U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-KSB
(Mark One)
|X| ANNUAL REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996
|_| TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________________ to ___________________________
Commission file number 0-28898
Independence Brewing Company
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Pennsylvania 23-2763840
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(State or other jurisdiction of (IRS Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
1000 East Comly Street, Philadelphia, PA 19149
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(215) 537-2337
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(Issuer's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act:
Title of each class Name of each exchange on which registered
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NONE
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, no par value
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(Title of class)
Redeemable Warrants
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(Title of class)
Check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 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 past 90 days. Yes No X
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Check if there is no disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item
405 of Regulation S-B is not contained in this form, and no disclosure will 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-KSB
or any amendment to this Form 10-KSB. |X|
State issuer's revenues for its most recent fiscal year. $540,335
On March 24, 1997, the aggregate market value of the 1,674,498 shares of
voting stock held by non-affiliates of the issuer was approximately $6,800,824.
On March 24, 1997, 3,207,078 shares of the issuer's Common Stock, no par
value, and 4,600,000 Redeemable Warrants were outstanding.
Transitional Small Business Disclosure Format (check one) Yes No X
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PART I
Item 1. Business
General
Independence Brewing Company, which was incorporated in Pennsylvania in
1994, is a regional producer of fresh, high-quality, preservative-free
craft-brewed ales, lagers, porters and seasonal beers. The Company's products
are marketed under the "Independence" label. The Company currently produces five
products: four styles of beer which are offered year-round, Independence Ale,
Independence Lager, Independence Gold and Independence Porter; and one which is
a seasonal beer, Independence Franklinfest. The Company anticipates modifying
its product offerings in the future to produce two or three year-round beers and
additional seasonal beers. The Company brews, kegs and bottles its products at
its brewery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for wholesale distribution generally
by 13 independent wholesale distributors in seven states and the District of
Columbia. The Company's brewing equipment currently has the capacity to brew
approximately 12,000 - 14,000 barrels per year, which is in part dependent on
the style of beer produced. In 1996, the Company could only package a limited
portion of its brewing capacity due primarily to its bottling line deficiencies.
However, the Company installed a new bottling line in March 1997 that it
believes will increase its bottling capacity to 150 bottles per minute. For the
year ended December 31, 1996, the Company produced approximately 4,200 barrels.
In addition to brewing its own products, the Company has entered into contract
brewing arrangements in which the Company produces beers for third parties which
market and sell such products under their own label. The Company may also in the
future develop and operate brewpubs with third parties that offer for sale, in
addition to food, the Company's beer brewed on the premises.
Strategy
The Company's goal is to be one of the leading brewers of craft-brewed
beers in the United States. To attain this goal, the Company intends to employ
the following strategies:
Expand Product Offerings
The Company intends to develop new products in order to introduce beer
drinkers to various styles of beer and to promote the Company's products. These
new products allow the Company's customers to try new styles of beer while
remaining loyal to the Independence brand. New products also help the Company
generate increased distribution and retailer focus on the Company's products.
The Company currently produces five products, one of which is a seasonal brand
and all of which are marketed under the "Independence" label. The Company
anticipates modifying its product offerings in the future to produce two or
three year-round beers and additional seasonal beers, as well as other "draft
only" beers in the future. In addition, in light of the minimal additional
production costs, the Company may produce an old-fashioned root beer soft-drink
in the future.
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Increase Distribution Network
The Company currently distributes its products generally through 13
independent wholesale distributors for resale in bars, restaurants, liquor
stores and other retail liquor license holders primarily in Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, and to a
lesser extent in Florida and Massachusetts. The Company plans to expand its
network of distributors both within its existing markets and may, in the future,
expand to new markets. In order to service an increased distribution network and
build relationships with additional distributors, the Company intends to hire
additional sales representatives to motivate distributors to increase sales of
the Company's products and to stimulate retailer and consumer demand. The
Company intends to implement market penetration and sales goals with each new
distributor, to regularly monitor the achievement of such goals, to establish
effective incentive programs for the distributors and their sales forces, to
train the distributors' sales forces and to hold motivational sessions for them
and accompany distributor sales people on their sales calls.
Develop Consumer Awareness
The Company intends to supplement its wholesale distributors' marketing
efforts by increasing the public's awareness of the Independence brand in the
territories in which its beers are marketed. A key component of the Company's
marketing strategy is to provide opportunities for potential consumers to learn
about and sample the Company's beers. The Company may in the future open
brewpubs which offer for sale, in addition to food, the Company's beer brewed on
the premises. The Company may either own and operate these brewpubs or enter
licensing arrangements for others to do so utilizing the Independence name. In
addition, the Company anticipates that it will continue to sponsor beer events
throughout the year, such as September's "Great Barley Fest," the Halloween
"Broo Party," the "Midwinter Blues & Brews" and the "Big East Brew Review" in
the Spring, which bring consumers to its brewing facility and promote the
Independence product line, and continue to participate in local events that
highlight the Company's products. Moreover, the Company has built and is
currently expanding its database of customers. The Company utilizes this
database in a direct mail program which conveys information concerning the
Company's products and beer events and other general information about brewery
happenings. The Company believes that consumers will attend such events and will
receive such Company literature, which the Company believes will create a public
awareness of the Company's products.
Develop Consumer Loyalty Through High-Quality Products
The Company believes that it can develop brand loyalty by producing
consistent high-quality products. The Company currently produces its beers under
the supervision of its Brewmaster, Mr. William Moore. The Company recently
received a gold medal for its Independence Franklinfest at the 1996 Great
American Beer Festival and a bronze medal for its Independence Gold at both the
1996 Great American Beer Festival and the Association of Brewers' 1996 World
Beer Cup International Competition. In addition, the Company leases and operates
its own brewing facility to optimize the quality and consistency of its products
and to achieve the greatest control over its production costs. The Company uses
high-quality natural ingredients in its brewing process and
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employs third party testing laboratories to assure that high-quality standards
are maintained. Management believes that its award-winning Brewmaster, its
emphasis on product quality and its control over its production process are
critical competitive advantages which have resulted in superior quality award
winning products. The Company intends to capitalize on its high-quality products
to build brand loyalty.
Products
The Company produces a variety of unpasteurized full-flavored craft beers
using traditional European brewing methods which do not employ any cereal
adjuncts, syrups, sugars, additives or preservatives. The Company brews its
beers using high-quality two row malts, specialty roasted malts, imported and
domestic hops, cultured ale or lager yeast strains and other natural
ingredients. All of the Company's product formulas and brewing procedures have
been developed by William Moore. Mr. Moore has extensive experience in product
formulation. The Company recently received a gold medal for its Independence
Franklinfest brand in the Marzen/Oktoberfest category at the 1996 Great American
Beer Festival and a bronze medal in the Golden Ale/Canadian-Style Ale Category
for its Independence Gold brand at both the 1996 Great American Beer Festival
and the Association of Brewers' 1996 World Beer Cup International Competition.
In addition, while at Stoudt Brewery, a craft-brewer in Adamstown, Pennsylvania,
Mr. Moore produced beers which won seven gold, six silver, and one bronze medal
at the Great American Beer Festival.
The Company currently produces five products, one of which is a
seasonal brand and each of which has its own distinctive combination of flavor,
color and clarity. The Company's product offerings consist of:
Independence Ale. A pale ale with both English and American
influences, Independence Ale is light amber in color due to the recipe's
specialty malts. This ale is made from two row malt and four specialty
malts, plus a touch of wheat, and three varieties of hops. It is
full-bodied and has a hoppy flavor with a dry nutty finish.
Independence Gold. Independence Gold has a golden color and a
full-bodied taste resulting from four distinctive malts. This beer has
three different kinds of hops which results in a clean, crisp finish.
Independence Lager. A full-bodied European-style lager with medium
bitterness, Independence Lager has a slight malt sweetness and a deep, rich
gold color. This lager is made from four different malts and three
varieties of domestic and imported hops resulting in a clean taste with a
pleasant finish.
Independence Franklinfest. Independence Franklinfest, the Company's
version of a traditional Marzen style lager/Octoberfest, is light copper in
color and has a malt sweetness. Rich, creamy and full bodied, Franklinfest
is brewed with seven different malts and three varieties of imported and
domestic hops, as well as authentic Bavarian lager yeast.
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Independence Porter. Independence Porter is a traditional American
porter brewed with five different malts resulting in a crisp dry finish.
This brew contains roasted and chocolate malts and is lightly hopped. The
chocolate malts help give this porter a rich brown color.
The Company anticipates modifying its product offerings to produce two
or three year-round beers and additional seasonal beers. In an effort to be
responsive to changing consumer style and flavor preferences, the Company
engages continually in the development and testing of new products. The
Company believes that the continued success of craft brewers will
increasingly depend upon their ability to be innovative and attentive to
consumer desires for new and distinctive taste experiences. The Company's
brewing equipment enables it to develop and produce small batches of
experimental beer within 14 to 28 days for tasting, testing and analysis by
management. The Company intends to continue to introduce new and different
seasonal brews from time to time utilizing new ingredients which it hopes
will appeal to its target market.
Brewing Facility
In November 1994, the Company leased a 32,000 square foot facility on
approximately 3.5 acres in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and hired brewery
engineers to design and install a brewery to meet its special requirements.
Production began in March 1995, and the Company produced approximately 4,200
barrels in the year ended December 31, 1996, approximately 400 barrels of which
were produced for third parties pursuant to contract brewing arrangements. See
"-- Contract Brewing Arrangements." The Company's current brewing equipment has
the capacity to brew 12,000 - 14,000 barrels per year, which is dependent in
part on the style of products produced. In 1996, the Company could only package
a limited portion of its brewing capacity due primarily to its bottling line
deficiencies. However, the Company installed a new bottling line in March 1997
that it believes will increase its bottling capacity to 150 bottles per minute.
With the Company's new bottling line, this brewing capacity may be incrementally
expanded by the addition of fermentation tanks, finishing tanks and
refrigeration equipment at the existing facility.
Brewing Operations
Brewing Process. Beer is made primarily from four natural ingredients:
malted grain, hops, yeast and water. The grain most commonly used in brewing is
barley, owing to its distinctive germination characteristics, which make it easy
to ferment. The Company believes that it uses the finest barley crops, typically
using strains having two rows of grain in each ear. A wide variety of hops may
be used to add balance to the brew; some varieties best confer bitterness, while
others are chosen for their ability to impart distinctive aromas to the beer.
Nearly all the yeasts used to induce or augment fermentation of beer are of the
species Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces carlesbergenes, the
top-fermenting yeasts used in ale production and the bottom-fermenting yeasts
associated with lager, respectively.
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Prior to the Company receiving the malts, third parties begin the malting
process by placing barley into a maltster which steeps the barley or wheat grain
in water, thereby facilitating germination, and then dries and cures the grain
through roasting. This process breaks down complex carbohydrates and proteins so
that they can be easily extracted. The malting process imparts color and adds
the distinctive flavor characteristic of barley. At this point, the malts are
delivered to the brewery where various malts are milled to a coarse grist and
mixed with warm water. This mixture, or "mash," is heated and stirred in the
mash mixer, a large mixing vessel. Mashing time and temperature affect the
flavor of the beer allowing the simple carbohydrates and proteins to be
converted into fermentable sugars. Naturally occurring enzymes cause this
biochemical conversion. The mash is then moved to the lauter tun where it is
strained and sparged (showered with hot water) to produce a liquid, high in
fermentable sugars, called "wort," which then is pumped into a brew kettle to be
boiled, concentrated and clarified. Hops are added during the boil to impart
bitterness, balance, and aroma. The specific blend of hops further affects the
flavor of the beer. After the boil, the wort is transferred to the whirlpool for
clarifying by separating any impurities and solids. Then, the wort is cooled by
heat exchanging. The entire brewing process, from mashing through heat
exchanging, is typically completed in 6 - 9 hours, depending on the formation
and style of the product being brewed. Next, the wort is moved to a fermenting
tank, where specially cultured, sterilized yeast is added to initiate
fermentation. During fermentation, the wort's sugars are metabolized by the
yeast cells, producing carbon dioxide, a natural source of carbonation, alcohol,
esters and ketones along with many other flavor compounds. After fermentation,
the beer is aged at cool temperatures for several weeks, at which time the beer
is clarified and the full flavor develops. Filtration, where called for by the
beer style, is the final step, removing unwanted yeast and naturally occurring
sediment. The beer is then moved to the finishing tank which is used to hold the
finished product for the calculation of tax. At this point, the beer is in its
peak condition and ready for bottling or keg racking.
Brewing Equipment. The Company uses state of the art brewing equipment,
which is supplied by JV Northwest, one of the United States' leading brewing
equipment manufacturers. The Company's facility contains a four vessel 40 barrel
brewhouse with separate hot and cold liquor tanks. The four vessel system best
utilizes the Company's brewer's time as the flow process is constantly moving
forward from mash-mixer to lauter tun, brew kettle and whirlpool to enable
multiple batch brewing in a 10 to 12 hour day. An indoor silo houses 50,000 lbs
of two row malt which enables a lower bulk rate purchase cost. The mill room
features a digitally programmed grist case which weighs the milled malts prior
to auguring into the brewhouse. Current capacity is determined by the Company's
fermentation vessels, which consist of three 80 barrel and two 160 barrel
fermenters, thus enabling annual brewing of between 12,000 - 14,000 barrels
depending on the style of products produced. Two 160 barrel finishing tanks are
used to measure production and check for proper carbonation. The Company
believes that its brewing methods are cost effective and produce high-quality
ales and lagers.
Bottling and Kegging. Like many other craft-brewed beers, the Company's
products are not pasteurized. Accordingly, they must be kept cool so that
oxidation and heat-induced aging will not adversely affect the original taste.
The Company packages its craft beers in both bottles and kegs. The Company
purchased a new bottling line in March 1997. Bottled beer must be polished
filtered
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to more thoroughly remove undesirable spoiling elements. Twelve ounce bottles
are rinsed through a twist rinser, filled on new 24 valve double pre-evacuation
filler, that lowers the quantity of air in each bottle, thereby allowing the
Company's product to have a shelf-life of up to 120 days. The Company recently
purchased a new hydraulic micro filter to increase product quality and attain
this increased shelf-life. The bottles are then automatically labeled, packed
and sent to a case sealer before being stored in a 2,000 square foot cold box.
The bottles are freshness-dated for the benefit of consumers. Draft beer is
packaged in new sankey style kegs which are more expensive yet preferred by
retailers for their ease of handling and storage. Draft beer is also stored in
the Company's on-site cold storage. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
Product Development and Quality Control. Research and product development
activities are on-going. Opportunities identified by the Company are formulated
and developed by the Company's Brewmaster, Mr. William Moore. Mr. Moore is
responsible for developing new beers, managing raw material selection,
optimizing efficiency and educating Company personnel regarding taste and other
qualities. Since most beer types fall into major categories or subcategories, an
extensive development process is not required to bring new products to market.
Quality control is managed by Mr. Moore who has received quality control
training at the University of California at Davis' specially designed program
for microbiology and quality control. Mr. Moore monitors all major parameters to
ensure compliance with its specifications and the consistency of each brand from
beer to beer. These parameters include gravity, alcohol, bitterness, color, foam
formation and stability, acid, airs, carbon dioxide, and fill levels, in
addition to all the requisite microbiological checks and shelf life stability
measurements. The Company currently uses third party testing laboratories to
assure that high-quality standards are maintained. However, the Company
anticipates adding the capability to do this testing on its own premises in the
future.
Ingredients and Raw Materials. The Company has several sources for the
purchase of ingredients or other raw materials. Malt, specialty malt, hops, and
yeast can be purchased from a number of suppliers whose prices are all
relatively competitive. The Company uses local municipal water supplied by the
City of Philadelphia for the Company's brewing operations, with a carbon
filtration system at the brewery to remove chlorine and other impurities. The
Company's operations also utilize glass bottles, caps, labels, kegs and
corrugated and other paper products, all of which are anticipated to be
available from several sources. As with most agricultural products, the supply
and price of raw materials used to produce the Company's beers can be affected
by a number of factors beyond the control of the Company, such as frosts,
droughts, other weather conditions, economic factors affecting growing
decisions, various plant diseases and pests. If any of the foregoing were to
occur, no assurance can be given that such condition would not have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of
operations. In addition, the Company's results of operations are dependent upon
its ability accurately to forecast its demand for raw materials. Any failure by
the Company accurately to forecast its demand for raw materials could result in
the Company either being unable to meet higher than anticipated demand for its
products or producing excess inventory, either of which may materially adversely
affect the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.
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Product Distribution
The Company's products are available for sale to consumers from kegs or in
bottles at restaurants, taverns, bars, sporting events and liquor stores, as
well as at supermarkets, directly at the brewery and at convenience stores. The
Company's products are generally delivered to these retail outlets through a
network of 13 independent wholesale distributors, whose principal business is
the distribution of beer and, in some cases, other alcoholic beverages, and who
typically have local distribution relationships with one or more national beer
brands. In addition, in two counties in Pennsylvania, the Company exclusively
sells its products directly to retailers. Two wholesale distributors accounted
for approximately 21% and 22% of the Company's sales for the year ended December
31, 1995 and two wholesale distributors accounted for approximately 12% and 10%
of the Company's sales for the year ended December 31, 1996. The Company's
largest and third largest distributors in 1995 merged and the aggregate entity
was for the year ended December 31, 1996 the Company's largest distributor. The
Company's second largest distributor for the year ended December 31, 1995 is no
longer among the Company's largest distributors, due to the Company's decision
to distribute products itself in the Philadelphia region. The Company has chosen
to directly distribute products in the Philadelphia region primarily in order to
reduce its advertising, promotional and selling expenses in connection with the
sale of such products. The loss of any wholesale distributor, if not immediately
replaced, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations. The Company, together with its
distributors, markets its products to retail outlets and generally relies on its
distributors to provide regular delivery to retailers, to maintain retail shelf
space, create demand for its products and to oversee timely rotation of
inventory to ensure the continuing freshness of its products. The Company will
also offer its products directly to consumers at brewpubs if the Company
establishes such operations in the future.
Marketing and Sales
Sales of the Company's draft beer began in May 1995, with bottle sales
commencing in June 1995. As of March 24, 1997, the Company maintained a sales
and marketing staff of five sales representatives, whose efforts are focused
primarily on assisting the Company's distributors with promotions and product
placements. In addition, the Company has retained two additional sales
representatives on a commission basis, who provide similar services. The Company
has recently hired a sales manager to manage the growth and productivity of its
sales force. In order to service an increased distribution network and build
relationships with additional distributors, the Company intends to hire
additional sales representatives to motivate distributors to increase sales of
the Company's products and to stimulate retailer and consumer demand. The
Company presently markets its products in a region comprised primarily of
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland and the District of
Columbia, and to a lesser extent in Florida and Massachusetts.
The Company intends to advertise its products in local newspapers, on the
radio, and in specialty beer publications within these markets. In addition, the
Company promotes its products through its direct mail program, including a
quarterly newsletter, advertising in specialty beer publications, its beer
events and the use of point of sale promotional materials, such as table tents,
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posters and signs in retail outlets. The advertising and promotional materials
are designed to stress the unique qualities of the Company's products, such as
product freshness and the styles of beers offered. These advertising and
promotional materials also highlight the Company's Brewmaster and the Company's
primary focus on product quality. The Company believes that this promotional
campaign will help develop and maintain a high-quality image for the Company's
brewery and its products which the Company anticipates will result in increased
sales of the Company's products. The Company currently conducts public relations
activities internally. See "-- Strategy -- Develop Consumer Awareness."
To promote retail product sales, the Company periodically offers
"post-offs," or volume price discounts to distributors. Distributors and
retailers often participate in these price discounts. In addition, the Company
anticipates that it may in the future offer such promotions in additional
markets in response to local competition.
Competition
The highly fragmented craft beer segment is one of the fastest growing
segments of the domestic beer industry. The Company competes primarily with
other participants in the craft beer segment of the domestic beer market in its
region such as Dock Street Brewing Company, Red Bell Brewing Company, Stoudt's
Brewing Company, Lancaster Malt Brewing Company, Weyerbacher Brewing Company and
Victory Brewing Company, and with imported beers such as Heineken, Amstel,
Corona and Guinness brands and mass-market national brewers such as Miller,
Anheuser-Busch, Coors and Stroh. Competition within the domestic craft beer
segment is based on product quality, taste, consistency and freshness, ability
to differentiate products, promotional methods and product support,
transportation costs, distribution coverage and, to a lesser degree, price.
As the Company expands its distribution network within the mid-Atlantic
region and beyond, and as other craft brewers expand their distribution
networks, the Company expects to encounter increasing competition from other
regional specialty brewers, as well as from contract brewers. Although certain
of these competitors distribute their products nationally and may have superior
financial or other resources than the Company, management believes that the
Company possesses certain competitive advantages, such as a regional brewing
facility, and its high-quality products produced by the Company's Brewmaster.
The Company also competes against producers of imported beers. Although
imported beers currently account for a much greater share of the domestic beer
market than craft beers, the Company believes that it possesses significant
competitive advantages over certain importers, including lower transportation
costs, no importation duties, proximity to and familiarity with local consumers,
a high degree of product freshness, eligibility for lower federal excise taxes
and freedom from currency fluctuations.
In response to the rapid growth of the craft beer segment, several of the
major domestic brewers have introduced fuller-flavored beers, and others may be
expected to do so in the future.
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The Company expects that certain of the major national brewers, with their
superior financial resources, access to raw materials and established national
distribution networks, will seek further participation in the continuing growth
of the craft beer segment through investments in, or the formation of
distribution alliances with, craft brewers. The increasing participation of the
major national brewers will likely increase competition for market share and
increase price competition within the craft beer segment. The Company believes
that the participation by the major national brewers will tend to increase
advertising, distribution and consumer education and awareness of craft beers,
and thus contribute to further rapid growth of this industry segment.
Contract Brewing Arrangements
The Company has entered into arrangements to utilize a portion of its
excess production capacity to provide contract brewing services to third parties
which market and sell beer produced by the Company, under the third party's own
proprietary labels. Although margins for contract brewing are lower compared to
the sale of the Company's own products to wholesale distributors, the Company
expects this business to continue until such time as the Company's own products
fully utilize production capacity. Approximately 9% and 16% of the Company's
revenues resulted from contract brewing in 1995 and 1996, respectively.
The Company is currently under contract to brew "Jersey Shore Gold" and
"Jersey Harvest Ale" for Hunterdon Brewing Company, based in Hunterdon, New
Jersey. This arrangement involves a minimum order size of 80 barrels and an
annual production minimum of 5,500 cases. The Company was engaged in January
1997 to brew a pilsner style lager under contract for the Greater Providence
Brewing Company. In addition to these contract arrangements, the Company
produces the house brand beer for the Philadelphia location of a national
entertainment chain.
Government Regulation
The Company's business is highly regulated at federal, state and local
levels. Various permits, licenses and approvals necessary to the Company's
brewery and pub operations and the sale of alcoholic beverages are required from
various agencies, including the U.S. Treasury Department, Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco and Firearms (the "BATF"), state alcohol regulatory agencies in the
states in which the Company sells its products and state and local health,
sanitation, safety, fire and environmental agencies. In addition, the beer
industry is subject to substantial federal excise taxes, although the Company
benefits from favorable treatment granted to brewers producing less than 2
million barrels per year.
Management believes that the Company currently has all licenses, permits
and approvals necessary for its current brewing operations. However, existing
permits or licenses could be lost, revoked or suspended if the Company were to
fail to comply with the terms of such permits or licenses, and additional
permits or licenses could in the future be required for the Company's existing
or expanded brewing operations. If licenses, permits or approvals necessary for
the Company's brewery or pub operations were unavailable or unduly delayed, or
if any such permits or licenses
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were lost, revoked or suspended, the Company's ability to conduct its business
could be materially adversely affected.
Alcoholic Beverage Regulation and Taxation
The Company's brewery is subject to licensing and regulation by a number of
governmental authorities. The Company operates its brewery under federal
licensing requirements imposed by the BATF. The BATF requires the filing of a
"Brewer's Notice" upon the establishment of a new commercial brewery. In
addition, commercial brewers are required to file an amended Brewer's Notice
every time there is a material change in the brewing process or brewing
equipment, change in the brewery's location, change in the brewery's management
or a material change in the brewery's ownership. The Company's operations are
subject to audit and inspection by the BATF at any time.
In addition to the regulations imposed by the BATF, the Company's brewery
is subject to various regulations concerning retail sales, deliveries and
selling practices in states in which the Company sells its products. Failure by
the Company to comply with applicable federal or state regulations could result
in limitations on the Company's ability to conduct its business. The BATF's
permits can be revoked for failure to pay taxes, to keep proper accounts, to pay
fees, to bond premises, and to abide by federal alcoholic beverage production
and distribution regulations, or if holders of 10% or more of the Company's
equity securities are found to be of questionable character. Permits from state
regulatory agencies can be revoked for many of the same reasons.
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board ("PLCB") issues operating licenses to
manufacturers of beverages containing alcohol located in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. The PLCB also ensures compliance with state tax provisions. The
PLCB regulations provide certain operating, record-keeping and marketing
requirements for license holders. These requirements include posting of a
$10,000 bond upon issuance of a license, inspections of the brewery by
representatives of the PLCB, maintaining records of the amount of beer produced
and sold, limiting certain promotional activities and prohibiting sales by the
Company on Sunday. Failure by the Company to comply with the PLCB requirements
could result in fines, penalties or sanctions being imposed against the Company
which could range from written warnings to revocation of the Company's license.
The temporary or permanent loss of the Company's PLCB license would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of
operations. PLCB regulations limit the Company's ability to increase its prices
to distributors within 180 days after a price decrease, except under certain
limited circumstances or with the prior consent of the PLCB. In addition, the
license issued by the PLCB to the Company will not be transferable or assignable
without the approval of the PLCB. As a result, a sale of the Company or its
business would be subject to, and may be delayed by, the required approval by
the PLCB.
The U.S. federal government currently imposes an excise tax of $18 per
barrel on every barrel of beer produced for consumption in the United States.
However, any brewer with production under 2 million barrels per year instead
pays federal excise tax in the amount of $7 per barrel on the first 60,000
barrels it produces annually. While the Company is not aware of any plans by the
federal government to reduce or eliminate this benefit to small brewers, any
such reduction in a
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material amount could have a material adverse effect on the Company. In
addition, the Company will lose the benefit of this rate structure if it exceeds
the 2 million barrel production threshold, which the Company believes is not
likely in the near future. Individual states also impose excise taxes on
alcoholic beverages in varying amounts, which have also been subject to change.
It is possible that excise taxes will be increased in the future by both the
federal government and several states. In addition, increased excise taxes on
alcoholic beverages have been considered in connection with various governmental
budget-balancing or funding proposals. Any such increases in excise taxes, if
enacted, could materially adversely affect the Company.
State and Federal Environmental Regulation
The Company's brewery operations are subject to environmental regulations
and local permitting requirements regarding, among other things, air emissions,
water discharges and the handling and disposal of wastes. While the Company has
no reason to believe the operations of its facility violate any such regulation
or requirement, if such a violation were to occur, the Company's business may be
materially adversely affected. In addition, if environmental regulations were to
become more stringent in the future, the Company could be materially adversely
affected.
Dramshop Laws
The serving of alcoholic beverages to a person known to be intoxicated may,
under certain circumstances, result in the server's being liable to third
parties for injuries caused by the intoxicated customer. If the Company opens
brewpubs, the Company will attempt to address this concern by implementing
employee training and designated-driver programs. The Company has obtained host
liquor and legal liquor liability insurance coverage for its activities in
connection with marketing and promotional events that involve selling liquor.
Future increases in premiums could make it prohibitive for the Company to obtain
adequate insurance coverage or maintain its existing coverage, and large
uninsured damage awards against the Company could have a material adverse affect
on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.
Trademarks
The Company has filed applications to register "1776" and "FranklinFest"
with the United States Patent and Trademark office. Although the Company expects
"1776" and "FranklinFest" to be registered in due course, there can be no
assurance any such trademarks will be registered, or if registered, there can be
no assurance that they will not be challenged at some later date. Independence
Brewing Company of Florida, Inc. ("Independence Florida"), a corporation that is
currently operating a brewpub in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, utilizing the
"Independence" name and logo and the name "Independence Brewery and Restaurant"
(the "Independence Marks"), has filed federal trademark and service mark
applications for "Independence Brewery and Restaurant" (the "Applications"). The
Company has entered into an agreement with Independence Florida (the "Florida
Agreement") whereby (i) Independence Florida transferred and assigned all of its
rights, title and interest in the Independence Marks and the Applications to the
Company, (ii) Independence Florida was granted a perpetual royalty free license
to use the Independence Marks for its one
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location only, subject to termination upon certain conditions, and (iii) the
Company will not operate a bar or restaurant in Broward County, Florida,
Independence Florida's geographic region, without the consent of Independence
Florida.
The Company has entered into an exclusive license and purchase agreement
with Moosehead Brewing Company ("Moosehead") for use of Moosehead's registration
for "The Taste of Independence" and its pending U.S. trademark application for
the mark "Independence" for brewed alcoholic beverages (the "Moosehead Marks").
This agreement is for a two year license for use of the Moosehead Marks in the
United States whereby the Company will pay Moosehead $30,000 per year for such
right and, upon termination of such two-year period, all rights to the use of
"Independence" will be transferred to the Company for an additional payment of
$30,000.
The Company utilizes a number of recipes in the production of its beers and
protects these recipes as trade secrets. In addition, product packaging,
advertising and promotional design and artwork are important to the Company's
success, and such materials are considered protected by common law copyright.
Employees
At March 24, 1997 the Company had 14 employees, including six in
production, five in sales and marketing, and three in administration. Of these,
two are part-time employees. The Company believes its relations with its
employees to be good.
Item 2. Properties
The Company currently leases an approximately 32,000 square foot facility
on approximately 3.5 acres in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for its executive
offices and its brewery at a current cost of $5,733.33 per month, plus all
applicable taxes, insurance premiums, expenses for utilities and costs for any
other services assessed against the property. The lease on this facility
terminates on November 30, 2004. The rent expense increases each year of the
lease up to $9,333.33 per month in the final year of the lease. The Company has
an option to purchase such property for $700,000, increasing each year up to
$800,000 on November 30, 2001, at which time such option expires. The Company
believes it has adequate space to conduct its operations.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
The Company is not currently engaged in any legal proceedings that are
expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on
the business, results of operations or financial condition of the Company.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the
fourth quarter of 1996.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters
The Company's common stock and redeemable warrants are traded on the Nasdaq
SmallCap Market under the symbols "IBCO" and "IBCOW," respectively.
The initial public offering of the Company's common stock and redeemable
warrants was consummated on February 11, 1997 (the "IPO"). Accordingly, such
securities were not traded during the Company's 1996 and 1995 fiscal years.
As of March 24, 1997, there were 51 holders of record of the Company's
common stock and four holders of record of the Company's redeemable warrants.
The Company believes that, as of March 24, 1997, there were greater than 300
beneficial holders of the Company's common stock and redeemable warrants.
The Company has never paid cash dividends and does not expect to pay any
cash dividends in the foreseeable future with respect to its common stock. The
Company's future dividend policy will depend upon the Company's earnings,
capital requirements, financial condition and other factors considered relevant
by the Board. The Company presently intends to retain any earnings which the
Company may realize in the foreseeable future to finance the growth of the
Company.
Item 6. Management's Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operation
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations is intended to assist in understanding the financial condition and
results of operations of the Company. The information contained in this section
should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying
notes thereto and the other sections contained in this Prospectus.
Overview
Independence Brewing Company was incorporated in May 1994 and began
distribution of its Independence Ale in kegs and bottles in May 1995 and June
1995, respectively. The Company's brewery, located in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, was completed and became operational in late February 1995 and
commenced brewing in March 1995. For the period from June 1994 through February
1995, the Company's principal activities were raising capital, securing third
party financing and completing construction of its brewing facility. The Company
currently produces five products: four styles of beer which are offered
year-round, Independence Ale, Independence Lager, Independence Gold and
Independence Porter; and one which is a seasonal beer, Independence
Franklinfest. The Company anticipates modifying its product offerings to produce
two or three year-round beers and additional seasonal beers. The Company's
current brewing equipment has the capacity to brew approximately 12,000 - 14,000
barrels per year, which is in part dependent on the style of beer produced. In
1996, the Company could only package a limited portion of its brewing capacity
due primarily to its bottling line deficiencies. In 1996, gross sales totaled
$540,335 on approximately 4,235 barrels of production, as compared to gross
sales of $237,644 for 1995 on 1,415
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barrels of production. The Company had no sales for the period from May 17, 1994
(inception) through December 31, 1994. The Company believes that
period-to-period comparisons of its financial results should not be relied upon
as an accurate indicator of future performance. The Company believes that the
considerable resources expended by the Company's management in connection with
the IPO had an adverse effect on the Company's operating results in the fourth
quarter of 1996 and may have a material adverse effect on the Company's
operating results in the first half of 1997. The Company's revenues are
generated predominantly from sales of beer to independent third party wholesale
distributors. In addition, the Company derives revenues from the sale of its
products directly to retailers and from contract brewing arrangements in which
the Company utilizes a portion of its excess capacity to produce beers for third
parties which market and sell such products under their own label. To the extent
that the Company is not able to utilize this excess capacity, the Company
believes that operating margins may be negatively impacted. In 1996,
approximately 16% of the Company's revenues resulted from its contract brewing
operations. Although margins for contract brewing are lower compared to the sale
of the Company's own products to wholesale distributors, the Company expects
this business to continue until such time as the Company's own products fully
utilize production capacity.
Until March 1997, the Company operated a refurbished bottling line which
did not include all originally manufactured parts. Incompatibility in
re-manufactured parts resulted in unanticipated machine down-time, decreased
bottling capacity and problems with the adhesion of product labels to bottles.
Under normal circumstances, using originally manufactured parts, the Company's
old bottling line would have the capacity to fill 300 bottles per minute.
However, due to the unanticipated problems, the bottling line was only able to
fill only 35 bottles per minute. In addition, the Company has experienced
problems with product labels falling off during production. As the Company has
grown, demand for the Company's products has at times exceeded its bottling
capacity. In addition, this decreased capacity has resulted in spreading smaller
revenue over existing fixed and semi-variable costs, which has negatively
impacted the Company's operating margins. In March 1997, the Company purchased
and installed a new bottling line. This new bottling line is designed to
increase the Company's bottling capacity and alleviate its labeling problems.
In addition to the level of consumer demand and the availability of
bottling capacity, the Company's sales are also affected by other factors such
as new product introductions, a limited marketing budget, third party wholesaler
promotions and competitive considerations. Sales in the beer industry generally
reflect a degree of seasonality, with lower sales in the first quarter of the
calendar year generally due to decreased consumption of beer after the holiday
season. The Company operates with little or no backlog of orders because of
distributor demand for immediate inventory and because its ability to predict
sales in future periods has, to date, been limited.
The Company's capacity utilization has a significant impact on gross
profits. Most capital costs associated with building a brewery and fixed and
semi-variable costs related to operating a brewery are incurred prior to or
beginning upon commencement of production at the brewery. Although the Company's
brewing equipment has the capacity to brew approximately 12,000 - 14,000 barrels
per year, in 1996 the Company produced approximately 4,200 barrels due primarily
to its bottling line deficiencies. Because the initial production level has been
substantially below the brewery's maximum designed brewing capacity, operating
margins have been negatively impacted. The
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Company expects this impact to be reduced if and as the brewery's actual
production increases. In addition, the Company expects the incremental costs of
shipping beer from the Company's existing brewery to continue to increase as the
volume of beer supplied to more distant markets increases.
Results of Operations
The Company was incorporated in May 1994 and commenced brewing beer in
March 1995. The Company began distributing its Independence Ale in kegs and
bottles in May 1995 and June 1995, respectively. Therefore, the comparison of
the year ended December 31, 1994 to the year ended December 31, 1995 is not
meaningful and has not been presented.
Years Ended December 31, 1996 and 1995
Sales. Gross sales increased from $237,644 in 1995 to $540,335 for 1996.
The substantial increase in gross sales was due in part to the Company's
commencing distribution of its beer products in May of 1995 and, to a greater
extent, to the expansion of the Company's third party wholesale distribution
network from four distributors at December 31, 1995 to 17 distributors at
December 31, 1996. This revenue increase reflected an increase in sales volume
from 1,415 barrels in 1995 to 4,235 barrels for 1996, with relatively stable
sales prices.
Excise taxes. Excise taxes increased from $13,338 in 1995 to $33,375 for
1996, reflecting the increased level of sales volume on which federal and
certain local excise taxes are paid. Excise taxes as a percentage of sales
remained constant at approximately 6% in 1996 and 1995. The Company pays federal
and certain local excise taxes on sales volume. Accordingly, as sales increase,
excise taxes paid by the Company will increase unless the Company increases
shipments to jurisdictions where local excise taxes are paid by the third party
wholesale distributor rather than the brewer, as is the case in Maryland and the
District of Columbia.
Cost of goods sold. Cost of goods sold increased from $486,229 in 1995 to
$801,482 for 1996, primarily due to the increase in sales volume in 1996. Cost
of goods sold as a percentage of sales declined from approximately 205% in 1995
to approximately 148% in 1996, primarily due to increased sales which reduced
per barrel fixed and semi-variable costs associated with operating the brewery.
Increases in raw materials costs and utility costs from $192,070 in 1995 to
$375,922 in 1996 are associated with increased sales and the utilization of the
production facility from the time the Company commenced brewing in March 1995.
Repairs and maintenance increased from $19,312 for 1995 to $55,055 for 1996 due
primarily to repairs and maintenance related to the Company's bottling line.
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses. Advertising, promotional and
selling expenses increased from $93,039 in 1995 to $158,015 for 1996.
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses as a percentage of sales declined
from approximately 39% in 1995 to approximately 29% in 1996, primarily due to
initial purchases of promotional items, such as apparel and other retail items
used by third party wholesale distributors, in 1995 which were not made in 1996.
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General and administrative expenses. General and administrative expenses
increased from $278,565 in 1995 to $413,004 for 1996. General and administrative
expenses as a percentage of sales declined from approximately 117% in 1995 to
approximately 76% in 1996. Increases in professional fees from $24,816 for 1995
to $66,501 for 1996 in connection with financing activities and other relatively
small increases in general and administrative expenses as compared to the
increased level of sales represented the primary increases. Also included in
general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 1995 is
$15,000 of non-cash compensation paid to certain individuals who received Common
Stock valued at $3.00 per share in lieu of services rendered to the Company.
Interest expense. Interest expense increased from $51,729 in 1995 to
$377,551 for 1996, due to the increase in the outstanding principal of
convertible debentures and Preferred Stock from $75,000 and $-0-, respectively,
at December 31, 1995 to $800,000 and $700,000 at December 31, 1996,
respectively, and the amortization of approximately $5,700 deferred financing
costs associated with these obligations, and the write off of approximately
$231,000 of original issue discount associated with such shares in 1996.
Interest expense as a percentage of sales increased from approximately 22% in
1995 to approximately 70% in 1996. The interest incurred in 1995 is associated
with the Company's promissory note in favor of CoreStates Bank, N.A. in
connection with a Small Business Administration loan (the "SBA Loan") and
Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation notes ("PIDC Notes") and to a
lesser extent with the Company's subordinated convertible notes of $75,000,
which were issued in late December 1995.
Other income (expense), net. Other income (expense), net decreased from
$38,450 in 1995 to $19,965 for 1996, due primarily to reduced event income
received from Company sponsored events held in 1996. Other income (expense), net
as a percentage of sales, decreased from approximately 16% in 1995 to
approximately 4% in 1996.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
To date, the Company has funded its operations and capital requirements
through the issuance of Common Stock, the SBA Loan, the PIDC Notes and the
issuance of certain subordinated convertible notes in 1995 and during 1996. In
February 1997, the Company completed its IPO. The Company received approximately
$5,896,000 of net proceeds (including the purchase of 600,000 redeemable
warrants upon partial exercise of the Underwriter's overallotment option and
after deducting the Underwriter's discount and offering expenses) from the IPO.
Net cash used in operating activities in 1995 and 1996 was $444,663 and
$356,836, respectively. Net cash used in operating activities was primarily
generated by net losses for the respective periods and increases in accounts
receivable and inventories, offset in part by increases in accounts payable and
accrued expenses.
Net cash used in investing activities in 1995 and 1996 was $413,709 and
$588,525, respectively. Cash used in investing activities was primarily for the
purchase of fixed assets relating
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to brewery equipment and other equipment. Net cash provided by financing
activities in 1995 and 1996 was $933,318 and $1,306,063, respectively.
In anticipation of the closing of the financing transactions described
below (the "Private Placements"), the Company was advanced an aggregate of
$200,000 on May 6, 1996 and July 16, 1996 by Winfield Capital Corp. ("Winfield")
to fund short term operations. This advance was repaid in connection with the
closing of the Private Placements.
To fund operations, on August 12, 1996, September 13, 1996 and September
20, 1996, the Company sold an aggregate of $800,000 of debentures convertible
into shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company (the "Debentures") to
Winfield and certain shareholders of the Company (collectively referred to as
the "Purchasers"). To the extent that such shareholders did not so participate,
Winfield agreed to act as "standby" purchaser for the entire $800,000 in
Debentures being offered.
In consideration of the purchase by the Purchasers of the Debentures, the
Purchasers received warrants which entitled them to purchase 415,275 shares of
Common Stock for the aggregate exercise price of $2,081 (the "Series A
Warrants"). All of the Series A Warrants were exercised by the Purchasers on
September 13, 1996 and September 20, 1996. The Company assigned a deferred
interest charge of $3.00 per share, totaling $1,245,825, to these shares and is
amortizing it over the term of the Debentures. In addition, in consideration of
the purchase by Winfield of the Debentures, Winfield received (i) a warrant (the
"Preferred Warrant") that entitled Winfield to purchase 70,000 shares of Series
B Preferred Stock of the Company, par value $10.00 (the "Series B Preferred
Stock"), exercisable immediately for an aggregate exercise price of $700,000 and
(ii) a warrant (the "Series C Warrant") that entitles Winfield to purchase
622,913 shares of Common Stock for the aggregate exercise price of $3,115. The
Preferred Warrant and the Series C Warrant were exercised by Winfield on
September 13, 1996. The Company assigned a deferred interest charge of $3.00 per
share, totaling $1,868,739, to these shares and is amortizing it over the term
of the Series B Preferred Stock.
In consideration for agreeing to act as standby purchaser for the balance
of the Debentures not purchased by the Company shareholders and for agreeing to
allow all of the qualified shareholders of the Company to participate in the
purchase of the Debentures, Winfield received a warrant (the "Series B Warrant")
which entitles Winfield to purchase 3.5 million shares of Common Stock of the
Company at a price of $6.00 per share. The Series B Warrant is immediately
exercisable and expires five years following the Company's initial public
offering.
In connection with the Private Placements, Winfield received a $15,000
processing fee and a $45,000 commitment fee. The Debentures and the Series B
Preferred Stock were repaid from the net proceeds of the IPO. In connection with
the issuance and repayment of the Debentures and the Series B Preferred Stock
from the net proceeds of the IPO, the Company wrote off (i) unamortized original
issue discount of $1,159,129 and $1,757,127, respectively, and (ii) deferred
financing costs of $29,528 and $26,728 relating to the Debentures and the Series
B Preferred Stock, respectively. See Note Q of the Company's Financial
Statements.
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The Company had cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 1995 and December
31, 1996 of $2,782 and $363,484, respectively. The Company believes that cash
flow from the Private Placements and the IPO will be sufficient to meet
short-term liquidity needs. The Company may also seek other long term financing.
No assurance can be given that such long term financing will be obtained on
commercially reasonable terms or at all.
During the period June 25, 1994 through December 1, 1995, the Company
offered for sale and sold to investors a total of 207,914 shares of Common Stock
(the "Original Shares"). During the period of December 1995 through May 1996,
the Company offered and sold to investors notes, convertible into shares of
Common Stock at maturity, in the aggregate principal amount of $263,300, such
notes which were later converted into shares of Common Stock (together with the
Original Shares, the "Rescission Securities"). Because certain of the applicable
provisions of federal and state securities laws relating to the registration of
securities for offer and sale may have not been complied with in connection with
the offer and sale of the Rescission Securities, the Company offered to
repurchase the Rescission Securities for cash in an amount equal to the original
purchase price plus interest from the date of purchase, less any dividends,
interest payments or cash distributions in respect to the Rescission Securities.
The Company received rescission acceptances from five shareholders whose
investment totaled $24,750 for 18,000 shares of Common Stock. On September 27,
1996, the Company repurchased such shares of Common Stock for an aggregate
purchase price, including interest, of $26,927. On September 27, 1996, the
Company also sold 18,000 shares of Common Stock to four shareholders for an
aggregate purchase price of $24,750. No underwriters were involved and no
commissions were paid in the foregoing transactions.
Impact of Inflation
Although the Company has not attempted to calculate the effect of
inflation, management does not believe inflation has had a material effect to
date on its results of operations. However, production and raw material costs
are expected to increase over time as a result of general economic inflation,
and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to offset the
resulting negative effects on its business through increasing the sale prices of
its product.
Net Operating Loss Carryovers
As a result of the IPO, the Company experienced an "ownership change" for
purposes of determining its ability to use its net operating loss ("NOL")
carryovers as deductions against future taxable income under federal income tax
law. Its annual NOL deductions after the IPO are limited to approximately
$900,000.
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Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
The Company cautions that any forward-looking statements (as such term is
defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) contained in
Item 1 -- Business and Item 6 -- Management's Discussion and Analysis or Plan of
Operation, of this Report or made from time to time by management of the Company
involve risks and uncertainties, and are subject to change based on various
important factors. The following factors, among others, in some cases have
affected and in the future could affect the Company's financial performance and
actual results and could cause actual results for 1997 and beyond to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking
statements:
Limited Operating History; Past and Possible Future Operating Losses. The
Company has had significant losses since inception. Although the Company has
experienced sales growth, such growth should not be considered indicative of
future sales growth, if any, or of future operating results. Furthermore, there
can be no assurance that the Company's sales will grow or be sustained in future
periods or that the Company will become or remain profitable in any future
period.
Capacity Utilization. The Company has incurred substantial capital costs
associated with building its facility and commencing its brewing operations. As
a result, production levels below capacity have negatively impacted gross
margins. There can be no assurance that the Company will reach full capacity
based on the new bottling line or that the loss of a contract brewing client
will not negatively impact capacity utilization.
Conflict of Interest and Trademark Conflict. Although the Company has
entered into the Florida Agreement, the Company is subject to risk associated
with a potential conflict of interest that may arise out of the relationship
between the Company and Independence Florida.
Risk of Third Party Claims of Infringement of Intellectual Property;
Uncertainty of Trademark Protection. The Company has entered into the Moosehead
Licence concerning the Moosehead Marks. If the Moosehead License is terminated
in the future, the Company may find it necessary to change the brand name of its
products, thereby losing any existing brand recognition in its markets. The
Company relies and will continue to rely on a combination of trade secret,
copyright and trademark laws, non-disclosure and other arrangements to protect
its proprietary rights, including its beer recipes, product packaging,
advertising, promotional designs and artwork. There can be no assurance that the
steps taken by the Company to protect its proprietary information will prevent
the misappropriation and the unauthorized use of the Company's proprietary
information and such protections may not preclude competitors from developing
confusingly similar brand names or promotional materials or developing products
with taste and other qualities similar to the Company's products.
Possible Need For Additional Financing. There can be no assurance that the
Company will not require additional financing or, if required, that such
additional financing will be available to the Company on acceptable terms or at
all. Substantially all of the Company's assets are currently
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pledged as collateral securing certain indebtedness. This may materially
adversely affect the Company's ability to obtain additional financing in the
future. Factors that may lead to a need for additional financing include delays
in market acceptance of the Company's products, the need for the Company to
expand production to meet market demand and the acquisition and the development
of brewpubs.
Ability to Manage Growth; Expansion into New Markets. The Company's future
success depends in part on its ability to manage growth as it increases its
production capacity, commences production with the new bottling line, broadens
the distribution of its products to both existing and new markets, expands its
product offerings and, possibly, enters the brewpub business. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to hire new employees when needed or on
favorable terms or that any such new employees will be successfully integrated
into the Company's management.
Competition. The Company competes primarily with other participants in the
craft-brewing segment of the domestic beer market in its region, with producers
of imported beers and with mass-market national brewers. The Company anticipates
intensifying competition in the craft-brewing segment, and believes that, as a
result, prices may fluctuate and could decline. The Company competes with other
beer and beverage companies not only for consumer acceptance and loyalty but
also for shelf and tap space in retail establishments and for marketing focus by
the Company's third party wholesale distributors and their customers, many of
which also distribute and sell other beverage products. Many of the Company's
competitors possess marketing, financial and other resources substantially
greater than those of the Company, and there can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to achieve continued success in the face of intensified
competition from within the craft-brewing segment, from other segments of the
beer market and from beverages in general.
Entrance into the Brewpub Business. The Company's ability to enter into the
brewpub business will depend upon a variety of factors, including the
availability and cost of suitable acquisition candidates and/or building sites,
the employment and training of management, brewpub staff and other personnel,
regulatory limitations regarding common ownership of breweries and restaurants
in certain states, acceptable leasing or financing terms of equipment, cost
effective and timely construction of new brewpubs (which construction can be
delayed due to, among other reasons, labor disputes, local zoning and licensing
matters and weather conditions) and securing required governmental permits and
approvals. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in
acquiring or opening new brewpubs, that those brewpubs will be opened in a
timely manner, or that, if opened, those brewpubs will be operated profitably.
New brewpubs typically operate with below normal profitability and incur certain
additional costs in the process of achieving operational efficiencies during the
first several months of operation. In addition, the Company may either own or
operate these brewpubs or enter into licensing arrangements for others to do so
utilizing the Independence name. Accordingly, the Company may be subject to
risks of licensing its name to third party entities.
Dependence on Key Personnel; Inexperience of Management. The Company's
success substantially depends upon the efforts of the Company's President and
Chief Executive Officer, Robert W. Connor, Jr., the Company's Brewmaster and
Secretary, William Moore, and the
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Company's Chief Operating Officer, Wayne Anderson. The loss of these individuals
could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and
results of operations.
Dependence on Distributors. The Company largely relies on third party
wholesale distributors. The Company's distributors often represent competing
craft-brewed brands, as well as economy and import brands. There can be no
assurance that the Company's distributors will continue to sell the Company's
products or may devote sufficient resources to provide effective sales and
promotion support to the Company or continue to distribute the Company's
products.
Dependence on Suppliers. If the Company were unable to obtain sufficient
quantities of ingredients and materials, delays or reductions in product
shipments could occur which would have a material adverse effect on the
Company's financial condition and results of operations.
Shortages of Supply. The supply, quality and price of raw materials used to
produce the Company's products can be affected by factors beyond the control of
the Company, such as drought, frost, other weather conditions, economic factors
affecting growing decisions, various plant diseases and pests.
Limited Product Line. The sale of a limited number of styles of beer has
accounted for substantially all revenue of the Company since the Company's
inception. The Company believes that the sale of these beers will continue to
account for a significant portion of the Company's sales for the foreseeable
future. Therefore, the Company's future operating results, particularly in the
near term, are significantly dependent upon the market acceptance of these
limited products.
Single-Site Manufacturing Facility. In the event the Company's brewing and
bottling facility were damaged by fire or other casualty, the Company's
production would be substantially interrupted.
Sales Fluctuations Due to Seasonality. Since the Company has continued to
expand its wholesale distributors network, fluctuations in the Company's sales
due to seasonality may become evident in the future.
Control By Existing Shareholders. Mr. Connor and Winfield own an aggregate
of approximately 47% of the outstanding Common Stock. Consequently, Mr. Connor
and Winfield are able to elect the Company's directors, to determine the outcome
of corporate actions requiring shareholder approval and otherwise to control the
business affairs of the Company.
Operating Hazards. The Company's operations are subject to certain hazards
and liability risks, such as potential contamination of ingredients or products
by bacteria or other external agents that may be wrongfully or accidentally
introduced into products or packaging. The occurrence of such a problem could
result in a costly product recall and serious damage to the Company's reputation
for product quality, as well as claims for product liability. In addition, the
Company's products are not pasteurized and have a limited shelf-life. The
Company may incur cost in connection with product returns.
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Government Regulation. The manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages is a
business that is highly regulated and taxed at the federal, state and local
levels which could change and become more restrictive. Violation of such
regulations can result in the loss, revocation or suspension of existing
licenses by the wholesaler, retailer and/or supplier. The loss, revocation or
suspension of any existing licenses, permits or approvals could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business.
Public Attitudes and Consumer Demand. The possibility exists that
advertising by beer producers could be restricted, that additional cautionary
labeling or packaging requirements might be imposed or that there may be renewed
efforts to impose increased excise or other taxes on beer sold in the United
States. In addition, consumer tastes may change over time or may vary in the
markets which the Company currently operates and new markets in which the
Company intends to enter and there is no assurance that the same level of sales
and operating margins can be maintained in the Company's existing market or
achieved in new markets. The Company's success also depends upon a number of
factors related to the level of discretionary consumer spending, including the
general state of the economy, federal and state tax laws and consumer confidence
in future economic conditions.
Item 7. Financial Statements
-22-
<PAGE>
Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants
Board of Directors and Shareholders
Independence Brewing Company
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Independence Brewing
Company as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statements of
operations, changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the two
years in the period then ended. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. 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 financial position of Independence Brewing
Company as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of its operations and
cash flows for each of the two years in the period then ended in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 24, 1997
-23-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ASSETS 1996 1995
----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 363,484 $ 2,782
Accounts receivable 17,126 15,080
Inventories 134,816 90,355
Advances to officer 10,000 -
----------- -----------
Total current assets 525,426 108,217
Equipment and leasehold improvements, net 1,395,875 956,593
Deferred charges 2,981,931 21,273
Deferred stock issuance costs 338,910 -
Other 25,902 18,043
----------- -----------
$ 5,268,044 $ 1,104,126
=========== ===========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt $ 100,264 $ 75,600
Current portion of capital lease obligations 4,026 3,228
Subordinated convertible notes - 75,000
Advances from officer - 5,150
Accounts payable and accrued expenses 753,749 186,782
---------- ----------
Total current liabilities 858,039 345,760
Long-term liabilities
Deferred rent 35,436 21,676
Capital lease obligations - 3,195
Convertible debentures 800,000 -
Long-term debt 517,497 577,956
----------- ----------
Total liabilities 2,210,972 948,587
----------- ----------
Commitments and contingencies -- --
----------- -----------
Series A preferred stock, $10.00 par value -
authorized, 500,000 shares;
no shares issued and outstanding -- --
----------- -----------
Series B preferred stock, $10.00 par value -
authorized, 500,000 shares;
issued and outstanding, 70,000 shares 700,000 --
----------- -----------
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, no par value -
authorized, 19,000,000 shares; issued and
outstanding, 2,307,078 and 1,166,538 shares in 1996 and
1995, respectively 3,691,428 266,768
Accumulated deficit (1,334,356) (111,229)
---------- ----------
Total shareholders' equity 2,357,072 155,539
---------- ----------
$ 5,268,044 $ 1,104,126
=========== ===========
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-24-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Year ended December 31,
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1995
------------ -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Sales $ 540,335 $ 237,644
Less excise taxes 33,375 13,338
----------- -----------
Net sales 506,960 224,306
Cost of goods sold 801,482 486,229
----------- -----------
Gross loss (294,522) (261,923)
----------- -----------
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses 158,015 93,039
General and administrative expenses 413,004 278,565
----------- -----------
571,019 371,604
----------- -----------
Operating loss (865,541) (633,527)
----------- -----------
Other income (expense)
Interest expense (377,551) (51,729)
Other income, net 19,965 38,450
----------- -----------
(357,586) (13,279)
----------- -----------
Loss before income taxes (1,223,127) (646,806)
Income taxes -- 1,496
----------- -----------
NET LOSS $(1,223,127) $ (648,302)
=========== ===========
Per share data
Net loss per common share $ (0.54) $ (0.30)
=========== ===========
Weighted average shares outstanding 2,249,683 2,201,662
=========== ===========
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-25-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Common stock
--------------------------- Total
Number of Accumulated shareholders'
shares Amount deficit equity
--------- ----------- ------------ --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at January 1, 1995 444,750 $ 427,744 $ (36,111) $ 391,633
Issuance of common stock 140,081 412,208 -- 412,208
100% stock dividend 581,707 -- -- --
Net loss for the year ended
December 31, 1995 -- -- (648,302) (648,302)
Reclassification of previously
undistributed losses -- (573,184) 573,184 --
--------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Balance at December 31, 1995 1,166,538 266,768 (111,229) 155,539
Issuance of common stock 1,140,540 3,424,660 -- 3,424,660
Net loss for the year ended
December 31, 1996 -- -- (1,223,127) (1,223,127)
--------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Balance at December 31, 1996 2,307,078 $ 3,691,428 $(1,334,356) $ 2,357,072
========= =========== =========== ===========
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement.
-26-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Year ended December 31,
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1995
----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities
Net loss $(1,223,127) $ (648,302)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
operating activities
Depreciation and amortization 89,243 61,865
Amortization of original issue discount 237,441 -
Issuance of common stock for services - 18,000
Increase in accounts receivable (2,046) (9,730)
Increase in inventories (44,461) (76,147)
(Increase) decrease in other (7,859) 2,545
Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses 580,213 185,430
Increase in deferred rent 13,760 21,676
----------- -------------
Net cash used in operating activities (356,836) (444,663)
----------- -------------
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property and equipment (528,525) (400,071)
Other (60,000) (13,638)
----------- -------------
Net cash used in investing activities (588,525) (413,709)
----------- -------------
Cash flows from financing activities
Stock issuance costs paid (338,910) --
Proceeds from subordinated convertible notes 188,300 75,000
Proceeds from long-term debt -- 473,482
Repayments of long-term debt (35,795) --
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock 700,000 --
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 10,015 384,836
Payments under capital lease obligations (2,397) --
Repayments to officers, net (15,150) --
Proceeds from convertible debentures 800,000 --
----------- -------------
Net cash provided by financing activities 1,306,063 933,318
----------- -------------
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 360,702 74,946
Cash and cash equivalents (deficit) at beginning of year 2,782 (72,164)
----------- -------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 363,484 $ 2,782
=========== =============
</TABLE>
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
-27-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 1996 and 1995
NOTE A - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Independence Brewing Company (the Company) is a regional producer of fresh,
high-quality, preservative-free, craft brewed ales, lagers, porters and
seasonal beers. The Company competes with other beer and beverage companies
not only for consumer acceptance and loyalty but also for shelf and tap
space in retail establishments and for marketing focus by the Company's
third-party wholesale distributors and their customers, all of which also
distribute and sell other beers and alcoholic beverage products.
The manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages is a business that is highly
regulated and taxed at the federal, state and local levels. The Company's
operations may be subject to more restrictive regulations and increased
taxation by federal, state and governmental agencies than are those of
non-alcohol related businesses.
1. Basis of Financial Statement Presentation
The accounting and reporting policies of the Company conform with generally
accepted accounting principles and predominant practices within the brewing
industry.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements. These estimates and assumptions also affect reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.
2. Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and short-term, highly liquid
investments with original maturities at the time of purchase of three months
or less. Cash paid for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 1996
and 1995 was $-0- and $1,496, respectively. Cash paid for interest for the
years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 was $93,674 and $51,729,
respectively.
3. Inventories
Inventories, which consist principally of hops, bottles and packaging, are
stated at the lower of cost or market determined on the first-in, first-out
basis.
4. Concentrations of Credit Risk
Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to
concentrations of credit risk consist principally of temporary cash
investments and trade receivables. The Company places its temporary cash
investments with high credit quality financial institutions. The Company
sells primarily to independent beer and ale distributors primarily in the
Mid-Atlantic area. Receivables arising from these sales are not
collateralized; however; credit risk is minimized as a result of the diverse
nature of the Company's customer base.
(Continued)
-28-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1996 and 1995
NOTE A - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Continued
Additionally, the Company maintains cash balances in a financial institution
in Philadelphia. These funds are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation up to $100,000. At December 31, 1996, uninsured amounts held at
this financial institution totalled approximately $252,000.
5. Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue when goods are shipped to its customers. The
Company records bad debt expense at the time it is judged that an account
receivable is uncollectible.
6. Depreciation and Amortization
Equipment and leasehold improvements are carried at cost. Depreciation of
equipment and amortization of leasehold improvements is computed using the
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets or the
term, if less. Amortization of intangibles is provided by the straight-line
method over periods ranging from three to five years.
The Company adopted, effective January 1, 1996, Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 121, Accounting for the Impairment of
Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of, which
provides guidance on when to recognize and how to measure impairment losses
of long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangibles and how to value
long-lived assets to be disposed of. The adoption of this new statement is
not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial position
or results of operations. The Company is required to adopt this new standard
for the year ending December 31, 1997.
7. Advertising, Promotional and Selling Expenses
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses are charged to expense during
the period in which they are incurred. Total advertising, promotional and
selling expenses for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 were
$158,015 and $93,039, respectively.
8. Income Taxes
The Company accounts for its income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109,
Accounting for Income Taxes. Under the liability method specified by SFAS
No. 109, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the
difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and
liabilities as measured by the enacted tax rates which will be in effect
when these differences reverse. Deferred tax expense is the result of
changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities.
(Continued)
-29-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1996 and 1995
NOTE A - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - Continued
9. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company adopted, effective January 1, 1995, SFAS No. 107, Disclosures
about Fair Value of Financial Instruments, which requires entities to
disclose the estimated fair value of their assets and liabilities considered
to be financial instruments. Financial instruments consist primarily of cash
and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and long-term debt. Based on the
borrowing rates currently available to the Company, long-term debt
approximates fair value at December 31, 1996 and 1995.
10. Related Party Transactions
The Company has entered into numerous related party transactions involving
indebtedness, including the guaranteeing of certain indebtedness. These
transactions are described in notes E, F, G, J3, J4, M and N.
11. Loss Per Common Share
Loss per common share was computed based on the weighted average number of
common shares and common share equivalents outstanding during the year, as
restated for the 100% stock dividend, effected in the form of a stock split,
issued on January 5, 1996 to shareholders of record on December 6, 1995
(note K). Warrants were not considered because they are antidilutive. In
connection with the Private Placements (note M), 1,038,188 shares issued
have been treated as outstanding for all periods in calculating loss per
common share because such shares were issued for consideration below the
Public Offering price of $5.00 per share (note P). Fully dilutive loss per
common share has not been presented because it was antidilutive.
12. Reclassification
Certain 1995 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 1996 financial
statement presentation.
NOTE B - INVENTORIES
Inventories consist of the following:
1996 1995
------------ ------------
Raw materials $ 11,513 $ 10,661
Work in process 21,703 8,128
Finished goods 30,410 12,387
Packaging 71,190 59,179
----------- -----------
$ 134,816 $ 90,355
=========== ============
-30-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1996 and 1995
NOTE C - EQUIPMENT AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS
Equipment and leasehold improvements consist of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Estimated useful lives 1996 1995
---------------------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Brewing equipment 5 to 20 years $ 1,336,315 $ 859,815
Leasehold improvements 10 years 193,681 156,906
Transportation equipment 5 years 15,250 --
----------- -----------
1,545,246 1,016,721
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 149,371 60,128
---------- -----------
$ 1,395,875 $ 956,593
=========== ===========
</TABLE>
Depreciation and amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 1996
and 1995 was $89,243 and $60,128, respectively.
NOTE D - DEFERRED CHARGES
Deferred charges consist of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1995
------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Deferred interest (original issue discount) $ 3,147,471 $ 9,372
Financing fees 71,221 11,221
Organizational costs 2,417 2,417
----------- ------------
3,221,109 23,010
Less accumulated amortization 239,178 1,737
----------- ------------
$ 2,981,931 $ 21,273
=========== ============
</TABLE>
NOTE E - SUBORDINATED CONVERTIBLE NOTES
During December 1995, $75,000 was loaned to the Company from certain
shareholders of the Company. These notes accrued interest at a rate of 10%
per annum and were payable within one year of origination. These notes were
convertible at maturity, at the discretion of the noteholders, into shares
of Common Stock at $3.00 per share. As a condition to the extension of
credit, the Company agreed to issue to the holders Common Stock valued at
$3.00 per share in an amount equal to 12.5% of the principal amount borrowed
on the date the obligation became due or the date of repayment of the
principal and interest, whichever was earlier. Accordingly, the Company
issued a total of 3,124 shares of Common Stock associated with these notes.
These obligations are subordinated to the Company's long-term debt. A
deferred interest charge of $3.00 per share was assigned to these shares and
is being amortized over the terms of the notes to which they relate. At
December 31, 1995, a deferred interest charge of $9,372 was recorded. No
amortization was taken for the year ended December 31, 1995 due to the
origination dates of the notes. Amortization expense for the year ended
December 31, 1996 was $5,728.
(Continued)
-31-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1996 and 1995
NOTE E - SUBORDINATED CONVERTIBLE NOTES - Continued
In 1996, another $188,300 was loaned to the Company from certain
shareholders and directors of the Company. These notes accrued interest at a
rate of 10% per annum and were payable within one year of origination. These
notes were convertible at maturity, at the discretion of the noteholders,
into shares of Common Stock at $3.00 per share. As a condition to the
extension of credit, the Company issued to the noteholders Common Stock
valued at $3.00 per share in an amount equal to 12.5% of the respective
notes. Accordingly, the Company has issued a total of 7,844 shares of Common
Stock associated with these notes. In 1996, a deferred interest charge of
$23,532, or $3.00 per share, was assigned to these shares and is being
amortized over the terms of the notes to which they relate. These notes are
subordinated to the Company's long-term debt. Amortization expense for the
year ended December 31, 1996 was $9,468.
On August 12, 1996, all of the foregoing notes, including accrued interest
of $13,246, were converted into 92,182 shares of Common Stock. Additionally,
aggregate unamortized deferred interest charges of $17,708 were written off
as of August 12, 1996 (note K).
NOTE F - LONG-TERM DEBT
Long-term debt consists of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1996 1995
------------ -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Small Business Administration (SBA) Note (1) $ 404,912 $ 419,248
Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) Note (2) 212,849 234,308
----------- -----------
617,761 653,556
Less current portion 100,264 75,600
----------- -----------
$ 517,497 $ 577,956
=========== ===========
</TABLE>
(1) Principal of $6,092 is due monthly plus interest payable at the prime
rate plus 2% (10.25% and 10.50% at December 31, 1996 and 1995,
respectively). Interest expense for the years ended December 31, 1996 and
1995 was $43,369 and $42,392, respectively. The note is secured by
substantially all of the Company's assets, an annuity and certificate of
deposit, and personal guarantees of the Company's President.
(2) Principal and interest payments of $3,389 are due monthly. Interest is
payable at 3.75%. Interest expense for the years ended December 31, 1996
and 1995 was $8,550 and $6,763, respectively. The note is secured by
substantially all of the Company's assets and personal guarantees of the
Company's President.
(Continued)
-32-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1996 and 1995
NOTE F - LONG-TERM DEBT - Continued
Principal repayments due on long-term debt at December 31, 1996 are as
follows:
Year ended December 31,
-----------------------
1997 $ 100,264
1998 107,534
1999 108,941
2000 110,309
2001 111,728
Thereafter 78,985
----------
$ 617,761
==========
NOTE G - ADVANCES TO (FROM) OFFICER
Advances from the President totalled $-0- and $5,150 at December 31, 1996
and 1995, respectively. An additional $10,000 was advanced from the
President during the year ended December 31, 1996, and the Company repaid
all these advances during the same time period. These advances did not bear
interest.
Advances to the President totalled $10,000 at December 31, 1996. These
advances bear interest at a rate equal to the prime rate (effective rate of
8.25% at December 31, 1996). These advances, including accrued interest,
were paid subsequent to December 31, 1996.
NOTE H - CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS
In May 1996, the Company entered into an equipment lease which qualified as
a capital lease. Monthly payments totaled $302, with the lease expiring in
November 1997. The related asset, with a cost of $9,640 and accumulated
depreciation of $3,856 and $1,928 as of December 31, 1996 and 1995,
respectively, is reflected on the balance sheet in brewing equipment.
Depreciation is being provided over the estimated useful lives of the assets
(three years) and totaled $1,928 for the years ended December 31, 1996 and
1995.
Future minimum payments under the capital lease at December 31, 1996 are as
follows:
Year ended December 31,
-----------------------
1997 $4,026
Less amount representing interest 204
Present value of minimum lease payments $3,822
======
-33-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1996 and 1995
NOTE I - INCOME TAXES
The Company has incurred net operating losses for financial statement and
income tax reporting purposes since inception. Accordingly, no provision for
income taxes has been made for 1996 or 1995. Prior to December 1, 1995, the
Company has an election in effect to be taxed as an S corporation for both
federal and state income tax purposes. Therefore, income and expenses for
the period from January 1, 1995 through November 30, 1995 were passed
through to the shareholders.
The Company's income tax provision can be reconciled to that determined by
applying the statutory federal income tax rate of 34% to the pretax losses
for 1996 and 1995 as follows:
1996 1995
---------- ----------
Expected tax benefit at 34% $(401,662) $(220,423)
Effect of S corporation status -- 201,005
Deferred tax valuation allowance 362,357 --
Other 39,305 20,914
---------- ----------
Income tax benefit provided $ -- $ 1,496
========== ==========
Deferred tax assets and liabilities reflected in other assets and
liabilities are as follows:
1996 1995
--------- --------
Depreciation $(90,098) $(22,644)
Net operating loss carryovers 440,407 19,417
Other 12,048 3,227
-------- ---------
362,357 --
Valuation allowance (362,357) --
-------- ---------
Net deferred tax asset $ -- $ --
========= =========
In view of the Company's history of net operating losses, management has
provided a valuation allowance for the full amount of the deferred tax asset
at December 31, 1996.
The Company has net operating loss carryover deductions of $1,351,894
expiring as follows:
Amount
Year expiring
---- ----------
2010 $ 57,110
2011 1,294,784
----------
$1,351,894
==========
-34-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1996 and 1995
NOTE J - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
1. Operating Leases
The Company has entered into noncancellable agreements for the purposes of
renting its manufacturing facility and leasing certain office and
manufacturing-related equipment. In connection with the lease on the
manufacturing facility, the Company has the option to purchase the building
beginning after the second year of the lease for terms, as defined therein.
The following is a schedule by year of approximate future minimum payments
for such agreements with terms in excess of one year:
Year ended December 31,
-----------------------
1997 $ 69,000
1998 71,000
1999 73,000
2000 76,000
2001 81,000
Thereafter 304,000
---------
$ 674,000
=========
The Company has entered into a sublease agreement for a portion of its
rented manufacturing facility. This sublease is on a month-to-month basis
and has provided approximately $9,300 and $8,000 of rental income for the
years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Rent expense for the
years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 was $80,964 and $82,321,
respectively.
2. Other
In the normal course of business, the Company has been named as a defendant
in certain lawsuits. Although the ultimate outcome of these suits cannot be
ascertained at this time, it is the opinion of management that the
resolution of such suits will not have a material adverse effect on the
financial position or results of operations of the Company.
3. Employment Agreements
On August 12, 1996, the Company entered into a three-year employment
agreement with the President and Chief Executive Officer expiring on August
12, 1999. Compensation under this agreement is $50,000 per year, such salary
to be increased to $100,000 upon closing of the Public Offering (note P),
plus annual increases of not less than 10% of the prior year's salary for
the first two years after the Public Offering and annual bonuses as
determined by the Board. The agreement provides a covenant not to compete
with the Company during the term of employment and for a two-year period
after employment ends. Finally, if terminated for any reason, other than
"cause," "disability" or "death," each as defined therein, the Company shall
pay salary accrued through the date of termination and for two years
thereafter.
(Continued)
-35-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1996 and 1995
NOTE J - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Continued
Additionally, on August 12, 1996, the Company entered into an employment
agreement with the Brewmaster expiring on December 31, 1999. Compensation
under this agreement is $45,000 per year, plus annual increases and bonuses
as determined by the Board. The agreement provides a covenant not to compete
with the Company during the term of employment and for a two-year period
after employment ends. Finally, if terminated for any reason, other than
"cause," "disability" or "death," each as defined therein, the Company shall
pay salary accrued through the date of termination and for two years
thereafter.
On March 19, 1997, the Company entered into an employment agreement with its
Chief Operating Officer expiring on March 18, 2000, subject to termination
by either party on each anniversary of the agreement. Compensation under
this agreement is $75,000 per year, plus annual increases based upon the
salary policies of the Company. He is also eligible for an annual bonus as
determined by the Board. In addition, the Company has agreed to grant him
options to purchase 75,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Company's
stock plan. The agreement provides a covenant not to compete with the
Company during the term of his employment and for a two-year period after
his employment with the Company terminates. In addition, if he is terminated
for any reason other than "cause," as defined, "total disability," as
defined, or his death, the Company must pay his salary as accrued through
the date of termination and for one year thereafter.
4. Purchase Commitments
The Company has entered into a purchase agreement to purchase new production
equipment approximating $400,000. At December 31, 1995, the Company had paid
$30,000 towards the commitment. During the third quarter of 1996, this
equipment was purchased and the agreement was satisfied.
5. Trademarks Protection
The Company has filed applications to register "1776" and "FranklinFest"
with the United States Patent and Trademark office. Although the Company
expects "1776" and "FranklinFest" to be registered in due course, there can
be no assurance any such trademarks will be registered, or if registered,
there can be no assurance that they will not be challenged at some later
date. Independence Brewing Company of Florida, Inc. (Independence Florida),
a corporation that is currently operating a brewpub in Ft. Laurderdale,
Florida, utilizing the "Independence" name and logo and the name
"Independence Brewery and Restaurant" (the Independence Marks), has filed
federal trademark and service mark applications for "Independence Brewery
and Restaurant" (the Applications). The Company has entered into an
agreement with Independence Florida (the Florida Agreement) whereby (i)
Independence Florida transferred and assigned all of its rights, title and
interest in the Independence Marks and the Applications to the Company, (ii)
Independence Florida was granted a perpetual royalty-free license to use the
Independence Marks for its one location only, subject to termination upon
certain conditions, and (iii) the Company will not operate a bar or
restaurant in Broward County, Florida, Independence Florida's geographic
region, without the consent of Independence Florida.
(Continued)
-36-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1996 and 1995
NOTE J - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Continued
The Company has entered into an exclusive license and purchase agreement
with Moosehead Brewing Company (Moosehead) for use of Moosehead's
registration for "The Taste of Independence" and its pending U.S. trademark
application for the mark "Independence" for brewed alcoholic beverages (the
Moosehead Marks). This agreement is for a two-year license for use of the
Moosehead Marks in the United States whereby the Company will pay Moosehead
$30,000 per year for such right and, upon termination of such two-year
period, all rights to the use of "Independence" will be transferred to the
Company for an additional payment of $30,000.
The Company utilizes a number of recipes in the production of its beers and
protects these recipes as trade secrets. In addition, product packaging,
advertising and promotional design, and artwork are important to the
Company's success, and such materials are considered protected by common law
copyright.
6. Florida Agreement
From April 1995 until January 1997, Robert W. Connor, Jr., President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company, was a director, officer and a
shareholder of Independence Florida, a corporation that is currently
operating a brewpub in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, utilizing the Independence
Marks. In addition, Independence Florida has filed federal trademark and
service mark applications for "Independence Brewery and Restaurant." The
Company has entered into an agreement with Independence Florida (note J5).
In addition, pursuant to Mr. Connor's employment agreement with the Company,
Mr. Connor will offer to transfer his shares of Common Stock of Independence
Florida to the Company if such transfer is permitted pursuant to an existing
agreement among Independence Florida and its shareholders. If such shares
are not transferred, the Company and Mr. Connor have agreed that the Company
will receive any economic benefit from Mr. Connor's shares of Common Stock
of Independence Florida, including dividends and sale proceeds in excess of
Mr. Connor's original purchase price of such shares.
All future transactions between the Company and its officers, directors and
principal shareholders and their affiliates will be approved by a majority
of the non-employee members of the Board, and will be on terms no less
favorable to the Company than could be obtained from unaffiliated third
parties.
NOTE K - SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
During 1995, the Company sold 130,957 shares of its Common Stock priced at
$2.75 or $3.00 per share through private offerings aggregating $384,836. In
addition, the Company issued 6,000 shares of its Common Stock valued between
$2.75 and $3.00 per share to individuals who provided services to the
Company.
(Continued)
-37-
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1996 and 1995
NOTE K - SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - Continued
On December 6, 1995, the Board of Directors declared a 100% stock dividend,
effected in the form of a stock split, issued on January 5, 1996 for
shareholders of record on December 6, 1995. As a result of this dividend,
issued and outstanding shares increased from 581,707 to 1,163,414 in 1995
prior to the Company issuing certain convertible investor notes. Finally,
3,124 shares of Common Stock valued at $3.00 per share were issued to
holders of the convertible investor notes discussed in note E.
As a result of the Company's termination of its Subchapter S status on
November 30, 1995, the Company has reclassified its previously undistributed
accumulated Subchapter S Corporation losses of $573,184 to Common Stock.
During the year ended December 31, 1996, the Company sold 2,332 shares of
its Common Stock priced at $3.00 per share through private offerings
aggregating $6,996. Additionally, 7,844 shares of Common Stock valued at
$3.00 per share were issued to holders of the convertible investor notes
discussed in note E.
The Company, in connection with the Private Placements discussed in note M,
amended and restated its Articles of Incorporation whereby the Company is
authorized to issue 20,000,000 shares of capital stock, of which 19,000,000
shares are Common Stock, no par value; 500,000 shares are Series A preferred
stock, par value $10.00 per share (Series A Preferred Stock); and 500,000
shares are Series B preferred stock, par value $10.00 per share (Series B
Preferred Stock).
Holders of outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled
to receive cumulative cash dividends at a rate of $1.80 per share per annum.
Holders of outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled
to receive cumulative cash dividends at a rate of $1.40 per share per annum.
Both the Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock contain
mandatory redemption provisions whereby the Company shall redeem all
outstanding shares on the five-year anniversary date of the date of issuance
of such shares at $10.00 cash per share on the occurrence of certain events,
as defined, together with an amount on each redemption date equal to the
accrued and unpaid dividends on such shares to the redemption date. The
Company redeemed the Series B Preferred Stock with a portion of the net
proceeds from the Public Offering (notes P and Q).
NOTE L - CUSTOMER INFORMATION
1. Major Customers
Two customers accounted for approximately 12% and 10% of the Company's sales
during the year ended December 31, 1996. The same two customers accounted
for approximately 21% and 22% of the Company's sales during the year ended
December 31, 1995.
(Continued)
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<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1996 and 1995
NOTE L - CUSTOMER INFORMATION - Continued
2. Contract Brewing Arrangements
The Company has entered into arrangements to provide contract brewing
services to third parties which market and sell beer produced by the
Company, but marketed by the third party under such party's own proprietary
labels. Approximately 16% and 9% of the Company's revenues resulted from
contract brewing in 1996 and 1995, respectively.
NOTE M - PRIVATE PLACEMENTS
In anticipation of the closing of the financing transactions described below
(the Private Placements), the Company was advanced $100,000 on each of May
6, 1996 and July 16, 1996, respectively, from Winfield Capital Corporation
(Winfield). These notes accrued interest at a rate of 12.75% per annum and
were due no later than August 15, 1996. The Company's President personally
guaranteed each of the notes. The entire principal amount of each note was
repaid in connection with the closing of the Private Placements, and the
personal guarantees were released.
On August 12, 1996, September 13, 1996 and September 20, 1996, the Company
sold $800,000 of debentures convertible into shares of Series A Preferred
Stock of the Company (the Debentures) to Winfield and certain shareholders
of the Company (collectively, the Purchasers). To the extent that such
shareholders did not so participate, Winfield agreed to act as "standby"
purchaser for the entire $800,000 in Debentures being offered. The
Debentures bear interest at a rate of 12.75% per annum, provided that if the
Debentures are prepaid, as otherwise permitted, the Debentures will bear
interest at a rate of 14% per annum from the date of issuance. The
Debentures are due five years from date of issuance. The Company is
obligated to make monthly principal payments aggregating $22,222 along with
accrued interest, commencing 24 months after the sale of the Debentures. The
Company repaid these Debentures with a portion of the net proceeds from the
Public Offering (notes P and Q).
In consideration of the purchase by the Purchasers of the Debentures, the
Purchasers received warrants which entitled them to purchase 415,275 shares
of Common Stock for the aggregate exercise price of $2,081 (the Series A
Warrants). All of the Series A Warrants were exercised by the Purchasers on
September 13, 1996 and September 20, 1996. A deferred interest charge of
$3.00 per share, totalling $1,245,825, was assigned to these shares and is
being amortized over the terms of the Debentures.
In addition, in consideration of the purchase by Winfield of the Debentures,
Winfield received (i) a warrant (the Preferred Warrant) that entitled
Winfield to purchase 70,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock of the
Company, par value $10.00, exercisable immediately for an aggregate exercise
price of $700,000 and (ii) a warrant (the Series C Warrant) that entitled
Winfield to purchase 622,913 shares of Common Stock for the aggregate
exercise price of $3,115. Winfield exercised the Preferred Warrant and the
Series C Warrant on September 13, 1996. The Company redeemed all outstanding
shares of Series B Preferred Stock upon the consummation of the Public
Offering (notes P and Q), including dividends payable to date. A deferred
charge of $3.00 per share, totalling $1,868,739, was assigned to these
shares and is being amortized over the terms of the Series B Preferred
Stock.
(Continued)
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<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1996 and 1995
NOTE M - PRIVATE PLACEMENTS - Continued
In consideration for agreeing to act as standby purchaser for the balance of
the Debentures not purchased by the Company shareholders and for agreeing to
allow certain shareholders of the Company to participate in the purchase of
the Debentures, Winfield received a warrant (the Series B Warrant) which
entitles Winfield to purchase 3,500,000 shares of Common Stock of the
Company at a price of $6.00 per share. The Series B Warrant is immediately
exercisable and expires five years following the Company's initial public
offering (notes P and Q).
The holders of the shares of stock that were issued upon exercise of the
Series A Warrants, the Series C Warrant and the holders of shares of Common
Stock that were issued upon exercise of the holders of the Series B Warrant
are entitled to certain rights with respect to the registration under the
Securities Act, for resale to the public, of the shares of Common Stock
underlying the Series A Warrants and the Series C Warrant and of the Series
B Warrant, respectively. Winfield has agreed unconditionally that it will
not offer to sell, pledge, contract or sell or otherwise attempt to transfer
or dispose of any beneficial interest in any shares of Common Stock it
received in connection with the Private Placements for a period of 36 months
from the date of purchase.
NOTE N - RESCISSION OFFER
During the period from June 25, 1994 through December 1, 1995, the Company
offered for sale and sold to investors a total of 207,914 shares of the
Company's Common Stock (the Original Shares). During the period from
December 1995 through May 1996, the Company offered and sold to investors
notes, convertible into shares of Common Stock at maturity in the aggregate
principal amount of $263,300 (together with the Original Shares, the
Rescission Securities). Because certain of the applicable provisions of
federal and state securities laws relating to the registration of securities
for offer and sale may not have been complied with in connection with the
offer or sale of the Rescission Securities, the Company offered to
repurchase the Rescission Securities for cash in an amount equal to the
original purchase price plus interest from the date of purchase, less any
dividends, interest payments or cash distributions in respect to the
Rescission Securities. The Company received rescission acceptances from five
shareholders whose investment totalled $24,750 for 18,000 shares of Common
Stock. On September 27, 1996, the Company repurchased such shares of Common
Stock for an aggregate purchase price, including interest, of $26,927. The
Company subsequently sold 18,000 shares of Common Stock to four shareholders
for an aggregate purchase price of $24,750. No underwriters were involved
and no commissions were paid.
The investors to which various notes were sold rejected the Rescission
Offer, and on August 12, 1996, these investors converted these notes into
Common Stock (note E).
NOTE O - STOCK OPTION PLAN
The Company adopted a nonqualified stock option plan under which it may
grant up to 300,000 shares of Common Stock. The Company may not grant any
incentive stock options with a purchase price of less than fair market value
of the Common Stock as of the date of the grant. Through December 31, 1996,
the Company has not granted any options under the Plan.
(Continued)
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<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1996 and 1995
NOTE O - STOCK OPTION PLAN - Continued
SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, a fair value-based
method for valuing stock-based compensation that entities may use, measures
compensation cost at the grant date based on the fair value of the award.
Compensation is then recognized over the service period, which is usually
the vesting period. Alternatively, the standard permits entities to
continue accounting for employee stock options and similar equity
instruments under Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25,
Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Entities that continue to account
for stock options using APB Opinion No. 25 are required to make pro forma
disclosures of net income and earnings per share, as if the fair
value-based method of accounting defined in SFAS No. 123 had been applied.
The Company's stock options are accounted for under APB Opinion No. 25. The
Company had no options outstanding during 1996 or 1995.
NOTE P - PUBLIC OFFERING
The Company closed a public offering on February 14, 1997 of 900,000 shares
(the Shares) of Common Stock, no par value per share (the Common Stock) and
4,000,000 redeemable Common Stock purchase warrants (the Redeemable
Warrants). The Shares and the Redeemable Warrants (collectively, the
Securities) may be purchased separately and will be separately tradable
immediately upon issuance. It is currently anticipated that the initial
public offering prices of the Shares and the Redeemable Warrants will be
$5.00 and $0.50, respectively. In anticipation of the public offering, the
Company redeemed all its outstanding fractional shares for cash. Each
Redeemable Warrant entitles the registered holder thereof to purchase one
share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $6.00 subject to adjustment,
commencing on the date of the Prospectus until 60 months from the date of
the Prospectus at which time the Redeemable Warrants shall expire. The
Redeemable Warrants are redeemable by the Company, with the consent of the
underwriter, at any time commencing one year, after the offering, at a
redemption price of $0.10 per Redeemable Warrant, provided that the average
closing bid price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds $8.00 per share for
any 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on
the fifth trading day prior to the date of the notice of redemption. The net
proceed received by the Company in connection with the public offering was
approximately $5,636,000.
The Company has granted to the underwriter a 45-day option to purchase up to
an additional 135,000 shares of Common Stock and/or 600,000 Redeemable
Warrants on the same terms and conditions as set forth above solely to cover
overallotments. On February 12, 1997, the underwriter exercised its option
to purchase 600,000 redeemable warrants. Proceeds to the Company amounted to
approximately $260,000, net of approximately $40,000 of closing costs.
1. The underwriter of the public offering received a discount of 10% and a
nonaccountable expense allowance equal to 3% of the gross proceeds of the
public offering. The discount and expenses amounted to approximately
$864,000. In addition, the Company sold to the underwriter, for nominal
consideration, warrants to purchase 90,000 shares of Common Stock and
400,000 Redeemable Warrants (the Underwriter's Warrants). The Underwriter's
Warrants are initially exercisable at a price of $6.00 per share of Common
Stock and $0.60 per Redeemable Warrant for a period of four years commencing
one year from the date of the Prospectus. The Redeemable Warrants underlying
the Underwriter's Warrants are exercisable at a price of $7.50 per share of
Common Stock.
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<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1996 and 1995
NOTE Q - PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
The following represents the unaudited pro forma, as adjusted balance sheet
and statement of operations of the Company as if the Public Offering (note
P) occurred on December 31, 1996. The pro forma, as adjusted condensed
financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared using the
historical financial statements of the Company, and are qualified entirely
by reference to, and should be read in conjunction with, such historical
financial statements. The pro forma, as adjusted financial statements are
provided for informational and comparative purposes only. The pro forma, as
adjusted financial statements do not purport to be indicative of the results
of operations and financial position of the Company had such transactions in
fact occurred on December 31, 1996 or during the periods presented or during
any future period.
The unaudited pro forma, as adjusted balance sheet as of December 31, 1996
is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Actual As adjusted
December 31, Pro forma December 31,
ASSETS 1996 adjustments 1996
------------ ----------------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Current assets $ 525,426 $ 259,724 (5) $ 4,641,785
5,636,342 (1)
(700,000) (2)
(800,000) (3)
(45,067) (2)(3)
(234,640) (4)
Equipment and leasehold improvements 1,395,871 -- 1,395,871
Other 3,346,747 (2,916,256) (2)(3) 35,725
(55,856) (2)(3)
(338,910) (4)
----------- -----------
$ 5,268,044 $ 6,073,381
=========== ===========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities $ 858,039 $ (45,067) (2)(3) $ 812,972
Long-term debt 2,017,497 (700,000) (2) 517,497
(800,000) (3)
Other liabilities 35,436 - 35,436
Shareholders' equity 2,357,072 5,636,342 (1) 4,707,476
(2,916,256) (2)(3)
(55,856) (2)(3)
(573,550) (4)
259,724 (5)
----------- -----------
$ 5,268,044 $ 6,073,381
=========== ============
</TABLE>
(Continued)
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<PAGE>
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED
December 31, 1996 and 1995
NOTE Q - PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) - Continued
The unaudited pro forma, as adjusted statement of operations for the year
ended December 31, 1996 is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Actual As adjusted
December 31, Pro forma December 31,
1996 adjustments 1996
------------ --------------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
Net sales $ 506,960 $ 506,960
Cost of goods sold 801,482 801,482
----------- -----------
Gross loss (294,522) (294,522)
Advertising, promotional and selling expenses 158,015 158,015
General and administrative expenses 413,004 413,004
Interest expense 377,551 $ 2,916,256 (2) (3) 3,349,663
55,856 (2) (3)
Other income, net 19,965 19,965
----------- -----------
NET LOSS $(1,223,127) $(4,195,239)
========== ===========
Net loss per common share $ (0.54) $ (1.33)
=========== ===========
Weighted average shares outstanding 2,249,683 3,149,683
=========== ===========
</TABLE>
Notes to the unaudited pro forma, as adjusted financial statements are as
follows:
(1) The sale of 900,000 shares of Common Stock and 4,000,000 Redeemable
Warrants in connection with this offering at the initial public
offering price of $5.00 and $0.50, respectively, net of
underwriting discounts and commissions (note P).
(2) Reflects the write-off of unamortized original issue discount of
$1,757,127 and write-off of deferred financing costs of $26,328 as
a result of the redemption of $700,000 of Series B Preferred Stock
and accrued dividends of $38,150 (note M).
(3) Reflects the write-off of unamortized original issue discount of
$1,159,129 and write-off of deferred financing costs of $29,528 as
a result of the repayment of $800,000 of convertible debentures and
accrued interest of $6,197 (note M).
(4) Eliminations of deferred issuance costs.
(5) Underwriter's exercising of its option to purchase 600,000
Redeemable Warrants at $0.50 per warrant, net of underwriting
discounts and offering expenses.
Item 8. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure
None.
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<PAGE>
PART III
Item 9. Directors, Executive Officers, Promoters and Control Persons; Compliance
With Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
MANAGEMENT
Directors and Officers
Set forth below is certain information regarding the Company's directors
and executive officers:
Name Age Position
---- --- --------
Robert W. Connor, Jr.............. 34 Chairman of the Board, President,
Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer
William Moore..................... 40 Director, Brewmaster and Secretary
Wayne Anderson.................... 48 Chief Operating Officer
Stefan Karnavas................... 34 Director
Michael R. Thompson............... 44 Director
Jacques de Saint Phalle........... 36 Director
Robert W. Connor, Jr. Mr. Connor, founder of the Company, has been the
Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer of the
Company since May 1994. From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Connor was an Investment
Consultant with Pennsylvania Merchant Group Ltd. Mr. Connor was also the Vice
President, Secretary and a member of the Board of Directors of Independence
Florida from April 1995 until January 1997.
William Moore. Mr. Moore has been the Company's Brewmaster and Secretary
since May 1994. From 1990 to 1994, Mr. Moore was the head brewer for Stoudt's
Brewery in Adamstown, Pennsylvania.
Wayne Anderson. Mr. Anderson has been the Chief Operating Officer of the
Company since March 1997. From April 1996 to December 1996, Mr. Anderson was the
General Manager of Star Brewing Company in Portland, Oregon. From 1989 until
1996, Mr. Anderson was the General Manager of Bridgeport Brewing Company in
Portland, Oregon.
Stefan Karnavas. Mr. Karnavas has been a director of the Company since July
1996. Mr. Karnavas has been the Chief Financial Officer of the Cobblestone Golf
Group, Inc. since April
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<PAGE>
1996. From 1990 to 1996, Mr. Karnavas was the Treasurer of Horizon Cellular
Telephone Company.
Michael R. Thompson. Mr. Thompson has been a director of the Company since
December 1996. Since April 1991, Mr. Thompson has been employed by Turner
Investments Partners, Inc. ("TIP") and is responsible for new business
activities and client services. TIP provides investment management services
primarily to institutional investors.
Jacques de Saint Phalle. Mr. de Saint Phalle has been a director of the
Company since December 1996. Since March 1996, Mr. de Saint Phalle has been
employed by Bear Stearns & Co. as a Managing Director in its securities
division. From 1993 to 1995, Mr. de Saint Phalle was employed by Bankers Trust
New York Corporation as a Managing Director in its securities division. From
1989 to 1993, Mr. de Saint Phalle was employed by Citicorp as a Vice President
in its securities division.
Each member of the Board was elected to hold office for a period of one
year and until his successor is elected and qualified or until such director's
earlier death, resignation or removal. Directors will not receive any
compensation for serving on the Board. The officers are elected by the Board and
serve at the Board's discretion.
Item 10. Executive Compensation
Executive Compensation
The following table sets forth the compensation paid to the Company's Chief
Executive Officer for the year ended December 31, 1996 (the "Named Executive
Officer"). No other executive officer of the Company received total annual
salary and bonus in excess of $100,000 during the year ended December 31, 1996.
Summary Compensation Table
Annual Compensation
----------------------
Name and Principal Position Salary Bonus
--------------------------- ------ -----
Robert W. Connor, Jr............................. $36,581 --
Chairman of the Board, President,
Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer
- ----------------------
(1) Mr. Connor has entered into an employment agreement which provided for
certain increases in his annual salary. See "-- Employment Arrangements."
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<PAGE>
Employment Arrangements
Mr. Connor entered into a three-year employment agreement (the "Connor
Agreement") with the Company on August 12, 1996. Pursuant to the Connor
Agreement, Mr. Connor serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company and, as of the closing of the IPO, receives for his services a base
salary of $100,000, plus annual increases of not less than 10% of the prior
year's salary for the first two years after the IPO. Mr. Connor is also eligible
for an annual bonus as determined by the Board. In addition, the Company has
agreed to grant Mr. Connor options to purchase that number of shares of Common
Stock pursuant to the Company's Stock Plan equal to 2.5% of the issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock as of August 12, 1996 (not including shares
issuable pursuant to any warrants of the Company). The Connor Agreement provides
that Mr. Connor is subject to a covenant not to compete with the Company during
the term of his employment and for a two-year period after his employment with
the Company terminates. If Mr. Connor is terminated for any reason other than
"cause", "total disability", as defined therein, or the death of Mr. Connor, the
Company must pay Mr. Connor his salary as accrued through the date of
termination and for two years thereafter. "Cause" is generally defined as: (i)
failure to fulfill his employment duties; (ii) breach of certain covenants in
the Connor Agreement; (iii) commission of a felony or crime of moral turpitude,
fraud or misrepresentation, whether or not related to the Company; (iv) any
willful act injuring the Company; or (v) the breach of duty of loyalty to the
Company. During the term of the Connor Agreement and at all times after his
termination, Mr. Connor has agreed to retain in confidence and not otherwise use
any confidential or proprietary information of the Company.
Mr. Moore entered into an employment agreement (the "Moore Agreement") with
the Company effective as of August 12, 1996 and terminating on December 31,
1999. Mr. Moore will serve as the Brewmaster of the Company and will receive a
base salary of $45,000 per year, plus annual increases based upon the salary
policies of the Company and Mr. Moore's contributions to the Company. Mr. Moore
is also eligible for an annual bonus as determined by the Board. Mr. Moore is
subject to a covenant not to compete with the Company during the term of his
employment and for a two-year period after his employment with the Company
terminates. In addition, if Mr. Moore is terminated for any reason other than
"cause", as defined in the Moore Agreement, "total disability", as defined
therein, or the death of Mr. Moore, the Company must pay Mr. Moore, or his
heirs, his salary as accrued through the date of termination and for two years
thereafter. "Cause" is generally defined as: (i) failure to fulfill his
employment duties; (ii) breach of certain covenants in the Moore Agreement;
(iii) commission of a felony or crime of moral turpitude, fraud or
misrepresentation, whether or not related to the Company; (iv) any willful act
injuring the Company; or (v) the breach of duty of loyalty to the Company.
During the term of the Moore Agreement and at all times after his termination,
Mr. Moore has agreed to retain in confidence and not otherwise use any
confidential or proprietary information of the Company.
Mr. Anderson entered into an employment agreement (the "Anderson
Agreement") with the Company effective as of March 19, 1997 and terminating on
March 18, 2000, subject to termination by either party on each anniversary of
the agreement upon 90 days prior notice. Mr. Anderson will serve as the Chief
Operating Officer of the Company and will receive a base salary of $75,000 per
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<PAGE>
year, plus annual increases based upon the salary policies of the Company and
Mr. Anderson's contributions to the Company. Mr. Anderson is also eligible for
an annual bonus as determined by the Board. In addition, the Company has agreed
to grant Mr. Anderson options to purchase 75,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant
to the Company's Stock Plan. Mr. Anderson is subject to a covenant not to
compete with the Company during the term of his employment and for a two-year
period after his employment with the Company terminates. In addition, if Mr.
Anderson is terminated for any reason other than "cause", as defined in the
Anderson Agreement, "total disability", as defined therein, or the death of Mr.
Anderson, the Company must pay Mr. Anderson, or his heirs, his salary as accrued
through the date of termination and for one year thereafter. "Cause" is
generally defined as: (i) failure to fulfill his employment duties; (ii) breach
of certain covenants in the Anderson Agreement; (iii) commission of a felony or
crime of moral turpitude, fraud or misrepresentation, whether or not related to
the Company; (iv) any willful act injuring the Company; or (v) the breach of
duty of loyalty to the Company. During the term of the Anderson Agreement and at
all times after his termination, Mr. Anderson has agreed to retain in confidence
and not otherwise use any confidential or proprietary information of the
Company.
Committees of the Board of Directors
In January 1997, the Board formed an Audit Committee and a Compensation
Committee. The Audit Committee will review the engagement of the independent
accountants, will review and approve the scope of the annual audit undertaken by
the independent accountants and will review the independence of the accounting
firm. The Audit Committee will also review the audit and non-audit fees of the
independent accountants and the adequacy of the Company's internal control
procedures. The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Karnavas, Thompson
and de Saint Phalle. The Compensation Committee will review all salary and
executive compensation issues for the Company's employees and directors. The
members of the Compensation Committee are Messrs. Karnavas, Thompson and de
Saint Phalle.
Stock Plan
The Company has adopted the Independence Brewing Company Omnibus Stock Plan
(the "Stock Plan") which provides for the grant of stock options to purchase up
to an aggregate of 300,000 shares of the Common Stock, stock appreciation rights
(including free-standing, tandem and limited stock appreciation rights)
("SARs"), restricted or unrestricted share awards, phantom stock, performance
awards, or any combination of the foregoing (collectively, "Awards").
Participation in the Stock Plan is open to all employees, directors and
consultants of the Company (the "Participants"). The Company believes that the
Stock Plan will promote the long-term growth and profitability of the Company by
providing key people associated with the Company with incentives to improve
shareholder value and to contribute to the growth and financial success of the
Company. Moreover, the Company believes that the Stock Plan will enable the
Company to attract, retain and reward the best available persons for positions
of substantial responsibility.
The Stock Plan will be administered by the Board, or in the alternative, a
committee appointed by the Board whose members are deemed to be "Non-Employee
Directors" as that term
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<PAGE>
is defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act")
(such group administering the Stock Plan will be referred to as the
"Committee"). The persons eligible to receive Awards under the Stock Plan are
those Participants selected by the Committee in its discretion from time to
time.
All terms and conditions of Awards granted under the Stock Plan are
determined by the Committee, including the selection of Participants to whom
Awards will be granted, the types of Awards to be granted, the number of shares
to be covered by or used for reference purposes for each Award, the exercise
price or base price, respectively, of each stock option or SAR granted (price
may not be less than 100% of the fair market value for incentive stock options
("ISOs"), the expiration date of each stock option and SAR granted (subject to a
maximum of 10 years from the date of the grant), the vesting schedule and any
other material provisions.
In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization,
reclassification, combination of shares, or other similar event, appropriate
proportional adjustments will be made in the number of shares reserved for
issuance under the Stock Plan, the number, kind and price of shares covered by
outstanding Awards, and any other matters which relate to Awards and which are
affected by the changes set forth above. The Stock Plan also provides for the
ability of the Committee to accelerate or change the exercise date of Awards,
and provides discretion to the Committee to take whatever other actions it deems
necessary or desirable with respect to all outstanding Awards upon the
occurrence of a "Change of Control," as such term is defined in the Stock Plan.
Stock options and SARs may not be exercised more than 10 years after the date of
grant (five years after the date of grant with respect to an ISO granted to any
person who owns stock of the Company possessing 10% or more of the total voting
power of all the Company's stock) and Awards granted under the Stock Plan are
not transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
The Committee has the discretion to award stock options to Participants as
either ISOs (employees only) or as non-qualified stock options ("NQSOs"). Stock
options awarded to Participants who are not employees are NQSOs. The exercise
price of an ISO must be not less than the fair market value of the Common Stock
on the date the option is granted (110% of fair market value with respect to an
ISO granted to any person who owns stock of the Company possessing 10% or more
of the total voting power of all the Company's stock), and is payable upon the
exercise of the option. The exercise price of a NQSO may be less than the fair
market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted. The number
of shares covered by ISOs granted to any optionee is limited such that the
aggregate fair market value of stock (determined as of the date of the grant)
with respect to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by such optionee
in any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000. The excess ISOs, if any, will be
treated as NQSOs.
Item 11. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial
ownership of the Common Stock at March 24, 1997, including the effect of the
exercise of any outstanding warrants,
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<PAGE>
by (i) each person known to the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the
Common Stock, (ii) each director and the Named Executive Officer of the Company
and (iii) all directors and the Named Executive Officer as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Percentage of
Name and Address of Beneficially Outstanding Shares of
Beneficial Owner Owned(1) Common Stock
------------------- ------------ ---------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Robert W. Connor, Jr...................... 574,166 17.9%
7510 McCallum Street
Philadelphia, PA 19118
Winfield Capital Corp.(2).................. 4,449,941 66.3%
237 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
William Moore.............................. 50,000 1.6%
274 Diamond Street
Pottstown, PA 19464
Stefan Karnavas............................ 19,220 *
Cobblestone Golf
5220 Fiore Terrace
Apartment M-304
San Diego, CA 92122
Michael R. Thompson........................ 18,194 *
1 Springton Pointe Drive
Newtown Square, PA 19073
Jacques de Saint Phalle.................... 62,977 2.0%
108 Fifth Avenue #4C
New York, NY 10011
All officers and directors as a group
(five persons)............................. 724,557 22.6%
</TABLE>
- ---------------
* Represents less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
(1) As used in this table, "beneficial ownership" means the sole or shared
power to vote or direct the voting of a security, or the sole or shared
investment power with respect to a security (i.e., the power to dispose, or
direct the disposition, of a security). A person is deemed as of any date
to have "beneficial ownership" of any security that such person has the
right to acquire within 60 days after such date.
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<PAGE>
(2) Includes 3,500,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the
Series B Warrant granted to Winfield, which is exercisable immediately at
an exercise price of $6.00 per share. See "Certain Transactions -- Private
Placements."
Item 12. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Private Placements
In anticipation of the closing of the financing transactions described
below (the "Private Placements"), the Company was advanced an aggregate of
$200,000 on May 6, 1996 and July 16, 1996 from Winfield to fund short term
operations. The Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Robert W.
Connor, Jr., personally guaranteed each of the notes. The entire principal
amount of each note was repaid in connection with the closing of the Private
Placements and the personal guarantees were released.
To fund operations, on August 12, 1996, September 13, 1996 and September
20, 1996, the Company sold $800,000 of debentures convertible into shares of
Series A Preferred Stock of the Company (the "Debentures") to Winfield and
certain shareholders of the Company (collectively referred to as the
"Purchasers"). To the extent that such shareholders did not so participate,
Winfield agreed to act as "standby" purchaser for the entire $800,000 in
Debentures being offered.
In consideration of the purchase by the Purchasers of the Debentures, the
Purchasers received warrants which entitled them to purchase 415,275 shares of
Common Stock for the aggregate exercise price of $2,081 (the "Series A
Warrants"). All of the Series A Warrants were exercised by the Purchasers on
September 13, 1996 and September 20, 1996. The Company assigned a deferred
interest charge of $3.00 per share totaling $1,245,825 to these shares and is
amortizing it over the term of the Debentures.
In addition, in consideration of the purchase by Winfield of the
Debentures, Winfield received (i) a warrant (the "Preferred Warrant ") that
entitled Winfield to purchase 70,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock of the
Company, par value $10.00 (the "Series B Preferred Stock"), exercisable
immediately for an aggregate exercise price of $700,000 and (ii) a warrant (the
"Series C Warrant") that entitled Winfield to purchase 622,913 shares of Common
Stock for the aggregate exercise price of $3,115. Winfield exercised the
Preferred Warrant and the Series C Warrant on September 13, 1996. The Company
assigned a deferred interest charge of $3.00 per share, totaling $1,868,739, to
these shares and is amortizing it over the term of the Series B Preferred Stock.
The Company redeemed all outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock upon the
consummation of the IPO. Holders of the Series B Preferred Stock were entitled
to receive dividends at the rate of $1.40 per share per year.
In consideration for agreeing to act as standby purchaser for the balance
of the Debentures not purchased by the Company shareholders and for agreeing to
allow certain shareholders of the Company to participate in the purchase of the
Debentures, Winfield received a warrant (the "Series B Warrant") which entitles
Winfield to purchase 3.5 million shares of Common Stock of the
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<PAGE>
Company at a price of $6.00 per share. The Series B Warrant is immediately
exercisable and expires five years following the IPO.
The holders of the shares of Common Stock that were issued upon exercise of
the Series A Warrants, the holders of the shares of Common Stock that were
issued upon exercise of the Series C Warrant and the holders of the Series B
Warrant are entitled to certain rights with respect to the registration under
the Securities Act, for resale to the public, of (i) the shares of Common Stock
that were issued upon exercise of the Series A Warrants and the Series C Warrant
and (ii) the Series B Warrant, respectively.
The Company received approximately $1,310,000 of net proceeds from the sale
of the Debentures and the Series B Preferred Stock after accounting for a
$15,000 processing fee and a $45,000 commitment fee paid to Winfield and
approximately $130,000 in professional fees and expenses. Such net proceeds, a
substantial amount of which has already been expended, were allocated, in
approximate amounts, as follows: (i) working capital ($755,000); (ii) new
bottling line deposit ($55,000); (iii) marketing and sales ($200,000); (iv)
trademark and patent expenses ($100,000); (v) kegs and keg equipment ($75,000);
(vi) brewery improvements ($50,000); (vii) packaging materials ($40,000); and
(viii) point of sales equipment ($35,000). The foregoing are estimated
allocations of such proceeds from which the actual use may differ. The Company
repaid the Debentures with a portion of the net proceeds from the IPO.
In connection with the issuance and anticipated repayment of the Debentures
and the Series B Preferred Stock, the Company will write off (i) unamortized
original issue discount of $1,159,129 and $1,757,127, respectively, and (ii)
deferred financing costs of approximately $29,528 and $26,328, respectively.
Winfield has agreed unconditionally that it will not sell, offer to sell,
pledge, contract to sell or otherwise attempt to transfer or dispose of any
beneficial interest in any equity or derivative securities it received in
connection with the Private Placements for so long as requested by Nasdaq, not
to exceed a period of thirty-six (36) months from the date of purchase.
In addition, Mr. Connor has agreed to vote in favor of the election of one
nominee for the Board of Directors of the Company selected by Winfield, as long
as Winfield owns greater than 10% of the outstanding Common Stock.
Guaranties
On January 18, 1995, the Company borrowed $430,000 pursuant to the SBA
Loan. The SBA Loan is evidenced by a promissory note bearing interest at the
prime rate plus 2% (effective rate of 10.25% at September 30, 1996). Principal
and interest are payable monthly through January 18, 2002 when all unpaid
interest and principal are due in full. Robert W. Connor, Jr. personally
guaranteed the SBA Loan.
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<PAGE>
On February 1, 1995, the Company borrowed $250,000 pursuant to a
Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation loan. The loan is evidenced by a
promissory note bearing annual interest at 3.75%. Principal and interest are
payable monthly through July 1, 2002. Robert W. Connor, Jr. personally
guaranteed this loan.
Florida Agreement
From April 1995 until January 1997, Robert W. Connor, Jr., President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company, was a director, officer and a
shareholder of Independence Florida, a corporation that is currently operating a
brewpub in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, utilizing the Independence Marks. In
addition, Independence Florida has filed federal trademark and service mark
applications for "Independence Brewery and Restaurant." The Company has entered
into an agreement with Independence Florida whereby (i) Independence Florida
transferred and assigned all of its rights, title and interest in the
Independence Marks and the Applications to the Company, (ii) Independence
Florida was granted a perpetual royalty free license to use the Independence
Marks for its one location only, subject to termination upon certain conditions,
and (iii) the Company agreed not to operate a bar or restaurant in Broward
County, Florida, Independence Florida's geographic region, without the consent
of Independence Florida. In addition, pursuant to Mr. Connor's employment
agreement with the Company, Mr. Connor will offer to transfer his shares of
common stock of Independence Florida to the Company if such transfer is
permitted pursuant to an existing agreement among Independence Florida and its
shareholders. If such shares are not transferred, the Company and Mr. Connor
have agreed that the Company will receive any economic benefit from Mr. Connor's
shares of common stock of Independence Florida, including dividends and sale
proceeds in excess of Mr. Connor's original purchase price of such shares.
All future transactions between the Company and its officers, directors and
principal shareholders and their affiliates will be approved by a majority of
the non-employee members of the Board, and will be on terms no less favorable to
the Company than could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
Subordinated Convertible Notes
During December 1995, $75,000 was loaned to the Company from certain
shareholders of the Company. These notes accrued interest at a rate of 10% per
annum and were payable within one year of issuance. These notes were convertible
at maturity, at the discretion of the noteholders, into shares of Common Stock
at $3.00 per share. As a condition to the extension of credit, the Company
agreed to issue to each holder a number of shares of Common Stock equal to 12.5%
of the principal amount of such holder's loan. Accordingly, the Company issued a
total of 3,124 shares of Common Stock associated with these notes. These notes
were subordinated to the Company's long-term debt.
In December 1995 and February, March and May 1996 an aggregate of $188,300
was loaned to the Company from certain shareholders and directors of the
Company. These notes accrued interest at a rate of 10% per annum and were
payable within one year of issuance. These notes were convertible at maturity,
at the discretion of the noteholders, into shares of Common Stock at $3.00
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<PAGE>
per share. As a condition to the extension of credit, the Company agreed to
issue to each holder a number of shares of Common Stock equal to 12.5% of the
principal amount of such holder's loan. Accordingly, the Company issued a total
of 7,844 shares of Common Stock associated with these notes. These notes were
subordinated to the Company's long-term debt.
On August 12, 1996, the outstanding principal amount of the foregoing
notes, including accrued interest of $13,246, was converted into 92,182 shares
of Common Stock.
The Company believes that all prior transactions between the Company, its
officers, directors or other affiliates of the Company have been on terms no
less favorable than could have been obtained from unaffiliated third parties.
Any future transactions with officers, directors, 5% stockholders or affiliates
will be for valid business reasons, be on terms no less favorable to the Company
than could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties, and be approved by a
majority of the independent outside members of the Company's Board of Directors
who do not have an interest in the transaction.
Item 13. Exhibits, List and Reports on Form 8-K
(a) Exhibit No. Description
----------- -----------
3.1 Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of
Independence Brewing Company.*
3.2 Amended and Restated By-Laws of Independence Brewing
Company.*
4.1 Specimen Common Stock Certificate.*
4.2 Form of Warrant Certificate (included in Exhibit 4.3).*
4.3 Form of Warrant Agreement between Independence Brewing
Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.*
4.4 Form of Underwriter's Warrant Agreement between Independence
Brewing Company and A.S. Goldmen & Co., Inc.*
10.1 Amended and Restated Independence Brewing Company Omnibus
Stock Plan.*
10.2 Promissory Note made by Independence Brewing Company in
favor of Winfield Capital Corp., dated as of May 9, 1996.*
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<PAGE>
Exhibit No. Description
----------- -----------
10.3 Allonge to Promissory Note dated May 9, 1996 by and among
Independence Brewing Company, Winfield Capital Corp. and Robert
W. Connor, Jr., dated as of August 12, 1996.*
10.4 Promissory Note made by Independence Brewing Company in favor of
Winfield Capital Corp., dated as of July 16, 1996.*
10.5 Allonge to Promissory Note dated July 16, 1996 by and among
Independence Brewing Company, Winfield Capital Corp. and Robert
W. Connor, Jr., dated as of August 12, 1996.*
10.6 Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of August 12, 1996, by
and among Independence Brewing Company, Robert W. Connor, Jr.,
individually and Winfield Capital Corp. and the additional
investors who executed a counterpart to this Securities Purchase
Agreement.*
10.7 Convertible Debenture made by Independence Brewing Company in
favor of Winfield Capital Corp., dated August 12, 1996 (identical
Convertible Debentures, except as to the payee of the debentures,
the date of the debentures and the principal amount thereto, were
entered into with Winfield Capital Corp. dated September 13, 1996
for $180,000; Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
(TIN 13-2741729) Custodian F/B/O Matthew Giufrida Account No. 4cc
713989-1 dated September 20, 1996 for $50,000; Jacques de Saint
Phalle dated September 20, 1996 for $25,000; Leo J. Nolan dated
September 20, 1996 for $25,000; Michael Thompson dated September
20, 1996 for $20,000; Robert W. Connor, Sr. dated September 20,
1996 for $20,000; Louis Schwartz dated September 20, 1996 for
$20,000 and Thaddeus Nowinski dated September 20, 1996 for
$10,000).*
10.8 Series B Preferred Stock Warrant, dated August 12, 1996, to
purchase 70,000 shares of Series B Preferred Stock of
Independence Brewing Company granted to Winfield Capital Corp.*
10.9 Series A Warrant, dated August 12, 1996, to purchase 233,592
shares of Common Stock of Independence Brewing Company granted to
Winfield Capital Corp. (identical Series A Warrants, except as to
the grantee of the warrants, the date of the warrants and the
number of shares of Common Stock subject thereto, were entered
into with Winfield Capital Corp. dated September 13, 1996 for
93,531 shares of Common Stock; Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities
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<PAGE>
Exhibit No. Description
----------- -----------
Corporation (TIN 13-2741729) Custodian F/B/O Matthew Giufrida
Account No. 4cc 713989-1 dated September 20, 1996 for 25,955
shares of Common Stock; Jacques de Saint Phalle dated September
20, 1996 for 12,977.5 shares of Common Stock; Leo J. Nolan dated
September 20, 1996 for 12,977.5 shares of Common Stock; Michael
Thompson dated September 20, 1996 for 10,382 shares of Common
Stock; Robert W. Connor, Sr. dated September 20, 1996 for 10,382
shares of Common Stock; Louis Schwartz dated September 20, 1996
for 10,382 shares of Common Stock and Thaddeus Nowinski dated
September 20, 1996 for 5,191 shares of Common Stock).*
10.10 Warrant, dated August 12, 1996, to purchase 3,500,000 shares of
Common Stock of Independence Brewing Company granted to Winfield
Capital Corp.*
10.11 Series C Warrant, dated August 12, 1996, to purchase 622,912
shares of Common Stock of Independence Brewing Company granted to
Winfield Capital Corporation.*
10.12 Lease Agreement made the 11th of November, 1994, by and between
Alan R. Sizmur and Angeles Sizmur, Husband and Wife, and
Independence Brewing Company.*
10.13 Addendum to the Lease Agreement by and between Alan R. Sizmur and
Angeles Sizmur, husband and wife, and Independence Brewing
Company.*
10.14 Employment Agreement, dated as of August 12, 1996, between
Independence Brewing Company and Robert W. Connor, Jr.*
10.15 Employment Agreement, dated as of August 12, 1996, between
Independence Brewing Company and William Moore.*
10.16 Agreement among Independence Brewing Company, Independence
Brewing Company of Florida, Inc. and Robert W. Connor, Jr.*
10.17 Form of License Agreement between Independence Brewing Company
and Moosehead Brewing Company.*
10.18 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 12, 1996, by
and between Independence Brewing Company and the investors listed
on Schedule A thereto.*
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<PAGE>
Exhibit No. Description
----------- -----------
10.19 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 12, 1996, by
and between Independence Brewing Company and Winfield Capital
Corp.*
10.20 Registration Rights Agreement (Series C Warrants), dated as of
August 12, 1996, by and between Independence Brewing Company and
Winfield Capital Corp.*
10.21 Independence Brewing Company Brewing Agreement, dated as of
November 28, 1995, by and between Independence Brewing Company
and Hunterdon Brewing Company.*
10.22 Employment Agreement, dated as of March 19, 1997, between
Independence Brewing Company and Wayne Anderson.
11.1 Statement re: Computation of Per Share Earnings.
27.1 Financial Data Schedule for year ended December 31, 1996.
- -------------
* Included in the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2.
(b) Reports filed on Form 8-K during the last quarter of fiscal 1996:
None.
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<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
In accordance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the registrant
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized.
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
By: /s/ Robert W. Connor, Jr.
------------------------------
Name: Robert W. Connor, Jr.
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
Date: March 31, 1997
In accordance with the Exchange Act, this report has been signed below
by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and
on the date indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Robert W. Connor, Jr. Chairman of the Board, President March 31, 1997
- ----------------------------- and Chief Executive Officer
Robert W. Connor, Jr. (principal financial officer and
principal accounting officer)
/s/ Stefan Karnavas Director March 31, 1997
- -----------------------------
Stefan Karnavas
/s/ William Moore Director March 31, 1997
- -----------------------------
William Moore
Director
- -----------------------------
Michael R. Thompson
/s/ Jacques de Saint Phalle Director March 31, 1997
- -----------------------------
Jacques de Saint Phalle
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
Exhibit 10.22
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of March 19,1997 is between
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY, a Pennsylvania corporation (the "Company"), and
WAYNE ANDERSON (the "Executive") effective as of the date of closing of the
initial public offering of the Company's common stock (the "Effective Date"). In
consideration of the mutual covenants and representations herein contained and
the mutual benefits derived herefrom, the parties, intending to be legally
bound, covenant and agree as follows:
1. Purpose. The Company is engaged in the business of manufacturing and
producing, for sale at wholesale and at retail, craft brewed ales, lagers and
seasonal beers as well as other beverages for consumption, including, but not
limited to, soft drinks (collectively, the "Business"). The Company wishes to
employ the Executive, and the Executive has agreed to be employed by the
Company, on the terms and conditions herein provided.
2. Full-Time Employment of Executive - Duties and Status.
(a) The Company hereby engages the Executive as a full-time executive to
hold the office of Chief Operating Officer for the period specified in Section
5(a) hereof (the "Employment Period"), and the Executive accepts such
employment, on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. Throughout
the Employment Period, the Executive shall faithfully exercise such authority
and perform such executive duties as are set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto,
under the day-to-day supervision and general management of the President and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
(b) Throughout the Employment Period, the Executive shall have, inter
alia, primary responsibility for the oversight of the day-to-day operations and
administration of the Business, relating to those functions involved in the
operation of the Company's brewery facility, and shall (i) devote his full time
and efforts to the business of the Company and will not engage in consulting
work or any trade or business for his own account or for or on behalf of any
other person, firm or corporation, and (ii) accept such additional office or
offices to which he may be appointed by the Board, provided that the performance
of the duties of such office or offices shall generally be consistent with the
scope of the duties of a chief operating officer of a company similar to the
Company.
(c) Throughout the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to
vacation, leave of absence, and leave for illness or temporary disability in
accordance with the policies of the Company in effect from time to time for its
executive officers. Vacation leave and leave of absence, if taken by the
Executive, shall be taken at such times as are reasonably acceptable to the
Board. Any leave on account of illness or temporary disability which is short of
Total Disability (as defined in Section 5(d)(ii) hereof) shall not constitute a
breach by the Executive of his agreements hereunder even though leave on account
of a Total
<PAGE>
Disability may be deemed to result in a termination of the Employment Period
under the applicable provisions of this Agreement.
3. Compensation and General Benefits. As full compensation for his services
to the Company, the Executive shall, during the Employment Period, be
compensated as follows:
(a) The Company shall pay to the Executive a salary (the "Salary") based
upon a per annum rate of Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000). The Salary
shall be payable in periodic equal installments not less frequently than
monthly, less such sums as may be required to be deducted or withheld under
applicable provisions of federal, state and local law, plus increases in the
Salary, if any, as may be approved from time to time by the Board. The Salary
shall be subject to normal periodic review by the Board at least annually for
increases based on the salary policies of the Company and the Executive's
contributions to the enterprise. The Company shall pay such annual bonus to the
Executive based upon such performance and other standards as the Board shall
from time to time determine. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for his
reasonable moving and relocation expenses in assuming his duties, provided
satisfactory written evidence of payment is submitted to the Company within
ninety (90) days following the Effective Date.
(b) Throughout the Employment Period, the Executive shall be entitled to
(i) family medical and dental insurance coverage; and (ii) to participate in
such pension, profit sharing, stock incentive, bonus or incentive compensation,
stock option, stock purchase, incentive, group and individual disability, group
and individual life, survivor income, sickness, accident and health benefits and
other plans of the Company or additional benefit programs, plans or arrangements
of the Company which may be established by the Company for its executive
officers, as and to the extent any such benefit programs, plans and arrangements
as set forth in (ii) above are or may from time to time be in effect, as
determined by the Company and pursuant to the terms hereof and as and to the
extent that the Company is eligible to participate in such plans under the terms
of such plans. In addition, the Company shall grant to the Executive options to
purchase 75,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to the Incentive
Stock Option Plan of the Company (the "Plan") and subject to Paragraph 5(b),
such options shall vest in three (3) equal installments on each one year
anniversary date of this Agreement for three consecutive years, such grant to be
subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and a Grant Agreement to be
executed by the Executive at the time of such grant.
(c) The Company shall reimburse the Executive on a monthly basis for all
reasonable and customary business expenses incurred by him in the performance of
his duties hereunder, provided that the Executive shall submit vouchers and
other supporting data to substantiate the amount of said expenses in accordance
with Company policy from time to time in effect.
-2-
<PAGE>
4. Non-Competition; Confidential Information; Public Statements.
(a) Non-Competition. The Executive and the Company recognize that due to
the Executive's engagement hereunder and the relationship of the Executive to
the Company, the Executive will have access to and will acquire, and may assist
in developing, confidential and proprietary information relating to the assets,
business and operations of the Company and its affiliates, including, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, brew recipes and formulations, and
other information with respect to, among other things, the Company's present and
prospective techniques, systems, customers, accounts, sales and marketing
methods. The Executive acknowledges that such information has been and will
continue to be of central importance to the business of the Company and that
disclosure of it to, or its use by, others could cause substantial loss to the
Company. The Executive and the Company also recognize that an important part of
the Executive's duties may be to develop goodwill for the Company through his
personal contact with customers, agents and others having business relationships
with the Company, and that there is a danger that this goodwill, a proprietary
asset of the Company, may follow the Executive if and when his relationship with
the Company is terminated. The Executive accordingly agrees that, at all times
during the Employment Period and for two (2) years after termination of his
employment, the Executive shall not, in any capacity whatsoever, whether
directly or indirectly, on its own behalf, or on behalf of any other person,
firm, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association or other
entity (collectively, "Person"):
(i) own, manage, invest, participate, engage or become employed in
any activity which comprises or is similar to the Business, including, but not
limited to, any business which constitutes a "microbrewery" as such term is
generally defined within the alcoholic beverage industry, anywhere in the States
of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and such other States in which the Company
is "conducting business," as defined below, as of the date of such termination.
For purposes hereof, "conducting business" in a State shall mean that the
Company is engaged in the bona fide sales and marketing of its products in such
State for a period of six (6) months prior to the termination of Executive's
employment;
(ii) suggest to, induce or persuade any vendor or customer of the
Company to discontinue doing business, with, or to change the terms or
conditions of such relationship with the Company or otherwise disparage, disrupt
or disturb the relationship of the Company with such vendor or customer;
(iii) suggest to, induce or persuade any vendor or customer of the
Company to do business with any other Person which conducts a business
competitive with the Business;
(iv) suggest to, induce, solicit or persuade any employee or
consultant of the Company to leave the employ or engagement of the Company,
whether or not such inducement involves the Executive directly or indirectly
hiring or engaging or
-3-
<PAGE>
attempting to hire or engage such employee or consultant of the Company at the
time of such solicitation, whether on its own behalf or on behalf of any other
Person, whether or not the Executive has a direct or indirect remunerative or
other interest, as a proprietor, partner, coventurer, creditor, stockholder,
director, officer, employee, agent, representative or otherwise in such Person;
(v) participate in planning for and will not accept any employment
in or associate with any Person which then employs more than two former
employees of the Company who left the Company within the twelve months next
preceding his termination of employment with the Company; and
(vi) without limiting the term of his general obligation to honor
the Confidential Information (as defined below) so long as it remains
protectable, the Executive specifically agrees that he will not plan for, accept
employment from any Person, nor directly or indirectly engage in, any business
wherein the loyal and diligent performance of the duties and responsibilities of
such new employment or business will inherently call upon him to use, to
disclose or to base judgments upon Confidential Information of the Company or to
utilize the goodwill of the Company in making sales for a competitor of the
Company. The foregoing restrictive period is based upon the Executive's and the
Company's good faith belief that:
(A) the Company's investment of time and money in the
Executive, and the nature of the Company's business (which is maintained and
increased through the personal contact of employees such as the Executive with
customers and vendors and potential customers and vendors of the Company) has
rendered and will continue to render the Executive a unique asset to the
Company;
(B) the Company would be placed at a competitive disadvantage
for such period, due to the Executive's knowledge of Confidential Information
and other matters arising out of his employment with the Company; and
(C) the time required to rebuild the contacts and patronage
that the Executive will develop for the Company and to provide the necessary
training, exposure and education to his replacement would, for such a period,
place the Company at a competitive disadvantage.
(b) Confidential Information.
(i) At all times during the Employment Period and at all times
following termination thereof, the Executive shall keep confidential and not
disclose, directly or indirectly, and shall not use for the benefit of himself
or any other Person in connection with and furtherance of the Business and the
affairs of the Company, any Confidential Information relating to any aspect of
the business of the Company which is now known or which may become known to him.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Confidential Information" includes any trade
secrets or confidential or proprietary information whether
-4-
<PAGE>
in written, oral or other form which is unique, confidential or proprietary to
the Company, its affiliates, customers or other persons who disclose such
information to the Company in confidence, including, but not limited to, all
brew recipes and formulations.
(ii) The Company's failure to mark any Confidential Information as
confidential, proprietary or otherwise shall not affect its status as
Confidential Information hereunder.
(iii) The Executive acknowledges that all Confidential Information is
the property of the Company, its affiliates, customers or other persons who
disclose such information to the Company in confidence, and upon expiration of
the Employment Period or earlier termination of this Agreement or earlier at the
request of the Company, the Executive shall deliver to the Company all records,
notes, reference items, sketches, drawings, memoranda, records, and other
documents or materials, and all copies thereof (including but not limited to
such items stored by computer memory or other media) which relate to or in any
way incorporate the Confidential Information which are in the Executive's
possession or under his control.
(v) The Executive agrees that should third parties request to
submit Confidential Information to them pursuant to subpoena, summons, search
warrant or governmental order, the Executive will notify the Company immediately
upon receipt of such request, and thereafter deliver written notice of the
request to the Company no later than one business day after receipt. If the
Company objects to the release of the Confidential Information, the Executive
will permit counsel chosen by the Company to represent the Executive in order to
resist release of the Confidential Information. The Company will pay the
Executive for any expenses incurred by him in connection with resisting the
release of the Confidential Information.
(c) Ownership of Developed Information.
(i) The Executive covenants and agrees that all right, title and
interest in any Developed Information, as defined below, shall be and remain the
exclusive property of the Company. The Executive agrees to make prompt and
complete disclosure from time to time to the Company of all Developed
Information. The Executive agrees to immediately disclose to the Company all
Developed Information, and to assign to the Company any right, title and
interest which he may have in the Developed Information. The Executive agrees to
execute any instruments and to do all things reasonably requested by the
Company, both during and after the Employment Period, to vest the Company with
all ownership rights in the Developed Information. If any Developed Information
can be protected by copyrights (i) as to that Developed information which falls
within the definition of "work made for hire," as defined in 17 U.S.C. Section
101, the copyright to such Developed Information shall be owned solely,
completely and exclusively by the Company, and (ii) as to that Developed
Information which does not constitute "work made for hire," the copyright to
such Developed Information shall be deemed to be irrevocably assigned and
transferred completely and exclusively by the Executive.
-5-
<PAGE>
(ii) For purposes of this Agreement, "Developed Information" shall
mean all trade secrets, confidential or other proprietary information conceived,
developed, designed, devised or otherwise created, modified or improved by the
Executive or with respect to which he receives or receives access to, in whole
or in part, in connection with the performance of his services for the Company,
its customers or other persons who disclose such information to the Company in
confidence hereunder during the Employment Period or resulting from the
Executive's use of or access to the Company's facilities or resources, including
its Confidential Information. The "Developed Information" shall also include,
without limitation, the following materials and information, whether or not
reduced to writing, whether now or hereafter existing, whether or not patentable
or protectable by copyright:
(A) Marketing techniques and arrangements, purchasing
information, pricing policies, quoting procedures, information processes,
financial information, customer and prospect names and requirements, employee,
customer, supplier and distributor data and other materials or information
relating to the Business and/or the manner in which the Company does business;
(B) Discoveries, concepts, and ideas, including without
limitation, processes, formulas, techniques, know how, designs, drawings, and
specifications relating to the Business and/or the manner in which the Company
does business;
(C) Formulations for any products of the Company, including, but
not limited to, chemical compounds, recipes, and similar information;
(D) Any other materials or information related to the business
or activities of the Company which are not generally known to others engaged in
similar businesses or activities; and
(E) All ideas which are derived from or related to the
Executive's access to or knowledge of any of the materials or information
described in this Section 3(b)(ii).
(d) Acknowledgment. The Executive acknowledges that he has carefully read
and reviewed the restrictions set forth in Sections 4(a), (b) and (c) hereof,
and having done so he agrees that those restrictions, including but not limited
to the time period and geographical areas of restriction, are fair and
reasonable and are reasonably required for the protection of the legitimate
business interests of the Company.
(e) Invalidity, Etc. If any covenant, provision, or agreement contained
in any part of Section 4(a), (b) or (c) hereof is found by a court having
jurisdiction to be unreasonable in duration, geographic scope or character of
restrictions, the covenant, provision or agreement shall not be rendered
unenforceable thereby, but rather the duration, geographical scope or character
of restrictions of such covenant, provision or agreement shall
-6-
<PAGE>
be deemed reduced or modified with retroactive effect to render such covenant or
agreement reasonable and such covenant or agreement shall be enforced as
modified. If the court having jurisdiction will not review the covenant,
provision or agreement, the parties shall mutually agree to a revision having an
effect as close as permitted by law to the provision declared unenforceable. The
Executive agrees that if a court having jurisdiction determines, despite the
express intent of the Executive, that any portion of the restrictive covenants
contained in Section 4(a), (b) or (c) hereof are not enforceable, the remaining
provisions shall be valid and enforceable.
(f) Equitable Relief. The Executive recognizes and acknowledges that if
he breaches the provisions of Section 4(a), (b) or (c) hereof, damages to the
Company may be difficult if not impossible to ascertain, and because of the
immediate and irreparable damage and loss that may be caused to the Company for
which it would have no adequate remedy, it is therefore agreed that the Company,
in addition to and without limiting any other remedy or right it may have, shall
be entitled to have an injunction or other equitable relief in any court of
competent jurisdiction, enjoining any such breach, and the Executive hereby
waives any and all defenses he may have on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction
or competence of a court to grant such an injunction or other equitable relief.
The existence of this right shall not preclude the applicability or exercise of
any other rights and remedies at law or in equity which the Company may have.
(g) Accounting for Profits. The Executive covenants and agrees that if
he violates any covenants or agreements under this Agreement, the Company shall
be entitled to an accounting and repayment of all profits, compensations,
royalties, commissions, remuneration or benefits which directly or indirectly
shall have been realized or may be realized relating to, growing out of or in
connection with any such violations; such remedy shall be in addition to and not
in limitation of any injunctive relief or other rights or remedies to which the
Company is or may be entitled at law or in equity or otherwise under this
Agreement.
(h) Public Statements. The Executive and the Company recognize that, due
to the relationship of the Executive and the Company and such relationship's
susceptibility to public comment which may be injurious to the Executive or the
Company, or both, it is necessary for the protection of both parties that
neither party make any disparaging public statements with respect to each other
concerning the terms of this Agreement and the arrangements made pursuant
hereto. The Executive and the Company accordingly agree that neither the
Executive nor the Company will make any disparaging public statements with
respect to each other or concerning the terms of this Agreement and the
arrangements made pursuant hereto at any time following the termination of this
Agreement without the prior written approval of the other party.
5. Employment Period.
(a) Duration. The Employment Period shall commence on the Effective Date
of this Agreement and shall continue until the earlier of (i) the close of
-7-
<PAGE>
business on the day immediately preceding the three (3) year anniversary of this
Agreement unless 90 days prior to the first or second anniversary of the date
hereof, the Company or the Executive notifies the other party hereto that this
Agreement shall terminate on the next anniversary of the date hereof (the
"Expiration Date"), or (ii) termination of this Agreement by the Company with
"cause" (as defined in Section 5(d)(i) hereof), or (iii) termination of this
Agreement by the Company for any reason other than cause, or (iv) the death or
Total Disability of the Executive.
(b) Payments Upon Termination.
(i) If the Executive's employment is terminated by the Company at
any time other than the Expiration Date and for any reason other than "cause"
(as defined in Section 5(c)(i) hereof), or due to the "total disability" (as
defined in Section 5(c)(ii) hereof), or death of the Executive, at any time
during the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to, or provide for, as the
case may be, the Executive, at the times otherwise provided in this Agreement as
if the Executive had not been terminated:
(A) his Salary as accrued through the date of termination and
for one (1) year thereafter (the "Severance Period"), which Salary shall be
payable, at the Company's option, as a lump sum or in equal monthly installments
during such period in accordance with existing payroll policies; and
(B) to the extent applicable, the sickness and health insurance
programs to which he would have been entitled under this Agreement if he had
remained in the employ of the Company for the Severance Period;
(C) all stock options granted to the Executive pursuant to
Paragraph 3(b) hereof which otherwise would vest during the Severance Period;
and
(D) such other benefits to which he is entitled under
applicable laws.
In addition, the Company shall, to the extent applicable, pay to, or
provide for, as the case may be, the employee benefits (including, but not
limited to, coverage under any disability, group life, and accident insurance
programs and split-dollar life insurance arrangements or programs) to which he
would have been entitled under this Agreement if he had remained in the employ
of the Company throughout such one (1) year period.
The Executive shall use his best efforts to discharge his legal
obligation to mitigate the amount of payments provided for in this Section 5(b)
by actively seeking employment, and the amount of any payment provided for in
this Section 5(b) shall be reduced by any compensation or remuneration earned as
the result of employment by another employer after the date of termination and
during the Severance Period.
-8-
<PAGE>
(ii) If the Executive's employment is terminated on the Termination
Date or (A) by the Company for "cause", or (B) upon the death of the Executive,
or (C) by the Executive for any reason, then the Company shall have no further
liability to the Executive, except for the Salary which has accrued through the
date of termination, which amounts shall be paid by the Company within thirty
(30) days of such termination.
(iii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5(b), if
the Executive violates any covenant, term or condition of this Agreement, the
Company shall be entitled, in addition to any other remedies it may have
hereunder or at law or in equity, to offset the amount of any payment otherwise
due to the Executive pursuant to this Section 5(b) against any loss or damage
incurred by the Company as a result of the Executive's violation of said
covenant, term or condition.
(c) Definitions. When used in this Agreement, the words "cause" and
"total disability" shall have the respective meanings set forth below:
(i) The term "cause" means: (A) the Executive's failure to perform
his employment duties hereunder after reasonable notice to the Executive by the
Company specifying such failure and providing the Executive with a reasonable
opportunity to cure such failure given the context of the circumstances, (B) the
Executive's breach of the covenants or agreements contained in Sections 4(a),
(b) or (c) hereof, or of any other material agreement or undertaking of the
Executive, (C) the Executive's commission of a felony or any crime involving
moral turpitude, fraud or misrepresentation, whether or not related to the
business or property of the Company, (D) any act of the Executive against the
Company intended to enrich the Executive in derogation of his duties to the
Company, (E) any willful or purposeful act or omission (or any act or omission
taken in bad faith) of the Executive having the effect of injuring the business
or business relationships of the Company, or (F) the Executive's breach of his
duty of loyalty to the Company.
(ii) The term "total disability" ("Total Disability") means total
disability as defined in the Company's group and individual disability plans, if
any. If the Company does not have in existence such plans, then Total Disability
shall mean:
(y) The inability to perform the duties required hereunder for
a continuous period of six (6) months during the Employment Period due to
"mental incompetence" or "physical disability" as hereinafter defined. The
Executive shall be considered to be mentally incompetent and/or physically
disabled: (A) if he is under a legal decree of incompetency (the date of such
decree being deemed the date on which such mental incompetence occurred for
purposes of this Section 5(c)); or (B) because of a "Medical Determination of
Mental and/or Physical Disability." A Medical Determination of Mental and/or
Physical Disability shall mean the written determination by: (1) the physician
regularly attending the Executive, and (2) a physician selected by the Company,
that because of a medically determinable mental and/or physical disability the
Executive is unable to perform each of the material duties of the Executive, and
such mental and/or physical disability is determined or reasonably expected to
last twelve (12) months or longer after the
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<PAGE>
date of determination, based on medically available information. If the two
physicians do not agree, they shall jointly choose a third consulting physician
and the written opinion of the majority of these three (3) physicians shall be
conclusive as to such mental and/or physical disability and shall be binding on
the parties. The date of any written opinion which is conclusive as to the
mental and/or physical disability shall be deemed the date on which such mental
and/or physical disability commenced for purposes of this Section 5(c), if the
written opinion concludes that the Executive is mentally and/or physically
disabled. In conjunction with determining mental and/or physical disability for
purposes of this Agreement, the Executive consents to any such examinations
which are relevant to a determination of whether he is mentally and/or
physically disabled, and which is required by any two (2) of the aforesaid
physicians, and to furnish such medical information as may be reasonably
requested, and to waive any applicable physician patient privilege that may
arise because of such examination. All physicians selected hereunder shall be
Board-certified in the specialty most closely related to the nature of the
mental and/or physical disability alleged to exist.
(z) For purposes of determining whether the Executive is
mentally incompetent or physically disabled for the continuous six (6) month
period specified in this Section 5(c), such disability shall be deemed to
continue from the date of any legal decree of incompetency, or written opinion
which is conclusive as to the mental and/or physical disability, through the
date the legal decree expires or is otherwise revoked or removed, or the date on
which the mental and/or physical disability has ceased, as the case may be, as
set forth in a written opinion prepared by the physicians described in this
Section 5(c) pursuant to the procedures provided herein.
6. Notices. Any notices, requests, demands and other communications
provided for by this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and if sent by
registered or certified mail to the Executive at the last address he has filed
in writing with the Company.
7. Binding Agreement; Assignment. This Agreement shall be effective as of
the date hereof and shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of, the
parties and their respective heirs, successors, assigns, and personal
representatives, as the case may be. The Executive may not assign any rights or
duties under this Agreement. As used herein, the successors of the Company shall
include, but not be limited to, any successor by way of merger, consolidation,
sale of all or substantially all of the assets, or similar reorganization or
change in control.
8. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding of
the Executive and the Company with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersede any and all prior understandings written or oral. This Agreement may
not be changed, modified or discharged orally, but only by an instrument in
writing signed by the parties.
9. Enforceability. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered and constitutes the valid and binding obligations of the parties
hereto,
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<PAGE>
enforceable in accordance with its terms. The undertakings herein shall not be
construed as any limitation upon the remedies Company might, in the absence of
this Agreement, have at law or in equity for any wrongs of the Executive.
10. Governing Law. The validity and construction of this Agreement or any
of its provisions shall be determined under the internal laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without giving effect to its conflicts of laws
provisions, and without regard to its place of execution or its place of
performance. The parties irrevocably consent and agree to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the applicable Federal courts located in Pennsylvania and to
service of process for it and on its behalf by certified mail, for resolution of
all matters involving this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
Each party waives all rights to a trial by jury in any suit, action or
proceeding hereunder.
11. Severability. Except as provided in Section 4(e) hereof, if any one or
more of the terms or provisions of this Agreement shall for any reason be held
to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, in whole or in part, or in any respect
or in the event that any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement
operated or would prospectively operate to invalidate this Agreement, then and
in either of those events, such provision or provisions only shall be deemed
null and void and shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement and the
remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force
and effect and shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.
12. Amendments and Waivers. This Agreement may, to the maximum extent
permitted by applicable law, be amended by the parties, which amendment shall be
set forth in an instrument executed by all of the parties. Any term, provision
or condition of this Agreement (other than as prohibited by applicable law) may
be waived in writing at any time by the party which is entitled to the benefits
thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement
as an instrument under seal on the date first above written.
INDEPENDENCE BREWING COMPANY
By: /s/ Robert Connor, Jr. (SEAL)
-------------------------------
/s/ Wayne Anderson (SEAL)
-------------------------------
Wayne Anderson
-11-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 11.1
Year ended Nine months ended
December 31, 1995 December 31, 1996
----------------- -----------------
Primary Earnings Per Share
- --------------------------
Net loss $ (648,302) $(1,223,127)
========== ===========
Weighted average number of
common shares outstanding
during year $2,201,662 2,249,683
Add common equivalent shares
(as determined by the
application of the treasury
stock method) representing
shares issuable upon assumed
exercise of stock warrants -- --
---------- -----------
Weighted average number of
common shares used in
calculation of primary
earnings per share 2,201,662 2,249,683
========== ===========
Earnings per common share
assuming no dilution (.30) (.54)
========== ===========
Fully Diluted Earnings Per Share
- ----------------------------
Net loss (648,302) $(1,223,127)
========== ===========
Weighted average number of common
shares outstanding during year 2,201,662 2,249,683
Add common equivalent shares (as
determined by the application
of the treasury stock method)
representing shares issuable
upon assumed exercise of stock
warrants -- --
---------- -----------
Weighted average number of
common shares used in
calculation of fully diluted
earnings per share 2,201,662 2,249,683
========== ===========
Earnings per common share
assuming full dilution (.30) (.54)
========== ===========
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996
<CASH> 363,484
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 17,126
<ALLOWANCES> 0
<INVENTORY> 134,816
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 525,426
<PP&E> 1,545,246
<DEPRECIATION> (149,371)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,268,044
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 858,039
<BONDS> 1,317,497
700,000
0
<COMMON> 3,691,428
<OTHER-SE> 0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 5,268,044
<SALES> 540,335
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 506,960
<CGS> 801,482
<TOTAL-COSTS> 571,019
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 19,965
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 377,551
<INCOME-PRETAX> (1,223,127)
<INCOME-TAX> 0
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,223,127)
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> (1,223,127)
<EPS-PRIMARY> (.54)
<EPS-DILUTED> (.54)
</TABLE>