UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

ý ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004

OR

o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 000-27707

AETHER SYSTEMS, INC.

(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

 

 

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 ý No o

 

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 the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of the Form 10-K or any amendment of this Form 10-K. o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ý No o

 

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrant was $134,092,738 ($3.44 per share) as of June 30, 2004.

 

As of March 2, 2005, 44,000,921 shares of the registrant’s common stock, $.01 par value per share, were outstanding.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of the registrant, which will be filed with the Commission within 120 days after the close of the fiscal year, is incorporated by reference into Part III.

 

 

AETHER SYSTEMS, INC.

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004

 

INDEX

 

PART I
Item 1	Business
Item 2	Properties
Item 3	Legal Proceedings
Item 4	Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
PART II
Item 5	Market for the Company’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
Item 6	Selected Financial Data
Item 7	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 7A	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 8	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Item 9	Change In and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
Item 9A	Controls and Procedures
PART III
Item 10	Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
Item 11	Executive Compensation
Item 12	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
Item 13	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Item 14	Principal Accounting Fees and Services
PART IV
Item 15	Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.  When used in this Report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “expect” and similar expressions as they relate to our company or our management are intended to identify a statement as a “forward-looking statement.”  Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.  Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include those discussed in Item 7 of this Report under the heading “Risk Factors.” Forward-looking statements reflect our reasonable beliefs and expectations as of the time we make them, and we have no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  In this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we refer to Aether Systems, Inc. as “Aether,” “the Company,” “we” or “us.”

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1.  BUSINESS

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Our business objectives are to become profitable as quickly as possible and to realize value, in the form of tax savings, from our significant accumulated tax loss carryforwards.  In pursuit of these objectives during 2004, we accomplished the following:

 

•                  We sold our mobile and wireless data businesses, which had continued to lose money;

•                  We further reduced our operating expenses;

•                  We simplified our balance sheet and repaid the balance of our 6% convertible subordinated notes; and

•                  We implemented a strategy of building and managing a leveraged portfolio of residential mortgage-backed securities.

 

As a result of these activities, at the end of 2004 our business was focused on investing primarily in adjustable rate, residential mortgage-backed securities issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association (“FHLMC”), the Federal National Mortgage Association (“FNMA”) and the Government National Mortgage Association (“GNMA”). 

 

At December 31, 2004, we had approximately $131.7 million of cash (including restricted cash) and cash equivalents, investments in mortgage-backed securities, and other investments available for sale.  At December 31, 2004, we owned approximately $62.2 million of mortgage-backed securities at fair value.  Our total assets were approximately $136.6 million, and our total liabilities were approximately $6.0 million.  We had accumulated federal net operating losses of approximately $765.5 million that we can “carry forward” and use to offset future taxable income until they expire between 2012 and 2024.  We also had accumulated federal capital losses of approximately $245.3 million that we can “carry forward” and use to offset future capital gains until they expire between 2006 and 2009.

 

In this Report, discussions of our Company’s operations will reflect our ongoing mortgage-backed securities business.  Our historical financial results reflect the operations of our ongoing business as “continuing operations.”  The financial results of our mobile and wireless data businesses are reported as “discontinued operations.”

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities Strategy

 

We began to make investments in mortgage-backed securities (“MBS”) during the second quarter of 2004, and we have continued to implement our MBS business strategy gradually and conservatively.  While we had more than half of our available cash invested in mortgage-backed securities as of December 31, 2004, we will need to expand our business to achieve our objectives.  As we have previously reported, we expect that an important part of our MBS strategy will be to leverage our invested cash by borrowing additional funds for investment.  We plan to do this by entering into short-term repurchase agreements with financial institutions that have received the highest available long-term debt rating from a nationally recognized rating agency.  These borrowings will allow us to expand the size of our portfolio, as well as to seek increased overall returns from our investments (both in amount and yield).  As discussed below in Item 7 under the heading “Risk Factors – Borrowings may negatively affect the performance of our portfolio of MBS,” the use of leverage involves substantial risks and uncertainties and could negatively affect the performance of the MBS portfolio.  In addition to leveraging the portfolio, we may, from time to time in the future, seek to sell additional shares of our common stock to raise additional cash that would be available for investment.

 

Our earnings from these activities will be the spread between the interest income we earn on the mortgage-backed securities we own, less the interest expense we incur to finance the purchase of such securities (to the extent we employ leverage) and the other expenses of managing our business.  The expenses of managing our business include the management fee and the incentive fee we have agreed to pay to our outside investment manager.

 

To assist in the management of our MBS business, we have retained outside professional financial and investment advisors with substantial experience in the MBS market and in managing a leveraged portfolio of MBS investments.  In June 2004, we engaged FBR Investment Management, Inc. (“FBR”) as our outside investment advisor to carry out the day-to-day management of the MBS portfolio, subject to oversight by our management and our Board of Directors and to investment policies adopted by our Board.  FBR currently manages a multi-billion dollar leveraged portfolio of mortgage-backed securities for one of its affiliates.  In addition, we have contracted with FinPro, Inc. (“FinPro”) to provide us with independent oversight of FBR and to assist us in developing, evaluating and managing our MBS strategy.  FinPro is an investment advisory and management consulting firm that specializes in providing financial advisory services to financial institutions.  FinPro has substantial experience in the MBS market and related markets.

 

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Development of MBS Strategy and Other Activities

 

The timing and amount of MBS purchases that we make, the level of leverage that we employ and the alternative investment strategies we explore depend upon market conditions, which we continuously monitor, the advice and recommendations of our outside professional investment and financial advisors, with whom we regularly confer and applicable regulatory requirements.  In light of market conditions that existed during the second half of 2004 and into the first quarter of 2005, we limited our purchases of MBS to $63.8 million in securities (including purchase premiums) acquired pursuant to forward purchase commitments entered into during the third quarter of 2004 (settled in September and October 2004) and did not employ any leverage with respect to our MBS portfolio. Our position reflected our relative views of the total return we could achieve on our investments in MBS and the borrowing costs associated with leveraging those investments.  In general, short-term borrowing rates were increasing more quickly than the yields earned by MBS during this period.  During February 2005, we began to see certain favorable changes in market conditions and in late February and early March 2005, we entered into forward purchase arrangements representing commitments to purchase MBS in March and April 2005 with an estimated aggregate face value of $375.0 million.  In order to settle these forward purchase contracts and acquire the underlying MBS, we will be required to borrow funds, which we expect to do by entering into short-term repurchase arrangements, as discussed above and below under the heading “Mortgage-Backed Securities – Leverage and Borrowing Strategy.”  While we expect to have sufficient funds to purchase the MBS securities from a combination of our available cash and funding from one or more of the financial institutions with which we have master repurchase agreements in place, those master repurchase agreements are not funding commitments.  If we are unable to secure necessary funds through repurchase agreements or otherwise, our financial condition and results could be adversely affected, as discussed below in Item 7 under the heading “Risk Factors – We will depend on borrowings to expand our MBS portfolio.  If we fail to obtain or to renew sufficient funding on favorable terms or at all, we may incur losses.”

 

While we continue to focus on our MBS business, in an effort to achieve our overall business objectives we are also evaluating other potential opportunities that could serve either to complement or diversify our MBS business.  We have been contacted by a number of third parties regarding a variety of real estate-related opportunities and are evaluating these opportunities as appropriate within the context of achieving our business objectives as well as ensuring that we remain exempt from registration as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).  We may in the future pursue one or more of these opportunities, if we conclude that they could enhance our ability to achieve our stated objectives more quickly or more reliably.  We have not made any decisions to pursue any of these alternatives, and we expect to continue to focus our business activities on our mortgage-backed securities strategy.  The mix of our assets and the amount of leverage we incur may change significantly over time and also may vary in response to changing market conditions.

 

Disposition of Wireless and Mobile Data Businesses

 

In 2004, we sold our mobile and wireless data businesses, which were organized into three operating segments.  In January 2004, we sold our Enterprise Mobility Solutions (“EMS”) segment for $18.0 million in cash and a $1.0 million note (which was paid in full in August 2004).  In September 2004 we sold our Transportation and Mobile Government segments for $25.0 million in cash and $10.0 million in cash, respectively.  For information on these dispositions, see Note 15 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report.

 

Tax Aspects of Our Business Strategy

 

An important aspect of our business strategy is to realize value, in the form of tax savings, from our accumulated tax loss carryforwards.  Under federal and state tax laws, we may use these carryforwards to substantially reduce the income taxes we otherwise would have to pay on future taxable income.  As a result, we could have little or no income tax liability for a period of time.  Our ability to realize value from these tax loss carryforwards is subject to various risks and uncertainties, including regulations that, under certain circumstances, may limit our ability to use these carryforwards to reduce future taxes that we might otherwise owe.

 

The Internal Revenue Code and applicable Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) regulations, contain limitations on certain changes in ownership of our stock by certain stockholders (generally persons who hold, or who acquire, at least 5% of our outstanding shares, calculated in accordance with IRS regulations) which, if exceeded, could reduce or eliminate our ability to use our accumulated tax loss carryforwards in the future (if those changes resulted in a “change of ownership” as that term is defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code and applicable IRS regulations).  These same tax rules and the need to avoid an ownership change could also restrict the amount of additional shares we could issue to raise new capital for investment in our business.

 

In an effort to mitigate these risks, we are considering recommending to our shareholders a reorganization that would create transfer restrictions on our stock to reduce the risk that we would experience an ownership change under the tax laws which would limit our use of tax loss carryforwards or otherwise restrict our ability to issue additional shares out of concern that such issuance (combined with such transfers) would create an ownership change.  The imposition of these transfer restrictions would require stockholder approval.

 

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In an effort to seek to accelerate the realization of the value from our accumulated net operating loss and capital loss carryforwards, we may seek additional capital, from time to time, through periodic offerings of shares of our stock as market conditions allow.  Such additional capital would then be used to expand our business in pursuit of additional taxable income.  In general, we would expect to seek to sell shares only when such sales would not be dilutive to the value of our outstanding shares at the time of any such offering.  This means we generally would not expect to sell shares at any time when the offering price is below the per share book value of our assets.  Because we cannot predict the future trading price of our stock, we cannot predict when or whether we would be able to sell shares of stock to raise additional capital under the desired conditions.  In addition, as noted above, provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and certain applicable IRS regulations will limit the number of additional shares of stock we can sell from time to time without causing a limitation on our ability to use our accumulated tax loss carryforwards to reduce our future tax obligations.

 

Raising additional capital will allow us to expand our MBS portfolio (both by investing that capital in MBS and borrowing additional amounts to leverage the newly raised capital).  In addition, to the extent we pursue additional or other business strategies, we could use additional capital to expand these strategies.  If we are successful in implementing our MBS strategy, a larger portfolio should generate greater earnings, which would allow us to consume our tax loss carryforwards more quickly, thereby accelerating our realization of future tax savings.  As the size of our MBS business grows over time, we may seek to add to our employee base so that our staff will have additional industry-specific capabilities and expertise to help manage our portfolio.  In this event, we likely would reduce our reliance on outside professionals for such advice and assistance.  In addition, we may expand our corporate staff over time to enhance other corporate functions, such as financial, legal and other administrative and compliance activities, to the extent our business grows and makes such additions cost-effective.

 

Although we may choose to pay dividends in the future, we do not currently anticipate paying dividends to our stockholders in the near term as we seek to realize value from our loss carryforwards by increasing our earnings as quickly as possible.  Instead, we expect to re-invest earnings in our business to promote its expansion.  We expect that our tax loss carryforwards will allow us to reinvest earnings without reduction for income tax payments for as long as those carryforwards remain available to us.

 

If we were to pay dividends to stockholders from current earnings, these dividends would, generally speaking, be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividends” for federal income tax purposes, currently taxed at a maximum federal rate of 15%, assuming that the recipient stockholder meets the various requirements under the Internal Revenue Code for such treatment.  The maximum rate for qualified dividends is currently projected to increase to the maximum federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income (currently 35%) for tax years beginning after December 31, 2008 in accordance with the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003.

 

For a discussion of tax risks and uncertainties applicable to our business strategy, see the discussion below in Item 7 under the heading “Risk Factors – Regulatory and tax risks of our MBS business.”

 

MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES

 

Investment Approach and Policies

 

Our Board of Directors has authorized the investment of up to $100 million of our available cash in our MBS business.  We also are permitted to leverage our invested cash between five and eight times.  Our Board may increase, decrease or waive these limitations in the future, at its discretion.  If we were to invest $100 million of our available cash and cash equivalents in our MBS business, and if we were to incur leverage of eight times our cash investment to purchase additional MBS, our total MBS portfolio would have a value (at cost) of approximately $900 million.

 

Our Board of Directors, after consultation with FBR, FinPro and other outside advisors, has adopted a set of investment guidelines and policies that govern our MBS business.  These guidelines and policies remain subject to ongoing review and refinement as we develop our MBS business, as well as amendment or waiver at the discretion of the Board.  Under the terms of our management agreement with FBR, we must approve in advance any actions by FBR that are not within the scope of our guidelines and policies.  As a matter of corporate policy, we will not approve any action that deviates from our guidelines and policies unless such deviation has been reviewed with FinPro and, with the advice of management and FinPro, approved by our Board of Directors.

 

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Our current MBS guidelines and policies include the following:

 

•                  FBR must obtain our permission before purchasing MBS individually in an amount exceeding $50 million or purchasing hybrid adjustable rate MBS greater than 5 years to reset, fixed-rate MBS, or MBS derivatives.

•                  FBR must obtain our permission before taking any actions that would cause the portfolio’s asset-to-equity ratio to exceed 9:1.

•                  FBR may not enter into repurchase agreements on our behalf with any counter-party in an amount that would exceed 35% of the aggregate amount of our then outstanding repurchase agreements.

•                  FBR may not enter into interest rate swap agreements or futures contracts without our prior approval.

•                  Risk management systems will be used to actively monitor and manage our exposure to interest and mortgage prepayment rates, the shape of the yield curve, credit risk, risk of capital loss, the availability and cost of financing, and changing yield spreads relating to MBS.

 

Our Board of Directors has the power to modify or waive these policies and strategies without the consent of the stockholders to the extent that the Board of Directors determines that the modification or waiver is in the best interests of our stockholders.  Among other factors, developments in the market that affect our policies and strategies or that change our assessment of the market may cause our Board of Directors to revise our policies and strategies. 

 

Leverage and Borrowing Strategy

 

We expect to use short-term repurchase agreements as our principal source of financing in connection with leveraging our MBS portfolio.  Amounts due upon maturity of our repurchase agreements will be funded primarily through rollover/reissuance of new repurchase agreements along with principal and interest payments received from MBS we own.  As of December 31, 2004, we had not entered into any repurchase agreements.  In the future, we anticipate that we will enter into repurchase agreements primarily with financial institutions that have the highest rating from a nationally recognized rating agency.  We have established master repurchase arrangements with four financial institutions, in amounts that we believe are currently in excess of our anticipated needs.  These master agreements do not constitute commitments by us or by the counterparties.  We expect to enter into repurchase transactions with one or more of these financial institutions to provide us with most of the funding we will need to satisfy our commitments to purchase approximately $375.0 million of MBS under the forward purchase arrangements we entered into during February and March 2005.

 

A repurchase agreement, although structured as a sale and repurchase obligation, acts as a financing under which we effectively pledge our MBS as collateral to secure a short-term loan.  (While the MBS is used as collateral, we continue to receive principal and interest payments in respect of the MBS.)  Generally, the other party to the agreement makes the loan in an amount equal to a percentage of the market value of the pledged collateral.  At the maturity of the repurchase agreement, we are required to repay the loan and correspondingly receive back our collateral.  These types of leveraging arrangements for MBS purchases typically permit more than 90% of the purchase price of the underlying MBS to be financed through the repurchase agreement.

 

Repurchase agreements may require us to pledge additional assets to the lender in the event the estimated fair value of existing pledged collateral declines below a specified percentage.  The pledged collateral may fluctuate in value during the life of the repurchase agreement due to, among other things, principal repayments, market changes in interest rates and credit quality.  In such cases, a lender may require us to post additional collateral, or we may choose to sell the pledged security and repay the “loan.”  This type of activity is one of the risks of a leveraged strategy discussed below in Item 7 under the heading “Risk Factors – Borrowings may adversely affect the performance of our portfolio of MBS.”  We expect to use repurchase agreements that will have original maturities ranging from 30 to 90 days.  In the event a lender under a repurchase agreement decides not to renew a repurchase agreement at its maturity, we will be required to use our own cash or obtain other financing to close out the repurchase agreement and pay off the loan.  In addition, as discussed below in Item 7 under the heading “Risk Factors – Differences in timing of interest rate adjustments on our acquired securities and our borrowings may adversely affect our MBS strategy and the returns on the portion of our cash we invest in MBS,” because the interest rates paid by our MBS investments typically will not adjust more than once per year, in an environment of increasing short-term interest rates, our borrowing costs may increase more quickly than the interest rates paid by our MBS portfolio.  This could have a significant negative effect on our financial performance and could materially reduce the yield we realize from our MBS portfolio.

 

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In the event of our insolvency or bankruptcy, certain repurchase agreements may qualify for special treatment under the Bankruptcy Code, the effect of which, among other things, would be to allow the creditor under the agreement to avoid the automatic stay provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and to foreclose on the collateral agreement without delay.  In the event of the insolvency or bankruptcy of a lender during the term of a repurchase agreement, the lender may be permitted, under applicable insolvency laws, to repudiate the contract, and our claim against the lender for damages may be treated simply as an unsecured claim.  In addition, if the lender is a broker or dealer subject to the Securities Investor Protection Act of 1970, or an insured depository institution subject to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, our ability to exercise our rights to recover our securities under a repurchase agreement or to be compensated for any damages resulting from the lender’s insolvency may be further limited by those statutes.  These claims would be subject to significant delay and, if and when received, may be substantially less than the damages we actually incur.

 

We intend to enter into repurchase agreements only with financial institutions that have received the highest available long-term debt rating from a nationally recognized rating agency.  If this credit rating is not met, we will not enter into repurchase agreements with that lender without the consent of our Board of Directors.  In the event one of our lenders is downgraded, the approval of our Board of Directors will have to be obtained before entering into additional repurchase agreements with that lender.  We seek to diversify our exposure by entering into repurchase agreements with numerous separate lenders so that no one lender constitutes more than 35% of all of our outstanding repurchase agreements.  If, during the term of a repurchase agreement, a lender were to file for bankruptcy, we might experience difficulty recovering the pledged security and might have only an unsecured claim against the lender’s assets for the difference between the amount we borrowed and the estimated fair value of the collateral we pledged to such lender (if any).

 

We may also use derivative transactions and other hedging strategies, such as interest rate swaps and caps, options to purchase swaps and caps, financial futures contracts and options on futures, to help mitigate prepayment and interest rate risks if we determine that the cost of these transactions is justified by their potential benefit.  We would use hedging to mitigate declines in the market value of our mortgage-backed securities during periods of increasing or decreasing interest rates or to limit or cap the interest rates on our borrowings.  We expect that the extent and type of our hedging activity will vary based on the level and volatility of interest rates and mortgage principal prepayments, the type of mortgage-backed securities we acquire and other changing market conditions. We will not enter into hedging transactions for speculative purposes.  The use of hedging strategies involves risks, which are described below in Item 7 under the heading “Risk Factors – Borrowings may adversely affect the performance of our portfolio of MBS.”

 

Aether’s MBS Investments

 

The MBS that we acquire and trade are agency mortgage-backed securities which, although not rated, carry an implied “AAA” rating.  Agency mortgage-backed securities are mortgage-backed securities where a government agency or federally chartered corporation, such as FHLMC, FNMA or GNMA, guarantees payments of principal or interest on the securities.  Agency mortgage-backed securities consist of pass-through certificates issued or guaranteed by an agency.

 

The MBS that we acquire provide funds for mortgage loans made primarily to residential homeowners.  These securities generally represent interests in pools of mortgage loans made by savings and loan institutions, mortgage bankers, commercial banks and other mortgage lenders.  These pools of mortgage loans are assembled for sale to investors (like us) by various government, government-related and private organizations.  MBS differ from other forms of traditional debt securities, which normally provide for periodic payments of interest in fixed amounts with principal payments at maturity or on specified call dates.  Instead, MBS provide for a monthly payment, which consists of both interest and principal.  In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly interest and principal payments made by the individual borrower on the mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of the securities.  Additional payments result from prepayments of principal upon the sale, refinancing or foreclosure of the underlying residential property.  Some MBS, such as securities issued by GNMA, are described as “modified pass-through” securities.  These securities entitle the holder to receive all interest and principal payments owed on the mortgage pool, net of certain fees, regardless of whether the mortgagors actually make mortgage payments when due.

 

The investment characteristics of pass-through mortgage-backed securities differ from those of traditional fixed-income securities. The major differences include the payment of interest and principal on the MBS on a more frequent schedule, as described above, and the possibility that principal may be prepaid at any time due to prepayments on the underlying mortgage loans or other assets.  These differences can result in significantly greater price and yield volatility than is the case with traditional fixed-income securities.

 

Various factors affect the rate at which mortgage prepayments occur, including changes in interest rates, general economic conditions, the age of the mortgage loan, the location of the property and other social and demographic conditions.  Generally prepayments on MBS increase during periods of falling mortgage interest rates and decrease during periods of rising mortgage interest rates.  We may reinvest prepayments at a yield that is higher or lower than the yield on the initial underlying MBS security purchased, thus affecting the weighted average yield of our investments.

 

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To the extent MBS are purchased at a premium, faster than expected prepayments result in accelerated amortization of the premium paid, which can have a negative effect on the yield from our mortgage-backed securities portfolio. Conversely, if these securities were purchased at a discount, faster than expected prepayments accelerate our recognition of the discount and can have a positive effect on the yield from our mortgage-backed securities portfolio.

 

FHLMC Certificates

 

FHLMC is a privately-owned, government-sponsored enterprise created pursuant to an act of Congress on July 24, 1970.  The principal activity of FHLMC currently consists of the purchase of mortgage loans or participation interests in mortgage loans and the resale of the loans and participations in the form of guaranteed MBS.  FHLMC guarantees to each holder of FHLMC certificates the timely payment of interest at the applicable pass-through rate and ultimate collection of all principal on the holder’s pro rata share of the unpaid principal balance of the related mortgage loans, but does not guarantee the timely payment of scheduled principal of the underlying mortgage loans.  The obligations of FHLMC under its guarantees are solely those of FHLMC and are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.  If FHLMC were unable to satisfy these obligations, distributions to holders of FHLMC certificates would consist solely of payments and other recoveries on the underlying mortgage loans and, accordingly, defaults and delinquencies on the underlying mortgage loans would adversely affect monthly distributions to holders of FHLMC certificates.

 

FHLMC certificates may be backed by pools of single-family mortgage loans or multi-family mortgage loans. These underlying mortgage loans may have original terms to maturity of up to 40 years.  FHLMC certificates may be issued under cash programs (composed of mortgage loans purchased from a number of sellers) or guarantor programs (composed of mortgage loans acquired from one seller in exchange for certificates representing interests in the mortgage loans purchased).

 

FHLMC certificates may pay interest at a fixed rate or an adjustable rate.  The interest rate paid on adjustable-rate FHLMC certificates (“FHLMC ARMs”) adjusts periodically within 60 days prior to the month in which the interest rates on the underlying mortgage loans adjust. The interest rates paid on certificates issued under FHLMC’s standard ARM programs adjust in relation to the Treasury index. Other specified indices used in FHLMC ARM programs include the 11th District Cost of Funds Index published by the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, LIBOR and other indices.  Interest rates paid on fully-indexed FHLMC ARM certificates equal the applicable index rate plus a specified number of basis points.  The majority of series of FHLMC ARM certificates issued to date have evidenced pools of mortgage loans with monthly, semi-annual or annual interest adjustments.  Adjustments in the interest rates paid are generally limited to an annual increase or decrease of either 100 or 200 basis points and to a lifetime cap of 500 or 600 basis points over the initial interest rate.  Certain FHLMC programs include mortgage loans which allow the borrower to convert the adjustable mortgage interest rate to a fixed rate.  Adjustable-rate mortgages which are converted into fixed-rate mortgage loans are repurchased by FHLMC or by the seller of the loan to FHLMC at the unpaid principal balance of the loan plus accrued interest to the due date of the last adjustable rate interest payment.

 

FNMA Certificates

 

FNMA is a privately-owned, federally-chartered corporation organized and existing under the Federal National Mortgage Association Charter Act.  FNMA provides funds to the mortgage market primarily by purchasing home mortgage loans from local lenders, thereby replenishing their funds for additional lending.  FNMA guarantees to the registered holder of a FNMA certificate that it will distribute amounts representing scheduled principal and interest on the mortgage loans in the pool underlying the FNMA certificate, whether or not received, and the full principal amount of any such mortgage loan foreclosed or otherwise finally liquidated, whether or not the principal amount is actually received.  The obligations of FNMA under its guarantees are solely those of FNMA and are not backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.  If FNMA were unable to satisfy its obligations, distributions to holders of FNMA certificates would consist solely of payments and other recoveries on the underlying mortgage loans and, accordingly, defaults and delinquencies on the underlying mortgage loans would adversely affect monthly distributions to holders of FNMA.

 

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FNMA certificates may be backed by pools of single-family or multi-family mortgage loans.  The original term to maturity of any such mortgage loan generally does not exceed 40 years.  FNMA certificates may pay interest at a fixed rate or an adjustable rate.  Each series of FNMA ARM certificates bears an initial interest rate and margin tied to an index based on all loans in the related pool, less a fixed percentage representing servicing compensation and FNMA’s guarantee fee.  The specified index used in different series has included the Treasury Index, the 11th District Cost of Funds Index published by the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, LIBOR and other indices.  Interest rates paid on fully-indexed FNMA ARM certificates equal the applicable index rate plus a specified number of basis points.  The majority of series of FNMA ARM certificates issued to date have evidenced pools of mortgage loans with monthly, semi-annual or annual interest rate adjustments.  Adjustments in the interest rates paid are generally limited to an annual increase or decrease of either 100 or 200 basis points and to a lifetime cap of 500 or 600 basis points over the initial interest rate. Certain FNMA programs include mortgage loans which allow the borrower to convert the adjustable mortgage interest rate of the adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed rate.  Adjustable-rate mortgages which are converted into fixed-rate mortgage loans are repurchased by FNMA or by the seller of the loans to FNMA at the unpaid principal of the loan plus accrued interest to the due date of the last adjustable rate interest payment.  Adjustments to the interest rates on FNMA ARM certificates are typically subject to lifetime caps and periodic rate or payment caps.

 

All of the MBS we held as of December 31, 2004 and all of the MBS covered by the forward purchase arrangements we entered into during February and March 2005 are FNMA certificates.

 

GNMA Certificates

 

GNMA is a wholly owned corporate instrumentality of the United States within the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  The National Housing Act of 1934 authorizes GNMA to guarantee the timely payment of the principal of and interest on certificates which represent an interest in a pool of mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration or partially guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and other loans eligible for inclusion in mortgage pools underlying GNMA certificates.  Section 306(g) of the Housing Act provides that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged to the payment of all amounts which may be required to be paid under any guaranty by GNMA.

 

At present, most GNMA certificates are backed by single-family mortgage loans.  The interest rate paid on GNMA certificates may be a fixed rate or an adjustable rate.  The interest rate on GNMA certificates issued under GNMA’s standard ARM program adjusts annually in relation to the Treasury index.  Adjustments in the interest rate are generally limited to an annual increase or decrease of 100 basis points and to a lifetime cap of 500 basis points over the initial coupon rate.

 

REGULATION

 

We intend to operate under an exception from the definition of an “investment company” set forth in Section 3(c)(5) of the Investment Company Act for companies that are primarily engaged in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate.  Absent such exception or another applicable exception, we would be required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act and would be required to comply with the various regulations adopted by the SEC for application to registered investment companies.  The staff of the SEC has expressed the view that, in order to be considered to be “primarily engaged” in the real estate business, a company must have at least 55% of its assets in qualifying real estate interests, which the SEC staff has said, through “no-action” positions, include whole pool mortgage interests issued by FHLMC, FNMA or GNMA, and at least 25% of its assets in other real estate related assets.  This 25% minimum is reduced to the extent a company invests more than 55% of its assets in qualifying real estate interests.  Neither the SEC nor its staff has defined the term “real estate related assets” for purposes of the 25% requirement set forth above.  The staff has indicated, however, that a loan will qualify as a real estate related asset if at least 55% of the fair market value of the loan is secured by real estate at the time the company acquires the loan.  The staff has also indicated that agency partial pool certificates and certain interests in companies that invest in mortgages or other interests in real estate are real estate related assets.  We intend to conduct our business in such a manner as to be excepted from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(5) of the Investment Company Act.  The MBS investments we have purchased qualify as qualifying real estate assets, based on the current views of the SEC Staff.  If we failed to remain exempt from the regulations applicable to “investment companies,” our business could be adversely affected, as discussed below under the heading “Risk Factors – Loss of Investment Company Act exemption would adversely affect us.”

 

To the extent we explore alternative or additional business strategies, we may be limited by the rules and regulations of the Investment Company Act.  We will not pursue any strategy which would interfere with our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act.

 

10

 

COMPETITION

 

Our ability to generate income from our MBS business depends, in large part, on our ability to acquire MBS in the marketplace in order to assemble a leveraged MBS portfolio and earn favorable spreads over our cost of funds.  In acquiring MBS, we compete with real estate investment trusts (REITs), financial institutions, such as banks, life insurance companies, savings and loan associations, and institutional investors, such as mutual funds and pension funds, other lenders and other entities that purchase MBS, many of which have greater financial resources than we do.  The existence of these competitors, as well as the possibility of additional competitors in the future, may increase competition for the acquisition of MBS resulting in higher prices and lower yields on our assets.  In addition, we and other companies that invest in MBS may look to sell such investments at the most favorable prices when market conditions dictate in order to reduce our leverage or reduce the overall amount we have invested in MBS.  At such times, we likely will be competing with other sellers to obtain the best available sale prices for our MBS.  Our outside investment advisor acquires and sells MBS for an $11 billion portfolio that it manages for an affiliate.  This may create a conflict of interest with its obligations to us, as discussed below under the heading “Risk Factors – The manager of our MBS portfolio may have a potential conflict of interest.”

 

GENERAL CORPORATE MATTERS

 

Aether was originally formed as Aeros, L.L.C. in January 1996.  We changed our name to Aether Technologies International, L.L.C. in August 1996 and to Aether Systems L.L.C. in September 1999.  Immediately prior to completing our initial public offering of common stock on October 20, 1999, we converted from a limited liability company to a Delaware corporation and changed our name to Aether Systems, Inc.  Our principal executive offices are located at 621 E. Pratt St., Suite 601, Baltimore, MD  21202.  Our telephone number is (443) 573-9400 and our fax number is (443) 573-0383.

 

Our Internet address is www.aethersystems.com.  We make available free of charge, on or through our website, our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC.  We are providing the address of our internet website solely for the information of investors.  We do not intend the internet address to be an active link, and the contents of the website are not a part of this Report.

 

We have adopted a general code of ethics for our business.  We have also adopted a code of ethical conduct that applies solely to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller and persons performing similar functions.  The Board of Directors is responsible for reviewing and authorizing any waivers from both the code of ethics and code of ethical conduct for senior financial officers and we will file any waivers from, or amendments to, these codes with the SEC.  Both the general code of ethics and the code of ethical conduct for senior financial officers, as well as the charters for our audit committee, nominating and corporate governance committee and compensation committee, are available on Aether’s website, www.aethersystems.com.  This information is also available in print upon written request to our secretary at the address set forth above. 

 

We have also adopted procedures for our stockholders to communicate with our Board of Directors.  Stockholders who wish to contact the Board of Directors, or an individual director, should contact the Board of Directors or individual director at investor_relations@aethersystems.com or in writing at 621 E. Pratt St., Suite 601, Baltimore, MD  21202.  The Secretary will compile all communications and submit them to the Board of Directors, or individual directors, on a periodic basis.

 

EMPLOYEES

 

As of December 31, 2004, our continuing operations had a total of 12 employees.  None of our employees is covered by a collective bargaining agreement.  We believe that our relations with our employees are good.  As of January 31, 2005, we further reduced our staffing levels and had a total of eight employees.

 

ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES

 

Our principal offices are located in Baltimore, Maryland.  In addition, we maintain a lease for space in Marlborough, Massachusetts that we used as the headquarters for our Mobile Government business.  We have sublet this office space to BIO-Key International, Inc., the company that purchased our Mobile Government business.  Our lease of 24,418 square feet in Owings Mills, Maryland (11500 Cronridge Drive) expired on January 31, 2005.  We also lease an aggregate of approximately 5,000 square feet in Larkspur, California (which is being sublet and will expire on March 31, 2005).  We believe that our retained facilities are adequate for the purposes for which they are presently used and that replacement facilities are available at comparable cost, should the need arise.

 

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ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Aether is among the hundreds of defendants named in nine class action lawsuits seeking damages on account of alleged violations of securities law.  The case is being heard in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.  The court has consolidated the actions by all of the named defendants that actually issued the securities in question.  Now there are approximately 310 consolidated cases before Judge Scheindlin, including the Aether Systems action, under the caption In Re Initial Public Offerings Litigation, Master File 21 MC 92 (SAS).

 

These actions were filed on behalf of persons and entities that acquired our common stock after our initial public offering in October 20, 1999.  Among other things, the complaints claim that prospectuses, dated October 20, 1999 and September 27, 2000 and issued by Aether in connection with the public offerings of common stock, allegedly contained untrue statements of material fact or omissions of material fact in violation of securities laws because the prospectuses allegedly failed to disclose that the offerings’ underwriters had solicited and received additional and excessive fees, commissions and benefits beyond those listed in the arrangements with certain of their customers which were designed to maintain, distort and/or inflate the market price of Aether’s common stock in the aftermarket.  The actions seek unspecified monetary damages and rescission.  Aether believes the claims are without merit and is vigorously contesting these actions.

 

Initial motions to dismiss the case were filed and the court held oral argument on the motions to dismiss on November 1, 2002.  On February 19, 2003, the court issued an Opinion and Order on defendants’ motions to dismiss, which granted the motions in part and denied the motions in part.  As to Aether Systems, the motion to dismiss the claims against it was denied in its entirety.  Discovery has now commenced.  The plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed without prejudice the officer and director defendants of Aether.  On June 26, 2003, the Plaintiff’s Executive Committee in this case announced a proposed settlement with the issuers.  The proposed settlement is a settlement among the plaintiffs, the issuer-defendants, including Aether, and the officer and director defendants of the issuers.  The plaintiffs will continue litigating their claims against the underwriter-defendants.  Under terms of the proposed settlement, Aether would not incur any material financial or other liability.  On June 14, 2004, the plaintiffs and issuer defendants presented the executed settlement agreement to Judge Scheindlin during a court conference.  Subsequently, plaintiffs and issuers made a motion for preliminary approval of the settlement agreement.  On July 14, 2004, the underwriter defendants filed a memorandum of law in opposition to plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary approval of the settlement agreement.  Reply briefs in support of the settlement were submitted to the court.  In December 2004, the court ordered additional briefing on the motion.  All of the additional briefs were submitted to the court.  On February 15, 2005, Judge Scheindlin issued an Opinion and Order granting preliminary approval to the settlement agreement.  The court will schedule a fairness hearing on the proposed settlement and subsequently will decide whether to grant final approval to the settlement agreement.  The settlement agreement is subject to the approval of the District Court.  There can be no assurance such approval will be granted.

 

Aether is also a party to other legal proceedings in the normal course of business.  Based on evaluation of these matters and discussions with counsel, Aether believes that liabilities arising from these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated results of its operations or financial position.

 

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

 

No matters were submitted to Aether’s stockholders for consideration during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.

 

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PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR AETHER’S’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

 

Our common stock has been quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol AETH since our initial public offering on October 20, 1999.  Prior to that time, there was no public market for our common stock.  The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low prices per share of the common stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market.

 

		2004						2003
QUARTER ENDED		HIGH			LOW			HIGH			LOW
March 31		$	5.91		$	3.92		$	3.95		$	2.96
June 30		$	4.93		$	3.23		$	5.37		$	3.15
September 30		$	3.45		$	2.72		$	6.21		$	4.57
December 31		$	4.00		$	3.27		$	5.26		$	4.50

 

APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF EQUITY SECURITY HOLDERS

 

The number of holders of record of Aether’s common stock as of December 31, 2004 was 553.

 

DIVIDENDS

 

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our capital stock nor, when we were organized as a limited liability company, did we make any distributions to our members.  As discussed above in Item 1 under the heading “Introduction,” for the period that our accumulated tax loss carryforwards remain available for use, we expect to retain earnings, if any, to support the development of our business, rather than pay periodic cash dividends.  Our Board of Directors may reconsider or change this policy in the future.  Payment of future dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors, after taking into account such factors as it considers relevant, including our financial condition, the performance of our business, the perceived benefits to the Company and our stockholders of re-investing earnings, anticipated future cash needs of our business, the tax consequences of retaining earnings and the tax consequences to the Company and its stockholders of making dividend payments.

 

SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

 

Plan Category		Plan Name		Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights		Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights			Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders		1999 Equity Incentive Plan		2,063,836		$	4.03		6,728,957
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders		Acquisition Incentive Plan		18,325		0.00		(1)	1,881,675
Total				2,082,161		$	4.03		8,610,632

 

(1) All of the securities issued to date under this plan have been shares of restricted stock that vest over various periods.

 

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Acquisition Incentive Plan

 

The Acquisition Incentive Plan was effective December 15, 2000.  Grants under the plan may be made to all employees, consultants and certain other service providers (other than directors and executive officers) of the Company.  Under the plan, Aether’s Board of Directors has authorized the issuance of up to 1,900,000 shares of Aether common stock in connection with the grant of stock options or restricted stock.  All options granted under the Acquisition Incentive Plan must be nonqualified stock options.  Any shares covered by an award that are used to pay the exercise price or any required withholding tax will become available for re-issuance under the plan.  In the event of a “change of control” as such term is defined in the plan, awards of restricted stock and stock options will become fully vested or exercisable, as applicable, to the extent the award agreement granting such restricted stock or options provides for such acceleration.  (Individuals receive an award agreement upon grant of an award under the plan.)  A participant will immediately forfeit any and all unvested options and forfeit all unvested restricted stock at the time of termination from Aether, unless the award agreement provides otherwise.  No participant may exercise vested options after the 90^th day from the date of termination from Aether, unless the award grant provides otherwise.  No awards may be made pursuant to the Acquisition Incentive Plan after December 14, 2010.  The plan is administered by Aether’s Compensation Committee.

 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The table that follows presents portions of our consolidated financial statements and is not a complete presentation in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.  You should read the following selected consolidated financial data together with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this Report.  The historical results presented below are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any future fiscal year.

 

The results of operations in the following Selected Financial Data, as well as in our consolidated financial statements, present the results of our EMS, Transportation and Mobile Government segments, which we sold during 2004, as discontinued operations.  Loss from continuing operations does not include any financial results of the EMS, Transportation or Mobile Government segments.

 

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		YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
		2000			2001			2002			2003			2004
		(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Interest income from MBS portfolio		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	928
Interest expense from MBS portfolio		—			—			—			—			—
Net interest income from MBS portfolio		—			—			—			—			928
Gain on sale of MBS		—			—			—			—			1,826
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative (1)		(21,163		)	(38,340		)	(22,862		)	(15,779		)	(12,150		)
Depreciation and amortization		(2,165		)	(7,802		)	(6,319		)	(2,672		)	(2,212		)
Option and warrant expense		(3,889		)	(1,990		)	(1,735		)	(928		)	(594		)
Impairment of other assets		—			(2,807		)	(7,589		)	(1,367		)	—
Other expense		—			—			—			(744		)	(60		)
Restructuring charge		—			(875		)	(558		)	(306		)	(1,054		)
Total operating expenses		(27,217		)	(51,814		)	(39,063		)	(21,796		)	(16,070		)
Operating loss		(27,217		)	(51,814		)	(39,063		)	(21,796		)	(13,316		)
Interest income from money market accounts		55,997			27,556			9,921			6,037			3,508
Interest expense from subordinated notes		(15,981		)	(20,402		)	(15,827		)	(10,427		)	(7,917		)
Equity in losses of investments		(47,886		)	(57,523		)	(4,744		)	(97		)	—
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt		—			7,684			42,765			—			(2,419		)
Investment gain (loss), including impairments, net		—			(143,384		)	(14,412		)	587			(3,559		)
Loss from continuing operations before discontinued operations and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		(35,087		)	(237,883		)	(21,360		)	(25,696		)	(23,703		)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit) of $(1.6 million), $(10.7 million), $(535,000), $75,000 and $0 for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively		(327,613		)	(1,422,776		)	(304,062		)	(23,756		)	(45,450		)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations		—			—			—			—			20,825
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle relating to adoption of SFAS No. 133 in 2001		—			6,564			—			—			—
Net loss		$	(362,700	)	$	(1,654,095	)	$	(325,422	)	$	(49,452	)	$	(48,328	)
Net loss per share from continuing operations before discontinued operations and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		$	(0.97	)	$	(5.84	)	$	(0.51	)	$	(0.60	)	$	(0.54	)
Net loss per share from discontinued operations		(9.02		)	(34.93		)	(7.22		)	(0.56		)	(1.04		)
Gain per share on sale of discontinued operations		—			—			—			—			0.47
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		—			0.16			—			—			—
Net loss per share – basic and diluted		$	(9.99	)	$	(40.61	)	$	(7.73	)	$	(1.16	)	$	(1.11	)
Weighted average shares outstanding		36,310			40,732			42,117			42,616			43,713
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash)		$	872,747		$	527,430		$	68,593		$	39,682		$	69,555
Investments available for sale		2,648			2,490			255,825			220,849			—
MBS		—			—			—			—			62,184
Total assets		2,677,375			951,419			475,407			398,105			136,586
Total debt		334,941			306,138			154,945			154,942			—
Stockholders’ equity		$	2,167,699		$	544,526		$	229,398		$	179,301		$	130,590

 

(1)          Exclusive of option and warrant expense - see consolidated financial statements.

 

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ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, which appear in Item 8 of this Report.

 

In this discussion and analysis, we explain our financial condition and results of operations.  We have organized our discussion and analysis as follows:

 

•                  First, we briefly summarize the impact of the sales of our mobile and wireless data businesses on our operating results and our financial condition.

•                  We then discuss a number of aspects of our financial results that make it difficult to compare results from one year to the next.

•                  We then discuss our critical accounting policies.

•                  We then discuss the results of our continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2004, compared with results for 2003 and 2002.

•                  Next, we review our financial condition addressing our sources and uses of cash, liquidity and capital resources and contractual obligations.

•                  We conclude with a description of risks associated with our business.

 

INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW

 

Sales of Mobile and Wireless Data Businesses

 

We own and manage a portfolio of mortgage-backed securities and other short-term government agency investments.  These investments and our strategy for managing this business are discussed in detail above in Item 1 under the heading “Introduction.”

 

In 2004, we sold our mobile and wireless data businesses, which had not been profitable historically, and we substantially reduced our operating losses and overall cash consumption.  During the fourth quarter of 2004, we substantially completed our obligations under certain transition services agreements with the purchasers of our Transportation and Mobile Government businesses and began to focus primarily on our mortgage-backed securities business.  We also further reduced staffing levels and reduced ongoing operating expenses.  Because of certain costs related to the sales of our Transportation and Mobile Government businesses and the implementation of our new business strategy, however, overall fourth quarter operating expenses in 2004 were higher than we expect them to be in future quarters.

 

In connection with our business transition, during the fourth quarter we reduced the size of our corporate staff significantly and currently have a staff of eight employees.  In addition, we have relocated our corporate offices to a smaller leased facility in Baltimore, Maryland.  This new location will become our sole operating location.  All other existing leases (except for the lease in Massachusetts that we have sublet to the buyer of our Mobile Government business) expire during the first quarter of 2005.  Going forward, we expect our general and administrative expenses to be significantly lower, although we will still incur costs associated with being a public company, including insurance, audit and other outside professional services, compliance and various regulatory fees.  We also will continue to incur fees for our outside investment and financial advisors. 

 

As a result of the sales of our three mobile and wireless data business segments, we have presented the results of the EMS, Transportation and Mobile Government segments as “discontinued operations.”  These three operating segments accounted for all of the operating revenue and a significant portion of the operating expenses that we have previously reported.  Consequently, when the results of these segments are presented as “discontinued operations,” the operating revenues and expenses of our continuing operations are significantly lower than they have been in the past.  As required by generally accepted accounting principles, we have restated prior periods to reflect the presentation of the Transportation and Mobile Government segments as “discontinued operations,” so that period-to-period results are comparable.

 

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We may be subject to continuing liabilities as a result of our sales of our operating business.  Under the definitive purchase agreements, we have agreed to indemnify the buyers of these businesses for certain breaches of representations and warranties and other covenants that we provided to them with respect to the sales of the businesses.  In addition, we remain fully liable for the operation of each of the business segments prior to the dispositions.  We also have retained liability for certain continuing obligations associated with the Mobile Government segment, as described in Note 15 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report.  In addition, as discussed below in Item 7 under the heading “Sales of Discontinued Operations” and in Note 15 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report, we are involved in a dispute with the buyer of our Transportation segment about the amount of post-closing payments and purchase price adjustments.  To the extent this dispute is not resolved in our favor, we may not receive certain additional payments that we expect and we may be required to make a cash payment to the buyer.  In such event, we would record a charge against earnings, further increasing the loss on the sale of the Transportation segment.

 

With the transition from our mobile and wireless data businesses to our MBS business, we will no longer report revenue, cost of revenue or gross profit.  Instead, we expect that our income statement will consist primarily of interest income and expense, realized and unrealized gains on transactions and selling, general and administrative expenses.  Our balance sheet now includes (or as we develop our MBS business, is expected to include) primarily cash and cash equivalents, investments, repurchase agreements (to the extent we borrow funds to leverage our MBS portfolio), interest receivable and payable and other less significant assets and liabilities, including the fair value of derivative instruments.  To the extent that we enter additional or different businesses in the future, the results of our operations and the composition of our assets and liabilities could again change materially.

 

Other Factors Affecting Comparability of Results of Operations

 

Certain items included in our results of operations have varied significantly from one year to the next, making it difficult to compare our overall results from year to year.  These items are discussed below.  In general, as discussed below, we do not expect these items to have a material impact on our results of operations in future years.

 

Impairment Charges

 

SFAS No. 121 Impairments

 

Through December 31, 2001, we recorded approximately $1.718 billion in goodwill and other intangibles in discontinued operations related to acquisitions of mobile and wireless data businesses.  During 2001, we performed on-going analysis of the recoverability of our goodwill and other intangibles and the value of our investments in accordance with SFAS No. 121, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and For Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of.”  Based on quantitative and qualitative measures, we assessed the need to record impairment losses on long-lived assets used in operations when impairment indicators were present.

 

Based on a variety of indicators, we determined during 2001 that the goodwill and other intangibles from our acquisitions may have become impaired.  As a result of our review, we determined that the carrying value of goodwill and certain other assets related to our acquisitions were not fully recoverable.  Accordingly, during 2001, we recorded impairment charges in continuing operations of approximately $2.8 million, which represented the difference between the carrying value and fair value of the assets.  Also during 2001, we recorded impairment charges in discontinued operations of approximately $1.118 billion, which represented the difference between the carrying value and fair value of the goodwill, intangible and other assets.  These amounts are included in the loss from discontinued operations.

 

Goodwill

 

We adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” as of January 1, 2002.  Goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized.  Instead, they are tested for impairment at least annually in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 142.  SFAS No. 142 also requires that intangible assets with estimable useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.”

 

As a result of the adoption of SFAS No. 142, we recorded an impairment charge of $129.3 million ($29.7 million to goodwill and $99.6 million to intangible assets) related to discontinued operations.  SFAS No. 142 also requires that we repeat the impairment analysis each year, beginning with a recurring annual measurement date chosen by us in 2002.  We chose September 30, 2002 to be 2002’s measurement date, and we continued to perform annual impairment reviews as of September 30^th each subsequent year.  The September 30, 2002 review resulted in an additional impairment charge to goodwill of $26.8 million.  All of these amounts are included in loss from discontinued operations.  We performed this analysis again in September 2003 and determined that there was no further impairment of goodwill at that time.

 

19

 

During the second quarter of 2004, with the potential future sale of the Transportation and Mobile Government segments, we reassessed the value of the Transportation and Mobile Government goodwill and recorded impairment charges related to goodwill of $12.2 million and $8.9 million, respectively.  After the sale of the EMS, Transportation and Mobile Government segments, we no longer have any goodwill on our balance sheet.  Therefore, SFAS No. 142 and goodwill impairment charges will not be relevant to future results.

 

See Notes 3 and 15 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report for a more detailed discussion of these subjects.

 

Intangibles and Other Long-Lived Assets.

 

SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” provides a single accounting model for long-lived assets to be disposed of.  SFAS No. 144 also changes the criteria for classifying an asset as held for sale; and broadens the scope of businesses to be disposed of that qualify for reporting as discontinued operations and changes the timing of recognizing losses on such operations.  We adopted SFAS No. 144 on January 1, 2002.

 

During 2002, we recorded an impairment charge to intangibles and other long-lived assets of $42.8 million.  Of this charge, $7.6 million related to continuing operations and $30.0 million, $5.1 million and $125,000 related to EMS, Transportation and Mobile Government, respectively, which are reported as discontinued operations.

 

During 2003, we recorded impairment charges to intangibles and other long-lived assets of $2.7 million.  Of this charge, $1.4 million related to continuing operations and $629,000 and $677,000 related to EMS and Transportation, respectively, which are reported as discontinued operations.

 

During the second quarter of 2004, with the potential future sale of the Transportation and Mobile Government segments, we reassessed the value of the Transportation and Mobile Government intangibles and other long-lived assets and recorded non-cash impairment charges related to Transportation intangibles and other assets of $3.1 million and $11.3 million, respectively.  After the sale of the EMS, Transportation and Mobile Government segments, we no longer have any intangible assets on our balance sheet.  Therefore, intangible asset impairment charges will not be relevant to future results.  We will continue to evaluate our other long-lived assets in accordance with SFAS No. 144.

 

See Notes 3 and 15 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report for a more detailed discussion of these subjects.

 

Investments

 

From 1999 through 2001, we made approximately $196.8 million of investments in other businesses through our Aether Capital L.L.C. subsidiary.  During 2001, we recorded a net charge of $143.4 million, which included $136.7 million in impairment charges related to our investments.  The remainder of the net charge related to net gains and losses from the sales of investments, and changes in the fair value of warrants. 

 

During 2002, we recorded a net charge of $14.4 million, which included $14.1 million in impairment charges related to our investments.  The remainder of the charge related to net gains and losses from the sales of investments, and changes in the fair value of warrants. 

 

During 2003, we recorded a net gain of $587,000, which included impairment charges of $71,000 related to our investments.  The remainder of the net gain resulted from sales of investments.

 

During 2004, we recorded a net loss of $3.6 million, which included a $5.4 million loss on the liquidation of our investments available for sale consisting of highly liquid U.S. Government Agency-sponsored securities.  The loss was partially offset by a gain of $1.8 million relating to the sale of other investments.

 

As of December 31, 2004, our investment balances were primarily related to MBS and cash equivalents.

 

See Note 5 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report for a more detailed discussion of these subjects.

 

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Restructuring Charges

 

During 2001 through 2004, we implemented expense reduction plans as part of our integration strategy focused on improving operational efficiencies and the implementation of other measures in order to reduce planned expenses.  These efforts have resulted in the consolidation of excess facilities and a significant reduction in our workforce.  As of December 31, 2004, we had a total of 12 employees, and all of them were located at our principal office in Baltimore, Maryland.  Employee separation benefits under the restructuring plans include severance, medical, and other benefits.  Facility closure costs and other costs included expected losses on subleases, brokerage commissions, asset impairment charges, contract termination costs and other costs.

 

(Charge in thousands)		2002			2003			2004
Continuing Operations
Charge		$	558		$	306		$	1,054
Positions Eliminated		37			10			14
Discontinued Operations
Charge		$	37,186		$	5,851		$	84
Positions Eliminated		287			102			—
Facilities Closed or Consolidated		2			—			—

 

As of December 31, 2004, the accrued liability related to all restructuring activities was $259,000, the majority of which related to lease obligations.  Restructuring charges in 2005 are not expected to be material to our results or financial condition.

 

See Note 8 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report for a more detailed discussion of these subjects.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Our critical accounting policies affect the amount of income and expense we record in each period as well as the value of our assets and liabilities and our disclosures regarding contingent assets and liabilities.  In applying these critical accounting policies, we must make estimates and assumptions to prepare our financial statements that, if made differently, could have a positive or negative effect on our financial results.  We believe that our estimates and assumptions are both reasonable and appropriate, in light of applicable accounting rules.  However, estimates involve judgments with respect to numerous factors that are difficult to predict and are beyond management’s control.  As a result, actual amounts could materially differ from estimates.

 

Management believes that the following accounting policies represent “critical accounting policies,” which the Securities and Exchange Commission defines as those that are most important to the portrayal of a company’s financial condition and results of operations and require management’s most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments, often because management must make estimates about uncertain and changing matters.  We discuss these and other significant accounting policies related to our continuing operations in Note 2 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report.

 

Mortgage-backed securities

 

We invest primarily in agency pass-through certificates representing interests in or obligations backed by pools of mortgage loans.

 

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, requires us to classify our investments as trading investments, available-for-sale investments or held-to-maturity investments.  Although we generally intend to hold most of our investments until maturity, we may, from time to time, sell any of our investments as part of our overall management of our statement of financial condition.  Accordingly, this flexibility requires us to classify all of our mortgage-backed securities as available for sale.  All assets classified as available for sale are reported at fair value, based on market pricing estimates provided by independent pricing services and dealers who make markets in these financial instruments, with unrealized gains and losses excluded from earnings and reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.

 

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Unrealized losses on mortgage-backed securities that are considered other than temporary, as measured by the amount of decline in fair value attributable to factors other than temporary, are recognized in income and the cost basis of the securities is adjusted.  As of December 31, 2004, we had two MBS in an aggregate unrealized loss position of $210,000 because changes in interest rates have reduced their market value.  The securities carry an implied AAA rating.  We do not consider these unrealized losses other-than-temporary since we have the ability and the intent to hold the investments for a period of time sufficient to allow for a market price recovery.

 

Interest income is accrued based on the outstanding principal amount of the securities and their contractual terms.  Premiums and discounts associated with the purchase of the securities are amortized into interest income over the lives of the securities using the interest method in accordance with Financial Accounting Standard No. 91, Accounting for Nonrefundable Fees and Costs Associated with Originating or Acquiring Loans and Initial Direct Costs of Leases.  Our policy for estimating prepayment speeds for calculating the effective yield is to evaluate historical performance, street consensus prepayment speeds, and current market conditions.  In general, as prepayment speeds on our MBS increase, related purchase premium amortization increases, thereby reducing our net yield on MBS.  If we used different prepayment estimates, the amounts we report for interest income could be materially different.

 

MBS transactions are recorded on the trade date.  Purchases of newly issued securities are recorded when all significant uncertainties regarding the characteristics of the securities are removed, generally shortly before settlement date.  Realized gains and losses on such transactions are determined on the specific identification basis.                                                

 

See Note 4 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report for a more detailed discussion of the MBS we held at December 31, 2004.

 

Valuation of deferred tax assets

 

We have deferred tax assets as a result of years of accumulated tax loss carryforwards.  Management believes we will achieve profitable operations in future years that will enable us to recover the benefit of our deferred tax assets.  However, we presently do not have sufficient objective evidence to support management’s belief and, accordingly, we maintain a full valuation allowance for our net deferred tax assets as required by generally accepted accounting principles.  When we have sufficient objective evidence, we will reduce our valuation allowance accordingly. 

 

See Note 10 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report for a more detailed discussion of these subjects.

 

Guarantees

 

We have certain guarantees related to assigned leases.  We also agreed to maintain a letter of credit as collateral assurance of performance for a significant customer contract that was assigned to the buyer of our Mobile Government business in connection with the sale of that business.  These arrangements have been evaluated in accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantors Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others” (FIN 45), and we have recorded a total liability of $308,000 in respect to these arrangements.  This liability is included in “Other long-term liabilities” on our balance sheet.  The liability was recorded based on various scenarios that could result in potential liabilities from the guarantee ranging from $0 to $6.9 million and the estimated probability of those scenarios based on discussions with personnel closely involved with the project.  Had we used different estimates, the liability that we recorded could have differed materially.

 

See Note 14 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report for a more detailed discussion of these subjects.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2004, the FASB issued a revision of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, titled “Share-Based Payments” (“Statement No. 123R”). Statement No. 123R requires that share-based payments, such as grants of stock options, restricted shares, and stock appreciation rights, be measured at fair value and reported as expense in a company’s financial statements over the requisite service period.

 

See Note 2 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report for a more detailed discussion of this subject.

 

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RESULTS OF CONTINUING OPERATIONS

 

Overview

 

Because we began implementing our MBS strategy in 2004, and because we have only invested a limited amount of cash in MBS, in response to market conditions and the advice of our outside financial and investment advisors, the results of our operations in 2004 and prior years are not indicative of what we expect our results to be in the future.  Most significantly, our operating expenses (though they have declined significantly) are still higher than they will be, and we have realized only limited interest income from our MBS portfolio (reflecting limited MBS investment for only a portion of 2004 and our decision not to expand the portfolio in 2004 through the use of leverage).

 

The most notable trend in our operating results is the decline in both expenses and operating loss.  From 2002 to 2003, our business saw the benefits of our organizational restructuring efforts, which significantly reduced our operating expenses.  In 2002, we also repurchased a portion of our 6% convertible subordinated notes at a discount.  This not only produced a significant one-time gain (which reduced our 2002 loss from continuing operations), but also substantially reduced our interest expense going forward.

 

From 2003 to 2004, our business continued to benefit from our organizational restructuring activities.  Our operating loss continued to decline as a result of the decline in our expenses.  In October 2004, we redeemed all of the remaining outstanding 6% convertible subordinated notes at a price of 101.2% and realized a $2.4 million loss on the early extinguishment.  The loss, however, was offset by lower interest expense as a result of the redemption.  If we had not redeemed these notes, we would have been required to pay $4.3 million of interest on the notes through their maturity in March 2005.

 

Interest Income from MBS Portfolio

 

During the second quarter of 2004, we began implementing an MBS strategy and invested a portion of our cash resources into an MBS portfolio.  Initially, our Board of Directors authorized the use of up to $75 million for the MBS strategy.  This limit was later increased to $100 million.  Initially, we entered into forward purchase contracts representing commitments to make future purchases of mortgage-backed securities with an estimated face value of $264.5 million.  As discussed below, we sold our position for a gain in the third quarter of 2004 (before purchasing the underlying mortgage-backed securities).  We then invested approximately $63.8 million in MBS in September and October of 2004.  The remainder of our cash allocated to the MBS strategy was invested in short-term U.S. Government Agency-sponsored cash equivalents with yields between 1.23% and 2.27%.  We consider interest earned on all of these investments to be interest from our MBS portfolio.  During 2004, the interest earned on the portfolio was approximately $928,000, net of premium amortization and custodian fees.

 

(in thousands)		2004
Interest earned on MBS		$	505
Less: MBS premium amortization		(22		)
Interest earned on U.S. Government Agency-sponsored securities		447
Less: Custodian fees		(2		)
Interest income from MBS portfolio		$	928

 

Our interest income from MBS, which reflects the amortization of purchase premiums, varies primarily as a result of changes in interest rates and prepayment speeds.  Changes in both interest rates and prepayment speeds are uncertain and represent principal risks of our MBS strategy, as discussed below in Item 7 under the heading “Risk Factors – Differences in timing of interest rate adjustments on our acquired securities and on our borrowings may adversely affect our MBS strategy and the returns on the portion of our cash we invest in MBS.” Prepayment speeds, as reflected by the Constant Prepayment Rate (“CPR”), and interest rates vary according to the type of investment, conditions in financial markets, competition and other factors, none of which can be predicted with any certainty.  In general, as prepayment speeds on our MBS increase, related purchase premium amortization increases, thereby reducing the net yield on MBS.

 

The following table presents key metrics of our MBS, for the quarterly periods presented:

 

Quarter Ended		Weighted Average Coupon		Weighted Average CPR		Weighted Average Yield
September 30, 2004		3.93	%	—	%	3.88	%
December 31, 2004		3.92	%	7.3	%	3.76	%

 

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We believe that the CPR in future periods will depend, in part, on changes in and the level of market interest rates across the yield curve, with higher CPRs expected during periods of declining interest rates and lower CPRs expected during periods of rising interest rates. 

 

Gain on Sale of MBS

 

In late June 2004, we purchased forward option contracts representing commitments to make future purchases of mortgage-backed securities with an estimated face value of $264.5 million.  The purchase commitments appreciated in value during the third quarter of 2004 and we sold our position, realizing a cash gain of approximately $1.8 million.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Our operating expenses have declined significantly each year from 2002 to 2004, primarily due to the results of our restructuring efforts, in which we streamlined our organization and reduced our workforce.  In addition, we have not continued to experience significant impairment charges on our long-lived assets, after incurring significant impairment charges in 2002 and, to a lesser extent, 2003.

 

Operating Expenses:

 

(in thousands)		2002			2003			2004
Selling, general and administrative expenses		$	(22,862	)	$	(15,779	)	$	(12,150	)
Depreciation		(6,319		)	(2,672		)	(2,212		)
Option and warrant expense		(1,735		)	(928		)	(594		)
Impairment of other assets		(7,589		)	(1,367		)	—
Other expense		—			(744		)	(60		)
Restructuring charge		(558		)	(306		)	(1,054		)
Total Operating Expenses		$	(39,063	)	$	(21,796	)	$	(16,070	)

 

We expect our 2005 operating expenses to be significantly lower than 2004.  During the first quarter of 2005 we have substantially completed transition activities that related to ongoing obligations to the buyers of our Transportation and Mobile Government segments.  We also have streamlined our corporate infrastructure to the level required to support our ongoing business.  However, we will continue to incur the costs of operating as a publicly traded company, as discussed in more detail below in Item 7 under the heading “Risk Factors – Compliance with changing regulation of corporate governance and public disclosure may result in additional expenses.”

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses consist primarily of cash compensation and related costs for general corporate personnel, along with rent and general support costs.  These expenses also include the costs of outside professionals, including legal counsel, accountants and investment bankers.

 

SG&A expenses decreased $7.1 million, or approximately 31% from 2002 to 2003.  Of the decrease, $2.1 million is primarily due to reductions in personnel costs as a result of our reduction in workforce.  Telecommunications costs decreased $1.6 million.  Travel, taxes and facility expenses also decreased approximately $880,000, $709,000 and $686,000, respectively.

 

SG&A expenses decreased $3.6 million, or approximately 23%, from 2003 to 2004.  Of the decrease, $1.4 million is primarily due to reductions in personnel costs as a result of our reduction in workforce.  Facility and travel costs decreased approximately $978,000 and $447,000, respectively.  Additional expense reductions were offset somewhat by a $1.0 million increase in investment banking fees paid in 2004.  These investment banking fees included $900,000 related to the implementation of our MBS strategy, including $500,000 paid to our investment advisor (FBR Investment Management) for assisting with the development and launch of the MBS strategy, as well as $400,000 paid to a third-party investment expert to provide our management and our Board of Directors with an independent assessment of the MBS strategy.  Additionally, the investment banking fees included a $400,000 advisory fee related to an unconsummated deal to sell our Transportation segment.

 

Our 2004 SG&A expenses include the fees we pay to our investment advisor relative to their advisory services for our MBS portfolio.  These fees include a quarterly management fee equal to 0.0375% of the aggregate cost basis of the portfolio and an incentive fee equal to 25% of the yield in excess of a certain yield threshold.  The management fee will increase as the size of our MBS portfolio increases.  As of December 31, 2004, no incentive fee has been earned on the portfolio.

 

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We expect our 2005 SG&A expenses to be significantly lower than 2004 now that we have completed the sales of our operating segments and the transition of our business.  Over time, if we increase our MBS portfolio to a significant size, we may expand our corporate staff to add MBS investment expertise, which would allow us to reduce our reliance on, and the fees we are required to pay to our outside investment advisors.  We have not yet determined at what point, if at all, we would consider it prudent and advisable to expand our corporate staff to add this capability, but we plan to continuously evaluate the cost-effectiveness of additional personnel. 

 

Depreciation

 

Depreciation expenses arise from property and equipment purchased for use in our operations.

 

Depreciation decreased $3.6 million from 2002 to 2003.  The decrease was primarily a result of the impairment charges recorded during 2002, which significantly reduced the carrying value of our long-lived assets.

 

Depreciation decreased approximately $460,000 from 2003 to 2004.  The decrease was primarily a result of the impairment charges recorded during 2002 and 2003, which significantly reduced the carrying value of our long-lived assets, offset somewhat by accelerated depreciation on certain assets taken out of service during 2004.

 

During 2004, we identified that portion of our corporate assets that would cease to be used in our ongoing operations after the streamlining of our corporate infrastructure and our move to Baltimore.  At that point, we began accelerating the depreciation on those assets based on their shortened useful lives.  As a result, our fixed asset balances at December 31, 2004 primarily include assets that will be used on an ongoing basis and the depreciation on those assets in 2005 will be significantly lower than 2004 depreciation.

 

See Note 6 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report for a more detailed discussion of these subjects.

 

Option and Warrant Expense

 

Option and warrant expense decreased approximately $807,000 from 2002 to 2003 and approximately $334,000 from 2003 to 2004.  The decreases in 2003 and 2004 were primarily the result of the cancellation of options as we reduced our work force.

 

See Note 12 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report for a more detailed discussion of these subjects.

 

Impairment of Other Assets and Restructuring Charges

 

We have discussed our impairment of other assets and restructuring charges above in the introduction to this Item 7, under the headings “Impairment Charges – Intangibles and Other Long-Lived Assets” and “Restructuring,” respectively.

 

Other Expense

 

Other expense was approximately $744,000 for 2003 and was primarily due to the loss on disposal of our corporate jet, offset somewhat by gains on the disposal of other assets we sold.

 

Other expense for 2004 was approximately $60,000 and was primarily due to a litigation settlement.

 

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Other Income (Expense):

 

(in thousands)		2002				2003			2004
Interest income from money market accounts		$		9,921		$	6,037		$	3,508
Interest expense on subordinated notes payable		(15,827			)	(10,427		)	(7,917		)
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt		42,765				—			(2,419		)
Equity in losses of investments		(4,744			)	(97		)	—
Investment gain (loss), including impairments, net		(14,412			)	587			(3,559		)
Total		$	17,703			$	(3,900	)	$	(10,387	)

 

Interest Income from Money Market Accounts

 

Interest income from money market accounts consists primarily of interest from cash equivalents and investments with a maturity of less than 12 months.  Interest income from money market accounts decreased approximately $3.9 million from 2002 to 2003 and approximately $2.5 million from 2003 to 2004 as the result of a decreasing cash and investment balance (as we continued to consume cash to fund our business and to repurchase (in 2002) and later redeem (in 2004) our 6% convertible subordinated notes), combined with decreased interest rates.  During 2004, we invested a substantial portion of our available cash in our MBS portfolio, and interest on such amounts is reported as “Interest income from MBS portfolio,” as discussed above.

 

Interest Expense on Subordinated Notes Payable

 

Interest expense on subordinated notes payable consists primarily of debt service on our outstanding 6% convertible subordinated notes.  Interest expense on subordinated notes payable decreased $5.4 million from 2002 to 2003 and $2.5 million from 2003 to 2004, primarily due to a decrease in the outstanding principal amount of the notes as the result of the repurchase of debt in 2002 and the redemption of the remaining debt in 2004.  As of October 4, 2004, all of the outstanding notes were redeemed and no further interest expense will be incurred.

 

Gain (Loss) on Early Extinguishment of Debt

 

During 2002, we realized a gain of $42.8 million, from repurchasing $135.6 million of our 6% convertible subordinated notes due March 22, 2005 at a discount to their face amount (including accrued interest).  During 2004, we redeemed all of the remaining outstanding notes at a price of 101.2% and realized a $2.4 million loss, which consisted of the $1.9 million premium on the repurchase and the recognition of approximately $560,000 in deferred financing costs.  The early retirement of the debt resulted in a savings of $4.3 million in interest expense on the notes that we would have been required to pay through their maturity in March 2005.

 

Equity in Losses of Investments

 

Equity in losses of investments consists of our proportionate share of the net losses in our investments over which we exercised significant influence and as such accounted for under the equity method of accounting.  Equity in losses of investments decreased to approximately $97,000 for 2003 from $4.7 million for 2002.  The decrease from 2002 to 2003 reflects a decrease in the number of equity investments in our portfolio in addition to decreased losses from those investments.  There were no equity losses of investments during 2004 and we no longer have any investments accounted for under the equity method.

 

Investment Gain (Loss), Including Impairments, Net

 

See the discussion under the heading “Impairment Charges - Investments,” above for a more detailed discussion of these subjects.

 

SALES OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

 

EMS Sale

On January 13, 2004, we completed the sale of our EMS segment to TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. (“TCS”).  Pursuant to the purchase agreement, as amended, we received $19.0 million for the EMS segment, consisting of $18.0 million in cash and a note in the principal amount of $1.0 million due in August 2004.  We also received 204,020 shares of TCS Class A common stock valued as of closing at approximately $1.1 million.  In April 2004, we sold these securities and received approximately $1.4 million in cash.  In addition, the $1.0 million note from TCS was repaid in full in August 2004.

 

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Transportation Sale

On September 17, 2004, we sold our Transportation segment to Slingshot Acquisition Corporation (“Slingshot”), which is an affiliate of Platinum Equity Capital Partners L.P., for $25.0 million in cash.  The purchase price is subject to a post-closing adjustment based on net working capital to the extent the Transportation segment’s adjusted net working capital at August 31, 2004 was more than $28.2 million or less than $27.6 million.  In addition, the parties also agreed to net cash receipts and payments by (or for the account of) the Transportation segment between September 1, 2004 and the closing date, with any positive net cash balance being payable to Slingshot and any negative balance being due from Slingshot.  The transaction was structured as a sale of assets and assumption of certain liabilities.  The assets sold consisted of all of the assets used primarily in the Transportation segment.  Slingshot assumed responsibility for substantially all post-closing liabilities and certain historical liabilities, of the Transportation segment.  At the closing of the purchase agreement, we entered into a transition services agreement with Slingshot to provide for the orderly transition of the business to Slingshot, which is expected to be completed by early 2005.

 

In connection with the sale of the Transportation segment, we recorded a $26.6 million non-cash impairment charge in the second quarter of 2004.

 

During the fourth quarter of 2004, both parties advised each other of significant disagreement over both the working capital adjustment and the cash true-up.  We advised Slingshot that based on our calculation of net working capital, the purchase price should be reduced by approximately $67,000.  In addition, we advised Slingshot that pursuant to the cash true-up mechanism, Slingshot owed us approximately $923,000.  Slingshot disputed our calculations and contended that its own calculation of working capital supported a downward purchase price adjustment of approximately $8.1 million and its view of the cash true-up arrangement suggested that it should receive a payment from us of approximately $300,000.  We subsequently responded to Slingshot and rejected all of Slingshot’s calculations and arguments, except that we agreed that the working capital calculation should result in an additional downward price adjustment of approximately $40,000 and that amounts owed relative to the cash true-up mechanism should be reduced by approximately $79,000.

 

We have held discussions with Slingshot about the disputed amounts but have not reached agreement on any of them.  While we strongly disagree with Slingshot’s positions on these matters, if the disagreements cannot be resolved by agreement of the parties, they are required to be submitted (under the terms of the asset purchase agreement) to an independent accounting firm for final resolution.  At this time, we cannot predict whether the disagreements will be resolved consensually or what the results of any decision by an independent accounting firm are likely to be.  As of December 31, 2004, we had $943,000 in amounts due from Slingshot recorded on our balance sheet as “Prepaid expenses and other assets.”  If we are not successful in collecting this amount, we will have to write-off these assets with a future period charge to earnings.  In addition, if we do not prevail in our view of the appropriate working capital adjustment, we could be required to make a cash payment to Slingshot in the amount of the working capital shortfall which would also result in a future period charge to earnings.

 

Mobile Government Sale

On September 30, 2004, we sold our Mobile Government segment to BIO-Key International Inc. (“BIO-Key”) for $10.0 million in cash.  The purchase price is subject to a post-closing adjustment based upon net working capital.  The transaction was structured as a sale of asset and assumption of certain liabilities.  The assets sold consisted of all the assets used in the Mobile Government segment.  BIO-Key assumed responsibility for substantially all post-closing liabilities, and certain historical liabilities, of the Mobile Government segment.  We also entered into a transition services agreement with BIO-Key to provide for the orderly transition of the business to BIO-Key, which is expected to be completed by early 2005.

 

In connection with the sale of the Mobile Government segment, we recorded an $8.9 million non-cash impairment charge in the second quarter of 2004.

 

On October 25, 2004, we informed BIO-Key that based on our calculation of net working capital, the purchase price should be increased by approximately $343,000.  During the fourth quarter of 2004, BIO-Key paid us for the working capital adjustment and substantially all other amounts due related to the sale.

 

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FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

Introduction

 

In reviewing the discussion of our financial condition that follows, you should consider the following:

 

•      Our business has never generated a profit.  Consequently, we have required funding from sources other than our business operations to run our business.  This funding has come principally from selling debt and equity securities.  We do not currently have a bank line of credit or other bank borrowing facility, although we expect that we will be able to borrow money to expand our MBS portfolio through the use of repurchase agreements, as discussed above in Item 1 under the heading “Business – Introduction — Mortgage-Backed Securities Strategy.”

 

•                  At December 31, 2004, we had cash balances and liquid investments (including our investments in MBS and other U.S.-Government Agency sponsored securities) of approximately $122.9 million (excluding $8.8 million of restricted cash).  This represents approximately 90% of the total assets on our balance sheet at December 31, 2004.  We have various obligations that we are required to pay over time under various contracts and agreements, as discussed in more detail below.  Our total balance sheet liabilities at December 31, 2004 were approximately $6 million.

 

•                  Since our inception in 1996, we have accumulated substantial net operating and capital losses that we are allowed to carry forward for a period of time to offset future taxable income.  These tax loss carryforwards would be a valuable asset if we become profitable in the future and start to generate income that would otherwise be subject to income tax.  As discussed above in Item 1 under the heading “Business – Introduction – Tax Aspects of Our Business Strategy,” subject to various regulatory limitations, under federal and state tax laws, we are permitted to use these losses to reduce the income taxes we otherwise would have to pay on future income.  As a result, we could have little or no income tax liability for a period of time if we are able to become profitable and generate taxable income.   See the discussion below under the heading “Risk Factors – We may not be able to realize value from our tax loss carryforwards” for more information on the risks associated with our ability to use these accumulated losses.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Cash Flows

 

The following table reflects use of net cash for operations, investing, and financing:

 

		2002				2003			2004
Net cash used by operating activities from continuing operations		$		(17,763	)	$	(53,279	)	$	(18,557	)
Net cash used by discontinued operations		(90,136			)	(10,369		)	(6,031		)
Net cash used by operating activities		(107,899			)	(63,648		)	(24,588		)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(250,790			)	37,102			209,243
Net cash used in financing activities		(93,849			)	(3,459		)	(150,154		)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		$	(452,538		)	$	(30,005	)	$	34,501

 

Net cash used in operating activities was $24.6 million, $63.6 million and $107.9 million for 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.  While our operating activities have not generated cash historically, we expect that as we more fully implement our MBS business strategy, our continuing operations will begin to generate cash during 2005, reflecting further reductions in operating expenses, reduced restructuring payments, the completion of transition service obligations associated with the sales of our mobile and wireless data businesses, and the elimination of interest payments related to our 6% subordinated notes.

 

Net cash provided by investing activities was $209.2 million for 2004, consisting primarily of $218.9 million from the liquidation of investments (primarily United States Government Agency-sponsored securities) as discussed above under the heading “Investment Gain (Loss), Including Impairments, Net.”  Additionally, we used $63.8 million to purchase mortgage backed securities and received $18.9 million, $23.0 million, and $8.8 million from the sale of our EMS, Transportation, and Mobile Government segments, respectively, net of transaction expenses, and received $2.4 million from the sale of investments in Indivos Corporation and Juniper Financial that we had made through Aether Capital L.L.C. 

 

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Net cash provided by investing activities was $37.1 million for 2003.  We received $33.2 million for the net sale of short-term and non-current investment instruments (primarily United States Government Agency-sponsored securities). Additionally, we used approximately $600,000 for the purchase of property and equipment (which was sold as part of the dispositions we completed in 2004) and received approximately $4.1 million from sales of certain property and equipment.

 

Net cash used in investing activities was $250.8 million for 2002 and consisted primarily of the $248.7 million of purchases of short-term and non-current investment instruments, net of sales.  Additionally, approximately $2.2 million was used for the purchase of property and equipment.

 

Net cash used by financing activities was $150.2 million for 2004, consisting primarily of $156.8 million used to redeem the remaining outstanding 6% convertible subordinated notes, as discussed above.  Additionally, we received $4.6 million from the expiration of certain letters of credit in 2004.

 

Net cash used in financing activities was $3.5 million for 2003.  During 2003, financing activities included the investment of approximately $4.5 million of cash in certificates of deposit, which was used as collateral against certain letters of credit.

 

Net cash used in financing activities was $93.8 million for 2002, which primarily consisted of $92.3 million used for the repurchase of a portion of our outstanding 6% convertible subordinated notes due March 2005.

 

As of December 31, 2003, we had investments available for sale totaling approximately $220.8 million that were classified as non-current assets since they all had maturities after December 31, 2004.  During 2004, we liquated these investments and used the proceeds to redeem our remaining outstanding 6% subordinated notes and invest in MBS. 

 

As of December 31, 2004, our cash balances and liquid investments (including our investments in MBS and other U.S. Government Agency-sponsored securities and excluding restricted cash) accounted for approximately $122.9 million (90% of the total assets) on our balance sheet.  Our total liabilities as of the same date were approximately $6.0 million.  The net impact on our financial condition of our various strategic and operating activities during 2004 (as reflected by these cash flows) was to use a portion of our available cash to reduce our long-term liabilities, to convert various current and other assets that were used in our mobile and wireless data businesses into cash, to eliminate various liabilities related to our discontinued operations (through assignment of such liabilities to the buyers of those operations) and to begin to move a significant portion of our available cash into our MBS business.

 

Capital Resources and Liquidity

 

We anticipate that our primary source of funds with which to leverage our MBS portfolio will be repurchase agreements.  At December 31, 2004, we had master repurchase arrangements in place with four counterparties with no repurchase agreements outstanding.  These master repurchase arrangements have no stated expiration but can be terminated at any time at our option or at the option of the counterparty.  However, once a definitive repurchase agreement under a master repurchase arrangement has been entered into, it generally may not be terminated by either party.  Increases in short-term interest rates could negatively impact the valuation of our mortgage related securities, which could limit our borrowing ability or cause our counterparties under our master repurchase arrangements to initiate margin calls.  This would increase our liquidity needs and could reduce our ability to borrow.  As discussed above in Item 1 under the heading “Business – Mortgage-Backed Securities – Leverage and Borrowing Strategy,” we expect to enter into definitive repurchase arrangements to fund most of the amounts that will be required to purchase MBS under the forward contract arrangements we entered into during February and March 2005.

 

For liquidity, we will also rely on cash flow from operations, primarily monthly principal and interest payments to be received on our MBS.  We believe that cash flow from operations, and funding available through our master repurchase arrangements, will be sufficient to enable us to meet anticipated liquidity requirements and plans to build our MBS portfolio.

 

Various changes in market conditions could adversely affect our liquidity, including increases in interest rates and increases in prepayment rates substantially above our expectations. If our cash resources are at any time insufficient to satisfy our liquidity requirements, we may be required to pledge additional assets to meet margin calls, liquidate mortgage related securities or sell debt or additional equity securities. If required, the sale of mortgage related securities at prices lower than the carrying value of such assets would result in losses and reduced income.

 

We may in the future seek to increase our capital resources by making additional offerings of equity and debt securities.  Additional equity offerings may be dilutive to stockholders’ equity or reduce the market price of our common stock, or both.  We are unable to estimate the amount, timing or nature of any additional offerings as they will depend upon market conditions and other factors, including limitations under applicable tax laws relating to our accumulated tax loss carryforwards, as discussed above under the heading “Risk Factors – We may not be able to realize value from our tax loss carryforwards.”

 

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Letters of Credit

 

As of December 31, 2004, we have three letters of credit ($8.8 million) outstanding that expire at various times over the next four years.  The largest of these serves as collateral assurance to secure the performance of BIO-Key International, Inc., the buyer of the Mobile Government segment, to Hamilton County, Ohio under a sales agreement that was assigned to BIO-Key as part of the sale of the Mobile Government business.  The remaining two letters of credit serve as collateral to secure our performance on leased office space, including the Massachusetts office space used by the Mobile Government business, which we have sublet to BIO-Key.  See the discussion under the heading “Guarantees” below and in Note 14 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report for a more detailed discussion of the Mobile Government letters of credit, including arrangements that we have in place with BIO-Key to provide for repayment if these letters of credit are drawn.

 

Guarantees

 

As of December 31, 2004, we have made the following guarantees:

 

•                  We have guaranteed the payments on two leases that were assigned to the buyers of our mobile and wireless data businesses. The maximum guarantee on these leases is approximately $561,000.

•                  As of December 31, 2004, we had $7.9 million of our certificates of deposit that were being held on deposit to collateralize an irrevocable standby letter of credit put in place when our Mobile Government segment entered into a sales agreement with Hamilton County, Ohio to provide an automated field reporting solution and real time wireless data infrastructure under a sales agreement.  The letter of credit provides collateral assurance of performance under the sales agreement.  The terms of the sales agreement and the standby letter of credit state that Hamilton County can only draw on the letter of credit after (1) completing the internal dispute resolution process set forth in the sales agreement and (2) providing notice to Mobile Government of its intent to declare a default under the sales agreement and proceed against the letter of credit.  A draw of the funds under the letter of credit is subject to the limitations of liability contained in the sales agreement.  The letter of credit is required to remain in place through the earlier of the end of the warranty period or December 31, 2006.  The amount of the letter of credit can be reduced by 25% at the end of the third calendar month of the warranty period as long as certain conditions are met.  Although we sold the Mobile Government business to BIO-Key International, Inc. on September 30, 2004, we agreed to maintain the $7.9 million letter of credit in favor of Hamilton County.  In consideration of this arrangement, and to assure repayment to us of any amounts that Hamilton County collects by drawing on the letter of credit as a result of a default by BIO-Key, BIO-Key has provided us with a $1.0 million escrow and a $6.9 million subordinated secured promissory note (the “BIO-Key Note”).  We are entitled to retain the $1.0 million and to demand payment under the BIO-Key Note if Hamilton County draws on the letter of credit.  The BIO-Key Note is secured by a second lien on substantially all of BIO-Key’s assets.  The lien is subordinated to $5.0 million of senior secured debt held by certain of BIO-Key’s lenders.  As discussed above in Item 7, under the heading “Introduction and Overview,” we have evaluated our potential exposure under this arrangement in accordance with FIN 45 and have recorded a liability of $308,000 on our balance sheet.  Additionally, we are maintaining the facility lease for the Mobile Government headquarters in Massachusetts and sub-leasing it to BIO-Key.  As a condition to consenting to the sublease, the landlord required us to maintain a $749,000 letter of credit to the landlord securing performance under the lease.  BIO-Key has provided us with a $749,000 deposit that would be available in the event of BIO-Key’s default on the sublease that results in a draw on our letter of credit.  The total remaining payments under both the lease and the sublease are approximately $4.5 million and the lease expires in August 2008.

 

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Contractual Obligations

 

The following table reflects our contractual commitments, including our future minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2004:

 

		Payments due by period
Contractual Obligations (in thousands)		Total			Less than 1 year			1-3 years			3-5 years			More than 5 years
Long-term Debt Obligations		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—
Facility Leases		5,040			1,393			3,647			—			—
Less: Subleases		(4,530		)	(1,201		)	(3,329		)	—			—
Facility Leases, Net		510			192			318
Capital Lease Obligations		—			—			—			—			—
MBS Purchase Obligations *		—			—			—			—			—
Other Purchase Obligations		471			232			239			—			—
Other Long-Term Liabilities Reflected on the Registrant’s Balance Sheet under GAAP		—			—			—			—			—
Total		$	981		$	424		$	557		$	—		$	—

 

* During February and March 2005, we entered into obligations under forward purchase arrangements with an estimated face value of $375.0 million.  These forward purchase arrangements come due at different times in March and April 2005, at which point, we expect to enter into repurchase transactions to provide us with most of the funding we will need to satisfy these obligations.

 

In addition to the obligations above, we have guaranteed the lease payments for some assigned leases on properties related to discontinued operations.  We have also provided collateral assurance in the form of a letter of credit in support of BIO-Key’s performance obligations under the Hamilton County, Ohio project.  These obligations are discussed above under the heading “Guarantees” and in Note 14 of the notes to our consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report.

 

We have not included contracts for maintenance support on hardware or software that we own because we generally pay in advance for these services and have the option of choosing whether or not to renew these services each year.  We have also not included in this table potential contingent liabilities that we may have to the buyers of our EMS, Transportation or Mobile Government segments, under the terms of the purchase agreements with the buyers and we cannot readily estimate the potential amount of liabilities that might arise in the future, if any.  Potential liabilities to the buyers of our mobile and wireless data businesses are discussed below under the heading “Risk Factors – Risks associated with our mobile and wireless data businesses.”

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

Except as discussed above, we have no other off-balance sheet arrangements.

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Our business activities are subject to various important risks and uncertainties, including the following:

 

Risks of our Current Business Strategy

 

There is no assurance that we will be able to manage our current business strategy successfully or realize our objectives.

 

Prior to entering the MBS business, we explored several strategic options with the assistance of outside advisors.  There is no assurance that we will be successful in managing a portfolio of MBS or that we will be able to generate a profit and create value for our stockholders.  The Company has historically invested its excess cash in United States Government Agency-sponsored securities and does not have any past experience with investments in MBS.  Our current management team has limited experience in the MBS markets, in making investments in MBS, or in managing a leveraged investment portfolio.  We have not developed an earnings history or experienced varying interest rate environments or market conditions.

 

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We have not yet fully implemented our current business strategy of investing in MBS, and we may alter or diversify our focus, which may introduce new or additional risks.

 

We are in the process of implementing our MBS investment strategy.  As of March 9, 2005, we had invested approximately $62.8 million of our available cash in MBS and had entered into forward purchase arrangements representing commitments to purchase MBS in March and April 2005 with an estimated face value of approximately $375.0 million.  We also have begun to evaluate other potential business opportunities that may complement our MBS business or diversify our overall business strategy.  There can be no assurance that we will be able to fully and successfully implement our current MBS strategy, whether as a result of market conditions or for other business reasons, or that the strategy, if fully implemented, will produce results consistent with our expectations.  In addition, if in the future we pursue other business strategies, they may have different business and market risks and considerations.  Accordingly, our business and our strategy, and the associated risks, may change significantly over time.

 

We will depend on borrowings to expand our MBS portfolio.  If we fail to obtain or to renew sufficient funding on favorable terms or at all, we may incur losses.

 

We will depend on short-term borrowings, primarily repurchase agreements, to fund purchases of MBS and reach our desired amount of leverage.  We will need to borrow funds to purchase the MBS underlying the forward purchase commitments that we entered into in February and March 2005, and we expect to receive such funding through the use of repurchase agreements.  Accordingly, our ability to satisfy commitments to purchase additional MBS and achieve our investment and leverage objectives depends on our ability to enter into repurchase agreements in sufficient amounts and on favorable terms.  In addition, because repurchase agreements are short-term arrangements and MBS are long-term securities, we must be able to continually renew or replace outstanding repurchase agreements as they mature.  We currently have repurchase arrangements with four lenders to provide financing for our purchases of MBS.  These arrangements are not commitments to lend money to us.  If we are unable to obtain funds to satisfy our MBS purchase commitments, or if we are unable to renew or replace maturing borrowings on favorable terms or at all, our financial condition and results could be materially and adversely affected.  We could be required to sell our MBS (or to sell forward purchase commitments prior to their settlement, or sell the underlying MBS at the time of settlement) under adverse market conditions, or for prices and on terms that are less favorable than those we might otherwise be able to secure.  In such situations, we may be forced to sell investments at a loss.

 

An increase in prepayment rates may adversely affect us.

 

The MBS we plan to acquire are backed by pools of underlying mortgage loans.  We will receive payments, generally, from the payments that will be made on these underlying mortgage loans.  When borrowers prepay their mortgage loans at rates that are faster than expected, the result is that our MBS are prepaid faster than expected.  These accelerated prepayments may adversely affect the performance of our business.

 

Prepayment rates generally increase when interest rates fall and decrease when interest rates rise, but changes in prepayment rates are difficult to predict.  Prepayment rates also may be affected by conditions in the housing and financial markets, general economic conditions and the relative interest rates on fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage loans.

 

We may purchase MBS that have a higher interest rate than the market interest rate at the time. In exchange for this higher interest rate, we would likely pay a premium over the market value to acquire the security.  In accordance with accounting rules, we will amortize this premium ratably over the term of the MBS.  If the MBS is prepaid in whole or in part prior to its maturity date, however, we will be required to expense all (or a corresponding portion, in the case of a partial prepayment) of the remaining unamortized portion of the premium.  This accelerated expensing would negatively impact the yield from the MBS.

 

We may seek to reduce the potential negative impact of increased prepayments by acquiring MBS at a discount.  In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, we will recognize this discount ratably over the term of the MBS.  If a discounted security is prepaid in whole or in part prior to its maturity date, we will recognize income equal to the amount of the discount not previously recognized (or a portion of such remaining discount, in the case of a partial prepayment).  Consequently, the reported performance of our business would be enhanced if discounted securities are prepaid faster than expected.

 

While we will seek to minimize prepayment risk to the extent practical, in selecting investments we will manage the prepayment risk against other risks and the potential returns of each investment.  No strategy, however, can completely insulate us from prepayment risk.

 

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An increase in interest rates might adversely affect the book value of our MBS.

 

Increases in the general level of interest rates can cause the fair market value of our assets to decline, particularly those mortgage-backed securities whose underlying mortgages have fixed-rate components.  Generally, hybrid adjustable-rate MBS (during the fixed-rate component of the mortgages underlying such securities), which comprised 100% of our MBS, will be more negatively affected by such increases than adjustable-rate mortgage securities.  In accordance with GAAP, we will be required to reduce the carrying value of our mortgage-backed securities by the amount of any decrease in the fair value of our mortgage-backed securities compared to their respective amortized costs.  If unrealized losses in fair value occur, we will have to either reduce current earnings or reduce stockholders’ equity without immediately affecting current earnings, depending on how we classify such mortgage-backed securities under GAAP.  In either case, our net book value will decrease to the extent of any realized or unrealized losses in fair value.

 

Our cash balances and cash flows may become limited relative to our cash needs.

 

We need cash to meet our working capital and other needs.  Cash is required to pay our operating expenses and fund our investments.  Cash flows from principal repayments could be reduced should prepayments slow or should credit quality trends deteriorate.  We intend to maintain what we believe are ample cash balances to meet our projected needs.  In the event, however, that our liquidity needs exceed our access to liquidity, we may need to sell assets at an inopportune time, which could negatively impact our business.

 

Limitations on our ability to raise additional capital through sales of shares of our capital stock may restrict our ability to address liquidity needs through stock issuances and may limit our ability to expand our MBS portfolio by raising additional capital through such stock offerings.

 

Because of limitations imposed by sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code, which regulate our ability to use our accumulated net operating loss carryforwards and capital loss carryforwards in the future (as discussed below), there are limits on the number of additional shares of stock we can sell to raise additional capital.  Accordingly, assuming market conditions would otherwise permit us to sell additional shares of our stock, this legal limit may prevent us from raising as much additional capital through sales of our stock as we might want or need at any particular time.  As a result, we may be unable to address a specific liquidity need through a sale of our stock.  We also may not be able to increase the size of our MBS portfolio as much or as rapidly as we would otherwise like, because of limits on our ability to raise additional cash through stock offerings.

 

We may change our investment policies and guidelines without stockholder approval.

 

Our Board of Directors and management determine all of our investment policies and guidelines.  Although there is currently no plan to amend or revise these policies, the Board of Directors and management may amend or revise these investment policies and guidelines at any time without notice to stockholders.  Changes to the leverage ratio, types of securities included in our portfolio and changes to our risk management policies could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations, or the market price of our common stock.

 

Competition may increase and negatively impact our business.

 

The success of our business depends, in large part, on our ability to acquire MBS at favorable spreads over borrowing costs, as well as our ability to sell MBS at favorable prices when necessary in response to changing market conditions.  In acquiring and selling MBS, we compete against REITs, financial institutions, such as banks, savings and loans, life insurance companies and institutional investors such as mutual funds and pension funds.  Many of these entities have greater financial resources than us and as a result, we may not be able to acquire sufficient MBS at favorable spreads over our borrowing costs.  In addition, we may face competition for a limited number of buyers at a time when we are seeking to sell MBS, which could result in us receiving less favorable prices for MBS that we sell.  Existing competitors may grow, and new competition may enter the market over time, all of which can increase competition and may result in less favorable pricing and lower yields on assets.

 

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Defaults on the mortgage loans underlying our MBS may reduce the value of our investment portfolio and may harm our results of operations.

 

We bear the risk of any losses resulting from any defaults on the mortgage loans underlying the MBS in our investment portfolio.  The mortgage-backed securities that we purchase will be subject to limited guarantees of the payment of limited amounts of principal and interest on mortgage loans underlying such MBS, either by federal government agencies, including Ginnie Mae, by federally-chartered corporations, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, or by other corporate guarantors.  While Ginnie Mae’s obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, the obligations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and other corporate guarantors are solely their own.  As a result, a substantial deterioration in the financial strength of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or other corporate guarantors could increase our exposure to future delinquencies, defaults or credit losses on our holdings of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac-backed MBS or other corporate-backed MBS, and could harm our results of operations.  In addition, while Freddie Mac guarantees the eventual payment of principal, it does not guarantee the timely payment thereof, and our results of operations may be harmed if borrowers are late or delinquent in their payments on mortgages underlying Freddie Mac-backed mortgage-backed securities.  Moreover, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Ginnie Mae and other corporate guarantees relate only to payments of limited amounts of principal and interest on the mortgages underlying such agency-backed or corporate-backed securities, and do not guarantee the market value of such MBS or the yields on such MBS.  As a result, we remain subject to interest rate risks, prepayment risks, extension risks and other risks associated with our investment in such MBS and may experience losses in our investment portfolio.

 

A prolonged economic slow-down, a lengthy or severe recession or declining real estate values could harm our operations.

 

The residential mortgage market has experienced considerable growth during the past ten years, with total outstanding U.S. mortgage debt growing from approximately $3.2 trillion at the end of 1993 to approximately $7.3 trillion as of December 31, 2003, according to the Bond Market Association and the Federal Reserve.  If this growth cannot be sustained or we suffer an economic recession, the market for MBS may be adversely affected.

 

We may exceed our target leverage ratios.

 

We seek to maintain an asset-to-equity ratio between 4:1 and 9:1.  However, we are not required to stay within this ratio if our Board of Directors approves a deviation from established investment guidelines.  We will incur leverage by borrowing against a substantial portion of the market value of the MBS we acquire.  By incurring these borrowings we expect to be able to enhance our returns, but these borrowings, which are fundamental to our strategy, also create significant risks.  Historically, we have managed a business with relatively modest borrowings, as compared to our available cash resources.  Accordingly, we do not have experience managing a business within the constraints that can be imposed by the use of leverage. In addition, if we exceed this ratio, the adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations from the types of risks described above would likely be more severe.

 

Borrowings may negatively affect the performance of our portfolio of MBS.

 

Because our mortgage-backed securities strategy will involve the use of leverage, our returns on invested capital and trading activities may be negatively affected or our mortgage-backed securities portfolio may incur substantial losses if our borrowing costs increase faster than the returns on our investments. We expect that all of our borrowings will be collateralized borrowings in the form of repurchase agreements. If the interest rates on these repurchase agreements increase, this would adversely affect performance of our portfolio of mortgage-backed securities. Our borrowing costs under repurchase agreements will generally correspond to short-term interest rates such as LIBOR or a short-term Treasury index, plus or minus a margin. Our borrowing costs may increase for any of the following reasons:

 

•                  short-term interest rates increase;

•                  the market value of our investment securities decreases;

•                  interest rate volatility increases; or

•                  the availability of financing in the market decreases.

 

If these costs increase faster than the rates paid by the securities in which we invest, the financial results of our new mortgage-backed securities strategy will be negatively affected.

 

While we may use hedging strategies to manage interest-rate sensitivity of our borrowings, such strategies may not be effective under certain conditions and may have a negative effect on the performance of our portfolio of mortgage-backed securities, as discussed below.

 

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Differences in timing of interest rate adjustments on our acquired securities and on our borrowings may adversely affect our MBS strategy and the returns on the portion of our cash we invest in MBS.

 

We will rely primarily on short-term borrowings to acquire MBS with long-term maturities. Accordingly, if short-term interest rates increase, this may adversely affect our investment strategy and the returns on our capital.  We expect all of the MBS we will acquire will be adjustable-rate securities.  This means that their interest rates may vary over time based upon changes in an objective index, such as:

 

•                  LIBOR:  The interest rate that banks in London offer for deposits in London of U.S. dollars.

•                  Treasury rate:  A monthly or weekly average yield of benchmark U.S. Treasury securities, as published by the Federal Reserve Board.

•                  CD rate:  The weekly average of secondary market interest rates on six-month negotiable certificates of deposit, as published by the Federal Reserve Board.

 

These indices generally reflect short-term interest rates.  In a period of rising interest rates, we could experience a decrease in net income or a net loss from our MBS portfolio, because the interest rates on our borrowings likely will adjust upward faster than the interest rates on our adjustable-rate securities.

 

Interest rate caps may reduce the returns from our business.

 

Adjustable-rate and hybrid adjustable-rate MBS are typically subject to periodic and lifetime interest rate caps.  Periodic interest rate caps limit the amount an interest rate can increase during any given period.  Lifetime interest rate caps limit the amount an interest rate can increase over the life of the security.  Our borrowings will not be subject to similar restrictions.  Accordingly, in a period of rapidly increasing interest rates, we would experience a decrease in net income or experience a net loss from our MBS portfolio because increases in the interest rates on our borrowings will not be limited, while increases in the interest rates on our adjustable-rate securities would be capped.

 

Hedging against interest rate exposure may adversely affect performance of our portfolio of MBS.

 

We may enter into derivative transactions and other hedging strategies, such as interest rate swaps and caps, options to purchase swaps and caps, financial futures contracts and options on futures that are intended to hedge our exposure to rising rates on funds borrowed to finance our investment securities. Interest rate hedging may fail to reduce exposure to interest rate and prepayment risks discussed in this “Risk Factors” section because, among other things:

•                  interest rate hedging can be expensive, particularly during periods of rising and volatile interest rates, and the cost of implementing the hedge may offset its potential benefit;

•                  available interest rate hedging may not correspond directly with the interest rate risk for which protection is sought;

•                  the duration of the hedge may not match the duration of the related liability; and

•                  the credit quality of the party owing money on the hedge may be downgraded to such an extent that it impairs its ability to sell or assign its side of the hedging transaction.

 

Our borrowings may result in margin calls and defaults and force us to sell assets under adverse market conditions.

 

Because we will purchase MBS with borrowed funds, a decline in the value of our investment securities, caused by rising interest rates or prepayments, may result in our lenders initiating margin calls.  A margin call means that the lender requires us to pledge additional collateral to re-establish the ratio of the value of the collateral to the amount of the borrowing.  If we are unable to satisfy margin calls, our lenders may foreclose on our collateral.  This could force us to sell our MBS under adverse market conditions where the value of the collateral securing our borrowing is less than the amount owed to our lenders.  In this case, we would be responsible for any deficiency between the value of the collateral and the amounts we borrowed.  Additionally, repurchase agreements may qualify for special treatment under the Bankruptcy Code.  This special treatment would allow the lenders under these agreements to avoid the automatic stay provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and to liquidate the collateral under these agreements without delay.

 

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We are dependent on FBR to assist us in managing the portfolio of MBS.

 

Because we do not have experience in managing a leveraged portfolio of MBS, we will be heavily dependent on the efforts and expertise of FBR.  If we were to lose FBR’s services, our ability to fulfill our objectives and carry out our MBS strategy could be adversely affected.  Although we have a one-year agreement with FBR to manage our portfolio of MBS, following the initial one-year term of the agreement, FBR could terminate the agreement with 90 days prior written notice and cease providing services to us after an additional 90 days, if we request that FBR continue to manage our MBS portfolio during a transitional period.  During the term of the agreement, unanticipated changes in circumstances to us or FBR could result in FBR ceasing to provide services to us.  Accordingly, we cannot assure you that FBR will continue to work with us.  In addition, it may be difficult for us, within a reasonable period of time, to replace FBR with another firm having comparable expertise and offering comparable financial terms.

 

The manager of our MBS portfolio, FBR, may have a potential conflict of interest.

 

FBR manages a multi-billion dollar portfolio of mortgage-backed securities for an affiliate using a strategy very similar to the one we plan to implement.  FBR or one of its affiliates also may manage portfolios using strategies similar to this strategy for other asset management clients.  These relationships create potential conflicts of interest, including the allocation of opportunities to acquire or sell MBS at favorable prices.  As noted above, our strategy depends in part upon our ability to acquire such securities at favorable spreads over our borrowing costs.  We also may seek to sell MBS in response to unfavorable market conditions at a time when many other MBS investors are seeking to sell.  FBR has no obligation to resolve in our favor conflicts of interest that may arise in connection with competing portfolios.  Employees of FBR will only devote the time and attention to our new mortgage-backed securities strategy that they deem necessary in their discretion, and there may be conflicts in allocating time, services and functions between our portfolio and other portfolios that FBR manages.  The failure of employees of FBR to devote adequate time and attention to our MBS strategy could adversely affect the performance of our business.

 

FBR’s past performance or the performance of other companies that invest in MBS may not be indicative of how our MBS portfolio will perform.

 

The operations and results of any business with which FBR or its related companies have been or are associated or of any other company that follows a strategy similar to the one we are implementing are not intended to be, and should not be considered as, any indication of the likely future performance of our leveraged portfolio of MBS.  The performance of our MBS portfolio will be affected by changes in market conditions, prepayment rates, availability of financing and interest rates, which are outside of our control or the control of FBR.  In addition, other companies employing a strategy similar to the one we are pursuing may have different investment policies or greater financial resources than we have. Therefore, the past performance of FBR or other companies that use a strategy similar to ours is no guarantee, and may not be indicative, of the future performance of our portfolio of MBS.

 

Regulatory and Tax Risks of Our MBS Business

 

Loss of Investment Company Act exemption would adversely affect us.

 

In managing a leveraged portfolio of MBS, we intend to rely on an exemption from the Investment Company Act for companies that are engaged primarily in the business of purchasing or otherwise acquiring mortgages and other liens on and interests in real estate.  Under the SEC staff’s current interpretation of that exemption, in order to meet the criteria for such exemption, we will have to maintain at least 55% of our assets in qualifying real estate interests, such as whole pool mortgage interests issued by FHLMC, FNMA or GNMA, and at least 25% of our assets in other real estate related assets, such as non-whole pool mortgage-backed securities.  This 25% minimum is reduced to the extent we invest more than 55% of our assets in qualifying real estate interests.  These requirements may limit our ability to purchase certain types of MBS that might otherwise be attractive, and these restrictions could result in a lower level of income from our portfolio.

 

Changes in the Investment Company Act or the rules thereunder, or in the SEC staff’s interpretation of the statute and rules, could force us to sell a substantial portion of our portfolio under potentially adverse market conditions.  In addition, the use of leverage is a fundamental part of our MBS strategy.  In the event we were required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, our ability to use leverage and the returns on our equity capital would be substantially reduced, we would suffer additional regulatory costs and expenses and we would not be able to pursue our MBS business as described in this Annual Report.

 

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We may not be able to realize value from our tax loss carryforwards.

 

As of December 31, 2004, we had federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $765.5 million that expire between 2012 and 2024.  In addition, we had capital loss carryforwards of approximately $245.3 million that expire between 2006 and 2009.  In the event we undergo a future ownership change as defined in section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, our net operating loss carryforwards and capital loss carryforwards generated prior to the ownership change would be subject to annual limitation, which could reduce, eliminate, or defer the utilization of these losses.  Based upon a review of past changes in our ownership, as of December 31, 2004 we do not believe that we have experienced an ownership change (as defined under section 382) that would result in any limitation on our future ability to use these net operating loss and capital loss carryforwards.  However, we can not assure you that the IRS or some other taxing authority may not disagree with our position and contend that we have already experienced such an ownership change, which would severely limit our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and capital loss carryforwards to offset future taxable income.

 

Generally, an ownership change occurs if one or more stockholders, each of whom owns 5% or more in value of a corporation’s stock, increase their aggregate percentage ownership by more than 50% over the lowest percentage of stock owned by such stockholders at any time during the preceding three-year period.  For example, if a single stockholder owning 10% of our stock acquired an additional 50.1% of our stock in a three-year period, a change of ownership would occur.  Similarly, if ten persons, none of whom owned our stock, each acquired slightly over 5% of our stock within a three-year period (so that such persons own, in the aggregate more than 50%) an ownership change would occur.  Ownership of stock here is determined by certain constructive ownership rules which can attribute ownership of stock owned by entities (such as estates, trusts, corporations, and partnerships) to the ultimate indirect owner.

 

For purposes of this rule, all holders who each own less than 5% of a corporation’s stock are generally treated together as one (or, in certain cases, more than one) 5% stockholder.  Transactions in the public markets among stockholders owning less than 5% of the equity securities generally are not included in the calculation.  Special rules can result in the treatment of options (including warrants) or other similar interests as having been exercised if such treatment would result in an ownership change.

 

Due to the importance of avoiding a future ownership change under the tax laws, we will be limited in our ability to issue additional stock in the future to provide capital for our business.  We would only be able to issue such additional stock in a manner that would not cause an ownership change, for purposes of these rules, and thus, as discussed above, our ability to access the equity markets could be restricted, to some extent.

 

We may not be able to use our tax loss carryforwards because we may not generate taxable income.

 

The use of our net operating loss carryforwards is subject to uncertainty because it is dependent upon the amount of taxable income we generate.  Similarly, the extent of our actual use of our capital loss carryforwards is also subject to uncertainty because their use depends on the amount of capital gains we generate.  There can be no assurance that we will have sufficient taxable income (or capital gains) in future years to use the net operating loss carryforwards or capital loss carryfowards before they expire.  This is especially true for the capital loss carryfowards, because they expire over a shorter period of time than the net operating loss carryforwards.

 

The IRS could challenge the amount of our tax loss carryforwards.

 

The amount of our net operating loss carryforwards and capital loss carryforwards has not been audited or otherwise validated by the IRS.  The IRS could challenge the amount of our net operating loss carryforwards and capital loss carryforwards, which could result in an increase in our liability for income taxes.  In addition, calculating whether an ownership change has occurred is subject to uncertainty, both because of the complexity and ambiguity of section 382 and because of limitations on a publicly traded company’s knowledge as to the ownership of, and transactions in, its securities.  Therefore, we cannot assure you that the calculation of the amount of our net loss carryforwards may not be changed as a result of a challenge by a governmental authority or our learning of new information about the ownership of, and transactions in, our securities.

 

We expect to be subject to the alternative minimum tax, and our net loss carryforwards would not offset that tax in its entirety.

 

We do not plan to seek to qualify as a Real Estate Investment Trust under the Internal Revenue Code and we will therefore continue to be subject to state and federal income tax.  However, as a result of our capital loss carryforwards and net operating loss carryforwards, we anticipate our federal income tax liability for the current fiscal year as well as for several years into the future to be substantially reduced.  We do expect to be subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Internal Revenue Code which limits the use of net operating loss carryforwards.  These provisions would result, in effect, in 10% of our alternative minimum taxable income being subject to the 20% alternative minimum tax assessed on corporations.  This amounts to a 2% effective tax rate on our alternative minimum taxable income.

 

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The IRS may seek to impose the accumulated earnings tax on some or all of the taxable income we retain.

 

As a component of our MBS investment strategy, we expect to retain all or a substantial portion of future earnings over the next several years to finance the development and growth of our business.  As a result, we may not declare or pay any significant dividends on shares of our common stock for an extended period.  If the IRS were to believe we were accumulating earnings beyond our reasonable business needs, the IRS could seek to impose an accumulated earnings tax, or AET, of 15% on our accumulated taxable income.  We do not believe that we will be subject to the AET due to various reasons, including the existence of our large deficit in accumulated earnings and profits.  However, the IRS may disagree with us on this point, and the IRS may attempt to impose the AET on all or a portion of our taxable income.  In such event, we would expect to challenge any attempt by the IRS to impose the AET on our business, but the outcome of such a challenge is uncertain.

 

If we were to distribute our accumulated taxable income for each year to our stockholders as dividends, we would not be subject to the AET for the amounts so distributed, but would only be subject to the AET for the amount of earnings retained.  If we were to pay dividends to stockholders out of current earnings, these dividends would, generally speaking, be eligible to be treated as “qualified dividends” for federal income tax purposes, taxed at the current maximum federal rate of 15%, assuming that the recipient stockholder meets the various requirements under the Internal Revenue Code for such treatment.  The maximum rate for qualified dividends is currently projected to increase to the maximum federal income tax rate applicable to ordinary income (currently 35%) for tax years beginning after December 31, 2008 in accordance with the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003.

 

Possible changes in legislation could negatively affect our investments.

 

Prospective investors should recognize that the present U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in our stock may be modified by legislative, judicial or administrative action at any time, and that any such action may affect investments and commitments previously made.  The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process and by the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Treasury Department, resulting in revisions of regulations and revised interpretations of established concepts as well as statutory changes.  Revisions in U.S. federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could adversely affect the tax consequences of an investment in our stock and could impair our ability to use the tax benefits associated with our net loss carryforwards. However, we are not aware of any proposed changes in the tax laws or regulations that would materially impact our ability to use our net loss carryforwards. 

 

Limits on ownership of our common stock could have an adverse consequence to you and could limit your opportunity to receive a premium on our stock.

 

As noted above, it is important that we avoid an ownership change under section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, in order to retain the ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards and capital loss carryforwards to offset future income.  This means that a potential buyer of our stock might be deterred from acquiring our common stock while we still have significant tax losses being carried forward, because such an acquisition might trigger an ownership change and severely impair our ability to use our tax losses against future income.  Thus, this potential tax situation could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control and, therefore, could adversely affect our shareholders’ ability to realize a premium over the then prevailing market price for our common stock in connection with a change in control.

 

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Risks Associated With Our Mobile and Wireless Data Businesses

 

We may be required to indemnify the purchasers of our EMS, Transportation and Mobile Government segments.

 

We may be required to indemnify TCS, Slingshot and/or BIO-key for certain breaches of representations and warranties and other covenants that we gave to TCS, Slingshot and BIO-key with respect to the sales of the EMS, Transportation and Mobile Government segments, respectively.

 

Our liability to Slingshot is limited to $10.0 million, other than in the case of fraud and with respect to a small number of specific representations, such as those relating to taxes owed for periods prior to the closing of the sale of the Transportation segment.  In addition, we remain fully liable for any claims that may arise relating to our operation of the Transportation business prior to the date on which Slingshot acquired that business from us.  The dispute we are having with Slingshot over post-closing adjustments is not subject to the terms of this indemnity and any payments we might be required to make would not be subject to or count against the indemnity limits.

 

Our liability to BIO-key is limited to $2.0 million, other than in the case of fraud and with respect to a small number of specific representations, such as those relating to taxes owed for periods prior to the closing of the sale of the Mobile Government segment.  We also remain fully liable for any claims that may arise relating to our operation of the Mobile Government business prior to the date on which BIO-key acquired that business from us.  We have agreed to maintain certain credit support and performance assurance arrangements on behalf of BIO-key.  Under a sales agreement with Hamilton County, Ohio, our potential liability is secured by a $7.9 million letter of credit to assure performance under the terms of that sales agreement.  We also have been required to sublease (rather than assign) to BIO-key the Mobile Government leased facility in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and to keep in place a $749,000 letter of credit in favor of the landlord under the lease.  For a discussion of these arrangements, see Note 14 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report.

 

We may also be required to indemnify TCS for certain breaches of representations and warranties and other covenants that we gave to TCS with respect to the sale of our EMS segment.  This liability is limited to $7.6 million, other than in the case of fraud and with respect to a small number of specific representations, such as those relating to taxes owed for periods prior to the closing of the sale of the EMS segment.  In addition, we remain fully liable for any claims that may arise relating to our operation of the EMS business prior to the date on which TCS acquired that business from us, including any liability arising from our past sales of the blackberry devices manufactured by Research In Motion (“RIM”).  Currently, RIM is engaged in legal proceedings with Inpro II to determine whether certain RIM products infringed on patents held by Inpro or NTP, Inc.  We have not been named in this suit, but may be liable to Inpro or NTP, Inc. if it is established that RIM’s Blackberry actually infringes Inpro’s patents.  A mediation conference is scheduled for this matter in May 2005.

 

Other than our dispute with Slingshot over post-closing adjustments, which is discussed above under the heading “Sales of Discontinued Operations,” we are not currently aware of any potential claims that we would expect to be significant.  However, claims may arise in the future that could impose substantial liabilities on us.

 

Other Risks of Our Business

 

Compliance with changing regulation of corporate governance and public disclosure may result in additional expenses.

 

Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, new SEC regulations and Nasdaq National Market rules, have required most public companies, including our Company, to devote additional internal and external resources to various governance and compliance matters.  Because we have a relatively small corporate staff, we rely heavily on outside professional advisers to assist us with these efforts.  As a result, we incurred additional operating expenses in 2003 and 2004 and will incur further expenses in the future.  These costs have included increased accounting related fees associated with preparing the attestation report on our internal controls over financial reporting as required under Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  These costs have offset a portion of the savings we realized through our expense reduction program.  In addition, these new or changed laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, as well as modifications by the government and Nasdaq.  The way in which they are applied and implemented may change over time, which could result in even higher costs to address and implement revisions to compliance (including disclosure) and governance practices.

 

We are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance and public disclosure. As a result, we intend to invest resources to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards, and in addition to increased general and administrative expenses, this investment will require management to devote time and attention that will not be available for other matters.  If our efforts to comply with new or changed laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies due to ambiguities related to practice, our reputation may be harmed and we could be exposed to potential liability.

 

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ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The following discussion about our market risk disclosures involves forward-looking statements.  Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements.

 

We seek to manage the interest rate, market value, liquidity, and prepayment risks inherent in our MBS investment strategy in a responsible manner designed to promote our growth and success while, at the same time, seeking to maximize stockholder value.  We are not planning to be adverse to risk, but are aiming to assume only those risks we believe we can manage and which we believe will produce a sufficient return to justify taking those risks.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

We plan to invest primarily in adjustable-rate MBS.  As we continue to build our portfolio of MBS, our debt obligations will generally be short-term repurchase agreements that are periodically financed at current market prices.

 

Adjustable-rate MBS are typically subject to periodic and lifetime interest rate caps that limit the amount an adjustable-rate MBS’s interest rate can change during any given period.  Also, adjustable-rate MBS may be subject to a maximum interest rate payable.  Our borrowings are not subject to similar restrictions and therefore, in a period of rising interest rates, the interest rates on our borrowings could increase without limitation, while the interest rates on our MBS may not experience corresponding increases.  In addition, certain MBS may be subject to periodic payment caps that result in some portion of the interest being deferred and added to the principal outstanding.  These factors could lower our net interest income or cause a net loss during periods of rising interest rates, which would negatively impact our liquidity and net income.

 

As we continue to implement our MBS investment strategy and use leverage for the acquisition of new securities, we will fund the purchase of a substantial portion of our portfolio with borrowings that have interest rates based on indices and repricing terms similar to, but generally with shorter maturities than, the interest rate indices and repricing terms of the MBS.  Thus, we anticipate that in most cases the interest rate indices and repricing terms of our mortgage assets and our funding sources will not be identical, thereby creating an interest rate mismatch between assets and liabilities.  During periods of changing interest rates, such interest rate mismatches could negatively impact our net income and the market price of our common stock.

 

Market Value Risk

 

Although we intend to hold MBS investments that we make to their maturities, we may sell them at any time in response to market conditions.  As a result, substantially all of our MBS investments will be classified as available-for-sale assets.  As such, they are reflected at fair value (i.e. market value), with any adjustment between cost and fair value being reflected as part of accumulated other comprehensive income that is included in the equity section of our balance sheet.  The market value of our assets can fluctuate due to changes in interest rates and other factors including loss resulting from changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and equity prices.  Changes in the level of interest rates also can affect the value of our MBS and our ability to realize gains from the sale of these assets.

 

The chart below illustrates the effect on portfolio value should interest rates rapidly increase or decrease by 50 and 100 basis points (a rate shock).  We have estimated the impact, assuming the yield curves of the rate shocks will be parallel to each other and the current yield curve.  Our portfolio of MBS as of December 31, 2004 was valued at $62.2 million.  Assumptions made in calculating the impact on our MBS portfolio value from interest rate shocks include interest rates, prepayments and yield spread of MBS relative to prevailing interest rates.

 

Change in Interest Rate		Projected % Change in MBS Portfolio Value
- 100 basis points		0.779	%
- 50 basis points		0.456	%
Base interest rate		—
+ 50 basis points		(0.632	)%
+100 basis points		(1.413	)%

 

The base interest rate scenario assumes interest rates at December 31, 2004.  Actual results could differ significantly from those estimated in the table.

 

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Liquidity Risk

 

Our primary liquidity risk arises from financing long-maturity MBS with short-term borrowings.  The interest rates on our borrowings generally adjust more frequently than the interest rates on our MBS.  Accordingly, in a period of rising interest rates, our borrowing costs will usually increase faster than our interest earnings from MBS.  As a result, we could experience a decrease in net income or an increase in net loss during these periods.  Assets that are pledged to secure short-term borrowings will be high-quality, liquid assets.  As a result, we do not expect to have any problems rolling over our short-term debt as it matures.  However, there can be no assurance that we will always be able to roll over our short-term debt.

 

Prepayment Risk

 

We are also subject to prepayment risk.  Prepayments are the full or partial repayment of principal prior to the original term to maturity of a mortgage loan and typically occur due to refinancing of mortgage loans.  Prepayment rates on MBS vary from time to time and may cause changes in the amount of our net interest income.  Prepayments of adjustable-rate and hybrid MBS generally increase when mortgage interest rates fall and generally decrease when mortgage interest rates exceed the then-current interest rate on such mortgages.  Prepayment experience also may be affected by the conditions in the housing and financial markets, general economic conditions, seasonal changes and the relative interest rates on fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgage loans underlying MBS.  The price we pay for MBS is partially determined by our expectations of the amounts and rates of prepayments.  If we expect few prepayments, we may pay a premium for the MBS we acquire.  If our assumptions are wrong and the actual amount of prepayments is greater than expected, we could experience reduced earnings or losses.  In addition, if we were unable to acquire new MBS to replace the amounts received as prepayments, our financial condition, cash flows and results of operations could be adversely impacted.  For a more detailed discussion of the risk of prepayments on our business, see the disclosure under the heading “Risk Factors – An increase in prepayment rates may adversely affect us.”

 

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ITEM 8.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

The following financial statements required by this item are included in the Report beginning on page    .

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2003 and 2004
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003, and 2004
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Aether Systems, Inc.:

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Aether Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries, as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

 

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. 

 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Aether Systems, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

 

 

/s/ KPMG LLP
Baltimore, Maryland
March 15, 2005

 

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AETHER SYSTEMS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)

 

		DECEMBER 31,
		2003			2004
ASSETS
Current assets (in 2003):
Cash and cash equivalents		$	26,222		$	60,723
Mortgage-backed securities, at fair value		—			62,184
Current assets from discontinued operations		53,616			—
Interest receivable		1,567			356
Prepaid expenses and other assets		1,173			4,124
Total current assets		82,578
Restricted cash		13,460			8,832
Investments available for sale		220,849			—
Property and equipment, net		2,608			367
Non-current assets from discontinued operations		74,017			—
Other assets		4,593			—
		$	398,105		$	136,586
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities (in 2003):
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		$	4,741		$	3,494
Current liabilities from discontinued operations		35,168			—
Accrued employee compensation and benefits		538			186
Restructuring accruals		1,407			259
Accrued interest payable		2,529			—
Total current liabilities		44,383
Convertible subordinated notes payable		154,912			—
Restructuring accruals		70			—
Non-current liabilities from discontinued operations		19,436			—
Other long-term liabilities		3			2,057
Total liabilities		218,804			5,996
Commitments and Contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2003 and 2004		—			—
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized; 42,918,408 and 43,963,963 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2003 and 2004, respectively		429			440
Additional paid-in capital		2,589,608			2,592,977
Accumulated deficit		(2,414,283		)	(2,462,611		)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		3,830			—
Unrealized loss on investments available for sale		(283		)	(216		)
Total stockholders’ equity		179,301			130,590
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	398,105		$	136,586

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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AETHER SYSTEMS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

 

		YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
		2002			2003			2004
Interest income from MBS portfolio		$	—		$	—		$	928
Interest expense from MBS portfolio		—			—			—
Net interest income from MBS portfolio		—			—			928
Gain on sale of MBS		—			—			1,826
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative		(22,862		)	(15,779		)	(12,150		)
Depreciation		(6,319		)	(2,672		)	(2,212		)
Option and warrant expense		(1,735		)	(928		)	(594		)
Impairment of other assets		(7,589		)	(1,367		)	—
Other expense		—			(744		)	(60		)
Restructuring charge		(558		)	(306		)	(1,054		)
Total operating expenses		(39,063		)	(21,796		)	(16,070		)
Operating loss		(39,063		)	(21,796		)	(13,316		)
Interest income from money market accounts		9,921			6,037			3,508
Interest expense from subordinated notes		(15,827		)	(10,427		)	(7,917		)
Equity in losses of investments		(4,744		)	(97		)	—
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt		42,765			—			(2,419		)
Investment gain (loss), including impairments, net		(14,412		)	587			(3,559		)
Loss from continuing operations		(21,360		)	(25,696		)	(23,703		)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax expense (benefit) of ($535,000), $75,000 and $0 for 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively		(304,062		)	(23,756		)	(45,450		)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations		—			—			20,825
Net loss			(325,422	)		(49,452	)		(48,328	)
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustment		3,235			108			(3,830		)
Unrealized holding gain (loss) on investments available for sale		(111		)	(1,757		)	67
Comprehensive loss		$	(322,298	)	$	(51,101	)	$	(52,091	)
Loss per share – basic and diluted from continuing operations before discontinued operations		$	(0.51	)	$	(0.60	)	$	(0.54	)
Loss per share – basic and diluted from discontinued operations		(7.22		)	(0.56		)	(1.04		)
Gain per share – basic and diluted on sale of discontinued operations		—			—			0.47
Net loss per share – basic and diluted		$	(7.73	)	$	(1.16	)	$	(1.11	)
Weighted average shares outstanding-basic and diluted		42,117			42,616			43,713

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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