UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One) |
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 |
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OR |
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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 001-32255
ANSWERS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
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98-0202855 |
(State or other jurisdiction of |
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(I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation or organization) |
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Identification No.) |
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237 West 35th Street, Suite 1101, New York, N.Y. |
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10001 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (646) 502-4777
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class |
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Name of each exchange on which registered |
Common Stock |
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The NASDAQ Global Market |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No x
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x
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 o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrants 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 x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o |
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Accelerated filer x |
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Non-accelerated filer o |
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Smaller reporting company o |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes o No x
The aggregate market value of the registrants common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, computed by reference to price at which the common equity was sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common stock as of June 29, 2007, was $80,639,387. For purposes of this computation, the registrant has excluded the market value of all shares of its common stock reported as being beneficially owned by executive officers and directors and holders of more than 10% of the common stock on a fully diluted basis of the registrant; such exclusion shall not, however, be deemed to constitute an admission that any such person is an affiliate of the registrant. As of March 30, 2008, there were 7,859,890 issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the registrant.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2
References to Web Property Usage Measurements
Throughout this Annual Report, we refer to estimates of traffic. We track the traffic on our Answers.com and WikiAnswers Web properties using two separate systems. Our Answers.com traffic is measured using our internally developed server-side, log-based system. This system is designed to identify traffic from search engine robots and other known Web robots, commonly referred to as Web spiders or Web crawlers, as well as from suspected automated spidering scripts. Traffic from these sources is excluded from the traffic activity measurements.
Through the first quarter of 2007, we reported traffic based on website queries, or traffic directly to one of our Answers.com topic pages. Beginning with the second quarter of 2007, we report traffic based on the more widely recognized industry standard metric of page views. Page views include traffic directly to Answers.com home page, but exclude lookups conducted through 1-Click Answers, AnswerTips and traffic from partners who pay us for providing them our answer-based services. Based on our internal analysis, we estimate the number of Answers.com page views to be approximately 13% higher than the number of Answers.com queries. This difference is primarily the result of including home page visits in the page view traffic estimates. Traffic and revenue per thousand page views, or RPM, data for the first quarter of 2005 through the first quarter of 2007, as presented in this Annual Report, is the result of a conversion of our previously reported Answers.com query data to estimated page views. The converted Answers.com traffic data represents the product of the historical query data multiplied by 1.13, to adjust historical website query data to the new methodology. Historical RPM for those periods will therefore be approximately 13% lower than amounts reported prior to our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007.
With respect to WikiAnswers traffic, we use Visual Sciences, Inc., formerly known as WebSideStory, Inc., HBX Analytics tag-based web analytics system. Traffic measurements from this system are generated by our placement of tags on our WikiAnswers Web pages. The HBX Analytics system then independently generates traffic metrics. WikiAnswers community-related statistics, including total number of questions, answers and users, are generated from the WikiAnswers Web property.
We also use Google Analytics measurement services. These measurements are generated by our placement of tags on our Web properties pages, which Google Analytics uses to count and report audience metrics independently. We primarily use Google Analytics in cases where other data is unavailable and for purposes of verification of estimates derived from other measurement systems.
Third party services measuring traffic audiences may provide different estimates than the estimates reported by other external services and the estimates reported by internal tracking. These discrepancies may result from differences in methodologies applied or the sampling approaches used by each measuring service.
3
ANSWERS CORPORATION
Introductory Note
This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward looking statements are based on expectations, estimates, goals and projections as of the date of this filing and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in forward looking statements. See Item 1A of part I Risk Factors.
We were incorporated as a Texas corporation in December 1998 and reorganized as a Delaware corporation in April 1999. In October 2005, we changed our name from GuruNet Corporation to Answers Corporation. Our principal executive offices are located in New York, NY. In addition, we have an office in Jerusalem, Israel. We completed our initial public offering in October 2004 and our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol ANSW.
In this Annual Report, Answers, we, us and our refer to Answers Corporation and its subsidiary, GuruNet Israel Ltd.
We use various trademarks and trade names in our business, including without limitation Answers.comTM, AnswerTipsTM, WikiAnswersTM, 1-Click AnswersTM, AnswerRankTM and BrainboostTM. This Annual Report also contains trademarks and trade names of other businesses that are the property of their respective holders.
Available Information
We make available free of charge at www.answers.com (in the Investor Relations section) copies of materials we file with, or furnish to, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with, or furnish them to, the SEC.
General
We are a leading online answer engine. Our Web properties currently consist of Answers.com and WikiAnswers.com. We offer information related to over 4 million topics based on content from brand-name publishers and our WikiAnswers community. Answers.com combines and presents targeted information from disparate sources and delivers answers to users questions in a single consolidated view. WikiAnswers.com is a user-generated content, or UGC, community-based question and answer site.
According to comScore, a global Internet information provider, our Web properties had approximately 16.67 million unique visitors in February 2008, which ranks Answers Corporation number 53 in the top U.S. Web properties. Our goal is to become the premier online provider of and leading destination for answers to questions.
According to our internal estimates, our Web properties had approximately 480 million page views during the fourth quarter of 2007. During the same period, based on these estimates, approximately 65% of our traffic was generated by search engines; 10% by the definition link appearing on Googles website result pages; and 25% from direct traffic, which consists of traffic resulting from a direct type-in of our URL, a bookmarked Favorite, a direct link from other Web properties, a downloaded toolbar, or other software or utilities we make available.
We believe our valuable content and overall user experience drives traffic to our Web properties, which in turn drives advertising revenue. Our revenue is derived primarily from third party ad networks, which aggregate Web properties looking to monetize their Web traffic and advertisers seeking to advertise on the Internet. We expect that direct advertising efforts have the potential for future monetization improvements.
Products & Services
Answers.com
Answers.com, launched in January 2005, aggregates over 4 million topics in categories including health and medical, legal, business and finance, science and technology, history, reference and language from brand-name publishers and other sources. Our technology combines and presents targeted information from disparate sources and delivers answers to users questions in a single consolidated view.
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Our content includes over 180 licensed titles from leading offline and online publishers. The publishers we currently license content from include, among many others:
· All Media Guide;
· Barrons Educational Series;
· Encyclopedia Britannica;
· Houghton Mifflin Company;
· Oxford University Press; and
· Gale.
We attribute the data source of information on each Web page, enabling our users to make an independent evaluation as to the credibility of the content.
WikiAnswers.com
WikiAnswers is a UGC community-based question and answer site where users ask questions and the community answers them. This question and answer site is currently differentiated from other popular question and answer sites which facilitate a forum where users can ask and answer questions, often repeating the same question in many different ways, but cannot improve upon or edit the questions or answers. WikiAnswers approach allows the community to transform each question and answer into its own wiki page, a collaborative page that can be improved upon by others in the community. In this manner, good answers can potentially become better answers over time; related questions can be merged or physically associated with each other; and ultimately, the community user-experience is enhanced.
Content generation is at the core of our business. The dynamics of UGC, is highly scalable. We believe the size of the community drives the quantity of the content, content attracts additional users which in turn grows the community. We believe this cyclical pattern is the major source of growth for WikiAnswers. WikiAnswers growth facilitates more growth. We have seen a very high correlation between growth in questions and answers and growth in page views. This is the self reinforcing, self sustaining growth engine driving WikiAnswers. We intend to focus on continuing this trend and enhance WikiAnswers to grow the overall community, which in turn should heavily contribute to the overall growth of the sites content and traffic.
Much of the effort of administering WikiAnswers, monitoring its activity and ensuring its steady growth and development is borne by a growing group of external supervisors, the vast majority of whom are not employed by us and not compensated for their efforts. The supervisors are in charge of monitoring questions and answers in specific categories in an effort to ensure questions are being answered timely, prevent vandalism, improve consistency and encourage high-quality contributions. As of December 31, 2007, the community enjoyed the benefit of approximately 200 such supervisors.
WikiAnswers growth has accelerated, particularly beginning in mid-April 2007 when we redesigned the site to increase user engagement and contributions. Based on a 29-day average for the month of February 2008 compared to a 30-day average for the month of October 2006, just prior to our acquisition of WikiAnswers, we have seen the following increases in key performance indicators:
· new users registering with WikiAnswers every day rose from approximately 150 to approximately 2,550;
· questions answered on a daily basis increased from approximately 300 to approximately 4,650; and
· daily new questions being added to our system grew from approximately 300 to approximately 9,700.
WikiAnswers is our primary growth driver. We estimate that in the second half of 2008 WikiAnswers will exceed Answers.com in both traffic and revenue. The dramatic growth of WikiAnswers in 2007, coupled by a Google algorithm change that negatively affected Answers.com are the primary contributors to this shift. We are investing heavily in infrastructure and features to support WikiAnswers growth and anticipate that the disparate growth rates of WikiAnswers and Answers.com will become ever more apparent during 2008.
1-Click Answers and AnswerTips
1-Click Answers is a tool that facilitates access to Answers.com. With 1-Click Answers installed on a computer, a user can click on a word or phrase within virtually any application, such as an e-mail, spreadsheet, document or database, and gain access to Answers.coms online library. Answers.com content related to the word or phrase is displayed in an AnswerTips pop-up information bubble. The AnswerTips feature was incorporated into the release of 1-Click Answers 2.0 in May 2006, and represents the next generation of 1-Click functionality, providing information on any word or term without launching a new browser window.
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Available for users of both Microsoft Windows and Apples Macintosh OS X, 1-Click Answers performs contextual analysis of the words or phrase clicked. For example, when clicking on the word Ford appearing in the context of Ford Motor Company, Harrison Ford, or Gerald Ford, 1-Click Answers will process and recognize the context and deliver information on the vehicle manufacturer, the film star, or the U.S. president, respectively. In Windows, 1-Click Answers also includes a toolbar for query lookup while using Internet Explorer as well as a docked AnswerBar utility. At the end of 2006, 1-Click Answers was added to Microsofts list of recommended add-ons for the Internet Explorer 7 Web browser.
Web-Based AnswerTips
In mid-February 2007, we began offering other Web properties and blogs the ability to provide their users with the 1-Click functionality through our webmaster tool version of AnswerTips, which does not require a download. The Web version of AnswerTips is triggered when a visitor double-clicks a word or phrase on an AnswerTips-enabled site.
Answers from the Web
We own a proprietary natural language search technology, which we refer to as Answers from the Web. Answers from the Web extends Answers.coms abilities beyond our established strengths of integrated encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri and almanacs by allowing a user to obtain answers from the Internet to intuitive and succinct English-language questions. Answers from the Web scours digital content on the web and then ranks candidate answers heuristically, based on its proprietary AnswerRank technology, and displays the most likely results.
Traffic Generation
Our revenues are primarily driven by the traffic generated by our Web properties and our ability to effectively monetize that traffic. Our traffic is primarily generated from free sources. In our Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations prior to our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, we reported RPM based on website queries, or traffic, directly to one of our Answers.com topic pages. Beginning with the Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, we refer to RPM based on page views, or traffic directly to Answers.com including visits to the home page, excluding lookup conducted through 1-Click Answers, AnswerTips and traffic from partners who pay us for providing them our answer-based services. Page views are the more widely recognized industry standard traffic metric. Based upon our internal analysis, we estimate the number of Answers.com page views to be approximately 13% higher than the number of Answers.com queries. This difference is primarily the result of home page visits in the page view traffic estimates. Historical Answers.com RPM in this Annual Report have been modified to conform to the new methodology and are approximately 13% lower than amounts reported prior to our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007.
According to our internal data, the historical average daily page views and RPM of Answers.com and of WikiAnswers are as follows:
Period |
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Average |
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Ad |
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RPM |
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(thousands) |
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$ |
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Answers.com |
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Q-1 2005 |
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1,000,000 |
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107 |
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$ |
1.17 |
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Q-2 2005 |
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2,000,000 |
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357 |
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$ |
1.96 |
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Q-3 2005 |
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1,990,000 |
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500 |
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$ |
2.73 |
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Q-4 2005 |
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2,370,000 |
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807 |
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$ |
3.71 |
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Q-1 2006 |
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2,920,000 |
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1,090 |
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$ |
4.15 |
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Q-2 2006 |
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3,030,000 |
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1,457 |
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$ |
5.29 |
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Q-3 2006 |
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3,400,000 |
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1,810 |
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$ |
5.79 |
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Q-4 2006 |
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4,340,000 |
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2,460 |
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$ |
6.02 |
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Q-1 2007 |
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5,470,000 |
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2,768 |
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$ |
5.62 |
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Q-2 2007 |
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4,890,000 |
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2,551 |
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$ |
5.73 |
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Q-3 2007 |
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3,730,000 |
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1,861 |
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$ |
5.42 |
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Q-4 2007 |
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3,924,000 |
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2,270 |
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$ |
6.29 |
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WikiAnswers |
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Q-1 2007 |
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293,000 |
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116 |
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$ |
4.40 |
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Q-2 2007 |
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440,000 |
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177 |
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$ |
4.42 |
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Q-3 2007 |
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639,000 |
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304 |
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$ |
5.17 |
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Q-4 2007 |
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1,152,000 |
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704 |
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$ |
6.64 |
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For Answers.com, page views include traffic directly to the Answers.com home page, but exclude lookups through 1-Click Answers, AnswerTips and traffic from partners who pay us for providing them our answer-based services
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Our current traffic is primarily generated by search engines, the Google definition link and Answers.com direct users:
Search engines. Our largest source of traffic is search engines, which represented 65% of our traffic for December 2007. We continually seek to improve the volume and optimize the monetization of traffic directed to our Web properties by search engines. The industry commonly refers to these efforts as search engine optimization, or SEO. One of our principle strategic initiatives is centered on our understanding that content drives traffic through SEO. We believe that rich, unique content is valued by the user and by the search engines and their content indexing algorithms. Thus, we have historically focused on adding unique content that has not been broadly offered on the Web. Currently, the Q&A-oriented content belonging to WikiAnswers is playing a growing role in creating rich and unique information. Our additional SEO efforts involve optimizing our Web properties coding, presentation and structure, such as incorporating a clear hierarchical site-structure, and structuring the site to facilitate search engine indexing.
In July 2007, a search engine algorithm adjustment by Google led to a drop in Google directed traffic to Answers.com. This adjustment reduced our overall traffic by approximately 28% based on the average traffic directed to Answers.com from Google for the week prior to the adjustment as compared to the week after. As a result, our revenue also declined proportionately. We have not been able to reverse the impact of this adjustment, and we do not anticipate that we will recover the lost traffic and revenue. In response to the Google algorithm adjustment, we reduced our headcount and related compensation costs, reducing our base payroll expenses by approximately 12%. In September 2007, Yahoo! dropped our content from its search index, which reduced our Yahoo! directed traffic. This action was reversed within a week, and we have recovered all of our Yahoo! directed traffic.
Google definition link. We have an informal, non-contractual relationship with Google, under which Google links to search results related to certain definitional queries to Answers.com.
Direct users. Answers.com also receives traffic from users visiting and returning to our home page directly, through partnering with other Web properties, or via 1-Click Answers and AnswerTips as well as other software and utilities. AnswerTips, implemented on a blog or site simply by adding several lines of Javascript on a Web page, enables readers to click on a word or words to produce an information bubble that offers definitions, biographies, historical background, maps and countless other types of relevant information on any word or phrase clicked. Marketing the feature to sites and blogs has the potential of increasing the visibility of the Answers.com brand and attracting users to our Web properties.
Traffic Monetization
Our business runs on the ability to effectively attract and monetize traffic. Our primary revenue model for monetizing query traffic on our Web properties is advertising derived from the following sources:
Third Party Ad Networks. In 2007, we obtained the bulk of our advertisements through third party ad networks. Third party ad networks generally compensate us by paying us a portion of the revenue they earn from advertisers for our provision of promotional space on our Web properties. Of these current third party ad networks, Google accounted for approximately 64% of our revenues for 2007 and Shopping.com accounted for approximately 9% during the same time period.
Direct Ad Sales. In order to expand upon our existing sources of advertising revenue, we expanded our advertising efforts to direct ad sales by marketing our Web properties to advertisers. In the fourth quarter of 2006 we began marketing directly to advertisers. As of the end of the fourth quarter of 2007, our sales team consisted of our Vice President of Advertising Sales, two sales persons and a sales account manager based out of our New York office, supplemented by a sales person based in the Los Angeles-area. By demonstrating the buying power of the millions of people who use our Web properties each month, we expect increased advertising directly from agencies, online media buyers and various other advertisers. While our direct advertising efforts have the potential to be a driver of future monetization improvements, the results of our direct ad sales team have not reached desired levels.
Our Strategy
We believe our valuable content and overall user experience drives traffic to our Web properties, which in turn drives advertising revenue. The key elements of our strategy to increase revenue include:
Build the WikiAnswers Community
The WikiAnswers community is a source of continuous content creation. We believe the size of the community drives the quantity of the content, content attracts additional users which in turn grows the community. We believe this cyclical pattern is the major source of growth for WikiAnswers. We intend to accelerate this growth by further enhancing WikiAnswers, incorporating new features to maximize user experience and promoting the unique nature of this Q&A platform. We also intend to promote the community through more public relations efforts and marketing programs. We have also dedicated resources to fostering the supervisor community who is in great part responsible for the upkeep of the site and the quality of the repository of questions and answers being accumulated.
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Expand Content
Content is critical to the success of our business. We plan to continue to offer users relevant, unique content, which is valued by the user and recognized by the search engine algorithms. Our content strategy includes adding new, rich and unique content and having our content continually indexed by the search engines.
Improve Traffic Monetization
We strive to improve our traffic monetization rates. In August 2006 we began building our direct sales force and in the fourth quarter of 2006 we began marketing directly to advertisers. In addition, we work with third party ad networks that we believe optimize the average amount of revenue we earn per page view. By demonstrating the buying power of the millions of people who use our Web properties each month, we expect increased advertising directly from agencies, online media buyers and various other advertisers. We believe that our direct advertising has the potential of being a driver of future monetization improvements. On Answers.com, since its launch in January 2005, we have improved our RPM from $1.17 during the first quarter of 2005 to $6.29 for the fourth quarter of 2007. On WikiAnswers, the focus on RPM improvement has begun more recently and we have seen an increase from $5.17 in the third quarter of 2007 to $6.64 for the fourth quarter of 2007.
Enhance the User Experience
We plan to continually enhance the user experience for visitors to our Web properties and further differentiate our Web properties from other online answer engines. We continuously invest in improving these enhancements, which we believe lead to increased user stickiness and user retention.
Strengthen the Answers Brands
We are pursuing a brand development strategy that includes public relations, product features that encourage word-of-mouth sharing, and direct marketing to enhance public awareness of our Web properties. Our branding strategy centers on positioning us as a leading online answer engine, showcasing authoritative content on our rich collection of topics, with a platform for the creation of compelling user-generated content. We believe that building our brand will not only increase traffic to our Web properties directly, but will also encourage search engine visitors to select links to us when our topics appear in search engine results pages. The goal of these marketing efforts is to increase direct traffic to our Web properties, as well as search engine traffic and traffic directed from other sources.
Seek Future Acquisitions or Strategic Relationships
We actively seek opportunities to enhance our services, improve our content offerings or grow our user base. We will continue to explore additional acquisition opportunities or strategic relationships that complement our current operations and strategy.
Content
Scope and Quality of Content
Answers.coms collection of information related to over 4 million topics is drawn from more than 180 licensed titles from leading publishers, user-generated content from Wikipedia articles, user-generated questions and answers from WikiAnswers; and original articles authored by our editorial team. As shown in the taxonomy table below, our services offer users access to a multitude of categories through the following select content categories.
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Category |
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Topics |
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Publishers |
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Business & Finance |
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Accounting terms |
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Finance terms |
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Barrons Educational Series |
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Banking terms |
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Insurance terms |
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Dun & Bradstreet |
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Business plans |
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Investment terms |
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Dow Jones Marketwatch |
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Company history |
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Marketing terms |
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Gale |
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Company news |
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Real Estate terms |
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Investopedia |
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Company profiles |
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Small business |
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Health & Medical |
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Currency conversions |
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US Industry profiles |
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Alternative medicine |
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Medical procedures |
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Elsevier |
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Childrens health |
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Medical tests |
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Gold Standard |
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Genetics encyclopedia |
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Neurological encyclopedia |
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Houghton Mifflin Company |
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Medical diagnosis |
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Oncology encyclopedia |
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Oxford University Press |
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Medical dictionary |
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Public health |
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Gale |
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Medical encyclopedia |
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Surgical encyclopedia |
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Entertainment & People |
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Actors |
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Game info |
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All Media Guide |
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Album reviews |
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General biographies |
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Columbia University Press |
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American authors |
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Movie reviews |
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Encyclopaedia Britannica |
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Artist discographies |
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Music glossary |
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Houghton Mifflin Company |
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Black biographies |
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Political biographies |
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Oxford University Press |
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Business biographies |
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Pop artists |
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Gale |
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Classical albums |
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Scientists |
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Who2 |
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Classical artists |
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TV episodes |
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Science & Technology |
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Animal classification |
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How products are made |
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Computer Language Company |
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Animal encyclopedia |
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Rock & mineral guide |
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Houghton Mifflin Company |
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Archaeology dictionary |
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Science of everyday things |
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Oxford University Press |
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Computer encyclopedia |
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Sci-tech dictionary |
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Gale |
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Electronics dictionary |
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Sci-tech encyclopedia |
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Legal |
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Law dictionary |
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US courts decisions |
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Oxford University Press |
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Law encyclopedia |
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US Supreme Court |
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Gale |
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Arts & Literature |
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African mythology |
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French literature |
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Houghton Mifflin Company |
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Asian mythology |
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German literature |
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Oxford University Press |
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Classical literature |
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Notes on novels |
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Gale |
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Fairy tales |
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World mythology |
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History |
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European history |
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US historical documents |
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Columbia University Press |
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Intelligence & Security |
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US history |
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Encyclopaedia Britannica |
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Mideast history |
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US literature chronology |
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Houghton Mifflin Company |
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Russian history |
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US military history |
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Oxford University Press |
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US foreign policy |
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World chronology |
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Gale |
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Leisure |
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Diet information |
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Local cuisine |
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Barrons Educational Series |
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Fashion encyclopedia |
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Nutritional values |
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Houghton Mifflin Company |
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Food encyclopedia |
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Recipes |
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Oxford University Press |
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Food lover guide |
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Sports information |
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Gale |
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Gardiners dictionary |
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Wine lover guide |
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Reference & Language |
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Abbreviations |
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Idioms |
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Columbia University Press |
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Acronyms |
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New words |
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Encyclopaedia Britannica |
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Content License Agreements
We license content under written agreements with recognized publishers of information. These agreements are generally for fixed periods, mostly ranging from one year and more, renewable by consent of the parties, and entitle us to provide the licensed information to our end users through our services in return for a fixed amount payable over the life of the agreement, either in a lump sum up front or payable over the course of a fixed schedule, either monthly, quarterly or annually.
We also provide content we license at no cost, content publicly available from the Web and content we develop and author independently. We are increasingly looking to license and make available content that is difficult to find elsewhere on the Internet.
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Technology
Research and Development
We devote a substantial portion of our resources to developing new products and services, maintaining and enhancing existing products and services, expanding and improving our fundamental technology and strengthening our technological expertise. In fiscal years 2006 and 2007, we spent approximately $5.9 million and $2.9 million, respectively, on research and development of our products and services. Our engineering and production teams are located in our Jerusalem, Israel development facility, with additional production support provided from our office in New York City. We have developed our technology internally, acquired it or licensed it from an outside vendor.
Hosting Services
We outsource our Web hosting to Data Return LLC, a company that operates and manages our servers in multiple data centers. The servers operate our proprietary software and host the tools and databases required to maintain our consolidated information sources. Our site architecture is globally load balanced among multiple data centers to provide a fully redundant system.
We anticipate that we have the ability to add server capacity and Internet bandwidth as required by our growth in traffic. As our business grows and requires more servers, the economic justification of outsourcing our hosting services to a highly managed hosting provider such as Data Return diminishes. Thus, in 2008, weve begun our collocation migration plan and will be migrating our Web properties to collocation facilities and manage the operations with our own dedicated operations staff. This change may be technologically challenging to implement, take time to test and deploy, cause us to incur substantial costs or data loss, and cause users, advertisers, and affiliates to experience delays or interruptions in our service. These changes, delays or interruptions in our service could cause users and advertisers to become dissatisfied with our service and move to competing providers of online services, reducing the traffic on our Web properties and adversely affecting our business and financial results.
Competition
We face formidable competition in every aspect of our business from numerous Web properties, including vertical content publishers, question and answer sites and other companies that seek to connect users with information on the Internet. We operate in the market for Internet products and services, which is highly competitive and characterized by rapid change, converging technologies and increased competition from companies offering information integrated into other products and media properties. Our ability to compete depends on numerous factors, many of which are outside our control. Some of our current and potential competitors, such as Wikipedia, WebMD.com, TheFreeDictionary.com, Yahoo! Answers, Askville, and Answerbag may have longer operating histories, greater name recognition, larger customer bases and significantly greater financial, technical and marketing resources than we do. Therefore, they may be able to devote greater resources to the development and promotion of their services than we can to ours. Our competitors may develop products and services that are equal or superior to ours or that achieve greater market acceptance. Many of our competitors offer a wider range of products than we do, which could attract our users to competitive sites and, consequently, result in less traffic to our Web properties and reduced advertising-generated revenues.
Search engines can also be viewed as competitors. When people use search engines as their means of locating information on the Web and if they are not directed by the search engines to our Web properties, we lose traffic. At the same time, search engines are also the major providers of query traffic to our Web properties. When our Web properties rank highly or poorly in their algorithm ranking systems it significantly impacts our traffic. Additionally, search engines have begun putting snippets of useful answers at the top of their pages.
We seek to generate ad revenues through CPC or CPM text or graphical advertising or other advertising. We attract users with our services, which is useful and differentiated enough to generate significant query traffic. Once people are using our answers engine and viewing the topics it presents, we have the opportunity to furnish relevant sponsored links and other forms of advertising. Our ability to compete for ad revenue will greatly depend on the degree of success we will have in increasing the number of users who utilize our services and view our AnswerPages and in our ability to properly segment and sell advertisements on such pages.
Advertising Relationships
We obtain the bulk of our advertising revenue through agreements with third party ad networks. Third party ad networks generally compensate us by paying us a portion of the revenue they earn from ads that appear on our Web properties. Two of our third party ad networks, Google and Shopping.com, accounted for approximately 64% and 9%, respectively, of our total revenue in 2007.
Third Party Ad Networks
Google AdSense. In January 2005, we entered into the GSA governing our participation in Google AdSense. Pursuant to the GSA, we display listings from Googles network of advertisers on our Web properties. There are two methods by which AdSense advertisements are generated on our Web properties:
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· AdSense for Search, or AFS; and
· AdSense for Content, or AFC.
In effect, the GSA positions Google as our most significant third party ad network. In December 2005, we amended the GSA in order to obtain Googles permission to display image ads. In September 2007, we entered into a renewal of the GSA, thereby extending its term through January 2010 and improving our revenue-share percentage. Google may terminate the GSA with no advance notice for any of the following reasons:
· breach certain prohibited actions including, among other things,
· editing or modifying the order of search results,
· redirecting end users, producing or distributing any software which prevents the display of ads by Google,
· modifying, adapting or otherwise attempting to obtain source code from Google technology, content, software and documentation or
· engaging in any action or practice that reflects poorly on Google or otherwise disparages or devalues Googles reputation or goodwill;
· breach the grant of a license to us by Google of certain trade names, trademarks, service marks, logos, domain names and other distinctive brand features of Google;
· breach the confidentiality provisions of the GSA;
· breach the exclusivity provisions of the GSA; or
· materially breach the GSA more than two times, irrespective of any cure to such breaches.
In addition to the GSA, we also benefit from a non-contractual, informal relationship, described earlier, pursuant to which Google currently links to our Answers.com Web property for definitions of certain words.
Shopping.com. In May 2005, we entered into a transaction with Shopping.com, pursuant to which Answers.coms end-users are provided access to Shopping.coms detailed product catalogs online, allowing them to identify, research, compare, and purchase products as part of their search for information. Under the agreement, Shopping.com pays a revenue-share based on the number of clicks performed by end-users on our Shopping.com links. The term of the agreement automatically renews for successive 12-month terms, unless either party provides written notice of termination thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of any annual term. Except for a material breach of the agreement by either party, accompanied by a failure to cure such breach, and excluding termination rights in special circumstances involving bankruptcy or insolvency of either party, neither party is afforded an early termination right within an annual term.
Direct Ad Sales
As of the end of the fourth quarter of 2007, our sales team consisted of our Vice President of Advertising Sales, two sales persons and a sales account manager based out of our New York office, supplemented by a salesperson based in the Los Angeles area. By demonstrating the buying power of the millions of people who use our Web properties each month, we expect increased advertising directly from agencies, online media buyers and various other advertisers. While our direct advertising efforts have the potential to be a driver of future monetization improvements, the results of our direct ad sales team have not reached desired levels.
Marketing
To enhance the Answers brands, we are pursuing a brand development strategy that includes direct marketing, word-of-mouth marketing, public relations efforts and licensing arrangements.
Word of Mouth Marketing
We benefit from word of mouth advertising when users share their positive experience using our answer engine services with friends, colleagues, family, and others. We work to encourage the practice by adding features that make it simple to link to our Web properties or send an e-mail with information from our Web properties, by targeting bloggers which may include links from their blogs to our Web properties, and by working with computer user groups and newsletter publishers, all of whom share new technologies with constituents. We provide bloggers, who communicate actively online, with tools and features to enhance their blogs and share Answers.com and WikiAnswers services with readers.
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Public Relations Efforts
We have received multiple favorable reviews from numerous publications including USA Today, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and PC Magazine and plan on continuing our public relations efforts with outreach, speaking opportunities, press releases, interviews and briefings. In 2007, Answers.com received one of the Webware 100 Awards for Reference by CNET Webware, and it was again selected as a finalist for the 2008 webware awards in the Search & Reference category.
Licensing Arrangements
We have entered into an agreement with The New York Times Company to provide our answer-based search services within their flagship Web property, NYTimes.com. Pursuant to other partnerships, our services are integrated into sites like The New York Public Libraries homeworkNYC.org. In addition, in October 2006, we announced our first Web-based implementation of AnswerTips into CBSNews.com. We will also continue to contract with Web properties that send traffic to our Web properties as part of revenue-sharing arrangements, such as Mozillas Firefox browser.
Employees
At December 31, 2007, we had 66 employees, of which 55 were full-time employees and 11 were part-time employees. As of such date, 53 employees were located in our office in Jerusalem, Israel and 13 employees were based in our New York City office. None of our employees are subject to a collective bargaining agreement, and we consider our employee relations to be satisfactory.
Seasonality
Our results of operations have historically been affected by seasonal patterns in both traffic to our Web properties and advertising demand. Many of our users are students that utilize our Web properties as reference sources. Our traffic fluctuates with the academic school year, rising from February through May, falling to its lowest levels during the summer months, rising again in September and falling again in December through January. We expect traffic to our Web properties to continue to fluctuate seasonally in the future. This seasonal fluctuation in traffic results in a fluctuation in our quarterly revenues, since lower traffic on our Web properties translates into fewer users viewing or clicking on the advertisements on our Web properties. In addition, the demand for our advertising inventory fluctuates during year based on the seasonal needs of our advertisers, rising to its highest levels during the fourth quarter and falling to its lowest levels in the first quarter. Accordingly, our revenue fluctuates based on the seasonality of our traffic and advertising demand.
Intellectual Property
We regard our domain names, patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade dress, trade secrets, proprietary technologies and similar intellectual property as critical to our success, and we rely on patent, trademark and copyright law, trade-secret protection, and confidentiality and/or license agreements with our employees, customers, partners, and others to protect our proprietary rights.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted us four United States patents; the Israeli Patent Office has granted us one patent. We have one patent pending in the United States and a corresponding patent pending under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, which has been recently filed for the protection of the Brainboost technology.
The status of any patent involves complex legal and factual questions, and the breadth of claims allowed is uncertain. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that any patent application filed by us will result in a patent being issued or that our issued patents, and any patents that may be issued in the future, will afford adequate protection against competitors with similar technology. We similarly face the risk that any patents issued to us might be infringed or designed around by others.
While we rely on patent and other intellectual property laws to protect our technology, we also believe that factors such as the technological and creative skills of our personnel, new product developments, frequent product enhancements and reliable product maintenance are essential to establishing and maintaining our market position. We enter into confidentiality agreements, as appropriate, with our employees, consultants and customers, and otherwise seek to control access to, and distribution of, our proprietary information. These measures, however, afford only limited protection. There is no guarantee that these safeguards will protect our technology and other valuable competitive information from being used by competitors.
We have applied for, or have been assigned by third parties, numerous domain names and have filed applications for a number of trademarks by U.S. governmental authorities.
From time to time in the ordinary course of business, we have been, and we expect to continue to be, subject to claims of alleged infringement of copyrights, trademarks and other intellectual property rights of third parties. These claims and any resultant litigation, should it occur, could subject us to significant liability for damages. In addition, even if we prevail, litigation could be time-consuming and expensive to defend and could result in the diversion of our time and attention. Any claims from third parties may also result in limitations on our ability to use the intellectual property subject to these claims, unless we are able to enter into license agreements with the third parties making these claims.
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Government Regulation
The manner in which existing laws regulating the Internet, in general, and how they relate to our business in particular, is unclear or unsettled in many cases. Such uncertainty arises under existing laws regulating matters, including user privacy, defamation, pricing, advertising, taxation, gambling, sweepstakes, promotions, content regulation, quality of products and services and intellectual property ownership and infringement.
Nevertheless, to resolve some of the current legal uncertainty, we expect the courts to interpret these laws and regulations and such rulings may be applicable to our activities. Such rulings could generally dampen the growth in use of the Internet and could potentially expose us to substantial liability, including significant expenses necessary to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
Several fairly recent U.S. federal laws that could have an impact on our business include, among others:
· The Digital Millennium Copyright Act is intended to reduce the liability of online service providers for listing or linking to third party Web properties that include materials that infringe copyrights or other rights of others.
· Portions of the Communications Decency Act are intended to provide statutory protections to online service providers who distribute third party content.
· The Childs Online Protection Act, or COPA, the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA and the Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End Exploitation of Children Today Act, are intended to restrict the distribution of certain materials deemed harmful to children and impose additional restrictions on the ability of online services to collect user information from minors.
· The Protection of Children From Sexual Predators Act requires online service providers to report evidence of violations of federal child pornography laws under certain circumstances.
· The CAN-SPAM Act is intended to regulate spam and create criminal penalties for unmarked sexually-oriented material and emails containing fraudulent headers.
Likewise, other laws could have an impact on our business. Under the U.K. Data Protection Act and the European Union Data Protection Directive, a failure to ensure that personal information is accurate and secure or a transfer of personal information to a country without adequate privacy protections could result in criminal or civil penalties. Such legislation may impose significant additional costs on our business or subject us to additional liabilities.
We post our privacy policy and practices concerning the use and disclosure of user data. Any failure by us to comply with our posted privacy policy, U.S. Federal Trade Commission requirements or other domestic or international privacy-related laws and regulations could result in proceedings by governmental or regulatory bodies, that could potentially harm our business, results of operations and financial condition. In this regard, there are a large number of legislative proposals before the European Union, as well as before the United States Congress and various state legislative bodies, regarding privacy issues related to our business. It is not possible to predict whether or when such legislation may be adopted, and certain proposals, if adopted, could harm our business operations. For example, decreases in usage of our services could be caused by, among other possible provisions, the required use of disclaimers or other requirements before users can utilize our services.
Due to the global nature of the Web, it is possible that the governments of other states and foreign countries might attempt to regulate its transmissions or prosecute us for violations of their laws. We might unintentionally violate such laws, such laws may be modified and new laws may be enacted in the future. Any such developments could harm our business, operating results and financial condition.
We may be subject to legal liability for specific types of online services we provide. We direct users to a wide variety of services that enable individuals to exchange information, conduct business and engage in various online activities on an international basis. The law relating to the liability of providers of these online services for activities of their users is currently unsettled both within the United States and abroad. Claims may be threatened against us for aiding and abetting defamation, negligence, copyright or trademark infringement, or other theories based on the nature and content of information to which we provide links or that may be posted online.
Operations in Israel
The Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 5719 1959, provides that upon application to the Investment Center of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment of the State of Israel, or the Investment Center, a proposed capital investment in eligible capital expenditures may be designated as an Approved Enterprise. Each certificate of approval for an Approved Enterprise relates to a specific investment program delineated both by its financial scope, including its capital sources, and by its physical characteristics, such as the equipment to be purchased and utilized under the program. The tax benefits derived from any certificate of approval relate only to taxable income derived from growth in manufacturing revenues attributable to the specific Approved Enterprise. If a company has more than one approval or only a portion of its capital investments are approved, its effective tax rate is the result of a weighted combination of the applicable rates.
Taxable income of a company derived from an Approved Enterprise is subject to tax at the maximum rate of 25%, rather than the current rate of 29%, for the benefit period. This period is ordinarily 7 years, beginning with the year in which the Approved Enterprise first generates taxable income, and is limited to 12 years from when production begins or 14 years from the date of approval, whichever is earlier. A company
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owning an Approved Enterprise may elect to receive an alternative package of benefits, which allows the company to receive tax exemptions rather than grants. Under the alternative package, the companys undistributed income derived from an Approved Enterprise will be exempt from tax for a period of between 2 and 10 years from the first year of taxable income, depending on the geographic location of the Approved Enterprise within Israel, and the company will be eligible for the tax benefits under the law for the remainder of the benefit period.
The Investment Center bases its decision of whether to approve or reject a companys application for designation as an Approved Enterprise on criteria described in the law and related regulations, the then prevailing policy of the Investment Center and the specific objectives and financial criteria of the applicant. Therefore, a company cannot be certain in advance whether its application will be approved. In addition, the benefits available to an Approved Enterprise are conditional upon compliance with the conditions stipulated in the law and related regulations and the criteria described in the specific certificate of approval. If a company violates these conditions, in whole or in part, it would be required to refund the amount of tax benefits and any grants received plus an amount linked to the Israeli consumer price index and interest.
Our Israeli subsidiary, GuruNet Israel Ltd., currently has two capital investment programs, both of which were granted Approved Enterprise status, ending December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2014, respectively. Qualifying income arising from our Approved Enterprise is tax-free in Israel under the alternative package of benefits described above for a period of 10 years from the first year in which our Israeli subsidiary generates taxable income from such Approved Enterprise, but not later than certain specified periods. We have begun to generate taxable income for purposes of this law, and we have utilized these tax benefits beginning in 2000. The law also provides that an Approved Enterprise is entitled to accelerated depreciation on its property and equipment that are included in an approved investment program.
On March 30, 2005, the Israeli legislature approved a reform of the Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments, 5719 1959, which permits companies that meet the criteria of an alternative benefits track of tax benefits to receive the benefits without prior approval and with no requirement to file reports with the Investment Center. Under the reform, approval of a candidate for the benefits will take place via the Income Tax Authorities as part of the regular tax audits. Certain conditions were set in order to receive the benefits. The reform does not retroactively apply for investment programs having an approved enterprise approval certificate from the Investment Center issued prior to December 31, 2004 and should not impact an existing approved enterprise, which received written approval. The reform applies to a new Approved Enterprise and for an Approved Enterprise expansion for which the first year of benefits may be as early as 2004.
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ITEM 1A. |
Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Reference is made in particular to the description of our plans and objectives for future operations, assumptions underlying such plans and objectives and other forward-looking statements included in this section, Item 1 Business, Item 7 Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, and in other places in this Annual Report. Such statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as may, will, expect, believe, estimate, anticipate, intend, continue, or similar terms, variations of such terms or the negative of such terms. Such statements are based on managements current expectations and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Factors that could cause such results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include those set forth below.
Risks Relating to our Business
We have incurred significant and continuing net losses since our inception and may continue to incur losses.
We incurred net losses of approximately $4.1 million and $8.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. As of December 31, 2007, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $59 million. We cannot assure you that we will be able to achieve net income on a quarterly or annual basis. If our revenues do not increase, or if our operating expenses exceed expectations or cannot be reduced, we will continue to incur substantial losses, which would materially adversely affect our business and financial results.
If search engines alter their algorithms or methods or otherwise restrict the flow of users visiting our Web properties, our business and financial results could suffer.
Search engines serve as origination Web properties for users in search of information, and our topic pages often appear as one of the top links on the pages returned by search engines in response to users search queries. As a result, we rely heavily on search engines for a substantial portion of the users visiting our Web properties. According to our internal estimates traffic to our Web properties originating from search engines during the fourth quarter of 2007, excluding Google-directed definition link traffic, was approximately 65% of the overall traffic to our Web properties, the majority of which originated from Google and, to a lesser but still significant extent, Yahoo!. Our WikiAnswers search engine traffic during the same period was even more significant, amounting to approximately 88% of its overall traffic. If our traffic from search engines declines for any reason, we would suffer a significant decline in overall traffic and revenue. For example, in July 2007, a search engine algorithm adjustment by Google led to a drop in Google directed traffic to Answers.com. This adjustment reduced our overall traffic by approximately 28% based on the average traffic directed to Answers.com from Google for the week prior to the adjustment as compared to the week after. As a result, our revenue declined proportionately. We have not been able to reverse the impact of this adjustment, and we do not anticipate that we will recover the lost traffic and revenue. In response to the Google algorithm adjustment, we reduced our headcount and related compensation costs, reducing our base payroll expenses by approximately 12%. In September 2007, Yahoo! dropped our content from its search index, which led to a drop in our Yahoo! directed traffic. This action was reversed within a week, and we have recovered all of our Yahoo! directed traffic. Search engines, at any time and for any reason, could change their algorithms that direct search queries to our Web properties or could restrict the flow of users visiting our Web properties specifically. In fact, as illustrated above, on occasion our Web properties have experienced decreases in traffic, and consequently in revenue, due to these search engine actions. We cannot guarantee that we will successfully react to these actions in the future and recover the lost traffic. Accordingly, a change in algorithms that search engines use to identify Web pages towards which traffic will ultimately be directed, or a restriction on the flow of users visiting our Web properties from the search engines, could cause a significant decrease in traffic and revenues, which could adversely affect our business and financial results.
We depend on Google to direct traffic to Answers.com through its definition link, and the loss of this source of traffic could significantly reduce our ad revenues and adversely affect our business and financial results.
A significant percentage of our direct traffic is directed to Answers.com by the definition link appearing on Googles website result pages. As an additional result of this arrangement, a significant number of secondary users visit Web properties via the definition link and perform additional searches. We refer to these users as secondary traffic. The definition link traffic is the result of a unilateral decision by Google to link certain definitions to Answers.com, and not any contractual relationship. Google may change these links at any time, in its sole discretion. According to our internal estimates, for the fourth quarter of 2007, the primary and secondary traffic from the Google definition link accounted for approximately 10% of the traffic to our Web properties. If Google stops directing traffic to Answers.com through its definition link, we would experience a significant reduction in our traffic and the corresponding ad revenues, which would adversely affect our business and financial results.
If our GSA is terminated by Google, we would have to seek an alternative provider of listings and advertisements, which could adversely affect our business and financial results.
Our business is dependent on the GSA, under which we obtain most of the advertisements displayed on our Web properties and earn most of our ad revenues. Google may terminate the GSA with no advance notice if we:
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· take certain prohibited actions including, among other things:
· editing or modifying the order of search results,
· redirecting end users, producing or distributing any software which prevents the display of ads by Google,
· modifying, adapting or otherwise attempting to obtain source code from Google technology, content, software and documentation or
· engaging in any action or practice that reflects poorly on Google or otherwise disparaging or devaluing Googles reputation or goodwill;
· breach the grant of a license to us by Google of certain trade names, trademarks, service marks, logos, domain names and other distinctive brand features of Google;
· breach the confidentiality provisions of the GSA;
· breach the exclusivity provisions of the GSA; or
· materially breach the GSA more than two times, irrespective of any cure to such breaches.
The GSA is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2010, unless renewed upon mutual written consent.
Googles termination of the GSA would result in our need to replace this relationship and obtain listings and advertisements from alternative providers, and we may not succeed in receiving equally favorable terms as those provided in the GSA. Termination of the GSA and our failure to replace it on equally favorable terms could result in a material reduction in our ad revenues and could adversely affect our business and financial results.
If in the interest of improving user experience and user satisfaction, we decide to decrease the number of ad elements displayed on our Web properties, our advertising revenues will decline and our financial results will be adversely impacted.
We closely monitor the ratio between ad elements and actual content appearing on our Web pages. In the future we may decide that in order to enhance the user-experience and increase user satisfaction, our pages should display fewer ad elements. Displaying less ad-intensive Web pages is likely to result in faster page-load and offering more content per-page is likely to appeal more to the user. A better user experience may result in more stickiness on our Web properties and a higher rate of user-relention and return visits. However, there is no assurance that reducing advertising on our Web properties will result in better user-retention and return visits and there can be no guarantee that the short term reduction in ad revenues will pay off in the long term in the form of increased traffic. A decrease in the number of ad elements displayed on our Web properties will result in a short-term drop in RPM and a reduction in advertising revenues which will have an adverse impact on our results of operations.
The failure of WikiAnswers to grow in accordance with our expectations could have an adverse impact on our business and financial results.
WikiAnswers is currently our primary growth driver. We estimate that in the second half of 2008, WikiAnswers will exceed Answers.com in both traffic and revenue. WikiAnswers is experiencing a growth phenomenon that we refer to as a network effect. The sites growth facilitates further growth. As a result, we are spending increasing amounts of money and devoting greater resources to the development of WikiAnswers. If, for whatever reason, WikiAnswers fails to perform as well as we anticipate, and the growth we are experiencing falters or ceases, our business and financial results could be adversely affected.
If Internet users do not interact with our WikiAnswers Web property frequently or if we fail to attract new users to the service, our business and financial results will suffer.
The success of our WikiAnswers Web property is largely dependent upon users constantly interacting with the community by asking questions, posting answers and improving upon both. We have seen a very high correlation between growth in questions and answers and growth in the sites page views. We need to attract users to register as community members, visit the Web property frequently and spend increasing amounts of time on the Web property when they visit. In addition, only a very small number of users actually post information on the site on a regular basis and are engaged in improving the information it contains. If we are unable to encourage users to interact more frequently with our WikiAnswers Web property and to increase the amount of user generated content they provide, our ability to attract new users to the Web property, increase the number of registered users loyal to the community and attract advertisers to WikiAnswers will be diminished and adversely affected. As a result, our business and financial results will suffer, and we will not be able to grow our business as planned.
If we are unable to improve and maintain the quality of content being contributed to WikiAnswers, the Web property will become less valuable to the users, less popular as a destination for obtaining answers to questions and its growth will be negatively affected, which in turn could adversely impact our financial results.
It is critical that we ensure that the quality of content being posted on WikiAnswers, both questions and answers, is maintained and improved over time. The better the quality of the content generated on the Web property, the more valuable the Web property will be for users in search of answers, which in turn will lead to stronger growth in the community size. We will need to closely monitor the content being contributed by users and constantly be on the alert for and filter out content that does not add value, or even worse, damages the user experience. If we fail to maintain and improve the quality of the Web propertys content, the appeal of WikiAnswers to users may diminish and the growth of the Web property may be negatively affected, which in turn could cause our financial results to suffer.
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If we are unable to attract and retain dedicated supervisors for WikiAnswers for the administration of the Web property and the encouragement of the communitys expansion, our plans for growing WikiAnswers may fail and our results of operations may be adversely affected.
Much of the effort of administering WikiAnswers, monitoring its activity and ensuring its steady growth and development is borne by a large group of external supervisors, the vast majority of whom are not employed by us and not compensated for their efforts. The supervisors are in charge of monitoring questions and answers in specific categories in an effort to ensure questions are being answered timely, prevent vandalism, improve consistency and encourage high-quality contributions. As of December 31, 2007, the community enjoyed the benefit of approximately 200 such supervisors. The success of WikiAnswers is dependant, to a certain extent, on the continued attention of these supervisors to WikiAnswers. If we are not able to attract and maintain enough supervisors, the WikiAnswers Web property will suffer and the Web property will become less attractive to users, which in turn will adversely affect the sites growth and our business and financial results.
Our direct ad sales efforts may suffer if advertisers do not find our Web properties to be effective for promoting their products and services, which could have an adverse effect on our business and financial results.
In late 2006, our advertising sales team began marketing directly to advertisers. However, we cannot assure you that these advertisers will find our Web properties to be as effective as other Web properties or traditional media for promoting their products and services. In fact, while our direct advertising efforts have the potential to be a driver of future monetization improvements, the results of our direct ad sales team have not reached desired levels. Failure on our part to convince advertisers of the suitability of our Web properties for their needs, or our inability to generate the advertisers desired levels of traffic, could make it difficult to attract new advertisers and may cause us to lose relationships with existing advertisers, which could have an adverse effect on our business and financial results.
Components of our business and operations are experiencing rapid growth. If we fail to effectively manage our growth, our business and operating results could be harmed.
We have experienced rapid growth in our headcount and operations over the past several years, which has placed, and will continue to place, significant demands on our management, operational and financial infrastructure. If we do not effectively manage our growth, the quality of our products and services could suffer, which could negatively affect our brand and operating results. To effectively manage this growth, we will need to continue to improve our operational, financial and management controls and our reporting systems and procedures. These systems enhancements and improvements will require significant capital expenditures and management resources. Failure to implement these improvements could hurt our ability to manage our growth and our financial position.
We have a short operating history and a relatively new business model in an emerging and rapidly evolving market. This makes it difficult to evaluate our future prospects and may increase the risks that we will not continue to be successful and that our financial results could suffer.
There are two primary categories of Internet advertising, pay-per-performance, or most commonly cost per click, or CPC, and pay-per-impression, or cost per 1,000 impressions, or CPM. In the case of performance-based advertising, the advertiser only pays when a user clicks on an ad, as opposed to viewing the ad, as in impression-based advertising. We first derived advertising revenue in the first quarter of 2005, and we have only a short operating history with our CPC and CPM advertising model. As a result, we have very little operating history to aid in assessing our future prospects. Also, we derive nearly all of our revenues from online advertising, which is an immature industry that has undergone rapid and dramatic changes in its short history. We will encounter risks and difficulties as a growing company in a new and rapidly evolving market. We may not be able to successfully address these risks and difficulties, which could materially harm our business and operating results.
We may not be able to obtain capital when desired on favorable terms, if at all, or without dilution to our stockholders.
We anticipate that our current cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to meet our current needs for general corporate purposes for at least the next 12 months. However, we may need or desire additional financing to execute on our current or future business strategies, including to:
· improve traffic monetization and expand content on our Web properties;
· enhance our operating infrastructure;
· acquire businesses or technologies; or
· otherwise respond to competitive pressures.
If we raise additional funds through the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership of our stockholders could be significantly diluted, and these newly issued securities may have rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of existing stockholders. We cannot assure you that additional financing will be available on terms favorable to us, or at all. If adequate funds are not available or are not available on acceptable terms, when we desire them, our ability to fund our operations, take advantage of unanticipated opportunities, develop or enhance our services, or otherwise respond to competitive pressures would be significantly limited.
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We generate our revenue almost entirely from advertising so uncertainties in the Internet advertising market and our failure to increase advertising inventory on our Web properties could adversely affect our ad revenues.
Although worldwide online advertising spending is growing steadily, it represents only a small percentage of total advertising expenditures. Our advertisers can generally terminate their contracts with us at any time. Advertisers will not continue to do business with us if their investment in Internet advertising with us does not generate sales leads, and ultimately customers, or if we do not deliver their advertisements in an appropriate and effective manner. If the Internet does not continue to be as widely accepted as a medium for advertising and the rate of advertising on the Internet increase, our ability to generate increased revenues could be adversely affected. We believe that growth in our ad revenues will also depend on our ability to increase the number of pages on our Web properties to provide more advertising inventory. If we fail to increase our advertising inventory at a sufficient rate, our ad revenues could grow more slowly than we expect, which could have an adverse effect on our financial results.
New technologies could block Internet ads, which could harm our financial results.
Technologies have been developed, and are likely to continue to be developed, that can block the display of Internet ads. Most of our revenues are derived from fees paid to us by advertisers in connection with the display of their ads. Ad-blocking technology may cause a decrease in the number of ads that we can display on our Web properties, which could adversely affect our ad revenues and our financial results.
We face significant competition from search engines, destination portals and other free reference and industry-specific Web properties that could adversely impact our competitive position.
We face significant competition from a wide variety of Web properties, including traditional search engines, such as Google, Yahoo! and Ask.com, destination portals and other free online answer engines, such as About.com, TheFreeDictionary.com and Wikipedia.org. We also compete with industry-specific Web properties, such as Bankrate.com and WebMD.com, as well as with other popular question and answer sites, such as Yahoo! Answers, Askville (owned by Amazon), Yedda (owned by AOL) and Answerbag.com (owned by Demand Media, Inc.). Many of our competitors have longer operating histories, more extensive management experience, an employee base with more extensive experience, better geographic coverage, larger consumer bases, greater brand recognition and significantly greater financial, marketing and other resource than we do. We expect competition to intensify in the future. If our competitors are more successful than we are in developing compelling products or attracting and retaining users or advertisers, then our competitive position and financial results could be adversely affected.
Our failure to generate direct traffic to our Web properties could adversely affect our business and financial results.
In addition to search engine traffic and traffic directed by the Google definition link, our traffic also originates from Internet users arriving at our Web properties directly by typing our website address directly into their Web browser, bookmarking our Web properties, using AnswerTips and visiting sites that direct users to our Web properties. Given the wide availability of free search engines and reference content sites, we may not be able to retain current Internet users or attract new Internet users in this direct fashion. If we are unable to retain our direct Internet users or attract new direct Internet users, our ability to generate revenues would be adversely impacted, which could adversely affect our business and financial results.
Traffic to our Web properties and advertising demand fluctuates significantly on a seasonal basis, which impacts our operations from quarter to quarter.
Many of our users are students that utilize our Web properties as reference sources. Our traffic fluctuates with the academic school year, rising from February through May, falling to its lowest levels during the summer months, rising again in September and falling again in December through January. We expect traffic to our Web properties to continue to fluctuate seasonally in the future. This seasonal fluctuation in traffic results in a fluctuation in our quarterly revenues, since fewer users to our Web properties translates into fewer users viewing or clicking on the advertisements on our Web properties. In addition, the demand for our advertising inventory fluctuates during the year based on the seasonal needs of our advertisers, rising to its highest levels during the fourth quarter and falling to its lowest levels in the first quarter. Accordingly, our revenue fluctuates based on the seasonality of our traffic and advertising demand. The effect of this seasonality makes it difficult to estimate future operating results based on the results of any specific quarter. As a result, we may be unable to forecast our revenue accurately, and a failure to meet our revenue or expense forecasts could have an immediate and negative impact on the market price of our common stock.
Our operating results may fluctuate, which makes our results difficult to predict and could cause our results to fall short of expectations.
Our operating results may fluctuate as a result of a number of factors, many outside of our control. As a result, comparing our operating results on a period-to-period basis may not be meaningful, and you should not rely on our past results as an indication of our future performance. Our quarterly, year-to-date and annual expenses as a percentage of our revenues may differ significantly from our historical or projected rates. Our operating results in future quarters may fall below expectations. Any of these events could cause our stock price to fall.
Our partnerships and revenue-sharing arrangements with third-parties may not be renewed or continued, which could impact our credibility in the marketplace, which could adversely affect our traffic and revenues.
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We have entered into revenue-sharing and other arrangements with third parties that direct traffic to our Web properties and license our online answer engine services, and we plan to enter into similar arrangements in the future. Although these arrangements have not had a substantial impact on our revenues to date, they have provided us with third party validation of our product offerings. We believe these arrangements and similar arrangements may result in significant revenues in the future. These arrangements may be terminated or discontinued by the third parties upon varying notice periods. If these arrangements and similar arrangements impact our revenues substantially in the future, then termination of any of these arrangements would result in the loss of ad revenue and adversely affect our financial condition. Further, termination of any of these arrangements could impact our credibility in the marketplace, which could adversely affect our traffic and revenues.
We may not be successful in expanding our business through acquisitions, business combinations and other transactions, and, even if we are successful, our operations may be adversely affected as a result of these transactions.
We intend to pursue acquisitions, business combinations and joint ventures, which we refer to as extraordinary transactions. Our ability to implement this business strategy depends in large part on our ability to compete successfully with other entities for acquisition candidates and joint venture partners. Factors affecting our ability to compete successfully include:
· our financial condition and resources relative to the financial condition and resources of competitors;
· our ability to issue common stock as potential consideration;
· the attractiveness of our common stock as potential consideration relative to the common stock of competitors;
· our ability to obtain financing; and
· our available cash, which depends upon our results of operations and our cash demands.
In addition, we may not be able to find suitable acquisition candidates and we may not be able to complete acquisitions on favorable terms, if at all. If we do complete acquisitions, we may not ultimately strengthen our competitive position or achieve our goals, or such acquisitions may be viewed negatively by customers, financial markets or investors. In addition, any acquisitions that we make could lead to difficulties in integrating personnel and operations from the acquired businesses and in retaining and motivating key personnel from these businesses. Acquisitions may disrupt our ongoing operations, divert management from day-to-day responsibilities, increase our expenses or adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition. For example, we experienced such disruption, diversion and increased expenses during the course of our recent failed attempt to acquire Lexico Publishing Group, LLC. Future acquisitions may reduce our cash available for operations and other uses and could result in an increase in amortization expense related to identifiable assets acquired, potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities or the incurrence of debt, which could harm our business, financial condition and operating results.
If we fail to maintain and enhance awareness of our Web properties, our business and financial results could be adversely affected.
We believe that maintaining and enhancing awareness of our Web properties is critical to achieving widespread acceptance of our services and to the success of our business. We also believe that the importance of brand recognition will increase due to the relatively low barriers to entry in our market. Maintaining and enhancing our Web properties may require us to spend increasing amounts of money on, and devote greater resources to, advertising, marketing and other brand-building efforts, and these investments may not be successful. Further, even if these efforts are successful, they may not be cost-effective. If we are unable to continuously maintain and enhance our Web properties, our traffic may decrease and we may fail to attract advertisers, which could in turn result in lost revenues and adversely affect our business and financial results.
Our failure to offer compelling content and provide our users with quality information could result in lost revenue, as a result of a loss of users and advertisers.
We believe our future success depends in part upon our ability to deliver valuable content through our Web properties. We are heavily dependent on licensed content. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to enter into new or renew current or future content agreements on commercially acceptable terms or at all. If we are unable to maintain and enhance our existing relationships with content providers or develop new relationships with alternative providers of content, our Answers.com service may become less attractive to Internet users, resulting in decreased traffic to Answers.com, which could have an adverse effect on our ad revenues and a negative impact on our business.
If we are unable to maintain and expand our computer and communications systems, then interruptions and failures in our services could result, making our services less attractive to consumers and subjecting us to lost revenue from the loss of users and advertisers.
Our ability to provide high quality user experience depends on the efficient and uninterrupted operation of our computer and communications systems. Over time, our Web properties have experienced significant increases in traffic, and we continuously seek to further increase our user base. Accordingly, our Internet servers must accommodate spikes in demand for our Web pages in addition to potential significant growth in traffic. Delays and interruptions could frustrate users and reduce traffic on our Web properties, adversely affecting our operations and growth prospects.
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We currently outsource our Web hosting services to Data Return LLC, recently acquired by Terremark Worldwide, Inc. We believe the economic justification of outsourcing our Web hosting services has diminished, thus, we are in the process of migrating our Web properties to co-location facilities and managing the operations with our own staff. This change may be technologically challenging to implement, take time to test and deploy, cause us to incur substantial costs or data loss, and cause users, advertisers, and affiliates to experience delays or interruptions in our service. These changes, delays or interruptions in our service could cause users and advertisers to become dissatisfied with our service and move to competing providers of online services, reducing the traffic on our Web properties and adversely affecting our business and financial results.
If we were to lose the services of our key personnel, we may not be able to execute our business plan and our business could be adversely affected.
Our ability to execute our business plan depends upon the continued service of our executive officers and other key technology, marketing, sales and support personnel. Our employment agreements with our executive officers and key employees are terminable by either party upon 30-90 days notice. If we lose the services of one or more of our key employees, or if one or more of our executive officers or key employees joined a competitor or otherwise competed with us, our business could be adversely affected. We cannot assure you that we will be able to retain or replace our key personnel, and the services of key members of our research and development team, in particular, would be difficult to replace. If we do not succeed in retaining or replacing our key personnel, we may be unable to execute our business plan and, as a result, our stock price may decline.
Our business depends on increasing use of the Internet by users searching for information, advertisers marketing products and services and Web properties seeking to earn revenue to support their web content. If the Internet infrastructure does not grow and is not maintained to support these activities, our business will be harmed.
Our success will depend on the continued growth and maintenance of the Internet infrastructure. This includes maintenance of a reliable network backbone with the necessary speed, data capacity and security for providing reliable Internet services. Internet infrastructure may be unable to support the demands placed on it if the number of Internet users continues to increase, or if existing or future Internet users access the Internet more often or increase their bandwidth requirements. In addition, viruses, worms and similar programs may harm the performance of the Internet. The Internet has experienced a variety of outages and other delays as a result of damage to portions of its infrastructure, and could face outages and delays in the future. These outages and delays could reduce the level of Internet usage as well as our ability to provide our solutions.
Rules established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, require us to expense equity compensation given to our employees and may impact our ability to effectively utilize equity compensation to attract and retain employees.
The FASB has adopted changes that require companies to record a charge to earnings for employee stock option grants and other equity incentives effective January 1, 2006, which we have adopted. These accounting changes may cause us to reduce the availability and amount of equity incentives provided to employees, which may make it more difficult for us to attract, retain and motivate key personnel. Additionally, it may be difficult for us to estimate the impact of such compensation charges on future operating results because they will be based upon the fair market value of our common stock and other assumptions at future dates.
We may be subject to liability for online services, which may not be limited by the safe harbors in The Digital Millennium Copyright Act, or DMCA, The Communications Decency Act, or CDA, or the U.S. Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA. If we do not meet the safe harbor requirements, or if it is otherwise determined that our Web properties contain actionable content, we could be subject to claims, which could be costly and time-consuming to defend.
We host certain services that enable individuals to generate content and engage in various online activities. The law relating to the liability of providers of these online services for activities of their users is currently unsettled both within the United States and internationally. Claims have been threatened and may in the future be brought against us for defamation, invasion of privacy, negligence, copyright or trademark infringement, unlawful activity, tort, including personal injury, fraud, or other theories based on the nature and content of information to which we provide links, or that may be posted online or generated by the users of our Web properties. Our defense of any of these actions could be costly and involve significant time and attention of our management and other resources.
The DMCA is intended, among other things, to reduce the liability of online service providers for listing or linking to third party Web properties that include materials that infringe copyrights or rights of others. Additionally, portions of the CDA are intended to provide statutory protections to online service providers who distribute third party content. A safe harbor for copyright infringement is also available under the DMCA to certain online service providers that provide specific services, if the providers take certain affirmative steps as set forth in the DMCA. Important questions regarding the safe harbor under the DMCA and the CDA have yet to be litigated, and we can not guarantee that we will meet the safe harbor requirements of the DMCA or of the CDA. If we are not covered by a safe harbor, for any reason, we could be exposed to claims, which could be costly and time-consuming to defend.
In addition, COPPA was enacted in October 1998. COPPA imposes civil and criminal penalties on persons distributing material harmful to minors over the Internet to persons under the age of 17 or collecting personal information from children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect and disclose personal information from minors. The manner in which COPPA may be interpreted and enforced cannot yet be determined. Moreover, the applicability to the Internet of existing laws governing issues such as property ownership, copyright, defamation,
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obscenity and personal privacy is uncertain. We may be subject to claims that our content violates such laws, which could damage our business and cause our stock price to decline.
We also periodically enter into arrangements to offer third party products, services or content under the Answers brand or through our Web properties. We may be subject to claims concerning these products, services or content by virtue of our involvement in marketing, branding, broadcasting or providing access to them, even if we do not ourselves host, operate, provide, or provide access to them.
It is also possible that, if any information provided directly by us contains errors or is otherwise negligently provided to users, third parties could make claims against us. While it is our belief that the Terms of Use governing the use of our Web properties covers us against these types of claims, there are no assurances as to the final determination of these types of claims by any court of law. Furthermore, investigating and defending any of these types of claims is expensive, even to the extent that the claims are without merit or do not ultimately result in liability.
Third parties may claim that we are infringing on their patents, trademarks or copyrights, which could result in substantial costs, diversion of significant managerial resources and significant harm to our reputation.
The industry in which we operate is characterized by the existence of a large number of patents and frequent litigation based on allegations of patent infringement. We expect that Internet technologies, software products and services may be increasingly subject to third party patent infringement claims as the number of competitors in our industry segment grows and the functionality of products in different industry segments overlaps. From time to time, third parties may assert patent infringement claims against us in various jurisdictions that are important to our business. Additionally, third parties may assert trademark infringement claims with respect to brand names we use from time to time and content we display on our Web properties. For example, a third party may make claims against us over the display of search results triggered by search terms that include trademark terms. Furthermore, we may be faced with copyright infringement claims. We have received, and are likely to continue to receive, cease and desist letters demanding that we remove infringing content from our Web properties based on a theory of copyright and trademark infringement.
A successful patent, trademark or copyright infringement claim against us by any third party, could subject us to:
· substantial liability for damages and litigation costs, including attorneys fees;
· lawsuits that prevent us from further use of intellectual property and require us to permanently cease and desist from selling or marketing products that use the intellectual property;
· licensing intellectual property from a third party, which could include significant licensing and royalty fees not presently paid by us, adding materially to the our costs of operations;
· developing new intellectual property, as a non-infringing alternative, that could delay projects, add materially to our costs of operations and be unacceptable to our users, which in turn could adversely affect our traffic and revenues; and
· indemnifying third parties who have entered into agreements with us with respect to losses they incurred as a result of the infringement, which could include consequential and incidental damages that are material in amount.
Regardless of the merit of third party infringement claims, these claims could result in substantial costs, diversion of significant resources and management attention, termination of customer contracts, loss of customers and significant harm to our reputation.
Finally, many of our agreements with advertisers, distribution partners, and other third party partners require us to indemnify these partners for certain third party intellectual property infringement claims, which could increase our costs as a result of defending the claims and may require that we pay damages if there were an adverse ruling in any of the claims. An adverse determination could also prevent us from offering our products and services to others and may require that we procure substitute products or services, which could adversely affect our business and financial results.
Misappropriation of our intellectual property could harm our reputation, adversely affecting our competitive position and financial results.
Our ability to compete depends in part upon the strength of our proprietary rights in our technologies, brands and content. We rely on a combination of U.S. and foreign patents, copyrights, trademark, trade secret laws and license agreements to establish and protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights. The efforts we have taken to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights may not be sufficient or effective at stopping unauthorized use of our intellectual property and proprietary rights. In addition, effective trademark, patent, copyright and trade secret protection may not be available or cost-effective in every country in which our services are made available through the Internet. There may be instances where we are not able to fully protect or utilize our intellectual property in a manner that maximizes competitive advantage. If we are unable to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights from unauthorized use, the value of our Web properties may be reduced, which could negatively impact our business. In addition, protecting our intellectual property and other proprietary rights is expensive and diverts critical managerial resources. If any of the foregoing were to occur, or if we are otherwise unable to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights, our business and financial results could be adversely affected.
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New government regulation and legal uncertainties could require us to incur significant expenses.
The laws and regulations applicable to the Internet, and to our products and services, are evolving and unclear and could damage our business. In addition, we will be subject to any new laws and regulations directly applicable to our products and services. It is possible that laws and regulations may be adopted covering issues such as user privacy, pricing, taxation, content regulation, quality of products and services, and intellectual property ownership and infringement. This legislation could expose us to substantial liability as well as dampen the growth in use of the Internet generally, decrease the acceptance of the Internet as a communications and commercial medium, or require us to incur significant compliance expenses. Compliance with these laws and regulations may also cause us to change or limit our business practices in a manner adverse to our business.
Increased regulation or the imposition of access fees could substantially increase the costs of communicating on the Internet, potentially decreasing the demand for our products. A number of proposals have been made at the federal, state and local level that would impose additional taxes on the sale of goods and services through the Internet. Such proposals, if adopted, could substantially impair the growth of electronic commerce and could adversely affect us.
Due to the global nature of the Internet, it is possible that the governments of other states and foreign countries might attempt to regulate its transmissions or prosecute us for violations of their laws. We might unintentionally violate these laws. Such laws may be modified, or new laws may be enacted, in the future. Our business may be negatively affected by a variety of new or existing laws and regulations, which may expose us to substantial compliance costs and liabilities and may impede the growth in use of the Internet generally.
Risks Related to our Common Stock
We have a limited number of common shares available for future issuance which could adversely affect our ability to raise capital or consummate acquisitions.
We are authorized to issue 30,000,000 shares of common stock. We currently have outstanding 7,859,890 shares of common stock or approximately 11,000,000 shares of common stock after giving effect to the exercise of all outstanding warrants and options. Due to the limited number of authorized shares available for issuance and because of the significant competition for acquisitions, we may not able to consummate an acquisition until we increase the number of shares we are authorized to issue. To facilitate the possibility and flexibility of raising of additional capital or the completion of potential acquisitions, we will seek shareholder approval to increase the number of our authorized shares of common stock. We can provide no assurance that we will succeed in amending our certificate of incorporation to increase the number of shares of common stock we are authorized to issue.
Our common stock may be affected by limited trading volume and may fluctuate significantly.
Our common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Market. Although an active trading market has developed for our common stock, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for our common stock will be sustained. Failure to maintain an active trading market for our common stock may adversely affect our shareholders ability to sell our common stock in short time periods, or at all. Our common stock has experienced, and may experience in the future, significant price and volume fluctuations, which could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
There may be substantial sales of our common stock, which could cause our stock price to fall.
All of our issued and outstanding shares are immediately available for sale in the public market without registration under Rule 144. Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock could cause the price of our securities to fall and could impair our ability to raise capital by selling additional securities.
We do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock.
We have never declared or paid any cash dividend on our capital stock. We currently intend to retain any future earnings and do not expect to pay any dividends in the foreseeable future.
We could issue blank check preferred stock without stockholder approval with the effect of diluting then current stockholder interests.
Our certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of up to 1,000,000 shares of blank check preferred stock with designations, rights and preferences as may be determined from time to time by our board of directors. Accordingly, our board of directors is empowered, without stockholder approval, to issue a series of preferred stock with dividend, liquidation, conversion, voting or other rights, which could dilute the interest of, or impair the voting power of, our stockholders. The issuance of a series of preferred stock could be used as a method of discouraging, delaying or preventing a change in control. Although we do not presently intend to issue any shares of preferred stock, we may do so in the future.
Provisions in our charter documents and under Delaware law could discourage a takeover that stockholders may consider favorable.
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Provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if doing so would be beneficial to our stockholders. For example, our board of directors is divided into three classes, with one class being elected each year by our stockholders, which generally makes it more difficult for stockholders to replace a majority of directors and obtain control of our board. In addition, stockholder meetings may be called only by our board of directors, the chairman of the board and the president, advance notice is required prior to stockholder proposals and stockholders may not act by written consent. Furthermore, we have authorized preferred stock that is undesignated, making it possible for our board of directors to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control of our company.
Delaware law also could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us. Specifically, Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, to which our company is subject, may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by our board of directors, including discouraging attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock held by our stockholders.
We are at risk of securities class action litigation.
Securities class action litigation has often been brought against a company following a decline in the market price of its securities. This risk is especially relevant for us because Internet companies often experience significant stock price volatility. If we faced such litigation, it could result in substantial costs and diversion of managements attention and resources, which could adversely affect our business.
We have determined that we have material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. As a result, current and potential stockholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which could harm our business and trading price of our stock.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related rules and regulations of the SEC require annual management assessments of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting and a report by our independent registered public accounting firm attesting to and reporting on these controls. We have dedicated significant amounts of time and resources to ensure compliance with this legislation for the year ended December 31, 2007 and will continue to do so for future fiscal periods. Based on their evaluation, our principal executive and principal financial officers have concluded that, as of December 31, 2007, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective due to the material weaknesses in our internal controls over (i) access to, and changes in, our information technology financial applications and underlying financial data; and (ii) the authority of our officers to obligate the Company. Because of these material weaknesses, our management concluded that, as of December 31, 2007, we did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting based on the criteria established in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Additionally, Somekh Chaikin, a member of KPMG International, issued an adverse opinion with respect to the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007.
As a result, current and potential stockholders could lose confidence in our financial reporting, which could harm our business and trading price of our stock. Further, if we do not successfully remediate the material weaknesses identified as of December 31, 2007, or should we determine in future fiscal periods that we have additional material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting, investor confidence may be further eroded, which may also adversely affect our stock price.
Material weaknesses in our internal controls may impede our ability to produce timely and accurate financial statements, which could cause us to fail to file our periodic reports timely, result in inaccurate financial reporting or restatements of our financial statements, subject our stock to delisting and materially harm our business reputation and stock price.
As a public company, we are required to file annual and quarterly periodic reports containing our financial statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission within prescribed time periods. As part of The NASDAQ Global Market listing requirements, we are also required to provide our periodic reports, or make them available, to our shareholders within prescribed time periods. If we are required to restate our financial statements in the future, any specific adjustment may be adverse and may cause our operating results and financial condition, as restated, on an overall basis to be materially and adversely impacted. As a result, we or members of our management could be the subject of adverse publicity, investigations and sanctions by such regulatory authorities as the Securities and Exchange Commission and subject to shareholder lawsuits. Any of the above consequences could cause our stock price to decline materially and could impose significant unanticipated costs on us.
If we are not able to issue our financial statements in a timely manner, we will not be able to comply with the periodic reporting requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the listing requirements of The NASDAQ Global Market. If these events occur, our common stock listing on The NASDAQ Global Market could be suspended or terminated and our stock price could materially suffer. In addition, we or members of our management could be subject to investigation and sanction by the Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities and to shareholder lawsuits, which could impose significant additional costs on us, divert management attention and materially harm our operating results, financial condition, business reputation and stock price.
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Risks Related to our Location in Israel
Conditions in Israel may limit our ability to produce and sell our product, which would lead to a decrease in revenues.
Because most of our operations are conducted in Israel, our operations are directly affected by economic, political and military conditions affecting Israel. Specifically, we could be adversely affected by:
· any major hostilities involving Israel;
· a full or partial mobilization of the reserve forces of the Israeli army;
· the interruption or curtailment of trade between Israel and its present trading partners;
· risks associated with the fact that a certain number of our key employees and one officer reside in what are commonly referred to as occupied territories;
· risks associated with outages and disruptions of communications networks due to any hostilities involving Israel; and
· a significant downturn in the economic or financial conditions in Israel.
Since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, a number of armed conflicts have taken place between Israel and its Arab neighbors and a state of hostility, varying in degree and intensity, has led to security and economic problems for Israel. Despite negotiations to effect peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors, the future of these peace efforts is uncertain. Since October 2000, there has been a significant increase in violence, civil unrest and hostility, including armed clashes between the State of Israel and the Palestinians, and acts of terror have been committed inside Israel and against Israeli targets in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In addition, the recent armed conflict with Hezbollah on the northern border of Israel negatively affected business conditions in Israel. There is no indication as to how long the current hostilities will last or whether there will be any further escalation. Any further escalation in these hostilities or any future conflict, political instability or violence in the region may have a negative effect on our business, harm our results of operations and adversely affect our share price.
Furthermore, there are a number of countries that restrict business with Israel or with Israeli companies, which may limit our ability to promote our products and services those countries.
We may not be able to enforce covenants not-to-compete under current Israeli law that might result in added competition for our products.
We have non-competition agreements with all of our employees, almost all of which are governed by Israeli law. These agreements prohibit our employees from competing with or working for our competitors, generally during and for up to 12 months after termination of their employment. However, Israeli courts are reluctant to enforce non-compete undertakings of former employees and tend, if at all, to enforce those provisions for relatively brief periods of time in restricted geographical areas and only when the employee has obtained unique value to the employer specific to that employers business and not just regarding the professional development of the employee. If we are not able to enforce non-compete covenants, we may be faced with added competition.
The Israeli government tax benefits program in which we currently participate and from which we receive benefits requires us to meet several conditions. These programs or benefits may be terminated or reduced in the future, which may result in an increase in our tax liability.
Our Israeli subsidiary receives tax benefits authorized under Israeli law for capital investments that are designated as Approved Enterprises. To be eligible for these tax benefits, we must meet certain conditions. If we fail to meet such conditions, these tax benefits could be cancelled, and we could be required to pay increased taxes or refund the amount of tax benefits we received, together with interest and penalties. Israeli governmental authorities have indicated that the government may in the future reduce or eliminate the benefits of such programs. The termination or reduction of these programs and tax benefits could increase our Israeli tax rates, and thereby reduce our net profits or increase our net losses.
U.S. and Israeli tax authorities may interpret tax issues in manners other than those which we have adopted, which may expose us to tax liabilities.
We operate in the U.S. and in Israel and our earnings are subject to taxation in both jurisdictions, at different rates. Relevant tax authorities may disagree with our interpretation and application in practice of tax laws and may dispute various assumptions we make during our tax planning process. Further, the tax authorities in the U.S. and/or Israel may take exception with the transfer price of transactions between Answers Corporation and its wholly owned Israeli subsidiary. If there is a successful tax challenge of our tax position, our interpretation and/or application of tax laws in practice, we may be forced to recognize additional tax liabilities, which may include interest and penalties. This may harm our results of operations and adversely affect our financial condition. Our unrecognized tax benefits disclosed in the notes to our financial statements for the period ending December 31, 2007, include amounts relating to this risk factor.
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Our business may be impacted by NIS exchange rate fluctuations, which may negatively affect our earnings.
Exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the NIS may negatively affect our earnings. Our revenues and most of our expenses are denominated in U.S. dollars. However, a significant portion of the expenses associated with our Israeli operations, including personnel and facilities related expenses, are incurred in NIS. Consequently, a devaluation of the U.S. dollar in comparison to the NIS will have the effect of increasing the dollar cost of our operations in Israel. In 2006, 2007, and the first three months of 2008, the U.S. dollar depreciated against the NIS by 8.2%, 9.0%, and 8.5%, respectively. We cannot predict any future trends in the rate of devaluation or appreciation of the NIS against the U.S. dollar or of the U.S. dollar against the NIS. Despite the fact that we often use various hedging tools, including forward contracts and options, to minimize the effect of currency fluctuations on our income, if the U.S. dollar cost of our operations in Israel increases, our dollar-measured consolidated results of operations will be adversely affected.
ITEM 1B. |
None.
ITEM 2. |
Our New York office, which serves as our corporate U.S. headquarters for investor relations, sales, marketing and business development operations, is located at 237 West 35th Street, Suite 1101, New York, NY 10001 and occupies a portion of the 11th floor at this location. The lease for these premises commenced in May 2005 and will expire in June 2010, and, according to its terms, the average base rent for the offices during the first year is approximately $66,000 per annum, gradually increasing to approximately $74,000 per annum for the final year.
Our research and development facility is located on the entire 7th floor of the Tower (Building 2), Jerusalem Technology Park, P.O. Box 48253, Jerusalem 91481, Israel in approximately 1,000 square meters of space, occupied under a 5-year lease with a current monthly rental rate of approximately $18,000 based on the dollar-NIS exchange rate on December 31, 2007. The lease will expire in July 2010, with an option to extend the term for an additional 5 years.
We believe that we may require additional space for our expanding operations, both in Israel and New York, before the expiration of these leases. We believe that there is suitable space available in the local markets (although for the New York office, possibly not in our current facilities) at reasonable rates that is available to us if we need expansion space prior to the end of our leases.
ITEM 3. |
On June 27, 2007, we entered into a settlement agreement with Mr. Steven Tover (Tover), our former Vice President, Business Development & Sales, that settled the claim filed by Tover with the Regional Labor Court in Jerusalem, Israel, against (i) us, (ii) our Israeli subsidiary, GuruNet Israel Ltd., (iii) Mr. Robert Rosenschein, our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, and (iv) Mr. Steven Steinberg, our Chief Financial Officer. The claim was for (a) deferred salary, severance pay and allegedly unpaid commissions in the amount of approximately $70,000, (b) certain additional and future commissions pursuant to various business transactions, and (c) the right to exercise 43,441 options to purchase such number of our shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.76 per share. As a result of this settlement agreement, we paid Tover $130,000, including Tovers legal fees, and on July 3, 2007, the claim was dismissed without prejudice.
From time to time, we receive various legal claims incidental to our normal business activities, such as intellectual property infringement claims and claims of defamation and invasion of privacy. Although the results of claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe the final outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
25
ITEM 4. |
No matter was submitted to a vote of our security holders during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
ITEM 5. |
MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANTS COMMON STOCK, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES |
Our common stock has been quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol ANSW since August 2, 2005. Prior to such date, our common stock was traded on the American Stock Exchange, under the symbol GRU, between October 13, 2004 and August 1, 2005. Prior to October 13, 2004, there was no established market for our shares.
The following table sets forth the high and low closing sale prices for our common stock as quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 and the subsequent period indicated.
|
|
High |
|
Low |
|
||
Year ended December 31, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
||
First quarter |
|
$ |
14.49 |
|
$ |
9.98 |
|
Second quarter |
|
$ |
12.51 |
|
$ |
8.91 |
|
Third quarter |
|
$ |
11.28 |
|
$ |
8.37 |
|
Fourth quarter |
|
$ |
17.24 |
|
$ |
10.39 |
|
Year ended December 31, 2007 |
|
|
|
|
|
||
First quarter |
|
$ |
14.84 |
|
$ |
11.24 |
|
Second quarter |
|
$ |
17.12 |
|
$ |
10.14 |
|
Third quarter |
|
$ |
13.20 |
|
$ |
6.20 |
|
Fourth quarter |
|
$ |
9.15 |
|
$ |
5.58 |
|
Year ending December 31, 2008 |
|
|
|
|
|
||
First quarter (through March 30, 2008) |
|
$ |
6.93 |
|
$ |
3.76 |
|
The closing sale price of our common stock as reported by the NASDAQ Global Market on March 28, 2008 was $5.00 per share.
As of March 26, 2008, there were approximately 45 holders of record of our common stock (not including beneficial owners holding shares in nominee accounts). We have not paid any cash dividends since formation and we do not expect to pay any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. During 2007 we did not repurchase any shares of our common stock. We have not sold any securities during the past three years which were not registered under the Securities Act.
For details concerning securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans, see Item 12 of this Annual Report.
26
Stock Price Performance Graph
The graph below compares the cumulative 38-month total return of holders of our common stock with the cumulative total returns of the NASDAQ Composite index and the RDG Internet Composite index. The graph tracks the performance of a $100 investment in our common stock and in each of the indexes (with the reinvestment of all dividends) from 10/13/2004 to 12/31/2007.
COMPARISON OF 38 MONTH CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN*
Among Answers Corporation, The NASDAQ Composite Index
And the RDG Internet Composite Index
* $100 invested on 10/13/04 in stock or 9/30/04 in index-including reinvestment of dividends.
Fiscal year ending December 31.
|
|
10/13/04 |
|
12/04 |
|
12/05 |
|
12/06 |
|
12/07 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Answers Corporation |
|
100.00 |
|
170.92 |
|
225.54 |
|
263.06 |
|
133.60 |
|
NASDAQ Composite |
|
100.00 |
|
114.11 |
|
116.82 |
|
130.17 |
|
141.89 |
|
RDG Internet Composite |
|
100.00 |
|
113.52 |
|
110.95 |
|
125.72 |
|
145.33 |
|
The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table sets forth certain information at December 31, 2007 with respect to our compensation plans that provide for the issuance of options, warrants or rights to purchase our securities.
|
|
No. of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options,
warrants and rights |
|
Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and
rights |
|
No. of securities remaining available for future issuance under
equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders |
|
2,031,592 |
|
$ |
10.75 |
|
224,536 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders |
|
1,193,414 |
|
$ |
15.79 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
3,225,006 |
|
|
|
224,536 |
|
27
ITEM 6. |
The following selected financial data have been derived from our audited financial statements, some of which appear under Item 8 of this report. This selected financial data might not be a good indicator of our expected results for fiscal 2008. You should read the selected financial data together with the financial statements and notes to financial statements from which this information is derived and with Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in Item 7 of this report.
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
(In thousands except per share data) |
||||||||||||||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
2004 |
|
2003 |
|
|||||
Revenues |
|
$ |
11,395 |
|
$ |
7,029 |
|
$ |
2,053 |
|
$ |
193 |
|
$ |
29 |
|
Operating loss |
|
4,444 |
|
8,880 |
|
6,517 |
|
3,545 |
|
2,762 |
|
|||||
Net loss |
|
4,118 |
|
8,571 |
|
5,991 |
|
6,416 |
|
2,809 |
|
|||||
Basic and diluted loss per share |
|
(0.52 |
) |
(1.12 |
) |
(0.88 |
) |
(2.82 |
) |
(7.93 |
) |
|||||
Accumulated deficit |
|
(59,102 |
) |
(54,984 |
) |
(46,413 |
) |
(40,422 |
) |
(34,006 |
) |
|||||
|
|
As of December 31, |
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|||||||||||||
Working capital(1) |
|
$ |
6,833 |
|
$ |
8,539 |
|
$ |
13,436 |
|
$ |
6,688 |
|
$ |
753 |
|
Total assets |
|
18,598 |
|
19,679 |
|
21,971 |
|
8,985 |
|
1,043 |
|
|||||
Long term obligations |
|
1,247 |
|
828 |
|
1,064 |
|
984 |
|
1,024 |
|
|||||
(1) Represents current assets less current liabilities
28
ITEM 7. |
|
MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by, our financial statements (and notes related thereto) and other more detailed financial information appearing elsewhere in this report. Consequently, you should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with such financial statements and other financial data included elsewhere in this report. Some of the information contained in this discussion and analysis or set forth elsewhere in this report, including information with respect to our plans and strategy for our business, includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. You should review the Risk Factors section of this report for a discussion of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results described in or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and analysis. See also Forward-Looking Statements in Item 1A of this report.
Overview
We are a leading online answer engine. Our Web properties currently consist of Answers.com and WikiAnswers.com. We offer information related to over 4 million topics based on content from brand-name publishers, our WikiAnswers community and our proprietary natural language search technology, which we refer to as Answers from the Web. Answers.com combines and presents targeted information from disparate sources and delivers answers to users questions in a single consolidated view. WikiAnswers.com is a user-generated content, or UGC, community-based question and answer site. According to comScore, a global Internet information provider, our Web properties had approximately 16.67 million unique visitors in February 2008, which ranks Answers Corporation number 53 in the top U.S. Web properties. Our goal is to become the premier online provider of and leading destination for answers on any topic.
Prior to January 2005, we sold subscriptions to our reference-based product, GuruNet. After the launch of Answers.com in January 2005, we ceased offering new subscriptions to GuruNet. In February 2007, we terminated the GuruNet service.
Termination of Lexico Acquisition
On July 13, 2007, we entered into a Purchase Agreement that we subsequently amended on July 31, 2007 and November 12, 2007, and on January 15, 2008 we entered into an Amended and Restated Purchase Agreement, which we subsequently amended on February 8, 2008, to acquire all of the outstanding limited liability interests of Lexico Publishing Group, LLC for an aggregate purchase price of $100 million in cash, subject to adjustments for closing net working capital. Consummation of the acquisition of Lexico was subject to our ability to secure financing for the acquisition.
On July 17, 2007, we filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission which was declared effective on August 6, 2007. The registration statement covers up to an aggregate of $140,000,000 of common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt securities, units or any combination thereof. On January 16, 2008, we filed a prospectus supplement for a proposed public offering which we later amended on February 8, 2008. On February 13, 2008 we canceled our proposed public offering due to unfavorable market conditions..
On March 1, 2008, the members of Lexico terminated the purchase agreement, due to our inability to finance the acquisition. As a result of the termination of the purchase agreement and in accordance therewith, we reimbursed $500,000 of the sellers out-of-pocket transaction-related legal and accounting expenses.
Additionally, in connection with the Lexico transaction, on January 15, 2008, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with an institutional investor, or the senior notes investor, for the optional purchase and sale of $8.5 million aggregate principal amount of our senior secured convertible notes due 2010, or the senior secured convertible notes. Our intent was to close the senior secured convertible notes financing in conjunction with our follow-on offering, if we needed such funds to close the Lexico acquisition. Since our purchase agreement with Lexico was terminated, the Securities Purchase Agreement has also terminated and pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement we have paid the senior notes investor a termination fee of $425 thousand.
The payments to Lexico and the senior notes investor, aggregating $925,000, will be charged to operations in the first quarter of 2008. Additionally, in connection with the proposed acquisition of Lexico and follow-on offering, we incurred approximately $1,270,000 of costs, which are reflected as deferred costs on our December 31, 2007 balance sheet, for various matters including legal, accounting, banking, consulting and travel. Further, we incurred an additional $455,000 of such costs
29
in the first quarter of 2008. Those additional costs and the aforesaid payments to Lexico and the senior notes investor, which, in aggregate, amount to $2,650,000 will be charged to operations in the first quarter of 2008.
Acquisitions
WikiAnswers
On November 2, 2006, we acquired WikiAnswers and certain other assets for an aggregate of $2.0 million in cash. In connection with the allocation of the purchase price, we recorded goodwill of approximately $437 thousand and intangible assets, with estimated useful lives of three to ten years, of approximately $1,563 thousand. Since the date of the acquisition the revenues and operating expenses of WikiAnswers have been included in our results of operations.
Brainboost
On December 1, 2005, we acquired Brainboost, developer of the Brainboost Answer Engine which we have integrated into our Answers from the Web technology, an artificial intelligence technology enabling natural language search on the Web. As consideration for the acquisition, we paid $4.0 million in cash and issued 439,000 shares of our common stock, valued at approximately $5.6 million at the time of the acquisition. In connection with the allocation of the purchase price, we recorded an intangible asset related to the Brainboost technology, of approximately $5.4 million, with an estimated useful life of six years, and recognized compensation expense of approximately $4.2 million.
Under the terms of the acquisition, 50% and 25% of the shares of common stock were held in escrow for 3 and 6 months after the purchase date, respectively. Release from escrow was contingent upon our continued employment of one of the principals of the general partnership that formerly owned Brainboost. The escrowed shares were deemed to be compensation for services to be performed by the principal of the seller over the six-month period ending May 31, 2006. Because the escrow criteria were met, the shares were released from escrow, as scheduled, on March 1, 2006 and June 1, 2006. As a result, we recorded a compensation expense charge of approximately $4.2 million, which represented the value of these shares, on a straight-line basis, over the requisite six-month employment commitment period.
The stock component of the consideration was subject to a registration rights agreement pursuant to which we agreed that if our registration statement was not effective with the SEC by April 1, 2006, we would pay the sellers a penalty of $100,000 per month, pro-rated daily. Our registration statement was declared effective on June 9, 2006; consequently, we paid the sellers $227 thousand in the second quarter of 2006.
In June 2006, we completed our initial beta integration of the Brainboost technology into Answers.com as Answers from the Web. The Company plans to evaluate further developing this technology through enhancements to its accuracy, range and speed.
Revenue
Traffic
Our revenue is primarily driven by the traffic generated by our Web properties and our ability to effectively monetize that traffic. Our current sources of traffic include the following:
· Search engines: Users submit queries and algorithm search engines respond by generating a list of Web pages that are likely to offer the most relevant content. When our pages rank high in the algorithmic systems of search engines, our results are more likely to be accessed by users. For the fourth quarter of 2007, according to our internal estimates, this source of traffic represented approximately 65% of our traffic.
· Googles definition link: We have an informal, non-contractual relationship with Google under which Google links search results related to certain definitional queries to Answers.com. For the fourth quarter of 2007, according to our internal estimates, this source of traffic represented approximately 10% of our traffic.
· Direct users: Users visiting and returning to our home pages, and to a far lesser extent, arriving from Web properties that send us traffic, or via 1-Click Answers and AnswerTips. For the fourth quarter of 2007, according to our internal estimates, direct users represented approximately 25% of our traffic.
30
Since most of our traffic originates from search engines, we expend considerable resources improving the volume and optimizing the monetization of this traffic. The industry commonly refers to such efforts as search engine optimization, or SEO. Our Web properties have at times experienced decreases in traffic, and consequently decreases in revenue, due to these search engine actions, including recent actions by Google and Yahoo! that are discussed in the 2007 revenue discussion below.
We continuously seek to improve the user experience of visitors to our Web properties, which we believe leads to increased pages per visit, or stickiness, and return visits, or user-retention. We seek to increase stickiness and user-retention by adding new features, enhancing user interfaces and adding new content to our Web properties.
Monetization
Advertising Revenue. We earn most of our revenue from advertising. There are two primary categories of Internet advertising, pay-per-performance, or most commonly cost per click, or CPC, and pay-per-impression, or cost per 1,000 impressions, or CPM. In the pay-for-performance model we earn revenue based on the number of clicks associated with an ad; in the paid-for-impression model we derive revenue from the display of ads. We work with third party ad networks that we believe optimize the average amount of revenue we earn per page view. Third party ad networks generally compensate us by paying us a portion of the revenue they earn from advertisers for our provision of promotional space on our Web properties. Additionally, in the fourth quarter of 2006, we began marketing directly to advertisers and generating direct advertising revenue. While our direct advertising efforts has the potential to be a driver of future monetization improvements, the results of our direct ad sales team have not reached desired levels.
We gauge the effectiveness of our monetization efforts and trends by measuring our RPM. In our Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations prior to our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, we reported RPM based on website queries, or traffic, directly to one of our Answers.com topic pages. Beginning with the Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, we refer to RPM based on page views. Page views include traffic directly to the Answers.com home page, but exclude lookups conducted through 1-Click Answers, AnswerTips and traffic from partners who pay us for providing them our answer-based services. Page views are the more widely recognized industry standard traffic metric. Based upon our internal analysis, we estimate the number of Answers.com page views to be approximately 13% higher than the number of our previously reported Answers.com queries. This difference is primarily attributable to home page visits in the page view traffic estimates. Historical RPM in this annual report, have been modified to conform to the new methodology and are approximately 13% lower than amounts reported prior to our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007.
Our Answers.com RPM increased significantly since we launched the Web property, due to the implementation of various optimization methods, including:
· modifying the user interface;
· modifying the color, background and placement of ads displayed;
· modifying the size of ads;
· changing the number of ads per page;
· adding or switching third party ad networks;
· increasing the revenue-share percentage offered by third party ad networks;
· modifying the types of ads introduced;
· modifying the content displayed; and
· introducing direct advertising sales.
We continue to monitor and adjust these, and potentially other, optimization techniques to maximize our RPM.
31
While we plan to continue focusing on optimizing our monetization, utilizing and expanding on many of the techniques we have used in the past, we believe that the primary factor that will improve our web properties RPM, if any, is selling ads directly through our own sales force. Excluding expected growth in direct ad sales revenue, we anticipate that our RPM will fluctuate around current levels. In the second half of 2006, we hired our Vice President of Advertising Sales. During the second quarter of 2007, we hired three additional salespersons. While our direct advertising efforts has the potential to be a driver of future monetization improvements, the results of our direct ad sales team have not reached desired levels.
Two of our third party ad networks, Google and Shopping.com, accounted for approximately 64% and 9%, respectively, of our total revenue in 2007 and approximately 65% and 14%, respectively, of our total revenue in 2006. In addition to Google and Shopping.com, we utilize the services of other third party ad networks that provide us with ads. Although there are many companies that provide third party ad networks, the loss of Google as a third party ad network could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, as we may not succeed in receiving terms and ad services as favorable as those provided under our GSA with Google. While the drop in traffic due to the July 2007 Google search engine algorithm adjustment impacted our aggregate advertising revenue, it did not affect our contractual relationship with Google under the GSA.
Licensing Revenue. We also earn revenues from partners that pay us for providing them with our answer-based services that they then use in their own products, via co-branded Web pages. Revenue from these arrangements are based on various formulas, including a percentage of the revenues these parties earn by delivering our services to their users, fees based on the number of user queries and fixed periodic fees.
Subscription Revenue. Prior to December 2003, we sold lifetime subscriptions to GuruNet, generally for $40 per subscription. In December 2003, we decided to alter our pricing model and moved to an annual subscription model, for which we generally charged our subscribers $30 per year. We have not sold subscriptions since our launch of Answers.com in January 2005. As of February 2007, we terminated the GuruNet service. Subscription revenue in periods subsequent to January 2005 reflects the recognition of revenue from subscriptions that we sold prior to our launch of Answers.com in January 2005.
Costs and Expenses
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue consists of fees to third party providers of content, Web search service fees, ad serving fees, amortization of the cost of acquired software used in our products, data center costs including depreciation of information technology assets, contractual revenue sharing fees to various Web property operators for visitors directed to our Web properties, or traffic acquisition costs, as well as the compensation, travel and overhead costs relating to personnel who are responsible for content editing and integration, production operations and customer support. As revenue increases, we expect our cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue to decrease, however, we may experience an increase in our cost of revenue as a percentage of revenue, during the transition period, in the first half of 2008, related to our anticipated shift to a co-location facility for hosting our web properties, rather than our current managed hosting facility, since we will need to operate both facilities during the transition period.
Research and Development Expenses
Research and development expenses consist of compensation, travel and overhead costs of personnel conducting research and development of our products and services, and consulting costs. Our research and development team works primarily on projects to improve and enhance user interface, product functionality, disambiguation, scalability and performance. We generally expect that our research and development expenses will decline as a percentage of revenue as we grow our revenue.
Sales and Marketing Expenses
Sales and marketing expenses consist of compensation, travel and overhead costs of sales and marketing and product management personnel, public relations, marketing and market information services, and advertising and promotional costs. We generally expect that our sales and marketing expenses will decline as a percentage of revenue as we grow our revenue.
32
General and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses consist primarily of compensation, travel and overhead costs for financial, legal and administrative personnel, insurance fees, fees for professional services, including investor relations, legal, accounting and other consulting fees, investment banking fees, amortization of domain names, and other general corporate expenses. Overhead costs consist primarily of rent, telecommunications, utilities and depreciation expenses. We generally expect that our general and administrative expenses will decline as a percentage of revenue as we grow our revenue. However, in the first quarter of 2008, we will be recording a charge of approximately $2.65 million to reflect various costs we incurred in connection with the termination of the acquisition of Lexico and the follow-on offering of securities.
Stock-Based Compensation
New employees typically receive stock option awards within three months of their start date. We also grant additional stock option awards to existing employees and directors, usually once a year. As of January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payments, or SFAS 123R, which requires measurement of compensation cost for all stock-based awards at fair value on date of grant and recognition of compensation over the service period awards are expected to vest. Prior to January 1, 2006, we accounted for stock-based awards to employees and directors under the intrinsic value method, which followed the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (APB 25). The intrinsic value method of accounting resulted in compensation expense for stock options to employees and directors to the extent option exercise prices were set below the market value of the Companys stock on the date of grant. Costs resulting from stock-based compensation are part of our compensation expense and are included in the operating expense categories in our Statement of Operations.
Other Compensation Charges
In connection with our purchase of Brainboost, we issued shares of common stock, valued at approximately $4.2 million, which were deemed to be compensation for services. Accordingly, $4.2 million was charged to compensation expense over the six-month period ending May 31, 2006.
Other
Interest Income Net
Interest income, net primarily consists of interest income earned on cash, cash equivalent and investment securities balances.
Other Expenses
Other expenses consists primarily of foreign currency exchange gains and losses. In 2006, other expenses included a payment of $227 thousand to the sellers of Brainboost as a result of our delay registering with the SEC shares we issued as consideration in the transaction.
Income Tax Expense
Our effective tax rate differs from the statutory federal rate due to differences between income and expense recognition prescribed by income tax regulations and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. We utilize different methods and useful lives for depreciating and amortizing property, equipment and intangible assets and different methods and timing for calculating and recording stock compensation expense and other accruals. Furthermore, permanent differences arise from certain income and expense items recorded for financial reporting purposes but not recognizable for income tax purposes. In addition, our income tax expense has been adjusted for the effect of state and local taxes and foreign income from our wholly owned subsidiary. Our deferred tax assets are primarily offset by a valuation allowance because realization depends on generating future taxable income, which, in our estimation, is not more likely than not to transpire.
Our Israeli subsidiary had income in 2007, 2006 and 2005, resulting from the services agreement we entered into with such Israeli subsidiary. Pursuant to this agreement, the Israeli subsidiary charges us for research and development services it provides us, plus 12.5%. However, the subsidiary is an approved enterprise under Israeli law, which means that income arising from the subsidiarys approved activities is subject to zero tax under the alternative benefit path for a period of ten years. Currently, the subsidiary operates under two separate approved enterprise plans, ending December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2014, respectively. In the event of distributions by the subsidiary to the parent, the subsidiary would have to
33
pay a 10% corporate tax on the amount distributed, and the recipient would have to pay a 15% tax to be withheld at source on the amounts of such distribution received. At present, we do not plan on having the subsidiary distribute a dividend to Answers Corporation.
The following table sets forth the historical operating results as a percentage of revenue for the periods indicated:
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
||||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
Revenue |
|
100 |
% |
100 |
% |
100 |
% |
Costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenue |
|
43 |
|
48 |
|
56 |
|
Research and development |
|
26 |
|
83 |
|
107 |
|
Sales and marketing |
|
35 |
|
46 |
|
89 |
|
General and administrative |
|
35 |
|
48 |
|
166 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
139 |
|
225 |
|
418 |
|
Operating loss |
|
(39 |
) |
(125 |
) |
(318 |
) |
Interest income, net |
|
3 |
|
8 |
|
27 |
|
Other expense, net |
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
(2 |
) |
Loss before income taxes |
|
(36 |
) |
(120 |
) |
(293 |
) |
Income taxes |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
1 |
|
Net loss |
|
(36 |
)% |
(121 |
)% |
(292 |
)% |
34
Year Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
Revenue
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
YTY |
|
|
|
YTY |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
2007 |
|
Change |
|
2006 |
|
Change |
|
2005 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Answers.com advertising revenue |
|
$ |
9,449 |
|
39 |
% |
$ |
6,755 |
|
281 |
% |
$ |
1,771 |
|
WikiAnswers advertising revenue |
|
1,302 |
|
2,000 |
% |
62 |
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Answers services licensing revenue |
|
219 |
|
17 |
% |
187 |
|
70 |
% |
110 |
|
|||
Subscription revenue |
|
425 |
|
1,600 |
% |
25 |
|
(85 |
)% |
172 |
|
|||
|
|
$ |
11,395 |
|
62 |
% |
$ |
7,029 |
|
242 |
% |
$ |
2,053 |
|
Revenue in 2007 increased $4,366 thousand, or 62%, to $11,395 from $7,029 in 2006. The majority of the increase in our revenue was due to an increase in the Answers.com advertising revenue of $2,694 thousand, which was the result of increases in our Answers.com traffic and, to a lesser extent, monetization rates. Average daily page views for Answers.com in 2007 were approximately 4.5 million compared to approximately 3.4 million in 2006. RPM for Answers.com was $5.75 in 2007, compared to $5.41 in 2006. In addition, advertising revenues in 2007 includes $1,302 thousand generated from WikiAnswers, a website we only acquired in November 2006.
In July 2007, a search engine algorithm adjustment by Google led to a drop in Google directed traffic to Answers.com. This adjustment reduced our overall traffic by approximately 28% based on the average traffic directed to Answers.com from Google for the week prior to the adjustment as compared to the week after. As a result, our revenue also declined proportionately. We have not been able to reverse the impact of this adjustment, and we do not anticipate that we will recover the lost traffic and revenue. In response to the Google algorithm adjustment, we reduced our headcount and related compensation costs, reducing our base payroll expenses by approximately 12%. In September 2007, Yahoo! dropped our content from its search index. This action was reversed within a week, and we have recovered all of our Yahoo! directed traffic.
Approximately $990 thousand and $290 thousand of our advertising revenue in the 2007 and 2006, respectively, resulted from the efforts of our direct ad sales force. We had no direct ad sales during the year ending December 31, 2005.
Subscription revenue in 2007 of $425 thousand resulted from the recognition of revenue from the sale of lifetime subscriptions to our GuruNet service prior to December 2003. As of December 31, 2006, we had approximately $425 thousand of deferred revenue relating to these subscriptions. Prior to 2007, we did not recognize any revenue from the lifetime subscriptions to our GuruNet service because the subscriptions had no defined term. On February 2, 2007, in accordance with our rights under the agreements we entered into with such subscribers, we terminated the GuruNet service and thereby extinguished our service obligations to our subscribers. As a result, we recognized the entire $425 thousand previously deferred, as revenue, in the first quarter of 2007. We had no additional subscription revenue in 2007. Subscription revenue of $25 thousand in 2006 related to fixed-term subscriptions we sold prior to January 2005, as we recognized the revenue from fixed term subscriptions over the lives of such subscriptions.
Revenue in 2006 increased $4,976 thousand, or 242%, to $7,029 thousand, from $2,053 thousand in 2005. The increase in advertising revenue was primarily the result of increases in our Answers.com traffic and monetization rates. Advertising revenue beginning in the fourth quarter of 2006 also included revenue attributable to WikiAnswers. Average daily page views in 2006 were approximately 3.4 million, compared to approximately 1.8 million in 2005. RPM for Answers.com was $5.41 in 2006, compared to $2.63 in 2005.
Subscription revenue in 2006 and 2005 relates to fixed-term GuruNet subscriptions we sold prior to January 2005. The decrease in subscription revenue in 2006 of $147 thousand as compared to 2005 is the result of the termination dates of fixed-term subscriptions, since we recognized the revenue from fixed term subscriptions over the lives of such subscriptions.
35
Revenue Trends by Web Property
The following table, which illustrates the historical trends of our two web properties traffic, revenues and RPMs, by quarter, in 2007:
|
|
2007 |
|
||||||||||
|
|
Q1 |
|
Q2 |
|
Q3 |
|
Q4 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Ad Revenue ($ - in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Answers.com |
|
2,768 |
|
2,551 |
|
1,861 |
|
2,270 |
|
||||
WikiAnswers |
|
116 |
|
177 |
|
304 |
|
704 |
|
||||
Total |
|
2,884 |
|
2,728 |
|
2,165 |
|
2,974 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Answers.com |
|
96 |
% |
94 |
% |
86 |
% |
76 |
% |
||||
WikiAnswers |
|
4 |
% |
6 |
% |
14 |
% |
24 |
% |
||||
Total |
|
100 |
% |
100 |
% |
100 |
% |
100 |
% |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Traffic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Answers.com |
|
5,470,000 |
|
4,890,000 |
|
3,730,000 |
|
3,924,000 |
|
||||
WikiAnswers |
|
293,000 |
|
440,000 |
|
639,000 |
|
1,152,000 |
|
||||
Total |
|
5,763,000 |
|
5,330,000 |
|
4,369,000 |
|
5,076,000 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Answers.com |
|
95 |
% |
92 |
% |
85 |
% |
77 |
% |
||||
WikiAnswers |
|
5 |
% |
8 |
% |
15 |
% |
23 |
% |
||||
Total |
|
100 |
% |
100 |
% |
100 |
% |
100 |
% |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
RPM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Answers.com |
|
$ |
5.62 |
|
$ |
5.73 |
|
$ |
5.42 |
|
$ |
6.29 |
|
WikiAnswers |
|
$ |
4.40 |
|
$ |
4.42 |
|
$ |
5.17 |
|
$ |
6.64 |
|
Since we purchased WikiAnswers in November 2006, the website has grown dramatically, each quarter, both in terms of traffic and revenue. Conversely, in 2007, and especially beginning the third quarter of 2007, when we experienced a drop in our traffic due to a search engine algorithm adjustment by Google, Answers.coms quarterly growth has slowed or, at times, declined. In 2008, we expect that Answers.com traffic will grow very moderately, or in fact decline, while we expect WikiAnswers will continue to grow rapidly. In the second half of 2008, we expect that WikiAnswers ad revenue will exceed that of Answers.com.
Costs and Expenses
Cost of Revenue
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
YTY |
|
|
|
YTY |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
2007 |
|
Change |
|
2006 |
|
Change |
|
2005 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Cost of revenue |
|
$ |
4,890 |
|
44 |
% |
$ |
3,406 |
|
194 |
% |
$ |
1,158 |
|
Cost of revenue increased $1,484 thousand, or 44%, to $4,890 in 2007 from $3,406 in 2006. The increase in cost of revenue was due primarily to increases in data center costs of $600 thousand, including depreciation of information technology assets, increases in content licensing costs of $432 thousand, increases in fees we pay to Google for web search and ad serving fees of $180 thousand, and increases in compensation costs of $92 thousand as a result of staffing additions in our production operations and content departments, salary increases and increased stock-based compensation of $32 thousand. Additionally,
36
in 2007 we incurred $114 thousand of amortization expenses relating to intangible assets we purchased in connection with the WikiAnswers acquisition that took place in November 2006, compared to $21 thousand in 2006.
Cost of revenue increased $2,248 thousand, or 194%, to $3,406 thousand in 2006 from $1,158 thousand in 2005. The increase in cost of revenue for 2006 was partially due to certain expenses we incurred in 2006 that we did not experience in the prior year, as well as increases in certain expenses. During 2006, we incurred $893 thousand of expense from the amortization of the Brainboost technology. We did not incur similar costs in 2005. Additionally, in 2006, we incurred $22 thousand of amortization resulting from intangible assets in connection with the acquisition of WikiAnswers, stock-based compensation of $127 thousand as a result of adopting SFAS 123R, and traffic acquisition costs of $68 thousand, all of which we did not incur in 2005. The remaining net increase in cost of revenue was due primarily to increases in compensation costs, excluding stock-based compensation, of $298 thousand during 2006 as a result of staffing additions in production operations, content and customer support, salary increases which took effect in 2006, increases in data center costs, including depreciation of information technology assets, required to manage more Internet traffic of $348 thousand, increases in fees paid to Google for web search services of $45 thousand, increases in content licensing costs of $234 thousand and increases in overhead costs of $110 thousand.
Research and Development Expenses
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
YTY |
|
|
|
YTY |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
2007 |
|
Change |
|
2006 |
|
Change |
|
2005 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Research and development |
|
$ |
2,978 |
|
(49 |
)% |
$ |
5,865 |
|
168 |
% |
$ |
2,190 |
|
Research and development expenses decreased $2,887 thousand, or 49%, to $2,978 in 2007 from $5,865 in 2006. The decrease in research and development expenses was due primarily to compensation charges of $3.5 million in 2006, resulting from the acquisition of Brainboost. We did not incur any similar charges in 2007. This decrease was partially offset by increases in compensation-related expenses of $486 thousand due to growth in our research and development team and 2007 salary increases.
Research and development expenses increased $3,675 thousand, or 168%, to $5,865 thousand in 2006 from $2,190 thousand in 2005. The increase in research and development expenses was due primarily to compensation charges of approximately $3.5 million resulting from the acquisition of Brainboost in 2006, compared to approximately $700 thousand in 2005. The increase was also due to increases in compensation-related expenses, excluding stock-based compensation, of approximately $688 thousand, due to growth in our research and development team, including the addition of a Director of Natural Language Research, and salary increases in 2006. Finally, as a result of adopting SFAS 123R, stock-based compensation attributable to research and development activities in 2006 increased to $341 thousand compared to $32 thousand in 2005.
Sales and Marketing Expenses
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
YTY |
|
|
|
YTY |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
2007 |
|
Change |
|
2006 |
|
Change |
|
2005 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Sales and marketing |
|
$ |
3,951 |
|
21 |
% |
$ |
3,253 |
|
79 |
% |
$ |
1,818 |
|
Sales and marketing expenses increased $698 thousand, or 21%, to $3,951 in 2007 from $3,253 thousand in 2006. Compensation related expenses increased $629 thousand, primarily due to growth in our sales and marketing team, including the hiring of three ad sales managers during the second quarter of 2007. We also incurred a severance charge of approximately $220 thousand in 2007, as the result of the termination of employment of our Chief Revenue Officer in August 2007 as part of a reduction in our headcount due to the impact on us of the Google search engine algorithm adjustment in
37
July 2007. Additionally, expenses relating to Internet and marketing metrics and information services increased approximately $100 thousand in 2007 as compared to 2006. Finally, in 2007, we incurred recruiting fees of approximately $50 thousand to fill certain ad sales position openings, fees we did not incur in 2006. These increases were offset, in part, by a decrease in advertising and promotion expenses of approximately $355 thousand and by a decrease in marketing-related expenses due to an accrual of $75 thousand relating to a lawsuit from a former marketing employee incurred in 2006, that did not recur in 2007.
Sales and marketing expenses increased $1,435 thousand, or 79%, to $3,253 in 2006 from $1,818 in 2005. Compensation-related expenses, excluding stock-based compensation increased $840 thousand, from $634 thousand to $1,474 thousand, primarily due to growth in our sales and marketing team, where we hired an additional 7 employees during the course of 2006, including our Vice President of Advertising Sales and a business development manager. Additionally, as a result of adopting SFAS 123R, stock-based compensation in 2006 was $676 thousand compared to $1 thousand in 2005. Additionally, other marketing-related expenses, including travel, third party marketing services and an accrual relating to a lawsuit from a former marketing employee, increased by of $237 thousand and overhead increased $113 thousand. These increases were offset, in part, by a decrease in advertising and promotion expenses of approximately $140 thousand and two non-recurring items, including approximately $248 thousand in consulting costs, $213 thousand of which was stock-based compensation, relating to a strategic consultant who assisted us in formulating our product and marketing strategy, and $35 thousand in recruiting fees.
General and Administrative Expenses
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
YTY |
|
|
|
YTY |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
2007 |
|
Change |
|
2006 |
|
Change |
|
2005 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
General and administrative |
|
$ |
4,020 |
|
19 |
% |
$ |
3,385 |
|
(1 |
)% |
$ |
3,404 |
|
General and administrative expenses increased $635 thousand, or 19%, to $4,020 in 2007 from $3,385 in 2006. The increase in general and administrative expenses was due primarily to increases in compensation costs of $539 thousand, and increases to the WikiAnswers intangible assets amortization of $167 thousand. These increases were offset, in part, by decreases in various expenses, including, stock administration and investor relations of $110 thousand and insurance of $50 thousand. The stock administration costs declined because in the year ended December 31, 2006 we incurred costs relating to the registration of the Brainboost shares, costs that we did not incur in 2007.
General and administrative expenses decreased $19 thousand, or 1%, to $3,385 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2006 from $3,404 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2005. In 2005, we recorded $50 thousand of cash compensation, and $577 thousand in stock-based compensation, which represented the amortization of the fair value of warrants issued to an investment banking firm that provided us with general financial advisory and investment banking services. Such expense did not recur in 2006. Additionally, in 2005 we recorded $97 thousand of cash compensation, and $151 thousand in stock-based compensation in connection with the retention of an investor relations firm. Although we retained the same investor relations firm in 2006, the remuneration did not include a stock component; therefore, there was no recurrence of stock-based compensation to our investor relations firm in 2006. In 2006, employee compensation, excluding stock-based compensation, increased by $339 thousand, due to increases in the number of employees in the general and administrative department and salary increases which took effect in January 2006. Additionally, as a result of adopting SFAS 123R, stock-based employee compensation increased to $665 thousand in 2006, compared to $94 thousand in 2005. Other general and administrative expenses decreased by approximately $200 thousand, which included a decrease in legal expenses of $207 thousand offset, in part, by an increase of $133 thousand in accounting expenses.
General and administrative expenses in the first quarter of 2008 will include a charge of approximately $2,650,000 to reflect the various costs we incurred in connection with the failed acquisition of Lexico and the terminated follow-on offering of securities.
38
Interest Income, Net
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
YTY |
|
|
|
YTY |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
2007 |
|
Change |
|
2006 |
|
Change |
|
2005 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Interest income, net |
|
$ |
385 |
|
(30 |
)% |
$ |
553 |
|
0 |
% |
$ |
555 |
|
Interest income, net decreased $168 thousand, or 30%, to $385 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2007 from $553 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2006. The decrease in interest income resulted from lower average cash and investment securities balances in 2007 as compared to 2006, and lower short-term interest rates.
Interest income, net, decreased $2 thousand, or 0%, to $553 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2006 from $555 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2005. Although our average cash balances during 2006 were lower compared to the average cash balances during 2005, Interest income, net, in 2006 stayed almost the same due to higher short-term interest rates.
Other Expenses, Net
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|||||||||||
|
|
|
|
YTY |
|
|
|
YTY |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
2007 |
|
Change |
|
2006 |
|
Change |
|
2005 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
Other expense, net |
|
$ |
(11 |
) |
(94 |
)% |
$ |
(176 |
) |
319 |
% |
$ |
(42 |
) |
Other expense, net decreased $165 thousand, or 94%, to $11 thousand in 2007, from $176 thousand in 2006. Other expenses in 2006 resulted, primarily, from the payment of $227 thousand to the sellers of Brainboost as a result of our delay registering with the SEC shares we issued as consideration in the transaction. Other expenses in 2007 resulted from foreign currency exchange net losses.
Other expenses, net, increased $134 thousand, or 319%, to $176 thousand in 2006 from $42 thousand in 2005. Other expenses in 2006 resulted primarily from the payment of $227 thousand to the sellers of Brainboost as a result of our delay registering with the SEC shares we issued as consideration in the transaction. This $227 thousand expense was offset, in part, by foreign currency exchange net gains of approximately $51 thousand. Other expenses in 2005 resulted primarily from foreign currency exchange net losses.
Income Tax (Expense) Benefit
We had net operating loss carryforwards, or NOLs, for federal income tax purposes of approximately $54 million at December 31, 2007, approximately $49 million at December 31, 2006, and approximately $42 million at December 31, 2005. The federal net operating losses will expire if not utilized on various dates from 2019 through 2027. Because we have experienced one or more ownership changes, within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, an annual limitation is imposed on our ability to use $32 million of these carryforwards. Our best estimate at this time is that the annual limitation on the use of $32 million of our NOLs is approximately $1.8 million per year. Any unused portion of the $1.8 million annual limitation applicable to our restricted NOLs is available for use in future years until such NOLs are scheduled to expire. Our remaining NOLs are not currently subject to such limitations. Our Israeli subsidiary has capital loss carryforwards of approximately $740 thousand that can be applied to future capital gains for an unlimited period of time under current tax rules.
39
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal sources of liquidity are cash, cash equivalents, and investment securities which were $7,478 thousand as of December 31, 2007. In 2007 we used $647 thousand in cash from our operations. We have used cash in our operations in every year since our inception. Our ability to generate cash from operations in the future will depend primarily on our ability to produce net income before non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization and stock-based compensation.
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|||||||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|||
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
$ |
(647 |
) |
$ |
(2,465 |
) |
$ |
(4,286 |
) |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
|
2,420 |
|
4,296 |
|
(9,808 |
) |
|||
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
|
(54 |
) |
326 |
|
15,382 |
|
|||
Operating Activities
Despite a net loss of $4,118 thousand in 2007, net cash used by operations was $647 thousand. We incurred $2,123 thousand of operating expenses that were the result of non-cash, stock-based compensation to employees and directors, depreciation and amortization of $1,797 thousand, while recognizing $425 thousand of previously deferred revenue from lifetime subscriptions we sold for our GuruNet service in 2003.
Despite a net loss of $8,571 thousand in 2006, our net cash used in operations was $2,465 thousand. The primary reason for the difference was $1,810 thousand of non-cash, stock-based compensation paid to employees and directors, $3,489 thousand of non-cash, stock-based compensation that resulted from the Brainboost acquisition, and depreciation and amortization of $1,291 thousand. In 2005, despite a net loss of $5,991 thousand, our net cash used in operations was $4,286 thousand. The primary reason for the difference was $1,769 thousand of operating expenses due to the result of non-cash, stock-based compensation.
Investing Activities
Net cash provided by investing activities in 2007 is attributable mostly to the proceeds from the sale of investment securities less cash used from purchases of investment securities, and cash used for capital expenditures, long-term deposits and deferred costs relating to the proposed Lexico acquisition, as delineated in our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
Net cash provided by and used in investing activities in 2006 and 2005, respectively, is attributable mostly to purchases of investment securities less the proceeds from the sale of investment securities, as delineated in our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. Additionally, in 2005 and 2006 we purchased Brainboost and WikiAnswers, respectively, and those transactions materially impacted our cash position.
Financing Activities
Cash flow used in financing activities in 2007 stems from deferred costs relating to the proposed Lexico financing, less net proceeds from the exercise of stock options.. Cash flow provided by financing activities in 2006 and 2005 relates to the net proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants.
Future Operations
As a result of the cancellation of our proposed public offering on February 13, 2008 and the termination of the Lexico purchase agreement on March 1, 2008, we will have to make cash payments of approximately $1,985 thousand in the first quarter of 2008, in addition to the $665 thousand we already expended in 2007, for fees and costs relating to the unsuccessful acquisition and public offering. These payments will have a material impact on the balance of our cash and cash equivalents and investment securities. Additionally, we expect that the collocation hosting facility we are establishing in 2008 will require an outlay of approximately $1 million in capital expenditures in 2008. Notwithstanding, we believe we have sufficient cash to meet our planned operating needs for the next twelve months, based on our current cash levels and expected cash flow from operations in 2008. However, our business strategy includes growth through additional business combinations and licensing or acquiring products and technologies complementary to our business, which could require use of a significant
40
amount of our available cash and raising additional capital. We may therefore need to raise additional capital through future debt or equity financing to finance such initiatives. However, we cannot be certain that additional financing will be available on acceptable terms, or at all.
To the extent that we raise additional funds by issuing equity securities, our stockholders may experience significant dilution.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
As of December 31, 2007, we had the following known contractual obligations and commitments (in thousands) in addition to approximately $2,000,000 paid in the first quarter of 2008 resulting from the failed acquisition of Lexico and the terminated follow-on offering of securities:
|
|
Purchase |
|
Operating |
|
Total(1) |
|
2008 |
|
633 |
|
441 |
|
1,074 |
|
2009 |
|
350 |
|
394 |
|
744 |
|
2010 |
|
45 |
|
232 |
|
277 |
|
|
|
1,028 |
|
1,067 |
|
2,095 |
|
(1) The above table does not include unrecognized tax benefits of $263 thousand.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have not entered into any transactions with unconsolidated entities in which we have financial guarantees, subordinated retained interests, derivative instruments or other contingent arrangements that expose us to material continuing risks, contingent liabilities or any other obligations under a variable interest in an unconsolidated entity that provides us with financing, liquidity, market risk or credit risk support.
Quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk
Currency Risk. Our revenue is denominated solely in U.S. dollars. Most of our expenses are also based in U.S. dollars; however, we have a significant amount of expenses that are denominated in New Israeli Shekels, or NIS. We expect this level of NIS expenses to continue in the near future. In 2007, the value of the U.S. dollar weakened against the value of NIS by 9%. The value of the U.S. dollar as of February 28, 2008, compared to its value as of December 31, 2007, weakened against the value of NIS by an additional 6%. If the value of the U.S. dollar further weakens against the value of NIS, there will be a negative impact on our results of operations. In addition, to the extent we hold cash and cash equivalents that are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, we are subject to the risk of exchange rate fluctuations. We use various hedging tools, including forward contracts and options, to minimize the effect of currency fluctuations on our income.
Other Market Risk. As of December 31, 2007, almost all of our excess cash was invested in money market accounts that we believe has no material exposure to the principal amount nor to interest rate risk. However, prior to then, we did invest much of our excess cash in various highly liquid investments including auction rate, investment grade, corporate and municipal debt instruments, and auction rate preferred shares of closed-end investment funds that invest in long-term fixed income securities, with auction reset periods (ARSs) of 28 days. Recently, many holders of ARS instruments have experienced a liquidity crisis due to the lack of sufficient demand for the securities on the reset dates. While we did hold some ARSs as of December 31, 2007, we did not experience a loss upon the sale of those securities in the first quarter of 2008. Currently, we do not own any ARSs, and we are monitoring the situation, but in the interim we have ceased making any investments in ARSs.
Critical Accounting Estimates
While our significant accounting policies are more fully described in the notes to our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, we believe the following accounting policies to be the most critical in understanding the judgments and estimates we use in preparing our consolidated financial statements.
41
Goodwill, Intangibles and Other Long-Lived Assets
We account for our purchases of acquired companies in accordance with SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations, or SFAS 141, and for goodwill and other identifiable definite and indefinite-lived acquired intangible assets in accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, or SFAS 142. Additionally, we review our long-lived assets for recoverability in accordance with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, or SFAS 144.
The identification and valuation of intangible assets and the determination of the estimated useful lives at the time of acquisition are based on various valuation methodologies including reviews of projected future cash flows. The use of alternative estimates and assumptions could increase or decrease the estimated fair value of our goodwill and other intangible assets, and potentially result in a different impact to our results of operations. Further, changes in business strategy and/or market conditions may significantly impact these judgments thereby impacting the fair value of these assets, which could result in an impairment of the goodwill and acquired intangible assets.
We evaluate our long-lived tangible and intangible assets for impairment in accordance with SFAS 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, with the annual impairment testing date set at September 30, and in accordance with SFAS 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets. While we use available information to prepare our estimates and to perform impairment evaluations, the completion of annual impairment tests requires significant management judgments and estimates.
In response to the search engine algorithm adjustment by Google in July 2007, we examined what impact this event might have on the recoverability of our long-lived assets in accordance with the guidance contained in SFAS 142 and 144. As a result of our analysis, we concluded that the carrying value of our assets has not been impaired. However, while we use available information to prepare our estimates and to perform impairment evaluations, our recoverability calculations and impairment tests require significant management judgment and estimates. These estimates include our projections of undiscounted cash flows and assumptions used in calculating projected RPM growth, page-views, and expenses. In addition, a certain degree of judgment was exercised in determining asset groups in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Had our estimates and assumptions differed, the accounting treatment might have resulted differently. Future actual results could differ significantly from the anticipated results as reflected in our analysis.
Accounting for Stock-based Compensation
As of January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123R which requires measurement of compensation cost for all stock-based awards at fair value on date of grant and recognition of compensation over the service period for awards expected to vest, using the modified prospective method. The estimation of stock awards that will ultimately vest requires judgment, and to the extent actual results differ from our estimates, such amounts will be recorded as a cumulative adjustment in the period estimates are revised. We consider various factors when estimating expected forfeitures, including historical experience. Actual results may differ substantially from these estimates.
With the exception of stock options granted to employees prior to May 12, 2004, the date of our first filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with our initial public offering, or IPO, we determine the fair value of stock options granted to employees and directors using the Black-Scholes valuation model, which considers the exercise price relative to the market value of the underlying stock, the expected stock price volatility, the risk-free interest rate and the dividend yield, and the estimated period of time option grants will be outstanding before they are ultimately exercised. We also determine the fair value of stock options and warrants granted to non-employees, for accounting purposes, using the Black-Scholes valuation model. Prior to our IPO, in October 2004, the market value of the underlying stock was based on estimates, including volatility estimates that are inherently highly uncertain and subjective, since prior to our IPO there had been no public market for our stock. Subsequent to our IPO, we did not have sufficient history to actually predict our volatility, therefore, our assumptions about stock price volatility were based on the volatility rates of comparable publicly held companies. These rates may or may not reflect our actual stock price volatility. Beginning 2007, our assumptions about our stock price volatility are based on a rate that we derived by taking into consideration the volatility rates of comparable publicly held companies as well as our own historical volatility rates. In future periods and as we accumulate our own volatility history over longer periods of time, we will increase the weighting of our own volatility history in calculating expected volatility. Had we made different assumptions about the market value of our stock, stock price volatility
42
or the estimated time option and warrant grants will be outstanding before they are ultimately exercised, the related stock based compensation expense and our net loss and net loss per share amounts could have been significantly different, in 2007 and 2006, as well as in periods prior to our adoption of SFAS 123R.
Accounting for Income Taxes
As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. This process involves management estimating our actual current tax exposure together with assessing temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included within our consolidated balance sheet. We must then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income and, to the extent we believe that recovery is not more likely than not, we must establish a valuation allowance. Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance recorded against our net deferred tax assets. We have almost fully offset our U.S. net deferred tax asset with a valuation allowance. Our lack of earnings history and the uncertainty surrounding our ability to generate US taxable income prior to the expiration of such deferred tax assets were the primary factors considered by management in establishing the valuation allowance.
In July 2006, FASB released FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes an Interpretation of FASB Statement 109, or FIN 48, effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. FIN 48 prescribes how a company should recognize, measure, present and disclose in its financial statements uncertain tax positions that the company has taken or expects to take on a tax return. Additionally, for tax positions to qualify for tax benefit recognition under FIN 48, the position must have at least a more likely than not chance of being sustained upon a challenge by the respective taxing authorities. We adopted the provisions of FIN 48 as of January 1, 2007 and it has not had a material impact on our financial statements.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 does not require any new fair value measurements, but provides guidance on how to measure fair value by providing a fair value hierarchy used to classify the source of the information. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. However, in February 2008, the FASB approved FSP FAS 157-b which grants a one-year deferral of SFAS 157s fair-value measurement requirements for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). Effective for 2008, we will adopt SFAS 157 except as it applies to those nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities as noted in FSP FAS 157-b. The partial adoption of SFAS 157 will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities- including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (SFAS 159), which allows an entity to choose to measure certain financial instruments and liabilities at fair value. Subsequent measurements for the financial instruments and liabilities an entity elects to fair value will be recognized in earnings. SFAS 159 also establishes additional disclosure requirements. SFAS 159 is effective beginning January 1, 2008. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of SFAS 159 on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (SFAS 141R) and SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements (SFAS 161), which broadly affect the accounting for business combinations. Both statements are effective for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2008, and earlier adoption is prohibited. SFAS 141R will be applied to business combinations occurring after the effective date and SFAS 160 will be applied prospectively to all noncontrolling interests, including any that arose before the effective date. The adoption of SFAS 141R and SFAS 161 is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
43
Quarterly Results
The following table sets forth our unaudited quarterly consolidated statement of operations data for 2005, 2006 and 2007. In managements opinion, the data has been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements included in this annual report, and reflects all necessary adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of this data. You should read this information together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes appearing elsewhere in this annual report. Our operating results may fluctuate due to a variety of factors. The results of historical periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full year or any future period.
44
|
|
Quarter Ended |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Dec. 31, |
|
Mar. 31, |
|
Jun. 30, |
|
Sep. 30, |
|
Dec. 31, |
|
Mar. 31, |
|
Jun. 30, |
|
Sep. 30, |
|
Dec. 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
(in thousands, except page view and RPM data ) |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Advertising revenue |
|
$ |
807 |
|
$ |
1,090 |
|
$ |
1,457 |
|
$ |
1,810 |
|
$ |
2,461 |
|
$ |
2,884 |
|
$ |
2,728 |
|
$ |
2,165 |
|
$ |
2,974 |
|
Answers services licensing |
|
54 |
|
53 |
|
46 |
|
44 |
|
43 |
|
77 |
|
82 |
|
43 |
|
17 |
|
|||||||||
Subscriptions |
|
28 |
|
11 |
|
8 |
|
4 |
|
2 |
|
425 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
889 |
|
1,154 |
|
1,511 |
|
1,858 |
|
2,506 |
|
3,386 |
|
2,810 |
|
2,208 |
|
2,991 |
|
|||||||||
Costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Cost of revenue |
|
291 |
|
684 |
|
808 |
|
844 |
|
1,071 |
|
1,144 |
|
1,320 |
|
1,179 |
|
1,247 |
|
|||||||||
Research and development |
|
1,281 |
|
2,637 |
|
1,951 |
|
621 |
|
656 |
|
722 |
|
748 |
|
769 |
|
739 |
|
|||||||||
Sales and marketing |
|
493 |
|
642 |
|
678 |
|
924 |
|
1,009 |
|
982 |
|
1,072 |
|
1,221 |
|
676 |
|
|||||||||
General and administrative |
|
802 |
|
800 |
|
965 |
|
765 |
|
854 |
|
926 |
|
1,019 |
|
1,058 |
|
1,017 |
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Total operating expenses |
|
2,867 |
|
4,763 |
|
4,402 |
|
3,154 |
|
3,590 |
|
3,774 |
|
4,159 |
|
4,227 |
|
3,679 |
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Operating loss |
|
(1,978 |
) |
(3,609 |
) |
(2,891 |
) |
(1,296 |
) |
(1,084 |
) |
(388 |
) |
(1,349 |
) |
(2,019 |
) |
(688 |
) |
|||||||||
Interest income, net |
|
168 |
|
141 |
|
145 |
|
144 |
|
123 |
|
100 |
|
112 |
|
88 |
|
85 |
|
|||||||||
Other income (expense), net |
|
(7 |
) |
(3 |
) |
(201 |
) |
(17 |
) |
44 |
|
(15 |
) |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Loss before income taxes |
|
(1,817 |
) |
(3,471 |
) |
(2,947 |
) |
(1,169 |
) |
(917 |
) |
(303 |
) |
(1,233 |
) |
(1,931 |
) |
(603 |
) |
|||||||||
Income taxes(1) |
|
17 |
|
(2 |
) |
5 |
|
(12 |
) |
(59 |
) |
|
|
(14 |
) |
(19 |
) |
(15 |
) |
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Net loss |
|
$ |
(1,800 |
) |
$ |
(3,473 |
) |
$ |
(2,942 |
) |
$ |
(1,181 |
) |
$ |
(976 |
) |
$ |
(303 |
) |
$ |
(1,247 |
) |
$ |
(1,950 |
) |
$ |
(618 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Other Data: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA(2) |
|
$ |
(1,096 |
) |
$ |
(823 |
) |
$ |
(737 |
) |
$ |
(522 |
) |
$ |
(207 |
) |
$ |
160 |
|
$ |
(306 |
) |
$ |
(727 |
) |
$ |
180 |
|
Answers.com page views |
|
2,370,000 |
|
2,920,000 |
|
3,030,000 |
|
3,400,000 |
|
4,340,000 |
|
5,470,000 |
|
4,890,000 |
|
3,730,000 |
|
3,924,000 |
|
|||||||||
WikiAnswers page views |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
293,000 |
|
440,000 |
|
639,000 |
|
1,152,000 |
|
|||||||||
Answers.com RPM |
|
$ |
3.71 |
|
$ |
4.15 |
|
$ |
5.29 |
|
$ |
5.79 |
|
$ |
6.02 |
|
$ |
5.62 |
|
$ |
5.73 |
|
$ |
5.41 |
|
$ |
6.29 |
|
WikiAnswers RPM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
4.40 |
|
$ |
4.42 |
|
$ |
5.17 |
|
$ |
6.64 |
|
45
(1) |
The 2006 and 2005 quarterly financial results as previously presented by us in reports and SEC filings, have been modified to account for an immaterial error in income tax expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and deferred taxes on the Consolidated Balance Sheets involving an over-accrual of deferred income taxes relating to our subsidiarys accumulated earnings, as a result of applying the distributed tax rate as opposed to the undistributed tax rate. |
|
|
(2) |
We define Adjusted EBITDA as net earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation, foreign currency exchange rate differences and certain non-recurring revenues and expenses. |
|
|
|
We believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors because these measures enhance their overall understanding of the financial performance and prospects of our ongoing business operations. By reporting Adjusted EBITDA, we provide a basis for comparison of our business operations between current, past and future periods. Adjusted EBITDA is used by our management team to plan and forecast our business because it removes the impact of our capital structure (interest expense), asset base (amortization and depreciation), stock-based compensation expenses, taxes, foreign currency exchange rate differences and certain non-recurring revenues and expenses from our results of operations. More specifically, we believe that removing these impacts is important for several reasons: |
|
|
|
· Adjusted EBITDA disregards amortization of intangible assets and other specified costs resulting from acquisitions. Specifically, we exclude (a) amortization of acquired technology from our acquisition of Brainboost Technology, LLC, or Brainboost, developer of the Brainboost Answer Engine, which has been integrated into our Answers from the Web technology; (b) compensation expense resulting from the portion of the stock component of the Brainboost purchase price that was deemed compensation expense; (c) penalty payments to the sellers of Brainboost resulting from failure to timely register the common stock they received in connection with the acquisition; and (d) amortization of intangible assets relating to our acquisition of WikiAnswers. We believe that excluding these expenses is helpful to investors, due to the fact that they relate to prior acquisitions and are not necessarily indicative of future operating expenses. While we exclude these expenses from Adjusted EBITDA we do not exclude the revenue derived from the acquisitions. The revenue attributable to WikiAnswers.com in 2007 and 2006 was $1,302 thousand and $62 thousand, respectively. The revenue attributable to our acquisition of the Brainboost technology is not quantifiable due to the nature of its integration. |
|
|
|
· We believe that, because of the variety of equity awards used by companies, the varying methodologies for determining stock-based compensation expense, and the subjective assumptions involved in those determinations, excluding stock-based compensation from Adjusted EBITDA enhances the ability of management and investors to compare financial results over multiple periods. |
|
|
|
· We believe that, excluding depreciation, interest, foreign currency exchange rate differences and taxes from Adjusted EBITDA provides investors with additional information to measure our performance, by excluding potential differences caused by variations in capital structures (affecting interest expense), asset composition, and tax positions. |
|
|
|
· Prior to December 2003, we sold lifetime subscriptions to our GuruNet service, generally for $40 per subscription. In December 2003, we decided to alter our pricing model and moved to an annual subscription model, for which we generally charged our subscribers $30 per year. We have not sold subscriptions since our launch of Answers.com in January 2005. In February 2007, we terminated the GuruNet service and recognized $425 thousand of deferred revenue as revenue during the quarter ended March 31, 2007. We believe that the recognition of the $425 thousand of revenue is a one-time, non-cash event and is not reflective of our core business and core operating results, and we have therefore excluded this amount from Adjusted EBITDA. |
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of liquidity or financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles and should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, a measure of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Investors are cautioned that there are inherent limitations associated with the use of Adjusted EBITDA as an analytical tool. Some of these limitations are: |
|
|
|
· Non-GAAP financial measures are not based on a comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles; |
46
|
· Many of the adjustments to Adjusted EBITDA reflect the exclusion of items that are recurring and will be reflected in our financial results for the foreseeable future; |
|
|
|
· Other companies, including other companies in our industry, may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than us, thus limiting its usefulness as a comparative tool; |
|
|
|
· Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the periodic costs of certain tangible and intangible assets used in generating revenues in our business; |
|
|
|
· Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in our cash and investment securities and the results of our investments; |
|
|
|
· Adjusted EBITDA excludes taxes, which is an integral cost to most businesses; and |
|
|
|
· Because Adjusted EBITDA does not include stock-based compensation, it does not reflect the cost of granting employees equity awards, a key factor in managements ability to hire and retain employees. |
|
|
|
We compensate for these limitations by providing specific information in the reconciliation to the GAAP amounts excluded from Adjusted EBITDA. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss is as follows: |
|
|
Quarter Ended |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Dec. 31, |
|
Mar. 31, |
|
Jun. 30, |
|
Sep. 30, |
|
Dec. 31, |
|
Mar. 31, |
|
Jun. 30, |
|
Sep. 30, |
|
Dec. 31, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
(In thousands) |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
|
$ |
(1,800 |
) |
$ |
(3,473 |
) |
$ |
(2,942 |
) |
$ |
(1,181 |
) |
$ |
(976 |
) |
$ |
(303 |
) |
$ |
(1,247 |
) |
$ |
(1,950 |
) |
$ |
(618 |
) |
Interest income, net |
|
(168 |
) |
(141 |
) |
(145 |
) |
(144 |
) |
(123 |
) |
(100 |
) |
(112 |
) |
(88 |
) |
(85 |
) |
|||||||||
Foreign currency exchange rate differences |
|
7 |
|
3 |
|
(26 |
) |
17 |
|
(44 |
) |
15 |
|
(4 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Income taxes |
|
(17 |
) |
2 |
|
(5 |
) |
12 |
|
59 |
|
|
|
14 |
|
19 |
|
15 |
|
|||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
149 |
|
285 |
|
310 |
|
315 |
|
382 |
|
448 |
|
444 |
|
464 |
|
442 |
|
|||||||||
Stock-based compensation |
|
733 |
|
2,501 |
|
1,844 |
|
459 |
|
495 |
|
525 |
|
599 |
|
574 |
|
426 |
|
|||||||||
Cost related to August 2007 layoffs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
254 |
|
|
|
|||||||||
Subscription revenue from lifetime subscriptions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(425) |
(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Non recurring penalty payment in connection with registration of shares |
|
|
|
|
|
227(2 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
$ |
(1,096 |
) |
$ |
(823 |
) |
$ |
(737 |
) |
$ |
(522 |
) |
$ |
(207 |
) |
$ |
160 |
|
$ |
(306 |
) |
$ |
(727 |
) |
$ |
180 |
|
(1) |
Recognition of previously deferred revenue, following the shut down of the GuruNet service in February 2007. |
|
|
(2) |
Non-recurring penalty payments that were paid to the sellers of Brainboost. |
47
ITEM 7A. |
Currency Risk. Our revenue is denominated solely in U.S. dollars. Most of our expenses are also based in U.S. dollars; however, we are subject to a significant amount of expenses that are denominated in New Israeli Shekels (NIS). We expect this level of NIS expenses to continue in the near future. If the value of the U.S. dollar weakens against the value of NIS, there will be a negative impact on our results of operations. In addition, to the extent we hold cash and cash equivalents that are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, we are subject to the risk of exchange rate fluctuations. We hedge a portion of our foreign currency commitments. Our derivative transactions are mainly designed to hedge short term cash flows related to anticipated expenses.
Other Market Risk. We invest most of our excess cash in highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less, and in investment securities that consist mostly of investments in auction rate, investment grade, corporate and municipal debt instruments, and auction rate preferred shares of closed-end investment funds that invest in long-term fixed income securities, with auction reset periods of 28 days. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe that there is no material exposure to interest rate risk arising from our investments. We invest some of the excess cash we have for terms in excess of three months in order to achieve a higher yield. Based on our investment policy, such instruments are highly rated by rating agencies and therefore we believe that there is no material exposure to the principal amount nor to interest rate risks arising from these longer-term investments.
48
ITEM 8. |
The following are the consolidated financial statements and exhibits of Answers Corporation and its consolidated subsidiary, which are filed as part of this Annual Report.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders of Answers Corporation:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Answers Corporation and Subsidiary (collectively referred to as the Company) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders equity and comprehensive loss, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). These standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by the Board of Directors and management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of its operations, changes in stockholders equity and comprehensive loss, and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.
As explained in Note 2i to the consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No.123R, Share-Based Payment.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Answers Corporations internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated March 31, 2008 expressed an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ Somekh Chaikin |
|
Somekh Chaikin |
|
Certified Public Accountants (Israel) |
|
A member of KPMG International |
Jerusalem, Israel
March 31, 2008
49
Answers Corporation and Subsidiary
Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands except share and per share data)
|
|
December 31 |
|
December 31 |
|
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
6,778 |
|
4,976 |
|
Investment securities |
|
700 |
|
4,102 |
|
Accounts receivable, net |
|
1,448 |
|
1,304 |
|
Prepaid expenses |
|
487 |
|
416 |
|
Total current assets |
|
9,413 |
|
10,798 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term deposits (restricted) |
|
196 |
|
218 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deposits in respect of employee severance obligations |
|
1,232 |
|
856 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment, net |
|
1,012 |
|
998 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible assets, net |
|
4,766 |
|
6,010 |
|
Goodwill |
|
437 |
|
437 |
|
Prepaid expenses, long-term, and other assets |
|
275 |
|
362 |
|
Deferred charges (Lexico acquisition and public offering) |
|
1,267 |
|
|
|
Total other assets |
|
6,745 |
|
6,809 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
18,598 |
|
19,679 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and stockholders equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
968 |
|
366 |
|
Accrued expenses |
|
1,045 |
|
805 |
|
Accrued compensation |
|
551 |
|
623 |
|
Deferred revenues, short-term |
|
16 |
|
465 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
2,580 |
|
2,259 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
Liability in respect of employee severance obligations |
|
1,233 |
|
828 |
|
Deferred tax liability |
|
14 |
|
|
|
Total long-term liabilities |
|
1,247 |
|
828 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock: $0.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized, none issued |
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock: $0.001 par value; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 7,859,890 and 7,809,394 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively |
|
8 |
|
8 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
73,893 |
|
71,599 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
(28 |
) |
(31 |
) |
Accumulated deficit |
|
(59,102 |
) |
(54,984 |
) |
Total stockholders equity |
|
14,771 |
|
16,592 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders equity |
|
18,598 |
|
19,679 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
50
Answers Corporation and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands except share and per share data)
|
|
Year ended December 31 |
|
||||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advertising revenue |
|
10,751 |
|
6,817 |
|
1,771 |
|
Answers service licensing |
|
219 |
|
187 |
|
110 |
|
Subscriptions |
|
425 |
|
25 |
|
172 |
|
|
|
11,395 |
|
7,029 |
|
2,053 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenue |
|
4,890 |
|
3,406 |
|
1,158 |
|
Research and development |
|
2,978 |
|
5,865 |
|
2,190 |
|
Sales and marketing |
|
3,951 |
|
3,253 |
|
1,818 |
|
General and administrative |
|
4,020 |
|
3,385 |
|
3,404 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
15,839 |
|
15,909 |
|
8,570 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating loss |
|
(4,444 |
) |
(8,880 |
) |
(6,517 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income, net |
|
385 |
|
553 |
|
555 |
|
Other expense, net |
|
(11 |
) |
(176 |
) |
(42 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before income taxes |
|
(4,070 |
) |
(8,503 |
) |
(6,004 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax benefit (expense) |
|
(48 |
) |
(68 |
) |
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
(4,118 |
) |
(8,571 |
) |
(5,991 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted net loss per common share |
|
(0.52 |
) |
(1.12 |
) |
(0.88 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per common share |
|
7,847,610 |
|
7,673,543 |
|
6,840,362 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
51
Answers Corporation and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders Equity and Comprehensive Loss (in thousands except common stock data)
|
|
Common stock |
|
Additional |
|
Deferred |
|
Accumulated other |
|
Accumulated |
|
Total |
|
Comprehensive loss |
|
||
|
|
Shares |
|
Amount ($) |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance as of January 1, 2005 |
|
4,920,551 |
|
4,921 |
|
47,488 |
|
(45 |
) |
(28 |
) |
(40,422 |
) |
6,997 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock in connection with financial marketing advisory services |
|
7,800 |
|
8 |
|
151 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
151 |
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock in connection with acquisition of technology, net of issuance costs of $12,500 |
|
109,750 |
|
110 |
|
1,383 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,383 |
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock in connection with deferred compensation |
|
329,250 |
|
329 |
|
4,186 |
|
(4,187 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock in connection with warrant re-load, net of $338,162 issuance costs |
|
1,871,783 |
|
1,871 |
|
12,220 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,222 |
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock in connection with exercise of warrants |
|
169,432 |
|
169 |
|
1,600 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,600 |
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock in connection with exercise of vested stock options |
|
256,403 |
|
257 |
|
1,560 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,561 |
|
|
|
Issuance of warrants and stock options in connection with financial and marketing advisory services |
|
|
|
|
|
791 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
791 |
|
|
|
Issuance of stock options to employees and directors |
|
|
|
|
|
113 |
|
(113 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization of deferred compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
827 |
|
|
|
|
|
827 |
|
|
|
Unrealized loss on securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
(1 |
) |
(1 |
) |
Net loss for the year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,991 |
) |
(5,991 |
) |
(5,991 |
) |
Comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,992 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance as of December 31, 2005 |
|
7,664,969 |
|
7,665 |
|
69,492 |
|
(3,518 |
) |
(29 |
) |
(46,413 |
) |
19,540 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reversal of deferred compensation upon adoption of SFAS 123R (see Note 2 i) |
|
|
|
|
|
(3,518 |
) |
3,518 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock in connection with exercise of vested stock options |
|
144,425 |
|
144 |
|
326 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
326 |
|
|
|
Stock-based compensation to employees and directors |
|
|
|
|
|
5,299 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,299 |
|
|
|
Unrealized loss on securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
(2 |
) |
(2 |
) |
Net loss for year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8,571 |
) |
(8,571 |
) |
(8,571 |
) |
Comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8,573 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance as of December 31, 2006 |
|
7,809,394 |
|
7,809 |
|
71, 599 |
|
|
|
(31 |
) |
(54,984 |
) |
16,592 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock in connection with exercise of vested stock options |
|
50,496 |
|
51 |
|
171 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
171 |
|
|
|
Stock-based compensation to employees and directors |
|
|
|
|
|
2,123 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,123 |
|
|
|
Unrealized gain on securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
Net loss for year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,118 |
) |
(4,118 |
) |
(4,118 |
) |
Comprehensive loss |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,115 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance as of December 31, 2007 |
|
7,859,890 |
|
7,860 |
|
73,893 |
|
|
|
(28 |
) |
(59,102 |
) |
14,771 |
|
|
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Answers Corporation and Subsidiary
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands)
|
|
Years ended December 31 |
|
||||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
(4,118 |
) |
(8,571 |
) |
(5,991 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
1,797 |
|
1,291 |
|
245 |
|
Deposits in respect of employee severance obligations |
|
(376 |
) |
(202 |
) |
(147 |
) |
Loss on disposal of property and equipment |
|
3 |
|
|
|
37 |
|
Increase in liability in respect of employee severance obligations |
|
394 |
|
206 |
|
91 |
|
Deferred income taxes |
|
14 |
|
61 |
|
(13 |
) |
Stock-based compensation to non-employees for services rendered |
|
|
|
|
|
942 |
|
Stock-based compensation to employees and directors |
|
2,123 |
|
1,810 |
|
129 |
|
Stock-based compensation in connection with the Brainboost transaction |
|
|
|
3,489 |
|
698 |
|
Gains from foreign exchange rate forward contracts |
|
(86 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Exchange rate losses (gains) |
|
5 |
|
(51 |
) |
27 |
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Increase in accounts receivable and prepaid expenses |
|
(185 |
) |
(916 |
) |
(523 |
) |
Decrease (increase) in long-term prepaid expenses |
|
87 |
|
(48 |
) |
(107 |
) |
Increase in accounts payable |
|
601 |
|
59 |
|
131 |
|
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
(457 |
) |
451 |
|
289 |
|
Increase (decrease) in short-term deferred revenues |
|
(449 |
) |
398 |
|
(110 |
) |
Increase (decrease) in long-term deferred revenues |
|
|
|
(442 |
) |
16 |
|
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
(647 |
) |
(2,465 |
) |
(4,286 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital expenditures |
|
(570 |
) |
(698 |
) |
(468 |
) |
Capitalization of software development costs |
|
|
|
(36 |
) |
(22 |
) |
Acquisition of intangible assets |
|
|
|
(2,022 |
) |
(3,960 |
) |
Decrease (increase) in long-term deposits (restricted) |
|
22 |
|
(7 |
) |
(44 |
) |
Deferred charges relating to planned acquisition |
|
(437 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Purchases of investment securities |
|
(5,467 |
) |
(14,236 |
) |
(32,489 |
) |
Proceeds from sales of investment securities |
|
8,872 |
|
21,295 |
|
27,175 |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
|
2,420 |
|
4,296 |
|
(9,808 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred charges related to proposed financing |
|
(225 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Exercise of common stock options and warrants |
|
171 |
|
326 |
|
15,382 |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
|
(54 |
) |
326 |
|
15,382 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |
|
83 |
|
(21 |
) |
(13 |
) |
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |
|
1,802 |
|
2,136 |
|
1,275 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
|
4,976 |
|
2,840 |
|
1,565 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |
|
6,778 |
|
4,976 |
|
2,840 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income taxes paid |
|
8 |
|
24 |
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-cash investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred charges relating to proposed acquisition |
|
125 |
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized net (gain) loss from securities |
|
(3 |
) |
2 |
|
1 |
|
Non-cash financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred charges relating to proposed financing |
|
480 |
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock for acquisition of technology |
|
|
|
|
|
1,383 |
|
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
53
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 - Business
Answers Corporation (the Parent), formerly GuruNet Corporation, was founded as a Texas corporation in December 1998, and reorganized as a Delaware corporation in April 1999. On December 27, 1998, the Parent formed a subsidiary based in Israel (the Subsidiary), primarily for the purpose of providing research and development services to the Parent. The Parent and its wholly owned Subsidiary are collectively referred to as the Company. The Parent is a public company and trades on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol ANSW.
As of December 31, 2007, approximately $569,000 of the Companys net assets were located outside of the United States.
The Company provides answer-based search services to users primarily through its websites, Answers.com and WikiAnswers.com.
In the first quarter of 2008, the Companys planned acquisition of Lexico Publishing Group LLC, and the related follow-on offering of securities were terminated due to unfavorable market conditions. As a result, the Company will be recording a charge to its statement of operations, amounting to approximately $2.65 million in such quarter. See note 11(g) for further details.
In July 2007, a search engine algorithm adjustment by Google led to a drop in Google directed traffic to Answers.com. As a result, overall traffic and revenue on Answers.com dropped by approximately 28% from levels immediately prior to the change. See note 16 for further details.
Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
(a) Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Answers Corporation and its Subsidiary and are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
The financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, differ slightly from those originally reported by the Company in reports and SEC filings, as they have been modified to correct an immaterial error in the income tax expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and deferred taxes on the Consolidated Balance Sheets involving an over-accrual of deferred income taxes relating to the Subsidiarys accumulated earnings, as a result of applying the distributed tax rate as opposed to the undistributed tax rate.
(b) Foreign Currency Translation
The currency of the primary economic environment in which the operations of the Company are conducted is the US dollar (dollar). Therefore, the dollar has been determined to be the Companys functional currency. Non-dollar transactions and balances have been translated into dollars in accordance with the principles set forth in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 52, Foreign Currency Translation (SFAS No. 52).
Transactions in foreign currency (primarily in New Israeli Shekels NIS) are recorded at the exchange rate as of the transaction date. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency are translated on the basis of the representative rate of exchange at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency are stated at historical exchange rates. All exchange gains and losses from remeasurement of monetary balance sheet items denominated in non-dollar currencies are reflected in the statement of operations as they arise.
54
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(c) Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported results of operations during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(d) Cash and Cash Equivalents, and Investment Securities
All highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less are considered cash equivalents.
Investment securities are classified as available-for-sale, in accordance with SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, and are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, recorded in other comprehensive income (loss). Realized gains or losses and declines in value judged to be other than temporary, if any, on available-for-sale securities are reported in other income, net.
(e) Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. If necessary, the Company records an allowance for doubtful accounts to reflect the Companys best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses in the Companys existing accounts receivable. As of the balance sheet dates such allowance was not significant.
(f) Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Annual depreciation rates are as follows:
|
|
% |
|
Computer equipment |
|
33 |
|
Furniture and fixtures |
|
7 - 20 |
|
Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the estimated useful life or the expected life of the lease.
55
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(g) Revenue Recognition
The Company, through its websites Answers.com and WikiAnswers.com, generates revenues via advertising in the form of sponsored links and image ads. This includes both pay-per-performance ads and paid-for-impression advertising. In the pay-per-performance model, the Company earns revenue based on the number of clicks associated with such ads; in the paid-for-impression model, the Companys revenue is derived from the display of ads.
To date, the majority of the Companys advertising revenue has been obtained through the efforts of third parties and has not been the result of direct contracts with advertisers. The third party is obligated to pay the Company a portion of the revenue it receives from advertisers, as compensation for the Companys sale of promotional space on its Internet properties. Amounts received from such third parties are reflected as revenue in the period in which such advertising services are provided.
The Company also earns revenues from partners that pay the Company for providing them with answer-based services that they then use in their own products, via co-branded web pages.
In 2003, the Company sold lifetime subscriptions to its GuruNet product, which had no defined termination date. Cash received from such lifetime subscriptions was recorded as deferred revenues and amounted to $425,000. In February 2007, in accordance with the Companys rights under the agreements it previously entered into with such lifetime subscribers, the Company terminated its GuruNet service and thereby extinguished its service obligation to such subscribers. Thus, the Company recognized the $425,000 previously deferred, as revenue in the first quarter of 2007.
During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Answers.com and WikiAnswers.com Web properties accounted for $9,449,000 and $1,302,000 of our advertising revenue, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2006, the Answers.com and WikiAnswers.com Web properties accounted for $6,755,000 and $62,000 of our advertising revenue, respectively. The Company acquired WikiAnswers on November 2, 2006.
(h) Research and Development
The Company capitalizes certain internal use software and website development costs in accordance with SOP 98-1, Accounting for the Cost of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use, and Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 00-2, Accounting for Web Site Development Costs. The capitalized costs are amortized over their estimated useful lives, which vary between one and two years.
56
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(i) Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
Adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004)
Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company accounted for stock-based awards to employees and directors under the intrinsic value method, which followed the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (APB 25). The intrinsic value method of accounting resulted in compensation expense for stock options to the extent option exercise prices were set below the market value of the Companys stock on the date of grant. To the extent stock option awards were forfeited prior to vesting, the previously recognized expense was reversed.
Additionally, prior to January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-based Compensation (SFAS 123) and SFAS No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based CompensationTransition and Disclosure (SFAS 148), for awards to its directors and employees. The fair value of options granted to employees and directors prior to May 12, 2004, the date of the Companys first filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in connection with its Initial Public Offering (IPO), was estimated on the date of grant using the minimum-value method. The fair value of options granted to employees and directors subsequent to May 12, 2004, was measured according to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.
The fair value of options and warrants granted to non-employees prior to January 1, 2006, has been computed and accounted for in accordance with SFAS 123 and Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) 96-18, Accounting for Equity Instruments That Are Issued to Other Than Employees for Acquiring, or in Conjunction with Selling, Goods or Services, and was measured according to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model.
As of January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payments (SFAS 123R) using the modified prospective method, which requires measurement of compensation cost for all stock-based awards based upon the fair value on date of grant and recognition of such compensation cost over the service period for awards expected to vest. Under this method, the Company recognizes compensation cost for awards granted on or after January 1, 2006, based on the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. Furthermore, with the exception of stock options granted to employees prior to May 12, 2004, the date of the Companys first filing with the SEC, in connection with its IPO, the Company recognizes compensation cost for unvested share-based awards as of January 1, 2006 based on the grant date fair value of those awards, as previously calculated and reported for pro-forma disclosure purposes, adjusted for estimated forfeitures. The Company recognizes compensation cost for unvested share-based awards as of January 1, 2006 that were granted prior to May 12, 2004, based on the intrinsic value of such grants on their grant date as calculated under APB 25. The value of stock options, as noted, is recognized as compensation expense on a straight-line basis, over the requisite service period of the entire award, net of estimated forfeitures. Based on its decision to use the modified prospective method in adopting SFAS 123R, the Company did not adjust the corresponding 2005 amounts included in these financial statements.
Additionally, upon the adoption of SFAS 123R effective January 1, 2006, the balance of deferred compensation as of December 31, 2005, amounting to $3,517,844, was reversed against additional paid-in capital, and is subsequently recorded in future periods based on the vesting terms of the stock-based awards for which this deferred compensation has been recorded in the past.
57
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Valuation Assumptions for Stock Options
The fair value for each stock option granted to employees and directors during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, assuming no dividends and the following assumptions:
|
|
Year ended December 31 |
|
||||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average risk-free interest rate |
|
4.57 |
% |
4.65 |
% |
3.96 |
% |
Expected life (in years) |
|
4.08 |
|
4.05 |
|
3.98 |
|
Weighted average expected volatility |
|
49.52 |
% |
41.16 |
% |
50.11 |
% |
The fair value for each stock option granted to non-employees during the year ended December 31, 2005, was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, assuming no dividends and the following assumptions (no such options were granted during the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006):
|
|
Year ended December 31 |
|
||||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average risk-free interest rate |
|
N/A |
|
N/A |
|
4.01 |
% |
Contractual term (in years) |
|
N/A |
|
N/A |
|
9.87 |
|
Weighted average expected volatility |
|
N/A |
|
N/A |
|
72.36 |
% |
The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected life of the option.
The expected life represents the weighted average period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding. The expected life of the options granted to employees and directors during 2007 and 2006, is calculated based on the Simplified Method as allowed under Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107 (SAB 107), giving consideration to the contractual term of the options and their vesting schedules. The expected life of the options granted to non-employees equals their contractual term.
Through December 31, 2006, due to the lack of adequate history of its own stock volatility, the Company estimated its own expected stock volatility based on the historical stock volatility of three other comparable publicly held companies. Beginning 2007, the Companys assumptions about its stock price volatility are based on a rate that is derived by taking into consideration the volatility rates of the aforesaid comparable publicly held companies as well as its own historical volatility rates. In future periods, and as the Company accumulates its own volatility history over longer periods of time, the Company will increase the weighting of its own volatility history in calculating expected volatility.
58
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Fair Value Disclosures Prior to SFAS 123(R) Adoption
Prior to January 1, 2006, as allowed by SFAS 123, the Company accounted for stock-based awards to employees and directors under the intrinsic value method, and adopted the disclosure requirements of SFAS 123 and SFAS 148, for awards to its directors and employees.
The following table illustrates the effect on net loss and net loss per share, as if the Company had applied the fair value methods of SFAS No. 123 for accounting purposes:
|
|
Year ended |
|
|
|
$ (in thousands, |
|
Net loss, as reported |
|
(5,991 |
) |
Add: |
|
|
|
Stock-based compensation expense to employees and directors included in reported net loss, net of related tax effects |
|
827 |
|
Deduct: |
|
|
|
Stock-based compensation expense to employees and directors determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects |
|
(1,553 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Pro-forma net loss |
|
(6,717 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted: |
|
|
|
As reported |
|
(0.88 |
) |
Pro-forma |
|
(0.99 |
) |
(j) Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is provided for the amount of deferred tax assets that, based on available evidence, are not more likely than not to be realized.
In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainties in income taxes recognized in a companys financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 as of January 1, 2007. Interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are recognized as a component of income tax expense.
(k) Impairment of Property and Equipment, Goodwill and Intangible Assets
The Company evaluates its long-lived tangible and intangible assets for impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, and SFAS No.144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the assets.
59
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(l) Net Loss per Share Data
Basic and diluted net loss per common share is presented in conformity with the SFAS No. 128, Earnings per Share. Diluted net loss per share is the same as basic net loss per share as the inclusion of 3.22 million, 3.1 million and 2.92 million common stock equivalents in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, would be anti-dilutive.
(m) Comprehensive Loss
Comprehensive loss as defined, includes all changes in equity during a period from non-owner sources. Accumulated other comprehensive loss, consists of net unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities, net of tax, and the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment.
(n) Derivatives and hedging
The Company accounts for derivatives and hedging based on Statement of SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (SFAS 133). SFAS No. 133 requires the Company to recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. If the derivatives meet the definition of a hedge and are so designated, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of derivatives will either be offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities, or firm commitments through earnings, or recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivatives change in fair value is recognized in earnings.
During 2007, the Subsidiary entered into forward and option contracts to hedge certain foreign currency denominated expenses. These derivatives were not designated as hedging instruments under the rules of SFAS 133 and therefore the net gains (losses) are recognized in earnings. During 2007, such gains amounted to $86,000, and are included in operating expenses as follows:
|
|
$ (in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenue |
|
9 |
|
Research and development |
|
31 |
|
Sales and marketing |
|
24 |
|
General and administrative |
|
22 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
86 |
|
(o) Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 does not require any new fair value measurements, but provides guidance on how to measure fair value by providing a fair value hierarchy used to classify the source of the information. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. However, in February 2008, the FASB approved FSP FAS 157-b which grants a one-year deferral of SFAS 157s fair-value measurement requirements for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually). Effective for 2008, the Company will adopt SFAS 157 except as it applies to those nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities as noted in FSP FAS 157-b. The partial adoption of SFAS 157 will not have a material impact on the Companys consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
60
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(o) Recently Issued Accounting Standards (contd)
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities- including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (SFAS 159), which allows an entity to choose to measure certain financial instruments and liabilities at fair value. Subsequent measurements for the financial instruments and liabilities an entity elects to fair value will be recognized in earnings. SFAS 159 also establishes additional disclosure requirements. SFAS 159 is effective beginning January 1, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of SFAS 159 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (SFAS 141R) and SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements (SFAS 160), which broadly affect the accounting for business combinations. Both statements are effective for periods beginning on or after December 15, 2008, and earlier adoption is prohibited. SFAS 141R will be applied to business combinations occurring after the effective date and SFAS 160 will be applied prospectively to all noncontrolling interests, including any that arose before the effective date. The adoption of SFAS 141R and SFAS 160 is not expected to have a material impact on the Companys consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Note 3 - Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of the following (in thousands):
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
In US dollars |
|
|
|
|
|
Cash |
|
1,915 |
|
637 |
|
Cash equivalents |
|
4,575 |
|
4,339 |
|
In New Israeli Shekels (Cash only) |
|
288 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,778 |
|
4,976 |
|
Note 4 Investment Securities
As of December 31, 2007, the Companys investment securities consisted of corporate bonds, certificates of deposit and auction rate securities. As of December 31, 2006, the Companys investment securities consisted mostly of investments in auction rate, investment grade, corporate and municipal debt instruments, and auction rate preferred shares of closed-end investment funds that invest in long-term fixed income securities, with auction reset periods of 28 days, classified as available-for-sale securities and stated at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses are not material, and have, therefore, not been shown separately. However, they have been included as a separate component in the statement of changes in stockholders equity.
61
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Note 5 - Long-term Deposits (Restricted)
Long-term deposits are comprised of a restricted deposit with a bank to secure a bank guarantee and other long-term deposits with vendors and credit card companies. The aforesaid deposit with a bank bears interest at the London Inter-Bank Bid Rate (LIBID) less 0.37% (4.62% as of December 31, 2007) and automatically renews on a monthly basis.
Property and equipment as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
Computer equipment |
|
2,266 |
|
2,104 |
|
Furniture and fixtures |
|
186 |
|
159 |
|
Leasehold improvements |
|
175 |
|
160 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,627 |
|
2,423 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization |
|
(1,615 |
) |
(1,425 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,012 |
|
998 |
|
As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, approximately $510,000 and $480,000 of the aggregate value of the Companys net book value of property and equipment, respectively, were located in Israel.
During the years 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company recorded $553,000, $296,000 and $140,000 of depreciation and amortization expense on property and equipment, respectively.
62
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Note 7 Intangible Assets, Net
The following table summarizes the Companys intangible assets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands):
|
|
December 31, 2007 |
|
December 31, 2006 |
|
||||||||
|
|
Gross |
|
Accumulated |
|
Net |
|
Gross |
|
Accumulated |
|
Net |
|
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
Brainboost Answer Engine Technology |
|
5,355 |
|
(1,860 |
) |
3,495 |
|
5,355 |
|
(966 |
) |
4,389 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WikiAnswers (formerly FAQ-Farm) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Technology |
|
30 |
|
(7 |
) |
23 |
|
30 |
|
(1 |
) |
29 |
|
Q&A Database |
|
207 |
|
(134 |
) |
73 |
|
207 |
|
(21 |
) |
186 |
|
Domain Names |
|
1,068 |
|
(125 |
) |
943 |
|
1,068 |
|
(18 |
) |
1,050 |
|
Covenant Not to Compete |
|
280 |
|
(109 |
) |
171 |
|
280 |
|
(15 |
) |
265 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Domain name |
|
80 |
|
(28 |
) |
52 |
|
80 |
|
(20 |
) |
60 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capitalized software development costs (see Note 2) |
|
98 |
|
(89 |
) |
9 |
|
98 |
|
(67 |
) |
31 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,118 |
|
(2,352 |
) |
4,766 |
|
7,118 |
|
(1,108 |
) |
6,010 |
|
During the years 2007, 2006 and 2005, the Company recorded $1,244,000, $995,000 and $105,000 of amortization expenses, respectively. Amortization of Intangible Assets, Net, in each of the succeeding five years is estimated as follows:
Year ending December 31 |
|
$ (in |
|
|
|
|
|
2008 |
|
1,171 |
|
2009 |
|
1,108 |
|
2010 |
|
1,013 |
|
2011 |
|
938 |
|
2012 |
|
115 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,345 |
|
The Company evaluates its long-lived intangible assets for impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, with the annual impairment testing date set at September 30, and in accordance with SFAS No.144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. As of December 31, 2007, no impairment of long-lived assets has occurred.
63
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(a) Brainboost Answer Engine Technology
On December 1, 2005, (the Acquisition Closing Date) the Company entered into a purchase agreement (the Purchase Agreement) to acquire all of the limited liability interests of Brainboost Technology, LLC, (Brainboost), a Delaware limited liability company, from the Brainboost Partnership (the Seller). The Company, as a result of the acquisition, took title to, and possession of, all assets owned by Brainboost, primarily, all intellectual property rights associated with a functionality known as the Brainboost Answer Engine, an artificial intelligence technology targeting natural language search on the World-Wide-Web. The Company has integrated a beta version of the Brainboost Answer Engine into its website to enable natural language search through Answers.com. The Company plans to evaluate further developing this technology in the future.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company paid the Seller an aggregate of $4,000,000 in cash and 439,000 shares of restricted common stock (the Stock Consideration) in the Company. The number of shares issued was determined based upon the average share price of $10.2575 over a 20 consecutive day period that was designated by the Company and the Seller prior to the Acquisition Closing Date. The fair value of the Stock Consideration was determined to be approximately $5.6 million, or $12.716 per share, based upon an average share price within 2 days before and after the Acquisition Closing Date. The Stock Consideration was subject to certain lock-up agreements that limited its transferability during the year subsequent to the Acquisition Closing Date.
Furthermore, on the Acquisition Closing Date, the Company entered into an employment agreement with one of the principals of the Seller (the Principal), with an effective date of December 5, 2005 (the Employment Agreement). Pursuant to the Employment Agreement, the Principal joined the Company as Director of Natural Language Research and took charge of the integration and further development of the acquired technology within the Companys systems and proprietary products. In December 2006, the Principals employment by the Company was terminated.
In connection with the Purchase Agreement and the Employment Agreement, the Company entered into an escrow agreement on the Acquisition Closing Date whereby 50%, 25%, and 25% of the Stock Consideration was scheduled to be released on March 1, June 1, and December 1, 2006, respectively, subject to certain performance and non-performance obligations. Because the Stock Consideration released in March and June 2006, a total of 329,250 shares, was originally subject to forfeiture based on the Principals employment, the value of such escrowed shares, in the amount of $4,186,743, has been recognized as research and development expense over the six-month requisite service period, beginning December 2005. The remaining 25% of shares released from escrow on December 1, 2006, a total of 109,750 shares, were not subject to the Principals employment and were included in the value of the Brainboost Answer Engine.
In addition, the Seller received certain non-transferable price protection rights, whereby a decline in the Companys average stock price for the 20 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the one-year anniversary of the Acquisition Closing Date, below $10.2575, would trigger the Sellers right to receive from the Company compensation for the reduction in the Stock Considerations value (the Price Protection). As the average stock price for the twenty consecutive trading days immediately preceding the one-year anniversary was above $10.2575, the price protection rights expired without tender of further consideration.
Upon adoption of SFAS 123R, the fair value of the portion of the Price Protection rights that relates to the Stock Consideration that was deemed compensation expense (see above), has been charged as stock-based compensation over the requisite six-month employment service period ended May 31, 2006. As a result, the Company recorded additional stock-based compensation expense of $55,000 during 2006.
64
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
The transaction was accounted for as an asset acquisition. The allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired was as follows:
|
|
$ (in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired Technology Brainboost Answer Engine |
|
5,355 |
|
In-Process Research & Development |
|
97 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Assets Acquired |
|
5,452 |
|
|
|
|
|
Value of escrowed shares charged to compensation expense over the six months ending May 31, 2006 |
|
4,187 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Purchase Price |
|
9,639 |
|
The In-Process Research and Development relates to projects that were substantive, yet incomplete as of the Acquisition Closing Date. Accordingly, it was not recorded as a separate asset on the balance sheet but as additional research and development expense as of the Acquisition Closing Date.
The value of escrowed shares relates to the Stock Consideration associated with the March and June escrow release dates, and has been recorded as equity and charged to expenses on a straight-line basis over the six months ended May 31, 2006.
The Acquired Technology is included on the accompanying balance sheets in intangible assets, net, and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over an estimated useful life of six years. During each of 2007 and 2006, $893,000 of the Acquired Technology has been amortized and recorded as cost of revenue.
65
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(b) WikiAnswers (formerly FAQ-Farm)
On November 2, 2006 (the Closing Date), the Company acquired certain assets of Interesting.com, Inc. including the domain name known as www.faqfarm.com, a dynamic questions and answers website (the Acquired Website) collaboratively written and edited by its visitors. Subsequent to the acquisition, the Company rebranded the Acquired Website as WikiAnswers.com. Additionally, in connection with the acquisition of the Acquired Website, the Company also purchased certain other assets, including numerous other domain names, certain trade names, trademarks and other related intellectual property rights, certain databases of questions and answers accumulated at the closing date by the Acquired Website, software utilized for the operation of the Acquired Website and goodwill. These assets (collectively referred to as WikiAnswers) were acquired in exchange for $2,000,000 in cash (the Acquisition Costs). In addition there were $22,000 of certain direct costs of acquisition, which have been added to the Acquisition Cost.
Following this acquisition, through September 2007, the sole shareholder of Interesting.com Inc. (the Selling Shareholder) was employed by the Company. Furthermore, the Selling Shareholder provided the Company with a Non-Competition Covenant, pursuant to which, he undertakes not to compete, directly or indirectly, with the Company . Specifically, the Selling Shareholder agreed not to compete with the Companys business in the areas of (i) collaborative questions and answers websites, (ii) wiki community websites, and/or (iii) any websites targeting the collection and editing of information through user-generated content for a period of (A) 3 years for the area described in the foregoing (i) and (B) 1 year for the areas described in the foregoing (ii) - (iii). The Selling Shareholder further agreed not to interfere with the Companys business and to refrain from approaching, contacting, or soliciting the Companys users in connection with any purpose related to the above-mentioned non-compete areas.
The transaction was accounted for as a business combination under the guidance of SFAS. No. 141, Business Combinations. The purchase price has been allocated as follows:
|
|
$ (in thousands) |
|
|
|
|
|
Technology |
|
30 |
|
Database of questions and answers |
|
207 |
|
Domain Names |
|
1,068 |
|
Covenant Not to Compete (CNC) |
|
280 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Assets Acquired |
|
1,585 |
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill |
|
437 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Acquisition Cost |
|
2,022 |
|
All assets related to WikiAnswers, except for the Goodwill, are being amortized over their estimated useful lives as follows: Technology 5 years; Database of questions and answers 3 years (accelerated); Domain Names 10 years; CNC 3 years. Technology and Database of questions and answers are being amortized to cost of revenue, Domain Names and CNC to general and administrative. In 2007, the Company recorded $120,000 and $200,000 of such amortization to cost of revenue and general and administrative expenses, respectively (2006 - $22 thousand and $33 thousand, respectively). The Goodwill, although not amortized for accounting purposes, is deductible for tax purposes over a fifteen year period.
66
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Note 8 Deposits and Liability in Respect of Employee Severance Obligations
Under Israeli law, employers are required to make severance payments to dismissed employees and employees leaving employment in certain other circumstances, based on the latest monthly salary multiplied by the number of years of employment as of the date of dismissal. As of December 31, 2007, this liability is covered by payments of premiums to insurance companies under approved plans and by a provision in these financial statements.
Note 9 Stockholders Equity
Common Stock
During 2007, the Company issued a total of 50,496 shares of common stock due to the exercise of 50,496 of the Companys outstanding stock options, for total consideration of approximately $171,000.
During 2006, the Company issued a total of 144,425 shares of common stock due to the exercise of 144,425 of the Parents outstanding stock options, for a total consideration of approximately $326,000.
On March 13, 2005, the Company issued 7,800 shares of common stock to a financial marketing advisory firm, pursuant to a one-year agreement that began on December 13, 2004. The fair value of the shares, of $151,086, has been amortized to general and administrative expenses over the service period.
On December 1, 2005, the Company issued 439,000 shares of common stock (the Brainboost Shares) pursuant to the Brainboost Purchase Agreement (see Note 7). The Brainboost Shares were subject to a lock-up agreement, as well as an escrow agreement, pursuant to which they were released at various dates over a period of 12 months from the Acquisition Closing Date. On March 21, 2006, and as part of the Brainboost Purchase Agreement, the Company filed an amended Registration Statement, to register the Brainboost Shares (the Registration Statement) with the SEC. The Registration Statement was declared effective by the SEC on June 9, 2006.
Additionally, during 2005, the Company issued a total of 2,297,618 shares of common stock due to the exercise of the Companys outstanding stock warrants and options, for total consideration of approximately $15.4 million.
67
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Stock Warrants
As of December 31, 2007, there were 1,157,763 outstanding stock warrants with a weighted average exercise price of $16.21. All warrants are exercisable immediately. No warrants were exercised during 2007.
During the first quarter of 2005, 69,432 of the Bridge Warrants were exercised. As a result, the Company issued an aggregate of 69,432 shares of its Common Stock, $0.001 par value (the Common Stock), for total consideration of approximately $500,000.
Additionally, on February 4, 2005 the Company entered into an agreement (the Warrants Agreement), with certain holders of Bridge Warrants, pursuant to which such holders exercised an aggregate of 1,871,783 Bridge Warrants at the stated exercise price thereof. As a result, the Company issued an aggregate of 1,871,783 shares of its common stock, for aggregate gross consideration of $12,559,699. Under the terms of the Warrants Agreement, in order to provide incentive to the warrant holders to exercise their Bridge Warrants, for every share of common stock purchased by the holders through the exercise of Bridge Warrants, the Company issued to the warrant holders new warrants, dated February 4, 2005, to purchase such number of shares of common stock equal to 55% of the number of shares of common stock underlying their respective Bridge Warrants (the New Warrants). As a result, the Company issued 1,029,488 of New Warrants at an exercise price of $17.27 per share. The New Warrants are immediately exercisable and expire on February 4, 2010. On April 6, 2005, and as a part of the Warrants Agreement, the Company filed a Registration Statement, to register for resale the shares of common stock underlying the new warrants (the Registration Statement) with the SEC. The Registration Statement became effective on April 21, 2005. In the Registration Statement, the Company also registered 111,016 shares, warrants and stock options that had previously not been registered.
On January 20, 2005, the Company entered into an agreement with an investment banking firm, which was also one of the underwriters of the Companys IPO, to provide general financial advisory and investment banking services for $5,000 per month, and for a minimum service period of six months. Further, upon signing of the contract, the investment banking firm received fully vested warrants to acquire 100,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.00. The fair value of the warrants, of $577,440, has been amortized to general and administrative expenses over the life of the minimum service period, and has been measured according to the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: no dividend yield; risk-free interest rates of 3.68%; volatility of 65.69% and an expected life of five years. On August 30, 2005, all of the warrants were exercised. As a result, the Company issued an aggregate of 100,000 shares of its Common Stock, $0.001 par value, for total consideration of $1,100,000.
68
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Stock Compensation Plans
The Company provides for direct grants or sales of common stock, and common stock options to employees and non-employees through the following: the 1999 Stock Option Plan (the 1999 Plan), the 2000 Stock Option Plan (the 2000 Plan) and the 2003 Stock Option Plan (the 2003 Plan) (thereafter collectively Prior Option Plans), the 2004 Stock Option Plan (the 2004 Plan) and the 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan (the 2005 Plan). In addition, prior to 2005, the Company had granted stock options outside of its stock options plans, to certain individuals and entities. As of December 31, 2007, 35,651 options were issued and outstanding outside of the Companys stock option plans.
The 2005 Plan was approved by the Companys stockholders in July 2005, following the earlier adoption by the Companys board of directors. Under the 2005 Plan, the Company may grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, deferred stock, other stock-related awards and performance awards to officers, directors, employees, consultants and other persons who provide services to the Company. The total number of Company shares of common stock allowed for under the 2005 Plan was set at 850,000, upon its adoption, and was increased by 250,000 on June 21, 2006, following the approval of the Companys stockholders.
Under all of the Companys option plans, options generally vest 25%, with respect to the number granted, upon the first anniversary date of the option grant, and the remainder vest in equal monthly installments over the 36 months thereafter. Vested options are exercisable immediately. The Company issues new shares upon share option exercises.
The options generally expire between six to ten years after grant date. Except for grants to certain executives, employee options are generally forfeited, if not exercised, within three months of termination of employment.
Stock Options
During, 2007, the Company granted a total of 384,650 stock options under its 2005 Plan.
The following table summarizes the Companys stock option activity during 2007:
|
|
Number of |
|
Weighted |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance as of December 31, 2006 |
|
1,940,495 |
|
$ |
10.65 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted |
|
384,650 |
|
11.79 |
|
|
Exercised |
|
(50,496 |
) |
3.38 |
|
|
Forfeited |
|
(207,406 |
) |
14.94 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding as of December 31, 2007 |
|
2,067,243 |
|
$ |
10.61 |
|
The weighted average fair value of options granted during 2007, 2006 and 2005, was $5.20, $4.80 and $7.31 per option, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during 2007, 2006 and 2005, was approximately $390,000, $1,400,000 and $1,865,000, respectively, at the date of exercise.
As of December 31, 2007, 120,065 and 104,471 options were available for grant under the 2005 Plan and the 2004 Plan, respectively. All Prior Option Plans are closed for future grants.
69
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2007:
|
|
Options outstanding |
|
Options exercisable |
|
||||||||||
Range of exercise price |
|
Number |
|
Weighted |
|
Weighted |
|
Number |
|
Weighted |
|
Weighted |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
$0.69 5.00 |
|
179,243 |
|
4.79 |
|
$ |
3.62 |
|
170,871 |
|
4.71 |
|
$ |
3.55 |
|
5.06 9.71 |
|
657,633 |
|
5.85 |
|
$ |
6.42 |
|
485,151 |
|
6.03 |
|
$ |
5.85 |
|
10.54 14.49 |
|
976,147 |
|
4.41 |
|
$ |
12.77 |
|
356,522 |
|
3.94 |
|
$ |
13.20 |
|
15.35 20.35 |
|
254,220 |
|
3.91 |
|
$ |
18.07 |
|
205,512 |
|
7.31 |
|
$ |
18.57 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
December 31, 2007 |
|
2,067,243 |
|
4.84 |
|
$ |
10.61 |
|
1,218,056 |
|
5.45 |
|
$ |
9.82 |
|
The aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2007, was approximately $1,305,000, of which approximately $1,206,000 relates to vested awards. Intrinsic value for stock options is calculated based on the exercise price of the underlying awards and the quoted price of the Companys common stock as of the reporting date.
The total fair value of stock options that vested during 2007, amounts to $2,123,000 and was recorded as stock-based compensation expense (2006 - $1,810,000; 2005 - $343,000).
As of December 31, 2007, there was $3,918,000 of unrecognized compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures of $11,000, related to nonvested stock options granted under the Companys various stock option plans. That cost is expected to be recognized as follows (in thousands):
Year ending December 31 |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
2008 |
|
1,787 |
|
2009 |
|
1,387 |
|
2010 |
|
598 |
|
2011 |
|
146 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,918 |
|
70
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Note 10 - Income Taxes
The components of income (loss) before income taxes are (in thousands):
|
|
Years ended December 31 |
|
||||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
U.S. |
|
(4,971 |
) |
(9,026 |
) |
(6,358 |
) |
Non-U.S. |
|
901 |
|
523 |
|
354 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,070 |
) |
(8,503 |
) |
(6,004 |
) |
Income tax expense (benefit) attributable to income from continuing operations consists of the following (in thousands):
|
|
Current |
|
Deferred |
|
Total |
|
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
Year ended December 31, 2007: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. |
|
|
|
14 |
|
14 |
|
Non-U.S. |
|
34 |
|
|
|
34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34 |
|
14 |
|
48 |
|
Year ended December 31, 2006: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-U.S. |
|
68 |
|
|
|
68 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
68 |
|
|
|
68 |
|
Year ended December 31, 2005: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-U.S. |
|
(13 |
) |
|
|
(13 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(13 |
) |
|
|
(13 |
) |
The income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005, differed from the amounts computed by applying the U.S. federal income tax rate of 34% to pretax income as a result of the following (in thousands):
|
|
Years ended December 31 |
|
||||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2005 |
|
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
Computed expected tax benefit |
|
(1,384 |
) |
(2,891 |
) |
(2,041 |
) |
Effect of State and Local taxes |
|
(142 |
) |
(810 |
) |
(664 |
) |
Income tax rate adjustment for State & Local taxes |
|
152 |
|
256 |
|
915 |
|
Foreign tax rate differential |
|
(45 |
) |
(19 |
) |
|
|
Tax benefit of Approved Enterprise tax holiday |
|
(228 |
) |
(126 |
) |
(134 |
) |
Change in valuation allowance |
|
1,233 |
|
1,898 |
|
1,246 |
|
Tax exempt interest income |
|
|
|
|
|
(78 |
) |
Non-deductible expenses |
|
640 |
|
631 |
|
208 |
|
Adjustment to prior years NOLs and other items |
|
(178 |
) |
1,129 |
|
535 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actual income tax expense (benefit) |
|
48 |
|
68 |
|
(13 |
) |
71
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
The types of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the Companys deferred tax assets and liabilities are set out below (in thousands):
|
|
Years ended December 31 |
|
||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
Deferred tax assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
Miscellaneous accrued expenses |
|
205 |
|
410 |
|
Intangible assets |
|
197 |
|
1,003 |
|
Capitalized start-up costs |
|
|
|
196 |
|
Deferred stock compensation |
|
217 |
|
131 |
|
Foreign capital loss carryforwards |
|
215 |
|
201 |
|
Net operating loss carryforwards |
|
21,557 |
|
19,191 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total gross deferred tax assets |
|
22,391 |
|
21,132 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less: Valuation allowance |
|
(22,363 |
) |
(21,117 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net deferred tax asset |
|
28 |
|
15 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment |
|
(28 |
) |
(15 |
) |
Goodwill |
|
(14 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total gross deferred tax liabilities |
|
(42 |
) |
(15 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net deferred tax liability |
|
(14 |
) |
|
|
Because of the Companys lack of earnings history, as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, the U.S. deferred tax assets have been primarily offset by a valuation allowance. The net change in the total valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, and 2005 was an increase of $1,246 thousand, $1,882 thousand, and $1,239 thousand, respectively.
72
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
The Company had net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of approximately $54 million at December 31, 2007. The federal NOLs will expire if not utilized on various dates from 2019 through 2027. Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 generally imposes an annual limitation on the amount of NOL carryforwards that may be used to offset taxable income when a corporation has undergone significant changes in its stock ownership. The Company estimates two significant changes of ownership, as defined under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that would trigger the limitations. The first took place in September 1999 in connection with the Preferred Stock Class C issuance and the second took place in October 2004 with respect to the Initial Public Offering. Based on current estimates and assumptions, an annual limitation is imposed on the ability of the Company to use $32 million of these NOL carryforwards. The Companys best estimate at this time is that the annual limitation on the use of $32 million of the Companys NOLs is approximately $1.8 million per year. Any unused portion of the $1.8 million annual limitation applicable to the Companys restricted NOLs is available for use in future years until such NOLs are scheduled to expire. The Companys other $22 million of NOLs are not currently subject to such limitations. The Israel Subsidiary has capital loss carryforwards of approximately $740,000, which can be applied to future capital gains for an unlimited period of time under current tax rules.
During the year 2000, the Israel Subsidiary was granted Approved Enterprise status under the Israeli Law for the Encouragement of Capital Investments - 1959 under the alternative benefits path. As an Approved Enterprise, the Subsidiary is entitled to receive future tax benefits, which are limited to a period of ten years from the first year that taxable income is generated from the approved assets. In addition, the benefits must be utilized within the earlier of 12 years from the commencement of operations as defined in the Israeli law or 14 years from the year in which the approval is granted. The Subsidiary began claiming these tax benefits in the 2000 tax year. The effect of the tax holiday on the basic and diluted loss per share is $0.03, $0.01, and $0.02, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, 2005.
As of December 31, 2007, the Company has not provided for deferred income taxes on the undistributed earnings of approximately $2.3 million of its Israel Subsidiary since these earnings are intended to be reinvested indefinitely. A deferred tax liability will be recognized when the Company no longer demonstrates that it plans to indefinitely reinvest the undistributed earnings. It is impracticable to determine the amount of additional taxes payable when these earnings are remitted.
Under its Approved Enterprise status, income arising from the Subsidiarys approved activities is subject to zero tax under the alternative benefits path for a period of ten years. In the event of distributions by the Subsidiary to the Parent, the Subsidiary would have to pay a 10% corporate tax on the amount distributed, and the recipient would have to pay a 15% tax (to be withheld at source) on the amounts of such distribution received. Should the Subsidiary derive income from sources other than the Approved Enterprise during the relevant period of benefits, such income would be taxable in Israel at the tax rate in effect at that time (29% being the rate in effect during 2007).
During 2003, the Subsidiary filed a completion report on its investment program. Final approval of the program was received from the Investment Center in March 2004. Final tax assessments from the Israeli income tax authorities have been received for the years through 2003. In addition, in February 2004, the Subsidiary applied for a second (expansion) investment program based on terms similar to the first program. Formal approval of the application in respect of the second program was received from the Investment Center in July 2004. In December 2006, the Subsidiary filed a final status report on its second investment program which must be approved by both, the Investment Center and the Israeli income tax authorities.
Under its Approved Enterprise status, the Subsidiary must maintain certain conditions and submit periodic reports. Failure to comply with the conditions of the Approved Enterprise status could cause the Subsidiary to lose previously accumulated tax benefits. As of balance sheet date the Company believes that it is in compliance with the stipulated conditions.
73
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
The Company adopted FIN 48 on January 1, 2007, and there was no material effect on the consolidated financial statements. As a result, the Company did not record any cumulative effect adjustments related to adopting FIN 48.
Since the date of adoption, the Companys unrecognized tax benefits, including associated estimated interest and penalties which were not material, increased by $83 thousand to a total of $263 thousand. Of the total unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2007, approximately $114 thousand, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate in 2007. The Company does not expect that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will change significantly within the next 12 months. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at January 1, 2007 |
|
180 |
|
|
|
|
|
Additions based upon tax positions related to the current year |
|
64 |
|
Additions for tax positions of prior years |
|
19 |
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2007 |
|
263 |
|
The Parent or the Subsidiary files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state & local, and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Parent and the Subsidiary are no longer subject to U.S. federal, foreign, state and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2004. In 2008, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance completed its examination of the Parents New York State income tax returns for 2003 through 2005 resulting in an immaterial adjustment. The Subsidiary is currently undergoing an audit by the Israeli income tax authorities for the 2004 and 2005 tax years. At present, they have not proposed any adjustments, and the Company does not believe it has exposure beyond that which is already accrued in these financial statements.
Note 11 - Commitments and Contingencies
(a) Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases for office space and cars, as of December 31, 2007 are as follows (in thousands):
Year ending December 31 |
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
2008 |
|
441 |
|
2009 |
|
394 |
|
2010 |
|
232 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,067 |
|
Rental expense for operating leases for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was approximately $501,000, $408,000 and $386,000, respectively.
(b) A bank guarantee given to the Subsidiarys landlord, is secured by a restricted long-term deposit of $100,000 (see Note 5) and collateralized by some of the Subsidiarys bank deposits (as of December 31, 2007, such deposits amounted to $287,000).
(c) In the ordinary course of business, the Company enters into various arrangements with vendors and other business partners, principally for content, web-hosting, marketing and investor relations arrangements. As of December 31, 2007, the total future commitments under these arrangements amount to approximately $1,030,000.
74
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(d) In the ordinary course of business, the Company may provide indemnifications of varying scope and terms to customers, vendors, lessors, business partners, and other parties with respect to certain matters, including, but not limited to, losses arising out of its breach of agreements, services to be provided by it, or from intellectual property infringement claims made by third parties. Additionally, the Company, through its operating agreement, has indemnified its members, officers, employees, and agents serving at the request of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. It is not possible to determine the maximum potential amount of liability under these indemnification agreements due to the limited history of prior indemnification claims and the unique facts and circumstances involved in each particular agreement. Such indemnification agreements may not be subject to maximum loss clauses. To date, the Company has not incurred costs as a result of obligations under these agreements and has not accrued any liabilities related to such indemnification obligations in its accompanying financial statements.
(e) On July 14, 2005, a former marketing employee of the Company (the Employee), filed a statement of claim (the Claim) with the Regional Labor Court in Jerusalem, Israel (the Court), against the Parent, the Subsidiary, the Parents Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer, in the amount of approximately US$50,000, for deferred salary, severance pay and unpaid commissions, as well as 43,441 options to purchase such number of our shares of common stock, with an exercise price of $2.76 per share. On June 27, 2007, the Company and the Employee entered into a settlement agreement. As a result of this settlement agreement, the Company paid the Employee $130,000, including the Employees legal fees, and the claim was dismissed without prejudice.
(f) From time to time, the Company receives various legal claims incidental to its normal business activities, such as intellectual property infringement claims and claims of defamation and invasion of privacy. Although the results of claims cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company believes the final outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
(g) On July 13, 2007, the Company entered into a Purchase Agreement to acquire all of the outstanding limited liability interests of Lexico Publishing Group, LLC for an aggregate purchase price of $100 million in cash, subject to adjustments for closing net working capital. Consummation of the acquisition of Lexico was subject to the Companys ability to secure financing for the acquisition.
On July 17, 2007, the Company filed a universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission which was declared effective on August 6, 2007. The registration statement covers up to an aggregate of $140,000,000 of common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt securities, units or any combination thereof. The Company filed various prospectus supplements for a proposed public offering, the latest of which was filed on February 8, 2008. On February 13, 2008 the Company canceled its proposed public offering due to unfavorable market conditions.
Subsequent to balance sheet date, on March 1, 2008, the members of Lexico terminated the purchase agreement, due to the Companys inability to finance the acquisition. As a result of the termination of the purchase agreement, the Company reimbursed $500,000 of the sellers out-of-pocket transaction-related legal and accounting expenses, as provided for in the Purchase Agreement.
Additionally, in connection with the Lexico transaction, on January15, 2008, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with an institutional investor, or the senior notes investor, for the optional purchase and sale of $8.5 million aggregate principal amount of its senior secured convertible notes due 2010, or the senior secured convertible notes. The Companys intent was to close the senior secured convertible notes financing in conjunction with its follow-on offering, if it needed such funds to close the Lexico acquisition. Since the Companys purchase agreement with Lexico was terminated, the Securities Purchase Agreement has also terminated and the Company has paid the senior secured convertible notes investor a termination fee of $425 thousand, as provided for in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
In addition to the payments to Lexico and the senior notes investor, aggregating $925,000, the Company incurred approximately $1,270,000 and $455,000 of costs, including legal, accounting, banking, consulting and travel costs, in 2007 and in the first quarter of 2008, respectively, in connection with the proposed acquisition of Lexico and follow-on offering. The payment to Lexico, the payment to the senior notes investor and the additional costs incurred, which, in aggregate, amount to $2,650,000, will be reflected as a charge on the Companys statement of operations in the first quarter of 2008.
75
ANSWERS CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINACIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
Note 12 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Companys financial instruments at December 31, 2007 and 2006 consisted of cash and cash equivalents, investment securities, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses, deposits in respect of employee severance obligations, security deposits, accounts payable, accrued expenses, accrued compensation and related liabilities, liability in respect of employee severance obligations and deferred revenues. The carrying amounts of all the aforementioned financial instruments, approximate fair value, as they reflect the amounts at which the financial instruments will be settled.
Note 13 Interest Income, Net
Interest income, net, in 2007, 2006 and 2005 is comprised almost entirely of interest income earned from cash and cash equivalents and investment securities.
Other expenses consist primarily of foreign currency exchange gains and losses. In 2006, other expenses included a payment of $227 thousand to the sellers of Brainboost as a result of our delay registering with the SEC shares the Company issued as consideration in the transaction.
During the years 2007, 2006 and 2005, the vast majority of the Companys advertising revenue was generated through the efforts of third party suppliers. Additionally, during 2007, the Company earned approximately 68% and 9% through two of its third-party suppliers, respectively.
Note 16 Risks and Uncertainties
In July 2007, a search engine algorithm adjustment by Google led to a drop in Google directed traffic to Answers.com. As a result, overall traffic and revenue on Answers.com dropped by approximately 28% from levels immediately prior to the change. The Company has not been able to reverse the impact of this adjustment, and it does not anticipate that it will recover the lost traffic and revenue.
In response to the Google algorithm adjustment, the Company reduced its headcount and related recurring compensation costs by approximately 12%. As a result, the Company recorded a one-time charge of approximately $250 thousand in the third quarter of 2007.
The Company continues to rely heavily on search engines for a substantial portion of the users visiting its web properties. From time to time, search engines change their algorithms that direct search queries to Internet Web sites, including the Companys web properties. Search engines may also restrict the flow of users visiting the Companys web properties specifically. The Company cannot guarantee that it will successfully react to these actions and recover any lost traffic. Accordingly, changes in search engine algorithms or a restriction on the flow of users visiting the Companys web properties from the search engines, could cause a significant decrease in traffic and revenues.
Note 17 Subsequent Events
On March 1, 2008, the Purchase Agreement with Lexico Publishing Group, LLC, was terminated due to the Companys inability to finance the acquisition (see note 11(g) for further details).
76
ITEM 9. |
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE |
None.
ITEM 9A. |
Our management has evaluated, with the participation of our principal executive and principal financial officers, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and of our internal control over financial reporting, as of December 31, 2007. Based on their evaluation, our principal executive and principal financial officers have concluded that, as of December 31, 2007, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective due to the material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial reporting described below in Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
Disclosure controls and procedures are our controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commissions rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by our principal executive and principal financial officers, under the supervision of our board, and effected by our management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that: (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect our transactions and dispositions of assets, (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors, and (3) and provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management of Answers Corporation (the Company) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The Companys internal control over financial reporting was designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Management of the Company assessed the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. In making this assessment, it used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. Based on our assessment, management concluded that, as of December 31, 2007, the Companys internal control over financial reporting is not effective based on those criteria.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the companys annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
At December 31, 2007, we did not maintain effective controls over (i) access to, and changes in, the Companys information technology financial applications and underlying financial data; and (ii) the authority of the officers of the Company to obligate the Company. Accordingly, we determined that these control deficiencies constitute material weaknesses at December 31, 2007.
Because of the material weaknesses described above, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2007 based on the criteria established in Internal ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the COSO.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 has been audited by Somekh Chaikin, a member of KPMG International, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which appears herein.
77
Remediation of Material Weaknesses
Subsequent to December 31, 2007, we have fully remediated the control deficiency with respect to access to, and changes in, the Companys information technology financial applications and underlying financial data, and are in the process of remediating the control deficiency with respect to the authority of the officers of the Company to obligate the Company, as described below:
1. Access to, and changes in, the Companys information technology financial applications and underlying financial data.
At the time the Company implemented its new enterprise resource management system, in 2007, our management had designated the Companys controller as the system administrator which constituted ineffective control over access to, and changes in, the Companys information technology financial applications and underlying financial data, as of December 31, 2007. Since identifying this material weakness, our management has removed the Companys controller as the information technology administrator for this system. We do not believe this material weakness had any impact on the financial statements or related disclosures for the year ended December 31, 2007. Our management now believes this material weakness has been remediated.
2. The authority of the officers of the Company to obligate the Company.
Subsequent to December 31, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Company has adopted an approval policy, thus limiting the authority of certain officers of the Company to obligate the Company. Based on the new approval policy adopted by the Board in March 2008, no officer of the Company has the authority to make payments, create obligations and take on commitments on behalf of the Company above a certain threshold amount without seeking prior Board approval. Our management intends to further implement such approval policy by notifying the Companys banking institutions and causing the Companys wholly-owned subsidiary, GuruNet Israel Ltd., to establish the same approval policy, mutatis mutandis. Our management does not believe this material weakness had any impact on the financial statements or related disclosures for the year ended December 31, 2007. We expect this material weakness to be fully remediated during the first half of 2008.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in the Companys internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that occurred during the fourth quarter of the year ended December 31, 2007 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Companys internal control over financial reporting, except as detailed below:
· The Company implemented an enterprise resource planning system encompassing accounts receivable and payable, general ledger and purchasing. This system was implemented in an effort to enhance our controls over user access rights to transaction and financial reporting, including logging user activity. Furthermore, the system strengthened the Companys controls related to purchase order authorization and tracking.
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Answers Corporation:
We have audited Answers Corporations internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Answers Corporations management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Companys internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A companys internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A companys internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the companys assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the companys annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The following material weaknesses have been identified and included in managements assessment:
|
1. |
The Company did not maintain effective controls over access to, and changes in, its information technology financial applications and underlying financial data. |
|
|
|
|
2. |
The Company did not maintain effective control over its officers authority to obligate the Company. |
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements of Answers Corporation. These material weaknesses were considered in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the 2007 consolidated financial statements, and this report does not affect our report dated March 31, 2008, which expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
In our opinion, because of the effect of the aforementioned material weaknesses on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, Answers Corporation has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We do not express an opinion or any other form of assurance on managements statements referring to corrective actions taken after December 31, 2007, relative to the aforementioned material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ Somekh Chaikin |
|
Somekh Chaikin |
Certified Public Accountants (Israel)
A member of KPMG International
Jerusalem, Israel
March 31, 2008
79
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
The following table sets forth certain information regarding our executive officers and directors as of December 31, 2007:
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
Executive Officers |
|
|
|
|
Robert S. Rosenschein |
|
54 |
|
Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board |
Steven Steinberg |
|
47 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
Jeff Schneiderman |
|
44 |
|
Chief Technical Officer |
Bruce D. Smith |
|
46 |
|
Chief Strategic Officer |
Caleb A. Chill |
|
33 |
|
Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
Directors |
|
|
|
|
Jerry Colonna |
|
44 |
|
Director |
Lawrence S. Kramer |
|
57 |
|
Director |
Mark B. Segall |
|
45 |
|
Director |
Edward G. Sim |
|
36 |
|
Director |
Yehuda Sternlicht |
|
53 |
|
Director |
Mark A. Tebbe. |
|
46 |
|
Vice Chairman and Lead Director |
Robert S. Rosenschein has been Chairman of our Board and President since he founded Answers Corporation in December 1998. From December 1998 to April 2000 and since May 2001, Mr. Rosenschein has served as our Chief Executive Officer. Prior to founding Answers, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Accent Software International Ltd. (formerly Kivun), a company that developed multi-lingual software tools, and from 1988 to 1997 and from 1997 to 1998, he was the Chief Technical Officer. Mr. Rosenschein previously served as a software developer for Data General, American Management Systems, the World Bank and Ashton Tate. Mr. Rosenschein graduated with a B.Sc. in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received the Prime Minister of Israels Award for Software Achievement in 1997.
Steven Steinberg has been our Chief Financial Officer since January 2004. From December 2002 to December 2003, Mr. Steinberg was our Vice President of Finance. From January 2001 to November 2002, he was the Vice President of Finance at Percite Information Technologies, Ltd., a supply-chain software company. From November 1998 to December 2000, he was the Controller at Albar Mimunit Services Ltd., a finance and leasing company. From October 1993 to July 1998, he held various positions with Health Partners, Inc. culminating with Chief Financial Officer of the New York Operations. From August 1983 to October 1993, he held various positions with Coopers and Lybrand, an accounting firm, culminating with audit manager at the New York offices. Mr. Steinberg graduated with a B.B.A. from Florida International University.
Jeff Schneiderman has been our Chief Technical Officer since March 2003. From January 1999 to February 2003, Mr. Schneiderman was our Vice President of Research and Development. Prior to joining Answers, he worked at Accent Software International Ltd., from November 1991 to December 1998 during which time he served as Vice President of Engineering from October 1996 to March 1998 and Vice President of Product Development from March 1998 to December 1998. From June 1986 to June 1991, Mr. Schneiderman held various development positions at AT&T Bell Labs, a global telecommunication organization, and the Whitewater Group, a firm specializing in object oriented technologies. Mr. Schneiderman graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a M.S. in Computer Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
Bruce D. Smith has been our Chief Strategic Officer since June 2007. From July 2005 to June 2007, Mr. Smith was our Vice President of Investor Relations and Strategic Development. Prior to joining Answers, he was a Managing Director at Archery Capital, a New York based investment firm from July 1999 to July 2005. From June 1998 to July 1999, he was a sell side analyst at Jefferies & Company, where he was responsible for coverage of the Internet industry as well as individual companies. From November 1995 to March 1998, Mr. Smith maintained coverage of the Internet industry at Merrill Lynch & Co. From April 1994 to October 1995, he was a Security Analyst at Morgan Stanley Asset Management, a division of Morgan Stanley & Co. Mr. Smith graduated with a B.B.A., Magna Cum Laude, from Bernard M. Baruch College, City University of New York. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and member of the New York Society of Security Analysts.
Caleb A. Chill has been our Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since January 2007. From January 2005 to January 2007, Mr. Chill was our In-House Counsel. From August 2002 to November 2004, he was an associate in the Corporate Department of Sills Cummis & Gross P.C., based out of the firms New York office. His practice concentrated on the structuring and negotiating of corporate transactions in high-tech and other industries. From August 1999 to August 2001, Mr. Chill was an associate in the international department of Baratz, Horn & Co., an Israeli corporate law firm. Mr. Chill holds an LL.B. from Bar-Ilan University of Israel, has earned an M.B.A. from the same institution, and is admitted to practice law in Israel and New York.
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Jerry Colonna has served as a director since June 2004 and currently serves as the chairman of our Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee and as a member of our Compensation Committee. From January 2002 until December 2002, Mr. Colonna was a partner with JP Morgan Partners, LLC, the private equity arm of JP Morgan Chase & Co. From August 1996 until June 2001, Mr. Colonna was a partner with Flatiron Partners LLC, a venture-capital company, he co-founded. Mr. Colonna is a member of the board of directors of PlanetOut Inc., a media and entertainment company, a number of private corporations, and a number of non-profit organizations including the National Center for Women in Technology and NYPower NY. Mr. Colonna graduated with a B.A. in English Literature from Queens College at the City University of New York.
Lawrence S. Kramer has served as a director since May 2005 and currently serves as a member of our Financing Committee and our Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee. Since November 2006, Mr. Kramer has been an advisor to CBS on interactive matters and a senior advisor to Polaris Venture Partners since July 2007. From March 2005 to November 2006, he served as the first President of CBS Digital Media. From October 1997 to January 2005, Mr. Kramer was the Chairman and CEO of MarketWatch, Inc., a media company he founded. From February 1994 to October 1997, he served as Vice President of News, Sports and Marketing at Data Broadcasting Corporation. In July 2007, Mr. Kramer became a board member of CreditCards.com, Inc., an online credit card marketplace. Mr. Kramer has been awarded a National Press Club Award, Gerald E. Loeb Award and Associated Press Awards for reporting. Mr. Kramer graduated with a B.S. in Journalism and Political Science from Syracuse University and an M.B.A. from Harvard University and has been a Guest Lecturer at the Harvard Business School for 10 years.
Mark B. Segall has served as a director since December 2004 and currently serves as the chairman of our Finance Committee and as a member of our Audit Committee. Mr. Segall has been the Senior Managing Director of Kidron Corporate Advisors, LLC, a New York based mergers and acquisitions corporate advisory boutique serving emerging growth companies primarily in the technology, consumer goods and financial services sectors, which he founded in 2003. He is also a founder and managing member of Kidrons private equity fund, Kidron Opportunity Fund I, LLC. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Segall was the Chief Executive Officer of Investec, Inc., the U.S. investment banking operations of the Investec Group, a South African based specialist bank. From 1996 to 1999, he was a partner at the law firm of Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel LLP, specializing in cross-border mergers and acquisitions and capital markets activities and between 1991 and 1995 he was an associate at the same firm. Mr. Segall also served as a director of the Escala Group, Inc., a leading auctioneer of memorabilia, from 1999 until June 2007 and currently serves as a director of Integrated Asset Management Corp., an alternative asset management company. Mr. Segall graduated with an A.B. from Colombia University and a J.D. from New York University Law School. Mr. Segall was a designee of Maxim Group LLC pursuant to our initial public offering underwriting agreement.
Edward G. Sim has served as a director since August 1999 and currently serves as the chairman of our Compensation Committee and as a member of our Audit Committee. Mr. Sim is a member and Managing Director of the Dawntreader Group and Dawntreader Funds, which he co-founded in 1998. From April 1996 to April 1998, he worked on software and technology investments, such as 24/7 Media, at Prospect Street Ventures, a New York-based venture capital firm. From June 1994 to April 1996, Mr. Sim worked with J.P. Morgans Structured Derivatives Group on the development of a real-time trading application for global asset allocation. Mr. Sim also serves as a director of DeepNines, Inc., netForensics, Inc., Greenplum, and SIPphone, Inc. Mr. Sim graduated with an A.B. in Economics from Harvard University.
Yehuda Sternlicht has served as a director since June 2004 and currently serves as the chairman of our Audit Committee and as a member of our Financing Committee. Since 2004, Mr. Sternlicht has been an independent financial consultant and since 2004, he has been the Chief Financial Officer of NanoVibronix Inc., a medical device company. From 1992 to 2003, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc.. He has also served in several financial and accounting positions in public and private companies and in a large CPA firm. Mr. Sternlicht graduated with a B.A. in Accounting and Economy from The Hebrew University. He is qualified as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Israel.
Mark A. Tebbe has served as a director since December 1998 and as Vice Chairman and Lead Director since April 2007. Mr. Tebbe currently serves as a member of our Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee and Compensation Committee. Since February 2002, Mr. Tebbe has been Chairman of Techra Networks LLC, a technology-oriented consulting firm. From August 1984 to January 2002, Mr. Tebbe served as Chairman of Lante Corporation, a technology consulting firm he founded. Mr. Tebbe is also a board member of SBI Group, Elexos Corp. and Selective Search, Inc. and several non-profit and civic organizations. Mr. Tebbe graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.
There are no family relationships among directors, executive officers, or persons nominated or chosen to become directors or executive officers.
82
Board Classes
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that the number of directors shall be not less than five or more than nine directors. Our board of directors is divided into three classes with only one class of directors being elected in each year and each class serving a three-year term. The following chart sets forth the term of office of each class of directors and which directors are assigned to each class:
Class |
|
Term |
|
Members |
Class I |
|
Expires at our annual meeting in 2008 |
|
Mark A. Tebbe and Lawrence S. Kramer |
Class II |
|
Expires at our annual meeting in 2009 |
|
Edward G. Sim and Jerry Colonna |
Class III |
|
Expires at our annual meeting in 2010 |
|
Robert S. Rosenschein, Yehuda Sternlicht and Mark B. Segall |
Director Independence
The NASDAQ listing standards require that a majority of our board must be composed of independent directors, which is defined generally as a person other than an officer or employee of the company or its subsidiaries or any other individual having a relationship, which, in the opinion of the companys board of directors would interfere with the directors exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Currently, we have a majority of independent directors on our board. Our independent directors have regularly scheduled meetings at which only independent directors are present.
Any affiliated transactions will be on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from independent parties. Any affiliated transactions must be approved by a majority of our independent and disinterested directors.
Committees of the Board
Audit Committee. In May 2004, we established an Audit Committee of the board of directors. The Audit Committee consists of Mr. Sternlicht, Chairman, Mr. Segall and Mr. Sim, each of whom satisfy the current independence standards as promulgated by the SEC and NASDAQ, as such standards apply specifically to members of audit committees. Mr. Segall replaced Mr. Tebbe as a member of the Audit Committee in October 2007. The Audit Committees scope of authority, which is specified in our Audit Committee Charter, includes, but is not limited to:
· Reviewing and discussing with management and the independent accountants our annual and quarterly financial statements and discussing with management any earnings guidance provided to the market;
· Directly appointing, compensating, retaining, and overseeing the work of the independent auditor;
· Approving, in advance, the provision by the independent auditor of all audit and permissible non-audit services;
· Establishing procedures for the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints received by us regarding accounting, internal accounting controls, or auditing matters and the confidential, anonymous submissions by our employees of concerns regarding questionable accounting or auditing matters;
· Retaining independent legal and other advisors as the Audit Committee deems necessary or appropriate;
· Determining and receiving from us appropriate funding to compensate the independent accountants and any outside advisors engaged by the Audit Committee; and
· Reviewing reports and disclosure of insider and affiliated party transactions.
The Audit Committee will at all times be composed exclusively of super independent directors who are financially literate as defined under the NASDAQ listing standards. The NASDAQ listing standards define financially literate as being able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a companys balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement.
In addition, we must certify to NASDAQ that the committee has, and will continue to have, at least one member who has past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or other comparable experience that results in the individuals financial sophistication. The board of directors believes that Mr. Sternlicht satisfies NASDAQs definition of financial sophistication and also qualifies as an audit committee financial expert, as defined under rules and regulations of the SEC.
83
Compensation Committee. In May 2004, we established a Compensation Committee of the board of directors. The Compensation Committee consists of Mr. Sim, Chairman, Mr. Colonna and Mr. Tebbe, each of whom is an independent director under the current definition promulgated by NASDAQ. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves our salary and benefits policies, including the compensation of executive officers. The Compensation Committee also administers our stock option plan and recommends and approves grants of stock options under that plan.
Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee. In May 2004, we established a Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee of the board of directors. The Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee consists of Mr. Colonna, Chairman, Mr. Tebbe and Mr. Kramer, each of whom is an independent director under the current definition promulgated by NASDAQ. The purpose of the Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee is to select, or recommend for our entire boards selection, the individuals to stand for election as directors at the annual meeting of stockholders and to oversee the selection and composition of committees of our board. The committees duties, which are specified in our Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee Charter, include, but are not limited to:
· Establishing criteria for the selection of new directors;
· Recommending directors to serve on the committees of our board;
· Considering the adequacy of our corporate governance and proposing amendments accordingly;
· Overseeing and approving our management continuity planning process; and
· Reporting regularly to the board matters relating to the committees duties.
We have made no material changes to the procedures by which stockholders may recommend nominees to our board of directors.
Financing Committee. In July 2005, we established a Financing Committee of the board of directors. The Financing Committee consists of Mr. Segall, Chairman, Mr. Sternlicht and Mr. Kramer, each of whom is an independent director under the current definition promulgated by NASDAQ. The purpose of the Financing Committee is to review and discuss with management financing opportunities that we are considering, to evaluate the business merits of all potential mergers and acquisitions and to provide the board of directors with a recommendation as to the terms and conditions of any extraordinary transactions, in consultation with the management team, legal advisors and financial consultants.
Meetings of the Board of Directors and its Committees
During the year ended December 31, 2007, our board of directors held ten meetings. During the year ended December 31, 2007, committees of the board of directors held the following number of meetings:
Audit Committee - six meetings
Compensation Committee - three meetings
Nominations / Corporate Governance Committee - two meetings
During the year ended December 31, 2007, no director attended fewer than 75% of the aggregate of the total number of meetings of our board of directors (held during the period for which he was a director) and the total number of meetings held by all committees of our board of directors on which he served (held during the period that he served), with the exception of Jerry Colonna, who attended 70% of all meetings of our board of directors.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
None of our executive officers serves as a member of the board of directors or Compensation Committee of any entity which has one or more executive officers serving as a member of our board of directors or Compensation Committee. No member of our Compensation Committee during fiscal year 2007 was an officer or employee of our company.
Code of Ethics
In May 2004, we adopted a Code of Ethics and Business Conduct that applies to all of our executive officers, directors and employees. The Code of Ethics and Business Conduct codifies the business and ethical principles that govern all aspects of our business. A copy of the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct may be found on our website at www.answers.com.
Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities, to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Officers, directors and greater than ten percent stockholders are required by SEC regulation to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file. Based on a review of the copies of such forms received, we believe that during 2007, all filing requirements applicable to our officers, directors and greater than ten percent beneficial owners were complied with.
84
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
The following discussion and analysis of compensation arrangements of our named executive officers for 2007 should be read together with the compensation tables and related disclosures set forth below.
Introductory Remark
We believe our success depends on the continued contributions of our named executive officers. Personal relationships are very important in our industry. Our named executive officers are primarily responsible for many of our critical customer and business development relationships. The maintenance of these relationships is critical to ensuring our future success. Therefore, it is important to our success that we retain the services of these individuals and prevent them from competing with us should their employment with us terminate.
General Philosophy
Our overall compensation philosophy is to provide an executive compensation package that enables us to attract, retain and motivate executive officers to achieve our short-term and long-term business goals. We strive to apply a uniform philosophy regarding compensation of all employees, including members of senior management. This philosophy is based upon the premise that the achievements of the company result from the combined and coordinated efforts of all employees working toward common goals and objectives in a competitive, evolving market place. The goals of our compensation program are to align remuneration with business objectives and performance and to enable us to retain and competitively reward executive officers and employees who contribute to our long-term success. We attempt to pay our executive officers and employees competitively to enable us to retain the most capable people in the industry. In making executive compensation and other employment compensation decisions, the Compensation Committee considers achievement of certain criteria, some of which relate to our performance and others of which relate to the performance of the individual employee. Awards to executive officers are based on achievement of company and individual performance criteria.
The Compensation Committee will evaluate our compensation policies on an ongoing basis to determine whether they enable us to attract, retain and motivate key personnel. To meet these objectives, the Compensation Committee may from time to time increase salaries, award additional stock options or provide other short and long-term incentive compensation to executive officers and other employees.
Compensation Program and Forms of Compensation
We provide our executive officers with a compensation package consisting of base salary, bonus and participation in benefit plans generally available to other employees. In setting total compensation, the Compensation Committee considers individual and company performance, as well as market information regarding compensation paid by other companies in our industry.
In order to achieve the above goals, our total compensation packages include base salary, annual bonus and in cases of our sales employees, commissions, all paid in cash, as well as long-term compensation in the form of stock options.
Base Salary. Salaries for our executive officers are initially set based on negotiation with individual executive officers at the time of recruitment and with reference to salaries for comparable positions in the industry for individuals of similar education and background to the executive officers being recruited. We also consider the individuals experience, reputation in his or her industry and expected contributions to our company. Base salary is continuously evaluated by competitive pay and individual job performance. Base salaries for executives are reviewed annually or more frequently should there be significant changes in responsibilities. In each case, we take into account the results achieved by the executive, his or her future potential, scope of responsibilities and experience, and competitive salary practices.
Bonuses. A component of each executive officers potential annual compensation may take the form of a performance-based bonus. Contractually, our Chief Executive Officer is entitled to an annual bonus, to be determined at the discretion of our board of directors or the Compensation Committee. Bonus payments to officers other than the Chief Executive Officer are determined by the Compensation Committee, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer, based on our financial performance and the achievement of the officers individual performance objectives. The Chief Executive Officers bonus is determined by the Compensation Committee, without participation by the Chief Executive Officer, based on the same factors.
Long-Term Incentives. Longer-term incentives are provided through stock options, which reward executives and other employees through the growth in value of our stock. The Compensation Committee believes that employee equity ownership provides a major incentive for employees to build stockholder value and serves to align the interests of employees with those of our stockholders. Grants of stock options to executive officers are based upon each officers relative position, responsibilities and contributions to Answers, with primary weight given to the executive officers relative rank and responsibilities. Initial stock option grants designed to recruit an executive officer to join Answers may be based on negotiations with the officer and with reference to historical option grants to existing officers. Stock options are granted at an exercise
85
price equal to the market price of our common stock on the date of grant and will provide value to the executive officers only when the price of our common stock increases over the exercise price.
Based on our compensation philosophy, a substantial portion of our compensation rewards long-term performance of our company and promotes executive retention. This is delivered to our executives through stock options granted upon their initial hire and through ongoing annual option grants. Similar to base salary increases, option grants are also granted to address promotions and significant changes in responsibility. Although the expenses of stock options affect our financial statements negatively, we continue to believe that this is a strong element of compensation that focuses the employees on financial and operational performance to create value for the long-term. Stock option awards are time based. In order to provide an incentive for continued employment, stock options granted under our stock option plans generally vest 25% upon completion of 12 months of service and 1/36 per month thereafter, and generally expire six or ten years from the date of the grant, depending on the relevant compensation plan. This provides a reasonable time frame to align the executive officer compensation with the appreciation of our stock price while managing potential dilution effectively.
Initial stock option grants and annual option grants for plan participants are generally determined within ranges established for each job level. These ranges are established based on our desired pay positioning relative to the competitive market. Specific recruitment needs are taken into account for establishing the levels of initial option grants. Annual option grants take into consideration a number of factors, including performance of the individual, job level, prior grants and competitive external levels. The goals of option grant guidelines are to ensure future grants remain competitive from a grant value perspective and to ensure option usage consistent with option pool forecasts.
Contributions to Israeli Employees
We make contributions on behalf of our Israeli employees, including on behalf of our Israeli named executive officers in accordance with their employment agreements, to a fund known as Managers Insurance. This fund provides a combination of retirement plan, insurance and severance pay benefits to the employee, giving the employee, or his or her estate, payments upon retirement or death and securing the severance pay, if legally entitled, upon termination of employment. Each full-time employee is entitled to participate in the plan, and each employee who participates contributes an amount equal to 5% of his or her salary to the retirement plan, and we contribute between 13.33% and 15.83% of his or her salary (consisting of 5% to the retirement plan, 8.33% to secure severance payments and up to 2.5% for disability insurance).
Under the retirement plan component of the Managers Insurance, both our 5% contribution and the 5% contribution made by the employee are immediately vested and non-forfeitable upon contribution to the Managers Insurance. In some cases, we substitute other retirement arrangements, such as provident funds (kupot gemel) for the retirement plan feature of the Managers Insurance. The features of the provident funds are substantially similar to those of the retirement plan feature of the Managers Insurance.
In addition, we make contributions on behalf of our Israeli employees, including all of our Israeli named executive officers, in accordance with their employment agreements, to a fund known as a continued education fund (Keren Hishtalmut). We contribute an amount equal to 7.5% of the employees salary and deduct 2.5% of the employees salary. Our contributions to the continuing education fund are only up to the permissible tax-exempt salary ceiling according to the income tax regulations in effect from time to time, which ceiling was 15,712 NIS monthly as of December 31, 2007.
Option Grant Practice
The Compensation Committee has delegated the authority to make initial option grants to new employees (within an approved range) to executive management. During 2007, initial hire grants that were within executive managements approved range were granted quarterly, on March 27, June 27 and September 27. No initial option grants were made to new employees during the fourth quarter of 2007. According to our practice, if the 27th of the last month of a quarter falls on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, the meeting approving the grant is to be held on the following non-holiday Monday. Options are granted at 100% of the closing sales price of our stock on the last market trading date prior to the grant date.
We did not have any initial hire grants that were above executive managements approved range. In the event such a case was to occur in the future, such grants would be approved by the Compensation Committee with the grant date being the day after the first day of service and the exercise price being the closing sale price on the last market trading day prior to the grant date. For annual option grants to all employees, the Compensation Committee must review and submit its approval. In 2007, these grants were made on March 5, 2007. This timing enables management and the Compensation Committee to consider performance by both us and the individual and balance it against our expectations for the current year.
We do not time the granting of our options with any favorable or unfavorable news released by us. The initial grants are based on the timing of the quarterly pre-determined end-of-quarter dates. Proximity of any awards to an earnings announcement or other market events is coincidental.
86
Executive Equity Ownership
We encourage our executives to hold a significant equity interest in our company. However, we do not have specific share retention and ownership guidelines for our executives.
Performance-Based Compensation and Financial Restatement
We have not considered or implemented a policy regarding retroactive adjustments to any cash or equity-based incentive compensation paid to our executives and other employees where such payments were predicated upon the achievement of certain financial results that were subsequently the subject of a financial restatement.
Tax and Accounting Considerations
Compliance with Internal Revenue Code Section 162(m). Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, restricts deductibility of executive compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer and each of the three other most highly compensated executive officers holding office at the end of any year (except for our Chief Financial Officer) to the extent such compensation exceeds $1,000,000 for any of such officers in any year and does not qualify for an exception under Section 162(m) or related regulations. The Compensation Committees policy is to qualify its executive compensation for deductibility under applicable tax laws to the extent practicable. Income related to stock options granted under our 1999 Stock Option Plan, the 2000 Stock Plan, the 2003 Stock Plan, the 2004 Stock Plan and the 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan generally qualify for an exemption from these restrictions imposed by Section 162(m). In the future, the Compensation Committee will continue to evaluate the advisability of qualifying its executive compensation for full deductibility, in particular in light of the recent IRS Revenue Ruling 2008-13.
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. On January 1, 2006, we began accounting for stock-based payments including our stock option program in accordance with the requirements of FASB Statement 123(R).
Employment Contracts
Robert S. Rosenschein
Robert S. Rosenschein is employed as our President and Chief Executive Officer pursuant to an employment agreement that commenced on January 1, 2002 and was amended and restated as of January 8, 2004 and further amended on November 27, 2006 and November 6, 2007. The term of the agreement will automatically renew for successive two year periods unless the agreement is terminated earlier by the parties. Mr. Rosenscheins annual base salary was set at $217,800 from January 1, 2007 until February 28, 2007, and adjusted to $239,580 commencing March 1, 2007. According to his amended agreement, Mr. Rosenscheins annual base salary is subject to a 10% annual increase and he is eligible to receive an annual bonus based on his performance and as approved by our board of directors in its sole discretion. We may voluntarily terminate the employment agreement by providing no less than ninety days prior written notice.
If we terminate Mr. Rosenscheins employment without cause, we shall extend the period during which Mr. Rosenschein may exercise his options to the earlier of (i) one year from the date of termination or (ii) the expiration date of the options granted. Furthermore, if we terminate Mr. Rosenscheins employment for any reason other than cause, we are required to pay him a lump sum of $150,000 less the severance pay portion of his Managers Insurance Policy, regardless of the period remaining in the term of his employment agreement. Since Mr. Rosenscheins Managers Insurance Policy is greater than $150,000, he will be entitled to the entire amount payable under the Managers Insurance Policy. At the time Mr. Rosenscheins employment agreement was amended and restated in 2004, 241,964 options were granted to Mr. Rosenschein under the 2003 Stock Option Plan. In the event of a change in control, we will accelerate the vesting of 50% of any options granted to Mr. Rosenschein that have not vested as of the effective date of the change in control. If, within twelve months after such change in control, Mr. Rosenscheins employment is terminated without cause, 100% of Mr. Rosenscheins unvested options will vest immediately upon the effective date of the termination. Mr. Rosenschein has agreed to refrain from competing with us for a period of twenty-four months following the termination of his employment.
A table describing the payments that would have been due to Mr. Rosenschein under his employment agreement had Mr. Rosenscheins employment with us been terminated at the end of 2007 under various circumstances appears under Potential Payments and Benefits upon Termination of Employment Robert S. Rosenschein, below.
Steven Steinberg
Steven Steinberg is employed as our Chief Financial Officer pursuant to an employment agreement that commenced on April 1, 2004 and was amended on November 6, 2007. The agreement will remain in effect indefinitely unless it is terminated earlier by the parties. Mr. Steinbergs annual base salary was set at $140,000 from January 1, 2007 until February 28, 2007, and adjusted to $157,920 commencing March 1, 2007. We may terminate the employment agreement without cause at any time upon three months notice.
87
If we terminate Mr. Steinbergs employment without cause or due to death or disability, we shall extend the period during which Mr. Steinberg may exercise his options granted after the date of his employment agreement by one year from the effective date of Mr. Steinbergs termination. In the event of a change in control, we will accelerate the vesting of 50% of any options granted to Mr. Steinberg that have not vested as of the effective date of the change of control. If, within twelve months after such change in control, Mr. Steinbergs employment is terminated without cause, Mr. Steinberg is entitled to four months written notice and any unvested options that were granted to Mr. Steinberg, subsequent to the date of his employment agreement, will vest immediately upon the effective date of the termination. Mr. Steinberg has agreed to refrain from competing with us for a period of twelve months following the termination of his employment.
A table describing the payments that would have been due to Mr. Steinberg under his employment agreement had Mr. Steinbergs employment with us been terminated at the end of 2007 under various circumstances appears under Potential Payments and Benefits upon Termination of Employment Steve Steinberg, below.
Jeff Schneiderman
Jeff Schneiderman is employed as our Chief Technical Officer pursuant to an employment agreement that commenced on April 1, 2004 and was amended on November 6, 2007. The agreement will remain in effect indefinitely unless it is terminated earlier by the parties. Mr. Schneidermans annual base salary was set at $140,000 from January 1, 2007 until February 28, 2007, and adjusted to $157,920 commencing March 1, 2007. We may terminate the employment agreement without cause at any time upon three months notice.
If we terminate Mr. Schneidermans employment without cause or due to death or disability, we shall extend the period during which Mr. Schneiderman may exercise his options granted after the date of his employment agreement by one year from the effective date of Mr. Schneidermans termination. In the event of a change in control, we will accelerate the vesting of 50% of any options granted to Mr. Schneiderman subsequent to his employment agreement that have not vested as of the effective date of the change in control. If, within twelve months after such change in control, Mr. Schneidermans employment is terminated without cause, Mr. Schneiderman is entitled to four months written notice and any unvested options that were granted to Mr. Schneiderman subsequent to the date of his employment agreement will vest immediately upon the effective date of the termination. Mr. Schneiderman has agreed to refrain from competing with us for a period of twelve months following the termination of his employment.
A table describing the payments that would have been due to Mr. Schneiderman under his employment agreement had Mr. Schneidermans employment with us been terminated at the end of 2007 under various circumstances appears under Potential Payments and Benefits upon Termination of Employment Jeff Schneiderman, below.
Jeffrey S. Cutler
Jeffrey S. Cutler was employed as our Chief Revenue Officer until September 2007 pursuant to an employment agreement that commenced on March 15, 2005. Mr. Cutlers annual base salary was set at $225,000 from January 1, 2007 until February 28, 2007 and adjusted to $237,600 commencing March 1, 2007. In 2007 he was entitled to a bonus of up to 75% of his base annual salary, contingent upon meeting certain performance goals. In September 2007 in connection with our restructuring, we terminated Mr. Cutlers employment agreement and paid him $198,000 as a severance payment in accordance with his employment agreement. Mr. Cutlers vested stock options are exercisable until September 2008, when they expire pursuant to his employment agreement.
Bruce D. Smith
Bruce D. Smith is employed as our Chief Strategic Officer pursuant to an employment agreement that commenced on July 27, 2005 and was amended on November 6, 2007. Mr. Smiths annual base salary was set at $190,000 from January 1, 2007 until February 28, 2007, and adjusted to $216,000 commencing March 1, 2007. In addition to his base salary, Mr. Smith is eligible to receive an annual bonus as determined by the Compensation Committee in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer based on certain stated performance goals. We may terminate the employment agreement without cause at any time upon three months written notice.
If we terminate Mr. Smiths employment without cause, we shall extend the period during which Mr. Smith may exercise his options granted by one year from the effective date of Mr. Smiths termination. In the event of a change in control, we will accelerate the vesting of 50% of any options granted to Mr. Smith subsequent to his employment agreement that have not vested as of the effective date of the change of control. If we terminate Mr. Smiths employment without cause at any time during the twelve months subsequent to a change in control, then, Mr. Smith will be entitled to three months written notice and 100% of any options granted to Mr. Smith, subsequent to the date of his employment agreement, that have not vested will immediately vest. Mr. Smith has agreed to refrain from competing with us following the termination of his employment for a period of twelve months.
A table describing the payments that would have been due to Mr. Smith under his employment agreement had Mr. Smiths employment with us been terminated at the end of 2007 under various circumstances appears under Potential Payments and Benefits upon Termination of Employment Bruce D. Smith, below.
88
Potential Payments and Benefits upon Termination of Employment
This section sets forth in tabular form quantitative disclosure regarding estimated payments and other benefits that would have been received by our Israeli executive officers if their employment had been terminated on December 31, 2007 (the last business day of the fiscal year).
For a narrative description of the severance and change in control arrangements in the employment agreements of the executive officers, see Employment Agreements above.
The amounts referenced in the tables below have been converted from New Israeli Shekels foreign currency, or NIS, based on the US Dollar Israeli NIS exchange rate recorded by the Bank of Israel on December 31, 2007.
Robert S. Rosenschein
The following table describes the potential payments and benefits upon employment termination for Robert S. Rosenschein, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to applicable law and the terms of his employment agreement with us, as if his employment had terminated on December 31, 2007 (the last business day of the fiscal year) under the various scenarios described in the column headings as explained in the footnotes below:
Payments and Benefits |
|
Involuntary |
|
Termination |
|
Death or |
|
Cause(4) |
|
Termination |
|
|||||
Managers insurance(6) |
|
$ |
86,869 |
|
$ |
86,869 |
|
$ |
86,869 |
|
$ |
86,869 |
|
$ |
86,869 |
|
Contractual severance |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
119,790 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Statutory severance(7) |
|
$ |
182,077 |
|
$ |
182,077 |
|
$ |
182,077 |
|
$ |
182,077 |
|
$ |
182,077 |
|
Vacation(8) |
|
$ |
21,725 |
|
$ |
21,725 |
|
$ |
21,725 |
|
$ |
21,725 |
|
$ |
21,725 |
|
Continuing education fund(9) |
|
$ |
32,670 |
|
$ |
32,670 |
|
$ |
32,670 |
|
$ |
32,670 |
|
$ |
32,670 |
|
Advance notice(10) |
|
$ |
59,895 |
|
$ |
59,895 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
59,895 |
|
(1) |
Involuntary Termination is defined in Mr. Rosenscheins employment agreement as (i) without Mr. Rosenscheins express written consent, a material reduction in his duties, position or responsibilities with us relative to his duties, position or responsibilities in effect immediately prior to such reduction, provided, however, that a reduction in duties, position or responsibilities solely by virtue of our being acquired and made part of a larger entity, shall not constitute an Involuntary Termination; (ii) without Mr. Rosenscheins express written consent, a reduction of the facilities and perquisites (including office space and location) available to him immediately prior to such reduction; (iii) without Mr. Rosenscheins express written consent, a reduction by us of his base salary or kind or level of his employee benefits in effect immediately prior to such reduction; (iv) without Mr. Rosenscheins written consent, his relocation to a facility or location more than fifty (50) kilometers from Jerusalem, Israel; (v) any purported termination of Mr. Rosenschein without Cause; or (vi) our failure to obtain the assumption of Mr. Rosenscheins employment agreement by any successors. |
|
|
(2) |
Pursuant to Mr. Rosenscheins employment agreement, he may voluntarily terminate his employment with us upon no less than ninety days prior written notice, for any reason. With respect to Termination at Will by Mr. Rosenschein, we are not legally required to release to Mr. Rosenschein the monies deposited in the fund which secure payment of statutory severance obligations, however, it would be customary to release such funds. |
|
|
(3) |
Disability is defined in Mr. Rosenscheins employment agreement as any case in which he is unable, due to any physical or mental disease or condition, to perform his normal duties of employment for 120 consecutive days or 180 days in any twelve-month period. According to Mr. Rosenscheins employment agreement, if his employment terminates due to death or Disability, he or his heirs, as the case may be, will receive a lump-sum payment equal to six months of his annual base salary in effect at the time of termination. If Mr. Rosenschein is terminated due to Death or Disability, he is entitled to both contractual and statutory severance. |
|
|
(4) |
Cause is defined in Mr. Rosenscheins employment as the occurrence of any one or more of the following: (i) Mr. Rosenscheins misconduct which materially injures us; (ii) Mr. Rosenscheins conviction by, or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere in, a court of competent jurisdiction for any crime which constitutes a felony in the jurisdiction involved; or (iii) Mr. Rosenscheins gross negligence in the scope of his services. |
|
|
(5) |
Change in Control is defined in Mr. Rosenscheins employment agreement as (a) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of us with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization, if persons who are not our stockholders immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or other reorganization own immediately after such merger, consolidation or other reorganization 50% or more of the voting power of the outstanding securities of each of the (i) continuing or surviving entity and (ii) any direct or indirect parent corporation of such continuing or surviving entity; or (b) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets. |
|
|
(6) |
Payments to Managers Insurance, a benefit customarily given to executives in Israel, though given by us to all our employees in Israel, amount to up to 15.83% of Mr. Rosenscheins base salary, consisting of 8.33% for payments made to a fund to secure payment of statutory severance obligations, 5% towards pension and up to 2.5% for disability. The Managers Insurance fund amounts reflected in the table represent only the 5% towards pension. These amounts do not include (i) the 8.33% payments to a fund to secure payment of |
89
|
statutory severance obligations with respect to amounts paid prior to December 31, 2007, which funds are reflected in the table under the Statutory Severance heading, and (ii) payments for disability. |
|
|
(7) |
Pursuant to Israeli law, employees terminated other than for cause receive statutory severance in the amount of one months base salary for each year of work, according to their salary rate at the date of termination (see footnote 6 above). |
|
|
(8) |
As of December 31, 2007, Mr. Rosenschein was entitled to 23 annual vacation days. A maximum of 20 days of unused paid vacation days may be carried over from year to year by Mr. Rosenschein. At the end of each calendar year, all unused vacation days in excess of 20, are automatically forfeited. |
|
|
(9) |
Pursuant to Mr. Rosenscheins employment agreement, we must contribute an amount equal to 7.5% of Mr. Rosenscheins base salary to a continuing education fund, up to the permissible tax-exempt salary ceiling according to the income tax regulations in effect from time to time. We make these deposits on a monthly basis. At December 31, 2007, the ceiling then in effect was NIS 15,712 (approximately $4,085). According to Israeli law, Mr. Rosenschein is entitled to redeem his continuing education fund once every six years, independent of his status of employment with us and he has discretion over the type of fund in which the deposits are invested. The amount set forth in the table reflects the total sum we deposited on behalf of Mr. Rosenschein since the beginning of his employment with us. |
|
|
(10) |
Pursuant to Mr. Rosenscheins employment agreement, he may voluntarily terminate his employment with us upon no less than ninety days prior written notice, for any reason. We shall have the right to require Mr. Rosenschein to continue working during any notice period. |
Steven Steinberg
The following table describes the potential payments and benefits upon employment termination for Steven Steinberg, our Chief Financial Officer, pursuant to applicable law and the terms of his employment agreement with us, as if his employment had terminated on December 31, 2007 (the last business day of the fiscal year) under the various scenarios described in the column headings as explained in the footnotes below:
Payments and Benefits |
|
Termination(1) |
|
Termination at |
|
Death or |
|
Cause(4) |
|
Termination |
|
|||||
Managers insurance(6) |
|
$ |
33,884 |
|
$ |
33,884 |
|
$ |
33,884 |
|
$ |
33,884 |
|
$ |
33,884 |
|
Contractual severance(7) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
39,480 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Statutory severance(8) |
|
$ |
65,097 |
|
$ |
65,097 |
|
$ |
65,097 |
|
$ |
65,097 |
|
$ |
65,097 |
|
Vacation(9) |
|
$ |
11,935 |
|
$ |
11,935 |
|
$ |
11,935 |
|
$ |
11,935 |
|
$ |
11,935 |
|
Continuing education fund(10) |
|
$ |
18,594 |
|
$ |
18,594 |
|
$ |
18,594 |
|
$ |
18,594 |
|
$ |
18,594 |
|
Advance notice(11) |
|
$ |
39,480 |
|
$ |
39,480 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
52,640 |
|
(1) |
According to Mr. Steinbergs employment agreement, we may terminate his employment without cause, at any time, upon three months notice. |
|
|
(2) |
According to Mr. Steinbergs employment agreement, he may terminate his employment, at any time, upon three months notice. With respect to Termination at Will by Mr. Steinberg, we are not legally required to release to Mr. Steinberg the monies deposited in the fund which secure payment of statutory severance obligations, however, it would be customary to release such funds. |
|
|
(3) |
Disability is defined in Mr. Steinbergs employment agreement as any case in which he is unable, due to any physical or mental disease or condition, to perform his normal duties of employment for 120 consecutive days or 180 days in any twelve-month period. According to Mr. Steinbergs employment agreement, if his employment terminates due to death or disability, he or his heirs, as the case may be, will be entitled to continue to receive his annual salary for three months following his last day of employment. Such amount shall be in addition to any payment he is entitled to receive pursuant to any statutory severance arrangement. |
|
|
(4) |
Cause is defined in Mr. Steinbergs employment as the occurrence of any one or more of the following: (i) Mr. Steinbergs act of fraud, dishonesty or willful misconduct; (ii) Mr. Steinbergs material breach of his confidentiality or non-competition obligations set forth in his employment agreement; (iii) Mr. Steinbergs material breach of any other provision in his employment agreement, including but not limited to his habitual neglect or gross failure to perform the duties of his position or any other contractual or fiduciary duty owed to us; or (iv) Mr. Steinbergs conviction of a criminal offense involving fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty. |
|
|
(5) |
Change of Control is defined in Mr. Steinbergs employment agreement as (a) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of us with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization, if persons who were not our stockholders immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or other reorganization own immediately after such merger, consolidation or other reorganization 50% or more of the voting power of the outstanding securities of each of the (i) continuing or surviving entity and (ii) any direct or indirect parent corporation of such continuing or surviving entity; or (b) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets. According to Mr. Steinbergs employment agreement, a Change of Control shall not be deemed to have occurred as a consequence of the initial public offering of our securities. |
90
(6) |
Payments to Managers Insurance, a benefit customarily given to executives in Israel, though given by us to all our employees, amount to up to 15.83% of Mr. Steinbergs base salary, consisting of 8.33% for payments made to a fund to secure payment of statutory severance obligations, 5% towards pension and up to 2.5% for disability. The Managers Insurance fund amounts reflected in the table represent only the 5% towards pension. These amounts do not include (i) the 8.33% payments to a fund to secure payment of statutory severance obligations with respect to amounts paid prior to December 31, 2007, which funds are reflected in the table under the Statutory Severance heading, and (ii) payments for disability. |
|
|
(7) |
According to Mr. Steinbergs employment agreement, if his employment terminates due to death or disability, he or his heirs, as the case may be, will be entitled to continue to receive his annual salary for three months following his last day of employment. Except for the foregoing, Mr. Steinberg is not entitled to any other contractual severance amounts. |
|
|
(8) |
Pursuant to Israeli law, employees terminated other than for cause receive statutory severance in the amount of one months base salary for each year of work, according to their salary rate at the date of termination (see footnote 6 above). |
|
|
(9) |
As of December 31, 2007, Mr. Steinberg was entitled to 19 annual vacation days. A maximum of 20 days of unused paid vacation days may be carried over from year to year by Mr. Steinberg. At the end of each calendar year, all unused vacation days in excess of 20, are automatically forfeited. |
|
|
(10) |
Pursuant to Mr. Steinbergs employment agreement, we must contribute an amount equal to 7.5% of Mr. Steinbergs base salary to a continuing education fund, up to the permissible tax-exempt salary ceiling according to the income tax regulations in effect from time to time. We make these deposits on a monthly basis. At December 31, 2007, the ceiling then in effect was NIS 15,712 (approximately $4,085). According to Israeli law, Mr. Steinberg is entitled to redeem his continuing education fund once every six years, independent of his status of employment with us and he has discretion over the type of fund in which the deposits are invested. The amount set forth in the table reflects the total sum we deposited on behalf of Mr. Steinberg since the beginning of his employment with us. |
|
|
(11) |
Pursuant to Mr. Steinbergs employment agreement, he may voluntarily terminate his employment with us upon no less than ninety days prior written notice, for any reason. We shall have the right to require Mr. Steinberg to continue working during any notice period. Should Mr. Steinbergs employment be terminated without cause at any time during a period of 12 months subsequent to the effective date of a Change of Control, he will be entitled to 4 months written notice. |
Jeff Schneiderman
The following table describes the potential payments and benefits upon employment termination for Jeff Schneiderman, our Chief Technical Officer, pursuant to applicable law and the terms of his employment agreement with us, as if his employment had terminated on December 31, 2007 (the last business day of the fiscal year) under the various scenarios described in the column headings as explained in the footnotes below:
Payments and Benefits |
|
Termination(1) |
|
Termination at |
|
Death or |
|
Cause(4) |
|
Termination |
|
|||||
Managers insurance(6) |
|
$ |
58,341 |
|
$ |
58,341 |
|
$ |
58,341 |
|
$ |
58,341 |
|
$ |
58,341 |
|
Contractual severance(7) |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
39,480 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Statutory severance(8) |
|
$ |
116,100 |
|
$ |
116,100 |
|
$ |
116,100 |
|
$ |
116,100 |
|
$ |
116,100 |
|
Vacation(9) |
|
$ |
12,141 |
|
$ |
12,141 |
|
$ |
12,141 |
|
$ |
12,141 |
|
$ |
12,141 |
|
Continuing education fund(10) |
|
$ |
32,670 |
|
$ |
32,670 |
|
$ |
32,670 |
|
$ |
32,670 |
|
$ |
32,670 |
|
Advance notice(11) |
|
$ |
39,480 |
|
$ |
39,480 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
52,640 |
|
(1) |
According to Mr. Schneidermans employment agreement, we may terminate his employment without cause upon three months notice. |
|
|
(2) |
According to Mr. Schneidermans employment agreement, he may terminate his employment, at any time, upon three months notice. With respect to Termination at Will by Mr. Schneiderman, we are not legally required to release to Mr. Schneiderman the monies deposited in the fund which secure payment of statutory severance obligations, however, it would be customary to release such funds. |
|
|
(3) |
Disability is defined in Mr. Schneidermans employment agreement as any case in which he is unable, due to any physical or mental disease or condition, to perform his normal duties of employment for 120 consecutive days or 180 days in any twelve-month period. According to Mr. Schneidermans employment agreement, if his employment terminates due to death or disability, he or his heirs, as the case may be, will be entitled to continue to receive his annual salary for three months following his last day of employment. Such amount shall be in addition to any payment he is entitled to receive pursuant to any statutory severance arrangement. |
|
|
(4) |
Cause is defined in Mr. Schneidermans employment as the occurrence of any one or more of the following: (i) Mr. Schneidermans act of fraud, dishonesty or willful misconduct; (ii) Mr. Schneidermans material breach of his confidentiality or non-competition obligations set forth in his employment |
91
|
agreement; (iii) Mr. Schneidermans material breach of any other provision in his employment agreement, including but not limited to his habitual neglect or gross failure to perform the duties of his position or any other contractual or fiduciary duty owed to us; or (iv) Mr. Schneidermans conviction of a criminal offense involving fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty. |
|
|
(5) |
Change of Control is defined in Mr. Schneidermans employment agreement as (a) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of us with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization, if persons who were not our stockholders immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or other reorganization own immediately after such merger, consolidation or other reorganization 50% or more of the voting power of the outstanding securities of each of the (i) continuing or surviving entity and (ii) any direct or indirect parent corporation of such continuing or surviving entity; or (b) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets. According to Mr. Schneidermans employment agreement, a Change of Control shall not be deemed to have occurred as a consequence of the initial public offering of our securities. |
|
|
(6) |
Payments to Managers Insurance, a benefit customarily given to executives in Israel, though given by us to all our employees, amount to up to 15.83% of Mr. Schneidermans base salary, consisting of 8.33% for payments made to a fund to secure payment of statutory severance obligations, 5% towards pension and up to 2.5% for disability. The Managers Insurance fund amounts reflected in the table represent only the 5% towards pension. These amounts do not include the (i) 8.33% payments to a fund to secure payment of statutory severance obligations with respect to amounts paid prior to December 31, 2007, which funds are reflected in the table under the Statutory Severance heading, and (ii) payments for disability. |
|
|
(7) |
According to Mr. Schneidermans employment agreement, if his employment terminates due to death or disability, he or his heirs, as the case may be, will be entitled to continue to receive his annual salary for three months following his last day of employment. Except for the foregoing, Mr. Schneiderman is not entitled to any other contractual severance amounts. |
|
|
(8) |
Pursuant to Israeli law, employees terminated other than for cause receive statutory severance in the amount of one months base salary for each year of work, according to their salary rate at the date of termination (see footnote 6 above). |
|
|
(9) |
As of December 31, 2007, Mr. Schneiderman was entitled to 19.5 annual vacation days. A maximum of 20 days of unused paid vacation days may be carried over from year to year by Mr. Schneiderman. At the end of each calendar year, all unused vacation days in excess of 20, are automatically forfeited. |
|
|
(10) |
Pursuant to Mr. Schneidermans employment agreement, we must contribute an amount equal to 7.5% of Mr. Schneidermans base salary to a continuing education fund, up to the permissible tax-exempt salary ceiling according to the income tax regulations in effect from time to time. We make these deposits on a monthly basis. At December 31, 2007, the ceiling then in effect was NIS 15,712 (approximately $4,085). According to Israeli law, Mr. Schneiderman is entitled to redeem his continuing education fund once every six years, independent of his status of employment with us and he has discretion over the type of fund in which the deposits are invested. The amount set forth in the table reflects the total sum we deposited on behalf of Mr. Schneiderman since the beginning of his employment with us. |
|
|
(11) |
Pursuant to Mr. Schneidermans employment agreement, he may voluntarily terminate his employment with us upon no less than ninety days prior written notice, for any reason. We shall have the right to require Mr. Schneiderman to continue working during any notice period. Should Mr. Schneidermans employment be terminated without cause at any time during a period of 12 months subsequent to the effective date of a Change of Control, he will be entitled to 4 months written notice. |
Bruce D. Smith
The following table describes the potential payments and benefits upon employment termination for Bruce D. Smith, our Chief Strategic Officer, pursuant to applicable law and the terms of his employment agreement with us, as if his employment had terminated on December 31, 2007 (the last business day of the fiscal year) under the various scenarios described in the column headings as explained in the footnotes below:
Payments and Benefits |
|
Termination(1) |
|
Termination |
|
Death or |
|
Cause(4) |
|
Termination |
|
|||||
401(k)(6) |
|
$ |
13,828 |
|
$ |
13,828 |
|
$ |
13,828 |
|
$ |
13,828 |
|
$ |
13,828 |
|
Vacation(7) |
|
$ |
5,522 |
|
$ |
5,522 |
|
$ |
5,522 |
|
$ |
5,522 |
|
$ |
5,522 |
|
Advance notice(8) |
|
$ |
54,000 |
|
$ |
54,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
54,000 |
|
(1) |
According to Mr. Smiths employment agreement, we may terminate his employment without cause, at any time, upon three months notice. |
|
|
(2) |
According to Mr. Smiths employment agreement, he may terminate his employment, at any time, upon three months notice. |
|
|
(3) |
According to Mr. Smiths employment agreement, we may terminate his employment if he has been unable to perform the material duties |
92
|
of his employment due to a disability which (i) continues for more than 90 days and (ii) cannot be reasonably accommodated. |
|
|
(4) |
Cause is defined in Mr. Smiths employment agreement as the occurrence of any one or more of the following: (i) Mr. Smiths act of fraud or dishonesty or gross negligence; (ii) Mr. Smiths willful misconduct which materially injures us (iii) Mr. Smiths conviction by, or entry or a plea of guilty or nolo contendre in, a court of competent jurisdiction for any crime which constitutes a felony in the jurisdiction involved, or (iv) a material breach by Mr. Smith of any other provision hereof, including but not limited to, the habitual neglect or gross failure by Mr. Smith to adequately perform the duties of his position, or of any other contractual or legal fiduciary duty to us. |
|
|
(5) |
Change of Control is defined in Mr. Smiths employment agreement as: (a) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of us with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization, if persons who were not our stockholders immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or other reorganization own immediately after such merger, consolidation or other reorganization 50% or more of the voting power of the outstanding securities of each of the (i) continuing or surviving entity and (ii) any direct or indirect parent corporation of such continuing or surviving entity; or (b) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets. A Change of Control shall not be deemed to have occurred as a consequence of a secondary offering. |
|
|
(6) |
We provide all U.S. employees the opportunity to participate in a 401(k) plan. Under the 401(k) plan we provide a contribution of 3%. The executive officers participate in the 401(k) plan on the same terms as other eligible employees. |
|
|
(7) |
As of December 31, 2007, Mr. Smith was entitled to 6.5 annual vacation days. A maximum of 20 days of unused paid vacation days may be carried over from year to year by Mr. Smith. At the end of each calendar year, all unused vacation days in excess of 20, are automatically forfeited. |
|
|
(8) |
Pursuant to Mr. Smiths employment agreement, he may voluntarily terminate his employment with us upon no less than ninety days prior written notice, for any reason. We shall have the right to require Mr. Smith to continue working during any notice period. |
93
Summary Compensation Table
The following table provides certain summary information concerning compensation awarded to, earned by or paid to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and our three other highest paid executive officers whose total annual salary and bonus exceeded $100,000 (collectively, our named executive officers) for fiscal year 2007.
Name & Principal Position |
|
Year |
|
Salary ($) |
|
Bonus |
|
Option |
|
All |
|
Total |
|
Robert S. Rosenschein(1) |
|
2007 |
|
227,874 |
(7) |
|
|
127,499 |
|
52,756 |
(8) |
408,129 |
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
2006 |
|
209,724 |
(7) |
|
|
98,406 |
|
49,287 |
(9) |
357,416 |
|
And Chairman |
|
2005 |
|
189,924 |
(7) |
|
|
|
|
74,263 |
(10) |
264,187 |
|
Steven Steinberg(2) |
|
2007 |
|
146,858 |
(7) |
|
|
115,100 |
|
42,806 |
(11) |
304,764 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
2006 |
|
131,928 |
(7) |
|
|
93,982 |
|
38,361 |
(12) |
264,271 |
|
|
|
2005 |
|
125,317 |
(7) |
|
|
|
|
63,281 |
(13) |
188,598 |
|
Jeffrey S. Cutler(3) |
|
2007 |
|
161,631 |
|
35,625 |
|
330,159 |
|
239,584 |
(14) |
766,998 |
|
Former Chief Revenue |
|
2006 |
|
225,000 |
|
130,526 |
|
493,022 |
|
34,077 |
(14) |
882,625 |
|
Officer |
|
2005 |
|
178,990 |
|
30,000 |
|
|
|
26,370 |
(14) |
235,360 |
|
Jeff Schneiderman(4) |
|
2007 |
|
146,858 |
(7) |
|
|
119,213 |
|
41,309 |
(15) |
307,380 |
|
Chief Technical Officer |
|
2006 |
|
131,400 |
(7) |
|
|
94,619 |
|
38,286 |
(16) |
264,306 |
|
|
|
2005 |
|
107,342 |
(7) |
|
|
|
|
34,510 |
(17) |
141,852 |
|
Bruce D. Smith(5) |
|
2007 |
|
211,667 |
|
|
|
173,971 |
|
32,090 |
(14) |
417,728 |
|
Chief Strategic Officer |
|
2006 |
|
182,952 |
|
|
|
147,965 |
|
29,299 |
(14) |
360,217 |
|
|
|
2005 |
|
74,936 |
|
|
|
|
|
14,760 |
(14) |
89,696 |
|
* |
Amounts represent stock-based compensation expense for fiscal year 2007 under SFAS 123R. |
|
|
(1) |
Mr. Rosenschein founded our company and was appointed our Chief Executive Officer in May 2001. |
|
|
(2) |
Mr. Steinberg joined us in December 2002 and was appointed our Chief Financial Officer in January 2004. |
|
|
(3) |
Mr. Cutler was appointed our Chief Revenue Officer in March 2005. In connection with the restructuring, Mr. Cutlers employment was terminated in September 2007. |
|
|
(4) |
Mr. Schneiderman joined us in January 1999 as Vice President of Research and Development and appointed our Chief Technical Officer in March 2003. |
|
|
(5) |
Mr. Smith joined us as Vice President of Investor Relations and Strategic Development in July 2005 and was promoted to Chief Strategic Officer in June 2007. |
|
|
(6) |
With the exception of reimbursement of expenses incurred by our named executive officers during the scope of their employment and unless expressly stated otherwise in a footnote below, none of the named executive officers received other compensation, perquisites and/or personal benefits in excess of $10,000. |
|
|
(7) |
Does not include benefit associated with possession of company-leased vehicle. |
|
|
(8) |
Includes contributions to continued education fund in the amount of $3,441; contributions to retirement plan feature of Managers Insurance in the amount of $11,394; contributions to a fund securing statutory severance payments in the amount of $18,982; contributions towards statutory national insurance in the amount of $6,457; and contributions made for disability insurance in the amount of $1,823; and payments associated with possession of company-leased vehicle in the amount of $9,600. |
|
|
(9) |
Includes contributions to a fund known as a continued education fund (Keren Hishtalmut) in the amount of $3,185; contributions to a retirement plan feature of a Managers Insurance fund (Kupat Gemel) in the amount of $10,486; contributions to a fund securing statutory severance payments (Pitzuei Piturin) in the amount of $17,470; contributions towards statutory national insurance (Bituach leumi) in the amount of $5,973; and contributions made for disability insurance (Ovdan Kosher Avoda) in the amount of $1,611; and payments associated with possession of company-leased vehicle in the amount of $9,600. |
|
|
(10) |
Includes contributions to continued education fund in the amount of $3,142; contributions to retirement plan feature of Managers Insurance in the amount of $9,496; contributions to a fund securing statutory severance payments in the amount of $15,821; contributions towards statutory national insurance in the amount of $5,393; and contributions made for disability insurance in the amount of $3,941; and payments associated with possession of company-leased vehicle in the amount of $9,600. Also includes a one-time lump sum payment of $26,000 for unused vacation days that accrued over the course of 2004 and previous years. |
|
|
(11) |
Includes contributions to continued education fund in the amount of $3,441; contributions to retirement plan feature of Managers Insurance in the amount of $7,343; contributions to a fund securing statutory severance in the amount of $12,233; contributions towards statutory national insurance in the amount of $6,457; and contributions made for disability insurance in the amount of $2,673; and payments associated with possession of company-leased vehicle in the amount of $9,600. |
|
|
(12) |
Includes contributions to continued education fund in the amount of $3,185; contributions to retirement plan feature of Managers Insurance in the amount of $6,596; contributions to a fund securing statutory severance payments in the amount of $10,990; contributions towards statutory national insurance in the amount of $5,973; and contributions made for disability insurance in the amount of $1,055; and payments associated with possession of company-leased vehicle in the amount of $9,600. |
|
|
(13) |
Includes contributions to continued education fund in the amount of $3,156; contributions to retirement plan feature of Managers Insurance in the amount of $6,266; contributions to a fund securing statutory severance payments in the amount of $10,439; contributions towards statutory national insurance in the amount of $5,393; and contributions made for disability insurance in the amount of $1,557; and payments associated with possession of company-leased vehicle in the amount of $9,600. |
|
|
(14) |
Includes payments made on account of medical insurance, short and long term disability, life insurance and 3% contributions to 401(k) plan. |
|
|
(15) |
Includes contributions to continued education fund in the amount of $3,441; contributions to retirement plan feature of Managers Insurance in the amount of $7,343; contributions to a fund securing statutory severance payments in the amount of $12,233; contributions towards statutory national insurance in the amount of $6,457. |
94
|
contributions made for disability insurance in the amount of $1,175; and payments associated with possession of company-leased vehicle in the amount of $9,600. |
|
|
(16) |
Includes contributions to continued education fund in the amount of $3,185; contributions to retirement plan feature of Managers Insurance in the amount of $6,570; contributions to a fund securing statutory severance payments in the amount of $10,946; contributions towards statutory national insurance in the amount of $5,973; and contributions made for disability insurance in the amount of $1,051; and payments associated with possession of company-leased vehicle in the amount of $9,600. |
|
|
(17) |
Includes contributions to continued education fund in the amount of $3,156; contributions to retirement plan feature of Managers Insurance in the amount of $5,367; contributions to a fund securing statutory severance payments in the amount of $8,942; contributions towards statutory national insurance in the amount of $5,393; and contributions made for disability insurance in the amount of $859; and payments associated with possession of company-leased vehicle in the amount of $9,600. |
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table sets forth information regarding stock option awards to our named executive officers under our stock option plans during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007:
Name |
|
Grant Date |
|
All Other |
|
Exercise or Base |
|
Total |
|
Robert S. Rosenschein |
|
March 5, 2007(1) |
|
25,000 |
|
11.61 |
|
107,446 |
|
Steven Steinberg |
|
March 5, 2007(1) |
|
21,500 |
|
11.61 |
|
92,403 |
|
Jeffrey S. Cutler |
|
March 5, 2007(1) |
|
21,500 |
|
11.61 |
|
92,403 |
|
Jeff Schneiderman |
|
March 5, 2007(1) |
|
21,500 |
|
11.61 |
|
92,403 |
|
Bruce D. Smith |
|
March 5, 2007(1) |
|
21,500 |
|
11.61 |
|
92,403 |
|
|
(1) |
25% of the grant exercisable as of 12 months following the Grant Date; 1/36 of the remainder exercisable on each of the following 36 monthly anniversaries. |
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth information for the named executive officers regarding the number of shares subject to both exercisable and unexercisable stock options, as well as the exercise prices and expiration dates thereof, as of December 31, 2007.
95
Name |
|
Number of |
|
Number of |
|
Option |
|
Option |
|
Robert S. Rosenschein |
|
236,923 |
|
5,041 |
|
5.06 |
|
August 5, 2013 |
|
|
|
38,333 |
|
41,667 |
|
13.75 |
|
January 30, 2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
11.61 |
|
March 5, 2013 |
|
Steven Steinberg |
|
10,861 |
|
|
|
11.51 |
|
August 5, 2013 |
|
|
|
17,786 |
|
|
|
2.76 |
|
August 5, 2013 |
|
|
|
20,313 |
|
6,040 |
|
5.25 |
|
November 9, 2014 |
|
|
|
26,354 |
|
28,646 |
|
13.75 |
|
January 30, 2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
21,500 |
|
11.61 |
|
March 5, 2013 |
|
Jeffrey S. Cutler |
|
120,833 |
|
|
|
20.35 |
|
March 15, 2015 |
|
|
|
7,916 |
|
|
|
13.75 |
|
January 30, 2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
21,500 |
|
11.61 |
|
March 5, 2013 |
|
Jeff Schneiderman |
|
5,648 |
|
|
|
1.15 |
|
March 21, 2009 |
|
|
|
10,861 |
|
|
|
2.76 |
|
October 20, 2009 |
|
|
|
4,345 |
|
|
|
6.91 |
|
April 8, 2010 |
|
|
|
8,689 |
|
|
|
11.51 |
|
August 1, 2011 |
|
|
|
17,633 |
|
5,243 |
|
5.25 |
|
November 9, 2014 |
|
|
|
31,145 |
|
33,855 |
|
13.75 |
|
January 30, 2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
21,500 |
|
11.61 |
|
March 5, 2013 |
|
Bruce D. Smith |
|
45,312 |
|
29,688 |
|
15.35 |
|
July 17, 2015 |
|
|
|
7,187 |
|
7,813 |
|
13.75 |
|
January 30, 2012 |
|
|
|
5,625 |
|
9,375 |
|
9.65 |
|
June 21, 2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
21,500 |
|
11.61 |
|
March 5, 2013 |
|
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
The following table summarizes the options exercised by named executive officers during the year ended December 31, 2007 and the value realized upon exercise:
|
|
Option Awards |
|
||
Name |
|
Number of |
|
Value Realized |
|
Robert S. Rosenschein |
|
|
|
|
|
Steven Steinberg |
|
15,000 |
|
99,900 |
|
Jeffrey S. Cutler |
|
|
|
|
|
Jeff Schneiderman |
|
6,081 |
|
80,999 |
|
Bruce D. Smith |
|
|
|
|
|
Director Compensation
The following table sets forth summary information concerning the total compensation paid to our non-employee directors in 2007 for services to our company.
Name |
|
Fees Earned |
|
Option Awards |
|
Total |
|
Jerry Colonna(1) |
|
27,500 |
|
40,072 |
|
67,572 |
|
Lawrence S. Kramer(2) |
|
25,000 |
|
73,974 |
|
98,974 |
|
Mark B. Segall(3) |
|
27,500 |
|
43,387 |
|
70,887 |
|
Edward G. Sim(4) |
|
30,000 |
|
50,970 |
|
80,970 |
|
Yehuda Sternlicht(5) |
|
35,000 |
|
40,029 |
|
75,029 |
|
Mark A. Tebbe(6) |
|
27,500 |
|
64,107 |
|
91,607 |
|
* |
Amounts represent stock-based compensation expense for fiscal year 2007 under SFAS 123R. |
|
|
(1) |
50,225 options were outstanding as of 12/31/07, of which 32,136 were exercisable as of December 31, 2007. |
|
|
(2) |
50,225 options were outstanding as of 12/31/07, of which 25,559 were exercisable as of December 31, 2007. |
|
|
(3) |
50,225 options were outstanding as of 12/31/07, of which 28,549 were exercisable as of December 31, 2007. |
|
|
(4) |
50,196 options were outstanding as of 12/31/07, of which 35,097 were exercisable as of December 31, 2007. |
|
|
(5) |
35,225 options were outstanding as of 12/31/07, of which 17,136 were exercisable as of December 31, 2007. |
|
|
(6) |
67,972 options were outstanding as of 12/31/07, of which 30,373 were exercisable as of December 31, 2007. |
96
Cash Compensation. Our non-employee directors receive an annual base fee of $20,000, with no additional fee rendered for attendance at board meetings. In addition to their base fees, directors receive annual fees for membership on our committees, pursuant to the fee schedule set forth below:
|
|
Director |
|
Audit |
|
Compensation |
|
Governance |
|
Financing |
|
Audit |
|
Other |
|
Total |
|
||||||||
Mr. Colonna |
|
$ |
20,000 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
2,500 |
|
$ |
2,500 |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
2,500 |
|
$ |
27,500 |
|
Mr. Kramer |
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
25,000 |
|
||||||||
Mr. Segall |
|
20,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
27,500 |
|
||||||||
Mr. Sim |
|
20,000 |
|
5,000 |
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
30,000 |
|
||||||||
Mr. Sternlicht |
|
20,000 |
|
5,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
7,500 |
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
||||||||
Mr. Tebbe |
|
20,000 |
|
5,000 |
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27,500 |
|
||||||||
Total |
|
$ |
120,000 |
|
$ |
15,000 |
|
$ |
7,500 |
|
$ |
7,500 |
|
$ |
7,500 |
|
$ |
7,500 |
|
$ |
7,500 |
|
$ |
172,500 |
|
We reimburse our non-employee directors for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as directors. Employee directors are not compensated for board services in addition to their regular employee compensation.
Equity Compensation. During fiscal year 2007, each non-employee member of the board of directors was eligible to receive stock awards under the terms of our 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan. New non-employee directors receive an initial option grant to purchase 28,700 shares of our common stock with 25% of the shares vesting after one year from the date of grant and 1/36th of the shares vesting monthly thereafter. Continuing non-employee directors receive an annual option grant of 7,175 shares of common stock, with the exception of the Vice Chairman and Lead Director who, commencing in 2008, is eligible for an annual option grant of 15,000 shares of common stock. These annual grants are effected on the date of the Annual Shareholders Meeting, with 25% of the shares vesting after one year from the date of grant and 1/36th of the shares vesting monthly thereafter. The Vice Chairman and Lead Director also received options to purchase 15,000 shares of our common stock, granted on April 12, 2007 with an exercise price of $12.91 per share based on the Nasdaq closing price on April 11, 2007; and options to purchase 7,500 shares of our common stock, granted on September 6, 2007 with an exercise price of $7.03 per share, based on the Nasdaq closing price on September 5, 2007. The grant date fair value of these options based on Black-Scholes valuation model was $4.77 and $2.56 per option, respectively.
There were no new members to the board of directors during fiscal year 2007. All option grants were to continuing non-employee directors, thus, each non-employee director received options to purchase 7,175 shares of the companys common stock, granted on June 26, 2007 with an exercise price of $12.62 per share, based on the Nasdaq closing price on June 26, 2007. The grant date fair value of these options, based on Black-Scholes valuation model, was $4.79 per option.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS |
The following table and accompanying footnotes set forth certain information as of March 30, 2008 with respect to the ownership of our common stock by:
· each person or group who beneficially owns more than 5% of our common stock;
· each of our directors;
· our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and our three other highest paid executive officers whose total compensation exceeded $100,000 during the year ended December 31, 2007; and
· all of our directors and officers as a group.
A person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of securities that can be acquired within sixty days from March 30, 2008, as a result of the exercise of options and warrants. Accordingly, common stock issuable upon exercise of options and warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within sixty days of March 30, 2008, have been included in the table with respect to the beneficial ownership of the person or entity owning the options and warrants, but not with respect to any other persons or entities.
Applicable percentage of ownership for each holder is based on 7,859,890 shares of common stock outstanding on March 30, 2008, plus any presently exercisable stock options and warrants held by each such holder, and options and warrants held by each such holder that will become exercisable within sixty days after March 30, 2008.
97
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1) |
|
Shares |
|
Percentage of |
|
Executive Officers and Directors: |
|
|
|
|
|
Robert S. Rosenschein |
|
595,215 |
(2) |
7.57 |
% |
c/o Answers Corporation, Jerusalem Technology Park, The Tower, Jerusalem 91481 Israel |
|
|
|
|
|
Steven Steinberg |
|
96,412 |
(3) |
1.23 |
% |
c/o Answers Corporation, Jerusalem Technology Park, The Tower, Jerusalem 91481 Israel |
|
|
|
|
|
Jeff Schneiderman |
|
92,391 |
(4) |
1.18 |
% |
c/o Answers Corporation, Jerusalem Technology Park, The Tower, Jerusalem 91481 Israel |
|
|
|
|
|
Jeffrey S. Cutler |
|
128,749 |
(5) |
1.64 |
% |
Bruce D. Smith |
|
80,019 |
(6) |
1.02 |
% |
Jerry Colonna |
|
36,622 |
(7) |
|
* |
Lawrence S. Kramer |
|
32,545 |
(8) |
|
* |
Mark B. Segall |
|
37,034 |
(9) |
|
* |
Edward G. Sim |
|
38,107 |
(10) |
|
* |
Yehuda Sternlicht |
|
21,622 |
(11) |
|
* |
Mark A. Tebbe |
|
76,591 |
(12) |
|
* |
All directors and executive officers as a group (11 individuals) |
|
1,235,307 |
(13) |
15.72 |
% |
5% or greater stockholders: |
|
|
|
|
|
Royce & Associates, LLC |
|
962,610 |
(14) |
12.25 |
% |
1414 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10019 |
|
|
|
|
|
Outboard Investments Limited |
|
690,000 |
(15) |
8.78 |
% |
BCM Cape Building Leeward Highway Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. |
|
|
|
|
|
* |
less than 1% |
|
|
(1) |
Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the following is c/o Answers Corporation, 237 West 35th Street, Suite 1101, New York, NY 10001. |
|
|
(2) |
Consists of 300,960 shares of common stock and 294,255 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. |
|
|
(3) |
Consists of 7,500 shares of common stock and 88,912 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. |
|
|
(4) |
Consists of 92,391 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. |
|
|
(5) |
Consists of 128,749 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options which expire in September 2008. Mr. Cutlers employment as our Chief Revenue Officer was terminated in September 2007. |
|
|
(6) |
Consists of 5,000 shares of common stock and 75,019 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. |
|
|
(7) |
Consists of 36,622 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. |
|
|
(8) |
Consists of 2,500 shares of common stock and 30,045 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. |
|
|
(9) |
Consists of 4,000 shares of common stock and 33,034 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. |
|
|
(10) |
Consists of 916 shares of common stock and 37,191 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. |
|
|
(11) |
Consists of 21,622 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. |
|
|
(12) |
Consists of 40,062 shares of common stock and 36,529 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. |
|
|
(13) |
Includes 874,369 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of options. |
|
|
(14) |
Based on information included on Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on January 25, 2008 |
|
|
(15) |
Based on information included on Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on December 18, 2007 |
Unless otherwise indicated, we believe that all persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock beneficially owned by them.
98
ITEM 13. |
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE |
There have been no transactions, or proposed transactions, during the last two years, to which we were or will be a party, in which any director, executive officer, beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common stock or any member of the immediate family (including spouse, parents, children, siblings and in-laws) of any of these persons, had or is to have a direct or indirect material interest.
Any future transactions with officers, directors or 5% stockholders will be on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from independent parties. Any affiliated transactions must be approved by a majority of our independent and disinterested directors who have access to our counsel or independent legal counsel at our expense.
ITEM 14. |
Our auditors for the year ended December 31, 2007 were Somekh Chaikin, Certified Public Accountants (Israel), members of KPMG International. We expect that KMPG will serve as our auditors for fiscal year 2008. All of the services described in the following fee table were approved by the Audit Committee.
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
|
|
$ |
|
$ |
|
Audit Fees (1) |
|
453,286 |
(2) |
216,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax Fees (3) |
|
43,632 |
|
3,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
496,918 |
|
219,750 |
|
(1) |
This category includes fees associated with the audit of our annual financial statements, review of financial statements included in our Form 10-Q quarterly reports, and services that are normally provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements, for those fiscal years. Includes $180,000 and $104,100 accrued as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. |
|
|
(2) |
Also includes $116,000 of fees relating to the failed Lexico acquisition and the terminated follow-on offering of securities. |
|
|
(3) |
This category consists of services provided by KPMG for tax compliance. Includes $17,500 accrued as of December 31, 2007. |
|
|
The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures that require the pre-approval by the Audit Committee of all fees paid to and services performed by our principal registered independent accountants and other auditing firms. At the beginning of each year, the Audit Committee approves the proposed services along with the range of corresponding fees to be provided by our independent registered accountants. If any proposed service would exceed the pre-approved cost levels, the proposed service requires specific pre-approval. In addition, specific pre-approval is required for any proposed services that may arise during the year that are outside the scope of the initial services pre-approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee also adopted a policy acknowledging and specifically prohibiting our independent registered accountants from performing any of those non-audit services that a companys principal independent accountant are prohibited from performing by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
99
ITEM 15. |
(a) Document List:
|
1. |
|
Financial Statements. |
The financial statements of the Company filed herewith are set forth in Part II, Item 8 of this report.
|
2. |
|
Financial Statement Schedule. |
None.
|
3. |
|
Exhibits. |
The exhibits to this report are as follows:
Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
3.1 |
|
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Previously filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-115424) filed May 12, 2004, and is incorporated herein by reference) |
3.1A |
|
Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Previously filed as Exhibit A to the Registrants Definitive Proxy Statement filed August 31, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference) |
3.2 |
|
Amended and Restated By-laws of Registrant (Previously filed as
Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration Statement on Form |
4.1 |
|
Specimen Common Stock Certificate of the Registrant (Previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-115424) filed July 16, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.1« |
|
1999 Stock Option Plan of Registrant and form of Option Agreement thereunder (Previously filed as Exhibits 4.5B and 4.5A, respectively, to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-123185) filed March 8, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.2« |
|
2000 Stock Plan of Registrant and form of Option Agreement thereunder (Previously filed as Exhibits 4.4B and 4.4A, respectively, to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-123185) filed March 8, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.3« |
|
2003 Stock Plan (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-115424) filed May 12, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.3A« |
|
Forms of Stock Option Agreement under the 2003 Stock Plan covering (i) employees of Registrant, and (ii) officers of Registrant (Previously filed as Exhibits 4.3A and 4.3B, respectively, to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-123185) filed March 8, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.4« |
|
2004 Stock Plan (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-115424) filed May 12, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.4A« |
|
Forms of Stock Option Agreement under the 2004 Stock Plan covering (i) employees of Registrant, and (ii) officers of Registrant (Previously filed as Exhibits 4.2A and 4.2B, respectively, to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-123185) filed March 8, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.5« |
|
2005 Incentive Compensation Plan (Previously filed as Annex B to the Registrants Definitive Proxy Statement filed May 31, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.5A« |
|
Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan covering Israel-based employees |
10.5B« |
|
Form of Stock Option Agreement 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan covering U.S.-based employees. |
10.6« |
|
Robert S. Rosenschein Employment Agreement (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-115424) filed May 12, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.7« |
|
Steven Steinberg Employment Agreement (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-115424) filed May 12, 2004, and incorporated here by reference) |
10.8« |
|
Jeff Schneiderman Employment Agreement (Previously filed as
Exhibit 10.8 to the Registration Statement on Form |
10.9« |
|
Jeffrey S. Cutler Employment Agreement (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the annual report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 001-32255) filed March 31, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.10« |
|
Bruce D. Smith Employment Agreement (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.10 to the annual report on Form 10-KSB (File No. 001-32255) filed March 20, 2006, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.11 |
|
Form of Warrants issued in connection with the Bridge Financing (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-115424) filed May 12, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference) |
100
10.13 |
|
Form of Warrants issued in connection with exercise of Bridge Warrants (Previously filed as Exhibit 99.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K/A (File No. 001-32255) filed February 7, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.16 |
|
Purchase Agreement dated December 1, 2005 between the Registrant, Brainboost Partnership, Assaf Rozenblatt, Edo Segal and Jon Medved (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32255) filed December 7, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.17 |
|
Registration Rights Agreement dated December 1, 2005 between the Registrant, Brainboost Partnership, Assaf Rozenblatt, Edo Segal and Jon Medved (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32255) filed December 7, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.18« |
|
Assaf Rozenblatt Employment Agreement dated December 1, 2005 (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32255) filed December 7, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.19+ |
|
Google Services Agreement (GSA), GSA Order Form and GSA Order Form Terms and Conditions, all dated January 28, 2005 |
10.20+ |
|
Amendment No. 1 to Google Order Form and GSA, dated December 20, 2005 |
10.21+ |
|
Amendment No. 2 to Google Order Form, dated January 31, 2006 |
10.22+ |
|
API Agreement with Shopping.com, Inc. dated May 2, 2005 |
10.23 |
|
Lease Agreement with 35th Street Associates to lease office space in the building known as 237 West 35th Street in New York, NY, dated April 29, 2005 (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32255) filed May 4, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.24 |
|
Supplemental agreement to operating lease agreement between GuruNet Israel Ltd., Answers Corporations wholly-owned subsidiary (Subsidiary) and Jerusalem Technology Park Ltd. dated July 26, 2005 in connection with Subsidiarys relocation to new office space (a summary of the principal terms of this lease was previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32255) filed July 28, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.25« |
|
Amendment to Robert S. Rosenscheins Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of November 27, 2006 (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32255) filed November 29, 2006, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.26 |
|
Purchase Agreement dated November 2, 2006 among Answers Corporation, Interesting.com, Inc. and Chris Whitten (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32255) filed November 8, 2006, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.27 |
|
Non-Competition Covenant dated November 2, 2006 executed by Interesting.com, Inc. and Chris Whitten for the benefit of Answers Corporation (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32255) filed November 8, 2006, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.28+ |
|
Amendment No. 5 to Google Order Form, dated September 21, 2007 (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-32255) filed November 9, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.29« |
|
Amendment to Robert S. Rosenscheins Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of November 6, 2007 (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-32255) filed November 9, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.30« |
|
Amendment to Steve Steinbergs Employment Agreement, dated as of November 6, 2007 (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-32255) filed November 9, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.31« |
|
Amendment to Jeff Schneidermans Employment Agreement, dated as of November 6, 2007 (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-32255) filed November 9, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.32« |
|
Amendment to Bruce Smiths Employment Agreement, dated as of November 6, 2007 (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 001-32255) filed November 9, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.33 |
|
Purchase Agreement dated July 13, 2007 among Answers Corporation, Lexico Publishing Group, LLC, Brian Kariger, as trustee of the Brian Patrick Kariger Charitable Remainder Unitrust Trust dated April 9, 2007, Brian Kariger, as trustee of the Brian Patrick Kariger Revocable Trust dated February 9, 2007, Daniel Fierro and Brian Kariger, as the sellers representative (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32255) filed July 17, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.34 |
|
Bonus Plan/Documents Escrow Agreement, dated July 13, 2007 among Answers Corporation, Lexico Publishing Group, LLC, Brian Kariger, as trustee of the Brian Patrick Kariger Charitable Remainder Unitrust Trust dated April 9, 2007, Brian Kariger, as trustee of the Brian Patrick Kariger Revocable Trust dated February 9, 2007, Daniel Fierro, Brian Kariger, as seller representative and American Stock Transfer & Trust Co. (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32255) filed July 17, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.35 |
|
Indemnity Escrow Agreement, dated July 13, 2007 among Answers Corporation, Brian Kariger, as trustee of the Brian Patrick Kariger Charitable Remainder Unitrust Trust dated April 9, 2007, Brian Kariger, as trustee of the Brian Patrick Kariger Revocable Trust dated February 9, 2007, Daniel Fierro, Brian Kariger, as seller representative and American Stock Transfer & Trust Co. (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32255) filed July 17, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference) |
10.36 |
|
First Amendment to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of July 31, 2007, between Answers Corporation and Brian Kariger, as Sellers Representative (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32255) filed August 6, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference) |
101
10.37 |
|
Second Amendment to the Purchase Agreement, dated as of November 12, 2007, between Answers Corporation and Brian Kariger, as Sellers Representative (Previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32255) filed November 16, 2007, and incorporated herein by reference) |
14.1 |
|
Code of Ethics and Business Conduct (Previously filed as Exhibit 14.1 to the Registration Statement on Form SB-2 (File No. 333-115424) filed May 12, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference) |
21.1* |
|
List of Subsidiaries |
23.1* |
|
Consent of KPMG Somekh Chaikin, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
31.1* |
|
Certification of Principal Executive Officer required under Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
31.2* |
|
Certification of Principal Financial Officer required under Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
32.1*^ |
|
Certification of Principal Executive Officer required under Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 |
32.2*^ |
|
Certification of Principal Financial Officer required under Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 |
(*) Filed herewith.
(+) Portions of this exhibit were omitted and filed separately with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to a request for confidential treatment.
(^) The certifications attached as Exhibit 32 accompany this Annual Report on Form 10-KSB pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and shall not be deemed filed by Answers Corporation for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act.
(«) Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
102
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
Answers Corporation |
|||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
By: |
/s/ Robert S. Rosenschein |
||||
|
|
Robert S. Rosenschein |
|||||
|
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|||||
|
|
||||||
|
|
Date: March 31, 2008 |
|||||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes Robert S. Rosenschein and Steve Steinberg, or any of them, as attorneys-in-fact to sign on his behalf, individually, and in each capacity stated below, and to file all amendments and/or supplements to this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Signature |
|
Capacity |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Robert S. Rosenschein |
|
Chairman of the Board and |
|
March 31, 2008 |
Robert S. Rosenschein |
|
Chief
Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Steven Steinberg |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
March 31, 2008 |
Steven Steinberg |
|
(Principal
Financial Officer and Principal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Jerry Colonna |
|
Director |
|
March 31, 2008 |
Jerry Colonna |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Lawrence S. Kramer |
|
Director |
|
March 31, 2008 |
Lawrence S. Kramer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Mark B. Segall |
|
Director |
|
March 31, 2008 |
Mark B. Segall |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Edward G. Sim |
|
Director |
|
March 31, 2008 |
Edward G. Sim |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Yehuda Sternlicht |
|
Director |
|
March 31, 2008 |
Yehuda Sternlicht |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Mark A. Tebbe |
|
Director |
March 31, 2008 |
|
Mark A. Tebbe |
|
|
|
103