UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K (X) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (Fee Required) For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995 or ( ) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (No Fee Required) For the transition period from to Commission File No. 0-15279 GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. --------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) ALASKA 92-0072737 - ------------------------------- ------------------ (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 2550 Denali Street Suite 1000 Anchorage, Alaska 99503 --------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (907) 265-5600 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Class A common stock Class B common stock -------------------- -------------------- (Title of class) (Title of class) 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, 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 ] The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant, computed by reference to the average bid and asked prices of such stock as of the close of trading on February 29, 1996 was approximately $38,439,000. The number of shares outstanding of the registrant's common stock as of February 29, 1996, was: Class A common stock - 19,681,207 shares; and Class B common stock - 4,175,434 shares. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE Certain portions of the registrant's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the registrant to be held on or after June 5, 1996 are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report. GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. 1995 ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE PART I.........................................................................1 Item 1. BUSINESS.......................................................1 Item 2. PROPERTIES....................................................13 Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.............................................14 Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS...........14 PART II.......................................................................15 Item 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS...........................................15 Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.......................................16 Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS...........................17 Item 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA..........................................................22 Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE...........................45 PART III Incorporated by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement for its 1996 Annual Shareholders' Meeting PART IV.......................................................................46 Item 14. EXHIBITS, CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.......................................46 PART I Item 1. BUSINESS Background and Description of Business General Communication, Inc. ("GCI") is an Alaska-based corporation that supplies common-carrier long-distance and other telecommunication products and services to residential, commercial and government users. Telecommunication services that GCI and its subsidiaries ("the Company") provides are carried over facilities that are owned by the Company or are leased from other companies. GCI began commercial operations in November 1982 in competition with the former monopoly carrier, Alascom, Inc. ("Alascom"). In many respects, GCI's entry into the market parallels that of MCI Telecommunications Corporation ("MCI") which, in the contiguous United States, entered the market to compete with the former monopoly carrier American Telephone and Telegraph Company ("AT&T"). GCI followed in MCI's footsteps approximately a decade later. MCI acquired an approximate 30 percent ownership interest in GCI during 1993. Industry The U.S. telecommunication industry remains in a state of flux, with companies faced with the challenges of new technologies and rapid changes in the competitive and regulatory environment. Growing competition has resulted in lower prices, which should stimulate ongoing volume gains, even in the heavily saturated U.S. market. The policies of President Clinton's Administration, the Telecommunications Act of 1996, emerging technologies, and a blurring of distinctions among industry sectors all portend new revenue possibilities for the industry. Where the focus was once on regulation of a closely guarded monopoly, regulators are now ushering the telecommunication industry into an era of competition and reduced regulation. Decisions made now will influence the industry's future in ways difficult to foresee, as technology continues to catapult the industry forward. What once was a $94 billion telephone service industry before divestiture of the Bell System in 1984 has evolved into an estimated $200 billion-plus communications marketplace, comprised of the following: (1) $40 billion -- digitally priced long distance services; (2) $97 billion -- analog-priced local services; (3) $25 billion -- analog-priced cable TV services; (4) $15 billion -- analog-priced cellular services; (5) $4 billion -- digitally priced messaging/paging services; and (6) $20 billion -- digital private data and value-added services. Industry analysts in trade journals estimate that long distance revenues received by U.S. based interexchange carriers for public network services will grow to $77 billion in the year 2000 at a 5 percent compound annual rate. International revenues for these carriers are expected to continue to pace market growth, growing more than twice as fast as the mature domestic market, growing to $16.5 billion in 2000 at a better than 10 percent compound annual rate. International revenues for these carriers are roughly divided into thirds in terms of the region of the world from which they are generated: the Western Hemisphere, Europe and the remainder of the world, with the latter growing most rapidly, paced by traffic with the Pacific Rim. Expanding voice markets such as computer-telephony integration, and wireline and wireless PBXs, are expected to drive growth in the telecommunications market in 1996. These newer market segments contributed to a 15 percent overall increase in U.S. telecommunications revenues. The revenue growth is attributed to businesses' greater need for communications equipment, software and 1 services. Telecommuting, Private Branch Exchanges ("PBXs") and internetworking are among the market forces pushing the growth. Trade journal analysts predicted that sales of wireless PBXs--systems that interface a wireless controller with an existing PBX--would grow from $394 million in 1995 to $3.3 billion in 1998. Wireless PBXs give employees wireless capabilities at their desktops. Improvements in high-speed wireline networking, such as building asynchronous transfer mode local area networks, also are allowing powerful messaging capabilities to connect workers. Video conferencing and unified messaging are two applications analysts expect to become popular in 1996. Data communications and internetworking revenue increased 19.4 percent last year as a result of added demand for enterprise networking. Sudden, widespread use of the Internet caused the modem market to grow by 50 percent, while integrated services digital network ("ISDN") lines became both widely available and desired, expanding 126 percent last year. Industry players expect the Internet phenomenon to spark growing interest in ISDN. Major vendors now are looking at linking voice mail systems through use of internetworking techniques over the Internet, such as standardized protocols and messaging features similar to E-mail. Communication sectors not traditionally competitive with telephone companies, such as cable and wireless services, are projected to grow an average 10.9% per year. This compares with the 3% average per year growth in revenue for traditional local telephone service from 1993 to 1998. Cable TV companies may gain a competitive advantage through marketing of cable modems. Computer-based services likely will be a strong market for cable TV firms. Cable modems may give them the ability to offer a competitive alternative to the second telephone line into the home, providing high-speed access to data services. Content is expected be the ultimate driver of Cable TV profits and may determine which companies gain the most market share. The emergence of new services -- especially digital cellular radio, personal communications services ("PCS"), interactive TV, and video dial tone -- has created opportunities for significant growth in local loop services. These opportunities are also laying the foundation for a restructuring of the newly competitive local loop services market. Not only are competitors entering the core business of the local telephone companies, but they are beginning to pursue the fast-growing markets that previously were closed to them, such as consumer video. Competition between telephony, cable TV, and PCS markets will increasingly overlap in the 1990s. As opportunities for new wireless and video services arise and competitors expand beyond their traditional markets, competition between existing telephone companies and these major industries is expected to intensify. Future mergers are expected throughout the telecommunications industry aimed at creating geographic clustering and expansion of the breadth of services offered to customers (i.e., local, long distance, cable and wireless). In addition, interexchange carriers are poised to enter the local service market. At the core of several of currently existing ventures are the integration of wireless and wireline technology. The ventures plan to provide services in which customers would use a phone similar to a portable cordless device linked to the existing wired infrastructure of the partners. When customers leave their homes or offices, the phones would become mobile and would be serviced through the wireless network that would be created by the venture. Moreover, the venture's local telephone services will be packaged with cable and multimedia services, long-distance service and entertainment services. Customers will be able to select the mix of services and products that fit their needs. Increased competition in 1996 may result in fewer players providing more expanded services - -- growth by acquisition will be a key component of the survivors' strategy. On September, 23, 1993, the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") adopted a broad set of rules for the licensing of PCS. The FCC concluded an auction of spectrum to be used for the provision of PCS in March, 1995. PCS systems are expected to make an individual carrying a pocket- 2 sized phone available at the same number, whether at home, at work or traveling. Unlike cellular systems, a caller using PCS will not need to know the location of the person he or she is trying to reach. The difference in the way PCS systems are configured as compared to cellular systems means that PCS systems could be less costly to operate than cellular systems and therefore less expensive for users. Rapid growth of cellular telephone services and the anticipation of PCS services has generated substantial interest in wireless communications. The FCC's efforts are expected to encourage reduction of communication prices and put the technology within financial reach of most American homes and businesses. It is predicted that PCS will grow rapidly, reaching 17.9 million subscribers by 2005. By then, PCS services will be generating annual revenues of nearly $8 billion. PCS's success is expected to occur even with competition from other wireless services such as cellular, paging and enhanced specialized mobile radio. Increases in services are expected to be fueled by declining usage rates and expanded coverage. PCS licensees will be required to offer service to at least one-third of their market population within five years or risk losing their licenses. Service must be extended to two-thirds of the population within seven years and must reach 90% population coverage within 10 years. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 ("Act") was signed into law Feb. 8, 1996. It is expected to have a dramatic impact on the telecommunications industry, resulting in even greater changes than the 1984 breakup of the Bell System. Bell Operating Companies (BOCs) can immediately begin manufacturing, research and development; GTE Corp. can begin providing interexchange services through its telephone companies nationwide; laws in 27 states that foreclose competition are knocked down; co-carrier status for competitive local exchange carriers is ratified; and the concept of "physical collocation" of competitors' facilities in Local Exchange Carriers ("LECs") central offices, which an appeals court rejected, is resurrected. The legislation breaks down the old barriers that prevented three groups of companies--the LECs, including the BOCs, the long distance carriers, and the cable TV operators--from competing head-to-head with each other. The Act requires LECs to let new competitors into their business. It also requires the LECs to open up their networks to ensure that new market entrants have a fair chance of competing. The bulk of the legislation is devoted to establishing the terms under which the LECs, and more specifically the BOCs, must open up their networks. The principal beneficiaries of this "unbundling" are expected to be the interexchange carriers ("IXCs"), however the new regime offers opportunities for other service providers, particularly commercial mobile radio service ("CMRS") providers. Within the local exchange market, estimated to be worth more than $90 billion annually, consumers likely will be presented with an array of choices for local telephone service. The new legislation sets up four classes of carriers, with an increasing number of obligations placed on each one. The first group, telecommunications carriers, includes any provider that offers subscription-based telecommunication services. The second group includes LECs, which have five specific duties: (1) Resale: LECs cannot prohibit or impose unreasonable or discriminatory conditions or limitations on the resale of their services. (2) Number portability: LECs must provide to the extent technically feasible number portability, which would permit LEC subscribers to switch to another carrier without losing their existing phone numbers. 3 (3) Dialing parity: LECs must provide dialing parity to competing providers so that their customers can access the services of another without special dialing requirements or delays. (4) Access: LECs must provide competing carriers with access to their rights-of-way, including poles, ducts, and conduits. (5) Reciprocal compensation: LECs must pay other carriers, including CMRS providers, the same fee to terminate calls originating on the LEC's network as the competing carrier has to pay to terminate calls on the LEC's network. The next class of carriers includes incumbent local exchange carriers, which are tasked with six duties. These include a duty (1) to negotiate interconnection agreements; (2) to provide interconnection on request that is at least equal in quality to the services it provides itself; (3) to provide unbundled access to network elements, so that a competitor can buy only those LEC services that it needs (such as unbundled access to the local loop); (4) to offer its services at wholesale rates for resale; (5) to provide notice of changes in its network; and (6) to offer co-location of competing carriers' equipment in its switching offices. The final classification includes the BOCs, which are given authority to enter the intercity market, but only after they have satisfied a long list of requirements, including a fourteen-point checklist of specific actions--all aimed at easing the lot of the competing carrier. The Act is expected to require the Federal Communications Commission to begin no fewer than 50 rulemaking proceedings. The legislation calls for the establishment of a new federal-state joint board on universal service within 30 days of enactment. That board will have to develop proposals to revamp the universal service subsidy system that has evolved over the years which could be among the most far-reaching provisions of the Act. Enactment of the bill affects local exchange service markets almost immediately by requiring states to authorize local exchange service resale. Resellers will be able to market new bundled service packages to attract customers. Over the long term, the requirement that local exchange carriers unbundle access to their networks may lead to increased price competition. Local exchange service competition may not take hold immediately because interconnection arrangements are not in place in most areas. General GCI was incorporated under the laws of the State of Alaska in 1979. From 1980 to January, 1987, GCI was a wholly-owned subsidiary of WestMarc Communications, Inc. ("WSMC"), formerly Western Tele-Communications, Inc., then a microwave communication common carrier. On January 23, 1987, WSMC distributed all of the outstanding shares of the Class A and Class B common stock of GCI to its shareholders. This distribution was made as a dividend to WSMC's shareholders of record at the close of business on December 29, 1986, on the basis of one share of GCI Class A common stock for each outstanding share of WSMC Class A common stock, and one share of GCI Class B common stock for each outstanding share of WSMC Class B common stock. Following the distribution GCI became an independent publicly-held company. Effective November 30, 1990, GCI transferred substantially all of its operating assets to its wholly owned subsidiary, GCI Communication Corp. ("GCC"), an Alaska corporation, which assumed all of GCI's liabilities and became the operating company. GCI serves as a holding company and remains liable as a guarantor on certain of GCC's obligations. All of the issued and outstanding shares of GCC were pledged as security under GCC's credit agreement with its senior lenders. 4 The Company was authorized to and began providing intrastate services on May 15, 1991 on its own facilities in the areas where it provided interstate service and through resale of others' services where it has no facilities. GCI Communication Services, Inc. ("Communication Services"), an Alaska corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GCI and was incorporated in 1992. Communication Services provides private network point-to-point data and voice transmission services between Alaska, Hawaii and the western contiguous United States. Communication Services products are marketed directly by GCC. GCI Leasing Co., Inc. ("Leasing Company"), an Alaska corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Communication Services and was incorporated in 1992. Leasing Company owns and leases undersea fiber optic cable capacity for carrying a majority of the Company's interstate switched message and private line long distance services between Alaska and the remaining United States. Products The Company offers a broad spectrum of telecommunication services to residential, commercial and government customers primarily throughout Alaska. The Company operates in two industry segments and offers five primary product lines. The message and data transmission services industry segment offers message toll, private line and private network services, and the system sales and service industry segment offers data communication equipment sales and technical services. The Company's message and data transmission services industry segment is engaged in the transmission of interstate and intrastate switched message toll service ("MTS") and private line and private network communication service between the major communities in Alaska, and the remaining United States and foreign countries. GCI's message toll services include intrastate, interstate and international direct dial, 800, calling card, operator and enhanced conference calling, as well as termination of northbound toll service for MCI, U.S. Sprint ("Sprint") and several large resellers without facilities in Alaska. GCI also provides origination of southbound calling card and 800 toll services. Private line and private network services utilize voice and data transmission circuits, dedicated to particular subscribers, which link a device in one location to another in a different location. Regulated telephone relay services for the deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech impaired are provided though the Company's operator service center. The Company offers its message services to commercial and residential subscribers. Subscribers may cancel service at any time. Toll related services account for approximately 93%, 90% and 90% of the Company's 1995, 1994 and 1993 total revenues, respectively. GCI has positioned itself as the price leader in the Alaska telecommunication market and, as such, rates charged for the Company's telecommunication services are designed to be equal to or below those for comparable services provided by the only other significant competitor in the Alaska telecommunications market, AT&T Alascom. In addition to providing communication services, GCC sells, services and operates, on behalf of certain customers, dedicated communication and computer networking equipment and provides field/depot, third party, technical support, consulting and outsourcing services through its systems sales and service industry segment. The Company also supplies integrated voice and data communication systems incorporating interstate and intrastate digital private lines, point-to-point and multipoint private network and small earth station services operating at data rates up to 1.544 mbs. In addition, the Company designs, installs and maintains data communication systems for commercial and government customers throughout Alaska. Presently, there are five companies in Alaska that actively sell and maintain data and voice communication systems. The Company's unique ability to integrate telecommunication 5 networks and data communication equipment has allowed it to maintain its dominant market position on the basis of "value added" support rather than price competition. GCI has expanded its technical services business to include outsourcing, onsite technical contract services and telecommunication consulting. GCI was awarded a five year contract, effective April 1, 1992, to assume management responsibility for all of BP Exploration (Alaska) ("BP") telecommunication and computer networking assets in Alaska. BP is the largest oil company presently operating in Alaska. GCI was awarded a five year contract, effective October 31, 1995, to assume management responsibility for all of National Bank of Alaska telecommunication and computer networking assets in Alaska. Expenditures of approximately $2.5 million were made in 1994 developing new demand assigned multiple access ("DAMA") satellite communication technology. A four-module demonstration system was constructed in 1994 and was integrated into the Company's telecommunication network in 1995. Existing satellite technology relies on fixed channel assignments to a central hub. DAMA technology assigns satellite capacity on an as needed basis. The digital DAMA system allows calls to be made between remote villages using only one satellite hop thereby reducing satellite delay and capacity requirements while improving quality. The Company obtained the necessary APUC and FCC approvals waiving current prohibitions against construction of competitive facilities in rural Alaska, allowing for deployment of DAMA technology in 56 sites in rural Alaska on a demonstration basis. Construction and deployment will occur in 1996, with services expected to be provided during the fourth quarter of 1996. Total construction and deployment costs are expected to total $18 to $20 million. The FCC concluded an auction of spectrum to be used for the provision of PCS in March, 1995. The Company was named by the FCC as the high bidder for one of the two 30 megahertz blocks of spectrum, with Alaska statewide coverage. Acquisition of the license for a cost of $1.65 million will allow GCI to introduce new PCS services in Alaska. The Company began developing plans for PCS deployment in 1995 with technology service trials expected to take place in 1996 and service to be offered as early as 1997 or 1998. Neither GCI or any of its subsidiaries has revenues that are materially affected by seasonality. The Company has not expended material amounts during the last three fiscal years on customer-sponsored research activities. Facilities Currently, GCI's facilities comprise earth stations at Eagle River, Fairbanks, Juneau, Prudhoe Bay, Valdez, Kodiak, Sitka, Ketchikan, Unalaska and Cordova, all in Alaska and at Issaquah, Washington, serving the communities in their vicinity. The Eagle River and Fairbanks earth stations are linked by digital microwave facilities to distribution centers in Anchorage and Fairbanks, respectively. The Issaquah earth station is connected with the Seattle distribution center by means of diversely routed fiber optic cable transmission systems, each having the capability to restore the other in the event of failure. The Juneau earth station and distribution center are co-located. The Ketchikan, Prudhoe Bay, Valdez, Kodiak, Sitka, Unalaska and Cordova installations consist only of an earth station. GCI constructed microwave facilities serving the Kenai Peninsula communities and owns a 49 percent interest in an earth station located on Adak Island in Alaska. GCI maintains an operator service center in Wasilla, Alaska. Each of the distribution centers contains electronic switches to route calls to and from local exchange companies and, in Seattle, to obtain access to MCI and other facilities to distribute GCI southbound traffic to the remaining 49 states and international destinations. Leasing Company owns a portion of an undersea fiber optic cable which allows the Company to carry its Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla, Palmer, Kenai Peninsula, Glenallen and approximately one- 6 half of its Fairbanks area traffic to and from the contiguous lower 48 states over a terrestrial circuit, eliminating the one-quarter second delay associated with a satellite circuit. The Company's preferred routing for this traffic is via the undersea fiber optic cable which makes available satellite capacity to carry the Company's intrastate traffic. The Company employs satellite transmission for certain other major routes and uses advanced digital transmission technology throughout its system. The Company leases C-band transponders on AT&T's Telstar 303 satellite. The lease expires June 1996 and may be renewed, at the Company's option, through the end of the satellite's useful life, currently projected to be 1998. The Company will redirect its earth stations toward the Hughes Communications Galaxy, Inc. ("Hughes") Galaxy IX satellite upon its successful delivery by Hughes expected to occur in June 1996. GCI employs advanced transmission technologies to carry as many voice circuits as possible through a satellite transponder without sacrificing voice quality. Other technologies such as terrestrial microwave systems, metallic cable, and fiber optics tend to be favored more for point-to-point applications where the volume of traffic is substantial. With a sparse population spread over a wide geographic area, neither terrestrial microwave nor fiber optic transmission technology will be economically feasible in rural Alaska in the foreseeable future. Customers The Company had approximately 85,600, 73,100 and 73,600 active Alaska subscribers to its message telephone service at December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. Approximately 9,500, 9,300 and 9,500 of these were business users at December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively, and the remainder were residential customers. MTS revenues currently amount to approximately $9,050,000 per month. Substantially all service areas, except Bethel, Alaska, in which GCI has facilities have completed the equal access balloting process. GCI carries 33% to 49% of the southbound interstate MTS traffic and 21% to 48% of the intrastate MTS traffic originating in those service areas. In January, 1993 GCI entered into a five-year contract with MCI to provide facilities for MCI's Alaska message toll and 800 service traffic. The contract supplanted a previous contract and provides for expanded usage by MCI of GCI's facilities and usage by GCI of MCI's facilities. Revenues attributed to the contract in 1995, 1994 and 1993 totaled approximately $23,939,000, $19,512,000 and $16,068,000, or approximately 18.5%, 16.7%, and 15.7% of total revenues, respectively. The contract was amended in March 1996 extending its term three years to March 31, 2001. Services provided pursuant to a contract with Sprint resulted in revenues in 1995, 1994 and 1993 of approximately $14,885,000, $12,412,000 and $10,123,000 or approximately 11.5%, 10.6%, and 9.9% of total revenues, respectively. Both MCI and Sprint are major customers of the Company in its message and data transmission services industry segment. Loss of one or both of these customers would have a significant detrimental effect on the Company's revenues and contribution. There are no other individual customers, the loss of which would have a material impact on the Company's revenues or gross profit. The Company provided private line and private network communication products and services to approximately 566 commercial and government accounts in 1995. Private line and private network communication products and services currently generate approximately $1,050,000 in monthly, revenues. 7 A summary of switched MTS traffic minutes follows:
Interstate Minutes ------------------------------------------------- For Calling Intrastate Quarter Ended Southbound Northbound Card Minutes ------------- ---------- ---------- ---- ------- (amounts in thousands) March 31, 1993 47,100 34,713 3,947 16,178 June 30, 1993 49,928 34,651 3,811 17,283 September 30, 1993 54,403 36,282 4,043 18,770 December 31, 1993 56,549 39,348 4,459 17,989 ------- ------- ------ ------ Total 1993 207,980 144,994 16,260 70,220 ======= ======= ====== ====== March 31, 1994 56,118 39,664 4,431 18,910 June 30, 1994 58,809 38,293 4,220 20,534 September 30, 1994 61,715 39,678 4,210 21,253 December 31, 1994 59,902 40,424 4,605 19,786 ------- ------- ------ ------ Total 1994 236,544 158,059 17,466 80,483 ======= ======= ====== ====== March 31, 1995 60,140 41,600 4,351 21,208 June 30, 1995 65,031 43,721 4,113 23,051 September 30, 1995 71,918 45,027 4,233 23,883 December 31, 1995 72,319 46,545 5,518 25,228 ------- ------- ------ ------ Total 1995 269,408 176,893 18,215 93,370 ======= ======= ====== ======
All minutes data were taken from GCC's billing statistics reports. Markets The dominant carrier and GCI's primary competition in the Alaska market for interstate and intrastate MTS, private line and private network telecommunication services continues to be AT&T Alascom. Other carriers, such as MCI and Sprint can enter the market by constructing their own facilities in Alaska. At the present time, however, MCI, Sprint and several other carriers interconnect with GCC in Seattle and Dallas for delivery of their Alaska bound interstate traffic. Sprint and MCI also originate 800 services in Alaska on GCI's facilities. Five companies in Alaska actively sell and service data and voice communication systems. Other companies can enter the market at any time. Financial Information About Industry Segments For financial information with respect to industry segments of GCI, reference is made to the information set forth in Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II of this Report, which Note is included herein by reference. 8 History of Telecommunication in Alaska The first telecommunication facilities in Alaska were telegraph lines operated by the U.S. Army. Later, telephone service was added, and the Alaska Communications System ("the ACS") grew to cover much of the state. Wherever military communication was not hampered, the Army allowed its circuits to be used for civilian purposes. Control of the ACS was transferred to the U.S. Air Force and eventually, the ACS supplied long distance trunks to local exchanges in the state's growing communities. As the civilian population increased, the need for a transition to commercial operation became apparent. In 1969, ten years after Alaska statehood, the Alaska Communications Disposal Act ("the Act") was passed by Congress. The RCA Corporation was the successful bidder under the Act and purchased the ACS. RCA formed a subsidiary, RCA Alaska Communications, later Alascom, to own and operate the system. Through its purchase of the ACS, Alascom became the sole long lines carrier in Alaska. In the lower 48 states, Alascom interconnected with AT&T. In Alaska, it interconnected with the telephone companies providing local exchange service. Additionally, Alascom was required to maintain a number of thin-line links to remote areas of the state. Under the terms of the ACS purchase agreement, Alascom was required to expand service to the less developed areas of Alaska. In 1979 Alascom was acquired by Pacific Power and Light, Inc., a utility holding company, which has since transferred Alascom to its publicly-traded subsidiary, Pacific Telecom, Inc. ("PTI"). Rates initially charged for Alaska telecommunication services had been substantially higher than interstate rates in the contiguous states. In 1972 the FCC established a policy of rate integration intended to equalize all domestic interstate rates. This policy was used to support a subsidy mechanism to help Alascom cover higher costs associated with rural operations. When GCI began operations in 1982, AT&T provided almost all of the telecommunication services in the lower 48 states and Alascom provided almost all of the long distance telecommunication services in Alaska and between Alaska and the lower 48 states, Hawaii, and foreign countries. Although Alascom's business was highly subsidized, GCI competed with Alascom with no subsidy whatsoever. In 1983 the State of Alaska petitioned the FCC to initiate a rule making to determine how to rationalize the policies of rate integration and competition in the Alaska market in light of the rapid changes in the telecommunication industry brought on by the AT&T divestiture and changing FCC competition policies. This led the FCC to initiate a rule making proceeding ("the Alaska rule making proceeding") in 1984. Issues involved in the Alaska rule making proceeding, namely the harmonizing of the FCC's policies of competition and rate integration for the Alaska market and the implementation of a permanent structure for that market, were referred to a Federal-State Joint Board ("Joint Board"). Joint Board activity, including the consideration of several alternative market structures, continued through the adoption of a recommended transition mechanism in 1993, which was later adopted by the full FCC in 1994. This FCC action led to a negotiated buyout of Alascom by AT&T, as further described in Part I, History of Regulatory Affairs and Recent Developments below. History of Regulatory Affairs The Company's activities in the telecommunication market are regulated by two agencies. The Communications Act of 1934 gives the FCC the authority to certificate market entry and regulate rates for interstate telecommunication. Intrastate telecommunication services are regulated by the Alaska Public Utilities Commission ("APUC"). 9 The Company's entry into the intrastate telecommunication market had been hampered because the APUC had no policy on intrastate competition. In May 1990 the Alaska legislature passed legislation mandating competition in the Alaska intrastate telecommunication market. The legislature further directed the APUC to adopt regulations governing a competitive telecommunication market and to begin accepting applications for service on February 15, 1991. On February 15, 1991 GCI, through its wholly-owned operating subsidiary GCC, filed an application to provide competitive intrastate telecommunication services. The Company was authorized to and began providing intrastate services on May 15, 1991 on its own facilities in the areas where it provided interstate service and through resale of others' services where it has no facilities. In the first quarter of 1992 the APUC granted GCC a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to provide telephone relay services ("TRS") for the deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech impaired though the Company's operator service center in Wasilla, Alaska. GCC commenced its regulated TRS operations on June 21, 1992. Intrastate TRS operating costs, capital costs and a rate of return are being funded through a universal access surcharge billed by all local telephone companies in the state of Alaska. Under an FCC decision, starting in 1993, a portion of the TRS operating costs are recovered through an interstate pool administered by the National Exchange Carrier Association ("NECA"). The FCC regulates dominant interstate carriers, such as the Company's only interstate competitor, AT&T/Alascom. Company's only interstate competitor, Alascom. Because, under the terms of the AT&T acquisition of Alascom, Alascom rates and services must "mirror" those offered by AT&T, changes in AT&T prices indirectly affect the rates and services of the Company. AT&T's prices, and thus those of Alascom, are regulated under a price cap plan whereby AT&T's rate of return is no longer regulated or restricted. AT&T is allowed to raise and lower prices for three groups of services within pre-established floor and ceiling levels with little regulatory oversight. These services include products offered to: 1) small businesses or residential customers; 2) users of 800 services and 3) large business customers. Price increases by AT&T generally improve the Company's ability to raise its prices while price decreases pressure the Company to follow. The Company has, so far, successfully adjusted its pricing and marketing strategies to respond to AT&T pricing practices. In 1983 the State of Alaska petitioned the FCC to commence a rulemaking proceeding to determine how to harmonize the FCC's policies of rate integration and competition in the Alaska market in light of the rapid changes in the telecommunications industry brought on by the AT&T divestiture and changing FCC competition policies. In 1984 the FCC initiated the Alaska rulemaking proceeding in response to the State's request. Issues involved in the Alaska rulemaking proceeding, namely the harmonizing of the FCC's policies of competition and rate integration for the Alaska market and the implementation of a permanent structure for that market, were referred to a Federal-State Joint Board ("Joint Board"), consisting of state utility commissioners and FCC commissioners. On May 17, 1993 the Joint Board issued a Tentative Recommendation and Order Inviting Comments. Comments were filed by the various parties, with the Company supporting this Tentative Recommendation. On October 26, 1993, the Joint Board made its Final Recommended Decision, rejecting the market structure plans previously advanced by Alascom and AT&T and, instead, recommended a market structure based on that set forth in the Tentative Recommendation. The Final Recommended Decision proposes to end the AT&T/Alascom Joint Services Arrangement ("JSA") on September 1, 1995, subject to the adoption and implementation of certain transition mechanisms. These include requiring AT&T to provide interstate MTS/WATS between Alaska and the other 49 states at integrated rates and under terms and conditions applicable to AT&T's services in the rest of the country. After the JSA is terminated, Alascom could offer interstate MTS/WATS independently from AT&T, under its own tariff and with no obligation to charge AT&T's integrated rates. During a four year transition, AT&T would be required to purchase services from Alascom to meet its MTS/WATS obligations. For the first one and one-half years AT&T would obtain 10 such services under the continued JSA. For the remaining two and one-half years, after the termination of the JSA, AT&T would be required to purchase a declining amount of service from Alascom, with this obligation declining to zero at the end of this second phase. Final FCC action on the Joint Board's Final Recommended Decision, took place on May 19, 1994, and is contained in its Memorandum Opinion and Order, released May 19, 1994. In the Memorandum Opinion and Order, the FCC adopted the provisions of the Final Recommended Decision and set the termination of the JSA to be effective January 1, 1996. AT&T/Alascom has filed an appeal of the Memorandum Opinion and Order. On October 17, 1994, Pacific Telecom, Inc. ("PTI") announced a definitive agreement to sell the stock of Alascom to AT&T, subject to certain conditions, including state and federal regulatory approvals. AT&T, PTI and Alascom filed for such approvals before the FCC and the APUC on December 15, 1994, alleging that the buyout would further the Joint Board objectives and fulfill the provisions of the FCC Order. The Company participated fully in both transfer proceedings. The buyout was approved, with conditions, by the APUC on March 31, 1995 and the FCC on August 2, 1995. In the normal course of the Company's operations, it is involved in legal and regulatory matters before the FCC and the APUC. While management does not anticipate abrupt changes in the competitive structure of the Alaska market, no assurances can be given that such changes will not occur and that such changes would not be materially adverse to the Company. Recent Developments The Company announced March 15, 1996 that it has signed letters of intent to acquire three Alaska cable companies that offer cable television service to more than 101,000 subscribers serving 74 percent of households throughout the state of Alaska. The Company intends to acquire Prime Cable of Alaska, Alaska Cablevision, Inc. of Kirkland, Washington and Alaskan Cable Network. Prime Cable operates the state's largest cable television system including stations in Anchorage, Bethel, Kenai and Soldotna, Alaska. Alaska Cablevision owns and operates cable stations in Petersburg, Wrangell, Cordova, Valdez, Kodiak, Homer, Seward, Nome and Kotzebue, Alaska. Alaskan Cable Network operates stations in Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka, Alaska. This acquisition will allow the Company to integrate cable services to bring more information not only to more customers, but in a manner that is quicker, more efficient and more cost effective than ever before. The purchase will facilitate consolidation of the cable operations and will provide a platform for developing new customer products and services over the next several years. The total purchase price is $280.7 million. According to terms of the letters of intent, GCI will issue 16.3 million shares of Class A Common stock to the owners of the three cable companies valued at $105.7 million. The balance of the purchase will be provided by approximately $175 million of bank financing. Additional capital will be provided from the sale of 2 million shares of GCI's Class A Common Stock to MCI Telecommunications Corporation for $6.50 per share. Definitive agreements are expected to be finalized in April 1996 at which time GCI will apply to the APUC to transfer the licenses of the cable companies. Once all regulatory approvals are granted, the cable companies will be consolidated into a single organization owned by the Company. 11 Employees GCC and affiliated companies employ approximately 435 persons as of February 20, 1996 in operations, engineering, marketing, network services, customer and operator services, data processing, billing, accounting, and administration. GCC and affiliated companies are not parties to any union contracts with their employees. In general, relations with employees have been satisfactory. Environmental Regulations The Company and its subsidiaries may undertake activities which, under certain circumstances may affect the environment. Accordingly, they are subject to federal, state, and local regulations designed to preserve or protect the environment. The FCC, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Park Service are required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to consider the environmental impact prior to the commencement of facility construction. Management believes that compliance with such regulations has no material effect on the Company's consolidated operations. The principal effect of Company facilities on the environment would be in the form of construction of the facilities at various locations in Alaska. Company facilities have been constructed in accordance with federal, state, and local building codes and zoning regulations whenever and wherever applicable. Some of the facilities may be on lands which may be subject to state and federal wetland regulation. Uncertainty as to the applicability of environmental regulations is caused in major part by the federal government's decision to consider a change in the definition of wetlands, however, none of the Company's facilities has been constructed in areas which are subject to flooding, tsunami's, etc. and as such are most likely to fall outside any new wetland designation. Most of the Company's facilities are on lands leased by the Company, and, with respect to all of these facilities, the Company is unaware of any violations of lease terms or federal, state or local regulations pertaining to preservation or protection of the environment. Foreign and Domestic Operations and Export Sales Although the Company has several agreements to facilitate the origination and termination of international toll traffic, it has neither foreign operations nor export sales. The Company conducts operations throughout the western contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii and believes that any subdivision of its operations into distinct geographic areas would not be meaningful. Revenues associated with international toll traffic were $5,643,000, $4,427,000 and $3,734,000 for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. Backlog of Orders and Inventory As of December 31, 1995 and 1994, the Company's systems sales and service industry segment had a backlog of equipment sales orders of approximately $258,000 and $608,000, respectively. The decrease in backlog as of December 31, 1995 can be attributed primarily to faster completion of outstanding sales orders in 1995. The Company expects that all of the orders in backlog at the end of 1995 will be delivered during 1996. Patents, Trademarks and Licenses Neither GCI nor its affiliates hold patents, trademarks, franchises or concessions. The Communications Act of 1934 gives the FCC the authority to license and regulate the use of the electromagnetic spectrum for radio communication. The Company through its message and data transmission services industry segment holds licenses for its satellite and microwave transmission facilities for provision of its telecommunication services. The Company acquired a license for use of a 12 30 megahertz block of spectrum for provision of PCS services in Alaska. The Company's operations may require additional licenses in the future. Other GCC has filed FCC tariffs for its international service, interstate domestic services, and domestic operator services. Each tariff contains the rates and other contractual terms applicable to customers who purchase the services covered by the tariff. In accord with the FCC's deregulatory approach with respect to non-dominant carriers, tariffs and tariff revisions filed by such carriers routinely become effective without intervention by the FCC or third parties. The State of Alaska has the authority to regulate telecommunications that originate and terminate within the state. In 1990 the State legislature introduced intrastate competition in Alaska. Subsequently, the APUC developed regulations that allow for the certification of additional carriers for such intrastate telecommunications and, to varying degrees, requires filing of tariffs and regulation of the rates for such services. Under the APUC's current policy and regulations, all certified carriers are required to file tariffs for the provision of intrastate services. When filing for a rate increase, the dominant carrier is required to file an accompanying rate case. Non-dominant carriers are not rate regulated. Tariff revisions filed by non-dominant carriers routinely become effective without intervention by the APUC or third parties. Tariffs can be filed or revised on 30 days notice. On March 15, 1996 the Company filed a tariff with the APUC requesting approval for provision of local services based on the terms of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 which, in part, requires local exchange carriers to open up their networks and allow resale of their services. Once APUC approval is obtained, the Company intends to offer local services through its facilities or resale of local exchange carrier facilities. No material portion of the businesses of the Company is subject to renegotiation of profits or termination of contracts at the election of the federal government. Item 2. PROPERTIES The Company leases its message and data transmission services industry segment's executive, corporate and administrative facilities in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaska. GCC owns a 49 percent interest in an earth station located on Adak Island in Alaska. GCC's message and data transmission services segment owns properties and facilities including satellite earth stations, and distribution, transportation and office equipment. Additionally, GCC acquired in December 1992, access to capacity on an undersea fiber optic cable from Seward, Alaska to Pacific City, Oregon. The Company's systems sales and service industry segment occupies space in the buildings housing its executive offices and operating facilities in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaska, and Seattle, Washington. Facilities in Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaska, and Seattle, Washington are occupied under short-term operating lease agreements. The Anchorage property is leased pursuant to a 15 year capital lease agreement. The undersea fiber optic cable capacity is owned subject to an outstanding mortgage. Substantially all of the Company's properties secure its senior credit agreement. See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 for further discussion. The two wideband transponders the Company owned reached the end of their expected useful life in August, 1994, at which time the Company leased temporary replacement capacity. The Company leased replacement transponder capacity subsequent to a transition period utilizing four C band 13 transponders on AT&T's Telstar 303 satellite. The lease expires June 1996. The Company entered into a purchase and lease-purchase option agreement in August 1995 for the acquisition of satellite transponders to meet its long-term satellite capacity requirements. The agreement provides for interim the interim lease of transponder capacity from June 1996 through the delivery of the purchased transponders as early as the fourth quarter of 1997. The amount of the down payment required in 1996 and the balance payable upon delivery of the transponders are dependent upon a number of factors including the number of transponders required and the timing of their delivery and acquisition. The Company does not expect the down payment to exceed $10.1 million and the remaining balance payable coinciding with a staged delivery to exceed $46 million. The Company amended its existing senior credit facility and provided a letter of credit to accommodate the payment in 1996 and expects to further amend or refinance its credit agreement to fund its remaining commitment. The Company's operating, executive, corporate and administrative properties are in good condition. The Company considers its properties suitable and adequate for its present needs and are being fully utilized. Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS Neither the Company or any if its subsidiaries is a party to any material pending legal proceedings. Neither the Company's property nor that of any if its subsidiaries is subject to any material pending legal proceedings. The Company and its subsidiaries are a party to various claims and pending litigation as part of the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the disposition of these matters is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial statements. Neither the Company's property nor that of any if its subsidiaries is subject to any material pending legal proceedings. Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS No matters were submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Company during the fourth quarter of 1995. 14 PART II Item 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS Market Information for Common Stock Shares of the Company's Class A common stock are traded on the Nasdaq National Market tier of the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol GNCMA. Shares of the Company's Class B common stock are traded on the Over-the-Counter market. The Company's Class B common stock is convertible into the Company's Class A common stock. The following table sets forth the high and low sales price for the above-mentioned common stock for the periods indicated. The prices, rounded up to the nearest eighth, represent prices between dealers, do not include retail markups, markdowns, or commissions, and do not necessarily represent actual transactions.
Class A Class B ----------------------------------- ----------------------------------- High Low High Low ---- --- ---- --- 1994: First Quarter 5 7/8 4 1/8 5 7/8 4 1/8 Second Quarter 4 5/8 3 1/8 4 5/8 3 1/8 Third Quarter 5 3 1/2 5 3 1/2 Fourth Quarter 5 4 1/8 5 4 1/8 1995: First Quarter 4 5/8 3 3/4 4 5/8 3 3/4 Second Quarter 4 1/4 3 7/8 4 1/4 3 7/8 Third Quarter 4 1/8 3 1/4 4 1/8 3 1/4 Fourth Quarter 5 1/8 3 3/4 5 1/8 3 3/4
Holders As of March 5, 1996 there were approximately 1,830 holders of record of the Company's Class A common stock and approximately 750 holders of record of the Company's Class B common stock (amounts do not include the number of shareholders whose shares are held of record by brokers, but do include the brokerage house as one shareholder). Dividends The Company has never paid cash dividends on its Class A or Class B common stock and has no present intention of doing so. Payment of cash dividends in the future, if any, will be determined by the Company's Board of Directors in light of the Company's earnings, financial condition and other relevant considerations. GCC's existing bank loan agreements contain provisions that prohibit payment of dividends, other than stock dividends (see note 5(a) to the financial statements included in Part II of this Report). 15 Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA The following table presents selected historical information relating to financial condition and results of operations over the past five years.
Years ended December 31, ------------------------------------------------------- 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (Amounts in thousands except per share amounts) Revenues $129,279 116,981 102,213 96,499 75,522 Net earnings (loss) before income taxes $12,601 11,681 6,715 1,524 (1,422) Net earnings (loss) $7,502 7,134 3,951 890 (1,092) Earnings (loss) per share $0.31 0.30 0.17 0.02 (0.12) Total assets $84,765 74,249 71,610 72,351 70,167 Long-term debt, including current portion 1 $9,980 12,554 20,823 37,235 24,850 Obligations under capital leases, including current portion 2 $1,047 1,297 1,522 1,720 10,975 Preferred stock 3 $0 0 0 3,282 3,282 Total stockholders' equity 4 $43,016 35,093 27,210 14,870 13,554 Dividends declared per Common share 5 $0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Dividends declared per Preferred share 6 $0.00 0.00 0.44 1.78 1.69 1 The Company exercised the purchase option described in footnote (2) below in December 1992 to acquire capacity on a fiber optic undersea cable from Seward, Alaska to Pacific City, Oregon. Long term debt associated with this purchase is recorded in long-term debt and current portion of long-term debt in the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part II of this Report. 2 The Company entered into a capital lease agreement in May 1991 for access to capacity on an undersea fiber optic cable from Seward, Alaska to Pacific City, Oregon. The lease term was ten years with monthly payments including maintenance of approximately $230,000 per month commencing August 22, 1991, the date the fiber optic cable became operational. The Company had an option expiring December 31, 1992 to purchase the leased capacity for $10.12 million, less the prior six month's lease payments, excluding maintenance. The lease was capitalized in 1991 at the underlying asset's fair market value and the related obligation was recorded in the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements. 3 In January, 1991, the Company sold 347,047 shares of non-voting Series A 15% Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock to WestMarc Communications, Inc. for $9.5088 per share. The preferred stock accrued dividends on each share in cash or stock at the Company's discretion. The accrued dividends were payable semi-annually at the rate of 15% per annum if paid in cash or at the rate of 18.75% if paid in Class B Common Stock. Pursuant to an agreement with WestMarc Communications, Inc. the Company acquired and retired the preferred stock in 1993. 4 The 1993 increase in stockholders' equity is primarily attributed to the Company's issuance of common stock to MCI. 5 The Company has never paid a cash dividend on its common stock and does not anticipate paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. The Company intends to retain its earnings, if any, for the development of its business. Payment of cash dividends in the future, if any, will be determined by the board of directors of the Company in light of the Company's earnings, financial condition, credit agreements and other relevant considerations. The Company's existing bank loan agreements contain provisions that prohibit payment of dividends, other than stock dividends, as further described in Note (5)(a) to the financial statements included in Part II of this Report. 6 The Company declared and issued stock dividends of approximately 304,000 and 286,000 shares of Class B Common Stock in 1992 and 1991, respectively, and paid dividends totaling $153,000 in 1993 on its non-voting Series A 15% Convertible Cumulative Preferred Stock.
16 Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Liquidity and Capital Resources Year ended December 31, 1995 ("1995"), compared with year ended December 31, 1994 ("1994"), compared with year ended December 31, 1993 ("1993"). The Company's liquidity (ability to generate adequate amounts of cash to meet the Company's need for cash) was affected by a net increase in the Company's cash and cash equivalents of $2.4 million from 1994 to 1995. Sources of cash in 1995 included the Company's operating activities which generated positive cash flow of $14.3 million net of changes in the components of working capital, proceeds from the sale of investment securities held for sale totaling $832,000, repayments of notes receivable totaling $184,000, and proceeds from the issuance of common stock of $82,000. Uses of cash during 1995 included repayment of $2.8 million of long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations, investment of $8.9 million in distribution and support equipment, and payment of the final installment for a PCS spectrum license totaling approximately $521,000. Net receivables increased $4.8 million from 1994 to 1995 resulting from increased sales and receipt of a payment from a major customer in January 1996, beyond the cutoff date for recording in the current year. Payments of approximately $1.9 million of accrued payroll and payroll related obligations resulted in reduced balances at 1995 as compared to 1994. Working capital totaled $5.1 million and $1.8 million at December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Working capital generated by operations exceeded expenditures for property, equipment and other assets, repayment of long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations, and the additional investment in the PCS license resulting in the $3.3 million increase at December 31, 1995 as compared to 1994. Cash flow from operating activities, as depicted in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, decreased $4.2 million in 1995 as compared 1994. Cash flow generated from operating activities was reduced by payment of current obligations. Cash flow from operating activities increased $6.8 million during 1994 as compared to 1993 primarily as a result of revenue growth and decreased distribution costs as a percentage of revenues as further described below. The Company's expenditures and other additions to property and equipment totaled $8.9 million, $10.6 million, and $5.7 million during 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. Management's capital expenditures plan for 1996 includes approximately $30 to $50 million in capital necessary to pursue strategic initiatives, to maintain the network and to enhance transmission capacity to meet projected traffic demands. The two wideband transponders the Company owned reached the end of their expected useful life in August, 1994, at which time the Company leased replacement capacity. The cost of the leased capacity contributed to an increase in distribution costs during 1995 as compared to 1994. The existing leased capacity is expected to meet the Company's requirements until such time that capacity is available pursuant to the terms of a new long-term agreement described below. The Company entered into a purchase and lease-purchase option agreement in August 1995 for the acquisition of satellite transponders to meet its long-term satellite capacity requirements. The amount of the down payment required in 1996 and the balance payable upon delivery of the transponders as early as the fourth quarter of 1997 are dependent upon a number of factors including the number of transponders required and the timing of their delivery and acquisition. The Company 17 does not expect the down payment to exceed $10.1 million and the remaining balance payable coinciding with a staged delivery to exceed $46 million. The Company amended its existing senior credit facility to provide a letter of credit to accommodate the required down payment in 1996 and expects to further amend or refinance its credit agreement to fund its remaining commitment. The Company continues to evaluate the most effective means to integrate its telecommunications network with that of MCI. Such integration will require capital expenditures by the Company in an amount yet to be determined. Any investment in such capital expenditures is expected to be recovered by increased revenues from expanded service offerings and reductions in costs resulting from integration of the networks. The FCC concluded an auction of spectrum to be used for the provision of PCS in March, 1995. The Company was named by the FCC as the high bidder for one of the two 30 megahertz blocks of spectrum, with Alaska statewide coverage. Acquisition of the license for a cost of $1.65 million will allow GCI to introduce new PCS services in Alaska. The Company began developing plans for PCS deployment in 1995 with limited technology service trials planned for 1996 and service to be offered as early as 1997 or 1998. Expenditures for PCS deployment could total $50 to $100 million over the next 10 year period. The estimated cost for PCS deployment is expected to be funded through income from operations and additional debt and perhaps, equity financing. The Company expects to arrange additional debt financing capacity in 1996. The Company's ability to deploy PCS services will be dependent on its available resources. Expenditures of approximately $2.5 million were made in 1994 developing new DAMA satellite communication technology. A four-module demonstration system was constructed in 1994 and was integrated into the Company's telecommunication network in 1995. Existing satellite technology relies on fixed channel assignments to a central hub. DAMA technology assigns satellite capacity on an as needed basis. The digital DAMA system allows calls to be made between remote villages using only one satellite hop thereby reducing satellite delay and capacity requirements while improving quality. The Company obtained the necessary APUC and FCC approvals waiving current prohibitions against construction of competitive facilities in rural Alaska, allowing for deployment of DAMA technology in 56 sites in rural Alaska on a demonstration basis. Construction and deployment will occur in 1996, with services expected to be provided during the fourth quarter of 1996. Construction and deployment costs are expected to total $18 to $20 million, and are expected to be funded through a combination of cash generated from operations and bank financing. The Company announced March 15, 1996 that it has signed letters of intent to acquire three Alaska cable companies that offer cable television service to more than 101,000 subscribers serving 74 percent of households throughout the state of Alaska. The Company intends to acquire Prime Cable of Alaska, Alaska Cablevision, Inc. of Kirkland, Washington and Alaskan Cable Network. Prime Cable operates the state's largest cable television system including stations in Anchorage, Bethel, Kenai and Soldotna, Alaska. Alaska Cablevision owns and operates cable stations in Petersburg, Wrangell, Cordova, Valdez, Kodiak, Homer, Seward, Nome and Kotzebue, Alaska. Alaskan Cable Network operates stations in Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka, Alaska. This acquisition will allow the Company to integrate cable services to bring more information not only to more customers, but in a manner that is quicker, more efficient and more cost effective than ever before. The purchase will facilitate consolidation of the cable operations and will provide a platform for developing new customer products and services over the next several years. The total purchase price is $280.7 million. According to terms of the agreements, GCI will issue 16.3 million shares of Class A Common stock to the owners of the three cable companies valued at $105.7 million. The balance of the purchase will be provided by approximately $175 million of bank financing. Additional capital will be provided from the sale of 2 million shares of GCI's Class A Common Stock to MCI Telecommunications Corporation for $6.50 per share. 18 Definitive agreements are expected to be executed in April 1996 at which time GCI will apply to the APUC to transfer the licenses of the cable companies. Once all regulatory approvals are granted, the cable companies will be consolidated into a single organization owned by the Company. Management expects that cash flow generated by the Company will be sufficient to meet no less than the minimum required for maintenance level capital expenditures and scheduled debt repayment. The Company's ability to invest in discretionary capital and other projects will depend upon its future cash flows and access to additional debt and/or equity financing. Results of Operations Year ended December 31, 1995 ("1995"), compared with year ended December 31, 1994 ("1994"), compared with year ended December 31, 1993 ("1993"). The Company's message data and transmission services industry segment provides interstate and intrastate long distance telephone service to all communities within the state of Alaska through use of its facilities and interconnect agreements with other carriers. The Company's average rate per minute for message transmission during 1995, 1994, and 1993 was 19.1(cent), 18.6(cent), and 18.2(cent), respectively. Total revenues for 1995 were $129.3 million, an approximate 10.5 percent increase over 1994 revenues of $117.0 million, which revenues increased 14.4 percent over 1993 revenues of $102.2 million. Revenue growth is attributed to the increase in the average rate per minute and to four fundamental factors, as follows: (1) Growth in interstate telecommunication services which resulted in billable minutes of traffic carried totaling 465, 415 and 365 million minutes in 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively, or 83.2, 83.9 and 83.9 percent of total 1995, 1994 and 1993 minutes, respectively. (2) Provision of intrastate telecommunication services which resulted in billable minutes of traffic carried totaling 93.4, 79.6 and 70.1 million minutes in 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively, or 16.8, 16.1, and 16.1 percent of total 1995, 1994 and 1993 minutes, respectively. (3) Increases in revenues derived from other common carriers ("OCC") including MCI and Sprint. OCC traffic accounted for $38.8 million or 30.0 percent, $31.9 million or 27.3 percent, $26.2 million or 25.6 percent of total revenues in 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. Both MCI and Sprint are major customers of the Company. Loss of one or both of these customers would have a significant detrimental effect on revenues and on contribution. There are no other individual customers, the loss of which would have a material impact on the Company's revenues or gross profit. (4) Increased revenues associated with private line and private network transmission services, which increased 8 percent in 1995 as compared to 1994, increased 6 percent in 1994 as compared to 1993, and increased 8 percent in 1993 as compared to 1992. System sales and service revenues totaled $7.2 million, $9.1 million and $8.3 million in 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. The decrease in system sales and service revenues is attributed to fewer larger dollar equipment sales orders received during 1995 as compared to 1994 as well as a reduction of the company's outsourcing services provided to the oil field services industry. Transmission access and distribution costs, which represent cost of sales for transmission services, amounted to approximately 56.5 percent, 55.4 percent, 58.9 percent of transmission revenues during 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. The increase in distribution costs as a percentage of transmission revenues for 1995 as compared to 1994 results primarily from increases in costs associated with the Company's lease of transponder capacity as previously described. The decrease in distribution costs as a percentage of transmission revenues during 1994 as compared to 1993 results from proportionate increases in revenues as compared to costs and decreases in access tariff charges commencing July 1993, offset by increases in costs associated with the Company's lease of 19 replacement transponder capacity as previously described. Changes in distribution costs as a percentage of revenues will occur as the Company's traffic mix changes. The Company is unable to predict if or when access charge rates will change in the future and the impact of such changes on the Company's distribution costs. Sales and service cost of sales as a percentage of sales and service revenues amounted to approximately 73.3 percent, 70.4 percent and 65.7 percent during 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. Increases in cost of sales as a percentage of sales and service revenues result from reduced margins associated with equipment sales and service contracts. Contribution increased 5.3 percent during 1995 as compared to 1994, and increased 22.5 percent during 1994 as compared to 1993. Increases in distribution costs associated with the Company's lease of transponder capacity as previously described reduced the rate of growth in 1995 contribution as compared to 1994. Proportionate decreases in distribution costs during 1994 as compared to 1993 coupled with proportionate increases in revenues during the same period resulted in the 1994 increase. Total operating costs and expenses increased 5.7 percent during 1995 as compared to the same period in 1994, and increased 16.5 percent during 1994 as compared to the same period in 1993. 1995 and 1994 increases in operating and engineering, service, sales and communications, and general and administrative costs were necessary to support the Company's expansion efforts and the increase in minutes of traffic carried. During 1995 the Company incurred approximately $450,000 for what is expected to be nonrecurring costs related to breaks in the undersea fiber optic cable and promotion of its new DAMA technology. Additional costs were incurred during the fourth quarter of 1995 attributed to the promotion of the Company's calling plans. Significant marketing, telemarketing, and promotional expenditures were incurred in 1994 to promote the Company's introduction of new services and programs resulting from its strategic alliance with MCI, including MCI's Friend's and Family calling plan, 1-800-COLLECT, PhoneCash prepaid calling cards, and an Amway distributor resale program. Additional general and administrative costs were incurred in 1994 resulting from the Company's performance based bonus and incentive compensation plans which are funded from incremental operating cash flow. Increases in 1994 expenses were offset in part by reductions in bad debt and depreciation and amortization costs. In general, the Company has dedicated additional resources in certain areas to pursue longer term opportunities. It must balance the desire to pursue such opportunities with the need to continue to improve current performance. Continuing legal and regulatory costs are, in large part, associated with regulatory matters involving the FCC, the APUC, and the Alaska Legislature. Interest expense decreased 25.5 percent during 1995 as compared to 1994 and decreased 31.7 percent during 1994 as compared to 1993. The decreases in interest expense result primarily from reduction in the Company's outstanding indebtedness. Income tax expense totaled $5,099,000, $4,547,000 and $2,764,000 in 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively, resulting from the application of statutory income tax rates to net earnings before income taxes The Company has capital loss carryovers totaling approximately $56,000 which expire in 1997. Tax benefits associated with recorded deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances, are considered to be more likely than not realizable through taxable income earned in carryback years, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, and future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards. The Alaska economy is supported in large part by the oil and gas industry. ARCO announced a 715 person downsizing in July 1994. Similar downsizing was announced in 1994 by other companies operating in the oil and gas industry in Alaska for 1995. 20 The Alaska economy is also supported by the United States armed services and the United States Coast Guard which maintain bases in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Adak, Kodiak, and other communities in Alaska. The military presence in the state of Alaska provides a significant source of revenues to the economy of the state. The Company provides message telephone services in a variety of ways to the United States government and its armed forces personnel. The Company provides private lines for secured point-to-point data and voice transmission services and long distance services individually to military personnel. A reduction in federal military spending or closure of a major facility in Alaska would have a substantial adverse impact on the state and would both directly and indirectly affect the Company. A reduction in the number of military personnel served by the Company and a reduction in the number of private lines required by the armed forces would have a direct effect on revenues. Indirect effects would include a reduction of services provided across the state in support of the military community and as a result, a reduction in the number of customers served by the Company and volume of traffic carried. On July 13, 1995, the president approved and Congress subsequently accepted the independent Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission report to close 79 military bases and downsize 26 others. The commission estimates its list would save $19.3 billion over 20 years, at a cost nationwide of 43,742 military and civilian jobs and 49,823 indirect jobs. Since its first round of action in 1991, the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission has claimed more than $5 billion in savings by closing or realigning military bases. The following military installations located in Alaska were recommended for closure or realignment in the 1995 report: Fort Greely (realign, estimated loss of 438 military and 286 civilian jobs), Fort Wainwright (realign, estimated gain of 205 military and 56 civilian jobs), NAF Adak (closure, estimated loss of 540 military and 138 civilian jobs). The loss of jobs and associated revenues attributed to oil and gas industry and military workforce reductions is not expected to have a material effect on the Company's operations. No assurance can be given that funding for existing military installations in Alaska will not be adversely affected by reprioritization of needs for military installations or federal budget cuts in the future. In October 1994, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 119, "Disclosure about Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value of Financial Instrument" ("SFAS No. 119"). SFAS No. 119 requires disclosures regarding amount, nature and terms of derivative financial instruments, for instance futures, forward, swap and option contracts and other instruments with similar characteristics. The Company anticipates that the adoption of SFAS No. 119 in 1996 will not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements. In March 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of" ("SFAS No. 121"). This statement sets forth new standards for determining when long-lived assets are impaired and requires such impaired assets to be written down to fair value. The Company anticipates that the adoption of SFAS No. 121 in 1996 will not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements. In October 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" ("SFAS No. 123"). SFAS No. 123 establishes financial accounting and reporting standards for stock-based employee compensation plans. Those plans include all arrangements by which employees receive shares of stock or other equity instruments of the employer or the employer incurs liabilities to employees in amounts based on the price of the employer's stock. This statement also applies to transactions in 21 which an entity issues its equity instruments to acquire goods or services from nonemployees. The Company anticipates that the adoption of SFAS No. 123 in 1996 will not have a material effect on its consolidated financial statements. The Company generally has experienced increased costs in recent years due to the effect of inflation on the cost of labor, material and supplies, and plant and equipment. A portion of the increased labor and material and supplies costs directly affects income through increased maintenance and operating costs. The cumulative impact of inflation over a number of years has resulted in higher depreciation expense and increased costs for current replacement of productive facilities. However, operating efficiencies have partially offset this impact, as have price increases, although the latter have generally not been adequate to cover increased costs due to inflation. Competition and other market factors limit the Company's ability to price services and products based upon inflation's effect on costs. Item 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA The consolidated financial statements of the Company are filed under this Item, beginning on Page 23. The financial statement schedules required under Regulation S-X are filed pursuant to Item 14 of this Report. 22 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT ---------------------------- The Board of Directors and Stockholders General Communication, Inc.: We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of General Communication, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1995. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements 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, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of General Communication, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1995 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. /s/KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP Anchorage, Alaska March 15, 1996 23 GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Balance Sheets December 31, 1995 and 1994
ASSETS 1995 1994 --------------------------------------- ---- ---- (Amounts in thousands) Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents ........................................................................... $ 4,017 1,649 ------- ------ Receivables: Trade ....................................................................................... 21,737 17,036 Other ....................................................................................... 253 221 ------- ------ 21,990 17,257 Less allowance for doubtful receivables ............................................................. 295 409 ------- ------ Net receivables ............................................................................. 21,695 16,848 ------- ------ Prepaid and other current assets .................................................................... 1,566 1,344 Deferred income taxes, net (note 6) ................................................................. 746 884 Inventory ........................................................................................... 991 674 Notes receivable (note 3) ........................................................................... 167 200 ------- ------ Total current assets ........................................................................ 29,182 21,599 ------- ------ Property and equipment, at cost (notes 5, 8 and 9) Land ................................................................................................ 73 73 Distribution systems ................................................................................ 67,434 63,272 Support equipment ................................................................................... 11,610 10,223 Property and equipment under capital leases ......................................................... 2,030 2,030 ------- ------ 81,147 75,598 Less amortization and accumulated depreciation ...................................................... 33,789 28,085 ------- ------ Net property and equipment in service ....................................................... 47,358 47,513 Construction in progress ............................................................................ 3,096 -- ------- ------ Net property and equipment .................................................................. 50,454 47,513 Notes receivable (note 3) ............................................................................. 904 767 Investment securities available for sale (note 4) ..................................................... -- 785 Other assets, at cost, net of amortization ............................................................ 4,225 3,585 ------- ------ Total assets ................................................................................ $ 84,765 74,249 ======= ======
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 24 (Continued) GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Balance Sheets (Continued)
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 1995 1994 --------------------------------------------------- ---- ---- (Amounts in thousands) Current liabilities: Current maturities of long-term debt (note 5) ....................................................... $ 1,689 1,585 Current maturities of obligations under capital leases (note 9) .......................................................................... 282 249 Accounts payable .................................................................................... 16,861 11,841 Accrued payroll and payroll related obligations ..................................................... 2,108 4,036 Accrued liabilities ................................................................................. 1,134 711 Accrued income taxes (note 6) ....................................................................... 547 217 Accrued interest .................................................................................... 132 101 Deferred revenues ................................................................................... 1,317 1,097 -------- ------ Total current liabilities ................................................................... 24,070 19,837 Long-term debt, excluding current maturities (note 5) ................................................. 8,291 10,969 Obligations under capital leases, excluding current maturities (note 9) ........................................................................ 26 257 Obligations under capital leases due to related parties, excluding current maturities (note 9) .............................................................. 739 791 Deferred income taxes, net (note 6) ................................................................... 7,004 6,522 Other liabilities ..................................................................................... 1,619 780 -------- ------ Total liabilities ........................................................................... 41,749 39,156 -------- ------ Stockholders' equity (notes 2, 6 and 7): Common stock (no par): Class A. Authorized 50,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 19,680,199 and 19,616,614 shares at December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively ....................................................................... 13,912 13,830 Class B. Authorized 10,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 4,175,434 and 4,179,019 shares at December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively ....................................................................... 3,432 3,432 Less cost of 122,611 and 105,111 Class A common shares held in treasury at December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively ........................................................................... (389) (328) Paid-in capital ..................................................................................... 4,041 3,641 Retained earnings ................................................................................... 22,020 14,518 -------- ------ Total stockholders' equity .................................................................. 43,016 35,093 -------- ------ Commitments, contingencies and subsequent event (notes 9, 11 and 12) Total liabilities and stockholders' equity .................................................. $ 84,765 74,249 ======== ======
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements 25 GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Operations Years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993
1995 1994 1993 ---- ---- ---- (Amounts in thousands except per share amounts) Revenues (note 8): Transmission services ..................................................................... $ 120,005 105,789 91,838 Systems sales and service ................................................................. 7,193 9,138 8,299 Other ..................................................................................... 2,081 2,054 2,076 -------- ------- ------- Total revenues ..................................................................... 129,279 116,981 102,213 Cost of sales ............................................................................... 70,221 60,896 56,437 -------- ------- ------- Contribution ....................................................................... 59,058 56,085 45,776 -------- ------- ------- Operating costs and expenses: Operating and engineering ................................................................ 9,182 7,607 5,588 Service .................................................................................. 2,793 4,751 3,798 Sales and communications ................................................................. 9,865 7,040 4,992 General and administrative ............................................................... 14,492 14,788 13,037 Legal and regulatory ..................................................................... 1,540 1,334 1,372 Bad debt ................................................................................. 1,459 829 1,207 Depreciation and amortization ............................................................ 6,223 6,739 6,978 -------- ------- ------- Total operating costs and expenses ................................................. 45,554 43,088 36,972 -------- ------- ------- Operating income (note 8) .......................................................... 13,504 12,997 8,804 -------- ------- ------- Other income (expense): Interest expense (notes 2 and 5) ......................................................... (1,146) (1,539) (2,254) Interest income .......................................................................... 243 223 165 -------- ------- ------- Total other income (expense) ....................................................... (903) (1,316) (2,089) -------- ------- ------- Earnings before income taxes ........................................................ 12,601 11,681 6,715 Income tax expense (notes 2 and 6) .......................................................... (5,099) (4,547) (2,764) -------- ------- ------- Net earnings ........................................................................ $ 7,502 7,134 3,951 ========= ======== ======== Net earnings per common share ...................................................... $ .31 .30 .17 ========= ======== ========
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 26 GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity Years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993
Shares of Class A Class B Class A Common Stock Preferred Common Common Shares Held Paid-in Retained Class A Class B Stock Stock Stock in Treasury Capital Earnings (Amounts in thousands) (Amounts in thousands) Balances at December 31, 1992 ......................... 12,639 2,853 $3,282 2,430 1,210 (328) 4,690 3,586 Net earnings .......................................... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 3,951 Class B shares converted to Class A ................... 15 (15) -- -- -- -- -- -- Tax effect of excess stock compensation expense for tax purposes over amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes ......... -- -- -- -- -- 514 -- -- Retirement of shares .................................. (562) (3,282) (359) -- -- (1,987) -- Preferred stock dividend paid ......................... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- (153) Shares issued under stock option plan ................. 118 -- -- 124 -- -- -- -- Shares issued and issuable under officer stock option agreements .................... 539 -- -- 385 -- -- 35 -- Shares issued, net of associated costs ................ 6,252 1,276 -- 10,890 2,222 -- -- -- ------ ----- ----- ------ ----- ------ ----- ------ Balances at December 31, 1993 ......................... 19,001 4,114 -- 13,470 3,432 (328) 3,252 7,384 Net earnings .......................................... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 7,134 Class B shares converted to Class A ................... 9 (9) -- -- -- -- -- -- Tax effect of excess stock compensation expense for tax purposes over amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes ......... -- -- -- -- -- 371 -- -- Shares issued under stock option plan ................. 37 -- -- 96 -- -- -- -- Shares issued under warrant agreement, net ............ 254 -- -- 185 -- -- -- -- Shares issued and issuable under officer stock option agreements ..................... 316 74 -- 79 -- -- 18 -- ------ ----- ----- ------ ----- ------ ----- ------ Balances at December 31, 1994 ......................... 19,617 4,179 $ -- 13,830 3,432 (328) 3,641 14,518 Net earnings .......................................... -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 7,502 Class B shares converted to Class A ................... 3 (3) -- -- -- -- -- -- Tax effect of excess stock compensation expense for tax purposes over amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes ......... -- -- -- -- -- 397 -- -- Shares purchased and held in Treasury ................. -- -- -- -- -- (61) -- -- Shares issued under stock option plan ................. 40 -- -- 82 -- -- -- -- Shares issued and issuable under officer stock option agreements ..................... 20 -- -- -- -- -- 3 -- ------ ----- ----- ------ ----- ------ ----- ------ Balances at December 31, 1995 ......................... 19,680 4,176 $ -- 13,912 3,432 (389) 4,041 22,020 ====== ===== ===== ====== ===== ======= ====== =======
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 27 GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993
1995 1994 1993 ---- ---- ---- (Amounts in thousands) Cash flows from operating activities: Net earnings ......................................... $ 7,502 7,134 3,951 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization .................. 6,223 6,739 6,978 Deferred income tax expense .................... 1,017 1,588 1,136 Deferred compensation and compensatory stock options ................................ 433 343 183 Disposals of property and equipment ............ 170 -- -- Bad debt expense, net of write-offs ............ (114) (312) 46 Other noncash income and expense items ......... 354 (36) 7 Change in operating assets and liabilities (note 2) ............................... (1,307) 3,063 (591) -------- ------- ------ Net cash provided by operating activities ...... 14,278 18,519 11,710 -------- ------- ------ Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of property and equipment ................... (8,938) (10,604) (5,744) Cash received from disposal of property and equipment . -- -- 105 Purchases of other assets including long-term deposits (934) (1,110) (303) Proceeds from the sale of available for sale security 832 -- -- Notes receivable issued .............................. (251) (339) (602) Payments received on notes receivable ................ 184 10 964 Restricted cash investments .......................... -- 684 2,268 -------- ------- ------ Net cash used in investing activities .......... (9,107) (11,359) (3,312) -------- ------- ------ Cash flows from financing activities: Long-term borrowings ................................. -- -- 10,000 Repayments of long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations .......................... (2,824) (8,494) (26,610) Proceeds from common stock issuance .................. 82 360 13,641 Purchase of treasury stock ........................... (61) -- -- Disbursements to retire common and preferred stock ................................... -- -- (5,627) Dividends paid on preferred stock .................... -- -- (153) -------- ------- ------ Net cash used by financing activities .......... (2,803) (8,134) (8,749) -------- ------- ------ Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents . 2,368 (974) (351) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year ......... 1,649 2,623 2,974 -------- ------- ------ Cash and cash equivalents at end of year ............... $ 4,017 1,649 2,623 ======== ======= ======
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 28 GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (l) Summary of Significant Accounting Principles (a) General General Communication, Inc. ("GCI"), an Alaska corporation, was incorporated in 1979. GCI Communication Corp. ("GCC") , an Alaska corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary of GCI and was incorporated in 1990. GCI Network Systems, Inc. ("Network Systems"), formerly Transalaska Network Systems, Inc., an Alaska corporation, was a wholly-owned subsidiary of GCC and was incorporated in 1988. Effective December 31, 1993 Network Systems operations were merged into GCC. Both GCC and Network Systems operations continue to be provided by the surviving corporation, GCC, subsequent to the merger. GCI Communication Services, Inc. ("Communication Services"), an Alaska corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GCI and was incorporated in 1992. GCI Leasing Co., Inc. ("Leasing Company"), an Alaska corporation, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Communication Services and was incorporated in 1992. GCI and GCC are engaged in the transmission of interstate and intrastate private line and switched message long distance telephone service between Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, and other communities in Alaska and the remaining United States and foreign countries. GCC also provides northbound services to certain common carriers terminating traffic in Alaska and sells and services dedicated communications systems and related equipment. Communication Services provides private network point-to-point data and voice transmission services between Alaska, Hawaii and the western contiguous United States. Leasing Company owns and leases capacity on an undersea fiber optic cable used in the transmission of interstate private line and switched message long distance services between Alaska and the remaining United States and foreign countries. (b) Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of GCI, its wholly-owned subsidiaries GCC and Communication Services, and Communication Services wholly owned subsidiary Leasing Company. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. (c) Net Earnings Per Common Share Primary earnings per common share are determined by dividing net earnings (after deducting preferred stock dividends of $153,000 in 1993) by the weighted number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding:
1995 1994 1993 ---- ---- ---- (in thousands) Weighted average common shares outstanding 23,723 23,199 21,085 Common equivalent shares outstanding 703 884 1,243 ------ ------ ------ 24,426 24,083 22,328 ====== ====== ======
The difference between shares for primary and fully diluted earnings per share was not significant in any period presented. 29 (Continued) (d) Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash equivalents consist of short-term, highly liquid investments which are readily convertible into cash. (e) Inventory Inventory of merchandise for resale and parts is stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out method for parts and the specific identification method for equipment held for resale. (f) Property and Equipment Property and equipment is stated at cost. Construction costs of transmission facilities are capitalized. Equipment financed under capital leases is recorded at the lower of fair market value or the present value of future minimum lease payments. Construction in progress represents distribution systems and support equipment not placed in service at December 31, 1995; management intends to place this equipment in service during 1996. Depreciation and amortization is computed on a straight-line basis based upon the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from 3 to 20 years for distribution systems and 5 to 10 years for support equipment. Amortization of equipment financed under capitalized leases is included in depreciation expense. Repairs and maintenance are charged to operations, and renewals and additions are capitalized. Gains or losses are recognized at the time of ordinary retirements, sales or other dispositions of property. (g) Marketable Securities Effective January 1, 1994, GCI and subsidiaries ("the Company") adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115 ("SFAS No. 115"), Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities. Under SFAS No. 115, securities when purchased, are classified in either the trading account securities portfolio, the securities available for sale portfolio, or the securities held to maturity portfolio. Securities are classified as trading account securities when the intent is profit maximization through market appreciation and resale. Securities are classified as available for sale when management intends to hold the securities for an indefinite period of time. Securities are classified as held to maturity when it is management's intent to hold these securities until maturity. Unrealized gains or losses on securities available for sale are excluded from earnings and reported as a net amount in a separate component of stockholders' equity. There was no cumulative effect on the financial statements from the adoption of SFAS No. 115. Securities available for sale are stated at fair market value which approximates cost. (h) Other Assets Other assets, excluding deferred loan costs and goodwill, are recorded at cost and are amortized on a straight-line basis over 2 to 15 years. Deferred loan costs are recorded at cost and are amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the associated loan. Goodwill totaled approximately $1,286,000 and $1,387,000 at December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively, net of amortization of approximately $697,000 and $596,000, 30 (Continued) respectively. Goodwill represents the excess of cost over fair value of net assets acquired and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over twenty years. (i) Revenue From Services and Products Revenues generated from long distance telecommunication services are recognized when the services are provided. Revenues from the sale of equipment are recognized at the time the equipment is delivered or installed. Service revenues are derived primarily from maintenance contracts on equipment and are recognized on a prorated basis over the term of the contract. Other revenues are recognized when the service is provided. (j) Interest Expense Interest costs incurred during the construction period of significant capital projects are capitalized. Interest capitalized by the Company totaled $112,000 during the year ended December 31, 1995. (k) Income Taxes In February, 1992, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109 ("SFAS No. 109"), "Accounting for Income Taxes". SFAS No. 109 requires a change from the deferred method of accounting for income taxes of APB Opinion 11 to the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the asset and liability method of SFAS No. 109, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable earnings in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Under SFAS No. 109, the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in earnings in the period that includes the enactment date. Effective January 1, 1993, the Company adopted SFAS No. 109. The adjustment required for this change in accounting for income taxes was recorded in the first quarter of 1993 and resulted in increases in current deferred tax assets and net long-term deferred tax liabilities, and provision of a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets. No cumulative effect adjustment to the Company's consolidated statement of operations was required. (l) 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 disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. (m) Reclassifications Reclassifications have been made to the 1994 financial statements to make them comparable with the 1995 presentation. 31 (Continued) (2) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Supplemental Disclosures For purposes of the Statement of Cash Flows, the Company's cash equivalents includes cash and all invested assets with original maturities of less than three months. Changes in operating assets and liabilities consist of (in thousands):
Year ended December 31, 1995 1994 1993 ---- ---- ---- (Increase) decrease in trade receivables $ (4,701) 63 (2,287) (Increase) decrease in other receivables (32) (91) 535 (Increase) decrease in prepaid and other current assets (222) 312 (477) (Increase) decrease in inventory (317) (38) 70 Decrease in income taxes receivable --- --- 17 Increase in accounts payable 5,020 1,434 621 Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities 423 195 (64) Increase (decrease) in accrued payroll and payroll related obligations (1,928) 1,238 857 Increase in accrued income taxes 330 163 54 Increase (decrease) in accrued interest 31 14 (43) Increase (decrease) in deferred revenues 220 (90) 126 Decrease in components of other liabilities (131) (137) --- -------- ----- ------ $ (1,307) 3,063 (591) ========= ===== ======
Income taxes paid totaled $3,752,000, $2,796,000 and $1,558,000 during 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. Interest paid totaled approximately $1,227,000, $1,525,000 and $2,297,000 during 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. The Company recorded $397,000, $371,000 and $514,000 in 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively, in paid-in capital in recognition of the income tax effect of excess stock compensation expense for tax purposes over amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes. 32 (Continued) (3) Notes Receivable A summary of notes receivable follows:
December 31, 1995 1994 ---- ---- (Amounts in thousands) Note receivable from officer bearing interest at the rate paid by the Company on its senior indebtedness, secured by GCI Class A common stock, due on the 90th day after termination of employment or July 30, 1998,whichever is earlier. $ 500 500 Note receivable from officer bearing interest at 10%, secured by Company stock; payable in equal annual installments of $36,513 through August 26, 2004. 224 224 Notes receivable from officers and others bearing interest at 7% to 10%, unsecured and secured by Company common stock, shares of other common stock and equipment; due September 20, 1996 through August 26, 2004. 261 194 ------ ----- Total notes receivable 985 918 Less current portion (167) (200) Plus long-term accrued interest 86 49 ------ ----- $ 904 767 ====== =====
(4) Investment Securities Available for Sale As of January 1, 1994 the Company adopted SFAS No. 115. Accordingly, the Company's marketable equity securities have been classified as available for sale securities and are reported at fair market value which approximate cost at December 31, 1994. The Company held no trading account investment securities or available for sale securities at December 31, 1995. 33 (Continued) (5) Long-term Debt Long-term debt is summarized as follows:
December 31, -------------------- 1995 1994 ---- ---- (Amounts in thousands) Credit Agreement (a) $ 1,000 2,000 Undersea Fiber and Equipment Loan Agreement (b) 8,271 9,500 Financing Obligation (c) 709 1,054 ------- ------ 9,980 12,554 Less current maturities 1,689 1,585 ------- ------ Long-term debt, excluding current maturities $ 8,291 10,969 ======= ======
(a) GCI completed a refinancing of its senior indebtedness on May 14, 1993. The facility was amended on October 31, 1995 to provide financing for the initial letter of credit and subsequent down payment required pursuant to the terms of the Company's transponder purchase agreement with Hughes. The facility is comprised of two components, the first of which is a $15,750,000 reducing revolver requiring payments or reductions of $650,000 per quarter through December 31, 1996, and $812,500 thereafter through its expiration on December 31, 1997. $2.65 million of this component has been used to provide a letter of credit to secure payment of certain access charges associated with the Company's provision of telecommunications services within the state of Alaska. $4.6 million of this portion of the facility was available for additional borrowings at December 31, 1995, $3.3 million of which was drawn down in March 1996. The other component totals $10.08 million, and has been used to provide a $9.1 million letter of credit to Hughes. The letter of credit is expected to be drawn down by Hughes after delivery of transponder capacity scheduled for May or June of 1996. Once drawn upon, the facility will be repaid in quarterly installments of $455,000 beginning September 30, 1996, with all remaining outstanding principal due on December 31, 1997. The Credit agreement provides for interest (8.18% at December 31, 1995), among other options, at LIBOR plus two and one-quarter to two and three-quarters percent depending on the Company's leverage ratio as defined in the Agreement. A fee of .50% per annum is assessed on the unused portion of the facility. The credit agreement contains, among others, covenants requiring maintenance of specific levels of operating cash flow to indebtedness, to interest expense, to fixed charges, and to pro forma debt service. The credit agreement includes limitations on acquisitions and additional indebtedness, and prohibits payment of dividends, other than stock dividends. The Company was in compliance with all credit agreement covenants during the period commencing May 14, 1993 (date of the refinancing) through December 31, 1995. 34 (Continued) Security for the credit agreement includes a pledge of the stock of GCC and Communication Services, and a first lien on substantially all of GCC's assets. GCI and its subsidiaries, Communication Services and Leasing Company, are liable as guarantors. In June, 1993, the Company entered into a two-year interest rate swap agreement with a bank whereby the rate on $18,200,000 of debt (reduced by $422,500 per quarter beginning July 1, 1993) was fixed at 4.45 percent plus applicable margins. The interest effect of the difference between the fixed rate and the three-month LIBOR rate was either added to or served to reduce interest expense depending on the relative interest rates. The agreement expired June 30, 1995. (b) On December 31, 1992, Leasing Company entered into a $12,000,000 loan agreement, of which approximately $9,000,000 of the proceeds were used to acquire capacity on the undersea fiber optic cable linking Seward, Alaska and Pacific City, Oregon. Concurrently, Leasing Company leased the capacity under a ten year all events, take or pay, contract to MCI, who subleased the capacity back to the Company. The lease and sublease agreements provide for equivalent terms of 10 years and identical monthly payments of $200,000. The proceeds of the lease agreement with MCI were pledged as primary security for the financing. The loan agreement provides for monthly payments of $170,000 including principal and interest through the earlier of January 1, 2003, or until repaid. The loan agreement provides for interest at the prime rate plus one-quarter percent. Additional collateral includes substantially all of the assets of Leasing Company including the fiber capacity and a security interest in all of its outstanding stock. MCI has a second position security interest in the assets of Leasing Company. (c) As consideration for MCI's role in enabling Leasing Company to finance and acquire the undersea fiber optic cable capacity described at note 5(b) above, Leasing Company agreed to pay MCI $2,040,000 in sixty monthly payments of $34,000. For financial statement reporting purposes, the obligation has been recorded at its remaining present value, using a discount rate of 10% per annum. The agreement is secured by a second position security interest in the assets of Leasing Company. As of December 31, 1995 maturities of long-term debt were as follows (in thousands): Year ending December 31, 1996 $ 1,689 1997 2,882 1998 1,631 1999 1,780 2000 1,942 2001 and thereafter 56 ------- $ 9,980 ======= 35 (Continued) (6) Income Taxes Total income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 were allocated as follows (amounts in thousands):
Years ended December 31, ------------------------ 1995 1994 1993 ---- ---- ---- Earnings from continuing operations $5,099 4,547 2,764 Stockholders' equity, for stock option compensation expense for tax purposes in excess of amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes (397) (371) (514) ----- ----- ----- $4,702 4,176 2,250 ===== ===== =====
Income tax expense consists of the following:
Years ended December 31, ------------------------ 1995 1994 1993 ---- ---- ---- (Amounts in thousands) Current tax expense: Federal taxes $3,077 2,604 1,615 State taxes 1,005 355 13 ----- ----- ----- 4,082 2,959 1,628 ----- ----- ----- Deferred tax expense: Federal taxes 780 816 508 State taxes 237 772 628 ----- ----- ----- 1,017 1,588 1,136 ----- ----- ----- $5,099 4,547 2,764 ===== ===== =====
Total income tax expense differed from the "expected" income tax expense determined by applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 34% as follows:
Years ended December 31, ------------------------ 1995 1994 1993 ---- ---- ---- (Amounts in thousands) "Expected" statutory tax expense $4,284 3,971 2,283 State income taxes, net of federal benefit 820 742 424 Income tax effect of goodwill amortization, nondeductible expenditures and other items, net (5) (166) 57 ----- ----- ----- $5,099 4,547 2,764 ===== ===== =====
36 (Continued) The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at December 31, 1995 and 1994 are presented below.
December 31, 1995 1994 ---- ---- (Amounts in thousands) Net current deferred tax assets: Accounts receivable, principally due to allowance for for doubtful accounts ................................................................ $ 119 199 Compensated absences, accrued for financial reporting purposes ......................... 400 333 Federal and state alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards ......................... -- 330 Workers compensation and self insurance health reserves, principally due to accrual for financial reporting purposes .......................... 183 185 Other .................................................................................. 133 36 ------- ----- Total gross current deferred tax assets ......................................... 835 1,083 Less valuation allowance ........................................................ (89) (199) ------- ----- Net current deferred tax assets ................................................. $ 746 884 ======= ===== Net long-term deferred tax assets: Deferred compensation expense for financial reporting purposes in excess of amounts recognized for tax purposes ..................................................................... $ 587 511 Employee stock option compensation expense for financial reporting purposes in excess of amounts recognized for tax purposes ..................................................................... 206 234 Capital loss carryforwards ............................................................. 23 168 Other .................................................................................. 453 311 ------- ----- Total gross long-term deferred tax assets ....................................... 1,269 1,224 Less valuation allowance ........................................................ (136) (226) ------- ----- Net long-term deferred tax assets ............................................... 1,133 998 ------- ----- Net long-term deferred tax liabilities: Plant and equipment, principally due to differences in depreciation ......................................................................... 7,997 7,507 Other .................................................................................. 140 13 ------- ----- Total gross long-term deferred tax liabilities .................................. 8,137 7,520 ------- ----- Net combined long-term deferred tax liabilities ................................. $ 7,004 6,522 ======= =====
The valuation allowance for deferred tax assets was $225,000, $425,000 and $425,000 as of December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. Tax benefits associated with recorded deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances, are considered to be more likely than not realizable through taxable income earned in carryback years, future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, and future taxable income exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards. The amount of deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are reduced. For income tax reporting purposes, the Company has available capital loss carryovers totaling approximately $56,000 which expire in 1997. The Company's U.S. income tax return for 1993 was selected for examination by the Internal Revenue Service during 1995. The examination commenced during the fourth 37 (Continued) quarter of 1995. Management believes this examination will not adversely affect the consolidated financial statements. (7) Stockholders' Equity Common Stock GCI's Class A common stock and Class B common stock are identical in all respects, except that each share of Class A common stock has one vote per share and each share of Class B common stock has ten votes per share. In addition, each share of Class B common stock outstanding is convertible, at the option of the holder, into one share of Class A common stock. MCI owns a total of 6,251,509 shares of GCI's Class A and 1,275,791 shares of GCI's Class B common stock which on a fully diluted basis represented approximately 31 and 30 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of the respective class. Stock Warrants On May 18, 1994 an officer of the Company exercised warrants. In exchange for $114, the Company issued 160,297 and 74,028 shares of GCI Class A and Class B common stock, respectively. Pursuant to the terms of a stock appreciation right granted in 1988, the Company issued to its former senior lender warrants to acquire 1,021,373 shares of GCI Class A common stock for $.85669 per share. Warrants to purchase 600,000 shares of Class A common stock were exercised in April and May, 1991, an additional 168,085 were exercised in September, 1991 and the remaining warrants to purchase 253,288 shares were exercised in September and October, 1994. Stock Option Plan In December 1986, GCI adopted a Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan") in order to provide a special incentive to officers, non-employee directors, and employees by offering them an opportunity to acquire an equity interest in GCI. The Option Plan provides for the grant of options for a maximum of 3,200,000 shares of GCI Class A common stock, subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of stock dividends, stock splits, mergers, consolidations or certain other changes in corporate structure or capitalization. If an option expires or terminates, the shares subject to the option will be available for further grants of options under the Option Plan. The Option Plan is administered by GCI's Board of Directors or a committee of disinterested persons. Employees of GCI (including officers and directors), employees of affiliated companies and non-employee directors of GCI are eligible to participate in the Option Plan. Options granted under the Option Plan must expire not later than ten years after the date of grant. The exercise price may be less than, equal to, or greater than the fair market value of the shares on the date of grant. Options granted pursuant to the Option Plan are only exercisable if at the time of exercise the option holder is an employee or non-employee director of GCI. 38 (Continued) Information for the years 1993, 1994 and 1995 with respect to the Plan follows:
Shares Option Price ------ ------------ Outstanding at December 31, 1992 1,660,677 $0.75-$3.00 --------- Granted 298,500 $4.00 Exercised (129,519) $0.75-$2.25 Forfeited (6,000) $4.00 --------- Outstanding at December 31, 1993 1,823,658 $0.75-$4.00 --------- Granted --- --- Exercised (72,459) $0.75-$3.00 Forfeited (21,500) $4.00 --------- Outstanding at December 31, 1994 1,729,699 $0.75-$4.00 Granted 610,000 $4.00 Exercised (40,000) $1.87-$2.25 Forfeited (11,500) $4.00 --------- Outstanding at December 31, 1995 2,288,199 $0.75-$4.00 ========= Available for grant at December 31, 1995 349,553 ========= Exercisable at December 31, 1995 986,999 =========
The options expire at various dates through October 2005. Stock Options Not Pursuant to a Plan In June 1989, officer John Lowber was granted options to acquire 100,000 Class A common shares at $.75 per share. The options vested in equal annual increments over a five-year period and expire February, 1999. The Company entered into an incentive agreement in June 1989 with Mr. Behnke, an officer of the Company. The incentive agreement provides for the acquisition of 85,190 remaining shares of Class A common stock of the Company for $.001 per share exercisable through June 16, 1997. The shares under the incentive agreement vested in equal annual increments over a three-year period. Class A Common Shares Held in Treasury The Company acquired 105,111 shares of its Class A common stock in 1989 for approximately $328,000 to fund a deferred bonus agreement with Mr. Duncan, an officer of the Company. The agreement provides that the balance is payable after the later of a) termination of employment or b) six months after the effective date of the agreement. In September 1995, the Company acquired an additional 17,500 shares of Class A common stock for approximately $61,000 to fund additional deferred compensation agreements for two of its officers, including Mr. Duncan. 39 (Continued) Employee Stock Purchase Plan In December 1986, GCI adopted an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") qualified under Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"). The Plan provides for acquisition of the Company's Class A and Class B common stock at market value. The Plan permits each employee of GCI and affiliated companies who has completed one year of service to elect to participate in the Plan. Eligible employees may elect to reduce their compensation in any even dollar amount up to 10 percent of such compensation up to a maximum of $9,240 in 1995; they may contribute up to 10 percent of their compensation with after-tax dollars, or they may elect a combination of salary reductions and after-tax contributions. GCI may match employee salary reductions and after tax contributions in any amount, elected by GCI each year, but not more than 10 percent of any one employee's compensation will be matched in any year. The combination of salary reductions, after tax contributions and GCI matching contributions cannot exceed 25 percent of any employee's compensation (determined after salary reduction) for any year. GCI's contributions vest over six years. Prior to July 1, 1995 employee and GCI contributions were invested in GCI common stock and employee contributions received up to 100% matching, as determined by the Company each year, in GCI common stock. Beginning July 1, 1995 employee contributions may be invested in GCI common stock, MCI common stock, Tele-Communications, Inc. common stock or various mutual funds. Beginning July 1, 1995 employee contributions invested in GCI common stock receive up to 100% matching, as determined by the Company each year, in GCI common stock. Employee contributions invested in other than GCI common stock receive up to 50% matching, as determined by the Company each year, in GCI common stock. The Company's matching contributions allocated to participant accounts totaled approximately $864,000, $792,000 and $485,000 for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994, and 1993, respectively. The Plan may, at its discretion, purchase shares of common stock from the Company at market value or may purchase GCI common stock on the open market. 40 (Continued) (8) Industry Segments Data The Company is engaged in the design, development, sale and service of telecommunication services and products in two principal industries: (1) message and data transmission services and (2) telecommunication systems sales and service.
1995 1994 1993 ---- ---- ---- (Amounts in thousands) Net sales Message and data transmission svcs. $122,086 107,843 93,914 Systems sales and service 7,193 9,138 8,299 ------- ------- ------- Total net sales $129,279 116,981 102,213 ======= ======= ======= Operating income Message and data transmission svcs. $ 25,183 24,952 18,707 System sales and service 1,847 2,112 428 Corporate (13,526) (14,067) (10,331) ------- ------- ------- Total operating income $ 13,504 12,997 8,804 ======= ======= ======= Identifiable assets Message and data transmission svcs. $ 69,715 60,335 59,277 Systems sales and service 2,554 2,838 4,306 Corporate 12,496 11,076 8,027 ------- ------- ------- Total identifiable assets $ 84,765 74,249 71,610 ======= ======= ======= Capital expenditures Message and data transmission svcs. $ 5,946 10,003 4,457 Systems sales and service --- --- 369 Corporate 2,992 601 918 ------- ------- ------- Total capital expenditures $ 8,938 10,604 5,744 ======= ======= ======= Depreciation and amortization expense Message and data transmission svcs. $ 5,385 6,194 6,572 Systems sales and service 84 103 132 Corporate 754 442 274 ------- ------- ------- Total depreciation and amortization expense $ 6,223 6,739 6,978 ======= ======= =======
Intersegment sales approximate market and are not significant. Identifiable assets are assets associated with a specific industry segment. General corporate assets consist primarily of cash, temporary cash investments and other assets and investments which are not specific to an industry segment. Goodwill and the related amortization associated with the acquisition of Network Systems is allocated to the message and data telephone services segment. Goodwill and the related amortization related to the acquisition of the Transalaska Data Systems, Inc. assets is allocated to the systems sales and service segment. Revenues derived from leasing operations are allocated to the message and data transmission services segment. The Company provides message telephone service to MCI and Sprint, major customers. Pursuant to the terms of a contract with MCI, the Company earned revenues of approximately $23,939,000, $19,512,000 and $16,068,000 for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. Amounts receivable from MCI totaled $4,256,000 41 (Continued) and $3,257,000 at December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively. The Company earned revenues pursuant to a contract with Sprint totaling approximately $14,885,000, $12,412,000 and $10,123,000 for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 respectively. Amounts receivable from Sprint totaled $2,362,000 and $981,000 at December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively. (9) Leases The Company leases business offices, has entered into site lease agreements and uses certain equipment and satellite transponder capacity pursuant to operating lease arrangements. Rental costs under such arrangements amounted to approximately $4,353,000, $4,258,000 and $4,029,000 for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. A summary of future minimum lease payments for all leases as of December 31, 1995 follows:
Year ending December 31: Operating Capital ------------------------ --------- ------- (Amounts in thousands) 1996 $ 6,343 435 1997 7,493 221 1998 1,441 202 1999 1,343 204 2000 1,247 211 2001 and thereafter 778 1,301 ------- ------ Total minimum lease payments $ 18,645 2,574 ======= Less amount representing interest (1,527) Less current maturities of obligations under capital leases (282) Subtotal - long-term obligations under capital leases 765 Less long-term obligations under capital leases due to related parties, excluding current maturities (739) ------ Long-term obligations under capital leases, excluding current maturities $ 26 ======
The Company entered into a long-term capital lease agreement in 1991 with the wife of the Company's president for property occupied by the Company. The lease term is 15 years with monthly payments of $14,400, increasing in $800 increments at each two year anniversary of the lease. Monthly lease costs increased to $15,200 effective October 1993 and $16,000 effective October 1995. Monthly lease costs will increase to $16,800 in October 1997. If the owner sells the premises prior to the end of the tenth year of the lease, the owner will rebate to the Company one-half of the net sales price received in excess of $900,000. If the property is not sold prior to the tenth year of the lease, the owner will pay the Company the greater of one-half of the appreciated value of the property over $900,000, or $500,000. The leased asset was capitalized in 1991 at the owner's cost of $900,000 and the related obligation was recorded in the accompanying financial statements. The leases generally provide that the Company pay the taxes, insurance and maintenance expenses related to the leased assets. It is expected that in the normal course of business, leases that expire will be renewed or replaced by leases on other properties. 42 (Continued) (10) Disclosure about Fair Value of Financial Instruments Statement of Financial Standards No. 107, "Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments" ("SFAS No. 107") requires disclosure of the fair value of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value. SFAS No. 107 specifically excludes certain items from its disclosure requirements. The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced sale or liquidation. The carrying amounts at December 31, 1995 for the Company's assets and liabilities approximate their fair values. (11) Commitments and Contingencies During 1995, the Company adopted a non-qualified, unfunded deferred compensation plan to provide a means by which certain employees may elect to defer receipt of designated percentages or amounts of their compensation and to provide a means for certain other deferrals of compensation. The Company may, at its discretion, contribute matching deferrals equal to the rate of matching selected by the Company. Participants immediately vest in all elective deferrals and all income and gain attributable thereto. Matching contributions and all income and gain attributable thereto vest over a six-year period. Participants may elect to be paid in either a single lump sum payment or annual installments over a period not to exceed 10 years. Vested balances are payable upon termination of employment, unforeseen emergencies, death and total disability. Participants are general creditors of the Company with respect to deferred compensation plan benefits. Compensation deferred pursuant to the plan totaled $340,000 as of December 31, 1995. The Company entered into a purchase and lease-purchase option agreement in August 1995 for the acquisition of satellite transponders to meet its long-term satellite capacity requirements. The amount of the down payment required in 1996 and the balance payable upon delivery of the transponders as early as the fourth quarter of 1997 are dependent upon a number of factors. The Company does not expect the down payment to exceed $10.1 million and the remaining balance payable at delivery to exceed $46 million. In the normal course of the Company's operations, it is involved in various legal and regulatory matters before the FCC and the APUC. While the Company does not anticipate that the ultimate disposition of such matters will result in abrupt changes in the competitive structure of the Alaska market or of the business of the Company, no assurances can be given that such changes will not occur and that such changes would not be materially adverse to the Company. (12) Subsequent Event Subsequent to year-end, the Company announced that it has signed letters of intent to acquire three Alaska cable companies that offer cable television service to more than 101,000 subscribers serving 74 percent of households throughout the state of Alaska. The Company intends to acquire Prime Cable of Alaska, Alaska Cablevision, Inc. of Kirkland, Washington and Alaskan Cable Network. Prime Cable operates the state's largest cable television system including stations in Anchorage, Bethel, Kenai and Soldotna, Alaska. Alaska Cablevision owns and operates cable stations in Petersburg, Wrangell, Cordova, Valdez, Kodiak, Homer, Seward, Nome and Kotzebue, Alaska. Alaskan Cable Network operates stations in Fairbanks, Juneau, Ketchikan and Sitka, Alaska. This acquisition will allow the Company to integrate cable services to bring more information not only to more customers, but in a manner that is quicker, more efficient and more cost effective than ever before. The purchase 43 (Continued) will facilitate consolidation of the cable operations and will provide a platform for developing new customer products and services over the next several years. Upon closing and after all approvals are obtained, the cable companies will be consolidated into a single organization owned by the Company. The total purchase price is $280.7 million. According to terms of the letters of intent, GCI will issue 16.3 million shares of Class A Common stock to the owners of the three cable companies valued at $105.7 million. The balance of the purchase will be provided by approximately $175 million of bank financing. Additional capital will be provided from the sale of 2 million shares of GCI's Class A Common Stock to MCI Telecommunications Corporation for $6.50 per share. The more significant contingencies which must be resolved include negotiation and execution of definitive agreements with the owners of the cable companies and MCI, approval of the transactions and transfer of licenses by the APUC and the FCC, and approval of the transactions by the Company's shareholders and senior lender and the cable companies' shareholders, partners and lenders. Management is confident that once the contingencies are resolved, the transactions will be financed through modification or assumption of an existing or negotiation of a new bank credit agreement facility. Although the Company has held discussions with existing lenders regarding such a facility, no agreement exists concerning the amounts or terms of such a facility. (13) Selected Quarterly Information (Unaudited)
Three months ended ------------------------------------------------------------- Dec. 31, 1995 Sept. 30, 1995 June 30, 1995 Mar. 31, 1995 ------------- -------------- ------------- ------------- (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts) Total revenues $34,363 33,363 31,860 29,693 Contribution $15,808 15,548 14,026 13,676 Net earnings $1,807 2,252 1,836 1,607 Net earnings per share $.07 .09 .08 .07
Three months ended ------------------------------------------------------------- Dec. 31, 1994 Sept. 30, 1994 June 30, 1994 Mar. 31, 1994 ------------- -------------- ------------- ------------- (Amounts in thousands, except per share amounts) Total revenues $29,143 30,685 28,962 28,191 Contribution $14,061 14,740 14,387 12,897 Net earnings $1,320 1,994 2,122 1,698 Net earnings per share $.06 .08 .09 .07
44 (Continued) Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE. None. 45 PART IV Item 14. EXHIBITS, CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K. (a)(l) Consolidated Financial Statements Page No. Included in Part II of this Report: Independent Auditors' Report ...............................23 Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31, 1995 and 1994 .............................................24 -- 25 Consolidated Statements of Operations, Years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 ............26 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity, Years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 ............27 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 ............28 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements ...........29 -- 44 (a)(2) Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules Included in Part IV of this Report: Independent Auditors' Report................................51 Schedule VIII - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts, Years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993 ............52 Other schedules are omitted as they are not required or are not applicable, or the required information is shown in the applicable financial statements or notes thereto. 46 (b) Exhibits Listed below are the exhibits which are filed as a part of this Report (according to the number assigned to them in Item 601 of Regulation S-K): 3 - Articles of Incorporation and By-laws: Restated Articles of Incorporation of General Communication, Inc. dated August 16, 1993. Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1994 Bylaws of General Communication, Inc., as amended and restated dated March 24, 1993 Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1994 4 - Instruments defining the rights of security holders: Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of January 18, 1991, between General Communication, Inc. and WestMarc Communications, Inc. Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1990. Employee stock option agreements issued to individuals Spradling, O'Hara, Strid, Behnke, Lewkowski and Snyder. Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1991. Lease agreement between GCI Communication Services, Inc. and National Bank of Alaska Leasing Corporation dated January 15, 1992. Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992. Stock Purchase Agreement between MCI Telecommunications Corporation and General Communication, Inc. dated March 31, 1993. Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 4, 1993. Voting Agreement by and between MCI Telecommunications Corporation, Ronald A. Duncan, Robert M. Walp, and WestMarc Communications, Inc., dated March 31, 1993. Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1994 47 10 - Material Contracts: Denali Towers Lease MCI Telecommunications Corporation Carrier Agreement Westin Building Lease All the above incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 0-15279), mailed to the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 30, 1986. Denali Towers Lease, Suites 1000 and 1105 Denali Towers Lease, Suites 910 and 1110 Denali Towers Lease, Suite 400 Hughes Transponder Lease Agreement Duncan and Hughes Deferred Bonus Agreements All of the above incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1989. Service Agreement dated January 1, 1990 between General Communication, Inc. and US Sprint Communications Company Limited Partnership of Delaware Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K dated December 31, 1990. Order approving Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to operate as a Telecommunications (Intrastate Interexchange Carrier) Public Utility within Alaska. Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K dated December 31, 1991. 1986 Stock Option Plan, as amended Loan agreement between National Bank of Alaska and GCI Leasing Co., Inc. dated December 31, 1992. Pledge and Security Agreement between National Bank of Alaska and GCI Communication Services, Inc. dated December 31, 1992. Lease Agreement between MCI Telecommunications Corporation and GCI Leasing Co., Inc. dated December 31, 1992. Sublease Agreement between MCI Telecommunications Corporation and General Communication, Inc. dated December 31, 1992. Financial Assistance Agreement between MCI Telecommunications Corporation and GCI Leasing Co., Inc. dated December 31, 1992. All of the above incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992. Letter of intent between MCI Telecommunications Corporation and General Communication, Inc. dated December 31, 1992. Incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 13, 1993. MCI Carrier Agreement between MCI Telecommunications Corporation and General Communication, Inc. dated January 1, 1993. Contract for Alaska Access Services Agreement between MCI Telecommunications Corporation and General Communication, Inc. dated January 1, 1993. All of the above incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 4, 1993. Promissory Note Agreement between General Communication, Inc. and Ronald A. Duncan, dated August 13, 1993. Deferred Compensation Agreement between General Communication, Inc. and Ronald A. Duncan, dated August 13, 1993. Pledge Agreement between General Communication, Inc. and Ronald A. Duncan, dated August 13, 1993. 48 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement between General Communication, Inc. and Nationsbank of Texas, N.A., dated April 30, 1993. All of the above incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1993. Revised Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan of General Communication, Inc. Summary Plan Description pertaining to the Revised Qualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan of General Communication, Inc. All of the above incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994. Company's press release on the letters of intent, dated March 15, 1996 Amendments to Contract for Alaska Access, effective April 1, 1996 Amendments to MCI Carrier Agreement: Sixth Amendment, effective April 1, 1996 (there was no fifth amendment as of the date of this report) Fourth Amendment, dated September 24, 1995 Third Amendment, dated October 1, 1994 MCI Carrier Addendum MCI 800 DAL Service (First Amendment), dated April 20, 1994 All of the above incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 14, 1996, filed March 28, 1996. 10.1 - The GCI Special Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan 10.2 - Second Amendment to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement between General Communication, Inc. and Nationsbank of Texas, N.A., dated October 31, 1995. 10.3 - Equipment Purchase Agreement between GCI Communication Corporation and Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. Licenses: 214 Authorization International Resale Authorization Digital Electronic Message Service Authorization Fairbanks Earth Station License Fairbanks (Esro) Construction Permit for P-T-P Microwave Service Fairbanks (Polaris) Construction Permit for P-T-P Microwave Service Anchorage Earth Station Construction Permit License for Eagle River P-T-P Microwave Service License for Juneau Earth Station Issaquah Earth Station Construction Permit All the above incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 0-15279), mailed to the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 30, 1986. 49 21 - Subsidiary of Registrant: GCI Communication Corp. State of Incorporation: Alaska Subsidiary of Registrant: GCI Communication Services, Inc. State of Incorporation: Alaska Subsidiary of Subsidiary of Registrant: GCI Leasing Co., Inc. State of Incorporation: Alaska 27 - Financial Data Schedule 28 - Additional Exhibits: The Articles of Incorporation of GCI Communication Corp. The By-laws of GCI Communication Corp. All of the above incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 1990 The By-laws of GCI Communication Services, Inc. The Articles of Incorporation of GCI Communication Services, Inc. The By-laws of GCI Leasing Co., Inc. The Articles of Incorporation of GCI Leasing Co., Inc. All of the above incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1992. (c) Reports on Form 8-K None filed during the quarter ended December 31, 1995. 50 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT ---------------------------- The Board of Directors and Stockholders General Communication, Inc.: Under date of March 15, 1996, we reported on the consolidated balance sheets of General Communication, Inc. and Subsidiaries ("Company") as of December 31, 1995 and 1994 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1995, which are included in the Company's 1995 Annual Report on Form 10-K. In connection with our audits of the aforementioned consolidated financial statements, we also audited the related consolidated financial statement schedule in the consolidated financial statements, which is listed in the index in Item 14(a)(2) of the Company's 1995 Annual Report on Form 10-K. This consolidated financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this consolidated financial statement schedule based on our audits. In our opinion this consolidated 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. /s/KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP Anchorage, Alaska March 15, 1996 51 Schedule VIII ------------- GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993
Additions Deductions -------------------- ----------- Balance at Charged Write-offs Balance beginning to profit net of at end Description of year and loss Other recoveries of year - ---------------------------------------- ---------- --------- ----- ---------- ------- (Amounts in thousands) Year ended December 31, 1995: Allowance for doubtful receivables $ 409 1,459 --- 1,573 295 ===== ===== === ===== === Year ended December 31, 1994: Allowance for doubtful receivables $ 721 829 --- 1,141 409 ===== ===== === ===== === Year ended December 31, 1993: Allowance for doubtful receivables $ 675 1,207 --- 1,161 721 ===== ===== === ===== ===
52 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. GENERAL COMMUNICATION, INC. By: /s/ Ronald A. Duncan Ronald A. Duncan, President (Chief Executive Officer) Date: March 15, 1996 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated. Signature Title Date ---------------------- ------------------------- -------------- /s/ Carter F. Page Chairman of Board March 15, 1996 Carter F. Page and Director /s/ Robert M. Walp Vice Chairman of Board and March 15, 1996 Robert M. Walp Director /s/ Ronald A. Duncan President and Director, March 15, 1996 Ronald A. Duncan (Chief Executive Officer) /s/ Donne F. Fisher Director March 15, 1996 Donne F. Fisher /s/ John W. Gerdelman Director March 15, 1996 John W. Gerdelman /s/ Larry E. Romrell Director March 15, 1996 Larry E. Romrell /s/ James M. Schneider Director March 15, 1996 James M. Schneider /s/ John M. Lowber Senior Vice President, March 15, 1996 John M. Lowber Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer /s/ Alfred J. Walker Vice President and Chief March 15, 1996 Alfred J. Walker Accounting Officer 53