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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

(Mark One)

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

 

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004

 

OR

 

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

 

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM              TO             

 

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 000-29723

 


 

DIGITAS INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 


 

DELAWARE   04-3494311

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

The Prudential Tower

800 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts

  02199
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: 617-867-1000

 

NA

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year,

if Changed Since Last Report)

 


 

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 whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: as of October 31, 2004 there were 86,783,340 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, outstanding.

 



Table of Contents

DIGITAS INC.

Form 10-Q

Table of Contents

September 30, 2004

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

    

Item 1.

 

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

   3
   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003

   3
   

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003

   4
   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003

   5
   

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

   6

Item 2.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   10

Item 4.

 

Controls and Procedures

   15

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

    

Item 1.

 

Legal Proceedings

   15

Item 6.

 

Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

   16

Signatures

   17

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

DIGITAS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)

(UNAUDITED)

 

     Three Months Ended
September 30,


    Nine Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

Revenue:

                                

Fee revenue

   $ 59,859     $ 52,218     $ 180,584     $ 156,042  

Pass-through revenue

     30,623       25,709       96,008       73,601  
    


 


 


 


Total revenue

     90,482       77,927       276,592       229,643  

Operating expenses:

                                

Professional services costs

     33,393       30,548       103,469       91,523  

Pass-through expenses

     30,623       25,709       96,008       73,601  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     16,664       16,335       51,063       49,459  

Restructuring expenses

     1,220       —         1,220       —    

Stock-based compensation a

     552       1,980       1,434       5,735  

Amortization of intangible assets

     176       176       529       529  
    


 


 


 


Total operating expenses

     82,628       74,748       253,723       220,847  
    


 


 


 


Income from operations

     7,854       3,179       22,869       8,796  

Other income (expense):

                                

Interest income

     324       152       707       537  

Interest expense

     (135 )     (140 )     (405 )     (418 )

Other miscellaneous income, net

     272       6       278       16  
    


 


 


 


Income before provision for income taxes

     8,315       3,197       23,449       8,931  

Provision for income taxes

     130       —         274       189  
    


 


 


 


Net income

   $ 8,185     $ 3,197     $ 23,175     $ 8,742  
    


 


 


 


Net income per share

                                

Basic

   $ 0.12     $ 0.05     $ 0.36     $ 0.14  

Diluted

   $ 0.11     $ 0.05     $ 0.31     $ 0.13  

Weighted-average common shares outstanding

                                

Basic

     66,149       59,712       64,893       60,300  

Diluted

     75,665       69,012       75,862       67,815  

a Stock-based compensation relates to professional services costs and selling, general and administrative expenses as follows: $552 and $0 for the three months ended September 30, 2004; $1,861 and $119 for the three months ended September 30, 2003; $1,434 and $0 for the nine months ended September 30, 2004; and $5,391 and $344 for the nine months ended September 30, 2003; respectively.

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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DIGITAS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)

(UNAUDITED)

 

     September 30,
2004


    December 31,
2003


 

ASSETS

                

Current assets:

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 62,417     $ 53,843  

Short-term investments

     40,000       19,800  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $852 and $962 at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively

     34,984       32,860  

Accounts receivable, unbilled

     14,589       6,851  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     8,367       6,763  
    


 


Total current assets

     160,357       120,117  

Fixed assets, net

     16,689       17,990  

Goodwill, net

     98,130       98,130  

Other intangible assets, net

     176       705  

Other assets

     3,769       3,579  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 279,121     $ 240,521  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

                

Current liabilities:

                

Accounts payable

   $ 15,892     $ 8,698  

Billings in excess of cost and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

     18,983       20,564  

Accrued expenses

     7,724       7,386  

Accrued compensation

     17,946       19,410  

Accrued restructuring

     8,693       9,056  

Current portion of long-term debt

     303       281  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     69,541       65,395  

Long-term debt, less current portion

     52       282  

Accrued restructuring, long-term

     14,089       20,252  

Other long-term liabilities

     490       175  
    


 


Total liabilities

     84,172       86,104  

Shareholders’ equity:

                

Preferred shares, $.01 par value per share; 25,000,000 shares authorized and none issued and outstanding at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003

     —         —    

Common shares, $.01 par value per share, 175,000,000 shares authorized; 66,547,027 and 62,809,518 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, respectively

     665       628  

Additional paid-in capital

     351,946       336,294  

Accumulated deficit

     (157,608 )     (180,783 )

Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment

     (54 )     (28 )

Deferred compensation

     —         (1,694 )
    


 


Total shareholders’ equity

     194,949       154,417  
    


 


Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 279,121     $ 240,521  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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DIGITAS INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(IN THOUSANDS)

(UNAUDITED)

 

    

Nine Months Ended

September 30,


 
     2004

    2003

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                

Net income

   $ 23,175     $ 8,742  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                

Depreciation and amortization

     5,430       7,541  

Stock-based compensation

     1,434       5,735  

Restructuring expenses

     1,220       —    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                

Accounts receivable

     (2,113 )     5,838  

Accounts receivable, unbilled

     (7,739 )     1,248  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (1,599 )     1,355  

Other assets

     (271 )     (1,208 )

Accounts payable

     7,192       (7,097 )

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts

     (1,581 )     (4,948 )

Accrued expenses

     324       1,422  

Accrued compensation

     (1,466 )     (874 )

Accrued restructuring

     (7,746 )     (6,877 )

Other long-term liabilities

     315       (152 )
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     16,575       10,725  

Cash flows from investing activities:

                

Purchases of short-term investments

     (549,753 )     (192,150 )

Proceeds from sales and maturities of short-term investments

     529,553       191,950  

Purchases of fixed assets

     (3,505 )     (1,890 )
    


 


Net cash used in investing activities

     (23,705 )     (2,090 )

Cash flows from financing activities:

                

Principal payments under capital lease obligations

     —         (276 )

Payment of notes payable, tenant allowances

     (208 )     (189 )

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

     15,948       11,410  

Repurchase of common stock, including transaction costs

     —         (25,933 )
    


 


Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     15,740       (14,988 )

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (36 )     (7 )
    


 


Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     8,574       (6,360 )

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     53,843       48,977  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 62,417     $ 42,617  
    


 


Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

                

Cash paid for taxes

   $ 208     $ 30  

Cash paid for interest

     327       342  

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

 

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND CONSOLIDATION

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by Digitas Inc. (the “Company”) in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. They do not include all of the information and footnotes required for complete financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2003 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for that period. The accompanying unaudited financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting solely of normal, recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of results of operations for the interim periods presented. The results for these periods are not necessarily indicative of the results for any future reporting period, including the fiscal year. The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the balance sheet and revenue and expenses for the period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

Monetary assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign branch are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect at period-end and nonmonetary assets and liabilities are remeasured at historical exchange rates. Income and expenses are remeasured at the weighted-average exchange rate for the period. Transaction gains and losses are reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses in the statements of operations.

 

Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. At September 30, 2004, the Company reclassified certain auction rate securities from cash and cash equivalents to short-term investments as of September 30, 2004 and for all prior periods. As of September 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003, the Company held approximately $40.0 million and $19.8 million, respectively, of these auction rate securities, which were reclassified. These reclassifications had no impact on the results of operations of the Company. The following table summarizes the balances as previously reported and as reclassified as of the period ending dates for each of the past seven quarters (dollars in thousands).

 

     As Reported

   As Reclassified

     Cash and Cash
Equivalents


   Cash and Cash
Equivalents


   Short-term
Investments


Jun 30, 2004

   $ 93,794    $ 53,794    $ 40,000

Mar 31, 2004

     80,942      51,142      29,800

Dec 31, 2003

     73,643      53,843      19,800

Sep 30, 2003

     62,667      42,617      20,050

Jun 30, 2003

     52,255      32,205      20,050

Mar 31, 2003

     48,330      28,280      20,050

Dec 31, 2002

     68,827      48,977      19,850

 

2. NET INCOME PER SHARE

 

Basic and diluted earnings per share are computed in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 128, “Earnings per Share.” SFAS No. 128 requires both basic earnings per share, which is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding, and diluted earnings per share, which is based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and all dilutive potential common equivalent shares outstanding. The dilutive effect of options is determined under the treasury stock method using the average market price for the period. Common equivalent shares are included in the per share calculations where the effect of their inclusion would be dilutive.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 the share numbers used in computing diluted earnings per share included the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus 9,516,000 and 9,300,000 dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding, respectively, consisting of stock options and warrants. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 the share numbers used in computing diluted earnings per share included the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus 10,969,000 and 7,515,000 dilutive common equivalent shares outstanding, respectively, consisting of stock options and warrants.

 

As further discussed in Note 9, on October 15, 2004, the Company issued approximately 19.5 million shares in conjunction with completing the acquisition of Modem Media, Inc.

 

3. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion (“APBO”) No. 25 as interpreted by FASB Interpretation No. 44, “Accounting for Certain Transactions Involving Stock Compensation, an Interpretation of APB Opinion No. 25,” (“FIN 44”) and presents the pro forma disclosures required by SFAS No. 123 as amended by SFAS No. 148.

 

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Had compensation costs for the 1998, 1999 and 2000 stock option plans been determined using the fair value method at the grant dates, the effect on the Company’s net income and earnings per share would have been as follows:

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30,


    Nine Months Ended
September 30,


 
     2004

    2003

    2004

    2003

 

Net income, as reported

   $ 8,185     $ 3,197     $ 23,175     $ 8,742  

Plus: Stock-based compensation expense included in reported net income, net of tax

     552       1,980       1,434       5,735  

Less: Stock-based compensation expense under fair value method, net of tax

     (1,723 )     (3,953 )     (6,501 )     (16,305 )
    


 


 


 


Pro forma net income (loss)

   $ 7,014     $ 1,224     $ 18,108     $ (1,828 )
    


 


 


 


Basic net income per share, as reported

   $ 0.12     $ 0.05     $ 0.36     $ 0.14  

Diluted net income per share, as reported

   $ 0.11     $ 0.05     $ 0.31     $ 0.13  

Pro forma basic net income (loss) per share

   $ 0.11     $ 0.02     $ 0.28     $ (0.03 )

Pro forma diluted net income (loss) per share

   $ 0.09     $ 0.02     $ 0.24     $ (0.03 )

 

4. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 

The Company accounts for comprehensive income under SFAS No. 130, “Reporting Comprehensive Income.” Comprehensive income is summarized below (in thousands):

 

    

Three Months Ended

September 30,


   Nine Months Ended
September 30,


     2004

    2003

   2004

    2003

Net income

   $ 8,185     $ 3,197    $ 23,175     $ 8,742

Change in cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment

     (55 )     61      (26 )     106
    


 

  


 

Comprehensive income

   $ 8,130     $ 3,258    $ 23,149     $ 8,848
    


 

  


 

 

5. RESTRUCTURING AND RELATED CHARGES

 

During 2001, the Company recorded restructuring expenses totaling $41.9 million, consisting of $16.7 million for workforce reduction and related costs and $25.2 million for the consolidation of facilities and abandonment of related leasehold improvements. The facilities charge represented an estimate of future obligations under the terms of the leases for identified excess space less anticipated income from subleasing activities. In determining this estimate, management evaluated its potential to sublease its excess space and its ability to renegotiate various leases at more favorable terms and in some instances obtain relief through relocation of office space.

 

During 2002, the Company recorded restructuring expenses totaling $47.1 million, consisting of $3.3 million for workforce reduction and related costs and $43.8 million for the consolidation of facilities and abandonment of related leasehold improvements. These charges were recorded to further align the cost structure with changing market conditions and to update estimates originally made in 2001 for current information for anticipated income from subleasing activities. The change in estimates related to changes in estimated sublease rates and terms. These sublease estimates, which were made in connection with the Company’s real estate advisers, were based on current and projected conditions at the time in the real estate and economic markets in which the Company determined it had excess space.

 

During 2003, the Company reduced the amount of its excess real estate, resulting in the recognition of $4.1 million of restructuring income in the fourth quarter of 2003 related to the reversal of restructuring expense initially recorded in 2001 and 2002. The restructuring expense was reversed because of savings of $7.2 million as compared to the Company’s original estimates. The $7.2 million in savings was offset by revisions in estimates of future sublease rates and terms for remaining leases resulting in an increase in expected future obligations of $3.1 million.

 

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During the three months ended September 30, 2004, the Company recorded restructuring expenses totaling $1.2 million, consisting solely of workforce reduction and related costs. The Company reduced its workforce by approximately 50 people, primarily in its Boston office. This reduction was primarily in response to an announcement in July by AT&T Corp. (“AT&T”) that it would discontinue its marketing of local and long-distance telephone services to consumers.

 

The Company continues to evaluate alternatives and monitor its restructuring accrual on a quarterly basis to reflect new developments and prevailing economic conditions in the real estate markets in which the Company leases office space. These sublease estimates, which were made in consultation with the Company’s real estate advisers, were based on current and projected conditions at the time in the real estate and economic markets in which the Company determined it had excess office space. At September 30, 2004, approximately 60,000 square feet of the approximately 300,000 square feet initially identified as excess office space remained available for sublease.

 

At September 30, 2004, the Company’s restructuring accrual totaled $22.8 million. Of this balance, approximately $0.8 million is related to payments of severance and will be utilized in the fourth quarter of 2004. The remaining $22.0 million is related to remaining real estate obligations net of expected sublease income. The Company believes the restructuring accrual is appropriate and adequate to cover remaining obligations.

 

The following is a summary of restructuring activity since December 31, 2003 (dollars in thousands):

 

    

Accrued
Restructuring

at December 31,
2003


   Restructuring
Expenses
2004


   Utilization
2004


    Accrued
Restructuring
at September 30,
2004


Workforce reduction and related costs

   $ 412    $ 1,220    $ (807 )   $ 825

Consolidation of facilities

     28,896      —        (6,939 )     21,957
    

  

  


 

Total

   $ 29,308    $ 1,220    $ (7,746 )   $ 22,782
    

  

  


 

 

As a result of all restructuring activity, which commenced in the second quarter of 2001, the Company has reduced its workforce by approximately 750 employees across all business functions and regions.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, cash expenditures related to restructuring activities were $2.9 million and $2.7 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, cash expenditures related to restructuring activities were $7.7 million and $6.9 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2004, total remaining cash expenditures related to restructuring activities were $22.8 million. Of that amount, approximately $2.9 million in cash expenditures are expected in the fourth quarter of 2004, and the remaining cash expenditures of approximately $19.9 million, related to real estate rental obligations, over the following eleven years.

 

6. STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM

 

In November 2003, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $20 million of common stock between December 13, 2003 and June 30, 2005 under a common stock repurchase program.

 

In July 2004, the Board of Directors increased the Company’s stock repurchase program from $20 million to $70 million and

 

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extended the term through December 31, 2005.

 

As of September 30, 2004, the Company had not repurchased any shares under this program.

 

7. COMMITMENTS

 

In April 2004, the Company entered into an agreement to lease approximately 200,000 square feet of office space in downtown Boston. The space will serve as the Company’s new headquarters. The lease commences upon the earlier of December 1, 2005 or the date the Company occupies the space. Regardless of when occupancy occurs, the Company is not required to commence rental payments until December 2005. The lease expires in November 2017. Total contractual obligations under the lease are $86.3 million. The Company’s current lease for approximately 275,000 square feet of office space in downtown Boston expires November 30, 2005.

 

8. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The Company is a party to stockholder class action law suits filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Between June 26, 2001 and August 16, 2001, several stockholder class action complaints were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Company, several of its officers and directors, and five underwriters of its initial public offering (the “Offering”). The purported class actions are all brought on behalf of purchasers of the Company’s common stock since March 13, 2000, the date of the Offering. The plaintiffs allege, among other things, that the Company’s prospectus, incorporated in the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, was materially false and misleading because it failed to disclose that the underwriters had engaged in conduct designed to result in undisclosed and excessive underwriters’ compensation in the form of increased brokerage commissions and also that this alleged conduct of the underwriters artificially inflated the Company’s stock price in the period after the Offering. The plaintiffs claimed violations of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission and seek, among other things, damages, statutory compensation and costs of litigation. Effective October 9, 2002, the claims against the Company’s officers and directors were dismissed without prejudice. Effective February 19, 2003, the Section 10(b) claims against the Company were dismissed. The terms of a settlement have been tentatively reached between the plaintiffs in the suits and most of the defendants, including the Company, with respect to the remaining claims. If completed and if then approved by the court, the settlement would dismiss those claims against the Company and is expected to result in no material liability to it. The Company believes that the claims against it are without merit and, if they are not dismissed as part of a settlement, intends to defend them vigorously. Management currently believes that resolving these matters will not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position or its results of operations; however, litigation is inherently uncertain and there can be no assurances as to the ultimate outcome or effect of these actions. In addition, the Company acquired Modem Media Inc. on October 15, 2004. See Note 9 for further discussion.

 

9. SUBSEQUENT EVENT - ACQUISITION OF MODEM MEDIA

 

On July 15, 2004, the Company entered into an agreement with Modem Media, Inc. (“Modem”), a publicly traded interactive marketing strategy and services firm, under which Modem agreed to merge with a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company in a stock-for-stock transaction. The parties agreed to the transaction based on their belief that it would provide added value to their respective shareholders resulting from a combined entity with stronger long-term growth potential due to an increased scope of services, strengthened shared client relationships, a common strategic focus on delivering client value and operating synergies. The transaction closed on October 15, 2004. The acquisition was valued at approximately $170 million. Each outstanding share of Modem common stock was exchanged for .70 shares of the Company’s common stock, and each outstanding option to purchase Modem common stock was assumed by the Company and is exercisable into the Company’s common stock at the same exchange ratio. Modem has approximately 250 employees and has its headquarters in Norwalk, Connecticut. It also operates offices in London and

 

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San Francisco. The Company expects that a restructuring charge of approximately $3 million may be recognized in either the fourth quarter of 2004 or in the first quarter of 2005, due to office consolidations in London and San Francisco. For the year ended December 31, 2003, Modem reported revenue of $61.0 million. Modem will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Digitas Inc.

 

As a result of our acquisition of Modem in October 2004, we assumed reporting obligations for litigation pending against it and its subsidiaries.

 

Modem is a party to stockholder class action law suits filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Beginning in August 2001, several stockholder class action complaints were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Modem, several of its officers and directors, and five underwriters of its initial public offering (the “Modem Offering”). The purported class actions are all brought on behalf of purchasers of Modem’s common stock since the date of the Modem Offering. The plaintiffs allege, among other things, that Modem’s prospectus, incorporated in the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, was materially false and misleading because it failed to disclose that the underwriters had engaged in conduct designed to result in undisclosed and excessive underwriters’ compensation in the form of increased brokerage commissions and also that this alleged conduct of the underwriters artificially inflated Modem’s stock price in the period after the Modem Offering. The plaintiffs claim violations of Sections 11 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission and seek, among other things, damages, statutory compensation and costs of litigation. The terms of a settlement have been tentatively reached between the plaintiffs in the suits and most of the defendants, including Modem. If completed and if then approved by the court, the settlement would dismiss the claims against Modem and the individual defendants and is expected to result in no material liability to the Company. The Company believes that the claims against Modem are without merit and, if they are not dismissed as part of a settlement, intends to defend them vigorously. Management currently believes that resolving these matters will not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position or its results of operations, however, litigation is inherently uncertain and there can be no assurances as to the ultimate outcome or effect of these actions.

 

In August 2001, Modem Media Canada, Inc., a subsidiary of Modem, brought suit against its landlord, City Core Properties, Ltd., in Ontario Supreme Court for breach of an office lease on the basis that the landlord did not complete the building into which Modem Media Canada was to move. Modem Media Canada is claiming approximately $1.2 million in damages. The landlord counter-sued Modem, Modem Media Canada and certain of Modem’s officers and directors for breach of lease and is seeking damages in the amount of approximately $16.0 million. The landlord and his brother were added personally as defendants in the lawsuit. The office space was repossessed by a mortgage holder and has been sold to an unrelated third party. A trial on the matter is scheduled for April 2005. The Company intends to defend against the landlord’s claims vigorously. Management currently believes that resolving these matters will not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position or its results of operations, however, litigation is inherently uncertain and there can be no assurances as to the ultimate outcome or effect of these actions.

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We review and update these estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, the allowance for doubtful accounts, goodwill, stock-based compensation and restructuring, on an ongoing basis. We base our estimates on historical experience, and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Among other things, these estimates form the basis for judgments about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

 

Our critical accounting policies and assumptions have remained substantially unchanged since December 31, 2003. For a detailed discussion of our critical accounting policies and estimates see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Year Ended December 31, 2003, Item 7 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates.”

 

Results of Operations

 

COMPARISON OF THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 AND 2003

 

Revenue. Total revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2004 increased by $12.6 million, or 16%, to $90.5 million from $77.9 million for the same period of 2003. Total fee revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2004 increased by $7.7 million, or 15%, to $59.9 million from $52.2 million for the same period in 2003. Some of our contracts include a discretionary annual bonus provision whereby we earn additional compensation based on our performance as evaluated by our clients. We are typically informed of bonus revenue in the first and second quarters of the fiscal year.

 

We attempt to limit our concentration of credit risk by securing clients with significant assets or liquidity. While we enter into written agreements with our clients, most of these contracts are terminable by the client without penalty on 30 to 90 days written notice. For the three months ended September 30, 2004, our three largest clients accounted for approximately 62% of our fee revenue and our largest client accounted for approximately 24% of our fee revenue. We believe a loss or any significant reduction in the use of our services by any one of our significant clients could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

In July, AT&T announced that it would discontinue its marketing of local and long-distance telephone services to consumers. Digitas’ fee revenue related to those services represented approximately 50% of our total fee revenue from AT&T for the six month period prior to AT&T’s announcement. As a result of AT&T’s decision, AT&T notified us of its intent to terminate our services with respect to the marketing of local and long-distance telephone services to consumers. Under the terms of our agreement, AT&T was required to make continued payments with respect to our services for a period of ninety days from the date of notification even though substantially all of those services had ceased. For the three months ended September 30, 2004, we recognized $3.8 million of fee revenue related to these payments. We continue to provide services to other business units within AT&T. In addition, we also received

 

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$0.6 million of performance bonus revenue from AT&T related to services performed in the first six months of 2004.

 

Excluding the fee revenue from AT&T related to the contract termination provision and the bonus revenue, total fee revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2004 was $55.5 million, an increase of $3.3 million, or 6%, from the three months ended September 30, 2003. Excluding these one-time revenue amounts from AT&T, total revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2004 was $86.1 million, an increase of $8.2 million, or 11%, from the three months ended September 30, 2003. These increases in fee revenue and total revenue are primarily due to an increase in demand for our services from clients other than AT&T.

 

Professional services costs. Professional services costs for the three months ended September 30, 2004 increased by $2.9 million, or 10%, to $33.4 million from $30.5 million in the same period of 2003. Professional services costs represented 56% of fee revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2004 compared to 58% in the three months ended September 30, 2003. The increase in costs was the result of adding headcount to meet the increased demand for our services as compared to 2003. Professional services costs as a percentage of fee revenue decreased due to the increase in demand for our services and the one-time fee revenue from AT&T related to the contract termination provision.

 

Pass-through expenses. Pass-through expenses are reimbursable costs incurred by Digitas on behalf of our clients. Pass-through expenses include payments to vendors for media and production services and postage and travel-related expenses. Pass-through expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2004 increased by $4.9 million, or 19%, to $30.6 million from $25.7 million in the same period of 2003. The increase in pass-through expenses was attributable to increased media programs and production costs for our clients during the three months ended September 30, 2004 as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2003. Pass-through expenses are offset by pass-through revenue.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2004 increased by $0.4 million, or 2%, to $16.7 million from $16.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of fee revenue decreased to 28% in the three months ended September 30, 2004 from 31% in the same period of 2003. That decrease in expenses as a percentage of revenue was a result of the increase in our fee revenue during that period.

 

Restructuring expenses. No restructuring expenses were recorded during the three months ended September 30, 2003. During the three months ended September 30, 2004, we recorded restructuring expenses totaling $1.2 million, consisting solely of workforce reduction and related costs. We reduced our workforce by approximately 50 people, primarily in our Boston office. This reduction was primarily in response to an announcement in July by AT&T that it would discontinue its marketing of local and long-distance telephone services to consumers.

 

We continue to evaluate alternatives and monitor our restructuring accrual on a quarterly basis to reflect new developments and prevailing economic conditions in the real estate markets in which we lease office space. Our sublease estimates, which were made in consultation with our real estate advisers, were based on current and projected conditions at the time in the real estate and economic markets in which we determined we had excess office space. At September 30, 2004, approximately 60,000 square feet of the approximately 300,000 square feet initially identified as excess office space remained available for sublease.

 

At September 30, 2004, our restructuring accrual totaled $22.8 million. Of this balance, approximately $0.8 million is related to payments of severance and will be utilized in the fourth quarter of 2004. The remaining $22.0 million is related to remaining real estate obligations net of expected sublease income. We believe the restructuring accrual is appropriate and adequate to cover remaining obligations.

 

Stock-based compensation. Stock-based compensation for the three months ended September 30, 2004 decreased by $1.4 million, or 72%, to $0.6 million from $2.0 million in the same period of 2003. The decrease is primarily due to a large number

 

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of options becoming fully expensed in the fourth quarter of 2003. We have not granted or repurchased any options nor issued common stock at a price below the estimated fair value subsequent to the initial public offering in March 2000. All remaining stock-based compensation was fully expensed during the third quarter of 2004.

 

Other miscellaneous income, net. During the three months ended September 30, 2004, we recorded approximately $0.3 million of other miscellaneous income. This miscellaneous income is primarily grant income from the state of New York for achieving certain employment levels in that state.

 

COMPARISON OF NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2004 AND 2003

 

Revenue. Total revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 increased by $47.0 million, or 20%, to $276.6 million from $229.6 million for the same period in 2003. Total fee revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 increased by $24.6 million, or 16%, to $180.6 million from $156.0 million for the same period in 2003. Some of our contracts include a discretionary bonus provision whereby we earn additional compensation based on our performance as evaluated by our clients. We are typically informed of bonus revenue in the first and second quarters of the fiscal year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, fee revenue included bonus revenue of $6.0 million and $6.1 million, respectively.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, our three largest clients accounted for approximately 61% of our fee revenue and our largest client accounted for approximately 23% of our fee revenue. We believe that a loss of any one of these significant clients or any significant reduction in the use of our services by a major client could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

In July, AT&T announced that it would discontinue its marketing of local and long-distance telephone services to consumers. Digitas’ fee revenue related to those services represented approximately 50% of our total fee revenue from AT&T for the six month period prior to AT&T’s announcement. As a result of AT&T’s decision, AT&T notified us of its intent to terminate our services with respect to the marketing of local and long-distance telephone services to consumers. Under the terms of our agreement, AT&T was required to make continued payments with respect to our services for a period of ninety days from the date of notification even though substantially all of those services had ceased. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, we recognized $3.8 million of fee revenue related to these payments. We continue to provide services to other business units within AT&T.

 

Excluding the fee revenue from AT&T related to the contract termination provision, total fee revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $176.8 million, an increase of $20.8 million, or 13%, from the nine months ended September 30, 2003. Excluding this one-time revenue from AT&T, total revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $272.8 million, an increase of $43.2 million, or 19%, from the nine months ended September 30, 2003. These increases in fee revenue and total revenue are primarily due to an increase in demand for our services from clients other than AT&T.

 

Professional services costs. Professional services costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 increased by $12.0 million, or 13%, to $103.5 million from $91.5 million in the same period of 2003. Professional services costs represented 57% of fee revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 59% of fee revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2003. The increase in costs was the result of adding headcount to meet the increased demand for our services. Professional services costs as a percentage of fee revenue decreased due to the increase in demand for our services and the one-time fee revenue from AT&T related to the contract termination provision.

 

Pass-through expenses. Pass-through expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 increased by $22.4 million, or 30%, to $96.0 million from $73.6 million in the same period of 2003. The increase in pass-through expenses was attributable to increased media programs and production costs for our clients during the nine months ended September 30, 2004 as compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2003. Pass-through expenses are offset by pass-through revenue.

 

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Selling, general and administrative expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 increased by $1.6 million, or 3%, to $51.1 million from $49.5 million in the same period of 2003. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to 28% of fee revenue in the nine months ended September 30, 2004 from 32% of fee revenue in the same period of 2003. That decrease in expenses as a percentage of fee revenue is due to the increase in fee revenue.

 

Restructuring expenses. No restructuring expenses were recorded during the nine months ended September 30, 2003. During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, we recorded restructuring expenses totaling $1.2 million, consisting solely of workforce reduction and related costs. We reduced our workforce by approximately 50 people, primarily in our Boston office. This reduction was primarily in response to an announcement in July by AT&T that it would discontinue its marketing of local and long-distance telephone services to consumers.

 

Stock-based compensation. Stock-based compensation for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 decreased by $4.3 million, or 75%, to $1.4 million from $5.7 million in the same period of 2003. The decrease is primarily due to a large number of options becoming fully expensed in the fourth quarter of 2003. We have not granted or repurchased any options nor issued common stock at a price below the estimated fair value subsequent to the initial public offering in March 2000. All remaining deferred stock-based compensation was fully expensed during the third quarter of 2004.

 

Other miscellaneous income, net. During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, we recorded approximately $0.3 million of other miscellaneous income. This miscellaneous income is primarily grant income from the state of New York for achieving certain employment levels in that state.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We fund our operations primarily through cash generated from operations and proceeds from the exercise of stock options.

 

Cash and cash equivalents increased from $53.8 million at December 31, 2003 to $62.4 million at September 30, 2004. Cash provided by operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $16.6 million. Cash provided by operations was primarily net income for the period plus noncash expenses including depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation, plus the increase in accounts payable related to the increase in pass-through expenses and the timing of when invoices were received, offset by payments for restructuring activities and executive bonuses. During the nine months ended September 30, 2004, we paid executive bonuses totaling $10.8 million and restructuring costs totaling $7.7 million. Cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $23.7 million. We invested $20.2 million, net, in short-term investments and made $3.5 million of capital expenditures relating primarily to computer equipment purchases. Cash provided by financing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 was $15.7 million, consisting primarily of proceeds from the issuance of approximately 3.7 million shares of common stock through the exercise of employee stock options and through the employee stock purchase plan.

 

At September 30, 2004, we had no borrowings under our revolving credit facility and approximately $11.6 million outstanding under standby letters of credit, leaving approximately $8.4 million available for future borrowings.

 

We continue to evaluate our alternatives and monitor our restructuring accrual on a quarterly basis to reflect new developments and prevailing economic conditions in the real estate markets in which we lease office space. At September 30, 2004, approximately 60,000 square feet of the approximately 300,000 square feet initially identified as excess office space remained available for sublease. For the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, cash expenditures related to restructuring activities were $7.7 million and $6.9 million, respectively. As of September 30, 2004, total remaining cash expenditures related to restructuring activities were $22.8 million. Of that amount, approximately $2.9 million in cash expenditures are expected in the fourth quarter of 2004, and the remaining cash expenditures of

 

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approximately $19.9 million, related to real estate rental obligations, over the following eleven years.

 

The following table summarizes our contractual cash commitments as of September 30, 2004. (Note: interest expense is included in payments due by period where applicable.)

 

     Payments Due by Period (in millions)

 
     Total

    2004

    2005 -
2006


   

2007-

2008


    2009 and
thereafter


 

Notes payable, tenant allowances

   $ 0.4     $ 0.1     $ 0.3     $ —       $ —    

Operating leases

     172.5       5.6       39.4       32.3       95.2  
    


 


 


 


 


Total gross obligations

   $ 172.9     $ 5.7     $ 39.7     $ 32.3     $ 95.2  
    


 


 


 


 


Non-cancelable sublease income

     (18.1 )     (1.0 )     (6.5 )     (4.7 )     (5.9 )
    


 


 


 


 


Total net obligations

   $ 154.8     $ 4.7     $ 33.2     $ 27.6     $ 89.3  
    


 


 


 


 


 

As of September 30, 2004, all minimum sublease income due in the future under non-cancelable subleases is related to restructured facilities.

 

In April 2004, we entered into an agreement to lease approximately 200,000 square feet of office space in downtown Boston. The space will serve as the Company’s new headquarters. The lease commences upon the earlier of December 1, 2005 or the date we occupy the space. Regardless of when occupancy occurs, we are not required to commence rental payments until December 2005. The lease expires in November 2017. Total contractual obligations under the lease are $86.3 million, which are included in the table above. Our current lease for approximately 275,000 square feet of office space in downtown Boston expires November 30, 2005.

 

Effective October 15, 2004, we acquired Modem Media, Inc. (“Modem”), a publicly traded interactive marketing strategy and services firm, in a stock-for-stock transaction. The acquisition was valued at approximately $170 million. Each outstanding share of Modem common stock was exchanged for .70 shares of Digitas common stock, and each outstanding option to purchase Modem common stock was assumed by Digitas and is exercisable into Digitas common stock at the same exchange ratio. Modem has approximately 250 employees and has its headquarters in Norwalk, Connecticut. It also operates offices in London and San Francisco. We expect that a restructuring charge of approximately $3 million may be recognized in either the fourth quarter of 2004 or in the first quarter of 2005, due to office consolidations in London and San Francisco. Modem will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Digitas Inc. Associated with the acquisition, we expect to make payments of approximately $10-$12 million during the fourth quarter of 2004.

 

We expect that at current revenue projections, we will continue to generate cash from operations. We believe that cash from operations combined with current cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and funds available under the credit facility will be sufficient to meet our working capital and capital expenditure requirements for at least the next twelve months.

 

Forward-looking Statements

 

Statements contained in this Form 10-Q may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. In some instances, you can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” and other terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, any statements contained herein regarding expectations with respect to our future revenues, profitability, expenses or our restructuring of real estate are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in those forward-looking statements. Those factors include, without limitation, demand for our services (including the willingness and ability of our clients to maintain or expand their spending), overall economic and business conditions, our ability to sublease or renegotiate terms for our excess office space

 

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in the anticipated time frame, the ability of our sublease tenants to meet their obligations to us, resolution of ongoing litigation in which we are involved, continued uncertainty regarding an economic recovery, budgetary and spending decisions by our client base, ability to manage costs at anticipated levels, competitive factors in the market, our ability to effectively manage our size and our client relationships and our ability to effectively integrate the business of Modem Media, Inc. without excessive unanticipated costs and to achieve the anticipated benefits of the acquisition, among other factors. A further review of the risks and uncertainties potentially impacting our future performance can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As required by Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. In designing and evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures, we and our management recognize that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and our management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating and implementing possible controls and procedures. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer have concluded that they believe that as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were reasonably effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. In connection with the new rules, we will continue to review and document our disclosure controls and procedures, including our internal controls and procedures for financial reporting, on an ongoing basis, and may from time to time make changes aimed at enhancing their effectiveness and to ensure that our systems evolve with our business.

 

(b) Change in Internal Controls

 

None.

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

The Company is a party to stockholder class action law suits filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Between June 26, 2001 and August 16, 2001, several stockholder class action complaints were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Company, several of its officers and directors, and five underwriters of its initial public offering (the “Offering”). The purported class actions are all brought on behalf of purchasers of the Company’s common stock since March 13, 2000, the date of the Offering. The plaintiffs allege, among other things, that the Company’s prospectus, incorporated in the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, was materially false and misleading because it failed to disclose that the underwriters had engaged in conduct designed to result in undisclosed and excessive underwriters’ compensation in the form of increased brokerage commissions and also that this alleged conduct of the underwriters artificially inflated the Company’s stock price in the period after the Offering. The plaintiffs claimed violations of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission and seek, among other things, damages, statutory compensation and costs of litigation. Effective October 9, 2002, the claims against the Company’s officers and directors were dismissed without prejudice. Effective February 19, 2003, the Section 10(b)

 

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claim against the Company was dismissed. The terms of a settlement have been tentatively reached between the plaintiffs in the suits and most of the defendants, including the Company, with respect to the remaining claims. If completed and if then approved by the court, the settlement would dismiss those claims against the Company and is expected to result in no material liability to it. The Company believes that the claims against it are without merit and, if they are not dismissed as part of a settlement, intends to defend them vigorously. Management currently believes that resolving these matters will not have a material adverse impact on the Company’s financial position or its results of operations, however, litigation is inherently uncertain and there can be no assurances as to the ultimate outcome or effect of these actions.

 

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 

(a)   Exhibits
    31.1   Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
    31.2   Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
    32.1   Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(b)   Reports on Form 8-K
   

Current Report on Form 8-K, filed September 27, 2004, announcing a recommendation by Institutional Shareholder Services that investors in Modem Media, Inc. vote in favor of its proposed merger with the Company.

 

Current Report on Form 8-K, filed August 13, 2004, furnishing the Digitas Inc. press release dated August 12, 2004.

 

Current Report on Form 8-K, filed August 3, 2004, announcing that the merger with Modem Media, Inc. was approved by the Federal Trade Commission.

 

Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 15, 2004, announcing a merger agreement under which Digitas will acquire Modem Media, Inc.

 

Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 15, 2004, furnishing the Digitas Inc. press release dated July 15, 2004.

 

Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 1, 2004, announcing the appointment of Laura Lang to the position of President, Digitas Inc.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

   

DIGITAS INC.

Date: November 5, 2004

 

/s/ David W. Kenny


   

David W. Kenny

   

Director, Chairman and

Chief Executive Officer

Date: November 5, 2004

 

/s/ Jeffrey J. Cote


   

Jeffrey J. Cote

   

Chief Financial and Administrative Officer

 

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