Back to GetFilings.com
FORM 10-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
-----------------------------
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
------- -------
Commission file number 1-8519
CINCINNATI BELL INC.
An Ohio I.R.S. Employer
Corporation No. 31-1056105
201 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Telephone Number 513 397-9900
--------------------------------------
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Name of each exchange
Title of each class on which registered
------------------- ---------------------
Common Shares (par value $1.00 per share) New York Stock Exchange
Preferred Share Purchase Rights Cincinnati Stock Exchange
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
--------------------------------------------------
At February 26, 1999, there were 137,357,138 common shares outstanding.
At February 26, 1999, the aggregate market value of the voting shares
owned by non-affiliates was $2,698,300,873.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all
reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter
period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has
been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X No
--- ---
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) 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. [ ]
--------------------------------------------------
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
(1) Portions of the registrant's annual report to security holders for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 (Parts I, II and IV)
(2) Portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement dated March 24,
1999 issued in connection with the annual meeting of shareholders (Part III)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I
Item Page
---- ----
1. Business ........................................................................... 1
2. Properties ......................................................................... 10
3. Legal Proceedings .................................................................. 10
4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of the Security Holders ............................ 10
PART II
5. Market for the Registrant's Common Equity and Related Security Holder Matters ...... 14
6. Selected Financial Data ............................................................ 14
7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations....................................................................... 14
7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk ......................... 14
8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data ........................................ 14
9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure ......................................................................... 14
PART III
10. Directors and Executive Officers of Registrant ..................................... 15
11. Executive Compensation ............................................................. 15
12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management ..................... 15
13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions ..................................... 15
PART IV
14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedule, and Reports on Form 8-K .................... 16
See page 11 for "Executive Officers of the Registrant".
This report contains trademarks, service marks and registered marks of the
Company and its subsidiaries, as indicated.
PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 SAFE HARBOR CAUTIONARY
STATEMENT
Form 10-K contains "forward-looking" statements, as defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that are based on current
expectations, estimates and projections. Statements that are not historical
facts, including statements about the beliefs and expectations of the Company
and its subsidiaries, are forward-looking statements. These statements
involve potential risks and uncertainties and, therefore, actual results may
differ materially. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they
were made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
Important factors that may affect these expectations include, but are
not limited to: changes in the overall economy; changes in competition in
markets in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate; advances in
telecommunications technology; changes in the telecommunications regulatory
environment; changes in the demand for the services and products of the
Company and its subsidiaries; the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries
to introduce new service and product offerings in a timely and cost effective
basis; failure of the Company and its subsidiaries to achieve Year 2000
compliance; and start-up of the Company's digital wireless communications
services business.
PART I
ITEM I. BUSINESS
GENERAL
Cincinnati Bell Inc. (the "Company" or "Cincinnati Bell") is a
diversified telecommunications services holding company that is organized on
the basis of products and services. The Company's segments are strategic
business units that offer distinct products and services, organized around a
telecommunications core, and are aligned with specific subsidiaries of the
Company.
The Local Communications Services segment provides local, long distance,
data networking and transport, Internet access and pay phone services, as
well as sales of communications equipment, in southwestern Ohio, northern
Kentucky and southeastern Indiana. These services are marketed and sold to
both residential and business customers and are delivered principally through
Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company ("CBT") and two recently organized
subsidiaries of the Company.
The Directory Services segment sells directory advertising and
information services primarily to customers in the geographic areas described
in the previous paragraph. This segment's most identifiable product is the
Yellow Pages directory delivered by Cincinnati Bell Directory Inc.
The Other Communications Services segment resells (i) long distance and
Internet access services and provides data services and products to small-
and medium-sized business customers mainly in a five-state Midwestern area,
and (ii) telecommunications and computer equipment in the secondary market.
These services are provided through Cincinnati Bell Long Distance Inc. and
Cincinnati Bell Supply Company, respectively.
The Company anticipates that its new digital wireless PCS business,
Cincinnati Bell Wireless Company LLC, will be reported as an operating
segment in 1999. In 1998, the assets and capital additions of this business
are included in the Other Communications Services segment.
The Company has formed two new subsidiaries. ZoomTown.com Inc., formed
in the first quarter of 1999, will provide its FUSE Internet access,
e-commerce and transactional services. EnterpriseWise IT Consulting LLC
(formerly KSM Consulting and the Network Solutions Group), formed in the
third quarter of
1
1998, provides network integration and consulting services. These businesses
are included in the Local Communications Services segment.
On December 31, 1998, Cincinnati Bell completed its divestiture of
Convergys Corporation, a subsidiary that it had formed during 1998 consisting
of its billing and information services business (operated by Convergys
Information Management Group Inc., formerly known as Cincinnati Bell
Information Systems Inc.) and its customer management solutions business
(operated by Convergys Customer Management Group Inc., formerly known as
MATRIXX Marketing Inc.), as well as its 45% interest in a limited partnership
which operates a cellular telecommunications business in southwestern Ohio
and northern Kentucky.
The Company is incorporated under the laws of Ohio and has its principal
executive offices at 201 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
(telephone number (513) 397-9900).
STRATEGY
Cincinnati Bell believes that it is the most recognized single source,
full-service communications provider in the Cincinnati metropolitan market
area. Cincinnati Bell's competitive strengths include its (i) well-regarded
brand name, (ii) technologically advanced network, (iii) communications
industry focus, knowledge and experience, (iv) reputation for service
quality, (v) large customer base and (vi) strategic relationships with
targeted industry leaders, including AT&T Corp. ("AT&T"), Lucent Technologies
("Lucent"),Cisco Systems and PSINet. By leveraging its competitive
strengths, Cincinnati Bell believes that it can increase the market
penetration of its existing services, effectively market new services,
establish and deliver its data network solutions and wireless capabilities,
and capture the full benefit of its strategic relationships with these
targeted industry leaders.
Cincinnati Bell is exploring growth opportunities on its own and in
partnership with other companies within and beyond its traditional geographic
market area. Cincinnati Bell's overall strategy is to expand beyond its
traditional telephone business and geographic market, to take advantage of
the expanding growth of the data transport business and to become an
integrated communications provider of end-to-end data and telecommunications
solutions to its customers. Cincinnati Bell has recently formed a network
integration business to offer end-to-end broadband network connectivity and
management. Cincinnati Bell also offers Digital Subscriber Line ("DSL")
technology and high capacity and dial-up Internet access. In 1998,
Cincinnati Bell expanded further its product offerings to include digital
wireless communications services through a venture with AT&T Wireless PCS
Inc. Cincinnati Bell believes that, by bundling core and advanced
telecommunication related services on one bill, it achieves a competitive
advantage over current and future competitors.
LOCAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company
Cincinnati Bell Telephone is the 12th largest local telecommunications
service company in the United States, based on its network access lines in
service at the end of 1998. In 1998, on a pro forma basis giving effect to
the Convergys divestiture, Cincinnati Bell Telephone provided 81% of
Cincinnati Bell's revenue and 79% of its operating income excluding special
charges and credits.
Cincinnati Bell Telephone provides telecommunications services to
business and residential customers in the Cincinnati metropolitan market
area. This market is 2,400 square miles located approximately within a 25
mile radius of Cincinnati and includes all or significant parts of four
counties of southwestern Ohio, six counties in northern Kentucky and two
counties in southeastern Indiana. Approximately 1.5 million people lived in
this region in 1990, including 656,000 households. Approximately 98% of
Cincinnati Bell Telephone's network access lines are in one local access
transport area ("LATA").
2
Cincinnati Bell Telephone has historically focused on providing
telecommunication services to a single geographic market, which has allowed
it to introduce various innovative new products and services before many
other incumbent local exchange carriers ("ILECs"). To solidify its
reputation of being the most recognized single source, full-service
communications provider in the Cincinnati metropolitan market area,
Cincinnati Bell Telephone markets the following products and services, on its
own or through strategic relationships with industry leaders. FUSE-SM-, an
Internet access service, was launched in early 1997 by Cincinnati Bell
Telephone and has grown to serve approximately 31,500 subscribers as of
December 31, 1998 in the Cincinnati metropolitan market area. With this
launch, Cincinnati Bell Telephone became one of the first ILECs in the nation
to introduce an Internet access service for its residential and
small-business customers (ZoomTown.com Inc., a newly-formed subsidiary of the
Company, will offer its FUSE Internet access along with e-commerce and
transactional services). Additionally, Cincinnati Bell Telephone recently
began offering Digital Subscriber Line ("DSL") technology to approximately
half of its subscribers. DSL uses Cincinnati Bell Telephone's existing
copper telephone wiring to access data networks and the Internet to provide
enhanced high-speed data communications. This technology enables a customer
to stay connected to the Internet or other data networks over a dedicated
portion of its telephone line while being able to make or receive telephone
calls on the same line simultaneously. Cincinnati Bell Telephone serves as
the exclusive sales agent for Lucent in the Cincinnati metropolitan market
area providing a full service line of communications equipment to business
customers. Cincinnati Bell Telephone also owns a 10 Mhz "E block" PCS
license covering the Cincinnati metropolitan market area which it can use for
yet-to-be-determined wireless services.
Through its long-standing contractual relationships with AT&T,
Cincinnati Bell Telephone provides services to and for AT&T in the Cincinnati
metropolitan market area. As part of this relationship, Cincinnati Bell
Telephone is able to leverage AT&T's size and strength to acquire and deploy
technology under favorable terms.
Cincinnati Bell Telephone's service record is among the best in the
industry. Based on reports to the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC"),
Cincinnati Bell Telephone receives fewer customer reports of service trouble
per line than do nearly all other large U.S. telecommunications companies
reporting to the FCC. In 1997 (the latest year for which information is
available) Cincinnati Bell Telephone averaged only 1.18 trouble reports per
100 customer lines per month, while comparable rates for other large
reporting companies ranged from 1.29 to 2.68. Additionally, Cincinnati Bell
Telephone was recently awarded the second highest customer satisfaction
ranking by J.D. Power and Associates as part of a comprehensive 1998 survey
of 14,000 residential telephone customers of the 14 largest ILECs. In the
face of increased access line growth, Cincinnati Bell Telephone has a
superior record for keeping installation appointments and for completing new
service orders within five days.
As a result of previous investments, Cincinnati Bell Telephone's plant,
equipment and network are modern and capable of handling new service
offerings as they are developed. Of its network access lines, 97% are served
by digital switches, 100% have ISDN capability and 100% have Signaling System
7 capability, which supports enhanced features such as Caller ID, Call Trace
and Call Return. The network also includes more than 2,700 miles of
fiber-optic cable, with eight rings of cable equipped with SONET technology
linking Cincinnati's downtown and other major business centers. These SONET
rings offer increased reliability and redundancy to Cincinnati Bell
Telephone's major business customers.
On December 31, 1998, Cincinnati Bell Telephone had approximately
1,033,000 network access lines in service, an increase of 2.8% or 28,000
lines from December 31, 1997. Approximately 68% of Cincinnati Bell
Telephone's network access lines serve residential customers and 32% serve
business customers. These residential customers are adding lines for Internet
access, home offices and increased voice communications use. In 1998,
additional lines accounted for more than 34% of total access lines added
during the year. As of December 31, 1998, approximately 13% of Cincinnati
Bell Telephone's residential customers had additional access lines. In
addition, voice-grade equivalents, or VGEs, increased 40% in 1998.
3
In 1998, Local Communications Services revenues consisted of local
services (57% of total) and network access (25% of total), with the remainder
(18%) coming from other communications services such as commissioned sales,
maintenance and repair services, and billing services.
Regulation
Cincinnati Bell Telephone's local exchange, network access and toll
telephone operations are regulated by the Public Utility Commission of Ohio
("PUCO"), the Public Service Commission of Kentucky ("PSCK") and the FCC with
respect to rates, services and other matters.
Present and future legislative and regulatory initiatives will have an
impact on Cincinnati Bell Telephone and other ILECs, including the Regional
Bell Operating Companies ("RBOCs") and other independent telephone companies.
The extent of that impact will not be known until the initiatives are fully
implemented. These initiatives are designed to encourage and accelerate the
development of competition in the telecommunications industry by removing
legal barriers to competition across major industry segments. Under the
initiatives, companies that were historically limited to providing service
within one or more of those segments, including local exchange, long
distance, wireless, cable television and information services, can enter
other segments to compete with the incumbent providers and other new entrants
after meeting certain regulatory requirements.
Federal - In July 1997 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
issued a decision stating that certain FCC rules governing local competition
exceeded the FCC's authority under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 in
several areas. On January 25, 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the
U.S. Court of Appeals decision and reinstated the FCC's rules related to
local competition. While the FCC now has the ability to pre-empt a state's
rules when they are inconsistent with the FCC's, Ohio and Kentucky have both
followed the FCC's rules in most circumstances. The "pick and choose"
provision will likely move Cincinnati Bell Telephone in the future to a
single set of contractual provisions for all interconnectors.
In May 1997 the FCC adopted an order in the access charge reform
proceeding. The order generally removed from minute-of-use access rates
costs that are not incurred on a per minute-of-use basis. The order also
adopted changes to the interstate rate structure for transport services that
are designed to move the charges for these services to more cost-based
levels. Cincinnati Bell Telephone and numerous other local exchange carriers
("LECs") filed appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
challenging various aspects of the FCC's May 1997 order. On August 19, 1998,
the Court issued a decision upholding the FCC's order. Since Cincinnati Bell
Telephone had already begun complying with the FCC's order, the Court's
decision is not expected to have a material impact on Cincinnati Bell
Telephone's operations.
Also in May 1997 the FCC adopted an order on the new universal service
program. Several parties, including Cincinnati Bell Telephone, filed
petitions for review of the order in various circuits of the U.S. Court of
Appeals. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit heard the case on
December 1, 1998, but a decision has not yet been rendered. Given the
ongoing judicial developments in this case, the Company cannot determine the
full impact that its ultimate resolution may have on Cincinnati Bell
Telephone's operations.
In July 1997 Cincinnati Bell Telephone's price cap tariff filing was
approved by the FCC without suspension. Cincinnati Bell Telephone and
another company have filed petitions for reconsideration with the FCC to
revisit the establishment of the 6.5% productivity offset. In addition,
several appeals have been filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C.
Circuit regarding the order establishing the 6.5% productivity offset. At
this time, the outcome of the petition for reconsideration and the appeals
cannot be determined.
4
On February 25, 1999, the FCC issued a Declaratory Ruling classifying
dial-up traffic to Internet service providers ("ISPs") as interstate traffic.
The FCC stated this conclusion does not in itself determine whether
reciprocal compensation is due in any particular instance and that the
parties should be bound by their existing interconnection agreements, as
interpreted by state commissions. In addition, the FCC issued a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking, opening a proceeding which will address, on a
prospective basis, if Federal rules are required to address reciprocal
compensation issues for ISP traffic. In addition, on March 24, 1999,
Cincinnati Bell Telephone was served with a copy of a complaint filed with
the PUCO by Time Warner Telecom of Ohio, L.P. The complaint challenges
Cincinnati Bell Telephone's position that dial-up calls to ISPs are not local
calls for which terminating compensation is due under the parties'
interconnection agreement. At this time the Company cannot determine the
full impact these proceedings will have on Cincinnati Bell Telephone's
operations.
On May 12, 1998, the FCC released an order to allow telecommunications
carriers to recover over a five-year period their carrier-specific costs of
implementing local number portability. Local number portability allows
customers to retain their local telephone numbers in the event they change
local exchange carriers. Cincinnati Bell Telephone implemented local number
portability in May 1998. Although the May FCC order permits such cost
recovery through query charges to carriers who access Cincinnati Bell
Telephone's local number portability database and through an end-user charge,
a subsequent ruling by the FCC Common Carrier Bureau on December 14, 1998,
narrowly defined costs that telecommunications carriers can recover through
these charges. On January 13, 1999, Cincinnati Bell Telephone asked the FCC
to overturn the Common Carrier Bureau's ruling and allow carriers to recover
all costs for implementing local number portability. This Application for
Review is still pending. Cincinnati Bell Telephone's tariff for the charges
was approved by the FCC and became effective February 1, 1999, the earliest
date allowed under FCC rules.
Ohio - On March 19, 1998, Cincinnati Bell Telephone, the PUCO, the
Office of Consumers Counsel and other intervenors reached a settlement for
Cincinnati Bell Telephone's "Commitment 2000" alternative regulation plan
application. The settlement was approved by the PUCO on April 9, 1998.
Terms of the settlement include: (i) greater pricing flexibility for most
services and elimination of rate-of-return regulation; (ii) no increase in
basic residential access line rates for the term of the plan; (iii) business
rates set based on Cincinnati Bell Telephone's discretion and market
conditions; and (iv) a 30% reduction in basic rates for qualified, low income
residential customers. The term of the plan is three and one-half years but
can be extended up to an additional two years at Cincinnati Bell Telephone's
discretion as long as a service quality benchmark is maintained. A portion
of this case remains undecided; namely, the approval of rates that Cincinnati
Bell Telephone can charge competitive LECs for unbundled network elements
("UNEs"). Currently, Cincinnati Bell Telephone is charging interim rates
developed in contract negotiations. A hearing concerning these rates began
in March 1999.
Kentucky - On June 29, 1998, Cincinnati Bell Telephone filed an
application with the PSCK requesting a plan similar to the plan approved by
the PUCO. On January 25, 1999, the PSCK issued an order in this case. The
PSCK approved the alternative regulation plan with modifications, adopted an
earnings sharing plan for earnings on equity above 13.5%, with customers
receiving one-half of the amount above 13.5%, and ordered rate reductions of
approximately $2.2 million. Residential rates will be frozen for three years.
Cincinnati Bell Telephone filed a petition for rehearing with the PSCK on
February 12, 1999. This petition for rehearing on the earnings sharing plan
was granted on March 4, 1999.
DIRECTORY SERVICES
Cincinnati Bell Directory Inc.
Cincinnati Bell Directory Inc. ("CBD") provides Yellow Pages, other
directory products and related information and advertising services to more
than 1.2 million residential and business consumers. CBD recently launched
new Internet advertising services designed to add value to the printed
directory services it provides and to allow its customers to better target
and update their advertising message. These
5
services include the development of a community focused Internet site
for directory customers, expanded audiotext services, a regional
business-to-business directory and CD-ROM directory listing services. CBD
continually evaluates new product offerings in both the print and electronic
categories of distribution.
OTHER COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
Cincinnati Bell Long Distance Inc.
Cincinnati Bell Long Distance Inc. ("CBLD") is an integrated
communications provider that resells long distance telecommunications
services and products as well as voice mail and paging services mainly in
Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. CBLD is licensed,
however, as a long distance provider in every state except Alaska. Its
principal market focus is small- and medium-sized businesses. CBLD augments
its high-quality long-distance services with calling plans, network features
and enhanced calling services to create customized packages of communications
services for its clients. CBLD intends to add new data communications
services for business customers, including high-speed dedicated and dial-up
Internet access services and other high-speed data transport using frame
relay technology.
Cincinnati Bell Supply Company
Cincinnati Bell Supply Company ("CBS") markets telecommunications and
computer equipment. Its principal market is the secondary market for used
telecommunications systems, including AT&T- and Lucent-branded systems.
Cincinnati Bell Wireless Company
On December 31, 1998, Cincinnati Bell Wireless Company, a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company ("Cincinnati Bell Wireless"), and AT&T Wireless
PCS, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T Corp., executed a joint
venture agreement to provide digital wireless communications services in the
Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan market areas. Prior to the execution of
the joint venture agreement, Cincinnati Bell Wireless and AT&T PCS had been
operating the digital wireless communications services business under an
interim operating agreement executed in February 1998, whereby losses would
be funded in the same percentages as they would be upon the joint venture
formation. The Company's required funding of the losses was $27.3 million
from February through December 31, 1998.
Cincinnati Bell Wireless contributed approximately $162 million to the
venture, Cincinnati Bell Wireless, LLC, an Ohio limited liability company
(the "Joint Venture"), in exchange for an 80.1% membership interest. Pursuant
to the joint venture agreement, the Joint Venture paid AT&T PCS approximately
$162 million and issued to AT&T PCS a 19.9% membership interest in exchange
for AT&T PCS's 20 Mhz partitioned PCS license for the geographic region, as
well as network assets and other related assets and liabilities of the
business. At December 31, 1998, the Company has recognized approximately $85
million as an estimate of the goodwill and other intangibles related to this
purchase which will be amortized over a 40-year period. Since the
independent valuation being performed to assess the value of assets purchased
is not yet complete, a further adjustment will be required in 1999 to reflect
the fair value of these assets. In addition, the purchase price will be
adjusted based on the final determination of assets transferred.
The digital wireless services offered by the Joint Venture, which are
sold under the Cincinnati Bell Wireless brand name, operate on AT&T PCS's
national network. The Joint Venture has contracted with AT&T Wireless
Services, Inc. ("AWS"), an affiliate of AT&T PCS, for a significant number of
operational services, including network management, billing, service
activation, fraud detection, information technology and roaming
administration services. As time goes on, the venture itself may choose to
perform many of these operational services. The Joint Venture oversees the
administration of the
6
venture's day-to-day operations, which includes the marketing and sales,
financial and accounting, regulatory and legal functions.
Although it is not obligated to do so, the Company's present intention
is to make (through Cincinnati Bell Wireless) additional capital
contributions or loans to the Joint Venture to cover its 1999 capital
purchases and operating losses. The projected capital purchase amounts have
been included in the Company's estimated capital additions for 1999 (set
forth on page [9] below).
As of December 31, 1998, the joint venture had approximately 56,000
subscribers for its digital wireless communications services.
COMPETITION
Evolving technology, the preferences of consumers, the legislative and
regulatory initiatives of policymakers and the convergence of other
industries with the telecommunications industry are causes for increasing
competition throughout the telecommunications industry. The range of
communications services, the equipment available to provide and access such
services and the number of competitors offering such services continue to
increase. These initiatives and developments could make it difficult for
Cincinnati Bell Telephone to maintain current revenue and profit levels.
Cincinnati Bell Telephone's competitors include other ILECs, wireless
services providers, interexchange carriers, competitive local exchange
carriers and others. Cincinnati Bell's name and reputation are well regarded
as a result of its having provided telecommunications services to the
Cincinnati metropolitan market area since 1878 and having a record of
superior customer service. Thus, even though Cincinnati Bell Telephone has
signed 10 interconnection agreements with competitors as of December 31,
1998, Cincinnati Bell Telephone has transferred only approximately 4,000
access lines to competitors. Cincinnati Bell Telephone does not have any
information about how many potential new customers have been lost to
competitors.
Cincinnati Bell's other subsidiaries face intense competition in their
markets, principally from larger companies. These subsidiaries primarily seek
to differentiate themselves by leveraging the strength and recognition of the
Cincinnati Bell brand name, by providing customers with superior service and
by focusing on niche markets and opportunities to develop and market
customized packages of services. CBD's competitors are directory services
companies, newspapers and other media advertising services providers in the
Cincinnati metropolitan market area. CBD now competes with its former sales
representative for Yellow Pages directory customers; such competition may
affect CBD's ability to grow or maintain profits and revenues. CBLD's
competitors include interexchange carriers and certain local
telecommunications services companies. CBS's competitors include vendors of
new and used communications and computer equipment, operating regionally and
across the nation. Cincinnati Bell Wireless, LLC is one of five active
wireless service providers in the Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan market
areas.
YEAR 2000
Since 1996, Cincinnati Bell has devoted significant time and resources
to achieve Year 2000 compliance.
A Steering Committee, chaired by Cincinnati Bell Telephone's Senior Vice
President, Operations and composed of upper-level management personnel, sets
the direction and monitors the activity of the Year-2000 Program Management
Office. The Program Management Office's responsibility is to make Cincinnati
Bell Telephone Year-2000 compliant and to provide oversight for the Company's
other subsidiaries as they track the status of their Year-2000 projects. In
addition to internal Year-2000 activities, the Program Management Office is
communicating with suppliers and clients with which
7
Cincinnati Bell Telephone's systems interface or rely upon to determine their
progress toward Year-2000 compliance.
The Company has incurred cumulative Year-2000 expenses of $15.1 million,
including $10.9 million in 1998. Year-2000 expenses for 1999 are estimated
to be in the range of $5 million to $8 million.
Cincinnati Bell Telephone's goal is to have its network, information
technology ("IT") and facilities systems equipped with any required fixes,
upgrades or replacements, and tested, by July 31, 1999.
The Company's other subsidiaries hope to have their networks, IT,
facilities and billing systems equipped with any required fixes, upgrades or
replacements, and tested, by June 30, 1999.
The Company has no reason to believe that the July 31, 1999, target date
will not be achieved. However, because of the complexity of the Year-2000
problem, there can be no guarantee that the Company will achieve complete
Year-2000 compliance by those dates or before January 1, 2000.
To minimize the disruption to its operations that may result from a
variety of occurrences, the Company is developing a well-defined and
executable Year-2000 contingency plan and enhancing its business continuity
plans to ensure reasonable preparedness for any Year-2000 issues that might
arise. These plans are scheduled for testing in September. Although the
Company anticipates minimal business disruption as a result of the century
change, if the Company were to be unsuccessful in readying its software and
systems for the Year 2000 or preparing adequate plans to avoid business
interruption that could result from the century change, this would have a
material adverse impact on the Company. This material adverse effect could
include a disruption to the provision of services to its customers, which
could result in lost revenues, the incurrence of material contractual
penalties and damaged customer relationships.
The failure of one of the Company's significant customers to modify its
systems for the Year 2000 successfully or to provide the appropriate business
continuity planning also could have an adverse impact on the Company as the
Company is, to a certain extent, dependent on the success of its customers.
The Company's success in becoming Year-2000 compliant largely depends on
the Company's vendors and business partners being Year-2000 compliant. The
Program Management Office is working diligently with the Company's vendors
and business partners to assure itself, to the extent possible, that the
vendors and business partners are taking the necessary steps to become
Year-2000 compliant. To the extent that any of the Company's vendors or
business partners experience Year-2000 technology difficulties which
materially affect their businesses, such difficulties could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial
condition.
CAPITAL ADDITIONS
The Company continues to make expenditures for construction of telephone
plant and investments in its existing subsidiaries and new businesses. As a
result of these expenditures, the Company expects to be able to introduce new
products and services, respond to competitive challenges and increase its
operating efficiency and productivity.
The following is a summary of capital additions for the years 1994
through 1998:
8
Dollars in Millions
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investments in
Telephone Plant Existing Subsidiaries Total Capital
Construction and New Businesses Additions
------------ ------------------ ---------
1998 $ 136.3 $ 172.9 $ 309.2
1997 $ 141.1 $ 23.2 $ 164.3
1996 $ 101.4 $ 4.9 $ 106.3
1995 $ 90.3 $ 2.5 $ 92.8
1994 $ 112.8 $ 11.5 $ 124.3
The total investment in telephone plant increased from approximately
$1,431 million at December 31, 1993, to approximately $1,739 million at
December 31, 1998, after giving effect to retirements but before deducting
accumulated depreciation at either date.
Capital additions for 1999, including software required to be
capitalized pursuant to AICPA Statement of Position 98-1, are estimated to be
$190 million. The estimated amount of capital additions does not include any
acquisitions that may occur in 1999.
EMPLOYEES
At December 31, 1998, the Company and its subsidiaries had approximately
3,500 employees. CBT had approximately 2,000 employees covered under a
collective bargaining agreement with the Communications Workers of America,
which is affiliated with the AFL-CIO. The collective bargaining agreement
expires in May 1999. Negotiations with representatives of the CWA to renew
the agreement have begun, and the outcome cannot be determined at this time.
BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION
The amounts of revenues, operating income, assets, capital additions,
depreciation and amortization attributable to each of the business segments
of the Company for the year ended December 31, 1998, are set forth in the
table relating to business segment information in Note 9 of the Notes to
Financial Statements in the Company's annual report to security holders, and
such table is incorporated herein by reference.
9
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
The property of the Company is principally telephone plant which does
not lend itself to description by character and location of principal units.
Other property of the Company is principally computer equipment and
associated operating system software, furniture and fixtures, and assets
acquired as part of the Company's investment in the wireless venture with
AT&T PCS (most of the Company's property is located in southwestern Ohio and
northern Kentucky).
The gross investment in telephone plant and other property, in millions
of dollars, at December 31, 1998 was as follows:
Telephone Plant
Land, buildings and leasehold improvement $ 196.4
Central office equipment 720.9
Connecting lines (not on customer premises) 689.3
Station equipment 32.0
Furniture, fixtures, vehicles and other 88.0
Telephone plant under construction 12.5
---------
Total telephone plant 1,739.1
---------
Other Property
Other subsidiaries 134.0
---------
Total other property 134.0
---------
Total $ 1,873.1
---------
---------
Substantially all of the central office switching stations are located
in buildings owned by CBT situated on land which it owns. Some CBT business
and administrative offices are located in rented facilities, some of which
are treated as capitalized leases and included in the "Furniture, fixtures,
vehicles and other" caption above. Facilities leased as part of an operating
lease arrangement are expensed as incurred and are not included in the above
totals.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
None.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF THE SECURITY HOLDERS
No matter was submitted to a vote of security holders in the fourth quarter
of the fiscal year covered by this report.
10
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT (DURING 1998)
The names, ages and positions of the executive officers of the Company are
as follows:
Name Age Title
---- --- -----
(as of 12/31/98)
Charles S. Mechem, Jr. (a,b, c) 67 Chairman of the Board
James D. Kiggen (c) 66 Chairman of the Board
John T. LaMacchia (a,b, d) 56 President and Chief
Executive Officer
James F. Orr (a,b, c) 52 Chief Operating Officer
Richard G. Ellenberger (a)(e) 45 Chief Operating Officer of the company and
President and Chief Executive Officer of
CBT
William D. Baskett III (c) 58 General Counsel and Secretary
Brian C. Henry (c) 41 Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
Robert J. Marino (c) 50 President and Chief Executive Officer of
Convergys Information Management Group Inc.
(formerly known as Cincinnati Bell
Information Systems Inc. ("CBIS"))
David F. Dougherty (c) 41 President and Chief Executive Officer of
Convergys Customer Management Group Inc.
(formerly known as MATRIXX Marketing Inc.
("MATRIXX"))
Kevin W. Mooney (c) 40 Chief Financial Officer
Thomas E. Taylor (c) 52 General Counsel and Secretary
- ------------------------------
(a) Member of the Board of Directors
(b) Member of the Executive Committee
(c) Following the initial public offering of approximately 10% of the
outstanding shares of Convergys Corporation, effective September 1, 1998,
Mr. Orr became President and Chief Executive Officer of Convergys and
ceased to be the Chief Operating Officer of the Company, Mr. Baskett became
General Counsel and Secretary of Convergys and ceased to be General Counsel
and Secretary of the Company, Mr. Henry became Chief Operating Officer of
Convergys Information Management Group Inc. and ceased to be Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Also effective
September 1, 1998, Mr. Mooney became Chief Financial Officer of
11
the Company and Mr. Taylor became General Counsel and Secretary of the
Company. In conjunction with the completion of the spin-off of Convergys
on December 31, 1998, Mr. Mechem became Chairman of the Board of Convergys
and ceased to be Chairman of the Board of the Company, and Mr. Kiggen was
elected Chairman of the Board replacing Mr. Mechem.
(d) Effective February 28, 1999, Mr. LaMacchia resigned as President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company but will continue to serve as a Director
of the Company.
(e) Effective September 1, 1998, Mr. Ellenberger became Chief Operating Officer
of the Company and, effective March 1, 1999, upon Mr. LaMacchia's
resignation, Mr. Ellenberger became President and Chief Executive Officer
of the Company.
Officers are elected annually but are removable at the discretion of the Board
of Directors.
CHARLES S. MECHEM, JR., Chairman of the Board of the Company, 1996; Commissioner
Emeritus, Ladies Professional Golf Association ("LPGA"); Commissioner of the
LPGA, 1991-1995; Chairman of The United States Shoe Corporation, 1993-1995;
Director of AGCO, Mead Corporation, Ohio National Life Insurance Company, J.M.
Smucker Company, Firstar Corporation and its subsidiary, Firstar Bank, N.A.
JAMES D. KIGGEN, Chairman of the Board of the Company since January 1, 1999;
Chairman of the Board of Xtek, Inc. since 1985; Chief Executive Officer of Xtek,
Inc., 1985-1988; President of Xtek, Inc., 1985-1995. Director of Fifth Third
Bancorp and its subsidiary, The Fifth Third Bank and The United States Playing
Card Company.
JOHN T. LAMACCHIA, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, 1993 -
February 28, 1999; President of the Company, 1988 - 1998; Chairman of CBT, 1993
- - 1998; Chief Operating Officer of the Company, 1988-1993; Chairman of CBIS,
1988-1996. Director of The Kroger Company and Burlington Resources Inc.
JAMES F. ORR, Chief Operating Officer of the Company and Chairman of CBIS, 1996
- - August 31, 1998; Chairman of MATRIXX, 1997 - August 31, 1998; Executive Vice
President of the Company and President and Chief Executive Officer of CBIS,
1995-1996; Chief Operating Officer of CBIS, 1994; President and Chief Executive
Officer of MATRIXX 1993-1994.
RICHARD G. ELLENBERGER, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
since March 1, 1999; Chief Operating Officer of the Company since September 1,
1998; President and Chief Executive Officer of CBT since June, 1997; Chief
Executive Officer of XLConnect, 1996-1997; President, Business Services of MCI
Telecommunications, 1995-1996; Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales of MCI
Telecommunications, 1994-1995; Senior Vice President, Branch Operations of MCI
Telecommunications, 1993-1994; Vice President, Southeast Region of MCI
Telecommunications, 1992-1993; Chief Operating Officer of Entrade Corporation,
1990-1992.
WILLIAM D. BASKETT III, General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer of the Company,
1993 - August 31, 1998; Secretary of the Company, 1997 - August 31, 1998;
Partner of Frost & Jacobs LLP, 1970-1997.
BRIAN C. HENRY, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, 1993 - August 31, 1998; Chief Operating Officer of CBIS, 1998 -
August 31, 1998. Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Mentor
Graphics, 1986-1992.
ROBERT J. MARINO, President and Chief Executive Officer of CBIS, 1996 - August
31, 1998; Chief Operating Officer of CBIS, 1995 - 1996; President - Northeast
Region of Nextel, 1993 - 1995; President of Houston Cellular Telephone Company,
1990 - 1993.
12
DAVID F. DOUGHERTY, President and Chief Executive Officer of MATRIXX, 1995 -
August 31, 1999; Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer U.S.
Operations, 1993-1994; President of the Consumer Division, 1991-1992.
KEVIN W. MOONEY, Chief Financial Officer of the Company since September 1, 1998;
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CBT since January 1998;
Vice President and Controller of the Company, September, 1996 to January, 1998;
Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis of the Company, January, 1994
to September, 1996; Director of Financial Planning and Analysis of the Company,
1990-1994.
THOMAS E. TAYLOR, General Counsel and Secretary of the Company since September
1, 1998; Senior Vice President and General Counsel of CBT since August 1, 1996;
prior to August 1, 1996, partner of Frost & Jacobs LLP.
13
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED SECURITY HOLDER
MATTERS.
Cincinnati Bell Inc. (symbol: CSN) common shares are listed on the New York
Stock Exchange and on the Cincinnati Stock Exchange. As of February 26, 1999,
there were approximately 24,156 holders of record of the 137,357,138 outstanding
common shares of the Company. The high and low sales prices* and dividends
declared per common share each quarter for the last two fiscal years are listed
below:
Quarter 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 High $ 36 5/16 $ 38 5/8 $ 33 3/16 $ 38 1/8
Low $ 30 1/8 $ 28 1/2 $ 22 1/2 $ 20 7/8
Dividend Declared $ .10 $ .10 $ .10 $ .10
1997 High $ 33 3/4 $ 33 1/4 $ 32 1/4 $ 31 1/8
Low $ 28 1/4 $ 26 1/16 $ 23 1/16 $ 25 3/8
Dividend Declared $ .10 $ .10 $ .10 $ .10
- -------------------------
*Prices are before the spin-off of Convergys Corporation. Company shares began
trading on a post-spin-off basis on January 4, 1999.
ITEMS 6 THROUGH 8.
The Selected Financial Data, Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Quantitative and Qualitative
Disclosures about Market Risk and Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
required by these items are included in the registrant's annual report to
security holders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, included in
Exhibit 13 and are incorporated herein by reference pursuant to General
Instruction G(2).
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
No disagreements with accountants on any accounting or financial disclosure
or auditing scope or procedure occurred during the period covered by this
report.
14
PART III
ITEMS 10 THROUGH 13.
Information regarding executive officers required by Item 401 of Regulation
S-K is furnished in a separate disclosure in Part I of this report under the
caption "Executive Officers of the Registrant" since the registrant did not
furnish such information in its definitive proxy statement prepared in
accordance with Schedule 14A.
The other information required by these items is included in the
registrant's definitive proxy statement dated March 24, 1999
[in the first paragraph on page 2, the accompanying notes on page 2
and the Section 16 (a) paragraph on page 2, the information under
"Election of Directors" on pages 6 and 7, the information under
"Share Ownership of Directors and Officers" on page 5, the information
under "Executive Compensation" on page 12 through 17.] The foregoing is
incorporated herein by reference pursuant to General Instruction G(3).
15
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.
(a) Documents filed as part of this report: Page
----
(1) Consolidated Financial Statements:
Report of Management *
Report of Independent Accountants *
Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income *
Consolidated Balance Sheets *
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows *
Consolidated Statements of Common Shareowners' Equity *
Notes to Financial Statements *
(2) Financial Statement Schedules:
Report of Independent Accountants on Financial Statement
Schedule 23
II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts 24
Financial statements and financial statement schedules other than that
listed above have been omitted because the required information is
contained in the financial statements and notes thereto, or because
such schedules are not required or applicable.
* Incorporated herein by reference to the appropriate portions of the
registrant's annual report to security holders for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1998. (See Part II)
(3) Exhibits
Exhibits identified in parenthesis below, on file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC"), are incorporated herein by reference as exhibits
hereto.
Exhibit
Number
- ------
(3)(a) Amended Articles of Incorporation effective November 9,
1989. (Exhibit (3)(a) to Form 10-K for 1989, File No.
1-8519).
(3)(b) Amended Regulations of the registrant. (Exhibit 3.2 to
Registration Statement No. 2-96054).
(4)(a) Provisions of the Amended Articles of Incorporation and
the Amended Regulations of the registrant which define
the rights of holders of Common Shares and the Preferred
Shares are incorporated by reference to such Amended
Articles filed as Exhibit (3)(a) hereto and such Amended
Regulations filed as Exhibit (3)(b) hereto.
16
(4)(b) Rights Agreement dated April 29, 1997 between the Company
and The Fifth Third Bank, Rights Agent.
4(c)(i) Indenture dated July 1, 1993, between Cincinnati Bell
Inc., Issuer, and The Bank of New York, Trustee, in
connection with $50,000,000 of Cincinnati Bell, Inc.
71/4% Notes Due June 15, 2023. Exhibit 4-A to Form 8-K,
date of report July 12, 1993, File No. 1-8519.
(4)(c)(ii) Indenture dated August 1, 1962, between Cincinnati Bell
Telephone Company and Bank of New York, Trustee
(formerly, The Central Trust Company was trustee), in
connection with $20,000,000 of Cincinnati Bell Telephone
Company Forty Year 4-3/8% Debentures, Due August 1, 2002.
(Exhibit 4(c)(iii) to Form 10-K for 1992, File No.
1-8519).
(4)(c)(iii) Indenture dated as of October 27, 1993, among Cincinnati
Bell Telephone Company, as Issuer, Cincinnati Bell Inc.,
as Guarantor, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee.
(Exhibit 4-A to Form 8-K, date of report October 27,
1993, File No. 1-8519).
4(c)(iv) Indenture dated as of November 30, 1998 among Cincinnati
Bell Telephone Company, as Issuer, Cincinnati Bell Inc.,
as Guarantor, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee
(Exhibit 4-A to Form 8-K, date of report November 30,
1998, File No. 1-8519).
(4)(c)(v) No other instrument which defines the rights of holders
of long term debt of the registrant is filed herewith
pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A).
Pursuant to this regulation, the registrant hereby agrees
to furnish a copy of any such instrument to the SEC upon
request.
(10)(i)(1) Plan of Reorganization and Distribution Agreement by and
between the Company and Convergys Corporation, dated as
of July 20, 1998.
(10)(i)(2) Services Agreement by and between the Company and
Convergys Corporation, dated as of July 20, 1998.
(10)(i)(3) Tax Separation and Allocation Agreement between the
Company and Convergys Corporation, dated as of July 20,
1998.
(10)(i)(4) Benefits Agreement between the Company and Convergys
Corporation, dated October 14, 1998.
(10)(iii)(A)(1)* Short Term Incentive Plan of Cincinnati Bell Inc., as
amended January 1, 1995. (Exhibit (10)(iii)(A)(1)(i) to
Form 10-K for 1995, File No. 1-8519).
(10)(iii)(A)(2)* Cincinnati Bell Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for
Outside Directors, as amended and restated effective
February 1, 1999.
(10)(iii)(A)(3)(i)* Cincinnati Bell Inc. Pension Program, as amended
effective November 4, 1991. (Exhibit (10)(iii)(A)(4)(ii)
to Form 10-K for 1994, File No. 1-8519).
(10)(iii)(A)(3)(ii)* Cincinnati Bell Pension Program, as amended and restated
effective March 3, 1997. (Exhibit (10)(iii)(A)(3)(ii) to
Form 10-K for 1997 File No. 1-8519).
17
(10)(iii)(A)(4)(i)* Executive Employment Agreement dated December 1, 1987,
between the Company and John T. LaMacchia. (Exhibit
(10)(iii)(A)(10) to Form 10-K for 1987, File No. 1-8519).
10(iii)(A)(4)(ii)* Employment Agreement dated January 1, 1999 between the
Company and John T. LaMacchia.
(10)(iii)(A)(5)(i)* Employment Agreement dated October 1, 1995, between
Cincinnati Bell Information Systems Inc. and Robert J.
Marino. (Exhibit (10)(iii)(A)(7) to Form 10-K for 1996,
File No. 1-8519).
(10)(iii)(A)(5)(ii)* Employment Agreement between Convergys Corporation and
Robert J. Marino and December 16, 1998 Amendment to
Employment Agreement.
(10)(iii)(A)(6)(i)* Employment Agreement dated as of January 1, 1995, between
the Company and David F. Dougherty. (Exhibit
(10)(iii)(A)(11) to Form 10-K for 1995, File No. 1-8519).
(10)(iii)(A)(6)(ii)* Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of January 1,
1995, between the Company and David F. Dougherty.
(Exhibit (10)(iii)(A)(12) to Form 10-K for 1995, File No.
1-8519).
(10)(iii)(A)(6)(iii)* Employment Agreement between Convergys Corporation and
David F. Dougherty and December 16, 1998 Amendment to
Employment Agreement.
(10)(iii)(A)(7)* Executive Employment Agreement dated as of March 29,
1993, between the Company and Brian C. Henry. (Exhibit
(10)(iii)(A)(14) to Form 10-K for 1993, File No. 1-8519).
(10)(iii)(A)(8)(i)* Employment Agreement dated as of August 19, 1994, between
the Company and James F. Orr. (Exhibit
(10)(iii)(A)(17)(i) to Form 10-K for 1994, File No.
1-8519).
(10)(iii)(A)(8)(ii)* Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of October 31,
1994, between the Company and James F. Orr. (Exhibit
(10)(iii)(A)(17)(ii) to Form 10-K for 1994, File No.
1-8519).
(10)(iii)(A)(8)(iii)* Employment Agreement between Convergys Corporation and
James F. Orr and December 16, 1998 Amendment to
Employment Agreement.
(10)(iii)(A)(9)* Employment Agreement dated January 1, 1999 between the
Company and Richard G. Ellenberger.
(10)(iii)(A)(10)(i)* Employment Agreement, dated January 1, 1998, between the
Company and William D. Baskett III. (Exhibit
(10)(iii)(A)(12) to Form 10-K for 1997, File No. 1-8519).
(10)(iii)(A)(10)(ii)* Employment Agreement between Convergys Corporation and
William D. Baskett III. and December 16, 1998 Amendment
to Employment Agreement.
(10)(iii)(A)(11)* Employment Agreement effective January 1, 1999 between
the Company and Kevin W. Mooney.
(10)(iii)(A)(12)* Employment Agreement dated January 1, 1999 between the
Company and Thomas E. Taylor.
18
(10)(iii)(A)(13)* Cincinnati Bell Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation
Plan, as amended and restated effective October 25, 1998.
(10)(iii)(A)(14)* Cincinnati Bell Inc. 1997 Long Term Incentive Plan.
(Exhibit (10)(iii)(A)(14)(iii) to Form 10-K for 1997,
file No. 1-8519).
(10)(iii)(A)(15)* Cincinnati Bell Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan for
Non-Employee Directors, as revised and restated effective
February 1, 1999.
(10)(iii)(A)(16)* Cincinnati Bell Inc. 1989 Stock Option Plan. (Exhibit
(10)(iii)(A)(14) to Form 10-K for 1989, File No. 1-8519).
(10)(iii)(A)(17)(i)* MATRIXX Marketing Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation
Plan. (Exhibit (10)(iii)(A)(21) to Form 10-K for 1996,
File No. 1-8519).
(10(iii)(A)(17)(ii)* Amendment to MATRIXX Marketing Inc. Executive Deferred
Compensation Plan (effective May 1, 1994). (Exhibit
(10)(iii)(A)(21)(i) to Form 10-K for 1996, File No.
1-8519).
(10)(iii)(A)(17)(iii)*Amendment to MATRIXX Marketing Inc. Executive Deferred
Compensation Plan (effective May 4, 1996). (Exhibit
(10)(iii)(A)(21)(ii) to Form 10-K for 1996, File No.
1-8519).
(12) Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed
Charges and Preferred Dividends.
(13) Portions of the Cincinnati Bell Inc. annual report to
security holders for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1998, as incorporated by reference including the Selected
Financial Data, Report of Management, Report of
Independent Accountants, Management's Discussion and
Analysis and Consolidated Financial Statements.
(21) Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
(23) Consent of Independent Accountants.
(24) Powers of Attorney.
(27.1, 27.2, 27.3) Financial Data Schedules.
- ---------------
* Management contract or compensatory plan required to be filed as an exhibit
pursuant to Item 14(c) of Form 10-K.
The Company will furnish, without charge, to a security holder upon
request, a copy of the documents, portions of which are incorporated by
reference (Annual Report to security holders and proxy statement), and will
furnish any other exhibit at cost.
19
(b) Reports on Form 8-K.
(1) Form 8-K, date of report October 13, 1998, concerning certain
information about the Company and Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company.
(2) Form 8-K, date of report November 19, 1998, reporting matters related
to the Convergys Spin-Off and Mr. Ellenberger's election as a director
of the Company.
(3) Form 8-K, date of report November 30, 1998, reporting that Cincinnati
Bell Telephone Company consummated the sale of $150,000,000 of its
Guaranteed 6.30% Debentures due 2028.
(4) Form 8-K, date of report December 31, 1998, reporting that the Company
had completed the spin-off of Convergys Corporation.
20
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
CINCINNATI BELL INC.
March 29, 1999 By: /s/ Kevin W. Mooney
--------------------------
Kevin W. Mooney
Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Signature Title Date
- --------- ----- ----
Principal Executive Officer;
RICHARD G. ELLENBERGER* President, Chief Executive
- ------------------------------ Officer and Director
Richard G. Ellenberger
Principal Accounting and
Financial Officer;
KEVIN W. MOONEY* Chief Financial Officer
- ------------------------------
Kevin W. Mooney
PHILLIP R. COX* Director
- ------------------------------
Phillip R. Cox
WILLIAM A. FRIEDLANDER* Director
- ------------------------------
William A. Friedlander
KAREN M. HOGUET* Director
- ------------------------------
Karen M. Hoguet
ROBERT P. HUMMEL, M.D.* Director
- ------------------------------
Robert P. Hummel, M.D.
JAMES D. KIGGEN* Chairman of the Board and Director
- ------------------------------
James D. Kiggen
JOHN T. LAMACCHIA* Director
- ------------------------------
John t. LaMacchia
MARY D. NELSON* Director
- ------------------------------
Mary D. Nelson
21
DAVID B. SHARROCK* Director
- ------------------------------
David B. Sharrock
*By: /s/ Kevin W. Mooney March 29, 1999
------------------
Kevin W. Mooney
as attorney-in-fact and on his behalf
as Chief Financial Officer
22
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTS
To the Shareowners of
Cincinnati Bell Inc.
Our report on the consolidated financial statements of Cincinnati Bell Inc.
has been incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K from page 29 of the 1998
annual report of Cincinnati Bell Inc. In connection with our audits of such
consolidated financial statements, we have also audited the related financial
statement schedule on page 24 of this Form 10-K.
In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when
considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken
as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information
required to be included therein.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
- ------------------------------
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Cincinnati, Ohio
March 29, 1999
23
Schedule II
CINCINNATI BELL INC.
SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(Millions of Dollars)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COL. A COL. B COL. C COL. D COL. E
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additions
--------------------------------
(1) (2)
Balance at Charged Balance
Beginning Charged to to Other at End
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts of Period Expenses Accounts Deductions of Period
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year 1998......................... $ 9.1 $18.1 $11.0(a) $26.2(b) $12.0
Year 1997......................... $ 6.1 $12.2 $ 5.5(a) $14.7(b) $ 9.1
Year 1996......................... $ 4.4 $ 7.3 $ 7.8(a) $13.4(b) $ 6.1
(a) Primarily includes amounts previously written off which were credited
directly to this account when recovered and an allocation of the purchase
price for receivables purchased from Interexchange Carriers.
(b) Primarily includes amounts written off as uncollectible.
- -----------
Additions
--------------------------------
(1) (2)
Balance at Charged Balance
Reserves Related to 1995 Beginning Charged to to Other at End
Business Restructuring of Period Expenses Accounts Deductions of Period
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year 1998......................... $ 5.3 $ -- $ -- $ 4.8 $ .5
Year 1997......................... $ 8.7 $ -- $ -- $ 3.4 $ 5.3
Year 1996......................... $15,2 $ -- $ -- $ 6.5 $ 8.7
24