As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 5, 1999
Registration No. 333-_____
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
SOFTNET SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
NEW YORK
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
11-1817252
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
520 Logue Avenue
Mountain View, CA 94043
(650) 962-7470
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of registrant's principal executive offices)
Dr. Lawrence B. Brilliant
Chief Executive Officer and President
SoftNet Systems, Inc.
520 Logue Avenue
Mountain View, CA 94043
(650) 962-7470
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
Copy to:
Thomas W. Kellerman, Esq.
Two Embarcadero Place
2200 Geng Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
(650) 424-0160
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From
time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
-----------------------------------------
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. /__/
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be
offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. /X/
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering./__/
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities
Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration
statement for the same offering./__/
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities
Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration
statement for the same offering./__/
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
- ------------------------------------------ ---------------------- --------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Title of Each Class of Amount to Proposed Maximum Proposed Maximum Amount of
Securities to be Registered be Registered Offering Price Per Aggregate Offering Registration Fee
Unit(1) Price
- ------------------------------------------ ---------------------- --------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
- ------------------------------------------ ---------------------- --------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock, $0.01 par value (2)........ 1,717,587(2) (3) $16.875 $28,984,281 $8,058.00
- ------------------------------------------ ---------------------- --------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
</TABLE>
(1) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the amount of the
registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act of 1933,
based on the average of the high and low sales price of a share of common
stock of the Registrant on the American Stock Exchange as reported in the
consolidated reporting system on February 2, 1999.
(2) Consists of common stock issuable upon exercise of certain stock purchase
warrants (the "Warrants") and conversion of 9% Senior Subordinated
Convertible Notes due 2001 (the "9% Convertible Notes").
(3) Includes shares of common stock underlying the Warrants and shares of
common stock that may become issuable by reason of changes in the
conversion price of the 9% Convertible Notes. Pursuant to Rule 416 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), the registrant
is also registering such additional number of shares of the Registrant's
common stock that may become issuable as a result of any stock splits,
stock dividends or anti-dilution provisions.
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE
OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SEC, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A), MAY
DETERMINE.
<PAGE>
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED February 5, 1999
PROSPECTUS
SOFTNET SYSTEMS, INC.
1,717,587 Shares of Common Stock
Certain shareholders of SoftNet Systems, Inc. are
offering for resale and selling under this prospectus up to
1,717,587 shares of SoftNet common stock to be issued upon
conversion of SoftNet's 9% senior subordinated convertible
notes due 2001 and warrants to purchase SoftNet common stock.
The selling shareholders may determine the prices at
which they will sell such SoftNet common stock, which may be
at market prices prevailing at the time of such sale or some
other price. In connection with such sales, the selling
shareholders may use brokers or dealers which may receive
compensation or commissions for such sales. SoftNet will not
receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the SoftNet
common stock by the selling shareholders.
The SoftNet common stock is listed on the American
Stock Exchange under the symbol "SOF." On February 2, 1999,
the last reported sales price of the SoftNet common stock on
the American Stock Exchange was $16.875 per share.
----------------------------
You should carefully consider the risk factors
beginning on page 1 of this Prospectus before purchasing any
of the SoftNet common stock being offered by the selling
shareholders.
----------------------------
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the
accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is February 5, 1999
The Information in This Prospectus is Not Complete and May be Changed. We May
Not Sell These Securities Until the Registration Statement Filed With the
Securities and Exchange Commission is Effective. This Prospectus is Not an Offer
to Sell These Securities and It is Not Soliciting an Offer to Buy These
Securities in Any State Where the Offer or Sale is Not Permitted.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
RISK FACTORS..................................................................1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION..........................................22
USE OF PROCEEDS..............................................................23
THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS.....................................................23
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION.........................................................26
LEGAL........................................................................27
EXPERT.......................................................................28
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the risks described below before making
an investment decision. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the
only ones facing SoftNet. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known
to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business
operations.
If any of the following risks actually occur, our business, financial
condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. In
such case, the trading price of our common stock could decline, and you may lose
all or part of your investment.
This prospectus also contains "forward-looking" statements that involve
risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those
anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors,
including the risks faced by us described below and elsewhere in this
prospectus.
We cannot predict our success because we have operated our Internet services
business only for a short period of time
We are in the process of selling our non-Internet related subsidiaries
to focus on substantial expansion of our Internet subsidiary, ISP Channel, Inc.
We acquired ISP Channel, Inc. in June 1996. As such, we have very limited
operating history and experience in the Internet services business. The
successful expansion of the ISP Channel service will require strategies and
business operations that differ from those historically employed in connection
with our two other businesses. To be successful, we must develop and market
products and services that are widely accepted by consumers and businesses at
prices that provide cash flow sufficient to meet our debt service, capital
expenditures and working capital requirements. Consequently, we cannot assure
you that our ability to develop or maintain strategies and business operations
for the ISP Channel services will achieve positive cash flow and profitability.
There is no proven commercial acceptance of ISP Channel, Inc.'s services
It has become feasible to offer Internet services over existing cable
lines and equipment on a broad scale only recently. There is no proven
commercial acceptance of cable-based Internet services. There are only a few
companies offering such services, and none of these companies are currently
profitable. Because this industry is in its early stages, it is currently very
difficult to predict whether providing cable-modem Internet services will become
a viable business model.
We have launched the ISP Channel service in 19 cable systems in the
United States, but we cannot assure you that it will achieve broad consumer or
commercial acceptance. We currently only have approximately 1,600 subscribers to
the ISP Channel service. The success of the ISP Channel service will depend upon
the willingness of subscribers to pay the monthly fees and installation costs
associated with the service and to purchase or lease the equipment necessary to
access the Internet. Accordingly, we cannot predict whether our pricing model
will prove to be viable, whether demand for our services will materialize at the
prices we expect to charge, or whether current or future pricing levels will be
sustainable. If we do not achieve or sustain such pricing levels or if our
services do not achieve or sustain broad market acceptance, then our business,
financial condition, prospects and ability to repay our debts will be materially
adversely affected.
We anticipate having negative cash flow, net losses and accumulated
stockholders' deficits for the foreseeable future
We have sustained substantial losses over the last five fiscal years.
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, we had a net loss of $17.3 million
and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997, we had a net loss of $2.6
million. As of September 30, 1998, we had an accumulated stockholders' deficit
of approximately $6.2 million. We expect to incur substantial additional losses
and experience substantial negative cash flows as we expand the ISP Channel
service. The costs of expansion will include expenses incurred in connection
with:
o installing the equipment necessary to enable our cable affiliates to offer
our services;
o research and development of new product and service offerings;
o the continued development of our direct and indirect selling and marketing
efforts; and
o possible charges related to acquisitions, divestitures, business alliances
or changing technologies, including the acquisition of Intelligent
Communications, Inc.
Our continued negative cash flow and net losses may result in depressed
market prices for our common stock. We cannot assure you that we will ever
achieve favorable operating results or profitability.
We will require substantial future capital to implement our business plan
The development of our business will require substantial capital
infusions as a result of:
o our need to enhance and expand product and service offerings to maintain
our competitive position and increase market share; and
o the substantial investment in equipment and corporate resources required by
the continued national launching of the ISP Channel service.
In addition, we anticipate that the majority of cable affiliates with
one-way cable systems will eventually upgrade their cable infrastructure to
two-way cable systems, at which time we will have to upgrade our equipment on
any affected cable system to handle two-way transmissions. We cannot accurately
predict whether or when we will ultimately achieve cash flow levels sufficient
to support our operations, development of new products and services, and
expansion of the ISP Channel service. Unless we reach such cash flow levels, we
will require additional financing to provide funding for operations. In the
event we complete a long-term debt financing, we will be highly leveraged and
such debt securities will have rights or privileges senior to those of our
current shareholders. In the event that equity securities are issued to raise
additional capital, the percentage ownership of our shareholders will be
reduced, shareholders may experience additional dilution and such securities may
have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of our common stock. In
the event that we cannot generate sufficient cash flow from operations, or are
unable to borrow or otherwise obtain additional funds on favorable terms to
finance operations when needed, our business, financial condition, prospects and
ability to repay our debts would be materially adversely affected.
The unpredictability of our quarterly results may adversely affect the trading
price of our common stock
We cannot predict with any significant degree of certainty our
quarterly revenue and operating results, which have fluctuated in the past and
will likely fluctuate in the future. As a result, we believe that
period-to-period comparisons of our revenues and results of operations are not
necessarily meaningful and you should not rely upon them as indicators of future
performance. It is likely that in one or more future quarters our results may
fall below the expectations of analysts and investors. In such event, the
trading price of our common stock would likely decrease. Many of the factors
that could cause our quarterly operating results to fluctuate significantly in
the future are beyond our control.
Factors that could affect ISP Channel, Inc. include, among others:
o the number of subscribers who retain our Internet services;
o changes in the revenue sharing arrangements between us and our affiliated
cable operators;
o our ability and that of our cable affiliates to coordinate timely and
effective marketing strategies, in particular, our strategy for marketing
the ISP Channel service to subscribers in such affiliates' local cable
areas;
o the rate at which our cable affiliates can complete the installations
required to initiate service for new subscribers;
o the amount and timing of capital expenditures and other costs relating to
the expansion of the ISP Channel service;
o competition in the Internet or cable industries; and
o changes in law and regulation.
In addition, we are selling MTC and KCI, our non-Internet subsidiaries.
MTC has not been accounted for as a discontinued operation because its sale is
dependent on shareholder approval. MTC and KCI have historically accounted for
the majority of our revenues. Accordingly, the sale of KCI and MTC would make
historical comparisons of operating results less meaningful.
Issuance of common stock pursuant to existing obligations will result in
dilution to the common stockholders
The total number of shares of our common stock underlying all of our
convertible securities, assuming the maximum amounts that we could be obligated
to issue without our consent, is 7,477,814, which would have been 86.6% of our
outstanding common stock as of December 31, 1998. The issuance of common stock
as a result of these obligations could result in significant dilution to the
holders of our common stock.
We are obligated to issue up to 1,760,227 shares of our common stock on
the exercise of warrants and options and the conversion of certain of our
convertible debt. Our preferred stock and 9% senior subordinated convertible
notes due 2001 could convert into an additional 5,717,587 shares of common stock
without our consent. However, we do not know the exact number of shares of our
common stock that we will issue upon conversion of these securities because they
potentially have floating conversion prices based on the average market prices
of the common stock for a number of trading days immediately prior to
conversion.
The floating conversion price feature of the Series B Preferred Stock,
Series C Preferred Stock, and 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001
begin February 28, 1999, May 29, 1999 and July 1, 1999, respectively. Generally,
decreases in the market price of the common stock below their initial conversion
prices would result in more shares of common stock being issued upon their
conversion. The 5,717,587 shares underlying our preferred stock and 9% senior
subordinated convertible notes due 2001 assumes that the stockholders approve
the issuance of in excess of 19.99% of our outstanding common stock in
connection with conversion of our preferred stock. We are seeking such approval
at our 1999 Annual Meeting.
The following table sets forth the number of shares of common stock
issuable upon conversion of the outstanding preferred stock and our 9% senior
subordinated convertible notes due 2001 and percentage ownership that each
represents assuming:
o the market price of the common stock is 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the
market price of the common stock on December 31, 1998, which was $17.38 per
share;
o the floating conversion price feature of the preferred stock and 9% senior
subordinated convertible notes due 2001 was in effect;
o the maximum conversion prices of the preferred stock was not adjusted as
provided in our certificate of incorporation; and
o the conversion price was equal to the market price at the time of
conversion in the event the market price was less than the maximum
conversion price.
On December 31, 1998, there were 8,631,087 shares of common stock,
10,251.56 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, 7,625.39 shares of Series C
Preferred Stock and $12,000,000 principal amount under the 9% senior
subordinated convertible notes due 2001 outstanding. The Series B Preferred
Stock cannot convert into more than 2,000,000 shares of our common stock. In the
event that more than 2,000,000 shares of common stock would be required to fully
convert the Series C Preferred Stock, we must either honor conversion requests
over the 2,000,000 share limit or redeem the remaining Series C Preferred Stock
for cash, at its stated value of $1,000 per share plus accrued but unpaid
dividends.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------- --------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ -------------------------
Percent of Market Series B Preferred Series C Preferred 9% Senior Subordinated
Price Stock Stock Convertible Notes Total
- ------------------- --------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------ -------------------------
Shares Shares Shares Shares
Underlying % Underlying % Underlying % Underlying %
- ------------------- ------------- ------- ----------------- ------ ---------------- ------- ---------------- --------
- ------------------- ------------- ------- ----------------- ------ ---------------- ------- ---------------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
25% ($4.35) 2,000,000 18.8 1,752,963 16.9 1,717,587 16.6 5,470,550 38.8
- ------------------- ------------- ------- ----------------- ------ ---------------- ------- ---------------- --------
50% ($8.69) 1,179,696 12.0 877,490 9.2 1,380,897 13.8 3,438,083 28.5
- ------------------- ------------- ------- ----------------- ------ ---------------- ------- ---------------- --------
75% ($13.04) 786,162 8.4 847,265 8.9 920,245 9.6 2,553,672 22.8
- ------------------- ------------- ------- ----------------- ------ ---------------- ------- ---------------- --------
100% ($17.38) 776,633 8.3 847,265 8.9 705,882 7.6 2,329,780 21.3
- ------------------- ------------- ------- ----------------- ------ ---------------- ------- ---------------- --------
</TABLE>
Dilution may result in a decrease in the market price of our common stock
To the extent any of these shares of common stock are issued, the
market price of our common stock may decrease because of the additional shares
on the market. If the actual price of the common stock decreases, the holders of
such preferred stock could convert into greater amounts of common stock, the
sales of which could further depress the stock price. In addition, any
significant downward pressure on the market price of the common stock that may
be caused by the holders of the preferred stock converting and selling material
amounts of common stock could encourage short sales by such holders or others.
Such short sales could place further downward pressure on the price of our
common stock.
The ownership limitations in our certificate of incorporation may not
protect against dilution
Our certificate of incorporation does not allow us to issue shares of
our common stock to holders of our preferred stock if such issuance would result
in such holders beneficially owning more than 4.99% of our outstanding common
stock. The 4.99% ownership limitation does not prevent the holders from
converting into common stock and then selling such common stock to stay below
the limitation, except that such holders cannot convert into more than 19.99% of
our common stock unless we have received shareholder approval. SoftNet is
seeking shareholder approval for conversions of its preferred stock in excess of
19.99% at its 1999 Annual Meeting.
We may be required to make cash payments to holders of preferred stock
We are required by our certificate of incorporation and the rules of
the American Stock Exchange to obtain shareholder approval prior to issuing more
than 19.99% of our common stock upon conversion of the Series A Preferred Stock,
Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock. If we do not obtain such
shareholder approval, we will be required to make cash payments to holders of
the Series B Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock who attempt to convert
over the 19.99% limit, unless SoftNet obtains a waiver from the American Stock
Exchange rule or otherwise ceases to be subject to such rule. The cash payments
would be equal to the number of shares of common stock that we would have issued
absent the 19.99% limit multiplied by the market price at the time of the
attempted conversion.
In addition, in the event the 2,000,000 share limit is reached with
respect to the Series C Preferred Stock, SoftNet must either honor conversion
requests or redeem in cash the remaining Series C Preferred Stock. The market
price of our common stock would have to fall to $3.75 or below for five days
within a thirty day trading period to reach the 2,000,000 share limit.
The following table sets forth the amount of such cash payment
assuming:
o the market price of the common stock is 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 125%, 150% and
175% of the market price of the common stock on December 31, 1998, which
was $17.38 per share;
o the floating conversion price feature of the Series B Preferred Stock and
Series C Preferred Stock was in effect;
o the maximum conversion price of the Series B Preferred Stock and Series C
Preferred Stock was not increased; and
o the conversion price was equal to the market price at the time of
conversion in the event the market price was less than the maximum
conversion price.
The actual cash payments may be significantly greater than those listed
if the market price of our common stock increases above $30.42. In addition, the
floating conversion price feature is based on the average market prices of the
common stock for a number of trading days immediately prior to conversion.
Therefore, cash payments may also be significantly greater than those listed if
the market price of our common stock at the time of attempted conversion was not
equal to the conversion price.
Cash Payment for Attempted Conversions
Percentage of Series B Series C
Market Price Preferred Stock Preferred Stock Total Cash Payments
------------ -------------------- -------------------- -------------------
25% ($4.35) $5,736,206 $7,625,390 $13,361,596
50% ($8.69) 4,330,786 7,625,390 11,956,176
75% ($13.04) 10,251,560 2,163,775 12,415,335
100% ($17.38) 13,497,887 2,883,927 16,381,814
125% ($21.73) 16,876,242 3,605,738 20,481,980
150% ($26.07) 20,246,831 4,325,890 24,572,721
175% ($30.42) 23,625,186 5,047,702 28,672,888
Such cash payments will adversely affect our financial condition and
ability to implement the business plan for ISP Channel, Inc. In addition, we
will be required to raise funds elsewhere, which could be difficult in the event
shareholder approval is not obtained. If we do not receive shareholder approval,
there can be no assurance that we would be able to obtain adequate sources of
additional capital.
We may be required to repay our 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due
2001 in cash.
The terms of the 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001
prohibit their holders from converting such notes into more than 1,717,587
shares of our common stock. In the event that we cannot honor conversions of the
9% senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001 because they would result in
greater than an aggregate of 1,717,587 shares of common stock being issued upon
such conversions, then we must convert such outstanding principal amount up to
the 1,717,587 limit and prepay the remaining outstanding principal amount. The
prepayment amount would be equal to the greater of:
(1) 130% of the then outstanding principal amount of such
unconverted notes, plus any accrued but unpaid interest; and
(2) the product of the number of shares of additional common
stock that would have been issued absent the 1,717,587 share limitation and
either the conversion price or market price (whichever is greater at the time of
such attempted conversion).
We would not reach the 1,717,587 share limit unless the floating
conversion price feature were in effect and the market price of the common stock
fell below $6.99. If the market price of the common stock was $4.35, which is
25% of the market price of the common stock as of December 31, 1998, we would be
required to make cash payments of $5,887,046. This amount does not take into
account any interest that accrues on the outstanding principal amount of the 9%
senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001. This amount also assumes that
the market price at the time of conversion and the conversion price were equal.
The market price at the time of conversion and the conversion price potentially
could not be equal because the conversion price is calculated using market
prices during the thirty days prior to conversion.
In addition, if the holders of the 9% senior subordinated convertible
notes due 2001 cannot convert or resell the common stock issued upon conversion
other than because the 1,717,587 share limit is reached, the terms of the 9%
senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001, in addition to other remedies,
permit the holders to require us to make cash payments equal to the greater of:
(1) 108% of the then outstanding principal amount of such
unconverted notes if the event occurs prior to July 1, 1999 and 112% of the then
outstanding principal amount of such unconverted notes thereafter, plus any
accrued but unpaid interest; and
(2) the product of the number of shares of additional common
stock that would have been issued absent the inability to convert or resell and
either the conversion price or market price (whichever is greater at the time of
such attempted conversion).
The maximum amount of such cash payments, assuming the market price and
the conversion price were equal, is $13,440,000, without taking into account any
interest that would accrue. If the market price and the conversion price are not
equal, then the maximum amount of such cash payments could be significantly
higher.
Such cash payments will adversely affect our financial condition and
ability to implement the business plan for ISP Channel, Inc.
We rely substantially on our cable affiliates to provide our Internet services
to subscribers
The success of our business depends upon our relationship with our
cable affiliates. Therefore, in addition to economic conditions, market
conditions and factors relating to Internet service providers and on-line
services specifically, our success and future business growth will also be
subject to economic and other factors affecting our cable affiliates.
We do not have direct contact with our subscribers
Because subscribers to the ISP Channel service must subscribe through a
cable affiliate, the cable affiliate (and not SoftNet) will substantially
control the customer relationship with the subscriber. For example, under our
existing contracts, cable affiliates are responsible for important functions,
such as billing for and collecting ISP Channel subscription fees and providing
the labor and costs associated with distribution of local marketing materials.
Failure or delay by cable operators to upgrade their systems may
adversely affect subscription levels
Certain ISP Channel services are dependent on the quality of the cable
networks of our cable affiliates. Currently, most cable systems are capable of
providing only information from the Internet to the subscribers, and require a
telephone line to carry information from the subscriber to the Internet. These
systems are called "one-way" cable systems. Cable operators have announced and
begun making major upgrades to their systems to increase the capacity of their
networks and to enable traffic both to and from the Internet over their
networks, so-called "two-way capability." However, cable system operators have
limited experience with implementing such upgrades. These investments have
placed a significant strain on the financial, managerial, operational and other
resources of cable system operators, most of which already maintain a
significant amount of debt.
Further, cable operators must periodically renew their franchises with
city, county or state governments. These governmental bodies may impose
technical and managerial conditions before granting a renewal, and these
conditions may cause the cable operator to delay such upgrades.
In addition, cable operators are primarily concerned with increasing
television programming capacity to compete with other forms of entertainment
delivery systems, such as direct broadcast satellite. Consequently, cable
operators may choose not to upgrade their networks for two-way Internet
capability. Such upgrades have been, and we expect will continue to be, subject
to change, delay or cancellation. Cable operators' failure to complete these
upgrades in a timely and satisfactory manner, or at all, would adversely affect
the market for our products and services in any such operators' franchise area.
In addition, cable operators may roll-out Internet access systems that are
incompatible with our high-speed Internet access services. If repeated on a
broad scale, such failures could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, prospects and ability to repay our debts.
The unavailability of two-way capability in certain markets may affect
subscription levels
We provide Internet services to cable systems irrespective of their
two-way capabilities. For one-way cable systems, we provide Internet services
over cable systems to homes with a telephone line return path for data from the
home. In those circumstances, our services may not provide the high speed
access, quality of experience and availability of certain applications, such as
video conferencing, necessary to attract and retain subscribers to the ISP
Channel service. Subscribers using a telephone line return path will experience
data transmission speeds to the Internet that are provided by their analog
modems which is typically 28.8 kilobits per second. It is not clear what impact
the lack of two-way capability will have on subscription levels for the ISP
Channel service.
Our growth depends on exclusive access to cable subscribers
The success of the ISP Channel service is dependent, in part, on our
ability to gain exclusive access to cable consumers. Our ability to gain
exclusive access to cable customers depends upon our ability to develop
exclusive relationships with cable operators that are dominant within their
geographic markets. We cannot assure you that affiliated cable operators will
not face competition in the future or that we will be able to establish and
maintain exclusive relationships with cable operators. Currently, a number of
our contracts with cable operators do not contain exclusivity provisions. Even
if we are able to establish and maintain exclusive relationships with cable
operators, we cannot assure the ability to do so on favorable terms or in
sufficient quantities to be profitable. In addition, we are seeking affiliations
with a large number of cable operators as quickly as possible because we will be
excluded from providing Internet over cable in those areas served by cable
operators with exclusive arrangements with other Internet service providers. Our
contracts with cable affiliates typically range from three to seven years, and
we cannot assure you that such contracts will be renewed on satisfactory terms.
If the exclusive relationship between either us and our cable affiliates or our
cable affiliates and their cable subscribers is impaired, if we do not become
affiliated with a sufficient number of cable operators, or if we are not able to
continue our relationship with a cable affiliate once the initial term of its
contract has expired, our business, financial condition, prospects and ability
to repay our debts could be materially adversely affected.
Future revenue growth and profitability will depend in part on the success of
our research and development activities
We expect to continue extensive research and development activities and
to evaluate new product and service opportunities. These activities will require
our continued investment in research and development and sales and marketing,
which could adversely affect our short-term results of operations. We believe
that future revenue growth and profitability will depend in part on our ability
to develop and successfully market new products and services. Failure to
increase revenues from new products and services, whether due to lack of market
acceptance, competition, technological change or otherwise, would have a
material adverse effect on our business financial condition, prospects and
ability to repay our debts.
We will need to manage our expanding business effectively
To exploit fully the market for our products and services, we must
rapidly execute our sales strategy while managing anticipated growth through the
use of effective planning and operating procedures. To manage our anticipated
growth, we must, among other things:
o continue to develop and improve our operational, financial and
management information systems;
o hire and train additional qualified personnel;
o continue to expand and upgrade core technologies; and
o effectively manage multiple relationships with various customers,
suppliers and other third parties.
Consequently, such expansion could place a significant strain on our
services and support operations, sales and administrative personnel and other
resources. We may, in the future, also experience difficulties meeting demand
for our products and services. Additionally, if we are unable to provide
training and support for our products, it will take longer to install our
products and customer satisfaction may be lower. We cannot assure that our
systems, procedures or controls will be adequate to support our operations or
that management will be able to exploit fully the market for our products and
services. Our failure to manage growth effectively could have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial condition, prospects and ability to repay our
debts.
Cable affiliates may be unable to renew their franchises
Cable television companies operate under non-exclusive franchises
granted by local or state authorities that are subject to renewal and
renegotiation from time to time. A franchise is generally granted for a fixed
term ranging from five to 15 years, but in many cases the franchise may be
terminated if the franchisee fails to comply with the material provisions of the
franchise. The Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act of 1992
prohibits franchising authorities from granting exclusive cable television
franchises and from unreasonably refusing to award additional competitive
franchises. This Act also permits municipal authorities to operate cable
television systems in their communities without franchises. We cannot assure
that cable television companies having contracts with us will retain or renew
their franchises. Non-renewal or termination of any such franchises would result
in the termination of our contract with the applicable cable operator. If an
affiliated cable operator were to lose its franchise, we would seek to affiliate
with the successor to the franchisee. We cannot, however, assure an affiliation
with such successor. In addition, affiliation with a successor could result in
additional costs to us. If we cannot affiliate with replacement cable operators,
our business, financial condition, prospects and ability to repay our debts
could be materially adversely affected.
We may lose cable affiliates through acquisition by unaffiliated cable operators
Under many of our initial contracts, if a cable affiliate is acquired
by an unaffiliated cable operator that already has a relationship with one of
our competitors or chooses not to enter into a contract with us, we may lose our
ability to offer Internet services in the area served by such former cable
affiliate entirely or on an exclusive basis. Such a loss could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, prospects and ability to
repay our debts.
We depend on third-party technology to develop and introduce new technology we
use
The markets for the products and services we use are characterized by
the following:
o intense competition;
o rapid technological advances;
o evolving industry standards;
o changes in subscriber requirements;
o frequent new product introductions and enhancements; and
o alternative service offerings.
Because of these factors, we have chosen to rely upon third parties to
develop and introduce technologies that enhance our current product and service
offerings. If our relationship with such third parties is impaired or
terminated, then we would have to find other developers on a timely basis or
develop our own technology. We cannot predict whether we will be able to obtain
the third-party technology necessary for continued development and introduction
of new and enhanced products and services. In addition, we cannot predict
whether we will obtain third-party technology on commercially reasonable terms
or replace third-party technology in the event such technology becomes
unavailable, obsolete or incompatible with future versions of our products or
services. The absence of or any significant delay in the replacement of
third-party technology would have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, prospects and ability to repay our debts.
We depend on third-party suppliers for certain key products and services
We currently depend on a limited number of suppliers for certain key
products and services. In particular, we depend on Excite, Inc. for national
content aggregation, 3Com Corporation and Com21, Inc. for headend and cable
modem equipment, Cisco Systems, Inc. for specific network routing and switching
equipment, and, among others, MCIWorldCom, Inc. for national Internet backbone
services. Excite recently announced that it is being acquired by one of our
primary competitors, At Home. If, due to this acquisition, Excite were to
terminate its contract with us in November 1999, we would need to find a new
provider of national content aggregation. Additionally, certain of our cable
modem and headend equipment suppliers are in litigation over their patents. We
could experience disruptions in the delivery or increases in the prices of
products and services purchased from vendors as a result of this intellectual
property litigation. We cannot predict when delays in the delivery of key
components and other products may occur due to shortages resulting from the
limited number of suppliers, the financial or other difficulties of such
suppliers or the possible limited availability in the suppliers' underlying raw
materials. In addition, we may not have adequate remedies against such third
parties as a result of breaches of their agreements with us. The inability to
obtain sufficient key components or to develop alternative sources for such
components could result in delays or reductions in our product shipments. If
that were to happen, it could have a material adverse effect on our customer
relationships, business, financial condition, prospects and ability to repay our
debts.
We depend on third party carriers to maintain their cable systems which
carry our data
Our success will depend upon the capacity, reliability and security of
the network used to carry data between our subscribers and the Internet. A
significant portion of such network is owned by third parties, and accordingly
we have no control over its quality and maintenance. We rely on cable operators
to maintain their cable systems. In addition, we rely on other third parties to
provide a connection from the cable system to the Internet. Currently, we have
transit agreements with MCIWorldCom, Sprint Communications Company, and others
to support the exchange of traffic between our network operations center, cable
system and the Internet. The failure of any other link in the delivery chain
resulting in an interruption of our operations would have a material adverse
effect on our business, financial condition, prospects and ability to repay our
debts.
We experience intense competition in our markets
The markets for our products and services are intensely competitive,
and we expect competition to increase in the future. Many of our competitors and
potential competitors have substantially greater financial, technical and
marketing resources, larger subscriber bases, longer operating histories,
greater name recognition and more established relationships with advertisers and
content and application providers than we do. Such competitors may be able to
undertake more extensive marketing campaigns, adopt more aggressive pricing
policies and devote substantially more resources to developing Internet services
or on-line content than we can. We cannot predict whether we will be able to
compete successfully against current or future competitors or that competitive
pressures faced by us will not materially adversely affect our business,
financial condition, prospects or ability to repay our debts. Any increase in
competition could reduce our gross margins, require increased spending by us on
research and development and sales and marketing, and otherwise materially
adversely affect our business, financial condition, prospects and ability to
repay our debts.
We face competition from many sources, which include:
o Other cable-based access providers;
o Telephony-based access providers; and
o Alternative technologies, such as telecom-related solutions
Cable-based access providers
In the cable-based segment of the Internet access industry, we compete
with other cable-based data services that are seeking to contract with cable
system operators. These competitors include:
o systems integrators such as Convergence.com, Online System Services,
HSAnet and Frontier Communications' Global Center business; and
o Internet service providers such as Earthlink Network, Inc., MindSpring
Enterprises, Inc., and IDT Corporation.
Several cable system operators have begun to provide high-speed
Internet access services over their existing networks. The largest of these
cable system operators are CableVision Systems Corporation, Comcast Corporation,
Cox Enterprise, Inc., MediaOne Group, Inc., Tele-Communications, Inc. and Time
Warner Inc. Tele-Communications, Cox and Comcast market through At Home
Corporation, while Time Warner plans to market the RoadRunner service through
Time Warner's own cable systems as well as to other cable system operators
nationwide. In particular, At Home has announced its intention to compete
directly in the small-to medium-sized cable system market.
Telephone-based access providers
Some of our most direct competitors in the access markets are
telephone-based access providers, including incumbent local exchange carriers,
national interexchange or long distance carriers, fiber-based competitive local
exchange carriers, ISPs, online service providers, wireless and satellite data
service providers, and competitive local exchange carriers that use digital
subscriber line technologies. Some of these competitors are among the largest
companies in the country, including AT&T Corp, MCIWorldCom., Sprint and Quest
Communications International, Inc. Other competitors include BBN Corporation,
Earthlink, Netcom Online Communications Services, Inc., Concentric Network, and
PSInet Inc. Internet access via the existing telephone infrastructure is widely
available and inexpensive, and barriers to entry are low. The result is a highly
competitive and fragmented market.
Some of our potential competitors are offering diversified packages of
telecommunications services to residential customers. If these companies bundle
Internet access service with other telecommunications services, then we would be
at a competitive disadvantage. Many of these companies are offering (or may soon
offer) technologies that will attempt to compete with some or all of our
Internet data service offerings. The bases of competition in these markets
include:
o transmission speed;
o reliability of service;
o ease of access;
o ratio of price to performance;
o ease of use;
o content quality;
o quality of presentation;
o timeliness of content;
o customer support;
o brand recognition; and
o operating experience and revenue sharing.
Alternative technologies
In addition, the market for high-speed data transmission services is
characterized by several competing technologies that offer alternative
solutions. Competitive technologies include telecom-related wireline
technologies, such as integrated services digital network and digital subscriber
line technologies, and wireless technologies such as local multipoint
distribution service, multichannel multipoint distribution service and direct
broadcast satellite. Our prospects may be impaired by Federal Communications
Commission rules and regulations, which are designed, at least in part, to
increase competition in video and related services. The FCC has also created a
General Wireless Communications Service in which licensees are afforded broad
latitude in defining the nature and service area of the communications services
they offer. The full impact of the General Wireless Communications Service
remains to be seen. Nevertheless, all of these new technologies pose potential
competition to our business. Significant market acceptance of alternative
solutions for high-speed data transmission could decrease the demand for our
services if such alternatives are viewed as providing faster access, greater
reliability, increased cost-effectiveness or other advantages over cable
solutions. Competition from telecom-related solutions is expected to be intense.
We cannot predict whether and to what extent technological developments
will have a material adverse effect on our competitive position. The rapid
development of new competing technologies and standards increases the risk that
current or new competitors could develop products and services that would reduce
the competitiveness of our products and services. If that were to happen, it
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition,
prospects and ability to repay our debts.
Increased usage may reduce our transmission speed
Because the ISP Channel service has been operational for a relatively
short period of time, our ability to connect and manage a substantial number of
on-line subscribers at high transmission speeds is unknown. In addition, we face
risks related to our ability to scale up to expected subscriber levels while
maintaining superior performance. While peak downstream data transmission speeds
across the cable network approaches 30 megabits per second in each 6 MHz
channel, the actual downstream data transmission speeds for each cable
subscriber will be significantly slower and will depend on a variety of factors,
including:
o actual speed provisioned for the subscriber's cable modem;
o quality of the server used to deliver content;
o overall Internet traffic congestion;
o the number of active subscribers on a given 6 MHz channel at the same
time;
o the capability of cable modems used; and
o the service quality of the cable affiliates' cable networks.
As the number of subscribers increases, it may be necessary for our
cable affiliates to add additional 6 MHz channels in order to maintain adequate
data transmission speeds from the Internet. These additions would render such
channels unavailable to such cable affiliates for video or other programming. We
cannot assure you that our cable affiliates will provide additional capacity for
this purpose. On two-way cable systems, the transmission data channel to the
Internet is located in a range not used for broadcast by traditional cable
networks and is more susceptible to interference than the transmission data
channel from the Internet, resulting in a slower peak transmission speed to the
Internet. In addition to the factors affecting data transmission speeds from the
Internet , the interference level in the cable affiliates' data broadcast range
to the Internet can materially affect actual data transmission speeds to the
Internet. The actual data delivery speeds realized by subscribers will be
significantly lower than peak data transmission speeds and will vary depending
on the subscriber's hardware, operating system and software configurations. We
cannot assure you that we will be able achieve or maintain data transmission
speeds high enough to attract and retain our planned numbers of subscribers,
especially as the number of subscribers to our services grows. Consequently, a
perceived or actual failure by us to achieve or maintain high speed data
transmission could significantly reduce consumer demand for our services and
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, prospects
and ability to repay our debts.
System failure may cause interruption of Internet services
Our operations are dependent upon our ability to support a highly
complex network and avoid damages from fires, earthquakes, floods, power losses,
telecommunications failures, network software flaws, transmission cable cuts and
similar events. The occurrence of any one of these events could cause
interruptions in the services we provide. In addition, the failure of an
incumbent local exchange carrier or other service provider to provide the
communications capacity we require, as a result of a natural disaster,
operational disruption or any other reason, could cause interruptions in the
services we provide. Any damage or failure that causes interruptions in our
operations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, prospects and ability to repay our debts.
We may be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer viruses and other
disruptive problems
While we have taken substantial security measures, our networks or
those of our cable affiliates may be vulnerable to unauthorized access, computer
viruses and other disruptive problems. Internet service providers and online
service providers have experienced in the past, and may experience in the
future, interruptions in service as a result of the accidental or intentional
actions of Internet users. Unauthorized access by current and former employees
or others could also potentially jeopardize the security of confidential
information stored in our computer systems and those of our subscribers. Such
events may result in our liability to our subscribers and may deter others from
becoming subscribers, which could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition, prospects and ability to repay our debts.
Although we intend to continue using industry-standard security measures, such
measures have been circumvented in the past, and we cannot assure you that these
measures will not be circumvented in the future. Moreover, we have no control
over the security measures that our cable affiliates adopt. Eliminating computer
viruses and alleviating other security problems may cause our subscribers delays
due to interruptions or cessation of service. Such delays could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition, prospects and ability to
repay our debts.
We must provide high-quality content and the market for high-quality content has
only recently begun to develop
A key part of our strategy is to provide Internet users a more
compelling interactive experience than the one currently available to customers
of dial-up Internet service providers and online service providers. We believe
that, in addition to providing high-speed, high-performance Internet access, to
be successful we must also develop and aggregate high-quality multimedia
content.
Our success in providing and aggregating such content will depend in part on:
o our ability to develop a customer base large enough to justify investments in
the development of such content; o the ability of content providers to create
and support high-quality multimedia content; and o our ability to aggregate
content offerings in a manner subscribers find attractive.
We cannot assure you that we will be successful in these endeavors.
In addition, the market for high-quality multimedia Internet content
has only recently begun to develop and is rapidly evolving, and there is
significant competition among Internet service providers and online service
providers for obtaining such content. If the market fails to develop, or
develops more slowly than expected, or if competition increases, or if our
content offerings do not achieve or sustain market acceptance, our business,
financial condition, prospects and ability to repay our debts will be materially
adversely affected.
Our success will depend, in part, on obtaining advertising revenues, which may
not come to fruition
The success of the ISP Channel service depends in part on our ability
to draw advertisers to the ISP Channel. We expect to derive significant revenues
from advertisements placed on co-branded and ISP Channel web pages and "click
through" revenues from products and services purchased through links from the
ISP Channel to vendors. We believe that we can leverage the ISP Channel to
provide demographic information to advertisers to help them better target
prospective customers. Nonetheless, we have not generated any significant
advertising revenue yet and we cannot assure you that advertisers will find such
information useful or will choose to advertise through the ISP Channel.
Therefore, we cannot assure you that we will be able to attract advertising
revenues in quantities and at rates that are satisfactory to us. The failure to
do so could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition,
prospects and ability to repay our debts.
The ISP Channel brand may not be a commercial success
We believe that establishing and maintaining the ISP Channel brand are
critical to attract and expand our subscriber base. Promotion of the ISP Channel
brand will depend on several factors, including:
o our success in providing high-speed, high-quality consumer and business
Internet products, services and content;
o the marketing efforts of our cable affiliates; and
o the reliability of our cable affiliates' networks and services.
We cannot assure you that any of these factors will be achieved. We
have little control over our cable affiliates' marketing efforts or the
reliability of their networks and services.
If consumers and businesses do not perceive our existing products and
services as high quality or we introduce new products or services or enter into
new business ventures that are not favorably received by consumers and
businesses, then we will be unsuccessful in building brand recognition and brand
loyalty in the marketplace. In addition, to the extent that the ISP Channel
service is unavailable, we risk frustrating potential subscribers who are unable
to access our products and services.
Furthermore, we may need to devote substantial resources to create and
maintain a distinct brand loyalty among customers, to attract and retain
subscribers, and to promote and maintain the ISP Channel brand in a very
competitive market. If we are unsuccessful in establishing or maintaining the
ISP Channel brand or if we incur excessive expenses in promoting and maintaining
our brand, our business, financial condition, prospects and ability to repay our
debts would be materially adversely affected.
We must develop an effective billing and collections system
We have recently begun the process of designing and implementing our
billing and collections system for the ISP Channel service. We intend to bill
for our services over the Internet and, in most cases, to collect these invoices
through payments received via the Internet. Such invoices and payments have
security risks. Given the complexities of such a system, we cannot assure you
that we will be successful in developing and launching the system in a timely
manner or that we will be able to scale the system quickly and efficiently if
the number of subscribers requiring such a billing format increases. Currently,
our cable affiliates are responsible for billing and collection for our Internet
access services. As a result, we have little or no control over the accuracy and
timeliness of the invoices or over collection efforts.
Given our relatively limited history with billing and collection for
Internet services, we cannot predict the extent to which we may experience bad
debts or our ability to minimize such bad debts. If we encounter significant
problems with our billing and collections process, our business, financial
condition, prospects and ability to repay our debts could be materially
adversely affected.
We depend on the growth and evolution of the Internet
Market acceptance of our Internet services substantially depends upon
the growth and evolution of the Internet in ways that are best suited for our
products and services. High-speed cable-based Internet access is of greatest
value to consumers of multimedia and other bandwidth-intensive content. The
nature of the content available over the Internet and the technologies available
to access that content are evolving rapidly, and thus, we cannot assure you that
those applications most favorable to our services and technology will be widely
accepted by the marketplace.
Because the number of Internet users and level of use continue to grow
significantly, we cannot assure you that the Internet infrastructure will be
able to support this increased demand or that the performance or reliability of
the Internet will not be adversely affected. The Internet could lose its
commercial viability due to delays in the development or adoption of new
standards to handle increased levels of Internet activity. In addition, we
cannot assure you that the infrastructure or complementary services necessary to
make the Internet a viable commercial marketplace will be developed. In
particular, the Internet has only recently become a medium for advertising and
electronic commerce. If the necessary infrastructure or complementary services
or facilities are not developed, or if the Internet does not become a viable
commercial marketplace, our business, financial condition, prospects and ability
to repay our debts could be materially adversely affected.
We may face potential liability for defamatory or indecent content
The law relating to liability of Internet service providers and online
service providers for information carried on or disseminated through their
networks is currently unsettled. A number of lawsuits have sought to impose such
liability for defamatory speech and indecent materials. Congress has attempted
to impose such liability, in some circumstances, for transmission of obscene or
indecent materials. In one case, a court has held that an online service
providers could be found liable for defamatory matter provided through its
service, on the ground that the service provider exercised active editorial
control over postings to its service. Because of the potential liability for
materials carried on or disseminated through our systems, we may have to
implement measures to reduce our exposure to such liability. Such measures may
require the expenditure of substantial resources or the discontinuation of
certain products or services. Any imposition of liability on our company for
information carried on the Internet could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition, prospects and ability to repay our debts.
We may face potential liability for information retrieved and replicated
Because subscribers download and redistribute materials that are cached
or replicated by us in connection with our Internet services, claims could be
made against us or our cable affiliates under both U.S. and foreign law for
defamation, negligence, copyright or trademark infringement, or other theories
based on the nature and content of such materials. You should know that these
types of claims have been successfully brought against online service providers.
In particular, copyright and trademark laws are evolving both domestically and
internationally, and it is uncertain how broadly the rights provided under these
laws will be applied to on-line environments. It is impossible for us to
determine who the potential rights holders may be with respect to all materials
available through our services. In addition, a number of third-party owners of
patents have claimed to hold patents that cover various forms of on-line
transactions or on-line technology. As with other online service providers,
patent claims could be asserted against us based upon our services or
technologies. Our liability insurance may not cover these types of potential
claims or may not be adequate to indemnify us for all liability that may be
imposed. Any liability not covered by insurance or in excess of insurance
coverage could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, prospects and ability to repay our debts.
Our business depends upon the development of new products and services in the
face of rapidly evolving technology
Risks related to our products and services
Our future development efforts may not result in commercially
successful products and services or our products and services may be rendered
obsolete by changing technology, new industry standards or new product
announcements by competitors.
For example, we expect digital set-top boxes capable of supporting
high-speed Internet access services to be commercially available in the next 18
months. Set top boxes will enable subscribers to access the Internet without a
computer. Although the widespread availability of set-top boxes could increase
the demand for our Internet service, the demand for set-top boxes may never
reach the level we and industry experts have estimated. Even if set-top boxes do
reach this level of popularity, we cannot assure you that we will be able to
capitalize on such demand. If this scenario occurs or if other technologies or
standards applicable to our products or services become obsolete or fail to gain
widespread commercial acceptance, then our business, financial condition,
prospects and ability to repay our debts will be materially adversely affected.
Our ability to adapt to changes in technology and industry standards,
and to develop and introduce new and enhanced products and service offerings,
will determine whether we can maintain or improve our competitive position and
our prospects for growth. However, the following factors may hinder our efforts
to introduce and sell new products and services:
o rapid technological changes in the Internet and telecommunications industries;
o the lengthy product approval and purchase process of our customers; and o our
reliance on third-party technology for the development of new products and
services.
Risks relating to our suppliers' products
The technology underlying our capital equipment, such as headends and
cable modems, continues to evolve and, accordingly, our equipment could become
out-of-date or obsolete prior to the time we originally intended to replace it.
If this occurs, we may need to purchase substantial amounts of new capital
equipment, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition, prospects and ability to repay our debts.
Risks relating to our competitors' products
The introduction by our competitors of products or services embodying,
or purporting to embody, new technology could also render our existing products
and services, as well as products or services under development, obsolete and
unmarketable. Internet, telecommunications and cable technologies are evolving
rapidly. Many large corporations, including large telecommunications providers,
regional Bell operating companies and telecommunications equipment providers, as
well as large cable system operators, regularly announce new and planned
technologies and service offerings that could impact the market for our
services. The announcements can delay purchasing decisions by our customers and
confuse the marketplace regarding available alternatives. Such announcements
could, in the future, adversely impact our business, financial condition,
prospects and ability to repay our debts.
In addition, we cannot assure you that we will have the financial and
manufacturing resources necessary to continue successful development of new
products or services based on emerging technologies. Moreover, due to intense
competition, there may be a time-limited market opportunity for our cable-based
consumer and business Internet services. Our services may not achieve widespread
acceptance before competitors offer products and services with speed and
performance similar to our current offerings. In addition, the widespread
adoption of new Internet or telecommuting technologies or standards, cable-based
or otherwise, could require substantial and costly modifications to our
equipment, products and services and could fundamentally alter the character,
viability and frequency of Internet-based advertising, either of which could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, prospects
and ability to repay our debts.
Our purchase of Intelligent Communications, Inc. subjects us to risks in a new
market in which we have no experience
On November 23, 1998, we signed an agreement to purchase Intelligent
Communications, Inc., a provider of two-way satellite Internet access options
using very small aperture terminal ("VSAT") technology. We expect to complete
the purchase of Intelligent Communications by June 30, 1999, although we cannot
assure you that we will complete the transaction on schedule, if at all.
Acquisitions involve many risks including potential negative effects on our
reported results of operations from acquisition-related charges and amortization
of goodwill and purchased technology. In addition, the Intelligent
Communications acquisition is structured as a purchase by us of all of the
outstanding stock of Intelligent Communications. As a result, upon completion of
the acquisition, we will assume all liabilities of Intelligent Communications.
It is possible that we are not aware of all of the liabilities of Intelligent
Communications and that upon completion of the acquisition, we will have assumed
greater liabilities that we expected. In addition, we have very little
experience in the markets and technology in which Intelligent Communications is
focused.
As with mergers generally, this merger presents important challenges
and risks. Achieving the anticipated benefits of the merger will depend, in
part, upon whether the integration of the two companies' businesses is achieved
in an efficient, cost-effective and timely manner, but we cannot assure that
this will occur. The successful combination of the two businesses will require,
among other things, the timely integration of the companies' product and service
offerings and the coordination of the companies' research and development
efforts. We cannot assure you that integration will be accomplished smoothly, on
time or successfully. Although the management teams of both SoftNet and
Intelligent Communications believe that the merger will benefit both companies,
we cannot assure you that the merger will be successful. In addition, the
purchase of Intelligent Communications, Inc.
presents new risks to us, including the following:
Dependence on VSAT market
One of the reasons we have agreed to purchase Intelligent
Communications was to be able to provide two-way satellite Internet access
options to our customers using VSAT satellite technology. However, the market
for VSAT communications networks and services may not continue to grow or VSAT
technology may be replaced by an alternative technology. A significant decline
in this market or the replacement of the existing VSAT technology by an
alternative technology could adversely affect our business, financial condition,
prospects and ability to repay our debts.
Risk of damage, loss or malfunction of satellite
The loss, damage or destruction of any of the satellites used by
Intelligent Communications as a result of military actions or acts of war,
anti-satellite devices, electrostatic storm or collision with space debris, or a
temporary or permanent malfunction of any of these satellites, would likely
result in interruption of Internet services we provide over the satellites which
could adversely affect our business, financial condition, prospects and ability
to repay our debts.
In addition, use of the satellites to provide Internet services
requires a direct line of sight between the satellite and the cable headend and
is subject to distance and rain attenuation. In certain markets which experience
heavy rainfall, transmission links must be engineered for shorter distances and
greater power to maintain transmission quality. Such engineering changes may
increase the cost of providing service.
Equipment failure and interruption of service
Our operations will require that its network, including the satellite
connections operate on a continuous basis. It is not unusual for networks,
including switching facilities to experience periodic service interruption and
equipment failures. It is therefore possible that the network facilities we use
may from time to time experience interruptions or equipment failures, which
would negatively affect consumer confidence as well as our business operations
and reputation.
Dependence on leases for satellites
Intelligent Communications currently leases satellite space from
General Electric. If for any reason, the leases were to be terminated, we cannot
assure you that we could renew the leases for the satellites on favorable terms,
if at all. We have not identified alternative providers and believe that any new
leases would probably be more costly to us. In any case, we cannot assure you
that an alternative provider of satellite services would be available, or, if
available, would be available on terms favorable to us.
Government regulation
The VSAT satellite industry is a highly regulated industry, both
domestically and internationally. In the United States, operation and use of
VSAT satellites requires licenses from the Department of Commerce and the
Federal Communications Commission. In addition, in order to operate
internationally, VSAT satellites generally require licenses from governments of
foreign countries in which imagery will be directly downlinked.
United States regulation
The Department of Commerce is responsible for granting commercial
imaging satellite operating licenses, coordinating satellite imaging
applications among several governmental agencies to ensure that any license
addresses all U.S. national security concerns and complying with all
international obligations of the United States. The U.S. government generally
reserves the right to interrupt service during periods of national emergency
when U.S. national security interests are affected. The threat of such
interruptions or service could adversely affect our ability to market our
Internet services to certain end-user customers.
As a lessee of satellite space, we could in the future be indirectly
subject to new laws, policies or regulations or changes in the interpretation or
application of existing laws, policies or regulations, that modify the present
regulatory environment in the United States.
International regulation
All satellite systems operating internationally are subject to general
international regulations and the specific laws of the countries in which
satellite imagery is downlinked. Applicable regulations include:
International Telecommunications Union regulations, which define for
each service the technical operating parameters (including maximum
transmitter power, maximum interference to other services and users,
and the minimum interference the user must operate under for that
service);
the Intelsat and Inmarsat agreements which provide that in order to
conform with international treaties and obligations the operators of
international satellite systems must demonstrate that they will not
cause technical harm to Intelsat and Inmarsat; and
regulations of foreign countries that require that satellite operators
secure appropriate licenses and operational authority for utilization
of the required spectrum in each country.
Within foreign countries, we expect that GE, as the lessor of the
satellite space, will secure appropriate licenses and operational authority for
utilization of the required spectrum in each country into which satellite
imagery will be downlinked.
While we believe that our lessors will be able to obtain and renew all
U.S. and international licenses and authorizations necessary to operate
effectively, we cannot assure you that we our lessors will be successful in
doing so. Our failure to indirectly obtain or renew some or all necessary
licenses or approvals could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, prospects and ability to repay our debts.
Acquisition-related risks
In addition to the recent acquisition of Intelligent Communications,
Inc., we may acquire other businesses that we believe will complement our
existing business. We cannot predict if or when any prospective acquisitions
will occur or the likelihood that they will be completed on favorable terms.
Acquiring a business involves many risks, including:
o potential disruption of our ongoing business and diversion of resources
and management time;
o incurrence of unforeseen obligations or liabilities;
o possible inability of management to maintain uniform standards,
controls, procedures and policies;
o difficulty assimilating the acquired operations and personnel;
o risks of entering markets in which we have little or no direct prior
experience; and
o potential impairment of relationships with employees or customers as a
result of changes in management.
We cannot assure that we will make any acquisitions or that we will be
able to obtain additional financing for such acquisitions, if necessary. If any
acquisitions are made, we cannot assure that we will be able to successfully
integrate the acquired business into our operations or that the acquired
business will perform as expected.
We depend on certain key personnel
Our success depends, in large part, on our ability to attract and
retain qualified technical, marketing, sales and management personnel. With the
expansion of the ISP Channel service, we are currently seeking new employees.
However, competition for such personnel is intense in our business, and thus, we
may be unsuccessful in our hiring efforts. To launch the ISP Channel concept on
a large-scale basis, we have recently assembled a new management team, most of
whom have been with us for less than six months. The loss of any member of the
new team, or failure to attract or retain other key employees, could have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, prospects and
ability to repay our debts.
Direct and indirect government regulation can significantly impact our business
Currently, neither the FCC nor any other federal or state
communications regulatory agency directly regulates our services. However, any
changes in law or regulation relating to Internet connectivity and
telecommunications markets could affect the nature, scope and prices of our
services. Such changes include those that directly or indirectly affect costs,
limit usage of subscriber-related information or increase the likelihood or
scope of competition from the regional Bell operating companies or other
telecommunications companies.
Possibility of changes in law or regulation
For example, proceedings are pending at the FCC to determine whether,
and to what extent, Internet service providers should be considered
"telecommunications carriers" and, if so, whether they should be required to
contribute to the Universal Service Fund. Although the FCC has decided for the
moment that Internet service providers are not telecommunications carriers, that
decision is not yet final and is being challenged by various parties, including
the regional Bell operating companies. Some members of Congress have also
challenged the FCC's conclusion. Congressional dissatisfaction with the FCC's
conclusions could lead to further changes to the FCC's governing law. We cannot
predict the impact, if any, that future legal or regulatory changes might have
on our business.
Regulations affecting the cable industry may discourage cable operators
from upgrading their systems
In addition, regulation of cable television may affect the speed at
which our cable affiliates upgrade their cable infrastructures to two-way cable.
Currently, our cable affiliates have generally elected to classify the
distribution of our services as "additional cable services" under their
respective franchise agreements, and accordingly pay franchise fees. However,
the election by cable operators to classify Internet access as an additional
cable service may be challenged before the FCC, the courts or Congress, and any
change in the classification of service could have a potentially adverse impact
on our company.
Our cable affiliates may be subject to multiple franchise fees for
distributing our services
Another possible risk is that local franchise authorities may subject
the cable affiliates to higher or additional franchise fees or taxes or
otherwise require them to obtain additional franchises in connection with
distribution of our services. There are thousands of franchise authorities in
the United States alone, and thus it will be difficult or impossible for us or
our cable affiliates to operate under a unified set of franchise requirements.
Possible negative consequences if cable operators are classified as
common carriers
If the FCC or another governmental agency classifies cable system
operators as "common carriers" or "telecommunications carriers" because they
provide Internet services, or if cable system operators themselves seek such
classification as a means of limiting their liability, we could lose our rights
as the exclusive ISP for some of our cable affiliates. In addition, if we or our
cable affiliates are classified as common carriers, we could be subject to
government-regulated tariff schedules for the amounts we charge for our
services. To the extent we increase the number of foreign jurisdictions in which
we offer our services, we will be subject to further governmental regulation.
Import restrictions may affect the delivery schedules and costs of
supplies from foreign shippers
In addition, we obtain some of the components for our products and
services from foreign suppliers which may be subject to tariffs, duties and
other import restrictions. Any changes in law or regulation including those
discussed above, whether in the United States or elsewhere, could materially
adversely affect our business, financial condition, prospects and ability to
repay our debts.
Failure to sell KCI and MTC in a timely manner could adversely affect our
ability to implement our business plan
We have announced the planned sale of KCI and MTC to two separate
buyers. We intend to apply the proceeds of such a sale toward the repayment of
debt and the expansion of the ISP Channel service. However, we cannot assure you
that these efforts will be successful. In the absence of such a sale,
management's attention could be substantially diverted to operate or otherwise
dispose of KCI and MTC. If a sale of KCI or MTC is delayed, its value could be
diminished. Moreover, KCI or MTC could incur losses and operate on a negative
cash flow basis in the future. Thus, any delay in finding a buyer or failure to
sell these divisions could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition, prospects and ability to repay our debts.
We do not intend to pay dividends
We have not historically paid any cash dividends on our common stock
and do not expect to declare any such dividends in the foreseeable future.
Payment of any future dividends will depend upon our earnings and capital
requirements, our debt obligations and other factors the board of directors
deems relevant. We currently intend to retain our earnings, if any, to finance
the development and expansion of the ISP Channel service. Our certificate of
incorporation (1) prohibits the payment of cash dividends on our common stock,
without the approval of the holders of the convertible preferred stock and (2)
upon liquidation of our company, requires us to pay the holders of the
convertible preferred stock before we make any payments to the holders of our
common stock. You should also know that some of our financing agreements
restrict our ability to pay dividends on our common stock.
Our stock price is volatile
The market price for our common stock has been volatile in the past,
and several factors could cause the price to fluctuate substantially in the
future. These factors include:
o announcements of developments related to our business;
o fluctuations in our results of operations;
o sales of substantial amounts of our securities into the marketplace;
o general conditions in our industries or the worldwide economy;
o an outbreak of war or hostilities;
o a shortfall in revenues or earnings compared to securities analysts'
expectations;
o changes in analysts' recommendations or projections;
o announcements of new products or services by us or our competitors; and
o changes in our relationships with our suppliers or customers.
The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in the
future, and these fluctuations may be unrelated to our performance. General
market price declines or market volatility in the future could adversely affect
the price of our common stock, and thus, the current market price may not be
indicative of future market prices.
Prospective anti-takeover provisions could negatively impact our stockholders
We are a New York corporation. We intend to solicit shareholder
approval to reincorporate in Delaware. Both the New York Business Corporation
Law and the Delaware General Corporation Law contain certain provisions that may
discourage, delay or make a change in control of our company more difficult or
prevent the removal of incumbent directors. In addition, our proposed
certificate of incorporation and bylaws for the Delaware corporation would have
certain provisions that have the same effect. These provisions may have a
negative impact on the price of our common stock and may discourage third-party
bidders from making a bid for our company or may reduce any premiums paid to
shareholders for their common stock.
The Year 2000 issue could harm our operations
Many computer programs have been written using two digits rather than
four to define the applicable year. This poses a problem at the end of the
century because such computer programs would not properly recognize a year that
begins with "20" instead of "19." This, in turn, could result in major system
failures or miscalculations, and is generally referred to as the "Year 2000
Issue" or "Y2K Issue." We have formulated a Y2K Plan to address our Y2K issues
and have created a Y2K Task Force headed by the Director of I/S and Data
Services to implement the plan. Our Y2K Plan has six phases:
1. Organizational Awareness - educate our employees, senior management,
and the board of directors about the Y2K issue.
2. Inventory - complete inventory of internal business systems and their
relative priority to continuing business operations. In addition, this
phase includes a complete inventory of critical vendors, suppliers and
services providers and their Y2K compliance status.
3. Assessment - assessment of internal business systems and critical
vendors, suppliers and service providers and their Y2K compliance
status.
4. Planning - preparing the individual project plans and project teams and
other required internal and external resources to implement the
required solutions for Y2K compliance.
5. Execution - implementation of the solutions and fixes.
6. Validation - testing the solutions for Y2K compliance.
Our Y2K Plan will apply to two areas:
1. Internal business systems
2. Compliance by external customers and providers
Internal business systems
Our internal business systems and workstation business applications
will be a primary area of focus. We are in the unique position of completing the
implementation of new enterprise-wide business solutions to replace existing
manual processes and/or "home grown" applications during 1999. These solutions
are represented by their vendors as being fully Y2K compliant. We have few, if
any, "legacy" applications that will need to be evaluated for Y2K compliance.
We plan to have completed the Inventory and Assessment Phases of
substantially all critical internal business systems by January 31, 1999, with
the Planning Phase to be completed by March 31, 1999. The Execution and
Validation Phases will be completed by August 31, 1999. We expect to be Y2K
compliant on all critical systems, which rely on the calendar year before
December 31, 1999.
Some non-critical systems may not be addressed until after January
2000. However, we believe such systems will not cause significant disruptions in
our operations.
Compliance by external customers and suppliers
We are in the process of the inventory and assessment phases of our
critical suppliers, service providers and contractors to determine the extent to
which our interface systems are susceptible to those third parties' failure to
remedy their own Y2K issues. We expect that assessment will be complete by
mid-1999. To the extent that responses to Y2K readiness are unsatisfactory, we
intend to change suppliers, service providers or contractors to those that have
demonstrated Y2K readiness. We cannot be assured that we will be successful in
finding such alternative suppliers, service providers and contractors. We do not
currently have any formal information concerning the status of our customers but
have received indications that most of our customers are working on Y2K
compliance.
Risks associated with Y2K
We believe the major risk associated with the Y2K Issue is the ability
of our key business partners and vendors to resolve their own Y2K Issues. We
will spend a great deal of time over the next several months, working closely
with suppliers and vendors, to assure their compliance. Should a situation occur
where a key partner or vendor is unable to resolve their Y2K issue, we expect to
be in a position to change to Y2K compliant partners and vendors.
Costs to address Y2K issues
Because we are in the position of implementing new enterprise wide
business solutions to replace existing manual processes and/or "home grown"
applications, there will be little, if any, Y2K changes required to existing
business applications. All of the new business applications implemented (or in
the process of being implemented in 1999) are represented as being Y2K
compliant.
We currently believe that implementing our Y2K Plan will not have a
material effect on our financial position.
Contingency plan
We have not formulated a contingency plan at this time but expect to
have specific contingency plans in place prior to September 30, 1999.
Summary
We anticipate that the Y2K Issue will not have a material adverse
effect on our financial position or results of operations. There can be no
assurance, however, that the systems of other companies or government entities,
on which we rely for supplies, cash payments, and future business, will be
timely converted, or that a failure to convert by another company or government
entities, would not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or
results of operations. If third party service providers and vendors, due to Y2K
Issues, fail to provide us with components, materials, or services which are
necessary to deliver our service and product offerings, with sufficient
electrical power and transportation infrastructure to deliver our service and
product offerings, then any such failure could have a material adverse effect on
our ability to conduct business, as well as our financial position and results
of operations.
<PAGE>
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and
other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). You
may read and copy any document we file at the public reference facilities of the
SEC located at 450 Fifth Street N.W., Washington D.C. 20549. You may obtain
information on the operation of the SEC's public reference facilities by calling
the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You can also access copies of such material
electronically on the SEC's home page on the World Wide Web at
http://www.sec.gov.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement (Registration No.
333-______) we filed with the SEC. The SEC permits us to "incorporate by
reference" the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose
important information to you by referring you to those documents. The
information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this
prospectus, and information that we file with the SEC after the date of this
prospectus will automatically update and supersede this information. We
incorporate by reference the following documents filed by us with the SEC (File
No. 1-5270). We also incorporate by reference any future filings made with the
SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, until the selling shareholders sell all of the shares of
common stock being registered or until such shares can be sold without being
registered.
1. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30,
1998.
2. Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 26, 1999.
3. Our Preliminary Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on
February 2, 1999.
If you request a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by
reference, then we will send to you the copies you requested at no charge.
However, we will not send exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are
specifically incorporated by reference in such documents. You should direct
requests for such copies to Mr. Steven M. Harris, Secretary, SoftNet Systems,
Inc., 520 Logue Avenue, Mountain View, California 94043, (650) 962-7470.
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus
and incorporated by reference into this prospectus. We have not authorized
anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this
prospectus. The selling shareholders are offering to sell, and seeking offers to
buy, shares of SoftNet common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales
are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as
of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this
prospectus or of any sale of the shares.
<PAGE>
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares of our
common stock being offered by the selling shareholders under this prospectus.
THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
The selling shareholders obtained or will obtain their shares of
SoftNet common stock upon conversion of our 9% senior subordinated convertible
notes due 2001 or upon exercise of warrants to purchase SoftNet common stock
that they held or are holding.
We have agreed to register initially 1,717,587 shares of our common
stock that we may be required to issue to the selling shareholders upon
conversion of our 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001 or exercise
of warrants to purchase our common stock. We may be required to register
additional shares of our common stock if:
o we have either obtained approval from our shareholders or the American
Stock Exchange or Nasdaq depending on where our common stock is listed, to
issue more than 1,717,587 shares of our common stock (unless we are no
longer subject to an American Stock Exchange or Nasdaq rule that requires
us to obtain such approval prior to issuing in excess of 19.99% of our
common stock);
o the conversion price of the 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due
2001 is $6.99 or lower; or
o certain dilutive events occur with respect to the common stock underlying
our 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001 and warrants.
We cannot determine the actual number of shares of our common stock
that we will issue because the conversion price of our 9% senior subordinated
convertible notes will fluctuate with the market price of our common stock
beginning July 1, 1999, subject to a maximum conversion price of $17.00. After
July 1, 1999, the number of shares underlying our 9% senior subordinated
convertible notes due 2001 would increase if the conversion price decreased, so
long as the conversion price was below $17.00. See "Description of certain
provisions of our 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001--Conversion
prices; Risk Factors--Issuance of common stock pursuant to existing obligations
will result in dilution to the common stockholders."
The following table sets forth for each selling shareholder the number
of shares of our common stock underlying our 9% senior subordinated convertible
notes due 2001 and warrants held by such selling shareholder, the number of
shares of our common stock that may be offered under this prospectus, the total
shares of common stock beneficially owned by such selling shareholders, and the
percentage of our outstanding common stock that each represents as of January
31, 1999. Percentage ownership is based upon 8,785,253 shares of common stock
outstanding on January 31, 1999.
The shares of common stock underling our 9% senior subordinated
convertible notes due 2001 presented on the table is based on the conversion
prices in effect as of the date of this prospectus, which is $17.00. The total
number of shares beneficially owned includes:
o the number of shares of our common stock into which our 9% senior
subordinated convertible notes due 2001 can convert assuming the
$17.00 conversion price as of the date of this prospectus is in
effect;
o the number of shares of our common stock underlying the warrants; and
o any additional shares of common stock beneficially owned by such
selling shareholder as determined in accordance with the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Generally, the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission define
beneficial ownership to include securities with respect to which the investor
has voting or investment power. The rules also provide that beneficial ownership
includes shares of common stock underlying options, warrants and convertible
securities that can be exercised or converted within 60 days. To that extent,
the number of shares of our Common Stock underlying our 9% senior subordinated
convertible notes due 2001 and the warrants presented on the table may not
present the actual beneficial ownership from time to time of the selling
shareholders in accordance with these rules because of the floating-rate
conversion feature of our 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001 and
because of the 4.99% limitation on beneficial ownership in our 9% senior
subordinated convertible notes due 2001. In that regard, please see "Description
of certain provisions of our 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001"
at page 24 for a more detailed description of these factors.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------- -----------------------------------
9% Senior Subordinated Total Number of Shares
----------------------
Convertible Notes due 2001 Warrants Common Stock Beneficially Owned
-------------------------- -------- -------------------------------
- --------------- ----------------------------------- ------------------------------- -----------------------------------
- --------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- -------------- ---------------- ------------------
Shares of
Shares of Shares of Shares of Shares of Common Stock Shares of
Common Stock Common Stock Common Stock Common Stock Owned and Common Stock
Underlying Being Offered Underlying Being Offered Underlying Being Offered
- --------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- -------------- ---------------- ------------------
- --------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- -------------- ---------------- ------------------
#
- --------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- -------------- ---------------- ------------------
- --------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- -------------- ---------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Stark 470,588 945,058 200,000 200,000 732,514 1,145,058
International(1)
- --------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- -------------- ---------------- ------------------
Shepherd 235,294 472,529 100,000 100,000 391,168 572,529
Investments
International,
Ltd.
- --------------- ----------------- ----------------- ---------------- -------------- ---------------- ------------------
(1) Total number of shares of common stock owned and underlying includes
61,926 shares of common stock.
(2) Total number of shares of common stock owned and underlying includes
55,874 shares of common stock.
</TABLE>
Description of certain provisions of our 9% senior subordinated convertible
notes due 2001
The rights and privileges of our 9% senior subordinated convertible
notes due 2001 follow our 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001 if
they are transferred. Certain provisions of our 9% senior subordinated
convertible notes due 2001 are discussed below.
Interest Rate
Interest on the outstanding principal amount of our 9% senior
subordinated convertible notes due 2001 is payable at the rate of 9% per annum,
quarterly in arrears. Any amount of principal that is not paid when due shall
bear interest from the day when such principal payment amount was due until paid
at a rate of 18% per annum.
Limitations on Conversion
A holder of our 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001
cannot convert its 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001 in the
event such conversion would result in its beneficially owning more than 4.99% of
our common stock as beneficial ownership is determined under the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Notwithstanding this limitation, the holders
of our 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001 cannot convert into an
aggregate of more than 1,717,587 shares of our common stock without the approval
of our common stock shareholders or the American Stock Exchange, or Nasdaq, as
applicable, unless we are no longer subject to a rule by the American Stock
Exchange or Nasdaq that prohibits us from issuing more than 19.99% of our common
stock without such shareholder approval.
The 19.99% limitation provides common shareholders protection against
dilution upon conversion of the 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due
2001 and exercise the warrants. In the event we obtain shareholder approval for
issuance of more than 19.99% of our common stock upon conversion of the 9%
senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001 and exercise the warrants, this
protection would not be available.
Conversion Prices
The actual number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of
our 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001 will be determined by the
following formula:
(The principal amount of our 9% senior subordinated convertible notes
due 2001, and any accrued but unpaid interest thus being converted)
divided by
(The applicable conversion price at the time of conversion).
The conversion price is subject to adjustment as set forth in our 9%
senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001. Prior to July 1, 1999, the
conversion price of our 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001 is
equal to $17.00 per share. Thereafter, the conversion price of our 9% senior
subordinated convertible notes due 2001 is equal to the lower of $17.00 per
share and the lowest five day average closing bid price of the common stock
during the 30 day trading period ending one day prior to the applicable
conversion date.
The following table sets forth the number of shares of common stock
issuable upon conversion of our 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due
2001 assuming the market price of the common stock is 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of
the market price of the common stock on February 2, 1999, which was $16.88 per
share. The table also assumes that the 19.99% limitation was no longer in
effect.
Percent of Market Number of Shares Issuable
Price Upon Conversion
25% 2,843,601
50% 1,421,800
75% 947,867
100% 710,900
Description of Certain Provisions of the Warrants
The warrants issued in connection with our 9% senior subordinated
convertible notes due 2001 have an exercise price of $17.00 per share and expire
on January 1, 2003. On July 1, 1999, the exercise price of the warrants is
subject to adjustment to the amount equal to the lesser of the then current
exercise price and 110% of the five day average closing bid prices for the five
trading days immediately preceding July 1, 1999. The number of shares issuable
upon exercise of the warrants is subject to anti-dilution adjustment upon
certain events, including, with some exceptions, our sale of common stock or
securities convertible into or exercisable for our common stock at a price per
share less than the exercise price of the warrants. The warrants may be
exercised through a cashless exercise either by:
o cancellation of a portion of the unpaid principal amount of our 9%
senior subordinated convertible notes due 2001 held by the selling
shareholder seeking to exercise such warrants;
o cancellation of that number of shares of our common stock that would
have been issued with an aggregate market price equal to the aggregate
exercise price of the warrants being exercise; or
o surrender of that number of shares of our common stock with an
aggregate market price equal to the aggregate exercise price of the
warrants being exercised.
Please see our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January
26, 1999 for a description of the 9% senior subordinated convertible notes due
2001 and the warrants and the transaction documents relating to their issuance.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares of our
common stock offered hereby.
The shares offered by this prospectus may be sold by the selling
shareholders or their respective pledgees, donees, transferees or successors in
interest, in one or more of the following transactions (which may involve one or
more block transactions):
o on the American Stock Exchange;
o in sales occurring in the public market of such exchange;
o in privately negotiated transactions;
o through the writing of options on shares or short sales; or
o in a combination of such transactions.
Each sale may be made either at market prices prevailing at the time of
such sale or at negotiated prices or such other price as the selling
shareholders determine from time to time. Some or all of the shares offered by
this prospectus may be sold directly to market makers acting as principals or
through brokers acting on behalf of the selling shareholders or as agents for
themselves or their customers or to dealers for resale by such dealers. In
connection with such sales such brokers and dealers may receive compensation in
the form of discounts, commissions or concessions from the selling shareholders
and may receive commissions from the purchasers of shares offered by this
prospectus for whom they act as broker or agent (which discounts and commissions
are not anticipated to exceed those customary in the types of transactions
involved).
The selling shareholders have sole discretion not to accept
any purchase offer or make any sale of shares offered by this prospectus if they
deem the purchase price to be unsatisfactory. Any broker or dealer participating
in any such sale may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
Securities Act and will be required to deliver a copy of this prospectus to any
person who purchases any of the shares offered by this prospectus from or
through such broker or dealer. The compensation of such broker-dealers may be
deemed underwriting discounts and commissions. In addition, any Shares covered
by this prospectus that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 may be sold under
Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus.
The selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with
broker-dealers or other financial institutions in connection with distribution
of the shares or otherwise. In such transactions, broker-dealers or other
financial institutions may engage in short sales of the shares in the course of
hedging the positions they assume with selling shareholders. The selling
shareholders may also sell shares short and redeliver the shares to close out
such short positions. The selling shareholders may enter into option or other
transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions which require
the deliver to the broker-dealer or other financial institutions of the shares.
The broker-dealer or other financial institutions may then resell or otherwise
transfer such shores pursuant to this prospectus. The selling shareholders also
may loan or pledge the shares to a broker-dealer. The broker-dealer may sell the
shares so loaned, or upon a the broker-dealer may sell the pledged shares
pursuant to this prospectus.
To comply with certain states' securities laws, if applicable, the
shares offered by this prospectus will be sold in such jurisdictions only
through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In certain states, the shares
offered by this prospectus may not be sold unless (1) the shares offered by this
prospectus have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an
exemption from registration exists or (2) qualification is available and is
complied with. Also, each selling shareholder will be subject to the applicable
provisions of the Securities Act and Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
of both acts, including Regulation M. Regulation M's provisions may limit the
timing of purchases and sales of shares of the common stock by the selling
shareholders.
We will pay all expenses of the offering of the shares offered by this
prospectus, except that the selling shareholders will pay any applicable
underwriting commission discount and transfer taxes, as well as the fees and
disbursements of counsel to and experts for the selling shareholders.
Pursuant to the terms of the registration rights agreement with the
selling shareholders, we have agreed to indemnify and hold harmless such selling
shareholders from, among other things, certain liabilities under the Securities
Act.
LEGAL
The validity of the securities of offered hereby will be passed upon
for the company by Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP, Palo Alto, California.
EXPERT
The financial statements incorporated in this Prospectus by reference
to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1998 have
been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in
auditing and accounting.
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
The following are the expenses (estimated except for the SEC
registration fee) for the issuance and distribution of the securities being
registered, all of which will be paid by the Registrant.
SEC registration fee.................................................$ 8,058
Fees and expenses of counsel..........................................20,000
Fees and expenses of accountants......................................10,000
Listing fees..........................................................17,500
Transfer agent fees....................................................5,000
Miscellaneous.........................................................17,500
--------
Total..................................................$78,058
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
The New York Business Corporation Law and the By-laws of the Registrant
provide for indemnification of directors and officers for expenses (including
reasonable amounts paid in settlement) incurred in defending actions brought
against them.
The Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides that no contract or
other transaction between the corporation and any other corporation shall be
affected or invalidated by the fact that any one or more of the directors of the
Company is or are interested in or is a director or officer, or are directors or
officers, of such other corporation, and any director or directors, individually
or jointly, may be a party or parties to or may be interested in any contractor
transaction of the Company, or in which the Company is interested, and no
contract, act or transaction of the Company with any person or persons, firms or
corporations shall be affected or invalidated by the fact that any director or
directors of the Company is a party or are parties to, or interested in, such
contract, act or transaction, or in any way connected with such person or
persons, firms or corporations, and each and every person who may become a
director of the Company is hereby relieved from any liability that might
otherwise exist from contracting with the Company for the benefit of himself or
any firm or corporation in which he may be in anyway interested.
The Company's Bylaws provide that the Company may indemnify any person
made, or threatened to be made, a party to a civil or criminal action or
proceeding (other than one by or in the right of the Company to procure a
judgment in its favor), by reason of the fact that he was a director or officer
of the Company, or serves another entity in any capacity at the request of the
Company, against judgments, fines, settlement amounts and reasonable expenses,
including actual and necessary attorneys' fees, if such director or officer
acted, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or,
in the case of service for any other entity, not opposed to, the best interest
of the Company, and, in criminal actions or proceedings, had no reasonable cause
to believe that his conduct was unlawful ("Good Faith"). The termination of any
such action or proceeding by judgment, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of
nolo contendere, or its equivalent, shall not in itself create a presumption
that any such director or officer did not act in Good Faith.
Under the Company's Bylaws, a person who has been successful, on the
merits or otherwise, in the defense of an action or proceeding described above
shall be entitled to indemnification. Except as provided in immediately
preceding sentence, any indemnification under the above paragraph or otherwise
permitted by Section 721 of the New York Business Corporation Law, unless
ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction, shall be made by the Company, only
if authorized in the specific case: (i) by the Board of Directors acting by a
quorum consisting of disinterested directors, or (ii) if a quorum is not
obtainable or a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by the Board, upon
the opinion of independent legal counsel that indemnification is proper in the
circumstances, or by the shareholders.
Under the Company's Bylaws, the Company may indemnify any person made,
threatened or threatened to be made, a party to an action by or in the right of
the Company to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of this fact that he is
or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request
of the Company as a director or officer of any other entity against amounts paid
in settlement and reasonable expenses, including actual and necessary attorneys,
fees, if such director or officer acted, in good faith, for a purpose which he
reasonably believed to be in, or, in the case of service for any other entity,
not opposed to, the best interest of the Company, except, that no
indemnification under this paragraph shall be made in respect of (i) a
threatened action, or a pending action if settled or otherwise disposed of, or
(ii) any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged
to be liable to the Company, unless the court in which the action was brought,
or, if no action was brought, any court of competent jurisdiction, determines
that the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such portion
of the settlement amount and expenses as the court deems proper.
Under the Company's Bylaws, the Company has the power to purchase and
maintain insurance to satisfy its indemnification obligations hereunder, or to
indemnify directors and officers in instances in which they may not otherwise be
indemnified by the Company under certain circumstances. No insurance may provide
for any payment, other than the cost of defense, to or on behalf of any director
or officer: (i) if it is established that his acts were committed in bad faith
or with deliberate dishonesty, were material to the cause of the adjudicated
action, or that he personally and illegally gained a financial profit or other
advantage, or (ii) in relation to any risk, the insurance of which is prohibited
under New York state insurance law.
Under the Company's Bylaws, the indemnification and advancement of
expenses shall not be deemed the exclusive right of any other rights to which a
director or officer may be entitled, provided that no indemnification may be
made to or on behalf of any director or officer if a judgment or other final
adjudication adverse to the director or officer establishes that his acts were
committed in bad faith or were the result of deliberate dishonesty and were
material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or that he personally and
illegally gained a financial profit or other advantage. No indemnification,
advancement or allowance shall be made in any circumstances if (i) the
indemnification would be inconsistent with a provision of the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws, Board or shareholders resolutions, an
agreement or other proper corporate action, that is in effect at the time of the
accrual of the alleged cause of action, which prohibits or limits
indemnification, or (ii) the court states that indemnification would be
inconsistent with any condition with respect to indemnification expressly
imposed by the court in a court-approved settlement. If any amounts are paid by
indemnification, otherwise than by court order or action by the shareholders,
the Company shall mail to its voting shareholders, a statement describing the
terms of the indemnification and any corporate action taken with respect to the
indemnification.
The Registrant maintains directors and officers liability insurance
covering all directors and officers of the Registrant against claims arising out
of the performance of their duties.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.
Exhibit Number Description of Exhibit
- -------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------
3.1* Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
3.2* Bylaws, as amended
4.1** Form of 9% Senior Subordinated Convertible Note due January 12,
2001, issued by the Company to each of the Buyers
4.2** Form of Warrant to purchase shares of Common Stock, dated as
of January 12, 1999, issued by the Company to
each of the Buyers
5+ Opinion of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison L.L.P.
10.1** Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of January 12, 1999 by
and among the Company and the Buyers listed therein
10.2** Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 12, 1999 by
and among the Company and the Buyers listed therein
23.1+ Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP (included as
part of Exhibit 5).
23.2+ Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
24.1+ Powers of Attorney (included on signature page of the
Registration Statement).
- ---------------
+ Filed herewith
* Filed with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended September 30, 1998.
** Filed with the Company's Special Report on Form 8-K filed
January 26, 1998
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
1. (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file,
during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act");
(ii) To reflect, in the prospectus any facts or
events arising after the date of the Registration Statement
(or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
change in any information in the Registration Statement;
(iii) To include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed
in the Registration Statement or any material change to such
information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraph (i) and
(ii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a
post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports
filed by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange
Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for determining
any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file a
post-effective amendment to remove from registration any of the securities that
remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(d) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act that- is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
2. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
otherwise, the undersigned Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of
the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In
the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than
the payment by the undersigned Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a
director, officer or controlling person of the undersigned Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the undersigned Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3, and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized in Mountain View, California on February 5, 1999.
SOFTNET SYSTEMS, INC.
By: /s/ Douglas S. Sinclair
-----------------------------
Douglas S. Sinclair
Chief Financial Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below does hereby constitute and appoint, jointly and severally, Dr.
Lawrence B. Brilliant and Douglas S. Sinclair, or either of them, as his or her
true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign the Registration Statement filed herewith and
any and all amendments to said Registration Statement (including post-effective
amendments and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462 and
otherwise), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Power of
Attorney as of the date indicated.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated.
Signature Title Date
/s/ Ronald I. Simon Chairman of the Board February 5, 1999
- --------------------------------
Ronald I. Simon
/s/ Dr. Lawrence B. Brilliant Vice Chairman of the Board, February 5, 1999
- -------------------------------- President and Chief
Dr. Lawrence B. Brilliant Executive Officer
/s/ Douglas S. Sinclair Chief Financial Officer February 5, 1999
- --------------------------------
Douglas S. Sinclair
/s/ Mark A. Phillips Treasurer and February 5, 1999
- -------------------------------- Chief Accounting Officer
Mark A. Phillips
/s/ Ian B. Aaron Director February 5, 1999
- --------------------------------
Ian B. Aaron
/s/ John G. Hamm Director February 5, 1999
- --------------------------------
John G. Hamm
/s/ Edward A. Bennett Director February 5, 1999
- --------------------------------
Edward A. Bennett
/s/ Sean P. Doherty Director February 5, 1999
- --------------------------------
Sean P. Doherty
/s/ Robert C. Harris, Jr Director February 5, 1999
- --------------------------------
Robert C. Harris, Jr.
<PAGE>
Exhibit Number Description of Exhibit
- -------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------
3.1* Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation.
3.2* Bylaws, as amended
4.1** Form of 9% Senior Subordinated Convertible Note due January 12,
2001, issued by the Company to each of the Buyers
4.2** Form of Warrant to purchase shares of Common Stock, dated as
of January 12, 1999, issued by the Company to
each of the Buyers
5.1+ Opinion of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison L.L.P.
10.1** Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of January 12, 1999 by
and among the Company and the Buyers listed therein
10.2** Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 12, 1999 by
and among the Company and the Buyers listed therein
23.1+ Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP (included as
part of Exhibit 5).
23.2+ Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
24.1+ Powers of Attorney (included on signature page of the
Registration Statement).
- ---------------
+ Filed herewith
* Filed with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended September 30, 1998.
** Filed with the Company's Special Report on Form 8-K filed
January 26, 1998
BROBECK, PHLEGER, & HARRISON LLP
Attorneys at Law
Two Embarcadero Place
2220 Geng Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303-0913
650-424-0160 telephone
650-496-2777 facsimile
SoftNet Systems, Inc.
520 Logue Avenue
Mountain View, CA 94043
Re: SoftNet Systems, Inc. Registration Statement on
Form S-3 for 1,717,587 Shares of Common Stock
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to SoftNet Systems, Inc., a New York
Corporation (the "Company") in connection with the above-referenced registration
statement (the "Registration Statement") filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), under which
certain shareholders of the Company intend to sell up to an aggregate of
1,717,587 shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
"Shares").
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the
requirements of Item 16 of Form S-3 and Item 601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K.
We have reviewed the Company's charter documents and the
corporate proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and
sale of the Shares. Based on such review, we are of the opinion that the Shares
have been duly authorized, and if, as and when issued in accordance with the
Registration Statement and the related prospectus (as amended and supplemented
through the date of issuance) will be legally issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
We consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1
to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit
that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Act, the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission promulgated thereunder, or Item 509 of Regulation S-K.
This opinion letter is rendered as of the date first written
above and we disclaim any obligation to advise you of facts, circumstances,
events or developments which hereafter may be brought to our attention and which
may alter, affect or modify the opinion expressed herein. Our opinion is
expressly limited to the matters set forth above and we render no opinion,
whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating to the
Company or the Shares.
Very truly yours,
BROBECK, PHLEGER & HARRISON LLP
/s/ Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison
Included as Part of Exhibit 5.1
Exhibit 23.2
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers, Independent Auditors
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in
the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related prospectus of SoftNet Systems,
Inc. for the registration of 1,717,587 shares of its common stock and to the
incorporation by reference therein of our report, with respect to the financial
statements of SoftNet Systems, Inc. included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1998, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
February 5, 1999
San Jose, California
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS, L.L.P.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers, L.L.P.
