Back to GetFilings.com




SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 10-K

 

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

 

For the Fiscal Year Ended June 27, 2003

 

¨   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: 0-10726

 


 

C-COR.net Corp.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Pennsylvania   24-0811591

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

60 Decibel Road

State College, Pennsylvania 16801

(Address of principal executive offices and Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (814) 238-2461

 


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class


 

Name of each exchange on which registered


None

  Not Applicable

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common Stock, $.05 par value

Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock Purchase Rights

 


 

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 ((S)229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12-b2 of the Act).    Yes x    No ¨

 

As of December 27, 2002, the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was $115,701,834.

 

As of August 27, 2003, the Registrant had 36,571,189 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

 

Documents Incorporated by Reference:

 

Proxy Statement expected to be dated on or about September 15, 2003

 



PART I

 

Item 1.    Business

 

Some of the information presented in this report contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements represent C-COR’s judgment regarding future events and are based on currently available information. Although C-COR believes it has a reasonable basis for these forward-looking statements, we cannot guarantee their accuracy and actual results may differ materially from those we anticipated due to a number of uncertainties, many of which we are not aware.

 

Factors which could cause actual results to differ from expectations include:

 

  Ÿ   capital spending patterns of the communications industry;

 

  Ÿ   the global demand for C-COR’s products and services;

 

  Ÿ   risks associated with foreign operations;

 

  Ÿ   changes in the financial condition of significant customers;

 

  Ÿ   the amount of particular products, services, and software within the overall mix of sales, as these products and services have varying profit margins;

 

  Ÿ   our ability to develop new and enhanced hardware and software products;

 

  Ÿ   continued industry consolidation;

 

  Ÿ   the development of competing technologies; and

 

  Ÿ   our ability to integrate acquisitions and achieve our strategic objectives.

 

This listing of factors is NOT intended to include ALL potential risk factors. The Company makes no commitment to update these factors or to revise any forward-looking statements for events or circumstances occurring after the statement is issued, except as required by law.

 

Introduction

 

C-COR, headquartered in State College, Pennsylvania, provides communications equipment, software solutions, and technical services to the global market for the full network life cycle of two-way hybrid fiber coax broadband networks. C-COR was organized as a corporation under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on June 30, 1953. Our core strategy is to leverage our reputation for quality and service, our strong customer relationships, and our extensive installed base of transmission equipment to provide a broad line of flexible, reliable, and cost-effective network products and service solutions worldwide.

 

C-COR operates through three divisions, each focused on a business segment: Broadband Communications Products, Broadband Network Services, and Broadband Management Solutions.

 

Broadband Communications Products (BCP), headquartered in Meriden, Connecticut, with an engineering facility in State College, Pennsylvania, supporting production facilities in Mexico and Austria, and sales offices around the world, is responsible for development, management, production, support, and sale of our advanced fiber optic, digital video transport, and radio frequency equipment.

 

1


Broadband Network Services (BNS), headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado, with satellite offices throughout the U.S., provides broadband network engineering and design services, network integration services, outside plant and construction services, outsourced operational services, and consulting services. BNS is one of the nation’s largest non-cable operator-affiliated technical forces serving the cable industry.

 

Broadband Management Solutions (BMS), headquartered in Pleasanton, California, with an engineering facility in State College, Pennsylvania, is responsible for development, integration, management, implementation, support, and sale of our operations support system software solutions to operate and manage reliable, high-quality multi-service networks.

 

Our principal customers include many of the largest cable operators in the United States, such as Adelphia Communications, Cablevision Systems, Charter Communications, Comcast, Cox Communications, Insight Communications, Mediacom Communications, and Time Warner Cable; a number of smaller domestic cable operators; and numerous international cable operators. These customers primarily operate hybrid fiber coax networks for delivering video, voice, and data services to homes and businesses. Our customer base also includes telephone companies and broadcasters who purchase digital video transport equipment.

 

See Note T to the consolidated financial statements for financial information relating to each of the business segments for fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001.

 

On September 16, 2002, we completed the acquisition of Philips Broadband Networks (PBN), a global provider of broadband products and services with a strong customer base in Europe and Asia. Following the completion of the purchase, PBN became part of our BCP division. As part of the integration of PBN into the BCP division,  C-COR conducted a product rationalization process to eliminate redundant offerings and consolidate production facilities (including the closing of PBN’s Manlius, New York, facility) to streamline operations. With the PBN acquisition, we have increased our customer and installed equipment base in international markets and have expanded our optical product capabilities.

 

See Note B to the consolidated financial statements for further information relating to business combinations.

 

Industry Overview

 

A local hybrid fiber coax network (also known as the metro-access tier of the network) consists of (i) a headend where information is received from a third-party operation (such as satellite, Internet gateway, or telephony network) or from another of the cable operator’s facilities; (ii) a transmission infrastructure that distributes the signal throughout the local network; and (iii) connections from the local transmission network to the end-users or subscribers. Historically, these systems offered one-way only video service.

 

During the past decade, the cable industry, like other segments of the communications industry, has undergone substantial change as a result of:

 

  Ÿ   demand by consumers for two-way, high-speed broadband communications to accommodate Internet, telephony, video-on-demand (VOD), high definition television (HDTV), and other new information services that are customized to meet specific end-user demand; and

 

  Ÿ   deregulation that allows competition among both wireline and wireless telephone companies as well as cable operators for communications services.

 

For the cable operator, these factors have resulted in:

 

  Ÿ   deployment of multiple two-way subscriber application services over the cable network;

 

2


  Ÿ   greater utilization of fiber optic technology for maximum network performance and reliability;

 

  Ÿ   the need for more sophisticated network and service management products as well as technical field services to support the complexity of advanced two-way broadband communications systems; and

 

  Ÿ   consolidation among cable operators to achieve additional scale and strengthen their balance sheets.

 

While these evolving changes have provided many opportunities for cable equipment suppliers, current market conditions are volatile due to a number of factors, including:

 

  Ÿ   a reassessment by cable operators of capital spending requirements with the objective of balancing subscriber demand for advanced services with the financial market expectation of solid financial results, and, in particular, a renewed emphasis on generating positive cash flow and increasing revenue generated per subscriber;

 

  Ÿ   the transition of most major domestic operators from large-scale network upgrades to more targeted capital investment tied to the roll-out of advanced services over smaller network segments;

 

  Ÿ   delayed spending due to economic conditions in the international markets for network upgrades to support two-way capability for advanced voice, video, and data services;

 

  Ÿ   consolidation of cable equipment suppliers providing network products and services to global broadband operators; and

 

  Ÿ   the current macroeconomic environment that is affecting cable subscriber demand for network services, thereby influencing the cable operators’ timing for service roll-out and network improvements.

 

These market challenges in fiscal 2003 caused a decline in demand for our products and services. We responded by controlling our costs, reducing our workforce as appropriate, consolidating facilities to operate more efficiently, and acquiring Philips Broadband Networks to expand our international and domestic customer base.

 

Strategy Overview

 

Our strategic goal is to balance our business base across three distinct market segments: advanced telecommunications products; operations management software solutions; and technical field services. We seek to implement this strategy through both internal development of new products and services as well as acquisitions. Specific aspects of our strategy include:

 

Providing a Comprehensive Hybrid Fiber Coax Network Product Line.    We offer a full range of radio frequency and fiber optic transmission products to transmit signals in both directions over hybrid fiber coax networks between “the headend and the curb.” In addition, we offer digital video transport products, which are used primarily by telephone and broadcast companies to optically transport a wide variety of uncompressed video, audio, and data signals over wide and/or metropolitan areas.

 

Providing Broadband Management Software Solutions to Enhance Network Integrity.    Network integrity and reliability have become critical needs as hybrid fiber coax network traffic and complexity have grown and as these networks are increasingly used by multiple service providers. Traditional approaches to managing hybrid fiber coax networks focus on monitoring limited, individual elements of the network, such as cable modems or power supplies. In contrast, C-COR’s Integrated Service Management (ISM) suite of software application modules allows cable operators to automate and proactively manage their network integrity and service delivery processes across multi-technology, multi-service, multi-vendor, and multi-ISP networks.

 

3


Delivering Total Network Solutions to Meet the Emerging Broadband Needs of Hybrid Fiber Coax Network Operators.    We are able to offer a broad network solution to cable operators by delivering a comprehensive line of equipment, management software solutions, and network services that they require across the hybrid fiber coax network. We design the network to enhance reliability, deliver the infrastructure equipment and management software, furnish installation and activation services, and provide ongoing network management and support services.

 

Increasing International Sales.    We are currently supplying products and services to a number of international customers, including cable operators in Europe, Asia, Canada, and Latin America. The PBN acquisition expanded our customer base, particularly in Europe and Asia. With our broad product and services offerings, we are supplying comprehensive network solutions to network operators in various international markets who generally prefer to purchase products and services from suppliers offering a more complete product line.

 

Products, Software, and Services

 

We provide broadband communications products, technical services, and management software solutions to support primarily cable operators as they plan, design, build, maintain, and manage complex broadband communications networks. These major market areas of equipment, software, and services are formally represented within the C-COR organization by the following three business divisions:

 

Broadband Communications Products (BCP) provides our advanced fiber optic, digital video transport, and radio frequency telecommunications equipment.

 

Broadband Network Services (BNS) provides technical field services, covering broadband network engineering and design services, outside plant and construction services, outsourced operational services, and consulting services.

 

Broadband Management Solutions (BMS) provides our array of operations management software solutions to operate and manage reliable, high-quality, multi-service networks.

 

Broadband Communications Products

 

C-COR segments the cable network into two technology tiers: metro-access and metro-core. The metro-access tier covers the local hybrid fiber coax network infrastructure delivering signals from the operator’s local headend to the subscriber’s home or to the small and medium enterprise and back. The metro-access tier generally encompasses analog video, quadrature amplitude modulation, and fiber to the premise technologies. The metro-core tier interconnects the service provider’s local headend or point-of-presence with other inter-city operator facilities or with third party operations. An example of metro-core connections would be between a cable operator’s headend and a broadcaster’s facility in transporting quality video over long distances. With our radio frequency and fiber optic equipment as well as our digital video transport product family, C-COR’s Broadband Communications Products division has a market position in both the metro-access and metro-core tiers.

 

Metro-Access Product Families

 

A local hybrid fiber coax network connects a local central content source, typically referred to as the headend, to individual residential or business users through a physical plant of fiber optic and coaxial cables and a variety of electrical and optical devices that modulate, transmit, receive, and amplify the signals as they move through the network. A typical local hybrid fiber coax network consists of three major segments: the headend and hubs, nodes, and the radio frequency plant. C-COR offers a comprehensive range of metro-access technology products for each of these segments. The primary objective of the C-COR metro-access product suite is to efficiently

 

4


utilize bandwidth capacity to accelerate deployment of advanced services. This is accomplished through innovative technology creating converged, high-density smart platforms with universal element management systems.

 

Headend and Hubs

 

The headend receives information from a satellite transmission, Internet gateway, telephony network, or other source and converts this information to laser modulated optical signals for transmission across the local network. Larger networks feature both primary headends and a series of secondary headends or hubs. C-COR offers a broad range of headend and hub equipment under our CHP Max5000 Converged Headend Platform that combines headend, hub, and compressed digital video transport onto one fully managed, scalable platform. The CHP Max5000 includes several transmission and access options, including analog and digital transmitters and receivers. The CHP Max5000 2RU platform supports ten application modules providing the smallest footprint and highest density headend platform on the market. A standard 6-foot rack holds up to 200 CHP Max5000 transmitters, providing exceptional space efficiency in the headend area, while reducing power consumption and equipment cooling costs. The innovative design of the CHP Max5000 lowers the capital costs of delivering more bandwidth per subscriber while enabling network operators to increase their bandwidth capacity for provisioning of advanced services, such as video-on-demand, high-speed Internet access, and voice-over-IP.

 

Nodes

 

The general function of the node in the local hybrid fiber coax network is to convert information from optical signals to radio frequency signals for distribution to the home or business. C-COR’s Opti Max Optimum Node Series ranges from advanced fully-segmentable to fiber deep platforms offering superior performance and cost efficiency required to meet the demands of the most advanced network architectures. The Opti Max4000 Advanced Fully Segmentable Node Platform provides field scalability that incorporates one-to-four node operations on the same platform, thereby preserving the network operator’s investment while offering growth to meet service-increasing demands. The Opti Max1000 Fiber Deep Node Platform combines cost-efficient design and superior performance. The Opti Max Optimum Node Series also offers a wide selection of optical transmission options and platforms, ranging from one-to-four coaxial outputs that provide solutions to optimize network operator flexibility. For fiber-challenged applications seeking maximum geographical reach, DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing), CWDM (Coarse Wavelength Division Multiplexing), and digital multiplexing technologies are incorporated to increase the volume of information transmitted over a single fiber. Opti Max nodes utilize space and cost-saving scalable technology that allows network operators to have a “pay-as-they-grow” approach in deploying their infrastructure, minimizing capital expenditures, while maximizing network service availability and performance.

 

Radio Frequency Plant Equipment

 

The radio frequency plant comprises products that transmit information between the optical nodes and subscribers. These products are essentially radio frequency amplifiers that come in various configurations such as trunks, bridgers, and line extenders. A trunk amplifier handles a large amount of information in a network when the node size is greater than 500 homes. A bridger splits the signal to send it to a greater number of destinations. Line extenders move the information to the home or business. C-COR’s Flex Max Series of Flexible Amplifiers offers a wide variety of aerial and cabinet-mount amplifiers. Our robust and reliable aerial trunk, bridger, and line extender amplifiers provide excellent forward and return path performance for architectures delivering both analog and digital channels. Our highly flexible cabinet-mount amplifiers include high-performance trunk and bridger amplifiers, high-output line extenders, and multi-dwelling unit (MDU) amplifiers. Representing one of the largest installed bases in the industry, the Flex Max Series of Flexible Amplifiers uses drop-in replacement modules to provide cost-savings upgrade applications.

 

5


Metro-Core Product Family

 

C-COR’s DV6000/DV6400 family of transport products are capable of digitally transporting over optical cables a wide variety of video, audio, and data signals to the service provider’s local headend or point-of-presence. Since the establishment of the original DV6000 system in 1993, the DV product family has evolved and continues to be enhanced into one of the most widely used and cost-effective fiber optic transport systems available in the industry. C-COR’s DV platforms are used by major telecommunications providers around the world to carry prominent video programming.

 

Summary of C-COR’s Metro-Access and Metro-Core Products

 

The following table summarizes our major products and their primary functions and features:

 


Product Families    Product Line    Product Description

Metro-Access Headend and Hubs

   CHP Max5000 Converged
Headend Platform
        High density platform that maximizes limited headend rack space.
               Designed for thermal efficiency with chassis-mount fans that create superior airflow and offer better reliability than module-based fans.
               Supports both 1310 nm and 1550 nm wavelengths, and analog and digital signals.
               Flexible and scalable platform comprises a chassis and any combination of plug-in application modules to meet virtually any system requirement.
               Price/performance of low-power transmitters enable operators to dedicate one transmitter to each node, thereby nearly quadrupling system bandwidth capacity for advanced subscriber services.

Metro-Access Nodes

   Opti Max1000, 2000,
3000, and 4000 Optimum
Node Series
        Provides strand-mount and cabinet-mount node options.
             Incorporates Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) technology, element management system capabilities, and digital return capabilities.
               Offers a wide selection of optical modules that include DWDM and CWDM return solutions.
               Offers service providers a new fiber-deep node platform enabling the cost-effective launch of advanced services deep into HFC networks that may currently be fiber poor.

Metro-Access Radio Frequency Plant

   Flex Max200, 320, 340,
400, 500, and 900 Series
of Flexible Amplifiers
        Offers a variety of aerial and cabinet-mount trunk and bridger amplifiers, line extenders, and multi-dwelling unit (MDU) amplifiers.
             Supports the forward and return path performance demands of even the most rigorous network architectures delivering analog and digital channels.
               Provides either enhanced GaAs technology or C-COR’s proprietary Transfer Linearization Technology to improve system performance and lower costs.

 

6



Product Families    Product Line   Product Description

Metro-Core Digital Video Transport System

   DV6000, DV6408,
DV6444, DVSAS
and DV6300
Video Transport
Products
    Supports any broadband video transport application including contribution quality video, broadcaster interconnection, remote video collection/backhaul, CATV backbones and headend consolidation, surveillance networks, and interactive distance learning.
           Offers a number of architecture combinations as well as video, audio, and data interfaces.
           Known for its high signal quality and system flexibility and reliability.
           Used to transport prominent video programming around the world.

 

New Products and/or Developments

 

During fiscal year 2003, C-COR completed an intensive product rationalization process covering C-COR legacy metro-access product lines and the product lines from our acquisition of certain operations of ADC Telecommunications, Inc. (ADC) and of PBN to eliminate redundant offerings and consolidate capabilities into complementary lines of equipment. Following completion of the product rationalization, C-COR announced its newly branded line of metro-access equipment—CHP Max Converged Headend Platform, Opti Max Optimum Node Series, and Flex Max Series of Flexible Amplifiers—at a major industry show in May 2003. Of these, the Opti Max1000 Fiber Deep Platform is a new product development targeted to service providers who are launching advanced services in fiber-poor networks. The Opti Max1000 increases bandwidth and thus revenue potential of network operators with minimum capital expenditures.

 

In addition, during fiscal year 2003, C-COR continued to develop and deploy several enhancements to its metro-core DV video transport product line. These on-going efforts include:

 

  Ÿ   Multi-Port DVB-ASI (Digital Video Broadcast-Asynchronous Serial Interface) and SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) 310M Interface Cards which enable DVB-ASI and SMPTE 310M signals to be transported in one timeslot of any DV6000 family product line. These interface cards have application for broadcasters moving from analog to digital-based studio equipment in support of digital television and for cable operators looking to provide video-on-demand, both of which require efficient means of transporting digital video content.

 

  Ÿ   SONET (Synchronous Optical Network)/SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) Optical Transceiver Module which uses a standards-based physical layer interface to extend the high quality audio and video signal capabilities of the DV6000 Digital Transport System over metro and long haul networks to other geographically diverse DV networks.

 

  Ÿ   Ethernet Tributary and Switch Interface Cards which enable the transport of Ethernet over the DV digital video transport system by providing interface and switching functionality.

 

  Ÿ   Combination Video, Audio, and Data Interface Card, an easily installed, one-module solution for the transport of video, audio and serial data. Once encoded, various combinations of these signals can be transported along with any other signal types with which the DV interfaces to decoders at one or more locations throughout the network. These modules are ideal for use in pan-tilt-zoom control for remote cameras, remote terminal connections, or other similar applications.

 

  Ÿ   SMPTE 259M Switch Interface Modules which enable DV users to interface channels from their DV product lines with the ports of digital switches. This interoperability reduces complexity, improves end-to-end performance, and enables significant equipment savings for operators of switched video and audio networks.

 

7


Broadband Network Services

 

With offices located throughout the U.S., C-COR’s Broadband Network Services division offers technical services for engineering, design, and deployment of advanced subscriber services over broadband networks. The technical services provided by the Broadband Network Services division include:

 


Service    Description

Outside Plant Technical Services

   Hands-on technical services performed in the customer’s plant. These are highly complex tasks largely centered on the conversion of the cable operator’s plant from a one-way analog video medium to a two-way, fully interactive broadband pipe, and the continuing operation of it as such. Among the services provided are system sweep, reverse path activation, ingress mitigation, node certification, plant hardening, cable testing, cable repair, system maintenance, contract service calls, process design, personnel development and training, project management, installation, coaxial and fiber splicing, and aerial and underground construction.

Network Integration Technical Services and Consulting

   Systems integration and installation services for data, telephony, and digital video platforms for both network operators and network equipment manufacturers. Consulting services, including process design advisory services, statistical process control system design, network design, and specification consulting, are also provided. Network systems integration technicians perform hands-on services covering “rack and stack” final assembly and deployment of cable modem termination systems, dense wavelength division multiplexing lasers, and hybrid fiber coax telephony systems, among others.

Outsourced Operational Services

   Full outsourcing services in handling field operations, including technical management, system maintenance, customer service calls, and installation activity.

Network Design and Field Engineering Services

   Network design services, including walkout, strand digitizing, radio frequency and optical fiber network design, electronics network drafting, design quality control, drafting and documentation, engineering consultation, system data archiving, and project management.

 

Broadband Management Solutions

 

C-COR’s Broadband Management Solutions division develops operations support system solutions that enable our customers to automate and proactively manage their networks and service delivery processes. C-COR’s Integrated Services Management (ISM) suite of operations support system software applications delivers a unified view of customers, quality of service, and network performance. During fiscal year 2003, BMS added a new module under the ISM umbrella: the Network Configuration Manager (NCM), a software application that documents network topology.

 

8


The ISM currently incorporates the following specific application modules:

 


Application Module    Description

Network Service Manager (NSM)

   A cross-domain network surveillance and performance management solution that provides accurate discovery and status monitoring of enterprise-wide, hybrid, multi-vendor, multi-functional network infrastructures. Information is integrated with customer service, workforce management, billing data sources, and other operations support system solutions to provide a real-time view of network, customer, and service status.

Mobile Workforce Manager (MWM)

   A suite of field service management applications designed to maximize the potential of each customer contact, improve operational efficiency, and enhance customer service. The Mobile Workforce Manager uses the simplicity and sophistication of browser-based business applications, combined with wireless data connectivity and mobile computing devices, to empower technical field representatives in more efficiently provisioning, maintaining, and selling broadband management services.

Network Configuration
Manager (NCM)

   A network information management software application that captures, edits, and displays both inside and outside HFC plant network information. Capturing the network topology data in a single information repository provides complete and timely access to network inventory data for planning, design, construction, and maintenance processes. NCM represents the logical and physical connectivity of the network—a fundamental for performing accurate fault management within the Network Service Manager application.

 

Significant Customers

 

During the past fiscal year, our customers have included almost all of the largest cable system operators in the United States, as well as a number of smaller domestic cable operators, numerous international cable operators, and telephone companies and broadcasters interested in digital video transport products. Our largest customers during fiscal year 2003 were Comcast and Time Warner Cable, accounting for 19% and 17%, respectively, of net sales. Our largest customers during fiscal year 2002 were Adelphia Communications, Charter Communications, and Time Warner Cable, accounting for 30%, 11%, and 10%, respectively, of net sales. Our largest customers during fiscal year 2001 were Adelphia Communications, Cox Communications, Time Warner Cable, and Charter Communications, which accounted for 17%, 15%, 15%, and 12%, respectively, of net sales. All of these principal customers purchase both products and services.

 

See Note P to the consolidated financial statements for further information relating to concentration of credit risk.

 

Sales and Distribution

 

Our sales and distribution are corporate functions focused on maximizing the synergies of C-COR’s three market offerings—equipment, services, and software—as a comprehensive network solution. Sales and distribution are organized into two major global regions: the first covering the Americas, and the second covering the EuroPacific area.

 

9


Sales efforts are conducted from our headquarters in Pennsylvania; from offices in Europe, Canada, Asia, and Australia; from regional sales offices located throughout the United States; and through numerous sales and distribution channel partners around the world.

 

We sell our products and services in the United States through our direct sales force, national account representatives, and sales and distribution channel partners. Our direct sales force is organized by geographic regions and approaches the customer at the system level, and our national account representatives approach the customer at the corporate level. A highly qualified technical staff supports our sales force. They work closely with customers to design systems, develop technical proposals, and assist with installation and post-sale support.

 

International sales in Europe, Asia, and Canada are made both through our direct sales force and channel partners, while sales in Latin America are made through channel partners. Sales management for Europe is located in our Netherlands office, for Asia in our offices in Australia and Mainland China, and for Canada and Latin America from our headquarters in State College, Pennsylvania. For fiscal year 2003, our international sales represented 28% of consolidated net sales. In fiscal years 2002 and 2001, international sales were 13% and 13%, respectively, of net sales. The increase in fiscal year 2003 is a result of expansion of our customer base and installed equipment base, resulting from the acquisition of PBN.

 

Additionally, we provide 24x7 technical support, both directly and through channel partners, as well as training for customers and channel partners, as required, both in our facilities and at our customers’ sites.

 

Our marketing function develops strategies for product lines and, in conjunction with the sales force, identifies evolving technical and application needs of customers. The marketing function is also responsible for demand forecasting and general support of the sales force.

 

C-COR utilizes a corporate-wide ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system, accessible by C-COR personnel worldwide. The ERP system automates and standardizes key corporate functions in finance, manufacturing, purchasing, and customer service management.

 

Backlog

 

We schedule production of our Broadband Communications Products division’s equipment based on our backlog, informal commitments from customers, and sales projections. Our backlog consists of firm orders by customers for delivery within the next 12 months. The majority of equipment backlog typically is shipped within one-to-two quarters. In contrast, backlog in the Broadband Management Solutions and Broadband Network Services divisions typically reflects longer-term systems development and field service projects that convert into revenue over a 12-month period.

 

At June 27, 2003, our backlog of orders was $54.3 million, including $25.8 million for Broadband Communications Products, $20.8 million for Broadband Network Services, and $7.7 million for Broadband Management Solutions.

 

Anticipated orders from customers may fail to materialize and delivery schedules may be deferred or canceled for a number of reasons, including reductions in capital spending by network operators, customer financial difficulties, annual capital spending budget cycles, and construction delays.

 

Research and Product Development

 

We operate in an industry that is subject to rapid changes in technology. Our ability to compete successfully depends in large part upon anticipating such changes. Accordingly, we engage in ongoing research and

 

10


development activities that are intended to advance existing product lines and develop or evaluate new products. Our current research and product development focus is on optical equipment, operations support system software solutions, and emerging packet-based technologies, architectures, and standards that impact critical areas, such as bandwidth management for multiple cable subscriber services.

 

Product managers in both the Broadband Communications Products and Broadband Management Solutions divisions have responsibility for the product life cycle of specific hardware or software products from concept through development, expansion, and end-of-life. In this role, the product managers coordinate with a variety of C-COR professionals from sales, marketing, engineering, and technical support to develop and implement product plans. The Broadband Communications Products division, specifically, utilizes a concurrent product development program to enhance the division’s capability to produce new products within an optimal time frame. The program addresses a number of key business activities, including portfolio management, innovation, product selection, product definition, electronic design and testing, selection of new product components, prototyping and piloting, and the ability to rapidly commercialize a new product.

 

During the past fiscal year, research and product development expenditures were primarily directed at expanding our fiber optic technology, developing new platforms for next-generation broadband applications, and expanding our deployments of operations support system software applications. We also continued with product development process improvements to reduce cycle time to design, reduce manufacturing costs, and improve design quality.

 

During fiscal years 2003, 2002, and 2001, we spent $27.0 million, $27.1 million, and $17.4 million, respectively, on research and product development. Research and product development expenses in the Broadband Communications Products division were $21.2 million, $17.9 million and $10.1 million, respectively, for fiscal years 2003, 2002, and 2001. Research and product development expenses in the Broadband Management Solutions division were $5.3 million, $8.3 million, and $6.7 million, respectively, for fiscal years 2003, 2002, and 2001. Other research and product development expenses, not allocated to segments, were $544,000, $900,000 and $600,000, respectively, for fiscal years 2003, 2002, and 2001. All research and product development expenditures have been expensed. Anticipated product development initiatives are expected to result in increased research and product development expense in future years.

 

Competition

 

The broadband communications markets are dynamic and highly competitive, requiring substantial resources of those companies that compete in these markets, skilled and experienced personnel, and a capability to anticipate and capitalize on change. Our Broadband Communications Products division competes with other companies, including Motorola’s Broadband Communications Sector (formerly General Instrument Corporation), Scientific Atlanta, Inc., and Harmonic, Inc., some of which are large publicly traded companies that may have greater financial, technical, and marketing resources than we do.

 

Equipment from our Broadband Communications Products division is marketed with emphasis on quality, differentiating features, and business case, and is generally priced competitively with other manufacturers’ product lines. Product reliability and performance, technological innovation, responsive customer service, breadth of product offering, and pricing are several of the key criteria for competition.

 

With regard to our Broadband Management Solutions and Broadband Network Services divisions, there are several competing vendors offering network management, mobile workforce management, and network configuration management systems as well as technical services in the United States, some of which may currently have greater sales in these areas than we do. However, we believe that we offer a more integrated solution that is tailored to the requirements of hybrid fiber coax network operators.

 

11


Employees

 

We had approximately 1,170 employees as of August 28, 2003.

 

Suppliers

 

We closely monitor supplier delivery performance and quality. We employ a strategy of limiting the total number of global suppliers to those who are quality leaders in their respective specialties and who will work with us as partners in the supply chain. Typical items purchased are die cast aluminum housings, radio frequency hybrids, printed circuit boards, fiber optic lasers, and standard electronic components. Although a few of the components we use are single-sourced, we have experienced no significant difficulties during the past fiscal year in obtaining adequate quantities of raw materials and component parts.

 

We outsource the manufacture and repair of certain assemblies and modules where it is cost-effective to do so or where there are advantages with respect to delivery times. Current outsourcing arrangements include certain power supplies, accessories, optical modules, digital return modules, circuit boards, repair services, and small-lot manufacturing.

 

Intellectual Property

 

We hold eighteen (18) U. S. patents and have fourteen (14) patents pending in the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office. In addition, we hold an exclusive license, for use in our field, for thirty-one (31) ADC U. S. patents and patent applications and a non-exclusive license for forty-six (46) Philips U. S. patents, relating to fiber optic and radio frequency transmission equipment and technology, and network management techniques and services. We attempt to protect our intellectual property through patents, trademarks, copyrights, and a program of maintaining certain technology as trade secrets.

 

Item 2.    Properties

 

We operate the following principal facilities:

 

Location


  

Principal Use


   Segment

    Approximate
Square Feet


  

(O) Owned

(L) Leased


State College, Pennsylvania

   Administrative Offices and Development Engineering    All     133,000    O

Tijuana, Mexico

   Manufacturing    (1 )   89,400    L

Meriden, Connecticut

   Administrative Offices, Manufacturing, and Development Engineering    (1 )   98,600    L

Klagenfurt, Austria

   Administrative Offices, Manufacturing, and Development Engineering    (1 )   21,700    L

Almere, The Netherlands

   Administrative Offices    (1 )   5,100    L

Lakewood, Colorado

   Administrative Offices    (2 )   4,500    L

Pleasanton, California

   Development and Administrative Offices    (3 )   18,700    L

 

Segment:

 

  (1)   Broadband Communications Products
  (2)   Broadband Network Services
  (3)   Broadband Management Solutions

 

12


We are approved for ISO 9001:2000 registration at our State College, Meriden, Klagenfurt, and Tijuana facilities. C-COR’s quality management system includes quality assurance in design, development, production, installation, and servicing. Criteria for registration are set by the International Organization for Standardization, whose function is to develop global standards in an effort to improve the exchange of goods and services internationally. This designation builds on our reputation as a high-quality, global provider of transmission electronics.

 

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

 

Certain former security holders and employees of Convergence.com Corporation, a company that we acquired in fiscal year 2000, filed claims against C-COR in March 2001 alleging violations of state securities laws and certain other state law claims under a stock option plan. The complaint alleges that the damages suffered by the individuals approximate $2.1 million, which is based on the amount of stock options multiplied by the highest price of C-COR’s common stock since the acquisition, and does not take into account the exercise price which the plaintiffs would have had to pay to the Company if the options were exercised. The plaintiffs also petitioned for treble damages, an undetermined amount of punitive damages and reimbursement of attorneys’ fees. We believe that we have defenses to these claims and are contesting them vigorously; however, we cannot be sure that we will be successful in defending these claims.

 

Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Securities Holders

 

There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended June 27, 2003.

 

Executive Officers of the Registrant

 

All executive officers of C-COR are elected annually by the Board of Directors to serve in their offices for the next succeeding year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The listing immediately following this paragraph gives certain information about our executive officers, including the age, present position and business experience during the past five years.

 

Name


   Age

  

Position/Experience


David A. Woodle

   47    Chairman since October 2000; Chief Executive Officer since July 20, 1998; Vice President and General Manager, Strategic Systems of Raytheon Systems Company, a company providing computer systems integration services to government and commercial customers, from January 1998 to July 1998; Vice President and General Manager, Raytheon E-Systems, HRB Systems from June 1996 to January 1998; Director, Morefield Communications, Inc., from January 2002 to December 2002.

Mary G. Beahm

   43    Corporate Vice President, Human Resources since August 2001; Vice President, Human Resources from November 1998 to August 2001; Human Resources Consultant, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, a company providing products and services to government and commercial industries, from August 1987 to November 1998. Board of Trustees, The Pennsylvania State University since 1990.

 

13


Name


   Age

  

Position/Experience


John O. Caezza

   45    President, Broadband Communications Products division since August 2001; Vice President and General Manager, Broadband Communications Division of ADC Telecommunications, Inc., a major manufacturer of uncompressed digital transport, opto-electronic, and radio frequency products for the broadband communications market, from May 2000 to August 2001; Vice President, Engineering, Philips Broadband Networks, Inc., a major international manufacturer of opto-electronic and radio frequency products for the broadband communications market, from June 1996 to May 2000.

David J. Eng

   50    Corporate Vice President, Americas Business since August 2001; Sr. Vice President, Sales, Americas Business, from February 2000 to August 2001; Sr. Vice President, Worldwide Sales from March 1997 to February 2000.

Douglas W. Engerman

   47    President, Broadband Management Solutions, LLC since August 2001; Vice President and General Manager, Broadband Management Services from June 2001 to August 2001; Senior Vice President for Project Implementation and Customer Support at Mobile Data Solutions, Inc. (MDSI), a provider of wireless software application solutions to the energy, utility, telecommunications, cable, and insurance industries worldwide, from November 1999 to June 2001; Senior Vice President, Utilities Business Unit at MDSI from November 1998 to November 1999; Vice President of Sales, Utilities Business Unit at MDSI from July 1997 to November 1998.

William T. Hanelly

   47    Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Treasurer since August 2001; Vice President, Finance, Secretary, and Treasurer from October 1998 to August 2001; Regional Controller, Raytheon, a company providing computer systems integration services to government and commercial customers, from May 1998 to October 1998.

Paul E. Janson

   44    President, Broadband Network Services, Inc. since August 2001; President and Chief Executive Officer of Worldbridge Broadband Services from October 2000 to August 2001; Vice President, Technical Services of Worldbridge Broadband Services, a business unit of C-COR, from February 2000 to October 2000; Chief Operating Officer, Worldbridge Broadband Services, Inc., a provider of technical field services to broadband network operators, from October 1998 to February 2000.

Gerhard B. Nederlof

   55    Corporate Vice President, EuroPacific Business since August 2001; Sr. Vice President, EuroPacific Business from February 2000 to August 2001; Sr. Vice President, Broadband Management Services from July 1999 to February 2000; Sr. Vice President, Marketing from September 1998 to July 1999.

Kenneth A. Wright

   47    Chief Technology Officer since October 2000; Chief Technology Officer, 21e.net from October 1999 to October 2000; Chief Technical Officer, InterMedia Partners, a multiple cable system operator (MSO), from February 1995 to September 1999.

 

14


PART II

 

Item 5.    Market for the Registrant’s Common Stock

 

The Company’s common stock is traded on The Nasdaq National Market under the symbol of CCBL. The range of high and low price information as reported by Nasdaq follows:

 

     High

   Low

2002

             

Quarter ended

             

September 30, 2001

   $ 13.10    $ 5.32

December 31, 2001

   $ 15.20    $ 5.50

March 31, 2002

   $ 19.45    $ 12.90

June 30, 2002

   $ 18.01    $ 5.20

2003