Heritage Global Inc. - Annual Report: 2003 (Form 10-K)

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

FORM 10-K

x ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13
OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003

Commission File No. 0-17973

ACCERIS COMMUNICATIONS INC.

(858) 547-5700
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act: None.

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act: Common Stock, $0.01 par value.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ü 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 registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filed (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).
Yes o No ü

The aggregate market value of Common Stock held by non-affiliates based upon the closing price of $5.70 per share on June 30, 2003, as reported by the OTC - Bulletin Board, was approximately $10,621,665.

As of April 9, 2004, there were 19,262,095 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

(All dollar amounts are presented in thousands USD, except per share amounts)

Item 1. Business.

Overview

     The vision for Acceris Communications Inc. (“Acceris” or the “Company”), formerly I-Link Incorporated, is to be the preferred supplier of high-quality communications products and services to targeted markets that will deliver profitable growth while creating value for all its stockholders. The mission of Acceris is to provide businesses and consumers with competitively priced voice, data and enhanced communications services via direct and indirect channels. Through the dedication of its employees, the Company delivers industry-leading customer care, customized product solutions and full back office support, building long-term loyalty and trust with its customers. Acceris’ telecommunications division (“Telecommunications”) operates through two specific marketing channels: Retail, which offers a broad selection of voice and data telecommunications products and services to residential and commercial customers through a network of independent agents, primarily via multi-level marketing (“MLM”) and commercial agent programs (this segment has been referred to in previous reports as Acceris Communications Partners) and Enterprise, which offers voice services and fully integrated, fully managed data services (this segment has been referred to in previous reports as Acceris Communications Solutions). Acceris’ other division, referred to as “Technologies”, offers a proven network convergence solution for voice and data in Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) communications technology and holds two foundational patents in the VoIP space (US Patent Nos. 6,243,373 and 6,438,124, the “VoIP Patents”). In 2004, Technologies intends to pursue efforts to license the technology supported by its patents to carriers and equipment manufacturers and suppliers in the IP telephony market.

History and Development of the Business

     Acceris was incorporated in Florida in 1983 under the name MedCross, Inc., which was changed to I-Link Incorporated in 1997, and to Acceris Communications Inc. in 2003.

     Acceris has been growing through the acquisition of predecessor businesses, which have been and are continuing to be integrated, consolidated and reorganized. These predecessor businesses are organized into two categories: Telecommunications and Technologies. Telecommunications has been assembled through the acquisition from bankruptcy of certain assets of WorldxChange Communications, Inc. in June 2001 (this business is referred to as “WorldxChange”) and certain assets of RSL COM U.S.A. Inc., (“RSL”) in December 2002. Added to these was the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of Transpoint Communications, LLC (“Transpoint”) in July 2003.

     On March 1, 2001, Acceris became a majority-owned subsidiary of Counsel Communications, LLC, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Counsel Corporation, (collectively, “Counsel”). Since taking a controlling position in Acceris, Counsel has advanced approximately $75,900 to Acceris, consisting of notes, equity, accrued interest and other advances, ( net of approximately $8,200 in repayments to Counsel.) Of this amount, approximately $22,500 was utilized to complete the WorldxChange and RSL acquisitions, while the remaining approximately $53,400 has been used directly in operations, principally to fund the building of its Telecommunications and Technologies divisions.

     The development and transition of the Company has been as follows:

     Telecommunications:

     Telecommunications, comprised of WorldxChange, certain assets of RSL and Transpoint, has been built primarily through three transactions, described more fully below.

     In June 2001, Acceris acquired WorldxChange from a debtor in a bankruptcy proceeding. WorldxChange is a facilities-based telecommunications carrier that provides international and domestic long-distance service to retail customers. WorldxChange initially consisted primarily of a dial-around product that allowed a customer to make a call from any phone by dialing a 10-10-XXX prefix. Historically, WorldxChange marketed its services through consumer mass marketing techniques, including direct mail and direct response television and radio. In 2002, WorldxChange revamped its channel strategy by de-emphasizing the direct mail channel and devoting its efforts to pursuing more profitable methods of attracting and retaining customers. Today, it uses commercial agents as well as a network of independent commission agents recruited through its MLM programs to attract and retain new customers. Independent agents are non-employee sales people who market and sell Acceris products and services and are compensated through commissions and other incentives. MLM programs provide incentives to current customers who sign up new subscribers.

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     In December 2002, Acceris completed the purchase of the assets used in the Enterprise and Agent business of RSL from a debtor in a bankruptcy proceeding. The purchase included the assets used by RSL to provide long-distance voice and data services, including frame relay, to small and medium size businesses (“Enterprise” business), and the assets used to provide long-distance and other voice services to small businesses and consumers in the residential market (“Agent” business), together with the existing customer base of the Enterprise and Agent business.

     In July 2003, Acceris acquired all of the outstanding shares of Transpoint. The acquisition of Transpoint provided Acceris with further penetration into the commercial agent channel and a larger commercial customer base.

     Starting in the fourth quarter of 2003, Telecommunications has also begun to offer local communications products to its residential and small business customers. The service will be provided under the terms of the Unbundled Network Element Platform (“UNE-P”) authorized by the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and will be available in New York and New Jersey initially, expanding to other markets throughout the United States.

     Technologies:

     In 1994, Technologies began operating as an Internet service provider and quickly identified that the emerging IP environment was a promising basis for enhanced service delivery. The Company soon turned to designing and building an IP telecommunications platform consisting of Acceris’ proprietary software, hardware and leased telecommunications lines. The goal was to create a platform with the quality and reliability necessary for voice transmission. By 1996, Acceris released its first IP-based service called “Fax-4-Less,” which provided users an efficient and cost-effective way to distribute facsimile information.

     In 1997, Technologies started offering enhanced services over a mixed IP-and-circuit-switched network platform. These services offered a blend of traditional and enhanced communication services and combined the inherent cost advantages of an IP-based network with the reliability of the existing Public Switched Telephone Network (“PSTN”). The suite of services included a one number “follow me” service, long-distance calling, unified messaging, conference calling, message broadcasting and web-based interface to manage messages and maintain personal account settings.

     In August 1997, Technologies acquired MiBridge, Inc. (“MiBridge”), a New Jersey-based communications technology company engaged in the design, development, integration and marketing of a range of software telecommunications products that supported multimedia communications over the PSTN, local area networks (“LAN”) and IP networks. Historically, MiBridge concentrated its development efforts on compression systems such as VoIP. As part of Acceris, MiBridge continued to develop patent-pending technologies which combined sophisticated compression capabilities with IP telephony technology. The acquisition of MiBridge permitted the Company to accelerate the development and deployment of IP technology across its network platform.

     In 1998, Technologies deployed its real-time IP communications network platform. With this new platform, all core operating functions such as switching, routing and media control became software-driven. This new platform represented the first nationwide, commercially viable VoIP platform of its kind. Following the launch of its software-defined VoIP platform in 1998, Technologies continued to refine and enhance the platform to make it even more efficient and capable for its partners and customers.

     In February 2000, Technologies transitioned its direct-sales marketing program to Big Planet, Inc. (“Big Planet”), a subsidiary of Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc., whereupon Big Planet became one of the Company’s wholesale customers. The transition of the network marketing sales channel to Big Planet allowed Acceris to focus on the expansion of the VoIP platform and the development and deployment of new enhanced services and products, while at the same time maintaining existing channels for retail sales.

     In April 2001, Acceris acquired WebToTel, Inc. (“WebToTel”) and Nexbell Communications, Inc. (“Nexbell”), both previously subsidiaries of Counsel, in a stock-for-stock transaction. Nexbell was sold to a third party in December 2001 (see Notes 9 and 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 15 hereof).

     On December 6, 2002, Technologies entered into a definitive purchase and sale agreement to sell substantially all of the assets and customer base of I-Link Communications, Inc. (“ILC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Acceris, to Buyers United, Inc. (“BUI”). The sale closed on May 1, 2003. The sale included the physical assets required to operate Acceris’ nationwide network using its patented VoIP technology (constituting the core business of ILC) and a fully paid perpetual license to its proprietary software-based network convergence solution for voice and data. The sale of the ILC business removed essentially all of Technologies’ operations that did not pertain to the Company’s proprietary software-based convergence solution for voice and data. This sale marked the final stage of the transformation of Technologies’ operations into a business based principally on the licensing of its proprietary software.

     Technologies owns four patents and utilizes the technology supported by those patents in providing its proprietary software solutions. The Company believes that it holds the foundational patents for VoIP in its VoIP Patents. To date, the Company has licensed portions of that technology to third parties on a non-exclusive basis. In addition, Acceris also has several patent applications pending before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) and other such authorities internationally.

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     Today, Technologies remains focused on delivering solutions for voice and data services to its partners and customers, while launching a strategy to realize value from its patents through licensing. With over nine years experience developing VoIP technologies, Acceris continues to offer a solution for companies to reduce telecommunications costs and/or to enter the enhanced communications market. Acceris continues to market its voice and data services and solutions and to license its enhanced services platform domestically and internationally to organizations who wish to offer voice services without incurring high development costs. The Company is pursuing opportunities to leverage its patents through a strategy to license the technology to carriers, equipment/softswitch manufacturers and customers who are deploying IP for phone-to-phone communication. Technology licensing revenues are project-based and, as such, these revenues vary from period to period based on timing and size of technology licensing projects and payments.

Employees

     As of December 31, 2003, Acceris had approximately 340 employees with whom the Company feels it has a good relationship. The Company is not subject to any collective bargaining agreements.

Business Reorganization

     During 2003, Acceris continued to consolidate functions across the Company. The Company is focused on streamlining its internal processes, eliminating duplicate efforts of staff serving similar roles in multiple locations and making the integration of additional companies into its operations more cost effective and less risky. Upon the acquisition of RSL and disposition of the ILC business in December 2002, the Company was organized into three operating segments, Retail, Enterprise and Technologies. These segments have been described in previous filings as Acceris Communications Partners, Acceris Communications Solutions and Acceris Communications Technologies, respectively.

Competition

     Acceris’ long-term success will be founded in its ability to provide quality service, enhanced features and new product offerings, which offer greater convenience to the Retail and Enterprise markets. These products must be offered at value pricing, through its selected distribution channels.

     The Retail and Enterprise businesses face competition from numerous telecommunications organizations offering services in the United States. Providers include large organizations such as AT&T, Sprint, Primus, MCI WorldCom and Verizon, as well as numerous small, lesser known, service providers.

     The Retail business, consistent with its competitors, sees significant attrition in its customer base over short periods of time, particularly with dial-around products. In order to compete with other providers such as Talk America and Ztel, Acceris has focused on developing and delivering a bundled product including local (which began in 2003), long-distance and enhanced services to targeted niche markets in the residential and small business marketplace. Recognizing that customers are highly mobile, Acceris is migrating away from dial-around products and instead is focusing its efforts on developing and marketing product offerings that appeal to higher quality, longer term customers. Factors that influence the highly mobile customer base include, among other things, quality of service, enhanced feature offerings and value pricing. Long-term success in this market is sustained by attracting new customers and developing customer loyalty.

     The Enterprise business differs significantly from the Retail business. In this business, Enterprise customers generally enter into agreements that extend from 1 to 3 years, which results in a recurring and more predictable revenue stream. The Enterprise business experiences longer term customer relationships as a result of the Company’s ability to offer specific solutions to each individual customer. The Enterprise channel differentiates itself from its competitors by offering engineered solutions that are customized and fully managed and by providing high quality, personalized customer care. A key challenge in this business is to improve cross-sell with new or enhanced product offerings.

     Technologies offers an internally developed patent-based technology solution that operates in both a convergence and IP world. Technologies provides a 100% software solution for VoIP deployment. The solution, unlike that of some of its competitors, does not rely on hardware to provide switching, conference or enhanced services. Additionally, the solution provides an open Application Programming Interface (“API”), to enable development of a wide variety of voice applications and services. Commencing in late 2002, Acceris made the decision to pursue the development of the domestic market providing software-based IP solutions to domestic carriers which assist those companies by reducing their internal costs and/or allowing them to offer enhanced service products to their own retail customers. Prior to the sale of its IP network operations based in Draper, Utah (ILC) to BUI, Acceris had offered these products internationally and marketed its enhanced service products to customers on a retail basis. Acceris does not currently experience any direct competition to its current technology although there are many competitors with certain portions of its technology, but not as an entire package. Its competition would include the traditional switched telephony infrastructure providers, such as Nortel and Lucent, which this technology displaces. While its competition offers products with similar features, its competitive product is software versus hardware-based and as such can be deployed at a significantly lower cost. Also, the software nature of its product makes it easier and more economically feasible to develop additional features and services to meet ever changing customer needs.

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Government Regulation

     Overview of Products

     We offer business and residential consumers a broad suite of voice and data telecommunications products and services, including local exchange, long-distance (1+ or 10-10-XXX dial-around) and international calling services. Our various business segments operate in both regulated and non-regulated environments.

     Federal and state governing authorities regulate our local and long-distance services. For our long-distance business, we are regulated as a non-dominant interexchange carrier (“IXC”). Federal and state authorities have been reducing their regulatory requirements as the industry faces robust competition. For our local exchange services, we are regulated as a competitive local exchange carrier (“CLEC”).

     Additionally, we offer a variety of enhanced services, including an open API that enables development of a variety of voice applications using its patented VoIP software as well as data services.

     Overview of Federal Regulation

     As a carrier offering telecommunications services to the public, we are subject to the provisions of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) regulations issued thereunder. These regulations require us, among other things, to offer our regulated services to the public on a non-discriminatory basis at just and reasonable rates. We are subject to FCC requirements that we obtain prior FCC approval for transactions that would cause a transfer of control of one or more regulated subsidiaries. Such approval requirements may delay, prevent or deter transactions that could result in a transfer of control of our company.

     International Service Regulation. We possess authority from the FCC, granted pursuant to Section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, to provide international telecommunications service. The FCC has streamlined regulation of competitive international services and has removed certain restrictions against providing certain services. Presently, the FCC is considering a number of international service issues that may further alter the regulatory regime applicable to us. For instance, the FCC is considering revisions to the rules regarding the rates that international carriers like us pay for termination of calls to mobile phones located abroad.

     Pursuant to FCC rules, we have cancelled our international and domestic FCC tariffs and replaced them with a general service agreement and price lists. As required by FCC rules, we have posted these materials on our Internet web site. The “detariffing” of our services has given us greater pricing flexibility for our services, but we are not entitled to the legal protection provided by the “filed rate doctrine,” which generally provides protections to carriers from legal actions by customers that challenge the terms and conditions of service.

     Interstate Service Regulation. As an IXC, our interstate telecommunications services are regulated by the FCC. While we are not required to obtain FCC approval to begin or expand our interstate operations, we are required to obtain FCC approvals for certain transactions that would affect our ownership or the services we provide. Additionally, we must file various reports and pay certain fees and assessments. We are subject to the FCC’s complaint jurisdiction and must contribute to the federal Universal Service Fund (“USF”). We must also comply with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (“CALEA”), and certain FCC regulations which require telecommunications common carriers to modify their networks to allow law enforcement authorities to perform electronic surveillance.

     Overview of State Regulation

     Through certain of our subsidiaries, we are authorized to provide intrastate interexchange telecommunications services and, in certain states, are authorized to provide competitive local exchange services by virtue of certificates granted by state public service commissions. Our regulated subsidiaries must comply with state laws applicable to all similarly certified carriers including the regulation of services, payment of regulatory fees and preparation and submission of reports. The adoption of new regulations or changes to existing regulations may adversely affect our ability to provide telecommunications services. Consumers may file complaints against us at the public service commissions. The certificates of authority we hold can be generally conditioned, modified, cancelled, terminated or revoked by state public service commissions. Further, many states require prior approval or notification for certain stock or asset transactions, or in some states, for the issuance of securities, debts, guarantees or other financial transactions. Such approvals can delay or prevent certain transactions.

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     Overview of Ongoing Policy Issues

     Local Service. Through the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the “1996 Act”), Congress sought to establish a competitive and deregulated national policy framework for advanced telecommunications and information technologies. To date, local exchange competition has not progressed to a point where significant regulatory intervention is no longer required. Regulators believed that a “hands-off” policy would drive local exchange service into an adequately competitive market, but there continues to be a strong need for policy issue clarification and construction. Some policy changes have been addressed through the court system, not the regulatory system. For instance, the FCC has attempted several times to develop a list of “Unbundled Network Elements” (“UNEs”) which are portions of the incumbent local exchange carrier (“ILECs”) networks and services that must be sold separately to competitors. On several occasions, the courts have rejected the FCC’s approach to defining UNEs. The FCC’s most recent attempt to develop rules, the Triennial Review Order, was vacated by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington D.C. on March 4, 2004. The Court’s ruling is scheduled to go into effect 60 days after decision but will likely be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. If the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to review the decision, the effective date of this ruling could be delayed. We are unable to determine the outcome of these proceedings; however, the inability to purchase UNEs could increase our costs for providing local service, or prevent us from providing the service altogether.

     Universal Service Fund. In 1997, the FCC issued an order implementing Section 254 of the 1996 Act, regarding the preservation of universal telephone service. Section 254 and related regulations require all interstate and certain international telecommunications carriers to contribute toward the Universal Service Fund (“USF”), a fund that provides subsidies for the provision of service to schools and libraries, rural health care providers, low income consumers and consumers in high cost areas.

     Quarterly, the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”), which oversees the USF, reviews the need for program funding and determines the applicable USF contribution percentage that interstate telecommunications carriers must contribute. While carriers are permitted to pass through the USF charges to consumers, the FCC has strictly limited amounts passed through to consumers in excess of a carrier’s determined contribution percentage.

     As discussed below, the industry is moving from traditional circuit-switched telephone service to digitized IP-based communications. It is possible that this trend could threaten the amount of revenues USAC can collect through the USF system, and that the resulting revenue shortfall could prevent the system from meeting its funding demands. Separately from the FCC’s inquiry into the regulation of IP-based voice service, the FCC could exercise its so called “permissive authority” under the 1996 Act and assess USF contribution on VoIP providers. To date, only some VoIP providers contribute to the USF. If VoIP providers were exempted from USF contributions, telecommunications carriers would likely pay significantly higher USF contributions; conversely, if VoIP providers were required to contribute, traditional telecommunications carriers would contribute less. In addition to the FCC, Congress is considering this issue. Current Congressional debates are divided over whether IP-based telephony service providers should be required to contribute to the USF. A decision to require VoIP providers to contribute to the USF may adversely affect our provision of VoIP services.

     VoIP Notice of Proposed Rule Making. In March 2004, the FCC issued the VoIP Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to solicit comments on many aspects of the regulatory treatment of VoIP services (the “VoIP NPRM”). The FCC continues to consider the possibility of regulating access to IP-based services, but has not yet decided on the appropriate level of regulatory intervention for IP-based service applications. Should the FCC rule that our software-based solution for VoIP deployment, and other similar service applications should be regulated, our VoIP services may be adversely affected.

     Further, the VoIP NPRM will likely address the applicability of access charges to VoIP services. Access charges provide compensation to local exchange carriers for traffic that originates or terminates on their networks. Certain LECs have argued that certain types of VoIP carriers provide the same basic functionality as traditional telephone service carriers, in that they carry a customer’s call from an origination point to a termination destination. Any ruling or decision from the FCC requiring VoIP carriers to pay access charges to ILECs for local loop use may adversely affect our VoIP services.

     The VoIP NPRM is also expected to address the extent to which CALEA will be applicable to VoIP services. Recently, in a separate proceeding, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other federal agencies have asked the FCC to clarify that VoIP is a telecommunications service, for the purpose of subjecting VoIP to CALEA’s wiretapping requirements.

     Broadband Deployment. Broadband refers to any platform capable of providing high bandwidth-intensive content and advanced telecommunications capability. The FCC’s stated goal for broadband services is to establish regulatory policies that promote competition, innovation and investment in broadband services and facilities. Broadband technologies encompass evolving high-speed digital technologies that offer integrated access to voice, high-speed data, video-on-demand or interactive delivery services. The FCC is seeking to 1) encourage the ubiquitous availability of broadband access to the Internet, 2) promote competition across different platforms for broadband services, 3) ensure that broadband services exist in a minimal regulatory environment that promotes investment and innovation and 4) develop an analytical framework that is consistent, to the extent possible, across multiple platforms. The FCC has opened several inquiries to determine how to promote the availability of advanced telecommunications capability with the goal of removing barriers to deployment, encouraging competition and promoting broadband infrastructure investment. For instance, the FCC is considering the appropriate regulatory requirements for ILEC provision of domestic broadband telecommunications services. The FCC’s concern is whether the application of traditional common carrier regulations to ILEC-provided broadband telecommunications services is appropriate. Under existing regulations, ILECs are treated as dominant carriers absent a specific finding to the contrary for a particular market and, as dominant carriers, are subject to numerous regulations, such as tariff filing and pricing requirements.

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     On February 7, 2002, the FCC released its third biennial report on the availability of broadband, in which it concluded that broadband is being deployed in a reasonable and timely manner. The report showed that the advanced telecommunications services market continues to grow and that the availability of and subscribership to high-speed services increased significantly since the last report. Additionally, the report noted that investment in infrastructure for advanced telecommunications remains strong. The data in the report is gathered largely from standardized information from providers of advanced telecommunications capability including wireline telephone companies, cable providers, wireless providers, satellite providers, and any other facilities-based providers of 250 or more high-speed service lines (or wireless channels) in a given state.

     Internet Service Regulation. The demand for high-speed Internet access has increased significantly over the past several years as consumers increase their Internet use. The FCC is active in reviewing the need for regulatory oversight of Internet services and to date has advocated less regulation and more market-based competition for broadband providers. The FCC’s stated policy is to promote the continued development of the Internet and other interactive computer-based communications services. We cannot be certain that the FCC will continue to take a deregulatory approach to the Internet. Should the FCC increase regulatory oversight of Internet services, our costs could increase for providing those services.

Available Information

     Acceris is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which requires that Acceris file reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The SEC maintains a website on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including Acceris, that file electronically with the SEC. In addition, Acceris’ Exchange Act filings may be inspected and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20549. The Company has made available free of charge through its Internet web site, http://www.acceris.com (follow Investor Relations tab to link to “SEC Filings”) its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after such material was electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC.

Item 2. Properties.

     The Company rents approximately 31,000 square feet of office space in San Diego, California under 2 commercial leases which terminate in May 31, 2004 and April 30, 2006. The combined rental fee is approximately $45 per month. The Company uses this space primarily for its sales and marketing team, certain network resources and certain administrative staff.

     The Company rents approximately 46,000 square feet of office space in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania under a lease expiring on June 30, 2005, at a cost of approximately $54 per month. The Company uses this space primarily for its network operations center, administrative staff and other employees.

     The Company rents approximately 12,000 square feet of office space in Somerset, New Jersey under a lease expiring September 30, 2008, at a cost of approximately $11 per month. The Company uses this space to operate its local service offering as well as for certain of its information technology and other employees.

     The Company also leases several other co-location facilities throughout the United States to house its network equipment, as well some additional office space. Such spaces vary in size and length of term. The total combined square footage of the spaces under these agreements is no greater than 29,000 square feet at a cost of approximately $95 per month.

     The Company owns four issued patents and utilizes the technology supported by those patents in providing its products and services. It has also licensed certain portions of that technology to third parties on a non-exclusive basis. In December 2003, Acceris purchased US Patent No. 6,243,373, including a corresponding foreign patent and related international patent applications. In August 2002, Acceris’ voice Internet transmission system patent was issued (US Patent No. 6,438,124). This patent, together with US Patent No. 6,243,373 and its related patent applications comprise our VoIP Patents and form an international patent portfolio that covers the basic process and technology that enables VoIP communications as it is used in the market today. Acceris also has two other IP patents, US Patent Nos. 5,898,675 and 5,754,534 issued in 1999 and 1998, respectively, which are related to the delivery of high quality conference calls with compressed signals. Together, these patented technologies have been successfully deployed and commercially proven in a nationwide IP network and in Acceris’ unified messaging service, API and software licensing businesses. Acceris plans to further leverage these patents as it packages an IP solution for the growing Enterprise segment. While the Company is using the technology supported by the VoIP Patents in its business, it is also investigating whether and to what extent the VoIP Patents may be able to be licensed to third parties. The Company also has several patent applications that are currently pending before USPTO.

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Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

          The Company is involved in various legal matters arising out of its operations in the normal course of business. None of these matters are expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

          On November 26, 2003, the Company held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”). The following is a tabulation of the voting on the proposals presented at the Annual Meeting. The voting on Proposal 3 was adjourned until December 30, 2003 in order to allow the Company to distribute to its stockholders amended statutory sections of the state of Florida’s corporate statutes. Proposal 3 was voted on at an Adjourned Meeting of Stockholders on December 30, 2003.

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PART II

Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Price Range of Common Stock

     Shares of Acceris’ common stock, $0.01 par value per share, are traded on the OTC Bulletin Board (“OTC-BB”) under the symbol ACRS.OB.

     The following table sets forth the high and low prices for the Company’s common stock for the period as quoted on the OTC-BB from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2003 (adjusted for a 1-for-20 reverse stock split that was approved on November 26, 2003) based on interdealer quotations, without retail markup, markdown, commissions or adjustments and may not represent actual transactions:

     On April 8, 2004, the closing price for a share of the Company’s common stock was $3.45.

Holders

     As of March 15, 2004, the Company had approximately 898 stockholders of common stock of record and there were approximately 9,783 beneficial owners of the Company’s common stock.

Dividends

     To date, the Company has not paid dividends on its common stock nor does it anticipate that it will pay dividends in the foreseeable future. As of December 31, 2003, the Company does not have any preferred stock outstanding which has any preferential dividends. The Loan and Security Agreement with Foothill Capital Corporation restricts the ability of one of the Company’s subsidiaries from making distributions or declaring or paying any dividends to the Company.

Dissenters’ Appraisal Rights

     At the Company’s Adjourned Meeting of Stockholders held on December 30, 2003, stockholders of the Company approved an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, deleting Article VI thereof (regarding liquidations, reorganizations, mergers and the like). Stockholders who were entitled to vote at the meeting and advised the Company in writing prior to the vote on the amendment, that they dissented and intended to demand payment for their shares if the amendment was effectuated, were entitled to exercise their appraisal rights and obtain payment in cash for their shares under Sections 607.1301 – 607.1333 of the Florida Business Corporation Act, provided their shares were not voted in favor of the amendment.

     In January 2004, appraisal notices in compliance with Florida corporate statutes were sent to all stockholders who had advised the Company of their intention to exercise their appraisal rights. The appraisal notices included the Company’s estimate of fair value of the Company’s shares, at $4.00 per share on a post-split basis. These stockholders had until February 29, 2004 to return their completed appraisal notices along with certificates for the shares for which they were exercising their appraisal rights. Approximately 33 stockholders holding approximately 74,000 shares of the Company’s stock have returned completed appraisal notices by February 29, 2004. A stockholder of 20 shares notified the Company of his acceptance of the Company’s offer of $4.00 per share, while the stockholders of the remaining shares did not accept the Company’s offer. Subject to the qualification that the Company may not make any payment to a stockholder seeking appraisal rights if, at the time of payment, the Company’s total assets are less than its total liabilities, stockholders who accepted the Company’s offer to purchase their shares at the estimated fair value will be paid for their shares within 90 days of the Company’s receipt of a duly executed appraisal notice. If the Company should be required to make any payments to dissenting stockholders, Counsel will fund any such amounts through the purchase of shares of the Company’s common stock. Stockholders who did not accept the Company’s offer were required to indicate their own estimate of fair value, and if the Company does not agree with such estimates, the parties are required to go to court for an appraisal proceeding on an individual basis, establishing a fair market value for the shares in question. To date, no payments have been made and no appraisal proceeding has commenced.

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Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities; Use of Proceeds from Registered Securities.

     On November 30, 2003, the Company entered into an Amended Debt Restructuring Agreement with Counsel whereby approximately $32,721 of notes payable was converted into 8,681,096 shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion rate of approximately $3.77 per share. On that same date, Counsel also exercised its voluntary conversion right on an additional $7,952 of debt owed to Counsel into 4,747,396 at a conversion rate of $1.68 per share. No cash consideration was received in the transactions. The Company relied on an exemption from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933.

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

     The following selected consolidated financial information was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto. The information set forth below is not necessarily indicative of the results of future operations and should be read in conjunction with Item 7, entitled Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-K. All amounts below are in thousands, except share and per share amounts.

(1) The selected financial data above as of December 31, 2002 and for the year then ended were restated on the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A #2, filed with the SEC on October 15, 2003 from those previously issued to account for revenues from the Company’s network service offering when the actual cash collections to be retained by the Company are finalized. The restatement had no effect on loss from discontinued operations or net loss per share from discontinued operations. The restatement increased the net loss for the year ended December 31, 2002 by $3,505 or $0.60 per share.

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Significant Acquisitions and Dispositions:

     On April 17, 2001, the Company acquired WebToTel and its subsidiaries (including Nexbell) in a stock for stock transaction. However, as WebToTel (which was a subsidiary of Counsel) and Acceris were under common control as of March 1, 2001 (the date Counsel obtained its ownership in Acceris), the Company has accounted for the acquisition using the pooling-of-interests method of accounting as of March 1, 2001. Accordingly, the financial results of WebToTel and its subsidiaries (including Nexbell which was sold in December 2001) are included herein subsequent to March 1, 2001.

     On June 4, 2001, Acceris purchased WorldxChange from a debtor in a bankruptcy proceeding. WorldxChange is a facilities-based telecommunications carrier that provides international and domestic long-distance service to residential and commercial customers. WorldxChange’s operations are part of the Retail segment.

     On December 6, 2002, Acceris entered into an agreement, which closed on May 1, 2003, to sell substantially all of the assets of ILC. The sale included the physical assets required to operate Acceris’ nationwide network using its patented VoIP technology (constituting the core business of ILC) and a license in perpetuity to use Acceris’ proprietary software platform. Additionally, Acceris sold its customer base that was serviced by ILC. Pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, operating results of ILC have been reclassified in the years from 1998 to 2002 to discontinued operations.

      On December 10, 2002, Acceris completed the purchase of the Enterprise and Agent business of RSL. The acquisition included the Enterprise business assets used by RSL to provide long-distance voice and data services, including frame relay, to small and medium size businesses and the Agent business assets used to provide long-distance and other voice services to small businesses and the consumer/residential market, together with the existing customer base of the Enterprise and Agent business. The Agent business is included in the Retail segment while the Enterprise business is included in the Enterprise segment.

     On July 28, 2003, the Company completed the purchase of all of the outstanding stock of Transpoint. The acquisition provided the Company with further penetration into the commercial agent channel, as well as a larger residential customer base.

Debt Restructuring

     In order to reduce the cash requirements to pay the related party debt, the Company entered into an Amended Debt Restructuring Agreement with Counsel whereby approximately $32,721 was converted into common stock on November 30, 2003, reducing Acceris’ debt obligation and related interest charges without expending cash. On that same date, Counsel also exercised its voluntary conversion right on an additional $7,952 of debt owed by Counsel (see Item 13 for further discussion). Additionally, during 2003, Counsel extended the due date on the remaining related party debt to June 30, 2005. The balance due to Counsel for the related party debt was approximately $35,073 at December 31, 2003.

Reverse Stock Split

     On November 26, 2003, Acceris stockholders approved a 1-for-20 reverse stock split. Accordingly, the earnings per share for years prior to 2003 have been restated to reflect the reverse split. All references to share numbers reflect the reverse stock split unless otherwise noted. In connection with the reverse stock split, the par value of the Company’s common stock changed from $0.007 to $0.01.

Adoption of Significant Accounting Pronouncements

      In 2003, Acceris adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 145, Rescission of FASB Statements No. 4, 44, and 64, Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical Corrections as of April 2002 (“SFAS 145”). SFAS 145 requires the modification of the Company’s 2001 financial statement to reclassify the previously reported gain on debt extinguishment from extraordinary item to discontinued operations.

      In May 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity (“SFAS 150”). SFAS 150 establishes standards for the classification and measurement of certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. It requires the classification of a financial instrument that is within its scope as a liability (or an asset in some circumstances). SFAS 150 is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company adopted SFAS 150 on July 1, 2003 and the adoption did not have any effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Forward-Looking Information

This report contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Exchange Act, as amended, and information relating to Acceris that are based on management’s exercise of business judgment as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. When used in this document, the words “may,” “ will,” “ anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend” and words of similar import, are intended to identify any forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current view of future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties as noted below under “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation and do not intend to update, revise or otherwise publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of any unanticipated events. Although we believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will materialize. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements.

Overview and Recent Developments

     Our vision is to be the preferred supplier of high-quality communications products and services to targeted markets that will deliver profitable growth while creating value for all stockholders. Our mission is to provide businesses and consumers with competitively priced voice, data and enhanced communications services via direct and indirect channels. Through the dedication of our employees, we deliver industry-leading customer care, customized product solutions and full back office support, building long-term loyalty and trust with our customers. Our Telecommunications division operates primarily through two specific marketing channels: (1) Retail, which offers a broad selection of voice and data telecommunications products and services to residential and commercial customers through a network of independent agents, primarily via MLM and commercial agent programs; and (2) Enterprise, which offers voice services and fully integrated, fully managed data services . Our Technologies division offers a proven network convergence solution for voice and data in VoIP communications technology and holds two foundational patents in the VoIP space (US Patent Nos. 6,243,373 and 6,438,124). In 2004, we intend to pursue efforts to license the technology supported by our patents to carriers and equipment manufacturers and suppliers in the IP telephony market.

     Acceris has been built through the acquisition of predecessor businesses, which have been and are continuing to be integrated, consolidated and reorganized. These predecessor businesses are organized into two categories: Telecommunications and Technologies. Telecommunications has been assembled through the acquisition of WorldxChange in 2001 and certain assets of RSL in 2002. Added to this was the acquisition of all the outstanding stock of Transpoint, which closed in 2003.

     Our development and transition is articulated below:

     Telecommunications:

     WorldxChange is a facilities-based telecommunications carrier which provides international and domestic long-distance service to retail customers. At the time we purchased the business, WorldxChange consisted primarily of a dial-around product that allowed a customer to make a call from any phone by dialing a 10-10-XXX prefix. Historically, WorldxChange marketed its services through consumer mass marketing techniques, including direct mail and direct response television and radio. In 2002, we revamped our channel strategy by de-emphasizing the direct mail channel and devoting our efforts to pursuing more profitable methods of attracting and retaining customers. We now use commercial agents as well as a network of independent commission agents recruited through the WorldxChange MLM program to attract and retain new customers. In 2004 we launched the Agent Warrant Program which awards warrants to certain of our agents based on performance criteria as a means to attract and incentivize new independent agents.

     In December 2002, we completed the purchase of certain assets of RSL from a bankruptcy proceeding. The purchase included the assets used by RSL to provide long-distance voice and data services, including frame relay, to their Enterprise customers and the assets used to provide long-distance and other voice services to small businesses and the consumer/residential market, which they referred to as their Agent business.

     In July 2003, we completed the purchase of all the outstanding stock of Transpoint. The acquisition of Transpoint provided us with further penetration into the commercial agent channel and a larger commercial customer base.

     Technologies:

     In 1994, we began operating as an Internet service provider and quickly identified that the emerging IP environment was a promising basis for enhanced service delivery. We soon turned to designing and building an IP telecommunications platform consisting of our proprietary software, hardware and leased telecommunications lines. The goal was to create a platform with the quality and reliability necessary for voice transmission.

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     In 1997, we started offering enhanced services over a mixed IP-and-circuit-switched network platform. These services offered a blend of traditional and enhanced communication services and combined the inherent cost advantages of the IP-based network with the reliability of the existing PSTN. Our suite of services included a one number “follow me” service, long-distance calling, unified messaging, conference calling, message broadcasting and web-based interface to manage messages and maintain personal account settings.

     In August 1997, we acquired MiBridge, a communications technology company engaged in the design, development, integration and marketing of a range of software telecommunications products that support multimedia communications over the PSTN, LANs and IP networks. Historically, MiBridge concentrated its development efforts on compression systems such as VoIP. As part of Acceris, MiBridge continued to develop patent-pending technologies combining sophisticated compression capabilities with IP telephony technology. The acquisition of MiBridge permitted us to accelerate the development and deployment of IP technology across our network platform.

     In 1998, we first deployed our real-time IP communications network platform. With this new platform, all core operating functions such as switching, routing, and media control, became software-driven. This new platform represented the first nationwide, commercially viable VoIP platform of its kind. Following the launch of our software-defined VoIP platform in 1998, we continued to refine and enhance the platform to make it even more efficient and capable for our partners and customers.

     In February 2000, we transitioned our direct-sales marketing program to Big Planet, whereupon they became one of our wholesale customers. The transition of the network marketing sales channel to Big Planet allowed us to focus on the expansion of our VoIP platform and the development and deployment of new enhanced services and products, while at the same time maintaining existing channels for retail sales.

     In April 2001, we acquired WebToTel and Nexbell, both previously subsidiaries of Counsel, in a stock-for-stock transaction. We sold Nexbell to a third party in December 2001 (see Notes 9 and 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 15 hereof).

     On December 6, 2002, we entered into a definitive purchase and sale agreement to sell substantially all of the assets and customer base of ILC to BUI, which closed on May 1, 2003. The sale included the physical assets required to operate our nationwide network using our patented VoIP technology (constituting the core business of the ILC business) and a fully paid perpetual license to our proprietary software-based network convergence solution for voice and data. The sale of the ILC business removed essentially all operations that did not pertain to our proprietary software-based convergence solution for voice and data. This sale marked the final stage of the transformation of our Technologies operations into a business based principally on the licensing of our proprietary software.

     We own four patents and utilize the technology supported by those patents in providing our proprietary software solutions. We believe that we hold the foundational patents for VoIP in our VoIP Patents. To date, we have licensed portions of that technology to third parties on a non-exclusive basis. In addition, we also have several patent applications pending before the USPTO and other such authorities internationally.

     Today, our Technologies segment remains focused on delivering solutions for voice and data services to our partners and customers, while launching a strategy to realize value from our patents through licensing. With over nine years experience developing VoIP technologies, we continue to offer a proven and time-tested solution for companies to reduce telecommunications costs and/or to enter the enhanced communications market. We continue to market our voice and data services and solutions and to license our enhanced services platform domestically and internationally to organizations who wish to offer voice services without incurring high development costs. We are evaluating opportunities to leverage our patents through a strategy to license our technology to carriers, equipment/softswitch manufacturers and customers who are deploying IP for phone-to-phone communication. Technology licensing revenues are project-based and, as such, these revenues vary from period to period based on timing and size of technology licensing projects and payments.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

     We have incurred substantial operating losses and negative cash flows from operations since inception and had a stockholders’ deficit of $49,309 and negative working capital of $26,576 at December 31, 2003. We had a stockholders’ deficit of $63,925 and negative working capital of $17,244 at December 31, 2002. We continued to finance our operations during 2003 through related party debt with an outstanding balance of $35,073 and a revolving credit facility with an unrelated third party with an outstanding balance of $12,127 as of December 31, 2003. At December 31, 2002, the balance of our related party debt and a third party revolving credit facility was $59,340 and $9,086, respectively.

     While there can be no assurance, we expect that once the streamlining of our operations is complete and the strategy changes we have implemented over the last two years have matured, the acquired businesses comprising our Telecommunications division will begin deriving positive cash flows during 2004. Our Technologies business achieved positive earnings and cash flows during 2003.

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     At December 31, 2003, we have debt of $35,073 owed to Counsel, which matures on June 30, 2005 (subject to certain contingent acceleration clauses). This debt is supplemented by an agreement from Counsel to fund through long-term intercompany advances or equity contributions, all capital investment, working capital or other operational cash requirements (the “Keep Well”). The Keep Well obligates Counsel to continue its financial support of Acceris at least until June 30, 2005. In 2003, Counsel advanced us approximately $7,896 under the Keep Well and converted approximately $5,667 of accrued interest into principal. See Item 13 for further discussion of the Keep Well.

     During 2003, Counsel acquired a debt we owed to Winter Harbor LLC of $2,557 and converted $40,673 of its convertible debt into Acceris common stock. This combination of events significantly reduced our liabilities, particularly to Counsel.

     During 2004, our intention is to approach the capital markets to raise funds, however there can be no assurance that such fund raising will be successful. Since December 31, 2003, Counsel has advanced us approximately $4,050 in additional funding for general operating needs. Subsequent to December 31, 2003, we have sold approximately 50% of the shares we hold of BUI for approximately $1,600, which proceeds will be used to fund operations, capital expenditures and to improve working capital. We intend to sell the remainder of these shares during 2004. These shares are shown in current assets as investments in preferred stock at December 31, 2003.

     We expect that if we improve our operational results throughout 2004 and complete additional third party financing, our dependence on Counsel to support our ongoing operational, capital and debt needs will be reduced.

     The majority of the Company’s debt matures on June 30, 2005. This includes amounts due on our three-year asset-based credit facility, under which we owed $12,127 at December 31, 2003 and amounts owed to Counsel of $35,073 (plus additional interest accrued prior to June 2005). While there is no assurance, we expect that we will be able to refinance or replace these debt facilities on acceptable terms.

     While management’s plans and expectations are clear, there is no assurance that we will be able to improve our cash flow from operations, obtain additional third party financing, extend, repay or refinance our debt with Counsel or our asset-based lender on acceptable terms, or obtain an extension of the existing funding commitment from Counsel beyond June 30, 2005, should it be required. If we are unable to accomplish the above, we may have to evaluate opportunities to sell assets or obtain alternative financing with terms that are not favorable to us.

Cash Position

     Cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2003 were $2,033 compared to $3,620 in 2002 and $4,663 in 2001.

Cash flow from operating activities

     Our working capital deficit increased to $26,576 as of December 31, 2003, from $17,244 as of December 31, 2002. The increase in our working capital deficit is primarily related to (1) the $4,720 increase in our deferred revenues from December 31, 2002 to 2003 due to our network service offering, (2) the increase to our asset-backed credit facility of $3,041 from December 31, 2002 to 2003 due to new borrowings in 2003, (3) the increase in accounts payable of $3,165 from December 31, 2002 to 2003 and (4) partially offset by the increase in our current assets of $2,058 due to the reclassification of our investment in the preferred stock of BUI from long term to current as of December 31, 2003.

     Cash used by operating activities during 2003 was $8,315 as compared to $4,871 during 2002. The net increase in cash used in 2003 was primarily due to the increase in 2003 of $5,944 in our accounts receivable resulting from the acquisition of RSL at the end of 2002 and Transpoint in 2003 compared to an increase in 2002 of $1,269, the existence of an impairment of long-lived assets in 2002 of $3,609, the receipt in 2003 of $1,100 in stock as consideration for one of our technology licenses and offset by an increase in deferred revenue of $4,720 in 2003 compared to a decrease of $1,643 in 2002. The change in deferred revenue is related to our network service offering which we ceased in July 2003. Cash used in operating activities during 2001 was $29,283. The decrease from 2001 to 2002 is primarily due to a decrease in our net loss which resulted from improved operating performance by our Retail segment in 2002 as compared to 2001 and continued downsizing of Acceris’ network and development operations.

Cash utilized in investing activities

     Net cash used in investing activities in 2003 was $1,827 as compared to net cash used of $9,233 in 2002 and $15,410 in 2001. In 2003, cash used by investing activities relates to the purchase of equipment in the amount of $2,036 and a payment of $100 for the purchase of US Patent No. 6,243,373. This was offset by cash received from the sale of assets in the amount of $160. The decrease from 2002 to 2003 relates primarily to the purchase of RSL in 2002 for approximately $8,276. The purchase of Transpoint in 2003 was accomplished by converting trade payables due to Acceris (which were paid over time by Acceris on behalf of Transpoint) into equity of Transpoint in accordance with the purchase agreement. The payment of trade payables by Acceris on behalf of Transpoint has been accounted for in cash flows from operating activities in 2002 and 2003 and amounted to approximately $2,882 paid from the period July 2002 through July 2003. Also in 2002, we acquired $1,649 in furniture, fixtures, equipment and software as we expanded our operations and continued to improve our network in order to reduce its overall operating cost, offset by proceeds of $692 on the sale of a building.

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     In 2001, cash used by investing activities was primarily due to the $13,447 purchase of WorldxChange assets and the purchase of approximately $1,963 of furniture, fixtures, equipment and software.

Cash provided by financing activities

      Financing activities provided net cash of $8,555 in 2003 as compared to cash provided of $13,061 in 2002 and $47,200 in 2001. The decrease from 2002 to 2003 primarily relates to the fact that in 2003 we received $7,896 in funding from Counsel, which included cash to fund ongoing operations and continue the reorganization of the business, while in 2002 we received $16,823 in funding from Counsel (offset by principal repayments of $3,000 during 2002). The cash received from Counsel in 2002 was primarily for the purchase of certain assets of RSL and to fund operations.

     In 2001, Counsel provided advances of $43,920 (offset by principal repayments of $2,500) to fund the purchase of WorldxChange and general operating costs. Additionally, we made net borrowings from our revolving line of credit of $6,996.

Contractual Obligations

     We have various commitments in addition to our debt. The following table summarizes our contractual obligations at December 31, 2003:

(1) From time to time, Acceris has various agreements with national carriers to lease local access spans and to purchase carrier services. The agreements include minimum usage commitments with termination penalties up to 100% of the remaining commitment. At December 31, 2003 all of our minimum usage commitments have been met.

Consolidated Results of Operations

We have provided consolidated and segmented reporting on an annual and rolling quarter basis as we believe that this is an appropriate way to review the financial results of the business. The following consolidated discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with results by segment below.

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Key selected financial data for the three years ended December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 are as follows:

2003 Compared to 2002

     When considering the review of the results of continuing operations for 2003 compared to 2002, it is important to note the following significant changes in our operations that occurred in 2003 and 2002. Namely:

Revenues:

     The increase in Telecommunications services revenue to $133,765 in 2003 from $85,252 in 2002 is primarily related to the following events:

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     Technology licensing and development revenues decreased $673 to $2,164 in 2003 from $2,837 in 2002. The decrease was related to having revenue from two contracts outstanding in 2003 compared to three in 2002. Technology licensing revenues are project-based and, as such, these revenues will vary from year to year based on the timing and size of the projects and related payments.

Operating costs and expenses:

     The changes in operating costs and expenses are primarily related to the following:

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Other income (expense):

      The changes in other income (expense) are primarily related to the following:

2002 Compared to 2001

     When considering the results of continuing operations for 2002 compared to 2001, it is important to note the following significant changes in our operations that occurred in 2002 and 2001, namely:

Revenues:

     The increase in Telecommunications services revenue of $34,963 to $85,252 in 2002 from $50,289 in 2001 was primarily related to the following events:

     The primary reason for the decrease of $2,860 in revenues for the Technology segment to $2,837 in 2002 from $5,697 in 2001 was due to the reduction in revenue recorded relating to a two-year licensing agreement which ended in May 2002. In 2002, we recorded revenue of approximately $1,667 on this contract, compared to approximately $5,000 in 2001.

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Operating costs and expenses:

     The changes in operating costs and expenses are primarily related to the following:

Other income (expense):

     Overall the $3,476 increase in expense was directly related to interest expense on our increased debt from loans from Counsel (necessary to fund our continued cash operating requirements and acquisitions) of approximately $2,751, interest expense on our revolving credit facility which originated in December 2001 of approximately $447 and the inclusion of interest from WorldxChange capital leases for twelve months in 2002 as compared to seven months in 2001.

     Other income in 2002 was primarily related to WorldxChange, who in the fourth quarter was informed that it had funds on deposit with certain carriers that it had not previously known existed. Upon verification of such deposits, we recorded the asset and recognized other income of approximately $200. We did not have similar transactions in 2001. The other changes from year to year relate to various items which do not recur from year to year and a decrease in interest earned in 2002 compared to 2001 which corresponds to the decrease in average cash balances on hand during the respective years and the reduction in interest rates during the same periods.

     In December 2001, we sold our subsidiary Nexbell to an unrelated party. The sale was a sale of Nexbell’s stock and accordingly the assets and liabilities of Nexbell were assumed by the purchaser with no further financial obligation on our part. At the time of the sale, the liabilities exceeded the assets of Nexbell and accordingly, we have recorded a gain on sale of subsidiary in the amount of approximately $589 (the amount by which the liabilities of Nexbell exceeded its assets).

Quarterly Analysis

     Management believes that the most appropriate way to analyze Acceris is to examine the changes in the business quarter over quarter. Accordingly, we have presented the consolidated and segmented viewpoint on this basis.

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Revenues:

Telecommunications network expense:

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Operating costs and expenses:

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          Supplemental Statistical and Financial Data

     The following data is provided for additional information about our operations. It should be read in conjunction with the quarterly segment analysis provided herein. All amounts below are unaudited.

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Segmented Analysis:

     Telecommunications - Retail
     (all amounts in thousands)

Revenues

        Retail revenues increased $24,444 to $108,150 for 2003 as compared to $83,706 for 2002. The increase was primarily due to:

Operating costs and expenses

         Retail’s telecommunications network expense and network service offering expense for 2003 and 2002 totaled $70,731 and $48,974, respectively. The increase in 2003 over 2002 relates primarily to:

      Retail’s SG&A was $47,941 in 2003, up from $34,468 in 2002. The increase in 2003 over 2002 primarily relates to:

     In the first quarter of 2003, we negotiated and received a concession from one new significant supplier of a network product. We negotiated a reduction in costs payable to the supplier of approximately $4,463 of which $2,999 was recovered in the first quarter by reduction of commissions otherwise payable to the supplier. During the second quarter of 2003 we recovered an additional $1,150 by reduction of commissions otherwise payable. The balance of approximately $314 was recovered in the third quarter by withholding commissions that would otherwise be payable to the supplier.

     Retail’s depreciation and amortization was $4,883 in 2003 compared to $4,056 in 2002. The increase in 2003 over 2002 primarily relates to the inclusion of the Agent business of RSL (acquired in December 2002) and the Transpoint business (acquired in July 2003) for

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which there was no comparable expense in the same period of 2002. Assets subject to depreciation and amortization totaling approximately $7,673 were acquired in connection with these purchases.

     Retail’s interest and other expense was $2,416 in 2003 compared to $2,923 in 2002. The decrease in 2003 over 2002 primarily relates to a decrease of $519 in amortization of debt discount related to the value of warrants issued to Counsel in 2002 which did not recur in 2003.

     The Retail business approaches the market through the MLM ethnic and commercial agent channels.

     In 2004, we expect to bundle our competitive long-distance rates with the recently launched local service and other enhanced products to offer a unique, in-language suite of integrated services targeted at specific ethnic markets. From the first voice a customer hears through to the receipt of an invoice, all communications with our customers will now be in their own language. Currently, we are targeting customers who frequently call India, China, Brazil, Latin America and Eastern Europe, and we intend to expand this scope going forward.

     Our commercial agent channel will continue to focus on providing the highest levels of service at the most competitive price, helping our agent customers become more successful. In 2004, we launched a loyalty program to reward those agents who increase their business with us with warrants to purchase common stock.

     As our revenue mix changes in 2004, our contribution from this business is expected to improve for three primary reasons:

Telecommunications – Enterprise

     Revenues

      Revenues from Enterprise in 2003 came from the Enterprise business of RSL, which we acquired in December 2002. Accordingly, the Enterprise segment had no revenues in the first eleven months of 2002. Revenues of $25,615 have been included in 2003, compared to $1,547 in 2002.

Operating costs and expenses