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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10K
/X/ ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
OR
/ / TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM __________ TO ___________
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-22418
ITRON, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
WASHINGTON 91-1011792
(State of Incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
2818 NORTH SULLIVAN ROAD
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON 99216-1897
(509) 924-9900
(Address and telephone number of registrant's principal executive offices)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act:
TITLE OF EACH CLASS
-------------------
COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No
----- -----
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item
405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. X
-----
As of February 26, 1999, there were outstanding 14,762,791 shares of the
registrant's common stock, no par value, which is the only class of common or
voting stock of the registrant. As of that date, the aggregate market value of
the shares of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant (based on
the closing price for the common stock on the Nasdaq National Market on February
26, 1999) was approximately $87,918,418.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The information called for by Part III is incorporated by reference to the
definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company
to be held May 5, 1999.
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PART I
ITEM 1: BUSINESS
OVERVIEW
GENERAL
Itron, Inc. ("Itron" or the "Company") was incorporated in Washington in 1977
and is a leading global provider of integrated system solutions for collecting,
communicating, analyzing and managing information about electric, gas and water
usage. The Company designs, develops, manufactures, markets, sells, installs and
services hardware, software and integrated systems primarily for use by the
utility industry. The Company's major product lines include Automatic Meter
Reading ("AMR") systems and Electronic Meter Reading ("EMR") or Handheld
systems. The Company both sells its products and provides outsourcing services.
Itron's first systems, shipped in the early 1980s, consisted of handheld
computers and software and were developed to replace the manual, paper-intensive
process used by most utilities at that time to read meters. Handheld systems and
products allow a utility to capture visually obtained meter data in a handheld
computer for billing purposes. Many of these systems are still in wide use
today. Over 1,500 utilities around the world in more than 45 counties use
Itron's Handheld systems to read approximately 275 million meters. Itron's
systems are installed at approximately 75% of the largest utilities (those with
50,000 or more meters), in the United States and Canada including 22 of the
largest 25 utilities. Handheld systems products and services represented 22% of
the Company's total revenues in 1998.
In the early 1990s, Itron began the process of taking usage information from
meters one step further with the introduction of highly automated and integrated
AMR technologies. Itron's AMR technologies today provide utilities and their
customers with information that goes far beyond meter reading. Using an
assortment of communications technologies, Itron's AMR systems collect data from
a variety of residential, commercial and industrial points and deliver that
information to enable innovation. Itron is the largest supplier of systems for
the emerging AMR market having shipped over 13.5 million AMR meter modules to
more than 400 utilities as of December 31, 1998. AMR systems sales and services,
including outsourcing, were 78% of the Company's total revenues in 1998.
CURRENT MARKET FOR AMR
The electric utility industry is undergoing basic structural changes as electric
power generation is opened up to full competition with retail customers
ultimately having access to multiple suppliers. The Company believes that the
move to a competitive electricity supply market will motivate utilities and
other industry participants to reduce costs, increase operating efficiencies and
enhance service quality. In addition, the Company believes that there are a
number of new business opportunities that will develop from the value of the
information generated by AMR products and systems that will enable the Company,
and the Company's customers, to offer new, innovative products and services,
including some not traditionally offered by utilities.
The Company believes that as the electric industry deregulates, there will be
increased focus initially on serving the needs of commercial and industrial
("C&I") customers, where the economic incentive to switch energy service
suppliers is greatest. Most utilities today use the Company's Multiple Vendor
Data Collection and Analysis System ("MV-90") software to process meter data for
their C&I customers. Building on this position, in 1997 and 1998, the Company
developed communications capabilities, complex billing and settlement
applications, data warehousing and management applications, and internet
delivery capabilities for C&I customers. In 1999, the Company expects to
complete development of a new radio-based data collection system for C&I
metering. The Company
Page 2
believes that the C&I market will provide it with growth opportunities over
the next few years and beyond as utilities, energy service providers
("ESPs"), and others increasingly focus their attention on this critical
customer group.
Utility industry restructuring has, in recent years, slowed the growth of
residential AMR. The Company has continued to expand its product offerings for
residential AMR because it expects an acceleration of this market as utilities
emerge from de-regulation. In 1998, the Company completed the development of
several new products for the residential AMR market and developed new
distribution channels to extend its market reach. The Company believes these
actions will improve growth opportunities in the near-term for the residential
AMR market. In particular, the Company expanded and diversified its
opportunities with the release of new meter modules for the water industry,
which is not currently impacted by regulatory restructuring, with the release of
a new lower-cost Mobile AMR and Handheld AMR technologies, and with the
introduction of Network alternatives that do not require large scale, saturated
deployment. The Company also significantly expanded its reach into the municipal
and smaller utility market with distribution agreements it recently signed with
several large meter manufacturers, including Schlumberger and Badger Meter.
The Company believes that utility industry restructuring will create
opportunities which it is uniquely positioned to take advantage of. The Company
believes that its AMR product offerings in aggregate are more extensive than
that of any other AMR supplier. The Company's AMR solutions support electric,
gas, water and combination utilities and other ESPs and include solutions for
all classes of utility customers - residential, commercial and industrial. The
Company utilizes radio, telephone and cellular technologies as well as private
and public communications networks. In addition, the Company has significant
experience in high-volume AMR meter module production; established relationships
with over 1,500 utilities worldwide; proven interfaces with numerous utility
host billing systems; and advanced software for large commercial and industrial
customers and power exchanges.
1998 HIGHLIGHTS
During 1998, the Company reorganized into two main divisions, Residential
Systems and C&I Systems, in order to focus on the strategically different needs
of each of these markets.
As a result of slower activity in the residential AMR market, the Company
implemented restructuring measures during 1998 to reduce costs and improve
operating efficiencies. These measures resulted in a $4.1 million
restructuring charge in 1998. The Company is still considering several
alternatives to further improve operating efficiencies and may incur
additional restructuring charges. Because of the restructuring measures taken
in 1998, the Company was able to substantially reduce its spending level, and
as a result, reported a return to profitability in the fourth quarter of the
year.
The Company made substantial inroads in the water AMR market in 1998 through
expansion of installations on existing contracts, additional contract awards,
the introduction of new water AMR products, and expansion of distribution
channels for water AMR products. Shipments of water AMR modules were
approximately 430,000 in 1998, up 180% from 1997, primarily as a result of
further installation for the Company's contract with the City of Philadelphia
and adding new water utility customers. The Company had approximately 63 water
utilities as customers by the end of 1998, almost double from where it started
the year. The Company was also awarded its second large water AMR order from the
City of Houston and will begin installation of that system in 1999. In the last
half of 1998, the Company introduced water meter modules for the largest segment
of the water market, outdoor pit-set meters. Shortly after year-end, the Company
announced that it had signed an agreement with Badger Meter to distribute
Itron's AMR technology. This, along with the distribution agreement the Company
signed with Schlumberger during 1998, significantly broadens the sales reach for
the Company's products, primarily to smaller utilities and municipalities.
The Company also made significant progress on its Network AMR deployments in
1998. By year end the
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Company was reading approximately 490,000 meters at Duquesne Light Company
("Duquesne") on a daily basis, up from approximately 5,000 meters at the
beginning of 1997. See "Description of Business--Duquesne Network AMR
Contract." The Company also began expansion of its second large Network AMR
contract with Virginia Power early in 1998 and by December 31, 1998, this
system was delivering daily billing data for more than 280,000 meters.
The Company made substantial progress on the development of its C&I Network
during 1998. The C&I Network is being specifically designed for solid state C&I
electric and gas meters. Traditionally, the only way utilities could deliver
advanced metering and data management functionality to their key C&I customers
was to install a dedicated phone line. Typically a utility's C&I Customers
represent a significant portion of total revenue, although they are a small
percentage of total customers. While utilities could easily cost justify that
ongoing expense for large customers, it often proved cost-prohibitive for
smaller customers. The Company's C&I Network utilizes the Company's radio-based
communications technology to create local area networks to read meters within a
defined geographical area. It then utilizes telephone and or cellular technology
to access all meters within the local area network. The C&I Network is expected
to provide the benefits of advanced metering to this critical customer group.
The Company expects that the C&I Network will go on the market late in 1999.
Also during 1998, the Company completed the development and began test
installations of a new Network AMR product, the MicroNetwork, which is a
flexible, drop-in network meter reading solution designed to deliver frequent
reads and reads on request for small isolated meter populations where a large
saturated fixed network is not appropriate or economic. The MicroNetwork
provides customers with a flexible and cost effective Network AMR solution by
combining low cost radio meter modules with a variety of telecommunications
technologies that send data to a host processor.
In addition, the Company introduced new products for Handheld and Mobile AMR
late in 1998 that it believes will contribute to sales of Handheld systems in
the near term and sales of AMR meter modules in 1999 and beyond. The newest
product for the Handheld market is a credit-card sized radio device that enables
communications between handheld computers and module-equipped meters. In
addition to being lighter weight and lower cost than previous versions, the
product uses a standard PCMCIA Type II format which makes it compatible with
handheld computers not manufactured by the Company, and which allows the
Company's customers to use their handheld computers for applications other than
meter reading. The Company's latest product for Mobile AMR, the DataPac, is a
lighter-weight, lower cost version of its previous technology for Mobile AMR,
the Data Command Unit ("DCU"). Unlike the DCU, which is designed for reading
larger numbers of meters, the DataPac is portable and does not require a
dedicated vehicle. Using the DataPac, smaller utilities and municipalities will
be able to reap the benefits of Mobile AMR technology that were previously out
of reach due to the cost of the technology.
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
OVERVIEW OF CURRENT ENVIRONMENT IN THE UTILITY INDUSTRY
The electric utility industry is undergoing fundamental structural changes.
Current restructuring in the electric utility industry is focused on opening the
electric power generation industry to full competition and ultimately providing
retail customers access to multiple suppliers (referred to as "direct access or
customer choice"). Similar to regulatory changes that have already occurred in
the transportation and telecommunications industries, customer demands and
regulatory mandates by state and federal governments are forcing utilities to
make the transition from regulated monopolies, in certain respects, into
competitive enterprises.
Federal legislation, such as the National Energy Policy Act of 1992 (the "EP
Act"), eased restrictions on independent power producers in an effort to
increase competition in the wholesale electric power generation
Page 4
market and authorized the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") to
require utilities to transport and deliver ("wheel") energy for a supplier of
bulk power to wholesale customers. Under the EP Act, individual states have
the sole authority to mandate the wheeling of electric power to retail
customers. While regulatory initiatives vary from state to state, many
involve the separation of certain functions currently performed by utilities,
including power generation, transmission and distribution (functional
unbundling) and a shift from rate-of-return to performance-based ratemaking
or market-based pricing. Most states have undertaken some form of regulatory
reform. In California, the California Public Utility Commission ("CPUC")
mandated retail wheeling beginning on March 31, 1998 for large commercial and
industrial customers and January 1, 1999 for all remaining customers.
Effective January 1, 1999, several other states, including Arizona, Maine,
Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, began transitioning to a competitive
electricity supply. A number of other states have legislation or commission
orders to mandate retail wheeling. In addition, the CPUC has also unbundled
the functions of metering and customer billing. This means that electricity
customers in California will be able to select their meter reading and
billing provider in addition to their electricity supplier. Several other
states, including Arizona, Nevada and Pennsylvania, are also transitioning to
competitive meter reading suppliers.
While utility companies may retain some, most or all of their traditional
functions, the Company believes that it is likely that some of these functions
will also be provided by new entities such as Independent System Operators
("ISOs") and ESPs. Utilities may turn the operational control of certain of
their transmission facilities over to ISOs. ESPs and aggregators are expected to
provide both electricity and natural gas to commercial, industrial and
residential customers and may, in some jurisdictions, perform meter reading and
customer billing. In addition to ESPs, a number of new entities will likely
emerge to provide metering and data services. Such companies also may buy and
sell electricity and may have to deal with the frequent specification of prices
and costs for the transference of power. Thus, the Company's future customer
base will likely be comprised of traditional utility companies, ESPs and new
market entrants. As such companies emerge, the Company believes that the ability
to measure the supply and use of energy on a frequent basis will become
increasingly critical and that the electric service industry will be driven
toward daily, hourly or even more frequent usage and pricing for certain
customers.
The Company believes that regulatory reform will result in new opportunities for
the Company including the development of reconciliation systems for the supply
of power to, and purchase of power from, electric power transmission grids;
opportunities to provide services, such as meter reading and other functions
typically performed by utilities and sales of systems directly to end-user
customers. The Company also believes that there are opportunities to use the
Company's core technology in related markets, such as tank monitoring, wherein a
module is installed on a propane or gas tank and sends information regarding
tank levels to a host whereby delivery trucks can be automatically dispatched.
Itron has built on board computers that communicate to the headquarters using
GPS positioning. In addition, the Company believes there are a number of new
business opportunities that will eventually develop for capitalizing on the
value of the information that can be derived from the Company's AMR products,
systems and services.
ITRON SOLUTIONS
The Company believes it has an extensive and cost-effective portfolio of AMR and
data management solutions that provides utilities and other industry
participants with numerous options for responding to evolving operational needs,
marketing opportunities and regulatory reform requirements.
BROAD PRODUCT LINE OFFERING. Itron's core AMR meter module technology has been
adapted to read numerous types of electric, gas and water meters, including the
most common meter types made by major meter manufacturers. Itron's broad product
line enables utilities and other industry participants to perform meter reading
functions for themselves, as well as for other utilities or power suppliers
serving a particular geographic
Page 5
area. Itron's AMR solutions include the use of radio and telephone-based
technologies and support all classes of utility customers - residential,
commercial, large commercial and industrial - in all environments - rural,
suburban and urban. Itron's products also provide the data management
software capabilities necessary to handle the large volumes of data required
by C&I electricity customers and the emerging participants in the competitive
supply of electricity such as ISOs and power exchanges.
LARGEST AMR METER MODULE SUPPLIER: As of December 31, 1998 the Company had
shipped more than 13.5 million meter modules since 1987 and is the AMR
industry's most experienced meter module provider. The Company believes that its
high production volume of AMR meter modules generally allows it to offer
utilities economically attractive AMR solutions. In 1996 the Company made
substantial investments in high-speed manufacturing automation and test
equipment that further strengthened its position as a market leader in the
supply of meter modules.
TECHNOLOGY MIGRATION PATHWAY: The Company's radio-based AMR solutions encompass
Handheld ("Off-Site"), Mobile and Network reading technology options. Because
the same AMR radio meter modules can be used with any of these alternatives, the
Company's products facilitate the migration from one level of systems automation
to another. This upgrade flexibility means that customers can install AMR
systems initially for reasons related to cost savings, improving operations and
enhancing service quality. These same systems can be the foundation for more
advanced AMR solutions in the future as the marketplace requires.
DATA AND SYSTEMS INTEGRATION: The Company has developed software applications
that integrate data from various data collection systems. This data integration
provides customers with the flexibility to deploy different data collection
technologies in different portions of their service territories, depending upon
economic and functional requirements, while integrating the data into a common
format. Itron has also developed interfaces to over 1,500 utility billing
systems worldwide, enabling smooth transition of collected data to billing.
NATIONWIDE RADIO SPECTRUM AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS: The Company has been
issued a renewable nationwide U.S. Federal Communications Commission ("FCC")
license to operate in the 1427-1432 MHz band, allowing it to operate its Network
AMR technology throughout the United States. Itron believes the spectrum
available under this license is adequate to meet the spectrum requirements for
Network AMR and the requirements for a substantial implementation of advanced
utility functions, as well as certain other applications. Itron also owns a
number of AMR related patents that provide it with numerous options for further
AMR deployment, including licensing its technology to others.
MULTIPLE FINANCING SOLUTIONS: The Company works with its customers to facilitate
alternative ways in which to finance AMR technologies. The Company sells
products, outsources entire systems, provides installation, operations, or
maintenance services, and arranges customized financial solutions for its
customers. These customized financial solutions vary from simple third party
leases to complex project financing structures depending on the financial and
operational goals of the Company's customers.
BENEFIT OPTIMIZED DEPLOYMENT: The range of AMR solutions offered by the Company
enables its customers to deploy the solutions that are the most cost effective
in each portion of the utility's service territory. The Company has developed a
conceptual and analytical methodology - termed "Benefit Optimized Deployment" -
which facilitates a potential AMR customer's comprehensive and quantified
analysis of the question: "What technology, where and when?"
ITRON'S STRATEGIES
Itron's strategy is to be a profitable leading provider of AMR solutions for
collecting, communicating, analyzing and managing information about electric,
gas and water usage. Following are key elements of the Company's strategy:
Page 6
DEVELOP, ENHANCE AND DEPLOY PRODUCTS TO SERVE C&I MARKETS: The Company
believes that as the electric industry deregulates, there will be a
heightened focus by utilities, ESPs and others on serving the needs of the
largest users of electricity - C&I customers. The Company intends to continue
to broaden its AMR product line for serving this critical and growing
customer group. The Company is the leading provider of software systems for
metering data acquisition and analysis for large C&I customers of electric
and gas utilities. In 1998, the Company expanded its software offerings to
support billing of C&I customers who purchase power under complex rates and
schedules, to deliver meter data and information via the Internet, and to
warehouse large amounts of meter data. In addition, the Company completed
initial testing of its new C&I Network, which is primarily radio-based, and
is being designed to provide the benefits of advanced metering to a larger
number of C&I customers for a lower cost by eliminating the dedicated phone
lines used by most utilities today.
PROVIDE COST-EFFECTIVE METER READING SOLUTIONS: The Company offers a broad range
of meter reading solutions that create value for utilities through cost savings
and operational improvements and by allowing them to offer new products and
services to customers through automation of their meter reading function. These
benefits include, among others, reductions in labor costs, safety improvements,
elimination of estimated bills, more accurate bills, reduced customer bill
disputes, energy theft detection capabilities, improved forecasting of energy
demand, and information about outage detection and power restoration.
Investments in the Company's core AMR business products enable utilities to
convert recurring operating expenses related to meter reading into assets that
provide a strategic migration path to more advanced AMR solutions.
EXPAND NETWORK AMR TECHNOLOGY AND INSTALLATIONS: The Company is committed to
delivering Network AMR solutions and believes that the demand for Network AMR
will continue to grow as electric utilities increasingly focus on the
consequences of competition brought on by regulatory reforms and as gas and
water utilities begin to take advantage of the benefits provided by accurate and
more frequent meter reads. The Company believes utilities, ESPs and others will
deploy Network AMR in certain parts of their service territories where frequent
reads and other advanced meter reading functionality are required. The Company
has offered a network AMR product for saturated deployments for a number of
years, incorporating both radio- and telephone-based communications
technologies. With the introduction of the Company's MicroNetwork in 1998,
customers are able to target specific locations where groups of meters, or
selected meters within an area, require more frequent reads and where large
saturated fixed networks are difficult to cost justify.
DEVELOP NEW RELATIONSHIPS FOR DELIVERY OF AMR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES: The Company
intends to expand its distribution channels for AMR products and meter reading
and other services by continuing to enter into joint ventures and partnerships
with companies who bring experience and strengths that complement the Company's
core competencies. For example, in late 1997, the Company formed a joint
venture, Star Data Services ("SDS") with UK Data Collection Services, Limited
("UKDCS") of England, the company that operates the meter data collection system
that supports the competitive electricity supply market in England and Wales, to
provide metering, data collection, load profiling, settlement, and a variety of
other operational services in North America. In 1998, and shortly after
year-end, the Company broadened its reach for selling AMR products by entering
into distribution and reseller agreements with a number of key utility industry
particpants, including Schlumberger,and Badger Meter, with emphasis on the
largely untapped water AMR market.
BUILD UPON EXTENSIVE CUSTOMER BASE AND INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE: The Company has
established itself as the world's leading supplier of AMR systems as a result of
having shipped more than 13.5 million AMR meter modules to over 400 utilities as
of December 31, 1998. The Company's EMR systems have been installed at over
1,500 utilities in more than 45 countries and are being used to read
approximately 275 million meters worldwide. These installations include
approximately 75% of the utilities in North America that have meter populations
greater than 50,000. The Company believes that its extensive customer base,
long-term relationships with its customers, upgrades and extensions to its
current products and proven interfaces with numerous utility host billing
systems, provide a solid foundation upon which the Company can expand its
Page 7
product offerings and services to existing utility customers, as well as new
utility customers and other industry participants.
EXPAND COMMUNICATIONS ALTERNATIVES: The Company expanded its AMR product
offering to include telephone-based technologies for electric meters in 1997 and
has further developed telephone-based technologies for both electric and gas
meters in 1998. Telephone and cellular technologies can be a very attractive
economic alternative for direct access customers, regional or national accounts,
rural meters or for selective clusters of meters. Telephone can also be a viable
solution for areas where radio communications are not possible or are difficult.
In 1998, the Company expanded its communications capabilities to include the
ARDIS wireless nationwide public communications network. In addition to ARDIS,
in 1998 the Company began communicating over digital networks using Internet
Protocol (high speed/high volume Internet communications). The Company is
currently in test with PCS networks as well.
DEVELOP NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES: The Company is developing strategies to take
advantage of and to create new business opportunities from the substantial
amount of information that can be derived from its AMR systems and products. The
new business opportunities include new customers for the information (such as
retail end users) and new services that can be offered. The Company's SDS Joint
Venture is a first step toward developing this new direction. As deregulation
unfolds, the Company will increasingly focus on the prospects for selling
services to the expanding universe of market participants. In addition, the
Company believes there are a number of technologically adjacent markets in which
the use of its core AMR technology can be extended, such as tank monitoring, and
is working with strategic partners and others on exploring these types of
applications and products.
AUTOMATIC METER READING SYSTEMS AND PRODUCTS
The Company's AMR product line primarily involves the use of radio and telephone
technology to collect meter data. The Company's radio-based AMR solutions
encompass Off-Site AMR, Mobile AMR and Network AMR. Due to the geographic
features and varying population density of a utility's service territory,
generally no single meter reading solution is technologically or economically,
suited to all parts of the utility's service territory. The Company's AMR
applications are intended to provide flexibility ranging from selective
installation for high cost-to-read meters or geographically dispersed meters
requiring advanced metering functionality, to full implementation of an AMR
system covering a large portion of a utility's service area. Additionally, in a
deregulated marketplace, target marketing of specific features will be
desirable. The Company provides technology that can be selectively deployed to
targeted end-use customers. This flexibility enables the Company's customers to
achieve economic and operational benefits from their initial investments in the
Company's AMR systems, while enabling migration to more comprehensive AMR
solutions in the future as the marketplace requires.
METER MODULES: The Company's AMR product offerings are based on a family of
meter modules. These meter modules, which can be easily attached to utility
meters, encode consumption and tamper information and transmit this data,
including meter module identification, to a remote receiver. The Company has
expanded its meter module offerings through development of meter modules that
read additional meter types, as well as development of modules with differing
capabilities that enable utilities to use the most cost-effective module for a
particular meter reading need. In 1998, the Company developed and released a
variety of new meter modules for electric, gas and water meters, including below
ground level, pit-set water meter modules.
The Company began shipping its radio meter modules to customers in late 1986 and
has adapted the radio meter modules core technology to read numerous types of
electric, gas and water meters, including the most common meter types made by
major meter manufacturers. The Company's compact radio meter modules for gas and
water meters are self-contained low-power units, powered by long-life batteries
with an expected minimum life in excess of ten years. Radio meter modules for
electric meters, which are normally integrated under the glass
Page 8
of standard residential meters, are electricity line powered and do not
require batteries. Radio meter modules can be installed by the meter
manufacturer during the manufacturing process or easily retrofitted in
existing meters.
In addition to its radio meter modules, the Company also offers telephone-based
AMR products for electric and gas meters. For residential and commercial
applications, the Company's telephone based modules for electric meters attach
under the glass of those meters and collect and report consumption, demand,
time-of-use and load profile data. In addition, certain telephone-based modules
for electric use report power outages, restoration of power and power quality
information. For the electric market, in addition to AMR modules attached to
meters, the Company offers telephone-based modules that are installed inside
customer premises to monitor and report power outages and restoration of power,
power quality (under and over voltages) and connections to selective circuits or
contact closures inside the premise, such as circuits for refrigeration or HVAC
equipment. For C&I large volume gas meters, the Company's telephone-based
modules collect information that is used to bill transport gas and interruptible
gas customers, as well as critical load survey data for applications such as
peak day forecasting, supply forecasting and assessments, rate design and
marketing. For residential gas applications, including hard-to-read meters,
modules are attached to existing or new residential gas meters to provide
consumption and load survey data.
The Company also offers a separate line of meter modules for use outside of
North America. The primary differences between the meter modules used by the
Company in North America and those used in international markets are the radio
frequency band in which they operate and the physical configuration of the
module. In addition, the Company has developed meter module technology to
address opportunities available in international markets that are not present in
North America. For example, in certain European countries, usage of steam and
hot water produced by a central facility for residential heating is metered
using devices known as "heat allocators" located on radiators. The Company has
developed a radio-based meter module that enables remote collection of data
recorded by heat allocators, eliminating the need to access each radiator in
order to collect consumption data. As of December 31, 1998 Itron had shipped in
excess of 200,000 such modules in Europe. The Company estimates that there are
110 million heat allocators installed in Europe.
OFF-SITE METER READING: The Company's Off-Site AMR solution enables
radio-equipped meters to be read remotely, by a person from up to 1,000 feet
away, with a handheld computer equipped with a radio unit. Off-Site AMR offers a
practical and cost-effective way for utilities to read high cost-to-read meters
by eliminating the need for meter readers to gain visual access to those meters.
Once a utility has upgraded its Itron handheld computers with radio technology,
it can selectively install meter modules on high cost-to-read meters. System
software automatically identifies radio-equipped meters within a route. When
remote reads are needed, the system prompts the meter reader to initiate the
wireless remote read. Meter information is shown on the handheld display and is
automatically recorded in the handheld database, allowing the meter reader to
move on to the next meter on a route. When a route is completed, data from both
visual and radio reads are uploaded from the handheld computer to the utility
host system for customer billing. The benefits from Off-site AMR include
short-term payback from the meter reading productivity improvements that result
from being able to remotely access information on difficult to read meters.
Another major benefit from Off-site AMR is greatly improved meter reading safety
by installing meter modules in the most hazardous meter locations.
MOBILE AMR: The Company's Mobile AMR solution uses a Data Collection Unit
("DCU"), which is mounted in a vehicle, or a Datapac which is transportable
between vehicles, to collect and store data transmitted by meter modules as the
vehicle passes module-equipped meters. The DCU or Datapac receives information
transmitted by multiple meter modules simultaneously. A touch-screen display
enables the operator to observe and operate the equipment. The Mobile AMR
application includes software that manages and moves information to and from a
utility's billing system. Once installed, the software transfers information
from the host system to create route files for the DCU and Datapac for each
route, manages the storage of the meter data as it is collected and, at the end
of the day, uploads the information to the utility's billing system. A Mobile
AMR system enables an
Page 9
operator to read in an eight-hour day an average of approximately 10,000
meters with a DCU or roughly half that number of meters with a Datapac. This
compares to an average walking route of 300 to 500 meters per day. Factors
affecting the actual number of reads per day include, among others, route
density and design, speed limits, weather and environment. As in the case of
Off-site AMR, Mobile AMR also improves meter reader safety by removing the
need for meter readers to gain visual access to meters in dangerous
environments. The cost savings associated with reductions in estimated reads
or unread meters is also realized in other parts of a utility's operations,
including reduced customer calls to a utility call center related to billing;
reduced billing adjustments and associated transactions and reduced field
visits. Some utilities have also used Mobile AMR systems to enhance outage
detection capability by driving through neighborhoods to determine whether
power has been restored. Other utilities have used Mobile AMR systems to read
certain customers' meters on specific days to offer selectable billing dates
to those customers.
NETWORK AMR: The Company offers a number of Network AMR products. The Company's
Network solutions provides utilities with the capability of automating meter
reading in desired segments of a utility's service area, thereby eliminating the
need to send meter readers to or near customer premises. The Company has large
scale Network AMR deployments with two utilities and smaller scale installations
at ten utilities. Under a contract with Duquesne, the Company has installed a
large scale Network AMR system that was reading just under 500,000 meters on a
daily basis as of December 31, 1998. See "Duquesne Network AMR Contract."
Installation of the Company's large scale Network AMR system at Virginia Power
is nearing completion and as of December 31, 1998 the system was reading
approximately 280,000 meters on a daily basis. When expansion of this system is
complete in 1999, it will cover approximately 430,000 meters. The Company's
Network AMR technology provides utilities with a number of utility-related
applications, including daily or more frequent meter reads, time-of-use pricing,
on-request meter reads for final reads or customer inquiries, tamper monitoring
and reporting, high-level outage detection and power restoration reporting, load
profiling and virtual connect/disconnect capabilities.
Meter data collected by the Company's radio meter modules is transmitted to a
Cell Control Unit ("CCU"), which is a neighborhood communications controller.
The CCU performs memory and computational functions, in addition to functioning
as a radio receiver and transmitter. Weighing approximately 15 pounds, Itron's
CCU can be easily installed on utility poles, streetlights, or other locations.
While the geographic area covered by each CCU varies depending on local
topography, physical structures, terrain and other factors, in general each CCU
serves an average of 50 homes. Information collected by CCUs is then transmitted
to a Network Control Node ("NCN"), which is the primary routing and control
device for the Network. Each NCN typically supports approximately 400 CCUs. NCNs
manage information routing in the network between CCUs and the system host
processor and can serve as a gateway to other communication networks.
Communications between the CCUs and NCNs utilize the Company's nationwide
licensed frequencies in the 1427-1432 MHz band .
The final link in the Company's Network AMR solution is from the NCNs to one or
more host computers, known as Genesis Itron Host Processors ("GIHPs"). The GIHP
is an open-architected control computer and database management system that
provides network control and advanced AMR functionality, and acts as the
interface to the Network from other utility systems. The GIHP provides a
Standard Query Language ("SQL") database server to utility host billing and
operating systems. Communications between NCNs and the utility's GIHP typically
utilize radio, telephone, frame relay or other wired communication media.
In 1998, the Company introduced a new Network AMR product known as the
MicroNetwork. The MicroNetwork is a flexible, drop-in network meter reading
solution designed to deliver frequent reads and reads on request for small
isolated meter populations. The MicroNetwork is an ideal data collection
solution for apartment complexes, campuses, small residential communities, high
rise buildings, strip malls, suburban neighborhoods and rural communities - any
place where groups of meters, or selected meters, require or can benefit from
accurate and more frequent reads. The MicroNetwork is also an ideal solution for
the growing sub-metering market where it can be used to gather electricity, gas
and water consumption by individual users in
Page 10
buildings or apartment complexes currently served by a centralized master
meter.
The MicroNetwork consists of three components: Itron meter modules; locally
installed communications nodes called concentrators; and an Itron host processor
system. The system uses a two-step process to gather metering data. First, using
Itron's radio communications technology, the concentrator units automatically
gather consumption data collected from nearby electric, gas, and water meters
equipped with Itron meter modules. The MicroNetwork then utilizes telephone
and/or cellular communications technology to send the consumption data to the
host processor system. There the metering data is processed and forwarded to
billing services and other utility business operations as needed.
The Company made substantial investments in development of its Network AMR
products in 1996, 1997 and 1998. The Company expects some portion of its product
development spending in 1999 will be for Network development, including
performance enhancements and adding functionality, but that the amount spent
will be less than annual spending in the prior three years. See " Product
Development."
TELEPHONE-BASED TECHNOLOGY. The Company also offers products that allow electric
and gas utilities to implement telephone-based AMR solutions. Modules can be
programmed to collect various types of meter reading data including standard
consumption, time-of-use, demand and interval data for load profiling. These
systems use inbound communications in which the meter modules call in to the
utility's central processing computer at pre-scheduled times to report meter
reading information. The devices are connected to and share existing customer
telephone lines. Telephone-based AMR functionality is primarily designed for
selective deployments of direct access customers or for geographically dispersed
customers requiring advanced metering functionality such as regional or national
accounts. Additionally, telephone-based devices that report power outages and
power quality events (over and under voltages) can be selectively deployed to
strategic points in the utility distribution system. This provides a target
solution to achieve operational and system reliability improvements where a full
saturation network is difficult to cost justify. This technology may also be
used to automate areas not suited for cost effective implementation of radio
technologies such as remote or rural areas.
The Company also provides other telephone-based devices that monitor and report
power outage, restoration and power quality (over/under voltage) information.
The devices are easily installed by the end-use customer. The devices may be
deployed at key locations throughout a utility's distribution system to improve
operations, enhance power quality and improve overall system reliability and
service by allowing utilities to isolate outages and determine when power has
been restored more quickly.
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SOFTWARE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Commercial and industrial ("C&I") meters have much more sophisticated
measurement capabilities than do meters for residential customers. Therefore,
they have much more data that must be conveyed back to a utility from the meter.
There is a wide variety of these meters with no standards for communications
agreed upon by the multiple meter vendors. The Company, through its UTS
subsidiary, is the leading provider in the United States of software systems for
metering data acquisition and analysis for the large C&I customers of electric
and gas utilities. UTS also has systems installed in approximately 20 countries
outside the United States.
UTS's MV-90 supports communication protocols for almost all the large C&I
electric and gas meter suppliers in the United States and Europe. MV-90 supports
all methods of data retrieval from large C&I meters (handheld readers, radio,
telephone and other communication technologies) and was designed with a full
range of applications software to support data collection from meters, data
validation and editing, and analysis of energy usage data. MV-90 software can be
licensed for use on single computers or local/wide area networks. In addition to
the base system, there are layered application packages that support
applications such as load research, real time pricing (hourly price transmission
to C&I customers), gas transportation, and interruptible rates (notification and
control of loads at large C&I customers).
Page 11
UTS has capitalized on a specialized market within the electric utility industry
and now supplies MV-90 software for revenue billing, load research and
demand-side management to approximately 70% of the major utilities in the United
States and to most of the electric and gas utilities in Canada, Europe, the
Middle East, Australia, Central America and South America. The Company estimates
that approximately 35% of the $250 billion annual revenues billed by the
electric utility industry in the United States is billed using data collected by
MV-90 software systems. UTS also has a "read only" version of the MV-90 software
that allows C&I customers to read the utility's delivery point meters (both
electric and gas) on a frequent basis to analyze their own energy consumption.
This software can also receive hourly pricing data from energy suppliers for
customers who purchase power on a real-time pricing basis (price varies by the
hour). It also supports load curtailment with messaging to notify larger C&I
customers. Such read-only, real-time pricing and load control software
applications are sold to C&I customers by the marketing departments of various
utilities.
The Company believes that competition in the utility industry will drive
metering technology and systems toward enhancing and facilitating communications
between large C&I customers and their power suppliers. In 1998, the Company
released new products for C&I customers and expanded installations for other
products for this sector of the market. These new products include MV-PBS,
MV-COMM, MV-STAR and MV-WEB. The Company's product for Large Power Billing &
Settlement Systems ("MV-PBS") is targeted to utilities and power marketers that
support complex billing for large C&I customers, franchise operations, national
accounts and aggregators. MV-PBS allows utilities and other energy suppliers to
bill energy and related services sold under complex contracts, where each
contract for products and services may be unique to that customer. The current
legacy billing systems used by most utilities were designed for large volume,
rate class billing with very little flexibility to bill complex contracts
required for unbundling of power (generation, transmission and distribution), as
well as new products such as real-time pricing and retail wheeling. MV-PBS is
used in a client-server environment and is fully integrated with UTS's MV-90
multi-vendor data collection system.
In order to manage high-volumes of C&I meters, the Company developed MV-COMM, a
front-end processor for its base MV-90 platform, that greatly enhances speed,
performance and communication between meters and the host processor. Initially
developed for the Independent System Operator (ISO) in California, MV-COMM
enabled the Company to meet the ISO's requirement to read a minimum of 3,000
electronic meters with five minute interval data within two minute time periods
at the end of each hour. MV-COMM has now been installed at several other
locations, including in the UK, where more than 70,000 electronic meters with
1/2 hourly data are read each night.
In order to meet the needs for warehousing large volumes of interval metering
data, the Company, in late 1997, acquired the exclusive distribution rights in
North America for the STAR Data Management System (MV-STAR). MV-STAR was
developed by UKDCS, the operator of the meter data collection system supporting
the competitive electricity supply market in England and Wales. When integrated
with MV-90, MV-STAR provides the ability to manage the large volumes of hourly
or other interval data, which will be increasingly required in competitive
electricity markets such as California and the UK. The Company also recently
integrated MV-STAR with MV-PBS to provide large-scale financial settlement
systems, such as the one the Company recently sold to Tucson Electric Power.
Recognizing that data delivery to a variety of market participants, including
utilities, ESPs, ISOs, power exchanges, and retail customers, is just as
critical as the collection of the metering data, the Company developed MV-WEB,
an Internet-based data delivery solution that provides C&I customers with access
to their usage data. Like other UTS products, MV-WEB interfaces with the MV-90
base platform to provide C&I customers with secure and immediate access to their
load data from a PC workstation equipped with a standard web browser. By using
the Internet to deliver load data, MV-WEB employs a proven, cost-effective
communications infrastructure that's in place, functioning, and used by most C&I
customers every day.
Page 12
In 1998, the Company completed initial testing of its new C&I Network. The C&I
Network operates in much the same manner as the Company's MicroNetwork but is
specifically designed for solid state C&I electric and gas meters.
Traditionally, the only way utilities could deliver advanced metering and data
management functionality to their key C&I customers was to install a dedicated
phone line. While utilities could easily cost justify that ongoing expense for
large customers, it often proved cost-prohibitive for smaller customers. The
Company's C&I Network utilizes the Company's radio-based communications
technology and is being designed to provide the benefits of advanced metering
to this critical customer group at a much lower cost by eliminating the
ongoing expense of dedicated phone lines.
The C&I network accomplishes this by deploying the Company's external meter
modems, or EMM's, to communicate advanced energy usage data from solid-state
electric and gas meters. Using the Company's radio communications technology,
the metering data is transmitted from the meter modems, using peer to peer
communications, through a system of electronic relays to a hub which routes data
from a designated population of C&I meters. Using telephone and/or cellular
communications, the hub then routes all the data collected from C&I meters in
its area to an MV-90 host processor, where the data is used for a variety of
billing, load research and system engineering applications.
EMR HANDHELD SYSTEMS AND PRODUCTS
The Company's handheld systems allow utilities to automate a substantial portion
of their meter reading and billing functions. The Company provides five basic
models of handheld computers to meet the varying requirements of its utility
customers. Each model is designed for use in harsh environments with standard
text and graphics, backlit displays, several memory sizes, multiple
communications options, interface devices for electronic meters and easy to use
keyboards that can be customized to the needs of the utility customer.
Handheld systems are used as follows: (1) key customer data is downloaded from
an Itron host processor to an Itron handheld computer prior to commencement of a
meter reader's daily route; (2) a meter reader visually reads meters along a
route and enters the readings into a handheld computer; and (3) after a meter
reader's daily route has been completed, collected data is uploaded directly
into a utility's host billing system. The Company's family of software systems
provides data consolidation and storage, reformatting, linkage to a utility's
host billing system, meter reading route management, route downloading and
time-of-use and interval data recording data management and distribution.
JOINT VENTURE SERVICES
The Company has entered into and expects to continue to enter into joint
ventures or alliances with utility industry participants including utilities and
non-regulated utility entities, among others. These alliances and joint ventures
offer, and are expected to offer, a wide range of services, such as AMR meter
module and Network component installation, AMR outsourcing, Network-based
information services, meter reading services and development of additional
business opportunities to maximize thevalue and use of the information provided
by Itron's AMR products and systems.
Currently the Company has two active joint ventures:
- - EnSite - a 50/50 joint venture between the Company and Duquesne
Enterprises, which provides for the resale of the Company's products and
AMR outsourcing to utilities in and around Duquesne Light Company's service
territory.
- - STAR Data Services - a 50/50 joint venture between UTS and UKDCS which
provides metering, data
Page 13
collection, load profiling and settlement services to utilities,
ESPs, retail customers, and others on a fee-for-service basis
in North America. STAR Data Services is primarily focused on large C&I
accounts.
DUQUESNE NETWORK AMR CONTRACT
In January 1996, the Company entered into a contract with Duquesne providing for
the Company to install, operate and maintain an AMR system and provide meter
reading and advanced communication services to Duquesne over a 15 year period.
In 1998 the Company completed "Phase II," or the construction phase of the
contract with Duquesne and effective January 1, 1999, the Company entered "Phase
III" or the operations phase of its contract with Duquesne. Approximately
562,000 modules have been installed to date for the system at Duquesne. This
integrated system includes a radio-based fixed network and cellular and
land-line phone networks that provide daily reads for approximately 490,000 of
Duquesne's residential, commercial and small commercial meters. Duquesne's rural
customers are read using a vehicle-based Mobile AMR system on a monthly basis.
The system at Duquesne also supports an array of sophisticated services,
including time-of-use, demand, load profiling, outage detection and restoration
reporting, power quality monitoring, on-request reads and daily tamper
reporting. By collecting daily reads Duquesne is also able to perform accurate
load forecasting and reconciliation functions to efficiently manage energy
supplier deliveries under the Pennsylvania Customer Choice Program.
The Duquesne Contract contains numerous milestones, some of which are "critical"
milestones and carry significant monetary penalties. At the end of 1998, the
Company had received acceptance from Duquesne on the completion of all critical
milestones. See "Certain Risk Factors--Dependence on the Installation,
Operations and Maintenance of AMR Systems Pursuant to Outsourcing Contracts" and
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations--Results of Operations." For information on revenue recognition for
outsourcing contracts, see Note 1 to the Company's Consolidated Financial
Statements.
CUSTOMERS
The Company has established itself as a leading supplier of handheld EMR systems
and AMR meter modules for the AMR market. The Company believes that its
extensive customer base, long-term customer relationships and experience in
meeting the needs of the utility industry provide a solid foundation from which
it can supply additional products and services to its existing customers, as
well as new utility customers and other industry participants.
The Company's EMR systems are installed at over 1,500 electric, gas, water and
combination utilities in more than 45 countries and are being used to read
approximately 275 million meters worldwide. Itron's EMR systems are installed at
approximately 75% of the largest utilities (those with greater than 50,000
customer meters) in the United States and Canada ("Domestic market"). As a
result of the high market penetration the Company has already achieved in the
Domestic market, EMR sales are expected to be predominantly system upgrades and
replacements. The Company estimates that the number of meters outside of the
Domestic market is approximately two to three times the number of meters within
that market. Because utilities in many industrialized countries outside of the
Domestic market are only now beginning to automate their meter reading function,
the Company believes that international markets represent a growth opportunity
for sales of its EMR systems.
The Company has established itself as the world's largest supplier of meter
modules for the expanding AMR market as a result of having shipped over 13.5
million meter modules as of December 31, 1998. During the year ended December
31, 1998, the Company shipped 2.4 million AMR meter modules and added 76
utilities to its list of AMR customers, bringing the total number of the
Company's AMR customers to over 400 utilities,
Page 14
including approximately 50 utilities located outside of the United States.
The Company has installed the world's largest AMR system for New Century
Energies (formerly Public Service Company of Colorado) comprised of over 1.5
million meter modules. This system is being read with Mobile AMR technology. The
Company also is in the process of installing what it believes is currently the
world's largest radio-based water AMR system with the City of Philadelphia Water
Department. As of December 31, 1998 the Company had installed approximately
353,000 meter modules to this customer and when complete, this system will
automate the meter reading of approximately 433,000 water meters in
Philadelphia.
In addition, the Company has two large scale Network deployments and several
Network AMR pilot installations in North America. The Company has installed a
Network AMR system for Duquesne that is currently reading just under one half
million meters daily. See "Duquesne Network AMR Contract." In addition, the
Company is nearing completion of the installation of a Network AMR system at
Virginia Power that will cover approximately 430,000 meters. The Network AMR
system at Virginia Power was reading approximately 280,000 meters on a daily
basis at December 31, 1998.
SALES, DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING
Itron utilizes a direct sales and technical support team to serve large
utilities, with sales and technical support offices located in a number of
cities throughout the United States. For smaller utilities and municipalities in
the Domestic market, Itron conducts sales and support activities through
numerous business associates and manufacturer representatives, including several
major meter manufacturers.
As of January 31, 1999, the Company's Domestic market direct sales force was
comprised of 17 account executives and four vice presidents, all of whom are
supported by five technical sales engineers. Support is provided to the direct
sales team by a Solutions Marketing team, which consists of seven marketing
professionals, and a Customers Solutions team, which consists of one vice
president and eight analysts who are responsible for system configurations,
business case development, pricing and proposal development.
The Company has approximately 22 business associates and manufacturer
representatives that are managed by one vice president and eight support
personnel who are assigned geographic areas and product lines in North America.
Recently, the Company entered into master purchase agreements with Schlumberger
and Badger Meter to resell Itron products in the small utility, municipal and
co-operative markets in the Domestic market. Internationally, the Company
maintains direct sales organizations within subsidiary operations in the United
Kingdom, France and Australia. To reach the broader international market, the
Company conducts sales through distributors in approximately 45 other countries.
In 1998, the Company signed an agreement with Schlumberger for the distribution
of the Company's products in Europe, in addition to the reseller agreement with
Schlumberger for the Domestic market.
The Company also sells electric and water meter modules through original
equipment manufacturer ("OEM") arrangements with several major meter
manufacturers, in which the manufacturers incorporate the Company's meter
modules at their own facilities into new meters and then offer them for sale.
The Company intends to enter into additional OEM or other similar arrangements
if it has attractive opportunities to do so. Further, the Company has licensed
certain aspects of its meter module technology to Schlumberger and may enter
into additional licensing agreements with other meter manufacturers or other
industry participants in the future.
The Company also offers its products and services through long-term outsourcing
arrangements, which may include providing AMR products, system project
management and installation, on going meter reading services, meter shop
services and other services for periods of typically 15 years or longer.
Outsourcing arrangements can be structured in a variety of ways to address a
utility's specific needs. These range from providing basic meter reading systems
and services to providing systems and services with advanced functionality. The
Page 15
Company offers these services to utilities directly and through joint ventures
with utilities and other industry participants.
The Company's future customer base will likely be comprised of traditional
utility companies as well as ESPs and other market participants and will also
likely include sales of products or services to retail customers (particularly
in the C&I market). The Company is developing new strategies, relationships and
distribution approaches for selling to customers that are not utilities.
The Company's marketing efforts focus on product awareness principally through
trade shows, symposiums, published papers and direct mail. These marketing
efforts include brochures, newsletters, exhibits, conferences, an annual user's
forum, industry standards committee representation and regulatory support.
Several major industry conferences are keystones in the Company's marketing
program, including the Distributech Conference held every winter, the Company's
Annual Users Conference held in June in conjunction with the National Meter
Reading Association meetings, and the Automatic Meter Reading Association
conference usually held in September. The Company maintains communications with
its customers through its Users Advisory Board and its Fixed Network Advisory
Group and a program of regular mailings, newsletters and new customer
announcements.
CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SUPPORT
The Company provides its utility and other customers with implementation
services that include among other things, system design, installation, training
and project management. Each of these services is tailored to meet a particular
customer's needs. In addition, for Network AMR systems, the Company offers
network design, propagation analysis, mapping support, centralized operation and
system support. The Company offers system maintenance and support services to
each of its customers. Service contract prices are based on a number of factors,
including system size and complexity and the expected degree of service support
required. The Company's system maintenance and support services include 24-hour,
toll-free hot line support, customer service representatives, consulting
services, regional training programs, equipment repair and preventative
maintenance, software support and maintenance, system troubleshooting and
network management services.
COMPETITION
Although the Company is the industry leader in sales of AMR meter modules and
AMR systems and services to the utility industry, it faces competition from a
variety of companies in each of the markets it serves. The emerging market for
Network AMR systems for the utility industry, together with the potential market
for other applications, once such Network systems are in place, have led
communications, electronics and utility companies to begin developing various
systems, some of which currently compete, and others of which may in the future
compete, with the Company's Network AMR systems. These competitors can be
expected to offer a variety of technologies and communications approaches, as
well as meter reading, installation and other services to utilities and other
industry participants.
In the radio-based Network AMR market, for example, companies such as CellNet
Data Systems, Inc. ("CellNet") and Whisper Communications currently offer
alternative solutions to the utility industry and compete aggressively with the
Company. The Company believes that several large suppliers of equipment,
services or technology to the utility industry have developed or are currently
developing competitive products for the AMR market. For example, Schlumberger
currently offers alternative solutions, as well as acts as a reseller and
integrator of the Company's solutions, and could expand their current products
and services.
The Company believes that it enjoys a number of competitive advantages. The
Company believes the diversity of its AMR product line is broader than that of
any other AMR provider. This diversity gives the Company the ability to provide
comprehensive solutions to its customers. The Company's radio-based AMR
solutions utilize
Page 16
the same AMR radio meter modules and facilitate the migration from one level
of systems automation to another. The Company believes that it is able to
price its AMR meter modules competitively as a result of its highly automated
manufacturing lines as well as high production volumes. The Company has a
substantially larger installed base of handheld-based EMR systems and AMR
meter modules than any of its competitors which gives it the advantage of a
proven record of providing cost-efficient, quality products and services and
the proven ability to interface meter data with a wide variety of utility
host billing systems. In addition, the Company benefits from its nationwide
license of 5 MHz of spectrum in the 1427-1432MHz band. See "FCC Regulation."
Many of the Company's present and potential competitors have substantially
greater financial, marketing, technical and manufacturing resources, and in some
cases, greater name recognition and experience than the Company. The Company's
competitors may be able to respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies
and changes in customer requirements or to devote greater resources to the
development, promotion and sale of their products and services than the Company.
In addition, current and potential competitors may make strategic acquisitions
or establish cooperative relationships among themselves or with third parties
that increase their ability to address the needs of the Company's prospective
customers. Accordingly, it is possible that new competitors or alliances among
current and new competitors may emerge and rapidly gain significant market
share. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete
successfully against current and future competitors, and any failure to do so
would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial
condition, results of operations and cash flow. See "Certain Risk
Factors--Competition."
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
The Company's product development efforts are focused on further expanding and
upgrading AMR product offerings, particularly for C&I customers, and developing
new hardware and software platforms for handheld systems. The Company has
product development facilities located in Spokane, Washington; Waseca,
Minnesota; Raleigh, North Carolina; Boise, Idaho; and Saratoga, California. It
also conducts some development activities in some of its foreign subsidiaries.
The Company has maintained its leadership position in part because of its
commitment to new products and continued enhancement of existing products. The
Company spent approximately $33 million annually in each of the last three years
on product development.
In the third quarter of 1998, the Company began the implementation of
restructuring measures to reduce costs and improve operating efficiencies. These
measures included the elimination or consolidation of approximately 150
positions, the majority of which were product development. As a result, product
development expenses in the foreseeable future will be lower than those
experienced in the recent past. The Company believes that its comparatively high
development spending in the prior years has expanded the number of meter module
products, enhanced module functionality and expanded network capabilities and
products. The Company believes it has reduced spending in a manner that allows
the Company to quickly respond to upturns in industry activity.
The Company's future success will depend in part on its ability to continue to
design and manufacture new competitive products, as well as to continue to
enhance its Network and other AMR products. There can be no assurance that the
Company will not experience unforeseen problems or delays with respect to its
product development efforts. Delays in the availability of new and enhanced
products could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations. See "Certain Risk
Factors--Dependence on New Product Development."
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Itron owns or licenses numerous United States, Canadian and foreign patents and
has filed various patent applications. These patents cover a range of
technologies for meter reading, portable handheld computer and
Page 17
AMR-related technologies. On October 3, 1996, the Company brought an action
in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota against
CellNet claiming infringement of its radio-based network AMR systems patent.
On January 28, 1999, the Court issued its decision on motions and cross
motions for summary judgement that had previously been filed by the Company
and CellNet related to this action. In its decision, the Court granted the
Company's motion on the issue of validity of its patent and denied CellNet's
motions on invalidity. The Court granted CellNet's motion on the issue of
non-infringement and denied the Company's motion on infringement. The Company
believes the non-infringement decision is incorrect and that is has
substantial grounds for an appeal from any judgment that may be entered,
should the Company decide to pursue that option. See "Legal Proceedings." The
Company also relies on copyrights to protect its proprietary software and
documentation. The Company has registered trademarks for most of its major
product lines in the United States and many foreign countries.
While the Company believes that its patents, trademarks and other intellectual
property have significant value, there can be no assurance that these patents or
trademarks, or any patents or trademarks issued in the future, will provide
meaningful competitive advantages. The Company believes that its continued
success will be based on continued excellence and innovation, market knowledge,
technical and marketing capabilities, existing product relationships with
utilities and a fundamental commitment to customer service excellence. See
"Certain Risk Factors--Intellectual Property."
FCC REGULATION
Certain of the Company's products made for use in the United States use radio
frequencies, the access to and use of which are regulated by the FCC pursuant to
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. In general, a radio station license
issued by the FCC is required in order to operate a radio transmitter. The FCC
issues these licenses for a fixed term, and the licenses must be periodically
renewed. Because of interference constraints, the FCC can generally issue only a
limited number of radio station licenses for a particular frequency band in any
one area.
Although radio licenses generally are required for radio stations, Part 15 of
the FCC's rules permit certain low-power radio devices ("Part 15 devices") to
operate on an unlicensed basis. Part 15 devices are designed to be used in
frequencies licensed to and used by others. Such licensed users have
preferential status within their respective frequencies. Part 15 devices are not
permitted to cause harmful interference with such preferred uses and must be
designed to accept interference from licensed radio devices. The Company's radio
meter modules transmit information back to either the Company's handheld, mobile
or fixed network AMR reading devices in the 910-920 MHz band pursuant to these
rules.
Itron's products are designed to eliminate virtually all interference to other
frequency users, while still enabling a complete and accurate read from its
radio meter modules. However, if the Company were unable to eliminate harmful
interference caused by its Part 15 devices through technical or other means, the
Company or its customers could be required to cease operations in the band in
the locations affected by the harmful interference. Further, in the event that
the unlicensed frequencies used by the Company and its customers become
unacceptably crowded or restrictive, and no additional frequencies are
allocated, the Company's business could be materially adversely affected.
In late February 1997, the FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rule Making seeking
comments concerning the rules for multiple address systems ("MAS"). The Company
uses licensed MAS frequencies to interrogate or "wake up" its meter modules. The
FCC is proposing to change the method for licensing some MAS frequencies from
individual site licenses to wide area licenses and to conduct auctions for
mutually exclusive applications in some MAS frequency bands. The FCC is
confining the use of the MAS frequencies used by the Company to "private" use
and has instituted a freeze on accepting applications proposing to use the
frequencies for subscriber-based services. The freeze does not affect license
applications for private operations.
Page 18
Although the Company's customers generally hold the licenses for the MAS
frequencies used in connection with the Company's products that the utility
purchases, in limited instances the Company has applied to hold such licenses in
its own name. For a time it appeared that the FCC's freeze might prevent the
Company (but not the Company's customers) from applying for additional multiple
address licenses while the FCC rule making is pending because the FCC might deem
the Company to be providing subscriber-based services. Based on the Memorandum
Opinion and Order, DA 98-163, adopted by the FCC on March 4, 1998, however, the
company now believes it will be permitted to apply for additional multiple
address licenses. Pursuant to the March 1998 decision, the FCC will not consider
the Company to be providing subscriber-based services if it uses its system to
collect utility consumption information that it furnishes to one of its
customers. While the Company does not believe that the proposed changes to the
method of MAS frequencies will prevent it or its customers from obtaining
necessary licenses, there can be no assurance that the rule changes will be
adopted as proposed or that they will not have a material adverse effect on the
ability of the Company or its customers to receive necessary licenses.
The Company also has been issued a renewable nationwide FCC license to operate
in the 1427-1432 MHz band. With the exception of meter modules that operate in
the 910-920 MHz band as described above, the Company's Fixed Network products
operate within this band. This frequency band currently is under the exclusive
control of the federal government, which has consented to the FCC's issuance of
a license for Itron's use of the band. Current government use of the band is
limited to a discrete number of well-defined locations, and the Company believes
the secondary nature of its license does not have a material impact on its
business.
The 1427-1432 MHz band is scheduled to be transferred from exclusive federal
government jurisdiction to the FCC in 1999. The continued government use of the
frequency will extend through 2004, at which time the frequency will be subject
to auction. The FCC has issued a report stating that rule makings in this band
will not be initiated until the year 2006. To date the FCC's approach has been
to "grandfather" incumbent users and permit their continued operation, or,
alternatively, to provide a period for incumbents to make a transition to other
frequencies, with the auction winners having to compensate the incumbent users
for relocation expenses. However, there can be no assurance that the FCC will
follow precedent in this respect. The Company believes that it may have a
significant installed base of products operating in the 1427-1432 MHz band by
the time the band becomes subject to auction. Consequently, the Company believes
that it would be difficult for any potential bidder to overcome the public
interest in the Company's continued use of the spectrum on behalf of the utility
industry and that it likely would be cost-prohibitive for any potential bidder
to provide compensation to the Company for relocation of the installed base.
Further, the Company believes that commercial demand for the 1427-1432 MHz band
is likely to be relatively low due to its proximity to a worldwide exclusion
zone of radio astronomy frequencies that may not be used for any commercial
purposes.
The regulatory environment the Company operates in is subject to change. There
can be no assurance that the FCC or Congress will not take regulatory actions in
the future that would have a material adverse effect on the Company. See
"Certain Risk Factors--Availability and Regulation of Radio Spectrum." The
Company is also subject to regulatory requirements in international markets.
These regulations, which vary by country, require modifications to the Company's
products, including operating on different frequencies with different power
specifications.
MANUFACTURING
The Company manufactures meter modules, Network components and other AMR
products, as well as certain handheld computers and peripheral equipment. The
Company's primary manufacturing objective is to design and produce
cost-effective, high-quality meter modules and other Network components
utilizing high-volume automation equipment. The Company's primary manufacturing
facilities are located in Spokane, Washington and Waseca, Minnesota. The Company
currently has the capacity to produce over 4.6 million meter modules
Page 19
annually on a two-shift basis. With the addition of a third shift and certain
ancillary equipment, the Company has the capacity to produce approximately
7.0 million meter modules annually. In the first half of 1996, the Company
expanded its manufacturing capacity in Spokane through the installation of
high-speed automation and test equipment in order to support the anticipated
growth in meter module and CCU production. Because this anticipated growth
did not materialize, the Company currently has excess manufacturing capacity,
which has resulted in an increase in cost of sales per unit.
The Company's Waseca manufacturing facility produces all of the Company's gas
and water meter modules, data collection units used in Mobile AMR and handheld
devices used for AMR meter module installation and programming. The Company's
Waseca operations are highly automated and are designed for high-volume
manufacturing. The key manufacturing processes for AMR meter modules produced in
Waseca include a ceramic board processing facility, automated surface mount
placement equipment and both passive and active laser tuning equipment.
The Company's Spokane manufacturing facility, designed for manufacturing
flexibility and automation, is responsible for electric meter module, CCU and
NCN production. The key processes include automated surface mount placement
equipment, laser- tuning equipment and automated test capabilities. The Spokane
facility is also responsible for manufacturing certain handheld systems and
peripheral equipment, as well as other lower-volume AMR products, and is the
primary repair facility for the Company's handheld systems products.
The Company has installed extensive automated testing equipment in both its
manufacturing facilities to ensure quality control and process repeatability.
The Company's testing includes both visual inspection and automated testing of
technical parameters established for each of its products. The Company's quality
control equipment also includes a sophisticated information system that collects
data from its testing equipment and provides extensive reports and analyses of
such data. This information system permits the Company to promptly identify
potential problems or weaknesses in its manufacturing processes. The Company has
been ISO 9000 certified since 1993 and received ISO 9002 re-certification of its
Spokane facility in April 1996 and received ISO 9002 certification of its Waseca
facility during 1998.
Certain of the Company's handheld systems products, telephone modules and
international meter module products are manufactured for the Company by third
parties.
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC OPERATIONS
The Company's foreign operations consist of three consolidated subsidiaries as
well as international distributors. Subsidiary operations are located in
Reading, England; Vienne, France; and Sydney, Australia. These offices are
responsible for all utility sales and customer support within their respective
countries. To reach the broader international market, the Company conducts sales
through distributors appointed in approximately 45 other countries. For more
information on the Company's international operations see Note 16 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.
BACKLOG OF ORDERS AND INVENTORY
The twelve month revenue backlog of unshipped factory orders at the end of 1998
and 1997 was approximately $85 million and $145 million, respectively. The
Company expects that substantially all of the orders in backlog at the end of
1998 will be shipped during 1999. In addition, the Company has multi-year
contracts to supply radio meter modules and multi-year outsourcing arrangements
with several customers. Total backlog, including multi-year contracts and other
booked revenues beyond the next twelve months, was $337 million and $407 million
at December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively. Inventories at December 31, 19987
and 1997 were $20.7 million and $32.0 million, respectively. While backlog is
one indicator of future revenues for the Company, the Company's backlog
fluctuates from quarter-end to quarter-end primarily as a result of the timing
of large
Page 20
contracts. Recently, the Company expanded its distribution channels for
smaller utilities and municipalities. To the extent that future revenues are
derived from this segment of the market, which typically has a smaller order
size that may book and ship within the same quarter, or from service
offerings verses product sales, backlog may not be as reliable an indicator
of near-term revenues.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS
In the ordinary course of its business, the Company uses metals, solvents, and
similar materials which are stored on site. The waste created by use of these
materials is transported off site on a regular basis by a state-registered waste
hauler. Although the Company is not aware of any material claim or investigation
with respect to these activities, there can be no assurance that such a claim
may not arise in the future or that the cost of complying with governmental
regulations in the future will not have a material adverse effect on the
Company.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 1998, the Company employed 1,127 full-time persons: 379 in
manufacturing, 280 in product development, 222 in sales and marketing, 102 in
customer service and support and 144 in finance and administration. Of these
employees, 76 were located in Europe, 19 in Australia and the remainder in the
United States. The Company continues to recruit and seeks to maintain highly
qualified management, marketing, technical and administrative personnel. None of
the Company's employees is represented by a labor union. The Company has not
experienced any work stoppages and considers its employee relations to be good.
OTHER
Itron does not have any contracts with the federal government. The Company's
business is not significantly seasonal.
CERTAIN RISK FACTORS
DEPENDENCE ON UTILITY INDUSTRY; UNCERTAINTY RESULTING FROM MERGERS AND
ACQUISITIONS AND REGULATORY REFORM: The Company derives substantially all of its
revenues from sales of its products and services to the utility industry. The
Company has experienced variability of operating results, on both an annual and
a quarterly basis, due primarily to utility purchasing patterns and delays of
purchasing decisions as a result of mergers and acquisitions in the utility
industry and changes or potential changes in the state and federal regulatory
frameworks within which the electric utility industry operates.
The utility industry, both domestic and foreign, is generally characterized by
long budgeting, purchasing and regulatory process cycles that can take up to
several years to complete. The Company's utility customers typically issue
requests for quotes and proposals, establish evaluation committees, review
different technical options with vendors, analyze performance and cost/benefit
justifications and perform a regulatory review, in addition to applying the
normal budget approval process within a utility. Purchases of the Company's
products are, to a substantial extent, deferrable in the event that utilities
reduce capital expenditures as a result of mergers and acquisitions, pending or
unfavorable regulatory decisions, poor revenues due to weather conditions,
rising interest rates or general economic downturns, among other factors.
The domestic electric utility industry is currently the focus of regulatory
reform initiatives in virtually every state, which initiatives have resulted in
significant uncertainty for industry participants and raised concerns regarding
assets that would not be considered for recovery through ratepayer charges.
Consequently, many utilities have delayed purchasing decisions that involve
significant capital commitments. While the Company expects some states will act
on these regulatory reform initiatives in the near term, and some states have,
there can be no assurance that the current regulatory uncertainty will be
resolved in the near future or that the advent
Page 21
of new regulatory frameworks will not have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover,
in part as a result of the competitive pressures in the utility industry
arising from the regulatory reform process, many utility companies are
pursuing merger and acquisition strategies. The Company has experienced
considerable delays in purchase decisions by utilities that have become
parties to merger or acquisition transactions. Typically, such purchase
decisions are put on hold indefinitely when merger negotiations begin. The
pattern of merger and acquisition activity among utilities may continue for
the foreseeable future. If such merger and acquisition activity continues at
its current rate or intensifies, the Company's revenues may continue to be
materially adversely affected.
Certain state regulatory agencies are considering the "unbundling" of metering
and certain other services from the basic transport aspects of electricity
distribution. Unbundling includes the identification of the separate costs of
metering and other services and may extend to subjecting metering and other
services to competition. For example, in California, the CPUC issued a decision
that subjects metering, billing and related services to competitive supply.
Other states, including Arizona, Nevada and Pennsylvania, are adopting similar
measures. The discontinuance of a utility's metering monopoly could have a
significant impact upon the manner in which the Company markets and sells its
products and services. As the customer for the Company's products and services
could change from utilities alone to utilities and their competitive suppliers
of metering services, the Company could also be required to modify its products
and services (or develop new products and services) to meet the needs of the
participants in a competitive meter services market.
RECENT OPERATING LOSSES: The Company experienced operating losses in certain
quarters of each of the past three years and may experience quarterly losses in
1999. There can be no assurance that the Company will maintain consistent
profitability on a quarterly or annual basis. The Company has experienced
variability of quarterly results and believes its quarterly results will
continue to fluctuate as a result of factors such as size and timing of
significant customer orders, delays in customer purchasing decisions, timing and
levels of operating expenses, shifts in product or sales channel mix, and
increased competition. The Company's operating margins have been and are
currently being adversely affected by excess manufacturing capacity. The Company
expects competition in the AMR market to increase as current competitors and new
market entrants introduce competitive products. Operating margins also may be
affected by other factors. For example, the Company has entered into large
Network Contracts with Duquesne and Virginia Power with margins significantly
below the Company's historical margins due to the early stage of the Company's
Network products at the time those systems were shipped and installed, and due
to competitive pressures.
CUSTOMER CONCENTRATION: In some years, the Company's revenues are concentrated
with a limited number of customers, the identity of which changes over time. The
Company is from time to time dependent on large, multiyear contracts that are
subject to cancellation or rescheduling by customers. Cancellation or
postponement of one or more of these contracts would have a material adverse
effect on the Company.
DEPENDENCE ON NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: The Company has made, and expects to
continue to make, substantial investments in technology development. The
Company's future success will depend, in part, on its ability to continue to
design and manufacture new competitive products and to enhance its existing
products. This product development will require continued investment in order to
maintain the Company's market position. There can be no assurance that
unforeseen problems will not occur with respect to the development, performance
or market acceptance of the Company's technologies or products. Development
schedules for technology products are subject to uncertainty, and there can be
no assurance that the Company will meet its product development schedules. The
Company has previously experienced significant delays and cost overruns in the
development of new products, and there can be no assurance that delays or cost
overruns will not be experienced in the future. Delays in new product
development, including software, can result from a number of causes, including
changes in product definition during the development stage, changes in customer
requirements, initial failures of products or unexpected behavior of products
under certain conditions, failure of third-party-supplied components to meet
specifications or lack of availability of such components, unplanned
Page 22
interruptions caused by problems with existing products that can result in
reassignment of product development resources, and other factors. Delays in the
availability of new products, or the inability to successfully develop products
that meet customer needs, could result in the loss of revenue or increased
service and warranty costs, any of which would have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
DEPENDENCE ON THE INSTALLATION, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE OF AMR SYSTEMS
PURSUANT TO OUTSOURCING CONTRACTS: A portion of the Company's business consists
of outsourcing, wherein the Company installs, operates and maintains AMR systems
that it may continue to own in order to provide meter reading and other related
services to utilities and their customers. The Company currently has three
outsourcing contracts. The largest of the contracts, which is with Duquesne
Light Company, involves Network AMR. The other two contracts involve Mobile AMR
solutions and, in one case, the AMR system has been sold on a turnkey basis.
These long-term outsourcing contracts are subject to cancellation or termination
in certain circumstances in the event of a material and continuing failure on
the Company's part to meet contractual performance standards on a consistent
basis over agreed time periods.
INCREASING COMPETITION: The Company faces competitive pressures from a variety
of companies in each of the markets it serves. In the radio-based fixed network
AMR market, companies such as CellNet, Whisper and Schlumberger currently offer
alternative solutions to the utility industry and compete aggressively with the
Company. The emerging market for network AMR systems for the utility industry,
together with the potential market for other applications once such network
systems are in place, have led communications, electronics and utility companies
to begin developing various systems, some of which currently compete, and others
of which may in the future compete, with the Company's Network AMR system. These
competitors can be expected to offer a variety of technologies and
communications approaches, as well as meter reading, installation and other
services, to utilities and other industry participants.
The Company believes that several large suppliers of equipment, services or
technology to the utility industry may be developing competitive products for
the AMR market. In addition, large meter manufacturers could expand their
current product and services offerings so as to compete directly with the
Company. To stimulate demand, and due to increasing competition in the AMR
market, the Company has from time to time lowered prices on its AMR products and
may continue to do so in the future. The Company also anticipates increasing
competition with respect to the features and functions of such products. In the
handheld systems market, the Company has encountered competition from a number
of companies, resulting in margin pressures in the maturing domestic handheld
systems business.
Many of the Company's present and potential future competitors have, or may
have, substantially greater financial, marketing, technical and manufacturing
resources, and in some cases, greater name recognition and experience than the
Company. The Company's competitors may be able to respond more quickly to new or
emerging technologies and changes in customer requirements or to devote greater
resources to the development, promotion and sale of their products and services
than the Company. In addition, current and potential competitors may make
strategic acquisitions or establish cooperative relationships among themselves
or with third parties that increase their ability to address the needs of the
Company's prospective customers. Accordingly, it is possible that new
competitors or alliances among current and new competitors may emerge and
rapidly gain significant market share. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to compete successfully against current and future
competitors, and any failure to do so would have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations and cash
flow.
UNCERTAINTY OF MARKET ACCEPTANCE OF NEW TECHNOLOGY: The AMR market is evolving,
and it is difficult to predict the future growth rate and size of this market
with any assurance. The AMR market has not grown as quickly in recent years as
the Company expected. Further market acceptance of the Company's new AMR
products and systems, such as its Fixed Network products, will depend in part on
the Company's ability to
Page 23
demonstrate cost effectiveness, and strategic and other benefits, of the
Company's products and systems, the utilities' ability to justify such
expenditures and the direction and pace of federal and state regulatory
reform actions. In the event that the utility industry does not adopt the
Company's technology or does not adopt it as quickly as the Company expects,
the Company's future results will be materially and adversely affected.
International market demand for AMR systems varies by country based on such
factors as the regulatory and business environment, labor costs and other
economic conditions.
RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE: The telecommunications industry, including the data
transmission segment thereof, currently is experiencing rapid and dramatic
technology advances. The advent of computer-linked electronic networks, fiber
optic transmission, advanced data digitization technology, cellular and
satellite communications capabilities, and private communications networks have
greatly expanded communications capabilities and market opportunities. Many
companies from diverse industries are actively seeking solutions for the
transmission of data over traditional communications mediums, including
radio-based and cellular telephone networks. Competitors may be capable of
offering significant cost savings or other benefits to the Company's customers.
There can be no assurance that technological advances will not cause the
Company's technology, and potentially its inventory, to become obsolete or
uneconomical.
AVAILABILITY AND REGULATION OF RADIO SPECTRUM:. A significant portion of the
Company's products use radio spectrum and in the United States are subject to
regulation by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (the "FCC"). In the
past, the FCC has adopted changes to the requirements for equipment using radio
spectrum, and there can be no assurance that the FCC or Congress will not adopt
additional changes in the future. Licenses for radio frequencies must be
renewed, and there can be no assurance that any license granted to the Company
or its customers will be renewed on acceptable terms, if at all. The Company has
committed, and will continue to commit, significant resources to the development
of products that use particular radio frequencies. Action by the FCC could
require modifications to the Company's products, and there can be no assurance
that the Company would be able to modify its products to meet such requirements,
that it would not experience delays in completing such modifications or that the
cost of such modifications would not have a material adverse effect on the
Company's future financial condition and results of operations.
The Company's radio-based products currently employ both licensed and unlicensed
radio frequencies. There must be sufficient radio spectrum allocated by the FCC
for the use the Company intends. As to the licensed frequencies, there is some
risk that there may be insufficient available frequencies in some markets to
sustain the Company's planned operations. The unlicensed frequencies are
available for a wide variety of uses and are not entitled to protection from
interference by other users. In the event that the unlicensed frequencies become
unacceptably crowded or restrictive, and no additional frequencies are
allocated, the Company's business will be materially adversely affected.
The Company is also subject to regulatory requirements in international markets
that vary by country. To the extent the Company wishes to introduce products
designed for use in the United States or another country into a new market, such
products may require significant modification or redesign in order to meet
frequency requirements and power specifications. Further, in some countries,
limitations on frequency availability or the cost of making necessary
modifications may preclude the Company from selling its products.
DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL: The Company's success depends in large part upon
its ability to retain highly qualified technical and management personnel, the
loss of one or more of whom could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business. The Company has retained executive search firms to assist in
finding a new CEO and President, a position currently held by Johnny Humphreys,
who is also Chairman. While Mr. Humphreys intends to retain his current
responsibilities until a successor is selected, and will be actively involved in
the affairs of the Company for an indefinite period, the Company's success will
be dependent on the selection of a qualified eventual successor to Mr.
Humphreys. The Company's success also depends upon its ability to continue to
attract and retain highly qualified personnel in all disciplines. There can be
no assurance
Page 24
that the Company will be successful in hiring or retaining the requisite
personnel.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: While the Company believes that its patents, trademarks
and other intellectual property have significant value, there can be no
assurance that these patents and trademarks, or any patents or trademarks issued
in the future, will provide meaningful competitive advantages. There can be no
assurance that the Company's patents or pending applications will not be
challenged, invalidated or circumvented by competitors or that rights granted
thereunder will provide meaningful proprietary protection. Despite the Company's
efforts to safeguard and maintain its proprietary rights, there can also be no
assurance that such rights will remain protected or that the Company's
competitors will not independently develop patentable technologies that are
substantially equivalent or superior to the Company's technologies.
DEPENDENCE ON KEY VENDORS AND INTERNAL MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES: Certain of
the Company's products, subassemblies and components are procured from a single
source, and others are procured only from limited sources. In particular, the
Company currently obtains the majority of its handheld devices from one vendor
located in the United Kingdom. The Company's reliance on such components or on
sole- or limited-source vendors or subcontractors involves certain risks,
including the possibility of shortages and reduced control over delivery
schedules, manufacturing capability, quality and costs. In addition, the Company
may be affected by worldwide shortages of certain components, such as memory
chips. A significant price increase in certain of such components or
subassemblies could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of
operations. Although the Company believes alternative suppliers of these
products, subassemblies and components are available, in the event of supply
problems from the Company's sole- or limited-source vendors or subcontractors,
the Company's inability to develop alternative sources of supply quickly or
cost-effectively could materially impair the Company's ability to manufacture
its products and, therefore, could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. In the event
of a significant interruption in production at the Company's manufacturing
facilities, considerable time and effort could be required to establish an
alternative production line. Depending on which production lines were affected,
such a break in production would have a material adverse effect on the Company's
business, financial condition and results of operations.
DEPENDENCE ON OUTSOURCING FINANCING: The Company intends to utilize limited
recourse, long-term, fixed-rate project financing for its future outsourcing
contracts. It has established Itron Finance, Inc. as a wholly owned Delaware
subsidiary and plans to establish bankruptcy-remote, single and special purpose
subsidiaries of Itron Finance, Inc. for this purpose. Although the Company
completed a project financing facility for an AMR project in 1997, there can be
no assurance that it will be able to effect other project financing facilities.
If the Company is unable to utilize limited recourse, long-term, fixed-rate
project financing for its outsourcing contracts, its borrowing capacity will be
reduced, and it may be subject to the negative effects of floating interest
rates if it cannot hedge this exposure.
INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS: International sales and operations may be subject to
risks such as the imposition of government controls, political instability,
export license requirements, restrictions on the export of critical technology,
currency exchange rate fluctuations, generally longer receivables collection
periods, trade restrictions, changes in tariffs, difficulties in staffing and
managing international operations, potential insolvency of international dealers
and difficulty in collecting accounts receivable. In addition, the laws of
certain countries do not protect the Company's products to the same extent as do
the laws of the United States. There can be no assurance that these factors will
not have a material adverse effect on the Company's future international sales
and, consequently, on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations.
ANTI-TAKEOVER CONSIDERATIONS: The Company has the authority to issue 10 million
shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the powers,
designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional or other rights
thereof without any further vote or action by the Company's shareholders. The
issuance of preferred stock could dilute the voting power of holders of Common
Stock and could have the effect of delaying or preventing a
Page 25
change in control of the Company. Certain provisions of the Company's
Restated Articles of Incorporation, Restated Bylaws, shareholder rights plan
and employee benefit plans, as well as Washington law, may operate in a
manner that could discourage or render more difficult a takeover of the
Company or the removal of management or may limit the price certain investors
may be willing to pay in the future for shares of Common Stock.
YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE: The Company instituted a Year 2000 program in 1997 to
address Year 2000 issues (e.g. issues resulting from the inability of certain
computer and non-information technology systems to properly recognize
date-sensitive information when the year changes from 1999 to 2000). The Company
has identified potential risks related to the Year 2000 problem in three areas:
(1) the Company's suppliers, (2) the internally developed software and hardware
that the Company sells, and (3) the Company's internal software and hardware
systems. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" for the steps that the Company has taken to mitigate the
Year 2000 problem.
The Company believes that the reasonably most likely worst-case scenario it
might confront with respect to Year 2000 issues has to do with the possible
failure of third party systems over which the Company has no control. These
systems may include, but are not limited to, power and telecommunications
services. The Company is in the process of developing contingency plans for any
unforeseen critical business systems issues arising from the year 2000 problem.
Some problems, however, may remain uncorrected, and could materially adversely
affect the Company's business, financial condition and operating results. The
Company may also experience reduced sales of its products as potential current
customers reduce their budgets for meter-reading and data management solutions
because of increased expenditures on their own Year 2000 compliance efforts. The
Company does not anticipate that it will incur further significant operating
expenses or be required to invest heavily in computer systems improvements to be
year 2000 compliant. Total costs for the year 2000 issue are estimated to be $1
million to $1.5 million, of which approximately $1 million has been spent to
date. However, as the compliance process is not yet complete, uncertainty exists
concerning total costs associated with year 2000 compliance. Any year 2000
compliance problem of either the Company or its collaborative partners could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition
and results of operations.
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE: The Company is subject to various federal and state
governmental regulations related to occupational safety and health, labor, and
wage practices as well as federal, state, and local governmental regulations
relating to the storage, discharge, handling, emission, generation, manufacture,
and disposal of toxic or other hazardous substances used to produce the
Company's products. The Company believes that it is currently in material
compliance with such regulations. Failure to comply with current or future
environmental regulations could result in the imposition of substantial fines on
the Company, suspension of production, alteration of its production processes,
cessation of operations, or other actions which could materially and adversely
affect the Company's business, financial condition, and results of operations.
In the ordinary course of its business, the Company uses metals, solvents, and
similar materials, which are stored on site. The waste created by use of these
materials is transported off site on a regular basis by a state-registered waste
hauler. Although the Company is not aware of any material claim or investigation
with respect to these activities, there can be no assurance that such a claim
will not arise in the future, or that the cost of complying with governmental
regulations in the future, will not have a material adverse effect on the
Company.
Page 26
ITEM 1A: EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
Set forth below are the names, ages, titles with the Company, and principal
occupations and employment for the last five years of the persons serving as
executive officers of the Company as of March 1, 1999.
NAME AGE POSITION
---- --- --------
Johnny M. Humphreys 61 Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer
Klaus O. Huschke 65 Vice President, International Operations
Robert D. Neilson 42 Vice President, Strategy and Business Development
LeRoy D. Nosbaum 52 Vice President, Residential Systems
Michael J. O'Callaghan 59 Vice President, Corporate Relationships
Larry A. Panattoni 60 Vice President, Corporate Services
David G. Remington 57 Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Dennis A. Shepherd 50 Vice President, C&I Systems
Russell E. Vanos 42 Vice President, Utility and Energy Services Solutions
S. Edward White 48 Executive Vice President and Director
Johnny M. Humphreys has been Chairman of the Board since May 6, 1998. He has
been President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Itron since 1987.
From 1975 to 1986, Mr. Humphreys was employed by Datachecker Systems, Inc.
("Datachecker"), a subsidiary of National Semiconductor Corporation ("NSC"),
in various executive positions, including President from 1980 to 1986. In
1986, Mr. Humphreys was appointed Senior Vice President of NSC's Information
Systems Group and was responsible for strategic planning for three operating
divisions, National Advanced Systems, Microcomputer Products Group and
Datachecker.
Klaus O. Huschke has been Vice President, International Operations of Itron
since 1987. From 1982 to 1987, Mr. Huschke was Vice President, International
Operations at Datachecker. Prior to joining Datachecker he spent 21 years in a
variety of sales and management positions with Anker Data Systems Corporation, a
German point-of-sale manufacturer, in its German, Italian and American
headquarters.
Robert D. Neilson has been Vice President, Strategy and Business Development
of Itron since October 1997. Previously, Mr. Neilson had been Vice President,
Marketing since 1993. Mr. Neilson joined Itron in 1983 as manager of market
development and planning, and served as Director of Marketing from 1987 to
1993. As Director of Marketing, Mr. Neilson's responsibilities included
marketing for AMRplus Partners.
LeRoy D. Nosbaum joined the Company as a Vice President in March 1996 and was
named Vice President, Residential Systems in July, 1998. Before joining Itron,
Mr. Nosbaum was Executive Vice President and General Manager of Metricom, Inc.'s
UtiliNet Division, and held a variety of positions with Metricom from 1989 to
1996. Prior to joining Metricom, Mr. Nosbaum was employed by Schlumberger, Ltd.
and Sangamo Electric for 20 years, most recently as General Manager of the
Integrated Metering Systems Division of Electricity Management--North America,
an operating group of Schlumberger.
Page 27
Michael J. O'Callaghan was named Vice President, Corporate Relationships in July
1998. Mr. O'Callaghan joined Itron in 1987 as Vice President, Utility Systems.
Before joining Itron, Mr. O'Callaghan was with NSC for nine years in various
sales and marketing management positions most recently as Vice President, Sales
of NSC's microcomputer division. Prior to NSC, he was Vice President, Sales of
Byvideo, Inc., a manufacturer of computer-based video kiosks for remote
purchases. Prior to joining Byvideo, Inc., he was Vice President, Sales and
Marketing for three years of Onyx Systems, Inc., a manufacturer of UNIX-based
microcomputers..
Larry A. Panattoni was named Vice President, Corporate Services of Itron in
October 1997. Mr. Panattoni joined Itron in 1990 as Vice President,
Manufacturing. He previously spent 21 years in financial and operation
management positions of increasing responsibility with NSC, most recently as
Vice President of Administration. He was also with Datachecker as Vice
President of Manufacturing Operations and Administration, and Vice President
of Finance and Administration..
David G. Remington joined Itron in early 1996 as Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer. Before joining Itron, Mr. Remington was an investment
banker and Managing Director at Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. or Dean Witter
Realty Inc. from 1988 to 1996. Previously, he spent 15 years in the financial
services industry and two years with a high technology firm. During this
time, he was Vice President-Finance, and later President, of Steiner
Financial Corporation and the founding President of one if its subsidiaries.
Dennis A. Shepherd was named Vice President, C & I Systems in July 1998. Mr.
Shepherd joined Itron as Vice President of Marketing and Sales of Utility
Translation Systems, Inc. in March 1996, when Itron acquired UTS. Mr.
Shepherd has worked for UTS for 10 years. Prior to joining UTS, Mr. Shepherd
worked as an industrial engineer and marketing representative for
Westinghouse Electric Corporation.
Russell E. Vanos has been Vice President, Utility and Energy Services
Solutions of Itron since October 1997. Previously, Mr. Vanos had been the
Western area sales director for Itron since 1988. Mr. Vanos joined Itron in
1980 as a field service representative installing the first generation of
Itron EMR systems, and has served in numerous management positions with
implementation, customer service and sales responsibilities.
S. Edward White is currently Executive Vice President of the Company. Mr.
White joined Itron as President of Utility Translation Systems, Inc. in March
1996, when Itron acquired UTS. Mr. White has been a director of the Company
since 1996. Mr. White has been President of UTS since its inception in 1980.
Prior to founding UTS, Mr. White held numerous engineering and marketing
management positions with Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Meter Division,
for 13 years.
ITEM 2: PROPERTIES
The Company's headquarters are located in approximately 137,000 square feet of
owned space in Spokane, Washington, including 50,000 square feet of
manufacturing space. The Company also owns a building adjacent to its Spokane
facility with approximately 28,000 square feet of manufacturing and office
space. In Raleigh, North Carolina, the Company owns approximately 24,000 square
feet used for all activities related to its UTS subsidiary. In Waseca,
Minnesota, the Company leases 86,000 square feet of manufacturing and
engineering space. The Company also has facilities in Saratoga, California; and
Boise, Idaho with approximately 44,000 square feet of total leased space which
are primarily used for product development. In late 1998, the Company began
relocating activities from its facility in Lakeville, Minnesota to the Waseca
facility and is currently looking to sub-lease it's Lakeville facility space,
which is approximately 32,000 square feet. The Company also has approximately
54,000 square feet of leased space in various cities in North America for sales
and service including 14,000 square feet of leased space in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania which is used for the Company's operations and maintenance for its
outsourcing activities at Duquesne. Additionally, the Company leases sales
offices in the United Kingdom, France and Australia and in various cities
throughout the United States. The
Page 28
Company's 1998 aggregate domestic and international base monthly lease
obligation was approximately $175,000. All the above facilities are in good
condition and the Company believes its current manufacturing and other
properties will be sufficient to support its operations for the foreseeable
future.
ITEM 3: LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On October 3, 1996, Itron filed a patent infringement suit against CellNet Data
Systems ("CellNet") in the United States District Court for the District of
Minnesota, alleging that CellNet is infringing the Company's United States
Patent No. 5,553,094, entitled "Radio Communication Network for Remote Data
Generating Stations," issued on September 3, 1996. The Company is seeking
injunctive relief as well as monetary damages, costs and attorneys' fees. On
January 28, 1999, the Court issued its decision on motions and cross motions for
summary judgement that had previously been filed by the Company and CellNet. In
its decision, the Court granted the Company's motion on the issue of validity of
its Patent and denied CellNet's motions on invalidity. The Court granted
CellNet's motion on the issue of non-infringement and denied the Company's
motion on infringement. The Company believes the non-infringement decision is
incorrect and that is has substantial grounds for an appeal from any judgment
that may be entered, should the Company decide to pursue that option. There can
be no assurance that the Company will prevail on an appeal in this action or,
even if it does prevail, that legal costs incurred by the Company in connection
therewith will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial
condition.
On April 29, 1997, Itron was served by CellNet with a complaint alleging patent
infringement. CellNet sought injunctive relief and damages. On November 2, 1998,
the Court granted Itron's motion for summary judgement ruling that none of the
accused Itron products infringed any of the asserted claims in CellNet's patent.
The final judgement has not yet been entered for this action and CellNet may
decide to appeal the decision. The Company would vigorously defend against any
such appeal.
On May 29, 1997, Itron and its President and Chief Executive Officer, Johnny M.
Humphreys, were served with a complaint alleging securities fraud filed by Mark
G. Epstein (EPSTEIN V ITRON, ET AL.) on his own behalf and alleged to be on
behalf of a class of all others similarly situated, in the U.S. District Court
for the Eastern District of Washington (Civil Action No. CS-97-214 RHW). The
complaint alleges, among other matters, that Itron and Mr. Humphreys violated
Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5
thereunder by making allegedly false statements regarding the development
status, performance and technological capabilities of Itron's Fixed Network AMR
system and regarding the suitability of Itron's encoder receiver transmitter
devices for use with an advanced Fixed Network AMR system. The complaint seeks
monetary damages, costs and attorneys' fees and unspecified equitable or
injunctive relief. The discovery phase of this lawsuit is continuing. The
Company believes it has good defenses to the claims alleged and intends to
defend itself vigorously against this action.
The Company and certain of its officers, directors and shareholders were
defendants in a proposed class action filed by a shareholder in the Superior
Court of the State of Washington for Spokane County. On July 31, 1998, the Court
issued a Memorandum Decision ruling that the Complaint failed to state a cause
of action. On September 2, 1998 the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice.
The Company is not involved in any other material legal proceedings.
ITEM 4: SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
No matters were submitted to a vote of shareholders of Itron during the fourth
quarter of 1998.
Page 29
PART II
ITEM 5: MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
MARKET INFORMATION FOR COMMON STOCK
Itron's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market. The following
table reflects the range of high and low closing sales prices for all four
quarters of 1998 and 1997 as reported by the NASDAQ National Market.
1998 1997
--------------------------------------------------------------
HIGH LOW HIGH LOW
--------------------------------------------------------------
First Quarter $21.69 $15.69 $24.75 $16.75
Second Quarter 20.63 12.75 27.44 19.25
Third Quarter 13.50 6.38 27.00 22.13
Fourth Quarter 9.50 4.63 26.63 15.25
HOLDERS
At February 26, 1999, there were approximately 600 holders of record of the
Company's Common Stock.
DIVIDENDS
The Company has never declared or paid cash dividends. The Company intends to
retain future earnings, if any, for the development of its business and does not
anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Prior to the merger
with the Company, UTS paid dividends of $200,000 for the year ended December 31,
1996.
Page 30
ITEM 6: SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands, except per share data) 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
- ------------------------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA
Revenues
AMR systems $163,613 $143,472 $129,576 $ 98,724 $ 65,009
Handheld systems 53,957 49,409 45,084 60,952 60,905
Outsourcing 23,832 23,236 2,924 1,659 --
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total revenues 241,402 216,117 177,584 161,335 125,914
Cost of revenues 164,599 135,359 104,708 89,596 69,481
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Gross profit 76,803 80,758 72,876 71,739 56,433
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing 26,668 29,613 28,847 20,054 17,159
Product development 33,493 32,220 33,285 27,080 18,071
General and administrative 12,834 12,064 10,970 7,589 5,727
Amortization of intangibles 2,261 2,190 1,542 2,336 2,266
Restructuring charge 3,930 -- -- -- --
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total operating expenses 79,186 76,087 74,644 57,059 43,223
Operating income (loss) (2,383) 4,671 (1,768) 14,680 13,210
Other income (expense)
Equity in affiliates (1,154) (1,120) (50) -- --
Gain on sale of business interests -- 2,000 -- -- --
Interest, net (6,508) (3,916) (316) 1,721 983
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total other income (expense) (7,662) (3,036) (366) 1,721 983
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Income (loss) before taxes (10,045) 1,635 (2,134) 16,401 14,193
Income tax (provision) benefit 3,820 (625) 670 (5,250) (3,930)
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net income (loss) $ (6,225) $1,010 $ (1,464) $ 11,151 $ 10,263
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
PER SHARE DATA
Basic net income (loss) per share $ (.42) $.07 $ (.11) $ .85 $ .86
Diluted net income (loss) per share (.42) .07 (.11) .81 .80
Weighted average shares outstanding 14,668 14,118 13,297 13,095 11,959
Diluted shares outstanding 14,668 14,562 13,297 13,775 12,851
BALANCE SHEET DATA
Working capital $ 54,230 $ 68,307 $ 26,239 $ 64,536 $ 63,357
Total assets 247,755 240,211 186,671 149,718 122,333
Total debt 92,197 73,814 39,502 5,668 391
Shareholders' equity 115,022 120,427 114,222 111,273 97,477
Page 31
ITEM 7: MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with
"Selected Consolidated Financial Information" and the Company's Consolidated
Financial Statements and Notes thereto.
OVERVIEW
Itron is a leading global provider of integrated systems solutions for
collecting, communicating, analyzing, and managing information about electric,
gas and water usage. The Company designs, develops, manufactures, markets,
installs and services hardware, software and integrated systems that enable
customers to obtain, analyze and use meter data. The Company's major product
lines include Automatic Meter Reading ("AMR") systems and Electronic Meter
Reading ("EMR") or Handheld systems. The Company both sells its products and
provides outsourcing services.
The Company's AMR solutions primarily utilize radio and telephone technology
to collect meter data and include Off-Site AMR, Mobile AMR and Network AMR
technology reading options. Off-Site AMR utilizes a radio device attached to
an Itron handheld computer that collects data from meters equipped with the
Company's radio meter modules. Mobile AMR uses a transceiver in a vehicle to
collect data from meters equipped with the Company's radio meter modules as
the vehicle passes by. The Company offers a number of Network AMR solutions
that utilize radio, telephone, cellular or a combination of these
technologies to collect and transmit meter information from a variety of
fixed locations. The Company's EMR systems product line includes the sale and
service of ruggedized handheld computers and supporting products that record
visually obtained meter data. Outsourcing services typically involve the
installation, operation and/or maintenance of meter reading systems to
provide meter information for billing and management purposes. Outsourcing
contracts usually cover long timeframes and typically involve contracts in
which either a customer owns the equipment and the Company provides meter
information for a specified fee, or the Company both owns and operates the
system.
The Company currently derives substantially all of its revenues from sales of
its products and services to utilities, however, the Company's business may
increasingly consist of sales to other utility industry participants such as
energy service providers, end user customers and others. The Company has
experienced variability of operating results on both an annual and a
quarterly basis due primarily to utility purchasing patterns and delays of
purchasing decisions. In recent years these delays have generally been a
result of changes or potential changes to the federal and state regulatory
frameworks within which the electric utility industry operates and mergers
and acquisitions in the utility industry.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
REVENUES
Total revenues for the Company increased $25.3 million, or 12%, to $241.4
million in 1998, compared with $216.1 million and $177.6 million in 1997 and
1996, respectively. The following table shows the Company's revenue and percent
increase from prior year by product line.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in millions) 1998 INCREASE 1997 INCREASE 1996
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMR systems $163.6 14% $143.5 11% $129.6
Handheld systems 54.0 9% 49.4 10% 45.1
Outsourcing 23.8 3% 23.2 695% 2.9
------ ------ ------
Total revenues $241.4 12% $216.1 22% $177.6
------ ------ ------
------ ------ ------
Page 32
AMR systems revenues increased $20.1 million, or 14%, in 1998 over the prior
year. The increased revenues were primarily the result of shipments to, and
installation of a large Network AMR system for, Virginia Power Company
("Virginia Power"). The Company signed a contract with Virginia Power in 1997
and began to roll out the system in early 1998. Substantially all shipments
under this contract were completed by the end of 1998. AMR systems revenues
increased $13.9 million, or 11%, in 1997 over 1996. The increased revenues were
derived from a large software contract with the Independent System Operator
("ISO") in California and sales of telephone-based systems from the Company's
DCI operations, which were acquired in April 1997. Sales of new AMR hardware and
software products introduced in late 1996 and 1997 also contributed to the
increase. Average selling prices for the Company's meter modules remained
relatively level in all three years and shipments of meter modules related to
product sales, not including shipments in support of outsourcing contracts, were
approximately 2.1 million, 2.3 million and 2.1 million in 1998, 1997 and 1996,
respectively. Revenue in the near term is expected to be driven by recently
released products for the water market, which will help offset potential
decreased sales in the electric market. The Company believes that AMR systems
revenues will grow over the longer term. However, this growth continues to
depend upon the timing and resolution of electric utility industry regulatory
reform issues in the United States, mergers and acquisitions in the utility
industry, acceptance of new products, development of international markets, and
other factors.
Handheld systems revenues increased $4.5 million, or 9%, in 1998 over 1997.
Handheld systems revenues were higher in 1998 than the prior year primarily
due to sales of the Company's new portable network ("PN") card for handheld
computers, a credit card sized radio device, which was released in the last
half of the year. 1998 also had a higher proportion of software and service
revenue than 1997. Handheld systems revenues for 1997 increased $4.3 million,
or 10%, from 1996 primarily as a result of a large international EMR sale to
Korean Electric Power Company ("KEPCo"). Handheld systems revenues have
declined from 25% of total Company revenues in 1996 to 22% in 1998. The
Company believes that revenues for handheld systems will continue to decline
as a percentage of total revenues as more utilities adopt and expand AMR
system deployments. Future handheld systems revenues are expected to be
derived primarily from domestic upgrade and replacement business and further
penetration into international markets.
The Company currently has three outsourcing contracts under which it is
recognizing revenue. Two of the contracts involve systems owned and operated
by the Company. The third contract entails only operations and maintenance
services for a system owned by a utility. For outsourcing contracts in which
the Company owns the equipment, the results of operations, applicable assets
and related debt are aggregated in the Company's Finance operations. These
contracts are classified under Finance operations because the required amount
of capital and debt is substantially different from the Company's normal
Manufacturing and Sales operations. The results of operations and related
assets and liabilities for these contracts are disclosed in more detail in
the Company's segment reporting in Note 16 of the accompanying financial
statements. Revenues for outsourcing contracts are recognized using the
cost-to-cost, percentage-of-completion method of long-term contract
accounting. Under this method the revenue recognized in any given period is
measured by the percentage of costs incurred to date to estimated total costs
for each contract times the total amount of revenue for each contract. For
more information on revenue recognition for outsourcing contracts, see Note 1
to the accompanying financial statements.
Outsourcing revenues in 1998 of $23.8 million remained fairly level with the
$23.2 million in 1997. The majority of outsourcing revenues for 1998 were
related to the Company's contract with the Duquesne Light Company
("Duquesne"). The Company had a substantial increase in outsourcing revenues
in 1997 over 1996, primarily due to initial revenue recognition under the
Duquesne contract and a Mobile AMR outsourcing agreement. Additionally,
outsourcing revenues in 1997 included revenue from a customer exercising its
option to convert its outsourcing contract to a sale. Effective December 31,
1998, the Company moved from the installation phase to the operations phase
of its contract with Duquesne, which allows for increased billings, according
to the terms of the contract. While such increased billings will not affect
the Company's reported revenues, increased cash payments from Duquesne will
improve the Company's cash flow. Outsourcing
Page 33
revenues are expected to decrease somewhat in 1999 from the level experienced
in 1998, both in terms of absolute dollars and as a percentage of total
revenues, unless the Company signs additional outsourcing contracts in 1999.
GROSS MARGIN
Total Company gross margin was 32% in 1998 compared to 37% in 1997 and 41% in
1996. The percentages in the table below reflect gross margin as a percentage of
corresponding revenue and the percentage change from the prior year.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCREASE INCREASE
1998 (DECREASE) 1997 (DECREASE) 1996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMR systems 28% (13%) 41% 0% 41%
Handheld systems 49% 16% 33% (9%) 42%
Outsourcing 16% (6%) 22% (8%) 30%
Total gross margin 32% (5%) 37% (4%) 41%
AMR systems margins were 28% of AMR systems revenues in 1998 compared to 41%
in 1997 and 1996. This margin decline is primarily the result of the
Company's contract with Virginia Power and a higher level of installation
activities, which tend to have lower margins, in the current year compared to
previous years. The lower margin contract with Virginia Power is driven by
the early life cycle status of the Company's network products and related
installation activities. The Company expects AMR systems margins to increase
in 1999 because the Company's contract with Virginia Power was substantially
complete by the end of 1998.
Handheld systems margins of 49% in 1998 were significantly better than the
33% experienced in 1997. The increased margins in 1998 were due to a higher
component of total revenues derived from software and services, which tend to
have higher margins, and a new higher margin hardware product. Additionally,
handheld systems margins were down in 1997 because of the lower than average
margin sale to KEPCo. The Company expects that handheld margins as a
percentage of revenues may decrease somewhat in 1999 from the level
experienced in 1998 as a result of lower service margins caused by new
warranty periods (during which the Company does not receive service revenue)
that the Company provides for customer upgrades. Handheld systems upgrades
are expected to be higher than normal in 1999 as a result of Year 2000 system
upgrade requirements.
Outsourcing margins dropped to 16% in 1998 from 22% in 1997. The decreased
margins were due to a larger portion of outsourcing revenues from the
Company's contract with Duquesne. Outsourcing revenues in 1997 were also
largely derived from Duquesne revenues; however, overall outsourcing margins
in 1997 were better than in 1998 because one customer converted its
outsourcing contract to a purchase that resulted in a one-time gain. The
gross margin on the Duquesne contract is low because it was the Company's
first large scale Network AMR system. The Company expects outsourcing costs
as a percentage of revenues in 1999 to be comparable to those in 1998, unless
the Company signs additional outsourcing agreements.
OPERATING EXPENSES
Total 1998 operating expenses of $79.2 million increased $3.1 million, or 4%,
over 1997; however 1998 expenses included restructuring charges of $3.9 million.
Without the restructuring charge, operating expenses in 1998 were $832,000, or
1%, lower than 1997. Despite the dollar increase, operating expenses decreased
as a percentage of revenues to 33% in 1998 from 35% in 1997. Without the
restructuring charges, operating expenses would have been 31% of revenues in
1998. Operating expenses increased $1.5 million in 1997 over 1996 but decreased
substantially as a percentage of revenues to 35% from 42%.
Page 34
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCREASE INCREASE
(in millions) 1998 (DECREASE) 1997 (DECREASE) 1996
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales and marketing $26.7 (10%) $29.6 3% $28.8
Product development 33.5 4% 32.2 (3%) 33.3
General and administrative 12.8 6% 12.1 10% 11.0
Amortization of intangibles 2.3 3% 2.2 42% 1.5
Restructuring charge 3.9 -- -- -- --
----- ----- -----
Total operating expenses $79.2 4% $76.1 2% $74.6
----- ----- -----
----- ----- -----
Sales and marketing expenses in 1998 decreased by $2.9 million from 1997
levels and decreased as a percentage of revenues from 14% to 11%. Sales and
marketing expenses were lower in 1998 because of: 1) a corporate
reorganization in 1997 that redefined certain jobs previously classified as
sales and marketing to general and administrative; and 2) a greater
utilization of personnel for revenue-producing activities, resulting in a
classification of related expenses as cost of sales. Total sales and
marketing expenses in 1997 increased slightly over 1996, but decreased as a
percentage of revenues from 16% to 14%. The Company expects sales and
marketing expenses in 1999 to remain fairly level as a percentage of total
revenues compared with 1998.
Product development expenses in 1998 increased by $1.3 million, or 4%, over
1997 but decreased as a percentage of revenues from 15% to 14%. Product
development expenses were lower in 1998 than 1997 as a percentage of revenues
because the Company commenced a restructuring of operations in the third
quarter of 1998 and product development operations were most heavily affected
by the restructuring. The Company's restructuring is discussed in more detail
below following the general and administrative expenses discussion. Product
development expenses in 1997 decreased slightly from 1996, but decreased
significantly as a percentage of revenues from 19% to 15%. The decrease was
primarily caused by the absence of a one-time materials charge of $2.1
million incurred in 1996 related to the redesign of the Company's cell
control unit and a new handheld computer. The Company expects that product
development expenses will decrease somewhat as a percentage of total revenues
in 1999.
Total general and administrative expenses in 1998 increased approximately
$770,000, or 3%, over 1997, but decreased as a percentage of revenues to 5%
from 6%. The increased expenses in 1998 were primarily due to a corporate
reorganization in 1997 which redefined certain jobs to general and
administrative that were previously classified as sales and marketing. Total
general and administrative expenses increased by $1.1 million, or 10%, in
1997 over 1996, but remained at 6% of revenues. The higher expenses in 1997
were due to incentive compensation awards which the Company did not pay in
1996, as well as expenses from the Company's DCI operations, which were
acquired in April 1997. General and administrative expenses are expected to
remain at 5% to 6% of total revenues in 1999.
In the third quarter of 1998 the Company announced, and began the
implementation of, restructuring measures to reduce costs and improve
operating efficiencies. These measures resulted in a $4.1 million
restructuring charge, $216,000 of which is reflected in equity in affiliates.
(See Note 2 to the Company's consolidated financial statements.)
Restructuring measures involved the elimination or consolidation of
approximately 150 positions, primarily product development, the write-off of
certain intangible assets due to a reduction in the scope of planned
technology development, consolidation of some of the Company's facilities and
discontinuation of a jointly owned entity. The Company believes that its
comparatively high product development spending in the prior years has
expanded the number of meter modules produced, enhanced module functionality,
and expanded network capabilities and products. However, because of lower
bookings than had been anticipated, the Company scaled back its product
development spending to lower levels. The Company expects that operating
expenses will be reduced in 1999 because of the restructuring measures.
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)
Page 35
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in millions) 1998 1997 1996
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity in affiliates $(1.2) $(1.1) $(0.1)
Gain on sale of business interest -- 2.0 --
Interest, net (6.5) (3.9) (0.3)
----- ----- -----
Total other income (expense) $(7.7) $(3.0) $(0.4)
----- ----- -----
----- ----- -----
The Company incurred a loss relating to its investments in several joint
ventures in 1998 of $1.2 million. As part of the restructuring measures
discussed above, the Company discontinued the remaining business activities
of a jointly owned entity in 1998, incurring a charge of $216,000 related to
the decision that is included in the equity in affiliates loss. The $1.1
million equity in affiliates loss during 1997 was primarily for expenses of a
joint venture with a utility partner that performed installation, meter shop
and meter reading services. The loss in 1997 was partially offset by a gain,
received from the utility partner, which resulted from a reduction in scope
of some of the business activities performed by the joint venture.
The Company had net interest expense of $6.5 million in 1998, compared to net
interest expense of $3.9 million in 1997. Interest expense was higher in 1998
due to inclusion of a full year of interest on the Company's $63.4 million
63/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes that the Company issued in March and
April of 1997, higher average borrowings under the Company's revolving line
of credit and higher project finance borrowings. Net interest expense in 1996
of $316,000 was the result of borrowings under the Company's revolving line
of credit in the last half of the year, which was partially offset by
interest earned on short-term investments in the first half of the year. The
Company capitalized interest expense of $260,000 in 1998, $994,000 in 1997
and $533,000 in 1996 primarily related to the construction of AMR systems
that are currently owned by the Company and used to provide outsourcing
services.
INCOME TAXES
The Company had an income tax benefit in 1998 equal to 38% of its pre-tax
loss. The Company's 1997 effective income tax rate was approximately 38% of
pre-tax income. This compares to a 1996 income tax benefit equal to 31% of
its pre-tax loss. The lower 1996 effective rate was a result of foreign
operating losses for which no tax benefit was recorded and a cash-to-accrual
accounting adjustment related to the merger with UTS in March of 1996. The
Company's effective income tax rate may vary from year to year because of
fluctuations in foreign operating results, changes in tax jurisdictions in
which the Company operates, and changes in tax legislation.
FINANCIAL CONDITION
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCREASE INCREASE
Cash flow information (in millions) 1998 (DECREASE) 1997 (DECREASE) 1996
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating activities $ (1.9) 72% $ (3.2) 81% $(16.9)
Investing activities (17.1) 47% (34.1) (38%) (24.8)
Financing activities 18.7 (51%) 38.1 2% 37.5
------- ------ ------
Net increase (decrease) in cash $ (.3) (136%) $ 0.8 119% $ (4.2)
------- ------ ------
------- ------ ------
Net operating activities used $1.9 million in 1998 compared to $3.2 million
in 1997. Operating activities used less cash in 1998 than 1997 because of
much better inventory management and improved accounts receivables
collections, which substantially offset the Company's net loss. Net operating
activities used $16.9 million in 1996 largely due to growth in inventories,
which were built in anticipation of AMR customer orders in excess of
Page 36
what was received. The Company expects to generate cash from operating
activities in 1999 unless the Company enters into additional outsourcing
agreements.
Net investing activities used $17.1 million in cash in 1998 compared to $34.1
million in 1997. Lower investments in 1998 were due to decreased capital
asset purchases for both internal use and for equipment used in outsourcing.
The Company spent $27.5 million in 1997 for equipment used in its two
outsourcing contracts in which it owns the equipment compared to $10.7
million in 1998. The decreased spending was due to each project nearing
completion of the installation phase and moving into the operations phase.
Itron expects to spend less in 1999 on equipment used in outsourcing unless
the Company enters into additional outsourcing agreements. The Company spent
less on assets for internal use in 1998 than 1997, mostly because of cost
containment measures. Net investing activities used $24.8 million in 1996.
Capital asset additions in 1996 were $27.5 million and were primarily for
significant additions to production capacity and facilities expansion at the
Company's headquarters in Spokane. Additionally, the Company spent $17.3
million for the purchase of equipment used in outsourcing and $4.7 million
for business acquisitions and patent defense costs in 1996. Investing
activities in 1996 were partially funded by liquidating $25.1 million of
short-term investments. Capital acquisitions for internal use in 1999 are
expected to be slightly higher than the 1998 level.
Net financing activities generated $18.7 million in cash in 1998,
substantially less than the $38.5 million generated in 1997. Financing
activities in 1998 included borrowings under the Company's line of credit of
$12.4 million and $5.3 million of cash received from the project financing of
one of the Company's outsourcing contracts. The Company generated $2.4
million of cash from the exercise of employee stock options and employee
stock purchases in 1998 and used approximately $1.6 million for the
repurchase of common stock. In 1997 the Company generated net cash of $61.0
million from the issuance of convertible subordinated notes in March and
April of 1997, $31.5 million of which was used to pay down borrowings under
the Company's line of credit. Other financing activities in 1997 consisted of
project finance borrowings of $2.4 million and $6.2 million of cash received
from the exercise of options, warrants and employee stock purchases.
Financing activities in 1996 of $37.5 million consisted principally of
borrowings under the Company's bank line of credit agreement, as well as
funds received from the exercise of employee stock options and the related
tax benefit.
The Company believes its cash position at the end of 1998 and expected cash
generation from operations in 1999, together with the renewal or replacement
of its $35 million credit facility will be more than adequate to fund its
operations, exclusive of any new outsourcing contracts, throughout 1999. The
Company expects to finance any future outsourcing contract investments
principally with project financing. While the Company expects its credit
facility to be renewed or replaced on or before September 30, 1999 in the
ordinary course of business, there can be no assurance that it will be.
EXCHANGE OFFER
In March 1999 the Company completed its offer ("Exchange Offer") to exchange up
to $15,840,000 principal amount of its 6 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due
2004 ("Exchange Notes"), for up to $22,000,000 principal amount of its 6 3/4%
Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2004 ("Original Notes"). The exchange was
made on the basis of $720 principal amount of Exchange Notes for $1,000
principal amount of Original Notes. A total of $15,840,000 aggregate principal
amount of Exchange Notes was issued as of March 12, 1999, with $6,000 in cash
paid in lieu of fractional interests to tendering noteholders pursuant to the
terms of the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Notes have the same terms and
conditions as the Original Notes except for a reduction in the conversion price
for converting the Exchange Notes into Common Stock to $9.65, an extension of
the date before which the Company may not call the Exchange Notes to March 12,
2002, and the removal of the redemption premium. The principal purpose of the
exchange was to reduce the Company's long-term debt and debt service
obligations. The Company expects to report a pre-tax gain on extinguishment of
debt of approximately $5.5 million in the first quarter of 1999. The Company
anticipates a reduction in 1999 interest expense of approximately $300,000
pre-tax as a result of the Exchange Offer.
YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE
Page 37
In general, the "Year 2000 problem" concerns software programs that contain
only a two-digit year value (99 to 00) rather than a four-digit year value
(1999 to 2000) to indicate a change from 1999 to 2000. The issue is whether
computer systems and non-information technology systems, such as embedded
micro-controllers, will properly recognize date sensitive information when
the year changes to 2000. Systems that do not properly recognize such
information could generate erroneous data or cause a system to fail. The
Company instituted a Year 2000 program in 1997 to identify potential risks
that the Company had and to develop solutions to mitigate those risks. The
Company believes that it will be successful in implementing the identified
solutions in a timely manner in order to mitigate potential Year 2000
problems.
The Company has potential risks related to the Year 2000 problem in three
areas: 1) suppliers, 2) internally developed software and hardware the
Company sells, and 3) internal software and hardware systems. The following
discussion addresses each of these potential risk areas.
SUPPLIERS: The Company identified its key suppliers from which it purchases
the majority of its materials and has received confirmation that
approximately 90% of such suppliers expect to be Year 2000 compliant by April
1999. The Company is pursuing the issue with suppliers who have not yet
responded.
INTERNALLY DEVELOPED SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE FOR SALE TO CUSTOMERS: The Company
has completed the process of identifying which of its products available for
sale to customers were not Year 2000 compliant. The Company began the process
of upgrading software and hardware in late 1997 and completed all major
standard applications updates by December 1998. A small number of hardware
and software platforms will not be upgraded and all customers affected have
been notified. Alternatives, including upgrading systems, have been developed
for them. As of December 31, 1998, substantially all of the customers with
maintenance contracts with the Company had their systems upgraded.
INTERNAL SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE SYSTEMS: The Company upgraded its financial
software including general ledger, manufacturing and sales order processing
to be Year 2000 compliant during the second quarter of 1998 for domestic and
Australian operations. Subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and France are
expected to be upgraded by mid-1999. The Company also has a variety of other
software and hardware, including personal computer software and software used
in engineering functions, whose Year 2000 compliance is in the process of
being ensured. All internal software is expected to be compliant by mid-1999.
The Company believes that the most likely worst-case scenario it might
confront with respect to Year 2000 issues has to do with the possible failure
of third party systems over which the Company has no control. These systems
may include, but are not limited to, power and telecommunications services.
The Company is currently developing a Year 2000 contingency plan. Some
problems, however, may remain uncorrected, and could materially adversely
affect the Company's business, financial condition and operating results. The
Company may also experience reduced sales of its products as potential
current customers reduce their budgets for meter-reading and data management
solutions because of increased expenditures on their own Year 2000 compliance
efforts. The Company is in the process of developing contingency plans for
any unforeseen critical business systems issues arising from the Year 2000
problem. The Company does not anticipate that it will incur further
significant operating expenses or be required to invest heavily in computer
systems improvements to be Year 2000 compliant. Total costs for the Year 2000
issue are estimated to be $1 million to $1.5 million, of which approximately
$1 million has been spent to date. However, as the compliance process is not
yet complete, uncertainty exists concerning total costs associated with Year
2000 compliance. Any Year 2000 compliance problem of either the Company or
its collaborative partners could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.
CERTAIN FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
WHEN INCLUDED IN THIS DISCUSSION, THE WORDS "EXPECTS," "INTENDS,"
"ANTICIPATES," "PLANS," "PROJECTS" AND "ESTIMATES," AND SIMILAR
EXPRESSIONS ARE INTENDED TO IDENTIFY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. SUCH
STATEMENTS, ARE INHERENTLY SUBJECT TO A VARIETY OF RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM
THOSE REFLECTED IN SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. SUCH RISKS AND
UNCERTAINTIES INCLUDE, AMONG OTHERS, CHANGES IN THE UTILITY REGULATORY
ENVIRONMENT,
Page 38
DELAYS OR DIFFICULTIES IN INTRODUCING NEW PRODUCTS AND ACCEPTANCE
OF THOSE PRODUCTS, ABILITY TO OBTAIN PROJECT FINANCING IN AMOUNTS
NECESSARY TO FUND FUTURE OUTSOURCING AGREEMENTS, INCREASED COMPETITION
AND VARIOUS OTHER MATTERS, MANY OF WHICH ARE BEYOND THE COMPANY'S
CONTROL. FOR A MORE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THESE AND OTHER RISKS,
SEE "CERTAIN RISK FACTORS". THESE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS SPEAK
ONLY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS REPORT. THE COMPANY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY
OBLIGATION OR UNDERTAKING TO RELEASE PUBLICLY ANY UPDATES OR REVISIONS TO
ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT CONTAINED HEREIN TO REFLECT ANY CHANGE ON
THE COMPANY'S EXPECTATIONS WITH REGARD THERETO OR ANY CHANGE IN EVENTS,
CONDITIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES ON WHICH ANY SUCH STATEMENT IS BASED.
ITEM 7A: QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company has exposure to interest rate risk from its short-term and long-term
debt. The Company's long-term debt is fixed rate and the short-term debt is
variable rate. The Company had $76.7 million and $71.4 million of long-term debt
at December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively. (See Note 5 of the Notes to the
Company's Financial Statements for additional information on its short-term and
long-term borrowings.) Market risk for fixed-rate long-term debt is estimated as
the potential decrease in fair value resulting from a hypothetical 100 basis
points increase in interest rates and amounts to $3.3 million as of December 31,
1998. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments to manage
interest rate risk.
The Company from time to time enters into forward contracts on known purchase
commitments in foreign currencies and for inter-company settlements. The Company
does not enter into derivatives for trading purposes. As of December 31, 1998
the Company did not have any outstanding foreign exchange contracts.
The Company's earnings are affected by fluctuations in the value of the U.S.
dollar, as compared to foreign currencies, as a result of transactions in
foreign markets. The Company has performed a sensitivity analysis assuming a
hypothetical 10% strengthening in the value of the dollar relative to the
currencies in which the Company's transactions are denominated. As of December
31, 1998, the analysis indicated that such market movements would not have had a
material effect on the Company's consolidated results of operations or on the
fair value of its risk-sensitive financial instruments. The model assumes a
parallel shift in the foreign currency exchange rates. Exchange rates rarely
move in the same direction. The assumption that exchange rates change in a
parallel fashion may overstate the impact of changing exchange rates on assets
and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency, consequently, actual effects
on operations in the future may differ materially from that analysis.
Page 39
ITEM 8: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
REPORT OF MANAGEMENT
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Itron, Inc.
Management is responsible for the preparation of the Company's consolidated
financial statements and related information appearing in this annual report.
Management believes that the consolidated financial statements fairly reflect
the form and substance of transactions and that the financial statements
reasonably present the Company's financial position and results of operations in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Management has
included in the Company's financial statements amounts based on estimates and
judgments that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances.
Management's explanation and interpretation of the Company's overall operating
results and financial position, with the basic financial statements presented,
should be read in conjunction with the entire report. The Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements, an integral part of the basic financial statements,
provide additional detailed financial information. The Board of Directors of the
Company has an Audit Committee composed of non-management Directors. The
Committee meets with financial management and Deloitte & Touche LLP to review
accounting control, auditing and financial reporting matters.
Johnny M. Humphreys David G. Remington
Chairman, President Vice President and
and Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Itron, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Itron, Inc. and
its subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 and the related consolidated
statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1998. Our audits also included the
financial statement schedule listed in the index at Item 14. These financial
statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the
management of Itron, Inc. and subsidiaries. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedule based on
our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Itron, Inc. and its subsidiaries at
December 31, 1998 and 1997 and the results of their operations and their cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998 in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion,
such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic
consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all
material respects, the information set forth therein.
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Seattle, Washington
February 17, 1999
Page 40
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands, except per share data) 1998 1997 1996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues
AMR systems $163,613 $143,472 $129,576
Handheld systems 53,957 49,409 45,084
Outsourcing 23,832 23,236 2,924
-------- -------- --------
Total revenues 241,402 216,117 177,584
Cost of revenues
AMR systems 117,130 84,069 76,286
Handheld systems 27,416 33,108 26,370
Outsourcing 20,053 18,182 2,052
-------- -------- --------
Total cost of revenues 164,599 135,359 104,708
-------- -------- --------
Gross profit 76,803 80,758 72,876
Operating expenses
Sales and marketing 26,668 29,613 28,847
Product development 33,493 32,220 33,285
General and administrative 12,834 12,064 10,970
Amortization of intangibles 2,261 2,190 1,542
Restructuring charge 3,930 -- --
-------- -------- --------
Total operating expenses 79,186 76,087 74,644
-------- -------- --------
Operating income (loss) (2,383) 4,671 (1,768)
Other income (expense)
Equity in affiliates (1,154) (1,120) (50)
Gain on sale of business interest -- 2,000 --
Interest, net (6,508) (3,916) (316)
-------- -------- --------
Total other income (expense) (7,662) (3,036) (366)
-------- -------- --------
Income (loss) before income taxes (10,045) 1,635 (2,134)
Income tax (provision) benefit 3,820 (625) 670
-------- -------- --------
Net income (loss) $ (6,225) $ 1,010 $ (1,464)
-------- -------- --------
-------- -------- --------
Basic net income (loss) per share $ (.42) $ .07 $ (.11)
Diluted net income (loss) per share (.42) .07 (.11)
Weighted average shares outstanding 14,668 14,118 13,297
Diluted average shares outstanding 14,668 14,562 13,297
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Page 41
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AT DECEMBER 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands, except share data) 1998 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,743 $ 3,023
Accounts receivable, net 62,253 61,442
Current portion of long-term contracts receivable 13,498 8,445
Inventories 20,654 31,985
Deferred income tax asset 6,938 5,668
Other 2,306 1,888
-------- --------
Total current assets 108,392 112,451
Property, plant and equipment, net 42,390 49,067
Equipment used in outsourcing, net 50,746 42,848
Intangible assets, net 18,142 21,472
Long-term contracts receivable 23,712 11,119
Deferred income tax asset 1,906 1,125
Other 2,467 2,129
-------- --------
Total assets $247,755 $240,211
-------- --------
-------- --------
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Short-term borrowings $ 14,000 $1,560
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 25,263 26,644
Wages and benefits payable 6,246 9,181
Deferred revenue 8,653 6,759
-------- --------
Total current liabilities 54,162 44,144
Mortgage notes payable 6,242 6,440
Convertible subordinated debt 63,400 63,400
Project financing 7,722 2,414
Deferred income tax liability - 2,499
Warranty and other obligations 1,207 887
-------- --------
Total liabilities 132,733 119,784
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8) -- --
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, no par value, 75 million shares
authorized, 14,698,121 and 14,602,312 shares
Issued and outstanding 106,039 105,136
Warrants -- 57
Accumulated other comprehensive income (1,107) (1,081)
Retained earnings 10,090 16,315
-------- --------
Total shareholders' equity 115,022 120,427
-------- --------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $247,755 $240,211
-------- --------
-------- --------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Page 42
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
ACCUMULATED
OTHER
COMPREHEN- RETAINED
(in thousands) SHARES AMOUNT WARRANTS SIVE INCOME EARNINGS TOTAL
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances at December 31, 1995 13,157 $ 94,108 $ 338 $ (142) $16,969 $111,273
Net loss (1,464) (1,464)
Currency translation adjustment 35 35
--------
Total comprehensive income (1,429)
Stock issues:
Options exercised and
related tax benefits 199 3,480 3,480
Employee savings plan 23 670 670
Employee stock purchase plan 8 428 428
Dividends paid (200) (200)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances at December 31, 1996 13,387 98,686 338 (107) 15,305 114,222
Net income 1,010 1,010
Currency translation adjustment (974) (974)
--------
Total comprehensive income 36
Stock issues:
Options exercised and
related tax benefits 57 827 827
Employee savings plan 44 935 935
Employee stock purchase plan 43 451 451
Warrants exercised 312 3,915 (281) 3,634
DCI acquisition 759 322 322
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances at December 31, 1997 14,602 105,136 57 (1,081) 16,315 120,427
Net loss (6,225) (6,225)
Currency translation adjustment (26) (26)
--------
Total comprehensive income (6,251)
Stock issues:
Options exercised and
related tax benefits 37 452 452
Stock repurchased by Company (109) (1,554) (1,554)
Employee savings plan 87 1,161 1,161
Employee stock purchase plan 81 787 787
Warrants expired 57 (57) --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balances at December 31, 1998 14,698 $106,039 $ -- $(1,107) $10,090 $115,022
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Page 43
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands) 1998 1997 1996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Activities
Net income (loss) $ (6,225) $ 1,010 $ (1,464)
Non cash charges (credits) to income:
Depreciation and amortization 19,865 16,781 10,522
Deferred income tax provision (benefit) (4,550) 107 (1,545)
Equity in affiliates, net 1,154 (880) (50)
Changes in operating accounts, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable (1,811) (19,158) (4,151)
Inventories 11,331 3,194 (17,114)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (2,663) 7,107 3,631
Wages and benefits payable (2,935) 5,177 (510)
Deferred revenue 1,894 (8) (1,439)
Long-term contracts receivable (17,646) (18,377) (1,305)
Other, net (312) 1,829 (3,437)
------- ------- --------
Cash used by operating activities (1,898) (3,218) (16,862)
Investing Activities
Change in short-term investments -- -- 25,074
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (6,364) (9,329) (27,500)
Equipment used in outsourcing (10,746) (27,478) (17,254)
Proceeds from sale of equipment used in outsourcing -- 3,035 --
Proceeds from sale of business interest 1,000 1,000 --
Acquisitions of intangibles and patent defense costs (1,002) (1,703) (4,728)
Other, net 8 410 (441)
------- ------- --------
Cash used by investing activities (17,104) (34,065) (24,849)
Financing Activities
Change in short-term borrowings, net 12,440 (31,502) 33,062
Project financing 5,308 2,414 --
Issuance of common stock 2,400 6,169 4,578
Purchase and retirement of common stock (1,554) -- --
Issuance of convertible subordinated debt -- 63,400 --
Debt issuance costs -- (2,355) --
Dividends paid -- -- (200)
Other, net 128 (63) 41
------- ------- --------
Cash provided by financing activities 18,722 38,063 37,481
------- ------- --------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (280) 780 (4,230)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 3,023 2,243 6,473
------- ------- --------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 2,743 $ 3,023 $ 2,243
------- ------- --------
------- ------- --------
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Page 44
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NOTE 1: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
BUSINESS
Itron, Inc. (the "Company") is a leading global provider to the utility industry
of solutions for collecting, communicating, analyzing and managing information
from electric, gas and water usage data. The Company designs, develops,
manufactures, markets, sells, installs and services hardware, software and
integrated systems for automatic meter reading ("AMR") and electronic meter
reading ("EMR") or Handheld systems. The Company both sells its products and
provides outsourcing services
BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Itron, Inc. and
its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and
balances are eliminated. Investments in affiliates of which the Company has a
non-controlling interest are accounted for using the equity method.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
The Company considers all highly liquid instruments with original maturities of
three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are recorded at
cost, which approximates fair value.
SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS
The Company's short-term investments are classified as available-for-sale and
are recorded at market value. Investments are accounted for on a trade date
basis and market value is based upon quoted market prices for each security.
Realized gains and losses are determined on a security by security basis (the
specific identification method). Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of any
tax effect, are recorded as a component of shareholders' equity. No short-term
investments were outstanding at December 31, 1998 and 1997.
INVENTORIES
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market using the first-in,
first-out method. Cost includes raw materials and labor, plus applied direct and
indirect costs. Service inventories consist primarily of sub-assemblies and
components necessary to support post-sale maintenance.
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation, which includes
the amortization of assets recorded under capital leases, is computed using the
straight-line method over the assets estimated useful lives of three to seven
years, or over the term of the applicable capital lease, if shorter. Equipment
used in outsourcing contracts is depreciated using the straight-line method over
the shorter of the useful life or the term of the contract, which is generally
15 years. Plant is depreciated over 30 years using the straight-line method.
Management reviews the carrying value of property, plant and equipment on a
regular basis for impairment. The Company capitalizes interest as a component of
the cost of property, plant and equipment constructed for its own use. In 1998,
1997 and 1996 total interest expense was $6.6 million, $5.2 million and $1.4
million, respectively, of which $260,000, $994,000 and $533,000, respectively,
was capitalized.
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill represents the excess cost of acquired businesses over the fair value
of their net assets and is amortized using the straight-line method over periods
ranging from three to 20 years. Patents, patent defense costs, distribution and
product rights are amortized using the straight-line method over their remaining
lives of three to 17 years. Capitalized software includes costs incurred
subsequent to the establishment of technological feasibility of the related
product and is amortized using the straight-line method for a period not to
exceed five
Page 45
years. Management regularly reviews the carrying value of intangible assets
for impairment.
WARRANTY
The Company offers standard warranty terms on its product sales. Provision for
estimated warranty costs is recorded at the time of sale and periodically
adjusted to reflect actual experience. The noncurrent warranty reserve covers
future expected costs of testing and replacement of radio meter module
batteries. Warranty expense was $4.2 million in 1998, $3.8 million in 1997 and
$3.1 million in 1996.
INCOME TAXES
The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method.
Under this method, deferred income taxes are recorded for the temporary
differences between the financial reporting basis and tax basis of the Company's
assets and liabilities. These deferred taxes are measured by the provisions of
currently enacted tax laws. Management believes that it is more likely than not
that the Company will generate sufficient taxable income to allow the
realization of its deferred net tax asset.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in United States dollars.
Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are denominated in foreign
currencies and are translated to United States dollars at the exchange rates in
effect on the balance sheet date. Revenues, costs of revenues and expenses for
these subsidiaries are translated using an average rate for the relevant
reporting period. Translation adjustments resulting from this process are a
component of shareholders' equity.
REVENUE RECOGNITION
SYSTEM SALES: Revenues from sales of hardware and software licenses are
generally recognized upon shipment. Service revenues are recognized ratably over
the periods covered by the service contracts, or as the services are performed.
Revenues for shipments or post-sale maintenance not yet billed are included in
accounts receivable or other noncurrent assets depending on the expected period
of collection. Deferred revenue is recorded for products or services that have
been paid for by a customer but have not yet been provided.
LARGE CUSTOM SYSTEMS AND OUTSOURCING CONTRACTS: Large custom systems include
those in which there is a substantial amount of custom software development.
Outsourcing services may encompass the installation, operation and/or
maintenance of meter reading systems to provide meter information to a
customer for billing and management purposes. Revenues for both large custom
systems and outsourcing contracts are recognized using the cost-to-cost,
percentage-of-completion method of long-term contract accounting. Under this
method, revenue reported during a period is based on the percentage of
estimated total revenues to be received under the contract measured by the
percentage of costs incurred to date to estimated total costs for each
contract. This method is used because management believes costs incurred are
the best available measure of progress on these contracts. Contract costs
include all direct material and labor costs and other indirect costs related
to contract performance such as indirect labor, supplies, tools, repairs and
depreciation costs. Provisions for estimated losses on uncompleted contracts
are recognized in the period in which such losses are determined. Changes in
estimated profitability, including those arising from contract penalty
provisions and final contract settlements, may result in revisions to costs
and income and are recognized in the period in which the revisions are
determined. Revenues from large custom systems and outsourcing contracts that
are recognized in excess of amounts billed are included in long-term
contracts receivable or the current portion of long-term contracts receivable
depending on the expected period of collection. Amounts billed related to the
Company's outsourcing contracts were $5.6 million and $2.6 million in 1998
and 1997, respectively. The Company did not have any billings related to its
outsourcing contracts in 1996.
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
Basic net income (loss) per share is computed on the basis of the weighted
average number of common shares
Page 46
outstanding during the period. Diluted net income (loss) per share is
computed on the basis of the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding plus the effect of "in the money" outstanding stock options and
warrants using the "treasury stock" method and convertible subordinated notes
using the "if converted" method, to the extent the use of these methods are
not anti-dilutive.
DERIVATIVES
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities." SFAS 133 requires an entity to recognize
all derivatives as either assets or liabilities in the statement of financial
position and measure those instruments at fair value. The Company plans to adopt
SFAS 133 on January 1, 2000, as required. Adoption of this standard is not
expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial
statements. The Company limits its use of derivative financial instruments to
the management of foreign currency risks. The Company is currently evaluating
the impact of SFAS 133 on its financial statements.
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME: Effective January 1, 1998, the Company adopted Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130, (SFAS 130), "Reporting Comprehensive
Income." The Statement establishes standards for reporting and presentation of
comprehensive income and its components in the financial statements.
Comprehensive income includes net income and "other comprehensive income" which
includes changes in equity arising during the period from foreign currency
translation adjustments. Adoption of SFAS 130 requires unrealized gains or
losses on foreign currency translation adjustments to be included in other
comprehensive income below net income in the Company's statement of changes in
shareholder's equity and as a separate component of shareholders' equity in the
balance sheet. Prior to adoption, the accumulated translation adjustment was
reported separately in shareholders' equity.
SEGMENT REPORTING: Effective January 1, 1998, the Company adopted Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, (SFAS 131), "Segment Reporting."
SFAS 131 establishes standards for reporting information about operating
segments based on information used by management. Disclosures regarding the
Company's segments are disclosed in Note 16 in the accompanying financial
statements.
USE OF ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company uses the
cost-to-cost, percentage of completion method of long-term contract accounting,
which requires the Company to estimate the total cost of providing outsourcing
and other services over long periods of time, typically 15 years. Because of
various factors affecting future costs and operations, actual results could
differ from estimates.
RECLASSIFICATIONS
Certain amounts in the 1997 and 1996 financial statements have been reclassified
to conform with 1998 presentation.
NOTE 2: RESTRUCTURING
In 1998, in connection with management's measures to reduce costs and improve
operating efficiencies, the Company recorded a restructuring charge of $3.9
million. The restructuring measures primarily involved the elimination or
consolidation of approximately 150 positions, the write-off of certain of the
Company's intangible assets and the consolidation of facilities as follows:
Page 47
Reserve
Cash/ Restructuring Balance
(in thousands) Non-Cash Charge Activity 12/31/98
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Severance and related charges Cash $1,920 $1,775 $145
Write-down of intangible assets Non-Cash 1,104 1,104 --
Consolidation of facilities Cash 665 -- 665
Other Non-Cash 241 241 --
------ ------ ----
Total restructuring charge $3,930 $3,120 $810
------ ------ ----
------ ------ ----
Additionally, as part of the restructuring measures, the Company discontinued
business activities in one of its jointly owned entities resulting in a non-cash
charge of $216,000. This expense is reflected in equity in affiliates in the
accompanying financial statements.
NOTE 3: STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS DATA
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands) 1998 1997 1996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income taxes paid $ 156 $ 569 $1,418
Interest paid 6,037 3,580 1,172
NOTE 4: BALANCE SHEET COMPONENTS
AT DECEMBER 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands): 1998 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Trade (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,500 and $752) $ 41,702 $ 40,023
Unbilled revenue 20,551 21,419
-------- --------
Total accounts receivable $ 62,253 $ 61,442
-------- --------
-------- --------
INVENTORIES
Material $ 9,041 $ 14,418
Work in process 1,599 3,138
Finished goods 6,947 7,304
Field inventories awaiting installation -- 5,178
-------- --------
Total manufacturing inventories 17,587 30,038
Service inventories 3,067 1,947
-------- --------
Total inventories $ 20,654 $ 31,985
-------- --------
-------- --------
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Machinery and equipment $ 44,140 $ 42,124
Equipment used in outsourcing 54,766 44,093
Computers and purchased software 25,909 23,240
Buildings, furniture and improvements 21,412 21,775
Land 2,195 2,052
-------- --------
Total cost 148,422 133,284
Accumulated depreciation (55,286) (41,369)
-------- --------
Property, plant and equipment, net $ 93,136 $ 91,915
-------- --------
-------- --------
Page 48
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill $ 16,991 $ 16,991
Capitalized software 6,370 6,370
Distribution and product rights 2,475 3,308
Patents 6,737 5,706
-------- --------
Total cost 32,573 32,375
Accumulated amortization (14,431) (10,903)
-------- --------
Intangible assets, net $ 18,142 $ 21,472
-------- --------
-------- --------
NOTE 5: SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS AND LONG-TERM DEBT
SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS
In September 1998 the Company signed an agreement to extend its revolving line
of credit with two banks. The agreement is for a revolving facility up to a
maximum of $35 million. Borrowings available under the facility are based on and
secured by accounts receivable and inventory. The pricing of borrowings is based
on a financial ratio of total debt to earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). At December 31, 1998, the weighted
average interest rate was approximately 7.93%. Additionally, an annual
commitment fee of .50% is required on the unused amount of the line of credit.
Any borrowings mature on September 30, 1999. The agreement contains covenants
that require the Company to maintain certain minimum liquidity amounts and
ratios, tangible net worth limits and coverage ratios, all of which the Company
was in compliance with at year end.
MORTGAGE NOTES PAYABLE
AT DECEMBER 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands): 1998 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Secured mortgage note payable to a shareholder with principal and
interest payments of 9% until maturity on August 1, 2015. $5,555 $5,600
Secured mortgage note payable to a shareholder with interest only payments of
7 1/2% until June 1, 1999 and then principal and interest
payments equal to 8 1/2% until maturity on June 1, 2019. $ 840 $ 840
The Company incurred the above notes in conjunction with the purchase of the
Company's headquarters and related manufacturing space in Spokane, Washington.
Principal payments due under these notes are $47,000 in 1999, $61,000 in 2000,
$66,000 in 2001, $72,000 in 2002, $79,000 in 2003 and $6.1 million thereafter.
PROJECT FINANCING
AT DECEMBER 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands): 1998 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Secured note payable with principal and interest payments
of 7.6% until maturity on May 31, 2009. $7,722 $2,414
The Company incurred the above note in conjunction with project financing for
one of its outsourcing contracts. The note is secured by the assets of the
project. Principal payments due under the note are $506,000 in 1999, $546,000 in
2000, $589,000 in 2001, $635,000 in 2002, $685,000 in 2003 and $4.8 million
thereafter.
Page 49
CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED DEBT
AT DECEMBER 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands): 1998 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsecured, convertible subordinated notes. $63,400 $63,400
The Company completed a $63.4 million convertible subordinated note offering in
March and April 1997. Interest of 6 3/4% on the notes is payable semi-annually
on March 31 and September 30 of each year until maturity on March 31, 2004. The
notes are convertible, in whole or in part, at the option of the holder at any
time prior to maturity at a price of $23.70 per common share. In February 1999
the Company offered to exchange $720 principal amount of Exchange Notes for
$1,000 principal amount of Original Notes. The Exchange Notes will have the same
maturity date, interest payment dates and rate of interest as the Original
Notes, but will have a lower conversion price. Both the Original Notes and the
Exchange Notes have no sinking fund requirements and are redeemable, in whole or
in part, at the option of the Company at any time on or after April 4, 2000, at
specified redemption prices.
NOTE 6: FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Under SFAS No. 107, "FAIR VALUE DISCLOSURES ABOUT FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS," the
Company is required to disclose the fair value of financial instruments when
fair value can reasonably be estimated. The values provided are
representative of fair values only as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 and do
not reflect subsequent changes in the economy, interest and tax rates, and
other variables that may impact determination of fair value. The following
methods and assumptions were used in estimating fair values.
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE: The carrying value
approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments.
LONG-TERM CONTRACTS RECEIVABLE: The fair value of the non-current portion of
long-term contracts receivable is based on the discounted value of expected
cash flows.
MORTGAGE NOTES PAYABLE: The fair value is estimated based on current
borrowing rates available for similar issues.
CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED DEBT: The fair value is estimated based on the
current trading activity of the notes.
AT DECEMBER 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997
-------------------------- --------------------------
CARRYING FAIR CARRYING FAIR
(in thousands) AMOUNT VALUE AMOUNT VALUE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash, cash equivalents and accounts receivable $ 64,996 $64,996 $64,465 $64,465
Long-term contracts receivable 23,712 20,662 11,119 9,736
Mortgage notes payable 6,242 5,825 6,440 6,897
Convertible subordinated debt 63,400 41,210 63,400 61,181
NOTE 7: INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATES
At December 31, 1998, the Company's investments in affiliates consisted of a 50%
interest in Star Data Services, formed in late 1997, and Ensite, formed in 1996.
Prior to December 31, 1998 the Company also had a 50% interest in SI3. The
partners of the SI3 joint venture adopted a plan of dissolution in 1998 that
resulted in a loss. The tables below contain the summarized financial
information for the Company's unconsolidated affiliates.
Page 50
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands): 1998 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues $2,224 $4,692
Gross Profit (364) (1,405)
Net income (2,308) (2,242)
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
AT DECEMBER 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands): 1998 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current assets $1,483 $ 701
Non-current assets 2,647 121
Current liabilities 1,189 1,305
Non-current liabilities 1,133 --
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 1,808 483
NOTE 8: COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
COMMITMENTS
The Company has noncancelable capital leases for computer equipment and
software, and operating leases for office, production and storage space expiring
at various dates through June 2008. Rents under the Company's operating leases
were $2.0 million in 1998, $1.6 million in 1997 and $1.5 million in 1996. Assets
under capital leases are included in the consolidated balance sheets as follows:
AT DECEMBER 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands): 1998 1997
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Computers and software $ 905 $--
Accumulated amortization (172) --
----- ---
Net capital leases $ 733 $--
----- ---
----- ---
Future minimum payments, by year and in the aggregate, under the aforementioned
leases and other non-cancelable operating leases with initial or remaining terms
in excess of one year are as follows:
AT DECEMBER 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Operating
(in thousands) Leases Leases
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 $320 $2,574
2000 320 2,359
2001 -- 1,447
2002 -- 1,197
2003 -- 775
Thereafter -- 1,143
----- ------
Total minimum lease payments 640 9,495
-----
Less amount representing interest (30)
-----
Present value of net minimum lease payment 610
Less current portion (299)
-----
Long-term portion $311
-----
-----
Page 51
In order to maintain certain distribution rights, the Company has agreed to
purchase minimum quantities of components from various suppliers. Minimum
purchase requirements under these agreements are approximately $4.9 million in
1999, $1.0 million in 2000, $1.0 million in 2001 and $1.0 million in 2002. The
Company believes these commitments are not in excess of anticipated
requirements.
CONTINGENCIES
The Company, together with certain directors and officers, is a defendant in a
shareholder-initiated proposed class action in federal court alleging securities
and other statutory and common law violations arising out of alleged misleading
disclosures or omissions made by the Company regarding its business and
technology. The Company believes this action is without merit and intends to
vigorously defend against it. At this time, it is not possible to predict the
ultimate outcome of this proceeding.
The Company maintains performance bonds for certain customers. The performance
bonds usually cover the installation phase of a contract and may on occasion
cover the operations and maintenance phase of outsourcing contracts. The
Company believes that no amounts under the performance bonds will be due as
the risk of default under the contracts is minimal.
NOTE 9: SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
The Company adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan and in November 1993 declared a
dividend of one common share purchase right (a "Right") for each outstanding
share of the Company's Common Stock. Under certain conditions, each Right may be
exercised to purchase one share of Common Stock at a purchase price of $135 per
share, subject to adjustment. The Rights will be exercisable only if a person or
group has acquired 15% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company's Common
Stock (excluding certain persons who owned more than 15% of the Common Stock
when the Shareholder Rights Plan was adopted). If a person or group acquires 15%
or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, each Right will entitle
its holder to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock having a market value equal
to two times the exercise price of the Right. In addition, if the Company is
acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction, each Right will
entitle its holder to purchase that number of the acquiring company's common
shares having a market value of twice the Right's exercise price. The Company is
entitled to redeem the Rights at $.001 per Right at any time prior to the
earlier of the expiration of the Rights in July 2002 or the time that a person
has acquired a 15% position. The Rights do not have voting or distribution
rights, and until they become exercisable they have no effect on the Company's
earnings.
NOTE 10: BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
DESIGN CONCEPTS INC. (DCI)
On May 2, 1997, the Company acquired Design Concepts, Inc. ("DCI"), an Idaho
based company that supplies outage detection, power quality monitoring and AMR
systems, which communicate collected data over telephone lines for electric
meters. Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated April 30, 1997, the
Company issued 759,297 shares of unregistered Itron Common Stock to the
shareholders of DCI in exchange for all outstanding shares of DCI. Certificates
representing 75,930 shares issued in the acquisition were placed in escrow. As
of December 31, 1998, all but 1,517 of the shares were released to DCI
shareholders. The remaining shares were cancelled and not issued because of
expenses the Company incurred in relation to former DCI obligations. The
transaction was accounted for as a pooling-of-interests.
UTILITY TRANSLATION SYSTEMS (UTS)
On March 25, 1996 the Company acquired UTS, a provider of software and support
services of systems for translating, communicating and analyzing energy
consumption data for commercial and industrial meters. The
Page 52
Company issued 971,427 shares of its unregistered Common Stock to the
shareholders of UTS in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of UTS. The
transaction was accounted for as a pooling-of-interests.
NOTE 11: EARNINGS PER SHARE AND CAPITAL STRUCTURE
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands) 1998 1997 1996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average shares outstanding 14,668 14,118 13,297
Effect of dilutive securities:
Warrants -- 107 --
Stock options -- 337 --
------ ------ ------
Weighted average shares outstanding assuming conversion 14,668 14,562 13,297
------ ------ ------
------ ------ ------
The Company has granted options to purchase Common Stock to directors, employees
and other key personnel at fair market value on the date of grant. Additionally,
the Company issued warrants in conjunction with a private placement in 1989 and
1990 for the formation of AMRplus Partners. As of December 31, 1998 there were
no further warrants outstanding. The dilutive effect of these options and
warrants is included for purposes of calculating dilutive earnings per share
("EPS") using the "treasury stock" method. The treasury stock method requires
that EPS be computed as if the options were exercised at the beginning of the
period, or date of issuance if later, and that the funds obtained from the
exercise were used to purchase Common Stock at the average market price for the
period. The Company also has subordinated convertible notes outstanding. These
notes are not included in the above calculation as the shares are anti-dilutive
in all periods when using the "if converted" method. The "if converted" method
computes income available to common shareholders after adding applicable tax
effected interest expense related to the convertible subordinated notes. This
amount is divided by total shares outstanding as if the notes were converted. If
the effect of this calculation is anti-dilutive, the EPS is not disclosed.
There is no dilutive effect of securities in 1998 and 1996 as the Company
incurred a loss for each year and including the securities would have been
anti-dilutive.
NOTE 12: EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
The Company has an employee incentive savings plan in which substantially all
employees are eligible to participate. Employees may contribute, on a
tax-deferred basis, up to 15% of their salary, 50% of which, subject to certain
limitations, is matched by the Company by issuance of Common Stock. The expense
for the Company's matching contribution was $1.2 million in 1998, $1.1 million
in 1997 and, $798,000 in 1996. The Company does not offer post employment or
post retirement benefits.
NOTE 13: STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS
At December 31, 1998, the Company had two stock-based compensation plans, which
are described below. The Company applies APB Opinion 25 and related
interpretations in accounting for its plans. Because all stock options were
issued at fair value, no compensation cost has been recognized for its stock
option plans. Had compensation cost for the Company's stock-based compensation
plans been determined based on the fair value at the grant dates for awards
under those plans consistent with the method prescribed in SFAS No. 123, the
Company's net income and earnings per share would have been reduced to the pro
forma amounts indicated below:
Page 53
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands except per share data) 1998 1997 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) As reported $(6,225) $ 1,010 $(1,464)
Pro forma (9,012) (3,679) (7,763)
Diluted earnings per share As reported (.42) .07 (.11)
Pro forma (.61) (.25) (.58)
The weighted average fair value of options granted was $7.82, $12.86 and $18.64
during 1998, 1997 and 1996 respectively. The fair value of each option granted
is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model
using the following assumptions:
1998 1997 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividend yield 0% 0% 0%
Expected volatility 64% 57% 55%
Risk-free interest rate 4.7% 6.5% 6.2%
Expected life (years) 5.3 6.0 6.0
The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at
December 31, 1998:
Outstanding Options Exercisable Options
-------------------------------- ---------------------
Shares Life Shares
Range of Exercise Prices (in 000's) (years) Price (in 000's) Price
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$ .17 - $ 2.91 43 1.16 $ 2.41 41 $ 2.48
$ 4.88 - $ 5.16 1,473 9.82 4.96 - -
$ 6.20 - $ 8.66 83 4.14 7.57 59 7.16
$12.60 - $19.88 699 7.27 15.99 383 16.00
$20.75 - $24.50 356 7.74 22.10 156 23.01
$58.75 12 7.33 58.75 12 58.75
---------- ----------
$ .17 - $58.75 2,666 8.57 $10.43 651 $16.81
---------- ----------
---------- ----------
1989 RESTATED STOCK OPTION PLAN
Under the Company's 1989 Restated Stock Option Plan, options to purchase shares
of Common Stock have been granted to employees at prices no less than the fair
market value on the date of grant. Options outstanding under the plan become
fully exercisable within three or four years from the date granted and terminate
ten years from the date granted. Qualified and nonqualified options are
exercisable at prices ranging from $.17 to $24.25 per share. The price range of
options exercised was $.86 to $17.88 in 1998, $.86 to $24.25 in 1997 and $2.91
to $24.50 in 1996. At December 31, 1998, there were 3,141,871 shares of unissued
Common Stock reserved for issuance under the plan, of which options for the
purchase of 584,466 shares were available for future grants. Share amounts (in
thousands) and weighted average exercise prices are as follows:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
---------------- --------------- ----------------
Shares Price Shares Price Shares Price
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding at beginning of year 1,995 $18.78 1,267 $17.24 1,038 $17.36
Granted 2,283 8.55 843 21.29 1,016 31.34
Exercised (36) 12.45 (57) 10.98 (152) 11.56
Canceled (1,685) 18.72 (58) 23.27 (635) 41.38
------- ----- -----
Outstanding at end of year 2,557 9.76 1,995 $18.78 1,267 $17.24
------- ----- -----
------- ----- -----
Options exercisable at year end 542 $14.96 690 $15.69 483 $13.44
Page 54
1992 STOCK OPTION PLAN FOR NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTORS
The Company's 1992 Stock Option Plan for Nonemployee Directors provides for the
annual grant of nonqualified options to purchase 2,000 shares of Common Stock to
nonemployee directors of the Company at an exercise price that is not less than
the fair market value per share at the date of grant. Outstanding options
granted under the plan are exercisable at prices ranging from $13.50 to $58.75
per share. The options granted are fully vested and immediately exercisable. At
December 31, 1998, there were 153,000 shares of unissued Common Stock reserved
for issuance under the plan, of which options for the purchase of 44,000 shares
were available for future grant. Share amounts (in thousands) and weighted
average exercise prices are as follows:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996
--------------- --------------- ---------------
Shares Price Shares Price Shares Price
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding at beginning of year 97 $27.11 85 $28.14 87 $22.92
Granted 12 16.63 12 19.88 12 58.75
Exercised - - - (14) 21.96
------ ------ ------
Outstanding at end of year 109 $25.96 97 $27.11 85 $28.14
------ ------ ------
------ ------ ------
Options exercisable at year end 109 $25.96 97 $27.11 85 $28.14
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
Under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the Company is authorized to
issue up to 180,000 shares of Common Stock to its eligible employees who have
completed three months of service, work more than 20 hours each week and are
employed more than 5 months in any calendar year. Employees who own 5% or more
of the Company's Common Stock are not eligible to participate in the Plan. Under
the terms of the Plan, eligible employees can choose payroll deductions each
year of up to 10% of their regular cash compensation. Such deductions are
applied toward the discounted purchase price of the Company's Common Stock. The
purchase price of the Common Stock is 85% of the fair market value of the stock
as defined in the Plan. Approximately 21% of eligible employees have
participated in the Plan since its inception on July 1, 1996. Under the Plan the
Company sold 80,741, 43,057 and 8,331 shares to employees in 1998, 1997 and
1996, respectively.
NOTE 14: INCOME TAXES
A reconciliation of income taxes at the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% to
the consolidated effective tax for continuing operations is as follows:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands) 1998 1997 1996
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expected federal income tax provision (benefit) $(3,515) $ 572 $(747)
State income taxes (397) 89 (19)
Goodwill amortization 309 302 309
Exempt interest - - (152)
Foreign sales corporation (158) (107) (68)
Tax credits (285) (348) (762)
Foreign operations 107 (174) 59
UTS acquisition - 152 376
Meals and entertainment 212 134 243
Other, net (93) 5 91
------- ----- -----
Provision (benefit) for income taxes $(3,820) $ 625 $(670)
------- ----- -----
------- ----- -----
Page 55
The domestic and foreign components of income before taxes were:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands) 1998 1997 1996
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic $ (8,296) $ 2,965 $ 1,525
Foreign (1,749) (1,330) (3,659)
-------- ------- -------
Income (loss) before income taxes $(10,045) $ 1,635 $(2,134)
-------- ------- -------
-------- ------- -------
The provision for income taxes consists of the following:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands) 1998 1997 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current:
Federal $ 344 $ 331 $ 678
State and local 324 133 197
Foreign 60 54 -
------- ------ -------
Total current $728 $ 518 $ 875
Deferred:
Federal (3,332) 762 (844)
State and local (651) 38 130
Foreign (565) (693) (831)
------- ------ -------
Total deferred (4,548) 107 (1,545)
------- ------ -------
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes $(3,820) $ 625 $ (670)
------- ------ -------
------- ------ -------
Deferred income taxes consisted of the following:
AT DECEMBER 31,
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands) 1998 1997
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred tax assets
Tax credits $ 5,925 $ 4,999
Loss carry forwards 13,245 4,589
Accrued expenses 5,367 4,033
Inventory valuation 1,889 2,175
Other, net 228 97
-------- --------
Total deferred tax assets 26,654 15,893
Deferred tax liabilities
Acquisitions (292) (391)
Depreciation and amortization (2,789) (4,469)
Long term contracts (14,729) (6,739)
-------- --------
Total deferred tax liabilities (17,810) (11,599)
-------- --------
Net deferred tax assets $ 8,844 $ 4,294
-------- --------
-------- --------
Page 56
Valuation allowances of $70,000 and $1.4 million in 1998, $70,000 and $1.6
million in 1997 and $129,000 and $802,000 in 1996, were provided for capital
loss carryforwards and foreign net operating loss carryforwards, respectively,
for which the Company may not receive future benefits.
The Company has research and development tax credits and net operating loss
carryforwards available to offset future income tax liabilities. The tax
credits of $5.1 million expire from 2004-2013 and the loss carryforwards of
$13.2 million expire from 2001-2019.
The Company also has alternative minimum tax credits, totaling $832,000, that
are available to offset future tax liabilities indefinitely.
NOTE 15: OTHER RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Certain of the Company's customers are also shareholders with more than 10%
ownership interest and/or hold positions on Itron's Board of Directors. Revenue
from such customers was $4.5 million in 1998, $4.8 million in 1997 and $4.3
million in 1996. Accounts receivable from these customers were $303,000 and $1.1
million at December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively. Interest expense related to
notes payable to a shareholder was $475,000 in 1998, $483,000 in 1997 and
$456,000 in 1996.
NOTE 16: SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards (SFAS) No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and
Related Information," effective January 1, 1998. The statement requires
companies to disclose various information about their operating segments, which
are reviewed on a regular basis by the chief decision maker of the enterprise.
The Company reviews its operations using a variety of matrices, however, the
chief executive officer primarily reviews the Company's manufacturing and sales
operations on a domestic vs. international basis and revenues and cost of sales
are reviewed based on the Company's major product lines of AMR systems, handheld
systems and outsourcing. The Company has outsourcing agreements in which it both
owns and operates the system. These agreements require a large amount of capital
investment and related project and other debt, and are included in the Company's
finance operations. Outsourcing contracts in which the Company operates, but
does not own, the equipment are included in the Company's normal manufacturing
and sales operations. The chief executive officer reviews financing operations
separately from manufacturing and sales operations because they are essentially
different businesses with significantly different operating and leverage
characteristics.
Segment debt and interest expense related to the Company's finance and
international operations includes both direct and allocated debt and interest
expense. Segment debt and related interest expense are allocated based on each
segment's funding requirements for capital or operations. Intersegment
revenues include shipments to various Company-owned subsidiaries and are
eliminated in consolidation. EBITDA includes earnings for each segment before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and is used to allow a
comparison of each segment's operating results. Segment Debt/EBITDA is a ratio
that is used to compare segment leverage ratios to comparable industry ratios.
The Company does not allocate income taxes to its operating segments.
Page 57
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
MANUFACTURING AND SALES
--------------------------------------
(in thousands) DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL TOTAL FINANCE ELIMINATIONS CONSOLIDATED
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues from external customers:
AMR systems $154,976 $ 8,637 $163,613 $ - $ - $163,613
Handheld systems 42,774 11,183 53,957 - - 53,957
Outsourcing 535 - 535 23,297 - 23,832
Intersegment revenues 3,680 211 3,891 - (3,891) -
-------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total revenues $201,965 $20,031 $221,996 $ 23,297 $ (3,891) $241,402
Interest income 408 46 454 21 - 475
Interest expense (972) (1,715) (2,687) (4,296) - (6,983)
Depreciation and amortization 15,585 1,554 17,139 2,726 - 19,865
Segment loss (3,009) (4,915) (7,924) (664) (1,457) (10,045)
Segment assets 172,700 12,533 185,233 88,623 (26,101) 247,755
Segment debt 7,010 19,787 26,797 74,083 (8,683) 92,197
Cash flows:
Operating activities $ 13,153 $(3,416) $ 9,737 $(11,635) $ - $ (1,898)
Investing activities (1) (5,716) (537) (6,253) (10,851) - (17,104)
-------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net operating and investing $ 7,437 $(3,953) $ 3,484 $(22,486) $ - $(19,002)
EBITDA (2) $ 11,554 $(1,584) $ 9,970 $ 6,358 $ - $ 16,328
Segment debt/EBITDA .61 * 3.10 11.65 - 5.65
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
MANUFACTURING AND SALES
--------------------------------------
(in thousands) DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL TOTAL FINANCE ELIMINATIONS CONSOLIDATED
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues from external customers:
AMR systems $138,109 $ 5,363 $143,472 $ - $ - $143,472
Handheld systems 31,907 17,502 49,409 - - 49,409
Outsourcing - - - 23,236 - 23,236
Intersegment revenues 817 658 1,475 - (1,475) -
-------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total revenues $170,833 $23,523 $194,356 $ 23,236 $ (1,475) $216,117
Interest income 529 15 544 - (71) 473
Interest (expense) (206) (1,477) (1,683) (2,777) 71 (4,389)
Depreciation and amortization 14,316 1,289 15,605 1,176 - 16,781
Segment income (loss) 3,783 (3,634) 149 2,206 (720) 1,635
Segment assets 178,465 11,763 190,228 62,805 (12,822) 240,211
Segment debt 6,440 16,140 22,580 51,425 (191) 73,814
Cash flows:
Operating activities $ 3,405 $ 946 $ 4,351 $ (7,569) $ - $ (3,218)
Investing activities (1) (9,029) (662) (9,691) (24,374) - (34,065)
-------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net operating and investing $ (5,624) $ 284 $ (5,340) $(31,943) $ - $(37,283)
EBITDA (2) $ 17,478 $(1,305) $ 16,173 $ 6,159 $ - $ 22,332
Segment debt/EBITDA .37 * 1.40 8.35 - 3.31
Page 58
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
MANUFACTURING AND SALES
-------------------------------------
(in thousands) DOMESTIC INTERNATIONAL TOTAL FINANCE ELIMINATIONS CONSOLIDATED
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues from external customers:
AMR systems $127,268 $ 2,308 $129,576 $ - $ - $129,576
Handheld systems 33,349 11,735 45,084 - - 45,084
Outsourcing - - - 2,924 - 2,924
Intersegment revenues - 1,029 1,029 - (1,029) -
-------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Total revenues $160,617 $15,072 $175,689 $ 2,924 $ (1,029) $177,584
Interest income 1,037 30 1,067 - (460) 607
Interest expense - (613) (613) (770) 460 (923)
Depreciation and amortization 9,759 744 10,503 19 - 10,522
Segment income (loss) 5,940 (6,380) (440) (1,405) (289) (2,134)
Segment assets 165,042 11,465 176,507 24,132 (13,968) 186,671
Segment debt 6,440 20,561 27,001 19,261 (6,760) 39,502
Cash flows:
Operating activities $ (9,681) $(3,750) $(13,431) $ (3,431) $ - $(16,862)
Investing activities (1) (7,072) (1,947) (9,019) (15,830) - (24,849)
-------- ------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net operating and investing $(16,753) $(5,697) $(22,450) $(19,261) $ - $(41,711)
EBITDA (2) $ 14,632 $(5,312) $ 9,320 $ (616) $ - $ 8,704
Segment debt/EBITDA .44 * 2.90 * - 4.54
Domestic information includes the United States and Canada. International
information includes the results of wholly owned subsidiaries located in the
United Kingdom, France and Australia as well as sales to international
distributors, which were $3.0 million in 1998, $9.7 million in 1997 and $5.9
million in 1996. International revenue includes sales to customers located in
Asia, Europe, Australia, Japan, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Approximately 16% of 1998 and 22% of 1996 consolidated revenue related to a
contract with a significant customer in each year. At December 31, 1998 and
1997, approximately 34% and 21%, respectively, of total accounts and contracts
receivable were due from one customer.
1 INVESTING ACTIVITIES PRIMARILY CONSIST OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURES FOR EACH
SEGMENT.
2 EBITDA IS CALCULATED BY ADDING NET INTEREST, DEPRECIATION, AND AMORTIZATION
EXPENSE TO PRE-TAX INCOME OR LOSS AND IS PRESENTED BECAUSE THE COMPANY BELIEVES
THAT IT ALLOWS FOR A MORE COMPLETE ANALYSIS OF THE COMPANY'S RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS. THIS INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS AN INDICATOR OF THE
COMPANY'S OVERALL FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE. ADDITIONALLY, EBITDA AS REPORTED HEREIN
MAY NOT BE COMPARABLE TO SIMILARLY TITLED MEASURES REPORTED BY OTHER COMPANIES.
* NOT MEANINGFUL.
Page 59
NOTE 17: DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
The Company receives funding to develop certain products under joint development
agreements with several companies. Intellectual property rights to such
developed products remain with the Company. Funding received under these
agreements is credited against product development expenses. The agreements
provide for royalty payments by the Company if successful products are developed
and sold. Additionally the Company is required to pay royalties on future sales
of products incorporating certain AMR technologies. Funding received and royalty
expense under these arrangements is as follows:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands) 1998 1997 1996
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Funding received $ 485 $ 731 $ 143
Royalties paid 1,130 1,524 1,614
NOTE 18: QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)
Quarterly results are as follows:
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH TOTAL
(in thousands, except per share data) QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER YEAR
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998
Statement of operations data:
Total revenues $63,708 $60,769 $54,839 $62,086 $241,402
Gross profit 20,795 19,968 15,031 21,009 76,803
Net income (loss) 153 (1,076) (5,929) 627 (6,225)
Basic net income (loss) per share $ .01 $ (.07) $ (.40) $ .04 $ (.42)
Diluted net income (loss) per share $ .01 $ (.07) $ (.40) $ .04 $ (.42)
1997
Statement of operations data:
Total revenues $40,583 $52,732 $58,427 $64,375 $216,117
Gross profit 13,619 19,291 22,100 25,748 80,758
Net income (loss) (3,259) (675) 1,643 3,301 1,010
Basic net income (loss) per share $ (.24) $ (.05) $ .11 $ .23 $ .07
Diluted net income (loss) per share $ (.24) $ (.05) $ .11 $ .22 $ .07
ITEM 9: CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
Page 60
PART III
ITEM 10: DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
The section entitled "Election of Directors" appearing in the Registrant's
Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 5,
1999 (the "1999 Proxy Statement") sets forth certain information with regard
to the directors of the Registrant and is incorporated herein by reference.
Certain information with respect to persons who are or may be deemed to be
executive officers of the Registrant is set forth under the caption
"Executive Officers of the Registrant" in Part I of this Annual Report on
Form 10-K.
ITEM 11: EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The section entitled "Executive Compensation" appearing in the 1999 Proxy
Statement sets forth certain information (except for those sections captioned
"Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation" and "Performance
Graph", which are not incorporated by reference herein) with respect to the
compensation of management of the Registrant and is incorporated herein by
reference.
ITEM 12: SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The section entitled "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management" appearing in the 1998 Proxy Statement sets forth certain
information with respect to the ownership of the Registrant's Common Stock
and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13: CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The section entitled "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions"
appearing in the 1999 Proxy Statement sets forth certain information with
respect to the certain business relationships and transactions between the
Registrant and its directors and officers and is incorporated herein by
reference.
PART IV
ITEM 14: EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
2) LIST OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES:
_ Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
Page 61
3) EXHIBITS:
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBITS
- ------- -----------------------
3.1 Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant. (A) (Exhibit
3.1)
3.2 Restated Bylaws of the Registrant. (A) (Exhibit 3.2)
4.1 Rights Agreement between the Registrant and Chemical Trust
Company of California dated as of July 15, 1992. (A) (Exhibit 4.1)
4.2 Indenture dated as of March 12, 1997 between the Registrant and
Chemical Trust Company of California, as trustee. *(G) (Exhibit 4.1)
10.1 Form of Change of Control Agreement between Registrant and
certain of its executive officers, together with schedule
executive officers who are parties thereto. *
10.2 Schedule of certain executive officers who are parties to Change of
Control Agreements (see Exhibit 10.1 hereto) with the Registrant.
10.3 Employment Agreement between the Registrant and Johnny M.
Humphreys dated February 9, 1987, First Addendum dated
November 22, 1988 and Second Addendum dated July 21, 1992.
*(A) (Exhibit 10.2)
10.4 Form of Confidentiality Agreement normally entered into with
employees. (A) (Exhibit 10.7)
10.5 Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement among the
Registrant and certain holders of its securities dated March 25,
1996. (D) (Exhibit 10.4)
10.6 1989 Restated Stock Option Plan. (D) (Exhibit 10.5)
10.7 1992 Restated Stock Option Plan for Nonemployee Directors. (E)
10.8 Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. *(A) (Exhibit 10.12)
10.9 Form of Indemnification Agreements between the Registrant and
certain directors and officers. (C) (Exhibit 10.14)
10.10 Schedule of directors and executive officers who are parties to
Indemnification Agreements (see Exhibit 10.09 hereto) with the
Registrant.
10.11 Employment Agreement between the Registrant and David G. Remington
dated February 29, 1996. * (C) (Exhibit 10.16)
10.12 Office Lease between the Registrant and Woodville Leasing Inc. dated
October 4, 1993. (B) (Exhibit 10.24).
10.13 Contract between the Registrant and Duquesne Light Company dated
January 15, 1996. (DELTA) (C) (Exhibit 10.18)
Page 62
10.14 Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Utility Automated Meter
Data Acquisition Lease and Services Agreement between the
Registrant and Duquesne Light Company dated September 11, 1997.
(DELTA) (F) (Exhibit 10)
10.15 Purchase Agreement between the Registrant and Pentzer Development
Corporation dated July 11, 1995. (C) (Exhibit 10.19)
10.16 Loan Agreement between Itron, Inc. and Bank of America and USBank
signed September 30, 1998.
12 Statement of Computation of Ratios
21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant
23 Independent Auditors' Consent
27 Financial Data Schedule.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A) Incorporated by reference to designated exhibit included in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration #33-49832),
as amended, filed on July 22, 1992.
(B) Incorporated by reference to designated exhibit included in the
Company's 1993 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 30, 1994.
(C) Incorporated by reference to designated exhibit included in the
Company's 1995 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 30, 1996.
(D) Incorporated by reference to designated exhibit included in the
Company's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 5, 1997.
(E) Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Company's designated
Proxy Statement dated April 4, 1997 for its annual meeting of
shareholders held on April 29, 1997.
(F) Incorporated by reference to designated exhibit included in the
Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September
30, 1997.
(G) Incorporated by reference to designated exhibit included in the
Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 18, 1997.
(H) Incorporated by reference to designated exhibit included in the
Company's 1997 Annual Report on Form 10-K dated March 30, 1998.
* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
(DELTA) Confidential treatment requested for a portion of this agreement.
4) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K:
There were no Current Reports on Form 8-K filed during the fourth quarter of
1998.
Page 63
SCHEDULE II: VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(In thousands of dollars) Additions Balance at end of period
----------- ------------------------
Balance at Charged to
beginning costs and
Description of period expenses Deductions Current Non current
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996:
Inventory obsolescence 1,863 5,722 3,454 4,131
Warranty 2,985 2,664 2,280 1,212 2,157
Allowance for doubtful accts. 509 550 307 752
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997:
Inventory obsolescence 4,131 7,831 8,138 3,824
Warranty 3,369 7,600 7,451 2,666 852
Allowance for doubtful accts. 752 745 745 752
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998:
Inventory obsolescence 3,824 8,316 7,374 4,766
Warranty 3,518 7,381 4,953 5,100 846
Allowance for doubtful accts. 752 967 219 1,500
Page 64
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, in the City of
Spokane, State of Washington, on the 26th day of March 1999.
ITRON, INC.
By /s/ DAVID G. REMINGTON
------------------------------------
David G. Remington
Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated
below on the 26th day of March, 1999.
SIGNATURE TITLE
- --------- -----
/S/JOHNNY M. HUMPHREYS Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
- ----------------------------- Executive Officer (Principal Executive
Johnny M. Humphreys Officer)
/S/DAVID G. REMINGTON Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial
- ----------------------------- and Accounting Officer)
David G. Remington
/S/MICHAEL B. BRACY Director
- -----------------------------
Michael B. Bracy
/S/TED C. DEMERRITT Director
- -----------------------------
Ted C. DeMerritt
/S/JON E. ELIASSEN Director
- -----------------------------
Jon E. Eliassen
/S/MARY ANN PETERS Director
- -----------------------------
Mary Ann Peters
/S/PAUL A. REDMOND Director
- -----------------------------
Paul A. Redmond
/S/GRAHAM M. WILSON Director
- -----------------------------
Graham M. Wilson
/S/STUART E. WHITE Director
- -----------------------------
Stuart E. White
Page 65
EXHIBIT 10.1
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
This Change of Control Agreement (this "Agreement"), dated as of
______________, 199__, is between Itron, Inc., a Washington corporation (the
"Company"), and NAME (the "Executive").
The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") has determined that
it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to ensure that
the Company will have the continued dedication of the Executive, notwithstanding
the possibility, threat or occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined in
Appendix A to this Agreement, which is incorporated herein by this reference) of
the Company. The Board believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable
distraction of the Executive arising from the personal uncertainties and risks
created by a pending or threatened Change of Control, to encourage the
Executive's full attention and dedication to the Company currently and in the
event of any threatened or pending Change of Control, to encourage the
Executive's willingness to serve a successor in an equivalent capacity, and to
provide the Executive with reasonable compensation and benefits arrangements in
the event that a Change of Control results in the Executive's loss of equivalent
employment.
In order to accomplish these objectives, the Board has caused the
Company to enter into this Agreement.
1. EMPLOYMENT
1.1 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
(a) "EFFECTIVE DATE" shall mean the first date during
the Change of Control Period (as defined in Section 1.1(b)) on which a Change
of Control occurs.
(b) "CHANGE OF CONTROL PERIOD" shall mean the period
commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the [first][second]
anniversary of the date the Company gives notice to the Executive that the
Change of Control Period shall be terminated.
1.2 EMPLOYMENT PERIOD
The Company hereby agrees to continue the Executive in its employ or in
the employ of its affiliated companies, and the Executive hereby agrees to
remain in the employ of the Company or its affiliated companies, in accordance
with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, for the period commencing on
the Effective Date and ending on the [first][second][third] anniversary of such
date (the "Employment Period").
1.3 POSITION AND DUTIES
During the Employment Period, the Executive's position, authority,
duties and responsibilities shall be at least reasonably commensurate in all
material respects with the most significant of those held, exercised and
assigned at any time during the 90-day period immediately preceding the
Effective Date.
-1-
1.4 LOCATION
During the Employment Period, the Executive's services shall be
performed at the [Company's headquarters][headquarters of the Company's UTS
subsidiary] on the Effective Date or any office which is subsequently designated
as the headquarters of [the Company][the Company's UTS subsidiary] and is less
than 50 miles from such location.
1.5 EMPLOYMENT AT WILL
The Executive and the Company acknowledge that, except as may otherwise
be expressly provided under any other written employment agreement between the
Executive and the Company, the employment of the Executive by the Company or its
affiliated companies is "at will" and may be terminated by either the Executive
or the Company or its affiliated companies at any time. Moreover, if prior to
the Effective Date the Executive's employment with the Company or its affiliated
companies terminates, then the Executive shall have no further rights under this
Agreement.
1.6 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Executive is either currently or at some future time may become a
member of the Board. His continuation as such shall be subject to the will of
the Company's stockholders and the Board, as provided in the Company's by-laws
and certificate of incorporation. Removal of the Executive from, or nonelection
of the Executive to, the Board by the Company's stockholders or the Board, as
provided in the Company's by-laws and articles of incorporation, shall in no
event be deemed a breach of this Agreement by the Company.
2. ATTENTION AND EFFORT
During the Employment Period, and excluding any periods of vacation and
sick leave to which the Executive is entitled, the Executive will devote all of
his professional productive time, ability, attention and effort to the business
and affairs of the Company and the discharge of the responsibilities assigned to
him hereunder, and will use his best efforts to perform faithfully and
efficiently such responsibilities. It shall not be a violation of this Agreement
for the Executive to (a) serve on corporate, civic or charitable boards or
committees, (b) deliver lectures, fulfill speaking engagements or teach at
educational institutions, and (c) manage personal investments, so long as such
activities do not significantly interfere with the performance of the
Executive's responsibilities in accordance with this Agreement. It is expressly
understood and agreed that to the extent any such activities have been conducted
by the Executive prior to the Employment Period, the continued conduct of such
activities (or the conduct of activities similar in nature and scope thereto)
during the Employment Period shall not thereafter be deemed to interfere with
the performance of the Executive's responsibilities to the Company.
3. COMPENSATION
During the Employment Period, the Company agrees to pay or cause to be
paid to the Executive, and the Executive agrees to accept in exchange for the
services rendered hereunder by him, the following compensation:
-2-
3.1 SALARY
The Executive shall receive an annual base salary (the "Annual Base
Salary"), at least equal to the annual salary established by the Board or the
Compensation Committee of the Board (the "Compensation Committee") prior to the
Effective Date for the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs or, if the
Executive's annual salary has not been established for the fiscal year in which
the Effective Date occurs prior to the Effective Date, then the Annual Base
Salary shall be the Executive's annual salary for the preceding fiscal year. The
Annual Base Salary shall be paid in substantially equal installments and at the
same intervals as the salaries of other officers of the Company are paid.
3.2 BONUS
In addition to Annual Base Salary, the Executive shall be awarded an
annual bonus (the "Annual Bonus") in cash at least equal to the average
annualized (for any fiscal year consisting of less than 12 full months) bonus
paid or payable, including by reason of any deferral, to the Executive by the
Company and its affiliated companies in respect of the three fiscal years
immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Effective Date occurs;
provided, however, that payment of the Annual Bonus may be tied to either
personal or Company performance goals reasonably consistent with those in the
Company's bonus plan during the immediately preceding three fiscal years. Each
such Annual Bonus shall be paid no later than 90 days after the end of the
fiscal year for which the Annual Bonus is awarded, unless the Executive shall
elect to defer the receipt of such Annual Bonus.
4. BENEFITS
4.1 BENEFIT PLANS; VACATION
During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to
participate, subject to and in accordance with applicable eligibility
requirements, in such fringe benefit programs as shall be provided to other
executives of the Company and its affiliated companies from time to time during
the Employment Period by action of the Board (or any person or committee
appointed by the Board to determine fringe benefit programs and other
emoluments), including, without limitation, paid vacations; any incentive,
savings and retirement plan, practice, policy or program; and all welfare
benefit plans, practices, policies and programs (including, without limitation,
medical, prescription, dental, disability, salary continuance, employee life,
group life, accidental death and travel accident insurance plans and programs).
4.2 EXPENSES
During the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to
receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable employment expenses incurred by
him in accordance with the policies, practices and procedures of the Company and
its affiliated companies in effect for the executives of the Company and its
affiliated companies during the Employment Period.
5. TERMINATION
Employment of the Executive during the Employment Period may be
terminated as follows but, in any case, the nondisclosure and noncompetition
provisions set forth in Section 8 hereof shall survive the termination of this
Agreement and the termination of the Executive's employment with the Company:
-3-
5.1 BY THE COMPANY OR THE EXECUTIVE
Upon giving Notice of Termination (as defined below), the Company may
terminate the employment of the Executive with or without Cause (as defined
below), and the Executive may terminate his employment for Good Reason (as
defined below) or for any reason, at any time during the Employment Period.
5.2 AUTOMATIC TERMINATION
This Agreement and the Executive's employment during the Employment
Period shall terminate automatically upon the death or Total Disability of the
Executive. The term "Total Disability" as used herein shall mean the Executive's
inability, as determined by a physician selected by the Company and acceptable
to the Executive, to perform the duties set forth in Section 1.3 hereof for a
period or periods aggregating 120 calendar days in any 12-month period as a
result of physical or mental illness, loss of legal capacity or any other cause
beyond the Executive's control, unless the Executive is granted a leave of
absence by the Board; provided, however, that the Executive shall not be deemed
to have a "Total Disability" if the Executive is capable of performing the
essential functions of his position after being provided with such accommodation
as may be necessary so long as such accommodation does not place undue burden on
the Company. The Executive and the Company hereby acknowledge that the
Executive's presence and ability to perform the duties specified in Section 1.3
hereof is of the essence of this Agreement.
5.3 NOTICE OF TERMINATION
Any termination by the Company or by the Executive during the
Employment Period shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the other
party given in accordance with Section 10 hereof. The term "Notice of
Termination" shall mean a written notice which (a) indicates the specific
termination provision in this Agreement relied upon and (b) to the extent
applicable, sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed
to provide a basis for termination of the Executive's employment under the
provision so indicated. The failure by the Executive or the Company to set forth
in the Notice of Termination any fact or circumstance which contributes to a
showing of Good Reason or Cause shall not waive any right of the Executive or
the Company hereunder or preclude the Executive or the Company from asserting
such fact or circumstance in enforcing the Executive's or the Company's rights
hereunder.
5.4 DATE OF TERMINATION
During the Employment Period, "Date of Termination" means (a) if the
Executive's employment is terminated by reason of death, at the end of the
calendar month in which the Executive's death occurs, (b) if the Executive's
employment is terminated by reason of Total Disability, immediately upon a
determination by the Company of the Executive's Total Disability, and (c) in all
other cases, five days after the date of personal delivery of or mailing of, as
applicable, the Notice of Termination. The Executive's employment and
performance of services will continue during such five-day period; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that the Company may, upon notice to the Executive and without reducing
the Executive's compensation during such period, excuse the Executive from any
or all of his duties during such period.
-4-
6. TERMINATION PAYMENTS
In the event of termination of the Executive's employment during the
Employment Period, all compensation and benefits set forth in this Agreement
shall terminate except as specifically provided in this Section 6.
6.1 TERMINATION BY THE COMPANY FOR OTHER THAN CAUSE OR BY THE
EXECUTIVE FOR GOOD REASON
If the Company terminates the Executive's employment other than for
Cause or the Executive terminates his employment for Good Reason prior to the
end of the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to:
(a) receive payment of the following accrued
obligations (the "Accrued Obligations"):
(i) the Executive's Annual Base Salary through the
Date of Termination to the extent not theretofore paid;
(ii) the product of (x) the Annual Bonus payable
with respect to the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs
and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in the
current fiscal year through the Date of Termination, and the
denominator of which is 365; and
(iii) any compensation previously deferred by the
Executive (together with accrued interest or earnings thereon, if any)
as such deferred compensation becomes payable under the deferral plan,
and any accrued vacation pay, in each case to the extent not
theretofore paid;
(b) for [one][two] year[s] after the Date of Termination, the
Executive and/or the Executive's family, as the case may be, shall be eligible
for participation in and shall receive all benefits under group health insurance
plans and other group insurance programs (such as life, disability, etc.) such
that the Executive and/or the Executive's family is provided with benefits that
are, in the aggregate, substantially equivalent to those which would have been
provided to them in accordance with the Company plans that would have been
available to Executive if the Executive's employment had not been terminated;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Executive becomes reemployed with another
employer and is eligible to receive health or other group insurance benefits
under another employer-provided plan, the health and other group insurance
benefits described herein shall be secondary to those provided under such other
plan during such applicable period of eligibility (such continuation of such
benefits for the period herein set forth shall be hereinafter referred to as the
"Welfare Benefit Continuation"); and
(c) subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6.2, an
amount as severance pay equal to the product of (i) [three][two][one] and (ii)
the sum of the Executive's (x) Annual Base Salary and (y) Annual Bonus payable
for the fiscal year in which the Date of Termination occurs.
6.2 OPTION ACCELERATION VALUE ADJUSTMENT TO SEVERANCE PAY
If the multiplicand in clause 6.1(c)(i) above is "three" or "two," the
amount otherwise payable to Executive under Section 6.1(c) is subject to
reduction as provided in this Section 6.2 in the event that the Executive
receives value from acceleration of vesting of stock options in connection with
the
-5-
Change of Control which triggered the Effective Date of this Agreement (as
further defined below, the "Option Acceleration Value"). In such case, any
amounts payable to Executive under Section 6.1(c) shall be reduced by the
LESSER of (a) the amount calculated pursuant to clause 6.1(c)(ii) above or (b)
the Option Acceleration Value.
The "Option Acceleration Value," if any, shall be calculated by
multiplying (y) the amount by which the per share consideration received by the
Company's shareholders in connection with the Change of Control exceeds the per
share exercise price of options held by the Executive, by (z) the number of
options accelerated in connection with the Change of Control which would not
have subsequently vested prior to the termination of Executive's employment. If
Executive holds more than one option at varying exercise prices, the foregoing
calculation shall be done with respect to each option and the results of such
calculations shall be aggregated to determine the Option Acceleration Value.
The following example is intended to illustrate the foregoing
calculation of Option Acceleration Value. Facts assumed for purposes of example
only: (a) Executive is granted an option on November 1, 1998 to purchase 1,000
shares of the Company's common stock at an exercise price of $10 per share, with
vesting 25% annually over a four-year period; (b) a Change of Control occurs on
March 31, 2000, in which the Company's shareholders exchange each of their
shares of the Company's common stock for $25 worth of common stock of the
acquiring company; (c) vesting of the unvested portion (750 shares) of
Executive's option is accelerated in connection with the Change of Control; and
(d) Executive's employment is terminated by the Company without Cause on
November 30, 2000. Although vesting of options to purchase 750 shares was
accelerated in connection with the Change of Control, because Executive would
have vested (on November 1, 2000) an additional 250 shares prior to his
termination, the benefit Executive realized from the acceleration was
acceleration of vesting of 500 shares. Executive's Option Acceleration Value is
therefore ($25 - $10) x 500, which equals $7,500.
6.3 TERMINATION FOR CAUSE OR OTHER THAN FOR GOOD REASON
If the Executive's employment shall be terminated by the Company for
Cause or by the Executive for other than Good Reason during the Employment
Period, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligation to the
Executive other than the obligation to pay to the Executive his Annual Base
Salary through the Date of Termination plus the amount of any compensation
previously deferred by the Executive (as such deferred compensation becomes
payable under the deferral plan), in each case to the extent theretofore unpaid.
6.4 STAY BONUS
If the Executive's employment is not terminated prior to the first
anniversary of the Effective Date, upon the first anniversary of the Effective
Date the Executive shall be entitled to receive a bonus equal to the sum of the
Executive's then current Annual Base Salary and Annual Bonus paid or payable
with respect to the Company's most recently completed fiscal year, whether or
not Executive's employment with the Company continues beyond the first
anniversary of the Effective Date. The bonus payable under this Section 6.4
shall be in addition to all other compensation to which the Executive is
entitled.
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6.5 TERMINATION BECAUSE OF DEATH OR TOTAL DISABILITY
If the Executive's employment is terminated by reason of the
Executive's death or Total Disability during the Employment Period, this
Agreement shall terminate automatically without further obligations to the
Executive or his legal representatives under this Agreement, other than for
payment of Accrued Obligations (which shall be paid to the Executive's estate or
beneficiary, as applicable in the case of the Executive's death), and the timely
payment or provision of the Welfare Benefit Continuation.
6.6 PAYMENT SCHEDULE
All payments under Section 6.1(a) and (c) shall be paid to the
Executive in a lump sum in cash within 30 days of the Date of Termination.
6.7 EXCISE TAXES
(a) In the event that the Executive becomes entitled to the
payments or other benefits described in Section 6.1 hereof and the Executive
becomes subject to the tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or any successor provision (the "Excise Tax")
as a result of such payments and benefits and any other payments or benefits
from the Company required to be taken into account under Code Section 280G(b)(2)
(collectively, "Parachute Payments"), the Company shall pay to Executive an
additional amount (the "Make-Whole Payment") equal to the sum of (i) the Excise
Tax payable to the Executive prior to the Make-Whole Payment and (ii) the
Federal, state and local income tax and Excise Tax (including any interest or
penalties thereon) payable upon all payments made under subparagraphs (i) and
(ii) of this Section 6.7(a).
(b) All determinations required to be made under this Section
6.7, including whether the Executive has received a Parachute Payment, shall be
made by the Company's accounting firm (the "Accounting Firm") which shall
provide detailed supporting calculations both to the Company and the Executive
within 15 business days of the receipt of notice from the Executive that the
Executive has received a payment under Section 6.1, or such earlier time as is
requested by the Company. In the event that the Accounting Firm is serving as
accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group effecting the Change
of Control, the Executive shall appoint another nationally recognized accounting
firm to make the determinations required hereunder (which accounting firm shall
then be referred to as the Accounting Firm hereunder). All fees and expenses of
the Accounting Firm shall be borne solely by the Company. If the Accounting Firm
determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Executive, it shall furnish the
Executive with a written opinion that failure to report the Excise Tax on the
Executive's applicable federal income tax return would not result in the
imposition of a negligence or similar penalty. As promptly as practicable
following such determination, the Company shall pay to or distribute for the
benefit of the Executive such payments as are then due to the Executive under
this Agreement. Any determination by the Accounting Firm shall be binding upon
the Company and Executive.
6.8 CAUSE
For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" means cause given by the
Executive to the Company and shall include, without limitation, the occurrence
of one or more of the following events:
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(a) Failure or refusal to carry out any lawful duties of the
Executive described in Section 1.3 hereof or any directions of the Board
reasonably consistent with the duties herein set forth to be performed by the
Executive;
(b) Violation by the Executive of a state or federal criminal
law involving the commission of a crime against the Company or any other
criminal act involving moral turpitude;
(c) Current abuse by the Executive of alcohol or controlled
substances; deception, fraud, misrepresentation or dishonesty by the Executive;
any incident materially compromising the Executive's reputation or ability to
represent the Company with the public; any act or omission by the Executive
which substantially impairs the Company's business, goodwill or reputation; or
any other misconduct; or
(d) Any other material violation of any provision of this
Agreement.
6.9 GOOD REASON
For purposes of this Agreement, "Good Reason" means
(a) The assignment to the Executive of any duties inconsistent
in any material respect with the Executive's position, authority, duties or
responsibilities as contemplated by Section 1.3 hereof or any other action by
the Company which results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or
responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated and inadvertent action
not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after
receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive, and further excluding
reasonable changes in particular duties and reporting responsibilities which may
result from the Company becoming part of a larger business organization at some
future time provided that such changes in the aggregate do not result in a
material alteration in the Executive's position, authority, duties or
responsibilities;
(b) Any failure by the Company to comply with any of the
provisions of Section 3 hereof, other than an isolated and inadvertent failure
not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company promptly after
receipt of notice thereof given by the Executive;
(c) The Company's requiring the Executive to be based at any
office or location other than that described in Section 1.4 hereof; or
(d) Any failure by the Company to comply with and satisfy
Section 11 hereof, provided that the Company's successor has received at least
ten days' prior written notice from the Company or the Executive of the
requirements of Section 11 hereof.
7. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND OTHER CONDITIONS
In order to induce the Company to enter into this Agreement, the
Executive represents and warrants to the Company as follows:
7.1 HEALTH
The Executive is in good health and knows of no physical or mental
disability which, with or without any accommodation which may be required by law
and which places no undue burden on the
-8-
Company, would prevent him from fulfilling his obligations hereunder. The
Executive agrees, if the Company requests, to submit to periodic medical
examinations by a physician or physicians designated by, paid for and arranged
by the Company. The Executive agrees that the examination's medical report
shall be provided to the Company.
7.2 NO VIOLATION OF OTHER AGREEMENTS
The Executive represents that neither the execution nor the performance
of this Agreement by the Executive will violate or conflict in any way with any
other agreement by which the Executive may be bound.
8. NONDISCLOSURE; NONCOMPETITION; RETURN OF MATERIALS
The Company and the Executive hereby reaffirm the Employee Invention
and Nondisclosure Agreement previously executed by the Executive (attached as
Exhibit A to this Agreement), and expressly incorporated herein as part of this
Agreement. Consistent with the Employee Invention and Nondisclosure Agreement,
Employee agrees that at no time during the Employment Period or within one year
thereafter will Employee become involved in any activity or with any business
entity anywhere in the world which directly or indirectly competes with any
material product or service of the Company or its affiliates.
All documents, records, notebooks, notes, memoranda, drawings or other
documents pertaining to the Company and its business made or compiled by the
Executive at any time, or in his possession, including any and all copies
thereof, shall be the property of the Company and shall be held by the Executive
in trust and solely for the benefit of the Company, and shall be delivered to
the Company by the Executive upon termination of employment or at any other time
upon request by the Company.
The Executive understands that the Company will be relying on this
Agreement in continuing the Executive's employment, paying him compensation,
granting him any promotions or raises, or entrusting him with any information
which helps the Company compete with others.
9. NOTICE AND CURE OF BREACH
Whenever a breach of this Agreement by either party is relied upon as
justification for any action taken by the other party pursuant to any provision
of this Agreement, other than clause (b), (c) or (d) of Section 6.8 hereof,
before such action is taken, the party asserting the breach of this Agreement
shall give the other party at least ten days' prior written notice of the
existence and the nature of such breach before taking further action hereunder
and shall give the party purportedly in breach of this Agreement the opportunity
to correct such breach during the ten-day period.
10. FORM OF NOTICE
Every notice required by the terms of this Agreement shall be given in
writing by serving the same upon the party to whom it was addressed personally
or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, at the address set
forth below or at such other address as may hereafter be designated by notice
given in compliance with the terms hereof:
If to the Executive:
-9-
If to the Company: Itron, Inc.
2818 N. Sullivan Rd.
Spokane, WA 99215
Attention: President
or such other address as shall be provided in accordance with the terms hereof.
Except as set forth in Section 5.4 hereof, if notice is mailed, such notice
shall be effective upon mailing.
11. ASSIGNMENT
This Agreement is personal to the Executive and shall not be assignable
by the Executive. The Company may assign its rights hereunder to (a) any
corporation resulting from any merger, consolidation or other reorganization to
which the Company is a party or (b) any corporation, partnership, association or
other person to which the Company may transfer all or substantially all of the
assets and business of the Company existing at such time. All the terms and
provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and
permitted assigns.
The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all the
business and/or assets of the Company to assume expressly and agree to perform
this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would
be required to perform it if no such succession had taken place. As used in this
Agreement, "Company" shall mean Itron, Inc. and any successor to its business
and/or assets as aforesaid which assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by
operation of law, or otherwise.
12. FULL SETTLEMENT
The Company's obligation to make the payments provided for in this
Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder shall not be
affected by any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other claim, right
or action that the Company may have against the Executive or others. In no event
shall the Executive be obligated to seek other employment or take any other
action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable to the Executive under any of
the provisions of this Agreement, and, except as provided in Section 6.1(b),
such amounts shall not be reduced whether or not the Executive obtains other
employment. The Company agrees to pay promptly upon invoice, to the full extent
permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses that the Executive may incur as a
result of any contest (regardless of the outcome thereof) by the Company, the
Executive or others of the validity or enforceability of, or liability under,
any provision of this Agreement or any guarantee of performance thereof
(including as a result of any contest by the Executive about the amount of any
payment pursuant to this Agreement).
13. WAIVERS
No delay or failure by any party hereto in exercising, protecting or
enforcing any of its rights, titles, interests or remedies hereunder, and no
course of dealing or performance with respect thereto, shall constitute a waiver
thereof. The express waiver by a party hereto of any right, title, interest or
remedy in a particular instance or circumstance shall not constitute a waiver
thereof in any other instance or circumstance. All rights and remedies shall be
cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights or remedies.
-10-
14. TERMINATION; AMENDMENTS IN WRITING
The Company may unilaterally terminate the Change of Control Period by
notice given to the Executive in accordance with Section 1.1(b) and Section 9
hereof. No other amendment, modification, waiver, termination or discharge of
any provision of this Agreement, nor consent to any departure therefrom by
either party hereto, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in
writing, specifically identifying this Agreement and the provision intended to
be amended, modified, waived, terminated or discharged and signed by the Company
and the Executive, and each such amendment, modification, waiver, termination or
discharge shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose for which given. No provision of this Agreement shall be varied,
contradicted or explained by any oral agreement, course of dealing or
performance or any other matter not set forth in an agreement in writing and
signed by the Company and the Executive.
15. APPLICABLE LAW
This Agreement shall in all respects, including all matters of
construction, validity and performance, be governed by, and construed and
enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Washington, without regard
to any rules governing conflicts of laws.
16. SEVERABILITY
If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any jurisdiction, for any reason, including, without
limitation, the duration of such provision, its geographical scope or the extent
of the activities prohibited or required by it, then, to the full extent
permitted by law, (a) all other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and
effect in such jurisdiction and shall be liberally construed in order to carry
out the intent of the parties hereto as nearly as may be possible, (b) such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity,
legality or enforceability of any other provision hereof, and (c) any court or
arbitrator having jurisdiction thereover shall have the power to reform such
provision to the extent necessary for such provision to be enforceable under
applicable law.
17. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement on and as of the date hereof constitutes the entire
agreement between the Company and the Executive with respect to the subject
matter hereof and all prior or contemporaneous oral or written communications,
understandings or agreements between the Company and the Executive with respect
to such subject matter are hereby superseded and nullified in their entireties,
with the exception of the Employee Invention and Nondisclosure Agreement
referenced in Section 8.
18. WITHHOLDING
The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement
such federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to be withheld pursuant
to any applicable law or regulation.
19. COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which
counterpart shall be deemed
-11-
an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and entered into this
Agreement on the date set forth above.
EXECUTIVE
[Executive]
ITRON, INC.
By
----------------------------------
Its Chairman of the Board,
President & CEO
-12-
APPENDIX A TO
CHANGE OF CONTROL AGREEMENT
For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall mean:
(a) A "Board Change" which, for purposes of this Agreement, shall have
occurred if a majority (excluding vacant seats) of the seats on the Company's
Board are occupied by individuals who were neither (i) nominated by a majority
of the Incumbent Directors nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated. An
"Incumbent Director" is a member of the Board who has been either (i) nominated
by a majority of the directors of the Company then in office or (ii) appointed
by directors so nominated, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual
whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or
threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation
14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act")) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents by or on behalf of a Person (as hereinafter defined) other than the
Board; or
(b) The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a "Person") of
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act) of (i) 20% or more of either (A) the then outstanding shares of
Common Stock of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (B) the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the "Outstanding
Company Voting Securities"), in the case of either (A) or (B) of this clause
(i), which acquisition is not approved in advance by a majority of the Incumbent
Directors, or (ii) 33% or more of either (A) the Outstanding Company Common
Stock or (B) the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, in the case of either
(A) or (B) of this clause (ii), which acquisition is approved in advance by a
majority of the Incumbent Directors; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the following
acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (w) any acquisition
directly from the Company, (x) any acquisition by the Company, (y) any
acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the Company or (z)
any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a reorganization, merger or
consolidation, if, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, the
conditions described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of subsection (c) of this
Appendix A are satisfied; or
(c) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a reorganization,
merger or consolidation, in each case, unless, immediately following such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, (i) more than 60% of, respectively, the
then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such
reorganization, merger or consolidation and the combined voting power of the
then outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by all or substantially all the individuals and entities who were
the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
the Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as
their ownership immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or
consolidation of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding
Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (ii) no Person
-13-
(excluding the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the
Company or such corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 33% or more
of the Outstanding Company Common Stock or the Outstanding Voting Securities,
as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 33% or more of,
respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation or the combined
voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, and (iii) at least a
majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation were the Incumbent Directors
at the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
(d) Approval by the stockholders of the Company of (i) a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (ii) the sale or other disposition
of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, other than to a
corporation with respect to which immediately following such sale or other
disposition, (A) more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of
common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in
the election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by
all or substantially all the individuals and entities who were the beneficial
owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the
Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or other
disposition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately
prior to such sale or other disposition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock
and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person
(excluding the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the
Company or such corporation and any Person beneficially owning, immediately
prior to such sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, 33% or more of
the Outstanding Company Common Stock or the Outstanding Company Voting
Securities, as the case may be) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 33%
or more of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such
corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors
of such corporation were approved by a majority of the Incumbent Directors at
the time of the execution of the initial agreement or action of the Board
providing for such sale or other disposition of assets of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall not be a Change of Control
if, in advance of such event, the Executive agrees in writing that such event
shall not constitute a Change of Control.
-14-
ITRON, INC. Exhibit 10.2
Change of Control Agreements
(a) Humphreys, Johnny
(b) Remington, Dave
(c) White, Ed
(d) Huschke, Klaus
(e) Neilson, Rob
(f) Nosbaum, LeRoy
(g) O'Callaghan, Mike
(h) Panattoni, Larry
(i) Shepherd, Dennis
(j) Vanos, Russ
(k) Geiger, Rick
(l) Moore, Gary
(m) Scarpelli, Mima
(n) Smith, John
(o) Godwin, Dave
ITRON, INC. Exhibit 10.10
Indemnification Agreements:
(a) Michael B. Bracy
(b) Jon E. Eliassen
(c) Johnny M. Humphreys
(d) Klaus O. Huschke
(e) Michael J. O'Callaghan
(f) Larry A. Panattoni
(g) Paul A. Redmond
(h) Graham M. Wilson
(i) Robert D. Neilson
(j) Ted C. DeMerritt
(k) Mary Ann Peters
(l) Russell E. Vanos
(m) David G. Remington
(n) Stuart Edward White
(o) LeRoy D. Nosbaum
(p) Dennis A. Shepherd
Exhibit 10.15
LOAN AGREEMENT
between
ITRON, INC.,
as Borrower,
and
BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION
and
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Lenders,
and
BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION,
as Agent.
Dated as of the 30th day of September, 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1 - DEFINITIONS.................................................... 1
1.1 CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS............................................ 1
1.2 ACCOUNTING TERMS................................................. 11
ARTICLE 2 - THE CREDIT..................................................... 12
2.1 THE REVOLVING CREDIT............................................. 12
2.2 MANNER OF BORROWING.............................................. 12
2.3 REPAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL........................................... 12
2.4 INTEREST......................................................... 13
2.5 CONVERSION/CONTINUATION.......................................... 13
2.6 PROMISSORY NOTES................................................. 14
2.7 PREPAYMENT....................................................... 14
2.8 MANNER OF PAYMENTS; COMPUTATIONS................................. 15
2.9 FEES............................................................. 15
2.10 SHARING OF PAYMENTS, ETC......................................... 17
2.11 LETTERS OF CREDIT................................................ 17
2.12 COLLATERAL....................................................... 17
ARTICLE 3 - THE EFFECTIVE DATE; CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LENDING............ 17
3.1 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EFFECTIVE DATE........................... 17
3.2 CONDITIONS TO ALL LOANS AND TO REFINANCING....................... 18
ARTICLE 4 - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BORROWER..................... 18
4.1 CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND POWER.................................... 19
4.2 CORPORATE AUTHORIZATION.......................................... 19
4.3 GOVERNMENT APPROVALS, ETC........................................ 19
4.4 BINDING OBLIGATIONS, ETC......................................... 19
4.5 LITIGATION....................................................... 19
4.6 FINANCIAL CONDITION.............................................. 20
4.7 TITLE AND LIENS.................................................. 20
4.8 TAXES............................................................ 21
4.9 OTHER AGREEMENTS................................................. 21
4.10 FEDERAL RESERVE REGULATIONS...................................... 21
4.11 ERISA............................................................ 21
4.12 SUBSIDIARIES..................................................... 22
4.13 REPRESENTATIONS AS A WHOLE....................................... 22
4.14 YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE............................................. 22
ARTICLE 5 - AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS OF BORROWER.............................. 22
5.1 USE OF PROCEEDS.................................................. 23
5.2 PRESERVATION OF CORPORATE EXISTENCE, ETC......................... 23
5.4 KEEPING OF BOOKS AND RECORDS..................................... 24
5.5 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY, ETC..................................... 24
5.6 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, ETC........................................ 24
5.7 OTHER OBLIGATIONS................................................ 24
5.8 INSURANCE........................................................ 24
5.9 FINANCIAL INFORMATION............................................ 26
5.10 NOTIFICATION..................................................... 26
5.11 ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS; ADDITIONAL ACTS............................. 27
5.12 WORKING CAPITAL.................................................. 27
5.13 TOTAL DEBT TO TANGIBLE CAPITAL RATIO............................. 27
ARTICLE 6 - NEGATIVE COVENANTS OV BORROWER................................. 28
6.1 LIQUIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS.............................. 28
6.2 INDEBTEDNESS, GUARANTIES, ETC.................................... 28
6.3 LIENS............................................................ 29
6.4 OPERATIONS....................................................... 29
6.5 PERMISSIBLE LOANS................................................ 30
6.6 CONTRACTS........................................................ 30
6.7 SECURITIES....................................................... 30
6.8 ERISA COMPLIANCE................................................. 30
6.9 PAYMENTS ON SUBORDINATED DEBT; PREPAYMENTS OF INDEBTEDNESS....... 30
ARTICLE 7 - EVENTS OF DEFAULT.............................................. 32
7.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT................................................ 32
ARTICLE 8 - AGENT.......................................................... 35
8.1 AUTHORIZATION AND ACTION......................................... 35
8.2 DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS........................................... 35
8.3 DEALINGS BETWEEN AGENT AND BORROWER.............................. 35
8.4 LENDER CREDIT DECISION........................................... 36
8.5 INDEMNIFICATION.................................................. 36
8.6 SUCCESSOR AGENT.................................................. 36
8.7 RISK PARTICIPATION............................................... 36
ARTICLE 9 - MISCELLANEOUS.................................................. 37
9.1 NO WAIVER; REMEDIES CUMULATIVE................................... 37
9.2 GOVERNING LAW.................................................... 37
9.3 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES.................... 37
9.4 NOTICES.......................................................... 37
9.5 ASSIGNMENT....................................................... 37
9.6 SEVERABILITY..................................................... 38
9.7 INDEMNIFICATION.................................................. 38
9.8 CONDITIONS NOT FULFILLED......................................... 39
9.9 ENTIRE AGREEMENTA AMENDMENT...................................... 39
9.10 CONFLICTING AGREEMENTS........................................... 39
9.11 ORAL AGREEMENTS.................................................. 39
EXHIBITS:.................................................................. 41
EXHIBIT A -FORM OF NOTICE OF BORROWING.................................. 41
EXHIBIT B -FORM OF NOTICE OF REFINANCING................................ 41
EXHIBIT C -FORM OF REVOLVING NOTE....................................... 41
EXHIBIT D -LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES......................................... 41
EXHIBIT E -FORM OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY.................................. 41
EXHIBIT F -COMMITMENT AMOUNTS........................................... 41
EXHIBIT G -FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE............................... 41
EXHIBIT H -FORM OF BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE........................... 41
EXHIBIT I -PREPAYMENT FEE CALCULATION................................... 41
LOAN AGREEMENT
THIS LOAN AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is dated as of September 30,
1998, between BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, a national
banking association, and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking
association, as Lenders, BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND SAVINGS ASSOCIATION
as agent for Lenders ("Agent"), and ITRON, INC., as Borrower, and renews,
restates, and replaces the Loan Agreement between the parties (Bank of America
National Trust and Savings Association being the successor by merger to Bank of
America NW, N.A., and U.S. Bank National Association having substituted as a
Lender for Washington Trust Bank) dated July 1, 1996 (as subsequently amended,
the "Prior Loan Agreement"). For mutual consideration, Lenders, Borrower, and
Agent enter into this Agreement.
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
1.1 CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS
As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the
following meanings, which apply to both the singular and plural forms of the
terms defined:
"ACCOUNT" means all accounts, as such term is defined in the
Uniform Commercial Code of Washington, of Borrower or a Subsidiary of Borrower.
"ACCOUNT DEBTOR" means any person or entity who is or who may
become obligated under, or on account of, an Account.
"AGENT" means Bank of America National Trust and Savings
Association in its capacity as agent for Lenders.
"AGENT-RELATED PERSONS" means Bank of America and any
successor agent arising under Section 8.6, together with their respective
affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, agents and attorneys-in-fact
of such persons, entities and affiliates.
"APPLICABLE INTEREST PERIOD" means, with respect to any Loan,
the period commencing on the date such Loan was made pursuant to Section 2.2 or
converted or continued pursuant to Section 2.5 and ending:
(a) At the end of the Commitment Period in the case of
a Base Rate Loan;
(b) one, two, three or six months thereafter in the case
of a LIBOR Loan as specified in the Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Refinancing
given by Borrower in respect of such Loan;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no Applicable Interest Period may end later than the
expiration of the Commitment Period.
"APPLICABLE INTEREST RATE" means, for each Loan (or portion of
a Loan), the Base Rate or the LIBOR Rate as designated by Borrower and specified
in the Notice of Borrowing or the Notice of Refinancing given with respect to
that Loan (or portion of a Loan) or as otherwise determined pursuant to Section
2.5.
1
"ATTORNEY COSTS" means and includes all reasonable fees and
disbursements of any law firm or other external counsel, the allocated cost of
internal legal services and all disbursements of internal counsel.
"AVAILABLE COMMITMENT" as to each Lender shall mean (A) the
lesser of its Pro Rata Share of the Commitment or its Pro Rata Share of the
Borrowing Base, minus (B) its Pro Rata Share of all outstanding Loans (including
as Loans the outstanding principal amount of all Letters of Credit).
"BASE RATE" means an interest rate per annum equal to the
sum of (1) the Base Rate Spread, plus (2) the higher of:
(A) the rate of interest publicly announced from time to
time by Bank of America National Trust and Savings Association ("BofA") in San
Francisco, California, as its "Reference Rate." The Reference Rate is set based
on various factors, including BofA's costs and desired return, general economic
conditions, and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some
loans. BofA may price loans to its customers at, above, or below the Reference
Rate. Any change in the Reference Rate shall take effect at the opening of
business on the day specified in the public announcement of a change in the
Reference Rate; or
(B) the sum of 0.50% plus the "Federal Funds" rate, as
quoted by Garvin Guybutler on page 5 of Telerate on such day (or if said broker
or Telerate shall cease to quote or report the "Federal Funds" rate, the
"Federal Funds" rate shall be as quoted by another broker and as reported on any
other electronic or printed medium selected by Agent), changing as such "Federal
Funds" rate changes.
For purposes hereof, the term "Base Rate Spread" shall be as set forth
below depending upon the ratio of Total Debt to EBITDA, which ratio shall be
determined on a trailing four-quarter basis as shown on the most recent
Compliance Certificate delivered by Borrower (subject to verification of
calculations on such Compliance Certificate by Agent). Any change in the ratio,
as reflected in a newly-delivered Compliance Certificate, causing the Base Rate
Spread to increase or decrease, shall become effective on the date the
Compliance Certificate is received by Agent, and shall change the Base Rate
Spread on each Base Rate Loan outstanding, in addition to each Base Rate Loan
subsequently created. If the Compliance Certificate is not delivered to Agent by
the date required under Section 5.9(c), the Base Rate Spread shall immediately
increase to 2.00% above the Base Rate Spread otherwise in effect until delivery
of a new Compliance Certificate occurs:
--------------------------------------- -----------------
TOTAL DEBT TO EBITDA BASE RATE SPREAD
--------------------------------------- -----------------
> 5.95 2.25%
--------------------------------------- -----------------
> 5.00 but < = 5.95 2.0%
--------------------------------------- -----------------
> 4.25 but < = 5.00 1.5%
--------------------------------------- -----------------
> 3.75 but < = 4.25 1.00%
--------------------------------------- -----------------
> 3.25 but < = 3.75 0.50%
--------------------------------------- -----------------
> 2.25 but < = 3.25 0.25%
--------------------------------------- -----------------
< = 2.25 0.00%
--------------------------------------- -----------------
"BASE RATE LOAN" means a Loan bearing interest at the Base
Rate.
"BORROWER" means Itron, Inc., a Washington corporation, and
any Successor.
"BORROWING BASE" means the sum of (a) 75% of the value of all
Eligible Accounts, plus (b) 30% of the value of all Unbilled Accounts, plus (c)
the lesser of $12,000,000 or 40% of the value of all Eligible Inventory, valued
at the lower of cost or market.
2
"BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE" means a certificate duly executed
by the chief financial officer or treasurer of Borrower, substantially in the
form of Exhibit H attached.
"BUSINESS DAY" means a day, other than Saturday or Sunday, on
which banks are open for business in Seattle, Washington, and San Francisco,
California.
"CHANGE OF CONTROL" means the acquisition by any person or
entity, or any two or more persons or entities acting in concert, of beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d3 of the Securities and Exchange
Commission) of outstanding shares of voting stock of Borrower representing more
than 50% of voting control of Borrower, which person(s) or entity(ies) currently
have beneficial ownership of 50% or less of the outstanding voting shares of
voting stock of Borrower.
"CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time.
"COLLATERAL" has the meaning defined in Section 2.12.
3
"COMMITMENT" shall mean, as to each Lender, the sum set forth
next to such Lender's name on Exhibit F attached and, as to Lenders together,
the amount set forth as "Total Commitment" on Exhibit F attached. Borrower may
reduce the Commitment, in minimum increments of $1,000,000, upon five Business
Days' notice to Agent, so long as the combined outstanding balance of all Loans
(including Letters of Credit, and unreimbursed draws under Letters of Credit)
does not exceed the reduced Available Commitment amount.
"COMMITMENT PERIOD" has the meaning defined in Section 2.
"COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE" shall mean a certificate
substantially in the form of Exhibit G attached, signed by the chief executive
officer, chief financial officer, or other principal financial officer of
Borrower.
"CONTROLLED GROUP" means all members of a controlled group of
corporations and all trades or businesses (whether or not incorporated) under
common control which, together with Borrower, are treated as a single employer
under Section 414(b) or 41 4(c) of the Code.
"EBITDA" has the meaning defined in Section 5.13.
"EFFECTIVE DATE" means September 30, 1998.
"ELIGIBLE ACCOUNTS" means, at the time of any determination
thereof, any Account of Borrower or a Subsidiary of Borrower as to which each of
the following requirements has been met to the satisfaction of the Agent:
(a) Borrower or such Subsidiary has lawful and
absolute title to such Account and such Account is, in Borrower's reasonable
judgment, collectible in the ordinary course of business;
(b) Such Account is not subject to a bona fide
dispute, setoff, counterclaim or other claim or defense on the part of any
person or entity (including the Account Debtor of the Account) denying
liability under such Account;
(c) Such Account is not subject to any Lien
in favor of any person or entity, except Liens permitted by Section 6.3;
(d) Such Account is a bona fide Account (which
with respect to an Account arising FROM a sale of goods, was created as a
result of a sale on an absolute basis and not on consignment, approval, or
sale-and-return basis) of Borrower or a Subsidiary of Borrower arising in the
ordinary course of such entity's business and which:
(i) if an Account arising from the
sale of goods covers goods which have been shipped or delivered and on which
have been taken all other actions necessary to create a binding obligation on
the part of the Account Debtor on such Account;
(ii) if an Account relating to the
furnishing of services, covers services which have been performed and
completed and on which have been taken all other actions necessary to create a
binding obligation on the part of the Account Debtor on such Account;
(e) The Account Debtor on such Account is not:
4
(i) Borrower or a Subsidiary of
Borrower;
(ii) located outside the United States
or its territories; or
(iii) to the best of Borrower's
knowledge the subject of any reorganization, bankruptcy, receivership,
custodianship, insolvency. or other proceeding analogous to those described
in Section 7.1 (f), (g), or (h); original due date; and
5
(f) Such Account is not outstanding more than
120 days past its
(g) Such Account is the subject of a first
priority perfected security interest in favor of Agent as agent for Lenders,
securing the obligations of Borrower under the Loan Documents.
ELIGIBLE INVENTORY" means, at the time of any determination
thereof, each item of Inventory (for purposes of this definition, an "Item") of
Borrower or a Subsidiary of Borrower acquired in the ordinary course of business
and as to which each of the following requirements has been fulfilled to the
satisfaction of Agent:
(a) The Item is located in the continental
United States;
(b) The Item does not consist of:
(i) An Item in the custody of third
parties for processing or manufacture, including any Item the sale or
delivery of which has constituted an "Unbilled Account" as set forth in any
Borrowing Base Certificate;
(ii) An Item in Borrower's or such
Subsidiary's possession but intended by Borrower or such Subsidiary for return
to the supplier thereof;
(iii) An Item belonging to third parties
that has been consigned to Borrower or such Subsidiary, or to another Person
for the account of Borrower or such Subsidiary, or is otherwise in the custody
or possession of Borrower or such Subsidiary, or such other Person for account
of Borrower or such Subsidiary; or
(iv) An Item in Borrower's or such
Subsidiary's custody or possession on a sale-on approval or sale-or-return
basis or subject to any other repurchase or return agreement; or
(v) An Item consisting of work in
process, or consisting of raw materials or finished goods which have not met
Borrower's material review board standards, or have been set aside as
potentially defective pending or pursuant to Borrower's material review board
inspection;
(c) The Item is not unsalable, obsolete,
damaged, or otherwise unfit for sale or consumption in the normal course
of business of Borrower or such Subsidiary;
(d) The Item is not subject to any Lien in
favor of any person or entity, except for Liens permitted under Section 6.3;
and
(e) The Item is subject to a first priority
perfected security interest in favor of Agent as agent for Lenders, securing
the obligations of Borrower under the Loan Documents.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended
"EVENT OF DEFAULT" has the meaning defined in Section 7.1.
"GOVERNMENT APPROVAL" means an approval, permit, license,
authorization, certificate, or consent of any Governmental Authority.
"GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" means the government of the United
States or any State or any foreign country or any political subdivision of any
thereof or any branch, department, agency, instrumentality, court, tribunal or
regulatory authority which constitutes a part or exercises any sovereign power
of any of the foregoing.
6
"INDEBTEDNESS" means for any person (i) all items of
indebtedness or liability (except capital, surplus, deferred credits and
reserves, as such) which would be included in determining total liabilities as
shown on the liability side of a balance sheet as of the date as of which
indebtedness is determined, (ii) indebtedness secured by any Lien, whether or
not such indebtedness shall have been assumed, (iii) any other indebtedness or
liability, including but not limited to indebtedness or liability for borrowed
money or for the deferred purchase price of property or services, for which such
person is directly or contingently liable as obligor, guarantor, or otherwise,
including but not limited to performance guaranties and surety bond obligations,
or in respect of which such person otherwise assures a creditor against loss,
and (iv) any other obligations of such person under leases which shall have been
or should be recorded as capital leases.
"INVENTORY" means all inventory, as such term is defined in
the Uniform Commercial Code of Washington, of Borrower or a Subsidiary of
Borrower.
"LENDERS" mean Bank of America National Trust and Savings
Association (in its separate capacity, "Bank of America") and U.S. National
Association, and any Successors.
"LETTER(S) OF CREDIT" shall have the meaning given in
Section 2.11 of the Agreement.
"LIBOR LOAN" means any portion of a Loan bearing interest at
the LIBOR Rate.
"LIBOR RATE" shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Loan for
any Applicable Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if
necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to the sum of (a) the LIBOR Spread and
(b) the product of (i) the Euro-dollar Rate in effect for such Applicable
Interest Period and (ii) Euro-dollar Reserves in effect on the first day of such
Applicable Interest Period.
For purposes hereof, the term "LIBOR Spread" shall be as set forth
below depending upon the ratio of Total Debt to EBITDA, which ratio shall be
determined on a trailing four-quarter basis as shown on the most recent
Compliance Certificate delivered by Borrower (subject to verification of
calculations on such Compliance Certificate by Agent). Any change in the ratio,
as reflected in a newly-delivered Compliance Certificate, causing the LIBOR
Spread to increase or decrease, shall become effective on the date the
Compliance Certificate is received by Agent, and shall change the LIBOR Spread
on each LIBOR Loan outstanding, in addition to each LIBOR Loan subsequently
created. If the Compliance Certificate is not delivered to Agent by the date
required under Section 5.9(c), the LIBOR Spread shall immediately increase to
2.00% above the LIBOR Rate Spread otherwise in effect until delivery of a new
Compliance Certificate occurs:
--------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL DEBT TO EBITDA BASE RATE SPREAD
-------------------------------------- -----------------
> 5.95 3.50%
-------------------------------------- -----------------
> 5.00 but < = 5.95 3.25%
-------------------------------------- -----------------
> 4.25 but < = 5.00 2.75%
-------------------------------------- -----------------
> 3.75 but < = 4.25 2.25%
-------------------------------------- -----------------
> 3.25 but < = 3.75 1.75%
-------------------------------------- -----------------
> 2.25 but < = 3.25 1.50%
-------------------------------------- -----------------
< = 2.25 1.00%
-------------------------------------- -----------------
For purposes hereof, the term "Euro-dollar Rate" shall be determined on
the basis of the lower of (a) the offered rate for deposits in U.S. Dollars for
the Applicable Interest Period commencing on the first day of such Applicable
Interest Period (the "Reset Date") which appears on the display designated as
the "LIBO" page on the Reuter Monitor Money Rates Service (or such other page as
may replace the LIBO page on that service for the purpose of displaying London
interbank offered rates of major banks) as of
7
11:00 a.m., London time, on the day that is two Business Days preceding the
Reset Date, or (b) the British Bankers' Association interest settlement rate
at 11:00 a.m., London time, on the day that is two Business Days preceding the
Reset Date, as reported on page 3750 of Telerate Systems, Inc. under the U.S.
dollar column. If at least two such offered rates appear on either service's
screen LIBO page, the Euro-dollar Rate in respect of that Reset Date will be
based on the arithmetic means of such offered rates. If no such rate is
available, the Euro-dollar Rate will be determined on the basis of the rates
at which deposits in U.S. Dollars are offered by four major banks (selected by
Agent) in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London
time, on the day that is two Business Days preceding the Reset Date to prime
banks in the London interbank market for the Applicable Interest Period. Agent
will request the principal London office of each of the four banks to provide
a quotation of its rate. The Euro-dollar Rate will be the arithmetic means of
the quotations.
For purposes hereof, the term "Euro-dollar Reserves" means a fraction
(expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the
denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum
reserve percentages (including, without limitation, any special, supplemental,
marginal or emergency reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and any other banking authority to
which Agent is subject, for Eurocurrency Liability (as defined in Regulation D
of such Board of Governors). Euro-dollar Reserves shall be adjusted
automatically on and as of the effective date of any char reserve percentage.
"LIEN" means, for any person, any security interest, pledge,
mortgage, charge, assignment, hypothecation, encumbrance, attachment,
garnishment, execution or other voluntary or involuntary lien upon or affecting
the revenues of such person or any real or personal property in which such
person has or hereafter acquires any interest, EXCEPT (i) liens for Taxes which
are not delinquent or which remain payable without penalty or the validity or
amount of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings upon
stay of execution of the enforcement thereof; 60 liens imposed by law (such as
mechanics' liens) incurred in good faith in the ordinary course of business
which are not delinquent or which remain payable without penalty or-the validity
or amount of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings
upon stay of execution of the enforcement thereof; and (iii) deposits or pledges
under workmen's compensation, unemployment insurance, social security or other
similar laws or made to secure the performance of bids, tenders, contracts
(except for repayment of borrowed money), or leases, or to secure statutory
obligations or surety or appeal bonds or to secure indemnity, performance or
other similar bonds given in the ordinary course of business.
"LOAN" means a loan by Lenders to Borrower pursuant to Article
2. Each Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Letters of Credit shall be deemed an
outstanding "Loan" by such Lender for purposes of calculating fees under Section
2.9 of the Agreement, for purposes of calculating availability under Section 2.1
of the Agreement, and for all other purposes under the Agreement other than the
calculation of interest. Any amount drawn under the Letters of Credit, and not
reimbursed to Agent on the same Business Day, shall be deemed a Base Rate Loan
under the Agreement.
"LOAN DOCUMENTS" means this Agreement, the Notes, all security
agreements and other documents, agreements and instruments entered into with
regard to this Agreement, and all amendments, modifications and renewals to
those documents.
"MATERIAL SUBSIDIARY" means any Subsidiary which, because of
its size or the nature of its business, is material to the business, operations
or financial condition of the enterprise comprised of Borrower and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The Subsidiaries that are Material Subsidiaries
as of the Effective Date are described on Exhibit D.
"NOTE" AND "NOTES" have the meaning defined in Section 2.6.
8
"NOTICE OF BORROWING" has the meaning defined in Section
2.2 and shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.
"NOTICE OF REFINANCING" has the meaning defined in
Section 2.5 and shall be in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.
"OUTSOURCING CONTRACTS" means contracts or arrangements in
which Borrower, either directly or through Subsidiaries, performs meter reading
and other services for a utility in return for a scheduled amount over a period
of time, either directly or through joint ventures with utilities and other
industry participants.
"PAYMENT ADDRESS" means "GPO - Agency Administrative Services
#5596, 1850 Gateway Boulevard, Concord, California 94520, Reference: ltron;" or
such other location as Agent shall notify Borrower and Lenders by a notice given
in compliance with Section 9.4.
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any
entity succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.
"PENSION PLAN" OR "PLAN" shall mean, at any time, an employee
pension benefit plan which is covered by Title IV of ERISA or subject to the
minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code and is
either (a) maintained by Borrower or any member of a Controlled Group for
employees of Borrower or any member of such Controlled Group, or (b) maintained
pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or any other arrangement under
which more than one employer makes contributions and to which Borrower or any
member of a Controlled Group is then making or accruing an obligation to make
contributions or has within the preceding 5 plan years made contributions.
"POTENTIAL EVENT OF DEFAULT" means an act, action or event set
forth in Article 7 which would constitute an Event of Default except that the
notice required by Article 7 has not been given or the cure period set forth in
Article 7 has not expired.
"PRO RATA SHARE" means 65% as to Bank of America, and 35% as
to U.S. Bank
"SUBORDINATED DEBT" means Indebtedness for borrowed money of
Borrower which shall have been subordinated to the Loans and other obligations
of Borrower under the Loan Documents, on terms and conditions which provide, in
form satisfactory to Agent, that no payments may be made by Borrower in respect
of such Indebtedness at any time when an Event of Default or Potential Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
"SUBSIDIARY" means any corporation of which a majority (by
number of shares or by number of votes) of any class of outstanding capital
stock normally entitled to vote for the election of one or more directors
(regardless of any contingency which does or may suspend or dilute the voting
rights of such class) is at such time owned directly or indirectly by Borrower
or one or more subsidiaries.
"SUCCESSOR" means, for any corporation or banking association,
any successor by merger or consolidation, or by acquisition of substantially all
of the assets of the predecessor.
"TANGIBLE CAPITAL" has the meaning defined in Section 5.13.
"TOTAL DEBT" has the meaning defined in Section 5.13.
9
"TURNKEY CONTRACTS" means contracts between Borrower or a
Subsidiary and third parties for the purchase of meter reading systems, where
such Borrower or Subsidiary remains responsible for installation of the system,
and the customer's obligation to pay and responsibility to operate the system
occurs upon installation and/or acceptance of the system.
"UNBILLED ACCOUNTS" means Accounts which otherwise meet all
requirements of Eligible Accounts, except that they represent Accounts not yet
due because goods that have been shipped to generate such Account, while having
been shipped to a purchaser's location, are awaiting installation or acceptance,
and job completion.
"UNFUNDED VESTED LIABILITIES" means, with respect to any Plan,
at any time, the amount (if any) by which (a) the present value of all vested
nonforfeitable benefits under such Plan exceeds (b) the fair market value of all
Plan assets allocable to such benefits, all determined as of the then most
recent valuation date for such Plan, but only to the extent that such excess
represents a potential liability of Borrower or any member of the Controlled
Group to the PBGC or the Plan under Title IV of ERISA.
1.2 ACCOUNTING TERMS
Except as otherwise provided herein, accounting terms no
specifically defined shall be construed, and all accounting procedures shall be
performed, in accordance with generally accepted United States accounting
principles consistently applied.
10
ARTICLE 2
THE CREDIT
2.1 THE REVOLVING CREDIT
Each Lender severally agrees on the terms and conditions of
this Agreement to make revolving loans to Borrower (the "Loans") from time to
time on Business Days during the period beginning on the Effective Date and
ending on September 30, 1999, or such earlier date as the Commitment may be
terminated pursuant to Section 7.2 (the "Commitment Period"), PROVIDED that
after giving effect to any such Loan or the issuance of any Letter of Credit
pursuant to Section 2.11, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all such
Loans made by such Lender shall not exceed at any time such Lender's Pro Rata
Share of the Available Commitment. The Loans described in this Section 2.1
constitute a revolving credit and, subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
within the amount and time specified, Borrower may pay, prepay and reborrow.
Each Loan requested by Borrower under this Section 2.1 shall be in an amount
(for both Lenders combined) of not less than $250,000 if such Loan or advance is
a Base Rate Loan and not less than $500,000 if such Loan is a LIBOR Loan.
2.2 MANNER OF BORROWING
Borrower shall give Agent at least same Business Day's written
notice (by telecopy or otherwise) of each intended borrowing of a Base Rate
Loan, and at least three (3) Business Day's written notice (by telecopy or
otherwise) of each intended borrowing of a LIBOR Loan. Each such notice (herein
a "Notice of Borrowing") shall be in the form of Exhibit A and shall specify the
date of the intended borrowing, and the initial Applicable Interest Rate and
Applicable Interest Period selected by Borrower in respect of the anticipated
Loan. Each Notice of Borrowing shall be effective upon receipt, except that
notices received by Agent after 10:30 a.m., Seattle time, on a Business Day
shall be deemed to be received on the immediately succeeding Business Day. All
such notices shall be irrevocable and shall constitute a representation and
warranty by Borrower that as of the date of the notice the statements set forth
in Article 4 hereof are true and correct and that no Event of Default or
Potential Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. On receipt of
such Notice of Borrowing, Agent shall promptly (on the same day, if possible)
notify each Lender by telephone (confirmed promptly by telex or telecopy), telex
or telecopy of the information set forth in the Notice of Borrowing. Each Lender
shall before 12:00 p.m. Seattle time on the specified date of borrowing pay such
Lender's Pro Rata Share of the requested borrowing in immediately available
funds to Agent at its Payment Address. Upon fulfillment to Agent's satisfaction
of the applicable conditions set forth in Article 3, and after receipt by Agent
of such funds, Agent will make such funds available to Borrower. All Loans
outstanding under the Prior Loan Agreement shall immediately upon the Effective
Date be deemed Loans under this Agreement, with the same payment terms and
Interest Period as then in effect, but with the LIBOR Spread increased to that
applicable under this Agreement.
Each Lender may, at its option, fund its own Commitment
hereunder notwithstanding any default by the other Lender in advancing its
Commitment. In such event, Agent shall thereafter take such disproportionate
funding into account in allocating principal and interest repayments to Lenders.
The foregoing right of a Lender to advance funds in spite of the other Lender's
default shall not prejudice or limit in any respect the rights of such Lender or
Borrower against the defaulting Lender.
2.3 REPAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL
Borrower shall repay to Lender the principal amount of the
Loans on or before the last day of the Commitment Period. On each date when the
aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
11
Loans (including outstanding Letters of Credit) exceeds the Borrowing Base,
Borrower shall make a prepayment of the Loans in an amount equal to such
excess.
2.4 INTEREST
(a) Borrower agrees to pay interest on the
unpaid principal amount of each Loan from the date of the Loan until the end
of the Commitment Period at the Applicable Interest Rate and thereafter at a
rate which is two (2) percentage points per annum above the Applicable
Interest Rate (changing as the Applicable Interest Rate changes). Accrued but
unpaid interest on each Loan shall be paid (i) as to Base Rate Loans, on the
first day of each calendar month for the period ending on the last day of the
preceding calendar month, and 00 as to LIBOR Loans, on the last day of the
Applicable Interest Period and, for Applicable Interest Periods longer than
three months, also on the day three months after the first day of the '
Applicable Interest Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, accrued interest on
any Loan shall be payable on demand after the occurrence and during
continuation of an Event of Default.
(b) In the event, and on each occasion, that Agent
shall have determined (which determination shall be conclusive and binding)
that the LIBOR Rate cannot be ascertained for any reason (including, without
limitation, the inability or failure of Agent to obtain sufficient bids in
accordance with the terms of the definition of the LIBOR Rate) or Agent shall
determine that due to a change in the financial markets not specifically
related to the unique funding capabilities of either Lender the LIBOR Rate
will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to Lenders of making or
maintaining the principal amount of a LIBOR Loan during the Applicable
Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan, Lender shall, as soon as practicable
thereafter, give notice of such determination to Borrower and any request for
a LIBOR Loan pursuant to Section 2.2 or for conversion to or continuation of a
LIBOR Loan pursuant to Section 2.5 shall be deemed to be a request for a Base
Rate Loan.
2.5 CONVERSION/CONTINUATION
(a) Subject to the limitations as to amount
and time set forth in the definitions of "Applicable Interest Rate" and
"Applicable Interest Period," Borrower shall have the option (i) to convert
all or a portion of any LIBOR Loan or Base Rate Loan to a Loan bearing
interest at a different permissible reference rate, with availability of such
alternative rate at the sole discretion of Lenders, or 00 at the expiration of
the Applicable Interest Period for a LIBOR Loan, to continue such Loan as a
LIBOR Loan for a new Applicable Interest Period; PROVIDED, however, (x) no
outstanding Loan may be continued as, or be converted into, a LIBOR Loan when
any Potential Event of Default or Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing and (y) a LIBOR Loan may only be converted at the conclusion of an
Applicable Interest Period.
(b) At any time Borrower wishes to cause a
conversion or continuation of a Loan pursuant to Paragraph (a) above,
Borrower shall deliver (by telecopy or otherwise) a written notice of
refinancing (herein a "Notice of Refinancing") in the form of Exhibit B hereto
to Agent no later than 10:30 a.m., Seattle time, on a Business Day at least as
far in advance of such desired conversion or continuation as would be required
if the Loan as converted or continued were being originally made pursuant to
Section 2.2. The Notice of Refinancing shall specify: (i) the proposed
conversion/continuation date (which shall be a Business Day), (ii) the amount
of the Loan to be converted/continued, (iii) the nature of the proposed
conversion or continuation, and (iv) in the case of a conversion to, or
continuation of, a LIBOR Loan, the new Applicable Interest Period. A Notice of
Refinancing shall be irrevocable and Borrower shall be bound to convert or
continue in accordance therewith.
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(c) In the event that at the conclusion of an
Applicable Interest Period for a LIBOR Loan, Borrower has not furnished a
Notice of Refinancing complying with the terms of this Agreement or, if at
such time, Borrower is not entitled to convert a Loan to, or continue it as, a
LIBOR Loan, such Loan shall as of the last day of the expiring Applicable
Interest Period be deemed to have been converted to a Base Rate Loan.
2.6 PROMISSORY NOTES
Borrower shall execute and deliver to each Lender on or prior
to the Effective Date, a promissory note (for each Lender, the "Note", and,
collectively, the "Notes") in the principal amount of such Lender's commitment
and otherwise substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto.
2.7 PREPAYMENT
(a) Any portion of the principal of a Loan may be paid
prior to its maturity (herein a "prepayment"). Any prepayment of principal
shall be accompanied by all accrued but unpaid interest on the principal
amount prepaid. Absent a designation by Borrower and in any event during the
continuance of an Event of Default, prepayments shall be applied to such Loans
as shall be designated by Agent, in its sole discretion.
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(b) No fee shall be assessed in connection with the
prepayment of a Base Rate Loan. If a LIBOR Loan is paid prior to the end of
the Applicable Interest Period, Borrower shall pay a premium on the date of
such payment in an amount determined pursuant to Exhibit 1 hereto. Such
premiums shall apply in all circumstances where principal on a LIBOR Loan is
paid prior to the end of the Applicable Interest Period, regardless of whether
such payment is voluntary or mandatory (including but not limited to
prepayments required in connection with a voluntary reduction of the
Commitment by Borrower) or the result of Agent's collection efforts.
2.8 MANNER OF PAYMENTS; COMPUTATIONS.
(a) Borrower shall have on deposit on the day of any
scheduled payments hereunder sufficient funds in Borrower's Bank of America
checking account no. 67130-500 to make such scheduled payments of principal,
interest and/or fees on the Loans and Commitments as those amounts become due
for payment hereunder and under the related documents. Agent shall give
Borrower written notice of the expected amount of interest on LIBOR Loans at
least five Business Days prior to the date of each scheduled payment thereof,
but will give same-day fax notice of the expected amount of interest payments
on Base Rate Loans. All scheduled payments of principal, interest and/or fees
due hereunder by Borrower to Lender shall be made by charging such amounts
against Borrower's aforesaid checking account after 10:30 a.m., Seattle time,
on the day on which such payments shall become due. All other amounts payable
hereunder by Borrower to Agent or Lenders shall be made by paying the same in
United States Dollars and in immediately available funds to Agent at its
Payment Address not later than 12:00 p.m., Seattle time, on the date on which
such payment shall become due.
(b) In addition to the scheduled payment withdrawal
authorization set out in paragraph (a) above, Borrower hereby authorizes Agent
and each Lender, if and to the extent any payment is not promptly made
pursuant to this Agreement or any Note and an Event of Default exists, to
charge from time to time against any or all of the accounts of Borrower with
Agent or Lenders any amount due hereunder or under any Note.
(c) All computations of fees and of Base Rate Loan
interest shall be made on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days and all
computations of interest on LIBOR Loans shall be made on the basis of a year
of 360 days, in either case, for the actual number of days (including the
first day but excluding the last dav) occurring in the period for which such
interest or fees are payable.
(d) Whenever any payment hereunder or under any Note
shall be stated to be due or whenever the last day of any Applicable Interest
Period would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, such payment
shall be made and the last day of such Applicable Interest Period shall occur
on the next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time shall in such
case be included in the computation of payment of interest or commitment fees,
as the case may be; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, in the case of an interest payment due
at the end of an Applicable Interest Period on a LIBOR Loan, if such next
succeeding Business Day is the first Business Day of a calendar month, such
interest payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day.
2.9 FEES
(a) Borrower agrees to pay to Agent for the account of
Lenders a commitment fee computed quarterly in arrears, as follows, to be paid
fifteen days after the end of each quarter (and upon the expiration of the
Commitment Period, if such expiration should occur on a day other than the end
of a quarter): 0.50% per annum on the actual daily unused amount of such
Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Commitment during the preceding quarter.
"Unused amount" shall mean the daily difference between (i)
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the Commitment, and (ii) the sum of all Loans outstanding plus all Letters of
Credit outstanding;
(b) to pay to Agent for the account of Lenders an
amendment fee of $70,000.00; and
(c) to pay to Agent for Agent's own account the fees
set forth in the fee letter dated August 26, 1998, from Susan C. Hayes to
David G. Remington.
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2.10 SHARING OF PAYMENTS, ETC.
If any Lender shall obtain any payment from Borrower (whether
voluntary or involuntary through the exercise of any right of setoff or
otherwise) in excess of its Pro Rata Share of all payments due Lenders
hereunder, such Lender shall hold such excess payment in trust for Agent and
shall forthwith remit the same to Agent for distribution to Lenders in
accordance with their Pro Rata Shares.
2.11 LETTERS OF CREDIT
Upon Borrower's execution of Agent's standard form Application
and Agreement for Standby Letter of Credit, and upon at least four Business
Days' written notice to Agent, Agent shall issue irrevocable standby letters of
credit (the "Letters of Credit") in an aggregate amount of up to $10,000,000
(provided that (a) each Letter of Credit shall be in a minimum amount of
$1,000,000, and (b) no Letter of Credit shall be issued if it would cause the
aggregate amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding, plus all Loans
outstanding, to exceed the Available Commitment), to beneficiaries to be
specified by Borrower, with tenors not to extend beyond September 30, 1999. The
rights and obligations of Borrower as account party and Agent as issuer of each
Letter of Credit shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (1993 Revision),
International Chamber of Commerce Publication No. 500 ("UCP"), and with the
Uniform Commercial Code as enacted in Washington (RCW 62A.5-1 01, ET SEQ.) to
the extent not inconsistent with the UCP. Borrower shall pay a fee to Agent, for
the account of Lenders, equal to a percentage of the face amount of the Letter
of Credit equal to the LIBOR Spread then in effect, calculated on a per annum
basis, for issuance of the Letter of Credit, payable quarterly in arrears on the
last Business Day of each June, September, December, and March.
2.12 COLLATERAL
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries have granted or shall
grant to Agent, as agent for Lenders, a first-lien security interest in each
such entity's Accounts, Inventory, and related collateral described in security
agreements satisfactory to Lenders (the "Collateral"), to secure all obligations
of Borrower under this Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents.
ARTICLE 3
THE EFFECTIVE DATE; CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO LENDING
3.1 Conditions Precedent to Effective Date
In addition to the conditions set forth in Section 3.2, the
obligation of Lenders to make the initial Loan is subject to fulfillment of the
following conditions on or prior to the Effective Date:
(a) LOAN DOCUMENTS. Agent shall have received all of the
following Loan Documents, each duly executed and delivered by the respective
parties thereto, and satisfactory to Agent and each Lender in form and
substance:
(i) this Agreement;
(ii) the Notes; and
(iii) Certificate signed by the chief executive
officer, chief financial officer or other principal financial officer of
Borrower, certifying compliance as of the Effective Date with Sections 3.2(b)
and (c) hereof.
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(b) CORPORATE CERTIFICATES. Agent shall have received
all of the following, each satisfactory to Agent and the Lenders in form and
substance:
(i) Certified copies of the articles of
incorporation and bylaws of Borrower;
(ii) Certificate of good standing issued by
the Secretary of the State of Washington with respect to Borrower;
(iii) Certified copy of resolution adopted
by the board of directors of Borrower authorizing the execution, delivery
and performance by Borrower of this Agreement and the Notes;
(iv) Incumbency certificates describing the
office and identifying the specimen signatures of the individuals signing
the Loan Documents on behalf of Borrower.
(c) OTHER INFORMATION. Agent shall have received such
other statements, opinions, certificates, documents and information with
respect to the matters contemplated by this Agreement as it or any Lender may
reasonably request.
3.2 CONDITIONS TO ALL LOANS AND TO REFINANCING
The obligation of Lenders to fund any Loans hereunder, or to
permit any refinancing pursuant to Section 2.5, is subject to fulfillment of the
following conditions:
(a) NOTICE OF BORROWING OR REFINANCING. Agent shall have
received the Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Refinancing, as the case may be,
in respect of such Loan.
(b) NO DEFAULT. At the date of the Loan or the
refinancing, no Potential Event of Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing or will occur as a result of the making of the
Loans; and the representations of' Borrower in Article 4 shall be true on and
as of such date with the same force and effect as if made on and as of such
date. .
(c) COMPLIANCE WITH QUARTERLY FINANCIAL COVENANTS. At
the end of the last calendar quarter preceding such Loan or refinancing,
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries were in compliance with Sections
5.12 and 5.13 (applying such covenants as if the Loans being requested were
outstanding as of the end of such calendar quarter) and, since the end of such
calendar quarter, neither Borrower nor any consolidated Subsidiary has
redeemed any equity or repaid any Subordinated Debt which, if they had
occurred immediately prior to the end of the calendar quarter, would have
resulted in a violation of Sections 5.12 or 5.13.
(d) CONDITIONS TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE. All conditions to
the Effective Date shall have been satisfied, as evidenced in writing by the
Agent.
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BORROWER
Borrower represents and warrants to each Lender as follows:
4.1 CORPORATE EXISTENCE AND POWER
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Borrower and each Subsidiary are corporations duly
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their
respective jurisdictions of incorporation. Borrower and each Subsidiary are duly
qualified to do business in each other jurisdiction where the nature of their
respective activities or the ownership of their respective properties requires
such qualification, except to the extent that failure to be so qualified does
not have a material adverse effect on the business, operations or financial
condition of the enterprise comprised of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as
a whole. Borrower and each Subsidiary have full corporate power, authority and
legal right to carry on their business as presently conducted, and to own and
operate their properties and assets. Borrower has full corporate power,
authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform all Loan Documents to
which it is a party.
4.2 CORPORATE AUTHORIZATION
The execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of the
Loan Documents and any borrowing hereunder and thereunder (i) have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action of Borrower, 00 do not require any
shareholder approval or the approval or consent of any trustee or the holders of
any Indebtedness of Borrower or any subsidiary except such as have been obtained
(certified copies thereof having been delivered to Agent), (iii) do not
contravene any law, regulation, rule or order binding on Borrower or any
subsidiary or its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, and (iv) do not
contravene the provisions of or constitute a default under any indenture,
mortgage, contract or other agreement or instrument to which Borrower or any
Subsidiary is a party or by which Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their
properties may be bound or affected, except for a contravention or default by a
Subsidiary that would not have a material adverse effect on the business,
operations or financial condition of the enterprise comprised of Borrower and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
4.3 GOVERNMENT APPROVALS, ETC.
No Government Approval or filing or registration with any Governmental Authority
is required for the making and performance by Borrower of any Loan Document to
which it is a party or in connection with any of the transactions contemplated
hereby, except such as have been heretofore obtained and are in full force and
effect (certified copies thereof having been delivered to Agent).
4.4 BINDING OBLIGATIONS, ETC.
The Loan Documents have been duly executed and delivered by
Borrower, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of Borrower
enforceable against Borrower in accordance with their respective terms.
4.5 LITIGATION
There are no actions, proceedings, investigations, or claims
against or affecting Borrower or any Subsidiary now pending before any court,
arbitrator or Governmental Authority (nor to the knowledge of Borrower has any
thereof been threatened nor does any basis exist therefor) which has a
reasonable likelihood of being determined adversely to Borrower or any
Subsidiary and which, if so determined, would be likely to have a material
adverse effect on the business, operations or financial condition of the
enterprise comprised of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or to
result in a judgment or order against Borrower or any Subsidiary (in excess of
insurance coverage) for more than $250,000 in any one case or $500,000 in the
aggregate, except as reflected in the financial statements referred to in
Section 4.6.
4.6 FINANCIAL CONDITION
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The consolidated balance sheet of Borrower and its
consolidated Subsidiaries as at December 31, 1997, and the related consolidated
statements of income and cash flows of Borrower ' and its consolidated
Subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended, copies of which have been furnished
to each Lender, fairly present the consolidated financial condition of Borrower
and its consolidated Subsidiaries as at such date and the results of operations
of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for the period then ended, all in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries did not have on such date any
contingent liabilities for Taxes, unusual forward or long-term commitments or
unrealized or anticipated losses from any unfavorable commitments, except as
referred to or reflected or provided for in that balance sheet and in the notes
to those financial statements. Since that date, there has been no material
adverse change in the business, operations or financial condition of the
enterprise comprised of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
4.7 TITLE AND LIENS
Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries have good and
marketable title to each of the properties and assets reflected in the balance
sheet referred to in Section 4.6 (except such as are held under leases or have
been since sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business). No
assets or revenues of Borrower or its Material Subsidiaries are subject to any
Lien except as permitted under Section 6.3. All properties. of Borrower and its
Subsidiaries and their use thereof comply with applicable zoning and use
restrictions and with applicable laws and regulations relating to the
environment, except for violations that do not have a material adverse effect
upon the business, operations or financial condition of the enterprise comprised
of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
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4.8 TAXES
Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries have filed all tax
returns and reports required of them, have paid all taxes which are due and
payable or as to which there is no good faith contest or dispute as to the
amount or validity of the assessment against Borrower and its Material
Subsidiaries, and have provided adequate reserves for payment of any tax whose
payment is being contested. All Subsidiaries that are not Material
Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns and reports required of them, have
paid all taxes which are due and payable or as to which there is no good faith
contest or dispute as to the amount or validity of the assessment, and have
provided adequate reserves for payment of any tax where payment is being
contested, except in respect of taxes in an aggregate amount equal to or less
than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000). The charges, accruals and reserves on the
books of Borrower and its Subsidiaries in respect of taxes for all fiscal
periods to date are accurate. There are no questions or disputes between
Borrower or any Subsidiary and any Governmental Authority with respect to any
taxes except as disclosed in the balance sheet referred to in Section 4.6 or
otherwise previously disclosed to both Lenders in writing.
4.9 OTHER AGREEMENTS
Neither Borrower nor any subsidiary is in breach of or default
under any material agreement to which it is a party or which is binding on it or
any of its assets, the breach of which agreement would have a material adverse
effect upon the business, operations or financial condition of the enterprise
comprised of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
4.10 FEDERAL RESERVE REGULATIONS
Neither Borrower nor any Subsidiary is engaged principally or
as one of its important activities in the business of extending credit for the
purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock (within the meaning of
Federal Reserve Regulation U), and no part of the proceeds of any Loan will be
used to purchase or carry any such margin stock or to extend credit to others
for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any such margin stock or for any other
purpose that violates the applicable provisions of any Federal Reserve
Regulation. Borrower will furnish on request to Agent a statement conforming
with the requirements of Regulation U.
4.11 ERISA
(a) The present value of all benefits vested under all
Pension Plans did not, as of the most recent valuation date of such Pension
Plans, exceed the value of the assets of the Pension Plans allocable to such
vested benefits by an amount which would represent a potential material
liability of Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries or affect materially the
ability of Borrower to perform its obligations under the Loan Documents.
(b) No Plan or trust created thereunder, or any trustee
or administrator thereof, has engaged in a "prohibited transaction" (as such
term is defined in Section 406 or Section 2003(a) of ERISA) which could
subject such Plan or any other Plan, any trust created thereunder, or any
trustee or administrator thereof, or any party dealing with any Plan or any
such trust to the tax or penalty on prohibited transactions imposed by Section
502 or Section 2003(a) of ERISA.
(c) No Pension Plan or trust created thereunder has been
terminated, and there have been no "reportable events" (as that term is
defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) since the effective date of ERISA.
20
(d) No Pension Plan or trust created thereunder has
incurred any "accumulated funding deficiency" (as such term is defined in
Section 302 of ERISA) whether or not waived, since the effective date of ERISA.
(e) Neither Borrower nor any Material Subsidiary is
now, nor has it been, a party to or had any employees who are covered by any
multi-employer pension or benefit plan.
(f) The required allocations and contributions to
Pension Plans will not violate Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code.
4.12 SUBSIDIARIES
In respect of Subsidiaries, Exhibit D to this Agreement sets
forth as of the date of this Agreement the authorized capitalization of each
Material Subsidiary, the number of shares of each class of capital stock issued
and outstanding of each Material Subsidiary, and the number and percentage of
outstanding shares of each such class of capital stock owned by Borrower or by
any Material Subsidiary, and describes the Material Subsidiaries as of the
Effective Date. Exhibit D sets forth the name and address of each Subsidiary and
the percentage of outstanding shares owned by Borrower. Borrower will promptly
notify Lender in writing of any change in the identity of the Material
Subsidiaries, which will be subject to Lenders' approval. The outstanding shares
of each Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully
paid and nonassessable. Borrower and each Subsidiary owns beneficially and of
record and has good title to all the shares it is listed as owning on Exhibit D,
free and clear of any Lien.
4.13 REPRESENTATIONS AS A WHOLE
This Agreement, the financial statements referred to in
Section. 4.6, and all other instruments, documents, certificates and statements
furnished to the Lender by Borrower, taken as a whole, do not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading.
4.14 YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE
Borrower has developed and budgeted for a comprehensive program to
address the "Year 2000 problem" (that is, the inability of computers, as well as
embedded microchips in non-computing devices, to perform properly date-sensitive
functions with respect to certain dates prior to and after December 31, 1999).
Borrower has implemented that program substantially in accordance with its
timetable and budget and reasonably anticipates that it will substantially avoid
the Year 2000 problem as to all computers, as well as embedded microchips in
non-computing devices, that are material to Borrower's business, properties, or
operations. Borrower has developed feasible contingency plans adequately to
ensure uninterrupted and unimpaired business operation in the event of failure
of its own or a third party's systems or equipment due to the Year 2000 problem,
including those of vendors, customers, and suppliers, as well as a general
failure of or interruption in its communications and delivery infrastructure.
ARTICLE 5
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS OF BORROWER
So long as Lenders shall have any Commitment hereunder and until
payment in full of each Loan and Note and performance of all other obligations
of Borrower under the Loan Documents, Borrower agrees that all of the following
shall be done unless each Lender shall otherwise consent in writing:
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5.1 USE OF PROCEEDS
Borrower will use the proceeds of the Loan exclusively for
general corporate purposes subject to the provisions of this Agreement.
5.2 PRESERVATION OF CORPORATE EXISTENCE, ETC.
Borrower will cause to be done all things necessary to
preserve and maintain the corporate existence, franchises and privileges of
Borrower in Washington, and all other Material Subsidiaries in their respective
jurisdictions of incorporation. Borrower will qualify, and thereafter remain
qualified, and will cause each Material Subsidiary to qualify and remain
qualified as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where such qualification
is necessary or advisable in view of Borrower's or such Material Subsidiary's
business and operations or the ownership of its properties.
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5.3 VISITATION RIGHTS
At any reasonable time, and from time to time, upon reasonable
notice, Borrower will permit Lenders to examine and make copies of and abstracts
from the records and books of account of and to visit the properties of Borrower
and its Material Subsidiaries and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts
of Borrower and its Material Subsidiaries with its chief executive officer,
chief financial officer or other principal financial officer, if any.
5.4 KEEPING OF BOOKS AND RECORDS
Borrower will keep and will cause its Subsidiaries to keep
adequate records and books of account in which complete entries will be made, in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied,
reflecting all financial transactions of Borrower and its Subsidiaries.
5.5 MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY, ETC.
Borrower will maintain and preserve and will cause its
Subsidiaries to maintain and preserve all of their properties in good working
order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and Borrower will, and
will cause its Su ' bsidiaries to from time to time make all needed repairs,
renewals or replacements so that the efficiency of such properties shall be
fully maintained and preserved; and Borrower and its Subsidiaries will also
maintain its rights and interests in all patents, copyrights, and other
intellectual property owned or licensed by Borrower or any such Subsidiary,
provided that Borrower shall not be required to comply with this Section 5.5 if
failure to comply would not be likely to have a material adverse effect on the
business, operations or financial condition of the enterprise comprised of
Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
5.6 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS, ETC
Borrower will comply and will cause each Subsidiary to comply
in all material respects with all laws, regulations, rules, and orders of
Governmental Authorities applicable to Borrower and its subsidiaries or to their
operations or property, except any thereof whose validity is being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings upon stay of execution of the enforcement
thereof.
5.7 OTHER OBLIGATIONS
Borrower will and will cause each Subsidiary to pay and discharge
before the same shall become delinquent all Indebtedness, all taxes and all
other obligations for which Borrower or its Subsidiaries are liable or to which
their income or property is subject (except to the extent that failure to pay
such other obligations would not be likely to have a material adverse effect
upon the business, operations or financial condition of the enterprise comprised
of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole), and all claims for labor and
materials or supplies which, if unpaid, might become by law a lien upon assets
of Borrower or its Subsidiaries, except any thereof whose validity or amount is
being contested in good faith by Borrower or its Subsidiaries in appropriate
proceedings with provision having been made to the reasonable satisfaction of
Agent for the payment thereof in the event the contest is determined adversely
to Borrower or its Subsidiaries.
5.8 INSURANCE
Borrower will keep and will cause its Material Subsidiaries to
keep in force upon all of their properties and operations policies of insurance
carried with responsible companies in such amounts and covering all such risks
as shall be customary in the industry and reasonably satisfactory to Agent and
Lenders, with all policies covering tangible Collateral to name Agent as loss
payee, as its interest may appear. Borrower will on request furnish to Agent
certificates of insurance or duplicate policies evidencing such coverage.
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5.9 FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Borrower will deliver to Agent and to each Lender:
(a) As soon as available and in any event within 100 days
after the end of each fiscal year of Borrower, the consolidated balance sheet of
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal year,
the related consolidated statements of income, the related consolidated
statements of cash flows, and the related consolidated statements of
shareholders' equity of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such
year, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding consolidated figures
for the appropriate periods in the preceding fiscal year, accompanied by an
audit report of the consolidated balance sheet, statements of income and cash
flows and statement of shareholders' equity of Borrower and its consolidated
Subsidiaries for such year by independent certified public accountants of
recognized standing selected by Borrower (which reports shall be prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied
and shall not be qualified by reason of restricted or limited examination of any
material portion of Borrower's and the Subsidiaries' records and shall contain
no disclaimer of opinion or adverse opinion except such as Lenders in their sole
discretion determine to be immaterial);
(b) As soon as available and in any event within 50
days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of Borrower each
fiscal year, the internally prepared unaudited consolidated balance sheet and
the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows of Borrower and
its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of such fiscal quarter (and for
the period from the beginning of the fiscal year to the end of such fiscal
quarter), setting forth in comparative form the corresponding consolidated
figures for the appropriate periods in the preceding fiscal year, accompanied
by a certificate of the chief executive officer, chief financial officer or
other principal financial officer of Borrower that such unaudited consolidated
balance sheet and statement of income and cash flows have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied
and present fairly the financial position and the results of operations of
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the end of and for such
fiscal quarter and that since the fiscal year-end report referred to in clause
(a) there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition or
operations of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as shown on the
consolidated balance sheet as of said date;
(c) Concurrently with the financial statements
delivered pursuant to Sections 5.9(a) and 5.9(b), a Compliance Certificate;
(d) as soon as available and in any event within 15
days after the e month, W the internally-prepared unaudited consolidated
balance sheets and consolidated statements of income and cash flows of
Borrower as of the end of such month; and (ii) Borrowing Base Certificate as
at the end of such month.
(e) All other statements, reports and other information
as either Lender may reasonably request concerning the financial condition and
business affairs of Borrower and its subsidiaries; and
(f) As soon as required to be filed, all 10Ks, 10Qs, 8Ks,
annual reports, quarterly reports, and other filings or submittals made to
shareholders or to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
5.10 NOTIFICATION
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Promptly after learning thereof, Borrower will notify Agent
of (a) the details of any action, proceeding, investigation or claim against
or affecting Borrower or any Subsidiary instituted before any court,
arbitrator or Governmental Authority or, to Borrower's knowledge threatened to
be instituted, which, if determined adversely to Borrower or any Subsidiary
would be likely to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations
or financial condition of the enterprise comprised of Borrower and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole or to result in a judgment or order against
Borrower or any Subsidiary (in excess of insurance coverage) for more than
$250,000 or, when combined with all other pending or threatened claims, more
than $500,000; (b) any substantial dispute between Borrower or any Subsidiary
and any Governmental Authority which, if determined adversely to Borrower or
any Subsidiary would be likely to have a material adverse effect on the
business, operations or financial condition of the enterprise comprised of
Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (c) any labor controversy
which has resulted in or, to Borrower's knowledge, threatens to result in a
strike which would materially affect the business operations of Borrower; (d)
if Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group gives or is required to give
notice to the PBGC of any "reportable event" (as defined in subsections (b
(1), (2), (5) or (6) of Section 4043 of ERISA) with respect to any Plan (or
the Internal Revenue Service gives notice to the PBGC of any "reportable
event" as defined in subsection (c) (2) of Section 4043 of ERISA and Borrower
obtains knowledge thereof) which might constitute grounds for a termination of
such Plan under Title IV of ERISA, or knows that the plan administrator of any
Plan has given or is required to give notice of any such reportable event, a
copy of the notice of such reportable event given or required to be given to
the PBGC; and (e) the occurrence of any Potential Event of Default or Event of
Default.
5.11 ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS; ADDITIONAL ACTS
From time to time, Borrower will (a) pay or reimburse Agent
and Lenders on request for all reasonable expenses, including but not limited
to legal fees (including the allocated cost of in-house counsel), actually
incurred by Agent or Lenders in connection with the preparation of the Loan
Documents and all amendments thereto and waivers of provisions thereof, or the
making of any Loan or the administration of the transactions described in the
Loan Documents (including the reasonable costs of periodic collateral
evaluation reviews) or the enforcement by judicial proceedings or otherwise of
any of the rights of Lenders under the Loan Documents; M obtain and promptly
furnish to Agent evidence of all such Government Approvals as may be required
to enable Borrower to comply with its obligations under the Loan Documents;
and (c) execute and deliver all such instruments and perform all such other
acts as Agent may reasonably request to carry out the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
5.12 WORKING CAPITAL
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries shall have, at
the end of each fiscal quarter, a ratio of current assets to current
liabilities of at least 1.50 to 1, and a difference between current assets and
current liabilities of at least $45,000,000. For purposes of this section, (a)
current assets shall not include (i) any deferred assets other than prepaid
items such as insurance, taxes, or other similar items or those deferred
against a current contract, or (ii) any accounts receivable, loans or other
amounts due from corporations, joint ventures, partnerships and other entities
which are Subsidiaries or otherwise affiliated with Borrower, other than
accounts receivable generated from the sale of Borrower's products in arm's
length transactions with such corporations, joint ventures, partnerships and
other entities and occurring in the ordinary course of Borrower's business,
and (b) current liabilities shall include all outstanding Loans (excluding
Letters of Credit), together with accrued but unpaid interest thereon but
shall not include any portion of Subordinated Debt.
5.13 TOTAL DEBT TO TANGIBLE CAPITAL RATIO
Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries shall have, at the
end of each fiscal quarter:
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(a) a ratio of Total Debt to EBITDA, determined on a
trailing four-quarter basis, of no more than 5.20 to 1 for quarter ending
September 30, 1998, 5.95 to 1 for quarter ending December 31, 1998, 5.40 to 1
for quarter ending March 30, 1999, 4.80 to 1 for quarter ending June 30, 1999,
and 3.75 to 1 for quarter ending September 30, 1999; and
(b) a Tangible Capital of not less than $150,000,000,
increasing at the end of each fiscal quarter, beginning quarter ending September
30, 1998, by 50% of net income earned during (without reduction for net losses),
plus 75% of new equity contributed during, the quarter then ending.
"Total Debt" means total debt of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a
consolidated basis, for borrowed money or funded debt including, but not limited
to, short-term borrowings, mortgage notes payable, convertible subordinated
debt, and project financing, being categories of debt shown on Borrower's
December 31, 1997 balance sheet. "Tangible Capital" means the difference between
(a) the sum of (i) shareholders' equity in Borrower and its consolidated
subsidiaries as of such date of determination (such figure to reflect a
deduction for all loans and advances to Borrower's and its Subsidiaries'
officers and employees for purchase of Borrower's and its Subsidiaries' stock,
as applicable), plus (ii) to the extent not included in such shareholders'
equity, Subordinated Debt and (b) the sum of W all assets which should be
classified as intangible assets, such as goodwill, patents, trademarks,
copyrights, franchises, unamortized debt discount, research and development
costs and deferred charges (unless deferred against a current contract), (ii)
capitalized software costs, and (iii) "other assets" as presently reported on
Borrower's balance sheet as non-current assets, other than (i.e., excluding)
long-term accounts receivable from utility customers under Outsourcing
Contracts. "EBITDA" means earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation,
and amortization, on a consolidated basis, for Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
with the lesser of (A) $4,084,000, or (B) all restructuring charges (as such
term is defined in accordance with GAAP), to be excluded from the calculation of
earnings.
ARTICLE 6
NEGATIVE COVENANTS OV BORROWER
So long as Lenders shall have any Commitment hereunder and until
payment in full of each Loan and Note and performance of all other obligations
of Borrower under the Loan Documents, Borrower agrees that none of the following
shall be done, unless each Lender shall otherwise consent in writing.
6.1 LIQUIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS
Borrower shall not, and shall cause its Material Subsidiaries
not to (a) liquidate or dissolve, (b) enter into any material merger or
consolidation except that any Material subsidiary may merge or consolidate into
any other Subsidiary or into Borrower, nor (c) sell, lease, or dispose of such
portion of their business or assets (excepting sales of goods in the ordinary
course of business) as constitutes in the reasonable opinion of Agent a
substantial portion thereof; provided, that, notwithstanding this provision,
Borrower shall be permitted to sell its accounts receivable generated from
Outsourcing Contracts.
6.2 INDEBTEDNESS, GUARANTIES, ETC.
Borrower shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to,
create, incur, assume, permit to exist, or otherwise become committed for any
Indebtedness, nor assume, guaranty, endorse or otherwise become directly or
contingently liable for, nor obligated to purchase, pay or provide funds for
payment of, any obligation or Indebtedness of any other person, except by
endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or by similar
transactions in the ordinary course of business. Notwithstanding the
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foregoing, Borrower and its Subsidiaries may incur Subordinated Debt and
nonrecourse indebtedness without limit; may obtain performance bonds in an
unlimited amount to support its obligations and those of its Subsidiaries with
regard to outsourcing Contracts and Turnkey Contracts; may maintain
Indebtedness existing as of the Effective Date, or any refinance of such
Indebtedness without an increase in the unpaid principal amount thereof; and
shall in addition be permitted to incur and guaranty outstanding Indebtedness
not exceeding $7,500,000 in the aggregate (excluding performance bond
obligations), provided that the proceeds of all such new Indebtedness (other
than performance bonds and the proceeds of foreign currency loans made by a
Lender or commercial or standby letters of credit issued by a Lender) are used
to pay down the Loans; and Borrower and any Subsidiary may guaranty the
Indebtedness of one another.
6.3 LIENS
Borrower shall not, and shall cause its Material Subsidiaries
not to, create, assume or suffer to exist any Lien except (i) Liens in favor of
Agent, 00 a Lien to Pentzer Development Company in the original principal amount
of $6,440,000 to finance acquisition of Borrower's corporate headquarters and
manufacturing facility in Spokane, Washington or any lien to secure a refinance
of such indebtedness on substantially the same or better terms, (iii) Liens on
fixed assets used in carrying out Outsourcing Contracts, (iv) Liens on long-term
contract receivables generated from Outsourcing Contracts, (v) Liens to secure
Indebtedness for the deferred price of property, but only if they are limited to
such property and its proceeds and do not exceed 80% of the fair market value
thereof (or, in the case of purchase money financing for personal property, do
not exceed 100% of the fair market value thereof), and (vi) other Liens securing
obligations owing to either one or both Lenders.
6.4 OPERATIONS
Borrower shall not, and shall cause its Material Subsidiaries
not, to engage in any activity which is substantially different from or
unrelated to their present business activities nor discontinue any portion of
their present business activities which constitutes a substantial portion
thereof.
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6.5 PERMISSIBLE LOANS
Borrower shall not make any loan or advance to any Person
other than (a) advances made in the ordinary course of business; (b) loans to
Subsidiaries, and to joint ventures of which Borrower is a partner, not
exceeding $ 10,000,000 in the aggregate; and (c) loans to Subsidiaries in any
amount if such Subsidiary provides to Lender prior to the disbursement of such
loan a limited guaranty of the Obligations, in the form of Exhibit E hereto,
limited in principal amount to the principal amount of such loan. Upon repayment
to Borrower of any such Subsidiary loan, Lender shall, upon request by Borrower,
release such guaranty.
6.6 CONTRACTS
Borrower shall not, and shall cause its Material Subsidiaries
not to, enter into any significant contracts or other agreements except in the
usual course of its business.
6.7 SECURITIES
Borrower shall not, and shall cause its Material Subsidiaries
not to, issue, sell, or otherwise distribute any stock, bond, note, or debenture
or other security of Borrower and its Subsidiaries EXCEPT (i) common or
preferred stock (or warrants or options therefor), 00 notes or other debt
instruments evidencing Indebtedness Permitted by this Agreement, and (iii)
securities of any Subsidiary that are issued to Borrower.
6.8 ERISA COMPLIANCE
Neither Borrower nor any Plan will:
(a) engage in any "prohibited transaction" (as such
term is defined in Section 406 or Section 2003(a) of ERISA);
(b) incur any "accumulated funding deficiency" (as
such tern Section 302 of ERISA) whether or not waived;
(c) terminate any Pension Plan in a manner which could
result in the imposition of a Lien on any property of Borrower or any member
of the Controlled Group pursuant to Section 4068 of ERISA; or
(d) violate state or federal securities laws applicable
to any Plan which may result in material liability to Borrower or any member
of the Controlled Group.
6.9 PAYMENTS ON SUBORDINATED DEBT; PREPAYMENTS OF INDEBTEDNESS
Except in the case of Borrower's 6 3/4% Convertible
Subordinated Notes Due 2004, Borrower will not make any payments on Subordinated
Debt or prepayments of principal of any Indebtedness during any period when a
Potential Event of Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing
or would be caused by such act. In the case of Borrower's 6 3/4% Convertible
Subordinated Notes Due 2004, Borrower will not make any payment of principal or
interest during any period when an Event of Default pursuant to Section 7.1 (a)
has occurred and is continuing. Additionally, Borrower shall not repay any
Subordinated Debt which, at the end of the preceding calendar quarter, was
necessary to Borrower's compliance with Section 5.13.
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ARTICLE 7
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
7.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT
The occurrence of any of the following events shall constitute
an "Event of Default" hereunder:
(a) PAYMENT DEFAULT. Borrower shall fail to pay, within
five (5) calendar days of when due, any amount of principal of or interest on
any Loan or Note or any commitment fees due hereunder or, within 30 days after
notice from Agent, any other amount payable to Agent or Lenders hereunder; or
(b) BREACH OF WARRANTY. Any representation or warranty
made by Borrower in any Loan Document shall prove to have been incorrect in
any material respect when made and shall prove to be material in any respect
when discovered, or any of Borrower's representations regarding the "year 2000
problem" cease to be true, whether or not true when made, and as a result
Lenders reasonably believe that Borrower's financial condition or its ability
to pay its debts as they come due will thereby be materially impaired; or
(c) BREACH OF CERTAIN COVENANTS. Any provision of
Sections 5.2 or 6.1 shall not have been complied with; or
(d) BREACH OF OTHER COVENANTS. Any other covenant or
obligation of Borrower in any Loan Document, except Section 5.7 of this
Agreement to the extent Section 5.7 relates to delinquent Indebtedness, shall
not have been complied with and such failure shall remain unremedied for 30 days
after written notice thereof shall have been given to Borrower by Agent; VOVIDED
that Lenders shall not unreasonably or arbitrarily withhold consent to an
extension of such period if corrective action is initiated within such period
and is being diligently pursued by Borrower; or
(e) CROSS-DEFAULT. Borrower or any Subsidiary shall
fail in respect of Indebtedness having an aggregate outstanding balance of
$500,000 (i) to pay when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required
prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise) any such Indebtedness (except
any Loan) or any interest or premium thereon and such failure shall continue
after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or
instrument relating to such Indebtedness, or (ii) to perform any term or
covenant on its part to be performed under any agreement or instrument
relating to any such Indebtedness and required to be performed and such
failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in
such agreement or instrument, if the effect of such failure to perform is to
accelerate or to permit the acceleration of the maturity of such Indebtedness,
or (iii) any such Indebtedness shall be declared to be due and payable or
required to be prepaid (other than by regularly scheduled required prepayment)
prior to the stated maturitv thereof; or
(f) VOLUNTARY BANKRUPTCY, ETC. Borrower or any Subsidiary
shall: (1) file a petition seeking relief for itself under Title 11 of t he
United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or file an answer
consenting to, admitting the material allegations of or otherwise not
controverting, or fail timely to controvert a petition filed against it seeking
relief under Title 11 of the United State Code, as now constituted or hereafter
amended; or (2) file such petition or answer with respect to relief under the
provisions of any other now existing or future applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, or other similar law of the United States of America or any State
thereof or of any other country or jurisdiction providing for the
reorganization, winding-up or liquidation of corporations or an arrangement,
composition, extension or adjustment with creditors; or
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(g) INVOLUNTARY BANKRUPTCY, ETC. An order for relief
shall be entered against Borrower or any Subsidiary under Title 11 of the
United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, which order is
not stayed within 90 days; or upon the entry of an order, judgment or decree
by operation of law or by a court having jurisdiction in the premises which is
not stayed adjudging it a bankrupt or insolvent under, or ordering relief
against it under, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking relief
against it under the provisions of any other now existing or future applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law of the United States of America or
any State thereof or of any other country or jurisdiction providing for the
reorganization, winding-up or liquidation of corporations or any arrangement,
composition, extension or adjustment with creditors, or appointing a receiver,
liquidator, assignee, sequestrator, trustee or custodian of Borrower or any
Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the
reorganization, winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, or upon the
expiration of 120 days after the filing of any involuntary petition against it
seeking any of the relief specified in Section 7.1 (f) or this Section 7.1 (g)
without the petition being dismissed prior to that time; or
(h) INSOLVENCY, ETC. Borrower or any Subsidiary shall
(i) make a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors or (ii) consent
to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator,
assignee, trustee, or custodian of all or a substantial part of the property
of Borrower or any Subsidiary, or (iii)'admit its insolvency or inability to
pay its debts generally as they become due, or (iv) fail generally to pay its
debts as they become due, or (v) take any action (or suffer any action to be
taken by its directors or shareholders) looking to the dissolution or
liquidation of Borrower or any Subsidiary; or
(i) JUDGMENT. A final judgment or order for the payment
of money in (excess of insurance coverage) for more than $250,000 in any one
case or $500,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered against Borrower or any
Subsidiary and such judgment or order shall continue unsatisfied and in effect
for a period of 90 consecutive days without having been appealed and stayed; or
(j) CONDEMNATION. Such portion of the property of
Borrower or any Subsidiary as in the opinion of Agent constitutes a
substantial portion shall be condemned, seized or appropriated, and such
condemnation, seizure or appropriation shall be likely to have a material
adverse effect on the business, operations or financial condition of the
enterprise comprised of Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or
(k) OTHER GOVERNMENT ACTION. Any act of any Governmental
Authority shall (in the opinion of Agent) deprive Borrower or any Subsidiary of
any right, privilege or franchise, or restrict the exercise thereof, the
deprivation or restriction of which shall have a material adverse effect on the
business, operations or financial condition of the enterprise comprised of
Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, and such act shall not be
revoked or rescinded within sixty (60) days after it shall have become effective
or within thirty (30) days after notice from Agent, whichever first occurs; or
(1) ERISA. Borrower or any member of the Controlled Group
shall fail to pay when due an amount or amounts aggregating in excess of
$500,000 which it shall have become liable to pay to the PBGC or to a Plan under
Section 515 of ERISA or Title IV of ERISA; or notice of intent to terminate a
Plan or Plans (other than a multi-employer plan, as defined in Section 4001(3)
of ERISA), having aggregate unfunded vested liabilities in excess of $500,000
shall be filed under Title IV of ERISA by Borrower, any member of the Controlled
Group, any plan administrator or any combination of the foregoing; or the PBGC
shall institute proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any such Plan
or Plans; or
(m) CHANGE OF CONTROL. There occurs a Change of Control.
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7.2 CONSEQUENCES OF DEFAULT. If any Event of Default shall occur and be
continuing, then in any such case and at any time thereafter so long as any such
Event of Default shall be continuing, Agent will at the request of both Lenders
immediately terminate the Commitments and, if any Loan shall have been made,
Agent will at the request of both Lenders declare the principal of and the
interest on any Loan and any Note and all other sums payable by Borrower
hereunder or thereunder to be immediately due and payable, whereupon the same
shall become immediately due and payable without protest, presentment, notice or
demand, all of which Borrower expressly waives. In such event, Agent may proceed
to exercise all of its legal and equitable remedies on behalf of Lenders,
including but not limited to commencing to realize on any or all Collateral by
any available means.
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ARTICLE 8
AGENT
8.1 AUTHORIZATION AND ACTION
Each Lender hereby appoints and authorizes Agent to take such
action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement
and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to Agent by the terms hereof,
together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. As to any
matters not expressly provided for in this Agreement, including enforcement or
collection of the Notes, Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion
or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and
shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining) upon the instructions of
both Lenders, except that Agent shall not be required to take any action which
exposes Agent to personal liability or which is contrary to this Agreement or
applicable law. Each Lender and holder of a Note shall execute and deliver such
additional instruments, including powers of attorney in favor of Agent, as may
be required by applicable law to enable Agent to exercise its powers hereunder.
8.2 DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS
(a) Neither Agent nor any of its directors, officers,
agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be
taken by it or any of them under or in connection with this Agreement except
for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, Agent (i) may treat the payee of any Note as
the holder thereof until Agent receives written notice of the assignment
thereof signed by such payee and a written agreement of the assignee that it
is bound hereby as it would have been had it been an original party hereto, in
each case in form satisfactory to Agent; (ii) may consult with legal counsel
(including counsel for Borrower), independent public accountants and other
experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted
to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such experts;
(iii) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be
responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations
made in or in connection with this Agreement or in any instrument or document
furnished pursuant hereto; (iv) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to
inquire as to the performance of any of the terms, covenants, or conditions of
this Agreement on the part of Borrower or as to the use of the proceeds of any
Loan or, unless the officers of Agent active in their capacity as officers of
Agent on Borrower's account have actual knowledge thereof or have been
notified in writing thereof by a Lender, the existence or possible existence
of any Potential Event of Default or any Event of Default; M shall not be
responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity,
enforceability, genuineness, effectiveness, or value of this Agreement or of
any instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; and (vi) shall incur no
liability under or in respect to this Agreement by acting upon any notice,
consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be by telegram,
telecopy, cable or telex) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by
the proper party or parties or by acting upon any representation or warranty
of Borrower deemed to be made hereunder;
(b) Agent will account to each Lender for its Pro Rata
Share of payments of principal, interest and commitment fees received by Agent
from Borrower and will remit to Lenders entitled thereto all of the payments
received hereunder from Borrower for the account of Lenders. Agent will
transmit to each Lender copies of documents received from Borrower or others
pursuant to the requirements of this Agreement.
8.3 DEALINGS BETWEEN AGENT AND BORROWER
With respect to its Commitment, the Loan made by it, and the
Note issued to it, Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this
Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise the
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same as though it were not Agent, and the term "Lender" shall unless otherwise
expressly indicated include Agent in its individual capacity. Agent may accept
deposits from, lend money to, act and generally engage in any kind of business
with Borrower and any person which may do business with Borrower, all as if
Agent were not Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to
Lenders.
8.4 LENDER CREDIT DECISION
Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and
without reliance upon Agent or any other Lender and based upon such documents
and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and
decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it
will, independently and without reliance upon Agent or any other Lender and
based upon such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the
time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action
under this Agreement.
8.5 INDEMNIFICATION
Lenders agree to indemnify Agent (to the extent not reimbursed
by Borrower) ratably according to their respective Commitments from and against
any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature
whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against Agent in any
way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any action taken or omitted
by Agent under this Agreement, except any such as result from Agent's gross
negligence or willful misconduct. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender
agrees to reimburse Agent promptly on demand for its ratable share of any
out-of-pocket expenses, including Attorney Costs, incurred by Agent in
connection with the administration or enforcement of or the preservation of any
rights under this Agreement (to the extent that Agent is not reimbursed for such
expenses by Borrower).
8.6 SUCCESSOR AGENT
Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof
to Lenders and Borrower and may be removed at any time with or without cause by
both Lenders. Upon any such resignation or removal, Lenders shall have the right
to appoint a successor Agent. If no successor Agent shall have been so appointed
by Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days
after the retiring Agents' giving of notice of resignation or Lenders' removal
of the retiring Agent, then the retiring Agent may on behalf of Lenders, appoint
a successor Agent, which shall be a bank organized under the laws of the United
States or of any state thereof, or any affiliate of such bank, and having a
combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any
appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall
thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges
and duties of the retiring Agent, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged
from its duties and obligations under this Agreement. After any retiring Agent's
resignation or removal hereunder as Agent, the provisions of this Article 8
shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it
while it was Agent under this Agreement. If no successor agent is appointed
within 30 days, the resigning agent's resignation shall nevertheless become
effective and the Lenders shall perform the activities of the Agent.
8.7 RISK PARTICIPATION
Each Lender agrees for the benefit of Agent that it hereby
purchases a risk participation in each Letter of Credit and any unreimbursed
Letter of Credit draws equal to its respective Pro Rata Share of the outstanding
balance of such Letters of Credit plus the aggregate unreimbursed Letter of
33
Credit draws. Upon the occurrence of a draw under a Letter of Credit which is
not reimbursed by Borrower to Agent on the same Business Day, each Lender shall
fund to Agent, pursuant to this risk participation, such Lender's Pro Rata Share
of the aggregate unreimbursed Letter of Credit draws. Prior to its funding under
this Section, Lenders shall have no interest in any transaction fees, principal,
interest, fees, or expenses due to Agent with regard to the Letters of Credit,
except (a) those accruing after the date such participation is funded, and (b)
such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the issuance fees for the Letters of Credit.
ARTICLE 9
MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 NO WAIVER; REMEDIES CUMULATIVE
No failure by Agent or any Lender to exercise, and no delay in
exercising, any right, power or remedy under this Agreement or any Loan Document
shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of
any right, power or remedy under any Loan Document preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power, or remedy. The
exercise of any right, power, or remedy shall in no event constitute a cure or
waiver of any Event of Default nor prejudice the right of Agent or any Lender in
the exercise of any right hereunder or thereunder, unless in the exercise of
such right, all obligations of Borrower under the Loan Documents are paid in
full. The rights and remedies provided herein and therein are cumulative and not
exclusive of any right or remedy provided by law.
9.2 GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement and any Note shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington, U.S.A.
9.3 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF IMMUNITIES
Borrower hereby irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of any
state or federal court sitting in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington, in any
action or proceeding brought to enforce or otherwise arising out of or relating
any to Loan Document. Nothing herein shall impair the right of Agent or any
Lender to bring any action or proceeding against Borrower or its property in the
courts of any other jurisdiction.
9.4 NOTICES
All notices and other communications provided for in this
Agreement shall be in writing or (unless otherwise specified) by telex, telecopy
or telegram and shall be mailed or sent or delivered to each party at the
address set forth under its name on the signature page hereof or on the
signature page of any amendment hereto, or at such other address as shall be
designated by such party in a written notice to each other party. Except as
otherwise specified, all such notices and communications if duly given or made
shall be effective upon receipt.
9.5 ASSIGNMENT
This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of the parties and their respective Successors and assigns, except that Borrower
may not assign or otherwise transfer all or any part of its rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Lenders, and any such
assignment or transfer purported to be made without such consent shall be
ineffective.
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9.6 SEVERABILITY
Any provision of this Agreement or any Note which is
prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall as to such jurisdiction be
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without
invalidating the remaining provisions hereof or affecting the validity or
enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. To the extent
permitted by applicable law, the parties waive any provision of law which
renders any provision hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect.
9.7 INDEMNIFICATION
Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are
consummated, Borrower shall indemnify, defend and hold the Agent-Related
Persons, and each Lender and each of its respective officers, directors,
employees, counsel, agents and attorneys-in-fact (each, an "Indemnified Person")
harmless from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages,
penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, charges, expenses and disbursements
(including Attorney Costs) of any kind or nature whatsoever which may at any
time (including at any time following repayment of the Loans and the
termination, resignation or replacement of the Agent or replacement of any
Lender) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against any such person or entity
in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any document
contemplated by or referred to herein, or the transactions contemplated hereby,
or any action taken or omitted by any such Person under or in connection with
any of the foregoing, including with respect to any investigation, litigation or
proceeding (including any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding or appellate
proceeding) related to or arising out of this Agreement or the Loans or the use
of the proceeds thereof, whether or not any Indemnified Person is a party
thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the "Indemnified Liabilities");
PROVIDED, that Borrower shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnified
Person with respect to Indemnified Liabilities resulting solely from the gross
negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Person. The agreements in
this Section shall survive payment of all Loans.
35
9.8 CONDITIONS NOT FULFILLED
If the Commitment or any portion thereof is not borrowed owing
to nonfulfillment of any condition precedent specified in Article 3, neither
Borrower nor either Lender shall be responsible to the others for any damage or
loss by reason thereof, except that Borrower shall in any event be liable to pay
the fees, taxes, and expenses for which it is obligated hereunder.
9.9 ENTIRE AGREEMENT AMENDMENT
This Agreement comprises the entire agreement of the parties
and may not be amended or modified except by written agreement of Borrower,
Agent and both Lenders. No provision of this Agreement may be waived except in
writing and then only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for
which given.
9.10 CONFLICTING AGREEMENTS
In the event of any conflict between the terms of this
Agreement and the terms of any Note, the terms of this Agreement shall govern. .
9.11 ORAL AGREEMENTS
Borrower is hereby given the following notice:
ORAL AGREEMENTS OR ORAL COMMITMENTS TO LOAN MONEY, EXTEND CREDIT OR TO FORBEAR
FROM ENFORCING REPAYMENT OF A DEBT ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE UNDER WASHINGTON LAW.
36
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective officers or agents thereunto duly authorized to be
effective as of the Effective Date.
BORROWER: ITRON, INC.
---------------------------------------
By
Title
Address:
2818 N. SULLIVAN RD.
SPOKANE, WA 99216
ATTN: TREASURER
LENDERS: BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL TRUST AND
SAVINGS ASSOCIATION
---------------------------------------
By
Title
Address:
U.S. CORPORATE GROUP - SEATTLE
701 FIFTH AVE., 12TH FLOOR
SEATTLE, WA 98104
ATTN:
LENDERS: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
---------------------------------------
By
Title
Address:
1420 FIFTH AVE., FLOOR 11
SEATTLE, WA 98101
ATTN:
37
EXHIBITS:
Exhibit A - Form of Notice of Borrowing
Exhibit B - Form of Notice of Refinancing
Exhibit C - Form of Revolving Note
Exhibit D - List of Subsidiaries
Exhibit E - Form of Subsidiary Guaranty
Exhibit F - Commitment Amounts
Exhibit G - Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit H - Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
Exhibit I - Prepayment Fee Calculation
38
Exhibit 12
ITRON, INC.
STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF RATIOS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
--------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
--------------------------------------------------------------------
(in thousands, except ratios)
EARNINGS:
Pre-tax income (loss) 14,193 16,401 (2,134) 1,635 (10,045)
FIXED CHARGES:
Converible debt amort. 357 426
interest capitalized 533 994 260
Interest expense, Gross 138 252 923 3,834 6,557
------- ------- ------ ------- -------
A) FIXED CHARGES 138 252 1,456 5,185 7,243
------- ------- ------ ------- -------
B) EARNINGS FOR RATIO 14,331 16,653 (678) 6,820 (2,802)
RATIOS:
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed chargres (b/a) 103.8478 66.0833 n/a 1.3153 n/a
EXHIBIT 21
ITRON SUBSIDIARIES AND AFFILIATED COMPANIES
DOMESTIC SUBSIDIARIES: INTERNATIONAL SUBSIDIARIES:
Itron, Inc. Itron Canada, Ltd. (Canada)
Corporate Headquarters 160 Wilkinson Rd., #22
2818 N. Sullivan Rd. Brampton, ON. L6T 4Z4
Spokane, WA. 99216-1897
P.O. Box 15288 Spokane, WA. 99215-5288 Itron S.A. (France)
Immeuble Merblanc
Utility Translation Systems, Inc. 1, rue du Port au Prince
200 UTS Centre 38200 Vienne, France
5909 Falls of the Neuse Road
Raleigh, North Carolina, 27609 Itron Ltd. (England)
Kilnbrook House
Design Concepts, Inc. (Idaho) Rose Kiln Lane
679 North Five Mile Road Reading, Berkshire RG2 0BY
Boise, ID 83713 United Kingdom
Itron Manufacturing, Inc. Itron Australisia Pty Ltd. (Australia)
2818 N. Sullivan Rd. BHP Building
Spokane, WA. 99216-1897 Level 6, 55 Sussex Street
P.O. Box 15288 Spokane, WA. 99215-5288
Itron Minnesota, Inc.
2401 North State Street
Waseca, MN 56093
Itron/Metscan Corporation
N 2818 Sullivan Rd
Spokane, WA 99216
Genesis Services Pittsburgh, Inc
N 2818 Sullivan Rd
Spokane, WA 99216
Genesis Services Portland, Inc
N 2818 Sullivan Rd
Spokane, WA 99216
Itron International, Inc
N 2818 Sullivan Rd
Spokane, WA 99216
Itron Finance, Inc.
N 2818 Sullivan Rd
Spokane, WA 99216
Itron Connecticut Finance, Inc
N 2818 Sullivan Rd
Spokane, WA 99216
EXHIBIT 23
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos.
333-41573 and 333-28451, of Itron, Inc. and subsidiaries on Form S-3 and
Registration Statement Nos. 333-28933, 333-63147 and 333-04685, of Itron,
Inc. and subsidiaries on Form S-8 of our report dated February 17, 1999,
appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Itron, Inc. for the year
ended December 31, 1998.
Our audit of the financial statements referred to in our aforementioned report
also included the financial statement schedule of Itron, Inc. and subsidiaries,
listed in Item 14. This financial statement schedule is the responsibility of
the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on
our audit. In our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in
relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in
all material respects the information set forth therein.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Seattle, Washington
March 26, 1999
5
12-MOS
DEC-31-1998
DEC-31-1998
2,743
0
63,738
(1,485)
20,654
108,392
148,422
(55,286)
247,755
54,162
0
0
0
106,039
8,943
247,755
241,402
241,402
164,599
164,599
80,340
(3,537)
(6,508)
(10,045)
3,820
(6,225)
0
0
0
(6,225)
(0.42)
(0.42)
