquidation and voting, and in the event of mergers and
consolidations, are protected by customary antidilution provisions. Because of
the nature of the Series A preferred stock's dividend, liquidation and voting
rights, the economic value of one unit of Series A preferred stock that may be
acquired upon the exercise of each right is expected to approximate the economic
value of one share of common stock.
OUR DEPOSITARY SHARES AND 7 1/4% CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
In April 1999, we issued and sold pursuant to exemptions from registration
under the Securities Act, 10,000,000 depositary shares. Each depositary share
represents 1/100 of a share of our 7 1/4% convertible preferred stock deposited
under the deposit agreement dated as of April 23, 1999, among GTS, The Bank of
New York as depositary, and all holders from time to time of depositary receipts
issued under the deposit agreement. Subject to the terms of the deposit
agreement, each owner of a depositary share is entitled, proportionately, to all
the rights, preferences and privileges of the shares of 7 1/4% convertible
preferred stock represented by those depositary shares (including dividend,
conversion, voting, and liquidation rights), and is subject to all of the
limitations of the fractional shares of 7 1/4% convertible preferred stock
represented by those depositary shares. The depositary shares are evidenced by
depositary receipts.
In summary, the holders of the depositary shares
- may convert the 7 1/4% convertible preferred stock represented by those
depositary shares into our common stock,
- are entitled to receive dividends at the rate of $0.90625 per quarter,
and
- are entitled to vote in certain circumstances.
DTC will act as securities depositary for the depositary shares.
The following is a summary of certain terms of the 7 1/4% convertible
preferred stock. The terms of the 7 1/4% convertible preferred stock are
contained in the Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Relative,
Participating, Optional and Other Special Rights of Preferred Stock and
Qualifications, Limitations and Restrictions which shall be referred to as the
"certificate of designations." This summary is not intended to be complete and
is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the certificate of
designations.
Under the certificate of designations, 100,000 shares of 7 1/4% convertible
preferred stock with a liquidation preference of $5,000 per share have been
authorized for issuance. The 7 1/4% convertible preferred stock is fully paid
and nonassessable, and the holders have no preemptive rights in connection with
those shares. We do not expect that there will be any trading market for the
7 1/4% convertible preferred stock except as represented by the depositary
shares.
The 7 1/4% convertible preferred stock:
- ranks junior in right of payment to all of our existing and future debt
obligations and to each senior class or series of our capital stock, and
pari passu or senior to all of our of the capital stock
- has a liquidation preference of $5,000 per share ($50 per depositary
share) plus accrued and unpaid dividends and additional dividends,
- is convertible at the option of the holder into shares of our common
stock at a rate of 72.46 shares of common stock per convertible preferred
share (.7246 share of common stock per depository share),
- is redeemable in whole or in part, at our option at any time on or after
March 15, 2002 at the prices described below plus accrued and unpaid
dividends, if any, to the redemption date.
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The holders of 7 1/4% convertible preferred stock (and the corresponding
depositary shares):
- will have no voting rights except as required by law and as specified in
the certificate of designations unless the events described below happen,
and
- may require us, upon a change of control event, to repurchase all of a
portion of such holder's convertible preferred stock (and the
corresponding depositary shares).
SECTION 145 OF DGCL AND CERTAIN CHARTER PROVISIONS
Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding whether civil,
criminal or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the
corporation). A corporation may indemnify that person if he or she is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation. A corporation may also
indemnify that person if he or she is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. That person may recover
the following from the corporation:
- expenses (including attorneys' fees);
- judgments;
- fines; and
- amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her
in connection with any action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in
good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or
her conduct was unlawful.
Section 145 further provides that a corporation similarly may indemnify any
such person serving in any such capacity who was or is a party or is threatened
to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or
in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor. Such person
may recover expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if
he acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or
not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. However, no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to
which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable but in view of all the
circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court
shall deem proper.
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to include in its
certificate of incorporation a provision eliminating or limiting the personal
liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary
damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision
shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director:
- for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or
its stockholders,
- for acts or omission not in good faith or which involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law,
- under Section 174 of the DGCL (relating to unlawful payment of dividends
and unlawful stock purchase and redemption), or
- for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal
benefit.
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that our directors shall not be
liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary
duty as a director provided, however, that such exculpation from liabilities is
not permitted with respect to liability arising from items described in the
preceding paragraph. Our Certificate of Incorporation and our By-laws further
provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent
permitted by the DGCL.
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Our directors and officers are covered under directors' and officers'
liability insurance policies that we maintain.
CERTAIN CHARTER AND BY-LAW PROVISIONS
Shareholders' rights and related matters are governed by the DGCL, the
Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws. Provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation and the By-laws, which are summarized below, may discourage or
make more difficult a takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider in its
best interest, although certain of such provisions in the By-laws are subject to
final approval by our board of directors. Such provisions may also adversely
affect prevailing market prices for the common stock which is discussed in the
section "Risk Factors -- We have anti-takeover provisions that could delay or
prevent a change in control, even if it would benefit shareholders."
Classified Board of Directors and Related Provisions. Our Certificate of
Incorporation provides that our board of directors be divided into three classes
of directors serving staggered three-year terms. The classes of directors
(designated class I, class II and class III) shall be, as nearly as possible,
equal in number. Accordingly, one-third of our board of directors will be
elected each year.
- The terms of the initial class I directors terminated at the May 20, 1998
annual meeting of stockholders and those directors were re-elected to a
three-year term terminating on the date of the 2001 annual meeting of
stockholders.
- The term of the initial class II directors terminated on the date of the
1999 annual meeting of stockholders and the directors standing for
re-election at that meeting where re-elected to a three-year term
terminating on the date of the 2002 annual meeting of stockholders.
- The term of the initial class III directors terminates on the date of the
2000 annual meeting of stockholders.
The classified board provision may prevent a party who acquires control of
a majority of our outstanding voting stock from obtaining control of the board
of directors until the second annual shareholders meeting following the date
that party obtains the controlling interest.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock or
any other class of our capital stock (other than common stock) then outstanding,
directors may only be removed for cause by a majority vote of our holders of
capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors, voting together as a single class.
No Shareholder Action by Written Consent; Special Meetings. Our
Certificate of Incorporation prohibits shareholders from taking action by
written consent in lieu of an annual or special meeting, and thus shareholders
may take action at an annual or special meeting called in accordance with our
By-laws. Our Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws provide that special
meetings of shareholders may only be called only by the Chairman of the board of
directors, the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the board of directors.
Special meetings may not be called by the shareholders, except as permitted by
the shareholder rights By-law described below.
Amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation. The provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation described above may not be amended, altered,
changed or repealed without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 75%
of the shares of our capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.
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SECTION 203 OF DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW AND CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits certain transactions between a Delaware
corporation and an "interested stockholder." An interested stockholder is
defined as a person who, together with any affiliates or associates of that
person, beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 15% or more of the
outstanding voting shares of a Delaware corporation. This provision prohibits
certain business combinations (defined broadly to include mergers,
consolidations, sales or other dispositions of assets having an aggregate value
in excess of 10% of the consolidated assets of the corporation, and certain
transactions that would increase the interested stockholder's proportionate
share ownership in the corporation) between an interested stockholder and a
corporation for a period of three years after the date the interested
stockholder becomes an interested stockholder.
Section 203 further provides that under certain circumstances, business
combinations are allowed, such as when:
- the business combination is approved by the corporation's board of
directors prior to the date the interested stockholder becomes an
interested stockholder,
- the interested stockholder acquired at least 85% of the voting stock of
the corporation (other than stock held by directors who are also officers
or by certain employee stock plans) in the transaction in which it
becomes an interested stockholder, or
- the business combination is approved by a majority of the board of
directors and by the affirmative vote of 66 2/3% of the outstanding
voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.
In addition, our Certificate of Incorporation grants the board of directors
the authority to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more
series and to determine the rights, voting powers, dividend rate, conversion
rights, redemption price, liquidation preference and other terms of the issued
preferred stock without any further vote or action by the stockholders. The
provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL described above and our Certificate of
Incorporation, and any issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion
rights, may adversely affect your voting power and may have the effect of
delaying or preventing a change of control of GTS or adversely affect the market
price of our common stock.
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS AGREEMENT AND SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS BY-LAW
Shareholder Rights Plan. We have entered into a rights agreement. In
connection with the rights agreement, our board of directors declared a
distribution of one right for each outstanding share of common stock, each share
of common stock offered by this prospectus and each share of our common stock
issued (including shares distributed from treasury) thereafter and prior to a
distribution date. Each right will entitle the registered holder, subject to the
terms of the rights agreement, to purchase from us one one-thousandth of a share
or a unit of Series A preferred stock at a purchase price of $75 per unit,
subject to adjustment.
Initially, the rights will attach to all certificates representing shares
of outstanding common stock, and no separate rights certificates will be
distributed. The rights will separate from the common stock and the distribution
date will occur upon the earlier of:
- 10 days following a public announcement that a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons (other than us, any of our subsidiaries
or any of our employee benefit plans or such subsidiary) has acquired,
obtained the right to acquire, or otherwise obtained beneficial ownership
of 15% or more of the then outstanding shares of common stock, and
- 10 business days (or such later date determined by action of the board of
directors prior to such time as any person makes such announcement)
following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would
result in a person or group beneficially owning 15% or more of the then
outstanding shares of common stock.
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The Soros associates and Alan B. Slifka and his affiliates are excluded from
being an acquiring person described above under the rights agreement unless they
increase the aggregate percentage of their ownership interest in us to 20%.
Until a distribution date:
- the rights will be evidenced by common stock certificates and will be
transferred with and only with such common stock certificates,
- new common stock certificates issued after date of consummation of the
offerings in July 1998 (also including shares distributed from treasury)
will contain a notation incorporating the rights agreement by reference,
and
- the surrender for transfer of any certificates representing outstanding
common stock will also constitute the transfer of the rights associated
with the common stock represented by those certificates.
The rights will not be exercisable until a distribution date and will
expire at the close of business on the tenth anniversary of the rights agreement
unless we redeem them earlier.
In the event that:
- we are the surviving corporation in a merger with an acquiring person
described above and shares of common stock shall remain outstanding,
- a person becomes an acquiring person,
- an acquiring person engages in one or more "self-dealing" transactions as
set forth in the rights agreement, or
- during such time as there is an acquiring person, an event occurs which
results in that person's ownership interest being increased by more than
1% (e.g., by means of a recapitalization),
then, in each such case, each holder of a right (other than such person) will
thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, units of Series A preferred
stock (or, in some circumstances, our common stock, cash, property or other
securities) having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the right.
The exercise price is the purchase price multiplied by the number of units of
Series A preferred stock issuable upon exercise of a right prior to the events
described in this paragraph.
In the event that, at any time following a stock acquisition date:
- we are acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction and
we are not the surviving corporation (other than a merger described in
the preceding paragraph),
- any person consolidates or merges with us and all or part of our common
stock is converted or exchanged for securities, cash or property of any
other person, or
- 50% or more of our assets or earning power is sold or transferred,
each holder of a right (other than an acquiring person) shall thereafter have
the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the ultimate parent of such
person having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the right.
The purchase price payable, and the number of units of Series A preferred
stock issuable, upon exercise of the rights are subject to adjustment from time
to time to prevent dilution:
- in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or
reclassification of, the Series A preferred stock,
- if holders of the Series A preferred stock are granted certain rights or
warrants to subscribe for Series A preferred stock or convertible
securities at less than the current market price of the Series A
preferred stock, or
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- upon the distribution to the holder of the Series A preferred stock of
evidences of indebtedness, cash or assets (excluding regular quarterly
cash dividends) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to above).
At any time until ten business days following a stock acquisition date,
either
- 75% of our board of directors, or
- a majority of our board of directors and a majority of the continuing
directors,
may redeem the rights in whole, but not in part, at a nominal price. Immediately
upon the action of a majority of our board of directors ordering the redemption
of the rights, the rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of
rights will be to receive the redemption price. As used in the rights agreement,
a continuing director means any person (other than a person attempting to
acquire us or an affiliate or associate of such a person or a representative of
such person or of any such affiliate or associate) who was a director prior to
the date of the rights agreement and any person (other than an acquiring person
or an affiliate or associate of an acquiring person or a representative of an
acquiring person or of any such affiliate or associate) nominated for selection
or elected to the board of directors pursuant to the approval of a majority of
the continuing directors.
At its option, either:
- 75% of our board of directors, or
- a majority of our board of directors and a majority of the continuing
directors, may exchange each right for (1) one unit of Series A preferred
stock or (2) such number of units of Series A preferred stock as will
equal the spread between the market price of each unit to be issued and
the purchase price of such unit set forth in the rights agreement.
Any of the provisions of the rights agreement may be amended without the
approval of either:
- 75% of our board of directors, or
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SUMMARY OF UNITED STATES FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES
TO NON-UNITED STATES STOCKHOLDERS
The following is a summary of the principal United States federal income
and estate tax considerations with respect to the ownership and disposition of
shares of our common stock by "Non-United States Holders." This summary is based
on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, existing and proposed Treasury
regulations thereunder and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof
(all as currently in effect and all of which are subject to change, possibly
with retroactive effect). This summary does not address all United States
federal income and estate tax consequences that may be relevant to a non-United
States Holder in light of its particular circumstances or to certain Non-United
States Holders that may be subject to special treatment under United States
federal income tax laws, such as banks, insurance companies, tax-exempt entities
and certain United States expatriates. Furthermore, the following discussion
does not discuss any aspects of foreign, state or local taxation. As used
herein, the term "Non-United States Holder" means a holder of common stock that
for United States federal income tax purposes is not (i) a citizen or individual
resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation or partnership created or
organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision
thereof; (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal
income tax regardless of its source; or (iv) a trust if both: (A) a court within
the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the
administration of the trust and (B) one or more United States persons have the
authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust. EACH PROSPECTIVE
PURCHASER IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISER WITH RESPECT TO THE UNITED
STATES FEDERAL INCOME AND ESTATE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF OWNING AND DISPOSING OF
SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK, AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER THE
LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION.
DIVIDENDS
Dividends that are paid by a United States corporation to a Non-United
States Holder and that are not effectively connected with a trade or business
carried on by such Non-United States Holder in the United States (or, if one or
more of certain tax treaties apply, are attributable to a permanent
establishment in the United States maintained by the Non-United States Holder)
generally are subject to a 30% United States withholding tax. An exemption from
such withholding exists with respect to dividends paid to Non-United States
Holders by a United States corporation if at least 80% of the gross income
derived by such corporation (either directly or through certain of its
subsidiaries) during the applicable testing period is "active foreign business
income," as defined in section 861 of the Code. Under the provisions of the Code
applicable to these companies, the proportion of such company's dividends equal
to such company's total gross income from foreign sources over its total gross
income is exempt from United States withholding tax. At present, we believe that
we qualify as such a company. However, the 80% active foreign business income
test is applied on a periodic basis, and our operations and business plans may
change in subsequent taxable years. Therefore, we cannot assure you of our
future status as this type of company. If, for any period or periods, we fail to
satisfy the applicable requirements, then, for payments made prior to January 1,
2000, the withholding agent generally would be required to withhold tax from all
distributions paid on the common stock regardless of our earnings and profits.
For payments made after January 1, 2000, a withholding agent may elect not to
withhold on a distribution to the extent it is not paid out of current or
accumulated earnings and profits, based on our reasonable estimate of the extent
to which the distribution will be out of such earnings and profits. Holders
could, however, apply for refunds if such common stock's share of our earnings
and profits is less than the amount of the distributions. Additionally, the rate
of withholding may be reduced to the extent provided by a tax treaty between the
United States and the country of which the Non-United States Holder is a
resident for tax purposes.
In order to claim the benefit of an applicable tax treaty rate, a
Non-United States Holder may have to file with us or our dividend paying agent
an exemption or reduced treaty rate certificate or letter in accordance with the
terms of such treaty. Under United States Treasury regulations currently in
effect, for purposes of determining whether tax is to be withheld at a 30% rate
or at a reduced rate as specified by an income tax treaty, we ordinarily will
presume that dividends paid to an address in a foreign country are
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paid to a resident of such country absent knowledge that such presumption is not
warranted. However, as of January 1, 2000, a Non-United States Holder seeking a
reduced rate of withholding under an income tax treaty generally would be
required to provide to us a valid Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 certifying
that such Non-United States Holder is entitled to benefits under an income tax
treaty. The final regulations also provide special rules for determining
whether, for purposes of assessing the applicability of an income tax treaty,
dividends paid to a Non-United States Holder that is an entity should be treated
as being paid to the entity itself or to the persons holding an interest in that
entity. A Non-United States Holder who is eligible for a reduced withholding
rate may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate
claim for refund with the Internal Revenue Service.
In the case of dividends that are effectively connected with the Non-United
States Holder's conduct of a trade or business with the United States or, if an
income tax treaty applies, attributable to a United States permanent
establishment of the Non-United States Holder, the Non-United States Holder
generally will be subject to regular United States income tax in the same manner
as if the Non-United States Holder were a United States resident. A Non-United
States corporation receiving effectively connected dividends also may be subject
to an additional "branch profits tax" which is imposed, under certain
circumstances, at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified by an
applicable treaty) of the Non-United States corporation's "effectively connected
earnings and profits," subject to certain adjustments.
GAIN ON DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON STOCK
A Non-United States Holder generally will not be subject to United States
federal income tax with respect to gain realized on a sale or other disposition
of common stock unless:
(1) the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business of such
Non-United States Holder in the United States or
(2) in the case of certain Non-United States Holders who are
non-resident alien individuals and hold the common stock as a capital
asset, such individuals are present in the United States for 183 or more
days in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other conditions
are met.
INFORMATION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING
Under the United States Treasury regulations, we must report annually to
the Internal Revenue Service and to each Non-United States Holder the amount of
dividends paid to such holder and any tax withheld with respect to such
dividends. These information reporting requirements apply regardless of whether
withholding is required because the dividends were effectively connected with a
trade or business in the United States of the Non-United States Holder or
withholding was reduced or eliminated by an applicable income tax treaty. Copies
of the information returns reporting such dividends and withholding may also be
made available to the tax authorities in the country in which the Non-United
States Holder is a resident under the provisions of an applicable income tax
treaty or agreement.
United States backup withholding (which generally is a withholding tax
imposed at the rate of 31% on certain payments to persons that fail to furnish
certain information under the United States information reporting requirements)
generally will not apply to (1) dividends paid to Non-United States Holders that
are subject to the 30% withholding discussed above (or that are not so subject
because a tax treaty applies that reduces or eliminates such 30% withholding) or
(2) under current law, dividends paid to a Non-United States Holder at an
address outside of the United States. However, as of January 1, 2000, a Non-
United States Holder will generally be subject to United States withholding tax
at a 31% rate unless certain certification procedures (or, in the case of
payments made outside the United States with respect to an offshore account,
certain documentary evidence procedures) are satisfied, directly or through a
foreign intermediary.
Backup withholding and information reporting generally will apply to
dividends paid to addresses inside the United States on shares of our common
stock to beneficial owners that are not "exempt recipients" and that fail to
provide in the manner required certain identifying information.
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The payment of the proceeds of the disposition of common stock to or
through the United States office of a broker is subject to information reporting
unless the disposing holder, under penalty of perjury, certifies its Non-United
States status or otherwise establishes an exemption. Generally, United States
information reporting and backup withholding will not apply to a payment of
disposition proceeds if the payment is made outside the United States through a
Non-United States office of a Non-United States broker. However, information
reporting requirements (but probably, prior to January 1, 2000, not backup
withholding) will apply to a payment of disposition proceeds outside the United
States if:
(A) the payment is made through an office outside the United States of
a broker that is either
(1) a United States person,
(2) a foreign person which derives 50% or more of its gross income
for certain periods from the conduct of a trade or business in the
United States,
(3) a "controlled foreign corporation" for United States Federal
income tax purposes, or
(4) effective January 1, 2000, but probably not prior to such date,
a foreign broker that is (a) a foreign partnership, one or more of whose
partners are United States persons who, in the aggregate, hold more than
50% of the income or capital interest in the partnership at any time
during its tax year, or (b) a foreign partnership engaged at any time
during its tax year in the conduct of a trade or business in the United
States, and
(B) the broker fails to maintain documentary evidence that the holder
is a Non-United States Holder and that certain conditions are met, or that
the holder otherwise is entitled to an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the tax liability of
persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax
withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be
obtained, provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal
Revenue Service.
FEDERAL ESTATE TAX
An individual Non-United States Holder who is treated as the owner of or
has made certain lifetime transfers of an interest in our common stock will be
required to include the value thereof in his gross estate for United States
federal estate tax purposes, and may be subject to United States federal estate
tax unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise. Estates of
non-resident aliens are generally allowed a statutory credit which generally has
the effect of offsetting the United States federal estate tax imposed on the
first $60,000 of the taxable estate.
THE FOREGOING DISCUSSION IS INCLUDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY.
ACCORDINGLY, EACH PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER IS URGED TO CONSULT HIS TAX ADVISOR WITH
RESPECT TO THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX AND ESTATE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF
THE OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON STOCK, INCLUDING THE APPLICATION AND
EFFECT OF THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN, OR OTHER TAX JURISDICTION.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The shares may be sold from time to time to purchasers directly by the
selling stockholders. Alternatively, the selling stockholders may from time to
time offer the shares to or through underwriters, broker/dealers or agents, who
may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts, concessions or
commissions from the selling stockholders or the purchasers of such securities
for whom they may act as agents. The selling stockholders and any underwriters,
broker/dealers or agents that participate in the distribution of the shares may
be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any
profit on the sale of such securities and any discounts, commissions,
concessions or other compensation received by any such underwriter,
broker/dealers or agents may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act.
The shares may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions at
fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices
determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. Such prices will be
determined by the selling stockholders or by agreement between such selling
stockholders and underwriters or dealers who receive fees or commissions in
connection therewith. The sale of the shares may be effected in transactions
(which may involve crosses, block transactions and borrowings, returns and
reborrowings of the shares pursuant to stock loan agreements to settle short
sales of the common stock) (1) on any national securities exchange or quotation
service on which the shares may be listed or quoted at the time of the sale, (2)
in the over-the-counter markets, (3) in transactions otherwise than on such
exchange or in the over-the-counter market or (4) through the writing of
options. Shares also may be delivered in connection with the issuance of
securities by issuers other than GTS that are exchangeable for (whether optional
or mandatory) or payable in, such shares or pursuant to which such shares may be
distributed. At the time a particular offering of the shares is made, a
Prospectus Supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the
aggregate amount and type of the shares being offered and the terms of the
offering, including the name or names of any underwriter, broker/dealers or
agents, any discounts, commissions and other terms constituting compensation
from the selling stockholders and any discounts, commissions or concessions
allowed or reallowed or paid to broker/ dealers. This prospectus also may be
used by pledgees, donees and transferees of the selling stockholders or by other
persons acquiring shares, including brokers who borrow the shares to settle
short sales of shares of the common stock. In addition, the shares which qualify
for sale under an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities
Act may be sold pursuant to such exemption rather than this prospectus.
To comply with the securities laws of certain jurisdictions, if applicable,
the shares will be offered or sold in such jurisdictions only through registered
or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain jurisdictions the shares
may not be offered or sold unless they have been registered or qualified for
sale in such jurisdictions or any exemption from registration or qualification
is available and is complied with.
The selling stockholders will be subject to applicable provisions of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, which provision may limit
the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares by the selling
stockholders. The foregoing may affect the marketability of such securities.
The selling stockholders will pay all underwriting discounts and selling
commissions, if any. We will indemnify any underwriters in an underwritten
offering against certain civil liabilities, including certain liabilities under
the Securities Act, or we will contribute to payments the underwriters may have
to make in respect thereof.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of our common stock offered hereby has been passed upon for us
by Arnold Y. Dean, our Deputy General Counsel.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. In addition, we have filed a Registration Statement on
Form S-3 of which this prospectus is a part. All of the references in this
prospectus to contracts, agreements and other documents are summaries of the
actual documents which are contained as exhibits in the Registration Statement.
Since the prospectus may not contain all the information that you may find
important, you should review the full text of these documents.
You may read and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information
at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at Room 1024, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the SEC's Regional Offices located
at 7 World Trade Center, 13th floor, New York, New York 10048 and 500 West
Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. You may also obtain copies
of such material at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the
SEC at 450 Fifth Street, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain copies from the
Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at (800) 732-0330. In addition, we are
required to file electronic versions of such material with the SEC through the
SEC's Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) system. The SEC
maintains a World Wide Web site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports,
proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants
that file electronically with the SEC. Our common stock is listed on Nasdaq and
Easdaq and reports and other information concerning us can also be inspected at
the offices of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. at 1735 K
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001-1500 U.S.A. and the Easdaq Market
Authority, Rue des Colonies 56, Brussels 1000, Belgium.
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION WE FILE WITH THE SEC
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file
with them, which means that:
- documents incorporated by reference are considered part of the
prospectus;
- we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those
documents; and
- information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and
supersede this prospectus.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below which were filed
with the SEC under the Exchange Act:
- our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1998, filed on March 23, 1999;
- our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, and
June 30, 1999; and
- our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 13, 1999 and March 9,
1999 and our Amendment to our Current Reports on Form 8-K/A filed on
January 20, 1999.
We also incorporate by reference each of the following documents that we
will file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus but before all the
common stock offered by this prospectus has been sold:
- reports filed under Sections 13(a) and (c) of the Exchange Act;
- definitive proxy or information statements filed under Section 14 of the
Exchange Act in connection with any subsequent stockholders' meeting; and
- any reports filed under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
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You may request a copy of any filings referred to above (excluding
exhibits), at no cost, by contacting us at the following address:
Global TeleSystems Group, Inc.
4121 Wilson Boulevard
8th Floor
Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 236-3100
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and schedules of Global TeleSystems
Group, Inc. as of December 31, 1997 and 1998, and for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 1998 appearing in Global TeleSystems Group, Inc.'s
Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1998, have been
audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report
therein which is based in part on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers,
independent accountants, and incorporated herein by reference. The consolidated
financial statements and schedules referred to above are included in reliance
upon such reports given upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting
and auditing.
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18,161,160 SHARES
[GLOBAL TELESYSTEMS GROUP, INC. LOGO]
GLOBAL TELESYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
COMMON STOCK
OCTOBER 7, 1999
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