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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005
Commission file number 0-24531
CoStar Group, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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| Delaware
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52-2091509 |
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| (State or other jurisdiction of
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(I.R.S. Employer |
| incorporation or organization)
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Identification No.) |
2 Bethesda Metro Center, 10th Floor
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
(301) 215-8300
Registrants telephone number, including area code
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock ($.01 par value)
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule
405 of the Securities Act. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section
13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Yes
o No þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for
such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements of the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K
is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrants knowledge, in
definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form
10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer,
or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in
Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
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| Large accelerated filer þ
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Accelerated filer o
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Non-accelerated filer o |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of
the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
Based on
the closing price of the common stock on June 30, 2005 on the Nasdaq Stock Market®, the
aggregate market value of registrants common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was
approximately $732.8 million.
As of
February 21, 2006, there were 18,676,814 shares of the registrants common stock
outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrants definitive proxy statement, which is expected to be filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the registrants fiscal
year ended December 31, 2005, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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| PART I |
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Item 1.
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Business
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Item 1A.
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Risk Factors
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Item 1B.
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Unresolved Staff Comments
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Item 2.
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Properties
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Item 3.
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Legal Proceedings
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Item 4.
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Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
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| PART II |
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Item 5.
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Market for the Registrants
Common Stock, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of
Equity Securities
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Item 6.
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Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Data
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Item 7.
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Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
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Item 7A.
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Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
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Item 8.
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Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
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Item 9.
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Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
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Item 9A.
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Controls and Procedures
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Item 9B.
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Other Information
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| PART III |
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Item 10.
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Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
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Item 11.
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Executive Compensation
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Item 12.
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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
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Item 13.
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Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
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Item 14.
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Principal Accountant Fees and Services
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| PART IV |
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Item 15.
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Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
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Signatures
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Index to Exhibits
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Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
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PART I
Item 1. Business
(In this report, the words we, our, us, CoStar or the Company refer to CoStar Group,
Inc. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries. This report also refers to our web sites, but
information contained on those sites is not part of this report.)
CoStar Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is the leading provider of information services to
the commercial real estate industry in the United States and United Kingdom based on the fact that
we offer the most comprehensive commercial real estate database available, have the largest
research department in the industry, provide more information services than any of our competitors
and believe we generate more revenues than any of our competitors. CoStars integrated suite of
services offers customers online access to the most comprehensive database of commercial real
estate information, which has been researched and verified by our team of researchers, currently
covering 66 U.S. markets as well as London and other parts of the United Kingdom. CoStar operates
within one business segment.
Since its founding in 1987, CoStars strategy has been to provide commercial real estate
professionals with critical knowledge to explore and complete transactions, by offering the most
comprehensive, timely and standardized information on commercial real estate. As a result of our
January 2003 acquisition of Property Intelligence plc and June 2004 acquisition of Scottish
Property Network, we have extended our offering of comprehensive commercial real estate information
to include London, Scotland and other U.K. markets. Information about CoStars revenues from, and
long-lived assets located in, foreign countries is included in Note 3 to the notes to our
consolidated financial statements. Information about risks attendant to our foreign operations is
included in Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
We deliver our content to customers via an integrated suite of online service offerings that
includes information about space available for lease, comparable sales information, tenant
information, information about properties for sale, property information for clients web sites,
information about industry professionals and their business relationships, analytic information,
data integration, property marketing and industry news. We have created and are continuing to
improve a standardized information platform where the commercial real estate industry and related
businesses can continuously interact and easily facilitate transactions due to the efficient
exchange of accurate information supplied by CoStar.
We have a number of assets that provide a unique foundation for our multinational platform,
including the most comprehensive proprietary database in the industry; the largest research
department in the industry; proprietary data collection, information management and quality control
systems; a large in-house product development team; a broad suite of web-based information
services; and a large base of clients. Our database has been developed and enhanced for more than
18 years by a research department that makes thousands of daily updates to our database. In
addition to our internal efforts to grow the database, we have obtained and assimilated over 50
proprietary databases.
CoStar intends to continue to grow its standardized platform of commercial real estate
information. In 2004, CoStar began research for a 21-market U.S. expansion effort. As of February
21, 2006, CoStar had successfully launched service in each of those 21 markets. In addition,
following our acquisition of National Research Bureau in January 2005, we launched various research
initiatives as part of our expansion into real estate information for retail properties. CoStar
intends to continue to expand its coverage of retail properties over the next several years.
Our subscription-based information services, consisting primarily of CoStar Property
Professional, CoStar Tenant, CoStar COMPS Professional and FOCUS services, currently generate
approximately 95% of our total revenues. Our contracts for our subscription-based information
services typically have a minimum term of one year and renew automatically. Upon renewal, many of
the subscription contract rates may increase in accordance with contract provisions or as a result
of contract renegotiations. To encourage clients to use our services regularly, we generally charge
a fixed monthly amount for our subscription-based services rather than fees based on actual system
usage. Contract rates are based on the number of sites, number of users, organization size, the clients business focus and the number of services to which a client subscribes. Our
subscription clients generally pay contract fees on a monthly basis, but in some cases may pay us
on a quarterly or annual basis.
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Industry Overview
The market for commercial real estate information is vast based on the variety, volume and
value of transactions related to commercial real estate. Each transaction has multiple participants
and multiple information requirements, and in order to facilitate transactions, industry
participants must have extensive, accurate and current information. Members of the commercial real
estate and related business community require daily access to current data such as space
availability, rental rates, vacancy rates, tenant movements, sales comparables, supply, new
construction, absorption rates and other important market developments to carry out their
businesses effectively. There is a strong need for an efficient marketplace, where commercial real
estate professionals can exchange information, evaluate opportunities using standardized data and
interact with each other on a continuous basis.
A large number of parties involved in the commercial real estate and related business
community make use of the services we provide in order to obtain information they need to conduct
their businesses, including:
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Sales and leasing brokers |
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Government agencies staff members |
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Mortgage-backed security issuers |
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Property managers |
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Appraisers |
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Design and construction professionals |
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Pension fund managers |
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Real estate developers |
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Reporters |
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Real estate investment trust managers |
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Tenant vendors |
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Building services vendors |
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Communications providers |
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Mortgage bankers |
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Insurance companies managers |
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Institutional advisors |
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Retailers |
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Investors and asset managers |
The commercial real estate and related business community generally has operated in an
inefficient marketplace because of the fragmented approach to gathering and exchanging information
within the marketplace. Various organizations, including hundreds of brokerage firms, directory
publishers and local research companies, collect data on specific markets and develop software to
analyze the information they have independently gathered. This highly fragmented methodology has
resulted in duplication of effort in the collection and analysis of information, excessive internal
cost and the creation of non-standardized data containing varying degrees of accuracy and
comprehensiveness, resulting in a formidable information gap.
The creation of a standardized information platform for commercial real estate requires an
infrastructure including a standardized database, accurate and comprehensive research capabilities,
easy to use technology and intensive participant interaction. By combining its extensive database,
approximately 713 researchers, technological expertise and broad customer base, CoStar believes
that it has created such a platform.
CoStars Comprehensive Database
CoStar has spent more than 18 years building and acquiring a database of commercial real
estate information, which includes information on leasing, sales, comparable sales, tenants, and
demand statistics, as well as digital images.
As of January 30, 2006, our database of real estate information covered 65 U.S. markets as
well as London, England and other parts of the United Kingdom, and contained:
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More than 35.8 billion square feet of U.S. commercial real estate; |
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Over 740,000 extensively researched and photographed properties in our U.S. database; |
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Over 1.8 million total properties; |
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Over 4.4 billion square feet of space available; |
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Over 100,000 properties for sale; |
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Over 3.8 million tenants occupying commercial real estate space; |
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More than 1.3 million sales transactions valued in the aggregate at over $1.8 trillion; and |
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Approximately 3.3 million digital images, including building photographs, aerial
photographs, plat maps and floor plans. |
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This highly complex database is comprised of hundreds of data fields, tracking such categories
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Location |
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Mortgage and deed information |
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Site and zoning information |
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For-sale information |
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Building characteristics |
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Income and expense histories |
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Space availability |
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Tenant names |
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Tax assessments |
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Lease expirations |
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Ownership |
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Contact information |
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Sales and lease comparables |
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Historical trends |
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Space requirements |
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Demographic information |
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Number of retail stores |
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Retail sales per square foot |
CoStar Research
We have developed a sophisticated data collection organization utilizing a multi-faceted
research process. In 2005, our researchers drove over one million miles, conducted hundreds of
thousands of on-site building inspections, examined tens of millions of public records and
interviewed millions of tenants, owners and brokers.
Research Department. As of February 1, 2006, we employed 713 commercial real estate research
professionals. Our research professionals undergo an extensive training program so that we can
maintain consistent research methods and processes throughout our research department. Our
researchers collect and analyze commercial real estate information through millions of phone calls,
e-mails, Internet updates and faxes each year, in addition to field inspections, public records
review, news monitoring and direct mail. Each researcher is responsible for maintaining the
accuracy and reliability of the database. As part of their update process, researchers develop
cooperative relationships with industry professionals that allow them to gather useful information.
Because of the importance commercial real estate professionals place on our data and our prominent
position in the industry, many of these professionals routinely take the initiative and proactively
report available space and transactions to our researchers. We also recently began outsourcing a
limited number of research related projects to outside firms on a trial basis.
CoStar has an extensive field research effort that permits physical inspection of properties
in order to research new markets, find additional inventory, photograph properties and verify
existing information. CoStars research efforts have traditionally focused on office and industrial
properties. Following our acquisition of National Research Bureau in January 2005, we launched a
major expansion effort into real estate information for retail properties. CoStar intends to
continue to expand its coverage of retail properties over the next several years.
Some of our researchers use CoStar custom-designed trucks equipped with computers, proprietary
Global Positioning System tracking software, high resolution digital cameras, handheld laser
instruments to help precisely measure buildings, geo-code them and position them on digital maps,
and pneumatic masts that extend up to an elevation of twenty-five feet so as to allow for
unobstructed building photographs from birds-eye views. Each CoStar truck uses wireless
technology to track and transmit field data. A typical site inspection consists of photographing
the building, measuring the building, geocoding the building, capturing For Lease sign
information, counting parking spaces, assessing property condition and construction, and gathering
tenant information. Certain researchers canvass properties, interviewing tenants suite by suite.
Other researchers conduct fieldwork in county courthouses and public records offices. In addition,
many of our field researchers are photographers who take photographs of commercial real estate
properties to add to the collection of CoStars digital images in our database. Since we began our
21-market expansion in May 2004, our field researchers have photographed approximately 246,000
buildings and researched over 5 billion square feet of gross building area in the expansion
markets.
Data and Image Providers. We license a small portion of our data and images from public record
providers and third-party data sources. Licensing agreements with these entities provide for our
use of a variety of commercial real estate information, including property ownership, tenant
information, maps and aerial photographs, all of which enhance various CoStar services. These
license agreements generally grant us a non-exclusive license to use the data and images in the
creation and supplementation of our information services and include what we believe are standard
terms, such as a contract term ranging from two to five years, automatic renewal of the contract and fixed periodic license fees or a combination of fixed periodic
license fees plus additional fees based upon our usage.
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Management and Quality Control Systems. Our research processes include automated and
non-automated controls to ensure the integrity of the data collection process. A large number of
automated data quality tests check for potential errors, including occupancy date conflicts,
available square footage greater than building area, typical floor space greater than land area and
expired leases. We also monitor changes to critical fields of information to ensure all information
is kept in compliance with our standard definitions and methodology. Our non-automated quality
control procedures include:
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calling our information sources on recently-updated properties to re-verify
information; |
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performing periodic research audits and field checks to determine if we correctly
canvassed all buildings; |
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providing training and retraining to our research professionals to ensure accurate data
compilation; and |
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compiling measurable performance metrics for research teams and managers for feedback
on data quality. |
Finally, one of the most important and effective quality control measures we rely on is
feedback provided by the commercial real estate professionals using our data every day.
Proprietary Technology
As of February 1, 2006, CoStar had a staff of 92 product development, database and network
professionals. CoStars information technology professionals focus on developing new services for
our customers and delivering research automation tools that improve the quality of our data and
increase the efficiency of our research analysts.
Our information technology team is responsible for developing the infrastructure necessary to
support CoStars business processes, our comprehensive database of commercial real estate
information and our extensive image library. The team implements technologies and systems that
introduce efficient workflows and controls that increase the production capacity of our research
teams and improve the quality of our data. Over the years, the team has developed data collection
and quality control mechanisms that we believe are unique to the commercial real estate industry.
The team continues to develop and modify our enterprise information management system that
integrates CoStar sales, research, field research, customer support and accounting information. We
use this system to maintain our commercial real estate research information, manage contacts with
the commercial real estate community, provide research workflow automation and conduct daily
automated quality assurance checks.
Our information technology professionals also maintain the servers and network components
necessary to support CoStar services and research systems. Our encrypted virtual private network
provides remote researchers and salespeople secure access to CoStar applications and network
resources. CoStar maintains a comprehensive data protection policy that provides for use of
encrypted data fields and off-site storage of all system backups, among other protective measures.
CoStars services are continually monitored in an effort to ensure our customers fast and reliable
access.
Services
Our suite of information services is branded and marketed to our customers. Our services are
derived from a database of building-specific information and offer customers specialized tools for
accessing, analyzing and using our information. Over time, we expect to enhance our existing
information services and develop additional services that make use of our comprehensive database to
meet the needs of our existing customers as well as potential new categories of customers.
Our
various information services are described in detail in the following paragraphs:
CoStar Property Professional®. CoStar Property Professional, or CoStar Property,
is the Companys flagship service. It provides subscribers a comprehensive inventory of office,
industrial and retail properties in markets throughout the United States, including for-lease and
for-sale listings, historical data, building photographs, maps and floor plans. Commercial real
estate professionals use CoStar Property to identify available space for lease, evaluate leasing
and sale opportunities, value assets and position properties in the marketplace. Our clients also use CoStar Property to analyze market conditions by calculating
current vacancy rates, absorption rates or average rental rates, and forecasting future trends
based on user-selected variables.
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CoStar Property provides subscribers with powerful map-based search capabilities as well as a user-controlled, password-protected extranet (or electronic file
cabinet) where brokers may share space surveys and transaction-related documents online in real
time with team members. When used together with CoStar Connect, CoStar Property enables subscribers
to share space surveys and transaction-related documents with their clients, accessed through their
corporate web site. CoStar Property, along with all of CoStars other core information services,
are delivered solely via the Internet.
CoStar Property Express®. CoStar Property Express provides access, on-demand with
a credit card or via an annual subscription, to a light or scaled-down version of CoStar
Property. Commercial real estate professionals use CoStar Property Express to look up and search
for-lease and for-sale listings in CoStars comprehensive national database. CoStar Property
Express provides base-building information, photos, floor plans, maps and a limited number of
reports.
CoStar COMPS Professional®. CoStar COMPS Professional provides comprehensive
national coverage of comparable sales information in the U.S. commercial real estate industry. It
is the industrys most comprehensive database of comparable sales transactions and is designed for
professionals who need to research property comparables, identify market trends, expedite the
appraisal process and support property valuations.
CoStar COMPS Express®. CoStar COMPS Express provides users with immediate,
subscription-free access with a credit card to the CoStar COMPS Professional system on a
report-by-report basis. Subscribers also use this on-demand service to research comparable sales
information outside of their subscription markets.
CoStar Tenant®. CoStar Tenant is a detailed online business-to-business prospecting
and analytical tool providing commercial real estate professionals with the most comprehensive real
estate-related U.S. tenant information available. CoStar Tenant profiles tenants occupying space in
commercial buildings across the United States and provides updates on lease expirations one of
the services key features as well as occupancy levels, growth rates and numerous other facts.
Delivering this information via the Internet allows users to target prospective clients quickly
through a searchable database that identifies only those tenants meeting certain criteria. CoStar
Tenant subscribers can also obtain credit reports through CoStar Tenant directly from
D&B®..
FOCUS. Our U.K. subsidiary, FOCUS Information Limited, offers several services under the trade
name FOCUS. The primary service, New FOCUS, is a digital online service offering information on the
U.K. commercial real estate market. This service seamlessly links data on individual properties and
companies including comparable sales, available space, requirements, tenants, lease deals, planning
information, socio-economics and demographics, credit ratings, photos and maps across the United
Kingdom. In addition, FOCUS Informations subsidiary, Scottish Property Network Limited, offers
users on-line access to a comprehensive database of information for properties located in Scotland,
including available space, comparable sales, and lease deals.
CoStar Connect®. CoStar Connect allows commercial real estate firms to license
CoStars technology and information to market their U.S. property listings on their corporate web
sites. Customers enhance the quality and depth of their listing information through access to
CoStars database of content and digital images. The service automatically updates and manages
customers online property information, providing comprehensive listings coverage and significantly
reducing the expense of building their web sites content and functionality.
CoStar Commercial MLS. In 2005, we launched CoStar Commercial MLS, which is the industrys
most comprehensive collection of researched for-sale listings. CoStar Commercial MLS draws upon
CoStars large database of digital images and includes office, industrial and retail properties, as
well as shopping centers and raw land. CoStar Commercial MLS represents an efficient means for
sellers to market their properties to a large audience and for buyers to easily identify target
properties.
CoStar Advertising®. CoStar Advertising offers property owners a highly targeted
and cost-effective way to market a space for lease or for sale directly to the individuals looking
for that type of space through interactive advertising. Our advertising model is based on varying
levels of exposure, enabling the advertiser to target as narrowly or broadly as its budget permits.
With the CoStar Advertising program, when the advertisers listings appear in a results set, they
receive priority positioning and are enhanced to stand out. The advertiser can also purchase exposure in additional submarkets, or the entire market area so that his ad will
appear even when his listing would not be returned in a results set.
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NRB Shopping Center Directory. As a result of our January 2005 acquisition of National
Research Bureau, we now offer access to a comprehensive database of U.S. shopping center
information. The Shopping Center Directory includes shopping center names, locations, tenants,
gross leaseable area, space availability and contact information for owners, tenants, leasing
agents and managers. The Shopping Center Directory is available in print as well as CD-ROM format,
the latter of which offers additional data, indices and search capabilities.
CoStar Exchange®. CoStar Exchange is a database of commercial real estate
properties that have been listed for sale. The Company believes CoStar Exchange is the only
industry database that combines for-sale listings with correlating data on space availability,
tenants, comparable sales and digital images, enabling professionals to post and search for
properties quickly and efficiently. CoStar Exchange represents an efficient means for sellers to
reach a large audience and for buyers to identify target properties.
CoStar Professional Directory®. CoStar Professional Directory, a service available
exclusively to CoStar Property Professional subscribers, provides detailed contact information for
over 690,000 commercial real estate professionals, including specific information about an
individuals current and prior activities such as completed transactions, current landlord
representation assignments, sublet listings, major tenants and owners represented and local and
national affiliations. Commercial real estate brokers can input their biographical information and
credentials and upload their photo to create personal profiles. Subscribers use CoStar
Professional Directory to network with their peers, identify and evaluate potential business
partners, and maintain accurate mailing lists of other industry professionals for their direct mail
marketing efforts.
CoStar Market Report. The CoStar Market Report provides in-depth current and historical
analytical information covering 44 of the major metropolitan office and industrial markets in the
United States and two retail markets in the United States. Published quarterly, each market report
includes details such as absorption rates, vacancy rates, rental rates, average sales prices,
capitalization rates, existing inventory and current construction activity. This data is presented
using standard definitions and calculations developed by CoStar, and offers real estate
professionals critical and unbiased information necessary to make intelligent commercial real
estate decisions. CoStar Market Reports are available to CoStar Property Professional subscribers
at no additional charge, and are available for purchase by nonsubscribers.
Metropolis. The Metropolis service is a single interface that combines commercial real estate
data from multiple information providers into a comprehensive resource. The Metropolis service
allows a user to input a property address and then view detailed information on that property from
multiple information providers, including CoStar services. This technology offers commercial real
estate professionals a simple and convenient solution for integrating a wealth of third-party
information and proprietary data, and is currently available for the Southern California markets.
CoStar News. Our web site, our CoStar services and our e-mail news dispatches have become an
accepted source of reliable industry news. In 2005, we published approximately 9,500 news stories.
Our news services keep clients informed of late-breaking commercial real estate news such as major
leasing transactions, acquisitions, new construction activity, key industry personnel moves and
industry events.
CoStar Photo Express. In 2005, we launched CoStar Photo Express ¾ a service designed to
enable CoStar Property Professional subscribers to lawfully post CoStar photos on Internet listing
services.
Clients
We draw clients from across the commercial real estate and related business community.
Commercial real estate brokers have traditionally formed the largest portion of CoStar clients,
however, we also provide services to owners, landlords, financial institutions, retailers, vendors,
appraisers, investment banks and other parties involved in commercial real estate. The following
chart lists U.S. clients that are well known or have the highest annual subscription fees in each
of the various categories and also lists U.K. clients that are well known or have the highest
annual subscription fees in each of the various categories, each as of February 1, 2006.
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Lenders, Investment Bankers |
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Institutional Advisors, Asset Managers |
CB Richard Ellis
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GMAC Commercial Mortgage
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Jones Lang LaSalle |
CB Richard Ellis U.K.
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GMAC U.K.
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Prudential |
Colliers
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Deutsche Bank
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Prudential U.K. |
Colliers Conrad Ritblat Erdman
U.K.
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Wells Fargo
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Metropolitan Life |
Cushman & Wakefield
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Washington Mutual
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ING Clarion Partners |
Cushman & Wakefield Healey &
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Wachovia Corporation
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Bear Stearns & Co., Inc. |
Baker U.K.
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Merrill Lynch
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USAA Real Estate Company |
Trammell Crow Co.
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Citibank
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Legg Mason |
Jones Lang LaSalle
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Fannie Mae
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Morley U.K. |
Jones Lang LaSalle U.K.
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Morgan Stanley
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AEW Capital Management LP |
Grubb & Ellis |
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Marcus & Millichap
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Owners and Developers
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Appraisers, Accountants |
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The Staubach Company
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Hines
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Integra |
Newmark & Company Real Estate
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LNR Property Corp
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Deloitte and Touche |
CRESA Partners
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Shorenstein Properties
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Deloitte and Touche U.K. |
Studley
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Gale Companies
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Marvin F. Poer |
Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT
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Manulife Financial
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KPMG |
Equis
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Industrial Developments International
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GE Capital Small Business Finance Corp |
GVA Williams
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Land Securities U.K.
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PGP Valuation |
GVA Advantis
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Slough Estates U.K.
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PricewaterhouseCoopers |
Binswanger |
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Re/Max |
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Carter
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REITS
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Government Agencies |
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United Systems Integrators Corp
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Equity Office Properties Trust
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U.S. General Services Administration |
GVA Daum Finkelstein Comm Rlty
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Trizec Properties, Inc.
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County of Los Angeles |
Services
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Prologis
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Office of Technology Procurement |
Finkelstein Comm Rlty Services
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Prentiss Properties
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City of Chicago |
U.S. Equities Realty
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CarrAmerica
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Cook County Assessors Office |
CMD Realty Investors
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Boston Properties
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U.S. Department of Housing and Urban |
Sperry Van Ness
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Liberty Property Trust
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Development |
HFF
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Corporation of London U.K. |
Mohr Partners
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Scottish Enterprise U.K. |
Charles Dunn Company, Inc. |
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GVA Grimley U.K. |
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King Sturge U.K.
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Property Managers
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Vendors |
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Knight Frank U.K.
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Transwestern Commercial Services
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Turner Construction Company |
Donaldsons U.K.
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Lincoln Property Company
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Kastle Systems |
Savills
Commercial U.K.
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PM Realty Group
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Comcast Cable Communications |
Artisreal U.K.
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Navisys Group
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Cisco Systems |
Lambert Smith Hampton U.K.
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Osprey Management Company
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MWB U.K. |
Drivers Jonas U.K.
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Leggat McCall Properties
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Regus U.K. |
Gerald Eve U.K. |
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| Retailers |
Ulta Salon, Cosmetics &
Fragrance, Inc.
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The Childrens Place
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Data Source Technology, Inc. |
DSR Marketing System
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Charming Shoppes, Inc.
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Merle Norman Cosmetics |
Brown Shoe Company
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ESRI, Inc.
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Nokia |
Payless Shoe Source, Inc.
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American Greetings |
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CVS |
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JC Penney |
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For the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, no single client accounted for more
than 5% of our revenues. Our subscription-based information services currently generate
approximately 95% of our total revenues. Our contracts for our subscription-based information
services typically have a minimum term of one year and renew automatically.
9
Sales and Marketing
As of February 1, 2006, we had 197 sales, marketing and customer support employees, with the
majority of our direct sales force located in field sales offices. Our sales teams are primarily
located in 28 field sales offices throughout the United States and in London, England, Manchester,
England and Paisley, Scotland. In 2005, we expanded our use of centralized inside sales teams at
our Bethesda, Maryland office and created similar inside sales teams at our Columbia, Maryland and
San Diego, California offices. These inside sales teams prospect for new clients and perform
service demonstrations exclusively by telephone and over the Internet.
Our local offices typically serve as the platform for our in-market sales, customer support
and field research operations for their respective regions. The sales force is responsible for
selling to new prospects, training new and existing clients, providing ongoing customer support,
renewing existing client contracts and identifying cross-selling opportunities. In addition, the
sales force has primary front-line responsibility for customer care.
Our sales strategy is to aggressively attract new clients, while providing ongoing incentives
for existing clients to subscribe to additional services. We place a premium on training new and
existing client personnel on the use of our services so as to promote maximum client utilization
and satisfaction with our services. Our strategy also involves entering into multi-year,
multi-market license agreements with our larger clients. In 2005, we signed multi-year,
multi-market renewal agreements with Grubb & Ellis Company, Marcus & Millichap, The Staubach
Company, Trammell Crow Company, Equity Office Properties Trust and Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT.
These license agreements grant non-exclusive licenses to these companies employees to use a
variety of our information services. They typically have terms of a minimum of one year, generally
renew automatically and require the payment of fixed monthly license fees.
We seek to make our services essential to our clients businesses. To encourage clients to use
our services regularly, we generally charge a fixed monthly amount for our subscription-based
services rather than fees based on actual system usage. Contract rates are based on the number of
sites, number of users, organization size, the clients business focus and the number of services
to which a client subscribes. Our subscription clients generally pay contract fees on a monthly
basis, but in some cases may pay us on a quarterly or annual basis. In addition, through CoStar
Property Express and CoStar COMPS Express, clients can access our database of commercial real
estate information without a subscription.
Our customer service and support staff is charged with ensuring high client satisfaction by
providing ongoing customer support.
Our primary marketing methods include: service demonstrations; face to face networking;
Web-based marketing; direct marketing; communication via our corporate web site and news services;
participation in trade show and industry events; print advertising in trade magazines and local
business journals; client referrals and CoStar Advisor, the Companys newsletter, which is
distributed to our clients and prospects. Web-based marketing and direct marketing are the most
cost-effective means for us to find prospective clients. Our Web-based marketing efforts include
advertising-related activities and our direct marketing efforts include direct mail and
telemarketing, and make extensive use of our unique, proprietary database. Once we have identified
a prospective client, our most effective sales method is a service demonstration. We use various
forms of advertising to build brand identity and reinforce the value and benefits of our services.
We also sponsor and attend local association activities and events, and attend and/or exhibit at
industry trade shows and conferences to reinforce our relationships with our core user groups.
10
Competition
The market for information services generally is competitive and rapidly changing. In the
commercial real estate industry, the principal competitive factors for commercial real estate
information services and providers are:
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quality and depth of the underlying databases; |
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ease of use, flexibility, and functionality of the software; |
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timeliness of the data; |
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breadth of geographic coverage and services offered; |
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client service and support; |
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perception that the service offered is the industry standard; |
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price; |
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effectiveness of marketing and sales efforts; |
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proprietary nature of methodologies, databases and technical resources; |
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vendor reputation; |
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brand loyalty among customers; and |
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capital resources. |
We compete directly and indirectly for customers with the following categories of companies:
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online services or web sites targeted to commercial real estate brokers, buyers and
sellers of commercial real estate properties, insurance companies, mortgage brokers and
lenders, such as LoopNet, Inc., EGi, Cityfeet.com, Inc., officespace.com, MrOfficeSpace.com
and TenantWise, Inc. |
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publishers and distributors of information services, including regional providers and
national print publications, such as Blacks Guide, Marshall & Swift, Yale Robbins, Inc.,
Reis, Inc., Real Capital Analytics and Dorey Publishing and Information Services; |
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locally controlled real estate boards, exchanges or associations sponsoring property
listing services and the companies with whom they partner, such as Xceligent, the
Commercial Association of Realtors Data Services and the Association of Industrial
Realtors; |
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in-house research departments operated by commercial real estate brokers; and |
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public record providers. |
As the commercial real estate information marketplace develops, additional competitors
(including companies which could have greater access to data, financial, product development,
technical or marketing resources than we do) may enter the market and competition may intensify.
While we believe that we have successfully differentiated ourselves from existing competitors,
competition could materially harm our business.
Proprietary Rights
To protect our proprietary rights in our methodologies, database, software, trademarks and
other intellectual property, we depend upon a combination of:
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trade secret, copyright, trademark, database protection and other laws; |
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nondisclosure, noncompetition and other contractual provisions with employees and consultants; |
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license agreements with customers; |
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patent protection; and |
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technical measures. |
We seek to protect our softwares source code and our database as trade secrets and under
copyright law. Although copyright registration is not a prerequisite for copyright protection, we
have filed for copyright registration for many of our databases, software and other materials.
Under current U.S. law, the arrangement and selection of data may be protected, but the actual data
itself may not be. In addition, with respect to our U.K. databases, certain database protection
laws provide additional protections of these databases. We license our
11
services under license agreements that grant our clients non-exclusive, non-transferable
licenses. These agreements restrict the disclosure and use of our information and prohibit the
unauthorized reproduction or transfer of the information services we license.
We also attempt to protect the secrecy of our proprietary database, our trade secrets and our
proprietary information through confidentiality and noncompetition agreements with our employees
and consultants. Our services also include technical measures to discourage and detect unauthorized
copying of our intellectual property.
We have filed trademark applications to register trademarks for a variety of names for CoStar
services and other marks, and have obtained registered trademarks for a variety of our marks,
including CoStar, COMPS, CoStar Property, CoStar Tenant and CoStar Group. Depending upon
the jurisdiction, trademarks are generally valid as long as they are in use and/or their
registrations are properly maintained and they have not been found to become generic. We consider
our trademarks in the aggregate to constitute a valuable asset. In addition, we have filed several
patent applications covering certain of our methodologies and software and currently have one
patent in the U.K. which expires in 2021 covering, among other things, certain of our field
research methodologies and one patent in the U.S. which expires in 2022 covering, among other
things, critical elements of CoStars proprietary field research technology. We regard the rights
under our patents as valuable to our business but do not believe that our business is materially
dependent on any single patent.
Employees
As of February 1, 2006, we employed 1,076 employees. None of our employees is represented by a
labor union. We have experienced no work stoppages. We believe that our employee relations are
excellent.
Available Information
Our investor relations Internet web site is http://www.costar.com/corporate/investor. The
reports we file with or furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our annual
report, quarterly reports and current reports, are available free of charge on our Internet web
site as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish
it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
We have made forward-looking statements in this report and make forward-looking statements in
our press releases and conference calls that are subject to risks and uncertainties.
Forward-looking statements include information that is not purely historic fact and include,
without limitation, statements concerning our financial outlook for 2006 and beyond; our possible
or assumed future results of operations generally; and other statements and information regarding
assumptions about our revenues, EBITDA, fully diluted net income, taxable income, cash flow from
operating activities, available cash, operating costs, amortization expense, intangible asset
recovery, net income per share, diluted net income per share, weighted-average outstanding shares,
capital and other expenditures, effective tax rate, equity compensation charges, future taxable
income, purchase amortization, financing plans, geographic expansion, capital structure,
contractual obligations, legal proceedings and claims, our database, database growth, services and
facilities, employee relations and future economic performance; managements plans, goals and
objectives for future operations; and growth and markets for our stock. The sections of this report
which contain forward-looking statements include Business, Risk Factors, Properties, Legal
Proceedings, Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk and the Financial
Statements and related Notes.
Our forward-looking statements are also identified by words such as believes, expects,
thinks, anticipates, intends, estimates or similar expressions. You should understand that
these forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates reflecting our judgment, not guarantees
of future performance. They are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the
forward-looking statements. The following important factors, in addition
12
to those discussed in Risk Factors, and other unforeseen events or circumstances, could
affect our future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from
those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements: general economic conditions; customer
retention; competition; our ability to identify and integrate acquisitions; our ability to control
costs; our ability to continue to expand successfully; our ability to effectively penetrate the
market for retail real estate information and gain acceptance in that market; litigation; changes
or consolidations within the commercial real estate industry; release of new and upgraded services
by us or our competitors; data quality; development of our sales force; employee retention;
technical problems with our services; managerial execution; changes in relationships with real
estate brokers and other strategic partners; foreign currency fluctuations; legal and regulatory
issues; changes in accounting policies or practices; and successful adoption of and training on our
services.
Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak
only as of the date of this report. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements
attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by
the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. We do not undertake any
obligation to update any such statements or release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking
statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the
occurrence of unanticipated events.
Risk Factors
Our planned expansion into the retail real estate sector may not be completed successfully or
may not result in increased revenues, which may negatively impact our business, results of
operations and financial condition. Expanding into the retail real estate sector imposes additional
burdens on our research, systems development, sales, marketing and general managerial resources.
During the next year, we expect to significantly expand the number of retail properties contained
within our database. If we are unable to manage this expansion plan effectively, if this expansion
effort takes longer than planned or if our costs for this effort exceed our expectations, our
financial condition could be adversely affected. In addition, if we incur significant costs to
expand into the retail sector and we are not successful in marketing and selling our expanded
services, or customers fail to accept these new services, our expansion may have a material adverse
effect on our financial condition by increasing our expenses without increasing our revenues,
adversely affecting our profitability.
Our recently completed 21-market expansion and any further geographic expansion or investment
of resources to expand the depth of our coverage within existing markets may not result in
increased revenues, which may negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial
condition. Expanding into new markets and investing resources towards increasing the depth of our
coverage within existing markets imposes additional burdens on our research, systems development,
sales, marketing and general managerial resources. During 2006, we expect to continue to expand
into a number of new U.S. markets, expand geographic coverage in certain of our existing markets
and increase the depth of our coverage in certain of our existing markets. If we are unable to
manage these expansion efforts effectively, if the expansion efforts take longer than planned or if
our costs for these efforts exceed our expectations, our financial condition could be adversely
affected. In addition, if we incur significant costs to expand into these new markets or to improve
data quality within existing markets, or are not successful in marketing and selling our services
in these markets, our expansion may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition by
increasing our expenses without increasing our revenues, adversely affecting our profitability.
Technical problems that affect either our customers ability to access our services, or the
software, internal applications and systems underlying our services, could lead to reduced demand
for our information services, lower revenues and increased costs. Our business increasingly depends
upon the satisfactory performance, reliability and availability of our web site, the Internet and
our service providers. Problems with our web site, the Internet or the services provided by our
local exchange carriers or Internet service providers could result in slower connections for our
customers or interfere with our customers access to our information services. If we experience
technical problems in distributing our services, we could experience reduced demand for our
information services. In addition, the software, internal applications and systems underlying our
services are complex and may not be efficient or error-free. Despite careful development and
testing, we cannot be certain that we will not encounter technical problems when we attempt to
enhance our software, internal applications and systems. For example, during the second quarter of
2005, we upgraded our internal research application used by our research staff to update our
database of commercial real estate information. If this application does not continue to work
properly, the ability of our clients to access our services may be affected, which could result in
13
reduced demand for our services, lower revenues and higher costs. Any inefficiencies, errors
or technical problems with our software, internal applications and systems could reduce the quality
of our services or interfere with our customers access to our information services, which could
reduce the demand for our services, lower our revenues and increase our costs.
Temporary or permanent outages of our computers, software or telecommunications equipment
could lead to reduced demand for our information services, lower revenues and increased costs. Our
operations depend on our ability to protect our database, computers and software,
telecommunications equipment and facilities against damage from potential dangers such as fire,
power loss, security breaches, computer viruses and telecommunications failures. Any temporary or
permanent loss of one or more of these systems or facilities from an accident, equipment
malfunction or some other cause could harm our business. If we experience a failure that prevents
us from delivering our information services to clients, we could experience reduced demand for our
information services, lower revenues and increased costs.
Changes in accounting and reporting policies or practices may affect our financial results or
presentation of results, which may affect our stock price. Changes in accounting and reporting
policies or practices could reduce our net income, which reductions may be independent of changes
in our operations. These reductions in reported net income could cause our stock price to decline.
For example, beginning in the first quarter of 2006, the Company expects to adopt the provisions of
SFAS 123R, which will require us to expense the value of granted stock options. The Company is
continuing to assess the impact of the adoption of SFAS 123R, but currently expects to incur $3.0
to $4.0 million in charges for stock options granted in 2006. In addition, in the fourth quarter
of 2004, we recorded a one-time income tax credit of $16.7 million primarily related to the release
of our previously recorded valuation allowance against our net operating loss carryforwards, and as
a result our net income for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2004 was significantly
higher than in previous periods. As a result of the release of our previously recorded valuation
allowance, we expect to record income tax expense for subsequent periods at an effective tax rate
that approximates the statutory tax rate, which will decrease our net income.
Our revenues and financial condition will be adversely affected if we are not able to attract
and retain clients. Our success and revenues depend on attracting and retaining subscribers to our
information services. Our subscription-based information services generate the largest portion of
our revenues. However, we may be unable to attract new clients in planned expansion markets and our
clients in existing markets may decide not to add, not to renew or to cancel subscription services.
In addition, in order to increase our revenue growth rate, we must continue to attract new
customers, continue to keep our cancellation rate low and continue to sell new services to our
existing customers. We may not be able to continue to grow our customer base as a result of several
factors, including without limitation: a decision that customers have no need for our services; a
decision to use alternative services; customers and potential customers pricing and budgetary
constraints; consolidation in the real estate and/or financial services industries; data quality;
technical problems; or economic or competitive pressures. If clients decide to cancel or not to
renew their agreements, and we do not attract new clients or sell new services to our existing
clients, then our revenues or our revenue growth rate may decline.
If our operating costs are higher than we expect, our profitability may be reduced. Many of
our expenses, particularly personnel costs and occupancy costs, are relatively fixed. As a result,
we may not be able to adjust spending quickly enough to offset any unexpected revenue shortfall or
increase in expenses. Additionally, we may experience higher than expected operating costs,
including increased personnel costs, occupancy costs, selling and marketing costs, investments in
geographic expansion, acquisition costs, communications costs, travel costs, software development
costs, professional fees and other costs. If operating costs exceed our expectations or cannot be
adjusted accordingly, our profitability may be reduced and our results of operations and financial
condition will be adversely affected.
General economic conditions could increase our expenses and reduce our revenues. Our business
and the commercial real estate industry are particularly affected by negative trends in the general
economy. The success of our business depends on a number of factors relating to general global,
national, regional and local economic conditions, including inflation, interest rates, perceived
and actual economic conditions, taxation policies, availability of credit, employment levels, and
wage and salary levels. Negative general economic conditions could adversely affect our business by
reducing our revenues and profitability. Any significant terrorist attack is likely to have a
dampening effect on the economy in general which could negatively affect our financial performance
and our stock price. In addition, a significant increase in inflation could increase our expenses
more
14
rapidly than expected, the effect of which may not be offset by corresponding increases in
revenue. If clients choose to cancel our information services as a result of economic conditions,
and we do not acquire new clients, our revenues may decline and our financial position would be
adversely affected.
A downturn or consolidation in the commercial real estate industry may decrease customer
demand for our services. A reversal of recent improvements in the commercial real estate industrys
leasing activity, rental rates and absorption rates, or renewed downturn in the commercial real
estate market may affect our ability to generate revenues and may lead to more cancellations by our
current or future customers, both of which could cause our revenues or our revenue growth rate to
decline and reduce our profitability. A depressed commercial real estate market has a negative
impact on our core customer base, which could decrease demand for our information services. Also,
companies in this industry are consolidating, often in order to reduce expenses. Consolidation may
lead to more cancellations of our information services by our customers, reduce the number of our
existing clients, reduce the size of our target market or increase our clients bargaining power,
all of which could cause our revenues or our revenue growth rate to decline and reduce our
profitability.
Competition could render our services uncompetitive. The market for information systems and
services in general is highly competitive and rapidly changing. Our existing competitors, or future
competitors, may have greater name recognition, larger customer bases, better technology or data,
lower prices, easier access to data, greater user traffic or greater financial, technical or
marketing resources than we have. Our competitors may be able to undertake more effective marketing
campaigns, obtain more data, adopt more aggressive pricing policies, make more attractive offers to
potential employees, subscribers, distribution partners and content providers or may be able to
respond more quickly to new or emerging technologies or changes in user requirements. Increased
competition could result in lower revenues and higher expenses, which would reduce our
profitability.
If we are not able to obtain and maintain accurate, comprehensive or reliable data, we could
experience reduced demand for our information services. Our success depends on our clients
confidence in the comprehensiveness, accuracy and reliability of the data we provide. The task of
establishing and maintaining accurate and reliable data is challenging. If our data, including the
data we obtain from third parties, is not current, accurate, comprehensive or reliable, we could
experience reduced demand for our services or legal claims by our customers, which could result in
lower revenues and higher expenses. In April 2005, we deployed a new company-wide internal research
application for our U.S. researchers to use to update our database. Any inefficiencies, errors, or
technical problems with this new application could reduce the quality of our data, which could
result in reduced demand for our services, lower revenues and higher costs. In addition, in July
2005, we closed our Mason, Ohio research center in an effort to reduce costs and improve the
quality of our research operations. If the consolidation of our research operations within our
remaining research centers is unsuccessful, our data quality may be affected, which could result in
reduced demand for our services.
We have experienced operating losses and our future profitability is uncertain. Until the
third quarter of 2003, we had not recorded an overall operating profit because the investment
required for geographic expansion and new information services had caused our expenses to exceed
our revenues. Our ability to continue to earn a profit will largely depend on our ability to manage
our growth, including our expansion plans, and to generate revenues that exceed our expenses. We
generated net income for the years ended December 31, 2003 2004, and 2005, and our decision to
release the valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets was based on our expectation of future
taxable income from operations; however, we may not be able to sustain or increase profitability on
a quarterly or annual basis in the future. We will continue to evaluate our expectation of future
taxable income during each quarter, and if we are unable to conclude that it is more likely than
not that we will continue to be profitable, then the realization of our deferred tax assets could
become uncertain. In such a case, we may be required to establish a valuation allowance against
some or all of our deferred tax assets, which could result in a significant charge to our earnings
that could adversely affect our net income in the period in which the charge is incurred. In
addition, our ability to continue to earn a profit, to increase revenues or to control costs could
be affected by the factors set forth in this section. We may not be able to generate revenues or
control expenses to a degree sufficient to earn a profit, to increase profits on a quarterly or
annual basis, or to sustain or increase our future revenue growth and, as a result, the market
price of our common stock may decline.
Litigation or government investigations in which we become involved may significantly increase
our expenses and adversely affect our stock price. Currently and from time to time, we are a party
to various lawsuits. Any lawsuits, threatened lawsuits or government investigations in which we are
involved could cost us a significant amount of time and money to defend, could result in negative
publicity, and could adversely affect
15
our stock price. In addition, if any claims are determined against us or if a settlement
requires us to pay a large monetary amount, our profitability could be significantly reduced and
our financial position could be adversely affected. We cannot assure you that we will have any or
sufficient insurance to cover any litigation claims.
If we are unable to hire qualified persons for, or retain and continue to develop, our sales
force, or if our sales force is unproductive, our revenues could be adversely affected. In order to
support revenue growth, we need to continue to develop, train and retain our sales force. Our
ability to build and develop a strong sales force may be affected by a number of factors,
including: our ability to attract, integrate and motivate sales personnel; our ability to
effectively train our sales force; the ability of our sales force to sell an increased number of
services; our ability to grow and manage effectively an outbound telesales group; the length of
time it takes new sales personnel to become productive; the competition we face from other
companies in hiring and retaining sales personnel; and our ability to effectively manage a
multi-location sales organization. If we are unable to hire qualified sales personnel and develop
and retain the members of our sales force, including sales force management, or if our sales force
is unproductive, our revenues could decline or cease to grow and our expenses could increase.
Our stock price may be negatively affected by fluctuations in our financial results. Our
operating results, revenues and expenses may fluctuate with general economic conditions and also
for many other reasons, many of which are outside of our control, such as: cancellations or
non-renewals of our services; competition; our ability to control expenses; loss of clients or
revenues; technical problems with our services; changes or consolidation in the real estate
industry; our investments in geographic expansion and to increase coverage in existing markets;
interest rate fluctuations; the timing and success of new service introductions and enhancements;
successful execution of our expansion plans; data quality; the development of our sales force;
managerial execution; employee retention; foreign currency fluctuations; inflation; successful
adoption of and training on our services; litigation; acquisitions of other companies or assets;
sales, brand enhancement and marketing promotional activities; client support activities; changes
in client budgets; or our investments in other corporate resources. In addition, changes in
accounting policies or practices may affect our level of net income, including without limitation,
changes requiring us to expense stock options. Fluctuations in our financial results, revenues and
expenses may cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
We may not be able to successfully introduce new or upgraded information services, which could
decrease our revenues and our profitability. Our future business and financial success will depend
on our ability to continue to introduce new and upgraded services into the marketplace. To be
successful, we must adapt to rapid technological changes by continually enhancing our information
services. Developing new services and upgrades to services imposes heavy burdens on our systems
department, management and researchers. This process is costly, and we cannot assure you that we
will be able to successfully develop and enhance our services. In addition, successfully launching
and selling a new service puts pressure on our sales and marketing resources. If we are unable to
develop new or upgraded services, then our customers may choose a competitive service over ours and
our revenues may decline and our profitability may be reduced. In addition, if we incur significant
costs in developing new or upgraded services, are not successful in marketing and selling these new
services or upgrades, or our customers fail to accept these new services, it could have a material
adverse effect on our results of operations by decreasing our revenues or our revenue growth rate
and by reducing our profitability.
Fluctuating foreign currencies may negatively impact our business, results of operations and
financial condition. Due to our acquisition of FOCUS Information and Scottish Property Network
(SPN), a portion of our business is denominated in the British Pound and as a result,
fluctuations in foreign currencies may have an impact on our business, results of operations and
financial condition. Currencies may be affected by internal factors, and external developments in
other countries, all of which can have an adverse impact on a countrys currency. Currently, we do
not have any hedging transactions to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. We may seek
to enter into hedging transactions in the future but we may be unable to enter into these
transactions successfully, on acceptable terms or at all. We cannot predict whether we will incur
foreign exchange losses in the future. Further, significant foreign exchange fluctuations resulting
in a decline in the British Pound may decrease the value of our foreign assets, as well as decrease
our revenues and earnings from our foreign subsidiaries.
If we are unable to enforce or defend our ownership and use of intellectual property, our
business, competitive position and operating results could be harmed. The success of our business
depends in large part on the intellectual property involved in our methodologies, database,
services and software. We rely on a
16
combination of trade secret, patent, copyright and other laws, nondisclosure and
noncompetition provisions, license agreements and other contractual provisions and technical
measures to protect our intellectual property rights. However, current law may not provide for
adequate protection of our databases and the actual data. In addition, legal standards relating to
the validity, enforceability and scope of protection of proprietary rights in Internet-related
businesses are uncertain and evolving, and we cannot assure you of the future viability or value of
any of our proprietary rights. Our business could be significantly harmed if we are not able to
protect our content and our other intellectual property. The same would be true if a court found
that our services infringe other persons intellectual property rights. Any intellectual property
lawsuits or threatened lawsuits in which we are involved, either as a plaintiff or as a defendant,
could cost us a significant amount of time and money and distract managements attention from
operating our business. In addition, if we do not prevail on any intellectual property claims, this
could result in a change to our methodology or information services and could reduce our
profitability.
If we are not able to successfully identify and integrate acquisitions, our business
operations and financial condition could be adversely affected. We have expanded our markets and
services in part through acquisitions of complementary businesses, services, databases and
technologies, and expect to continue to do so in the future. Our strategy to acquire complementary
companies or assets depends on our ability to identify, and the availability of, suitable
acquisition candidates. In addition, acquisitions involve numerous risks, including managing the
integration of personnel and products; managing geographically remote operations, such as SPN in
Scotland; the diversion of managements attention from other business concerns; the inherent risks
in entering markets and sectors in which we have either limited or no direct experience; and the
potential loss of key employees or clients of the acquired companies. We may not successfully
integrate any acquired businesses or assets and may not achieve anticipated benefits of any
acquisition. Future acquisitions that we may pursue could result in dilutive issuances of equity
securities, the incurrence of debt, one-time write-offs of goodwill and substantial amortization
expenses of other intangible assets.
Our business depends on retaining and attracting highly capable management and operating
personnel. Our success depends in large part on our ability to retain and attract management and
operating personnel, including our President and Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Florance, and our
other officers and key employees. Our business requires highly skilled technical, sales,
management, web-development, marketing and research personnel, who are in high demand and are often
subject to competing offers. To retain and attract key personnel, we use various measures,
including employment agreements, awards under a stock incentive plan and incentive bonuses for key
executive officers. These measures may not be enough to retain and attract the personnel we need or
to offset the impact on our business of the loss of the services of Mr. Florance or other key
officers or employees.
International expansion may result in new business risks which may reduce our profitability.
Our international expansion could subject us to new business risks, including: adapting to the
differing business practices and laws in foreign countries; difficulties in managing foreign
operations; limited protection for intellectual property rights in some countries; difficulty in
collecting accounts receivable and longer collection periods; costs of enforcing contractual
obligations; impact of recessions in economies outside the United States; currency exchange rate
fluctuations; and potentially adverse tax consequences. In addition, international expansion
imposes additional burdens on our executive and administrative personnel, systems development,
research and sales departments, and general managerial resources. If we are not able to manage our
growth successfully, we may incur higher expenses and our profitability may be reduced. Finally,
the investment required for international expansion could exceed the profit generated from such
expansion, which would reduce our profitability and adversely affect our financial condition.
We may be subject to legal liability for displaying or distributing information. Because the
content in our database is distributed to others, we may be subject to claims for defamation,
negligence or copyright or trademark infringement or claims based on other theories. We could also
be subject to claims based upon the content that is accessible from our web site through links to
other web sites or information on our web site supplied by third parties. Even if these claims do
not result in liability to us, we could incur significant costs in investigating and defending
against any claims. Our potential liability for information distributed by us to others could
require us to implement measures to reduce our exposure to such liability, which may require us to
expend substantial resources and limit the attractiveness of our information services to users.
17
Market volatility may have an adverse effect on our stock price. The trading price of our
common stock has fluctuated widely in the past, and we expect that it will continue to fluctuate in
the future. The price could fluctuate widely based on numerous factors, including:
quarter-to-quarter variations in our operating results; changes in analysts estimates of our
earnings; announcements by us or our competitors of technological innovations or new services;
general conditions in the commercial real estate industry; developments or disputes concerning
copyrights or proprietary rights; regulatory developments; and economic or other factors. In
addition, in recent years, the stock market in general, and the shares of Internet-related and
other technology companies in particular, have experienced extreme price fluctuations. This
volatility has had a substantial effect on the market prices of securities issued by many companies
for reasons unrelated to the operating performance of the specific companies.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
Our corporate headquarters are located in Bethesda, Maryland, where we occupy approximately
73,500 square feet of office space. Our main lease for our Bethesda, Maryland headquarters expires
on March 14, 2010.
In addition to our Bethesda, Maryland facility, our research operations are principally run
out of leased spaces in San Diego, California; Columbia, Maryland; London, England; and Paisley,
Scotland. Additionally, we lease office space in a variety of other metropolitan areas, which
generally house our field sales offices. These locations include, without limitation, the
following: New York; Los Angeles; Chicago; San Francisco; Boston; Manchester, England; Orange
County, California; Philadelphia; Houston; Atlanta; Phoenix; Detroit; Pittsburgh; Iselin, New
Jersey; Miami; Denver; Dallas; Kansas City; Cleveland; Tustin, California; Tampa; Orlando;
Indianapolis; Raleigh/Durham; St. Louis; Columbus, Ohio; Portland, Oregon; and Stamford,
Connecticut.
We believe these facilities are suitable and appropriately support our business needs.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Currently, and from time to time, we are involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of
our business. We are not a party to any lawsuit or proceeding that, in the opinion of our
management based on consultations with legal counsel, is likely to have a material adverse effect
on our financial position or results of operations.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
We did not submit any matters to a vote of our security holders during the quarter ended
December 31, 2005.
18
PART II
Item 5. Market for the Registrants Common Stock, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases
of Equity Securities
Price Range of Common Stock. Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market® under the
symbol CSGP. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low daily
closing prices per share of our common stock, as reported by the
Nasdaq Stock Market®.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
High |
|
|
Low |
|
Year Ended December 31, 2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter |
|
$ |
42.22 |
|
|
$ |
35.83 |
|
Second Quarter |
|
$ |
46.19 |
|
|
$ |
37.09 |
|
Third Quarter |
|
$ |
49.19 |
|
|
$ |
38.05 |
|
Fourth Quarter |
|
$ |
48.75 |
|
|
$ |
39.65 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Quarter |
|
$ |
46.21 |
|
|
$ |
36.83 |
|
Second Quarter |
|
$ |
45.31 |
|
|
$ |
33.72 |
|
Third Quarter |
|
$ |
49.81 |
|
|
$ |
44.81 |
|
Fourth Quarter |
|
$ |
49.19 |
|
|
$ |
43.17 |
|
As of February 1, 2006, there were 125 holders of record of our common stock. On December 30,
2005, the last sale price reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market® for our common stock was $43.17 per
share.
Dividend Policy. We have never declared or paid any dividends on our common stock. Any future
determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors, subject to
applicable limitations under Delaware law, and will be dependent upon our results of operations,
financial condition and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. The Company does
not anticipate paying any dividends on its common stock during the foreseeable future, but intends
to retain any earnings for future growth of its business.
Recent Issues of Unregistered Securities. We did not issue any unregistered securities during
the quarter ended December 31, 2005.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities. Neither the Company nor any affiliated purchaser (as
defined in Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) purchased any shares of any
registered securities of the Company during the fourth quarter of 2005.
19
Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Data
Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Data
(in thousands, except per share data and other operating data)
The following table provides selected consolidated financial and other operating data for the
five years ended December 31, 2005. The Consolidated Statement of Operations Data shown below for
each of the three years ended December 31, 2003, 2004, and 2005 and the Consolidated Balance Sheet
Data as of December 31, 2004 and 2005 are derived from audited consolidated financial statements
that are included in this report. The Consolidated Statement of Operations Data for each of the
years ended December 31, 2001 and 2002 and the Consolidated Balance Sheet Data as of December 31,
2001, 2002, and 2003 shown below are derived from audited consolidated financial statements for
those years that are not included in this report.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, |
|
| Consolidated Statement of Operations Data: |
|
2001 |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
72,513 |
|
|
$ |
79,363 |
|
|
$ |
95,105 |
|
|
$ |
112,085 |
|
|
$ |
134,338 |
|
Cost of revenues |
|
|
30,316 |
|
|
|
28,012 |
|
|
|
30,742 |
|
|
|
35,384 |
|
|
|
44,286 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross margin |
|
|
42,197 |
|
|
|
51,351 |
|
|
|
64,363 |
|
|
|
76,701 |
|
|
|
90,052 |
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
64,923 |
|
|
|
56,894 |
|
|
|
64,361 |
|
|
|
69,955 |
|
|
|
82,710 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from operations |
|
|
(22,726 |
) |
|
|
(5,543 |
) |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
6,746 |
|
|
|
7,342 |
|
Other income, net |
|
|
1,578 |
|
|
|
759 |
|
|
|
380 |
|
|
|
1,314 |
|
|
|
3,455 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes |
|
|
(21,148 |
) |
|
|
(4,784 |
) |
|
|
382 |
|
|
|
8,060 |
|
|
|
10,797 |
|
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
|
(987 |
) |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
282 |
|
|
|
(16,925 |
) |
|
|
4,340 |
|
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
(20,161 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,784 |
) |
|
$ |
100 |
|
|
$ |
24,985 |
|
|
$ |
6,457 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
(loss) per share basic |
|
$ |
(1.29 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.30 |
) |
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
$ |
1.38 |
|
|
$ |
0.35 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
(loss) per share diluted |
|
$ |
(1.29 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.30 |
) |
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
$ |
1.33 |
|
|
$ |
0.34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average shares outstanding basic |
|
|
15,636 |
|
|
|
15,759 |
|
|
|
16,202 |
|
|
|
18,165 |
|
|
|
18,453 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average shares outstanding diluted |
|
|
15,636 |
|
|
|
15,759 |
|
|
|
16,674 |
|
|
|
18,827 |
|
|
|
19,007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
As of December 31, |
|
| Consolidated Balance Sheet Data: |
|
2001 |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Cash, cash equivalents, cash held for acquisition
and short-term investments |
|
$ |
42,002 |
|
|
$ |
43,530 |
|
|
$ |
97,449 |
|
|
$ |
117,069 |
|
|
$ |
134,185 |
|
Working capital |
|
|
33,315 |
|
|
|
36,993 |
|
|
|
88,207 |
|
|
|
107,875 |
|
|
|
124,501 |
|
Total assets |
|
|
123,646 |
|
|
|
118,907 |
|
|
|
183,900 |
|
|
|
232,691 |
|
|
|
248,059 |
|
Total liabilities |
|
|
15,627 |
|
|
|
14,890 |
|
|
|
15,531 |
|
|
|
21,747 |
|
|
|
23,263 |
|
Stockholders equity |
|
|
108,019 |
|
|
|
104,017 |
|
|
|
168,369 |
|
|
|
210,944 |
|
|
|
224,796 |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
As of December 31, |
|
| Other Operating Data: |
|
2001 |
|
|
2002 |
|
|
2003 |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Markets covered by database |
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
51 |
|
|
|
58 |
|
|
|
68 |
|
Number of subscription client sites |
|
|
6,356 |
|
|
|
6,907 |
|
|
|
8,582 |
|
|
|
9,489 |
|
|
|
11,464 |
|
Billions of square feet in U.S. database |
|
|
23.0 |
|
|
|
25.0 |
|
|
|
27.7 |
|
|
|
30.4 |
|
|
|
35.5 |
|
Total properties in database |
|
|
950,000 |
|
|
|
1,033,000 |
|
|
|
1,521,000 |
|
|
|
1,622,000 |
|
|
|
1,817,000 |
|
Images in database |
|
|
1,300,000 |
|
|
|
1,500,000 |
|
|
|
1,805,000 |
|
|
|
2,255,000 |
|
|
|
3,234,000 |
|
20
Item 7. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations contains forward-looking statements, including statements about our beliefs and
expectations. There are many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Potential factors that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in any forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, those stated above in Item 1A. under the headings Risk Factors
¾ Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements and ¾Risk Factors, as
well as those described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
All forward-looking statements are based on information available to us on the date of this
filing, and we assume no obligation to update such statements. The following discussion should be
read in conjunction with our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current
Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
consolidated financial statements and related notes in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Overview
CoStar is the leading provider of information services to the commercial real estate industry
in the United States and the United Kingdom based on the fact that we offer the most comprehensive
commercial real estate database available, have the largest research department in the industry,
provide more information services than any of our competitors and believe we generate more revenues
than any of our competitors. We have created a standardized information platform where the members
of the commercial real estate and related business community can continuously interact and
facilitate transactions by efficiently exchanging accurate and standardized commercial real estate
information. Our integrated suite of online service offerings includes information about space
available for lease, comparable sales information, tenant information, information about properties
for sale, information for clients web sites, information about industry professionals and their
business relationships, analytic information, data integration, property marketing and industry
news.
We completed our initial public offering in July 1998 and received net proceeds of
approximately $22.7 million. We used those net proceeds to fund the geographic and service
expansion of our business, including three strategic acquisitions, and to expand our sales and
marketing organization. In May 1999, we completed a follow-on public offering and received net
proceeds of approximately $97.4 million. We used a portion of those net proceeds to fund the
acquisitions of COMPS.COM, Inc. (Comps) and Property Intelligence plc (Property Intelligence).
In November 2003, we completed an additional follow-on public offering and received net proceeds of
approximately $53.5 million. We expect to use the remainder of the proceeds from these public
offerings for development and distribution of new services, expansion of existing services across
our current markets, geographic expansion in the U.S. and international markets, strategic
acquisitions, working capital and general corporate purposes.
From 1994 through the beginning of 2003, we expanded the geographical coverage of our existing
information services and developed new information services. In addition to internal growth, this
expansion included the acquisitions of Chicago ReSource, Inc. in Chicago in 1996 and New Market
Systems, Inc. in San Francisco in 1997. In August 1998, we expanded into the Houston region through
the acquisition of Houston-based real estate information provider C Data Services, Inc. In January
1999, we expanded further into the Midwest and Florida by acquiring LeaseTrend, Inc. and into
Atlanta and Dallas/Fort Worth by acquiring Jamison Research, Inc. In February 2000, we acquired
Comps, a San Diego-based provider of commercial real estate information. In November 2000, we
acquired First Image Technologies, Inc. (First Image). In September 2002, we expanded further
into Portland, Oregon through the acquisition of certain assets of Napier Realty Advisors d/b/a
REAL-NET (REAL-NET). In January 2003, we established a base in the United Kingdom with our
acquisition of London-based Property Intelligence. In May 2004, we expanded into Tennessee through
the acquisition of Peer Market Research, Inc. (PeerMark), and in June 2004, we extended our
coverage of the United Kingdom through the acquisition of Scottish Property Network (SPN). In
September 2004, we strengthened our position in Denver, Colorado through the acquisition of
substantially all of the assets of RealComp, Inc., a local comparable sales information provider.
In January 2005, we acquired National Research Bureau (NRB), a leading provider of U.S. shopping
center information. The more recent acquisitions are discussed later in this section.
21
Since our inception, the growth of our business has required substantial investments for the
expansion of our services and the establishment of operating regions throughout the United States,
which resulted in substantial net losses on an overall basis until 2003. Throughout 1999 and 2000,
we experienced a rapid expansion in the number of services that we offered and the number of
regions in which we operated. By the beginning of 2001, we had substantially established a national
platform of service offerings in 50 U.S. metropolitan markets. From 2001 through 2003, we focused
on continuing to grow revenue while controlling and reducing costs, in order to reduce operating
losses and become profitable in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States (GAAP). Our net income increased from $100,000 for the year ended December 31,
2003 to $25.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. Net income in 2004 included a one-time
income tax benefit of $16.7 million, which was the result of the release of a substantial portion
of our valuation allowance on our deferred tax asset, related to our net operating loss
carryforwards. In addition, we increased EBITDA (net income before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization) by $6.6 million from $13.2 million in 2003 to $19.8 million in 2004. Our use of
non-GAAP financial measures is discussed later in this section.
Prior to 2003, our calculations of weighted-average outstanding shares for basic and diluted
net loss per share were identical because stock options that would have had an anti-dilutive effect
on the calculation were properly excluded from the calculation. We achieved net income for the
years ended December 31, 2003, 2004, and 2005 and as a result our calculation of weighted-average
outstanding shares for diluted net income per share included the effect of any dilutive stock
options, which are any outstanding stock options that have an exercise price lower than the average
market price of our common stock for the period presented. We expect that our diluted net income
per share will be lower than our basic net income per share for any future periods in which we
report net income, due to the dilutive effect of outstanding stock options.
Our current expansion plan began in 2004 and included entering 21 new metropolitan markets
throughout the United States as well as expanding the geographical boundaries of many of our
existing U.S. and U.K. markets during 2005 and 2006. As of February 21, 2006 our expansion into
the 21 new markets is complete. In addition, in January 2005, we acquired NRB and announced the
launch of a major expansion effort into real estate information for retail properties. Our current
retail expansion plan has caused and will continue to cause our cost structure to escalate in
advance of the revenues that we expect to generate from these new markets and services, reducing
our earnings growth.
We expect 2006 revenue to grow over 2005 revenue as a result of further penetration of our
services in our potential customer base across our platform, as well as successful cross selling of
our services to our existing customer base, and continued geographic expansion. We expect EBITDA
for our existing core platform to continue to grow principally due to growth in revenue and we
expect overall 2006 EBITDA to increase from 2005 EBITDA including stock option compensation expense
related to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R. The 2005 EBITDA did not include stock option compensation
expense.
In addition to our current planned retail expansion, we may continue further geographic
expansion in the United States, we may seek additional international geographic expansion or we may
seek to expand our services. Any future significant expansion could reduce our profitability and
significantly increase our capital expenditures. Therefore, while we expect current service
offerings in existing markets to remain generally profitable and provide substantial funding for
our overall business, it is possible that further overall expansion could cause us to generate
losses and negative cash flow from operations in the future.
Our subscription-based information services, consisting primarily of CoStar Property
Professional, CoStar Tenant, CoStar COMPS Professional and FOCUS services, currently generate
approximately 95% of our total revenues. Our contracts for our subscription-based information
services typically have a minimum term of one year and renew automatically. Upon renewal, many of
the subscription contract rates may increase in accordance with contract provisions or as a result
of contract renegotiations. To encourage clients to use our services regularly, we generally charge
a fixed monthly amount for our subscription-based services rather than fees based on actual system
usage. Contract rates are based on the number of sites, number of users, organization size, the
clients business focus and the number of services to which a client subscribes. Our subscription
clients generally pay contract fees on a monthly basis, but in some cases may pay us on a quarterly
or annual basis. We recognize this revenue on a straight-line basis over the life of the contract.
Annual and quarterly advance payments result in deferred revenue, substantially reducing the
working capital requirements generated by accounts receivable.
For the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005, our contract renewal rate was over 90%.
22
Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and revenues and expenses
during the period reported. The following accounting policies involve a critical accounting
estimate because they are particularly dependent on estimates and assumptions made by management
about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimates are made. In addition,
while we have used our best estimates based on facts and circumstances available to us at the time,
different estimates reasonably could have been used in the current period. Changes in the
accounting estimates we used are reasonably likely to occur from period to period which may have a
material impact on the presentation of our financial condition and results of operations. We review
these estimates and assumptions periodically and reflect the effects of revisions in the period
that they are determined to be necessary.
Valuation of long-lived and intangible assets and goodwill
We assess the impairment of long-lived assets, identifiable intangibles and goodwill whenever
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. Factors
we consider important that could trigger an impairment review include the following:
| |
|
|
Significant underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating
results; |
| |
|
|
Significant changes in the manner of our use of the acquired assets or the strategy for
our overall business; |
| |
|
|
Significant negative industry or economic trends; or |
| |
|
|
Significant decline in our market capitalization relative to net book value for a sustained period. |
When we determine that the carrying value of long-lived and identifiable intangible assets may
not be recovered based upon the existence of one or more of the above indicators, we measure any
impairment based on a projected discounted cash flow method using a discount rate determined by our
management to be commensurate with the risk inherent in our current business model.
Goodwill and identifiable intangible assets not subject to amortization are tested annually on
October 1st of each year for impairment and are tested for impairment more frequently
based upon the existence of one or more of the above indicators. We measure any impairment loss to
the extent that the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value.
Accounting for income taxes
As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements, we are required to
estimate our income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. This process requires
us to estimate our actual current tax exposure and assess the temporary differences resulting from
differing treatment of items, such as deferred revenue or deductibility of certain intangible
assets, for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and
liabilities, which are included within our consolidated balance sheet. We must then also assess the
likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income, and, to the
extent we believe that it is more likely than not that some portion or all of our deferred tax
assets will not be realized, we must establish a valuation allowance. To the extent we establish a
valuation allowance or change the allowance in a period, we must reflect the corresponding increase
or decrease within the tax provision in the statement of operations.
As of the fourth quarter of 2004, we determined that it was more likely than not that we would
generate taxable income from operations and be able to realize tax benefits arising from use of our
net operating loss carryforwards to reduce the income tax we will owe on this taxable income. Prior
to the fourth quarter of 2004, we recorded a valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets
associated with these future tax benefits because we were not certain we would generate taxable
income in the future. The release of the valuation allowance in the fourth quarter resulted in a
tax benefit of approximately $26.2 million. This included an income tax benefit of approximately
$16.7 million that was recognized in our results from operations. We also recognized a tax benefit
of approximately $9.5 million as additional paid-in capital for our net operating loss
carryforwards attributable to
23
tax deductions for stock options. As of December 31, 2005, we continued to maintain a
valuation allowance of approximately $687,000 for certain state net operating loss carryforwards.
At December 31, 2005, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax
purposes of approximately $63.0 million, which expire, if unused, from the year 2013 through the
year 2023.
Our decision to release the valuation allowance on our deferred tax asset was based on our
expectation that we will recognize taxable income from operations in the future, which will enable
us to use our net operating loss carryforwards. We believe our expectation that we will recognize
taxable income in the future is supported by our increase in net earnings over the last three
years, our revenue growth, our renewal rates with our existing customers, and our business model,
which permits some control over future costs. We will continue to evaluate our expectation of
future taxable income during each quarter. If we are unable to conclude that it is more likely than
not that we will realize the future tax benefits associated with our deferred tax assets, then we
may be required to establish a valuation allowance against some or all of the deferred tax assets.
For the foreseeable future, we expect to record income tax expense on our results from
operations at an effective rate of approximately 42.5% to 43.5%. For the next several years,
however, we expect the majority of our taxable income to be offset by our net operating loss
carryforwards. As a result, we expect our cash payments for taxes to be limited primarily to
federal alternative minimum taxes and to state income taxes in certain states.
Accounting for employee stock options
As permitted under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123, Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation, we currently account for employee stock options in accordance with
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 (APB No. 25), Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees. Under APB No. 25, we recognize compensation cost based on the intrinsic value of the
equity instrument awarded as determined at the measurement date. We disclose the required pro forma
information in our notes to consolidated financial statements as if the fair value method
prescribed by SFAS No. 123 had been applied.
Effective for the fiscal quarters beginning after December 31, 2005, pursuant to SFAS No.
123R, Share-Based Payment, the Company will be required to measure the cost of employee services
received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of the
award and recognize that cost over the period during which an employee is required to provide
service in exchange for the award. The Company is continuing to assess the impact of the adoption
of SFAS No. 123R in 2005, however, the Company currently expects to incur approximately $3.0 to
$4.0 million for stock option compensation expense in 2006.
In 2005, we issued restricted stock, instead of stock options, to our senior officers and
employees, as a result of which we recorded additional compensation expense on our consolidated
statement of operations. We plan to continue the use of alternative stock-based compensation for
our senior officers, directors and employees, which may include among other things, restricted
stock grants, which typically will require us to record additional compensation expense on our
consolidated statement of operations and reduce our net income. The Company currently expects to
incur approximately $2.0 million for restricted stock compensation expense in 2006.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We prepare and publicly release quarterly unaudited financial statements prepared in
accordance with GAAP. We also disclose and discuss certain non-GAAP financial measures in our
public releases. Currently, the non-GAAP financial measure that we disclose is EBITDA, which is our
net income (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization. We disclose EBITDA
in our earnings releases, investor conference calls and filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The non-GAAP financial measures that we use may not be comparable to similarly titled
measures reported by other companies. Also, in the future, we may disclose different non-GAAP
financial measures in order to help our investors more meaningfully evaluate and compare our future
results of operations to our previously reported results of operations.
We view EBITDA as an operating performance measure and as such we believe that the GAAP
financial measure most directly comparable to it is net income (loss). In calculating EBITDA we
exclude from net income (loss) the financial items that we believe should be separately identified
to provide additional analysis of the financial components of the day-to-day operation of our
business. We have outlined below the type and scope of these exclusions and the material
limitations on the use of these non-GAAP financial measures as a result of these exclusions. EBITDA
is not a measurement of financial performance under GAAP and should not be
24
considered as a measure of liquidity, as an alternative to net income (loss) or as an
indicator of any other measure of performance derived in accordance with GAAP. Investors and
potential investors in our securities should not rely on EBITDA as a substitute for any GAAP
financial measure, including net income (loss). In addition, we urge investors and potential
investors in our securities to carefully review the reconciliation of EBITDA to net income (loss)
set forth below, in our earnings releases and in other filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and to carefully review the GAAP financial information included as part of our Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q and our Annual Reports on Form 10-K that are filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission, as well as our quarterly earnings releases, and compare the GAAP financial
information with our EBITDA.
EBITDA is used by management to internally measure our operating and management performance
and by investors as a supplemental financial measure to evaluate the performance of our business
that, when viewed with our GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliation, we believe provides
additional information that is useful to gain an understanding of the factors and trends affecting
our business. We have spent more than 18 years building our database of commercial real estate
information and expanding our markets and services partially through acquisitions of complimentary
businesses. Due to the expansion of our information services, which included acquisitions, our net
income (loss) has included significant charges for purchase amortization, depreciation and other
amortization. EBITDA excludes these charges and provides meaningful information about the operating
performance of our business, apart from charges for purchase amortization, depreciation and other
amortization. We believe the disclosure of EBITDA helps investors meaningfully evaluate and compare
our performance from quarter to quarter and from year to year. We also believe EBITDA is a measure
of our ongoing operating performance because the isolation of non-cash charges, such as
amortization and depreciation, and non-operating items, such as interest and income taxes, provides
additional information about our cost structure, and, over time, helps track our operating
progress. In addition, investors, securities analysts and others have regularly relied on EBITDA to
provide a financial measure by which to compare our operating performance against that of other
companies in our industry.
Set forth below are descriptions of the financial items that have been excluded from our net
income (loss) to calculate EBITDA and the material limitations associated with using this non-GAAP
financial measure as compared to net income (loss):
| |
|
|
Purchase amortization in cost of revenues may be useful for investors to consider
because it represents the use of our acquired database technology, which is one of the
sources of information for our database of commercial real estate information. We do not
believe these charges necessarily reflect the current and ongoing cash charges related to
our operating cost structure. |
| |
| |
|
|
Purchase amortization in operating expenses may be useful for investors to consider
because it represents the estimated attrition of our acquired customer base and the
diminishing value of any acquired tradenames. We do not believe these charges necessarily
reflect the current and ongoing cash charges related to our operating cost structure. |
| |
| |
|
|
Depreciation and other amortization may be useful for investors to consider because they
generally represent the wear and tear on our property and equipment used in our operations.
We do not believe these charges necessarily reflect the current and ongoing cash charges
related to our operating cost structure. |
| |
| |
|
|
The amount of net interest income we generate may be useful for investors to consider
and may result in current cash inflows or outflows. However, we do not consider the amount
of net interest income to be a representative component of the day-to-day operating
performance of our business. |
| |
| |
|
|
Income tax expense (benefit) may be useful for investors to consider because it
generally represents the taxes which may be payable for the period and the change in
deferred income taxes during the period and may reduce the amount of funds otherwise
available for use in our business. However, we do not consider the amount of income tax
expense (benefit) to be a representative component of the day-to-day operating performance
of our business. |
25
Management compensates for the above-described limitations of using non-GAAP measures by only
using a non-GAAP measure to supplement our GAAP results and to provide additional information that
is useful to gain an understanding of the factors and trends affecting our business.
The following table shows our EBITDA reconciled to our net income and our cash flows from
operating, investing and financing activities for the indicated periods (in thousands of dollars):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, |
|
| |
|
2003 |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Net income |
|
$ |
100 |
|
|
$ |
24,985 |
|
|
$ |
6,457 |
|
Purchase amortization in cost of revenues |
|
|
2,777 |
|
|
|
2,453 |
|
|
|
1,250 |
|
Purchase amortization in operating expenses |
|
|
4,487 |
|
|
|
4,351 |
|
|
|
4,469 |
|
Depreciation and other amortization |
|
|
5,907 |
|
|
|
6,206 |
|
|
|
5,995 |
|
Interest income, net |
|
|
(381 |
) |
|
|
(1,314 |
) |
|
|
(3,455 |
) |
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
|
282 |
|
|
|
(16,925 |
) |
|
|
4,340 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EBITDA |
|
$ |
13,172 |
|
|
$ |
19,756 |
|
|
$ |
19,056 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows provided by (used in) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating activities |
|
$ |
13,550 |
|
|
$ |
24,723 |
|
|
$ |
22,919 |
|
Investing activities |
|
|
(65,521 |
) |
|
|
(29,946 |
) |
|
|
(38,732 |
) |
Financing activities |
|
|
61,759 |
|
|
|
6,297 |
|
|
|
7,412 |
|
Our 2005 EBITDA included a restructuring charge of approximately $2.2 million incurred in
connection with the closing of our research center in Mason, Ohio. The restructuring charge
included amounts for wages, severance, occupancy and other costs. We did not incur any
restructuring charges in 2004 or 2003.
Consolidated Results of Operations
The following table provides our selected consolidated results of operations for the indicated
periods (in thousands of dollars and as a percentage of total revenue):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, |
|
| |
|
2003 |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
95,105 |
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
$ |
112,085 |
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
$ |
134,338 |
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
Cost of revenues |
|
|
30,742 |
|
|
|
32.3 |
|
|
|
35,384 |
|
|
|
31.6 |
|
|
|
44,286 |
|
|
|
33.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross margin |
|
|
64,363 |
|
|
|
67.7 |
|
|
|
76,701 |
|
|
|
68.4 |
|
|
|
90,052 |
|
|
|
67.0 |
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling and marketing |
|
|
26,537 |
|
|
|
27.9 |
|
|
|
29,458 |
|
|
|
26.3 |
|
|
|
38,351 |
|
|
|
28.6 |
|
Software development |
|
|
6,886 |
|
|
|
7.3 |
|
|
|
8,492 |
|
|
|
7.6 |
|
|
|
10,123 |
|
|
|
7.5 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
26,451 |
|
|
|
27.8 |
|
|
|
27,654 |
|
|
|
24.6 |
|
|
|
27,550 |
|
|
|
20.5 |
|
Restructuring charge |
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
2,217 |
|
|
|
1.7 |
|
Purchase amortization |
|
|
4,487 |
|
|
|
4.7 |
|
|
|
4,351 |
|
|
|
3.9 |
|
|
|
4,469 |
|
|
|
3.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
64,361 |
|
|
|
67.7 |
|
|
|
69,955 |
|
|
|
62.4 |
|
|
|
82,710 |
|
|
|
61.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
6,746 |
|
|
|
6.0 |
|
|
|
7,342 |
|
|
|
5.4 |
|
Other income, net |
|
|
380 |
|
|
|
0.4 |
|
|
|
1,314 |
|
|
|
1.2 |
|
|
|
3,455 |
|
|
|
2.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes |
|
|
382 |
|
|
|
0.4 |
|
|
|
8,060 |
|
|
|
7.2 |
|
|
|
10,797 |
|
|
|
8.0 |
|
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
|
282 |
|
|
|
0.3 |
|
|
|
(16,925 |
) |
|
|
(15.1 |
) |
|
|
4,340 |
|
|
|
3.2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
$ |
100 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
% |
|
$ |
24,985 |
|
|
|
22.3 |
% |
|
$ |
6,457 |
|
|
|
4.8 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26
Comparison of Year Ended December 31, 2005 and Year Ended December 31, 2004
Revenues. Revenues grew 19.9% from $112.1 million in 2004 to $134.3 million in 2005. This
increase in revenue is principally due to further penetration of our subscription-based information
services, as well as the successful cross-selling to our customer base across our service platform
in existing markets combined with continued high renewal rates. In addition, NRB, which was
acquired in January 2005, contributed approximately $1.9 million of our revenues for the year ended
December 31, 2005. Our subscription-based information services, consisting primarily of CoStar
Property Professional, CoStar Tenant, CoStar COMPS Professional and FOCUS services, currently
generate 95% of our total revenues.
Gross Margin. Gross margin increased from $76.7 million in 2004 to $90.1 million in 2005.
Gross margin percentage decreased from 68.4% in 2004 to 67.0% in 2005. The increase in the gross
margin amount resulted principally from internal revenue growth from our subscription-based
information services. Cost of revenues increased from $35.4 million in 2004 to $44.3 million in
2005, principally due to increased research department hiring, training, compensation and other
operating costs associated with our 21-market and retail expansion, as well as research costs
associated with further service enhancements to our existing platform.
Selling and Marketing Expenses. Selling and marketing expenses increased from $29.5 million in
2004 to $38.4 million in 2005 and increased as a percentage of revenues from 26.3% in 2004 to 28.6%
in 2005. The increase in the amount of selling and marketing expenses was primarily due to
increased sales commissions and growth in the sales force as well as costs associated with sales
and marketing efforts for our 21-market and retail expansion plan.
Software Development Expenses. Software development expenses increased from $8.5 million in
2004 to $10.1 million in 2005 and decreased as a percentage of revenues from 7.6% in 2004 to 7.5%
in 2005. The majority of the increase in the amount of software and development expense was due to
the hiring of new employees to support our continued focus on enhancements to our existing
services, development of new services and development costs for our internal information systems.
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased slightly
from $27.7 million in 2004 to $27.6 million in 2005 and decreased as a percentage of revenues from
24.6% in 2004 to 20.5% in 2005. The decrease in the percentage of general and administrative
expenses was primarily due to our continued efforts to control and leverage our overhead costs.
Restructuring Charge. In the third quarter of 2005, we recorded a restructuring charge of
approximately $2.2 million in connection with the closing of our research center in Mason, Ohio.
The restructuring charge included amounts for wages, severance, occupancy and other costs. We did
not incur any restructuring charges in 2004.
Purchase Amortization. Purchase amortization increased from $4.4 million in 2004 to $4.5
million in 2005. This increase was due to additional amortization associated with the NRB purchase.
Other Income, Net. Interest and other income increased from $1.3 million in 2004 to $3.5
million in 2005. This increase was primarily a result of higher total cash, cash equivalents and
short-term investment balances and increased interest rates during the year.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit). Income tax expense (benefit) changed from a benefit of $16.9
million in 2004 to an expense of $4.3 million in 2005. Income tax expense in 2005 is a result of
our continued profitability combined with the release of the valuation allowance on deferred tax
assets in the fourth quarter of 2004.
Comparison of Year Ended December 31, 2004 and Year Ended December 31, 2003
Revenues. Revenues grew 17.9% from $95.1 million in 2003 to $112.1 million in 2004. This
growth was principally the result of further penetration of our subscription-based information
services into our existing and potential customer base, as well as the successful cross-selling of
information services into our existing customer base across our service platform.
Subscription-based information services consisting primarily of CoStar Property Professional,
CoStar Tenant, CoStar COMPS Professional, and FOCUS services, generated approximately 95% of our
total revenues in 2004.
27
Gross Margin. Gross margin increased from $64.4 million in 2003 to $76.7 million in 2004.
Gross margin percentage also increased from 67.7% in 2003 to 68.4% in 2004. The increase in the
gross margin amount and percentage resulted principally from internal revenue growth from our
subscription-based information services. Cost of revenues increased from $30.7 million in 2003 to
$35.4 million in 2004, principally due to increased research department hiring, training,
compensation and other operating costs associated with our 21-market expansion plan.
Selling and Marketing Expenses. Selling and marketing expenses increased from $26.5 million in
2003 to $29.5 million in 2004 and decreased as a percentage of revenues from 27.9% in 2003 to 26.3%
in 2004. The increase in the amount of selling and marketing expenses was primarily due to
increased sales commissions and marketing campaigns.
Software Development Expenses. Software development expenses increased from $6.9 million in
2003 to $8.5 million in 2004 and increased as a percentage of revenues from 7.3% in 2003 to 7.6% in
2004. This increase was due to the hiring of new employees to support our continued focus on
enhancements to our existing services, development of new services and development of our internal
information systems.
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses increased from $26.5
million in 2003 to $27.7 million in 2004 and decreased as a percentage of revenues from 27.8% in
2003 to 24.6% in 2004. The increase in the amount of general and administrative expenses was
primarily due to an increase in personnel expenses, professional fees and increased occupancy costs
offset by a decrease in bad debt expense.
Purchase Amortization. Purchase amortization decreased from $4.5 million in 2003 to $4.4
million in 2004. This decrease was due to the complete amortization of certain identifiable
intangible assets during 2003 and 2004.
Other Income, Net. Interest and other income increased from $380,000 in 2003 to $1.3 million
in 2004. This increase was primarily a result of higher total cash balances in 2004 and higher
interest rates during the year.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit). Income tax expense changed from an expense of $282,000 in 2003
to a benefit of $16.9 million in 2004. The benefit is primarily due to the fourth quarter release
of the valuation allowance on the deferred tax asset, related to our net operating loss
carryforwards. We released the valuation allowance because we determined that it was more likely
than not that we would realize the benefit of the deferred tax asset through future taxable
earnings.
Consolidated Quarterly Results of Operations
The following tables summarize our consolidated results of operations on a quarterly basis for
the indicated periods (in thousands, except per share amounts, and as a percentage of total
revenues):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
| |
|
Mar. 31 |
|
|
Jun. 30 |
|
|
Sep. 30 |
|
|
Dec. 31 |
|
|
Mar. 31 |
|
|
Jun. 30 |
|
|
Sep. 30 |
|
|
Dec. 31 |
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
26,278 |
|
|
$ |
27,456 |
|
|
$ |
28,610 |
|
|
$ |
29,741 |
|
|
$ |
31,343 |
|
|
$ |
32,871 |
|
|
$ |
34,320 |
|
|
$ |
35,804 |
|
Cost of revenues |
|
|
7,941 |
|
|
|
8,842 |
|
|
|
9,189 |
|
|
|
9,412 |
|
|
|
10,490 |
|
|
|
10,836 |
|
|
|
11,001 |
|
|
|
11,959 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross margin |
|
|
18,337 |
|
|
|
18,614 |
|
|
|
19,421 |
|
|
|
20,329 |
|
|
|
20,853 |
|
|
|
22,035 |
|
|
|
23,319 |
|
|
|
23,845 |
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
17,106 |
|
|
|
17,238 |
|
|
|
17,465 |
|
|
|
18,146 |
|
|
|
19,839 |
|
|
|
20,818 |
|
|
|
22,347 |
|
|
|
19,706 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations |
|
|
1,231 |
|
|
|
1,376 |
|
|
|
1,956 |
|
|
|
2,183 |
|
|
|
1,014 |
|
|
|
1,217 |
|
|
|
972 |
|
|
|
4,139 |
|
Other income, net |
|
|
238 |
|
|
|
286 |
|
|
|
311 |
|
|
|
479 |
|
|
|
604 |
|
|
|
719 |
|
|
|
932 |
|
|
|
1,200 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income
taxes |
|
|
1,469 |
|
|
|
1,662 |
|
|
|
2,267 |
|
|
|
2,662 |
|
|
|
1,618 |
|
|
|
1,936 |
|
|
|
1,904 |
|
|
|
5,339 |
|
Income tax
expense (benefit) |
|
|
(12 |
) |
|
|
(74 |
) |
|
|
(100 |
) |
|
|
(16,739 |
) |
|
|
644 |
|
|
|
793 |
|
|
|
767 |
|
|
|
2,136 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
$ |
1,481 |
|
|
$ |
1,736 |
|
|
$ |
2,367 |
|
|
$ |
19,401 |
|
|
$ |
974 |
|
|
$ |
1,143 |
|
|
$ |
1,137 |
|
|
$ |
3,203 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per
share basic |
|
$ |
0.08 |
|
|
$ |
0.10 |
|
|
$ |
0.13 |
|
|
$ |
1.06 |
|
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
|
$ |
0.06 |
|
|
$ |
0.06 |
|
|
$ |
0.17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per
share diluted |
|
$ |
0.08 |
|
|
$ |
0.09 |
|
|
$ |
0.13 |
|
|
$ |
1.03 |
|
|
$ |
0.05 |
|
|
$ |
0.06 |
|
|
$ |
0.06 |
|
|
$ |
0.17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
| |
|
Mar. 31 |
|
|
Jun. 30 |
|
|
Sep. 30 |
|
|
Dec. 31 |
|
|
Mar. 31 |
|
|
Jun. 30 |
|
|
Sep. 30 |
|
|
Dec. 31 |
|
Revenues |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
Cost of revenues |
|
|
30.2 |
|
|
|
32.2 |
|
|
|
32.1 |
|
|
|
31.6 |
|
|
|
33.5 |
|
|
|
33.0 |
|
|
|
32.1 |
|
|
|
33.4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross margin |
|
|
69.8 |
|
|
|
67.8 |
|
|
|
67.9 |
|
|
|
68.4 |
|
|
|
66.5 |
|
|
|
67.0 |
|
|
|
67.9 |
|
|
|
66.6 |
|
Operating expenses |
|
|
65.1 |
|
|
|
62.8 |
|
|
|
61.1 |
|
|
|
61.1 |
|
|
|
63.3 |
|
|
|
63.3 |
|
|
|
65.1 |
|
|
|
55.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations |
|
|
4.7 |
|
|
|
5.0 |
|
|
|
6.8 |
|
|
|
7.3 |
|
|
|
3.2 |
|
|
|
3.7 |
|
|
|
2.8 |
|
|
|
11.6 |
|
Other income, net |
|
|
0.9 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
1.1 |
|
|
|
1.7 |
|
|
|
2.0 |
|
|
|
2.2 |
|
|
|
2.7 |
|
|
|
3.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income
taxes |
|
|
5.6 |
|
|
|
6.1 |
|
|
|
7.9 |
|
|
|
9.0 |
|
|
|
5.2 |
|
|
|
5.9 |
|
|
|
5.5 |
|
|
|
14.9 |
|
Income tax expense
(benefit) |
|
|
0.0 |
|
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
|
|
(0.4 |
) |
|
|
(56.2 |
) |
|
|
2.1 |
|
|
|
2.4 |
|
|
|
2.2 |
|
|
|
6.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
|
5.6 |
% |
|
|
6.3 |
% |
|
|
8.3 |
% |
|
|
65.2 |
% |
|
|
3.1 |
% |
|
|
3.5 |
% |
|
|
3.3 |
% |
|
|
8.9 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recent Acquisitions
Peer Market Research, Inc. On May 4, 2004, we acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of
PeerMark, an online provider of commercial real estate information in Nashville and Memphis,
Tennessee, for $623,000 in cash and 5,318 shares of our common stock, valued at approximately
$207,000. In the second quarter of 2005, we paid the PeerMark shareholders approximately $255,000
in additional post-closing cash consideration, pursuant to the PeerMark acquisition agreement.
Scottish Property Network On June 16, 2004, our U.K. subsidiary acquired SPN, a provider of
online commercial property information in Scotland. We acquired substantially all of the assets of
the SPN business, together with all of the outstanding capital stock of SPN, for approximately $1.3
million in cash.
RealComp, Inc. On September 17, 2004, we acquired substantially all of the assets of
RealComp, Inc., a local comparable sales information provider in Denver, Colorado, for
approximately $350,000 in cash.
National Research Bureau. On January 20, 2005, the Company acquired the assets of NRB, a
leading provider of property information to the shopping center industry, from Claritas Inc. for
approximately $4.1 million in cash.
Accounting Treatment. All of the acquisitions discussed above have been accounted for using
purchase accounting. The purchase price for each of the acquisitions was allocated primarily to
acquired database technology, customer base and goodwill. The acquired database technology for
each acquisition is being amortized on a straight-line basis over 5 years. The customer base for
each acquisition, which consists of one distinct intangible asset composed of acquired customer
contracts and the related customer relationships, is being amortized on a 125% declining balance
method over 10 years. Goodwill will not be amortized, but is subject to annual impairment tests.
The results of operations of PeerMark, SPN, RealComp and NRB have been consolidated with our
results since the respective dates of acquisition. The operating results of each of PeerMark, SPN
RealComp, and NRB are not considered material to our consolidated financial statements, and
accordingly, pro forma financial information has not been presented for any of the acquisitions.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our principal sources of liquidity are cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments.
Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $134.2 million at December 31, 2005
compared to $117.1 million at December 31, 2004. From December 31, 2004 to December 31, 2005,
cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments increased $17.1 million, principally as a result
of EBITDA of $19.1 million, interest income, and proceeds of $7.4 million from exercise of stock
options, partially offset by purchases of property and equipment and other assets of approximately
$8.4 million, cash used for the purchase of NRB, and changes in working capital accounts.
29
Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2005 was $22.9
million compared to $24.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The $1.8 million decrease
in net cash provided by operating activities is primarily due to changes in working capital
accounts partially offset by an increase in income before income taxes as a result of revenue
growth, resulting growth in gross margin and income from operations and interest income..
Net cash used in investing activities was $38.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2005
compared to $29.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. This $8.8 million increase in net
cash used in investing activities was principally due to the increase in net purchases and sales of
short-term investments and increased cash used in acquisitions offset by decreased purchases of
property and equipment and other assets.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $7.4 million for the year ended
December 31, 2005 compared to $6.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. The higher net
cash produced by financing activities in 2005 over 2004 is due to an increase in proceeds from the
exercise of stock options.
Contractual Obligations. The following table summarizes our principal contractual obligations
at December 31, 2005 and the effect such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash
flows in future periods (in thousands):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011 and |
|
| |
|
Total |
|
|
2006 |
|
|
2007-2008 |
|
|
2009-2010 |
|
|
thereafter |
|
Operating leases |
|
$ |
28,467 |
|
|
$ |
7,217 |
|
|
$ |
12,060 |
|
|
$ |
6,681 |
|
|
$ |
2,509 |
|
Purchase obligations(1) |
|
|
5,250 |
|
|
|
5,180 |
|
|
|
63 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total contractual principal cash obligations |
|
$ |
33,717 |
|
|
$ |
12,397 |
|
|
$ |
12,123 |
|
|
$ |
6,688 |
|
|
$ |
2,509 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| (1) |
|
Amounts do not include current purchase obligations that may be renewed on the same or
different terms or terminated by us or a third party. |
On February 23, 2005, the Company entered into an operating lease agreement, pursuant to which
the Company has agreed to lease approximately 33,371 square feet of office space located in
Columbia, Maryland. The lease has an initial term of 99 months and an initial base rent of $22.75
per rentable square foot per year. Additionally, the Company has a conditional option both to
terminate the lease approximately five years after commencement of the initial term, and to renew
the lease for an additional five year period after expiration of the initial term.
During 2005, we incurred capital expenditures of approximately $8.4 million, including
expenditures of approximately $4.8 million related to building photography costs and the purchase
of field research vehicles and equipment in connection with our 21-market expansion, and the
remaining $3.6 million related to costs of supporting our existing operations. We expect to make
capital expenditures in 2006 totaling approximately $12.0 to $15.0 million in connection with
investments in assets required to support our existing operations and our geographic and retail
expansion, including building photography, initial databases and communications, and measuring,
photographic and computer equipment.
To date, we have grown in part by acquiring other companies and we may continue to make
acquisitions. Our acquisitions may vary in size and could be material to our current operations. We
expect to use cash, stock, debt or other means of funding to make these acquisitions.
Based on current plans, we believe that our available cash combined with positive cash flow
provided by operating activities should be sufficient to fund our operations for at least the next
12 months.
As of the fourth quarter of 2004, we determined that it was more likely than not that we would
generate taxable income from operations and be able to realize tax benefits arising from use of our
net operating loss carryforwards to reduce the income tax we will owe on this taxable income. Prior
to the fourth quarter of 2004, we recorded a valuation allowance on the deferred tax assets
associated with these future tax benefits because we were not certain we would generate taxable
income in the future. The release of the valuation allowance in the fourth quarter resulted in a
tax benefit of approximately $26.2 million. This included an income tax benefit of approximately
$16.7 million that was recognized in our results from operations. We also recognized a tax benefit
of approximately $9.5 million as additional paid-in capital for our net operating loss
carryforwards attributable to
30
tax deductions for stock options. As of December 31, 2005, we continued to maintain a
valuation allowance of approximately $687,000 for certain state net operating loss carryforwards.
At December 31, 2005, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax
purposes of approximately, $63.0 million, which expire, if unused, from the year 2013 through the
year 2023.
For the foreseeable future, we expect to record income tax expense on our results from
operations at an effective rate of approximately 42.5% to 43.5%. For the next several years,
however, we expect the majority of our taxable income to be absorbed by our net operating loss
carryforwards. As a result, we expect our cash payments for taxes to be limited primarily to
federal alternative minimum taxes and to state income taxes in certain states.
Inflation may affect the way we operate in the U.S and the U.K. In general, we believe that
over time we are able to increase the prices of our services to counteract the majority of the
inflationary effects of increasing costs. We do not believe the impact of inflation has
significantly affected our operations, and we do not anticipate that inflation will have a material
impact on our operations in 2006.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
We initially adopted the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) consensus on Issue No. 03-1, The
Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments on July 1,
2004, and the Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Position (FSP) EITF Issue No. 03-1-1,
Effective Date of Paragraphs 10-20 of EITF Issue No. 03-1, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary
Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments on September 30, 2004. The consensus on
Issue No. 03-1 applies to investments in marketable debt and equity securities, as well as
investments in equity securities accounted for under the cost method. It provides guidance for
determining when an investment is considered impaired, whether the impairment is other than
temporary, and the measurement of an impairment loss. The guidance also includes accounting
considerations subsequent to the recognition of an other-than-temporary impairment and requires
certain disclosures about unrealized losses that have not been recognized as other-than-temporary
impairments. FSP EITF Issue No. 03-1-1 delays the effective date of paragraphs 10-20 of EITF Issue
No. 03-1, which provide guidance for determining whether the impairment is other than temporary,
the measurement of an impairment loss, and accounting considerations subsequent to the recognition
of an other-than-temporary impairment. Application of these paragraphs is deferred pending issuance
of proposed FSP EITF Issue No. 03-1-a. The adoption of EITF Issue No. 03-1 and FSP EITF Issue No.
03-1-1 did not have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations. On
November 3, 2005 the FASB issued FSP EITF Issue No. 03-1-a (renamed as FSP FAS 115-1 and FAS 124-1,
The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments), which
provides guidance effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company is
currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of FAS 115-1 will have on its consolidated
results of operations and financial condition but does not expect it to have a material impact.
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) FASB issued SFAS No. 153,
Exchanges of Nonmonetary AssetsAn Amendment of APB Opinion No. 29, Accounting for Nonmonetary
Transactions (SFAS 153). SFAS 153 eliminates the exception from fair value measurement for
nonmonetary exchanges of similar productive assets in paragraph 21(b) of APB Opinion No. 29,
Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions, and replaces it with an exception for exchanges that do
not have commercial substance. SFAS 153 specifies that a nonmonetary exchange has commercial
substance if the future cash flows of the entity are expected to change significantly as a result
of the exchange. SFAS 153 is effective for the fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005 and the
Company is required to adopt it beginning January 1, 2006. The Company is currently evaluating the
effect that the adoption of SFAS 153 will have on its consolidated results of operations and
financial condition but does not expect it to have a material impact.
In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Correctionsa
replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3 (SFAS 154). SFAS 154 replaces APB
Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes and SFAS No. 3, Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim
Financial Statements, and changes the requirements for accounting for and reporting a change in
accounting principle. SFAS 154 requires restatement of prior period financial statements, unless
impracticable, for voluntary changes in accounting principle. The retroactive application of a
change in accounting principle should be limited to the direct effect of the change. Changes in
depreciation, amortization or depletion methods should be accounted for prospectively as a change
in accounting estimate. Corrections of accounting errors will be accounted for under the guidance
31
contained in APB Opinion No. 20. The effective date of this new pronouncement is for fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2005 and prospective application is required. We do not expect
the adoption of SFAS 154 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In March 2005, the FASB issued FIN No. 47, Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement
Obligations an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143 Accounting for Asset Retirement
Obligations (SFAS No. 143) (FIN 47). FIN 47 clarifies that the term conditional asset
retirement obligation as used in FASB Statement No. 143, refers to a legal obligation to perform an
asset retirement activity in which the timing and (or) method of settlement are conditional on a
future event that may or may not be within the control of the entity. Accordingly, an entity is
required to recognize a liability for the fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation
if the fair value of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Any uncertainty about the amount
and/or timing of future settlement should be factored into the measurement of the liability when
sufficient information exists. The liability for the conditional asset retirement obligation should
be recognized when incurred. FIN 47 also clarifies when an entity would have sufficient information
to reasonably estimate the fair value of an asset retirement obligation. FIN 47 is effective for
fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company does not expect the adoption of FIN
47 to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standard No. 123 (Revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123R). Under previous
practice, the reporting entity could account for share-based payment under the provisions of APB 25
and disclose pro forma share-based compensation as accounted for under the provisions of SFAS 123.
Under the provisions of SFAS 123R, a public entity is required to measure the cost of employee
services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value
of the award. That cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to
provide service in exchange for the award. SFAS 123R became effective in January 2006. As such, we
expect to adopt its provisions for the fiscal quarter beginning after December 31, 2005.
Application of this pronouncement requires management to make significant judgments regarding the
variables in an option pricing model, including stock price volatility and employee exercise
behavior. Most of these variables are either highly dependent on the current economic environment
at the date of grant or forward-looking over the expected term of the award. The Company is
continuing to assess the impact of the adoption of SFAS 123R, but currently expects to incur $3.0
to $4.0 million in charges for stock option compensation expense in 2006.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We provide information services to the commercial real estate and related business community
in the United States and the United Kingdom. Our functional currency for our operations in the
United Kingdom is the local currency. As such, fluctuations in the British Pound may have an impact
on our business, results of operations and financial condition. We currently do not use financial
instruments to hedge our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations with respect to our foreign
subsidiaries. We may seek to enter hedging transactions in the future to reduce our exposure to
exchange rate fluctuations, but we may be unable to enter into hedging transactions successfully,
on acceptable terms or at all. As of December 31, 2005, accumulated other comprehensive income
(loss) included a gain from foreign currency translation adjustments of approximately $1.7 million.
We do not have material exposure to market risks associated with changes in interest rates
related to cash equivalent securities held as of December 31, 2005.
We have a substantial amount of intangible assets. Although, as of December 31, 2005, we
believe our intangible assets will be recoverable, changes in the economy, the business in which we
operate and our own relative performance could change the assumptions used to evaluate intangible
asset recoverability. In the event that we determine that an asset has been impaired, we would
recognize an impairment charge for the excess amount by which the carrying amount of the assets
exceeds the fair value of the asset. We continue to monitor these assumptions and their effect on
the estimated recoverability of our intangible assets.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Financial Statements meeting the requirements of Regulation S-X are set forth beginning at
page F-1. Supplementary data is set forth in Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations under the caption Consolidated Quarterly Results of
Operations.
32
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information
required to be disclosed in our reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and
Exchange Commissions rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to
our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate,
to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the
disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no
matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the
desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the
cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
As of December 31, 2005, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the
participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial
Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and
procedures. Based on the foregoing, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective and were operating at the
reasonable assurance level.
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during our most
recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect,
our internal control over financial reporting.
Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management of CoStar is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control
over financial reporting and for the assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting. As defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, internal control over
financial reporting is a process designed by, or supervised by, the Companys principal executive
and principal financial officers, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of
financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles.
The Companys internal control over financial reporting is supported by written policies and
procedures, that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately
and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Companys assets; (2) provide
reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and
expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of the Companys
management and directors; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely
detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Companys assets that could have a
material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent
or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are
subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that
the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In connection with the preparation of the Companys annual financial statements, management
of the Company has undertaken an assessment of the effectiveness of the Companys internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005 based on criteria established in
Internal Control Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of
the Treadway Commission (the COSO Framework). Managements assessment included an evaluation
of the design of the Companys internal control over financial reporting and testing of the
operational effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting.
33
Based on this assessment, management did not identify any material weakness in the Companys
internal control, and management has concluded that the Companys internal control over financial
reporting was effective as of December 31, 2005.
Ernst & Young, LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm that audited the
Companys financial statements included in this report, has issued an attestation report on
managements assessment of internal control over financial reporting, a copy of which is included
in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 9B. Other Information.
None.
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our Proxy Statement for
our 2006 annual meeting of stockholders.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our Proxy Statement for
our 2006 annual meeting of stockholders.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder
Matters
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our Proxy Statement for
our 2006 annual meeting of stockholders.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our Proxy Statement for
our 2006 annual meeting of stockholders.
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services
The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our Proxy Statement for
our 2006 annual meeting of stockholders.
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1) The following financial statements are filed as a part of this report: CoStar Group,
Inc. Consolidated Financial Statements.
(a)(2) All schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or not required or because
the required information is incorporated herein by reference or included in the financial
statements or related notes included elsewhere in this report.
(a)(3) The documents required to be filed as exhibits to this Report under Item 601 of
Regulation S-K are listed in the Exhibit Index included elsewhere in this report, which list is
incorporated herein by reference.
34
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Bethesda, State of Maryland, on the
6th day of March
2006.
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
|
|
| |
By: |
/S/ Andrew C. Florance
|
|
| |
|
Andrew C. Florance |
|
| |
|
President and Chief Executive Officer |
|
| |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature appears below
constitutes and appoints Andrew C. Florance and Frank A. Carchedi, and each of them individually,
as their true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution, for him and
in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this
report, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and to all documents in connection
therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as
he might or could do in person, herein by ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact
and agents or any of them, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to
be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been
signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates
indicated.
| |
|
|
|
|
| Signature |
|
Capacity |
|
Date |
| |
/s/ Michael R. Klein
Michael R. Klein
|
|
Chairman of the Board
|
|
February 28, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Andrew C. Florance
Andrew C. Florance
|
|
Chief Executive Officer
and President
and a Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
|
|
March 6, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Frank A. Carchedi
Frank A. Carchedi
|
|
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal
Financial and
Accounting Officer)
|
|
March 6, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ David Bonderman
David Bonderman
|
|
Director
|
|
February 28, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Warren H. Haber
Warren H. Haber
|
|
Director
|
|
February 20, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Josiah O. Low, III
Josiah O. Low, III
|
|
Director
|
|
February 21, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Christopher Nassetta
Christopher Nassetta
|
|
Director
|
|
February 28, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
/s/ Catherine B. Reynolds
Catherine B. Reynolds
|
|
Director
|
|
March 3, 2006 |
35
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
| |
|
|
| Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
| |
2.1
|
|
Offer Document by CoStar Limited for the share capital of Property Intelligence plc
(Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement
on Form S-3 of the Registrant (Reg. No. 333-106769) filed with the Commission on August 14,
2003). |
| |
3.1
|
|
Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 the
Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Registrant (Reg. No. 333-47953) filed with the
Commission on March 13, 1998 (the 1998 Form S-1)). |
| |
3.2
|
|
Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrants Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999). |
| |
3.3
|
|
Amended and Restated By-Laws (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the 1998 Form S-1). |
| |
4.1
|
|
Specimen Common Stock Certificate (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
Registrants Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 (the 1999 10-K)). |
| |
*10.1
|
|
CoStar Group, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrants Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
2005). |
| |
*10.2
|
|
Employment Agreement for Andrew C. Florance (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Registrant (Reg. No.
333-47953) filed with the Commission on April 27, 1998). |
| |
*10.3
|
|
Employment Agreement for Frank A. Carchedi (Incorporated by reference to Amendment No. 1 to
the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of the Registrant (Reg. No. 333-47953) filed with the
Commission on April 27, 1998). |
| |
*10.3.1
|
|
Addendum to Employment Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2004, between CoStar Realty
Information, Inc. and Frank Carchedi (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the
Registrants Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004). |
| |
*10.4
|
|
Employment Terms for Craig Farrington (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the
Registrants Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000). |
| |
*10.4.1
|
|
Addendum to Employment Terms, dated as of April 1, 2004, between CoStar Realty Information,
Inc. and Craig Farrington (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrants
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004). |
| |
*10.5
|
|
Employment Agreement, dated as of November 29, 2004, between Christopher Tully and CoStar
Realty Information, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Registrants
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004). |
| |
*10.6
|
|
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Registrant and each of its officers and
directors (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrants Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2004). |
| |
*10.7
|
|
Form of Stock Option Agreement between the Registrant and certain of its officers, directors
and employees (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Registrants Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004). |
| |
*10.7.1
|
|
Form of Stock Option Agreement between the Registrant and Andrew C. Florance (Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.8.1 to the Registrants Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2004). |
| |
*10.7.2
|
|
Form of Stock Option Agreement between the Registrant and Frank A. Carchedi (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.8.2 to the Registrants Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2004). |
| |
*10.8
|
|
Form of Restricted Stock Agreement between the Registrant and certain of its officers,
directors and employees (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Registrants
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004). |
| |
10.9
|
|
Office Lease, dated August 12, 1999, between CoStar Realty Information, Inc. and Newlands
Building Ventures, LLC (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrants Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999).
|
36
| |
|
|
| Exhibit No. |
|
Description |
| |
10.10
|
|
Office Sublease, dated June 14, 2002, between CoStar Realty Information, Inc., CoStar Group,
Inc. and Gateway, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrants Report on Form 10-Q dated June 30, 2002). |
| |
10.11
|
|
Addendum No. 3 to Office Lease, dated as of May 12, 2004, between Newlands Building Venture,
LLC, and CoStar Realty Information, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the
Registrants Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004). |
| |
10.12
|
|
Office Lease, dated as of February 23, 2005, between CoStar Realty Information, Inc. and
Crestpointe III, LLC. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the Registrants Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004). |
| |
21.1
|
|
Subsidiaries of the Registrant (filed herewith). |
| |
23.1
|
|
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (filed herewith). |
| |
24.1
|
|
Powers of Attorney (Included in the Signature Pages to the Report). |
| |
31.1
|
|
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (filed herewith). |
| |
31.2
|
|
Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (filed herewith). |
| |
32.1
|
|
Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith). |
| |
32.2
|
|
Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1350, as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith). |
|
|
|
| * |
|
Management Contract or Compensatory Plan or Arrangement. |
37
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
| |
|
|
|
|
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm |
|
|
F-2 |
|
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 |
|
|
F-4 |
|
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2004 and 2005 |
|
|
F-5 |
|
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders Equity for the years ended December 31, 2003,
2004 and 2005 |
|
|
F-6 |
|
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 |
|
|
F-7 |
|
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements |
|
|
F-8 |
|
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of CoStar Group, Inc.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of CoStar Group, Inc. as of
December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders
equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Companys management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material
respects, the consolidated financial position of CoStar Group, Inc. at December 31, 2005 and 2004,
and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 2005, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of CoStar Group, Inc.s internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control
Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission
and our report dated February 15, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
McLean, Virginia
February 15, 2006
F-2
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Shareholders of CoStar Group, Inc.
We have audited managements assessment, included in the accompanying Managements Report on
Internal Control over Financial Reporting, that CoStar Group, Inc. maintained effective internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal
ControlIntegrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway
Commission (the COSO criteria). CoStar Group, Inc.s management is responsible for maintaining
effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
managements assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the companys internal control over
financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was
maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal
control over financial reporting, evaluating managements assessment, testing and evaluating the
design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we
considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
A companys internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles. A companys internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and
procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately
and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide
reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and
expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and
directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely
detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the companys assets that could have
a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent
or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods
are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or
that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, managements assessment that CoStar Group, Inc. maintained effective internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005, is fairly stated, in all material
respects, based on the COSO criteria. Also, in our opinion, CoStar Group, Inc. maintained, in all
material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2005,
based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2005 and 2004
and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders equity and cash flows for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005 of CoStar Group, Inc. and our report dated
February 15, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
McLean, Virginia
February 15, 2006
F-3
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data)
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
| |
|
2003 |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Revenues |
|
$ |
95,105 |
|
|
$ |
112,085 |
|
|
$ |
134,338 |
|
Cost of revenues |
|
|
30,742 |
|
|
|
35,384 |
|
|
|
44,286 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross margin |
|
|
64,363 |
|
|
|
76,701 |
|
|
|
90,052 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling and marketing |
|
|
26,537 |
|
|
|
29,458 |
|
|
|
38,351 |
|
Software development |
|
|
6,886 |
|
|
|
8,492 |
|
|
|
10,123 |
|
General and administrative |
|
|
26,451 |
|
|
|
27,654 |
|
|
|
27,550 |
|
Restructuring charge |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
2,217 |
|
Purchase amortization |
|
|
4,487 |
|
|
|
4,351 |
|
|
|
4,469 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
64,361 |
|
|
|
69,955 |
|
|
|
82,710 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations |
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
6,746 |
|
|
|
7,342 |
|
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income |
|
|
381 |
|
|
|
1,314 |
|
|
|
3,455 |
|
Other expense |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes |
|
|
382 |
|
|
|
8,060 |
|
|
|
10,797 |
|
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
|
282 |
|
|
|
(16,925 |
) |
|
|
4,340 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
$ |
100 |
|
|
$ |
24,985 |
|
|
$ |
6,457 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per share ¾ basic |
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
$ |
1.38 |
|
|
$ |
0.35 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per share ¾ diluted |
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
$ |
1.33 |
|
|
$ |
0.34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average outstanding shares ¾ basic |
|
|
16,202 |
|
|
|
18,165 |
|
|
|
18,453 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average outstanding shares ¾ diluted |
|
|
16,674 |
|
|
|
18,827 |
|
|
|
19,007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes.
F-4
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands except per share data)
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
December 31, |
|
| |
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
ASSETS
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
36,807 |
|
|
$ |
28,065 |
|
Short-term investments |
|
|
80,262 |
|
|
|
106,120 |
|
Accounts receivable, less allowance for
doubtful accounts of approximately
$1,375 and $1,602 as of December 31,
2004 and 2005 |
|
|
3,921 |
|
|
|
5,673 |
|
Deferred income taxes, net |
|
|
4,177 |
|
|
|
4,475 |
|
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
1,916 |
|
|
|
2,205 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets |
|
|
127,083 |
|
|
|
146,538 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred income taxes, net |
|
|
21,487 |
|
|
|
18,690 |
|
Property and equipment, net |
|
|
13,489 |
|
|
|
15,144 |
|
Goodwill, net |
|
|
41,937 |
|
|
|
43,563 |
|
Intangibles and other assets, net |
|
|
27,657 |
|
|
|
22,847 |
|
Deposits |
|
|
1,038 |
|
|
|
1,277 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets |
|
$ |
232,691 |
|
|
$ |
248,059 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
1,876 |
|
|
$ |
1,484 |
|
Accrued wages and commissions |
|
|
4,193 |
|
|
|
4,640 |
|
Accrued expenses |
|
|
6,847 |
|
|
|
8,275 |
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
6,292 |
|
|
|
7,638 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities |
|
|
19,208 |
|
|
|
22,037 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred income taxes, net |
|
|
2,539 |
|
|
|
1,226 |
|
Stockholders equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 2,000
shares authorized; none outstanding |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 30,000
shares authorized; 18,303 and 18,674
issued and outstanding as of December
31, 2004 and 2005 |
|
|
183 |
|
|
|
187 |
|
Additional paid-in capital |
|
|
283,206 |
|
|
|
295,920 |
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
|
3,959 |
|
|
|
1,348 |
|
Unearned compensation |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
(2,712 |
) |
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(76,404 |
) |
|
|
(69,947 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders equity |
|
|
210,944 |
|
|
|
224,796 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders equity |
|
$ |
232,691 |
|
|
$ |
248,059 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes.
F-5
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
(in thousands)
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
| |
|
Comprehensive |
|
|
Common Stock |
|
|
Paid-In |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unearned |
|
|
Comprehensive |
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
Stockholders |
|
| |
|
Income (Loss) |
|
|
Shares |
|
|
Amount |
|
|
Capital |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Compensation |
|
|
Income |
|
|
Deficit |
|
|
Equity |
|
Balance at December 31, 2002 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,810 |
|
|
$ |
158 |
|
|
$ |
205,348 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
¾ |
|
|
$ |
¾ |
|
|
$ |
(101,489 |
) |
|
$ |
104,017 |
|
Net income |
|
$ |
100 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
Foreign currency translation
adjustment |
|
|
2,419 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
2,419 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
2,419 |
|
Net unrealized loss on
short-term investments |
|
|
(23 |
) |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
(23 |
) |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
(23 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive income |
|
$ |
2,496 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise of stock options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
395 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
8,257 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
8,261 |
|
Stock issued for acquisitions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
97 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
97 |
|
Stock issued for follow-on
public offering, net of
offering costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,667 |
|
|
|
17 |
|
|
|
53,481 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
53,498 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2003 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,877 |
|
|
|
179 |
|
|
|
267,183 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
2,396 |
|
|
|
(101,389 |
) |
|
|
168,369 |
|
Net income |
|
|
24,985 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
24,985 |
|
|
|
24,985 |
|
Foreign currency translation
adjustment |
|
|
1,729 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
1,729 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
1,729 |
|
Net unrealized loss on
short-term investments |
|
|
(166 |
) |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
(166 |
) |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
(166 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive income |
|
$ |
26,548 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise of stock options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
421 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
6,293 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
6,297 |
|
Release of
valuation allowance related to the deferred tax benefit for exercised stock options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
9,523 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
9,523 |
|
Stock issued for PeerMark
acquisition |
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
207 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
207 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2004 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,303 |
|
|
|
183 |
|
|
|
283,206 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
3,959 |
|
|
|
(76,404 |
) |
|
|
210,944 |
|
Net income |
|
|
6,457 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
6,457 |
|
|
|
6,457 |
|
Foreign currency translation
adjustment |
|
|
(2,431 |
) |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
(2,431 |
) |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
(2,431 |
) |
Net unrealized loss on
short-term investments |
|
|
(180 |
) |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
(180 |
) |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
(180 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive income |
|
$ |
3,846 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise of stock options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
299 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
7,409 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
7,412 |
|
Deferred tax benefit for
exercised stock options |
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
2,215 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
2,215 |
|
Restricted stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
72 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
3,090 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3,091 |
) |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
Amortization of unearned
compensation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
379 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
379 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,674 |
|
|
$ |
187 |
|
|
$ |
295,920 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(2,712 |
) |
|
$ |
1,348 |
|
|
$ |
(69,947 |
) |
|
$ |
224,796 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes.
F-6
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
| |
|
2003 |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
$ |
100 |
|
|
$ |
24,985 |
|
|
$ |
6,457 |
|
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation |
|
|
4,960 |
|
|
|
5,525 |
|
|
|
5,725 |
|
Amortization |
|
|
8,206 |
|
|
|
7,485 |
|
|
|
5,989 |
|
Income tax (benefit) expense |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
(17,052 |
) |
|
|
4,245 |
|
Provision for losses on accounts receivable |
|
|
2,078 |
|
|
|
401 |
|
|
|
979 |
|
Unearned compensation |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
379 |
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable |
|
|
885 |
|
|
|
117 |
|
|
|
(2,652 |
) |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
659 |
|
|
|
98 |
|
|
|
(330 |
) |
Deposits |
|
|
(631 |
) |
|
|
(11 |
) |
|
|
(317 |
) |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
|
|
(2,403 |
) |
|
|
3,064 |
|
|
|
1,683 |
|
Deferred revenue |
|
|
(304 |
) |
|
|
111 |
|
|
|
761 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
|
13,550 |
|
|
|
24,723 |
|
|
|
22,919 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of short-term investments |
|
|
(61,823 |
) |
|
|
(90,588 |
) |
|
|
(250,272 |
) |
Sales of short-term investments |
|
|
1,592 |
|
|
|
71,944 |
|
|
|
224,234 |
|
Purchases of property and equipment and other assets |
|
|
(4,257 |
) |
|
|
(9,032 |
) |
|
|
(8,393 |
) |
Cash held for acquisition |
|
|
16,386 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
Acquisitions, net of acquired cash |
|
|
(17,419 |
) |
|
|
(2,270 |
) |
|
|
(4,301 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
(65,521 |
) |
|
|
(29,946 |
) |
|
|
(38,732 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise of stock options |
|
|
8,261 |
|
|
|
6,297 |
|
|
|
7,412 |
|
Issuance of common stock, net |
|
|
53,498 |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities |
|
|
61,759 |
|
|
|
6,297 |
|
|
|
7,412 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash and cash
equivalents |
|
|
309 |
|
|
|
90 |
|
|
|
(341 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
10,097 |
|
|
|
1,164 |
|
|
|
(8,742 |
) |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
|
|
25,546 |
|
|
|
35,643 |
|
|
|
36,807 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year |
|
$ |
35,643 |
|
|
$ |
36,807 |
|
|
$ |
28,065 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax benefit for exercised stock options |
|
$ |
¾ |
|
|
$ |
9,523 |
|
|
$ |
2,215 |
|
See accompanying notes.
F-7
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2005
1. ORGANIZATION
CoStar Group, Inc. (the Company) has created a comprehensive, proprietary database of
commercial real estate information for metropolitan areas throughout the United States and the
United Kingdom. Based on its unique database, the Company provides information services to the
commercial real estate and related business community in the United States and the United Kingdom
and operates within one business segment. The information services are typically distributed to its
clients under subscription-based license agreements, which have a minimum term of one year and
renew automatically.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned
subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ
from those estimates.
Reclassifications
Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to the Companys current
presentation.
Revenue Recognition
The Company primarily derives revenues from providing access to its proprietary database of
commercial real estate information. The Company generally charges a fixed monthly amount for its
subscription-based services. Subscription contract rates are based on the number of sites, number
of users, organization size, the clients business focus and the number of services to which a
client subscribes. Subscription-based license agreements typically have a minimum term of one year
and renew automatically.
Revenues from subscription-based services are recognized on a straight-line basis over the
term of the agreement. Deferred revenue results from advance cash receipts from customers or
amounts billed in advance to customers from the sales of subscription licenses and is recognized
over the term of the license.
Cost of Revenues
Cost of revenues principally consists of salaries and related expenses for the Companys
researchers who collect and analyze the commercial real estate data that is the basis for the
Companys information services. Additionally, cost of revenues includes the cost of data from
third-party data sources, which is expensed as incurred, and the amortization of database
technology.
Significant Customers
No single customer accounted for more than 5% of the Companys revenues for each of the years
ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
F-8
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ¾ (Continued)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES ¾ (Continued)
Foreign Currency Translation
The Companys functional currency in its foreign locations is the local currency. Assets and
liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars as of the balance sheet date. Revenue, expenses,
gains and losses are translated at the average exchange rates in effect during each period. Gains
and losses resulting from translation are included in accumulated other comprehensive income
(loss). Net gains or losses resulting from foreign currency exchange transactions are included in
the consolidated statement of operations. The Company had an increase (decrease) in comprehensive
income (loss) of approximately $1.7 million and ($2.4) million from the translation of its
foreign subsidiarys assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars for the years ended December 31, 2004
and 2005, respectively. There were no material gains or losses from foreign currency exchange
transactions for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005.
Comprehensive Income
For the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, total comprehensive income was
approximately $2.5 million, $26.5 million and $3.8 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2005,
accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) included foreign currency translation adjustments of
approximately $1.7 million and unrealized losses on short-term investments of approximately
($369,000).
Advertising Costs
The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expense was $354,000, $584,000
and $200,000 for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively.
Income Taxes
The Company provides for income taxes under the provisions of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 109 (SFAS No. 109). Deferred income taxes result from temporary
differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and the basis reported in the Companys
consolidated financial statements. Deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the
difference between financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted rates
expected to be in effect during the year in which the differences reverse. Valuation allowances are
provided against assets, including net operating losses, if it is anticipated that some or all of
the asset may not be realized through future taxable earnings or implementation of tax planning
strategies.
Net Income Per Share
Net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of
common shares outstanding during the period on a basic and diluted basis. The Companys potentially
dilutive securities include stock options. Diluted net income per share considers the impact of
potentially dilutive securities except in periods in which there is a net loss as the inclusion of
the potential common shares would have an anti-dilutive effect.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company accounts for its stock-based compensation in accordance with APB No. 25,
Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees (APB 25). Under APB 25, compensation expense is based
on the difference, if any, on the date of grant between the fair value of the Companys common
stock and the exercise price of the option and is recognized ratably over the vesting period of the
option. Stock-based compensation related to options granted to non-employees is accounted for using
the fair value method in accordance with the Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 123
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (SFAS No. 123).
F-9
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ¾ (Continued)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES ¾ (Continued)
Stock-Based Compensation (Continued)
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123 (SFAS No. 148) which amends
the disclosure requirements of SFAS 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim
financial statements. The Company has adopted the disclosure requirements of SFAS 123 and SFAS 148.
The following table illustrates the effect on net income and net income per share as if the Company
had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123 to stock-based employee compensation
(in thousands, except per share amounts):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
| |
|
2003 |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Net income, as reported |
|
$ |
100 |
|
|
$ |
24,985 |
|
|
$ |
6,457 |
|
Add: stock-based employee
compensation expense included
in reported net income |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
228 |
|
Deduct: total stock-based
employee compensation expense
determined under fair value
based method for all awards |
|
|
(4,193 |
) |
|
|
(7,599 |
) |
|
|
(3,407 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma net income (loss) |
|
$ |
(4,093 |
) |
|
$ |
17,386 |
|
|
$ |
3,278 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic ¾ as reported |
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
$ |
1.38 |
|
|
$ |
0.35 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic ¾ pro forma |
|
$ |
(0.25 |
) |
|
$ |
0.96 |
|
|
$ |
0.18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted ¾ as reported |
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
$ |
1.33 |
|
|
$ |
0.34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted ¾ pro forma |
|
$ |
(0.25 |
) |
|
$ |
0.92 |
|
|
$ |
0.17 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of
three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents consist of money market fund
investments and United States Government Securities. As of December 31, 2004 and 2005, cash of
$805,000 and $714,000, respectively, was restricted cash, held in accounts to support letters of
credit.
Short-Term Investments
The Company accounts for short-term investments in accordance with Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards (SFAS No. 115), Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity
Securities. The Company determines the appropriate classification of investments at the time of
purchase and reevaluates such designation as of each balance sheet date. The Company considers all
of its investments to be available-for-sale. Investments consist of commercial paper,
government/federal notes and bonds and corporate obligations with maturities greater than 90 days
at the time of purchase. Available-for-sale investments with contractual maturities beyond one year
are classified as current in the Companys consolidated balance sheets because they represent the
investment of cash that is available for current operations. Investments are carried at fair market
value.
F-10
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ¾ (Continued)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES ¾ (Continued)
Short-Term Investments (Continued)
Scheduled maturities of securities classified as available for sale as of December 31, 2005
are as follows (in thousands):
| |
|
|
|
|
| Maturity |
|
Fair Value |
|
Due in: |
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
$ |
55,019 |
|
2007-2010 |
|
|
21,948 |
|
2011-2015 |
|
|
954 |
|
2016 and thereafter |
|
|
501 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
78,422 |
|
Mortgage backed with multiple maturities |
|
|
27,698 |
|
|
|
|
|
Short-term investments |
|
$ |
106,120 |
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized holding gains and losses, net of the related tax effect, on available-for-sale
securities are excluded from earnings and are reported as a separate component of other
comprehensive income in stockholders equity until realized. Realized gains and losses from the
sale of available-for-sale securities are determined on a specific-identification basis. A decline
in market value of any available-for-sale security below cost that is deemed to be other than
temporary results in a reduction in carrying amount to fair value. The impairment is charged to
earnings and a new cost basis for the security is established. Dividend and interest income are
recognized when earned.
The unrealized losses on the Companys investments as of December 31, 2004 and 2005 were
generated primarily from increases in interest rates. The losses are considered temporary, as the
contractual terms of these investments do not permit the issuer to settle the security at a price
less than the amortized cost of the investment. Because the Company has the ability to hold these
investments until a recovery of fair value, which may be maturity, it does not consider these
investments to be other-than-temporarily impaired as of December 31, 2004 and 2005.
The components of the investments in a loss position for more than twelve months consists of
the following (in thousands):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
December 31, |
| |
|
2004 |
|
2005 |
| |
|
Aggregate |
|
Gross |
|
Aggregate |
|
Gross |
| |
|
Fair |
|
Unrealized |
|
Fair |
|
Unrealized |
| |
|
Value |
|
Losses |
|
Value |
|
Losses |
| |
|
|
|
|
Municipal debt securities |
|
$ |
¾ |
|
|
$ |
¾ |
|
|
$ |
¾ |
|
|
$ |
¾ |
|
Federal debt securities |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
16,428 |
|
|
|
(195 |
) |
Corporate debt securities |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
2,347 |
|
|
|
(8 |
) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
¾ |
|
|
$ |
¾ |
|
|
$ |
18,775 |
|
|
$ |
(203 |
) |
| |
|
|
|
|
F-11
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ¾ (Continued)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES ¾ (Continued)
Short-Term Investments (Continued)
The components of the investments in a loss position for less than twelve months consists of
the following (in thousands):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
December 31, |
|
| |
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
| |
|
Aggregate |
|
|
Gross |
|
|
Aggregate |
|
|
Gross |
|
| |
|
Fair |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
|
Fair |
|
|
Unrealized |
|
| |
|
Value |
|
|
Losses |
|
|
Value |
|
|
Losses |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Municipal debt securities |
|
$ |
33,639 |
|
|
$ |
(115 |
) |
|
$ |
¾ |
|
|
$ |
¾ |
|
Federal debt securities |
|
|
20,324 |
|
|
|
(49 |
) |
|
|
8,016 |
|
|
|
(43 |
) |
Corporate debt securities |
|
|
25,485 |
|
|
|
(27 |
) |
|
|
24,553 |
|
|
|
(144 |
) |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
79,448 |
|
|
$ |
(191 |
) |
|
$ |
32,569 |
|
|
$ |
(187 |
) |
| |
|
|
|
|
The gross unrealized gains for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005 are approximately
$2,000 and $21,000, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2005, the Company recognized in other comprehensive income
net unrealized losses on short-term investments of approximately $180,000.
Concentration of Credit Risk and Financial Instruments
The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers financial condition and
generally does not require that its customers obligations to the Company be secured. The Company
maintains reserves for credit losses, and such losses have been within managements expectations.
The large size and widespread nature of the Companys customer base and lack of dependence on
individual customers mitigate the risk of nonpayment of the Companys accounts receivable. The
carrying amount of the accounts receivable approximates the net realizable value. The carrying
value of the Companys financial instruments including cash and cash equivalents, short-term
investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximates fair value.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost. All repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as
incurred. Depreciation and amortization are calculated on the straight-line method over the
following estimated useful lives of the assets:
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leasehold improvements
Furniture and office equipment
Research vehicles
Computer hardware and software
|
|
|
|
Shorter of lease term or
useful life
Seven years
Five years
Two to five years
|
|
|
Internal use software costs are capitalized in accordance with Statement of Position No. 98-1,
Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use (SOP
98-1). Qualifying costs incurred during the application development stage, which consist primarily
of outside services and purchased software license costs, are capitalized and amortized over the
estimated useful life of the asset. All other costs are expensed as incurred.
F-12
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ¾ (Continued)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES ¾ (Continued)
Goodwill, Intangibles and Other Assets
Goodwill represents the excess of costs over the fair value of assets of businesses acquired.
Goodwill and intangible assets subject to amortization that arose from acquisitions prior to July
1, 2001, have been amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives in
accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 17, Intangible Assets. The Company
adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142,
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (SFAS 142), as of January 1, 2002. Goodwill and intangible
assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life
are not amortized, but instead tested for impairment at least annually in accordance with the
provisions of SFAS No. 142. SFAS No. 142 also requires that intangible assets with estimable useful
lives that arose from acquisitions on or after July 1, 2001 be amortized over their respective
estimated useful lives using a method of amortization that reflects the pattern in which the
economic benefits of the intangible assets are consumed or otherwise used up, and reviewed for
impairment in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, Accounting for
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.
Acquired technology, customer base and tradename are related to the Companys acquisitions
(See Notes 3 and 5). Acquired technology and tradename are amortized on a straight-line basis over
periods ranging from two to ten years. The acquired intangible asset characterized as customer base
consists of one distinct intangible asset composed of acquired customer contracts and the related
customer relationships. Customer bases that arose from acquisitions prior to July 1, 2001 are
amortized on a straight-line basis principally over a period of ten years. Customer bases that
arose from acquisitions on or after July 1, 2001 are amortized on a 125% declining balance method
over ten years. The cost of capitalized building photography is amortized on a straight-line basis
over five years.
Long-Lived Assets
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, Accounting for the
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, long-lived assets, such as property, plant, and
equipment, and purchased intangibles subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be
recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the
carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by
the asset or asset group. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash
flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset
exceeds the fair value of the asset. Assets to be disposed of would be separately presented in the
balance sheet and reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell,
and would no longer be depreciated. The assets and liabilities of a disposed group classified as
held for sale would be presented separately in the appropriate asset and liability sections of the
balance sheet.
Goodwill and intangible assets not subject to amortization are tested annually for impairment,
and are tested for impairment more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset
might be impaired. An impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds
the assets fair value.
F-13
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ¾ (Continued)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES ¾ (Continued)
New Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Correctionsa
replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3 (SFAS 154). SFAS 154 replaces APB
Opinion No. 20, Accounting Changes and SFAS No. 3 Reporting Accounting Changes in Interim
Financial Statements, and changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a
change in accounting principle. SFAS 154 requires restatement of prior period financial statements,
unless impracticable, for voluntary changes in accounting principle. The retroactive application of
a change in accounting principle should be limited to the direct effect of the change. Changes in
depreciation, amortization or depletion methods should be accounted for prospectively as a change
in accounting estimate. Corrections of accounting errors will be accounted for under the guidance
contained in APB Opinion No. 20. The effective date of this new pronouncement is for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2005 and prospective application is required. The Company does not
expect the adoption of SFAS 154 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In March 2005, the FASB issued FIN No. 47, Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement
Obligations an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143 Accounting for Asset Retirement
Obligations (SFAS No. 143) (FIN 47). FIN 47 clarifies that the term conditional asset
retirement obligation as used in SFAS No. 143, refers to a legal obligation to perform an asset
retirement activity in which the timing and (or) method of settlement are conditional on a future
event that may or may not be within the control of the entity. Accordingly, an entity is required
to recognize a liability for the fair value of a conditional asset retirement obligation if the
fair value of the liability can be reasonably estimated. Any uncertainty about the amount and/or
timing of future settlement should be factored into the measurement of the liability when
sufficient information exists. The liability for the conditional asset retirement obligation should
be recognized when incurred. This Interpretation also clarifies when an entity would have
sufficient information to reasonably estimate the fair value of an asset retirement obligation. FIN
47 is effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company does not expect
the adoption of FIN 47 to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standard No. 123 (Revised 2004), Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123R). Under previous
practice, the reporting entity could account for share-based payment under the provisions of APB 25
and disclose pro forma share-based compensation as accounted for under the provisions of SFAS 123.
Under the provisions of SFAS 123R, a public entity is required to measure the cost of employee
services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value
of the award. That cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to
provide service in exchange for the award. SFAS 123R had an effective date for fiscal quarters
beginning after June 15, 2005. In April 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced the
adoption of a new rule that delays the effective date of SFAS 123R until January 2006. As such, the
Company will adopt its provisions for the fiscal quarter beginning January 1, 2006. Application of
this pronouncement requires management to make significant judgments regarding the variables in an
option pricing model, including stock price volatility and employee exercise behavior. Most of
these variables are either highly dependent on the current economic environment at the date of
grant or forward-looking over the expected term of the award. The Company is currently evaluating
the requirements of SFAS 123R and expects that the adoption of SFAS 123R will have a material
impact on its consolidated results of operations. The adoption of SFAS 123R will cause the Company
to record amounts of stock option compensation expense of approximately $3.0 to $4.0 million.
F-14
3. ACQUISITIONS
During January 2004, the Company completed its review of current information regarding the
income tax attributes and deferred taxes related to its January 2003 acquisition of London-based
Property Intelligence plc (Property Intelligence) recorded deferred income taxes and related
goodwill of approximately $3.1 million as a result. The results of operations of Property
Intelligence have been consolidated with those of the Company since the date of acquisition. The
operating results of Property Intelligence are not considered material to the consolidated
financial statements of the Company, and accordingly, pro forma financial information has not been
presented for this acquisition. The Company generated 92% and 8% of its total revenues in the
United States and the United Kingdom, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005.
As of December 31, 2004, 68% and 32% of the Companys total long-lived assets, which are comprised
of property and equipment, goodwill, intangibles and other assets, were located in the United
States and the United Kingdom, respectively. As of December 31, 2005, 73% and 27% of the Companys
total long-lived assets, which are comprised of property and equipment, goodwill, intangibles and
other assets, were located in the United States and the United Kingdom, respectively.
On May 4, 2004, the Company acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Peer Market
Research, Inc. (PeerMark), an online provider of commercial real estate information in Nashville
and Memphis, Tennessee, for $623,000 in cash and 5,318 shares of the Companys common stock valued
at approximately $207,000. In the second quarter of 2005, the Company paid the former PeerMark
shareholders approximately $255,000 in additional post-closing cash consideration, pursuant to the
PeerMark acquisition agreement.
On June 16, 2004, our U.K. subsidiary, FOCUS Information Limited, acquired Scottish Property
Network (SPN), a provider of online commercial property information in Scotland. The Company
acquired substantially all of the assets of the SPN business, together with all of the outstanding
capital stock of SPN, for approximately $1.3 million in cash.
On September 17, 2004, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of RealComp, Inc.
(RealComp), a local comparable sales information provider in Denver, Colorado, for approximately
$350,000 in cash.
On
January 20, 2005, the Company acquired the assets of National Research Bureau (NRB), a
leading provider of property information to the shopping center industry, from Claritas Inc. for
approximately $4.1 million in cash. NRB has over 45 years of experience as a leading producer of
information to the retail real estate industry, principally through its Shopping Center Directory
and Shopping Center Directory on CD-ROM.
All of the Companys acquisitions have been accounted for using purchase accounting. The
purchase price for each acquisition was allocated primarily to acquired database technology and
customer base. The acquired database technology for each acquisition is being amortized on a
straight-line basis over 5 years.
The customer base for each acquisition, which consists of one distinct intangible asset
composed of acquired customer contracts and the related customer relationships, is being amortized
on a 125% declining balance method over 10 years. Goodwill is not amortized, but is subject to
annual impairment tests. The results of operations of PeerMark, SPN, RealComp and NRB have been
consolidated with those of the Company since the respective dates of acquisition and are not
considered material to the consolidated financial statements of the Company. Accordingly, pro
forma financial information has not been presented for any of the acquisitions.
F-15
4. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment consists of the following (in thousands):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
December 31, |
|
| |
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Leasehold improvements |
|
$ |
3,823 |
|
|
$ |
4,151 |
|
Furniture, office equipment and research vehicles |
|
|
11,899 |
|
|
|
12,947 |
|
Computer hardware and software |
|
|
20,414 |
|
|
|
19,277 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,136 |
|
|
|
36,375 |
|
Accumulated depreciation and amortization |
|
|
(22,647 |
) |
|
|
(21,231 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment, net |
|
$ |
13,489 |
|
|
$ |
15,144 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5. GOODWILL
Goodwill consists of the following (in thousands):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
December 31, |
|
| |
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Goodwill |
|
$ |
53,160 |
|
|
$ |
54,786 |
|
Accumulated amortization |
|
|
(11,223 |
) |
|
|
(11,223 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill, net |
|
$ |
41,937 |
|
|
$ |
43,563 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
During January 2004, the Company completed its review of current information regarding the
income tax attributes and deferred taxes related to the Property Intelligence plc acquisition and
recorded deferred income taxes and related goodwill of approximately $3.1 million. In June 2004,
the Company also recorded deferred income taxes and related goodwill of approximately $400,000 for
the SPN acquisition. The amortization of these identified intangible assets is non-deductible for
income tax purposes, and as a result, the Company realizes an income tax benefit as the deferred
income taxes are reduced in connection with the related amortization of these assets over their
estimated useful lives.
The Company recorded goodwill of approximately $96,000 in connection with the PeerMark
acquisition in May 2004 and subsequently adjusted the amount recorded to reflect the post-closing
consideration paid to the PeerMark Shareholders. The Company recorded goodwill of approximately
$58,000 for the RealComp acquisition in September 2004.
The Company recorded goodwill of approximately $3.4 million for the NRB acquisition in January
2005.
During the fourth quarters of 2004 and 2005, the Company completed the annual impairment test
of goodwill and concluded that goodwill was not impaired.
F-16
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ¾ (Continued)
6. INTANGIBLES AND OTHER ASSETS
Intangibles and other assets consists of the following (dollars in thousands):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted- |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization |
| |
|
December 31, |
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
Period |
| |
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
|
(in years) |
Building photography |
|
|
5,253 |
|
|
|
5,922 |
|
|
5 |
Accumulated amortization |
|
|
(4,552 |
) |
|
|
(4,853 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Building photography, net |
|
|
701 |
|
|
|
1,069 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired database technology |
|
|
20,259 |
|
|
|
20,626 |
|
|
4 |
Accumulated amortization |
|
|
(18,323 |
) |
|
|
(19,096 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired database technology, net |
|
|
1,936 |
|
|
|
1,530 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired customer base |
|
|
43,540 |
|
|
|
43,324 |
|
|
10 |
Accumulated amortization |
|
|
(20,667 |
) |
|
|
(24,804 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired customer base, net |
|
|
22,873 |
|
|
|
18,520 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired tradename |
|
|
4,198 |
|
|
|
4,198 |
|
|
10 |
Accumulated amortization |
|
|
(2,051 |
) |
|
|
(2,470 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired tradename, net |
|
|
2,147 |
|
|
|
1,728 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangibles and other assets, net |
|
$ |
27,657 |
|
|
$ |
22,847 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization expense for intangibles and other assets was approximately $8.3 million, $7.5
million and $6.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively.
In the aggregate, amortization for intangibles and other assets existing as of December 31,
2005 for future periods is expected to be approximately $5.5 million, $5.0 million, $4.8 million,
$3.2 million and $1.4 million for the years ending December 31, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010,
respectively.
F-17
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ¾ (Continued)
7. INCOME TAXES
The components of the provision (benefit) for income taxes attributable to operations consist
of the following (in thousands):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
| |
|
2003 |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Current: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal |
|
$ |
77 |
|
|
$ |
105 |
|
|
$ |
227 |
|
State |
|
|
205 |
|
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
57 |
|
Foreign |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current |
|
|
282 |
|
|
|
127 |
|
|
|
284 |
|
Deferred: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
(13,361 |
) |
|
|
4,018 |
|
State |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
(2,764 |
) |
|
|
746 |
|
Foreign |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
(927 |
) |
|
|
(708 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total deferred |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
(17,052 |
) |
|
|
4,056 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes |
|
$ |
282 |
|
|
$ |
(16,925 |
) |
|
$ |
4,340 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The components of deferred tax assets and liabilities consists of the following (in
thousands):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
December 31, |
|
| |
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Deferred tax assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reserve for bad debts |
|
$ |
422 |
|
|
$ |
523 |
|
Accrued compensation |
|
|
611 |
|
|
|
1,346 |
|
Net operating losses |
|
|
28,491 |
|
|
|
24,213 |
|
Restructuring reserve |
|
|
¾ |
|
|
|
390 |
|
Other liabilities |
|
|
1,365 |
|
|
|
1,756 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total deferred tax assets |
|
|
30,889 |
|
|
|
28,228 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred tax liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prepaids |
|
|
(298 |
) |
|
|
(498 |
) |
Depreciation |
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
(329 |
) |
Identified intangibles associated with purchase accounting |
|
|
(6,937 |
) |
|
|
(4,775 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total deferred tax liabilities |
|
|
(7,217 |
) |
|
|
(5,602 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net deferred tax asset |
|
|
23,672 |
|
|
|
22,626 |
|
Valuation allowance |
|
|
(547 |
) |
|
|
(687 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net deferred taxes |
|
$ |
23,125 |
|
|
$ |
21,939 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The net long-term deferred tax liability shown on the balance sheet includes deferred tax
liabilities and assets related to the U.K operations of the company.
F-18
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ¾ (Continued)
7. INCOME TAXES ¾ (Continued)
The total net deferred tax asset of approximately $23.2 million shown on the balance sheet
includes the tax liabilities and assets related to the U.S. operations of the Company. The net
deferred tax liability related to the U.K operations is shown separately because the U.K.
operations are subject to a separate taxing jurisdiction.
For the year ended December 31, 2005, a valuation allowance has been established primarily for
certain state net operating loss carryforwards due to the uncertainty of realization. For the year
ended December 31, 2004, management determined that because of the continuing improvement of
operating results and the Companys outlook for the future it was more likely than not that the
Company would realize approximately $23.1 million of its net deferred tax assets through future
taxable earnings. A valuation allowance continued to be established for certain state net operating
loss carryforwards due to the uncertainty of realization. Approximately $9.5 million of the release
of the valuation allowance was recorded directly to additional paid-in capital as the related
deferred tax asset was generated from the exercise of employee stock options.
The Companys change in valuation allowance was approximately $(27.6) million and $140,000
during the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005, respectively. For the year ended December 31,
2005, the Company had income of approximately $13.3 million subject to applicable U.S. federal and
state income tax laws and a loss of approximately $2.5 million subject to applicable U.K. tax laws.
The Companys provision for income taxes resulted in effective tax rates that varied from the
statutory federal income tax rate as follows (in thousands):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
| |
|
2003 |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Expected federal income tax (benefit) provision at 34% |
|
$ |
130 |
|
|
$ |
2,847 |
|
|
$ |
3,670 |
|
State income taxes, net of federal benefit |
|
|
304 |
|
|
|
353 |
|
|
|
533 |
|
Foreign income taxes, net effect |
|
|
98 |
|
|
|
76 |
|
|
|
139 |
|
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance |
|
|
(678 |
) |
|
|
(20,057 |
) |
|
|
3 |
|
Other adjustments |
|
|
428 |
|
|
|
(144 |
) |
|
|
(5 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
$ |
282 |
|
|
$ |
(16,925 |
) |
|
$ |
4,340 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Company paid approximately $184,000, $112,000 and $95,000 in income taxes for the years
ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively.
At December 31, 2005, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax
purposes of approximately $63.0 million, which expire, if unused, from the year 2013 through the
year 2023. The Company has net operating loss carryforwards for U.K. income tax purposes of
approximately $3.4 million, which do not expire. The Company also has alternative minimum tax
credit carryforwards of approximately $425,000.
F-19
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ¾ (Continued)
8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
The Company leases office facilities and office equipment under various noncancelable
operating leases. The leases contain various renewal options. Rent expense for the years ended
December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 was approximately $5.7 million, $6.1 million and $6.8 million,
respectively.
Future minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2005 are as follows (in thousands):
| |
|
|
|
|
2006 |
|
$ |
7,217 |
|
2007 |
|
|
6,652 |
|
2008 |
|
|
5,408 |
|
2009 |
|
|
4,685 |
|
2010 |
|
|
1,996 |
|
2011 and thereafter |
|
|
2,509 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
28,467 |
|
|
|
|
|
Currently, and from time to time, the Company is involved in litigation incidental to the
conduct of its business. The Company is not a party to any lawsuit or proceeding that, in the
opinion of management, is likely to have a material adverse effect on its financial position or
results of operations.
9. RESTRUCTURING CHARGES
Effective July 21, 2005, the Company closed its research center in Mason, Ohio (the Mason
Operations). The closing of the Mason Operations resulted in a one-time pre-tax restructuring
charge of approximately $2.2 million recorded in the third quarter of 2005. The third quarter
restructuring charge included amounts for wages, severance, occupancy and other costs. Below is a
summary of the expense recorded and the activity related to restructuring. The estimates have been
made based upon managements best estimate of amounts and timing of certain events included in the
restructuring plan that will occur in the future. It is possible that the actual outcome of certain
events may differ from estimates. Changes will be made to the restructuring accrual at the point
that any such differences become determinable.
Restructuring expenses (in thousands):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accrual balance |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
2005 charges |
|
|
as of December |
|
| |
|
Original Charge |
|
|
utilized |
|
|
31, 2005 |
|
Occupancy |
|
$ |
1,355 |
|
|
$ |
382 |
|
|
$ |
973 |
|
Wages, severance, and other costs |
|
|
862 |
|
|
|
798 |
|
|
|
64 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total restructuring charge |
|
$ |
2,217 |
|
|
$ |
1,180 |
|
|
$ |
1,037 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-20
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ¾ (Continued)
10. STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY
Preferred Stock
The Company has 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value, authorized for issuance.
The Board of Directors may issue the preferred stock from time to time as shares of one or more
classes or series.
Common Stock
The Company has 30,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized for issuance.
Dividends may be declared and paid on the common stock, subject in all cases to the rights and
preferences of the holders of preferred stock and authorization by the Board of Directors. In the
event of liquidation or winding up of the Company and after the payment of all preferential amounts
required to be paid to the holders of any series of preferred stock, any remaining funds shall be
distributed among the holders of the issued and outstanding common stock.
11. NET INCOME PER SHARE
The following table sets forth the calculation of basic and diluted net income per share (in
thousands except per share amounts):
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
| |
|
2003 |
|
|
2004 |
|
|
2005 |
|
Numerator: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income |
|
$ |
100 |
|
|
$ |
24,985 |
|
|
$ |
6,457 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denominator: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denominator for basic net income
per share ¾
weighted-average outstanding
shares |
|
|
16,202 |
|
|
|
18,165 |
|
|
|
18,453 |
|
Effect of dilutive securities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock options and warrants |
|
|
472 |
|
|
|
662 |
|
|
|
554 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denominator for diluted net
income per share ¾
weighted-average outstanding
shares |
|
|
16,674 |
|
|
|
18,827 |
|
|
|
19,007 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per share ¾ basic |
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
$ |
1.38 |
|
|
$ |
0.35 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income per share ¾ diluted |
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
|
$ |
1.33 |
|
|
$ |
0.34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock options and warrants to purchase approximately 1,450,000 shares were outstanding as of
December 31, 2003, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because
the exercise price of the stock options was greater than the average share price of the common
shares and, therefore, the effect would have been anti-dilutive. Stock options to purchase
approximately 1,188,000 shares were outstanding as of December 31, 2004, but were not included in
the computation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise price of the stock options was
greater than the average share price of the common shares and, therefore, the effect would have
been anti-dilutive. Stock options to purchase approximately 921,000 were outstanding as of December
31, 2005, but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the
exercise price of the stock options was greater than the average share price of the common shares
and, therefore, the effect would have been anti-dilutive.
F-21
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ¾ (Continued)
12. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
Stock Incentive Plan
In June 1998 the Companys Board of Directors adopted the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan (the 1998
Plan) prior to consummation of the Companys initial public offering. The 1998 Plan provides for
the grant of stock and stock options to officers, directors and employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries. Options granted under the 1998 Plan may be incentive or non-qualified stock options.
The exercise price for an incentive stock option may not be less than the fair market value of the
Companys common stock on the date of grant. The vesting period of the options and restricted stock
grants is determined by the Board of Directors and is generally four years. Upon the occurrence of
a Change of Control, as defined in the 1998 Plan, all outstanding unexercisable options and
restricted stock grants under the 1998 Plan immediately become exercisable. The Company has
reserved 3,750,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the 1998 Plan. Unless terminated
sooner by the Board of Directors, the 1998 Plan will terminate in 2008. Approximately 413,000 and
440,000 shares were available for future grant under the 1998 Plan as of December 31, 2004 and
2005, respectively.
Option activity was as follows:
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted- |
|
| |
|
Number of |
|
|
Range of |
|
|
Average |
|
| |
|
Shares |
|
|
Exercise Price |
|
|
Exercise Price |
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2002 |
|
|
2,097,273 |
|
|
$ |
3.45 - $52.13 |
|
|
$ |
22.00 |
|
Granted |
|
|
476,500 |
|
|
$ |
16.27 - $42.10 |
|
|
$ |
26.09 |
|
Exercised |
|
|
(397,834 |
) |
|
$ |
8.50 - $38.46 |
|
|
$ |
20.99 |
|
Canceled or expired |
|
|
(254,613 |
) |
|
$ |
16.00 - $52.13 |
|
|
$ |
25.75 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2003 |
|
|
1,921,326 |
|
|
$ |
3.45 - $52.13 |
|
|
$ |
22.72 |
|
Granted |
|
|
487,000 |
|
|
$ |
39.00 - $45.18 |
|
|
$ |
41.67 |
|
Exercised |
|
|
(424,166 |
) |
|
$ |
3.45 - $37.13 |
|
|
$ |
14.84 |
|
Canceled or expired |
|
|
(133,826 |
) |
|
$ |
16.13 - $44.86 |
|
|
$ |
27.25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2004 |
|
|
1,850,334 |
|
|
$ |
9.00 - $52.13 |
|
|
$ |
29.21 |
|
Granted |
|
|
10,000 |
|
|
$ |
43.17 - $43.17 |
|
|
$ |
43.17 |
|
Exercised |
|
|
(292,474 |
) |
|
$ |
9.00 - $44.86 |
|
|
$ |
25.34 |
|
Canceled or expired |
|
|
(93,963 |
) |
|
$ |
17.25 - $45.18 |
|
|
$ |
33.68 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding at December 31, 2005 |
|
|
1,473,897 |
|
|
$ |
9.00 - $52.13 |
|
|
$ |
29.76 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable at December 31, 2003 |
|
|
940,477 |
|
|
$ |
3.45 - $52.13 |
|
|
$ |
21.63 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable at December 31, 2004 |
|
|
886,494 |
|
|
$ |
9.00 - $52.13 |
|
|
$ |
25.99 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercisable at December 31, 2005 |
|
|
960,454 |
|
|
$ |
9.00 - $52.13 |
|
|
$ |
27.04 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the purposes of the disclosure required by FAS 123, the fair value of each option granted
during the years ended December 2003, 2004 and 2005 was $18.21, $28.90 and $26.65 respectively.
F-22
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ¾ (Continued)
12. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (continued)
Stock Incentive Plan (continued)
The Company estimated the fair value of each option granted on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option-pricing model, using the assumptions noted in the following table:
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Year Ended December 31, |
| |
|
2003 |
|
2004 |
|
2005 |
Dividend yield |
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
0 |
% |
|
|
0 |
% |
Expected volatility |
|
|
70 |
% |
|
|
67 |
% |
|
|
64 |
% |
Risk-free interest rate |
|
|
3.0 |
% |
|
|
3.6 |
% |
|
|
4.4 |
% |
Expected life (in years) |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Pro forma compensation expense for stock option plans would reduce the Companys net income as
described in the Summary of Significant Accounting Policies as required by SFAS No. 148.
The following table summarizes information regarding options outstanding at December 31, 2005:
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Options Outstanding |
|
Options Exercisable |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-Average |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Remaining |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Range of |
|
Number of |
|
Contractual Life |
|
Weighted-Average |
|
Number of |
|
Weighted-Average |
| Exercise Price |
|
Shares |
|
(in years) |
|
Exercise Price |
|
Shares |
|
Exercise Price |
$
9.00 - $18.06
|
|
|
199,176 |
|
|
|
5.2 |
|
|
$ |
16.25 |
|
|
|
180,551 |
|
|
$ |
16.10 |
|
$18.12 - $20.30
|
|
|
193,286 |
|
|
|
6.5 |
|
|
|
19.28 |
|
|
|
129,348 |
|
|
|
19.34 |
|
$20.32 - $25.01
|
|
|
149,245 |
|
|
|
5.5 |
|
|
|
23.63 |
|
|
|
119,745 |
|
|
|
23.94 |
|
$25.12 - $29.00
|
|
|
127,475 |
|
|
|
6.9 |
|
|
|
27.84 |
|
|
|
82,225 |
|
|
|
27.67 |
|
$30.00 - $30.00
|
|
|
180,000 |
|
|
|
3.3 |
|
|
|
30.00 |
|
|
|
180,000 |
|
|
|
30.00 |
|
$30.06 - $31.50
|
|
|
156,026 |
|
|
|
6.1 |
|
|
|
30.45 |
|
|
|
108,024 |
|
|
|
30.62 |
|
$32.00 - $39.53
|
|
|
182,939 |
|
|
|
7.7 |
|
|
|
38.92 |
|
|
|
61,437 |
|
|
|
38.38 |
|
$39.81 - $44.86
|
|
|
186,750 |
|
|
|
8.1 |
|
|
|
43.19 |
|
|
|
61,624 |
|
|
|
43.05 |
|
$45.18 - $46.81
|
|
|
98,000 |
|
|
|
8.8 |
|
|
|
45.23 |
|
|
|
36,500 |
|
|
|
45.31 |
|
$52.13 - $52.13
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
4.2 |
|
|
|
52.13 |
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
52.13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,473,897 |
|
|
|
6.3 |
|
|
|
29.76 |
|
|
|
960,454 |
|
|
|
27.04 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On September 28, 2001, the Company granted a total of 5,000 shares of restricted stock to the
non-employee directors of the Company. The stock grants vest over a four-year period with 25% of
the stock vesting on each anniversary of the grant date. The Company recorded $89,800 in unearned
compensation expense during the year ended December 31, 2001 in connection with these stock grants.
The unearned compensation was calculated at the fair value on the grant date and is being amortized
over the vesting period of the restricted stock.
On March 10, 2005, the Company granted 35,632 shares of restricted stock to officers of the
Company under the 1998 Plan. The shares vest in annual equal installments over four years from the
date of grant. The Company recorded $1.4 million of unearned compensation expense relating to the
issuance of the restricted stock. The unearned compensation expense is amortized on a straight-line
basis over the four-year vesting period.
F-23
COSTAR GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ¾ (Continued)
12. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (continued)
Stock Incentive Plan (continued)
On September 8, 2005, the Company granted 30,380 shares of restricted stock to employees of
the Company under the 1998 Plan. The shares vest in annual equal installments over four years from
the date of grant. The Company recorded $1.4 million of unearned compensation expense relating to
the issuance of the restricted stock. The unearned compensation expense is amortized on a
straight-line basis over the four year vesting period.
On October 18, 2005, the Company granted 11,286 shares of restricted stock to non-employee
members of the board of directors of the Company under the Companys 1998 Stock Incentive Plan. The
shares vest in annual equal installments over four years from the date of grant. The Company
recorded $505,000 of unearned compensation expense relating to the issuance of the restricted
stock. The unearned compensation expense is amortized on a straight-line basis over the four year
vesting period.
The weighted average per share grant date fair value of 81,338 restricted shares granted to
employees and non-employees in the year ended December 31, 2005 was $42.11. There were no
restricted shares granted in the year ended December 31, 2004.
Employee 401(k) Plan
The Company maintains a 401(k) Plan (the 401(k)) as a defined contribution retirement plan
for all eligible employees. The 401(k) provides for tax-deferred contributions of employees
salaries, limited to a maximum annual amount as established by the Internal Revenue Service. The
Company matched 100% in 2003, 2004 and 2005 of employee contributions up to a maximum of 6% of
total compensation. Amounts contributed to the 401(k) by the Company to match employee
contributions for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005 were approximately $1.4 million,
$1.2 million and $1.6 million, respectively. The Company paid administrative expenses of
approximately $28,000, $20,000 and $18,000 for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005
respectively.
Employee Pension Plan
The Company maintains a company personal pension plan for all eligible employees in the
Companys London, England office. The plan is a defined contribution plan. Employees are eligible
to contribute a portion of their salaries, subject to a maximum annual amount as established by the
Inland Revenue. The Company contributes a match subject to the percentage of the employees
contribution. Amounts contributed to the plan by the Company to match employee contributions for
the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2005 were approximately $146,000 and $175,000, respectively.
F-24
exv21w1
EXHIBIT 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT
a) CoStar Realty Information, Inc., a Delaware corporation
b) CoStar Limited, a U.K. company
c) FOCUS Information Limited, a U.K. company
d) National Research Bureau, Inc., a Delaware corporation
exv23w1
EXHIBIT 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No.
333-45770) pertaining to the 1998 Stock Incentive Plan of CoStar Group, Inc. of our reports dated
February 15, 2006 with respect to the consolidated financial statements of CoStar Group, Inc.,
CoStar Group, Inc. managements assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of CoStar Group,
Inc., included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2005.
Ernst & Young LLP
McLean, Virginia
February 15, 2006
exv31w1
EXHIBIT 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, Andrew C. Florance, certify that:
| 1. |
|
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of CoStar Group, Inc.; |
| 2. |
|
Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
covered by this annual report; |
| 3. |
|
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in
this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results
of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
annual report; |
| 4. |
|
The registrants other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and
maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and
15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule
13(a)-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f)) for the registrant and we have: |
| |
a) |
|
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls
and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information
relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by
others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is
being prepared; |
| |
| |
(b) |
|
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal
control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation
of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles; |
| |
| |
(c) |
|
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and
presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure
controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such
evaluation; and |
| |
| |
(d) |
|
Disclosed in this annual report any change in the registrants internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the
registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control
over financial reporting; and |
| 5. |
|
The registrants other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent
evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the
audit committee of registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
function): |
| |
a) |
|
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of
internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect
the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information;
and |
| |
b) |
|
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who
have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: March 6, 2006
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/S/ Andrew C. Florance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andrew C. Florance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Principal Executive Officer and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Duly Authorized Officer) |
exv31w2
EXHIBIT 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, Frank A. Carchedi, certify that:
| 1. |
|
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of CoStar Group, Inc.; |
| 2. |
|
Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period
covered by this annual report; |
| 3. |
|
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in
this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results
of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
annual report; |
| 4. |
|
The registrants other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and
maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and
15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule
13(a)-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f)) for the registrant and we have: |
| |
a) |
|
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls
and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information
relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by
others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is
being prepared; |
| |
| |
b) |
|
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal
control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation
of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles; |
| |
| |
c) |
|
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and procedures and
presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure
controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such
evaluation; and |
| |
| |
d) |
|
Disclosed in this annual report any change in the registrants internal control over
financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most recent fiscal quarter (the
registrants fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially
affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants internal control
over financial reporting; and |
| 5. |
|
The registrants other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent
evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the
audit committee of registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
function): |
| |
a) |
|
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of
internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect
the registrants ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information;
and |
| |
b) |
|
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who
have a significant role in the registrants internal control over financial reporting. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date: March 6, 2006
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/S/ Frank A. Carchedi |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank A. Carchedi |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Principal Financial and Accounting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officer and Duly Authorized Officer) |
exv32w1
EXHIBIT 32.1
CoStar Group, Inc.
2 Bethesda Metro Center, 10th floor
Bethesda, MD 20814
March 6, 2006
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 5th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20549
Re: Certification Of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant To 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1350
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K of CoStar Group, Inc., for the
year ended December 31, 2005, I, Andrew C. Florance, Chief Executive Officer of CoStar Group, Inc.,
hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1) such Annual Report on Form 10-K of CoStar Group, Inc., for the year ended December 31,
2005, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934; and
2) the information contained in such Annual Report on Form 10-K of CoStar Group, Inc., for the
year ended December 31, 2005, fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition
and results of operations of CoStar Group, Inc.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/S/ Andrew C. Florance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andrew C. Florance |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Principal Executive Officer and |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Duly Authorized Officer) |
|
|
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document
authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within
the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to
CoStar Group, Inc. and will be retained by CoStar Group, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and
Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
In accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K, this certification is being furnished as
Exhibit 32.1 to CoStar Group, Inc.s annual report and shall not be deemed filed for purposes of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) or otherwise subject to the
liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under
the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference
in such a filing.
exv32w2
EXHIBIT 32.2
CoStar Group, Inc.
2 Bethesda Metro Center, 10th floor
Bethesda, MD 20814
March 6, 2006
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 5th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20549
Re: Certification Of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant To 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1350
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K of CoStar Group, Inc., for the
year ended December 31, 2005, I, Frank A. Carchedi, Chief Financial Officer of CoStar Group, Inc.,
hereby certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
1) such Annual Report on Form 10-K of CoStar Group, Inc., for the year ended December 31,
2005, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934; and
2) the information contained in such Annual Report on Form 10-K of CoStar Group, Inc., for the
year ended December 31, 2005, fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition
and results of operations of CoStar Group, Inc.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/S/ Frank A. Carchedi |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank A. Carchedi |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Principal Financial and Accounting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Officer and Duly Authorized Officer) |
|
|
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other document
authenticating, acknowledging or otherwise adopting the signature that appears in typed form within
the electronic version of this written statement required by Section 906, has been provided to
CoStar Group, Inc. and will be retained by CoStar Group, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and
Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
In accordance with Item 601 of Regulation S-K, this certification is being furnished as
Exhibit 32.2 to CoStar Group, Inc.s annual report and shall not be deemed filed for purposes of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) or otherwise subject to the
liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under
the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference
in such a filing.