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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998
or
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________ to ___________
Commission File Number 000-24289
ASYMETRIX LEARNING SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 91-1276003
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
110-110th Avenue NE, Bellevue, Washington 98004
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(425) 462-0501
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
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. [ ]
The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the
registrant as of March 15, 1999 was $26,333,700.
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock as of March
15, 1999 was 13,988,057.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement to be delivered to shareholders in
connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 25, 1999 are
incorporated by reference into Part III.
ASYMETRIX LEARNING SYSTEMS, INC.
FORM 10-K
FOR THE YEAR ENDED December 31, 1998
INDEX
PART I
Item 1. Business............................................................. 4
Item 2. Properties........................................................... 11
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.................................................... 12
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.................. 12
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters. 13
Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data................................. 14
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and
Financial Condition.................................................. 15
Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk........... 29
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.......................... 30
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosures................................................ 31
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant................... 32
Item 11. Executive Compensation............................................... 32
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management....... 32
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions....................... 32
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K...... 32
Signatures..................................................................... 35
PART I
Except for historical information, this Annual Report contains forward-
looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-
looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, among other
things, statements regarding Asymetrix's anticipated costs and expenses, revenue
mix and plans for addressing Year 2000 issues. Such forward-looking statements
include, among others, those statements including the words "expects,"
"anticipates," "intends," "believes" and similar language. Asymetrix's actual
results may differ significantly from those projected in the forward-looking
statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include,
but are not limited to, those discussed in the section "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Factors That May
Affect Future Results of Operations." You should carefully review the risks
described in other documents Asymetrix files from time to time with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
that Asymetrix will file in 1999. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this
Annual Report on Form 10-K. Asymetrix undertakes no obligation to publicly
release any revisions to the forward-looking statements or reflect events or
circumstances after the date of this document.
Item 1. Business
History.
Asymetrix Learning Systems, Inc. ("Asymetrix") provides a single source
online learning solution that includes both a technology platform for online
learning and related professional services that enable customers to create,
distribute and manage learning applications throughout an enterprise. Asymetrix
believes that by providing a single source solution, it is well positioned to be
the leading provider of online enterprise learning products and services.
Asymetrix was incorporated in the State of Washington in 1984. Prior to
focusing on the online learning market, Asymetrix developed and marketed a wide
range of software products. As a result of Asymetrix's decision to focus on
online learning, between October 1996 and July 1998, Asymetrix divested several
product lines and made a number of acquisitions to strengthen its position in
the market. Asymetrix also focused its research and development efforts on
products for online learning and began developing a professional services
organization through internal growth and acquisition.
During 1997 and 1998 Asymetrix completed a number of acquisitions,
including the following:
. Aimtech Corporation, a developer of tools for the creation of computer
based training and web development tools based in Nashua, New Hampshire
. Oakes Interactive Incorporated, a professional services company located
in Needham, Massachusetts focused on the development of custom online
learning applications
. Acorn Associates Incorporated, a consulting firm located in Needham,
Massachusetts focused on online learning and corporate training
. TopShelf Multimedia, Inc., a reseller of online learning titles located
in Needham, Massachusetts
. Graham-Wright Interactive, Inc., a professional services company located
in Atlanta, Georgia
. Communication Strategies, Inc., a professional services company located
in Fort Worth, Texas
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. Strategic Systems Associates, Inc., a professional services company
located in the Chicago area
. Meliora Systems, Inc., a developer of tools for the online management of
traditional training activities and skills assessment located in
Rochester, New York
The integration of these acquired companies is an ongoing process and was
substantially completed as of the end of 1998.
In connection with its initial public offering in June 1998, Asymetrix
reincorporated as a Delaware corporation through a merger with a Delaware
subsidiary.
Products and Services.
Asymetrix's business strategy is to offer a solutions-based approach to
online enterprise learning. Asymetrix provides its customers with needs analysis
and consulting, online learning authoring and management products, custom
content development, off-the-shelf content, and learning systems integration
services. Online learning enables organizations to maximize access to learning
materials, minimize cost of deployment, easily keep learning content current,
and track and measure learning effectiveness. Asymetrix's online learning
products support open standards and Internet protocols, including TCP/IP, Java,
HTML, and ActiveX, and Asymetrix's approach is structured to allow the customer
maximum flexibility in implementing an online learning solution. The Asymetrix
solution includes the following products and professional services.
Asymetrix Products.
Asymetrix Librarian. Asymetrix Librarian is a server-based learning
management system designed to allow enterprises of all sizes to centralize
management of their learning activities. Librarian manages users, lessons and
scores from both online and instructor-led training, and includes built-in
support for collaboration. Librarian is able to deploy and manage a wide range
of learning content, and enables administrators to monitor usage and assess the
effectiveness of learning applications by providing feedback to both learners
and instructors on learner progress. Librarian is based on Internet standards,
including HTML, Java and TCP/IP. It is available on Windows NT and Solaris UNIX
and can connect to databases that comply with the open database connectivity
("ODBC") standard. Librarian installations are priced based on the number of
servers on which Librarian will be installed and the number of individual
users on which data will be maintained. The list price for a single Librarian
server is $3,000 and the price per individual user varies from $20 to $50
depending on the number of users. Librarian is also offered in a single server,
unlimited user format at a list price of $50,000.
Asymetrix Ingenium. Asymetrix Ingenium is a skills-based training
management system designed to automate instructor-led training, logistics and
tracking of individual and group competencies and skills, and was originally
offered by Meliora Systems, Inc. ("Meliora"). Ingenium offers tools to help
organizations maximize their return on investment such as the Qualified Employee
Finder tool, which searches for employees who have a particular set of skills,
and the Organizational Health tool, which measures skills and skill deficiencies
at an organizational level. Asymetrix intends to integrate Ingenium with its
Librarian learning management system to create a comprehensive learning
management solution for both online and instructor-led training. Ingenium is a
client-server implementation and is priced by the number of concurrent
users for each copy of Ingenium. The list price for an Ingenium implementation
varies from $16,995 for up to five concurrent users, to $94,995 for up to 100
concurrent users. Pricing for larger implementations is negotiated on a case by
case basis. A number of add-on products are available to extend the
functionality of Ingenium, including Ingenium Web Connect which
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permits Ingenium to be used over the Internet or a corporate intranet through a
Web browser. Pricing for Ingenium Web Connect varies depending on the number
employees permitted to use the product, with list prices from $9,495 for up to
1,000 users to $39,495 for up to 15,000 users. Pricing for larger numbers of
users is negotiated on a case by case basis.
ToolBook II Instructor. ToolBook II Instructor is a multimedia
development system for creating sophisticated online learning applications. With
ToolBook II Instructor, authors can create online learning applications in the
standard Microsoft Windows environment. ToolBook II applications can be
delivered in the ToolBook II runtime on the Windows platform, or in HTML and
Java format over the Internet or an intranet. Interactive question objects and
other objects designed explicitly for online learning provide the interactivity
that is required for effective learning. ToolBook II Instructor is easy to use
and includes the powerful OpenScript scripting language that allows courseware
developers instructional design flexibility. The list price for ToolBook II
Instructor is $2,495.
ToolBook II Assistant. ToolBook II Assistant is an easy-to-use online
learning authoring product, designed for content experts rather than
professional application developers. ToolBook II Assistant automates much of the
process of developing online learning applications, through the use of a large
catalog of ready-made objects and templates to help authors become immediately
productive. The ToolBook II Assistant catalog and interface can be modified
using ToolBook II Instructor to create a product that is customized for a
particular organization, look and feel, or instructional design. The list price
for ToolBook II Assistant is $1,095.
Content Creation Tools. These products consist of Asymetrix Digital Video
Producer and Asymetrix Web 3D. Asymetrix Digital Video Producer is an easy-to-
use product for capturing, assembling, and editing digital video. Its drag-and-
drop interface and intuitive timeline enable even novice users to assemble
video, audio, and animation clips for multimedia projects, presentations,
training and many other uses. The list price of Digital Video Producer is $195.
Asymetrix Web 3D is an easy-to-use, inexpensive tool for creating web-based 3D
content, including graphics, bullets, animation and web pages. The list price
for Asymetrix Web 3D is $129.
Standard Learning Content Products. Asymetrix also offers a number of
standard online learning content titles from third party publishers. The current
catalog of standard online learning titles includes over 100 applications
covering subjects such as conflict resolution, business finance, and supervisory
development. Standard learning content products sold by Asymetrix are generally
learning titles that any organization can use as part of its overall training
strategy. The list prices for these content titles varies depending on the title
and the number of licensed users.
Asymetrix Services.
Custom Applications Development. Asymetrix's award-winning development
services group offers a full range of customized services for the design and
production of online learning and performance support applications. The custom
development staff includes experienced professionals with a wide spectrum of
development skills, including needs assessment, content and audience analysis,
instructional design, graphic and animation development, OpenScript, Java and
C++ programming, application localization, testing, and deployment support. The
custom development group also offers additional strategies such as instructor-
led training, job aids, documentation, and user manuals to reinforce the online
learning experience.
Consulting. Asymetrix offers a broad range of consulting services
related to its customers learning needs. Consulting activities include
performance assessments, training needs, technical capabilities, organizational
development, and training program development, including corporate and
6
virtual universities, and consulting with respect to specific projects. The
consulting organization also provides seminars in learning theory and
integrative learning, trends in knowledge management, needs and performance
analysis, project management and technology-based learning for public and
private groups.
Systems Integration. Asymetrix provides the services necessary to set up
and integrate Asymetrix Librarian and its other online learning products with
its customers' network environments. Systems integration services include
product installation; design of user profiles, lesson structures, organizational
structures, user interface customizations; integration with databases, email and
web servers; and installation of courses, implementation of self-registration
mechanism, template building, client administration, and student orientation.
Training Services. Asymetrix offers training that helps organizations
become more self-reliant in the area of online learning. Training includes
courses in the use of Asymetrix's online learning products and multimedia
design. Asymetrix has training centers at its offices in Bellevue, Washington;
Needham Massachusetts; Fort Worth, Texas; and Des Plaines, Illinois. Training is
also available through authorized training partners throughout the United States
and Canada.
Technical Support and Maintenance. Asymetrix offers a variety of optional
technical support and maintenance packages for its software products. Generally
such packages include access to support engineers and technical information,
software maintenance releases and upgrades of existing products if made
available.
Customers
Asymetrix provides its products and services to customers across a
broad range of industries including financial services, accounting, health care,
insurance, computer hardware and software, manufacturing, networking,
telecommunications, government and education. The following is a partial list
of customers that purchased products or services from Asymetrix in 1998:
Financial Services/Insurance Technology/Telecommunications
- ----------------------------- -----------------------------
Arthur Andersen Dictaphone
Chase Manhattan EDS
Ernst & Young GTE
First USA Hewlett-Packard
MetLife Lucent
New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) MCI WorldCom.
PaineWebber Microsoft
PriceWaterhouseCoopers Nortel Networks
Prudential
Manufacturing/Other Government/Education
- ----------------------------- -----------------------------
American Airlines California State University
Boeing Duke University
Buckman Laboratories U.S. Air Force
Duracell U.S. Department of Energy
Liz Claiborne Washington State University
No single customer accounted for 10% or more of Asymetrix's total
consolidated revenues in any of the last three fiscal years.
7
Competition
The online learning market is highly fragmented and very competitive, and
no single competitor holds a dominant market share. Because there are no
significant barriers to entry in its market, Asymetrix expects a number of new
competitors to enter this market in the future. Asymetrix's online learning
authoring products face competition from developers of multimedia authoring
tools, its learning management systems face competition from vendors of other
management systems, including those offered by vendors of learning content such
as CBT Systems and NETg, and its professional services business faces
competition from many small, regional online learning and technology-based
training services businesses as well as large professional consulting firms and
in-house training departments. Asymetrix believes there currently is no single
competitor that offers a comprehensive online learning solution of authoring
products, learning management systems, and professional services, and that its
complete solution provides it with a competitive advantage.
Asymetrix believes that the principal competitive factors affecting the
market for online enterprise learning include product features such as
adaptability, scalability, ability to integrate with other technology-based
training products; the scope and quality of professional services offered, and
the expertise and technical knowledge of employees; the functionality, ease of
use, quality and performance of online learning solutions; pricing; customer
service and support; the effectiveness of sales and marketing efforts; and
company reputation. Although Asymetrix believes that its solution currently
competes favorably with respect to all these factors, Asymetrix may not be able
to maintain its competitive position against current and potential competitors,
especially those with significantly greater financial, marketing, technical and
other resources. Several of Asymetrix's competitors have longer operating
histories and significantly greater financial, technical, marketing and other
resources than Asymetrix, and several large companies have announced an
intention to enter the online learning market. These companies may be able to
respond more quickly than Asymetrix to new or changing opportunities,
technologies, standards or customer requirements. In addition, if such
competitors were to offer a complete online learning solution, Asymetrix's
competitive position could be adversely affected.
Sales and Marketing
Asymetrix markets its products and professional services primarily through
its direct sales force. As of December 31, 1998, Asymetrix's sales, marketing
and support organizations consisted of 79 employees based at its corporate
headquarters in Bellevue, Washington and at its other offices in California,
Georgia, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Virginia
and the United Kingdom. The direct sales organization includes a telesales force
that handles smaller orders and assists with lead generation. The direct sales
organization also includes engineers who answer technical questions and assist
customers with product installation implementation. The Asymetrix direct sales
force accounted for 53%, 51% and 83% of total revenue in 1996, 1997 and 1998,
respectively, reflecting the shift in Asymetrix's sales and distribution
strategy to primarily a direct sales approach.
International revenue accounted for 30%, 29% and 10% of Asymetrix's total
revenue for 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. Asymetrix believes that the
online enterprise learning market has not yet developed significantly outside
the United States. Therefore, Asymetrix presently intends to continue to focus
primarily on the United States, as well as the United Kingdom and a limited
number of other foreign markets. As a result, Asymetrix anticipates that its
international revenue may be a smaller percentage of total revenue in the
future.
8
Asymetrix conducts a variety of marketing programs to promote its products
and services, including direct mail, advertising, seminars, trade shows, public
relations and distribution of product literature. Asymetrix and Lakewood
Publications, the publisher of Training magazine, jointly sponsor an annual
online learning conference. The first such conference, named "Online Learning
`98" was held in Anaheim in September 1998. "Online Learning `99" will be held
in Los Angeles in October 1999. Asymetrix also participates as an exhibitor and
speaker at technology-based training trade shows, and maintains a Web site
where potential customers can obtain information about Asymetrix and its
products and services.
During 1999, Asymetrix will focus its marketing efforts on the following
customer training application areas:
. Training on custom information technology applications, such as custom
SAP implementations, which vary significantly from customer to customer,
or information technology systems developed within a customer's IT
department.
. New product and sales readiness training, to enable customers to train
their sales forces rapidly and effectively on new product sales and to
provide a mechanism to monitor the effectiveness of that training.
. Customer service and support call centers, where there is significant
turnover of personnel and often a wide variety of products on which call
center employees must have current knowledge.
. Government skill training, to enable government agencies to
keep their employees' skills current cost-effectively.
Technology, Research and Development
Asymetrix believes that its long-standing focus on research has attracted
qualified engineering and other technical personnel and has contributed to its
core technology capabilities. Asymetrix has three primary research and
development groups located in Bellevue, Washington; Rochester, New York; and
Nashua, New Hampshire. Research and development expenses were $12.4 million,
$8.4 million and $6.1 million in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively and
represented 67%, 33% and 18% of total revenue for those respective periods.
Asymetrix expects to continue to commit significant resources to research and
development in the future, although it anticipates that research and development
expenses in the near term will not be at the same levels as in 1996, when
Asymetrix was investing in the Infomodelers and SuperCede product lines, which
have since been divested.
Key Features of Asymetrix's technology platform include:
. Open Learning Management Platform. Asymetrix's Librarian learning
management system is based on an open architecture. A key element of
this open architecture is a communications protocol, known as OLX, which
is designed to facilitate communications between Librarian and learning
applications. The OLX protocol is a published, specified interface that
enables organizations to integrate learning applications authored from a
variety of sources and that accelerates Asymetrix's ability to
incorporate emerging technologies into its platform.
. Support of Open Internet Standards. Asymetrix's development efforts
support open and de facto standards including HTML, DHTML, Java,
ActiveX, AICC, Netscape and Microsoft browsers and streaming
technologies. This focus, together with Asymetrix's experience with
9
rapidly changing technologies such as multimedia management, facilitates
the incorporation of internally or externally developed advanced
technologies.
. Scalable Authoring. Asymetrix's ToolBook II authoring products
incorporate an object-oriented core code base and user interface
technology that provide the power and flexibility required by
professional developers, as well as the ease of use needed to support
training professionals who have little or no computer programming or
authoring experience. Using Asymetrix's objected-oriented scripting
language known as OpenScript, custom templates and objects can be
created in ToolBook II Instructor and exported to ToolBook II Assistant.
Learning applications created in ToolBook II Assistant can be modified
or enhanced in ToolBook II Instructor.
. Enterprise-Class Architecture. The technologies incorporated in
Librarian support integrated management solutions that are designed to
scale from one server to multiple servers while maintaining centralized
administration, and support a large number of concurrent users.
Librarian also provides for an adaptable hierarchical organizational
structure that can mirror the many organizational structures within an
enterprise, controlled access to administrative functions and other
advanced security features such as encryption and authentication
features, and supports emerging Internet collaborative learning
applications.
Asymetrix's success will depend on its ability to continue to enhance its
current product line and to develop and introduce new products or offer new
services that keep pace with competitive product and service offerings, new
technologies and industry standards, and diverse and changing customer
requirements. Although Asymetrix believes it is well positioned to do so, it may
not be able to develop and market new future products or services on a timely
and cost effective basis. In the past, Asymetrix has experienced delays in the
development, introduction and marketing of new products and services, and may
experience similar delays in the future. In addition, Asymetrix's business could
be adversely affected if it is unable to respond to technological changes in a
timely and cost-effective manner.
Proprietary Rights
Asymetrix relies on a combination of copyrights, trademarks, trade secret
laws, restrictions on disclosure and other methods to protect its intellectual
property and trade secrets. Asymetrix also enters into confidentiality
agreements with its employees and consultants, and controls access to its
proprietary information. Despite these precautions, it may be possible for
unauthorized parties to copy or otherwise obtain or use Asymetrix's intellectual
property or trade secrets without authorization. In addition, other companies
may independently develop equivalent technology or intellectual property. The
misappropriation or infringement of its technology could have a significant
negative impact on Asymetrix's business. In the future, Asymetrix may become
involved in litigation related to its own intellectual property or the
intellectual property of others, which could result in substantial costs and
diversion of management and technical resources, either of which could have a
significant negative impact on Asymetrix's business.
Asymetrix also licenses technology from others for use in some of its
products, and may continue to do so in the future. In these license agreements,
the licensors have generally agreed to assume all liability for any claim that
their technology infringes any patent or other proprietary right. Nevertheless,
any litigation or dispute related to licensed technology could result in an
injunction on Asymetrix's continued use of the technology or in royalty
obligations for which the licensor has not agreed to assume liability or for
which the licensor does not have adequate resources to cover the liability it
agreed to assume. In such a situation, Asymetrix might not be able to obtain a
license to the technology at issue or to other similar technology on
commercially reasonable terms or at all. The inability to obtain or continue
10
to use licensed technology could result in product delays or reduced
functionality of existing products, and could have a significant negative effect
on Asymetrix's business.
Asymetrix uses the following trademarks or registered trademarks in the
conduct of its business: Asymetrix, Asymetrix Digital Video Producer,
IconAuthor, OpenScript and ToolBook are registered trademarks, and Librarian,
ToolBook II Assistant, ToolBook II Instructor, Ingenium, iLearnToday.com, Neuron
and Web 3D are trademarks.
Employees
As of December 31, 1998, Asymetrix had 317 full-time employees, including
57 in research and development, 79 in sales, marketing and support, 137 in
professional services and technical support and 44 in administration. Asymetrix
has never had a work stoppage and none of its employees are represented under
collective bargaining agreements. Asymetrix considers its relations with its
employees to be good. Asymetrix believes that its future success will depend in
part on its continued ability to attract, integrate, retain and motivate highly
qualified sales, technical, professional services and managerial personnel.
Competition for qualified personnel is intense, and Asymetrix may not be
successful in attracting, integrating, retaining and motivating a sufficient
numbers of qualified personnel.
Item 2. Properties.
Asymetrix does not own any of the physical properties where it conducts its
business. Asymetrix's primary business is conducted in the following leased
office space:
. Bellevue, Washington: approximately 35,293 square feet of leased office
space, expiring in October 2003, which is Asymetrix's principal
administrative, sales, marketing and research and development facility.
. Rochester, New York: approximately 6,392 square feet of leased office
space, expiring in February, 2000, which is the primary facility for
Ingenium research and development and related sales and administration.
. Nashua, New Hampshire: approximately 6,749 square feet of leased office
space, expiring in December, 2000, which is primarily a research and
development facility.
. Needham, Massachusetts: approximately 19,960 square feet of leased
office space, expiring in September 2001, which is primarily a
professional services facility.
. Fort Worth, Texas: approximately 11,500 square feet of leased office
space, expiring in May 2003, which is primarily a professional services
facility.
. Des Plaines, Illinois: approximately 5,005 square feet of leased office
space, expiring in February 2002, which is primarily a professional
services facility.
. Atlanta, Georgia: approximately 6,870 square feet of leased office
space, expiring in May, 1999, which is primarily a professional services
facility.
Asymetrix believes that its current facilities will be adequate to meet its
needs, or that alternate leased space will be available to meet its needs, for
the foreseeable future. Asymetrix also maintains offices in
11
California, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio,
Virginia and London, England.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
From time to time, Asymetrix is involved in legal proceedings and
litigation arising in the ordinary course of its business. As of March 15, 1999,
Asymetrix is not a party to any litigation or other legal proceeding that, in
the opinion of management, could have a material adverse effect on its business,
operating results and financial condition, except as described below.
Richard B. Grant v. Asymetrix Corporation, No. CV-96-3635 HLH, Central
District of California. On May 21, 1996, Richard B. Grant filed a complaint
alleging that Asymetrix's ToolBook and Multimedia ToolBook products infringe a
patent owned by him and seeking unspecified damages. Asymetrix has received an
opinion from its patent counsel that the products do not infringe this patent
and that the patent is invalid. This action is still in the discovery stage, and
it is not yet possible to assess the likelihood of its outcome. An adverse
outcome in this litigation could have a material adverse effect on Asymetrix's
business, operating results and financial condition.
Although management believes that Asymetrix does not infringe this patent
and that the patent is invalid, and although Asymetrix intends to defend this
action vigorously, the results of litigation can never be predicted with
certainty. Moreover, the costs of defending the action, regardless of outcome,
could have significant negative effect on Asymetrix's business. Litigating this
claim could be time-consuming and distract management personnel, and if
Asymetrix is unsuccessful in its defense, it may be required to develop non-
infringing technology or enter into royalty or licensing agreements. Such
royalty or licensing agreements, if required, might not be available on
commercially reasonable terms, or at all. If Asymetrix were unsuccessful in its
defense of this action, then the inability to develop non-infringing technology
or obtain a license on commercially reasonable terms could have a material
adverse effect on Asymetrix's business, operating results and financial
condition.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Securities Holders
Not applicable.
12
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters
Prior to the initial public offering of its common stock on June 12, 1998,
there was no public market for Asymetrix's common stock. Since the initial
public offering, Asymetrix's common stock has been listed on the Nasdaq National
Market under the symbol ASYM. The following table sets forth the high and low
sales prices per share for each fiscal quarter since the initial public
offering.
Fiscal Quarter High Low
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998
- ----
Second Quarter (beginning June 12, 1998) $11.06 $8.88
Third Quarter 11.00 6.00
Fourth Quarter 6.88 2.94
As of March 15, 1999, there were 313 holders of record of Asymetrix's
common stock. Because many of the shares of Asymetrix's stock are held by
brokers and other institutions on behalf of stockholders, Asymetrix is unable to
estimate the actual number of stockholders represented by these record holders.
Asymetrix has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its common stock.
Asymetrix currently intends to retain any future earnings to finance future
growth and, thus, does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the
foreseeable future.
The stock market from time to time has experienced significant price and
volume fluctuations. In addition, the market price of Asymetrix common stock has
been highly volatile since the initial public offering. Factors such as
fluctuations in Asymetrix's operating results, announcements of technological
innovations or new products by Asymetrix or its competitors, analysts' reports
and projections and general market conditions may have a significant effect on
the market price of Asymetrix's common stock. Decreases in the price of
Asymetrix's stock limit its ability to pursue its acquisition strategy by making
it more difficult to acquire companies on terms acceptable to Asymetrix using
its stock, which could have a material adverse effect on Asymetrix's business,
operating results and financial condition. In the past, following periods of
volatility in the market price of a company's securities, securities class
action litigation has often been instituted against such a company. The
institution of such litigation against Asymetrix could result in substantial
costs and a diversion of management's attention and resources, which could have
a material adverse effect on Asymetrix's business, operating results and
financial condition.
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
During the three months ended December 31, 1998, Asymetrix issued 196,637
shares of unregistered common stock pursuant to the exercise of stock options.
The issuance of these shares of common stock was exempt pursuant to Section 4(2)
of the Securities Act of 1933 and/or under Rule 701.
Use of Proceeds
In connection with Asymetrix's initial public offering, it registered for
public sale 3,000,000 shares of common stock, all of which were sold by
Asymetrix. The Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-49037),
as amended, was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 11, 1998. NationsBanc Montgomery Securities LLC was the managing
underwriter of the IPO. The IPO commenced on June 12, 1998, and terminated
following the sale of all of the securities registered under the Registration
Statement, plus an additional 25,000 shares pursuant to the
13
exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option. The common stock was
offered and sold to the public at $11.00 per share, for aggregate consideration
of $33,275,000, of which Asymetrix received net proceeds of $29,331,000.
From the effective date of the Registration Statement through December 31,
1998, Asymetrix has incurred an estimated $3,944,000 in expenses for Asymetrix's
account in connection with the issuance and distribution of the Common Stock,
including underwriting discounts and commissions of $2,329,250 and other
expenses of $1,614,750. No finders' fees or expenses were paid to or for the
underwriters. None of these payments were made, directly or indirectly, to: (1)
directors or officers of Asymetrix, or their associates; (2) persons owning ten
percent or more of any class of equity securities of Asymetrix; or (3)
affiliates of Asymetrix.
From the effective date of the Registration Statement through December 31,
1998, Asymetrix has applied approximately $7.6 million of the Offering proceeds
to working capital requirements. None of these payments were made, directly or
indirectly, to: (1) directors or officers of Asymetrix, or their associates; (2)
persons owning ten percent or more of any class of equity securities of
Asymetrix; or (3) affiliates of Asymetrix. To date, Asymetrix believes that it
has used the offering proceeds in a manner consistent with the use of proceeds
described in the Registration Statement. The remaining $21.7 million of the
offering proceeds is invested in short-term marketable debt securities, money
market funds and other cash equivalents.
Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data
Years Ended December 31,
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
------------------------------------------------------------
(In thousands except per share data)
Statement of Operations Data:
Revenue:
Product revenue:
Online learning products $ 295 $889 $3,716 $8,036 $10,828
Other products 12,409 16,238 11,165 10,426 4,365
------------------------------------------------------------
Total product revenue 12,704 17,127 14,881 18,462 15,193
Services revenue 2,121 2,579 3,600 7,243 18,159
------------------------------------------------------------
Total revenue 14,825 19,706 18,481 25,705 33,352
------------------------------------------------------------
Cost of revenue:
Product revenue:
Online learning products 34 98 198 608 947
Other products 4,487 3,343 2,946 2,127 1,038
------------------------------------------------------------
Total cost of product revenue 4,521 3,441 3,144 2,735 1,985
Services revenue 1,537 1,757 2,549 4,635 12,432
------------------------------------------------------------
Total cost of revenue 6,058 5,198 5,693 7,370 14,417
------------------------------------------------------------
Gross margin 8,767 14,508 12,788 18,335 18,935
------------------------------------------------------------
Operating expenses:
Research and development 16,788 13,610 12,375 8,423 6,113
Sales and marketing 13,392 12,399 15,636 14,704 14,149
General and administrative 4,536 4,182 4,535 4,491 5,767
Amortization of goodwill - - - 119 825
Loss on impairment of assets 3,836 - 2,787 - -
14
Restructuring charge - 3,318 1,104 - -
Acquired in-process research and development - - - 4,064 -
------------------------------------------------------------
Total operating expenses 38,552 33,509 36,437 31,801 26,854
------------------------------------------------------------
Loss from operations (29,785) (19,001) (23,649) (13,466) (7,919)
Other income(expense) (5,481) (667) (348) (228) 2,760
------------------------------------------------------------
Net loss $(35,266) $(19,668) $(23,997) $(13,694) $(5,159)
Accretion of redemption value of
redeemable common stock - - - - (1,370)
------------------------------------------------------------
Net loss attributable to common stockholders $(35,266) $(19,668) $(23,997) $(13,694) $(6,529)
============================================================
Net loss per share, basic and diluted $(118.74) $(6.36) $(3.90) $(2.17) $(.62)
============================================================
Weighted average common shares outstanding,
basic and diluted 297 3,093 6,158 6,306 10,599
============================================================
December 31,
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
------------------------------------------------------------
(In thousands)
Balance Sheet Data:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,332 $ 3,583 $ 3,788 $ 2,541 $21,713
Working capital (deficit) (91,324) 25,373 9,569 (66) 24,913
Total assets 16,379 35,673 19,122 22,169 43,622
Long-term obligations 607 70 24 425 268
Stockholders' equity (85,310) 29,862 12,097 8,958 37,010
(a) Historical information was restated to reflect the combination of Asymetrix
and Meliora, accounted for as a pooling-of-interests.
(b) Historical results of operations are not necessarily indicative of future
results. Refer to the "Factors that May Affect Future Results of Operations"
under Item 7: "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" for the discussion of factors which may impact future
results.
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and
Financial Condition
The following discussion of the financial condition and results of
operations of Asymetrix should be read in conjunction with "Selected
Consolidated Financial Data" and Asymetrix's Consolidated Financial Statements
and related Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Report. This Report
contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Asymetrix's actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed
in the forward-looking statements. Factors that
15
may cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed in
"Factors that May Affect Future Results of Operations."
Overview
Asymetrix's comprehensive learning solution consists of an open, standards-
based, Internet-centric technology platform as well as a variety of professional
learning services for the online learning market. Asymetrix's technology
platform includes ToolBook II Instructor and ToolBook II Assistant, products
which enable customers to author online learning applications; Asymetrix
Librarian, a learning management system designed to enable customers to deploy
and manage such applications;and Asymetrix Ingenium a skills-based training
management system designed for automating instructor-led training, logistics and
tracking individual and group competencies. Asymetrix's professional services
include a wide range of consulting, integration and custom development services
focused on the online learning market as well as training and customer support.
Asymetrix believes that by providing a single source solution, it is well
positioned to be the leading provider of online enterprise learning products and
services. Beginning in 1996, Asymetrix redirected its focus to its online
learning products, divested several product lines and discontinued development
efforts not directly related to its online enterprise learning solution. A key
component of Asymetrix's strategy is to provide an online learning solution at
the enterprise level. In February 1998, Asymetrix introduced an enhanced version
of Librarian, which Asymetrix believes significantly extends the existing
features and functionality of Librarian by enabling enterprise-wide deployment
of online learning applications.
From September 12, 1997 through June 1998, Asymetrix acquired eight
companies and issued an aggregate of 3,457,504 shares of Common Stock. All of
these acquisitions were accounted for using the purchase method of accounting.
Accordingly, Asymetrix's historical consolidated financial statements do not
include results of operations, financial position or cash flows of these
entities prior to their respective dates of acquisition. In addition, as a
result of certain acquisitions, Asymetrix has incurred charges relating to the
cost of acquired in-process research and development of approximately $4.1
million for 1997 and, in connection with all of its acquisitions from July 1,
1997 through September 30, 1998, has recorded an aggregate of approximately
$10.2 million in goodwill, of which approximately $1.5 million will be amortized
on a straight-line basis over a five-year life and approximately $8.7 million
will be amortized over a fifteen-year life. In 1998, Asymetrix amortized
$293,402 of the goodwill with a five-year life and $532,731 of the goodwill with
a fifteen-year life. At December 31, 1998, net goodwill of $1,100,256 with an
original five-year life and $8,181,080 with an original fifteen-year life
remained to be amortized. If Asymetrix were to incur additional charges for
acquired in-process research and development and amortization of goodwill with
respect to any future acquisitions, Asymetrix's business, operating results and
financial condition could be materially and adversely affected. In July 1998,
Asymetrix acquired Meliora, an online learning product and consulting company,
which has been accounted for under the pooling of interests method. Asymetrix
issued 268,000 shares of common stock in exchange for all outstanding shares of
Meliora. The consolidated financial statements of Asymetrix have been restated
to give effect to the combination as if the companies had been combined since
their inception.
As part of its strategy to focus on the online enterprise learning market,
Asymetrix divested product lines and technologies that were unrelated to this
market. In October 1996, Asymetrix completed the spin-off of its Database Tools
Division to Infomodelers, Inc. ("Infomodelers") and distributed a controlling
interest in Infomodelers to its stockholders. In March 1998, Asymetrix sold
substantially all of its remaining interest in Infomodelers to Vulcan Ventures,
Inc. for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $2.4 million in cash,
which included approximately $2.0 million for shares of
16
Infomodelers Series A Preferred Stock and approximately $390,000 for shares of
Infomodelers Common Stock.
In July 1997, Asymetrix established SuperCede, Inc. ("SuperCede"), a
subsidiary, and transferred the assets of its Internet Development Tools
Division and SuperCede products to SuperCede. Following an investment by Vulcan
Ventures, Inc. and certain related transactions, 50% of SuperCede was owned by
Asymetrix. However, Asymetrix held Series B Preferred Stock which was
subordinate to the Series A Preferred stock held by Vulcan Ventures. All of the
assets of SuperCede were subsequently acquired by Instantiations, Inc. in
January of 1999 and SuperCede was dissolved. Because the total consideration
received in the transaction was less than the liquidation preference of the
Series A Preferred Stock, Asymetrix received no portion of that consideration
and believes that it will receive no future value from its SuperCede interest.
Asymetrix's historical financial statements do not consolidate the results of
operations, financial position or cash flows of Infomodelers subsequent to
October 1996 or of SuperCede subsequent to September 1997.
Asymetrix incurred net losses of $24.0 million, $13.7 million, and $5.2
million in 1996, 1997, and 1998, respectively, and has yet to achieve operating
income or net income under its new online learning business model. Asymetrix's
limited operating history under this new business model, and the emerging nature
of the market for online enterprise learning among other factors, make
prediction of Asymetrix's future operating results difficult. Although Asymetrix
has experienced revenue growth in certain recent periods and although the
financial statements herein also reflect revenue growth in certain periods there
can be no assurance that such growth rates are sustainable or indicative of
actual growth rates that Asymetrix may experience and, therefore, they should
not be considered indicative of future operating results. In addition, Asymetrix
intends to continue to invest in acquisitions, its professional services
business, and research and development, among other things. As a result,
Asymetrix expects to continue to incur annual operating losses at least through
1999. There can be no assurance that Asymetrix will achieve profitability or, if
profitability is achieved, that it will be sustained.
Asymetrix derives its revenue principally from sales of its software
products and fees from professional services, training, support and maintenance.
Asymetrix recognizes revenue from product sales at such time as the software
product has been shipped, collection is probable and there are no significant
obligations of Asymetrix remaining to be performed. Product license fees are
generally determined on a per user basis, except that its Librarian learning
management system is licensed on either a per server per user basis or on a
single server unlimited user basis at the option of the customer, and its
Ingenium product is licensed based on the number of concurrent users. In the
case of non-refundable royalties from OEMs, resellers or other distributors,
Asymetrix recognizes revenue when it delivers its product to the OEM, reseller
or other distributor provided no significant obligations of Asymetrix remain.
Additional royalties are paid to Asymetrix to the extent that the advances are
exceeded and these additional royalties are recognized when earned. Professional
services revenue is derived primarily from professional fees billed to clients
and is recognized as services are performed, for contracts that are billed on a
time and materials basis, and on the percentage of completion method, based on
the ratio of costs incurred to the total estimated project cost, for fixed-price
and maintenance agreements.
Revenue from training fees is recognized in the month in which the last day
of the training event falls. Maintenance revenue associated with technical
support contracts is recognized ratably over the term of the contract, typically
one year. Asymetrix recognizes revenue from installation services as the
services are provided. Services revenue represented approximately 20%, 28% and
54% of total revenue in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.
17
Effective January 1, 1998, Asymetrix adopted Statement of Position (SOP)
97-2, Software Revenue Recognition, issued by the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants. The statement provides specific industry guidance
and stipulates that revenue recognized from software arrangements is to be
allocated to each element of the arrangement based on the relative fair values
of the elements, such as software products, upgrades, enhancements, post-
contract customer support, installation or training. Under SOP 97-2, the
determination of fair value is based on objective evidence, which is specific to
the vendor. If such evidence of fair value for each element of the arrangement
does not exist, all revenue from the arrangement is deferred until such time
that evidence of fair value does exist or until all elements of the arrangement
are delivered. Revenue allocated to software products, specified upgrades and
enhancements is generally recognized upon delivery of the related products,
upgrades and enhancements. Revenue allocated to post-contract customer support
is generally recognized ratably over the term of the support, and revenue
allocated to service elements is generally recognized as the services are
performed. The adoption of SOP 97-2 did not have a material effect on revenue
recognition for the year ended December 31, 1998.
As a result of focusing its business on the online enterprise learning
market, Asymetrix has changed its distribution strategy from emphasizing retail
and other indirect distribution channels to emphasizing a direct sales model.
Direct sales accounted for approximately 53%, 51% and 83% of the Company's total
revenue for 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. While international revenue
accounted for approximately 30%, 29% and 10% of total revenue for 1996, 1997 and
1998, respectively, Asymetrix believes that the online enterprise learning
market has not yet developed significantly outside the United States and
currently does not intend to market actively its online learning products and
professional services internationally other than in the United Kingdom and in a
limited number of other foreign markets. Therefore, Asymetrix anticipates that
international revenue will constitute a lesser percentage of total revenue in
future periods than in 1996 and 1997.
Results of Operations
The following table presents Asymetrix's results of operations as a percentage
of total revenue for the periods indicated.
Statement of Operations Data:
1996 1997 1998
---------- ---------- ----------
Revenue:
Product revenue:
Online learning products 20.1% 31.3% 32.5%
Other products 60.4 40.5 13.1
---------- ---------- ----------
Total product revenue 80.5 71.8 45.6
Services revenue 19.5 28.2 54.4
---------- ---------- ----------
Total revenue 100.0 100.0 100.0
---------- ---------- ----------
Cost of revenue:
Product revenue:
18
Online learning products 1.1 2.4 2.8
Other products 15.9 8.3 3.1
----------- ---------- ----------
Total cost of product revenue 17.0 10.7 6.0
Services revenue 13.8 18.0 37.3
----------- ---------- ----------
Total cost of revenue 30.8 28.7 43.2
----------- ---------- ----------
Gross margin 69.2 71.3 56.8
----------- ---------- ----------
Operating expenses:
Research and development 67.0 32.8 18.3
Sales and marketing 84.6 57.1 42.4
General and administrative 24.5 17.5 17.3
Amortization of goodwill - 0.5 2.5
Loss on impairment of assets 15.1 - -
Restructuring charge 6.0 - -
Acquired in-process research
and development - - -
----------- ---------- ----------
Total operating expenses 197.2 123.7 80.5
Loss from operations (128.0) (52.4) (23.7)
----------- ---------- ----------
Other income/(expense):
Other expense (7.2) (0.1) (0.1)
Interest income from
principal stockholder 5.8 1.7 -
Other interest income, net 0.1 - 1.8
Equity in income (losses)
from Infomodelers, Inc. (0.6) (2.5) 6.5
----------- ---------- ----------
Total other income(expense) (1.9) (0.9) 8.2
----------- ---------- ----------
Net loss (129.9)% (53.3)% (15.5)%
=========== ========== ==========
Year Ended December 31, 1998 Compared To Year Ended December 31, 1997
Revenue. Total revenue increased 30% from $25.7 million in 1997 to $33.4
million in 1998. Online learning product revenue increased 35% from $8.0 million
in 1997 to $10.8 million in 1998. This increase was due primarily to increased
demand for Asymetrix's online learning products as a result of Asymetrix's focus
on the online learning market. Other product revenue decreased 58% from $10.4
million in 1997 to $4.4 million in 1998. Other product revenue consists of
revenue from Asymetrix's products which are not targeted at the online learning
market. These products include SuperCede products (prior to its spin-off in
September 1997), 3D F/X, Digital Video Producer, ToolBook, Multimedia ToolBook,
IconAuthor, CBT Express, Web 3D and other non-online learning products. Included
in other product revenue in 1997 was approximately $2.0 million from sales of
SuperCede products. Total product revenue decreased 21% from $18.5 million in
1997 to $15.2 million in 1998, reflecting the decrease in other product revenue.
As a result of Asymetrix's strategy to focus on the online learning market,
Asymetrix anticipates that future growth in product sales, if any, will be
attributable to its online learning products and that its other product revenue
will decrease in the future. Services revenue increased 151% from $7.2 million
1997 to $18.2 million in 1998 due primarily to the expansion of Asymetrix's
professional services business. Asymetrix has experienced an increased number of
professional services engagements which are billed on a fixed price basis and
intends to pursue such engagements in the future. See "Factors That May Affect
Future Operating Results--Customer Requirements; Fixed-Price Engagements."
Cost of Revenue. Cost of product revenue includes costs of media, manuals
and distribution costs. Gross margin from Asymetrix's online learning products
is generally higher than that of its other products because these products are
typically sold by Asymetrix's direct sales force, as compared with other
products sold through indirect channels, such as OEMs and resellers. Costs of
services revenue consists
19
primarily of personnel-related costs in providing consulting, maintenance and
training to customers. Gross margin on product revenue is higher than gross
margin on services revenue, reflecting the lower materials, packaging and other
costs of software compared with the relatively high personnel costs associated
with providing professional services.
Total cost of revenue increased 96% from $7.4 million in 1997 to $14.4
million in 1998. Total cost of product revenue decreased 27% from $2.7 million
in 1997 to $2.0 million 1998. Cost of online learning product revenue increased
56% from $608,000 in 1997 to $947,000 in 1998, due primarily to increased sales
of Asymetrix's online learning products. Cost of other product revenue
decreased 51% from $2.1 million in 1997 to $1.0 million in 1998. This decrease
was due primarily to decreased sales of Asymetrix's other products. Cost of
other product revenue attributable to sales of SuperCede products was $273,000
in 1997. Total product gross margin increased to 87% in 1998 from 85% in 1997.
Cost of services revenue increased 168% from $4.6 million in 1997 to $12.4
million 1998. This increase was due primarily to increased professional service
projects in 1998. Services gross margin decreased from 36% in 1997 to 32% in
1998 due to lower services personnel utilization. Asymetrix anticipates that
cost of services revenue will increase in absolute dollars as it adds additional
professional services personnel. To the extent services revenue increases
relative to product sales revenue as a percentage of total revenue, overall
gross margins would decline.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development. Research and development expenses include
expenses associated with the development of new products and new product
versions and consist primarily of salaries, depreciation of development
equipment, supplies and overhead allocations. Research and development expenses
decreased 27% from $8.4 million in 1997 to $6.1 million in 1998. This decrease
was due primarily to the spin off of SuperCede. Research and development
expenses as a percentage of total revenue decreased from 33% in 1997 to 18% in
1998 as a result of the spin-off of SuperCede and higher total revenues.
Research and development expenses related to SuperCede were $2.6 million in
1997. Asymetrix expects research and development expenses to increase in
absolute dollars in the future.
Sales and Marketing. Sales and marketing expenses consist primarily of
sales and marketing personnel costs, including sales commissions, travel,
advertising, public relations, seminars, trade shows and other marketing
literature and overhead allocations. Sales and marketing expenses decreased 4%
from $14.7 million in 1997 to $14.1 million in 1998. Sales and marketing
expenses as a percentage of total revenue decreased from 57% in 1997 to 42% in
1998. The decreases were due primarily to sales and marketing expenses relating
to SuperCede products in 1997. Sales and marketing expenses related to SuperCede
were $2.5 million in 1997. Asymetrix expects that sales and marketing expenses
will increase in absolute dollars in the future as Asymetrix continues to
increase its sales and marketing efforts in the online learning market.
General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses consist
primarily of salaries and other personnel-related expenses for Asymetrix's
administrative, executive and finance personnel as well as outside legal and
audit costs. General and administrative expenses increased 28% from $4.5 million
in 1997 to $5.8 million in 1998. This increase was due primarily to increased
overhead due to Asymetrix's increased size as well as costs of being a public
company. General and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenue
were unchanged at 17%. General and administrative expenses related to SuperCede
were $653,000 in 1997. Asymetrix expects that general and administrative
expenses will increase in absolute dollars in the future as Asymetrix incurs
additional costs (including directors'
20
and officers' liability insurance, investor relations programs and increased
professional fees) related to being a public company.
Amortization of Goodwill. Amortization of goodwill expense relates to the
amortization of excess purchase price over the fair value of identifiable
tangible and intangible assets acquired in acquisitions recorded using the
purchase method of accounting. Amortization of goodwill increased from $119,000
in 1997 to $825,000 in 1998. Asymetrix began acquiring other companies in the
latter half of 1997, therefore, the increase is due to a full year of
amortization reflected in 1998.
Acquired In-Process Research and Development. Asymetrix recognized no
cost of acquired in-process research and development in 1998. In 1997, Asymetrix
recognized the cost of acquired in-process research and development totaling
$4.1 million. This amount represented all in-process research and development
acquired by Asymetrix in connection with Aimtech Corporation ("Aimtech") and one
other acquisition during 1997 and consisted of $3.6 million resulting from the
Aimtech acquisition and $484,000 resulting from the other acquisition.
Other Income (Expense). Interest income from principal stockholder was
$436,000 and $0 in 1997 and 1998 respectively and was related to interest
payments to Asymetrix on a note receivable from Asymetrix's principal
stockholder. This note receivable was repaid in full in October 1997. Other
interest income, net was $8,000 and $609,000 in 1997 and 1998, respectively.
Interest income in 1998 was derived primarily from interest earned on proceeds
from Asymetrix initial public offering. Equity in income (losses) from
Infomodelers was $(634,000) and $2.2 million in 1997 and 1998, respectively,
representing Asymetrix's equity in the net income (losses) from Infomodelers in
such periods. Equity in income (losses) from Infomodelers in 1998 resulted from
the sale by Infomodelers of substantially all of its assets to Visio
Corporation. Because Asymetrix sold substantially all of its interest in
Infomodelers in March 1998, Asymetrix does not anticipate that it will record
equity in income (losses) from Infomodelers in future periods.
Year Ended December 31, 1997 Compared To Year Ended December 31, 1996
Revenue. Total revenue increased 39% from $18.4 million in 1996 to $25.7
million in 1997. Product revenue increased 24% from $14.9 million in 1996 to
$18.5 million in 1997. Online learning product revenue increased 116% from $3.7
million in 1996 to $8.0 million in 1997. This increase was due primarily to
increased demand for Asymetrix's online learning products as a result of
Asymetrix's focus on the online learning market. Other product revenue decreased
1% from $11.2 million in 1996 to $10.4
21
million in 1997. Included in other product revenue in 1997 was approximately
$2.0 million from SuperCede. Services revenue increased 101% from $3.6 million
in 1996 to $7.2 million in 1997 due primarily to the expansion of Asymetrix's
custom development efforts and the acquisition of Oakes Interactive
Incorporated, TopShelf Multimedia, Inc., and Acorn Associates Incorporated
(collectively the "Oakes Companies") in September 1997.
Cost of Revenue. Total cost of revenue increased 30% from $5.7 million in
1996 to $7.4 million in 1997. Cost of product revenue decreased 13% from $3.1
million in 1996 to $2.7 million in 1997. Cost of online learning product revenue
increased 207% from $198,000 in 1996 to $608,000 in 1997, due primarily to
increased sales of Asymetrix's online learning products. Cost of other product
revenue decreased 28% from $2.9 million in 1996 to $2.1 million in 1997. This
decrease was due primarily to the shift in distribution method from distributors
to direct sales and the subsequent return of products from the distribution
channel in 1996. Distributors received discounts of 20% to 40% off suggested
retail prices, requiring higher volumes and associated costs of revenue to
realize the same level of revenue generated from direct sales. In association
with changing to a direct sales model in 1996, $465,000 of inventory returned
from distributors was discarded. Cost of other products revenue attributable to
SuperCede was $273,000 in 1997 and cost of other product revenue attributable to
Infomodelers was $160,000 in 1996. Total product gross margin increased from 79%
in 1996 to 85% in 1997. Online learning products gross margin was 95% and 92% in
1996 and 1997 respectively. Other products gross margin was 74% and 80% in 1996
and 1997, respectively. Cost of services revenue increased 84% from $2.5 million
in 1996 to $4.6 million in 1997. This increase was due primarily to increased
professional services projects in such period. Services gross margin increased
from 29% in 1996 to 36% in 1997.
Operating Expenses
Research and Development. Research and development expenses decreased 32%
from $12.4 million in 1996 to $8.4 million in 1997. This decrease was due
primarily to the exclusion of research and development expenses relating to
Infomodelers in 1997. Research and development expenses as a percentage of total
revenue decreased from 67% in 1996 to 33% in 1997 as a result of the spin-offs
of Infomodelers and SuperCede. Research and development expenses related to
SuperCede were $2.5 million and $2.6 million in 1996 and 1997, respectively, and
research and development expenses related to Infomodelers were $3.0 million in
1996.
Sales and Marketing. Sales and marketing expenses decreased 6% from $15.6
million in 1996 to $14.7 million in 1997. Sales and marketing expenses as a
percentage of total revenue decreased from 85% in 1996 to 57% in 1997. The
decreases were due primarily to sales and marketing expenses during 1996
relating to Asymetrix's "Web event" launch of Tool Book II Instructor and the
launch of Infomodelers products, partially offset by sales and marketing
expenses relating to the launch of the SuperCede products in the first quarter
of 1997, version 6.0 of Tool Book II Assistant in March 1997 and version 5.5 of
Librarian in July 1997. Sales and marketing expenses related to SuperCede were
$172,000 and $2.5 million in 1996 and 1997, respectively, and sales and
marketing expenses related to Infomodelers were $1.3 million in 1996.
General and Administrative. General and administrative expenses are
unchanged from $4.5 million in 1996 to $4.5 million in 1997. General and
administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenue decreased from 25% in
1996 to 18% in 1997 as a result of a small increase in expenses relative to
increased revenue. General and administrative expenses related to SuperCede were
$989,000 and $653,000 in 1996 and 1997, respectively and general and
administrative expenses related to Infomodelers were $941,000 in 1996.
22
Loss on Impairment of Assets. Loss on impairment of assets in 1996
relates to asset write-offs related to the spin-off of Infomodelers. As a result
of this spin-off, Asymetrix reviewed the technology remaining in Asymetrix and
recorded an impairment charge of $2.8 million in the fourth quarter of 1996.
Restructuring Charge. In the third quarter of 1996, Asymetrix adopted a
plan to restructure its European operations, closing its offices in France and
Germany, and recorded an expense of $604,000, which included involuntary
termination benefits for employee compensation of $208,000 and certain exit
costs of $396,000, which consisted of costs related to terminated leases, legal
costs, and accounting and other services. The restructuring was required due to
Asymetrix's focus on online learning, which requires customers to have access to
the Internet, or installed intranets. Asymetrix determined that this market was
immature outside the United States, which made the continued operation of three
European offices economically prohibitive. Asymetrix continues to maintain a
small office in the United Kingdom to manage its European operations. Asymetrix
also recorded a non-cash restructuring expense of $500,000 in 1996 related to a
modification of stock option plan rights of Asymetrix employees who transferred
to Infomodelers. As of December 31, 1997, the restructuring plans were completed
and all costs associated with the restructuring plans have been incurred.
Acquired In-Process Research and Development. Asymetrix recognized the
cost of acquired in-process research and development totaling $4.1 million in
1997. This amount represented all in-process research and development acquired
by Asymetrix in connection with Aimtech Corporation ("Aimtech") and one other
acquisition during 1997 and consisted of $3.6 million resulting from the Aimtech
acquisition and $484,000 resulting from the other acquisition.
The in-process research and development acquired in the Aimtech acquisition
is applicable to Asymetrix's future online learning authoring products and
relates to streaming technologies (Dynamic HTML, ActiveX and Java). Management
expects that such in-process research and development will be incorporated in
its ToolBook II version 7.0 products scheduled to begin shipping in 1999. As
such, Asymetrix has not yet realized any revenue from the acquired technology
through December 31, 1998.
At the date of the acquisition, the development of the acquired in-process
research and development was estimated to be 60% complete. The fair value of the
acquired in-process research and development was based on projected cash flows
which were discounted based upon the risks associated with achieving such
projected cash flows upon successful completion of the projects. Asymetrix then
adjusted the discounted cash flows using the estimated percentage complete to
reflect the value of development efforts completed at the date of acquisition.
The cash flow projections for revenues were based on the projected
incremental increase in revenue attributable to the in-process technology that
Asymetrix will receive as a result of the acquisition. Revenues derived from the
in-process technology were expected to increase through 2001. No revenue was
assigned to in-process research and development in 2002 or beyond because 2001
is estimated to be the end of the in-process technology's economic life.
Estimated operating expenses were deducted from estimated revenue projections to
arrive at estimated cash flows. Projected operating expenses were estimated as a
percentage of revenue and were based primarily on projections prepared by
Asymetrix's management and industry averages.
An after-tax discount rate of 33% was used to discount the net cash flows
to their present value. This discount rate represents a premium to the Company's
cost of capital and was determined based upon the Company's assessment of the
risk in completing the project.
Failure to complete the project may result in competitive disadvantages in
the future, which could have a material adverse affect on Asymetrix's business,
results of operations and financial condition. The in-process research and
development acquired in the other acquisition related to future simulation and
animation functionality. The development effort with respect to this technology
was discontinued in 1998.
Other Income (Expense). Asymetrix recorded other expense of $1.3 million in
1996 of which $1.1 million was relating to a terminated acquisition. Interest
income from principal stockholder was $1.1 million and $436,000 in 1996 and
1997, respectively and was related to interest payments to Asymetrix on a note
receivable from Asymetrix's principal stockholder. This note receivable was
repaid in October 1997. Other interest income, net was $22,000 and $8,000 in
1996 and 1997, respectively. Equity in income (losses) from Infomodelers was
$(112,000) and $(634,000) in 1996 and 1997, respectively, representing
Asymetrix's equity in the net losses of Infomodelers in such period. Because
Asymetrix sold substantially all of its interest in Infomodelers in March 1998,
Asymetrix does not anticipate that it will record equity in income (losses) from
Infomodelers in future periods. Asymetrix recorded no equity in earnings in
SuperCede subsequent to its spin-off in 1997, as its SuperCede Series B
Preferred Stock. Such stock had a liquidation preference subordinate to the
Series A Preferred Stock. Asymetrix has no further funding obligation for
SuperCede and, therefore, Asymetrix will not record a share of the losses at
SuperCede in the future. SuperCede has discontinued its business operations and
has liquidated its assets. The total amount received was less than the
liquidation preference of the Series A Preferred Stock.
23
Liquidity and Capital Resources
At December 31, 1998, Asymetrix had cash and cash equivalents totaling
$21.7 million, an increase of $19.2 million from December 31, 1997. The increase
in cash and cash equivalents was due primarily to the proceeds of $29.3 million
generated from Asymetrix's initial public offering, $880,000 from the exercise
of employee stock options, and $2.4 million from the sale of Infomodelers'
shares, offset by $10.7 million used in operating activities, $1.2 million used
in investing activities and $1.4 million net, used to repay notes payable and
capital lease obligations. At December 31, 1998, the principal sources of
liquidity for Asymetrix were $24.9 million in working capital.
Asymetrix has had negative cash flows from operating activities to date.
Net cash used by operating activities was $15.0 million, $7.4 million and $10.7
million in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. Net cash used in operating
activities was primarily the result of net losses, which include a non-cash
expense of $4.1 million for acquired in-process research and development,
partially offset by an increase in accounts receivable in 1997. Net cash used in
operating activities in 1998 was primarily due to a net loss and decreases in
deferred revenue and other assets.
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities was $(1.7 million),
$(645,000) and $1.2 million in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. Net cash used
in investing activities through 1997 was primarily the result of capital
expenditures for computer equipment, purchased software, office equipment,
furniture and fixtures and, in 1997, acquisition-related costs. In addition, in
November 1996, Asymetrix used $1.0 million of cash for the investment in
Infomodelers, Inc., which was partially offset by $200,000 of proceeds from the
sale of assets in 1996. Net cash provided by investing activities in 1998 was
primarily due to proceeds received from the sale of Asymetrix's investment in
Infomodelers. As of December 31, 1998, Asymetrix had no material commitments for
capital expenditures. Asymetrix's capital expenditures in 1998 were
approximately $1.2 million, primarily for computer equipment and acquisition-
related payments. As of December 31, 1998, Asymetrix also had commitments under
non-cancelable operating leases with terms in excess of one year of $6.1 million
through 2003.
Cash provided by financing activities was $17.0 million, $7.1 million and
$28.8 million in 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively, resulting primarily from
payments received on the note receivable from principal stockholder of $11.9
million in 1996 and $6.7 million in 1997, net proceeds of $5.3 million and
$500,000 from the sale of Class B Stock in 1996 and 1997, respectively, and
proceeds from the sale of common stock, primarily from the exercise of stock
options in 1996 and 1997 and primarily from Asymetrix's initial public offering
in 1998. Cash used for payments on long-term debt was $413,000, $398,000, and
$592,000 in 1996, 1997, and 1998 respectively.
Asymetrix anticipates that the net proceeds received from its initial
public offering, together with cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to
meet its working capital needs and capital expenditures for
24
at least the next 12 months. Asymetrix's long-term liquidity will be affected by
numerous factors, including acquisitions of businesses or technologies, demand
for Asymetrix's online learning products and services, the extent to which such
online learning products and services achieve market acceptance, the timing and
extent to which Asymetrix invests in new technology, the expenses of sales and
marketing and new product development, the extent to which competitors are
successful in developing their own products and services and increasing their
own market share, the level and timing of revenues and other factors. In
addition, Asymetrix from time to time evaluates potential acquisitions of
businesses, products or technologies that complement Asymetrix's business. To
the extent that resources are insufficient to fund Asymetrix's activities,
Asymetrix may need to raise additional funds. Such additional funding, if
needed, may not be available on terms attractive to Asymetrix, or at all. If
adequate funds are not available on acceptable terms, Asymetrix may be unable to
expand its business, develop or enhance its products and services, take
advantage of future opportunities or respond to competitive pressures, any of
which could have a material adverse effect on Asymetrix's business, operating
results and financial condition.
Year 2000 Compliance
Many currently installed computer systems and software products are coded
to accept only two digit entries in the date code field and cannot distinguish
21st century dates from 20th century dates. These date code fields will need to
distinguish 21st century dates from 20th century dates and, as a result, many
companies' software and computer systems may need to be upgraded or replaced in
order to comply with such "year 2000" requirements.
Asymetrix has designed and tested the most current versions of its products
to be year 2000 compliant. However, some of Asymetrix's customers may be using
older versions of its products that are not year 2000 compliant. Asymetrix has
been encouraging its customers to upgrade to current product versions, and
Asymetrix has been required by customers to warrant that the current versions of
its products are year 2000 compliant. Although Asymetrix believes the current
versions of its products are year 2000 compliant, the current product versions
may contain undetected errors or defects associated with year 2000 date
functions. These undetected date functions may result in material costs to
Asymetrix, as well as claims against Asymetrix for breach of its warranties of
year 2000 compliance. Furthermore, although Asymetrix has not made any express
representations or warranties with respect to year 2000 compliance of older
versions of its products and has included clauses disclaiming any implied
warranties and limiting its liability for product defects in the agreements
under which those older versions were licensed to customers, Asymetrix may still
face claims or litigation based on older versions of its products. Asymetrix is
aware of a growing number of lawsuits against other software vendors related to
year 2000 compliance, including lawsuits based on those companies charging their
customers for new versions of their products that are year 2000 compliant rather
than providing such versions for free. Because of the unprecedented nature of
such litigation, Asymetrix is uncertain of the extent to which it may be
affected. If Asymetrix is affected by such litigation, it could have a material
adverse effect on Asymetrix's business, operating results and financial
condition. Asymetrix is not currently a party to any such litigation.
With respect to Asymetrix's internal information technology systems,
Asymetrix's year 2000 internal readiness program primarily covers the following
activities: (1) taking inventory of hardware and software systems, (2)
determining those systems' level of year 2000 compliance, (3) assessing the
business and customer satisfaction risks associated with those systems, (4)
creating action plans to address known risks, (5) executing and monitoring
its action plans, and (6) contingency planning.
At this time Asymetrix has substantially completed its review of its most
mission critical information technology systems including finance, order
processing, customer service, project
25
management, and sales management, and believes that those systems are
substantially year 2000 compliant. Asymetrix is currently reviewing and
addressing year 2000 issues in its second tier information technology systems,
including its network servers, network software and widely used software
applications. Asymetrix expects that it will substantially complete its year
2000 readiness preparations with respect to its second tier systems and network
hardware and software systems by third quarter 1999. Asymetrix expects to
continue implementation and testing of year 2000 compliance activities
throughout calendar 1999. Asymetrix has no current plans to perform an
assessment of imbedded technology outside of its information technology systems,
and believes that the failure of any such imbedded technology to be year 2000
compliance will not have a material effect on Asymetrix's business. Asymetrix
has no current plan to retain any outside consultants to assist in its year 2000
compliance activities.
Asymetrix has not sent detailed questionnaires to vendors and service
providers to certify year 2000 readiness, but Asymetrix has obtained or relied
upon published assurances of year 2000 compliance in relation to purchases of
new information technology systems and Asymetrix has conducted and is continuing
to conduct its own internal year 2000 analysis. While Asymetrix has no plans to
broadly survey its vendors and service providers for year 2000 compliance,
Asymetrix does intend to obtain and review the year 2000 readiness statements of
its significant vendors who are required to file proxy statements and annual and
quarterly reports with the SEC in order to determine their level of year 2000
compliance. Asymetrix does not rely on products and services provided by any
single vendor in the conduct of its business, and believes that even if the
ability of one of its suppliers to provide goods or services was negatively
impacted by a year 2000 problem, alternative sources would be available to
supply such goods and services on commercially reasonable terms.
Asymetrix has not sent and does not currently plan to send questionnaires
to its customers to independently verify its customers' level of year 2000
compliance. However, most of Asymetrix's significant customers are large
business enterprises and government agencies which Asymetrix believes are
devoting significant resources to ensuring their own internal year 2000
compliance. Most of Asymetrix's significant customers are also required to file
proxy statements and annual and quarterly reports with the SEC disclosing their
own year 2000 readiness, and Asymetrix intends to obtain and review such
disclosure for its significant customers to determine their level of year 2000
compliance. Moreover, Asymetrix has received and responded to a large number of
detailed year 2000 questionnaires from its customers as a part of their own year
2000 compliance programs. Asymetrix believe that its customers' or potential
customers' year 2000 compliance efforts may affect their purchasing patterns as
these companies or agencies expend significant resources and focus personnel on
ensuring their own internal year 2000 compliance. Devoting resources and
personnel to year 2000 compliance may result in reduced funds available to
purchase other products or services and may delay the implementation of new
information technology systems such as those offered by Asymetrix, either of
which could have a material adverse effect on Asymetrix's business, operating
results and financial condition.
Asymetrix estimates that the total cost of evaluating and addressing its
year 2000 issues will be approximately $250,000. In 1998 Asymetrix spent
$38,000, in connection with evaluating and addressing year 2000 issues. Such
expenditures represented 6% of Asymetrix's total information technology budget
in 1998. All funds used for evaluating and addressing year 2000 issues are from
Asymetrix's information technology budget and no additional budget dollars were
allocated specifically to address year 2000 compliance. As a result, resources
devoted to year 2000 compliance are not available for other information
technology systems or projects.
Although Asymetrix does not believe that it will incur any material costs
or experience material disruptions in its business associated with preparing its
internal systems for the year 2000, Asymetrix may experience serious
unanticipated negative consequences and material costs caused by undetected
errors or
26
defects in the technology used in its internal systems, which are composed of
third party software, third party hardware and internally developed software, or
in the internal systems of its vendors or customers. The most reasonably likely
worst case scenarios would include: (1) loss or corruption of data contained in
Asymetrix's internal information systems, (2) hardware failure, (3) the failure
of infrastructure services provided by government agencies and other third
parties (e.g., electricity, phone service, water transport, internet services,
etc.); and (4) the failure of the internal systems of Asymetrix's vendors or
customers, resulting in problems with providing services or making payments to
Asymetrix. Asymetrix is in the early phases of contingency planning at this time
and expects to undertake more in depth contingency planning following the
completion of its analysis and correction of its internal year 2000 issues.
Asymetrix expects its contingency plans to include, among other things, manual
work-arounds for software and hardware failures, as well as substitution of
systems or vendors, if necessary.
Factors That May Affect Future Results of Operations
Limited Operating History in Online Learning Market. Asymetrix was
incorporated in December 1984. Until early 1995, Asymetrix was engaged in
various technology and development activities and in the development and
marketing of multimedia authoring products, database and Internet tools, World
Wide Web publishing products and other ancillary products, most of which are not
included as part of Asymetrix's online enterprise learning solution. Starting in
1995, Asymetrix recapitalized and redirected its focus to the development and
marketing of authoring products and a learning management system designed to
capitalize on the advantages of the Internet as a means of delivering
technology-based training applications. Since 1995, Asymetrix has also
introduced a variety of professional services. Accordingly, Asymetrix has only a
limited operating history upon which to base an evaluation of its current
business and prospects. Asymetrix's prospects must be considered in light of the
risks and uncertainties encountered by companies in the early stage of
development, particularly companies in new and rapidly evolving markets such as
online enterprise learning and by companies engaged in a business transition
from developing and marketing software products to offering an integrated
product and services solution. Such risks include, but are not limited to the
demand for technology-based training and online enterprise learning
applications; the management of both internal and acquisition-based growth;
demand for Asymetrix's products and services; the ability of Asymetrix to meet
the needs of sophisticated corporate customers; and competition. To address
these risks, Asymetrix must, among other things, successfully introduce new
products and services; achieve commercial acceptance of its new products and
services; continue to expand its professional services business; successfully
identify, acquire and integrate acquired businesses; respond to competitive
developments; attract, integrate, retain and motivate qualified personnel; and
address new or evolving technologies and standards. Asymetrix may not be
successful in addressing such risks and the failure to do so could have a
material adverse effect on Asymetrix's business, operating results and financial
condition.
Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results. Asymetrix's quarterly
operating results have varied significantly in the past and are expected to
fluctuate significantly in the future as a result of a variety of factors, many
of which are outside Asymetrix's control. Factors that may adversely affect
Asymetrix's quarterly operating results include the demand for technology-based
training in general and demand for online enterprise learning solutions in
particular; the size and timing of product orders and the timing and execution
of professional services engagements; the mix of revenue from products and
services; the mix of products sold; the inability of Asymetrix to meet its own
or client project milestones or to meet client expectations; market acceptance
of Asymetrix's or competitors' products and services; the ability of Asymetrix
to develop and market new or enhanced products and services in a timely manner
and market acceptance of such products and services; Asymetrix's ability to
integrate acquisitions successfully and to identify, acquire and integrate
suitable acquisition candidates; the timing of revenue recognition; charges
related to acquisitions; competitive conditions; technological changes;
personnel changes; general economic conditions; and economic conditions specific
to the technology-based training and online
27
learning markets. With its emphasis on providing an online enterprise learning
solution, Asymetrix is targeting its selling and marketing efforts towards
customers with the potential need for enterprise-wide solutions. Because the
implementation of its solutions may require an enterprise-wide decision by
prospective customers, Asymetrix may be required to provide a significant level
of education to prospective customers regarding Asymetrix's solutions before a
sale is completed. Therefore, Asymetrix believes that the period between initial
contact and the sale of Asymetrix's solutions could be lengthy, and the
implementation cycle could lengthen because of increases in the size and
complexity of customer implementations. Uncertainty of timing with respect to
sales or implementations could have a material adverse effect on Asymetrix's
business and operations and cause Asymetrix's operating results to vary
significantly from quarter to quarter. Therefore, Asymetrix's operating results
for any particular quarterly period may not be indicative of future operating
results.
Acquisitions. Asymetrix has acquired ten companies since July 1997 and is
continuing to pursue a strategy of growth that includes acquisitions. The
successful implementation of this strategy depends on Asymetrix's ability to
identify suitable acquisition candidates, acquire such companies on acceptable
terms, integrate their operations and technology successfully with those of
Asymetrix, retain existing customers and maintain the goodwill of the acquired
businesses. Acquisitions involve a number of risks, including the integration of
acquired products and technologies in a timely manner; the integration of
businesses and employees with Asymetrix's business; the management of
geographically-dispersed operations; adverse effects on Asymetrix's reported
operating results from acquisition-related charges and amortization of goodwill;
potential increases in stock compensation expense and increased compensation
expense resulting from newly-hired employees; the diversion of management
attention; the assumption of unknown liabilities; potential disputes with the
sellers of one or more acquired entities; the inability of Asymetrix to maintain
customers or goodwill of an acquired business; the need to divest unwanted
assets or products; and the possible failure to retain key acquired personnel.
Client satisfaction or performance problems with an acquired firm could also
have a material adverse effect on the reputation of Asymetrix as a whole, and
any acquired business could significantly under-perform relative to Asymetrix's
expectations. Moreover, in pursuing acquisition opportunities, Asymetrix may
compete for acquisition targets with other companies with similar growth
strategies that may have greater resources than Asymetrix, which could result in
increased prices of acquisition targets and a diminished pool of companies
available for acquisition. If Asymetrix were unable to manage internal or
acquisition-based growth effectively, Asymetrix's business, operating results
and financial condition would be materially and adversely affected.
Management of Growth; Dependence on Key Personnel. Asymetrix's future
success will be highly dependent on the performance of its senior management
team and other key employees and on Asymetrix's ability to attract, integrate,
motivate and retain additional highly skilled technical, sales and marketing and
professional services personnel. There is intense competition for such personnel
in the areas of Asymetrix's activities. Asymetrix does not have employment
agreements with most of its executives or other key employees. In addition,
Asymetrix does not maintain key person life insurance for any of its officers or
key employees. The loss of the services of any of Asymetrix's senior management
team or other key employees or the failure of Asymetrix to attract, integrate,
motivate and retain additional key employees, including professional services
personnel, could have a material adverse effect on Asymetrix's business,
operating results and financial condition.
Customer Requirements; Fixed Price Engagements. The online learning
market is a developing market characterized by complex and varied customer
expectations and requirements, a lack of technical standards and frequent
introductions and announcements of new products and services. Because
Asymetrix's online learning solution is targeted at customers with enterprise-
wide deployments in an emerging market, customers and potential customers may
have a greater sensitivity to product integration, interoperability and defects
than customers in the market for software products generally. In addition,
28
these customers may have evolving and rapidly changing requirements for their
online enterprise learning needs, which Asymetrix must address satisfactorily.
Many of Asymetrix's professional services engagements require Asymetrix to
develop learning applications to suit unique customer requirements. Asymetrix's
failure or inability to meet a customer's expectations or requirements in the
performance of its services could potentially damage Asymetrix's reputation or
result in a claim for substantial damages against Asymetrix, regardless of
Asymetrix's responsibility for such failure. In addition, most such professional
services engagements that are billed on a fixed-price basis. Asymetrix's failure
to estimate accurately the resources and time required for an engagement, to
manage client expectations effectively regarding the scope of services to be
delivered for the estimated fees or to complete fixed-price engagements within
budget, on time and to clients' satisfaction would expose Asymetrix to risks
associated with cost overruns and may expose Asymetrix, in certain cases, to
penalties, any of which could have a material adverse effect on Asymetrix's
business, operating results and financial condition.
Developing Market. The market for online enterprise learning is a new and
emerging market. Although technology-based training applications have been
available for several years, they currently account for only a small portion of
the overall training market. The failure of technology-based training, and
online learning in particular, to gain wide market acceptance within the time
frame anticipated by Asymetrix could have a material adverse effect on
Asymetrix's business, operating results and financial condition. Asymetrix's
success depends on the continued adoption of the Internet and intranets as means
of communication, particularly for corporate training and education. Even if the
Internet and intranets are widely adopted, the adoption of these networks for
corporate training and education, particularly by companies that have relied on
traditional means of training their personnel, will require broad acceptance of
new training methods. In addition, companies that have already invested
substantial resources in other methods of corporate training and education may
be reluctant to adopt a new strategy that may limit or compete with their
existing investments.
General Economic Conditions. Asymetrix's revenue is subject to
fluctuation as a result of general economic conditions. A significant portion of
Asymetrix's revenue is derived from the sale of products and services to Fortune
1000 companies, educational organizations and government agencies, which
historically have adjusted their expenditures for education and training during
economic downturns. Should the economy weaken in any future period, these
organizations may not increase or may reduce their expenditures on education and
training generally, and on technology-based training and online learning in
particular, which could have an adverse effect on Asymetrix's business,
operating results and financial condition.
Item 7a. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Asymetrix holds its assets primarily in cash and cash equivalents, such as
short-term marketable debt securities, money market funds and other cash
equivalents. Asymetrix minimizes its risk by investing in financial instruments
with a maturity of three months or less. Asymetrix does not use derivative
financial instruments.
29
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
The information required by this item is included in Part III,
Item 14.
30
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosures
Not applicable.
31
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the
information in the definitive Proxy Statement for Asymetrix's Annual Meeting of
Stockholders scheduled to be held on May 25, 1999.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the
information in the definitive Proxy Statement for Asymetrix's Annual Meeting of
Stockholders scheduled to be held on May 25, 1999.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the
information in the definitive Proxy Statement for Asymetrix's Annual Meeting of
Stockholders scheduled to be held on May 25, 1999.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to the
information in the definitive Proxy Statement for Asymetrix's Annual Meeting of
Stockholders scheduled to be held on May 25, 1999.
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K.
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this report:
1. Financial Statements
The following financial statements are filed as part of this report:
Independent Auditors' Report
Consolidated Financial Statements:
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1997 and 1998
Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 1996,
1997, and 1998
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1996,
1997, and 1998
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Financial Statement Schedules
The following financial statement schedules are filed as part of this
report:
I Independent Auditors' Report on Financial Statement Schedule
II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable, not required or
the information required is shown in the consolidated financial statements or
notes thereto.
3. Exhibits
The following Exhibits are attached to this Annual Report on Form 10-K:
Exhibit
Number Exhibit Title
- ------- -------------
2.01 Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated May 22, 1998 by and between
the Company and Strategic Systems Associates, Inc.*
2.02 Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated June 22, 1998 by and
between the Company and Meliora Systems, Inc.*
2.03 Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of
June 24, 1997, by and among Asymetrix, ASX Merger Corporation and
Aimtech Corporation.**
2.04 Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of September 30, 1997,
by and among Asymetrix, Oakes Acquisition Corp., TopShelf Acquisition
Corp., Acorn Acquisition Corp., Oakes Interactive Incorporated,
TopShelf Multimedia, Inc., Acorn Associates, Incorporated and Gordon
Oakes and Kevin Oakes.**
32
2.05 Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of December 22, 1997,
by and among Asymetrix, Asymetrix Acquisition Corp., Communication
Strategies, Incorporated, and Cynthia Boyd and James Boyd.**
3.01 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Asymetrix.**
3.02 Bylaws of Asymetrix.**
4.01 Registration Rights Agreement dated as of May 22, 1998, among
Asymetrix, Gary Johnson, Richard M. Johnson and Mike Spingola.
4.02 Registration Rights Agreement dated as of July 1, 1998, among
Asymetrix, Gordon Rogers and Veda Storey.
4.03 Restated and Amended Investors' Rights Agreement, dated as of December
20, 1996, between Asymetrix and the persons and entities listed
therein.**
4.04 Form of Specimen Stock Certificate for Asymetrix's Common Stock.**
4.05 Registration Rights Agreement dated, as of September 11, 1997, between
Asymetrix and persons and entities listed therein.**
4.06 Registration Rights Agreement dated as of September 30, 1997, among
Asymetrix, Gordon Oakes, Kevin Oakes and Doug Foster.**
4.07 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 22, 1997, among
Asymetrix, Cynthia Boyd and James Boyd.**
10.01 Employment Agreement dated as of July 1, 1998, between Asymetrix and
Gordon Rogers.
10.02 Services Agreement, dated as of July 27, 1998, between Asymetrix and
Vulcan Northwest, Inc.
10.03 Eighth Amendment to Lease, dated as of October 16, 1998, by and
between Asymetrix and 110 Atrium Place Associates, LLC.
10.04 Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into by Asymetrix with each
of its directors and executive officers.**
10.05 Asymetrix's 1995 Combined Incentive and Nonqualified Stock Option Plan
and related documents.**
10.06 Asymetrix's 1998 Directors Stock Option Plan and related documents.**
10.07 Asymetrix's 1998 Equity Incentive Plan and related documents.**
10.08 Sublease dated as of October 30, 1995, between Asymetrix and Vulcan
Northwest Inc.**
10.09 Series B Preferred Stock Exchange Agreement, dated as of September 30,
1997, between Asymetrix and SuperCede.**
33
10.10 Asset Transfer, License and Stock Issuance Agreement, dated as of June
24, 1997, between Asymetrix and SuperCede, Inc.**
10.11 Sublease, dated as of June 24, 1997, between Asymetrix and SuperCede,
Inc.**
10.12 Promissory Note dated as of March 14, 1995, between Asymetrix and Paul
Allen.**
10.13 Infomodelers Technology Transfer and License Agreement dated as of
October 7, 1996, between Asymetrix and ASX Corporation, as amended
January 14, 1998.**
10.14 Sublease dated as of October 7, 1995, between Asymetrix and ASX
Corporation.**
10.15 Asset Purchase and Loan Agreement, dated as of October 7, 1996,
between Asymetrix and ASX Corporation.**
10.16 Lease Agreement, dated as of May 24, 1991, by and between Asymetrix
and Dean Witter Realty Income Partnership II, L.P. and amendments
thereto.**
10.17 Employment Agreement dated as of September 30, 1997, between Asymetrix
and Kevin Oakes.**
10.18 Stock Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of March 27, 1998 between
Asymetrix and Vulcan Ventures Inc.**
10.19 Directed Engineering Agreement, dated as of March 27, 1998, between
Asymetrix and Vulcan Northwest, Inc.**
21.01 Subsidiaries of Asymetrix.
23.01 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
27.01 Financial Data Schedule
* These Exhibits are incorporated herein by reference to Asymetrix's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 1998
** These Exhibits are incorporated herein by reference to Asymetrix's
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration no. 333-49037), as amended
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter of the period
covered by this report.
34
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Asymetrix
has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.
ASYMETRIX LEARNING SYSTEMS, INC.
March 31, 1999 /s/ John D. Atherly
- ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
Date John D. Atherly Vice President, Finance and
Administration
and Chief Financial Officer (Duly Authorized
Officer and Chief Accounting Officer)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each individual whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints James A.
Billmaier and John D. Atherly, and each of them, his true lawful attorneys-in-
fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this
Annual Report on Form 10-K and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and
all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granted unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them,
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934,this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the
Registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
March 31, 1999 /s/ James A. Billmaier
- ------------------------- -----------------------------------------------
Date James A. Billmaier, Chief Executive Officer and
Director
March 31, 1999 /s/ Bert Kolde
- ------------------------- ----