-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, JI6J3Y5DHn1HykxPN5A5VNjyDfAJjvptpO6P0hh7LAktYUwPbdCAFySAIb1+DfTy OhzhbEg0eXcrcINAfYLE1w== 0000950135-00-001479.txt : 20000320 0000950135-00-001479.hdr.sgml : 20000320 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950135-00-001479 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-3/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 FILED AS OF DATE: 20000317 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: NETWORK PLUS CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001065633 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813] IRS NUMBER: 043430576 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3/A SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-32040 FILM NUMBER: 573156 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 234 COPELAND ST CITY: QUINCY STATE: MA ZIP: 02169 BUSINESS PHONE: 6177864000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 234 COPELAND ST CITY: QUINCY STATE: MA ZIP: 02169 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: NETWORK PLUS INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19980709 S-3/A 1 NETWORK PLUS INC. 1 AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 17, 2000 REGISTRATION NO. 333-32040 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ------------------------ AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-3 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ------------------------ NETWORK PLUS CORP. (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) DELAWARE 4813 04-3430576 (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (PRIMARY STANDARD INDUSTRIAL (I.R.S. EMPLOYER INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) CLASSIFICATION CODE NUMBER) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
234 COPELAND STREET QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS 02169 (617) 786-4000 (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) ------------------------ JAMES J. CROWLEY, ESQ. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER NETWORK PLUS CORP. 234 COPELAND STREET QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS 02169 (617) 786-4000 (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE) WITH COPIES TO: JEFFREY N. CARP, ESQ. JOHN T. GAFFNEY, ESQ. WILLIAM S. GEHRKE, ESQ. CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE HALE AND DORR LLP 825 EIGHTH AVENUE 60 STATE STREET NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02109 (212) 474-1000 (617) 526-6000
------------------------ APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE OF THE SECURITIES TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as practicable after the effective date hereof. 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, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [ ] If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ] __________ If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ] __________ If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, check the following box. [ ] ------------------------ 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 THAT SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL NOR DOES IT SEEK AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED. SUBJECT TO COMPLETION. DATED MARCH 17, 2000. [NETWORK PLUS CORPORATE LOGO] 5,000,000 Shares NETWORK PLUS CORP. Common Stock ------------------------ Of the 5,000,000 shares of common stock being sold in this offering, Network Plus Corp. is offering 4,509,804 shares, and the selling stockholders are selling 490,196 shares. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholders. Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "NPLS". The last reported sale price for our common stock on March 16, 2000 was $51.00 per share. We are offering these shares of common stock at the same time that we expect to offer 2,500,000 depositary shares, each representing 1/10 of a share of % series A cumulative convertible preferred stock, for an aggregate offering price of $125 million. The shares of convertible preferred stock are convertible into shares of our common stock. This offering of common stock is not contingent upon the closing of the offering of the convertible preferred stock. Please see "Risk Factors" beginning on page 7 to read about factors you should consider before buying shares of the common stock. ------------------------ NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY OTHER REGULATORY BODY 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. ------------------------
PER SHARE TOTAL --------- ----- Initial price to public..................................... $ $ Underwriting discount....................................... $ $ Proceeds, before expenses, to Network Plus.................. $ $ Proceeds, before expenses, to the selling stockholders...... $ $
To the extent that the underwriters sell more than 5,000,000 shares of common stock, the underwriters have the option to purchase up to an additional 750,000 shares from Network Plus at the initial price to public less the underwriting discount. ------------------------ The underwriters expect to deliver the shares in New York, New York on , 2000. GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC. DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE MERRILL LYNCH & CO. FIDELITY CAPITAL MARKETS A DIVISION OF NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION KAUFMAN BROS., L.P. ------------------------ Prospectus dated , 2000. 3 3 INSIDE FRONT COVER AND CENTERSPREAD: Map showing Network Plus' existing and planned broadband data, telecommunications and e.commerce network and voice over DSL network architecture 4 PROSPECTUS SUMMARY You should read the following summary together with the more detailed information and our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. NETWORK PLUS OVERVIEW Network Plus is a network-based communications provider offering a comprehensive suite of broadband data, telecommunications and e.Commerce hosting services. Our services include local and long distance voice, high-speed data, Internet and web and managed server hosting. We currently utilize digital subscriber line, or DSL, technology to provide high-speed data and Internet access and are a pioneer in providing local and long distance services using voice over digital subscriber line, or VoDSL, technology. We currently serve small and medium-sized business customers in the northeastern and southeastern regions of the United States. During 2000, we intend to expand into the mid-Atlantic region to establish a contiguous network footprint from New England to Florida. As of December 31, 1999, we served approximately 45,000 customers representing in excess of 66,000 local access lines and 225,000 long distance access lines. We had total revenue of $152.5 million in 1999. We believe that our comprehensive suite of communications services and the continuing expansion of our network enable us to acquire new customers, cross-sell additional services to existing customers and improve our overall margins. As of March 1, 2000, our primary network and sales assets include: - 197 co-locations accepted and under construction, of which 42 are operational - 4 Lucent 5ESS local exchange switches - 4 Nortel DMS 250 interexchange switches, 2 of which are also international gateway switches - 11,000 digital fiber miles capable of data transmission rates of 400 gigabytes per second - 27,000 square feet of e.Commerce data center space - 20,000 square feet of available "edge" co-location space and 21,000 square feet of additional space under construction - 273 sales persons in 12 sales offices. In light of the progress in building our network in targeted markets, we have decided to expand our business plan. We intend to: - Expand our co-location footprint to 220 co-locations by year-end 2000 and 500 co-locations by year-end 2001. - Expand our sales force to 400 sales persons by year-end 2000 and 500 sales persons by year-end 2001. - Deploy additional local exchange switches in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., New Jersey and Raleigh, North Carolina by year-end 2001. - Expand our fiber optic network to approximately 30,000 digital fiber miles by year-end 2001. - Expand our e.Commerce data center space which supports both web and managed server hosting services to 116,000 square feet in New York City, Miami, Atlanta, Cambridge and Quincy by year-end 2000 and 250,000 square feet by year-end 2001, with additional centers located in Chicago, Philadelphia and Nashville. - Deploy and operate a total of 41,000 square feet of "edge" co-location space to sublet to other telecommunications companies by year-end 2000 and a total of 65,000 square feet by year-end 2001. 1 5 THE IMPORTANCE OF VODSL AND e.COMMERCE DATA CENTER SPACE The rapid growth of the Internet, the expansion of e.Commerce and the introduction of new business applications have fueled increasing demand from small and medium-sized businesses for advanced telecommunications and Internet services. To meet this demand, we offer a comprehensive suite of voice, broadband data and web and managed server hosting services. Our VoDSL technology allows us to simultaneously provide small and medium-sized businesses with up to 16 telephone lines and an "always on" high-speed connection to the Internet at speeds of up to 1.5 megabits per second over a single copper line. As more small and medium-sized businesses utilize the Internet to conduct their business, the need for reliable and affordable broadband access and guaranteed availability of e.Commerce web and server platforms will become increasingly vital. It is often impractical for small and medium-sized businesses to economically operate e.Commerce platforms on their own premises, because adequate redundant bandwidth and e.Commerce web and server platforms are often not available or else are cost-prohibitive. We believe that our e.Commerce data centers address this need by providing reliable and affordable broadband access and guaranteed availability of e.Commerce web and managed server hosting services. BUSINESS STRATEGY The key elements of our business strategy are discussed in detail under "Business -- Business Strategy", which we urge you to read. The following is a summary of our business strategy. - BE A SINGLE-SOURCE PROVIDER OF BROADBAND DATA, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND e.COMMERCE HOSTING SERVICES. We offer a comprehensive suite of broadband data, telecommunications and e.Commerce services on a bundled and individual basis for which we provide a single bill. We believe that providing a comprehensive suite of telecommunications services, including local and long distance, high-speed data and other Internet services, as well as web and managed server hosting, will enable us to better meet the needs of our target customers, rapidly penetrate our target markets, capture a larger portion of our customers' telecommunications expenditures and increase customer retention. - TARGET UNDERSERVED MARKETS. We seek to be among the first to market broadband data, telecommunications and e.Commerce hosting services to small and medium-sized businesses in the majority of our markets. In addition, we believe that small and medium-sized businesses have been underserved by larger voice, data and e.Commerce hosting service providers with respect to price, breadth of product offerings and customer service. - EXPAND GEOGRAPHIC REACH. We intend to establish a contiguous network footprint from New England to Florida by expanding our network and service offerings into the mid-Atlantic region and certain targeted markets in the midwest. - CROSS-SELL LOCAL, DATA AND e.COMMERCE HOSTING SERVICES TO OUR EXISTING CUSTOMERS. As of December 31, 1999, we had ongoing relationships with approximately 45,000 customers. We believe that our ongoing customer relationships, focus on customer care and the competitive prices allowed by our bundled service and VoDSL technology will provide us with a significant opportunity to cross-sell local, VoDSL, DSL and e.Commerce hosting services to our existing customers. - BUILD A CAPITAL-EFFICIENT NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE. Our strategy is to expand our network where economically justifiable, better match our capital commitment to the onset of revenue-generating activities and generate cash flow quickly. We believe that this strategy will result in higher long-term operating margins, greater control of our network and enhanced service quality. An important element of our local, VoDSL and DSL network strategy is to build our network to take advantage of our customer base and sales office 2 6 coverage in the northeastern and southeastern regions of the United States while expanding into the mid-Atlantic region. - ACQUIRE AND RETAIN MARKET SHARE THROUGH OUR SALES FORCE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE. We intend to expand our sales force to approximately 400 members by year-end 2000 to acquire and support a growing customer base. Once we obtain a customer, we focus on providing superior customer service. We provide incentives to our sales and customer support personnel through a compensation structure that is designed to promote a high level of ongoing customer care and retention. We also provide our customers with personalized service through a single point of contact to increase customer satisfaction. - LEVERAGE OUR CUSTOM-DESIGNED BACK OFFICE SYSTEMS. We have deployed a custom-designed operational support system, which we refer to as LOGOS. LOGOS shortens the time between a customer order and service installation, reduces overhead costs and enables us to provide superior customer service. We believe that LOGOS enhances our productivity and service quality and provides us with a significant competitive advantage by: - automating many of the processes involved in moving a customer onto our network - automating the exchange of data with our trading partners through electronic bonding - enabling single-call resolution of most customer inquiries - providing each of our departments with a universal view of all provisioning, billing, customer service, trouble ticket and collections activities for each customer - enabling customized service offerings, pricing and invoice formatting for our customers - enabling our customers to analyze traffic and usage patterns, track events and pay invoices through a secure web interface to our LOGOS system, which we call the e.Command Center. - EXPAND THROUGH STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS AND ALLIANCES. We plan to consider strategic acquisitions of and alliances with related or complementary businesses. Strategic acquisitions and alliances may enable us to expand more rapidly by adding new customers and services, expanding our network footprint, as well as acquiring additional experienced employees. - LEVERAGE THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM. Our management team has extensive experience in the telecommunications industry. We believe the quality, experience and teamwork of our management team will be critical factors in the implementation of our growth strategy. RECENT FINANCING DEVELOPMENTS On March 8, 2000, we received a commitment from Goldman Sachs Credit Partners, an affiliate of Goldman Sachs, to provide and syndicate new senior secured credit facilities in total principal amount of up to $225 million. These credit facilities, which are subject to final negotiation and certain conditions, will replace our existing $60 million senior credit facility and will be used for working capital purposes and the purchase and acquisition of telecommunications assets. These facilities are expected to become available on or about June 1, 2000. Concurrently with this offering of common stock, we expect to offer 2,500,000 depositary shares, each representing 1/10 of a share of % series A cumulative convertible preferred stock, for an aggregate offering price of $125 million. The shares of convertible preferred stock are convertible into shares of our common stock. This offering of common stock is not contingent upon the closing of the offering of convertible preferred stock. Please see "Description of Capital Stock -- % Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock" beginning on page 62 to read about the terms of the convertible preferred stock. 3 7 THE OFFERING Shares of common stock offered by us.................................. 4,509,804 Shares of common stock offered by the selling stockholders.......... 490,196 Shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering... 59,579,245 Concurrent convertible preferred stock offering...................... Concurrently with this offering, we expect to offer by a separate prospectus 2,500,000 depositary shares, each representing 1/10 of a share of % series A cumulative convertible preferred stock. This offering is not conditioned on the closing of the convertible preferred stock offering. The convertible preferred stock offering is conditioned on the closing of this offering. Use of proceeds..................... - To develop and expand our network, operational infrastructure and sales force. - For working capital and general corporate purposes, including possible acquisitions. See "Use of Proceeds". Nasdaq National Market symbol....... NPLS The calculation of the number of shares to be outstanding after this offering is based on the number of shares outstanding on March 1, 2000, does not reflect shares that may be issued upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants or the conversion of any depositary shares or shares of convertible preferred stock and assumes the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option in this offering. RISK FACTORS Please see the "Risk Factors" section beginning on page 7 for a discussion of risks that you should consider before investing in our common stock. ------------------------ We were incorporated in Delaware in July 1998. Our wholly owned operating subsidiary, Network Plus, Inc., was incorporated in Massachusetts in March 1990. Our principal executive offices are located at 234 Copeland Street, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169. Our telephone number at this location is (617) 786-4000, and our Internet address is www.np1.com. The information on our website is not incorporated into this prospectus. Network Plus and the Network Plus logo are registered service marks, and LOGOS is a service mark, of Network Plus. All other trade names, trademarks and service marks used in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners. Any reference in this prospectus to our "convertible preferred stock" means our % series A cumulative convertible preferred stock. Unless otherwise specifically stated, information in this prospectus assumes: - the completion of our concurrent convertible preferred stock offering - the underwriters do not exercise their over-allotment option in this offering or in the convertible preferred stock offering. 4 8 SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA The following tables present our summary consolidated financial data, which should be read together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" presented elsewhere in this prospectus. We believe that net income (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, is a useful financial performance measure for comparing companies in the telecommunications industry in terms of operating performance, leverage and ability to incur and service debt. EBITDA provides an alternative measure of cash flow from operations. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, net income (loss), net cash provided by (used for) operating activities or other consolidated income or cash flow statement data presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as a measure of profitability or liquidity. EBITDA does not reflect working capital changes and includes non-interest components of other income (expense), most of which are non-recurring. These items may be considered significant components in understanding and assessing our results of operations and cash flows. EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts reported by other companies. The pro forma balance sheet data as adjusted for this offering give effect to the sale by us of 4,509,804 shares of common stock in this offering for aggregate net proceeds of $217.1 million, assuming an initial price to public of $51.00 per share and after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses of $12.9 million, as if this offering had occurred as of December 31, 1999. The pro forma balance sheet data as adjusted for this offering and the convertible preferred stock offering give effect to the sale by us of 4,509,804 shares of common stock in this offering for aggregate net proceeds of $217.1 million, assuming an initial price to public of $51.00 per share and after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses of $12.9 million, and the sale in the concurrent offering of 2,500,000 depositary shares, each representing 1/10 of a share of convertible preferred stock, for aggregate net proceeds of $119.8 million, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses of $5.3 million, as if these offerings had occurred as of December 31, 1999.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------------------- 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA: Revenues......................................... $49,024 $75,135 $98,209 $105,545 $152,520 Costs of services................................ 35,065 57,208 78,106 78,443 122,664 Selling, general and administrative.............. 17,697 19,230 25,704 29,426 51,709 Depreciation and amortization.................... 276 533 994 2,037 8,564 ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- Operating loss................................... (4,014) (1,836) (6,595) (4,361) (30,417) Net income (loss)................................ $ 3,695 $ 1,415 $(3,191) $ (4,383) $(32,854) ======= ======= ======= ======== ======== Net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders................................... $ 3,695 $ 1,415 $(3,191) $ (6,388) $(43,579) Net income (loss) per share applicable to common stockholders -- basic and diluted.............. $ 0.08 $ 0.03 $ (0.07) $ (0.14) $ (0.87) OTHER FINANCIAL DATA: Capital expenditures............................. $ 860 $ 2,135 $ 3,363 $ 10,919 $ 94,264 EBITDA........................................... $ 4,121 $ 2,226 $(1,684) $ (2,173) $(21,421)
5 9
DECEMBER 31, 1999 ---------------------------------------------- PRO FORMA AS ADJUSTED FOR THIS OFFERING AND PRO FORMA THE CONVERTIBLE DECEMBER 31, AS ADJUSTED FOR PREFERRED 1998 ACTUAL THIS OFFERING STOCK OFFERING ------------ ------ --------------- ----------------- (IN THOUSANDS) BALANCE SHEET DATA: Cash and cash equivalents............. $12,197 $ 43,031 $260,178 $379,928 Property and equipment, net........... 15,822 101,944 101,944 101,944 Working capital....................... 16,168 9,872 227,019 346,769 Total assets.......................... 48,868 185,972 403,119 522,869 Other long-term obligations........... 5,072 30,271 30,271 30,271 Redeemable series A preferred stock... 35,146 -- -- -- Redeemable % series A cumulative convertible preferred stock......... -- -- -- 119,750 Total stockholders' equity (deficit)........................... (6,723) 89,281 306,428 306,428
6 10 RISK FACTORS This offering involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below and the other information in this prospectus before deciding whether to invest in shares of our common stock. WE HAVE A HISTORY OF NEGATIVE CASH FLOW AND SIGNIFICANT OPERATING LOSSES We had operating losses in each of the last five years and negative cash flow from operating activities in 1998. In 1999, we had operating losses of $30.4 million and cash flows from operating activities of $3.7 million and reported a loss of $0.87 per share applicable to common stockholders. We expect to incur significant expenditures in connection with the acquisition, development and expansion of our network infrastructure, product offerings, information technology systems and employee base. As a result, we expect to incur significant future operating losses and negative cash flow. If our revenues do not increase significantly or the increase in our expenses is greater than expected, we may not achieve or sustain profitability or generate positive cash flow in the future. WE EXPECT TO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL THIRD-PARTY FINANCING Our ability to meet our projected growth will require substantial cash resources. The anticipated expansion of our network infrastructure through year-end 2000 and in 2001, including the addition of co-locations, switches, e.Commerce data centers and other network elements, and our anticipated funding of negative cash flow from operating activities through year-end 2000 and in 2001, will require approximately $475 million of capital. Furthermore, if we acquire other businesses, we may require additional financing. We have a commitment for new senior secured credit facilities for a total principal amount of up to $225 million that we expect to close on or about June 1, 2000. The closing of the new senior secured credit facilities is subject to customary conditions including no material adverse change in our business. We expect the proceeds of this offering, the proceeds of the offering of convertible preferred stock, our current and proposed financing arrangements and cash flow from operations to provide sufficient capital to fully fund our business plan. Our ability to satisfy future capital needs will depend upon our ability to renegotiate or replace our credit and equipment lease facilities, obtain supplemental financing or raise additional capital. If we do not close the new senior secured credit facilities, we can give no assurance that we will be able to renegotiate or replace our credit and equipment lease facilities on acceptable terms or at all. Additional financing may also place significant limits on our financial and operating flexibility or may not be available to us. Failure to obtain future financing when needed or on acceptable terms could cause us to delay or abandon our development and expansion plans and could materially adversely affect our growth and ability to compete. OUR QUARTERLY REVENUES AND OPERATING RESULTS ARE NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE AND ARE DIFFICULT TO FORECAST As a result of our limited operating history as a provider of broadband data, telecommunications and e.Commerce hosting services and the evolving nature of the telecommunications and Internet industries, we may not be able to accurately forecast our revenues. We do not believe that period-to-period comparisons of our operating results are necessarily meaningful, or that investors should rely upon them as indicators of future performance. In one or more future quarters, our results of operations may fall below the expectations of securities analysts and investors. This would likely materially adversely affect the trading price of our common stock. WE CANNOT PREDICT MARKET ACCEPTANCE FOR OUR LOCAL, VODSL, DSL, INTERNET AND E.COMMERCE HOSTING SERVICES The markets for Internet access, broadband data, including VoDSL and DSL, web and managed server hosting and competitive local service are in the early stages of development. We have limited experience providing these additional services and can give no assurance that we 7 11 will be able to do so successfully. Our ability to implement this strategy will depend on many factors, including our ability to: - upgrade our network and install new equipment - successfully meet technical and regulatory requirements with which we have had little experience to date - expand, train and manage our employee base - operate appropriate financial, operating and information systems - successfully integrate these services into our existing business. Because we offer services in these new and evolving markets and because current and future competitors are likely to introduce competing services, it is difficult for us to predict the rate at which these markets will grow. We can give no assurance that our new services will receive market acceptance or that prices and demand for these services will be sufficient to achieve or sustain profitable operations. If the markets for our new services fail to develop, grow more slowly than anticipated or become saturated with competitors, our success in these markets could be materially adversely affected. WE MAY BE UNABLE TO MANAGE RAPID GROWTH Our future operating performance will depend upon our ability to implement and manage our growth effectively. Our rapid growth to date has placed, and in the future will continue to place, a significant strain on our administrative, operational and financial resources. We anticipate that, in order to successfully expand our business, we will be required to recruit and hire a substantial number of new sales and other personnel. Failure to attract and retain additional qualified sales and other personnel, including management personnel who can manage our growth effectively, or failure to successfully train or integrate such personnel, could materially adversely affect our future operating performance. To manage our growth effectively, we will also have to continue to improve and upgrade operational, financial and accounting information systems, controls and infrastructure, as well as control costs and maintain regulatory compliance. The failure to adequately strengthen our financial controls and systems or otherwise manage our growth could materially adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. OUR FAILURE TO ACHIEVE OR SUSTAIN MARKET ACCEPTANCE AT DESIRED PRICING LEVELS COULD IMPAIR OUR ABILITY TO ACHIEVE PROFITABILITY OR POSITIVE CASH FLOW Prices for telecommunications services have fallen historically, a trend we expect will continue. Accordingly, we cannot predict to what extent we may need to reduce our prices to remain competitive or whether we will be able to sustain future pricing levels as our competitors introduce competing services or similar services at lower prices. Our failure to achieve or sustain market acceptance at desired pricing levels could impair our ability to achieve profitability or positive cash flow, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. WE MAY BE UNABLE TO MEET OUR DEBT OBLIGATIONS We have a significant amount of indebtedness. In addition, our indebtedness will increase upon the closing of our new senior secured credit facilities in a total principal amount of up to $225 million with Goldman Sachs Credit Partners and may increase further in the future. Our ability to repay our indebtedness will depend on our future operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business and other factors. Some of these factors are beyond our control. 8 12 If we are unable to service our indebtedness or other obligations, we will be forced to examine alternative strategies. These strategies may include reducing or delaying capital expenditures, restructuring or refinancing indebtedness or seeking additional debt or equity financing. We can give no assurance that any of these strategies could be effected on satisfactory terms. Our level of indebtedness could have important consequences to our stockholders, including the following: - we will have significant and increasing cash interest expense and significant principal repayment obligations with respect to outstanding indebtedness - our degree of leverage and debt service obligations could limit our ability to plan for, and make us more vulnerable than some of our competitors to the effects of, an economic downturn or other adverse developments - we may need to dedicate cash flow from our operations to debt service payments, making these funds unavailable for other purposes - our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements or other purposes could be impaired - we will have a competitive disadvantage relative to the other companies in our industry with less debt. OUR INDEBTEDNESS SUBJECTS US TO FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESTRICTIONS Our current senior credit facility and our new senior secured credit facilities each impose, or will impose, operating and financial restrictions on us. These restrictions may limit our ability to: - incur additional indebtedness - issue stock of any subsidiaries - create liens on assets - pay dividends, redeem the % convertible preferred stock or make other distributions - sell assets - make capital expenditures - enter into sale and leaseback transactions - engage in mergers or acquisitions - make investments. Failure to comply with any of these restrictions could limit the availability of borrowings or result in a default under our current senior or new senior secured credit facilities. For the year ended December 31, 1999, and for the remaining term of our current senior credit facility, the lenders agreed to amend the financial covenants in our current senior credit facility to grant us additional operating flexibility. If we had been unable to obtain the agreement of our lenders, we would have been in material noncompliance with our current senior credit facility. We can give no assurance that we will obtain a waiver or amendment for any future noncompliance with either our current senior credit facility or our anticipated new senior secured credit facilities. The terms of any debt or equity financings undertaken by us to meet future cash requirements could further restrict our operational flexibility and adversely affect our financial condition. 9 13 OUR BUSINESS STRATEGY DEPENDS ON SECURING AND MAINTAINING INTERCONNECTION AGREEMENTS WITH INCUMBENT LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIERS We must enter into agreements for the interconnection of our network with the networks of the incumbent local exchange carriers and other carriers covering each market in which we intend to offer local service. Although we have entered into interconnection agreements in a number of jurisdictions, we can give no assurance that we will successfully renegotiate these agreements as they are due to expire or negotiate additional agreements as we enter new markets. The failure to secure and maintain these agreements could materially adversely affect our ability to become a single-source provider of broadband data, telecommunications and e-Commerce hosting services. WE DEPEND ON OUR SUPPLIERS AND OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS TRANSMISSION FACILITIES. We lease a portion of our transport capacity. We are dependent upon the availability of fiber optic transmission facilities owned by interexchange carriers, incumbent local exchange carriers, Internet service providers, competitive local exchange carriers and others who lease their fiber optic networks to us. Many of these entities are, or may become, our competitors. Integration of leased fiber mileage into our network will subject us to the risk that the owners of the underlying facilities, who may be competitors, will not maintain or will deny us access to these facilities. Some of these providers are currently experiencing delays in the development of their facilities, and we can give no assurance that we will be able to obtain use of these facilities on a timely basis and in the quantities we require. The risks inherent in utilizing third-party providers include the possible inability to negotiate and renew favorable supply agreements and dependence on the timeliness of the fiber optic transport providers in processing our orders for transmission facilities. DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER LINE SERVICES AND VOICE OVER DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER LINE SERVICES. DSL and VoDSL services depend on the quality of copper lines and the maintenance of such lines by incumbent local exchange carriers. We can give no assurance that we will be able to obtain copper lines and the services we require from these carriers on a timely basis or on terms and in quantities satisfactory to us. Our failure to do so could materially adversely affect our ability to offer high-speed Internet access, DSL and VoDSL services. OTHER COMPONENTS. We also rely on other companies to supply key components of our network infrastructure, including switching and networking equipment and paging services. These components are only available in the quantities and quality we require from sole or limited sources. From time to time we have experienced delays or other problems in receiving these key components. We can give no assurance that we will be able to obtain such services or facilities on the scale and within the time frames required by us at an affordable cost, or at all. CALL RECORDS. The accurate and prompt billing of our customers is dependent upon the timeliness and accuracy of call detail records, including those provided by carriers whose services we resell. We can give no assurance that the current carriers will continue to provide, or that new carriers, including incumbent local exchange carriers, will provide, accurate information on a timely basis. Any carrier's failure to do so could materially adversely affect our future operating performance. WE MAY FACE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH POTENTIAL ACQUISITIONS We may acquire other businesses that we believe will complement our existing business. These acquisitions will likely involve some or all of the following risks: - the difficulty of assimilating the acquired operations and personnel - the potential disruption of our ongoing business 10 14 - the diversion of resources - the possible inability of management to maintain uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies - the possible difficulty of managing our growth and information systems - the risks of entering markets in which we have little experience - the potential impairment of relationships with employees or customers. These transactions may be required for us to remain competitive. We can give no assurance that we will be able to obtain required financing for such transactions or that such transactions will occur. COMPETITION IN OUR INDUSTRY IS INTENSE AND GROWING, AND WE MAY BE UNABLE TO COMPETE EFFECTIVELY Our industry is highly competitive, and we expect competition to intensify in the future. We do not have a significant market share in any of our markets. Most of our actual and potential competitors have substantially greater financial, technical, marketing and other resources, including brand or corporate name recognition, than we do. Our success will depend upon our ability to provide high-quality services at competitive prices. Any reduction in the prices of long distance, local, VoDSL, DSL, e.Commerce hosting or other services by our competitors could materially adversely affect our business, prospects and financial condition. We also face the following specific competitive risks: OVERALL TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET - LARGER AND MORE COMPETITIVE COMPANIES RESULTING FROM TELECOMMUNICATIONS MERGERS. A continuing trend towards business combinations and alliances in the telecommunications industry may create significant new competitors to us. Many of these combined entities will have resources far greater than ours. These combined entities may provide a bundled package of telecommunications products, including local and long distance voice, VoDSL and DSL services, that competes directly with the products we offer. These entities may also offer services sooner and at more competitive rates than we do. - THE COMPETITIVE IMPLICATIONS OF OTHER TECHNOLOGIES. We also face competition from fixed wireless services, wireless devices that do not require site or network licensing, cellular, personal telecommunications services, other commercial mobile radio service providers and Internet telephony. - ENTRANCE OF FOREIGN COMPANIES INTO U.S. MARKETS. In February 1998, Federal Communications Commission rules went into effect that make it substantially easier for many foreign telecommunications companies to enter the U.S. telecommunications market. This may further increase the number of competitors. - INTERNATIONAL MARKETS ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE. We compete in the highly competitive international wholesale market to obtain routes that can be profitably sold to other carriers. The routes that we can sell favorably are subject to change without notice, and it is very difficult to forecast revenue and associated margins. Loss of traffic could materially adversely affect our operating revenues. LONG DISTANCE SERVICES MARKET - CUSTOMER TURNOVER. The long distance industry is characterized by a high level of customer attrition, or "churn". Our revenues have been, and are expected to continue to be, affected by churn. 11 15 - EFFECT OF NEW RATES AND RATE PLANS. AT&T, MCI WorldCom, Sprint and other carriers have implemented price plans aimed at residential customers with significantly simplified rate structures. These price plans and simplified rate structures may lower long distance prices. Long distance carriers have made similar offerings available to the small and medium-sized businesses we primarily serve, creating additional pricing competition and creating pressure on our gross margins. If we are unable to reduce costs in a timely manner, our margins may be significantly reduced. - ENTRANCE OF THE REGIONAL BELL OPERATING COMPANIES INTO THE IN-REGION LONG DISTANCE MARKET. We anticipate that a number of regional Bell operating companies will seek authority to provide in-region long distance services in 2000 and beyond. To date, only Bell Atlantic -- New York has received authority to provide in-region long distance services. Bell Atlantic has also filed to seek approval to provide long distance service in Massachusetts. Regional Bell operating companies which receive authority to offer widespread in-region long distance services are in a position to offer single-source local and long distance services in direct competition with us. LOCAL SERVICES MARKET - NEED TO COMPETE WITH INCUMBENT LOCAL EXCHANGE CARRIERS. In the local telecommunications market, our primary competitor is currently the incumbent local exchange carrier serving each geographic area. An incumbent local exchange carrier is an established provider of dedicated and local telephone services to all or virtually all telephone subscribers within its service area. Incumbent local exchange carriers benefit from: - longstanding relationships with their customers - greater financial and technical resources - the ability to subsidize local services with revenues from other businesses - recent regulations that relax price restrictions and decrease regulatory oversight of incumbent local exchange carriers. If the incumbent local exchange carriers are allowed additional flexibility by regulators to offer discounts to large customers, engage in aggressive discount pricing practices or charge competitors excessive fees for interconnection to their networks, the revenue of their competitors, including us, could be materially adversely affected. - ENTRANCE OF LARGE LONG DISTANCE AND OTHER COMPANIES INTO THE LOCAL MARKET. We also face competition in local markets from other new entrants, including long distance and other carriers, many of which have significantly greater financial resources than we do. For example, AT&T, MCI WorldCom and Sprint have each begun to offer local telecommunications services in major U.S. markets. Other entities that currently or may offer local switched services include companies that have previously operated as competitive access providers, cable television companies, electric utilities, microwave carriers, wireless telephone system operators and large customers who build private networks. These entities, upon entering into appropriate interconnection agreements or resale agreements with incumbent local exchange carriers, including regional Bell operating companies, could offer single-source local and long distance services similar to those offered by us. - CHANGING GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS. Competition in local services has also increased as a result of changing government regulations. The federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 has increased competition in the local telecommunications market. The Telecommunications Act: 12 16 - requires incumbent local exchange carriers to interconnect their networks with those of requesting telecommunications carriers and to allow requesting carriers to co-locate equipment at the premises of the incumbent local exchange carriers - allows long distance carriers authorized to provide local service to resell local services - requires incumbent local exchange carriers to offer to requesting telecommunications carriers network elements on an unbundled basis - requires incumbent local exchange carriers to offer to requesting telecommunications carriers the services they provide to end-users at wholesale rates. Competition may also increase as a result of a 1997 World Trade Organization agreement on telecommunications services. As a result of the agreement, the FCC has made it easier for foreign companies to enter the U.S. telecommunications market. DATA SERVICES AND WEB AND MANAGED SERVER HOSTING MARKETS The markets for data communications, web and managed server hosting and Internet access services are extremely competitive and characterized by rapid technological innovation. There are no substantial barriers to entry, and we expect that competition will intensify in the future. We expect significant competition from a large variety of companies, including long-distance service providers, cable modem service providers, Internet service providers, on-line service providers, wireless and satellite data service providers and other companies focusing on DSL and VoDSL services. These companies may offer competing products with prices or other characteristics that are more attractive than our own. WE MAY BE UNABLE TO ADAPT TO TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE The telecommunications industry has been, and is likely to continue to be, subject to: - rapid and significant technological change, including continuing developments in DSL technology, which does not presently have widely accepted standards - frequent introductions of new services and alternative technologies, including new technologies for providing high-speed data services - evolving industry standards. We expect that new products and technologies will emerge that may be superior to, or may not be compatible with, some of our products or technologies. Changes in technology could cause more competitors to enter the industry, including the network-based local market and high-speed data transport market in which we compete. Also, technological changes, including advancements in emerging wireline and wireless technologies and Internet services and technologies, could result in lower retail rates for telecommunications services. These changes could materially adversely affect our ability to price services competitively or achieve profitability. We cannot predict with certainty the effect of technological changes on our business. Our future success will depend, in part, on our ability to anticipate and adapt to technological changes and to offer, on a timely basis, services that meet customer demands and evolving industry standards. We rely in part on third parties, including competitors, for the development of and access to telecommunications and networking technology. As a result, we may be unable to obtain access to new technology on a timely basis or on satisfactory terms. Failure to adapt successfully to any technological change or obsolescence, or the failure to obtain access to important technologies, could materially adversely affect our future operating performance. WE DEPEND ON INDEFEASIBLE RIGHTS-OF-USE, RIGHTS-OF-WAY AND SIMILAR AGREEMENTS To further develop our network, we may need to obtain indefeasible rights-of-use, local franchises, permits, rights to utilize underground conduit and aerial pole space and other rights- 13 17 of-way. We would need to obtain these rights from entities such as incumbent local exchange carriers, other utilities, railroads, long distance companies, state highway authorities, local governments and transit authorities. We can give no assurance that we, or the providers on whom we depend, will be able to obtain and maintain the permits and rights we may need on acceptable terms. Cancellation or non-renewal of these arrangements could materially adversely affect our business in the affected area. THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996 AND OTHER GOVERNMENT REGULATION COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT US Telecommunications services are subject to significant regulation at the federal, state, local and international levels. Delays in receiving required regulatory approvals, or new legal requirements, may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. In particular, we face the following regulatory risks: - NEED TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS. We are regulated at the federal level by the FCC. We are required to file and maintain domestic and international tariffs containing the currently effective rates, terms and conditions of service for our long distance services. We are also required to maintain an FCC authorization in connection with our international services. The FCC has the authority to sanction us or revoke our authorization if we violate applicable law. - LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN OF COMPLIANCE WITH DIVERSE STATE REGULATIONS. Our telecommunications operations are also subject to state laws. Compliance with state regulations, challenges by third parties to our tariffs or complaints about our practices could cause us to incur substantial expenses. - DIFFICULTY PREDICTING THE IMPACT OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT. The Telecommunications Act has resulted in comprehensive changes in the regulatory environment for the telecommunications industry and has materially affected the competitive environment. We cannot predict how the FCC, state regulators, courts and the incumbent local exchange carriers will interpret and implement the relevant provisions of the Telecommunications Act. - CHANGES IN ACCESS CHARGES AND UNIVERSAL SERVICE. Changes in access charges and universal service will affect our cost of providing long distance service and our revenue from providing local services. Changes in the regulations requiring incumbent local exchange carriers to provide equal access for the origination and termination of calls by long distance subscribers, or in the regulations governing access charge rates or universal service contribution, could materially adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. - CHANGES IN PAYPHONE COMPENSATION. Changes in payphone compensation will affect our cost of providing long distance service. Long distance carriers must compensate payphone owners for each and every call completed from a payphone. Changes in the amount of compensation or claims by payphone owners for compensation could adversely affect our financial results. - UNCERTAINTY OF THE EVOLVING REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT. There is considerable uncertainty regarding numerous regulatory issues in the telecommunications industry, including the legal status of complaints filed at the FCC to enforce interconnection agreements and the applicability of existing regulations to new technologies such as Internet telephony. We cannot predict the impact of these and other regulatory developments on our business. 14 18 WE DEPEND ON OUR BILLING, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS Integrated management information and processing systems are vital to our growth and our ability to monitor costs, bill customers, process customer orders and operate efficiently. As we continue our transition to being an integrated telecommunications provider, the need for sophisticated billing and information systems will increase significantly. The cost of implementing these systems has been, and we expect will continue to be, substantial. In addition, any of the following developments could materially adversely affect our business condition, prospects or financial condition: - failure of vendors to deliver the required services or information in a timely and effective manner and at acceptable costs - our failure to adequately identify and integrate all of our information and processing needs - failure of our processing or information systems to perform as expected - our failure to upgrade systems as necessary and on a timely basis. WE DEPEND ON THE PROMPT COLLECTION OF CUSTOMER PAYMENTS AND FACE RISKS RELATING TO OUR CUSTOMERS' LIQUIDITY Because we generally render our services prior to receiving payment, we are dependent upon the prompt collection of payment of our customers' bills. In turn, we are dependent upon the creditworthiness of our customers and adequate revenue assurance programs. The failure of our customers to pay their bills in a timely manner or our failure to accurately assess the creditworthiness of our customers and implement adequate revenue assurance programs could materially adversely affect our financial results. WE MUST SECURE AND MAINTAIN PEERING ARRANGEMENTS WITH INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS We may need agreements, which are referred to as peering agreements, with Internet service providers in order to exchange traffic with these providers without being required to pay transmission costs. The basis on which the major Internet service providers make peering available or impose settlement charges is evolving. Recently, companies that have previously offered peering have reduced or eliminated peering relationships and are establishing new and more restrictive criteria. Furthermore, if increasing costs and other requirements associated with maintaining peering with the major national Internet service providers develop, we may have to comply with those additional requirements in order to maintain peering relationships. Failure to establish and maintain peering relationships would cause us to incur additional operating expenses or abandon certain elements of our strategy, which could materially adversely affect our business condition, prospects and financial condition. WE MAY BE UNABLE TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL AND OTHER EMPLOYEES Our success depends to a significant extent upon the abilities and continued efforts of our management team, particularly Robert T. Hale, Jr., our chief executive officer and president, Robert T. Hale, the chairman of our board, and other members of our senior management team. Only one of our executive officers is subject to an employment agreement providing for continuing employment. The loss of any of these individuals could materially adversely affect our business, prospects and financial condition. Our success will also depend upon our ability to hire and retain additional personnel, including technical and sales personnel. Competition for qualified personnel in the telecommunications industry is intense. Difficulty in hiring and retaining personnel could materially adversely affect our future operating performance. 15 19 WE ARE SUBJECT TO THE RISK OF SYSTEM FAILURE AND SECURITY RISKS Our success in attracting and retaining customers requires us to provide adequate network reliability, capacity and security. Our networks and the networks upon which we depend are subject to physical damage, power loss, capacity limitations, software defects, breaches of security by computer virus, break-ins or otherwise and other factors. Any of these occurrences may cause interruptions in service or reduced customer capacity. Interruptions in service, capacity limitations or security breaches could materially adversely affect future operating performance. EXISTING STOCKHOLDERS CAN EXERT CONSIDERABLE CONTROL OVER US Following this offering of common stock, approximately 75.3% of our common stock will be owned or voted by Robert T. Hale and Robert T. Hale, Jr., each an officer and director. Consequently, management will have considerable control over all of our affairs and will control the election of all members of our board of directors and the outcome of all corporate actions requiring stockholder approval. The interests of our management may differ from those of other stockholders, and non-management stockholders will have limited control over our affairs. PROVISIONS OF OUR CHARTER AND BY-LAWS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR STOCK PRICE Our certificate of incorporation and by-laws include provisions that may discourage, delay or impede a change in control of Network Plus or prevent the removal of incumbent directors, even if stockholders believe the action is in their best interests. Among other things, the certificate of incorporation provides for a classified board of directors. In addition, the certificate of incorporation allows the board of directors to issue shares of preferred stock and fix the rights, privileges and preferences of those shares without any further vote or action by the stockholders. The rights of the holders of common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any preferred stock that may be issued in the future, including the stock issuable in our concurrent convertible preferred stock offering. Any issuance of preferred stock could make it more difficult for a third-party to acquire control of Network Plus. In addition, our certificate of incorporation and by-laws limit the manner in which directors may be nominated by the stockholders and in which proposals may be made at stockholder meetings. We are also subject to Section 203 of the Delaware general corporation law, which could delay or prevent a change of control. To the extent that these provisions discourage takeover attempts, they could deprive stockholders of opportunities to realize takeover premiums for their shares or could depress the trading price of our common stock. OUR STOCK PRICE IS EXTREMELY VOLATILE, AND INVESTORS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESELL THEIR SHARES AT OR ABOVE THE INITIAL PRICE TO PUBLIC The price at which our common stock will trade after this offering is likely to be volatile and may fluctuate widely due to factors such as: - our historical and anticipated quarterly and annual operating results - variations between our actual results and analyst and investor expectations or changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts - announcements by us or others and developments affecting our business - investor perceptions of our company and comparable public companies - conditions and trends in the telecommunications and Internet industries. 16 20 In particular, the stock market has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations affecting the stock of telecommunications and Internet companies. Fluctuations may be unrelated or disproportionate to company performance. These fluctuations may result in a material decline in the trading price of our common stock. In addition, fluctuation in the market price of our common stock could result in shareholder lawsuits, which potentially could impact our business. THE SALE OF LARGE NUMBERS OF SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK COULD DEPRESS OUR STOCK PRICE 59,579,245 shares of common stock will be outstanding immediately following this offering. In addition, we have reserved shares of common stock for issuance upon conversion of the shares of convertible preferred stock being offered concurrently in a separate offering. We have also reserved shares of common stock for issuance upon exercise of stock options and warrants outstanding and shares for future issuances under our stock plans. Under the proposed terms of the convertible preferred stock we will have the option of paying dividends on, or any applicable redemption call price for, the convertible preferred stock in common stock rather than cash. All the 5,000,000 shares of common stock sold in this offering, plus any shares issued upon exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option in this offering or issued upon conversion of shares of convertible preferred stock, will be freely transferable, unless they are held by our "affiliates" as that term is used under the Securities Act. Of the 54,579,245 remaining shares of common stock that will be outstanding immediately following this offering, 9,569,736 shares will be transferable without restriction, 43,543,137 shares will be transferable pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act subject to lock-up agreements that generally prohibit any sales until 90 days following this offering without the consent of the underwriters, and 1,311,333 shares not subject to lock-up agreements will be transferable pursuant to Rule 144. In addition, holders of warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,405,333 shares of common stock may exercise those warrants and require us to register the underlying common stock at any time. The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of sales of a large number of shares of our common stock in the market, or the perception that such share sales could occur. These sales might also make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a price that we think is appropriate, or at all. WE DO NOT PLAN TO PAY DIVIDENDS IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND, AS A RESULT, STOCKHOLDERS WILL NEED TO SELL SHARES TO REALIZE ANY RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT. We have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our stock since our initial public offering in June 1999. We intend to retain any future earnings to finance the operation and expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Consequently, stockholders will need to sell shares of common stock in order to realize a return on their investment, if any. YOU WILL INCUR IMMEDIATE AND SUBSTANTIAL DILUTION The initial price to public is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our common stock. Therefore, you will incur immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $45.92 per share, based on an assumed initial price to public of $51.00 per share. You may incur additional dilution if holders of stock options, whether currently outstanding or subsequently granted, exercise their options, if warrantholders exercise their warrants to purchase common stock or if holders of any shares of convertible preferred stock convert their shares into common stock. See "Dilution" for more information. 17 21 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE INHERENTLY UNCERTAIN We make forward-looking statements in the "Prospectus Summary", "Risk Factors", "Use of Proceeds", "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Business" sections and elsewhere in this prospectus. For this purpose, any statement that is not a statement of historical fact is a forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, expectations, intentions and assumptions and other statements that are not historical facts. We generally intend the words "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "plan", "believe", "seek", "estimate" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those described in this "Risk Factors" section, our actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 18 22 USE OF PROCEEDS We estimate that our net proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock in this offering will be approximately $217.1 million, based on an assumed initial price to public of $51.00 per share and after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses. If the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, we expect our net proceeds to be approximately $253.5 million. We are concurrently offering 2,500,000 depositary shares, each representing 1/10 of a share of convertible preferred stock. We estimate that the net proceeds to us from the convertible preferred stock offering will be approximately $119.8 million, or $137.9 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in the convertible preferred stock offering. This offering of common stock is not conditioned on the closing of the convertible preferred stock offering. The principal purpose of this offering and our convertible preferred stock offering is to raise capital for our operations and anticipated continued expansion. We intend to use the net proceeds from both offerings to fund the development and expansion of our network, operational infrastructure and sales force and for working capital and general corporate purposes. We believe opportunities may exist to expand our current business through acquisitions. We may use a portion of the net proceeds for this purpose. We are not currently a party to any contracts or letters of intent with respect to any material acquisitions. Pending these uses, we expect to invest the net proceeds of these offerings in short-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade securities. Because of the number and variability of factors that may determine our use of the net proceeds of these offerings, management will retain a significant amount of discretion over the application of the net proceeds. The actual use of net proceeds could vary substantially from our current plans. PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK Our common stock began trading on the Nasdaq National Market on June 30, 1999, under the symbol "NPLS". The following table sets forth for the indicated periods the high and low sale prices of our common stock as reported by the Nasdaq National Market.
HIGH LOW ---- --- 1999 June 30, 1999.......................................... $30.56 $20.75 Third Quarter.......................................... $25.13 $12.00 Fourth Quarter......................................... $21.50 $10.00 2000 First Quarter (through March 16, 2000)................. $62.63 $19.13
On March 16, 2000, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq National Market was $51.00. 19 23 CAPITALIZATION The following table sets forth our capitalization as of December 31, 1999: - on an actual basis, - on a pro forma as adjusted basis to reflect the sale by us of 4,509,804 shares of common stock in this offering for aggregate net proceeds of $217.1 million, assuming an initial price to public of $51.00 per share and after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses of $12.9 million, and - on a pro forma as adjusted basis to reflect the sale by us of 4,509,804 shares of common stock in this offering for aggregate net proceeds of $217.1 million, assuming an initial price to public of $51.00 per share and after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses of $12.9 million, and the sale in the concurrent offering of 2,500,000 depositary shares, each representing 1/10 of a share of convertible preferred stock, for aggregate net proceeds of $119.8 million, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses of $5.3 million. This table should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.
DECEMBER 31, 1999 ------------------------------------------------ PRO FORMA AS ADJUSTED FOR THIS OFFERING AND THE PRO FORMA AS CONVERTIBLE ADJUSTED FOR THIS PREFERRED STOCK ACTUAL OFFERING OFFERING ------ ----------------- ----------------- (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) Cash and cash equivalents......................... $ 43,031 $260,178 $379,928 ======== ======== ======== Debt: Current portion of long-term debt and capital lease obligations............................ $ 11,346 $ 11,346 $ 11,346 ======== ======== ======== Long-term debt and capital lease obligations, net of current portion....................... $ 28,188 $ 28,188 $ 28,188 Long-term note payable to stockholder........... 2,083 2,083 2,083 Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 1,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding, actual and pro forma as adjusted for this offering; redeemable % series A cumulative convertible preferred stock, 500,000 shares authorized, 250,000 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted for this offering and the convertible preferred stock offering........................................ -- -- 119,750 Stockholders' equity (deficit): Common stock, $.01 par value, 150,000,000 shares authorized; 54,795,213 shares issued and outstanding, actual; 59,305,017 shares issued and outstanding, pro forma as adjusted....... 548 593 593
20 24
DECEMBER 31, 1999 ------------------------------------------------ PRO FORMA AS ADJUSTED FOR THIS OFFERING AND THE PRO FORMA AS CONVERTIBLE ADJUSTED FOR THIS PREFERRED STOCK ACTUAL OFFERING OFFERING ------ ----------------- ----------------- (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) Additional paid-in capital...................... $138,767 $355,869 $355,869 Stock subscription receivable................... (155) (155) (155) Warrants........................................ 4,405 4,405 4,405 Other comprehensive income...................... 833 833 833 Accumulated deficit............................. (55,117) (55,117) (55,117) -------- -------- -------- Total stockholders' equity...................... 89,281 306,428 306,428 -------- -------- -------- Total capitalization......................... $119,552 $336,699 $456,449 ======== ======== ========
21 25 DILUTION Our net tangible book value at December 31, 1999 was approximately $83.9 million, or $1.53 per share of common stock. Net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total tangible assets, meaning total assets less the amount of our intangible assets and total liabilities, divided by the number of shares of common stock outstanding. After giving effect to our sale of 4,509,804 shares of common stock in this offering at an assumed initial price to public of $51.00 per share, deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses of $12.9 million and applying our estimated net proceeds, our pro forma net tangible book value as of December 31, 1999 would have been approximately $301.1 million, or $5.08 per share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $3.55 per share to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $45.92 per share to new investors purchasing shares in this offering. The following table illustrates this per share dilution:
Assumed initial price to the public per share............. $51.00 ------ Net tangible book value per share before this offering............................................. $1.53 Increase per share attributable to this offering........ 3.55 ----- Pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering................................................ 5.08 ------ Pro forma dilution per share to new investors............. $45.92 ======
The following table summarizes, on the pro forma basis discussed above, as of December 31, 1999, the total number of shares of common stock purchased from Network Plus, the total consideration paid and the average price per share paid to us by our existing stockholders and by the new investors in this offering:
SHARES PURCHASED TOTAL CONSIDERATION AVERAGE -------------------- ---------------------- PRICE PER NUMBER PERCENT AMOUNT PERCENT SHARE ------ ------- ------ ------- --------- Existing stockholders........ 54,795,213 92.4% $150,107,100 39.5% $ 2.74 New investors................ 4,509,804 7.6% $230,000,000 60.5% $51.00 ---------- ----- ------------ ----- Total................... 59,305,017 100.0% $380,107,100 100.0% ========== ===== ============ =====
The table above assumes no exercise of outstanding stock options and excludes shares of common stock subject to options outstanding under our stock plans as of December 31, 1999 and 7,044,067 additional shares of common stock available for issuance under those plans. The table above also assumes no exercise of the outstanding warrants to purchase 1,416,666 shares of our common stock. In addition, the tables above do not reflect the concurrent convertible preferred stock offering or the conversion of depositary shares or shares of convertible preferred stock into common stock. 22 26 SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA The following tables present our summary consolidated financial data for the years ended December 31, 1995 through 1999. The statement of operations, cash flows and balance sheet data for the years ending December 31, 1995 through 1999 have been derived from financial statements, including those included elsewhere in this prospectus. For periods prior to our formation in July 1998, the financial data reflect the financial statements of Network Plus, Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary, as it was our sole operating entity. We believe that EBITDA is a useful financial performance measure for comparing companies in the telecommunications industry in terms of operating performance, leverage and ability to incur and service debt. EBITDA provides an alternative measure of cash flow from operations. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, net income (loss), net cash provided by (used for) operating activities or other consolidated income or cash flow statement data presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or as a measure of profitability or liquidity. EBITDA does not reflect working capital changes and includes non-interest components of other income (expense), most of which are non-recurring. These items may be considered significant components in understanding and assessing our results of operations and cash flows. EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts reported by other companies. The pro forma balance sheet data as adjusted for this offering reflect the sale by us of 4,509,804 shares of common stock in this offering for aggregate net proceeds of $217.1 million, assuming an initial price to public of $51.00 per share and after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses of $12.9 million. The pro forma balance sheet data as adjusted for this offering and the convertible preferred stock offering reflect the sale by us of 4,509,804 shares of common stock in this offering for aggregate net proceeds of $217.1 million, assuming an initial price to the public of $51.00 per share and after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses of $12.9 million, and the sale in the concurrent offering of 2,500,000 depositary shares, each representing 1/10 of a share of convertible preferred stock, for aggregate net proceeds of $119.8 million, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses of $5.3 million. Long-term obligations consist of long-term debt and capital lease obligations, long-term note payable to stockholder long-term obligations and other long-term liabilities.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------------------- 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA: Revenues.................................... $49,024 $75,135 $98,209 $105,545 $152,520 Costs of services........................... 35,065 57,208 78,106 78,443 122,664 Selling, general and administrative......... 17,697 19,230 25,704 29,426 51,709 Depreciation and amortization............... 276 533 994 2,037 8,564 ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- Operating loss.............................. (4,014) (1,836) (6,595) (4,361) (30,417) Interest income............................. 202 95 86 395 1,896 Interest expense............................ (40) (313) (557) (1,474) (3,804) Other income, net........................... 7,859 3,529 3,917 151 432 Provision for income taxes.................. (312) (60) (42) 906 (961) ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- Net income (loss)........................... $ 3,695 $ 1,415 $(3,191) $ (4,383) $(32,854) ======= ======= ======= ======== ======== Preferred stock dividends and accretion..... -- -- -- (2,005) (10,725) Net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders.............................. $ 3,695 $ 1,415 $(3,191) $ (6,388) $(43,579) ======= ======= ======= ======== ========
23 27
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------------------- 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) Net income (loss) per share applicable to common stockholders -- basic and diluted.. $ 0.08 $ 0.03 $ (0.07) $ (0.14) $ (0.87) ======= ======= ======= ======== ======== Weighted average shares outstanding -- basic and diluted............................... 45,333 45,333 45,333 45,333 49,969 ======= ======= ======= ======== ========
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ---------------------------------------------------- 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (IN THOUSANDS) OTHER FINANCIAL DATA: Capital expenditures..................... $ 860 $2,135 $ 3,363 $ 10,919 $ 94,264 EBITDA................................... 4,121 2,226 (1,684) (2,173) (21,421) Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities............................. 2,463 (322) 184 (10,768) 3,702 Net cash provided by (used for) investing activities............................. (184) (644) (6,924) (1,402) (51,221) Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities............................. (1,903) 1,596 6,004 22,800 78,353
DECEMBER 31, 1999 ------------------------------------------ PRO FORMA AS ADJUSTED FOR THIS PRO FORMA OFFERING AND THE DECEMBER 31, AS ADJUSTED CONVERTIBLE -------------------------------------- FOR THIS PREFERRED STOCK 1995 1996 1997 1998 ACTUAL OFFERING OFFERING ---- ---- ---- ---- ------ ----------- ---------------- (IN THOUSANDS) BALANCE SHEET DATA: Cash and cash equivalents... $ 1,673 $ 2,303 $ 1,567 $ 12,197 $ 43,031 $260,178 $379,928 Current assets.............. 16,441 19,771 28,521 31,050 76,292 293,439 413,189 Property and equipment, net....................... 1,507 3,075 6,957 15,822 101,944 101,944 101,944 Working capital (deficit)... 2,369 1,621 (3,128) 16,168 9,872 227,019 346,769 Total assets................ 18,005 22,915 35,581 48,868 185,972 403,119 522,869 Long-term obligations....... 11 664 3,623 5,072 30,271 30,271 30,271 Redeemable series A preferred stock........... -- -- -- 35,146 -- -- -- Redeemable % series A cumulative convertible preferred stock........... -- -- -- -- -- -- 119,750 Total stockholders' equity (deficit)................. 3,922 4,101 309 (6,723) 89,281 306,428 306,428
24 28 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, the related notes and the other financial information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. In addition to historical information, the following discussion and other parts of this prospectus contain forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by such forward-looking information due to competitive factors, risks associated with our expansion plans and other factors discussed under "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this prospectus. For periods prior to our formation in July 1998, the financial data reflect the financial statements of Network Plus, Inc., our wholly owned subsidiary, as it was our sole operating entity. OVERVIEW We began operations in 1990 as an aggregator of AT&T long distance services, reselling AT&T-branded products primarily to small and medium-sized businesses. While we were an aggregator of AT&T services, our customers were billed and serviced by AT&T. We derived profits through 1993 by obtaining volume discounts on bulk purchases of long distance services from AT&T and passing along a portion of these discounts to our customers. In 1993, we entered into an agreement with Sprint Communications and in 1994 began to resell Sprint telecommunications services. As a reseller of Sprint, we began provisioning, servicing and billing customers under the Network Plus name. Volume discounts offered by Sprint enabled us to offer low-cost, high-quality, long distance services at favorable rates to our customers. In addition, by servicing our own customers, we were better able to meet their needs and control costs. In mid-1996, in addition to provisioning customer traffic on Sprint's network, we initiated the deployment of our long distance network. In so doing, we began operating as a switch-based provider, switching customer traffic on our own facilities, which we refer to as on-net traffic. Since 1997, we have also leveraged our long distance network to sell wholesale services for international traffic. Our decision to deploy switches was based on economic efficiencies resulting from customer concentration and traffic patterns. Installation of telephone switches was completed in Quincy, Massachusetts in June 1996, Orlando in November 1997 and Chicago and Los Angeles in March 1999. In mid-1998, we began offering off-net local exchange services. In mid-1999, we began the deployment of an integrated local, VoDSL and DSL network, including customer premise equipment, unbundled network elements, co-locations located in the central offices of incumbent local exchange carriers as well as carrier access hotels, class 5 switches, gateway and long distance switches, digital subscriber line access multiplexers, or DSLAMs, Internet protocol-based routers and switches, application servers, asynchronous transfer mode, or ATM, switches, synchronous optical network, or SONET, fiber rings and dense wave division multiplexing, or DWDM, optronics for high capacity and high density transmission. Installation of local telephone switches was completed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in May 1999, New York City in August 1999, Miami in December 1999 and Atlanta in March 2000. In mid-1998, we entered into two 20-year indefeasible right-of-use agreements for approximately 625 route miles of fiber optic cable in the northeast, representing 1,830 digital fiber miles. Deployed in a redundant SONET topology, this fiber optic cable acts as the backbone connecting our northeast switching nodes, e.Commerce data centers and co-location footprint. Additionally, this fiber connects major markets throughout New England and the New York metropolitan area including New York City, White Plains, Stamford, New Haven, New London, Providence, Boston, Nashua, Springfield and Worcester. 25 29 In late-1999, we entered into a 20-year indefeasible right-of-use agreement for approximately 2,200 route miles of fiber optic cable, representing 9,106 digital fiber miles. When fully deployed and activated in a redundant SONET topology, this fiber optic cable will act as the backbone connecting our southeast switching nodes, e.Commerce data centers and co-location footprint. Additionally, this fiber will connect major markets throughout the southeast including Atlanta, Marietta, Roswell, Norcross, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Pompano Beach, Boyton Beach, Delray Beach and Deerfield Beach. In 1999, through our acquisition of InfoHouse, we began offering both web and managed server hosting services. We have deployed 27,000 square feet of carrier class e.Commerce data center space and 20,000 square feet of e.Commerce "edge" data center space located in incumbent local exchange carriers' central offices. By year-end 2000 we expect to expand to 116,000 square feet of carrier class space in six geographically diverse e.Commerce data centers and to 41,000 square feet of "edge" data center space. Our strategic initiatives include expanding our local, VoDSL, DSL and e.Commerce data center network and migrating traffic onto that network. These new services and our network expansion require significant investment in network infrastructure and personnel, including expenses to hire and train new personnel. We intend to continue to add services to maintain and enhance our position as an integrated telecommunications provider and enabler of broadband VoDSL and e.Commerce hosting services to small and medium-sized businesses. We believe the expansion of our service offerings will improve customer retention and market share, while simultaneously reducing overall transmission costs and improving margins. We sell our services through a direct sales force, an agency sales force and an international wholesale sales force. As we expand our network facilities, we intend to increase our direct sales force to approximately 400 members by year-end 2000. The investment in the sales force, the expansion of the existing network and the addition of new and enhanced services will require significant expenditures. We will incur a substantial portion of these expenses before we realize related revenues. As we undertake these expansion plans and our revenue base grows, we anticipate future periods of operating losses and negative cash flows from operations. COMPARISON OF 1998 AND 1999 REVENUES. Revenues increased $47.0 million, or 45%, to $152.5 million in 1999 from $105.5 million in 1998. The increase was primarily due to a 35% increase in long distance revenues, which represent 89% of total revenues for the period, resulting from services to new customers and increased revenues from existing customers. Revenues generated from international wholesale traffic which results from excess capacity on our long distance switches represent 70% of the increase in revenues for the period. The resale of local service contributed $13.6 million in revenues for the period, representing 27% of the increase in total revenues for the period. We operate in a competitive market for long distance service, which has experienced price erosion of the average rate per minute from the prior year. We expect this price trend to continue in the future. COSTS OF SERVICES. Costs of services increased $44.2 million, or 56%, to $122.7 million in 1999 from $78.4 million in 1998. As a percentage of revenues, costs of services increased to 80% for 1999 from 74% for 1998. The increase was primarily due to the increased volume of international wholesale traffic, which has higher origination, transport and termination costs as compared to other long distance traffic. In addition, we maintain rate agreements with various local and long distance carriers for access, termination and transport which are continually reviewed and negotiated based on changes in volume and types of traffic. These changes to rate agreements may result in credits for costs associated with prior traffic or reductions in current costs based on the mix of traffic and rate. Cost of services is currently comprised exclusively of carrier costs to originate, transport and terminate traffic for our network switches. As the 26 30 deployment of the local network continues and the facilities become operational the costs associated with the co-location facilities including rent and access charges will be reflected in cost of services. These costs are generally fixed and will result in fluctuations in margin in the future as a result of costs incurred for capacity which is not immediately utilized in these co-locations. SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $22.3 million, or 76%, to $51.7 million for 1999 from $29.4 million for 1998. As a percentage of revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 34% for 1999 from 28% for 1998. We employed 577 people at December 31, 1999, compared with 403 at December 31, 1998, resulting in a 63% increase in payroll and related expenses. The sales organization increased by 20 people for the period, and we added 83 people to support the build-out of our local network. Other selling, general and administrative expenses increased as a result of our growth in revenues and the expansion of the infrastructure to support future growth. Costs associated with the co-location facilities including rent and access charges for facilities which are not fully deployed are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. When the facilities become operational the related costs are reclassified to costs of services. To date these costs have been immaterial. DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION. Depreciation and amortization increased $6.5 million, or 320%, to $8.6 million 1999 from $2.0 million for 1998. The increase is primarily due to additional local network facilities, fiber, computer and other telecommunications and data services equipment to support our network expansion. In particular the Cambridge, Massachusetts and New York City local switch equipment, the northeast fiber ring and the Los Angeles and Chicago long distance switches, which were put into service during 1999, began depreciating. We expect the depreciation and amortization expense to increase as we bring additional local network facilities on-line and as we make additional investments in our network and operational infrastructure. INTEREST. Interest expense net of interest income increased $829,000, or 77%, to $1.9 million for 1999 from $1.1 million for 1998. The increase is primarily due to interest paid on our capital lease obligations and outstanding balances on the line of credit. We expect interest expense to increase as a result of the continued financing of the local network buildout. NET LOSS AND NET INCOME (LOSS) APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS. As a result of the increases in revenues, operating expenses, depreciation and amortization, and net interest expense noted above, we incurred a net loss of $32.9 million for 1999 compared to $4.4 million in 1998. The effect of the preferred stock dividends of $10.7 million in 1999 and $2.0 million in 1998 resulted in net loss applicable to common stockholders in the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 of $43.6 million and $6.4 million, respectively. EBITDA. EBITDA was negative $21.4 million for the year ended December 31, 1999 compared to negative $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 1998. This decline was due to the changes in revenues, network development, operations and selling, general and administrative expenses due to the rapid implementation of our local network and infrastructure to support future growth. COMPARISON OF 1997 AND 1998 REVENUES. Revenues increased 8% to $105.5 million for 1998 from $98.2 million for 1997. Revenues for 1997 included approximately $12.6 million from two customers with whom we did not do business in 1998. Exclusive of the revenue from these two former customers, revenue increased by 23% from period to period. The components of revenues in each year reflect our initiative to become a network-based services provider. In 1998, the revenue amounts also reflect 27 31 the impact on sales of diverting financial, management and training resources towards the introduction of our local services. In 1998, on-net revenues and on-net billed customer minutes were 63% and 54%, respectively, of total revenues and minutes, as compared to 40% and 21%, respectively, in 1997. COSTS OF SERVICES. Costs of services for 1998 totaled $78.4 million, an increase of 0.4% from the $78.1 million incurred in the corresponding period in 1997. As a percentage of revenues, costs of services decreased to 74% in 1998 from 80% in 1997, reflecting the increase in on-net traffic, the reduced costs of carrying off-net traffic and a reduction in costs of originating and terminating traffic. Costs of originating and terminating traffic have declined in part as a result of provisions mandated by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Finally, increased competition in the long distance telecommunications industry resulted in slightly lower pricing and margins in 1998, as compared to 1997. SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 15% to $29.4 million for 1998 from $25.7 million for 1997, and increased as a percentage of revenues to 28% from 26% for the corresponding periods. Within selling, general and administrative expenses, the largest component is personnel and related expenses, which combines all wages and salaries, along with commissions earned by our sales force. These expenses increased by 26% from 1997 to 1998, reflecting an increase in the number of employees. In April 1998, we commenced our initiative to expand our 96-member sales force, and as of December 31, 1998 we had approximately doubled the size of the sales force. Other expenses within selling, general and administrative expenses increased as a result of our ongoing growth. DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION. Depreciation and amortization increased to $2.0 million for 1998 from $1.0 million for 1997, reflecting our network build out and capital additions for our internal computer systems. INTEREST. Interest expense, net of interest income, increased to $1.1 million for 1998 from $471,000 for 1997. This increase resulted from interest on capital leases entered into in the latter half of 1997 to finance network additions and internal computer systems, interest incurred related to notes payable entered into in December 1997, and additional interest related to higher levels of revolving credit borrowings in 1998, offset somewhat by interest earned on investments during the fourth quarter of 1998. OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE). Other income totaled $151,000 in 1998 and $3.9 million in 1997. The $3.9 million in 1997 principally related to warrants. In 1995, we transferred certain customers to whom we provided long distance and toll-free telecommunications services pursuant to certain AT&T resale contracts to Tel-Save Holdings. Concurrent with the transfer, our obligations to AT&T under the AT&T contracts were terminated without obligation or liability on our part. Prior to the time of this transaction, there was no value recorded in the financial statements related to these customers. In consideration of the transfer, we received four separate warrants to purchase a total of 1,365,000 shares of Tel-Save common stock at an exercise price of $4.67 per share (after reflecting stock splits through December 31, 1997). Each warrant vested separately based on the retail revenue generated by Tel-Save with respect to the transferred customers, which had to exceed specified levels for three consecutive months. The warrants expired at various dates through 1997. In addition to the warrant agreements, we were subject to a voting rights agreement whereby Tel-Save retained the right to hold and vote the stock until we informed Tel-Save that we wished to sell the stock. Upon receiving such notice from us, Tel-Save was obligated either to purchase the stock at the price offered by us or, alternatively, to deliver the common stock certificates to us. In 1996, we met the vesting requirements with respect to the first three warrants. We met the vesting requirement for the first warrant at the end of the third quarter of 1996, entitling us to 28 32 purchase 600,000 shares of Tel-Save common stock. We exercised this warrant and sold the related common stock, which had previously been registered with the SEC, resulting in net proceeds and other income of $1.4 million in the third quarter of 1996. We met the vesting requirements with respect to the second and third warrants in November 1996. The second warrant entitled us to purchase 300,000 shares of Tel-Save common stock prior to January 8, 1997. The third warrant entitled us to purchase 150,000 shares of Tel-Save common stock prior to June 10, 1997. We valued warrants upon vesting at approximately $2.1 million using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The significant assumptions in the valuation model were an interest rate of 5%, warrant lives reflecting the respective expiration periods, expected volatility of 50% and no dividend rate. At December 31, 1996, we had not yet exercised the warrants and we classified them as investments. The value of the warrants at December 31, 1996 was the fair value recorded by us at the date of vesting. We recognized other income of $2.1 million related to the second and third warrants in the fourth quarter of 1996. On January 6, 1997, we exercised the second and third warrants and paid Tel- Save the total exercise price of $2.1 million. We met the vesting requirement with respect to the fourth warrant in June 1997, entitling us to purchase 315,000 shares of Tel-Save common stock. We valued the fourth warrant upon vesting at approximately $3.4 million using Black-Scholes valuation model. The significant assumptions in the valuation model were an interest rate of 5.1%, a warrant life reflecting the June 1997 expiration period, expected volatility of 50% and no dividend rate. On June 4, 1997, we exercised the warrant, paid Tel-Save the exercise price of $1.5 million and recorded other income of approximately $3.4 million. On November 7, 1997, Tel-Save filed a registration statement with the SEC, listing us as a selling shareholder with respect to 765,000 shares (the total shares purchased by us, after reflecting stock splits, under the second, third and fourth warrants). Following the registration of the common stock, we intended to immediately sell the shares of Tel-Save, which had a market value of approximately $16.6 million at that date, as we had done previously with respect to the shares acquired upon exercise of the first warrant. Accordingly, all activities necessary for the transfer of the certificates were completed, and we issued a demand to Tel-Save for the common stock certificates or, alternatively, requested that Tel-Save purchase the shares. Throughout the remainder of the fourth quarter, Tel-Save refused to deliver the common stock certificates to us. In order to take physical possession of the Tel-Save common stock certificates, we filed a lawsuit against Tel-Save in January 1998. On June 24, 1998, the parties signed a settlement agreement pursuant to which we received a total of $9.5 million from Tel-Save. As part of the settlement, all 765,000 shares were either returned to or repurchased by Tel-Save. Following the June 1998 settlement, there are no continuing obligations between the parties. Accordingly, we valued our investment in Tel-Save at December 31, 1997 at the final negotiated payment. This settlement resulted in approximately $422,000 of other income, recorded in the fourth quarter of 1997. INCOME TAXES. In 1998, net income tax credits of $906,000 were recorded. In September 1998, we converted from an S corporation to a C corporation, and a $480,000 provision for deferred taxes was recorded to reflect the change in status. Offsetting this provision were tax credits recorded at statutory rates for both federal and state taxes. Prior to conversion, income taxes were provided solely for state tax purposes. State income taxes in 1997 totaled $42,000. NET INCOME (LOSS) AND NET INCOME (LOSS) APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS. As a result of the increases in revenues, operating expenses, depreciation and amortization, and net interest expense noted above, we incurred a net loss of $4.4 million in 1998, compared to a net loss of $3.2 million in 1997. 29 33 In 1998, we accrued dividends to be paid in the form of additional shares of series A preferred stock totaling $1.8 million and recorded $191,000 of accretion of offering expenses and discount on this preferred stock. The resulting net loss applicable to common stockholders in 1998 was $6.4 million. EBITDA. EBITDA decreased to negative $2.2 million for 1998 from negative $1.7 million for 1997. This decline was due to income in 1997 related to the Tel-Save warrants, offset by increases resulting from changes in revenues, network development, operations and selling, general and administrative expenses discussed above. SEGMENT RESULTS We have two reportable segments which management operates as distinct market segments delineated by the customer base to whom services are provided. The two customer base segments are: retail telecommunications and data services, and wholesale telecommunications. We measure and evaluate our reportable segments based on revenues and costs of services. The retail telecommunications and data services segment provides local and long distance services, including voice and data transport, and enhanced and custom calling features. In this segment, we focus on selling these services to end user customers, such as businesses and residences. The wholesale telecommunications segment provides international transport and termination services. We focus this segment on selling these services to large telecommunication carriers who utilize our excess capacity to provide telephone voice services to their customers.
1997 1998 1999 ------- -------- -------- (UNAUDITED) (IN THOUSANDS) Revenues: Retail telecommunications and data services......... $95,338 $ 75,506 $ 89,758 Wholesale telecommunications........................ 2,871 30,039 62,762 ------- -------- -------- Total revenues........................................ $98,209 $105,545 $152,520 ======= ======== ======== Costs of services: Retail telecommunications and data services......... $75,534 $ 51,371 $ 65,255 Wholesale telecommunications........................ 2,572 27,072 57,409 ------- -------- -------- Total costs of services............................... $78,106 $ 78,443 $122,664 ======= ======== ========
30 34 QUARTERLY RESULTS The following tables set forth certain unaudited financial data for each of the quarters in 1998 and 1999. This information has been derived from unaudited financial statements that, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of this quarterly information. The operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for any future period. Income taxes are included in other income (expense), net.
QUARTER ENDED ---------------------------------------------- MARCH 31, JUNE 30, SEPT. 30, DEC. 31, 1998 1998 1998 1998 --------- -------- --------- -------- (UNAUDITED) (IN THOUSANDS) Revenues...................................... $25,202 $27,103 $ 27,283 $ 25,957 Costs of services............................. 18,836 19,992 20,406 19,209 Selling, general and administrative........... 5,544 6,391 8,164 9,327 Depreciation and amortization................. 468 483 498 588 ------- ------- -------- -------- Operating income (loss)....................... 354 237 (1,785) (3,167) Interest income............................... 3 9 50 333 Interest expense.............................. (285) (293) (203) (693) Other income (expense), net................... 12 (109) (264) 1,418 ------- ------- -------- -------- Net income (loss)............................. $ 84 $ (156) $ (2,202) $ (2,109) ======= ======= ======== ========
QUARTER ENDED ---------------------------------------------- MARCH 31, JUNE 30, SEPT. 30, DEC. 31, 1999 1999 1999 1999 --------- -------- --------- -------- (UNAUDITED) (IN THOUSANDS) Revenues...................................... $33,581 $36,313 $ 39,381 $ 43,244 Costs of services............................. 26,546 29,771 31,851 34,496 Selling, general and administrative........... 10,716 12,404 12,983 15,606 Depreciation and amortization................. 984 1,844 2,386 3,349 ------- ------- -------- -------- Operating income (loss)....................... (4,665) (7,706) (7,839) (10,207) Interest income............................... 141 21 929 805 Interest expense.............................. (521) (795) (987) (1,502) Other income (expense), net................... 274 (21) (2,608) 231 ------- ------- -------- -------- Net income (loss)............................. $(4,771) $(8,459) $(10,505) $(10,673) ======= ======= ======== ========
We could experience quarterly variations in revenues and operating income (loss) as a result of many factors, including: - the introduction of new services by us - actions taken by competitors - the timing of the acquisition or loss of customers - the timing of additional selling, general and administrative expenses incurred to acquire and support new or additional business - changes in our revenue mix among our various service offerings. Many of the factors that could cause such variations are outside of our control. We plan our operating expenditures based on revenue forecasts, and a revenue shortfall below such forecasts in any quarter could adversely affect our operating results for that quarter. 31 35 LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES Prior to 1994, we operated solely as an aggregator of AT&T services and funded our growth principally with cash provided from operating activities. In 1994, we became a reseller of Sprint services, requiring additional funding to support the development of an infrastructure to support provisioning, billing and servicing of customers billed under the Network Plus name. We financed cash requirements in 1994 and 1995 primarily by cash credits received in 1993 and 1994 under AT&T promotions and by transfers of AT&T contracts and customers to other telecommunications companies in 1995. In 1996, we further expanded our infrastructure and began to deploy our own network. To support 1996 cash requirements, we entered into a $7.0 million revolving credit agreement and $1.0 million term loan with a bank to allow for our initial purchase of network facilities, and entered into a financing transaction involving the sale and lease back of the Quincy switch. Cash flows in 1996 were supplemented by the exercise of Tel-Save warrants and the subsequent sale of the underlying common stock. In 1997, we continued to expand our network and infrastructure. In addition, we expended $3.6 million to exercise additional warrants for common stock of Tel-Save. We met cash needs in 1997 through the addition of capital leases, including a financing transaction involving the sale and lease back of our Quincy, Massachusetts and Orlando switches, the use of a revolving credit facility, the refinancing of a portion of our accounts payable to Sprint into a short-term promissory note and receipt of loans totaling $1.8 million from our stockholders. In May 1998, we entered into a $23.0 million revolving credit agreement with Fleet National Bank. Borrowings under this line were used to repay the Sprint note and the stockholder loan. In September 1998, we issued 40,000 units consisting of shares of 13.5% series A cumulative preferred stock due 2009 and warrants, resulting in net proceeds to us of $37.5 million. The proceeds were used to repay all amounts owed under the May 1998 Fleet revolving credit facility, and the excess funds were invested in cash equivalents. In October 1998, we entered into a loan agreement with Goldman Sachs Credit Partners, an affiliate of Goldman Sachs, and Fleet. This senior credit facility has a term of 18 months and is secured by our assets. Up to $60.0 million is available based upon formulas using accounts receivables and collections. Interest is payable monthly at one percent above the prime rate. This facility requires us, among other things, to meet minimum levels of revenues and EBITDA and debt to revenue ratios. As of December 31, 1999, there were no borrowings under this line. In December 1998, we received an $81.0 million commitment for lease financing from Comdisco for telecommunications and computer equipment, fiber, hardware and software to be acquired through December 31, 1999. Depending on the type of property, the lease term will either be for three or five years. All of the leases to be entered into will contain purchase options upon conclusion of the lease term. We entered into leases as of December 31, 1999 totaling $41.9 million, which included $4.0 million for the refinancing of previously existing leases and $4.5 million received by the Company from the Lessor for the sale and leaseback of equipment acquired by the Company. Prior to the 1998 series A preferred stock and warrant offering, we were an S corporation and, as a result, did not pay corporate federal income taxes. Instead, our stockholders were liable for their share of taxes in respect of our taxable income. We had similar tax status in certain states that recognize S corporation status. Accordingly, in each year prior to 1998 and for the 1998 period prior to September 1998 we distributed to our stockholders cash in amounts sufficient to enable them to pay federal and state taxes on the portion of our income attributable to the stockholders plus related tax preparation expenses. For the years ended December 31, 1997, 1998, and 1999, we distributed an aggregate of $601,000, $5.0 million and $3,000, respectively, to our stockholders, which amounts include tax distributions. 32 36 In 1999, we further expanded our network, operational infrastructure and sales force. We met cash needs in 1999 through the addition of capital leases, the use of our revolving credit facility and the net proceeds of $137 million generated from the closing of our initial public offering of common stock in July 1999. Additionally, we used approximately $46 million of the proceeds from the initial public offering of our common stock to redeem our 13.5% series A cumulative preferred stock due 2009 and $10 million to repay amounts owed under our credit facility. In March 2000, we extended our Comdisco capital lease facility to make an additional $29 million available for continued network expansion through December 31, 2000. We have also amended our existing $60 million senior credit facility to extend the maturity date until December 31, 2000. On March 8, 2000, we received a commitment from Goldman Sachs Credit Partners to provide and syndicate new senior secured credit facilities in a total principal amount of up to $225 million. The senior secured credit facilities will consist of: - a revolving credit facility in the principal amount of up to $150 million, and - a delayed draw term loan facility in the principal amount of up to $75 million. These senior secured credit facilities will replace our existing $60 million senior credit facility and will be used for working capital purposes and the purchase and acquisition of telecommunications assets. We expect these facilities to become available on or about June 1, 2000. Concurrently with this offering of common stock, we expect to offer 2,500,000 depositary shares, each representing 1/10 of a share of % series A cumulative convertible preferred stock, for an aggregate offering price of $125 million. The shares of convertible preferred stock are convertible into shares of our common stock. This offering of common stock is not contingent upon the closing of the offering of the depositary shares. The offering of convertible preferred stock is contingent upon the closing of this offering of common stock. Please see "Description of Capital Stock -- % Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock" beginning on page 62 to read about the terms of the convertible preferred stock. Total assets were $186.0 million at December 31, 1999 compared to $48.9 million at December 31, 1998. Cash and cash equivalents were $43.0 million at December 31, 1999 compared to $12.2 million at December 31, 1998. Net cash provided by operating activities was $3.7 million during 1999 as compared to net cash used in operating activities of $10.8 million during 1998. Capital expenditures were $94.3 million during 1999 and $10.9 million during 1998. Our strategic initiatives include the deployment of additional local and long distance switches, the co-location of network equipment, the offering of new services such as local exchange and data services, the expansion of our sales force and other personnel, and significant investment in our information technology systems. These initiatives will require a substantial amount of capital for the installation of network switches and related equipment, fiber, personnel additions and funding of operating losses and working capital. Our ability to meet our projected growth will require substantial cash resources. The anticipated expansion of our network infrastructure through year-end 2000 and in 2001, including the addition of co-locations, switches, e.Commerce data centers and other network elements and our anticipated funding of negative cash flow from operating activities through year-end 2000 and in 2001, will require approximately $475 million of capital. Furthermore, if we acquire other businesses, we may require additional financing. We expect the proceeds of this offering of common stock, the proceeds of the concurrent convertible preferred stock offering, our current and proposed financing arrangements and cash flow from operations to provide sufficient capital to fully fund our business plan. 33 37 RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARD In June 1998, Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 133, or SFAS 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities", was issued, which establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. We are required to adopt SFAS 133, as amended by SFAS 137, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities -- Deferral of the Effective Dates of FASB Statement 133," on a prospective basis for interim periods and fiscal years beginning January 1, 2001. Had we implemented SFAS 133 in the current period, financial position and results of operations would not have been affected. 34 38 BUSINESS OVERVIEW Network Plus is a network-based communications provider offering a comprehensive suite of broadband data, telecommunications and e.Commerce hosting services. Our services include local and long distance voice, high-speed data, Internet and web and managed server hosting. We currently utilize digital subscriber line, or DSL, technology to provide high-speed data and Internet access and are a pioneer in providing local and long distance services using voice over digital subscriber line, or VoDSL, technology. We currently serve small and medium-sized business customers in the northeastern and southeastern regions of the United States. During 2000, we intend to expand into the mid-Atlantic region to establish a contiguous network footprint from New England to Florida. As of December 31, 1999, we served approximately 45,000 customers representing in excess of 66,000 local access lines and 225,000 long distance access lines. We had total revenue of $152.5 million in 1999. We believe that our comprehensive suite of communications services and the continuing expansion of our network enable us to acquire new customers, cross-sell additional services to existing customers and improve our overall margins. As of March 1, 2000, we: - Provide VoDSL, DSL and local exchange services directly to our customers by co-locating our network equipment in the central offices of incumbent local exchange carriers. As of March 1, 2000, we had 197 co-locations accepted and under construction, of which 42 are operational. We intend to expand our co-location network to approximately 220 co-locations in the northeastern and southeastern regions of the United States by year-end 2000 and to approximately 500 co-locations in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic and southeastern regions of the United States by year-end 2001. - Sell our services through a 273 person direct sales force located in 12 sales offices throughout the northeastern and southeastern regions of the United States. To support our anticipated growth, we expect to expand our sales force to approximately 400 members by year-end 2000 located in 21 sales offices in the northeastern, mid-Atlantic and southeastern regions of the United States. We plan to further expand our sales force to 500 members by year-end 2001. - Operate Lucent 5ESS local exchange switches in Cambridge, Massachusetts, New York City, Atlanta and Miami, Nortel international and interexchange switches in Los Angeles and Quincy, Massachusetts and Nortel interexchange switches in Orlando and Chicago. We intend to deploy additional local exchange switches in New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Raleigh, North Carolina by year-end 2001. - Own 11,000 digital fiber miles of long-haul and metropolitan fiber optic cable. The fiber is configured in multiple sychronized optical network, or SONET, rings and is equipped with Lucent dense wave division multiplexing, or DWDM, technology allowing us to increase our network capacity to 16 OC-192s permitting data transmission rates of 400 gigabytes per second. We intend to deploy an additional 3000 route miles, representing approximately 19,000 additional digital fiber miles, by year-end 2001. - Have deployed and operate 27,000 square feet of carrier class e.Commerce data center space to support both web and managed server hosting services. By year-end 2000, we intend to expand to 116,000 square feet of e.Commerce data center space in geographically diverse centers located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Quincy, Massachusetts, New York City, Miami and Atlanta. We intend to deploy an additional 150,000 square feet of e.Commerce data center space by year-end 2001, with additional centers located in Chicago, Philadelphia and Nashville. 35 39 - Have deployed 20,000 square feet of e.Commerce "edge" data center space located in the central offices of incumbent local exchange carriers with an additional 21,000 square feet under construction. This edge space represents space that we sublease to other telecommunications companies. We expect to have deployed a total of 41,000 square feet of edge co-location space by year-end 2000 and a total of 65,000 square feet by year-end 2001. BUSINESS STRATEGY We have an aggressive growth strategy to become the provider of choice offering one-stop broadband data, telecommunications and e.Commerce hosting services to small and medium-sized business customers in our target markets. Our future success will depend upon our ability to implement this strategy. We believe that our substantial operating history, existing customer base, expansive network, LOGOS, our operational support system, and our experienced management team, will enable us to effectively implement our growth strategy, which includes the following: BE A SINGLE-SOURCE PROVIDER OF BROADBAND DATA, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND e.COMMERCE HOSTING SERVICES A key to our growth is the continued implementation of our marketing plan that emphasizes our comprehensive suite of broadband data, telecommunications and e.Commerce hosting services on both a bundled and individual basis. To a large extent, the customers we target have not previously had the opportunity to purchase bundled services from a single-source provider, and we believe that they will prefer one source for all of their telecommunications requirements. Additionally, we believe that our VoDSL and DSL-enabled services allow the small and medium-sized businesses we target to obtain, for the first time, affordable and reliable broadband data services which we believe are necessary for success in the rapidly evolving world of business-to-business and business-to-consumer e.Commerce. We provide bundled services, invoice these services on a single bill and provide a single point of contact for customer service, product inquiries, repairs and billing questions. We believe that our ability to provide bundled broadband data, telecommunications and e.Commerce hosting services will enable us to better meet the needs of our customers, penetrate our target markets, capture a larger portion of our customers' total expenditures on telecommunications and e.Commerce hosting services and increase customer retention. In addition, we believe that our VoDSL technology will allow us to offer our comprehensive suite of services at a bundled price that may be lower than many of our competitors and lower than the price of purchasing those services separately. TARGET UNDERSERVED MARKETS We target small and medium-sized businesses. We seek to be among the first to market integrated telecommunications services in many of our markets, including small and medium-sized communities in which there is relatively little competition from fully integrated network based telecommunications providers. We believe that small and medium-sized businesses have been underserved by our large competitors with respect to sales and customer service, and that our integrated and comprehensive product suite and emphasis on customer support and satisfaction provides us with a significant competitive advantage. EXPAND GEOGRAPHIC REACH We currently service the northeastern and southeastern regions of the United States. We intend to expand into the mid-Atlantic region and targeted regions in the midwest. Our plan is to establish a single contiguous network footprint from New England to Florida. We believe that the 36 40 northeast, mid-Atlantic and southeast are particularly attractive due to a number of factors, including the population density in the northeast and mid-Atlantic, the large number of rapidly growing metropolitan clusters in the southeast and the relatively small number of significant competitors to the incumbent local exchange carriers. In addition, we also intend to expand into other regions of the United States as opportunities arise. CROSS-SELL LOCAL, DATA AND e.COMMERCE HOSTING SERVICES TO OUR EXISTING CUSTOMERS As of December 31, 1999, we had approximately 45,000 customers representing in excess of 66,000 local access lines and 225,000 long distance access lines. We believe that our ongoing customer relationships, focus on customer care and the competitive prices enabled by both our VoDSL technology and our bundled services provide us with a significant opportunity to cross-sell local, DSL, data and e.Commerce hosting services to our existing customers. BUILD A CAPITAL-EFFICIENT NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE Our strategy is to expand our network where economically or strategically justifiable. We believe that this strategy will result in higher long-term operating margins, greater control of our network and enhance service quality. As we expand our infrastructure with fiber, switches, co-locations and e.Commerce data centers, the portion of our traffic that is carried on our network will increase. In addition, we believe we will be able to defray a significant portion of our co-location costs by subleasing our excess co-location, or "edge", space to other network providers. An important element of our network strategy is to build our network to take advantage of our existing customer base, our sales office coverage in the northeastern and southeastern regions of the United States and our planned sales force expansion in the mid-Atlantic region. All of the approximately 500 co-locations that we expect to have operational by year-end 2001 will be within the service areas of our existing or planned sales offices. ACQUIRE AND RETAIN MARKET SHARE THROUGH OUR SALES FORCE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE We intend to expand our sales force to approximately 400 members by year-end 2000 and to 500 by year-end 2001 to acquire and support a growing customer base. Once we obtain a customer, we focus on providing superior customer service. We believe that our sales and customer services processes have resulted in a customer retention rate that is higher than many of our competitors and differentiate us as a customer-focused telecommunications provider, giving us a competitive advantage. We provide customer service 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. We also provide each customer with personalized service through a single point of contact for all product inquiries, repair needs and billing questions, which we believe increases customer satisfaction. We provide incentives to our sales and customer support personnel through a compensation structure that is designed to promote a high level of ongoing customer care and retention. It also ensures that our sales staff remains actively involved in the customer service process. LEVERAGE OUR CUSTOM-DESIGNED BACK OFFICE SYSTEMS We have deployed a custom-designed operational support system, which we refer to as LOGOS. LOGOS shortens the time between a customer order and service installation, reduces overhead costs and enables us to provide superior customer service. We believe that LOGOS enhances our productivity and service quality and provides us with a significant competitive advantage by: - automating many of the processes involved in moving a customer onto our network - automating the exchange of data with our trading partners through electronic bonding 37 41 - enabling single-call resolution of most customer inquiries - providing each of our departments with a universal view of all provisioning, billing, customer service, trouble ticket and collections activities for each customer - enabling customized service offerings, pricing and invoice formatting for each customer - enabling our customers to analyze traffic and usage patterns, track changes and pay invoices through a secure web interface to our LOGOS system, which we call the e.Command Center. Our operational support system also provides our management with timely operational and financial data to direct network, sales and customer service resources more efficiently. In addition, we are in the process of further enhancing the electronic bonding of LOGOS to the operational support systems of our key trading partners. This electronic exchange of data with both incumbent local exchange carriers and other key trading partners will allow "flow-through" provisioning, which will reduce the time necessary to order unbundled network elements and enhance the quality control of the ordering process. EXPAND THROUGH STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS AND ALLIANCES As part of our expansion strategy, we plan to consider strategic acquisitions of, and alliances with, related or complementary businesses. We believe that strategic acquisitions of, and alliances with, related or complementary businesses may enable us to expand more rapidly by adding new customers and services, network assets and experienced employees. These acquisitions and alliances could be funded by cash, bank financing or the issuance of debt or equity securities. We continuously evaluate and often engage in discussions regarding various acquisition and alliance opportunities, but are not currently a party to any agreement for a material acquisition or alliance. LEVERAGE THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM Our management team has significant experience in the telecommunications industry in general and, in particular, in the critical functions of network operations, sales and marketing, back office and operational support systems, finance and customer service. Our management team has an average of approximately ten years of experience in the telecommunications industry. We believe that the quality, experience and teamwork of our management team will be critical factors in the implementation of our growth strategy. MARKET OPPORTUNITY We believe that the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 and certain state regulatory initiatives provide increased opportunities in the telecommunications marketplace by opening local markets to competition and requiring incumbent local exchange carriers to provide increased direct interconnection to their competitors. According to the FCC, in 1998 the total revenues for the telecommunications industry amounted to approximately $245 billion, of which approximately $105 billion was local service and approximately $105 billion was long distance. A number of important trends are reshaping the U.S. telecommunications industry, creating substantial market opportunity. These trends include: - increasing customer demand for high-speed broadband data services, such as Internet access and transport and personal computer-based applications - the emergence of business-to-business and business-to-consumer e.Commerce - continued consolidation among service providers to broaden their service offerings and technical capabilities. 38 42 By leveraging customer relationships and bundling service offerings, competitive local exchange carriers have begun to exploit a variety of opportunities, including high-speed Internet access and transport, VoDSL, DSL, local and wide-area network connectivity, managed network services, virtual private networks, remote access and electronic commerce services. We believe that new entrants have an excellent opportunity to establish themselves as leading providers of such value-added services. High-speed data services and Internet connectivity have become important to business due to the dramatic increase in Internet usage and the proliferation of personal computer and Internet protocol-based applications. According to International Data Corporation, an independent telecommunications and technology research company, the number of Internet users worldwide reached approximately 144 million in 1998 and is forecasted to grow to approximately 602 million by 2003. The popularity of the Internet with consumers has also driven the rapid growth in exploiting the Internet as a commercial medium, as businesses establish websites, corporate intranets and extranets and implement electronic commerce applications to expand their customer reach and improve their telecommunications efficiency. THE IMPORTANCE OF VODSL AND e.COMMERCE DATA CENTER SPACE The rapid growth of the Internet, the expansion of e.Commerce and the introduction of new business applications have fueled increasing demand from small and medium-sized businesses for advanced telecommunications and Internet services. To meet this demand, we offer a comprehensive suite of voice, broadband data and web and managed server hosting services. Our VoDSL technology allows us to simultaneously provide small and medium-sized businesses with up to 16 telephone lines and an "always on" high-speed connection to the Internet at speeds of up to 1.5 megabits per second over a single copper line. As more small and medium-sized businesses utilize the Internet to conduct their business, the need for reliable and affordable broadband access and guaranteed availability of e.Commerce web and server platforms will become increasingly vital. It is often impractical for small and medium-sized businesses to economically operate e.Commerce platforms on their own premises, because adequate redundant bandwidth and e.Commerce web and server platforms are often not available or are cost-prohibitive. We believe that our e.Commerce data centers address this need by providing reliable and affordable broadband access and guaranteed availability of e.Commerce web and managed server hosting services. SERVICE OFFERINGS We began offering local phone, DSL, e.Commerce hosting and VoDSL services in mid-1998, mid-1999, December 1999 and January 2000, respectively. In 1999 we had total revenue of $152.5 million. In 1999, aggregate revenues from our long distance phone service accounted for approximately 85% of our total revenues, and aggregate revenues from local phone, data and e.Commerce hosting services accounted for approximately 15% of our total revenues. RETAIL SERVICE OFFERINGS Our retail services, which we offer on a stand-alone or bundled basis, currently include the following: VoDSL and Circuit-Switched Local Services We offer a full range of local exchange services including voice mail, directory assistance, call forwarding, conference calling, return call hunting services, call pick-up, repeat dialing and speed calling. Local services can be provided through packet-based VoDSL facilities or traditional circuit-switched facilities. 39 43 DSL, Internet and Data Services Our DSL services provide an "always on" high-speed local connection to the Internet and to private and local area networks. Our DSL technology can increase the data transfer rates of a standard phone line by up to 25 times. We also offer both dial-up and dedicated Internet access and private line, frame relay, mail, news and domain name, or DNS, services. e.Commerce Hosting Services We offer a full range of web and managed server hosting services in geographically dispersed and environmentally and technologically controlled carrier class facilities with both redundant power and Internet access. Our e.Commerce services include vertical rack space, cabinet units, cage and vault space and managed NT and UNIX servers with both burstable and guaranteed bandwidth. VoDSL and Circuit-Switched Long Distance Services We offer both domestic (interstate) and international switched and dedicated long distance services, including "1+" service along with global termination to over 225 countries. We also offer a variety of enhanced long distance features. Long distance services can be provided through packet-based VoDSL facilities or traditional circuit-switched facilities. VoDSL and Circuit-Switched Toll-free Services We offer a full range of switched and dedicated domestic (interstate) toll-free services, including toll-free origination and termination, international toll-free origination from 60 countries, including Canada, and toll-free directory assistance. We also provide enhanced toll-free services through our advanced intelligent network capabilities. Toll-free services can be provided by packet-based VoDSL facilities or traditional circuit-switched facilities. Calling Card Services We offer nationwide switched-access customized calling card services. We offer our customers the option of calling cards that are personalized, branded or generic. Paging Services We offer advanced wireless paging services, including digital and alphanumeric paging, personal identification number services, voice mail, news and sports feeds, and local or national geographic coverage. Custom Management Control Features We offer customized management reporting features including area code summaries, international destination matrices, daily usage summaries, state summaries, time of day summaries, duration distribution matrices, exception reporting of long duration calls, and incomplete and blocked call reporting. e.Command Center We offer our customers a secure web interface into LOGOS. Through our e.Command Center, customers have access to analytical tools to help them manage and control their communication cost and services, pay invoices and track events. Customer access to our e.Command Center is available 24 hours a days, 7 days a week. 40 44 WHOLESALE "EDGE" CO-LOCATION SERVICES We currently have constructed 20,000 square feet of e.Commerce "edge" data center space located in the central offices of incumbent local exchange carriers, which by year-end 2000 we expect to expand to 41,000 square feet. This edge space represents excess space that we sublease to other telecommunications companies for the deployment of their network infrastructure. The provision of these services enables us to defray a portion of our network build costs. By year-end 2001, we expect to have deployed a total of 65,000 square feet of edge co-location space. INTERNATIONAL WHOLESALE SERVICES We offer international wholesale termination and transport services primarily to major domestic and international telecommunications carriers. We believe our international wholesale service offering is a strategic element in our overall plan to expand our network and to generate and retain customer traffic. We intend to build on our relationships with large domestic and international carriers to purchase increased capacity and to otherwise support our international service offerings. In addition, we expect that providing comprehensive international services will lower our cost of carrying international traffic and result in more attractive service offerings in our core retail markets. SALES AND MARKETING OVERVIEW Our sales force seeks to provide our existing and potential customers with a comprehensive array of telecommunications services customized for the increasingly convergent voice and data marketplace. Our sales force targets small and medium-sized businesses that generally have telecommunications expenditures of less than $10,000 per month. We believe that neither the regional Bell operating companies, large long distance carriers nor the nationally based e.Commerce and Internet service providers have historically concentrated their sales and marketing efforts on this business segment, which we believe represents a significant portion of the market. Additionally, we believe that historically small and medium-size businesses have been economically precluded from enjoying the benefits of broadband VoDSL and DSL access and the enhanced business opportunities that broadband-enabled e.Commerce provides. We believe we have established ourselves as a recognized provider of high-quality, competitively priced telecommunications service with a reputation for responsive customer care. We believe that our new e.Commerce data centers and our VoDSL technology offerings enable us to better compete in, and more rapidly penetrate, our targeted sales markets. Our sales and marketing approach is to build long-term business relationships with our customers, with the intent of becoming the single-source provider of all their telecommunications services. We train our sales force in-house with a customer-focused program that promotes increased sales through both customer attraction and customer retention. SALES CHANNELS DIRECT SALES. Our direct sales force markets our retail services directly to end users. As of March 1, 2000, we employed 279 direct sales representatives working in 12 sales offices throughout the northeastern and southeastern regions of the United States. By year-end 2000, we intend to employ approximately 400 direct sales representatives located in a total of 21 offices throughout the northeast, mid-Atlantic and southeastern regions of the United States. Our direct sales force is headed by our senior vice president of sales, who has been with us for approximately eight years. Each of our existing sales offices is headed by a branch manager and is further sub-divided into smaller sales teams, each of which is headed by a team leader 41 45 who directly oversees the day-to-day sales activities of his or her team and acts as a mentor to its members. Teams generally consist of eight to 10 sales representatives. We provide compensation incentives to our sales teams to sell to customers within pre-assigned co-location areas. In doing so, the salesforce is motivated to sell to new customers that can be provisioned directly onto our network where we realize higher margins. All new sales representatives are required to receive formal in-house training, in which we expect them to gain a thorough knowledge of our services and the telecommunications industry. After formal training, we permit sales representatives to pursue customers but require them to participate in a continuing mentoring program. We believe this philosophy is a competitive advantage in the attraction and long-term retention of sales personnel. AGENCY SALES. Our agency sales force markets our services to various resellers, independent marketing representatives, associations and affinity groups. This sales force locates established, high-quality organizations with extensive distribution channels in order to market our telecommunications services to both a broader geographic range and a greater number of potential customers than could be reached by the direct sales force. We sell our services on a wholesale basis to resellers, which in turn sell such services at retail to their customers. We generally sell our services to independent marketing representatives, associations and affinity groups on a retail basis. Our use of independent marketing representatives allows us to reduce our marketing and other overhead costs. As compensation for their services, independent marketing representatives generally receive a commission on their sales. We employ stringent selection criteria and attempt to carefully monitor and control the activities of our resellers and independent marketing representatives to ensure compliance with laws, industry standards and company policies. We believe that the number of complaints we have received regarding the methods and practices of our agents is negligible in comparison with the experience of many other telecommunications companies. We commenced sales through resellers and independent marketing representatives in 1996, and as of March 1, 2000 we had five salespeople dedicated to this market segment. In December 1999, sales through our reseller and independent agent sales force accounted for approximately 10% of our revenue. INTERNATIONAL WHOLESALE SALES. Our international wholesale sales force markets our international telecommunications services to both international and domestic carriers. This group focuses on developing customer and vendor relationships with the top-tier international carriers, as well as selected financially stable second-tier carriers. As of March 1, 2000, we had five sales people in this group. SALES FORCE COMPENSATION Our sales force compensation strategy provides focused incentives to sell higher margin bundled on-net services. Additionally, we compensate all sales personnel with both a salary and a residual commission structure based on each customer's continued use of our services. The compensation of our sales staff is therefore increasingly reliant over time on the retention of existing customers. We believe that this "lifetime residual" motivates each sales person to remain actively involved with customers and participate in the customer support process. We believe this approach provides us with competitive advantages that increase customer retention, increase cross-selling opportunities and reduce the costs of customer service and support. MARKETING AND ADVERTISING We have begun marketing efforts in support of our VoDSL technology and the rollout of our integrated voice, DSL and e.Commerce data services. Recent marketing efforts include print ads, 42 46 mailings and trade shows. We are also actively involved in numerous charitable and community events, which we believe increases our recognition in our target geographic regions. CURRENT CUSTOMER BASE RETAIL CUSTOMERS As of December 31, 1999, we provided service to approximately 45,000 customers representing in excess of 66,000 local access lines and 225,000 long distance access lines. We segment our customers by monthly revenue to ensure that those customers generating higher monthly revenues experience a higher level of proactive customer care. Because our customer base, to a large extent, is concentrated around our sales offices, we believe we are beginning to achieve name recognition in the small and medium-sized business communities in our core sales areas. To further enhance our customers' experience, we have recently deployed our e.Command Center, which allows our customers real-time access through a secure web interface to our LOGOS operational support system. INTERNATIONAL WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS We provide international wholesale services to numerous national and international telecommunications carriers. We strive to establish close working relationships with our international wholesale customers. Once we interconnect with a carrier customer, the carrier may utilize us on an as-needed basis, depending upon the pricing offered by us and our competitors, as well as the available capacity. We have been tested and approved as an authorized carrier for, and included in the routing tables of, all of our international carrier customers. NETWORK OVERVIEW We pursue a capital-efficient network deployment strategy that involves owning switches while acquiring or leasing fiber optic transmission facilities on an incremental basis to satisfy customer demand. Our strategy has been to build a geographic concentration of customers before building, acquiring or extending our network to serve that concentration of customers. As network economics or strategic opportunities justify the deployment of our switching or transport capacity, we expand our network and migrate customers onto our network. An important element in our local, VoDSL and DSL network strategy is to build our network to take advantage of our existing customer base and our current and planned sales office coverage. We believe that, where economically or strategically justified, owning network components, rather than relying on the facilities of third parties, enables us to have more flexibility in meeting customer needs for new products and services, generate higher operating margins, obtain origination and termination fees from other carriers and maintain greater control over our network operations and service quality. INTEGRATED NETWORK ARCHITECTURE We provide services to our customers over a single integrated network that supports local and long distance voice services over VoDSL facilities or traditional circuit facilities, high-speed data, including DSL, Internet and web and managed server hosting services. We believe that the integrated design of our local, long distance and data networks significantly reduces our cost of providing services. Our integrated network architecture includes customer premise equipment, unbundled network elements, co-locations located in the central offices of incumbent local exchange carriers as well as carrier access hotels, class 5 switches, gateway and long distance switches, digital subscriber line access multiplexers, or DSLAMs, Internet protocol-based routers and switches, application servers, asynchronous transfer mode, or ATM, switches, synchronous 43 47 optical network, or SONET, fiber rings, dense wave division multiplexing, or DWDM, optronics for high capacity and high density transmission and our own SS7 service control points, or SCPs. REACHING THE CUSTOMER PREMISES -- UNBUNDLED NETWORK ELEMENTS Our integrated network begins with our customer. To reach our customers, we purchase or lease simple copper loops, or, if customer traffic justifies, T-1 facilities, as unbundled network elements, or UNEs, from the incumbent local exchange carrier. By utilizing UNEs, we obtain access and termination revenues as if we owned the copper loop to our customer and are able to rapidly connect the customer directly to our co-location. We are also able to avoid the cost and delay associated with deploying our own facilities to our customers' premises. To support our VoDSL and high-speed DSL services, we provide our customer with a modem that we connect to a digitally conditioned copper loop that we have purchased or leased as a UNE. To enable us to purchase these UNEs, we have successfully negotiated interconnection agreements with the incumbent local exchange carrier in each of our targeted jurisdictions. We currently have interconnection agreements with Bell Atlantic of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, Southern New England Telephone of Connecticut, and Bell South of Georgia and Florida. We anticipate entering into interconnection agreements in our targeted mid-Atlantic expansion states by August 1, 2000. CO-LOCATION FACILITIES Each UNE we deploy, whether for local service or high-speed VoDSL and DSL service, is a direct connection from our customer to one of our co-location facilities located in the central office of the incumbent local exchange carrier. Within each co-location facility we have deployed, or are deploying, both Lucent digital access nodes to support switched voice services and DSLAMs to support both VoDSL and our stand-alone high-speed and DSL service offerings. By designing our co-locations in this manner we are able to allocate the overhead costs associated with deploying co-locations across multiple products and revenue streams. This co-location architecture can be extended to support emerging applications as customer requirements dictate. 44 48 Currently 42 co-locations of the 197 co-locations accepted and under construction are operational. We expect to have approximately 220 co-locations operational by year-end 2000 and a total of 500 co-locations operational by year-end 2001. These co-locations, measured by the aggregate number of business lines currently served by the local telephone company in these locations as of December 1999, are set forth below.
TOTAL AVAILABLE PLANNED PLANNED BUSINESS LINES CO-LOCATIONS BY CO-LOCATIONS BY AS OF DECEMBER STATE YEAR-END 2000 YEAR-END 2001 1999 - ----- --------------- --------------- --------------- Connecticut............................. 27 40 641,461 Florida................................. 71 84 2,033,536 Georgia................................. 24 55 844,703 New Hampshire........................... 7 7 129,045 Massachusetts........................... 48 78 1,189,406 New York................................ 35 90 3,516,539 Rhode Island............................ 8 12 227,260 District of Columbia.................... 0 8 581,692 Delaware................................ 0 7 162,123 Maryland................................ 0 12 942,873 New Jersey.............................. 0 33 1,800,970 Pennsylvania............................ 0 30 1,666,276 Virginia................................ 0 15 954,965 North Carolina.......................... 0 21 895,224 South Carolina.......................... 0 8 275,109 --- --- ---------- Total................................... 220 500 14,690,849
Until we have deployed the necessary co-location facilities in a specific geographical region, our DSL services utilize our underlying network or the network of another DSL provider, and our local exchange services utilize the underlying network of the incumbent or competitive local exchange carrier. NETWORK ACCESS POINTS AND LOCAL SWITCHING PLATFORM -- LUCENT 5ESS SWITCHES Our local switching platform consists of Lucent 5ESS digital switches in Cambridge, Massachusetts, New York City, Atlanta and Miami. We intend to deploy additional Lucent 5ESS digital switches in New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Raleigh, North Carolina by year-end 2001. Each Lucent 5ESS switch acts as a centralized switching node and data center for each co-location within the footprint served by the switch. In addition, each of these centralized switching nodes serves as an interconnection and concentration point between our VoDSL and DSL data network and the Internet. VODSL PLATFORM AND DSL PLATFORM The rapid growth of the Internet, expansion of business-to-business and business-to-consumer e.Commerce and the introduction of new business applications have fueled increasing demand from small and medium-sized businesses for access to voice, broadband data and web and managed server hosting services. To meet this demand, we offer a comprehensive suite of bundled voice, broadband data services and web and managed server hosting services over our network infrastructure. Our VoDSL technology allows us to simultaneously provide small and medium-sized businesses with up to 16 telephone lines and an "always on" high-speed connection to the Internet at speeds of up to 1.5 megabits per second over a single existing copper line. The following diagram illustrates the VoDSL and DSL network topology we are 45 49 currently deploying throughout our network footprint and the topology we intend to deploy as we expand into the mid-Atlantic region and other regions of the United States: OUR VODSL NETWORK ARCHITECTURE [GRAPHIC: FLOW CHART OF VODSL NETWORK ARCHITECTURE] Our VoDSL and DSL broadband network is a packet-based network. We are able to dynamically upgrade and downgrade bandwidth and data transport speed on each VoDSL and DSL connection to meet the changing needs of our customers. Because customers are able to purchase broadband capacity and data transport speeds to match their specific needs, we believe our customers will realize lower costs. Our VoDSL solution also guarantees quality telephone service by prioritizing telephone packets over data packets. The result of this prioritization is that telephony traffic always receives the bandwidth it requires and data traffic uses the remaining bandwidth. LONG DISTANCE SWITCHING PLATFORM -- NORTEL SWITCHES We have deployed Nortel DMS interexchange and international gateway switches in Quincy, Massachusetts and Los Angeles and Nortel DMS interexchange switches in Orlando and Chicago. We intend to increase our long distance footprint through expanded tandem or end-office trunking, deployment of additional points of presence and, where traffic concentration justifies, deployment of additional switch facilities. Future long distance switch sites potentially include Dallas, Denver and Seattle. e.COMMERCE DATA CENTERS We operate 27,000 square feet of carrier class e.Commerce data center space to support both web and managed server hosting services. By year-end 2000, we anticipate that this will increase to 116,000 square feet in geographically diverse data centers located in New York City, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Quincy, Massachusetts, Miami and Atlanta. We intend to deploy a 46 50 total of 250,000 square feet of e.Commerce data center space by year-end 2001, with additional centers located in Chicago, Philadelphia and Nashville. Our e.Commerce data centers are, and our planned e.Commerce data centers are expected to be, located on our major backbone fiber routes and co-located with our class 5 local switches. To support our web and managed server hosting services, we maintain redundant T-3 (45mb) circuits to the Internet ensuring broadband availability. We lease 23" racks for traditional telephony equipment, 19" racks for open mounting of servers and data equipment. Full and partitioned cabinets with locking front and rear doors and managed servers running both NT or UNIX. Ancillary features of our e.Commerce data centers include always-available technicians, power and redundant power, environmental and security controls. FIBER AND TRANSPORT -- SONET RINGS AND DWDM In the northeast we control and operate, pursuant to two 20-year indefeasible right-of-use agreements entered into in 1998, 625 route miles of fiber optic cable, representing 1,830 digital fiber miles. Deployed in a SONET topology, this fiber acts as the backbone connecting our northeast switching nodes, e.Commerce data centers and co-location footprint. Additionally, this fiber connects major markets throughout New England and the New York metropolitan area including New York City, White Plains, Stamford, New Haven, New London, Providence, Boston, Nashua, Springfield and Worcester. In the southeast we control and operate, pursuant to a 20-year indefeasible right-of-use agreement, entered into in 1999, approximately 2,200 route miles of fiber optic cable, representing 9,106 digital fiber miles. When fully deployed and activated in a SONET topology, this fiber will act as the backbone connecting our southeast switching nodes, e.Commerce data centers and co-location footprint. Additionally, this fiber will connect major markets throughout the southeast including Atlanta, Marietta, Roswell, Norcross, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Pompano Beach, Boyton Beach, Delray Beach and Deerfield Beach. By year-end 2001, we intend to control and operate, pursuant to a 20 year indefeasible right-of-use agreement, an additional 3,000 route miles of fiber optic cable representing 19,000 digital fiber miles. When fully deployed and activated in a SONET topology, this fiber will connect our northeast and southeast SONET rings while simultaneously connecting our mid-Atlantic switching nodes, e.Commerce data centers and co-location footprint. This fiber will connect major markets throughout the mid-Atlantic and midwest including Newark, Princeton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham, Nashville, Louisville, Cincinatti, Indianapolis, Chicago, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Throughout our SONET topology we have deployed Lucent's Wave Star OLS 400G dense wavelength division multiplexing, or DWDM, technology. This enables our DWDM SONET network to support up to 80 OC-48 (2.5 gigabytes per second) channels, or 40 OC-192 (10 gigabytes per second) channels, or a mix of the two signal speeds for a maximum optical throughput of 400 gigabytes per second. Where we have not acquired fiber optic cable, we lease long-haul network transport capacity from major network-based carriers and local access from the incumbent local carriers in their respective territories. We also use competitive access provider facilities where available and economically justified. Metropolitan area fiber rings or SONET services are generally leased or, where economically justified, constructed to interconnect with our co-locations, switching nodes, e.Commerce data centers and long haul SONET backbone. To ensure seamless off-net termination and origination, we also utilize interconnection agreements with major carriers. 47 51 INTERNATIONAL FACILITIES In addition to being interexchange switches, the Nortel switches located in Quincy, Massachusetts and Los Angeles are international gateway switches that enable us to interconnect direct international routes with a number of U.S. and foreign wholesale international carriers. This allows us to provide state-of-the-art least-cost routing and network reliability for international calling. These interconnected international carriers are also a source of wholesale international traffic and revenue that enable us to provide competitive international rates to our retail customers. To further support our international interconnections, we have entered into leases or indefeasible right-of-use agreements for international submarine cable facilities in several cable systems, including: - TAT-12/13 RIOJA, which spans the Atlantic Ocean - TPC-5, which spans the Pacific Ocean - Americas I, which connects various locations throughout the Caribbean - Guam-Philippines Cable System. These arrangements support existing and planned interconnections with telephone operating companies in foreign countries. SIGNALING SYSTEM 7 AND ADVANCED INTELLIGENT NETWORK ARCHITECTURE All our local and long distance switched services use SS7 network signaling for enhanced network efficiencies and increased customer satisfaction. The SS7 signaling system reduces connect time delays, thereby enhancing overall network efficiencies. For more advanced SS7 functions providing "network level logic", we have deployed ServiceBuilder(TM), Nortel's next-generation advanced intelligent network, or AIN, architecture, including Nortel's Service Management System and Service Creation Environment. In tandem with the Nortel and Lucent switches, ServiceBuilder allows us to deploy "designer" products and features defined by the Bellcore AIN standard and including: - enhanced 800 Services, including AIN specific routing services - various "Follow me" services, including 500 number technology - customer dictated and provisioned class of service screening features - virtual private network services. NETWORK MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT Our technical network interface is a fully redundant frame relay network that enables us to monitor each network element from our network management and surveillance center. Centralized electronic monitoring and control of our network increase the security, reliability and efficiency of our operations and allow us to avoid duplication of this function in each region. This consolidated operations center also helps reduce our per-customer monitoring and customer service costs. We have deployed Team Telecom International, or TTI's, enhanced network management tool, Netrac. The Netrac software consists of several integrated modules including configuration manager and inventory management, fault analysis and monitoring, switch management, transmission management, SS7 management and performance management. These modules automatically gather, log, filter, display and report alarms and network events on a real-time basis no matter where they occur in the network. 48 52 NETWORK SECURITY Our network employs an "authorized access" architecture. Unlike many telecommunications companies, which, we believe, allow universal access to their network, we utilize an automatic number identification security screening architecture that ensures only those users who have subscribed to our services and have satisfied our credit and provisioning criteria are allowed access to the network. We believe that this architecture allows us to better control bad debt and fraud in a manner that is invisible and non-intrusive to the customer. Additionally, this architecture allows us to manage network capacity better, as unauthorized users cannot access and exploit the network. MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS, ORDER ENTRY, PROVISIONING, BILLING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE OVERVIEW We are committed to the implementation of integrated and scalable operational support systems that enable "flow-through" service provisioning, the highest possible level of customer support, accurate and timely billing and web-based self-help. The cornerstone of our operational support system is a custom-designed system we call LOGOS. LOGOS integrates important elements of our operations, including convergent and integrated product management, service order entry, provisioning, customer service, trouble ticket management, work flow and product and rate management. LOGOS is an object-oriented C++ application that utilizes the scalability and reliability of Oracle's relational database management system. We believe that LOGOS provides us with a long-term competitive advantage by enabling us to: - more rapidly implement VoDSL, DSL and switched local services in our markets - shorten the time between the receipt of a customer order and the generation of revenue - further focus on and increase the customized level of attention provided to each of our customers - accommodate significant customer growth. Features of LOGOS include: - a graphical user interface that presents to all users a convergent and universal view of all customer activity including integrated product suite provisioning, billing, customer service, trouble ticket and collections - a modular design that enables convergent service order entry, provisioning, customer service and billing and rate management for all products and services - electronic workflow and electronic routing of tasks and provisioning events - electronic scheduling of customer events and user defined actions and reminders - the ability to customize product and service offerings and pricing for individual customers and to bring new product and pricing plans to market quickly - significantly enhanced response times to customer inquiries - the ability to uniquely format and include customized management information on each individual invoice - interactive invoice imaging technologies that mirror each invoice sent to a customer - electronically routed trouble ticket technology 49 53 - the ability of our customers to analyze traffic and usage patterns, track events and pay invoices through a secure web-enabled interface, which we call the e.Command Center. SERVICE ORDER ENTRY AND PROVISIONING We believe that an ongoing challenge for integrated telecommunications providers will be to continually improve service, order entry and provisioning systems. We will continue to identify and focus on implementing the best provisioning practices in each of our markets to provide for the rapid and seamless transition of customers from the network of the incumbent local exchange carrier to our network. To support the provisioning of our services, LOGOS is designed to automate ordering and provisioning tasks. Currently, LOGOS has a convergent service order entry module that enables all service and work orders to be entered from a single common interface. Once service orders are entered, LOGOS has engineered electronic interfaces to our own network and the networks of the carriers with whom we do business. Additionally, LOGOS has engineered electronic customer account record exchange interfaces to Bell Atlantic North and South, Southern New England Telephone, GTE, Bell South, United Telephone, Pacific Bell and Ameritech. To further enhance LOGOS we have contracted with DSET Corporation to engineer our local service request, local number portability and trouble ticket EDI "electronic bonding" gateways between LOGOS and our trading partners. As of March 1, 2000, we are in the final phase of deploying the local service request gateway to Bell Atlantic, which we believe will further enhance our "flow through" provisioning by reducing the time needed by us to order unbundled network elements and enhancing the quality control of the ordering process. We expect to have the remaining DSET electronic gateways fully implemented by year-end 2000. In addition to our relationship with DSET Corporation, we have contracted with CommTech Corporation to engineer the Internet protocol-based "electronic bonding" gateways between LOGOS and our voice, VoDSL, DSL and other data network elements, which we believe will be completed by July 2000. CUSTOMER SERVICE We maintain an emphasis on customer care to differentiate us from our competitors. We provide 24-hours-per-day, 365-days-per-year customer support primarily through our customer service department in Quincy, Massachusetts. Experienced customer care representatives answer all customers' calls. Many of our customer care representatives are cross-trained in the provisioning process. We monitor and measure the quality and timeliness of customer interaction through quality assurance procedures. Pick-up times for incoming calls, lengths of calls and other support information is automatically monitored by our automated call distribution system. Our call distribution system also prioritizes incoming support requests, assuring that our largest customers receive support in the most expedient manner. In addition, our most knowledgeable and experienced customer support representatives typically handle the support requests from our largest customers. We believe that LOGOS has significantly enhanced the productivity of our customer service personnel, reduces our response time and enables our customer service representatives to become "solution providers" allowing single-call resolution of customer inquiries. Additionally LOGOS's convergent architecture allows each customer service representative to up-sell and cross-sell additional products and services to our customers. In the event that a customer is experiencing difficulty with a particular service, LOGOS has an extensive trouble ticket function that allows every user of the system to see in real-time that a trouble condition exists. Additionally, LOGOS electronically routes all trouble tickets to our network management and surveillance center for prompt resolution. LOGOS permits each user to see the resolution steps being taken with respect to a trouble ticket. We believe that our ability to 50 54 timely track and resolve trouble events and keep both the customer and the customer service representative timely informed of its status provides us with a strategic advantage. In the event that a customer has an inquiry with respect to an invoice, LOGOS enables the customer service representative to view an identical image of that invoice and promptly take any necessary corrective action. Customer support personnel are required to complete an intensive formal in-house training program before interacting with customers and are required to participate in a continuing mentor program. Customer support personnel are expected to have a thorough knowledge of our services and to emphasize customer satisfaction. The compensation of support personnel is in part dependent upon the retention rate of their respective accounts. We have an established career path for our customer support personnel who over time gain responsibility for larger customers and management responsibilities. Our customer support department currently receives approximately 1,300 support calls per day. We also utilize four billing cycles per month, which helps ensure that customer service calls will be staggered throughout each month. As of March 1, 2000, we employed 68 people in customer support. We anticipate that we will continue to hire additional customer support personnel as the size of our customer base increases. BILLING We maintain within LOGOS all customer information, operational data, accounts receivable information, rating rules, rating tables and tax tables necessary for billing our customers. We collect and process on a daily basis all usage information from our own network and from the networks of third-party providers. The actual process of applying rating and taxing information to the millions of individual message units generated each month, and of generating invoice print files, is conducted by a third-party. Printing of invoices is conducted by a high-speed print shop. To optimize both cash flow and internal workflow, we currently utilize four billing cycles per month. Additional billing cycles will be added as dictated by customer growth. To ensure the quality of the billing process, we utilize strict quality control checks, including boundary and statistical variation testing, sample pricing matrices and direct sampling. EMPLOYEES As of March 1, 2000, we had 667 employees. We also hire temporary employees and independent computer programmers as needed. In connection with our growth strategy, we anticipate hiring a significant number of additional personnel in sales and other areas of our operations by year-end 2000. Our employees are not unionized, and we believe our relations with our employees are good. Our success will continue to depend in part on our ability to attract and retain highly qualified employees. PROPERTIES Our corporate headquarters are located in a 39,500-square foot facility in Quincy, Massachusetts. We lease the Quincy facility from a realty trust whose beneficiaries are Robert T. Hale and Robert T. Hale, Jr., each of whom is an executive officer, director and significant stockholder of Network Plus. Also, we are currently negotiating a long-term lease for our 80,000-square foot Randolph, Massachusetts facility with a company wholly owned by Messrs. Hale and Hale, Jr. We lease additional sales offices and switching facilities. The aggregate amount we paid under our leases in 1999 was approximately $3.1 million. Although our facilities are adequate at this time, we believe that we will be required to lease additional facilities, including additional sales offices and switching facilities, as a result of anticipated growth. 51 55 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS From time to time, we are a party to routine litigation and proceedings in the ordinary course of business. We are not aware of any current or pending litigation to which we are or may be a party that we believe could materially adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition. COMPETITION We operate in the highly competitive telecommunications services industry. We believe that the traditional distinctions between the local, long distance, data, and Internet access markets and e.Commerce hosting providers are eroding. Both new competitors and the incumbent providers are beginning to offer bundled offerings similar to our own. The regional Bell operating companies and the operating subsidiaries of GTE and Sprint dominate the local services market. AT&T, MCI WorldCom and Sprint currently are the major competitors in the long distance market. Existing telecommunications companies, cable companies and newer companies such as Internet service providers and both national and regionally based DSL providers and e.Commerce hosting providers compete in the market to provide data and Internet services. We do not have a significant market share in any segment of the market, and many of our existing and potential competitors have financial resources significantly greater than our own. Competition for our products and services is based on price, actual and perceived quality, reputation, name recognition, network reliability, service features, billing services and responsiveness to customers' needs. Implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and the related trend toward business combinations and alliances in the telecommunications industry may create significant new competitors to us. The Telecommunications Act was designed to eliminate most barriers to local competition and to permit the regional Bell operating companies, if they demonstrate compliance with certain pro-competitive conditions, to provide long distance services. Our primary competitors in local service markets are regional Bell operating companies, such as Bell Atlantic in the New England region, or one of the operating subsidiaries of GTE or Sprint. These carriers, called incumbent local exchange carriers, provide dedicated and local telephone services to most telephone subscribers within their respective service areas. These providers have long-standing relationships with customers and regulatory authorities at the federal and state levels. If future regulatory or court decisions afford incumbent local exchange carriers increased rates for access or interconnection services, greater pricing flexibility, the ability to refuse to offer particular services or network elements on an unbundled basis, or other regulatory relief, such decisions could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, as permitted by the Telecommunications Act, AT&T, MCI WorldCom and Sprint, the major competitors in the long distance market, each have begun to offer local telecommunications services in major U.S. markets using their own facilities or by resale of other providers' services. New competitive local exchange carriers, cable television companies, electric utilities, microwave carriers, wireless telephone system operators and large customers who build private networks and both national and regional DSL providers also seek to compete in the local services market. These entities, upon entering into appropriate interconnection agreements or resale agreements, may offer single-source local, long distance, DSL, VoDSL and e.Commerce hosting services similar to those that we offer or propose to offer. Significant competition in the long distance market is expected to be provided by incumbent local exchange carriers, including the regional Bell operating companies. Prior to enactment of the Telecommunications Act, a federal court order known as the modified final judgement prohibited regional Bell operating companies from providing long distance service that originated, 52 56 or, in certain cases, terminated, in one of its in-region states, with several limited exceptions. The limitations imposed on the regional Bell operating companies by the modified final judgement will be lifted for each affected company if and when it has satisfied certain statutory conditions specified in the Telecommunications Act. The process for demonstrating compliance with the statutory 14 point checklist of pro-competitive actions includes approval by the relevant state regulatory authority and the FCC. To date, only Bell Atlantic-New York has succeeded in obtaining approval from the state regulatory authority and the FCC. As each regional Bell operating company is allowed to offer widespread in-region long distance services, both the regional Bell operating company and the largest long distance providers will be in a position to offer single-source local and long distance service. Our success will depend upon our ability to provide high-quality services at prices generally competitive with, or lower than, those charged by our competitors. Although we believe small and medium-sized business customers are not aggressively targeted by large companies such as AT&T, MCI WorldCom and Sprint, our customers and potential customers may be targeted by these or other providers in the future. Additional pricing pressure may come from carriers providing services through Internet protocol transport, a packet-switched technology that currently can be used to provide voice and data services at a cost that may be below that of traditional circuit-switched local and long distance service. Although this service currently is not regarded as comparable to traditional long distance service, it could eventually be perceived as a substitute for traditional long distance service and put pricing pressure on long distance rates. Any reduction in long distance prices may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. We will also face competition from fixed and mobile wireless services providers. The FCC has authorized cellular, personal telecommunications services and other providers to offer wireless services to both fixed and mobile locations. These providers can offer wireless local loop service and other services to fixed locations, such as office and apartment buildings, in direct competition with us and existing providers of traditional wireless telephone service. In addition, FCC rules went into effect in February 1998 that make it substantially easier for many foreign telecommunications companies to enter the U.S. market, thus potentially further increasing the number of competitors. The market for data communications and Internet access services also is extremely competitive. There are no substantial barriers to entry, and we expect that competition will intensify in the future. Our success in selling these services will depend heavily upon our ability to provide high-quality Internet connections at competitive prices. 53 57 GOVERNMENT REGULATION OVERVIEW Our communications common carrier services are subject to regulation by federal, state and local government agencies. Most data and Internet services are not subject to regulation, although telecommunications services used for access to the Internet are regulated. Through our operating subsidiary, we hold various federal, state and local regulatory authorizations for our regulated service offerings. The FCC exercises jurisdiction over our facilities and services to the extent those facilities are used to provide, originate or terminate interstate domestic or international common carrier communications. State regulatory commissions retain jurisdiction over carriers' facilities and services to the extent they are used to originate or terminate intrastate common carrier communications. Municipalities and other local government agencies may require carriers to obtain licenses or franchises regulating use of public rights-of-way necessary to install and operate their networks. The networks are also subject to numerous local regulations such as building codes, franchises, and rights-of-way licensing requirements. Many of the regulations issued by these regulatory bodies may change and are the subject of various judicial proceedings, legislative hearings and administrative proposals. We cannot predict the results of any changes. FEDERAL REGULATION The FCC regulates us as a non-dominant communications common carrier. Our interstate domestic and international services are not subject to significant federal regulation, although we are required to file tariffs with the FCC for our common carrier services. We have obtained authority from the FCC to provide international services between the United States and authorized foreign countries. The FCC imposes prior approval requirements on transfers of control and assignments of radio licenses and operating authorizations. The FCC has the authority to condition, modify, cancel, terminate or revoke such licenses and authorizations for failure to comply with federal laws or the rules, regulations and policies of the FCC. The FCC may also impose fines or other penalties for such violations. While we believe we are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, we cannot assure you that the FCC or third parties will not raise issues with regard to our compliance. The FCC's role with respect to local telephone competition arises principally from the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, which became effective on February 8, 1996. The Telecommunications Act preempts state and local laws to the extent that they prevent competitive entry into the provision of any telecommunications service and gives the FCC jurisdiction over important issues related to local competition. However, state and local governments retain authority over significant aspects of the provision of intrastate toll and local telecommunications. The Telecommunications Act imposes a variety of new duties on local exchange carriers, in order to promote competition in local exchange and access services. Where we provide local services, we will be required to: - complete calls originated by competing carriers on a reciprocal basis - permit resale of services - permit users to retain their telephone numbers when changing carriers - provide competing carriers access to poles, ducts, conduits and rights-of-way at regulated prices. 54 58 Incumbent local exchange carriers, such as the regional Bell operating companies and affiliates of GTE and Sprint, are also subject to additional requirements. These duties include obligations of the incumbent local exchange carriers to: - interconnect their networks with competitors - offer co-location of competitors' equipment at their premises - make available elements of their networks (including network facilities, features and capabilities) on non-discriminatory, cost-based terms - offer wholesale versions of their retail services for resale at discounted rates. Collectively, these requirements recognize that local exchange competition is dependent upon cost-based and non-discriminatory interconnection with and use of incumbent local exchange carrier networks. Failure to achieve such interconnection arrangements could have an adverse impact on our ability or that of other entities to provide competitive local exchange services. Under the Telecommunications Act, incumbent local exchange carriers are required to negotiate in good faith with carriers requesting any or all of the above arrangements. In addition, the FCC has adopted more specific rules to implement these requirements. The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the authority of the FCC to establish rules governing interconnection. We believe that additional disputes regarding interconnection issues and other related FCC actions are likely. In particular, the U.S. Supreme Court remanded to the FCC issues regarding what unbundled elements the FCC will require incumbent local exchange carriers to make available to competitors. On November 5, 1999, the FCC released a decision modifying the list of unbundled network elements that all incumbent local exchange carries must offer to other carriers. This decision is under reconsideration before the FCC and on appeal at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. We cannot predict the outcome of either proceeding. An adverse decision could affect our local service product offerings. The Telecommunications Act also eliminates previous prohibitions on the provision of long distance services by the regional Bell operating companies and GTE's telephone operating company subsidiaries. The regional Bell operating companies are permitted to provide long distance service outside those states in which they provide local exchange service, known as "out-of-region long distance service," upon receipt of any necessary state and federal regulatory approvals that are otherwise applicable to the provision of intrastate or interstate long distance service. Under the Telecommunications Act, the regional Bell operating companies will be allowed to provide long distance service within the regions in which they also provide local exchange service, known as "in-region service", on a state-by-state basis upon specific approval of the FCC and satisfaction of other conditions, including a checklist of requirements intended to open local telephone markets to competition. When determining whether to approve the application of a regional Bell operating company, the FCC must consult with the Department of Justice and the respective state commission for which the regional Bell operating company is requesting expanded regional long distance authority. To date, when notified that the regional Bell operating company in their state intended to file an application with the FCC, state commissions have investigated the regional Bell operating company's compliance in order to provide the FCC with an opinion when requested. The New York Public Service Commission found that Bell Atlantic -- New York had complied with the necessary statutory requirements for in-region authority. On December 22, 1999, the FCC granted Bell Atlantic -- New York's application to provide long distance service to New York customers. Bell Atlantic currently has a pending petition before the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy. If the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy determines that Bell Atlantic has satisfied the statutory requirements, Bell Atlantic will seek approval from the FCC. Bell Atlantic -- New York is now able to offer integrated local and 55 59 long distance services in New York, which may give Bell Atlantic a significant competitive advantage in marketing those services to their existing local customers. The Telecommunications Act imposes restrictions on the regional Bell operating companies in connection with their entry into certain portions of the in-region long distance services market. Among other things, for the first three years, unless this time period is extended by the FCC, the regional Bell operating companies must pursue such activities only through separate subsidiaries with separate books and records, financing, management and employees. In addition, affiliate transactions with these subsidiaries must be conducted on a non-discriminatory basis. An increasingly important element of providing competitive services is the ability to offer customers high-speed broadband local connections. The FCC is considering a proposal that would allow incumbent local exchange carriers to offer these and other services through separate affiliates, in which case their network elements for providing these services would not be made available to us or other competitors. AT&T is entering into arrangements with and acquiring cable companies to use their local networks for broadband telecommunications, and several cable companies are offering broadband Internet access over their network facilities. If we are unable to meet future demands of our customers for broadband local access services on a timely basis at competitive rates, we may be at a significant competitive disadvantage. The FCC also regulates the interstate access rates charged by incumbent local exchange carriers for the origination and termination of interstate long distance traffic and DSL services. Those access rates make up a significant portion of the cost of providing such services. The FCC has implemented changes in interstate access rules that result in restructuring of the access charge system and changes in access charge rate levels. On May 21, 1999, the U.S. Court of Appeals (D.C. Circuit) sent the access rate formula back to the FCC for further explanation regarding how certain factors were calculated. These and related actions may change access rates. If the formula is upheld, and access rates are reduced, the result will be a lower cost of providing long distance service, especially to business customers. The impact of these new changes will not be known until they are fully implemented over the next several years. In a related proceeding, the FCC has adopted changes to the methodology by which access has been used in part to subsidize universal telephone service and other public policy goals. Telecommunications providers like us pay fees calculated as a percentage of their revenues to support these goals. The full implications of these changes also remain uncertain and subject to change. In addition, the FCC and the states are considering related questions regarding the applicability of access charge and universal service fees to Internet service providers. Currently, Internet service providers are not subject to traditional access charges. Many incumbent local exchange carriers and other parties have argued that access charges should be imposed on such traffic. The FCC has not ordered Internet service providers to pay access charges, but it is considering a variety of issues related to Internet and data services, and we cannot predict how the FCC or the states may decide such issues. If the FCC or state regulators decide to change rate structures for the services we employ in a way that affects our services disproportionately to the comparable services offered by competing carriers, such action could have a material adverse affect on our business. In conjunction with its interconnection decisions, the FCC has granted incumbent local exchange carriers additional flexibility in pricing their interstate special and switched-access services on a central office-specific basis. Under this pricing scheme, incumbent local exchange carriers may establish pricing zones based on access traffic density and charge different prices for central offices in each zone. We anticipate that the FCC will grant incumbent local exchange carriers increasing pricing flexibility as the number of interconnection agreements and competitors increases. The potential impact of such pricing flexibility on us and other competitors is unclear at this time. 56 60 STATE REGULATION We provide intrastate common carrier services and are subject to various state laws and regulations. Most public utility commissions require some form of certification or registration. We must acquire such authority before commencing service. In most states, we are also required to file tariffs or price lists setting forth the terms, conditions and prices for services that are classified as intrastate. We are required to update or amend these tariffs when we adjust our rates or add new products and are subject to various reporting and record-keeping requirements in these states. Many states also require prior approval for transfers of control of certified carriers, corporate reorganizations, acquisitions of telecommunications operations, assignment of carrier assets, carrier stock offerings and incurrence of significant debt obligations. States generally retain the right to sanction a carrier or to revoke certification if a carrier violates relevant laws or regulations. If any state regulatory agency were to conclude that we are or were providing intrastate services without the appropriate authority, the agency could initiate enforcement actions, which could include the imposition of fines, a requirement to disgorge revenues, or the refusal to grant the regulatory authority necessary for the future provision of intrastate telecommunications services. We hold authority to provide intrastate long distance in all states except Alaska and are in the process of obtaining intrastate toll authority in Alaska. We have authority to provide competitive local exchange service in California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee and Vermont. We have applications pending to provide resold and network- based competitive local exchange services in several other states, including Virginia, Delaware and Washington, D.C. There can be no assurance that we will receive the authorizations we seek currently or in the future. LOCAL INTERCONNECTION The Telecommunications Act imposes a duty upon all incumbent local exchange carriers to negotiate in good faith with potential interconnectors to provide interconnection to their networks, exchange local traffic, make unbundled network elements available and permit resale of most local services. In the event that negotiations do not succeed, we have a right to seek state public utility commission arbitration of any unresolved issues. Arbitration decisions involving interconnection arrangements in several states have been challenged and appealed to Federal courts. We may experience difficulty in obtaining timely incumbent local exchange carriers implementation of local interconnection agreements, and we can provide no assurance we will offer local services in these areas in accordance with our projected schedule, if at all. We have entered into interconnection agreements with Bell Atlantic of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island, Southern New England Telephone of Connecticut, and Bell South of Florida and Georgia. We have begun to negotiate similar agreements in the other states where we have obtained status as a competitive local carrier and anticipate obtaining the necessary interconnection agreements for our targeted mid-Atlantic states by August 1, 2000. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUTHORIZATIONS For construction of our local networks, we are required to obtain street use and construction permits and licenses or franchises to install and expand our fiber optic networks using municipal rights-of-way. In some municipalities, we may be required to pay license or franchise fees based on a percentage of gross revenue or on a per linear foot basis, as well as post performance 57 61 bonds or letters of credit. We can provide no assurance that we will not be required to post bonds or letters of credit in the future. In many markets, the incumbent local exchange carrier does not pay these franchise fees or pays fees that are substantially less than those that we will be required to pay. To the extent that competitors do not pay the same level of fees as we do, we could be at a competitive disadvantage. The Telecommunications Act provides, however, that any compensation extracted by states and localities for use of public rights-of-way must be fair and reasonable, applied on a competitively neutral and nondiscriminatory basis and be publicly disclosed by the government entity. 58 62 MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Our executive officers and directors, and their ages, are listed below:
NAME AGE POSITIONS - ---- --- --------- Robert T. Hale....................... 61 Chairman of the Board of Directors Robert T. Hale, Jr. ................. 33 Chief Executive Officer, President and Director James J. Crowley..................... 35 Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Secretary and Director David D. Martin*..................... 60 Director Joseph C. McNay*..................... 66 Director George C. Alex....................... 40 Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
- --------------- * Member of the audit and compensation committees. ROBERT T. HALE is one of our co-founders and has served as chairman of our board of directors since our inception in 1990. Mr. Hale is a founding member of the Telecommunications Resellers Association and has served as chairman of its Carrier Committee since 1993 and served as chairman of its board from May 1995 to May 1997. Mr. Hale was president of Hampshire Imports, the original importer of Laura Ashley Womenswear to the United States and a manufacturer of exclusive women's apparel, from 1968 to 1992. ROBERT T. HALE, JR., is one of our co-founders and has served as chief executive officer, president and a director since our inception in 1990. He was employed by U.S. Telecenters, a sales agent for NYNEX Corporation, from 1989 to 1990 and as a sales representative at MCI from 1988 to 1989. JAMES J. CROWLEY has served as executive vice president since 1994 and became chief operating officer, secretary and a director in July 1998. He was an attorney at Hale and Dorr LLP, a Boston law firm, from 1992 to 1994. DAVID D. MARTIN has served as a director since August 1998. Mr. Martin was employed by Texas Instruments from 1960 until June 1998, most recently as executive vice president. Mr. Martin is a member of the board of directors of Mathsoft. JOSEPH C. MCNAY has served as a director since August 1998. Mr. McNay serves as chairman and chief investment officer of Essex Investment Management Company, a private investment management company founded by Mr. McNay in 1976. Previously he served as executive vice president and director of Endowment Management & Research Corp. Mr. McNay serves as trustee of Children's Hospital and Children's Hospital Trust, Boston, trustee of Simmons College, trustee of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and trustee of National Public Radio. GEORGE C. ALEX has served as executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer since February 1999. From 1997 to 1998, Mr. Alex served as the managing director and head of the telecommunications practice at Prudential Securities. From 1994 to 1997, Mr. Alex was a director for Smith Barney where he was responsible for clients in the emerging telecommunications sector. 59 63 Each director serves until his successor is duly elected and qualified. Officers serve at the discretion of the board of directors. Robert T. Hale, Jr. is the son of Robert T. Hale. There are no other family relationships among our executive officers and directors. CLASSIFIED BOARD Our certificate of incorporation divides our board of directors into three classes, with one class of directors elected each year to serve a three-year term. At each annual meeting of our stockholders, the successors to the class of directors whose term expires at the meeting will be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the third year following the year of their election. Mr. Hale, Jr.'s current term will expire in 2000, Messrs. Hale's and Martin's terms will expire in 2001, and Messrs. Crowley's and McNay's terms will expire in 2002. 60 64 SELLING STOCKHOLDERS The following table sets forth the name of each selling stockholder and the number of shares of common stock and the percentage of the outstanding shares of common stock that are beneficially owned by, and being sold by, each of the selling stockholders.
SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED SHARES BENEFICIAL OWNED BEFORE THE OFFERING AFTER THE OFFERING NAME OF SELLING -------------------------- NUMBER OF SHARES ------------------------ STOCKHOLDERS NUMBER PERCENTAGE BEING OFFERED NUMBER PERCENTAGE - --------------- ------ ---------- ---------------- ------ ---------- Robert T. Hale(1)..... 22,281,333 40.5% 392,156 21,889,177 36.7% New Breeze Foundation(2)....... 98,040 * 98,040 0 --
- --------------- * Less than 1%. (1) Mr. Hale serves as the chairman of our board. The shares deemed beneficially owned by Mr. Hale include 272,000 shares held by a trust for the benefit of Mr. Hale's grandchildren, over which shares Mr. Hale has sole voting and dispositive power. Mr. Hale disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. (2) New Breeze Foundation is a charitable foundation of which Mr. Hale, Jr., our chief executive officer, president and a director, and his wife are the sole trustees and share voting and dispositive power. Mr. Hale, Jr. disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. 61 65 DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK Our corporate charter authorizes 150,000,000 shares of common stock and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of March 1, 2000, there were 55,069,441 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and held of record by 51 stockholders and no shares of preferred stock issued or outstanding. The number of stockholders of record does not include stockholders holding their shares in "street name" or through broker or nominee accounts. COMMON STOCK Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors. The holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by our board of directors out of legally available funds. If any shares of preferred stock are outstanding, the payment of dividends or other distributions on the common stock may be subject to the declaration and payment of preferential dividends on the preferred stock. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, any assets remaining after the satisfaction in full of the prior rights of creditors and the aggregate liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock will be distributed to the holders of common stock ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by them. PREFERRED STOCK Under our charter, our board of directors has the authority to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series and to determine their preferences, terms and rights. Accordingly, our board of directors has the power to establish the provisions, if any, relating to dividends, voting rights, redemption rates, sinking funds, liquidation preferences and conversion rights for any series of preferred stock issued in the future. The number of shares of preferred stock available for issuance will be reduced by the number of shares issued in our concurrent convertible preferred stock offering. One of the effects of undesignated preferred stock may be to enable our board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or otherwise, and thereby to protect the continuity of our management. The issuance of shares of the preferred stock may adversely affect the rights of the holders of common stock. For example, preferred stock issued may rank prior to the common stock as to dividend rights, liquidation preference or both, may have full or limited voting rights and may be convertible into shares of common stock. Accordingly, the issuance of shares of preferred stock may discourage bids for the common stock or may otherwise adversely affect the market price of the common stock. % SERIES A CUMULATIVE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK Pursuant to a certificate of designation that we will file immediately prior to the closing of the convertible preferred stock offering, 500,000 shares of % series A cumulative convertible preferred stock with a liquidation preference of $500 per share will be authorized for issuance. The convertible preferred stock will be subordinated to our existing, and any future, indebtedness, but will rank pari passu with any existing or future preferred stock and will have priority over our common stock. Dividends on the convertible preferred stock will be payable quarterly and accumulate at a rate of % per annum per share on a liquidation preference of $500 per share, $ per annum per share. The first dividend payment of $ per share of convertible preferred stock will be payable on July 1, 2000. Dividends may, at our option, be paid in cash, shares of common stock or a combination thereof. We must give the holders of the convertible preferred stock ten 62 66 trading days' prior notice of our intention to satisfy our dividend payment obligation by delivering common stock instead of cash. If we elect to pay a dividend with common stock, the market price of our common stock for purposes of calculating the number of shares required to satisfy the dividend payment will be equal to 95% of the arithmetic average of the closing price of our common stock on the five trading days preceding the dividend payment date. The number of shares of common stock to be delivered to the holders of the convertible preferred stock will be the amount of the relevant dividend payment divided by the market price of our common stock determined as described above. Unless previously redeemed or repurchased, the convertible preferred stock is convertible at the option of the holders at any time prior to April 1, 2012, into shares of common stock at a rate, subject to adjustment in certain events, of shares of common stock for each share of convertible preferred stock. We will be entitled to redeem the convertible preferred stock after April 10, 2005, by paying , in cash, common stock or a combination thereof, at our option. We must give the holders of the convertible preferred stock thirty days' prior notice of our intention to satisfy our redemption payment obligation by delivering common stock instead of cash. If we elect to pay the redemption price with common stock, the market price of our common stock for purposes of calculating the number of shares required to satisfy the redemption payment will be equal to 95% of the arithmetic average of the closing price of our common stock on the ten trading days following the end of the notice period specified in the redemption notice. The number of shares of common stock to be delivered to the holders of convertible preferred stock will be the amount of the redemption payment divided by the market price of our common stock determined as described above. Upon the occurrence of a change of control, as defined in the certificate of designation governing the convertible preferred stock, each holder of the convertible preferred stock has the right to require us to purchase all or a portion of the holder's convertible preferred stock at a price equal to the liquidation preference plus accumulated and unpaid dividends. We may pay the redemption price in respect of the change of control purchase obligation in cash or common stock or a combination thereof. If we pay the redemption price in common stock, the market price of our common stock will be determined the same way as if the convertible preferred stock were being redeemed by us. We will be required to redeem all the remaining shares of the convertible preferred stock on April 1, 2012. In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business, holders of the convertible preferred stock are entitled to receive the liquidation preference of $500 per share plus all accrued and unpaid dividends. Except as may be required by Delaware law, or if we fail to pay dividends for six quarters, the convertible preferred stock will have no voting rights. The convertible preferred stock will be issued in the form of 2,500,000 depositary shares, at $50 per depositary share, liquidation preference $50 per depositary share. Each depositary share represents 1/10 of a share of convertible preferred stock. UNIT WARRANTS In September 1998, we sold units consisting of shares of our series A preferred stock which we subsequently redeemed and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock. The warrants have a nominal exercise price per share. Outstanding warrants to purchase an aggregate of 1,405,333 shares of our common stock may be exercised at any time. The warrants expire on September 1, 2009. Prior to exercise, the holders do not have any voting or other rights of stockholders. The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants are subject to adjustment upon specified changes in our capitalization or corporate structure. The holders of the warrants may pay the exercise price either in cash or through a so-called cashless exercise. A cashless 63 67 exercise involves a reduction in the total number of shares obtained upon exercise by the number of shares that have an aggregate current value equal to the aggregate exercise price. Holders have the right to require us to register the shares of common stock underlying their warrants in specified circumstances. In particular, if the holders of warrants representing 50% or more of the total shares underlying the warrants so request, we must, on one occasion, register the shares underlying their warrants. This right is subject to our right to delay the registration if our board of directors determines that it would require the premature disclosure of material confidential information or for other specified reasons. OTHER WARRANTS In connection with an amendment to our credit facility, we issued warrants to purchase an aggregate of 22,666 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $.01 per share, of which 11,333 have been exercised and 11,333 remain exercisable. The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants are subject to adjustment upon specified changes in our capitalization or corporate structure. The warrants may be exercised at any time. The holders of the warrants may pay the exercise price through a cashless exercise. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS Our charter eliminates the personal liability of our directors to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware corporate law. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS Our charter provides that our directors and officers shall be indemnified by us to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware corporate law, as it now exists or may in the future be amended, against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred in connection with service for or on behalf of us. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to our charter, 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. We have purchased a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of our directors and officers arising out of claims based on acts and omissions in their capacity as directors and officers. CHARTER AND BY-LAW PROVISIONS We have certain charter and by-law provisions that may have the effect of discouraging, delaying or making more difficult a change in control of us or preventing the removal of incumbent directors even if a majority of our stockholders were to deem such an attempt to be in our best interests. These provisions include a classified board of directors, limitations in the manner in which directors are elected and limitations on matters that may be presented at meetings by stockholders. TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company. 64 68 DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS AND CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK OFFERING SENIOR CREDIT FACILITY In October 1998, we entered into a loan and security agreement with Goldman Sachs Credit Partners, an affiliate of Goldman Sachs, and Fleet National Bank through which we obtained access to a credit facility. We amended this agreement effective January 1, 1999 to provide us with additional operating flexibility. As amended, this 18-month facility provides revolving loans in an aggregate amount of up to $60 million. Availability under this facility is based upon formulas using accounts receivable and collections. Advances under the facility bear interest at 1.0% over The Chase Manhattan Bank's prime rate. We pay monthly net facility fees and an annual line fee on the unused portion of this facility. Advances under the facility are secured by a continuing security interest in all of our tangible and intangible assets. Under this facility we have agreed, among other things, to achieve minimum EBITDA and revenue targets, not to exceed a maximum debt-to-revenue ratio, and not to, without the prior written consent of the lenders, incur additional indebtedness, undertake any corporate reorganization, dispose of any of our assets, declare or pay any dividends or undertake other specified actions, except as specifically permitted under this facility. As of January 1, 1999, this facility was amended to permit us to make an initial public offering of our common stock and to modify certain financial covenants. Although this facility was to mature on April 7, 2000, we entered into an amendment to the facility which extended the maturity date until December 31, 2000, and also modified certain financial covenants. As of December 31, 1999, there was no principal outstanding under this facility. COMDISCO CAPITAL LEASE FACILITY In December 1998, we entered into a capital lease facility with Comdisco through Network Plus, Inc., our operating subsidiary. We guaranteed the indebtedness outstanding under this facility. On March 8, 2000, we extended this facility so that an additional $29 million is available for continued network expansion through December 31, 2000. As of December 31, 1999, we had $41.9 million of property purchased under this facility. We have used this facility to finance our switching and co-location equipment for a five-year term and other electronic and information technology equipment in various locations for a three-year term. Payments are calculated as a variable percentage of the purchase price of the property using an interest rate that floats with the five-year U.S. Treasury Rate with respect to each advance and are payable quarterly. At the end of each lease term we have the option to purchase the equipment for an amount no greater than 85% of the retail fair market value of the equipment. RECENT FINANCING DEVELOPMENTS ANTICIPATED NEW SENIOR SECURED CREDIT FACILITIES On March 8, 2000, we received a commitment from Goldman Sachs Credit Partners to provide and syndicate new senior secured credit facilities in a total principal amount of up to $225 million. The senior secured credit facilities will consist of: - a revolving credit facility in the principal amount of up to $150 million, and - a delayed draw term loan facility in the principal amount of up to $75 million. These senior secured credit facilities will replace our existing $60 million credit facility and will be used for working capital purposes and the purchase and acquisition of telecommunications 65 69 assets. These facilities are expected to become available on or about June 1, 2000. Advances under the delayed draw term loan facility will be available only in the first year after the closing of the senior secured credit facilities. The loans under the proposed facilities will bear interest at a per annum rate equal to either a variable base rate plus an applicable margin, or the LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin, at our option. The applicable margin will be determined by Goldman Sachs Credit Partners at the time of syndication based on market and other factors, including conditions in the bank loan syndication market. Principal on the delayed draw term loan will be amortized and the commitments under the revolving loan will be reduced 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% in each of years four through seven of the credit facilities. In addition, subject to customary baskets and exceptions, the credit facilities will be reduced by the net proceeds from asset sales that are not reinvested within a to be agreed upon amount of time and, beginning in year five of the facilities, by 50% of our excess cash flow, on a consolidated basis. Our obligations under the new senior secured credit facilities will be unconditionally and irrevocably guaranteed, jointly and severally, by us (to the extent we are not the borrower) and by each of our existing and subsequently acquired or organized subsidiaries. In addition, the senior secured credit facilities and the guarantees thereunder will be secured by substantially all of our assets, including but not limited to: - a first priority pledge of all the capital stock of each of our existing and subsequently acquired or organized subsidiaries (other than our Australian subsidiary), and - a perfected first priority security interest in, and mortgage on, substantially all of our tangible and intangible assets. Our ability to obtain the senior secured credit facilities is subject to customary conditions, including no material adverse change in our business. In addition, the proposed senior secured credit facilities are subject to the negotiation and execution of definitive documentation, which is likely to contain customary representations, warranties, covenants and other provisions. The documentation will also contain certain financial covenants which will change depending upon our performance. The senior secured credit facilities will contain covenants that, among other things, restrict our ability to dispose of assets, incur additional indebtedness, incur guarantee obligations, prepay other indebtedness or amend other debt instruments, pay dividends, create liens on assets, enter into sale and leaseback transactions, make investments, loans or advances, make acquisitions, engage in mergers or consolidations, change our business, make capital expenditures, or engage in certain transactions with affiliates and otherwise restrict certain corporate activities. The financial covenants and others may include EBITDA thresholds, ratios of debt to capitalization, assets or EBITDA, a fixed charge or interest coverage ratio, and certain limitations on capital expenditures. The senior secured credit facilities will contain customary events of default, including payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, cross-defaults to certain other indebtedness, certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency, ERISA events, judgment defaults, actual or asserted invalidity of any security interest and change of control. CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK OFFERING Concurrently with this offering of common stock, we intend to issue 250,000 shares of our % series A cumulative convertible preferred stock in an underwritten public offering. If the underwriters in the convertible preferred stock offering exercise their over-allotment option, we will issue 287,500 shares. The offering of the convertible preferred stock is conditioned upon completion of the offering of common stock under this prospectus. We expect the convertible preferred stock to be issued on or about the date hereof. The aggregate offering price of the convertible preferred stock will be $125 million. We will be required to redeem the convertible 66 70 preferred stock on , 2012. The convertible preferred stock will be represented by 2,500,000 depositary shares, with an offering price of $50 per depositary share, liquidation preference $50 per depositary share ($500 per share of convertible preferred stock). Each depositary share represents 1/10 of a share of the convertible preferred stock. If the underwriters in the convertible preferred stock offering exercise their over-allotment, we will not adjust the ratio of depositary share to convertible preferred share. We will issue additional depositary shares in the amount necessary to continue to have each depositary share represent 1/10 of a share of convertible preferred stock. Please see "Description of Capital Stock -- % Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock" beginning on page 62 to read about the terms of the convertible preferred stock. 67 71 UNDERWRITING Network Plus, the selling stockholders and the underwriters have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the shares being offered. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the number of shares indicated in the following table. Goldman, Sachs & Co., Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Fidelity Capital Markets, a division of National Financial Services Corporation, and Kaufman Bros., L.P. are the representatives of the underwriters.
NUMBER OF UNDERWRITERS SHARES - ------------ --------- Goldman, Sachs & Co. ....................................... Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. ................................... Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation......... Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.......... Fidelity Capital Markets, a division of National Financial Services Corporation...................................... Kaufman Bros., L.P. ........................................ --------- Total.................................................. 5,000,000 =========
If the underwriters sell more shares than the total number set forth in the table above, they have an option to buy up to an additional 750,000 shares from us to cover such sales. They may exercise that option for 30 days. If any shares are purchased pursuant to this option, the underwriters will severally purchase shares in approximately the same proportion as set forth in the table above. The following tables show the per share and the underwriting discount to be paid to the underwriters by us and by the selling stockholders. Such amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters' option to purchase additional shares.
PAID BY NETWORK PLUS NO EXERCISE FULL EXERCISE - -------------------- ----------- ------------- Per share.................................................. $ $ Total...................................................... $ $ PAID BY SELLING STOCKHOLDERS - ----------------------------------------------------------- Per share.................................................. $ $ Total...................................................... $ $
Shares sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial price to public set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any shares sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount of up to $ per share from the initial price to public. Any such securities dealers may resell any shares purchased from the underwriters to other brokers or dealers at a discount of up to $ per share from the initial price to public. If not all of the shares are sold at the public offering price, the representatives may change the initial price to public and the other selling terms. Network Plus and its directors and officers have agreed with the underwriters not to dispose of or hedge any of their common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock during the 90-day period following the date of this prospectus, except with the prior written consent of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Network Plus. Goldman, Sachs & Co. has agreed to permit Network Plus to issue, sell, offer or agree to sell outstanding shares within 90 days after the date of this prospectus in connection with mergers, acquisitions or other business combinations, provided that the acquiror or buyer of such shares agrees not to issue, 68 72 sell, offer or agree to sell such shares during such 90-day period. This agreement covers the period from the date of this prospectus through the date 90 days after the date of this prospectus. This agreement does not apply to any of Network Plus' existing employee or director stock plans. In connection with this offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares of common stock in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock while this offering is in progress. The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased shares sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions. These activities by the underwriters may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the common stock. As a result, the price of the common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected on the Nasdaq National Market, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. Network Plus and the selling stockholders estimate that their share of the total expenses of this offering, excluding the underwriting discount, will be approximately $1.4 million and $0.1 million, respectively. Network Plus has agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Goldman Sachs Credit Partners, L.P., an affiliate of Goldman, Sachs & Co., has entered into a commitment letter with Network Plus to act as a lender and as administrative agent under the new senior secured credit facilities for which it will receive customary fees, commissions and reimbursement of expenses. Each of the underwriters may serve as a financial advisor to Network Plus from time to time in the future. See "Description of Certain Indebtedness -- Senior Credit Facility" and "-- Recent Financing Developments" for a description of certain arrangements that have been entered into between Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Network Plus. LEGAL MATTERS The validity of the common stock will be passed upon for us by Hale and Dorr LLP, Boston, Massachusetts and for the underwriters by Cravath, Swaine & Moore, New York, New York. EXPERTS Our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 1998 and 1999 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1999 have been included in this prospectus in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of that firm as experts in accounting and auditing. WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares to be sold in this offering. This prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the shares to be sold in this offering, please refer to the 69 73 registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other document are not necessarily complete, and in each instance reference is made to the copy of each contract, agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. You may read and copy all or any portion of the registration statement or any reports, statements or other information we file at the SEC's public reference room at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.C., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at its regional offices located at Seven World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048 and 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. You can request copies of these documents upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference rooms. Our filings, including the registration statement, are also available to you on the SEC's Internet site at www.sec.gov. We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and therefore we file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can inspect and copy the reports, proxy statements and other information that we file at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at the Public Reference Room, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the SEC's regional offices located at 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York, 10048 and 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. You can also obtain copies of such material from the SEC's Public Reference Room at 450 Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The SEC also makes electronic filings publicly available on its Web site within 24 hours of acceptance. Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the trading symbol "NPLS." INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supercede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until we sell all of the securities: (a) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998; (b) Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1999, June 30, 1999 and September 30, 1999; and (c) The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on June 9, 1999. You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning the office of the treasurer, Network Plus, 234 Copeland Street, Quincy, MA 02169, telephone number (617) 786-4000. 70 74 NETWORK PLUS CORP. INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PAGE ---- Report of Independent Accountants........................... F-2 Consolidated Financial Statements: Consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 1998 and 1999................................................... F-3 Consolidated statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999....................... F-4 Consolidated statements of stockholders' equity (deficit) for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999... F-5 Consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999....................... F-6 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.................. F-7
F-1 75 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Network Plus Corp.: In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity (deficit) and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Network Plus Corp. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 1998 and 1999, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1999, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States, which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above. /s/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP Boston, Massachusetts February 28, 2000, except for the information presented in Note 24 for which the date is March 8, 2000 F-2 76 NETWORK PLUS CORP. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31, ---------------------- 1998 1999 ---- ---- (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents................................. $ 12,197 $ 43,031 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $773 and $2,624, respectively............... 16,225 31,814 Prepaid expenses.......................................... 760 489 Deferred taxes............................................ 277 -- Other current assets...................................... 1,591 958 -------- -------- Total current assets.................................... 31,050 76,292 PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET................................. 15,822 101,944 OTHER ASSETS................................................ 821 1,117 INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET...................................... -- 3,286 INVESTMENT.................................................. -- 3,333 DEFERRED TAXES.............................................. 1,175 -- -------- -------- TOTAL ASSETS............................................ $ 48,868 $185,972 ======== ======== LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) CURRENT LIABILITIES: Accounts payable.......................................... $ 11,402 $ 48,704 Accrued liabilities....................................... 2,617 6,370 Current portion capital lease obligations................. 863 11,346 -------- -------- Total current liabilities............................... 14,882 66,420 LONG-TERM CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS......................... 3,147 28,188 LONG-TERM NOTE PAYABLE TO STOCKHOLDER....................... 1,875 1,875 DEFERRED TAXES.............................................. 491 -- OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES................................. 50 208 COMMITMENTS REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK 13.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock due 2009, $.01 par value, 50 shares authorized, 40 shares and none issued and outstanding, respectively.................... 35,146 -- STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT) Common Stock, $.01 par value, 150,000 shares authorized, 45,333 and 54,795 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 1998 and 1999, respectively.................. 453 548 Additional paid-in capital.................................. -- 138,767 Stock subscription receivable............................... -- (155) Warrants.................................................... 4,359 4,405 Other Comprehensive Income.................................. -- 833 Accumulated deficit......................................... (11,535) (55,117) -------- -------- Total stockholders' equity (deficit).................... (6,723) 89,281 -------- -------- TOTAL LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)........................ $ 48,868 $185,972 ======== ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. F-3 77 NETWORK PLUS CORP. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, -------------------------------------- 1997 1998 1999 ---- ---- ---- (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) Revenues................................................ $ 98,209 $105,545 $152,520 Operating expenses Costs of services..................................... 78,106 78,443 122,664 Selling, general and administrative expenses.......... 25,704 29,426 51,709 Depreciation and amortization......................... 994 2,037 8,564 -------- -------- -------- 104,804 109,906 182,937 -------- -------- -------- Operating loss.......................................... (6,595) (4,361) (30,417) Other income (expense) Interest income....................................... 86 395 1,896 Interest expense...................................... (557) (1,474) (3,804) Other income, net..................................... 3,917 151 432 -------- -------- -------- 3,446 (928) (1,476) -------- -------- -------- Net loss before income taxes............................ (3,149) (5,289) (31,893) Provision (benefit) for income taxes.................... 42 (906) 961 -------- -------- -------- Net loss................................................ (3,191) (4,383) (32,854) Preferred stock dividends and accretion of offering expenses and discount................................. -- (2,005) (10,725) -------- -------- -------- Net loss applicable to common stockholders.............. $ (3,191) $ (6,388) $(43,579) ======== ======== ======== Net loss per share applicable to common stockholders -- basic and diluted..................................... $ (0.07) $ (0.14) $ (0.87) ======== ======== ======== Weighted average shares outstanding -- basic and diluted............................................... 45,333 45,333 49,969 ======== ======== ======== Pro forma data: Historical loss before income taxes..................... $ (3,149) $ (5,289) $(32,854) Pro forma benefit for income taxes...................... (1,094) (1,904) -- -------- -------- -------- Pro forma net loss...................................... (2,055) (3,385) (32,854) Historical preferred stock dividends and accretion of offering expenses..................................... -- (2,005) (10,725) -------- -------- -------- Pro forma net loss applicable to common stockholders.... $ (2,055) $ (5,390) $(43,579) ======== ======== ======== Pro forma net loss per share applicable to common stockholders -- basic and diluted..................... $ (0.05) $ (0.12) $ (0.87) ======== ======== ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. F-4 78 NETWORK PLUS CORP. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
COMMON STOCK, OTHER SHARES OF $0.01 ADDITIONAL STOCK COMPRE- COMMON PAR PAID-IN SUBSCRIPTION HENSIVE STOCK VALUE CAPITAL RECEIVABLE WARRANTS INCOME --------- ------ ---------- ------------ -------- ------- (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) Balance at December 31, 1996....................... 45,333 $453 Net loss.................... Distributions to stockholders............... ------ ---- -------- ----- ------ ---- Balance at December 31, 1997....................... 45,333 453 -- -- -- -- Net loss.................... Distributions to stockholders............... Common stock dividends...... Issuance of 1,405 warrants................... $4,359 Dividends on preferred stock...................... Accretion of preferred stock offering expenses and discount................... ------ ---- -------- ----- ------ ---- Balance at December 31, 1998....................... 45,333 453 -- -- 4,359 -- Net loss.................... Distributions to stockholders............... Issuance of 23 warrants..... 92 Issuance of common stock in initial public offering.... 9,200 92 $135,504 Option exercise............. 96 1 628 (155) Issuance of common stock in connection with acquisition................ 155 2 2,431 Deferred compensation charge..................... 158 Dividends on preferred stock...................... Accretion of preferred stock offering expenses and discount................... Preferred stock dividend for premium paid on redemption of preferred stock......... Warrant exercise............ 11 46 (46) Unrealized investment gain....................... 833 Comprehensive loss.......... ------ ---- -------- ----- ------ ---- Balance at December 31, 1999....................... 54,795 $548 $138,767 $(155) $4,405 $833 ====== ==== ======== ===== ====== ==== RETAINED TOTAL EARNINGS STOCKHOLDERS' COMPRE- (ACCUMULATED EQUITY HENSIVE DEFICIT) (DEFICIT) LOSS ------------ ------------- ------- (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) Balance at December 31, 1996....................... $ 3,648 $ 4,101 Net loss.................... (3,191) (3,191) Distributions to stockholders............... (601) (601) -------- -------- Balance at December 31, 1997....................... (144) 309 Net loss.................... (4,383) (4,383) Distributions to stockholders............... (3) (3) Common stock dividends...... (5,000) (5,000) Issuance of 1,405 warrants................... 4,359 Dividends on preferred stock...................... (1,814) (1,814) Accretion of preferred stock offering expenses and discount................... (191) (191) -------- -------- Balance at December 31, 1998....................... (11,535) (6,723) Net loss.................... (32,854) (32,854) (32,854) Distributions to stockholders............... (3) (3) Issuance of 23 warrants..... 92 Issuance of common stock in initial public offering.... 135,596 Option exercise............. 474 Issuance of common stock in connection with acquisition................ 2,433 Deferred compensation charge..................... 158 Dividends on preferred stock...................... (2,870) (2,870) Accretion of preferred stock offering expenses and discount................... (286) (286) Preferred stock dividend for premium paid on redemption of preferred stock......... (7,569) (7,569) Warrant exercise............ -- Unrealized investment gain....................... 833 833 -------- Comprehensive loss.......... $(32,021) -------- -------- ======== Balance at December 31, 1999....................... $(55,117) $ 89,281 ======== ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. F-5 79 NETWORK PLUS CORP. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------- 1997 1998 1999 ---- ---- ---- (IN THOUSANDS) Cash flows from operating activities: Net loss................................................ $(3,191) $ (4,383) $(32,854) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used for) operating activities: Depreciation and amortization........................ 994 2,037 8,565 Gain on disposal of fixed assets..................... -- -- 18 Deferred taxes....................................... -- (961) 961 Interest payable on note payable to stockholder...... -- -- 158 Valuation of Tel-Save common stock warrants.......... (3,837) -- -- Valuation of common stock warrants................... -- -- 92 Compensation expense related to issuance of stock options............................................ -- -- 158 Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effect of acquisition: Accounts receivable.................................. (1,955) 702 (15,559) Prepaid expenses..................................... (107) (345) 271 Other current assets................................. (19) (1,479) 633 Other long-term assets............................... (34) (718) (299) Accounts payable..................................... 8,022 (6,043) 24,146 Accrued liabilities.................................. 311 422 16,791 Other liabilities.................................... -- -- 621 ------- -------- -------- Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities...................................... 184 (10,768) 3,702 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures.................................... (3,363) (10,919) (52,337) Proceeds from sale of fixed assets...................... 9 17 -- Purchase of investment.................................. -- -- (2,500) Proceeds from sale of Tel-Save common stock............. -- 9,500 -- Exercise of Tel-Save common stock warrants.............. (3,570) -- -- Cash paid for acquisition............................... -- -- (300) Transaction fees paid for acquisition................... -- -- (152) Issuance of note receivable............................. -- -- (448) Proceeds from sale and leaseback of fixed assets........ 3,450 -- 4,516 ------- -------- -------- Net cash used for investing activities............. (3,474) (1,402) (51,221) Cash flows from financing activities: Net proceeds from (payments on) line of credit.......... 2,510 (4,510) -- Principal payments on capital lease obligations......... (1,110) (5,307) (11,843) Proceeds from stockholder loan.......................... 1,755 1,875 -- Payments on stockholder loans........................... -- (1,755) -- Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock and warrants............................................. -- 37,500 -- Payment on redemption of preferred stock................ -- -- (45,871) Net proceeds from issuance of common stock.............. -- -- 136,070 Distribution to stockholders............................ (601) (5,003) (3) ------- -------- -------- Net cash provided by financing activities.......... 2,554 22,800 78,353 ------- -------- -------- Net increase (decrease) in cash........................... (736) 10,630 30,834 Cash at beginning of year................................. 2,303 1,567 12,197 ------- -------- -------- Cash at end of year....................................... $ 1,567 $ 12,197 $ 43,031 ======= ======== ========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. F-6 80 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Business Activity Network Plus Corp. (the "Company") is a network-based communications provider offering a comprehensive suite of broadband data, telecommunications and e.Commerce hosting services. The Company's bundled product offerings include local and long distance voice services and high-speed data, Internet and web and managed server hosting services. Since 1990, the Company has provided its services primarily to small and medium-sized businesses located in major markets in the northeastern and southeastern regions of the United States. The Company also provides international wholesale termination and transport services primarily to major domestic and international telecommunication carriers. Revenue is also derived from the sale of local and long distance services, data and Internet services, toll-free services and calling card and paging services. All revenues are billed and collected in U.S. dollars. The Company's ability to meet its projected growth will require substantial cash resources. In the event the Company is unable to raise sufficient additional capital, it intends to scale back and delay its anticipated network and operational infrastructure expansion. Basis of Presentation On July 15, 1998, Network Plus Corp. was incorporated in the State of Delaware. The stockholders of Network Plus, Inc. contributed 100% of their shares to the Company, in return for an aggregate of 45,333,333 shares of the common stock. Accordingly, Network Plus, Inc. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. The Company's consolidated financial statements reflect the financial position and results of operations of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Network Plus, Inc. All intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation. For periods prior to the formation of the Company on July 15, 1998, the financial statements reflect the activities of Network Plus, Inc., as it was the sole operating entity. Cash Equivalents All highly liquid cash investments with maturities of three months or less at date of purchase are considered to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 1998 and 1999, $1,063 and $271, respectively, of cash equivalents are restricted for use as collateral for outstanding letters of credit. Property and Equipment Property and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful life of the improvements. Upon retirement or other disposition of property and equipment, the cost and related depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is reflected in earnings. On January 1, 1999, the Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Position (SOP) 98-1, "Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use." Accordingly, the Company capitalizes costs associated with the design and implementation of the Company's internal use software. Capitalized external software costs include the actual costs to purchase existing software from vendors. Capitalized internal software costs generally include personnel costs incurred in the enhancement and implementation of purchased software F-7 81 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) packages. Through December 31, 1999, $2.8 million of costs have been capitalized in accordance with SOP 98-1. Intangible Assets Intangible assets consist principally of goodwill and acquired customer base. Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired and is being amortized using the straight-line method over three years. Customer base represents the fair value of the customer base obtained in acquisitions (see Note 3) and is being amortized using the straight-line method over a period of 6 months to one year. The carrying value of the intangible assets is reviewed on a quarterly and annual basis for the existence of facts or circumstances both internally and externally that may suggest impairment. To date, no such impairment has occurred. The Company determines whether an impairment has occurred based on gross expected future cash flows and measures the amount of the impairment based on the related future estimated discounted cash flows. The cash flow estimates used to determine the impairment, if any, contain management's best estimates, using appropriate and customary assumptions and projections at that time. Capital Leases Capital leases, those leases which transfer substantially all benefits and risks of ownership, are accounted for as acquisitions of assets and incurrences of obligations. Capital lease amortization is included in depreciation and amortization expense, with the amortization period equal to the estimated useful life of the assets. Interest on the related obligation is recognized over the lease term at a constant periodic rate. Revenue Recognition and Accounts Receivable Telecommunication and related data services revenues and accounts receivable are recognized when calls are completed or when services are provided. Revenues related to nonrecurring installation and activation fees are deferred and recognized over the period of the customer service contract. The related direct costs are capitalized and recognized to expense over the period of the customer service contract. To date, such fees and costs have been immaterial. Accounts receivable include both billed and unbilled amounts, and are reduced by an estimate for uncollectible amounts. Unbilled amounts result from the Company's monthly billing cycles and reflect telecommunications services provided in the 30 days prior to the reporting date. These amounts are billed within 30 days subsequent to the reporting date and are expected to be collected under standard terms offered to customers. Unbilled amounts were $8,563 and $13,295 at December 31, 1998, and 1999, respectively. Costs of Services Costs of services include costs of origination, transport and termination of traffic, exclusive of depreciation and amortization. Costs associated with co-location facilities including rent and access charges for facilities which are not operational are included in selling, general and administrative expenses. When the facilities are considered operational the related costs are F-8 82 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) included in costs of services. To date these costs included in selling, general and administrative expenses have been immaterial. Income Taxes Effective March 1, 1992, the Company elected by the consent of its stockholders to be taxed under the provisions of Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code. Under those provisions, the Company did not pay corporate Federal income taxes on its taxable income. Instead, the stockholders were liable for individual income taxes on their share of the Company's taxable income. The issuance of preferred stock on September 3, 1998 terminated the Company's election to be taxed under the provisions of Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, subsequent to September 3, 1998, the Company provides for and reports statutory Federal and state income taxes, as necessary. These financial statements also present, on a pro forma basis, Federal and state income taxes assuming the Company had been a C Corporation for all periods presented. The Company accounts for income taxes under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109 ("SFAS 109"), "Accounting for Income Taxes". SFAS 109 is an asset and liability approach that requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company's financial statements or tax returns. In estimating future tax consequences, SFAS 109 generally considers all expected future events other than enactment of changes in the tax law or rates. Earnings (Loss) Per Share The Company computes and reports earnings per share in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 128, "Earnings Per Share". The computations of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share are based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and potentially dilutive securities. Potentially dilutive securities include convertible preferred stock, stock options and warrants. Pro forma net loss per share reflecting the Company's conversion from an S Corporation to a C Corporation is presented using an estimated effective income tax rate of approximately 35% to 36%. Concentration of Risk Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of trade accounts receivable. In addition, risk exists in cash deposited in banks that may, at times, be in excess of FDIC insurance limits. The trade accounts receivable risk is limited due to the breadth of entities comprising the Company's customer base and their dispersion across different industries and geographical regions. The Company evaluates the credit worthiness of customers, as appropriate, and maintains an adequate allowance for potential uncollectible accounts. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts F-9 83 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Reclassifications Certain amounts in the financial statements for prior years have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation. Such reclassifications had no effect on previously reported results of operations. 2. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS In September 1998, one of the Company's stockholders made a loan to the Company for $1,875. Interest on the loan accrues at the prime rate (8.5% at December 31, 1999). Accrued interest on this loan, included in other long-term assets, totaled $50 and $209 at December 31, 1998 and December 31, 1999, respectively. Principal and interest will be payable July 31, 2001. On December 31, 1997, the Company's stockholders made loans to the Company totaling $1,755. Interest on the loans accrued at the prevailing prime rate and was payable monthly. Interest expense related to these loans totaled $49 in 1998. There was no required period for principal repayment. The loans were repaid in May 1998. Office space, located in Quincy is leased from a trust, the beneficiaries of which are the principal stockholders of the Company. The Company makes monthly rental and condominium fee payments to the trust of $71 relating to the Quincy space. The Company paid $680 to the trust in 1997, $808 in 1998 and $849 in 1999. Additionally, the Company is currently negotiating a long-term lease for an 80,000 square foot facility in Randolph, Massachusetts with a company that is wholly owned by the principal stockholders of Network Plus. 3. ACQUISITIONS On November 30, 1999, the Company acquired certain assets of Infohouse Inc. for cash of $300, a note payable of $200 and 155,039 shares of common stock of the Company with a fair market value of $2,432. The transaction was accounted for using the purchase method. The aggregate purchase price of $3,408 included assumed liabilities of $476 which consisted primarily of capital leases. The fair value of net tangible assets acquired was $385 which consisted primarily of computer, network and communications equipment. The remaining purchase price was allocated to customer base and goodwill. The $1,206 allocated to the customer base is being amortized over a one year period and the goodwill is being amortized over a three year period. On December 17, 1999, the Company acquired certain customers from a reseller of the Company's services in exchange for the forgiveness of a $448 note receivable. In addition, the Company is committed to pay up to $211 if specific customer retention targets are met. Should those payments be made, the amounts will be capitalized as customer base and amortized over the expected weighted-average remaining customer life. The transaction was accounted for using the purchase method. The purchase price of $448 was allocated to the fair value of the customer base, which is being amortized over a six month period. The results of operations of the acquired company would not have had a material impact on the actual results reported for the year ended December 31, 1998 and 1999 had the transaction been consummated at the beginning of each respective year. F-10 84 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) 4. INVESTMENTS AND TRANSFER OF CUSTOMERS In 1995, the Company transferred (the "Transfer") certain customers to whom it provided long distance and toll free telecommunications services pursuant to certain AT&T resale contracts (the "AT&T contracts") to Tel-Save Holdings, Inc. ("Tel-Save"). Concurrent with the Transfer, the Company's obligations to AT&T under the AT&T contracts were terminated without obligation or liability on behalf of the Company. Prior to the time of this transaction, there was no value recorded in the financial statements related to these customers. In exchange for the Transfer, the Company received four separate warrants to purchase a total of 1,365,000 shares of Tel-Save common stock at an exercise price of $4.67 per share (after reflecting stock splits through December 31, 1997). Each warrant vested to the Company separately based on the retail revenue generated by Tel-Save with respect to the transferred customers, which had to exceed specified levels for three consecutive months. The warrants expired at various dates through 1997. In addition to the Warrant Agreements, the Company was subject to a Voting Rights Agreement whereby Tel-Save retained the right to hold and vote the stock until the point in time when the Company informed Tel-Save it wished to sell the stock. Upon receiving such notice from the Company, Tel-Save was obligated to either purchase the stock at the price offered by the Company or, alternatively, was to deliver the common stock certificates to the Company. In 1996, the vesting requirements were met to exercise the first three warrants. The vesting requirement for the first warrant was met at the end of the third quarter of 1996, entitling the Company to purchase 600,000 shares of Tel-Save common stock. The Company exercised this warrant and sold the related common stock, which had previously been registered, resulting in net proceeds and other income of $1,370 in the third quarter of 1996. The vesting requirements with respect to the second and third warrants were met in November 1996. The second warrant entitled the Company to purchase 300,000 shares of Tel-Save common stock prior to January 8, 1997. The third warrant entitled the Company to purchase 150,000 shares of Tel-Save Common stock prior to June 10, 1997. The warrants were valued upon vesting at approximately $2,093 using the Black-Scholes valuation model. The significant assumptions in the valuation model were an interest rate of 5.1%, warrant lives reflecting the respective expiration periods, expected volatility of 50% and no dividend rate. At December 31, 1996, the warrants had not yet been exercised and were classified as investments. The value of the warrants at December 31, 1996 was the fair value recorded by the Company at the date of vesting. Other income of $2,093 related to the second and third warrants was recognized in the fourth quarter of 1996. On January 6, 1997, the Company exercised the second and third warrants and paid Tel-Save the total exercise price of $2,100. The vesting requirement with respect to the fourth warrant was met in June 1997, entitling the Company to purchase 315,000 shares of Tel-Save common stock. The fourth warrant was valued upon vesting at approximately $3,415 using Black-Scholes valuation model. The significant assumptions in the valuation model were an interest rate of 5.1%, a warrant life reflecting the June 1997 expiration period, expected volatility of 50% and no dividend rate. On June 4, 1997, the Company exercised the warrant, paid Tel-Save the exercise price of $1,470 and recorded other income of approximately $3,415. On November 7, 1997, Tel-Save filed a registration statement with the SEC, listing the Company as a selling shareholder with respect to 765,000 shares (the total shares purchased by the Company, after reflecting stock splits, under the second, third and fourth warrants). Following the registration of the common stock, the Company intended to immediately sell the F-11 85 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) shares of Tel-Save, which had a market value of approximately $16,600 at that date, as it had done previously with the first warrant. Accordingly, all activities necessary for the transfer of the certificates were completed and the Company issued a demand to Tel-Save for the common stock certificates or, alternatively, requested that Tel-Save purchase the shares. Throughout the remainder of the fourth quarter, Tel-Save refused to deliver the common stock certificates to the Company. In order to take physical possession of the Tel-Save common stock certificates, the Company filed a lawsuit against Tel-Save in January 1998. On June 24, 1998, a settlement agreement was signed between the parties pursuant to which the Company received a total of $9,500 from Tel-Save. As part of the settlement, all 765,000 shares were either returned to or repurchased by Tel-Save. Following the June 1998 settlement, there are no continuing obligations between the parties. Accordingly, the Company's investment in Tel-Save at December 31, 1997 was valued at the final negotiated payment. This settlement resulted in approximately $422 of other income, recorded in the fourth quarter of 1997. 5. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
DECEMBER 31, ESTIMATED ------------------- USEFUL LIFE 1998 1999 ----------- ---- ---- Network infrastructure and equipment................ 5 and 10 $13,247 $ 50,276 years Computer equipment.................................. 3-5 years 3,145 5,228 Office furniture and equipment...................... 7 years 1,393 1,975 Software............................................ 3 years 1,245 6,325 Motor vehicles...................................... 5 years 201 256 Leasehold improvements.............................. Term of Lease 689 7,959 Construction in progress............................ -- 40,355 ------- -------- 19,920 112,374 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization...... (4,098) (10,430) ------- -------- $15,822 $101,944 ======= ========
Property and equipment under capital leases are as follows:
DECEMBER 31, ------------------ 1998 1999 ---- ---- Network infrastructure and equipment................... $ 3,837 $34,770 Computer equipment..................................... 1,527 2,062 Motor vehicles......................................... 55 99 Construction in Process................................ -- 9,696 ------- ------- 5,419 46,627 Less accumulated amortization.......................... (1,701) (4,004) ------- ------- $ 3,718 $42,623 ======= =======
Depreciation and amortization expense related to property and equipment for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999 amounted to $994, $2,037 and $8,379, respectively. F-12 86 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) In August 1997, upon review of the Company's experience and expectations for upgrades and replacement of equipment, including information gathered during the process of financing such equipment, the Company changed its estimate of the useful life of its telecommunications equipment from 12 years to 5 years. The Company also reviewed publicly available industry data on telecommunications equipment, which confirmed that the estimate of useful lives of the Company's telecommunications equipment, which was entirely switching equipment at that time, reasonably approximated 5 years. The Company also assessed that there had been no significant decline in the market value of its switching equipment since purchased and that the market value exceeded the net book value of the equipment at the time of the change in estimate. This was confirmed by the Company's ability to enter into a sale and leaseback of the switches for the approximate book value, completed at the same time as the change in estimate. During 1999, the Company began purchasing fiber optic capacity, which is being depreciated over its estimated useful life of 10 years. Depreciation expense in 1997 was approximately $136 more than what would have otherwise been reported had the change in estimate not been made. Annual depreciation expense related to these assets will be approximately $407 more through 2002 than what would have otherwise been reported had the change not been made. In November 1997, the Company entered into a sale and leaseback of its switching equipment. The equipment was sold at book value, which approximates market value, and, consequently, no gain or loss was recorded on the sale. This lease was refinanced, effective January 1, 1999. See Note 10. 6. INTANGIBLE ASSETS Intangible assets consist of the following:
DECEMBER 31, -------------- USEFUL 1998 1999 LIVES ---- ------ -------------- Acquired customer base.................................... $ -- $1,654 6 to 12 months Goodwill.................................................. -- 1,817 3 years Less accumulated amortization............................. -- (185) ---- ------ Intangible assets, net.................................... $ -- $3,286 ==== ======
7. ACCRUED LIABILITIES
DECEMBER 31, ----------------- 1998 1999 ---- ---- Accrued payroll and related expenses.................... $ 821 $2,083 Accrued agency commissions.............................. 285 817 Accrued professional services........................... 123 276 Customer deposits....................................... 142 428 Other accrued liabilities............................... 1,246 2,766 ------- ------ $ 2,617 $6,370 ======= ======
F-13 87 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) 8. REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENTS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT The Company had a revolving line of credit with Fleet National Bank ("Fleet") for borrowings up to $7,000, including letters of credit, which was refinanced on May 1, 1998, as described below. On May 1, 1998, the Company entered into a senior credit agreement with Fleet, which allowed for up to $23,000 of borrowings, based upon a percentage of accounts receivable. This agreement had a term of three years, but was terminated on October 7, 1998, upon entering into the Senior Credit Facility, described below. Interest was payable monthly at Fleet's prime rate or available LIBOR options. All outstanding notes payable were paid in full in May 1998 with proceeds from the $23 million facility. On October 7, 1998, the Company entered into a loan agreement with Goldman Sachs Credit Partners, L.P. and Fleet for a $60,000 senior credit facility (the "Senior Credit Facility"), and concurrently terminated the $23,000 facility. The Company formerly referred to the Senior Credit Facility as the "New Revolving Credit Facility." The Senior Credit Facility has a term of 18 months. Under the Senior Credit Facility, $30,000 of the $60,000 is immediately available, while the additional $30,000 is available based upon a percentage of accounts receivable. Interest is payable monthly at one percent above the prime rate (9.50% at December 31, 1999). The Senior Credit Facility, as amended (see Note 24), requires the Company, among other things, to meet minimum levels of revenues and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and debt to revenue ratios, places the Company in default in the event of a material adverse change in the Company's business and restricts our ability to pay cash dividends. Had the Senior Credit Facility not been amended, the Company would not have been in compliance with the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization financial covenant at December 31, 1999. At December 31, 1998 and 1999, there were no borrowings outstanding under the Senior Credit Facility. The Senior Credit Facility, as amended, is collateralized by substantially all of the assets of the Company. The maximum borrowings under this agreement in 1999 were $10,000. Letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business totaled $271 as of December 31, 1999, and were collateralized by a corresponding amount of cash equivalents. 9. DEBT AND CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS Debt and capital lease obligations consist of the following:
DECEMBER 31, ----------------- 1998 1999 ---- ---- Notes payable........................................... $ -- $ 200 Capital lease obligations............................... 4,010 39,334 ------ ------- 4,010 39,534 Less current portion.................................... (863) (11,346) ------ ------- $3,147 $28,188 ====== =======
The Company's capital leases as of December 31, 1998 were refinanced effective January 1, 1999 and the current and long-term portions of such leases have been classified in accordance with the new lease terms. See Note 10. F-14 88 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) 10. LEASE COMMITMENTS The Company has entered into noncancellable operating leases for office space in several locations in the United States. The leases have termination dates through 2014 and require the payment of various operating costs including condominium fees. Rental expense related to the leases for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1998 and 1999 were $733, $1,263 and $3,058, respectively. Minimum lease payments for the next five years and thereafter are as follows:
CAPITAL OPERATING YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, LEASES LEASES - ----------------------- ------- --------- 2000.................................................. $ 13,934 $2,937] 2001.................................................. 13,604 3,473 2002.................................................. 8,310 3,603 2003.................................................. 4,679 3,578 2004.................................................. 1,205 3,212 Thereafter............................................ 6,699 22,820 -------- ------- Total minimum lease payments.......................... $ 48,431 $39,623 ======= Less imputed interest................................. (8,897) -------- Present value of minimum lease payments............... 39,534 Less current portion.................................. (11,346) -------- Long-term capital lease obligations................... $ 28,188 ========
In December 1998, the Company received an $81,000 commitment for equipment lease financing for telecommunications equipment to be acquired through December 31, 1999. (See Note 23) Depending on the type of equipment acquired, the term of the lease is either three or five years. All of the leases entered into contain bargain purchase options upon conclusion of the lease term. Leases entered into as of December 31, 1999 totaled $41,930 and included $3,986 for refinancing of previously existing leases. Also included in the new lease financing is an additional $4,516 received by the Company from the lessor for the sale and leaseback of equipment acquired by the Company during 1998. The Company has entered into certain agreements for the Indefeasible Right-of-Use Fiber Strands. Based on the terms of these agreements, upon acceptance of certain fiber installations, the Company will be liable for additional payments of approximately $30,050. 11. INVESTMENT On March 23, 1999, the Company entered into a market development agreement with NorthPoint Communications, Inc. ("NorthPoint") for a period of two years. Under the terms of the agreement the Company will resell DSL products and services to businesses currently reached by NorthPoint's infrastructure. NorthPoint will provide co-marketing funds to launch this new service to the Company's customers. At December 31, 1999, approximately $300 is due from Northpoint under the co-marketing provision. In addition, the agreement contains certain volume commitments that the Company must meet subject to non-usage charges at the end of the term. The Company also made an equity investment of $2.5 million in NorthPoint, which will be accounted for on a cost basis. The securities are available-for-sale and, accordingly, F-15 89 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) unrealized gains or losses in value are recorded as a component of Other Comprehensive Income. 12. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Common Stock The amended certificate of incorporation of the Company authorizes the issuance of up to 150,000,000 shares of $.01 par value common stock. The holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends when and if dividends are declared by the Board of Directors of the Company out of funds legally available therefor, provided that if any shares of preferred stock are at the time outstanding, the payment of dividends on the common stock or other distributions may be subject to the declaration and payment of dividends on outstanding shares of preferred stock. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, any assets remaining after the satisfaction in full of the prior rights of creditors and the aggregate liquidation preference of any preferred stock then outstanding will be distributed to the holders of common stock ratably in proportion to the number of shares held by them. Preferred Stock Under the certificate of incorporation of the Company, the Board of Directors has the authority to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of $.01 par value preferred stock from time to time in one or more series with such preferences, terms and rights as the Board of Directors may determine without further action by the stockholders of the Company. Accordingly, the Board of Directors has the power to establish the provisions, if any, relating to dividends, voting rights, redemption rates, sinking funds, liquidation preferences and conversion rights for any series of preferred stock issued in the future. Common Stock Dividends On September 2, 1998, the Board of Directors of the Company issued a $5,000 dividend to its stockholders. Following receipt of the dividend, one stockholder loaned the Company $1,875 (representing the distribution to that stockholder, net of the estimated tax liability resulting from such distribution). Interest accrues at prime rate. In accordance with an extension agreement, interest and principal will be payable on July 31, 2001. 13. PREFERRED STOCK AND WARRANTS ISSUANCE On September 3, 1998, the Company issued 40,000 shares of 13.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock due 2009, warrants to purchase, for $.01 per share, 1,405,333 shares of the Company's common stock ("Initial Warrants") and rights to receive warrants to purchase 2,720,000 shares of the Company common stock at an exercise price of $.01 per share ("Contingent Warrants"), resulting in proceeds to the Company of $37,500, net of issuance costs of $2,500. If the Company had failed to comply with certain requirements, the Contingent Warrants would have entitled the holders of the preferred stock to receive annually, beginning on September 1, 1999, warrants to purchase approximately 6.16 shares of the Company's common stock for each share of preferred stock. The Warrants vest on September 1, 2000, subject to acceleration upon the occurrence of certain events. A total value of $4,359 was ascribed to the Initial Warrants, net of issuance costs of $290, and was accounted for as a separate component F-16 90 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) of stockholders' equity. The value ascribed to the Initial Warrants was recorded as a discount to the preferred stock, which was being accreted to the preferred stock balance over the period from date of issuance through the date of mandatory redemption (September 1, 2009). The value ascribed to the Contingent Warrants was de minimis. On July 6, 1999, the Company redeemed all outstanding shares of its 13.5% Series A Cumulative Preferred Stock due 2009 including all accrued dividends for $46,371, and eliminated its obligation to issue the contingent warrants. At redemption, the Company recorded a dividend of $7,569 to reflect the difference between the redemption amount and the carrying amount of the preferred stock. The difference was due to the value ascribed to the initial warrants, discount attributed to offering expenses and redemption premium. 14. STOCK OPTION PLANS On July 15, 1998, the Company adopted the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the "1998 Incentive Plan"). The 1998 Incentive Plan provides for the grant of stock-based awards to employees, officers and directors of, and consultants or advisors to, the Company. Under the 1998 Incentive Plan, the Company may grant options that are intended to qualify as incentive stock options ("incentive stock options") within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), options not intended to qualify as incentive stock options ("non-statutory options"), restricted stock and other stock-based awards. Incentive stock options may be granted only to employees of the Company or its subsidiaries. A total of 9,000,000 shares of common stock may be issued upon the exercise of options or other awards granted under the 1998 Incentive Plan. The number of shares with respect to which awards may be granted to any employee under the 1998 Incentive Plan may not exceed 3,171,333 during any calendar year. The exercisability of options or other awards granted under the 1998 Incentive Plan may, in certain circumstances, be accelerated in connection with an Acquisition Event (as defined in the 1998 Incentive Plan). Options and other awards may be granted under the 1998 Incentive Plan at exercise prices that are equal to, less than or greater than the fair market value of the Company's common stock, and the Board generally retains the authority to reprice outstanding options. The 1998 Incentive Plan expires in July 2008, unless sooner terminated by the Board. On July 15, 1998, the Company adopted the 1998 Director Stock Option Plan (the "Director Plan"). Under the terms of the Director Plan, 22,666 shares of common stock will be granted to each non-employee director upon his or her initial election to the Board of Directors. Annual options to purchase 11,333 shares of common stock will also be granted to each non-employee director on the date of each annual meeting of stockholders, or on August 1 of each year if no annual meeting is held by such date. Options granted under the Director Plan prior to December 31, 1998 vest in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant. The exercisability of these options will be accelerated upon the occurrence of an Acquisition Event (as defined in the Director Plan). Options granted after December 31, 1998 are fully vested upon issuance. The exercise price of options granted under the Director Plan is equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. A total of 453,333 shares of common stock may be issued upon the exercise of stock options granted under the Director Plan. Pursuant to the Director Plan, the two non-employee directors each received an option to purchase 33,999 shares of common stock with a weighted average exercise price of $6.67 per share. The Company elected to adopt the disclosure only provision of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 ("SFAS 123"), "Accounting for Stock Based Compensation", for F-17 91 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) stock based compensation issued to employees. The Company accounts for its stock based compensation issued to employees under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" and, in accordance with the recognition requirements set forth under this pronouncement, no compensation expense was recognized in 1998 and compensation expense of $158 was recognized in 1999. Stock option activity for the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1999 is as follows:
NUMBER WEIGHTED-AVERAGE OF SHARES EXERCISE PRICE --------- ---------------- Shares under option, December 31, 1997................. -- $ -- Options granted........................................ 3,405,168 $ 7.25 Options cancelled...................................... (26,475) $ 8.45 Shares under option, December 31, 1998................. 3,378,693 $ 7.24 Options granted........................................ 1,885,944 $12.66 Options exercised...................................... (95,509) $ 6.59 Options cancelled...................................... (355,371) $ 8.23 --------- ------ Shares under option, December 31, 1999................. 4,813,757 $ 9.30 ========= ======
The following table summarizes information about the stock options outstanding at December 31, 1999.
WEIGHTED- AVERAGE WEIGHTED- REMAINING AVERAGE WEIGHTED-AVERAGE WEIGHTED-AVERAGE NUMBER CONTRACTUAL EXERCISE FAIR VALUE AT NUMBER AVERAGE EXERCISE EXERCISE PRICE OUTSTANDING LIFE (YEARS) PRICE GRANT DATE EXERCISABLE PRICE FOR EXERCISABLE - -------------- ----------- ------------ --------- ---------------- ----------- --------------------- $ 3.31 - 4.41 1,096,450 8.7 $ 3.55 $ 3.55 272,551 $ 3.55 6.00 - 6.62 1,414,405 8.6 6.61 6.59 389,965 6.59 10.81 - 16.33 1,602,852 8.7 11.63 11.20 321,203 11.20 16.31 - 24.06 700,050 10.0 18.43 18.43 -- -- --------- ------- 4,813,757 8.9 $ 9.30 $ 7.25 983,719 $ 7.25 ========= =======
At December 31, 1999, 983,719 options were exercisable and the Company had an aggregate of 4,544,067 shares available for future grant under its Stock Incentive Plan and Director Stock Option Plan. For disclosure purposes, the fair value of each stock option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions used for stock options granted in 1998 and 1999, respectively: no dividends, 0% and 77% volatility, weighted average risk-free rate of return of 6.3% and 6.0%, and an expected life of four to five years for all grants. The weighted-average fair value of the stock options granted in 1998 and 1999 was $0.42 and $6.33, respectively. Under the above model, the total value of stock options granted in 1998 and 1999 was $1,436 and $11,934, respectively, which will be amortized ratably on a pro forma basis over the four-year option vesting period. F-18 92 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) Had the company determined compensation expense for the stock-based compensation plans in accordance with the fair value methodology prescribed by SFAS 123, the Company's pro forma net loss and loss per share would have been:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ---------------------------- 1997 1998 1999 ------- ------- -------- Net loss applicable to common stockholders..... $(3,191) $(6,388) $(43,579) Amortization of stock compensation expense..... $ -- $ (168) $ (754) ------- ------- -------- Pro forma net loss applicable to common stockholders................................. $(3,191) $(6,556) $(44,333) ======= ======= ======== Pro forma net loss per share -- basic and diluted...................................... $ (0.07) $ (0.14) $ (0.89) ======= ======= ========
15. EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN On June 9, 1999, the Stockholders approved the 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which provides for the issuance of up to 2,500,000 shares of common stock. Generally, all employees of Network Plus employed more than 20 hours per week, including officers and directors who are employees, are eligible to participate in the plan. The plan consists of semiannual offerings beginning on January 1 and July 1 of each year. The first offering under the plan commenced on January 1, 2000. Each offering under the plan will be six months in length. During each offering, the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be purchased by an employee is determined on the first day of the offering period under a formula whereby 2,083 is multiplied by the number of months in the offering, and the result is divided by the market value of a share of common stock on the first day of the offering period. An employee may elect to have up to a maximum of 5% deducted from his or her regular salary for the purpose of purchasing shares under the plan. The price at which the employee's shares are purchased is the lower of (1) 85% of the closing price of the common stock on the day that the offering commences or (2) 85% of the closing price of the common stock on the day that the offering terminates. The Board generally retains the authority to change the timing of any offering. 16. INCOME TAXES The provision (benefit) for income taxes consists of the following:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------- 1998 1999 ---- ---- Current taxes: Federal................................................... $ -- $ -- State..................................................... 55 -- ----- ---- Total.................................................. $ 55 $ -- ===== ==== Deferred taxes: Federal................................................... $(880) $983 State..................................................... (81) (22) ----- ---- Total.................................................. $(961) $961 ----- ---- Provision (benefit) for income taxes........................ $(906) $961 ===== ====
F-19 93 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) Deferred tax (assets) liabilities consist of the following:
DECEMBER 31, ------------------ 1998 1999 ---- ---- Accrued expenses............................................ $ 82 $ 500 Allowance for doubtful accounts............................. 195 997 Net operating loss carryforwards............................ 1,175 11,479 Valuation allowance......................................... -- (12,295) ------ -------- Deferred tax assets......................................... $1,452 $ 681 ====== ======== Depreciation................................................ $ 491 $ 681 ------ -------- Deferred tax liabilities.................................... $ 491 $ 681 ====== ========
The provision (benefit) for income taxes differs from the amount computed by applying the U.S. Federal income tax rate due to the following items:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------- 1998 1999 ---- ---- Tax at U.S. Federal income tax rate......................... $(1,798) $(10,844) State income taxes, net of U.S. Federal income tax benefit................................................... 41 (106) Recognition of deferred taxes upon conversion from S Corp. to C Corp................................................. 349 -- Permanent timing differences and other...................... 32 (384) S Corp. loss................................................ 470 -- Increase in valuation allowance............................. -- 12,295 ------- -------- Provision (benefit) for income taxes........................ $ (906) $ 961 ======= ========
In September 1998, the Company converted from an S Corporation to a C Corporation. Prior to conversion to a C Corporation, income taxes were provided solely for state tax purposes. In accordance with the provisions of SFAS 109 the Company has provided a full valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets. The Company continues to assess the realizability of its deferred tax asset based upon relevant events and forecasts and may continue to establish valuation allowances for some or all of deferred tax assets generated in the future. 17. NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE The computations of basic and diluted earnings per common share are based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and potentially dilutive securities. Potentially dilutive securities for the Company include stock options and warrants. Pro forma net loss per share reflecting the Company's conversion from an S Corporation to a C Corporation is presented using estimated effective income tax rates and excludes a $480 tax provision for deferred payable recorded in the third quarter of 1998 resulting from the conversion. F-20 94 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted income (loss) per share:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, -------------------------------------- 1997 1998 1999 ---- ---- ---- Net income (loss) applicable to Network Plus Corp. common stock -- basic and diluted.................................. $ (3,191) $ (6,388) $ (43,579) Shares used in net income (loss) per share -- basic and diluted............... 45,333,000 45,333,000 49,969,000 ========== ========== ========== Net income (loss) per share applicable to common stockholders -- basic and diluted.................................. $ (0.14) $ (0.07) $ (0.87) ========== ========== ==========
Warrants for the purchase of 1,405,333 shares of common stock were not included in the 1998 and 1999 computations of diluted net income (loss) per share because inclusion of such shares would have an anti-dilutive effect on net loss per share, as the Company reported net losses in the respective 1998 and 1999 periods. Stock options for the purchase of 3,378,698 and 4,813,757 shares of common stock were not included in the 1998 and 1999 computation of diluted net loss per share because the exercise prices of those stock options are assumed to be at or above the average fair value of the Company's common stock for 1998, and inclusion of such shares would have an anti-dilutive effect on net loss per share. 18. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME Effective January 1, 1998, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income". This Statement establishes new rules for the reporting and display of comprehensive income. There were no adjustments required to calculate comprehensive income for 1997, 1998 and an adjustment of 833,000 for 1999. 19. SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMER During the year ended December 31, 1998, the Company had one wholesale customer that accounted for approximately 13% of the Company's revenue. No other customer comprised greater than 10% of total revenue for the period ended December 31, 1998. No customer comprised greater than 10% of total revenue for the period ended December 31, 1999. 20. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN The Company sponsors a 401(k) and profit sharing plan (the "Plan") which is open to all eligible employees under the Plan's provisions. The terms of the Plan allow the Company to determine its annual profit sharing contribution. There were no Company contributions to the Plan in 1999 or 1998. 21. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In June 1998, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 ("SFAS 133"), "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities", was issued, which establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities. The Company is required to adopt SFAS 133, as amended by SFAS 137, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging F-21 95 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) Activities -- Deferral of the Effective Dates of FASB Statement 133," on a prospective basis for interim periods and fiscal years beginning January 1, 2001. Had the Company implemented SFAS 133 in the current period, financial position and results of operations would not have been affected. 22. SEGMENT INFORMATION The Company has adopted SFAS 131, "Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information." SFAS 131 establishes standards for the way companies must determine and report information about operating segments in their annual and interim reports. The Company has two reportable segments which management operates as distinct sales organizations; these two segments are segregated by type of customer base to whom services are provided. The two customer base types are: retail telecommunications and data services, and wholesale telecommunications. The Company measures and evaluates its two reportable segments based on revenues and costs of services. The retail telecommunications and data services segment provides local and long distance services including voice and data transport, and enhanced and custom calling features. This segment focuses on selling these services to end user customers, such as businesses and residences. The wholesale telecommunications segment provides transport and termination services. This segment focuses on selling these services to large communication carriers, who utilize the Company's excess capacity to provide telephone voice services to their customers.
1997 1998 1999 ------- -------- -------- Revenues: Retail telecommunications and data services......... 95,338 75,506 89,758 Wholesale telecommunications........................ 2,871 30,039 62,762 ------- -------- -------- Total revenues........................................ $98,209 $105,545 $152,520 ======= ======== ======== Costs of services: Retail telecommunications and data services......... 75,534 51,371 65,255 Wholesale telecommunications........................ 2,572 27,072 57,409 ------- -------- -------- Total costs of services............................... $78,106 $ 78,443 $122,664 ======= ======== ========
F-22 96 NETWORK PLUS CORP. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED) (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE DATA) 23. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOWS INFORMATION;
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------- 1997 1998 1999 ---- ---- ---- (IN THOUSANDS) Cash paid during the year for: Interest................................ $ 498 $ 1,114 $ 4,012 ======= ======== ======== Income taxes............................ $ 15 $ 111 $ -- ======= ======== ======== Noncash investing and financing activities: Fixed assets acquired under capital leases............................. $ 1,521 $ 28 $ 41,825 ======= ======== ======== Preferred stock dividends paid-in-kind....................... $ -- $ 1,814 $ 2,869 ======= ======== ======== Note converted to customer list...... $ -- $ -- $ 448 ======= ======== ======== Common stock issued for purchase of Infohouse.......................... $ -- $ -- $ 2,432 ======= ======== ======== Note issued for purchase of Infohouse.......................... $ -- $ -- $ 200 ======= ======== ========
24. SUBSEQUENT EVENT On March 8, 2000, the Senior Credit Facility (see Note 8) was amended to extend the termination date to December 31, 2000, and the equipment lease financing described in Note 10 was extended to permit the purchase of telecommunications equipment until December 31, 2000, in a principal amount of up to $29 million. Also on March 8, 2000, the Company received a commitment from Goldman Sachs Credit Partners ("GSCP") to provide and syndicate new senior credit facilities in a total principal amount of up to $225 million. The new senior credit facilities are subject to final negotiation and execution of definitive documentation, as well an event deemed by GSCP to be a material adverse change in the Company's business. F-23 97 94 INSIDE BACK COVER: [Network Plus Logo] 98 ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date. ------------------------ TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE ---- Prospectus Summary.................. 1 Risk Factors........................ 7 Use of Proceeds..................... 19 Price Range of Common Stock......... 19 Capitalization...................... 20 Dilution............................ 22 Selected Consolidated Financial Data.............................. 23 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations..................... 25 Business............................ 35 Government Regulation............... 54 Management.......................... 59 Selling Stockholders................ 61 Description of Capital Stock........ 62 Description of Certain Indebtedness and Convertible Preferred Stock Offering.......................... 65 Underwriting........................ 68 Legal Matters....................... 69 Experts............................. 69 Where You Can Find More Information....................... 69 Incorporation of Documents by Reference......................... 70 Index to Financial Statements....... F-1
------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ 5,000,000 Shares NETWORK PLUS CORP. Common Stock ---------------------- [NETWORK PLUS CORPORATE LOGO] ---------------------- GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC. DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE MERRILL LYNCH & CO. FIDELITY CAPITAL MARKETS A DIVISION OF NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION KAUFMAN BROS., L.P. Representatives of the Underwriters ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ 99 PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION The following table sets forth the various expenses, approximately $1.4 million of which will be borne by the Registrant and approximately $0.1 million of which will be borne by the selling stockholders, in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered. All amounts shown are estimates. SEC registration fee........................................ $ 75,900 NASD filing fee............................................. 29,250 Nasdaq National Market additional listing fee............... 95,000 Blue sky fees and expenses.................................. 1,500 Transfer Agent and Registrar fees........................... 10,000 Accounting fees and expenses................................ 150,000 Legal fees and expenses..................................... 650,000 Printing and mailing expenses............................... 300,000 Miscellaneous............................................... 88,350 ---------- Total.................................................. $1,500,000 ----------
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") empowers a Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. A corporation may, in advance of the final action of any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding, pay the expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by any officer, director, employee or agent in defending such action, provided that the director or officer undertakes to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation. A corporation may indemnify such person against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify officers and directors in an action by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor under the same conditions, except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him or her against the expenses (including attorneys' fees) which he or she actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith. The indemnification provided is not deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which an officer or director may be entitled under any corporation's by-law, agreement, vote or otherwise. In accordance with Section 145 of the DGCL, Article Eighth of our Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate") provides that we shall indemnify each person who is or was a director, officer II-1 100 or employee of the Company (including the heirs, executors, administrators or estate of such person) or is or was serving at the our request as director, officer or employee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL or any successor statute. The indemnification provided by the Certificate shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any of those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person. We will pay expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in defending a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the indemnified person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by us. The Certificate further provides that a director of the Company shall not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Company shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as so amended. We have obtained insurance on behalf of our directors, officers, employees and agents against any liabilities asserted against such persons arising out of such capacities. II-2 101 ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES (a) Exhibits
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION - ------- ----------- 1* -- Form of Underwriting Agreement. 4.1(1) -- Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated as of September 1, 1998, between Network Plus and Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lehman Brothers Inc., and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. 4.2(2) -- Form of Common Stock Certificate 4.3* -- Form of Certificate of Designation for % Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock 4.4* -- Form of Deposit Agreement for Depositary Shares representing % Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock 5* -- Opinion of Hale and Dorr LLP. 23.1 -- Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. 23.2* -- Consent of Hale and Dorr LLP (included in their opinion filed as Exhibit 5). 24+ -- Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement). 27+ -- Financial Data Schedule.
- --------------- (1) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-64633). (2) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-79479). * To be filed by amendment. + Previously filed. (b) Financial Statement Schedules: SCHEDULE II VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
BALANCE ADDITIONAL AT CHARGES TO DEDUCTIONS BEGINNING COSTS AND FROM BALANCE AT END DESCRIPTION OF PERIOD EXPENSES RESERVES(1) OF PERIOD - ----------- --------- ---------- ----------- -------------- (IN THOUSANDS) Allowance for doubtful accounts: Year ended December 31, 1999............ $513 $ 3,048 $ 937 $ 2,624 Year ended December 31, 1998............ $926 $ 1,931 $2,344 $ 513 Year ended December 31, 1997............ $850 $ 4,104 $4,028 $ 926 Valuation allowance: Year ended December 31, 1999............ -- $12,295 -- $12,295
- --------------- (1) Write-off of bad debts less recoveries. All other schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable or not required or the required information is included in the financial statements or notes thereto. II-3 102 ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of registrants pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to 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. The undersigned registrant hereby further undertakes that: (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. II-4 103 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant has duly caused this Amendment to Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Quincy, State of Massachusetts, on March 17, 2000. NETWORK PLUS CORP. By: /s/ JAMES J. CROWLEY ------------------------------------ James J. Crowley Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Secretary Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Amendment to Registration Statement on Form S-3 has been signed below by the following persons, in the capacities indicated, as of March 17, 2000.
NAME TITLE ---- ----- * Chairman of the Board - ----------------------------------------------------- Robert T. Hale * President, Chief Executive Officer and - ----------------------------------------------------- Director (Principal Executive Officer) Robert T. Hale, Jr. /s/ JAMES J. CROWLEY Executive Vice President, Chief Operating - ----------------------------------------------------- Officer, Secretary and Director James J. Crowley * Executive Vice President of Finance, Chief - ----------------------------------------------------- Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal George Alex Financial and Accounting Officer) * Director - ----------------------------------------------------- David D. Martin * Director - ----------------------------------------------------- Joseph C. McNay
*By: /s/ JAMES J. CROWLEY ----------------------------------------------------- James J. Crowley Attorney-in-fact II-5 104 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTS ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Network Plus Corp. Our report on the consolidated financial statements of Network Plus Corp. is included in this Registration Statement. In connection with our audits of such financial statements, we have also audited the related financial statement schedule listed in Item 16(b) of this Registration Statement. In our opinion, the financial statement referred to above, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information required to be included therein. /s/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP Boston, Massachusetts February 28, 2000 S-1 105 EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION - ------- ----------- 1* -- Form of Underwriting Agreement. 4.1(1) -- Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement dated as of September 1, 1998, between Network Plus and Goldman, Sachs & Co., Lehman Brothers Inc., and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. 4.2(2) -- Form of Common Stock Certificate 4.3* -- Form of Certificate of Designation for % Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock 4.4* -- Form of Deposit Agreement for Depositary Shares representing % Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock 5* -- Opinion of Hale and Dorr LLP. 23.1 -- Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. 23.2* -- Consent of Hale and Dorr LLP (included in their opinion filed as Exhibit 5). 24+ -- Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement). 27+ -- Financial Data Schedule.
- --------------- (1) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-64633). (2) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-79479). * To be filed by amendment. + Previously filed. EX-23.1 2 NETWORK PLUS INC. 1 Exhibit 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated February 28, 2000, except for the information presented in Note 24, for which the date is March 8, 2000, relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedule of Network Plus Corp. and its subsidiaries, which appear in such Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to us under the heading "Experts." /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP - ------------------------------ Boston, Massachusetts March 17, 2000 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----