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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
(Mark One)
FORM 10-K
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
or
[_] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ______________ to __________________.
Commission File Number: 0-25674
CBT GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND NONE
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification Number)
1005 HAMILTON COURT
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA 94025
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (415) 614-5900
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Name of each exchange
Title of each class on which registered
------------------- ---------------------
None. None.
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Ordinary Shares IR37.5p
(Title of class)
Indicate by check mark whether 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 of time that the registrant
was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No
--- ---
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [___]
The aggregate market value of the voting shares held by non-affiliates of
registrant was $796,656,962.50 as of March 15, 1997 (excludes 386,420 shares
which may be deemed to be held by directors, officers and affiliates of
registrant as of March 15, 1997).
The number of registrant's equivalent American Depositary Shares
outstanding as of March 15, 1997 was 18,595,722.
Portions of registrant's definitive proxy statement to be delivered to
shareholders in connection with registrant's annual meeting of shareholders to
be held on or about June 5, 1997 in Dublin, Ireland, are incorporated by
reference into Part III of this Form 10-K to the extent stated herein. Except
with respect to information specifically incorporated by reference to this Form
10-K, the proxy statement is not deemed to be filed as a part hereof.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
The following discussion contains forward looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Predictions of future events are inherently uncertain.
Actual events could differ materially from those predicted in the forward
looking statements as a result of the risks set forth in the following
discussion, and in particular, the risks discussed below and in Part II, Item 7
- - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations under the subheading "Additional Risk Factors that Could Affect
Operating Results."
GENERAL
CBT Group PLC ("CBT" or, the "Company") is a leading provider of interactive
software designed to meet the information technology ("IT") education and
training needs of businesses and organizations worldwide. The Company develops,
publishes and markets a broad library of more than 328 software titles covering
a comprehensive range of client/server, Internet and corporate intranet
technologies. CBT's products are used by more than 1,250 of the world's leading
corporations to train employees to develop and apply mission-critical
technologies in the workplace.
CBT, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of
Ireland, was initially formed to act as a holding company for investment
purposes and acquired a controlling interest in a number of companies in a
variety of business areas. In November 1990, the Company acquired its U.S.
subsidiary, CBT Systems USA, Ltd. (effective as of April 3, 1995 CBT Systems
USA, Ltd. was merged with and into its parent, Thornton Holdings, Ltd. which
subsequently changed its name to CBT Systems USA, Ltd.) ("CBT USA").
In September 1991, the Company acquired its Irish and U.K. subsidiaries,
including CBT Systems Limited ("CBT Ireland") and CBT Systems UK Limited ("CBT
UK") and sold or dissolved its other unrelated investment businesses. In
January 1994, the Company acquired CBT Systems Africa (Proprietary) Ltd. ("CBT
South Africa") for the purpose of establishing a direct sales presence in
Southern Africa. In August 1995, the Company incorporated CBT Finance Limited
("CBT Finance") under the laws of Grand Cayman for the purpose of investing
certain of the Company's funds.
In November 1995, the Company completed a merger with Personal Training Systems
("PTS"), a provider of end-user and consumer interactive educational software,
for an aggregate of 212,114 of its American Depositary Shares ("ADSs"). On May
31, 1996, the Company acquired CLS Consult, Gesellschaft fur Beratung,
Management und Beteiligung mbH ("CLS"), a German limited liability company, and
New Technology Training Ltd., an Ontario, Canada corporation ("NTT"). CLS is a
developer and marketer of interactive education software for SAP client/server
applications, and NTT's primary business had been to act as CBT's exclusive
distributor in Canada. The Company issued a total of 145,864 ADSs to the former
shareholders of CLS and NTT in connection with the acquisitions. The acquisition
of each of PTS, CLS and NTT was accounted for as a "pooling of interests" in
accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. In compliance
with such principles, the Company's operating results have been restated to
include the results of PTS, CLS and NTT as if the acquisitions had occurred at
the beginning of the first period presented.
Since September 1991, substantially all of the Company's revenues and operating
expenses have been attributable to developing and selling interactive IT
education and training software. Unless the context otherwise requires,
references to the "Company" or to "CBT" are to CBT Group PLC and its
consolidated subsidiaries.
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The Company was incorporated in the Republic of Ireland on August 8, 1989. The
Company's registered office is located at Beech Hill, Clonskeagh, Dublin 4,
Ireland, and its telephone number at that address from the United States is
(011) 353-1-283-0077. The address of CBT USA is 1005 Hamilton Court, Menlo Park,
California 94025 and its telephone number at that address is (415) 614-5900.
For additional information about the Company's business, see the consolidated
financial statements and related notes thereto included herein.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
In December 1996, CBT and Street Technologies, Inc. ("Street Technologies"), a
developer of technology to "stream" multimedia and other large data files to
permit real-time delivery over local and wide area networks, corporate intranets
and the Internet, entered into an agreement pursuant to which the companies will
work together to deploy CBT's interactive education software over corporate
intranets and the Internet. As part of the agreement, CBT acquired a 12.5%
ownership interest in Street Technologies and Street Technologies agreed that
its license will be exclusive to CBT within a defined group of companies.
On February 28, 1997, CBT completed the acquisitions of Applied Learning
Limited, a company organized under the laws of Tasmania, Australia ("ALA") and
CBT Systems Benelux B.V., a Netherlands limited liability company ("Benelux").
ALA is an Australian distributor of interactive education software and had been
CBT's exclusive distributor in Australia and New Zealand, and Benelux had been
the Company's exclusive distributor in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
The Company issued a total of 207,222 equivalent ADSs to the former shareholders
of ALA and Benelux in connection with the acquisitions. Each transaction is
being accounted for as a "pooling of interests" in accordance with U.S.
generally accepted accounting principles. The ALA and Benelux acquisitions
further expand the Company's global reach into emerging IT training markets.
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
Business organizations are becoming increasingly dependent upon computer systems
in order to remain competitive in their markets. This trend has resulted in
significant growth in IT education and training. According to International Data
Corporation ("IDC"), the 1995 worldwide and U.S. markets for IT education and
training were approximately $14.9 billion and $6.1 billion, respectively,
compared to $11.8 billion and $4.4 billion, respectively, in 1992. The factors
driving these markets include (i) the shift by organizations from legacy
mainframe systems to new client/server technologies, driving corporate
information services ("IS") groups to seek additional IT education and training;
(ii) business requirements that IS staff be certified in certain technologies in
order to assure performance and productivity; (iii) corporate downsizing,
resulting in increased training requirements for employees who perform multiple
job tasks that require knowledge of varied software applications and
technologies; (iv) the proliferation of computers and networks throughout all
levels of organizations, increasing the number of employees who need training in
client/server and Internet/intranet technologies; and (v) the continuous
introduction and evolution of client/server and Internet/intranet technologies,
contributing to the need for continuing education.
Traditionally, organizations have fulfilled their requirements for IT education
and training through instructor-led training from external vendors or internal
training departments. Instructor-led training, however, has a number of
limitations. Instructor-led training typically requires employees to leave their
desks for prolonged periods, often to attend classes at off-site locations. Such
training is also difficult to tailor to individuals' training needs, cannot
easily be reviewed and assessed by IS managers and may not offer a cost-
effective training solution. The limitations of instructor-led training,
combined with constrained IS budgets, larger numbers of employees requiring
training and the greater breadth of training needed per employee, have prompted
organizations to consider alternative training methodologies. IDC has estimated
that while instructor-led training represented 76% of the U.S. IT education and
training market in 1995, the market share of instructor-led training is expected
to decline as new alternative forms of training are introduced.
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The proliferation of computers throughout organizations and the increasing
multimedia capabilities of computers are supporting the emergence of interactive
IT education and training software. According to IDC, the U.S. market for
interactive IT education and training software, including multimedia software,
was $1.05 billion in 1995, compared to $855 million in 1994. The Company
believes that as businesses seek out alternative methods of training employees,
there is a significant market opportunity for software that can meet businesses'
needs for productive, flexible and cost-effective IT education and training.
Although interactive IT education and training software programs have been
available for many years, they currently account for only a small portion of the
overall market for IT training. Accordingly, the Company's future success will
depend upon, among other factors, the extent to which companies continue to
adopt interactive education and training programs. There can be no assurance
that the use of interactive education and training software programs will become
widespread or that the Company's products will achieve commercial success.
THE CBT SOLUTION
CBT's solution consists of a broad library of over 328 interactive software
titles designed to meet business' IT education and training needs. CBT's
courseware may be used on networked and standalone PCs and may be deployed over
corporate intranets via CBT's corporate intranet deployment product, CBTWeb. The
titles are organized into curricula and are designed to cover specific aspects
of client/server, Internet and corporate intranet technologies. Each curriculum
provides comprehensive training in an area of technology such as client/server
concepts, operating systems, networking, graphical user interfaces and database
design. In addition, the Company has developed network-based administration and
assessment tools designed to allow IS and human resource managers to track
employee usage and performance of CBT courseware.
The Company has developed or is developing, both independently and through
development and marketing alliances, titles focused on vendor-specific
products such as Microsoft Windows NT, Oracle Database Administrator 7.3 and
Developer 2000, Netscape Navigator, Javascript and LiveWire, IBM/Lotus Notes,
Informix Online Dynamic Server, Cisco Router Configuation curricula, Novell
NetWare, Sybase/Powersoft PowerBuilder and Marimba Castanet. In addition, CBT
has developed interactive education software in conjunction with IBM, Sun
Microsystems and Netscape for the Java Education World Tour.
The Company's solution offers many advantages to both end-users and
administrators over traditional instructor-led training. CBT's courseware
allows employees to tailor training to their work schedules, begin training at a
level which is suitable to their needs, integrate training with on-the-job
practice, train in only those topics that are relevant to their needs and access
training materials on an ongoing basis as reference tools. CBT software is
interactive, allowing users to practice and test skills as they learn. The
courseware also incorporates sophisticated graphics and simulation technologies
to demonstrate many of the concepts introduced.
In addition, the Company's products are designed to allow administrators to
leverage their training budgets by tailoring training programs to their
organization's needs and tracking training usage and effectiveness.
Organizations that invest in the CBT solution can offer CBT's training software
across a network or corporate intranet to all employees. CBT licenses its
courseware primarily through one, two or three year license agreements that
provide access to its library of titles, which allows customers to build
tailored training solutions. Under these license agreements, customers are able
to exchange and update their courses on an annual basis as their internal
training needs evolve or as technologies advance. In addition, using the
Company's administrative software, IS and human resource administrators can
design and monitor training programs for each employee.
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CBT'S STRATEGY
CBT has entered into alliances with Microsoft, Oracle, Netscape, IBM/Sun
Microsystems/Netscape Java Consortium, IBM/Lotus, Cisco, Informix, Novell,
Marimba and Sybase/Powersoft to develop and market product-specific training.
The Company markets its software to Fortune 3000 companies and other major U.S.
and international organizations primarily through a direct sales force. The
Company has increased sales to smaller corporate customers through distributors
and its telesales organization.
As of December 31, 1996, the Company had approximately 1,250 corporate customers
worldwide, including the following companies or their affiliates: Alcatel
Business Systems Corporation, American Telephone and Telegraph Co., The Bear
Stearns Companies, Inc., Bell Atlantic Corporation, Blue Cross Blue Shield
Mutual of Ohio, Compaq Computer Corporation, Computer Sciences Corporation, Dell
Computer Corporation, Electronic Data Systems Corporation, GTE Data Services,
International Business Machines Corporation, MCI Communications, Inc., Price
Waterhouse LLP, Reuters plc, Sprint Corporation, Tandem Computers, Unisys
Corporation and Wells Fargo & Company.
CBT's objective is to maintain and expand its market position through the
following strategies:
Offer a Broad Library to its Customers. The Company offers its customers a
broad product library of over 328 software titles which it believes has
created a competitive barrier to entry. The Company's strategy is to continue
to expand its product library to allow the Company to sign larger initial
contracts and support incremental sales to its customer base over time.
Leverage Proprietary Development Technologies and Processes. The Company has
created a proprietary development engine and a streamlined development process
to assist the Company in bringing its products to market in a relatively short
time-frame and at a relatively low cost. In addition, the Company's
technology generally supports a common product architecture, resulting in
products which have a recognizable interface and are easier to support. The
Company plans to continue investing significant resources in research and
development to further enhance its underlying development engine and to
accelerate the growth of its product library.
Build Alliances with Key IT Vendors. The Company's strategy is to enter into
development and marketing alliances with key IT vendors to produce and
distribute vendor-specific authorized training programs. To date, the Company
has entered into alliances with Microsoft, Oracle, Netscape, IBM/Sun
Microsystems/Netscape Java Consortium, IBM/Lotus, Cisco, Informix, Novell,
Marimba and Sybase/Powersoft. The Company believes these alliances provide a
number of competitive advantages, including access to partners' product
development plans, source material and distribution channels.
Expand Channels of Distribution. To date, the Company has primarily targeted
Fortune 3000 companies and other major U.S. and international organizations
primarily through its direct sales force. The Company's strategy is to expand
its telesales organization and its channels of indirect sales in order to
reach organizations which could not otherwise be effectively targeted by its
direct sales force and to accelerate its market penetration worldwide. The
Company's indirect sales channels are currently comprised of distributors,
resellers and training organizations. Over the long term, the Company intends
to continue to explore electronic distribution through on-line services, the
Internet and corporate intranets.
Capitalize on Multimedia Technologies. The Company's current products include
multimedia elements such as rich graphics, interactive text and simulations,
and can be delivered on networked and standalone PCs. The Company's strategy
is to enhance its products over time as its customers adopt enterprise-wide
systems which have the capability to handle the requirements of more advanced
multimedia elements such as sound, video and complex animation. In this
regard, the Company has entered into a licensing and development relationship
with Street Technologies
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pursuant to which CBT will have the ability to deliver such rich data types
over the Internet, corporate intranets and LANs.
Serve Emerging Internet/Intranet Market Opportunity. The Company believes
that Internet technologies, including the Internet itself and the use of these
technologies to create enterprise-wide intranets, is radically altering the
way certain critical computing activities are performed. As the Internet and
intranets emerge as one computing platform, CBT believes that new education
and training needs will emerge as well. The Company will seek to build upon
its current activities in order to build a franchise around Internet and
intranet education opportunities.
PRODUCTS
The Company's product library has grown from 44 titles at December 31, 1992 to
328 titles at December 31, 1996, encompassing over 1,250 hours of IT education
and training. In general, CBT's courseware includes a graphically sophisticated
interface that leads students through the subject software, simulating the
technology and requiring students to respond actively to the course. CBT
interactive training typically provides the user with anywhere from 4 to 8 hours
of instruction per individual title. Students may also use the courses to pre-
test their capabilities in order to position themselves properly within the
course and to train only in relevant areas. At the end of the course, students
may take a test to measure accurately their mastery of the course content. The
results of this test may be viewed by a central administrator using CBT's
administrative program or exported to a standard database or spreadsheet.
CBT has developed an enterprise-wide network-based administrative software
program designed to allow a central administrator to audit the use of each
course, track employee performance and create specialized curricula for
employees by granting access to selected courses.
CBT licenses its products primarily through license agreements under which
customers may use the delivered products for a period of one, two or three
years. The license agreement format allows customers to exchange courses on
each anniversary date where the agreement is for more than one year. In order
to increase the number of titles or gain access to the library at a time other
than the specified dates, the customer may enter into a new license agreement or
upgrade the existing license agreement. Volume and multi-year discounts
encourage customers to expand license agreements as their needs grow and as they
become more familiar with the Company's product library. The Company's pricing
varies primarily based on the number of users, the number of titles selected and
the length of the contract.
The Company's strategy is to develop comprehensive curricula, each of which
provides training in areas related to client/server, Internet and corporate
intranet technologies. The Company's courses are generally compatible with
Windows-based desktop PCs and netBIOS LANs, and most of the Company's recently
developed courses are based on native Windows implementations. All of the
Company's courses are available for delivery on floppy disk or PC CD-ROM for
installation on servers or standalone workstations.
In addition to its continued support of traditional LAN environments, CBT has
developed a number of products which address the emerging Internet and corporate
intranets markets. CBTWeb is a corporate intranet deployment system which
allows users to download CBT courseware titles across a corporate intranet.
Access to these titles is gained through a standard browser. The downloaded
courseware contains a utility to send the student records back to a central
administrator so that the student progress may be monitored.
The market for IT education and training is rapidly evolving. New methods of
delivering interactive education software are being developed and offered in the
marketplace, including intranet and Internet deployment systems. Many of these
new delivery systems will involve new and different business models and
contracting mechanisms. In addition, multimedia and other product functionality
features are being added to the educational software. Accordingly, CBT's future
success will depend upon, among other factors, the extent to which CBT is able
to develop and implement products which address
6
these emerging market requirements. There can be no assurance that CBT will be
successful in meeting changing market needs. Failure to develop and implement
products which address these emerging market requirements could have a material
adverse affect on CBT's business and results of operations.
Moreover, software products as complex as those offered by the Company may
contain undetected errors or fail when first introduced or upon release of new
versions of the Company's products. There can be no assurance that, despite
testing by the Company and by current and potential customers, errors will not
be found in new products after commencement of commercial shipments, resulting
in a loss of or delay in market acceptance.
The subject matter of the Company's courseware is influenced by rapidly changing
technology, evolving industry standards, changes in customer needs and frequent
introductions of new products by software vendors. Accordingly, the Company
believes that its future success will depend in large part upon its ability to
meet these changes by enhancing its existing courses and developing and
introducing new courses on a timely basis. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be successful in addressing the changing needs of the marketplace
by developing and marketing new products or enhancing its existing products on a
timely basis. If the Company were unable, due to resource, technological or
other constraints, to anticipate and respond adequately to changes in customers'
software technology and preferences, the Company's business and results of
operations would be materially adversely affected.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
CBT believes that the development of an effective training product requires the
convergence of source material, instructional design and computer technology.
The first step in developing a new training program is to obtain content through
subject matter experts, existing courses, including self-study courses, and
product reference materials, including product manuals. The development team
then writes a script for the program which includes a structure covering all of
the relevant concepts, tasks to be completed, interactive features and tests to
measure achievement and to reinforce the lesson. During the development of a
script for a new program, the Company's developers, working with animators,
simulation programmers and graphic designers, simultaneously plan and develop
the course elements. These elements are then integrated into a single program.
The program is then tested to ensure that each course delivers the desired
education and training.
The core of CBT's product development is its product development engine--an
environment comprising CBT proprietary software and off-the-shelf tools--which
has been optimized for the creation of interactive software training programs.
The Company believes that its product development engine provides a competitive
advantage by allowing the Company to create modular courses, identify and change
portions of a course without rewriting the entire course, port courses more
easily across operating systems and enhance the multimedia content of its
courses more quickly and efficiently. In addition, the Company's technology
generally supports a common product architecture, resulting in products that
have a recognizable interface and are easier to support. The Company's goal is
to continue to enhance its product development engine to meet the Company's
future development needs, including ensuring that its courseware is able to
incorporate a wide variety of multimedia elements.
The Company performs substantially all of its research and development
activities and develops substantially all of its courses at its Dublin, Ireland
development facility. From time to time, the Company subcontracts outside
development services to develop portions of particular courses. In addition,
all products produced using these outside developers remain the sole property of
CBT. During 1994, 1995 and 1996, research and development expenses totaled
approximately $3.1 million, $6.1 million and $10.9 million, respectively.
During 1996, the Company's research and development staff grew from 105 to 221
employees. The Company intends to continue to make substantial investments in
research and development.
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DEVELOPMENT AND MARKETING ALLIANCES
The Company's strategy is to expand its position in the IT education and
training market by forming development and marketing alliances with leading IT
software vendors. To date, the Company has formed alliances with Microsoft,
Oracle, Netscape, IBM/Sun Microsystems/Netscape Java Consortium, IBM/Lotus,
Cisco, Informix, Novell, Marimba and Sybase/Powersoft. The Company believes its
development and marketing alliances offer it a number of competitive advantages,
including early access to the vendor's software engineers and technical advisors
for assistance in developing courses on new products. With the approval of the
development partner, products developed under the relationship can be identified
as "authorized" by that software vendor, which the Company believes improves the
marketability of such courses. In addition, these alliances may result in
additional distribution channels for the Company, by allowing each party to
distribute courses to its respective customer base. In some of these alliances,
the software vendor has contributed financial resources toward the development
of specified courses. The Company has recognized the revenue from such
development payments on a percentage of completion basis as products are
produced or, where required in the contract, as the Company has met specified
milestones. The Company believes that these alliances also provide significant
benefits to the software vendors by allowing them to achieve additional market
penetration generated by increasing the base of trained users.
The Company believes that an increasing proportion of its revenues in the future
may be attributable to products developed through its alliances. There can be
no assurance that any of these parties will continue to cooperate with the
Company, that the Company will be able to develop successfully courses for its
development and marketing alliances in a timely fashion or at all, or that the
Company will be able to negotiate additional alliances in the future on
acceptable terms or at all. There can be no assurance that the marketing
efforts of the Company's partners will not disrupt the Company's direct sales
efforts. In addition, the Company's development and marketing partners could
pursue their existing or alternative training programs in preference to and in
competition with those being developed with the Company. In the event that the
Company is not able to maintain or expand its current development and marketing
alliances or enter into new development and marketing alliances, the Company's
operating results and financial condition could be materially adversely
affected. Furthermore, the Company is required to pay royalties to its
development and marketing partners on products developed with them, which
reduces the Company's gross margins. The Company expects that cost of revenues
may fluctuate from period to period in the future based upon many factors,
including the mix of titles licensed (between titles developed exclusively by
CBT and royalty-bearing titles developed pursuant to development and marketing
alliances) and the timing of expenses associated with development and marketing
alliances. In addition, the collaborative nature of the development process
under these alliances may result in longer development times and less control
over the timing of product introductions than for courses developed solely by
the Company.
CUSTOMERS
The Company primarily licenses its courses to Fortune 3000 companies and other
major U.S. and international organizations in a wide range of industries,
including manufacturing, transportation, telecommunications, utilities, banking,
healthcare, securities, computers and insurance. CBT also licenses its
courseware to governmental agencies. The Company markets its courseware through
its direct sales organization to approximately 1,250 corporate customers
worldwide and through its telesales organization to approximately 700 customers
in the United States. The Company also distributes its courses through a number
of resellers. No customer accounted for more than 5% of revenues in 1996.
BACKLOG
The Company generates a substantial portion of its revenue through multi-year
license agreements. The initial annual license fee is generally recognized at
the time of delivery of products. Subsequent annual license fees are recognized
on the anniversary date of such delivery, or if the customer exchanges
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courses at the anniversary date, upon delivery of the exchanged courses.
Backlog at any given date represents the amount of all license fees under
current agreements which have not yet been recognized as revenue. Although the
Company's license agreements are noncancellable by their terms, there can be no
assurance that any customer will fulfill the contractual obligations under its
agreement. Cancellation, reduction or delay in orders by or shipments to any of
these customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business
and results of operations.
The amount and timing of the recognition of revenue associated with this
backlog can vary depending on the timing of future deliveries of products and
amendments to customers' license agreements. The Company had backlog of
approximately $13.0 million, $27.1 million and $60.3 million as of December
31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. Approximately 35% of the Company's
backlog as of December 31, 1996 was concentrated among nine customers.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND LICENSES
The Company regards its software as proprietary and relies primarily on a
combination of statutory and common law copyright, trademark and trade secret
laws, customer licensing agreements, employee and third-party nondisclosure
agreements and other methods to protect its proprietary rights. Despite these
precautions, it may be possible for a third-party to copy or otherwise obtain
and use the Company's courseware or technology without authorization, or to
develop similar courseware or technology independently. Furthermore, the laws
of certain countries in which the Company sells its products do not protect the
Company's software and intellectual property rights to the same extent as do the
laws of the United States. The Company generally does not include in its
software any mechanisms to prevent or inhibit unauthorized use, but generally
requires the execution of a license agreement which restricts copying and use of
the Company's products. If unauthorized copying or misuse of the Company's
products were to occur to any substantial degree, the Company's business and
results of operations could be materially adversely affected. There can be no
assurance that the Company's means of protecting its proprietary rights will be
adequate or that the Company's competitors will not independently develop
similar technology.
There can be no assurance that third parties will not claim that the Company's
current or future products infringe on the proprietary rights of others. The
Company expects that software developers will increasingly be subject to such
claims as the number of products and competitors in the IT education and
training industry grows and the functionality of products in the industry
overlaps. Any such claim, with or without merit, could result in costly
litigation or might require the Company to enter into royalty or licensing
agreements. Such royalty or license agreements, if required, may not be
available on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all.
COMPETITION
The IT education and training market is highly fragmented and competitive, and
the Company expects this competition to increase. The Company expects that
because of the lack of significant barriers to entry into the IT education and
training market, new competitors may enter the market in the future. In
addition, larger companies are competing with the Company in the IT education
and training market through the acquisition of the Company's competitors, and
the Company expects this trend to continue. Such competitors may also include
publishing companies and vendors of application software, including those
vendors with whom the Company has formed development and marketing alliances.
The Company competes primarily with third-party suppliers of instructor-led IT
education and training and internal training departments. To a lesser extent,
the Company also competes with other suppliers of IT education and training,
including several other companies that produce interactive software training,
consultants, value-added resellers and network integrators. Certain of these
value-added resellers also market products competitive with those of the
Company. The Company expects that as organizations increase their dependence on
outside suppliers of training, the Company will face increasing competition
9
from these other suppliers as IT education and training managers more
frequently compare training products provided by outside suppliers.
Many of the Company's current and potential competitors have substantially
greater financial, technical, sales, marketing and other resources, as well as
greater name recognition, than the Company. In addition, the IT education and
training market is characterized by significant price competition, and the
Company expects that it will face increasing price pressures from competitors as
IS managers demand more value for their training budgets. Accordingly, there
can be no assurance that the Company will be able to provide products that
compare favorably with new instructor-led techniques or other interactive
training software or that competitive pressures will not require the Company to
reduce its prices significantly.
SALES, MARKETING AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT
Direct Sales and Support
At December 31, 1996, the Company employed 118 direct sales and support people
in the United States and 35, 16, 9 and 6 direct sales and support people in
the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and South Africa, respectively. The
Company's telesales organization, which the Company established in December
1995 to focus on sales of CBT courseware to smaller corporate customers and
end-users as well as to work with CBT's alliance partners' channel efforts,
employed 31 people at December 31, 1996, and the Company plans to continue to
build the organization in 1997.
Indirect Sales
In order to accelerate worldwide market penetration, the Company is broadening
its sales strategy by expanding its indirect sales channels, which include
resellers, development partners, and industry catalogs circulated by leading IT
distributors. The indirect sales channels give the Company access to a more
diverse client base which the Company believes cannot be targeted cost-
effectively through its direct sales force.
The Company's marketing partners also generally have the right to resell
products developed under their alliances with the Company.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 1996, the Company had a total of 481 full-time employees, of
whom 215 were engaged in sales, marketing and customer support, 45 in
management, administration and finance and 221 in product development. On
December 31, 1996, 181 employees were located in the United States, 214 in the
Republic of Ireland, 44 in the United Kingdom, 24 in Germany, 11 in Canada and 7
in South Africa. None of the Company's employees is subject to a collective
bargaining agreement, and the Company has not experienced any work stoppages.
The Company believes that its employee relations are good.
The Company's future success depends, in large part, on the continued service of
its key management, sales, product development and operational personnel and on
its ability to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified employees,
including management personnel. In particular, the loss of certain senior
management personnel or other key employees could have a material adverse effect
on the Company's business. In addition, the Company depends on writers,
programmers and graphic artists, as well as third-party content providers. The
Company expects to continue to hire additional product development, sales and
marketing, IS and accounting staff. However, there can be no assurance that the
Company will be successful in attracting, retaining or motivating key personnel.
The inability to hire and retain qualified personnel or the loss of the services
of key personnel could have a material adverse effect upon the Company's current
business, new product development efforts and future business prospects.
10
FOREIGN OPERATIONS
In 1996, the Company's products were marketed in over 15 countries, and sales
outside the United States represented approximately 35%, 27% and 26% of the
Company's revenues in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. The Company expects
that international operations will continue to account for a significant portion
of its revenues and intends to continue to expand its operations outside of the
United States. In addition, the Company's research and development organization
is located outside the United States. Operations outside the United States are
subject to inherent risks, including fluctuations in exchange rates,
difficulties or delays in developing and supporting non-English language
versions of the Company's products, political and economic conditions in various
jurisdictions, unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, tariffs and other
trade barriers, difficulties in staffing and managing foreign subsidiary
operations, longer accounts receivable payment cycles and potentially adverse
tax consequences. There can be no assurance that such factors will not have a
material adverse effect on the Company's future operations outside of the United
States.
The Company's consolidated financial statements are prepared in dollars, while
several of the Company's subsidiaries have functional currencies other than the
dollar, and a significant portion of the Company's revenues, costs and assets
are denominated in currencies other than their respective functional currencies.
Fluctuations in exchange rates may have a material adverse affect on the
Company's results of operations, particularly its operating margins, and could
also result in exchange losses. As a result of currency fluctuations, the
Company recognized exchange losses of $39,000 and $161,000 in 1994 and 1995,
respectively, and an exchange gain of $4,000 in 1996. The impact of future
exchange rate fluctuations on the Company's results of operations cannot be
accurately predicted. To date, the Company has not sought to hedge the risks
associated with fluctuations in exchange rates, but may undertake such
transactions in the future. There can be no assurance that any hedging
techniques implemented by the Company will be successful or that the Company's
results of operations will not be materially adversely affected by exchange rate
fluctuations.
Certain of the Company's subsidiaries have significant operations and generate
significant taxable income in Ireland, and certain of the Company's Irish
subsidiaries are taxed at rates substantially lower than tax rates in effect in
the U.S. and in other countries in which the Company has operations. If such
subsidiaries were no longer to qualify for such tax rates or if the tax laws
were rescinded or changed, the Company's operating results could be materially
adversely affected. In addition, if tax authorities were to challenge
successfully the manner in which profits are recognized among the Company's
subsidiaries, the Company's taxes could increase, and its cash flow and results
of operations could be materially adversely affected.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The executive officers of the Company, and their respective ages and positions
as of March 15, 1997, are as follows:
NAME AGE POSITION
- --------------------------- --- ----------------------------------------------
William G. McCabe.......... 40 Chairman of the Board
James J. Buckley........... 46 Chief Executive Officer, President and
Director
Gregory M. Priest.......... 33 Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial
Officer and Director
William A. Beamish......... 42 Vice President, Product Strategy and
Development
William B. Lewis........... 41 Vice President, North American Sales
Jeffrey N. Newton.......... 42 Vice President, Business Development
Gregory G. Olson........... 43 Vice President, Marketing
John P. Hayes.............. 43 Group Financial Controller and Director
John M. Todd............... 35 European Sales Director
Morten G. Weaver........... 35 Vice President, Pacific Rim Sales
11
William G. McCabe has been Chairman of the Board of the Company since September
1991. From September 1991 to December 1996, Mr. McCabe also served as Chief
Executive Officer of the Company.
James J. Buckley joined the Company as President and Chief Operating Officer in
September 1996. In October 1996, Mr. Buckley was elected to serve as a director
of the Company, and in December 1996 he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of
the Company. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Buckley served as President,
Apple Americas and Senior Vice President of Apple Computer, Inc. from November
1995 to April 1996, President, Apple USA from October 1993 to November 1995 and
Vice President and General Manager for Apple USA's Higher Education Division
from April 1992 to October 1993. Mr. Buckley also served in various sales,
marketing and managerial positions at Apple Computer following his employment
there in 1985.
Gregory M. Priest has been the Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial
Officer of the Company since December 1995. In June 1996, Mr. Priest was
elected to serve as a director of the Company. From July 1990 to December 1995,
Mr. Priest was an attorney with Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, P.C., a
private law firm representing technology companies, where he was elected to the
partnership in 1995. From June 1989 to July 1990, Mr. Priest served as a law
clerk to Justice Thurgood Marshall of the United States Supreme Court.
William A. Beamish has been Vice President, Product Strategy and Development of
the Company since 1993. Mr. Beamish joined CBT Ireland in 1985 as a design
consultant. He became head of product development in 1988 and Development
Center Manager in 1990.
William B. Lewis became Vice President, North American Sales of the Company in
March 1997. From January 1996 until March 1997, Mr. Lewis served as the
Company's Area Vice President of Sales for the southern region and served as
Regional Vice President of Sales for the southern region from January 1994 to
January 1996. Mr. Lewis joined the Company as a sales manager for the southern
region in April 1992 and served in that capacity until January 1994.
Jeffrey N. Newton became Vice President, Business Development of the Company in
March 1997. From January 1996 until March 1997, Mr. Newton served as the
Company's Area Vice President of Sales for the northern region and served as
Regional Vice President of Sales for the northern region from January 1994 to
January 1996. Mr. Newton joined the Company as a sales manager for the northern
region in April 1992 and served in that capacity until January 1994.
Gregory G. Olson has been Vice President, Marketing of the Company since
December 1996. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Olson served as Manager,
Direct Marketing and Advertising for Apple Computer, Inc.'s America's Division
from December 1995 to December 1996. Mr. Olson also served as Manager, Direct
Marketing and Advertising for Apple Computer, Inc. in the United States from
June 1994 to December 1995 and held various marketing and advertising managerial
positions with Apple Computer, Inc. from July 1989 to June 1994.
John P. Hayes has been Group Financial Controller and a director of the Company
since 1991. From 1987 to 1991, Mr. Hayes served as the Company's Financial
Controller.
John M. Todd has been European Sales Director of the Company since 1994. From
1990 to 1994, Mr. Todd acted as Sales Manager of CBT UK. Mr. Todd joined CBT as
a salesperson in 1987 and was appointed as a branch manager in 1989.
Morten G. Weaver was appointed Vice President, Pacific Rim Sales in January 1997
and served as Vice President, U.S. Sales for the Company from January 1992 to
January 1997. From January 1991 to January 1992, he was CBT USA's senior sales
representative.
Executive officers of the Company are elected by the Board of Directors on an
annual basis and serve until their successors have been duly elected and
qualified.
12
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The Company conducts its operations primarily out of its facilities in Menlo
Park, California, and Dublin, Ireland. The Company currently occupies
approximately 25,000 square feet at its United States headquarters.
In Dublin, Ireland, the Company currently leases two properties, one of which
comprises approximately 25,000 square feet and houses the Company's main product
development center, and the other comprises approximately 8,000 square feet
containing the Company's fulfillment operations, including disk duplication,
packaging and delivery.
The Company also leases sales office space in a number of countries including
the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and South Africa and throughout the United
States.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In April 1990, Patrick J. McDonagh, a director of the Company, transferred
certain securities of Datacode Electronics Ltd. ("Datacode") to the Company.
Certain other shareholders of Datacode have alleged that the transfer had the
effect of depriving them of certain benefits and have claimed that they are
owed 21,126 of the Company's ordinary shares. On September 14, 1995, a
complaint was filed with the High Court of Ireland against the Company and
certain of its then officers and former officers. The Company believes that the
plaintiff's allegations are entirely without merit and intends to contest the
complaint vigorously.
On February 28, 1997, CBT completed the acquisition of Applied Learning Limited,
a company organized under the laws of Tasmania, Australia ("ALA"). The Company
and ALA have received correspondence from National Education Training Group
("NETG"), a division of National Education Corporation, a competitor of CBT,
threatening legal action with respect to matters related to the acquisition of
ALA and the alleged breach by ALA of a distributorship agreement between ALA and
NETG. CBT believes that such claims are without merit and intends to vigorously
defend any lawsuit commenced based on such claims. There can be no assurance,
however, that such claims can be resolved without litigation. If the Company is
required to litigate such claims, such litigation could be time consuming and
expensive, could divert management's resources and could have a material adverse
affect on the Company's business, financial condition and operating results,
regardless of the outcome of the litigation.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
The Company's ADSs have been quoted in the Nasdaq National Market under the
symbol CBTSY since the Company's initial public offering on April 13, 1995.
Prior to the initial public offering, there was no public market for the
Company's securities.
The prices per ADS reflected in the table below represent the range of high and
low closing prices reported in the Nasdaq National Market for the periods
indicated and reflect the two-for-one split of the Company's ADSs effected on
May 15, 1996.
Fiscal 1996 High Low
----------------------------------- ------ -------
Fourth quarter ended December 31 $58.75 $ 44.75
-----------------------------------
Third quarter ended September 30 54.25 39.25
Second quarter ended June 30 50.25 34.00
First quarter ended March 31 36.75 21.50
Fiscal 1995
-----------------------------------
Fourth quarter ended December 31 $27.69 $ 22.19
Third quarter ended September 30 25.00 18.875
Second quarter ended June 30 21.50 11.00
(from April 13)
As of March 15, 1997, there were approximately 23 holders of ordinary shares of
record of the Company.
Dividends
CBT has never declared or paid any dividends on its ordinary shares. CBT
currently intends to retain all future earnings to finance future operations and
therefore does not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future.
Moreover, under the Companies Acts of the Republic of Ireland, dividends may
only be paid out of the profits of the Company legally available for
distribution.
Irish Stamp Duty
Stamp duty, which is a tax on certain documents, is payable on all transfers of
ordinary shares in companies registered in Ireland wherever the instrument of
transfer may be executed. In the case of a
13
transfer on sale, stamp duty will be charged at the rate of IR(Pounds)1 for
every IR(Pounds)100 (or part thereof) of the amount or value of the
consideration (i.e., purchase price). Where the consideration for the sale is
expressed in a currency other than Irish pounds, the duty will be charged on the
Irish pound equivalent calculated at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date
of the transfer. In the case of a transfer by way of gift (subject to certain
exceptions) or for considerations less than the market value of the shares
transferred, stamp duty will be charged at the above rate on such market value.
A transfer or issue of ordinary shares for deposit under the Deposit Agreement
(between CBT, The Bank of New York, as Depositary, and the registered holders
and the owners of a beneficial interest in book-entry ADRs) in return for ADRs
will be similarly chargeable with stamp duty as will a transfer of ordinary
shares from the Depositary or the Custodian upon surrender of an ADR for the
purpose of the withdrawal of the underlying ordinary shares in accordance with
the terms of the Deposit Agreement.
The Irish Revenue Commissioners have issued a ruling to the Company that
transfers of ADRs issued in respect of the Company's shares will not be
chargeable with Irish stamp duty for so long as the ADSs are dealt in and quoted
on the Nasdaq National Market.
The person accountable for payment of stamp duty is the transferee or, in the
case of a transfer by way of gift or for a consideration less than the market
value, both parties to the transfer. Stamp duty is normally payable within 30
days after the date of execution of the transfer. Late payment of stamp duty
will result in liability to interest, penalties and fines.
Volatility of Stock Price
The Company's initial public offering of the ADSs (the "IPO") was completed in
April 1995, and there can be no assurance that a viable public market for the
ADSs will be sustained. The market price of the ADSs has fluctuated
significantly since the IPO. The Company believes that factors such as
announcements of developments related to the Company's or its competitors'
business, announcements of new products or enhancements by the Company or its
competitors, sales of the ADSs into the public market, developments in the
Company's relationships with its customers, partners and distributors,
shortfalls or changes in revenues, gross margins, earnings or losses or other
financial results from public market expectations, regulatory developments,
fluctuations in results of operations and general conditions in the Company's
market or the markets served by the Company's customers or the economy could
cause the price of the ADSs to fluctuate, perhaps substantially. In addition,
in recent years the stock market in general, and the market for shares of small
capitalization and technology stocks in particular, have experienced extreme
price fluctuations, which have often been unrelated to the operating performance
of affected companies. Many companies in the software industry, including the
Company, have recently experienced historic highs in the market price of their
equity securities. There can be no assurance that the market price of the ADSs
will not decline substantially from such historic highs, or otherwise continue
to experience significant fluctuations in the future, including fluctuations
that are unrelated to the Company's performance.
ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected consolidated financial data for each of the five years
in the period ended December 31, 1996 and at December 31, 1996, 1995, 1994,
1993 and 1992 relates to the Company's continuing IT education and training
business and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial
statements and related notes thereto in Item 8 and "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Item 7 of
this Form 10-K. The results of operations for each of the three years in the
period ended December 31, 1996 and the balance sheets as at December 31, 1996
and 1995 are derived from the consolidated financial statements of the
Company, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and audited by
Ernst & Young, independent auditors. The data at December 31, 1993 and for the
year then ended is derived from audited consolidated financial statements of
the Company prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP not included herein. The
data at December 31, 1992 and for the year then ended is
14
derived from unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company
prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP not included herein. The unaudited
consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of
normal recurring accruals) which the Company considers necessary for a fair
presentation of its financial position and results of operations for these
periods. The consolidated statements of operations data for any particular
period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for any
future period, including the Company's fiscal year ending December 31, 1997.
Years ended December 31,
-----------------------------------------------
(In thousands, except per share data)
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenues $10,590 $13,676 $23,881 $40,192 $66,324
Cost of revenues 1,358 2,019 4,760 7,735 10,479
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Gross profit 9,232 11,657 19,121 32,457 55,845
Operating Expenses
Research and development 2,599 2,708 3,140 6,086 10,894
Sales and marketing 5,586 6,592 11,020 16,636 26,701
General and administrative 1,697 1,694 2,158 3,536 4,909
Amortization of acquired intangibles 802 558 604 -- --
Costs of acquisitions -- -- -- 198 596
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total operating expenses 10,684 11,552 16,922 26,456 43,100
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Income (loss) from operations (1,452) 105 2,199 6,001 12,745
Other income (expense), net (63) (85) (157) 850 2,213
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Income (loss) before provision for (1,515) 20 2,042 6,851 14,958
income taxes
Provision for income taxes (140) (326) (459) (1,277) (2,385)
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net income (loss) (1,655) (306) 1,583 5,574 12,573
======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Net income (loss) per equivalent ADS ($0.22) ($0.03) $0.21 $0.32 $0.64
======= ======= ======= ======= =======
ADSs used in computing per ADS amounts 7,586 11,054 14,800 17,484 19,730
======= ======= ======= ======= =======
December 31,
-----------------------------------------------
BALANCE SHEET DATA: 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Cash and short-term investments 1,043 1,290 3,932 47,233 46,821
Working capital (2,340) (1,894) (696) 44,106 48,410
Total assets 5,024 6,896 15,682 65,622 84,911
Long-term debt, excluding current
portion 1,129 1,470 -- -- --
Redeemable convertible preferred shares 2,666 2,666 4,736 -- --
Shareholders' equity (deficit) (4,790) (4,621) (3,035) 48,053 63,758
15
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated
financial statements and related notes thereto contained in Item 8 of this Form
10-K, which have been restated to reflect the acquisitions of CLS and NTT.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
The following discussion contains forward looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. Predictions of future events are inherently uncertain.
Actual events could differ materially from those predicted in the forward
looking statements as a result of the risks set forth in the following
discussion, and in particular, the risks discussed below under the caption
"Additional Risk Factors that Could Affect Operating Results." Additional
information relating to the risks in the Company's business is contained in the
"Business" section above.
OVERVIEW
CBT is a leading provider of interactive software designed to meet businesses'
information technology education and training needs. The Company develops,
publishes and markets a broad library of over 328 software titles focused on
client/server, Internet and corporate intranet technologies and delivered on
networked and standalone PCs and over corporate intranets.
The Company derives revenues primarily from license agreements under which
customers license the Company's titles for periods of one, two or three years.
The license agreement format generally allows the customer to exchange titles
for other titles in the Company's library on an annual basis if the agreement is
for more than one year. The initial annual license fee is generally recognized
as revenue at the time of delivery of products, and subsequent annual license
fees are generally recognized on the anniversary of each delivery date.
Although the Company's license agreements are noncancellable by their terms,
there can be no assurance that any customer will fulfill the contractual
obligations under its agreement. Cancellation, reduction or delay in orders by
or shipments to any of these customers could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business and results of operations. In addition, the Company
derives revenues from sales of its courses, primarily through its direct sales
and telesales organizations and resellers.
In recent years, the Company has entered into several development and marketing
alliances with key vendors of client/server software under which the Company
develops titles for training on specific products. Under certain of its
development and marketing alliances, the Company's partners have agreed to fund
certain product development costs. The Company recognizes such funding as
revenues on a percentage of completion basis, and the costs associated with such
revenues are reflected as cost of revenues. These agreements have the effect of
shifting expenses associated with developing certain new products from research
and development to cost of revenues. The Company expects that cost of revenues
may fluctuate from period to period in the future based upon many factors,
including, but not limited to, the timing of expenses associated with
development and marketing alliances.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
In December 1996, CBT and Street Technologies, Inc. ("Street Technologies"), a
developer of technology to "stream" multimedia and other large data files to
permit real-time delivery over local and wide area networks, corporate intranets
and the Internet, entered into an agreement pursuant to which the companies will
work together to deploy CBT's interactive education software over corporate
intranets and the Internet. As part of the agreement, CBT acquired a 12.5%
ownership interest in Street Technologies and Street Technologies agreed that
its license will be exclusive to CBT within a defined group of companies.
16
On February 28, 1997, CBT completed the acquisition of Applied Learning Limited,
a company organized under the laws of Tasmania, Australia ("ALA"). ALA is an
Australian distributor of interactive education software and had been CBT's
exclusive distributor in Australia and New Zealand. Approximately half of ALA's
revenue for the year ended December 31, 1996 was attributable to sales of
products supplied by National Education Training Group ("NETG"), a division of
National Education Corporation, a competitor of the Company.
The Company and ALA have received correspondence from NETG threatening legal
action with respect to matters related to the acquisition and the alleged breach
by ALA of a distributorship agreement between ALA and NETG. CBT believes that
such claims are without merit and intends to vigorously defend any lawsuit
commenced based on such claims. Based on the NETG correspondence, the Company
believes that NETG may seek to terminate its business relationship with ALA and
that revenue attributable to sales of NETG products could therefore diminish
significantly or entirely in future periods.
CBT evaluated the proposed acquisition of ALA on the assumption that NETG might
seek to terminate its business relationship with ALA following the acquisition
and that revenue attributable to sales of NETG products might therefore not
continue in future periods. CBT's management concluded that even if such event
were to occur, the acquisition continued to be in the best interests of the
Company.
On February 28, 1997, CBT completed the acquisition of CBT Systems Benelux B.V.,
a Netherlands limited liability company ("Benelux"). Benelux had been the
Company's exclusive distributor in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
The Company issued a total of 207,222 equivalent ADSs to the former
shareholders of ALA and Benelux in connection with the acquisitions. Each
transaction is being accounted for as a "pooling of interests" in accordance
with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The ALA and Benelux
acquisitions further expand the Company's global reach into emerging IT
training markets.
For certain pro forma financial information regarding the acquisition of ALA
see Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form
10-K.
ANNUAL RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth certain consolidated statement of operations data
as a percentage of revenues for the three years in the period ended December 31,
1996:
Years Ended December 31,
---------------------------
1994 1995 1996
-------- -------- -------
Revenues 100% 100% 100%
Cost of revenues 19.9 19.2 15.8
---- ---- ----
Gross profit 80.1 80.8 84.2
Operating Expenses
Research and development 13.2 15.1 16.4
Sales and marketing 46.2 41.4 40.3
General and administrative 9.0 8.8 7.4
Amortization of acquired intangibles 2.5 -- --
Costs of acquisitions -- 0.5 0.9
---- ---- ----
Total operating expenses 70.9 65.8 65.0
---- ---- ----
Income from operations 9.2 15.0 19.2
Other income (expense), net (0.6) 2.1 3.3
Income before provision for income taxes 8.6 17.1 22.5
Provision for income taxes (2.0) (3.2) (3.6)
---- ---- ----
Net income 6.6% 13.9% 18.9%
==== ==== ====
Revenues
Revenues increased from $23.9 million in 1994 to $40.2 million in 1995 and to
$66.3 million in 1996. The increases in revenues during these periods were
primarily attributable to an increase in the number of available courses, strong
customer contract renewals and upgrades and expanded marketing and distribution
efforts. Approximately 5%, 1% and 1% of revenues in 1994, 1995 and 1996,
respectively, were attributable to development revenues derived from agreements
with the Company's development partners. The Company does not expect funding
from development partners to contribute significantly to revenues in future
years.
Revenues in the United States increased from $15.6 million (or 65% of revenues)
in 1994 to $29.4 million (or 73% of revenues) in 1995 and to $49.3 million (or
74% of revenues) in 1996. The increases in 1995 and 1996 were primarily the
result of significant increases in the number of sales and related personnel
employed in the United States, an increase in the number of available courses
and an expansion of the Company's customer base. While revenues in the United
States increased significantly in absolute terms over these periods, the
Company's sales and marketing expenses and general and administrative expenses
in the United States also increased rapidly as the Company hired and expanded
its staff to support the U.S. sales growth.
17
Revenues in Europe were $7.1 million (or 30% of revenues) in 1994, $9.0 million
(or 22% of revenues) in 1995, and $13.9 million (or 21% of revenues) in 1996,
respectively. Revenues from outside the United States and Europe (principally
from Canada and South Africa) were $1.2 million (or 5% of revenues) in 1994,
$1.8 million (or 5% of revenues) in 1995, and $3.1 million (or 5% of revenues)
in 1996, respectively. Because a significant portion of the Company's business
is conducted outside the United States, the Company is subject to numerous risks
of doing business in other countries, including risks related to currency
fluctuations. For additional information on operations outside the United
States, see Item 1 "Business -- Foreign Operations" of this Form 10-K.
No customer accounted for more than 5% of revenues in 1994, 1995 or 1996.
However, approximately 35% of the Company's backlog at December 31, 1996 was
concentrated among nine customers, compared to 32% among five customers at
December 31, 1995. Backlog at any given date represents the amount of all
license fees under current agreements which have not yet been recognized as
revenues. Although the Company's license agreements are noncancellable by their
terms, there can be no assurance that any customer will fulfill the contractual
obligations under its agreement. Cancellation, reduction or delay in orders by
or shipments to any of these or other customers could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's business and results of operations.
Cost of Revenues
Cost of revenues includes the cost of materials (such as CD-ROMs, diskettes,
packaging and documentation), royalties to third parties, the portion of
development costs associated with funded development projects and fulfillment
costs.
Gross margins increased from 80.1% in 1994 to 80.8% in 1995 and to 84.2% in
1996. The increase in gross margins in 1996 is primarily due to the inclusion
in cost of revenues for 1994 and 1995 of certain costs CLS had incurred in
developing its SAP interactive training software. CLS, which was in an earlier
stage of development in 1994 and 1995, outsourced a substantial portion of its
product development to third parties, and the associated expenses (which were
paid as royalties to such third parties) have been included in cost of
revenues for 1994 and 1995. During 1996, these activities were conducted at
CLS, and no royalties were therefore payable. Accordingly, these expenses are
included in research and development expenses for 1996. In addition,
contributing to the lower gross margins in 1994 was the inclusion in cost of
revenues of the royalties payable under the Company's development and
marketing agreements and the development costs associated with funded
development projects. The inclusion of these development costs in cost of
revenues had the corresponding effect of reducing research and development
expenses in 1994. The Company is required to pay royalties to its development
and marketing partners on sales by the Company of products developed with
them, which reduces the Company's gross margins.
The Company expects that cost of revenues may fluctuate from period to period in
the future based upon many factors, including the mix of titles licensed
(between titles developed exclusively by CBT and royalty-bearing titles
developed pursuant to development and marketing alliances) and the timing of
expenses associated with development and marketing alliances. For additional
information regarding development and marketing alliances, please see Item 1
"Business -- Development and Marketing Alliances" of this Form 10-K.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist primarily of salaries and benefits,
occupancy expenses, fees paid to outside consultants and travel expenses.
Research and development expenses increased in absolute terms and as a
percentage of revenues from $3.1 million (or 13.2% of revenues) in 1994 to $6.1
million (or 15.1% of revenues) in 1995 and to $10.9 million (or 16.4% of
revenues) in 1996, principally as a result of an increase in research and
development personnel to expand and enhance the Company's library of software
products. In addition, approximately $770,000, $245,000 and $803,000 of
development expenses incurred in connection with development and marketing
alliances were charged to cost of revenues in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively.
The Company believes that significant
18
investment in research and development is required to remain competitive in the
IT education and training market, and the Company therefore expects research and
development expenses to continue to increase in future periods.
Software development costs are accounted for in accordance with the Financial
Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 86, under which the Company is required
to capitalize software development costs after technological feasibility has
been established. To date, development costs after establishment of
technological feasibility have been immaterial, and all software development
costs have been expensed.
Sales and Marketing Expenses
Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of salaries and commissions,
occupancy expenses and advertising and promotional expenses. These expenses
increased in absolute terms but declined as a percentage of revenues from $11.0
million (or 46.2% of revenues) in 1994 to $16.6 million (or 41.4% of revenues)
in 1995 and to $26.7 million (or 40.3% of revenues) in 1996. The increase in
absolute terms of sales and marketing expenses is primarily attributable to an
increase in the number of sales and sales support personnel. Commission costs
have also increased in absolute terms along with the increases in revenues
during these periods. The Company also increased advertising and promotional
expenses in each of 1994, 1995 and 1996. The decrease in sales and marketing
expenses as a percentage of revenues was principally due to more rapid increases
in revenues than in associated expenses. The Company expects to increase sales
and marketing expenses in the future to support expansion of its sales and
marketing efforts.
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses increased in absolute terms but declined as
a percentage of revenues from $2.2 million (or 9.0% of revenues) in 1994 to $3.5
million (or 8.8% of revenues) in 1995 and to $4.9 million (or 7.4% of revenues)
in 1996. The increases in absolute terms were primarily due to increased
staffing to support expanding operations. The decreases as a percentage of
revenues in the last three years was principally due to more rapid increases in
revenues than in associated expenses. The Company anticipates that general and
administrative expenses will increase in future periods due to increases in
staffing and infrastructure.
Amortization of Acquired Intangibles
In connection with acquisitions in which the Company acquired certain of its
current operating subsidiaries, the Company capitalized certain purchased
intangible assets. Expenses from amortization of these acquired intangibles was
approximately $604,000 (or 2.5% of revenues) in 1994. The acquired intangibles
were fully amortized as of December 31, 1994. See Note 2 of the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements in this Form 10-K.
Other Income (Expense), Net
Other income (expense), net, comprises interest expense, interest income and
exchange gains and losses. The Company recognized other income, net, of
approximately $850,000 and $2.2 million in 1995 and 1996, respectively, as
compared to other expense, net, of approximately $157,000 in 1994. The
increases in other income in 1995 and 1996 were primarily the result of interest
received on proceeds deposited from the Company's initial and secondary public
offerings in 1995. In addition, the Company recognized exchange losses of
$39,000 in 1994 and $161,000 in 1995 and an exchange gain of $4,000 in 1996.
The Company's consolidated financial statements are prepared in dollars,
although several of the Company's subsidiaries have functional currencies other
than the dollar, and a significant portion of the Company's and its
subsidiaries' revenues, costs and assets are denominated in currencies other
than their respective functional currencies. Fluctuations in exchange rates may
have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations,
particularly its operating margins, and could result in exchange
19
losses. The impact of future exchange rate fluctuations on the Company's
results of operations cannot be accurately predicted. To date, the Company has
not sought to hedge the risks associated with fluctuations in the exchange rate,
but may undertake such transactions in the future. There can be no assurance
that any hedging techniques implemented by the Company would be successful in
eliminating or reducing the effects of currency fluctuations.
Provision for Income Taxes
CBT Group PLC operates as a holding company with operating subsidiaries in
several countries, and each subsidiary is taxed based on the laws of the
jurisdiction in which it operates. Because taxes are incurred at the subsidiary
level, and one subsidiary's tax losses cannot be used to offset the taxable
income of subsidiaries in other tax jurisdictions, the Company's consolidated
effective tax rate may increase to the extent that the Company reports tax
losses in some subsidiaries and taxable income in others.
The Company has significant operations and generates a majority of its taxable
income in the Republic of Ireland, and certain of the Company's Irish operating
subsidiaries are taxed at rates substantially lower than tax rates in effect in
the United States and other countries in which the Company has operations. One
Irish subsidiary currently qualifies for a 10% tax rate which, under current
legislation, is in force until 2010, and another Irish subsidiary is income tax
exempt. If such subsidiaries were no longer to qualify for such tax rates or if
the tax laws were rescinded or changed, the Company's operating results could be
materially adversely affected. Moreover, because the Company incurs income tax
in several countries, an increase in the profitability of the Company in one or
more of these countries could result in a higher overall tax rate. In addition,
if tax authorities were to challenge successfully the manner in which profits
are recognized among the Company's subsidiaries, the Company's taxes could
increase and its cash flow and net income could be materially adversely
affected.
The Company's provision for income taxes was $459,000, $1.3 million and $2.4
million for each of 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. The Company's
consolidated effective tax rate of 22.4% in 1994 was the result of the inclusion
in operating results of substantial costs associated with the amortization of
goodwill, which is not deductible for tax purposes. This rate continued to be
effected by net operating losses in certain subsidiaries, which were not
available to offset increasing taxable income in other subsidiaries, as well as
by substantial amounts of non-deductible amortization of goodwill. Without the
amortization of goodwill in 1994, the Company's pro forma tax rate would have
been 17.3%.
The effective tax rate for the Company was 18.6% and 15.9% in 1995 and 1996,
respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate from 1995 to 1996 was
principally the result of losses incurred by CLS in 1995, which were not
available to offset taxable income earned in other jurisdictions.
QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth certain unaudited statement of operations data
for each of the Company's last eight quarters. This unaudited quarterly
financial information has been prepared on a basis consistent with the annual
information presented elsewhere in this Form 10-K and, in management's opinion,
reflects all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals)
necessary for a fair presentation of the information presented. The operating
results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative of results for any future
period.
20
Quarters Ended
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mar 31, June 30, Sept 30 Dec 31, Mar 31, June 30, Sept 30 Dec 31,
1995 1995 1995 1995 1996 1996 1996 1996
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues $7,334 $8,801 $10,541 $13,516 $13,012 $14,567 $17,033 $21,712
Cost of revenues 1,419 1,747 2,025 2,544 2,068 2,349 2,677 3,385
------ ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Gross profit 5,915 7,054 8,516 10,972 10,944 12,218 14,356 18,327
Operating expenses
Research and development 1,225 1,327 1,473 2,061 2,207 2,488 2,822 3,377
Sales and marketing 3,302 3,832 4,511 4,991 5,989 6,203 6,863 7,646
General and administrative 731 856 855 1,094 986 1,087 1,225 1,611
Costs of acquisitions -- -- -- 198 -- 596 -- --
------ ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Total operating expenses 5,258 6,015 6,839 8,344 9,182 10,374 10,910 12,634
------ ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Income from operations 657 1,039 1,677 2,628 1,762 1,844 3,446 5,693
Other income (expense), net (48) 156 299 443 537 542 588 546
------ ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Income before provision for income taxes 609 1,195 1,976 3,071 2,299 2,386 4,034 6,239
Provision for income taxes (126) (259) (358) (534) (368) (382) (645) (990)
------ ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net income 483 936 1,618 2,537 1,931 2,004 3,389 5,249
====== ====== ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Net income per equivalent ADS(1) $0.04 $0.06 $0.09 $0.13 $0.10 $0.10 $0.17 $0.26
====== ====== ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Net income per equivalent ADS gives effect to the two-for-one share split
of the Company's ADSs effected in May 1996. Net income per ordinary share
was $0.08, $0.12, $0.18 and $0.26 for the quarters ended March 31, 1995,
June 30, 1995, September 30, 1995 and December 31, 1995, respectively, and
$0.20, $0.20, $0.34 and $0.52 for the quarters ended March 31, 1996, June
30, 1996, September 30, 1996 and December 31, 1996, respectively.
The following table sets forth, as a percentage of revenues, certain line items
in the Company's statement of operations for the periods indicated.
Quarters Ended
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mar 31, June 30, Sept 30 Dec 31, Mar 31, June 30, Sept 30 Dec 31,
1995 1995 1995 1995 1996 1996 1996 1996
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Cost of revenues 19.3 19.9 19.2 18.8 15.9 16.1 15.7 15.6
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Gross profit 80.7 80.1 80.8 81.2 84.1 83.9 84.3 84.4
Operating expenses
Research and development 16.7 15.1 14.0 15.2 17.0 17.1 16.6 15.6
Sales and marketing 45.0 43.5 42.8 36.9 46.0 42.5 40.3 35.2
General and administrative 10.0 9.7 8.1 8.1 7.6 7.5 7.2 7.4
Costs of acquisitions -- -- -- 1.5 -- 4.1 -- --
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Total operating expenses 71.7 68.3 64.9 61.7 70.6 71.2 64.1 58.2
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Income from operations 9.0 11.8 15.9 19.4 13.5 12.7 20.2 26.2
Other income (expense), net (0.7) 1.8 2.8 3.3 4.2 3.7 3.5 2.5
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Income before provision for income taxes 8.3 13.6 18.7 22.7 17.7 16.4 23.7 28.7
Provision for income taxes (1.7) (3.0) (3.4) (4.0) (2.8) (2.6) (3.8) (4.6)
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Net income 6.6% 10.6% 15.3% 18.8% 14.9% 13.8% 19.9% 24.2%
==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ====
The Company's growth in revenues over the last eight quarters has been primarily
attributable to an increase in the number of available courses in the Company's
library, an increase in the number of
21
customers and increases in sales to existing customers, as well as the Company's
expanded marketing and distribution efforts in the United States, and to a
lesser extent, the United Kingdom. The Company's revenues historically have been
highest in the fourth quarter of each year. Sales in the fourth quarter
represented 34% and 33% of total revenues in 1995 and 1996, respectively. Sales
in this quarter increased more rapidly than expenses and, accordingly, net
income in the fourth quarter of 1995 and 1996 represented approximately 46% and
42%, respectively, of total net income for such years. There can be no assurance
that the Company will continue to experience significant increases in revenues
and profitability in the fourth quarter. Any failure to do so would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's operating results for the year as a
whole.
In each quarter of 1995, gross margins were lower than the comparable quarter in
1996 principally as a result of the inclusion in cost of revenues on a quarterly
basis of certain costs CLS had incurred in developing its SAP interactive
training software. As discussed above, CLS, which was in an earlier stage of
development in 1995, outsourced a substantial portion of its product development
to third parties, and the associated expenses (which were paid as royalties to
such third parties) have been included in cost of revenues for 1995. During
1996, these activities were conducted at CLS, and no royalties were therefore
payable. Accordingly, these expenses are included in research and development
expenses for 1996.
During 1996, the Company hired a number of employees, particularly sales and
marketing personnel, which has resulted in an increase in sales and marketing
expenses for the year. The Company has also added a significant number of
research and development personnel. As a result of these increases, as well as
continued hiring in other departments, the Company expects operating expenses in
future periods to be significantly higher than in the recent past. The Company
anticipates that it will continue this hiring in the first half of 1997, which
will reduce operating margins, particularly in the first and second quarters.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash and short-term investments were $3.9 million, $47.2 million and $46.8
million in 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively. The increase from 1994 to 1995
was primarily a result of funds received from the Company's two public
offerings. The decrease from 1995 to 1996 was primarily due to the Company's
investment in Street Technologies, which was partially offset by an increase in
cash provided by operating activities.
Net cash provided by operating activities increased from $1.5 million in 1994 to
$4.5 million in 1995 and to $9.4 million in 1996. The increased cash flow from
operations in 1995 and 1996 was primarily attributable to net income of $5.6
million in 1995 and $12.6 million in 1996 compared to $1.6 million in 1994.
Working capital increased from a negative position of $696,000 in 1994 to a
positive position of $44.1 million and $49.4 million in 1995 and 1996,
respectively. The increase in working capital from 1994 to 1995 is primarily a
result of the deposit of funds received from the Company's two public offerings
in 1995. The increase in working capital from 1995 to 1996 is primarily
attributable to an increase in cash from operations and accounts receivable,
which were partially offset by the Company's investment of approximately $5.0
million in Street Technologies.
Capital expenditures were approximately $827,000 in 1994, $1.8 million in 1995
and $6.0 million in 1996. Although the Company currently has no material
capital commitments, it expects that it will spend more in 1997 than in previous
years, primarily as a result of upgrading the capabilities of its computer
equipment as well as improvements to its information systems.
The Company believes that its existing cash and short-term investments will be
sufficient to meet its cash requirements for at least the next twelve months.
The Company may from time to time consider the acquisition of complementary
businesses, products or technologies, which may require additional financing.
22
ADDITIONAL RISK FACTORS THAT COULD AFFECT OPERATING RESULTS
In addition to the other factors identified in this Annual Report on Form 10-K,
the following risk factors could materially and adversely affect the Company's
future operating results, and could cause actual events to differ materially
from those predicted in the Company's forward looking statements relating to its
business.
Fluctuations in Operating Results. The Company has in the past experienced
- ---------------------------------
fluctuations in its quarterly operating results and anticipates that such
fluctuations will continue and could intensify in the future. Fluctuations in
operating results may result in volatility in the price of the Company's ADSs.
Although the Company was profitable in each of the last twelve quarters, there
can be no assurance that such profitability will continue in the future or that
the levels of profitability will not vary significantly among quarterly periods.
The Company's operating results may fluctuate as a result of many factors,
including size and timing of orders and shipments, mix of sales between products
developed solely by the Company and products developed through development and
marketing alliances, royalty rates, the announcement, introduction and
acceptance of new products, product enhancements and technologies by the Company
and its competitors, mix of sales between the Company's field sales force, its
other direct sales channels and its indirect sales channels, competitive
conditions in the industry, loss of significant customers, delays in
availability of existing or new products, spending patterns of the Company's
customers, currency fluctuations and general economic conditions.
The Company's expense levels are based in significant part on its expectations
regarding future revenues and are fixed to a large extent in the short term.
Accordingly, the Company may be unable to adjust spending in a timely manner to
compensate for any unexpected revenue shortfall. Any significant revenue
shortfall would therefore have a material adverse effect on the Company's
results of operations. In addition, the Company hired additional employees in
1996 and in early 1997. This increase in employee expense could have a negative
impact on the Company's operating margins during 1997.
Competition. The IT education and training market is highly fragmented and
- -----------
competitive, and the Company expects this competition to increase. The Company
expects that because of the lack of significant barriers to entry into this
market, new competitors may enter the market in the future. In addition, larger
companies are competing with the Company in the IT education and training market
through the acquisition of the Company's competitors, and the Company expects
this trend to continue. Such competitors may also include publishing companies
and vendors of application software, including those vendors with whom the
Company has formed development and marketing alliances.
The Company competes primarily with third-party suppliers of instructor-led IT
education and training and internal training departments and with other
suppliers of IT education and training, including several other companies that
produce interactive software training. To a lesser extent, the Company also
competes with consultants, value-added resellers and network integrators.
Certain of these value-added resellers also market products competitive with
those of the Company. The Company expects that as organizations increase their
dependence on outside suppliers of training, the Company will face increasing
competition from these other suppliers as IT education and training managers
more frequently compare training products provided by outside suppliers.
Many of the Company's current and potential competitors have substantially
greater financial, technical, sales, marketing and other resources, as well as
greater name recognition, than the Company. In addition, the IT education and
training market is characterized by significant price competition, and the
Company expects that it will face increasing price pressures from competitors as
IS managers demand more value for their training budgets. Accordingly, there can
be no assurance that the Company will be able to provide products that compare
favorably with new instructor-led techniques or other interactive training
software or that competitive pressures will not require the Company to reduce
23
its prices significantly.
Developing Market. The market for IT education and training is rapidly evolving.
- -----------------
New methods of delivering interactive education software are being developed and
offered in the marketplace, including intranet and Internet deployment systems.
Many of these new delivery systems will involve new and different business
models and contracting mechanisms. In addition, multimedia and other product
functionality features are being added to the educational software.
Accordingly, CBT's future success will depend upon, among other factors, the
extent to which CBT is able to develop and implement products which address
these emerging market requirements. There can be no assurance that CBT will be
successful in meeting changing market needs.
Seasonality. The software industry generally, and the Company in particular,
- -----------
are subject to seasonal revenue fluctuations, based in part on customers' annual
budgetary cycles and in part on the annual nature of sales quotas. These
seasonal trends have in the past caused, and in the future could cause, revenues
in the first quarter of a year to be less, perhaps substantially so, than
revenues for the immediately preceding fourth quarter. In addition, the Company
has in past years (as well as in 1997) added significant headcount in the sales
and marketing and research and development functions in the first quarter, and
to a lesser extent, the second quarter. Because these headcount additions do
not immediately contribute significant revenues, the Company's operating margins
in the earlier part of the year tend to be significantly lower than in the later
parts of the year. It is expected that this factor will affect CBT's operating
marins in the first and second quarters of 1997, and to some extent the third
quarter. Many software companies also experience a seasonal downturn in demand
during the summer months. There can be no assurance that these or other
seasonal trends will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's results
of operations.
Management of Expanding Operations and Acquisitions. The Company has recently
- ---------------------------------------------------
experienced rapid expansion of its operations, which has placed, and is expected
to continue to place, significant demands on the Company's administrative,
operational and financial personnel and systems. The Company's future operating
results will substantially depend on the ability of its officers and key
employees to manage changing business conditions and to implement and improve
its operational, financial control and reporting systems. If the Company is
unable to respond to and manage changing business conditions, its business and
results of operations could be materially adversely affected.
As a result of the consummation of the acquisitions of PTS in late 1995, CLS and
NTT in May 1996, and ALA and Benelux on February 28, 1997, the Company's
operating expenses have increased. There can be no assurance that the
integration of these businesses can be successfully completed in a timely
fashion, or at all, or that the revenues from the acquired businesses will be
sufficient to support the costs associated with those businesses, without
adversely affecting the Company's operating margins. Any failure to successfully
complete the integration in a timely fashion or to generate sufficient revenues
from the acquired businesses could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business and results of operations.
The Company regularly evaluates acquisition opportunities and is likely to make
acquisitions in the future. Future acquisitions by the Company could result in
potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities, the incurrence of debt and
contingent liabilities and amortization expenses related to goodwill and other
intangible assets, which could materially adversely affect the Company's results
of operations. Product and technology acquisitions entail numerous risks,
including difficulties in the assimilation of acquired operations, technologies
and products, diversion of management's attention to other business concerns,
risks of entering markets in which the Company has no or limited prior
experience and potential loss of key employees of acquired companies. The
Company's management has had limited experience in assimilating acquired
organizations and products into the Company's operations. No assurance can be
given as to the ability of the Company to integrate successfully any operations,
personnel or products that have been acquired or that might be acquired in the
future, and the failure of the Company to do so could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's results of operations.
24
Dependence on Key Personnel. The Company's future success depends, in large
- ---------------------------
part, on the continued service of its key management, sales, product development
and operational personnel and on its ability to attract, motivate and retain
highly qualified employees, including management personnel. In particular, the
loss of certain senior management personnel or other key employees could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business. In addition, the Company
depends on writers, programmers and graphic artists, as well as third-party
content providers. The Company expects to continue to hire additional product
development, sales and marketing, IS and accounting staff. However, there can be
no assurance that the Company will be successful in attracting, retaining or
motivating key personnel. The inability to hire and retain qualified personnel
or the loss of the services of key personnel could have a material adverse
effect upon the Company's current business, new product development efforts and
future business prospects.
Risk of Increasing Taxes. Certain of the Company's subsidiaries have
- ------------------------
significant operations and generate significant taxable income in Ireland, and
certain of the Company's Irish subsidiaries are taxed at rates substantially
lower than tax rates in effect in the United States and in other countries in
which the Company has operations. The extent of the tax benefit could vary from
period to period, and there can be no assurance that the Company's tax situation
will not change.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Page
Number
------
Consolidated Financial Statements
- -----------------------------------
Report of Ernst & Young, Chartered Accountants 26
Consolidated Balance Sheets 27
Consolidated Statements of Operations 28
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Redeemable Convertible
Preferred Shares and Shareholders' Equity (Deficit) 29
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 32
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 33
25
ERNST & YOUNG
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Directors and Shareholders,
CBT Group PLC
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of CBT Group PLC as
of December 31, 1995 and 1996 and the related consolidated statements of
operations, changes in redeemable convertible preferred shares and shareholders'
equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1996. 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 did not audit the financial
statements of Personal Training Systems, a company acquired by the Company in a
business combination accounted for as a pooling-of-interests as described in
note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, which statements reflect total
revenues of $2,842,000 for the year ended June 30, 1995. Those statements were
audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us and our opinion,
insofar as it relates to data included for Personal Training Systems, is based
solely on the report of the other auditors.
We conducted our audits in accordance with United States generally accepted
auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit
to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An
audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits and the report of other
auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of other auditors, the
financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects,
the consolidated financial position of CBT Group PLC at December 31, 1995 and
1996, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996 in conformity with
United States generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG
Ernst & Young
Chartered Accountants
Dublin, Ireland
Date: January 20, 1997
26
CBT GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands)
AT DECEMBER 31,
----------------------
ASSETS 1995 1996
Current assets
Cash $ 6,564 $10,039
Short term investments 40,669 36,782
Accounts receivable, net 13,362 19,940
Inventories 220 264
Deferred tax assets, net 398 140
Prepaid expenses 446 3,382
------- -------
Total current assets 61,659 70,547
Property and equipment, net 2,130 6,569
Investment - 4,997
Other assets 1,833 2,798
------- -------
Total assets 65,622 84,911
======= =======
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Borrowings under bank overdraft
facility and overdrafts 1,346 --
Note payable 79 --
Accounts payable 2,023 3,007
Accrued payroll and related expenses 2,313 3,144
Other accrued liabilities 8,482 10,196
Deferred revenues 3,310 4,790
------- -------
Total current liabilities 17,553 21,137
Non current liabilities
Minority equity interest 16 16
Shareholders' equity
Ordinary shares, IR37.5p par value:
30,000,000 shares authorized at
December 31, 1995 and 1996; issued and
outstanding: 8,508,984 at December
31, 1995 and 8,930,924 shares at
December 31, 1996 5,198 5,451
Additional paid-in capital 50,941 53,350
Accumulated profit (deficit) (7,897) 4,676
Receivable from shareholders (190) -
Cumulative translation adjustment 1 281
------- -------
Total shareholders' equity 48,053 63.758
------- -------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 65,622 84,911
======= =======
(see accompanying notes)
27
CBT GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
1994 1995 1996
------- ------- -------
Revenues $23,881 $40,192 $66,324
Cost of revenues 4,760 7,735 10,479
------- ------- -------
Gross profit 19,121 32,457 55,845
Operating expenses:
Research and development 3,140 6,086 10,894
Sales and marketing 11,020 16,636 26,701
General and administrative 2,158 3,536 4,909
Amortization of acquired intangibles 604 - -
Costs of acquisitions - 198 596
------- ------- -------
Total operating expenses 16,922 26,456 43,100
------- ------- -------
Income from operations 2,199 6,001 12,745
Interest income (expense) (118) 1,011 2,209
Net exchange gain (loss) (39) (161) 4
------- ------- -------
Income before provision for income taxes 2,042 6,851 14,958
Provision for income taxes (459) (1,277) (2,385)
------- ------- -------
Net income 1,583 5,574 12,573
======= ======= =======
Net income per share $0.21 $0.64 $1.27
======= ======= =======
Shares used in computing net income per share 7,400 8,742 9,865
======= ======= =======
Net income per equivalent ADS $0.11 $0.32 $0.64
======= ======= =======
ADS's used in computing net income per equivalent ADS 14,800 17,484 19,730
======= ======= =======
(see accompanying notes)
28
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED
SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(Dollars in Thousands)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redeemable
convertible Additional Receivable Cumulative Total
preferred Ordinary paid-in Accumulated from translation shareholders'
shares shares capital deficit shareholders adjustment equity (deficit)
----------- -------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------ ----------------
Balance at December 31, 1993 $2,666 $3,623 $7,279 $(14,985) $(396) $(142) $(4,621)
Issuance of 10,000 ordinary shares - 5 15 - - - 20
Issuance of 666,665 Series B
redeemable convertible preferred -
shares, net of issuance costs of $250 2,000 - - - - - -
Accretion of excess of redemption
value of Series B redeemable
convertible preferred shares over
issuance price 70 - (70) - - - (70)
Received from shareholders - - - - 28 - 28
Translation adjustment - - - - - 53 53
Exchange adjustment - - - - (28) - (28)
Net income - - - 1,583 - - 1,583
----- ------ ------ -------- ----- ----- -------
Balance at December 31, 1994 $4,736 $3,628 $7,224 $(13,402) $(396) $ (89) $(3,035)
29
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES
AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(Dollars in Thousands)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redeemable
convertible Additional Receivable Cumulative Total
preferred Ordinary paid-in Accumulated from translation shareholders'
shares shares capital deficit shareholders adjustment equity (deficit)
--------- --------- ----------- ------------ ------------- ------------ ----------------
Balance at December 31, 1994 $ 4,736 $3,628 $ 7,224 $(13,402) $(396) $(89) $(3,035)
Issuance of 1,150,000
ordinary shares
under initial public
offering, net of issuance
costs of $5,197 - 702 12,501 - - - 13,203
Redemption of Series A
redeemable convertible
preferred shares (2,666) 241 2,425 - - - 2,666
Discount on redemption of
Series A redeemable
convertible preferred shares - - 1,316 - - - 1,316
Cancellation of converted
Series A ordinary shares - (241) (2,425) - - - (2,666)
Conversion of Series B
redeemable convertible
preferred shares (2,070) 355 1,715 - - - 2,070
Issuance of 700,000
ordinary shares under
secondary public
offering, net of
issuance costs of $2,913 - 408 27,654 - - - 28,062
Issuance of 170,598
ordinary shares as a
result of option
exercises, net of
issuance costs of $58 - 105 531 - - - 636
Received from shareholders - - - - 217 - 217
Translation adjustment - - - - - 90 90
Exchange adjustment - - - - (11) - (11)
Adjustment to record the
overlap in accounting for
Personal Training Systems'
net income from January 1,
1995 to June 30, 1995 - - - (69) - - (69)
Net income - - - 5,574 - - 5,574
------- ------ ------- -------- ----- ---- --------
Balance at December 31, 1995 $ - $5,198 $50,941 $ (7,897) $(190) $ 1 $48,053
30
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES
AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(Dollars in Thousands)
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redeemable
convertible Additional Accumulated Receivable Cumulative Total
preferred Ordinary paid-in profit from translation shareholders'
shares shares capital (deficit) shareholders adjustment equity
----------- -------- ---------- ------------ ------------- ----------- ---------------
Balance at December 31, 1995 $ - $5,198 $50,941 $(7,897) $(190) $ 1 $48,053
Issuance of 387,045 ordinary shares
as a result of option exercises and
34,895 from employee share
purchase plan - 253 2,409 - - - 2,662
Received from shareholders - - - - 190 - 190
Translation adjustment - - - - - 280 280
Net income - - - 12,573 - - 12,573
---------- -------- ---------- ----------- ------------ ----------- -------
Balance December 31, 1996 $ - $5,451 $53,350 $ 4,676 $ - $281 $63,758
========== ======== ========== =========== ============ =========== =======
See accompanying notes
31
CBT GROUP PLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in thousands)
Increase (decrease) in cash
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
1994 1995 1996
------- -------- -------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income $ 1,583 $ 5,574 $12,573
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization 900 566 1,606
Overlap in accounting for PTS' net
income, excluding depreciation -- (108) --
Accrued interest on short-term investments -- (469) 221
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable (3,648) (6,582) (7,223)
Inventories (67) 256 (30)
Deferred tax assets (166) (64) 259
Prepaid expenses and other assets (951) (590) (2,886)
Accounts payable 178 967 944
Accrued payroll and related expenses
and other accrued liabilities 2,630 3,459 2,481
Deferred revenue 1,033 1,443 1,445
------- -------- -------
Net cash provided by operating activities 1,492 4,452 9,390
------- -------- -------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property and equipment (827) (1,772) (6,029)
Payments to acquire short-term investments -- (40,200) (1,334)
Proceeds from short-term investments -- -- 5,000
Payment to acquire investment -- -- (4,997)
------- -------- -------
Net cash used in investing activities (827) (41,972) (7,360)
------- -------- -------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Payments of notes payable (490) (1,325) (79)
Redemption of series a shares -- (1,350) --
Proceeds (repayments) under bank overdraft facility 282 671 (1,346)
Payment of receivables from shareholders 28 217 190
Proceeds from issuance of Series B
redeemable convertible preferred shares, net 2,000 -- --
Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares, net 20 41,901 2,662
------- -------- -------
Net cash provided by financing activities 1,840 40,114 1,427
------- -------- -------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 99 76 18
------- -------- -------
Net increase in cash 2,604 2,670 3,475
Cash at beginning of period 1,290 3,894 6,564
------- -------- -------
Cash at end of period $ 3,894 $ 6,564 $10,039
======= ======== =======
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
Interest paid $ 99 $ 9 $ 22
Taxes paid $ 222 $ 414 $ 847
(See accompanying notes)
32
CBT GROUP PLC
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
ORGANIZATION
- ------------
CBT Group PLC is organized as a public limited company under the laws of the
Republic of Ireland. CBT Group PLC and its wholly owned subsidiaries
(collectively, the "Company" or "CBT") develops and markets interactive
information technology ("IT") education and training software. The principal
market for the Company's products comprises major U.S. national and
multinational organizations.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
- -----------------------------------------------------
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States and include the Company and
its wholly owned subsidiaries in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland,
South Africa, Canada, Germany and Grand Cayman after eliminating all material
inter-company accounts and transactions. All acquisitions have been accounted
for under the purchase accounting method, except for the mergers with personal
training systems ("PTS"), New Technology Training Limited ("NTT") and CLS
Consult Gessellschaft fur Beratung, Management Und Beteiligung mbH ("CLS") which
have been included in the consolidated financial statements under the pooling of
interests method (see Note 2).
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 amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
TRANSLATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF FOREIGN ENTITIES
- -------------------------------------------------------
The reporting currency for the company is the US dollar ("dollar"). The
functional currency of the Company's subsidiaries in the United States, United
Kingdom, Republic of South Africa, Canada and Germany are the currencies of
those countries. Effective January 1, 1994 the functional currency of all of the
Irish entities became the dollar. The functional currency of the Company's
subsidiary in Grand Cayman is the dollar.
Balance sheet amounts are translated to the dollar from the local functional
currency at year-end exchange rates, while statements of operations amounts in
local functional currency amounts are translated using average exchange rates.
Translation gains or losses are recorded in a separate component of
shareholders' equity. Currency gains or losses on transactions denominated in a
currency other than an entity's functional currency are recorded in the results
of the operations. The Company has not undertaken hedging transactions to cover
its currency exposures.
REVENUE RECOGNITION
- -------------------
The Company derives its revenues primarily pursuant to license agreements under
which customers license usage of delivered products for a period of one, two or
three years. On each anniversary date during the term of multiyear license
agreements, customers are allowed to exchange any or all of the licensed
products for an equivalent amount of new products. The first year license fee
is generally recognized as revenue at the time of delivery of all products,
provided there are no significant vendor obligations remaining. Subsequent
annual license fees are recognized on each anniversary date, provided there are
no remaining significant vendor obligations. The cost of satisfying any
insignificant vendor obligations is accrued at the time revenue is recognized.
In addition, the Company derives revenues from sales of its products, primarily
through resellers.
Revenues from product development arrangements are generally recognized on a
percentage of completion basis as milestones are completed or products produced
under the arrangement.
33
CBT GROUP PLC
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
Revenues from license agreements providing product exchange rights other than
annually during the term of the agreement are deferred and recognized ratably
over the contract period. Such amounts, together with unearned development and
license revenues, are recorded as deferred revenues in the consolidated
financial statements.
COST OF REVENUES
- ----------------
Cost of revenues include materials (such as diskettes, packaging and
documentation), royalties paid to third parties, the portion of development
costs associated with product co-development arrangements, fulfillment costs and
the amortization of the cost of purchased products.
INVENTORIES
- -----------
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first in, first out) or net
realizable value and consist principally of diskettes and manuals. Net
realizable value is the estimated selling price less all applicable selling
costs.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
- ------------------------
Research and development expenditures are generally charged to operations.
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 86, "Accounting for the Costs of
Computer Software to be Sold, Leased or Otherwise Marketed," requires
capitalization of certain software development costs subsequent to the
establishment of technological feasibility. Based on the Company's product
development process, technological feasibility is established upon completion of
a working model. Development costs incurred by the Company between completion
of the working model and the point at which the product is ready for general
release have been insignificant. Through December 31, 1996, all research and
development costs have been expensed.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
- ----------------------
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are
computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of two to
five years. Major classes of property and equipment are summarized as follows
(dollars in thousands):
1995 1996
------ ------
Office and computer equipment $3,065 $7,072
Furniture, fixtures and others 632 2,670
------ ------
Total property and equipment 3,697 9,742
Accumulated depreciation 1,567 3,173
------ ------
Property and equipment, net $2,130 $6,569
====== ======
Depreciation of property and equipment amounted to $296,000, $566,000, and
$1,606,000 for the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, respectively.
NET INCOME PER SHARE
- --------------------
Net income per share is computed using the weighted average number of ordinary
and dilutive ordinary equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Each CBT
ordinary share is represented by two American Depositary Shares ("ADSs"), which
are the Company's publicly traded securities. Net income per equivalent ADS is
therefore calculated using two times the weighted average number of ordinary and
dilutive ordinary equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive
ordinary equivalent shares consist of the incremental ordinary shares issuable
upon conversion of the Series A and Series B redeemable convertible preferred
shares and shares issuable upon the exercise of share options (using the
treasury stock method) for periods in which the Company reported net income. The
Series A and Series B redeemable convertible preferred shares were automatically
converted to ordinary shares after the company's initial public offering in
April 1995. The Converted Series A Shares were subsequently converted to
treasury shares and cancelled in April 1995.
34
CBT GROUP PLC
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
Pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting Bulletins,
net income per share computations include all ordinary and ordinary equivalent
shares issued by the Company at prices below the assumed public offering price
during the twelve-month period prior to the offering as if they were
outstanding for all periods presented (using the treasury stock method).
The net income per share is calculated using the combined weighted average
number of ordinary and dilutive ordinary equivalent shares of the Company
including the issuance of 106,057 shares of Company ordinary shares in
exchange for all of the stock of PTS, the issuance of 36,401 shares of Company
ordinary shares in exchange for all the stock of CLS and 36,531 shares of
Company ordinary shares in exchange for all the stock of NTT at the beginning
of the earliest period presented.
DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN
- -------------------------
The Company sponsors and contributes to a defined contribution plan for certain
employees and directors. Contribution amounts by the Company are determined by
management and allocated to employees on a pro rata basis based on the
employees' contribution. The Company contributed approximately $116,000,
$164,000 and $232,000 to the plan in the years ended december 31, 1994, 1995 and
1996, respectively.
STOCK BASED COMPENSATION
- ------------------------
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, "Accounting for Stock -
Based Compensation" encourages, but does not require companies to record
compensation cost for stock-based employee compensation plans at fair value.
The Company has chosen to continue to account for stock-based compensation
using the intrinsic value method prescribed in Accounting Principles Board
Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," ("APB25") and
related interpretations. Accordingly, 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. Under APB25, because the exercise price of the Company's employee
stock options equals the market price of the underlying stock on the date of
the grant, no compensation expense is recognized.
ADVERTISING COSTS
- -----------------
Costs incurred for producing and communicating advertising are expensed when
incurred. Advertising expenses amounted to $382,000, $667,000 and $1.2 million
for the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 respectively.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GRANTS
- -------------------------------
Research and development grants are credited to the income statement and offset
against the related expense.
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
- ----------------------------
The principal market for the Company's products comprises major U.S. national
and multinational organizations. The Company performs ongoing credit
evaluations of its customers and maintains reserves for potential credit
losses. To date such losses have been within management's expectations. The
Company had an allowance for doubtful accounts of $200,000 and $188,000 at
December 31, 1995 and 1996, respectively. The Company generally requires no
collateral from its customers.
35
CBT GROUP PLC
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
The Company maintains its cash with various financial institutions. At December
31, 1995 and 1996 $40,669,000 and $36,782,000 respectively (inclusive of accrued
interest of $469,000 and $248,000 respectively) was held in debt securities
issued by the U.S. Treasury, under the management of a single financial
institution. In addition, at December 31, 1995 and 1996, $4,864,000 and
$927,000 respectively in cash was held with this institution. The Company
performs periodic evaluations of the relative credit standing of all the
financial institutions dealt with by the Company, and considers the related
credit risk to be minimal.
ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES
- ---------------------------
The Company uses the liability method in accounting for income taxes. Under this
method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences
between financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are
measured using the enacted tax rates and laws which will be in effect when the
differences are expected to reverse.
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
- ----------------------
Short-term investments at December 31,1995 and 1996 comprise debt securities
issued by the U.S. Treasury with a maturity of six months or less at the date of
acquisition by the Company. These are included at cost plus accrued interest
which approximates the fair market value of the securities. The Company
classifies available for sale securities as short-term investments.
OTHER ASSETS
- ------------
Other assets at December 31, 1995 and 1996 consist primarily of deferred sales
commissions. Deferred sales commissions are charged to expense when the related
revenue is recognized.
2. ACQUISITIONS, MERGER, JOINT VENTURE AND ACQUIRED INTANGIBLE ASSETS
On November 30, 1995, a merger occurred between the Company and PTS under which
the Company issued 106,057 ordinary shares in exchange for all the outstanding
stock of PTS.
On May 31, 1996 a merger occurred between the Company and CLS, a distributor
of multimedia training and education software based in Germany, under which
the Company issued 36,401 ordinary shares for all the outstanding stock of
CLS. On the same date a merger occurred between the Company and NTT, the
Company's Canadian distributor, under which the company issued 36,531 ordinary
shares for all the outstanding stock of NTT. The financial results of the
Company, PTS, CLS and NTT have been accounted for using the "pooling-of-
interests" method. The "pooling-of-interests" method gives effect to the
mergers as if they had occurred at the beginning of the earliest period
presented. The consolidated financial statements as presented are based on the
Company's historical consolidated financial statements and PTS's, CLS's and
NTT's historical financial statements.
The consolidated financial information for the years ended December 31, 1995 and
1996 includes the results of PTS, CLS and NTT for the period January 1 to
December 31, 1995 and 1996 respectively and the assets and liabilities of PTS,
CLS and NTT as at December 31, 1995 and 1996 respectively. The comparative
figures for the year ended December 31, 1994 comprise the results of the Company
and CLS and NTT for those periods combined with the results of PTS for the year
ended June 30, 1995.
CLS and NTT, in the five month period ended May 31, 1996 had net revenues of
$1,047,000 and $781,000 respectively. Net income in that period was $45,000 at
CLS and $41,000 at NTT.
PTS's results of operations for the six month period ended June 30, 1995, which
reflected net revenues of $1,470,000, expenses of $1,385,000 and net income of
$69,000 were included as a decrease to the Company's consolidated accumulated
deficit as of December 31, 1995.
36
CBT GROUP PLC
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
2. ACQUISITIONS, MERGER, JOINT VENTURE AND ACQUIRED INTANGIBLE ASSETS
(CONTINUED)
The results of the operations for the enterprises acquired in 1996 and the
combined amounts presented in the consolidated financial statements are
summarized below (dollars in thousands):
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------------------------
1994 1995 1996
-------- -------- --------
Revenues:
CBT Group PLC $21,468 $36,937 $60,569
NTT 746 1,207 2,349
CLS 1,997 2,498 3,406
Intercompany Sales (330) (450) -
------- ------- -------
Combined $23,881 $40,192 $66,324
======= ======= =======
Net income:
CBT Group PLC $ 1,589 $ 5,958 $12,414
NTT 63 82 (42)
CLS (69) (466) 201
------- ------- -------
Combined $ 1,583 $ 5,574 $12,573
======= ======= =======
Dunloe Ireland Limited ("Dunloe") is a joint venture company incorporated in
Ireland in 1993 by the Company and another company ("Partner"). The Company
accounts for its investment in Dunloe using the equity method of accounting.
The joint venture was initially established primarily to develop interactive IT
education and training software under a contract with a third party.
Development work under the contract performed by the Company and the Partner on
behalf of Dunloe was completed in 1994. The Company, under the contract,
recognized revenues of $586,000 related to the development work in 1994.
The Company acquired certain of its operating subsidiaries in 1991 for purchase
consideration and assumption of certain liabilities totaling approximately $5.3
million. The purchase price was allocated to all assets acquired including
approximately $3.9 million of in-process research and development which was
expensed in 1991, $400,000 of acquired developed technology which was amortized
over its useful life of approximately two years and $1.0 million of goodwill
which was amortized over its useful life of approximately three years. In 1990,
the company acquired a separate operating subsidiary for total purchase
consideration of $434,000 and assumption of certain liabilities. The purchase
price was allocated to all assets acquired including approximately $1.0 million
of product distribution rights, which amount was amortized over an estimated
useful life of approximately four years. Amortization of acquired developed
technology is included in cost of revenues, while the amortization of the
remaining acquired intangible asset is included in amortization of acquired
intangibles. All such intangible assets acquired in 1990 and 1991 had been
fully amortized at December 31, 1994.
37
CBT GROUP PLC
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
3. BANK OVERDRAFT FACILITY AND OVERDRAFTS
The Company has a bank overdraft facility with AIB Bank PLC. This facility is
renewable on an annual basis at the bank's discretion. Under the facility the
Company may incur overdrafts with the bank up to IR195,000 (approximately
$330,000 at December 31, 1996), with a variable interest rate based on the
Dublin Inter-Bank Overnight Rate ("DIBOR") plus five percent (10.44 percent at
December 31, 1996). This facility is collateralized by the assets of CBT Systems
Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of CBT Group PLC. The Company's UK subsidiary
also has an arrangement with its bank which allows the subsidiary to maintain
funds in a deposit account and to have the bank transfer the funds as necessary
to pay checks written against a checking account with the same bank. At December
31, 1996, the subsidiary had written checks aggregating $0 (December 31, 1995
$364,000) in excess of the balance in the checking account.
PTS had available a $400,000 line of credit which expired on January 12, 1996.
The line bore interest at the bank's prime rate plus 2%. No amount was drawn
against this line of credit during 1995 or 1996.
4. OTHER ACCRUED LIABILITIES
Other accrued liabilities consist of the following at December 31 (dollars in
thousands):
1995 1996
------- -------
Royalties $ 1,489 $ 2,912
Income and other taxes payable 1,775 3,237
Other 5,218 4,047
------- -------
$ 8,482 $10,196
======= =======
5. OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS
The Company leases various facilities, automobiles and equipment under non-
cancellable operating lease arrangements. The major facilities leases are for
terms of 2 to 5 years, (except for CBT Systems Limited's new premises which has
a non-cancellable lease term of 11 years) and generally provide renewal options
for terms of up to 3 additional years. Rent expense under all operating leases
was approximately $715,000, $1,092,000 and $1,415,000 in 1994, 1995 and 1996,
respectively. Future minimum lease payments under these non-cancellable
operating leases as of December 31, 1996, are as follows (dollars in thousands):
1997 $ 1,897
1998 1,889
1999 1,722
2000 1,570
2001 1,374
Thereafter 5,077
-------
Total minimum lease payments $13,529
=======
6. CONTINGENCIES
In May 1995, the Company was made aware of the following matter. During 1990,
the Company acquired an interest in Datacode Electronics Limited ("Datacode").
Certain of the remaining shareholders in Datacode have alleged that the
acquisition by the Company had the effect of depriving them of certain benefits
and have claimed 21,126 of the Company's ordinary shares in compensation and
have initiated legal action against the Company. The Company believes that the
action taken against the company with respect to this matter is without merit
and intends to defend the action vigorously.
38
CBT GROUP PLC
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
A major shareholder in the Company at the time of the acquisition and from whom
the Company acquired its interest in Datacode has agreed to indemnify the
Company against all losses arising from any action against the Company.
On February 28, 1997, CBT completed the acquisition of Applied Learning
Limited, a company organized under the laws of Tasmania, Australia ("ALA").
The Company and ALA have received correspondence from National Education
Training Group ("NETG"), a division of National Education Corporation, a
competitor of CBT, threatening legal action with respect to matters related to
the acuqisition of ALA and the alleged breach by ALA of a distributorship
agreement between ALA and NETG. CBT believes that such claims are without
merit and intends to vigorously defend any lawsuit commenced based on such
claims.
In addition, certain claims and litigation have arisen against the Company in
the ordinary course of its business. The Company believes that all claims and
lawsuits against the Company are without merit, and the Company intends to
vigorously contest such disputes. In the opinion of management, the outcome of
such disputes will not have a material effect on its financial position, results
of operations or liquidity, as reported in these financial statements.
Depending on the amount and timing of any unfavorable resolution of these
matters, it is possible that the Company's future results of operations or cash
flows could be materially affected in a particular period.
7. NOTES PAYABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS
In conjunction with the acquisition of certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries
in 1991, the Company assumed non-interest bearing liabilities of certain of the
subsidiaries due to the subsidiaries' former parent. The original terms of the
liability provided for monthly repayments commencing in 1992. The repayment
terms were altered in July 1993. In October 1994, the liability totaled
approximately $1,450,000. At that time, the Company renegotiated the terms of
the liability into a non-interest bearing note payable under which payments of
approximately $250,000 were made during the remainder of 1994 and the balance of
$1,226,000 was repaid in four quarterly installments of approximately $306,000
beginning on March 31, 1995 through December 31, 1995.
8. REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
The Company's authorized share capital is divided into three classes of shares,
Series A and Series B redeemable convertible preferred shares and ordinary
shares, each with a par value of IR37.5p.
Dividends may only be declared and paid out of profits available for
distribution determined in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in Ireland and applicable Irish Company Law. Any dividends, if and
when declared, will be declared and paid in dollars. No reserves are available
for distribution as dividends.
REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES
- ---------------------------------------
In November 1994, CBT Systems Limited, a subsidiary of the Company, agreed to
repurchase the Series A redeemable convertible preferred shares ("Series A
shares") for a consideration contingent on the date of repurchase.
At March 31, 1995, CBT Systems Limited exercised its right to purchase the
Series A shares for $1.35 million. The purchase of the shares was paid for from
the proceeds of the initial public offering. The converted Series A shares were
subsequently converted to treasury shares and cancelled in April 1995.
The Series B redeemable convertible preferred shares ("Series B shares")
automatically converted into ordinary shares on a one-for-one basis, on the
closing of the initial public offering on April 21, 1995.
SHARE OPTION PLANS
- ------------------
The Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion 25,
"Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" ("APB 25") and related
interpretations in accounting for its stock options because, as discussed below,
the alternative fair value accounting provided for under FASB Statement No. 123,
"Accounting for Stock-based Compensation" ("Statement 123"), requires use of
option valuation models that were not developed for use in valuing employee
stock options. Under APB 25, because the exercise price of the Company's
employee stock options equals the market price of the underlying stock on the
date of grant, no compensation expense is recognized.
39
CBT GROUP PLC
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
8. REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(CONTINUED)
The Company has three share option plans, the 1990 Share Option Scheme (the
"1990 Plan"), the 1994 Share Option Plan (the "1994 Plan") and the Supplemental
Share Option Scheme (the "1996 Plan"), (collectively the "Plans").
Under the 1990 Plan, options to acquire ordinary shares in the Company may be
granted to any director or employee of the Company. Under the 1994 plan, all
employees and directors of the Company and any independent contractor who
performs services for the Company are eligible to receive grants of non
statutory options ("NSO"). Employees are also eligible to receive grants of
incentive share options ("ISO") which are intended to qualify under Section
422 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Under the
1996 Plan all employees, with the exception of directors and executive
officers, are eligible to receive grants of NSO's. As of December 31, 1996,
approximately 1,175,000, 1,095,846 (which includes an increase in the number
of shares reserved for issuance of 429,180, authorized by a resolution passed
at the Annual General Meeting of the Company on June 12, 1996). and 250,000
ordinary shares have been reserved for issuance under the 1990 Plan, the 1994
Plan and 1996 Plan, respectively. The Plans are administered by the Stock
Option Committee (the "Committee").
The terms of the options granted are generally determined by the Committee. The
exercise price of options granted under the 1990 Plan and ISO's granted under
the 1994 Plan cannot be less than the fair market value of ordinary shares on
the date of grant. In the case of ISO's granted to holders of more than 10% of
the voting power of the Company the exercise price cannot be less than 110% of
such fair market value. Under the 1994 Plan, the exercise price of NSO's is set
by the Committee at its discretion. The term of an option under the 1994 and
1996 Plans cannot exceed ten years and, generally, the terms of an option under
the 1990 Plan cannot exceed ten years. The term of an ISO granted to a holder
of more than 10% of the voting power of the Company cannot exceed five years.
An option may not be exercised unless the option holder is at the date of
exercise, or within three months of the date of exercise has been, a director,
employee or contractor of the Company. There are certain exceptions for
exercises following retirement or death. Options under the plans generally
expire not later than 90 days following termination of employment or service or
six months following an optionees' death or disability.
In the event that options under the plans terminate or expire without having
been exercised in full, the shares subject to those options are available for
additional option grants. Vesting periods of the options are determined by the
Committee and are currently for periods of up to four years. Under the 1990 and
1994 Plans, options to purchase approximately 477,525 and 201,472 shares were
exercisable as of December 31, 1996. There were no options exercisable under
the 1996 Plan as of December 31,1996. As of December 31, 1996, 463,364
options are available for grant under the Plans.
Pro forma information regarding net income and earnings per share is required
by Statement 123, and has been determined as if the Company had accounted for
its stock options under the fair value method of that Statement. The fair
value for these options was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-
Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions
for 1995 and 1996, respectively: risk-free interest rates of 6%; dividend
yields of 0%; volatility factors of the expected market price of the Company's
ordinary shares of .39 and .37; and a weighted-average expected life of the
option of five years.
The Black-Scholes option model was developed for use in estimating the fair
value of traded options which have no vesting restrictions and are fully
transferable. In addition, option valuation models
40
CBT GROUP PLC
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
8. REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(CONTINUED)
require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock
price volatility. Because the Company's stock options have characteristics
significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the
subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in
the management's opinion, the existing models do not provide a reliable single
measure of the fair value of its stock options.
For the purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the
options is amortized to expense over the options' vesting period.
Pro forma net income for years ended December 31, 1995 and 1996 was $4.6
million and $6.7 million respectively. Pro forma earnings per share was $0.53
and $0.67 respectively for years ended December 31, 1995 and 1996 respectively.
A summary of the Company's stock option activity, and related information for
the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1996 follows:
OPTIONS OUTSTANDING
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
NUMBER OF SHARES PRICE PER SHARE EXERCISE PRICE
---------------- --------------- ----------------
Balance at December 31, 1993 623,939 $ 0.58 - 1.63 $ 0.63
Granted in 1994 298,993 1.55 - 5.63 $ 3.47
-------- ------------- ------
Balance at December 31, 1994 922,932 $ 0.58 - 5.63 $ 1.55
Granted in 1995 397,537 16.00 - 45.13 $22.72
Exercised in 1995 (131,066) 0.58 - 3.37 $ 0.59
Cancelled in 1995 (1,373) 3.37 $ 3.37
-------- ------------- ------
Balance at December 31, 1995 1,188,030 0.58 - 45.13 $ 8.68
Granted in 1996 764,999 45.25 - 116.00 $61.45
Exercised in 1996 (387,045) 0.58 - 110.00 $ 3.90
Cancelled in 1996 (24,525) 2.02 - 110.00 $24.61
-------- ------------- ------
Balance at December 31, 1996 1,541,459 $ 0.58 - 116.00 $35.81
======== ============= ======
41
CBT GROUP PLC
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
8. REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
(CONTINUED)
Options Outstanding Options Exercisable
December 31, 1996
----------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted
Shares Average Weighted Weighted
Outstanding Remaining Average Number Average
Range of as of Contractual Exercise of Exercise
Exercise Prices 12/31/96 Life Price Shares Price
- ------------------ --------- ----- ------- -------- ------
$ 0.58 - $ 0.58 201,174 5.09 $ 0.58 201,174 $ 0.58
$ 1.58 - 3.37 190,601 6.84 2.59 162,433 $ 2.44
$ 5.63 - 10.71 40,775 7.49 5.72 13,919 $ 5.83
$ 16.00 - 16.00 263,125 8.28 16.00 189,626 $16.00
$ 25.00 - 45.13 85,285 8.68 39.23 11,846 $28.32
$ 45.25 - 45.25 362,000 9.04 45.25 100,000 $45.25
$ 45.25 - 77.00 134,249 9.29 68.40 0 0
$ 78.50 - 78.50 242,500 9.56 78.50 0 0
$ 86.00 - 110.00 18,000 9.84 98.29 0 0
$ 116.00 - 116.00 3,750 9.79 116.00 0 0
- ------------------ --------- ---- ------- ------- ------
$ 0.58 - 116.00 1,541,459 8.18 $ 35.81 678,997 $12.51
Other Options
Options Outstanding
--------------------------------------------
Number Share Weighted Average
of Shares Price Exercise Price
--------- ----- ----------------
Granted in 1994 $46,666 1.58 $1.58
Cancelled in 1996 13,000 1.58 $1.58
------- ----- ------
Balance at December 31, 1996 33,666 1.58 $1.58
======= ===== ======
The weighted average fair value of options granted during the years ended
December 31, 1995 and 1996 was $4.92 and $12.93 respectively. In November 1996,
the Company granted to Forbairt, in conjunction with their approval of an
employment grant, a rent reduction grant and a management development grant, an
option to purchase 2,500 ordinary shares with an exercise price equal to the
fair market value at the time of exercise. The option expires at December 31,
1998.
42
CBT GROUP PLC
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
9. INCOME TAXES
Income before provision for income taxes consists of the following:
(dollars in thousands)
December 31
-------------------------
1994 1995 1996
------- ------- -------
Ireland $2,969 $6,308 $12,264
Rest of world (927) 543 2,694
------ ------ -------
Total $2,042 $6,851 $14,958
====== ====== =======
The provision for income taxes consists of the following:
Current 599 1,339 2,127
Deferred (140) (62) 258
------ ------ -------
Total provision for income tax $ 459 $1,277 $ 2,385
====== ====== =======
The current provision for 1996 relates predominantly to provision for income
taxes in Ireland and includes an adjustment at the beginning of the year
valuation allowance of $242,000. The deferred provision relates to one of the
Company's U.S. subsidiaries.
The provision for income taxes differs from the amount computed by applying the
statutory income tax rate to income before taxes. The sources and tax effects of
the difference are as follows:
Income taxes computed at the Irish statutory income tax rate of 40%
DECEMBER 31
---------------------------
1994 1995 1996
-------- -------- --------
(dollars in thousands)
Income taxes computed at the Irish
statutory income tax rate of 40%
for 1994, 38.5% for 1995 and 38%
for 1996 $ 812 $ 2,774 $ 5,684
Income from Irish manufacturing
operations taxed at lower rates (1,124) (1,804) (3,815)
Income subject to higher rate of tax 195 542 1,099
Operating losses not utilized 548 77 961
Operating losses utilized (97) (136) (554)
Intangible asset amortization and other
non-deductible expenses 287 53 (461)
Change in valuation allowance (159) -- 242
Other individually immaterial items (3) -- --
Profits arising not subject to tax -- (229) (771)
------- ------- -------
$ 459 $ 1,277 $ 2,385
======= ======= =======
Deferred taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the
carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and
the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components of the
company's deferred taxes consist of the following:
43
CBT GROUP PLC
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
9. INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31,
1995 1996
----- -----
(dollars in thousands)
Deferred tax assets
Net operating loss carry forwards $ 898 $ 882
Valuation allowance (500) (742)
----- -----
Net deferred tax assets $ 398 $ 140
===== =====
At January 1, 1995 the valuation allowance was $620,000.
At December 31, 1996, the Company had net operating loss carry forwards in its
UK and South African subsidiaries of approximately $1,460,000 and $109,000
respectively. The utilization of these net operating loss carry forwards is
limited to the future profitable operations of the Company in the tax
jurisdictions in which such carry forwards arose. These losses carry forward
indefinitely.
At December 31, 1996, the Company has a net operating loss carry forward of
approximately $1.5 million for U.S. federal income tax purposes which will
expire in 2008 and 2009 if not previously utilized. Utilization of the U.S. net
operating loss carry forward may be subject to an annual limitation due to the
change in ownership rules provided by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. This
limitation and other restrictions provided by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
may reduce the net operating loss carry forward such that it would not be
available to offset future taxable income of the U.S. subsidiary.
10. INDUSTRY AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
The Company and its subsidiaries operate in one industry segment, the
development and marketing of interactive education and training software.
Operations outside of Ireland consist principally of sales and marketing.
Transfers between geographic areas are accounted for at amounts which are
generally above costs. Such transfers are eliminated in the consolidated
financial statements. Identifiable assets are those assets that can be directly
associated with a particular geographic area. The following is a summary of
operations within geographic areas:
DECEMBER 31
-------------------------
1994 1995 1996
------- ------- -------
(dollars in thousands)
Revenue from unaffiliated customers
- -----------------------------------
Ireland $ 7 $ 8 $ 774
Europe, excluding Ireland 7,050 9,013 13,177
United States 15,616 29,380 49,312
Other 1,208 1,791 3,061
------- ------- -------
Total revenue $23,881 $40,192 $66,324
======= ======= =======
44
CBT GROUP PLC
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
10. INDUSTRY AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
DECEMBER 31
1994 1995 1996
------- -------- --------
(dollars in thousands)
TRANSFERS BETWEEN GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
(eliminated on consolidation)
Ireland $10,240 $ 18,018 $ 31,732
Europe, excluding Ireland -- -- --
United States 330 450 --
Other -- -- --
------- -------- --------
Total transfers $10,570 $ 18,468 $ 31,732
======= ======== ========
Income from operations
Ireland $ 3,155 $ 6,373 $ 12,266
Europe, excluding Ireland 147 (744) (517)
United States (1,225) 328 1,068
Other 122 44 (72)
------- -------- --------
Income from operations $ 2,199 $ 6,001 $ 12,745
======= ======== ========
IDENTIFIABLE ASSETS
Ireland $ 72,059 $ 88,130
Europe, excluding Ireland 6,380 7,239
United States 18,227 28,648
Other 41,629 44,649
Eliminations (72,673) (83,755)
-------- --------
$ 65,622 $ 84,911
======== ========
11. EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO DATE OF AUDITORS' REPORT -- UNAUDITED
On February 28, 1997, the Company acquired Applied Learning Limited ("ALA") an
Australian based distributor of multimedia training and education software and
performance related services. ALA's distribution operations are located in
Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and also in Wellington, New Zealand. The products
distributed by ALA in Australia and New Zealand are supplied by a variety of
suppliers in North America and Europe, of which CBT is a significant supplier.
CBT also distributes ALA products in North America and Europe. The acquisition
will be accounted for as a "pooling of interests."
Selected Pro Forma Consolidated Information
Year ended
December 31, 1996
-----------------
Revenue $ 73.7 million
=======
Net income $ 12.0 million
=======
Earnings per share $ 1.22
=======
45
Ernst & Young
Chartered Accountants
REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The Board of Directors and Shareholders,
CBT Group PLC
We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of CBT Group PLC as of December
31, 1995 and 1996 and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes
in redeemable convertible preferred shares and shareholders' equity (deficit),
and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31,
1996, and have issued our report thereon dated January 20, 1997. Our audits also
included the financial statement schedule of the Company listed in Item 14(a).
This schedule is the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. We did not audit
the financial statements of Personal Training Systems, a company acquired by the
Company in a business combination accounted for as a pooling-of-interests as
described in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which statements
reflect total revenues of $2,842,000 for the year ended June 30, 1995. We have
been furnished with the report of the auditors with respect to the schedule of
Personal Training Systems.
In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of other auditors, the
financial statement schedule referred to above, when considered in relation to
the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all
material respects, the information set forth therein.
/s/ Ernst & Young
ERNST & YOUNG
Chartered Accountants
Dublin, Ireland
Date: January 20, 1997
46
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF REGISTRANT
The Company's definitive Proxy Statement will be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the solicitation
of proxies for the Company's Annual General Meeting to be held on or
about June 5, 1997 (the "Proxy Statement"). Certain information
required by this item is incorporated by reference from the
information contained in the Proxy Statement under the caption
"Election of Directors." For information regarding executive officers
of the Company, see Part I of this Form 10-K under the caption
"Executive Officers."
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this item will be contained in the
Company's definitive Proxy Statement under the caption "Executive
Compensation" and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The information required by this item will be contained in the
Company's definitive Proxy Statement under the caption "Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" and is
incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The information required by this item will be contained in the
Company's definitive Proxy Statement under the caption "Certain
Transactions" and is incorporated herein by reference.
47
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) Documents filed as a part of this Form 10-K.
(1) Financial Statements. The following CBT Group PLC
--------------------
Consolidated Financial Statements Prepared in Accordance
with US GAAP are incorporated herein by reference to Item 8
of this Form 10-K:
Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 1995 and 1996.
Consolidated Statements of Operations - December 31, 1994,
1995 and 1996.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Redeemable Convertible
Preferred Shares and Shareholders' Equity (Deficit).
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - December 31, 1994,
1995 and 1996.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Report of Chartered Accountants.
(2) Financial Statement Schedule. The following financial
-----------------------------
statement schedule of CBT Group PLC for the fiscal
years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 is filed
as part of this Form 10-K and should be read in
conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Schedule Page #
-------- ------
II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts S-1
Schedules not listed above have been omitted because they
are not applicable or are not required or the information
required to be set forth therein is included in the
Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto.
(3) Exhibits. See Exhibit Index at page 49-50 of this Form
--------
10-K.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K.
Not applicable.
48
(d) Exhibits.
EXHIBIT INDEX
2.1(1) Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated
November 29, 1995 among Registrant, CBT Acquisition Subsidiary, a
Delaware corporation, and Personal Training Systems, Inc., a
California corporation.
2.2(8) Implementation Deed dated as of November 26, 1996, as amended, by
and among Registrant, Applied Learning Limited and Arie
Baalbergen, James Josephson, Geoffrey Bransbury and Brian Hacker
(including schedules thereto).
3.1(2) Memorandum and Articles of Association of CBT Group PLC.
4.1(2) Specimen certificate representing the ordinary shares.
4.2(5) Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement (including the form of
American Depositary Receipt), dated as of April 13, 1995 and amended
and restated as of April 11, 1996, among the Company, The Bank of New
York, as Depositary, and each Owner and Beneficial Owner from time to
time of American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder.
4.3(6) Amended and Restated Restricted Deposit Agreement (including the
form of American Depositary Receipt), dated as of November 30, 1995
and amended and restated as of April 11, 1996, among the Company, The
Bank of New York, as Depositary, and each Owner and Beneficial Owner
from time to time of American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder.
10.1(2)* 1990 Share Option Scheme.
10.2(2)* 1994 Share Option Plan.
10.3(2)* 1995 Employee Share Purchase Plan.
10.4(2)* Form of Indemnification Agreement between Thornton Holdings,
Ltd. and its directors and officers dated as of April, 1995.
10.5(2) Supplemental Agreement among Hoskyns, CBT Group PLC and CBT
Systems Limited dated as of March 31, 1995.
10.6(2) Share Purchase Agreement between CBT Systems Limited and CBT Group
PLC dated as of March 31, 1995.
10.7(2) Distribution and License Agreement between CBT Group PLC and CBT
Systems Limited dated as of March 14, 1995 (including form of
Amendment No. 1).
10.8(2) License Agreement dated June 7, 1994 between CBT (Technology)
Limited and CBT Systems Limited.
10.9(2) Cost Sharing Agreement dated January 4, 1994 between CBT
(Technology) Limited and CBT Systems Limited.
10.10(2)* Agreement between CBT Group PLC and Patrick McDonagh dated
April 9, 1995.
10.11(3)* Personal Training Systems, Inc. 1991 Stock Plan.
10.12(4) Lease Agreement dated March 8, 1995 between CBT Systems USA, Ltd.
and Lincoln Menlo VIII Limited Partnership for the facility
located at 1005 Hamilton Court , Menlo Park, California 94025.
10.13(4) Lease Agreement dated November 17, 1995 between Yellowknife
Limited, CBT Systems Limited and CBT Group PLC with respect to the
lease of Block 4/5, Phase 2, Beech Hill Office Campus, Dublin,
Ireland.
10.14(6)* Employment Agreement effective as of January 2, 1996 between
CBT Group PLC, CBT Systems USA, Ltd. and Gregory M. Priest.
49
10.15(7)* Letter Agreement effective as of September 3, 1996 between CBT
Group PLC, CBT Systems USA, Ltd. and James J. Buckley.
10.16* 1996 Supplemental Stock Plan.
10.17* Letter Agreement between CBT Systems USA, Ltd. and Jeffrey N. Newton.
10.18* Letter Agreement between CBT Systems USA, Ltd. and William B. Lewis.
11.1 Computation of net income (loss) per share.
22.1 List of Significant Subsidiaries.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young, Chartered Accountants.
24.1 Power of Attorney (see page 51).
27.1 Financial Data Schedule.
- ----------
* Denotes management or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed
by Registrant pursuant to Item 14(c) of this report on Form 10-K.
(1) Incorporated by reference to exhibit included in Registrant's Report on
Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 13,
1995.
(2) Incorporated by reference to exhibit included in Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form F-1 (File No. 33-89904) declared effective with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on April 13, 1995.
(3) Incorporated be reference to exhibit included in Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-504) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on January 21, 1996.
(4) Incorporated by reference to exhibit included in Registrant's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 1996.
(5) Incorporated by reference to exhibit included in Registrant's Registration
Statement on Form F-6 (File No. 33-90380) filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on April 15, 1996.
(6) Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the period ended June 30, 1996 as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on August 14, 1996.
(7) Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the period ended September 30, 1996 as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on November 14, 1996.
(8) Incorporated by reference to exhibit included in Registrant's Current
Report on Form 8-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
March 14, 1997.
50
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of
1934, the Company has duly caused this Form 10-K Annual Report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on the 30th day of
March, 1997.
CBT GROUP PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
/s/ James J. Buckley
--------------------------------
James J. Buckley,
President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints James J. Buckley and Gregory M. Priest jointly
and severally, his attorneys-in-fact, each with full power of substitution, for
him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Form 10-K, and to
file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and
conforming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his substitute or
substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Form
10-K has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Company and
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
- --------------------------- ----------------------------------- --------------
/s/ William G. McCabe Chairman of the Board March 30, 1997
- -------------------------
William G. McCabe
/s/ James J. Buckley President, Chief Executive Officer March 30, 1997
- ------------------------- and Director (Principal Executive
James J. Buckley Officer)
/s/ Gregory M. Priest Vice President, Finance, Chief March 30, 1997
- ------------------------- Financial Officer and Director
Gregory M. Priest (Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ John P. Hayes Group Financial Controller and March 30, 1997
- ------------------------- Director (Principal Accounting
John P. Hayes Officer)
Director March , 1997
- -------------------------
John M. Grillos
Director March , 1997
- -------------------------
Patrick J. McDonagh
/s/ John M. Fortune Director March 30, 1997
- -------------------------
John M. Fortune
51
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
Years Ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996
(dollars in thousands)
Balance at Charged to Charged to
Beginning Costs and Other Balance at
of Year Accounts Accounts Deductions End of Year
--------- --------- -------- ---------- -----------
Year ended December 31, 1994
Deducted from asset accounts
Allowance for doubtful accounts 176 67 0 0 243
=== ==== === === ===
Year ended December 31, 1995
Deducted from asset accounts
Allowance for doubtful accounts 243 (122) 0 79 200
=== ==== === === ===
Year ended December 31, 1996
Deducted from asset accounts
Allowance for doubtful accounts 200 ( 12) 0 0 188
=== ==== === === ===
S-1