WWW.EXFILE.COM, INC. -- 888-775-4789 -- j2 GOBAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC. -- FORM 10Q
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
_____________
FORM 10-Q
_____________
x QUARTERLY REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March
31, 2008
OR
o 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:
0-25965
______________
j2
GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
|
51-0371142
|
(State
or other jurisdiction
|
(I.R.S.
Employer
|
of
incorporation or organization)
|
Identification
No.)
|
6922 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite
500
Los Angeles, California
90028
(Address
of principal executive offices)
(323) 860-9200
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
______________
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file
such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past
90 days.
Yes x No
o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of
“accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act). (Check one):
Large
accelerated filer x
|
Accelerated
filer o
|
Non-Accelerated
filer o
|
Smaller
reporting company o
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule
12b-2 of the Act).
Yes o No x
As of
April 30, 2008, the registrant had 44,406,988
shares of common stock outstanding.
j2 GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS,
INC.
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31,
2008
INDEX
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|
|
PAGE
|
PART
I. |
|
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item
1.
|
Financial
Statements
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Condensed
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes
to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item
2.
|
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
|
17
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Item
3.
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
|
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24
|
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item
4.
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
|
25
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|
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|
PART
II.
|
|
OTHER
INFORMATION |
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|
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|
|
|
Item
1.
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
|
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Item
1A.
|
Risk
Factors
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item
2.
|
Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
|
|
28
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Item
3.
|
Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
|
|
28
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Item
4.
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item
5.
|
Other
Information
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item
6.
|
Exhibits
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
|
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Signature
|
|
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30
|
|
|
|
|
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Index
to Exhibits
|
|
31
|
|
Exhibit
31.1
|
|
|
|
Exhibit
31.2
|
|
|
|
Exhibit
32.1
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|
|
|
Exhibit
32.2
|
|
|
PART I. FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
Item
1. Financial Statements
j2 Global Communications,
Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance
Sheets
(Unaudited, in
thousands)
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
|
$ |
151,215 |
|
|
$ |
154,220 |
|
Short-term
investments
|
|
|
15,597 |
|
|
|
54,297 |
|
Accounts
receivable,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
net of allowances of $1,658 and
$1,378, respectively
|
|
|
16,336 |
|
|
|
15,365 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current
assets
|
|
|
4,750 |
|
|
|
5,061 |
|
Deferred income
taxes
|
|
|
1,724 |
|
|
|
1,724 |
|
Total current
assets
|
|
|
189,622 |
|
|
|
230,667 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term
investments
|
|
|
14,454 |
|
|
|
21,241 |
|
Property and equipment,
net
|
|
|
22,305 |
|
|
|
23,511 |
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
39,718 |
|
|
|
39,452 |
|
Other purchased intangibles,
net
|
|
|
29,003 |
|
|
|
29,220 |
|
Deferred income
taxes
|
|
|
6,709 |
|
|
|
6,113 |
|
Other
assets
|
|
|
159 |
|
|
|
205 |
|
Total
assets
|
|
$ |
301,970 |
|
|
$ |
350,409 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’
EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued
expenses
|
|
$ |
18,344 |
|
|
$ |
17,516 |
|
Income taxes
payable
|
|
|
8,935 |
|
|
|
4,649 |
|
Deferred
revenue
|
|
|
14,589 |
|
|
|
14,708 |
|
Total current
liabilities
|
|
|
41,868 |
|
|
|
36,873 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrued income tax
liability
|
|
|
32,659 |
|
|
|
30,863 |
|
Other
|
|
|
44 |
|
|
|
59 |
|
Total
liabilities
|
|
|
74,571 |
|
|
|
67,795 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and
contingencies
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders’
equity
|
|
|
227,399 |
|
|
|
282,614 |
|
Total liabilities and
stockholders’ equity
|
|
$ |
301,970 |
|
|
$ |
350,409 |
|
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated
Financial Statements
j2 Global Communications,
Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Operations
(Unaudited, in thousands except share
and per share data)
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subscriber
|
|
$ |
57,215 |
|
|
$ |
50,293 |
|
Other
|
|
|
1,433 |
|
|
|
3,848 |
|
|
|
|
58,648 |
|
|
|
54,141 |
|
Cost
of revenues (including share-based compensation of $175
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$182
for the three months of 2008 and 2007, respectively)
|
|
|
11,631 |
|
|
|
10,990 |
|
Gross
profit
|
|
|
47,017 |
|
|
|
43,151 |
|
Operating
expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales
and marketing (including share-based compensation of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$338
and $278 for the three months of 2008 and 2007,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
respectively)
|
|
|
10,214 |
|
|
|
8,780 |
|
Research,
development and engineering (including share-based
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
compensation
of $214 and $173 for three months of 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
2007, respectively)
|
|
|
3,147 |
|
|
|
2,713 |
|
General
and administrative (including share-based
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
compensation
of $1,300 and $1,097 for the three
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
months
of 2008 and 2007, respectively)
|
|
|
11,157 |
|
|
|
9,825 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
operating expenses
|
|
|
24,518 |
|
|
|
21,318 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating
earnings
|
|
|
22,499 |
|
|
|
21,833 |
|
Interest
and other income, net
|
|
|
1,328 |
|
|
|
1,725 |
|
Earnings
before income taxes
|
|
|
23,827 |
|
|
|
23,558 |
|
Income
tax expense
|
|
|
7,033 |
|
|
|
7,119 |
|
Net
earnings
|
|
$ |
16,794 |
|
|
$ |
16,439 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings per common share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$ |
0.36 |
|
|
$ |
0.34 |
|
Diluted
|
|
$ |
0.35 |
|
|
$ |
0.32 |
|
Weighted
average shares outstanding:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
47,259,118 |
|
|
|
48,822,735 |
|
Diluted
|
|
|
48,330,042 |
|
|
|
50,680,093 |
|
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated
Financial Statements
j2 Global
Communications, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of
Cash Flows
(Unaudited, in
thousands)
|
|
Three Months Ended March
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Cash flows from operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings
|
|
$ |
16,794 |
|
|
$ |
16,439 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net
earnings to net cash
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
provided by operating
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and
amortization
|
|
|
3,108 |
|
|
|
2,164 |
|
Share-based
compensation
|
|
|
2,027 |
|
|
|
1,698 |
|
Tax benefit of vested restricted
stock
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Tax benefit of stock option
exercises
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,823 |
|
Excess tax benefits from
share-based compensation
|
|
|
(239 |
) |
|
|
(2,163 |
) |
Deferred income
taxes
|
|
|
(596 |
) |
|
|
(31 |
) |
Loss on disposal of fixed
assets
|
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
104 |
|
Decrease (increase)
in:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts
receivable
|
|
|
(701 |
) |
|
|
257 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current
assets
|
|
|
651 |
|
|
|
1,756 |
|
Other
assets
|
|
|
43 |
|
|
|
62 |
|
(Decrease) increase
in:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued
expenses
|
|
|
704 |
|
|
|
(2,130 |
) |
Income taxes
payable
|
|
|
4,392 |
|
|
|
3,157 |
|
Deferred
revenue
|
|
|
(200 |
) |
|
|
2,528 |
|
Accrued income tax
liability
|
|
|
1,416 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Other
|
|
|
(14 |
) |
|
|
(10 |
) |
Net cash provided by operating
activities
|
|
|
27,411 |
|
|
|
26,659 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net purchases of
available-for-sale investments
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(21,660 |
) |
Sales of available-for-sale
investments
|
|
|
36,170 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Purchases of held-to-maturity
investments
|
|
|
(475 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Redemptions/Sales of
held-to-maturity investments
|
|
|
9,607 |
|
|
|
11,254 |
|
Purchases of property and
equipment
|
|
|
(469 |
) |
|
|
(529 |
) |
Acquisition of businesses, net of
cash received
|
|
|
(64 |
) |
|
|
(4 |
) |
Purchases of intangible
assets
|
|
|
(1,044 |
) |
|
|
(1,995 |
) |
Net cash provided by (used in)
investing activities
|
|
|
43,725 |
|
|
|
(12,934 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from financing
activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repurchases of common
stock
|
|
|
(75,987 |
) |
|
|
(10,184 |
) |
Issuance of common stock under
employee stock purchase plan
|
|
|
59 |
|
|
|
62 |
|
Exercise of stock
options
|
|
|
97 |
|
|
|
2,529 |
|
Excess tax benefits from
share-based compensation
|
|
|
239 |
|
|
|
2,163 |
|
Repayment of long-term
debt
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(132 |
) |
Net cash used in financing
activities
|
|
|
(75,592 |
) |
|
|
(5,562 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of exchange rate changes on
cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
1,451 |
|
|
|
115 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(3,005 |
) |
|
|
8,278 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents at
beginning of period
|
|
|
154,220 |
|
|
|
95,605 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end
of period
|
|
$ |
151,215 |
|
|
$ |
103,883 |
|
See Notes to Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTES
TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MARCH
31, 2008
(UNAUDITED)
1. Basis
of Presentation
j2 Global
Communications, Inc. (“j2 Global”, “our”, “us” or “we”) is a Delaware
corporation founded in 1995. By leveraging the power of the Internet, we provide
outsourced, value-added messaging and communications services to individuals and
businesses throughout the world. We offer fax, voicemail, email and call
handling services and bundled suites of certain of these services. We market our
services principally under the brand names eFax®, eFax Corporate®, eFax DeveloperTM, Fax.comTM, Send2Fax®, eFax BroadcastTM, jBlast®, jConnect®, Onebox®, Onebox ReceptionistTM, RapidFAXTM, eVoice®, eVoice ReceptionistTM, YAC<
font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super">® and
Electric Mail®.
The
accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of j2 Global and its direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. All
intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in
consolidation.
The
accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited
and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) including those for interim
financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and
Article 10 of Regulation S-X issued by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and
note disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the
opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring
adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been reflected in
these interim financial statements. These financial statements should be read in
conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes for the year
ended December 31, 2007 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K
filed with the SEC on February 25, 2008.
The
results of operations for this interim period are not necessarily indicative of
the operating results for the full year or for any future period.
The
preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported
amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements,
including judgments about investment classifications, and the reported amounts
of net revenue and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis,
management evaluates its estimates, including those related to revenue
recognition, allowances for doubtful accounts and the valuation of deferred
income taxes, tax contingencies, non-income tax contingencies, share-based
compensation expense, long-lived and intangible assets and goodwill. These
estimates are based on historical experience and on various other factors that
we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results could differ
from those estimates.
In
September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements
(“SFAS 157”), which defines fair value, provides a framework for measuring fair
value and expands the disclosures required for fair value measurements. SFAS 157
applies to all accounting pronouncements that require fair value measurements;
it does not require any new fair value measurements. For fiscal years beginning
after November 15, 2007, companies will be required to implement SFAS 157 for
financial assets and liabilities, as well as for any other assets and
liabilities that are carried at fair value on a recurring basis in financial
statements. The FASB provided a one-year deferral for the implementation of
SFAS 157 for other nonfinancial assets and liabilities. On January 1, 2008,
we adopted SFAS 157.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial
Assets and Liabilities - Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115
(“SFAS 159”).
SFAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure certain financial assets
and liabilities at fair value. Furthermore, under SFAS 159 entities shall report
unrealized gains and losses on eligible items for which the fair value option
has been elected in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. SFAS 159 is
effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. As permitted by
SFAS 159, we have elected not to use the fair value option to measure our
available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities under SFAS 159 and will
continue to report them under SFAS No. 115, Accounting for Certain Investments
in Debt and Equity Securities (“SFAS 115”) because the nature of our
financial assets and liabilities are not of such complexity that they would
benefit from a change in valuation to fair value.
We
account for our short and long-term investments in debt securities in accordance
with SFAS 115 and Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 03-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary
Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments. These investments
are comprised primarily of readily marketable corporate debt securities, debt
instruments of the U.S. government and its agencies and auction rate debt and
preferred securities. We determine the appropriate classification of our
investments at the time of acquisition and reevaluate such determination at each
balance sheet date. Held-to-maturity securities are those investments that we
have the ability and intent to hold until maturity. Held-to-maturity securities
are recorded at amortized cost. Available-for-sale securities are recorded at
fair value, with unrealized gains or losses recorded as a separate component of
accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders’ equity until
realized.
We
account for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (“SFAS 109”),
which requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities be recognized using
enacted tax rates for the effect of temporary differences between the book and
tax bases of recorded assets and liabilities. SFAS 109 also requires that
deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely
than not that some or all of the net deferred tax assets will not be realized.
Our valuation allowance is reviewed quarterly based upon the facts and
circumstances known at the time. In assessing this valuation allowance, we
review historical and future expected operating results and other factors to
determine whether it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets are
realizable. We had approximately $8.4 million in net deferred tax assets as of
March 31, 2008. Based on our review, we concluded that these net deferred tax
assets do not require valuation allowances as of March 31, 2008. The net
deferred tax assets should be realized through future operating results and the
reversal of temporary differences.
Effective
January 1, 2007, we adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes— an
Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 provides
guidance on the minimum threshold that an uncertain tax benefit is required to
meet before it can be recognized in the financial statements and applies to all
tax positions taken by a company. FIN 48 contains a two-step approach to
recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions accounted for in accordance
with SFAS 109. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by
determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely
than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of
related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure
the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being
realized upon settlement. If it is not more likely than not that the benefit
will be sustained on its technical merits, no benefit will be recorded.
Uncertain tax positions that relate only to timing of when an item is included
on a tax return are considered to have met the recognition threshold. We
recognized accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits
in income tax expense on our consolidated statement of operations (see Note 6
- “Income Taxes”).
In
February 2008, j2 Global’s Board of Directors approved a common stock repurchase
program authorizing the repurchase of up to five million shares of our
common stock through the end of December 2010. We account for these repurchases
under this program using the cost method as treasury stock under Stockholders’
Equity.
2. Investments
The
following table summarizes our short and long-term investments designated as
available-for-sale and held-to-maturity classified by the contractual maturity
date of the security (in thousands):
|
|
As
of
March
31,
2008
|
|
|
As
of
December
31,
2007
|
|
Due
within 1 year
|
|
$ |
15,598 |
|
|
$ |
54,297 |
|
Due
within more than 1 year but less than 5 years
|
|
|
3,392 |
|
|
|
9,949 |
|
Due
within more than 5 years but less than 10 years
|
|
|
4,664 |
|
|
|
6,200 |
|
Due
10 years or after
|
|
|
6,397 |
|
|
|
5,092 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
available-for-sale and held-to-maturity investments
|
|
$ |
30,051 |
|
|
$ |
75,538 |
|
At March
31, 2008, auction rate debt and preferred securities totaled $11.1 million. As
of March 31, 2008, the auction rate debt securities have stated maturities
through 2037. The auction rate preferred securities have no stated maturity
dates. These securities have interest rates that reset periodically at
established intervals of 90 days or less. Each of these auction rate securities
have encountered multiple failed auctions over the past several months, which
means that these securities are illiquid unless and until a future auction is
successful. If the issuer’s credit rating deteriorates before a successful
auction occurs, we may be required to adjust the carrying value of the
investment through an impairment charge. During the fourth quarter of 2007, as a
result of such failed auctions, we reclassified short-term available-for-sale
investments of $11.4 million to long-term held-to-maturity investments and
recognized an unrealized loss of $0.3 million in accumulated other comprehensive
income/(loss). This unrealized loss is amortized over the remaining lives of the
held-to-maturity investments. As we have the ability and intent to hold these
auction rate debt securities until maturity, we do not anticipate the lack of
liquidity on these investments to affect our ability to operate our business as
usual. There have been no significant changes in the maturity dates and average
interest rates for our investment portfolio and debt obligations subsequent to
March 31, 2008. At March 31, 2008, our long-term held-to-maturity securities are
carried at amortized cost, with the unrealized gains and losses reported as a
component of stockholders’ equity,
On a
quarterly basis, we assess whether an other-than-temporary impairment loss on an
investment has occurred due to declines in fair value or other market
conditions. There were no other-than-temporary impairment losses in the quarter
ended March 31, 2008. There were no restrictions on cash and cash equivalents or
investments as of March 31, 2008. As of March 31, 2008, the current fair value
and book value of auction rate securities were approximately $9.7 million and
11.1 million, respectively.
3. Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In
December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (“SFAS 141(R)”). SFAS
141(R) establishes principles and requirements for how the acquiror of a
business (a) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the
identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling
interest in the acquiree; (b) recognizes and measures in its financial
statements the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a
bargain purchase; and (c) determines what information to disclose to enable
users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects
of the business combination. SFAS 141(R) is effective for fiscal years beginning
on or after December 15, 2008. We do not expect SFAS 141(R) to have a material
impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In December
2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial
Statements, an amendment of ARB No. 51 (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160 requires
that the ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the
parent be clearly identified, labeled and presented in the consolidated balance
sheets within equity, but separate from the parent’s equity. In addition, the
amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and to the
noncontrolling interest be clearly identified and
presented on the face of the consolidated statement of operations. SFAS 160 also
requires that changes in the parent’s ownership interest be accounted for as
equity transactions if a subsidiary is deconsolidated and any retained
noncontrolling equity investment be measured at fair value. Furthermore, that
sufficient disclosures be provided that clearly identify and distinguish between
the interests of the parent and noncontrolling owners. The provisions of
SFAS 160 are effective
for
fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning on or
after December 15, 2008. We are currently assessing
the potential impact of SFAS 160 on our consolidated financial
statements.
In March
2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133
(“SFAS 161”). SFAS 161 requires enhanced disclosures about a
company’s derivative and hedging activities. These enhanced disclosures will
discuss (a) how and why a company uses derivative instruments, (b) how
derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under FASB
Statement No. 133, Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities, and its related interpretations and
(c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect a company’s
financial position, results of operations and cash flows. SFAS 161 is
effective for fiscal years beginning on or after November 15, 2008, with
earlier adoption allowed. We are currently evaluating the impact of adopting
SFAS 161.
4. Goodwill
and Intangible Assets
Goodwill
represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net
tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired in a business combination.
Intangible assets resulting from the acquisitions of entities accounted for
using the purchase method of accounting are recorded at the estimated fair value
of the assets acquired. Identifiable intangible assets are comprised of
purchased customer relationships, trademarks and trade names, developed
technologies and other intangible assets. Identifiable intangible assets are
amortized using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives ranging
from two to twenty years.
The
changes in carrying amounts of goodwill and other intangible assets for the
three months ended March 31, 2008 are as follows (in thousands):
|
|
Balance
as of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign
Exchange
|
|
|
Balance
as of
|
|
|
|
January
1, 2008
|
|
|
Additions
|
|
|
Amortization
|
|
|
Translation
|
|
|
March
31, 2008
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
$ |
39,452 |
|
|
$ |
64 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
202 |
|
|
$ |
39,718 |
|
Intangible
assets with indefinite lives
|
|
|
2,384 |
|
|
|
46 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,430 |
|
Intangible
assets subject to amortization
|
|
|
26,836 |
|
|
|
974 |
|
|
|
(1,297 |
) |
|
|
60 |
|
|
|
26,573 |
|
|
|
$ |
68,672 |
|
|
$ |
1,084 |
|
|
$ |
(1,297 |
) |
|
$ |
262 |
|
|
$ |
68,721 |
|
Intangible
assets with indefinite lives relate primarily to a trade name. As of March 31,
2008, intangible assets subject to amortization relate primarily to the
following (in thousands):
|
Weighted-Average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization
|
|
Historical
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
|
|
|
Period
|
|
Cost
|
|
|
Amortization
|
|
|
Net
|
|
Patents
|
8.7
years
|
|
$ |
21,819 |
|
|
$ |
6,236 |
|
|
$ |
15,583 |
|
Technology
|
3.0
years
|
|
|
4,106 |
|
|
|
3,234 |
|
|
|
872 |
|
Customer
relationships
|
3.8
years
|
|
|
5,686 |
|
|
|
2,829 |
|
|
|
2,857 |
|
Trade
name
|
16.0
years
|
|
|
8,402 |
|
|
|
1,141 |
|
|
|
7,261 |
|
Total
|
|
|
$ |
40,013 |
|
|
$ |
13,440 |
|
|
$ |
26,573 |
|
Amortization
expense, included in general and administrative expense, during the three-month
periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 approximated $1.2 million and $0.8
million, respectively. Amortization expense is estimated to approximate $5.1
million, $4.7 million, $3.7 million, $2.5 million and $2.2 million for fiscal
years 2008 through 2012, respectively, and $9.7 million thereafter through the
duration of the amortization period.
5. Litigation
In
February 2004 and July 2005, we filed two lawsuits against Venali in the United
States District Court for the Central District of California for infringement of
several of our U.S. patents. On June 21, 2006, Venali filed suit against us and
our affiliate in the United States District Court for the Southern District of
Florida, alleging violations
of
antitrust law and various related claims arising out of our procurement and
enforcement of our patents. In lieu of any response to Venali’s complaint, the
parties reached an agreement whereby Venali dismissed its complaint without
prejudice and re-filed certain of its claims as counterclaims in the patent
infringement actions in California. On December 27, 2006, Venali filed amended
counterclaims in the July 2005 action alleging several violations of antitrust
law (fraudulent procurement of patents, fraudulent enforcement of patents, tying
and attempted monopolization) as well as tortious interference with business
relationships, trademark infringement and unfair and deceptive trade practices.
Venali is seeking damages, including treble damages for the antitrust claims,
injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees and costs. Venali’s claims relate in
substantial part to the patent infringement claims by us against Venali. On
April 13, 2007, the court granted in part our motion to dismiss Venali’s
counterclaims, dismissing the tying claim with leave to amend. Venali has also
voluntarily dismissed all of its counterclaims except those alleging antitrust
violations based on our procurement and enforcement of our patents. On May 11,
2007, the court entered a claim construction order regarding the disputed terms
of the patents-in-suit. Since that time, the parties have been engaged in
extensive discovery. On December 7, 2007, Venali filed a motion for partial
summary judgment of non-infringement. Our opposition to that motion is not yet
due. Trial is currently scheduled for October 2008.
In
January 2006, we filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the
Central District of California against Protus asserting causes of action for
violation of the Federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act, trespass to
chattels, and unfair business practices as a result of Protus sending “junk
faxes” to us and our customers. We are seeking statutory and treble damages,
attorneys fees, interest and costs, as well as a permanent injunction against
Protus continuing its junk fax sending practices. In September 2007, Protus
filed a counterclaim against us asserting the same causes of action as those
asserted against it, as well as claims for false advertising, trade libel,
tortious interference with prospective economic advantage and defamation. Protus
is seeking statutory and treble damages, attorneys fees, interest and
costs, as well as a permanent injunction against us sending any more junk faxes.
The parties are engaged in extensive discovery. Trial is currently set for
September 29, 2009.
On
December 12, 2006, Venali filed suit against us in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleging infringement of U.S. Patent
Number 7,114,004 (the “ ’004 Patent”). Venali is seeking damages in the amount
of lost profits or a reasonable royalty, a permanent injunction against
continued infringement, treble damages, attorneys’ fees, interest and costs. On
March 6, 2007, we filed an answer to the complaint denying liability. On May 17,
2007, we filed a request with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office for
reexamination of the ’004 Patent, which request was granted on July 27, 2007. On
August 13, 2007, we moved to stay the
action pending the reexamination. On August 20, 2007, the court granted the
motion and stayed the action pending reexamination of the patent.
On May 9,
2007, Bear Creek Technologies, Inc. (“Bear Creek”) filed suit against us in the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, alleging
infringement of U.S. Patent Number 6,985,494. Bear Creek is seeking damages in
at least the amount of a reasonable royalty, a permanent injunction against
continued infringement, treble damages, attorneys’ fees, interest and costs. On
June 29, 2007, we filed an answer to the complaint denying liability, asserting
affirmative defenses, and asserting counterclaims of non-infringement and
invalidity. On September 21, 2007, Bear Creek filed its reply to our
counterclaims, denying each one. On February 11, 2008 we filed a request
for reexamination of the ‘494 patent. On February 28, 2008, the United States
District Court stayed the case during the pendency of the reexamination
proceedings. On April 18, 2008, the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(“USPTO”) granted the reexamination request.
On June
21, 2007, Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. (“IGC”) filed a lawsuit against us,
certain of our current and former officers and/or directors, one of our
affiliates, and several other parties in the United States District Court for
the Northern District of Illinois. The suit purports to allege violations of
antitrust law, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and
various related statutory and common law claims arising out of our procurement
and enforcement of our patents and our acquisition of certain companies. IGC’s
claims relate in substantial part to a patent infringement action by our
affiliate against IGC. The suit seeks damages, including treble and punitive
damages, an injunction against further violations, divestiture of certain
assets, attorneys’ fees and costs. On October 31, 2007, the Court stayed this
action pending resolution of the related case in the Northern District of
Georgia described below. On January 20, 2008, the Court dismissed this case with
leave to reinstate it on or before December 31, 2008.
On
October 11, 2007, IGC filed substantially the same claims it previously filed in
the Northern District of Illinois as counterclaims in a pending patent
infringement case in the United States District Court for the Northern District
of Georgia brought against IGC by our affiliate. Like the prior lawsuit, IGC’s
counterclaims name us, certain of our current and former officers and/or
directors, one of our affiliates, and several other parties, and purport to
allege violations of antitrust law, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt
Organizations Act and various related statutory and common law claims arising
out of our procurement and enforcement of our patents and our acquisition of
certain companies. The counterclaims seek damages, including treble and punitive
damages, an injunction against further violations, divestiture of certain
assets, attorneys’ fees and costs. On April 23, 2008, the court ordered IGC to
replead its counterclaims and IGC has not yet done so.
On June
29, 2007, a purported class action was filed by Justin Lynch as the named
plaintiff in the United States District Court for the Central District of
California alleging that we have attempted to monopolize and/or monopolized the
market for Internet facsimile services to home and small offices in violation of
Section 2 of the Sherman Act. The claims relate in substantial part to the
patent infringement actions by us against various companies. The suit seeks
treble damages, injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees and costs. On August 24,
2007, we filed an answer to the complaint denying liability. On January 28,
2008, the court entered an order staying this case until June 2,
2008.
We do not
believe, based on current knowledge, that any of the foregoing legal proceedings
or claims is likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial position,
results of operations or cash flows. However, depending on the amount and the
timing, an unfavorable resolution of some or all of these matters could
materially affect our business, financial position, results of operations or
cash flows in a particular period.
6.
Income Taxes
Our tax
provision for interim periods is determined using an estimate of our annual
effective tax rate. Each quarter we update our estimate of the annual effective
tax rate, and if our estimated tax rate changes we make a cumulative adjustment.
Our annual effective tax rate is normally lower than the 35% U.S. federal
statutory rate and applicable apportioned state tax rates primarily due to
anticipated earnings of our subsidiaries outside of the U.S. in jurisdictions
where our effective tax rate is lower than in the U.S. We do not provide for
U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings of our foreign operations since
we intend to reinvest them in our foreign jurisdictions.
Cash paid
for income taxes was $1.9 million and $0.0 for the three months ended March 31,
2008 and 2007, respectively. Accrued income tax liabilities were $32.7 million
at March 31, 2008 and $30.9 million at December 31, 2007.
We are
currently under audit by the Internal Revenue Service for the 2005 tax year.
While it is possible that the 2005 tax audit may conclude in the next 12 months
and that the unrecognized tax benefits we have recorded in relation to the 2005
tax year may change compared to the liabilities recorded for the period, it is
not possible to estimate the effect, if any, of any amount of such change during
the next 12 months to previously recorded uncertain tax positions.
7. Stockholders’
Equity
Common
Stock Repurchase Program
In
February 2008, j2 Global’s Board of Directors approved a common stock repurchase
program authorizing the repurchase of up to five million shares of our common
stock through the end of December 2010. During the three months ended March 31,
2008, we repurchased 3,534,189 shares at an aggregated cost of approximately
$75.9 million (including commission fees of $70,700). As of March 31, 2008,
there were 1,465,811 shares of common stock available for repurchase under this
program.
8. Stock Options and Employee Stock
Purchase Plan
Our
share-based compensation plans include our Second Amended and Restated 1997
Stock Option Plan, 2007 Stock Plan and 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Each plan is described below.
The
Second Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan (the “1997 Plan”) terminated
in 2007. As of March 31, 2008, 4,336,087 shares underlying options and 338,170
shares of restricted stock were outstanding under the 1997 Plan, all of which
continue to be governed by the 1997 Plan.
The 2007
Stock Option Plan (the “2007 Plan”), provides for the granting of incentive
stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted
stock, restricted stock units and other share-based awards. Four million five
hundred thousand shares of common stock are authorized to be used for 2007 Plan
purposes. Options under the 2007 Plan may be granted at exercise prices
determined by the Board of Directors, provided that the exercise prices shall
not be less than the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant
for incentive stock options and not less than 85% of the fair market value of
our common stock on the date of grant for non-statutory stock
options.
All stock
option grants are approved by “outside directors” within the meaning of Internal
Revenue Code Section 162m.
Stock
Options
The
following table represents stock option activity for the three months ended
March 31, 2008:
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-
|
|
|
Weighted-Average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Remaining
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
|
Number
of
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
Contractual
|
|
|
Intrinsic
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Price
|
|
|
Term
(in years)
|
|
|
Value
|
|
Outstanding
at January 1, 2008
|
|
|
4,383,174 |
|
|
$ |
11.19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
35,000 |
|
|
|
21.61 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(33,500 |
) |
|
|
2.99 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Canceled
|
|
|
(48,587 |
) |
|
|
18.89 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
at March 31, 2008
|
|
|
4,336,087 |
|
|
|
11.20 |
|
|
|
5.6 |
|
|
$ |
47,786,036 |
|
Exercisable
at March 31, 2008
|
|
|
2,997,789 |
|
|
|
5.48 |
|
|
|
4.4 |
|
|
|
50,489,606 |
|
Vested
and expected to vest at March 31, 2008
|
|
|
4,097,236 |
|
|
|
10.47 |
|
|
|
5.4 |
|
|
|
52,957,728 |
|
For the
three months ended March 31, 2008, we granted 35,000 options to purchase shares
of common stock pursuant to the 2007 Plan to newly hired and existing members of
management. These stock options vest 20% per year and expire 10 years from the
date of grant.
The per
share weighted-average grant-date fair values of stock options granted during
the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 were $21.61 and $21.64,
respectively.
The
aggregate intrinsic values of options exercised during the three months ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007 were $605,000 and $8.4 million,
respectively.
As of
March 31, 2008, there was $19.7 million of total unrecognized compensation
expense related to non-vested share-based compensation awards. That expense is
expected to be recognized ratably over a weighted-average period of 3.5 years
(i.e., the weighted average remaining requisite service period).
Fair Value
Disclosure
We use
the Black-Scholes option pricing model to calculate the fair-value of each
option grant. The expected volatility for the three months ended March 31, 2008
is based on historical volatility of our common stock. We elected to use the
simplified method for estimating the expected term as allowed by Staff
Accounting Bulletin No. 107. Under the simplified method, the expected term is
equal to the midpoint between the vesting period and the contractual term of the
stock option. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon
issues with a term equal to the expected term of the option assumed at the date
of grant. Forfeitures are estimated at
the date
of grant based on historical experience.
In
December 2007, SAB No. 110 (“SAB 110”) amends and replaces Question 6 of Section
D.2 of Topic 14, “Share-Based
Payment”, of the SAB series. Question 6 of Section D.2 of Topic 14
expresses the views of the staff regarding the use of the “simplified” method in
developing an estimate of expected term of “plain vanilla” share options and
allows usage of the “simplified” method for share option grants prior to
December 31, 2007. SAB 110 allows public companies without historically
sufficient experience to provide a reasonable estimate to continue use of the
“simplified” method for estimating the expected term of “plain vanilla” share
option grants after December 31, 2007. SAB 110 is effective January 1, 2008. We
do not expect SAB 110 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial
statements.
Because
we have changed the length of vesting period more than once, we do not believe
sufficient historical exercise data exists to provide a reasonable basis to
change our estimate of expected terms. We also believe
that stock options issued under our stock option plans meet the criteria of
“plain vanilla” share options, and as such will adopt the provisions of SAB
110.
The
weighted-average fair values of stock options granted have been estimated
utilizing the following assumptions:
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Risk-free
interest rate
|
|
|
3.0% |
|
|
|
4.5% |
|
Expected
term (in years)
|
|
|
6.5 |
|
|
|
6.5 |
|
Dividend
yield
|
|
|
0% |
|
|
|
0% |
|
Expected
volatility
|
|
|
65% |
|
|
|
85% |
|
Weighted-average
volatility
|
|
|
65% |
|
|
|
85% |
|
Share-Based Compensation
Expense
The
following table represents the share-based compensation expenses included
in cost of revenues and operating expenses in the accompanying condensed
consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008
and 2007 (in thousands):
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Cost
of revenues
|
|
$ |
175 |
|
|
$ |
182 |
|
Operating
expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales
and marketing
|
|
|
338 |
|
|
|
278 |
|
Research,
development and engineering
|
|
|
214 |
|
|
|
173 |
|
General
and administrative
|
|
|
1,300 |
|
|
|
1,097 |
|
|
|
$ |
2,027 |
|
|
$ |
1,730 |
|
Restricted
Stock
We have
awarded restricted shares of common stock to members of our Board of Directors
and our senior management pursuant to the 1997 Plan and the 2007 Plan.
Compensation expense resulting from restricted stock grants is measured at fair
value on the date of grant and is recognized as share-based compensation expense
over a five-year vesting period. During the three months ended March 31, 2008,
we did not grant any shares of restricted stock. We recognized approximately
$421,000 of related compensation expense in the three months ended March
31, 2008 related to restricted stock awards. As of March 31, 2008,
we have unrecognized share-based compensation cost of approximately $6.0 million
associated with these awards. This cost is expected to be recognized over a
weighted-average period of 3.3 years (i.e., the weighted-average remaining
requisite service period).
Restricted
stock activity for the three months ended March 31, 2008 is set forth
below:
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-Average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant-Date
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Fair
Value
|
|
Nonvested
at January 1, 2008
|
|
|
359,550 |
|
|
$ |
22.94 |
|
Granted
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Vested
|
|
|
(6,380 |
) |
|
|
25.66 |
|
Canceled
|
|
|
(15,000 |
) |
|
|
22.45 |
|
Nonvested
at March 31, 2008
|
|
|
338,170 |
|
|
|
23.06 |
|
Employee
Stock Purchase Plan
Our 2001
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan”), provides for the issuance of
a maximum of two million shares of common stock. Under the Purchase Plan,
eligible employees can have up to 15% of their earnings withheld, up to certain
maximums, to be used to purchase shares of j2 Global’s common stock at certain
plan-defined dates. The price of the common stock purchased under the Purchase
Plan for the offering periods is equal to 95% of the fair market value of the
common stock on the specified purchase date. For the three months ended March
31, 2008 and 2007, 2,846 and 2,456 shares were purchased under the plan,
respectively. Cash received upon the issuance of common stock under the Purchase
Plan was $59,000 and $62,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007,
respectively.
9. Earnings
Per Share
Basic
earnings per share is computed on the basis of the weighted-average number of
common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is computed on the basis
of the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus the dilutive
effect of common stock equivalents using the “treasury stock” method. The
components of basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows (in thousands,
except share and per share data):
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Numerator
for basic and diluted net earnings per common share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings
|
|
$ |
16,794 |
|
|
$ |
16,439 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average
outstanding shares of common stock
|
|
|
47,259,118 |
|
|
|
48,822,735 |
|
Dilutive
effect of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employee
stock options
|
|
|
1,038,558 |
|
|
|
1,751,180 |
|
Restricted
stock
|
|
|
32,366 |
|
|
|
106,178 |
|
Common
stock and common stock equivalents
|
|
|
48,330,042 |
|
|
|
50,680,093 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$ |
0.36 |
|
|
$ |
0.34 |
|
Diluted
|
|
$ |
0.35 |
|
|
$ |
0.32 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10. Comprehensive
Income
The
components of comprehensive income were net earnings and accumulated other
comprehensive income. The change in accumulated other comprehensive income for
all periods presented resulted from foreign translation gains and losses.
Comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 is as
follows (in thousands):
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net
earnings
|
|
$ |
16,794 |
|
|
$ |
16,439 |
|
Other
comprehensive income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
|
|
1,574 |
|
|
|
166 |
|
Amortization
of Held-to-Maturity securities loss
|
|
|
(9 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive
income
|
|
$ |
18,359 |
|
|
$ |
16,605 |
|
11. Geographic
Information
We
maintain operations in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and other
international territories. Geographic information about the U.S. and
international territories for the reporting periods is presented below. Such
information attributes revenues based on the location of a customer’s Direct
Inward Dial (“DID”) number for services using such a number or a customer’s
residence for other services (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Revenue:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United
States
|
|
$ |
50,122 |
|
|
$ |
48,077 |
|
All
other countries
|
|
|
8,526 |
|
|
|
6,064 |
|
|
|
$ |
58,648 |
|
|
$ |
54,141 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March
31,
|
|
|
December
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Long-lived
assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
United
States
|
|
$ |
40,850 |
|
|
$ |
42,078 |
|
All
other countries
|
|
|
8,014 |
|
|
|
8,269 |
|
|
|
$ |
48,864 |
|
|
$ |
50,347 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item 2.
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
Overview
j2 Global
Communications, Inc. (“j2 Global”, “our”, “us” or “we”) is a Delaware
corporation founded in 1995. By leveraging the power of the Internet, we provide
outsourced, value-added messaging and communications services to individuals and
businesses throughout the world. We offer fax, voicemail, email and call
handling services and bundled suites of certain of these services. We market our
services principally under the brand names eFax®, eFax Corporate®, eFax DeveloperTM, Fax.comTM, Send2Fax®, eFax BroadcastTM, jBlast®, jConnect®, Onebox®, Onebox ReceptionistTM, RapidFAXTM, eVoice®, eVoice ReceptionistTM, YAC<
font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 70%; VERTICAL-ALIGN: super">® and
Electric Mail®.
We
deliver many of our services through our global telephony/Internet Protocol
(“IP”) network, which spans more than 3,000 cities in 44 countries across five
continents. We have created this network, and continuously seek to expand it,
through negotiating with U.S. and foreign telecommunications and co-location
providers for telephone numbers (also referred to as Direct Inward Dial numbers
or “DIDs”), Internet bandwidth and co-location space for our equipment. We
maintain and seek to grow an inventory of telephone numbers to be assigned to
new customers. Most of these numbers are “local” (as opposed to toll-free),
which enables us to provide our paying subscribers telephone numbers with a
geographic identity. In addition to growing our business internally, we have
used small acquisitions to grow our customer base, enhance our technology and
acquire skilled personnel.
Our core
services include fax, voicemail, email and call handling, as well as bundled
suites of certain of these services. These are business services that make our
customers more efficient, more mobile, more cost-effective and more secure than
traditional alternatives. We generate substantially all of our revenue from
subscribers that pay activation, subscription and usage fees. Activation and
subscription fees are referred to as “fixed” revenues, while usage fees are
referred to as “variable” revenues. We also generate revenues from patent
licensing fees, advertising and revenue share from our customers’ use of premium
rate telephone numbers. Of the nearly 11.2 million telephone numbers deployed as
of March 31, 2008, approximately 1.1 million were serving paying subscribers,
with the balance deployed to free subscribers, including those with premium rate
telephone numbers. We operate in one reportable segment: value-added messaging
and communications services, which provides for the delivery of fax, voice and
email messages and communications via the telephone and/or Internet
networks.
During
the past three years, we have derived a substantial portion of our revenues from
our DID-based services, including eFax, Onebox, Onebox Receptionist,
eVoice and eVoice
Receptionist. As a result, we believe that paying DIDs and the revenues
associated therewith are an important metric for understanding our business. It
has been and continues to be our objective to increase the number of paying DIDs
through a variety of distribution channels and marketing arrangements and by
enhancing our brand awareness. In addition, we seek to increase revenues through
a combination of stimulating use by our customers of usage-based services,
introducing new services and instituting appropriate price increases to our
fixed monthly subscription and other fees.
For the
past three years, 90% or more of our total revenues have been produced by our
DID-based services. DID-based revenues have increased to $202 million from $134
million for the three-year period ending December 31, 2005 to December 31, 2007.
The primary reason for this increase was a 92% increase in the number of paid
DIDs over this period. We expect that DID-based revenues will continue to be a
dominant driver of total revenues.
The
following table sets forth our key operating metrics for the three months ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007 (in thousands, except for percentages and average
revenue per paying telephone number):
|
|
March
31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Free
service telephone numbers
|
|
|
10,098 |
|
|
|
10,356 |
|
Paying
telephone numbers
|
|
|
1,099 |
|
|
|
930 |
|
Total
active telephone numbers
|
|
|
11,197 |
|
|
|
11,286 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Subscriber
revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fixed
|
|
$ |
44,259 |
|
|
$ |
37,765 |
|
Variable
|
|
|
12,956 |
|
|
|
12,528 |
|
Total
subscriber revenues
|
|
$ |
57,215 |
|
|
$ |
50,293 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percentage
of total subscriber revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fixed
|
|
|
77.4 |
% |
|
|
75.1 |
% |
Variable
|
|
|
22.6 |
% |
|
|
24.9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DID-based
|
|
$ |
55,001 |
|
|
$ |
48,130 |
|
Non-DID-based
|
|
|
3,647 |
|
|
|
6,011 |
|
Total
revenues
|
|
$ |
58,648 |
|
|
$ |
54,141 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
monthly revenue per paying
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
telephone
number(1)
|
|
$ |
16.21 |
|
|
$ |
16.96 |
|
(1)See
calculation of average monthly revenue per paying telephone number at the end
of Item 2. Management’s Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.
Critical Accounting Policies and
Estimates
In the
ordinary course of business, we have made a number of estimates and assumptions
relating to the reporting of results of operations and financial condition in
the preparation of our financial statements. Actual results could differ
significantly from those estimates under different assumptions and conditions.
Our critical accounting policies are described in our 2007 Annual Report on Form
10-K filed with the SEC on February 25, 2008. During the three months ended
March 31, 2008, we updated our critical accounting policies as
follows:
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS 157, which defines fair value, provides a
framework for measuring fair value and expands the disclosures required for fair
value measurements. SFAS 157 applies to all accounting pronouncements that
require fair value measurements; it does not require any new fair value
measurements. For fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, companies will
be required to implement SFAS 157 for financial assets and liabilities, as well
as for any other assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value on a
recurring basis in financial statements. The FASB provided a one-year deferral
for the implementation of SFAS 157 for other nonfinancial assets and
liabilities. An exposure draft will be issued for comment in the near future on
this partial deferral. On January 1, 2008, we adopted SFAS
157.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 159, which permits entities to choose to
measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Furthermore,
under SFAS 159 entities shall report unrealized gains and losses on eligible
items for which the fair value option has been elected in earnings at each
subsequent reporting date. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning
after November 15, 2007. As permitted by SFAS 159, we have elected not to use
the fair value option to measure our available-for-sale and held-to-maturity
securities under SFAS 159 and will continue to report them under SFAS 115
because the nature of our financial assets and liabilities are not of such
complexity that they would benefit from a change in valuation to fair
value.
Results
of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008
Revenues
Subscriber Revenues.
Subscriber revenues consist of both a fixed monthly or annual recurring
subscription component and a variable component which is driven by the actual
usage of our service offerings. Over the past three years the fixed portion of
our subscriber revenues has contributed an increasing percentage to our
subscriber revenues - 76%, 72% and 71% for 2007, 2006 and 2005,
respectively. Subscriber revenues were
$57.2 million and $50.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and
2007, respectively. This increase in subscriber revenues was due to an increase
in our paying subscribers and the full impact in the first quarter of 2008 of a
price increase to our domestic eFax individual subscribers that was only
partially completed in the first quarter of 2007. The increase in our base of
paying subscribers primarily resulted from new subscribers coming directly to
our websites, free-to-paid subscriber upgrades, small to mid-sized corporate and
enterprise sales, direct large enterprise and government sales, direct marketing
costs for acquisition of paying subscribers and international sales, in each
case net of cancellations.
Other Revenues. Other
revenues were $1.4 million and $3.8 million for the three months ended March 31,
2008 and 2007, respectively. Other revenues consist primarily of patent
licensing revenues and advertising revenues generated by delivering email
messages to our free customers on behalf of advertisers. The decrease in other
revenues resulted primarily from approximately $2.0 million in revenues and
associated earnings from a paid up patent license fee during the first quarter
of 2007.
Share-Based
Compensation
The
following table represents the share-based compensation expenses included in
cost of revenues and operating expenses in the accompanying condensed
consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008
and 2007 (in thousands):
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
Cost
of revenues
|
|
$ |
175 |
|
|
$ |
182 |
|
Sales
and marketing
|
|
|
338 |
|
|
|
278 |
|
Research,
development and engineering
|
|
|
214 |
|
|
|
173 |
|
General
and administrative
|
|
|
1,300 |
|
|
|
1,097 |
|
|
|
$ |
2,027 |
|
|
$ |
1,730 |
|
Cost
of Revenues
Cost of
revenues is primarily comprised of costs associated with data and voice
transmission, telephone numbers, network operations, customer service, on-line
processing fees and equipment depreciation. Cost of revenues was $11.6 million,
or 20% of total revenues, and $11.0 million, or 20% of total revenues, for the
three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The increase in cost
of revenues was primarily due to a larger subscriber base and associated service
usage partially offset by sales and value added taxes.
Operating
Expenses
Sales and Marketing. Our
sales and marketing costs consist primarily of Internet-based advertising, sales
and marketing personnel costs and other business development-related expenses.
Our Internet-based advertising relationships consist primarily of fixed cost and
performance-based (cost-per-impression, cost-per-click and cost-per-acquisition)
advertising relationships with an array of online service providers. We have a
disciplined return-on-investment approach to our Internet-based advertising and
marketing spend, which causes sales and marketing costs as a percentage of total
revenues to vary from period to period. Sales and marketing expenses were $10.2
million, or 17% of total revenues, and $8.8 million, or 16% of total revenues,
for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and
2007,
respectively. The increase in sales and marketing expenses for the three months
ended March 31, 2008 was primarily due to increased international
marketing and additional marketing in new brands and voice
services.
Research, Development and
Engineering. Our research, development and engineering costs consist
primarily of personnel-related expenses. Research, development and engineering
costs were $3.1 million, or 5% of total revenues, and $2.7 million, or 5% of
total revenues, for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007,
respectively. The increase in research, development and engineering costs for
the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the same period in the prior
year was primarily due to an increase in personnel costs.
General and Administrative.
Our general and administrative costs consist primarily of personnel-related
expenses, depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation expense, bad
debt expense and insurance costs. General and administrative costs were $11.2
million, or 19% of total revenues, and $9.8 million, or 18% of total revenues,
for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. General and
administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue for the three months ended
March 31, 2008 have increased compared to the same period in the prior year
primarily due to legal expenses, bad debt expense, share-based compensation
expense and depreciation and amortization due to acquisitions and a new data
center facility in the fourth quarter of 2007.
Non-Operating
Income and Expenses
Interest and Other Income,
Net. Our interest and other income, net, is generated primarily from
interest earned on cash, cash equivalents and short- and long-term investments.
Interest and other income, net, was $1.3 million and $1.7 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The decrease in interest and
other income, net, was primarily due to falling interest rates and a decrease in
investment balances.
Income
Taxes
Our
effective tax rate is based on pre-tax income, statutory tax rates, tax
regulations and different tax rates in the various jurisdictions in which we
operate. Income tax expense amounted to approximately $7.0 million and $7.1
million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Our
first quarter 2008 effective tax rate was approximately 29.5% compared to 30.2%
for the first quarter 2007. The decrease is due to a lower accrual for tax
contingencies under FIN 48 and a decrease in taxes on earnings from foreign
operations.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Cash
and Cash Equivalents and Investments
At March
31, 2008, we had cash and investments of $181.3 million compared to cash and
investments of $229.8 million at December 31, 2007. The decrease in cash and
investments resulted primarily from repurchases of common stock partially offset
by cash provided by operations in the first quarter of 2008. At March 31, 2008,
cash and investments consisted of cash and cash equivalents of $151.2 million,
short-term investments of $15.6 million and long-term investments of $14.5
million. Our investments are comprised primarily of readily marketable corporate
debt securities, debt instruments of the U.S. government and its agencies,
auction rate debt and preferred securities and certificates of deposits. For
financial statement presentation, we classify our investments primarily as
held-to-maturity and, thus, they are reported as short and long-term based upon
their maturity dates. Short-term investments mature within one year of the date
of the financial statements and long-term investments mature one year or more
from the date of the financial statements. We retain a substantial portion of
our cash in foreign jurisdictions for future reinvestment.
Cash
Flows
Our
primary sources of liquidity are cash flows generated from operations, together
with cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments. Net cash provided by
operating activities was $27.4 million and $26.7 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Our operating cash flows resulted
primarily from cash received from our subscribers, but included in our first
quarter 2007 operating cash flows was
$2.0
million received for a paid up patent license fee. Our cash and cash equivalents
and short-term investments were $166.8 million at March 31, 2008.
Net cash
provided by (used in) investing activities was approximately $43.7 million and
($12.9) million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007,
respectively. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, net cash provided by
investing activities was primarily attributable to the sales of
available-for-sale investments and net redemptions and sales of held-to-maturity
investments. For the three months ended March 31, 2007, net cash used in
investing activities was primarily attributable to net purchases of investments,
purchases of intangible assets and purchases of property and
equipment.
Net cash
used in financing activities was approximately $75.6 million and $5.6 million
for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. For the three
months ended March 31, 2008, net cash used in financing activities was primarily
attributable to the repurchase of our common stock, partially offset by excess
tax benefits on stock option exercises. For the three months ended March 31,
2007, net cash used in financing activities was primarily comprised of the
repurchase of our common stock and repayment of long-term debt, partially offset
by proceeds from the exercise of stock options and common shares issued under
our employee stock purchase plan and excess tax benefits resulting from stock
option exercises.
Stock
Repurchase Program
In
February 2008, j2 Global’s Board of Directors approved a common stock repurchase
program authorizing the repurchase of up to five million shares of our common
stock through the end of December 2010. On February 19, 2008, we entered into a
Rule 10b5-1 trading plan with a broker to facilitate the repurchase
program. During the
three months ended March 31, 2008, we repurchased 3,534,189 shares at an
aggregated cost of approximately $75.9 million (including commission fees of
$70,700). As of March 31, 2008, there were 1,465,811 shares of common stock
available for repurchase under this program.
We
currently anticipate that our existing cash and cash equivalents and short-term
investment balances and cash generated from operations will be sufficient to
meet our anticipated needs for working capital and capital expenditures,
investment requirements, commitments and repurchases of our common stock for at
least the next 12 months.
Calculation
of Average Monthly Revenue per Paying Telephone Number:
|
|
Three
Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(In
thousands except average monthly revenue per paying telephone
number)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DID-based
revenues
|
|
$ |
55,001 |
|
|
$ |
48,130 |
|
Less
other revenues
|
|
|
2,430 |
|
|
|
1,396 |
|
Total
paying telephone number revenues
|
|
$ |
52,571 |
|
|
$ |
46,734 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
paying telephone number monthly
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
revenue
(total divided by number of months)
|
|
$ |
17,524 |
|
|
$ |
15,578 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number
of paying telephone numbers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning
of period
|
|
|
1,064 |
|
|
|
907 |
|
End
of period
|
|
|
1,099 |
|
|
|
930 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
of period
|
|
|
1,081 |
|
|
|
918 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
monthly revenue per paying telephone number(1)
|
|
$ |
16.21 |
|
|
$ |
16.96 |
|
(1)Due to
rounding, individual numbers may not add.
Forward-Looking
Information
In addition to historical
information, the foregoing Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The
actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these
forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including but not
limited to those discussed below, the risk factors discussed in Part
II, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in Part I,
Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2007 (together, the “Risk Factors”), and the factors discussed in
the section in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q entitled “Quantitative and
Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk”. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s
opinions only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to revise or
publicly release the results of any revision to these forward-looking
statements. Readers should carefully review the Risk Factors and the risk
factors set forth in other documents we file from time to time with the
SEC.
Some
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
anticipated in these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
our ability to:
o
|
Sustain
growth or profitability;
|
o
|
Continue
to maintain, expand and retain our customer
base;
|
o
|
Compete
with other similar providers with regard to price, service and
functionality;
|
o
|
Cost-effectively
procure and retain large quantities of telephone numbers in desired
locations in the United States and
abroad;
|
o
|
Achieve
business and financial objectives in light of burdensome
telecommunications or Internet regulation or higher-than-expected tax
rates or exposure to additional income tax
liabilities;
|
o
|
Successfully
manage our cost structure, including but not limited to our
telecommunication- and personnel-related
expenses;
|
o
|
Successfully
adapt to technological changes in the messaging, communications and
document management industries;
|
o
|
Successfully
protect our intellectual property and avoid infringing upon the
proprietary rights of others;
|
o
|
Adequately
manage growth in terms of managerial and operational
resources;
|
o
|
Maintain
and upgrade our systems and infrastructure to deliver acceptable levels of
service quality and security of customer data and
messages;
|
o
|
Not
incur unanticipated tax liabilities and accurately estimate the
assumptions underlying our effective worldwide tax
rate;
|
o
|
Introduce
new services and achieve acceptable levels of returns-on-investment for
those new services;
|
and
o
|
Recruit
and retain key
personnel.
|
In
addition, our financial results could be materially impacted by risks associated
with new accounting pronouncements.
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
The
following discussion of the market risks we face contains forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties.
Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the
forward-looking statements.
Interest
Rate Risk
Our
exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to our
investment portfolio. We maintain an investment portfolio of various holdings,
types and maturities. The primary objectives of our investment activities are to
preserve our principal while at the same time maximizing yields without
significantly increasing risk. To achieve these objectives, we maintain our
portfolio of cash equivalents and investments in a mix of tax-exempt and taxable
instruments that meet high credit quality standards, as specified in our
investment policy. Our cash and cash equivalents are not subject to significant
interest rate risk due to the short maturities of these instruments. As of March
31, 2008, the carrying value of our cash and cash equivalents approximated fair
value. Our return on these investments is subject to interest rate fluctuations.
None of our investments is held for trading purposes.
Our short
and long-term investments are comprised primarily of readily marketable
corporate debt securities, debt instruments of the U.S. government and its
agencies, auction rate debt, preferred securities and certificates of deposits.
Investments in fixed rate interest earning instruments carry a degree of
interest rate risk. Fixed rate securities may have their fair market value
adversely impacted due to a rise in interest rates. Our interest income is
sensitive to changes in the general level of U.S. and foreign countries’
interest rates. Our future investment income may fall short of expectations due
to changes in interest rates. As of March 31, 2008, we had investments in debt
securities with effective maturities between three months and one year of
approximately $15.6 million. Such investments had a weighted-average yield of
approximately 2.7%. As of March 31, 2008, we had investments in debt securities
with effective maturities greater than one year of approximately $14.5 million.
Such investments had a weighted average yield of approximately 4.5%. Based on
our cash and cash equivalents and short and long-term investment holdings as of
March 31, 2008, an immediate 100 basis point decline in interest rates would
decrease our annual interest income by approximately $1.8 million.
Foreign
Currency Risk
We
conduct business in certain foreign markets, primarily in Canada and the
European Union. Our primary exposure to foreign currency risk relates to
investment in foreign subsidiaries that transact business in a functional
currency other than the U.S. Dollar, primarily the Canadian Dollar, Euro and
British Pound Sterling. However, the exposure is mitigated by our practice of
generally reinvesting profits from international operations in order to grow
that business.
As we
increase our operations in international markets we become increasingly exposed
to changes in currency exchange rates. The economic impact of currency exchange
rate movements is often linked to variability in real growth, inflation,
interest rates, governmental actions and other factors. These changes, if
material, could cause us to adjust our financing and operating
strategies.
As
currency exchange rates change, translation of the income statements of the
international businesses into U.S. Dollars affects year-over-year comparability
of operating results. Our objective in managing foreign exchange risk is to
minimize the potential exposure to changes that exchange rates might have on
earnings, cash flows and financial position. We have not hedged translation
risks because we have generally invested cash flows from international
operations in U.S. Dollars. However, we periodically review our strategy for
hedging transaction risks and may hedge against these risks in the
future
Foreign
exchange gains and losses were not material to our earnings for the three months
ended March 31, 2008. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, translation
adjustments amounted to approximately $1.6 million. As of March 31, 2008,
cumulative translation adjustments included in other comprehensive income
amounted to approximately $4.2 million.
Derivative
Financial Instruments
We do not
have derivative financial instruments for hedging, speculative or trading
purposes.
Item 4.
Controls and
Procedures
(a)
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
j2
Global’s management, with the participation of our principal executive officer
and principal financial officer, performed an evaluation of j2 Global’s
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the
period covered by this report. Our principal executive officer and principal
financial officer have concluded that j2 Global’s disclosure controls and
procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in
reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed,
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and
Exchange Commission rules and forms, and (2) accumulated and communicated to our
management to allow their timely decisions regarding required
disclosure.
(b)
Changes in Internal Controls
There
were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred
during the first quarter ended March 31, 2008 that have materially affected, or
are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial
reporting.
PART
II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.
Legal
Proceedings
Overview of Patent
Litigation
As part
of our continuing effort to prevent the unauthorized use of our intellectual
property, we have initiated litigation against the following two companies,
among others, for infringing our patents relating to Internet fax and other
messaging technologies: Venali, Inc. (“Venali”) and Protus IP Solutions, Inc.
(“Protus”). Venali and Protus have each filed counterclaims against us, which
are described in more detail below.
Overview of Legal
Proceedings Against Us
From time
to time, we are involved in litigation and other disputes or regulatory
inquiries that arise in the ordinary course of our business. Many of these
actions are filed in response to patent actions filed by us against the
plaintiffs. The number and significance of these disputes and inquiries are
increasing as our business expands and j2 Global grows larger. Any claims or
regulatory actions against us, whether meritorious or not, could be
time-consuming, result in costly litigation, require significant amounts of
management time, and result in the diversion of significant operational
resources.
In
February 2004 and July 2005, we filed two lawsuits against Venali in the United
States District Court for the Central District of California for infringement of
several of our U.S. patents. On June 21, 2006, Venali filed suit against us and
our affiliate in the United States District Court for the Southern District of
Florida, alleging violations of antitrust law and various related claims arising
out of our procurement and enforcement of our patents. In lieu of any response
to Venali’s complaint, the parties reached an agreement whereby Venali dismissed
its complaint without prejudice and re-filed certain of its claims as
counterclaims in the patent infringement actions in California. On December 27,
2006, Venali filed amended counterclaims in the July 2005 action alleging
several violations of antitrust law (fraudulent procurement of patents,
fraudulent enforcement of patents, tying and attempted monopolization) as well
as tortious interference with business relationships, trademark infringement and
unfair and deceptive trade practices. Venali is seeking damages, including
treble damages for the antitrust claims, injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees and
costs. Venali’s claims relate in substantial part to the patent infringement
claims by us against Venali. On April 13, 2007, the court granted in part our
motion to dismiss Venali’s counterclaims, dismissing the tying claim with leave
to amend. Venali has also voluntarily dismissed all of its counterclaims except
those alleging antitrust violations based on our procurement and enforcement of
our patents. On May 11, 2007, the court entered a claim construction order
regarding the disputed terms of the patents-in-suit. Since that time, the
parties have been engaged in extensive discovery. On December 7, 2007, Venali
filed a motion for partial summary judgment of non-infringement. Our opposition
to that motion is not yet due. Trial is currently scheduled for October
2008.
In
January 2006, we filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the
Central District of California against Protus asserting causes of action for
violation of the Federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act, trespass to
chattels, and unfair business practices as a result of Protus sending “junk
faxes” to us and our customers. We are seeking statutory and treble damages,
attorneys fees, interest and costs, as well as a permanent injunction against
Protus continuing its junk fax sending practices. In September 2007, Protus
filed a counterclaim against us asserting the same causes of action as those
asserted against it, as well as claims for false advertising, trade libel,
tortious interference with prospective economic advantage and defamation. Protus
is seeking statutory and treble damages, attorneys fees, interest and
costs, as well as a permanent injunction against us sending any more junk faxes.
The parties are engaged in extensive discovery. Trial is currently set for
September 29, 2009.
On
December 12, 2006, Venali filed suit against us in the United States District
Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleging infringement of U.S. Patent
Number 7,114,004 (the “ ’004 Patent”). Venali is seeking damages in the amount
of lost profits or a reasonable royalty, a permanent injunction against
continued infringement, treble damages, attorneys’ fees, interest and costs. On
March 6, 2007, we filed an answer to the complaint denying liability. On May 17,
2007, we filed a request with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office for
reexamination of the ’004 Patent, which request was granted on July 27, 2007. On
August 13, 2007, we moved to
stay the
action pending the reexamination. On August 20, 2007, the court granted the
motion and stayed the action pending reexamination of the patent.
On May 9,
2007, Bear Creek Technologies, Inc. (“Bear Creek”) filed suit against us in the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, alleging
infringement of U.S. Patent Number 6,985,494. Bear Creek is seeking damages in
at least the amount of a reasonable royalty, a permanent injunction against
continued infringement, treble damages, attorneys’ fees, interest and costs. On
June 29, 2007, we filed an answer to the complaint denying liability, asserting
affirmative defenses, and asserting counterclaims of non-infringement and
invalidity. On September 21, 2007, Bear Creek filed its reply to our
counterclaims, denying each one. On February 11, 2008 we filed a request
for reexamination of the ‘494 patent. On February 28, 2008, the United States
District Court stayed the case during the pendency of the reexamination
proceedings. On April 18, 2008, the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(“USPTO”) granted the reexamination request.
On June
21, 2007, Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. (“IGC”) filed a lawsuit against us,
certain of our current and former officers and/or directors, one of our
affiliates, and several other parties in the United States District Court for
the Northern District of Illinois. The suit purports to allege violations of
antitrust law, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and
various related statutory and common law claims arising out of our procurement
and enforcement of our patents and our acquisition of certain companies. IGC’s
claims relate in substantial part to a patent infringement action by our
affiliate against IGC. The suit seeks damages, including treble and punitive
damages, an injunction against further violations, divestiture of certain
assets, attorneys’ fees and costs. On October 31, 2007, the Court stayed this
action pending resolution of the related case in the Northern District of
Georgia described below. On January 20, 2008, the Court dismissed this case with
leave to reinstate it on or before December 31, 2008.
On
October 11, 2007, IGC filed substantially the same claims it previously filed in
the Northern District of Illinois as counterclaims in a pending patent
infringement case in the United States District Court for the Northern District
of Georgia brought against IGC by our affiliate. Like the prior lawsuit, IGC’s
counterclaims name us, certain of our current and former officers and/or
directors, one of our affiliates, and several other parties, and purport to
allege violations of antitrust law, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt
Organizations Act and various related statutory and common law claims arising
out of our procurement and enforcement of our patents and our acquisition of
certain companies. The counterclaims seek damages, including treble and punitive
damages, an injunction against further violations, divestiture of certain
assets, attorneys’ fees and costs. On April 23, 2008, the court ordered IGC to
replead its counterclaims and IGC has not yet done so.
On June
29, 2007, a purported class action was filed by Justin Lynch as the named
plaintiff in the United States District Court for the Central District of
California alleging that we have attempted to monopolize and/or monopolized the
market for Internet facsimile services to home and small offices in violation of
Section 2 of the Sherman Act. The claims relate in substantial part to the
patent infringement actions by us against various companies. The suit seeks
treble damages, injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees and costs. On August 24,
2007, we filed an answer to the complaint denying liability. On January 28,
2008, the court entered an order staying this case until June 2,
2008.
We do not
believe, based on current knowledge, that any of the foregoing legal proceedings
or claims is likely to have a material adverse effect on our financial position,
results of operations or cash flows. However, depending on the amount and the
timing, an unfavorable resolution of some or all of these matters could
materially affect our business, financial position, results of operations or
cash flows in a particular period.
Item 1A. Risk
Factors
In
addition to the other information set forth in this report, before deciding to
invest in j2 Global or to maintain or increase your investment, you should
carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 (the “10-K
Risk Factors”). If any of these risks occur, our business, prospects, financial
condition, operating results and cash flows could be materially adversely
affected. The 10-K Risk Factors are not the only ones we face. Additional risks
and uncertainties
not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial also may impair
our business operations. There have been no material changes from the 10-K Risk
Factors.
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of
Proceeds
(a) Unregistered
Sales of Equity Securities
We did
not sell any unregistered equity securities during the quarter ended March 31,
2008.
(b) Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities
In
February 2008, j2 Global’s Board of Directors approved a common stock repurchase
program authorizing the repurchase of up to five million shares of our common
stock through the end of December 2010. On February 19, 2008, we entered into a
Rule 10b5-1 trading plan with a broker to facilitate the repurchase
program. During the
three months ended March 31, 2008, we repurchased 3,534,189 shares at an
aggregated cost of approximately $75.9 million (including commission fees of
$70,700). As of March 31, 2008, there were 1,465,811 shares of common stock
available for repurchase under this program.
The
following table details the repurchases that were made under the program during
the three months ended March 31, 2008:
Period
|
|
Total
Number
of
Shares
Purchased
|
|
|
Average
Price
Paid
Per
Share
(1)
|
|
|
Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
as
Part of Publicly Announced
Program
|
|
|
Maximum
Number
of Shares
That
May Yet Be
Purchased
Under
the
Program
|
|
January
1, 2008 - January 31, 2008
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
5,000,000 |
|
February
1, 2008 - February 29, 2008
|
|
|
1,324,422 |
|
|
$ |
20.67 |
|
|
|
1,324,422 |
|
|
|
3,675,578 |
|
March
1, 2008 - March 31, 2008
|
|
|
2,209,767 |
|
|
$ |
21.93 |
|
|
|
3,534,189 |
|
|
|
1,465,811 |
|
(1)
Average price per share excludes commissions.
Item 3. Defaults
Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4.
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
None.
Item 5. Other
Information
None.
Item
6. Exhibits
|
31.1
|
Rule
13a-14(a) Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section
302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
|
31.2
|
Rule
13a-14(a) Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section
302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002.
|
|
32.1
|
Section
1350 Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
32.2
|
Section
1350 Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
SIGNATURE
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized.
|
j2
Global Communications, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date:
May
8, 2008
|
By:
|
/s/
KATHLEEN M. GRIGGS |
|
|
|
Kathleen
M. Griggs
|
|
|
|
Principal
Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
INDEX TO
EXHIBITS
|
Exhibit
Number
|
Description |
|
|
|
|
31.1
|
Certification
of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
31.2
|
Certification
of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
32.1
|
Certification
of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
|
32.2
|
Certification
of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|