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FORM 10-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
(Mark One)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [FEE REQUIRED]
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 [NO FEE REQUIRED]
For the transition period from __________ to ________
Commission File No. 0-20292
Ampex Corporation
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 13-3667696
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. employer identification number)
500 Broadway
Redwood City, California 94063-3199
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
(650) 367-2011
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
------------------------------------------------------------
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
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 statement
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [ ]
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting stock held by
non-affiliates of the Registrant as of January 29, 1999 was approximately
$180,244,785, based on a price of $4.375 per share, which was the closing price
of the Registrant's Class A Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange on that
date. The Class A Common Stock is the only class of common stock outstanding.
As of January 29, 1999 there were 49,796,647 outstanding shares of Class A
Common Stock and no outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The Registrant's Proxy Statement for its 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is
incorporated by reference into Part III (Items 10, 11, 12 and 13) of this Form
10-K.
AMPEX CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
Year Ended December 31, 1998
INDEX
Page
PART I 1
ITEM 1. BUSINESS 1
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES 22
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 23
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS 23
ITEM 4A. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT 23
PART II 24
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR COMPANY'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS 24
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 25
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 25
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES
ABOUT MARKET RISK 34
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA 35
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE 35
PART III 35
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY 35
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 35
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND
MANAGEMENT 35
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS 35
PART IV 36
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE AND REPORTS ON FORM
8-K 36
SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY 42
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Introduction
Ampex Corporation ("Ampex" or the "Company") is a leader in the design
and manufacture of high performance scanning recording devices and digital image
processors. Its specialized recording products are used for the acquisition of
data at high speeds under difficult conditions, such as those in aircraft, and
for the storage of mass computer data, especially images. The Company has
significant experience in digital image processing and has approximately 1,000
patents and patent applications in this field and in recording technology, from
which it has derived significant licensing income. The Company's principal
licensees are the manufacturers of consumer video products worldwide. Ampex is
currently working to utilize its experience in digital video to expand into new
lines of business related to the world wide web through internal projects,
acquisitions and strategic investments.
Ampex conducts its business operations primarily through its
subsidiaries, Ampex Data Systems Corporation ("Data Systems" or "ADSC"), which
manufactures its tape-based data storage, instrumentation and video products,
and MicroNet Technology, Inc., which manufactures its disk arrays and related
storage products for image-based markets such as the video and commercial
pre-press markets. Since the end of the second fiscal quarter of 1998, Ampex's
results of operations have included the operations of MicroNet, which the
Company acquired effective June 30, 1998. The addition of the MicroNet product
line complements Ampex's image-based storage products expertise by offering
disk, as well as tape-based, data storage solutions.
The principal product groups are Data Systems' mass data storage and
instrumentation products and its professional video and other products and
MicroNet's disk array computer storage products. The mass data storage and
instrumentation products group includes (i) 19-millimeter scanning recorders and
library systems (DST and DIS products) and related tape and after-market
equipment; and (ii) data acquisition and instrumentation products (primarily
DCRsi instrumentation recorders) and related tape and after-market equipment.
The Company's professional video and other products group includes primarily its
DCT video recorders and image processing systems and related tape products and
television after-market equipment. The Company's disk storage products primarily
include its DataDock and Genesis disk array systems.
Data Systems' DST tape drives and robotic library systems for computer
mass data storage offer rapid data access times, high-speed data transfer rates
and low cost per megabyte of storage. Ampex DIS instrumentation recorders allow
users to record instrumentation data on DST tape cartridges, so that the data
can be used in a computer environment as well as in an instrumentation
environment. Data Systems' DCRsi instrumentation recorders are designed for
demanding aeronautical applications such as commercial and military flight
testing, as well as other applications involving comparable data-gathering
challenges in extreme environments. Data Systems' DCT video recording products
have been developed for high-end digital component recording applications in
entertainment and imaging markets. MicroNet's DataDock and Genesis disk drives
are computer data storage systems based upon redundant arrays of independent
drives (RAID), which permit users to configure their disk drives to store up to
one terabyte of data. These products are more fully described below under
"Products."
During its 55-year history, Ampex has developed extensive technical
expertise in electronic storage, processing and retrieval of digital images. The
Company participates at the high end of the video market with its DCT broadcast
video products, which pioneered the use of digital image compression in the
professional television industry. The major market for video technology is in
consumer products. Ampex has licensed its patents for the consumer market since
1968. In the years 1993 through 1998, the Company's licensing income averaged
$15.4 million per year, and in fiscal 1998 totaled $10.6 million. Royalty income
has fluctuated materially from year to year and there is no assurance that Ampex
will continue to generate comparable levels of licensing income in future years.
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In order to facilitate its plans to participate in world wide web
related markets, Ampex recently acquired ownership positions in three companies
providing electronic commerce support, production and distribution of video over
the Internet using streaming technology. See "Recent Developments" below.
Ampex's objective is to acquire or build Internet video production and
distribution capabilities in several major U.S. and foreign cities and to
distribute their content over the Internet. The Company's plan for its Internet
businesses to become profitable will require them to sell video advertising and
eventually to sell products electronically to customers who are viewing the
content. Ampex believes that its experience in digital video can be an asset in
expanding into this new business area, but any such new venture carries a
substantial risk of loss, and can be expected to be unprofitable for a
substantial period of time. See "Risk Factors - Risks of Internet Video
Strategy."
The Company was incorporated in Delaware in January 1992 as the
successor to a business originally organized in 1944. References to "Ampex" or
the "Company" include subsidiaries and predecessors of Ampex Corporation, unless
the context indicates otherwise. The principal executive offices of the Company
are located at 500 Broadway, Redwood City, California 94063, and its telephone
number is (650) 367-2011. The Company's Class A Common Stock is traded on the
American Stock Exchange under the symbol "AXC."
Recent Developments
In September 1998, the Company acquired approximately 19.9% of Reiter
Associates Inc. ("Reiter") with options to acquire a majority interest in the
future. Reiter is a provider of turnkey electronic commerce support, web hosting
and Internet consulting and monitoring services for enterprises that use the
world wide web. Subsequent to year-end, Ampex announced its intention to
exercise its option to acquire a majority interest in Reiter.
In January 1999, the Company announced it had purchased approximately
19.9% of the capital stock of TV onthe WEB, Inc. ("TV onthe WEB"), a provider of
webcasting services and producers of compressed video content for delivery over
the world wide web.
In February 1999, the Company announced it had purchased
approximately 19.9% of the capital stock of Alternative Entertainment Networks,
Inc. ("AENTV"), a producer and aggregator of streaming video content for
delivery over the world wide web.
The Company has options to acquire majority interests in each of TV
onthe WEB and AENTV, but until such time as it elects to exercise such options
the Company will account for the investments using the cost method. There can be
no assurance that the Company will exercise the options to acquire majority
interests in either TV onthe WEB or AENTV or, if it does, can successfully
integrate the acquired businesses or realize any financial benefit therefrom.
The Company currently anticipates that its Internet affiliates may incur
operating losses in the future, which could have a negative impact on the
Company's consolidated results of operations in the future. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -
Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 1998."
Forward-Looking Statements
This Form 10-K contains predictions, projections and other statements
about the future that are intended to be "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other important factors that could cause the actual results, performance or
achievements of the Company, or industry results, to differ materially from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other important
factors include, among others, those described under "Risk Factors", below.
These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Report. The
Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate updates or
revisions of any forward-looking statements contained or incorporated herein to
reflect any change in the Company's
2
expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based. IN ASSESSING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 10-K, READERS ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY ALL
SUCH CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS.
Risk Factors
Risk of Increased Leverage
In January and July of 1998, Ampex issued a total of $44 million
principal amount of 12% Senior Notes due 2003. As a result, Ampex's total debt
increased significantly from the level at December 31, 1997, which was not
material. Pending utilization of the net proceeds of the Senior Notes, the
Company has temporarily invested these proceeds in cash equivalents, including
government securities, High Yield mutual funds and U.S. corporate securities.
The interest received on these investments has been, and is expected to continue
to be, substantially less than the interest payable on the Notes. In order to
minimize the difference between the interest currently received on these
investments and the interest payable on the Senior Notes, Ampex has invested a
significant portion of the Senior Notes proceeds in securities with higher
yields, longer terms and lower credit quality than U.S. government securities.
The Company may also engage in various transactions in derivative securities
although it has not done so to date.
As of December 31, 1998, Ampex had outstanding approximately $44.0
million of total borrowings. The degree to which Ampex is leveraged, and the
types of investments it selects, could have important consequences to investors,
including the following:
o a substantial portion of Ampex's consolidated cash flow from
operations must be dedicated to the payment of the principal
of and interest on outstanding indebtedness, and will not be
available for other purposes;
o Ampex's ability to obtain additional financing in the future
for working capital needs, capital expenditures, acquisitions
and general corporate purposes may be materially limited or
impaired, or such financing may not be available on terms
favorable to Ampex;
o Ampex may be more highly leveraged than its competitors, which
may place it at a competitive disadvantage;
o Ampex's leverage may make it more vulnerable to a downturn in
its business or the economy in general;
o investments in securities with lower credit quality or longer
maturities could subject Ampex to potential losses due to
nonpayment or changes in market value of those securities, and
transactions in derivative securities could expose Ampex to
losses caused by stock market fluctuations; and
o the financial covenants and other restrictions contained in
the Senior Note indenture and other agreements relating to
Ampex's indebtedness will restrict Ampex's ability to borrow
additional funds, to dispose of assets or to pay dividends on
or repurchase preferred or common stock.
Ampex expects that cash balances and cash flow from operations will
be sufficient to fund anticipated operating expenses, capital expenditures and
debt service requirements as they become due, at least through the current
fiscal year. There can be no assurance, however, that the amounts available from
these sources will be sufficient for such purposes. No assurance can be given
that additional sources of funding will be available if required or, if
available, will be on satisfactory terms. If Ampex cannot service its
indebtedness, it will be forced to adopt alternative strategies. These
strategies may include reducing or delaying capital expenditures, selling
assets, restructuring or refinancing Ampex's indebtedness, or seeking additional
equity capital. There can be no assurance that any of these strategies will be
successful or that they will permitted under the Senior Note Indenture.
3
Ampex derives a substantial portion of its operating income from
subsidiaries. Accordingly, Ampex will be dependent on dividends and other
distributions from its subsidiaries to generate the funds necessary to meet its
obligations, including the payment of principal and interest on the Senior
Notes. The ability of Ampex's subsidiaries to pay such dividends will be subject
to, among other things, the terms of any debt instruments of the subsidiaries
then in effect and applicable law.
Risk of Continuing Sales Decline; Anticipation of Future Losses
In recent years, Ampex's net sales have declined materially. These
declines primarily reflect declines in sales to U.S. and foreign government
agencies and defense contractors of Data Systems products, which are material to
operating results. These government agencies and contractors have experienced
continued pressure to reduce spending, which has particularly affected Data
Systems' sales to government contractors of its DCRsi instrumentation recorders,
which have generally been more profitable than its data storage and video
recording products. Sales of professional television and after-market products
are also expected to decline as a result of the announcement of new digital
television transmission standards.
In response to declining sales of these products, Ampex has been
seeking to expand its products and services, including through acquisitions.
Ampex has also instituted, and will continue to implement, cost reduction
programs. However, there can be no assurance that any of these strategies will
be successful, or that Ampex will be able to reverse recent sales declines.
Ampex currently anticipates that it is likely to report losses in the
first half of 1999 and depending on the results and timing of its acquisition
and cost reduction strategies, such losses could be incurred for subsequent
periods and for 1999 as a whole.
Risks Associated with Acquisition Strategy
In order to expand Ampex's products and services, Ampex has made, and
is considering making, acquisitions of, and/or investments in, other business
entities, including businesses not related to its historical lines of business.
See "Business-Recent Developments". Ampex may not be able to identify or acquire
additional acquisition candidates in the future, or complete any further
acquisitions or investments on satisfactory terms. In order to pay for future
acquisitions, Ampex may have to:
o issue additional equity securities, which would dilute the
ownership interest of existing Ampex shareholders;
o incur additional debt; and/or
o amortize goodwill and other intangibles or incur other
acquisition-related charges, which could materially impact
earnings. Ampex's results of operations for fiscal 1998
reflect charges of $1.5 million for acquisition-related
expenses and write-offs.
Acquisitions and investments involve numerous additional risks,
including difficulties in the management of operations, services and personnel
of the acquired companies, and of integrating acquired companies with Ampex
and/or each other's operations. Ampex may also encounter problems in entering
markets and businesses in which it has limited or no experience. Acquisitions
can also divert management's attention from other business concerns. Ampex may
make investments in companies in which it has less than a 100% interest. Such
investments involve additional risks, including the risk that Ampex may not be
in a position to control the management or policies of such entities, and risks
of potential conflicts with other investors. Ampex has invested in companies
that are in the early stage of development and may be expected to incur
substantial losses. Ampex's financial resources may not be sufficient to fund
the operations of such companies. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that
any acquisitions or investments that Ampex has made, or may make in the future,
will result in any return, or as to the timing of any return, Ampex could lose
all or a substantial portion of its investments.
Risks Associated with Internet Video Strategy
4
Ampex's strategy to expand its Internet video businesses involves
special risks in addition to the risks of acquisitions generally described
above. Such risks include, but are not limited to:
o future demand for the services of Ampex's Internet affiliates
and their ability to obtain and manage resources for growth
from their present size and to become profitable;
o Ampex's ability to transfer audio or video technology to
Internet-based applications;
o future demand for Internet-based audio, video and e-commerce
services;
o uncertainties as to the future availability of high-speed
Internet access;
o the introduction of new or enhanced Internet video products or
services by competitors; and
o the ability of Ampex or its Internet affiliates to obtain the
managerial, technical and other resources necessary to provide
such services or to do so while generating a profit.
If Ampex's strategy for the development of Internet-based activities
is implemented, it is likely that significant expenses would be incurred which
would cause the Company to report material losses in the future. Such losses
could negatively affect the price of the Company's securities in future periods,
and could require it to seek additional capital, which may not be available on
satisfactory terms or at all.
Fluctuations in Royalty Income
Ampex's results of operations in certain prior periods reflect the
receipt of significant royalty income, including material non-recurring payments
resulting from negotiated settlements primarily related to sales of products by
manufacturers before negotiating licenses from Ampex. Although Ampex has a
substantial number of outstanding and pending patents, and its patents have
generated substantial royalties in the past, it is not possible to predict the
amount of royalty income Ampex will receive in the future. Royalty income has
historically fluctuated widely due to a number of factors that Ampex cannot
predict, such as the extent to which third parties use its patented technology,
the extent to which it must pursue litigation in order to enforce its patents,
and the ultimate success of its licensing and litigation activities.
The costs of patent litigation can be material. The institution of
patent enforcement litigation may also increase the risk of counterclaims
alleging infringement by Ampex of patents held by third parties or seeking to
invalidate patents held by Ampex. Moreover, there is no assurance that Ampex
will continue to develop patentable technology that will be able to generate
significant patent royalties in future years to replace patents as they expire.
Ampex's royalty income fluctuates significantly from quarter to quarter and from
year to year, and there can be no assurance as to the level of royalty income
that will be realized in future periods.
Fluctuations in Operating Results
Ampex's sales and results of operations are generally subject to
quarterly and annual fluctuations. Various factors affect Ampex's operating
results, some of which are outside of the Company's control, including:
o customer ordering patterns;
o availability and market acceptance of new products;
o timing of significant orders and new product announcements;
o order cancellations; and
o receipt of royalty income.
5
Data Systems' revenues are typically dependent upon receipt of a
limited number of customer orders involving relatively large dollar volumes and
are difficult to forecast in any given fiscal period. Results can also be
significantly affected by any acquisitions or material investments that Ampex
may elect to make in a given quarter. Therefore, its results may fluctuate
significantly from quarter to quarter and from year to year. Results of a given
quarter or year may not necessarily be indicative of results to be expected for
future periods. In addition, fluctuations in operating results may negatively
affect Ampex's debt service coverage, or its ability to issue debt or equity
securities should it wish to do so, in any given fiscal period. Material
fluctuations in Ampex's results in future periods could have a material adverse
effect on the price of the Company's Common Stock.
Seasonality and Backlog
Sales of most of Ampex's products have historically declined during
the first and third quarters of the fiscal year, due to the seasonal procurement
practices of Ampex's customers. A substantial portion of Ampex's backlog at a
given time is normally shipped within one or two quarters thereafter. Therefore,
sales in any quarter are heavily dependent on orders received in that quarter
and the immediately preceding quarter.
Rapid Technological Change and Risks of New Product Development
All the industries and markets from which Ampex derives revenues,
directly or through its licensing program, are characterized by continual
technological change and the need to introduce new products, product upgrades
and patentable technology. This has required, and will continue to require, that
Ampex spend substantial amounts for the research, development and engineering of
new products and advances to existing products. No assurance can be given that
Ampex's existing products and technologies will not become obsolete or that any
new products or technologies will win commercial acceptance. Obsolescence of
existing product lines, or inability to develop and introduce new products,
could have a material and adverse effect on its sales and results of operations
in the future. The development and introduction of new technologies and products
are subject to inherent technical and market risks, and there can be no
assurance that we will be successful in this regard.
Competition
Ampex encounters significant competition in all its product markets.
Many of its competitors have greater resources and access to capital than the
Company. In the mass data storage market, Ampex competes with a number of
well-established competitors such as IBM Corporation, Storage Technology
Corporation, Exabyte Corporation and Quantum Corporation, as well as smaller
companies. In addition, other manufacturers of scanning video recorders may seek
to enter the mass data storage market in competition with us. For example, Sony
Corporation has entered this market with storage products based on its video
recording technology. In addition, price declines in competitive storage
systems, such as magnetic or optical disk drives, can negatively impact sales of
Ampex's DST products.
In the instrumentation market, Ampex competes primarily with
companies that depend on government contracts for a major portion of their sales
in this market, including Sony, Loral Data Systems, Datatape Incorporated and
Metrum Incorporated. The number of competitors in this market has decreased in
recent years as the level of government spending in many areas has declined.
MicroNet's competitors include both large companies such as EMC
Corporation, Data General Corporation and IBM and other small system
integrators. There is no assurance that MicroNet will be able to compete
successfully in these markets in the future.
The market for Internet products and services is highly competitive
and characterized by multiple competitors and low barriers to entry. Although
Ampex believes that its Internet video strategy is differentiated from its
competitors, Ampex holds no proprietary technology and is not in a position to
achieve dominance in any market segment of the Internet. In addition, the market
for Internet advertising and electronic commerce, upon which Ampex's Internet
operations will be partially dependent to achieve
6
ultimate profitability, is intensely competitive and Ampex believes that
competition in this field will intensify.
Dependence on Certain Suppliers
Ampex purchases certain components from a single domestic or foreign
manufacturer. Significant delays in deliveries or defects in such components
could adversely affect Ampex's manufacturing operations, pending qualification
of an alternative supplier. In addition, Ampex produces highly engineered
products in relatively small quantities. As a result, Ampex's ability to cause
suppliers to continue production of certain products on which it may depend may
be limited. Ampex does not generally enter into long-term raw materials or
components supply contracts.
Risks Related to International Operations
Although Ampex significantly curtailed its international operations
in connection with the restructuring of its operations in 1993, sales to foreign
customers (including U.S. export sales) continue to be significant to Ampex's
results of operations. International operations are subject to a number of
special risks, including limitations on repatriation of earnings, restrictive
actions by local governments, and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange
rates and nationalization. Additionally, export sales are subject to export
regulation and restrictions imposed by U.S. government agencies. Fluctuations in
the value of foreign currencies can affect Ampex's results of operations. Ampex
does not normally seek to mitigate its exposure to exchange rate fluctuations by
hedging its foreign currency positions.
In January 1999, the new "Euro" currency was introduced in certain
European countries that are part of the European Monetary Union. Beginning in
2003, all EMU countries are expected to be operating with the Euro as their
single currency. A significant amount of uncertainty exists as to the effect the
Euro will have on the marketplace generally. Some of the rules and regulations
relating to the governance of the currency have not yet been defined and
finalized. As a result, companies operating or conducting business in Europe
will need to ensure that their financial and other software systems are capable
of processing transactions and properly handling the Euro. Ampex is currently
assessing the effect the introduction of the Euro will have on its internal
accounting systems and the potential sales of its products. Ampex will take
appropriate corrective actions based on the results of such assessment. Ampex
has not yet determined the costs related to addressing this issue. This issue
and its related costs could materially and adversely affect Ampex's business.
Volatility of Stock Price
The trading price of Ampex's Common Stock has been and can be
expected to be subject to significant volatility, reflecting a variety of
factors, including:
o quarterly fluctuations in operating results;
o announcements of new product introductions by Ampex or its
competitors;
o reports and predictions concerning the Company by analysts and
other members of the media;
o issuances of substantial amounts of Common Stock in order to
redeem outstanding shares of its Preferred Stock; and
o general economic or market conditions.
The stock market in general, and Internet companies in particular,
have experienced a high degree of price volatility, which has had a substantial
effect on the market prices of many such companies for reasons that often are
unrelated or disproportionate to operating performance. These broad market and
industry fluctuations may adversely affect the price of Ampex's Common Stock,
regardless of its operating performance.
7
Dependence on Key Personnel
Ampex is highly dependent on its management. Ampex's success depends
upon the availability and performance of key executive officers and directors.
The loss of the services of key persons could have a material adverse effect
upon Ampex. Ampex does not maintain key man life insurance on any of these
individuals.
Anti-Takeover Consequences of Certain Governing Instruments
Ampex's Certificate of Incorporation provides for a classified Board
of Directors, with members of each class elected for a three-year term. The
Certificate of Incorporation provides for nullification of voting rights of
certain foreign stockholders in certain circumstances involving possible
violations of security regulations of the United States Department of Defense.
The instrument governing Ampex's outstanding Preferred Stock, which had an
aggregate liquidation value of approximately $63.7 million at December 31, 1998,
requires that Ampex make mandatory offers to redeem those securities out of
legally available funds in the event of a change of control. For this purpose, a
change of control includes the following events: a person or group of people
acting together acquires 30% or more of Ampex's voting securities; Ampex merges,
consolidates or transfers all or substantially all of its assets; or the
dissolution of Ampex. The Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the Board of
Directors to issue additional shares of Preferred Stock without the vote of
stockholders. The indenture governing Ampex's outstanding Senior Notes, in the
total principal amount of $44 million, requires Ampex to offer to repurchase the
Senior Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the outstanding principal
amount thereof together with accrued and unpaid interest in the event of a
change of control. Under the indenture, a change of control includes the
following events: a person or group of people acting together acquires 50% or
more of the Company's voting stock; or the transfer of substantially all of the
Company's assets to any such person or group, other than to certain subsidiaries
and affiliates of Ampex. These provisions could have anti-takeover effects by
making an acquisition of Ampex by a third party more difficult or expensive in
certain circumstances.
Nonpayment of Dividends
Ampex has not declared dividends on its Common Stock since its
incorporation in 1992 and Ampex has no present intention of paying dividends on
its Common Stock. Ampex is also restricted by the terms of certain agreements
and of the outstanding Preferred Stock as to the declaration of dividends.
Dependence on Licensed Patent Applications and Proprietary Technology
Ampex's success depends, in part, upon its ability to establish and
maintain the proprietary nature of its technology through the patent process.
There can be no assurance that one or more of Ampex's patents will be
successfully challenged, invalidated or circumvented or that it will otherwise
be able to rely on such patents for any reason. In addition, there can be no
assurance that competitors, many of whom have substantial resources and have
made substantial investments in competing technologies, will not seek to apply
for and obtain patents that prevent, limit or interfere with Ampex's ability to
make, use and sell its products either in the United States or in foreign
markets. If any of Ampex's patents are successfully challenged, invalidated or
circumvented or its right or ability to manufacture products were to be
proscribed or limited, Ampex's ability to continue to manufacture and market its
products could be adversely affected, which would likely have a material adverse
effect upon Ampex's business, financial condition and results of operations.
Litigation may be necessary to enforce Ampex's patents, to protect
trade secrets or know-how owned by the Company or to determine the
enforceability, scope and validity of the proprietary rights of others. Any
litigation or interference proceedings brought against, initiated by or
otherwise involving Ampex may require Ampex to incur substantial legal and other
fees and expenses and may require some of its employees to devote all or a
substantial portion of their time to the prosecution or defense of such
litigation or proceedings.
Environmental Issues
8
Ampex's facilities are subject to numerous federal, state and local
laws and regulations designed to protect the environment from waste emissions
and hazardous substances. Owners and occupiers of sites containing hazardous
substances, as well as generators and transporters of hazardous substances, are
subject to broad liability under various federal and state environmental laws
and regulations, including liability for investigative and cleanup costs and
damages arising out of past disposal activities. Ampex has been named from time
to time as a potentially responsible party by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency with respect to contaminated sites that have been designated
as "Superfund" sites, and are currently engaged in various environmental
investigation, remediation and/or monitoring activities at several sites located
off Company facilities. There can be no assurance Ampex will not ultimately
incur liability in excess of amounts currently reserved for pending
environmental matters, or that additional liabilities with respect to
environmental matters will not be asserted. In addition, changes in
environmental regulations could impose the need for additional capital equipment
or other requirements. Such liabilities or regulations could have a material
adverse effect on Ampex in the future.
Readiness for Year 2000
Many currently installed computer systems, software applications and
other control devices (collectively, "Systems") are coded to accept only two
digit entries in the date code field. As the year 2000 approaches, these code
fields will need to accept four digit entries to distinguish years beginning
with "19" from those beginning with "20". As a result, in just under one year
the Systems used by many companies may need to be modified to comply with year
2000 requirements. Ampex relies on its internal Systems in operating and
monitoring all major aspects of its business, including its manufacturing
processes, engineering management controls, financial systems (such as general
ledger, accounts payable and payroll modules), customer services,
infrastructure, embedded computer chips, networks and telecommunications
equipment and products. Ampex also relies on the external Systems of its
suppliers and other organizations with which it does business. Based on a review
of its Systems and the nature of the corrections needed to make the Systems
compliant, the Company believes there is minimal risk that the Systems will be
non-compliant on January 1, 2000. However, despite the efforts thus far to
address the year 2000 impact, the Company cannot guarantee that all internal and
external systems will be compliant, or that its business will not be materially
adversely affected by any such non-compliance. See "Management Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
Products
As stated above in "Introduction," the Company's principal product
groups are its Data Systems' mass data storage and instrumentation products
(including DST, DIS, DCRsi) and professional video and other products (including
DCT), and its MicroNet products (including DataDock, Genesis, FibreFlex,
Premier). For information concerning net sales for each product group, see
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations."
Data Systems' Products
19-millimeter Products. In 1992, Ampex entered the high-performance
mass data storage market with its DST series of 19-millimeter data storage
products, including tape drives and robotic library systems. Based on its own
evaluation and that of outside sources, the Company believes its DST and DIS
mass data storage product offer a price/performance advantage over alternative
magnetic, optical, solid-state or disk-based storage systems now available,
providing fast data access times, rapid data transfer rates and low cost per
megabyte of storage.
Access time is one of the most important sustainable advantages of DST
products compared to alternative tape-based storage systems. Older tape-based
storage products achieve low-cost storage but trade off accessibility; since the
data stored is not available for most online or near-online applications, such
systems are generally limited to back-up and archival storage applications. DST
products, in contrast, combine low storage cost per megabyte with fast access to
rapidly transferable information. DST products use software logic that enables a
library or even a single tape drive to organize information using partitions,
much as disk drives do. Individual segments can then be accessed quickly and
updated independently. This proprietary Ampex technology, introduced in 1994,
gives DST products the performance of a digital
9
tape drive and the efficiency and access speed of partitioned memory. DST
systems also provide rapid data transfer rates that exceed the speed of other
mass storage products such as optical disks, allowing a user to download stored
information to a computer at a sustained rate of 15 megabytes per second
("MB/sec "), with an option available to increase to a rate of 20MB/sec.
DST and DIS tape drives use core technology developed by Ampex for its
digital video recorders. The drives use high-density metal particle tape
cartridges, which are available in a range of sizes providing storage capacities
from 25 to 165 gigabytes ("GB") per cartridge in single density format and from
50 to 330GB per cartridge in double-density format. DST automated library
systems incorporate multiple tape cartridges and tape drives and provide from
1.2 to 12.8 terabytes ("TB") of storage capacity while occupying only a fraction
of the floor space required by competing storage systems. The Company plans to
announce the availability of expansion modules which can expand DST library
storage capacity in virtually unlimited increments.
Ampex's single-density DST product line currently includes the DST 310
tape drive, the DST 410 automated cartridge library and the DST 810 automated
library system. The DST 310 is a single cartridge tape drive that provides
convenient and fast backup for applications such as large databases or disk
arrays. The DST 310 is capable of accepting 25GB, 75GB and 165GB cartridges. The
DST 410 automated cartridge library is an entry-level library with a storage
capacity of up to 1.2TB in less than eight square feet of floor space. The DST
810 automated library is designed to combine from one to four tape drives, and
features a storage capacity of 6.4TB. The DST 810 library system is optimized
for large file size applications and, accordingly, is suited for image-based
document storage, medical records, news archives, oil and gas seismic data and
CAD/CAM image data, as well as potential video-on-demand applications. These
products can deliver a sustained rate of 15MB/sec across a SCSI-2 interface,
search speeds of up to 1600MB/sec, an average access time of less than 16
seconds and capacity of up to 165GB on a single cartridge.
The Company also offers "double-density" versions of its 19-millimeter
data storage product line. The DST 310, DST 410 and DST 810 products are all
available with double-density storage capacity, as the DST 312, DST 412 and DST
812 products, respectively. The DST 312 tape drive can hold 50GB, 150GB and
330GB cartridges, and the DST 412 library can store up to 2.4TB of data. The DST
812 library system can store 12.8TB of data at a cost of approximately $.02 per
megabyte. Although the new versions are intended to enhance the performance of
the Company's data storage products, the Company believes that the availability
of these new versions has contributed to the decline in sales of the Company's
existing 19-millimeter data storage products. Ampex is currently working to
double the per-cartridge capacity of its mass data storage products again
(quad-density) which, if successful, could permit the storage of as much as
660GB of data on a single cartridge. The Company believes that this will enable
it to maintain its relative cost advantage as per-megabyte costs of competing
storage technologies, such as disk drives, continue to decline. There can be no
assurance that these efforts will be successful or, if they are, that future
sales will not be adversely affected if the Company experiences any product
development delays or transition difficulties. (Subsequent references to storage
capacity of the Company's mass storage products in this Form 10-K refer to the
Company's new double-density versions unless the context otherwise specifies.)
In 1998, the Company began shipping a new medium-sized library
product, the DST 712, which has a maximum storage capacity of 5.8TB in 7.5
square feet of space and can accommodate one or two tape drives. This automated
tape library product was designed to fill the gap between the Company's DST 412
and DST 812 products. The Company also plans to announce its intention to offer
expansion modules for the DST 712 and DST 812 products, which will permit
additional storage capacity for those products on a cost-efficient, incremental
basis.
Although the Company believes that its DST drives and library systems
offer significant advantages over competitive systems, there are a variety of
risks involved in this product line. The Company's DST products incorporate a
proprietary magnetic tape format that is not compatible with current industry
standard formats. The Company has not licensed its tape format to other
manufacturers and as such is the sole source of these products. In addition,
other factors relating to the markets for these products and to
10
competition in these markets may affect future sales of DST products. See
"Markets - Mass Data Storage and Instrumentation Products," " - Distribution and
Customers," " - Competition, " and " - New Product Development and Industry
Conditions."
The Company's principal instrumentation products currently are the DIS
120i and DIS 160i instrumentation/data recorders and the DIS 220i automated
instrumentation/data library. The Company's DIS products are designed for mass
storage of instrumentation data. These recorders use the same 19-mm helical scan
recording technology used in the Company's DST products. Data from DIS recorders
can also be stored on DST cartridges, placed in DST libraries and accessed using
DST tape drives, so that all the benefits of DST mass storage products are
available, including rapid, random access to the data for subsequent processing.
The DIS 120i and 160i drives have capacities of 25, 75 or 165GB (depending on
the DST cartridge used) and record/reproduce rates of 120 megabits ("Mb") and
160Mb per second, respectively. The DIS 220i automated library, which is the
instrumentation version of the DST 410 library, can hold up to 1.2TB of data.
The Company introduced double-density versions of each of its DIS recorders at
the time it similarly upgraded its DST product line.
Data Acquisition/Instrumentation Products. Ampex has been well
established for a number of years as a supplier of instrumentation recorders.
Ampex has supplied these recorders primarily to government agencies for use in
data collection, satellite surveillance and defense-related applications, as
well as to defense contractors and aerospace and other industrial users
primarily for test and measurement purposes. Ampex instrumentation recorders
have been used on almost every advanced commercial and U.S. military aircraft,
as well as on many foreign aircraft. The Company believes they are well suited
to these demanding aeronautical application and other applications involving
comparable data-gathering challenges in extreme environments, because of their
unmatched performance and reliability.
The Company's principal data acquisition/instrumentation products
currently are the DCRsi 240, DCRsi 107 and DCRsi 75 digital instrumentation
recorders. The DCRsi recorders are rugged, highly-reliable and compact recorders
that permit uninterrupted data capture over very long periods of time, such as
during test flights of new aircraft. The DCRsi 240 instrumentation recorder has
the capability of storing 48GB of data at a record/reproduce rate of up to 240
megabits ("Mb") per second. The DCRsi 107 instrumentation recorder has a similar
storage capacity and a record/reproduce rate of 107Mb per second. During 1995,
the Company introduced the DCRsi 75 recorder, a lower cost DCRsi model with a
record-reproduce rate of 75Mb per second. Shipments of DCRsi 75 recorders
commenced in 1996.
A significant portion of data acquisition and instrumentation recorder
sales reflect purchases by the federal government, which can be subject to
significant fluctuations. See "Markets - Data Acquisition/Instrumentation
Recorders." In addition, other factors relating to the markets for the Company's
instrumentation products and to competition in these markets may affect future
sales of these products. See "Distribution and Customers, Competition," and "New
Product Development and Industry Conditions."
Professional Video Recording and Other Products. Data Systems' DCT
products, which employ a 19-millimeter digital component video recorder format,
are designed primarily for use in high-quality post-production applications. DCT
products record in a digital component format compatible with "CCIR-601," a
worldwide signal standard for digital component television equipment. The DCT
1700d digital tape drive is designed for high-end performance, as its output is
not subject to signal degradation even during complex layering and special
effects sequences. In order to process the higher data volume involved in
digital component recording, DCT recorders employ data compression techniques.
Data Systems also offers a variety of switchers and systems products as
part of the DCT product line, including digital special effects systems and
production switchers, that are used in connection with the production of
television programming. These products focus on the online segment of the
professional television industry. Online operations typically require equipment
to operate at high speeds and require the highest picture quality. In order to
process video signals at the required speeds, Ampex's products employ
11
advanced proprietary signal processing and other electronic technologies, many
of which are also used in the Company's data storage digital recorder systems.
Ampex's switchers and systems products also incorporate advanced filtering
techniques and incorporate significant special purpose software to manipulate,
generate or combine video signals.
In the period 1992 to 1994, the Company discontinued sales of many
older (primarily analog) recorders, switchers and systems products, which
contributed to the decline in sales for this product group in recent years.
Sales levels have also been adversely affected by changes in the traditional
markets for the Company's professional video products and by the reduction in
the Company's distribution network for these products. See "Markets -
Professional Video Recording Products" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operation, - Results of Operations for the
Three Years Ended December 31, 1998 - Professional Video Recording and Other
Products." In 1998, 1997 and 1996, sales of these products consisted almost
exclusively of DCT video recorders and image processing systems. In view of the
recent announcement of standards for the digital transmission of television
signals, Ampex believes it is unlikely that such special purpose video products
will continue to be sold in material quantities. Accordingly, the Company
expects that its sales of products in this market will be limited to
after-market products and services, and that such sales will continue to decline
in future years. Certain of the Company's DST and DIS products have been used in
professional video recording markets, and the Company believes that the
potential for increased sales of its 19-millimeter products in these markets
could help to offset the decline in sales of its DCT products, but there can be
no assurance that this will occur.
Data Systems' other products are currently almost entirely television
after-market products (including spare parts) relating to television products
that the Company now manufactures, or that it manufactured in prior periods and
continues to support. After-market activities have declined as a percentage of
net sales in recent years as the Company has narrowed its professional
television product line, and many of the products that have historically
generated a significant portion of these net sales (including Betacam
small-format recorder after-market products, turnkey studio facilities, mobile
vans, computer core memory products and refurbished equipment accepted as
trade-ins, on new equipment sales) have been discontinued. Other products also
include the sale of a limited number of integrated circuits. See "Markets -
Components" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations - Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December
31, 1998 - Professional Video Recording and Other Products."
MicroNet Products
MicroNet products are grouped by product families described below.
MicroNet offers a wide variety of storage solutions targeted at image-based
creative professional markets, including principally digital pre-press and
digital video editing.
DataDock. DataDock transportable storage systems provides a high level
of performance, flexibility and safe removable operation available for desktop
systems.
DataDock and DataDock 525 storage systems were developed for use in the
publishing and collaborative content-creation markets where sharing of large
data files is integral to the workflow process. Available drive modules range
from hard disk drives, CD recorders, DVD-RAM and tape backup devices to high
performance disk arrays. DataDock products can be used with many computing
platforms and operating systems including Windows 95/98, NT, Mac OS, Sun Solaris
and SGI IRIX.
DataDock 7000 RAID storage systems provide platform and operating
systems interdependence combined with DataDock features in a self-contained RAID
system with capacities up to 250GB. DataDock 7000 systems were designed for
small to medium companies requiring a high performance mid-capacity RAID storage
system. The DataDock 7000 is scalable and can incorporate backup devices in the
unit in order to provide self-contained RAID storage and archive solution.
Genesis. MicroNet believes that many of its customers are migrating to
higher bandwidth internal networks requiring larger storage capabilities. The
Genesis RAID Systems have been developed in
12
response to this trend. These products incorporate many of the features of the
DataDock 7000 product line and can operate on a fibre channel interface.
The Genesis product line includes three scalable products defined by
capacity, interface and feature set. All are platform independent, fibre
channel-ready.
Genesis includes redundant RAID controllers for added security and a
web-based GUI (graphical user interface) for easier system management.
Genesis integrates dual FibreBridge technology allowing Genesis to
achieve high-speed fibre channel connectivity for integration in a Storage Area
Network (SAN), offering up to one terabyte of storage.
FibreFlex. FibreFlex is a complete, multi-platform compatible fibre
channel SAN that enables workgroups to achieve fast network access and was
designed as the next generation of connectivity for companies that work with
large data and graphic image files.
By integrating fibre channel switches, hubs and host adapters with
Genesis RAID system and file level data management software, MicroNet FibreFlex
allows multiple users to simultaneously access large data or graphics files
without typical network slowdown. By centralizing data and providing file level
data access, FibreFlex eliminates data copying time and provides true version
control, which MicroNet feels surpasses other Fibre networks that allow only
volume level access. User productivity is significantly increased in
multi-project, multi-user environments.
Premier Products. MicroNet Premier products provide users with
cost-effective backup and archive options for MicroNet disk array and RAID
systems. MicroNet Premier products have been designed to complement DataDock and
Genesis product lines and represent complete backup and archive solutions which
include the latest third party software compatible with the operating system the
customer has specified. Premier products range in capacity from 24GB to 490GB
and incorporate many tape storage technologies including AIT, DLT and DAT.
Markets
Data Systems' Products
19-millimeter Products. Data Systems' DST mass data storage systems are
designed to meet the rapidly changing requirements of the mass data storage
market. The market for mass storage devices has undergone an evolution in recent
years. Historically, mass storage devices were used to store data off-line as
protection against catastrophes affecting online storage, to archive data for
record retention purposes or as a low-cost means of storing infrequently used
data. More recently there is a growing demand for mass storage devices that
provide cost-effective storage combined with rapid access to data. The demand
for storage devices that can store large amounts of data in a readily accessible
manner has grown due to two factors. First, faster and lower-cost computer
processors are generating more data. Second, a steadily growing percentage of
information is created, stored, accessed and transmitted in visual form (such as
drawings, pictures, scanned documents, and other images), and the storage of
visual information requires much greater capacity than the storage of text. For
example, while one page of text requires 2,000 bytes of storage, one second of
full-color video requires 30,000,000 bytes.
Despite the rapid increase in the need for data storage on the part of
most computer users, the Company believes that its mass storage products offer
such large capacities and high speeds that they currently exceed the capacity
needs and retrieval rates required by the majority of computer users.
Accordingly, the Company expects that its sales of these product will continue
to be limited to large and technically sophisticated corporations and national
and local government agencies for the foreseeable future. Ampex's customers in
these industries include Mobil, Amoco, the FBI, NASA, Time Warner, Fox
Television and Industrial Light and Magic. The Company also believes that if the
new digital television standards are widely adopted, Ampex may be able to sell
its DST and DIS products to customers who
13
historically purchased its specialized video products. Ampex's current sales of
mass data storage and instrumentation products are concentrated at present in
three major vertical industry markets - oil and gas exploration; government; and
digital video industry organizations. The Company believes that, whereas in
prior years organizations involved in the markets described above maintained
large technical staffs which were capable of integrating equipment such as the
Company's into their existing computer facilities, even the largest of these
potential customers are now increasingly likely to purchase complete solution,
or even to outsource certain activities and to reduce their in-house technical
staffs. This trend is unfavorable to companies like Ampex, which primarily
provide system components like mass data storage tape drives. The Company has
been working to address this by ensuring that certain widely used software can
interface with its products. For example, the Company is seeking to address
hierarchical storage management and database backup applications in certain
markets, and its DST 310 tape drive and DST 410 and 810 libraries are now
supported by certain third party hierarchical storage management and UNIX file
system back up software packages. However, the Company cannot predict the extent
to which such software will result in increased sales of DST products.
The Company believes that the emergence of applications that envision
the transmission of video, graphics and other images over the Internet or
private networks may create new markets for the Company's data storage products.
However, the Company's management believes that these applications will require
bandwidth improvements to current information delivery systems before the
information storage systems offered by the Company and others will be required.
Should this technical obstacle be overcome and commercial markets ultimately
develop, the Company believes that it will experience aggressive competition
from other companies, and there can be no assurance that the Company will be
able to remain competitive against products ultimately offered by such
companies.
Data Acquisition/Instrumentation Recorders. Data Systems' DCRsi
recording drives and magnetic media are designed to acquire large volumes of
data in stressful physical environments, and are used extensively in airborne
and naval intelligence acquisition and for the collection of test data during
the design and qualification of aircraft. DCRsi products are used by U.S. and
foreign military and intelligence agencies (including those of Germany, Japan,
the United Kingdom and Russia), as well as by manufacturers of commercial
airplanes, such as Boeing Corporation, and by Airbus, the consortium of European
airframe manufacturers. A significant portion of DCRsi products are also sold in
versions that are intended for use in ground facilities for the long-term
storage or analysis of data previously collected in mobile environments.
The storage capacity and data transfer rates of the Company's DCRsi
products can be varied continuously from fractions of a megabit per second up to
240 megabits per second on its highest performance versions. These products
perform reliably in conditions of extreme shock and vibration, variations in
gravitational force and extremes of temperature, humidity and electronic
interference, such as those found in aircraft, helicopters and space vehicles.
Because these products are widely used in their target markets, recordings made
on one machine can subsequently be reproduced on other machines at various
customer locations. In ground-based applications, which generally are less harsh
environments that do not require the ruggedness of a DCRsi recorder, the storage
and analysis functions of DCRsi products can also be performed by the Company's
19-millimeter DST and DIS mass data storage products.
The Company has supplied its data acquisition and instrumentation
products to U.S and foreign government agencies for many years, and this
continues to be the primary market for the Company's DCRsi products. Sales to
government agencies are subject to fluctuation as a result of changes in
government spending programs (including defense programs). Sales to these
markets could be adversely affected by pressure on government agencies to reduce
spending, and any material decline in the current level of government purchases
of the Company's products could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Professional Video Recording and Other Products. The Company's DCT
professional recording products are designed to provide high-performance
capabilities for customers in entertainment and imaging markets. Historically,
Ampex sold its professional video products to television companies and
broadcasters that used them to produce or edit television commercials or
programs for broadcast. More recently, however, the production and editing of
television commercials and programs is increasingly being
14
performed by independent organizations rather than by broadcasters or cable
television companies themselves. These services are commonly known as
"post-production" services. Most of Ampex's video recording product sales are to
such post-production facilities or to motion picture studios that use Ampex
products for their in-house post-production needs. Post-production customers
whose business reputations are based on high picture quality and whose needs
include rapid editing capabilities currently represent the major market for the
Company's DCT digital component video recording products. The Company does not
serve the lower end of the post-production market.
Sales of the Company's video recording products have declined in recent
years as a result of changing conditions in the traditional markets for the
Company's products. In response to these changes, the Company has reduced its
product line, marketing expenditures and distribution network for its video
products. In addition, the Company believes that the recent announcement of
standards for the digital transmission of television signals will cause sales of
its special purpose video products to continue to decline in future years. These
factors have had and will continue to have a negative impact on sales of the
Company's professional video recording and related after-market products.
MicroNet Products. MicroNet products are sold in many segments of the
high-end graphics market, which includes printers, book and magazine publishers,
advertising agencies, graphic designer's video production and post production
facilities, and web design and creation houses. MicroNet enjoys a significant
market share in both the production and post production market segments of the
digital video programming market.
Distribution and Customers
The Company currently distributes its 19-millimeter products (including
DST and DIS recorders) directly through its internal sales force, as well as
through independent value-added resellers. The Company's DST products are sold
to customers such as oil and gas companies, imaging companies, information and
entertainment delivery companies and broad band telecommunications companies.
The Company is also pursuing opportunities for storage of very large databases
maintained by many commercial and government entities.
The Company's instrumentation recorders (including its DIS recorders)
are sold primarily to government agencies involved in data collection, satellite
surveillance and defense-related activities, as well as to defense contractors
and other industrial users for testing and measurement purposes. Sales of
instrumentation recorders are made through the Company's internal domestic and
international sales forces, as well as through independent sales organizations
in foreign markets.
Ampex's professional video recording products are sold principally to
customers in entertainment markets, including independent post-production
houses, broadcast and cable networks, motion picture studios and independent
television stations. The Company distributes its video products through its
internal sales force and through various independent distributors.
MicroNet products, including DataDock, Genesis and Premier lines, are sold
primarily to the content-creation markets of publishing, pre-press and digital
video open systems post production markets. Sales of MicroNet products are made
through an internal sales force to a worldwide network of VARs, integrators and
distributors.
The Company currently operates a total of twelve sales offices,
including nine in the U.S., one in Germany, one in Japan and one in the United
Kingdom. Included in the Company totals, MicroNet maintains three regional sales
offices strategically located in the U.S.
Ampex's sales to U.S. government agencies (either directly or
indirectly through government contractors) represented 25.8% of net sales in
fiscal 1998 compared to 27.7% in fiscal 1997 and 18.0% in fiscal 1996. Products
sold for U.S. government use include primarily instrumentation recording
systems. Sales to government customers are subject to fluctuations as a result
of changes in government spending
15
programs and are subject to customary contractual provisions permitting
termination at the government's election. See "Markets - Mass Data Storage and
Instrumentation Products."
No single non-government customer accounted for more than 10% of the
Company's total net sales in 1998, 1997 or 1996.
Research, Development and Engineering
Scanning recording systems such as those developed by Ampex involve
extremely complex technology. As a result, Ampex has developed extensive
expertise in a wide area of technical disciplines and has developed fundamental
innovation in digital image processing, magnetic recording technology and
channel electronics. In 1998, the Company spent approximately 18% of net sales
for research and development programs and engineering costs, compared to 19% in
1997 and 17% in 1996. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" and Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements. These continuous research and development efforts have
resulted in a substantial patent portfolio covering not only existing products,
but also covering technological innovations that may result or be useful in
future commercial products. With respect to current products, the Company has
allocated a major portion of its research and development budget in recent years
to the 19-millimeter digital recording technology included in its DST, DIS and
DCT products. The Company will continue to fund future generations of its mass
data storage and instrumentation products, and presently is working to double
the current per-cartridge capacity of these products to 660GB of data and to
increase their data transfer rates above the current 15-20MB/sec levels. If
successful, these efforts will further enhance the cost efficiency of these
products. Ampex also plans to introduce lower cost versions of its data
acquisition and instrumentation products, and to improve the ability of these
products to interface with other companies' products. The Company hopes to
develop an expansion module that will increase the solid state memory capacity
of its DCRsi products, thereby increasing the speed of their data acquisition
functions. See "Products - Mass Data Storage and Instrumentation" above. Ampex
will also continue researching other new product opportunities that capitalize
on its expertise and patented technology in digital image processing, magnetic
recording and channel electronics. All of the Company's research, development
and engineering efforts are subject to certain risks and uncertainties described
below under "New Product Development and Industry Conditions," and there can be
no assurance that any of these efforts will be technologically or commercially
successful.
MicroNet will continue to focus its development and engineering efforts
on disk array products. The recently-introduced Genesis product line will build
on the DataDock 7000 family of disk arrays (RAID). MicroNet engineering is
developing new features for Genesis to include a native fibre channel-version of
the Genesis product line that utilizes fibre channel devices throughout the
system. This product line will leverage the 100MB/sec. bandwidth of fibre
channel to greatly increase data transfer rates to users on a storage area
network. It will be particularly attractive to users who require a very
high-sustained data transfer rate, such as for video applications. Design
emphasis is on performance, reliability, ease of use and management features.
Patents, Licenses and Trademarks
As a result of its on-going research and development expenditures,
the Company has developed substantial proprietary technology, certain of which
it has elected to patent or to seek to patent. As of December 31, 1998, Ampex
held over 1,000 patents and patent applications, including approximately 350
patents in the U.S., approximately 550 corresponding patents in other countries,
and approximately 125 U.S. and foreign patent applications pending. The majority
of these patents and pending patents relate to the Company's recording
technology. The Company continually reviews its patent portfolio and allows
non-strategic patents to lapse, thereby minimizing substantial renewal fees.
Ampex has granted numerous royalty-bearing patent licenses to, and
holds patent licenses from, third parties. Certain of the Company's patented
innovations have been adopted for use in mass market consumer products, and as a
result, the Company receives the majority of its licensing royalties from
foreign manufacturers of VCRs and 8-mm camcorders. The Company intends to
negotiate license
16
agreements with remaining unlicensed manufacturers of 8-mm camcorders, but there
can be no assurance that any such licensing efforts (including any necessary
litigation) will be successful.
The Company believes that it has patents that may be used in the
manufacture of television receivers. In addition, Ampex is evaluating the extent
to which its technology may be employed or useful in video games, and will
continue to evaluate additional products as potential licensing opportunities to
the extent that its technical and financial resources permit. Ampex has not
granted any licenses under its scanning recorder patents specifically for data
storage applications, but it may do so in the future if it determines that this
would support the Company's marketing strategy.
It is not possible to predict the amount of royalty income that will
be received in the future. Royalty income has historically fluctuated widely due
to a number of factors that the Company cannot predict, such as the extent of
use of the Company's patented technology by third parties, the extent to which
the Company must pursue litigation in order to enforce its patents, and the
ultimate success of its licensing and litigation activities. Moreover, there can
be no assurance that the Company will continue to develop patentable technology
that will generate significant patent royalties in future years.
U.S. patents are, at present, in force for a period of 20 years from
the date of application and patents granted by foreign jurisdictions are
generally in force for between 14 years to 20 years from the date of
application. Ampex has obtained its present patents over the course of the past
20 years and, accordingly, has patents in force that will expire from time to
time over the next 20 years. Patents are important to the current overall
business of the Company, both as a source of protection of the proprietary
technology used in the Company's current products, and as a source of royalty
income. While results of operations would be adversely affected by the loss of
patents that generate significant royalty income, management believes that none
of Ampex's current product lines is materially dependent upon a single patent or
license or group of related patents or licenses, and that timely introduction of
products incorporating new technologies or particularly suited to meet the needs
of a specific market or customer group is a more important determinant of the
success of Ampex's current business. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance
that the Company will continue to develop patentable technology that will be
able to generate significant patent royalties in future years to replace patents
as they expire. See "Research, Development and Engineering."
Ampex regards its trademark "Ampex" and the Ampex logo as valuable to
its businesses. Ampex has registered its trademark and logo in the U.S. and a
number of foreign countries. U.S. trademark registrations are generally valid
for an initial term of 10 years and renewable for subsequent 10-year periods.
The Company's former magnetic tape subsidiaries (the "Media" subsidiaries),
which were sold by the Company in November 1995, have a nonexclusive license to
use the Ampex trademark on their audio, video and instrumentation media products
through July 2000. Ampex has not granted any other material rights to use its
name or logo to any other third party.
Trademarks of the Company used in this report include Ampex include
Ampex, DCT, DST, DCRsi and DIS, all of which are trademarks of Ampex
Corporation, and MicroNet, DataDock, Genesis, FibreFlex and Premier, all of
which are trademarks of MicroNet Technologies, Inc. All other trademarks and
service marks used in this Report are the property of Ampex or their respective
owners.
Manufacturing
The Company's products are manufactured at Ampex's facilities in
Redwood City, California and Colorado Springs, Colorado and MicroNet facilities
in Irvine, California. Products are designed and engineered primarily in Redwood
City and Irvine, California. Because the Company's mass data storage products
incorporate many of the technologies and components of the Company's 19-mm-based
videotape recorders, the manufacturing process of the mass data storage products
has benefited from the existing video recorder production facilities and
techniques.
In January 1996, the Company sold its Redwood City, California
property, and relocated its manufacturing, administrative and RD&E operations to
smaller facilities located on a portion of the property that it leased back at
the time of sale. In May 1996, the Company sold a portion of its Colorado
17
Springs, Colorado facility which was not required for current operations. See
"Properties." The Company believes that its consolidated manufacturing
facilities continue to have sufficient capacity to accommodate business growth
for its present products in the foreseeable future, and that the relocations
will not have a long-term adverse effect on the Company's manufacturing capacity
or on its ability to meet the customer demands for its products in a timely
manner.
The Company maintains insurance, including business interruption
insurance, that management considers to be adequate and customary under the
circumstances. However, there is no assurance that the Company will not incur
losses beyond the limits of, or outside the coverage of, its current insurance.
Sources of Supply
Ampex uses a broad variety of raw materials and components in its
manufacturing operations. While most materials are readily available from
numerous sources, Ampex purchases certain components, such as customized
integrated circuits and flexible magnetic media, from a single domestic or
foreign manufacturer. Significant delays in deliveries of, or defects in the
supply of, such components could adversely affect Ampex's manufacturing
operations pending qualification of an alternative supplier. In addition, the
Company produces highly-engineered products in relatively small quantities. As a
result, its ability to cause suppliers to continue production of certain
products on which the Company may depend may be limited. The Company does not
generally enter into long-term raw material supply contracts. In addition, many
of the components of Ampex's products are designed, developed and manufactured
by Ampex itself, and thus are not readily available from alternative sources.
Fluctuations in Operating Results; Seasonality and Backlog
Ampex's sales and results of operations are generally subject to
quarterly and annual fluctuations. Factors affecting operating results include:
customer ordering patterns; availability and market acceptance of new products;
timing of significant orders and new product announcements; order cancellations;
receipt of royalty income; and numerous other factors. Ampex's revenues are
typically dependent upon receipt of a limited number of customer orders
involving relatively large dollar volumes in any given fiscal period, increasing
the potential volatility of its sales revenues from quarter to quarter. In
addition, sales to government customers (primarily sales of DCRsi
instrumentation products) are subject to fluctuations as a result of changes in
government spending programs, which can materially affect the Company's gross
margin as well as its sales. Sales of most of the Company's products have
historically declined during the first and third quarters of its fiscal year,
due to seasonal procurement practices of its customers.
A substantial portion of the Company's backlog at a given time is
normally shipped within one or two quarters thereafter. Therefore, sales in any
quarter are heavily dependent on orders received in that quarter and the
immediately preceding quarter. Ampex's backlog of firm orders at December 31,
1998 was $1.6 million, compared to $6.9 million at December 31, 1997 and $3.4
million at December 31, 1996. The backlog at December 31, 1998 was approximately
11% of average quarterly net sales, based on 1998 sales levels. Ampex does not
generally include foreign orders in backlog until it has obtained requisite
export licenses and other documentation. Orders may be subject to cancellation
in the event shipments are delayed. For all of the foregoing reasons, results of
a given quarter are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a
fiscal year.
Competition
Ampex encounters significant competition in all its product markets.
Although its competitors vary from product to product, many are significantly
larger companies with greater financial resources, broader product lines and
other competitive advantages.
Ampex competes in the mass data storage market with a number of
well-established competitors, such as IBM Corporation, Storage Technology
Corporation, Exabyte Corporation, Sony Corporation and Quantum Corporation, as
well as smaller companies. In addition, other manufacturers of scanning video
recorders may seek to enter the mass data storage market in competition with the
Company. For example, in 1996,
18
IBM announced the general availability of a new high-capacity,
high-speed tape storage product designated "Magstar." Also, Sony in 1995
introduced its DTF tape drive, which is intended for the mass data storage
industry. In the mass data storage market, the Company believes that the
principal competitive factors are product performance, cost of equipment and
media, product reliability and availability of service and support. The Company
believes its strongest competitive advantage is in the area of product
performance. However, DST products are relatively expensive in comparison to
other competitive products, and are generally cost effective only if the
customer requires the high level of performance and storage capacity of DST
products. While the Company is working to reduce the cost of its DST products,
the prices of other storage systems, such as disk drives, are also declining. In
addition, although DST products offer faster data access times than competing
tape-based library systems, magnetic disks deliver faster data access than DST
products. There can be no assurance that the Company can compete successfully on
a long-term basis in the mass data storage market.
In the instrumentation market, the Company competes primarily with
companies that depend on government contracts for a major portion of their sales
in this market, including Sony Corporation, Loral Data Systems, Datatape
Incorporated and Metrum Incorporated. The number of competitors in this market
has decreased in recent years as the level of government spending in many areas
has declined. The principal competitive factors in this market are cost, product
reliability, product performance and the ability to satisfy applicable
government procurement requirements.
In the professional video recorder market, Sony and Panasonic are the
leading competitors of the Company. Competition in this market is based
principally on design and manufacturing expertise, new product development,
service, reliability and price. In the high end of the market, management
believes that Ampex is competitive in each of these areas, although the
Company's sales of these products have declined due to the recently announced
digital television transmission standards. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Results of
Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 1998 - Mass Data Storage and
Instrumentation Recorders." DCT products are not competitive in the lower end of
the market. Sales of these products have been declining in recent years as the
Company has discontinued many of its professional video products.
MicroNet services the professional graphics community, which is
significant in range and therefore the company has competition in many different
segments. Competition comes mainly from captive storage solutions provided by
Compaq and Intergraph. In other segments of the professional graphics market,
MicroNet sees competition from captive storage solutions provided by the various
CPU manufacturers including Apple Computer, Silicon Graphics, Sun MicroSystems
and Intergraph. In the digital video open systems post-production market,
competitors such as DataDirect Networks and Rorke Data Systems have products
offering similar performance and capabilities. Sales of MicroNet products can be
affected by the performance of complementary software and hardware products and
market conditions in both the professional graphics and digital video open
systems post-production markets.
New Product Development and Industry Conditions
The data storage, instrumentation and video recording industries are
characterized by continual technological change and the need to introduce new
products and product upgrades. This requires a high level of expenditure for
research and development. Obsolescence of existing product lines, or the
inability to develop and introduce new products, could have a material adverse
effect on sales and results of operations. Although Ampex has completed
development of its 19-millimeter digital videotape recorders and its
second-generation mass data storage drives and robotic library systems, the
Company must continue to invest in research and development programs to improve
these products and develop new products. No assurance can be given that existing
products will not become obsolete, that any new products will win commercial
acceptance or that Ampex's new products or technology will be competitive. See
"Competition." Furthermore, the introduction of new products or technologies can
be hampered by technical problems in design, manufacturing and test procedures
or the occurrence of other unforeseen events.
Ampex has been manufacturing its 19-millimeter digital video recorders
since 1989, and has been selling its DCT recorders since 1992. However, sales of
all of its video recording products have declined
19
substantially in recent years, partly as a result of changes in the market for
the Company's products, as lower-cost small format recorders have replaced
traditional high-end products for many applications. The Company expects that
the traditional markets for its video products will continue to decline.
Accordingly, any significant increases in sales of DCT products will depend on
the success of the Company's efforts at identifying and developing new markets
for the products, and there can be no assurance that the Company can do so. See
"Products - Professional Video Recording and Other Products" and "Markets -
Professional Video Recording and Other Products."
Sales of the Company's instrumentation products can be significantly
affected by changes in government spending levels. See "Markets - Mass Data
Storage and Instrumentation Products - Data Acquisition Instrumentation
Recorders" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations."
The Company significantly restructured its product lines during 1993
and 1994, and the Company has no present plans to discontinue any of its current
principal products. However, like all technology companies, the Company must
continually reassess its products based on their ability to respond to the
changing demands of the marketplace. If, as a result of such a reassessment, the
Company decides to discontinue any significant products, such a decision could
have a material adverse effect on sales and operating results.
International Operations
Although the Company's net sales revenues include significant revenue
from sales to foreign customers, these sales (particularly sales of professional
video products) have been declining in recent years. Sales to foreign customers
accounted for approximately 34.6% of net sales in fiscal 1998, compared to 31.2
% in fiscal 1997 and 34.1% in 1996. Foreign marketing operations are conducted
primarily through local distributors and agents, with support from Ampex's
internal marketing and sales organization. See "Distribution and Customers."
Foreign operations are subject to the usual risk attendant upon
investments in foreign countries, including limitations on repatriation of
earnings, restrictive actions by local governments, fluctuation in foreign
currency exchange rates and nationalization. Additionally, export sales are
subject to export regulations and restrictions imposed by the U.S. Department of
State and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
In certain prior periods, declines in the value of the U.S. dollar in
relation to certain foreign currencies have favorably affected Ampex's
international operations, and in other periods the strength of the dollar
relative to such currencies has adversely affected its operations. Fluctuations
in the value of international currencies can be expected to continue to affect
Ampex's operations in the future, although the impact will be less significant
than it was in periods with a higher proportion of sales in foreign currencies.
The Company currently does not hedge its assets that are denominated in foreign
currencies. U.S. export sales are denominated in U.S. dollars.
See Note 21 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for
additional information concerning the Company's foreign operations.
Environmental Regulation and Proceedings
The Company's facilities are subject to numerous federal, state and
local laws and regulations designed to protect the environment from waste
emissions and hazardous substances. Ampex is also subject to the federal
Occupational Safety and Health Act and other laws and regulations affecting the
safety and health of employees in its facilities. Management believes that Ampex
is generally in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
environmental and occupational safety laws and regulations or has plans to bring
operations into compliance. Management does not anticipate that capital
expenditures for pollution control equipment for fiscal 1999 or 2000 will be
material.
20
Owners and occupiers of sites containing hazardous substances, as
well as generators and transporters of hazardous substances, are subject to
broad liability under various federal and state environmental laws and
regulations, including liability for investigative and cleanup costs and damages
arising out of past disposal activities. The Company has been named as a
potentially responsible party by the United States Environmental Protection
Agency with respect to four contaminated sites that have been designated as
"Superfund" sites on the National Priorities List under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980. The Company is
engaged in six environmental investigation, remediation and/or monitoring
activities at sites located off Company facilities, including the removal of
solvent contamination from subsurface aquifers at a site in Sunnyvale,
California. Some of these activities involve the participation of state and
local government agencies. The other five sites (including the four Superfund
sites) are associated with the operations of the Media subsidiaries formerly
owned by the Company. Although the Company sold Media in November 1995, the
Company may have continuing liability with respect to environmental
contamination at these sites if Media fails to discharge its responsibilities
with respect to such sites. During 1998, the Company spent a total of
approximately $0.2 million in connection with environmental investigation,
remediation and monitoring activities and expects to spend a similar amount in
fiscal 1999 for such activities.
Because of the inherent uncertainty as to various aspects of
environmental matters, including the extent of environmental damage, the most
desirable remediation techniques and the time period during which cleanup costs
may be incurred, it is not possible for the Company to estimate with any degree
of certainty the ultimate costs that it may incur with respect to the currently
pending environmental matters referred to above. Nevertheless, at December 31,
1998, the Company had an accrued liability of $1.9 million for pending
environmental liabilities associated with the Sunnyvale site and certain other
sites currently owned or leased by the Company. The Company has not accrued any
liability for contingent liabilities it may incur with respect to former Media
sites discussed above. Based on facts currently known to management, management
believes it is only remotely likely that the liability of the Company in
connection with such pending matters, either individually or in the aggregate,
will be material to the Company's financial condition or results of operations
or material to investors.
While the Company believes that it is generally in compliance with
all applicable environmental laws and regulations or has plans to bring
operations into compliance, it is possible that the Company will be named as a
potentially responsible party in the future with respect to additional Superfund
or other sites. Furthermore, because the Company conducts its business in
foreign countries as well as in the U.S., it is not possible to predict the
effect that future domestic or foreign regulation could have on Ampex's
business, operating results or cash flow. There can be no assurance that the
Company will not ultimately incur liability in excess of amounts currently
reserved for pending environmental matters, or that additional liabilities with
respect to environmental matters will not be asserted. In addition, changes in
environmental regulations could impose the need for additional capital equipment
or other requirements. Such liabilities or regulations could have a material
adverse effect on the Company in the future.
Employees
As of December 31, 1998, Ampex employed 461 people worldwide,
compared to 509 at December 31, 1997 and 527 at December 31, 1996. Approximately
8% of Ampex's current worldwide workforce is employed in the Company's
international operations, compared to 8% at December 31, 1997 and 7 % at
December 31, 1996. No employees are covered by any collective bargaining
agreement. The Company is dependent on the performance of certain key members of
management and key technical personnel. The Company has not entered into
employment agreements with any such individuals. Edward J. Bramson, who has
served as the Company's Chief Executive Officer since 1991, is also engaged in
the management of certain companies affiliated with Sherborne Holdings
Incorporated, a privately-owned Delaware holding company and a Company
stockholder. Mr. Bramson currently devotes most of his time to the management of
the Company. The loss of the services of Mr. Bramson or other key individuals
could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Pension Plan Matters
21
In 1994, the Company, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the
"PBGC") and certain affiliates (the "Affiliates") who were members of a "group
under common control" for purposes of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act ("ERISA") entered into certain agreements in connection with the liquidation
of the Company's former parent, NH Holding Incorporated ("NHI"), relating to
the pension plans of the Company and of its former Media subsidiaries, which are
currently underfunded. See Note 16 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements. Pursuant to these agreements, the Affiliates agreed that if during
the terms of the agreements Ampex fails to make a required contribution to the
pension plans, the Affiliates will make or advance funds to permit Ampex to make
such contribution, and Ampex agreed to repay such amounts in accordance with the
terms of the agreements. Ampex has agreed to grant the Affiliates a security
interest in certain assets as collateral for any advances which the Affiliates
may be required to make in the future pursuant to the agreements. The agreements
contain certain restrictive covenants which, among other things, restrict
Ampex's ability to declare dividends, sell all or substantially all its assets
or commence liquidation, or engage in specified transaction,, with certain
related parties, breach of which could result in acceleration of the Company's
potential termination liabilities. In 1994, the Company discontinued accrual of
benefits under the pension plans, but has continued to fund its plan in
accordance with ERISA (and remains contingently liable to fund the Media plan if
Media fails to do so). No claims have been asserted or, to the knowledge of
management, are threatened under these agreements.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
As of December 31, 1998, the Company's principal properties were as
follows:
Approximate
Square Footage
Location Activities Conducted of Facility
- -------- -------------------- ---------------
Redwood City, California Executive offices, RD&E, (1)
manufacturing, sales and marketing 168,798
Colorado Springs, Colorado Manufacturing 229,961
Irvine, California Engineering, manufacturing, (2)
sales and marketing 67,940
Chineham, Basingstoke, England Sales and service (3) 7,184
Tokyo, Japan Sales and service (4) 3,886
Sulzbach, Germany Sales and service (4) 13,530
(1) 9,400 square feet is leased on a short-term basis until April 1999.
(2) This facility lease terminates in April 1999. Current plans include
relocation to a leased building in Irvine of approximately 33,000 square
feet.
(3) These facilities are leased under a ten-year lease, which is terminable
at the option of the Company or the landlord in 2002.
(4) These facilities are leased under leases that expire at various times
through 2000.
In addition to the properties and leased facilities listed above,
Ampex leases office space and warehouse facilities from time to time at various
domestic and foreign locations. In addition, the Company has outstanding lease
obligations with respect to various facilities whose functions were terminated
in connection with the Company's prior period restructuring of its business
operations. The Company is subleasing portions of these facilities pending
termination of the underlying leases.
On January 25, 1996, the Company completed the sale of its real
property in Redwood City, California. All of the functions that were located at
the Redwood City site have been relocated to portions of the facility that have
been leased back from the purchaser under two separate leases. One lease covers
approximately 99,640 square feet in two buildings. The second lease covers a
newly constructed building of 59,760 square feet, which the Company first
occupied in September 1998. Concurrently with occupancy
22
of the new building, the leases on two other buildings totaling approximately
86,800 square feet were terminated.
The Company believes that its current facilities, including machinery
and equipment, are generally in good condition, well-maintained and suitable for
their intended uses, and that its facilities have, and will continue to have,
adequate capacity to accommodate the Company's present needs and business growth
for its present products in the foreseeable future.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is a party to routine litigation incidental to its
business. In the opinion of management, no such current or pending lawsuits,
either individually or in the aggregate, are likely to have a material adverse
effect on the company's financial condition, results of operations or cash
flows.
In 1995, the Company filed a lawsuit against Mitsubishi Electric
Corporation and Mitsubishi Electric America Inc. ("Mitsubishi") alleging patent
infringement by certain VHS video recorders and picture-in-picture television
receivers. In response, Mitsubishi filed a lawsuit against Ampex, alleging
patent infringement by certain Ampex video and data recorder products. In 1997,
the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California determined that
Ampex has no liability to Mitsubishi patents, and Mitsubishi appealed to the
Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The filing of motions and oral
argument have been completed, and it is unknown when the Court will issue its
decision.
In 1997, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware ruled
in Ampex's case regarding Mitsubishi picture-in-picture television receivers
that a verdict and award of damages in favor of Ampex should be set aside on the
theory of prosecution history estoppel. The Company appealed to the Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which has affirmed the decision of the District
Court. The additional claims, which were asserted by the Company against
Mitsubishi with respect to infringement of Ampex patents in connection with
various VCR products, have been settled with an agreement providing, inter alia,
for a lump sum payment to the Company.
See also "Environmental Regulation and Proceedings" and Note 12 of
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information with
respect to pending legal proceedings.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
Not applicable.
ITEM 4A. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The executive officers of the Company and their ages as of February 1,
1999 are as follows:
Name Age Position
----------------- --- -----------------
Edward J. Bramson 47 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Craig L. McKibben 48 Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
K. Michael Cooper 51 Vice President
Robert L. Atchison 61 Vice President
Richard J. Jacquet 59 Vice President
Joel D. Talcott 57 Vice President and Secretary
Each of the executive officers of the Company serves in such capacity
at the discretion of the Board.
Edward J. Bramson is Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer
and a director of the Company. He has been an officer and director of the
Company since 1987, and since January 1991 has been Chief Executive Officer of
the Company. Mr. Bramson also serves as President and a director of Ampex
Holdings Corporation, Vice President and a director of MicroNet, and an officer
and director of Ampex Data Systems Corporation, and a director of Ampex Finance
23
Corporation, each a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. He is also Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of Sherborne Holdings Incorporated, Sherborne &
Company Incorporated and Sherborne Investments Corporation, is a limited partner
of Newhill Partners, L.P. and the managing member of SH Securities Co., L.L.C.
These entities, which are private investment holding companies, may be deemed to
be affiliates of the Company. Mr. Bramson is also a director of Hillside Capital
Incorporated, a private industrial holding company with which he has been
associated since 1976.
Craig L. McKibben is Vice President, Treasurer, Chief Financial
Officer and a director of the Company. Mr. McKibben has been an officer and a
director of the Company since 1989. Mr. McKibben also serves as Vice President
and Treasurer and a director of Ampex Holdings Corporation, as Vice President
and a director of MicroNet, and as Vice President of each of Ampex Data Systems
Corporation, and Ampex Finance Corporation. He is also Vice President and a
director of Sherborne Holdings Incorporated and of Sherborne & Company
Incorporated. Since 1989, Mr. McKibben has been a director and executive officer
of NHI, the Company's former parent. From 1983 to 1989, he was a partner at the
firm of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., a predecessor of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
independent public accountants
Robert L. Atchison is Vice President of the Company. Since January
1994 he has been responsible for all operating activities of the Company, and in
1996 assumed responsibility for certain of the Company's sales and marketing
activities. From April 1991 to January 1994, he was responsible for engineering
and operations for the Company. Mr. Atchison also serves as Vice President and a
director of Ampex Data Systems Corporation and as President and a director of
Ampex International Sales Corporation, wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company.
He has served as an executive officer of the Company and various subsidiaries
since 1987.
K. Michael Cooper, who joined the Company in June 1998, is Vice
President of the Company. He also serves as President and a director of Ampex
Data Systems Corporation and MicroNet, and as such has operating
responsibilities for these companies. Previously, Mr. Cooper served as President
and CEO for a computer peripheral company, and in a number of senior management
positions with the Hiller Group.
Richard J. Jacquet is Vice President of the Company. Since January 1994
be has been responsible for all administrative functions of the Company. From
1989 to January 1994, he was responsible for personnel and human resources
matters for the Company. Mr. Jacquet also serves as Vice President of Ampex Data
Systems Corporation, Ampex Holdings Corporation and MicroNet. Mr. Jacquet has
been associated with the Company since 1988, serving as Director of Human
Resources prior to his appointment in 1989 as Vice President.
Joel D. Talcott is Vice President and Secretary of the Company,
positions he has held since 1987. He has served as General Counsel since January
1996, a position he also held from 1987 to January 1994. He is also responsible
for the Company's patent licensing activities (having served as Patent Counsel
from 1991 to 1987), and has supervisory responsibility for investor relations
and corporate communications functions. Mr. Talcott also serves as Vice
President and Secretary and a director of Ampex Data Systems Corporation, Ampex
Finance Corporation and Ampex International Sales Corporation and as Vice
President and Secretary of Ampex Holdings Corporation and MicroNet, wholly-owned
subsidiaries of the Company.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR COMPANY'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
(a) The following table sets forth the high and low prices for the
Company's Class A Common Stock for each quarter during fiscal 1997 and 1998.
Since January 16, 1996, the Class A Common Stock has been traded on the American
Stock Exchange under the symbol "AXC."
24
Fiscal Year High Low
--------------- ---------- ----------
1998
First Quarter $3.25 $2.00
Second Quarter 3.13 1.75
Third Quarter 2.13 1.00
Fourth Quarter 1.19 .69
1997
First Quarter $10.50 $5.63
Second Quarter 7.38 5.44
Third Quarter 6.25 3.88
Fourth Quarter 4.56 2.13
As of January 29, 1999, there were 833 holders of record of the
Company's Class A Common Stock.
The Company has not declared any dividends on its Common Stock since
its incorporation in 1992 and has no present intention of paying dividends on
its Common Stock. The Company is also restricted by the terms of the Indenture
for the Senior Notes and certain other agreements and of its outstanding
Noncumulative Preferred Stock as to the declaration of dividends. Under current
circumstances, the Company may not pay any cash dividends on its Common Stock.
See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources" and Notes 10 and 13 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.
(b) Information as to equity securities sold by the Company during
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 which were not registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") is contained in the
Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed by the Company for such period.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The financial data required by Item 6 is included immediately
following Item 14 hereof.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries should be read in
conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes thereto,
included elsewhere in this Report.
Product Groups
The Company's principal product groups are Data Systems' mass data
storage and instrumentation recorder products and its professional video and
other products, and MicroNet's disk-based storage products. Ampex has recently
made several strategic investments in Internet video production and distribution
businesses. While Ampex believes that a significant percentage of its resources
will be devoted to this business segment in 1999 and beyond, at year end the
investments were not material to its financial position. Also, in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles for investments where ownership
interest is under 20%, Ampex has not included in its consolidated financial
results of operations any portion of the losses which these companies have
incurred to date.
ADSC's mass data storage and instrumentation products group includes:
(i) 19-millimeter scanning recorders and library systems (DST and DIS products)
and related tape and after-market equipment; and (ii) data acquisition and
instrumentation products (primarily DCRsi instrumentation recorders) and related
tape and after-market equipment. The professional video and other products group
25
includes primarily its DCT video recorders and related tape products and
television aftermarket equipment. The Company's MicroNet products include disk
arrays (DataDock and Genesis products) and storage area network products. These
product groups are described below. No other class of similar products accounted
for more than 10% of net sales during the comparison periods discussed below.
The following table shows sales of the Company's products by product
group for the past three years.
Net Sales
(in millions)
1998 1997 1996
------ ------ -------
Ampex Data Systems Corporation
- ------------------------------
Mass data storage and
instrumentation products $46.0 $63.7 $71.6
Professional video and
other products 11.8 16.6 24.9
MicroNet Technology, Inc
- -------------------------------
Disk-based storage products 5.5 - -
------ ------ -------
Total net sales $63.3 $80.3 $96.5
------ ------ -------
Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 1998
Net Sales. Net sales decreased by 21.2 % to $63.3 million in 1998 from
$80.3 million in 1997, compared to $96.5 million in 1996. In 1998, the sales
decline was primarily due to lower sales of ADSC's instrumentation products to
government customers and a decline in sales of television aftermarket products.
These sales declines were offset in part by the inclusion of net sales of
MicroNet from July 1, 1998. In 1997, the sales decline was primarily due to
lower sales across all of ADSC's product lines. In 1996 and 1997, the majority
of ADSC's commercial sales of 19-millimeter mass data storage libraries and tape
drives were to the oil and gas industry for use in seismic data gathering and
analysis. Activity in this market has declined in 1998 due to capital budget
restrictions that have been imposed on the oil and gas exploration companies and
other industry conditions. Beginning in 1998, ADSC has sold a limited number of
its DST tape libraries to television broadcasters and cable networks. The
Company believes this market may represent its largest commercial opportunity
for the sale of its DST product line for the next several years. In each of the
past three years, government agencies and defense contractors have been the
largest market for ADSC's mass data storage and instrumentation recorders. This
market has experienced significant pressures to reduce spending which has had an
adverse affect on sales in each of the years in the reporting period. During
1998, the Company made its first Internet investment that is being carried on
the books using the cost method of accounting. Under the cost method of
accounting, an investor carries its investment at cost and does not record its
equity interest in losses or income of the investee. Subsequent to year end, the
Company has announced additional investments in Internet video producers and
distributors. Ampex has options to acquire control of each of these businesses.
At such time Ampex increases its equity interest in these companies over its
initial 19.9% investment, Ampex will include its equity interest in losses
prospectively generated by these companies. Ampex's equity in the losses of its
Internet video affiliates may be material to consolidated results of operations
in future years.
The Company's backlog of firm orders decreased to $1.6 million at
December 31, 1998 from $6.9 million at December 31, 1997. The Company typically
operates with low levels of backlog, requiring it to obtain the vast majority of
each period's orders in the same period that they must be shipped to the
customer. Historically, a small number of large orders has significantly
impacted sales levels and often orders are received late in the quarter making
it difficult to predict sales levels in future periods. See "Business -
Fluctuations in Operating Results; Seasonality; Backlog."
26
Data Systems' Mass Data Storage and Instrumentation Recorder Products.
Sales of ADSC's mass data storage products and instrumentation recorders and
related after-market products totaled $46.0 million in 1998 compared to $63.7
million and $71.6 million in 1997 and 1996, respectively. A significant portion
of the Company's product sales reflects purchases by government agencies and
defense contractors pursuant to federal government procurement programs. These
sales fluctuate as a result of changes in government spending programs
(including defense programs), and seasonal procurement practices of government
agencies. Sales of the Company's DST and DIS products decreased slightly in 1998
compared to the comparable period of 1997. During 1998, the Company received a
limited number of orders from television broadcasters and cable stations for its
mass data storage tape drives and library systems for use in digital storage
archive applications. The Company believes that this customer base may elect
over several years to reformat their existing videotape libraries to digital
standards such as DST in order to achieve greater operational flexibility and
efficiency. The Company is actively pursuing strategic partnering arrangements
with leading video server hardware and software companies in order to broaden
its reach into this market beyond its in-house sales and marketing resources.
Additionally, to preserve competitiveness, the Company will be required to
invest in improving the capabilities of its products. For example, the maximum
capacity per cartridge of the first generation DST tape drive was 165 gigabytes.
The Company is currently delivering products with a maximum capacity of 330
gigabytes per cartridge (double-density) and is accepting orders for future
delivery of products with a maximum capacity of 660 gigabytes per cartridge
(quadruple-density).
The cost-efficiency of ADSC's 19-millimeter storage systems has
historically been dependent on data intensive applications, such as those which
incorporate video, graphics and other images, requiring storage capacity
materially greater than those required by traditional alphanumeric applications.
The Company has concentrated its sales and marketing efforts primarily in
government intelligence gathering and surveillance activities and specialized
commercial vertical markets, such as digital special effects creation, 3-D
seismic data gathering and analysis and digital archival storage of television
program libraries. These image intensive applications can utilize the unique
performance capabilities of the Company's 19-millimeter scanning recorders.
In October 1998, the Company received a memorandum of understanding for
the purchase, subject to the exercise of certain customer options, of up to an
estimated $18.4 million of DST "double-density" and "quadruple-density" storage
systems for a government program on which the Company had previously submitted
proposals. Separately, also in October 1998, the Company received a letter of
intent relating primarily to the purchase of several of the Company's recently
introduced DST 712 automated tape libraries for approximately $7.2 million for
another government program. In both cases, deliveries would occur during the
period 1999-2001. Sales of the above products are subject to the negotiation of
definitive agreements and terms and conditions with the respective customers,
and there can be no assurance that satisfactory contracts will be completed or
that any firm orders will result.
The Company continues to propose on additional domestic and foreign
government programs. Typically such proposals are part of larger capital
projects, which involve risks or delays beyond the Company's control. Since such
orders often are relatively large, the receipt or loss of a significant order
can materially affect quarterly sales and results of operations. Additionally,
larger programs frequently schedule deliveries of the Company's products over an
extended period. The Company does not currently anticipate that such new large
programs will generate material revenue in the first half of 1999, and that
sales levels of ADSC's products will be at or below levels realized during
recent quarters in 1998.
A significant portion of instrumentation product sales reflect
purchases by the federal government. Direct and indirect sales to U.S.
government agencies amounted to $14.9 million, $22.3 million and $17.4 million
in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively, representing 23.5%, 27.7% and 18.0% of net
sales in those years. While sales to government agencies have historically
consisted primarily of data acquisition and instrumentation recorders, the
Company has recently experienced an increase in sales of 19-millimeter-based
data storage products to these customers. Sales to government agencies fluctuate
as a result of changes in government spending programs (including defense
programs), and may be adversely impacted by Congressional appropriations
discussions. The Company is unable to forecast the extent to which sales may be
adversely affected in future periods by these factors.
27
Data Systems' Professional Video Recording and Other Products. As
anticipated, sales of professional video recording products and all other
products (consisting primarily of television after-market products) continued to
decline to $11.8 million in 1998 from $16.6 million in 1997 and $24.9 million in
1996. The Company's DCT digital products were designed for existing broadcast
transmission standards, which are expected to become obsolete upon the adoption
of new digital transmission standards that were recently announced. The Company
anticipates that its professional video product sales will continue to decline
pending the establishment of new standards and until new products can be
introduced that are designed for them. The Company also anticipates a continuing
reduction in the sale of television after-market products for these same
reasons. Such sales declines could have a materially adverse effect on the
Company. There can be no assurance as to when broadcasters will re-equip for the
new transmission standards or whether the Company will be successful in any
future efforts it may undertake to design and sell new products based on such
standards.
MicroNet Products. The Company has included the operations of
MicroNet in its consolidated results of operations since its acquisition
effective June 30, 1998. Sales of MicroNet products for this period in 1998
totaled $5.5 million. The Company believes that MicroNet sales levels during
this period have been adversely impacted by the decision to withdraw from lower
priced product lines and to refocus on higher performance disk-array products
such as the DataDock 7000. The Company is developing a new generation of disk
arrays (the Genesis product line) that offer substantially improved capacity,
performance and features, such as fibre channel connectivity. These products are
scheduled for shipment in the first half of 1999.
Gross Profit. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales were 40.6% in
1998, 48.8% in 1997 and 45.7% in 1996. The decline in the gross margin
percentage in 1998 compared to 1997 reflects the inclusion of MicroNet products
that have lower margins than ADSC's product sales, a lower proportion of
instrumentation product sales which have higher gross profit margin than other
sales, and an overall decline in sales volume that resulted in lower absorption
of fixed manufacturing costs. The improved gross margin percentage in 1997
compared to 1996 reflects the effects of the Company's cost containment
activities, which reduced fixed manufacturing and administrative costs in the
period, as well as an improved sales mix of newer, high-margin products. The
Company believes that sales of relatively high-margin instrumentation recorders
will continue to be adversely affected by pressure on government agencies to
further reduce spending. Accordingly, gross margins in future periods will be
adversely affected. Also, the Company may elect to use aggressive pricing as a
marketing strategy to enter new markets for its storage products. While these
efforts would be designed ultimately to increase revenues and profitability,
they might reduce the gross margin percentage of net sales in the future
periods.
Selling and Administrative Expenses. Selling and administrative
expenses decreased to $24.0 million (37.9% of net sales) in 1998 from $24.5
million (30.4% of net sales) in 1997 and $27.1 million (28.1% of net sales) in
1996. In 1998, selling and administrative costs include MicroNet expenditures of
$3.1 million and an actuarial valuation of certain supplemental pension plans of
$0.9 million. The Company incurred $0.3 million of patent infringement expenses
in 1998 compared to $4.2 million in 1997 and $4.9 million in 1996, relating to
patent infringement litigation with a foreign consumer products manufacturer.
Excluding such costs, selling and administrative costs declined in 1997 compared
to 1996 as a result of savings realized in facility operating costs after
relocating the Company's headquarters into smaller facilities. The Company
anticipates that it will need to increase its sales and marketing efforts to be
successful in penetrating the commercial data markets with its 19-millimeter
storage products, increase sales at MicroNet due to its new product offerings in
early 1999, and bring together the necessary capabilities to build the Company's
presence in Internet video markets.
Research, Development and Engineering Expenses. Research, development
and engineering expenses represented 18.5%, 19.3% and 16.5% of net sales in
1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The Company does not capitalize any RD&E
expenditures. The majority of RD&E expenses in each of these years was used to
enhance the price/performance levels of the Company's mass data storage
products, as well as to integrate the Company's storage systems with various
computer manufacturers' servers, workstations and other computer systems. In
1997 and 1996, the Company spent $3.6 million and $1.9 million, respectively, in
the development of keepered media technology for use in hard disk drives. The
keepered media development program was substantially completed during 1997, at
28
which time it was transferred to a long-term research and development project to
assess whether the technology might be commercially employed with advanced head
technologies. Continuing expenses for keepered media research are not
significant. The Company is committed to investing in research, development and
engineering programs at levels that can be supported by current levels of sales.
Acquisition of In-process Research and Development. In connection with
the acquisition of MicroNet, the independent appraisal of the in-process
research and development resulted in the recording of a one-time $0.9 million
charge in the second quarter of 1998.
At the acquisition date, MicroNet was in process of developing four
significant enhancements to its Data Dock product line which had not reached
technological feasibility and for which there was no future alternative use.
These projects included:
o the first generation Genesis product, a disk array offering a
scalable, variable raid configured disk array offering up to 1
terabyte of capacity and fiber channel interface for broadband
users,
o the second generation Genesis product that will incorporate a
fiber channel back plane to permit fiber channel connectivity
to fiber channel disk drives,
o Data Dock products offering a low voltage differential
compatible back plane to connect to Ultra SCSI II channels
between the disk array and host computer,
o Data Dock products offering Ethernet connectivity permitting
local and remote monitoring via TCP/IP networks and standard
web browsers for multiple user workgroup environments.
The classification of each research and development project as
complete or under development was made in accordance with the guidelines of SFAS
86, SFAS 2 and FIN4. The above development projects were estimated to be
completed within 18 months of the acquisition date and between 25% and 85%
complete, based on engineering estimates of hours incurred to date and hours
expected to be required to complete technological feasibility per project. The
Company's development effort involves storage subsystem design and includes
software, firmware and electronics design to tie together disk drives and third
party hardware drive mechanisms. MicroNet's design philosophy is to incorporate
"off-the-shelf" technology as it becomes available and proven in the
marketplace, and to focus its design activities on ease of use, reliability,
security, durability and similar enhancements. As a result, its development
activities can be budgeted with a fair degree of precision.
All in-process research and development (R&D) projects continue to
progress, in all material respects, consistently with the assumptions that
MicroNet provided to the independent appraiser for use in the valuation of the
in-process R&D. The Company used an independent appraisal firm to assist it with
its valuation of the fair market value of the purchased assets of MicroNet and
the valuation of the consideration issued. Fair market value is defined as the
estimated amount at which an asset might be expected to be exchanged between a
willing buyer and willing seller, assuming the buyer continues to use the assets
in their current operations. MicroNet provided assumptions by product line of
revenue, cost of goods sold and operating expense to the appraiser to assist in
the valuation. The appraisal considered three traditional approaches to
valuation: the cost approach, the market approach and the income approach. The
incomplete technology represents a mix of near and mid-term prospects for the
business and imparts a level of uncertainty to its prospects. It is the nature
of the business to be constantly developing enhanced products that offer
improved storage capacity and performance. A reasonable expectation of return on
the incomplete technology would be higher than that of completed technology due
to these inherent risks. As a result, the earnings associated with incomplete
technology were discounted at a rate of 39%, and included as IPR&D only that
portion of the discounted revenues that had been completed at the acquisition
date. The valuation was based on the assumption that the estimated cost to
complete all products under development, measured as of the acquisition date,
would be approximately $500,000. The valuation approach also assumed that these
products would generate revenues through the year 2007. The inability of
MicroNet to complete this technology within the expected timeframes could
materially impact future revenues and earnings, which could have a material
adverse effect on MicroNet's business, financial condition and results of
operations.
Royalty Income. Royalty income was $10.6 million in 1998, $12.6 million
in 1997 and $10.5 million in 1996. The Company's royalty income derives from
patent licenses, and the Company receives most of its royalty income from
licenses with companies that manufacture consumer video products (such as VCRs
and camcorders) and, in certain cases, professional video tape recorders. During
this period a growing portion of royalty income related to 8-mm video recorders
and camcorders. In 1996, the Company negotiated its first license for use of
certain of its patents in the manufacture of 6-mm digital video recorders. The
Company intends to pursue additional digital video recorder licensees. The
Company is also assessing whether manufacturers of video games, DVD recorders
and digital television receivers are using its patented technology. There can be
no assurance that the manufacturers of these products are utilizing the
Company's technology or, if used, whether the Company will be able to negotiate
license agreements with the manufacturers. Royalty income has historically
fluctuated widely due to a number of factors that the Company cannot predict or
control such as the extent of use of the Company's patented technology by third
parties, the materiality of any nonrecurring royalties received as the result of
negotiated settlements for products sold by manufacturers prior to entering into
licensing agreements with the Company, the extent which the Company must pursue
litigation in order to enforce its patents, and the ultimate success of its
licensing and litigation activities. The costs of patent litigation can be
material, and the institution of patent enforcement litigation may also increase
the risk of counterclaims alleging infringement by the Company of patents held
by third parties or seeking to invalidate patents held by the Company. See
"Legal Proceedings," above.
Restructuring Charges (Credits). The Company recorded a net
restructuring charge in 1998 of $2.5 million. The charge included $3.3 million
in connection with the Company's relocation of a portion of its DCRsi
manufacturing operations from its Redwood City, California facility to its
Colorado Springs, Colorado facility and concurrent workforce reduction, offset
by a credit of $0.8 million related to the termination of the lease of one of
its buildings at its Redwood City, California facility. The $3.3 million
restructuring charge includes $2.7 million for costs associated with the
elimination of approximately 106 U.S. positions in engineering, manufacturing
and administration, and $0.6 million for transition, shipping and other costs.
At December 31, 1998, the Company had paid and charged $1.3 million against the
liability accounts related to the termination benefits set up for the 1998
restructuring and terminated 93 employees. The relocation is expected to reduce
operating costs by up to $5.0 million annually. These savings may be offset in
whole or in part by increases in marketing expenses or other factors. The
Company expects to implement the relocation in various phases through the first
half of 1999 and may record additional charges in connection with these plans.
In connection with the Company's 1993 restructuring, the Company had accrued for
the estimated future costs of vacated leased property and the closure of certain
foreign subsidiaries. In 1997 and 1996, the Company entered into transactions
that reduced its anticipated obligations under several vacated leases. In
addition, certain expenses related to the closure of foreign subsidiaries were
less than originally anticipated. In 1997, the amount of restructuring credit
recognized in income is net of a reserve that was recorded to write-off certain
fixed assets and to provide for certain other costs totaling $0.9 million in
connection with the transfer of the keepered media program to a long-term
research and development project. Of the total $0.9 million charge for keepered
media, $0.1 million related to the termination of eight U.S. engineers and
administrative staff, and all termination benefits were paid and charged against
the liability accounts in early 1998. The remaining $0.8 million charge for
keepered media related to asset impairments and obligations on leased equipment
which were paid or charged against the liability account in 1997 and 1998. As of
December 31, 1998, the Company had a remaining balance for accrued restructuring
costs of $2.8 million. The Company will continue to evaluate the amount of
accrued restructuring costs on a quarterly basis, and the Company may make
additional adjustments in future periods if it determines that its actual
obligations will differ significantly from the amounts accrued.
29
Operating Income (Loss). The Company incurred an operating loss of $2.8
million in 1998 (which included an operating loss by MicroNet of $3.0) and
reported operating income of $13.5 million in 1997 and $12.0 million in 1996.
The operating loss in 1998 was primarily due to the decline in sales of Ampex
products, a charge of $0.9 million for acquired in-process research and
development, a provision for restructuring of $2.5 million and an actuarial
valuation reserve of $0.9 million, offset by reduced patent infringement
litigation and other operating expenses from the comparable prior years. During
1999 and in future years, the Company expects to make strategic acquisitions and
build in-house capabilities relative to its Internet video strategy. These
activities are expected to require significant expenditures that may result in
consolidated net losses while the Company is building its presence in Internet
video markets.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased between the comparison
periods due to the issuance of $44.0 million of 12% Senior Notes due 2003 and
warrants to purchase approximately 1.02 million shares of Common Stock in
January and July 1998. Interest expense was not material in 1997 and $0.8
million in 1996. In the first quarter of 1996, the holders of the
then-outstanding 8% zero coupon convertible notes with a principal amount at
maturity of $27.4 million converted the notes into approximately 8.5 million
shares of Common Stock. Also, in January 1996, the mortgage on the real property
in Redwood City, California was repaid from the cash proceeds of the sale of
such property.
Amortization of Debt Financing Costs. These amounts reflect periodic
amortization of financing costs over the remaining terms of the debt. Financing
costs associated with the January 1998 issuance of the 12% Senior Notes are
being charged to expense over five years. In 1996, due to the conversion of the
zero coupon notes and the repayment of the mortgage, the then-remaining deferred
financing costs were written off.
Interest Income. Interest income is earned on cash balances and short
and long-term investments. In 1998 the Company, pending application of the
proceeds of the 12% Senior Notes, had significantly higher investment balances
compared to prior years, which resulted in higher interest income. In 1997 and
1996, interest income included imputed interest on the notes received in
connection with the sale of the Company's Redwood City, California property in
1996. The notes were fully paid in 1997.
Other (Income) Expense, Net. Other (income) expense, net consists
primarily of foreign currency transaction gains and losses resulting from the
Company's foreign operations. In 1996, such amounts included a gain of $0.9
million on the sale of the smaller of its two manufacturing facilities in
Colorado Springs, Colorado, offset by moving-related expenditures of $0.9
million at the Redwood City, California facility.
Provision for Income Taxes. In the first quarter of 1998, the Company
reversed $5.2 million previously reserved in connection with disputed state
income taxes for the prior years, following the favorable settlement of that
dispute in March 1998. In the second and third quarter of 1998, the Company
reversed $4.9 and $5.2 million, respectively, previously reserved in connection
with the liquidation of its subsidiary in Italy. See Note 19 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company was not required to include any
material provision for U.S. Federal income tax in any of the last three fiscal
years due to the utilization of net operating loss carry forwards and timing
differences. At December 31, 1998, the Company had net operating loss carry
forwards for income tax purposes of $118.0 million, expiring in the years 2005
through 2013. As a result of financing transactions that were completed in 1994
and 1995, the Company is limited in the amount of net operating loss carry
forwards that can offset consolidated Federal taxable income in a given year.
The Company derives pretax foreign income from its international operations,
which are conducted principally by its foreign subsidiaries. In addition, the
Company's royalty income is subject, in certain cases, to foreign tax
withholding. Such income is taxed by foreign taxing authorities and the
Company's domestic interest and amortization expenses and operating loss carry
forwards are not deductible in computing such foreign taxes. The provisions for
income taxes in 1997 and 1996 consist primarily of foreign income taxes and
withholding taxes on royalty income.
Net Income. The Company reported net income of $10.4 million in 1998,
$14.8 million in 1997, and $12.7 million in 1996.
Liquidity and Capital Resources.
30
Cash Flow. At December 31, 1998, the Company had cash and short-term
investments of $62.6 million and working capital of $70.0 million. At December
31, 1997, the Company had cash and short-term investments of $41.8 million and
working capital of $44.6 million. The increase in cash and short-term
investments and working capital in the 1998 period reflects the receipt of
approximately $42.1 million of net proceeds from the Company's January and July
1998 issuance of its 12% Senior Notes, offset primarily by an investment of $8.5
million in working capital for MicroNet, increased inventories of $2.0 million,
decreased receivables of $2.5 million and cash payments of accrued liabilities
and accrued restructuring of $9.5 million. The Company's operating activities
utilized cash of $8.7 million during 1998, generated cash of $4.6 million during
1997 and utilized cash of $7.9 million in 1996. The increase in inventories over
year-end 1997 levels arose primarily due to lower sales levels than originally
forecasted and buffer quantities held in anticipation of disruptions that may
result from the phased relocation of manufacturing operations to its Colorado
Springs facility. The Company expects that 1999 inventory levels will decline
compared to the year-end 1998 level as the relocation should be completed in the
first half of 1999. Any increased investment in inventories may expose the
Company to an increased risk of inventory write-offs in future periods.
Major items impacting net income in 1998, which did not generate or
use cash included a $5.2 million favorable settlement of disputed state income
taxes, $10.1 million favorable resolution of prior years' foreign tax
contingencies, the recording of $0.9 million for acquired in-process research
and development as a result of the acquisition of MicroNet and $0.9 million for
an actuarial revaluation reserve in connection with a supplemental retirement
plan for prior executives.
Subsequent to year end, the Company announced that it had purchased
minority investments in TV onthe WEB, Inc. ("TV on the WEB") and Alternative
Entertainment Networks, Inc ("AENTV"). The Company has options to acquire a
majority interest in each of these businesses that expire at various dates
through 2001. If Ampex elected to exercise its option to acquire control of all
of these Internet video businesses in 1999, together with its initial
investments therein, it will have invested approximately $12.7 million. In
addition, the Company intends to build in-house Internet video production and
distribution facilities during 1999 in Los Angeles and New York City. There can
be no assurance that the Company will generate any revenues from its in-house
Internet activities, and it estimates that while TV onthe WEB and AENTV have
historically generated modest profitability, these businesses will incur
significant production and marketing expenses to build content and presence
which will result in losses being incurred by them for the foreseeable future.
The Company believes that it has sufficient working capital resources to fund
the exercise of control options in affiliated companies and capital additions
and operating expenditures of its in-house Internet activities throughout 1999.
The Company has available, through a subsidiary, a working capital
facility that allows it to borrow or obtain letters of credit totaling $7.0
million, based on eligible accounts receivable, through May 2000. At December
31, 1998, the Company had borrowings outstanding of $2,549 and had letters of
credit issued against the facility totaling $0.9 million. At December 31, 1997,
the Company had no material borrowings outstanding on this line and had letters
of credit issued against the facility totaling $2.3 million.
Financing Transactions. In January 1996, the Company repaid the balance
of the $7.4 million mortgage loan on the Redwood City, California property from
a portion of the cash proceeds of the sale. Also, during 1996, the Company's
convertible notes with an aggregate face amount at maturity of $27.4 million
were converted into approximately 8.5 million shares of Common Stock, and
warrants to purchase approximately 1.7 million shares were exercised.
As at December 31, 1997, the Company became required to redeem the
69,970 outstanding shares of its 8% Noncumulative Preferred Stock with an
aggregate liquidation value of $70.0 million (the "Old Preferred Stock"), to the
extent of funds legally available therefor (generally, the excess of the value
of assets over liabilities) at the redemption price of $1,000 per share.
Pursuant to an agreement in the second quarter of 1998, the Company completed
the redemption of the Old Preferred Stock in exchange for the following
securities (a) 3,000,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
share (the "Class A Stock"); (b) 10,000 shares of a new series of 8%
Noncumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $1.00, with an aggregate
liquidation value of $20.0 million (the "Convertible Preferred Stock"); and (c)
21,859 shares of a new series of 8% Noncumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock,
par value $1.00 per share, with an aggregate liquidation value of $43.7 million
(the "Redeemable Preferred Stock").
31
Each share of Convertible Preferred Stock and Redeemable Preferred
Stock (together, the "New Stock") will entitle the holder thereof to receive
noncumulative dividends at the rate of 8% per annum, if declared by the
Company's Board of Directors. Each share of Convertible Preferred Stock may be
converted, at the option of the holder thereof, at a conversion price of $4.00
per share, into 500 shares of Class A Stock, subject to adjustment under certain
circumstances. Subsequent to December 31, 1998, holders of 5,730 shares of
Convertible Preferred Stock exchanged their holdings for 2.9 million shares of
Common Stock. Beginning in June 2001, the Company will become obligated to
redeem any remaining Convertible Preferred Stock in quarterly installments
through December 2008. Beginning in June 1999, the Company will become obligated
to redeem the Redeemable Preferred Stock in quarterly installments through March
2008. In 1999, the Company will be required to redeem New Stock having a
liquidation preference of $4.5 million. The Company will have the option to
redeem the Redeemable Preferred Stock at any time and the Convertible Preferred
Stock beginning in June 2001, and will have the option to make mandatory
redemption payments either in cash or in shares of Common Stock. In the event
that the Company does not have sufficient funds legally available to make any
mandatory redemption payment in cash, the Company will be required to make such
redemption payment by issuing shares of Common Stock. Shares of Common Stock
issued to make any optional or mandatory redemption payments will be valued at
the higher of $2.50 or fair market value per share of Common Stock. See Note 13
of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
In January 1998, the Company issued $30.0 million of its 12% Senior
Notes, together with Warrants to purchase 1.02 million shares of its Class A
Common Stock (the "Class A Stock"). The Warrants are exercisable at $2.25 per
share at any time on or prior to March 15, 2003. At the end of the second
quarter of 1998, the Company issued an additional $14.0 million of 12% Senior
Notes. As a result of the issuance of the 12% Senior Notes, the Company's total
indebtedness and future debt service obligations have increased significantly
from prior levels. A portion of the net proceeds of the offering have been
invested to repay short-term debt and trade accounts payable of MicroNet, and
the balance has been invested in short-term government securities and other
investments. The yield on the Company's investment portfolio is substantially
lower than the interest charges on the 12% Senior Notes. The Company has wide
discretion as to how the debt proceeds may be invested, including for
acquisitions of and investments in new businesses. Any such investments or
acquisitions, if made, are not expected to pay a current return, which could
require the Company to fund debt service obligations on the 12% Senior Notes out
of its liquidity and cash flow from existing operations. In order to minimize
the difference between the interest the Company currently receives on its
investments and the interest payable on the Senior Notes, the Company has
invested a significant portion of the Senior Note proceeds in securities with
higher yields, longer terms or lower credit quality, and the Company may also
engage in various transactions in derivative securities. Investments in any
securities could expose the Company to a risk of trading losses due to market or
interest rate fluctuations or other factors that are not within the Company's
control. The Indenture under which the 12% Senior Notes were issued contains
customary affirmative and negative restrictive covenants that limit, among other
things, the incurrence of additional senior debt, the payment of dividends, the
sale of assets and other actions by the Company and certain restricted
subsidiaries.
Readiness for Year 2000
Many currently installed computer systems, software applications and
other control devices (collectively, "Systems") are coded to accept only two
digit entries in the date code field. As the year 2000 approaches, these code
fields will need to accept four digit entries to distinguish years beginning
with "19" from those beginning with "20". As a result, in just under one year
the Systems used by many companies may need to be modified to comply with year
2000 requirements. Ampex relies on its internal Systems in operating and
monitoring all major aspects of its business, including its manufacturing
processes, engineering management controls, financial systems (such as general
ledger, accounts payable and payroll modules), customer services,
infrastructure, embedded computer chips, networks and telecommunications
equipment and products. Ampex also relies on the external Systems of its
suppliers and other organizations with which it does business.
The Company has nearly completed its review of all of its products, as
well as its internal systems, both IT (information technology) systems and
non-IT (non-information technology) systems, and third party vendors relied on
32
for the manufacture of the Company's products. To accomplish this the Company,
in early 1998, established a Year 2000 Compliance Committee to investigate and
determine the compliance status of the Company, to identify what needs to be
done to achieve compliance if non-compliance issues are identified, the cost of
achieving compliance, and implementation plans to achieve compliance before
January 1, 2000. The Committee is headed by an executive officer of the Company
and membership includes representatives from all functional areas. The Committee
has nearly completed its assessment and has determined that most systems are
compliant and those that are not do not represent major efforts and are expected
to be fully compliant by January 1, 1999. The status of the investigation is as
follows:
System Status
- ------------------- ------------------------
Manufacturing Control and Financial Systems The financial software and the hardware that operates both the
financial and manufacturing systems are currently non-compliant. The
needed corrections are identified and now being implemented. The
systems are expected to be fully compliant by mid-1999.
Engineering Systems Three systems are non-compliant (document control system, electrical
design system and mechanical design system). The needed corrections
are identified. The systems are expected to be corrected and fully
compliant by mid-1999.
Products Offered For Sale Existing products are compliant. Former products that are no longer
manufactured are generally compliant but these former products are
not warranted to be year 2000 compliant.
Production Equipment All production and test equipment relied on by the Company to
manufacture products are either fully compliant, or in the case of
several manufacturing test machines that are not compliant, do not
need to be compliant to fully function.
Third Party Vendors The Company has sent questionnaires to third party vendors upon whom
it relies for various parts, components and other product-related
material. To date no material non-compliance issues have been
identified, but a number of vendors have not yet responded to our
inquiry. If, by June 30,1999 we have not been able to determine the
compliance status of any critical vendor we plan to develop
contingency plans to find other sources of supply.
The Company estimates the cost to be Year 2000 compliant is less than
$500,000.
The Company believes that because of the nature of the corrections
needed to make its systems compliant, there is minimal risk that the systems
will be non-compliant on January 1, 2000. Accordingly, the Company does not
believe that it is necessary to expend its financial and other resources to
develop contingency plans for these systems. The Company believes that the most
reasonably likely worse case scenario is that it will not be able to determine
the compliance status of several critical vendors by June 30, 1999. If by
mid-1999 it has not been able to make this determination, the Company will
develop contingency plans to arrange for alternate sources of materials. The
Company's current insurance programs do not specifically exclude losses
attributed to year 2000 non-compliance, but these programs are subject to change
as they are renewed for future periods. Despite the Company's efforts thus far
to address the year 2000 impact, the Company cannot guarantee that all internal
and external systems will be compliant, or that its business will not be
materially adversely affected by any such non-compliance.
33
Recent Pronouncements
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 ("SFAS 133"), Accounting for
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. SFAS 133 establishes accounting
and reporting standards requiring that every derivative instrument, including
certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, be recorded in the
balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. SFAS
133 requires that changes in the derivative's fair value be recognized currently
in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. Special
accounting for qualifying hedges allows a derivative's gains and losses to
offset related results on the hedged item in the income statement, and requires
that a company must formally document, designate and assess the effectiveness of
transactions that receive hedge accounting. SFAS 133 is effective for the
Company in fiscal year 2000 and will not require retroactive restatement of
prior period financial statements. The Company has not yet quantified the impact
of adopting SFAS 133 on its financial statements, but the Company believes there
will not be a significant impact.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company is exposed to the impact of interest rate changes,
foreign currency fluctuations, and change in the market values of its
investments.
Interest Rate Risk. The Company's exposure to market rate risk for
changes in interest rates relates primarily to the Company's investment
portfolio. The Company has not used derivative financial instruments in its
investment portfolio. The Company invests its excess cash in debt instruments of
the U.S. Government and its agencies, and in high-quality corporate issuers and,
by policy, limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer. The Company
protects and preserves its invested funds by limiting default, market and
reinvestment risk.
Investments in both fixed rate and floating rate interest-earning
instruments carries a degree of interest rate risk. Fixed rate securities may
have their fair market value adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates,
while floating rate securities may produce less income than expected if interest
rates fall. Due in part to these factors, the Company's future investment income
may fall short of expectations due to changes in interest rates or the Company
may suffer losses in principal if forced to sell securities which have declined
in market value due to changes in interest rates.
Foreign Currency Risk. International revenues from the Company's
foreign subsidiaries were less than 35% of total revenues. International sales
are made mostly from the Company's foreign sales subsidiaries in their
respective countries and are typically denominated in the local currency of each
country. These subsidiaries also incur most of their expenses in the local
currency. Accordingly, all foreign subsidiaries use the local currency as their
functional currency.
The Company's international business is subject to risks typical of
an international business including, but not limited to, differing economic
conditions, changes in political climate, differing tax structures, other
regulations and restrictions, and foreign exchange rate volatility. Accordingly,
the Company's future results could be materially adversely impacted by changes
in these or other factors.
The Company's exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations arises
in part from intercompany accounts in which costs incurred in the United States
are charged to the Company's foreign sales subsidiaries. These intercompany
accounts are typically denominated in the functional currency of the foreign
subsidiary in order to centralize foreign exchange risk with the parent company
in the United States. The Company is also exposed to foreign exchange rate
fluctuations as the financial results of foreign subsidiaries are translated
into U.S. dollars in consolidation. As exchange rates vary, these results, when
translated, may vary from expectations and adversely impact overall expected
profitability. The effect of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on the Company
in 1998 was not material.
Investment Risk. The Company invests in equity instruments of
technology companies for business and strategic purposes. These investments are
34
included in other long-term assets and are accounted for under the cost method
when ownership is less than 20%. The Company's policy is to regularly review the
assumptions underlying the operating performance and cash flow forecasts in
assessing the carrying values. The Company identifies and records impairment
losses on long-lived assets when events and circumstances indicate that such
assets might be impaired. To date, no such impairment has been recorded.
Investments, which are in the Internet industry, are subject to significant
fluctuations in fair market value due to the volatility of the stock market.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The financial statements required by Item 8 and the financial statement
schedules required by Item 14(d) are included following Item 14 hereof. The
supplementary data called for by Item 8 is not applicable to the Company.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
The information required by this item is incorporated herein by
reference to the Company's Proxy Statement for its 1998 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders (the "Proxy Statement").
Information regarding executive officers is included in Part I hereof
as Item 4A and is incorporated by reference into this Item 10.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this item is incorporated herein by
reference to the Company's Proxy Statement.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The information required by this item is incorporated herein by
reference to the Company's Proxy Statement.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to
35
the Company's Proxy Statement.
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE AND REPORTS ON FORM S-K
(a) Documents Filed with this Report:
1. Financial Statements (see Item 8 above). Ampex
Corporation Consolidated Financial Statements as of
December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 and for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1998.
2. Financial Statement Schedule (see Item 8 above) Schedule
II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts.
3. Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number Description
- -------- ---------------
2.1 Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of November 29, 1995,
between the Company, as seller, and The Martin Group of
Companies, as buyer, relating to the Company's real property in
Redwood City, California, and First Amendment to Purchase and
Sale Agreement dated January 19, 1996 (filed as Exhibit 2.01 to
the Company's Form 8-K dated January 25, 1996 (the "January
1996 8-K") and incorporated herein by reference).
2.2 Secured Purchase Money Promissory Note in the face amount of
$6.5 million, and Secured Purchase Money Promissory Note (Phase
2 Land) in the face amount of $11.0 million, each dated January
24, 1996, made by Martin/Campus Associates, L.P., and payable
to the Company (filed as Exhibit 2.02 to the January 1996 8-K
and incorporated herein by reference).
2.3 Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of November 10, 1995, among
the Company, Quantegy Acquisition Corp., Ampex Media Holdings
Incorporated, Ampex Media Corporation and Ampex Recording Media
Corporation (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 8-K
dated November 13, 1995 and incorporated herein by reference).
3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated June
1, 1993 (filed as Exhibit 4.01 to the Company's Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended March 31, 1993 and incorporated herein by
reference); Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company filed with the Secretary of State
of Delaware on April 22, 1994 (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the
Company's Form 8-K filed on May 2, 1994 (the "May 1994 8-K")
and incorporated herein by reference); and Certificate of
Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Company filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on April
20, 1995 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended March 31, 1995 (the "First Quarter 1995
10-Q") and incorporated herein by reference).
3.2 Certificate of Ownership and Merger of Ampex Video Systems
Corporation and Ampex Recording Systems Corporation into Ampex
Systems Corporation (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Form
10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1994 (the "First Quarter
1994 1O-Q" and incorporated herein by reference).
36
3.3 Certificate of Ownership and Merger of Ampex Systems
Corporation into the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the May
1994 8-K and incorporated herein by reference).
3.4 Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of the
Company's 8 % Noncumulative Convertible Preferred Stock and 8%
Noncumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock as filed with the
Secretary of Delaware on July 2, 1998 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to
the Company's Form 8-K filed on July 15, 1998 (the "July 1998
8-K") and incorporated herein by reference).
3.5 By-Laws of the Company, as amended through April 20, 1995
(filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the First Quarter 1995 10-Q and
incorporated herein by reference).
4.1 Form of Class A Common Stock Certificate (filed as Exhibit 4.4
to the Company's Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 on Form S-3 to
Form S- 1 (File No. 33-93312) (the "1996 Form S-3") and
incorporated herein by reference).
4.2 Form of Class C Common Stock Certificate (filed as Exhibit 4.5
to the Form S-3 and incorporated herein by reference).
4.3 Exchange Agreement for 8% Noncumulative Preferred Stock, dated
as of June 22, 1998, among the Company and the Holders named
therein (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the July 1998 8-K and
incorporated herein by reference).
4.4 Stock Purchase Agreement, dated February 10, 1995, between the
Company and Edward J. Bramson, and related promissory note
issued to the Company by Sherborne Investments Corporation
(each filed as an Exhibit to Amendment No, 6 to Schedule 13D,
filed on February 23, 1995 by Edward J. Bramson and the other
filing parties named therein, and incorporated herein by
reference).
4.5 Stock Subscription and Debt Exchange Agreement dated as of
January 25, 1993 between the Company and Sherborne Group
Incorporated, and Registration Rights Agreement dated as of
January 25, 1993 between the Company and Sherborne Group
Incorporated, executed in counterpart by Sherborne Holdings
Incorporated (each filed as an Exhibit to Amendment No. 1 to
Schedule 13D, filed on February 3, 1993 by Sherborne Group
Incorporated, Sherborne Holdings Incorporated and the other
filing parties named therein, and incorporated herein by
reference).
4.6 Letter Agreement between the Company and Sherborne Group
Incorporated, dated December 22, 1993, providing for the
issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock to Sherborne Group
Incorporated in exchange for cancellation of debt (filed as
Exhibit 4.24 to the Company's Form 10-K for fiscal 1993 (the
"1993 10-K") and incorporated herein by reference).
4.7 Promissory Note in the amount of $1,754,727, issued by the
Company to NH Holding Incorporated, dated December 22, 1993
(filed as Exhibit 4.25 to the 1993 10-K and incorporated herein
by reference).
4.8 Warrant Agreement, dated as of January 28, 1998, between the
Registrant and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as
warrant agent, including form of Warrant Certificate (filed as
Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant's Form 8-K filed on February 2,
1998 (the "February 1998 8-K") and incorporated herein by
reference).
4.9 Indenture, dated as of January 28, 1998, between the Company
and IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company, as trustee, relating to
the Registrant's 12% Senior Notes due 2003, including forms of
12% Senior Notes (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the February 1998 8-K
and incorporated herein by reference).
4.10 Purchase Agreement, dated January 26, 1998, between the
Registrant and First Albany Corporation, relating to the
Registrant's 12 % Senior Notes due 2003 (filed as Exhibit 1.1
to the February 1998 8-K and incorporated herein by reference).
4.11 Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of January
28, 1998, between the Registrant and First Albany Corporation,
relating to the Registrant's 12% Senior Notes due 2003 (filed
as Exhibit 4.3 to the February 1998 8-K and incorporated herein
by reference).
37
4.12 Warrants and Warrants Share Registration Rights Agreement,
dated as of January 28, 1998, between the Registrant and First
Albany Corporation (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the February 1998
8-K and incorporated herein by reference).
4.13 Purchase Agreement, dated July 17, 1998, between the Registrant
and First Albany Corporation, as Initial Purchaser, relating to
the Company's 12% Senior Notes due 2003 (filed as Exhibit 1.1
to the Company's Form 8-K filed on July 30, 1998 and
incorporated herein by reference).
4.14 First Amendment to Indenture, dated as of July 2, 1998, between
the Registrant and IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company, as
trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Form 8-K filed
on July 30, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference).
4.15 Exchange and Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of July 2,
1998, between the Registrant and the Initial Purchaser (filed
as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Form 8-K filed on July 30, 1998
and incorporated herein by reference).
4.16 Acquisition Agreement, dated as of June 24, 1998, among the
Registrant Ampex Holdings Corporation ("Holdings") and the
several selling shareholders named therein ("Sellers") (filed
as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Form 8-K filed on July 30, 1998
and incorporated herein by reference).
4.17 Supplement to Acquisition Agreement, dated June 30, 1998, among
the Registrant, Holdings and the Sellers (filed as Exhibit 4.4
to the Company's Form 8-K filed on July 30, 1998 and
incorporated herein by reference).
4.18 Second Supplement to Acquisition Agreement, dated July 16,
1998, among the Registrant, Holdings and the Sellers (filed as
Exhibit 4.5 to the Company's Form 8-K filed on July 30, 1998
and incorporated herein by reference).
10.1 Tax Indemnification Agreement dated as of July 24, 1992 among
Sherborne Group Incorporated, NH Holding Incorporated, the
Company and certain affiliates and former affiliates of the
Company (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Form 1O-Q for
the quarter ended September 30, 1992 (the "Third Quarter 1992
10-Q") and incorporated herein by reference).
10.2 Ampex Corporation 1992 Stock Incentive Plan and related
documents, as amended through August 22, 1996 (filed as Exhibit
4.03 to the Company's Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-05623) and
incorporated herein by reference).
10.3 Ampex Systems Corporation Savings Plan (1997 Restatement).
10.4 Ampex Systems Corporation Employees' Retirement Plan, as
amended and restated as of January 1, 1997.
38
10.5 Ampex Corporation Supplemental Retirement Income Plan, as
amended through September 3, 1985 (filed as Exhibit 10.27 to
Amendment No. 3 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-1 (filed No. 33-47660) and incorporated herein by reference).
10.6 Ampex Corporation Retiree & Disabled Retiree Medical Care Plan,
as amended and restated effective April 22, 1994 (filed as
Exhibit 10.8 to the 1994 10-K and incorporated herein by
reference).
10.7 Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into between the
Company and directors Bramson, McKibben, Slusser and Stoltzfus
(filed as Exhibit 10.16 to the Company's Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 1993 (the "Second Quarter 1993 10-Q")
and incorporated herein by reference).
10.8 Office Sharing Agreement and Assignment and Assumption of
Lease, each dated as of July 24, 1992 and each between the
Company and Sherborne Group Incorporated (filed as Exhibit
10.20 to the Third Quarter 1992 10-Q and incorporated herein by
reference), and related Sublease dated October 4, 1993 and
Letter Agreement dated October 28, 1993 (filed as Exhibit 10.20
to the 1993 10-K and incorporated herein by reference).
10.9 Loan and Security Agreement by and between Ampex Finance
Corporation and Congress Financial Corporation dated May 5,
1994 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the First Quarter 1994 10-Q and
incorporated herein by reference) and Amendment Agreement dated
as of July 31, 1995, second Amendment Agreement, dated March
29, 1996 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Second Quarter. 1996 10-Q
and incorporated herein by reference) and third Amendment
Agreement, dated December 26, 1996 (filed as Exhibit 10.13 to
the 1996 Form 10-K and incorporated herein by reference).
10.10 Form of Employment Security Letter entered into between the
Company and Messrs. Atchison, McKibben, Jacquet and Talcott
(executive officers of the Company), dated May 19, 1993, with
addendum dated June 10, 1993 (filed as Exhibit 10.32 to the
Second Quarter 1993 10-Q and incorporated herein by reference).
10.11 Stock Purchase Agreement, dated October 22, 1996, between the
Company and Edward J. Bramson (filed as Exhibit 10 - 15 to the
Company's Form 10-K for fiscal 1996 (the "1996 10-K") and
incorporated herein by reference).
10.12 Lease dated January 19, 1996 by and between Martin/Campus
Associates, L.P. as landlord and the Company as tenant, with
respect to approximately 132,150 square feet of premises
located on Douglas Avenue and on Broadway in Redwood City,
California (filed as Exhibit 2.03 to tile January 1996 8-K and
incorporated herein by reference) as amended by amendment dated
December 20, 1996 (filed as Exhibit 10.17 to the 1996 10-K and
incorporated herein by reference).
10.13 Lease dated January 19, 1996 by and between Martin/Campus
Associates, L.P. as landlord and the Company as tenant, with
respect to approximately 54,290 square feet of premises located
on Bay Road in Redwood City, California (filed as Exhibit 2.04
to the January 1996 8-K and incorporated herein by reference).
10.14 Lease dated January 19, 1996 by and between Martin/Campus
Associates, L.P. as landlord and the Company as tenant, with
respect to approximately 359,218 square feet of premises
located on Bay Road and Broadway in Redwood City, California
(filed as Exhibit 2.05 to the January 1996 8-K and incorporated
herein by reference).
10.15 Lease dated January 19, 1996 by and between Martin/Campus
Associates, L.P. as landlord and the Company as tenant, with
respect to approximately 60,000 square feet of premises to be
constructed on Broadway in Redwood City, California (filed as
Exhibit 2.06 to the January 1996 8-K and incorporated herein by
reference).
10.16 Trademark License Agreement dated May 31, 1990, by and between
Ampex Corporation (a predecessor of the Company) as licensor,
39
and certain of the Media Subsidiaries as licensee, relating to
the Ampex trademark; related Trademark License Agreement dated
July 24, 1992, by and between Ampex Systems Corporation (a
former subsidiary that was merged into the Company) certain of
the Media Subsidiaries; Amendment No. 1 to Trademark License
Agreement dated March 23, 1993; Amended and Restated Trademark
License Agreement dated June 22, 1993; and First Amendment to
Amended and Restated Trademark License Agreement dated November
10, 1995 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to 1995 10-K and incorporated
herein by reference).
10.17 Joint Settlement Agreement by and among Pension Benefit
Guaranty Corporation, the Ampex Group (a group of companies
that includes the Company), the Limited Hillside Group and the
Sherborne Group, dated November 22, 1994 (filed as Exhibit 10.2
to 1995 10-K and incorporated herein by reference).
10-18 Hillside-Ampex/Sherborne Agreement by and among the Ampex Group
(a group of companies that includes the Company), the Limited
Hillside Group and the Sherborne Group, dated December 1, 1994
(effective November 22, 1994) (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to 1995
10-K and incorporated herein by reference).
10.19 Real Estate Purchase Agreement dated as of April 16, 1996,
between U.S. Filter/Ionpure Inc. and the Company, together with
amendments thereto dated as of April 29, 1996 and May 3, 1996,
relating to the sale of the Company's Colorado Springs,
Colorado facility (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Second Quarter 1996
10-Q and incorporated herein by reference).
10.20 Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 29, 1997, between
the Registrant and Edward J. Bramson (filed as Exhibit 10.20 to
Registrant's Form 10K for fiscal 1997 and incorporated herein
by reference).
10.21 Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 7, 1997, between
the Registrant and Edward J. Bramson (filed as Exhibit 10.21 to
Registrant's Form 10K for fiscal 1997 and incorporated herein
by reference).
10.22 Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of February 18, 1998 between
the Registrant and Edward J. Bramson (filed as Exhibit 10.22 to
Registrant's Form 10K for fiscal 1997 and incorporated herein
by reference).
21.1* Subsidiaries of the Company.
23.1* Consent of Independent Accountants.
25.1* Power of Attorney (included in the signature page of this
Report).
27.1* Financial Data Schedule.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K. No reports on Form 8-K were filed by the
Company during the fourth quarter of 1998.
(c) Exhibits. See Item 14(a)(3) above.
(d) Financial Statement Schedules. See Items 8 and 14(a)(2) above.
- --------------------
* Filed Herewith.
40
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table summarizes certain selected financial data, which
have been derived from and should be read in conjunction with the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statement-, and the Notes thereto, and with "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," both
of which are included elsewhere herein. There have been no cash dividends
declared for the periods presented. In November 1995, the Company completed the
divestiture of its Media subsidiaries, which had been accounted for as a
business held for disposition since the second quarter of 1993. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations and Note 1 to the table below.
Statement of Operations Data (1):
Year Ended December 31,
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(in thousands, except per share data)
Net sales $63,319 $80,311 $96,485 $95,662 $127,212
Gross profit 25,707 39,171 44,078 43,886 49,795
Selling and administrative 23,978 24,452 27,084 22,626 24,279
Restructuring charges (credits) 2,526 (1,659) (453) (2,480) -
Income from continuing
operations 10,438 14,803 12,741 19,407 15,542
Net income 10,438 14,803 12,741 63,293 15,542
Diluted income per share
from continuing operations 0.22 0.32 0.28 0.47 0.36
Diluted income per share 0.20 0.32 0.28 1.40 0.36
Balance Sheet Data (1):
Year Ended December 31,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
---- ---- ---- ------ ----
(in thousands)
Working capital $69,958 $44,607 $39,277 $10,742 $(3,960)
Total assets 116,001 81,671 84,492 88,651 87,459
Long-term debt 43,380 2 914 31,585 30,805
Redeemable preferred stock 43,718 69,970 69,970 69,970 83,977
Convertible preferred stock 20,000 - - - -
Total stockholders' deficit (71,154) (90,015) (86,360) (127,357) (195,240)
(1) The statement of operations data for all periods presented have been
reclassified to reflect the results of operations of Media as
discontinued operations, with the sale of discontinued operations
reflected in the statement of operations for 1995. The balance sheet
data for 1994 reflect the assets and liabilities of Media as a single
line item, "net liabilities of business held for disposition." This
line item is inapplicable for subsequent periods as the sale of Media
was completed in November 1995.
41
AMPEX CORPORATION
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Report of Independent Accountants......................................... F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of December 31, 1998 and 1997................................... F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For Each of the Three Years in the Period Ended December 31, 1998.....F-4
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For Each of the Three Years in the Period Ended December 31, 1998.....F-5
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Deficit
For Each of the Three Years in the Period Ended December 31, 1998.....F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.................................. F-7
F-1
Report of Independent Accountants
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
of Ampex Corporation
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related
consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, of cash flows
and of stockholders' deficit present fairly, in all material respects, the
financial position of Ampex Corporation and its subsidiaries at December 31,
1998 and 1997, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management; our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our
audits of these statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- ------------------------------
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Francisco, California
March 5, 1999
F-2
AMPEX CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31, December 31,
1998 1997
------------ ------------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 23,357 $ 24,076
Short-term investments 39,222 17,685
Accounts receivable (net of allowances of $1,360 in 1998 11,789 13,033
and $1,484 in 1997)
Inventories 19,766 16,380
Other current assets 2,510 1,560
----------- ----------
Total current assets 96,644 72,734
Property, plant and equipment 10,546 8,892
Intangible assets, net 5,461 -
Other assets 3,350 45
----------- ----------
Total assets $ 116,001 $ 81,671
=========== ==========
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
Current liabilities:
Notes payable $ 180 $ 933
Accounts payable 6,470 5,173
Income taxes payable 12 373
Accrued restructuring costs 2,135 1,706
Other accrued liabilities 17,889 19,942
----------- ----------
Total current liabilities 26,686 28,127
Long-term debt 43,380 2
Other liabilities 51,470 70,708
Deferred income taxes 1,213 1,267
Accrued restructuring costs 688 1,612
----------- ----------
Total liabilities 123,437 101,716
----------- ----------
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
Mandatorily redeemable junior preferred stock (Note 3) - -
Mandatorily redeemable nonconvertible preferred stock, $1,000 liquidation value:
Authorized: 69,970 shares in 1998 and in 1997 - 69,970
Issued and outstanding - none in 1998; 69,970 shares in 1997
Mandatorily redeemable preferred stock, $2,000 liquidation value:
Authorized: 21,859 shares in 1998 and none in 1997
Issued and outstanding - 21,859 shares in 1998; none in 1997 43,718 -
Convertible preferred stock, $2,000 liquidation value:
Authorized: 10,000 shares in 1998 and none in 1997
Issued and outstanding - 10,000 shares in 1998; none in 1997 20,000 -
Stockholders' deficit:
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value:
Authorized: 898,171 shares in 1998 and in 1997
Issued and outstanding - none in 1998 and in 1997 - -
Common stock, $.01 par value:
Class A:
Authorized: 125,000,000 shares in 1998 and in 1997
Issued and outstanding - 49,782,547 shares in 1998; 45,936,707 shares in 1997 498 459
Class C:
Authorized: 50,000,000 shares in 1998 and in 1997
Issued and outstanding - none in 1998 and in 1997 - -
Other additional capital 391,849 383,513
Notes receivable from stockholders (4,818) (4,818)
Accumulated deficit (429,630) (440,068)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (29,053) (29,101)
------------ ----------
Total stockholders' deficit (71,154) (90,015)
------------ ----------
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit $ 116,001 $ 81,671
============ ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements
F-3
AMPEX CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
---------------- ---------------- -----------------
Net sales $ 63,319 $ 80,311 $ 96,485
Cost of sales 37,612 41,140 52,407
--------------- ------------ --------------
Gross profit 25,707 39,171 44,078
Selling and administrative 23,978 24,452 27,084
Research, development and engineering 11,688 15,464 15,930
Royalty income (10,591) (12,550) (10,497)
Restructuring charges (credits) 2,526 (1,659) (453)
Acquisition of in-process research and development 929 - -
---------------- ------------- --------------
Operating income (loss) (2,823) 13,464 12,014
Interest expense 4,329 86 756
Amortization of debt financing costs 316 - 85
Interest income (3,496) (2,991) (3,257)
Other (income) expense, net (1) 59 35
--------------- ------------- --------------
Income (loss) before income taxes (3,971) 16,310 14,395
Provision for (benefit of) income taxes (14,409) 1,507 1,654
--------------- ------------- --------------
Net income 10,438 14,803 12,741
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments 71 (19) 81
Mininum pension adjustment (23) (19,076) 3,121
--------------- -------------- --------------
Comprehensive income $ 10,486 $ (4,292) $ 15,943
=============== ============== ==============
Basic income per share:
Income per share $ 0.22 $ 0.32 $ 0.29
=============== ============== ==============
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 47,572,224 45,616,344 43,307,645
=============== ============== ==============
Diluted income per share:
Income per share $ 0.20 $ 0.32 $ 0.28
=============== ============== ==============
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 53,280,956 46,461,321 44,723,031
=============== ============== ==============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements
F-4
AMPEX CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Year Ended December 31,
------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
------------ ------------ ------------
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income $ 10,438 $ 14,803 $ 12,741
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion 2,984 2,244 2,803
Acquisition of in-process research and development 929 - -
Net (gain) loss on sale of assets 45 - (932)
Foregiveness of stockholder's note receivable 176 - -
Write-off of long-lived assets - 445 -
Reversal of prior year's tax accrual (15,378) - -
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Notes receivable - (874) (1,519)
Accounts receivable 2,817 4,290 (1,814)
Inventories (2,847) (2,285) (1,583)
Long-term receivables 8 132 26
Other assets 748 3,469 (1,956)
Accounts payable (1,410) (2,269) (2,492)
Other accrued liabilities and income taxes payable (4,231) (4,170) (1,898)
Deferred income taxes (54) (47) (65)
Accrued restructuring costs (163) (4,280) (3,131)
Other liabilities (2,773) (6,883) (8,129)
---------- ---------- -----------
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (8,711) 4,575 (7,949)
---------- ---------- -----------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of short-term investments (72,352) (78,629) (72,670)
Proceeds received on the maturity of short-term investments 23,310 77,957 64,376
Proceeds from the sale of short-term investments 27,505 228 3,938
Additions to property, plant and equipment (3,554) (1,560) (2,834)
Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment 5 - 29,349
Net proceeds and additions to notes receivable - 8,800 (6,407)
Deferred gain on sale of assets (814) (814) 5,930
Purchases of long-term investments (1,280) - -
Investment in affiliate (400) - -
Purchase of company, net of cash acquired (338) - -
Decrease in other assets - - 2
---------- ---------- -----------
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (27,918) 5,982 21,684
---------- ---------- -----------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings under working capital facilities 37,350 52,053 48,130
Repayments under working capital facilities (43,590) (52,908) (49,410)
Repayment of secured note payable - - (7,333)
Repayment of notes payable-affiliates (5) (2) (80)
Issuance of senior notes 42,680 - -
Debt financing costs (583) - -
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 136 637 1,624
Proceeds from issuance of warrants - - 17
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities ---------- ---------- -----------
35,988 (220) (7,052)
---------- ---------- -----------
Effect of exchange rates on cash (78) 329 (38)
---------- ---------- -----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (719) 10,666 6,645
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
24,076 13,410 6,765
---------- ---------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 23,357 $ 24,076 $ 13,410
========== =========== ===========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements
F-5
AMPEX CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
For Each of the Three years in the Period Ended
December 31, 1998
Common Stock
Class A Class C
-----------------------------------------------------------
Shares Amount Shares Amount
-----------------------------------------------------------
Balances, 32,310 $ 323 2,107 $ 21
December 31, 1995
Net income - - - -
Translation adjustments - - - -
Minimum pension liability
adjustment - - - -
Proceeds from exercise
of warrants 1,699 17 - -
Proceeds from
issuance of shares 400 4 - -
Stock options exercised 395 4 - -
Conversion of notes 8,523 85 - -
Conversion of shares 2,107 21 (2,107) (21)
--------- ------- ---------- ---------
Balances,
December 31, 1996 45,434 $ 454 - -
Net income - - - -
Translation adjustments - - - -
Minimum pension liability
Adjustment - - - -
Proceeds from issuance
of shares 325 3 - -
Stock options
exercised 178 2 - -
--------- ------- --------- ---------
Balances,
December 31, 1997 45,937 459 - -
Net income - - - -
Translation adjustments - - - -
Minimum pension liability
Adjustment - - - -
Note foregiveness - - - -
Preferred stock exchange,
net of issuance costs 3,000 30 - -
Acquisition of MicroNet 720 7 - -
Fair value of warrants issued - - - -
Proceeds from issuance
of shares 75 1 - -
Stock options exercised 51 1 - -
--------- ------- --------- ---------
Balances,
December 31, 1998 49,783 $ 498 - -
========= ======== ========= =========
AMPEX CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
For Each of the Three years in the Period Ended
December 31, 1998
Accumulated
Comprehensive Income
-----------------------------
Notes Minimum
Other R'cvble Cumulative Pension Total
Additional From Accumulated Translation Liability Stockholders'
Capital Stkhlders Deficit Adjustment Adjustment Deficit
---------- ----------- ---------- ------------ ----------- -----------------
Balances, 355,172 $ (2,053) $ (467,612) 445 (13,653) (127,357)
December 31, 1995
Net income - - 12,741 - - 12,741
Translation
adjustments - - - 81 - 81
Minimum pension
liability adjustment - - - - 3,121 3,121
Proceeds from exercise
of warrants - - - - 17 17
Proceeds from
issuance of shares 2,746 (1,926) - - - 824
Stock options exercised 797 - - - - 801
Conversion of notes 23,327 - - - - 23,412
Conversion of shares - - - - - -
--------- -------- --------- --------- ----------- ---------
Balances,
December 31, 1996 $ 382,042 (3,979) $ (454,871) 526 (10,532) (86,360)
Net income - - 14,803 - - 14,803
Translation adjustments - - - (19) - (19)
Minimum pension
liability adjustment - - - - (19,076) (19,076)
Proceeds from issuance
of shares 1,045 (839) - - - 209
Stock options
exercised 426 - - - - 428
--------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- --------
Balances,
December 31, 1997 383,513 (4,818) $(440,068) 507 (29,608) (90,015)
Net income - - 10,438 - - 10,438
Translation
adjustments - - - 71 - 71
Minimum pension liability
Adjustment - - - - (23) (23)
Note foregiveness - 176 - - - 176
Preferred stock exchange,
net of issuance costs 6,043 - - - - 6,073
Acquisition of MicroNet 1,217 - - - - 1,224
Fair value of warrants issued 765 - - - - 765
Proceeds from issuance
of shares 219 (176) - - - 44
Stock options exercised 92 - - - - 93
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Balances, December 31, 1998 391,849 (4,818) $(429,630) $578 $ (29,631) $ (71,154)
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements
F-6
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 - Ampex Corporation
Ampex Corporation ("Ampex" or the "Company") is one of the world's
leading providers of technologies for the acquisition, storage and processing of
visual information. Today, Ampex is delivering digital image storage solutions
for large-scale corporate, government, network, entertainment and
telecommunications applications.
On June 30, 1998, Ampex acquired MicroNet Technology, Inc.
("MicroNet"). MicroNet designs and manufactures high-performance disk arrays for
use in digital image applications, primarily digital pre-press and video. The
Consolidated Balance Sheet includes the acquired fair value of assets purchased
and liabilities assumed of MicroNet as more fully described in Note 3.
In September 1998, the Company acquired 19.9% of Reiter Associates,
Inc. ("Reiter") with options to acquire a majority interest in the future.
Reiter is a provider of turnkey electronic commerce support, web hosting,
Internet consulting and monitoring services for enterprises that use the world
wide web. At December 31, 1998, the Company's investment in Reiter is being
accounted for using the cost method. See Note 23.
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements are presented in
accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. All intercompany
accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain reclassifications have
been made to the prior years' financial statements to conform to the current
year's presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on the prior years'
stockholders' deficit or net income.
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, the
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash Equivalents
Cash equivalents consist of investments with original maturities of
90 days or less.
Investments
The Company's investments are comprised primarily of debt securities
and consist of highly liquid U.S. Treasury instruments, investments in High
Yield mutual funds and U.S. corporate securities. All investments are classified
as available for sale. Investments with remaining maturities of less than 12
months from the balance sheet date are classified as short-term investments.
Investments with remaining maturities of more than 12 months from the balance
sheet date are classified as long-term assets. Unrealized gains and losses, if
material, are reported net of tax as a separate component of stockholders'
equity until realized. Realized gains and losses, if any, are determined using
the specific identification method.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (on a first-in, first-out
basis) or market not in excess of net realizable value.
F-7
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (cont'd.)
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost and stated net of
accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed on a straight-line basis over
estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from 6 to 9 years for machinery and
equipment and 5 to 50 years for buildings and improvements. When assets are
disposed of, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the
accounts and the resulting gains or losses are included in the results of
operations.
Intangible Assets
The gross book value of goodwill associated with acquisitions was
$6.1 million at December 31, 1998. Goodwill is being amortized on a
straight-line basis over five years and is included in intangible assets, net.
Accumulated amortization was $0.6 million at December 31, 1998. The Company
writes off the carrying value of long-lived assets to the extent estimated
future undiscounted operating cash flows are not sufficient to recover the
carrying value of these assets over their remaining useful life.
Foreign Currency Translation
Assets and liabilities of subsidiaries located outside the United
States have been translated at rates in effect at year end. Revenues and
expenses are translated at average rates during the year. Local currencies are
considered to be the functional currencies for substantially all of the
Company's foreign subsidiaries. Accordingly, the effects of translating the
financial statements of foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars are reported in
the cumulative translation adjustment, a separate component of stockholders'
deficit. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses, which are included in
other expense, were not material in the periods reported.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized at the time products are shipped and at the
time services are rendered to customers. Upon shipment, the Company provides for
estimated product returns and estimated costs that may be incurred for product
warranties.
Research, Development and Engineering
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and amounted
to $10.9 million, $13.1 million and $14.0 million in 1998, 1997 and 1996,
respectively. Other engineering costs, principally incurred in connection with
product introductions and process enhancements, amounted to $0.8 million, $2.4
million and $1.9 million in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
Royalties
Royalty income is recorded when earned and receipt is assured.
Income Taxes
The Company follows Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
109 ("SFAS 109"), Accounting for Income Taxes. Under this method, deferred
income taxes are recognized for temporary differences by applying enacted
statutory rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial
statement carrying amounts and the tax basis of existing assets and liabilities.
The effect on deferred taxes of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in
the period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are
established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts expected
to be realized. See Note 19.
Foreign withholding taxes have been provided on the undistributed
earnings of foreign subsidiaries, giving recognition to applicable tax rates.
F-8
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (cont'd.)
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to
concentrations of risk consist principally of short-term and long-term
investments and trade receivables. The Company invests its temporary cash
balances in short-term U.S. Treasury obligations, High Yield mutual funds and
U.S. corporate securities and, by policy, limits the investment maturity and the
amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution or type of
investment. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations on its customers,
and collateral is generally not required for trade receivables.
Fiscal Year
The Company's fiscal year is the 52 or 53-week period ending on the
Saturday nearest December 31. Fiscal 1998 was a 52-week year. Fiscal 1997 was a
53-week year and fiscal 1996 was a 52-week year.
Income Per Common Share
Basic income per common share is computed by dividing net income
available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding for the period. Diluted income per common share is computed giving
effect to all potentially dilutive common shares that were outstanding during
the period.
Stock Options
The Company accounts for stock-based awards to employees in
accordance with APB No. 25 ("APB 25"), Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees
and has adopted the disclosure-only alternative of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 123 ("SFAS 123"), Accounting for Stock Based
Compensation. See Note 15.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
For certain instruments that are short-term in nature, such as cash
and cash equivalents, short-term investments and working capital facilities,
carrying value approximates fair value. The Company's Senior Notes have been
valued at approximately par value at December 31, 1998 by the underwriter;
however no securities have traded in the secondary market. Management has
determined that it is not practical to estimate fair value for note
payable-other, as no market for such instruments currently exists. See Note 10.
Recent Pronouncements
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 ("SFAS 133"), Accounting for
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. SFAS 133 establishes accounting
and reporting standards requiring that every derivative instrument, including
certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, be recorded in the
balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its fair value. SFAS
133 requires that changes in the derivative's fair value be recognized currently
in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. Special
accounting for qualifying hedges allows a derivative's gains and losses to
offset related results on the hedged item in the income statement, and requires
that a company must formally document, designate and assess the effectiveness of
transactions that receive hedge accounting. SFAS 133 is effective for the
Company in fiscal year 2000 and will not require retroactive restatement of
prior period financial statements. The Company has not yet quantified the impact
of adopting SFAS 133 on its financial statements, but the Company believes there
will not be a significant impact.
F-9
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 3 - Acquisition of MicroNet Technology, Inc.
On June 30, 1998, the Company acquired the capital stock of MicroNet.
In connection with the acquisition, Ampex issued 720,000 shares of Common Stock,
valued at $1.2 million and has acquired MicroNet subject to $3.5 million face
amount of MicroNet Redeemable Junior Preferred Stock, notes payable of $5.5
million and other liabilities estimated at $4.7 million. The Company incurred
acquisition costs of $0.6 million. The MicroNet Redeemable Junior Preferred
Stock is redeemable out of a percentage of earnings of MicroNet beginning in
fiscal 1999. Due to the contingent nature of the redemption provision, no value
has been ascribed to the MicroNet Redeemable Junior Preferred Stock in
determination of the purchase price. The shares of the Company's Common Stock
and MicroNet Redeemable Junior Preferred Stock are being held in escrow, pending
resolution of certain contingencies for which the Company has been indemnified
by the former shareholders of MicroNet.
The acquisition has been accounted for under the purchase method of
accounting. Accordingly, the results of operations of MicroNet and the fair
value of the acquired assets have been included in the financial statements of
the Company as of the acquisition date. The purchase price was allocated to the
acquired assets and assumed liabilities as follows:
(in thousands)
Current assets.......................................................... $ 4,328
Plant and equipment..................................................... 400
In-process research and development..................................... 929
Goodwill and other intangibles.......................................... 6,067
Accounts payable........................................................ (2,809)
Accrued liabilities..................................................... (1,864)
Notes payable........................................................... (5,474)
The amounts allocated to intangible assets, including in-process
research and development, were based on results of an independent appraisal.
Acquired in-process research and development represented development projects in
areas that had not reached technological feasibility and had no alternative
future use and were valued using the "stage of completion " methodology
prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and were charged to
operations at the date of the acquisition. All other intangible assets acquired,
including goodwill, are being amortized over five years.
The following table presents unaudited pro forma information as if
Ampex and MicroNet had been combined as of the beginning of 1998 and 1997. The
pro forma data are presented for illustrative purposes only and are not
necessarily indicative of the combined financial position or results of
operations of future periods or the results that actually would have resulted
had the companies been a combined company during all of 1998 and 1997. The pro
forma results include the effects of the purchase price allocation on
amortization of acquired intangible assets and exclude the acquisition-related
charge for the purchased in-process technology.
Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------------
1998 1997
--------- -------
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Net sales.................................................................... $ 74,480 $ 112,537
============= ============
Net income................................................................... $ 9,498 $ 239
============= ============
Basic income per share:
Income per share......................................................... $ 0.20 $ 0.01
============= ===========
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding..................... 47,572 45,616
============= ============
Diluted income per share:
Income per share......................................................... $ 0.18 $ 0.01
============= ===========
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding..................... 53,631 47,181
============= ============
F-10
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 4 - Computation of Basic and Diluted Income per Share
In accordance with the disclosure requirements of SFAS 128, a
reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of basic and diluted income per
common share is provided as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):
Year Ended December 31,
------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
---------------- --------------- -------------
Numerator - Basic
Income from continuing operations............................... $ 10,438 $ 14,803 $ 12,741
================ =============== =============
Net income...................................................... $ 10,438 $ 14,803 $ 12,741
================ =============== =============
Denominator - Basic
Weighted average common stock outstanding....................... 47,572 45,616 43,308
-------------- --------------- -------------
Basic income per share from continuing operations..................... $ 0.22 $ 0.32 $ 0.29
================ ============== ============
Basic income per share................................................ $ 0.22 $ 0.32 $ 0.29
================ ============== ============
Numerator - Diluted
Income from continuing operations............................... $ 10,438 $ 14,803 $ 12,741
================ =============== =============
Net income...................................................... $ 10,438 $ 14,803 $ 12,741
================ =============== =============
Denominator - Diluted
Weighted average common stock outstanding....................... 47,572 45,616 43,308
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options.............................................. 154 845 1,231
Warrants................................................... - - 184
Contingent shares.......................................... 370 - -
Conversion of redeemable preferred stock................... 5,185 - -
-------------- --------------- -------------
53,281 46,461 44,723
-------------- --------------- -------------
Diluted income per share from continuing operations................... $ 0.20 $ 0.32 $ 0.28
================ ============== ============
Diluted income per share.............................................. $ 0.20 $ 0.32 $ 0.28
================ ============== ============
In connection with the acquisition of MicroNet the Company issued
720,000 shares of Common Stock. Such shares are being held in escrow pending the
resolution of certain contingencies but have been included in the computation of
diluted weighted average common stock outstanding only from June 30, 1998.
In connection with the redemption of the 8% Noncumulative Preferred
Stock, the Company issued 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $20 million face
amount of Convertible Preferred Stock and $43.7 million face amount of
Redeemable Preferred Stock. The 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock have been
included in the computation of weighted average common stock outstanding and
5,000,000 shares of Common Stock potentially issuable on conversion of
Convertible Preferred Stock have been included in the computation of diluted
weighted average common stock outstanding.
As more fully described in Note 13, the Company is obligated to
redeem the Redeemable Preferred Stock in quarterly installments over a 10-year
period beginning June 1999. The Company at its election may make redemption
payments in shares of Common Stock or in cash, subject to certain statutory
requirements. In the third quarter of 1998, the Company adopted a policy on the
proportion of redemption payments to be made in cash and in Common Stock,
resulting in the anticipated issuance of 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock over
the 10-year
F-11
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 4 - Computation of Basic and Diluted Income per Share (cont'd.)
redemption period. Accordingly, such shares of Common Stock have been included
in the computation of diluted weighted average common stock outstanding used for
financial reporting purposes. If the Company was to make all redemption payments
in Common Stock, an additional 12,487,200 shares of Common Stock would be
issued, based on the floor conversion price of $2.50 per share, over the number
of common shares included in the diluted income per share computation resulting
in diluted income per share for the 12-month period ended December 31, 1998 of
$0.18.
Subsequent to year end , holders of 5,640 shares of Convertible
Preferred Stock converted their holdings into 2,815,000 shares of Common Stock.
See Note 23.
Stock options to purchase 2,384,477 shares of Common Stock at prices
ranging from $1.0625 to $10.50 per share were outstanding at December 31, 1998,
but were not included in the computation of diluted income per share because the
exercise price was greater than the average market value of the common shares.
Stock options to purchase 566,775 shares of Common Stock at prices
ranging from $3.19 to $10.50 per share were outstanding at December 31, 1997,
but were not included in the computation of diluted income per share because the
exercise price was greater than the average market value of the common shares.
Stock options to purchase 273,500 shares of Common Stock at $10.50 per
share were outstanding at December 31, 1996, but were not included in the
computation of diluted income per share because the exercise price was greater
than the average market value of the common shares.
In January 1998, Warrants to purchase 1,020,000 shares of Common Stock
at $2.25 per share were issued in connection with the issuance of the Senior
Notes. The Warrants were anti-dilutive at December 31, 1998. See Note 10.
Note 5 - Supplemental Schedule of Cash Flow Information
Year Ended December 31,
------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
---------------- --------------- -------------
(in thousands)
Interest paid................................................... $ 3,408 $ 86 $ 265
Income taxes paid............................................... 1,412 1,752 1,706
Debt financing costs............................................ 1,320 - -
Warrants........................................................ 765 - -
Common stock issued for MicroNet acquisition.................... 7 - -
Redeemable nonconvertible preferred stock....................... (69,970) - -
Redeemable preferred stock...................................... 43,718 - -
Convertible preferred stock..................................... 20,000 - -
Issuance of common stock........................................ 6,252 - -
Note 6 - Investments
The carrying and market value of investments are as follows at
December 31, 1998 and 1997:
Available - for - Sale December 31, 1998
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scheduled
Carrying Unrealized Fair Maturity
Value Gains Losses Value Date
-------- --------- ---------- -------- -----------
(in thousands)
U.S. government and
agency obligations............... $ 39,222 $ - $ - $ 39,222 Jan.-Apr. 1999
F-12
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 6 - Investments (cont'd.)
High Yield mutual funds................ $ 12,057 - - $ 12,057
U.S. convertible debentures............ 1,170 - - 1,170 Sept. 2002
U.S. corporate securities.............. 110 - - 110
---------- ---------- ---------- --------
Total............................ $ 13,337 $ - $ - $ 13,337
---------- ---------- ---------- --------
Due within 1 year...................... $ 12,167
Due after 1 year....................... 1,170
High Yield mutual funds are recognized as cash and cash equivalents.
U.S. convertible debentures and corporate securities are recognized as other
assets.
Available - for - Sale December 31, 1997
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scheduled
Carrying Unrealized Fair Maturity
Value Gains Losses Value Date
-------- --------- ---------- -------- -----------
(in thousands)
U.S. government and
agency obligations............... $ 17,685 $ - $ - $ 17,685 Jan.- Mar. 1998
Note 7 - Inventories
December 31,
------------------------------
1998 1997
------ -------
(in thousands)
Raw materials....................................................................... $ 7,488 $ 6,686
Work in process..................................................................... 5,824 5,424
Finished goods...................................................................... 6,454 4,270
--------------- -------------
Total.......................................................................... $ 19,766 $ 16,380
=============== =============
Inventories are stated net of reserves for obsolete and slow-moving
items of $17.6 million and $15.6 million at December 31, 1998 and 1997,
respectively. Inventory disposals, which had previously been fully reserved,
totaled $2.8 and $4.0 million, during 1998 and 1997, respectively.
Note 8 - Property, Plant and Equipment
December 31,
-----------------------------
1998 1997
---------- ---------
(in thousands)
Land ............................................................................... $ 952 $ 952
Buildings and improvements.......................................................... 10,887 8,338
Furniture, fixtures and equipment................................................... 29,718 29,740
Construction in progress............................................................ 115 439
--------------- -------------
41,672 39,469
Less accumulated depreciation....................................................... (31,126) (30,577)
---------------- -------------
Total.......................................................................... $ 10,546 $ 8,892
================ =============
Depreciation charged to operations was $1.9 million, $2.2 million and
$2.1 million in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. During the year, the Company
retired fixed assets with a gross value of $2.0 million and a net book value of
$0.4 million.
F-13
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 8 - Property, Plant and Equipment (cont'd.)
In January 1996, the Company completed the sale of its real property in
Redwood City, California for $36.0 million. The net book value of the property
at the time of the sale was $26.2 million. The sale resulted in a gain of
approximately $8.3 million. Of this amount, approximately $2.4 million
represents imputed interest on the secured notes (and was recognized over the
terms of the notes), and $4.1 million is being recognized over a five-year
period representing the noncancellable portion of two of the Company's leases
relating to the property. The remaining $1.8 million is being deferred for four
years. If, at that time, the Company decides to continue the two leases for an
additional six- to nine-year period, the $1.8 million will be recognized over
the remaining terms of the leases; otherwise, the $1.8 million gain will be
offset by lease cancellation fees of the same amount. At December 31, 1998 and
1997, the balance of the deferred gain was $3.5 and $4.4 million, respectively.
In May 1996, the Company completed the sale of the smaller of its two
manufacturing facilities in Colorado Springs, Colorado for $3.6 million, and
realized a gain of $0.9 million on the sale. The net book value of the property
at the time of the sale was $2.4 million.
Note 9 - Other Accrued Liabilities
December 31,
-------------------------------
1998 1997
------------ --------
(in thousands)
Compensation and employee benefits.................................................. $ 5,214 $ 6,213
Pension............................................................................. 5,104 6,339
Interest payable.................................................................... 1,581 -
Warranty and other product costs.................................................... 1,177 1,363
Customer deposits................................................................... 899 163
Other............................................................................... 3,914 5,864
----------- ---------
Total $ 17,889 $ 19,942
=========== =========
Note 10 - Debt
December 31,
-------------------------------
1998 1997
------------- -------------
(in thousands)
Notes Payable
Working capital facilities.......................................................... $ - $ 769
Note payable - other................................................................ 180 164
--------------- ----------
Total.......................................................................... $ 180 $ 933
=============== ==========
Long-term Debt
Working capital facilities.......................................................... $ 3 $ 2
Senior notes........................................................................ 43,377 -
--------------- ---------
Total.......................................................................... $ 43,380 $ 2
=============== =========
F-14
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 10 - Debt (cont'd.)
Working Capital Facilities
Ampex had a loan from a foreign bank which was fully repaid in 1998.
Ampex has a revolving credit line with a domestic financial institution to
finance working capital requirements. Average borrowings under these agreements
in 1998 were $0.3 million at an average interest rate of 3.0%, and were $1.2
million at an average interest rate of 2.5% in 1997. Maximum borrowings
outstanding at any time during 1998 and 1997 were $1.4 million and $1.8 million,
respectively. The Company's domestic revolving credit agreement permits
borrowings up to $7.0 million, based on eligible accounts receivable as defined
in the agreement, less a standby letter of credit facility in the amount of $2.5
million. At December 31, 1998 under the domestic revolving credit agreement
there was $2,549 outstanding and at December 31, 1997, there was $1,616
outstanding. The Company pays a monthly commitment fee of 0.5% per annum based
on the average daily unused amount. The borrowings are collateralized by certain
current assets of the Company.
Note Payable - Other
The note is a noninterest-bearing demand promissory note held by NH
Holding Incorporated. The outstanding balance at December 31, 1998 of $0.2
million is expected to be paid or converted into shares of Common Stock in 1999.
Senior Notes
In January 1998, the Company issued $30.0 million of its 12% Senior
Notes (the "Notes"), together with Warrants to purchase 1.02 million shares of
Common Stock. The Warrants are exercisable at $2.25 per share at any time on or
prior to March 15, 2003. At the time of issuance, the Warrants were valued using
the Black-Scholes model. The value assigned to the Warrants was $765,000, which
is being amortized against interest expense over the term of the Notes. At the
end of June 1998, the Company issued an additional $14.0 million Senior Notes.
Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 of
each year, commencing September 15, 1998. The Notes will mature on March 15,
2003. The Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time after
March 15, 2000, at redemption prices expressed as percentages of the principal
amount of the Notes ranging from 100% to 106% depending on the redemption date,
together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.
The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company and rank pari passu in
right of payment with all existing and future subordinated indebtedness of the
Company.
Noncurrent Maturities of Long-term Debt
The following table summarizes the scheduled noncurrent maturities of
the Company's long-term debt as of December 31, 1998, for years subsequent to
1999:
Year (in thousands)
-------
2000 $ 3
2003 44,000
Note 11 - Other Liabilities
December 31,
----------------------------
1998 1997
------------- --------
(in thousands)
Pension............................................................................. $ 28,062 $ 31,510
Reserve for tax liabilities......................................................... 11,614 27,015
Other postemployment benefits....................................................... 7,009 6,478
Other............................................................................... 4,785 5,705
--------------- -------------
Total.......................................................................... $ 51,470 $ 70,708
=============== =============
F-15
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 12 - Commitments and Contingencies
The increase in the pension liability was attributable to an increase
in the minimum pension liability resulting from the lowering of the discount
rate from 7.0% in 1997 to 6.5% in 1998 due to a decline in long-term interest
rates, less the gain on the fair value of the plan assets. See Note 16.
During the year, the Company reversed $5.2 million previously
reserved in connection with disputed state income taxes for the prior years,
following the favorable settlement of that dispute, and the Company reversed
$10.1 million previously accrued in connection with the liquidation of its
subsidiary in Italy.
Leases
The Company leases certain manufacturing and office facilities and
equipment under operating lease agreements. At December 31, 1998 future annual
lease obligations and sublease income under leases with noncancellable lease
terms in excess of one year were as follows (in thousands):
Gross Sublease Net
Year Obligation Income Obligation
------------ ---------- -------- ----------
1999.............................................. $ 4,872 $ 808 $ 4,064
2000.............................................. 4,050 550 3,500
2001.............................................. 4,651 101 4,550
2002.............................................. 1,594 - 1,594
2003.............................................. 1,552 - 1,552
Thereafter........................................ 6,815 - 6,815
---------- ---------- ----------
$ 23,534 $ 1,459 $ 22,075
========== ========== ==========
Total rent expense for all operating leases was $5.3 million, $4.9
million and $5.1 million for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996,
respectively.
In January 1996, the Company completed the sale of its real property
in Redwood City, California and leased back a portion of the property from the
purchaser. Future annual lease obligations included in the above table, under
two lease agreements with noncancellable lease terms until April 2001,
approximates $1.8 million per year. An additional $1.8 million representing a
potential lease termination penalty in 2001 has been included in the table
above.
The following is a schedule by years of future minimum lease payments
under capital leases together with the present value of the net minimum lease
payments as of December 31, 1998:
Year (in thousands)
----
1999........................................... $ 70
2000........................................... 23
2001........................................... 17
-------
Net minimum lease payments...................... 110
Less amount representing interest............... (21)
-------
Present value of net minimum lease payments...... $ 89
=======
The gross book value and accumulated depreciation of capital leases at
December 31, 1998 was $0.3 million and $0.1 million, respectively.
Legal Proceedings
The Company is currently a defendant in lawsuits that have arisen in
the ordinary course of its business. Management does not believe that any such
lawsuits or unasserted claims will have a material adverse effect on the
Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
F-16
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 12 - Commitments and Contingencies (cont'd.)
Certain subsidiaries have been assessed income and value-added taxes
together with penalties and interest. MicroNet was involved in litigation in the
ordinary course of its business that was unresolved at the date the business was
acquired by the Company. The Company has been indemnified against loss by the
former shareholders of MicroNet for such matters. A portion of the purchase
price paid in shares of Common Stock is being held in escrow pending the
ultimate resolution of the litigation and would revert to the Company in the
event the Company incurred any future loss relative to such matters.
Environmental Matters
The Company currently is involved in various stages of investigation
and cleanup relative to environmental protection matters, some of which relate
to past disposal practices. State or federal agencies are overseeing some of
these matters. Management has provided reserves, which have not been discounted,
related to investigation and cleanup costs and believes that the final
disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the
Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Guarantees
The Company has certain arrangements with banks primarily to facilitate
the issuance of performance guarantees or letters of credit. At December 31,
1998 and 1997, the Company was contingently liable for $1.1 million and $2.4
million, respectively, of general performance guarantees and letters of credit.
The Company has not recorded reserves for potential losses for these items at
December 31, 1998 and 1997.
Note 13 - Preferred Stock
At December 31, 1997, the Company became required to redeem the
69,970 outstanding shares of its 8% Noncumulative Preferred Stock with an
aggregate liquidation value of $70.0 million (the "Old Preferred Stock"), to the
extent of funds legally available therefor (generally, the excess of the value
of assets over liabilities) at the redemption price of $1,000 per share.
Pursuant to an agreement in the second quarter of 1998, the Company completed
the redemption of the Old Preferred Stock in exchange for the following
securities (a) 3,000,000 shares of its Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share;
(b) 10,000 shares of a new series of 8% Noncumulative Convertible Preferred
Stock, par value $1.00, with an aggregate liquidation value of $20.0 million
(the "Convertible Preferred Stock"); and (c) 21,859 shares of a new series of 8%
Noncumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share, with an
aggregate liquidation value of $43.7 million (the "Redeemable Preferred Stock").
Each share of Convertible Preferred Stock and Redeemable Preferred
Stock (together, the "New Stock") will entitle the holder thereof to receive
noncumulative dividends at the rate of 8% per annum, if declared by the
Company's Board of Directors. Each share of Convertible Preferred Stock may be
converted, at the option of the holder thereof, at a conversion price of $4.00
per share, into 500 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment under certain
circumstances. See Note 23. Beginning in June 2001, the Company will become
obligated to redeem the remaining Convertible Preferred Stock in quarterly
installments through December 2008. Beginning in June 1999, the Company will
become obligated to redeem the Redeemable Preferred Stock in quarterly
installments through March 2008. The Company will have the option to redeem the
Redeemable Preferred Stock at any time and the Convertible Preferred Stock
beginning in June 2001, and will have the option to make mandatory redemption
payments either in cash or in shares of Common Stock. In the event that the
Company does not have sufficient funds legally available to make any mandatory
redemption payment in cash, the Company will be required to make such redemption
payment by issuing shares of Common Stock. Shares of Common Stock issued to make
any optional or mandatory redemption payments will be valued at the higher of
$2.50 or fair market value per share of Common Stock.
F-17
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 14 - Related Party Transactions
During 1998, 1997, 1996 and 1995, the Company received five-year
notes for the purchase of Common Stock by an affiliated company in the principal
amounts of $176,250, $838,750, $2,200,000 and $2,052,750, respectively. The
notes bear annual interest at 5.69%, 6.34%, 6.72% and 7.96%, respectively, and
are collateralized by the purchased shares.
In June 1996, the Company received a partial payment on the notes
outstanding of $273,700.
During 1998, the Company modified the terms of the note originally
issued in 1996 in the principal amount of $2.2 million. The final maturity date
of the note was extended to October 15, 2008. Commencing on October 15, 1998 and
continuing until the final maturity date, the principal amount of the note shall
be reduced in ten equal annual installments of $176,000, whereupon the remaining
unpaid balance shall be due and payable. In certain circumstances when the stock
price exceeds $7.00 per share, the unpaid principal balance of the note shall
thereupon be reduced to $440,000. Accrued interest on the unpaid principal
amount of the note due on each October 15 during the term of the note will be
forgiven on each interest payment date subject to certain stipulated employment
issues.
Note 15 - Common Stock, Stock Options and Warrants
The Company's authorized capital stock consists of Class A Common
Stock ("Class A Stock"), Class C Common Stock ("Class C Stock", and collectively
with Class A Stock, the "Common Stock") and Preferred Stock. Shares of Class C
Stock and Preferred Stock are generally nonvoting except in circumstances
specified in the Company's charter documents or as otherwise required by
applicable corporate law. Accordingly, holders of Class A Stock are generally
the only stockholders with voting rights. Each share of Class C Stock converts
into one share of Class A Stock automatically following transfer unless
otherwise elected by the transferee.
The Company's 1992 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Stock Incentive Plan")
for directors, executive officers and other key employees provides for the
granting of "nonqualified stock options" and "incentive stock options" to
acquire Common Stock and/or the granting of stock appreciation rights to obtain,
in cash or shares of Common Stock, the benefit of the appreciation of the value
of shares of Common Stock after the grant date.
On November 6, 1998, the Committee authorized the Company to allow
holders of certain "out-of-the-money" stock options to voluntarily cancel these
options in exchange for an equivalent number of new options. The new options
were granted at an exercise price of $1.0625 which was the fair value of the
Common Stock on November 6, 1998, and with new vesting and expiration schedules.
Of the 1,474,850 options eligible for exchange, option holders elected to
exchange 1,455,850 options that had exercise prices of $2.00 to $4.875.
On October 28, 1997, the Committee authorized the holders of 918,100
"out-of-the-money" stock options with exercise prices ranging from $3.625 to
$10.50, to voluntarily elect to cancel those options in exchange for an
equivalent number of new options. The new options were granted at an exercise
price of $3.125, which was the fair value of the Common Stock on October 28,
1997, and with new vesting and expiration schedules. Of the 918,100 options
eligible for exchange, option holders elected to exchange 664,250 options that
had exercise prices ranging from $4.875 to $10.50.
On June 7, 1996, at the Company's Annual Meeting, stockholders
authorized the issuance of an additional 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock under
the 1992 Stock Incentive Plan. The Company is currently authorized to issue up
to 4,250,000 shares of Common Stock under the Stock Incentive Plan.
At December 31, 1998, there were 2,384,477 options outstanding,
including 838,691 vested options. The exercise prices range from $1.0625 to
$10.50 per share and vesting schedules vary from immediate vesting to vesting
over a three-year period.
F-18
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 15 - Common Stock, Stock Options and Warrants (cont'd.)
Weighted
Shares Number Price Aggregate Average
Available of per Exercise Exercise
for Grant Options Share Price Price
------------- ---------- --------------- -------------- ----------
Balances, December 31, 1995 235,660 2,006,440 $ 1.50-3.69 $ 4,173,885 $ 2.08
Authorized 2,000,000
Granted (914,750) 914,750 3.75-10.50 6,781,750 7.41
Canceled 129,390 (129,390) 1.50-6.44 (390,054) 3.01
Exercised (394,900) 1.50-3.63 (800,350) 2.03
---------- ---------- ------------- ------------- ----------
Balances, December 31, 1996 1,450,300 2,396,900 $ 1.50-10.50 $ 9,765,231 $ 4.07
Granted (990,000) 990,000 2.38-7.94 3,789,813 3.83
Canceled 899,745 (899,745) 1.50-10.50 (6,023,836) 6.70
Exercised (177,290) 1.50-5.75 (384,298) 2.17
---------- ---------- ------------- ------------- ----------
Balances, December 31, 1997 1,360,045 2,309,865 $ 1.50-10.50 $ 7,146,910 $ 3.09
Granted (1,954,600) 1,954,600 1.06-2.94 2,649,069 1.36
Canceled 1,829,148 (1,829,148) 1.50-2.38 (6,199,531) 3.39
Exercised (50,840) 1.50-10.50 (92,010) 1.81
---------- ---------- ------------- ------------- ----------
Balances, December 31, 1998 1,234,593 2,384,477 $ 1.50-10.50 $ 3,504,438 $ 1.47
========== ========== ============= ============= ==========
For the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, the weighted
average fair value of options granted was $0.65, $2.76 and $5.17 per share,
respectively.
At December 31, 1998, there were 1,020,000 Warrants outstanding
exercisable at $2.25 per share, to provide a like number of shares of Common
Stock. At December 31, 1997, there were no Warrants outstanding. During 1996,
1,699,499 shares of Common Stock were issued at $0.01 per share in connection
with the exercise of Warrants.
The options outstanding and currently exercisable by exercise price
at December 31, 1998 are as follows:
Options Currently
Options Outstanding Exercisable
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------
Weighted
Average Weighted Weighted
Remaining Average Average
Exercise Number Contractual Exercise Number Exercise
Prices Outstanding Life Price Exercisable Price
----------- ------------- ------------ ---------- ----------- --------
$1.06-$3.13 2,296,719 4.89 $ 1.26 769,039 $ 1.52
$3.62-$4.88 6,500 6.17 3.89 4,724 3.81
$5.75-$6.00 56,258 1.11 5.79 39,928 5.79
$10.50 25,000 .20 10.50 25,000 10.50
------------- ---- -------- ---------- --------
2,384,477 4.76 $ 1.47 838,691 $ 2.01
============= ==== ======== ========== ========
F-19
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 15 - Common Stock, Stock Options and Warrants (cont'd.)
The fair values of options at the date of grant was estimated using the
Black-Scholes model with the following weighted average assumptions:
December 31,
-------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
--------------- ------------ ------------
Expected life (years).............................................. 1.5 - 3.5 1.5 - 5.5 1.7 - 5.0
---------- --------- ---------
Risk-free interest rate............................................ 4.4-6.5.65% 5.6-6.54% 5.2-6.70%
---------- --------- ---------
Expected volatility................................................ 0.75-1.22 0.85-1.41 1.38-1.46
---------- --------- ---------
Expected dividend yield............................................ - - -
---------- --------- ---------
The Company has elected to account for employee stock options using
the intrinsic value method prescribed by APB 25, and therefore compensation cost
for stock options is measured as the excess, if any, of the quoted market price
of the Company's stock at the date of the grant over the amount an employee must
pay to acquire the stock. Had compensation cost for the Company's stock-based
compensation plan been determined on the fair value of the grant dates for
awards under those plans consistent with the method of SFAS 123, the Company's
net income and diluted income per share would have been reduced to the pro forma
amounts indicated below:
December 31,
-------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
------------ ------------ ------------
(in thousands)
Net income:
As reported........................................................ $ 10,438 $ 14,803 $ 12,741
----------- ---------------- --------
Pro forma.......................................................... $ 8,231 $ 12,360 $ 11,616
----------- ---------------- --------
Basic income per share:
As reported........................................................ $ 0.22 $ 0.32 $ 0.29
----------- ---------------- --------
Pro forma.......................................................... $ 0.17 $ 0.27 $ 0.27
----------- ---------------- --------
Diluted income per share:
As reported........................................................ $ 0.20 $ 0.32 $ 0.28
-------------- --------------- --------
Pro forma.......................................................... $ 0.15 $ 0.27 $ 0.26
-------------- --------------- --------
The above pro forma disclosures are not necessarily representative of
the effects on reported net income (loss) for future years.
Note 16 - Pension Plans
The Company's domestic employees participate in a qualified
noncontributory defined benefit pension plan. Benefits are based on years of
service and salary levels during the highest 60 consecutive months of the last
120 consecutive months of service. In early 1994, the Company amended the plan
to terminate benefit service and compensation credit accruals as of February 1,
1994. The impact of this curtailment was not material to the Company's liability
accounts relating to its pension plan. Certain of the Company's employees
employed by its foreign subsidiaries are covered by contributory pension plans
maintained and funded in accordance with local laws.
F-20
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 16 - Pension Plans (cont'd.)
Pension expense for the domestic plan in 1998, 1997 and 1996
consisted of the following:
Year Ended December 31,
-------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
----------------- ---------------- --------------
(in thousands)
Service cost.................................................... $ - $ - $ -
Interest on projected benefit obligation........................ 11,217 11,389 11,500
Actual return on assets......................................... (20,528) (7,673) (22,061)
Amortization of unrecognized prior service costs................ 8,526 (4,401) 10,481
--------------- ---------------- ------------
Net periodic pension cost (benefit)........................ $ (785) $ (685) $ (80)
=============== ================ ============
The domestic plan funded status and amounts included in the
consolidated balance sheets are as follows:
December 31,
-------------------------------------
1998 1997
--------------- --------------
(in thousands)
Actuarial present value of benefits:
Vested......................................................................... $ 187,209 $ 178,171
Nonvested...................................................................... - 658
--------------- -------------
Total accumulated benefits................................................... $ 187,209 $ 178,829
=============== =============
Projected benefit obligation........................................................ $ (187,209) $ (178,829)
Less: plan assets at fair value..................................................... 157,578 144,705
--------------- -------------
(29,631) (34,124)
Unrecognized net loss............................................................... - -
Tax benefit of excess pension liability............................................. - -
--------------- ------------
Accrued pension cost................................................................ $ (29,631) $ (34,124)
=============== ============
As a result of the disposition of a subsidiary ("Media") in November
1995, the Company became the sponsor of the Media pension plan, and its ultimate
liability will remain the same as it was prior to the sale. Media has agreed to
provide continued funding for the plan, but if it fails to do so, the Company
may be required to make funding payments or to make any required termination
liability payments. As of December 31, 1998, the Company's consolidated balance
sheets included $1.9 million in "other liabilities" for the Media plan's
underfunded status. The Media plan's projected benefit obligation and plan
assets at fair value were approximately $43.6 million and $39.7 million,
respectively.
Actuarial assumptions as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 are as
follows:
December 31,
-------------------------------
1998 1997
-------- ---------
Assumed discount rate.................................................. 6.5% 7.0%
Rate of compensation increase.......................................... N/A N/A
Expected long-term rate of return...................................... 9.0% 9.0%
Assets of the domestic pension plan are invested in directed trusts.
At December 31, 1998 and 1997, assets of the directed trusts were primarily
invested in U.S. government obligations, corporate stocks and bonds and units of
common investment funds consisting of short-term interest bearing instruments
and common stock.
F-21
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 16 - Pension Plans (cont'd.)
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87,
the Company has recorded an additional minimum pension liability for the
underfunded plan of $29.6 million at December 31, 1998 and December 31, 1997,
representing the excess of unfunded accumulated benefit obligations over
previously recorded pension cost liabilities. To the extent that these
additional liabilities exceed related unrecognized prior service cost and net
transition obligations, the increase or decrease in liabilities is charged
directly to stockholders' deficit. For 1998 and 1997, stockholders' deficit was
charged $0.02 million and $19.1 million, respectively.
The components of foreign pension expense were as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
--------- -------- -------
(in thousands)
Service cost.................................................... $ 47 $ 41 $ 1,225
Interest cost................................................... 115 127 136
Return on assets................................................ - - -
Amortization and deferral....................................... 11 10 13
---------- ------------ -------------
Net periodic pension cost (benefit)........................... $ 173 $ 178 $ 1,374
========== ============ =============
The reconciliation of the funded status of the foreign plans is as
follows:
December 31,
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997
Plans in Which Plans in Which
-------------------------- ----------------------
Assets Accumulated Assets Accumulated
Exceed Benefits Exceed Benefits
Accumulated Exceed Accumulated Exceed
Benefits Assets Benefits Assets
----------------- ------------ ------------ -----------
(in thousands)
Actuarial present value of benefits:
Vested............................................... $ - $ 1,835 $ - $ 1,630
Nonvested............................................ - 99 - 20
--------------- ------------- -------------- ------------
Total accumulated benefits......................... $ - $ 1,934 $ - $ 1,650
=============== ============= ============== ============
Projected benefit obligation............................ $ - $ (2,212) $ - $ (1,823)
Less: plan assets at fair value......................... - - - -
--------------- ------------- -------------- ------------
- (2,212) - (1,823)
Remaining unrecognized transition
net (asset) obligation............................... - 2 - (115)
--------------- ------------- -------------- ------------
Prepaid (accrued) pension cost.......................... $ - $ (2,210) $ - $ (1,938)
=============== ============= ============== ============
Effective July 1, 1996, the United Kingdom defined benefit pension plan
was terminated and replaced by a new defined contribution retirement plan.
The Company also maintains a 401(k) savings plan available to
domestic employees. The Company matches certain portions of employee
contributions after one year of service. Contributions and expenses in
connection with this plan amounted to $0.7 million, $0.7 million and $0.8
million for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
F-22
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 17 - Royalty Income
In 1998, 1997 and 1996, the Company received and recognized
nonrecurring royalty payments attributable to the settlement of patent
litigation and other negotiated settlements related to prior years' sales of
products by licensees. Such nonrecurring royalties amounted to $2.0 million,
$4.6 million and $2.0 million in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The balance
of royalties earned in these years represents royalties for product shipments in
the current period.
Note 18 - Restructuring Charges (Credits)
Restructuring charges (credits) for the years ended December 31,
1998, 1997 and 1996 consist of the following:
Year Ended December 31,
------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
---------- ----------------- -------------
(in thousands)
Provisions for vacated lease obligations.......................... $ (1,200) $ (2,603) $ (200)
Write-down of property, plant and equipment....................... 400 858 -
Provisions for employee separation costs.......................... 2,747 86 -
Provisions for relocation......................................... 579 - -
Costs associated with closure of foreign subsidiaries............. - - (253)
------------ ---------- ---------
$ 2,526 $ (1,659) $ (453)
=========== ========== =========
The Company recorded a net restructuring charge in 1998 of $2.5
million. The charge included $3.3 million in connection with the Company's
relocation of a portion of its DCRsi manufacturing operations from its Redwood
City, California facility to its Colorado Springs, Colorado facility and
concurrent workforce reduction, offset by a credit of $0.8 million related to
the termination of the lease of one of its buildings at its Redwood City,
California facility. The $3.3 million restructuring charge includes $2.7 million
for costs associated with the elimination of approximately 106 U.S. positions in
engineering, manufacturing and administration, and $0.6 million for transition,
shipping and other costs. At December 31, 1998, the Company had paid and charged
$1.3 million against the liability accounts related to the termination benefits
set up for the 1998 restructuring and terminated 93 employees.
In 1997 and 1996, the Company entered into transactions that reduced
its anticipated obligations under several vacated leases. In addition, certain
expenses related to the closure of foreign subsidiaries were less than
originally anticipated. In 1997, the amount of restructuring credit recognized
in income is net of a reserve that was recorded to write-off certain fixed
assets and to provide for certain other costs totaling $0.9 million in
connection with the transfer of the keepered media program to a long-term
research and development project. Of the total $0.9 million charge for keepered
media, $0.1 million related to the termination of 8 U.S. engineers and
administrative staff, and all termination benefits were paid and charged against
the liability accounts in early 1998. The remaining $0.8 million charge for
keepered media related to asset impairments and obligations on leased equipment
which were paid or charged against the liability account in 1997 and 1998.
Accruals for restructuring costs totaled $2.8 million at December 31,
1998 including $1.1 million relating to vacated or abandoned leases. The lease
obligations associated with the Company's restructuring have not been discounted
to present value.
F-23
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 19 - Income Taxes
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes for
domestic and foreign operations consisted of the following:
Year Ended December 31,
------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
--------------- ---------------- -------------
(in thousands)
Domestic ........................................................ $ (3,621) $ 15,389 $ 16,016
Foreign ........................................................ (350) 921 (1,621)
------------ ------------ ----------
$ (3,971) $ 16,310 $ 14,395
============ ============ ==========
The provision for (benefit of) income taxes consisted of the
following:
Year Ended December 31,
--------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
----------- ------------------ ----------
(in thousands)
Current:
Federal...................................................... $ (44) $ (77) $ 178
State........................................................ 10 (24) 92
Foreign...................................................... (76) 358 312
Foreign withholding taxes on royalty income.................. 1,079 1,250 1,072
---------- ------------ ------------
969 1,507 1,654
---------- ------------ ------------
Long-term:
State........................................................ (5,227) - -
Foreign...................................................... (10,151) - -
---------- ------------ ------------
(15,378) - -
---------- ------------ ------------
Deferred:
Federal...................................................... - - -
Foreign...................................................... - - -
---------- ------------ ------------
$ (14,409) $ 1,507 $ 1,654
========== ============ ============
The difference between taxes computed by applying the statutory
federal corporate income tax rate (effective for 1998, 1997, and 1996) to income
from continuing operations before income taxes and the actual provision for
income taxes was as follows:
Year Ended December 31,
-------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
------------------- ----------------- --------------
(in thousands)
Federal income tax provision at statutory rate.................... $ (1,390) $ 5,709 $ 5,038
Domestic losses not benefited..................................... 1,267 - -
Foreign losses not benefited...................................... 47 - 879
Rates in excess of U.S............................................ 1,079 972 951
Temporary differences not previously benefited.................... - (4,254) (2,286)
Net operating losses not previously benefited..................... - (769) (3,205)
Reversal of long-term state and
foreign income tax reserves.................................. (15,378) - -
Other, net........................................................ 34 (151) 277
---------------- --------------- ----------
$ (14,409) $ 1,507 $ 1,654
================ =============== ==========
F-24
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 19 - Income Taxes (cont'd.)
The following table shows the major components of the deferred income
tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 1998 and 1997:
December 31,
-------------------------------
1998 1997
-------------- -------------
(in thousands)
Inventory basis differences....................................................... $ 6,584 $ 5,608
Restructuring reserves and other liabilities not yet
deductible for tax purposes.................................................. 10,404 12,158
Loss carryforwards................................................................ 41,285 34,998
Foreign withholding taxes on undistributed earnings
of foreign subsidiaries...................................................... (1,213) (1,267)
Property, plant and equipment
Basis differences ........................................................... 876 721
Credit from prior year's minimum tax.............................................. 1,191 1,235
Other .......................................................................... 7,739 8,770
Less valuation allowance.......................................................... (68,079) (63,490)
-------------- -----------
Deferred tax liability.................................................... $ (1,213) $ (1,267)
============== ===========
A valuation allowance has been established to reduce the deferred tax
asset to the amount expected to be realized.
In the first quarter of 1998, the Company reversed $5.2 million
previously reserved in connection with disputed state income taxes for the prior
years, following the favorable settlement of that dispute in March 1998. In the
second and third quarters of 1998, the Company reversed $4.9 and $5.2 million,
respectively, previously reserved in connection with the liquidation of its
subsidiary in Italy. As at December 31, 1998, the Company had net operating loss
carryforwards for income tax purposes of $118.0 million expiring in the years
2005 through 2013. As a result of the financing transactions that were completed
in April 1994 and February 1995, the Company's ability to utilize its net
operating losses and credit carryforwards as an offset against future
consolidated federal income tax liabilities will be restricted in its
application, which will result in a material amount of the net operating loss
never being utilized by the Company.
Note 20 - Segment Reporting
The Company has the following operating segments: high-performance mass
data storage systems, instrumentation recorders and professional video recording
products; high-performance magnetic disk arrays; licensing of intellectual
property and Internet video production and distribution. At year end, the
Company had acquired 19.9% of Reiter Associates, Inc. ("Reiter"), a provider of
turnkey electronic commerce support, web hosting and Internet consulting and
monitoring services for enterprises that use the world wide web. Subsequent to
year end, Ampex announced its intention to purchase a majority interest in
Reiter and strategic investments in TV on the WEB, Inc. and Alternative
Entertainment Network, Inc. ("AENTV"), Internet video providers. Accordingly, at
year end the Company's Internet video production and distribution segment does
not meet the financial parameters for determining a reportable segment. The
accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the
summary of significant accounting policies.
F-25
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 20 - Segment Reporting (cont'd.)
The Company evaluates segment performance based on return on operating
assets employed. Profitability is measured as income or loss from operations
before income taxes, excluding restructuring charges (credits), foreign exchange
gains and losses and goodwill amortization and related acquisition charges.
Intersegment sales and transfers are accounted for at current market prices but
they were not significant to revenues.
Year Ended December 31, 1998
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mass Data
Storage Systems/ Licensing of Eliminations
Instrumentation Intellectual and
Recorders MicroNet Property Corporate Totals
--------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- -----------
Revenues from external customers........... $ 57,803 $ 5,516 $ 10,591 $ - $ 73,910
Interest income............................ 517 - - 2,979 3,496
Interest expense........................... 47 477 - 3,805 4,329
Depreciation, amortization and accretion... 2,237 34 2 105 2,378
Segment income (loss)...................... (3,623) (1,958) 9,337 (3667) 89
Segment assets............................. 38,089 8,631 3 69,278 116,001
Expenditures for segment assets............ 1,475 - - 2,079 3,554
Year Ended December 31, 1997
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mass Data
Storage Systems/ Licensing of Eliminations
Instrumentation Intellectual and
Recorders MicroNet Property Corporate Totals
--------------- ---------- -------------- -------------- ---------
Revenues from external customers................. $ 80,311 - $ 12,550 $ - $ 73,910
Interest income.................................. 2,421 - - 570 2,991
Interest expense................................. 86 - - - 86
Depreciation, amortization and accretion......... 2,243 - 1 - 2,244
Segment income (loss)............................ 9,297 - 7,098 (1,685) 14,710
Segment assets................................... 59,370 - 3 22,301 81,671
Expenditures for segment assets.................. 1,167 - - 393 1,560
Year Ended December 31, 1996
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mass Data
Storage Systems/ Licensing of Eliminations
Instrumentation Intellectual and
Recorders MicroNet Property Corporate Totals
---------------- ---------- ------------- ------------- -----------
Revenues from external customers................. $ 96,485 - $ 10,497 $ - $ 106,982
Interest income.................................. 448 - - 2,809 3,257
Interest expense................................. 264 - - 492 756
Depreciation, amortization and accretion......... 2,737 - 2 64 2,803
Segment income (loss)............................ 9,395 - 4,288 (294) 13,977
F-26
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 21- Foreign Operations
The following table shows certain financial information relating to
the Company's continuing operations in various geographical areas:
Year Ended December 31,
---------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
-------------- ------------------- ---------
(in thousands)
Net sales:
United States................................................ $ 57,558 $ 73,441 $ 92,711
Europe, Africa and the Middle East........................... 14,007 16,338 20,744
Other foreign................................................ 3,322 3,124 4,884
Eliminations (1)............................................. (11,568) (12,592) (21,854)
--------------- ---------------- ------------
Total................................................. $ 63,319 $ 80,311 $ 96,485
=============== ================ ============
(1) Inter-area sales, primarily from the United States.
Year Ended December 31,
-------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
--------- ------- ---------
(in thousands)
Income (loss) before income taxes:
United States................................................ $ (8,010) $ 6,699 $ 8,918
Europe, Africa and the Middle East........................... 664 498 1,352
Other foreign................................................ 172 905 350
Royalties.................................................... 10,591 12,550 10,497
Eliminations and corporate expenses.......................... (7,387) (4,342) (6,722)
----------- ---------------- ------------
Total................................................. $ (3,971) $ 16,310 $ 14,395
=========== ================ ============
Year Ended December 31,
---------------------------
1998 1997
--------- --------
(in thousands)
Identifiable assets:
United States..................................................................... $ 38,226 $ 34,275
Europe, Africa and the Middle East................................................ 5,007 5,448
Other foreign..................................................................... 1,595 1,094
Eliminations and corporate assets................................................. 71,173 40,854
------------- ---------------
Total...................................................................... $ 116,001 $ 81,671
============= ===============
Transfers between geographic areas are at cost plus a reasonable
profit. Sales from the United States include export sales to unaffiliated
customers of $3.3 million, $5.6 million and $7.3 million in 1998, 1997 and 1996,
respectively. Identifiable assets are classified by the location of the
Company's facilities and include cash, investments, accounts receivable,
inventories, intangible assets, other assets and property, plant and equipment.
Corporate assets consisted principally of cash, investments, interest receivable
and intangible assets at December 31, 1998 and 1997.
F-27
AMPEX CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 22 - Major Customers
Direct and indirect sales to various U.S. government agencies
amounted to approximately $14.9 million, $22.3 million and $17.4 million for
1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. In 1998, 1997 and 1996 no other single
customer accounted for more than 10% of total net sales.
Note 23 - Subsequent Events (Unaudited)
Subsequent to year end, Ampex announced its intention to acquire a
majority interest in Reiter, increasing its holding from 19.9% held at December
31, 1998. In January 1999, the Company announced it had purchased approximately
20% of the capital stock of TV on the WEB, Inc., a provider of services and
content for delivery of compressed video over the world wide web, for $4.0
million. In February 1999, the Company announced it had purchased approximately
20% of the capital stock of AENTV, a producer and aggregator of compressed,
streaming video content for delivery over the world wide web, for $1.0 million.
The Company has an option to acquire a majority interest in both TV on the WEB,
Inc. and AENTV.
In February 1999, holders of 5,640 shares of Convertible Preferred
Stock converted their holdings into 2,815,000 shares of Common Stock.
Note 24 - Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)
The following is a summary of the unaudited quarterly financial
information for the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997.
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
-----------------------------------------------
Fiscal 1998
Quarters ended March 31 June 30 Sept. 30 Dec. 31
- -------------- ------------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Net sales .......................................... $ 16,826 $ 15,194 $ 16,001 $ 15,298
Gross profit.......................................... 7,930 6,491 5,377 5,909
Net income as previously reported..................... 4,093 1,711 2,225 554
Net income as restated................................ 4,093 3,722 2,069 554
Diluted income per share as previously reported $ 0.09 $ 0.04 $ 0.05 $ 0.01
Diluted income per share as restated.................. $ 0.09 $ 0.08 $ 0.03 $ 0.01
Fiscal 1997
Quarters ended March 31 June 30 Sept. 30 Dec. 31
- -------------- ------------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Net sales .......................................... $ 21,081 $ 21,299 $ 18,182 $ 19,749
Gross profit.......................................... 10,519 10,618 8,232 9,802
Net income ........................................... 4,944 2,336 2,604 4,919
Diluted income per share.............................. $ 0.11 $ 0.05 $ 0.06 $ 0.11
The restatements above reflect the Company's election to reissue its Form
10-Qs for the periods ended June 30, 1998 and September 30, 1998 to reflect the
remeasured in-process research and development arising from the MicroNet
acquisition, using the Securities and Exchange Commission's specified "stage of
completion" methodology. The restatements increased net income by $1.9 million
in 1998 ($0.03 per share).
F-28
AMPEX CORPORATION
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
Report of Independent Accountants on Financial Statement Schedule............................................................. S-2
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts............................................................................... S-3
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
Ampex Corporation:
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements referred to in
our report dated March 5, 1999, appearing on F-2 of this Form 10-K also included
an audit of the financial statement schedule listed in Item 14(a)(2) of this
Form 10-K. In our opinion, this financial statement schedule presents fairly, in
all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in
conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Francisco, California
March 5, 1999
S-2
AMPEX CORPORATION
SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(in thousands)
Balance at Additions Charges to Balance at
beginning of cost and other end of
Description period expenses accounts (1) Deductions (2) period
- ----------- ----------- -------- ----------- ------------- -----------
Allowance for doubtful
accounts and sales returns
December 31, 1996 $ 2,541 $ (192) $ (94) $ (14) $ 2,241
December 31, 1997 $ 2,241 $ (395) $ (67) $ (295) $ 1,484
December 31, 1998 $ 1,484 $ (432) $ 1,174 $ (866) $ 1,360
Allowance for obsolete and
slow moving inventory
December 31, 1996 $ 25,673 $ (362) $ - $ (5,234) $ 20,077
December 31, 1997 $ 20,077 $ 25 $ (3) $ (4,470) $ 15,629
December 31, 1998 $ 15,629 $ 978 $ 5,961 $ (4,926) $ 17,642
Accrued restructuring costs
December 31, 1996 $ 10,728 $ (453) $ - $ (2,677) $ 7,598
December 31, 1997 $ 7,598 $ (2,104) $ - $ (2,176) $ 3,318
December 31, 1998 $ 3,318 $ 2,526 $ - $ (3,021) $ 2,823
(1) Includes transfers and reclassifications to other accounts.
(2) Includes write-offs of accounts receivable, inventories and
accrued restructuring.
S-3
SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
AMPEX CORPORATION
By: /s/ Edward J. Bramson
------------------------
Edward J. Bramson
Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer
Date: March 24, 1999
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below does hereby constitute and appoint Edward J. Bramson, Joel D.
Talcott, David Griffin or any of them, with full power to act, his
attorney-in-fact, with the power of substitution for him in any and all
capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this report, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has seen signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
Company and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
- ---------------- ------------------ --------------------
/s/ Edward J. Bramson Chairman, Chief Executive Officer March 24, 1999
Edward J. Bramson and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Craig L. McKibben Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, March 24, 1999
Craig L. McKibben Treasurer and Director
(Principal Financial Officer and
Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Douglas T. McClure. Jr. Director March 24, 1999
Douglas T. McClure, Jr.
/s/ Peter Slusser Director March 24, 1999
Peter Slusser
/s/ William A. Stoltzfus. Jr. Director March 24, 1999
William A. Stoltzfus, Jr.
42
AMPEX CORPORATION
1998 FORM 10-K
EXHIBIT INDEX
Description
Subsidiaries of the Company.
Consent of Independent Accountants.
Power of Attorney (included in the signature page of this Report).
Financial Data Schedule.