Form 10-Q

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2006

OR

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

Commission File No. 0-29092

PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   54-1708481

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
7901 Jones Branch Drive, Suite 900,   22102
McLean, VA   (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)  

(703) 902-2800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 for 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  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  ¨                    Accelerated filer  x                    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

 

Outstanding as of

October 31, 2006

Common Stock $0.01 par value   113,848,540

 



PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

              Page No.
Part I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
  Item 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)   
     Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations    1
     Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets    2
     Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows    3
     Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Loss    4
     Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements    5
  Item 2.   

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

   32
  Item 3.   

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

   51
  Item 4.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES    53
Part II.   OTHER INFORMATION   
  Item 1.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS    54
  Item 1A.    RISK FACTORS    54
  Item 2.    CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS    62
  Item 3.    DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES    62
  Item 4.    SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS    62
  Item 5.    OTHER INFORMATION    62
  Item 6.    EXHIBITS    62
SIGNATURES    63
EXHIBIT INDEX    64


PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2006     2005     2006     2005  

NET REVENUE

   $ 247,702     $ 290,430     $ 769,557     $ 892,055  

OPERATING EXPENSES

        

Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation included below)

     158,845       196,488       506,502       592,599  

Selling, general and administrative

     72,484       92,817       221,455       295,895  

Depreciation and amortization

     7,003       21,866       41,126       66,001  

(Gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets

     (205 )     12,772       14,302       13,350  

Asset impairment write-down

     —         —         209,248       —    
                                

Total operating expenses

     238,127       323,943       992,633       967,845  
                                

INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS

     9,575       (33,513 )     (223,076 )     (75,790 )

INTEREST EXPENSE

     (13,199 )     (13,551 )     (40,681 )     (39,572 )

ACCRETION ON DEBT DISCOUNT

     222       —         (1,344 )     —    

CHANGE IN FAIR VALUE OF DERIVATIVES EMBEDDED WITHIN CONVERTIBLE DEBT

     —         —         5,373       —    

GAIN (LOSS) ON EARLY EXTINGUISHMENT OR RESTRUCTURING OF DEBT

     —         (4,160 )     7,409       (5,865 )

INTEREST AND OTHER INCOME

     845       780       3,410       2,112  

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTION GAIN (LOSS)

     3,896       1,974       8,520       (4,379 )
                                

INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     1,339       (48,470 )     (240,389 )     (123,494 )

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

     (1,218 )     (2,779 )     (3,696 )     (7,684 )
                                

INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

     121       (51,249 )     (244,085 )     (131,178 )

INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED INDIA OPERATIONS, net of tax

     —         602       1,139       1,715  

GAIN FROM SALE OF DISCONTINUED INDIA OPERATIONS, net of tax

     —         —         7,415       —    
                                

NET INCOME (LOSS)

   $ 121     $ (50,647 )   $ (235,531 )   $ (129,463 )
                                

BASIC AND DILUTED INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE:

        

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 0.00     $ (0.52 )   $ (2.18 )   $ (1.41 )

Income from discontinued India operations

     —         0.01       —         0.02  

Gain from sale of discontinued India operations

     —         —         0.07       —    
                                

Net income (loss)

   $ 0.00     $ (0.51 )   $ (2.11 )   $ (1.39 )
                                

WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING

        

BASIC

     113,844       98,640       111,866       93,035  
                                

DILUTED

     160,779       98,640       111,866       93,035  
                                

See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

1


PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share amounts)

(unaudited)

 

     September 30,
2006
    December 31,
2005
 

ASSETS

    

CURRENT ASSETS:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 70,828     $ 42,999  

Accounts receivable (net of allowance for doubtful accounts receivable of $15,735 and $16,788)

     119,419       141,909  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     25,901       31,905  
                

Total current assets

     216,148       216,813  

RESTRICTED CASH

     9,313       10,619  

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT—Net

     108,539       285,881  

GOODWILL

     35,183       85,745  

OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS—Net

     3,099       11,392  

OTHER ASSETS

     29,861       30,639  
                

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 402,143     $ 641,089  
                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

    

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 75,556     $ 83,941  

Accrued interconnection costs

     50,379       64,333  

Deferred revenue

     19,807       30,037  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     48,100       31,400  

Accrued income taxes

     17,379       16,339  

Accrued interest

     8,936       13,268  

Current portion of long-term obligations

     41,421       16,092  
                

Total current liabilities

     261,578       255,410  

LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS (net of discount of $5,742 and $-0-)

     605,520       619,120  

OTHER LIABILITIES

     1,376       2,893  
                

Total liabilities

     868,474       877,423  
                

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (See Note 6.)

    

STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT:

    

Preferred stock: not designated, $0.01 par value—1,410,050 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding; Series A and B, $0.01 par value—485,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding; Series C, $0.01 par value—559,950 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding

     —         —    

Common stock, $0.01 par value—300,000,000 shares authorized; 113,848,540 and 105,254,552 shares issued and outstanding

     1,138       1,053  

Additional paid-in capital

     692,876       686,196  

Accumulated deficit

     (1,085,569 )     (850,038 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (74,776 )     (73,545 )
                

Total stockholders’ deficit

     (466,331 )     (236,334 )
                

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

   $ 402,143     $ 641,089  
                

See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

2


PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Nine Months Ended September 30,  
          2006               2005       

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    

Net loss

   $ (235,531 )   $ (129,463 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Provision for doubtful accounts receivable

     11,156       17,968  

Stock compensation expense

     481       —    

Depreciation and amortization

     41,746       66,880  

Loss on sale or disposal of assets

     6,911       13,364  

Asset impairment write-down

     209,248       —    

Accretion of debt discount

     1,344       —    

Equity investment write-off and loss

     —         249  

Change in fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt

     (5,373 )     —    

(Gain) loss on early extinguishment or restructuring of debt

     (7,409 )     5,865  

Minority interest share of loss

     (1,595 )     (327 )

Unrealized foreign currency transaction loss on intercompany and foreign debt

     (9,676 )     (988 )

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

    

Decrease in accounts receivable

     15,638       11,858  

Decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets

     7,238       5,547  

(Increase) decrease in other assets

     91       (1,813 )

Decrease in accounts payable

     (12,536 )     (17,912 )

Decrease in accrued interconnection costs

     (15,850 )     (5,087 )

Increase, net, in deferred revenue, accrued expenses, accrued income taxes, other current liabilities and other liabilities

     7,335       857  

Decrease in accrued interest

     (4,243 )     (4,019 )
                

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     8,975       (37,021 )
                

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    

Purchase of property and equipment

     (23,926 )     (42,522 )

Cash from disposition of business, net of cash disposed

     12,947       —    

Cash used for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     (224 )     (226 )

Decrease in restricted cash

     1,196       5,421  
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (10,007 )     (37,327 )
                

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Proceeds from issuance of long-term obligations

     32,441       109,717  

Principal payments on long-term obligations

     (9,117 )     (16,146 )

Proceeds from sale of common stock, net of issuance costs

     4,935       221  
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     28,259       93,792  
                

EFFECTS OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     602       (517 )
                

NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     27,829       18,927  

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD

     42,999       49,668  
                

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD

   $ 70,828     $ 68,595  
                

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

    

Cash paid for interest

   $ 43,197     $ 41,659  

Cash paid for taxes

   $ 2,946     $ 2,664  

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

    

Capital lease additions

   $ 66     $ 809  

Property and equipment, accrued in current liabilities

   $ —       $ 517  

Business acquisition, financed by long-term obligations

   $ —       $ 2,064  

Settlement of outstanding debt with issuance of common stock

   $ 1,351     $ 17,000  

Settlement of outstanding debt with issuance of new convertible debt

   $ (27,417 )   $ —    

Issuance of new convertible debt in exchange for convertible subordinated debentures

   $ 27,481     $ —    

Settlement of outstanding debt with issuance of new exchangeable debt

   $ (54,750 )   $ —    

Issuance of new exchangeable debt in exchange for convertible senior notes

   $ 47,102     $ —    

See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

3


PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2006     2005     2006     2005  

NET INCOME (LOSS)

   $ 121     $ (50,647 )   $ (235,531 )   $ (129,463 )

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS, NET OF TAX

        

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     (2,594 )     (579 )     (883 )     (5,423 )

Reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustment for loss from the India transaction included in net loss

     —         —         (349 )     —    
                                

COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

   $ (2,473 )   $ (51,226 )   $ (236,763 )   $ (134,886 )
                                

See notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

 

4


PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(UNAUDITED)

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated and subsidiaries (“the Company” or “Primus”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial reporting and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such principles and regulations. In the opinion of management, the financial statements reflect all adjustments (all of which are of a normal and recurring nature), which are necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, cash flows and comprehensive loss for the interim periods. The results for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2006.

Our results for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 reflect the activities of our India operations as discontinued operations (see Note 10 – “Discontinued Operations”).

The financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s most recently filed Form 10-K.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation—The consolidated financial statements include the Company’s accounts, its wholly-owned subsidiaries and all other subsidiaries over which the Company exerts control. The Company owns 51% of the common stock of Matrix Internet, S.A. (“Matrix”), 51% of CS Communications Systems GmbH and CS Network GmbH (“Citrus”) and owned approximately 85% of Direct Internet Limited (“DIL”) (the India operations) through June 23, 2006, in all of which the Company has or had a controlling interest. In the second quarter of 2006, the Company consummated a share purchase agreement with Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (“VSNL”), whereby VSNL purchased 100% of the stock of DIL. The Company has agreed to purchase an additional 39% of Matrix with the purchase price to be paid in the Company’s common stock and is awaiting certain conditions to be met before closing can be completed. All intercompany profits, transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company uses the equity method of accounting for its investment in Bekkoame Internet, Inc. (“Bekko”).

Presentation of Sales Taxes Collected—The Company reports any tax assessed by a governmental authority that is directly imposed on a revenue-producing transaction between the Company and a customer (including sales, use, value-added and some excise taxes) on a net basis (excluded from revenues).

Stock-Based Compensation—On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payments,” which addresses the accounting for stock-based payment transactions whereby an entity receives employee services in exchange for equity instruments, including stock options. SFAS No. 123(R) eliminates the ability to account for stock-based compensation transactions using the intrinsic value method under Accounting Principles Board Opinion (“APB”) No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and instead generally requires that such transactions be accounted for using a fair-value based method. The Company has elected the modified prospective transition method as permitted under SFAS No. 123(R), and accordingly prior periods have not been restated to reflect the impact of SFAS No. 123(R). The modified prospective transition method requires that stock-based compensation expense be recorded for all new and unvested stock options that are ultimately expected to vest as the requisite service is

 

5


rendered beginning on January 1, 2006. Stock-based compensation for awards granted prior to January 1, 2006 is based upon the grant-date fair value of such compensation as determined under the pro forma provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” The Company issues new shares of common stock upon the exercise of stock options.

The Company uses a Black-Scholes option valuation model to determine the fair value of stock-based compensation under SFAS No. 123(R), consistent with that used for pro forma disclosures under SFAS No. 123. The Black-Scholes model incorporates various assumptions including the expected term of awards, volatility of stock price, risk-free rates of return and dividend yield. The expected term of an award is generally no less than the option vesting period and is based on the Company’s historical experience. Expected volatility is based upon the historical volatility of the Company’s stock price. The risk-free interest rate is approximated using rates available on U.S. Treasury securities with a remaining term similar to the option’s expected life. The Company uses a dividend yield of zero in the Black-Scholes option valuation model as it does not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. The Company also had an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which was suspended on July 27, 2006, and allowed employees to elect to purchase stock at 85% of fair market value (determined monthly) and was considered compensatory under SFAS No. 123(R).

The Company recorded an incremental $246 thousand and $481 thousand of stock-based compensation expense during the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, as a result of the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R).

Prior to the adoption on January 1, 2006 of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company used the intrinsic value method to account for these plans under the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion No. 25 and related interpretations. The following table illustrates the effect on net loss and loss per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” to stock-based employee compensation during 2005.

 

     For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2005  
     As Determined Under
SFAS No. 123(R)
    As Reported Under
APB No. 25
    Difference  

Loss from continuing operations

   $ (52,196 )   $ (51,249 )   $ (947 )

Income from discontinued India operations

     602       602       —    
                        

Net loss

   $ (51,594 )   $ (50,647 )   $ (947 )
                        

Basic income (loss) per share:

      

Loss from continuing operations

   $ (0.53 )   $ (0.52 )   $ (0.01 )

Income from discontinued operations

     0.01       0.01       —    
                        

Net loss

   $ (0.52 )   $ (0.51 )   $ (0.01 )
                        

Diluted income (loss) per share:

      

Loss from continuing operations

   $ (0.53 )   $ (0.52 )   $ (0.01 )

Income from discontinued operations

     0.01       0.01       —    
                        

Net loss

   $ (0.52 )   $ (0.51 )   $ (0.01 )
                        

 

6


     For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005  
     As Determined Under
SFAS No. 123(R)
    As Reported Under
APB No. 25
    Difference  

Loss from continuing operations

   $ (134,002 )   $ (131,178 )   $ (2,824 )

Income from discontinued India operations

     1,715       1,715       —    
                        

Net loss

   $ (132,287 )   $ (129,463 )   $ (2,824 )
                        

Basic income (loss) per share:

      

Loss from continuing operations

   $ (1.44 )   $ (1.41 )   $ (0.03 )

Income from discontinued operations

     0.02       0.02       —    
                        

Net loss

   $ (1.42 )   $ (1.39 )   $ (0.03 )
                        

Diluted income (loss) per share:

      

Loss from continuing operations

   $ (1.44 )   $ (1.41 )   $ (0.03 )

Income from discontinued operations

     0.02       0.02       —    
                        

Net loss

   $ (1.42 )   $ (1.39 )   $ (0.03 )
                        

The weighted average fair value, under SFAS No. 123(R), at date of grant for options granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $0.29 and $0.43 per option, respectively. The weighted average fair value, under SFAS No. 123(R), at date of grant for options granted during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 was $0.28 and $0.43, respectively. The fair value, under SFAS No. 123(R), of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

     For the Three Months
Ended September 30,
 
         2006             2005      

Expected dividend yield

   0 %   0 %

Expected stock price volatility

   94.9 %   72.1 %

Risk-free interest rate

   5.1 %   4.1 %

Expected option term

   4 years     4 years  

Under SFAS No. 123(R), the Company was required to apply expense recognition provisions beginning January 1, 2006. As of September 30, 2006, the Company had 1.6 million unvested awards outstanding of which $0.7 million of compensation expense will be recognized over the weighted average remaining vesting period of 2.2 years.

On December 21, 2005, the Company accelerated the vesting of certain unvested stock options previously awarded under the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan and Director Plan. The Company took this action because the future costs to be recognized if this action were not taken were disproportionate to the retention value of the stock options. As a result of this action, stock options to purchase up to 1.5 million shares of common stock, which would otherwise have vested over the next three years, became exercisable effective December 21, 2005. These stock options have exercise prices ranging from $1.61 to $6.30 per share. Based upon the closing stock price for the Company’s common stock of $0.82 per share on December 21, 2005, all of these stock options were “under water” or “out-of-the-money.” Of the stock options whose vesting was accelerated, 0.6 million stock options were held by executive officers and 30,000 stock options were held by non-employee directors. Outstanding unvested stock options to purchase 1.5 million shares of the Company’s common stock, with per share exercise prices ranging from $0.62 to $0.92, were not accelerated.

Derivative Instruments—The Company does not hold or issue derivative instruments for trading purposes. During the three months ended March 31, 2006, the Company had entered into financing arrangements that

 

7


contained embedded derivative features due to the Company having insufficient authorized shares. The Company accounted for these arrangements in accordance with SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, and Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF) Issue No. 00-19, “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to, and Potentially Settled in, a Company’s Own Stock”, as well as related interpretations of these standards. The Company bifurcated embedded derivatives that were not clearly and closely related to the host contract and recorded them as a liability in its balance sheet at their estimated fair value. Changes in their estimated fair value of $5.4 million were recognized in earnings during the period of change. Since June 20, 2006, when authorization for sufficient authorized shares was obtained, the feature that established the embedded derivative no longer exists. The fair value of the embedded derivative at June 20, 2006, was added back to the debt balance.

The Company estimated the fair value of its embedded derivatives using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. These embedded derivatives derived their value primarily based on changes in the price and volatility of the Company’s common stock. Considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value.

Accounting for derivatives was based upon valuations of derivative instruments determined using various valuation techniques including Black-Scholes and binomial pricing methodologies. The Company considered such valuations to be significant estimates.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R),” SFAS No. 158 requires recognition of the over- or underfunded status of defined benefit postretirement plans as an asset or liability in the statement of financial position and to recognize changes in that funded status in comprehensive income in the year in which the changes occur. SFAS No. 158 also requires measurement of the funded status of a plan as of the date of the statement of financial position. SFAS No. 158 is effective for recognition of the funded status of the benefit plans for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006 and is effective for the measurement date provisions for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. The Company anticipates that the adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on its results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurement. SFAS No. 157 does not require new fair value measurements and the Company does not expect the application of this standard to change our current practices. The provisions of SFAS No. 157 are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adoption of SFAS No. 157 will have on its results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation (FIN) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. FIN No. 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” This Interpretation prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in its financial statements uncertain tax positions that the company has taken or expects to take on a tax return. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting FIN No. 48 on its results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140.” SFAS No. 155 clarifies certain issues relating to embedded derivatives and beneficial interests in securitized financial assets. The provisions of SFAS No. 155 are effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2006. The Company is currently assessing the impact that the adoption of SFAS 155 will have on its results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

 

8


3. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Acquired intangible assets subject to amortization consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     As of September 30, 2006    As of December 31, 2005
    

Gross

Carrying

Amount

  

Accumulated

Amortization

   

Net

Book
Value

  

Gross

Carrying

Amount

  

Accumulated

Amortization

   

Net

Book
Value

Customer lists

   $ 3,541    $ (473 )   $ 3,068    $ 190,370    $ (179,863 )   $ 10,507

Brand name acquired

     —        —         —        3,420      (3,148 )     272

Other

     257      (226 )     31      2,400      (1,787 )     613
                                           

Total

   $ 3,798    $ (699 )   $ 3,099    $ 196,190    $ (184,798 )   $ 11,392
                                           

Amortization expense for customer lists, brand name and other intangible assets for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was $0.7 million and $3.9 million, respectively. Amortization expense for customer lists, brand name and other intangible assets for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 was $4.3 million and $12.7 million, respectively. The Company expects amortization expense for customer lists, brand name and other intangible assets for the remainder of 2006 and the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007, 2008 and 2009 to be approximately $0.5 million, $1.5 million, $0.8 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

Acquired intangible assets not subject to amortization consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

    

As of

September 30,

2006

  

As of
December 31,

2005

       

Goodwill

   $ 35,183    $ 85,745

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 are as follows (in thousands):

 

     United
States and
Other
    Canada     Europe     Asia-
Pacific
    Total  

Balance as of January 1, 2006

   $ 36,771     $ 31,427     $ 1,822     $ 15,725     $ 85,745  

Goodwill impairment write-down

     (21,769 )     (19,337 )     (1,927 )     (8,880 )     (51,913 )

Sale of discontinued operations

     —         —         —         (723 )     (723 )

Effect of change in foreign currency exchange rates

     230       1,521       105       218       2,074  
                                        

Balance as of September 30, 2006

   $ 15,232     $ 13,611     $ —       $ 6,340     $ 35,183  
                                        

 

9


4. LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS

Long-term obligations consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

    

As of

September 30,
2006

    As of
December 31,
2005
 

Obligations under capital leases

   $ 6,449     $ 7,612  

Leased fiber capacity

     13,505       19,717  

Senior secured term loan facility

     98,500       99,250  

Financing facility and other

     32,633       17,454  

Senior notes

     306,560       309,060  

Convertible senior notes

     75,757       132,000  

Exchangeable senior notes

     67,603       —    

Step up convertible subordinated debentures

     23,232       —    

Convertible subordinated debentures

     22,702       50,119  
                

Subtotal

     646,941       635,212  

Less: Current portion of long-term obligations

     (41,421 )     (16,092 )
                

Total long-term obligations

   $ 605,520     $ 619,120  
                

Payments of principal and interest were due as follows (in thousands):

 

Year Ending December 31,

  Vendor
Financing
   

Senior
Secured

Term
Loan
Facility (1)

    Financing
Facility
and
Other
    Senior
Notes
    Convertible
and
Exchangeable
Senior
Notes (2) (3)
    Step Up
Convertible
Subordinated
Debentures
    Convertible
Subordinated
Debentures
    Total  

2006 (as of September 30, 2006)

  $ 2,390     $ 3,110     $ 961     $ 4,562     $ 1,424     $ —       $ —       $ 12,447  

2007

    12,494       12,363       5,752       28,324       5,713       1,832       23,355       89,833  

2008

    3,311       12,247       29,490       28,324       5,713       2,107       —         81,192  

2009

    1,605       12,131       28       99,884       5,713       29,679       —         149,040  

2010

    2,240       12,015       28       19,200       137,879       —         —         171,362  

Thereafter

    —         94,250       118       302,200       —         —         —         396,568  
                                                               

Total Minimum Principal & Interest Payments

    22,040       146,116       36,377       482,494       156,442       33,618       23,355       900,442  

Less: Amount Representing Interest

    (2,086 )     (47,616 )     (3,744 )     (175,934 )     (22,869 )     (6,137 )     (653 )     (259,039 )
                                                               

Face Value of Long-Term Obligations

    19,954       98,500       32,633       306,560       133,573       27,481       22,702       641,403  

Less: Amount Representing Discount

    —         —         —         —         (1,493 )     (4,249 )     —         (5,742 )
                                                               

Add: Exchangeable Notes Interest Treated as Long-Term Obligations (3)

    —         —         —         —         11,280       —         —         11,280  
                                                               

Book Value of Long Term Obligations

  $ 19,954     $ 98,500     $ 32,633     $ 306,560     $ 143,360     $ 23,232     $ 22,702     $ 646,941  
                                                               

(1) For preparation of this table, we have assumed the interest rate of the Senior Secured Term Loan Facility to be 11.9%, which is the interest rate at September 30, 2006.

 

(2) For preparation of this table, we have assumed that the maturity date for the 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes is June 30, 2010 and will not be accelerated to June 30, 2009.

 

(3) For preparation of this table, we have shown separately the cash interest payments of PTHI’s 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes due June 2009 (“5% Exchangeable Senior Notes”) as a portion of long-term obligations (see “Senior Notes, Convertible Senior Notes, Exchangeable Senior Notes, Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures and Convertible Subordinated Debentures” below).

 

10


The indentures governing the senior notes, senior secured term loan facility, convertible senior notes, exchangeable senior notes, step up convertible subordinated debentures and convertible subordinated debentures, as well as other credit arrangements, contain certain financial and other covenants which, among other things, will restrict the Company’s ability to incur further indebtedness and make certain payments, including the payment of dividends and repurchase of subordinated debt held by the Company’s subsidiaries. The Company was in compliance with the above covenants at September 30, 2006.

Senior Secured Term Loan Facility

In February 2005, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, Primus Telecommunications Holding, Inc. (PTHI), completed a six-year, $100 million senior secured term loan facility (the “Facility”). Each borrowing made under the Facility may be, at the election of PTHI at the time of the borrowing, a London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR) loan (which will bear interest at a rate equal to LIBOR + 6.50%), or a base rate loan (which will bear interest at a rate equal to the greater of the prime rate plus 5.50% or the federal funds effective rate plus 6.0%). The interest rate at September 30, 2006 was 11.9%. The Facility contains no financial maintenance covenants. The Company borrowed $100 million under this facility in February 2005. The Facility will be repaid in 24 quarterly installments, which began on June 30, 2005, at a rate of one percent of the original principal per year over the next five years and nine months, and the remaining balance repaid on the sixth anniversary date of the Facility, with early redemption at a premium to par at PTHI’s option at any time after February 18, 2006. The Facility is guaranteed by the Company and certain of PTHI’s subsidiaries and is secured by certain assets of PTHI and its guarantor subsidiaries.

Senior Notes, Convertible Senior Notes, Exchangeable Senior Notes, Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures and Convertible Subordinated Debentures

In the second quarter 2006, the Company completed the exchange of $54.8 million principal amount of the Company’s 3 3/4% convertible senior notes due 2010 (“2003 Convertible Senior Notes”) and $20.5 million in cash for $56.3 million principal amount of the 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes. This exchange has been deemed a troubled debt restructuring, and accordingly, has been accounted for as a modification of debt, with total future cash payments of $67.6 million being recorded in long-term obligations. The Company recognized a gain on restructuring of debt of $4.8 million in connection with this exchange, including the expensing of $2.9 million of financing costs. The 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes will mature on June 30, 2010, subject to an accelerated maturity of June 30, 2009 at the option of the holders if the Company does not increase its equity (through designated transactions) in the aggregate of $25 million during the three years following issuance of the senior notes. Interest of the 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes will be paid at the rate of 5% per annum on each June 30 and December 30, beginning on December 30, 2006. Under certain circumstances, the Company may elect to make interest payments in shares of common stock, although the holders of the 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes will be entitled to receive the first two semi-annual interest payments wholly in cash. The 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes are exchangeable, in the aggregate, into 46,935,833 shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $1.20 per share of common stock, subject to adjustment. If the closing bid price of the Company common stock, for at least 20 trading days in any consecutive 30 trading-day period, exceeds 150% of the conversion price then in effect, the Company may elect to exchange the senior notes for shares of the Company common stock at the conversion price, subject to certain conditions, including that no more than 50% of the senior notes may be exchanged by the Company within any 30-day period. In the event of a change in control, as defined, the holders may require the Company to repurchase the 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes at which time the Company has the option to settle in cash or common stock at an adjusted conversion price.

In the first quarter 2006, the Company completed the exchange of $27.4 million principal amount of the Company’s 5 3/4% convertible subordinated debentures due 2007 (“2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures”) for $27.5 million principal amount of the Company’s step up convertible subordinated debentures due August 2009 (“Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures”) through two transactions. The Company recognized a gain on early extinguishment of debt of $1.5 million in connection with this exchange. The Step Up Convertible

 

11


Subordinated Debentures will mature on August 15, 2009. Interest will be payable from February 27, 2006 to December 31, 2006 at the rate of 6% per annum; from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007 at the rate of 7% per annum; and from January 1, 2008 to maturity at the rate of 8% per annum. Accrued interest will be paid each February 15 and August 15, beginning August 15, 2006, to holders of record on the preceding February 1 and August 1, respectively. The Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures are convertible into the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $1.187 per share of common stock through August 15, 2009. The Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures are convertible in the aggregate into 23,151,643 shares of the Company’s common stock. The Indenture permits the Company, at its sole option, to require conversion if the Company’s stock trades at 150% of the conversion price for at least 20 days within a 30 day period, subject to certain conditions, including that no more than 25% of the notes may be exchanged within any 30 day trading period. In the event of a change in control, as defined, the holders may put the instrument to the Company at which time the Company has the option to settle in cash or common stock at an adjusted conversion price. The Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures are subordinated to all indebtedness of the Company, except for other subordinated indebtedness.

At the time of issuance of the Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures, the Company did not have sufficient authorized and unissued shares of common stock to satisfy exercise and conversion of all of its convertible instruments. Accordingly, the Company determined that the Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures, the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures and the 2003 Convertible Senior Notes were hybrid instruments with characteristics of a debt host agreement and contained embedded derivative features that had characteristics and risks that were not clearly and closely associated with the debt host. In the first quarter 2006, the conversion options were determined to be derivative instruments to be bifurcated and recorded as a current liability at fair value. In the second quarter 2006, the Company’s shareholders voted to approve alternative proposals to authorize an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to affect a one-for-ten reverse stock split or to authorize an amendment of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation allowing an increase of authorized Common Stock from 150,000,000 to 300,000,000. Either authorization ensured the Company would have the ability to control whether it has sufficient authorized and unissued shares of common stock to satisfy exercise and conversion of all of its convertible instruments. Therefore, the Company determined that the Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures, the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures and the 2003 Convertible Senior Notes did not contain embedded derivative features as of the date of the shareholder vote, June 20, 2006, and added back the June 20, 2006 fair value of the embedded derivative into the debt balance. On July 27, 2006, the Board of Directors determined to increase the authorized shares to 300,000,000.

The Company recorded a corresponding debt discount to the Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures and the 2003 Convertible Senior Notes in the amount of the fair value of the embedded derivative at the issue date. An additional debt discount of $1.7 million was recorded for the Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures to bring the carrying value to fair value. The carrying value of the Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures at issuance was approximately $14.3 million, and the carrying value of the 2003 Convertible Senior Notes at issuance of the Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures was approximately $127.8 million. The Company is accreting the difference between the face values of the Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures and the 2003 Convertible Senior Notes and the corresponding carrying values to interest expense under the effective interest method on a monthly basis over the lives of the Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures and the 2003 Convertible Senior Notes. At September 30, 2006, the carrying value of the Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures (face value of $27.5 million) was $23.2 million, and the carrying value of the 2003 Convertible Senior Notes (face value of $77.3 million) was $75.8 million. The effective interest rate of the Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures and the 2003 Convertible Senior Notes at September 30, 2006 was 14.0% and 5.4%, respectively.

In January 2004, PTHI, a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, completed the sale of $240 million in aggregate principal amount of 8% senior notes due 2014 (“2004 Senior Notes”) with semi-annual interest payments due on January 15th and July 15th, with early redemption at a premium to par at PTHI’s option at any time after January 15, 2009. The Company recorded $6.7 million in costs associated with the issuance of

 

12


the 2004 Senior Notes, which have been recorded as deferred financing costs in other assets. The effective interest rate at September 30, 2006 was 8.4%. During specified periods, PTHI may redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings of the Company. During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company reduced $5.0 million principal balance of the 2004 Senior Notes through open market purchases.

In September 2003, the Company completed the sale of $132 million in aggregate principal amount of 2003 Convertible Senior Notes with semi-annual interest payments due on March 15th and September 15th. The Company recorded $5.2 million in costs associated with the issuance of the 2003 Convertible Senior Notes, which have been recorded as deferred financing costs in other assets. Holders of these notes may convert their notes into the Company’s common stock at any time prior to maturity at an initial conversion price of $9.3234 per share, which is equivalent to an initial conversion rate of 107.257 shares per $1,000 principal amount of the notes, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The outstanding notes are convertible in the aggregate into 8,285,603 shares of the Company’s common stock. In the event of a change in control, as defined, the holders may put the instrument to the Company at which time the Company has the option to settle in cash or common stock at an adjusted conversion price. In the second quarter 2006, the Company restructured $54.8 million principal amount of 2003 Convertible Senior Notes; see prior disclosure regarding the 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes within this footnote.

In February 2000, the Company completed the sale of $250 million in aggregate principal amount of 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures with semi-annual interest payments due on February 15th and August 15th. On March 13, 2000, the Company announced that the initial purchasers of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures had exercised their $50 million over-allotment option granted pursuant to a purchase agreement dated February 17, 2000. During the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, the Company reduced $36.4 million principal balance of the debentures through open market purchases and $192.5 million principal balance through exchanges for its common stock. The principal that was exchanged for common stock was retired upon conversion and in February 2002, the Company retired all of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures that it had previously purchased in December 2000 and January 2001. The retired principal had been held by the Company as treasury bonds and had been recorded as a reduction of long-term obligations. During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company retired $4.0 million principal amount of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures through open market purchases. During the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company exchanged 9,820,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for the extinguishment of $17.0 million principal amount of these debentures. In accordance with SFAS No. 84, “Induced Conversion of Convertible Debt,” the Company recognized an induced conversion expense of $6.1 million in connection with this conversion. During the quarter ended March 31, 2006, the Company exchanged $27.4 million of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures for $27.5 million principal amount of the Company’s Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures. The remaining debentures are convertible at a conversion price of $49.7913 per share in the aggregate into 455,943 shares of the Company’s common stock. In the event of a change in control, as defined, the holders may put the instrument to the Company at which time the Company has the option to settle in cash or common stock at an adjusted conversion price.

In October 1999, the Company completed the sale of $250 million in aggregate principal amount of 12.75% senior notes due 2009 (the “October 1999 Senior Notes”). The October 1999 Senior Notes are due October 15, 2009, with semi-annual interest payments due on October 15th and April 15th with early redemption at a premium to par at the Company’s option at any time after October 15, 2004. During the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, the Company reduced the principal balance of these senior notes through open market purchases. In June and September 2002, the Company retired all of the October 1999 Senior Notes that it had previously purchased in the principal amount of $134.3 million in aggregate. The retired principal had been held by the Company as treasury bonds and had been recorded as a reduction of long-term obligations. During the year ended December 31, 2004, the Company retired $33.0 million principal amount of the October 1999 Senior Notes through open market purchases. During the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company exchanged 5,165,175 shares of the Company’s common stock for the extinguishment of $8.6 million principal amount of

 

13


these senior notes. During the quarter ended March 31, 2006, the Company exchanged 1,825,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for the extinguishment of $2.5 million principal amount of these senior notes.

Leased Fiber Capacity

Beginning September 30, 2001, the Company accepted delivery of fiber optic capacity on an indefeasible rights of use (“IRU”) basis from Southern Cross Cables Limited (“SCCL”). The Company and SCCL entered into an arrangement financing the capacity purchase. During the three months ended December 31, 2001, the Company renegotiated the payment terms with SCCL. The effective interest rate on current borrowings is 7.4%. The Company agreed to purchase $12.2 million of additional fiber optic capacity from SCCL under the IRU agreement. The Company has fulfilled the total purchase obligation and made additional purchases of $3.8 million in 2004. At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the Company had a liability recorded under this agreement in the amount of $6.0 million and $10.7 million, respectively.

In December 2000, the Company entered into a financing arrangement to purchase fiber optic capacity in Australia for 51.1 million AUD ($28.5 million at December 31, 2000) from Optus Networks Pty. Limited. As of December 31, 2001, the Company had fulfilled the total purchase obligation. The Company signed a promissory note payable over a four-year term ending in April 2005 bearing interest at a rate of 14.31%. During the three months ended June 30, 2003, the Company renegotiated the payment terms extending the payment schedule through March 2007, and lowering the interest rate to 10.2%. At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the Company had a liability recorded in the amount of $7.5 million (10.1 million AUD) and $9.0 million (12.4 million AUD), respectively. In October 2006, the Company renegotiated the payment terms of its promissory note payable to Optus Networks Pty. Limited to defer principal payments from April 2006 through December 2006. The debt will mature in March 2007 and the Company is obligated to pay an aggregate $7.5 million (10.1 million AUD) in three equal monthly principal payments in the first quarter 2007. The interest rate remains 10.2%, and the interest payments continue monthly. See Note 13—“Subsequent Events”.

Equipment Financing and Other Long-Term Obligations

In November 2005, Primus Australia entered into a financing arrangement with Alleasing Finance Australia United for network equipment. Payments will be made over a five-year term ending October 2010. The effective interest rate on the current borrowing is 9.3%. At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the Company had a liability recorded under this agreement in the amount of $5.1 million (6.8 million AUD) and $6.1 million (8.4 million AUD), respectively.

In April 2004, Primus Canada entered into a loan agreement with a Canadian financial institution. The agreement provided for a $37.8 million (42 million CAD) two-year non-revolving term loan credit facility, bearing an interest rate of 7.75%. The agreement allows the proceeds to be used for general corporate purposes of the Company and is secured by the assets of Primus Canada’s operations. In October 2004, Primus Canada signed an amendment to the April 2004 loan agreement that extended the maturity date one year to April 2007. In January 2006, Primus Canada entered into an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement that extended the maturity date one year to April 2008. The agreement is now a four-year non-revolving term loan credit facility bearing an interest rate of 7.75%. The new agreement reduced the maximum loan balance from $37.8 million (42 million CAD) to $28.8 million (32 million CAD) and established quarterly principal payments of $0.9 million (1 million CAD) commencing in April 2007. In February 2006, the Company drew the remaining $15.3 million (17 million CAD) available under the amended loan facility. At September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the Company had an outstanding liability of $28.8 million (32 million CAD) and $12.8 million (15.0 million CAD), respectively. An affiliate of Primus Canada has an additional loan facility agreement with the Canadian financial institution and had a liability under this facility of $2.7 million (3.0 million CAD) and $2.6 million (3.0 million CAD) at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.

 

14


5. ASSET IMPAIRMENT

In the second quarter 2006, pursuant to SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” the Company identified certain indications of impairment. The overall deterioration in economic conditions within the telecommunications industry, including certain pricing actions enacted by incumbent carriers, during the first half of 2006 led the Company to believe that the fair value of certain long-lived assets had decreased significantly. Because of the impairment identified under the guidance of SFAS No. 144, the Company performed an analysis under SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” Through that evaluation, the Company determined that an additional $0.8 million impairment (which is included in the figures below) to goodwill was required in Europe.

Based on the Company’s evaluation, it was determined that the estimated future cash flows were less than the carrying value of its long-lived assets. The Company’s assets were evaluated as a single asset group, because of the nature of the cash flows being inseparable within a global telecommunications company. Therefore, the impairment was applied equally across the entire asset group. Accordingly, during the second quarter 2006, the Company adjusted the carrying value of its long-lived assets, including property and equipment and intangible assets, to their estimated fair value of $143.6 million. This adjustment resulted in an asset impairment write-down of $209.2 million, or $1.87 per share, consisting of the following specific asset write-downs: $151.8 million in property and equipment, $52.1 million in goodwill and $5.3 million in customer lists and other intangible assets. The estimated fair value of the Company’s assets was based on the present value of estimated future cash flows using a discount rate commensurate with the risks involved.

The following table outlines the Company’s asset impairment write-down by segment (in thousands):

 

     Three months ended
June 30, 2006

United States and Other

  

United States

   $ 51,688

Other

     2,819
      

Total United States and Other

     54,507
      

Canada

  

Canada

     55,228
      

Total Canada

     55,228
      

Europe

  

United Kingdom

     9,991

Germany

     1,430

Netherlands

     1,677

Other

     5,800
      

Total Europe

     18,898
      

Asia-Pacific

  

Australia

     76,843

Other

     3,772
      

Total Asia-Pacific

     80,615
      

Total

   $ 209,248
      

 

15


6. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Future minimum lease payments under capital leases and leased fiber capacity financing (“Vendor Financing”), purchase obligations and non-cancelable operating leases as of September 30, 2006 are as follows (in thousands):

 

Year Ending December 31,

   Vendor
Financing
    Purchase
Obligations
   Operating
Leases
   Total  

2006 (from October 1 through December 31)

   $ 2,390     $ 867    $ 3,636    $ 6,893  

2007

     12,494       1,385      11,575      25,454  

2008

     3,311       —        8,120      11,431  

2009

     1,605       —        5,868      7,473  

2010

     2,240       —        3,671      5,911  

Thereafter

     —         —        4,431      4,431  
                              

Total minimum lease payments

     22,040       2,252      37,301      61,593  

Less: Amount representing interest

     (2,086 )     —        —        (2,086 )
                              
   $ 19,954     $ 2,252    $ 37,301    $ 59,507  
                              

The Company has contractual obligations to utilize an external vendor for certain back-office support functions and to utilize network facilities from certain carriers with terms greater than one year. The Company does not purchase or commit to purchase quantities in excess of normal usage or amounts that cannot be used within the contract term or at rates below or above market value. The Company made purchases under purchase commitments of $2.6 million and $7.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Company made purchases under purchase commitments of $8.7 million and $21.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Rent expense under operating leases was $4.1 million and $4.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Rent expense under operating leases was $12.7 million and $14.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Litigation

The Company is subject to claims and legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. Each of these matters is subject to various uncertainties, and it is possible that some of these matters may be decided unfavorably to the Company. The Company believes that any aggregate liability that may result from the resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

7. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company sponsors an employee stock option plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan”). The total number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan is 13,000,000. Under the Equity Incentive Plan, awards may be granted to key employees or consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries in the form of Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options. The Equity Incentive Plan allows the granting of options at an exercise price of not less than 100% of the stock’s fair value at the date of grant. The options vest over a period of up to three years, and no option will be exercisable more than ten years from the date it is granted. On June 16, 2004, the stockholders of the Company approved amendments to the Equity Incentive Plan, including (i) renaming the employee stock option plan the “Equity Incentive Plan”; (ii) expanding the forms of awards permitted to be granted, including stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, stock units and other equity securities, and authorizing a tax deferral feature for executive officers; (iii) prohibiting the repricing of stock options in the future without stockholder approval; and (iv) requiring three-year vesting of restricted stock and stock unit awards, unless accelerated following the first anniversary of the award due to the satisfaction of predetermined performance conditions.

 

16


The Company sponsors a Director Stock Option Plan (the “Director Plan”) for non-employee directors. Under the Director Plan, an option is granted to each qualifying non-employee director upon election or reelection to purchase 45,000 shares of common stock, which vests in one-third increments as of the grant date and the first and second anniversaries of the grant date, over a two-year period. The option price per share is the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date the option is granted. No option will be exercisable more than five years from the date of grant. On June 16, 2004, the stockholders of the Company approved amendments to the Director Plan to (i) increase the number of shares of common stock issuable pursuant to awards under the Director Plan by 300,000 to a total of 900,000; and (ii) authorize the issuance of restricted stock (in lieu of cash compensation at the discretion of individual Directors).

On December 21, 2005, the Company accelerated the vesting of certain unvested stock options previously awarded under the Company’s Equity Incentive Plan and Director Plan. The Company took this action because the future costs to be recognized if this action were not taken were disproportionate to the retention value of the stock options. As a result of this action, stock options to purchase up to 1.5 million shares of common stock, which would otherwise have vested over the next three years, became exercisable effective December 21, 2005. These stock options have exercise prices ranging from $1.61 to $6.30 per share. Based upon the closing stock price for the Company’s common stock of $0.82 per share on December 21, 2005, all of these stock options were “under water” or “out-of-the-money.” Of the stock options whose vesting was accelerated, 0.6 million stock options were held by executive officers and 30,000 stock options were held by non-employee directors. Outstanding unvested stock options to purchase 1.5 million shares of the Company’s common stock, with per share exercise prices ranging from $0.62 to $0.92, were not accelerated.

A summary of stock option activity during the nine months ended September 30 is as follows:

 

     2006    2005
     Shares    

Weighted

Average

Exercise

Price

   Shares    

Weighted

Average

Exercise

Price

Options outstanding — January 1

   9,312,945     $ 2.36    8,606,888     $ 2.92

Granted

   797,500     $ 0.76    60,000     $ 0.95

Exercised

   —       $ —      (34,250 )   $ 1.57

Forfeitures

   (1,804,638 )   $ 2.44    (532,527 )   $ 6.57
                 

Outstanding — September 30

   8,305,807     $ 2.18    8,100,111     $ 2.68
                 

Eligible for exercise — September 30

   6,725,234        6,250,703    

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at September 30, 2006:

 

     Options Outstanding    Options Exercisable

Range of Option Prices

   Total
Outstanding
   Weighted
Average
Remaining
Life in Years
   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Intrinsic
Value
   Total
Exercisable
   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Intrinsic
Value

$0.53 to $0.76

   292,167    5.93    $ 0.63    $ —      230,833    $ 0.63    $ —  

$0.77

   500,000    9.34    $ 0.77      —      83,333    $ 0.77      —  

$0.79 to $0.88

   190,000    7.96    $ 0.86      —      54,166    $ 0.83      —  

$0.90

   824,140    4.77    $ 0.90      —      824,140    $ 0.90      —  

$0.92

   1,174,331    9.10    $ 0.92      —      207,593    $ 0.92      —  

$0.93 to $1.61

   49,500    8.06    $ 1.26      —      49,500    $ 1.26      —  

$1.65

   1,685,836    6.22    $ 1.65      —      1,685,836    $ 1.65      —  

$1.80 to $2.38

   1,982,133    6.07    $ 1.98      —      1,982,133    $ 1.98      —  

$3.03 to $6.30

   1,571,000    7.65    $ 5.09      —      1,571,000    $ 5.09      —  

$12.31 to $17.44

   20,900    2.98    $ 14.54      —      20,900    $ 14.54      —  

$31.94 to $33.38

   15,800    3.59    $ 33.38      —      15,800    $ 33.38      —  
                                
   8,305,807          $ —      6,725,234       $ —  
                                

 

17


In December 1998, the Company established the 1998 Restricted Stock Plan (the “Restricted Plan”) to facilitate the grant of restricted stock to selected individuals (excluding executive officers and directors of the Company) who contribute to the development and success of the Company. The total number of shares of common stock that may be granted under the Restricted Plan is 750,000. The Company did not issue any restricted stock under the Restricted Plan for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and 2005. As of September 30, 2006, 54,000 shares have been issued and none are considered restricted.

8. GAIN OR LOSS ON EARLY EXTINGUISHMENT OR RESTRUCTURING OF DEBT

In 2006, the Company issued $56.3 million principal amount of PTHI’s 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes in exchange for $20.5 million of cash and the retirement of $54.8 million principal amount of the Company’s 2003 Convertible Notes. This exchange has been accounted for as a troubled debt restructuring, resulting in $11.3 million of future cash payments being recognized as long-term obligations and a gain on restructuring of debt of $4.8 million.

In March 2006, the Company exchanged $27.4 million principal amount of the Company’s 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures for $27.5 million principal amount of the Company’s 2006 Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures resulting in a gain on early extinguishment of debt of $1.5 million including the write-off of related deferred financing costs. In January 2006, the Company exchanged 1,825,000 shares of the Company’s common stock for the extinguishment of $2.5 million in principal amount of the October 1999 Senior Notes resulting in a $1.2 million gain on early extinguishment of debt including the write-off of related deferred financing costs.

9. OPERATING SEGMENT AND RELATED INFORMATION

The Company has four reportable operating segments based on management’s organization of the enterprise into geographic areas—United States and Other, Canada, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The Company evaluates the performance of its segments and allocates resources to them based upon net revenue and income (loss) from operations. The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies. Net revenue by reportable segment is reported on the basis of where services are provided. The Company has no single customer representing greater than 10% of its revenues. Operations and assets of the United States and Other segment include shared corporate functions and assets, which the Company does not allocate to its other geographic segments for management reporting purposes.

 

18


Summary information with respect to the Company’s segments is as follows and is shown net of discontinued operations for net revenue and income (loss) from operations (in thousands):

 

    

Three months ended

September 30,

   

Nine months ended

September 30,

 
     2006     2005     2006     2005  

Net Revenue

        

United States and Other

        

United States

   $ 48,572     $ 47,420     $ 142,552     $ 153,178  

Other

     1,034       883       3,009       2,395  
                                

Total United States and Other

     49,606       48,303       145,561       155,573  
                                

Canada

        

Canada

     68,251       67,189       208,935       193,058  
                                

Total Canada

     68,251       67,189       208,935       193,058  
                                

Europe

        

United Kingdom

     19,876       22,397       63,203       93,651  

Germany

     12,393       14,232       35,352       40,859  

Netherlands

     4,424       32,555       31,613       70,967  

Other

     15,396       19,712       47,235       66,653  
                                

Total Europe

     52,089       88,896       177,403       272,130  
                                

Asia-Pacific

        

Australia

     76,243       83,221       232,447       262,879  

Other

     1,513       2,821       5,211       8,415  
                                

Total Asia-Pacific

     77,756       86,042       237,658       271,294  
                                

Total net revenue

   $ 247,702     $ 290,430     $ 769,557     $ 892,055  
                                

Income (Loss) from Operations

        

United States and Other

   $ (1,900 )   $ (15,036 )   $ (81,689 )   $ (51,597 )

Canada

     11,639       5,991       (27,890 )     18,107  

Europe

     (2,831 )     (17,786 )     (36,282 )     (35,810 )

Asia-Pacific

     2,667       (6,682 )     (77,215 )     (6,490 )
                                

Total income (loss) from operations

   $ 9,575     $ (33,513 )   $ (223,076 )   $ (75,790 )
                                

Capital Expenditures

        

United States and Other

   $ 575     $ 802     $ 2,011     $ 9,610  

Canada

     4,158       3,156       12,261       8,565  

Europe

     473       998       1,090       4,017  

Asia-Pacific

     2,600       7,369       8,564       20,330  
                                

Total

   $ 7,806     $ 12,325     $ 23,926     $ 42,522  
                                

 

19


The above capital expenditures exclude assets acquired in business combinations and under terms of capital lease and vendor financing obligations.

 

     September 30,
2006
   December 31,
2005

Assets

     

United States and Other

     

United States

   $ 83,862    $ 134,360

Other

     4,766      7,226
             

Total United States and Other

     88,628      141,586
             

Canada

     

Canada

     109,274      157,155
             

Total Canada

     109,274      157,155
             

Europe

     

United Kingdom

     21,787      35,685

Germany

     12,915      13,374

Netherlands

     2,253      13,379

Other

     47,550      57,019
             

Total Europe

     84,505      119,457
             

Asia-Pacific

     

Australia

     111,455      200,148

Other

     8,281      22,743
             

Total Asia-Pacific

     119,736      222,891
             

Total

   $ 402,143    $ 641,089
             

The Company offers three main products—voice, data/Internet and voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP), in all of its segments. Summary net revenue information with respect to the Company’s products is as follows (in thousands):

 

    

Three months ended

September 30,

  

Nine months ended

September 30,

     2006    2005    2006    2005

Voice

   $ 174,252    $ 223,031    $ 552,445    $ 690,557

Data/Internet

     42,219      42,570      127,027      129,713

VOIP

     31,231      24,829      90,085      71,785
                           

Total

   $ 247,702    $ 290,430    $ 769,557    $ 892,055
                           

10. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

In May 2006, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL), a leading international telecommunications company and member of the TATA Group, whereby VSNL purchased 100% of the stock of Direct Internet Limited (DIL), whose wholly-owned subsidiary, Primus Telecommunications India Limited (PTIL), was primarily engaged in providing fixed broadband wireless Internet services to enterprise and retail customers in India. The Company owned approximately 85% of the stock of DIL through an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary. The remaining approximately 15% of the stock of DIL was owned by the manager of DIL and PTIL, who had founded the predecessor companies. The total purchase consideration was $17.5 million. The Company received $13.0 million in net cash proceeds from the transaction at closing on June 23, 2006, after closing adjustments. Under the SPA, the Company agreed to certain non-compete provisions regarding the business of DIL and PTIL and is a party to the SPA for the purpose of guaranteeing indemnity obligations of its subsidiary selling the stock of DIL. The net assets of DIL were $8.9 million at June 23, 2006.

 

20


As a result of the sale, the Company’s consolidated financial statements reflect India operations as discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005. Accordingly, revenue, costs, and expenses of the discontinued operations have been excluded from the respective captions in the consolidated statements of operations. The net operating results of the discontinued operations have been reported, net of applicable income taxes as income from discontinued operations.

Summarized operating results of the discontinued India operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2005     2006     2005  

Net revenues

   $ 2,720     $ 5,653     $ 8,175  

Operating expenses

     2,098       4,476       6,333  
                        

Income from operations

     622       1,177       1,842  

Interest expense

     —         (5 )     (3 )

Interest income and other income (expense)

     58       45       29  
                        

Income (loss) before income tax

     680       1,217       1,868  

Income tax expenses

     (78 )     (78 )     (153 )
                        

Income from discontinued operations

   $ 602     $ 1,139     $ 1,715  
                        

11. BASIC AND DILUTED INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE

Basic income (loss) per common share is calculated by dividing income (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average common shares outstanding during the period.

Diluted income per common share adjusts basic income per common share for the effects of potentially dilutive common share equivalents. Potentially dilutive common shares primarily include the dilutive effects of common shares issuable under the Company’s stock option compensation plans computed using the treasury stock method and the dilutive effects of shares issuable upon conversion of its 2003 Convertible Senior Notes, 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures, the Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures, and 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, the following could potentially dilute income per common share in the future but were excluded from the calculation of diluted income (loss) per common share due to their antidilutive effects:

 

    8.3 million shares issuable under the Company’s stock option compensation plans,

 

    -0- and 46.9 million shares, respectively, issuable upon the conversion of the 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes,

 

    23.2 million shares issuable upon the conversion of the Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures,

 

    8.3 million shares issuable upon conversion of the 2003 Convertible Senior Notes, and

 

    0.5 million shares issuable upon the conversion of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures.

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, the following could potentially dilute income per common share in the future but were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per common share due to their antidilutive effects:

 

    8.1 million shares issuable under the Company’s stock option compensation plans,

 

21


    14.2 million shares issuable upon conversion of the 2003 Convertible Senior Notes, and

 

    1.0 million shares issuable upon the conversion of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures.

12. GUARANTOR/NON-GUARANTOR CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

PTHI’s 2004 Senior Notes and 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally and jointly and severally guaranteed by Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated (“PTGI”). Accordingly, the following consolidating condensed financial information as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, and for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005 are included for (a) PTGI on a stand-alone basis; (b) PTHI and its subsidiaries; and (c) PTGI on a consolidated basis.

Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for using the equity method for purposes of the consolidating presentation. The principal elimination entries eliminate investments in subsidiaries, intercompany balances and intercompany transactions.

 

22


PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands)

 

     For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2006  
     PTGI     PTHI     Eliminations     Consolidated  

NET REVENUE

   $ —       $ 247,702     $ —       $ 247,702  

OPERATING EXPENSES

        

Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation included below)

     —         158,845       —         158,845  

Selling, general and administrative

     1,833       70,651       —         72,484  

Depreciation and amortization

     —         7,003       —         7,003  

Gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets

     —         (205 )     —         (205 )
                                

Total operating expenses

     1,833       236,294       —         238,127  
                                

INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS

     (1,833 )     11,408       —         9,575  

INTEREST EXPENSE

     (4,066 )     (9,133 )     —         (13,199 )

ACCRETION ON DEBT DISCOUNT

     222       —         —         222  

INTEREST AND OTHER INCOME

     40       805       —         845  

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTION GAIN

     1,605       2,291       —         3,896  

INTERCOMPANY INTEREST

     1,002       (1,002 )     —         —    

EQUITY IN NET INCOME OF SUBSIDIARIES

     3,252       —         (3,252 )     —    
                                

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     222       4,369       (3,252 )     1,339  

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

     (101 )     (1,117 )     —         (1,218 )
                                

NET INCOME

   $ 121     $ 3,252     $ (3,252 )   $ 121  
                                

 

23


PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands)

 

     For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2005  
     PTGI     PTHI     Eliminations    Consolidated  

NET REVENUE

   $ —       $ 290,430     $ —      $ 290,430  

OPERATING EXPENSES

         

Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation included below)

     —         196,488       —        196,488  

Selling, general and administrative

     1,208       91,609       —        92,817  

Depreciation and amortization

     —         21,866       —        21,866  

Loss on sale or disposal of assets

     —         12,772       —        12,772  
                               

Total operating expenses

     1,208       322,735       —        323,943  
                               

LOSS FROM OPERATIONS

     (1,208 )     (32,305 )     —        (33,513 )

INTEREST EXPENSE

     (4,933 )     (8,618 )     —        (13,551 )

LOSS ON EARLY EXTINGUISHMENT OF DEBT

     (4,160 )     —         —        (4,160 )

INTEREST AND OTHER INCOME

     44       736       —        780  

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTION GAIN (LOSS)

     (58 )     2,032       —        1,974  

INTERCOMPANY INTEREST

     10,720       (10,720 )     —        —    

EQUITY IN NET LOSS OF SUBSIDIARIES

     (50,582 )     —         50,582      —    
                               

LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     (50,177 )     (48,875 )     50,582      (48,470 )

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

     (1,072 )     (1,707 )     —        (2,779 )
                               

LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

     (51,249 )     (50,582 )     50,582      (51,249 )

INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED INDIA OPERATIONS, net of tax

     —         602       —        602  
                               

NET LOSS

   $ (51,249 )   $ (49,980 )   $ 50,582    $ (50,647 )
                               

 

24


PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands)

 

    For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006  
        PTGI             PTHI           Eliminations       Consolidated    

NET REVENUE

  $ —       $ 769,557     $ —     $ 769,557  

OPERATING EXPENSES

       

Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation included below)

    —         506,502       —       506,502  

Selling, general and administrative

    5,260       216,195       —       221,455  

Depreciation and amortization

    —         41,126       —       41,126  

Loss on sale or disposal of assets

    —         14,302       —       14,302  

Asset impairment write-down

    —         209,248       —       209,248  
                             

Total operating expenses

    5,260       987,373       —       992,633  
                             

LOSS FROM OPERATIONS

    (5,260 )     (217,816 )     —       (223,076 )

INTEREST EXPENSE

    (13,205 )     (27,476 )     —       (40,681 )

ACCRETION ON DEBT DISCOUNT

    (1,344 )     —         —       (1,344 )

CHANGE IN FAIR VALUE OF DERIVATIVES EMBEDDED WITHIN CONVERTIBLE DEBT

    5,373       —         —       5,373  

GAIN (LOSS) ON EARLY EXTINGUISHMENT OR RESTRUCTURING OF DEBT

    10,374       (2,965 )     —       7,409  

INTEREST AND OTHER INCOME

    104       3,306       —       3,410  

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTION GAIN

    4,128       4,392       —       8,520  

INTERCOMPANY INTEREST

    3,091       (3,091 )     —       —    

EQUITY IN NET LOSS OF SUBSIDIARIES

    (238,483 )     —         238,483     —    
                             

LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

    (235,222 )     (243,650 )     238,483     (240,389 )

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

    (309 )     (3,387 )     —       (3,696 )
                             

LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

    (235,531 )     (247,037 )     238,483     (244,085 )

INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED INDIA OPERATIONS, net of tax

    —         1,139       —       1,139  

INCOME FROM SALE OF DISCONTINUED INDIA OPERATIONS, net of tax

    —         7,415       —       7,415  
                             

NET LOSS

  $ (235,531 )   $ (238,483 )   $ 238,483   $ (235,531 )
                             

 

25


PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands)

 

     For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005  
     PTGI     PTHI       Eliminations        Consolidated    

NET REVENUE

   $ —       $ 892,055     $ —      $ 892,055  

OPERATING EXPENSES

         

Cost of revenue (exclusive of depreciation included below)

     —         592,599       —        592,599  

Selling, general and administrative

     4,642       291,253       —        295,895  

Depreciation and amortization

     —         66,001       —        66,001  

Loss on sale of assets

     —         —         —        —    

Loss on disposal of assets

     —         13,350       —        13,350  
                               

Total operating expenses

     4,642       963,203       —        967,845  
                               

LOSS FROM OPERATIONS

     (4,642 )     (71,148 )     —        (75,790 )

INTEREST EXPENSE

     (15,221 )     (24,351 )     —        (39,572 )

LOSS ON EARLY EXTINGUISHMENT OF DEBT

     (5,865 )     —         —        (5,865 )

EQUITY INVESTMENT LOSS

     —         (249 )     —        (249 )

INTEREST AND OTHER INCOME

     114       2,247       —        2,361  

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSACTION LOSS

     (183 )     (4,196 )     —        (4,379 )

INTERCOMPANY INTEREST

     31,917       (31,917 )     —        —    

EQUITY IN NET LOSS OF SUBSIDIARIES

     (132,400 )     —         132,400      —    
                               

LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

     (126,280 )     (129,614 )     132,400      (123,494 )

INCOME TAX EXPENSE

     (3,183 )     (4,501 )     —        (7,684 )
                               

LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

     (129,463 )     (134,115 )     132,400      (131,178 )

INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED INDIA OPERATIONS, net of tax

     —         1,715       —        1,715  
                               

NET LOSS

   $ (129,463 )   $ (132,400 )   $ 132,400    $ (129,463 )
                               

 

26


PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET

(in thousands)

 

     September 30, 2006  
     PTGI     PTHI     Eliminations     Consolidated  

ASSETS

        

CURRENT ASSETS:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 5,563     $ 65,265     $ —       $ 70,828  

Accounts receivable

     —         119,419       —         119,419  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     514       25,387       —         25,901  
                                

Total current assets

     6,077       210,071       —         216,148  

INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLES

     —         244,389       (244,389 )     —    

INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES

     43,957       —         (43,957 )     —    

RESTRICTED CASH

     —         9,313       —         9,313  

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT—Net

     —         108,539       —         108,539  

GOODWILL

     —         35,183       —         35,183  

OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS—Net

     —         3,099       —         3,099  

OTHER ASSETS

     3,991       25,870       —         29,861  
                                

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 54,025     $ 636,464     $ (288,346 )   $ 402,143  
                                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

        

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

        

Accounts payable

   $ 553     $ 75,003     $ —       $ 75,556  

Accrued interconnection costs

     —         50,379       —         50,379  

Deferred revenue

     —         19,807       —         19,807  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     1,133       46,967       —         48,100  

Accrued income taxes

     1,352       16,027       —         17,379  

Accrued interest

     4,902       4,034       —         8,936  

Derivatives embedded within convertible debt, at estimated fair value

     —         —           —    

Current portion of long-term obligations

     22,702       18,719       —         41,421  
                                

Total current liabilities

     30,642       230,936       —         261,578  

INTERCOMPANY PAYABLES

     244,389       —         (244,389 )     —    

LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS (net of discount of $5,742)

     170,549       434,971       —         605,520  

OTHER LIABILITIES

     —         1,376       —         1,376  
                                

Total liabilities

     445,580       667,283       (244,389 )     868,474  
                                

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

        

STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT:

        

Common stock

     1,138       —         —         1,138  

Additional paid-in capital

     692,876       1,161,930       (1,161,930 )     692,876  

Accumulated deficit

     (1,085,569 )     (1,117,973 )     1,117,973       (1,085,569 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     —         (74,776 )     —         (74,776 )
                                

Total stockholders’ deficit

     (391,555 )     (30,819 )     (43,957 )     (466,331 )
                                

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

   $ 54,025     $ 636,464     $ (288,346 )   $ 402,143  
                                

 

27


PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET

(in thousands)

 

     December 31, 2005  
     PTGI     PTHI     Eliminations     Consolidated  

ASSETS

        

CURRENT ASSETS:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,255     $ 41,744     $ —       $ 42,999  

Accounts receivable

     —         141,909       —         141,909  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1,596       30,309       —         31,905  
                                

Total current assets

     2,851       213,962       —         216,813  

INTERCOMPANY RECEIVABLES

     —         187,999       (187,999 )     —    

INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES

     282,447       —         (282,447 )     —    

RESTRICTED CASH

     —         10,619       —         10,619  

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT—Net

     —         285,881       —         285,881  

GOODWILL

     —         85,745       —         85,745  

OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS—Net

     —         11,392       —         11,392  

OTHER ASSETS

     4,738       25,901       —         30,639  
                                

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 290,036     $ 821,499     $ (470,446 )   $ 641,089  
                                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

        

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

        

Accounts payable

   $ 2,275     $ 81,666     $ —       $ 83,941  

Accrued interconnection costs

     —         64,333       —         64,333  

Deferred revenue

     —         30,037       —         30,037  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     62       31,338       —         31,400  

Accrued income taxes

     1,770       14,569       —         16,339  

Accrued interest

     4,540       8,728       —         13,268  

Current portion of long-term obligations

     —         16,092       —         16,092  
                                

Total current liabilities

     8,647       246,763       —         255,410  

INTERCOMPANY PAYABLES

     187,999       —         (187,999 )     —    

LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS

     256,179       362,941       —         619,120  

OTHER LIABILITIES

     —         2,893       —         2,893  
                                

Total liabilities

     452,825       612,597       (187,999 )     877,423  
                                

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

        

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT):

        

Common stock

     1,053       —         —         1,053  

Additional paid-in capital

     686,196       1,161,937       (1,161,937 )     686,196  

Accumulated deficit

     (850,038 )     (879,490 )     879,490       (850,038 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     —         (73,545 )     —         (73,545 )
                                

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

     (162,789 )     208,902       (282,447 )     (236,334 )
                                

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

   $ 290,036     $ 821,499     $ (470,446 )   $ 641,089  
                                

 

28


PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

    

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006

 
     PTGI     PTHI     Eliminations     Consolidated  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

        

Net loss

   $ (235,531 )   $ (238,483 )   $ 238,483     $ (235,531 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

        

Provision for doubtful accounts receivable

     —         11,156       —         11,156  

Stock compensation expense

     —         481       —         481  

Depreciation and amortization

     —         41,746       —         41,746  

Loss on sale or disposal of assets

     —         6,911       —         6,911  

Asset impairment write-down

     —         209,248       —         209,248  

Accretion of debt discount

     1,344       —           1,344  

Equity in net loss of subsidiary

     238,483       —         (238,483 )     —    

Change in estimated fair value of embedded derivatives

     (5,373 )     —           (5,373 )

(Gain) loss on early extinguishment or restructuring of debt

     (10,374 )     2,965       —         (7,409 )

Minority interest share of loss

     —         (1,595 )     —         (1,595 )

Unrealized foreign currency transaction gain on intercompany and foreign debt

     (4,034 )     (5,642 )     —         (9,676 )

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

        

Decrease in accounts receivable

     —         15,638       —         15,638  

Decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets

     772       7,796       —         8,568  

(Increase) decrease in other assets

     587       (496 )     —         91  

(Increase) decrease in intercompany balance

     13,809       (13,809 )     —         —    

Decrease in accounts payable

     (1,722 )     (10,814 )     —         (12,536 )

Decrease in accrued interconnection costs

     —         (15,850 )     —         (15,850 )

Increase, net, in deferred revenue, accrued expenses, other current liabilities, accrued income taxes and other liabilities

     651       6,684       —         7,335  

Increase (decrease) in accrued interest

     451       (4,694 )     —         (4,243 )
                                

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     (937 )     11,242       —         10,305  
                                

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

        

Purchase of property and equipment

     —         (23,926 )     —         (23,926 )

Cash from disposition of business, net of cash disposed

     —         12,947       —         12,947  

Cash used for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     —         (224 )     —         (224 )

Decrease in restricted cash

     —         1,196       —         1,196  
                                

Net cash used in investing activities

     —         (10,007 )     —         (10,007 )
                                

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

        

Proceeds from issuance of long-term obligations

     —         32,441       —         32,441  

Principal payments on capital leases, vendor financing and other long-term obligations

     (2 )     (9,115 )     —         (9,117 )

Proceeds from sale of common stock

     4,935       —         —         4,935  
                                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     4,933       23,326       —         28,259  
                                

EFFECTS OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     —         602       —         602  
                                

NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     3,996       25,163       —         29,159  

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD

     1,255       41,744       —         42,999  
                                

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD

   $ 5,251     $ 66,907     $ —       $ 72,158  
                                

 

29


PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED

CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

     For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005  
     PTGI     PTHI     Eliminations     Consolidated  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

        

Net loss

   $ (129,463 )   $ (132,400 )   $ 132,400     $ (129,463 )

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities:

        

Provision for doubtful accounts receivable

     —         17,968       —         17,968  

Depreciation and amortization

     —         66,880       —         66,880  

Loss on sale or disposal of assets

     —         13,364       —         13,364  

Equity in net income of subsidiary

     132,400       —         (132,400 )     —    

Equity investment loss

     —         249       —         249  

Loss on early extinguishment of debt

     5,865       —         —         5,865  

Minority interest share of loss

     —         (327 )     —         (327 )

Unrealized foreign currency transaction (gain) loss on intercompany and foreign debt

     215       (1,203 )     —         (988 )

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:

        

Decrease in accounts receivable

     —         11,858       —         11,858  

Decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets

     864       4,683       —         5,547  

(Increase) decrease in other assets

     876       (2,689 )     —         (1,813 )

(Increase) decrease in intercompany balance

     (9,931 )     9,931       —         —    

Decrease in accounts payable

     (2,082 )     (15,830 )     —         (17,912 )

Decrease in accrued interconnection costs

     —         (5,087 )     —         (5,087 )

Increase, net, in deferred revenue, accrued expenses, other current liabilities, accrued income taxes and other liabilities

     431       426       —         857  

Increase (decrease) in accrued interest

     651       (4,670 )     —         (4,019 )
                                

Net cash used in operating activities

     (174 )     (36,847 )     —         (37,021 )
                                

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

        

Purchase of property and equipment

     —         (42,522 )     —         (42,522 )

Cash used for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     —         (226 )     —         (226 )

Decrease in restricted cash

     —         5,421       —         5,421  
                                

Net cash used in investing activities

     —         (37,327 )     —         (37,327 )
                                

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

        

Proceeds from issuance of long-term obligations, net

     —         109,717       —         109,717  

Principal payments on capital leases, vendor financing and other long-term obligations

     —         (16,146 )     —         (16,146 )

Proceeds from sale of common stock

     221       —         —         221  
                                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     221       93,571       —         93,792  
                                

EFFECTS OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     —         (517 )     —         (517 )
                                

NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     47       18,880       —         18,927  

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD

     1,967       47,701       —         49,668  
                                

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD

   $ 2,014     $ 66,581     $ —       $ 68,595  
                                

 

30


13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In October 2006, the Company renegotiated the payment terms of its promissory note payable to Optus Networks Pty. Limited to defer principal payments from April 2006 through December 2006. The debt will mature in March 2007 and the Company is obligated to pay an aggregate $7.5 million (10.1 million AUD) in three equal monthly principal payments in the first quarter 2007. The interest rate remains 10.2%, and the interest payments continue monthly.

 

31


ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Introduction

We are an integrated telecommunications services provider offering a portfolio of international and domestic voice, wireless, Internet, voice-over-Internet protocol (VOIP), data and hosting services to business and residential retail customers and other carriers located primarily in the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and western Europe. Our focus is to service the demand for high quality, competitively priced communications services that is being driven by the globalization of the world’s economies, the worldwide trend toward telecommunications deregulation and the growth of broadband, Internet, VOIP, wireless and data traffic.

Recent Product Initiatives Overview

We have selectively targeted opportunities to participate in major growth areas for telecommunications—broadband, local, wireless, and VOIP—which we call our strategic initiatives or new product offerings. These initiatives have been pursued in response to competitive developments described under “—Four-Pronged Action Plan.” Our approach in these areas has common elements: focus on bundling services to end-user customers; leverage our existing global voice, data, broadband and Internet networks and add network infrastructure in areas of high consumer density; and utilize established distribution channels and back-office systems. We continue to devote substantial resources to our strategic initiatives.

We believe the local services market is a major opportunity for revenue growth for us. During the third quarter of 2004, we began offering local line service in Canada on a resale basis. We bundle these services with our other product offerings of long distance voice and Internet access, in competition with incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs) and cable companies. The Canadian residential local telephone offering increased to approximately 78,000 lines in service. In Canada, we believe the ability to bundle local services with our core long distance service and new broadband service also presents future growth opportunities for us. In late 2005, we began building our own DSL network infrastructure to provide voice and broadband Internet services to residential customers on such network. In Canada we now have 65 nodes installed and approximately 23,000 services (broadband and local voice) on these nodes. Completion of five additional nodes is targeted during the fourth quarter 2006.

In 2004 we began building our own DSL network infrastructure in Australia in order to provide voice and broadband Internet services to residential customers on such network. The initial build-out of our Australian DSL infrastructure is complete with 181 nodes installed. In Australia, we now have over 150,000 DSL customers. Migration of existing resale local and broadband customers to our network began in the second quarter 2005 and has now reached approximately 66,000 services on-net.

The target customers for our retail VOIP products will ultimately be anyone who has a broadband connection anywhere in the world. In January 2004, we launched our retail VOIP TalkBroadband® service in Canada. In June 2004, we launched our retail LINGO product in the United States, which offers unlimited calling plans including destinations in Western Europe and certain countries in Asia, unlimited calling between two LINGO subscribers and the issuance of phone numbers that are local for calls originating in certain foreign countries. We have recently launched VOIP services in Australia, Japan and Brazil. Global retail VOIP services are approximately 107,000 customers. For our LINGO product in the United States, since the second half of 2005, we have moderated our advertising due to financial resource limitations and the disruption in marketing activities caused by the emergency 911 regulations. Such action has resulted in a stable to slightly declining customer base which is currently approximately 75,000.

It should be recognized that our marketing efforts across our broadband and local initiatives initially increase near-term pressure on profitability and cash flow due to migration and installation charges imposed by the incumbent carriers for each customer transferred to our network. The relative impact of such fees, which

 

32


currently range between $48 per customer in Canada and $105 per customer in Australia, should lessen as the rate of new customer additions becomes a lower percentage of the growing customer base. We are currently awaiting decisions from the regulatory agency in Australia on whether these per customer charges will be reduced and whether there will be a retroactive credit. Until then, we expense these fees at the invoiced rate. In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, we incurred $2 million and $7 million in such fees, respectively, and in 2005, we incurred $11 million. With DSL networks now deployed in Canada and Australia we can provision new customers onto our own network and thus avoid migration fees for such customers.

We believe that progress to date in transforming the Company beyond its legacy long distance voice and dialup Internet services provider (ISP) businesses through growing our broadband, local, wireless and VOIP businesses has not only strengthened the Company, but has enhanced the competitive positioning and the franchise values of our major operating subsidiaries in Australia and Canada. We have also focused on our European and United States retail operations and significant progress has been made in eliminating low-margin services and associated costs, in reducing SG&A expenses and in tightening our focus on areas of profitable growth.

Four-Pronged Action Plan

Our fundamental challenge continues to be generating sufficient sales volume from new initiatives in broadband, local, wireless and VOIP services to offset the declining contribution from our core long distance voice and dial-up ISP businesses. To address this challenge, we continue to pursue our four-pronged action plan (“Action Plan”): first, to drive strong revenue growth from strategic initiatives and to concentrate resources on the most promising initiatives (as discussed within “Recent Product Initiatives Overview”); second, to enhance margin by increasing scale on the new initiatives and by investing in broadband infrastructure in high density locations as well as migrating customers onto our network (as discussed within “Recent Product Initiatives Overview”); third, to continue cost cutting and cost management programs partially to offset margin erosion caused by the continued decline of our high-margin core retail revenues; and fourth, to strengthen the balance sheet through potential deleveraging and equity capital infusion on a prudent basis.

Revenue from broadband, local, wireless and VOIP initiatives grew to $35 million in the third quarter 2006, an increase of 35% from the third quarter 2005. In addition to consistent quarterly revenue growth from new services, profitability from these services is also increasing, providing clear support for our Action Plan. Also, we now have over 183,000 DSL customers in Australia and Canada. The Australian and Canadian DLSAM networks are comprised of 181 and 65 nodes, respectively. There are now over 88,000 services (local and broadband) provisioned directly on the Company’s DSLAM facilities in Australia and Canada. Margins from these on-net services are almost double those of off-net services. To capitalize on the recent completion of the Canadian DSLAM network, the Company elected to increase advertising to accelerate growth in on-net services.

Our operating results continue to reflect increased competition from product bundling in virtually all of our markets; product substitution (e.g., wireless for fixed line; broadband for dial-up Internet); declining usage patterns for traditional fixed line voice services as use of wireless, e-mail and instant messaging services expands; and continued competitive pricing pressures. As a result, our revenue growth and profitability have been strongly challenged by a changing industry environment.

After four consecutive quarters of reduced SG&A expense, SG&A expenses were essentially flat in the third quarter 2006 compared to the second quarter 2006 despite a $1 million increase in advertising, but were down over $20 million compared to the third quarter 2005. Our aggressive expense reduction efforts also focused on a range of cost of revenue reductions in the third quarter 2006 and such efforts are continuing. Additionally, the Australian regulatory commission issued an Interim Determination Letter lowering charges for on-net local loop services, which is one of the regulatory matters currently under review. If this interim ruling is affirmed, it is estimated that our annual expense for these services will be reduced by approximately $2 million.

 

33


The fourth element of our Action Plan is to strengthen the balance sheet through deleveraging and capital infusion. During the first three quarters of 2006 we successfully: (1) exchanged $27 million principal amount of the 5.75% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2007 for $27 million of newly created Step-Up Convertible Debentures due 2009; (2) exchanged $3 million principal amount of its 12.75% Senior Notes for 1.8 million shares of common stock; (3) exchanged $32 million principal amount of 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes for $55 million principal amount of 3.75% Convertible Senior Notes due 2010; (4) issued $24 million principal amount of 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes for $18 million in cash (net of issuance costs); (5) raised $13 million cash proceeds from the sale of our Indian subsidiary; and (6) sold $5 million of newly issued common stock to a private investor (see events described below under “—Recent Developments”). It is imperative that substantial further progress be made in reducing overall debt and interest expenses – an area that is a priority.

Recent Developments

Discontinued Operations. In May 2006, we entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL), a leading international telecommunications company and member of the TATA Group, whereby VSNL agreed to purchase 100% of the stock of Direct Internet Limited (DIL), whose wholly-owned subsidiary, Primus Telecommunications India Limited (PTIL), was primarily engaged in providing fixed broadband wireless Internet services to enterprise and retail customers in India. We owned approximately 85% of the stock of DIL through an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary. The remaining approximately 15% of the stock of DIL was owned by the manager of DIL and PTIL, who had founded the predecessor companies. The purchase consideration was $17.5 million. We received $13.0 million in net cash proceeds from the transaction at closing on June 23, 2006, after closing adjustments. Under the SPA, we agreed to certain non-compete provisions regarding the business of DIL and PTIL and is a party to the SPA for the purpose of guaranteeing indemnity obligations of our subsidiary selling the stock of DIL. The net assets of DIL were $8.9 million at June 23, 2006.

As a result of the sale, the Company’s consolidated financial statements reflect India operations as discontinued operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005. Accordingly, revenue, costs, and expenses of the discontinued operations have been excluded from the respective captions in the consolidated statements of operations. The net operating results of the discontinued operations have been reported, net of applicable income taxes as income from discontinued operations.

Summarized operating results of the discontinued India operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
     2005         2006             2005      

Net revenues

   $ 2,720     $ 5,653     $ 8,175  

Operating expenses

     2,098       4,476       6,333  
                        

Income from operations

     622       1,177       1,842  

Interest expense

     —         (5 )     (3 )

Interest income and other income (expense)

     58       45       29  
                        

Income (loss) before income tax

     680       1,217       1,868  

Income tax expenses

     (78 )     (78 )     (153 )
                        

Income from discontinued operations

   $ 602     $ 1,139     $ 1,715  
                        

Prepaid Services Platform Changes. Our third quarter 2006 operating results as compared to the second quarter 2006 reflect $4 million in net revenue decline in our prepaid services business, which follows a $15 million decline in the second quarter as compared to the first quarter 2006. This revenue decline reflects the continued shedding of unprofitable retail prepaid services revenue and the restructuring of the prepaid business

 

34


toward a wholesale business model, whereby we offer our prepaid services platform and infrastructure on a managed basis along with wholesale minute terminations.

Overview of Operations

Generally, we price our services competitively with the major carriers and service providers operating in our principal service regions. We seek to generate net revenue through sales and marketing efforts focused on customers with significant communications needs (international and domestic voice, wireless, VOIP, high speed and dial-up Internet and data), including small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), multinational corporations, residential customers, and other telecommunications carriers and resellers and through acquisitions.

Long distance voice minutes of use per customer continue to decline as more customers are using wireless devices and the Internet as alternatives to the use of wireline phones. Also, product substitution (e.g., wireless/Internet for fixed line voice; broadband for dial-up ISP services) has resulted in revenue declines in our core long distance voice and dial-up ISP businesses. Additionally, we believe that because deregulatory influences have begun to affect telecommunications markets outside the United States, the deregulatory trend will result in greater competition from the existing wireline and wireless competitors and from new entrants, such as cable companies and VOIP companies, which could continue to affect adversely our net revenue per minute, as well as minutes of use.

As the portion of traffic transmitted over leased or owned facilities increases, cost of revenue increasingly is comprised of fixed costs. In order to manage such costs, we pursue a flexible approach with respect to the expansion of our network capacity. In most instances, we initially obtain transmission capacity on a variable-cost, per-minute leased basis, then acquire additional capacity on a fixed-cost basis when traffic volume makes such a commitment cost-effective, and ultimately purchase and operate our own facilities when traffic levels justify such investment. We also seek to lower the cost of revenue through:

 

    optimizing the cost of traffic by using the least expensive cost routing;

 

    negotiating lower variable usage based costs with domestic and foreign service providers and negotiating additional and lower cost foreign carrier agreements with the foreign incumbent carriers and others;

 

    continuing to expand/reduce the capacity of our network when traffic volumes justify such actions; and

 

    increasing use of the public Internet.

Overall, carrier revenue accounted for 22% of total net revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2006. The provision of carrier services also allows us to connect our network to all major carriers, which enables us to provide global coverage. Our overall margin may fluctuate based on the relative volumes of international versus domestic long distance services; carrier services versus business and residential long distance services; prepaid services versus traditional post-paid voice services; Internet, VOIP and data services versus fixed line voice services; the amount of services that are resold; and the proportion of traffic carried on our network versus resale of other carriers’ services. Our margin is also effected by customer transfer and migration fees. We pay a charge to install and transfer a new customer onto our network, and to migrate DSL and local customers. However, installing and migrating customers to our own networks, such as the DSL networks in Australia and Canada, enable us to increase our margin on such services as compared to resale of services using other carriers’ networks.

SG&A expenses are comprised primarily of salaries and benefits, commissions, occupancy costs, sales and marketing expenses, advertising, professional fees, and administrative costs. All SG&A expenses are expensed when incurred.

 

35


Foreign Currency

Foreign currency can have a major impact on our financial results. For the quarter ended September 30, 2006, 80% of our net revenue is derived from sales and operations outside the United States. The reporting currency for our consolidated financial statements is the United States dollar (USD). The local currency of each country is the functional currency for each of our respective entities operating in that country. In the future, we expect to continue to derive the majority of our net revenue and incur a significant portion of our operating costs from outside the United States, and therefore changes in exchange rates have had and may continue to have a significant, and potentially adverse, effect on our results of operations. Our primary risk of loss regarding foreign currency exchange rate risk is caused primarily by fluctuations in the following exchange rates: USD/CAD, USD/AUD, USD/British pound (GBP), and USD/Euro (EUR). Due to the large percentage of our revenue derived outside of the United States, changes in the USD relative to one or more of the foregoing currencies could have an adverse impact on our future results of operations. We have agreements with certain subsidiaries for repayment of a portion of the investments and advances made to these subsidiaries. As we anticipate repayment in the foreseeable future, we recognize the unrealized gains and losses in foreign currency transaction gain (loss) on the consolidated statements of operations. We historically have not engaged in hedging transactions. However, the exposure of our income from operations to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is reduced in part because a majority of the costs that we incur in connection with our foreign operations are also denominated in local currencies.

We are exposed to financial statement gains and losses as a result of translating the operating results and financial position of our international subsidiaries. We translate the local currency statements of operations of our foreign subsidiaries into USD using the average exchange rate during the reporting period. Changes in foreign exchange rates affect the reported profits and losses and cash flows and may distort comparisons from year to year. By way of example, when the USD strengthens compared to the EUR, there could be a negative or positive effect on the reported results for Europe, depending upon whether Europe is operating profitably or at a loss. It takes more profits in EUR to generate the same amount of profits in USD and a greater loss in EUR to generate the same amount of loss in USD. The opposite is also true. For instance, when the USD weakens there is a positive effect on reported profits and a negative effect on reported losses for Europe.

In the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005, the USD was weaker on average as compared to the CAD and stronger on average as compared to the AUD. In the three months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005, the USD was weaker on average as compared to the EUR and GBP. In the nine months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the USD was stronger on average as compared to the EUR and GBP. The following tables demonstrate the impact of currency fluctuations on our net revenue for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2006 and 2005 (in thousands, except percentages):

Net Revenue by Location—in USD

 

    

For the three months

ended September 30,

   

For the nine months

ended September 30,

 
     2006    2005    Variance     Variance
%
    2006    2005    Variance     Variance
%
 

Canada

   $ 68,251    $ 67,189    $ 1,062     2 %   $ 208,935    $ 193,058    $ 15,877     8 %

Australia

   $ 76,243    $ 83,221    $ (6,978 )   (8 )%   $ 232,448    $ 262,879    $ (30,431 )   (12 )%

United Kingdom

   $ 19,876    $ 22,397    $ (2,521 )   (11 )%   $ 63,203    $ 93,651    $ (30,448 )   (33 )%

Europe*

   $ 31,083    $ 62,960    $ (31,877 )   (51 )%   $ 110,110    $ 165,720    $ (55,610 )   (34 )%

 

36


Net Revenue by Location—in Local Currencies

 

    

For the three months

ended September 30,

   

For the nine months

ended September 30,

 
     2006    2005    Variance     Variance
%
    2006    2005    Variance     Variance
%
 

Canada (in CAD)

   76,531    80,811    (4,280 )   (5 )%   236,841    236,295    546     0 %

Australia (in AUD)

   100,798    109,566    (8,768 )   (8 )%   311,197    342,029    (30,832 )   (9 )%

United Kingdom (in GBP)

   10,605    12,552    (1,947 )   (16 )%   34,881    50,455    (15,574 )   (31 )%

Europe* (in EUR)

   24,389    51,594    (27,205 )   (53 )%   89,000    131,782    (42,782 )   (32 )%

 

* Europe includes only subsidiaries whose functional currency is the Euro dollar.

Critical Accounting Policies

See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 for a detailed discussion of our critical accounting policies. These policies include revenue recognition, determining our allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, accounting for cost of revenue, valuation of long-lived assets and accounting for income taxes. No significant changes in our critical accounting policies have occurred since December 31, 2005.

Shared-Based Compensation Expense

Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” utilizing the modified prospective method. The revised standard required us to begin to recognize compensation cost for unvested common stock options granted to our employees which were outstanding as of January 1, 2006. This requirement to recognize expense on these unvested grants is immaterial to us as we had accelerated the vesting of certain unvested stock options.

On December 21, 2005, we accelerated the vesting of certain unvested stock options previously awarded under the our Equity Incentive Plan and Director Plan. We took this action because the future costs to be recognized if this action were not taken were disproportionate to the retention value of the stock options. As a result of this action, stock options to purchase up to 1.5 million shares of common stock, which would otherwise have vested over the next three years, became exercisable effective December 21, 2005. These stock options have exercise prices ranging from $1.61 to $6.30 per share. Based upon the closing stock price for our common stock of $0.82 per share on December 21, 2005, all of these stock options were “under water” or “out-of-the-money.” Of the stock options whose vesting is being accelerated, 0.6 million stock options are held by executive officers and 30,000 stock options are held by non-employee directors. Outstanding unvested stock options to purchase 1.5 million shares of our common stock, with per share exercise prices ranging from $0.62 to $0.92, were not accelerated.

As of September 30, 2006, we had 1.6 million unvested awards outstanding, of which $0.7 million of compensation expense will be recognized over the weighted average remaining vesting period of 2.2 years.

Results of Operations

Results of operations for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005

Net revenue decreased $42.7 million or 14.7% to $247.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $290.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. Our data/Internet and VOIP revenue

 

37


contributed $42.2 million and $31.2 million, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to $42.6 million and $24.8 million, respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2005.

United States and Other: United States and Other net revenue increased $1.3 million or 2.7% to $49.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $48.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The increase is primarily attributed to an increase of $5.2 million in wholesale services and an increase of $1.2 million in VOIP services. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $4.6 million in retail voice services, including declines in residential, small business and wireless services, and a decrease of $0.7 million in retail Internet services.

Canada: Canada net revenue increased $1.1 million or 1.6% to $68.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $67.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The increase is primarily attributed to an increase of $2.4 million in local services, an increase of $0.9 million in VOIP services and $0.5 million in wireless services, and an increase of $0.6 million for Internet services. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $2.9 million in retail voice services, including residential and business voice and prepaid services, and a decrease of $0.4 million in wholesale services. The strengthening of the CAD against the USD accounted for a $4.9 million increase to revenue, which is included in the above explanation, and which reflects changes in the exchange rates for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005.

The following table reflects net revenue for each major country in North America (in thousands, except percentages):

Revenue by Country — in USD

 

     For the three months ended    Year-over-Year  
     September 30, 2006
Net Revenue
   September 30, 2005
Net Revenue
   Variance    Variance %  

United States

   $ 48,572    $ 47,420    $ 1,152    2 %

Canada

   $ 68,251    $ 67,189    $ 1,062    2 %

Other

   $ 1,035    $ 883    $ 152    17 %

Europe: European net revenue decreased $36.8 million or 41.4% to $52.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $88.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease of $28.9 million in prepaid services, a $7.4 million decrease in wholesale services, and a decrease of $0.5 million in wireless services. The European prepaid services business declined primarily in the Netherlands as a result of restructuring the business and shedding unprofitable revenue and associated costs. The strengthening of the European currencies against the USD accounted for a $4.0 million increase to revenue, which is included in the above explanation, and which reflects changes in the exchange rates for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005.

 

38


The following table reflects net revenue for each major country in Europe (in thousands, except percentages):

Revenue by Country — in USD

 

     For the three months ended
September 30, 2006
    For the three months ended
September 30, 2005
    Year-over-Year  
     Net
Revenue
   % of
Europe
    Net
Revenue
   % of
Europe
    Variance     Variance %  

United Kingdom

   $ 19,876    38 %   $ 22,397    25 %   $ (2,521 )   (11 )%

Germany

     12,393    24 %     14,232    16 %     (1,839 )   (13 )%

Spain

     4,793    9 %     3,915    4 %     878     22 %

France

     4,433    9 %     5,340    6 %     (907 )   (17 )%

Netherlands

     4,424    8 %     32,555    37 %     (28,131 )   (86 )%

Italy

     2,893    6 %     5,133    6 %     (2,240 )   (44 )%

Other

     3,278    6 %     5,325    6 %     (2,047 )   (38 )%
                                        

Europe Total

   $ 52,090    100 %   $ 88,897    100 %   $ (36,807 )   (41 )%
                                        

Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific net revenue decreased $8.2 million or 9.5% to $77.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $86.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease is primarily attributable to a $4.8 million decrease in residential voice services, a $4.6 million decrease in dial-up Internet services, a $1.1 million decrease in wholesale services, and a decrease of $0.9 million in other retail services (including declines in business voice services and wireless services). These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $3.0 million in Australia DSL services. The weakening of the AUD against the USD accounted for a $0.3 million decrease to revenue, which is included in the above explanation, and which reflects changes in the exchange rates for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005. The following table reflects net revenue for each major country in Asia-Pacific (in thousands, except percentages):

Revenue by Country — in USD

 

    

For the three months ended

September 30, 2006

    For the three months ended
September 30, 2005
    Year-over-Year  
     Net
Revenue
   % of
Asia-Pacific
    Net
Revenue
   % of
Asia-Pacific
    Variance     Variance %  

Australia

   $ 76,243    98 %   $ 83,222    97 %   $ (6,979 )   (8 )%

Japan

     1,513    2 %     2,820    3 %     (1,307 )   (46 )%
                                        

Asia-Pacific Total

   $ 77,756    100 %   $ 86,042    100 %   $ (8,286 )   (10 )%
                                        

Cost of revenue decreased $37.7 million to $158.8 million, or 64.1% of net revenue, for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $196.5 million, or 67.7% of net revenue, for the three months ended September 30, 2005. We continue to shed certain low margin retail revenue while growing revenue from our new services. Additionally service install and migration fees in Canada and Australia were less than the prior year period as fewer customers were migrated on-net in Australia.

United States and Other: United States and Other cost of revenue increased $1.7 million primarily due to an increase of $5.6 million for wholesale services. This increase is partially offset by a decrease of $2.8 million in retail voice services, and a decrease of $1.1 million for other services, including declines in Internet, wireless, VOIP, and prepaid services.

Canada: Canada cost of revenue decreased $3.0 million primarily due to a decrease of $3.8 million in retail voice services. This decrease was partially offset by an increase of $0.8 million in local services. The strengthening of

 

39


the CAD against the USD accounted for a $2.3 million increase to cost of revenue, which is included in the services explanation above, and which reflects changes in the exchange rates for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005.

Europe: European cost of revenue decreased by $27.8 million. The decrease is primarily attributable to a $21.1 million decrease in prepaid services (including a decrease of $20.1 million in the Netherlands), a decrease of $7.0 million in carrier services (including decreases of $3.1 million in the UK, and $2.3 million in Italy), and a decrease of $0.5 million in wireless services. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $0.7 million in retail voice services. The strengthening of the European currencies against the USD accounted for a $3.3 million increase to cost of revenue, which is included in the above explanation, and which reflects changes in the exchange rates for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005.

Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific cost of revenue decreased $8.5 million primarily due to a $4.7 million decrease in residential voice services, a decrease of $3.8 million in Internet services, a decrease of $1.1 million in business services, and a decrease of $1.0 million in carrier services. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $2.4 million for DSL services. The weakening of the AUD against the USD accounted for a $0.3 million decrease to cost of revenue, which is included in the above explanation, and which reflects changes in the exchange rates for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $20.3 million to $72.5 million, or 29.3% of net revenue, for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $92.8 million, or 32.0% of net revenue, for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses is attributable to a $12.8 million decrease in sales and marketing expenses, primarily as a result of a decrease in agent commissions related to prepaid services, a $3.6 million decrease in salaries and benefits due to cost cutting/staff reduction efforts, a $1.6 million decrease in advertising expenses, a $1.2 million decrease in professional fees, a $1.1 million decrease in general and administrative expenses and travel and entertainment expenses.

United States and Other: United States and Other selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $5.9 million to $15.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $21.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease is attributable to a decrease of $1.7 million for advertising, a decrease of $1.7 million for sales and marketing expense, a decrease of $1.5 million for professional fees, and a decrease of $0.8 million for general and administrative expenses.

Canada: Canada selling, general and administrative expense increased $1.1 million to $26.0 million for three months ended September 30, 2006 from $24.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The increase is attributable to an increase of $1.1 million for advertising expenses, and an increase of $0.5 million for professional fees. These increases were partially offset by decreases of $0.5 million for sales and marketing expenses.

Europe: Europe selling, general and administrative expense decreased $11.4 million to $9.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $21.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease is attributable to a decrease of $10.3 million for sales and marketing expense consisting primarily of agent commissions related to prepaid services, and a decrease of $1.1 million for salaries and benefits.

Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific selling, general and administrative expense decreased $4.2 million to $21.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $25.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease is attributable to a decrease of $2.6 million for salaries and benefits, and a decrease of $1.0 million for advertising expenses.

Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $14.9 million to $7.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $21.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease consists of

 

40


a decrease in depreciation expense of $11.6 million, and a decrease of $3.2 million in amortization expense. The decrease is primarily due to the asset impairment recognized in the second quarter 2006.

Gain or loss on sale or disposal of assets was a gain of $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006.

Loss on early extinguishment of debt was $4.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The loss resulted from the exchange of our common stock for the extinguishment of $12.0 million in principal amount of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures including the write-off of deferred financing costs.

Interest expense, including accretion on debt discount, decreased $0.6 million to $13.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $13.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease consists of a $1.8 million decrease due to interest saved from our 2003 Convertible Senior Notes, 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures, October 1999 Senior Notes, and related deferred offering costs, offset by an increase due to the issuance of Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures and changes in the interest rate of our Senior Secured Term Loan Facility.

Foreign currency transaction gain (loss) was a gain of $3.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to a gain of $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The increase is primarily attributable to the impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes on intercompany debt balances and to a lesser extent on receivables and payables denominated in a currency other than the subsidiaries’ functional currency.

Income tax expense decreased to $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 from $2.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. The expense for both periods primarily consists of foreign withholding tax on intercompany interest and royalty fees owed to our United States subsidiary by our Canadian and Australian subsidiaries.

Results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005

Net revenue decreased $122.4 million or 13.7% to $769.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $892.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Our data/Internet and VOIP revenue contributed $127.0 million and $90.1 million, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to $129.7 million and $71.8 million, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

United States and Other: United States and Other net revenue decreased $10.0 million or 6.4% to $145.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $155.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease is primarily attributed to a decrease of $15.8 million in retail voice services, a decrease of $3.6 million in prepaid services, and a $2.5 million decrease in Internet services. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $6.1 million in wholesale services, and an increase of $5.9 million in VOIP services.

Canada: Canada net revenue increased $15.9 million or 8.2% to $208.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $193.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The increase is primarily attributed to an increase of $12.4 million in local services, $3.1 million in VOIP services, $1.3 million in wireless services, $3.0 million in prepaid services, and an increase of $2.2 million in Internet services. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $5.9 million in retail voice services. The strengthening of the CAD against the USD accounted for a $15.5 million increase to revenue, which is included in the above explanation, and which reflects changes in the exchange rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

 

41


The following table reflects net revenue for each major country in North America (in thousands, except percentages):

Revenue by Country — in USD

 

     For the nine months ended    Year-over-Year  
    

September 30, 2006

Net Revenue

  

September 30, 2005

Net Revenue

   Variance     Variance %  

United States

   $ 142,552    $ 153,178    $ (10,626 )   (7 )%

Canada

   $ 208,935    $ 193,057    $ 15,878     8 %

Other

   $ 3,009    $ 2,395    $ 614     26 %

Europe: European net revenue decreased $94.7 million or 34.8% to $177.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $272.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease of $63.1 million in prepaid services (including decreases of $38.4 million in the Netherlands and $20.2 million in the UK), a $26.6 million decrease in carrier services, and a $5.1 million decrease in retail voice services. The European prepaid services business declined primarily in the Netherlands and the UK as a result of restructuring the business and shedding unprofitable revenue and associated costs. The weakening of the European currencies against the USD accounted for a $4.2 million decrease to revenue, which is included in the above explanation, and which reflects changes in the exchange rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

The following table reflects net revenue for each major country in Europe (in thousands, except percentages):

Revenue by Country — in USD

 

    

For the nine months ended

September 30, 2006

   

For the nine months ended

September 30, 2005

    Year-over-Year  
     Net Revenue    % of
Europe
    Net Revenue    % of
Europe
    Variance     Variance %  

United Kingdom

   $ 63,203    36 %   $ 93,651    34 %   $ (30,448 )   (33 )%

Germany

     35,352    20 %     40,860    15 %     (5,508 )   (13 )%

Netherlands

     31,613    18 %     70,967    26 %     (39,354 )   (55 )%

Spain

     13,711    8 %     13,237    5 %     474     4 %

France

     11,938    7 %     15,713    6 %     (3,775 )   (24 )%

Italy

     11,129    6 %     19,372    7 %     (8,243 )   (43 )%

Other

     10,457    5 %     18,332    7 %     (7,875 )   (43 )%
                                        

Europe Total

   $ 177,403    100 %   $ 272,132    100 %   $ (94,729 )   (35 )%
                                        

Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific net revenue decreased $33.6 million or 12.4% to $237.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $271.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease is primarily attributable to a $21.3 million decrease in residential voice services, a $17.4 million decrease in dial-up Internet services, a $2.0 million decrease in carrier services, a decrease of $1.8 million in other services, including declines in business voice and wireless services, and a decrease of $1.1 million in prepaid services. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $9.7 million in DSL services. The weakening of the AUD against the USD accounted for a $7.4 million decrease to revenue, which is included in the above explanation, and which reflects changes in the exchange rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

 

42


The following table reflects net revenue for each major country in Asia-Pacific (in thousands, except percentages):

Revenue by Country — in USD

 

     For the nine months ended
September 30, 2006
    For the nine months ended
September 30, 2005
    Year-over-Year  
     Net Revenue    % of
Asia-Pacific
    Net Revenue    % of
Asia-Pacific
    Variance     Variance %  

Australia

   $ 232,447    98 %   $ 262,879    97 %     (30,432 )   (12 )%

Japan

     5,211    2 %     8,415    3 %     (3,204 )   (38 )%
                                        

Asia-Pacific Total

   $ 237,658    100 %   $ 271,294    100 %   $ (33,636 )   (12 )%
                                        

Cost of revenue decreased $86.1 million to $506.5 million, or 65.8% of net revenue, for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $592.6 million, or 66.4% of net revenue, for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. We continue to experience a shift from higher margin core long distance and dial-up Internet revenues to new products that include bundled services and lower margin resold services. However, we incurred a lower level of customer transfer and migration fees as compared to the prior year period.

United States and Other: United States and Other cost of revenue decreased $0.4 million primarily due to a decrease of $8.5 million in retail voice services, a decrease of $1.8 million in prepaid services, a decrease of $1.2 million in Internet services, and a decrease of $0.5 million in wireless services. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $8.5 million in carrier services, an increase of $2.7 million for VOIP services, and an increase of $0.4 million in other services.

Canada: Canada cost of revenue increased $6.5 million primarily due to an increase of $7.8 million local, VOIP and wireless services, $1.6 million in Internet services and $0.6 million in prepaid services. The increases were partially offset by a decrease of $3.3 million in retail voice services. The strengthening of the CAD against the USD accounted for a $7.2 million increase to cost of revenue, which is included in the services explanation above, when comparing the exchange rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 to the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

Europe: European cost of revenue decreased by $70.4 million. The decrease is primarily attributable to a $41.6 million decrease in prepaid services (including a decrease of $22.3 million in the Netherlands, a decrease of $14.9 million in the UK, and a decrease of $4.4 million in Sweden), a decrease of $25.1 million in carrier services, and a decrease of $4.6 million in wireless services. These decreases were offset by an increase of $0.9 million in retail voice services and other services. The strengthening of the European currencies against the USD accounted for a $3.0 million decrease to cost of revenue, which is included in the above explanation, when comparing the exchange rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 to the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific cost of revenue decreased $21.8 million primarily due to a decrease of $15.1 million in residential voice services, a decrease of $11.2 million for dial-up Internet services, a decrease of $2.5 million for business services, a decrease of $1.8 million in carrier services, and a decrease of $0.7 million for prepaid and wireless services. These decreases were partially offset by an increase of $9.0 million for DSL services, and an increase of $0.5 million for VOIP and other services. The weakening of the AUD against the USD accounted for a $4.8 million decrease to cost of revenue, which is included in the above explanation, when comparing the exchange rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 to the nine months ended September 30, 2005.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $74.4 million to $221.5 million, or 28.8% of net revenue, for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $295.9 million, or 33.2% of net revenue, for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses is attributable to a $29.9 million decrease in sales and marketing expense primarily in agent commissions related to

 

43


prepaid services, a $20.1 million decrease in salaries and benefits due to cost cutting/staff reduction efforts, a

decrease of $12.2 million in advertising, a decrease of $5.2 million for professional fees, a decrease of $5.0 million in general and administrative expenses, and a decrease of $1.4 million for travel and entertainment.

United States and Other: United States and Other selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $30.8 million to $48.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $79.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease is attributable to a decrease of $10.6 million for advertising, a decrease of $6.6 million for salaries and benefits, a decrease of $5.8 million for sales and marketing expense primarily in agent commissions related to prepaid services, a decrease of $4.7 million for professional fees, and a decrease of $2.2 million for general and administrative expenses.

Canada: Canada selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1.3 million to $74.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $73.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The increase is attributable to an increase of $2.6 million for advertising expenses and an increase of $1.0 million for professional fees. These increases were partially offset by decreases of $1.6 million for sales and marketing, and a decrease of $0.9 million for salaries and benefits.

Europe: Europe selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $29.7 million to $37.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $66.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease is attributable to a decrease of $22.4 million for sales and marketing expense primarily of agent commissions related to prepaid services, a decrease of $3.4 million for salaries and benefits, a decrease of $1.4 million for professional fees, a decrease of $1.1 million for travel and entertainment expenses, and a decrease of $0.8 million for general and administrative expenses.

Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific selling, general and administrative expense decreased $15.3 million to $61.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $76.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease is attributable to a decrease of $9.1 million for salaries and benefits, a decrease of $4.0 million for advertising expenses, and a decrease of $1.6 million for general and administrative expenses.

Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $24.9 million to $41.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $66.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The decrease consists of a decrease of $16.4 million in depreciation expense, and an $8.4 million decrease in amortization expense. The decrease is primarily due to the asset impairment recognized in the second quarter 2006.

Gain or loss on sale or disposal of assets was a loss of $14.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. We recognized a charge associated with the sale and disposal of specific long-lived assets which were taken out of service. The charge includes $9.3 million in the United States, $1.8 million in Canada, $2.2 million in the United Kingdom, $0.5 million in Denmark, $0.5 million in Australia and $0.2 million in various other countries and is comprised of network fiber, peripheral switch equipment, software development costs and other network equipment.

Interest expense, including accretion on debt discounts, increased $2.4 million to $42.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $39.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The increase consists of an increase of $6.6 million from changes in the interest rate of our Senior Secured Term Loan Facility, the issuance of our Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debenture, and capital leases. This is offset by decreases due to interest saved from our 2003 Convertible Subordinated Debentures, October 1999 Senior Notes, deferred offering costs and other interest.

Change in Fair Value of Derivatives Embedded within Convertible Debt was a gain of $5.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. Our Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures, 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures and 2003 Convertible Senior Notes contain embedded derivatives that required bifurcation from the debt host from February 27 to June 20, 2006. We recognized these embedded derivatives as a current liability in our balance sheet, measured them at their estimated fair value and recognized changes in the

 

44


fair value of the derivative instruments in earnings. We estimated that the embedded derivatives had a June 20,

2006 (the final valuation date) fair value of $10.3 million and at March 31, 2006, an estimated fair value of $13.1 million. The embedded derivatives derived their value primarily based on changes in the price and volatility of

our common stock. The estimated fair value of the embedded derivatives decreased as the price of our common stock decreased. The closing price of our common stock decreased to $0.64 on June 20, 2006 from $0.75 as of December 31, 2005, causing the overall value of the derivative instrument to decline. As a result, during the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we recognized a gain of $5.4 million from the change in estimated fair value of the embedded derivatives. We estimated the fair value of these embedded derivatives using a theoretical model based on the historical volatility of our common stock of 100% as of June 20, 2006. On June 20, 2006, the embedded derivatives no longer qualified for bifurcation.

Gain on early extinguishment of debt was $7.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006. In June 2006, we exchanged $54.8 million principal amount of the Company’s 2003 Convertible Senior Notes and $20.5 million of cash for $56.3 million principal amount of PTHI’s 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes and $11.3 million of future cash payments resulting in a gain on restructuring of debt of $4.8 million including the expensing of related financing costs. In March 2006, we exchanged $27.4 million principal amount of our 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures for $27.5 million principal amount of our 2006 Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures resulting in a gain on early extinguishment of debt of $1.5 million including the write-off of related deferred financing costs. In January 2006, we exchanged 1,825,000 shares of our common stock for the extinguishment of $2.5 million in principal amount of the October 1999 Senior Notes resulting in a $1.2 million gain on early extinguishment of debt including the write-off of related deferred financing costs.

Foreign currency transaction gain (loss) was a gain of $8.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to a loss of $4.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The increase is primarily attributable to the impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes on intercompany debt balances and to a lesser extent on receivables and payables denominated in a currency other than the subsidiaries’ functional currency.

Income tax expense decreased to $3.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 from $7.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. The expense for both periods primarily consists of foreign withholding tax on intercompany interest and royalty fees owed to our United States subsidiary by our Canadian and Australian subsidiaries.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Changes in Cash Flows

Our principal liquidity requirements arise from cash used in operating activities, purchases of network equipment including switches, related transmission equipment and capacity, DSL network build-out, development of back-office systems, interest and principal payments on outstanding debt and other obligations, withholding taxes and acquisitions. We have financed our growth and operations to date through public offerings and private placements of debt and equity securities, vendor financing, capital lease financing and other financing arrangements.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $9.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to net cash used in operating activities of $37.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, operations provided $11.4 million of cash. In addition, cash was increased by reductions in accounts receivable of $15.6 million, increases in deferred revenue, accrued expenses, accrued income taxes and other liabilities of $7.3 million, and reductions in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $7.2 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, we used $28.4 million to reduce accounts payable and accrued interconnections costs. For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, operations used $26.5 million of cash. We used $23.0 million to reduce our accounts payable and accrued interconnection

 

45


costs to bring our payables more current and used $1.8 million to increase other assets. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, cash was increased through a decrease in accounts receivable of $11.9 million as we brought our receivables more current, and a decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $5.5 million as prepaid balances, inventories and non-trade receivables were reduced.

Net cash used by investing activities was $10.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to $37.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Net cash used by investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 included $23.9 million of capital expenditures primarily for additions to our DSL networks in Australia and Canada and back office support systems, offset by a $1.2 million decrease in restricted cash and $12.7 million net cash proceeds primarily from the disposition of our India operation. Net cash used by investing activities during the nine months ended September 30, 2005 included $42.5 million of capital expenditures primarily for additions to our global network, especially the Australian DSL network and back office support systems, offset by a $5.4 million reduction in restricted cash.

Net cash provided by financing activities was $28.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 as compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $93.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. During the nine months ended September 30, 2006, net cash provided by financing activities consisted of $32.4 million from the issuance of $24.1 million 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes for $17.7 million in cash, net of $2.9 million in financing costs, and the issuance of $14.8 million through an amended and restated loan facility with a Canadian financial institution, net of $0.2 million in financing costs, $5.0 million from the sale of 6.7 million shares of our common stock pursuant to a subscription agreement with an existing stockholder, partially offset by $9.1 million of principal payments on capital leases, leased fiber capacity, financing facilities and other long-term obligations. During the nine months ended September 30, 2005, cash provided by financing activities consisted of $97.0 million from the issuance of our $100 million senior secured term loan facility, net of $3.0 million in financing costs, and $12.8 million issued through the loan agreement with a Canadian financial institution, offset by $16.1 million of principal payments on capital leases, leased fiber capacity, financing facilities and other long-term obligations.

Short- and Long-Term Liquidity Considerations and Risks

As of September 30, 2006, we had $70.8 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents. The unrestricted cash balance as of September 30, 2006 is expected to remain relatively stable as of December 31, 2006. However, first quarter 2007 scheduled principal maturities of $22.7 million of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures due February 15, 2007 and $8 million for a vendor financing will result in a significant decrease in unrestricted cash levels during the first quarter 2007. Management’s highest priority is to explore potential means to reduce the cash outflow in the first quarter 2007. Such means may include realizing timely sufficient benefit from any of the following actions: improved operating performance, cost reduction efforts, reduction of capital expenditures, potential debt financing alternatives, potential future sales of equity, certain opportunistic asset sales, and interest expense savings from balance sheet deleveraging. If we are unable to materially reduce first quarter 2007 scheduled cash outflows, we could face a significant decline in our short- and long-term liquidity sources and our financial position could be adversely affected.

As of December 31, 2005, we had $50.1 million of our 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures outstanding. So far in 2006, we have exchanged $27.4 million of our 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures due February 2007 for $27.5 million of Step Up Convertible Subordinated Debentures due in August 2009. Although we may conclude similar or other transactions for some or all of the remaining $22.7 million, there can be no assurance that such transactions will be completed. If no further transactions are completed, the remaining $22.7 million will be due on February 15, 2007.

In January 2006, we exchanged $2.5 million principal amount of our 12.75% senior notes due 2009 (the “October 1999 Senior Notes”) for 1.8 million shares of our common stock. In January 2006, our wholly owned Canadian subsidiary entered into an Amended and Restated Loan Agreement (the “Amended Agreement”)

 

46


related to its existing secured non-revolving term loan facility with a Canadian financial institution. The Amended Agreement, among other things, extended the maturity date to April 2008. On February 1, 2006 the Company drew the remaining $14.8 million available under the loan facility. On March 13, 2006, $5 million of newly issued common stock was sold to a private investor. In the second quarter 2006 we issued 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes for $17.7 million in cash, net, and received $13.0 million net proceeds from the sale of our India operation. We may pursue opportunistic means to reduce debt, including further exchanges of new debt for existing debt and exchange of our common stock for debt and selected asset sales.

We will continue to have significant debt service obligations during the next year and on a long-term basis. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in reducing scheduled first quarter 2007 cash outflows or that there will be no changes in the assumptions or conditions affecting our results and financial position, including those referenced under “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Any one or more of those events could adversely affect our financial condition or short-term or long-term liquidity.

As of September 30, 2006, we have $2.2 million in future minimum purchase obligations, $37.3 million in future operating lease payments and $646.9 million of indebtedness. Payments of principal and interest are due as follows:

 

 

Year Ending
December 31,

  Vendor
Financing
    Senior
Secured
Term
Loan
Facility (1)
    Other
Long Term
Obligations
    Senior
Notes
    Convertible
and
Exchangeable
Senior Notes
(2)(3)
    Step Up
Subordinated
Debentures
    Convertible
Subordinated
Debentures
    Purchase
Obligations
  Operating
Leases
  Total  
    (amounts in thousands)  

2006 (As of September 30, 2006)

  $ 2,390     $ 3,110     $ 961     $ 4,562     $ 1,424     $ —       $ —       $ 867   $ 3,636   $ 16,950  

2007

    12,494       12,363       5,752       28,324       5,713       1,832       23,355       1,385     11,575     102,793  

2008

    3,311       12,247       29,490       28,324       5,713       2,107       —         —       8,120     89,312  

2009

    1,605       12,131       28       99,884       5,713       29,679       —         —       5,868     154,908  

2010

    2,240       12,015       28       19,200       137,879       —         —         —       3,671     175,033  

Thereafter

    —         94,250       118       302,200       —         —         —         —       4,431     400,999  
                                                                           

Total Minimum Principal & Interest Payments

    22,040       146,116       36,377       482,494       156,442       33,618       23,355       2,252     37,301     939,995  

Less: Amount Representing Interest

    (2,086 )     (47,616 )     (3,744 )     (175,934 )     (22,869 )     (6,137 )     (653 )     —       —       (259,039 )
                                                                           

Face Value of Long-Term Obligations

    19,954       98,500       32,633       306,560       133,573       27,481       22,702       2,252     37,301     680,956  

Less: Amount Representing Discount

    —         —         —         —         (1,493 )     (4,249 )     —         —       —       (5,742 )

Add: Exchangeable Notes Interest Treated as Long-Term Obligations (3)

    —         —         —         —         11,280       —         —         —       —       11,280  
                                                                           

Book Value of Long-Term Obligations

  $ 19,954     $ 98,500     $ 32,633     $ 306,560     $ 143,360     $ 23,232     $ 22,702     $ 2,252   $ 37,301   $ 686,494  
                                                                           

(1) For preparation of this table, we have assumed the interest rate of the $100 million Senior Secured Term Loan Facility to be 11.9%.

 

47


(2) For preparation of this table, we have assumed that the maturity date for the 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes is June 30, 2010 and will not be accelerated to June 30, 2009.

 

(3) For preparation of this table, we have shown separately the cash interest payments of PTHI’s 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes due June 2009 (“5% Exchangeable Senior Notes”) as a portion of long-term obligations (see Note 4—“Long-Term Obligations”).

We have contractual obligations to utilize an external vendor for certain back-office support functions and to utilize network facilities from certain carriers with terms greater than one year. We generally do not purchase or commit to purchase quantities in excess of normal usage or amounts that cannot be used within the contract term. We have minimum annual purchase obligations of $0.9 million and $1.4 million remaining in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

The indentures governing the senior notes, convertible senior notes, exchangeable senior notes, step up convertible subordinated debentures, convertible subordinated debentures, and the senior secured term loan facility, as well as other credit arrangements, contain certain financial and other covenants which, among other things, will restrict our ability to incur further indebtedness and make certain payments, including the payment of dividends and repurchase of subordinated debt and certain debt issued by our subsidiaries. The Company was in compliance with the above covenants at September 30, 2006.

From time to time, we consider the feasibility and timing of transactions that could raise capital for additional liquidity, debt reduction, refinancing of existing indebtedness and for additional working capital and growth opportunities. There can be no assurance we will be successful in any of these efforts to obtain any such financing on acceptable terms or at all. If we are successful in raising additional financing, securities comprising a significant percentage of our diluted capital may be issued in connection with the completion of such transactions. Additionally, if our plans or assumptions change or prove inaccurate, including those with respect to our debt levels, competitive developments, developments affecting our network or new product initiatives, services, operations or cash from operating activities, if we consummate additional investments or acquisitions, if we experience unexpected costs or competitive pressures or if existing cash and any other borrowings prove to be insufficient, we may need to obtain such financing and/or relief sooner than expected. In such circumstances, there can be no assurance we will be successful in these efforts to obtain new capital at acceptable terms.

In light of the foregoing, we and/or our subsidiaries will evaluate and determine on a continuing basis, depending on market conditions and the outcome of events described herein under “Special Note Regarding Forward–Looking Statements,” the most efficient use of our capital and resources, including investment in our network, systems and new product initiatives, purchasing, refinancing, exchanging, tendering for or retiring certain of our outstanding debt securities in privately negotiated transactions, open market transactions or by other direct or indirect means or purchasing our common stock in the open market to the extent permitted by our existing covenants.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R).” SFAS No. 158 requires recognition of the over- or underfunded status of defined benefit postretirement plans as an asset or liability in the statement of financial position and to recognize changes in that funded status in comprehensive income in the year in which the changes occur. SFAS No. 158 also requires measurement of the funded status of a plan as of the date of the statement of financial position. SFAS No. 158 is effective for recognition of the funded status of the benefit plans for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006 and is effective for the measurement date provisions for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2008. We anticipate that the adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value

 

48


measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurement. SFAS No. 157 does not require new fair value measurements and the Company does not expect the application of this standard to change our current practices. The provisions of SFAS No. 157 are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently assessing the impact that adoption of SFAS No. 157 will have on our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

In July 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation (FIN) No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. FIN No. 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements in accordance with SFAS Statement No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” This Interpretation prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in its financial statements uncertain tax positions that the company has taken or expects to take on a tax return. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting FIN No. 48 on its results of operations, financial position and cash flow.

In February 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 155, “Accounting for Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 133 and 140.” SFAS No. 155 clarifies certain issues relating to embedded derivatives and beneficial interests in securitized financial assets. The provisions of SFAS No. 155 are effective for all financial instruments acquired or issued after fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2006. We are currently assessing the impact that the adoption of SFAS 155 will have on our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

Special Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this prospectus constitute “forward looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are based on current expectations, and are not strictly historical statements. Forward looking statements include, without limitation, statements set forth in this document and elsewhere regarding, among other things:

 

    expectations of future growth, creation of shareholder value, revenue, foreign revenue contributions and net income, as well as income from operations, margins, earnings per share, cash flow and cash sufficiency levels, working capital, network development, customer migration and related costs, spending on and success with new product initiatives, including the development of broadband Internet, VOIP, wireless and local services, traffic development, capital expenditures, selling, general and administrative expenses, income tax expense, fixed asset and goodwill impairment charges, service introductions and cash requirements;

 

    increased competitive pressures, declining usage patterns, and our new product initiatives, bundled service offerings and DSL network build-out, the pace and cost of customer migration onto our networks, the effectiveness and profitability of new initiatives;

 

    financing, refinancing, de-leveraging and/or debt repurchase, restructuring, exchange or tender plans or initiatives, and potential dilution of existing equity holders from such initiatives;

 

    liquidity and debt service forecasts;

 

    assumptions regarding currency exchange rates;

 

 

    timing, extent and effectiveness of cost reduction initiatives and management’s ability to moderate or control discretionary spending;

 

    management’s plans, goals, expectations, guidance, objectives, strategies, and timing for future operations, acquisitions, product plans, performance and results; and

 

    management’s assessment of market factors and competitive developments, including pricing actions and regulatory rulings.

 

49


Factors and risks that could cause actual results or circumstances to differ materially from those set forth or contemplated in forward looking statements include those set forth in “Risk Factors” as well as, without limitation:

 

    Changes in business conditions causing changes in the business direction and strategy by management;

 

    heightened competitive pricing and bundling pressures in the markets in which PRIMUS operates;

 

    risks, delays and costs in restructuring and reestablishing our prepaid services business in pre-existing and new markets;

 

    accelerated decrease in minutes of use on wireline phones;

 

    fluctuations in the exchange rates of currencies, particularly of the USD relative to foreign currencies of the countries where PRIMUS conducts its foreign operations;

 

    adverse interest rate developments affecting our variable interest rate debt;

 

    difficulty in maintaining or increasing customer revenues and margins through our new product initiatives and bundled service offerings, and difficulties, costs and delays in constructing and operating proposed DSL networks in Australia and Canada, and migrating and provisioning broadband and local customers to such networks;

 

    inadequate financial resources to promote and to market the new product initiatives;

 

    fluctuations in prevailing trade credit terms or revenues due to the adverse impact of, among other things, further telecommunications carrier bankruptcies or adverse bankruptcy related developments affecting our large carrier customers;

 

    the possible inability to raise additional capital when needed, on attractive terms, or at all;

 

    the inability to reduce, repurchase, refinance, exchange, tender for or restructure debt significantly, or in amounts sufficient to conduct regular ongoing operations;

 

    the impact of the delisting of our common stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market which may impair our ability to raise capital;

 

    further changes in the telecommunications or Internet industry, including rapid technological changes, regulatory and pricing changes in our principal markets and the nature and degree of competitive pressure that we may face;

 

    adverse tax or regulatory rulings from applicable authorities;

 

    enhanced broadband, DSL, Internet, wireless, VOIP and local and long distance voice telecommunications competition;

 

    changes in financial, capital market and economic conditions, including the potential adverse impact arising out of or as a consequence of our external auditor’s opinion dated March 15, 2006 which included a matter of emphasis paragraph for a going concern;

 

    changes in service offerings or business strategies, including the need to modify business models if performance is below expectations;

 

    difficulty in retaining existing long distance wireline and dial-up ISP customers;

 

    difficulty in migrating or retaining customers associated with acquisitions of customer bases, or integrating other assets;

 

    difficulty in selling new services in the marketplace;

 

    difficulty in providing broadband, DSL, local, VOIP or wireless services;

 

    changes in the regulatory schemes or requirements and regulatory enforcement in the markets in which we operate;

 

50


    restrictions on our ability to execute certain strategies or complete certain transactions as a result of our inexperience with new product initiatives, or limitations imposed by available cash resources, our capital structure or debt covenants;

 

    risks associated with our limited DSL, Internet, VOIP, Web hosting and wireless experience and expertise, including cost effectively utilizing new marketing channels such as interactive marketing utilizing the Internet;

 

    entry into developing markets;

 

    aggregate margin contribution from the new initiatives are not sufficient in amount or timing to offset the margin decline in our legacy long distance voice and dial-up ISP businesses;

 

    the possible inability to hire and/or retain qualified executive management, sales, technical and other personnel;

 

    risks associated with international operations;

 

    dependence on effective information systems;

 

    dependence on third parties for access to their networks to enable us to expand and manage our global network and operations and to offer broadband, DSL, local, VOIP and wireless services, including dependence upon the cooperation of incumbent carriers relating to the migration of customers;

 

    dependence on the performance of our global standard asynchronous transfer mode and Internet-based protocol (ATM+IP) communications network;

 

    adverse regulatory rulings or actions affecting our operations, including the imposition of taxes and fees, the imposition of obligations upon VOIP providers to provide enhanced 911 (E911) services and restricting access to broadband networks owned and operated by others;

 

    the potential further elimination or limitation of a substantial amount or all of our United States or foreign operating loss carryforwards due to future significant issuances of equity securities, changes in ownership or other circumstances, which carryforwards would otherwise be available to reduce future taxable income; and

 

    the outbreak or escalation of hostilities or terrorist acts and adverse geopolitical developments.

As such, actual results or circumstances may vary materially from such forward looking statements or expectations. Readers are also cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements which speak only as of the date these statements were made. We are not obligated to update or revise any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Our primary market risk exposures relate to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, valuations of derivatives and to changes in interest rates.

Foreign currency can have a major impact on our financial results. Currently 80% of our net revenue is derived from sales and operations outside the United States. The reporting currency for our consolidated financial statements is the USD. The local currency of each country is the functional currency for each of our respective entities operating in that country. In the future, we expect to continue to derive the majority of our net revenue and incur a significant portion of our operating costs from outside the United States, and therefore changes in exchange rates have had and may continue to have a significant, and potentially adverse, effect on our results of operations. Our primary risk of loss regarding foreign currency exchange rate risk is caused primarily by fluctuations in the following exchange rates: USD/CAD, USD/AUD, USD/GBP, and USD/EUR. Due to the large percentage of our revenue derived outside of the United States, changes in the USD relative to one or more of the foregoing currencies could have an adverse impact on our future results of operations. We have agreements with certain subsidiaries for repayment of a portion of the investments and advances made to these subsidiaries. As we

 

51


anticipate repayment in the foreseeable future, we recognize the unrealized gains and losses in foreign currency transaction gain (loss) on the consolidated statements of operations. We historically have not engaged in hedging transactions. However, the exposure of our income from operations to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates is reduced in part because a majority of the costs that we incur in connection with our foreign operations are also denominated in local currencies.

We are exposed to financial statement gains and losses as a result of translating the operating results and financial position of our international subsidiaries. We translate the local currency statements of operations of our foreign subsidiaries into USD using the average exchange rate during the reporting period. Changes in foreign exchange rates affect the reported profits and losses and cash flows and may distort comparisons from year to year. By way of example, when the USD strengthens compared to the EUR, there could be a negative or positive effect on the reported results for Europe, depending upon whether Europe is operating profitably or at a loss. It takes more profits in EUR to generate the same amount of profits in USD and a greater loss in EUR to generate the same amount of loss in USD. The opposite is also true. For instance, when the USD weakens there is a positive effect on reported profits and a negative effect on reported losses for Europe.

In the three months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005, the USD was weaker on average as compared to the CAD, EUR and GBP, and stronger on average as compared to the AUD. As a result, our revenue of the subsidiaries whose local currency is AUD, CAD, GBP and EUR increased (decreased) (8)%, (5)%, (16)% and (53)% in local currency compared to the three months ended September 30, 2005, but increased (decreased) (8)%, 2%, (11)% and (51)% in USD, respectively. In the nine months ended September 30, 2006, as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005, the USD was weaker on average as compared to the CAD and stronger on average as compared to the AUD, GBP and EUR. As a result, our revenue of the subsidiaries whose local currency is AUD, CAD, GBP and EUR increased (decreased) (9)%, 0%, (31)% and (32)% in local currency compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2005, but increased (decreased) (12)%, 8%, (33)% and (34)% in USD, respectively.

Interest rates – The majority of our long-term debt obligations are at fixed interest rates at September 30, 2006. In February 2005, we obtained a $100 million senior secured loan facility, which has a variable interest rate feature. We are exposed to interest rate risk as additional financing may be required. Our primary exposure to market risk stems from fluctuations in interest rates. We do not currently anticipate entering into interest rate swaps and/or similar instruments.

The interest rate sensitivity table below summarizes our market risks associated with fluctuations in interest rates as of September 30, 2006 in USD, which is our reporting currency. The table presents principal cash flows and related weighted average interest rates by year of expected maturity for our senior notes, convertible senior notes, exchangeable senior notes, convertible subordinated debentures, leased fiber capacity, and other long-term obligations in effect at September 30, 2006. In the case of the convertible senior notes and convertible subordinated debentures the table excludes the potential exercise of the relevant redemption and conversion features and excludes an unamortized debt discount of $5.7 million and future cash interest payments of $11.3 million from our 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes that are treated as long term obligations (see Note 4 – “Long-Term Obligations”).

 

     Year of Maturity            
     2006     2007     2008     2009     2010     Thereafter     Total     Fair Value
     (in thousands, except percentages)

Fixed Rate

   $ 2,294     $ 37,667     $ 31,713     $ 100,414     $ 135,707     $ 235,110     $ 542,905     $ 379,417

Average Interest Rate

     8 %     7 %     8 %     11 %     2 %     8 %     8 %  

Variable Rate

   $ 250     $ 1,000     $ 1,000     $ 1,000     $ 1,000     $ 94,250     $ 98,500     $ 98,500

Average Interest Rate

     12 %     12 %     12 %     12 %     12 %     12 %     12 %  

 

52


ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Our management evaluated, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective. Disclosure controls and procedures mean our controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2006, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

53


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are subject to claims and legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. Each of these matters is subject to various uncertainties, and it is possible that some of these matters may be decided unfavorably to us. We believe that any aggregate liability that may result from the resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

A wide range of factors could materially affect our performance. In addition to factors affecting specific business operations and the financial results of those operations identified elsewhere in this report, the following factors, among others, could adversely affect our operations:

Any potential future reaction to the unqualified opinion with a matter of emphasis regarding our ability to continue as a going concern from our independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the filing of our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, could adversely affect our operations by potentially increasing our immediate need for additional capital and disrupting supplier relationships.

Our independent registered public accounting firm has included in their report concerning our consolidated financial statements for 2005 an explanatory paragraph that our recurring losses from operations, the maturity of the 5 3/4% convertible subordinated debentures due 2007, negative working capital, and stockholders’ deficit raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. Any potential future adverse reaction to this opinion may adversely affect our ability to manage accounts payable and potentially cause some suppliers to deal with us on a cash-on-delivery or prepaid basis only or to terminate the supplier relationship. If this were to occur, this would adversely affect our operations by increasing our immediate need for additional capital.

If competitive pressures continue or intensify and/or the success of our new initiatives is not adequate in amount or timing to offset the decline in results from our core businesses, we may not be able to service our debt or other obligations.

As of September 30, 2006, we had $70.8 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents. The unrestricted cash balance as of September 30, 2006 is expected to remain relatively stable as of December 31, 2006. However, first quarter 2007 scheduled principal maturities of $22.7 million of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures due February 15, 2007 and $8 million for a vendor financing will result in a significant decrease in unrestricted cash levels during the first quarter 2007. Management’s highest priority is to explore potential means to reduce the cash outflow in the first quarter 2007. Such means may include realizing timely sufficient benefit from any of the following actions: improved operating performance, cost reduction efforts, reduction of capital expenditures, potential debt financing alternatives, potential future sales of equity, certain opportunistic asset sales, and interest expense savings from balance sheet deleveraging. If we are unable to materially reduce first quarter 2007 scheduled cash outflows, we could face a significant decline in our short- and long-term liquidity sources and our financial position could be adversely affected.

There are substantial risks and uncertainties in our future operating results, particularly as aggressive pricing and bundling strategies by certain incumbent carriers and ILECs have intensified competitive pressures in the markets where we operate, and/or if we have insufficient financial resources to market our services. The aggregate anticipated margin contribution from our new initiatives may not be adequate in amount or timing to offset the declines in margin from our core long distance voice and dial-up ISP business. In addition, regulatory decisions could have a material adverse impact on our operations and outlook. See also information under “Item 2—MD&A—Liquidity and Capital Resources–Short- and Long-Term Liquidity Considerations and Risks” and in these Risk Factors. If adverse events referenced or described herein or therein were to occur, we may not be able to service our debt or other obligations and could, among other things, be required to seek protection under the bankruptcy laws of the United States or other similar laws in other countries.

 

54


Our high level of debt and liquidity needs may adversely affect our financial and operating flexibility.

We currently have substantial indebtedness and anticipate that we and our subsidiaries may incur additional indebtedness in the future. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2007 we have debt principal maturities of $22.7 million of the 2000 Convertible Subordinated Debentures and $8 million for a vendor financing which will result in a significant decrease in unrestricted cash levels. The level and/or terms of our indebtedness (1) could make it difficult for us to make required payments of principal and interest on our outstanding debt; (2) could limit our ability to obtain any necessary financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements or other purposes; (3) requires that a substantial portion of our cash flow, if any, be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on outstanding indebtedness and other obligations and, accordingly, such cash flow will not be available for use in our business; (4) could limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business; (5) results in our being more highly leveraged than many of our competitors, which places us at a competitive disadvantage; (6) will make us more vulnerable in the event of a downturn in our business; and (7) could limit our ability to sell assets partially or fund our operations due to covenant restrictions.

Our common stock was delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market, which could make it more difficult to sell our common stock.

Effective at the open of trading on July 28, 2006, our common stock was delisted from the Nasdaq Capital Market. Since this time, our common stock has traded in the over-the-counter market, both through listings on the OTC Bulletin Board and in the National Quotation Bureau “Pink Sheets”, but our common stock is not currently listed or quoted on any recognized national or regional securities exchange or market. As a result, an investor may find it difficult to sell or obtain quotations as to the price of our common stock. Delisting could adversely affect investors’ perception, which could lead to further declines in the market price of our common stock. Delisting will also make it more difficult, time consuming and expensive for us to raise capital through sales of our common stock or securities convertible into our common stock.

Given our limited experience in delivering our new product initiatives and in providing bundled local, wireless, broadband, DSL, Internet, data and VOIP services, we may not be able to operate successfully or expand these parts of our business.

During 2004, we accelerated initiatives to provide wireless, broadband, VOIP and local wireline services in certain markets where we operate. During the third quarter of 2004 we accelerated initiatives to become an integrated wireline, wireless and broadband service provider in order to counter competitive pricing pressures initiated by large incumbent providers in certain of the principal markets where we operate and to stem the loss of certain of our wireline and dial-up ISP customers to our competitors’ bundled wireless, wireline and broadband service offerings. Our experience in providing these new products in certain markets and in providing these bundled service offerings is limited. Our primary competitors include incumbent telecommunications providers, cable companies and other ISPs that have a significant national or international presence. Many of these operators have substantially greater resources, capital and operational experience than we do. We also expect that we will experience increased competition from traditional telecommunications carriers and cable companies and other new entrants that expand into the market for broadband, VOIP, Internet services and traditional voice services, and regulatory developments may impair our ability to compete. Therefore, future operations involving these individual or bundled services may not succeed in this new competitive environment, and we may not be able to expand successfully; may experience margin pressure; may face quarterly revenue and operating results variability; may have limited resources to develop and to market the new services; and have heightened difficulty in establishing future revenues or results. As a result, there can be no assurance that we will reverse recent revenue declines or maintain or increase revenues or be able to generate income from operations or net income in the future or on any predictable or timely basis.

 

55


We may be exposed to significant liability resulting from our noncompliance with FCC directives regarding enhanced 911 (E911) services.

In June 2005, the FCC adopted new rules requiring VOIP providers interconnected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to provide E911 service in a manner similar to traditional wireline carriers by

November 2005. LINGO, a subsidiary of ours which sells VOIP services, was unable to meet this deadline for all of its customers. We have sought a waiver from the FCC initially asking for an additional nine months to complete deploying our E911 service. The FCC has not yet addressed our waiver petition and we will update the waiver with them requesting additional time. As of September 30, 2006, approximately 45% of our LINGO customers were without E911 service. We also are participating in a legal challenge to these rules pending before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

LINGO’s current services are more limited than the E911 services offered by traditional wireline telephone companies. These limitations may cause significant delays, or even failures, in callers’ receipt of the emergency assistance they need as required by the FCC. We have notified our customers of the differences between our Emergency Calling Service and E911 services and those available through traditional telephony providers and have received affirmative acknowledgement from substantially all of our customers. Nevertheless, injured customers may attempt to hold us responsible for any loss, damage, personal injury or death suffered as a result of our failure to comply with the FCC mandated E911 service. Our resulting liability could be significant.

In addition, if and to the extent that we are determined to be out of compliance with the FCC order regarding E911 services we may be subject to fines or penalties or injunctions prohibiting LINGO from providing service in some markets.

We are substantially smaller than our major competitors, whose marketing and pricing decisions, and relative size advantage, could adversely affect our ability to attract and retain customers and are likely to continue to cause significant pricing pressures that could adversely affect our net revenues, results of operations and financial condition.

The long distance telecommunications, Internet, broadband, DSL, data and wireless industry is significantly influenced by the marketing and pricing decisions of the larger long distance, Internet access, broadband, DSL and wireless business participants. Prices in the long distance industry have continued to decline in recent years, and as competition continues to increase within each of our service segments and each of our product lines, we believe that prices are likely to continue to decrease. Our competitors in its core markets include, among others: Sprint, the regional bell operating companies (RBOCs) and the major wireless carriers in the United States; Telstra, SingTel Optus and Telecom New Zealand in Australia; Telus, BCE, Allstream (formerly AT&T Canada) and the major wireless and cable companies in Canada; and BT, Cable & Wireless United Kingdom, Colt Telecom, Energis and the major wireless carriers in the United Kingdom. Customers frequently change long distance, wireless and broadband providers, and ISPs in response to the offering of lower rates or promotional incentives, increasingly as a result of bundling of various services by competitors. Moreover, competitors’ VOIP and broadband product rollouts have added further customer choice and pricing pressure. As a result, generally, customers can switch carriers and service offerings at any time. Competition in all of our markets is likely to remain intense, or even increase in intensity and, as deregulatory influences are experienced in markets outside the United States, competition in non-United States markets is becoming similar to the intense competition in the United States. Many of our competitors are significantly larger than us and have substantially greater financial, technical and marketing resources, larger networks, a broader portfolio of service offerings, greater control over network and transmission lines, stronger name recognition and customer loyalty, long-standing relationships with our target customers, and lower debt leverage ratios. As a result, our ability to attract and retain customers may be adversely affected. Many of our competitors enjoy economies of scale that result in low cost structures for transmission and related costs that could cause significant pricing pressures within the industry. Several long distance carriers in the United States, Canada and Australia and the major wireless carriers and cable companies, have introduced pricing and product bundling strategies that provide for fixed, low rates for calls. This strategy of our competitors could have a material adverse effect on our net revenue per minute, results of operations and

 

56


financial condition if our pricing, set to remain competitive, is not offset by similar declines in our costs. Many companies emerging out of bankruptcy might benefit from a lower cost structure and might apply pricing pressure within the industry to gain market share. We compete on the basis of price, particularly with respect to our sales to other carriers, and also on the basis of customer service and our ability to provide a variety of telecommunications products and services. If such price pressures and bundling strategies intensify, we may not be able to compete successfully in the future, may face quarterly revenue and operating results variability, and may have heightened difficulty in estimating future revenues or results.

Our repositioning in the marketplace places a significant strain on our resources, and if not managed effectively, could result in operational inefficiencies and other difficulties.

Our repositioning in the marketplace may place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial resources, and increase demand on our systems and controls. To manage this change effectively, we must continue to implement and improve our operational and financial systems and controls, invest in critical network infrastructure to maintain or improve our service quality levels, purchase and utilize other transmission facilities, and train and manage our employee base. If we inaccurately forecast the movement of traffic onto our network, we could have insufficient or excessive transmission facilities and disproportionate fixed expenses. As we proceed with our development, operational difficulties could arise from additional demand placed on customer provisioning and support, billing and management information systems, product delivery and fulfillment, on our support, sales and marketing and administrative resources and on our network infrastructure. For instance, we may encounter delays or cost-overruns or suffer other adverse consequences in implementing new systems when required. In addition, our operating and financial control systems and infrastructure could be inadequate to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting.

We have experienced significant historical, and may experience significant future, operating losses and net losses which may hinder our ability to meet our debt service or working capital requirements.

As of September 30, 2006, we had an accumulated deficit of $(1,085.6) million. We incurred net losses of $(63.6) million in 1998, $(112.7) million in 1999, $(174.7) million in 2000, $(306.2) million in 2001, $(34.6) million in 2002, $(10.6) million in 2004, $(154.4) million in 2005, and $(235.5) million in the nine months ended September 30, 2006. During the year ended December 31, 2003, we recognized net income of $54.8 million, of which $39.4 million is the positive impact of foreign currency transaction gains. We cannot assure you that we will recognize net income, or reverse recent net revenue declines in future periods. If we cannot generate net income or operating profitability, we may not be able to meet our debt service or working capital requirements.

Integration of acquisitions ultimately may not provide the benefits originally anticipated by management and may distract the attention of our personnel from the operation of our business.

We strive to increase the volume of voice and data traffic that we carry over our existing global network in order to reduce transmission costs and other operating costs as a percentage of net revenue, improve margins, improve service quality and enhance our ability to introduce new products and services. We may pursue acquisitions in the future to further our strategic objectives. Acquisitions of businesses and customer lists, a key element of our historical growth strategy, involve operational risks, including the possibility that an acquisition does not ultimately provide the benefits originally anticipated by management. Moreover, there can be no assurance that we will be successful in identifying attractive acquisition candidates, completing and financing additional acquisitions on favorable terms, or integrating the acquired business or assets into our own. There may be difficulty in migrating the customer base and in integrating the service offerings, distribution channels and networks gained through acquisitions with our own. Successful integration of operations and technologies requires the dedication of management and other personnel, which may distract their attention from the day-to-day business, the development or acquisition of new technologies, and the pursuit of other business acquisition opportunities, and there can be no assurance that successful integration will occur in light of these factors.

 

57


We experience intense domestic and international competition which may adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

The local and long distance telecommunications, data, broadband, Internet, VOIP and wireless industries are intensely competitive with relatively limited barriers to entry in the more deregulated countries in which we operate and with numerous entities competing for the same customers. Recent and pending deregulation in various countries may encourage new entrants to compete, including ISPs, wireless companies, cable television companies, who would offer voice, broadband, Internet access and television, and electric power utilities who would offer voice and broadband Internet access. For example, the United States and many other countries have committed to open their telecommunications markets to competition pursuant to an agreement under the World Trade Organization which began on January 1, 1998. Further, in the United States, as certain conditions have been met under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the RBOCs have been allowed to enter the long distance market, and other long distance carriers have been allowed to enter the local telephone services market (although recent judicial and regulatory developments have diminished the attractiveness of this opportunity), and many entities, including cable television companies and utilities, have been allowed to enter both the local service and long distance telecommunications markets. Moreover, the rapid enhancement of VOIP technology may result in increasing levels of traditional domestic and international voice long distance traffic being transmitted over the Internet, as opposed to traditional telecommunication networks. Currently, there are significant capital investment savings and cost savings associated with carrying voice traffic employing VOIP technology, as compared to carrying calls over traditional networks. Thus, there exists the possibility that the price of traditional long distance voice services will decrease in order to be competitive with VOIP. Additionally, competition is expected to be intense to switch customers to VOIP product offerings, as is evidenced by numerous recent market announcements in the United States and internationally from industry leaders and competitive carriers concerning significant VOIP initiatives. Our ability effectively to retain our existing customer base and generate new customers, either through our traditional network or our own VOIP offerings, may be adversely affected by accelerated competition arising as a result of VOIP initiatives, as well as regulatory developments that may impede our ability to compete, such as restrictions on access to broadband networks owned and operated by others and the requirements to provide E911 services. As competition intensifies as a result of deregulatory, market or technological developments, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely affected.

A deterioration in our relationships with facilities-based carriers could have a material adverse effect upon our business.

We primarily connect our customers’ telephone calls and data/Internet needs through transmission lines that we lease under a variety of arrangements with other facilities-based long distance carriers. Many of these carriers are, or may become, our competitors. Our ability to maintain and expand our business depends on our ability to maintain favorable relationships with the facilities-based carriers from which we lease transmission lines. If our relationship with one or more of these carriers were to deteriorate or terminate, it could have a material adverse effect upon our cost structure, service quality, network diversity, results of operations and financial condition.

Uncertainties and risks associated with international markets could adversely impact our international operations.

We have significant international operations and, as of September 30, 2006, derived 80% of our revenues by providing services outside of the United States. In international markets, we are smaller than the principal or incumbent telecommunications carrier that operates in each of the foreign jurisdictions where we operate. In these markets, incumbent carriers are likely to control access to, and pricing of, the local networks; enjoy better brand recognition and brand and customer loyalty; generally offer a wider range of product and services; and have significant operational economies of scale, including a larger backbone network and more correspondent agreements. Moreover, the incumbent carrier may take many months to allow competitors, including us, to interconnect to our switches within our territory, and we are dependent upon their cooperation in migrating

 

58


customers onto our network. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain the permits and operating licenses required for us to operate; obtain access to local transmission facilities on economically acceptable terms; or market services in international markets. In addition, operating in international markets generally involves additional risks, including unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, taxes, tariffs, customs, duties and other trade barriers, difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations, problems in collecting accounts receivable, political risks, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, restrictions associated with the repatriation of funds, technology export and import restrictions, and seasonal reductions in business activity. Our ability to operate and grow our international operations successfully could be adversely impacted by these risks and uncertainties particularly in light of the fact that we derive such a large percentage of our revenues from outside of the United States.

Because a significant portion of our business is conducted outside the United States, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates could adversely affect our results of operations.

A significant portion of our net revenue is derived from sales and operations outside the United States. The reporting currency for our consolidated financial statements is the USD. The local currency of each country is the functional currency for each of our respective entities operating in that country. In the future, we expect to continue to derive a significant portion of our net revenue and incur a significant portion of our operating costs outside the United States, and changes in exchange rates have had and may have a significant, and potentially adverse, effect on our results of operations. Our primary risk of loss regarding foreign currency exchange rate risk is caused by fluctuations in the following exchange rates: USD/AUD, USD/CAD, USD/GBP, and USD/EUR. See “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.” Due to the large percentage of our operations conducted outside of the United States, strengthening or weakening of the USD relative to one or more of the foregoing currencies could have an adverse impact on future results of operations. We historically have not engaged in hedging transactions and do not currently contemplate engaging in hedging transactions to mitigate foreign exchange risks. In addition, the operations of affiliates and subsidiaries in foreign countries have been funded with investments and other advances denominated in foreign currencies. Historically, such investments and advances have been long-term in nature, and we accounted for any adjustments resulting from currency translation as a charge or credit to accumulated other comprehensive loss within the stockholders’ deficit section of our consolidated balance sheets. In 2002, agreements with certain subsidiaries were put in place for repayment of a portion of the investments and advances made to those subsidiaries. As we anticipate repayment in the foreseeable future of these amounts, we recognize the unrealized gains and losses in foreign currency transaction gain (loss) on the consolidated statements of operations, and depending upon changes in future currency rates, such gains or losses could have a significant, and potentially adverse, effect on our results of operations.

The telecommunications industry is rapidly changing, and if we are not able to adjust our strategy and resources effectively in the future to meet changing market conditions, we may not be able to compete effectively.

The telecommunications industry is changing rapidly due to deregulation, privatization, consolidation, technological improvements, availability of alternative services such as wireless, broadband, DSL, Internet, VOIP, and wireless DSL through use of the fixed wireless spectrum, and the globalization of the world’s economies. In addition, alternative services to traditional fixed wireline services, such as wireless, broadband, Internet and VOIP services, are a substantial competitive threat. If we do not adjust our contemplated plan of development to meet changing market conditions and if we do not have adequate resources, we may not be able to compete effectively. The telecommunications industry is marked by the introduction of new product and service offerings and technological improvements. Achieving successful financial results will depend on our ability to anticipate, assess and adapt to rapid technological changes, and offer, on a timely and cost-effective basis, services including the bundling of multiple services, that meet evolving industry standards. If we do not anticipate, assess or adapt to such technological changes at a competitive price, maintain competitive services or obtain new technologies on a timely basis or on satisfactory terms, our financial results may be materially and adversely affected.

 

59


If we are not able to operate a cost-effective network, we may not be able to grow our business successfully.

Our long-term success depends on our ability to design, implement, operate, manage and maintain a reliable and cost-effective network. In addition, we rely on third parties to enable us to expand and manage our global network and to provide local, broadband Internet and wireless services. If we fail to generate additional traffic on our network, if we experience technical or logistical impediments to our ability to develop necessary network (such as its DSL networks in Australia and Canada) or to migrate traffic and customers onto our network, or if we experience difficulties with our third-party providers, we may not achieve desired economies of scale or otherwise be successful in growing our business.

If we are not able to use and protect our intellectual property domestically and internationally, it could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Our ability to compete depends, in part, on our ability to use intellectual property in the United States and internationally. We rely on a combination of trade secrets, trademarks and licenses to protect our intellectual property. We are also subject to the risks of claims and litigation alleging infringement of the intellectual property rights of others. The telecommunications industry is subject to frequent litigation regarding patent and other intellectual property rights. We rely upon certain technology, including hardware and software, licensed from third parties. There can be no assurance that the technology licensed by us will continue to provide competitive features and functionality or that licenses for technology currently used by us or other technology that we may seek to license in the future will be available to us on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Although our existing intellectual property are on standard commercial terms made generally available by the companies providing the licenses and, individually, their costs and terms are not material to our business, the loss of, or our inability to maintain existing licenses, could result in shipment delays or reductions until equivalent technology or suitable alternative products could be developed, identified, licensed and integrated. Such delays or reductions in the aggregate could harm our business.

The loss of key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our business.

The loss of the services of K. Paul Singh, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, or the services of our other key personnel, or our inability to attract and retain additional key management, technical and sales personnel, could have a material adverse effect upon us.

We are subject to potential adverse effects of regulation which may have a material adverse impact on our competitive position, growth and financial performance.

Our operations are subject to constantly changing regulation. There can be no assurance that future regulatory changes will not have a material adverse effect on us, or that regulators or third parties will not raise material issues with regard to our compliance or noncompliance with applicable regulations, any of which could have a material adverse effect upon us. As a multinational telecommunications company, we are subject to varying degrees of regulation in each of the jurisdictions in which it provides our services. Local laws and regulations, and the interpretation of such laws and regulations, differ significantly among the jurisdictions in which we operate. Enforcement and interpretations of these laws and regulations can be unpredictable and are often subject to the informal views of government officials. Potential future regulatory, judicial, legislative, and government policy changes in jurisdictions where we operate could have a material adverse effect on us. Domestic or international regulators or third parties may raise material issues with regard to our compliance or noncompliance with applicable regulations, and therefore may have a material adverse impact on our competitive position, growth and financial performance. Regulatory considerations that affect or limit our business include (1) United States common carrier requirements not to discriminate unreasonably among customers and to charge just and reasonable rates; (2) general uncertainty regarding the future regulatory classification of and taxation of VOIP telephony, the need to provide emergency calling services in a manner required by the FCC that is not yet

 

60


available commercially on a nation-wide basis and the ability to access broadband networks owned and operated by others; if regulators decide that VOIP is a regulated telecommunications service, our VOIP services may be subject to burdensome regulatory requirements and fees, we may be obligated to pay carriers additional interconnection fees and operating costs may increase; (3) general changes in access charges, universal service and regulatory fee payments would affect our cost of providing long distance services; (4) the ultimate regulatory resolution regarding efforts by Telstra in Australia to increase prices and charges and to build a new broadband network that could adversely impact our current DSL network; and (5) general changes in access charges and contribution payments could adversely affect our cost of providing long distance, wireless, broadband, VOIP, local and other services. Any adverse developments implicating the foregoing could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, result of operations and prospects.

Natural disasters may affect the markets in which we operate, our operations and our profitability.

Many of the geographic areas where we conduct our business may be affected by natural disasters, including hurricanes and tropical storms. Hurricanes, tropical storms and other natural disasters could have a material adverse effect on the business by damaging the network facilities or curtailing voice or data traffic as a result of the effects of such events, such as destruction of homes and businesses.

Terrorist attacks and other acts of violence or war may affect the markets in which we operate, our operations and our profitability.

We are a United States-based corporation with significant international operations. Terrorist attacks, such as the attacks that occurred in New York City and Washington, D.C. on September 11, 2001, and subsequent worldwide terrorist actions, including apparent action against companies operating abroad, may negatively affect our operations. We cannot assure you that there will not be further terrorist attacks that affect our employees, network facilities or support systems, either in the United States or in any of the other countries in which we operate. Certain losses resulting from these types of events are uninsurable and others are not likely to be covered by our insurance. Terrorist attacks may directly impact our business operations through damage or harm to our employees, network facilities or support systems, increased security costs or the general curtailment of voice or data traffic. Any of these events could result in increased volatility in or damage to our business and the United States and worldwide financial markets and economies.

A small group of our stockholders could exercise influence over our affairs.

As of February 28, 2006, funds affiliated with American International Group, Incorporated (AIG Entities) beneficially owned 15% of our outstanding common stock, which was acquired through the conversion of their Series C Preferred Stock. As a result of such share ownership, these holders can exercise influence over our affairs through the provisions of a certain Governance Agreement between such holders and us, dated November 4, 2003, that provide for their right to nominate a candidate for election by our stockholders to the board of directors and nominate one non-voting board observer, in each case subject to the maintenance of certain minimum ownership levels of our common stock and the board’s right to exercise its fiduciary duties.

In addition, these holders’ significant ownership levels could have an influence on: amendments to our certificate of incorporation; other fundamental corporate transactions such as mergers and asset sales; and the general direction of our business and affairs.

Also, the applicable triggering provisions of our rights agreement with StockTrans, Inc., as Rights Agent, dated December 23, 1998 (as amended, the “Rights Agreement”) contain exceptions with respect to the acquisition of beneficial ownership of our shares by such holders and the other former holders of Series C Preferred Stock. As a result, such holders could gain additional control over our affairs without triggering the provisions of the Rights Agreement.

 

61


Finally, other stockholders that acquire a significant portion of our common stock, either in the market or in future issuances by us, could potentially exercise influence over our affairs.

Significant future sales of our common stock in the public market could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and could impair our ability to raise funds in additional stock offerings.

Significant future sales of our common stock in the public market, including in particular the shares offered under the Common Stock Resale Registration Statement (defined below) and the Note Registration Statement (defined below) and shares issuable upon conversion of the step up convertible subordinated debentures due 2009, and the 5% Exchangeable Senior Notes due 2009, could lower our stock price and impair our ability to raise funds in new stock offerings. Of 22.6 million shares of our common stock originally issued upon conversion of our Series C Preferred stock (the “Series C Registered Securities”) in November 2003, which were registered for resale under an effective registration statement (the “Common Stock Resale Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act, 16.5 million shares were, as of February 23, 2006, held by a group of affiliated holders. These shares, in general, may be freely resold under the Securities Act pursuant to the Common Stock Resale Registration Statement. The holders of the 3 3/4% convertible senior notes due 2010 (the “2010 Notes”) have a registration statement that has been declared effective under the Securities Act (the “Note Registration Statement”) covering these notes and the 8.3 million shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the remaining outstanding balance of these notes, the 23.2 million shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the outstanding step up convertible debentures due 2009 (the “5% 2009 Debentures”), and the 46.9 million shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the outstanding exchangeable senior notes due 2009 will be unrestricted and freely transferable under the Securities Act. Sales of a substantial amount of this common stock in the public market, or the perception that these sales may occur, could create selling pressure on our common stock and adversely affect the market price of our common stock prevailing from time to time in the public market and could impair our ability to raise funds in additional stock offerings.

 

ITEM 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

None.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

(a) Exhibits – The exhibits to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are listed on the exhibit index, which appears elsewhere herein and is incorporated by reference.

 

62


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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

     PRIMUS TELECOMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INCORPORATED

Date:    November 9, 2006

   By:   /s/ THOMAS R. KLOSTER                                       
     Thomas R. Kloster
     Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

63


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number
  

Description

3.1    First amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Primus; Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Registration Statement on Form S-8, No. 333-56557.
3.2    Certificate of Amendment to First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Primus; Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.
3.3    Certificate of Amendment to First Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Primus.*
3.4    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Primus; Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer of Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.*
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer of Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.*
32    Certifications pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. 1350.**

* Filed herewith.

 

** These certifications are being “furnished” and will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78r) and will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates them by reference.

 

64