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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 10-K
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[X] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002
[ ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM TO
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 000-27029
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RSTAR CORPORATION
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 91-1836242
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (IRS EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
1560 SAWGRASS CORPORATE PARKWAY
SUITE 200
SUNRISE, FLORIDA 33323
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE
NUMBER)
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT: NONE
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT:
COMMON STOCK, $.01 PAR VALUE
(TITLE OF CLASS)
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer as
defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.Yes [ ] No [X]
As of March 28, 2003, there were 15,712,058 shares of the Registrant's
common stock outstanding and the aggregate market value of such shares held by
non-affiliates of the Registrant, based upon the closing sale price of such
shares on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market on March 28 2003, was approximately
$5,184,979. Shares of common stock held by each executive officer and director
and by each entity that owns 5% or more of the outstanding common stock have
been excluded in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This
determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination
for other purposes.
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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
NONE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
PART I
Item 1. Business 3
Item 2. Properties 11
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 11
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 11
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Stock and Related
Stockholder Matters 11
Item 6. Selected Financial Data 13
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations 14
Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about
Market Risk 21
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 31
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on
Accounting and Financial Disclosure 31
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant 31
Item 11. Executive Compensation 34
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
and Management 36
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 37
Item 14. Controls and Procedures 38
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statements, Schedules and
Reports on Form 8-K 38
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
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PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
CERTAIN MATTERS DISCUSSED IN THIS DOCUMENT MAY CONSTITUTE FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS UNDER SECTION 27A OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE
SECURITIES ACT), AND SECTION 21E OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS
AMENDED (THE EXCHANGE ACT). SUCH MATTERS ARE GENERALLY PRECEDED BY, FOLLOWED BY
OR INCLUDE WORDS SUCH AS "ANTICIPATE," "BELIEVE," "PLAN," "ESTIMATE," "SEEK,"
AND "INTEND," AND WORDS OF SIMILAR IMPORT.
THESE STATEMENTS ARE NOT GUARANTEES OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE AND ARE SUBJECT
TO BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES, WHICH ARE DIFFICULT TO
PREDICT. THEREFORE, OUR ACTUAL RESULTS OF OPERATION MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM
THOSE EXPRESSED OR FORECASTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AS A RESULT OF A
NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
o OUR SUCCESS IN BEING AWARDED SUBSTANTIAL PROJECTS FOR THE PROVISION OF
OUR SERVICES AS DETAILED HEREIN;
o THE WILLINGNESS OF END USERS FOR INTERNET ACCESS AND TRAFFIC TO PAY A
PREMIUM FOR THESE SERVICES AND THE EXTENT OF REVENUES WE ARE ABLE TO
GENERATE FROM PROVIDING THESE SERVICES;
o THE WILLINGNESS OF END USERS TO PAY A FEE FOR BROADBAND INTERNET
ACCESS, INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC CONTENT AND OTHER BUNDLED PRODUCTS AND
SERVICES;
o THE AVAILABILITY OF CASH RESOURCES AND FINANCING FACILITIES IN AMOUNTS
ADEQUATE TO MEET OUR EXPECTED WORKING CAPITAL AND CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS BASED ON OUR CURRENT BUSINESS PLAN; AND
o INTEGRATION OF THE STARBAND LATIN AMERICAN BUSINESS, AMONG OTHER
RISKS.
IN ADDITION, A MORE COMPLETE DISCUSSION OF THE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
WHICH AFFECT OUR BUSINESS IS SET FORTH BELOW UNDER THE HEADING "FACTORS
AFFECTING OUR BUSINESS, OPERATING RESULTS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION." ALL
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS MADE BY US ARE QUALIFIED BY AND SHOULD BE READ IN
CONJUNCTION WITH SUCH RISK DISCLOSURE. WE UNDERTAKE NO OBLIGATION TO PUBLICLY
UPDATE OR REVISE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, WHETHER AS A RESULT OF NEW
INFORMATION, FUTURE EVENTS OR OTHERWISE.
GENERAL
Through our wholly-owned subsidiary, StarBand Latin America (Holland) N.V.
("StarBand Latin America"), we provide satellite-enabled rural telephony and
internet services and related network operations in certain Latin America
countries in connection with long-term contracts awarded to affiliates of Gilat
Satellite Networks Ltd. ("Gilat"). In addition, we provide two-way, always-on,
high-speed Internet access and telephony to residential and small office/home
office customers in Latin America via satellite. Our services provide
high-capacity, high-speed transmission of data, audio, telephony and video to
consumers and other subscribers. We offer to all of our customers stand-alone
Internet access as well as a bundled product which includes telephony services.
One of our primary goals is to tap the underserved demand for telephony and
Internet access services in the private, residential, and Soho markets in Latin
America. In addition, we intend to provide Gilat with certain services relating
to the design, engineering, construction as well as network traffic and internet
services for certain large government contracts.
On August 2, 2002, we closed the previously announced StarBand Latin
America acquisition and issued 43,103,448 shares of our stock to Gilat-To-Home
Latin America (Holland) N.V., an affiliate of Gilat, in exchange for StarBand
Latin America (Holland) B.V., and its subsidiaries. As a part of the StarBand
Latin America acquisition, Gilat granted StarBand Latin America exclusive rights
in Latin America to (1) implement, operate and market Gilat's broadband Internet
access services and voice services to consumers and small office/home office
subscribers; (2) provide a bundled product with direct-to-home television
services using Gilat's single satellite dish technology; and (3) provide such
new technologies and products related to the foregoing as Gilat may in the
future develop. Following the closing of the StarBand Latin America acquisition,
Gilat owns approximately 85% of rStar's stock. (See "Master Services and Supply
Agreement" below.)
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We currently provide satellite-based rural telephony services in Peru and
Colombia, as well as a high-speed consumer Internet access service in Brazil and
Peru. We work on a wholesale basis with Latin American Internet Service
Providers (ISPs), direct-to-home (DTH) TV companies and other service providers
in Latin America to offer high-speed Internet access via satellite.
During the third quarter of 2002 and following the acquisition of StarBand
Latin America, management elected to suspend all operational components of rStar
which mainly consisted of the activities relating to AutoNetworks, Inc., an 85%
owned subsidiary of rStar. See Item 5: "Loss from Discontinued Operations".
rStar, as of March, 2003, operates approximately 13,779 sites in total;
most of them public telephony, including a smaller percentage of Internet sites,
out of approximately 14,532 contracted sites, all of which are expected to be in
operation by the end of 2003.
We were founded in June 1997 and until March 19, 2001, operated under the
name ZapMe! Corporation. On March 19, 2001 we changed our name to rStar
Corporation. We are a Delaware corporation. Our principal offices are located at
1560 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway, Suite 200, Sunrise, Florida 33323, and our
telephone number is (954)858-1600. Our web site address is: WWW.RSTAR.COM.
THE TECHNOLOGY
Through StarBand Latin America, our wholly-owned subsidiary, we provide
satellite-based communication services in Latin America that allow parties to
communicate with each other using Gilat's proprietary technology.
Gilat designs, develops and manufactures products that enable complete
end-to-end telecommunications and data networking solutions, as well as
broadband Internet solutions, based on satellite earth stations, a related
central station known as a hub, hardware equipment and software. The satellite
earth stations are known in this industry as very small aperture terminals or
VSATs. These small units, which attach to communication equipment, such as
personal computers, telephones, etc., enable the transmission of data, voice and
images to and from specified satellites. The services we provide include access
to and communication with satellites ("satellite transponder capacity"),
installation of network equipment, on-line network monitoring and network
maintenance and repair services. The networks we establish are primarily used
for:
o telephone service in areas that are underserved by the existing
telecommunications services or in remote locations where ground
telephone lines are not available; and
o on-line data delivery and transaction-oriented applications including
point-of-sale (for example, credit and debit card authorization),
inventory control and real time stock exchange trading; and
o Internet-based networking applications such as networks within
corporations (known as corporate intranets), corporate training and
other corporate applications which enable the transmission of audio
and video by high-speed Internet connections (known as broadband), as
well as consumer broadband Internet uses.
Satellite-based communications networks such as those Gilat has developed
and those sold by us offer several advantages over ground-based communication
facilities. Among these advantages are the following:
o ubiquitous reach, providing equal access to users in urban and remote
areas under a single tier network;
o fixed transmission costs, insensitive to distance or the number of
receiving stations;
o a persistent "always on" connection to the Internet without the need
to dial up to an internet service provider;
o cost savings over competing technologies such as ground telephone
lines and digital subscriber lines (known as "DSLs") in remote areas
and suburbs;
o independence from telecommunication companies and other network
providers;
o less terrestrial infrastructure thus making satellite-based technology
less susceptible to local disasters such as fires and earthquakes that
adversely affect ground-based communication;
o consistent and rapid response time in comparison to dial-up lines;
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o Internet acceleration technologies, enhancing user experience and
improving satellite communication effectiveness.
o rapid installment of networks and flexibility in their configuration,
integration and location; and
o a versatile platform, which allows for the provision of multiple
applications and services.
VSAT INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
The emergence of the VSAT in the 1970s marked the beginning of a new era in
satellite communication. A VSAT network consists of:
o several dozen to several thousand VSAT remote sites with small
antennas;
o a large central earth station called a hub, which includes a large
antenna and enables the connection of all the VSATs in the network;
and
o the capability to communicate with a specified satellite.
A VSAT includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit (see figure below). The
indoor unit usually fits on a desktop (much like a modem) and contains the
technology that enables communication between the user's equipment and the
satellite. The outdoor unit includes a small antenna, usually two to six feet
long, that can be mounted on a user's roof, ground or wall and electronic
equipment that transmits and receives signals to and from a satellite
transponder. A transponder is the technical term for the space on a satellite
designated to communicate with a specific user's equipment.
[PICTURE]
The control station or hub, which enables the connection of all VSATs into
a VSAT network, consists of a large dish antenna (4.5 to 11 meters) and radio
frequency electronics equipment to allow signals to be transmitted between the
hub and the satellite transponder. A hub also includes electronic equipment to
provide for satellite communications, protocol support and network management
functions. Protocol is a technical term, which refers to the standards and
methods by which computers communicate with one another.
Satellite transponder capacity is available on existing satellites
positioned in geostationary orbit (at 35,800 km above the equator). Once in
orbit, a satellite beam can cover a geographic area the size of the continental
United States or Western Europe. This coverage area is known as the satellite's
footprint. The satellite receives information from a VSAT,
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amplifies it and transmits it back to earth on a different frequency. A single
satellite transponder has a capacity of approximately 100 million bits/second
("Mbps"). This means that if the transponder were accessed for only 90 seconds
per day, more than one billion bytes of data, the equivalent of 865,000
double-spaced pages, would be transmitted.
The current generation of high power satellites is known as Ku-band
satellites, because they use the Ku-band frequencies. This type of frequency
band together with the sophisticated VSAT earth stations is particularly well
suited to provide high-speed business communications services as well as
broadband web-based services. The use of the Ku-band frequencies (as opposed to
the C-band used by older generations of satellites) offers reduced interference
with ground communications. This enables satellites to use the higher
broadcasting power necessary to support VSAT earth stations and makes it
cost-effective to transmit to or among numerous locations. With increasing
satellite power and the latest generation of VSAT software, VSAT earth stations
are becoming smaller and less expensive, reducing overall network costs. This
technology is compatible with both Ku-band and C-band satellites. In addition,
special extended C-band and extended Ku-band satellites are also supported by
our technology, where needed.
Before the emergence of VSATs, commercial communication via satellite was
very costly because it required an expensive ground terminal, dedicated staff
specialists and a very large dish antenna. Satellite-based communications
solutions were therefore limited to only those large companies that could afford
them. In contrast, VSATs are significantly less expensive than other satellite
solutions partly because they do not require end-users to dedicate staff
specialists or make a sizable infrastructure investment.
VSAT networks also offer several advantages compared to ground-based
communications networks:
o high quality and dedicated transmission availability;
o the capability of transmitting extremely large data flows;
o fixed transmission costs, insensitive to distance or the number of
receiving stations;
o rapid and cost effective installation in geographically isolated
regions like mountainous mining areas and developing countries; and
o direct access to the Internet.
OUR MARKET
The market for communications network products and services in general and
specifically, in Latin America, experienced growth during the years 1996 through
2000 and a slowdown since 2001, that slowdown has largely been caused by the
recession in the global economy and a reduction of telecommunications business
in particular. We believe that when the economy improves, the market for
communications network products and services in Latin America will resume
growth. Some of the key factors that we believe will foster such growth in a
healthy economy include:
o deregulation and privatization of government-owned telecommunications
monopolies throughout Latin America, which allow for the growth of new
methods of communication;
o growing demand for communications capacity driven by the increase in
bandwidth-intensive applications, including the Internet; and
o continuous technological advances which are broadening applications
for and decreasing the cost of both satellite and ground-based
networks.
The above trends have been beneficial to a range of alternative
technologies such as switched digital networks, which are referred to as ISDN,
DSL, cable modems and frame relay, as well as VSAT-based systems. All of these
technologies enable high-speed access to the Internet in various forms which
allows for the transfer of data at various speeds. The growth in the use of
VSATs has been strong and consistent. According to industry sources, the
installed worldwide VSAT base grew from 8,000 terminals in 1986 to over 600,000
terminals in 2002.
OUR BUSINESS
We are licensed to provide telephony and Internet services to consumers and
Soho customers throughout Latin America. We also provide satellite-enabled rural
telephony and internet services and related network operations in certain Latin
America countries, in connection with long-term contracts awarded to affiliates
of Gilat. One of our primary goals is
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to tap the underserved demand for telephony and Internet access services in the
private, residential, and Soho markets in Latin America. In addition, we intend
to provide Gilat with certain services relating to the design, engineering,
construction as well as network traffic and internet services for certain large
government contracts.
In a large number of remote, rural and urban areas in Latin America, there
are limited or no telephone services due to inadequate telecommunications
infrastructure. In these areas, VSAT networks are able to utilize existing
satellite infrastructure to rapidly provide high quality cost-effective
telecommunications services and products. In contrast to ground-based networks,
VSAT networks are relatively simple to reconfigure or expand, relatively immune
to difficulties of topography and can be located almost anywhere. Additionally,
VSATs can be installed and connected to a network in short time periods and
seldom require significant maintenance.
Our services consist of two different typical project opportunities:
(i) Large government bids for telecommunications and telephony operators
where local governments fund the development and maintenance of a
network. These projects include the installation and operation of
hundreds of sites that provide Internet connectivity and telephony
services in cities and towns, as well as multiple-site fixed rural
satellite telephony networks, serving millions of people; and
(ii) Service providers targeting rural and residential areas that wish to
enhance the reach of their networks by adding satellite communications
technology. Telecommunications services and equipment, including
prepaid telephony, private networks, and internet. Integral services
solutions include voice and data, distance learning, connectivity
services and telephony network operations.
TELEPHONY-BASED SERVICE OFFERINGS
We provide VSAT-based telephony service with full support of telephone line
services, including flexible adjustment to various payphones, high speed
Internet access, call data processing, low cost, simple installation and
operation, high hardware reliability, remote control and monitoring, and low
power consumption. This telephone service includes public calling centers, with
one to five telephone lines, fax connections and in some locations, internet
browsing stations.
Our VSAT-based telephony service offerings are intended to provide
inexpensive, toll-quality telephone service, including voice and fax
communication and high speed Internet access for Soho customers and villages in
remote or urban areas in Latin America lacking an adequate telephone
infrastructure. This service is designed to offer subscribers, or pay telephone
and public call offices, with up to four lines.
INTERNET-BASED SERVICE OFFERINGS
Our high-speed internet access services are targeted to the residential
consumer and Soho customers. The vehicle that we use to provide these services
is Gilat's SkyBlaster 360. The SkyBlaster 360 provides two-way connectivity,
with both directions of connectivity via satellite. The SkyBlaster 360 is
designed to provide high bandwidth services and do not have a terrestrial
high-speed infrastructure available to them. Gilat's VSAT technology is
well-suited for outside metropolitan centers such as in rural Latin America
because geographic distances do not hinder the ability to provide the high speed
infrastructure that is unavailable otherwise.
NETWORK OPERATIONS
Our network operations services coordinate and manage customers' networks
and monitor the quality of services delivered on a 24-hour, seven day a week
basis from one of three network management centers. The largest center is
located in McLean, Virginia, and is managed and staffed by Spacenet Inc. (an
affiliate of Gilat's). We also have similar network management centers in Peru,
Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Additionally all three Hubs are monitored by its
headquarters in Sunrise, Florida, which is managed and staffed by rStar. When
customers experience an outage on their network, they call their respective
network management center, where a trained professional, using Gilat's
proprietary monitoring and control technology, works to restore service. In
instances in which service cannot be restored through the troubleshooting
process, a third-party field service technician is dispatched to seek and repair
or replace the on-site hardware and restore operations to the site.
MAINTENANCE
We offer a variety of maintenance plans to support our customer networks.
All of the plans include trouble-reporting service from one of our call centers,
field service, replacement of equipment, warehousing of spare parts, shipping
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and repairs. The objective is to provide an on-site response within an average
of 48 to 72 hours for consumers and four to 24 hours for businesses depending on
the needs of the customer and the nature of network or support issues.
CUSTOMER TECHNICAL SERVICES
Our technical services group includes engineering test and support services
during the project implementation phase and on-going telephone and on-site
support for complex networking issues. The customer technical services group
provides application troubleshooting, network optimization, customer training,
and documentation services.
SATELLITE CAPACITY
Satellite transmission channels are an integral part of our VSAT
network-based services in Latin America. We lease and sublease satellite
capacity through a Gilat affiliate, which operates in the Ku band frequency. We
continually monitor our space segment capacity, which we lease and sub-lease
through Gilat from Satmex, Pan-American Satellites, and other third parties, in
order to ensure that sufficient transmission capacity is available for
prospective customers, as well as growth in bandwidth for existing networks. We
currently utilize space segment on the following satellites: SATMEX 5; PAS1R;
Anik F1 and Telesat. The capacity is provided for the term of the agreement,
typically two to five years, and the term may be extended as our customers
traffic grows.
MASTER SERVICES AND SUPPLY AGREEMENT
Upon the closing of our acquisition of StarBand Latin America, we entered
into a master services and supply agreement with Gilat and some of its
subsidiaries pursuant to which we receive specified services and products from
Gilat necessary to conduct our business in Latin America.
According to this agreement, we have been given the exclusive rights in
designated Latin American markets (excluding Mexico) to:
o implement, operate and market our broadband Internet access services
and voice services to consumers and Soho customers;
o provide a bundled product with direct-to-home television service using
its single satellite dish technology; and
o provide such new technologies and products related to the foregoing as
Gilat may in the future develop or make available to StarBand
Communications Inc., which shall be offered to StarBand Latin America
and/or its subsidiaries upon commercially reasonable terms via a
two-way satellite-based network.
In Mexico, we have limited non-exclusive rights and in Chile, Gilat and its
affiliates will not be limited or otherwise restricted from conducting business
with certain entities. Under the agreement, Gilat provides us with the
facilities, telecommunications equipment, licensed software and services that we
use in our business.
The agreement contains a most favored nations clause under which all
services, products and other items provided by Gilat and its affiliates shall be
on terms no less favorable than the best terms offered by Gilat to any other
party for comparable products sold in comparable quantities on comparable terms
and conditions.
COMPETITION
The market for our products and services is rapidly evolving, and we expect
competition to intensify in the future. Except for Gilat, rStar is not aware of
any competitor that currently offers or is planning to offer industry-specific
private networks for different businesses in an industry via bi-directional
satellite-delivered Internet connections. However, rStar faces competition from
a number of companies that provide products and services similar to portions of
its products and services to a similar base of users, or both. For example,
Hughes Electronics and STM Wireless, currently offer two-way satellite-based
broadband Internet access and both have significant experience in running
satellite data networking services.
In addition, the ongoing liberalization of telecommunications markets in
Latin America has resulted in a wave of entry by foreign competitors for
high-speed Internet access services. The largest among these, Telefonica S.A.
and BellSouth Latin America, each have substantial wireless or wire line
operations in most, if not all, major markets in Latin America. Such firms are
currently investing in DSL and wireless technology and have been expanding their
efforts in the Internet access segment as a way of increasing revenues and
margins even as prices for basic telephony services fall.
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Although less advanced than their counterparts in the United States,
numerous plans have been announced for the deployment of cable modem services in
Latin America by such companies as Globo and Telefonica. Such cable services
would constitute another competitor to our satellite-based Internet access
service offering. Where deployed, these networks provide higher-speed Internet
access than we provide.
We also may face competition from companies that offer satellite-based
networks on both the two-way Ku-band and the new higher frequency Ka-band
technologies. Such satellite providers include Hughes Communications Networks
Systems, and STM, Astrolink, Teledesic, and Cyberstar, each of which has
significant experience in running satellite data networking services.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION
UNITED STATES REGULATION
StarBand Latin America's satellite network uses earth stations that
transmit and receive radio signals (the earth segment) and satellite space
stations that relay these signals between earth stations (the space segment). As
an operator of satellite-based network, StarBand Latin America, whether directly
or indirectly through its subsidiaries or affiliates, is subject to the
jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission, referred to as the FCC,
under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. The Communications Act
prohibits the operation of satellite earth station facilities and VSAT network
systems such as those operated by StarBand Latin America, except under licenses
issued by the FCC. Major changes in earth station or VSAT operations require
modifications to the FCC licenses, which must also be approved by the FCC. The
FCC generally renews satellite earth station and VSAT licenses routinely, but we
cannot assure that the licenses we operate under will be renewed at the
expiration dates or that such renewals will be for full terms. In addition,
certain aspects of our business may be subject to state and local regulation
including, for example, local zoning laws affecting the installation of
satellite antennas.
INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS
We must comply with the applicable laws and obtain the approval of the
regulatory authority of each country in which we propose to provide network
services or operate VSATs. The laws and regulatory requirements regulating
access to satellite systems vary from country to country. Some countries in
Latin America have substantially deregulated satellite communications, while
other countries maintain strict monopoly regimes. The application procedure can
be time consuming and costly, and the terms and conditions of licenses vary for
different countries. In addition, in some countries there may be restrictions on
its ability to interconnect with the local switched telephone network.
OUR DISCONTINUED EDUCATION BUSINESS
From September 1997 through October 2000, our principal focus was building
an advertiser-supported network serving the education market. In October 2000,
we announced that we were shifting all of our business focus and resources to
pursue the development, implementation and management of industry-specific
private networks for businesses to communicate with vendors and customers via
bi-directional satellite-derived internet connections. During the third quarter
of 2002, management decided to discontinue this business and channel all of its
business efforts into StarBand Latin America. Our education network business,
including our former indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, eFundraising.com
Corporation, are reflected in the accompanying financial statements as
discontinued. As of August 2002, our business focus has been on the provision of
satellite communication services and networks to the Latin American markets as
described above.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
We seek to protect our intellectual property under relevant U.S. and
international law regarding copyright, patents, trademarks and trade secrets as
well as through confidentiality agreements with employees, consultants,
contractors and business partners. With respect to the satellite communication
VSAT technology, we rely on a combination of patent, trade secret, copyright and
trademark law pertaining to the VSAT technology owned by Gilat.
In addition, we have applied to register "rStar", the rStar Networks logo,
and other trademarks in the United States. We have given copyright and trademark
notices on our web sites and private networks, and many other copyrightable or
trademarked materials by affixing a standard copyright and/or trademark notice
in the appropriate places. We control access to our trade secrets and
proprietary information by entering into confidentiality agreements with our
employees,
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consultants, contractors and actual and potential business partners. We
currently own several Internet domain names based upon our "rStar Networks"
brands and services, including "rstar.com", from which we conduct our corporate
web site.
EMPLOYEES
We currently employ approximately 125 full time employees. In addition
Gilat and its affiliates provide certain administrative and other service
personnel to rStar.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
rStar's executive officers, who are appointed by and serve at the
discretion of the Board of Directors, and their ages as of March 31, 2003, are
as follows:
NAME AGE POSITION
Samer Salameh 38 Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Lior Kadosh 38 Interim Chief Financial Officer
William A. Kirkner 34 Chief Technical Officer
SAMER SALAMEH 38 Mr. Salameh has been Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of rStar since
November, 2002. From 2000 to 2001 Mr. Salameh served as President and CEO of
NetVmg Inc., an IP traffic management company. In addition, during 2000, Mr.
Salameh served as CEO of Telmex North America Ventures in which he managed a
portfolio of companies including CompUSA, Topp Telecom, CommSouth, Telmex USA,
etc. From 1997 until 2000, Mr. Salameh served as Chairman and CEO of Prodigy
Communications Corporation. Mr. Salameh holds a Master of Arts in International
Business from the Fletcher School,Tufts University and a Bachelor of Science in
Management from the Polytechnic University in Brooklyn NY.
LIOR KADOSH 38 Ms. Kadosh became Interim CFO of rStar in November, 2002. From February, 2000
until November, 2002, Ms. Kadosh served as Director of Finance of Gilat Latin
America, Inc., an affiliate of Gilat. From August, 1998 to July, 1999 Ms.
Kadosh served as an independent consultant to various companies in Mexico City
such as Sofoles. From December, 1996 to August, 1998 Ms. Kadosh served as
Sales Analyst of Grupo Financiero Serfin - Operador de Bolsa Serfin
specializing in the Euro debt market, Latin emerging markets and the reform in
the banking sector in Mexico. Ms. Kadosh received both a BA degree in
Economics and Accounting and a Diploma in Consulting studies in Accounting from
the Tel-Aviv University, Israel. Ms. Kadosh is a CPA in Israel. Ms. Kadosh
received an M.A. degree in Economics and Business from Anahuac University,
Mexico City.
WILLIAM A. KIRKNER 34 Mr. Kirkner has been Chief Technology Officer of rStar since November of 2002.
Mr. Kirkner also currently serves as President of IA Films, Inc., a startup
production company which he founded in 2002. Prior to founding IA Films, Mr.
Kirkner worked as Chief Technology Officer of Prodigy Communications
Corporation from 1999 until 2002, responsible for new product engineering and
back-end information systems, development of new products, services and
software and the supervision of a staff of over 200 employees. From 1996 until
1999, Mr. Kirkner served as Senior Product Architect, MCIWorldcom focusing on
setting performance standards and providing technical direction for development
of a consumer dial-up Internet products. Mr. Kirkner received a Juris
Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center, Washington DC in May, 1992 and
a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, degree from Loyola College, Baltimore, Maryland
in May, 1989.
10
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
We sub-lease our principal offices from an affiliate of Gilat in Sunrise,
Florida, which as of March 17, 2003, consisted of approximately 9,311 square
feet of office space. The Sunrise lease expires in April 30, 2005. rStar
subleases space from an affiliate of Gilat in Brazil. In addition, our local
offices in Colombia and Peru rent space for our local operations in each
respective country. The monthly aggregate expenditure for space leased is
approximately $21,000.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On or about March 3, 2003, Comerica Bank - California, located in
California, brought an action against us in the Superior Court for the County of
Los Angeles for breach of contract in connection with an equipment lease
agreement. We have agreed in principal to settlement terms . The settlement is
currently being documented and is expected to include a dismissal with prejudice
of the lawsuit.
On or about December 3, 2002, Pentech Financial Services, Inc. located in
California, brought an action against us with the California Superior Court of
Santa Clara County in connection with an equipment lease for breach of contract,
claim and delivery, and unjust enrichment. This matter has been settled and the
action has been dismissed with prejudice.
On December 13, 2001, NextiraOne filed a breach of contract action against
rStar seeking the principal sum of $180,000 for unpaid computer hardware
allegedly sold and shipped to rStar. The action was settled in October 2002 and
the case was dismissed.
On or about October 22, 2001, STM Wireless, Inc. ("STM") filed an action
entitled STM Wireless, Inc. v. Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. et al., Orange
County Superior Court Case No. 01 CC13531, by which action STM alleged that the
named defendants, including the Company, improperly interfered with STM's bid to
provide telecommunication services to rural areas of Peru. The matter has been
settled and is in the process of being dismissed by the court with prejudice.
On March 7, 2001, rStar (then known as ZapMe! Corporation) filed action
against a software vendor, ON Technology Corporation ("OTC"), by which rStar
alleged that OTC breached a software license agreement and defrauded rStar
concerning the capabilities of the software. By its complaint, rStar seeks
recovery of $390,000 rStar paid to OTC in connection with the software, as well
as other damages. On or about March 29, 2001, OTC filed a counterclaim against
rStar, alleging that the principal sum of $308,000 is due from rStar for
additional license fees, maintenance fees, and professional fees in connection
with OTC's software. The Company has asserted defenses and intends to defend
against this claim.
In the early part of 2002, a third party issued a letter to Gilat,
claiming that it has rights to a portion of one of our subsidiaries based upon a
document and certain partial payments made to the third party. The Company
rejects the legal bases for such claims and intends to vigorously defend any
action if brought by the third party, but does intend to seek a mutually
acceptable resolution to this dispute.
We are not a party to any legal proceedings that we believe could have a
material adverse effect on our operating results and financial position.
However, we may from time to time become a party to various legal proceedings
arising in the ordinary course of business.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth
quarter of fiscal year 2002.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDEND POLICY
Our common stock is traded publicly on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market under the
symbol "RSTRC". Our common stock has been publicly traded since October 20,
1999, and prior to March 21, 2001 traded under our original symbol - "IZAP". Our
initial public offering price was $11.00 per share. Prior to our initial public
offering, there was no established public trading market for the common stock.
The following table shows the high and low common stock prices by quarter
from the Nasdaq SmallCap Market of the common stock for the periods indicated.
Such quotations represent inter-dealer prices without retail markup, markdown or
commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
11
2002 2001 2000
---- ---- ----
HIGH LOW HIGH LOW HIGH LOW
------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
First Quarter $0.8000 $0.2600 $ 1.6094 $ 0.5000 $ 11.625 $ 5.8750
Second Quarter 0.6800 0.1500 1.1500 0.5500 8.0000 1.8125
Third Quarter 0.7400 0.1000 0.8300 0.3500 4.1875 1.5625
Fourth Quarter 0.3000 0.1200 0.5900 0.2400 2.5000 0.4688
As of March 31, 2003 there were 104,529,864 shares issued and outstanding
held by approximately 150 stockholders of record and approximately 2,600
beneficial owners of shares held by brokers and fiduciaries.
We have never paid cash dividends on our common stock. Other than the
special cash distribution described below, we expect to retain our future
earnings, if any, for use in the operation and expansion of our business and do
not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
Under the terms of the StarBand Latin America acquisition and the terms of
our certificate of incorporation, rStar stockholders other than Gilat and its
affiliates are entitled to receive a special cash distribution of up to $10
million in the aggregate in the event that we do not achieve certain earnings
targets during each of the one year periods ending June 30, 2003 and June 30,
2004. For more details, please see "Management's Discussion and Analysis -
Liquidity and Capital Resources".
12
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected consolidated financial data presented below is derived from
our consolidated financial statements, which statements are included elsewhere
in this document. The selected consolidated financial data set forth below is
qualified in its entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with,
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results Of
Operations and the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes
thereto included elsewhere in this document.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA AND RATIOS)
2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS:
Net revenues from continuing operations $ 25,836 $ 55,043 $ - $ - $ -
Net revenues from discontinued operations $ - $ - $ 14,316 $ 2,542 $ -
Income (Loss) from continuing operations $ (23,971) $ (12,800) $ (5,182) $ 182 $ (122)
Loss from discontinued operations $ (1,937) $ (18,315) $ (105,773) $ (27,309) $ (4,909)
Net loss $ (25,908) $ (31,115) $ (110,955) $ (27,127) $ (5,031)
Preferred dividends actual, accreted, and deemed $ - $ - $ (213) $ (17,965) $ (606)
Net loss applicable to common stockholders $ (25,908) $ (31,115) $ (111,168) $ (45,092) $ (5,637)
Income (loss) per share, basic and diluted
continuing operations $ (0.23) $ (0.13) $ (0.12) $ (0.91) $ (0.06)
Income (loss) per share, basic and diluted -
discontinued operations $ (0.02) $ (0.18) $ (2.44) $ (1.39) $ (0.42)
Shares used in calculation of net loss per
share, basic and diluted 105,978 99,171 43,348 19,607 11,685
DECEMBER 31,
2002 2001 2000 1999 1998
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
BALANCE SHEET:
Cash and equivalents $ 8,163 $ 37,334 $ 48,406 $ 112,714 $ 815
Restricted cash $ 1,416 $ 1,885 $ 577 $ 565 $ -
Total current assets $ 40,184 $ 76,097 $ 67,028 $ 113,141 $ 820
Total current liabilities $ 42,854 $ 58,152 $ 13,295 $ 23,587 $ 118
Total liabilities $ 54,776 $ 67,182 $ 61,653 $ 36,879 $ 5,726
Total Stockholders' equity (deficit) $ 14,282 $ 36,411 $ 11,575 $ 114,313 $ (2,123)
Current Ratio 0.94 1.30 5.04 4.80 6.95
13
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
OVERVIEW
Following the closing of the acquisition of StarBand Latin America on
August 2, 2002, rStar has committed a significant portion of its resources and
technical expertise to the Latin American market for voice and data services. As
such, through our acquired subsidiaries, we install, operate and maintain
satellite-based rural telephony networks in certain Latin American countries, as
well as high-speed consumer Internet access pilot networks in certain other
countries. We work on a wholesale basis with Latin American ISP's, PTTs,
government entities and other providers to offer high-speed Internet access and
telephony services via satellite. Our end-user target customers for our products
and services are small office/home office ("Soho") customers and consumer
customers in Latin America.
At the time of the closing of the StarBand Latin America Acquisition, the
legal transfer of some of the Latin American entities to be transferred to us
was and remains pending government regulatory approvals. Pursuant to a closing
agreement entered into by rStar and Gilat at the closing of the acquisition, if
these approvals are not obtained by May 2, 2003, Gilat will transfer to rStar
the parent company of such entities. Despite the pending transfers, rStar
obtained all rights, obligations and liabilities with respect to the businesses
conducted by the entities as of August 2, 2002.
Under the acquisition agreement, StarBand Latin America entered into a
master services and supply agreement with Gilat pursuant to which we received
specified services and products from Gilat necessary to conduct our business in
Latin America. See "Master Service and Supply Agreement" incorporated by
reference.
From September 1997 through October 2000 our principal focus was building
and operating an advertiser-supported network serving the education market. Due
to changes in our business focus, we discontinued this business and concentrated
our efforts toward becoming a provider of satellite-based services to vertical
markets. Management has discontinued this business as well in order to focus
solely on providing satellite connectivity in Latin America.
In connection with our change in business focus, we have undergone
significant reductions-in-force during 2001 and 2002. These actions, combined
with attrition, reduced our headcount approximately 83% from 120 employees at
December 31, 2002 to 18 employees as of June 30, 2002. In connection with the
StarBand Latin America acquisition, the employment of remaining employees was
terminated, including the then current CEO and the CFO during the third quarter
ended September 30, 2002. Total severance costs associated with these actions
equaled approximately $735,000 for the twelve months of 2001, and approximately
$2.2 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2002. These costs have
been charged to operations. Also in connection with the StarBand Latin America
acquisition, we obtained through subsidiary companies of StarBand Latin America
approximately 115 employees, most of whom are located in Latin America. In
addition, Gilat has provided headquarters personnel during the transition
period. It is anticipated that we will increase our headcount in the near term
to match the demand in the market.
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
As Gilat is the controlling shareholder of both rStar and StarBand Latin
America, the acquisition has been accounted for as a combination between
entities under common control in accordance with SFAS No. 141. As such, no
goodwill has resulted from the transaction and historical amounts are presented
much like in a pooling of interests. Common control of the entities began on
January 1, 2001. Accordingly, rStar's historical financial statements have been
restated to include the consolidated financial position, results of operations,
and cash flows of StarBand Latin America from January 1, 2001 to the present.
Therefore the discussions below include both the activities of rStar and those
of StarBand Latin America.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
In December 2001, the SEC requested that all registrants discuss their
"critical accounting policies." A critical accounting policy is a policy that is
both important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results and
requires subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make
estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. We believe
the following accounting policies to be critical:
14
Use of estimates:
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition:
We recognize revenues from product sales when shipment has occurred, persuasive
evidence of an arrangement exists, the vendor's fee is fixed or determinable, no
future obligations exist and collection is probable. We do not grant rights of
return. Determination of the probability of collection is based on the financial
position and the history with the customers, and on management's assessment of
the probability of the payment of fees for services rendered and products
delivered. Should changes in conditions cause management to determine that these
criteria are not met for certain future transactions, revenue recognized for any
reporting period could be adversely affected.
Service revenues are recognized ratably over the contractual period or as
services are performed. Where arrangements involve multiple elements, revenue is
allocated to each element based on the relative fair value of the element when
sold separately.
Arrangements that include installation services are evaluated to determine
whether those services are an integral component of the equipment used. When
installation services are considered integral, revenue from products and
services is recognized only upon installation. When services are not considered
integral, revenues from product sales are recognized upon shipment and the
service revenue is recognized when the services are performed.
Revenues from products under sales-type-lease contracts are recognized in
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 13, "Accounting
for Leases" ("SFAS No. 13") upon installation or upon shipment, in cases where
the customer obtains its own or others installation services. The present values
of payments due under sales-type-lease contracts are recorded as revenues at the
time of shipment or installation, as appropriate. Future interest income is
deferred and recognized over the related lease term as financial income. The net
investments in sales-type-lease are discounted at the interest rates implicit in
the leases.
Cost of Revenues:
Cost of revenues, for both products and services, includes the cost of system
design, equipment, satellite capacity, and third party maintenance and
installation. For equipment contracts, cost of revenues is expensed as revenues
are recognized. For network service contracts, cost of revenues is expensed as
revenues are recognized over the term of the contract. For maintenance
contracts, cost of revenues is expensed as the maintenance cost is incurred or
over the term of the contract.
Accounts Receivable:
We are required to estimate our ability to collect our trade receivables. A
considerable amount of judgment is required in assessing their ultimate
realization. We provided allowance for our receivables relating to customers
that were specifically identified by our management as having difficulties
paying their respective receivables.
Inventory:
We are required to state our inventories at the lower of cost or market price.
In assessing the ultimate realization of inventories, we are required to make
judgments as to future demand requirements and compare that with the current or
committed inventory levels. We have recorded significant changes in required
reserves in recent periods due to changes in strategic direction, such as
discontinuation of product lines and due to changes in market conditions such as
altered demands for product specifications. Inventory write offs amounted to $0,
$280,000 and $972,000 in 2000, 2001 and 2002, respectively.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
We believe that, due to the change in business scope, the discontinued
operations and the changing climate of business in Latin America,
period-to-period comparisons of our operating results are not meaningful and
should not be relied upon as predictive of future performance. Our prospects
must be considered in light of the risk, expenses and difficulties frequently
encountered by companies in the early stage of development, particularly
companies in new and rapidly evolving markets. We may not be successful in
addressing such risks and difficulties.
15
PRO FORMA INFORMATION
The following information represents the Consolidated Statements of Operations
for the two year period ended December 31, 2002 and pro forma information
represents the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December
31, 2000, to reflect the combined financial results of rStar and StarBand Latin
America as if Gilat gained control over StarBand Latin America on January 1,
2000, as such proforma information was not included in the consolidated
financial results as rStar and Starband Latin America became entities under the
common control of Gilat only from January 2001:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
(IN THOUSANDS)
--------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002
-------------- -------------- --------------
Revenues: Proforma
Products $ 28,041 $ 47,623 $ 16,972
Services 821 7,420 8,864
-------------- -------------- --------------
Total revenues 28,862 55,043 25,836
-------------- -------------- --------------
Cost of revenues:
Products 20,107 41,950 11,000
Services 906 10,687 16,228
Write-off of inventories - 280 972
-------------- -------------- --------------
Total cost of revenues 21,013 52,917 28,200
-------------- -------------- --------------
Gross profit (loss) 7,849 2,126 (2,364)
-------------- -------------- --------------
Selling, marketing, general and administrative 5,382 11,795 14,556
Impairment of note receivables to Stockholders - - 6,188
-------------- -------------- --------------
Total operating expenses 5,382 11,795 20,744
-------------- -------------- --------------
Operating income (loss) 2,467 (9,669) (23,108)
Financial expenses, net (573) (2,704) (743)
Other expenses 113 (1,364) (406)
-------------- -------------- --------------
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes on income 2,007 (13,737) (24,257)
Taxes on income (3,652) 937 286
-------------- -------------- --------------
Income (loss) from continuing operations (1,645) (12,800) (23,971)
Loss from discontinued operations (105,773) (18,315) (1,937)
-------------- -------------- --------------
Net loss 107,418 31,115 25,908
Dividend on Series A preferred stock (213) - -
-------------- -------------- --------------
Net Loss applicable to common stockholders $ 107,631 $ 31,115 $ 25,908
============== ============== ==============
REVENUES
The majority of our revenues are from the installation and implementation
of rural telephony and Internet networks in Latin America. Revenue is recognized
from the sale of equipment, installation of that equipment, and for services
performed from the networks such a telephony and Internet. We classify our
revenues as either product revenues or service revenues. Product revenues are
derived from the sale and installation of equipment. When sales require
installation, revenues are recognized as the products are installed and are
considered non-recurring revenue on a per project basis. Sales not requiring
installation are recognized as products are shipped and title passes to the
customer. Service revenues are derived from maintenance contracts for the
network, and services performed from the network such as telephony and
16
Internet services. Service revenues related to the maintenance contracts and to
services performed from traffic generated through the networks are recurring in
nature throughout the life of the contract. A significant portion of revenue
comes from foreign governments. These contracts are won on a bid-by-bid basis
and, as such, each bid is considered non-recurring. In 2001, we provided
services for bids awarded to Gilat by the Government of Peru amounting to
approximately $39.0 million.
For the year ended December 31, 2002, we were not awarded any new projects.
Gilat has been awarded certain projects in Latin America in 2002 and 2003 and it
is expected that we will be providing certain services under such contracts. As
such, we expect that our recurring revenue will increase in the near future.
PRODUCTS
Revenues from product sales and installations decreased $30.6 million
(64.3%) from $47.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2001 to $17.0 million
for the year ended December 31, 2002. This decrease in revenue was attributable
mainly to a decrease in the implementation of projects during 2002. Product
sales and installations typically occur during the beginning of project
implementation. Accordingly, since we did not record any revenue from new bids
in 2002, there was a corresponding reduction in the amount of product revenues.
For the year ended December 31, 2001, revenues from product sales increased
$19.6 million (69.8%) from $28.0 million pro forma revenues for the year ended
December 31, 2000 to revenues of $47.6 million for the year ended December 31,
2001 as a result of the $39.0 million of bids won for rural telephony and
Internet projects in Peru. These projects required the deployment of significant
amounts of equipment during the early phases of implementation.
SERVICES
Revenues from services increased $1.5 million (20.3%) from $7.4 million for
the year ended December 31, 2001 to $8.9 million for the year ended December 31,
2002. This increase was attributable primarily to the implementation of the bids
won in 2001, which were implemented in 2002.
For the year ended December 31, 2001, revenues from services increased $6.6
million (825%) to $7.4 million as compared to pro forma revenues of $800,000 for
the year ended December 31, 2000 for the same reasons stated above.
COST OF REVENUES
Cost of revenues related to products consists of the cost of equipment for
the government projects noted above. However, equipment sales, within each
specific project, are non-recurring in nature. We anticipate that upon
maturation of the various networks that compose our continuing operations, cost
of revenue related to services will consist primarily of the depreciation on
network equipment, the cost of administering our satellite communications
network, and the cost of procuring and providing space segment necessary to
provide such services, installing satellite signal-receiving equipment at
customer sites mainly. The costs associated with this type of telecommunications
business generally include (1) the cost of land-based equipment, or earth
segment, such as the satellite dishes, hubs, send/receive cards located inside
the network servers; (2) the cost of the link to and from the satellite, or
space segment; and (3) interconnection fees with local providers.
PRODUCTS
For the year ended December 31, 2002, cost of revenues related to products
decreased $31.0 million (73.8%) from $42.0 million for the year ended December
31, 2001 to $11.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2002. This decrease
was attributable to a decrease in product sales revenue in 2002.
Cost of revenues from product sales for the year ended December 31, 2001
increased $21.9 million (108.9%) to $42 million as compared to $20.1 million pro
forma revenues for the year ended December 31, 2000. The increase was directly
attributable to the increase in sales as a result in the bids won in Peru.
SERVICES
For the year ended December 31, 2002, cost of revenues from services
increased $5.5 million (51.4%) from $10.7 million for the year ended December
31, 2001 to $16.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2002. The increase was
attributable to the increased traffic on the networks we service. Other than
installation services, cost of revenues consisted primarily of operational
expenses for our existing networks in Colombia and Peru.
17
Cost of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2001 increased $9.8
million (1,088.8%) to $10.7 million as compared to $900,000 for the year ended
December31, 2000 as a result of the completion of the implementation of projects
that were signed during 2001.
SELLING, MARKETING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE
Selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses represent the costs
of personnel and overhead associated with our efforts to obtain contracts and
new business in Latin America with Internet Service Providers (ISP's), PTTs,
government entities and other providers to offer high-speed Internet access and
telephony services via satellite. Selling, marketing, general and administrative
expenses for continuing operations for the year ended December 31, 2002 and 2001
were $14.6 million, $11.8 million respectively and on pro forma basis for 2000,
$5.4 million. The increase of $2.8 million (23.7%) in this expense in 2002 was
attributable to selling and marketing efforts associated with project awards in
Peru and Colombia and resulted from management fees charged by a Gilat affiliate
for sales and marketing assistance. In addition, the increase in this expense is
attributable to professional and consulting costs relating to the StarBand Latin
America acquisition, which totaled approximately $500,000, severance payments
which amounted to approximately $2.2 million during the year ended December 31,
2002, and the continued buildup of operation activity as it relates to the
projects in Colombia and Peru during 2002. For the year ended December 31, 2001,
selling, marketing, general and administrative expenses increased $6.4 million
(119%) to $11.8 million compared to $5.4 million on a pro forma basis for the
year ended December 2000. The increase related primarily to management fees
charged by a Gilat affiliate for general and administrative costs including
finance consulting, legal and administrative support provided to subsidiaries
that assisted them in obtaining over $40.0 million in contracts.
FINANCIAL EXPENSES, NET
Financial expenses include interest income, interest expenses and foreign
currency gains and losses. Financial expense was $ 700,000 and $ 2.7 million and
on a pro forma basis, $600,000 of the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and
2000 respectively. The increase for the year ended December 31, 2001 over 2000
was the result of foreign exchange losses in Brazil and Colombia. Interest
expenses and interest income during the year ended December 31, 2002 declined by
48.2% and 63.1%, respectively since the year ended December 31, 2000, primarily
as a result of a combination of diminishing cash balances available for
investment at lower interest rates and a reduction in interest expenses relating
to the expiration of significant capital lease obligation during 2002 and a
conversion of debt to equity with a related party lease, Spacenet Inc., a wholly
owned subsidiary of Gilat.
In April 2001 rStar agreed to exchange our lease obligation with Spacenet
in exchange for equity in rStar. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources" below. No
interest expense for any period of 2002 was incurred with Spacenet, a related
party. Related party interest in 2001 and 2000 totaled $900,000 and $3.8
million, respectively.
LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
We discontinued all operational components of rStar which was mainly the
AutoNetworks business in 2002, resulting in a loss of approximately $1.9 million
in 2002. As of December 31, 2001 all the losses from the discontinuation of the
advertiser-supported business serving the education market had been recognized.
The discontinuation of this business resulted in $18.3 million loss for the year
ended 2001 primarily consisting of a $5.9 million charge recorded to cover
principally the cost of excess space segment bandwidth consumed by the School
Business that resolved a discrepancy between Spacenet and the Company and $9.0
million impairment charges to reflect a revised estimate of the net proceeds to
be obtained from the sale of School Business assets and $6.0 million in costs
related to the remaining operational components of rStar primarly the
discontinued AutoNetworks' operations. Partially offsetting these charges were
actual expenses that were lower than the original estimates for which a reserve
was established in December 2000. The remainder of the loss in 2001 resulted
from the presentation of discontinued operations of the operational components
of rStar which was mainly the AutoNetworks business.
18
QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table presents certain unaudited consolidated statement of
operations data for each quarter of 2001 and 2002. This information has been
prepared on the same basis as our annual consolidated financial statements and
includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments,
necessary for a fair presentation of the information for the quarters presented.
This information should be read together with the consolidated financial
statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K. The operating results for any quarter are not necessarily indicative
of the results for any future period.
QUARTER ENDED
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
2001 MAR 31 JUN 30 SEP 30 DEC 31 TOTAL
FOR THE
YEAR
ENDED
DEC 31
-------------------------------------------------------------
Total revenues $ 15,479 $ 14,659 $ 14,820 $ 10,085 $ 55,043
Total costs of revenue 12,494 16,615 14,836 8,972 52,917
-------------------------------------------------------------
Gross profit 2,985 (1,956) (16) 1,113 2,126
Total Operating Expenses 2,766 2,752 2,830 3,447 11,795
-------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income (loss) 219 (4,708) (2,846) (2,334) (9,669)
Other income (loss) (1,137) (1,992) (1,375) 436 (4,068)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from continuing operations before (918) (6,700) (4,221) (1,898) (13,737)
taxes on income
Taxes on income (200) 1,236 (1,294) 1,195 937
-------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from continuing operations (1,118) (5,464) (5,515) (703) (12,800)
Loss from discontinued operations (14,040) (753) (2,142) (1,380) (18,315)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Net loss ($15,158) ($6,217) ($7,657) ($2,083) ($31,115)
=============================================================
Basic and diluted net loss per share:
From continuing operations ($0.01) ($0.06) ($0.05) ($0.01) ($0.13)
From discontinued operations ($0.16) ($0.01) ($0.02) ($0.01) ($0.18)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Total ($0.17) ($0.06) ($0.07) ($0.02) ($0.31)
=============================================================
Weighted average number of stock used in computing basic and
diluted net loss per share 86,867 95,720 106,693 106,802 99,171
=============================================================
2002 MAR 31 JUN 30 SEP 30 DEC 31 TOTAL
FOR THE
YEAR
ENDED
DEC 31
-------------------------------------------------------------
Total revenues $ 10,619 $ 5,442 $ 7,613 $ 2,162 $ 25,836
Total costs of revenue 9,693 6,481 6,228 5,798 28,200
---------------------------------------------------------------
Gross profit 926 (1,039) 1,385 (3,636) (2,364)
Total Operating Expenses 3,846 3,640 5,826 7,432 20,744
---------------------------------------------------------------
Operating income (loss) (2,920) (4,679) (4,441) (11,068) (23,108)
Other income (loss) (378) (145) (610) (16) (1,149)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes on income (3,298) (4,824) (5,051) (11,084) (24,257)
Taxes on income 147 205 (15) (51) 286
---------------------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from continuing operations (3,151) (4,619) (5,066) (11,135) (23,971)
Loss from discontinued operations (930) (509) (227) (271) (1,937)
---------------------------------------------------------------
19
---------------------------------------------------------------
Net loss ($4,081) ($5,128) ($5,293) ($11,406) ($25,908)
===============================================================
Basic and diluted net loss per share:
From continuing operations ($0.03) ($0.04) ($0.05) ($0.11) ($0.23)
From discontinued operations ($0.00) ($0.00) ($0.00) ($0.00) ($0.02)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total ($0.03) ($0.04) ($0.05) ($0.11) ($0.258)
===============================================================
Weighted average number of stock used in computing basic and
diluted net loss per share 106,906 106,906 105,568 104,530 105,978
===============================================================
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
On April 23, 2001, we entered into an agreement to issue 19,396,552 shares
of our common stock to Gilat Satellite Networks (Holland) B.V. (Spacenet's
affiliate-assignee) in full satisfaction of the Company's outstanding capital
lease obligations to Spacenet of approximately $45.0 million. These shares were
issued on May 21, 2001 and significantly reduced our cash obligations. In
addition, during 2002 we significantly reduced our headcount, which further
decreased our cash obligations.
OPERATING ACTIVITIES. In 2002, operating activities composed of
approximately $16.1 million, which was attributable to the net loss of
approximately $25.9 million offset by non-cash charges of approximately $13.1
million relating to depreciation and an impairment of a note receivable from
stockholders. In addition, trade receivables decreased by approximately $3.2
million, and other receivables and prepaid expenses (including long-term
receivables) increased by approximately $8.7 million. This overall increase was
attributable to revenue recorded from our projects in Peru. We increased our
debt with Gilat by $7.2 million and reduced our accrued expenses, accounts
payable and other liabilities by approximately $5.5 million. Other uses of funds
were losses from our discontinued activities of approximately $1.1 million.
INVESTING ACTIVITIES. In 2002 we spent approximately $1.0 million on
investing activities, which was attributable to $1.8 million in fixed asset
purchases offset by an increase in restricted cash from our various activities
in Peru.
FINANCING ACTIVITIES. In 2002, we spent approximately $12.0 million on
financing activities primarily as a result of funds paid to acquire $10.0
million of our stock in a tender offer and for the repayment of approximately
$3.1 million in capital lease principal. This was offset by an increase in
drawing on our short term credit lines in an amount of approximately $1.0
million.
In connection with the acquisition of StarBand Latin America, we have
committed to pay a special distribution to our minority shareholders under
certain circumstances. In accordance with the acquisition agreement and our
certificate of incorporation, in the event that the StarBand Latin America
business, as defined, does not achieve certain net income targets agreed to by
the parties during each of the one year periods ended June 30, 2003 and June 30,
2004, rStar stockholders of record as of June 30, 2003 or June 30, 2004 (other
than Gilat and its affiliates which agreed to waive receipt of such amounts)
will be entitled to their pro rata share of a special distribution equal to
either $2.5 million or $5.0 million in cash, depending upon the net income.
Specifically, if the net income for the StarBand Latin America business for the
period from July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003 is less than or equal to $1.6
million, the special distribution shall be $5.0 million and if the net income
for the StarBand Latin America business for the period from July 1, 2002 through
June 30, 2003 is greater than $1.6 million and less than or equal to $2.5
million, the special distribution shall be $2.5 million. If the net income for
the StarBand Latin America business for the period from July 1, 2002 through
June 30, 2003 is greater than $2.5 million, then no payment shall be due. If the
net income for the StarBand Latin America business for the period from July 1,
2003 through June 30, 2004 is less than or equal to $11.0 million, the special
distribution shall be $5.0 million and if the net income for the StarBand Latin
America business for the period from July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004 is
greater than $11.0 million and less than or equal to $16.5 million, the special
distribution shall be $2.5 million. If the net income for the StarBand Latin
America business for the period from July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004 is
greater than $16.5 million, there shall be no special distribution. In
connection with the acquisition of StarBand Latin America, Gilat agreed to
guarantee the payment of this special distribution.
We have not recorded a provision regarding distribution of dividend to the
minority in the year 2003 as management does not believe it is probable that we
will make such distribution. Notwithstanding, the Company has provided a
provision for the second distribution as of December 31, 2002 as management's
current assessment is that with the current level of sales in 2003 and with the
uncertainties in the markets in which rStar operates, it is probable that the
special distribution will be paid in 2004. However, if rStar is successful in
growing its business and increasing its net income during 2003 and 2004, the
special distribution may not need to be paid in part or at all.
20
In the event we have to pay such a dividend it would have a significant
impact on our cash reserves. We anticipate that if we collect our receivables
and if we reach our targets as we have projected then our available cash
resources will be sufficient to meet our expected working capital and capital
expenditure requirements for the next 12 months, however this anticipates that
we do not make any significant payments to Gilat. The acquisition of StarBand
Latin America, however, results in the addition of a substantial new business to
the Company and new management. The financial requirements of that business may
vary significantly based on a number of factors, including, the speed with which
service is expanded, the impact that competitive offerings have on market prices
and terms, the ability of the Company to forecast its expenses and the terms it
receives from its vendors (See "Factors Affecting our Business, Operating
Results and Financial Condition"). Consequently, we may seek to raise additional
funds. Additionally, we may require additional capital to develop new
satellite-based private networks, respond to competitive pressures, acquire
complementary technologies, or respond to unanticipated developments.
We may seek to raise additional funds through private or public sales of
securities, strategic financial and business relationships, bank debt, lease
financing, or otherwise. If additional funds are raised through the issuance of
equity securities, the percentage of the Company owned by existing stockholders
will be reduced, stockholders may experience additional dilution, and these
equity securities may have rights, preferences, or privileges senior to those of
the holders of our common stock. Additional financing may not be available on
acceptable terms, if at all. If adequate funds are not available or are not
available on acceptable terms, we may be unable to deploy or enhance our
networks, develop the business acquired in the StarBand Latin America
acquisition, take advantage of future opportunities, or respond to competitive
pressures or unanticipated developments, which could severely harm our business.
As of December 31, 2002, our short and long term obligations were as
follows:
PAYMENTS DUE BY PERIOD (IN THOUSANDS)
CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS TOTAL 2003 2004-2006 2007 AND BEYOND
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-term debt $ - $ - $ - $ -
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Convertible subordinated notes - - - -
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Lease Obligations 5,382 1,809 3,573 -
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating lease 97 84 13 -
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other long-term obligations 1,893 473 1,420 -
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related party obligation 23,480 23,480 - -
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Contractual Cash Obligations $30,852 $27,279 $5,563 $ -
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
At December 31 2002, The Company is required to provide guarantees of
performance of our work to our customers (usually government entities). Such
guarantees are generally provide by Gilat on our behalf. The guarantees are
required by contract for our performance during the installation and operational
period of long-term rural telephony projects in Latin America. The guarantees
for installation typically expire soon after certain milestones are met and
guarantees for operations typically expire proportionally over the contract
period. Our maximum potential amount of future payments the subsidiaries could
be required to make under its guarantees at December 31, 2002 is $30.8 million.
We have not recorded any liability for such amounts, as we do not expect that
our performance will be unacceptable.
FACTORS AFFECTING OUR BUSINESS, OPERATING RESULTS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS.
WE HAVE AN UNPROVEN BUSINESS MODEL AND WE MAY NOT REALIZE ANY BENEFITS FROM THE
STARBAND LATIN AMERICA ACQUISITION.
Achieving the benefits of the StarBand Latin America acquisition will
depend, in part, on our ability to integrate the StarBand Latin America
business, technology, operations and personnel into our operations. The
integration of StarBand Latin America will be a complex, time consuming and
expensive process and may disrupt our business if not
21
completed in a timely and efficient manner. Among other challenges involved in
this integration are (i) obtaining the regulatory approvals required to transfer
certain Latin American operations from Gilat to us, (ii) ensuring that Gilat
provides us with the economic benefit of such operations until such time as the
regulatory approvals have been obtained; (iii) retaining key personnel and
addressing any adverse changes in business focus; and (iv) maintaining the
necessary cash and other resources to meet our expected working capital and
capital expenditure requirements, including the cash that we may have to pay our
stockholders pursuant to the special cash distribution.
We do not have experience in integrating operations on the scale
represented by the acquisition, and it is not certain that we will be able to
successfully integrate StarBand Latin America into our operations in a timely
manner or at all, or that any of the anticipated benefits of the acquisition
will be realized. Failure to do so could seriously harm our business, financial
condition and operating results.
A stockholder must carefully consider the risks and difficulties frequently
encountered by companies in an early stage of development, as well as the risks
we face due to our participation in a new and rapidly evolving market. Our
business strategy may not be successful and it may not successfully overcome
these risks.
WE HAVE INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL LOSSES AND ANTICIPATE CONTINUED LOSSES.
We incurred net losses of approximately $219 million from our inception
through December 31, 2002, which losses resulted primarily from costs related to
developing our discontinued education network business, deploying the network to
schools and developing content and features for the network. We have also had
significant losses in our operation in Latin America and as of today have not
achieved profitability. We expect to have continued net losses and negative cash
flows for the foreseeable future. We will need to generate significant
additional revenues to achieve profitability. It is possible that we will never
achieve profitability, and even if we do achieve profitability, we may not
sustain or increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis in the future.
If we do not achieve or sustain profitability in the future, then we may be
unable to continue our operations. In the event that we do not achieve certain
levels of net income for the periods ending June 2003 and June 2004, we will
need to pay a special distribution in the form of a dividend to our minority
shareholders. See Item 7: "Liquidity and Capital Resources"
WE EXPECT OUR QUARTERLY FINANCIAL RESULTS TO FLUCTUATE, AND OUR RECENT SHIFT TO
OUR CURRENT BUSINESS LIMITS MANAGEMENT'S ABILITY TO PREDICT REVENUES AND
EXPENSES PRECISELY.
Our quarterly and annual operating results have varied in the past and are
likely to fluctuate significantly in the future due to a variety of factors,
many of which are outside of our control. Factors that might cause quarterly
fluctuations in our operating results include the factors described in the
accompanying subheadings. To respond to these and other factors, we may need to
make business decisions that could impact our quarterly operating results. Most
of our expenses are relatively fixed in the short term. Moreover, our expense
levels are based, in part, on our expectations regarding future revenue levels
in connection with our current business. As a result, if total revenues for a
particular quarter are below our expectations we may not be able to
proportionately reduce our operating expenses for that quarter. This revenue
shortfall might then have a disproportionate effect on our expected operating
results for that quarter. In addition, during future periods our quarterly or
annual operating results may fail to meet the expectations of securities
analysts or investors. In this case the trading price of our common stock would
likely decrease.
GILAT CAN EXERCISE TOTAL CONTROL OVER US. GILAT'S MANAGEMENT IS EXPECTED TO
CHANGE ON APRIL 15, 2003, AND WE CANNOT BE SURE TO WHAT EXTENT, IF AT ALL, THIS
WILL AFFECT US.
As of December 31, 2002, Gilat beneficially owned approximately 85% of our
common stock. Therefore, Gilat is able to exercise total control over such
matters as the election of our directors and other fundamental corporate
transactions such as mergers, asset sales, transfer of operations and a sale of
our company. Additionally, our Final Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation permits, as allowed by the Delaware General Corporation Law, Gilat
to undertake certain actions without calling and holding a special meeting of
stockholders and to call a special meeting of rStar stockholders at any time.
Accordingly, the influence of our other stockholders will be limited, which may
depress our stock price. Also, we cannot assure you that the interests of Gilat
will not, from time to time, conflict with your interests as a stockholder.
On April 15, 2003, Gilat's shareholders will vote on the election a new
board of directors, the majority of which have not served in the past as
directors, officers or employees of Gilat. In addition of Gilat's CEO, Yoel Gat,
and President, Amiram Levinberg, have resigned their offices as of April 15,
2003. We cannot guarantee that the new officers and directors of Gilat will not
implement changes in rStar's business going forward and, that if such change is
implemented, it will not have a material adverse effect on our business going
forward.
22
WE MAY SUFFER FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE LOSSES.
Following the StarBand Latin America acquisition, a portion of our
international revenues and expenses are denominated in local currency.
Therefore, a weakening of other currencies compared to the U.S. dollar could
make our products less competitive in foreign markets and could negatively
affect our operating results and cash flows. We do not currently engage in
currency hedging activities, although in some instances we will reserve the
right to engage in such activities. We have not yet, but may in the future,
experience significant foreign currency transaction losses, especially to the
extent that we do not engage in currency hedging.
THE SUCCESS OF OUR INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS IS DEPENDENT ON MANY FACTORS BEYOND
OUR CONTROL WHICH COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR PROFITABILITY AND ABILITY TO OFFER
OUR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN LATIN AMERICA.
Due to the StarBand Latin America acquisition, we have increased our
exposure to international laws and regulations. If we cannot comply with foreign
laws and regulations, which are often complex and subject to variation and
unexpected changes, we could incur unexpected costs, delays and potential
litigation. For example, the governments of foreign countries might attempt to
regulate our products and services or levy sales or other taxes relating to our
activities. In addition, foreign countries may confiscate our products or impose
tariffs, duties, price controls or other restrictions on foreign currencies or
trade barriers, any of which could make it more difficult for us to conduct our
business. In addition, our operations in Latin America are also subject other
factors beyond our control, such as political and economic instability,
including the current political instability throughout Latin America.
Our expansion in foreign markets requires us to respond to rapid changes in
market conditions in these countries. Our overall success as an international
business will depend, in part, upon our ability to succeed in differing
economic, social and political conditions. We may not continue to succeed in
developing and implementing policies and strategies that are effective in each
location where we do business due to the StarBand Latin America acquisition.
WE HAVE LIMITED PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN THE LATIN AMERICAN MARKET AND OUR ABILITY
TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THAT MARKET IS UNCERTAIN.
Through the StarBand Latin America acquisition, we have expanded our
business operations into the delivery of satellite-based telephony and Internet
access services in Latin America. We have limited previous experience in the
Latin American market, and have limited meaningful historical financial and
operational data upon which we can base projected revenues and planned operating
expenses and upon which you may evaluate our prospects in Latin America. The
Latin American satellite-based telephony and Internet access market is an
untested market for us and the results of these operations are uncertain and
unpredictable. As a company expanding its business in the satellite-based
telephony and Internet access market in Latin America, we face risks relating to
our ability to implement our business plan, including our ability to continue to
develop and upgrade our technology, our ability to maintain and develop customer
and supplier relationships, obtain key technology and the necessary governmental
and regulatory approvals, consents and licenses. We may not adequately address
these risks, and if we do not, we may not be able to implement our business plan
as we intend. Our business model contemplates that we will generate revenues
through wholesale sales to Latin American Internet Service Providers, DTH TV
companies and other service providers. The revenues may not materialize if we
fail to implement our strategy for attracting wholesale customers. You should
consider our business and prospects in light of the heightened risks and
unexpected expenses and problems we may face in an emerging market place.
FAILURE TO MANAGE THE GROWTH OF OUR OPERATIONS COULD HARM OUR BUSINESS AND
STRAIN OUR MANAGERIAL, OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
Due to the StarBand Latin America acquisition, we have recently and
significantly changed our business model and strategy. We anticipate that future
expansion will be required to successfully implement our business strategy. We
may not be able to implement management information and control systems in an
efficient and timely manner, and our current or planned personnel, systems,
procedures and controls may not be adequate to support our future operations. If
we were unable to manage growth effectively, our business would suffer. To
manage the expected growth of our operations and personnel, we will be required
to: (1) improve existing and implement new operational, financial and management
controls, reporting systems and procedures; (2) install new management
information systems; and (3) train, motivate and manage our sales and marketing,
engineering, technical and customer support employees.
Our employees, outsourcing arrangements, systems, procedures and controls
may be inadequate to support our future operations. In particular, due to the
StarBand Latin America acquisition, we expect that demands on the network
infrastructure and our technical support resources will increase rapidly as our
customer base grows. We may therefore
23
experience difficulties meeting a high demand for services in the future or
encounter problems in dealing with the customs of various countries in Latin
America. In order to meet this demand, we will need to hire, train and retain
the appropriate personnel, as well as the third-party service providers we
depend on for customer service, to manage our operations. We will also need to
adapt our financial and management controls, billing and information systems,
reporting systems and operating systems. Our failure to manage growth and
expansion effectively, or the failure by one of our service providers to
adequately perform its services, could harm our ability to retain or grow our
customer base which in turn would harm our business, financial condition and
results of operations.
WE RELY HEAVILY ON OUR KEY PARTNERS, WHO ARE RELATED PARTIES, AND IF THEY
TERMINATE THEIR STRATEGIC ALLIANCES WITH US OR IF THE ARRANGEMENTS FAIL TO MEET
OUR OBJECTIVES, WE MAY EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT DIFFICULTY AND OUR REVENUE GROWTH
MAY SUFFER.
We rely heavily on our strategic alliance relationships with Gilat and its
wholly owned subsidiary, Spacenet. Our arrangements with Gilat and Spacenet are
complex and, as a result, there entail many risks, including some that we may
not have foreseen. It is difficult to assess the likelihood of occurrence of
these risks, including the lack of success of the overall arrangements to meet
the parties' objective or the financial condition of Gilat and its affiliates.
For example, Gilat recently consummated a restructuring plan with some of its
creditors. It is unclear whether this plan will affect our relationship with
Gilat. If we fail to maintain these relationships, as anticipated, or if our
partners do not perform to our expectations, the performance of our networks,
and our ability to generate revenues, may be harmed.
IF GILAT IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH THE LICENSES AND SERVICES WE REQUIRE, WE
MAY BE UNABLE TO PROVIDE OUR SERVICES AND OUR BUSINESS WILL BE HARMED.
We depend upon Gilat and its subsidiaries in Latin America and the United
States to provide us with the services that are required to run our business and
provide our services, especially due to the StarBand Latin American Acquisition.
For example, we are not a licensee in the United States or in any Latin America
country and do not hold any authorizations to operate satellite communication
facilities. We will depend totally upon the licenses held by the subsidiaries of
Gilat located in the United States and in Latin America for our products and
services. If their licenses are limited or revoked, if any legal or regulatory
restrictions are imposed on extending their services to us, or if the United
States or any Latin American country limits the number of their earth stations
or if they fail to operate the earth stations providing service to subscribers
of our wholesale customers, in a satisfactory manner, our business could be
seriously harmed.
THE MARKET PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK MAY DECLINE AS A RESULT OF THE STARBAND
LATIN AMERICA ACQUISITION.
In connection with the StarBand Latin America acquisition, we issued new
shares of our common stock to Gilat and certain of its subsidiaries, further
diluting our results of operations on a per-share basis. This dilution could
reduce the market price of our common stock unless and until we achieve revenue
growth or cost savings and other business economies sufficient to offset the
effect of the issuance of additional shares. Additionally, the market price of
our common stock may decline as a result of the transactions if:
o the integration of rStar and StarBand Latin America is unsuccessful;
o we do not achieve the perceived benefits of the StarBand Latin America
acquisition as rapidly or to the extent anticipated by financial or
industry analysts or investors; or
o the effect of the StarBand Latin America acquisition on our financial
results is not consistent with the expectations of financial or
industry analysts or investors.
THE LOSS OF KEY PERSONNEL MAY HURT OUR ABILITY TO OPERATE OUR BUSINESS
EFFECTIVELY.
Our success depends, in part, upon the continued contributions of the
principal members of our sales, engineering and management departments, many of
whom perform important management functions and would be difficult to replace.
The loss of the services of any key personnel could seriously harm our business.
IF WE ARE UNABLE TO RETAIN AND HIRE ADDITIONAL QUALIFIED PERSONNEL AS NECESSARY,
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY ACHIEVE OUR OBJECTIVES.
Like all technology companies, we must compete for talented employees to
develop our products, services, and solutions in a market where the demand for
such individuals exceeds the number of qualified candidates. As a result, our
human resources organization focuses significant efforts on attracting and
retaining individuals in key technology positions.
24
If we experience a substantial loss of, or an inability to attract, talented
personnel, the resulting talent gap could affect our ability to meet our
business objectives.
WE MAY ENGAGE IN FUTURE ACQUISITIONS THAT COULD BE DILUTIVE TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS
AND RESULT IN INCREASED DEBT AND ASSUMPTION OF CONTINGENT LIABILITIES.
As part of our business strategy, we may consider acquisition prospects
that would complement our current product offerings, augment our market
coverage, enhance our technical capabilities, or otherwise offer growth
opportunities. In the event of such future acquisitions, we could: (1) issue
equity securities, which would dilute current stockholders' percentage
ownership; (2) incur substantial debt; or (3) assume contingent liabilities.
Such actions by us could have a detrimental effect on our results of
operations and/or the price of our common stock. Acquisitions also entail
numerous risks, including: (1) difficulties in assimilating acquired operations,
technologies, products or personnel; (2) unanticipated costs associated with the
acquisition that could materially adversely affect our results of operations;
(3) negative effects on our reported results of operations from acquisition
related charges and of amortization of acquired technology and other
intangibles; (4) diversion of management's attention from other business
concerns; (5) adverse effects on existing business relationships with suppliers
and customers; (6) risks of entering markets in which we have no or limited
prior experience; and (7) potential loss of key employees of acquired
organizations.
OUR VARIED SALES CYCLES COULD HARM OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS IF FORECASTED SALES
ARE DELAYED OR DO NOT OCCUR.
The length of time between the date of initial contact with a potential
customer or sponsor and the execution of a contract with the potential customer
or sponsor may vary significantly and may depend on the nature of the
arrangement. During any given sales cycle, we may expend substantial funds and
management resources and yet not obtain significant revenue, resulting in harm
to our operations.
Further, a significant portion of our sales revenue is derived from our
being selected as the service provider under large-scale contracts. The number
of major bids for these large-scale contracts for VSAT-based networks in Latin
America in any given year is limited and the competition is intense. Losing a
relatively small number of bids each year could have a significant adverse
effect on our business.
IF WE ARE UNABLE TO COMPETE EFFECTIVELY AGAINST OUR CURRENT AND POTENTIAL
COMPETITORS, THEN WE MAY LOSE USERS TO OTHER SERVICES RESULTING IN LOWER THAN
EXPECTED REVENUES.
The market for our products and services is new and rapidly evolving, and
we expect competition in and around this market to intensify in the future.
While we do not believe any of our competitors currently offer the bundle of
products and services we will offer, we face competition from a number of
companies. Many of our existing competitors for some of our products and
services, as well as potential new competitors, have longer operating histories,
greater name recognition, larger customer bases and significantly greater
financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. This may allow such
competitors to devote greater resources than we can to the development and
promotion of their products and services and to adopt more aggressive pricing
policies and make more attractive offers to our potential subscribers, partners,
sponsors and e-commerce merchants.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR COMMON STOCK AND CAPITAL STRUCTURE.
THE PAYMENT OF THE SPECIAL CASH DISTRIBUTION WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE FINANCIAL
CONDITION OF RSTAR AND GILAT.
We will need to have sufficient available capital or surplus available in
order to pay the special cash distributions, if any are required. As part of the
StarBand Latin America acquisition, Gilat has agreed that, in the event that we
are unable to make the special cash distribution to its stockholders for any
reason, Gilat will make a cash capital contribution to us to the extent
necessary for us to make the special cash distribution. We cannot give you any
assurance that at the time any special distribution is required to be made that
either we or Gilat will have sufficient resources available to fund the special
cash distribution. This is particularly true since Gilat has recently
consummated its own restructuring plan. We do not know how this plan will impact
our relationship with Gilat or its obligations under the transaction documents
for the StarBand Latin America acquisition.
25
NASDAQ HAS DELISTED OUR COMMON STOCK FROM THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET AND HAS
SENT US NOTICES REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF DELISTING OUR COMMON STOCK FROM THE
NASDAQ SMALLCAP MARKET.
On February 14, 2002 we received a notice from the NASDAQ Stock Market
that, pursuant to Marketplace Rule 4450(a)(5), our stock could be delisted from
the NASDAQ National Market because the stock failed to close above a minimum bid
price of $1.00 during the preceding 30 consecutive trading days. Subsequently,
we were, in fact, delisted from the NASDAQ National Market System and began
trading on the NASDAQ SmallCap market. Our stock has failed to close above a
minimum bid price of $1.00 for an extended period of time. On August 27, 2002,
we were notified that we had until February 10, 2003, to comply with the minimum
bid price requirement. On February 3, 2003 we held a Special Meeting of our
shareholders and approved an amendment to the Final Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock spilt of our common
stock, pursuant to which ten outstanding shares would be converted into one
share of common stock. The resolution authorized the Board of Directors to
select to act anytime in the following twelve month period to effect the reverse
stock split. Concurrent with the stockholders special meeting, NASDAQ proposed
certain regulatory changes which could render the reverse stock split
unnecessary. On March 3, 2003, we received a notice from the NASDAQ stating that
the NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Panel had determined to continue the listing
of our securities on the NASDAQ Small Cap Market, pursuant to a 90-day extension
to allow for developments in the rule-making process. As such, on or before June
3, 2003, we must demonstrate a closing bid price of at least $1.00 per share.
Should the NASDAQ rules change or should the June 3 deadline date remain
unchanged, the Board of Directors will determine whether to implement the
reverse stock split. There can, however, be no assurances that we will be in
compliance with all of the other requirements for continued listing on the Small
Capital National Market.
A reverse stock split could negatively impact the value of our stock by
allowing additional downward pressure on the stock price as our relative value
becomes greater following the reverse split. That is to say, the stock, at our
new, higher price per share has farther to fall and therefore more room for
investors to short or otherwise trade the value of the stock downward .
Effective with the open of business on March 5, 2003, our trading symbol was
again changed from RTRCE to RSTRC.
OUR COMMON STOCK MAY BE DELISTED FROM THE NASDAQ SMALLCAP MARKET, WHICH WOULD
IMPAIR THEIR LIQUIDITY.
If the shares of our common stock are delisted from the NASDAQ SmallCap
Market, their liquidity could be impaired. Though we may decide, among other
alternatives, to seek trading of our common stock on the Over-the-Counter
Bulletin Board, or OTC market, if our common stock is delisted, the OTC market
provides substantially less liquidity than the NASDAQ SmallCap Market, and
stocks traded on the OTC market generally trade with larger spreads between the
bid and the ask price, which may cause the trading price of our common stock to
decline.
Also, if we decide to seek trading of our common stock on the OTC market,
our common stock would be subject to rules under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, which impose additional requirements on broker-dealers like making a
special suitability determination regarding the purchaser and receiving the
purchaser's written consent prior to the sale. This could negatively affect the
ability of broker-dealers to sell shares of our common stock and further impair
the liquidity of our common stock
IF DELISTED, OUR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK MAY BE CHARACTERIZED AS A PENNY STOCK,
WHICH MAY SEVERELY HARM THEIR LIQUIDITY.
The SEC has adopted regulations which define a penny stock to be any equity
security that has a market price of less than $5.00 per share or with an
exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. For
any transaction involving a penny stock, unless exempt, these rules require
delivery, prior to any transaction in a penny stock, of a disclosure schedule
relating to the penny stock market. Disclosure is also required to be made about
current quotations for the securities and about commissions payable to both the
broker-dealer and the registered representative. Finally, broker-dealers must
send monthly statements to purchasers of penny stocks disclosing recent price
information for the penny stock held in the account and information on the
limited market in penny stocks. Although we are not currently considered a penny
stock, the foregoing penny stock restrictions could apply to our common stock if
they are deemed to be "penny stock" and our common stock may not qualify for an
exemption from the penny stock restrictions. If our common stock were subject to
the rules on penny stocks, its liquidity would be severely harmed.
OUR STOCK PRICE HAS BEEN HIGHLY VOLATILE AND HAS EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT
DECLINE, PARTICULARLY AND MAY CONTINUE TO BE VOLATILE AND DECLINE.
26
The trading price of our common stock has fluctuated widely in the past and
is expected to continue to do so in the future, as a result of a number of
factors, many of which are outside our control. In addition, the stock market
has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected the
market prices of many technology companies, particularly telecommunication and
Internet-related companies, often unrelated or disproportionate to the operating
performance of these companies. These broad market fluctuations could adversely
affect the market price of our common stock. In the past, following periods of
volatility in the market price of a particular company's securities, securities
class action litigation has often been brought against that company. Securities
class action litigation involving the company could result in substantial costs
and a diversion of our management's attention and resources.
BECAUSE WE DO NOT INTEND TO PAY DIVIDENDS, YOU MAY LOSE THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF
YOUR INVESTMENT.
We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock.
Subject to certain limited exceptions, we expect to retain our future earnings,
if any, for use in the operation and expansion of our business and do not
anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Therefore, you
will not receive any funds without selling your shares. Pursuant to the StarBand
Latin America acquisition, Gilat has agreed not to permit us to pay or declare
any dividends or other distributions, other than the special cash distributions,
for the longer of (x) one year following the closing of the StarBand Latin
America acquisition or (y) the date on which our obligation to make the special
cash distributions has been satisfied in full or otherwise terminated in
accordance with the terms of the acquisition agreement. Further, our charter has
been amended to provide that, until such time as we have satisfied our
obligation to make the special cash distribution we are not permitted to declare
or pay any dividend or other distributions on any of our capital stock other
than our common stock and dividends payable in the form of additional shares of
our capital stock. We cannot assure you that you will receive a return on your
investment when you sell your shares of our common stock or that you will not
lose the entire amount of your investment.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL CAPITAL TO FUND OUR OPERATIONS WHEN
NEEDED.
We expect to use our existing cash for general corporate purposes,
developing the StarBand Latin America business, as well as working capital and
other corporate expenses, including the funding of net losses from operations.
We believe that our existing capital resources will be sufficient to meet our
cash requirements for at least the next 12 months. However, our cash
requirements are large, and depend on several factors, including operating the
operations acquired due to the StarBand Latin America acquisition, cash outflows
due to lease obligations, our success in generating revenues, the growth of
sales and marketing efforts, and other factors. If capital requirements vary
materially from those currently planned, we may require additional financing
sooner than anticipated. If additional funds are raised through the issuance of
equity securities, the percentage ownership of our stockholders will be reduced,
and our stockholders may experience additional dilution, or these equity
securities may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of the
holders of our common stock. If additional funds were raised through the
issuance of debt securities, such securities would have rights, preferences and
privileges senior to holders of common stock and the terms of such debt could
impose restrictions on our operations. Additional financing may not be available
when needed on terms favorable to us or at all. If adequate funds are not
available or are not available on acceptable terms, we may be unable to deploy
our business plan, take advantage of future opportunities or respond to
competitive pressures. Given Gilat's majority ownership, all future financing
decisions will be made by Gilat.
RISKS RELATED TO REGULATORY MATTERS
GOVERNMENT REGULATION AFFECTING OUR BUSINESS STRATEGY COULD HARM OUR BUSINESS.
Laws and regulations directly applicable to communications or commerce over
the Internet are becoming more prevalent. These laws or regulations may relate
to liability for information retrieved from or transmitted over the Internet,
online content regulation, user privacy, taxation and the quality of products
and services. In addition, the courts have not yet significantly interpreted
these new laws, and consequently their applicability and reach are not defined.
Moreover, the applicability to the Internet of existing laws governing issues
such as intellectual property ownership, copyright, defamation, obscenity and
personal privacy is uncertain and developing. We may be subject to claims that
our services violate such laws.
Governmental regulations may prevent us from choosing our business partners
or restrict our activities due to the StarBand Latin America acquisition. For
example, a particular Latin American country may decide that high-speed data
networks used to provide access to the Internet should be made available
generally to Internet service providers and may require us to provide our
wholesale service to any Internet service providers that request it, including
entities that compete with us. Additionally, relevant zoning ordinances may
restrict the installation of satellite antennas, which might also reduce
27
market demand for our service. Governmental authorities may also increase
regulation regarding the potential radiation hazard posed by transmitting earth
station satellite antennas' emissions of radio frequency energy, which may
negatively impact our business plan and revenues.
Any new legislation or regulation, particularly in the United States of
America or in Latin America or the application of existing laws and regulations,
related to our business could impose significant restrictions, requirements or
additional costs on our business, require us to change our operating methods,
business strategy, or subject us to additional liabilities and cause the price
of our common stock to decline. In particular, we cannot assure you that we will
succeed in obtaining all requisite regulatory approvals for our operations in
Latin America without the imposition of restrictions on our business, which
could have the effect of imposing additional costs on us or limiting our
revenues.
BECAUSE WE OPERATE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES, WE MAY FACE LIABILITY UNDER THE U.S.
FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT AND OTHER REGULATIONS.
We are subject to additional provisions of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act, which generally prohibits U.S. companies and their intermediaries
from bribing foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or maintaining
business. As a result, we may be exposed to liability under this Act as a result
of past or future actions taken with or without our knowledge by our agents,
strategic partners or other intermediaries. For many of our activities, we are
also subject to the U.S. foreign export control laws.
BARRIERS TO INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION COULD LIMIT OUR FUTURE GROWTH.
Expansion of our Latin American operations due to the StarBand Latin
America acquisition will require significant management attention and financial
resources. Expenses incurred in expanding international operations might never
result in increased revenue. We face certain risks inherent in conducting
business internationally, such as:
o difficulties and costs of staffing and managing international
operations;
o difficulties in recruiting and training an international staff;
o difficulties in entering into strategic relationships with companies
in international markets;
o language and cultural differences;
o difficulties in collecting accounts receivable and longer collection
periods; and
o seasonal business activity in certain parts of the world.
Any of these factors could seriously harm our international operations and,
consequently, our business.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR TECHNOLOGY
WE MAY BE SUBJECT TO THIRD PARTY ABUSES OF OUR NETWORKS, SUCH AS COMPUTER
VIRUSES, SPAM OR HACKING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INTERRUPTIONS IN OUR SERVICES AND
OTHER ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES.
The future success of our business depends on the security of our networks.
Computer viruses or problems caused by our users or other third parties, such as
the sending of excessive volumes of unsolicited bulk e-mail or spam, could lead
to interruptions, delays, or cessation in service to our users. In addition, the
sending of spam through our networks could result in third parties asserting
claims against us. We may not prevail in such claims and our failure to do so
could result in large judgments that would harm our business. Users or other
third parties could also potentially jeopardize the security of confidential
information stored in our computer systems by their inappropriate use of the
Internet, including hacking, which could cause losses to us, or our users or
deter persons from using our services. Users or third parties may also
potentially expose us to liability by identity theft, or posing as another
network user. Unauthorized access by current and former employees or others
could also potentially jeopardize the security of confidential information
stored in our computer systems and that of our users.
We expect that our users will increasingly use the Internet for commercial
transactions in the future. Any network malfunction or security breach could
cause these transactions to be delayed, not completed at all, or completed with
28
compromised security. Users or others may assert claims of liability against us
as a result of any failure by us to prevent these network malfunctions and
security breaches, and may deter others from using our services, which could
cause our business prospects to suffer. Although we intend to continue using
industry-standard security measures, such measures have been circumvented in the
past, and we cannot assure you that these measures will not be circumvented in
the future. In addition, to alleviate problems caused by computer viruses or
other inappropriate uses or security breaches, we may have to interrupt, delay,
or cease service to our users, which could severely harm our business.
WE ARE DEPENDENT ON LEASED SATELLITE BANDWIDTH, AND IF SUCH A BANDWIDTH IS
UNAVAILABLE TO US, WE COULD BE SUBJECTED TO SIGNIFICANT RESTRICTIONS ON OUR
BUSINESS.
We lease and sublease all of our satellite transponder capacity from
satellite providers and through Gilat. If we achieve the growth projected in our
business plan, we will need additional satellite capacity. If we are unable to
procure this capacity, we may be unable to provide service to our subscribers or
the quality of service we provide may not meet their expectations. There is no
assurance that these third parties will continue to provide the capacity and
positioning we need on reasonable terms, or at all. If we were forced to change
our satellite capacity providers, we would be forced to spend significant time
and resources finding alternative providers and re-pointing antennas. If, for
any reason, we are not able to obtain sufficient capacity on favorable terms,
our business could be significantly jeopardized.
The satellite industry is a highly regulated industry. In the United
States, operation and use of satellites requires licenses from the FCC. As a
lessee of satellite space, we could in the future be indirectly subject to new
laws, policies or regulations or changes in the interpretation or application of
existing laws, policies or regulations, any of which may modify the present
regulatory environment in the United States of America. While we believe that
our corporate partners will be able to obtain all U.S. and other licenses and
authorizations necessary to operate effectively, they may not continue to be
successful in doing so. Our failure to indirectly obtain some or all necessary
licenses or approvals could impose significant additional costs and restrictions
on our business, require us to change our operating methods.
UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS COULD HARM OUR BUSINESS AND CAUSE US TO LOSE EXISTING
CUSTOMERS, DETER POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS AND HARM OUR REPUTATION.
Unauthorized access could potentially jeopardize the security of
confidential information stored in the computer systems of our customers, which
might cause our subscribers to bring liability claims against us and also might
deter potential customers from using our services. Since our services allow end
users to be connected to the Internet at all times, unauthorized users may have
a greater ability to access information stored in end users' computer systems.
Always-on Internet services may give unauthorized users, or hackers, more and
longer opportunities to break into end users' computer or access,
misappropriate, destroy or otherwise alter data accessed through the Internet.
WE MAY BE SUBJECT TO LIABILITY FOR INFORMATION RETRIEVED AND REPLICATED BY MEANS
OF OUR SERVICES.
Because our customers' end users will download and redistribute material
and we may replicate material or store it on our own network devices in
connection with our services, claims may be made against us for defamation, or
other theories based on the nature and content of such materials. These types of
claims have been brought, and sometimes successfully litigated, against online
service providers in the past. Although we carry general liability insurance,
our insurance may not cover potential claims of these types, or may not be
adequate to indemnify us for all liability that may be imposed. Any imposition
of liability that is not covered by insurance or is in excess of insurance
coverage could result in a substantial reduction in our revenue and losses over
a significant period of time.
WE ARE HEAVILY DEPENDENT ON OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GILAT AND WE MAY BE
SIGNIFICANTLY HARMED IF GILAT IS UNABLE OR FAILS TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND SELL
US THIS TECHNOLOGY AND RELATED EQUIPMENT.
We will depend on Gilat and its corporate affiliates and suppliers for the
satellite technology used to deliver our products and services. We have an
agreement with Gilat pursuant to which, if certain conditions are met, Gilat
will serve as our exclusive provider of the equipment, technology and services
that we will use in our Latin American operations. If we are not able to perform
our obligations under our agreements with Gilat, or if Gilat is unable or fails
to continue to sell us this equipment and technology under the current terms of
our agreement, our ability to operate our Latin American operations would be
severely harmed.
Gilat's principal offices, development facilities and manufacturing and
research are located in the State of Israel. Gilat is directly affected by the
political, economic and military conditions in Israel. Gilat's production is
dependent upon components imported from outside of Israel and any major
hostilities involving Israel or the interruption or curtailment of
29
trade between Israel and its present trading partners could significantly harm
Gilat's ability to meet its supply obligations to us. Recently, Gilat announced
a restructuring plan with its major banking creditor and bondholders. The impact
of this plan on our relationship with Gilat is unclear. If Gilat does not meet
our demand and quality standards for its products, for any reason, or if the
terms of our agreements with Gilat change and we decide to pursue other
strategic partners, it is unlikely that we would be able to find a replacement
supplier without significant harm to our business operations or relationship
with Gilat.
Our future growth depends on a number of technological advances Gilat
expects to attain over its existing satellite technology and which Gilat has
agreed to license to us, such as the development of software that we expect will
enable us to optimize the allocation of end users across our leased satellite
capacity and reduce our satellite capacity costs per end user. Furthermore,
Gilat has substantial business operations and opportunities apart from our
business, and Gilat may develop different business objectives than ours. As a
result, situations may arise in which Gilat's interests diverge from rStar or
our other stockholders. For example, we expect to be one of Gilat's largest
customers for their technology, equipment and software. We will seek to purchase
from Gilat technology, products, software and equipment necessary to the
operations of StarBand Latin America at prices favorable to us, but Gilat will
seek to sell those items to us at prices favorable to them. If Gilat does not
meet our expectations regarding these technological advances, our ability to
successfully operate our business, and our financial condition and
profitability, would be harmed.
OUR SUCCESS DEPENDS UPON THE SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SERVICES AND FEATURES
IN THE FACE OF RAPIDLY EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY.
The market for our current products and services is characterized by
rapidly changing technologies, frequent new service introductions and evolving
industry standards. Our future success will depend on our ability to adapt to
rapidly changing technologies by continually improving the performance, features
and reliability of our networks. We may experience difficulties that could delay
or prevent the successful development, introduction or marketing of new
features, content or network services. In addition, our new enhancements must
meet the requirements of our current and prospective sponsors and subscribers
and must achieve significant market acceptance. We could also incur substantial
costs if we needed to modify our service or infrastructures to adapt to these
changes.
OUR DEPENDENCE ON THIRD PARTIES FOR OUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PUTS US AT RISK IF
THIS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IS NOT PROPERLY PROTECTED OR INFRINGES UPON THE
RIGHTS OF OTHERS.
We rely exclusively on third parties like Gilat and Spacenet for most of
the intellectual property used in our business. If Gilat or any of our other
suppliers fails to adequately protect their intellectual property or is found to
be infringing on the intellectual property rights of other parties, our ability
to operate our business as expected may, in turn, be harmed.
Infringement claims could materially harm our business and financial
condition. From time to time, we may receive notice of claims of infringement of
third parties' proprietary rights. The fields of telecommunications and Internet
communications are filled with domestic and international patents, both pending
and issued. We may unknowingly infringe such a patent. We may be exposed to
future litigation based on claims that our products infringe the intellectual
property rights of others, especially patent rights. Someone, including a
competitor, might file a suit with little merit, in order to harm us
commercially, to force us to re-allocate resources to defending such a claim, or
extract a large settlement. In addition, our employees might utilize proprietary
and trade secret information from their former employers without our knowledge,
even though we prohibit these practices. Any litigation, with or without merit,
could be time consuming to defend, result in high litigation costs, divert our
management's attention and resources or cause us to delay deployment of related
technology. A jury or judge may decide against us even if we had not in fact
infringed. If we lose or are forced to settle, we could be required to remove or
replace allegedly infringing technology, to develop non-infringing technology or
to enter into royalty or licensing arrangements. These royalty or licensing
arrangements, if required, may not be available on terms acceptable to us, or at
all.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily
to the increase or decrease in the amount of interest income we can earn on our
investment portfolio and on the increase or decrease in the amount of interest
expense we must pay with respect to our various outstanding debt instruments.
The risk associated with fluctuating interest expense is limited, however, to
the expense related to those debt instruments and credit facilities that are
tied to market rates. We do not use derivative financial instruments in our
investment portfolio. We ensure the safety and preservation of our invested
principal funds by limiting default risks, market risk and reinvestment risk. We
mitigate default risk by investing in high-
30
credit money market funds. A hypothetical increase or decrease in market
interest rates by 10% from the market interest rates at December 31, 2002 would
not cause the fair value of our cash and cash equivalents or the interest
expense paid with respect to our outstanding debt instruments to change by a
material amount. Declines in interest rates over time will, however, reduce our
interest income while increases in interest rates over time will increase our
interest expense. We are also exposed to foreign currency risk as the result of
our contracts in Latin America. We attempt to mitigate such risk by entering
into contracts denominated in US dollars, however this is not always possible
and as such we are exposed to changing exchange rates primarily in Peru,
Colombia and Brazil.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The information required by this item is in Item 14 of Part IV of this
Report and is incorporated into this item by reference.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Effective as of October 8, 2002, we dismissed Grant Thornton LLP ("Grant
Thornton") as our independent accountant. Effective as of October 8, 2002, we
engaged Kost Forer & Gabbay,-a member practice of Ernst & Young Global as our
independent accountant. The decision to change accountants was approved by the
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.
Neither Grant Thornton's report on the Company's financial statements for
the year ended December 31, 2000, nor its report for the year ended December 31,
2001, contained an adverse opinion or a disclaimer of opinion, and neither
report was qualified nor modified as to audit scope, accounting principles or
uncertainty.
During the years ended December 31, 2000 and December 31, 2001 and the
subsequent interim periods preceding the Company's dismissal of Grant Thornton,
there were no disagreements with Grant Thornton or any matter of accounting
principles or practices, financial statement disclosure, or auditing scope or
procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of Grant
Thornton, would have caused Grant Thornton to make reference to the subject
matter of the disagreement in connection with the Form 8-K filed in connection
with this change on October 16, 2002.
None of the reportable events described under Item 304(a)(10)(v) of
Regulation S-K occurred within the two most recent fiscal years of the Company
ended December 31, 2001 and the subsequent interim period to the date hereof.
During the two most recent fiscal years of the Company ended December 31,
2001 and the subsequent interim period to the date hereof, we did not consult
with Kost Forer & Gabbay-a member practice of Ernst & Young Global regarding any
of the matters or events set form in Item 304(a)(2)(i) and (ii) of Regulation
S-K.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Set forth below is certain information as of March 28, 2003 regarding our
current directors. There is no family relationship among any of the Directors or
executive officers of rStar.
NAME AGE PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND BUSINESS EXPERIENCE
Samer Salameh 38 Chairman of the Board of Directors. See Part I, "Executive Officers"
Yoel Gat 51 Yoel Gat has been a Director of rStar since August, 2002. Mr. Gat is also a co-founder of
Gilat and has been its Chief Executive Officer and a Director since Gilat's inception in
1987 and, since July, 1995, has served as its Chairman of the Board of Directors. From
1974 to 1987, Mr. Gat served in the Israel Defense Forces. In his last position in
service, Mr. Gat was a senior electronics engineer in the Israel Ministry of Defense. Mr.
Gat is a two-time winner of the Israel Defense Award (1979 and 1988), Israel's most
prestigious research and development award. Mr. Gat also served as the Chairman of the
MOST Consortium and is a director of StarBand Communications and KSAT Satellite Networks
Inc. Mr. Gat received a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and
electronics from the Technion-- Israel Institute of Technology and a master's degree in
management science from the Recanati Graduate School of Business Administration of Tel
Aviv University, where he concentrated on Information Systems.
31
Ami Samuels 43 Mr. Samuels has been a director of rStar since May, 2001 and was a member of rStar's audit
committee from June, 2001 until September, 2002. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of
rStar's compensation committee. Since May, 2002, Mr. Samuels has served as the Senior
Vice President Corporate Development and Chief Financial Officer of Satlynx, a joint
venture of SES Global and Gilat. Prior to that, he served as the Vice President,
Broadband Networks of Gilat, a position he held since 1998. Prior to joining Gilat, Mr.
Samuels was an investment banker for Lehman Brothers from 1989 to 1998 and worked in both
their New York and Tel Aviv offices, focusing on investment banking transactions for high
technology companies.
Santiago Cantu Garza 62 Mr. Cantu has been a director of rStar since September 2002 and serves on rStar's audit
Committee. Mr. Cantu worked with the Grupo Televisa since 1994 until 2001 serving in the
following positions: CFO and Managing Director, Business Evaluation Director of Grupo
Innova and Director of Sales, Finance and Administration of Cablevision. Mr. Cantu is a
CPA from Unviversidad del Valle de Mexico and is a C.P.A in Mexico.
Oded Maimon 51 Prof. Maimon has been a director of rStar since September, 2002. Currently he serves on
rStar's compensation and audit committees. Mr. Maimon is a Professor and Chairman of the
Faculty of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering in the Tel-Aviv University,
Israel and has held this position since 1991. Prior to that he has been with MIT and DEC.
Mr. Maimon also currently serves on the board of directors of MedDak Ltd. Mr. Maimon
received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and Management, and in
Mechanical Engineering (Naval Architecture), and Masters of Science degree in Operations
Research, all from the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology. Mr. Maimon also received
a degree in Industrial Engineering (Robotics) from Purdue University.
Sasson Darwish 38 Mr. Darwish has been a director of rStar since May, 2001. Mr. Darwish serves as chairman
of rStar's audit committee. Mr. Darwish is currently the CEO and President of DS Advisory
Group, Inc., a strategic advisory services company. Until 2003, Mr. Darwish served as
President of Emblaze Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Emblaze Systems Ltd. (LSE "BLZ"), a
publicly traded Israeli company on the London Stock Exchange. Emblaze is a leading
provider of mobile multimedia infrastructure solutions for wireless carriers. As President
of Emblaze, Mr. Darwish was responsible for all U.S. operations, including sales, business
development, marketing and finance. Prior to joining Emblaze, Mr. Darwish worked as an
investment banker al Lehman Brothers' Global Technology Group from 1994 to 2000, covering
telecommunications equipment, software and Internet infrastructure industries. Mr. Darwish
served for six years in the Israeli Defense Force in various positions in its Central
Computer Center Unit completing his service in the rank of Captain. Mr. Darwish earned his
B.A. in Economics and Management at Tel Aviv University and his MBA at Yale School of
Management.
Tulio Mejias 53 Mr. Mejias has been a director of rStar since September 2002 and serves on rStar's
compensation committee. Mr. Mejias also currently serves as president of Redescomm C.A.,
Corporacion CDT Red, C.A., Corporacion Tecnova C.A. and Invertel, C.A. -
Telecomunicaciones, companies that all specialize in innovative telecommunications
services. From 1990 until 1998 Mr. Mejias served as Executive Vice President of C.A.
Nacional Telefonos de Venezuela (CANTV). He also serves as member of the Board of
Directors of Fedecamaras. Mr. Mejias received a degree of Electrical Engineering from the
Unviversidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, a diploma of post graduate studies in
telecommunications from Instituto Politecnico di Torino, Italy, a masters degree in
Business Administration from Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administracion (IESA),
Caracas and participated in the Ph.D. Program in the Brighton Business School of Sussex,
England.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
In the fiscal year 2002, each Director who was not an employee of rStar or
any of its subsidiaries ("non-employee director") received fees for his service
as a Director. Each non-employee director received an annual retainer of
$10,000, plus $1,000 for each Board meeting they attend. Directors who serve as
a chair for the Compensation or Audit Committees each receive an additional fee
of $750 for each committee meeting they chair. All other non-employee directors
receive a
32
fee of $500 for each committee meeting they attend. Directors are also
reimbursed for out of pocket expenses in attending Board meetings.
Our 1998 Stock Plan, as amended in July, 2000, provides that options will
be granted to non-employee directors pursuant to an automatic non-discretionary
grant formula. Each non-employee director will be granted an option to purchase
20,000 shares of Common Stock on the date of each Annual Meeting of the
Stockholders of rStar. Each option will be granted at the fair market value of
the Common Stock on the date of grant. Options granted to non-employee directors
under the 1998 Stock Plan will be fully vested and exercisable on the date of
grant. The options to be granted under the 1998 Stock Plan will be nonqualified
stock options. Nonqualified stock options are stock options which do not
constitute "incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code. Currently, all Directors other than Mr. Gat, Salameh and
Samuels are eligible to participate in the 1998 Stock Plan as non-employee
directors.
BOARD MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
The Board of Directors held a total of 6 meetings (including regularly
scheduled and special meetings) during the fiscal year 2002. During the last
fiscal year, no incumbent director while a member of the Board of Directors
attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of (1) the total number of meetings of
the Board of Directors and (2) the total number of meetings held by all
committees on which such director served.
Our Board of Directors has 3 standing committees: an Audit Committee, an
Executive Committee and a Compensation Committee. The Audit Committee, which
currently consists of Messrs. Darwish (Chairman), Cantu and Maimon is
responsible for, among other things, (1) recommending engagement of our
independent auditors, (2) approving the services performed by such auditors, (3)
consulting with such auditors and reviewing with them the results of their
examination, (4) reviewing and approving any material accounting policy changes
affecting our operating results, (5) reviewing our control procedures and
personnel, and (6) reviewing and evaluating our accounting principles and our
system of internal accounting controls. The Audit Committee held 5 meetings
during the fiscal year 2002.
The Compensation Committee, which currently consists of Messrs. Samuels
(Chairman), Mejias and Maimon, is responsible for (1) reviewing and approving
the compensation and benefits for our officers and other employees, (2)
administering our stock purchase and stock option plans, and (3) making
recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding such matters. The
Compensation Committee did not conduct any formal meetings during fiscal year
2002. None of the current members is an officer or employee of rStar or its
subsidiaries.
The Executive Committee was established in September 2002. Messrs. Darwish,
Mejias and Gat are members of this committee. The Executive Committee is a
sub-committee of the Board of Directors. This committee has not had any formal
meetings since its establishment.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT
Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act ("Section 16(a)") requires our executive
officers and our directors, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered
class of our equity securities, to file reports of ownership on Form 3 and
changes in ownership on Form 4 or Form 5 with the SEC and the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Such executive officers, directors and
10% stockholders are also required by SEC rules to furnish us with copies of all
such forms that they file.
Based solely on its review of the copies of such forms received by us, or
written representations from certain reporting persons that no Form 5 was
required for such persons, we believe that during fiscal 2002 all Section 16(a)
filing requirements applicable to its executive officers, directors and 10%
stockholders were complied with.
33
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth certain information concerning total
compensation received by the Chief Executive Officer and each of the 4 most
highly compensated executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer
during the last fiscal year (the "Named Officers") for services rendered to us
in all capacities during the last 3 fiscal years.
SALARY LONG-TERM
FISCAL ANNUAL COMPENSATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR COMPENSATION BONUS AWARDS
--------------------------- ---- ------------ ------
Samer Salameh Chairman and CEO (1)...... 2002 $250,000 $150,000 -
Gigi Oron interim CEO (2)............... 2002 200,000 - -
Lance Mortensen(3)...................... 2002 1,273,990 - -
Chairman, CEO and President 2001 275,000 103,125 -
2000 261,692 0 -
Lior Kadosh, Interim CFO (4) 2002 90,000 35,000 -
Robert Edwards(5)....................... 2002 312,627 - -
SVP, Administration and CFO 2001 210,101 57,050 50,000
2000 154,000 0 250,000
Jay Scott(6)............................ 2002 306,351 - -
Chief Operating Officer 2001 208,541 89,250 400,000
2000 131,000 - -
- ----------
(1) Mr. Salameh joined us in November 2002 in his current position.
(2) Mr. Oron served as interim CEO from August 2002 till November 2002.
(3) Mr. Mortensen served as our Chief Executive Officer from June, 1997 to
September, 1999. He was renamed Chief Executive Officer in October,
2000 and served in that position until August 4, 2002. Includes
severance payment made in August 2002.
(4) Ms. Kadosh serves as interim CFO from November 4, 2002 to the present.
(5) Mr. Robert Edwards joined us in March, 2000 and served until August 4,
2002. Includes severance payment made in August 2002.
(6) Mr. Scott joined us in March, 2000 and served in this position from
January, 2001 through August 2002. Includes severance payments made
August 2002
34
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
At the closing of the StarBand Latin America transaction, rStar committed
to exchange 0.686 options for each outstanding option in StarBand. At closing
there were 2,834,235 outstanding options in StarBand, which based on the
conversion ration would equal 1,921,206 options of rStar. All of the options are
10-year options and have an exercise price of $0.15 per share. Of the converted
options issued by StarBand, 1,169,850 vested immediately upon issuance with the
remainder vesting over a 4-year period.
Mr. Sasson Darwish, one of our directors, was granted 20,000 shares at the
Annual Meeting held in April 2002 at an exercise price of $0.40 per share under
our 1998 Stock Plan. See the information below under the heading "Compensation
of Directors:..Except for those options, no other option grants were made during
fiscal year 2002.
OPTION EXERCISES AND HOLDINGS
The following table sets forth, as to the Named Officers, certain
information concerning stock options exercised during fiscal 2002 and the number
of shares subject to both exercisable and unexercisable stock options as of
December 31, 2002. Also reported are values for "in-the-money" options that
represent the positive spread between the respective exercise prices of
outstanding stock options and the fair market value of our Common Stock as of
December 31, 2002.
EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
----------------- ------------------ ----------------- ------------------
SHARES NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
ACQUIRED ON VALUE UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS
NAME EXERCISE REALIZED OPTIONS AT FISCAL YEAR END AT FISCAL YEAR END ($)(1)
- ---------------- --------------- ----------- --------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
Samer Salameh - - - - - -
Lance Mortensen - - - - - -
Lior Kadosh - - 10,719 6,431 965 579
Gigi Oron - - 240,100 - 21,609 -
Robert Edwards - - - - - -
Jay Scott - - - - - -
(1) Market value of underlying securities based on the closing price of
Company's Common Stock on December 31, 2002 (the last trading day of fiscal
year 2002) on the NASDAQ SmallCap Market of $0.24 minus the exercise price.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
In the fiscal year 2002, each Director who was not an employee of rStar or
any of its subsidiaries ("non-employee director") received fees for his service
as a Director. Each non-employee director received an annual retainer of
$10,000, plus $1,000 for each Board meeting they attend. Directors who serve as
a chair for the Compensation or Audit Committees each receive an additional fee
of $750 for each committee meeting they chair. All other non-employee directors
receive a fee of $500 for each committee meeting they attend. Directors are also
reimbursed for out of pocket expenses in attending Board meetings.
Our 1998 Stock Plan, as amended in July, 2000, provides that options will
be granted to non-employee directors pursuant to an automatic non-discretionary
grant formula. Each non-employee director will be granted an option to purchase
20,000 shares of Common Stock on the date of each Annual Meeting of the
Stockholders of rStar. Each option will be granted at the fair market value of
the Common Stock on the date of grant. Options granted to non-employee directors
under the 1998 Stock Plan will be fully vested and exercisable on the date of
grant. The options to be granted under the 1998 Stock Plan will be nonqualified
stock options. Nonqualified stock options are stock options which do not
constitute "incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code. Currently, all Directors other than Mr. Gat, Salameh and
Samuels are eligible to participate in the 1998 Stock Plan as non-employee
directors.
35
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
Mr. Samer Salameh's annual base salary for fiscal year 2002 was $250,000.
Mr. Salameh's employment agreement is for two years, ending November 4, 2004.
Mr. Salameh received a signing bonus of $150,000, and commencing on January,
2004, shall be entitled to a bonus equal to 50% of his base salary, based upon
meeting agreed performance goals during 2003 to be agreed upon with the
compensation committee of the board. Additionally, Mr. Salameh will be
reimbursed up to $25,000 for his relocation expenses.
Mr. Mortensen resumed service as our Chief Executive Officer in October,
2000. In determining the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, we used an industry survey of compensation
paid to chief executive officers of comparable companies, with a focus on those
companies located in the San Francisco Bay Area, as well as our corporate
individual objectives for the fiscal year. Mr. Mortensen's annual base
compensation for fiscal year 2002 was $275,000. Mr. Mortensen received $ 0 as an
employee bonus for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002. Mr. Mortensen
received a severance payment in the amount of $1.1 million for Fiscal year ended
2002.
Mr. Mortensen did not receive a stock option grant or stock award for
fiscal year 2001.
OTHER EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
We provide certain compensation programs to executives that are also
available to all rStar employees, including pre-tax savings plans and
medical/dental/vision benefits. There are no pension programs. We do not provide
executive perquisites such as club memberships.
DEDUCTIBILITY OF EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") limits the
federal income tax deductibility of compensation paid to our chief executive and
to each of the other four most highly compensated executive officers. For this
purpose, compensation can include, in addition to cash compensation, the
difference between the exercise price of stock options and the value of the
underlying stock on the date of exercise. We may deduct compensation with
respect to any of these individuals only to the extent that during any fiscal
year such compensation does not exceed $1 million or meets certain other
conditions (such as stockholder approval). Considering our current compensation
plans and policy, rStar and the Committee believe that, for the near future,
there is little risk that we will lose any significant tax deduction relating to
executive compensation. If the deductibility of executive compensation becomes a
significant issue, our compensation plans and policy will be modified to
maximize deductibility if rStar and the Committee determine that such action is
in our best interest.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ami Samuels, Chairman
Tulio Mejias
Oded Maimon
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Compensation Committee is comprised solely of outside Directors. The
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors consists of Mr. Samuels, as
Chairman, Messrs. Mejias and Maimon. None of our executive officers served on
the compensation committee of another entity or on any other committee of the
board of directors of another entity performing similar functions during the
last fiscal year.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information regarding the approximate
beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of shares
of common stock, as of March 31, 2003, our directors and officers of the
Company, the directors and executive officers of the Company as a group, and
each holder of our common stock known by us to beneficially own five percent
(5%) or more of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock.
36
In connection with the preparation of the following table and the
calculation of beneficial ownership, we have relied upon information furnished
by each director, executive officer, and 5% or more stockholder of rStar
included in the following table, with respect to the beneficial ownership of
such director, executive officer, and 5% or more stockholder of rStar. Unless
otherwise indicated, the mailing address for each director, executive officer,
or stockholder of rStar included in the following table is rStar Corporation,
1560 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway, Suite 200, Sunrise, Florida 33323.
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNERS(1)(2) SHARES PERCENTAGE
BENEFICIALLY BENEFICIALLY
OWNED(1) OWNED
Gilat Satellite Networks, Ltd. (3) 88,707,564 85%
1651 Old Meadow Road
McLean, Virginia 22102
Yoel Gat (4) 71,124 *
Amiel Samuels (5) 39,118 *
Sasson Darwish (6) 20,000 *
Samer Salameh (7) - *
Tulio Mejias - *
Santiago Garza - *
Oded Maimon - *
Lior Kadosh (8) 11,791 *
All directors and executive officers as a group (8 persons) 142,033 *
* Less than 1%
(1) The number of shares owned is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 of
the Exchange Act, and the information is not necessarily indicative of
beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under such rule, beneficial
ownership includes any shares as to which the individual or entity has voting
power or investment power and also any shares which the individual or entity has
the right to acquire within 60 days of January 10, 2003, through the exercise of
any stock option or other right. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes,
each person has sole voting and investment power (or shares such powers with his
or her spouse) with respect to the shares shown as beneficially owned.
(2) Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each of the individuals or
entities named above is: c/o rStar Corporation, 1560 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway,
Suite 200, Sunrise, Florida 33323.
(3) Based on Schedule TO, and amendments, thereto filed with the SEC on February
19, 2002, Gilat Satellite Networks, Ltd. ("Gilat") held shared voting as to all
of such shares. Gilat indicates that it had no sole voting, sole dispositive, or
shared dispositive power over any of these shares.
(4) Mr. Gat's address is c/o Gilat Satellite Networks, Ltd., 21 Yegia Kapayim
Street, Kiryat Arye, Petah Tikva 49130, Israel.
(5) Includes shares of common stock that are controlled by Mr. Samuel's spouse.
Mr. Samuels disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. Mr. Samuel's address
is Chateau de Belzdorf, Building B, L6815 Luxembourg.
(6) Includes options to purchase 20,000 shares of our common stock exercisable
within 60 days of March 17, 2003. Mr. Darwish's address is 75 East End Avenue,
New York, New York.
(7) Mr. Salameh is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.
(8) Includes options to purchase 11,791 shares of our common stock exercisable
within 60 days of March 17, 2003. Ms. Kadosh is our Interim Chief Financial
Officer.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
STOCK TRANSACTIONS
Since January 2002, we have not granted options to our executive officers
other than the conversion of the StarBand Latin America options as discussed in
Item 11.
37
OTHER TRANSACTIONS
In January 2002, we entered into a Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release
with Rick Inatome, our former Chief Executive Officer. The agreement provides
that Mr. Inatome will receive $175,000 immediately; $275,000 for consulting fees
to be paid in twice-monthly installments commencing January 16, 2002 through and
including January 31, 2003; the principal sum of $7,388 immediately; and $6,000
monthly for a full-time secretary and directly lease office space commencing
March 1, 2002 through and including February 28, 2003. At December 31, 2001 we
accrued for this amount in full, which amounts to approximately $530,000.
On August 2, 2002, we closed the StarBand Latin America acquisition and
issued 43,103,448 shares of our common stock to Gilat-To-Home Latin America
(Holland) N.V., an affiliate of Gilat in exchange for StarBand Latin America,
and its subsidiaries. As part of this acquisition we entered into a Master
Services and Supply Agreement with Gilat and some of its subsidiaries pursuant
to which we received specified services and products from Gilat necessary to
conduct our business in Latin America. (See "Item 1: Master Services and Supply
Agreement".)
ITEM 14. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Within the 90-day period prior to the date of this report, an evaluation
was carried out, under the supervision and with the participation of our
management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial
Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure
controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were
effective, in all material respects, with respect to the recording, processing,
summarizing and reporting, within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules
and forms, of information to be required to be disclosed by us in reports that
we file or submit under the Exchange Act.
There were no significant changes in our internal controls or in other
factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of
the evaluation, nor were there any significant deficiencies or material
weaknesses in our internal controls requiring corrective actions.
PART IV
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this Report on Form 10-K:
1. Financial Statements. The following consolidated financial statements, and
related notes thereto, and the Reports of Independent Auditors are included
in Part IV of this Report on the pages indicated by the Index to Financial
Statements as presented on page F-1 of this Report.
Report of Kost Forer & Gabbay-a member practice of Ernst & Young Global,
Independent Auditors
Report of Grant Thornton LLP, Independent Auditors
Report of KPMG, Independent Auditors
Consolidated Balance Sheets-December 31, 2002 and 2001
Consolidated Statements of Operations-Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2002,
2001, and 2000
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)-Fiscal Years Ended
December 31, 2002, 2001, and 2000
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows-Fiscal Years Ended December 31, 2002,
2001, and 2000
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Financial Statement Schedules.
38
Schedules have been omitted since they are either not required, not
applicable or the information is otherwise included in the Consolidated
Financial Statements or notes thereto.
3. List of Exhibits
EXHIBIT
NUMBER EXHIBIT DESCRIPTION
------ -------------------
2.1 Acquisition Agreement dated as of April 23, 2001 by
and among Gilat to Home Latin America (Holland) N.V.,
rStar Corporation, and Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd.
relating to the acquisition of StarBand Latin America
(Holland) B.V. (schedules and exhibits omitted). (1)
2.2 Agreement dated as of April 23, 2001 by and between
rStar Corporation (formerly known as ZapMe!
Corporation), a Delaware corporation, and Spacenet
Inc., a Delaware corporation. (2)
2.3 Amended and Restated Acquisition Agreement dated as
of September 7, 2001 by and among Gilat to Home Latin
America (Holland) N.V., rStar Corporation, and Gilat
Satellite Networks Ltd. relating to the acquisition
of StarBand Latin America (Holland) B.V. (schedules
and exhibits omitted). (3)
2.4 Second Amended and Restated Acquisition Agreement
dated as of December 31, 2001 by and among Gilat to
Home Latin America (Holland) N.V., rStar Corporation,
and Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. relating to the
acquisition of StarBand Latin America (Holland) B.V.
(schedules and exhibits omitted). (4)
3.1 Third Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation (effective March 19, 2001). (5)
3.2 Bylaws (Amended and Restated as of January 4, 2001).
(5)
4.1 Specimen Stock Certificate of Registrant. (5)
10.5 Employment Agreement by and between Samer Salameh and
rStar Corporation dated November 11, 2002.
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23.1 Consent of Kost, Forer & Gabbay a member of Ernst &
Young Global, Independent Auditors.
23.2 Consent of Grant Thornton LLP, Independent Certified
Public Accountants.
23.3 Consent of KPMG, Independent Certified Public
Accountants.
24.1 Power of Attorney (which is included as part of the
signature page of this 10-K).
99.1 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 1002
99.2 Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 1002.
(1) Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Current Report
on Form 8-K filed on April 23, 2001.
(2) Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Current Report
on Form 8-K filed on May 23, 2001.
(3) Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Current Report
on Form 8-K filed on September 14, 2001.
39
(4) Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Current Report
on Form 8-K filed on January 17, 2002.
(5) Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Annual Report on
Form 10-K filed on April 17, 2001.
(6) Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q filed on August 21, 2000.
4. Reports on Form 8-K.
a. We filed a Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 5, 2003
announcing that our stockholders had approved a 10-for-1 reverse
stock split to be implemented at the approval of the board.
b. We filed a Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 14, 2003
announcing that our board had authorized us to seek shareholders'
approval for a 10-for-1 reverse stock split of our common stock.
c. We filed a Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 29, 2002
announcing that we received a notice from the Nasdaq on November
21, 2002 regarding deficiencies in the Company's compliance with
certain of the Nasdaq's continued listing requirements and that
such deficiencies could result in the immediate delisting of the
Company's common stock from the Nasdaq SmallCap Market. We also
announced that on December 2, 2002 Samer Salameh joined the
Company as its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
of Directors.
d. We filed a Report on Form 8-K/A dated August 2, 2002 amending our
earlier Current Report on Form 8-K of the same date, by adding
Item 7(a), financial statements of business acquired and Item
7(b), pro forma financial information.
e. We filed a Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 8, 2002
announcing that, effective as of that date, we had dismissed
Grant Thornton LLP as our independent accountant.
40
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Form 10-K to be signed
on our behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized on this 11 day of
April, 2003.
RSTAR CORPORATION
/s/ Samer Salemeh
By: President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoint Samer Salameh, as such person's
attorney-in-fact, with the power of substitution, for him or her in any and all
capacities, to sign any amendments to this Annual Report on Form 10-K and to
file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that each of said attorney-in-fact, or his or her substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
Form 10-K has been signed below by the following persons on April __, 2003 on
behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated:
SIGNATURES TITLE DATE
------------------ ---------------------------------------- ----------------
/s/ Samer Salemeh Chief Executive Officer April 11, 2003
/s/ Lior Kadosh Interim Chief Financial Officer April 11, 2003
(principal financial and accounting
officer)
/s/ Yoel Gat Director April 11, 2003
/s/Amiel Samuels Director April 11, 2003
/s/ Sasson Darwish Director April 11, 2003
/s/ Santiago Cantu Director April 11, 2003
/s/ Oded Maimon Director April 11, 2003
/s/ Tulio Mejias Director April 11, 2003
41
CERTIFICATIONS
I, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of December 31, 2002;
2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual
report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:
(a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that
material information relating to the registrant, including its
consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report
is being prepared;
(b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of
this annual report (the "Evaluation Date"); and
(c) presented in this annual report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our
evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;
5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on
our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee
of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
function):
(a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal
controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial data and have
identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in
internal controls; and
(b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal
controls; and
6. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this
annual report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls
or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent
to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with
regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
/s/ Samer Salameh Date April 11, 2003
- ----------------------------------
Samer Salameh,
Chief Executive Officer
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
42
I, certify that:
1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 2003;
2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make
the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements
were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual
report;
3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;
4. The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for
establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and we have:
(a) designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that
material information relating to the registrant, including its
consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report
is being prepared;
(b) evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of
this annual report (the "Evaluation Date"); and
(c) presented in this annual report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our
evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;
5. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on
our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee
of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
function):
(a) all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal
controls which could adversely affect the registrant's ability to
record, process, summarize and report financial data and have
identified for the registrant's auditors any material weaknesses in
internal controls; and
(b) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal
controls; and
6. The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this
annual report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls
or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent
to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with
regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
/s/ Lior Kadosh Date April 11, 2003
- ----------------------------------
Lior Kadosh,
Interim Chief Financial Officer
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
43
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2002
IN U.S. DOLLARS
INDEX
PAGE
------------------
REPORTS OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS 2 - 4
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 5 - 6
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 7
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 8 - 10
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 11 - 13
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 14 - 43
- - - - - - - - - -
1
[LOGO] ERNST & YOUNG
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
To the Shareholders of
RSTAR CORPORATION
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of rStar
Corporation ("the Company") and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002, and
the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders'
equity and cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2002. These financial
statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements, based on
our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements
are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An
audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
In our opinion, based on our audit, the consolidated financial statements
referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated
financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002,
and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows, for the year
ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States.
We also have audited, as to combination only, the accompanying consolidated
balance sheet of rStar Corporation as of December 31, 2001, and the related
consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders' equity and cash
flows for the year ended December 31, 2001. As described in Note 1 to the
financial statements, these statements have been combined from the consolidated
statements of rStar Corporation and its subsidiaries and StarBand Latin America
and its subsidiaries which statements are not presented separately herein. The
reports of the other auditors who have audited these statements appear elsewhere
herein. In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated financial statements for
2001 have been properly combined on the basis described in Note 1.
Yours Truly,
Tel-Aviv, Israel KOST FORER & GABBAY
March 24, 2003 A Member of Ernst & Young Global
2
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
To the Board of Directors
StarBand Latin America (Holland) B.V.
We have audited the consolidated balance sheets of StarBand Latin America
(Holland) B.V. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2001 and
2000, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders'
equity and cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period ended
December 31, 2001 (not separately presented herein). 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 auditing standards generally accepted
in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and
perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the consolidated 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 StarBand Latin
America (Holland) B.V. and subsidiaries at December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the
results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in
conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America.
Yours Truly,
KPMG Accountants, N.V.
Amstelveen, the Netherlands
APRIL 11, 2003
3
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS
RSTAR CORPORATION
WE HAVE AUDITED THE ACCOMPANYING CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF RSTAR
CORPORATION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2001 AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
OPERATIONS, REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND
CASH FLOWS FOR EACH OF THE TWO YEARS IN THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001.
THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMPANY'S MANAGEMENT.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO EXPRESS AN OPINION ON THESE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS BASED
ON OUR AUDITS.
WE CONDUCTED OUR AUDITS IN ACCORDANCE WITH AUDITING STANDARDS GENERALLY
ACCEPTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 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 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL POSITION OF
RSTAR CORPORATION AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2001, AND THE RESULTS OF ITS CONSOLIDATED
OPERATIONS AND ITS CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS FOR EACH OF THE TWO YEARS IN THE
PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001 IN CONFORMITY WITH ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES
GENERALLY ACCEPTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WE PREVIOUSLY AUDITED AND REPORTED ON THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS OF
DECEMBER 31, 2001 AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS, REDEEMABLE
CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY, AND CASH FLOWS OF RSTAR
CORPORATION FOR EACH OF THE TWO YEARS IN THE PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2001,
PRIOR TO THE RESTATEMENT FOR THE 2002 COMBINATION BETWEEN ENTITIES UNDER COMMON
CONTROL. SEPARATE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE OTHER COMPANIES INCLUDED IN THE
RESTATED 2001 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND RESTATED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
OPERATIONS, CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY, AND CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 2001 AND 2000 WERE AUDITED AND REPORTED ON SEPARATELY BY OTHER
AUDITORS. WE HAVE NOT APPLIED AUDIT, REVIEW OR ANY PROCEDURES TO THE COMBINATION
BETWEEN ENTITIES UNDER COMMON CONTROL OF THE ACCOMPANYING CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS FOR THE RESTATEMENT. THEREFORE, WE DO NOT EXPRESS ANY OPINION ON SUCH
COMBINATION AS DESCRIBED IN NOTE 1B OF THE NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
Yours Truly,
GRANT THORNTON LLP
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
4
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------------
2001 2002
---------------- ----------------
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents $37,334 $8,163
Short-term restricted cash 1,885 1,416
Trade receivables, (net of allowance for doubtful accounts 2001 -
$ 500; 2002 - $952) 21,682 15,542
Income tax receivables 2,390 3,345
Inventories 9,743 8,842
Other accounts receivable and prepaid expenses 3,063 2,876
---------------- ----------------
TOTAL current assets 76,097 40,184
---------------- ----------------
LONG-TERM RESTRICTED CASH 4,021 3,659
---------------- ----------------
LONG-TERM TRADE RECEIVABLES 141 9,028
---------------- ----------------
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET 21,931 15,673
---------------- ----------------
OTHER ASSETS, NET 1,081 514
---------------- ----------------
ASSETS OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS 322 -
---------------- ----------------
TOTAL assets $103,593 $69,058
================ ================
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
5
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------------------
2001 2002
---------------- ----------------
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Short-term bank credit $ 1,278 $ 2,315
Current portion of capital lease obligations 4,679 1,809
Trade payables 7,449 7,988
Deferred revenues 1,254 1,823
Due to related parties 35,741 23,480
Accrued expenses 7,340 5,149
Other account payables 411 290
---------------- ----------------
TOTAL current liabilities 58,152 42,854
---------------- ----------------
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:
Long-term capital lease obligations 3,236 3,415
Long-term deferred revenue 2,489 1,614
Accrued distribution to minority stockholders - 5,000
Other long-term liabilities 3,305 1,893
---------------- ----------------
TOTAL long-term liabilities 9,030 11,922
---------------- ----------------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - -
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Convertible preferred stock, $ 0.01 par value; Authorized shares - 5,000,000,
issued and outstanding shares- none as of December 31, 2001 and December
31, 2002
Common stock, $ 0.01 par value; Authorized shares - 200,000,000 Issued
shares- 106,906,011 and 104,529,864 at December 31, 2001 and 2002,
respectively, Outstanding shares- 106,906,011 and 102,003,548 at December
31, 2001 and
2002, respectively 1,069 1,045
Additional paid-in capital 235,701 248,227
Deferred stock compensation (140) -
Notes receivable from stockholders (6,500) (312)
Treasury stock, at cost (Common stock - 2,526,315 shares as of
December 31, 2002) - (9,979)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (126) (198)
Accumulated deficit (193,593) (224,501)
---------------- ----------------
Total stockholders equity 36,411 14,282
---------------- ----------------
TOTAL liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 103,593 $ 69,058
================ ================
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
6
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002
-------------- -------------- --------------
Revenues:
Products $ - $ 47,623 $ 16,972
Services - 7,420 8,864
-------------- -------------- --------------
Total revenues - 55,043 25,836
-------------- -------------- --------------
Cost of revenues:
Products - 41,950 11,000
Services - 10,687 16,228
Write-off of inventories - 280 972
-------------- -------------- --------------
Total cost of revenues - 52,917 28,200
-------------- -------------- --------------
Gross profit (loss) - 2,126 (2,364)
-------------- -------------- --------------
Selling, marketing, general and administrative 5,154 11,795 14,556
Impairment of notes receivable from stockholders - - 6,188
-------------- -------------- --------------
Total operating expenses 5,154 11,795 20,744
-------------- -------------- --------------
Operating loss (5,154) (9,669) (23,108)
Financial expenses, net (188) (2,704) (743)
Other expenses 160 (1,364) (406)
-------------- -------------- --------------
Loss from continuing operations before taxes on income (5,182) (13,737) (24,257)
Taxes on income benefit - 937 286
-------------- -------------- --------------
Loss from continuing operations (5,182) (12,800) (23,971)
Loss from discontinued operations (including loss on disposal of
2000-$42,940; 2001-$6,140; 2002-$0). (105,773) (18,315) (1,937)
-------------- -------------- --------------
Net loss $ (110,955) $ (31,115) $ (25,908)
============== ============== ==============
Dividend on Series A preferred stock $ (213) - -
============== ============== ==============
Net loss attributable to shareholders of Common stock $ (111,168) $ (31,115) $ (25,908)
============== ============== ==============
Basic and diluted net loss per share from continuing operations $ (0.12) $ (0.13) $ (0.23)
============== ============== ==============
Basic and diluted net loss per share from discontinued operations $ (2.44) $ (0.18) $ (0.02)
============== ============== ==============
============== ============== ==============
Basic and diluted net loss per share $ (2.54) $ (0.31) $ (0.25)
============== ============== ==============
Weighted average number of stock used in computing basic and diluted
net loss per share (in thousands) 43,348 99,171 105,978
============== ============== ==============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements
7
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS (EXCEPT SHARE PER DATA)
NOTES ACCUMULATED
NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL DEFERRED RECEIVABLES OTHER
COMMON COMMON PAID-IN STOCK FROM TREASURY COMPREHENSIVE
STOCK STOCK CAPITAL COMPENSATION STOCKHOLDERS STOCK LOSS
------------- ---------- ------------- -------------- ------------- --------------- ---------------
Balance as of December 31, 1999 43,803,781 $ 438 $ 183,327 $(11,642) $ (6,500) $ - $ -
Issuance of Common stock upon
exercise of Common stock
options 425,541 4 412 - - - -
Issuance of Common stock in
connection with Employee
Stock Purchase Plan 78,429 1 185 - - - -
Amortization of deferred stock
compensation for stock
options and warrant - - - 5,239 - - -
Cancellation of stock options - - (5,738) 5,738 - - -
Issuance of Common stock in
connection with
LearningGate.com acquisition 999,958 10 2,740 - - - -
Repurchase of Common stock (1,350,000) (13) (148) - - - -
Dividends on Series A preferred
Shares of a subsidiary - - - - - - -
Net loss - - - - - - -
------------- ---------- ------------- -------------- ------------- --------------- ---------------
Balance as of December 31,
2000 43,957,709 $ 440 $ 180,778 $ (665) $ (6,500) $ - $ -
============= ========== ============= ============== ============= =============== ===============
TOTAL
ACCUMULATED STOCKHOLDERS'
DEFICIT EQUITY
-------------- --------------
Balance as of December 31, 1999 $ (51,310) $114,313
Issuance of Common stock upon
exercise of Common stock
options - 416
Issuance of Common stock in
connection with Employee
Stock Purchase Plan - 186
Amortization of deferred stock
compensation for stock
options and warrant - 5,239
Cancellation of stock options - -
Issuance of Common stock in
connection with
LearningGate.com acquisition - 2,750
Repurchase of Common stock - (161)
Dividends on Series A preferred
Shares of a subsidiary (213) (213)
Net loss (110,955) (110,955)
-------------- --------------
Balance as of December 31,
2000 $ (162,478) $ 11,575
============== ==============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
8
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS (EXCEPT SHARE PER DATA)
NOTES ACCUMULATED
NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL DEFERRED RECEIVABLES OTHER
COMMON COMMON PAID-IN STOCK FROM TREASURY COMPREHENSIVE
STOCK STOCK CAPITAL COMPENSATION STOCKHOLDERS STOCK LOSS
------------- ---------- ------------- -------------- ------------- --------------- --------------
Balance as of December 31, 2000 43,957,709 $ 440 $ 180,778 $ (665) $ (6,500) $ - $ -
Issuance of Common stock upon
exercise of Common stock
options 54,823 - 11 - - - -
Issuance of Common stock in
connection with Employee
Stock Purchase Plan 32,165 - 22 - - - -
Amortization of deferred stock
compensation for stock
options and warrant - - - 490 - - -
Cancellation of stock options - - (35) 35 - - -
Issuance of Common stock in
connection with settlement of
TARSAP agreements 361,314 4 253 - - - -
Acquisition of StarBand Latin
America in an as if pooling
of interest method 43,103,448 431 978 - - - -
Contribution of equity by a
related party - - 8,888 - - - -
Issuance of Common stock in
connection with settlement of
capital lease obligation
with Spacenet, Inc. 19,396,552 194 44,806 - - - -
Foreign currency translation
adjustments - - - - - - (126)
Net loss - - - - - - -
------------- ---------- ------------- -------------- ------------- --------------- --------------
Balance as of December 31, 2001 106,906,011 $ 1,069 $ 235,701 $ (140) $ (6,500) $ - $ (126)
============= ========== ============= ============== ============= =============== ==============
TOTAL TOTAL
ACCUMULATED COMPREHENSIVE STOCKHOLDERS'
DEFICIT LOSS EQUITY
-------------- ---------------- --------------
Balance as of December 31, 2000 $ (162,478) $ - $ 11,575
Issuance of Common stock upon
exercise of Common stock
options - - 11
Issuance of Common stock in
connection with Employee
Stock Purchase Plan - - 22
Amortization of deferred stock
compensation for stock
options and warrant - - 490
Cancellation of stock options - - -
Issuance of Common stock in
connection with settlement of
TARSAP agreements - - 257
Acquisition of StarBand Latin
America in an as if pooling
of interest method - - 1,409
Contribution of equity by a
related party - - 8,888
Issuance of Common stock in
connection with settlement of
capital lease obligation
with Spacenet, Inc. - - 45,000
Foreign currency translation
adjustments (126) (126)
Net loss (31,115) (31,115) (31,115)
-------------- ---------------- --------------
Balance as of December 31, 2001 $ (193,593) $ (31,241) $ 36,411
============== ================ ==============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
9
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS (EXCEPT SHARE PER DATA)
NOTES ACCUMULATED
NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL DEFERRED RECEIVABLES OTHER
COMMON COMMON PAID-IN STOCK FROM TREASURY COMPREHENSIVE
STOCK STOCK CAPITAL COMPENSATION STOCKHOLDERS STOCK LOSS
------------- ---------- ------------- -------------- ------------- --------------- ---------------
Balance as of January 1, 2002 106,906,011 $ 1,069 $ 235,701 $ (140) $ (6,500) $ - $ (126)
Issuance of Common stock upon
exercise of Common stock
options 150,168 1 30 - - - -
Impairment of notes
receivables from stockholders - - - - 6,188 - -
Amortization of deferred stock
compensation for stock
options and warrant - - - 140 - - -
Repurchase of Common stocks (2,526,315) (25) - - (9,979) -
Contribution of equity by a
related party 12,496 - - - -
Comprehensive loss: - - - - - - -
Foreign currency translation
adjustments - - - - - - (72)
Provision for distribution to
minority - - - - - - -
Net loss - - - - - - -
------------- ---------- ------------- -------------- ------------- --------------- ---------------
Balance as of December 31, 2002 104,529,864 $ 1,045 $ 248,227 $ - $ (312) $ (9,979) $ (198)
============= ========== ============= ============== ============= =============== ===============
TOTAL TOTAL
ACCUMULATED COMPREHENSIVE STOCKHOLDERS'
DEFICIT LOSS EQUITY
-------------- ---------------- --------------
Balance as of January 1, 2002 $ (193,593) $ - $ 36,411
Issuance of Common stock upon
exercise of Common stock
options - - 31
Impairment of notes
receivables from stockholders - - 6,188
Amortization of deferred stock
compensation for stock
options and warrant - - 140
Repurchase of Common stocks - - (10,004)
Contribution of equity by a
related party - - 12,496
Comprehensive loss: - - -
Foreign currency translation
adjustments (72) (72)
Provision for distribution to
minority (5,000) - (5,000)
Net loss (25,908) (25,908) (25,908)
-------------- ---------------- --------------
Balance as of December 31, 2002 $ (224,501) $ (25,980) $ 14,282
============== ================ ==============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
10
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002
--------------- ---------------- --------------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss $(110,955) $ (31,115) $ (25,908)
Less loss for the year from discontinued operations 105,773 18,315 1,937
Adjustments required to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating
activities:
Depreciation 1,617 3,545 5,849
Amortization of deferred stock compensation 180 490 140
Accrued severance pay, net - (489) -
Impairment loss on investments in affiliates - 1,105 -
Impairment of notes receivable from stockholders - - 6,188
Write-off of inventories - 280 972
Decrease (increase) in trade receivables (73) (17,014) 3,164
Deferred income taxes, net - (1,757) (272)
Decrease (increase) in inventories - 3,175 (1,333)
Increase in other accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other
assets (including long-term trade receivables) (1,529) (2,824) (8,737)
Increase in trade payables - 4,638 1,743
Decrease in deferred revenue - - (306)
Increase in related parties - 26,143 7,196
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses 5,097 (3,767) (4,431)
Increase (decrease) in other accounts payable and other long-term
liabilities 333 1,432 (1,078)
--------------- ---------------- --------------
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities from continuing
operations 443 2,157 (14,876)
Net cash used in operating activities from discontinued operations (35,561) (6,489) (1,185)
--------------- ---------------- --------------
Net cash used in operating activities (35,118) (4,332) (16,061)
--------------- ---------------- --------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of property and equipment (3,085) (5,719) (1,781)
Acquisition of Starband Latin America, as pooling (a) - 698 -
Investment in other companies (3,037) - -
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment - 2,335 -
Investment in restricted cash (12) (5,329) 831
--------------- ---------------- --------------
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities from continuing
operations (6,143) (8,015) (950)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities from discontinued
operations (2,757) 5,928 -
--------------- ---------------- --------------
Net cash used in investing activities (8,891) (2,087) (950)
--------------- ---------------- --------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
11
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002
---------------- --------------- ---------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Exercise of options $ - $ - $ 31
Issuance of Common stock 602 290 -
Redemption of preferred stock in Subsidiary (5,500) - -
Repurchase of Common stock (161) (25) (10,004)
Dividend payment (213) - -
Short-term bank credit, net - 753 1,037
Payment on capital lease obligations (15,027) (5,518) (3,097)
---------------- --------------- ---------------
Net cash used in financing activities (20,299) (4,500) (12,033)
---------------- --------------- ---------------
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash - (153) (127)
---------------- --------------- ---------------
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (64,308) (11,072) (29,171)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 112,714 48,406 37,334
---------------- --------------- ---------------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year $ 48,406 $ 37,334 $ 8,163
================ =============== ===============
Supplementary cash flows activities:
(a) Cash paid during the year for:
Interest $ 4,577 $ 851 $ 1,765
================ =============== ===============
(b) Non-cash transactions:
Equipment purchased through capital lease agreements $ 27,644 $ 5,222 $ -
================ =============== ===============
Deferred gain on sale-lease back $ - $ 1,596 $ -
================ =============== ===============
Preferred stock in subsidiary issued in purchase of
eFundraising.com $ 6,095 $ - $ -
================ =============== ===============
Issuance of common stock in settlement of liabilities with
Spacenet, Inc. $ - $ 45,000 $ -
================ =============== ===============
Common stock issued in purchase of LearningGate.com $ 2,750 $ - $ -
================ =============== ===============
Conversion of a related party debt into equity $ - $ 5,359 $ 12,496
================ =============== ===============
Provision for distribution to minority $ - $ - $ 5,000
================ =============== ===============
Equipment purchased by a Contribution of equity by a related
party $ - $ 3,529 $ -
================ =============== ===============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
2001
----------------
(a) Acquisition of StarBand Latin America (see also Note 1)
Assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition was
as follows:
Working capital (excluding cash and cash equivalents) $ (17,312)
Due to related party 18,343
Property and equipment (7,964)
Other long-term liabilities 6,222
Less - Issuance of Common stocks 1,409
----------------
$ 698
================
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
13
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 1:- GENERAL
a. Organization:
rStar Corporation ("the Company"), previously known as ZapMe!
Corporation, was founded in June 1997. Subsequent to the
acquisition of StarBand Latin America ("StarBand") as described
below rStar Corporation discontinued all of its remaining
activities and began to operate the StarBand business model which
provides two-way, always-on, high-speed Internet access and
telephony to residential and small office/ home office (Soho)
customers available virtually everywhere in Latin America via
satellite. The StarBand Latin America service provides
high-capacity, high-speed transmission of data, audio, telephony
and video to consumers and Soho subscribers. It offers
stand-alone Internet access as well as a bundled product
including telephony services.
On October 3, 2000 Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. ("Gilat" - the
parent company) and the Company announced an agreement under
which Gilat would make a tender offer to acquire for cash 51% of
the Company's outstanding voting Common shares at $2.32 per
share. Effective January 11, 2001, Gilat acquired control of the
Company pursuant to that tender offer.
During May 2001 rStar issued and delivered to Gilat 19,396,552
shares of rStar Common Stock, in full satisfaction of rStar's
outstanding capital lease obligations to one of Gilat's
subsidiary in the amount of $ 45.0 million, which resulted in
Gilat increasing its share equity in rStar from 51% to
approximately 66%.
On April 23, 2001, Gilat and the Company announced a series of
transactions that would result in the acquisition by the Company
of StarBand Latin America business. In consideration for such
acquisition, the Company agreed to issue to Gilat 43,103,448
shares of the Company's Common stock. Additionally, conditioned
upon the acquisition of Starband Latin America, the Company
announced it would make a tender offer to acquire, in exchange
for up to $4.0 million in cash and up to 312,500 ordinary shares
of Gilat, up to 20% of the Company's Common stock held by each
stockholder of the Company other than Gilat and its affiliates.
On September 7, 2001 the parties entered into an amended
agreement and, on December 31, 2001, the Company, Gilat and Gilat
To Home Latin America (Holland) N.V. entered into a second
amended and restated agreement. The revisions to the April 23,
2001 agreement included: a) increased the number of shares of
rStar Common stock that the Company acquired in the tender offer
to approximately 29% of the outstanding shares of rStar common
stock not held by Gilat and its affiliates, b) adjusted the cash
portion of the consideration for those shares from a fixed
$0.95/share to an amount that was to vary between $0.32 and $1.58
per share, depending on the then market value of Gilat shares, c)
established certain earnings targets for the StarBand Latin
America business for the one year periods ended June 30, 2003 and
2004 that, if not achieved, will entitle non-Gilat shareholders
to special cash distributions totaling up to $10.0 million or, if
exceeded, will entitle Gilat to additional
14
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 1:- GENERAL (CONT.)
rStar shares totaling 10% of the number of shares outstanding
immediately following the acquisition, d) provided an exception
to the obligation to make the above-described special cash
distribution if the Company obtained substantial new equity
financing (see Note 9f), and e) clarified that rStar's rights to
provide services in Mexico are non-exclusive.
On August 2, 2002 (the "Closing"), the Company closed the
previously announced StarBand Latin America acquisition and
issued 43,103,448 shares of the Company's Common stock to
Gilat-To-Home Latin America (Holland) N.V., an affiliate of Gilat
Satellite Networks Ltd. ("Gilat") in exchange for the business of
StarBand Latin America (Holland) B.V., and its subsidiaries. In
accordance with the terms of the acquisition agreement between
Gilat and rStar, while regulatory approvals required for the
transfer of certain of the Latin American entities of StarBand
Latin America were pending, rStar assumed all rights, obligations
and liabilities with respect to the business conducted by those
entities, as of the date of the Closing. In the event that Gilat
cannot obtain such regulatory approvals within nine months from
the closing date, Gilat will transfer to rStar the parent company
of such entities. As such, rStar will continue to have control
over these entities whether directly or indirectly.
As Gilat is the controlling shareholder of both rStar and
StarBand Latin America from January 2001, the acquisition has
been accounted for as a combination between entities under common
control in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 141, "Business Combinations" ("SFAS 141") and FASB
Technical Bulletin 85-5 "Issues relating to accounting for
business combinations" ("FTB 85-5") issue No. 2 relating to Stock
Transactions between Companies under Common Control from the date
Gilat had achieved such common control. As such no goodwill
resulted from the transaction and historical amounts are
presented in a manner similar to a pooling of interests. See
basis of presentation (Note 1b).
StarBand Latin America currently provides satellite-based rural
telephony services in Peru and Colombia as well as high-speed
consumer Internet access service in Brazil and Peru. StarBand
Latin America expects to work on a wholesale basis with Latin
American Internet Service Providers (ISP), DTH TV companies and
other service providers in Latin America to offer high- speed
Internet access via satellite. Its targeted customers at the
wholesale level are major media and ISP companies providing
service to Soho and select consumer market segments in Latin
America.
Also on August 2, 2002 the Company completed an exchange offer,
whereby it purchased 6,315,789 shares of Common stock from its
shareholders in exchange for 0.0738 of an ordinary share of Gilat
for each share of rStar Common stock and cash of $1.58 per share.
The amount was determined based on a formula, using the average
trading price of Gilat's stock for the 10-day trading period
ending 5 days prior to the expiration of the offer. In addition,
rStar exchanged 3,789,473 of the tendered rStar's shares for
15
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 1:- GENERAL (CONT.)
466,105 Gilat ordinary shares in order to provide the Gilat share
consideration in the exchange offer, described above.
With the completion of the exchange offer and the StarBand
Acquisition, Gilat's beneficial ownership of the outstanding
rStar shares increased to approximately 85%.
In accordance with the Agreement, in the event that the StarBand
Latin America business, as defined, does not achieve certain net
income targets agreed to by the parties during each of the one
year periods ended June 30, 2003 and June 30, 2004, rStar
stockholders of record as of June 30, 2003 or June 30, 2004 will
be entitled to their pro rata share of a Special Distribution
equal to either $2.5 million or $5.0 million in cash, depending
upon StarBand Latin America's net income. Specifically, (i) if
the net income for the StarBand Latin America business for the
period from July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003 is less than or
equal to $1.6 million, the Special Distribution shall be $5.0
million, (ii) if the net income for the StarBand Latin America
business for the period from July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003
is greater than $1.6 million and less than or equal to $2.5
million, the Special Distribution shall be $2.5 million, (iii) if
the net income for the StarBand Latin America business for the
period from July 1, 2002 through June 30, 2003 is greater than
$2.5 million, the Special Distribution shall be zero, (iv) if the
net income for the StarBand Latin America business for the period
from July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004 is less than or equal to
$11.0 million, the Special Distribution shall be $5.0 million,
(v) if the net income for the StarBand Latin America business for
the period from July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004 is greater
than $11.0 million and less than or equal to $16.5 million, the
Special Distribution shall be $2.5 million, and (vi) if the net
income for the StarBand Latin America Business for the period
from July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004 is greater than $16.5
million, the Special Distribution shall be zero. The payment of
the Special Distribution is guaranteed by Gilat. The Company
estimates that no provision is needed for the first distribution
as of December 31, 2002. Notwithstanding, the Company has
provided a provision for the second distribution as of December
31, 2002 as Management's Current Assessment is that with the
current level of sales in 2003 and with the uncertainties in the
markets in which rStar operates, It is probable that the special
distribution will be paid in 2004. However, if rStar is
successful in growing its business and increasing its net income
during 2003 and 2004, the special distribution may not need to be
paid in part or at all.
b. Basis of presentation
As Gilat has been the controlling shareholder of both rStar and
StarBand Latin America since January 2001, the acquisition has
been accounted for as a combination between entities under common
control in accordance with SFAS 141 and FTB 85-5. As such, no
goodwill resulted from the transaction and historical amounts are
presented on a basis similar to a pooling of interests.
Accordingly, rStar's 2001 historical financial statements have
been restated to include the consolidated financial position,
results of operations, and cash
16
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 1:- GENERAL (CONT.)
flows of StarBand as of and for the year ended December 31, 2001
since Gilat achieved common control over StarBand and rStar which
was in January 2001. The previous seperate financial statements
of StarBand Latin America did not present both components of its
business as it was the intention of Gilat to sell to rStar only
the StarBand Latin America services business as described in Note
1a. The business, which represents strictly equipment sales, was
carved out of the results. Following the closing, it was
determined that certain equipment sales going forward would be
included in rStar's business. Thus in accordance with Emerging
Issue Task Force 90-16 "Accounting for Discontinued Operations
Subsequently Retained" these financial statements present all of
the historical amounts of the entities acquired without the
aforementioned carve out for the equipment sales business
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of rStar and its subsidiaries consolidated with StarBand
and its subsidiaries since January 2001, all inter-company
accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
c. Discontinued operations
During the third quarter of 2002, management decided to suspend
activities relating to all operational components of rStar which
was mainly AutoNetworks, Inc., a 85% subsidiary of the Company,
and to focus the Company's attention on the newly acquired
Starband Latin America Business.
In February 2001, rStar's board of directors approved a formal
plan to discontinue and dispose of the School Business. These
operations, which comprised a significant portion of the
Company's assets and a majority of the Company's revenues and
expenses, are reflected in the accompanying financial statements
as discontinued.
The remaining operational components of rStar which was primarily
AutoNetworks discontinued operations and rStar's discontinued
advertiser - supported the educational network business and
fundraising business (the "School Business") is presented as a
discontinued operation. For comparative purposes, the
consolidated statements of operations and related (loss) income
per share information, for all periods presented, have been
restated in 2001 and 2002 to reflect the results of operations of
the discontinued businesses in loss from discontinued operations.
The consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2001 reflect
assets and liabilities related mainly to the School Business as
net assets of discontinued operations. The Consolidated Statement
of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000
reflects separately cash flows from discontinued operations.
The loss from discontinued operations consists of the following
(in thousands):
17
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
(IN THOUSAND US DOLLARS)
-------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002
Revenue $3,128 $ - $ -
Revenue from affiliates 11,188 - -
-------------- ------------- -------------
Total Revenue 14,316 - -
Cost and expenses:
Cost of revenues 29,750 5,850 152
Selling, marketing, general 32,900 3,440 1,270
and administrative
Research and development 7,135 2,615 515
Amortization of goodwill 2,387 - -
Amortization of deferred stock
compensation 4,977 - -
-------------- ------------- -------------
Total costs and expenses 77,149 11,905 1,937
Loss from discontinued operations (62,833) (11,905) (1937)
Loss on disposal of long-lived assets (42,940) (6,140) -
-------------- ------------- -------------
Loss from discontinued operations $ (105,773) $(18,315) $(1,937)
============== ============= =============
For the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company incurred a
loss from discontinued operations of $1.9 million which was a
result of the operating expenses of $1.9 million relating to the
remaining operational components of rStar which was mainly the
AutoNetworks' business. The discontinuation of the School
Business was substantially completed by December 31, 2001 and
remaining operational components of rStar primarily AutoNetworks
by the end of 2002. For the year ended December 31, 2001 the
Company recorded a charge of $5.9 million to cover principally
the cost of excess space segment bandwidth consumed by the School
Business that resolved a discrepancy between Spacenet, a related
party, and the Company and $9.0 million impairment charges to
reflect a revised estimate of the net proceeds to be obtained
from the sale of computer equipment deployed in the School
Business. Initially, these assets were to be disposed of by bulk
sale and the value was written off. However, these assets were
disposed of on a piecemeal basis, which realized a much lower
sale price, resulting in these impairment charges. Partially
offsetting these charges were actual expenses that were $2.6
million lower than the original estimates for which a reserve was
established in December 2000. Actual expenses were lower than
original estimates due to a) the Company's original estimated
date of disposal of the Company's eFundraising subsidiary was the
end of June 2001, but the Company sold it in the beginning of
June 2001, and b) overestimates of connectivity costs and
personnel costs for the discontinued School Business until the
actual date of disposal at June 30, 2001.
18
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
In 2000, the loss from discontinued operations was $105.8
million. Of this loss $62.9 million reflects the cost, net of
$14.3 million of revenue, of deploying and operating the
advertiser-supported school network. The other $42.9 million is
the estimated loss on disposal of those discontinued operations.
This is comprised of asset impairment charges totaling $34.2
million and estimated future net operating losses from January 1,
2001 to the June, 2001 expected disposal date of $7.3 million.
Severance and other estimated expenses comprise the remaining
$1.4 million.
In 2001, there was no stock-based compensation included in the
loss from discontinued operations. In 2000, stock-based
compensation of $4.9 million comprises $278,000 relating to sales
and marketing, $4.4 million relating to general and
administrative, and $319,000 relating to research and
development.
Net assets of discontinued operations consists of the
following (in thousands):
DECEMBER 31,
(IN THOUSAND US DOLLARS)
-----------------------------------
2001 2002
-------------------- --------------
Accounts receivable $ 41 $ -
Prepaid expenses and other assets
281
-------------------- --------------
Assets of discontinued operations $ 322 $ -
==================== ==============
The Company completed two acquisitions during the year ended
December 31, 2000; eFundraising.com Corporation Inc.
("eFundraising.com") and LearningGate.com, Inc.
("LearningGate.com"). The acquired businesses were both
components of the School Business and, as such, are part of our
discontinued operations. Each acquisition was recorded using the
purchase method of accounting under Accounting Principles Boards
Opinion No. 16 "Business Combinations" ("APB No. 16.") The
aggregate purchase price of the acquired companies, excluding
future contingent consideration, was $11.5 million, and was
comprised of common stock, preferred stock in a subsidiary, Time
Accelerated Restricted Stock Award Plan stock options ("TARSAPS")
and cash. Results of operations for each acquired company have
been included in our financial results from the closing date of
each transaction.
In accordance with APB No. 16, all identifiable assets were
assigned a portion of the cost (purchase price) of the acquired
companies on the basis of their respective fair values. The
entire purchase consideration in both acquisitions was allocated
primarily to goodwill on the accompanying consolidated balance
sheets and is being amortized over their estimated useful lives,
which is three years.
19
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
On May 10, 2000, the Company completed our acquisition of
eFundraising.com, a company that offers fundraising endnote and
services to schools and other organizations. In connection with
the acquisition, we issued a combination of cash and securities
totaling approximately $7.9 million to acquire all of the
outstanding shares of eFundraising.com. The eFundraising.com
purchase price consideration recorded at closing was $7.9 million
consisting of $1.9 million cash, $5.5 million Class A preferred
shares (500,000 shares at $11.00 per share), $198,240 Class C
preferred shares consisting of 56,640 shares at $3.50 per share,
$198,240 Class D preferred shares consisting of 56,640 shares at
$3.50 per share and $198,240 Class E preferred shares consisting
of 56,640 shares at $3.50 per share. All of the preferred shares
issued pursuant to this acquisition were issued by a subsidiary
of the Company. The $11.00 value per Class A preferred share was
determined from the redemption price. The holders of the Class A
preferred shares had the right to convert such shares into rStar
common stock on a one-for-one basis. During the fourth quarter of
2000, Gilat tendered for a majority of the Company's outstanding
shares. This event triggered a "change in control" provision in
the Class A preferred shares that allowed the holders of the
security to demand a redemption of face value of their shares. In
December of 2000, the Company repurchased for $5.5 million all
Class A preferred shares.
The $3.50 value per share for the Class C, Class D, and Class
E Preferred shares issued by a subsidiary was based on the
closing market price of rStar common stock on May 10, 2000. The
169,920 preferred shares consisting of 56,640 shares of Class C,
56,640 shares of Class D, and 56,640 of Class E, are convertible
into rStar common shares. These shares are not redeemable.
The LearningGate.com purchase price consideration on June 23,
2000 was approximately $3.6 million consisting of $858,000 cash,
and $2.8 million rStar's common shares consisting of 999,958
shares at $2.75 per share. The $2.75 value per share was the
closing market price on June 23, 2000. Additional cash
consideration amounting to $329,000 represented loans for
pre-closing direct operating expenses of $267,000 and legal
expenses of $62,000. Total cash consideration, therefore,
amounted to $1.1 million.
The acquired businesses were both components of the School
Business and, as such, are part of discontinued operations. In
connection with the Company's exit from the School Business, it
recorded an asset impairment charge of $8.0 million to reduce the
carrying value of goodwill to the estimated net realizable value
upon sale. Of that amount, $5.0 million was attributable to
eFundraising.com and the balance to LearningGate.com. Goodwill in
connection with LearningGate.com was considered by management to
be unrecoverable, as its principal products were software tools
to be used in the School Business, which was existed. The
impairment to goodwill associated with eFundraising.com was based
on management's estimate of the proceeds to be received upon an
expected sale of the business.
The proforma results of operations for the years ended
December 31, 2000 would not be materially different from the
amounts reported in the consolidated statements of operations.
20
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 1:- GENERAL (CONT.)
In April 2001, the Company issued 361,314 shares of common stock
to the two founders of eFundraising.com in exchange for the
cancellation of all of the Time Accelerated Restricted Stock
Award Plan issued in connection with the Company's acquisition of
the company. In June of 2001 the Company sold eFundraising.com in
exchange for approximately $1.7 million the then-carrying value
of its net assets.
d. Major customers and suppliers
A significant portion of the Company's and its subsidiaries ("the
Group") revenues comes from services provided for Gilat in
relation to a small number of contracts with foreign governments
in Latin America. Revenues from the government of Peru amounted
to $0, $15.6 million and $15.3 million in the three year ended
December 31, 2002, 2001, 2002 respectively. These services, much
like the contracts awarded to Gilat are awarded on a bid-by-bid
basis and, as such, are considered non-recurring. See Note 13 for
details regarding major customers.
The Group depends on a limited number of suppliers and on a
single supplier, which is a related party, for the equipment sold
and certain services. If such supplier fails to deliver the
necessary equipment and services, the Group may be required to
seek alternative sources of supply. A change in suppliers could
result in installation delays, which could cause a possible loss
of sales and, consequently, could adversely affect the Group's
results of operations and cash position. See Note 11 for detail
regarding related parties transactions.
NOTE 2:- SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States ("US GAAP").
a. Use of estimates:
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported
in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.
b. Financial statements in U.S. dollars:
The majority of the revenues of the Company and certain
subsidiaries are generated in U.S. dollars ("dollar"). In
addition, a substantial portion of the Company's and certain of
its subsidiaries' costs are incurred in dollars. The Company's
management believes that the dollar is the primary currency of
the economic environment in which the Company and certain of its
subsidiaries,
21
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
operate. Thus, the functional and reporting currency of the
Company and certain of its subsidiaries, is the dollar.
Accordingly, monetary accounts maintained in currencies other
than the dollar are remeasured into U.S. dollars in accordance
with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 52 "Foreign
Currency Translation" ("SFAS No. 52"). All transaction gains and
losses of the remeasurement of monetary balance sheet items are
reflected in the statements of operations as financial income or
expenses, as appropriate.
The financial statements of a foreign subsidiary, whose
functional currency is its local currency, have been translated
into U.S. dollars. Assets and liabilities have been translated
using the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date.
Statements of operations amounts have been translated using the
average exchange rate for the period. The resulting translation
adjustments are reported as a component of shareholders' equity
in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
c. Principles of consolidation:
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the
Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Intercompany balances
and transactions, including profits from inter-company sales not
yet realized outside the Group, have been eliminated upon
consolidation.
d. Cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents are short-term highly liquid investments that
are not restricted as to withdrawals or use with maturities of
three months or less at the date acquired.
e. Short-term restricted cash:
Restricted cash is primarily invested in certificates of deposit,
which mature within one year, linked to the U.S dollar, bear
interest at rates of 1.5% - 4.5% and is used as collateral mainly
for sale and lease back transactions. See Note 7a.
f. Inventories:
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value.
Inventory write-offs are provided to cover risks arising from
slow-moving items, technological obsolesce, excess inventories,
discontinued products, and for market prices lower than cost.
Inventory write offs amounted to $0, $280,000 and $972,000 in
2000, 2001 and 2002, respectively.
Cost is determined as follows:
Finished products- using the average cost method with the
addition of allocable indirect costs.
22
NOTE 2:- SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.)
g. Long-term restricted cash:
Restricted cash is primarily invested in certificates of deposit,
which mature in more than one year, linked to the U.S dollar,
bear interest at a rate of 4.5%, and used as collateral mainly
for sale and lease back transactions (See Note 7a).
h. Long term trade receivables
Long-term receivables from extended payment agreements are
recorded at estimated present values determined based on current
rates of interest and reported at the net amounts in the
accompanying financial statements. Imputed interest is
recognized, using the effective interest method as a component of
interest income in the accompanying statements.
i. Property and equipment:
Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated
depreciation. Depreciation is calculated by the straight-line
method over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
YEARS
---------------------
Network equipment 5
Computer equipment and software 3 - 12.5
Office furniture and equipment 5 - 17
The Group's long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment in
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No.
144 "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long- Lived
Assets" ("SFAS No. 144") whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may
not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used
is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to
the future undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by
the assets. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the
impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which
the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the
assets. Assets to be disposed of by sale are reported at the
lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. As
of December 31, 2002, no impairment losses have been identified.
j. Revenue recognition:
The Group generates revenues mainly from sale and installation of
satellite-based communication networks ("products") and services
mainly from Internet access,
23
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 2:- SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.)
telephony services on-line network monitoring network maintenance
and repair services. These revenues are derived mainly from
government projects.
Revenues from product sales are recognized in accordance with
Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101 "Revenue Recognition in
Financial Statements" ("SAB No. 101"), when shipment has
occurred, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the
vendor's fee is fixed or determinable, no further obligation
remains and collectibility is probable. The Group does not grant
rights of return.
Service revenues are recognized ratably over the contractual
period or as services are performed. Where arrangements involve
multiple elements, revenue is allocated to each element based on
the relative fair value of the element when sold separately.
Arrangements that include installation services are evaluated to
determine whether those services are an integral component of the
equipment used. When installation services are considered
integral, revenue from products and installation services are
recognized only upon installation. When services are not
considered integral, revenues from product sales are recognized
upon shipment and the service revenue is recognized when the
services are performed.
Revenues from products under sales-type-lease contracts are
recognized in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting
Standard No. 13, "Accounting for Leases" ("SFAS No. 13") upon
installation or upon shipment, in cases where the customer
obtains its own or others installation services. The present
values of payments due under sales-type-lease contracts are
recorded as revenues at the time of shipment or installation, as
appropriate. Future interest income is deferred and recognized
over the related lease term as financial income. The net
investments in sales-type-lease are discounted at the interest
rates implicit in the leases.
Deferred revenue includes unearned amounts received under service
contracts, and amounts received from customers but not yet
recognized as revenues.
k. Income taxes:
The Group accounts for income taxes in accordance with Statement
of Financial Accounting Standard No. 109, "Accounting for Income
Taxes" ("SFAS No. 109"). This statement prescribes the use of the
liability method whereby deferred tax assets and liability
account balances are determined based on differences between
financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and
are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in
effect when the differences are expected to reverse. The Group
provides a valuation allowance, if necessary, to reduce deferred
tax assets to their estimated realizable value.
l. Concentrations of credit risks:
24
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 2:- SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.)
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Group to
concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and
cash equivalents, short-term and long-term restricted cash, trade
receivables and long-term trade receivables.
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term and long-term restricted
cash are invested mainly in U.S dollars deposits with major banks
in the United States and Peru. Such deposits may be in excess of
insured limits and are not insured in other jurisdictions.
Management believes that the financial institutions that hold the
Group's investments are financially sound and, accordingly,
minimal credit risk exists with respect to these investments.
The trade receivables and long-term trade receivables of the
Group derive from sales and services provided to major customers
located in Latin America, mainly pursuant to governmental
contracts. The Group performs ongoing credit evaluations of its
customers. An allowance for doubtful accounts is determined with
respect to those amounts that the Group has determined to be
doubtful of collection and a general allowance is provided to
cover additional potential exposures. The balance due from the
government of Peru is 83% of the total receivables including long
term.
The Group has no significant off-balance-sheet concentration of
credit risk such as foreign exchange contracts, option contracts
or other foreign currency hedging arrangements.
m. Accounting for stock-based compensation:
The Company has elected to follow Accounting Principles Board
Opinion No. 25 "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" ("APB
No. 25") and FASB Interpretation No. 44 "Accounting for Certain
Transactions Involving Stock Compensation" ("FIN No. 44") in
accounting for its
employee stock option plans. Under APB No. 25, when the exercise
price of the Company's share options is less than the market
price of the underlying shares on the date of grant, compensation
expense is recognized.
Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123, pro
forma information regarding net income (loss) and net earnings
(loss) per share is required and has been determined as if the
Company had accounted for its employee share options under the
fair value method of SFAS No. 123. The fair value of these
options is amortized over their vesting period and estimated at
the date of grant using a Black-Scholes multiple option pricing
model with the following weighted average assumptions; risk-free
interest rates of 6%, 5.25% and 3% for 2000, 2001 and 2002,
respectively; a dividend yield of 0% for each of those years; a
volatility factor of the expected market price of the Company's
Common Stock of 0.97 for 2000, 0.42 for 2001 and 0.82 for 2002;
and a weighted average expected life of the option of 3.5, 2 and
3.5 years for 2000, 2001 and 2002, respectively.
25
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 2:- SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.)
Weighted average fair value of options granted at their grant
date were $ 64.00, $4.20 and $ 0.10 during 2000, 2001 and 2002,
respectively.
The following table illustrates the effect on net loss and net
loss per share, assuming that the Company had applied the fair
value recognition provision of SFAS No. 123 on its stock-based
employee compensation:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002
--------------- --------------- ----------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
(EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
------------------------------------------------
Net loss from continuing operations $(5,182) $(12,800) $(23,971)
=============== =============== ================
Net loss from discontinuing operations $(105,773) $(18,315) $(1,937)
=============== =============== ================
Pro forma net loss from continuing operations $(7,283) $(13,924) $(23,994)
=============== =============== ================
Pro forma net loss from discontinuing operations $(105,773) $(18,315) $(1,937)
=============== =============== ================
Pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share from
continuing operations $(0.17) $(0.14) $(0.23)
=============== =============== ================
Pro forma basic and diluted net loss per share from
discontinuing operations $(2.44) $(0.18) $(0.02)
=============== =============== ================
n. Fair value of financial instruments:
The following methods and assumptions were used by the Group in
estimating their fair value disclosures for financial
instruments:
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, short-term
restricted cash, trade receivables, short term bank credit and
trade payables approximate their fair value due to the short-term
maturity of such instruments.
The carrying amounts of the Group's long-term borrowing
arrangements, long-term trade receivables and long-term
restricted cash approximate their fair value. The fair value was
estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, based on the
Group's incremental borrowing rates for similar type of borrowing
arrangements.
o. Basic and diluted net loss per share:
Basic net earnings (loss) per share is computed based on the
weighted average number of Common shares outstanding during each
year. Diluted net loss per share is computed based on the
weighted average number of Common shares outstanding during each
year, plus dilutive potential Common shares considered
outstanding during the year, in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standard No. 128 "Earnings per Share" ("SFAS
No. 128").
26
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 2:- SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.)
Outstanding stock options and warrants have been excluded from
the calculation of the diluted net earnings (loss) per Common
share when such securities are anti-dilutive for the periods
presented. The total weighted average number of shares related to
the outstanding options and warrants excluded from the
calculations of diluted net loss per share was 4.5 million, 2.8
million and 2.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2000,
2001 and 2002, respectively.
p. Advertising:
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred.
q. Impact of recently issued accounting standards:
In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 145, "Rescission of SFAS
No. 4, 44 and 64, Amendment of SFAS No. 13, and Technical
Corrections," ("SFAS No. 145") which rescinds SFAS No. 4,
"Reporting Gains and Losses from Extinguishment of Debt," and an
amendment of that Statement, and SFAS No. 64, "Extinguishments of
Debt Made to Satisfy Sinking-Fund Requirements." SFAS No. 145
amends SFAS No. 44, "Accounting for Intangible Assets for Motor
Carriers." SFAS No. 145 amends SFAS No. 13, "Accounting for
Leases," to eliminated an inconsistency between the required
accounting for sale-leaseback transactions and the required
accounting for certain lease modifications that have economic
effects that are similar to sale-leaseback transactions. SFAS No.
145 also amends other existing authoritative pronouncements to
make various technical corrections, clarify meanings, or describe
their applicability under changed conditions. SFAS No. 145 is
effective for fiscal years beginning May 15, 2002. The Company
does not expect the adoption of SFAS No. 145 will have a material
impact on the its results of operations or financial position.
In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, "Accounting for Costs
Associated with Exit of Disposal Activities," ("SFAS No. 146")
which addresses significant issues regarding the recognition,
measurement and reporting of costs associated with exit and
disposal activities, including restructuring activities. SFAS No.
146 requires that costs associated with exit or disposal
activities be recognized when they are incurred rather than at
the date of a commitment to an exit or disposal plan. SFAS No.
146 is effective for all exit or disposal activities initiated
after December 31, 2002. The Company does not expect the adoption
of SFAS No. 146 to have a material impact on our results of
operations or financial position.
In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45 ("FIN No.
45"), "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for
Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of
Others, an interpretation of SFAS No. 5, 57 and 107 and
Rescission of FASB Interpretation No. 34 ("FIN No. 34")." FIN No.
45 elaborates on the disclosures to be made by a guarantor in its
interim and annual financial statements about its obligations
under certain guarantees that it has issued. It also clarifies
that a guarantor is required to recognize, at the
27
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 2:- SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONT.)
inception of a guarantee, a liability for the fair value of the
obligation undertaken in issuing the guarantee. FIN No. 45 does
not prescribe a specific approach for subsequently measuring the
guarantor's recognized liability over the term of the related
guarantee. It also incorporates, without change, the guidance in
FIN No. 34, "Disclosure of Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness to
Others," which is being superseded. The disclosure provisions of
FIN No. 45 are effective for financial statements of interim or
annual periods that end after December 15, 2002 and the
provisions for initial recognition and measurement are effective
on a prospective basis for guarantees that are issued or modified
after December 31, 2002, irrespective of a guarantor's year-end.
The Company does not expect the adoption of FIN No. 45 to have a
material impact on its results of operations or financial
position.
NOTE 3:- PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET
a. Composition of property and equipment, grouped by major
classifications, is as follows:
DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------------
2001 2002
------------------ ------------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
--------------------------------------
Cost:
Network equipment $ 20,501 $ 20,078
Computer equipment and software 5,773 1,769
Office furniture and equipment 1,678 355
------------------ ------------------
27,952 22,202
------------------ ------------------
Accumulated depreciation 6,021 6,529
------------------ ------------------
Depreciated cost $ 21,931 $ 15,673
================== ==================
b. Depreciation expenses totaled $1.6 million, $ 3.5 million
and $ 5.8 million in 2000, 2001 and 2002, respectively.
28
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 4:- OTHER ASSETS, NET
Composed as follows:
DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------------
2001 2002
------------------ ------------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
--------------------------------------
Deposit held in escrow $ 300 $ 490
Lease acquisition costs 303 -
Security deposits 475 -
Other 3 24
------------------ ------------------
$ 1,081 $ 514
================== ==================
In 2001, the Company recorded an impairment loss on investments
in affiliate in the amount of $1.1 million.
29
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 5:- SHORT-TERM BANK CREDIT
WEIGHTED DECEMBER 31,
AVERAGE -----------------------------
INTEREST
RATE FOR 2001
AND 2002 2001 2002
---------------- ------------- --------------
Source Linkage % U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
------------- ---------------- -----------------------------
Bank Dollar 12.00 $ - $ 90
Bank overdraft Dollar N/A 285 38
Bank Dollar 6.75 - 539
Bank Dollar 6.75 - 1,648
Treasury Dollar 2.5-6.7 972 -
Other Peso 30.6 21 -
---------------- ------------- --------------
6.5% $1,278 $ 2,315
================ ============= ==============
As for guarantees, see Note 8d.
NOTE 6:- OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Composed as follows:
DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------------------
2001 2002
------------------------- ------------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
---------------------------------------------
Import duties payable $ 2,247 $ 1,893
Other 1,058 -
------------------------- ------------------
Other long-term liabilities $ 3,305 $ 1,893
========================= ==================
The import duties payable will be paid over the next four years.
NOTE 7:- LONG-TERM CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS
a. On September 28, 2001, the Company completed a sale leaseback
transaction whereby the Company sold its Peruvian telephony
network and other assets with a book value of approximately $3.6
million for approximately $5.2 million, resulting in a gain of
approximately $1.6 million, which was deferred and is being
accreted into financial income over the estimated useful life of
the assets, which is 3 years. The lease accounted for as a
capital lease in accordance with SFAS No. 13.
The agreement requires the Company to lease and operate the
telephony network back from the seller for a period of three
years for twelve quarterly payments of approximately $430,000
each. At the end of the lease, the Company has an option to
purchase the telephony network at the expected fair market value
30
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 7:- CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS (CONT.)
of approximately $540,000. In the event that the Company does not
exercise its option, the seller will assess a penalty for
approximately $522,000. In connection with the lease the Company
was obligated to place approximately $5.1 million of the proceeds
in a restricted account as a guarantee for the payments. Such
amounts are included in short-term and long-term restricted cash.
b. In 1999, the Company entered into credit lines with a number
of lease finance companies for the purpose of acquiring computers
and networks equipment in the discontinued School Business. These
lease arrangements bear interest from 10.5% to 18% and have terms
ranging from 24 to 36 months. As of December 31, 2002, the
Company had capital leases with two lessors, representing a total
present value obligation of approximately $756,540, all of which
are to be paid in 2003.
Interest expenses on capital leases which were associated with
the discontinued School Business $4.9 million, $1.8 million and
$409,615 for the three years ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and
2002, out of which $3.8 million, $904,000 and $0, were
attributable to leases with a related party.
c. Future minimum lease payments under capital leases as of
December 31, 2002 were as follows:
U.S DOLLARS
YEAR IN THOUSANDS
----------------------
2003 $ 1,809
2004 1,534
2005 2,039
----------------------
5,382
Less amount representing interest 158
----------------------
Present value of minimum lease payments $ 5,224
======================
NOTE 8:- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
a. Lease commitments:
Certain of the Company's subsidiaries rent their facilities under
various operating lease agreements, which expire on December 31,
2004. The minimum rental payments under non-cancelable operating
leases are as follows:
U.S. DOLLARS
YEAR IN THOUSANDS
---- ----------------------
2003 $84
31
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
2004 13
----------------------
$97
======================
Rent expenses totaled $ 93,000, $ 118,000 and $ 140,000 in 2000,
2001 and 2002, respectively. In addition, in 2002 the Company
rented the facilities of Gilat's affiliates in the amount of
$140,000.
NOTE 8:- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONT.)
b. Commitments with respect to space segment services:
Certain of the Company's subsidiaries obtain space segment
services under various operating lease agreements, which expire
on December 31, 2006. The minimum payments under non-cancelable
operating leases are as follows:
Future minimum payments for space segment services subsequent to
December 31, 2002, are as follows:
U.S. DOLLARS
YEAR IN THOUSANDS
-------------------------
2003 $ 703
2004 687
2005 475
2006 552
-------------------------
$2,417
=========================
Space segment services expense totaled $ 0, $ 1.6 million and $
2.5 million in 2000, 2001 and 2002, respectively.
In addition, the Company received space segment services from
Gilat affiliates in the amount of $0, $1.6 million and $1.7
million in 2000, 2001 and 2002, respectively.
c. Legal claims:
On March 7, 2001, rStar (then known as ZapMe! Corporation)
filed action against a software vendor, ON Technology Corporation
("OTC"), by which rStar alleged that OTC breached a software
license agreement and defrauded rStar concerning the capabilities
of the software. By its complaint, rStar seeks recovery of
approximately $390,000 rStar paid to OTC in connection with the
software, as well as other damages. On or about March 29, 2001,
OTC filed a counterclaim against rStar, alleging that the
principal sum of approximately $308,000 is due from rStar for
additional license fees, maintenance fees, and professional fees
in connection with OTC's software. The Company and its legal
advisor have asserted defenses and intends to defend against the
claim.
32
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 8:- COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONT.)
On or about March 3, 2003, Comerica Bank - California, located in
California, brought an action against us in the Superior Court
for the County of Los Angeles for breach of contract in
connection with an equipment lease agreement. We have agreed in
principal to settlement terms . The settlement is currently being
documented and is expected to include a dismissal with prejudice
of the lawsuit.
In the early part of 2002, a third party issued a letter to
Gilat, claiming that it has rights to a portion of one of our
subsidiaries based upon a document and certain partial payments
made to the third party. The Company rejects the legal bases for
such claims and intends to vigorously defend any action if
brought by the third party, but does intend to seek a mutually
acceptable resolution to this dispute.
d. Guarantees:
Guarantees are contingent commitments issued by the Parent
Company generally of the Company to its customers (usually
government entities) to guarantee the performance of the
installation and operations of the network in sale transactions.
The guarantee regarding installations will expire 70 days
subsequent to the installation. The guarantee regarding
operations will expire proportionally over the contract period.
The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could
be required to make under its guarantees at December 31, 2002 is
$30.8 million.
NOTE 9 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
a. Common stock:
Common stock confers upon their holders voting rights, the right
to receive cash dividends and the right to share in excess assets
upon liquidation of the Company.
b. Exchange offer:
On August 2, 2002 the Company completed an exchange offer, in
connection with the StarBand Latin America acquisition. See Note
1 for further details.
c. Stock option plans:
The Company has a 1998 Stock Plan ("Stock Plan"), as amended in
July 2000,which provides for the granting of stock options or
shares of Common stock to employees, directors and consultants.
Stock options are generally have a term of 10 years. Unvested
options are canceled upon termination of employment, and become
available for future grants. The vesting schedule and other
option terms, subject to certain Stock Plan provisions, are
determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors at the time of issuance. Stock options generally vest
over a period of between three and four years. As of December 31,
2002, the Company reserved 14,900,000 shares of Common stock for
issuance under the Stock Plan. The Stock Plan provides for an
annual increase in the number of shares available for issuance on
the first day of the Company's fiscal year beginning in fiscal
year 2000 equal to the lesser of (i) 2,000,000 shares, (ii)
33
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 9:- SHARHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONT.)
5% of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common stock on
such date, or (iii) such other amount as determined by the Board
of Directors. As of December 31, 2002, there were 10,665,595
shares available for grant under the Stock Plan.
As part of StarBand Latin America acquisition, rStar assumed the
StarBand Latin America (Holland B.V) 2001 long-term incentive
plan and committed to exchange 0.6864 options for each
outstanding option in StarBand. At closing, there were 2,799,079
outstanding options in StarBand, which based on the conversion
ratio would equal 1,921,206 options of rStar. All of the options
are 10-year options and have an exercise price of $0.15 per
share. Of the converted options issued by StarBand, 1,169,850
vested immediately upon issuance with the remainder vesting over
a 4-year period. The Company had accounted for these options
under the fair value method of APB 25 and FIN 44. The fair value
for these options was estimated using a Black-Scholes
option-pricing model. No compensation expenses were recorded due
to immateriality.
In connection with a reduction in force the stock option vesting
period for several terminated executives was extended, resulting
in additional compensation expense in 2000 of $589,000. In 2001,
no stock option vesting period was extended for terminated
employees.
A summary of the status of the plans as of December 31, 2000,
2001 and 2002, and changes during the years ended on those dates,
is presented below:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002
-------------------------- -------------------------- ---------------------------
SHARES WEIGHTED SHARES WEIGHTED SHARES WEIGHTED
AVERAGE AVERAGE AVERAGE
EXERCISE EXERCISE EXERCISE
PRICE PRICE PRICE
------------ ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ -------------
$ $ $
------------- ------------ -------------
Options outstanding at the
beginning of the year
Changes during the year: 4,163,134 $ 5.39 2,500,209 $ 7.79 1,937,529 $ 7.79
Granted 2,389,316 3.09 1,665,913 0.72 20,000 0.40
Starband Latin America
options converted - - - - 1,921,206 0.15
Exercised (425,541) 4.76 (416,137) 0.64 (150,168) 0.21
Forfeited and cancelled (3,626,700) 5.76 (1,812,456) 4.86 (1,941,779) 7.77
------------ ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ -------------
Options outstanding at the
end of the year 2,500,209 $ 7.79 1,937,529 $ 7.79 1,786,788 $ 0.15
============ ============= ============= ============ ============ =============
Options exercisable at the
end of the year 999,982 $ 4.02 875,206 $ 1.73 1,640,419 $ 0.15
============ ============= ============= ============ ============ =============
34
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 9:- SHARHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONT.)
The options outstanding as of December 31, 2002, have been
separated into ranges of exercise price as follows:
WEIGHTED
OPTIONS WEIGHTED OPTIONS AVERAGE
OUTSTANDING AVERAGE WEIGHTED EXERCISABLE EXERCISE
RANGES OF AS OF DECEMBER REMAINING AVERAGE AS OF PRICE OF
EXERCISE 31, CONTRACTUAL EXERCISE DECEMBER 31, EXERCISABLE
PRICE 2002 LIFE PRICE 2002 OPTIONS
---------------- ------------------- -------------- ------------ ---------------- -----------------
(YEARS)
--------------
$0.15 1,766,788 7.53 $0.15 1,620,419 $0.15
$0.40 20,000 9.34 $0.40 20,000 $0.40
------------------- ------------ ---------------- -----------------
1,786,788 $0.15 1,640,419 $0.15
=================== ============ ================ =================
d. Warrants
We had the following warrants outstanding at December 31, 2002 to
purchase shares of stock:
EXERCISE
NUMBER OF PRICE PER EXPRIATION
SHARES SHARE WARRANTS
---------------- ---------------- -------------------
250,000 3.00 May 2003
250,000 3.50 May 2003
100,000 5.00 June 2004
150,000 5.00 December 2003
50,000 5.00 September 2004
----------------
800,000
================
e. 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Our 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP") was adopted by the
Board of Directors in August 1999 and approved by the
stockholders in October 1999. As of December 31, 2002, there were
approximately 1,765,000 shares available for grant under the
ESPP. Eligible employees may purchase Common stock at 85% of the
lower of the fair market value of our Common stock on the first
day or the last day of the applicable six-month offering period
at the date of purchase. In addition, the ESPP provides for
automatic annual increases in the number of shares available for
issuance on the first day of each fiscal year equal to the lowest
of 1,000,000 shares of Common stock, 2% of the outstanding shares
of our Common stock on the first day of the fiscal year, or such
other amount as determined by the Board of Directors. There was
no activity in connection with this plan in 2002.
35
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 9:- SHARHOLDERS' EQUITY (CONT.)
f. Dividends:
In the event that cash dividends are declared in the future, such
dividends will be paid in U.S dollars. The Company does not
intend to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future.
The Company is restricted from paying cash dividends to its
stockholders, until fulfilling the obligation of certain payments
to its minority. See Note 1.
The Company has not recorded a provision regarding distribution
of dividend to the minority in year 2003.
In connection with the StarBand Latin America acquisition (see
Note 1), and as management assessment of the outcome of the
contingency, the Company has recorded a provision of $5M
regarding distribution of dividend to the minority in year 2004.
g. Stock distribution:
In accordance with the StarBand Latin America acquisition, rStar
and Gilat will make certain adjustments to the equity holding as
follows:
If the Company's net income as defined for the period from July
1, 2002 through June 30, 2003 is greater than or equal to $4.1
million but no more than $4.9 million , rStar will be required to
issue 2,685,382 shares of Common stock to Gilat. If the net
income is greater than or equal to $4.9 million the shares will
be increased to 5,370,765.
If the Company's net income as defined for the period from July
1, 2003 through June 30, 2004 is greater than or equal to $27.5
million , but no more than $33.0 million , rStar will be required
to issue 2,685,382 shares of Common stock to Gilat. If the net
income is greater than or equal to $33.0 million the shares will
be increased to 5,370,765.
NOTE 10:- TAXES ON INCOME
a. The Company:
There has been no provision for U.S. Federal, State, or foreign
income taxes for any period as the Company incurred net operating
losses in all periods in all jurisdictions.
b. Non-U.S. subsidiaries:
Non-U.S. subsidiaries are taxed based on tax laws in their
countries of residence.
c. Carryforward tax losses and credits:
36
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 10:- TAXES ON INCOME (CONT.)
As of December 31, 2002, the Company had net operating loss
carry-forwards for federal income tax purposes of approximately
$97.0 million, which expire in the years 2013 through 2022.
Utilization of U.S. net operating losses are subject to
substantial annual limitation due to the "change in ownership"
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and similar state
provisions. The annual limitations may result in the expiration
of net operating losses before utilization.
As of December 31, 2002, the Company's subsidiaries had
carry-forward tax losses in the amount of approximately $ 32.0
million, comprised of $27.0 million related to Peru, and $4.0
million related to Columbia and $1.0 related to other
subsidiaries. The carry-forward amounts expire between 2004 -
2007 and have annual limitations on utilization. The annual
limitations may result in the expiration of net operating losses
before utilization.
d. Deferred income taxes:
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary
differences between the carrying amounts of assets and
liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used
for income tax purposes. Significant components of the Groups'
deferred tax assets are as follows:
DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------------------
2001 2002
----------------- -----------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
-------------------------------------
1. Provided with respect of the following:
Carryforward tax losses $ 51,182 $55,842
Other 1,325 40
----------------- -----------------
Deferred tax assets before valuation allowance 52,507 55,882
Valuation allowance (52,507) (55,610)
----------------- -----------------
Net deferred tax assets $ - $ 272
================= =================
Domestic - -
Foreign - 272
----------------- -----------------
$ - $ 272
================= =================
2. As of December 31, 2002 the Group has increased the
valuation allowance by approximately $ 3.0 million with
respect to deferred tax assets resulting from tax loss
carry-forwards and other temporary differences. Management
currently believes that it is more likely than not that the
deferred tax regarding the loss carry-forwards and other
temporary differences will not be realized in the
foreseeable future.
37
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 10:- TAXES ON INCOME (CONT.)
e. The main reconciling items between the statutory tax rate of
the Company and the effective tax rate are the
non-recognition of tax benefits from accumulated net
operating losses carry-forward and other temporary
differences among the various subsidiaries worldwide due to
the uncertainty of the realization of such tax benefits and
the effect of approved enterprise.
f. Taxes on income included in the statements of operations:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002
--------------- --------------- ---------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
---------------------------------------------------
Provision for income tax benefit:
Current $ - $320 $ (14)
Deferred income taxes - (1,257) (272)
--------------- --------------- ---------------
$ - (937) $(286)
=============== =============== ===============
Domestic $ - $ - $ -
Foreign - (937) (286)
--------------- --------------- ---------------
$ - $ (937) $(286)
=============== =============== ===============
g. Income (loss) before taxes on income, from continuing
operations:
Domestic $ (5,182) $ (9,890) $ (15,992)
Foreign - (3,847) (8,265)
--------------- --------------- ---------------
$ (5,182) $ (13,737) $ (24,257)
=============== =============== ===============
NOTE 11:- RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
a. On April 23, 2001, the Company, Spacenet, and Gilat, a then
51% shareholder of the Company, entered into an agreement
pursuant to which the Company would issue approximately 19.4
million shares of its Common stock to Spacenet (or its
affiliate--assignee) in full satisfaction of the Company's
outstanding obligations to Spacenet amounting to $45.0 million.
On May 21, 2001, the Company issued such shares of its Common
stock to Gilat Satellite Networks (Holland) B.V. The Company
recorded the settlement of the outstanding obligations as a
capital contribution in stockholders' equity.
The Company purchased satellite and other services and previously
leased a majority of the computer equipment deployed for the
discontinued School Business from Spacenet.
38
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 11:- RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (CONT.)
Related party debts are due to Gilat and various Gilat controlled
entities. These amounts include certain liabilities that are not
transferring to rStar and are expected to be eliminated either
through payment with existing cash or upon collection of accounts
receivables or liquidation of other excluded assets. As of the
closing of the StarBand Latin America acquisition, Gilat was not
able to remove certain assets and liabilities from these entities
and as such has left a related party debt equal to such excess
assets. The risks and rewards of these assets and liabilities are
with Gilat and therefore in the event that certain receivables
are not collected or assets are not realized, there will be a
change to amounts due to related parties. It is the intention of
Gilat to re-capitalize or forgive any such debts in excess of
excluded assets.
Prior to the closing in 2001 and 2002, related party debts of
approximately $9.0 million and $12.0 million, respectively were
converted to equity by Gilat. As of the closing there remained
approximately $5.0 million of additional debt that Gilat
committed to convert to equity.
Gilat and its affiliates charged rStar and its subsidiaries for
equipment, space segment, management services and related costs,
during the years ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002 in the
amounts of $0, $29.5 million and $6.5 million, respectively.
b. Notes receivables from stockholders:
In August 1999 a majority of the Board of Directors approved the
issuance of an immediately exercisable option to purchase 300,000
shares of Common stock to one of the Company's directors at an
exercise price of $5.00 per share. The shares were and are
subject to a right of repurchase in favor of the Company, which
will expire at a rate of one third each anniversary date of the
date of grant. In September 1999, the officer exercised the right
to purchase the shares. The Company recorded deferred stock
compensation of approximately $1.8 million, which is being
amortized by a charge to operations over the vesting period of
the stock using a graded vesting method. The Company loaned the
amount necessary to pay for the aggregate purchase price of the
option, which has been collateralized by a full recourse
promissory note. The note has a term of four years and bears an
interest rate of 5.98%. The promissory note is due in September
2003. This promissory note was amended in April 2001 to provide
for the shares to serve as the sole collateral for the loan.
Because the note was not deemed to be impared no charge to
earnings was recorded upon the change in collateral underlying
the loan.
In September 1999, the Company hired a new chief executive
officer. As part of the officer's employment agreement, the
Company granted a right to purchase 1,000,000 shares of Common
stock at an exercise price of $5.00 per share. The shares are
subject to a right of repurchase in favor of the Company, which
will expire at a rate of twenty-five percent on the first
anniversary of the grant date and one forty-eighth of the shares
at the end of each month thereafter. In September
39
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 11:- RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (CONT.)
1999, the officer exercised his purchase right and the Company
recorded deferred stock compensation of approximately $5.0
million, which is being amortized by a charge to operations over
the vesting period of the stock using a graded vesting method.
The Company loaned the amount necessary to pay for the aggregate
purchase price of the restricted stock, collateralized by a full
recourse promissory note. The promissory note, was amended in
September 2000 to provide for the shares to serve as the sole
collateral for the loan, has a payment term of four years and an
interest rate of 5.98%. The promissory note is due in September
2003. Because the note was not deemed to be impared, no charge to
earnings was recorded upon the change in collateral underlying
the loan. In October 2000, the Company terminated its
relationship with the chief executive officer and entered into a
consulting agreement with the officer that provided for a two
year consulting agreement at his then annual base compensation
and agreed to provide an office and secretarial expenses.
Additionally, the Company surrendered its right to repurchase his
restricted shares and canceled his options to purchase the
Company's common stock.
During the year 2002, the Company has recorded an impairment of
these loans because of an other than temporary decline in market
value and has written off the amount of $6.2 million, due to
decline of the fair market value of its shares, which was
recorded in the statement of operations.
c. Other:
The Company recorded revenues totaling $11.2 million for
sponsorship and advertising for the year ended December 31, 2000,
respectively, from affiliates with which it has strategic
business alliances. For revenue recognition purposes a party is
deemed an affiliate if it shares common board members, owns more
than 5% of the Company's stock or is a significant vendor to the
Company. All such revenue from affiliates was attributable to
discontinued operations.
The Company paid Aquatic Innovations, Inc., a company owned by
the Company's former Chief Executive Officer, approximately
$43,000 and $94,000 for office equipment rental and other
expenses incurred on our behalf in 2000 and 2001 respectively.
This financing arrangement, which was approved by the Board in
1999, was concluded in December 2001.
During the year 2001, the Company made additional investments of
$509,000 consisting of cash advances of $320,000, accrued
interest of $15,000, and extended lines of credit of $174,000 to
Ask Dr Tech, Inc., a company in which the Company, and two of its
directors, are preferred shareholders. Due to operational and
financial difficulties of Ask Dr Tech, Inc., the Company wrote
off the 2001 additional investments of $509,000, in addition to
the initial investment of $770,000 made in March 2000. The total
write-off recorded in December 2001 was $1.3 million, of which
$1.1 million was recognized in to the income statement, and
$174,000 was previously provided.
40
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
NOTE 11:- RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (CONT.)
In January 2002, the Company entered into a Settlement Agreement
and Mutual Release with Rick Inatome, the Company's former Chief
Executive Officer, in connection with claims asserted by Mr.
Inatome under his written employment agreement and a written
consulting agreement Mr. Inatome entered into with the Company
upon his resignation as Chief Executive Officer in October 2000.
The agreement provides that Mr. Inatome would receive $182,388
upon execution, plus $275,000 to be paid in twice-monthly
installments commencing January 16, 2002 through and including
January 31, 2003, plus $6,000 monthly for a full-time secretary
and leased office space commencing March 1, 2002 through and
including February 28, 2003. At December 31, 2001 this amount was
accrued in full, which amounted to approximately $530,000. As of
December 31, 2002 $52,000 remained as an obligation.
A director of the Company was paid $220,000 and $120,000 during
the year ended December 31, 2001 and 2002 for consulting services
in connection with the StarBand Acquisition Agreement. The
consulting services began on February 1, 2001, for an initial
term of six months at $20,000 per month, and has continued on a
month to month basis at $20,000 per month thereafter. These
consulting services were terminated on August 2, 2002.
NOTE 12:- SELECTED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA
Financial income (expenses), net:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002
--------------- ---------------- -----------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
----------------------------------------------------
Income:
Interest on cash equivalents and bank
deposits and restricted cash $ 5,259 $ 1,632 $ 792
Interest with respect to capital lease - 122 1,216
Expenses:
Interest with respect to short-term bank
credit, letter of credit costs, trade
payables and other - (377) (1,634)
Interest with respect to capital lease
obligations-continuing operation (526) (450) (411)
Interest with respect to capital lease
obligations-discontinued operation (4,921) (1,803) (409)
Other (mainly translation adjustments) - (1,828) (297)
--------------- ---------------- -----------------
$ (188) $ (2,704) $ (743)
=============== ================ =================
NOTE 13:- CUSTOMERS AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
The Group operates in one business segment - the marketing and
providing of services for very small aperture terminal ("VSAT")
satellite earth stations. See Note 1 for a brief description of
the Company's business. The Group has adopted
41
RSTAR CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIAIRES
SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and
Related Information" ("SFAS No. 131").
1. Revenues by geographic area:
Following is a summary of revenues by geographic area. Revenues
are attributed to geographic area, based on the location of the
end customers, as follows:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002
--------------- ---------------- ----------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
---------------------------------------------------
Peru $ - $24,317 $19,029
Colombia - 17,393 3,313
Brazil - 13,333 3,494
--------------- ---------------- ----------------
$ - $55,043 $25,836
=============== ================ ================
2. Revenues from single customers, which exceed 10% of total
revenues in the reported years, as a percentage of total revenue:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002
--------------- ---------------- ----------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
---------------------------------------------------
Government of Peru $- $15,596 $15,324
=============== ================ ================
StarOne $- $4,470 $3,494
=============== ================ ================
Government of Colombia $- $16,071 $ -
=============== ================ ================
3. The Group's long-lived assets are located in the following
countries:
DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------------------
2001 2002
----------------- -----------------
U.S. DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS
-------------------------------------
Peru $7,632 $6,918
Colombia 3,811 3,341
Brazil 1,809 79
United States 8,679 5,335
-------------------------------------
$21,931 $15,673
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