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Language Line/Inc, et al. · S-4/A · On 11/12/04

Filed On 11/12/04 2:40pm ET   ·   SEC Files 333-118753, -01, -02, -03, -04, -05, -06, -07   ·   Accession Number 1193125-4-195114

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  As Of               Filer                 Filing     As/For/On Docs:Pgs              Issuer               Agent

11/12/04  Language Line/Inc                 S-4/A                  4:375                                    1193125
          Envok/LLC
          Language Line Services/Inc
          On Line Interpreters/Inc
          Language Line/LLC
          Language Line Dominican Republic/LLC
          Language Line Panama/LLC
          Language Line Costa Rica/LLC

Pre-Effective Amendment to Registration of Securities Issued in a Business-Combination Transaction   ·   Form S-4
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: S-4/A       Amendment No. 1 to Form S-4                         HTML  2,447K 
 2: EX-10.21    Investor Securities Purchase Agreement              HTML    102K 
 3: EX-10.22    Incentive Units Agreement                           HTML     67K 
 4: EX-23.1     Consent of Independent Registered Public            HTML      8K 
                          Accounting Firm                                        


S-4/A   ·   Amendment No. 1 to Form S-4
Document Table of Contents

Page (sequential) | (alphabetic) Top
 
11st Page
"Table of Contents
"Market and Industry Data
"Our Predecessor and Parent Companies; Name Changes
"Forward-Looking Statements
"Prospectus Summary
"Summary Description of the Exchange Offer and New Notes
"Risk Factors
"The Exchange Offer
"Use of Proceeds
"Capitalization
"Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Data
"Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data
"Management s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
"Business
"Management
"Security Ownership and Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
"Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
"Transaction Summary
"Description of Our Senior Secured Credit Facilities
"Description of Notes
"Book-Entry; Delivery and Form
"Certain Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations
"Plan of Distribution
"Legal Matters
"Experts
"Available Information
"Index to Financial Statements
"Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
"Consolidated Balance Sheets
"Consolidated Statements of Operations
"Consolidated Statements of Stockholders Equity (Deficit) and Comprehensive Income
"Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
"Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

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  Amendment No. 1 to Form S-4  
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 12, 2004

 

No. 333-118753


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

FORM S-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


 

Language Line, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in their organizational documents)

 

Delaware   4899   20-0997805
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)  

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

One Lower Ragsdale Drive

Building 2

Monterey, California 93940

(877) 886-3885

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 


 

Matthew T. Gibbs II

Chief Financial Officer

One Lower Ragsdale Drive

Building 2

Monterey, California 93940

(877) 886-3885

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 


 

Copies of all communications, including communications sent to agent for service, should be sent to:

Joshua N. Korff, Esq.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Citigroup Center

153 East 53rd Street

New York, New York 10022-4675

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

 


 

If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box.  ¨

If this Form is filed to registered additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

                    

Title of Each Class of Securities

to be Registered

  

Amount

to be Registered

  

Proposed Maximum
Aggregate

Offering Price

Per Note

 

Proposed Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price(1)

  

Amount of

Registration Fee

11 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012

   $165,000,000    100%   $165,000,000    $20,906

Guarantees of 11 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012(2)

   (3)    (3)   (3)    None
                    
(1)   Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(2)   See inside facing page for table of additional Registration guarantors.
(3)   Pursuant to Rule 457(h), no separate filing fee is payable for the guarantees of the Senior Subordinated Notes being registered.

 

The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 



Table of Contents

ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS

 

Language Line, LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware   4899   05-0504190
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

Envok, LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware   4899   77-0580224
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

On Line Interpreters, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Illinois   4899   36-4060569
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

Language Line Services, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware   4899   77-0586710
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

Language Line Dominican Republic, LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware   4899   77-0584558
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

Language Line Panama, LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware   9995   77-0584557
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

Language Line Costa Rica, LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware   9995   16-1621521
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)


Table of Contents

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and this is not an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer and sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to completion, dated November 12, 2004

 

PROSPECTUS

 

Picture -- LOGO

 

Language Line, Inc.

 


 

Offer for all outstanding 11 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 (which we refer to as the “Old Notes”) in aggregate principal amount at maturity of $165,000,000 in exchange for up to $165,000,000 aggregate principal amount at maturity of 11 1/8% Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes due 2012 (which we refer to as the “New Notes”) have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Terms of the Exchange Offer   Terms of the New Notes

Ÿ Expires 5:00 p.m., New York City time,             , 2004, unless extended.

 

Ÿ The terms of the New Notes are identical to our outstanding 11 1/8% Senior Secured Notes due 2012 except for transfer restrictions and registration rights.

Ÿ Not subject to any condition other than that the exchange offer not violate applicable law or any interpretation of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Ÿ We can amend or terminate the exchange offer.

   

Ÿ We will exchange all Old Notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn.

   

 

For a discussion of specific risks that you should consider before tendering your outstanding 11 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 in the exchange offer, see “ Risk Factors” beginning on page 10.

 


 

There is no public market for our outstanding 11 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 or the New Notes. Our outstanding 11 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 trade in the Private Offerings Resale and Trading through Automatic Linkages, or PORTAL, market.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the New Notes or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is             , 2004


Table of Contents

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Market and Industry Data

   ii

Our Predecessor and Parent Companies; Name Changes

   ii

Forward-Looking Statements

   ii

Prospectus Summary

   1

Summary Description of the Exchange Offer and New Notes

   3

Risk Factors

   10

The Exchange Offer

   17

Use of Proceeds

   23

Capitalization

   24

Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Data

   25

Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data

   30

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   32

Business

   39

Management

   51

Security Ownership and Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

   55

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

   56

Transaction Summary

   58

Description of Our Senior Secured Credit Facilities

   59

Description of Notes

   62

Book-Entry; Delivery and Form

   101

Certain Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

   104

Plan of Distribution

   105

Legal Matters

   106

Experts

   106

Available Information

   107

Index to Financial Statements

   F-1

 


 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus. The selling noteholders are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, 111/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012 only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our 111/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012.

 

Each broker-dealer that receives new securities for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of these new securities. By so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of new securities received in exchange for securities where those securities were acquired by this broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that, starting on the expiration date and ending on the close of business 180 days after the expiration date, we will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 


 

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Table of Contents

 MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA

 

The data included in this prospectus regarding markets and ranking, including the size of certain markets and our position and the position of our competitors within these markets, are based on third-party market studies, other publicly available information and our own estimates. Our estimates are based on information obtained from our customers, distributors, suppliers, trade and business organizations and other contacts in the markets in which we operate and our management’s knowledge and experience. We believe these estimates to be accurate as of the date of this prospectus. However, this information may prove to be inaccurate because of the methods by which we obtained some of the data for our estimates or because this information cannot always be verified with complete certainty due to the limits on availability and reliability of raw data, the voluntary nature of the data gathering process and other limitations and uncertainties inherent in a survey of market size. In addition, although we believe that the independent industry publications and other publicly available information are reliable, we have not independently verified and do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information. Unless the context otherwise requires, market and industry data is for 2003.

 


 

 OUR PREDECESSOR AND PARENT COMPANIES; NAME CHANGES

 

References to “Predecessor” in this prospectus refer to Language Line Holdings, Inc., which was the predecessor of Language Line, Inc., and was under different ownership than we are. Predecessor merged with us and the merged company was named “Language Line, Inc.” (“Company”). References in this prospectus to “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Predecessor when the context of the reference is prior to the merger and to the merged company and its subsidiaries when the context of the reference is subsequent to the merger. From a legal standpoint, the surviving entity of the merger is Predecessor.

 

References to “Parent” in this prospectus refer to our parent company, Language Line Acquisition, Inc., which was renamed “Language Line Holdings, Inc.” immediately after the effectiveness of the merger described in this prospectus. Parent, in turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Language Line Holdings II, Inc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Language Line Holdings, LLC. We also refer to Language Line Holdings II, Inc. as our “indirect parent” and Language Line Holdings, LLC as our “ultimate parent”.

 


 

 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate” or “anticipate” and similar expressions, as well as future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would,” and “could,” often identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors and conditions which include, but are not limited to:

 

  Ÿ   the effect of our substantial leverage on our financial condition;

 

  Ÿ   our ability to service our debt and generate sufficient cash;

 

  Ÿ   our ability to successfully implement our business strategy;

 

  Ÿ   continued demand from the primary industries we serve and the continued need for our services;

 

  Ÿ   our ability to compete effectively in a highly competitive and changing environment;

 

  Ÿ   our ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to engage in other business activities;

 

  Ÿ   the effects of governmental regulation on our business;

 

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Table of Contents
  Ÿ   general business and economic conditions; and

 

  Ÿ   our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and management.

 

The information contained in this prospectus, including the information provided under the heading “Risk Factors,” identifies additional factors that could affect our operating results and performance. We urge you to carefully consider those factors.

 

Our forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Our forward-looking statements are only made as of the date of this prospectus and we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise.

 

iii


Table of Contents

 PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

The following summary contains basic information about us and highlights selected information from the prospectus. It likely does not contain all the information that is important to you. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all the information that you should consider before tendering your Old Notes. We encourage you to read this entire document and the documents we have referred you to. References to “guarantors” are references to the entities identified as guarantors under “Description of Notes—Brief Description of the Notes and the Guarantees—The Guarantees.”

 

Our Company

 

We are the leading global provider of over-the-phone interpretation (“OPI”) services from English into more than 150 different languages, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our specially-trained, proprietary base of interpreters perform value-added OPI services which facilitate critical business transactions and delivery of emergency and government services between our customers and limited English proficiency (“LEP”) speakers throughout the world. In 2003, we helped more than 18 million people communicate across linguistic and cultural barriers, providing over 80 million billed minutes of OPI services to our customers. We offer our customers a high-quality, cost-effective alternative to staffing in-house multilingual employees or using face-to-face interpretation. Through our OPI services, we improve our customers’ revenue potential, customer service and competitiveness by enhancing their ability to effectively serve the growing population of current and prospective LEP speakers.

 

We have over 10,000 customers throughout the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada serving industry sectors such as insurance, financial services, telecommunications, healthcare, transportation and utilities, as well as federal, state and local governments. Our customer base is highly diversified with no single customer accounting for more than 4% and no single industry representing more than 20% of our revenues in 2003. We have enjoyed stable, long-term relationships with our customers, as reflected by average annual customer retention of approximately 95% of our largest 250 customers over the last ten years. Approximately 87% of our largest 250 customers have been customers for over three years and between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2003, our average annual customer churn, as measured by billed minutes, was approximately 2.4%.

 

As of December 31, 2003, we managed 1,924 interpreters, approximately 80% of whom were engaged on a dedicated full-time or agency basis. Our interpreters assist customers in a broad variety of applications, including insurance claim processing, emergency room and 911/critical care assistance, resolving credit card problems, enhancing customer service centers and multicultural marketing services. We employ a rigorous qualification and testing program for our interpreters, with only one out of every twelve applicants being qualified and hired. In addition, we conduct industry-specific training programs for our employee and agency interpreters, including initial and ongoing specialized training in medical, insurance and finance terminology, as well as police, emergency and 911 procedures. Our interpreters deliver our services throughout the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada from a distributed work-at-home interpreter force and six domestic and global interpretation centers located in Monterey, California; Chicago, Illinois; two locations in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and two locations in Panama. Approximately 44% of our OPI billed minutes provided in the first quarter of 2004 were interpreted from our off-shore global interpretation centers.

 

Based on our estimates of industry-wide revenues, we believe we represent an approximate 75% market share of the outsourced OPI market, which we estimate is roughly ten times larger than our next largest competitor. We estimate that the total global market opportunity for OPI services is approximately $1.0 billion, representing approximately 620 million billed minutes. Currently, we estimate that over 95% of the total OPI market opportunity is concentrated in the U.S. market, with the United Kingdom and Canada principally contributing the remainder. We believe that the market for outsourced OPI service is growing and remains

 

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significantly under-penetrated with current outsourced OPI market penetration of both the total global OPI market and the U.S. OPI market estimated to be less than 20%. Since 1998, we have successfully increased our penetration of the global OPI market, increasing our total billed minutes from approximately 31 million minutes to approximately 81 million minutes in 2003, an average annual increase of 21%.

 

We have experienced stable revenue growth in each of the past five years as a result of the growing population of LEP speakers and our ability to increase billed minutes from both our existing and new customers. Over the same period, we have also achieved significant increases in profitability by decreasing the cost per minute of delivering our OPI services. Since 1998, we have demonstrated average annual revenue and EBITDA growth of approximately 15% and 21%, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2004, we generated total revenues of approximately $72 million. Additionally, our business has not historically required substantial capital expenditure investment.

 

Our senior management team is highly experienced and remained in place following the merger. Senior management intends to continue to implement its existing operating strategies and remains strongly committed to our future financial success. Following the merger described below, our senior management obtained approximately 4% of the fully-diluted shares of the Company by direct investment and collectively owns up to approximately 18% of the fully-diluted shares of the Company, with up to 14% subject to repurchase under certain circumstances related to their continued employment. For a description of the merger, see “Transaction Summary.”

 

Our Sponsor

 

ABRY Partners, LLC. ABRY is one of the largest private equity firms in the United States focused on media, communications, information and business services investments, with approximately $2.0 billion under management. ABRY maintains a disciplined investment approach seeking to invest in businesses with high barriers to entry, recurring revenues, a high degree of operating leverage and the ability to support reasonable financial leverage. ABRY has widespread experience with leveraged companies and has an excellent record of generating high returns to its investors, while seeking safety of principal. ABRY believes that we reflect many of the attributes and opportunities that it typically seeks in its equity investments.

 

Transaction Summary

 

On June 11, 2004, in accordance with a merger agreement entered into on April 14, 2004, we (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Language Line Acquisition, Inc., a corporation controlled by ABRY) merged with and into Predecessor (with Predecessor as the surviving corporation of the merger) for a purchase price of approximately $715.6 million (subject to customary closing and post-closing adjustment of the merger consideration to reflect working capital adjustments and similar items). The merger agreement contains customary representations and warranties and covenants. At closing, $30 million of the merger consideration was deposited into an escrow account on behalf of the stockholders and optionholders of Predecessor to secure their potential indemnity obligations to us and payment of any post-closing adjustment to the merger consideration to us.

 

Concurrently with the merger, we consummated certain related financing transactions, including the issuance of $165.0 million aggregate principal amount at maturity of the Old Notes; the issuance by Parent of approximately $109.0 million aggregate principal amount at maturity (approximately $55.0 million in gross proceeds) of 14 1/8% senior discount notes due 2013; and the entering into of senior credit facilities in the amount of $325.0 million.

 

*        *        *

 

Our company is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Our principal executive offices are located at 1 Lower Ragsdale Drive, Building 2, Monterey, California 93940. Our telephone number is (877) 886-3885. We maintain the following website: www.languageline.com. Information contained on this website, however, is not incorporated into this prospectus.

 

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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND NEW NOTES

 

The Exchange Offer

 

Securities Offered

Up to $165,000,000 aggregate principal amount at maturity of 11 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2012. The terms of the New Notes and the Old Notes are identical in all material respects, except for certain transfer restrictions and registration rights relating to the Old Notes.

 

The Exchange Offer

We are offering to exchange the Old Notes for a like principal amount at maturity of New Notes. Old Notes may be exchanged only in multiples of $1,000.

 

Expiration Date; Withdrawal of Tender

Our exchange offer will expire 5:00 p.m. New York City time, on             , 2004, or a later time if we choose to extend this exchange offer. You may withdraw your tender of Old Notes at any time prior to the expiration date. All outstanding Old Notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will be exchanged. Any Old Notes not accepted by us for exchange for any reason will be returned to you at our expense as promptly as possible after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.

 

Resales

We believe that you can offer for resale, resell and otherwise transfer the New Notes without complying with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act if:

 

  Ÿ   you acquire the New Notes in the ordinary course of business;

 

  Ÿ   you are not participating, do not intend to participate, and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate, in the distribution of the New Notes; and

 

  Ÿ   you are not an “affiliate” of ours, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

 

 

If any of these conditions is not satisfied and you transfer any New Notes without delivering a proper prospectus or without qualifying for a registration exemption, you may incur liability under the Securities Act. We do not assume or indemnify you against this liability.

 

 

Each broker-dealer acquiring New Notes issued for its own account in exchange for Old Notes, which it acquired through market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a proper prospectus when any New Notes issued in the exchange offer are transferred. A broker-dealer may use this prospectus for an offer to resell, a resale or other retransfer of the New Notes issued in the exchange offer.

 

3


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Conditions to the Exchange Offer

Our obligation to accept for exchange, or to issue the New Notes in exchange for, any Old Notes is subject to certain conditions as set forth under “The Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer.”

 

Procedures for Tendering Old Notes

The Old Notes were issued as global securities and were deposited upon issuance with The Bank of New York. The Bank of New York issued certificate-less depository interests in those outstanding Old Notes, which represent a 100% interest in those Old Notes, to The Depository Trust Company.

 

 

Beneficial interests in the outstanding Old Notes, which are held by direct or indirect participants in The Depository Trust Company, are shown on, and transfers of the Old Notes can only be made through, records maintained in book-entry form by The Depository Trust Company.

 

 

You may tender your outstanding Old Notes by instructing your broker or bank where you keep the Old Notes to tender them for you. In some cases you may asked to submit the BLUE-colored “Letter of Election and Instructions to Brokers or Bank” that may accompany this prospectus. By tendering your Old Notes you will be deemed to have acknowledged and agreed to be bound by the terms set forth under “The Exchange Offer.”

 

 

A timely confirmation of book-entry transfer of your outstanding Old Notes into the exchange agent’s account at The Depository Trust Company, under the procedure described in this prospectus under the heading “The Exchange Offer” must be received by the exchange agent on or before 5:00 p.m. on the expiration date.

 

United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

The exchange offer will not result in any income, gain or loss to the holders of Old Notes or to us for United States Federal Income Tax Purposes. See “Certain Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

 

Use of Proceeds

We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of the New Notes in the exchange offer.

 

 

The proceeds from the offering of the Old Notes were used to:

 

  Ÿ   consummate the merger; and

 

  Ÿ   pay related fees and expenses.

 

Exchange Agent

The Bank of New York is serving as the exchange agent for the exchange offer.

 

Shelf Registration Statement

In limited circumstances, holders of Old Notes may require us to register their Old Notes under a shelf registration statement.

 

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 The New Notes

 

The form and terms of the New Notes are the same as the form and terms of the Old Notes, except that the New Notes will be registered under the Securities Act. As a result, the New Notes will not bear legends restricting their transfer and will not contain the registration rights and liquidated damage provisions contained in the Old Notes. The New Notes represent the same debt as the Old Notes. The Old Notes and the New Notes are governed by the same indenture and are together considered a “series” of securities under that indenture. Any reference to Notes in the following summary is a reference to the New Notes offered pursuant to this prospectus.

 

Issuer

Language Line, Inc.

 

Notes Offered

$165,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 11 1/8% Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes due 2012.

 

Maturity

June 15, 2012.

 

Interest Payment Dates

Interest will be payable in cash on June 15 and December 15 of each year, beginning on December 15, 2004.

 

Ranking

The Notes will be unsecured senior subordinated obligations and will rank junior in right of payment to all of our existing and future senior debt. The Notes will be effectively junior to our obligations under our senior secured credit facilities and any other obligations that are secured by a lien on assets. Each guarantee will be unsecured and subordinated to senior indebtedness of the guarantor. The Notes will rank senior to all of our future debt that expressly provides that it is subordinated to the Notes.

 

As of June 30, 2004, we had approximately:

 

  Ÿ   $291.7 million of senior debt outstanding;

 

  Ÿ   $33.3 million available for borrowing under our senior secured credit facilities (excluding letters of credit), which if drawn would be secured debt and senior to the Notes as described above; and

 

  Ÿ   $1.8 million of subordinated promissory notes which rank pari passu with the Notes.

 

Guarantees

The Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed on a senior subordinated basis by each of our existing and future domestic subsidiaries.

 

Optional Redemption

We may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time on or after June 15, 2008 at the redemption prices set forth herein, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. See “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption.”

 

Equity Offering Optional Redemption

We may redeem up to 35% of the Notes on or prior to June 15, 2007 from the proceeds of one or more equity offerings at 111.125% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption, so long as at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued under the indenture remains outstanding.

 

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Change of Control Offer

Upon the occurrence of a change of control, holders of the Notes may require us to repurchase some or all of the Notes at 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the repurchase date. See “Description of Notes—Repurchase at the Option of the Holders—Change of Control.”

 

Covenants

The indenture governing the Notes contains covenants limiting, among other things, our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to:

 

  Ÿ   incur additional indebtedness;

 

  Ÿ   make restricted payments;

 

  Ÿ   make investments;

 

  Ÿ   create certain liens;

 

  Ÿ   sell assets;

 

  Ÿ   restrict payments by our subsidiaries to us;

 

  Ÿ   guarantee indebtedness;

 

  Ÿ   enter into transactions with affiliates; and

 

  Ÿ   merge or consolidate or transfer and sell assets.

 

These covenants are subject to important exceptions and qualifications described under “Description of Notes.”

 

Risk Factors

See “Risk Factors” for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before exchanging your Old Notes for New Notes.

 

Delivery Requirements

Each broker-dealer that receives new securities for its own account in exchange for securities, where those securities were acquired by this broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of those new securities. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

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Summary Historical Consolidated Financial and Other Data

 

The Notes are being offered by Language Line, Inc. The financial statements of Predecessor and Language Line, Inc. are presented in this prospectus.

 

We derived the summary historical consolidated income statement data for the years ended December 31, 2001, December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2003 from Predecessor’s audited historical consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary historical consolidated income statement data for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and for the period from January 1, 2004 through June 11, 2004 were derived from Predecessor’s unaudited historical consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary historical consolidated income statement data for the period from June 12, 2004 to June 30, 2004 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of June 30, 2004 were derived from the Company’s unaudited historical consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. Historical operating results in the following table are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected in the future.

 

The summary historical financial and other data should be read in conjunction with: “Transaction Summary,” “Capitalization,” “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Data” and the notes thereto, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and our historical audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

The table on the following page presents Predecessor’s summary historical consolidated financial and other data.

 

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Summary Historical Consolidated Financial and Other Data

(dollars in thousands)

 

     Predecessor

       
     Years Ended December 31,

    Six
Months
Ended
June 30,
2003


    January 1
to
June 11,
2004


    June 12 to
June 30,
2004


 
     2001

     2002

    2003

       

Income Statement Data:

                                                 

Revenues

   $ 125,614      $ 133,318     $ 140,641     $ 70,000     $ 64,692     $ 7,388  

Costs of services:

                                                 

Interpreters

     40,519        40,911       40,740       21,004       18,374       1,870  

Answer points

     2,938        1,135       542       279       256       26  

Telecommunications

     5,864        7,087       6,646       3,738       2,882       256  
    


  


 


 


 


 


Total costs of services

     49,321        49,133       47,928       25,021       21,512       2,152  
    


  


 


 


 


 


Gross margin

     76,293        84,185       92,713       44,979       43,180       5,236  

Other expenses:

                                                 

Selling, general and administrative

     24,780        20,896       24,221       11,499       10,423       1,201  

Interest, net

     18,752        20,168       12,025       6,121       5,982       2,169  

Merger related expenses

     —          —         —         —         9,848       —    

Depreciation and amortization

     11,986        2,787       3,612       1,771       1,735       2,004  
    


  


 


 


 


 


Total other expenses

     55,518        43,851       39,858       19,391       27,988       5,374  
    


  


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) before taxes on income and accounting change

     20,775        40,334       52,855       25,588       15,192       (138 )

Taxes (benefit) on income (loss)

     8,397        15,415       20,467       9,900       5,968       (58 )
    


  


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) before accounting change

     12,378        24,919       32,388       15,688       9,224       (80 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax effect

     (187 )      —         —         —         —         —    
    


  


 


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

     12,191        24,919       32,388       15,688       9,224       (80 )

Accretion of preferred stock redemption value

     (10,900 )      —         —         —         —         —    
    


  


 


 


 


 


Net income (loss) allocable to common stockholders

   $ 1,291      $ 24,919     $ 32,388     $ 15,688     $ 9,224     $ (80 )
    


  


 


 


 


 


Other Financial and Operating Data:

                                                 

Billed minutes (in thousands)

     59,350        70,065       80,715       39,552       39,235       4,513  

Cash flows provided by (used in):

                                                 

Operating activities

   $ 34,176      $ 39,035     $ 31,864     $ 15,581     $ 20,024     $ 1,525  

Investing activities

     (4,135 )      (20,942 )(1)     (2,574 )     (1,579 )     (860 )     (713,691 )

Financing activities

     (30,600 )      (15,771 )     (29,649 )     (15,356 )     (12,260 )     718,046  

EBITDA(2)

   $ 51,326      $ 63,289     $ 68,492     $ 33,480     $ 22,909     $ 4,035  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(3)(4)

     2.10x        2.97x       5.30x       5.09x       1.97x          
                              As of
June 30,
2004


       
                                   

Balance Sheet Data:

                                                 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

  $ 5,880          

Total assets

 

    929,857          

Total debt

 

    454,432          

Stockholders’ equity

 

    279,258          

 

(footnotes on following page)

 

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Notes to Summary Historical Consolidated Financial and Other Data


(1)   Includes $18.5 million in investing activities related to the May 2002 acquisition of OnLine Interpreters, Inc.
(2)   EBITDA represents net income, plus depreciation and amortization, plus net interest expense, plus taxes on income. While we do not intend for EBITDA to represent cash flow from operations as defined by Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and while we do not suggest that you consider it as an indicator of operating performance or an alternative to operating cash flow or operating income (as measured by U.S. GAAP), we include it to provide additional information with respect to our ability to meet our future debt service, capital expenditures and working capital requirements. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” We believe EBITDA provides investors and analysts useful information with which to analyze and compare our operating performance to other companies. However, since EBITDA is not defined by U.S. GAAP, it may not be calculated on the same basis as other similarly titled measures of other companies within our industry.

 

The following table provides an unaudited reconciliation from net income to EBITDA (in thousands):

 

     Years Ended December 31,

  

Six
Months

Ended
June 30,
2003


   January 1
to
June 11,
2004


   June 12
to
June 30,
2004


 
     2001

   2002

   2003

        

Net income (loss)

   $ 12,191    $ 24,919    $ 32,388    $ 15,688    $ 9,224    $ (80 )

Depreciation and amortization

     11,986      2,787      3,612      1,771      1,735      2,004  

Interest, net

     18,752      20,168      12,025      6,121      5,982      2,169  

Taxes (benefit) on income (loss)

     8,397      15,415      20,467      9,900      5,968      (58 )
    

  

  

  

  

  


EBITDA

   $ 51,326    $ 63,289    $ 68,492    $ 33,480    $ 22,909    $ 4,035  
    

  

  

  

  

  


 

(3)   For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings represent income (loss) before income taxes (benefit) plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, deferred financing costs written off (included in merger related expenses) and one-third of operating rental expense which management believes is representative of the interest component of rent expense.
(4)   For the period from June 12, 2004 to June 30, 2004 the ratio of earnings to fixed charges was less then 1.0x because the fixed charges exceeded the earnings.

 

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 RISK FACTORS

 

You should consider carefully all of the information in this prospectus, including the following risk factors and warnings, before deciding whether to exchange your Old Notes for the New Notes to be issued in this exchange offer. Except for the first three risk factors described below, these risk factors apply to both the Old Notes and the New Notes.

 

Risks Related To The Offering

 

Since outstanding Old Notes will continue to have restrictions on transfer and cannot be sold without registration under securities laws or exemptions from registration, you may have difficulty selling the Old Notes which you do not exchange.

 

If a large number of outstanding Old Notes are exchanged for New Notes issued in the exchange offer, it may be difficult for holders of outstanding Old Notes that are not exchanged in the exchange offer to sell their Old Notes, since those Old Notes may not be offered or sold unless they are registered or there are exemptions from registration requirements under the Securities Act of 1933, hereinafter referred to as the Securities Act, or state laws that apply to them. In addition, if there are only a small number of Old Notes outstanding, there may not be a very liquid market in those Old Notes. There may be few investors that will purchase unregistered securities in which there is not a liquid market. See “The Exchange Offer—You May Suffer Adverse Consequences if You Fail to Exchange Outstanding Notes.”

 

In addition, if you do not tender your outstanding Old Notes or if we do not accept some outstanding Old Notes, those Old Notes will continue to be subject to the transfer and exchange provisions of the indenture and the existing transfer restrictions of the Old Notes that are described in the legend on the Old Notes and in the prospectus relating to the Old Notes.

 

Due to resale restrictions, if you exchange your Old Notes, you may not be able to resell the New Notes you receive in the exchange offer without registering them and delivering a prospectus.

 

You may not be able to resell New Notes that you receive in the exchange offer without registering those New Notes or delivering a prospectus. Based on interpretations by the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereinafter referred to as the Commission, in no-action letters, we believe, with respect to New Notes issued in the exchange offer, that:

 

  Ÿ   holders who are not “affiliates” of ours within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act;

 

  Ÿ   holders who acquire their New Notes in the ordinary course of business; and

 

  Ÿ   holders who do not engage in, intend to engage in, or have arrangements to participate in a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of the New Notes

 

do not have to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

 

Holders described in the preceding sentence must tell us in writing at our request that they meet these criteria. Holders that do not meet these criteria could not rely on interpretations of the Commission in no-action letters and would have to register the New Notes that they receive in the exchange offer and deliver a prospectus if they sold the New Notes. In addition, holders that are broker-dealers may be deemed “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of New Notes acquired in the exchange offer. Holders that are broker-dealers must acknowledge that they acquired their outstanding New Notes in market-making activities or other trading activities and must deliver a prospectus when they resell the New Notes they acquire in the exchange offer in order not to be deemed an underwriter.

 

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You should review the more detailed discussion in “The Exchange Offer—Procedures for Tendering Old Notes and Consequences of Exchanging Outstanding Old Notes.”

 

Servicing our debt will require a significant amount of cash, and our ability to generate sufficient cash depends upon many factors, some of which are beyond our control.

 

Our ability to make payments on and refinance our debt and to fund planned capital expenditures depends on our ability to generate cash flow in the future. To some extent, this is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative and regulatory factors and other factors that are beyond our control. We may be unable to continue to generate cash flow from operations at current levels. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations in the future to service our debt, we may have to refinance all or a portion of our existing debt or obtain additional financing. Any refinancing of this kind may not be possible, and we may be unable to obtain any additional financing. The inability to obtain additional financing could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and on our ability to meet our obligations to you under the Notes.

 

Risks Related to the Notes

 

Our substantial leverage may impair our financial condition and we may incur significant additional debt, which could increase the risks facing the holders of the notes.

 

We have a substantial amount of debt. As of June 30, 2004, our total consolidated debt was approximately $454.4 million. See “Capitalization” for additional information.

 

Our substantial debt could have important consequences to you, including:

 

  Ÿ   making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to the Notes;

 

  Ÿ   increasing our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;

 

  Ÿ   limiting our ability to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital requirements, capital expenditures, and other general corporate requirements;

 

  Ÿ   requiring a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations for the payment of interest on our debt, thus reducing our ability to use our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and general corporate requirements;

 

  Ÿ   limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate; and

 

  Ÿ   placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to other less-leveraged competitors.

 

Subject to specified limitations, the indenture governing the Notes permits us and our subsidiaries to incur substantial additional debt. In addition, we are able to borrow up to an additional $35.8 million (less any standby letter of credit issuances) under our senior secured credit facilities. If new debt is added to our and our subsidiaries’ current debt levels, the related risks that we and they now face could intensify. See “Description of Our Senior Secured Credit Facilities” for additional information.

 

Servicing our debt will require a significant amount of cash, and our ability to generate sufficient cash depends upon many factors, some of which are beyond our control.

 

Our ability to make payments on and refinance our debt and to fund planned capital expenditures depends on our ability to generate cash flow in the future. To some extent, this is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative and regulatory factors and other factors that are beyond our control. Our business may not be able to continue to generate cash flow at current levels. If we are unable to generate

 

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sufficient cash flow from operations in the future to service our debt, we may have to refinance all or a portion of our existing debt or obtain additional financing. Any refinancing of this kind may not be possible and we may not be able to obtain additional financing. The inability to obtain additional financing could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and on our ability to meet our obligations to you under the Notes.

 

Your right to receive payments on the Notes will be junior to our existing indebtedness and possibly all of our future borrowings. The guarantees of the Notes will also be junior to all of our and our subsidiary guarantors’ existing indebtedness and possibly to all of our and their future borrowings.

 

The Notes and the subsidiary guarantees rank behind substantially all of our and our subsidiary guarantors’ existing indebtedness and all of our and their future borrowings, except for trade payables and any future indebtedness that expressly provides that it ranks equal with, or is subordinated in right of payment to, the Notes and the subsidiary guarantees. As a result, upon any distribution to our creditors or the creditors of our subsidiary guarantors in a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization or similar proceeding relating to us or our subsidiaries or our or their property, the holders of our and our subsidiary guarantors’ senior debt will be entitled to be paid in full in cash before any payment may be made with respect to the Notes or the subsidiary guarantees. As of June 30, 2004, the Notes and the subsidiary guarantees were subordinated to approximately $291.7 million of senior debt.

 

In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization or similar proceeding relating to us or our subsidiary guarantors, the holders of the Notes will participate with trade creditors and all other holders of our and our subsidiary guarantors’ subordinated indebtedness in the assets remaining after our senior debt and the senior debt of the subsidiary guarantors have been paid in full. Because the indenture requires that amounts otherwise payable to holders of the Notes in a bankruptcy or similar proceeding be paid to holders of senior debt instead, holders of the Notes may receive less, ratably, than holders of trade payables in any such proceeding. In any of these cases, we and our subsidiary guarantors may not have sufficient assets or funds to pay all of our creditors and holders of Notes may receive less, ratably, than the holders of senior debt.

 

The Notes are not secured by any of our assets or those of our subsidiaries. We have granted a security interest to the senior secured credit facilities lenders in all of the capital stock of our domestic subsidiaries, as well as in all of our tangible and intangible assets and those of our domestic subsidiaries. If we become insolvent or are liquidated, or if the senior secured credit facilities lenders accelerate payment under any of the senior secured credit facilities, they will have a prior claim with respect to these assets.

 

Covenant restrictions under our indebtedness may limit our ability to operate our business.

 

Our senior secured credit facilities, the indenture governing the Notes and certain of our other agreements relating to our indebtedness contain, among other things, covenants that may restrict our and our restricted subsidiaries’ ability to finance future operations or capital needs or to engage in other business activities. Our senior secured credit facilities restrict and the indenture restricts, among other things, our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to:

 

  Ÿ   incur additional indebtedness;

 

  Ÿ   incur indebtedness senior to the notes, but junior to other debt;

 

  Ÿ   make restricted payments;

 

  Ÿ   create certain liens;

 

  Ÿ   restrict payments by our subsidiaries to us;

 

  Ÿ   enter into transactions with affiliates; and

 

  Ÿ   merge or consolidate or transfer and sell assets.

 

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In addition, our senior secured credit facilities require us to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy certain financial condition tests that may require that we take action to reduce our debt or to act in a manner contrary to our business objectives. Events beyond our control, including changes in general economic and business conditions, may affect our ability to meet those financial ratios and financial condition tests. We may be unable to meet those tests, and the senior secured lenders may not waive any failure to meet those tests. See “Description of Our Senior Secured Credit Facilities” for additional information.

 

A default under the indenture governing the Notes or under our senior secured credit facilities could result in an acceleration of our indebtedness, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The indenture governing the Notes and the credit agreement governing our senior secured credit facilities contain numerous financial and operating covenants. The breach of any of these covenants will result in a default under the indenture or credit agreement which could result in the indebtedness under our indenture or credit agreement becoming immediately due and payable. If this were to occur, we may be unable to adequately finance our operations. In addition, a default under our indenture or the credit agreement governing our senior secured credit facilities could result in a default or acceleration of our other indebtedness subject to cross-default provisions. If this occurs, we may not be able to pay our debts or borrow sufficient funds to refinance them. Even if new financing is available, it may not be on terms that are acceptable to us.

 

We may not have the ability to raise the funds necessary to finance the change of control offer required by the indenture.

 

Upon a change of control, subject to certain conditions, we are required to offer to repurchase all outstanding Notes at 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase.

 

The source of funds for that purchase of Notes will be our available cash or cash generated from our subsidiaries’ operations or other sources, including borrowing, sales of assets or sales of equity. Sufficient funds may not be available at the time of any change of control to make required repurchases of notes tendered. In addition, a change of control would cause a default under our senior secured credit facilities, and we would be required to repay all amounts outstanding under our senior secured credit facilities prior to making an offer to repurchase the Notes. Our future debt agreements may contain similar restrictions and provisions. If the holders of the Notes exercise their right to require us to repurchase all of the Notes upon a change of control, the financial effect of this repurchase could cause a default under our other debt, even if the change of control itself would not cause a default. Accordingly, it is possible that we will not have sufficient funds at the time of the change of control to make the required repurchase of Notes or that restrictions in our senior secured credit facilities will not allow such repurchases. See “Description of Notes—Repurchase at the Option of the Holders—Change of Control” and “Description of Our Senior Secured Credit Facilities” for additional information.

 

The interests of our principal equityholder may not be aligned with the interests of the holders of the Notes.

 

Entities associated with ABRY Partners beneficially own securities representing more than 85% of the voting equity interests of our ultimate parent, Language Line Holdings, LLC and therefore indirectly control our affairs and policies. Circumstances may occur in which the interests of our principal equityholder could be in

 

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conflict with the interests of the holders of the Notes. In addition, our principal equityholder may have an interest in pursuing acquisitions, divestitures, capital expenditures or other transactions that, in their judgment, could enhance their equity investment, even though these transactions might involve risks to the holders of the Notes. See “Management,” “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.”

 

Risks Related to Our Business

 

If we are unable to successfully implement our business strategy, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

The implementation of our business strategy will place significant demands on our senior management and operational, financial and marketing resources. The successful implementation of our business strategy involves the following principal risks which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations:

 

  Ÿ   the merger may result in significant unexpected operating difficulties, liabilities or contingencies;

 

  Ÿ   the operation of our business may place significant or unachievable demands on our management team;

 

  Ÿ   we may be unable to increase our penetration of the OPI market at average rates per billed minute of service which are acceptable to us;

 

  Ÿ   we may be unable to continue to achieve cost reductions on a per billed minute basis consistent with our low-cost provider strategy; and

 

  Ÿ   we may be unable to recruit a sufficient number of qualified interpreters.

 

Our continued success depends on continued demand from the primary industries we serve.

 

Our success depends upon continued demand for our services from our customers within the industries we serve. A significant downturn in the insurance, healthcare, financial services or telecommunications industries, which together accounted for a majority of our net revenues in 2003, or a trend in any of these industries to reduce or eliminate their use of OPI services may negatively impact our results of operations.

 

Our continued success depends on our customers’ trend toward outsourcing OPI services.

 

Our business depends on the continued need for outsourced OPI services as driven by general economic and public policy factors. These trends may not continue, as businesses and organizations may either elect to perform OPI services in-house or discontinue OPI services, both of which would have a negative effect on our revenues. Additionally, Spanish-English interpretation services accounted for the majority of our total OPI billed minutes in 2003. A decision by our customers to conduct an increasing amount of OPI services in-house, especially for the rapidly growing Spanish-speaking community, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The OPI services market in which we compete is highly competitive and our failure to compete effectively could erode our market share.

 

Our failure to compete effectively in the outsourced OPI services market that we serve could erode our market share and negatively impact our ability to service the Notes. We expect that our existing competitors will strive to improve their outsourced OPI services and introduce new services with competitive price and customer service characteristics. From time to time, we may lose customers as a result of competition. For example, in June 2004, we lost one of our larger customers, representing approximately 1.6% of our 2003 billed minutes, to a

 

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competitor. Certain of our potential competitors may attempt to leverage their existing infrastructure to compete with us. For example, a large call center company may have the requisite scale to enter into the OPI services market. If this were to occur, the outsourced OPI industry may become more competitive and may force us to decrease our profit margins in order to maintain our market position.

 

Our average revenue per minute has been declining for the past five years.

 

Over the past five years, we have undertaken a strategy to manage pricing per billed minute as a strategic tool to encourage our customers to purchase more billed minutes and to optimize our market share. In furtherance of this strategy, we have decreased the per minute cost that we charge our customers, resulting in decreased average revenue per billed minute. If we are unable to attract sufficient volume to offset lower per minute charges or if average rates per billed minute decrease beyond our expectations, we may be unable to generate revenue growth or maintain current revenue levels in the future.

 

Our business could be adversely affected by a variety of factors related to doing business internationally.

 

We currently conduct operations internationally, and we anticipate that operations outside the United States may represent an increasing portion of our total operations in the future. Although our OPI services constitute generally accepted business practices in the United States, such practices may not be accepted in certain international markets. To the extent there is consumer, business or government resistance to the use of OPI services in international markets we target, our international growth prospects could be affected. In addition, our international operations are subject to numerous inherent challenges and risks, including the difficulties associated with operating in multilingual and multicultural environments, varying and potentially burdensome regulatory requirements, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, political and economic conditions in various jurisdictions, tariffs and other trade barriers, longer accounts receivable collection cycles, barriers to the repatriation of earnings and potentially adverse tax consequences. Moreover, expansion into new geographic regions will require considerable management and financial resources and, as a result, may negatively impact our results of operations.

 

Our continued success depends on our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel.

 

Our business is labor intensive and places significant importance on our ability to recruit and retain a qualified base of interpreters and technical and professional personnel. We continuously recruit and train replacement personnel as a result of our changing and expanding work force. A higher turnover rate among our personnel would increase our hiring and training costs and decrease operating efficiencies and productivity. We may not be successful in attracting and retaining the personnel that we require to conduct our operations successfully.

 

Our continued success depends on our ability to retain senior management.

 

Our success is largely dependent upon the efforts, direction, and guidance of our senior management. Although we have entered into or will enter into employment agreements with certain of our executive officers, our continued growth and success also depends in part on our ability to attract and retain qualified managers and on the ability of our executive officers and key employees to manage our operations successfully. The loss of Dennis Dracup, Chief Executive Officer, or Matthew Gibbs, Chief Financial Officer, or our inability to attract, retain or replace key management personnel in the future could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

Our business is highly dependent on the availability of telephone service.

 

Our business is highly dependent upon telephone service provided by various local and long distance telephone companies. Any significant disruption in telephone service could adversely affect our business. Additionally, limitations on the ability of telephone companies to provide us with increased capacity in the future could adversely affect our growth prospects. Rate increases imposed by these telephone companies would have the effect of increasing our operating expenses. In addition, our operation of global interpretation centers causes

 

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us to rely on the availability of telephone service outside the United States. Any significant disruption in telephone service in the countries where we operate global interpretation centers could adversely affect our business.

 

Our business could be adversely affected by an emergency interruption of our operations.

 

Our operations are dependent upon our ability to protect our OPI interpretation centers against damage that may be caused by fire, power failure, telecommunications failures, unauthorized intrusion, computer viruses and other emergencies. We have taken precautions to protect ourselves and our customers from events that could interrupt delivery of our services. These precautions include fire protection and physical security systems, rerouting of telephone calls to one or more of our other OPI interpretation centers in the event of an emergency, backup power generators and a disaster recovery plan. We also maintain business interruption insurance in amounts that we consider adequate. Notwithstanding such precautions, a fire, natural disaster, human error, equipment malfunction or inadequacy, or other event could result in a prolonged interruption in our ability to provide support services to our customers.

 

We cannot predict the outcome of various measures in Congress aimed at limiting the transfer of U.S. jobs overseas.

 

An increasing number of our interpreters are located in global interpretation centers outside of the United States. Although hourly wages for our off-shore interpreters are often above the average wage rate in their respective countries, these off-shore interpreters are paid less than comparable U.S.-based interpreters, and the global interpretation centers have an approximately 50% total cost per minute advantage over our domestic interpretation centers. Several measures have recently been introduced in Congress aimed at prohibiting, or at least limiting, the transfer of U.S. jobs to foreign countries. It is not clear whether these legislative proposals will eventually become law or what impact they may have on our business.

 

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 THE EXCHANGE OFFER

 

Terms of the Exchange Offer; Period for Tendering Outstanding New Notes

 

We issued the Old Notes on June 11, 2004 and entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers. The registration rights agreement requires that we register the Old Notes with the Commission and offer to exchange the registered New Notes for the outstanding Old Notes issued on June 11, 2004.

 

We will accept any validly tendered Old Notes that you do not withdraw before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. We will issue $1,000 of principal amount at maturity of New Notes in exchange for each $1,000 principal amount at maturity of your outstanding Old Notes. You may tender some or all of your Old Notes in the exchange offer.

 

The form and terms of the New Notes are the same as the form and terms of the outstanding Old Notes except that:

 

(1) the New Notes being issued in the exchange offer will be registered under the Securities Act and will not have legends restricting their transfer;

 

(2) the New Notes being issued in the exchange offer will not contain the registration rights and liquidated damages provisions contained in the outstanding Old Notes; and

 

(3) interest on the New Notes will accrue from the last interest date on which interest was paid on your Old Notes.

 

Outstanding Old Notes that we accept for exchange will not accrue interest after we complete the exchange offer.

 

The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on             , 2004, unless we extend it. If we extend the exchange offer, we will issue a notice by press release or other public announcement before 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.

 

We reserve the right, in our sole discretion:

 

(1) to extend the exchange offer;

 

(2) to terminate the exchange offer and not accept any Old Notes for exchange if any of the conditions have not been satisfied; or

 

(3) to amend the exchange offer in any manner; provided, however that if we amend the exchange offer to make a material change, including the waiver of a material condition, we will extend the exchange offer, if necessary, to keep the exchange offer open for at least five business days after such amendment or waiver.

 

We will promptly give written notice of any extension, delay, non-acceptance, termination or amendment. We will also file a post-effective amendment with the Commission if we amend the terms of the exchange offer.

 

If we extend the exchange offer, Old Notes that you have previously tendered will still be subject to the exchange offer and we may accept them. We will promptly return your Old Notes if we do not accept them for exchange for any reason without expense to you after the exchange offer expires or terminates.

 

Procedures for Tendering Old Notes Held Through Brokers and Banks

 

Since the Old Notes are represented by global book-entry notes, DTC, as depositary, or its nominee is treated as the registered holder of the notes and will be the only entity that can tender your Old Notes for New

 

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Notes. Therefore, to tender notes subject to this exchange offer and to obtain New Notes, you must instruct the institution where you keep your old notes to tender your notes on your behalf so that they are received on or prior to the expiration of this exchange offer.

 

The BLUE-colored “Letter of Transmittal” shall be used by you to give such instructions. YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE AT THE BROKER OR BANK WHERE YOU KEEP YOUR NOTES TO DETERMINE THE PREFERRED PROCEDURE.

 

IF YOU WISH TO ACCEPT THIS EXCHANGE OFFER, PLEASE INSTRUCT YOUR BROKER OR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE IN TIME FOR YOUR OLD NOTES TO BE TENDERED BEFORE THE 5:00 PM (NEW YORK CITY TIME) DEADLINE ON             , 2004.

 

You may tender some or all of your Old Notes in this exchange offer. However, notes may be tendered only in integral multiples of $1,000.

 

When you tender your outstanding Old Notes and we accept them, the tender will be a binding agreement between you and us in accordance with the terms and conditions in this prospectus.

 

The method of delivery of outstanding Old Notes and all other required documents to the exchange agent is at your election and risk.

 

We will decide all questions about the validity, form, eligibility, acceptance and withdrawal of tendered Old Notes, and our determination will be final and binding on you. We reserve the absolute right to:

 

(1) reject any and all tenders of any particular note not properly tendered;

 

(2) refuse to accept any Old Note if, in our judgment or the judgment of our counsel, the acceptance would be unlawful; and

 

(3) waive any defects or irregularities or conditions of the exchange offer as to any particular Old Note before the expiration of the offer.

 

Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange offer will be final and binding on all parties. You must cure any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of Old Notes as we will determine. Neither we, the exchange agent nor any other person will incur any liability for failure to notify you of any defect or irregularity with respect to your tender of Old Notes. If we waive any terms and conditions pursuant to (3) above with respect to a noteholder, we will extend the same waiver to all noteholders with respect to that term or condition being waived.

 

Representations

 

To participate in the exchange offer, we require that you represent for our benefit that:

 

(1) you are acquiring them in the ordinary course of business;

 

(2) you are not engaging in or intend to engage in a distribution of the New Notes issued in the exchange offer;

 

(3) you do not have an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of New Notes issued in the exchange offer;

 

(4) you are not our “affiliate” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act; and

 

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(5) if you are a broker-dealer, you will receive New Notes for your own account, you acquired New Notes as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, and you acknowledge that you will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of your New Notes.

 

You must make such representations by executing the Blue-colored “Letter of Transmittal” and delivering to the institution through which you held your Old Notes.

 

Broker-dealers who cannot make the representations in item (5) of the paragraph above cannot use this exchange offer prospectus in connection with resales of the New Notes issued in the exchange offer.

 

If you are our “affiliate,” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act, you are a broker-dealer who acquired your outstanding Old Notes in the initial offering and not as a result of market-making or trading activities, or if you are engaged in or intend to engage in or have an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of New Notes acquired in the exchange offer, you or that person:

 

(1) may not rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff of the Commission and therefore may not participate in the exchange offer; and

 

(2) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act or an exemption therefrom when reselling the New Notes.

 

Procedures for Brokers and Custodian Banks; DTC ATOP Account

 

In order to accept this exchange offer on behalf of a holder of Old Notes you must submit or cause your DTC participant to submit an Agent’s Message as described below.

 

The exchange agent, on our behalf, will seek to establish an Automated Tender Offer Program (“ATOP”) account with respect to the outstanding notes at DTC promptly after the delivery of this prospectus. Any financial institution that is a DTC participant, including your broker or bank, may make book-entry tender of outstanding Old Notes by causing the book-entry transfer of such notes into our ATOP account in accordance with DTC’s procedures for such transfers. Concurrently with the delivery of the Old Notes, an Agent’s Message in connection with such book-entry transfer must be transmitted by DTC to, and received by, the exchange agent on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the expiration date. The confirmation of a book-entry transfer into the ATOP account as described above is referred to herein as a “Book-Entry Confirmation.”

 

The term “Agent’s Message” means a message transmitted by the DTC participants to DTC, and thereafter transmitted by DTC to the exchange agent, forming a part of the Book-Entry Confirmation which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the participant in DTC described in such Agent’s Message stating that such participant and beneficial holder agree to be bound by the terms of this exchange offer.

 

Each Agent’s Message must include the following information:

 

(1) Name of the beneficial owner tendering such notes;

 

(2) Account number of the beneficial owner tendering such notes;

 

(3) Principal amount of notes tendered by such beneficial owner; and

 

(4) A confirmation holder of the Old Notes tendered has made the representations set forth in the Letter of Transmittal.

 

BY SENDING AN AGENT’S MESSAGE THE DTC PARTICIPANT IS DEEMED TO HAVE CERTIFIED THAT THE BENEFICIAL HOLDER FOR WHOM NOTES ARE BEING TENDERED HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH A COPY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.

 

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The delivery of notes through DTC, and any transmission of an Agent’s Message through ATOP, is at the election and risk of the person tendering notes. We will ask the exchange agent to instruct DTC to return those Old Notes, if any, that were tendered through ATOP but were not accepted by us, to the DTC participant that tendered such notes on behalf of holders of the notes. Neither we nor the exchange agent is responsible or liable for the return of such notes to the tendering DTC participants or to their owners, nor as to the time by which such return is completed.

 

Acceptance of Outstanding Old Notes for Exchange; Delivery of New Notes Issued in the Exchange Offer

 

We will accept validly tendered Old Notes when the conditions to the exchange offer have been satisfied or we have waived them. We will have accepted your validly tendered Old Notes when we have given oral or written notice to the exchange agent. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders for the purpose of receiving the New Notes from us. If we do not accept any tendered Old Notes for exchange because of an invalid tender or other valid reason, the exchange agent will return the certificates, without expense, to the tendering holder. If a holder has tendered Old Notes by book-entry transfer, we will credit the notes to an account maintained with The Depository Trust Company. We will return certificates or credit the account at The Depository Trust Company promptly after the exchange offer terminates or expires.

 

The agent’s message must be transmitted to exchange agent on or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

 

Withdrawal Rights

 

You may withdraw your tender of outstanding notes at any time before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date.

 

For a withdrawal to be effective, you should contact your bank or broker where your Old Notes are held and have them send an ATOP notice of withdrawal so that it is received by the exchange agent before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. Such notice of withdrawal must:

 

(1) specify the name of the person that tendered the Old Notes to be withdrawn;

 

(2) identify the Old Notes to be withdrawn, including the CUSIP number and principal amount at maturity of the Old Notes;

 

(3) specify the name and number of an account at the DTC to which your withdrawn Old Notes can be credited.

 

We will decide all questions as to the validity, form and eligibility of the notices and our determination will be final and binding on all parties. Any tendered Old Notes that you withdraw will not be considered to have been validly tendered. We will return any outstanding Old Notes that have been tendered but not exchanged, or credit them to the DTC account, as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender, or termination of the exchange offer. You may re-tender properly withdrawn Old Notes by following one of the procedures described above before the expiration date.

 

Conditions to the Exchange Offer

 

Notwithstanding any other provision herein, we are not required to accept for exchange, or to issue New Notes in exchange for, any outstanding Old Notes. We may terminate or amend the exchange offer, if before the expiration of the exchange offer:

 

(1) any federal law, statute, rule or regulation has been adopted or enacted which, in our judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair our ability to proceed with the exchange offer;

 

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(2) any stop order is threatened or in effect with respect to the registration statement which this prospectus is a part of or the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; or

 

(3) there is a change in the current interpretation by the staff of the Commission which permits holders who have made the required representations to us to resell, offer for resale, or otherwise transfer New Notes issued in the exchange offer without registration of the New Notes and delivery of a prospectus, as discussed above.

 

These conditions are for our sole benefit and we may assert them at any time before the expiration of the exchange offer. Our failure to exercise any of the foregoing rights will not be a waiver of our rights.

 

Exchange Agent

 

You should direct questions, requests for assistance, and requests for additional copies of this prospectus and the BLUE-colored “Letter of Transmittal” to the exchange agent at the following address:

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK

 

By Facsimile   By Hand   By Overnight Courier or Registered/Certified Mail

(212) 298-1915

Attention: Customer Service

 

101 Barclay Street, 7 East

New York, NY 10286

Attention: Corporate Trust Operations

 

101 Barclay Street, 7 East

New York, NY 10286

Attention: Corporate Trust Operations

 

Fees and Expenses

 

We will not make any payment to brokers, dealers, or others soliciting acceptances of the exchange offer except for reimbursement of mailing expenses.

 

We will pay the cash expenses incurred in connection with the exchange offer. Such expenses include fees and expenses of the exchange agent and trustee, accounting and legal fees and printing costs, among others.

 

Accounting Treatment

 

The New Notes will be recorded at the same carrying value as the existing Old Notes, as reflected in our accounting records on the date of exchange. Accordingly, we will recognize no gain or loss for accounting purposes. The expenses of the exchange offer will be expensed over the term of the New Notes.

 

Transfer Taxes

 

If you tender outstanding Old Notes for exchange you will not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes. However, if you instruct us to register New Notes in the name of, or request that your Old Notes not tendered or not accepted in the exchange offer be returned to, a person other than you, you will be responsible for paying any transfer tax owed.

 

You May Suffer Adverse Consequences if You Fail to Exchange Outstanding New Notes

 

If you do not tender your outstanding Old Notes, you will not have any further registration rights, except for the rights described in the registration rights agreement and described above, and your Old Notes will continue to be subject to restrictions on transfer when we complete the exchange offer. Accordingly, if you do

 

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not tender your notes in the exchange offer, your ability to sell your Old Notes could be adversely affected. Once we have completed the exchange offer, holders who have not tendered notes will not continue to be entitled to any increase in interest rate that the indenture provides for if we do not complete the exchange offer.

 

Holders of the New Notes issued in the exchange offer and Old Notes that are not tendered in the exchange offer will vote together as a single class under the indenture governing the Notes.

 

Consequences of Exchanging Outstanding Old Notes

 

If you make the representations that we discuss above, we believe that you may offer, sell or otherwise transfer the New Notes to another party without registration of your notes or delivery of a prospectus.

 

We base our belief on interpretations by the staff of the Commission in no-action letters issued to third parties. If you cannot make these representations, you cannot rely on this interpretation by the Commission’s staff and you must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a resale of the Old Notes. A broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account in exchange for its outstanding Old Notes must acknowledge that it acquired as a result of market making activities or other trading activities and that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the New Notes. Broker-dealers who can make these representations may use this exchange offer prospectus, as supplemented or amended, in connection with resales of New Notes issued in the exchange offer.

 

However, because the Commission has not issued a no-action letter in connection with this exchange offer, we cannot be sure that the staff of the Commission would make a similar determination regarding the exchange offer as it has made in similar circumstances.

 

Shelf Registration

 

The registration rights agreement also requires that we file a shelf registration statement if:

 

(1) we cannot file a registration statement for the exchange offer because the exchange offer is not permitted by law;

 

(2) a law or Commission policy prohibits a holder from participating in the exchange offer;

 

(3) a holder cannot resell the New Notes it acquires in the exchange offer without delivering a prospectus and this prospectus is not appropriate or available for resales by the holder; or

 

(4) a holder is a broker-dealer and holds notes acquired directly from us or one of our affiliates

 

We will also register the New Notes under the securities laws of jurisdictions that holders may request before offering or selling notes in a public offering. We do not intend to register New Notes in any jurisdiction unless a holder requests that we do so.

 

Old Notes will be subject to restrictions on transfer until:

 

(1) a person other than a broker-dealer has exchanged the Old Notes in the exchange offer;

 

(2) a broker-dealer has exchanged the Old Notes in the exchange offer and sells them to a purchaser that receives a prospectus from the broker-dealer on or before the sale;

 

(3) the Old Notes are sold under an effective shelf registration statement that we have filed; or

 

(4) the Old Notes are sold to the public under Rule 144 of the Securities Act.

 

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 USE OF PROCEEDS

 

The Old Notes were issued on June 11, 2004 to the initial purchasers. The net proceeds from the offering of the Old Notes, together with borrowings under the senior secured credit facilities and proceeds from equity contributions, including proceeds of the concurrent offering of senior discount notes by Parent, were used to consummate the merger and pay related fees and expenses.

 

We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the New Notes in the exchange offer. In consideration for issuing the New Notes as contemplated in this prospectus, we will receive existing Old Notes in equal principal amount at maturity, the terms of which are the same in all material respects to the New Notes. The Old Notes surrendered in exchange for the New Notes will be retired or cancelled and not reissued. Accordingly, the issuance of the New Notes will not result in any increase or decrease in our debt.

 

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 CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of June 30, 2004 on an actual basis. The information should be read in conjunction with “Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Data” and the notes thereto, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     As of June 30, 2004

     (dollars in thousands)

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 5,880
    

Debt:

      

Senior secured credit facilities:

      

Revolving credit facility(1)

   $ 6,739

Term loan facility

     285,000

Senior subordinated notes(2)

     160,778

Existing subordinated promissory notes(3)

     1,793

Capital lease obligation

     122
    

Total debt

     454,432
    

Total stockholders’ equity

     279,258
    

Total capitalization

   $ 733,690
    


(1)   Our revolving credit facility provides for up to $40.0 million of borrowings, of which no more than $15.0 million was available to finance certain working capital adjustments, if any, or to pay related fees and expenses on the closing date. See “Description of Our Senior Secured Credit Facilities.”
(2)   Does not include approximately $4.2 million of original issue discount which will be accreted as an increase to the note balance over the life of the notes.
(3)   In connection with the 2002 acquisition of OnLine Interpreters, Inc., our subordinated promissory notes were issued subject to imputed non-cash interest at 4.65% annually, and the remaining balance outstanding is payable in two equal installments in May 2005 and May 2006. The outstanding balance of $1.8 million reflects the principal amount which remains outstanding.

 

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 UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

 

We derived the unaudited pro forma consolidated financial data set forth below by the application of pro forma adjustments to the Company’s and Predecessor’s historical consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

The unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2003 and the six months ended June 30, 2004 give effect to the merger and financing as if they had occurred on January 1, 2003. The unaudited pro forma consolidated financial data does not purport to represent what our results of operations, balance sheet data or financial information would have been if the merger and financing had occurred as of the dates indicated, or what such results will be for any future periods.

 

The unaudited pro forma consolidated financial data have been prepared giving effect to the merger, which is accounted for in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141 Business Combinations. The estimated total purchase price was allocated to the net assets acquired based upon estimates of fair value. The purchase price allocations for the merger are preliminary and further refinements are likely to be made based on the results of final valuations and the resolution of any post-closing purchase price adjustments pursuant to the merger. The Company does not expect any material adjustments to the purchase price allocations.

 

The unaudited pro forma adjustments are based upon available information and certain assumptions that we believe are reasonable and exclude certain non-recurring charges. You should read the unaudited pro forma consolidated financial data and the accompanying notes in conjunction with the historical audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus and other financial information contained in “Capitalization” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 

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Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

(dollars in thousands)

 

     Actual(1)

  

Adjustments

for the Merger

and Financing


    Pro Forma

Revenues

   $ 72,080    $ —       $ 72,080

Costs of services:

                     

Interpreters

     20,244      —         20,244

Answer points

     282      —         282

Telecommunications

     3,138      —         3,138
    

  


 

Total costs of services

     23,664      —         23,664
    

  


 

Gross margin

     48,416      —         48,416

Other expenses:

                     

Selling, general and administrative

     11,624      —         11,624

Interest, net

     8,151      10,176 (2)     18,327

Merger related expenses

     9,848      (9,848) (3)     —  

Depreciation and amortization

     3,739      15,413 (4)     19,152
    

  


 

Total other expenses

     33,362      15,741       49,103
    

  


 

Income (loss) before taxes on income

     15,054      (15,741)       (687)

Taxes (benefits) on income (loss)

     5,910      (6,180) (5)     (270)
    

  


 

Net income (loss)

   $ 9,144    $ (9,561)     $ (417)
    

  


 

 

 

 

See Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

(footnotes on following page)

 

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Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations

For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

(dollars in thousands)


(1)   Represents the historical consolidated statements of operations including those of Predecessor.
(2)   Reflects the net adjustment to pro forma interest expense giving effect to the merger and financing:

 

    

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2004


 

Total pro forma interest expense(a)

   $ 18,327  

Less: historical interest expense

     (8,151 )
    


Net adjustment to interest expense

   $ 10,176  
    


 
  (a)   Represents interest expense on the senior secured credit facilities, the notes offered hereby, subordinated promissory notes and capital leases, interest income on outstanding officer notes, as well as amortization of deferred financing costs.

 

(3)   Represents the merger related expenses that would have been incurred in 2003 had the merger and financing occurred on January 1, 2003.

 

(4)   Reflects the net adjustment to depreciation and amortization expense:

 

    

Six Months Ended

June 30, 2004


 

Total pro forma depreciation and amortization expense

   $ 19,152  

Less: historical depreciation and amortization expense

     (3,739 )
    


Net adjustment to depreciation and amortization expense(a)

   $ 15,413  
    


 
  (a)   Represents additional amortization expense arising from step-up to fair market value of intangibles. The additional amortization expense is calculated using the straight line method and a weighted average remaining useful life of approximately 12.7 years.

 

(5)   Represents the tax effect of the pro forma adjustments described above.

 

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Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2003

(dollars in thousands)

 

     Actual(1)

  

Adjustments
for the Merger

and Financing


    Pro Forma

 

Revenues

   $ 140,641    $ —       $ 140,641  

Costs of services:

                       

Interpreters

     40,740      —         40,740  

Answer points

     542      —         542  

Telecommunications

     6,646      —         6,646  
    

  


 


Total costs of services

     47,928      —         47,928  
    

  


 


Gross margin

     92,713      —         92,713  

Other expenses:

                       

Selling, general and administrative

     24,221      —         24,221  

Interest, net

     12,025      24,582 (2)     36,607  

Merger related expenses

     —        9,848 (3)     9,848  

Depreciation and amortization

     3,612      34,521 (4)     38,133  
    

  


 


Total other expenses

     39,858      68,951       108,809  
    

  


 


Income (loss) before taxes on income

     52,855      (68,951 )     (16,096 )

Taxes (benefits) on income (loss)

     20,467      (26,700 )(5)     (6,233 )
    

  


 


Net income (loss)

   $ 32,388    $ (42,251 )   $ (9,863 )
    

  


 


 

 

 

See Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations.

 

(footnotes on following page)

 

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Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended December 31, 2003

(dollars in thousands)


(1)   Represents the historical consolidated statements of operations of Predecessor.
(2)   Reflects the net adjustment to pro forma interest expense giving effect to the merger and financing:

 

    

Year Ended

December 31, 2003


 

Total pro forma interest expense(a)

   $ 36,607  

Less: historical interest expense

     (12,025 )
    


Net adjustment to interest expense

   $ 24,582  
    


 
  (a)   Represents interest expense on the senior secured credit facilities, the notes offered hereby, subordinated promissory notes and capital leases, interest income on outstanding officer notes, as well as amortization of deferred financing costs.

 

(3)   Represents the 2004 merger related expenses that would have been incurred had the merger and financing occurred on January 1, 2003.

 

(4)   Reflects the net adjustment to depreciation and amortization expense:

 

    

Year Ended

December 31, 2003


 

Total pro forma depreciation and amortization expense

   $ 38,133  

Less: historical depreciation and amortization expense

     (3,612 )
    


Net adjustment to depreciation and amortization expense(a)

   $ 34,521  
    


 
  (a)   Represents additional amortization expense arising from step-up to fair market value of intangibles. The additional amortization expense is calculated using the straight line method and a weighted average remaining useful life of approximately 12.7 years.

 

(5)   Represents the tax effect of the pro forma adjustments described above.

 

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 SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The Notes are being offered by the Company. The financial statements of the Company and Predecessor are presented in this prospectus.

 

The following table sets forth the selected historical consolidated financial data of the Company and Predecessor as of the dates and for the periods indicated. We derived the selected historical consolidated income statement data for the years ended December 31, 2001, December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2003 and selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2002 and 2003 from Predecessor’s audited historical consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. We derived the selected historical consolidated income statement data for the nine months ended December 31, 1999 and the year ended December 31, 2000 and selected consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 1999, 2000 and 2001 from Predecessor’s unaudited historical consolidated financial information for these periods. The selected historical consolidated income statement data for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and for the period from January 1, 2004 through June 11, 2004, and the selected consolidated balance sheet data as of June 30, 2003 were derived from the Predecessor’s unaudited summary historical consolidated financial information for these periods. The selected historical consolidated statement of operations data for the period from June 12, 2004 to June 30, 2004 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of June 30, 2004 were derived from the Company’s unaudited selected historical consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in the prospectus. Historical operating results in the following table are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected in the future.

 

The selected historical consolidated financial data presented below should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Predecessor’s audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

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Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data

 

    Predecessor

     
   

Nine Months
Ended
December 31,

1999


    Years Ended December 31,

    Six Months
Ended
June 30,
2003


  January 1
to
June 11,
2004


  June 12
to
June 30,
2004


 
      2000

    2001

    2002

  2003

       
    (dollars in thousands)      

Statement of Operations Data:

                                                         

Revenues

  $ 68,906     $ 108,157     $ 125,614     $ 133,318   $ 140,641     $ 70,000   $ 64,692   $ 7,388  

Costs of services:

                                                         

Interpreters

    22,854       36,691       40,519       40,911     40,740       21,004     18,374     1,870  

Answer points

    2,119       3,075       2,938       1,135     542       279     256     26  

Telecommunications

    3,967       6,677       5,864       7,087     6,646       3,738     2,882     256  
   


 


 


 

 


 

 

 


Total costs of services

    28,940       46,443       49,321       49,133     47,928       25,021     21,512     2,152  
   


 


 


 

 


 

 

 


Gross margin

    39,966       61,714       76,293       84,185     92,713       44,979     43,180     5,236  

Other expenses:

                                                         

Selling, general and administrative

    14,242       21,324       24,780       20,896     24,221       11,499     10,423     1,201  

Interest, net

    13,683       17,485       18,752       20,168     12,025       6,121     5,982     2,169  

Merger related expenses

    —         —         —         —       —         —       9,848     —    

Depreciation and amortization

    8,500       10,612       11,986       2,787     3,612       1,771     1,735     2,004  
   


 


 


 

 


 

 

 


Total other expenses

    36,425       49,421       55,518       43,851     39,858       19,391     27,988     5,374  
   


 


 


 

 


 

 

 


Income (loss) before taxes on income and accounting change

    3,541       12,293       20,775       40,334     52,855       25,588     15,192     (138 )

Taxes (benefit) on income (loss)

    1,132       4,892       8,397       15,415     20,467       9,900     5,968     (58 )
   


 


 


 

 


 

 

 


Income (loss) before accounting change

    2,409       7,401       12,378       24,919     32,388       15,688     9,224     (80 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax effect of $(127)

    —         —         (187 )     —       —         —       —       —    
   


 


 


 

 


 

 

 


Net income (loss)

    2,409       7,401       12,191       24,919     32,388       15,688     9,224     (80 )

Accretion of preferred stock redemption value

    (4,572 )     (6,542 )     (10,900 )     —       —         —       —       —    
   


 


 


 

 


 

 

 


Net income (loss) allocable to common stockholders

  $ (2,163 )   $ 859     $ 1,291     $ 24,919   $ 32,388     $ 15,688   $ 9,224   $ (80 )
   


 


 


 

 


 

 

 


Other Financial Data:

                                                         

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)(2)

    1.26x       1.70x       2.10x       2.97x     5.30x       5.09x     1.97x        

Other Operating Data:

                                                         

Billed minutes (in thousands)

    31,349       50,086       59,350       70,065     80,715       39,552     39,235     4,513  

Balance Sheet Data at end of period:

                                                         

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 5,529     $ 3,167     $ 2,608     $ 4,930   $ 4,571     $ 3,576   $ 11,475   $ 5,880  

Total assets

    242,835       232,854       236,412       262,278     263,425       261,391     263,566     929,857  

Total debt

    179,950       159,168       208,001       202,727     239,081       175,867     224,890     454,432  

Stockholders’ equity (deficit)

    (1,163 )     (252 )     5,969       31,161     (6,578 )     46,829     8,740     279,258  

(1)   For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings represent income (loss) before income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, deferred financing costs written off (included in merger related expenses) and one-third of operating rental expense which management believes is representative of the interest component of rent expense.

 

(2)   For period from June 12, 2004 to June 30, 2004 the ratio of earnings to fixed charges was less than 1.0x because the fixed charges exceeded the earnings.

 

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 MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF

FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the “Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Data” and the consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains forward-looking statements about our markets, the demand for our products and services and our future results. We based these statements on assumptions that we consider reasonable. Actual results may differ materially from those suggested by our forward-looking statements for various reasons including those discussed in the “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” sections of this prospectus.

 

Introduction

 

We are the leading global provider of OPI services from English into more than 150 different languages, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our specially-trained, proprietary base of interpreters perform value-added OPI services which facilitate critical business transactions and delivery of emergency and government services between our customers and LEP speakers throughout the world. In 2003, we helped more than 18 million people communicate across linguistic and cultural barriers, providing over 80 million billed minutes of OPI services to our customers. We offer our customers a high-quality, cost-effective alternative to staffing in-house multilingual employees or using face-to-face interpretation. Through our OPI services, we improve our customers’ revenue potential, customer service and competitiveness by enhancing their ability to effectively serve the growing population of current and prospective LEP speakers.

 

Overview of Operations

 

Our operating revenues are derived primarily from per minute fees charged to our customers for our interpretation services. Generally, customers are charged based on the product of actual billed minutes of service and the customer’s contractual rate per billed minute of service. In addition, the Company generates revenue from membership and enrollment fees, as well as fees for other OPI-related services, such as document translation.

 

Expenses consist primarily of costs of services, selling, general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization and interest expense. Costs of services primarily include the cost of our interpreters, answer points and telecommunications costs.

 

Occupancy, as expressed in percentage terms, represents the time that an interpreter is providing interpretation services (e.g., billed minutes) out of the time that an interpreter is scheduled to provide services.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Our significant accounting policies are summarized in “Note 1—Organization and Significant Accounting Policies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements attached hereto, which have been prepared in accordance with Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). In preparing the consolidated financial statements, GAAP requires management to select and apply accounting policies that involve estimates and judgment. The following accounting policies may require a higher degree of judgment or involve amounts that could have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

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Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the failure of customers to make payment. We determine the allowance based upon an evaluation of individual accounts, aging of the portfolio, issues raised by customers that may suggest non-payment, historical experience and/or the current economic environment. While our bad debt losses have historically been within our expectations and the allowance established, we might not continue to experience the same loss rates that we have in the past. If the financial condition of individual customers or the general worldwide economy were to vary materially from the estimates and assumptions made by us, the allowance may require adjustment in the future. We evaluate the adequacy of the allowance on a regular basis, modifying, as necessary, its assumptions, updating its record of historical experience and adjusting reserves as appropriate.

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

 

We assess the impairment of long-lived assets at least annually or when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets or the asset grouping may not be recoverable. Customer relationships, internally developed technology, tradenames and trademarks, and goodwill are our most significant long-lived assets and are tested annually. Impairment is measured by the difference between the carrying amount and the respective fair values, based on the best information available, including market prices or a discounted cash flow analysis. Estimates are made on the useful lives or economic values of assets and could change based on changes in the economy or industry trends.

 

Derivatives Valuation

 

We assess the value of our derivative positions on a monthly basis. These derivative positions are exclusively related to interest rate hedges (e.g., SWAPs and CAPs). These are valued as of the last business day of each month based on market rates provided to us by Chatham Financial. Interest expense will be impacted each month by the amount of change in the collective valuation of all hedge positions.

 

Claims and Legal Proceedings

 

In the normal course of business, we are party to various claims and legal proceedings. We record a reserve for these matters when an adverse outcome is probable and we can reasonably estimate our potential liability. Although the outcome of these matters is currently not determinable, we do not believe that the resolution of these matters in a manner adverse to our interest will have a material effect upon our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows for any interim or annual period.

 

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Historical Performance

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth the percentages of revenue that certain items of operating data constitute for the periods indicated:

 

       Years Ended December 31,

    Six Months Ended
June 30, 2003


    January 1
to
June 11,
2004


    June 12
to
June 30,
2004


 
       2001

    2002

    2003

       

Income statement data:

                                      

Revenues

     100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %

Costs of services:

                                      

Interpreters

     32.3     30.7     29.0     30.0     28.4     25.3  

Answer points

     2.3     0.9     0.4     0.4     0.4     0.3  

Telecommunications

     4.7     5.3     4.7     5.3     4.5     3.5  
      

 

 

 

 

 

Total costs of services

     39.3     36.9     34.1     35.7     33.3     29.1  
      

 

 

 

 

 

Gross margin

     60.7     63.1     65.9     64.3     66.7     70.9  

Other expenses:

                                      

Selling, general and administrative

     19.8     15.6     17.1     16.5     16.1     16.3  

Interest, net

     14.9     15.1     8.6     8.7     9.2     29.4  

Merger related expenses

     —       —       —       —       15.2     —    

Depreciation and amortization

     9.5     2.1     2.6     2.5     2.7     27.1  
      

 

 

 

 

 

Total other expenses

     44.2     32.8     28.3     27.7     43.2     72.8  
      

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before taxes on income and accounting change

     16.5     30.3     37.6     36.6     23.5     (1.9 )

Taxes (benefit) on income (loss)

     6.6     11.6     14.6     14.2     9.2     (0.8 )
      

 

 

 

 

 

Income before accounting change

     9.9     18.7     23.0     22.4     14.3     (1.1 )

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax effect

     (0.2 )   —       —       —       —       —    
      

 

 

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

     9.7 %   18.7 %   23.0 %   22.4 %   14.3 %   (1.1 )%
      

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2004 (Combined) Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2003.

 

In the discussion of our financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2004 in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” we refer to financial statements for the six months ended June 30, 2004 as “combined” for comparative purposes. These combined financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2004 represent the sum of the financial data for Language Line Holdings, Inc. (Predecessor) for the period January 1, 2004 through June 11, 2004 and the financial data for Language Line, Inc. for the period from its inception to June 30, 2004. We further refer to the period from our inception through June 30, 2004 as the June 12, 2004 through June 30, 2004 period, because we had no operations in the period from, April 14, 2004, our date of incorporation, to June 11, 2004, the closing date of the merger. These combined financial results are for informational purposes only and do not purport to represent what our financial position would have actually been in such periods had the merger occurred prior to June 11, 2004. The statement of operations data of Predecessor is not directly comparable to that for the Company as the financial statements were derived from separate entities with a different accounting basis.

 

Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2004 were $72.1 million as compared to $70.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003, an increase of $2.1 million or 2.9%. The majority of this increase relates to a 10.6% increase in OPI billed minutes, offset by an 6.9% decline in the average rate per billed minute driven by our pricing strategy. Our pricing strategy is designed to increase revenues by opportunistically reducing average rate per minute pricing in order to stimulate growth in billed minute volume.

 

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For the six months ended June 30, 2004, cost of services were $23.7 million as compared to $25.0 million for the comparable period in 2003, a decrease of $1.3 million or 5.5%. This decrease was primarily due to increased interpretation minutes being serviced from the global interpretation centers, higher interpreter occupancy and a new long distance telecommunications contract with lower rates per minute of service.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses for six months ended June 30, 2004 were $11.6 million as compared to $11.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003, an increase of $0.1 million or 1.0%. This increase was driven primarily by additional costs from our global interpretation center in Panama that was opened in August 2003 and from higher audit, tax and financial consulting fees.

 

Overall, operating margins increased to 51.1% for the six months ended June 30, 2004 from 47.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2003 due to the factors described above.

 

Interest expense, net for the six months ended June 30, 2004 was $8.2 million as compared to $6.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003. This increase was the result of the additional debt incurred as part of the acquisition.

 

Merger related expenses were $9.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 compared to $0.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003. $9.6 million was related to the write-off of the Predecessor’s deferred financing fees.

 

Depreciation and amortization was $3.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 as compared to $1.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003, an increase of $1.9 million. This increase is principally attributable to the amortization of intangibles resulting from the acquisition.

 

Taxes on income for the six months ended June 30, 2004 were $5.9 million as compared to $9.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003. This decrease was driven by the additional interest expense and merger related expenses.

 

As a result of the factors described above, net income was $9.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 as compared to $15.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2003 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2002.

 

Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2003 were $140.6 million, an increase of $7.3 million or 5.5% as compared to $133.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2002. This increase was driven by a 15.2% increase in OPI billed minutes, offset by an 8.4% decline in the average rate per minute driven by our pricing strategy. Approximately 27% of the billed minutes increase was the result of the inclusion of the acquisition of OnLine Interpreters for twelve months during 2003 versus approximately eight months in fiscal 2002.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2003, cost of services were $47.9 million as compared to $49.1 million for the comparable period in 2002, a decrease of $1.2 million or 2.5%. This decrease was primarily due to a $0.6 million reduction in answer point expenses resulting from further enhancement of the automated call routing system, $0.4 million reduction in telecommunications expenses due to a new telecommunications contract and $0.2 million reduction in interpreter expenses which was driven by shifting more interpretation minutes to the lower cost global interpretation centers.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2003 were $24.2 million as compared to $20.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2002, an increase of $3.3 million or 15.8%. $3.0 million of this increase reflects the payment to the CEO and several other optionholders of a “dividend equivalent” payment related to our July 2003 refinancing.

 

Overall, operating margins increased to 48.7% in 2003 from 47.5% in 2002 as a result of the factors described above.

 

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Table of Contents

Interest expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2003 was $12.0 million as compared to $20.2 million for the comparable period in 2002, a decrease of $8.2 million. This decrease was primarily the result of a change in the valuation of interest rate hedging structures which reflected a loss of $2.7 million in 2002 versus a gain of $3.6 million in 2003, the increased amortization of financing fees related to the July 2003 refinancing as well as the retirement of higher cost debt in July 2003. Additionally, $0.4 million of interest income was recognized in 2003 from the OnLine Interpreters acquisition deferred payment escrow account.

 

Depreciation and amortization was $3.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2003, compared with $2.8 million for the comparable period in 2002, an increase of $0.8 million. This increase was the result of capital expenditures made in late 2002 and during 2003, most notably the opening of a global interpretation center in Panama in August 2003.

 

Taxes on income for 2003 were $20.5 million as compared to $15.4 million for 2002. This increase was driven by the improved operating performance described above and corresponding higher taxable income.

 

As a result of the factors described above, net income was $32.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2003, compared to $24.9 million for the same period in 2002, a 30.1% increase.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2002 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2001.

 

Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2002 were $133.3 million, an increase of $7.7 million or 6.1% as compared to $125.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2001. This increase was attributable to the acquisition of OnLine Interpreters on May 6, 2002 and was offset by an overall 10.0% decline in the average rate per minute driven by our pricing strategy.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2002, total cost of services were $49.1 million as compared to $49.3 million for the comparable period in 2001, a decrease of $0.2 million or 0.4%. This decrease was primarily due to a $1.8 million reduction in answer point expenses resulting from implementing an automated call routing system, offset by additional expenses to service an 18.1% increase in billed minutes.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2002 were $20.9 million as compared to $24.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2001, a decrease of $3.9 million or 15.7%. This decrease was driven by a reduction in marketing and sales expenses of $2.1 million which was the result of a reorganization of the marketing and sales departments, a $0.5 million reduction in uncollectible account expenses and an overall $1.3 million reduction in expenses from the remaining general and administrative departments that was driven by a company-wide cost containment effort.

 

Overall, operating margins increased to 47.5% in 2002 from 41.0% in 2001 as a result of the factors described above.

 

Interest expense, net for the year ended December 31, 2002 was $20.2 million as compared to $18.8 million for the comparable period in 2001, an increase of $1.4 million. $1.0 million of this increase was from the increase in amortization of deferred financing costs as a result of the October 2001 refinancing and the remainder of the increase was the result of $6.7 million of borrowing to complete the acquisition of Online Interpreters.

 

Depreciation and amortization was $2.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2002, compared to $12.0 million for the comparable period in 2001, a decrease of $9.2 million. This decrease was mainly the result of the adoption of SFAS 142 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets that eliminated the amortization of goodwill.

 

Taxes on income for 2002 were $15.4 million as compared to $8.4 million for 2001. This increase was driven by the improved operating performance described above and corresponding higher taxable income.

 

As a result of the factors described above, net income was $24.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2002, compared to $12.2 million for the same period in 2001, a 104.1% increase.

 

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Table of Contents

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was $21.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 compared to $15.6 million for the same period in 2003. This increase is mainly attributable to the timing of tax payments. Net cash provided by operating activities for 2003 and 2002 was $31.9 million and $39.0 million, respectively. The decrease in net cash provided by operating activities in 2003 compared to 2002 was the result of an increase in accounts receivable and a decrease in accrued expenses.

 

Net cash used for investing activities was $726.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004, compared to $1.6 million for the same period in 2003. This increase is mainly attributable to the merger of the Company and the Predecessor. Net cash used for investing activities for 2003 and 2002 was $2.6 million and $20.9 million, respectively. This decrease in net cash used for investing activities of $18.3 million was the result of Language Line’s acquisition of OnLine Interpreters, Inc. on May 6, 2002 which resulted in a use of cash of approximately $18.5 million.

 

Net cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2004 was $705.8 million, compared to net cash used of $15.4 million for the same period in 2003. The increase of $721.2 million is the result of issuance of common stock and debt borrowings related to the merger. Net cash used in financing activities was $29.6 million and $15.8 million in 2003 and 2002, respectively, due to a distribution to stockholders in connection with our July 2003 refinancing and optional debt repayment by the Company.

 

We expect that our primary source of liquidity will continue to be cash flow from operations. We also have available funds under our revolving credit facility, subject to certain conditions. We expect that our primary liquidity requirements will be for debt service, capital expenditures and working capital.

 

In connection with the merger and financing, we incurred substantial amounts of debt, including amounts outstanding under our senior secured credit facilities and the Notes. Interest payments on this indebtedness will significantly reduce our cash flow from operations. As of June 30, 2004, our total debt was approximately $454.4 million.

 

Our senior secured credit facilities total $325.0 million, consisting of a $40.0 million revolving credit facility and a $285.0 million term loan facility. We have approximately $33.3 million of unused senior credit commitments under the revolving credit facility. The commitments under the revolving credit facility will expire on the sixth anniversary of closing of the merger. We are permitted to prepay revolving credit loans and reborrow amounts that are repaid, up to the amount of the revolving credit commitment then in effect, subject to customary conditions.

 

The borrowings under the term loan facility will mature on the seventh anniversary of the closing of the merger. The term loan is payable in quarterly installments commencing with the first full fiscal quarter after the closing of the merger as summarized below.

 

We expect to spend approximately $3.0 million in both 2004 and 2005, to fund our capital expenditures, including the opening of an additional global interpretation center in each of the years, as well as normal investments in telecommunications and company equipment. We plan to fund these expenditures through net cash flows from operations.

 

We believe that the cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet our debt service, capital expenditures and working capital requirements for the foreseeable future. Subject to restrictions in our senior secured credit facilities and the indentures governing the notes, we may incur more debt for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and for other purposes. In addition, we may require additional financing if our plans materially change in an adverse manner or prove to be materially inaccurate. There can be no assurance that such financing, if permitted under the terms of our debt agreements, will be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.

 

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Table of Contents

Contractual Obligations

 

The following table sets forth our long-term contractual cash obligations as of June 30, 2004:

 

    Years Ending December 31,

    Total

  2004

  2005

  2006

  2007

  2008

  Thereafter

Senior secured credit facilities

  $ 291,739   $ 7,500   $ 12,000   $ 15,000   $ 15,000   $ 15,000   $ 227,239

Senior subordinated Notes

    165,000     —       —       —       —       —       165,000

Existing subordinated promissory notes

    1,920           —       960     960           —              —       —  

Operating leases

    5,986         2,300         2,234         1,347            105     —       —  
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total cash contractual obligations

  $ 464,645   $ 9,800   $ 15,194   $ 17,307   $ 15,105   $ 15,000   $ 392,239
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 46 (“FIN 46”), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, and a revised interpretation of FIN 46 (“FIN 46R”) in December 2003 (collectively “FIN 46”). FIN 46 addresses consolidation of variable interest entities. FIN 46 provides guidance for determining when a primary beneficiary should consolidate a variable interest entity or equivalent structure that functions to support the activities of the primary beneficiary. The provisions of FIN 46 are effective immediately for all variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003. It applies in the first year or interim period ending after December 15, 2003 to variable interest entities in which an enterprise holds a variable interest that it acquired before February 1, 2003. We did not have an interest in any variable interest entities as of March 31, 2004, and the adoption of FIN 46 did not have a material effect on our financial statements.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

We are exposed to certain market risks as part of our ongoing business operations. Primary exposure will include changes in interest rates as borrowings under our senior secured credit facilities bear interest at floating rates based on LIBOR or the base rate, in each case plus an applicable borrowing margin. We will manage our interest rate risk by balancing the amount of fixed-rate and floating-rate debt. For fixed-rate debt, interest rate changes do not affect earnings or cash flows. Conversely, for floating-rate debt, interest rate changes generally impact our earnings and cash flows, assuming other factors are held constant.

 

As of June 30, 2004, we had $165.0 million principal amount of fixed-rate debt and $325.0 million of available floating-rate debt (of which we borrowed $291.7 million). Based on the amounts outstanding under the senior secured credit facilities, an immediate increase of one percentage point would cause an increase to interest expense of approximately $2.9 million on an annual basis on the floating rate debt.

 

Changes in economic conditions could result in higher interest rates, thereby increasing our interest expense and other operating expenses and reducing our funds available for capital investment, operations or other purposes. In addition, a substantial portion of our cash flow must be used to service debt, which may affect our ability to make future acquisitions or capital expenditures. We may from time to time use interest rate protection agreements to minimize our exposure to interest rate fluctuation. However, there can be no assurance that hedges will achieve the desired effect. We may experience economic loss and a negative impact on earnings or net assets as a result of interest rate fluctuations.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We do not have any relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities, which would have been established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes.

 

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 BUSINESS

 

Our Company

 

We are the leading global provider of over-the-phone interpretation (“OPI”) services from English into more than 150 different languages, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our specially-trained, proprietary base of interpreters perform value-added OPI services which facilitate critical business transactions and delivery of emergency and government services between our customers and limited English proficiency (“LEP”) speakers throughout the world. In 2003, we helped more than 18 million people communicate across linguistic and cultural barriers, providing over 80 million billed minutes of OPI services to our customers. We offer our customers a high-quality, cost-effective alternative to staffing in-house multilingual employees or using face-to-face interpretation. Through our OPI services, we improve our customers’ revenue potential, customer service and competitiveness by enhancing their ability to effectively serve the growing population of current and prospective LEP speakers.

 

We have over 10,000 customers throughout the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada serving industry sectors such as insurance, financial services, telecommunications, healthcare, transportation and utilities, as well as federal, state and local governments. Our customer base is highly diversified with no single customer accounting for more than 4% and no single industry representing more than 20% of our revenues in 2003. We have enjoyed stable, long-term relationships with our customers, as reflected by average annual customer retention of approximately 95% of our largest 250 customers over the last ten years. Approximately 87% of our largest 250 customers have been customers for over three years and between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2003, our average annual customer churn, as measured by billed minutes, was approximately 2.4%.

 

As of December 31, 2003, we managed 1,924 interpreters, approximately 80% of whom were engaged on a dedicated full-time or agency basis. Our interpreters assist customers in a broad variety of applications, including insurance claim processing, emergency room and 911/critical care assistance, resolving credit card problems, enhancing customer service centers and multicultural marketing services. We employ a rigorous qualification and testing program for our interpreters, with only one out of every twelve applicants being qualified and hired. In addition, we conduct industry-specific training programs for our employee and agency interpreters, including initial and ongoing specialized training in medical, insurance and finance terminology, as well as police, emergency and 911 procedures. Our interpreters deliver our services throughout the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada from a distributed work-at-home interpreter force and six domestic and global interpretation centers located in Monterey, California; Chicago, Illinois; two locations in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and two locations in Panama. Approximately 44% of our OPI billed minutes provided in the first quarter of 2004 were interpreted from our off-shore global interpretation centers.

 

Based on our estimates of industry-wide revenues, we believe we represent an approximate 75% market share of the outsourced OPI market, which we estimate is roughly ten times larger than our next largest competitor. We estimate that the total global market opportunity for OPI services is approximately $1.0 billion, representing approximately 620 million billed minutes. Currently, we estimate that over 95% of the total OPI market opportunity is concentrated in the U.S. market, with the United Kingdom and Canada principally contributing the remainder. We believe that the market for outsourced OPI service is growing and remains significantly under-penetrated with current outsourced OPI market penetration of both the total global OPI market and the U.S. OPI market estimated to be less than 20%. Since 1998, we have successfully increased our penetration of the global OPI market, increasing our total billed minutes from approximately 31 million minutes to approximately 81 million minutes in 2003, an average annual increase of 21%.

 

We have experienced stable revenue growth in each of the past five years as a result of the growing population of LEP speakers and our ability to increase billed minutes from both our existing and new customers. Over the same period, we have also achieved significant increases in profitability by decreasing the cost per minute

 

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of delivering our OPI services. Since 1998, we have demonstrated average annual revenue and EBITDA growth of approximately 15% and 21%, respectively. For the twelve months ended June 30, 2004, we generated total revenues of approximately $142.7 million. Additionally, our business has not historically required substantial capital expenditure investment.

 

Our senior management team is highly experienced and expects to remain with us following the merger. Senior management intends to continue to implement its existing operating strategies and remains strongly committed to our future financial success. Following the merger, our senior management obtained approximately 4% of the fully-diluted shares of the Company by direct investment and collectively owns up to approximately 18% of the fully-diluted shares of the Company, with up to 14% subject to repurchase under certain circumstances related to their continued employment. For a description of the merger, see “Transaction Summary.”

 

Competitive Strengths

 

We believe that we benefit from the following competitive strengths:

 

Leading Market Position.    We are the leading global provider of OPI services, with an approximate 75% market share of the outsourced OPI market as estimated by us. We believe the key benefits of our scale, which create a significant potential barrier to competitive entry, are: (i) an ability to offer the highest-quality OPI service to over 10,000 customers in over 150 languages, 24 hours a day, seven days a week; (ii) the lowest average interpreter cost per minute in the industry and significant operating leverage from our existing general and administrative expense infrastructure; (iii) lower telecommunications costs; and (iv) an ability to invest in sales and marketing to drive future revenue growth. We believe our leading market position enhances our ability to increase revenues and billed minutes from our existing customers, attract new customers, define and deliver the best OPI product and expand geographically into new markets. In addition, as OPI demand from large corporations with substantial language interpretation needs continues to grow, we believe that we are uniquely positioned to be able to satisfactorily service these largest potential users of OPI service.

 

Stable Relationships with a Diversified Customer Base Across Multiple Industries.    We have strong and stable relationships across our diversified customer base. We have been able to attract high-volume, Fortune 500 customers and customers from various industries, including insurance (15 of the 20 largest U.S. life insurance companies), financial institutions (17 of the 20 largest U.S. banks), healthcare (16 of the 20 largest U.S. hospitals), and telecommunications (13 of the 20 largest U.S. telecommunications companies). In 2003, no single industry accounted for more than 20% of our revenues, and our largest customer accounted for approximately 4% of our revenues, while our largest 100 customers represented approximately 60% of our revenues. In addition, we have historically been able to maintain stable, long-term relationships with our customers and experience low annual customer churn. Over the last ten full years, we have experienced average annual customer retention of approximately 95% of our largest 250 customers. Approximately 87% of our largest 250 customers have been customers for over three years, and between January, 2000 and December 31, 2003, our average annual customer churn, as measured by billed minutes, was approximately 2.4%.

 

Significant Sustainable Cost Advantages Versus Our Customers and OPI Competitors.    We have made significant operating improvements in recent years that we believe have resulted in us achieving the industry’s lowest overall cost per minute of service. The deployment of our global interpretation centers, coupled with our ability to forecast call volume by language and schedule interpreter resources accordingly, allows us to better optimize our variable interpreter costs. In addition, we also belie