|
|
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
| |||||||||
TeleTech Holdings 10-K 2006 Documents found in this filing:Table of Contents
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
Commission File Number: 0-21055
9197 South Peoria Street
Englewood, Colorado 80112
Registrants telephone number, including area code:
(303) 397-8100
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Act: None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Act:
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Indicate by checkmark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned
issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities
Act. Yes o No þ
If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by
check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of
1934. Yes o No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed
all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for the past
90 days. Yes þ
No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers
pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K
(§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and
will not be contained, to the best of registrants
knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this
Form 10-K
or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated
filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large
accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
(Check one):
Large accelerated
filer o Accelerated
filer þ Non-accelerated
filer o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company
(as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act). Yes o No þ
As of June 30, 2005, the last business day of the
registrants most recently completed second fiscal quarter,
there were 72,210,571 shares of the registrants
common stock outstanding. The aggregate market value of the
registrants voting and non-voting common stock that was
held by non-affiliates on such date was $276,251,349 based on
the closing sale price of the registrants common stock on
such date as reported on the NASDAQ National Market.
As of February 14, 2006, there were 69,043,935 shares
of the registrants common stock outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of TeleTech Holdings, Inc.s definitive proxy
statement for its annual meeting of stockholders to be held on
May 25, 2006, are incorporated by reference into
Part III of this
Form 10-K,
as indicated.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents
This
Form 10-K
and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based
on current expectations and projections. Statements that are not
historical facts, including statements about the beliefs and
expectations of TeleTech Holdings, Inc., are forward-looking
statements. These statements discuss potential risks and
uncertainties, and, therefore, actual results may differ
materially. We have set forth, in Item 1A. Risk Factors and
Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations, a detailed
discussion of risks and uncertainties relating to our business.
We caution investors not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on
which they were made. We undertake no obligation to publicly
update or revise any forward-looking statement whether as a
result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except
as required by law.
In various places throughout this
Form 10-K
we use certain non-GAAP financial measures when describing our
performance. We believe such non-GAAP financial measures are
informative to the users of our financial information. We
discuss non-GAAP financial measures in Item 7 of this
Form 10-K
under the heading Managements Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations Presentation of
Non-GAAP Measurements.
We (TeleTech, Management, or the
Company) are a provider of outsourced customer
management services on a global basis. Our company was organized
as a Delaware corporation on December 22, 1994 to continue
the operations of its predecessor. We completed an initial
public offering (IPO) in 1996. Since the IPO, we
have grown from nine customer management centers
(CMCs or Centers) in four countries to
75 CMCs in 16 countries. Our two primary businesses are
Customer Management Services and Database Marketing and
Consulting. Our Customer Management Services business provides
outsourced customer support and marketing services for a variety
of industries via CMCs throughout the world (Customer
Care), while our Database Marketing and Consulting
business provides outsourced database management, direct
marketing, and related customer acquisition and retention
services for automotive dealerships and manufacturers operating
in North America.
Our principal executive offices are located at 9197 South Peoria
Street, Englewood, Colorado 80112, and the telephone number at
that address is
(303) 397-8100.
Electronic copies of our Annual Reports on
Form 10-K,
Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q,
and current Reports on
Form 8-K
are available free of charge by visiting the
Investors section of our Web site at
www.teletech.com. These reports are posted as soon as reasonably
practicable after they are electronically filed with, or
furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC). In addition, we will provide electronic or
paper copies of our SEC filings, free of charge, upon request.
We grew in revenue and profitability from the Companys
founding through 2000, primarily driven by increases in large,
global client contracts. Although revenue growth continued from
2000 to 2002, we began to experience operating losses beginning
in 2001, which continued through 2003. Those losses were the
result of the following factors, among others:
Table of Contents
To address these circumstances, in mid-2003 we developed a
business plan with the objective of returning operations to
profitability. Under that plan, we have taken the following
actions, among others, over the last two years:
The results of implementing those measures have been:
We operate two distinct businesses Customer
Management Services and Database Marketing and Consulting. We
further classify our Customer Management Services into North
American Customer Care (providing customer management services
to clients based in the United States (U.S.)) and
International Customer Care (consisting of clients in all other
countries), resulting in three segments, which reflect our
management of the Company, our internal financial reporting, and
our operating focus.
Financial information about our segments and geographic
locations can be found in Note 2 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements.
Customer
Management Services
Our Customer Management Services business manages customer
interactions on behalf of our clients via multi-channel CMCs
throughout the world, using telephone,
e-mail,
integrated voice response, and Web-based services. Approximately
95% of our Customer Management Services revenue comes from
inbound customer interactions, and, therefore, the restrictions
under the Do Not Call registry do not have a material impact on
our business.
Our Customer Management Services business includes:
Table of Contents
Many clients request a combination of the above services.
Additionally, we work to develop new products and services to
meet client needs, which we refer to as solutions.
We offer clients an alternative to using in-house resources to
manage customer relationships. Clients utilize our customer
management experience, infrastructure, technology, and resources
to increase their customers satisfaction. Our core
competencies include:
We offer services under three programs; (i) Fully
Outsourced, which are turnkey CMCs leased, equipped, and staffed
by us, (ii) Facilities Management, which are CMCs owned or
leased and equipped by our clients and staffed by us, and
(iii) Infrastructure Outsourced, which are CMCs leased and
equipped by us and staffed by our clients.
Fully Outsourced CMCs may be dedicated to a single client
(Dedicated Centers) or serve multiple clients
(Multi-Client Centers). As of December 31,
2005, and excluding CMCs we announced plans to exit (see
Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), we had
27,042 workstations in 75 CMCs, of which 14 were Dedicated
Centers, 33 were Multi-client Centers, and 28 were Managed
Centers representing 6,410; 15,961; and 4,671 workstations of
capacity, respectively.
Markets and Clients. We focus on large global
corporations in the following industries: Automotive,
Communications and Media, Financial Services, Government,
Healthcare, Logistics, Retail, Technology, and Travel. The
Communications and Media industry comprises approximately 49% of
our total revenue and represents the largest portion of our
client programs.
We had two clients who individually represented more than 10% of
2005 total revenue: Sprint Nextel (formerly Nextel
Communications, Inc.; the Company contracts with IBM, who
contracts with Sprint Nextel) and Verizon Communications
(Verizon), which accounted for 17% and 10% of 2005
consolidated revenue, respectively.
Certain of our communications clients, which represent
approximately one-third of our annual revenue, also provide to
us telecommunication services. We believe each of these supplier
contracts is negotiated on an arms-length basis and may be
negotiated at different times and with different legal entities.
Expenditures under these supplier contracts represent less than
one percent of total costs.
We also have a significant client relationship with Ford Motor
Company (Ford). We provide Customer Management
Services to internal Ford divisions and units. This client
relationship, established in the form of a
Table of Contents
joint venture named Percepta, represented $88.2 million of
2005 revenue. We have a 55% ownership interest in this venture.
At the onset of this relationship in 2000, we issued stock
purchase warrants to Ford entitling Ford to purchase
750,000 shares of our common stock for $12.47 per
share. We valued these warrants, using the Black-Scholes Option
model, at approximately $5 million. These warrants expired
unexercised on December 31, 2005. Also, the agreement
provides that at any time after December 31, 2004, we have
the right to require Ford to purchase its interest in the
operations at fair market value. Ford also has the right to
require us to sell our interest in the operations at fair value
to Ford. At December 31, 2005, the net book value of the
operating assets and liabilities was $8.5 million and for
the year ended December 31, 2005, the income before taxes
from this client relationship was $7.6 million. As
discussed below, our Database Marketing and Consulting business
has a client relationship with Ford that is unrelated to
Percepta.
Sales and Marketing. We typically provide
Customer Management Services pursuant to written contracts with
terms ranging from one to eight years and our contracts often
contain renewal
and/or
extension options. Under the majority of our significant
contracts, we generate revenue based on the amount of time CSRs
devote to a clients program. In addition, clients
typically are required to pay fees relating to the
implementation of the program including initial education and
training of CSRs, setup of the program, and development and
integration of computer software and technology. Clients also
may be required to pay fees relating to the management of the
program and the recruiting, hiring, and training of new CSRs to
backfill vacant positions. Such fees may be billed as a separate
charge upon commencement of the client relationship, or may be
bundled into the recurring production rate billed to the client
over the life of the contract.
Contracts may, depending upon our assessment of the associated
risks and opportunities, include provisions such as:
(i) performance-based pricing provisions, whereby the
client may pay more or we may have to issue a credit, depending
upon our ability to meet agreed upon performance metrics, and
(ii) a requirement for our clients to pay a fee in the
event of early termination.
Most contracts have price adjustment terms allowing for cost of
living adjustments
and/or
market changes in CSR labor costs. Additionally, our client
contracts generally contain provisions that designate the manner
by which we receive payment for our services and allow us or the
client to terminate the contract upon the occurrence of certain
events.
We employ a team sales approach and seek to hire business
development professionals with experience in our targeted
industries in order to best negotiate these contracts to fulfill
the Companys goals.
Operations. We provide Customer Management
Services through operations located in the U.S., Argentina,
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Malaysia,
Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Spain, the
United Kingdom, and Venezuela.
We apply predetermined site selection criteria to identify
locations conducive to operating CMCs in a cost-effective
manner. We pursue local government incentives such as tax
abatements, cash grants, low-interest loans, training grants,
and low-cost utilities. Following site evaluations and cost
analyses, as well as client considerations, a specific site is
located and a lease is negotiated and finalized.
Once we take occupancy of a site, we use a standardized
development process designed to control development costs and to
minimize the time it takes to open a new CMC. The site is
retrofitted to requirements that incorporate engineering, cost
control, and scheduling concepts while placing emphasis on the
quality of the work environment. Upon completion, we integrate
the new CMC into our corporate real estate and asset management
processes. Generally, we can establish a new, fully operational
CMC within 120 days after a lease is finalized and signed.
On a quarterly basis, we assess the expected long-term capacity
utilization of our Centers. Accordingly, we may consolidate or
close under-performing Centers, including those impacted by the
loss of a major client program, in order to maintain or improve
targeted utilization and profit margins.
Quality Assurance. We monitor and measure the
quality and accuracy of our customer interactions through
regional quality assurance departments. These departments
evaluate, on a real-time basis, a certain percentage of the
customer interactions during a day, across all of the customer
interaction mediums utilized
Table of Contents
within the Center. Using criteria mutually determined with the
client, quality assurance professionals monitor, evaluate, and
provide feedback to the CSRs on a weekly basis. As appropriate,
representatives are recognized for superior performance or
scheduled for additional training and coaching.
Technology. Our technology platforms are
designed to maximize the utilization of the CMCs and increase
the efficiency of the CSRs. We use interaction routing
technology designed to expedite response times, and workforce
management systems designed to establish CSR staffing levels
that most efficiently meet call volume demands. In addition, our
technology platform allows for tracking of each customer
interaction, filing the information within a relational
database, and generating reports on demand so that both our
clients and our internal operations teams can analyze the
performance of the client program and gather information
regarding customer behaviors.
We have invested in designing and developing industry-specific,
open-systems software applications and tools and, as a result,
maintain a library of reusable software code for use in future
developments. We run our application software on an open-system,
client-server architecture and use a variety of products
developed by third-party vendors. We continue to invest
resources into the development and implementation of emerging
customer management and technical support technologies.
Human Resources. To sustain an adequate level
of service and support for our clients customers, our CSRs
undergo training before managing customer interactions and for
many client programs, receive ongoing training on a regular
basis. In addition to learning about the clients corporate
culture and specific product or service offerings, CSRs receive
training in the numerous media we use to execute our
clients customer management program. We primarily employ
full-time CSRs with competitive salaries and wages and a full
range of employee benefits.
Competition. We compete primarily with the
in-house customer management operations of our current and
potential clients. We also compete with certain companies that
provide Customer Management Services on an outsourced basis,
including Accenture, Convergys Corporation, EDS, IBM, SITEL
Corporation, and Sykes Enterprises Incorporated, among others.
We may work with some of these companies on a sub-contract
basis. We compete primarily on the basis of experience, global
locations, quality and scope of services, speed and flexibility
of implementation, technological expertise, price, and
contractual terms. A number of competitors may have greater
capabilities and resources than ours. Additionally, niche
providers or new entrants could capture a segment of the market
by developing new systems or services that could impact our
market potential.
International Operations. Our international
operations consist of customer management services provided to
clients from facilities outside of the U.S., including Asia
Pacific, Canada, Europe, and Latin America. See Note 2 to
Consolidated Financial Statement for a discussion of the manner
in which the countries we operate are reported on a segment
basis. Our businesses in these countries are operated and
managed as described above. Outbound programs represent a higher
percentage of our client programs internationally than in North
America. In Spain, our employees are subject to collective
bargaining agreements under national labor laws. Additionally,
competition in our international locations includes smaller,
local providers of Customer Management Services in addition to
the global providers listed above.
In April 2003, we formed a joint venture agreement with Bharti
Enterprises Limited (Bharti) to provide in-country
and offshore customer management solutions in India. Initially,
TeleTech and Bharti each had a 50% ownership interest in the
joint venture with TeleTech having the ability to acquire up to
80% of the venture. In February 2004, we acquired an additional
10% interest in the venture, bringing our total ownership
interest to 60%.
Our Database Marketing and Consulting segment provides
outsourced database management, direct marketing, and related
customer acquisition and retention services for automotive
dealerships and automobile manufacturers operating in North
America. The services provided by our Database Marketing and
Consulting
Table of Contents
segment primarily consist of marketing campaigns utilizing
direct mail and outbound teleservices to promote automobile
service business from a dealerships existing customer base.
Markets and Clients. We provide Database
Marketing and Consulting services to automotive dealers and
manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada. We have contracts with
more than 4,000 automobile dealers representing 28 different
automotive brand names. Additionally, we provide services
directly to automobile manufacturers primarily related to
national sales and service promotions. Under an agreement with
Ford, we are a preferred provider to Ford dealerships which
represent approximately 40% of dealerships we serve.
Sales and Marketing. We employ sales
professionals located in major automotive markets throughout the
U.S. and Canada.
Operations. We have developed expertise in the
operational aspects of database management, direct marketing,
and teleservices. Our core competencies include;
(i) developing databases with dealership-specific
information; (ii) updating dealership data through our
automated computer system; (iii) compiling related data;
(iv) maintaining automobile maintenance schedules; and
(v) providing systems for customer solicitation using
direct mail and outbound teleservice.
Quality Assurance. We monitor and measure the
ongoing quality and accuracy of our processes and systems
associated with our products through operating metrics. These
metrics are routinely evaluated against the current business
environment.
Technology. We have invested significant
resources in designing and developing proprietary,
industry-specific software applications and tools and, as a
result, maintain a library of reusable software code for use in
future developments. We continue to invest resources to develop
and implement emerging automotive customer services.
Human Resources. We aim to recruit and hire
personnel who have experience with automotive manufacturers
and/or
dealerships to enable us to provide our clients with an
understanding of dealership operations and processes. Our
employees receive training before managing customer interactions
and, for many client programs, receive ongoing training on a
regular basis.
Competition. We compete with a variety of
companies, including large national or multi-national companies
and smaller regional or local companies, including Autobytel,
eLeads, Moore Corporation Limited, On-line Administrators, and
R.L. Polk. In addition, Ford will be offering a product that
competes with our Database Marketing and Consulting services. As
the trend toward dealership consolidation continues, dealerships
may decide to create internal economies of scale, and could
choose to satisfy their database management and direct marketing
needs internally. In addition, we compete with the in-house
database marketing and consulting services of our automotive
dealership clients.
As of December 31, 2005, we had over 40,000 employees in 16
countries. Approximately 80% of these employees held full-time
positions. Our industry is labor-intensive and traditionally
experiences significant personnel turnover. Our employees in
Spain are subject to collective bargaining agreements mandated
under national labor laws.
Historically we have experienced a seasonal impact in the fourth
quarter primarily related to higher volumes from a few clients
with seasonality in their business, particularly the package
delivery business. Also, we typically experience higher labor
related costs primarily during the first quarter due to payroll
taxes.
As discussed below, we earned a significant amount of revenue
during the fourth quarter of 2005 from a short-term
U.S. government program to provide disaster relief services
related to hurricanes in the U.S. Although we have a
multi-year contract with the U.S. General Services
Administration, there can be no assurance that the need for such
services in the future will arise or that we would be selected
to provide such services.
Table of Contents
Working
Capital
Information about our liquidity is contained in Item 7.
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations Liquidity
and Capital Resources.
You should not construe the following cautionary statements as
an exhaustive list. We cannot always predict what factors would
cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated
in our forward-looking statements. All cautionary statements
should be read as being applicable to all forward-looking
statements wherever they appear. We do not undertake any
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events, or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties,
and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed herein
might not occur.
Forward-looking information may prove to be inaccurate. Some of
the information presented in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K
constitutes forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited
to, statements that include terms such as may,
will, intend, anticipate,
estimate, expect, continue,
believe, plan, or the like, as well as
all statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking
statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from
current expectations. Although we believe our expectations are
based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of our
knowledge of our business and operations, there can be no
assurance that actual results will not differ materially from
expectations. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
from expectations or have a material adverse effect upon our
business include:
Our revenues are generated from a limited number of
clients. We rely on strategic, long-term
relationships with large, global companies in targeted
industries. As a result, we derive a substantial portion of our
revenue from relatively few clients. Additionally, client
consolidations could result in a loss of clients. There can be
no assurance that we will not become more dependent on a few
significant clients, that we will be able to retain any of our
largest clients, that the volumes or profit margins of our most
significant programs will not be reduced, or that we would be
able to replace such clients or programs with clients or
programs that generate comparable revenue and profits.
Our business may be affected by the success of our
clients. In substantially all of our client
programs, we generate revenue based, in large part, on the
amount of time our CSRs devote to our clients customers.
Consequently, the amount of revenue generated from any
particular client program is dependent upon consumers
interest in, and use of, the clients products
and/or
services. There can be no assurance that our clients will
continue to market products and services or develop new products
and services that require them to use our services.
Our financial results may be adversely impacted by the global
economy. Our ability to enter into new multi-year
contracts with large clients may be impacted by the general
macroeconomic environment in which our clients and their
customers operate. Weakening economic conditions, both global
and local in nature, could result in increased sales cycles,
delays in finalizing new business opportunities, slower growth,
and reduced revenue from existing contracts. An economic
downturn could negatively impact the financial condition of our
clients, thereby increasing our risk of not receiving payment
for services. There can be no assurance that weakening economic
conditions or acts of terrorism throughout the world will not
adversely impact our results of operations
and/or
financial position.
Our business is subject to federal, state, and international
regulations. Changes in U.S. federal, state,
and international outsourcing requirements, restrictions, and
disclosures may affect the sale of our services, including
expansion of overseas operations. In the U.S., some of our
services must comply with various federal and state requirements
and regulations regarding the method and practices of placing
outbound telephone calls. There can be no assurance that changes
in these regulations and requirements, or new restrictive
regulations and requirements, will not slow growth of these
services or require us to incur substantial costs.
Table of Contents
Our success is subject to the terms of our
contracts. Most of our contracts do not ensure
that we will generate a minimum level of revenue, and the
profitability of each client program may fluctuate, sometimes
significantly, throughout the various stages of a program. Our
objective is to sign multi-year contracts with our clients.
However, our contracts generally enable the clients to terminate
the contract or reduce customer interaction volumes. Our larger
contracts generally require the client to pay a contractually
agreed amount in the event of early termination. Additionally,
certain contracts have performance-related bonus
and/or
penalty provisions, whereby the client may pay us a bonus or we
may have to issue a credit based upon our ability to meet agreed
upon performance metrics. There can be no assurance that we will
be able to collect early termination fees, avoid performance
penalties, or earn performance bonuses.
Our business may be affected by our ability to obtain
financing. From time to time, we may need to
obtain debt or equity financing for capital expenditures, for
payment of existing obligations, or to replenish cash reserves.
Additionally, our existing debt agreements require us to comply
with certain financial covenants. There can be no assurance that
we will be able to obtain debt or equity financing, or that any
such financing would be on terms acceptable to us. There can be
no assurance that we will be able to meet the financial
covenants under our debt agreements or, in the event of
noncompliance, will be able to obtain waivers or amendments from
the lenders.
Our business may be affected by risks associated with
international operations and expansion. One
component of our growth strategy is continued international
expansion. There are certain risks inherent with conducting
international business including management of personnel
overseas, longer payment cycles, difficulties in accounts
receivable collections, difficulties in complying with foreign
laws, unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, political
and social instability, and potentially adverse tax
consequences. Any one or more of these factors could have a
material adverse effect on our international operations and,
consequently, on our business, consolidated results of
operations, or consolidated financial condition. There can be no
assurance that we will be able to manage our international
operations successfully.
Our financial results may be impacted by our ability to find
new locations. Our future success will be
dependent upon being able to find cost effective locations in
which to operate, both domestically and internationally. There
is no assurance that we will be able to find cost effective
locations, obtain favorable lease terms, and build or retrofit
facilities in a timely or economic manner.
Our financial results may be adversely affected by increases
in business costs. Some of our larger contracts
allow us to increase our service fees if, and to the extent,
certain cost or price indices increase. The majority of our
expenses are payroll and payroll-related, which includes
healthcare costs. Over the past several years, healthcare costs
have increased at a rate much greater than that of general cost
or price indices. Increases in our service fees that are based
upon increases in cost or price indices may not fully compensate
us for increases in labor and other costs incurred in providing
services. There can be no assurance that we will be able to
recover increases in our costs through increased service fees.
Our financial results depend on our ability to manage
capacity utilization. Our profitability is
influenced significantly by our CMC capacity utilization. We
attempt to maximize utilization. However, because the majority
of our business is inbound, we have significantly higher
utilization during peak (weekday) periods than during off-peak
(night and weekend) periods. We have experienced periods of idle
capacity, particularly in our Multi-Client CMCs. Historically,
we experience idle peak period capacity upon opening a new CMC
or termination or completion of a large client program. On a
quarterly basis, we assess the expected long-term capacity
utilization of our Centers. We may consolidate or close
under-performing centers in order to maintain or improve
targeted utilization and margins. In the event we close CMCs in
the future, we may be required to record restructuring or
impairment charges, which would adversely impact our results of
operations. There can be no assurance that we will be able to
achieve or maintain optimal CMC capacity utilization.
Our business operates in a highly competitive
market. The market in which we operate is
fragmented and highly competitive and competition may intensify
in the future. We compete with small firms offering specific
applications, divisions of large entities, large independent
firms, and, most significantly, the in-house operations of
clients or potential clients. A number of competitors may
develop greater capabilities and
Table of Contents
resources than ours. Because our primary competitors are the
in-house operations of existing or potential clients, our
performance and growth could be adversely affected if our
existing or potential clients decide to provide in-house
Customer Management Services for customer care they currently
outsource, or retain or increase their in-house customer care
and product support capabilities. In addition, competitive
pressures from current or future competitors also could cause
our services to lose market acceptance or result in significant
price erosion, which could have a material adverse effect upon
our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
There can be no assurance that additional competitors, some with
greater resources than ours, will not enter our market.
Our future success requires continued
growth. Continued future growth will depend on a
number of factors, including our ability to: (i) initiate,
develop, and maintain new client relationships; (ii) expand
existing client programs; (iii) staff and equip suitable
CMC facilities in a timely manner; and (iv) develop new
solutions and enhance existing solutions we provide to our
clients. There can be no assurance that we will be able to
effectively manage expanded operations or maintain our
profitability.
Our financial results may be affected by rapidly changing
technology. Our business is highly dependent on
our computer and telecommunications equipment and software
capabilities. Our failure to maintain our technological
capabilities or to respond effectively to technological changes
could have a material adverse effect on our business,
consolidated results of operations, or consolidated financial
condition. Our continued growth and future profitability will be
highly dependent on a number of factors, including our ability
to: (i) expand our existing solutions offerings;
(ii) achieve cost efficiencies in our existing CMC
operations; and (iii) introduce new solutions that leverage
and respond to changing technological developments. Our ability
to effectively market and implement software solutions developed
by our Database Marketing and Consulting segment, including
recoverability of capitalized costs based on estimated future
cash flows, is a factor in our future success. There can be no
assurance that technologies or services developed by our
competitors will not render our products or services
non-competitive or obsolete, that we can successfully develop
and market any new services or products, that any such new
services or products will be commercially successful, or that
the integration of new technological capabilities will achieve
their intended cost reductions.
Our success depends on key personnel. Our
success will depend upon our ability to recruit, hire, and
retain experienced executive personnel who can successfully
execute our business plans. There can be no assurance that we
will be able to hire, motivate, and retain highly effective
executive employees on economically feasible terms who can
successfully execute our business plans.
Our business is dependent on our ability to maintain our
workforce. Our success is largely dependent on
our ability to recruit, hire, train, and retain qualified
employees. Our industry is labor-intensive and experiences high
employee turnover. A significant increase in the employee
turnover rate could increase recruiting and training costs,
thereby decreasing operating effectiveness and productivity.
Also, if we obtain several significant new clients or implement
several new, large-scale programs, we may need to recruit, hire,
and train qualified personnel at an accelerated rate. We may not
be able to continue to hire, train, and retain sufficient
qualified personnel to adequately staff new customer management
programs. In addition, certain CMCs are located in geographic
areas with relatively low unemployment rates, which could make
it more difficult and costly to hire qualified personnel. There
can be no assurance that we will be able maintain our workforce
at necessary levels.
Our success may be affected by our ability to complete and
integrate acquisitions and joint ventures. We may
pursue strategic acquisitions of companies with services,
technologies, industry specializations, or geographic coverage
that extend or complement our existing business. We may face
increased competition for acquisition opportunities, which may
inhibit our ability to complete suitable acquisitions on
favorable terms. We may pursue strategic alliances in the form
of joint ventures and partnerships, which involve many of the
same risks as acquisitions as well as additional risks
associated with possible lack of control if we do not have a
majority ownership position. There can be no assurance that we
will be successful in integrating acquisitions or joint ventures
into our existing businesses, or that any acquisition or joint
venture will enhance our business, results of operations, or
financial condition.
Table of Contents
Our business depends on uninterrupted service to
clients. Our operations are dependent upon our
ability to protect our computer and telecommunications equipment
and software systems against damage or interruption from fire,
power loss, cyber attacks, telecommunications interruption or
failure, natural disaster, and other similar events. Our
operations may also be adversely affected by damage to our
facilities resulting from fire, natural disaster, or other
events. Additionally, severe weather can cause interruption in
our ability to deliver our services, such as when our employees
cannot attend work, resulting in a loss of revenue. In the event
we experience a temporary or permanent interruption at one or
more of our locations (including our corporate headquarters
building), through the reasons noted above or otherwise, our
business could be materially adversely affected and we may be
required to pay contractual damages or face the loss of certain
clients altogether. We maintain property and business
interruption insurance. However, there can be no assurance that
such insurance will adequately compensate us for any losses we
may incur.
Our financial results may experience
variability. We experience quarterly variations
in operating results because of a variety of factors, many of
which are outside our control. In addition, we make decisions
regarding staffing levels, investments, and other operating
expenditures based on our revenue forecasts. If our revenue is
below expectations in any given quarter, our operating results
for that quarter would likely be materially adversely affected.
There can be no assurance that future quarterly or annual
operating results will reflect past operating results.
Our financial results may be impacted by foreign currency
exchange risk. We serve an increasing number of
our U.S. clients from CMCs in Argentina, Canada, India,
Mexico, and the Philippines. Contracts with these clients are
typically priced in U.S. dollars while the costs incurred
to operate these CMCs are denominated in the foreign currency of
the country from which the clients are served, representing a
foreign currency exchange risk to us.
Although we enter into financial hedge instruments to manage and
reduce the impact of changes in certain foreign currency
exchange rates, we do not hedge 100% of these risks. If the
U.S. dollar weakens, the operating income of these CMCs,
once translated into U.S. dollars, decreases in comparison
to prior years to the extent we have not hedged 100%. If the
U.S. dollar was to materially weaken, our consolidated
financial results may be adversely impacted. While our hedging
strategy effectively offset a portion of these foreign currency
changes during 2005, there can be no assurance that we will
continue to successfully partially hedge this foreign currency
exchange risk or that the U.S. dollar will not materially
weaken.
Our financial results may be adversely impacted by our
Database Marketing and Consulting segment. Prior
to 2005, our Database Marketing and Consulting segment had
historically experienced high levels of profitability. During
2005, the segment reported an operating loss. We have plans to
return this segment to profitability. A part of our plan
provided for entering into a new agreement with Ford for 2006
wherein we would provide services to Fords automotive
dealerships on a preferred, not on an exclusive basis as was the
previous agreement, in return for pricing flexibility. There can
be no assurance that we will be successful in executing our
plans to return this segment to prior levels of profitability.
We have approximately $13 million of goodwill for this
segment whose ultimate recoverability is dependent upon the
profitability of this segment. Our consolidated financial
results and consolidated financial position, including our
ability to obtain financing, may be adversely impacted if we are
unable to return that segment to previous profitability levels.
None.
Our corporate headquarters are located in Englewood, Colorado,
in approximately 264,000 square feet of office space. In
February 2003, we purchased our corporate headquarters building,
including furniture and fixtures, for $38.2 million.
Table of Contents
As of December 31, 2005, excluding CMCs we announced plans
to exit, we operated 75 CMCs that are classified as follows:
We operated in the following locations as of December 31,
2005:
In addition, our Database Marketing and Consulting segment
leases space for its corporate headquarters in San Diego,
California.
We also lease four small administrative offices occupied by
support staff, and a facility in Livonia, Michigan that is
subleased to a third-party.
The leases for our CMCs have terms ranging from one to
20 years and generally contain renewal options. We believe
that our existing CMCs are suitable and adequate for our current
operations and we have plans to build additional centers to
accommodate future business. Under our business plan, we target
capacity utilization in our fully outsourced centers at 85% to
90% of our available workstations during peak (weekday) periods.
From time to time we may be involved in claims or lawsuits that
arise in the ordinary course of business. Accruals for claims or
lawsuits have been provided for to the extent that losses are
deemed both probable and estimable. Although the ultimate
outcome of these claims or lawsuits cannot be ascertained, it is
our opinion, based on present information and advice received
from counsel, that the disposition or ultimate determination of
such claims or lawsuits will not have a material adverse effect
on our Company.
Table of Contents
No matters were submitted to a vote of the Companys
stockholders during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year ended
December 31, 2005.
The following information is included in accordance with the
provisions for Part III, Item 10. The names, positions
held by, and ages of our executive officers as of
December 31, 2005 are as follows:
Table of Contents
There are no arrangements or understandings between any
executive officer and another person pursuant to which such
executive officer was selected as an officer.
The Companys common stock is traded on the NASDAQ National
Market under the symbol TTEC. The following table
sets forth the range of the high and low sales prices per share
of the common stock for the quarters indicated as reported on
the NASDAQ National Market:
As of February 14, 2006, there were 69,043,935 shares
of common stock outstanding, held by 257 stockholders of
record.
We have not ever declared or paid any dividends on our common
stock and we do not expect to do so in the foreseeable future.
In November 2001, the Board of Directors (Board)
authorized a stock repurchase program to repurchase up to
$5 million of our common stock. That plan was subsequently
amended by the Board resulting in the authorized repurchase
amount increasing to $115 million. During the year ended
December 31, 2005 we purchased 7.1 million shares for
$67.8 million. From inception of the program through
December 31, 2005, we have purchased 11.9 million
shares for $99.1 million, leaving $15.9 million
remaining under the repurchase program at December 31,
2005. In February 2006, the Board authorized an additional
$50 million of share repurchases. The program does not have
an expiration date.
We purchased an additional 0.3 million shares at an average
share price of $11.83 during the period January 1, 2006
through February 14, 2006.
Issuer
Purchases of Equity Securities
Table of Contents
The following selected financial data should be read in
conjunction with Item 7. Managements Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and
the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes
appearing elsewhere in this report.
Table of Contents
This Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations contains certain
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
The projections and statements contained in these
forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause the
Companys actual results, performance, or achievements to
be materially different from any future results, performance, or
achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking
statements. All statements not based on historical fact are
forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and
uncertainties. In accordance with the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, following are important factors
that could cause TeleTechs and its subsidiaries
actual results to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not
limited to the following: the Companys belief that it is
continuing to see strong demand for its services; estimated
revenue from new, renewed, or
Table of Contents
expanded client business; the belief that the prospects for new
business remain strong; achieving the Companys expected
profit improvement in its International operations; the ability
to close and ramp new business opportunities that are currently
being pursued with existing clients and potential clients; the
ability of the Company to execute its growth plans, including
sales of new products (such as TeleTech On
Demandtm
and TeleTech In
Culturetm);
the ability of the Company to increase profitability via the
globalization of its North American best operating practices; to
achieve its year-end 2006 and 2007 financial goals and targeted
cost reductions; the possibility of the Companys Database
Marketing and Consulting segment not increasing revenue,
lowering costs, or returning to historic levels of
profitability; the possibility of lower revenue or price
pressure from the Companys clients experiencing a downturn
or merger in their business; greater than anticipated
competition in the BPO and customer management market, causing
adverse pricing and more stringent contractual terms; risks
associated with losing or not renewing client relationships,
particularly large client agreements, or early termination of a
client agreement; the risk of losing clients due to
consolidation in the industries the Company serves;
consumers concerns or adverse publicity regarding the
products of the Companys clients; higher than anticipated
start-up
costs or lead times associated with new ventures or business in
new markets; execution risks associated with performance-based
pricing metrics in certain client agreements; the Companys
ability to find cost effective locations, obtain favorable lease
terms, and build or retrofit facilities in a timely and economic
manner; risks associated with business interruption due to
weather or terrorist-related events; risks associated with
attracting and retaining cost-effective labor at the
Companys customer management centers; the possibility of
additional asset impairments and restructuring charges; risks
associated with changes in foreign currency exchange rates;
economic or political changes affecting the countries in which
the Company operates; changes in accounting policies and
practices promulgated by standard setting bodies; and new
legislation or government regulation that impacts the BPO and
customer management industry.
Executive
Overview
We serve our clients through two primary businesses Customer
Management Services and Database Marketing and Consulting.
Customer Management Services provides outsourced customer
support and marketing services for a variety of industries via
CMCs throughout the world. When we begin operations in a new
country, we determine whether the country is intended to
primarily serve
U.S.-based
clients, in which case we include the country in our North
American Customer Care Segment, or the country is intended to
serve both domestic clients from that country and
U.S.- based
clients, in which case we include the country in our
International Customer Care Segment. This is consistent with our
management of the business, internal financial reporting
structure, and operating focus. Operations for each segment of
Customer Management Services are conducted in the following
countries:
Database Marketing and Consulting provides outsourced database
management, direct marketing, and related customer acquisition
and retention services for automobile dealerships and
manufacturers. Segment accounting policies are the same as those
used in the consolidated financial statements. See Note 2
to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional
discussion regarding our preparation of segment information.
Table of Contents
Customer
Management Services
The Customer Management Services business generates revenue
based primarily on the amount of time our representatives devote
to a clients program. We primarily focus on large global
corporations in the following industries; automotive,
communications and media, financial services, government,
logistics, retail, technology, and travel. Revenue is recognized
as services are provided. The majority of our revenue is, and we
anticipate that the majority of our future revenue will continue
to be, from multi-year contracts. However, we do provide certain
client programs on a short-term basis and our operations outside
of North America are characterized by shorter-term contracts.
Additionally, we typically experience client attrition of
approximately 10% to 15% of our revenue each year. Our client
attrition in 2005 was 7%, which we believe is attributable to
our investment in an account management team. Our invoice terms
with clients range from 30 days to 45 days, with
longer terms in Europe.
The Customer Management Services industry is highly competitive.
Our ability to sell existing services or gain acceptance for new
products is challenged by the competitive nature of the
industry. There can be no assurance that we will be able to sell
services to new clients, renew relationships with existing
clients, or gain client acceptance of our new products.
We compete primarily with the in-house customer management
operations of our current and potential clients. We also compete
with certain companies that provide Customer Management Services
on an outsourced basis. In general, over the last several years,
the global economy has negatively impacted the customer
management market. More specifically, sales cycles have
lengthened, competition has increased, and contract values have
been reduced. However, we believe that sales cycles have begun
shortening. Nonetheless, pricing pressures continue within our
industry due to the rapid growth of offshore labor capabilities.
When renewing contracts, clients may request that all or a
portion of the renewal work be located within International
CMCs. These requests decrease our revenue as the billing rate we
charge for International CMCs is lower than for North American
CMCs, and, in the short-term, increase our costs as we incur
expenses related to relocating the work. For the year ended
December 31, 2005 we incurred contract relocation costs of
approximately $0.8 million.
Quarterly we review capacity utilization and projected demand
for future capacity requirements. In conjunction with these
quarterly reviews, we may decide to consolidate or close
under-performing CMCs, including those impacted by the loss of a
major client program, in order to maintain or improve targeted
utilization and margins.
Because clients may request that we serve their customers from
International CMCs with lower prevailing labor rates, in the
future we may decide to close one or more
U.S.-based
CMCs, even though it is generating positive cash flow, because
we believe the future profits from conducting such work outside
the U.S. may more than compensate for the one-time charges
related to closing the facility.
The short-term focus of management is to increase revenue in
both the North American Customer Care and International Customer
Care segments by:
Our ability to enter into new multi-year contracts, particularly
large complex opportunities, is dependent upon the macroeconomic
environment in general and the specific industry environments in
which our clients operate. A weakening of the U.S. and/or the
global economy could lengthen sales cycles or cause delays in
closing new business opportunities.
Our profitability is significantly influenced by our ability to
increase capacity utilization in our CMCs, the number of new or
expanded programs during a period, and our success at managing
personnel turnover
Table of Contents
and employee costs. Managing our costs is critical since we
continue to see pricing pressure within our industry. These
pricing pressures have been accentuated by the rapid growth of
offshore labor.
We attempt to minimize the financial impact resulting from idle
capacity when planning the development and opening of new CMCs
or the expansion of existing CMCs. As such, management considers
numerous factors that affect capacity utilization, including
anticipated expirations, reductions, terminations, or expansions
of existing programs, and the potential size and timing of new
client contracts that we expect to obtain.
However, to respond more rapidly to changing market demands, to
implement new programs, and to expand existing programs, we may
be required to commit to additional capacity prior to the
contracting of additional business, which may result in idle
capacity. This is largely due to the significant time required
to negotiate and execute a client contract as we concentrate our
marketing efforts toward obtaining large, complex, customer
management programs.
We internally target capacity utilization in our Centers at 85%
to 90% of our available workstations. As of December 31,
2005, the overall capacity utilization in our Multi-client
centers was 72% (see Financial Comparison below for further
details).
Our profitability is also influenced by the number of new or
expanded client programs. As required by the adoption of
Emerging Issues Task Force 00-21, Revenue Arrangements
with Multiple Deliverables
(EITF 00-21),
for contracts entered into after July 1, 2003, in the event
a client is billed for direct
start-up
costs, the associated revenue and costs are deferred and
recognized straight-line over the life of the contract. In the
event that a client cannot be billed for direct
start-up
costs, then those
start-up
costs are expensed as incurred. We strive to enter contracts
where our clients pay separately for
start-up
costs as opposed to incorporating them into the ongoing
production rate.
Our potential clients typically obtain bids from multiple
vendors and evaluate many factors in selecting a service
provider including, among other factors, the scope of services
offered, the service record of the vendor, and price. We
generally price our bids with a long-term view of profitability
and, accordingly, we consider all of our fixed and variable
costs in developing our bids. We believe that our competitors
may bid business based upon a short-term view, as opposed to our
longer-term view, resulting in a lower price bid. While we
believe our clients perceptions of the value we provide
results in our being successful in certain competitive bid
situations, there are often situations where a potential client
may prefer a lower cost.
Our industry is very labor-intensive and the majority of our
operating costs relate to wages, costs of employee benefits, and
employment taxes. An improvement in the local or global
economies where our CMCs are located could lead to increased
labor-related costs. In addition, our industry experiences high
personnel turnover, and the length of training time required to
implement new programs continues to increase due to increased
complexities of our clients businesses. This may create
challenges if we obtain several significant new clients or
implement several new, large-scale programs, and need to
recruit, hire, and train qualified personnel at an accelerated
rate.
Our success in improving our profitability will depend on
successful execution of a comprehensive business plan, including
the following broad steps:
Database
Marketing and Consulting
Our Database Marketing and Consulting segment has relationships
with over 4,000 automobile dealers representing 28 different
automotive brand names. These contracts generally have terms
ranging from
month-to-month
to 24 months. For a few major automotive manufacturers, the
automotive manufacturer collects from the individual automobile
dealers on our behalf. Our average collection period is
30 days.
Table of Contents
A majority of the revenue from this segment is generated
utilizing a database and contact engine to promote the service
business of automobile dealership customers using targeted
marketing solutions through the Web,
e-mail,
phone, or mail. A combination of factors contributed to this
segment generating a loss from operations of approximately
$9.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. The
primary factor is that our dealer attrition rate has exceeded
our new account growth, resulting in a significant decrease in
revenue from the prior year period (a trend that is continuing
into the first quarter of 2006). Secondly, in connection with
our program with Ford (whose dealers represent approximately 70%
of the revenue of our Database Marketing and Consulting
segment), we agreed to absorb dealer subsidies in return for
obtaining anticipated additional dealers as clients and existing
dealers increasing their utilization of our services. Due to a
delay in the launch of that program and less than expected
dealer growth and utilization, these subsidies, which are
recorded as a reduction of revenue, have resulted in the program
profitability being less than anticipated. As the 2005 contract
did not achieve our objectives, we have agreed with Ford to a
new program for 2006 wherein we provide services to Fords
automotive dealerships on a preferred basis, rather than
exclusive basis as was the previous agreement, as Ford will be
offering a competing product. The new agreement gives us
flexibility to customize service offerings and the ability to
contract directly with Fords dealerships. No assurances
can be given that the new program will improve revenue or
profitability or not cause the current trends to continue.
We plan to focus on the following during 2006:
The clients of our Database Marketing and Consulting segment, as
well as our joint venture with Ford, come primarily from the
automotive industry. The U.S. automotive industry is
currently reporting declining earnings, which may result in
client losses, lower volumes, or place additional pricing
pressures on our operations.
Fourth
Quarter Events
During the fourth quarter of 2005, we recorded:
Table of Contents
Also, during the fourth quarter of 2005, we provided Customer
Management Services under a short-term contract with the
U.S. government to aid in hurricane relief efforts. The
revenues related to this short-term project were approximately
10% of our consolidated revenue for the fourth quarter of 2005
and materially impacted profitability as the project utilized
excess CMC capacity. During the fourth quarter, we discussed
with the U.S. government our belief that certain costs we
incurred should be billed. As no agreement was reached, we had
not billed the U.S. government, and accordingly did not
recognize as revenue in 2005 approximately $6 million of
services. We believe the work order should be amended to include
such services. No assurances can be given that we will be
successful in obtaining an amended work order for all or a
portion of such services.
Overall
As shown in the Financial Comparison below (see
Net increase to income from operations excluding items
separately identified below), we believe that we have been
successful in improving income from operations for our North
American and International Customer Care segments. The increases
are attributable to a variety of factors such as our
successfully performing under a short-term U.S. government
program contract to provide hurricane relief efforts (which
ended prior to December 31, 2005), expansion of work on
certain client programs, our multi-phased cost reduction plan,
transitioning work on certain client programs to lower cost
operating centers, and taking actions to improve individual
client program profit margins
and/or
eliminate unprofitable client programs.
To address known changes in our business and, in particular, the
decline in revenue and operating income due to the declining
minimum commitments discussed further in Client
Concentrations, we implemented an $80 million profit
improvement plan commencing in August 2003. We believe this
plan, among other factors, enabled us to operate profitably
during 2004 and 2005. These improvements were achieved primarily
through cost savings in the areas of lower general and
administrative headcount, terminating unprofitable client
programs, improved CMC operations, exiting unprofitable
operations, and a reduction in certain costs including
telecommunications, professional fees, insurance, and reduced
future interest expense associated with our debt-restructuring
plan. During the third quarter of 2005 we announced our plan for
an additional $20 million of future cost savings to be
achieved during 2006 and 2007.
As discussed in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements, we reduced the level of outstanding indebtedness
since December 2003, and expect to operate without material
financial indebtedness unless we were to incur additional
indebtedness to finance acquisitions or to fund our stock
repurchase program.
Critical
Accounting Policies
We have identified the policies below as critical to our
business and results of operations. For further discussion on
the application of these and other accounting policies, see
Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Our reported results are impacted by the application of the
following accounting policies, certain of which require
management to make subjective or complex judgments. These
judgments involve making estimates about the effect of matters
that are inherently uncertain and may significantly impact
quarterly or annual results of operations. Specific risks
associated with these critical accounting policies are described
in the following paragraphs.
For all of these policies, management cautions that future
events rarely develop exactly as expected, and the best
estimates routinely require adjustment. Descriptions of these
critical accounting policies follow:
Revenue Recognition. We recognize revenue at
the time services are performed. Our Customer Management
Services business recognizes revenue under production rate and
performance-based models which are:
Production Rate. Revenue is recognized based
on the billable hours or minutes of each CSR, as defined in the
client contract. The rate per billable hour or minute is based
on a predetermined contractual rate. This contractual rate can
fluctuate based on our performance against certain
pre-determined criteria related to quality and performance.
Table of Contents
Performance-based. Under performance-based
arrangements, we are paid by our clients based on achievement of
certain levels of sales or other client-determined criteria
specified in the client contract. We recognize performance-based
revenue by measuring our actual results against the performance
criteria specified in the contracts. Amounts collected from
clients prior to the performance of services are recorded as
deferred revenue.
Hybrid. Under hybrid models we are paid a
fixed fee or production element as well as a performance-based
element.
Certain client programs provide for adjustments to monthly
billings based upon whether we meet or exceed certain
performance criteria as set forth in the contract. Increases or
decreases to monthly billings arising from such contract terms
are reflected in revenue as earned or incurred.
Our Database Marketing and Consulting segment recognizes revenue
when services are rendered. Most agreements require the billing
of predetermined monthly rates. Where the contractual billing
periods do not coincide with the periods over which services are
provided, we recognize revenue straight-line over the life of
the contract (typically six to 24 months).
From time to time, we make certain expenditures related to
acquiring contracts (recorded as Contract Acquisition Costs in
the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets). Those
expenditures are capitalized and amortized in proportion to the
initial expected future revenue from the contract, which in most
cases results in straight-line amortization over the life of the
contract. These costs are recorded as a reduction to revenue.
Some of our contracts are billed in advance. Accordingly,
amounts billed and collected, but not earned, under these
contracts are excluded from revenue and included in customer
advances and deferred income.
Income Taxes. We account for income taxes
under SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income
Taxes (SFAS No. 109), which requires
recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the
expected future income tax consequences of transactions that
have been included in the consolidated financial statements.
Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are
determined based on the difference between the financial
statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted
tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are
expected to reverse. When circumstances warrant, we assess the
likelihood that our net deferred tax assets will more likely
than not be recovered from future projected taxable income.
SFAS No. 109 provides for the weighing of positive and
negative evidence in determining whether it is more likely than
not that a deferred tax asset is recoverable. We prepare a
forecast of future taxable income, including domestic and
international operating results and the reversal of existing
temporary differences between income recognized under accounting
principles generally accepted in the
U.S. (GAAP) and income for federal income tax
reporting purposes. Relevant accounting guidance suggests that a
recent history of cumulative losses constitutes significant
negative evidence, and that future expectations about taxable
income are overshadowed by such recent losses. Accordingly, the
expectations of future taxable income would generally be limited
to no more than two or three years for generating sufficient
income to recover deferred tax assets.
Based upon assessments of recoverability of our deferred tax
assets, our valuation allowance as of December 31, 2005 is
$10.6 million. This valuation allowance is principally
related to deferred tax assets associated with the local
operations in the Argentina, India, South Korea, and Spain. As
shown in Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements,
we have approximately $34.2 million of net deferred tax
assets as of December 31, 2005 related to the U.S. and
other international jurisdictions whose recoverability is
dependent upon future profitability.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. We have
established an allowance for doubtful accounts to reserve for
uncollectible accounts receivable. Each quarter, management
reviews the receivables on an
account-by-account
basis and assigns a probability of collection. Management
judgment is used in assessing the probability of collection.
Factors considered in making this judgment are the age of the
identified receivable, client financial wherewithal, previous
client history, and any recent communications with the client.
Table of Contents
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. We evaluate
the carrying value of our individual CMCs in accordance with
SFAS No. 144 to assess whether estimated future
operating results will be sufficient to recover the carrying
costs of the long-lived assets. When the operating results of a
Center have deteriorated to the point it is likely that losses
will continue for the foreseeable future, or we expect that a
CMC will be closed or otherwise disposed of before the end of
its estimated useful life, we select the CMC for further review.
For CMCs selected for further review, we estimate the
probability-weighted future cash flows from operating the center
over its useful life. Significant judgment is involved in
projecting future capacity utilization, pricing, labor costs,
and the estimated useful life of the center. We do not subject
to the same test CMCs that have been operated for less than two
years or those centers that have been impaired within the past
two years (the Two Year Rule) because we believe
sufficient time is necessary to establish a market presence and
build a client base for such new or modified Centers in order to
adequately assess recoverability. However, such CMCs are
nonetheless evaluated in case other factors would indicate
impairment had occurred. For impaired CMCs, we write the assets
down to estimated fair market value. If the assumptions used in
performing the impairment test prove insufficient, the fair
value estimate of the CMCs may be significantly lower, thereby
causing the carrying value to exceed fair value and indicating
an impairment had occurred.
Excluding the fully impaired centers in Glasgow, Scotland and
South Korea (see Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements), a sensitivity analysis of the impairment evaluation
was completed at year-end assuming that the future results were
10% less than the current operating performance for these CMCs.
As shown in the table below, the analysis indicated that an
impairment of approximately $7.8 million would arise.
However, for the CMCs tested, the current probability-weighted
projection scenarios indicated that an impairment had not
occurred as of December 31, 2005.
The following table summarizes the sensitivity analysis we
performed during the fourth quarter of 2005:
Of the seven CMCs not tested based on the Two Year Rule, one
became eligible for testing during the fourth quarter of 2005.
That center is currently experiencing negative cash flows.
However, we recently launched a new program in the CMC that
increases utilization to 100% and, we believe, will allow us to
recover the carrying value. The amount of impairment under the
sensitivity test (included in the table above) for that CMC is
$1.7 million.
We have recorded during 2005 impairment charges of
$2.1 million and $2.0 million for CMCs in Glasgow,
Scotland and South Korea, respectively, excluding charges
related to exit or disposal activities to be recorded during
2006 when we plan to exit these facilities.
We also assess the realizable value of capitalized software on a
quarterly basis, based upon current estimates of future cash
flows from services utilizing the software (principally utilized
by our Database Marketing and Consulting segment). During the
fourth quarter of 2005, the Company decided to discontinue the
use of certain software used by the North American Customer Care
segment, resulting in an asset impairment of $0.5 million.
Table of Contents
Goodwill. Goodwill is tested for impairment at
least annually for reporting units one level below the segment
level in accordance with SFAS No. 142. Impairment
occurs when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its
estimated fair value. The impairment, if any, is measured based
on the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. Fair value
can be determined based on discounted cash flows, comparable
sales, or valuations of other similar businesses. Our policy is
to test goodwill for impairment in the fourth quarter of each
year unless an indicator of impairment arises during an
intervening period.
The most significant assumptions used in these analyses are
those made in estimating future cash flows. In estimating future
cash flows, we generally use the financial assumptions in our
internal forecasting model such as projected capacity
utilization, projected changes in the prices we charge for our
services, and projected labor costs. We then use a discount rate
we consider appropriate for the country where the business unit
is providing services. If actual results are less than the
assumptions used in performing the impairment test, the fair
value of the reporting units may be significantly lower, causing
the carrying value to exceed the fair value and indicating an
impairment had occurred. Based on the analyses performed in the
fourth quarter of 2005, there was no impairment to the
December 31, 2005 goodwill balance of our North American
and International Customer Care segments of $18.7 million.
If projected revenue used in the analysis of goodwill was 10%
less than forecast (the projections assumed revenue growth rates
ranging from (20)% to 25% per annum over a three-year
period), there would still be no impairment to goodwill.
Our Database Marketing and Consulting Segment has recently
experienced operating losses, but generated positive free cash
flow, exclusive of corporate allocations, of $0.1 million
in 2005. We have plans to improve the profitability of that
segment during 2006. The goodwill for our Database Marketing and
Consulting segment is $13.4 million as of December 31,
2005. The results of our probability-weighted cash flow analyses
used to estimate the fair value of this segment indicated that
an impairment in goodwill had not occurred as of
December 31, 2005. We engaged an independent appraisal firm
to assess the fair value of this segment. The independent
firms assessment also indicated that no impairment in
goodwill had occurred as of December 31, 2005.
Restructuring Liability. We routinely assess
the profitability and utilization of our CMCs. In some cases, we
have chosen to close under-performing CMCs and complete
reductions in workforce to enhance future profitability. We
follow SFAS No. 146, which specifies that a liability
for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be
recognized when the liability is incurred, instead of upon
commitment to a plan.
A significant assumption used in determining the amount of
estimated liability for closing CMCs is the estimated liability
for future lease payments on vacant centers, which we determine
based on a third party brokers assessment of our ability
to successfully negotiate early termination agreements with
landlords
and/or our
ability to sublease the facility. If our assumptions regarding
early termination and the timing and amounts of sublease
payments prove to be inaccurate, we may be required to record
additional losses, or conversely, a future gain, in our
Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Contingencies. We record a liability for
pending litigation and claims where losses are probable and
reasonably estimable. Each quarter, management reviews these
matters on a
case-by-case
basis and assigns probability of loss based upon the assessments
of in-house counsel and outside counsel, as appropriate.
Costs of Services. Costs of
services principally include costs incurred in connection
with our customer management operations and database marketing
services, including direct labor, telecommunications, printing,
postage, sales and use tax, and certain fixed costs associated
with CMCs.
Selling, General and Administrative
Expenses. Selling, general and
administrative expenses primarily include employee-related
costs associated with administrative services such as sales,
marketing, product development, regional legal settlements,
legal, information systems, accounting, and finance. It also
includes outside professional fees (i.e. legal and accounting
services), building maintenance expense for non-CMC facilities,
and other items associated with administration.
Table of Contents
Restructuring Charges,
Net. Restructuring charges, net
primarily include costs incurred in conjunction with reductions
in force or decisions to exit facilities, including termination
benefits and lease liabilities, net of expected sublease rentals.
Interest Expense. Interest expense
includes interest expense and amortization of debt issuance
costs associated with our grants, debt, and capitalized lease
obligations.
Other Expenses. The main components of
Other expenses are non-recurring expenditures not
directly related to our operating activities, such as corporate
legal settlements and foreign exchange transaction losses.
Other Income. The main components of
Other income are miscellaneous receipts not directly
related to our operating activities, such as foreign exchange
transaction gains and corporate legal settlements. In addition,
Other income includes income related to grants we
may receive from time to time from local or state governments as
an incentive to locate CMCs in their jurisdictions.
Free Cash Flow. We define free cash flow as
Net cash flows from operating activities less
Purchases of property and equipment, as shown in our
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Quarterly Average Daily Revenue. We define
quarterly average daily revenue as Revenue for the
fiscal quarter divided by calendar days during the fiscal
quarter.
Days Sales Outstanding. We define days sales
outstanding (DSO) as Accounts receivable divided by
quarterly average daily revenue.
Free Cash Flow. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP
liquidity measurement. We believe free cash flow is useful to
our investors because it measures, during a given period, the
amount of cash generated that is available for debt obligations
and investments other than purchases of property and equipment.
Free cash flow is not a measure determined in accordance with
GAAP and should not be considered a substitute for
Operating income, Net income, Net
cash flows from operating activities, or any other measure
determined in accordance with GAAP. We believe this non-GAAP
liquidity measure is useful, in addition to the most directly
comparable GAAP measure of Net cash flows from operating
activities, because free cash flow includes investments in
operational assets. Free cash flow does not represent residual
cash available for discretionary expenditures, since it includes
cash required for debt service. Free cash flow also excludes
cash that may be necessary for acquisitions, investments, and
other needs that may arise. The following table reconciles free
cash flow to Net cash flows from operating
activities, the most directly comparable GAAP measure:
Table of Contents
RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
Operating
Review
The following tables are presented to facilitate
Managements Discussion and Analysis:
Table of Contents
26
Table of Contents
27
Table of Contents
Financial
Comparison
The following table is a condensed presentation of the
components of the change in net income between the years ended
December 31, 2005 and 2004 and is designed to facilitate
the discussion of results of operations in this Annual Report
Form 10-K:
The table below presents workstation data for our multi-client
centers as of December 31, 2005 and 2004. Dedicated and
Managed Centers (11,081 workstations) are excluded from the
workstation data as unused workstations in these facilities are
not available for sale. Our utilization percentage is defined as
the total number of utilized production workstations compared to
the total number of available production workstations.
Table of Contents
Revenue. The increase in North American
Customer Care revenue between periods was driven primarily by
the ramp up, commencing during the third quarter and continuing
until the fourth quarter, of a short-term U.S. government
program to aid in hurricane relief efforts that generated
$45 million in revenue during 2005. Revenue also increased
as a result of net expansion of existing client programs, offset
by declining Minimum Commitments.
Revenue in the International Customer Care segment increased due
to growth in Latin America and changes in foreign currency
exchange rates, offset by the loss of client programs, primarily
in the United Kingdom.
Database Marketing and Consulting revenue decreased primarily
due to a decrease in the customer base.
Costs of Services. Costs of services as a
percentage of revenue in North American Customer Care were
essentially flat compared to the prior year. In absolute
dollars, costs of services increased as a result of the
implementation of new programs, partially offset by
implementation of our plans to reduce costs and increase client
profitability.
Costs of services as a percentage of revenue in the
International Customer Care segment decreased slightly compared
to the prior year due to our efforts to terminate unprofitable
client contracts, renegotiate unfavorable client contract terms,
offset by increases related to new client programs in Latin
America.
Costs of services as a percentage of revenue for our Database
Marketing and Consulting segment increased primarily due to
lower revenue without a corresponding decrease in costs. In
addition, costs increased while transitioning certain
back-office functions to lower cost locations.
Selling, General and Administrative. The
increase in selling, general and administrative expenses as a
percentage of revenue in the North American Customer Care
segment is related to increased sales and marketing expenses. In
absolute dollars, selling, general and administrative expenses
increased due to costs related to new product development and
software maintenance.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the
International Customer Care segment increased, both as a
percentage of revenue and in absolute dollars. These expenses
increased as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange, a
regional litigation settlement, and increased salaries and
benefits expense resulting from headcount additions, offset by
our efforts to reduce other costs.
The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses as
a percentage of revenue in Database Marketing and Consulting was
caused primarily by the decrease in revenue as selling, general
and administrative expenses are primarily fixed in nature.
Depreciation and Amortization In absolute dollars,
depreciation expense in North American Customer Care decreased
between periods due to decreased depreciation following the
closure of certain facilities. Depreciation expense in
International Customer Care remained relatively unchanged. In
absolute dollars, depreciation and amortization expense in
Database Marketing and Consulting remained relatively unchanged
but increased as a percentage of revenue due to the decrease in
revenue discussed above.
Restructuring Charges. During the year ended
December 31, 2005, we recognized approximately
$2.1 million of employee termination benefits across all
three segments and $0.6 million for facility closure costs.
During the year ended December 31, 2004, we recognized
approximately $2.5 million of employee termination benefits
across all three segments. We also reversed approximately
$0.9 million of excess accruals related to 2003 and prior
restructurings. The reversal of excess accruals (accruals that
are determined, subsequent to establishment, to no longer be our
obligation due to a change in circumstances) has been offset
against Restructuring Charges, Net in the accompanying
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Impairment Loss. During the year ended
December 31, 2005, our International Customer Care segment
recognized impairment losses of $2.1 million and
$2.0 million, respectively, related to our decision to
exercise
Table of Contents
an early lease termination option for our Glasgow, Scotland CMC
(after which there would not be sufficient future cash flow to
cover the asset values) and the late 2005 cessation of
operations of a CMC in South Korea. In addition, our North
American Customer Care segment recorded an impairment loss of
$0.6 million related to our decision to exit a lease early
(see Critical Accounting Policies Impairment of
Long-Lived Assets) and the discontinued use of certain software.
During 2004, we determined that our CMC in Glasgow, Scotland
would not generate sufficient undiscounted cash flows to recover
the net book value of its assets. As a result, our International
Customer Care segment recorded a charge of approximately
$2.6 million to reduce the net book value of the long-lived
assets at this CMC to their then estimated net realizable value.
Potential future impairments are discussed under Critical
Accounting Policies.
Other Income (Expense). The decrease in
interest expense for the year ended December 31, 2005 is
primarily due to lower average borrowings in 2005 versus 2004.
Included in Debt Restructuring Charge for the year ended
December 31, 2004 is $7.6 million of one-time charges
related to restructuring of the Companys debt, of which
approximately $6.4 million was a cash charge and the
remaining $1.2 million was a non-cash charge to write-off
previously capitalized debt issuance costs. Additionally, we
recorded a one-time charge of $2.8 million related to the
termination of an interest rate swap.
Income Taxes. The effective tax rate for the
year ended December 31, 2005 was 8.2%. As discussed in
Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, we
reversed $9.9 million of the U.S. deferred tax
valuation allowance in the third quarter of 2005. As also
discussed in Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements, we reversed $1.4 million and $1.4 million
of the deferred tax valuation allowance in Argentina and Brazil,
respectively. As required by SFAS No. 109, the
valuation allowance was reversed into earnings during the
quarter in which the change in judgment occurred.
Additionally, as discussed in Note 9 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements we incurred $3.7 million in taxes
associated with our Domestic Reinvestment Plan, which had a
significant impact on our effective tax rate. Without these
items, our effective tax rate would have been approximately 36%
in 2005.
We expect our effective tax rate in future periods will be
approximately 35% to 40%.
Revenue. The increase in North American
Customer Care revenue between periods was driven primarily by
new client programs and increases in revenue in certain
continuing client programs; partially offset by declining
minimum commitments, a decline in revenue at Percepta, and the
loss of client programs.
Approximately 38% of the increase in International Customer Care
revenue between periods is due to changes in foreign currency
exchange rates. The remaining increase, related principally to
Latin America and Europe, is due to new client programs and
increases in revenue from an existing client, offset by
discontinuation of unprofitable client programs to improve
profitability.
Database Marketing and Consulting revenue decreased primarily
due to a decrease in the customer base as well as a decrease in
billed revenue per client. We believe this circumstance is
attributable to our delay in completing certain software
modifications to accommodate new programs.
Costs of Services. Costs of services as a
percentage of revenue in North American Customer Care decreased
mostly due to the successful implementation of our plan to
reduce costs and increase client profitability. In addition, as
a result of a 32% reduction in
U.S.-based
employee enrollment rates in the Companys health plan we
reduced certain self-insurance accruals, which resulted in a
change in estimate of $4.4 million.
The decrease in costs of services as a percentage of revenue in
International Customer Care between periods is a result of the
termination of several unprofitable contracts, renegotiations of
unfavorable contract terms, and reductions in force. This was
offset by an increase in cost of services as a percentage of
revenue in the Asia Pacific region, which was caused by
increased costs related to entering new markets in the region
and
Table of Contents
a new client launch. In absolute dollars, 49% of the increase in
costs of services in International Customer Care is due to
changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
Selling, General and Administrative. Selling,
general and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of
revenue for North American Customer Care. More than half of the
increase related to increases in salaries and related expenses
due to headcount additions in sales, marketing, and product
development personnel to implement our revenue growth strategy.
The remaining increase was due to the recording of employee
incentive compensation accruals during the current year (none
were earned in the prior year), and consulting expense related
to implementing the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased as a
percentage of revenue for International Customer Care. This
decrease is due to the increase in revenue between periods. A
significant amount of selling, general and administrative
expenses are fixed in nature and, as a percentage of revenue,
vary with changes in revenue volume. In absolute dollars, the
increase between periods was due to changes in foreign currency
exchange rates and an increase in the corporate allocation. The
corporate allocation increased mostly due to increases in
headcount as discussed above.
The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses as
a percentage of revenue in Database Marketing and Consulting was
caused primarily by the decrease in revenue as selling, general
and administrative expenses are primarily fixed in nature,
partially offset by a change in estimate for potential sales and
use tax liabilities of $2.3 million, which increased Net
Income. The increase in selling, general and administrative
expense excluding the impact of the change in the sales and use
tax liability is due to increases in payroll-related expenses
due to headcount additions in sales, marketing, and product
development to implement our revenue growth strategy.
Depreciation and Amortization. In absolute
dollars, depreciation and amortization expense in North American
Customer Care decreased slightly between the periods due to
declines in depreciation and amortization expense due to assets
reaching the scheduled end of their depreciable life offset by
the depreciation and amortization expense of additions to
property and technology equipment made during the year.
The increase in depreciation and amortization expense in
International Customer Care was due to depreciation and
amortization expense of additions to property and equipment in
Brazil as a result of new sites and changes in foreign currency
exchange rates offset by a decline in depreciation and
amortization expense due to assets reaching the scheduled end of
their depreciable lives.
The increase in the Database Marketing and Consulting
depreciation and amortization expense was due to related
depreciation and amortization expense additions of property and
technology equipment combined with the commencement of
amortizing certain capitalized software costs during 2004.
Restructuring Charges. During the year ended
December 31, 2004, we recognized approximately
$3.0 million of termination benefits for approximately 630
employees across all three segments. We also reversed
approximately $0.9 million of excess accruals related to
2003 and prior restructurings. Restructuring charges are accrued
in accordance with SFAS No. 146. The reversal of
excess accruals (accruals that are determined, subsequent to
establishment, to no longer be our obligation due to a change in
circumstances) has been offset against Restructuring Charges,
Net in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations.
During the year ended December 31, 2003, the North American
Customer Care segment recorded restructuring charges of
approximately $1.6 million related to the closure of its
Kansas City, Kansas facility being used to serve the United
States Postal Service. These charges consisted primarily of the
remaining lease liability along with severance payments. In
addition, the Companys North American Customer Care
segment recorded a charge of $0.4 million for severance and
termination benefits for 591 employees at a Managed Center that
was closed in March 2003. The Companys North American
Customer Care, International Customer Care, and Database
Marketing and Consulting segments also recorded approximately
$1.3 million, $2.2 million, and $0.1 million,
respectively, during the year ended December 31, 2003 for
other severance and termination benefits related to the
termination of 102, 203, and 13 administrative employees,
respectively. The Company reversed approximately
$1.9 million of excess accruals related to 2002 and prior
restructurings. The
Table of Contents
reversal of excess accruals has been offset against the
Restructuring Charges, Net in the accompanying Consolidated
Statements of Operations.
Impairment Loss. During 2004, we determined
that our CMC in Glasgow, Scotland would not generate sufficient
undiscounted cash flows to recover the net book value of its
assets. As a result, our International Customer Care segment
recorded a charge of approximately $2.6 million to reduce
the net book value of the long-lived assets at this CMC to their
estimated net realizable value.
During 2003, the North American Customer Care segment recorded
an impairment loss of approximately $4.0 million to reduce
the net book value of the long-lived assets of its Kansas City
CMC to its estimated fair market value.
During 2003, the International Customer Care segment recorded an
impairment loss of approximately $3.0 million to reduce the
net book value of the long-lived assets of its Mexico City CMC
to its estimated fair market value.
Other Income (Expense). Interest expense for
the year ended December 31, 2004 includes approximately
$1.6 million interest expense estimated to be paid as a
result of implementing our tax planning strategies and
$6.9 million related to our long-term debt and grant
advances. The decrease in interest expense related to long-term
debt from the prior year is due to the prepayment of the Senior
Notes discussed in Note 6 of the accompanying Consolidated
Financial Statements. Included in debt restructuring charge for
the year ended December 31, 2004 are $7.6 million of
one-time charges related to restructuring of the debt, of which
approximately $6.4 million was a cash charge and the
remaining $1.2 million was a non-cash charge to write-off
previously capitalized debt issuance costs. Additionally, we
recorded a one-time charge of $2.8 million related to the
termination of an interest rate swap.
Income Taxes. When compared to 2003, income
tax expense in 2004 decreased $25.4 million to
$9.5 million even though pre-tax book income increased
$28.8 million. This is primarily due to the fact that in
2003 we increased our valuation allowance by $25.9 million
and wrote-off a $7.2 million deferred tax asset related to
our investment in EHI and did not incur any similar tax charges
in 2004. Also, in 2004 we benefited by not recording deferred
tax expense with respect to new deferred tax assets in tax
jurisdictions with valuation allowances, such as the U.S., to
the extent we were generating current taxable income.
Our primary sources of liquidity during 2005 were existing cash
balances, cash generated from operating activities, and
borrowings under the Companys revolving line of credit. We
expect that our future working capital, capital expenditures,
and debt service requirements will be satisfied primarily from
existing cash balances and cash generated from operations. Our
ability to generate positive future operating and net cash flows
is dependent upon, among other things, our ability to
(i) sell new business, (ii) expand existing client
relationships, and (iii) efficiently manage our operating
costs.
The amount of capital required in 2006 will also depend on our
levels of investment in infrastructure necessary to maintain,
upgrade, or replace existing assets. We currently expect that
capital expenditures in 2006 will be approximately the same as
our 2005 capital expenditures. Our working capital and capital
expenditure requirements could increase materially in the event
of acquisitions or joint ventures, among other factors. These
factors could require that we raise additional capital in the
future.
The following discussion highlights our cash flow activities
during the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003.
Cash and Cash Equivalents. We consider all
liquid investments purchased within 90 days of their
maturity to be cash equivalents. Our cash and cash equivalents
totaled $32.5 million as of December 31, 2005 compared
to $75.1 million as of December 31, 2004.
Free Cash Flow. Free cash flow (see
Presentation of Non-GAAP Measurements for definition of
Free Cash Flow) was $3.9 million, $71.0 million, and
$(25.4) million for the years ended December 31, 2005,
2004, and 2003, respectively. The decrease from 2004 to 2005
primarily resulted from increased accounts
Table of Contents
receivable balances primarily from the ramp-up of the short-term
government program discussed above, and higher cash paid for tax
expense.
The increase from 2003 to 2004 resulted from an increase in Net
Cash Flows from Operating Activities of approximately
$53.7 million and a decrease in Purchases of Property and
Equipment of approximately $42.8 million. The increase in
Net Cash Flows from Operating Activities is primarily
attributable to a benefit in deferred income taxes and the
company operating profitably for the year ended
December 31, 2004 compared to the same period in 2003. The
decrease in Purchases of Property and Equipment was primarily
attributable to the 2003 purchase of our headquarters building.
Cash flows from operating activities. We
reinvest the cash flow from operating activities in our business
or purchases of treasury stock. For the years ended
December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, we reported net cash
flows provided by operating activities of $41.5 million,
$112.7 million, and $59.0 million, respectively. The
decrease from 2004 to 2005 resulted from changes in working
capital accounts, primarily due to increased accounts
receivable. The increase in accounts receivable primarily
resulted from the ramp-up of the short term government program
discussed previously and other new or expanded clients that
ramped in the fourth quarter of 2005.
Cash flows from investing activities. We
reinvest cash in our business primarily to grow our client base
and to expand our infrastructure. For the years ended
December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, we reported net cash
flows used in investing activities of $41.4 million,
$42.1 million, and $87.8 million, respectively. The
decrease from 2003 to 2004 million primarily resulted from
the 2003 purchase of our headquarters building.
Cash flows from financing activities. For the
years ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, we reported
net cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities of
$(36.1) million, $(123.0) million, and $32.1 million,
respectively. The decrease from 2003 to 2004 of
$155.1 million principally resulted from the repayment of
our long-term debt and credit facility. Cash used for financing
activities during 2005 primarily represents approximately
$68 million for repurchases of our stock offset by
approximately $27 million of borrowings under our line of
credit.
Future maturities of our outstanding debt and contractual
obligations are summarized as follows:
Purchase Obligations. Occasionally we contract
with certain of our communications clients (which represent
approximately one-third of our annual revenue) to provide us
with telecommunication services. We believe these contracts are
negotiated on an arms-length basis and may be negotiated at
different times and with different legal entities.
Future Capital Requirements. Our cash
requirements include capital expenditures primarily related to
ongoing maintenance, upgrades or replacement of existing assets,
the development and retrofit of new and/or
Table of Contents
existing CMCs, possible acquisitions of companies, formations of
joint ventures, and repurchases of common stock.
We expect total capital expenditures in 2006 to be approximately
$40 million attributable to (i) maintenance capital
for existing CMCs, (ii) the opening and/or expansion of
CMCs, and (iii) internal technology projects. The
anticipated level of 2006 capital expenditures is primarily
dependent upon new client contracts and the corresponding
requirements for additional CMC capacity and technological
infrastructure.
We may consider restructurings, dispositions, mergers,
acquisitions, and other similar transactions. Such transactions
could include the transfer, sale or acquisition of significant
assets, businesses or interests, including joint ventures, or
the incurrence, assumption, or refinancing of indebtedness, and
could be material to the consolidated financial condition and
consolidated results of operations of the Company.
The launch of large client contracts may result in negative
working capital because of the time period between incurring the
costs for training and launching the program, and the beginning
of the accounts receivable collection process. As a result,
periodically we may generate negative cash flows from operating
activities.
We discuss debt instruments and related covenants in Note 6
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Our five largest clients accounted for 46.3%, 53.0%, and 51.0%
of our revenue for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004,
and 2003, respectively. In addition, these five clients
accounted for an even greater proportional share of our
consolidated earnings. The profitability of services provided to
these clients varies greatly based upon the specific contract
terms with any particular client. The relative contribution of
any single client to consolidated earnings is not always
proportional to the relative revenue contribution on a
consolidated basis. The risk of this concentration is mitigated,
in part, by the long-term contracts we have with our largest
clients. The contracts with these clients expire between 2006
and 2010. Additionally, a particular client can have multiple
contracts with different expiration dates. We have historically
renewed most of our contracts with our largest clients. However,
there is no assurance that future contracts will be renewed, or
if renewed, will be on terms as favorable as the existing
contracts.
Under the terms of the original contract with Verizon
Communications (Verizon) relating to its Competitive
Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) business, there were
certain minimum monthly volume commitments at pre-determined
hourly billing rates (Minimum Commitments). As
previously reported, when the CLEC work was redirected to other
Verizon business units during 2001, Verizon continued to honor
the contractual terms of its Minimum Commitments. While the
terms negotiated by these business units were generally at lower
hourly billing rates (Base Rates) than the Minimum
Commitments, Verizon continued to meet its financial obligations
associated with the Minimum Commitments. In addition, we agreed
to settle for cash certain remaining Minimum Commitments with
Verizon and these settlement payments were amortized over the
life of such Minimum Commitments. The Minimum Commitments had
been satisfied by December 31, 2004. The amount of Minimum
Commitments satisfied by Verizon in excess of the Base Rates,
together with amortized settlement payments, were
$8.5 million, $31.5 million, and $32.7 million
for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002,
respectively. These amounts impacted pre-tax earnings by a like
amount and, accordingly, the decline had an adverse effect on
our operating results in 2004 and 2005.
We discuss the potential impact of recent accounting
pronouncements in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial
Statements.
Table of Contents
For the full year 2006, we expect revenue to grow approximately
8% to 10% over 2005 and believe our fourth quarter 2006
operating margin will approximate 6% to 7% excluding unusual
charges, if any.
Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact the
consolidated financial position, consolidated results of
operations, or consolidated cash flows of the Company due to
adverse changes in financial and commodity market prices and
rates. We are exposed to market risk in the areas of changes in
U.S. interest rates, London Inter Bank Offer Rate
(LIBOR), and foreign currency exchange rates as
measured against the U.S. dollar. These exposures are directly
related to our normal operating and funding activities. As of
December 31, 2005, we had entered into financial hedge
instruments with several financial institutions to manage and
reduce the impact of changes principally in the U.S./Canadian
dollar exchange rates.
The interest rate on our Credit Facility is variable based upon
the Prime Rate and LIBOR and, therefore, is affected by changes
in market interest rates. At December 31, 2005, there was a
$26.7 million outstanding balance under the Credit
Facility. If the Prime Rate increased 100 basis points, there
would not be a material impact to the Company.
We have operations in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada,
China, Germany, India, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, the
Philippines, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom, and
Venezuela. The expenses from these operations, and in some cases
the revenue, are denominated in local currency, thereby creating
exposures to changes in exchange rates. The changes in the
exchange rate may positively or negatively affect our revenue
and net income attributed to these subsidiaries. For the years
ended December 31, 2005, 2004, and 2003, revenue from
non-U.S. countries represented 50.2%, 48.0%, and 41.6% of
consolidated revenue, respectively.
A business strategy for our North American Customer Care segment
is to serve certain U.S.-based clients from CMCs located in
foreign countries, including Argentina, Canada, India, Mexico,
and the Philippines, in order to leverage the associated
U.S./foreign currency exchange rates. In order to mitigate the
risk of these foreign currencies strengthening against the U.S.
Dollar, which thereby decreases the economic benefit of
performing work in these countries, we may hedge a portion, but
not 100%, of the foreign currency exposure related to client
programs served from these foreign countries. While our hedging
strategy can protect us from changes in the U.S./foreign
currency exchange rates in the short-term, an overall
strengthening of the foreign currencies would adversely impact
margins in the North American Customer Care segment over the
long-term.
The majority of this type of work is performed from CMCs located
in Canada. During the years ended December 31, 2005 and
2004, the Canadian dollar strengthened against the U.S. dollar
by 3.3% and 6.9%, respectively. We have contracted with several
financial institutions on behalf of our Canadian subsidiary to
acquire a total of $117.2 million Canadian dollars through
March 2007 at a fixed price in U.S. dollars of
$95.9 million. As of December 31, 2005, we had total
derivative assets associated with foreign exchange contracts of
$5.0 million, of which Canadian dollar derivative assets
represented $4.7 million (91% of this value settles in
2006). If the U.S./Canadian dollar exchange rate were to
increase or decrease 10% from period-end levels, we would incur
a material gain or loss on the contracts. However, any gain or
loss would be mitigated by corresponding gains or losses in the
underlying exposures.
Other than the transactions hedged as discussed above, the
majority of the transactions of our U.S. and foreign operations
are denominated in the respective local currency while some
transactions are denominated in other currencies. For example,
the intercompany transactions that are expected to be settled
are denominated in the local currency of the billing company.
Since the accounting records of our foreign operations are kept
in the respective local currency, any transactions denominated
in other currencies are accounted for in the respective local
currency at the time of the transaction. Upon settlement of such
a transaction, any foreign
Table of Contents
currency gain or loss results in an adjustment to income. We do
not currently engage in hedging activities related to these
types of foreign currency risks because we believe them to be
insignificant as we strive to settle these accounts on a timely
basis.
We did not have any investments in debt or equity securities at
December 31, 2005.
The financial statements required by this item are located
beginning on page F-1 of this report and incorporated
herein by reference.
We have had no changes in or disagreements with our independent
auditors regarding accounting or financial disclosure matters.
We have established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure
that information required to be disclosed in the reports that
the Company files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within
the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms. The
Companys disclosure controls and procedures have also been
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in
the reports that the Company files or submits under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is accumulated and communicated
to the Companys management, including the principal
executive officer and principal financial officer, to allow
timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
the Company has included a report on managements
assessment of the design and effectiveness of its internal
control over financial reporting as part of this Annual Report
on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. The
Companys independent registered public accounting firm
also audited, and reported on, managements assessment of
the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.
Managements report and the independent registered public
accounting firms attestation report are included under the
captions entitled Managements Report on Internal
Control Over Financial Reporting and Report of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal
Control Over Financial Reporting in Item 15 of this
Annual Report on
Form 10-K
and are incorporated herein by reference.
Based on their evaluation as of December 31, 2005, the
principal executive officer and principal financial officer of
the Company have concluded that the Companys disclosure
controls and procedures (as defined in
Rules 13a-15(e)
and
15d-15(e)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) are effective.
There has been no change in the Companys internal control
over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of 2005 that
has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, the Companys internal control over financial
reporting.
None.
Table of Contents
For information regarding our Directors, we hereby incorporate
by reference the information to appear under the caption
Information Concerning the Nominees for Election as
Directors in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2006
Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
For a discussion of our executive officers, refer to
Part I, Item 4A entitled Executive Officers of
TeleTech Holdings, Inc.
We hereby incorporate by reference the information to appear
under the caption Executive
Officers Executive Compensation in our
definitive Proxy Statement for our 2006 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, provided, however, that neither the Report of the
Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation nor the
Performance Graph set forth therein shall be incorporated by
reference herein.
We hereby incorporate by reference the information to appear
under the captions Security Ownership of Certain
Beneficial Owners and Management and Equity
Compensation Plan Information in our definitive Proxy
Statement for our 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
We hereby incorporate by reference the information to appear
under the captions Certain Relationships and Related Party
Transactions in our definitive Proxy Statement for our
2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
We hereby incorporate by reference the information to appear
under the caption Independent Audit Fees in our
definitive Proxy Statement for our 2006 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this
report:
(1) Consolidated Financial Statements
The Index to Consolidated Financial Statements is set forth on
page F-1 of this report.
(2) Financial Statement Schedules
All schedules for TeleTech have been omitted since the required
information is not present or not present in amounts sufficient
to require submission of the schedule, or because the
information is included in the respective Consolidated Financial
Statements or notes thereto.
Table of Contents
(3) Exhibits
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
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, on February 21, 2006.
TELETECH HOLDINGS, INC.
By:
/s/ Kenneth
D. Tuchman Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, this report has been signed below on February 21,
2006, by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and
in the capacities indicated:
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
To the Stockholders and the
Board of Directors of TeleTech Holdings, Inc.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of
TeleTech Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31,
2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of
operations, stockholders equity, and cash flows for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005.
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility
of TeleTech Holdings, Inc.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 the standards of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those
standards require that we plan and perform the audits 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
consolidated financial position of TeleTech Holdings, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the
consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows
for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 2005, in conformity with U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the
effectiveness of TeleTech Holdings, Inc.s internal control
over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on
criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission and our report dated February 20, 2006
expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Denver, Colorado
February 20, 2006
Table of Contents
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining
adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term
is defined in Exchange Act
Rules 13a-15(f)
and 15d-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation
of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the
effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting
as of December 31, 2005 based on the framework in Internal
Control Integrated Framework issued by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission
(COSO). Based on that evaluation, our management concluded that
our internal control over financial reporting was effective as
of December 31, 2005.
Managements assessment of the effectiveness of our
internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2005 has been audited by Ernst &
Young, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as
stated in their report which is included elsewhere herein.
/s/ Kenneth
D. Tuchman
Kenneth D. Tuchman
Chief Executive Officer
February 21, 2006
/s/ Dennis
J. Lacey
Dennis J. Lacey
Chief Financial Officer
February 21, 2006
Table of Contents
REPORT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
To the Stockholders and the
Board of Directors of TeleTech Holdings, Inc.:
We have audited managements assessment, included in the
section entitled Managements Report on Internal Control
over Financial Reporting, that TeleTech Holdings, Inc. (the
Company) maintained effective internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on
criteria established in Internal
Control Integrated Framework issued by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission
(the COSO criteria). TeleTech Holdings, Inc.s management
is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over
financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness
of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility
is to express an opinion on managements assessment and an
opinion on the effectiveness of the Companys internal
control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those
standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control
over financial reporting was maintained in all material
respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of
internal control over financial reporting, evaluating
managements assessment, testing and evaluating the design
and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing
such other procedures as we considered necessary in the
circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable
basis for our opinion.
A companys internal control over financial reporting is a
process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. A companys
internal control over financial reporting includes those
policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance
of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the
company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions
are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company
are being made only in accordance with authorizations of
management and directors of the company; and (3) provide
reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of
unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the
companys assets that could have a material effect on the
financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over
financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future
periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree
of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, managements assessment that TeleTech
Holdings, Inc. maintained effective internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, is fairly
stated, in all material respects, based on the COSO criteria.
Also, in our opinion, TeleTech Holdings, Inc. maintained, in all
material respects, effective internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on the COSO
criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the
consolidated balance sheets of TeleTech Holdings, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the
related consolidated statements of operations,
stockholders equity, and cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 2005 and our report
dated February 20, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion
thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Denver, Colorado
February 20, 2006
Table of Contents
TELETECH
HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
BALANCE SHEETS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
Table of Contents
TELETECH
HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
Table of Contents
TELETECH
HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
Table of Contents
TELETECH
HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
Table of Contents
Overview of Company. TeleTech Holdings, Inc.
(TeleTech or the Company) serves its
clients through two primary businesses: (i) Customer
Management Services, which provides outsourced customer support
and marketing services (Customer Care) for a variety
of industries via operations in the United States
(U.S.), Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China,
Germany, India, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines,
Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela; and
(ii) Database Marketing and Consulting, which provides
outsourced database management, direct marketing, and related
customer acquisitions and retention services for automotive
dealerships and manufacturers operating in North America.
Basis of Presentation. The consolidated
financial statements are comprised of the accounts of TeleTech,
its wholly owned subsidiaries, and its majority owned
subsidiaries Percepta, LLC (Percepta) and TeleTech
Services (India) Limited (TeleTech India). All
intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in
consolidation. Certain amounts in 2004 and 2003 have been
reclassified in the consolidated financial statements to conform
to the 2005 presentation.
Use of Estimates. The preparation of
consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the U.S. (GAAP)
requires management to make estimates and assumptions in
determining the reported amounts of assets and liabilities,
disclosure of contingent liabilities at the date of the
consolidated financial statements, and the reported amounts of
revenue and expenses during the reporting period (discussed
further below). The Companys use of accounting estimates
is primarily in the areas of (i) forecasting future taxable
income for determining whether deferred tax valuation allowances
are necessary; (ii) providing for self-insurance reserves,
litigation reserves, and restructuring reserves;
(iii) estimating future estimated cash flows for evaluating
the carrying value of long-lived assets; and (iv) assessing
recoverability of accounts receivable and providing for
allowance for doubtful accounts.
The Company self-insures for certain levels of workers
compensation and employee health insurance. The Company records
estimated liabilities for workers compensation and
employee health insurance based upon analyses of historical
claims experience performed by independent actuaries. The most
significant assumption the Company makes in estimating these
liabilities is that future claims experience will emerge in a
similar pattern with historical claims experience.
Concentration of Credit Risk. The Company is
exposed to credit risk in the normal course of business,
primarily related to accounts receivable and derivative
instruments. Historically, the losses related to credit risk
have not been material. The Company regularly monitors its
credit risk to mitigate the possibility of current and future
exposures resulting in a loss. The Company evaluates the
creditworthiness of its clients prior to entering into an
agreement to provide services, and on an on-going basis as part
of the processes for revenue recognition and accounts
receivable. The Company does not believe it is exposed to more
than a nominal amount of credit risk in its derivative hedging
activities, as the counter parties are established,
well-capitalized financial institutions.
Foreign Currency Translation. The assets and
liabilities of the Companys foreign subsidiaries, whose
functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, are translated at
the exchange rates in effect on the last day of the period and
income and expenses are translated at the weighted average
exchange rate during the reporting period. The net effect of
translation gains and losses is accumulated in Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income (Loss) as a separate component of
Stockholders Equity. Foreign currency transaction gains
and losses are included in determining Net Income (Loss).
Intercompany loans are generally treated as permanently invested
as settlement is not planned or anticipated in the foreseeable
future and, accordingly, such foreign currency transactions are
not included in the determination of Net Income (Loss).
Derivatives. The Company uses forward and
option contracts to manage risks generally associated with
foreign exchange rate volatility. The Company enters into
foreign exchange forward and option contracts to
Table of Contents
TELETECH
HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to
the Consolidated Financial Statements For the Years Ended
December 31,
2005, 2004 and 2003 (Continued)
hedge against the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash
flows denominated in foreign currencies. These transactions are
designated as cash flow hedges in accordance with the criteria
established in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(SFAS) No. 133, Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities
(SFAS No. 133).
SFAS No. 133 requires every derivative instrument
(including certain derivative instruments embedded in other
contracts) to be recorded in the consolidated balance sheet as
either an asset or liability measured at its fair value, with
changes in the fair value of qualifying hedges recorded in
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. SFAS No. 133
requires that changes in a derivatives fair value be
recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge
accounting criteria are met. SFAS No. 133 also
requires that a company must formally document, designate, and
assess the effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge
accounting treatment. Based on the criteria established by
SFAS No. 133, all of the Companys cash flow
hedge contracts are deemed effective. The settlement of these
derivatives will result in reclassifications to earnings in the
period during which the hedged transactions affect earnings
(from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income).
While the Company expects that its derivative instruments will
continue to meet the conditions for hedge accounting, if the
hedges did not qualify as highly effective or if the Company did
not believe that forecasted transactions would occur, the
changes in the fair value of the derivatives used as hedges
would be reflected currently in earnings.
Cash and Cash Equivalents. The Company
considers all cash and investments with an original maturity of
90 days or less to be cash equivalents.
Long-Lived
Assets.
Property and Equipment. Property and equipment
are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and
amortization. Additions, improvements, and major renewals are
capitalized. Maintenance, repairs, and minor renewals are
expensed as incurred. Amounts paid for software licenses and
third-party-packaged software are capitalized.
The Company depreciates assets acquired under capital leases and
leasehold improvements associated with operating leases over the
shorter of the expected useful life or the initial term of the
leases. The Company has negotiated certain rent holidays,
landlord/tenant incentives, and escalations in the base price of
the rent payments over the term of their operating leases. In
accordance with SFAS No. 13 Accounting for
Leases, FASB Technical
Bulletin 88-1
Issues Relating to Accounting for Leases, and FASB
Technical
Bulletin 85-3
Accounting for Operating Leases with Scheduled Rent
Increases, the Company recognizes rent holidays and rent
escalations on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The
landlord/tenant incentives are recorded as deferred rent and
amortized over the life of the related lease.
During the year, the Company evaluates the carrying value of its
individual customer management centers (CMCs) in
accordance with SFAS No. 144 Accounting for the
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets
(SFAS No. 144) to assess whether future
operating results are sufficient to recover the carrying costs
of these long-lived assets. The Company believes a sufficient
period of time, generally two years, is required to establish
market presence and build a client base for new or revalued
centers in order to access recoverability. The Company evaluates
all centers quarterly, even those in operation less than two
years, for other factors which could impact their
recoverability. When the operating results of a CMC have
reasonably progressed to a point making it likely that the site
will continue to sustain losses in the future, or there is a
current expectation that a CMC will be closed or otherwise
disposed of before the end of its previously estimated useful
life, the Company selects the CMC for further review.
For CMCs selected for further review, the Company estimates the
future estimated probability-weighted cash flows from operating
the CMCs over their useful lives. Significant judgment is
involved in projecting
Table of Contents
TELETECH
HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to
the Consolidated Financial Statements For the Years Ended
December 31,
2005, 2004 and 2003 (Continued)
future capacity utilization, pricing, labor costs, and the
estimated useful lives. For impaired CMCs, the Company writes
the assets down to their estimated fair market value.
Goodwill. Goodwill represents the excess of
acquisition costs over the fair value of net assets of
businesses acquired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at least
annually at the reporting units one level below the segment
level for the Company. The impairment, if any, is measured based
on the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. The Company
determines fair value based on discounted estimated future
probability-weighted cash flows although other methods are
allowable under SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets (SFAS No. 142) .
Impairment occurs when the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds
its estimated fair value. The Companys policy is to test
goodwill for impairment in the fourth quarter of each year
unless circumstances indicate an impairment exists during an
intervening period.
Contract Acquisition Costs. Amounts paid to or
on behalf of clients to obtain long-term contracts are
capitalized and amortized in proportion to the initial expected
future revenue from the contract, which in most cases results in
straight-line amortization over the life of the contract. These
costs are recorded as a reduction to revenue in accordance with
EITF
No. 01-09,
Accounting for Consideration Given by a Vendor to a
Customer or Reseller of the Vendors Products. On a
quarterly basis, the Company evaluates the recoverability of
these costs based upon evaluations of individual client
contracts estimated future cash flows.
Software Development Costs. The Company
accounts for software development costs in accordance with the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Statement of
Position 98-1,
Accounting for the Cost of Computer Software Developed or
Obtained for Internal Use, which requires that certain
costs related to the development or purchase of internal-use
software be capitalized. Capitalized software costs are included
in Property and Equipment in the accompanying Consolidated
Balance Sheets. The Company assesses quarterly the
recoverability of its capitalized software costs based upon
analyses of expected future cash flows of services utilizing the
software. These costs are amortized over the expected useful
life of the software.
Restructuring Liabilities. Management assesses
the profitability and utilization of the Companys CMCs on
a quarterly basis. In some cases, management has chosen to close
under-performing CMCs and complete reductions in force to
enhance future profitability. On January 1, 2003, the
Company adopted SFAS No. 146, Accounting for
Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities,
(SFAS No. 146) which specifies that a
liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal
activity be recognized when the liability is incurred, instead
of upon commitment to a plan (see Note 7).
A significant assumption used in determining the amount of
estimated liability for closing CMCs is the estimated liability
for future lease payments on vacant centers, which the Company
determines based on a third party brokers assessment of
the Companys ability to successfully negotiate early
termination agreements with landlords and/or to sublease the
facility. If the assumptions regarding early termination and the
timing and amounts of sublease payments prove to be inaccurate,
the Company may be required to record additional losses, or
conversely, a future gain, in its Consolidated Statements of
Operations.
Customer Advances and Deferred Income. In the
accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, the Company records
amounts billed and received, but not earned, as Customer
Advances and Deferred Income. Included in Customer Advances and
Deferred Income are client prepayments before services are
rendered and amounts received to settle contractual minimum
commitments in lieu of providing services. Settlement receipts
are amortized over the life of the original contract life that
gave rise to the client settlement as services are performed.
Grant Advances. From time to time, the Company
has received grants from local or state governments as an
incentive to locate CMCs in their jurisdictions. The
Companys policy is to account for grant monies received in
advance as a liability and recognize them as income over the
life of the grant after it has met the grant conditions set
forth in the agreement.
Table of Contents
TELETECH
HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to
the Consolidated Financial Statements For the Years Ended
December 31,
2005, 2004 and 2003 (Continued)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments. Fair
values of cash equivalents and current accounts receivable and
payable approximate the carrying amounts because of their
short-term nature. Long-term debt carried on the Companys
Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2005 and 2004
has a carrying value that approximate its estimated fair value.
Revenue Recognition. The Company recognizes
revenue at the time services are performed. The Companys
Customer Management Services business recognizes revenue under
production rate and performance-based models as follows:
Production Rate. Revenue is recognized based
on the billable hours or minutes of each Customer Service
Representative (CSR), as defined in the client
contract. The rate per billable hour or minute is based on a
predetermined contractual rate. This contractual rate can
fluctuate based on the Companys performance against
certain pre-determined criteria related to quality and
performance.
Performance-based. Under performance-based
arrangements, the Company is paid by its clients based on
achievement of certain levels of sales or other
client-determined criteria specified in the client contract. The
Company recognizes performance-based revenue by measuring its
actual results against the performance criteria specified in the
contracts. Amounts collected from clients prior to the
performance of services are recorded as deferred revenue.
Hybrid. Under hybrid models the Company is
paid a fixed fee or production element as well as a
performance-based element.
Certain client programs provide for adjustments to monthly
billings based upon whether the Company meets or exceeds certain
performance criteria as set forth in the contract. Increases or
decreases to monthly billings arising from such contract terms
are reflected in revenue as earned or incurred.
The Company enters into certain client contracts in which the
contractual billing periods do not coincide with the periods
over which the services are provided. In those instances, the
Company recognizes revenue straight-line over the life of the
contract.
In July 2003, the Company adopted Emerging Issues Task Force
(EITF)
No. 00-21,
Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables
(EITF 00-21),
which provides further guidance on how to account for multiple
element contracts.
EITF 00-21
is effective for all arrangements entered into after the second
quarter of 2003. The Company has determined that
EITF 00-21
requires the deferral of revenue for the initial training that
occurs upon commencement of a new client contract
(Start-Up
Training) if that training is billed separately to a
client. Accordingly, the corresponding training costs,
consisting primarily of labor and related expenses, are also
deferred. In these circumstances, both the training revenue and
costs are amortized straight-line over the life of the client
contract. In situations where
Start-Up
Training is not billed separately, but rather included in the
hourly service rates paid by the client over the life of the
contract, no deferral is necessary as the revenue is being
recognized over the life of the contract. If
Start-Up
Training revenue is not deferred, the associated training
expenses are expensed as incurred.
Income Taxes. The Company accounts for income
taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109,
Accounting for Income Taxes,
(SFAS No. 109), which requires recognition
of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future
income tax consequences of transactions that have been included
in the consolidated financial statements or tax returns. Under
this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined
based on the difference between the financial statement and tax
bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in
effect for the year in which the differences are expected to
reverse. Gross deferred tax assets may then be reduced by a
valuation allowance for amounts that do not satisfy the
realization criteria of SFAS No. 109.
The Company provides for U.S. income taxes expense on the
earnings of foreign subsidiaries unless the subsidiaries
earnings are considered permanently reinvested outside the U.S.
Table of Contents
TELETECH
HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to
the Consolidated Financial Statements For the Years Ended
December 31,
2005, 2004 and 2003 (Continued)
Earnings (Loss) Per Share. Basic Earnings
(loss) per share is computed by dividing the Companys Net
income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares
outstanding. The impact of any potentially dilutive securities
is excluded. Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing
the Companys Net income (loss) by the weighted average
number of shares and dilutive potential common shares
outstanding during the period. See Note 10 for additional
information.
Stock Option Accounting. The Company has
elected to follow Accounting Principles Board Opinion
No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees (APB 25), and related
interpretations in accounting for its employee stock options
including SFAS No. 148, Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation Transition and Disclosure
(SFAS No. 148). Under APB 25, because
the exercise price of the Companys employee stock options
is generally equal to the market price of the underlying stock
on the date of the grant, no compensation expense is recognized.
SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation (SFAS No. 123),
establishes an alternative method of expense recognition for
stock-based compensation awards to employees based on fair
values. The Company elected not to adopt SFAS 123 for
expense recognition purposes.
Pro forma information regarding net income and earnings per
share is required by SFAS No. 123, and has been
calculated as if the Company had accounted for its employee
stock options under the fair value method of
SFAS No. 123. The fair value for these options was
estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes
option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
The weighted-average fair value of options granted during 2005,
2004, and 2003 was $6.06, $5.44, and $3.50, respectively. For
purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of
the options is amortized to expense over the options
vesting period. The Companys pro forma net income (loss)
and pro forma net income (loss) per share, as if the Company had
used the fair value accounting provisions of
SFAS No. 123, are shown below.
Table of Contents
TELETECH
HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to
the Consolidated Financial Statements For the Years Ended
December 31,
2005, 2004 and 2003 (Continued)
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements. In
December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued
SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based
Payment (SFAS No. 123R), which
replaces SFAS No. 123. SFAS No. 123R
requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants
of employee stock options and purchases under employee stock
purchase plans, to be recognized in the consolidated financial
statements based on their fair values, beginning with the first
interim or annual period after June 15, 2005, with early
adoption encouraged. The pro forma disclosures previously
permitted under SFAS No. 123 no longer will be an
alternative to financial statement recognition. The Company is
required to adopt SFAS No. 123R in its first quarter
of fiscal 2006. Under SFAS No. 123R, the Company must
determine the appropriate fair value model to be used for
valuing share-based payments, the amortization method for
compensation cost, and the transition method to be used at date
of adoption. The transition methods include modified prospective
and modified retrospective adoption options. Under the modified
retrospective options, prior periods may be restated either as
of the beginning of the year of adoption or for all periods
presented. The modified prospective method requires that
compensation expense be recorded at the beginning of the first
quarter of adoption of SFAS No. 123R for all unvested
stock options and restricted stock based upon the previously
disclosed SFAS No. 123 methodology and amounts. The
modified retrospective methods would record compensation expense
beginning with the first period restated for all unvested stock
options and restricted stock. The Company is evaluating the
requirements of SFAS No. 123R and has preliminarily
estimated that the impact of adoption in 2006 will be
approximately $0.04 to $0.05 per diluted share.
F-14
Table of Contents
TELETECH
HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to
the Consolidated Financial Statements For the Years Ended
December 31,
2005, 2004 and 2003 (Continued)
The Company serves its clients through two primary businesses
Customer Management Services and Database Marketing and
Consulting. Customer Management Services provides outsourced
customer support and marketing services for a variety of
industries via CMCs throughout the world. When the Company
begins operations in a new country, it determines whether the
country is intended to primarily serve U.S.-based clients, in
which case the country is included in the North American
Customer Care Segment, or the country is intended to serve both
domestic clients from that country and U.S.- based clients, in
which case the country is included in the International Customer
Care Segment. This is consistent with the Companys
management of the business, internal financial reporting
structure, and operating focus. Operations for each segment of
Customer Management Services are conducted in the following
countries:
Database Marketing and Consulting provides outsourced database
management, direct marketing, and related customer acquisitions
and retention services for automobile dealerships and
manufacturers operating in North America. The Company allocates
to each of its segments their estimated portion of
corporate-level operating expenses. All intercompany
transactions between the reported segments for the periods
presented have been eliminated.
It is a significant Company strategy to garner additional
business through the lower cost opportunities offered by certain
international countries. Accordingly, the Company provides
services to certain U.S. clients from CMCs in Argentina, Canada,
India, Mexico, and the Philippines. Under this arrangement,
while the U.S. subsidiary invoices and collects from the client,
the U.S. subsidiary also enters into a contract with the foreign
subsidiary to reimburse the foreign subsidiary for their costs
plus a reasonable profit. This reimbursement is reflected as
revenue by the foreign subsidiary. As a result, a portion of the
revenue from these client contracts is recorded by the U.S.,
while a portion is recorded by the foreign subsidiary. For U.S.
clients served from Canada, India, and the Philippines, which
represents the majority of these arrangements, the revenue all
remains within the North American Customer Care segment. For
U.S. clients served from Argentina and Mexico, a portion of the
revenue is reflected in the International Customer Care segment.
For the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2004,
approximately $2.2 million and $2.9 million,
respectively, of income from operations in the International
Customer Care segment was generated from these arrangements.
Table of Contents
TELETECH
HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to
the Consolidated Financial Statements For the Years Ended
December 31,
2005, 2004 and 2003 (Continued)
F-16
Table of Contents
TELETECH
HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to
the Consolidated Financial Statements For the Years Ended
December 31,
2005, 2004 and 2003 (Continued)
The following data includes revenue, gross property and
equipment, and other long-term assets based on the geographic
location where services are provided or the equipment is
physically located:
Accounts receivable, net consists of the following at
December 31:
Table of Contents
TELETECH
HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to
the Consolidated Financial Statements For the Years Ended
December 31,
2005, 2004 and 2003 (Continued)
Activity in the Companys allowance for doubtful accounts
consists of the following:
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||