Rule 424(b)(1) Prospectus
Reg. No. 333-53755
2,600,000 Shares
[INTERACTIVE MAGIC LOGO]
Common Stock
Prior to the offering, there has been no public market for the Common
Stock of Interactive Magic, Inc. (the "Company") and there can be no assurance
that any such market will develop. The Common Stock has been approved for
quotation on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "IMGK." For a
discussion of the factors considered in determining the initial public offering
price, see "Underwriting."
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THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY ARE SPECULATIVE AND INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK
AND IMMEDIATE AND SUBSTANTIAL DILUTION. SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON PAGE 7
AND "DILUTION" ON PAGE 18 OF THIS PROSPECTUS FOR INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY.
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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Price Underwriting Proceeds
to Discounts and to
Public Commissions (1) Company (2)
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Per Share ......... $ 8.00 $ .56 $ 7.44
Total (3) ......... $ 20,800,000 $ 1,456,000 $ 19,344,000
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(1) Does not include additional compensation to be received by BlueStone
Capital Partners, L.P. ("BlueStone") and Royce Investment Group, Inc., as
representatives of the several Underwriters (the "Representatives"), in
the form of warrants to purchase up to 260,000 shares of Common Stock (the
"Representatives' Warrants"). The Company has also agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See "Underwriting."
(2) Before deducting expenses of the offering payable by the Company, estimated
at $900,000.
(3) The Company has granted the Representatives an option, exercisable within
45 days of the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to 390,000
additional shares of Common Stock, on the same terms as set forth above,
solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any. If the
Representatives' over-allotment option is exercised in full, the total
Price to Public, Underwriting Discounts and Commissions and Proceeds to
Company will be $23,920,000, $1,674,400 and $22,245,600, respectively. See
"Underwriting."
The shares of Common Stock are being offered, subject to prior sale, when,
as and if delivered to and accepted by the Underwriters and subject to approval
of certain legal matters by counsel and to certain other conditions. The
Underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify the offering and
to reject any order in whole or in part. It is expected that delivery of the
certificates representing the shares of Common Stock will be made against
payment therefor at the offices of BlueStone Capital Partners, L.P., 575 Fifth
Avenue, New York, New York 10017, on or about July 27, 1998.
BlueStone Capital Partners, L.P.
Royce Investment Group, Inc.
The date of this Prospectus is July 21, 1998.
<PAGE>
Following the Prospectus cover page is a fold-out two page color layout
depicting CD-ROM box cover art for certain of the Company's products:
iF22
iF22 Persian Gulf version 5.0
iPanzer 44
Apache
Hind
The Great Battles of Alexander
Liberation Day
Capitalism Plus
Seven Kingdoms Ancient Adversaries
Industry Giant
iF-16
The Great Battles of Hannibal
American Civil War
iMA2 Abrams
Semper Fi
Air Warrior II
The Great Battles of Caesar
On the foldover leaf, directly inside the front cover, is color artwork
illustrating two aircraft in a simulated battle over land and ocean representing
the Company's WARBIRDS product with the words "WarBirds" and "Worldwide
MEGAplayer Gaming"
Directly beneath the artwork are the following legends:
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
As of the date of this Prospectus, the Company will become subject to the
reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), and, in accordance therewith, will file reports, proxy
statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission"). The Company intends to furnish its shareholders with annual
reports containing audited financial statements and such other periodic reports
as the Company deems appropriate or as may be required by law.
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CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
WHICH STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE MARKET PRICE OF THE COMMON
STOCK, INCLUDING PLACING STABILIZING BIDS OR EFFECTING PURCHASES OF COMMON
STOCK IN THE OPEN MARKET. FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE
"UNDERWRITING."
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to, and
should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed information and
consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, appearing
elsewhere in this Prospectus. Each prospective investor is urged to read this
Prospectus in its entirety. In this Prospectus, the term "Company" includes
Interactive Magic, Inc., its Maryland predecessor and its three subsidiaries.
Unless otherwise indicated, the information in this Prospectus, including per
share data and information relating to the number of shares outstanding, (i)
other than the historical financial statements, gives retroactive effect to the
conversion of the Class A and B common stock and Series A, B and C preferred
stock of the Company into Common Stock and the exercise of options for the
purchase of 363,750 shares of Common Stock (the "Recapitalization Options") and
warrants for the purchase of 516,769 shares of Common Stock (the
"Recapitalization Warrants") on or prior to the consummation of this offering
(the "Recapitalization"), (ii) gives retroactive effect to the one-for-two
reverse split of the Common Stock effected on July 1, 1998 in connection with
the Company's reincorporation in North Carolina, and (iii) assumes no exercise
of the Representatives' over-allotment option to purchase up to 390,000
additional shares of Common Stock. See "Description of Securities --
Recapitalization," "Underwriting" and Note 14 of Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements.
Interactive Magic, I-Magic, the Interactive Magic logo and Star Rangers
are registered trademarks of the Company. WarBirds, MEGAplayer, MEGAvoice,
iM1A2 Abrams, Hind, Seven Kingdoms, DEMON, Malkari and UltraFighters are
trademarks of the Company. Other trademarks appearing herein are trademarks of
their respective owners.
This Prospectus contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. The Company's actual results may differ materially from the
results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause
such a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed in "Risk
Factors."
The Company
Interactive Magic, Inc. (the "Company") develops, publishes and
distributes interactive, real-time, 3D entertainment software, focusing on
simulation and strategy games for CD-ROM and online/Internet use. Since
inception, the Company has published 26 titles on CD-ROM which have been
distributed through more than 15,000 retail outlets in over 30 countries.
Additionally, the Company's initial online product, WARBIRDS, a World War II
air combat simulation game, has generated sales of over 1.4 million hours of
online game time to players in more than 70 countries. Since its first product
offering in August 1995, the Company has been recognized each year with awards
or critical acclaim from industry associations and publications, including PC
Games, PC Today, Computer Gaming World, Power Play, PC Gamer, Computer Games
Strategy Plus and the Software Publishers Association ("SPA"). Since such time,
the Company's net revenues have also grown to $16,502,000 and $4,913,000 for
the year ended December 31, 1997 and the three months ended March 31, 1998,
respectively. The Company seeks to benefit from leveraging its development,
marketing and technological synergy across its dual distribution channels.
Most of the Company's CD-ROM products are designed so that users can play
them both as single-player and multiplayer (up to 16 players) games and include
various levels of difficulty so that both novice and experienced players can
enjoy the Company's games. APACHE, the Company's first published CD-ROM
product, is an air-combat simulation of the AH-64D Apache Longbow Helicopter
for players of all experience levels. APACHE received two Codie Award
nominations from the SPA and was named "Best Simulation of 1995" by both PC
Gamer magazine and Strategy Plus magazine. CAPITALISM, the Company's highly
acclaimed business strategy and simulation CD-ROM game, gives players resources
with which to build a global financial empire and was a runner-up to APACHE as
PC Gamer magazine's "Best Simulation of 1995." SEVEN KINGDOMS, one of the
Company's newest strategy CD-ROM games, presents players with a special
challenge of real-time action and strategy set in a medieval fantasy world of
monsters, gods and opposing cultures and was named "Strategy Game of the Year"
by Germany's PC Power Play magazine. iF-22, the Company's internally developed
flight simulation game, and iF-22 PERSIAN GULF, the Company's recently released
sequel, incorporate the Company's DEMON advanced 3D graphics and terrain
technology. By focusing on delivering highly playable, entertaining games with
high quality graphics, the Company believes it has built strong brand
recognition and consumer loyalty among game enthusiasts. The Company intends to
build upon this loyalty by selectively creating franchise titles through the
publication of sequels and add-ons to existing games, as it has done with its
three-game Great Battles series, GREAT BATTLES OF ALEXANDER, GREAT BATTLES OF
HANNIBAL and GREAT BATTLES OF CAESAR.
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WARBIRDS, the Company's first commercial online product, was named "Online
Game of the Year" for the past two years by PC Games magazine and is recognized
as one of the world's leading real-time large-scale (hundreds of players)
multiplayer online games. Players from around the world can access WARBIRDS via
the Internet to simultaneously fly missions in a single campaign and, to date,
there have been as many as 350 such WARBIRDS players online at one time. The
incorporation of 3D rolling terrain graphics, the Company's MEGAvoice
technology, which allows groups of up to four online players to engage in
real-time voice communication, and the Company's MEGAplayer technology, which
minimizes the effect of Internet delays (latency), all add to the realism of
the WARBIRDS playing experience. The Company charges subscription fees for
online play plus additional fees for hours played beyond the subscription
allocation. Users can enter and exit the ongoing game 24 hours a day, seven
days a week, enabling the Company to receive recurring revenues. To encourage
such recurring play, the Company promotes the development of "communities" of
regular WARBIRDS flyers who participate in special promotional events such as
squadron conferences, conventions and competitions around the world. The
Company is seeking to increase revenues from its online business by developing
additional real-time large-scale multiplayer games based on other military,
futuristic/space and action-oriented simulation games. Currently, the Company
has two new online products, FIGHTER OPS and RAIDER WARS, which have undergone
beta testing on the Company's online service, and two new products,
ULTRA-FIGHTERS and MALKARI, which are intended to be playable both as CD-ROM
products and as large-scale multiplayer online products and are in the final
stages of development. All of these products are scheduled for release in 1998.
In addition, the Company is seeking to broaden its user base by negotiating
with several major providers of online services in North America, Germany, the
United Kingdom, Japan and Brazil for rights to distribute the Company's online
products. The Company anticipates that, if finalized, such arrangements would
allow subscribers of a particular online service access to play the Company's
online games at an hourly rate, in exchange for which the Company would receive
a royalty.
The Company's objective is to become one of the world's leading providers
of CD-ROM and real-time large-scale multiplayer online simulation and strategy
games. Key elements of the Company's strategy are to: increase online recurring
revenue, focus on simulation and strategy games, expand brand recognition,
manage risk through internal and external product development, expand its
worldwide distribution network, leverage core proprietary technologies and
expand operations through strategic acquisitions. The Company is led by an
experienced management team and key employees with substantial expertise in the
interactive entertainment software and computer game industries as well as
experience in client-server technology, 3D graphics, large networking systems
and U.S. Department of Defense avionic testing systems. See "Business --
Strategy," "Business -- Product Development" and "Management."
The Interactive Digital Software Association ("IDSA") reported that retail
sales of interactive entertainment software in North America reached $3.7
billion in 1996 and were projected to increase to $5.3 billion in 1997 and $8
billion in 2000. Worldwide entertainment software sales were estimated by IDSA
to have exceeded $10 billion in 1996, roughly divided evenly among the United
States, Europe and Asia. A 1997 Forrester Research report estimates that more
than 6.9 million consumers in the United States are currently playing games
over the Internet, generating revenues of $127 million in 1997, and projects
that 18 million consumers will generate $1.6 billion in revenues in 2001. The
Company believes that the continued availability of lower-cost high performance
multimedia personal computers ("PCs") and modems will continue to contribute to
the increase in PC ownership and thereby expand the use of the Internet and
online services for entertainment purposes.
The Company has sales professionals in North America, the United Kingdom
and Germany and expects to increase its marketing and sales staff in these
locations and expand its offices geographically where appropriate.
Additionally, the Company contracts with distribution agencies in Japan,
Singapore, South America, Korea, South Africa and Australia and its products
are sold by retailers such as CompUSA, Wal-Mart and Best Buy in North America
and Karstadt, Dixon's and PC World in Europe.
The Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland on
June 16, 1994 under the name SP Enterprises, Inc. and changed its name to
Interactive Magic, Inc. in March 1996. On July 1, 1998, the Company
reincorporated in North Carolina. The Company's corporate headquarters are
located in the Research Triangle Park area at 215 Southport Drive, Suite 1000,
Morrisville, North Carolina 27560, and its telephone number is (919) 461-0722.
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The Offering
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Common Stock offered................... 2,600,000 shares
Common Stock to be outstanding after the
offering.............................. 9,393,699 shares(1)
Use of Proceeds........................ Repayment of indebtedness, research and
development, marketing and distribution,
and working capital and general corporate
purposes, including possible acquisitions.
See "Use of Proceeds."
Risk Factors........................... The securities offered hereby involve a
high degree of risk and immediate
substantial dilution. See "Risk Factors"
and "Dilution."
Nasdaq National Market symbol.......... "IMGK"
</TABLE>
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(1) Does not include: (i) 1,708,045 shares of Common Stock reserved for
issuance upon the exercise of stock options remaining outstanding
following the Recapitalization, and 1,300,000 shares of Common Stock
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options available for future
grant, under the Company's stock option and purchase plans (collectively,
the "Plans"); (ii) 449,554 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance
upon the exercise of warrants remaining outstanding following the
Recapitalization; and (iii) 260,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for
issuance upon the exercise of the Representatives' Warrants. See
"Management -- Stock Option Plans," "Description of Securities --
Warrants" and "Underwriting."
5
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Summary Consolidated Financial Information
(Dollars in thousands, except for per share data)
Set forth below is certain summary financial information for the periods
and as of the dates indicated. This information is derived from, and should be
read in conjunction with, the consolidated financial statements of the Company,
including the notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus.
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31, Three Months Ended March 31,
----------------------------------------- ----------------------------
1995 1996 1997 1997 1998
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(unaudited)
<S> <C>
Net revenues .................................. $ 4,121 $ 6,057 $ 16,502 $ 3,957 $ 4,913
Cost of revenues .............................. 1,669 2,393 6,349 1,415 1,877
Gross profit .................................. 2,452 3,664 10,153 2,542 3,036
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing ......................... 2,335 5,008 6,760 1,642 1,667
Product development ......................... 1,518 3,788 3,878 859 1,103
General and administrative .................. 828 1,451 1,941 598 449
Total operating expenses ...................... 4,681 10,247 12,579 3,099 3,219
Operating loss ................................ (2,229) (6,583) (2,426) (557) (183)
Interest expense .............................. 175 606 1,675 300 307
Net loss ...................................... (2,451) (7,200) (4,298) (825) (618)
Pro forma net loss per share (1)(2) ........... $ (0.68) $ (0.09)
Number of shares used in computing
pro forma net loss per share (1)(2) ......... 6,343,080 6,619,708
</TABLE>
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 1997 March 31, 1998 (unaudited)
------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
Pro Forma
Actual Pro Forma (2) As Adjusted (2)(3)
----------- --------------- -------------------
<S> <C>
Working capital (deficiency) ........... $ (1,933) $ 799 $ 899 $13,673
Total assets ........................... 7,747 9,211 9,311 20,585
Long-term debt (4) ..................... 7,229 4,661 4,661 --
Total liabilities ...................... 16,646 12,970 12,651 5,481
Redeemable preferred stock ............. -- 600 -- --
Shareholders' equity (deficit) ......... (8,899) (4,359) (3,340) 15,104
</TABLE>
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(1) See Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for an explanation
of the number of shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share.
(2) Gives retroactive effect to the Recapitalization, including the $10,335
paid to the Company in connection with the exercise of the
Recapitalization Warrants, as well as cash proceeds of $90,000 paid to the
Company, and the forgiveness of $318,750 of the Company's accrued interest
expense, in connection with the exercise of the Recapitalization Options.
See "Description of Securities -- Recapitalization," "Certain
Transactions" and Notes 3 and 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements.
(3) Adjusted to give retroactive effect to the sale of the 2,600,000 shares of
Common Stock offered hereby and the anticipated application of the
estimated net proceeds therefrom, including for the repayment of
indebtedness. See "Use of Proceeds."
(4) Includes long-term debt, less current portion, and notes payable to
related parties.
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<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
An investment in the shares of Common Stock offered hereby involves a high
degree of risk. In addition to the other information in this Prospectus,
prospective investors should carefully consider the following risk factors in
evaluating the Company and its business before purchasing shares of the Common
Stock offered hereby.
Limited Relevant Operating History; Historical Losses
The Company began operations in June 1994 and shipped its first CD-ROM
simulation and strategy game for PCs in August 1995 and released its first, and
to date only, real-time large-scale multiplayer simulation game on the Internet
in December 1995. Consequently, the Company has a limited relevant operating
history upon which an evaluation of its prospects can be made. Such prospects
must be considered in light of the risks, expenses and difficulties frequently
encountered in connection with the operation and expansion of a new business
and commercialization of new products, particularly those associated with the
rapidly evolving interactive entertainment software industry, which is
characterized by an increasing number of market entrants, intense competition,
substantial capital requirements and a high failure rate. In addition, the
Company has experienced significant losses in each of its formative years,
resulting primarily from overhead and other costs incurred in the development
and growth of the Company, including losses of approximately $7,200,000,
$4,298,000 and $618,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1997 and the
three months ended March 31, 1998, respectively, resulting in an accumulated
deficit of approximately $14,828,000 at March 31, 1998. Moreover, the Company
expects to incur substantial up-front expenditures and operating costs in
connection with the expansion of its marketing efforts and product lines, which
may result in significant losses for the foreseeable future. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to successfully implement its growth
and business strategies, that its revenues will continue to increase or that it
will ever be able to achieve or sustain profitable operations. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and Consolidated Financial Statements.
Significant Capital Requirements; Negative Cash Flow; Possible Need for
Additional Financing
The Company's capital requirements have been and will continue to be
significant, and, to date, its cash requirements have been exceeding its cash
flow from operations. Since inception, the Company has raised capital of
approximately $17,614,000 (excluding bank debt of which there is currently
outstanding approximately $5,684,000 principal amount), of which $7,070,000
represents debt securities ($2,000,000 of which has been repaid) and
$10,544,000 represents equity securities. The Company has been dependent on
these private financings to fund a portion of its capital requirements. In
addition, based on the Company's current product development plans, the
Company's capital requirements are expected to increase. As a result, the
Company is dependent upon the proceeds of this offering to complete the
development of its currently proposed products and fund its business
strategies. Although the Company anticipates, based on its currently proposed
plans and assumptions relating to its operations (including assumptions
regarding the progress and timing of its new product development efforts), that
the net proceeds of this offering, together with anticipated revenues from
operations, availability under the Company's bank lines of credit and cash and
cash equivalents, will be sufficient to fund the Company's operations and
capital requirements for at least 12 months following the consummation of this
offering, there can be no assurance that such funds will not be expended prior
thereto due to unanticipated changes in economic conditions or other unforeseen
circumstances. In the event the Company's plans change or its assumptions
change or prove to be inaccurate, the Company would be required to seek
additional financing sooner than currently anticipated. The Company has no
current arrangements with respect to, or potential sources of, any additional
financing, and it is not anticipated that existing shareholders will provide
any portion of the Company's future financing requirements. Consequently, there
can be no assurance that any additional financing will be available to the
Company when needed, on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. Any inability
to obtain additional financing when needed would require the Company to delay
or scale back its product development and marketing programs, which could have
a material adverse effect on the Company. In addition, any additional equity
financing may involve substantial dilution to the interests of the Company's
then existing shareholders. See "Use of Proceeds" and "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
Fluctuations in Quarterly Operating Results; Uncertainty of Future Results
The Company's quarterly operating results have fluctuated significantly in
the past and will likely fluctuate significantly in the future depending on a
variety of factors, several of which are not in the Company's control.
7
<PAGE>
Such factors include the demand for the Company's products and the products of
its competitors, the size and rate of growth of the interactive entertainment
software market, development and promotional expenses related to the
introduction of new products or enhancements, the degree of market acceptance
for the Company's new product introductions and enhancements, the timing of
orders from significant customers, delays in shipment, the level of price
competition, changes in computing platforms, the nature and magnitude of
product returns, order cancellations, software defects and other quality
problems, the length of product life cycles, the percentage of the Company's
sales related to international sales and changes in personnel. Products are
generally shipped as orders are received, and, accordingly, the Company
operates with little backlog. Net revenues in any quarter are, therefore,
substantially dependent on orders booked and shipped in that quarter. A
significant portion of the Company's operating expenses is relatively fixed,
and planned expenditures are primarily based on expectations regarding future
sales; as a result, operating results in any given quarter would be
disproportionately adversely affected by a decrease in sales or a failure to
meet the Company's sales expectations. Operating results for future periods are
subject to numerous uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that the
Company will become profitable or sustain profitability on an annual or
quarterly basis. Based on the foregoing, the Company believes that
period-to-period comparisons of operating results should not be relied upon as
indicative of future results. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
Short CD-ROM Product Life Cycles; Dependence On a Limited Number of Products
The market for interactive CD-ROM software games is characterized by short
product life cycles and frequent introduction of new products, most of which do
not achieve sustained market acceptance or do not generate a sufficient level
of sales to offset the costs associated with product development. Generally,
the majority of sales of new products occur within the first six months
following their release. The Company's success will depend upon development of
new, commercially successful products and upon its ability to replace revenues
from products at the later stages of their life cycles. The Company believes
that competition in the interactive entertainment software market requires the
development of higher quality, distinctive products that incorporate
increasingly sophisticated effects and the need to support product releases
with increased marketing, all of which results in higher development,
acquisition and marketing costs. To date, the Company has derived a significant
portion of its revenues from a limited number of software products released
each year, and many of these products have substantial development or
acquisition costs and marketing budgets. Due to this dependence on a limited
number of products, the Company may be adversely affected if one or more of its
principal products fails to achieve anticipated results. During the years ended
December 31, 1996 and 1997, two titles and three titles accounted for
approximately 56.0% and 55.8%, respectively, of the Company's consolidated net
shipments after factoring in product returns. There can be no assurance that
the Company will not remain dependent upon non-recurring sales of a limited
number of products for a substantial portion of its revenues or that any
products introduced by the Company will be commercially viable or have life
cycles sufficient to permit the Company to recoup the development, marketing
and other costs associated with their development. Failure to continuously
introduce new, commercially successful products would have a material adverse
effect on the Company. See "Business -- Products."
Lengthy Development Cycle; Product Development Risks
The Company's success depends on the timely introduction of successful new
products. The development of new interactive entertainment software products is
lengthy, expensive and uncertain, and a product's development typically
requires six to 24 months to complete from the time a new concept is approved.
In addition, product development of online products continues for the life of
the product. Many of the Company's proposed products are in early stages of
development, and the Company will be required to commit considerable time,
effort and resources to complete development of its currently proposed
products. The Company has, in the past, experienced significant delays in the
introduction of certain new products and there will likely be delays in
developing and introducing new products in the future. In addition, because
many of the Company's products are developed for it by third parties, the
Company cannot always control the timing of their introduction. While the
Company maintains production arrangements with its third-party developers,
provides them with certain software tool kits to promote quality control and
monitors their progress, there can be no assurance that delays in the work
performed by third parties or poor quality of such work will not result in
product delays. Unanticipated delays, expenses, technical problems or
difficulties could cause the Company to miss an important selling season with a
corresponding negative impact on revenues and net income or result in
abandonment or material change in product commercialization.
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<PAGE>
There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully develop
any new products on a timely basis or that technical or other problems will not
occur which would result in increased costs or material delays. In addition,
software products as complex as those offered by the Company may contain
undetected errors when first introduced. Despite extensive product testing, the
Company has, in the past, released products with defects and has discovered
software errors in certain of its product offerings after their introduction.
In particular, the personal computer hardware environment is characterized by a
wide variety of non-standard peripherals (such as sound cards and graphics
cards) and configurations that make pre-release testing for programming or
compatibility errors very difficult and time-consuming. There can be no
assurance that, despite testing by the Company, errors will not be found in new
products or releases after commencement of commercial shipments. Remedying such
errors may delay the Company's plans, cause it to incur additional costs and
adversely affect its reputation. See "Business -- Technology" and "Business --
Product Development."
Industry Factors; Changing Consumer Preferences; Uncertainty of Market
Acceptance
The level of demand and market acceptance for the Company's newly
introduced products is subject to a high degree of uncertainty. Software
acquisition and development costs, as well as promotion and marketing expenses,
royalties and third-party participations payable to software developers,
creative personnel, musicians and others, which reduce potential revenues
derived from software sales, have increased significantly in recent years. The
Company's future operating results will depend on numerous factors beyond its
control, including the popularity, price and timing of new entertainment
software products being released and distributed, international, national,
regional and local economic conditions (particularly economic conditions
adversely affecting discretionary consumer spending), changes in consumer
demographics, the availability of other forms of entertainment, critical
reviews and public tastes and preferences, all of which change rapidly and
cannot be predicted. The Company's ability to plan for product development and
promotional activities will be significantly affected by its ability to
anticipate and respond to relatively rapid changes in consumer tastes and
preferences, particularly those of the consumers, primarily males over age 25
with annual household incomes of $50,000 or more, comprising the Company's
principal target market. A decline in the popularity of software games or in
the interactive entertainment software industry generally or in particular
market segments could adversely affect the Company's business and prospects. In
addition, the success of the Company's strategy to capitalize on online games
will depend in part upon market acceptance of online games and a "pay-for-play"
model. Online game play is a new and evolving concept, and it is difficult to
assess or predict with any assurance the size of the market for online games or
its prospects for growth. There can be no assurance that a viable market for
online games will develop, that the Company will be successful in developing
additional products for online use or that the Company's products for this
market will achieve widespread market acceptance. See "Business -- Industry
Overview" and "Business -- Distribution."
Infrastructure Risks of Online Game Play
The development of a robust market for online games will depend on several
factors that are outside the Company's control, including the development and
maintenance of an industry infrastructure for providing consumer access to
online games. There can be no assurance that the infrastructure, including a
reliable network foundation, and timely development of complementary products,
such as high-speed modems, necessary to make local or wide area networks or the
Internet a viable medium for use of real-time large-scale multiplayer
simulation and strategy games will be developed, or, if developed, that such
networks will become a viable medium for use of multiplayer simulation and
strategy games. In addition, hardware restrictions, such as bandwidth (amount
of data capable of transmission at a single time) and latency (delays
introduced by the network), which limit use of content via local and wide area
networks, may inhibit such networks from becoming a viable medium for delivery
of multiplayer simulation and strategy games. If the necessary infrastructure
or complementary products are not developed, or if such networks do not become
a viable medium for delivery of multiplayer simulation and strategy games, the
Company's business, operating results and financial condition may be materially
adversely affected. See "Business -- Industry Overview" and "Business --
Technology."
Changes in Technology and Industry Standards
The interactive entertainment software industry is undergoing rapid
changes, including evolving industry standards, frequent new platform
introductions and changes in consumer requirements and preferences. The
introduction of new technologies, technologies that support multiplayer games
and new media formats such as online delivery
9
<PAGE>
and digital video disks, could render the Company's previously released
products obsolete or unmarketable. The development cycle for products utilizing
new operating systems, microprocessors or formats may be significantly longer
than the Company's current development cycle for products on existing operating
systems, microprocessors and formats and may require the Company to invest
resources in products that may not become profitable. There can be no assurance
that the mix of the Company's future product offerings will keep pace with
technological changes or satisfy evolving consumer preferences or that the
Company will be successful in developing and marketing products for any future
operating system or format. Failure to develop and introduce new products and
product enhancements in a timely fashion could result in significant product
returns and inventory obsolescence and could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, operating results and financial condition.
The overall market for the Internet is characterized by rapidly changing
technology, evolving industry standards, emerging competition and frequent
product and service introductions. There can be no assurance that the Company
can successfully identify new product opportunities for Internet use and
develop and bring such new products to market in a timely manner, or that
products or technologies developed by others will not render the Company's
products or technology obsolete. The Company also is at risk to fundamental
changes in the way Internet connectivity services are delivered. Currently,
Internet services are accessed primarily by computers and are delivered by
telephone lines. If the Internet becomes accessible by screen-based telephones,
television or other consumer electronic devices, or becomes deliverable through
other means such as coaxial cable or wireless transmission, the Company may
have to develop new technology or modify its existing technology to accommodate
these developments. The Company's pursuit of such technological advances may
require substantial time and expense, and there can be no assurance that the
Company will succeed in adapting its products to alternate access devices and
conduits. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations," "Business -- Products" and "Business -- Technology."
Intense Competition; Competition for Shelf Space
The interactive entertainment software industry is intensely and
increasingly competitive. Industry competition is based primarily upon product
quality and features, the compatibility of products with popular platforms,
access to distribution channels (including access to retail shelf space),
marketing effectiveness, reliability and ease of use, price and the quality of
user support services. Many of the companies with which the Company currently
competes or may compete against in the future have greater financial,
technical, marketing, sales and customer support and other resources than the
Company and have established reputations for success in the development,
licensing and sale of their products and technology. Current and future
competitors with greater financial resources than the Company may be able to
carry larger inventories, undertake more extensive marketing campaigns, adopt
more aggressive pricing policies and make higher offers or guarantees to third
party software developers and licensors than the Company. As competition
increases, significant price competition, increased production costs and
reduced profit margins may result. There can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to compete successfully against current or future competitors or
that competitive pressures faced by the Company will not have a material
adverse effect on its future operations.
Retailers of the Company's CD-ROM products typically have a limited amount
of shelf space and promotional resources, and there is intense competition
among entertainment software producers for adequate levels of desirable shelf
space and promotional support from retailers. As the number of entertainment
software products has increased, the competition for shelf space has
intensified, resulting in greater leverage for retailers and distributors in
negotiating terms of sale, including price discounts, marketing and display
fees and product return policies. The Company's CD-ROM products constitute a
relatively small percentage of any retailer's sales volume, and there can be no
assurance that retailers will continue to purchase the Company's products or
provide the Company's products with adequate levels of shelf space and
promotional support. See "Business -- Distribution" and "Business --
Competition."
Ability to Manage and Sustain Growth; Risks Associated with Future Acquisitions
The Company intends to use a portion of the proceeds of this offering to
implement the next phase of its business strategy in an effort to expand its
current level of operations and grow the Company's business. In addition to its
internal growth strategies, the Company intends to evaluate, on an ongoing
basis, potential acquisitions of, or investments in, other software publishers
or developers, distributors or other businesses which the Company believes will
complement or enhance its existing business. The success of such strategy thus
will depend upon,
10
<PAGE>
among other things, the Company's ability to hire and retain skilled
management, marketing, technical and other personnel and to successfully manage
its growth (which also will require it to develop and improve upon its
operational, management and financial systems and controls in order to properly
monitor its expanded operations, control its costs and maintain effective
quality controls). There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
expand its operations or that it will be able to effectively manage any such
expansion or anticipate and satisfy all of the changing demands and
requirements that growth will impose upon its operations. In addition,
acquisitions involve numerous additional risks, including difficulties in the
assimilation of the operations and products of the acquired companies, the
expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition and subsequent
assimilation of operations and products, the diversion of management's
attention from other business concerns and the potential loss of key employees
of the acquired company. Acquisitions of foreign companies also may involve the
additional risks of assimilating differences in foreign business practices and
overcoming language barriers. If the Company consummates any acquisition in the
future, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to integrate
the acquired operations successfully, and any inability to do so could
adversely affect the Company's business. See "Use of Proceeds."
In addition, while the Company will explore acquisitions of businesses and
assets that it believes are compatible with its business strategy and regularly
evaluates possible acquisition opportunities, as of the date of this
Prospectus, the Company has no current agreements, commitments, understandings
or arrangements with respect to any potential acquisition. Consequently, there
is no basis for investors in this offering to evaluate, prior to their
investment in the Company, the specific merits or risks of any potential
acquisition that the Company may undertake following the consummation of the
offering. Moreover, under North Carolina law, various forms of business
combinations can be effected without shareholder approval; accordingly,
investors in this offering will, in some instances, neither receive nor
otherwise have the opportunity to evaluate any financial or other information
which may be made available to the Company in the future in connection with any
acquisition and must rely entirely upon the ability of management in selecting,
structuring and consummating acquisitions that are consistent with the
Company's business objectives. Although the Company will endeavor to evaluate
the risks inherent in a particular acquisition, there can be no assurance that
the Company will properly ascertain or assess all significant risk factors
prior to consummating any acquisition.
Dependence on Third-Party Software Developers
The Company relies on third-party software developers for the development
of a significant number of its products. Due primarily to increased demand for
quality interactive entertainment software programs, the Company's payment of
advances and guaranteed royalties to such independent software developers has
increased and may continue to increase. There can be no assurance that the
sales of products associated with such royalties will be sufficient to cover
the amount of the Company's prepayment expenditures. Moreover, as independent
developers are in high demand, there can be no assurance that such developers,
including those that have developed products for the Company in the past, will
be available to develop products for the Company in the future. The failure to
obtain or renew product development agreements with such developers could have
a material adverse effect on the Company's future operations. In addition, many
independent developers have limited financial resources, which also could
expose the Company to the risk that such developers may go out of business
prior to completing a project. See "Business -- Product Development -- External
Development."
Dependence on Third-Party Distribution Channels
The Company currently sells its CD-ROM software products primarily through
software distributors and to major computer and software retailing
organizations. Sales of CD-ROM games to a limited number of distributors and
retailers constitute a substantial majority of the Company's net revenues. For
the year ended December 31, 1996, sales of products to two distributors, Tech
Data Corp. ("Tech Data") and Navarre Corporation ("Navarre"), accounted for
approximately 26.5% and 11.3%, respectively, of the Company's net revenues. For
the year ended December 31, 1997, sales of products to Tech Data and
Electronics Boutique, Inc. accounted for 19.0% and 10.0% of the Company's net
revenues, respectively.
Certain mass market retailers have established exclusive buying
relationships under which such retailers will buy consumer software only from
one intermediary. In such instances, the price or other terms on which the
Company sells to such retailers may be adversely affected by the terms imposed
by such intermediary, or the Company may be unable to sell to such retailers on
terms which the Company deems acceptable. There can
11
<PAGE>
be no assurance that the Company's relationships with its current distributors
and retailers will continue or that the Company will be able to find other
means to market and distribute its CD-ROM products. The loss of, or a
significant reduction in sales attributable to, any of the Company's principal
distributors or retailers, in the absence of comparable new relationships or
the development of independent means of marketing and distributing its CD-ROM
games, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's revenues and
operating results. In addition, the Company maintains a reserve for
uncollectible receivables that it believes to be adequate, but the actual
reserve maintained may not be sufficient in every circumstance. A payment
default by a significant customer could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's business, operating results and financial condition. The Company also
intends to expand the distribution of its online products by seeking out
relationships with third-party providers of online or Internet services in the
United States and abroad. There can be no assurance that the Company will
successfully negotiate relationships with providers of online or Internet
services or, if completed, that such arrangements will generate significant
revenues. The Company could be materially adversely affected if the cost to the
Company of any proposed online or Internet distributor relationship exceeds
expectations or if the Company incurs significant costs in anticipation of the
arrangement and the arrangement is delayed or abandoned. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations --
Results of Operations," and "Business -- Distribution" and Note 11 of Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements.
Risk of Product Returns
The Company accepts product returns or provides markdowns or other credits
in the event that customers hold excess inventory of the Company's products.
The Company also accepts returns of defective, damaged or shelf-worn products
at any time. At the time of product shipment, the Company establishes reserves
for stock-balancing, price protection and returns of defective, damaged and
shelf-worn products, based on historical return rates, retailer inventories of
the Company's products and other factors. Although the Company maintains
reserves which it believes to be adequate, if market acceptance is not
achieved, the Company could be forced to accept substantial product returns to
maintain favorable relationships with retailers and access to distribution
channels. There can be no assurance that actual returns to the Company will not
exceed the reserves established. Product returns that exceed the Company's
reserves could materially and adversely affect the Company's operating results.
See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations."
Dependence on Key Personnel
The Company's success depends to a significant extent on the performance
and continued service of its senior management and certain key employees.
Competition for highly skilled employees with technical, management, marketing,
sales, product development and other specialized training is intense, and there
can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in attracting or
retaining such personnel. Specifically, the Company may experience increased
costs in order to attract and retain skilled employees. Although the Company
generally enters into term employment agreements with its senior management,
there can be no assurance that such employees or any other employees will not
leave the Company or compete against the Company. The Company's failure to
attract or retain qualified employees could have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business, operating results and financial condition. See
"Management."
Limited Protection of Proprietary Information
The Company regards its software technology as proprietary and holds
copyrights on its internally developed products, manuals, advertising and other
materials and maintains trademark rights in the Company name, the Interactive
Magic logo and the names of products owned by the Company. The Company does not
acquire the copyrights for works developed by third parties under license which
the Company publishes. Although the Company has applied for a patent on its
MEGAplayer technology that enables its online products to function more
effectively on the Internet, there can be no assurance that a patent will be
issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. While the Company
relies on a combination of trademark, trade secret, copyright and other
proprietary rights laws, license agreements, employee and third-party
non-disclosure agreements and other methods to establish and protect its
proprietary rights, there can be no assurance that the steps taken by the
Company will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of the technology or
independent development by others of software products with features based
upon, or otherwise similar to, those of the Company's products. To license its
products to end users, the Company primarily relies on "shrink wrap" licenses
that are not signed by the end-user and, therefore, may be unenforceable under
the laws of certain jurisdictions. In addition, effective copyright and trade
secret
12
<PAGE>
protection may be unavailable or limited in certain foreign countries, and the
global nature of certain wide area networks, particularly the Internet, makes
it virtually impossible to control the ultimate destination of the Company's
products. Despite the Company's efforts to protect its proprietary rights,
unauthorized parties may attempt to copy aspects of the Company's products or
to obtain and use information that the Company regards as proprietary.
Unauthorized copying is common within the software industry, and if a
significant amount of unauthorized copying of the Company's products were to
occur, the Company's business, operating results and financial condition could
be adversely affected. As the number of software products in the industry
increases and the functionality of these products further overlaps, software
developers may become increasingly subject to infringement claims. There can be
no assurance that third parties will not assert infringement claims against the
Company in the future with respect to current or future products. As is common
in the industry, from time to time, the Company receives notices from third
parties claiming infringement of intellectual property rights of such parties.
The Company investigates these claims and responds as it deems appropriate.
Litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce the Company's intellectual
property rights, to protect the Company's trade secrets, to determine the
validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others, or to defend against
claims of infringement or invalidity. Any such litigation could result in
substantial costs and diversion of resources and could have a material adverse
effect on the Company. See "Business -- Intellectual Property and Other
Proprietary Rights."
Risks Related to International Revenues and Operations
The Company distributes its products in over 30 countries worldwide and
maintains sales offices in the United Kingdom and Germany in addition to its
facilities and operations in the United States. International sales and
licensing (excluding online revenue) accounted for 23% and 37% of the Company's
net revenues in 1996 and 1997, respectively. International operations and sales
of CD-ROM products are subject to inherent risks, including fluctuations in
exchange rates, the impact of possible recessionary environments in economies
outside the United States, the costs of transferring and localizing products
for foreign markets, longer accounts receivable collection periods and
difficulty in collection of accounts receivable, unexpected changes in
regulatory requirements, tariffs and other barriers, difficulties and costs of
staffing and managing foreign offices and potential political and economic
instability. Revenues and expenses from the Company's foreign operations
generally are denominated in local currencies, and, as a result, exchange rate
fluctuations between such local currencies and the U.S. dollar will subject the
Company to currency translation risk from the reported results of its foreign
operations. The Company intends to continue to expand its direct and indirect
sales and marketing activities worldwide; however, there can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to maintain or increase international market
demand for its products or that these or other factors will not have a material
adverse effect on the Company's future international sales and, consequently,
on the Company's operating results. See "Business -- Distribution."
Manufacturing Risks
The production of the Company's published products for retail sale
involves duplicating software programs onto CD-ROM disks, printing user manuals
and product packaging materials and packaging finished products. The foregoing
activities are performed for the Company by third-party vendors in accordance
with the Company's specifications. While these services are available from
multiple parties and at multiple sites, there can be no assurance that an
interruption in the manufacture of the Company's products will not occur and,
if it does occur, that it could be remedied without undue delay. In addition,
the Company must compete for CD-ROM duplication services with its competitors,
as well as publishers of music and video CDs. While the Company engages in
ongoing efforts to ensure an adequate and timely supply of CD-ROMs, there can
be no assurance that the future supply of CD-ROMs will be sufficient to meet
the Company's requirements. The Company must place advance orders for finished
goods based on forecasts of the sales volume of the product; there can be no
assurance that the Company's forecasts will prove accurate, and any resulting
over-production or under-production of the Company's CD-ROM products could have
a material adverse effect on the Company. See "Business -- Production and
Manufacturing."
Outstanding Indebtedness; Consequences of Default and Covenants Under Lines of
Credit
Following this offering, the Company intends to continue to maintain its
line of credit of up to $5,000,000 with Greyrock Business Credit, a division of
NationsCredit Commercial Corporation ("Greyrock"). Amounts borrowed under this
credit line bear interest at prime (as adjusted monthly) plus 2% per year. The
credit line remains in effect until April 30, 1999, after which time it
automatically renews unless either party gives notice of termination. To date,
the Company has borrowed $2,684,000 under this line, which will remain
outstanding
13
<PAGE>
after this offering. The Company also will continue to have $1,057,000 (based
on amounts outstanding at March 31, 1998) outstanding under its lines of credit
and $250,000 pursuant to a promissory note, each with Branch Banking & Trust
Company ("BB&T"), which bear interest at BB&T's prime rate per annum. In
addition, the Company will continue to owe $77,060 and $72,446 to J. W. Stealey
and Robert L. Pickens, respectively, for accrued interest through March 31,
1998 on prior loans converted to capital stock in 1998. The Company's ability
to meet its debt service obligations will depend on the Company's future
operations, which are subject to prevailing industry conditions and other
factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Because indebtedness
under the Company's lines of credit bear interest at rates that fluctuate with
prevailing interest rates, increases in such prevailing rates would increase
the Company's interest payment obligations and could adversely affect the
Company's financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, the
Company's indebtedness under its line of credit with Greyrock is secured by
substantially all of the Company's assets, as well as the assets of its
wholly-owned subsidiary, iMagic Online Corporation. In the event of a violation
by the Company of any of its loan covenants or any other default by the Company
on its obligations relating to its indebtedness, Greyrock could declare such
indebtedness to be immediately due and payable and, in certain cases, Greyrock
could then foreclose on the pledged collateral. Although the Company expects
that it will be in compliance with all of its loan covenants upon the
consummation of this offering, there can be no assurance that the Company will
be able to maintain such compliance in the future. A default relating to the
Company's indebtedness, in the absence of a waiver, could have a material
adverse effect upon the Company's business and financial condition. Moreover,
to the extent that the accounts receivable, inventory and intellectual property
of the Company (excluding its foreign subsidiaries) continue to be pledged to
secure its outstanding indebtedness under the credit facility, such assets will
not be available to secure additional indebtedness, which may affect the
Company's ability to borrow in the future. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," "Certain
Transactions" and Notes 4 and 14 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Substantial Use of Proceeds to Repay Indebtedness; Proceeds Used to Benefit
Related Parties; Broad Discretion in Application of Proceeds
The Company has allocated approximately $7,170,000 of the net proceeds of
this offering to repay outstanding indebtedness. Accordingly, such proceeds
will not be available to fund future growth of the Company. The indebtedness to
be repaid includes, among other things, $870,000 payable to Laura M. Stealey,
the former spouse of J. W. Stealey, the Chairman of the Company, as well as
$1,500,000 payable to BB&T, each of which is guaranteed by J. W. Stealey. The
Company also will pay $117,175, $371,404 and $111,421 to Laura M. Stealey, J.
W. Stealey and Robert L. Pickens, respectively, in payment of certain interest
accrued in connection with their loans to the Company. In addition,
approximately $4,974,000 (26.9%) of the estimated net proceeds of this offering
has been allocated to working capital and general corporate purposes, thus
management will have broad discretion as to the application of such proceeds.
The Company also intends to use $400,000 of the net proceeds to fulfill its
obligations under a marketing agreement with General Capital, an affiliate of
Vertical Financial Holdings, a principal shareholder of the Company. See "Use
of Proceeds" and "Certain Transactions."
Concentration of Ownership
Following completion of this offering, the Company's executive officers
will own beneficially approximately 32.8% of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock, and the Company's non-executive directors and their affiliated entities
together will beneficially own approximately 28.6% of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock. Accordingly, such persons will be in position to influence the
election of the Company's directors and the outcome of corporate actions
requiring shareholder approval. The concentration of ownership may have the
effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company. See
"Management," "Principal Shareholders" and "Description of Securities."
Absence of Prior Market; Possible Volatility of Stock Price
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Company's
Common Stock, and there can be no assurance that an active trading market will
develop or be sustained after this offering. The initial public offering price
will be determined through negotiations between the Company and the
Underwriters and may not represent prices which will prevail in the trading
market. The market price of the Company's Common Stock could be subject to wide
fluctuations in response to variations in quarterly operating results and other
factors, such as announcements of new products by the Company or its
competitors and failures to meet or exceed the expectations of securities
analysts or investors or other events. Furthermore, the stock market has
experienced
14
<PAGE>
significant price and volume fluctuations that have particularly affected the
market prices of many high technology companies and that have often been
unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of such companies.
These market fluctuations, as well as economic conditions generally and in the
entertainment software industry specifically, may have an adverse effect on the
market price of the Company's Common Stock. There can be no assurance that the
market price of the Common Stock will not decline below the initial public
offering price. See "Underwriting."
Immediate and Substantial Dilution to Investors in this Offering
Investors in this offering will experience immediate and substantial
dilution in the net tangible book value of their shares of Common Stock. After
giving effect to this offering and the use of the net proceeds therefrom and to
the Recapitalization, the Company's net tangible book value as of March 31,
1998 would have been $15,104,336 or $1.61 per share. This represents an
immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $6.39 (79.9%) per share. See
"Dilution."
Dividends
The Company has never paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock and does
not anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future as it intends to
retain any net income for use in connection with the expansion of its business.
See "Dividend Policy."
Shares Eligible for Future Sale; Registration Rights
Sales of substantial amounts of Common Stock in the public market after
this offering could adversely affect prevailing market prices for the Common
Stock. Upon completion of this offering, the Company will have 9,393,699 shares
of Common Stock outstanding. Of these shares, the 2,600,000 shares offered
hereby will be freely tradable without restrictions or further registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), except for
any shares purchased by "affiliates" of the Company, as that term is defined in
Rule 144 under the Securities Act, which will be subject to the resale
limitations imposed by Rule 144. All of the remaining 6,793,699 shares of
Common Stock outstanding will be "restricted securities" within the meaning of
Rule 144. Of such restricted securities, 3,218,114 shares are subject to
certain registration rights, and the Company has granted the Representatives
demand and piggyback registration rights with respect to the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon exercise of the Representatives' Warrants. In addition,
77,648 shares of Common Stock underlying outstanding warrants are subject to
certain registration rights. No prediction can be made as to the effect, if
any, that sales of such securities or the availability of such securities for
sale will have on the market prices prevailing from time to time. While the
Company's officers, directors and substantially all of the 1% or greater
shareholders of the Company's currently outstanding Common Stock have agreed
not to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock or exercise any
registration rights for a period of nine months following the date of this
Prospectus without the Representatives' prior written consent, the possibility
that a substantial number of the Company's securities may be sold in the public
market may adversely affect prevailing market prices for the Common Stock and
could impair the Company's ability to raise capital through the sale of its
equity securities. See "Description of Securities," "Shares Eligible For Future
Sale" and "Underwriting."
Year 2000 Compliance
Many currently installed computer systems and software products are coded
to accept only two digit entries in the date code field. These date code fields
will need to accept entries to distinguish 21st century dates from 20th century
dates. As a result, in less than two years, computer systems and software used
by many companies may need to be upgraded to comply with such Year 2000
requirements. The Company believes that its products, which are self-contained
software programs that run independently of external systems, will not be
significantly affected by Year 2000 issues. The Company is currently in the
process of investigating whether its internal accounting systems and other
operational systems will be affected by the Year 2000 issue. In addition, the
Company is assessing the readiness of third-party customers and suppliers for
the Year 2000 issue. There can be no assurance that these third parties will
timely convert their systems or that their systems will not have an adverse
effect on the Company, or that Year 2000 issues or the cost of addressing them
will not have a material impact on the Company's financial statements, business
or operations. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations."
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<PAGE>
Limited Lead Underwriting Experience
Although BlueStone has engaged in the investment banking business since
its formation as a broker-dealer in March 1996, and its principals have had
extensive experience in the underwriting of securities in their capacities with
other broker-dealers, this offering constitutes one of the first public
offerings for which BlueStone has acted as lead underwriter. See
"Underwriting."
Forward-Looking Information May Prove Inaccurate
This Prospectus contains various forward-looking statements that are based
on the Company's beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information
currently available to the Company. When used in this Prospectus, the words
"believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate" and similar expressions are
intended to identify forward-looking statements. The accuracy of such
forward-looking statements is subject to certain risks, uncertainties and
assumptions, including those identified above under "Risk Factors." Should one
or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying
assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those
anticipated, estimated, or projected. The Company cautions potential purchasers
not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements.
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<PAGE>
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the 2,600,000 shares of
Common Stock offered hereby are estimated to be approximately $18,444,000
($21,345,600 if the Representatives' over-allotment option is exercised in
full) after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated offering expenses
payable by the Company. The Company expects to use the net proceeds
approximately as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Approximate
Approximate Percentage of
Anticipated Use of Net Proceeds Dollar Amount Net Proceeds
- --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------- --------------
<S> <C>
Repayment of indebtedness(1) .............................. $ 7,170,000 38.9%
Research and development(2) ............................... 3,800,000 20.6
Marketing and distribution(3) ............................. 2,500,000 13.6
Working capital and general corporate purposes(4) ......... 4,974,000 26.9
----------- -----
Total .................................................. $18,444,000 100.0%
=========== =====
</TABLE>
- ------------
(1) Includes $1,500,000 outstanding under the Company's revolving line of
credit with BB&T, which bears interest at BB&T's prime rate per annum, as
adjusted daily; $3,000,000 outstanding under the Company's promissory note
to Petra Capital, LLC ("Petra"), due March 24, 2002, which bears interest
at 13.5% per annum; $1,200,000 outstanding under the Company's promissory
note to Oberlin Capital, L.P. ("Oberlin"), due August 30, 2002, which
bears interest at 11% per annum through September 30, 1998, after which
time the interest rate increases; $870,000 principal amount, plus $117,175
in accrued interest, outstanding under the Company's line of credit from
Laura M. Stealey, which terminates January 1, 1999 and bears interest at
10% per annum; and $371,404 and $111,421 of the amounts owed to J.W.
Stealey and Robert L. Pickens, respectively, for accrued interest on prior
loans that were converted into capital stock in 1998. The Company used the
proceeds of the Petra promissory note and the Oberlin promissory note to
fund inventory and receivables, advance royalties and certain product
development and other infrastructure expenses. See "Certain Transactions."
(2) Includes approximately $1,800,000 for investments in external development
to provide the Company with future products and $2,000,000 for the growth
of internal research and development efforts, including the hiring of
additional developers to fill out the Company's product teams, and the
purchases of computer hardware and software to accommodate the Company's
anticipated growth in research and development. See "Business -- Product
Development."
(3) Includes approximately $2,100,000 for marketing and promotions, the hiring
of additional marketing staff and the expansion of the Company's
infrastructure for online delivery in Europe, in connection with the
Company's expansion of its international operations, and $400,000 for the
satisfaction of the Company's obligations under its marketing agreement
with General Capital, an affiliate of Vertical, a principal shareholder of
the Company. See "Business -- Distribution" and " -- Marketing,"
"Principal Shareholders" and "Certain Transactions."
(4) The Company intends to use these funds as necessary in the ordinary course
of the Company's business, including for increased inventories and
receivables associated with increased revenues and for the continued
growth of the Company. In addition, the Company may use portions of these
proceeds to acquire businesses which the Company believes are compatible
with its business strategy; however, while the Company regularly evaluates
possible acquisition opportunities, as of the date of this Prospectus, the
Company has no agreements, commitments, understandings or arrangements
with respect to any particular acquisition and there can be no assurance
that any future acquisitions will be consummated. See "Business --
Strategy."
If the Representatives exercise their over-allotment option in full, the
Company will realize additional net proceeds of approximately $2,901,600. Such
proceeds, if received, are expected to be used for working capital and general
corporate purposes. Pending their uses as set forth above, the Company intends
to use the net proceeds of this offering either to make short-term reductions
in the Company's working capital lines of credit or to invest in short-term,
investment grade, interest-bearing securities.
The allocation of the net proceeds set forth above represents the
Company's best estimates based on its proposed plans and assumptions relating
to its operations and growth strategy and on general economic conditions. The
amounts actually expended for the above purposes may vary significantly,
however, depending upon numerous
17
<PAGE>
factors, including development and promotional expenses related to the
introduction of new products, the progress and timing of its new product
development efforts, changes in technology and the availability of desirable
acquisition opportunities. The Company believes that the proceeds of this
offering, together with anticipated revenues from operations, availability
under the Company's bank lines of credit, and cash and cash equivalents, will
be sufficient to satisfy its contemplated cash requirements for at least 12
months following the consummation of this offering. In the event that the
Company's plans change (due to changes in market conditions, competitive
factors or new opportunities that may become available in the future), its
assumptions change or prove to be inaccurate or if the proceeds of this
offering or cash flows prove to be insufficient to implement its business plans
(due to unanticipated expenses, technical difficulities or otherwise), the
Company could, however, be required to seek additional financing prior to such
time. There can be no assurance that the proceeds of this offering will be
sufficient to permit the Company to implement its business plans, that any
assumptions relating to the implementation of such plans will prove to be
accurate or that any additional financing would be available to the Company on
commercially reasonable terms, or at all.
DIVIDEND POLICY
The Company has never declared or paid any cash dividends on its Common
Stock. The Company does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the
foreseeable future and intends to retain future earnings for the development
and expansion of its business. In addition, certain of the Company's loan
agreements prohibit the payment or declaration of cash dividends.
DILUTION
The difference between the initial public offering price per share of
Common Stock and the net tangible book value per share of Common Stock after
this offering constitutes the dilution to investors in this offering. Net
tangible book value per share on any given date is determined by dividing the
net tangible book value of the Company (total tangible assets less total
liabilities) on such date by the number of then outstanding shares of Common
Stock.
At March 31, 1998, net tangible book deficit of the Company was
$(4,358,749), or $(0.95) per share of Common Stock. After giving retroactive
effect to the Recapitalization (see "Description of Securities --
Recapitalization"), the pro forma net tangible book deficit of the Company at
March 31, 1998 would have been $(3,339,664), or $(0.49) per share. After also
giving effect to the sale of the 2,600,000 shares of Common Stock offered
hereby and the receipt and anticipated application of the estimated net
proceeds therefrom, including for the repayment of certain outstanding
indebtedness, the as adjusted net tangible book value of the Company at March
31, 1998 would have been $15,104,336, or $1.61 per share, representing an
immediate increase in net tangible book value of $2.10 per share to existing
shareholders and an immediate dilution of $6.39 (79.9%) per share to investors
in this offering.
The following table illustrates the foregoing information with respect to
dilution to new investors on a per share basis:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Initial public offering price .................................... $ 8.00
Net tangible book deficit before Recapitalization ............... $ (0.95)
Increase attributable to Recapitalization ....................... 0.46
-------
Pro forma net tangible book deficit before the offering ......... $ (0.49)
Increase attributable to investors in the offering .............. 2.10
-------
Adjusted net tangible book value after the offering .............. 1.61
-------
Dilution to investors in the offering ............................ $ 6.39
=======
</TABLE>
18
<PAGE>
The following table sets forth, with respect to existing shareholders and
the investors in this offering, a comparison of the number of shares of Common
Stock as of March 31, 1998 (giving retroactive effect to the Recapitalization)
purchased from the Company, the percentage ownership of such shares, the
aggregate consideration paid, the percentage of total consideration paid, and
the average price paid per share.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares Purchased Total Consideration
----------------------- -------------------------- Average Price
Number Percent Amount Percent Per Share
----------- --------- -------------- --------- --------------
<S> <C>
Existing shareholders ......... 6,793,699 72.3% $11,117,342 34.8% $ 1.64
New investors ................. 2,600,000 27.7 20,800,000 65.2 $ 8.00
--------- ----- ----------- -----
Total ........................ 9,393,699 100.0% $31,917,342 100.0%
========= ===== =========== =====
</TABLE>
The foregoing tables assume no exercise of the Representatives'
over-allotment option. If such option is exercised in full, the new investors
will have paid $23,920,000 for 2,990,000 shares of Common Stock representing
approximately 68.3% of the total consideration for 30.6% of the total number of
shares outstanding. In addition, computations set forth in the above tables
exclude (i) 1,708,045 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon the
exercise of options remaining outstanding after the Recapitalization, at a
weighted average exercise price of $2.54 per share, and 1,300,000 shares of
Common Stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options available for
future grant, under the Plans, (ii) 449,554 shares of Common Stock reserved for
issuance upon exercise of warrants remaining outstanding after the
Recapitalization at a weighted average exercise price of $3.79 and (iii)
260,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the
Representatives' Warrants. See "Management -- Stock Option Plans," "Description
of Securities -- Warrants" and "Underwriting."
19
<PAGE>
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the consolidated capitalization of the
Company as of March 31, 1998, (i) on an actual basis, (ii) on a pro forma basis
giving effect to the Recapitalization (see "Description of Securities --
Recapitalization") and (iii) as further adjusted to give effect to the sale by
the Company of the 2,600,000 shares of Common Stock offered hereby and the
anticipated application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom. This table
should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements,
including the notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
March 31, 1998 (unaudited)
------------------------------------------------------
Pro Forma
Actual Pro Forma as Adjusted
---------------- ---------------- ----------------
<S> <C>
Long-term debt:
Long-term debt less current portion.................. $ 3,791,000 $ 3,791,000 $ --
Notes payable to related parties .................... 870,000 870,000 --
------------- ------------- -------------
Total long-term debt .............................. 4,661,000 4,661,000 --
------------- ------------- -------------
Series C Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, $.10
par value; 132,744 shares issued and outstanding
(actual) ............................................ 600,000 -- --
------------- ------------- -------------
Shareholders' equity (deficit):
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, $.10 par value;
82,634 shares authorized, issued and outstanding
(actual) .......................................... 8,263 -- --
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, $.10 par value;
778,746 shares authorized, issued and outstanding
(actual) .......................................... 77,875 -- --
Class A Common Stock, $.10 par value; 30,000,000
shares authorized, 3,145,696 shares issued and
outstanding (actual) .............................. 314,570 -- --
Class B Common Stock, $.10 par value; 20,000,000
shares authorized, 457,853 shares issued and
outstanding (actual) .............................. 45,785 -- --
Common Stock, $.10 par value; 50,000,000 shares
authorized, 6,793,699 shares issued and outstanding
(pro forma) and 9,393,699 shares issued and
outstanding (as adjusted) (1) ..................... -- 679,370 939,370
Additional paid in capital .......................... 10,101,771 10,887,979 29,071,979
Cumulative currency translation adjustment .......... (78,724) (78,724) (78,724)
Accumulated deficit ................................. (14,828,289) (14,828,289) (14,828,289)
------------- ------------- -------------
Total shareholders' equity (deficit) .............. (4,358,749) (3,339,664) 15,104,336
------------- ------------- -------------
Total capitalization ............................. $ 902,251 $ 1,321,336 $ 15,104,336
============= ============= =============
</TABLE>
- ------------
(1) Does not include (i) 1,708,045 shares reserved for issuance upon the
exercise of stock options remaining outstanding following the
Recapitalization, and 1,300,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for
issuance upon the exercise of options available for future grant, under
the Plans; (ii) 449,554 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon
exercise of warrants remaining outstanding following the Recapitalization;
and (iii) 260,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon
exercise of the Representatives' Warrants. See "Management -- Stock Option
Plans," "Description of Securities -- Warrants" and "Underwriting."
20
<PAGE>
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
The following selected consolidated financial data as of and for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997 are derived from the
audited consolidated financial statements of the Company included elsewhere
herein, which statements have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent
auditors, whose report is included elsewhere herein. The consolidated financial
data of the Company as of March 31, 1997 and 1998 and for the three months then
ended are derived from the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the
Company included in this Prospectus and were prepared by management of the
Company on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements
included elsewhere in this Prospectus and, in the opinion of the Company,
include all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments)
necessary to present fairly the information set forth therein. The results for
the three months ended March 31, 1998 are not necessarily indicative of the
results to be expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 1998. The
following information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated
financial statements of the Company, including the notes thereto, and
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
Consolidated Statement of Operations Data:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year Ended December 31, Three Months Ended March 31,
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------
1995 1996 1997 1997 1998
----------- ----------- ------------ ---------- -------------
(unaudited)
<S> <C>
Net revenues:
CD-ROM product sales .................... $ 3,950 $ 4,852 $ 14,067 $ 3,399 $ 4,057
Online sales ............................ 6 733 1,615 357 358
Royalties and licenses .................. 165 472 820 201 498
-------- -------- ---------- ------- ----------
Total net revenues .................... 4,121 6,057 16,502 3,957 4,913
Cost of revenues:
Cost of products sold ................... 790 1,349 3,715 766 968
Royalties and amortized software
costs ................................. 879 1,044 2,634 649 909
-------- -------- ---------- ------- ----------
Total cost of revenues ................ 1,669 2,393 6,349 1,415 1,877
-------- -------- ---------- ------- ----------
Gross profit ............................. 2,452 3,664 10,153 2,542 3,036
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing ..................... 2,335 5,008 6,760 1,642 1,667
Product development ..................... 1,518 3,788 3,878 859 1,103
General and administrative .............. 828 1,451 1,941 598 449
-------- -------- ---------- ------- ----------
Total operating expenses ................. 4,681 10,247 12,579 3,099 3,219
-------- -------- ---------- ------- ----------
Operating loss ........................... (2,229) (6,583) (2,426) (557) (183)
Other expense ............................ 175 606 1,905 299 307
-------- -------- ---------- ------- ----------
Loss before income taxes ................. (2,404) (7,189) (4,331) (856) (490)
Income tax (expense) benefit ............. (47) (11) 33 31 (128)
-------- -------- ---------- ------- ----------
Net loss ................................. $ (2,451) $ (7,200) $ (4,298) $ (825) $ (618)
======== ======== ========== ======= ==========
Pro forma net loss per share (1) ......... $ (0.68) $ (0.09)
Number of shares used in computing pro
forma net loss per share (1) ............ 6,343,080 6,619,708
</TABLE>
(footnotes on following page)
21
<PAGE>
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
December 31, 1997 March 31, 1998
------------------- ---------------
(unaudited)
Working capital (deficiency) ........... $ (1,933) $ 799
Total assets ........................... 7,747 9,211
Long-term debt (2) ..................... 7,229 4,661
Total liabilities ...................... 16,646 12,970
Redeemable preferred stock ............. -- 600
Stockholders' equity (deficit) ......... (8,899) (4,359)
- ------------
(1) See Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for an explanation
of the number of shares used in computing pro forma net loss per share.
(2) Includes long-term debt, less current portion, and notes payable to related
parties.
22
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
The Company develops, publishes and distributes interactive real-time 3D
simulation and strategy entertainment software. The Company generates revenues
primarily from delivering its CD-ROM products for retail sale through its
worldwide distribution network and from subscription and hourly fees for play
of its online product. The Company also generates revenues from licensing its
CD-ROM products to OEMs, distributors outside of North America and other third
parties. Since inception, the Company has published 26 CD-ROM products which
have been distributed through more than 15,000 retail outlets in over 30
countries. Additionally, the Company has sold over 1.4 million hours of online
game time over the Internet to players in more than 70 countries.
From the commencement of operations on June 16, 1994 through December 31,
1994, the Company was in a development stage. During this period, the Company
was engaged primarily in recruiting personnel, establishing a corporate
headquarters, designing products to be developed internally and licensing
products from external developers for future publication. The Company published
four CD-ROM products during its first full year of operation in 1995. To expand
international distribution of its CD-ROM products, the Company established
sales and marketing operations in the United Kingdom and Germany in 1996. In
1996, the Company published five CD-ROM products.
In April 1997, the Company acquired Interactive Creations, Inc, ("ICI"), a
leader in the development and delivery of interactive large-scale multiplayer
real-time online games. The Company exchanged 655,696 shares of the Company's
Common Stock for all of the outstanding shares of ICI. This transaction was
accounted for as a pooling of interests; accordingly, the Company restated all
historical financial data to include the historical financial data of ICI. In
connection with the ICI acquisition, the Company acquired ICI's WARBIRDS
product and the associated MEGAplayer technology for which a patent application
has been filed. In 1997, the Company published 11 CD-ROM products while
developing new products incorporating the technology acquired from ICI.
The Company recognizes net revenues from the sale of CD-ROM products at
the time of product shipment. Net revenues from CD-ROM product sales are
reflected after the deduction of what management believes to be an appropriate
allowance for returns, markdowns, price protection and warranty costs. Revenue
from usage of its online product is recognized at the time the game is played
and is based upon actual usage by the customer on an hourly basis. Revenues
from licenses to OEMs, international distributors and other third parties are
recognized when earned under the terms of the relevant agreements. Subject to
certain limitations, the Company accepts product returns and provides price
protection on certain unsold merchandise. With respect to license agreements
that provide customers the right to multiple copies in exchange for guaranteed
amounts, net revenues are recognized upon delivery of the product master or the
first copy. Per copy royalties on sales that exceed the guarantee are
recognized as earned.
The Company's internal product development costs incurred prior to
establishing technological feasibility are expensed in accordance with the
Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards ("SFAS") No. 86, "Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software to be
Sold, Leased or Otherwise Marketed." In accordance with SFAS No. 86, the
Company capitalizes product development costs subsequent to establishing
technological feasibility and amortizes previously capitalized product
development costs by using: (i) the revenue curve method; or (ii) the
straight-line method over the estimated economic life of the product, which
typically ranges from six months to two years.
In addition to the internal development of products, the Company enters
into publishing agreements with third-party developers pursuant to which the
Company typically advances royalties before the product is published. After
product release, the Company expenses advance royalties based on product sales
and pays the developer incremental royalties after the advance royalties have
been fully expensed. The Company also incurs internal costs related to product
development by third parties, including costs related to supervising the
development process for quality assurance and developing technology for
incorporation into third-party products. The Company typically expenses these
costs as a product development expense.
The Company believes that an increasing percentage of its revenues will be
generated by real-time large-scale multiplayer online games. However, the
extent and timing of revenues generated by online games are uncertain because
this market is emerging and depends upon a number of variables, including the
availability of an infrastructure
23
<PAGE>
for providing local access to wide area networks with acceptable response times
and consumer acceptance of such networks as a medium for playing multi-user
simulation and strategy games.
The Company has experienced significant losses in each of its formative
years, resulting primarily from overhead and other costs incurred in the
development and growth of the Company. Moreover, the Company expects to incur
substantial up-front expenditures and operating costs in connection with the
expansion of its marketing efforts and product lines, which may result in
significant losses for the foreseeable future. The Company's plan of operation
is to increase its online and retail product lines and to expand its
distribution network. This plan is intended to increase sales volume in both
online and retail products and to enable the Company to improve financial
results. The Company intends to increase net revenues from online products by
offering additional content over the Company's online service and to utilize
distribution partners, primarily online service providers ("OSPs") and Internet
service providers ("ISPs") to enable the Company to access additional
customers. The Company intends to increase net revenues from CD-ROM sales by
offering more titles and increasing the Company's brand awareness. Although the
Company believes that this plan of operation will lead to improved financial
results, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
successfully implement its growth and business strategies, that its revenues
will continue to increase in the future or that it will be able to achieve or
sustain profitable operations.
Results of Operations
Three Months Ended March 31, 1998 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31,
1997
Net revenues. Net revenues increased by 24.2% from $3,957,000 for the
three months ended March 31, 1997 to $4,913,000 for the three months ended
March 31, 1998. The increase was attributable to increases in net revenues from
CD-ROM product sales, licensing agreements with third parties and royalties
paid by international distributors on foreign sales of certain of the Company's
CD-ROM products. Revenue attributable to the Company's online service remained
relatively constant from $357,000 in the three months ended March 31, 1997 to
$358,000 in the three months ended March 31, 1998. During 1997, the Company
focused on building the infrastructure for delivery of additional games and
developing those games.
Cost of revenues. Cost of revenues consists of cost of products sold
(including cost of Internet access) and royalties and amortization of
capitalized software development costs. Cost of revenues increased by 32.7%
from $1,415,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1997 to $1,877,000 for the
three months ended March 31, 1998. Cost of products sold increased by 26.4%
from $766,000 to $968,000 over the two periods due to an increase in the number
of units sold. Royalties and amortized costs increased 40.1% from $649,000 to
$909,000 over the two periods primarily due to the increase in the amortization
of capitalized development costs associated with a greater percentage of sales
attributable to internally developed products. As a percentage of net revenues,
cost of revenues increased from 35.8% to 38.2% over the two periods, primarily
because in the 1998 period, the Company generated greater unit sales of
products carrying lower wholesale prices and an increase in internally
developed products.
Gross profit. Due to the increase in the number of CD-ROM units sold,
gross profit increased by 19.4% from $2,542,000 for the three months ended
March 31, 1997 to $3,036,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1998. Gross
margin declined from 64.2% to 61.8% over the two periods due to a change in
product mix and increased amortization of software development costs.
Sales and marketing. Sales and marketing expenses increased by 1.5% from
$1,642,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1997 to $1,667,000 for the
three months ended March 31, 1998. As a percentage of net revenues, sales and
marketing expenses decreased from 41.5% to 33.9% over the two periods due to a
decrease in market development expenditures relating to product positioning in
retail stores. In addition, an increasing percentage of the Company's revenues
was generated from online sales, royalties and licenses during the 1998 period,
which have less associated sales and marketing expenses than CD-ROM product
sales.
Product development. Product development expenses increased by 28.4% from
$859,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1997 to $1,103,000 for the three
months ended March 31, 1998. As a percentage of net revenues, product
development expenses increased from 21.7% to 22.5% over the two periods due to
the hiring of additional game designers, artists, programmers and developers.
The increase in product development expenses was partially offset by an
increase in the amount of capitalized product development expenses. The Company
capitalized $255,000
24
<PAGE>
(22.9% of gross product development costs) for the three months ended March 31,
1997 and $583,000 (34.6% of gross product development costs) for the three
months ended March 31, 1998.
General and administrative. General and administrative expenses decreased
by 24.9% from $598,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1997 to $449,000
for the three months ended March 31, 1998. As a percentage of net revenues,
general and administrative expenses decreased from 15.1% to 9.1% over the two
periods primarily because the Company incurred certain one-time expenses during
the 1997 period for new employee recruitment fees and the acquisition of ICI.
Other expense. Other expense, comprised primarily of interest expense,
increased by 2.7% from $299,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1997 to
$307,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1998.
Income tax (expense) benefit. The Company recorded a $31,000 tax benefit
for the three months ended March 31, 1997 and recorded $128,000 of income tax
expense for the three months ended March 31, 1998. The Company reported a tax
benefit in 1997 due to a refund from a net operating loss carryforward. The
Company recorded income tax expense in the first quarter of 1998 because its
United Kingdom subsidiary generated taxable income during such period. The
Company recorded a valuation allowance of $5,486,000 for the full amount of its
deferred income tax assets as of March 31, 1998 in accordance with SFAS No.
109, "Accounting for Income Taxes." This allowance is composed primarily of
domestic net operating loss carryforwards that expire beginning in 2011. Use of
these net operating loss carryforwards may be subject to limitations in the
event of significant changes in stock ownership of the Company.
Year Ended December 31, 1997 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 1996
Net revenues. The Company's net revenues increased by 172.4% from
$6,057,000 in 1996 to $16,502,000 in 1997. The increase was attributable to
increased sales of CD-ROM products, online usage, and revenues from royalties
and licenses paid by third parties. In 1997, the Company released more products
which sold on average a greater number of units per product. Net revenues from
the Company's WARBIRDS online product increased by 120.3% from $733,000 in 1996
to $1,615,000 in 1997, due to an increase in the number of subscribers.
Revenues from licenses to OEMs, international distributors and other third
parties increased by 73.7% from $472,000 in 1996 to $820,000 in 1997, primarily
because the Company granted licenses on more products from its expanded product
library.
Cost of revenues. Cost of revenues increased by 165.3% from $2,393,000 in
1996 to $6,349,000 in 1997. Cost of products sold increased by 175.4% over the
two periods from $1,349,000 to $3,715,000, due to (i) the costs of
manufacturing, duplicating, assembling, packaging and shipping a greater number
of CD-ROM products and (ii) an increase in the cost of Internet access
resulting from added capacity to handle the greater number of subscribers.
Royalties and amortized software costs increased by 152.3% from $1,044,000 in
1996 to $2,634,000 in 1997 primarily because the Company published more
third-party-developed products in 1997. As a percentage of net revenues, cost
of revenues decreased from 39.5% to 38.5% over the two periods primarily
because of the economies of scale associated with larger production runs
created by higher total unit sales.
Gross profit. Gross profit increased by 177.1% from $3,664,000 in 1996 to
$10,153,000 in 1997 primarily due to the sale of more CD-ROM products and
increased revenue from the Company's online product and license arrangements in
1997. As a percentage of net revenues, gross profit increased from 60.5% in
1996 to 61.5% in 1997 primarily because the products released by the Company in
1997 achieved higher average unit sales than the products released in 1996 due
to the success of the Company's iF-22 product.
Sales and marketing. Sales and marketing expenses increased 35.0% from
$5,008,000 in 1996 to $6,760,000 in 1997 primarily due to the release of more
products and the associated expenses required to market, promote and sell the
products, including additional personnel expenses. As a percentage of net
revenues, sales and marketing expenses decreased from 82.7% to 41.0% over the
two periods because, during a portion of 1996, the Company paid fees to an
independent sales organization based upon the number of units of CD-ROM
products sold while concurrently incurring expenses related to the development
of an internal sales organization. In addition, the Company incurred expenses
in 1996 to establish its international distribution network and sales
operations in the United Kingdom and Germany.
Product development. Product development expenses increased by 2.4% from
$3,788,000 in 1996 to $3,878,000 in 1997 primarily due to the hiring of
additional game designers, artists, programmers and developers. The Company
25
<PAGE>
capitalized $79,000 (2.0% of gross product development costs) in 1996 and
$849,000 (18.0% of gross product development costs) in 1997. As a percentage of
net revenues, product development expenses decreased from 62.5% to 23.5% over
the two periods.
General and administrative. General and administrative expenses increased
by 33.8% from $1,451,000 in 1996 to $1,941,000 in 1997 primarily due to
increases in staff, hiring costs, ICI acquisition expenses and debt financing
expenses. As a percentage of net revenues, general and administrative expenses
decreased from 24.0% to 11.8% primarily due to a higher sales volume.
Other expense. Other expense, comprised primarily of interest expense,
increased by 214.4% from $606,000 in 1996 to $1,905,000 in 1997 because the
Company incurred $5,161,000 of additional debt during 1997 to fund increases in
inventory and receivables, certain product development, advance royalties and
other infrastructure expenses.
Income tax (expense) benefit. Income tax expense was $11,000 in 1996, and
the Company recorded a $33,000 tax benefit in 1997. The Company recorded income
tax expense in 1996 despite the Company's consolidated operating loss because
of income taxes paid by the Company's subsidiary in the United Kingdom which
reported taxable income. The Company has recorded a valuation allowance of
$5,304,000 for the full amount of its deferred income tax assets as of December
31, 1997 in accordance with SFAS No. 109.
Year Ended December 31, 1996 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 1995
Net revenues. The Company's net revenues increased 47.0% from $4,121,000
in 1995 to $6,057,000 in 1996 due to increased sales of CD-ROM products, sales
of online product and royalties paid by third parties. Revenues from the
Company's online product increased from $6,000 in 1995 to $733,000 in 1996
because 1996 was the first year in which the Company had an online product
available for an entire year. The Company introduced its first online product,
WARBIRDS, in December 1995. Revenues from licenses to OEMs, international
distributors and other third parties increased by 186.1% from $165,000 in 1995
to $472,000 in 1996 primarily because the Company had more products to license.
Cost of revenues. Cost of revenues increased by 43.4% from $1,669,000 in
1995 to $2,393,000 in 1996. Cost of products sold increased by 70.8% from
$790,000 in 1995 to $1,349,000 in 1996 due to an increase in the total number
of units of CD-ROM products sold. Royalties and amortized costs increased by
18.8% from $879,000 in 1995 to $1,044,000 in 1996 because of increases in the
total number of products developed by third parties and published by the
Company in 1996. Also, the Company amortized or wrote off previously
capitalized product development costs of $69,000 in 1995 and $147,000 in 1996.
As a percentage of net revenues, cost of revenues decreased from 40.5% in 1995
to 39.5% in 1996 primarily because the cost of revenues generated by sales of
online products and licenses to OEMs, international distributors and other
third parties is significantly less than the cost of revenues generated by
sales of CD-ROM products. Revenues generated by these sources increased from
4.1% of net revenues in 1995 to 19.9% of net revenues in 1996.
Gross profit. Gross profit increased by 49.4% from $2,452,000 in 1995 to
$3,664,000 in 1996. As a percentage of net revenues, gross profit increased
from 59.5% to 60.5% primarily because the cost of revenues associated with the
sales of its online product and licenses to OEMs, international distributors
and other third parties is significantly less than the cost of revenues
generated by sales of CD-ROM products, and the revenues generated by those
sources increased from 4.1% of net revenues in 1995 to 19.9% of net revenues in
1996.
Sales and marketing. Sales and marketing expenses increased by 114.5% from
$2,335,000 in 1995 to $5,008,000 in 1996 primarily due to expenses related to
building an internal sales organization, while concurrently paying an
independent sales organization to sell the Company's products, as well as a
higher number of product releases. Sales and marketing expenses also increased
because the Company incurred expenses in 1996 to establish its international
distribution network, which included the costs associated with establishing
operating subsidiaries in the United Kingdom and Germany. As a percentage of
net revenues, sales and marketing expenses increased from 56.7% in 1995 to
82.7% in 1996.
Product development. Product development expenses increased by 149.5% from
$1,518,000 in 1995 to $3,788,000 in 1996 primarily because the Company hired
additional game designers, artists, programmers and developers with experience
developing technology used in online content delivery, 3D graphics and
artificial intelligence. As a percentage of net revenues, product development
expenses increased from 36.8% in 1995 to 62.5% in 1996.
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The Company capitalized $289,000 (16.0% of gross product development costs) in
1995 and $79,000 (2.0% of gross product development costs) in 1996.
General and administrative. General and administrative expenses increased
by 75.2% from $828,000 in 1995 to $1,451,000 in 1996 primarily because the
Company incurred professional fees to implement and test an automated
accounting system, added administrative personnel, established the Company's
United Kingdom operations and relocated its headquarters to a larger facility.
As a percentage of net revenues, general and administrative expenses increased
from 20.1% in 1995 to 24.0% in 1996 because the Company was investing in its
infrastructure to handle the anticipated growth in revenues.
Other expense. Other expense, comprised primarily of interest expense,
increased 246.3% from $175,000 in 1995 to $606,000 in 1996 because the Company
incurred $6,451,000 in additional debt during 1996 to fund certain product
development, advance royalties and other infrastructure expenses.
Income tax (expense) benefit. Income tax expense was $47,000 in 1995 and
$11,000 in 1996. The Company recorded income tax expense despite the Company's
consolidated operating loss because of income taxes paid by the Company's
subsidiary in the United Kingdom which reported taxable income in each year.
The Company has recorded a valuation allowance of $3,472,000 for the full
amount of its deferred income tax assets as of December 31, 1996 in accordance
with SFAS No. 109.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company's capital requirements have been and will continue to be
significant, and, to date, its cash requirements have exceeded its cash flow
from operations. The Company historically has satisfied cash requirements
through borrowings, the sale of equity securities, customer advances and
capital lease financings.
Net cash used in operating activities was $2,205,000 for 1995, $6,641,000
for 1996 and $3,773,000 for 1997. The Company had a $799,000 working capital
surplus as of March 31, 1998.
Net cash used in investing activities for the purchase of property and
equipment and software development costs was $972,000 during 1995. Net cash
used in investing activities for the purchase of property and equipment, other
investments (of which $120,000 was written off in 1997) and software
development costs was $762,000 in 1996. Net cash used in investing activities
for the purchase of property and equipment and software development costs was
$1,231,000 during 1997 and $634,000 in the three months ended March 31, 1998.
The Company funded its operations during 1997 through the issuance of a
subordinated note to Petra on March 24, 1997 in the amount of $3,000,000,
borrowings of $500,000 from notes payable issued to related parties, borrowings
of $469,000 under its line of credit with BB&T and the issuance of a junior
subordinated debenture to Oberlin on September 29, 1997 in the amount of
$1,200,000. On February 4, 1998, the Company raised $3,500,000 in connection
with the sale of its Series B Preferred Stock.
The Company has a $2,750,000 revolving line of credit with BB&T which is
secured by the personal guaranty of the Company's principal shareholder. The
principal balance outstanding is payable on demand with interest payable
monthly at prime. At March 31, 1998, the Company had $2,461,000 in borrowings
against this line of credit. The Company also has a $150,000 equipment line of
credit with BB&T which is secured by certain of the Company's property and
equipment and a $250,000 promissory note with BB&T secured by the guaranty of
the Company's principal shareholder. The principal balance outstanding is
payable on demand with interest payable monthly at prime. At March 31, 1998,
the Company had outstanding balances of $96,000 under the $150,000 line of
credit and $250,000 under the promissory note. See "Certain Transactions."
On April 30, 1998, the Company established a one-year $5,000,000 revolving
line of credit with Greyrock. Borrowings under this line of credit accrue
interest at prime plus 2%. Borrowings on the Greyrock line of credit are
limited to the lesser of $5,000,000 or 65% of the Company's outstanding
eligible receivables and are collateralized by accounts receivable, inventory
and intellectual property of the Company (excluding its foreign subsidiaries).
As of July 8, 1998, borrowings on the line were $2,684,000, which amounts were
used by the Company to extinguish certain existing debt and provide additional
working capital.
The Company intends to use proceeds from this offering to repay the
$4,200,000 due to Petra and Oberlin, $1,500,000 of the amount outstanding under
its $2,750,000 revolving line of credit with BB&T, the $870,000 principal
amount, plus $117,175 accrued interest, outstanding under the Company's line of
credit from Laura M.
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Stealey, and $371,404 and $111,421 of the interest owed to J.W. Stealey and
Robert L. Pickens, respectively, for accrued interest on prior loans that were
converted by them into capital stock of the Company in 1998. See "Certain
Transactions."
The Company's future liquidity and capital requirements will depend upon
numerous factors, including the costs and timing of expansion of research and
product development efforts and the success of these efforts, the costs and
timing of expansion of sales and marketing activities, the extent to which the
Company's existing and new products gain market acceptance, competing
technological and market developments, the costs involved in maintaining and
enforcing patent claims and other intellectual property rights, available
borrowings under line of credit arrangements and other factors. The Company is
dependent upon the proceeds of this offering to complete the development of its
currently proposed products and fund its business strategies. Although the
Company anticipates, based on its currently proposed plans and assumptions
relating to its operations (including assumptions regarding the progress and
timing of its new product development efforts), that the net proceeds of this
offering, together with anticipated revenues from operations, availability
under the Company's bank lines of credit and cash and cash equivalents, will be
sufficient to fund the Company's operations and capital requirements for at
least 12 months following the consummation of this offering, there can be no
assurance that such funds will not be expended prior thereto due to
unanticipated changes in economic conditions or other unforeseen circumstances.
In the event the Company's plans change or its assumptions change or prove to
be inaccurate, the Company could be required to seek additional financing
sooner than currently anticipated. The Company has no current arrangements with
respect to, or potential sources of, any additional financing, and it is not
anticipated that existing shareholders will provide any portion of the
Company's future financing requirements. Consequently, there can be no
assurance that any additional financing will be available to the Company when
needed, on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. Any inability to obtain
additional financing when needed would require the Company to delay or scale
back its product development and marketing programs, which could have a
material adverse effect on the Company. In addition, any additional equity
financing may involve substantial dilution to the interests of the Company's
then existing shareholders.
The Company's forecast of the period of time through which its financial
resources will be adequate to support its operations is a forward-looking
statement that involves risks and uncertainties, and actual results could vary.
The factors described in the preceding paragraph and in the Risk Factors
section of this document will impact the Company's future capital requirements
and the adequacy of its available funds.
Fluctuations in Operating Results
The Company's quarterly operating results have fluctuated significantly in
the past and will likely fluctuate significantly in the future depending on a
variety of factors, several of which are not in the Company's control. Such
factors include the demand for the Company's products and the products of its
competitors, the size and rate of growth of the interactive entertainment
software market, development and promotional expenses related to the
introduction of new products or enhancements, the degree of market acceptance
for the Company's new product introductions and enhancements, the timing of
orders from significant customers, delays in shipment, the level of price
competition, changes in computing platforms, the nature and magnitude of
product returns, order cancellations, software defects and other quality
problems, the length of product life cycles, the percentage of the Company's
sales related to international sales and changes in personnel. Based on the
foregoing, the Company believes that period to period comparisons of operating
results should not be relied upon as indicative of future results.
Income Taxes and Conversion from Subchapter S to Subchapter C Corporation
From the Company's inception in June 1994 through October 1995, the
Company operated under the provisions of Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and consequently, was not subject to
federal income tax. On October 31, 1995, the Company terminated its Subchapter
S election and began operation under the provisions of Subchapter C of the
Code.
Impact of Adoption of New Accounting Standards
In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No.
130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" and SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about
Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information." In addition, the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position ("SOP")
97-2, "Software
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Revenue Recognition, SOP 98-4, Deferral of the Effective Date of a Provision of
SOP 97-2, `Software Revenue Recognition' and SOP 98-1, "Accounting for the
Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use." SFAS Nos.
130 and 131 and SOP 97-2 and 98-4 are effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 1997. SOP 98-1 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 1998. The Company does not believe that adoption of these
standards will have a material impact on the Company's results of operations.
Year 2000 Issue
Many currently installed computer systems and software products are coded
to accept only two digit entries in the date code field. These date code fields
will need to accept entries to distinguish 21st century dates from 20th century
dates. The inability to recognize or properly treat the Year 2000 may cause the
Company's systems and applications to process critical financial and
operational information incorrectly. The Company continues to assess the impact
of the Year 2000 issue on its reporting system and operations. In addition, the
Company is assessing the readiness of its customers and suppliers for the Year
2000 issue; however, there can be no assurance that these third parties will
timely convert their systems or that their systems will not have an adverse
effect on the Company. While uncertainty exists concerning the potential
effects associated with such compliance, the Company does not believe that Year
2000 compliance will result in a material adverse effect on its financial
condition or results of operations.
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BUSINESS
General
The Company develops, publishes and distributes interactive real-time 3D
entertainment software, focusing on simulation and strategy games for CD-ROM
and online/Internet use. Since inception, the Company has published 26 titles
on CD-ROM that have been distributed through more than 15,000 retail outlets in
over 30 countries. Additionally, the Company's initial online product,
WARBIRDS, a World War II air combat simulation game, has generated sales of
over 1.4 million hours of online game time to players in more than 70
countries. Since its first product offering in August 1995, the Company has
been recognized each year with awards or critical acclaim from industry
associations and publications, including PC Games, PC Today, Computer Gaming
World, Power Play, PC Gamer, Computer Games Strategy Plus and the SPA. Since
such time, the Company's net revenues have also grown to $16,502,000 and
$4,913,000 for the year ended December 31, 1997 and the three months ended
March 31, 1998, respectively. The Company seeks to benefit from leveraging its
development, marketing and technological synergy across its dual distribution
channels.
Industry Overview
Background
The interactive entertainment software market is composed of software
primarily created for use on PCs and software created for video game consoles,
such as the Sony Playstation and Nintendo 64 entertainment systems. IDSA
reported that retail sales of interactive entertainment software in North
America reached $3.7 billion in 1996 and were projected to increase to $5.3
billion in 1997 and $8 billion in 2000. Worldwide entertainment software sales
were estimated by IDSA to have exceeded $10 billion in 1996, roughly divided
evenly among the United States, Europe and Asia. According to IDSA, market
penetration exceeded 40% of households in the United States in 1997, and PC
owners are increasing their purchases of game software. The Company believes
that the availability of lower-cost high performance multimedia PCs and modems
has contributed to and is expected to contribute to the increase in PC
ownership and thereby expand the use of the Internet and online services for
entertainment purposes.
Market for PC Simulation and Strategy CD-ROM Products
PC Data, an industry research firm, estimated that 1997 retail sales of PC
games were approximately $1.3 billion in North America. The simulation and
strategy segments had unit sales increases of 46.7% and 15.7%, respectively,
over 1996 sales. In 1997, simulation and strategy games represented
approximately 34.9% of the North American market for PC games. Simulation and
strategy products require sophisticated 3D graphics capabilities, advanced
artificial intelligence technology and significant research abilities to model
real-life military situations, historical scenarios or other strategy and
simulation subjects. In a simulation game, the player, acting as a pilot,
commander, captain or driver, controls a vehicle such as a plane, submarine,
ship or tank. A strategy game establishes the player as manager of a given set
of resources who must produce maximum results through discriminating use of
limited resources. The Company believes that the simulation and strategy
product market has a loyal domestic and international following of enthusiasts
who generally purchase multiple products throughout the year. According to a
market study conducted on behalf of the publisher of Computer Gaming World, a
leading industry magazine, the typical user of computer games is a male age 30
with an annual household income of $60,000. The Company believes that these
users are also prime candidates to participate in online games, as they tend to
be early adopters of new technology and equipment.
Market for Online Games
A 1997 Forrester Research report estimates that more than 6.9 million
consumers in the United States are currently playing games over the Internet,
generating revenues of $127 million in 1997, and projects that 18 million
consumers will generate $1.6 billion in revenues in 2001. These revenues
encompass direct pay-for-play online game play, online CD-ROM sales,
advertising and sponsorships. The emerging popularity of online games is
evidenced by the recent appearance of dedicated game networks, such as Mplayer,
America Online's Game Channel, Microsoft's Internet Gaming Zone, Kesmai's
Gamestorm, Total Entertainment Network and the Company's pay-for-play service,
iMagic Online. While a number of multiplayer games are available over the
Internet, generally only four, eight, or 16 players can play simultaneously
with or against each other. By contrast, large-scale multiplayer games permit a
significantly greater number of simultaneous players (frequently hundreds).
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The Company's Market Position
The Company believes it is well-positioned to capitalize on the emerging
market for online large-scale multiplayer games by leveraging its experience in
the growing market for high-quality strategy and simulation products on CD-ROM.
To date, five of the Company's titles have been nominated or selected as either
simulation or strategy game of the year by major industry magazines. In April
1997, the Company acquired ICI, which was among the first to introduce a
real-time large-scale multiplayer game on the Internet, permitting hundreds of
players to play simultaneously with or against each other, when it released its
WARBIRDS simulation game in 1995. WARBIRDS has been named best online game for
1996 and 1997 by PC Games magazine.
Strategy
The Company's objective is to become one of the world's leading providers
of CD-ROM and real-time large-scale multiplayer online simulation and strategy
games. Key elements of the Company's strategy are to:
Increase online recurring revenue. The Company was among the first to
enter the emerging market for real-time large-scale multiplayer online games.
The Company intends to leverage its experience in online games to strengthen
its position as a leading content provider by developing and delivering
sophisticated real-time large-scale multiplayer simulation games through its
online service on a subscription basis, plus additional fees for hours played
beyond the subscription allocation, and thereby increase the Company's
recurring revenues. In addition, the Company intends to leverage the marketing
resources of third parties and broaden its user base by partnering with
selected Internet service providers, online service providers and foreign
licensees to distribute its online products.
Focus on simulation and strategy games and expand brand recognition. The
Company focuses primarily on the simulation and strategy markets. The Company
intends to capitalize on management's extensive experience and knowledge of
these particular markets and on the favorable demographic profile of simulation
and strategy enthusiasts. The Company believes the typical user of its products
is a male over age 25 with sufficient disposable income to buy the latest
games. By focusing on delivering highly playable, entertaining games with high
quality graphics, the Company believes it has built strong brand recognition
and consumer loyalty among game enthusiasts. The Company intends to build upon
this loyalty by selectively creating franchise titles through publication of
sequels and add-ons to existing games.
Manage risk through internal and external product development. The Company
believes that using both internal and external development sources and keeping
the product development pipeline full assists in managing risk, maximizing
creativity and ensuring the consistent release of future products. Toward that
end, the Company currently works with 11 external development teams, which
complement the Company's internal development efforts. External development
teams provide leverage in that full development expenses generally are not
absorbed by the Company, advance royalties are fixed and development cycles
that may result in late delivery of a particular product do not affect the
delivery of other products planned for release. The Company intends to remain a
"value added" publisher of externally developed titles, ensuring product
quality by providing independent developers with access to its technology,
software tools and libraries, software design assistance, product design advice
and other services. In doing so, the Company intends to control the cost of
product development and spread the risk of product development across a number
of titles.
Expand worldwide distribution network. The Company currently sells its
CD-ROM products through leading software distributors and retailers in North
America and abroad. The Company intends to increase penetration within the
channels that can enhance the distribution of its CD-ROM products to its core
customer base worldwide, including computer and software retailers, consumer
electronics retailers and mass merchandisers. The Company currently distributes
its online products via the Internet through its iMagic Online game service and
intends to expand its distribution through relationships with third-party
providers of online and Internet services, both in the United States and
abroad. Maintaining strong and focused distribution channels enhances the
Company's ability to attract and retain employees and external development
partners.
Leverage core technologies. The Company maintains a dedicated research and
development staff which focuses on developing core technologies that can be
applied across multiple titles. The Company has filed a patent application with
respect to its MEGAplayer technology, which is a method of and system for
minimizing the effect of time latency in multiplayer electronic games played on
interconnected computers. The Company
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has developed graphics engines, game engines and communication technologies
which can be used in a number of different games in a cost-effective manner.
Specifically, the Company has five core technologies which it currently employs
to maximize efficiencies and cost effectiveness across its product line: (1)
MEGAplayer -- an architecture for enhancing Internet game play; (2) DEMON -- 3D
terrain optimization model; (3) TALON -- a dynamic mission generation system;
(4) MEGAvoice -- real-time voice communication technology; and (5) iMOL/SDK --
a software toolkit to provide a common interface among various communication
protocols for online game play. See " -- Technology."
Expand operations through strategic acquisitions. The Company intends to
expand its operations through strategic acquisitions as potential opportunities
become available. While the Company is not engaged in any acquisition
negotiations at present, potential targets may include other interactive
entertainment software publishers, game developers or distributors,
particularly distributors with international networks.
Products
General
The Company's products consist of sophisticated real-time, 3D simulation
and strategy games that are available on CD-ROM or, for its online products,
accessed on iMagic Online, the Company's online game service. To date, the
Company has published 27 products, one of which is a real-time large-scale
multiplayer online game, and has two additional real-time large-scale
multiplayer online games in the pre-release testing stage. Over one quarter of
these products have won awards or achieved other critical acclaim from industry
publications, including PC Games, PC Today, Computer Gaming World, Power Play,
PC Gamer and Computer Games Strategy Plus. The Company intends to expand the
distribution of its online large-scale multiplayer games through third-party
providers of online and Internet services to access a broader market base of
subscribers. Most of the Company's CD-ROM products are designed for play as
both single-player and multiplayer (up to 16 players) games and include various
levels of difficulty, so that both novice and experienced players can enjoy the
Company's games.
Simulation Products
A simulation product puts the player in control of a vehicle, such as a
helicopter, tank, or airplane, and allows the player to conduct missions in a
replicated real-world environment. These products are characterized by the
authenticity of the simulated vehicle, reproduction of enhanced performance
criteria and a realistic perspective using real-time rendered 3D graphics,
providing the player with a 360- view of the external environment. For example,
iF-22 utilizes the Company's proprietary DEMON 3D terrain technology, which can
incorporate thousands of square miles of satellite photography for a realistic
depiction of actual terrain. The Company's simulation titles are listed below,
followed by a brief description of several of the Company's most popular
simulation titles.
Simulation Products
Title Release Date
- ------------------------- ---------------
APACHE August 1995
- ------------------------- ---------------
STAR RANGERS November 1995
- ------------------------- ---------------
WARBIRDS December 1995
- ------------------------- ---------------
HIND September 1996
- ------------------------- ---------------
AIR WARRIOR II February 1997
- ------------------------- ---------------
iM1A2 ABRAMS March 1997
- ------------------------- ---------------
iF-22 July 1997
- ------------------------- ---------------
iF-16 September 1997
- ------------------------- ---------------
AIR WARRIOR III December 1997
- ------------------------- ---------------
iF-22 PERSIAN GULF March 1998
- ------------------------- ---------------
iPANZER 44 March 1998
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WARBIRDS, the Company's first online product offering, recreates World War
II air combat. WARBIRDS, named "Online Game of the Year" for both 1996 and 1997
by PC Games magazine, allows hundreds of players from around the world to
simultaneously fly air combat missions in a single campaign. After logging on
to iMagic Online, players choose to fly for one of four teams, select an
airplane from an array of 50 historically accurate bombers or fighters and
choose a role as a pilot, gunner or bomber. Individual combatants then engage
in dogfights or fly bombing missions over enemy territories, with the outcome
of each individual mission affecting the outcome of the overall campaign. For
example, successfully destroying the air defenses of and landing on an enemy's
airfield results in a country capturing that airfield. Airfields can be lost
and recaptured, providing a strategic as well as a tactical aspect to WARBIRDS.
Game play is broken up into three-week campaigns with a dogfighting and bombing
"ace" named for each campaign. A campaign starts with a limited array of planes
and more advanced planes become available as the campaign progresses to
incorporate the effect of technological advances. 3D rolling terrain graphics,
as well as the incorporation of the Company's MEGAvoice technology, which
provides real-time voice communications with groups of up to four game
participants, add to the realism of WARBIRDS. Through its proprietary
MEGAplayer technology, the Company is able to deliver via the Internet the full
3D graphics and action of WARBIRDS in real time to large numbers of players who
can enter the game 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
APACHE was the Company's first published product. APACHE is an air-combat
simulation of the AH-64D Apache Longbow Helicopter for players of all
experience levels. APACHE uses 3D visual technology optimized to provide
low-altitude detail and clarity and includes a multiplayer networking feature
to permit up to eight players and two teams to engage in simultaneous combat.
Since its release in August 1995, the Company has sold more than 175,000 copies
of APACHE. APACHE received two Codie Award nominations from the SPA and was
named "Best Simulation of 1995" by both PC Gamer magazine and Strategy Plus
magazine.
iM1A2 ABRAMS simulates the U.S. Army's main battle tank, the M1A2 Abrams.
The user is able to command a platoon of four tanks, or an entire company,
including other vehicles, artillery helicopters and artillery in a variety of
battles or campaigns of linked battles set in the Persian Gulf, the Balkans and
the former Soviet Ukraine against the latest Russian equipment. iM1A2 ABRAMS
uses advanced 3D graphics technology and contains multiple difficulty levels.
iPANZER 44 is the recently released follow-up to iM1A2 ABRAMS, allowing players
to command World War II Russian, American and German tanks. iPANZER 44 takes
advantage of Microsoft's Direct 3D technology to allow support for many 3D
graphic accelerator cards.
iF-22 is an internally developed simulation of the U.S. Air Force's newest
air-superiority fighter. The player is able to command a squadron of four F-22
aircraft executing single missions or protracted campaigns. iF-22 incorporates
the Company's DEMON advanced 3D graphics and terrain technology, multiple
difficulty levels, multiple flight models and a multiplayer option. Released in
July 1997, sales of iF-22 have exceeded 150,000 units to date. iF-22 PERSIAN
GULF, the recently released sequel to iF-22, includes the Company's TALON
(Total Air & Land Operations Network) campaign system, which generates new
mission assignments each time the game is played. The iF-22 PERSIAN GULF
release is compatible with computers equipped with Intel's new AGP (Advanced
Graphics Port) technology.
Strategy Products
A strategy product requires the player to achieve maximum results through
management of a specific set of resources. The Company produces sophisticated
strategy games that include historical military scenarios, empire building and
tactical strategy products. The Company's existing strategy products generally
are characterized by historically accurate databases and advanced artificial
intelligence. Strategy games generally have lower initial shipment quantities
but generally sustain prices longer and maintain longer shelf-lives than
simulation products. Strategy games also can utilize the same core components
across a number of different products, which facilitates the creation of a
franchise, such as the Company's three-game Great Battles series, GREAT BATTLES
OF ALEXANDER, GREAT BATTLES OF HANNIBAL and GREAT BATTLES OF CAESAR. The
Company's strategy titles are listed below, followed by a brief description of
several of the Company's strategy titles.
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Strategy Products
Title Release Date
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------
EXPLORATION September 1995
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------
CAPITALISM October 1995
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR June 1996
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------
BRUCE JENNER'S WORLD CLASS DECATHLON July 1996
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------
DESTINY September 1996
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------
HARPOON CLASSIC '97 November 1996
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------
FALLEN HAVEN March 1997
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------
CAPITALISM PLUS May 1997
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------
GREAT BATTLES OF ALEXANDER June 1997
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------
WAR, INC. September 1997
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------
SEVEN KINGDOMS November 1997
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------
GREAT BATTLES OF HANNIBAL November 1997
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------
SEMPER FI February 1998
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------
GREAT BATTLES OF CAESAR March 1998
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------
LIBERATION DAY March 1998
- ------------------------------------------- ---------------
INDUSTRY GIANT April 1998
CAPITALISM, the Company's highly acclaimed business strategy and
simulation product, was a runner-up to APACHE as the "Best Simulation of 1995"
by PC Gamer magazine. CAPITALISM gives the player resources with which to build
a global financial empire. CAPITALISM sold in excess of 100,000 units by the
end of 1997. CAPITALISM PLUS, an update of CAPITALISM, includes a new
interface, improved graphics, maps and a soundtrack. A second sequel to
CAPITALISM is planned for release in 1999.
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR, the Company's highly acclaimed strategic Civil War
battle simulation, covers the entire Civil War from the opening guns of Bull
Run to the final surrender of the army of Northern Virginia. This strategy
product allows players to command forces from either side, recruit troops,
build ships, form armies, corps and fleets. AMERICAN CIVIL WAR includes an
historically accurate database featuring over 125 Union and Confederate
commanders.
SEVEN KINGDOMS, one of the Company's newest strategy games, has won
various awards, including "Strategy Game of the Year" by Germany's PC Power
Play magazine. SEVEN KINGDOMS presents players with a special challenge of
real-time action and strategy set in a medieval fantasy world of monsters, gods
and opposing cultures. Two sequels to SEVEN KINGDOMS are planned, with the
first scheduled for release in 1998.
Future Products
The Company has 19 products in development for release over the next 18
months, including five internally-developed products and 14 under contract with
external developers. Two of these products, FIGHTER OPS and RAIDER WARS, are
online games which have undergone beta testing on the Company's online service.
There can be no assurance that, if introduced, such products will achieve
market acceptance or generate significant revenues. A significant delay in the
introduction of, or the presence of a defect in, one or more of such titles or
other new products or the failure of such titles to generate significant
revenues could have a material adverse effect on the success of such titles and
on the Company's business, operating results and financial condition. The
Company plans to develop certain of its future products both as CD-ROM games
and large-scale multiplayer online products. The Company believes that a
carefully planned release date on both delivery platforms can increase sales of
the product. ULTRAFIGHTERS and MALKARI, each of which is intended to be
playable both as a CD-ROM product and as a large-scale multiplayer online
product, are scheduled for release in 1998. There can be no assurance that such
products will be released on schedule for either delivery platform or that the
release of such titles on either CD-ROM or online will achieve market
acceptance or generate significant revenues for the Company. In
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addition, the Company intends to offer its online products to third-party
providers of online and Internet services and licensees to reach a larger
audience. There can be no assurance that satisfactory arrangements with other
distributors and licensees can be negotiated, or that its online products will
be successful or generate significant revenues for the Company.
Distribution
The Company uses a dual channel distribution strategy by delivering its
CD-ROM products for retail sale through its worldwide distribution network and
its online games via the Internet.
Distribution of CD-ROM Products
The Company's CD-ROM products are distributed in over 30 countries through
more than 15,000 retail outlets. In North America, the Company sells its
products both through distributors and directly to large retailers. The Company
maintains distribution relationships with seven major distributors, including
Navarre, Tech Data, Merisel, Inc., Guillemot, GT Interactive Software
Corporation and Beamscope Canada, Inc. The Company's products are sold by many
of the larger retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy and CompUSA in North
America and Karstadt, Dixon's and PC World in Europe. Although such retailers
may purchase the Company's products through distributors, the Company believes
that it is important to maintain favorable relationships with the retailers in
order to promote the visibility of its products. The Company's products
constitute a relatively small percentage of a retailer's sales volume, however,
and there can be no assurance that retailers will continue to purchase the
Company's products or provide the Company's products with adequate levels of
shelf space and promotional support. For the year ended December 31, 1997,
sales to the Company's distributors accounted for approximately 65% of the
Company's net revenues. In 1996, Tech Data and Navarre accounted for 27% and
11%, respectively, of the Company's net revenues; in 1997, Tech Data and
Electronics Boutique, Inc. accounted for 19% and 10%, respectively, of the
Company's net revenues; and in the three months ended March 31, 1998, Navarre,
Guillemot, Tech Data and Electronics Boutique, Inc. accounted for 15%, 16%, 12%
and 10%, respectively, of the Company's net revenues.
Simulation and strategy products have a large international following.
Accordingly, the Company has established wholly-owned subsidiaries in the
United Kingdom and Germany which serve the European market. Approximately
one-third of the Company's sales are generated in the European marketplace. In
addition, the Company contracts with distribution agencies in Japan, Singapore,
South America, Korea, South Africa and Australia. In certain territories
(Spain, Italy and France, for example) the Company may elect to license its
products to a local publisher in exchange for guaranteed volume requirements
and a committed royalty.
Alternate distribution channels such as direct mail to consumers, direct
ordering through a toll-free phone number and the Company's web site and
OEM/bundling arrangements, account for less than 6% of the Company's net
revenues.
Distribution of Online Games
The Company currently delivers its online games via iMagic Online, the
Company's online game service. The Company's host software runs on a UNIX-based
system and to date has been operated on Sun workstations and Pentium-based
systems. Reliability is enhanced by RAID systems for data storage, access to
the Internet via multiple T-1 lines from various providers and software
backups.
The Company emphasizes sophisticated online games for which users pay a
subscription fee, plus additional hourly fees for time played beyond the
subscription allocation. The Company believes that with the continued
proliferation of Internet usage, providers of online and Internet services will
become an increasingly important channel for global distribution of its
real-time large-scale multiplayer games. The Company presently has one game
available on a pay-for-play basis on its online game service with plans to add
four additional games in the next 12 months. Currently, the Company is
negotiating with several major providers of online and Internet services in
North America, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Brazil for rights to
distribute certain of the Company's online products. There can be no assurance
that the Company will successfully negotiate relationships with providers of
online and Internet services or, if completed, that such arrangements will
generate significant revenues. The Company could be materially adversely
affected if the cost to the Company of any proposed online distributor
relationship exceeds expectations or if the Company incurs significant costs in
anticipation of the arrangement and the arrangement is delayed or abandoned.
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The Company seeks to leverage its CD-ROM sales by including the front-end
software for its online products (currently WARBIRDS) in its CD-ROM releases.
Customers can download the program from the iMagic Online web site or access it
from the CD-ROM distributed by the Company. To play online, users subscribe for
a fixed number of hours on a monthly basis and may pay to play additional hours
beyond the level included in the subscription agreement. The software can be
played alone offline or head-to-head against another player at no charge. Game
play from WARBIRDS has now exceeded 1.4 million paid hours. The Company has
additional online products in development and intends to continue to update its
existing and future online games in order to continue the flow of recurring
revenue from this distribution channel. There can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to develop new products or enhancements to existing online
products, or that such products or enhancements will be successful or continue
to produce recurring revenues.
Marketing
The Company pursues different marketing strategies for its CD-ROM game
sales and online game sales, while seeking to capitalize on the synergy of the
two strategies.
CD-ROM Game Sales
The Company believes that marketing and product positioning are critical
factors to the success of its retail games and focuses much of its effort on
the creation of market awareness surrounding its upcoming product releases. The
Company utilizes a wide range of consumer marketing techniques to position its
products. These techniques include online marketing on the Company's web site,
placement of demonstration versions on Internet game sites, print and web
advertising, distribution of demonstration disks and appearances at industry
trade shows.
The Company supports its retail products through market development funds.
These funds are used primarily for in-store promotions, point-of-purchase
displays and other advertising and promotional techniques coordinated with the
Company's retail partners. The Company maintains a database of existing and
potential customers through reader response cards and buyer registration cards
for use in direct marketing efforts.
Online Game Sales
The Company's online marketing focuses on strategies for increasing
recurring revenues from the current customer base while recruiting new
customers. The Company seeks to increase revenues from the current customer
base through community building programs, such as regular e-mail updates to
subscribers, training programs and sponsorship of online events, contests and
conventions attended by subscribers. For example, the Company is promoting the
development of "communities" of regular WARBIRDS flyers who participate in
special promotional events, such as squadron conferences, conventions and
competitions around the world. To date, over 100 of these informal squadrons or
communities exist. In addition, the Company is committed to providing extensive
technical support to its customers. The Company believes that as a result of
these efforts, it has developed significant customer loyalty, encouraging long
term customer game play.
The Company seeks to attract new customers by increasing its Internet
presence through a targeted marketing plan. This plan includes an Internet
advertising campaign, an Internet-based public relations campaign, and special
promotions with key industry partners, such as web sites and specialized
magazines. In addition, the Company intends to increase its visibility and that
of its products by seeking to establish relationships with third party
providers of Internet and online services.
Marketing Synergy
The Company continually seeks to develop the synergy of its retail and
online marketing strategies, a key component of which is building a common
brand awareness. The Company has developed brand awareness through the success
of its award-winning releases, the reputation and visibility of the Company's
Chairman (including his past experience in the interactive entertainment
software industry), its focus on simulation and strategy products, the easily
recognizable color-block design of its product packaging and its distinctive
corporate logo. Other marketing synergy includes cross-promotion of its games
at retail and online. On the retail side, this includes bundling the software
for WARBIRDS and other large-scale multiplayer games on CD-ROMs of retail
product releases. The Company is developing a web-based lobby service to match
up players of its CD-ROM games to participate in multiplayer (up to 16 players)
games. By bringing these players to its web site, the Company intends to use
this opportunity to market its online and other retail games.
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As of March 31, 1998, the Company's marketing and sales staff included 30
employees in four offices located in the Research Triangle Park area, North
Carolina; Grapevine, Texas; Bracknell, United Kingdom; and Guetersloh, Germany.
The Company expects to increase its marketing and sales staff in these
locations and expand its offices geographically where appropriate.
Technology
The Company focuses on developing technologies that can be applied across
the Company's product line or shared among similar types of products.
The Company has filed a patent application on its MEGAplayer technology,
which addresses problems inherent in high and variable latency networks such as
the Internet. The Company's online games allow more than 250 simultaneous
Internet users to play in a single arena with less "warping." Warping occurs
when other players appear to jump or "warp" across the computer screen instead
of moving smoothly. The Company believes that its technology allows a player to
enjoy a more realistic experience, which greatly enhances game play. The
Company intends to incorporate MEGAplayer technology in future real-time online
products.
The Company also has developed its MEGAvoice technology, which allows
groups of up to four players to engage in real-time voice communication over
the Internet while playing the Company's simulations. This technology utilizes
bandwidth efficiently while limiting any impact on simultaneous game play.
The Company's proprietary 3D graphics engine, DEMON, is a highly
optimized, real-time terrain rendering system for use in the development of
flight simulation and other 3D products. DEMON, utilizing satellite photography
and matching real world elevation data, produces strikingly authentic views
with near-realistic depiction of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, cities,
roads and other terrain features, just as a pilot would see if he or she were
actually flying over that area of the world. DEMON, in conjunction with other
proprietary data processing tools, is capable of handling large amounts of
data, such as the 80,000 square miles of terrain present in a single combat
theater in the iF-22 product. The engine was jointly developed with Numerical
Design Limited ("NDL"). The Company owns the code for DEMON, however, NDL has
retained rights to use the code in non-competitive markets, subject to the
payment of royalties to the Company. The Company intends to continually upgrade
this technology to add new features that will become available as a result of
rapidly changing hardware technology.
TALON is a dynamic mission generation system that enhances the replay
value of the Company's simulation games. TALON generates new mission
assignments each time the game is played. The Company believes that the TALON
system adds significant value to its products when compared to games with a
limited number of static missions.
The Company has developed a proprietary software toolkit to provide
interfaces that will allow online game play across different communications
protocols, such as varying local area networks and wide area networks. This
toolkit is intended to facilitate the communications capabilities of games,
freeing the product developers' time to focus on content. The Company intends
to update and supplement this toolkit as technology changes.
Product Development
General
The Company seeks to publish high quality content developed by both
internal and external sources. By releasing a variety of products and keeping
the product development pipeline full, the Company seeks to spread its risk and
development costs across a number of products, rather than focusing all of its
development efforts and funds on a single product or a small group of products
in an effort to produce the next blockbuster title. The Company anticipates
that in the next 18 months, approximately one-third of the Company's products
will be internally developed.
External Development
The Company typically enters into development agreements with external
software developers around the world. These development agreements generally
include an up-front payment as an advance on future royalties owed as well as
certain milestone payments and bonus or penalty clauses for early and late
product delivery, respectively. The Company generally pays a royalty of 15% to
25% of the Company's net revenues from sales
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of the licensed product. Most contracts include exclusive worldwide
distribution rights. The Company currently has 11 strategic relationships with
external developers from around the world.
The Company is continuously evaluating product proposals submitted by
third-party developers and may enter into contracts with such third parties for
one or more products. For example, in March 1998, the Company signed a
five-year development agreement with Enlight Software, developer of CAPITALISM,
CAPITALISM PLUS, and SEVEN KINGDOMS, the Company's best-selling strategy games.
The agreement calls for the development of at least three major new projects
and four upgrades to existing products. The Company will have exclusive
worldwide distribution rights to games developed under this agreement.
The Company considers itself to be a "value-added" publisher of products
developed by third parties, as the Company routinely provides developers with
software tools and libraries, software design assistance, product design and
other services to ensure the quality of the licensed products. The Company's
internal development staff closely monitors the progress of external developers
to ensure the quality of the licensed products, including all final testing
prior to a product's release.
Internal Development
Internally developed products use a combination of proprietary and
licensed software technology. The Company also supplements its in-house
development capabilities with third-party music composition, technical writing
services and select technical consulting. As of March 31, 1998, the Company's
research and development staff consisted of 79 employees. The Company believes
it has recruited talented employees with significant experience in the computer
game industry and complementary industries. The Company's development team
includes professionals experienced in client-server technology, 3D graphics,
imaging, video and audio technology, large networking systems and U.S.
Department of Defense avionic testing systems.
The Product Development Process
The development cycle for new products ranges from six to 24 months and,
for online products, continues for the life of the products. Consequently, the
Company believes that discipline is critical to management of the software
development process and requires both internal and external development efforts
to adhere to a scheduled process. Generally, each new internally developed
product begins as a brief design document proposed by the Company's internal
development staff. Following management approval, the product's designer drafts
a detailed product design specification, programmers develop the software
design and create a schedule based on that design, and artists develop
storyboards and the art production schedule. The Company then develops the
overall project schedule and budget, including a scheduled release date and a
marketing and sales plan. The Company typically reviews externally developed
products in various stages of development, and, once the Company has selected
and contracted for a product, the Company's product development staff then
manages the product development process with the external developer in a manner
similar to the Company's internal development process.
Throughout the development phase of each product, whether internally or
externally developed, the Company implements a number of quality control
procedures. The software is carefully designed, implemented and tested by the
programmers, followed by frequent testing releases. Each product is played and
critiqued by the Company's in-house playtest staff and other Company employees.
Products are then submitted to groups of up to 50 external playtesters. This
product test process reduces implementation defects and provides design and
playability feedback in a timely manner for incorporation into the finished
product.
The introduction of new products is subject to the inherent risks of
development delays. Many of the Company's products are in early stages of
development, and the Company will be required to commit considerable time,
effort and resources to complete development of its currently proposed
products. The Company has, in the past, experienced significant delays in the
introduction of certain new products and there will likely be delays in
developing and introducing new products in the future. In addition, because
many of the Company's products are developed for it by third parties, the
Company cannot always control the timing of their introduction. While the
Company maintains production arrangements with its third-party developers,
provides them with certain software toolkits to promote quality control and
monitors their progress, there can be no assurance that delays in the work
performed by third parties or poor quality of such work will not result in
product delays.
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Production and Manufacturing
The Company contracts with independent fulfillment vendors to produce,
ship and manage inventory of the Company's CD-ROM products, including returns.
For each published product, the Company prepares a master software disk,
artwork, camera-ready user manual and collateral materials which are sent to
such fulfillment vendors for duplication, assembly and packaging. The Company
inspects randomly selected copies of finished products prior to authorization
of shipment. Upon Company approval, the fulfillment vendor ships the finished
goods directly to the distribution channels specified by the Company via a
purchase order. The Company maintains relationships with several fulfillment
vendors to ensure access to supply and competitive pricing.
Competition
The interactive entertainment software market is intensely and
increasingly competitive. The market is characterized by the continual
introduction of new software products and technologies. The ability to compete
successfully depends primarily on the ability to develop and market high
quality products, access to distribution channels, including retail shelf
space, the availability and quality of support services for the products and
price. The Company believes that it competes favorably with respect to each of
these factors. In addition, the Company believes that online games represent an
important emerging segment of the interactive entertainment software market.
While other companies currently offer online games, few companies offer
real-time large-scale multiplayer simulation games via the Internet.
At present, the Company competes primarily against other companies
offering high-end simulation and strategy products. In particular, the
Company's competitors for its CD-ROM products include NovaLogic, Inc.,
Electronic Arts, Inc., MicroProse, Inc., Interplay Entertainment Corp.,
Activision, Inc. and Cendant Corp. (formerly CUC/Sierra On-Line). The Company
also competes with companies providing online games, including Kesmai
Corporation, VR1 Inc., Simutronics Corporation and NovaLogic, Inc. Many of the
Company's existing and future competitors have greater financial, technical,
marketing, sales and customer support resources, as well as greater name
recognition and better access to consumers, than the Company. There can be no
assurance that the Company will respond effectively to market or technological
changes or compete successfully in the future.
Intellectual Property and Other Proprietary Rights
The Company holds copyrights on its products, manuals, advertising and
other materials and has received federal trademark protection for the Company
name, the form of the Company logo and the names of certain products published
by the Company. The Company does not acquire the copyrights for works developed
by third parties under license that the Company publishes. The Company has
applied for a patent on its MEGAplayer technology that enables its online
products to function more effectively on the Internet. There can be no
assurance that the patent application for the Company's MEGAplayer technology
will result in the issuance of a patent with the United States Patent and
Trademark Office.
The Company has received registrations with respect to the following
trademarks: Interactive Magic, I-Magic, the Interactive Magic logo and Star
Rangers, and has applied for trademark registrations with respect to iM1A2
Abrams and Hind. The Company relies on common law to protect its other
trademarks. The Company believes that registered and common law trademarks and
common law copyrights are important, but are less significant to the Company's
success than factors such as the knowledge, ability and experience of the
Company's personnel, research and development, name recognition and product
quality.
The Company has developed proprietary technologies in the areas of 3D
graphics and client/server architecture. The Company protects its proprietary
technologies through various security practices. Each employee must sign a
confidentiality agreement which includes a provision that grants the Company
ownership of all intellectual property. As an additional protective measure,
only a limited number of development personnel have access to the source code
for the Company's software. While the Company relies on a combination of
trademark, trade secret, copyright and other proprietary rights laws, license
agreements, employee and third-party non-disclosure agreements and other
methods to establish and protect its proprietary rights, there can be no
assurance that the steps taken by the Company will be adequate to prevent
misappropriation of the technology or independent development by others of
software products with features based upon, or otherwise similar to, those of
the Company's products. To license its products to end users, the Company
primarily relies on "shrink wrap" licenses that are not signed by the end-user
and, therefore, may be unenforceable under the laws of certain jurisdictions.
In addition,
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effective copyright and trade secret protection may be unavailable or limited
in certain foreign countries, and the global nature of certain wide area
networks, particularly the Internet, makes it virtually impossible to control
the ultimate destination of the Company's products. Despite the Company's
efforts to protect its proprietary rights, unauthorized parties may attempt to
copy aspects of the Company's products or to obtain and use information that
the Company regards as proprietary. Unauthorized copying is common within the
software industry, and if a significant amount of unauthorized copying of the
Company's products were to occur, the Company's business, operating results or
financial condition could be adversely affected. As the number of software
products in the industry increases and the functionality of these products
further overlaps, software developers may become increasingly subject to
infringement claims. There can be no assurance that third parties will not
assert infringement claims against the Company in the future with respect to
current or future products. As is common in the industry, from time to time,
the Company receives notices from third parties claiming infringement of
intellectual property rights of such parties. The Company investigates these
claims and responds as it deems appropriate. Litigation may be necessary in the
future to enforce the Company's intellectual property rights, to protect the
Company's trade secrets, to determine the validity and scope of the proprietary
rights of others, or to defend against claims of infringement or invalidity.
Any such litigation could result in substantial costs and diversion of
resources and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business,
operating results or financial condition.
Employees
As of March 31, 1998, the Company employed 121 people, including 72 on a
full-time basis and 7 on a part-time basis in research and development, 30 on a
full-time basis in sales and marketing and 12 on a full-time basis in finance
and administration. Competition for highly skilled employees with technical,
management, marketing, sales, product development and other specialized
training is intense. There can be no assurance that the Company will be
successful in attracting and retaining such personnel. The Company and its
employees are not parties to any collective bargaining agreements. The Company
believes that its relations with its employees are good.
Properties
The Company leases 18,452 square feet of office space in the Research
Triangle Park area, North Carolina, which it uses as its principal executive
offices. The Company leases 4,895 square feet of office space in Grapevine,
Texas as a regional development office. The Company also leases 1,520 square
feet of office space in Bracknell, United Kingdom, and 700 square feet of
office space in Guetersloh, Germany, for the Company's foreign operations. The
Company believes that its existing facilities are adequate to meet its current
needs and that suitable additional or substitute space will be available as
needed to accommodate any expansion of operations.
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MANAGEMENT
Directors and Executive Officers
The directors and executive officers of the Company are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name Age Position
- -------------------------------------- ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
J. W. Stealey(2) .................... 50 Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
Robert L. Pickens ................... 51 President and Chief Operating Officer
Joseph Rutledge ..................... 46 Senior Vice President -- Development
Raymond Rutledge .................... 56 Vice President -- Licensing
Joseph R. Mannes .................... 39 Vice President and General Manager, Online Games
William H. Marks .................... 46 Chief Financial Officer, Vice President -- Finance, Secretary and
Treasurer
David H. Kestel(2) .................. 65 Director
J. Nicholas England(1) .............. 50 Director
W. Joseph McClelland(1)(2) .......... 52 Director
Avi Suriel(1) ....................... 38 Director
</TABLE>
- ------------
(1) Member of Audit Committee.
(2) Member of Compensation Committee.
J. W. Stealey has been Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company since January 1995. Previously, he was
founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MicroProse, Inc., a leading
developer and publisher of flight simulation and strategy software titles from
1982 to 1993. Prior to 1982, Mr. Stealey was Group Director of Business
Development of General Instruments. Prior to joining General Instruments
Corporation, Mr. Stealey held management consulting positions with Cresap,
McCormick and Paget and McKinsey & Co. in New York, New York. Mr. Stealey
earned a B.S. degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the United States Air
Force Academy. After graduation from the Academy, Mr. Stealey spent six years
as an operational pilot in the United States Air Force. Mr. Stealey also
received an M.B.A. in finance and strategic management from the Wharton School
of Business of the University of Pennsylvania.
Robert L. Pickens has been President and Chief Operating Officer of the
Company since its incorporation in May 1994. From 1986 to 1994, Mr. Pickens was
President and Chief Executive Officer of Washington Aluminum Company, where he
was responsible for the operations and business administration of its five
divisions. From 1970 to 1986, Mr. Pickens held various operations and sales
positions at Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation, including managing
Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp.'s Carbon Division. Mr. Pickens earned a B.A.
degree in Psychology from Davidson College. Mr. Pickens has completed extensive
M.B.A. work and is a candidate for a master's degree in Applied Behavioral
Science at Johns Hopkins University.
Joseph Rutledge has been Senior Vice President of Development for the
Company since September 1994. Mr. Rutledge oversees the Company's internal
software development activities. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Rutledge
founded and operated JR Associates, a private software consulting company which
designed multimedia and "edutainment" products. From 1978 to 1994, Mr. Rutledge
served as a technical systems consultant for Honeywell Inc., McDonnell Douglas
Corp. and other defense technology companies. Mr. Rutledge is a graduate of the
University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. degree in Mathematics. Mr. Rutledge is the
brother of Raymond Rutledge.
Raymond Rutledge has served as the Company's Vice President of Licensing
since February 1995. Mr. Rutledge oversees product development from external
sources. From 1993 to 1995, Mr. Rutledge served as Vice President of
Development for MicroProse, Inc., where he was responsible for overseeing
development of hit releases such as F-15 Strike Eagle III, F-14 Fleet Defender,
1942 Pacific Air War and Ultimate Football. From 1988 to 1992, Mr. Rutledge
served as Executive Vice President of RJO Enterprises, Inc., a systems
engineering and software company. Mr. Rutledge graduated from the University of
Pittsburgh with a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering. He also earned a
master's degree in Computer Science from Adelphi University. Mr. Rutledge is
the brother of Joseph Rutledge.
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Joseph R. Mannes has served as Vice President and General Manager, Online
Games for the Company since April 1997, when it acquired ICI. From 1996 until
1997, Mr. Mannes served as a Director, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and
Treasurer of ICI. From 1987 to 1996, Mr. Mannes was First Vice President in the
Corporate Finance Department of Rauscher Pierce Refsnes, Inc., a Dallas, Texas
investment bank. From 1982 to 1987, he served as an Assistant Vice President at
the First National Bank of Boston, where he worked as a commercial lender in
both the Special Industry Group and the High Technology Group. Mr. Mannes
received an A.B. degree in Philosophy and French from Dartmouth College and
graduated with an M.B.A. degree in Accounting and Finance from the Wharton
School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Mannes is a Chartered
Financial Analyst.
William H. Marks was appointed Chief Financial Officer, Vice President --
Finance, Secretary and Treasurer of the Company effective June 1, 1998. Mr.
Marks served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since May
1996, and served as Senior Vice President -- Finance and Accounting, from June
1995 to May 1996, of Fleer/SkyBox International, a subsidiary of Marvel
Entertainment Group, Inc. in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. From 1990 to 1995, Mr.
Marks served as Controller of SkyBox International Inc. (a subsidiary of Brooke
Group Ltd.) in Durham, North Carolina. From 1981 to 1990, Mr. Marks served as
Senior Manager of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. in Richmond, Virginia and Raleigh,
North Carolina. Mr. Marks received a B.S. in Accounting from Virginia
Commonwealth University in 1978 and completed various courses in Masters of
Taxation there in 1984-1985.
David H. Kestel, CLU, has served as a Director of the Company since
February 1997. Since 1992, Mr. Kestel has served as President of The Kestel
Group, Inc., an estate planning, executive compensation and employee benefits
company based in Potomac, Maryland. From 1978 to 1992, he worked at Blue Cross
and Blue Shield of the National Capital Area, most recently as Senior Vice
President, Marketing, and served as President of two domestic life insurance
companies and two offshore reinsurance companies. Mr. Kestel received a B.B.A.
and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan. Mr. Kestel is a Member,
Chartered Life Underwriter.
J. Nicholas England has served as a Director of the Company since February
1997. Since 1993, Mr. England has been a Research Professor in the Department
of Computer Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. From
1987 to 1993, he worked as Director of Product Development for advanced
graphics, imaging and visualization hardware and software for Sun Microsystems,
Inc. Previously, Mr. England founded two computer graphics companies. Mr.
England is a Director of Numerical Design Limited in Chapel Hill, North
Carolina, a private software company. He received a B.S. in Electrical
Engineering from North Carolina State University.
W. Joseph McClelland has served as a Director of the Company since
February 1997. Since 1990, Mr. McClelland has been Vice President and a Member
of the Board of GEC-Marconi Defense Systems Inc., an Arlington, Virginia-based
subsidiary of GEC-Marconi Ltd., which produces and sells electronic warfare
equipment to government customers. From 1988 to 1990, he was Director,
Avionics, Armament and Electronic Combat, at the HQ United States Air Force
Systems Command at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, where he supervised
headquarters staff and provided corporate oversight of advanced programs. From
1986 to 1988, he was Director, United States Air Force Research and Development
Liaison Office in London, England, where he initiated and managed U.S./U.K.
cooperative research and development programs. Mr. McClelland received a B.S.
in Engineering Mechanics and Mathematics from the United States Air Force
Academy. He received an M.S. in Applied Mechanics from the University of Utah.
Mr. McClelland is a graduate of the United States Air Force Test Pilot School.
Avi Suriel has served as a Director of the Company since February 1998.
Since 1996, Mr. Suriel has been a Director of Vertical Financial Holdings, a
European-based merchant banking firm focusing primarily on investments in the
high technology industry. From 1993 to 1996, Mr. Suriel was a Director in the
Investment Banking Division of Salomon Smith Barney. From 1990 to 1993, he was
a Senior Associate in the Fixed Income Division at Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated. From 1988 to 1990, he was a Research Analyst in the Fixed Income
Division at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith. Mr. Suriel also provides
consulting services as a principal of Suriel Financial Consulting, which he
founded. Mr. Suriel received a B.A. degree in Economics and International
Relations from Hebrew University, Israel, and an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham
University.
All directors currently hold office until the next annual meeting of
shareholders or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified.
Executive officers are elected by, and serve at the discretion of, the Board of
Directors.
The Company has obtained key man life insurance on the life of Mr. Stealey
in the amount of $4,200,000.
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Key Employees
Douglas Kubel has been Vice President of Engineering and Technology of the
Company since October 1994. Mr. Kubel manages the development of 3D graphics
and audio technology and is responsible for incorporating hardware and software
technologies into the Company's planning processes. From 1987 to 1994, Mr.
Kubel was a Senior Software Manager for imaging, video, audio and visualization
for Sun Microsystems, Inc., where he developed 3D graphics software for
photorealistic rendering and computer-aided design. Mr. Kubel served as a
Software Engineer for General Electric from 1985 to 1987. Mr. Kubel graduated
summa cum laude from North Carolina State University where he earned a B.S.
degree in Electrical Engineering. He later graduated from the Program for
Technology Managers at the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at the University
of North Carolina.
Dale Addink has been Vice President of Development, Online Games, since
April 1997, when the Company acquired ICI. Mr. Addink serves as the lead
developer of online games. From 1995 to 1997, Mr. Addink was President of ICI,
which he co-founded in 1995. Mr. Addink served as Senior Project Engineer at
Rapistan Demag Corp., a manufacturer of software for industrial electrical
controls, from 1994 to 1995. From 1988 to 1994, Mr. Addink operated a
consulting company through which he developed industrial control systems. Mr.
Addink received a B.A. degree in Math and Computer Science from the University
of Northern Iowa.
Committees of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors has established two standing committees, the Audit
Committee and the Compensation Committee. The Audit Committee recommends the
appointment of auditors and reviews the results and scope of the audit and
other services provided by the Company's independent auditors. The Compensation
Committee is responsible for the approval of compensation arrangements for the
officers of the Company, the review of the Company's compensation plans and
policies and the administration of the Company's employee benefit plans.
Directors' Compensation
The Company reimburses each director for out-of-pocket expenses incurred
in connection with the rendering of services as a director. The Company has
granted warrants to purchase 25,000 shares of Common Stock to each non-officer
director at an exercise price equal to fair market value at the date of grant.
In addition, the Company has granted warrants to purchase an additional 500
shares to each director at an exercise price equal to fair market value at the
date of grant as compensation for each Board meeting attended. In addition,
directors are eligible to participate in the Company's 1998 Stock Plan. See "
- -- Stock Option Plans."
Executive Compensation
The following tables show annual and long-term compensation paid or
accrued by the Company for services rendered for the year ended December 31,
1997 by the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the Company's other executive
officers whose salary and bonus exceeded $100,000 in the most recent fiscal
year.
Summary Compensation Table
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Annual Compensation
---------------------------------------
Other Annual All Other
Name and Principal Position Year Salary Compensation Compensation
- ----------------------------------------------------- ------ ----------- ---------------- ---------------
<S> <C>
J. W. Stealey ...................................... 1997 $160,000 $ 25,380(1) $ --
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Robert L. Pickens .................................. 1997 $114,000 (2) $ 3,833(3)
President and Chief Operating Officer
William J. Kaluza .................................. 1997 $120,000 (2) $ --
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary(4)
</TABLE>
- ------------
(1) Includes $16,832 in payments for an automobile used by Mr. Stealey and
$8,548 in club dues.
(2) Perquisites and other personal benefits did not exceed the lesser of
$50,000 or 10% of salary compensation for the named executive officers.
(3) Represents payments for term life insurance of which certain family members
of Mr. Pickens are beneficiaries.
(4) Mr. Kaluza resigned from the Company for personal reasons effective May 21,
1998.
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<PAGE>
Aggregated Fiscal Year-End Option Values
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Securities Underlying Value of Unexercised
Unexercised Options at Fiscal In-The-Money
Year-End Options at Fiscal Year-End (1)
------------------------------- ------------------------------
Name Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
- --------------------------- ------------- --------------- ------------- --------------
<S> <C>
J. W. Stealey ............. 206,250 293,750 $1,031,250 $1,468,750
Robert L. Pickens ......... 70,813 106,688 354,065 533,440
William J. Kaluza ......... 42,188 107,813 168,752 431,252
</TABLE>
- ------------
(1) The value of the options is based upon the difference between the exercise
price per share and the estimated fair market value per share at December
31, 1997, as determined by the Board of Directors, multiplied by the
number of shares subject to the option.
Employment Agreements
The Company is party to an employment agreement with each of the named
executive officers. The Company entered into employment agreements with J. W.
Stealey, Robert L. Pickens and William J. Kaluza, effective January 3, 1995,
January 3, 1995 and March 25, 1996, respectively. Mr. Kaluza has resigned from
the Company for personal reasons effective May 21, 1998. Each of Mr. Stealey's
and Mr. Pickens' employment agreements has an initial term of three years that
automatically renews for an additional one year term beginning on the second
anniversary of the effective date unless either party provides written notice
of intent not to extend the term for an additional year. During the term of
employment, the parties may terminate the employment for any reason upon
notice.
If the termination is for any reason other than voluntary termination by
the employee or by the Company for cause, the Company will make the following
payments to the employee: (i) any unpaid base compensation for services
performed prior to the date of termination, (ii) the amount of any accrued
annual vacation pay and other accrued but unpaid benefits and (iii) an amount
as liquidated damages equal to twice the amount of the employee's (A) annual
base salary then in effect; (B) any earned incentive compensation due but
unpaid; and (C) such incentive compensation as would have been earned from
January 1 of the year of termination through the date of termination pursuant
to performance criteria established by the Board of Directors. With respect to
Mr. Pickens, the Company's failure to extend his employment agreement for an
additional year on an anniversary of the effective date will constitute a
termination by the Company without cause.
If the termination is voluntary by the employee or by the Company for
cause, the Company will pay the employee (i) any unpaid compensation for
services performed prior to the date of termination, (ii) the amount of any
accrued annual vacation pay and (iii) such incentive compensation as would have
been earned from January 1 of the year of termination through the date of
termination pursuant to performance criteria established by the Board of
Directors. Voluntary termination does not include termination by the employee
as a result of (i) a material change in the employee's duties, responsibilities
or authority, including the sale or other disposition of a substantial part of
the business of the Company that would decrease the scope of the employee's
position, (ii) failure to obtain the assumption of the obligation to perform
the agreement by any successor, (iii) breach of the employment agreement by the
Company or (iv) relocation of the employee's office to a location more than
fifty (50) miles from the employee's residence or the Company's principal
offices.
The employment agreements each include a non-competition provision,
effective during the term of the employment agreement and for a period of one
year (two years for Mr. Stealey) following termination of employment, pursuant
to which the employee cannot compete with the Company within 250 miles of any
location at which the Company maintains its principal administrative
headquarters by becoming interested, directly or indirectly, as a partner,
officer, director, stockholder, advisor, employee or in any other capacity with
any competitive business engaged in the design, manufacture or sale of games
used on personal computers. The employment agreements each prohibit disclosure
of any confidential information about the Company.
Stock Option Plans
1995 Employees' Incentive Stock Option Plans
Effective January 2, 1995, the Company adopted two employee incentive
stock option plans (the "1995 Plans"). One plan provided for the granting of
options to purchase Class A Common Stock which was voting
44
<PAGE>
stock, and one plan provided for the granting of options to purchase Class B
Common Stock which was non-voting. In connection with the Recapitalization, all
options to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock
under the 1995 Plans will be automatically converted into options to purchase
Common Stock. The 1995 Plans are intended as incentives to induce key employees
of the Company to remain in the employ of the Company or of any subsidiary of
the Company, and to encourage such employees to own stock in the Company. This
purpose is carried out by granting options to purchase shares of Common Stock.
The Company may grant incentive stock options ("ISOs") within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Code to eligible participants under the 1995 Plans. The
exercise price of an ISO may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of
the underlying shares at the time the ISO is granted. An ISO granted must be
exercised in whole or in part from time to time within 10 years from date of
grant, or such shorter time as specified by the Board of Directors. The
aggregate fair market value of the stock for which a participant may exercise
incentive options during any calendar year may not exceed $100,000. The Company
reserved 2,875,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance upon the exercise of
stock options granted pursuant to the 1995 Plans, which number may be adjusted
to reflect any stock dividend, stock split, share combination or
recapitalization.
The 1995 Plans are administered by the Board of Directors. The Board has
the authority to administer the 1995 Plans and determine, among other things,
the interpretation of any provisions of the 1995 Plans, the eligible employees
who are to be granted stock options, the number of shares which may be issued
and the option exercise price.
Incentive Stock Options. As of the date of this Prospectus (giving effect
to the Recapitalization), the Company had outstanding incentive options to
purchase 1,194,295 shares of Common Stock of which options to purchase 570,202
shares were currently exercisable, at exercise prices ranging from $1.00 to
$6.00 per share. Incentive stock options vest over time with 20% being first
exercisable during the second year after the date of grant or, if earlier, the
participant's hire date, with an additional 5% vesting each calendar quarter
thereafter. Incentive stock options generally may only be exercised if the
participant has been employed by the Company continuously for at least one year
as of the last day of the first 12-month period following the date of option
grant. The option is only exercisable if the participant is employed by the
Company and for limited periods of time after the participant's termination of
employment. If the participant ceases to be employed on account of termination
by the Company for cause or resignation (other than retirement as defined in
the option agreement), the right to exercise any unexercised portion of the
option terminates. If the participant is terminated by the Company without
cause, the participant shall be entitled to purchase, within three months,
option shares equal to an additional 25% of the participant's option shares
that were not exercisable as of the termination date. The option becomes
immediately and fully exercisable in the event of a change in control. A change
in control shall occur if, during any period of 12 consecutive calendar months,
any individual who, at the beginning of such period, holds a majority of the
Company's issued and outstanding shares of voting stock ceases for any reason
to hold a majority of shares; provided, however, it shall not be deemed to be a
change in control if the individual ceases to hold a majority of shares because
of either the issuance or other transfer of Company voting stock to a director,
officer, employee or previous shareholder of the Company or the issuance of
voting stock in connection with a financing so long as the individual continues
to own at least 20% of the Company's outstanding voting stock and remains an
executive officer or director.
Performance Incentive Stock Options. As of the date of this Prospectus
(giving effect to the Recapitalization), the Company had outstanding
performance incentive stock options to purchase 501,250 shares of Common Stock,
151,938 of which were currently exercisable, at exercise prices ranging from
$1.00 to $2.00 per share. The performance incentive stock options are
exercisable during the period commencing from March 31, 1997 and ending March
31, 2005. Performance options vest upon the earlier of the Company's
achievement of certain performance standards or seven years from the date of
grant. Options are exercisable only in the event the participant is employed by
the Company and for limited periods of time after the participant's termination
of employment. If the participant ceases to be an employee on account of
resignation (other than retirement as defined in the option agreement) or
termination for cause, the right to exercise any unexercised portion of the
option shall terminate. The option becomes immediately and fully exercisable as
of a change in control date. A change in control shall occur if, during any
period of 12 consecutive calendar months, any individual who, at the beginning
of such period, holds a majority of the Company's issued and outstanding shares
of voting stock, ceases for any reason to hold such a majority of outstanding
shares.
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<PAGE>
1998 Stock Plan. The Company's 1998 Stock Plan (the "Plan") was adopted by
the Board of Directors and approved by the shareholders of the Company in May
1998. The Company anticipates that no future grants will be made under the 1995
Plans after the effective date of the Plan. A total of 800,000 shares of Common
Stock have been reserved for issuance under the Plan. The Plan provides for
grants to employees of the Company of ISOs. In addition, the Plan provides for
grants of nonqualified stock options and stock purchase rights to employees,
directors and consultants of the Company. The Plan is administered by the Board
of Directors or by a committee appointed by the Board. The administrator
determines the terms of options and stock purchase rights granted, including
the exercise price and the number of shares subject to the option or stock
purchase right. The exercise price of incentive stock options granted under the
Plan must be at least equal to the fair market value of the Company's Common
Stock on the date of grant. The maximum term of options granted under the Plan
is 10 years. As of the date of this Prospectus, there were no outstanding
options under the Plan.
In the event of a merger of the Company with or into another corporation,
all outstanding options may be assumed or equivalent options substituted by the
successor corporation. If the successor corporation does not assume or
substitute for outstanding options, such options will automatically become
fully vested and exercisable.
1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Company's 1998 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan") was adopted by the Company's Board of
Directors and approved by the Company's shareholders in May 1998. The Purchase
Plan is intended to qualify under Section 423 of the Code. The Company has
reserved 500,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the Purchase Plan.
Under the Purchase Plan, an eligible employee may purchase shares of Common
Stock from the Company at the end of a six-month offering period through
payroll deductions of up to 10% of his or her base compensation (excluding
bonuses, overtime and sales commissions) not to exceed $25,000 per year, at a
price per share equal to 85% of the fair market value of a share of the
Company's Common Stock on the last day of the offering period. The maximum
number of shares that an employee may purchase in any offering period is 2,500
shares. Each six-month offering period will commence the first day on which the
national stock exchanges and the Nasdaq National Market are open for trading on
or after May 1 and November 1 of each year, except that the first offering
period will begin on the date of the Company's initial public offering and will
end on October 31, 1998. In the event of a merger or asset sale, the offering
period then in progress will be shortened so that the stock purchases will
occur before the date of the merger or sale. Any employee who is customarily
employed for at least 20 hours per week and more than five months per calendar
year and who is employed on or before the commencement date of an offering
period is eligible to participate in the Purchase Plan. As of the date of this
Prospectus, there were no outstanding options under the Purchase Plan.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Since the Company began doing business in June 1994, all matters
concerning executive compensation have been addressed by the entire Board of
Directors. Messrs. Stealey and Pickens are executive officers of the Company
and prior to 1997 constituted the entire Board of Directors. On May 6, 1998,
the Company established a Compensation Committee which is responsible for the
approval of compensation arrangements for the officers of the Company, the
review of the Company's compensation plans and the administration of the
Company's employee benefit plans.
Limitation of Liability and Indemnification Matters
As permitted by North Carolina law, Article IX of the Company's Articles
of Incorporation provides for the limitation of the personal liability of
directors for monetary damages for breach of duty as a director provided that
the limitation of liability does not apply to (i) acts or omissions not made in
good faith that the director at the time of such breach knew or believed were
in conflict with the best interests of the corporation; (ii) any liability
under the North Carolina Business Corporation Act for unlawful distributions;
(iii) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal
benefit or (iv) acts or omissions occurring prior to the date the provision
became effective.
The North Carolina Business Corporation Act also contains provisions
prescribing the extent to which present or former directors, officers, or
employees of a corporation shall or may be indemnified against liabilities
which they may incur in those capacities. Under those provisions, the
availability or requirement of indemnification or reimbursement of expenses is
dependent upon numerous factors, including whether the action is brought by the
46
<PAGE>
corporation or by outsiders and the extent to which the potential indemnitee is
successful in his defense. The statute also permits a corporation to purchase
and maintain insurance on behalf of its directors and officers against
liabilities which they may incur in their capacities as such, whether or not
the corporation would have the power to indemnify them under other provisions
of the statute.
As permitted by North Carolina law, Article IX of the Bylaws of the
Company provides for the indemnification of directors and officers, employees
or agents of the Company within the limitations permitted by North Carolina
law. It is the position of the Commission that indemnification for liability
arising out of violations of the federal securities laws is against public
policy and is unenforceable.
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
The following table sets forth as of July 15, 1998 (giving retroactive
effect to the Recapitalization, see "Description of Securities --
Recapitalization"), and as adjusted to reflect the sale of the 2,600,000 shares
offered hereby, certain information known to the Company concerning the
beneficial ownership of the Common Stock by (i) each person known by the
Company to own beneficially more than five percent of the outstanding Common
Stock, (ii) each director of the Company, (iii) each officer of the Company
named in the Summary Compensation Table and (iv) all directors and executive
officers as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, each person has sole voting
and investment power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by such
person.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and Address Number of Shares Percentage of Outstanding
of Beneficial Owner (1) Beneficially Owned (2) Shares Beneficially Owned (2)
- ----------------------------------------- ------------------------ -----------------------------------
Before Offering After Offering
----------------- ---------------
<S> <C>
J. W. Stealey ........................... 2,700,617 (3) 38.3% 28.0%
Robert L. Pickens ....................... 287,401 (4) 4.2% 3.0%
William J. Kaluza ....................... 86,562 (5) 1.3% *
J. Nicholas England ..................... 13,500 (6) * *
David H. Kestel ......................... 613,500 (7) 9.0% 6.5%
W. Joseph McClelland .................... 13,500 (6) * *
Avi Suriel .............................. 2,058,149 (8) 30.2% 21.9%
Vertical Financial Holdings (9) ......... 2,045,649 (10) 30.1% 21.8%
Pampero Limited (11) .................... 460,271 (12) 6.8% 4.9%
Ludwig Ruppert (13) ..................... 460,271 (12) 6.8% 4.9%
All directors and executive officers as
a group (10 persons) .................... 6,060,878 (14) 81.1% 60.2%
</TABLE>
- ------------
*Less than one percent
(1) The address of each beneficial owner listed is the address of the Company
unless otherwise provided.
(2) Based on 6,793,699 shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to this
offering and 9,393,699 shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
after this offering. Pursuant to the rules of the Commission, certain
shares of the Company's Common Stock that a person has the right to
acquire within 60 days of the date hereof pursuant to the exercise of
stock options or warrants are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of
computing the percentage ownership of such person but are not deemed
outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any
other person.
(3) Includes 236,389 shares subject to warrants exercisable within 60 days of
July 15, 1998, and 25,000 shares subject to options exercisable within 60
days of July 15, 1998. Excludes 600,000 shares held in a trust for Mr.
Stealey's children over which Mr. Kestel is the trustee. Mr. Stealey has
neither voting power nor dispositive power over the shares held in the
trust. Mr. Stealey disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held in
the trust.
(4) Includes 13,845 shares subject to warrants exercisable within 60 days of
July 15, 1998, and 49,813 shares subject to options exercisable within 60
days of July 15, 1998.
(5) Includes 21,562 shares subject to stock options exercisable within 60 days
of July 15, 1998.
(6) Includes 13,500 shares subject to warrants exercisable within 60 days of
July 15, 1998.
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<PAGE>
(7) Includes 13,500 shares subject to warrants exercisable within 60 days of
July 15, 1998. Also includes 600,000 shares held in a trust for Mr.
Stealey's children over which Mr. Kestel is the trustee. Mr. Kestel has
sole voting power and dispositive power over the shares held in the trust.
Mr. Kestel disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held in the trust.
(8) Includes 146,117 shares owned by Suriel Financial Consulting, of which Mr.
Suriel is the founder and a principal. Also includes 12,500 shares subject
to warrants exercisable within 60 days of July 15, 1998 and 1,899,532
shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Vertical Financial Holdings.
Vertical Financial Holdings has voting power over the shares owned by
Suriel Financial Consulting pursuant to a proxy agreement. Mr. Suriel is a
Director of Vertical Financial Holdings. Mr. Suriel disclaims beneficial
ownership of shares beneficially owned by Vertical Financial Holdings.
(9) Vertical Financial Holdings is beneficially owned by Derungs
Treuhandgesellschaft AG. Jacob Agam serves as Chairman of Vertical
Financial Holdings, and Bruno Derungs, who is the principal of Derungs
Treuhandgesellschaft AG, serves as its Managing Director. Mr. Suriel and
Viscount William Lewisham serve as directors of Vertical Financial
Holdings. The address of Vertical Financial Holdings is
Hambrechtikerstrasse 61, CH-8640 Rapperswil, Switzerland.
(10) Includes 427,394 shares owned by entities beneficially owned by Vertical
Financial Holdings and 1,220,084 shares owned by other investors in the
Company's Series B Preferred Stock financing over which Vertical Financial
Holdings has voting power pursuant to a proxy agreement.
(11) Pampero Limited is owned by Margaretha Dewert, and Ullrich Angersbach is
its sole director. The address of Pampero Limited is c/o Vertical
Financial Holdings, Hambrechtikerstrasse 61, CH-8640 Rapperswil,
Switzerland.
(12) Vertical Financial Holdings has voting power over these shares pursuant to
a proxy agreement.
(13) The address of the beneficial owner is c/o Vertical Financial Holdings,
Hambrechtikerstrasse 61, CH-8640 Rapperswil, Switzerland.
(14) Includes 303,234 shares subject to warrants exercisable within 60 days of
July 15, 1998 and 373,755 shares subject to options exercisable within 60
days of July 15, 1998.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
The Company, Mr. Stealey and Mr. Pickens are parties to a January 3, 1995
Stock Purchase and Stockholder Agreement (the "Co-Sale Agreement"). The Co-Sale
Agreement grants Mr. Pickens a co-sale right to participate in any transfer of
shares of Common Stock by Mr. Stealey on the same terms and conditions as
offered to the third party by Mr. Stealey. The co-sale right entitles Mr.
Pickens to participate in such transfer in the same proportion to the number of
shares to be sold by Mr. Stealey that the number of shares of Common Stock
owned by Mr. Pickens prior to the transfer bears to the number of shares of
Common Stock owned by Mr. Stealey prior to the transfer.
The Company has also entered into a marketing agreement, dated January 3,
1995, with Mr. Stealey, pursuant to which Mr. Stealey makes his T-28 Trojan
aircraft and his services as a pilot available to the Company in consideration
for which the Company pays all of the expenses to store, operate and maintain
such aircraft and to maintain Mr. Stealey's pilot license.
On March 6, 1995, the Company issued a demand Promissory Note to Mr.
Pickens in the principal amount of $600,000 at an annual interest rate of 12%,
which increased to 14% on June 30, 1996 because the balance thereunder exceeded
$400,000 on that date. In consideration of this loan, the Company issued
warrants to Mr. Pickens to purchase 13,845 shares of Common Stock at an
exercise price of $1.00 per share. In connection with the Company's Series B
Preferred Stock financing, Mr. Pickens, on February 4, 1998, converted the
outstanding principal of $600,000 into 132,744 shares of Series C Preferred
Stock, which shares will be converted into 132,744 shares of Common Stock in
connection with the Recapitalization. Also in connection with the
Recapitalization, Mr. Pickens has forgiven $50,000 of the accrued interest
outstanding in connection with this loan in payment of the $1.00 per share
exercise price of his 50,000 Recapitalization Options. The Company has agreed
to pay Mr. Pickens $111,421 of the remaining $183,864 in accrued interest due
to him under this loan upon the consummation, and out of the proceeds, of this
offering.
48
<PAGE>
On April 11, 1995, the Company entered into a joint development agreement
with NDL for the development of the Company's DEMON technology. J. Nicholas
England, a director of the Company, is a director of NDL. To date, the Company
has paid $322,500 to NDL for the rights to the technology which includes
amounts paid pursuant to a royalty of 1% of net sales based on products that
incorporate the DEMON technology.
On December 4, 1995, the Company entered into a leasehold agreement with
Southport Business Park Limited Partnership ("Southport") for the Company's
principal executive offices located at 215 Southport Drive in Morrisville,
North Carolina. The term of the lease is for a period of five years commencing
April 1, 1996 at a monthly rent of $13,962, subject to adjustment in certain
circumstances. J. W. Stealey has executed a personal guarantee in favor of
Southport in connection with the leasehold agreement.
Since the Company's inception, Mr. Stealey has executed several personal
guaranties and pledges of personal collateral in favor of BB&T, one of the
Company's primary bank creditors, in connection with revolving and term loans
extended by BB&T to the Company. On January 24, 1997, the Company issued a
$2,500,000 Promissory Note to BB&T secured by Mr. Stealey's guarantee and
pledge of collateral. The January 24, 1997 note has been paid in full, and Mr.
Stealey's guarantee and pledge in respect thereof have been extinguished. On
August 25, 1997, the Company issued a $2,750,000 Promissory Note to BB&T
secured by Mr. Stealey's guarantee and pledge of collateral in replacement of
the January 24, 1997 note. On November 25, 1997, the Company issued a $250,000
Promissory Note to BB&T secured by Mr. Stealey's guarantee and pledge of
collateral. The November 25, 1997 note has been paid in full, and Mr. Stealey's
guarantee and pledge in respect thereof have been extinguished. On March 27,
1998, the Company issued a $250,000 Promissory Note to BB&T secured by Mr.
Stealey's guarantee and pledge of collateral. In connection with his guaranties
to BB&T, the Company is obligated to pay Mr. Stealey a fee equal to 6% per
annum of the indebtedness borrowed. As of March 31, 1998, the Company owed Mr.
Stealey an aggregate of $210,284 in consideration of his guaranties to BB&T.
On May 20, 1996, the Company issued a Promissory Note to Mr. Stealey in
the principal amount of $1,000,000, payable on November 17, 1996, with interest
at the annual rate of 15%, increasing to 17% if the Company did not repay Mr.
Stealey by November 17, 1996. In connection with this loan, the Company issued
warrants to Mr. Stealey to purchase 25,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of
$2.00 per share. Under the original terms of the note, if the note was not
repaid by November 17, 1996, the Company was obligated to issue additional
warrants to Mr. Stealey to purchase 25,000 shares of Common Stock per 180 days
prorated over the time until repayment occurred. On March 20, 1997, in
connection with a loan to the Company made by Petra, Mr. Stealey waived his
right under the note to accrue additional warrants after November 16, 1997. On
February 4, 1998, in connection with the Company's Series B Preferred Stock
financing, Mr. Stealey converted the $1,000,000 principal outstanding under the
May 20, 1996 note into 221,239 shares of Common Stock. In connection with the
Recapitalization, Mr. Stealey has forgiven $268,750 of the accrued interest
outstanding under this note in payment of the $1.00 per share exercise price of
his 268,750 Recapitalization Options. The Company remains obligated to pay Mr.
Stealey approximately $3,451 in interest that accrued under this note through
February 4, 1998.
On July 10, 1996, the Company issued a Promissory Note to Mr. Stealey in
the principal amount of $1,000,000, payable on January 6, 1997, with interest
at the annual rate of 15%, increasing to 17% if the Company did not repay Mr.
Stealey by January 6, 1997. In connection with this loan, the Company issued
warrants to Mr. Stealey to purchase 50,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of
$6.00 per share. Under the original terms of the note, if the note was not
repaid by January 6, 1997, the Company was obligated to issue additional
warrants to Mr. Stealey to purchase 250,000 shares of Common Stock per 180 days
prorated over the time until repayment occurred. On March 20, 1997, in
connection with a loan to the Company by Petra, Mr. Stealey waived his right
under the note to accrue additional warrants after January 6, 1998. On February
4, 1998, in connection with the Company's Series B Preferred Stock financing,
Mr. Stealey converted the $1,000,000 principal outstanding under the July 10,
1996 note into 221,239 shares of Common Stock. The Company remains obligated to
pay Mr. Stealey approximately $234,729 in interest that accrued under this note
through February 4, 1998.
The Company has agreed to pay Mr. Stealey $371,404 of the remaining
$448,464 in accrued interest due to him as of March 31, 1998 in connection with
his loans and guaranties upon the consummation, and out of the proceeds, of
this offering.
The Company has borrowed approximately $870,000 from Laura M. Stealey, the
former wife of Mr. Stealey, under a $1,000,000 credit line established by Ms.
Stealey in favor of the Company, which is guaranteed by
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Mr. Stealey, pursuant to a Letter Agreement dated October 31, 1996. In
consideration of the credit line, the Company granted to Ms. Stealey a warrant
exercisable for 14,948 shares of Common Stock at a purchase price of $5.82 per
share. On March 24, 1997, in connection with a loan to the Company by Petra,
Ms. Stealey waived her right to convert debt under the credit line into shares
of the Company's Common Stock. The Company has agreed to repay the entire
principal amount, plus the $117,175 in accrued interest thereon through March
31, 1998, of this credit line upon the consummation, and out of the proceeds,
of this offering.
On February 4, 1998, Vertical Financial Holdings, Suriel Financial
Consulting and several other investors purchased an aggregate of 778,746 shares
of the Company's Series B Preferred Stock for $3,500,000. Mr. Suriel, a
director of the Company, is a Director of Vertical Financial Holdings and
founder and a principal of Suriel Financial Consulting. All of the Series B
Preferred Stock investors have signed a proxy agreement with Vertical Financial
Holdings granting Vertical Financial Holdings voting rights with respect to
their shares. In connection with the Recapitalization, the 778,746 shares of
Series B Preferred Stock will convert into 2,045,649 shares of Common Stock.
The Company and General Capital, an affiliate of Vertical Financial
Holdings, have also signed a Marketing Agreement dated February 4, 1998,
pursuant to which the Company is obligated to pay $400,000 to General Capital
for marketing services when the Company's shareholders' equity equals or
exceeds $5,000,000. The Company will satisfy such obligation upon the
consummation, and out of the proceeds, of this offering.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
Recapitalization
On May 26, 1998, the shareholders of the Company approved the
reincorporation of the Company, a Maryland corporation, in North Carolina by
adopting and approving an agreement and plan of merger pursuant to which the
Company merged with and into a wholly-owned subsidiary incorporated in North
Carolina to effect the reincorporation on July 1, 1998.
In addition, the shareholders of the Company have agreed to the
effectuation of the following Recapitalization of the Company on or prior to
the consummation of this offering:
(i) Oberlin and Petra have agreed to exercise their warrants (the
"Recapitalization Warrants") for the purchase of 208,946 and 307,823
shares of Class A Common Stock, respectively, for cash proceeds to the
Company of $10,335;
(ii) Messrs. Stealey, Pickens and Kaluza have exercised certain of
their stock options (the "Recapitalization Options") for the purchase of
268,750 shares of Class A Common Stock, 50,000 shares of Class B Common
Stock and 45,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, respectively, through
the forgiveness of $268,750 of accrued interest expense, the forgiveness
of $50,000 of accrued interest expense and a cash payment of $90,000,
respectively; and
(iii) all 3,931,215 shares of Class A Common Stock (voting) and
601,457 shares of Class B Common Stock (non-voting) of the Company,
including the shares issued in connection with (i) and (ii) above, will
be exchanged for 4,532,672 shares of Common Stock, all 82,634 shares of
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock will be converted into 82,634
shares of Common Stock, all 778,746 shares of Series B Convertible
Preferred Stock will be converted into 2,045,649 shares of Common Stock
and all 132,744 shares of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock will be
converted into 132,744 shares of Common Stock.
Once converted, all shares of Preferred Stock will be cancelled and will
return to the status of authorized but unissued shares of the Company's
Preferred Stock. Shares of authorized but unissued, or previously issued and
subsequently cancelled, Preferred Stock may be issued without shareholder
approval for any general corporate purpose, including acquisitions.
Common Stock
As of the date of this Prospectus, the Company has authorized 50,000,000
shares of Common Stock, $.10 par value per share. As of the date of this
Prospectus (giving effect to the Recapitalization), 6,793,699 shares of Common
Stock were issued and outstanding and held of record by 105 shareholders.
Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on matters
which are submitted to a vote of shareholders and are
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not entitled to cumulative voting in the election of directors. Subject to any
preferential rights of holders of Preferred Stock, holders of Common Stock are
entitled to receive dividends, if any, as declared from time to time by the
Board of Directors out of assets legally available for such purpose. On
liquidation, holders of Common Stock are entitled to a pro rata portion of all
assets available for distribution after payment of creditors and the
liquidation preference of any outstanding shares of Preferred Stock. Holders of
Common Stock have no preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for
additional shares. All outstanding shares of Common Stock are, and the shares
offered hereby will be, upon issuance, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.
Preferred Stock
As of the date of this Prospectus, the Company has authorized 25,000,000
shares of Preferred Stock, $.10 par value per share, and (giving effect to the
Recapitalization) there are no shares of Preferred Stock outstanding. The
Company may issue shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series as may be
determined by the Company's Board of Directors, who may establish, from time to
time, the number of shares to be included in each series, may fix the
designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such series
and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, and may increase
or decrease the number of shares of any such series without any further vote or
action by the shareholders. Any Preferred Stock so issued by the Board of
Directors may rank senior to the Common Stock with respect to the payment of
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or
both. In addition, any such shares of Preferred Stock may have class or series
voting rights. Under certain circumstances, the issuance of Preferred Stock or
the existence of the unissued Preferred Stock may tend to discourage or render
more difficult a merger or other change in control of the Company.
Warrants
As of the date of this Prospectus (giving effect to the Recapitalization)
the Company has outstanding warrants to purchase: (a) 73,845 shares of Common
Stock at an exercise price of $1.00, which expire on March 6, 2001; (b) 77,646
shares at exercise prices which vary in accordance with formulas set forth in
the applicable warrant agreements (ranging from $0.49 to $3.91 per share, as of
the date of this Prospectus and giving effect to the Recapitalization), each of
which expire on March 6, 2001; (c) 75,694 shares at an exercise price of $2.00
per share, which expire on May 20, 2003; (d) 100,695 shares at an exercise
price of $6.00 per share, which expire on July 10, 2003; (e) 22,058 shares at
an exercise price of $4.53 per share, which expire on July 15, 1999; (f) 14,949
shares at an exercise price of $5.82 per share, which expire on December 31,
2003; (g) 53,000 shares at an exercise price of $6.00 per share, which expire
on December 31, 2004; (h) 16,667 shares at an exercise price of $6.00 per
share, which expire on February 4, 2005; and (i) 15,000 shares at an exercise
price of $8.00 per share, which expire on March 20, 2003.
Certain Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws Provisions Having Potential
Anti-Takeover Effects
General
A number of provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation and
Bylaws address matters of corporate governance and the rights of shareholders.
The following summary of such provisions is not intended to be complete and is
qualified in all respects by the Company's Articles of Incorporation and
Bylaws. Certain of these provisions, as well as the ability of the Board of
Directors to issue shares of Preferred Stock and to set the voting rights,
preferences and other terms thereof, may delay or prevent takeover attempts not
first approved by the Board of Directors (including takeovers which certain
shareholders may deem to be in their best interests). These provisions also
could delay or frustrate the removal of incumbent directors or the assumption
of control by shareholders.
Classification of Board of Directors
The Board of Directors currently consists of five members. The Articles of
Incorporation provide that if the size of the Board increases to nine or more
members, the Board of Directors of the Company will be divided into three
classes as nearly equal in number as possible. The directors of each class will
serve a term of three years. As a result of a classification of the Board of
Directors, approximately one-third of the members of the Board of Directors
will be elected each year, and two annual meetings will be required for the
Company's shareholders to change a majority of the members constituting the
Board of Directors.
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Nomination and Removal of Directors; Filling Vacancies
The Company's Bylaws provide that nominations to the Board of Directors
may only be made by the Board of Directors, a nominating committee of the Board
or by any shareholder entitled to vote in elections of directors who complies
with certain notice procedures. In addition, the Articles of Incorporation and
Bylaws provide that a director may be removed by the shareholders only upon the
affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the voting power of all shares
of capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, and
the Bylaws specify that vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled only
by the Board of Directors. The purpose of these provisions is to prevent a
majority shareholder from circumventing the classified board system by removing
directors and filling the vacancies with new individuals selected by that
shareholder. Accordingly, these provisions may have the effect of impeding
efforts to gain control of the Board by anyone who obtains a controlling
interest in the Company's Common Stock.
Amendment of Articles of Incorporation
The Articles of Incorporation of the Company provide that amendments to
the Articles of Incorporation may be adopted only upon the affirmative vote of
the holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of all shares of capital
stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon. However, if such amendment has
received the prior approval by an affirmative vote of a majority of
Disinterested Directors, as defined below, then the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least a majority of the voting power of all shares of capital
stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon, or such greater percentage
approval as required by North Carolina law, is sufficient to adopt such
amendment. A Disinterested Director is defined as any member of the Board of
Directors who is unaffiliated with, and not a nominee of, a Control Person, as
defined below, and was a member of the Board of Directors prior to the time a
Control Person became such, and any successor of a Disinterested Director who
is unaffiliated with, and not a nominee of, a Control Person, who is
recommended to succeed a Disinterested Director by a majority of Disinterested
Directors then on the Board of Directors. A Control Person is defined as any
corporation, person, group, or other entity, which together with its
affiliates, prior to a Business Combination, as defined below, beneficially
owns 10% or more of the shares of any class of equity or convertible securities
of the Company, and any affiliate of any such corporation, person, group, or
other entity; provided, however, any corporation, person, group or other entity
which, together with its affiliates, prior to July 2, 1998 beneficially owned
10% or more of the shares of any class of equity or convertible securities of
the Company, and any affiliate of any such party is not considered to be a
Control Person.
Amendment of Bylaws
Subject to certain restrictions described below, either the Board of
Directors or the shareholders of the Company may amend the Company's Bylaws.
The Board of Directors may amend the Bylaws and adopt new Bylaws except that:
(i) a bylaw adopted or amended by the shareholders may not be readopted,
amended, or repealed by the Board of Directors if neither the Articles of
Incorporation nor a bylaw adopted by the shareholders authorizes the Board of
Directors to adopt, amend, or repeal that particular bylaw or the Bylaws
generally; (ii) a bylaw that fixes a greater quorum or voting requirement for
the Board of Directors may not be adopted by the Board of Directors by a vote
of less than a majority of the directors then in office and may not itself be
amended by a quorum or vote of directors less than the quorum or vote therein
prescribed or prescribed by a bylaw adopted or amended by the shareholders; and
(iii) if a bylaw fixing a greater quorum or voting requirement for the Board of
Directors is originally adopted by the shareholders, it may be amended or
repealed only by the shareholders, unless the Bylaws permit amendment or repeal
by the Board of Directors. The shareholders of the Company generally may adopt,
amend, or repeal the Bylaws upon the affirmative vote of the holders of
two-thirds of the voting power of all shares of capital stock entitled to vote
thereon.
Supermajority Vote Requirement
The Articles of Incorporation of the Company provide that, unless
otherwise more restrictively required by applicable law, any Business
Combination, as defined below, must be approved by a majority of a quorum of
the Board of Directors and must receive the level of shareholder approval, if
any, as follows: (i) to the extent shareholder approval is otherwise required
by law, by an affirmative vote of the shareholders holding at least a majority
of the shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon,
provided that such Business Combination has been approved by an affirmative
vote of at least two-thirds of the full Board of Directors before such Business
Combination is submitted for approval to the shareholders or (ii) by an
affirmative vote of the
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shareholders holding at least two-thirds of the shares of capital stock of the
Company entitled to vote thereon provided that such Business Combination has
been approved by an affirmative vote of at least a majority of a quorum of the
Board of Directors (but less than two-thirds of the full Board of Directors).
In addition, if the Business Combination is approved by the affirmative vote of
the shareholders holding at least two-thirds of the shares of Common Stock
entitled to vote and by a majority of a quorum of the Board of Directors but
less than two-thirds of the full Board of Directors, the Business Combination
must grant to shareholders not voting to approve the Business Combination
certain "fair price" rights.
The Company's Articles of Incorporation define a Business Combination as
(i) any merger or consolidation of the Company into any other corporation,
person, group, or other entity where the Company is not the surviving or
resulting entity; (ii) any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into
any Control Person or with any corporation, person, group or other entity where
the merger or consolidation is proposed by or on behalf of a Control Person;
(iii) any sale, lease, exchange, or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company; (iv) any sale, lease, exchange, or other
disposition of more than 10% of the total assets of the Company to a Control
Person; (v) the issuance of any securities of the Company to a Control Person;
(vi) the acquisition by the Company of any securities of a Control Person
unless such acquisition begins prior to the person becoming a Control Person or
is an attempt to prevent the Control Person from obtaining greater control of
the Company; (vii) the acquisition by the Company of all or substantially all
of the assets of any Control Person or any entity where the acquisition is
proposed by or on behalf of a Control Person; (viii) the adoption of any plan
or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company which is proposed
by or on behalf of a Control Person; (ix) any reclassification of securities or
recapitalization of the Company which has the effect of increasing the
proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity or
convertible securities of the Company which is beneficially owned or controlled
by a Control Person; (x) any of the above transactions which are between the
Company and any of its subsidiaries and which are proposed by or on behalf of
any Control Person; or (xi) any agreement, plan, contract, or other arrangement
providing for any of the above transactions.
The requirement of a supermajority vote of shareholders to approve certain
business transactions, as described above, may discourage a change in control
of the Company by allowing shareholders holding less than a majority of the
shares of Common Stock to prevent a transaction favored by shareholders holding
a majority of such shares. Also, in some circumstances, the Board of Directors
could cause a two-thirds vote to be required to approve a transaction thereby
enabling management to retain control over the affairs of the Company and their
positions with the Company.
Fair Price Provision
The "fair price" provision of the Company's Articles of Incorporation
applies to Business Combinations that have not received the approval of
two-thirds of the full Board of Directors and only to shareholders who vote
against such Business Combinations and who elect to sell their shares to the
Company for cash at their fair price. This "fair price" provision requires that
the consideration for such shares be paid in cash by the Company and that the
price per share be at least equal to the greater of the following:
(i) The highest price per share paid for the Company's Common Stock during
the four years immediately preceding the Business Combination vote by any
shareholder who beneficially owned five percent or more of the Company's
Common Stock and who votes in favor of the Business Combination;
(ii) The cash value of the highest price per share previously offered
pursuant to a tender offer to the shareholders of the Company within the
four years immediately preceding the Business Combination vote; or
(iii) The highest price per share, including commissions and fees, paid by
a Control Person in acquiring any of its holdings of the Company's Common
Stock.
The fair price provision is intended to prevent some of the potential
inequities of two-step takeover attempts by encouraging negotiations with the
Company. However, some shareholders may find the fair price provision
disadvantageous to the extent it discourages changes in control in which
shareholders might receive for at least some of their shares a substantial
premium above the market price at the time an acquisition transaction is made.
The Company is not aware of any pending or threatened effort to acquire
control of the Company or to change management. The Board of Directors does not
presently intend to propose any additional anti-takeover provisions.
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Constituencies
The Company's Articles of Incorporation expressly authorize the Board of
Directors of the Company, any committee of the Board of Directors, or any
individual director in determining what is in the best interest of the Company
and its shareholders, to consider, in addition to the long-term and short-term
interests of the shareholders, the social and economic effects of the matter to
be considered on the Company and its subsidiaries, their employees, clients,
creditors, and the communities in which the Company and its subsidiaries
operate or are located. When evaluating a business combination or a proposal by
another person to make a business combination or a tender offer or any other
proposal relating to a potential change in control of the Company, the Board of
Directors may consider such matters as (i) the business and financial condition
and earnings prospects of the acquiring person, and the possible effect of such
condition upon the Company and its subsidiaries and the communities in which
the Company and its subsidiaries operate, (ii) the competence, experience, and
integrity of the acquiring person and its management and (iii) the prospects
for successful conclusion of the business combination, offer or proposal. The
consideration of any of the above factors is completely discretionary with the
Company's Board of Directors. The constituency provision of the Company's
Articles of Incorporation may discourage or make more difficult certain
acquisition proposals or business combinations and therefore, may adversely
affect the ability of shareholders to benefit from certain transactions opposed
by the Company's Board of Directors.
Special Meetings of Shareholders
The Company's Bylaws provide that special meetings of shareholders may be
called only by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the President
or holders of 20% or more of the voting power of the outstanding shares of the
Company. As a result, this provision would prevent shareholders owning less
than 20% of the voting power of the outstanding Common Stock from compelling
shareholder consideration of any proposal (such as a proposal for a Business
Combination) over the opposition of the Company's Board of Directors.
Shareholder Proposals
The Company's Bylaws provide that shareholders who desire to bring any
business before a meeting of shareholders must follow specified procedures,
including advance written notice to the Company. The shareholder proposal
provision may make it more difficult for shareholder proposals to be considered
at shareholder meetings.
Transfer Agent
The Company's transfer agent and registrar for its Common Stock is
Wachovia Bank, N.A., 301 North Church Street, 2nd Floor, Winston-Salem, North
Carolina 27102.
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
Upon consummation of this offering, the Company will have 9,393,699 shares
of Common Stock outstanding (9,783,699 shares if the Representatives'
over-allotment option is exercised in full), of which the 2,600,000 shares
offered hereby will be freely tradable without restriction or further
registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares purchased by
"affiliates" of the Company, as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, which will be subject to the resale limitations imposed by Rule
144, as described below. The remaining 6,793,699 shares of Common Stock
outstanding will be "restricted securities" within the meaning of Rule 144.
Approximately 3,606,955 shares of the restricted securities will be eligible
for sale in the public market in accordance with Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the
Securities Act beginning 90 days after the date of this Prospectus; 2,323,504
of these shares are subject to the lock-up agreements described below (the
"Lock-Up Agreements"). The remaining 3,186,744 restricted securities will not
be eligible for resale under Rule 144 until after the expiration of a one-year
holding period (or for such shorter period as any amendments to Rule 144 shall
provide) from the date such restricted securities were acquired from the
Company or an affiliate, and may be resold in the public market only in
compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or pursuant
to a valid exemption therefrom.
In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect, a person (or persons
whose shares are required to be aggregated), including a person who may be
deemed an "affiliate" of the Company, who has beneficially owned restricted
securities for at least one year may sell a number of shares within any
three-month period which does not exceed the greater of (i) 1% of the then
outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock (approximately
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93,936 shares after this offering) or (ii) the average weekly trading volume in
the Company's Common Stock in the four calendar weeks immediately preceding
such sale. Sales under Rule 144 also are subject to certain requirements as to
the manner of sale, notice and the availability of current public information
about the Company. A person who is not an affiliate of the issuer, has not been
an affiliate within three months prior to the sale and has owned the restricted
securities for at least two years is entitled to sell such shares under Rule
144(k) without regard to any of the limitations described above.
Beginning 90 days after the date of this Prospectus, certain shares issued
or issuable upon the exercise of options granted by the Company or acquired
pursuant to the 1995 Plans prior to the date of this Prospectus also will be
eligible for sale in the public market pursuant to Rule 701 under the
Securities Act. In general, Rule 701 permits resales of shares issued pursuant
to certain compensatory benefit plans and contracts commencing 90 days after
the issuer becomes subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act in
reliance upon Rule 144, but without compliance with certain restrictions of
Rule 144, including the holding period requirements. The Company has granted
options under the 1995 Plans covering 1,695,545 shares of Common Stock which
have not been exercised and which become exercisable at various times in the
future; 994,124 shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of certain of
these options will be eligible for sale pursuant to Rule 701 provided that the
conditions of Rule 701 have been satisfied.
In addition to shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of outstanding
options, the Company has reserved additional shares for issuance under the
Plan, the Purchase Plan and outstanding warrants. When issued, these shares may
only be sold within the limitations of Rule 144 or pursuant to registration
under the Securities Act. The Company intends to file a registration statement
covering shares of Common Stock to be acquired pursuant to the exercise of
options granted under the Plan, the Purchase Plan and the 1995 Plans, however,
the Company has agreed not to file any registration statement for a period of
nine months after the date of this Prospectus without the prior written consent
of BlueStone. Once such a registration statement becomes effective, persons
acquiring shares pursuant to the exercise of options granted under the Plan,
the Purchase Plan and the 1995 Plans, including affiliates, will be able to
sell the shares in the public market without regard to the one-year holding
period of Rule 144.
The executive officers, directors and substantially all of the 1% or
greater shareholders of the Company have agreed, pursuant to the Lock-Up
Agreements, that they will not, without the prior written consent of BlueStone,
offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common
Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
Common Stock, for a period of nine months after the date of this Prospectus.
See "Underwriting."
Registration Rights
The Company has granted piggyback registration rights with respect to an
aggregate of 3,241,304 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the closing of
this offering or purchasable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants to the
following investors: the former Series B Preferred Stock shareholders, Oberlin,
Petra, the former shareholders of ICI, High Point Capital, LLC, Ostrander,
Burch & Company, Inc. and Venture Lending (a division of Cupertino National
Bank and Trust) (collectively, the "Rights Holders"). In general, if the
Company proposes to register shares of Common Stock on a registration form
suitable for secondary offerings, the Company must at its cost and expense use
its best efforts to include in the registration statement certain shares of the
Rights Holders. However, in an underwritten offering, if a greater number of
shares is offered for participation than, in the opinion of the underwriters,
is compatible with the success of the offering, the number of shares shall be
reduced in accordance with the priorities established in the various agreements
between the Company and the Rights Holders. Securities to be offered by the
Company on its own behalf are entitled to first priority.
The Company also granted demand registration rights to (i) the former
Series B Preferred Stock shareholders, who, for up to five years following the
consummation of this offering, are entitled to a maximum of two demand
registrations (excluding registrations on Form S-3) beginning 180 days after
the effectiveness of this offering and a maximum of two demand registrations on
Form S-3 in any 12-month period, and (ii) Petra, which is entitled to two
demand registrations beginning 180 days after this offering. In the event that
either the former Series B Preferred Stock shareholders or Petra exercises
demand registration rights, the Company is obligated at its cost and expense to
use its best efforts to file a registration statement registering the shares of
Common Stock covered by such demand registration rights. All of the foregoing
registration rights holders have agreed to waive such
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rights, and the Company has agreed not to file any registration statement, for
a period of nine months after the date of this Prospectus without the prior
written consent of BlueStone.
In addition, the Company will provide the Representatives with a one-time
demand registration right and unlimited piggyback registration rights with
respect to the 260,000 shares of Common Stock underlying the Representatives'
Warrants. See "Underwriting."
UNDERWRITING
The underwriters named below (collectively, the "Underwriters"), for which
BlueStone Capital Partners, L.P. ("BlueStone") and Royce Investment Group, Inc.
are acting as representatives (the "Representatives"), have agreed severally,
not jointly, subject to the terms and conditions contained in the underwriting
agreement between the Company and the Underwriters (the "Underwriting
Agreement"), to purchase from the Company, and the Company has agreed to sell
to the several Underwriters, the 2,600,000 shares of Common Stock offered
hereby. The number of shares of Common Stock that each Underwriter has agreed
to purchase is set forth opposite its name below:
Underwriter Number of Shares
- --------------------------------------------- -----------------
BlueStone Capital Partners, L.P. ............ 1,200,000
Royce Investment Group, Inc. ................ 905,000
Auerbach Pollak & Richardson, Inc. .......... 70,000
Gabelli & Company, Inc. ..................... 70,000
Gerard Klauer Mattison & Co., Inc. .......... 70,000
Gruntal & Co., L.L.C. ....................... 70,000
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. ............... 70,000
Pacific Crest Securities, Inc. .............. 70,000
LaSalle St. Securities, Inc. ................ 25,000
Laidlaw Global Securities, Inc. ............. 25,000
Trautman Kramer & Company, Inc. ............. 25,000
---------
Total .................................... 2,600,000
=========
The Underwriters are committed on a "firm commitment" basis to purchase
and pay for all of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby (other than shares
offered pursuant to the over-allotment option) if any shares are purchased. The
shares of Common Stock are being offered by the Underwriters, subject to prior
sale, when, as and if delivered to and accepted by the Underwriters and subject
to approval of certain legal matters by counsel and to certain other
conditions.
Through the Representatives, the several Underwriters have advised the
Company that they propose to offer the shares of Common Stock to the public at
the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus. The
Underwriters may allow to certain dealers who are members of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") concessions, not in excess of
$.33 per share, of which not in excess of $.10 per share may be reallowed to
other dealers who are members of the NASD.
The Company has granted the Representatives an option, exercisable for 45
days following the date of this Prospectus, to purchase up to 390,000
additional shares of Common Stock at the public offering price set forth on the
cover page of this Prospectus, less the underwriting discounts and commissions.
The Representatives may exercise this option in whole or, from time to time, in
part, solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, made in
connection with the sale of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby.
The Company has agreed to reimburse BlueStone for up to $325,000 of the
costs, fees and expenses customarily incurred by an underwriter during the
registration process, including legal fees and costs associated with marketing
and selling the offering. The Company has also agreed to pay all expenses in
connection with qualifying the shares of Common Stock offered hereby for sale
under the laws of such states as the Representatives may designate, including
expenses of counsel retained for such purpose by the Representatives.
The Company has agreed to issue to the Representatives and their
designees, for an aggregate of $260, the Representatives' Warrants to purchase
up to 260,000 shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price of $9.60 per
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share (120% of the public offering price per share). The Representatives'
Warrants may not be transferred for one year following the date of this
Prospectus, except to the officers and partners of the Representatives or the
Underwriters or members of the selling group, and are exercisable at any time,
and from time to time, during the four-year period commencing one year
following the date of this Prospectus (the "Warrant Exercise Term"). During the
Warrant Exercise Term, the holders of the Representatives' Warrants are given,
at nominal cost, the opportunity to profit from a rise in the market price of
the Common Stock. To the extent that the Representatives' Warrants are
exercised or exchanged, dilution to the interests of the Company's shareholders
will occur. Further, the terms upon which the Company will be able to obtain
additional equity capital may be adversely affected since the holders of the
Representatives' Warrants can be expected to exercise them at a time when the
Company would, in all likelihood, be able to obtain any needed capital on terms
more favorable to the Company than those provided in the Representatives'
Warrants. Any profit realized by the Representatives on the sale of the
Representatives' Warrants or the underlying shares of Common Stock may be
deemed additional underwriting compensation. Subject to certain limitations and
exclusions, the Company has agreed to register, at the request of the holders
of a majority of the Representatives' Warrants and at the Company's expense,
the Representatives' Warrants and the shares of Common Stock underlying the
Representatives' Warrants under the Securities Act on one occasion during the
Warrant Exercise Term and to include such Representatives' Warrants and such
underlying shares in any appropriate registration statement that is filed by
the Company during the seven years following the date of this Prospectus.
All of the Company's officers, directors and certain shareholders
beneficially owning 1% or more of the Common Stock have agreed that, for the
nine-month period following the date of this Prospectus, they will not, without
the prior written consent of BlueStone, directly or indirectly, sell, offer for
sale, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of, any securities of the Company
or exercise any registration rights relating to any securities of the Company.
The Representatives have informed the Company that the Underwriters do not
intend to confirm sales in excess of 3% of the number of shares of Common Stock
offered hereby to discretionary accounts.
The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain civil
liabilities in connection with the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus forms a part, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Common
Stock. Consequently, the initial public offering price of the shares of Common
Stock has been determined by negotiation between the Company and the
Representatives and is not necessarily related to the Company's asset value,
net worth or other established criteria of value. Among the factors considered
in determining the offering price are the Company's financial condition and
prospects, management, market prices of similar securities of comparable
publicly-traded companies, certain financial and operating information of
companies engaged in activities similar to those of the Company and the general
condition of the securities market.
In connection with this offering, the Underwriters may purchase and sell
the Common Stock in the open market. These transactions may include
over-allotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate
short positions created by the Underwriters in connection with the offering.
Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases for the purpose
of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the Common Stock;
and syndicate short positions created by the Underwriters involve the sale by
the Underwriters of a greater number of securities than they are required to
purchase from the Company in the offering. The Underwriters also may impose a
penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other
broker-dealers in respect of the securities sold in the offering for their
account may be reclaimed by the syndicate Underwriters if such shares of Common
Stock are repurchased by the syndicate Underwriters in stabilizing or covering
transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the
market price of the Common Stock, which may be higher than the price that might
otherwise prevail in the open market; and these activities, if commenced, may
be discontinued at any time. These transactions may be effected on Nasdaq, the
over-the-counter market or otherwise.
The Underwriters may also place bids or purchase shares to reduce a short
position created in connection with the offering. Short positions are created
by persons who sell shares which they do not own in anticipation of purchasing
shares at a lower price in the market to deliver in connection with the earlier
sale. Short positions tend to place downward pressure on the market price of a
stock.
57
<PAGE>
The Representatives and/or the Underwriters may impose a penalty bid by
reclaiming the selling concession to be paid to an Underwriter or selected
dealer when the securities sold by the Underwriter or selected dealer are
purchased to reduce a short position created in connection with the offering.
BlueStone was organized and registered as a broker-dealer with the
Commission and the NASD in March 1996. Although, since its organization,
BlueStone has engaged in the investment banking business and its principals
have had significant experience in the underwriting of securities in their
capacities with other broker-dealers, this offering will constitute one of the
first public offerings for which BlueStone has acted as lead manager.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon
for the Company by Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan,
L.L.P., Raleigh, North Carolina. Certain legal matters in connection with this
offering will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Tenzer Greenblatt LLP, New
York, New York.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of the Company at December 31, 1996
and 1997, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997
appearing in this Prospectus and the Registration Statement have been audited
by Ernst & Young LLP independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon
appearing elsewhere herein and in the Registration Statement, and are included
in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such firm as experts
in accounting and auditing.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
SB-2 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Common Stock
offered hereby. This Prospectus, which constitutes a part of the Registration
Statement, omits certain information contained in the Registration Statement,
and reference is made to the Registration Statement and the exhibits and
schedules thereto for further information with respect to the Company and the
shares of Common Stock offered hereby. Statements contained herein concerning
the provisions of any documents are not necessarily complete; and in each
instance reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by
such reference. As of the date of this Prospectus, the Company will become
subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, and in accordance therewith, will file reports, proxy
and information statements, and other information with the Commission. The
Registration Statement, including exhibits and schedules filed therewith, and
the Company's reports, proxy and information statements and, other information
filed by the Company with the Commission, may be inspected without charge at
the Public Reference Room of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room
1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, or at its Regional Offices located at 7 World
Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048 and 500 West Madison Street,
Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511, and copies of all or any part of the
Registration Statement can be obtained from such offices at prescribed rates.
The Commission maintains an Internet web site at http://www.sec.gov that will
contain reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding the Company.
58
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997
Contents
Report of Independent Auditors ........................... F-2
Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Balance Sheets .............................. F-3
Consolidated Statements of Operations .................... F-4
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Deficit ......... F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows .................... F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements ............... F-7
F-1
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of
Interactive Magic, Inc. (the "Company") as of December 31, 1996 and 1997, and
the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' deficit, and
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997.
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 consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position
of Interactive Magic, Inc. at December 31, 1996 and 1997, and the consolidated
results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the
period ended December 31, 1997 in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
Ernst & Young LLP
Raleigh, North Carolina
May 6, 1998
F-2
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Pro Forma
Balance
Sheet
December 31, (Note 3)
----------------------- March 31, March 31,
1996 1997 1998 1998
---------- ------------ ------------ ------------
(unaudited)
ASSETS
<S> <C>
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents ................................................ $ 292 $ 384 $ 116 $ 216
Trade receivables, net of allowances of $2,700, $3,650 and $2,707,
respectively ........................................................... 1,168 2,920 4,618 4,618
Inventories .............................................................. 410 637 765 765
Advance royalties ........................................................ 815 1,989 1,622 1,622
Software development costs ............................................... 152 425 758 758
Prepaid expenses and other ............................................... 65 109 114 114
-------- --------- --------- ---------
Total current assets ...................................................... 2,902 6,464 7,993 8,093
Property and equipment, net ............................................... 1,229 1,196 1,158 1,158
Other noncurrent assets:
Advance royalties, less current portion .................................. 263 -- -- --
Other .................................................................... 170 87 60 60
-------- --------- --------- ---------
433 87 60 60
-------- --------- --------- ---------
Total assets .............................................................. $ 4,564 $ 7,747 $ 9,211 $ 9,311
======== ========= ========= =========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses .................................... $ 1,576 $ 2,776 $ 2,942 $ 2,942
Royalties and commissions payable ........................................ 484 858 935 935
Lines of credit .......................................................... 3,514 3,983 2,557 2,557
Current portion of long-term debt ........................................ -- 745 725 725
Current portion of capital lease obligations ............................. 61 35 35 35
-------- --------- --------- ---------
Total current liabilities ................................................. 5,635 8,397 7,194 7,194
Noncurrent liabilities:
Accrued interest payable to related parties .............................. 334 982 1,089 770
Long-term debt, less current portion ..................................... 493 3,759 3,791 3,791
Capital lease obligations ................................................ 80 38 26 26
Notes payable to related parties ......................................... 2,970 3,470 870 870
-------- --------- --------- ---------
Total noncurrent liabilities .............................................. 3,877 8,249 5,776 5,457
Series C Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock, $.10 par value;
132,744 shares authorized, issued and outstanding at March 31, 1998 ...... -- -- 600 --
Stockholders' deficit:
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, $.10 par value; 82,634 shares
authorized, shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 1996 and
1997 and March 31, 1998 ................................................ 8 8 8 --
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, $.10 par value; 778,746 shares
authorized, issued and outstanding at March 31, 1998 ................... -- -- 78 --
Class A Common Stock, $.10 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized;
3,145,178, 3,145,696, and 3,145,696 shares issued and outstanding at
December 31, 1996 and 1997 and March 31, 1998, respectively ............ 314 314 314 --
Class B Common Stock, $.10 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized;
6,750, 7,875 and 457,853 shares issued and outstanding at December
31, 1996 and 1997 and March 31, 1998, respectively ..................... 1 1 46 --
Common Stock, $.10 par value; 50,000,000 authorized, 6,793,699
shares issued and outstanding pro forma ................................ -- -- -- 679
Additional paid-in capital ............................................... 4,703 5,047 10,102 10,888
Cumulative currency translation adjustment ............................... (62) (59) (79) (79)
Accumulated deficit ...................................................... (9,912) (14,210) (14,828) (14,828)
-------- --------- --------- ---------
Total stockholders' deficit ............................................... (4,948) (8,899) (4,359) $ (3,340)
-------- --------- --------- =========
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit ............................... $ 4,564 $ 7,747 $ 9,211 $ 9,311
======== ========= ========= =========
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
F-3
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended December 31, Three months ended March 31,
---------------------------------------- -------------------------------
1995 1996 1997 1997 1998
----------- ----------- ------------ --------------- -------------
(unaudited)
<S> <C>
Net revenues:
CD-ROM product sales ........................... $ 3,950 $ 4,852 $ 14,067 $ 3,399 $ 4,057
Online sales ................................... 6 733 1,615 357 358
Royalties and licenses ......................... 165 472 820 201 498
-------- -------- --------- --------- ----------
Total net revenues ............................... 4,121 6,057 16,502 3,957 4,913
Cost of revenues:
Cost of products sold .......................... 790 1,349 3,715 766 968
Royalties and amortized software costs ......... 879 1,044 2,634 649 909
-------- -------- --------- --------- ----------
Total cost of revenues ........................... 1,669 2,393 6,349 1,415 1,877
-------- -------- --------- --------- ----------
Gross profit ..................................... 2,452 3,664 10,153 2,542 3,036
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing ............................ 2,335 5,008 6,760 1,642 1,667
Product development ............................ 1,518 3,788 3,878 859 1,103
General and administrative ..................... 828 1,451 1,941 598 449
-------- -------- --------- --------- ----------
Total operating expenses ......................... 4,681 10,247 12,579 3,099 3,219
-------- -------- --------- --------- ----------
Operating loss ................................... (2,229) (6,583) (2,426) (557) (183)
Other expense:
Interest expense -- third parties .............. 48 204 622 146 200
Interest expense -- related parties ............ 127 402 1,053 154 107
Other .......................................... -- -- 230 (1) --
-------- -------- --------- ----------- ----------
Total other expense .............................. 175 606 1,905 299 307
-------- -------- --------- ---------- ----------
Loss before income taxes ......................... (2,404) (7,189) (4,331) (856) (490)
Income tax (expense) benefit ..................... (47) (11) 33 31 (128)
-------- -------- --------- ---------- ----------
Net loss ......................................... $ (2,451) $ (7,200) $ (4,298) $ (825) $ (618)
======== ======== ========= ========== ==========
Pro forma net loss per share (Note 3) ............ $ (0.68) $ (0.09)
========= ==========
Number of shares used in computing pro
forma net loss per share (Note 3) .............. 6,343,080 6,619,708
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
F-4
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
(In thousands, except share data)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Series A Series B
Convertible Convertible
Preferred Stock Preferred Stock Class A Common Stock
----------------- ------------------- ---------------------
Shares Amount Shares Amount Shares Amount
-------- -------- ---------- -------- ------------ --------
<S> <C>
Balance at December 31, 1994 ............. -- $-- -- $ -- 60,000 $ 6
Issuance of common stock ................. -- -- -- -- 2,158,898 216
Currency translation adjustments ......... -- -- -- -- -- --
Net loss ................................. -- -- -- -- -- --
------- --- ------- ---- --------- -----
Balance at December 31, 1995 ............. -- -- -- -- 2,218,898 222
Issuance of common stock in lieu
of compensation ......................... -- -- -- -- 164,000 16
Issuance of common stock ................. -- -- -- -- 62,280 6
Exercise of stock options ................ -- -- -- -- -- --
Issuance of warrants ..................... -- -- -- -- -- --
Conversion of note payable into
preferred stock ......................... 82,634 8 -- -- -- --
Conversion of note payable into
common stock ............................ -- -- -- -- 700,000 70
Currency translation adjustments ......... -- -- -- -- -- --
Net loss ................................. -- -- -- -- -- --
------ --- ------- ---- --------- -----
Balance at December 31, 1996 ............. 82,634 8 -- -- 3,145,178 314
Issuance of common stock ................. -- -- -- -- 518 --
Issuance of warrants ..................... -- -- -- -- -- --
Exercise of stock options ................ -- -- -- -- -- --
Currency translation adjustments ......... -- -- -- -- -- --
Net loss ................................. -- -- -- -- -- --
------ --- ------- ---- --------- -----
Balance at December 31, 1997 ............. 82,634 8 -- -- 3,145,696 314
Exercise of stock options ................ -- -- -- -- -- --
Issuance of preferred stock .............. -- -- 778,746 78 -- --
Conversion of note payable into
common stock ............................ -- -- -- -- -- --
Currency translation adjustments ......... -- -- -- -- -- --
Net loss ................................. -- -- -- -- -- --
------ --- ------- ---- --------- -----
Balance at March 31, 1998
(Unaudited) ............................. 82,634 $ 8 778,746 $ 78 3,145,696 $ 314
====== === ======= ==== ========= =====
<CAPTION>
Class B Common
Stock Additional Cumulative
------------------- Paid-In Translation Accumulated
Shares Amount Capital Adjustment Deficit Total
---------- -------- ------------ ------------- ------------ --------------
<S> <C>
Balance at December 31, 1994 ............. -- $ -- $ (6) $ -- $ (261) $ (261)
Issuance of common stock ................. -- -- 2,275 -- -- 2,491
Currency translation adjustments ......... -- -- -- (2) -- (2)
Net loss ................................. -- -- -- -- (2,451) (2,451)
----- ---- ------- ------ -------- ---------
Balance at December 31, 1995 ............. -- -- $ 2,269 $ (2) $ (2,712) $ (223)
Issuance of common stock in lieu
of compensation ......................... -- -- 182 -- -- 198
Issuance of common stock ................. -- -- 999 -- -- 1,005
Exercise of stock options ................ 6,750 1 5 -- -- 6
Issuance of warrants ..................... -- -- 122 -- -- 122
Conversion of note payable into
preferred stock ......................... -- -- 496 -- -- 504
Conversion of note payable into
common stock ............................ -- -- 630 -- -- 700
Currency translation adjustments ......... -- -- -- (60) -- (60)
Net loss ................................. ----- -- -- -- (7,200) (7,200)
----- ---- ------- ------ -------- ---------
Balance at December 31, 1996 ............. 6,750 1 4,703 (62) (9,912) (4,948)
Issuance of common stock ................. -- -- 15 -- -- 15
Issuance of warrants ..................... -- -- 328 -- -- 328
Exercise of stock options ................ 1,125 -- 1 -- -- 1
Currency translation adjustments ......... -- -- -- 3 -- 3
Net loss ................................. -- -- -- -- (4,298) (4,298)
----- ---- ------- ------ -------- ---------
Balance at December 31, 1997 ............. 7,875 1 5,047 (59) (14,210) (8,899)
Exercise of stock options ................ 7,500 1 8 -- -- 9
Issuance of preferred stock .............. -- -- 3,091 -- -- 3,169
Conversion of note payable into
common stock ............................ 442,478 44 1,956 -- -- 2,000
Currency translation adjustments ......... -- -- -- (20) -- (20)
Net loss ................................. -- -- -- -- (618) (618)
------- ---- ------- ------ -------- ---------
Balance at March 31, 1998
(Unaudited) ............................. 457,853 $ 46 $10,102 $(79) $(14,828) $(4,359)
======= ==== ======= ====== ======== =========
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
F-5
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended December 31, Three months ended March 31,
---------------------------------------- ----------------------------
1995 1996 1997 1997 1998
-------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ---------------
(unaudited)
<S> <C>
Operating activities
Net loss ............................................... $(2,451) $ (7,200) $ (4,298) $ (825) $ (618)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used
in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization ......................... 94 230 422 81 89
Amortization of capitalized software
development costs ................................... 69 147 576 37 250
Issuance of common stock in lieu of
compensation ........................................ -- 198 -- -- --
Issuance of common stock for services ................. 20 12 15 15 --
Noncash interest expense .............................. -- 122 147 32 33
Write-off of investment ............................... -- -- 120 -- --
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade receivables ................................... (784) (334) (1,752) (1,209) (1,698)
Inventories ......................................... (269) (141) (227) (120) (128)
Advance royalties ................................... (266) (587) (911) 92 367
Prepaid expenses and other .......................... (79) (21) (87) (307) 22
Accounts payable and accrued expenses ............... 1,109 433 1,084 534 254
Royalties and commissions payable ................... 266 218 374 (10) 77
Accrued interest .................................... 86 282 764 170 18
------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net cash used in operating activities .................. (2,205) (6,641) (3,773) (1,510) (1,334)
Investing activities
Purchase of property and equipment ..................... (683) (563) (382) (64) (51)
Purchase of investment ................................. -- (120) -- -- --
Software development costs ............................. (289) (79) (849) (255) (583)
------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net cash used in investing activities .................. (972) (762) (1,231) (319) (634)
Financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of common stock ................. 2,401 999 -- -- 9
Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock .............. -- -- -- -- 3,169
Proceeds from long-term debt ........................... -- 993 4,192 3,000 --
Payments on long-term debt ............................. -- -- -- -- (20)
Proceeds from notes payable to related parties ......... 700 2,370 500 200 --
Net borrowings from (payments on)
lines-of-credit ........................................ 426 3,088 469 (1,510) (1,426)
Payments on capital lease obligations .................. (22) (47) (68) (14) (12)
------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net cash provided by financing activities .............. 3,505 7,403 5,093 1,676 1,720
Effect of currency exchange rate changes on cash
and cash equivalents .................................. (2) (60) 3 16 (20)
---------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents ........................................... 326 (60) 92 (137) (268)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 26 352 292 292 384
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period ............. $ 352 $ 292 $ 384 $ 155 $ 116
========= ======== ======== ======== ========
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow
information
Cash paid for interest ................................. $ 87 $ 233 $ 760 $ 95 $ 276
--------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Cash paid for income taxes ............................. $ -- $ 47 $ 8 $ -- $ --
========= ======== ======== ======== ========
Noncash investing and financing activities
Acquisition of equipment under capital leases .......... $ 155 $ 55 $ -- $ -- $ --
Issuance of common stock for receivable ................ $ 50 $ -- $ -- $ -- $ --
Issuance of common stock for equipment ................. $ 20 $ -- $ -- $ -- $ --
Conversion of notes payable into stock ................. $ -- $ 1,204 $ -- $ -- $ --
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
F-6
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 1997
1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Interactive Magic, Inc. (the "Company") develops, publishes, and
distributes 3-D interactive, simulation and strategy entertainment software to
customers around the world via (1) retail distribution through international
and domestic software outlets and (2) proprietary, pay-for-play online service
on the Internet. The Company has agreements with various software licensors to
manufacture, market, sell and distribute software in the United States. Through
its wholly owned subsidiaries located in the United Kingdom and Germany, and
through its online service, the Company also distributes its products
internationally.
2. BUSINESS COMBINATION
On April 23, 1997, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding capital
stock of Interactive Creations, Inc. ("ICI") in exchange for 655,696 shares of
the Company's Class A Common Stock (the "Merger"). Subsequent to the Merger,
ICI's name was changed to iMagic Online Corporation. The Merger constituted a
tax-free reorganization and was accounted for under the pooling of interests
method of accounting in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No.
16.
The results of operations for the separate companies and the combined
amounts presented in the consolidated financial statements follow (in
thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended December 31, Three months
--------------------------- ended March 31,
1995 1996 1997
------------ ------------ ----------------
(unaudited)
<S> <C>
Net Sales
Interactive Magic, Inc. ........... $ 4,115 $ 5,235 $3,602
iMagic Online Corporation ......... 6 822 355
-------- -------- ------
Combined .......................... $ 4,121 $ 6,057 $3,957
======== ======== ======
Net loss
Interactive Magic, Inc ............ $ (2,167) $ (6,236) $ (688)
iMagic Online Corporation ......... (284) (964) (137)
-------- -------- ------
Combined .......................... $ (2,451) $ (7,200) $ (825)
======== ======== ======
</TABLE>
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the operations
of the combined entities for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997
and for the three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1998.
3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND OTHER MATTERS
Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and its wholly owned subsidiaries, iMagicOnline Corporation, Interactive Magic
Ltd. and Interactive Magic GmbH. All significant intercompany accounts and
transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
March 31, 1997 and 1998 Interim Financial Information (Unaudited)
The consolidated statements of operations and cash flows for the
three-month periods ended March 31, 1997 and 1998 and the consolidated balance
sheet at March 31, 1998 are unaudited and reflect all adjustments (consisting
of normal recurring adjustments) which are, in the opinion of management,
necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations
and cash flows. All information related to the three-month periods ended March
31, 1997 and 1998 is unaudited.
F-7
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)
3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND OTHER MATTERS -- (Continued)
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company includes amounts in demand deposit accounts in cash and cash
equivalents.
Inventories
Inventories consist of pre-packaged CD-ROM software packages and related
materials and are stated at the lower of cost or market. Costs are determined
using the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") cost flow assumption.
Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31,
-------------------- March 31,
1996 1997 1998
--------- -------- ------------
(unaudited)
<S> <C>
Finished goods ...................... $ 417 $ 645 $ 774
Components .......................... 96 79 138
------ ----- ------
513 724 912
Inventory valuation reserve ......... (103) (87) (147)
------ ----- ------
$ 410 $ 637 $ 765
====== ===== ======
</TABLE>
Advance Royalties
Advance royalties represent prepayments made to independent software
developers under development agreements. Advance royalties are expensed as part
of royalties and amortized software costs at the contractual royalty rate based
on actual net product sales. Management continuously evaluates the future
realization of advance royalties, and charges to cost of revenues any amount
that management deems unlikely to be amortized at the contractual royalty rate
through product sales. Advance royalties are classified as current and
noncurrent assets based upon estimated product release dates of the related
software products.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation for equipment,
furniture and fixtures and software is computed using the straight-line method
over the estimated useful lives of the assets, ranging from five to seven
years. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the
term of the estimated useful life of the asset or the remaining lease term,
whichever is less. Depreciation expense, including amortization of equipment
leased under capital leases, was $91,000, $215,000 and $415,000 for the years
ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997, and $75,000 and $89,000 for the three
months ended March 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively.
Property and equipment consists of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31,
--------------------- March 31,
1996 1997 1998
--------- --------- ------------
(unaudited)
<S> <C>
Equipment .............................................. $1,083 $1,287 $1,345
Furniture and fixtures ................................. 160 167 167
Software ............................................... 278 425 430
Leasehold improvements ................................. 33 54 54
------ ------ ------
1,554 1,933 1,996
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization ......... (325) (737) (838)
------ ------ ------
$1,229 $1,196 $1,158
====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
F-8
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)
3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND OTHER MATTERS -- (Continued)
Capitalized Software Development Costs
Costs incurred in the development of software for sale to customers are
capitalized after a product's technological feasibility has been established.
Capitalization of such costs is discontinued when a product is available for
general release to customers. Capitalized software development costs are
capitalized at the lower of cost or net realizable value and amortized using
the greater of the revenue curve method or the straight-line method over the
estimated economic life of the related product. Amortization begins when a
product is ready for general release to customers. Amortization of capitalized
software development costs is included in royalties and amortized software
costs in the consolidated statement of operations and was $69,000, $147,000,
and $576,000 for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997, and $37,000
and $250,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively.
Information related to net capitalized software development costs is as
follows (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31,
--------------------- March 31,
1996 1997 1998
--------- --------- ------------
(unaudited)
<S> <C>
Balance at beginning of period ......... $ 220 $ 152 $ 425
Capitalized ............................ 79 849 583
Amortized .............................. (147) (576) (250)
------ ------ ------
Balance at end of period ............... $ 152 $ 425 $ 758
====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables,
accounts payable and notes payable approximates the fair value.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue from CD-ROM product sales is recognized at the time of product
shipment. Revenue from online sales is recognized at the time the game is
played and is based upon actual usage by the customer on an hourly basis.
Revenue from royalties and licenses is recognized when earned under the terms
of the relevant agreements with OEMs, international distributors and other
third parties. With respect to license agreements that provide customers the
right to multiple copies in exchange for guaranteed amounts, net revenue is
recognized upon delivery of the product master or the first copy. Per copy
royalties on sales that exceed the guarantee are recognized as earned. The
Company accepts product returns and provides price protection on certain unsold
merchandise. Revenue is recorded net of an allowance for estimated future
returns, markdowns, price protection and warranty costs. Such reserves are
based upon management's evaluation of historical experience, current industry
trends and estimated costs.
The accounts receivable allowance consists primarily of reserves for
product returns, markdowns, price protection and warranty costs. The allowance
also includes a reserve for doubtful accounts, which management records based
on historical experience and current evaluation of potential collectibility
issues. Although the Company does not require collateral for unpaid balances,
credit losses have consistently been within management's expectations.
Product Development
Product development expenses (excluding capitalized software development
costs) are charged to operations in the period incurred and consist primarily
of payroll and payroll related costs.
F-9
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)
3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND OTHER MATTERS -- (Continued)
Advertising
The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expense
was approximately $695,000, $1,661,000 and $2,529,000 for the years ended
December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997, and $527,000 and $638,000 for the three
months ended March 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively.
Use of Estimates
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
disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Significant estimates include provisions for doubtful
accounts, sales returns and allowances, and estimates regarding the
recoverability of prepaid royalty advances and inventory. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.
Foreign Currency Translation
The Company follows the principles of the Financial Accounting Standards
Board ("FASB") Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 52,
"Foreign Currency Translation," using the local currency of its operating
subsidiaries as the functional currency. Accordingly, all assets and
liabilities outside the United States are translated into U.S. dollars at the
rate of exchange in effect at the balance sheet date. Income and expense items
are translated at the weighted average exchange rate prevailing during the
period. Adjustments resulting from translation of financial statements are
reflected as a separate component of stockholders' equity.
Warrants
Stock purchase warrants issued in connection with debt instruments are
recorded at their estimated fair value and credited to additional paid-in
capital. The resulting debt discount is amortized to interest expense over the
term of the related debt.
Employee Stock Compensation
The Company has elected to continue to follow Accounting Principles Board
Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees" ("APB No. 25") and
related interpretations in accounting for its employee stock options as
permitted by SFAS No. 123 and make the required pro forma disclosures required
by SFAS No. 123 (see Note 8). Under APB No. 25, because the exercise price of
the Company's employee stock options is not less than the estimated fair value
of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no compensation expense is
recognized.
Net Loss Per Share and Pro Forma Net Loss Per Share
The Company accounts for net loss per share in accordance with SFAS No.
128 "Earnings Per Share." In accordance with SFAS No. 128, net loss per share
is computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of common
shares outstanding during the period.
Pro forma net loss per share as presented in the consolidated statements
of operations has been computed as described above and also gives effect to the
conversion of the Series A and Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, and the
Series C Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock and the exercise of options and
warrants that will occur in contemplation of completing the Company's planned
initial public offering (using the as-if converted method).
F-10
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)
3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND OTHER MATTERS -- (Continued)
A reconciliation of shares used in the calculation of net loss per share
and pro forma net loss per share follows (in thousands, except per share data):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended December 31, Three months ended March 31,
--------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
1995 1996 1997 1997 1998
------------- ------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
(unaudited)
<S> <C>
Net loss ................................ $ (2,451) $ (7,200) $ (4,298) $ (825) $ (618)
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Weighted average shares of common
stock outstanding (shares used in
computing net loss per share) ......... 1,709,320 3,006,715 3,152,930 3,152,106 3,429,558
Net loss per share ...................... $ (1.43) $ (2.39) $ (1.36) $ (0.26) $ (0.18)
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Shares used in computing net loss per
share ................................. 3,152,930 3,429,558
Adjustment to reflect the effect of the
assumed conversion of the Series A
and Series B Convertible Preferred
Stock ................................. 2,128,283 2,128,283
Adjustment to reflect the effect of the
assumed conversion of the Series C
Redeemable Convertible Preferred
Stock ................................. 132,744 132,744
Adjustment to reflect the exercise of
certain options, assumed exercise of
certain warrants and assumed
issuance of shares of common stock
in connection with the
recapitalization ...................... 929,123 929,123
---------- ----------
Shares used in computing pro forma
net loss per share .................... 6,343,080 6,619,708
========== ==========
Pro forma net loss per share ............ $ (0.68) $ (0.09)
========== ==========
</TABLE>
Had the Company been in a net income position, diluted earnings per share
would have been presented and would have included the shares used in the
computation of pro forma net loss per share as well as additional potential
common shares related to outstanding options and warrants. The diluted earnings
per share computation is not included, as the inclusion of all potential common
shares is antidilutive.
Pro Forma Balance Sheet Information
The unaudited pro forma balance sheet information as of March 31, 1998,
reflects the conversion of the existing shares of convertible preferred stock,
redeemable convertible preferred stock, and Class A and Class B Common Stock
into equivalent shares of common stock, which conversion is contingent upon the
closing of the offering. In addition, the pro forma information reflects the
cash proceeds and payment of accrued interest used in connection with the
exercise of options and warrants, as well as the issuance of shares of common
stock, in contemplation of the Company's initial public offering.
The pro forma balance sheet information gives effect to the Company's
proposed Recapitalization and reflects the following transactions and pro forma
adjustments:
(A) Receipt of $90,000 in cash proceeds and issuance of 45,000 shares of
Class B Common Stock in connection with the exercise of incentive stock
options.
F-11
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)
3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND OTHER MATTERS -- (Continued)
(B) Receipt of $10,335 in cash proceeds and issuance of 516,769 shares of
Class A Common Stock in connection with the exercise of warrants.
(C) Reduction of accrued interest payable to related parties and issuance
of 268,750 shares of Class A Common Stock resulting from the exercise of
incentive stock options. Accrued interest of $268,750 was applied as
consideration to effect the exercise of the stock options.
(D) Reduction of accrued interest payable to related parties and issuance
of 50,000 shares of Class B Common Stock resulting from the exercise of
incentive stock options. Accrued interest of $50,000 was applied as
consideration to effect the exercise of the stock options.
(E) Conversion of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock into 82,634 shares
of common stock.
(F) Conversion of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock into 2,045,649
shares of common stock.
(G) Conversion of Series C Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock into
132,744 shares of common stock.
(H) Exchange of Class A Common Stock to 3,931,215 shares of common stock.
(I) Exchange of Class B Common Stock to 601,457 shares of common stock,
which includes 48,604 shares issued subsequent to March 31, 1998 for
consideration already received.
Impact of Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
In June 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive
Income" and SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and
Related Information." In addition, the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants issued Statement of Position (SOP) 97-2, "Software Revenue
Recognition", SOP 98-4, "Deferral of the Effective Date of a Provision of SOP
97-2, `Software Revenue Recognition'" and SOP 98-1, "Accounting for the Costs
of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use." SFAS Nos. 130 and
131 and SOP 97-2 and SOP 98-4 are effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 1997 and SOP 98-1 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 1998. The Company does not believe that adoption of these
standards will have a material impact on the Company's financial position or
results of operations.
4. LINES OF CREDIT
The Company maintains a revolving line of credit arrangement with a bank
for up to $2,750,000. The principal balance outstanding at any point in time is
payable on demand with interest payable monthly at the current prime rate (8.5%
at December 31, 1997). The weighted-average interest rate on the line of credit
was 7.8% and 8.1% for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1997, and 8.2% and
8.4% for the three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The
balance outstanding as of December 31, 1996 and 1997 was $1,908,000 and
$2,439,000, respectively, and $2,461,000 as of March 31, 1998. Advances on the
line of credit are collateralized by a personal guarantee of the Company's
majority shareholder.
The Company also entered into a line of credit agreement with the same
bank to borrow up to $150,000. The line of credit is collateralized by the
Company's net property and equipment. The principal balance outstanding at any
point in time is payable on demand with interest payable monthly at the current
prime rate. The weighted-average interest rate on the line of credit was 7.8%
and 8.1% for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1997, and 8.2% and 8.4% for
the three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively. The balance
outstanding at December 31, 1996 and 1997 was $106,000 and $44,000,
respectively and $96,000 as of March 31, 1998.
During 1996, the Company also executed a line of credit agreement with
another bank, the terms of which stipulate that the Company may borrow up to
75% of its eligible domestic accounts receivable up to a maximum of $1,500,000.
The agreement entitles the bank to a perfected first lien security interest in
all of the Company's assets. Borrowings under this credit agreement were
$1,500,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1997. Interest is
F-12
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)
4. LINES OF CREDIT -- (Continued)
payable monthly at prime (8.5% at December 31, 1997) + 2.0%. The
weighted-average interest rate on the line of credit was 10.1% and 10.4% for
the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1997, and 10.5% and 10.6% for the three
months ended March 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively. Also, monthly fees of an
additional .5% are paid on outstanding advances under the line with a $15,000
minimum per quarter. The line of credit agreement expired and the related
outstanding borrowings were repaid in full in February 1998.
5. NOTES PAYABLE TO RELATED PARTIES
Notes payable to related parties consist of the following (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31,
------------------- March 31,
1996 1997 1998
-------- -------- ------------
(unaudited)
<S> <C>
Note payable to a stockholder, due on demand after January 1, 1999, interest
at 14% per annum ......................................................... $ 600 $ 600 $ --
Note payable to a stockholder, principal and interest due on demand after
January 1, 1999, stated interest at 15% per annum until November 17,
1996, 17% thereafter ..................................................... 1,000 1,000 --
Note payable to a stockholder, principal and interest due on demand after
January 1, 1999, stated interest at 15% per annum until January 6, 1997,
17% thereafter ........................................................... 1,000 1,000 --
Note payable to related party, principal and interest due January 1, 1999,
interest at 10% per annum ................................................ 370 870 870
------ ------ ----
$2,970 $3,470 $870
====== ====== ====
</TABLE>
On February 4, 1998, the $600,000 and the two $1 million notes payable to
shareholders were converted into 132,744 shares of Series C Redeemable
Convertible Preferred Stock and 442,478 shares of Class B Common Stock,
respectively. The Series C Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock is
mandatorily redeemable in cash upon a public offering of the Company's common
stock or convertible into 132,744 shares of common stock at the election of the
holder. Unpaid accrued interest of $702,000 and $740,000 relating to these
notes was not converted and is included in accrued interest at December 31,
1997 and March 31, 1998, respectively.
F-13
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)
6. LONG-TERM DEBT
Long-term debt, other than to related parties, consists of the following
(in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31,
------------------- March 31,
1996 1997 1998
------ ---------- ------------
(unaudited)
<S> <C>
Note payable due January 31, 1998, stated interest at prime plus 2% until an
additional round of equity investment is received by the Company at which
time the interest will be prime plus 4%, collateralized by property and
equipment (net of unamortized discount of $7,000 and $5,000 at December
31, 1996 and 1997, respectively) ............................................. $493 $ 495 $ 475
Subordinated note payable due March 24, 2002, stated interest at 13.5% per
annum, collateralized by property, equipment and inventory (net of
unamortized discount of $276,000 at December 31, 1997)........................ -- 2,724 2,747
Note payable due January 9, 1998, stated interest rate at prime (8.5% at
December 31, 1997) , collateralized by a personal guarantee of the
Company's majority shareholder. .............................................. -- 250 250
Junior subordinated note payable, due August 30, 2002, interest payable in
arrears every six months, at stated interest rate of 11% per annum for the
first twelve months, 12.0% per annum for next twelve months, and 12.5%
thereafter until maturity, collateralized by the assets of the Company (net of
unamortized discount of $165,000 at December 31, 1997)........................ -- 1,035 1,044
---- ------ ------
493 4,504 4,516
Current portion ................................................................ -- (745) (725)
---- ------ ------
Long-term debt, less current portion ........................................... $493 $3,759 $3,791
==== ====== ======
</TABLE>
The aggregate principal maturities at December 31, 1997 consist of
$745,000 due in 1998, with the remaining balance of long-term debt becoming due
in 2002.
The Company estimates that the fair value of notes payable approximates
the carrying value based upon its effective current borrowing rate for debt
with similar terms and remaining maturities. Disclosure about fair value of
financial instruments is based upon information available to management as of
December 31, 1996 and 1997 and March 31, 1998. Although management is not aware
of any factors that would significantly affect the fair value of amounts, such
amounts have not been comprehensively revalued for purposes of these financial
statements since that date.
7. LEASES
The Company rents its facilities and certain office equipment under
noncancellable operating leases through 2001. The monthly rent under certain
facility leases are periodically adjusted based on changes in the Consumer
Price Index.
F-14
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)
7. LEASES -- (Continued)
Property and equipment includes the following amounts for capital leases
(in thousands):
December 31,
------------------- March 31,
1996 1997 1998
-------- -------- ------------
(unaudited)
Leased equipment ...................... $ 157 $ 157 $ 157
Leased furniture and fixtures ......... 53 53 53
----- ----- -----
210 210 210
Less accumulated amortization ......... (44) (85) (95)
----- ----- -----
$ 166 $ 125 $ 115
===== ===== =====
The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments for capital
and operating leases for the years ending December 31 (in thousands):
Capital Operating
Leases Leases
--------- -------
1998 ................................................... $ 43 $309
1999 ................................................... 24 235
2000 ................................................... 19 204
2001 ................................................... -- 20
----- ----
Total future minimum lease payments .................... 86 $768
====
Less: amount representing interest ..................... (13)
-----
Present value of future minimum lease payments ......... 73
Less: current portion .................................. (35)
-----
$ 38
=====
Total rent expense incurred was approximately $84,000, $261,000 and
$309,000 for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997, respectively and
$94,000 and $99,000 for the three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1998,
respectively.
8. STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT
Common Stock
The Company has two classes of common stock, Class A (voting) and Class B
(nonvoting). Common stockholder rights are subordinate to those of preferred
stockholders. Holders of the Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per
share of common stock held. Holders of Class B Common Stock do not receive any
voting privileges.
During 1995, 1996 and 1997, the Company issued 77,757, 2,418 and 1,037
shares of its Class A Common Stock for services rendered. During 1996, the
Company issued 164,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock in lieu of
compensation. These transactions were valued based on the estimated fair value
of the common stock at the time the related services were performed.
Convertible Preferred Stock
The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock ("Series A Preferred") is
automatically convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock upon the closing
of an underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the offer and
sale of Class A Common Stock of the Company to the public with an aggregate
gross offering price of not less than $10,000,000 and a per share price of not
less than $6.10. Each share of outstanding Series A Preferred is currently
convertible into one share
F-15
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)
8. STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT -- (Continued)
of Class A Common Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in the Amended
Articles of Incorporation of the Company. The Company has reserved 82,634
shares of common stock for issuance upon conversion.
The holders of the Series A Preferred Stock are entitled to vote on all
matters with votes equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock into
which the Preferred Stock is convertible. The Series A Preferred stockholders
are entitled to receive annual cumulative dividends of 8% only if, and when,
such dividends are declared by the Company's Board of Directors out of funds
legally available therefor. The approval of the majority of the then
outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock is required in order to
declare dividends to the holders of common stock. As of December 31, 1997 and
March 31, 1998, no dividends had been declared with respect to the Series A
Preferred Stock.
The outstanding subordinated and junior subordinated notes payable
prohibit the declaration or payment of any dividends during the terms of the
notes without the written consent of the holders of such notes.
On February 4, 1998, the Company issued 778,746 shares of its Series B
Convertible Preferred Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $3,500,000. The
holders of the Series B Preferred stock are entitled to vote on all matters
with votes equal to the number of shares of common stock into which the Series
B Preferred Stock is convertible. The holders of Series B Preferred Stock are
entitled to convert their preferred shares into 2,045,649 shares of the
Company's common stock in the event the Company consummates an initial public
offering or enters into a sale agreement. In addition, the Company is required
to obtain the consent of the holders of the Series B Preferred Stock in the
event that it (i) contemplates issuance of convertible securities if the
cumulative number of shares issuable during the two years following an initial
public offering exceeds five percent of the outstanding shares of common stock
on a fully diluted basis, excluding the convertible securities and (ii) pays
any dividends other than required dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock.
The liquidation preference for the Series A, Series B and Series C
Preferred Stock is equal to the respective Series' issue price plus any accrued
and unpaid dividends.
Stock Options
Effective January 2, 1995, the Company adopted two employee incentive
stock option plans (the "1995 Plans"). One plan provided for the granting of
options to purchase Class A Common Stock which was voting stock, and one plan
provided for the granting of options to purchase Class B Common Stock which was
non-voting. The 1995 Plans are intended as incentives to induce key employees
of the Company to remain in the employ of the Company or of any subsidiary of
the Company and to encourage such employees to own stock in the Company. This
purpose is carried out by granting options to purchase shares of Common Stock.
The Company may grant incentive stock options ("ISOs") within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") to
eligible participants under the 1995 Plans. The exercise price of an ISO may
not be less than 100% of the fair market value of the underlying shares at the
time the ISO is granted.
The 1995 Plans are administered by the Board of Directors. The Board has
the authority to administer the 1995 Plans and determine, among other things,
the interpretation of any provisions of the 1995 Plans, the eligible employees
who are to be granted stock options, the number of shares which may be issued
and the option exercise price.
The Company's incentive stock options vest over time with 20% vesting
during the second year after the date of grant with an additional 5% vesting
each calendar quarter thereafter. Incentive stock options generally may only be
exercised if the participant has been employed by the Company continuously for
at least one year as of the last day of the first 12-month period following the
date of option grant. The option is only exercisable if the participant is
employed by the Company and for limited periods of time after the participant's
termination of employment. If the participant ceases to be employed on account
of termination by the Company for cause or resignation (other than retirement
as defined in the option agreement), the right to exercise any unexercised
portion of the option terminates. If the participant is terminated by the
Company without cause, the participant
F-16
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)
8. STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT -- (Continued)
shall be entitled to purchase, within three months, option shares equal to an
additional 25% of the participant's option shares that were not exercisable as
of the termination date. The option becomes immediately and fully vested and
exercisable in the event of a change in control as defined in the option
agreement.
The performance incentive stock options ("PSOs") are exercisable during
the period commencing from March 31, 1997 and ending March 31, 2005.
Performance options vest upon the earlier of the Company's achievement of
certain performance standards or seven years from the date of grant. The number
and exercise price of the options are fixed at the date of grant. Options are
exercisable only in the event the participant is employed by the Company and
for limited periods of time after the participant's termination of employment.
If the participant ceases to be an employee on account of resignation (other
than retirement as defined in the option agreement) or termination for cause,
the right to exercise any unexercised portion of the option shall terminate.
The option becomes immediately and fully vested and exercisable as of a change
in control date.
As the exercise price of the options was not less than the estimated fair
value of the stock on the date of grant, no compensation expense was recorded
related to these options.
The following table summarizes the ISO and PSO activity under the
Company's 1995 Plans:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Class A Class B
Voting Non-Voting Weighted-Average
Shares Shares Exercise
Available for Available for Options Price Per
Grant Grant Outstanding Share Exercisable
--------------- --------------- ------------- ----------------- ------------
<S> <C>
Options authorized for grant ......... 750,000 1,500,000 -- $ -- --
Options granted ...................... (500,000) (1,010,000) 1,510,000 1.00 --
-------- ---------- --------- ----- -------
Balances at December 31, 1995 .......... 250,000 490,000 1,510,000 1.00 148,750
Options authorized for grant ......... -- 625,000 -- -- --
Options granted ...................... (85,076) (318,294) 403,370 3.83 --
Options exercised .................... -- -- (6,750) 1.00 --
Options canceled ..................... -- 43,250 (43,250) 1.00 --
-------- ---------- --------- ----- -------
Balances at December 31, 1996 .......... 164,924 839,956 1,863,370 1.78 54,644
Options authorized for grant ......... 250,000 357,500 -- -- --
Options granted ...................... (111,360) (218,956) 330,316 5.63 --
Options exercised .................... -- -- (1,125) 1.00 --
Options canceled ..................... 127,933 71,580 (199,513) 4.90 --
-------- ---------- --------- ----- -------
Balances at December 31, 1997 .......... 431,497 1,050,080 1,993,048 2.14 1,007,328
Options granted ...................... -- (11,250) 11,250 6.00 --
Options exercised .................... -- -- (7,500) 0.60 --
Options canceled ..................... -- 120,188 (120,188) 1.86 --
-------- ---------- --------- ----- ---------
Balances at March 31, 1998
(Unaudited) ......................... 431,497 1,159,018 1,876,610 $ 1.99 1,435,665
======== ========== ========= ====== =========
</TABLE>
The Company has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS 123. The
fair value for each ISO and PSO option was estimated at the date of grant using
a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average
assumptions:
F-17
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)
8. STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT -- (Continued)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three months
Year ended ended
December 31, March 31,
------------------------ ----------------
1995 1996 1997 1997 1998
------ ------ ------ ------ -------
(unaudited)
<S> <C>
Expected dividend yield ....................... 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Risk-free interest rate ....................... 6% 6% 6% 6% 6%
Expected volatility ........................... 59% 59% 59% 59% 59%
Expected life (in years from vesting) ......... 5.4 3.4 1.9 2.2 4.9
</TABLE>
For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair values of the
stock options are amortized to expense over the vesting period. The grant date
Black-Scholes weighted-average value was $0.32, $0.54 and $0.95 per share for
1995, 1996 and 1997 and $1.04 and $1.69 per share for the three-month periods
ended March 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively. As of December 31, 1997, 422,970
Class A options and 584,358 Class B options were exercisable with a
weighted-average remaining contractual life of seven years.
The following table shows pro forma net loss and net loss per share as if
the fair value accounting method prescribed by SFAS 123 had been used to
account for stock based compensation (in thousands, except per share data):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended December 31, Three months ended March 31,
------------------------------------------ ----------------------------
1995 1996 1997 1997 1998
------------ ------------ ------------ -------------- -----------
(unaudited)
<S> <C>
Net loss as reported .............................. $ (2,451) $ (7,200) $ (4,298) $ (825) $ (618)
Pro forma compensation expense .................... (119) (198) (484) (104) (62)
-------- -------- -------- ------- -------
Pro forma net loss (for SFAS 123 disclosure
purposes) ....................................... $ (2,570) $ (7,398) $ (4,782) $ (929) $ (680)
======== ======== ======== ======= =======
Net loss per share:
Historical (as disclosed in Note 3) ............. $ (1.43) $ (2.39) $ (1.36) $ (0.26) $ (0.19)
Pro forma (for SFAS 123 disclosure purposes)..... $ (1.50) $ (2.46) $ (1.52) $ (0.29) $ (0.21)
</TABLE>
Stock Warrants
Warrants issued in connection with notes payable are recorded at their
estimated fair value and credited to additional paid in capital. The resulting
debt discount is amortized to interest expense over the term of the related
debt. Warrants issued to members of the Board of Directors are recorded at
their estimated fair value and the related general and administrative expense
is charged when the warrants are issued. The fair value of warrants issued to
the placement agent in connection with the issuance of preferred stock in
February 1998 was recorded as a stock issuance cost.
F-18
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)
8. STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT -- (Continued)
The following table summarizes all warrants issued to purchase the
Company's Class A and Class B Common Stock:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares of
Stock
Purchasable
Under Exercise Date of
Description Warrant Price Expiration
----------- ------------ ------------------- -----------
<S> <C>
Issued to shareholders in connection with notes payable or as
consideration for providing loan collateral .................... 60,000 $1.00 3/06/01
------
Outstanding at December 31, 1995 ................................ 60,000
Expiration of warrants at date of note conversion ............... (16,155)
Issued to shareholders in connection with notes payable or as
consideration for providing loan collateral .................... 117,608 30,000 @ $1.00 3/06/01
31,250 @ 2.00 5/20/03
50,000 @ 6.00 7/10/03
6,358 @ 5.82 12/31/03
Issued to lenders in connection with notes payable .............. 9704 77,646 $ * 3/06/01
-------
22,058 @ 4.53 7/15/99
Outstanding at December 31, 1996 ................................ 261,157
Issued to lenders in connection with notes payable .............. 345,501 249,886 @ $0.02 3/24/08
95,615 @ 0.02 8/30/03
Issued to shareholders in connection with notes payable ......... 102,896 44,444 @ $2.00 5/20/03
49,861 @ 6.00 7/10/03
8,591 @ 5.82 12/31/03
Issued to members of Board of Directors ......................... 40,500 $6.00 12/31/04
-------
Outstanding at December 31, 1997 ................................ 750,054
Issued to placement agent in connection with private placement
of preferred stock ............................................. 16,667 $6.00 2/04/05
Additional warrants issued to lender in connection with
March 24, 1997 note payable .................................... 57,937 $0.02 3/24/08
Issued to shareholder in connection with notes payable .......... 834 $6.00 7/10/03
Issued to a member of Board of Directors ........................ 12,500 $6.00 12/31/04
-------
Outstanding at March 31, 1998 (unaudited) ....................... 837,992
=======
</TABLE>
- ------------
* Exercise price is calculated as defined in the warrant agreement.
In connection with the note payable maturing on August 30, 2002, the
Company granted to the lender and warrant holder an option (the "Put Option")
to sell to the Company its warrant shares. The Put Option becomes effective
beginning on September 29, 2002. As defined in the loan and security agreement,
the price of the Put Option (the "Put Price") is calculated as the higher of
the following: (i) the product of five times the Company's per share earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for the most recent
twelve-month period before exercise of the Put Option less the debt per share
of the Company's outstanding common stock on a fully diluted basis for the same
twelve month period, plus cash per share of the Company's outstanding common
stock on a fully diluted basis all multiplied by the number of Put Shares or
(ii) the Company's book value per share at the end of the most recently
completed month before exercise of the Put Option multiplied by the number of
Put Shares. Based upon the calculated Put Price, the Company determined the Put
Option had negligible value at December 31, 1997 and March 31, 1998.
In connection with the conversion of a note payable, the Company has an
additional commitment to issue 48,604 shares of its Class B common stock to the
former holder of the note. As of December 31, 1997 and March 31, 1998, the
Company had not yet issued the aforementioned shares.
F-19
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)
8. STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT -- (Continued)
Common Stock Reserved for Future Issuance
The Company has reserved authorized shares of Common Stock for future
issuance as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 1997,
------------------------
Class A Class B
--------- ------------
<S> <C>
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock ..................... 82,634 --
Outstanding incentive stock options ...................... 514,938 870,610
Outstanding performance based stock options .............. 250,000 357,500
Possible future issuance under stock option plan ......... 431,497 1,050,080
Stock purchase warrants .................................. 750,054 --
</TABLE>
9. INCOME TAXES
At March 31, 1998, the Company has a cumulative domestic federal net
operating loss carryforward available to offset future taxable income of
approximately $11 million which begins to expire in the year 2011. State tax
losses of approximately $11 million will begin to expire in 2001. The Company
also has $78,000 of research credits to carry forward for use against future
domestic federal income taxes. U.S. tax laws impose limitations on the use of
net operating losses and credits following certain changes in ownership. If
such a change occurs, the limitations could reduce the amount of these benefits
that would be available to offset future taxable income each year, starting
with the year of ownership change.
From the Company's inception, June 16, 1994, through October 1995, the
Company operated under the provisions of Subchapter S of the Internal Revenue
Code, and consequently was not subject to federal income tax. On October 31,
1995, the Company terminated its Subchapter S election and now operates under
the provisions of Subchapter C of the Internal Revenue Code. The Company
currently reports on a calendar year end for tax purposes.
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences
between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting
purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Significant components
of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities consisted of the following
at (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31,
--------------------- March 31,
1996 1997 1998
--------- --------- ------------
(unaudited)
<S> <C>
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforwards ..................... $2,455 $3,669 $4,304
Sales and accounts receivable reserves ............... 828 1,048 578
Accrued salaries ..................................... -- 10 10
Other reserves ....................................... 42 191 190
Accrued interest to related party .................... 131 397 408
Research and development credit carryforward ......... 78 78 78
------ ------ ------
Total deferred tax assets ............................. 3,534 5,393 5,568
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation ......................................... 13 17 17
Accounting method change ............................. 49 72 65
------ ------ ------
Total deferred tax liabilities ........................ 62 89 82
Less:
Valuation allowance .................................. 3,472 5,304 5,486
------ ------ ------
Total net deferred taxes .............................. $ -- $ -- $ --
====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
F-20
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)
9. INCOME TAXES -- (Continued)
For financial reporting purposes, income before income taxes includes the
following components (in thousands):
December 31, December 31, March 31,
1996 1997 1998
-------------- -------------- ------------
(unaudited)
Pretax Income:
United States ......... $ (6,529) $ (4,873) $ (916)
Foreign ............... (660) 542 426
-------- -------- ------
$ (7,189) $ (4,331) $ (490)
======== ======== ======
Significant components of the provision for income taxes attributable to
continuing operations are as follows:
December 31,
-------------------- March 31,
1996 1997 1998
------ ----------- ------------
(unaudited)
Current:
Federal ............... $ -- $(41) $ --
Foreign ............... 8 15 128
State ................. 3 (7) --
---- ------- ----
Total current ......... $ 11 $(33) $128
==== ====== ====
The Company has recorded a valuation allowance for the full amount of its
deferred income tax assets as of December 31, 1996 and 1997 and March 31, 1998,
based on management's evaluation of the criteria set forth in SFAS No. 109.
10. RETIREMENT PLAN
The Company has a qualified 401(k) Retirement Plan. The Plan covers
substantially all of the Company's full-time employees. Effective November 20,
1996, the Plan requires six months of full-time service for an employee to be
eligible to participate. Participants may contribute up to 15% of their
compensation to the Plan, subject to the yearly maximums established by the
Internal Revenue Service. Employer matching contributions are at the discretion
of the Company's Board of Directors. There were no discretionary employer
contributions made during the years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997 and
for the three-month periods ended March 31, 1997 and 1998.
11. SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS
Revenues from significant customers, those representing 10% or more of net
revenues for the respective periods, are summarized as follows:
Three months
Year ended December 31, ended March 31,
------------------------ ---------------
1995 1996 1997 1997 1998
------ ------ ------ ------ -----
(unaudited)
Customer 1 ......... -- -- -- -- 16%
Customer 2 ......... 12% 11% -- -- 15%
Customer 3 ......... -- 27% 19% 25% 12%
Customer 4 ......... -- -- 10% -- 10%
Customer 5 ......... -- -- -- 11% --
Customer 6 ......... 36% -- -- -- --
Customer 7 ......... 11% -- -- -- --
F-21
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)
11. SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS -- (Continued)
Additionally, two customers comprised 43% of accounts receivable at
December 31, 1996, three customers comprised 40% of accounts receivable at
December 31, 1997, and three customers comprised 35% of accounts receivable at
March 31, 1998.
12. OPERATIONS
In addition to domestic sales, the Company sells its products through its
subsidiaries to international customers. These sales amounted to 13%, 23% and
37% of net revenues during the years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997 and
37% and 56% of net revenues during the three months ended March 31, 1997 and
1998, respectively.
The following table presents the Company's operations by geographic
location (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended December 31, Three months ended March 31,
------------------------------------------ ----------------------------
1995 1996 1997 1997 1998
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
(unaudited)
<S> <C>
Identifiable assets:
United States ............... $ 2,410 $ 3,725 $ 5,082 $ 5,527 $ 8,123
Europe ...................... 686 839 2,665 645 1,088
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
$ 3,096 $ 4,564 $ 7,747 $ 6,172 $ 9,211
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Net revenue:
United States ............... $ 3,458 $ 4,978 $ 11,090 $ 2,108 $ 3,037
Europe ...................... 663 1,079 5,412 1,849 1,876
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
$ 4,121 $ 6,057 $ 16,502 $ 3,957 $ 4,913
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
Income (loss) from operations:
United States ............... $ (2,387) $ (5,919) $ (2,971) $ (1,526) $ (1,118)
Europe ...................... 158 (664) 545 969 935
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
$ (2,229) $ (6,583) $ (2,426) $ (557) $ (183)
======== ======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On April 30, 1998, the Company closed on a $5 million line of credit
bearing an interest rate of the bank's prime (8.5% on May 1, 1998) plus 2%.
Borrowings on the line of credit are limited to the lesser of $5 million or 65%
of the Company's outstanding eligible domestic receivables. Borrowings on the
line of credit are collateralized by the Company's accounts receivable,
inventory, and intellectual property, and proceeds will be used to extinguish
certain existing debt and provide additional working capital. The line of
credit expires on April 30, 1999. On May 1, 1998, borrowings on the line were
$1.3 million.
Management believes the financing transactions entered into subsequent to
December 31, 1997 will allow the Company to meet its short-term cash needs in
1998. However, should cash constraints arise, management plans to obtain
additional debt or equity financing or, if such financing is not available on
acceptable terms, reduce expected increases in operating expenses.
On July 1, 1998 the Company effected a one-for-two reverse stock split of
the Company's capital stock in connection with the Company's reincorporation in
North Carolina. All references in the financial statements with regard to
number of shares of each class of stock have been restated to reflect the
reverse stock split for all periods presented.
The Company's 1998 Stock Plan (the "Plan") was adopted by the Board of
Directors and approved by the shareholders of the Company in May 1998. The
Company anticipates that no future grants will be made under the 1995 Plans
after the effective date of the Plan. A total of 800,000 shares of Common Stock
have been reserved for issuance under the Plan. The Plan provides for grants to
employees of the Company of ISOs. In addition,
F-22
<PAGE>
INTERACTIVE MAGIC, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (Continued)
13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS -- (Continued)
the Plan provides for grants of nonqualified stock options and stock purchase
rights to employees, directors and consultants of the Company. The Plan is
administered by the Board of Directors or by a Committee appointed by the
Board. The administrator determines the terms of options and stock purchase
rights granted, including the exercise price and the number of shares subject
to the option or stock purchase right. The exercise price of incentive stock
options granted under the Plan must be at least equal to the fair market value
of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant. The maximum term of options
granted under the Plan is 10 years.
The Company's 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan") was
adopted by the Company's Board of Directors and approved by the Company's
shareholders in May 1998. The Purchase Plan is intended to qualify under
Section 423 of the Code. The Company has reserved 500,000 shares of Common
Stock for issuance under the Purchase Plan. Under the Purchase Plan, an
eligible employee may purchase shares of Common Stock from the Company through
payroll deductions of up to 10% of his or her base compensation, not to exceed
$25,000 per year, at a price per share equal to 85% of the fair market value of
a share of the Company's Common Stock on the last day of the offering period.
The maximum number of shares that an employee may purchase in any offering
period is 2,500 shares. Any employee who is customarily employed for at least
20 hours per week and more than five months per calendar year and who is
employed on or before the commencement date of an offering period is eligible
to participate in the Purchase Plan.
14. RECAPITALIZATION (UNAUDITED)
The Company anticipates that the following recapitalization through the
exchange of securities will be deemed to be effective as of the closing date of
the Company's initial public offering, with the exception of the exercise of
options and warrants which may occur at an earlier date, in contemplation of
the offering.
Incentive Stock Options: Options were exercised to purchase 268,750 shares
of Class A Common Stock and 95,000 shares of Class B Common Stock in
exchange for cash and forgiveness of accrued interest.
Stock Warrants: Warrants were exercised to purchase 516,769 shares of Class
A Common Stock in exchange for cash.
Class A Common Stock: Exchanged for an aggregate of 3,931,215 shares of
common stock
Class B Common Stock: Exchanged for an aggregate of 601,457 shares of
common stock, which includes 48,604 shares issued after March 31, 1998
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock: Converted into an aggregate of
82,634 shares of common stock
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock: Converted into an aggregate of
2,045,649 shares of common stock
Series C Redeemable Convertible Preferred Stock: Converted into an
aggregate of 132,744 shares of common stock
Upon consummation of the offering, the Company will have authorized
capital of 50,000,000 shares of $.10 par value common stock and 25,000,000
shares of $.10 par value preferred stock.
F-23
<PAGE>
(inside back cover of Prospectus)
[INTERACTIVE MAGIC logo]
WARBIRDS "Online Game of the Year 1996" - PC Games Magazine
"Online Game of the Year 1997" - PC Games Magazine
"Finalist - Best Flight Simulation Game" (1997) - Computer
Gaming World
"Finalist - Best Online Game" (1997) - Computer Game
Developers Association
SEVEN KINGDOMS "Strategy Game of the Year" (1997) - Power Play (Germany)
"Editor's Choice" (1998) - PC Gamer
"A-List" (1998) - PC Games
iF22 Nominated as "Best Simulation at Electronic
Entertainment Expo" (1997) - Game Pen
WAR INC. "A-List" - PC Games
HIND "Editor's Choice" (1996) - PC Gamer
"Finalist - Best Flight Simulation Game"(1997) - Computer
Gaming World
"Simulation of the Year" (1996) - PC Today Magazine
APACHE "Best Simulation of 1995" - PC Gamer
"Best Simulation of 1995" - Strategy Plus
"Editor's Choice" (1995) - PC Gamer
CAPITALISM "Best Simulation Game - Finalist" (1996) - PC Gamer
"Editor's Choice" (1995) - PC Gamer
"Special Achievement in Tutorial Design" (1996) - PC Gamer
[Award logos from PC Games, PC Gamer, Computer Gaming World]
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No dealer, sales representative, or other person has been authorized to give
any information or to make any representation in connection with this offering
not contained in this Prospectus, and if given or made, such information or
representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company
or any Underwriter. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities
offered by this Prospectus, or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer
to buy any securities by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or
solicitation is not authorized or would be unlawful. Neither the delivery of
this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances,
create any implication that information herein is correct as of any time
subsequent to the date hereof.
-----------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
---------
Prospectus Summary ............................ 3
Risk Factors .................................. 7
Use of Proceeds ............................... 17
Dividend Policy ............................... 18
Dilution ...................................... 18
Capitalization ................................ 20
Selected Consolidated Financial Data .......... 21
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of
Operations ................................. 23
Business ...................................... 30
Management .................................... 41
Principal Shareholders ........................ 47
Certain Transactions .......................... 48
Description of Securities ..................... 50
Shares Eligible for Future Sale ............... 54
Underwriting .................................. 56
Legal Matters ................................. 58
Experts ....................................... 58
Additional Information ........................ 58
Index to Financial Statements ................. F-1
Until August 15, 1998, (25 days after the date of this Prospectus) all dealers
effecting transactions in the Common Stock, whether or not participating in
this distribution, may be required to deliver a Prospectus. This is in addition
to the obligation of dealers to deliver a Prospectus when acting as
underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
2,600,000 Shares
[INTERACTIVE MAGIC LOGO]
Common Stock
------------------------------------
PROSPECTUS
------------------------------------
BlueStone Capital Partners, L.P.
Royce Investment Group, Inc.
July 21, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
