1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) August 1, 2001 Commission File Number 000-27707 AETHER SYSTEMS, INC. (Exact name of registrant) Delaware 52-2186634 (State of organization) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) 11460 Cronridge Drive, Owings Mills, Maryland 21117 (Address of principal executive offices and zip code) (410) 654-6400 (Registrant's telephone number) 2 ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS Aether Systems, Inc. made a preliminary announcement on August 1, 2001 of its financial results for the quarter and six month periods ended June 30, 2001. In the announcement Aether advised that continued demand for Aether wireless data solutions drove total revenue to $32.1 million, a three-fold increase over the second quarter of last year. The results include recurring services revenue of $11.4 million, engineering services revenue of $2.8 million, software product revenue of $9.9 million, and device sales of $8.0 million. In the same period last year, total revenue was $10.8 million with recurring services revenue of $6.2 million, engineering services revenue of $1.6 million, software product revenue of $2.4 million and device sales of approximately $578,000. Aether's Q2 2001 revenue of $32.1 million represents a 4.6 percent increase over Q1 2001 revenue of $30.7 million. Non-cash charges include a restructuring charge associated with Aether's integration efforts, the amortization and impairment of goodwill relating to acquisitions, the impairment of the company's investments, the company's share of losses in joint ventures under equity method accounting, and non-cash expenses relating to options and warrants, partially offset by a gain due to the early extinguishment of debt. As part of Aether's integration strategy to consolidate excess facilities and eliminate redundant positions from acquired companies, the company recognized a restructuring charge of $15.9 million. This charge relates to a workforce reduction of 250 positions and the closing of six facilities. Gross margins improved during the quarter to 42 percent compared to 35 percent during Q1 2001. All revenue categories realized improvements. Results include an extraordinary gain related to the early extinguishment of $20 million in senior convertible notes payable. 3 For the first six months of 2001, Aether reported a four-fold increase in revenue to $62.7 million, compared with $16.2 million for the same period in 2000. The results include recurring services revenue of $21.8 million, engineering services revenue of $5.1 million, software product revenue of $21.7 million and device sales of $14.1 million. In the same period last year, Aether recorded recurring services of $9.0 million, engineering services revenue of $3.0 million, software product revenue of $3.4 million and device sales revenue of approximately $713,000. SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT This statement includes forward-looking statements based on the current expectations of Aether about future events. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions about Aether that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, market acceptance of the products developed or to be developed by Aether, the ability of Aether to develop new technologies and projects, future decisions regarding investments and acquisitions and future market values of similar businesses, the success of Aether's efforts to reduce marginal costs while increasing sales, and the success of joint efforts with partner companies. These risks and other risk factors are described under the caption, "Risk Factors" in Aether's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Aether undertakes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. 4 AETHER SYSTEMS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) THREE MONTHS ENDED SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, JUNE 30, --------------------------- ----------------------------- 2001 2000 2001 2000 ------------ ------------- -------------- ------------- in thousands except per share data Subscriber revenue $11,408 $6,178 $21,808 $8,972 Engineering services revenue 2,781 1,637 5,144 3,040 Software and related services 9,873 2,362 21,670 3,431 Device sales 8,022 578 14,121 713 ------------ ------------- -------------- ------------- Total revenue 32,084 10,755 62,743 16,156 Cost of subscriber revenue 6,617 3,154 12,851 4,213 Cost of engineering services revenue 1,487 1,027 2,787 1,641 Cost of software and related services 2,574 851 6,656 1,529 Cost of device sales 7,922 595 16,139 1,268 ------------ ------------- -------------- ------------- Total cost of revenue 18,600 5,627 38,433 8,651 ------------ ------------- -------------- ------------- Gross profit 13,484 5,128 24,310 7,505 Operating expenses: Research and development 18,705 5,014 35,876 7,045 General and administrative 23,680 8,507 49,484 13,438 Selling and marketing 20,511 16,544 40,727 22,356 In process research and development related to acquisitions - 60 - 2,160 Depreciation and amortization 29,448 67,041 121,243 84,451 Option and warrant expense 4,358 3,605 8,938 6,050 Impairment of goodwill associated with acquisitions 2,211 - 961,580 - Restructuring Charge 15,859 - 15,859 - ------------ ------------- -------------- ------------- 114,772 100,771 1,233,707 135,500 ------------ ------------- -------------- ------------- Operating loss (101,288) (95,643) (1,209,397) (127,995) Other income (expense): Interest income (expense), net 3,195 14,787 9,601 16,976 Equity in losses of investment (17,007) (10,721) (31,523) (13,828) Investment loss, including impairments (1,147) - (95,891) - Minority Interest 4,483 1,662 8,147 1,662 ------------ ------------- -------------- ------------- loss before Income taxes (111,764) (89,915) (1,319,063) (123,185) Income tax benefit 440 - 875 - Net loss before extraordinary item and cumulative effect ------------ ------------- -------------- ------------- of a change in accounting principle (111,324) (89,915) (1,318,188) (123,185) Extraordinary item relating to early extinguishment of debt 7,684 7,684 - ------------ ------------- -------------- ------------- Net loss before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle (103,640) (89,915) (1,310,504) (123,185) Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle relating to adoption of SFAS 133, Accounting for Derivatives - - 6,564 - ------------ ------------- -------------- ------------- Net loss (103,640) (89,915) (1,303,940) (123,185) Net loss per share - basic and diluted before extraordinary item and cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle ($2.74) ($2.36) ($32.54) ($3.65) Extraordinary item relating to early extinguishment of debt $0.19 $0.00 $0.19 $0.00 Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle relating to adoption of SFAS 133, Accounting for Derivatives $0.00 $0.00 $0.16 $0.00 ------------ ------------- -------------- ------------- Net loss per share - basic and diluted ($2.55) ($2.36) ($32.19) ($3.65) ============ ============= ============== ============= Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted 40,576 38,031 40,511 33,765 ============ ============= ============== ============= 5 AETHER SYSTEMS, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS ASSETS JUNE 30, December 31, 2001 2000 ---------------- -------------- in thousands (unaudited) Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $651,376 $872,747 Short-term investments 2,444 2,648 Trade accounts receivable 28,111 30,263 Inventory 44,109 19,130 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 18,981 17,081 ---------------- -------------- Total current assets 745,021 941,869 Furniture, computers, and equipment, net 72,454 53,223 Intangibles and other assets 506,366 1,682,283 ---------------- -------------- $1,323,841 $2,677,375 ================ ============== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $8,780 $9,747 Accrued expenses 44,961 66,949 Accrued employee compensation and benefits 10,991 12,566 Deferred revenue 17,727 14,170 Notes payable 14,914 18,813 ---------------- -------------- Total current liabilities 97,373 122,245 Long-term liabilities: Convertible subordinated notes payable and other notes payable 310,845 321,201 Deferred tax liability 9,820 10,694 Minority interest in net assets of subsidiary 47,394 55,537 Stockholders' equity 858,409 2,167,698 Commitments and contingencies $1,323,841 $2,677,375 ================ ============== 6 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. Aether Systems, Inc. By: /s/ David C. Reymann --------------------------------- David C. Reymann Chief Financial Officer Dated: August 3, 2001