-----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, OF/i0HuAFzjPf/mZWt+YI6w4loSXG1VLqhtzsn1Kk+qy3o6vcEecnlk27YMKxyMT Qz0uvizBJFfu5iKH5yubdA== 0000950134-04-001064.txt : 20040204 0000950134-04-001064.hdr.sgml : 20040204 20040204101601 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950134-04-001064 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20040128 ITEM INFORMATION: ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20040204 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SPECTRALINK CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000894268 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663] IRS NUMBER: 841141188 STATE OF INCORPORATION: CO FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-28180 FILM NUMBER: 04565053 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 5755 CENTRAL AVENUE STREET 2: SUITE 202E CITY: BOULDER STATE: CO ZIP: 80301 BUSINESS PHONE: 3034405330 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 5755 CENTRAL AVENUE STREET 2: SUITE 202E CITY: BOULDER STATE: CO ZIP: 80301 8-K 1 d12274e8vk.htm FORM 8-K e8vk
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 28, 2004

SPECTRALINK CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

     
0-28180
(Commission file number)
  84-1141188
(IRS Employer
Identification
Number)
     
5755 Central Avenue, Boulder, Colorado
(Address of principal executive office)
  80301-2848
(Zip code)

303-440-5330
(Issuer’s telephone number)

Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed from last report)

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.
SIGNATURES
EXHIBIT INDEX
EX-99.1 Press Release
EX-99.2 Script from Conference Call


Table of Contents

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

List below the financial statements, pro forma financial information and exhibits, if any, filed as a part of this report.

  (a)   Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired:

     Not required.

  (b)   Pro Forma Financial Information:

     Not required.

  (c)   Exhibits:

     
Exhibit Number
  Description
99.1
  Press Release dated January 28, 2004.*
99.2
  Script from conference call dated January 28, 2004.*
 
   
* Furnished and not filed herewith, solely pursuant to Item 12.

ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

Please refer to the attached press release (Exhibit 99.1) that was issued by the Registrant on January 28, 2004, and the attached script used by the Registrant during its conference call (Exhibit 99.2) that was webcast on the Registrant’s web site on January 28, 2004.

SIGNATURES

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

     
    SPECTRALINK CORPORATION
Date: February 4, 2004   By: /s/ Nancy K. Hamilton
Nancy K. Hamilton,
Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer and on
behalf of the Registrant

 


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

     
Exhibit Number
  Description
99.1
  Press Release dated January 28, 2004. *
99.2
  Script from conference call dated January 28, 2004. *
 
   
* Furnished and not filed herewith, solely pursuant to Item 12.

 

EX-99.1 3 d12274exv99w1.htm EX-99.1 PRESS RELEASE exv99w1
 

Exhibit 99.1

For Immediate Release:

     
CONTACT:
   
 
   
Bob Husted
  Nancy Hamilton
Investor Relations Manager
  Chief Financial Officer
(303) 440-5330 ext. 350
  (303) 440-5330 ext. 524
bhusted@spectralink.com
  nhamilton@spectralink.com

SpectraLink Delivers Record Quarterly Revenues and Grows Quarterly
Earnings 51% Year-over-Year

BOULDER, Colo. — January 28, 2004 — SpectraLink Corporation (Nasdaq: SLNK) today reported earnings per diluted share of $0.13 on net income of $2.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2003. This represents a 51% increase over net income of $1.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2002, which delivered $0.09 earnings per diluted share, and a 12% increase over third quarter 2003 net income. Fourth quarter revenue grew to a record $19.9 million compared to $16.5 million a year ago, representing 21% year-over-year quarterly growth and 8% sequential growth over the third quarter of 2003.

For the year ended December 31, 2003, earnings per diluted share were $0.42 on net income of $8.2 million and revenue of $71.4 million. This represents 51% growth in annual net income, and over 17% growth in annual revenue, when compared to 2002 net income of $5.4 million and $60.9 million in revenue that generated $0.28 earnings per diluted share.

John Elms, president and CEO of SpectraLink, said, “I am extremely pleased that we ended 2003 on such a positive note, achieving record revenues for both the quarter and the year. I was also pleased to see the sales of our NetLink Wireless Telephones approach the levels of our Link Wireless Telephone Systems in the recently completed quarter. With the cost of 802.11 infrastructure continuing to drop, and the new lower price points of SpectraLink’s 802.11 compatible NetLink Wireless Telephones, the shift from our proprietary voice-only Link systems to our NetLink products is proceeding as expected. We believe that this trend will continue to where NetLink will be the clear product of choice with our customers.”

 


 

“Our strong quarterly financial results delivered year-over-year growth as well as sequential growth from the third to the fourth quarter of 2003,” said Nancy Hamilton, SpectraLink CFO. “The sequential quarterly growth of revenue by 8% and earnings by 12% was a very positive way to close out the year.” Hamilton went on to say, “We generated more than $3.4 million in cash from operations this quarter, marking 20 consecutive quarters of positive cash flow from operations. It is gratifying to see our cash and cash equivalents grow to almost $52 million while days-sales-outstanding on accounts receivable remained at 51.”

“It is very rewarding to see the market respond favorably to our industry leading wireless telephony solutions,” said John Elms, SpectraLink president and CEO. “With the introduction of our new lower priced products in 2003, SpectraLink is well positioned to lead the global market in meeting demand for wireless in the workplace. To ensure the demand for our products continues to grow, SpectraLink is focusing its efforts on expanding our strategic OEM relationships.” Elms continued, “We are excited to be the partner of choice for the leading telephony providers in the world and look to these relationships to expand our reach deeper into our current vertical markets as well as the international and large enterprise markets that offer such tremendous opportunity.”

Webcast Information

SpectraLink will hold an audio webcast to discuss fourth quarter and fiscal year 2003 earnings results, today, January 28, at 4:30 pm Eastern Time. You can access the webcast and archive at http://www.spectralink.com.

Safe Harbor Provision

Portions of this script contain forward-looking statements regarding future events based on current expectations. These forward-looking statements and other statements, such as statements regarding the future financial performance of SpectraLink, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Prospective investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. SpectraLink cautions you that there are factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results indicated by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the inability to close several large orders in the sales pipeline; adverse changes in economic and business conditions affecting SpectraLink’s customers; the failure of the market for on-premises wireless telephone systems to grow or to grow as quickly as SpectraLink anticipates; the intensely competitive nature of the wireless communications industry, and a customer preference to buy all telephone communications systems from a single source provider that manufactures and sells PBX or key/hybrid systems; SpectraLink’s reliance on sole or limited sources of supply for many components and equipment used in its manufacturing process; the risk of business interruption arising from SpectraLink’s dependence on a single manufacturing facility; changes in rules and regulations of the FCC; and SpectraLink’s reliance on its 802.11 technology partners to continue to provide the wireless local area network for SpectraLink’s NetLink product, and to provide access points which support SpectraLink Voice Priority. For additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results indicated by the forward-looking statements and other statements in this script, we refer you to the documents SpectraLink files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission,

 


 

including the section titled Forward-Looking Statement Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and the section titled Forward-Looking Statement Factors in our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2003. These filings are available on the Investors section of SpectraLink’s website located at www.spectralink.com. SpectraLink expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments after the date hereof.

###

All trademarks, trade names, registered trademarks, or registered trade names are property of their respective holders. For more information, visit the SpectraLink website at www.spectralink.com.

Three pages of tables attached

 


 

SPECTRALINK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

                 
    December 31,
  December 31,
    2003
  2002
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 51,861     $ 44,211  
Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance of $341 and $311, respectively
    14,470       11,236  
Income taxes receivable
    204       105  
Inventory, net of allowance of $591 and $651, respectively
    7,653       7,449  
Deferred income tax — current portion
    1,562       975  
Other
    800       798  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total current assets
    76,550       64,774  
Property and equipment, at cost:
               
Furniture and fixtures
    2,312       1,632  
Equipment
    9,245       7,240  
Leasehold improvements
    989       865  
 
   
 
     
 
 
 
    12,546       9,737  
Less — accumulated depreciation
    (8,463 )     (7,224 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net property and equipment
    4,083       2,513  
Deferred income tax — non current portion
    151       165  
Other long term assets
    387       232  
 
   
 
     
 
 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 81,171     $ 67,684  
 
   
 
     
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 1,453     $ 1,023  
Accrued payroll, commissions and employee benefits
    3,114       2,069  
Accrued sales, use and property taxes
    724       512  
Accrued warranty expenses
    493       274  
Other accrued expenses and liabilities
    2,269       1,657  
Deferred revenue
    6,319       5,281  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Total current liabilities
    14,372       10,816  
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
    250       178  
 
   
 
     
 
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES
    14,622       10,994  
 
   
 
     
 
 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
               
Preferred stock, 5,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding
           
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 50,000 shares authorized, 22,800 and 22,130 shares issued, respectively, and 18,871 and 18,648 shares outstanding, respectively
    227       221  
Additional paid-in capital
    71,010       63,763  
Retained earnings
    24,706       18,412  
Treasury stock, 3,929 shares and 3,482 shares, respectively, at cost
    (29,394 )     (25,706 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
    66,549       56,690  
 
   
 
     
 
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  $ 81,171     $ 67,684  
 
   
 
     
 
 

 


 

SPECTRALINK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands except per share amounts)
(unaudited)

                                 
    Three Months Ended   For the Years Ended
    December 31,
  December 31,
    2003
  2002
  2003
  2002
NET SALES
  $ 19,880     $ 16,486     $ 71,428     $ 60,901  
COST OF SALES
    6,711       5,419       23,549       21,035  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Gross Profit
    13,169       11,067       47,879       39,866  
OPERATING EXPENSES:
                               
Research and Development
    1,847       1,737       7,759       6,501  
Marketing and Selling
    6,231       5,854       23,110       21,440  
General and Administrative
    1,164       867       4,230       3,742  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
Total Operating Expenses
    9,242       8,458       35,099       31,683  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
    3,927       2,609       12,780       8,183  
INVESTMENT INCOME AND OTHER
    71       113       302       551  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    3,998       2,722       13,082       8,734  
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
    1,454       1,034       4,906       3,319  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
NET INCOME
  $ 2,544     $ 1,688     $ 8,176     $ 5,415  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
  $ 0.14     $ 0.09     $ 0.44     $ 0.29  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
BASIC WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING
    18,800       18,700       18,570       18,960  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
  $ 0.13     $ 0.09     $ 0.42     $ 0.28  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 
DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING
    19,740       18,920       19,270       19,240  
 
   
 
     
 
     
 
     
 
 

 


 

SPECTRALINK CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(unaudited)

                 
    For the Years Ended
    December 31,
    2003
  2002
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
               
Net income
  $ 8,176     $ 5,415  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    1,239       1,089  
Income tax benefit from the exercise of stock options
    2,060       94  
Provision for bad debts
    34       229  
Provision for excess and obsolete inventory
    498       512  
Amortization of premium on investments in marketable securities
          4  
Deferred income taxes
    (573 )     609  
Changes in assets and liabilities -
               
(Increase) decrease in trade accounts receivable
    (3,268 )     1,448  
(Increase) decrease in income taxes receivable
    (99 )     2,474  
(Increase) decrease in inventory
    (702 )     112  
(Increase) in other assets
    (157 )     (277 )
Increase in accounts payable
    430       14  
Increase in accrued liabilities, income taxes payable and deferred revenue
    3,089       2,167  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    10,727       13,890  
 
   
 
     
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
               
Purchases of property and equipment
    (2,681 )     (1,384 )
Maturity of investments in marketable securities
          1,000  
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (2,681 )     (384 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Principal payments under long-term obligation
    (19 )      
Proceeds from exercises of common stock options
    4,584       962  
Proceeds from issuances of common stock
    609       590  
Dividends paid
    (1,882 )      
Purchases of treasury stock
    (3,688 )     (8,089 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
Net cash used in financing activities
    (396 )     (6,537 )
 
   
 
     
 
 
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    7,650       6,969  
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of year
    44,211       37,242  
 
   
 
     
 
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of year
  $ 51,861     $ 44,211  
 
   
 
     
 
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
               
Cash paid for income taxes
  $ 1,981     $ 190  
 
   
 
     
 
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
               
Assets acquired under long-term obligation
  $ 128     $  
 
   
 
     
 
 

 

EX-99.2 4 d12274exv99w2.htm EX-99.2 SCRIPT FROM CONFERENCE CALL exv99w2
 

Exhibit 99.2

Q4 2003 Conference Call Script

Safe Harbor Provision

Portions of this script contain forward-looking statements regarding future events based on current expectations. These forward-looking statements and other statements, such as statements regarding the future financial performance of SpectraLink, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Prospective investors should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. SpectraLink cautions you that there are factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results indicated by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the inability to close several large orders in the sales pipeline; adverse changes in economic and business conditions affecting SpectraLink’s customers; the failure of the market for on-premises wireless telephone systems to grow or to grow as quickly as SpectraLink anticipates; the intensely competitive nature of the wireless communications industry, and a customer preference to buy all telephone communications systems from a single source provider that manufactures and sells PBX or key/hybrid systems; SpectraLink’s reliance on sole or limited sources of supply for many components and equipment used in its manufacturing process; the risk of business interruption arising from SpectraLink’s dependence on a single manufacturing facility; changes in rules and regulations of the FCC; and SpectraLink’s reliance on its 802.11 technology partners to continue to provide the wireless local area network for SpectraLink’s NetLink product, and to provide access points which support SpectraLink Voice Priority. For additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results indicated by the forward-looking statements and other statements in this script, we refer you to the documents SpectraLink files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the section titled Forward-Looking Statement Factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 and the section titled Forward-Looking Statement Factors in our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2003. These filings are available on the Investors section of SpectraLink’s website located at www.spectralink.com. SpectraLink expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments after the date hereof.

Nancy Hamilton

Thank you operator. With me today is John Elms, SpectraLink’s president and Chief Executive Officer.

Thank you for joining SpectraLink’s conference call for the fourth quarter of 2003. I would also like to welcome our Internet listeners as we broadcast this call live across the Internet.

This discussion will contain projections and other forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of the statements and are subject to risks and uncertainties, so actual results could differ from present expectations. Therefore, I refer you to information contained in our 2002 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2003, and in our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2003, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2003, for a description of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any forward-looking statement. These filings are available on the Investors section of our website. You will also see a description of some of these risks and uncertainties in today’s press release. SpectraLink undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements discussed today in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this conference call.

SpectraLink delivered excellent results for the fourth quarter of 2003 with earnings growing by 51% over the same period a year ago, amounting to $2.5

 


 

million, or $0.13 earnings per diluted share. These strong financials also resulted in sequential growth in earnings of 12% over last quarter. This growth was generated from record high revenue of $19.9 million for the quarter, which is a 21% increase over the fourth quarter of 2002 and more than 8% sequential growth over the third quarter of 2003. For the same period a year ago, net income was $1.7 million, or $0.09 earnings per diluted share on revenue of $16.5 million.

Earnings per diluted share for fiscal year 2003 were $0.42 on net income of $8.2 million and revenue of $71.4 million. This compares very favorably to fiscal year 2002 that delivered earnings per diluted share of $0.28 on net income of $5.4 million and revenue of $60.9 million, representing 51% growth in annual earnings, year-over-year, and over 17% in annual revenue growth year-over-year.

In our target areas, Retail Stores delivered very strong numbers this quarter, generating $4.6 million in revenue, which accounted for 29% of product revenue. For fiscal year 2003, Retail sales were more in line with our expectations accounting for 23% of product sales. The General market remains our primary sector with $11.2 million in sales, accounting for 71% of total product sales in the fourth quarter. For the year, the General market accounted for 77% of product sales. We define the General market as the industrial, government, corporate and healthcare sectors. The Service sector of our business continues to be a consistent revenue producer, contributing 21% of total revenue in the fourth quarter and for the year.

This quarter, sales of our NetLink Wireless Telephones approached levels of our Link Wireless Telephone Systems. NetLink sales grew to 42% of total product sales while Link made up the remaining 58% of total product sales. This is a noticeable shift in sales from our proprietary voice-only Link systems to our NetLink products in large part due to the continuing drop in the cost of 802.11 infrastructure and the new lower price points of SpectraLink’s 802.11 compatible NetLink Wireless Telephones. We expect this trend to continue to where NetLink will be the clear product of choice with our customers. The overall gross margin for the quarter was 66%, nearing our expected range of 60-65%. The slight decline in gross margin this quarter from last quarter resulted from a change in product mix and the strong growth in our Retail Stores market. Throughout 2003, gross margins remained in the high-60% range and were 67% for the year.

SpectraLink’s distribution channels accounted for 72% of product sales while our direct sales team accounted for 28% of product sales this quarter. For the year, indirect sales represented 70% of product sales.

Total operating expenses were 46% of quarterly revenue. R&D made up $1.8 million of these expenses, accounting for 9% of quarterly revenue. This is slightly lower than our expected range of 10 to 12% and resulted from the year-end increase in revenue.

Our quarterly pre-tax margin of 20% was in line with the last couple of quarters but noticeably better than the 17% pre-tax margin from the fourth quarter of 2002. For fiscal 2003, the pre-tax margin of 18% represents an increase in pre-tax income of almost 50% over 2002.

 


 

SpectraLink recognized a larger tax credit in 2003 due to the increased R&D spending throughout the year. This credit resulted in a decrease in the effective tax rate for fiscal 2003 to 37.5% compared to 38% in 2002.

Cash and cash equivalents on our balance sheet grew this quarter by more than $1.8 million, to almost $52 million. This is especially noteworthy when you consider we paid our first cash dividend to shareholders this quarter equal to $1.9 million. Continuing our string of successive profitable quarters, we generated $3.4 million in cash from operations in the fourth quarter primarily because of positive net income. This represents our 20th consecutive quarter of positive cash flow from operations. Days-sales-outstanding stayed low again this quarter, remaining at 51 days.

Now I’d like to turn the call over to our president and CEO, John Elms.

John Elms

Thank you, Nancy.

I am extremely pleased that SpectraLink closed 2003 on such a positive note, achieving record revenues for both the quarter and the year. As expected, the fourth quarter delivered the strongest financial results of the year, generating almost $20 million in revenue. In addition, these record-setting revenues helped deliver record earnings for the full year. I think it’s particularly noteworthy that these outstanding results were attained during a year of significant change for SpectraLink that included new products, new systems and a change in executive leadership.

NetLink Wireless Telephones continue to drive sales growth at SpectraLink. As Nancy said, NetLink sales grew to 42% of total product sales, accounting for $6.6 million this quarter. This represents a significant increase in NetLink sales that were just $2.7 million in the fourth quarter a year ago. The increasing acceptance of 802.11 in the marketplace and the lower average selling prices of our NetLink products are two key reasons for this shift. We believe our new NetLink offerings, including the i640 and e340 handsets, will make up the majority of product sales by mid-2004, and will be the predominant driver of future sales growth at SpectraLink.

This quarter, as planned, we shipped evaluation units of our new wireless deskset phones to some of our valued channel partners. Our deskset phone is a component of our wireless office solution targeted at the general office and small-to-medium enterprise markets where many of the workers remain at or near their desks for the majority of the day. It will help organizations move to a totally wireless office, free of dedicated telephone and computer lines and without the ongoing operating costs for moves, adds and changes. We expect sales of our deskset products to be dominated by the docking station model, and to gain traction in the second half of 2004.

Healthcare was our leading sector this quarter generating 32% of total product sales. Retail Stores sales delivered a robust 29% of product sales with the help of two large orders totaling almost $2 million. This is the first time in several

 


 

quarters that we have closed a deal exceeding $1 million, giving us guarded optimism that other sizable deals that have been in our pipeline for some time may be finalized. The closure of these deals is just one of the signs we are beginning to see that suggests the economy is beginning a recovery and capital spending is picking up.

SpectraLink’s ongoing success is dependent upon our ability to build solid partnerships and relationships. To that end, we recently created an OEM Program Management Office within our sales organization. SpectraLink’s industry leading distribution network will be enhanced by this new organization as it helps to take these relationships to the next level. An example of our focus on these relationships is our newly created partnership with NEC. During the quarter, we finalized an OEM agreement with NEC to distribute SpectraLink products under the NEC brand, and we are working to complete the interface with NEC’s Protims IP protocol. This protocol allows SpectraLink NetLink Wireless Telephones to work seamlessly with an NEC IP infrastructure, and will give NEC a wireless voice solution to include in their future bid proposals to potential customers.

In addition, our recent agreements with Inter-Tel to private label our products and SBC to co-brand our handsets will further expand the reach of SpectraLink wireless telephones. These two partners have been leaders in distributing SpectraLink products for several years and will now distribute our products under their names. We have begun initial product shipments to NEC and Inter-Tel, with SBC co-branded shipments available in the first quarter of 2004. We expect these relationships to gain traction and accelerate revenue growth as 2004 unfolds.

SpectraLink continues its leadership role in IEEE 802.11 and Wi-Fi Alliance task groups working to establish standards for security and Quality of Service on converged voice and data networks. Our latest update from the IEEE is that the security standard, 802.11i, will be ratified in mid-2004, with ratification of the QoS standard, 802.11e, later in the year. We continue to actively participate in the process to ensure that wireless voice remains a key consideration in the development of future standards.

While the work on ratifying these standards continues, the majority of access point vendors remain committed to SpectraLink Voice Priority, or SVP, the de facto standard that provides a robust QoS mechanism for NetLink Wireless Telephones. Even when the IEEE ratifies the Quality of Service standard later this year, providing a base level of QoS, we believe SVP will continue to be of value by offering the highest level of voice quality on a converged network.

Once again, SpectraLink was recognized by a national publication for its strong financial performance. Forbes Magazine ranked SpectraLink in its list of the top 200 “up and coming” small companies that managed to grow and prosper in tough economic times. Rankings were based equally on growth in sales, earnings and ROE for the past five years and the latest 12 months.

As all of our shareholders know, SpectraLink began paying a quarterly cash dividend on December 23, 2003, amounting to $0.10 per share of common stock. This new dividend policy provides an additional option for delivering a return to

 


 

our shareholders. SpectraLink’s Board of Directors will continually evaluate various factors including operating results, anticipated financial needs and plans for expansion to determine how best to benefit the stockholder on an ongoing basis, whether it be continued cash dividends, stock repurchases or other strategic programs.

As I look back at 2003, several highlights come to mind. First, we introduced a much-enhanced family of 802.11 compatible handsets with our new NetLink Wireless Telephone offerings. Product features were added and prices were reduced. We introduced a totally redesigned handset and a wireless deskset that should open the small-to-medium enterprise and large enterprise markets to the benefits of SpectraLink wireless communications. Second, we successfully implemented Phase 1 of a new ERP system that includes customer service and financial packages. Third, we completed an executive leadership transition that included naming Bruce Holland as Chairman of the Board, myself as the CEO and President, and John Kelley as the new member of the executive team, coming on as the VP of Operations. Lastly, our financial accomplishments were noteworthy. We achieved record revenue levels in both the second and fourth quarters of 2003. Growth in earnings over 2002 was significant and resulted in record earnings for fiscal 2003.

I would now like to provide some general guidance for the upcoming year. Historically, revenue and earnings for the first quarter of each year have been sequentially down from the fourth quarter. As we look to 2004, we expect this trend to continue in line with our normal seasonal patterns. The lower prices of SpectraLink’s new products introduced in April 2003 will test, and we believe validate, our theory of price elasticity in the market. With this in mind, we believe revenue growth for 2004 will accelerate and surpass our 2003 growth rate with total revenues in the mid- to high- $80 million range. Service revenue as a percentage of total company revenue will begin to decline over time as we accelerate product sales and shift more through our OEM partners. Gross margins should be in the 60-65% range and will be driven by the mix of product sales, new OEM relationships and end-user customers. The e340 handset carries a lower gross margin than the high-end i640 handset, so as e340 sales expand into the enterprise market, overall gross margins are expected to move into the lower end of our range.

To remain the leader in our industry, we must maintain our commitment to Research and Development. Investment in R&D is targeted for 10 to 12% of revenue for the foreseeable future. Sales and Marketing expense has trended down this year from a high of 35% of revenue at the beginning of the year to 31% in Q4. Going forward, we believe Sales and Marketing will continue to decline as a percentage of revenue as our channel strategy matures and we shift our sales effort to demand generation and partner support from direct fulfillment. Overall operating margins have been 20% for the last three quarters. We would expect a slight improvement as 2004 unfolds.

In conclusion, I am very excited about achieving record level performance both in revenue and earnings in 2003. We have finished the year with new products in place that will open new market opportunities for us. 2004 will be the year for SpectraLink to take the next step in market penetration through expanded relationships and new product availability. We are well positioned to capitalize on

 


 

the growing interest in wireless for the workplace as well as demand for voice over IP. SpectraLink is in the enviable position of offering a technology that fits right at the intersection of these two new state-of-the-art solutions to enterprise communications and continues to grow and lead the market in wireless voice solutions for the workplace.

Thank you for joining us today. I’m going to turn the call back over to the operator for questions now.

Nancy Hamilton — At the end of Q&A

I want to thank everyone for participating today and remind you that this call will be available for replay through a dial-in number for 7 days and on our website for an extended period.

Goodbye.

 

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