Back to GetFilings.com
1
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
------------------------
FORM 10-K
------------------------
(MARK ONE)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ____________ TO ____________ .
COMMISSION FILE NO. 000-22513
AMAZON.COM, INC.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 91-1646860
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
OR ORGANIZATION)
1200 12TH AVENUE SOUTH, SUITE 1200
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98144-2734
(206) 266-1000
(ADDRESS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL
EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
None
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [ ]
Aggregate market value of voting stock held by
non-affiliates of the registrant as of February 29,
2000...................................................... $12,806,989,091
Number of shares of common stock outstanding as of February
29, 2000.................................................. 349,517,423
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The information required by Part III of this Report, to the extent not set
forth herein, is incorporated herein by reference from the registrant's
definitive proxy statement relating to the annual meeting of stockholders to be
held in 2000, which definitive proxy statement shall be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal
year to which this Report relates.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2
AMAZON.COM, INC.
FORM 10-K
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
INDEX
PAGE
----
PART I
Item 1. Business.................................................... 1
Item 2. Properties.................................................. 19
Item 3. Legal Proceedings........................................... 19
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders......... 20
PART II
Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Stock and Related
Stockholder Matters......................................... 21
Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data........................ 22
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations................................... 23
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk... 30
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data................. 31
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting
and Financial Disclosure.................................... 57
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.......... 57
Item 11. Executive Compensation...................................... 57
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management.................................................. 57
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.............. 57
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form
8-K......................................................... 57
Signatures............................................................ 60
i
3
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K and the documents incorporated herein by
reference contain forward-looking statements based on current expectations,
estimates and projections. Actual results may differ materially from those
expressed in forward-looking statements. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Forward-Looking
Statements."
GENERAL
Amazon.com, Inc. is the world's leading online retailer. We have served
over 17 million customer accounts in over 150 countries. We directly offer for
sale millions of distinct items in categories such as books, music, DVDs,
videos, toys, electronics, software, video games and home improvement products.
Through our marketplace services such as Amazon.com Auctions, zShops and
sothebys.amazon.com, we have created Web-based marketplaces where buyers and
sellers can enter into transactions with respect to a wide range of products. In
addition to our US Web site, we currently have two internationally focused Web
sites located at www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. We have also invested in
and developed strategic commercial relationships with a number of selected
e-commerce companies. We offer our customers a superior shopping experience by
providing high value through selection, convenience, ease of use, low prices,
product information and an intense focus on customer service. We are a proven
technology leader, having developed electronic commerce innovations such as
1-Click technology, personalized shopping services, easy-to-use search and
browse features, secure payment protections and wireless access to our stores.
In 1999, we significantly expanded our distribution capabilities worldwide with
the addition of eight new distribution centers comprising approximately four
million square feet of warehouse and distribution space. These new facilities
increase our control over the distribution process and facilitate our ability to
deliver merchandise to customers on a reliable and timely basis.
Amazon.com is principally organized into three operating segments. The US
Books, Music and DVD/ video segment consists of the Company's US online stores
for books, music and DVD/video. The Early-Stage Businesses and Other segment
consists of the Company's US online stores for electronics, software, video
games, toys and home improvement products, US marketplace services, and the
Amazon.com Commerce Network. The International segment consists of all
operations in Germany and the UK. See Note 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements incorporated by reference to Item 8 of Part II for additional
information regarding our segments.
Information contained on the Company's Web sites is not part of this Annual
Report on Form 10-K.
Amazon.com was incorporated in 1994 in the state of Washington and
reincorporated in 1996 in Delaware. The Company's principal corporate offices
are located in Seattle, Washington. Amazon.com completed its initial public
offering in May 1997, and its common stock is listed on the Nasdaq National
Market under the symbol "AMZN."
As used herein, "Amazon.com" includes Amazon.com, Inc. and its
subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
Amazon.com seeks to be the world's most customer-centric company where
customers can find and discover anything they may want to buy online. We intend
to leverage our Internet platform to expand the range of products and services
offered to our customers. This platform consists of strong brand recognition, a
large and growing customer base, innovative technology, extensive and
sophisticated distribution capabilities and significant e-commerce expertise. We
believe that this platform allows us to launch new e-commerce businesses
quickly, with a high quality of customer experience, economical incremental cost
and good prospects for success. We also believe that this platform allows us to
expand the range of products and services
1
4
offered to our customers through relationships with strategic partners on terms
that are attractive to our customers, our strategic partners and us.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
General
Since our inception in July 1995, we have rapidly expanded our product and
service offerings and intend to continue to do so. Some of our product and
service offerings and their related launch dates are set forth below:
US PRODUCTS AND INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTS
MARKETPLACE SERVICES LAUNCH DATE AND MARKETPLACE SERVICES LAUNCH DATE
-------------------- ----------- ------------------------ -----------
Books July 1995 UK and German Books October 1998
Music June 1998 UK and German Music October 1999
DVD/Video November 1998 UK and German Auctions November 1999
Auctions March 1999 UK and German zShops November 1999
Electronics July 1999 UK and German DVD/Video March 2000
Toys July 1999
zShops October 1999
Home Improvement November 1999
Software November 1999
Video Games November 1999
sothebys.amazon.com November 1999
In the past, we have offered our products and services primarily through
our online retail stores. In March 1999, we introduced Amazon.com Auctions, the
first of our marketplace services, which now also include sothebys.amazon.com
and zShops. We have recently entered into agreements to expand the products and
services we offer by allowing selected strategic partners to sell products and
services under co-branded sections on the Amazon.com Web site. We refer to these
new arrangements as the Amazon.com Commerce Network. Some of the products and
services sold through the Amazon.com Commerce Network are described below under
"Strategic Relationships."
Our US online retail stores currently consist of books, music, DVD/video,
toys, electronics, software, video games and home improvement. With the
exception of books, which we launched in 1995, and music and DVD/video, which we
launched in 1998, we launched all of our online stores in 1999. We anticipate
new online store additions in 2000 and beyond.
US Books, Music and DVD/Video Segment. We are the Internet's number one
books, number one music and number one DVD/video retailer based upon our 1999
revenues. We currently offer an aggregate of over 13 million titles in books,
music and DVD/video (as used herein, "titles" offered means the number of items
offered in our catalogs). The US Books, Music and DVD/video segment had sales of
$1.31 billion, $588.0 million and $147.8 million in 1999, 1998 and 1997,
respectively.
During 1999, we continued to enhance our Book Store by expanding selection
and improving the customer experience. We created new specialty stores such as
our professional and technical store, expanded our editorial content through
partnerships with experts in certain fields and increased selection with the
addition of millions of used and out-of-print titles.
During 1999, our Music Store launched an improved classical musical store,
enhanced its product recommendation services and added new features to promote
independent artists via Amazon.com Advantage. Amazon.com became the first major
online music retailer to dedicate an area of its store to free, full-length song
downloads from established artists and major-label performers.
Our DVD/video Store enjoyed strong revenue growth in 1999. In addition, our
DVD/video Store continued its integration with our Internet Movie Database
(IMDb) Web site, a leading online information
2
5
source for movie enthusiasts, created and hosted the official Web site for
"American Beauty," winner of three Golden Globe(TM) awards, and began streaming
exclusive outtake footage from motion pictures such as "The Blair Witch Project"
and "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me."
Early-Stage Businesses and Other Segment
Other US Retail. Amazon.com's other US online retail stores consist of
electronics, software, video games, toys and home improvement.
US Marketplace Services. Amazon.com's US marketplace services currently
consist of Amazon.com Auctions, zShops and sothebys.amazon.com. Amazon.com
Auctions allows buyers and sellers to conduct transactions with respect to a
wide variety of products in an easy to use auction format. Amazon.com zShops
allows individuals and businesses to offer popular as well as hard-to-find items
to Amazon.com's customers. sothebys.amazon.com is an online auction site devoted
to art, antiques and collectibles.
During the fourth quarter of 1999, these marketplace services surpassed a
combined 1 million registered users and 1.5 million listings. Since its launch
in November 1999, sothebys.amazon.com has achieved average close rates, which
are rates of actual purchases by customers bidding at the site, in excess of 50%
and average auction closing prices of over $500.
The participants in our marketplace services can use our Amazon.com
Payments service, which allows individuals and small businesses to accept credit
card payments through Amazon.com's 1-Click payment feature, thus eliminating the
problems associated with checks and money orders.
Amazon.com Commerce Network. We have recently entered into agreements to
allow selected strategic partners to promote their products and services to our
customers. These strategic partners are part of the Amazon.com Commerce Network
and currently consist of Greenlight.com, an online source for auto purchasing in
partnership with local dealerships; living.com, an online retailer of home
products and services; drugstore.com, an online retail and information source
for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy; Audible, which
delivers spoken audio over the Internet; Ashford.com, an online retailer of
luxury and premium products; and NextCard, Inc., an online issuer of consumer
credit cards. We believe that these arrangements will be attractive to
Amazon.com customers as a result of the increase in product and service
selection available on our site, to our strategic partners as a result of the
potential growth of their customer base and brand awareness, and to us as a
result of our ability to offer customers an expanded set of products and
services and the financial benefits we receive.
Revenue for the Early-Stage Businesses and Other segment in 1999 was $163.8
million. Amazon.com had no revenue from this segment in previous years.
International Segment. We have two internationally focused Web sites
located at www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de. Each of amazon.co.uk and
amazon.de was ranked the number one most visited e-commerce site and the number
10 most visited site overall in the UK and Germany, respectively, according to
the Media Metrix ratings for Europe released in January 2000. Both of these
sites were launched in October 1998 and currently have product and service
offerings principally consisting of books, music, DVD/video, auctions and
zShops. These international sites have the same look, feel and functionality as
the US Web site, including 1-Click technology, personalized recommendations and
product reviews, but offer content, products and services tailored to the local
market. The amazon.de Web site is presented in the German language. We currently
have distribution centers and customer service centers in the UK and Germany. We
intend to expand the product and service offerings of these Web sites in the
future. Revenue for the International segment was $167.7 million and $21.8
million in 1999 and 1998, respectively. Amazon.com had no revenue for this
segment in 1997.
AMAZON.COM WEB SITES
The key features of Amazon.com's Web sites include browsing, searching,
useful product information, reviews, recommendations and personalization, broad
selection, low prices, 1-Click technology, secure payment systems and
availability and fulfillment. Our Web sites promote brand loyalty and repeat
purchases
3
6
by providing an inviting and satisfying experience that encourages customers to
return frequently and to interact with other customers.
Browsing. The Amazon.com sites offer visitors a variety of highlighted
subject areas, styles and special features arranged in a simple, easy-to-use
fashion intended to enhance product search and selection. In addition, the Web
sites present a variety of products and services and topical information. To
enhance the customers' shopping experience and increase sales, we feature a
variety of products and services on a rotating basis throughout the stores.
Searching. A primary feature of Amazon.com Web sites is their interactive,
searchable catalogs of millions of books, music products, DVD/videos, toys,
electronics, software, video games and home improvement products. We provide a
variety of search tools to find desired products based on numerous search
criteria. We license some of our catalog and other information from third
parties.
Reviews and Content. The Amazon.com online stores offer numerous forms of
content to enhance the customer's shopping experience and encourage purchases.
Various types of content are available for particular titles, including cover
art, synopses, annotations, reviews by editorial staff and other customers, and
interviews by authors and artists.
Recommendations and Personalization. Personalization features include
greeting customers by name, instant and personalized recommendations, personal
notification services, and a number of other related features. Amazon.com's Wish
List feature allows users to create an online wish list of desired products and
services that others can reference for gift-giving purposes. We believe that
personalization of a customer's shopping experience at our Web sites is an
important element of the value proposition we offer to customers, and we intend
to continue to enhance our personalized services.
Other Web Site Services. The Amazon.com Web sites provide other services to
make online shopping more enjoyable for our customers. In our Gift Ideas
section, we feature a seasonally appropriate selection of gift ideas and
services. In our Community section, we provide a gathering place where customers
can share product information and recommendations. Through our e-Cards section,
customers can send free animated electronic greeting cards to friends and
family.
1-Click Technology. Amazon.com provides customers with a streamlined
ordering process using 1-Click technology. If a customer has previously
activated 1-Click functionality, that customer can place an order by clicking
one button without having to fill out an order form. The customer's shipping and
billing information is automatically referenced on our secure server.
Secure Credit Card Payment. Amazon.com seeks to keep its customers'
information secure. Amazon.com secure server software encrypts customers'
personal information, including credit card number, name and address, to protect
against interception as the information travels over the Internet.
Availability and Fulfillment. Many of our products are available for
shipment within 24 hours, although some products take longer and some may not be
available at all. Customers can select from a variety of delivery options,
including overnight and various international shipping options, as well as
gift-wrapping services. We use e-mail to notify customers of order status under
various conditions and provide links to shipping carriers so that customers can
track their shipments. We seek to provide rapid and reliable fulfillment of
customer orders and to continue to improve our speed of availability and
fulfillment.
Remote Access. In October 1999, we launched Amazon.com Anywhere which
allows Amazon.com customers to access the Amazon.com site from hand-held
wireless devices, such as cellular phones and the Palm VII Connected Organizer,
and to utilize features such as 1-Click purchasing and product-searching
capabilities on their wireless devices.
Return Policy. For the 30 days following receipt of a customer order,
Amazon.com provides a full refund for any book in its original condition, any
Amazon.com recommended book in any condition, any unopened music CD, DVD/video
tape or software, and any other merchandise item in new condition, with its
original packaging and accessories.
4
7
STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS
We have entered into a number of strategic relationships with selected
e-commerce companies. These relationships have generally consisted of our
making, or having the future right to make, a minority investment in the
companies and the entry into commercial agreements which vary in scope from
customer advertising activities and links to recently announced deals involving
the sale of products and services on co-branded sections of the Amazon.com Web
site. In no case do we exercise control over the investee. Certain of our
strategic relationships are listed below:
COMPANY NATURE OF BUSINESS
------- ------------------
Ashford.com.................... Online retailer of luxury and premium products
Audible........................ Internet-delivered spoken audio for PC-based listening or
playback devices
Della.com...................... Online service for gift registry, gift advice and
personalized gift suggestions
drugstore.com.................. Online retail and information source for health, beauty,
wellness, personal care and pharmacy
Gear.com....................... Online source for brand-name sporting goods at discount
prices
Greenlight.com................. Online auto purchasing in partnership with local dealerships
HomeGrocer.com................. Online grocery-shopping and home-delivery service
Kozmo.com...................... Online one-hour delivery service for entertainment and
convenience products
living.com..................... Online retailer of home products and services
NextCard, Inc.................. Online issuer of consumer credit cards
Pets.com....................... Online source for pet products, information and services
Sothebys....................... Auction house in cooperation with which we maintain an
online auction site devoted to art, antiques and
collectibles
We believe that these investments and commercial arrangements are
attractive to us for a variety of reasons. First, our customers receive access
to a wider range of products and services. Second, we are able to generate
revenue from the strategic partners because we help them sell to the Amazon.com
customer base. Third, we have the opportunity to participate in the future
success of our strategic partners as a result of our ownership interest in such
companies. We believe that our strategic partners are also well served as a
result of the opportunity to grow their customer base quickly and build brand
recognition.
MARKETING AND PROMOTION
Amazon.com's marketing strategy is designed to strengthen the Amazon.com
brand name, increase customer traffic to the Amazon.com Web sites, build
customer loyalty, encourage repeat purchases and develop incremental product and
service revenue opportunities.
Amazon.com creatively applies technology to deliver personalized programs
and services, as well as flexible merchandising. We employ a variety of media,
business development and promotional methods to achieve these goals. We also
benefit from public relations activities as well as online and traditional
advertising, including radio, television and print media.
We extend our market presence through our Associates Program, which enables
associated Web sites to make products available to their audiences with order
fulfillment by Amazon.com. As of February 29, 2000, approximately 430,000 Web
sites have enrolled in the Associates Program.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
We believe that our ability to establish and maintain long-term
relationships with our customers and to encourage repeat visits and purchases
depends, in part, on the strength of our customer service operations. We seek to
achieve frequent communication with and feedback from our customers to
continually improve the Amazon.com experience. Users can contact customer
service representatives via telephone and e-mail
5
8
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have automated certain tools used by our
customer service staff and have plans for further enhancements. As of December
31, 1999, we had customer service personnel working in five customer service
centers located in Seattle and Tacoma, Washington; Slough, England; Regensburg,
Germany; and Grand Forks, North Dakota. We plan to open additional customer
service centers in Huntington, West Virginia and The Hague, Netherlands in 2000.
WAREHOUSING, INVENTORY, FULFILLMENT AND DISTRIBUTION
We significantly expanded our US distribution infrastructure in 1999 with
the addition of new distribution facilities in Fernley, Nevada; Coffeyville,
Kansas; Campbellsville, Kentucky; Lexington, Kentucky; McDonough, Georgia; and
Grand Forks, North Dakota. We also opened two new international distribution
centers, one in the UK and one in Germany. On an aggregate basis, these eight
new distribution centers comprised approximately four million square feet of
warehouse space. The geographic coverage of these distribution centers and their
capacity have dramatically improved our fulfillment capabilities and will allow
us to continue to increase our volume. The new distribution centers also give us
more control over the distribution process and facilitate our ability to deliver
merchandise to customers on a reliable and timely basis. We now have a total of
10 distribution centers, including our facilities in Seattle, Washington, and
New Castle, Delaware.
We purchase products from a network of manufacturers, distributors,
publishers and labels. For orders of books, music, DVD/video, software, video
games and certain home improvement products that cannot be filled from our
inventory, our proprietary software selects the orders that can be filled via
electronic interfaces with vendors and, in some cases, forwards the remaining
orders to our special orders group. This special orders group has developed
customized information systems and consists of trained ordering personnel who
specialize in hard-to-find products. Under our arrangements with certain
distributors, electronically ordered products often are shipped to us by the
distributor within hours of a receipt of an order from us. With the addition of
new distribution centers and product lines, we are required to carry increased
levels of inventory in order to be able to meet customer demand and ship
products to customers on a timely basis.
SEASONALITY
Both seasonal fluctuations in Internet usage and traditional retail
seasonality are likely to affect our business. Internet usage generally declines
during the summer. Sales in the traditional retail book, music, DVD/video, toy,
electronics, software, video games and home improvement industries usually
increase significantly in the fourth calendar quarter of each year. The fourth
quarter seasonal impact may be even more pronounced in our toys and electronics
businesses.
TECHNOLOGY
We have implemented numerous Web site management, search, customer
interaction, recommendation, transaction-processing and fulfillment services and
systems using a combination of our own proprietary technologies and commercially
available, licensed technologies. Our current strategy is to focus our
development efforts on creating and enhancing the specialized, proprietary
software that is unique to our business and to license or acquire commercially
developed technology for other applications where available and appropriate.
We use a set of applications for accepting and validating customer orders,
placing and tracking orders with suppliers, managing and assigning inventory to
customer orders and ensuring proper shipment of products to customers based on
various ordering criteria. Our transaction-processing systems handle millions of
items, a number of different status inquiries, gift-wrapping requests and
multiple shipment methods and allow the customer to choose whether to receive
single or several shipments based on availability. These applications also
manage the process of accepting, authorizing and charging customer credit cards.
Amazon.com Web sites also incorporate a variety of search and database tools.
Systems administrators and network managers monitor and operate our Web
sites, network operations and transaction-processing systems. The continued
uninterrupted operation of our Web sites and transaction-processing systems is
essential to our business, and our Web site operations staff works to make the
sites as
6
9
reliable as possible. We use the services of three Internet service providers to
obtain connectivity to the Internet, both domestically and internationally, over
multiple dedicated lines.
COMPETITION
The online commerce market is new, rapidly evolving and intensely
competitive. In addition, the retail book, music, DVD/video, toy, electronics,
software, video game and home improvement industries are intensely competitive.
Our current or potential competitors include (1) online vendors of books, music,
DVDs, videos, toys, electronics, software, video games, home improvement
products and other products, (2) a number of indirect competitors, including Web
portals and Web search engines, that are involved in online commerce, either
directly or in collaboration with other retailers, (3) online auction services,
(4) Web-based retailers using alternative distribution capabilities and (5)
publishers, distributors, manufacturers and physical-world retailers of our
products, many of which possess significant brand awareness, sales volume and
customer bases, and some of which currently sell, or may sell, products or
services through the Internet, mail order or direct marketing. We believe that
the principal competitive factors in our market include brand recognition,
selection, personalized services, convenience, price, accessibility, customer
service, quality of search tools, quality of editorial and other Web site
content, reliability, speed of fulfillment, ease of use and our ability to adapt
to changing conditions. As the online commerce market continues to grow, other
companies may enter into business combinations or alliances that strengthen
their competitive positions. We may not be able to compete successfully against
these and future competitors.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The Company regards its trademarks, service marks, copyrights, patents,
trade dress, trade secrets, proprietary technology and similar intellectual
property as critical to its success, and relies on trademark, copyright and
patent law, trade secret protection and confidentiality and/or license
agreements with its employees, customers, partners and others to protect its
proprietary rights. The Company has been issued a number of trademarks, service
marks, patents and copyrights by US and foreign governmental authorities. The
Company also has applied for the registration of other trademarks, service
marks, copyrights and patents in the US and internationally. In addition, the
Company has filed US and international patent applications covering certain of
its proprietary technology. Effective trademark, service mark, copyright, patent
and trade secret protection may not be available in every country in which the
Company's products and services are made available online. The Company has
licensed in the past, and expects that it may license in the future, certain of
its proprietary rights, such as trademarks, patents, technology or copyrighted
material, to third parties.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 1999, the Company employed approximately 7,600 full-time
and part-time employees. The Company also employs independent contractors and
temporary personnel. None of the Company's employees is represented by a labor
union, and the Company considers its employee relations to be good. Competition
for qualified personnel in the Company's industry is intense, particularly for
software development and other technical staff. The Company believes that its
future success will depend in part on its continued ability to attract, hire and
retain qualified personnel.
ADDITIONAL FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT FUTURE RESULTS
The following risk factors and other information included in this Annual
Report should be carefully considered. The risks and uncertainties described
below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not
presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair our
business operations. If any of the following risks occur, our business,
financial condition, operating results and cash flows could be materially
adversely affected.
7
10
WE HAVE A LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY UPON WHICH YOU CAN EVALUATE OUR BUSINESS
AND PROSPECTS
We incorporated in July 1994 and began offering products for sale on our
Web site in July 1995. Accordingly, we have a relatively short operating history
upon which you can evaluate our business and prospects. You should consider our
prospects in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently
encountered by online commerce companies. As an online commerce company, we have
a rapidly evolving and unpredictable business model, we face intense
competition, we must effectively manage our growth, and we must respond quickly
to rapid changes in customer demands and industry standards. We may not succeed
in addressing these challenges and risks.
WE HAVE AN ACCUMULATED DEFICIT AND ANTICIPATE FURTHER LOSSES
We have incurred significant losses since we began doing business. As of
December 31, 1999, we had an accumulated deficit of $882 million. We are
incurring substantial operating losses and may continue to incur such losses for
the foreseeable future. These losses may be significantly higher than our
current losses. To succeed, we must invest heavily in marketing and promotion
and in developing our product offerings and technology and operating
infrastructure. In addition, the expenses associated with our recent and future
acquisitions and investments and interest expense related to our outstanding
notes will adversely affect our operating results. Our aggressive pricing
programs have resulted in relatively low product gross margins, so we need to
generate and sustain substantially higher revenues in order to become
profitable. Our historical growth rates are not sustainable and our percentage
growth rate will decrease in the future.
OUR SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INDEBTEDNESS COULD AFFECT OUR BUSINESS
We have significant indebtedness. As of December 31, 1999, we had
indebtedness under senior discount notes, convertible subordinated notes,
capitalized lease obligations and other asset financing totaling approximately
$1.48 billion. With the sale of our Premium Adjustable Convertible
Securities(TM), also known as PEACS, in February 2000, we incurred additional
debt of approximately $681 million. We may incur substantial additional debt in
the future. Our indebtedness could:
- make it difficult to make principal and interest payments on our debt,
- make it difficult to obtain necessary additional financing for working
capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements or other
purposes in the future,
- limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our
business and competition, and
- make it more difficult for us to react in the event of an economic
downturn.
We may not be able to meet our debt service obligations. If our cash flow
is inadequate to meet our obligations, we may face substantial liquidity
problems. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow or obtain funds for
required payments, or if we fail to comply with other covenants in our
indebtedness, we will be in default. This would permit our creditors to
accelerate the maturity of our indebtedness. In addition, the PEACS are
denominated in euros, not dollars, and the exchange ratio between the euro and
the dollar is not fixed by the indenture governing the PEACS. Therefore,
fluctuations in the euro/dollar exchange ratio may adversely affect us,
including by potentially triggering certain reset provisions in the PEACS that
would lower the conversion price.
WE CANNOT ACCURATELY FORECAST REVENUES OF OUR BUSINESS. WE MAY EXPERIENCE
SIGNIFICANT FLUCTUATIONS IN OUR QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS. OUR BUSINESS IS
SUBJECT TO SEASONAL FLUCTUATION. FUTURE FLUCTUATIONS IN OPERATING RESULTS OR
REVENUE SHORTFALLS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR SUCCESS
Due to our limited operating history and the unpredictability of our
industry, we cannot accurately forecast our revenues. We base our current and
future expense levels on our investment plans and estimates of future revenues.
Our expenses are to a large extent fixed. We may not be able to adjust our
spending quickly if our revenues fall short of our expectations. Further, we may
make pricing, purchasing, service, marketing, acquisition, investment or
financing decisions that could adversely affect our business results.
8
11
Our quarterly operating results will fluctuate for many reasons, including:
- our ability to retain existing customers, attract new customers and
satisfy our customers' demands,
- our ability to acquire merchandise, manage our inventory and fulfill
orders,
- changes in gross margins of our current and future products, services and
markets,
- our ability to introduce, and the timing of introductions by us and our
competitors of, popular books, music selections, DVDs, videos, toys,
electronics products, software, video games, home improvement products
and other products or services, and our ability to properly anticipate
demand,
- purchases of large quantities of toys, electronics products, software,
video games, home improvement products and other products, particularly
in advance of the holidays, for which demand may not materialize,
- introduction of our new Web sites, services and products or those of
competitors,
- termination of Web sites, service offerings and/or product sales that we
determine are not viable,
- changes in usage of the Internet and online services and consumer
acceptance of the Internet and online commerce,
- timing of upgrades and developments in our systems and infrastructure,
- the level of traffic on our Web sites,
- the effects of acquisitions and other business combinations, and our
ability to successfully integrate those acquisitions and business
combinations,
- technical difficulties, system downtime or Internet brownouts,
- the mix of books, music products, DVDs, videos, toys, electronics
products, software, video games, home improvement products and other
products we sell,
- the mix of revenues derived from products as compared to services,
- our inability to prevent fraud perpetrated by third parties through
credit card transactions, Amazon.com Payments transactions, and auction
and zShops transactions,
- our level of merchandise and vendor returns, and
- disruptions in service by common shipping carriers due to strikes or
otherwise.
Both seasonal fluctuations in Internet usage and traditional retail
seasonality are likely to affect our business. Internet usage generally declines
during the summer. Sales in the traditional retail book, music, DVD/video, toy,
electronics and home improvement industries usually increase significantly in
the fourth calendar quarter of each year. The fourth quarter seasonal impact may
be even more pronounced in our toys, electronics and video games businesses.
For these reasons, you should not rely on period-to-period comparisons of
our financial results to forecast our future performance. Our future operating
results may fall below the expectations of securities analysts or investors,
which would likely cause the trading price of our common stock to decline.
WE COULD LOSE SUBSTANTIAL MARKET SHARE IF WE DO NOT KEEP UP WITH THE INTENSE
COMPETITION IN THE ONLINE COMMERCE MARKET
The online commerce market is new, rapidly evolving and intensely
competitive. In addition, the retail book, music, DVD/video, toy, electronics,
software, video game and home improvement industries are intensely competitive.
Our current or potential competitors include:
- online vendors of books, music, DVDs, videos, toys, electronics,
software, video games, home improvement products, and other products,
- a number of indirect competitors, including Web portals and Web search
engines, that are involved in online commerce, either directly or in
collaboration with other retailers,
- online auction services,
- Web-based retailers using alternative distribution capabilities, and
9
12
- publishers, distributors, manufacturers and physical-world retailers of
our products, many of which possess significant brand awareness, sales
volume and customer bases, and some of which currently sell, or may sell,
products or services through the Internet, mail order or direct
marketing.
We believe that the principal competitive factors in our market include
brand recognition, selection, personalized services, convenience, price,
accessibility, customer service, quality of search tools, quality of editorial
and other Web site content, reliability, speed of fulfillment, ease of use and
our ability to adapt to changing conditions.
Many of our current and potential competitors have longer operating
histories, larger customer bases, greater brand recognition and significantly
greater financial, marketing and other resources than we have. They may be able
to secure merchandise from vendors on more favorable terms and may be able to
adopt more aggressive pricing or inventory policies. They also can devote more
resources to technology development and marketing than we can.
As the online commerce market continues to grow, other companies may enter
into business combinations or alliances that strengthen their competitive
positions. Competition in the Internet and online commerce markets will
intensify. As various Internet market segments obtain large, loyal customer
bases, participants in those segments may use their market power to expand into
the markets in which we operate. In addition, new and expanded Web technologies
may increase the competitive pressures on online retailers. The nature of the
Internet as an electronic marketplace may facilitate competitive entry and
comparison shopping and render it inherently more competitive than conventional
retailing formats. For example, "shopping agent" technologies permit customers
to quickly compare our prices with those of our competitors. This increased
competition may reduce our operating margins, diminish our market share or
impair the value of our brand.
WE MAY EXPERIENCE SYSTEM INTERRUPTIONS, WHICH AFFECT THE VOLUME OF ORDERS WE
FULFILL AND THEREFORE OUR REVENUES, AND MAY AFFECT OUR BRAND NAME, AND OUR
SYSTEMS ARE NOT FULLY INTEGRATED AND ARE NOT REDUNDANT
Customer access to our Web sites directly affects the volume of orders we
fulfill and thus affects our revenues. We experience occasional system
interruptions that make our Web sites unavailable or prevent us from efficiently
fulfilling orders, which may reduce the volume of goods we sell and the
attractiveness of our products and services. These interruptions will continue.
We need to add additional software and hardware and upgrade our systems and
network infrastructure to accommodate both increased traffic on our Web sites
and increased sales volume and to fully integrate our systems. Without these
upgrades, we may face additional system interruptions, slower response times,
diminished customer service, impaired quality and speed of order fulfillment and
delays in our financial reporting. We cannot accurately project the rate or
timing of any increases in traffic or sales volume on our Web sites and,
therefore, the integration and timing of these upgrades are uncertain. In
addition, our inventory management systems are not fully integrated with our
financial reporting systems, and a significant amount of manual effort may be
necessary to reconcile our inventory and other financial accounts.
We maintain substantially all of our computer and communications hardware
at a single leased facility in Seattle, Washington. Our systems and operations
could be damaged or interrupted by fire, flood, power loss, telecommunications
failure, break-ins, earthquake and similar events. We do not have backup systems
or a formal disaster recovery plan, and we may not have sufficient business
interruption insurance to compensate us for losses from a major interruption.
Computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins and similar disruptions could
cause system interruptions, delays and loss of critical data and could
significantly diminish our reputation and brand name and prevent us from
providing services and accepting and fulfilling customer orders.
OUR PLANNED GROWTH WILL CONTINUE TO PLACE A SIGNIFICANT STRAIN ON OUR
MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES
We have rapidly and significantly expanded our operations and will further
expand our operations to address potential growth of our product and service
offerings and customer base. This expansion will continue
10
13
to place a significant strain on our management, operational and financial
resources. We need to successfully execute our expansion of our distribution
centers and customer service centers and continue to improve our
transaction-processing and operational and financial systems, procedures and
controls. We also need to expand, train and manage our employee base. Our
current and planned personnel, systems, procedures and controls may not be
adequate to support and effectively manage our future operations. We may not be
able to hire, train, retain, motivate and manage required personnel or to
successfully identify, manage and exploit market opportunities, which may limit
our growth.
WE FACE SIGNIFICANT INVENTORY RISK ARISING OUT OF CHANGES IN CONSUMER DEMAND
AND PRODUCT CYCLES. WE FACE ADDITIONAL INVENTORY RISKS BECAUSE OUR INVENTORY
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ARE NOT WELL INTEGRATED AND BECAUSE CERTAIN OF OUR
OPERATIONAL PROCESSES ARE MANUAL
We are exposed to significant inventory risks as a result of seasonality,
new product launches, rapid changes in product cycles and changes in consumer
tastes with respect to our products. In order to be successful, we must
accurately predict these trends and avoid overstocking or understocking
products. Demand for products, however, can change significantly between the
time inventory is ordered and the date of sale. In addition, when we begin
selling a new product, it is particularly difficult to forecast product demand
accurately. These issues are particularly pronounced with respect to our
inventory of products that are based on current trends, like toys. A failure to
optimize inventory will harm our shipping margins by requiring us to make
partial shipments from one or more locations.
We may also be exposed to inventory risk if we are unable to negotiate
satisfactory terms and conditions with our manufacturers, distributors and other
suppliers. The acquisition of certain types of inventory, or inventory from
certain sources, may require a significant lead-time and pre-payment, and such
inventory may not be returnable. We carry a broad selection and significant
inventory levels of products, and we may be unable to sell products in
sufficient quantities or during the relevant selling seasons.
We are also exposed to significant inventory risks because our inventory
forecasting, purchasing, receiving, reconciliation, accounting and payment
systems are not well developed and are not well integrated. The lack of systems
integration makes it a difficult and manual process to receive inventory,
reconcile inventory invoices to purchase orders, account for inventory
efficiently, request refunds from suppliers and pay supplier invoices. In
addition, certain manual operational processes further complicate our ability to
manage inventory efficiently.
Any one of the factors set forth above may require us to mark-down or
write-off inventory. Substantial inventory mark-downs or write-offs will
decrease gross margins. In the fourth quarter of 1999, we incurred
inventory-related charges which significantly decreased our gross margins.
ENTERING NEW BUSINESS AREAS WILL REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT EXPENSE AND COULD STRAIN
MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL RESOURCES
We intend to expand our operations by promoting new or complementary
products, services or sales formats and by expanding our product or service
offerings. This will require significant additional expense and could strain our
management, financial and operational resources. We cannot expect to benefit in
these new markets from the first-to-market advantage that we experienced in the
online book market. Our gross margins in these new business areas may be lower
than our existing business activities. In addition, we may have limited or no
experience in these new business areas. We may not be able to expand our
operations in a cost-effective or timely manner. Any new business that our
customers do not receive favorably could damage our reputation and brand name.
IF WE DO NOT SUCCESSFULLY EXPAND AND OPERATE OUR DISTRIBUTION CENTERS, OUR
BUSINESS COULD BE HARMED
If we do not successfully expand our distribution operations to accommodate
peak volumes, or if our distribution centers fail to operate properly, it could
significantly limit our ability to meet customer demand. During the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999, we added distribution centers in Nevada, Georgia,
Kentucky, Kansas, North Dakota, Germany and the UK. Most of these distribution
centers are or will be
11
14
highly automated, and we have had limited experience with automated distribution
centers. The two distribution centers we operated prior to 1999, in Washington
and Delaware, are manually operated. We are not experienced in coordinating and
managing distribution operations in geographically distant locations. Because it
is difficult to predict sales increases and lead times for developing
distribution centers are long, we may over-expand our facilities, which may
result in excess inventory, warehousing, fulfillment and distribution capacity.
We also need to retain flexibility within our distribution and logistics
network, including the ability to manage the operational challenges of shipping
non-uniform and heavy products as part of the fulfillment of toy, electronics,
home improvement and other product orders.
THE DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF OUR NET SALES THAT WE EXPECT TO REALIZE DURING
THE FOURTH QUARTER OF OUR FISCAL YEAR PLACES SIGNIFICANT STRAIN ON OUR BUSINESS
Because we expect a disproportionate amount of our net sales to be realized
during the holiday season in the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, we face
significant risks in the fourth quarter. We may fail to accurately predict the
optimal inventory levels at our distribution centers for the fourth quarter. If
we do not stock popular products in sufficient amounts during the fourth quarter
and fail to meet customer demand, it could significantly impact our revenue and
our future growth. If we overstock products, we may be required to take
significant inventory mark-downs or write-offs, which could reduce gross
margins. In the fourth quarter of 1999, we incurred inventory-related charges,
which significantly decreased our gross margins. A failure to optimize inventory
at our distribution centers will harm our shipping margins by requiring us to
make partial shipments from one or more locations. In addition, we may
experience a decline in our shipping margins due to complimentary upgrades and
split-shipments necessary to ensure timely delivery for the holiday season. If
too many customers access our Web sites within a short period of time due to
increased holiday demand, we may experience system interruptions that make our
Web sites unavailable or prevent us from efficiently fulfilling orders, which
may reduce the volume of goods we sell and the attractiveness of our products
and services, and may also harm our brand. In addition, we may be unable to
adequately staff our distribution and customer service centers during these peak
periods. Finally, our new automated distribution centers may fail to operate
properly, which will interfere with our ability to meet customer demand.
WE MAY NOT BE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR EFFORTS TO EXPAND INTO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
We plan to expand our presence in international markets. We have relatively
little experience in purchasing, marketing and distributing products or services
for these markets and may not benefit from any first-to-market advantages. It
will be costly to establish international facilities and operations, promote our
brand internationally, and develop localized Web sites and stores and other
systems. We may not succeed in our efforts in these countries. Our revenues from
international activities may not offset the expense of establishing and
maintaining foreign operations and therefore may never be profitable.
Our international sales and operations are subject to a number of risks
inherent in selling and operating abroad, including, but not limited to, risks
with respect to:
- currency exchange rate fluctuations,
- local economic and political conditions,
- disruptions of capital and trading markets,
- restrictive governmental actions (such as restrictions on transfer of
funds and trade protection measures, including export duties and quotas
and custom duties and tariffs),
- changes in legal or regulatory requirements,
- import or export licensing requirements,
- limitations on the repatriation of funds,
- difficulty in obtaining distribution and support,
- nationalization,
12
15
- laws and policies of the US affecting trade, foreign investment and
loans, and
- tax and other laws.
As the international online commerce market continues to grow, competition
in this market will likely intensify. We may have to compete with local
companies who understand the local markets better than we do and who have better
local brand name recognition than we do. In addition, governments in foreign
jurisdictions may regulate the Internet or other online services in such areas
as content, privacy, network security, encryption or distribution. This may
affect our ability to conduct business internationally. We may not be able to
hire, train, retain, motivate and manage required personnel, which may limit our
growth in international markets.
OUR BUSINESS COULD SUFFER IF WE ARE UNSUCCESSFUL IN MAKING AND INTEGRATING
BUSINESS COMBINATIONS AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
We plan to continue to expand our operations and market presence by
entering into business combinations, investments, joint ventures or other
strategic alliances with other companies. These transactions create risks such
as:
- difficulty assimilating the operations, technology and personnel of
combined companies,
- disruption of our ongoing business, including loss of management focus on
existing businesses and other market developments,
- problems retaining key technical and managerial personnel,
- expenses associated with amortization of goodwill and other purchased
intangible assets,
- additional operating losses and expenses of acquired businesses,
- impairment of relationships with existing employees, customers and
business partners, and
- losses that may arise from our equity investments.
We may not succeed in addressing these risks.
As part of our business strategy, we intend to increase the number of our
strategic investments and alliances with online commerce businesses and other
companies pursuant to which they pay us licensing or other fees, such as fees to
establish co-branded stores on our Web sites or to participate in our auction or
zShops services. While we believe these arrangements will have a positive impact
on our results of operations, particularly our gross margins, this strategy may
not be successful and these transactions create additional risk. For example,
for strategic alliances where we create a co-branded store on our Web site, we
may experience difficulty integrating the other company's systems to create a
seamless customer experience, the other company may be unable to pay amounts
owed to us in the future and we may suffer harm to our brand if the other
company fails to meet our standards for customer service, Web site performance
and privacy, which would decrease customer satisfaction with our Web sites. In
addition, because we often take a portion of our fees for establishing a
co-branded store in shares of capital stock of the other company, we may never
realize the full value of that portion of the fee.
We may not be able to make business combinations and strategic investments
that are acceptable to us. If not, our gross margins may not improve and may
even deteriorate. In addition, the businesses we have acquired, and in the
future may acquire, may incur operating losses.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ADAPT QUICKLY ENOUGH TO CHANGING CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS
AND INDUSTRY STANDARDS
Technology in the online commerce industry changes rapidly. We may not be
able to adapt quickly enough to changing customer requirements and preferences
and industry standards. Competitors often introduce new products and services
with new technologies. These changes and the emergence of new industry standards
and practices could render our existing Web sites and proprietary technology
obsolete. To succeed, we must enhance our Web site responsiveness, functionality
and features, acquire and license leading
13
16
technologies, enhance our existing services, develop new services and technology
and respond to technological advances and emerging industry standards and
practices on a cost-effective and timely basis.
THE LOSS OF OUR SENIOR MANAGEMENT COULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.
We depend on the continued services and performance of our senior
management and other key personnel, particularly Jeffrey P. Bezos, our chief
executive officer and chairman of the board. We do not have "key person" life
insurance policies. The loss of any of our executive officers or other key
employees could harm our business.
WE RELY ON A SMALL NUMBER OF SUPPLIERS; OUR BUSINESS WOULD BE HARMED IF OUR
CURRENT SUPPLIERS STOP SELLING MERCHANDISE TO US ON ACCEPTABLE TERMS
Although we increased our direct purchasing from manufacturers during 1999,
approximately 30% of all of our purchases during 1999 were from three major
vendors, Ingram Book Group, Baker & Taylor, Inc. and Valley Media, Inc., from
which we purchase book, music, DVD and video titles. We do not have long-term
contracts or arrangements with most of our vendors to guarantee the availability
of merchandise, particular payment terms or the extension of credit limits. Our
current vendors may stop selling merchandise to us on acceptable terms. We may
not be able to acquire merchandise from other suppliers in a timely and
efficient manner and on acceptable terms.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE OR MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE DOMAIN NAMES
We hold rights to various Web domain names, including "Amazon.com,"
"Amazon.co.uk," "Amazon.de" and "zShops.com." Governmental agencies typically
regulate domain names. These regulations are subject to change. We may not be
able to acquire or maintain appropriate domain names in all countries in which
we do business. Furthermore, regulations governing domain names may not protect
our trademarks and similar proprietary rights. We may be unable to prevent third
parties from acquiring domain names that are similar to, infringe upon or
diminish the value of our trademarks and other proprietary rights.
THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF THE INTERNET AS A MEDIUM FOR COMMERCE IS NOT
CERTAIN
Consumer use of the Internet as a medium for commerce is a recent
phenomenon and is subject to a high level of uncertainty. While the number of
Internet users has been rising, the Internet infrastructure may not expand fast
enough to meet the increased levels of demand. The increased use of the Internet
as a medium for commerce raises concerns regarding Internet security,
reliability, pricing, accessibility and quality of service. If use of the
Internet does not continue to grow, or grows at a slower rate than we
anticipate, or if the necessary Internet infrastructure or complementary
services are not developed to effectively support growth that may occur, our
business would be harmed.
WE MAY BE SUBJECT TO PRODUCT LIABILITY CLAIMS IF PEOPLE OR PROPERTY ARE HARMED
BY THE PRODUCTS WE SELL
As we enter new lines of business, we may increasingly sell products, such
as toys and home improvement products, that may increase our exposure to product
liability claims relating to personal injury, death or property damage caused by
such products, and that may require us to take actions such as product recalls.
We maintain liability insurance, but we cannot be certain that our coverage will
be adequate for liabilities actually incurred or that insurance will continue to
be available to us on economically reasonable terms, if at all. In addition,
some of our vendor agreements with our suppliers do not indemnify us from
product liability.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF INTERNET COMMERCE IS EVOLVING AND UNFAVORABLE CHANGES
COULD HARM OUR BUSINESS
We are subject to general business regulations and laws or regulations
regarding taxation and access to online commerce. These laws or regulations may
impede the growth of the Internet or other online services. Regulatory
authorities may adopt specific laws and regulations governing the Internet or
online commerce. These regulations may cover taxation, user privacy, pricing,
content, copyrights, distribution, electronic contracts, and characteristics and
quality of products and services. Changes in consumer protection laws also
14
17
may impose additional burdens on companies conducting business online, both in
the US and internationally. It is not clear how existing laws governing issues
such as property ownership, sales and other taxes, libel and personal privacy
apply to the Internet and online commerce. Unfavorable resolution of these
issues may harm our business.
In addition, many states currently regulate "auctions" and "auctioneers" in
conducting auctions and may regulate online auction services. States may also
regulate consumer-to-consumer fixed price online markets, like zShops. This
could, in turn, diminish the demand for our products and services and increase
our cost of doing business.
WE COULD BE REQUIRED TO COLLECT TAXES ON THE PRODUCTS WE SELL
In accordance with current industry practice, we do not currently collect
sales taxes or other taxes with respect to shipments of goods into states other
than Washington. In addition, we collect Value Added Tax, or VAT, for products
that are ordered on www.amazon.co.uk and www.amazon.de and shipped into European
Union member countries. Our new distribution center and customer service center
networks, and any future expansion of those networks, along with other aspects
of our evolving business, may result in additional sales and other tax
obligations. One or more states or foreign countries may seek to impose sales or
other tax collection obligations on out-of-jurisdiction companies which engage
in electronic commerce as we do. A successful assertion by one or more states or
foreign countries that we should collect sales or other taxes on the sale of
merchandise could result in substantial tax liabilities for past sales, decrease
our ability to compete with traditional retailers and otherwise harm our
business.
Recent federal legislation limits the imposition of US state and local
taxes on Internet-related sales. In 1998, Congress passed the Internet Tax
Freedom Act, which places a three-year moratorium on state and local taxes on
Internet access, unless such tax was already imposed prior to October 1, 1998,
and on discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce. There is a possibility that
Congress may not renew this legislation in 2001. If Congress chooses not to
renew this legislation, US state and local governments would be free to impose
new taxes on electronically purchased goods. The imposition of taxes on goods
sold over the Internet by US state and local governments would create
administrative burdens for us and could reduce one competitive advantage that
the purchase of goods over the Internet now possesses.
The European Commission is currently evaluating its VAT position on
electronic commerce transactions. It is possible that future VAT legislation in
the European Union or changes to our business model may result in additional VAT
collection obligations and administrative burdens.
WE COULD BE LIABLE FOR UNLAWFUL OR FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES BY USERS OF OUR
AUCTION AND ZSHOPS SERVICES
We may be unable to prevent users of our auction and zShops services from
selling unlawful goods, or from selling goods in an unlawful manner. We may face
civil or criminal liability for unlawful and fraudulent activities by our
auction and zShops users. Any costs we incur as a result of liability relating
to the sale of unlawful goods, the unlawful sale of goods, the fraudulent
receipt of goods or the fraudulent collection of payments could harm our
business.
In running our auction and zShops services, we rely on sellers of goods to
make accurate representations and provide reliable delivery and on buyers to pay
the agreed purchase price. For our auction and zShops services, we do not take
responsibility for delivery of payment or goods and while we can suspend or
terminate the accounts of users of auctions or zShops who fail to fulfill their
delivery obligations to other users, we cannot require users to make payments or
deliver goods. We do not compensate users who believe they have been defrauded
by other users except through our guarantee program. Under the guarantee
program, fraudulent activities by our auction and zShops users, such as the
fraudulent receipt of goods and the fraudulent collection of payments, may
create liability for us. In addition, we are aware that governmental agencies
are currently investigating the conduct of online auctions.
15
18
WE COULD BE LIABLE FOR BREACHES OF SECURITY ON OUR WEB SITE AND FRAUDULENT
ACTIVITIES OF USERS OF OUR AMAZON.COM PAYMENTS PROGRAM
A fundamental requirement for electronic commerce is the secure
transmission of confidential information over public networks. Although we have
developed systems and processes to prevent fraudulent credit card transactions
and other security breaches, failure to mitigate such fraud or breaches may
impact our financial results.
The law relating to the liability of providers of online payment services
is currently unsettled. We guarantee payments made through Amazon.com Payments
up to certain limits for both buyers and sellers, and we may be unable to
prevent users of Amazon.com Payments from fraudulently receiving goods when
payment may not be made to a seller or fraudulently collecting payments when
goods may not be shipped to a buyer. Our liability risk will increase as a
larger fraction of our sellers use Amazon.com Payments. Any costs we incur as a
result of liability because of our guarantee of payments made through Amazon.com
Payments or otherwise could harm our business. In addition, the functionality of
Amazon.com Payments depends on certain third-party vendors delivering services.
If these vendors are unable or unwilling to provide services, Amazon.com
Payments will not be viable (and our businesses that use Amazon.com Payments may
not be viable).
WE COULD BE SUBJECT TO RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INFORMATION POSTED ON OUR WEB
SITE BY THIRD PARTIES
Our Web site features customer reviews of the products we sell and customer
ratings of sellers on our auctions and zShops sites. Although these reviews and
ratings are generated by customers and not by us, it is possible that a claim
could be made against us for reviews and ratings posted on our Web site. If we
become liable for information posted on our Web site by customers, we could be
harmed and may be forced to discontinue certain services.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ADEQUATELY PROTECT OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OR
MAY BE ACCUSED OF INFRINGING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS OF THIRD PARTIES
We regard our trademarks, service marks, copyrights, patents, trade dress,
trade secrets, proprietary technology and similar intellectual property as
critical to our success, and we rely on trademark, copyright and patent law,
trade secret protection and confidentiality and/or license agreements with our
employees, customers, partners and others to protect our proprietary rights. We
have been issued a number of trademarks, service marks, patents and copyrights
by US and foreign governmental authorities. We also have applied for the
registration of some other trademarks, service marks, copyrights and patents in
the US and internationally. In addition, we have filed US and international
patent applications covering certain of our proprietary technology. Effective
trademark, service mark, copyright, patent and trade secret protection may not
be available in every country in which our products and services are made
available online. The protection of our intellectual property may require the
expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources.
Third parties that license our proprietary rights, such as trademarks,
patented technology or copyrighted material, may take actions that diminish the
value of our proprietary rights or reputation. In addition, the steps we take to
protect our proprietary rights may not be adequate and third parties may
infringe or misappropriate our copyrights, trademarks, trade dress, patents and
similar proprietary rights. Other parties may claim that we infringed their
proprietary rights. We have been subject to claims, and expect to continue to be
subject to legal proceedings and claims, regarding alleged infringement by our
licensors and us of the trademarks and other intellectual property rights of
third parties. Such claims, whether or not meritorious, may result in the
expenditure of significant financial and managerial resources, injunctions
against us or the imposition of damages that we must pay. We may need to obtain
a license from third parties who allege that we have infringed their rights, but
such license may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or at all.
16
19
WE CANNOT BE SURE THAT THE YEAR 2000 PROBLEM WILL NOT AFFECT OUR BUSINESS
Thus far, we have had no significant problems related to year 2000 issues
associated with the computer systems, software, other property and equipment we
use. However, we cannot guarantee that the year 2000 problem will not adversely
affect our business, operating results or financial condition at some point in
the future. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations -- Year 2000 Implications."
OUR STOCK PRICE IS HIGHLY VOLATILE
The trading price of our common stock fluctuates significantly. For
example, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 (as adjusted for the
3-for-1 split of our common stock on January 4, 1999 and the 2-for-1 split of
our common stock on September 1, 1999), the reported sale price of our common
stock on the NASDAQ National Market was as high as $113.00 and as low as $41.00
per share. Trading prices of our common stock may fluctuate in response to a
number of events and factors, such as:
- quarterly variations in operating results,
- announcements of innovations,
- new products, services and strategic developments by us or our
competitors, or business combinations and investments by us or our
competitors,
- changes in our operating expense levels or losses,
- changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities
analysts,
- performance by other online commerce companies, and
- news reports relating to trends in the Internet, book, music, DVD/video,
toys, electronics, software, video game, home improvement products,
auctions, consumer-to-consumer fixed price online markets, or other
product or service industries.
Any of these events may cause our stock price to fall, which may adversely
affect our business and financing opportunities. In addition, the stock market
in general and the market prices for Internet-related companies in particular
have experienced significant volatility that often has been unrelated to such
companies' operating performance. These broad market and industry fluctuations
may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock regardless of our
operating performance.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The following tables set forth certain information regarding the executive
officers and Directors of the Company as of March 23, 2000:
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
NAME AGE POSITION
---- --- --------
Jeffrey P. Bezos............................ 36 Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
of the Board
Joseph Galli, Jr............................ 41 President and Chief Operating Officer
Warren C. Jenson............................ 42 Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
John D. Risher.............................. 34 Senior Vice President and General Manager, US
Retail Group
Diego Piacentini............................ 39 Senior Vice President and General Manager,
International
Richard L. Dalzell.......................... 42 Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Mark J. Britto.............................. 35 Vice President, Strategic Alliances
Jeffrey A. Wilke............................ 33 Vice President and General Manager,
Operations
Mark S. Peek................................ 42 Vice President, Finance
17
20
JEFFREY P. BEZOS. Mr. Bezos has been Chairman of the Board of Amazon.com
since founding it in 1994 and Chief Executive Officer since May 1996. Mr. Bezos
served as President from founding until June 1999 and Treasurer and Secretary
from May 1996 to March 1997. From December 1990 to June 1994, Mr. Bezos was
employed by D.E. Shaw & Co., a Wall Street investment firm, becoming Senior Vice
President in 1992. From April 1988 to December 1990, Mr. Bezos was employed by
Bankers Trust Company, becoming Vice President in February 1990. Mr. Bezos is
also a director of drugstore.com, inc. Mr. Bezos received his B.S. in Electrical
Engineering and Computer Science from Princeton University.
JOSEPH GALLI, JR. Mr. Galli joined Amazon.com in June 1999 as President and
Chief Operating Officer. From 1980 until June 1999, Mr. Galli held a variety of
positions with The Black and Decker Corporation, culminating as president of
Black and Decker's Worldwide Power Tools and Accessories. As president, he
supervised the marketing, sales, manufacturing, engineering, finance, MIS,
purchasing and product service departments. Mr. Galli received a B.S. in
Business Administration from the University of North Carolina and an M.B.A. from
Loyola College.
WARREN C. JENSON. Mr. Jenson joined Amazon.com in September 1999 as Senior
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer. Before
joining Amazon.com, Mr. Jenson was the Chief Financial Officer and Executive
Vice President for Delta Air Lines from April 1998 to September 1999. From
September 1992 to April 1998, Mr. Jenson served as Chief Financial Officer and
Senior Vice President for the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), a subsidiary
of General Electric, and participated in efforts to develop MSNBC, the
cable-Internet joint news venture between NBC and Microsoft. Mr. Jenson earned
his Masters of Accountancy -- Business Taxation, and B.S. in Accounting from
Brigham Young University.
JOHN D. RISHER. Mr. Risher has served Amazon.com as Senior Vice President
and General Manager, US Retail Group since February 2000. Mr. Risher joined
Amazon.com in February 1997 as Vice President of Product Development. Mr. Risher
served as Senior Vice President of Product Development from November 1997 to
February 2000 and as Vice President of Product Development from February 1997 to
November 1997. From July 1991 to February 1997, Mr. Risher held a variety of
marketing and project management positions at Microsoft Corporation, including
Team Manager for Microsoft Access and Founder and Product Unit Manager for MS
Investor, Microsoft's Web site for personal investment. Mr. Risher received his
B.A. in Comparative Literature from Princeton University and his M.B.A. from
Harvard Business School.
DIEGO PIACENTINI. Mr. Piacentini joined Amazon.com as Senior Vice President
and General Manager, International in February 2000. From April 1997 until
joining Amazon.com, Mr. Piacentini was Vice President and General Manager,
Europe of Apple Computer, Inc., with responsibility for Apple Computer's
operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. From April 1996 to April 1997,
Mr. Piacentini was European Sales Director of Apple Computer, Inc. From May 1995
until April 1996, Mr. Piacentini was General Manager of Apple Computer's Italy
operations, and before that, from September 1994 to May 1995, Mr. Piacentini was
Apple Computer's Sales Director for Italy. Mr. Piacentini joined Apple Computer
in 1987. Prior to that time he held a financial management position at
Fiatimpresit in Italy. Mr. Piacentini received a degree in Economics from
Bocconi University in Milan, Italy in 1985.
RICHARD L. DALZELL. Mr. Dalzell joined Amazon.com in August 1997 as Vice
President and Chief Information Officer. From February 1990 to August 1997, Mr.
Dalzell held several management positions within the Information Systems
Division at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., including Vice President of Information
Systems from January 1994 to August 1997. From 1987 to 1990, Mr. Dalzell acted
as the Business Development Manager for E-Systems, Inc. Prior to joining
E-Systems, Inc. he served seven years in the United States Army as a
teleprocessing officer. Mr. Dalzell received a B.S. in Engineering from the
United States Military Academy, West Point.
MARK J. BRITTO. Mr. Britto has served as Vice President, Strategic
Alliances since August 1999. From June 1999 to August 1999, Mr. Britto served as
Director of Business Development. Mr. Britto joined Amazon.com in June 1999 as
part of the acquisition of Accept.com, which he co-founded in October 1998 and
served as a Vice President. From October 1994 through October 1998, Mr. Britto
was Executive Vice President of Credit Policy at FirstUSA Bank, where he was
responsible for their credit risk management practice. Prior to that, he served
as Senior Vice President of Risk Management at NationsBank. Mr. Britto
18
21
received an M.S. in Operations Research and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and
Operations Research from the University of California at Berkeley.
JEFFREY A. WILKE. Mr. Wilke has served as Vice President and General
Manager, Operations since September 1999. Previously, Mr. Wilke held a variety
of positions at AlliedSignal from 1995 to 1999, including Vice President and
General Manager of the Pharmaceutical Fine Chemicals unit from March 1999 to
September 1999 and General Manager of the Carbon Materials and Technologies unit
from August 1997 to February 1999. Prior to his employment at AlliedSignal, he
was an information technology consultant with Andersen Consulting. He received a
B.S.E. in chemical engineering from Princeton University and has an M.B.A. and
Master of Science in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.
MARK S. PEEK. Mr. Peek joined Amazon.com in March 2000 as Vice President,
Finance, and has been selected to become Chief Accounting Officer beginning
April 1, 2000. Prior to joining Amazon.com, Mr. Peek was, since 1990, a partner
at the independent public accounting firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP where he
served as lead partner for a number of that firm's multi-national technology
clients. Mr. Peek joined Deloitte & Touche in 1980. Mr. Peek received a B.S. in
Accounting, Economics and International Business in 1980 from Minnesota State
University.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
NAME AGE POSITION
---- --- --------
Jeffrey P. Bezos........................ 36 Founder, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of
the Board
Joseph Galli, Jr........................ 41 President and Chief Operating Officer
Tom A. Alberg........................... 60 Managing Director of Madrona Venture Group, L.L.C.
Scott D. Cook........................... 47 Chairman of the Executive Committee of Intuit, Inc.
L. John Doerr........................... 48 General Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
Patricia Q. Stonesifer.................. 43 Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company does not own any real estate. Its principal office facilities
in the US are located in several leased facilities in Seattle, Washington under
leases that expire in August 2000 through September 2009. The Company's office
facilities in the US comprise a total of approximately 730,000 square feet. The
Company's warehousing and fulfillment operations for its US Books, Music and
DVD/video segment and its Early-Stage Businesses and Other segment are housed in
eight distribution centers located in Seattle, Washington; New Castle, Delaware;
Fernley, Nevada; Lexington, Kentucky; Campbellsville, Kentucky; McDonough,
Georgia; Coffeyville, Kansas and Grand Forks, North Dakota. These distribution
centers comprise a total of approximately 3.8 million square feet. The Seattle
and Delaware distribution center leases expire in October 2000 and October 2002,
respectively, and the remaining distribution center leases expire from 2008
through 2015.
The Company leases additional properties in Europe for its International
segment, including approximately 121,000 square feet of office space in Germany
and the UK and a distribution center in each country with a combined 690,000
square feet of available space. The UK subsidiary will begin leasing an
additional 500,000 square feet of distribution center space in Marston Gate,
England in April 2000. The lease for the German distribution center, located in
Bad Hersfeld, Germany, expires in December 2009. The lease for the new Marston
Gate distribution center expires in March 2025.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In January and February 2000, three federal class action lawsuits were
filed against the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Alexa Internet. The
lawsuits, entitled Newby v. Alexa Internet and Amazon.com, Inc. (filed January
6, 2000, in the Northern District of California), Bieles v. Alexa Internet and
Amazon.com (filed January 14, 2000, in the Northern District of California), and
Supnick v. Amazon.com and Alexa
19
22
Internet (filed February 11, 2000, in the Western District of Washington),
allege that Alexa Internet's tracking and storage of Internet Web usage paths
violates federal and state statutes prohibiting computer fraud, unfair
competition, and unauthorized interception of private electronic communications,
as well as common law proscriptions against trespass and invasion of privacy.
The complaints seek actual, statutory, and punitive damages, as well as
restitution, on behalf of all users of Alexa Internet's Web navigation service,
as well as injunctive relief prohibiting Alexa Internet from tracking and
storing such information or disclosing it to third parties. Although the Company
disputes the allegations of wrongdoing in these complaints, there can be no
assurance that the Company will prevail in these lawsuits. In addition, the
Federal Trade Commission has requested information and documents regarding Alexa
Internet's practices and has opened a formal investigative file in connection
with its inquiry. The Company is cooperating voluntarily with the Federal Trade
Commission's investigation.
From time to time, the Company is subject to other legal proceedings and
claims in the ordinary course of business, including claims of alleged
infringement of trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights.
The Company currently is not aware of any such legal proceedings or claims that
it believes will have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse
effect on its business, prospects, financial condition and operating results.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matters were submitted for a vote of stockholders of the Company during
the fourth quarter of the year ended December 31, 1999.
20
23
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Market Information
The common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"AMZN." The following table sets forth the high and low sale prices for the
common stock for the periods indicated, as reported by the Nasdaq National
Market.
HIGH LOW
------- ------
Year ended December 31, 1998
First Quarter........................................... $ 7.35 $ 4.15
Second Quarter.......................................... 17.46 6.43
Third Quarter........................................... 24.50 10.83
Fourth Quarter.......................................... 60.31 13.33
Year ended December 31, 1999
First Quarter........................................... $ 99.56 $42.13
Second Quarter.......................................... 110.63 44.88
Third Quarter........................................... 85.00 41.00
Fourth Quarter.......................................... 113.00 61.00
The prices in this table have been adjusted to reflect the 2-for-1 stock
split effected June 1, 1998, the 3-for-1 stock split effected January 4, 1999,
and the 2-for-1 stock split effected September 1, 1999.
Holders
As of February 29, 2000, there were 3,981 stockholders of record of the
common stock, although there is a much larger number of beneficial owners.
Dividends
We have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We
intend to retain all future earnings to finance future growth and, therefore, do
not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition,
we are restricted from paying cash dividends under our senior discount notes.
See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
None.
21
24
ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected consolidated financial data should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and
the information contained herein in Item 7, "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." Historical results
are not necessarily indicative of future results.
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
---------- --------- -------- ------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA(1):
Net sales.................................... $1,639,839 $ 609,819 $147,787 $15,746 $ 511
Cost of sales................................ 1,349,194 476,155 118,969 12,287 409
---------- --------- -------- ------- --------
Gross profit................................. 290,645 133,664 28,818 3,459 102
Operating expenses:
Marketing and sales........................ 413,150 132,654 40,077 6,081 200
Technology and content..................... 159,722 46,424 13,384 2,377 171
General and administrative................. 70,144 15,618 6,741 1,408 35
Stock-based compensation................... 30,618 1,889 1,211 36 --
Amortization of goodwill and other
intangibles.............................. 214,694 42,599 -- -- --
Merger, acquisition and investment-related
costs.................................... 8,072 3,535 -- -- --
---------- --------- -------- ------- --------
Total operating expenses............... 896,400 242,719 61,413 9,902 406
---------- --------- -------- ------- --------
Loss from operations......................... (605,755) (109,055) (32,595) (6,443) (304)
Interest income.............................. 45,451 14,053 1,901 202 1
Interest expense............................. (84,566) (26,639) (326) (5) --
Other income, net............................ 1,671 -- -- -- --
---------- --------- -------- ------- --------
Net interest income (expense) and
other............................... (37,444) (12,586) 1,575 197 1
---------- --------- -------- ------- --------
Loss before equity in losses of equity-method
investees.................................. (643,199) (121,641) (31,020) (6,246) (303)
Equity in losses of equity-method
investees.................................. (76,769) (2,905) -- -- --
---------- --------- -------- ------- --------
Net loss..................................... $ (719,968) $(124,546) $(31,020) $(6,246) $ (303)
========== ========= ======== ======= ========
Basic and diluted loss per share(2).......... $ (2.20) $ (0.42) $ (0.12) $ (0.03) $ (0.00)
========== ========= ======== ======= ========
Shares used in computation of basic and
diluted loss per share(2).................. 326,753 296,344 260,682 222,542 172,728
========== ========= ======== ======= ========
DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
---------- ------- -------- ------ ------
(IN THOUSANDS)
BALANCE SHEET DATA(1):
Cash.............................................. $ 116,962 $25,561 $ 1,876 $ 864 $ 804
Marketable securities............................. 589,226 347,884 123,499 5,425 192
Working capital................................... 273,243 262,679 93,158 1,698 920
Total assets...................................... 2,471,551 648,460 149,844 8,434 1,084
Long-term debt.................................... 1,466,338 348,140 76,702 -- --
Stockholders' equity.............................. 266,278 138,745 28,591 2,943 977
- ---------------
(1) Reflects restatement for pooling of interests. See Notes 1 and 2 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.
(2) For further discussion of loss per share see Notes 1 and 10 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.
22
25
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This Act
provides a "safe harbor" for forward-looking statements to encourage companies
to provide prospective information about themselves so long as they identify
these statements as forward looking and provide meaningful cautionary statements
identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ from the
projected results. All statements other than statements of historical fact,
including statements regarding industry prospects and future results of
operations or financial position, made in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are
forward looking. We use words such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects,"
"future" and "intends" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current expectations
and are inherently uncertain. The Company's actual results may differ
significantly from management's expectations. This following discussion includes
forward-looking statements regarding expectations of future profitability of the
US books business, gross margin, improvement in operating loss and sales, all of
which are inherently difficult to predict. Actual results could differ
significantly for a variety of reasons, including the rate of growth of the
Internet and online commerce, the amount that the Company invests in new
business opportunities and the timing of those investments, customer spending
patterns, the mix of products sold to customers, the mix of revenues derived
from product sales as compared to services, risks of inventory management, and
risks of distribution and fulfillment throughput and productivity. These risks
and uncertainties, as well as other risks and uncertainties that could cause the
Company's actual results to differ significantly from management's expectations,
are described in greater detail in the section entitled "Business -- Additional
Factors That May Affect Future Results," which, along with the following
discussion, describes some, but not all, of the factors that could cause actual
results to differ significantly from management's expectations.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Net Sales
1999 % CHANGE 1998 % CHANGE 1997
---------- -------- -------- -------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Net sales................... $1,639,839 169% $609,819 313% $147,787
Net sales include the selling price of products sold by us, net of returns
and gift certificate discounts, and also include outbound shipping charges.
Shipping revenue was $239 million, $94.1 million and $24.8 million in 1999, 1998
and 1997, respectively. Net sales also include commissions from auctions and
zShops transactions, which include sales commissions, placement fees and fees
from payment service transactions.
Growth in net sales in 1999 and 1998 reflects a significant increase in
units sold due to the growth of our customer base, repeat purchases from
existing customers, increased international sales, and the introduction of new
product offerings. These new product offerings include music and DVD/video in
June and November of 1998, respectively, toys and electronics in July 1999 and
home improvement, software and video games in November 1999. We increased our
issuance of promotional gift certificates to customers in 1999 to promote new
product lines, however, which partially offset such growth in net sales. The
Company had approximately 16.9 million, 6.2 million and 1.5 million cumulative
customer accounts as of December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. The
percentage of orders by repeat customers increased from 64% in the fourth
quarter of 1998 to 73% in the fourth quarter of 1999. The increase in net sales
in 1998 was also partially due to the launch of the UK and German focused Web
sites in October 1998.
23
26
Sales to customers outside of the US represented approximately 22%, 20% and
25% of net sales for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997,
respectively.
Gross Profit
1999 % CHANGE 1998 % CHANGE 1997
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Gross profit.................. $290,645 117% $133,664 364% $28,818
Gross margin.................. 17.7% 21.9% 19.5%
Gross profit consists of net sales less the cost of sales, which consists
of the cost of merchandise sold to customers, as well as inbound and outbound
shipping costs and the cost of tangible supplies used to package product for
shipment to customers. Gross profit increased in 1999 and 1998 in absolute
dollars, reflecting the Company's increased sales volume. Gross margin decreased
in 1999 due to the introduction of new product lines, particularly toys and
electronics, and inventory-related charges of approximately $39 million incurred
in the fourth quarter of 1999. We also increased our issuance of promotional
gift certificates to customers in 1999 to promote these new product lines, which
decreased net sales and, therefore, gross margin. Additionally, we realized
lower shipping margins in 1999 due to an increase in partial shipments to
satisfy holiday demand and because of split shipments from one or more
locations, which was caused by our failure to optimize inventory at our
distribution centers. Gross margin increased in 1998 as compared to 1997 as a
result of improvements in product costs through improved supply chain
management, including increased direct purchasing from publishers, as well as
higher overall shipping margins. These two factors more than offset the impact
of aggressive product pricing and lower music and video margins.
As noted above, outbound shipping costs are included in cost of sales.
Gross profit from shipping, which represents shipping revenues less outbound
shipping costs, was $11.7 million, $18.2 million and $4.4 million in 1999, 1998
and 1997, respectively.
We expect our overall gross margin to approach 20% for the first quarter of
2000 and for the year.
We believe that offering our customers attractive prices is an essential
component of our business strategy. For example, we offer everyday discounts of
50% on every book on the New York Times bestseller list, up to 40% on hundreds
of thousands of titles and up to 85% on certain "special value" editions. We may
in the future expand or increase the discounts we offer to our customers and may
otherwise alter our pricing structure and policies in a manner that may
adversely impact gross profit and gross margin.
We intend to continue to expand our operations by promoting new or
complementary products or sales formats and by expanding the breadth and depth
of our product and service offerings. Gross margins attributable to new business
areas may be different from those associated with our existing business
activities. To the extent such product lines become larger components of our
sales, we would expect a corresponding impact on overall product gross margin.
We believe that the Amazon.com Commerce Network will tend to increase gross
margins in the future because the revenue associated with the activities
conducted by Amazon.com Commerce Network generates substantially higher gross
profit than the Company's sale of products. See "Business -- Additional Factors
That May Affect Future Results -- Our business could suffer if we are
unsuccessful in making and integrating business combinations and strategic
alliances."
Organizations responsible for promulgating accounting standards are
currently reviewing the financial statement classification of, and accounting
for, fulfillment and order processing costs and other items by a number of
e-commerce companies, including Amazon.com. The review by these accounting
organizations may lead to new accounting standards that could require that some
or all of our fulfillment and order processing costs be classified as costs of
sales. We currently include these costs in Marketing and Sales. These new
standards could also require us to capitalize certain of our fulfillment and
order processing costs in inventory. We currently expense these costs as
incurred. We will adjust our accounting and classification of fulfillment and
order processing costs if required by accounting organizations or by the SEC.
24
27
Marketing and Sales
1999 % CHANGE 1998 % CHANGE 1997
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Marketing and sales........... $413,150 211% $132,654 231% $40,077
Percentage of net sales....... 25.2% 21.8% 27.1%
Marketing and sales expenses consist of advertising, promotional and public
relations expenditures, credit card fees and payroll and related expenses for
personnel engaged in marketing, selling and fulfillment activities. Fulfillment
costs included in marketing and sales expenses represent those costs incurred in
operating and staffing distribution and customer service centers, including
costs attributable to receiving, inspecting and warehousing inventories;
picking, packaging and preparing customers' orders for shipment; and responding
to inquiries from customers. Fulfillment costs amounted to $188.4 million, $50.3
million and $12.1 million in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. Marketing and
sales expenses increased in 1999 and 1998 primarily due to increased payroll and
related costs associated with fulfilling customer demand, increases in our
advertising and promotional expenditures in the US, Germany and the UK, and
increased credit card fees resulting from higher sales. The increase in 1999 was
further attributable to increased advertising during the holiday season and the
promotion of the new toys, electronics, software, video games and home
improvement stores. The increase in 1998 was also attributable to the entry into
music and video sales and the launch of new Web sites targeting Germany and the
UK. Marketing and sales expenses increased as a percentage of net sales in 1999
as compared to 1998 primarily due to increases in fulfillment expenses
associated with our expansion of our distribution center network and customer
service staff during 1999. Marketing and sales expenses decreased as a
percentage of net sales in 1998 due to the significant increase in net sales. We
intend to continue our advertising and marketing activities in the future and
expect that such expenditures will continue to increase in absolute dollars,
but, as a percentage of sales, will likely decline in the future. We also expect
that fulfillment costs will decline as a percentage of sales in the future as
additional capacity of our existing distribution center network is more fully
utilized. However, due to risks related to market share, seasonality,
distribution centers, inventory management and other factors, advertising and
marketing expenditures and fulfillment costs may not decline as a percentage of
sales.
Organizations responsible for promulgating accounting standards are
currently reviewing the financial statement classification of, and accounting
for, fulfillment and order processing costs and other items by a number of
e-commerce companies, including Amazon.com. The review by these accounting
organizations may lead to new accounting standards that could require that some
or all of our fulfillment and order processing costs be classified as costs of
sales. These new standards could also require us to capitalize certain of our
fulfillment and order processing costs in inventory. We currently expense these
costs as incurred. We will adjust our accounting and classification of
fulfillment and order processing costs if required by accounting organizations
or by the SEC.
Technology and Content
1999 % CHANGE 1998 % CHANGE 1997
-------- -------- ------- -------- -------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Technology and content......... $159,722 244% $46,424 247% $13,384
Percentage of net sales........ 9.7% 7.6% 9.1%
Technology and content expenses consist principally of payroll and related
expenses for development, editorial, systems and telecommunications operations
personnel and consultants; systems and telecommunications infrastructure; and
costs of acquired content, including freelance reviews. The increases in
technology and content expenses in 1999 and 1998 were primarily attributable to
increased staffing and associated costs related to continual enhancements to the
features, content and functionality of our Web sites and transaction-processing
systems, as well as increased investment in systems and telecommunications
infrastructure. These increases also were the result of the costs of developing,
introducing and operating new product lines, operating expenses associated with
acquired entities and, in 1998, the costs of developing, introducing and
operating new Web sites targeting Germany and the UK. Technology and content
expenses increased as a percentage of net sales in 1999 due to the significant
number of new product lines and services launched by us
25
28
during the year. Technology and content expenses decreased as a percentage of
net sales in 1998 due to the significant increase in net sales. Technology and
content costs are generally expensed as incurred, except for certain costs
relating to the development of internal-use software that are capitalized and
depreciated over estimated useful lives. We believe that continued investment in
technology and content is critical to attaining our strategic objectives. In
addition to ongoing investments in our Web stores and infrastructure, we intend
to increase investments in products, services and international expansion. As a
result, we expect technology and content expenses to continue to increase in
absolute dollars.
General and Administrative
1999 % CHANGE 1998 % CHANGE 1997
------- -------- ------- -------- ------
(IN THOUSANDS)
General and administrative....... $70,144 349% $15,618 132% $6,741
Percentage of net sales.......... 4.3% 2.6% 4.6%
General and administrative expenses consist of payroll and related expenses
for executive, finance and administrative personnel, recruiting, professional
fees and other general corporate expenses. The 1999 and 1998 increases in
general and administrative expenses were primarily a result of increased
salaries and related expenses associated with the hiring of additional personnel
and legal and other professional fees related to our growth. In both 1999 and
1998, additional expenses were incurred associated with acquired entities and
the related international expansion and expanded activities. We expect general
and administrative expenses to increase in absolute dollars as we incur
additional costs to support the growth of our business.
Stock-based Compensation
1999 % CHANGE 1998 % CHANGE 1997
------- -------- ------ -------- ------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Stock-based compensation.......... $30,618 1,521% $1,889 56% $1,211
Percentage of net sales........... 1.9% 0.3% 0.8%
Stock-based compensation is comprised of the portion of acquisition-related
consideration conditioned on the continued tenure of key employees of the
acquired businesses, which must be classified as compensation expense rather
than as a component of purchase price under generally accepted accounting
principles. Stock-based compensation also includes stock-based charges such as
option-related deferred compensation recorded at our initial public offering, as
well as certain other compensation and severance arrangements. The increase in
stock-based compensation in 1999 resulted primarily from acquisitions closed in
1999. Stock-based compensation for 1998 and 1997 relates primarily to
option-related deferred compensation recorded at the time of our initial public
offering.
Amortization of Goodwill and Other Purchased Intangibles
1999 % CHANGE 1998 % CHANGE 1997
-------- -------- ------- -------- ----
(IN THOUSANDS)
Amortization of goodwill and other
purchased intangibles............ $214,694 404% $42,599 N/M $0
Increases in amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangibles in
1999 primarily resulted from the amortization of goodwill and other intangibles
recorded at the time of our acquisitions of Exchange.com, Alexa Internet,
Accept.com, LiveBid.com, the catalog and online commerce assets of Acme Electric
Motor Co. (Tool Crib of the North), Back to Basics Toys and other acquisitions.
In 1998, amortization charges resulted from the amortization of goodwill and
other intangibles recorded in the acquisitions of Junglee and three smaller
Internet companies. We expect that amortization charges from the acquisitions
consummated in 1999 will increase in 2000 based on a full year of amortization
for all of the acquisitions. It is likely that we will continue to expand our
business through acquisitions, which would cause amortization of goodwill and
other intangibles to increase.
26
29
Loss from Operations
1999 % CHANGE 1998 % CHANGE 1997
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Loss from operations.......... $605,755 455% $109,055 235% $32,595
Percentage of net sales....... 36.9% 17.9% 22.1%
Our loss from operations increased from 1997 to 1998, and from 1998 to
1999, due to continued expansion of our business. Our operating expenses have
historically increased more quickly than our revenues as we have expanded our
operations. We expect that our overall loss from operations incurred in 2000
will decrease significantly as a percentage of net sales, compared to that
percentage in 1999.
Interest Income and Expense
1999 % CHANGE 1998 % CHANGE 1997
------- -------- ------- -------- ------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Interest income.................. $45,451 223% $14,053 639% $1,901
Interest expense................. 84,566 217% 26,639 8,071% 326
Interest income on cash and marketable securities increased in 1999 due to
higher investment balances resulting from the proceeds from the issuance of
$1.25 billion of 4 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the
"Convertible Subordinated Notes") in February 1999 and increased in 1998 due to
the issuance of approximately $326 million gross proceeds of 10% Senior Discount
Notes due May 1, 2008 (the "Senior Discount Notes") in May 1998. Interest
expense increased in 1999 and 1998 due to the interest expense associated with
this debt, as well as amortization of deferred charges associated with issuance
of the notes.
On February 16, 2000, we completed an offering of E690,000,000
($680,685,000 as of February 11, 2000) of 6.875% Convertible Subordinated Notes
due 2010, also known as Premium Adjustable Convertible Securities, or "PEACS."
Therefore, we expect interest expense to increase in the future for interest
associated with these notes.
Equity in Losses of Equity-Method Investees
1999 % CHANGE 1998 % CHANGE 1997
------- -------- ------ -------- ----
(IN THOUSANDS)
Equity in losses of equity-method
investees.......................... $76,769 2,543% $2,905 N/M $ 0
Equity in losses of equity-method investees represents our share of losses
of companies in which we have investments that give us the ability to exercise
significant influence, but not control, over an investee. This is generally
defined as an ownership interest of the voting stock of the investee of between
20% and 50%. We made several equity-method investments in 1999 and increased our
investment in the equity-method investment we made in 1998. We expect to make
additional equity-method investments in the future. Many of the companies in
which we have invested to date are in the early stage of their operations and
are incurring net losses. Therefore, we expect to continue to record losses on
our equity-method investments.
In July 1999, one of our equity-method investees, drugstore.com, inc.,
completed the initial public offering of its common stock. drugstore.com
operates an online retail store and information site for health, beauty,
wellness, personal care and pharmacy products. In connection with this
transaction, we recorded a contribution to additional paid-in capital of $13.8
million, representing the difference between the carrying value of our
investment and the underlying net book value of drugstore.com after the IPO. Two
of our other equity-method investees, Pets.com and Homegrocer.com, completed
their IPOs in February 2000 and March 2000, respectively. We therefore will
record a contribution to additional paid-in capital in connection with these
transactions, and it is reasonably possible that other equity-method investees
may complete IPOs in the future.
27
30
Income Taxes
We did not provide any current or deferred US federal, state or foreign
income tax provision or benefit for any of the periods presented because we have
experienced operating losses since inception. Utilization of our net operating
loss carryforwards, which begin to expire in 2010, may be subject to certain
limitations under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
and other limitations under state and foreign tax laws. We have provided a full
valuation allowance on the deferred tax asset, consisting primarily of net
operating loss carryforwards, because of uncertainty regarding its
realizability.
PRO FORMA INFORMATION
Pro forma information regarding our results, which excludes amortization of
goodwill and other intangibles, stock-based compensation, equity in losses of
equity-method investees and merger, acquisition and investment-related costs, is
as follows:
YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
1999
---------------------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT
PER SHARE AMOUNT)
Pro forma loss from operations............................. $(352,371)
Pro forma net loss......................................... $(389,815)
Pro forma basic and diluted loss per share................. $ (1.19)
Shares used in computation of pro forma basic and diluted
loss per share........................................... 326,753
Using the methodology described above to derive pro forma loss from
operations, our US books business was profitable in the fourth quarter of 1999
and we expect this business to be profitable in 2000. The pro forma results are
presented for informational purposes only and are not prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
At December 31, 1999, our cash balance was $117 million, compared to $25.6
million at December 31, 1998. Our marketable securities balance, which includes
highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less, was $589.2
million and $347.9 million at December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively.
Net cash used by operating activities amounted to $90.9 million for 1999.
This was primarily attributable to the net loss for the year of $720 million,
partially offset by non-cash charges related to depreciation, stock-based
compensation, amortization of goodwill and other purchased intangibles, and
equity in losses of equity-method investees totaling $358.9 million, as well as
$230.1 million of cash provided by changes in operating assets and liabilities.
Cash provided by changes in operating assets and liabilities is primarily a
function of an increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, offset by
an increase in inventories and prepaid expenses and other current assets. For
1998, net cash provided by operating activities was $31 million and was
primarily attributable to non-cash expenses and increases in accounts payable
and accrued expenses, largely offset by the net loss and increases in
inventories and prepaid expenses and other.
Net cash used in investing activities was $922.3 million in 1999 and
consisted of net purchases of marketable securities of $265.6 million, purchases
of fixed assets of $287.1 million and cash paid for acquisitions and investments
in businesses of $369.6 million. Net cash used in investing activities during
1998 was $261.8 million and consisted of net purchases of marketable securities
of $214.5 million, purchases of fixed assets of $28.3 million and cash paid for
acquisitions and investments in businesses of $19 million.
Net cash provided by financing activities of $1.104 billion for 1999 was
primarily due to $1.25 billion of proceeds from the sale of our Convertible
Subordinated Notes in February 1999, partially offset by repayment of long-term
debt, including $178.4 million of cash paid to repurchase a portion of our
outstanding Senior Discount Notes. Net cash provided by financing activities of
$254.5 million for 1998 primarily resulted from
28
31
net proceeds of approximately $318.2 million from the Senior Discount Notes
offering offset by the repayment of $78.1 million of long-term debt.
As of December 31, 1999, our principal sources of liquidity consisted of
$706.2 million of cash and marketable securities. As of that date, our principal
commitments consisted of obligations outstanding under our Convertible
Subordinated Notes due 2009 and Senior Discount Notes, as well as obligations in
connection with operating leases and commitments for advertising and promotional
arrangements. During 1999, we undertook a substantial expansion of our
distribution center network in the US, adding six distribution centers in the
US. We also opened new distribution centers in the UK and Germany. We anticipate
that our current distribution center capacity in the US will be adequate for our
needs for at least the next 12 months, but we may require additional capacity in
international markets.
In May 1998, we completed the offering of approximately $326 million gross
proceeds of the Senior Discount Notes, in February 1999, we completed the
offering of approximately $1.25 billion Convertible Subordinated Notes, and in
February 2000, we completed the offering of E690 million of 6.875% Convertible
Subordinated Notes due 2010, also knows as PEACS. See Notes 7 and 15 to
Consolidated Financial Statements incorporated by reference to Item 8 of Part
II.
We believe that current cash and marketable securities balances, together
with net proceeds from the PEACS, will be sufficient to meet our anticipated
operating cash needs for at least the next 12 months. However, any projections
of future cash needs and cash flows are subject to substantial uncertainty. If
current cash, marketable securities and cash that may be generated from
operations are insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, we may seek
to sell additional equity or debt securities or to obtain credit facilities from
lenders. The sale of additional equity or convertible debt securities could
result in additional dilution to the Company's stockholders. In addition, we
will, from time to time, consider the acquisition of or investment in
complementary businesses, products, services and technologies, and the
repurchase and retirement of debt, which might impact our liquidity requirements
or cause us to issue additional equity or debt securities. There can be no
assurance that financing will be available in amounts or on terms acceptable to
us, if at all.
YEAR 2000 IMPLICATIONS
Many currently installed computer systems, software programs and embedded
data chips are programmed using a two-digit date field and are therefore unable
to distinguish dates beyond the 20th century. A failure to identify and correct
any mission-critical internal or third-party year 2000 processing problem could
have a material adverse operational or financial consequence to us.
We established a Year 2000 Project Team that, together with external
consultants, developed a process for addressing the year 2000 issue, including
performing an inventory, an assessment, remediation procedures (to the extent
necessary) and testing procedures of all mission-critical information systems
and equipment and machinery that contain embedded technology, as well as
obtaining assurances from all mission-critical third parties as to their own
year 2000 preparedness. As of the date of filing of this Annual Report on Form
10-K, all of our mission-critical systems have been successfully tested for year
2000 compliance, and we have not experienced any significant year 2000 problems
with our own mission-critical systems or any mission-critical third parties.
Although we have not experienced any significant year 2000 problems to date, we
plan to continue to monitor the situation closely.
We cannot be sure that we will be completely successful in our efforts to
address the year 2000 issue or that problems arising from the year 2000 issue
will not cause a material adverse effect on our operating results or financial
condition. We believe, however, that our most reasonably likely worst-case
scenario would relate to problems with the systems of third parties rather than
with our internal systems. We are limited in our efforts to address the year
2000 issue as it relates to third parties and rely solely on the assurances of
these third parties as to their year 2000 preparedness.
As part of our broader contingency planning, we also developed business
continuity plans to address each critical process and activity that we believe
would cause a significant disruption to operations if not functional for 24
hours. Despite these efforts, we cannot guarantee that the contingency plan will
adequately address all
29
32
circumstances that may disrupt operations or that such planning will prevent
circumstances that may cause a material adverse effect on our operating results
or financial condition.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
We do not have any derivative financial instruments in our marketable
securities portfolio as of December 31, 1999. However, we are exposed to
interest rate risk on debt instruments we hold. We employ established policies
and procedures to manage our exposure to changes in the market risk of our
marketable securities, which are classified as available-for-sale as of December
31, 1999 and 1998. Our Senior Discount Notes, Convertible Subordinated Notes,
PEACS and other long-term debt have fixed interest rates and the fair value of
these instruments is affected by changes in market interest rates. We believe
that the market risk arising from holdings of our financial instruments is not
material.
Our exposure to currency exchange risk through December 31, 1999 has not
been material. However, with the completion of the offering of PEACS notes on
February 16, 2000, we will be exposed to currency exchange risk because the debt
is denominated in euros while our functional currency is the US dollar. We plan
to employ established policies and procedures to mitigate the risk of exchange
rate fluctuations. Additionally, the conversion price for the PEACS is
denominated in euros.
Information relating to quantitative and qualitative disclosure about
market risk is set forth below and in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital
Resources."
The table below provides information about our marketable securities,
including principal cash flows for 2000 through 2004 and the related weighted
average interest rates.
Principal (notional) amounts by expected maturity in US dollars as of
December 31, 1999:
ESTIMATED FAIR
VALUE AT
DECEMBER 31,
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 THEREAFTER TOTAL 1999
------- -------- ------- ------ ------- ---------- -------- --------------
Commercial paper and
short-term obligations..... $37,476 $ 6,250 $12,176 $1,047 $ 9,599 $ 8,236 $ 74,784 $ 73,557
Weighted average interest
rate....................... 5.80% 8.58% 8.96% 6.61% 6.98% 7.00% 6.84%
Corporate notes and bonds.... 2,455 102,850 -- -- -- -- 105,305 103,844
Weighted average interest
rate....................... 5.80% 6.70% -- -- -- -- 6.68%
Asset-backed and agency
securities................. 32,807 81,160 24,198 25 20,119 100,246 258,555 247,667
Weighted average interest
rate....................... 20.20% 8.48% 7.49% 7.68% 7.00% 7.97% 9.56%
Treasury notes and bonds..... 12,400 127,795 20,000 3,950 -- -- 164,145 164,158
Weighted average interest
rate....................... 5.21% 6.60% 0.00% 6.07% -- -- 5.68%
------- -------- ------- ------ ------- -------- -------- --------
Total Portfolio.......... $85,138 $318,055 $56,374 $5,022 $29,718 $108,482 $602,789 $589,226
======= ======== ======= ====== ======= ======== ======== ========
Principal (notional) amounts by expected maturity in US dollars as of
December 31, 1998:
ESTIMATED FAIR
VALUE AT
DECEMBER 31,
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 THEREAFTER TOTAL 1998
-------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ---------- -------- --------------
Commercial paper and
short-term obligations...... $114,579 $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- $114,579 $114,180
Weighted average interest
rate........................ 5.34% 5.34%
Corporate notes and bonds..... 4,250 46,500 -- -- -- -- 50,750 51,351
Weighted average interest
rate........................ 5.90% 5.20% 5.26%
Asset-backed and agency
securities.................. -- 21,500 8,746 7,087 10,086 35,497 82,916 83,569
Weighted average interest
rate........................ 5.57% 5.16% 5.29% 5.64% 5.82% 5.62%
Treasury notes and bonds...... 8,700 27,400 42,175 8,000 -- -- 86,275 89,013
Weighted average interest
rate........................ 5.63% 4.89% 4.64% 4.71% 4.82%
-------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------- --------
Total Portfolio, excluding
equity securities....... $127,529 $95,400 $50,921 $15,087 $10,086 $35,497 $334,520 $338,113
======== ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======== ========
30
33
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PAGE
----
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors........... 32
Consolidated Balance Sheets................................. 33
Consolidated Statements of Operations....................... 34
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity............. 35
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows....................... 36
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.................. 37
31
34
REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Amazon.com, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Amazon.com,
Inc. as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the related consolidated statements
of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years
in the period ended December 31, 1999. Our audits also included the financial
statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 14(a). These financial statements
and schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and
schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An
audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Amazon.com,
Inc. at December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the consolidated results of its
operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1999, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement
schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as
a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth
therein.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Seattle, Washington
February 2, 2000, except for Note 15
as to which the date is February 16, 2000
32
35
AMAZON.COM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
ASSETS
DECEMBER 31,
----------------------
1999 1998
---------- --------
Current assets:
Cash...................................................... $ 116,962 $ 25,561
Marketable securities..................................... 589,226 347,884
Inventories............................................... 220,646 29,501
Prepaid expenses and other current assets................. 85,344 21,308
---------- --------
Total current assets.............................. 1,012,178 424,254
Fixed assets, net........................................... 317,613 29,791
Goodwill, net............................................... 534,699 174,052
Other purchased intangibles, net............................ 195,445 4,586
Investments in equity-method investees...................... 226,727 7,740
Other investments........................................... 144,735 --
Deferred charges and other.................................. 40,154 8,037
---------- --------
Total assets...................................... $2,471,551 $648,460
========== ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable.......................................... $ 463,026 $113,273
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities............ 126,017 34,413
Accrued advertising....................................... 55,892 13,071
Deferred revenue.......................................... 54,790 --
Interest payable.......................................... 24,888 10
Current portion of long-term debt and other............... 14,322 808
---------- --------
Total current liabilities......................... 738,935 161,575
Long-term debt and other.................................... 1,466,338 348,140
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value:
Authorized shares -- 150,000
Issued and outstanding shares -- none.................. -- --
Common stock, $0.01 par value:
Authorized shares -- 1,500,000
Issued and outstanding shares -- 345,155 and 318,534
shares at December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively.... 3,452 3,186
Additional paid-in capital................................ 1,195,540 298,537
Note receivable for common stock.......................... (1,171) (1,099)
Stock-based compensation.................................. (47,806) (1,625)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)............. (1,709) 1,806
Accumulated deficit....................................... (882,028) (162,060)
---------- --------
Total stockholders' equity........................ 266,278 138,745
---------- --------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity........ $2,471,551 $648,460
========== ========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
33
36
AMAZON.COM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
---------- --------- --------
Net sales................................................ $1,639,839 $ 609,819 $147,787
Cost of sales............................................ 1,349,194 476,155 118,969
---------- --------- --------
Gross profit........................................ 290,645 133,664 28,818
Operating expenses:
Marketing and sales.................................... 413,150 132,654 40,077
Technology and content................................. 159,722 46,424 13,384
General and administrative............................. 70,144 15,618 6,741
Stock-based compensation............................... 30,618 1,889 1,211
Amortization of goodwill and other intangibles......... 214,694 42,599 --
Merger, acquisition and investment-related costs....... 8,072 3,535 --
---------- --------- --------
Total operating expenses....................... 896,400 242,719 61,413
---------- --------- --------
Loss from operations..................................... (605,755) (109,055) (32,595)
Interest income.......................................... 45,451 14,053 1,901
Interest expense......................................... (84,566) (26,639) (326)
Other income, net........................................ 1,671 -- --
---------- --------- --------
Net interest income (expense) and other............. (37,444) (12,586) 1,575
---------- --------- --------
Loss before equity in losses of equity-method
investees.............................................. (643,199) (121,641) (31,020)
Equity in losses of equity-method investees.............. (76,769) (2,905) --
---------- --------- --------
Net loss................................................. $ (719,968) $(124,546) $(31,020)
========== ========= ========
Basic and diluted loss per share......................... $ (2.20) $ (0.42) $ (0.12)
========== ========= ========
Shares used in computation of basic and diluted loss per
share.................................................. 326,753 296,344 260,682
========== ========= ========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
34
37
AMAZON.COM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(IN THOUSANDS)
ACCUMULATED
PREFERRED STOCK COMMON STOCK ADDITIONAL NOTE RECEIVABLE OTHER
--------------- ---------------- PAID-IN FOR DEFERRED COMPREHENSIVE
SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT CAPITAL COMMON STOCK COMPENSATION INCOME (LOSS)
------ ------ ------- ------ ---------- --------------- ------------ -------------
Balance at January 1, 1997.... 569 $ 6 190,836 $1,908 $ 8,135 $ -- $ (612) $ --
Net loss..................... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Sale of preferred stock...... 5 -- -- -- 200 -- -- --
Public stock offering, net of
$4,897 issuance costs...... -- -- 36,000 360 48,743 -- -- --
Conversion of preferred stock
into common stock.......... (574) (6) 41,356 414 (408) -- -- --
Issuance of common stock for
fixed assets and accrued
technology and content..... -- -- 2,700 26 1,474 -- -- --
Issuance of capital stock.... -- -- 2,540 26 3,976 -- -- --
Exercise of common stock
options.................... -- -- 16,386 164 345 -- -- --
Deferred stock-based
compensation............... -- -- -- -- 2,741 -- (2,741) --
Amortization of deferred
stock-based compensation... -- -- -- -- (69) -- 1,423 --
---- --- ------- ------ ---------- ------- -------- -------
Balance at December 31,
1997......................... -- -- 289,818 2,898 65,137 -- (1,930) --
Net loss..................... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Foreign currency translation
losses..................... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (35)
Change in unrealized gain on
marketable securities...... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 1,841
Comprehensive loss............
Issuance of capital stock.... -- -- 18,050 180 225,444 -- -- --
Exercise of common stock
options.................... -- -- 10,666 108 5,875 -- -- --
Note receivable for common
stock...................... -- -- -- -- -- (1,099) -- --
Deferred stock-based
compensation............... -- -- -- -- 2,081 -- (2,081) --
Amortization of deferred
stock-based compensation... -- -- -- -- -- -- 2,386 --
---- --- ------- ------ ---------- ------- -------- -------
Balance at December 31,
1998......................... -- -- 318,534 3,186 298,537 (1,099) (1,625) 1,806
Net loss..................... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Foreign currency translation
gains...................... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 490
Change in unrealized gain
(loss) on marketable
securities, net of
reclassification
adjustment................. -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (4,005)
Comprehensive loss............
Issuance of capital stock.... -- -- 10,496 105 743,169 -- -- --
Exercise of common stock
options.................... -- -- 16,125 161 67,969 -- -- --
Initial public offering of
equity-method investee..... -- -- -- -- 13,787 -- -- --
Note receivable for common
stock...................... -- -- -- -- -- (72) -- --
Deferred stock-based
compensation............... -- -- -- -- 72,078 -- (72,078) --
Amortization of deferred
stock-based compensation... -- -- -- -- -- -- 25,897 --
---- --- ------- ------ ---------- ------- -------- -------
Balance at December 31,
1999......................... -- $-- 345,155 $3,452 $1,195,540 $(1,171) $(47,806) $(1,709)
==== === ======= ====== ========== ======= ======== =======
TOTAL
ACCUMULATED STOCKHOLDERS'
DEFICIT EQUITY
----------- -------------
Balance at January 1, 1997.... $ (6,494) $ 2,943
Net loss..................... (31,020) (31,020)
Sale of preferred stock...... -- 200
Public stock offering, net of
$4,897 issuance costs...... -- 49,103
Conversion of preferred stock
into common stock.......... -- --
Issuance of common stock for
fixed assets and accrued
technology and content..... -- 1,500
Issuance of capital stock.... -- 4,002
Exercise of common stock
options.................... -- 509
Deferred stock-based
compensation............... -- --
Amortization of deferred
stock-based compensation... -- 1,354
--------- ---------
Balance at December 31,
1997......................... (37,514) 28,591
---------
Net loss..................... (124,546) (124,546)
Foreign currency translation
losses..................... -- (35)
Change in unrealized gain on
marketable securities...... -- 1,841
---------
Comprehensive loss............ (122,740)
---------
Issuance of capital stock.... -- 225,624
Exercise of common stock
options.................... -- 5,983
Note receivable for common
stock...................... -- (1,099)
Deferred stock-based
compensation............... -- --
Amortization of deferred
stock-based compensation... -- 2,386
--------- ---------
Balance at December 31,
1998......................... (162,060) 138,745
---------
Net loss..................... (719,968) (719,968)
Foreign currency translation
gains...................... -- 490
Change in unrealized gain
(loss) on marketable
securities, net of
reclassification
adjustment................. -- (4,005)
---------
Comprehensive loss............ (723,483)
---------
Issuance of capital stock.... -- 743,274
Exercise of common stock
options.................... -- 68,130
Initial public offering of
equity-method investee..... -- 13,787
Note receivable for common
stock...................... -- (72)
Deferred stock-based
compensation............... -- --
Amortization of deferred
stock-based compensation... -- 25,897
--------- ---------
Balance at December 31,
1999......................... $(882,028) $ 266,278
========= =========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
35
38
AMAZON.COM, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
----------- --------- ---------
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss................................................... $ (719,968) $(124,546) $ (31,020)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided
(used) in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization of fixed assets............ 36,806 9,421 3,442
Amortization of deferred stock-based compensation........ 30,618 2,386 1,354
Equity in losses of equity-method investees.............. 76,769 2,905 --
Amortization of goodwill and other intangibles........... 214,694 42,599 --
Non-cash merger, acquisition, and investment related
costs................................................. 8,072 1,561 --
Non-cash revenue for advertising and promotional
services.............................................. (5,837) -- --
Loss on sale of marketable securities.................... 8,688 271 --
Non-cash interest expense................................ 29,171 23,970 64
----------- --------- ---------
Net cash used in operating activities before changes in
operating assets and liabilities...................... (320,987) (41,433) (26,160)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of
effects from acquisitions:
Inventories........................................... (172,069) (20,513) (8,400)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets............. (60,628) (16,758) (3,055)
Accounts payable...................................... 330,166 78,674 30,172
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities........ 65,121 21,615 5,274
Accrued advertising................................... 42,382 9,617 2,856
Deferred revenue...................................... 262 -- --
Interest payable...................................... 24,878 (167) --
----------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by changes in operating assets
and liabilities, net of effects from
acquisitions................................... 230,112 72,468 26,847
----------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided (used) in operating
activities..................................... (90,875) 31,035 687
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Sales and maturities of marketable securities.............. 4,024,551 332,084 4,311
Purchases of marketable securities......................... (4,290,173) (546,509) (122,385)
Purchases of fixed assets.................................. (287,055) (28,333) (7,603)
Acquisitions and investments in businesses, net of cash
acquired................................................. (369,607) (19,019) --
----------- --------- ---------
Net cash used in investing activities............ (922,284) (261,777) (125,677)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of capital stock and exercise of
stock options............................................ 64,469 14,366 53,358
Proceeds from long-term debt............................... 1,263,639 325,987 75,000
Repayment of long-term debt................................ (188,886) (78,108) (47)
Financing costs............................................ (35,151) (7,783) (2,309)
----------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by financing activities........ 1,104,071 254,462 126,002
Effect of exchange rate changes............................ 489 (35) --
----------- --------- ---------
Net increase in cash....................................... 91,401 23,685 1,012
Cash at beginning of period................................ 25,561 1,876 864
----------- --------- ---------
Cash at end of period...................................... $ 116,962 $ 25,561 $ 1,876
=========== ========= =========
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Fixed assets acquired under capital leases................. $ 25,850 $ -- $ 3,463
Fixed assets acquired under financing agreements........... 5,608 -- 1,500
Stock issued in connection with business acquisitions...... 774,409 217,241 --
Equity securities of other companies received for non-cash
revenue for advertising and promotional services......... 54,402 -- --
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized......... 59,688 26,629 326
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
36
39
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1 -- ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Description of Business
Amazon.com, Inc. (Amazon.com or the Company) was incorporated in July 1994
and opened its virtual doors on the Web in July 1995. Amazon.com is an Internet
retailer offering more than 18 million unique items in categories including
books, music, DVD/video, toys, electronics, software, video games and home
improvement products. Amazon.com offers a free electronic greeting card service
and also provides a community of online shoppers with an easy and safe way to
purchase and sell a large selection of products through Amazon.com Auctions and
zShops.
Business Combinations and Investments
For business combinations that have been accounted for under the purchase
method of accounting, the Company includes the results of operations of the
acquired business from the date of acquisition. Net assets of the companies
acquired are recorded at their fair value at the date of acquisition. The excess
of the purchase price over the fair value of tangible and identifiable
intangible net assets acquired is included in goodwill in the accompanying
consolidated balance sheets.
One business combination in 1998 was accounted for under the pooling of
interests method of accounting. In this case, the assets, liabilities and
stockholders' equity of the acquired entity was combined with the Company's
respective accounts at recorded values. The consolidated financial statements
reflect the restatement of all periods presented to include the accounts of the
acquired entity accounted for under the pooling of interests method of
accounting. The historical results of the pooled entity reflect its actual
operating cost structures and, as a result, do not necessarily reflect the cost
structure of the newly combined entity. The historical results do not purport to
be indicative of future results.
Investments in affiliated entities in which the Company has the ability to
exercise significant influence, but not control, of an investee, generally an
ownership interest of the voting stock of between 20% and 50%, are accounted for
under the equity method of accounting. Accordingly, under the equity method of
accounting, the Company's share of the investee's earnings or loss is included
in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company records its
investments in equity-method investees on the consolidated balance sheets as
"Investments in equity-method investees" and its share of the investees'
earnings or losses in "Equity in losses of equity-method investees." The portion
of the Company's investment in an equity-method investee that exceeds its claim
of the net assets of the investee, if any, is assigned to goodwill and amortized
over a period of three years. The goodwill amount, which was $24.8 million as of
December 31, 1999, is included in "Investments in equity-method investees" in
the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, and the amortization of the
goodwill is included in "Equity in losses of equity-method investees" in the
accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
All other investments, which consist of investments for which the Company
does not have the ability to exercise significant influence, are accounted for
under the cost method of accounting. Dividends and other distributions of
earnings from other investees, if any, are included in income when declared. The
Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of its investments accounted
for under the cost method of accounting and as of December 31, 1999 and 1998,
such investments were recorded at the lower of cost or estimated net realizable
value.
Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and
transactions have been eliminated.
37
40
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Marketable Securities
The Company's marketable securities, which consist primarily of
high-quality short- to intermediate-term fixed income securities and money
market mutual funds, are classified as available-for-sale and are reported at
fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are reported, net of taxes, as a
component of stockholders' equity within accumulated other comprehensive income.
Unrealized losses are charged against income when a decline in fair value is
determined to be other than temporary. The specific identification method is
used to determine the cost of securities sold. The Company classifies all
investments of cash as marketable securities, including highly liquid
investments with maturities of three months or less, and reflects the related
cash flows as investing cash flows. As a result of the classification of highly
liquid investments within marketable securities, a significant portion of the
Company's gross marketable securities purchases and maturities disclosed as
investing cash flows is related to highly liquid investments.
Inventories
Inventories, consisting of products available for sale, are valued at the
lower of cost (specific identification) or market.
Fixed Assets
Fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and
amortization, which includes the amortization of assets recorded under capital
leases. Fixed assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated
useful lives of the assets (generally two to ten years). Fixed assets purchased
under capital leases are amortized on a straight-line basis over the lesser of
the estimated useful life of the asset or the lease term.
Included in fixed assets is the cost of internal-use software, including
software used in connection with the Company's Web sites. The Company expenses
all costs related to the development of internal-use software other than those
incurred during the application development stage. Costs incurred during the
application development stage are capitalized and amortized over the estimated
useful life of the software (generally two years).
Goodwill, Net
Goodwill, net, represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair
value of assets acquired in business acquisitions accounted for under the
purchase method. Goodwill is presented net of related accumulated amortization
and is being amortized over lives ranging from two to four years.
Other Purchased Intangibles, Net
Other purchased intangibles, net, include identifiable intangible assets
purchased by the Company, primarily in connection with business acquisitions.
Other purchased intangibles are presented net of related accumulated
amortization and are being amortized over lives ranging from two to four years.
38
41
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Long-Lived Assets
The carrying values of intangible assets and other long-lived assets,
including equity-method investments, are reviewed on a regular basis for the
existence of facts or circumstances, both internally and externally, that may
suggest impairment. To date, no such impairment has been indicated.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts for the Company's cash, accounts payable and other
liabilities approximate fair value. The fair market value for long-term debt and
marketable securities is based on quoted market prices where available.
Deferred Charges
Deferred charges consist of fees associated with the issuance of the
Company's debt. The fees are being amortized and included in interest expense
over the life of the related debt.
Deferred Revenue
Deferred revenue consists of advertising fees to be earned in the future
under agreements existing at the balance sheet date.
Income Taxes
The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities based on
differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and
liabilities using the enacted tax rates and laws that are expected to be in
effect when the differences are expected to be recovered. The Company provides a
valuation allowance for deferred tax assets for which it does not consider
realization of such assets to be more likely than not.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue from product sales, net of any promotional
gift certificates, when the products are shipped to customers, which is also
when title passes to customers. Outbound shipping charges are included in net
sales and amounted to $239.0 million, $94.1 million and $24.8 million in 1999,
1998 and 1997, respectively. Revenue from gift certificates is recognized upon
product shipment following redemption. The Company provides an allowance for
sales returns based on historical experience. Revenues from services are
recorded at the time the related service is performed.
During 1999, the Company recorded approximately $5.8 million of revenue
associated with noncash transactions whereby the Company received equity
securities of other companies in exchange for advertising and promotional
services to be provided for a fixed period of time. The Company recorded the
fair value of the consideration on the date received, $54.4 million, and is
recognizing revenue ratably over the term of the agreements as the advertising
and promotional services are provided.
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales consists of the actual cost of products purchased for resale
and related in-bound shipping charges, out-bound shipping charges, and the
actual cost of tangible supplies used to package products for shipment to
customers. Outbound shipping charges and the cost of tangible supplies used to
package products for shipment to customers totaled $227.3 million, $75.9 million
and $20.4 million in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
39
42
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Fulfillment Costs
Included in marketing and sales expense are fulfillment costs, which
consist of the cost of operating and staffing distribution and customer service
centers. Such costs include those attributable to receiving, inspecting and
warehousing inventories; picking, packaging and preparing customers' orders for
shipment; and responding to inquiries from customers. Fulfillment costs amounted
to $188.4 million, $50.3 million and $12.1 million in 1999, 1998 and 1997,
respectively.
Advertising Costs
The cost of advertising is expensed as incurred. For the years ended
December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, the Company incurred advertising expense of
$140.9 million, $60.2 million and $21.2 million, respectively.
Technology and Content
Technology and content expenses consist principally of payroll and related
expenses for development, editorial, systems and telecommunications operations
personnel and consultants, systems and telecommunications infrastructure and
costs of acquired content.
Technology and content costs are generally expensed as incurred, except for
certain costs relating to the development of internal-use software, including
those relating to the Company's Web sites, that are capitalized and depreciated
over estimated useful lives.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion No.
25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (APB No. 25), and related
interpretations, in accounting for its employee stock options rather than the
alternative fair value accounting allowed by Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards (SFAS) No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. APB No. 25
provides that the compensation expense relative to the Company's employee stock
options is measured based on the intrinsic value of the stock option. SFAS No.
123 requires companies that continue to follow APB No. 25 to provide a pro forma
disclosure of the impact of applying the fair value method of SFAS No. 123.
Foreign Currency Translation
The functional currency of the Company's foreign subsidiaries is the local
currency. Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated into US
dollars at year-end exchange rates, and revenues and expenses are translated at
average rates prevailing during the year. Translation adjustments are included
in accumulated other comprehensive income, a separate component of stockholders'
equity. Transaction gains and losses arising from transactions denominated in a
currency other than the functional currency of the entity involved, which have
been insignificant, are included in the consolidated statements of operations.
To date, the Company has entered into no foreign currency exchange contracts.
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to
concentrations of credit risk consist principally of its holdings of cash and
marketable securities. The Company's credit risk is managed by investing its
cash and marketable securities in high-quality money market instruments and
securities of the US government and its agencies, foreign governments and
high-quality corporate issuers. At December 31, 1999 and 1998, the Company had
no significant concentrations of credit risk.
40
43
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Basic earnings per share excludes any dilutive effects of options, warrants
and convertible securities. Basic earnings per share is computed using the
weighted average number of common shares outstanding, net of shares subject to
repurchase, during the period. Diluted earnings per share is computed using the
weighted average number of common and common stock equivalent shares outstanding
during the period. Common equivalent shares are excluded from the computation if
their effect is antidilutive.
As a result of the Company's initial public offering in May 1997, all
preferred stock automatically converted into common stock. Accordingly, the 1997
net loss per share is a pro forma loss per share based on the weighted average
number of shares of common stock outstanding and preferred stock on an "as if"
converted basis outstanding during each period. The Company believes that this
is a more meaningful presentation of earnings per share for periods prior to its
initial public offering.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In December 1999, the Securities and Exchange Commission staff released
Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements
(SAB No. 101), which provides guidance on the recognition, presentation and
disclosure of revenue in financial statements. SAB No. 101 did not impact the
Company's revenue recognition policies.
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS
No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. As
amended by SFAS No. 137, SFAS No. 133 is effective for all fiscal quarters of
all fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000. SFAS No. 133 requires that all
derivative instruments be recorded on the balance sheet at their fair value.
Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in current
earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on whether a derivative is
designed as part of a hedge transaction and, if it is, the type of hedge
transaction. The Company has not yet determined the impact of the adoption of
SFAS No. 133 on its consolidated financial statements or business practices.
Reclassifications
Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform to the
current year presentation.
NOTE 2 -- BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
The Company completed the following acquisitions during 1999: e-Niche
Incorporated (Exchange.com), Accept.com Financial Services Corporation
(Accept.com), Alexa Internet (Alexa), LiveBid.com, Inc. (LiveBid) the catalog
and online commerce assets of Acme Electric Motor Co. (Tool Crib) and Back to
Basics Toys, Inc. (Back to Basics). Each acquisition was recorded using the
purchase method of accounting under APB Opinion No. 16. Results of operations
for each acquired company have been included in the financial results of the
Company from the closing date of each transaction forward.
In accordance with APB Opinion No. 16, all identifiable assets were
assigned a portion of the cost of the acquired companies (purchase price) on the
basis of their respective fair values. Intangible assets were identified and
valued by considering the Company's intended use of acquired assets and analysis
of data concerning products, technologies, markets, historical financial
performance, and underlying assumptions of future performance. The economic and
competitive environment in which the Company and the acquired companies operate
was also considered in the valuation analysis.
Approximately $2.8 million of the purchase price of the Accept.com and
Alexa transactions attributable to in-process research and development efforts
has been expensed because, at the time of acquisition, technological feasibility
had not been established and no alternative future uses existed. Purchased
in-process
41
44
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
research and development was identified and valued by independent valuation
through discussions with the acquired companies' management and the analysis of
data concerning developmental products, their respective stage of development,
the time and resources needed to complete them, their expected income generating
ability, target markets and associated risks.
On May 14, 1999, the Company completed its acquisition of Exchange.com, a
developer of Internet marketplaces and related online communities that bring
together buyers and sellers of rare and hard-to-find items. In connection with
the acquisition, the Company assumed all outstanding Exchange.com stock options
and issued 1,893,944 shares of Amazon.com common stock to acquire all of the
outstanding common shares of Exchange.com. Substantially all of the
approximately $145 million purchase price was allocated to goodwill and other
purchased intangibles. The goodwill and substantially all other purchased
intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over lives
averaging approximately three years. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, the
Company may be required to issue additional shares with a value of up to $27.5
million one year after the acquisition date dependent on certain performance
goals, which would increase the purchase price by this amount.
On May 14, 1999, the Company completed its acquisition of LiveBid, a
technology provider for live, event-based auctions on the Internet. In
connection with the acquisition, the Company assumed all outstanding LiveBid
stock options and issued 553,770 shares to acquire all of the outstanding common
shares of LiveBid. Substantially all of the approximately $40 million purchase
price was allocated to goodwill and other purchased intangibles. The goodwill
and other purchased intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line
basis over lives averaging approximately three years.
On June 9, 1999, the Company completed its acquisition of Accept.com, an
e-commerce company developing technology to simplify person-to-person and
business-to-consumer transactions on the Internet. In connection with the
acquisition, the Company assumed all outstanding Accept.com stock options and
issued 1,755,356 shares of Amazon.com common stock to acquire all of the
outstanding common shares of Accept.com. Substantially all of the approximately
$189 million purchase price was allocated to goodwill and other purchased
intangibles. The goodwill and substantially all other purchased intangible
assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over lives averaging
approximately three years.
On June 10, 1999, the Company completed its acquisition of Alexa, a
developer of a Web navigation service that works with Internet browsers to
provide useful information about the sites being viewed and suggests related
sites. In connection with the acquisition, the Company assumed all outstanding
Alexa stock options and issued 4,369,884 shares of Amazon.com common stock to
acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Alexa. Substantially all of the
approximately $250 million purchase price was allocated to goodwill and other
purchased intangibles. The goodwill and substantially all other purchased
intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over lives
averaging approximately three years.
On October 1, 1999 and November 8, 1999, respectively, the Company
completed its acquisition of the catalog and online commerce assets of Tool
Crib, a retailer of home improvement products, and its acquisition of Back to
Basics, a catalog retailer of toys. In connection with these acquisitions, the
Company issued a total of 1,514,612 shares of Amazon.com common stock. Of the
approximately $112 million aggregate purchase price, approximately $105 million
was allocated to goodwill and other purchased intangibles. The goodwill and
substantially all other purchased intangible assets are being amortized on a
straight-line basis over lives averaging approximately four years.
The Company made additional immaterial acquisitions during 1999 totaling
$44.1 million. The Company issued 200,370 shares of common stock to effect these
acquisitions.
In connection with certain acquisitions, the Company has conditioned a
portion of the overall consideration on the continued tenure of key employees.
Under generally accepted accounting principles, a portion of this amount is
accounted for as compensation rather than as a component of purchase price.
Consequently, a
42
45
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
maximum of $85.4 million in additional consideration relating to the Company's
acquisitions for 1999 may be recorded as compensation expense and classified
between stock-based compensation and merger, acquisition and investment-related
costs in the results of operations. Amounts will be "earned" based on tenure of
certain employees and will be recognized as expense over a period of 12-36
months.
In April 1998, the Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of
three international Internet companies. The aggregate purchase price of the
three acquisitions, plus related charges, was approximately $55 million. The
consideration for the acquisitions was comprised of common stock and cash. The
Company issued an aggregate of approximately 6.4 million shares of common stock
to effect the transactions. The goodwill and other purchased intangibles are
being amortized on a straight-line basis over two years.
In August 1998, the Company acquired all the outstanding capital stock of
Junglee Corp. (Junglee). Junglee was a leading provider of advanced Web-based
virtual database technology to help shoppers find and discover products on the
Internet. The Company issued approximately 9.4 million shares of common stock
and assumed all outstanding options and warrants in connection with the
acquisition of Junglee. The Junglee acquisition was accounted for under the
purchase method of accounting, with substantially all of the approximately $180
million purchase price allocated to goodwill and other purchased intangibles.
The goodwill and substantially all other purchased intangible assets are being
amortized on a straight-line basis over lives averaging approximately three
years.
The pro forma consolidated financial information for years ended December
31, 1999 and 1998, determined as if all acquisitions had occurred on January 1
of each year, would have resulted in net sales of $1.7 billion and $685.0
million, net loss of $864.5 million and $416.6 million, and basic and diluted
loss per share of $2.65 and $1.41, respectively. This unaudited pro forma
information is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily
indicative of the results of operations in future periods or results that would
have been achieved had Amazon.com and the acquired companies been combined
during the specified periods.
In August 1998, the Company exchanged common stock and options for all of
the outstanding capital stock of Sage Enterprises, Inc. (PlanetAll). The Company
issued approximately 4.8 million shares of common stock and assumed all
outstanding options in connection with the merger. The PlanetAll merger was
accounted for as a pooling of interests and, as a result, the Company's
consolidated financial statements have been restated for all periods presented.
PlanetAll issued approximately 167,000 shares of capital stock for proceeds of
approximately $1.0 million and approximately 896,000 shares of capital stock for
proceeds of approximately $7.4 million in January 1998 and April 1998,
respectively.
Net sales for PlanetAll were not significant and net loss was $4.1 million
and $3.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 and the year ended
December 31, 1997, respectively, which represent separate results of the
combined entity through the periods preceding the merger. There were no
significant intercompany transactions between the two companies and no
significant conforming accounting adjustments.
43
46
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 3 -- MARKETABLE SECURITIES
The following tables summarize, by major security type, the Company's
marketable securities:
DECEMBER 31, 1999
---------------------------------------------------
GROSS GROSS
AMORTIZED UNREALIZED UNREALIZED ESTIMATED
COST GAINS LOSSES FAIR VALUE
--------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Commercial paper and short-term
obligations........................... $ 74,203 $ 8 $ (654) $ 73,557
Corporate notes and bonds............... 105,282 -- (1,438) 103,844
Asset-backed and agency securities...... 252,874 136 (5,343) 247,667
Treasury notes and bonds................ 169,021 32 (4,895) 164,158
-------- ---- -------- --------
$601,380 $176 $(12,330) $589,226
======== ==== ======== ========
DECEMBER 31, 1998
---------------------------------------------------
GROSS GROSS
AMORTIZED UNREALIZED UNREALIZED ESTIMATED
COST GAINS LOSSES FAIR VALUE
--------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Commercial paper and short-term
obligations........................... $114,158 $ 22 $ -- $114,180
Corporate notes and bonds............... 51,242 112 (3) 51,351
Asset-backed and agency securities...... 83,611 98 (140) 83,569
Treasury notes and bonds................ 88,952 230 (169) 89,013
Equity securities....................... 8,080 1,691 -- 9,771
-------- ------ ----- --------
$346,043 $2,153 $(312) $347,884
======== ====== ===== ========
At December 31, 1999, the Company also had investments in noncurrent
available-for-sale equity securities included in "Other investments" (Note 6).
The following table summarizes contractual maturities of the Company's
marketable securities as of December 31, 1999:
AMORTIZED ESTIMATED
COST FAIR VALUE
--------- ----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Due within one year.................................... $ 52,331 $ 51,943
Due after one year through five years.................. 296,175 289,616
Asset-backed and agency securities with various
maturities........................................... 252,874 247,667
-------- --------
$601,380 $589,226
======== ========
The gross realized gains and losses on sales of available-for-sale
securities were $6.7 million and $15.4 million, respectively, for the year ended
December 31, 1999. Gross realized gains and losses on sales of
available-for-sale securities were not significant for the years ended December
31, 1998 or 1997.
Activity in unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities was
as follows:
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
---------- -------- ------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during
period............................................... $(12,698) $1,841 $--
Less: reclassification adjustment for losses included
in net loss.......................................... 8,693 -- --
-------- ------ ---
Net unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale
securities........................................... $ (4,005) $1,841 $--
======== ====== ===
44
47
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 4 -- FIXED ASSETS
Fixed assets, at cost, consist of the following:
DECEMBER 31,
--------------------
1999 1998
-------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Computers, equipment and software...................... $187,345 $ 35,848
Leasehold improvements................................. 43,968 5,535
Leased assets.......................................... 52,374 442
Construction in progress............................... 83,290 1,760
-------- --------
366,977 43,585
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization......... (49,364) (13,794)
-------- --------
Fixed assets, net................................. $317,613 $ 29,791
======== ========
The Company capitalized approximately $3.4 million of interest during the
year ended December 31, 1999.
NOTE 5 -- GOODWILL AND OTHER PURCHASED INTANGIBLES
Goodwill and other purchased intangibles are stated net of related
accumulated amortization, as follows:
DECEMBER 31,
---------------------
1999 1998
--------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Goodwill.............................................. $ 747,720 $215,637
Less accumulated amortization......................... (213,021) (41,585)
--------- --------
Goodwill, net.................................... 534,699 174,052
========= ========
Other purchased intangibles........................... 239,717 5,600
Less accumulated amortization......................... (44,272) (1,014)
--------- --------
Other purchased intangibles, net................. $ 195,445 $ 4,586
========= ========
NOTE 6 -- INVESTMENTS
The Company has several equity-method investments included in "Investments
in equity-method investees" in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. At
December 31, 1998, the Company's only equity-method investment was a 46%
ownership interest in drugstore.com, inc. (drugstore.com). In no cases does the
Company have the ability to control these investees. At December 31, 1999, the
Company's equity-method investees and the Company's approximate ownership
interest in each investee, based on outstanding shares, were as follows:
PERCENTAGE
COMPANY OWNERSHIP
------- ----------
Della.com................................................. 21.9%
drugstore.com............................................. 26.7%
Gear.com.................................................. 49.0%
HomeGrocer.com............................................ 28.0%
Kozmo.com................................................. 21.7%
Naxon Corporation......................................... 61.0%
Pets.com.................................................. 48.4%
45
48
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Summarized balance sheet information of the Company's equity-method
investees is as follows:
DECEMBER 31,
-------------------
1999 1998
-------- -------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Current assets.......................................... $353,182 $19,245
Noncurrent assets....................................... 316,720 3,272
Current liabilities..................................... 47,062 2,195
Noncurrent liabilities.................................. 67,692 975
Summarized statement of operations information of the Company's
equity-method investees, calculated for each investee for the period during
which the Company had investments in such investees, is as follows:
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
---------- -------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Net sales................................... $ 27,996 $ -- $ --
Gross profit (loss)......................... (3,072) -- --
Net loss.................................... (152,541) (6,008) --
In July 1999, drugstore.com completed the initial public offering (IPO) of
its common stock. drugstore.com operates an online retail store and information
site for health, beauty, wellness, personal care and pharmacy products. Prior to
the IPO, the Company owned 10,733,523 shares of drugstore.com common stock,
which represented 29.2% of the outstanding shares. drugstore.com sold 5,000,000
shares of common stock in its IPO at a price of $18 per share, including 555,555
shares purchased by the Company. This reduced the Company's ownership percentage
to 26.7% after the IPO. In connection with this transaction, the Company
recorded a contribution to additional paid-in capital of $13.8 million,
representing the difference between the carrying value of the Company's
investment and the proportionate underlying net book value of drugstore.com
after the IPO. As of December 31, 1999, drugstore.com was the only publicly held
equity-method investee of the Company. The market value of the Company's
drugstore.com common stock was $408.5 million as of December 31, 1999.
At December 31, 1999, "Other investments" includes $87.7 million of
investments accounted for under the cost method and $57.0 million of cost method
investments in securities with ready markets recorded at fair value pursuant to
SFAS No. 115. The cost of such noncurrent available-for-sale equity securities
at December 31, 1999 was $47.0 million. Gross unrealized gains were $15.4
million and gross unrealized losses were $5.4 million at December 31, 1999.
NOTE 7 -- LONG-TERM DEBT
Convertible Subordinated Notes
On February 3, 1999, the Company completed an offering of $1.25 billion of
4 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2009 (the Convertible Subordinated
Notes). The Convertible Subordinated Notes are convertible into the Company's
common stock at the holders' option at a conversion price of $78.0275 per share,
subject to adjustment in certain events. Interest on the Convertible
Subordinated Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and August
1 of each year, and commenced August 1, 1999. The Convertible Subordinated Notes
are unsecured and are subordinated to all existing and future Senior
Indebtedness as defined in the indenture governing the Convertible Subordinated
Notes (the Convertible Subordinated Notes Indenture). Subject to certain
conditions, the Convertible Subordinated Notes may be redeemed at the option of
the Company prior to February 6, 2002, in whole or in part, at the redemption
price of $1,000 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if the closing price
for the Company's common stock has exceeded 150% of the conversion price for at
least 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive
46
49
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date of mailing of the
notice of redemption. Upon any redemption made prior to February 6, 2002, the
Company will also make an additional cash payment with respect to the
Convertible Subordinated Notes called for redemption in an amount equal to
$212.60 per $1,000 note redeemed, less the amount of any interest actually paid
on such Convertible Subordinated Notes prior to the call for redemption. At any
time on and after February 6, 2002, the Company may redeem the notes, in whole
or in part, at the redemption prices set forth in the Convertible Subordinated
Notes Indenture.
Upon the occurrence of a "fundamental change" (as defined in the
Convertible Subordinated Notes Indenture) prior to the maturity of the
Convertible Subordinated Notes, each holder thereof shall have the right to
require Amazon.com to redeem all or any part of such holder's Convertible
Subordinated Notes at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes
being redeemed, together with accrued interest.
The fair value of the Convertible Subordinated Notes as of December 31,
1999 was $1,416,750,000.
Senior Discount Notes
In May 1998, the Company completed the offering of approximately $326
million gross proceeds of 10% Senior Discount Notes due May 1, 2008 (the Senior
Discount Notes). Pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 in September
1998, the Company completed an exchange offer of 10% Senior Discount Notes due
2008 (the Exchange Notes), which are registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, for all outstanding Senior Discount Notes. The Exchange Notes
have identical terms in all material respects to the terms of the original
Senior Discount Notes, except that the Exchange Notes generally are freely
transferable (the Exchange Notes are referred to throughout these notes to
consolidated financial statements interchangeably with the Senior Discount
Notes). The Exchange Notes were issued under the indenture governing the
original Senior Discount Notes (the Indenture). The Senior Discount Notes were
sold at a substantial discount from their principal amount at maturity of $530
million. Prior to November 1, 2003, no cash interest payments are required;
instead, interest will accrete during this period to the aggregate principal
amount at maturity. From and after May 1, 2003, the Senior Discount Notes will
bear interest at a rate of 10% per annum payable in cash on each May 1 and
November 1. The Senior Discount Notes are redeemable, at the option of the
Company, in whole or in part, at any time on or after May 1, 2003, at the
redemption prices set forth in the Indenture, plus accrued interest, if any, to
the date of redemption.
During 1999, the Company repurchased $266 million (principal amount) of the
Senior Discount Notes, representing accreted value of $178.4 million. The
Company recorded an immaterial loss on extinguishment of this debt. As of
December 31, 1999, the remaining principal amount outstanding was $190.7
million.
The Senior Discount Notes are senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company
ranking pari passu with the Company's existing and future unsubordinated,
unsecured indebtedness and senior in right of payment to all subordinated
indebtedness of the Company. The Senior Discount Notes are effectively
subordinated to all secured indebtedness and to all existing and future
liabilities of the Company's subsidiaries.
The Indenture contains certain covenants that, among other things, limit
the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as defined in the
Indenture) to incur indebtedness, pay dividends, prepay subordinated
indebtedness, repurchase capital stock, make investments, create liens, engage
in transactions with stockholders and affiliates, sell assets and engage in
mergers and consolidations. However, these limitations are subject to a number
of important qualifications and exceptions. The Company was in compliance with
all financial covenants at December 31, 1999 and 1998.
The fair value of the outstanding Senior Discount Notes as of December 31,
1999 was $174.2 million. As of December 31, 1998, the carrying amount of the
Senior Discount Notes approximated fair value.
47
50
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 8 -- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Leases and Marketing Agreements
The Company currently leases office and distribution center facilities and
fixed assets under noncancelable operating and capital leases. Rental expense
under operating lease agreements for 1999, 1998 and 1997 was $43.0 million, $8.5
million and $2.1 million, respectively.
The Company has also entered into certain marketing agreements, which
include fixed fees through 2000. The costs associated with these agreements are
recognized on a systematic basis over the term of the related agreements as
services are received.
Future minimum commitments are as follows:
OPERATING
LEASES AND
CAPITAL MARKETING
LEASES AGREEMENTS
------- ----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31,
2000............................................ $12,807 $ 68,321
2001............................................ 12,734 39,640
2002............................................ 8,400 20,466
2003............................................ 5,011 6
2004............................................ 1 --
Thereafter........................................... -- --
------- --------
Total minimum lease payments......................... $38,953 $128,433
========
Less imputed interest................................ 7,687
-------
Present value of net minimum lease payments.......... 31,266
Less current portion............................ 9,802
-------
Long-term capital lease obligation................... $21,464
=======
Legal Proceedings
Subsequent to December 31, 1999, certain federal class action lawsuits were
filed against the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Alexa. The lawsuits
allege that Alexa tracking and storage of Internet Web usage paths violates
federal and state statutes prohibiting computer fraud, unfair competition, and
unauthorized interception of private electronic communications, as well as
common law proscriptions against trespass and invasion of privacy. The
complaints seek actual, statutory, and punitive damages, as well as restitution,
on behalf of all users of Alexa Web navigation service, as well as injunctive
relief prohibiting Alexa from tracking and storing such information or
disclosing it to third parties. Although the Company disputes the allegations of
wrongdoing in these complaints, there can be no assurance that the Company will
prevail in these lawsuits. In addition, the Federal Trade Commission has
requested information and documents regarding Alexa practices and has opened a
formal investigative file in connection with its inquiry. The Company is
cooperating voluntarily with the Federal Trade Commission's investigation.
Depending on the amount and the timing, an unfavorable resolution of some or all
of these matters could materially affect the Company's business, future results
of operations or cash flows in a particular period.
From time to time, the Company is subject to other legal proceedings and
claims in the ordinary course of business, including claims of alleged
infringement of trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property rights.
The Company currently is not aware of any such legal proceedings or claims that
it believes will have,
48
51
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on its business,
prospects, financial condition or operating results.
Letters of Credit
The Company is contingently liable under unused letters of credit in the
amount of $58.3 million as of December 31, 1999.
NOTE 9 -- STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred Stock
In June 1996, the Company issued 569,396 shares of Series A convertible
preferred stock at a price of $14.05 per share. In January and February 1997,
the Company sold an additional 5,000 shares of Series A preferred stock at $40
per share. The preferred stock was convertible into common stock at the option
of the holder, at any time, at an effective rate of 36 shares of common stock
for one share of preferred stock. As of the closing of the Company's initial
public offering, all of the preferred stock outstanding was converted into an
aggregate of 20,678,256 shares of common stock.
Common Stock
On April 18, 1997, the Company effected a 3-for-2 common stock split. On
May 15, 1997, the Company completed an initial public offering of 18 million
shares of its common stock. Net proceeds to the Company aggregated $49.1
million. On June 1, 1998, the Company effected a 2-for-1 stock split in the form
of a stock dividend to stockholders of record on May 20, 1998. On January 4,
1999, the Company effected a 3-for-1 stock split in the form of a stock dividend
to the stockholders of record on December 18, 1998. On September 1, 1999, the
Company effected a 2-for-1 stock split in the form of a stock dividend to
stockholders of record on August 12, 1999. Accordingly, the accompanying
consolidated financial statements have been restated to reflect these stock
splits.
Stock Option Plans
The Company's stock option plans consist of the 1999 Nonofficer Employee
Stock Option Plan, the 1997 Stock Option Plan and the 1994 Stock Option Plan.
Shares reserved under the Plans consist of 40.0 million shares in the 1999
Nonofficer Employee Stock Option Plan, 72.0 million shares in the 1997 Stock
Option Plan and 57.6 million shares in the 1994 Stock Option Plan. Any shares of
common stock available for issuance under the 1994 Stock Option Plan that are
not issued under that plan may be added to the aggregate number of shares
available for issuance under the 1997 Stock Option Plan. In connection with
certain acquisitions in 1998 and 1999, the Company assumed outstanding options
to purchase common stock originally issued under the acquired companies' stock
option plans. The Company's stock options plans as well as the assumed stock
option plans are hereby collectively referred to as the "Plans."
Generally, the Company's Board of Directors grants options at an exercise
price of not less than the fair market value of the Company's common stock at
the date of grant. Each outstanding option granted prior to December 20, 1996
has a term of five years from the date of vesting. Generally, outstanding
options granted on or subsequent to December 20, 1996 have a term of 10 years
from the date of grant; however, certain nonqualified stock options were granted
in 1999 with terms of 15 and 20 years. Subject to Internal Revenue Service
limitations, options granted under the Plans prior to April 1999 and granted
under certain assumed plans generally become exercisable immediately. Options
granted under the Plans since April 1999 generally vest and become exercisable
in accordance with the following vesting schedule: 20% after year one, 20% after
year two and 5% at the end of each quarter for years three through five. Shares
issued upon exercise of options that are unvested are restricted and subject to
repurchase by the Company at the exercise price upon
49
52
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
termination of employment or services and such restrictions lapse over the
original vesting schedule. At December 31, 1999, approximately 3.8 million
shares of restricted common stock were subject to repurchase.
Stock Option Activity
The following table summarizes the Company's stock option activity:
NUMBER WEIGHTED
OF AVERAGE
SHARES EXERCISE PRICE
-------------- --------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Balance January 1, 1997........................... 40,034 $ 0.038
Options granted and assumed..................... 36,120 1.148
Options canceled................................ (5,104) 0.270
Options exercised............................... (16,386) 0.032
-------
Balance December 31, 1997......................... 54,664 0.751
Options granted and assumed..................... 39,548 12.734
Options canceled................................ (7,537) 4.099
Options exercised............................... (10,666) 0.554
-------
Balance December 31, 1998......................... 76,009 6.688
Options granted and assumed..................... 31,739 63.602
Options canceled................................ (11,281) 3.860
Options exercised............................... (16,125) 19.703
-------
Balance December 31, 1999......................... 80,342 $27.755
=======
At December 31, 1999, 44.8 million shares of common stock were available
for future grant under the Plans.
The following table summarizes information about options outstanding and
exercisable at December 31, 1999:
SHARES UNDERLYING OPTIONS OUTSTANDING SHARES UNDERLYING
--------------------------------------------- OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
WEIGHTED -------------------------------
SHARES AVERAGE SHARES
UNDERLYING REMAINING WEIGHTED UNDERLYING WEIGHTED
RANGE OF OPTIONS CONTRACTUAL AVERAGE OPTIONS AVERAGE
EXERCISE PRICES OUTSTANDING LIFE EXERCISE PRICE EXERCISABLE EXERCISE PRICE
--------------- -------------- ----------- -------------- -------------- --------------
(IN THOUSANDS) (IN THOUSANDS)
$ 0.014 - $ .083 9,965 5.0 years $ 0.049 3,743 $ 0.039
0.111 - 1.000 11,655 7.2 years 0.554 2,807 0.511
1.167 - 5.372 9,440 7.9 years 3.823 1,355 3.083
6.135 - 12.833 9,242 8.3 years 7.644 516 7.794
12.865 - 21.297 8,207 8.7 years 18.426 821 18.998
21.328 - 57.953 12,388 12.5 years 50.778 479 39.346
58.094 - 64.875 9,294 12.4 years 62.425 51 60.926
64.938 - 87.750 8,670 9.4 years 72.564 47 74.973
87.781 - 104.063 1,338 9.5 years 91.654 20 94.328
104.969 - 104.969 143 9.3 years 104.969 1 104.969
------ -----
$ 0.014 - $104.969 80,342 9.0 years $ 27.755 9,840 $ 5.358
====== =====
50
53
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Deferred Compensation
The Company recorded aggregate deferred compensation of $72.1 million, $2.1
million, and $2.7 million in 1999, 1998 and 1997, respectively. In 1999,
deferred compensation was recorded in connection with acquisitions made by the
Company in which restricted Company stock was issued to employees of acquired
companies. Such stock is considered compensation for services to be provided by
employees, and the related expense will be recognized over the term of the
services provided, which is generally four years. The amounts recorded in 1998
and 1997 represent the difference between the grant price and the deemed fair
value of the Company's common stock for shares subject to options granted in
1998 and 1997. Shares underlying options granted below fair market value and the
associated weighted average exercise price were 1,072,000 and $2.048, and 16.6
million and $0.237 during the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997,
respectively. The amortization of deferred compensation is charged to operations
over the vesting period of the options, which is typically five years. Total
amortization expense recognized in 1999, 1998 and 1997 related to deferred
compensation was $25.9 million, $2.4 million and $1.4 million, respectively.
Pro Forma Disclosure
The Company follows the intrinsic value method in accounting for its stock
options. Had compensation cost been recognized based on the fair value at the
date of grant for options granted in 1999, 1998 and 1997, the pro forma amounts
of the Company's net loss and net loss per share for the years ended December
31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 would have been as follows:
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
------------ ---------- ---------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
Net loss -- as reported......................... $ (719,968) $(124,546) $(31,020)
Net loss -- pro forma........................... (1,031,925) (194,269) (35,983)
Basic and diluted loss per share -- as
reported...................................... $ (2.20) $ (0.84) $ (0.24)
Basic and diluted loss per share -- pro forma... (3.16) (1.31) (0.28)
The fair value for each option granted was estimated at the date of grant
using a Black-Scholes option pricing model, assuming no expected dividends and
the following weighted average assumptions:
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
------ ------ ------
Average risk-free interest rates................... 5.5% 4.7% 6.3%
Average expected life (in years)................... 3.5 3.0 3.0
Volatility(1)...................................... 84.9% 81.6% 50.0%
- ---------------
(1) Options granted prior to the Company's initial public offering and by
PlanetAll prior to its merger with the Company were valued using the minimum
value method and therefore volatility was not applicable.
The weighted average fair value of options granted during 1999, 1998 and
1997 was $43.36, $19.07 and $2.07, respectively, for options granted with
exercise prices at the current fair value of the underlying stock. During 1998
and 1997, some options were granted with exercise prices that were below the
current fair value of the underlying stock. The weighted average fair value of
options granted with exercise prices below the current fair value of the
underlying stock during 1998 and 1997 was $4.61 and $0.55, respectively.
Compensation expense that is recognized in providing pro forma disclosures might
not be representative of the effects on pro forma earnings for future years
because SFAS No. 123 does not apply to stock option grants made prior to 1995.
51
54
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Common Stock Reserved for Future Issuance
At December 31, 1999, common stock reserved for future issuance is as
follows (in thousands):
Stock options............................................... 125,186
Shares issuable upon conversion of Convertible Subordinated
Notes..................................................... 16,018
Shares issuable associated with acquisitions................ 657
-------
Total.................................................. 141,861
=======
NOTE 10 -- EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE
The following represents the calculations for net loss per share:
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
---------- ---------- ---------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
Net loss -- as reported.................................. $(719,968) $(124,546) $(31,020)
========= ========= ========
Weighted average shares outstanding...................... 332,409 304,938 253,118
Pro forma adjustment for preferred stock................. -- -- 18,956
Weighted average common shares issued subject to
repurchase agreements.................................. (5,656) (8,594) (11,392)
--------- --------- --------
Shares used in computation of basic and diluted loss per
share.................................................. 326,753 296,344 260,682
========= ========= ========
Basic and diluted loss per share......................... $ (2.20) $ (0.42) $ (0.12)
========= ========= ========
All of the Company's stock options (see Note 9) are excluded from diluted
loss per share since their effect is antidilutive.
NOTE 11 -- STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
Stock-based compensation is comprised of the portion of acquisition-related
consideration conditioned on the continued tenure of key employees, which must
be classified as compensation expense rather than as a component of purchase
price under generally accepted accounting principles. Stock-based compensation
also includes stock-based charges such as option-related deferred compensation
recorded at the Company's initial public offering, as well as certain other
compensation and severance arrangements.
The following table shows the amounts of stock-based compensation that
would have been recorded under the following income statement categories had
stock-based compensation not been separately stated in the Consolidated
Statements of Operations:
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
-------- ------- -------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Marketing and sales......................... $ 3,975 $1,276 $ 409
Technology and content...................... 25,490 384 532
General and administrative.................. 1,153 229 270
------- ------ ------
$30,618 $1,889 $1,211
======= ====== ======
NOTE 12 -- INCOME TAXES
The Company did not provide any current or deferred US federal, state or
foreign income tax provision or benefit for any of the periods presented because
it has experienced operating losses since inception. The
52
55
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Company has provided a full valuation allowance on the deferred tax asset,
consisting primarily of net operating loss, because of uncertainty regarding its
realizability.
At December 31, 1999, the Company had net operating loss of approximately
$1.18 billion related to US federal, foreign and state jurisdictions.
Utilization of net operating loss, which begin to expire at various times
starting in 2010, may be subject to certain limitations under Section 382 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and other limitations under state and
foreign tax laws. To the extent that net operating losses, when realized, relate
to stock option deductions of approximately $768 million, the resulting benefits
will be credited to stockholders' equity.
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences
between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting
purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of
the Company's deferred tax assets are approximately as follows:
DECEMBER 31,
---------------------
1999 1998
--------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Net operating loss.................................... $ 423,200 $ 73,100
Depreciation and amortization......................... (900) 7,400
Accrued expenses and valuation allowances............. 19,500 --
Other................................................. 9,000 5,400
--------- --------
Total deferred tax assets...................... 450,800 85,900
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets........... (450,800) (85,900)
--------- --------
Net deferred tax assets............................... $ -- $ --
========= ========
NOTE 13 -- EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
The Company has a 401(k) savings plan covering substantially all of its
employees. Eligible employees may contribute through payroll deductions. The
Company matches employees' contributions at the discretion of the Company's
Board of Directors. To date, the Company has not matched employee contributions
to the 401(k) savings plan.
NOTE 14 -- SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company identifies operating segments based on product line
information, considering line maturity, within the United States and separately
identifies its international operations as an operating segment. The financial
results of the Company's operating segments are reported to the Company's Chief
Operating Decision Maker in the following groupings: US Books; Music; DVD/video;
International; and Early-Stage Businesses and Other. The results for US Books,
Music and DVD/video have been aggregated into one reportable segment due to the
similarity of their economic characteristics.
The measure of profit or loss used for each reportable segment is income
(loss) from operations before other operating expenses, including stock-based
compensation, amortization of goodwill and other intangibles, and merger,
acquisition and investment-related costs. Assets are not allocated to operating
segments for reporting to the Company's Chief Operating Decision Maker and there
are no intersegment revenues on transactions between reportable segments.
53
56
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Information on reportable segments and a reconciliation to consolidated net
income is as follows:
US BOOKS, EARLY-STAGE
MUSIC AND BUSINESSES
DVD/VIDEO INTERNATIONAL AND OTHER CONSOLIDATED
---------- ------------- ----------- ------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
1999:
Revenues from external customers......... $1,308,292 $167,743 $163,804 $1,639,839
Gross profit (loss)...................... 262,871 35,575 (7,801) 290,645
Segment loss............................. (31,000) (79,223) (242,148) (352,371)
Other operating expenses................. -- -- -- (253,384)
Net interest expense and other........... -- -- -- (37,444)
Equity in losses of equity-method
investees............................. -- -- -- (76,769)
----------
Net loss................................. -- -- -- (719,968)
==========
1998:
Revenues from external customers......... 588,013 21,806 -- 609,819
Gross profit............................. 128,710 4,954 -- 133,664
Segment loss............................. (35,534) (25,498) -- (61,032)
Other operating expenses................. -- -- -- (48,023)
Interest expense, net.................... -- -- -- (12,586)
Equity in losses of equity-method
investees............................. -- -- -- (2,905)
----------
Net loss................................. -- -- -- (124,546)
==========
1997:
Revenues from external customers......... 147,787 -- -- 147,787
Gross profit............................. 28,818 -- -- 28,818
Segment loss............................. (31,384) -- -- (31,384)
Other operating expenses................. (1,211) -- -- (1,211)
Interest income, net..................... 1,575 -- -- 1,575
Equity in losses of equity-method
investees............................. -- -- -- --
---------- ----------
Net loss................................. $ (31,020) $ (31,020)
========== ==========
Sales to customers outside of the US represented approximately 22%, 20% and
25% of net sales for the years ended December 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997,
respectively. No individual foreign country or geographical area or customer
accounted for more than 10% of net sales in any of the periods presented. There
were no transfers between geographic areas during the years ended December 31,
1999, 1998 or 1997. Long-lived assets, which are comprised primarily of fixed
assets, held in foreign countries totaled $9.4 million and $2.8 million as of
December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively.
Depreciation expense for the US Books, Music and DVD/video segment was
$15.0 million, $6.7 million and $3.4 million in 1999, 1998 and 1997,
respectively. Depreciation expense for the International segment was $6.5
million and $2.9 million in 1999 and 1998, respectively. Depreciation expense
for the Early-Stage Business and other segment was $13.1 million in 1999.
NOTE 15 -- SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On February 16, 2000, the Company completed an offering of E690,000,000
($680,685,000 as of February 11, 2000) of 6.875% Convertible Subordinated Notes
due 2010, also known as PEACS. The PEACS are convertible into the Company's
common stock at an initial conversion price of E104.947 per share.
54
57
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
Interest on the PEACS is payable annually in arrears on February 16 of each
year, commencing on February 16, 2001. The PEACS are unsecured and are
subordinated to all of the Company's existing and future senior indebtedness.
The PEACS rank equally with the Convertible Subordinated Notes. The conversion
price will be reset on February 16, 2001 and February 16, 2002 to the lesser of
(1) the then effective conversion price and (2) the euro equivalent average of
the daily closing prices of the Company's common stock for the 20 consecutive
trading days immediately preceding such date. However, in no event will the
conversion price be reset lower than E84.883 per share. The exchange ratio
between the dollar and the euro is not fixed by the indenture governing the
PEACS, and, therefore, fluctuations in that ratio may impact whether the
conversion price will be reset.
Subject to certain conditions, the PEACS may be redeemed at the Company's
option prior to February 20, 2003, in whole or in part, at the redemption price
of E1,000 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if the closing price for
the Company's common stock has exceeded 160% of the initial conversion price for
at least 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending
on the trading day prior to the date of mailing of the notice of redemption.
Upon any redemption made prior to February 20, 2003, the Company will make an
additional cash payment with respect to the PEACS called for redemption in an
amount equal to E206.25 per E1,000 note redeemed, less the amount of any
interest actually paid on such PEACS prior to the call for redemption. At any
time on and after February 20, 2003, the Company may redeem the notes, in whole
or in part, at their principal amount plus any accrued but unpaid interest.
Upon the occurrence of a "fundamental change" (as defined in the indenture
governing the PEACS) prior to the maturity of the notes, each holder thereof
shall have the right to require the Company to redeem all or any part of such
holder's PEACS at a price of 100% of the principal amount of the notes being
redeemed, together with accrued interest.
55
58
AMAZON.COM, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
NOTE 16 -- QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)
The following tables contain selected unaudited Statement of Operations
information for each quarter of 1999, 1998 and 1997. The Company believes that
the following information reflects all normal recurring adjustments necessary
for a fair presentation of the information for the periods presented. The
operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for
any future period.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
-----------------------------------------------
FOURTH THIRD SECOND FIRST
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER
--------- --------- --------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
Net sales.................................... $ 676,042 $ 355,777 $ 314,377 $293,643
Gross profit................................. 87,846 70,477 67,531 64,791
Net loss..................................... (323,213) (197,080) (138,008) (61,667)
Basic and diluted loss per share (1)......... $ (0.96) $ (0.59) $ (0.43) $ (0.20)
Shares used in computation of basic and
diluted loss per share..................... 338,389 332,488 322,340 313,794
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
--------------------------------------------
FOURTH THIRD SECOND FIRST
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER
-------- -------- -------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
Net sales....................................... $252,829 $153,648 $115,981 $ 87,361
Gross profit.................................... 53,353 34,825 26,188 19,298
Net loss........................................ (46,427) (45,171) (22,579) (10,369)
Basic and diluted loss per share................ $ (0.15) $ (0.15) $ (0.08) $ (0.04)
Shares used in computation of basic and diluted
loss per share................................ 308,778 301,405 292,554 282,636
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
--------------------------------------------
FOURTH THIRD SECOND FIRST
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER
-------- -------- -------- --------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
Net sales....................................... $ 66,040 $ 37,887 $ 27,855 $ 16,005
Gross profit.................................... 12,913 7,170 5,214 3,521
Net loss........................................ (10,808) (9,647) (7,345) (3,220)
Basic and diluted loss per share................ $ (0.04) $ (0.04) $ (0.03) $ (0.01)
Shares used in computation of basic and diluted
loss per share................................ 278,826 275,190 255,840 232,860
- ---------------
(1) The sum of quarterly per share amounts may not equal per share amounts
reported for year-to-date periods. This is due to changes in the number of
weighted-average shares outstanding and the effects of rounding for each
period.
56
59
ITEM 9.CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
PART III
ITEM 10.DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Information regarding our executive officers required by Part III, Item 10,
is set forth in Item 1 of Part I herein under the caption "Executive Officers
and Directors." Information required by Part III, Item 10, regarding our
directors is included in our Proxy Statement relating to our annual meeting of
stockholders to be held on May 10, 2000, and is incorporated herein by
reference. Information relating to compliance with Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is set forth in the Proxy Statement
and incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information required by Part III, Item 11, is included in our Proxy
Statement relating to our annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 10,
2000, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12.SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Information required by Part III, Item 12, is included in our Proxy
Statement relating to our annual meeting of stockholders to be held on May 10,
2000, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13.CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Information regarding certain of our relationships and related transactions
is included in our Proxy Statement relating to our annual meeting of
stockholders to be held on May 10, 2000, and is incorporated herein by
reference.
PART IV
ITEM 14.EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(A) LIST OF DOCUMENTS FILED AS A PART OF THIS REPORT:
(1) INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
Report of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1999 and 1998
Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the three years
ended December 31, 1999
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for each of the three
years ended December 31, 1999
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years
ended December 31, 1999
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(2) INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES:
Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
All other schedules have been omitted because the required information is
included in the consolidated financial statements or the notes thereto, or is
not applicable or required.
57
60
(3) INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
- ------- -----------
2.3 Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 24, 1999 by
and among Amazon.com, Inc., AI Acquisition, Inc., Alexa
Internet and Brewster Kahle (incorporated by reference to
the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 10,
1999)
3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
(incorporated by reference to Amendment No. 1 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration
No. 333-78797) filed June 8, 1999).
3.2 Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to
the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 28,
2000).
4.1 Indenture, dated as of May 8, 1998, between Amazon.com, Inc.
and the Bank of New York, as trustee (incorporated by
reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 1998).
4.2 Form of 10% Senior Discount Notes Due 2008 (incorporated by
reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-4 (Registration No. 333-56723) filed June 12, 1998).
4.3 Registration Rights Agreement entered into on May 8, 1998,
between Amazon.com, Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated (incorporated by reference to the Company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period Ended
March 31, 1998).
4.4 Indenture, dated as of February 3, 1999, between Amazon.com,
Inc. and The Bank of New York, as trustee, including the
form of 4 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Note Due 2009
attached as Exhibit A thereto (incorporated by reference to
the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 3,
1999).
4.5 Registration Rights Agreement by and among Amazon.com, Inc.
and the Initial Purchasers (incorporated by reference to the
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 3,
1999).
4.6 Indenture, dated as of February 16, 2000, between
Amazon.com, Inc. and the Bank of New York, as trustee
(incorporated by Reference to the Company's Current Report
on Form 8-K dated February 16, 2000).
4.7 Form of 6 7/8% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2010
(incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report
on Form 8-K dated February 28, 2000).
10.1+ Amended and Restated 1994 Stock Option Plan (version as of
December 20, 1996 for Amended and Restated Grants and
version as of December 20, 1996 for New Grants)
(incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-23795) filed
March 24, 1997).
10.2+ Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by
reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (Registration No. 333-23795) filed March 24, 1997).
10.3+ 1999 Non-Officer Employee Stock Option Plan (incorporated by
reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-8 (Registration No. 333-74419) filed March 15, 1999)
10.4+ Accept.com Financial Services Corporation 1998 Stock Option
Plan (incorporated by reference to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No.
333-80495) filed June 11, 1999)
10.5+ Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Company and
each of its Directors (incorporated by reference to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration
No. 333-23795) filed March 24, 1997).
58
61
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
- ------- -----------
10.6+ Non-Qualified Stock Option Letter Agreement, effective
December 6, 1995, from the Company to Tom A. Alberg
(incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-23795) filed
March 24, 1997).
10.7+ Non-Qualified Stock Option Letter Agreement, effective
December 6, 1995, from the Company to Tom A. Alberg
(incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-23795) filed
March 24, 1997).
10.8 Investor Rights Agreement, dated as of June 21, 1996, by and
among the Company, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers VIII,
KPCB Information Sciences Zaibatsu Fund II and Jeffrey P.
Bezos (incorporated by reference to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No.
333-23795) filed March 24, 1997).
10.9+ Offer Letter of Employment to Joseph Galli, Jr. dated June
23, 1999, as amended and restated September 30, 1999.
10.10+ Offer Letter of Employment to Warren C. Jenson dated
September 4, 1999, as amended and restated September 30,
1999.
10.11+ Offer Letter of Employment to Jeff Wilke, dated September 2,
1999.
10.12+ Offer Letter of Employment to Richard Dalzell, dated August
13, 1997.
12.1 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
21.1 List of Subsidiaries.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.
27.1 Financial Data Schedule.
- ---------------
+ Executive Compensation Plan or Agreement
(B) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K:
On October 28, 1999, the Company filed a Form 8-K under Item 5 announcing
its financial results for the third quarter of 1999.
59
62
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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, as of March 24, 2000.
AMAZON.COM, INC.
By: /s/ JEFFREY P. BEZOS
---------------------------------------
Jeffrey P. Bezos
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of
the Board
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities indicated as of March 24, 2000.
/s/ JEFFREY P. BEZOS Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
- -------------------------------------------- Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
Jeffrey P. Bezos
/s/ JOSEPH GALLI, JR. President, Chief Operating Officer and
- -------------------------------------------- Director
Joseph Galli, Jr.
/s/ WARREN C. JENSON Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
- -------------------------------------------- Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
Warren C. Jenson (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
/s/ TOM A. ALBERG Director
- --------------------------------------------
Tom A. Alberg
/s/ SCOTT D. COOK Director
- --------------------------------------------
Scott D. Cook
/s/ L. JOHN DOERR Director
- --------------------------------------------
L. John Doerr
/s/ PATRICIA Q. STONESIFER Director
- --------------------------------------------
Patricia Q. Stonesifer
60
63
AMAZON.COM, INC.
SCHEDULE II -- VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
INVENTORY VALUATION ALLOWANCE
CHARGED/
BALANCE AT (CREDITED) INVENTORY BALANCE AT
BEGINNING TO COSTS DISPOSED OR END OF
YEAR ENDED OF PERIOD AND EXPENSES WRITTEN OFF PERIOD
---------- ---------- ------------------- ------------ ----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
December 31, 1999............... $4,600 $38,152 $(13,169) $29,583
====== ======= ======== =======
December 31, 1998............... $ 800 $ 4,420 $ (620) $ 4,600
====== ======= ======== =======
December 31, 1997............... $ -- $ 800 $ -- $ 800
====== ======= ======== =======
61