10-Q 1 j4756_10q.htm 10-Q

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC   20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

ý

Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2002

 

or

 

o

Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Commission File Number 0-12194

 

FORTEL INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

California

 

94-2566313

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

 

46832 Lakeview Blvd.
Fremont, California

 

94538-6543

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (510) 440-9600

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.     Yes  o   No  ý

 

The number of shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock outstanding as of August 8, 2002 was 30,624,087.

 

 



 

FORTEL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

INDEX

 

PART I.

Financial Information

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) - June 30, 2002 and September 30, 2001

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) - Three and Nine Months Ended June 30, 2002 and 2001

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) - Nine Months Ended June 30, 2002 and 2001

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

 

PART II.

Other information

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

2



 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

FORTEL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)

($000’s)

 

 

 

June 30,
2002

 

September 30,
2001

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

324

 

$

769

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

4,264

 

2,031

 

Other current assets

 

387

 

778

 

Total current assets

 

4,975

 

3,578

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed assets, net

 

289

 

515

 

Other assets, net

 

569

 

1,115

 

Total assets

 

$

5,833

 

$

5,208

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Deficit

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

3,779

 

$

3,657

 

Accrued liabilities

 

6,973

 

5,022

 

Short-term debt

 

349

 

206

 

Deferred revenue

 

3,847

 

2,634

 

Total current liabilities

 

14,948

 

11,519

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deferred revenue - long-term

 

801

 

 

Total liabilities

 

15,749

 

11,519

 

Shareholders’ deficit:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

79,565

 

79,544

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(89,481

)

(85,855

)

Total shareholders’ deficit

 

(9,916

)

(6,311

)

Total liabilities and shareholders’ deficit

 

$

5,833

 

$

5,208

 

 

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

 

3



 

FORTEL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

(In thousands except per share data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2002

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net product sales

 

$

2,689

 

$

1,631

 

$

4,547

 

$

5,907

 

Services and other

 

1,429

 

1,822

 

4,949

 

6,063

 

Net sales

 

4,118

 

3,453

 

9,496

 

11,970

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of products sold

 

121

 

125

 

338

 

437

 

Cost of services and other

 

630

 

789

 

2,149

 

2,711

 

Research and development expenses

 

604

 

840

 

2,129

 

2,876

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

2,396

 

3,309

 

7,753

 

11,085

 

Impairment of goodwill

 

 

945

 

 

945

 

Operating income (loss)

 

367

 

(2,555

)

(2,873

)

(6,084

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other expense, net

 

205

 

36

 

638

 

129

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

162

 

(2,591

)

(3,511

)

(6,213

)

Provision for income taxes

 

 

 

115

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

162

 

$

(2,591

)

$

(3,626

)

$

(6,213

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic income (loss) per share

 

$

.01

 

$

(.09

)

$

(.12

)

$

(.21

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of shares used in basic income (loss) per share calculations

 

30,624

 

30,226

 

30,603

 

29,791

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted income (loss) per share

 

$

.01

 

$

(.09

)

$

(.12

)

$

(.21

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shares used in diluted income (loss) per share calculation

 

31,054

 

30,226

 

30,603

 

29,791

 

 

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

 

4



 

FORTEL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

($000’s)

(unaudited)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(3,626

)

$

(6,213

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Impairment of goodwill

 

 

945

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

885

 

1,342

 

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

26

 

131

 

Stock-based compensation to consultants

 

21

 

13

 

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in accounts receivable

 

(2,259

)

(73

)

Decrease in refundable income taxes

 

 

119

 

Decrease in other current assets

 

300

 

191

 

Increase in accounts payable

 

122

 

1,451

 

Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities

 

1,951

 

(29

)

Increase in deferred revenue

 

2,014

 

880

 

Net cash used in operating activities

 

(566

)

(1,243

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Acquisition of fixed assets

 

(22

)

(37

)

Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets

 

 

44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

 

(22

)

7

 

 

5



 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds from borrowings under factor line of credit

 

$

1,760

 

$

3,996

 

Repayment of borrowings under factor line of credit

 

(1,617

)

(3,235

)

Issuance of common stock

 

 

63

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

143

 

824

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(445

)

(412

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

769

 

889

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

324

 

$

477

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplemental cash flow information:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid

 

$

42

 

$

125

 

 

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

 

6



 

FORTEL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(unaudited)

(Amounts in thousands except per share data)

 

1.             General

FORTEL Inc. (“FORTEL” or the “Company”) is an information technology company specializing in computer and systems optimization, data correlation and search technology.  FORTEL acquires, develops and markets eBusiness performance management solutions.  Product offerings include multi-platform performance analysis and automatic correlation software used to optimize performance in eBusiness infrastructure systems, and professional services for existing and new customers.  FORTEL’s SightLine and predecessor ViewPoint suites of software have been sold to customers in finance and banking, defense management, manufacturing, retail services and government.

 

2.             Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of FORTEL Inc. and all wholly-owned domestic and foreign subsidiaries.  All material intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.  The interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements contained in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001.  Certain information and footnote disclosures, normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, have been condensed or omitted although the Company believes the disclosures which are made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  Further, the condensed consolidated financial statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial position and results of operations as of and for the periods indicated.  The results of operations for the period ended June 30, 2002 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year.

 

The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America applicable to a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and liquidations of

 

7



 

liabilities in the normal course of business.  The Company has incurred significant losses from operations for at least the past five fiscal years.  The Company also has significant payroll-related taxes that have not been paid to the appropriate tax authorities (see Note 5).  The Company continues to experience negative cash flows from operations and has been dependent on credit facilities to sustain its activities.  These significant losses and the low level of cash available do not currently enable the Company to satisfy all or substantially all of its obligations to third parties.  The Company is currently evaluating certain strategic alternatives which include implementing a cost savings program, selling the Company, and reorganizing the Company and seeking protection under the Federal Bankruptcy Code.  These factors raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.  The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustment that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

 

Certain amounts which were presented in the financial statements as of September 30, 2001, were reclassified to conform with current fiscal year financial statement presentation.

 

3.             Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 146, “Accounting for Exit or Disposal Activities’”.  SFAS 146 addresses significant issues regarding the recognition, measurement, and reporting of costs that are associated with exit and disposal activities, including restructuring activities that are currently accounted for under Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).”  The scope of SFAS 146 also includes costs related to terminating a contract that is not a capital lease and termination benefits that employees who are involuntarily terminated receive under the terms of a one-time benefit arrangement that is not an ongoing benefit arrangement or an individual deferred-compensation contract.  SFAS 146 will be effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002 and early application is encouraged.  The Company will adopt SFAS 146 during the second fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2003.  The provisions of EITF No. 94-3 shall continue to apply for an exit activity initiated under an exit plan that met the criteria of EITF No. 94-3 prior to the adoption of SFAS 146.  The effect on adoption of SFAS 146 will change on a prospective basis the timing of when restructuring charges are recorded from a commitment date approach to when the liability is incurred.

 

In October 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”.  SFAS No. 144

 

8



 

supersedes SFAS No. 121, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of”, and addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets.  Additionally, SFAS No. 144 expands the scope of discontinued operations to include all components of an entity with operations that (1) can be distinguished from the rest of the entity and (2) will be eliminated from the ongoing operations of the entity in a disposal transaction.  SFAS No. 144 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001 and its provisions are to be applied prospectively.  The Company is currently assessing the impact of SFAS No. 144 on its consolidated results of operations and financial position.

 

In July 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations”, and No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”.  SFAS No. 141 requires all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 to be accounted for using the purchase method.  Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are no longer amortized but are reviewed annually (or more frequently if impairment indicators arise) for impairment.  Separable intangible assets that are not deemed to have indefinite lives will continue to be amortized over their useful lives (but with no maximum life).  The amortization provisions of SFAS No. 142 apply to goodwill and intangible assets acquired after June 30, 2001.  With respect to goodwill and intangible assets acquired prior to July 1, 2001, the Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 142 effective October 1, 2002.  The Company believes that the impact of SFAS No. 142 on the consolidated financial position and results of operations will not be material.

 

4.             Other Assets

Other assets consist of the following as of:

 

 

 

June 30,
2002

 

September 30,
2001

 

Purchased technology

 

$

2,588

 

$

2,588

 

Deferred software implementation costs

 

351

 

351

 

Purchased software

 

550

 

550

 

Capitalized development projects

 

1,454

 

1,454

 

Other assets

 

257

 

166

 

Less: accumulated amortization

 

(4,631

)

(3,994

)

 

 

$

569

 

$

1,115

 

 

9



 

5.             Significant Withholding and Payroll Tax Liabilities

Prior to June 30, 2002, the Company has failed to file and pay certain required state and federal payroll and withholding taxes of approximately $1,160 to the appropriate taxing authorities.  Currently, the Company does not have sufficient funds to satisfy these obligations.  The Company has estimated approximately $520 for penalties and interest on the unpaid payroll-related taxes as of June 30, 2002, out of which $128 relates to penalties and interest for the quarter ended June 30, 2002, resulting in an estimated total liability of $1,680 for payroll and withholding taxes and penalties and interest on the unpaid payroll-related taxes.  In addition, the Company, its officers, certain employees and directors might be subject to civil and criminal enforcement actions.  The Company intends to negotiate and establish a payment plan with the taxing authorities and to pay such taxes, penalties and interests as soon as it receives sufficient funds.  There can be no assurance that such a payment plan will be accepted by the taxing authorities or that any plan proposed by the taxing authorities will be financially feasible for the Company.  Should the Company be unable to negotiate a feasible payment plan allowing the Company to pay these liabilities, the Company would be unable to satisfy such obligations, in which case the Company would cease as a going concern.  As of June 30, 2002, these significant payroll-related tax liabilities were included in accrued liabilities.

 

6.             Credit Facility

As of June 30, 2002, the Company had a $3,000 accounts receivable revolving line of credit.  Borrowings are based on 80% of certain eligible receivables which are aged 90 days or less.  The interest rate approximates 18% per annum calculated on the average daily balance outstanding.  Additionally, there is an administrative fee of 1/2 of one percent of each amount factored.  Advances against the revolving line of credit are subject to lender approval and are collateralized by a security interest in all of the Company’s assets including copyrights, trademarks and intellectual property.  The credit facility has no maturity; however, either party may terminate at any time.  The Company was in violation of a covenant whereby the Company’s liabilities must not exceed its total assets.  There were no sanctions posed on the Company as result of this violation, however, as a result of this violation, any and all future borrowings are subject to individual approvals before any advances of funds.  During the nine months ended June 30, 2002, the Company had borrowed approximately $1,760 and repaid approximately $1,617 under this credit facility.  At June 30, 2002, there were $149 borrowings outstanding against the accounts receivable revolving line of credit.

 

10



 

7.             Common Stock

Common stock activity for the period from October 1, 2001 through June 30, 2002 is as follows:

 

 

 

Common Stock
Shares

 

Common Stock
Amount

 

Balance at September 30, 2001

 

30,387

 

$

79,544

 

Issuance of common stock under repricing warrants agreement

 

234

 

 

Exercise of stock options

 

3

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

21

 

Balance at June 30, 2002

 

30,624

 

$

79,565

 

 

In July 2000, the Company, through a private placement, issued 2,192 shares of common stock to two institutional investors, Deephaven Private Placement Trading Ltd. and Harp Investors LLC (the “Investors”), in exchange for $5,000.  This private placement was pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, Registration Rights Agreement and Repricing Warrants (collectively the “Agreements”).  Proceeds of $4,727, net of placement agency and professional fees of $273, were received.  Pursuant to the terms of the Agreements, the Investors have the right to demand additional warrants to purchase shares of common stock from the Company in the event the market price of the Company’s stock falls below $2.28 per share.  During the nine-month period ended June 30, 2002, the Company issued 234 shares of common stock in partial satisfaction of the repricing rights.  The Company has registered 5,341 shares of common stock of which 3,693 shares had been issued as of June 30, 2002.

 

On November 6, 2000, the Company entered into a letter agreement with the Investors to modify the Agreements to replace the redemption feature with specified liquidated damages as a remedy for certain breaches of and defaults under the Agreements. The modification of the Agreements gives the Investors the right to demand liquidating damages of up to $6,000 should certain events be breached by the Company.  On July 25, 2001, the Company received demand letters from the Investors demanding liquidated damages upon various defaults under the Agreements, all dated July 18, 2000 and as subsequently amended on November 6, 2000, in the aggregate amount of $1,400 due to (1) the Company’s delisting from The Nasdaq SmallCap Market effective May 16, 2001, (2) its failure to register additional securities and (3) its failure to authorize additional securities.  To date, the defaults have not been remedied, nor has the demand for payment been satisfied by the Company, and as such, based on the provisions of the Agreements as subsequently amended, the liquidated damages, as demanded, have increased to $3,000 as of June 30, 2002.  In

 

11



 

addition, interest of approximately $521 has been accrued as of June 30, 2002 on the unpaid liquidated damages.  The unpaid liquidated damages and the related accrued interest thereon are recorded in accrued liabilities.  The Company does not currently have the capabilities to satisfy these demands and, therefore, will continue to incur interest charges at the rate of 18% per annum on the unpaid liquidated damages.

 

On February 12, 2002, the Company received election notices to exercise all 1,980 fully vested warrants from the Investors with respect to the exercise of Repricing Warrants for an aggregate of 65,062 shares of Common Stock.  Harp Investors LLC notified FORTEL of its exercise notice and demanded the issuance of a stock certificate for 16,673 shares of Common Stock in connection with their 507 fully vested and exercisable warrants.  Deephaven Private Placement Trading, Ltd. notified FORTEL of its exercise notice and demanded the issuance of a stock certificate for 48,389 shares of Common Stock in connection with their 1,473 fully vested and exercisable warrants.  The total number of authorized shares of Common Stock is 40,000 as of June 30, 2002 and 30,624 shares of Common Stock are issued and outstanding.  The Company is not in a position to fully satisfy these exercise requests as the number of shares demanded exceeds the number of authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, therefore the Company has not issued any shares of Common Stock pursuant of these exercise notices.  If issued, these shares would increase our outstanding common stock by over 300%.  The Investors have confirmed that this request does not trigger any additional liquidating damages.

 

Repricing of Options

 

In October 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repricing of options to purchase 859 shares of common stock to $0.04 per share, which represented the market value on the date of the repricing.  These options will be subject to variable plan accounting, as defined in FASB Interpretation No. 44 (FIN 44) "Accounting for Certain Transactions involving Stock Compensation an interpretation of APB Opinion No. 25", and the Company will remeasure the intrinsic value of the repriced options (the excess of fair market value over the exercise price), through the earlier of the date of exercise, cancellation or expiration, at each reporting date.  As of June 30, 2002, the Company has recognized a compensation expense of approximately $21 related to the repriced options.

 

8.             Earnings Per Share (“EPS”)

A reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of basic and diluted EPS is provided as follows for the three and nine months ended June 30, 2002 and 2001:

 

12



 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2002

 

2001

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numerator - Basic and Diluted EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

162

 

$

(2,591

)

$

(3,626

$

(6,213

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator - Basic EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock outstanding

 

30,624

 

30,226

 

30,603

 

29,791

 

Basic income (loss) per share

 

$

.01

 

$

(.09

$

(.12

$

(.21

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator - Diluted EPS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator - Basic EPS

 

30,624

 

30,226

 

30,603

 

29,791

 

Effect of Dilutive Securities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock options

 

430

 

 

 

 

 

 

31,054

 

30,226

 

30,603

 

29,791

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted income (loss) per share

 

$

.01

 

$

(.09

$

(.12

$

(.21

)

 

The EPS calculation does not include any effect of the exercise note received on February 12, 2002 (See Note 7 for further discussion).  Since the underlying warrants are now expired there is also no effect on the diluted EPS calculation for the three months ended June 30, 2002.

 

For the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2002, stock options to purchase 1,396 and 1,666 shares of common stock, respectively, and warrants to purchase 225 and 2,205 shares of common stock, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because of the anti-dilutive effect of including these shares in the calculation for both periods.  For the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30, 2001, stock options to purchase 3,232 and 3,066 shares of common stock, respectively, and warrants to purchase 2,210 and 2,210 shares of common stock, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because of the anti-dilutive effect of including these shares in the calculation for both periods.

 

9.             Segment Information

The Company currently operates in one business segment.  The table below presents net sales by geographic area for the three- and nine-month periods ended June 30:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
June 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
June 30,

 

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

2002

 

2001

 

U.S.

 

$

1,848

 

$

1,733

 

$

5,197

 

$

6,669

 

Europe

 

2,205

 

1,580

 

4,003

 

5,051

 

Other

 

65

 

140

 

296

 

250

 

Total

 

$

4,118

 

$

3,453

 

$

9,496

 

$

11,970

 

 

13



 

The table below presents long-lived asset information by geographic area:

 

 

 

June30,
2002

 

September 30,
2001

 

Long-lived assets:

 

 

 

 

 

U.S.

 

$

582

 

$

1,389

 

International

 

276

 

241

 

Total

 

$

858

 

$

1,630

 

 

10.           Related party transactions

During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, certain directors and officers of the Company made loans to the Company.  These loans bear interest at 18% per annum and are payable 90 days from receipt of the funds.  These loans were recorded as short-term debt.  To date, the Company is in default as there has been no payments made on the principal nor on the related interest.  As the note holders are officers and directors of the Company and are aware of the Company’s current financial condition, they have not made any demands for payment of such loans.  At June 30, 2002, included in short-term debt is $200 in amounts owing to such directors and officers.  Accrued interest on these loans of approximately $36 is included in accrued liabilities.

 

11.           Comprehensive income (loss)

Comprehensive income (loss), as defined, includes all charges in equity (net assets) during a period from non-owner sources.  There were no material differences between comprehensive income (loss) and and net income (loss) as reported for each of the periods presented in these condensed financial statements.

 

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

 

(Amounts in thousands except per share data)

 

This report contains forward-looking statements that are not historical facts but rather are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions about our industry, our company, our business and prospects.  Words such as “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”,

 

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“seeks”, “estimates” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements.  These risks and uncertainties include those described in “Risks Associated With FORTEL’s Business and Future Operating Results”, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in this report.  Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect our management’s view only as of the date of this report.  We undertake no obligation to update these statements or publicly release the results of any revisions to the forward-looking statements that we may make to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

References in this document to “FORTEL”, “we”, “our”, and “us” refer to FORTEL Inc., a California corporation, its predecessors, and each of its subsidiaries.

 

FORTEL and SightLine are trademarks of FORTEL Inc.  Zitel, Datametrics and ViewPoint are registered trademarks of FORTEL Inc.  All other service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

 

Critical Accounting Policy

 

In preparing our consolidated financial statements, our critical accounting policy is revenue recognition.

 

We derive our revenue from primarily two sources (i) software licenses and (ii) services and support revenue which includes software license maintenance, training and consulting revenue.  As described below, significant management judgments and estimates must be made and used in connection with the revenue recognized in any accounting period.  Material differences may result in the amount and timing of our revenue for any period if our management made different judgments or utilized different estimates.

 

We generally license our software products on a one-year time basis or on a perpetual basis.

 

We apply the provisions of Statement of Position 97-2 (“SOP 97-2”), “Software Revenue Recognition”, as amended by Statement of Position 98-9, “Modification of SOP 97-2, Software Revenue

 

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Recognition, With Respect to Certain Transactions” to all transactions involving the sale of software products.

 

We recognize revenue from the sale of software licenses when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the product has been delivered, the fee is fixed and determinable and collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured.  Delivery generally occurs when product is delivered to a common carrier.  In instances where delivery is electronic, the product is considered delivered when the customer either takes possession by downloading the software or the access code to download the software has been provided to the customer.  Payments received in advance of revenue recognition are recorded as deferred revenues.

 

At the time of the transaction, we assess whether the fee associated with our revenue transactions is fixed and determinable and whether or not collection is reasonably assured.  We assess whether the fee is fixed and determinable based on the payment terms associated with the transaction.  If a significant portion of a fee is due after our normal payment terms, which are 30 to 45 days from invoice date, we account for the fee as not being fixed and determinable.  In these cases, we recognize revenue as the fees become due.

 

We assess collection based on a number of factors, including past transaction history with the customer and the credit-worthiness of the customer.  We do not request collateral from our customers.  If we determine that collection of a fee is not reasonably assured, we defer the fee and recognize revenue at the time collection becomes reasonably assured, which is generally upon receipt of cash.

 

For all sales, we use either a binding purchase order or signed license agreement as evidence of an arrangement.  Sales through our distributors are evidenced by a master agreement governing the relationship together with binding purchase orders on a transaction by transaction basis.

 

For arrangements with multiple obligations (for example, undelivered maintenance and support), we allocate revenue to each component of the arrangement using the residual value method based on the fair value of the undelivered elements, which is specific to FORTEL.  This means that we defer revenue from the arrangement fee equivalent to the fair value of the undelivered elements.  Fair values for the ongoing maintenance and support obligations are based upon separate sales of renewals to other customers or upon renewal rates quoted in the contracts.  Fair value of services, such as training or consulting, is based upon separate sales by us of these services to other customers.

 

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Our arrangements do not generally include acceptance clauses.  However, if an arrangement includes an acceptance provision, acceptance occurs upon the earlier of receipt of a written customer acceptance or expiration of the acceptance period.

 

We recognize revenue for maintenance services ratably over the contract term.  Our training and consulting services are billed based on hourly rates, and we generally recognize revenue as these services are performed.  However, at the time of entering into a transaction, we assess whether or not any services included within the arrangement require us to perform significant work either to alter the underlying software or to build additional complex interfaces so that the software performs as the customer requests.  If these services are included as part of an arrangement, we recognize the entire fee using the percentage of completion method.  We estimate the percentage of completion based on our estimate of the total costs estimated to complete the project as a percentage of the costs incurred to date and the estimated costs to complete.

 

Results of Operations

 

The Company recorded net income of $162 ($0.01 per share) for the fiscal 2002 third quarter, compared with a net loss of $2,591 ($0.09 per share) for the same quarter of the prior year.  For the nine-month period ended June 30, 2002, net loss was $3,626 ($.12 per share) compared with a net loss of $6,213 ($0.21 per share) for the same period a year earlier.

 

Total net sales for the current quarter were $4,118 versus total net sales of $3,453 for the same period a year earlier, an increase of $665 due to an increase in license sales.  For the nine-month period ended June 30, 2002, total net sales were $9,496 compared to total net sales of $11,970 for the same period a year earlier.  The decrease in net sales is primarily attributable to a decrease in license sales and a decrease in maintenance revenues.

 

Gross margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 was 82% of net sales compared to 74% of net sales for the same quarter of the prior year.  The increase in gross margin percentage is a result of higher license sales, which have higher gross margins.  For the nine months ended June 30, 2002 and June 30, 2001, gross margin was 74% of net sales.  The Company does not believe that the gross margins reported for the current quarter just ended are necessarily indicative of the gross margins to be expected in future quarters.  Gross margins may be affected by several factors, including the mix of products sold and price competition.

 

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Research and development expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 were 15% of net sales compared to 24% for the same quarter of the prior year.  For the nine months ended June 30, 2002, research and development expenses were 22% of net sales compared to 24% of net sales for the same period a year earlier.  Actual spending decreased $236 and $747 for the quarter and nine-month period, respectively, from prior year periods.  The result is primarily attributable to a decrease in headcount and related expenses.

 

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for the quarter ended June 30, 2002 were 58% of net sales versus 96% of net sales for the same period a year earlier.  Actual spending decreased $913 from the prior year period.  For the nine months ended June 30, 2002, SG&A expenses were 82% of net sales compared to 93% of net sales for the same period a year earlier.  Actual spending decreased $3,332 from the prior year period.  The decreased spending in both periods is primarily attributable to a reduction in marketing and sales personnel.  In addition, in the quarter ended June 30, 2001, included in SG&A was a charge of approximately $220 related to the reduction in workforce.

 

Other expense was $205 for the quarter just ended versus $36 in the same quarter of the prior year.  For the nine-month period ended June 30, 2002, other expense were $638 versus $129 for the same period a year earlier.  Other expense consisted primarily of interest expense.  The increase in other expense in both periods is primarily attributable to the interest accrued on the unpaid liquidated damages to the private placement investors.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Since fiscal year 1997, in addition to the working capital provided by product sales, the Company has augmented its cash needs to finance operations primarily through the issuance of convertible subordinated notes, the private sale of common stock and proceeds from borrowings against the accounts receivable revolving line of credit.

 

During the nine-month periods ended June 30, 2002 and 2001, working capital decreased $2,032 and $3,843, respectively.  Cash flows used in operating activities were $566 for the nine months ended June 30, 2002 and cash flows used in operating activities were $1,243 for the same period a year earlier.  For the nine months ended June 30, 2002, the utilization of cash in operating activities resulted primarily from a net loss of $3,626 and an increase in accounts receivable of $2,259, offset by an increase in deferred revenue of $2,014, an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $2,073, a decrease in other current assets of $300 and depreciation and amortization charges of $885.

 

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For the nine-month period ended June 30, 2002, net cash used in investing activities was $22 for the acquisition of fixed assets.  During the nine-month period ended June 30, 2001, net cash provided by investing activities of $7 was comprised of disposal of fixed assets of $44 and purchase of fixed assets of $37.

 

For the nine-month period ended June 30, 2002, net cash provided by financing activities was $143, consisting primarily of $1,760 in proceeds from borrowings, offset with the repayment of such borrowings of $1,617.  For the nine-month period ended June 30, 2001, net cash provided by financing activities was $824, comprised of $3,996 from borrowings, $63 from the sale of stock under the Company’s employee stock purchase plan offset by repayment of borrowings of $3,235.

 

FORTEL cannot assure that it will have access to sufficient funds to meet its operating needs, which will likely limit the ability to continue as a going concern.  There exist uncertainties as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.  FORTEL’s independent certified public accountants have included an explanatory paragraph to this effect in their audit report on Form 10-K/A with respect to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001.  Any significant increase in capital expenditures or other costs or any decrease in or elimination of anticipated sources of revenue could deplete the available cash.  Further, should some of the Company’s creditors demand immediate payment, in particular payment of liquidated damages, FORTEL would not be in a position to satisfy theses demands.  FORTEL needs to find additional funding to finance its operations.  If the Company does not realize significant additional revenue or raise additional debt or equity financing or is not able to renegotiate or obtain a waiver for the demand for liquidated damages, the Company will be unable to continue as a going concern.

 

The Company currently plans to maintain its revenues to a level that will finance expected expenditures and result in at least neutral cash flows from operations.  However, until that stage is reached, the Company will continue to use its current cash on hand, working capital, and utilize the available accounts receivable line of credit.

 

If the Company is unable to generate sufficient cash flows from operations or should management determine it to be prudent, it may attempt to raise additional debt or equity.  There can be no assurance that in the event the Company requires additional financing, that such financing will be available in light of the current financial situation of the Company and the general adverse conditions of the public and private equity markets.

 

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In the event that the Company is unable to increase revenue levels or financing is unavailable, management will evaluate certain strategic alternatives which include implementing a cost savings program, selling the Company, and reorganizing the Company and seeking protection under the Federal Bankruptcy Code.  If the Company is the subject of bankruptcy proceedings, it may be forced to reorganize or possibly dissolve, and its stockholders may not receive any proceeds upon liquidation.  There can be no assurance that any of these actions will be successful in completely eliminating the difference between expenditures and revenues or that such actions would not have a harmful effect on the Company’s business and results of operations.

 

Prior to June 30, 2002, the Company has failed to file and pay certain required state and federal payroll and withholding taxes of approximately $1,160 to the appropriate taxing authorities.  Currently, the Company does not have sufficient funds to satisfy these obligations.  The Company has estimated approximately $520 for penalties and interest on the unpaid payroll-related taxes as of June 30, 2002, resulting in an estimated total liability of $1,680 for payroll and withholding taxes and penalties and interest on the unpaid payroll-related taxes.  In addition, the Company, its officers, certain employees and directors might be subject to civil and criminal enforcement actions.  The Company intends to negotiate and establish a payment plan with the taxing authorities and to pay such taxes, penalties and interests as soon as it receives sufficient funds.  There can be no assurance that such a payment plan will be accepted by the taxing authorities or that any plan proposed by the taxing authorities will be financially feasible for the Company.  Should the Company be unable to negotiate a feasible payment plan allowing the Company to pay these liabilities, the Company would be unable to satisfy such obligations, in which case the Company would cease as a going concern.

 

In July 2000, the Company, through a private placement, issued 2,192 shares of common stock to two institutional investors, Deephaven Private Placement Trading Ltd. and Harp Investors LLC (the “Investors”), in exchange for $5,000.  This private placement was pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, Registration Rights Agreement and Repricing Warrants (collectively the “Agreements”).  Proceeds of $4,727, net of placement agency and professional fees of $273, were received.  Pursuant to the terms of the Agreements, the Investors have the right to demand additional warrants to purchase shares of common stock from the Company in the event the market price of the Company’s stock falls below $2.28 per share.  During the nine-month period ended June 30, 2002, the Company issued 234 shares of common stock in partial satisfaction of the repricing rights.

 

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Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In June 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 146, “Accounting for Exit or Disposal Activities’”.  SFAS 146 addresses significant issues regarding the recognition, measurement, and reporting of costs that are associated with exit and disposal activities, including restructuring activities that are currently accounted for under Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).”  The scope of SFAS 146 also includes costs related to terminating a contract that is not a capital lease and termination benefits that employees who are involuntarily terminated receive under the terms of a one-time benefit arrangement that is not an ongoing benefit arrangement or an individual deferred-compensation contract.  SFAS 146 will be effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002 and early application is encouraged.  The Company will adopt SFAS 146 during the second fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2003.  The provisions of EITF No. 94-3 shall continue to apply for an exit activity initiated under an exit plan that met the criteria of EITF No. 94-3 prior to the adoption of SFAS 146.  The effect on adoption of SFAS 146 will change on a prospective basis the timing of when restructuring charges are recorded from a commitment date approach to when the liability is incurred.

 

In October 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”.  SFAS No. 144 supersedes SFAS No. 121, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of”, and addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets.  Additionally, SFAS No. 144 expands the scope of discontinued operations to include all components of an entity with operations that (1) can be distinguished from the rest of the entity and (2) will be eliminated from the ongoing operations of the entity in a disposal transaction.  SFAS No. 144 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001 and its provisions are to be applied prospectively.  The Company is currently assessing the impact of SFAS No. 144 on its consolidated results of operations and financial position.

 

In July 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations”, and No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”.  SFAS No. 141 requires all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001 to be accounted for using the purchase method.  Under SFAS No. 142, goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are no longer amortized but are reviewed annually (or more frequently if impairment indicators

 

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arise) for impairment.  Separable intangible assets that are not deemed to have indefinite lives will continue to be amortized over their useful lives (but with no maximum life).  The amortization provisions of SFAS No. 142 apply to goodwill and intangible assets acquired after June 30, 2001.  With respect to goodwill and intangible assets acquired prior to July 1, 2001, the Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 142 effective October 1, 2002.  The Company believes that the impact of SFAS No. 142 on the consolidated financial position and results of operations will not be material.

 

Risks Associated with FORTEL’s Business and Future Operating Results (Amounts in thousands except per share data)

 

FORTEL May Seek Protection Or FORTEL’s Creditors May Seek Involuntary Proceedings Against Us Under the Federal Bankruptcy Code

 

FORTEL may in the future elect to seek protection under Chapter 11 or Chapter 7 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code.  Additionally, the Company is subject to the risk that creditors may seek to commence involuntary bankruptcy proceedings against the Company.  If the Company files for Chapter 11 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection or if involuntary proceedings are commenced against the Company by its creditors, its creditors or other parties in interest may be permitted to propose their own plan, and the Company could be unsuccessful in having a plan of reorganization confirmed which is acceptable to the requisite number of creditors and equity holders entitled to vote on such a plan.  This could lead to the Company’s inability to emerge from a Chapter 11 filing.  Moreover, once bankruptcy proceedings are commenced, either by the filing of a voluntary petition or if an involuntary petition is filed against FORTEL, the Company’s creditors could seek FORTEL’s liquidation.  If a plan were consummated or if the Company were liquidated, it would almost certainly result in its creditors receiving less than 100% of the face value of their claims, and in the claims of its equity holders being cancelled in whole.  Even if FORTEL does propose a plan and it is accepted, the Company is unable to predict at this time what treatment would be accorded under any such plan to Company indebtedness, licenses, transfer of goods and services and other intercompany arrangements, transactions and relationships.  In addition, during any bankruptcy or similar proceeding, the Company would need court approval to take many actions out of the ordinary course, which could result in its inability to manage the normal operations of the Company and which would cause the Company to incur additional costs associated with the bankruptcy process.

 

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FORTEL cannot assure that it will have access to sufficient funds to meet its operating needs, which will likely limit the ability to continue as a going concern.  There exist uncertainties as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.  FORTEL’s independent certified public accountants have included an explanatory paragraph to this effect in their audit report on Form 10-K/A with respect to the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001.  Any significant increase in capital expenditures or other costs or any decrease in or elimination of anticipated sources of revenue could deplete the available cash.  Further, should some of the Company’s creditors demand immediate payment, in particular payment of liquidated damages, FORTEL would not be in a position to satisfy theses demands.  FORTEL needs to find additional funding to finance its operations.  If the Company does not realize significant additional revenue or raise additional debt or equity financing or is not able to renegotiate or obtain a waiver for the demand for liquidated damages, the Company will be unable to continue as a going concern.  If the Company is the subject of bankruptcy proceedings, it may be forced to reorganize or possibly dissolve, and its stockholders may not receive any proceeds upon liquidation.

 

Recent Levels of Liquidity Have Been Low and Might Be Insufficient to Remain a Viable Operating Company

 

The Company has experienced a shortage of available cash or readily available funds to satisfy all its current obligations towards vendors and service providers.  This has caused and might continue to cause disruptions or terminations of relationships with service providers and the non-delivery of needed goods and services.  The Company has taken several steps to remedy this situation such as renegotiating for accelerated cash payments instead of long-term royalty payments and to arrange for payment plans with various service providers and vendors as well as numerous other cost-saving measures.  If the Company is unable to increase its current levels of available cash or funds available, there can be no assurance that vital and material goods or services will be available to the Company and that it will remain a viable operating entity.

 

Significant Withholding and Payroll Tax Liabilities

 

Prior to June 30, 2002, the Company has failed to file and pay certain required state and federal payroll and withholding taxes of approximately $1,160 to the appropriate taxing authorities.  Currently, the Company does not have sufficient funds to satisfy these obligations.  The Company has recorded an estimate for penalties and interest on the unpaid payroll-related taxes in the amount of $520.  As of June 30, 2002, an estimated total

 

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liability of $1,680 for payroll and withholding taxes and penalties and interest on the unpaid payroll-related taxes, is recorded in accrued liabilities.  In addition, the Company, its officers, certain employees and directors might be subject to civil and criminal enforcement actions.  The Company intends to negotiate and establish a payment plan with the taxing authorities and to pay such taxes, penalties and interests as soon as it receives sufficient funds.  There can be no assurance that such a payment plan will be accepted by the taxing authorities or that any plan proposed by the taxing authorities will be financially feasible for the Company.  Should the Company be unable to negotiate a feasible payment plan allowing the Company to pay these liabilities, the Company would be unable to satisfy such obligations, in which case the Company would cease as a going concern.

 

Significant Default Liabilities for Liquidated Damages and Liability for Issuance of Repricing Warrants to Private Investors Seriously Threaten the Company as a Going Concern

 

On July 18, 2000, the Company, through a private placement, issued 2,191 shares of common stock to two institutional investors, Deephaven Private Placement Trading Ltd. and Harp Investors LLC (the “Investors”), in exchange for $5,000.  This private placement was pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, Registration Rights Agreement and Repricing Warrants and as subsequently amended by Letter Agreement on November 6, 2000 (collectively the “Agreements”), copies of which were filed with the Company’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 27, 2000 and on November 17, 2000.  Proceeds of $4,727, net of placement agency and professional fees of $273, were received.  Pursuant to the terms of the Agreements, the Investors have the right to demand additional warrants to purchase shares of common stock from the Company in the event the market price of the Company’s stock falls below $2.28 per share.  The Company has registered 5,341 shares of common stock of which 3,692 shares had been issued as of June 30, 2002.

 

On July 25, 2001, the Company received demand letters from the Investors demanding liquidated damages upon default under the Agreements in the aggregate amount of $1,400 due to the Company’s delisting from The Nasdaq SmallCap Market effective May 16, 2001, its failure to register and its failure to authorize additional securities.  These three claims for liquidated damages have, through the passage of time, reached their contractual maximum of $3,000 ($1 million per incident) plus interest at a rate of 18% per annum or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law, accruing daily until such liquidated damages, plus all interest thereon, are paid in full.  To date, the events of default, as stated by the Investors, have not been

 

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remedied, nor has the demand for payment been satisfied by the Company.  The Company does not currently have the capabilities to satisfy these demands and therefore will be incurring additional interest expense at the rate of 18% per annum on the unpaid liquidated damages.

 

The Company will have to negotiate a significant reduction or waiver of such demands or the Company will not be able to satisfy its obligations and might, therefore, cease to continue as a going concern.

 

On February 12, 2002, the Company received election notices from the Investors with respect to the exercise of Repricing Warrants for an aggregate of 65,062 shares of Common Stock.  Harp Investors LLC notified FORTEL of its exercise notice and demanded the issuance of a stock certificate for 16,673 shares of Common Stock.  Deephaven Private Placement Trading, Ltd. notified FORTEL of its exercise notice and demanded the issuance of a stock certificate for 48,389 shares of Common Stock.  The total number of authorized shares of Common Stock is 40,000 as of June 30, 2002 and 30,624 shares of Common Stock are issued and outstanding.  Thus, the Company is not in a position to fully satisfy these exercise requests as the number of shares demanded exceeds the number of authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock, therefore the Company has not issued any shares of Common Stock pursuant of these exercise notices.  If issued, these shares would increase our outstanding common stock by over 300%.  The Investors have confirmed that this request does not trigger any additional liquidating damages.

 

Should the Company elect to seek the required shareholder approval to authorize additional shares of Common Stock sufficient to satisfy the demands made by the Investors, in full or in part, it appears questionable whether the Company will be able to obtain such shareholder approval in light of the Company’s failure at the 2001 Annual Meeting to obtain shareholder approval for a proposed amendment of the 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

In addition, FORTEL might not have an effective registration statement in place to allow for the resale of all the shares requested by the Investors.  Furthermore, FORTEL’s failure to timely file its annual report on Form 10-K might have caused the failure to provide for a continuously effective registration statement for the resale of shares held or to be received by the Investors, as required under the Registration Rights Agreement, dated July 18, 2000, which might lead to additional claims for liquidated damages.

 

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Significant Losses

 

For the first nine months of fiscal year 2002, the Company reported a net loss of $3,626.  The Company reported total net losses of $6,759, $8,653, $13,103, $43,205 and $17,501 for fiscal years 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.

 

The Company has taken a number of steps to attempt to return to profitability, although there is no assurance that it will be successful.  A significant portion of the cumulative losses were caused by the funding of MatriDigm Corporation, and operations of the Company’s former storage systems business, which was sold in July 1998.  MatriDigm filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in October 1999 so there were no additional fundings.  The Company has subleased its Fremont, CA headquarters, and moved to substantially smaller and less costly premises.

 

The Company continues to consider options and take actions necessary to bring costs into line with anticipated revenues.  There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in this effort and remain a viable operating entity.

 

Recent Levels of Net Sales Have Been Insufficient

 

FORTEL has not generated net sales sufficient to produce an operating profit in recent years.  The Company has relied on significant financings to support its activities.  FORTEL has sustained substantial operating losses and net losses in the fiscal years 1997 through 2001.  FORTEL must generate substantial additional net sales and gross margins on its products and services and must continue to successfully implement programs to manage cost and expense levels in order to remain a viable operating entity.  There is no assurance that FORTEL can achieve these objectives.

 

Fluctuations in Quarterly Results and Lack of Predictability of Sales

 

A material portion of our revenues has been derived from large orders, as major customers deployed FORTEL’s products.  Increases in the dollar size of some individual license transactions would also increase the risk of fluctuation in future quarterly results.  Moreover, recent adverse economic conditions in the United States, particularly those related to the technology industry, may increase the likelihood that customers will unexpectedly delay or cancel orders and result in revenue shortfalls.  This risk is particularly relevant with respect to large customer orders which are more likely to be cancelled or delayed and also have a greater financial impact on FORTEL’s operating results.  A large number of technology companies, particularly software companies that, like FORTEL, sell

 

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e–commerce related software solutions, have recently announced that these conditions have adversely affected their financial results.  Additionally, the Company’s operating expenses are based in part on its expectations for future revenues and are difficult to adjust in the short term.  Any revenue shortfall below FORTEL’s expectations could have an immediate and significant adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

 

FORTEL’s quarterly operating results have in the past varied and may in the future vary significantly depending on a number of factors, including:

 

                  The level of competition, the size, timing, cancellation or rescheduling of significant orders;

 

                  Market acceptance of new products and product enhancements;

 

                  New product announcements or introductions by FORTEL’s competitors;

 

                  Deferrals of customer orders in anticipation of new products or product enhancements;

 

                  Changes in pricing by FORTEL or its competitors;

 

                  The ability of FORTEL to develop, introduce and market new products and product enhancements on a timely basis;

 

                  FORTEL’s success in expanding its sales and marketing programs;

 

                  Technological changes in the market for FORTEL’s products;

 

                  Product mix and the mix of sales among FORTEL’s sales channels;

 

                  Levels of expenditures on research and development;

 

                  Changes in FORTEL’s strategy; personnel changes; and,

 

                  General economic trends and other factors.

 

Due to all of the foregoing factors, FORTEL believes that period-to-period comparisons of its results of operations are not necessarily meaningful and should not be relied upon as an indicator of future performance.  It is possible that in some future quarter the Company’s operating results may be below the expectations of public market analysts and investors.

 

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FORTEL Stock Price Has Been Highly Volatile

 

The price of FORTEL’s common stock during the nine-month period of fiscal year 2002 ranged from the low closing bid price of $0.06 to the high closing bid price of $0.14.  During the fiscal year 2001, the price of the Company’s common stock was volatile, ranging from the low closing bid price of $0.2031 to the high closing bid price of $1.03125.

 

In December 2000, the Company was notified by Nasdaq that it no longer satisfied the minimum bid price requirement listing requirements.  The Company was provided 90 calendar days, or until March 19, 2001, to regain compliance; however, the Company was unable to demonstrate compliance on or before March 19, 2001, and, therefore, was delisted from The Nasdaq SmallCap Market, effective May 16, 2001.  The de-listing of the Company’s common stock may materially and adversely affect the trading liquidity or the price of the Company’s common stock.

 

Trading Restrictions and Reduced Liquidity May Adversely Affect FORTEL’s Stock Price and the Ability to Trade Its Stock

 

Following the delisting of FORTEL’s common stock from The Nasdaq SmallCap Market effective May 16, 2001, its common stock is currently traded on the OTC Bulletin Board market.  FORTEL’s common stock may be subject to regulation as a “penny stock”.  The SEC has adopted regulations which generally define “penny stock” to be any equity security that has a market price or exercise price less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions, including listing on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market.  If no other exception applies, the Company’s common stock may become subject to the SEC’s Penny Stock Rules, Rule 15g-1 through Rule 15g-9 under the Exchange Act.  For transactions covered by these rules, broker-dealers must make a special suitability determination for the purchase of such securities and must have received the purchaser’s written consent to the transaction prior to the purchase.  Additionally, for any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, the rules require the delivery, prior to the transaction, of a risk disclosure document mandated by the SEC relating to the penny stock market.  The broker-dealer must also disclose the commission payable to both the broker-dealer and the registered representative, current quotations for the securities and, if the broker-dealer is the sole market maker, the broker-dealer must disclose this fact and the broker-dealer’s presumed control over the market.  Finally, monthly statements must be sent disclosing recent price information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the limited market in penny stocks.  Consequently, the penny stock rules may restrict the ability of broker-dealers to sell the Company’s securities and may affect the ability of holders to sell these

 

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securities in the secondary market and the price at which such holders can sell any such securities.  Rule 15g-9 under the Exchange Act imposes additional sales practice requirements on broker-dealers who sell such securities except in transactions exempted from such rule.  Such exempt transactions include those meeting the requirements of Rule 505 or 506 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and transactions in which the purchaser is an institutional accredited investor or an established customer of the broker-dealer.  As a result, holders of FORTEL’s common stock may be unable to readily sell the stock they hold or may not be able to sell it at all.

 

Dependence on Key Personnel

 

The Company’s future performance depends significantly upon the continued service of its key technical and senior management personnel.  The Company provides incentives such as salary, benefits and option grants (which are typically subject to vesting over four years) to attract and retain qualified employees.  Recently, the Company’s stock price has been volatile and, as such, many of the Company’s employees hold options with exercise prices greater than the market price of the Company’s Common Stock and, therefore, may not be an incentive to retain the services of these individuals.  As a result, in October 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repricing of previously-granted options, reducing the original exercise prices when initially granted to $0.04 per share, which represented the market value on the date of repricing.  The loss of the services of one or more of the Company’s officers or other key employees could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, operating results and financial condition.  The Company’s future success depends on its continuing ability to retain highly qualified technical and management personnel.  Competition for such personnel is intense and there can be no assurance that the Company can retain its key technical and management employees or that it can attract, assimilate and retain other highly qualified key technical and management personnel in the future.

 

Competition

 

The market for eBusiness and internet performance management tools in which the Company’s software products business competes is intensely competitive.  Many of the companies with which the Company competes, such as Computer Associates International, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company, and BMC Software, Inc. have substantially larger installed bases and greater financial resources than the Company.  New companies will appear and may compete with certain of the Company’s products and services.  The Company believes the important considerations for software customers are ease of use, automated functionality, product

 

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reliability, quality and price, as well as complementary services offered.  There can be no assurance that the Company’s competitors or new companies will not develop products comparable or superior to those developed by the Company or adapt more quickly than the Company to new technologies, evolving industry standards, new product introductions, or changing customer requirements.  The Company believes that it competes favorably in each of these areas.

 

Dependence on New Products; Rapid Technological Change

 

The markets in which the Company operates are characterized by rapid technological change, changing customer needs, frequent new product introductions and evolving industry standards.  The introduction of products embodying new technologies and/or the emergence of new industry standards could render the Company’s existing products and services obsolete and unmarketable.  The Company’s future success will depend upon its ability to develop and to introduce new products and services on a timely basis that keep pace with technological developments and emerging industry standards and address the increasingly sophisticated needs of its customers.  There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in developing and marketing products or services that respond to technological changes or evolving industry standards, that the Company will not experience difficulties that could delay or prevent the successful development, introduction and marketing of new products or services, or that its new products or services will adequately meet the requirements of the marketplace and achieve market acceptance.  If the Company is unable, for technological or other reasons, to develop and introduce new products or services in a timely manner in response to changing market conditions or customer requirements, the Company’s business, operating results and financial condition will be materially and adversely affected.

 

Dependence on Proprietary Technology

 

The Company’s success depends significantly upon its proprietary technology.  The Company currently relies on a combination of patent, copyright and trademark laws, trade secrets, confidentiality agreements and contractual provisions to protect its proprietary rights.  The Company seeks to protect its software, documentation and other written materials under trade secret and copyright laws, which afford only limited protection.  The Company has registered its FORTEL and SightLine trademarks and will continue to evaluate the registration of additional trademarks as appropriate.  The Company generally enters into confidentiality agreements with its employees and with key vendors and suppliers.  The Company currently holds a United States patent on one of its software technologies.  There can be

 

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no assurance that this patent will provide the Company with any competitive advantages or will not be challenged by third parties, or that the patents of others will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to do business.  The Company believes that the rapidly changing technology in the computer industry makes the Company’s success depend more on the technical competence and creative skills of its personnel than on patents.

 

There has also been substantial litigation in the computer industry regarding intellectual property rights, and litigation may be necessary to protect the Company’s proprietary technology.  The Company has not received significant claims that it is infringing third parties’ intellectual property rights, but there can be no assurance that third parties will not in the future claim infringement by the Company with respect to current or future products, trademarks or other proprietary rights.

 

The Company expects that companies in its markets will increasingly be subject to infringement claims as the number of products and competitors in the Company’s target markets grows.  Any such claims or litigation may be time consuming and costly, cause product shipment delays, require the Company to redesign its products or require the Company to enter into royalty or licensing agreements, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, operating results or financial condition.  Despite the Company’s efforts to protect its proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of the Company’s products or to obtain and use information that the Company regards as proprietary.  There can be no assurance that the Company’s means of protecting its proprietary rights will be adequate or that the Company’s competitors will not independently develop similar technology, duplicate the Company’s products or design around patents issued to the Company or other intellectual property rights of the Company.

 

Product Liability

 

The Company’s agreements with its customers typically contain provisions intended to limit the Company’s exposure to potential product liability claims.  It is possible that the limitation of liability provisions contained in the Company’s agreements may not be effective.  Although the Company has not received any product liability claims to date, the sale and support of products by the Company and the incorporation of products from other companies may entail the risk of such claims.  A successful product liability claim against the Company could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, operating results and financial condition.

 

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International Sales and Operations

Sales to customers outside the United States have accounted for significant portions of the Company’s net sales.  The Company currently has offices in and is operating in the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, and France.  International sales pose certain risks not faced by companies that limit themselves to domestic sales.  Fluctuations in the value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar, for example, could make the Company’s products less price competitive.  International sales could be adversely affected by factors beyond the Company’s control, including the imposition of government controls, export license requirements, restrictions on technology exports, changes in tariffs and taxes and general economic and political conditions.  The laws of some countries do not protect the Company’s intellectual property rights to the same extent as the laws of the United States.  The Company does not believe these additional risks are significant in the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Germany, France or in Switzerland.

 

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

The Company has considered the provisions of Financial Reporting Release No. 48, “Disclosure of Accounting Policies for Derivative Financial Instruments and Derivative Commodity Instruments, and Disclosure of Quantitative and Qualitative Information about Market Risk Inherent in Derivative Financial Instruments, Other Financial Instruments and Derivative Commodity Instruments”.  The Company had no holdings of derivative financial or commodity instruments at June 30, 2002.  A review of other financial instruments and risk exposures at that date revealed the Company did not have exposure to interest rate risk.

 

The Company sells it products worldwide.  Consequently, the financial results could be affected by factors such as changes in foreign currency exchange rates or weak economic conditions in foreign markets.  Because a major portion of the Company’s revenue is currently denominated in U.S. Dollars, a strengthening of the dollar could make the Company’s products less competitive in foreign markets.

 

PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 6.    Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)        Exhibits

 

CEO and CFO Certification

 

(b)        Reports on Form 8-K

None

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

FORTEL INC.

 

 

 

 

Date:  August 14, 2002

By

/s/  Romeo R. Dizon

 

 

Romeo R. Dizon

 

Chief Accounting Officer and Acting Chief Financial Officer

 

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