FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(b)(3)
FILE NUMBER 333-30074
[GRAPHIC OMITED]
NETTAXI
9,961,387 SHARES
COMMON STOCK
We have prepared this prospectus to allow RGC International
Investors, LDC, Corporate Profile and Wall Street Trading Group or their
pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest, to use a
"shelf" registration process to sell up to 9,961,387 shares of our common stock
which they have acquired or may acquire upon exercise of warrants previously
acquired in private placements. We will receive no proceeds from the sale of
these shares, with the exception of the proceeds from the exercise of the
warrants.
Our common stock is listed on the NASD O-T-C Market Bulletin Board
under the symbol "NTXY." On July 10, 2000, the closing price of our common stock
was $0.80 per share.
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 7 FOR A DISCUSSION OF MATERIAL ISSUES
TO CONSIDER BEFORE PURCHASING OUR COMMON STOCK.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE
SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR
DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION
TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS AUGUST 2, 2000.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Prospectus Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Risk Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements 19
Use of Proceeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend Policy . . 20
Capitalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Selected Financial Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations . . . . . . 22
Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Related Party Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Selling Stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Principal Stockholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Description of Capital Stock . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Shares Eligible for Future Sale . . . . . . . . . . 85
Plan of Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Legal Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Experts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Where You Can Find Additional Information . . . . . 89
Index to Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . F-1
</TABLE>
"Nettaxi," "Netro News," "URL," "Internet the City," and "Nettaxi.com: The
Experience" are trademarks and service marks of Nettaxi. All other trademarks,
service marks or tradenames referred to in this prospectus are the property of
their respective owners.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
Because this is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information
that may be important to you. You should read the entire prospectus, including
"Risk Factors" and our financial statements and the related notes, before
deciding to invest in our common stock.
NETTAXI
Nettaxi is one of the world's leading providers of online community and
e-commerce services for consumers and businesses. Through our web site at
Nettaxi.com, we deliver "community," which we define as bringing together people
with shared topics of interest, as well as an entry point, or "portal" to the
Internet. We provide our subscribers, the "citizens" of our communities, with
comprehensive information and content about news, sports, entertainment, health,
politics, finances, lifestyle, and other areas of interest to the growing number
of Internet users, and communications services such as free e-mail, personal
home pages, chat, and messages. We are also developing easy-to-use e-commerce
services for the consumers and businesses that reside in our communities,
including products and services that will allow our citizens to launch and build
their own online storefronts and purchase an expanding variety of goods and
services within a single integrated web community. By successfully executing
our business model, we expect to continue to generate substantial revenues
through subscription and advertising fees and e-commerce revenues and
transaction fees through the sale of products online.
While we have incurred significant losses since our site was launched in
October 1997, traffic to our online community has increased consistently from a
membership base of 60,000 citizens in December 1998, to a membership base of
over 1.8 million citizens in December 1999. This increase in our membership
base has also resulted in corresponding increases in both the number of web
pages and advertising banners viewed by visitors. Our records indicate that our
site had over 45.8 million visitors, 125 million page views and 180 million
advertising impressions for the month of December 1999. A visit by a user to a
page on our web site represents one page view and each advertisement that
appears on that page to which a visitor is exposed is called an advertisement
impression. Based on unique visitors to our site, PC Data Online ranked
Nettaxi.com as the 289th most visited site in the world at the end of November
1999. The "100hot", an industry ranking of the top Internet sites based upon
unique visits, ranked Nettaxi.com as the 12th most popular site on the Internet
during this same month.
We now have a number of powerful business tools and resources, including:
- an extensive community network and a critical mass of citizens and
visitors;
- a growing database of user profiles;
- a meta-search engine that enables users to search multiple
sites simultaneously and return the results, including comparative product
pricing and availability, to one page;
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- an expanding suite of services for our citizens, including web site
hosting, web-based e-mail, personal home pages, chat and messages; and
- our award-winning CD-ROM, "Nettaxi.com: The Experience TM", bundled
with free Internet access, used to drive citizens to specific Internet
communities and businesses in a fun, entertaining and educational manner.
We have also entered into several co-marketing, content, and technology-based
relationships which we anticipate will result in important service enhancements
to our community and build the volume of traffic to our site.
We are now poised to build on our early success by implementing a growth
strategy that, if successful, should make us a major ready-to-use
e-commerce storefront host, and allow us to meet our goal of becoming one
of most frequented community-based portals on the Internet. Our strategic
growth plan includes:
- execution of our community service business model;
- continued development of our infrastructure, expansion of our
premium content, and implementation of our e-commerce tools and services;
- increasing advertising revenues;
- an aggressive subscriber acquisition program; and
- strategic acquisitions to gain market share and consolidate
competition.
While we believe that the objectives of our strategic growth plans our
reasonably attainable, we caution you that our ability to achieve these goals
are subject to the risks described in "Risk Factors" below, including the
limited resources that we currently have available to pursue our plans, our
reliance on third parties for development of software and content and for
essential business operations, and the uncertainties associated with the
rapidly-changing business and technological environment for Internet companies.
Our principal executive offices are located at 1696 Dell Avenue, Campbell,
California 95008. Our telephone number at this address is (408) 879-9880.
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THE OFFERING
Common stock offered by selling 9,961,387 shares(1)
stockholders
Common stock to be outstanding 53,074,723 shares(1)(2)
after this Offering
Use of proceeds Other than the proceeds from the
exercise of the warrants, none of the
proceeds from the sale of the
common stock offered by this
prospectus will be received by us.
Any proceeds received by us will
be utilized for working capital
and general corporate purposes.
O-T-C Market Bulletin Board Symbol: NTXY
___________________
(1) Includes all shares being registered pursuant to the registration
statement of which this prospectus is a part.
(2) Does not include 23,646,915 shares reserved for issuance upon
exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants, other than the
warrants which can be exercised for the common stock offered by this
prospectus.
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SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
Set forth below are summary statements of operations data for the period
from October 23, 1997, date of incorporation, to December 31, 1997, the years
ended December 31, 1998 and 1999, and the three months ended March 31, 2000 and
summary balance sheet data as of December 31, 1997, 1998, 1999, and March 31,
2000. This information should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated
Financial Statements and Notes thereto and "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations", appearing elsewhere in this
prospectus.
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For the Period from October 23, 1997, date of incorporation, to December 31,1997, and the years
ended December 31, 1998 and 1999 and the three months ended March 31, 2000
December December December March 31,
31, 1997 31, 1998 31, 1999 2000
------------ ------------
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA: (Unaudited)
------------
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Net revenues $ 144,900 $ 258,000 $ 5,032,800 $ 2,764,900
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Gross profit $ 57,500 $ 18,200 $ 1,029,000 $ 991,400
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Loss from operations $ (142,100) $(3,082,300) $(9,402,500) $(2,696,500)
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Net loss $ (159,700) $(3,113,600) $(9,880,400) $(2,769,000)
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Net loss available to common $ (327,200) $(3,127,900) $(9,880,400) $(2,769,000)
shareholders
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Basic loss per share $ (0.06) $ (0.32) $ (0.46) $ (0.09)
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Diluted loss per share $ (0.06) $ (0.32) $ (0.46) $ (0.09)
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
WEIGHTED-AVERAGE COMMON SHARES:
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
BASIC OUTSTANDING SHARES 5,483,500 9,724,781 21,274,203 29,391,784
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Diluted outstanding shares 5,483,500 9,724,781 21,274,203 29,391,784
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
WORKING CAPITAL (DEFICIENCY) $ (222,900) $ 300,400 $(2,053,000) $18,707,800
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Total assets $2,082,300 $ 1,652,700 $(6,031,200) $25,491,000
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Long-term liabilities $ 773,500 $ 5,400 $ 3,200,000) $ 2,400,000
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Total stockholders' equity (Deficiency) $ 973,400 $ 1,332,100 $(2,000,300) $19,593,700
------------------------------------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
</TABLE>
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RISK FACTORS
You should consider carefully the following risks before you decide to buy
our common stock. Our business, financial condition or results of operations
could be materially and adversely affected by any of the following risks.
WE HAVE A LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY, HAVE INCURRED LOSSES SINCE INCEPTION, AND
EXPECT LOSSES FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE
We were incorporated in October 1997. Accordingly, we have only a limited
operating history upon which you can evaluate our business and prospects. Since
our inception, we have incurred net losses, resulting primarily from costs
related to developing our web site, attracting users to our web site and
establishing the Nettaxi.com brand. At March 31, 2000, we had an accumulated
deficit of $16,105,400. Losses have continued to grow faster than our revenues
during our limited operating history. This trend is reflective of our continued
investments in technology and sales and marketing efforts to grow the business.
Because of our plans to continue to invest heavily in marketing and promotion,
to hire additional employees, and to enhance our web site and operating
infrastructure, we expect to incur significant net losses for the foreseeable
future. We believe these expenditures are necessary to strengthen our brand
recognition, attract more users to our web site and generate greater online
revenues. If our revenue growth is slower than we anticipate or our
operating expenses exceed our expectations, our losses will be significantly
greater. We may never achieve profitability. If we do achieve
profitability, we may be unable to sustain or increase profitability on a
quarterly or annual basis.
WE REQUIRE FURTHER CAPITAL TO PURSUE OUR BUSINESS OBJECTIVES
We currently believe that we have sufficient cash to fund our operations
through December 2000. After that time, we will be required to seek
additional capital to sustain our operations. We expect to generate a
portion of the necessary cash flow through advertising and hosting revenues,
but will also need to obtain capital through other sources such as equity or
debt financing. We are currently negotiating with prospective investors;
however to date, no agreements for additional financing have been consummated.
We cannot assure you that we will be able to achieve and sustain positive cash
flow or profitability or that we will have other sources available to provide
the financial resources necessary to continue our operations. Given our
limited resources and our history of losses from operations, we will also need
to raise additional funds in order to fund expansion of our business, to
develop new or enhanced services or products, to respond to competitive
pressures or to acquire complementary products, businesses or
technologies. No assurances can be given, however, that we will be able to
obtain such additional resources. If we are unsuccessful in generating
anticipated resources from one or more of the anticipated sources, and
unable to replace the shortfall with resources from another source, we may
be able to extend the period for which available resources would be adequate by
deferring the creation or satisfaction of various commitments, deferring the
introduction of various services or entry into various markets, and otherwise
scaling back operations. If we are unable to generate the required resources,
our ability to meet our obligations and to continue our operations would be
adversely affected.
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OUR NEED TO RAISE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL MAY CAUSE OUR STOCKHOLDERS TO EXPERIENCE
SIGNIFICANT DILUTION IN THE FUTURE
It is likely that we will need to raise additional funds in the future in
order to pursue our business objectives. If additional funds are raised through
the issuance of equity or convertible debt securities, the percentage ownership
of our stockholders will be reduced, stockholders may experience additional
dilution and such securities may have rights, preferences and privileges senior
to those of our common stock. This may make an investment in our common stock
less attractive to other investors, thereby weakening the trading market for our
common stock.
WE ARE SUBJECT TO THE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED BY EARLY
STAGE COMPANIES IN NEW AND RAPIDLY EVOLVING MARKETS
Due to our limited operating history, we are subject to many of the risks
and uncertainties frequently encountered by early stage companies in new and
rapidly evolving markets, such as e-commerce. Among other things, we are faced
with the need to establish our credibility with customers, advertising, content
providers, and companies offering e-commerce products and services, and such
parties are often understandably reluctant to do business with companies that
have not had an opportunity to establish a track record of performance and
accountability. For example, our ability to enter into exclusive relationships
to provide content over the Internet will be dependent on our ability to
demonstrate that we can handle high volumes of traffic through our site.
Similarly, early stage companies must devote substantial time and resources to
recruiting qualified senior management and employees at all levels, and must
also make significant investments to establish brand recognition. If we are
unable to overcome some of these obstacles, we may be unable to achieve our
business goals and raise sufficient capital to expand our business.
OUR REVENUE GROWTH IN PRIOR PERIODS IS NOT INDICATIVE OF FUTURE GROWTH AND WE
CANNOT ACCURATELY PREDICT OUR FUTURE REVENUES
We had revenues of approximately $2,764,900 and $689,300 for the three
months ended March 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively. While our growth rate
has been strong, it is unlikely that revenue will continue to grow at this
rate in the future and our performance during these periods should not be
taken as being indicative of future trends. Accurate predictions regarding
our revenues in the future are difficult and should be considered in light
of our limited operating history and rapid changes in the ever evolving
Internet market. For example, our ability to generate revenues in the future
is dependent in part on the success of our capital-raising efforts and the
investments that we intend to make in sales and marketing, infrastructure,
and content development. Our revenues for the foreseeable future will
remain primarily dependent on the number of customers that we are able to
attract to our web site, and secondarily on sponsorship and advertising
revenues. We cannot forecast with any degree of certainty the number of
visitors to our web site, the number of visitors who will become customers, or
the amount of sponsorship and advertising revenues. Similarly, we cannot
provide any guarantees regarding the revenues that will be generated from
e-commerce products and services that we intend to make available on our site.
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OUR QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS MAY FLUCTUATE SIGNIFICANTLY, THEREBY INCREASING
THE VOLATILITY OF OUR STOCK PRICE
In addition to the uncertainties regarding the rate of growth of our future
revenues, we anticipate that our operating results will fluctuate significantly
from quarter to quarter. These fluctuations may be due to seasonal and cyclical
patterns that may emerge in Internet e-commerce and advertising spending. For
example, we believe that the use of our web site will be somewhat lower during
periods of the year if the patterns that currently effect traditional media,
such as television and radio where advertising sales are lower during the first
and third calendar quarters because of the summer vacation period and post
winter holiday season slowdown, develop in the Internet industry. It is likely
that similar seasonal patterns will develop in the Internet industry and thus
result in decreasing revenues for us during periods of the year. Quarterly
results may also vary for some of the same reasons and because it is difficult
to predict the long-term revenue growth of our business. If investments in
marketing and content development are delayed, we may experience corresponding
delays in anticipated revenues from such investments, thereby leading to uneven
quarterly results. Because of these factors, we believe that quarter-to-quarter
comparisons of our results of operations are not good indicators of our future
performance. If our operating results fall below the expectations of investors
in future periods, then our stock price may decline.
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE BY OUR CURRENT STOCKHOLDERS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT
OUR STOCK PRICE
As of July 12, 2000, 11,487,250 shares of our common stock were
immediately eligible for sale in the public market without restriction or
further restriction under the Securities Act of 1933, unless purchased by or
issued to any "affiliate" of ours, as that term is defined in Rule 144
promulgated under that Act. Additionally, we have filed a registration
statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-32678) to register 6,300,000 of the shares
of common stock issuable upon exercise of options granted or to be granted
under our 1998 and 1999 stock option plans. As a result, shares issued upon
exercise of stock options, including options for 1,170,704 shares that were
exercisable as of April 30, 2000, are eligible for resale in the public market
without restriction. Additionally, we intend to file a registration statement on
Form S-8 to register the additional 5,600,000 shares of common stock under our
1999 Stock Option Plan, as amended. We have also filed a registration statement
on Form S-1 (File No. 333-36826), declared effective by the Securities and
Exchange Commission on June 12, 2000 registering 32,730,849 shares issued and
issuable pursuant to recent private placement transactions. Additionally, we
have filed a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-38538), declared
effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 21, 2000,
registering 4,219,692 shares of common stock issued and issuable pursuant to
recent private placement transactions. As of June 30, 2000 approximately 21
million shares of common stock were eligible for sale under Rule 144. If our
stockholders sell substantial amounts of our common stock under Rule 144 or
pursuant to the aforementioned registration statements, the market price of
our common stock could be adversely affected and our ability to raise
additional capital at that time through the sale of our securities could be
impaired.
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FUTURE EXERCISE OF WARRANTS OR ISSUANCES OF SECURITIES MAY SIGNIFICANTLY DILUTE
YOUR HOLDINGS
There are currently warrants to purchase 2,200,000 shares of our common
stock outstanding and exercisable over the next five years at an exercise price
per share of $1.50, subject to adjustment. These warrants are held by one of
the selling stockholders who also holds warrants to purchase 269,692 shares of
common stock outstanding and exercisable over the next four and a half years at
a price of $4.38, subject to adjustment. The shares underlying these warrants
have been registered pursuant to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File
No. 333-38538). Additionally, pursuant to our registration statement on Form S-1
(File No. 333-36826) we registered shares underlying warrants to purchase
15,567,133 shares of common stock issued having an exercise price per share of
$4.00, warrants to purchase 436,351 shares of common stock having an exercise
price of $2.76 and warrants to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock having an
exercise price of $12.38. Additionally, this prospectus covers warrants to
purchase 125,000 shares of common stock having an exercise price of $8.00 per
share held by one of the selling stockholders. If the holders of our
outstanding warrants and other convertible securities were to exercise their
rights, purchasers of our common stock could experience substantial dilution of
their investment.
OUR PLANNED ONLINE AND TRADITIONAL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS MAY NOT ATTRACT
SUFFICIENT ADDITIONAL VISITORS TO OUR WEB SITE
We plan to pursue aggressive marketing campaigns online and in traditional
media to promote the Nettaxi.com brand and attract an increasing number of
visitors to our web site. We believe that maintaining and strengthening the
Nettaxi.com brand will be critical to the success of our business. This
investment in increased marketing carries with it significant risks, including
the following:
- Our advertisements may not properly convey the Nettaxi.com brand
image, or may even detract from our image. Advertising in print and
broadcast media is expensive and is often typically difficult to modify
quickly in order to take into account feedback that may indicate that we
have failed to convey the optimal message. If our advertisements fail to
positively promote our brand and image, the damage to our business may be
long-lasting and costly to repair.
- Even if we succeed in creating the right messages for our promotional
campaigns, these advertisements may fail to attract new visitors to our web site
at levels commensurate with their costs. We may fail to choose the optimal mix
of television, radio, print and other media to cost effectively deliver our
message. Moreover, if these efforts are unsuccessful, we will face difficult and
costly choices in deciding whether and how to redirect our marketing dollars.
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WE MAY FAIL TO ESTABLISH AN EFFECTIVE INTERNAL SALES ORGANIZATION TO ATTRACT
SPONSORSHIP AND ADVERTISING REVENUES
To date, we have relied principally on outside advertising agencies to
develop sponsorship and advertising opportunities. We believe that the growth of
sponsorship and advertising revenues will depend on our ability to establish an
aggressive and effective internal sales organization. Our internal sales team
currently has nine members. We will need to substantially increase this sales
force in the coming year in order to execute our business plan. Our ability to
increase our sales force involves a number of risks and uncertainties, including
competition and the length of time for new sales employees to become productive.
If we do not develop an effective internal sales force, our business will be
materially and adversely affected by our inability to attract sponsorship and
advertising revenues.
WE RELY HEAVILY ON THIRD PARTIES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SOFTWARE AND CONTENT AND FOR
ESSENTIAL BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY OUR FAILURE TO
MAINTAIN SATISFACTORY RELATIONSHIPS WITH SUCH PARTIES
We depend on third parties for important aspects of our business,
including Internet access, the development of software for new web site
features, content, and telecommunications.
We have limited control over these third parties, and we are not their only
client. We may not be able to maintain satisfactory relationships with any of
them on acceptable commercial terms, and there is no guarantee that we will be
able to renew these agreements at all. Further, we cannot be sure that the
quality of products and services that they provide may remain at the levels
needed to enable us to conduct our business effectively.
WE ARE HEAVILY RELIANT ON THIRD PARTIES TO HOUSE AND SERVICE OUR WEB SITE AND
ARE VULNERABLE TO POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO OUR OPERATING SYSTEMS
We maintain substantially all of our computer systems at our Campbell,
California site and the Santa Clara, California site of Exodus Communications.
We are heavily reliant on the ability of Exodus to house and service our web
site. This system's continuing and uninterrupted performance is critical to our
success. Growth in the number of users accessing our web site may strain its
capacity, and we rely on Exodus to upgrade our system's capacity in the face of
this growth. Exodus also provides our connection to the Internet. Sustained or
repeated system failures or interruptions of our web site connection services
would reduce the attractiveness of our web site to customers and advertisers,
and could therefore have a material and adverse effect on our business due to
loss of membership and advertising revenues.
In 1999 and 1998, we experienced several interruptions and degradations of
service as a result of our third party service provider's inability to deliver
the contractual bandwidth required to handle our traffic volume. These
interruptions result in decreased web usage volume and therefore impact our
ability to serve advertising impressions for our customers. These interruptions
can materially impact our revenues. We estimate that during 1998 we lost
approximately $35,000 in revenue because of this, and during 1999 we lost an
additional $35,000 in revenues.
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In addition, our operations are dependent in part on our ability to protect
our operating systems against physical damage from fire, floods, earthquakes,
power loss, telecommunications failures, break-ins or other similar events.
Furthermore, our servers are vulnerable to computer viruses, break-ins and
similar disruptive problems. The occurrence of any of these events could result
in interruptions, delays or cessations in service to our users and result in a
decrease in the number of visitors to our site. Our insurance policies
may not adequately compensate us for any losses that may occur due to any
failures or interruptions in our systems.
WE PLAN TO GROW RAPIDLY, AND EFFECTIVELY MANAGING OUR GROWTH MAY BE DIFFICULT
Our business plan contemplates a period of significant expansion. In order
to execute our business plan, we must grow significantly. This growth
will strain our personnel, management systems and resources. To manage our
growth, we must implement operational and financial systems and controls and
recruit, train and manage new employees. These individuals have had little
experience working with our management team. We cannot be sure that we will
be able to integrate new executives and other employees into our organization
effectively. In addition, there will be significant administrative burdens
placed on our management team as a result of our status as a public company. If
we do not manage growth effectively, we will not be able to achieve our
financial and business goals.
WE DEPEND ON OUR KEY PERSONNEL TO OPERATE OUR BUSINESS, AND WE MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO HIRE ENOUGH ADDITIONAL MANAGEMENT AND OTHER PERSONNEL AS OUR BUSINESS GROWS
Our performance is substantially dependent on the continued services and on
the performance of our executive officers and other key employees, particularly
Robert A. Rositano, Jr., our Chief Executive Officer, and Dean Rositano, our
Chief Operating Officer. The loss of the services of any of our executive
officers could materially and adversely affect our business due to their
experience with our business plan and the disruption in the conduct of our
day-to-day operations. Additionally, we believe we will need to attract, retain
and motivate talented management and other highly skilled employees to be
successful. Competition for employees that possess knowledge of both the
Internet industry and our target market is intense. We may be unable to retain
our key employees or attract, assimilate and retain other highly qualified
employees in the future.
OUR PROJECTED E-COMMERCE SERVICES MAY NOT BE LAUNCHED ON A TIMELY BASIS AND MAY
NOT GENERATE THE ANTICIPATED LEVEL OF REVENUES
Our strategic growth plan calls for development and implementation of
e-commerce tools for our citizens. The availability of many of these tools is
dependent on our ability to enter into satisfactory contractual relationships
with parties offering e-commerce related products and services which can be
made available to our subscribers, as well as relationships with parties
seeking to make online sales to our subscribers and other visitors to our
site. To date, our revenues from e-commerce services have not been material,
and we have yet to launch a number of the services that we hope to provide to
our citizens and visitors to the our site. We may not be able to commence those
services on a timely basis, and there is no assurance that the services will
generate the anticipated amount of revenues.
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INTENSE COMPETITION FROM OTHER INTERNET-BASED BUSINESSES MAY REDUCE OUR MARGINS
AND MARKET SHARE AND CAUSE OUR STOCK PRICE TO DECLINE
The markets in which we are engaged are new, rapidly evolving and intensely
competitive, and we expect competition to intensify further in the future.
Barriers to entry are relatively low, and current and new competitors can launch
new sites at a relatively low cost using commercially available software.
Competition could result in price reductions for our products and services,
reduced margins or loss of market share. Consolidation within the online
commerce industry may also increase competition.
We currently or potentially compete with a number of other companies
including a number of large online communities and services that have expertise
in developing online commerce, and a number of other small services, including
those that serve specialty markets. Many of our potential competitors have
longer operating histories, larger customer bases, greater brand recognition in
other business and Internet markets and significantly greater financial,
marketing, technical and other resources than us.
WE MAY FAIL TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN STRATEGIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER WEB
SITES TO INCREASE NUMBERS OF WEB SITE USERS AND INCREASE OUR REVENUES
We intend to establish numerous strategic relationships with popular web
sites to increase the number of visitors to our web site. There is intense
competition for placements on these sites, and we may not be able to enter into
these relationships on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Even if we enter
into relationships with other web sites, they themselves may not attract
significant numbers of users. Therefore, our site may not receive additional
users from these relationships. Moreover, we may have to pay significant fees to
establish these relationships. Our inability to enter into new distribution
relationships and expand our existing ones could have a material and adverse
effect on our business due to our inability to increase the number of users of
our site.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ADAPT AS INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES AND CUSTOMER DEMANDS
CONTINUE TO EVOLVE
To be successful, we must adapt to rapidly changing Internet technologies
and continually enhance the features and services provided on our web site. We
could incur substantial, unanticipated costs if we need to modify our web site,
software and infrastructure to incorporate new technologies demanded by our
audience. We may use new technologies ineffectively or we may fail to adapt our
web site, transaction-processing systems and network infrastructure to user
requirements or emerging industry standards. If we fail to keep pace with the
technological demands of our web-savvy audience for new services, products and
enhancements, our users may not use our web site and instead use those of our
competitors.
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WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROTECT AND ENFORCE OUR TRADEMARKS, WEB ADDRESSES AND
PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
Our Nettaxi.com brand and our web address, www.nettaxi.com, are critical to
our success. We have filed a trademark application for "Nettaxi", among other
trademark applications. We cannot guarantee that any of these trademark
applications will be granted. In addition, we may not be able to prevent third
parties from acquiring web addresses that are confusingly similar to our
addresses, which could harm our business. Also, while we have entered into
confidentiality agreements with our employees, contractors and suppliers in
order to safeguard our trade secrets and other proprietary information, there
can be no assurance that technology will not be misappropriated or that others
may lawfully develop similar technologies.
WE WOULD LOSE REVENUES AND INCUR SIGNIFICANT COSTS IF OUR SYSTEMS OR MATERIAL
THIRD PARTY SYSTEMS ARE NOT YEAR 2000-COMPLIANT
We have not devised a Year 2000 contingency plan. Although we did not
experience any Year 2000-related problems on January 1, 2000, and have not
experienced any such problems to date, the failure of our internal systems, or
any material third party systems, to be Year 2000-compliant could have a
material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial
condition if the compliance problems significantly impair access to and use of
our web site.
In addition, there can be no assurance that governmental agencies, utility
companies, Internet access companies, third party service providers and others
outside our control will be Year 2000 compliant. The failure by these entities
to be Year 2000 compliant could result in a systemic failure beyond our control,
including, for example, a prolonged Internet, telecommunications or electrical
failure, which could also prevent us from delivering our services to our users,
decrease the use of the Internet or prevent users from accessing our services.
ACQUISITIONS MAY DISRUPT OR OTHERWISE HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR BUSINESS
We may acquire or make investments in complementary businesses, products,
services or technologies on an opportunistic basis when we believe they will
assist us in carrying out our business strategy. Growth through acquisitions has
been a successful strategy used by other Internet companies. We do not have any
present understanding relating to any such acquisition or investment. If we were
to buy a content, service or technology company, the amount of time and level of
resources required to successfully integrate their business operation could be
substantial. The challenges in assimilating their people and organizational
structure, and in encountering potential unforeseen technical issues in
integrating their content, service or technology into ours, could cause
significant delays in executing other key areas of our business plan. This
could include delays in integrating other content, services or technology into
our communities, or moving forward on other business development relationships,
as management and employees, both of which are time constrained, may be
distracted. In addition, the key personnel of the acquired company may decide
not to work for us, which could result in the loss of key technical or business
knowledge to us. Furthermore, in making an acquisition, we may have to incur
debt or issue equity securities to finance the acquisition, the issuance of
which could be dilutive to our existing shareholders.
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WE ARE VULNERABLE TO ADDITIONAL TAX OBLIGATIONS THAT COULD BE IMPOSED ON ONLINE
COMMERCE TRANSACTIONS
We do not expect to collect sales or other similar taxes in respect of
transactions engaged in by customers on our web site. However, various states
or foreign countries may seek to impose sales tax obligations on us and other
e-commerce and direct marketing companies. A number of proposals have been made
at the state and local levels that would impose additional taxes on the sale of
goods and services through the Internet. These proposals, if adopted, could
substantially impair the growth of e-commerce and cause purchasing through our
web site to be less attractive to customers as compared to traditional retail
purchasing. The United States Congress has passed legislation limiting for three
years the ability of the states to impose taxes on Internet-based transactions.
Failure to renew this legislation could result in the imposition by various
states of taxes on e-commerce. Further, states have attempted to impose sales
taxes on catalog sales from businesses such as ours. A successful assertion by
one or more states that we should have collected or be collecting sales taxes on
the sale of products could have a material and adverse effect on our business
due to the imposition of fines or penalties or the requirement that we pay for
the uncollected taxes.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF POTENTIAL TAX BENEFITS FROM OUR NET
OPERATING LOSS CARRYFORWARDS
At December 31, 1999 we had net operating loss carryforwards available to
reduce future taxable income that aggregated approximately $11,200,000
for Federal income tax purposes. These benefits expire through 2019. Pursuant
to a "change in ownership" as defined by the provisions of the Tax Reform
Act of 1986, utilization of our net operating loss carryforwards may be
limited, if a cumulative change of ownership of more than 50% occurs within a
three-year period. We have not determined if an ownership change has occurred.
If it has, we may not be able to take full advantage of potential tax
benefits from our net operating loss carry forwards.
WE ARE DEPENDENT ON THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE
Our industry is new and rapidly evolving. Our business is highly dependant
on the growth of the internet industry and would be adversely affected if web
usage and e-commerce does not continue to grow. Internet usage may be inhibited
for a number of reasons, including inadequate Internet infrastructure,
security concerns, inconsistent quality of service, the unavailability of
cost-effective, high-speed service, the imposition of transactional taxes,
or the limitation of third party service provider's ability and willingness
to invest in new or updated equipment to handle traffic volume.
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<PAGE>
If web usage grows, the Internet infrastructure may not be able to support
the demands placed on it by this growth, or its performance and reliability may
decline. We are highly dependant on third party service providers. Any
interruption experienced by these service providers may have a material impact
on our business due to our inability to serve our advertising customers or end
users. In addition, web sites, including ours, have experienced a variety of
interruptions in their service as a result of outages and other delays occurring
throughout the Internet network infrastructure. If these outages or delays
frequently occur in the future, web usage, including usage of our web site,
could grow slowly or decline. This may have a material impact on future
revenues.
OUR LONG-TERM SUCCESS DEPENDS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE E-COMMERCE MARKET, WHICH
IS UNCERTAIN
Our future revenues and profits substantially depend upon the widespread
acceptance and use of the Internet as an effective medium of commerce by
consumers. Rapid growth in the use of the Internet and commercial online
services is a recent phenomenon. Demand for recently introduced services and
products over the Internet and online services is subject to a high level of
uncertainty. The development of the Internet and online services as a viable
commercial marketplace is subject to a number of factors. For example,
e-commerce is at an early stage and buyers may be unwilling to shift their
purchasing from traditional vendors to online vendors, there may be insufficient
availability of telecommunication services or changes in telecommunication
services could result in slower response times and adverse publicity and
consumer concerns about the security of commerce transactions on the Internet
could discourage its acceptance and growth.
ADOPTION OF THE INTERNET AS AN ADVERTISING MEDIUM IS UNCERTAIN
The growth of Internet sponsorships and advertising requires validation of
the Internet as an effective advertising medium. This validation has yet to
fully occur. In order for us to generate sponsorship and advertising revenues,
marketers must direct a significant portion of their budgets to the Internet
and, specifically, to our web site. To date, sales of Internet sponsorships and
advertising represent only a small percentage of total advertising sales. Also,
technological developments could slow the growth of sponsorships and advertising
on the Internet. For example, widespread use of filter software programs that
limit access to advertising on our web site from the Internet user's browser
could reduce advertising on the Internet. Our business, financial condition and
operating results would be adversely affected if the market for Internet
advertising fails to further develop due to the loss of anticipated revenues.
BREACHES OF SECURITY ON THE INTERNET MAY SLOW THE GROWTH OF E-COMMERCE AND WEB
ADVERTISING AND SUBJECT US TO LIABILITY
The need to securely transmit confidential information, such as credit card
and other personal information, over the Internet has been a significant barrier
to e-commerce and communications over the Internet. Any well-publicized
compromise of security could deter more people from using the Internet or from
using it to conduct transactions that involve transmitting confidential
information, such as purchases of goods or services. Furthermore, decreased
traffic and e-commerce sales as a result of general security concerns could
cause advertisers to reduce their amount of online spending. To the
extent that our activities or the activities of third party contractors
involve the storage and transmission of proprietary information, such as
credit card numbers, security breaches could disrupt our business, damage our
reputation and expose us to a risk of loss or litigation and possible
liability. We could be liable for claims based on unauthorized purchases
with credit card information, impersonation or other similar fraud claims.
Claims could also be based on other misuses of personal information, such as for
unauthorized marketing purposes. We may need to spend a great deal of money
and use other resources to protect against the threat of security breaches or
to alleviate problems caused by security breaches.
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WE COULD FACE LIABILITY FOR INFORMATION DISPLAYED ON AND COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH
OUR WEB SITE
We may be subjected to claims for defamation, negligence,
copyright or trademark infringement or based on other theories relating to the
information we publish on our web site. These types of claims have been
brought, sometimes successfully, against Internet companies as well as print
publications in the past. Based on links we provide to other web sites, we
could also be subjected to claims based upon online content we do not control
that is accessible from our web site. Claims may also be based on statements
made and actions taken as a result of participation in our chat rooms or as a
result of materials posted by members on bulletin boards at our web site. We
also offer e-mail services, which may subject us to potential risks, such
as liabilities or claims resulting from unsolicited e-mail, lost or
misdirected messages, illegal or fraudulent use of e-mail, or
interruptions or delays in e-mail service. These claims could result in
substantial costs and a diversion of our management's attention and
resources.
Efforts to regulate or eliminate the use of mechanisms which automatically
collect information on users of our web site may interfere with our ability to
target our marketing efforts and tailor our web site offerings to the tastes of
our users.
Web sites typically place a tracking program on a user's hard drive without
the user's knowledge or consent. These programs automatically collect data on
anyone visiting a web site. Web site operators use these mechanisms for a
variety of purposes, including the collection of data derived from users'
Internet activity. Most currently available web browsers allow users to elect to
remove these mechanisms at any time or to prevent such information from being
stored on their hard drive. In addition, some commentators, privacy advocates
and governmental bodies have suggested limiting or eliminating the use of these
tracking mechanisms. Any reduction or limitation in the use of this software
could limit the effectiveness of our sales and marketing efforts.
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<PAGE>
WE COULD FACE ADDITIONAL BURDENS ASSOCIATED WITH GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF AND
LEGAL UNCERTAINTIES SURROUNDING THE INTERNET
Any new law or regulation pertaining to the Internet, or the application or
interpretation of existing laws, could have a material and adverse effect on our
business, results of operations and financial condition due to increased costs
of doing business. Laws and regulations directly applicable to Internet
communications, commerce and advertising are becoming more prevalent. The law
governing the Internet, however, remains largely unsettled, even in areas where
there has been some legislative action. It may take years to determine whether
and how existing laws governing intellectual property, copyright, privacy,
obscenity, libel and taxation apply to the Internet. In addition, the growth and
development of e-commerce may prompt calls for more stringent consumer
protection laws, both in the United States and abroad. We also may be subject
to future regulation not specifically related to the Internet, including laws
affecting direct marketers.
WE COULD INCUR MONETARY DAMAGES FROM LITIGATION ARISING OUT OF OUR BUSINESS
ACTIVITIES
On July 9, 1999, we were named as one of several defendants in a lawsuit
filed by four disaffected shareholders in Simply Interactive, Inc. The lawsuit
arises out of a series of events relating to certain assets our operating
company, Nettaxi Online Communities, purchased from SSN Properties in October
1997. The complaint alleges that we owed, and either intentionally or
negligently breached, fiduciary duties to the plaintiffs. The suit also claims
that we either intentionally or negligently interfered with the plaintiffs'
contract or prospective advantage. While our officers and directors believe
that the suit is without merit, we cannot provide you with any assurances that
we will prevail in this dispute. If the plaintiffs successfully prosecute any
of their claims against us, the resulting monetary damages and reduction in our
working capital could significantly harm our business. For more information
please see the section of this prospectus called "Legal Proceedings".
ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS AND OUR RIGHT TO ISSUE PREFERRED STOCK COULD MAKE A
THIRD PARTY ACQUISITION OF US DIFFICULT
We are a Nevada corporation. Anti-takeover provisions of Nevada law could
make it more difficult for a third party to acquire control of us, even if such
change in control would be beneficial to stockholders. In addition, our
articles of incorporation provide that our board of directors may issue
preferred stock in one or more series. Our board of directors can fix the
price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the preferred stock
without any further vote or action by our stockholders. If our board of
directors issues preferred stock, potential acquirers may not make acquisition
bids for us, our stock price may fall and the voting rights of existing
stockholders may diminish as a result.
OUR COMMON STOCK PRICE IS LIKELY TO BE HIGHLY VOLATILE AS IS TYPICAL OF INTERNET
COMPANIES
The market price of our common stock has been, and is likely to continue to
be, highly volatile as the stock market in general, and the market for
Internet-related and technology companies in particular, has been highly
volatile. Investors may not be able to resell their shares of our common stock
following periods of volatility because of the market's adverse reaction to
volatility. The trading prices of many technology and Internet-related
companies' stocks have reached historical highs within the last 52 weeks and
have reflected valuations substantially above historical levels. During the
same period, these companies' stocks have also been highly volatile and have
recorded lows well below historical highs. We cannot assure you that our stock
will trade at the same levels of other Internet stocks or that Internet stocks
in general will sustain their current market prices.
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<PAGE>
Factors that could cause such volatility may include, among other things
actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results,
announcements of technological innovations, conditions or trends in the
Internet industry, and changes in the market valuations of other Internet
companies.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains "forward-looking statements." In some cases, you
can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will,"
"should," "could," "expects," "plans," "intends," "anticipates," "believes,"
"estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of such terms
and other comparable terminology.
These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements
about our market opportunity, our strategies, our competition our expected
activities and expenditures as we pursue our business plan, and the adequacy
of our available cash resources. Although we believe that the expectations
reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot
guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.
The accompanying information contained in this prospectus, including,
without limitation, the information set forth under the headings "Risk Factors,"
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations," and "Business" identify important factors that could adversely
affect actual results and performance. All forward-looking statements
attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing
cautionary statement.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Other than the proceeds from the exercise of the warrants, none of the
proceeds from the sale of the common stock offered by this prospectus will be
received by us. The holders of warrants are not obligated to exercise their
warrants, and there can be no assurance that we will receive any additional
proceeds. If, however, all the warrants are exercised, the gross proceeds to us
would be approximately $1,000,000. We currently intend to use the
proceeds as follows:
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- Approximately $ 250,000 of the proceeds will be used to expand
our marketing and promotion campaigns in traditional and online media;
- Approximately $250,000 of the proceeds will be used to continue
to improve out Internet and systems infrastructure and support;
- Approximately $250,000 of the proceeds will be used to further
develop our online sales force; and
- The balance of the proceeds, which should be approximately
$250,000 will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes,
including possible acquisitions of or investment in complementary businesses,
products or technologies.
Pending these uses, the net proceeds will be invested in short-term,
investment grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed
obligations of the United States.
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDEND POLICY
Our common stock has been traded on the NASD O-T-C Market Bulletin Board
under the trading symbol "NTXY" since October 12, 1998. Prior to that date,
our common stock was not actively traded in the public market. The following
table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low bid prices for
our common stock as reported by various Bulletin Board market makers.
The quotations do not reflect adjustments for retail mark-ups,
mark-downs, or commissions and may not necessarily represent actual
transactions.
Period Low Bid High Bid
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998:
Fourth Quarter (October 12 - December 31, 1998) $ 4.375 $ 8.875
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999:
First Quarter (January 1 - March 31, 1999) $ 6.187 $ 18.750
Second Quarter (April 1 - June 30, 1999) $ 11.500 $ 34.500
Third Quarter (July 1 - September 30, 1999) $ 7.375 $ 16.500
Fourth Quarter (October 1 - December 31, 1999) $ 1.843 $ 7.875
FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2000:
First Quarter (January 1 - March 31, 2000) $ 1.406 $ 9.062
Second Quarter (April 1 - June 30, 2000) $ 0.940 $ 6.625
Third Quarter (July 1 - July 31, 2000) $ 0.670 $ 1.420
On July 31, 2000, the high and low bid prices per share for our common
stock on the Bulletin Board were $0.77 and $0.73, respectively.
To date, no dividends have been declared or paid on any of our capital
stock. We currently intend to retain earnings, if any, to fund the development
and growth of our business and do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the
foreseeable future. Payment of future dividends, if any, will be at the
discretion of our board of directors after taking into account various factors,
including our financial condition, operating results, current and anticipated
cash needs and plans for expansion.
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CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth, as of March 31, 2000, the
capitalization of Nettaxi.com and the pro forma capitalization of Nettaxi.com
after giving effect to the conversion of $2,400,000 of convertible debentures.
In connection with the settlement agreement with the debenture holders,
we will recognize a non-cash interest expense of approximately $2.4
million resulting from the implied beneficial conversion feature.
Additionally, we will recognize further interest expense based on the value
of the warrants to be issued upon debt conversion. As the conversion has
yet to occur and we can not reasonably estimate the then fair market value
of the warrants the effect of the issuance of the warrants has been excluded
from the table. This information should be read in conjunction with our
Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes appearing elsewhere
in this prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AS OF
MARCH 31, 2000
--------------
(A) (B) PROFORMA
(UNAUDITED) (UNAUDITED) AS ADJUSTED
ACTUAL PRO FORMA (UNAUDITED)
--------------- ------------ ------------
Long-term liabilities:
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Capital lease obligations (including current portion) 3,600 -- 3,600
5% Convertible note payable 2,400,000 (2,400,000)
------------- ------------
Total long-term obligations (including current portion) 2,403,600 3,600
Stockholders' equity (net capital deficiency):
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 1,000,000
shares authorized;
no shares issued or outstanding
Common stock subscribed (95,000) (95,000)
Common stock, $0.001 par value 37,000 1,700 38,700
Additional paid-in capital 36,629,800 4,798,300 41,428,100
Deferred Compensation (872,700) (872,700)
Accumulated deficit (16,105,400) (2,400,000) (18,505,400)
Total stockholders' equity (deficiency) (19,593,700) 2,400,000 21,993,700
Total capitalization $ 21,997,300 $21,997,300
</TABLE>
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SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
Set forth below are summary statements of operations data for the period
from October 23, 1997, date of incorporation, to December 31, 1997, the years
ended December 31, 1998 and 1999, and the three months ended March 31, 2000 and
summary balance sheet data as of December 31, 1997, 1998, 1999, and March 31,
2000. This information should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated
Financial Statements and Notes thereto and "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations", appearing elsewhere in this
prospectus.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
For the Period from October 23, 1997, date of incorporation, to December 31,1997, and the years
ended December 31, 1998 and 1999 and the three months ended March 31, 2000
December December December March 31,
31, 1997 31, 1998 31, 1999 2000
------------ ------------
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA: (Unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net revenues $ 144,900 $ 258,000 $ 5,032,800 $ 2,764,900
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Gross profit $ 57,500 $ 18,200 $ 1,029,000 $ 991,400
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Loss from operations $ (142,100) $(3,082,300) $(9,402,500) $(2,696,500)
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net loss $ (159,700) $(3,113,600) $(9,880,400) $(2,769,000)
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net loss available to common $ (327,200) $(3,127,900) $(9,880,400) $(2,769,000)
shareholders
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Basic loss per share $ (0.06) $ (0.32) $ (0.46) $ (0.09)
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Diluted loss per share $ (0.06) $ (0.32) $ (0.46) $ (0.09)
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
WEIGHTED-AVERAGE COMMON
SHARES:
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
BASIC OUTSTANDING SHARES 5,483,500 9,724,781 21,274,203 29,391,784
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Diluted outstanding shares 5,483,500 9,724,781 21,274,203 29,391,784
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
WORKING CAPITAL (DEFICIENCY) $ (222,900) $ 300,400 $(2,053,000) $18,707,800
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Total assets $ 2,082,300 $ 1,652,700 $(6,031,200) $25,491,000
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Long-term liabilities $ 773,500 $ 5,400 $ 3,200,000) $ 2,400,000
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Total stockholders' equity (Deficiency) $ 973,400 $ 1,332,100 $(2,000,300) $19,593,700
------------------------------------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
</TABLE>
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion of the financial condition and results of
operations of Nettaxi should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated
Financial Statements and the Related Notes included elsewhere in this
prospectus. This discussi on contains forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties. Our actual results may differ materially from those
anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors,
including, but not limited to, those set forth under "Risk Factors" and
elsewhere in this prospectus.
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OVERVIEW
We were incorporated in October 1997 and launched our web site in July
1998. We are a provider of content-rich and commerce-enabled communities that
offer subscribers, or "citizens", a place to build their home pages or
businesses on the Internet.
The Nettaxi.com web site, at http://www.nettaxi.com, is structured as a
virtual "urban" environment, populated by citizens, that is divided into
thematic "communities," and from there into "streets" and "homes." Nettaxi.com
provides access to information on news, sports, entertainment, health, politics,
finances, lifestyle, travel and other areas of interest, and services such as
free e-mail, personal home pages, chat and messages.
To date, our revenues have been derived principally from the sale of
advertisements. We sell a variety of advertising packages to clients, including
banner advertisements, event sponsorships, and targeted and direct response
advertisements. Currently, our advertising revenues are derived principally from
short-term advertising arrangements, averaging one to six months, in which we
guarantee a minimum number of impressions for a fixed fee. Advertising revenues
are recognized ratably in the period in which the advertisement is displayed,
provided that we have no significant remaining obligations and that collection
of the resulting receivable is probable. Payments received from advertisers
prior to displaying their advertisements on the site are recorded as deferred
revenues and are recognized as revenue ratably when the advertisement is
displayed. To the extent minimum guaranteed impression levels are not met, we
defer recognition of the corresponding revenues until guaranteed levels are
achieved. We expect to continue to derive the majority of our revenue for the
foreseeable future from the sale of advertising space on our web site.
In the third quarter of 1999, we began providing web site hosting and
Internet connectivity services for corporate customers. Our services are
delivered through a state-of-the-art Internet data center located in Southern
California using a high-performance Internet backbone network. Customers pay
monthly fees for the professional services utilized, one-time installation fees,
and connectivity charges. These "hosting" revenues are recognized in the period
the services are provided.
In addition to advertising revenues, we derive other revenues from
royalties from the distribution of our CD-ROM tutorial product and our
premium account membership subscriptions. Royalty revenues result from
relationships with computer manufacturers that bundle and distribute our
CD-ROM product with their products. Our membership programs offer premium
services for a monthly fee, providing additional services such as unlimited
personal e-mail accounts for family or friends, unlimited Nettaxi Site
Builder web pages, themed web page templates, a personal event calendar,
discussion groups, and options to
customize personal homepages with pictures, colors and content.
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In May 1999, we completed the merger with Plus Net, Inc., a California
corporation, which has allowed us to provide our users with a web based e-mail
program and a robust meta search engine. Plus Net also has an e-commerce
processing engine which enables the acceptance and processing of online credit
card transactions. We believe this merger also enhances our electronic commerce
and advertising opportunities. As a result of this merger, we received
revenues from credit card processing fees during the first half of 1999, with
minimal revenues being earned in the third quarter of 1999. The contract through
which these fees have been derived terminated in December 1999 and we
anticipate that revenues of this type will be minimal in the foreseeable future.
We also receive revenues from e-commerce transactions. Our recent
e-commerce arrangements generally provide us with a share of any sales resulting
from direct links from our site. Revenues from these programs will be recognized
in the month that the service is provided. To date, revenues from e-commerce
arrangements have not been material. However, we expect e-commerce derived
revenues to become a more significant portion of our total revenues in the
foreseeable future, as we increase the number of contractual relationships with
parties offering e-commerce related products and services which can be made
available to our subscribers and parties seeking to make online sales to our
subscribers and other visitors to our site.
To date, we have entered into business and technology license arrangements
in order to build our web site community, provide community-specific
content, generate additional traffic, and provide our subscribers with
additional products and services, including e-commerce tools.
We intend to continue to investigate potential acquisitions and to seek
additional relationships with content providers that fall within the scope of
our business strategy, and will serve to increase our subscriber base and
overall site traffic. Acquisitions carry numerous risks and uncertainties and we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to successfully integrate any businesses,
products, technologies or personnel that might be acquired in the future.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - COMPARISON OF THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
AND 1998
NET REVENUES. Net revenues for the year ended December 31, 1999 increased
1,851% to approximately $5.03 million from $258,000 in the year ended December
31, 1998. The absolute dollar increase is the result of the increase in the
number of advertisers and the average contract duration and value (the result of
higher web site traffic to nettaxi.com web pages), an increase in revenues from
the corporate web hosting, transaction processing fee revenue, and to a lesser
extent, increases in our royalties and customization fees associated with the
distribution of our CD ROM product. Barter revenues accounted for approximately
7% of total revenues for the twelve months ended December 31, 1999. One
customer accounted for approximately 17% of the total revenues in the twelve
months ended December, 13, 1999. For the year ended December 31, 1998, four
customers accounted for approximately 28%, 21%, 13%, and 12% of revenues.
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ADVERTISING REVENUES. Advertising revenues for the year ended December 31,
1999 and 1998 were approximately $2.67 million and approximately $177,000,
respectively, which represented 53% and 69%, respectively, of total net
revenues. The year over year increase in absolute dollars resulted from an
increase in the number of advertisers as well as the increase in average
contract commitments of these advertisers as a result of increased web traffic
to our web site.
TRANSACTION PROCESSING FEES. Transaction processing fees were approximately
$1.29 million for the year ended December 31, 1999, which represented 19%, of
total net revenues. There were no transaction processing fees in 1998.
Transactions fees consist of revenue derived from credit card evaluations and
from the processing of on-line credit card transactions. The 1999 revenue is
attributable to the merger with Plus Net, Inc. in May 1999. The contract
through which these fees have been derived terminated in December, 1999 and we
do not expect revenues of this type to be significant in future
periods.
HOSTING REVENUES. Our hosting revenues were approximately $945,000 for the
year ended December 31, 1999, which represented 19%, of total net revenues.
There were no hosting revenues in 1998. In the third quarter of 1999, we
began providing internet hosting and connectivity services for corporate
customers. Our services are delivered through a state-of-the-art Internet data
center located in Southern California using a high-performance Internet backbone
network. Customers pay monthly fees for the professional services utilized,
one-time installation fees, and monthly connectivity charges. These "hosting"
revenues were recognized in the period the services were provided.
COST OF OPERATIONS. Cost of operations were approximately $4 million
and $240,000 for the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively.
The substantial absolute dollar increases for the twelve month period in 1999
over 1998 is the result of increased costs for co-location expenses
(Internet connection charges), equipment costs and depreciation of
equipment, amortization of intangible assets, and expenses for third
party content and development. In the third quarter of 1999, we began
providing Internet connectivity services to corporate customers and required
purchases of additional bandwidth to service these customers. These costs
are expected to continue to increase as our web traffic increases and our
corporate customer require additional bandwidth for our "citizens".
SALES AND MARKETING EXPENSES. Sales and marketing expenses consisted
primarily of salaries of our sales and marketing personnel, marketing,
promotion, advertising and related costs. Sales and marketing expenses were
approximately $4.79 million and $746,000 for the twelve month periods ended
December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. The absolute dollar increases in
the twelve month period in 1999 over the comparable period in 1998 in
sales and marketing expenses was primarily attributable to expansion of
our online and print advertising, public relations and other promotional
expenditures as well as increased sales and marketing personnel and
related expenses required to implement our marketing strategy. In the third
quarter of 1999, we began to implement aggressive marketing campaigns
online and in traditional media to promote the Nettaxi.com brand and attract an
increasing number of visitors to our web site.
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We expect sales and marketing expenses to increase significantly in future
periods. These increases will be principally related to hiring additional sales
and marketing personnel and increased spending on advertising in a variety of
media to increase brand awareness and attract additional visitors to our web
site. There can be no assurance that these increased expenditures will result in
increased visitors to our web site or additional revenues.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES. Research and development expenses were
approximately $2.19 million and $635,000 for the twelve month periods ended
December 31, 1999 and 1998, respectively. The absolute dollar increases for both
the twelve month period in 1999 over 1998 primarily attributable to ongoing
updating of the infrastructure and technological development of our web site.
The increase also includes increased salaries and associated hiring costs that
are a result of the highly competitive nature of hiring in the internet
software marketplace. We experienced substantial costs for engineer consultants
during the twelve month period ended December 31, 1999 and expect these
increased costs to continue as we continue to recruit and retain personnel to
meet the research and development requirements.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. General and administrative expenses
consisted primarily of salaries and related costs for our executive,
administrative, and finance personnel, as well as legal, accounting and other
professional service fees. General and administrative expenses were
approximately $3.46 million and $1.05 million for the respective twelve month
periods ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 respectively. The increase in
absolute dollars for the twelve month period in 1999 over 1998 was
primarily due to increases in the number of general and administrative
personnel, increase in fees for professional services and amortization of
deferred compensation expenses, related to the issuance of common stock and
option sot consultants. We expect general and administrative expenses to
grow as we hire additional personnel and incur additional expenses related
to the growth of our business and our operation as a public company.
ASSET IMPAIRMENT. For the year ended December 31, 1998, operating expenses
include a one time adjustment of $667,000 for asset impairment. Asset
impairment write down was to adjust the carrying amount of portions of the
purchased technology, namely the web to database software application, to its
net realizable value. For the year ended December 31, 1999, no asset impairment
write down was recorded.
INTEREST EXPENSE. Net interest expense was approximately $351,100 and
$59,000 for the respective twelve month period ended December 31, 1999 and
1998. The net interest expense for the twelve month periods ended December 31,
1999 and 1998 related to the convertible promissory note that was issued
on March 31, 1999 and to amortization of deferred interest related to warrants
issued in conjunction with the convertible promissory note.
OTHER INCOME. In the twelve months ended December 31, 1998 we realized
a gain of $28,500, from the disposal of capital equipment. No gain was
realized in 1999.
INCOME TAXES. At December 31, 1999, we had net operating loss carry
forwards available to reduce future taxable income that aggregate
approximately $11,200,000 for Federal income tax purposes. These benefits
expire through 2019. Pursuant to a "change in ownership" as defined by the
provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, utilization of our net operating
loss carry forwards may be limited if a cumulative change of ownership of
more than 50% occurs over a three-year period. We have not determined if an
ownership change has occurred.
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In the twelve months ended December 31, 1999 we recorded a tax
provision which relates to earnings made by Plus Net, Inc. during its fiscal
period before our merger.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS--COMPARISON OF THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2000 AND
1999
NET REVENUES. Revenues for the first quarter of 2000 increased $2.08
million to $2.77 million compared to $0.69 million during the same period of
1999. The increase was, primarily, a result of the increase in the number of
advertisers, the average contract duration, and value offered (higher web site
traffic to nettaxi.com web pages). Revenues were also, favorably affected, by
increased hosting activity, , and to a lesser extent, increases in royalties
and customization fees associated with the distribution of our CD ROM product.
Barter revenues accounted for approximately 24% of total revenues for the first
quarter of 2000. There were no barter revenues for the first quarter of 1999.
Three customers had revenues each greater than 10% of total net revenues for the
three months ended March 31, 2000. There were no customers with revenues
greater than or equal to 10% of the total net revenues for the three months
ended March 31, 1999.
ADVERTISING REVENUES. Advertising revenues were approximately $1.78
million for the first quarter of 2000 compared to $0.20 million for the same
period of 1999, which represented 64% and 29% of total net revenues. The
absolute dollar increases resulted from an increase in the number of advertisers
as well as the increase in average contract commitments of these advertisers as
a result of increased web traffic to our web site. The Company cannot assure
that advertisers will either increase or decrease their activity at the site.
Additionally, the Company cannot predict certain factors that could lower the
advertising prices currently in effect.
TRANSACTION PROCESSING FEES. Transaction processing fees were
approximately $0.41 million for the three months ended March 31, 1999. There
were no transaction processing fees in 2000. Transactions fees consist of
revenue derived from credit card evaluations and from the processing of on-line
credit card transactions. The 1999 revenue is attributable to the merger with
Plus Net, Inc. in 1999. The Company does not expect revenues of this type to be
significant in the future periods.
HOSTING REVENUES. Hosting revenues were approximately $0.99 million for
the first quarter of 2000 or 36% of total net revenues. There were no hosting
revenues in the first quarter of 1999. The Company began providing internet web
hosting and connectivity services for corporate customers in the third quarter
of 1999. Web hosting services are delivered through a state-of-the-art Internet
data center located in Southern California using a high-performance Internet
backbone network. Customers pay monthly fees for the professional services
utilized, one-time installation fees, and monthly connectivity charges. These
"hosting" revenues are recognized in the period the services are provided.
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COST OF OPERATIONS. Cost of operations for the first quarter of 2000
increased approximately $1.45 million to $1.77 million compared to $0.32 million
for the first quarter of 1999. The increase was primarily attributed to fees
paid to third parties related to increased costs for co-location expenses
(Internet connection charges). In the third quarter of 1999, the Company began
providing Internet connectivity services to corporate customers which demanded
purchases of additional bandwidth. These costs are expected to continue to
increase as our web traffic increases and our corporate customer require
additional bandwidth for our "citizens". Other items contributing to higher
costs were equipment costs and depreciation, amortization of intangible assets,
and expenses for third party content and development.
SALES AND MARKETING EXPENSES. Sales and marketing expenses for the first
quarter of 2000 increased $1.62 million to $1.76 million compared to $0.14
million for the first quarter of 1999. Sales and Marketing expenses consisted
primarily of investments in sales and marketing personnel, marketing,
promotion, advertising and related costs. The absolute dollar increases in
sales and marketing expenses were mostly related to expansion of online and
print advertising, public relations and other promotional expenditures as well
as increased sales and marketing personnel and related expenses required to
implement our marketing strategy.
The Company expects sales and marketing expenses to increase
significantly in future periods. These increases will be principally related to
increased spending on advertising in a variety of media to increase brand
awareness and attract additional visitors to the Web site. There can be no
assurance that these increased expenditures will result in increased visitors to
our Web site or additional revenues. Also to a lesser extent, we expect sales
and marketing expenses to increase as a result of increased cost of hiring
additional sales and marketing personnel.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES. Research and development expenses for
the first quarter of 2000 increased $0.24 million to $0.46 million compared to
$0.22 million for the first quarter of 1999. The absolute dollar increases were
due to investments in web architecture and development costsThe increases were
also attributable to increased salaries,a result of the highly competitive
recruiting market
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. General and administrative expenses
consisted primarily of salaries and related costs for executives,
administrative, and finance personnel, as well as legal, accounting and other
professional service fees. General and administrative expenses for the first
quarter of 2000 increased approximately $1.05 million to $1.47 million for the
first quarter of 2000 compared to $0.42 million during the same period of 1999.
The increases in absolute dollars were primarily due to increases in personnel
and the increase in fees for professional services. The increased salaries
reflect the highly competitive nature of hiring internet personnel in Northern
California. We expect general and administrative expenses to grow as we hire
additional personnel and incur additional expenses related to the growth of our
business and our operations as a public company.
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INTEREST EXPENSE. Net interest expense for the first quarter of 2000
increased approximately $73,800 to $71,700 compared to a net interest income of
$2,100 during the same period of 1999. The increase in net interest was
primarily due to a convertible promissory that was issued on March 31, 1999 and
to amortization of deferred interest related to warrants issued in conjunction
with the convertible promissory note.
INCOME TAXES. At December 31, 1999, we had net operating loss carryforwards
available to reduce future taxable income that aggregate approximately $11.20
million for Federal income tax purposes. These benefits expire through 2019.
Pursuant to a "change in ownership" as defined by the provisions of the Tax
Reform Act of 1986, utilization of our net operating loss carryforwards may be
limited if a cumulative change of ownership of more than 50% occurs over a
three-year period. We have not determined if an ownership change has occurred.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
As of March 31, 2000, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of
approximately $19.27 million, compared to approximately $0.99 million at
December 31, 1999.
Net cash used in operating activities equaled approximately $3.6 million
for the three-month period ended March 31, 2000. Net cash provided by
operating activities equaled approximately $1.04 million for the three-month
period ended March 31, 1999. We had significant negative cash flows from
operating activities for the three month period ended March 31, 2000 primarily
from our net operating losses, adjusted for non-cash items, and increases in
accounts receivable balances due to the time lag between revenue recognition
and the receipt of payments from advertisers and decreases in accounts payable.
These factors were offset by significant increases in accrued expenses.
Net cash used in investing activities was approximately $14,000 and
$192,200 for the three month periods ended March 31, 2000 and 1999,
respectively. Substantially all of the cash used in investing activities for
both periods was primarily related to the purchase of capital equipment in
connection with the build out of our web site and infrastructure.
Net cash provided by financing activities was approximately $21.9 million
and $0.20 million for the three month periods ended March 31, 2000 and 1999,
respectively. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2000 consisted
primarily of net proceeds from the issuance of our common stock. Net cash
provided by financing activities in 1999 consisted of both net proceeds from
issuance of common stock and issuance of a promissory note.
We incurred net losses of approximately $2.8 million and $0.5 million for
the three months ended March 31, 2000, and 1999, respectively. At March 31,
2000, we had an accumulated deficit of approximately $16.1 million. The net
losses and accumulated deficit resulted from the significant operational,
infrastructure and other costs incurred in the development and marketing of our
services and the fact that revenues failed to keep pace with such costs.
As a result of our expansion plans and our expectation that our operating
expenses, especially in the areas of sales and marketing, will continue
to increase significantly, we expect to incur additional losses from
operations for the foreseeable future. To the extent that increases in our
operating expenses precede or are not subsequently followed by commensurate
increases in revenues, or that we are unable to adjust operating expense
levels accordingly, our business, results of operations and financial condition
would be materially and adversely affected. There can be no assurance that
we will ever achieve or sustain profitability or that our operating losses
will not increase in the future.
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We recently completed a private placement of our common stock. As a
result, we raised approximately $23 million in exchange for approximately 15
million shares of common stock issued to investors. The investors also received
warrants to purchase up to an equal number of shares of common stock
exercisable at an exercise price of $4.00. All of the investors completed
subscription agreements and represented to us that they are accredited
investors, purchasing the shares for their own account.
We currently believe that we have sufficient cash to fund our operations
through December 2000. After that time, we will be required to seek
additional capital to sustain our operations, fund expansion of our
business, to develop new or enhanced services or products, to respond to
competitive pressures or to acquire complementary products, businesses or
technologies. We expect to generate a portion of the necessary cash flow
through advertising and hosting revenues, but will also need to obtain capital
through other sources such as equity or debt financing. We are currently
negotiating with prospective investors; however to date, no agreements for
additional financing have been consummated. We cannot assure you that we will
be able to achieve and sustain positive cash flow or profitability or that we
will have other sources available to provide the financial resources necessary
to continue our operations. If we are unsuccessful in generating resources
from one or more of the anticipated sources and are unable to replace any
shortfall with resources from another source, we may be able to extend the
period for which available resources would be adequate by deferring the creation
or satisfaction of various commitments, deferring the expansion or introduction
of various services, and otherwise scaling back operations. If we were unable
to generate the required resources, our ability to meet our obligations and
to continue our operations would be adversely affected.
IMPACT OF THE YEAR 2000
In our previous filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, we
have discussed the nature and progress of our plans to deal with potential Year
2000 problems. These problems arise from the fact that many currently installed
computer systems and software products were coded to accept or recognize only
two digit entries in the date code field. These systems may recognize a date
using "00" as the year 1900 rather than the year 2000. As a result, computer
systems and/or software used by many companies and governmental agencies needed
to be upgraded to comply with Year 2000 requirements or risk system failure or
miscalculations causing disruptions of normal business activities. Prior to
December 31, 1999, we completed our assessment of all material information
technology and non-information technology systems at our headquarters, as well
as our review of Year 2000 compliance by our key vendors, distributors and
suppliers. To date, we have experienced no significant disruptions in mission
critical information technology and non-information technology systems and we
believe those systems successfully responded to the Year 2000 date changes. We
are not aware of any material problems resulting from Year 2000 issues, either
with our own internal systems or the products and services of third parties. We
will continue to monitor our mission critical computer applications and those of
our suppliers and vendors throughout the year 2000 to ensure that any latent
Year 2000 matters that may arise are addressed promptly.
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MARKET RISK
We could be exposed to market risk related to any and all of our debt
obligations for financing working capital and capital equipment requirements in
the future. Historically, we have financed such requirements from the issuance
of both preferred and common stock. In addition, we have augmented our equity
financing activities via the issuance of convertible debt. We continue
to consider financing alternatives, which may include the incurrence of long
term indebtedness. Actual capital requirements may vary based upon the
timing and success of the expansion of our operations. We believe that based on
the terms and maturities of any future debt obligations that the market risk
would be minimal. We currently do not have any material market rate risks.
EFFECTS OF INFLATION
Due to relatively low levels of inflation in 1997, 1998 and 1999, inflation
has not had a significant effect on our results of operations.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, "Disclosure About Segments of an
Enterprise and Related Information," which is effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 1997. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No.131 requires that public companies report information about operating
segments in their annual financial statements and in subsequent condensed
financial statements of interim periods issued to shareholders. This statement
also requires that public companies report information about their products and
services, the geographic areas in which they operate and their major customers.
Reportable operating segments are determined based on the management approach,
as defined by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131. The
management approach is based on the way that the chief operating decision-maker
organizes the segments within an enterprise for making operating decisions and
assessing performance. We have determined that we do not have any separately
reportable business segments.
In February 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 132, Employer's Disclosure about Pension
and Other Post retirement Benefits, which standardized the disclosure
requirements for pension and other post retirement benefits. The adoption of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 132 had no impact on our
current disclosures.
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities." Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.133
establishes accounting and reporting standards requiring that every derivative
instrument be recorded in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability
measured at its fair value. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133
requires that changes in the derivative's fair value be recognized currently in
earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. In June 1999,
The FASB Issued SFAS No. 137, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and
Hedging Activities - Deferral of the effective date of FASB Statement No. 133"
which amends SFAS No. 133 to be effective for all fiscal quarters or all
fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000.
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Historically, we have not entered into derivatives contracts either to
hedge existing risks or for speculative purposes. Accordingly, we do not expect
adoption of the new standard to have a material impact on our results from
operations, financial position or cash flows.
In March 1998, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
issued Statement of Position No. 98-1, Software for Internal Use, which
provides guidance on accounting for the cost of computer software developed or
obtained for internal use. Statement of Position 98-1 is effective for
financial statements for fiscal years beginning after December 13, 1998. The
adoption of Statement of Position 98-1 had no material impact on our
consolidated financial statements.
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BUSINESS
OUR BUSINESS
Nettaxi is one of the world's leading providers of online community and
e-commerce services for consumers and businesses. Through our web site at
Nettaxi.com, we deliver "community," which we define as bringing together people
with shared topics of interest, as well as an entry point, or "portal" to the
Internet. We provide our subscribers, the "citizens" of our communities, with
comprehensive information and content about news, sports, entertainment, health,
politics, finances, lifestyle, and other areas of interest to the growing number
of Internet users, and communications services such as free e-mail, personal
home pages, chat and messages. We are also developing easy-to-use e-commerce
services for the consumers and businesses that reside in our communities,
including products and services that will allow our citizens to launch and build
their own online storefronts and purchase an expanding variety of goods and
services within a single integrated web community. By successfully executing
our business model, we expect to continue to generate substantial revenues
through advertising fees and e-commerce revenues and transaction fees through
the sale of products online.
While we have incurred significant losses since our site was launched in
October 1997, traffic to our online community has increased consistently from a
membership base of 60,000 citizens in December 1998, to a membership base of
over 1.8 million citizens in December 1999. This increase in our membership
base has also resulted in corresponding increases in both the number of web
pages and advertising banners viewed by visitors. Our records indicate that our
site had over 45.8 million visitors, 125 million page views and 180 million
advertising impressions for the month of December 1999. A visit by a user to a
page on our web site represents one page view and each advertisement that
appears on that page to which a visitor is exposed is called an advertisement
impression. Based on unique visitors to our site, PC Data Online ranked
Nettaxi.com as the 289th most visited site in the world at the end of November
1999. The "100hot", an industry ranking of the top Internet sites based upon
unique visits, ranked Nettaxi.com as the 12th most popular site on the Internet
during this same month.
We are continuing our efforts to develop and enhance our online web site
community, and build traffic to the our site. We have been actively pursuing
corporate relationships in several areas that are key to the successful
implementation of our strategy, including co-marketing, content, and technology.
Thus far, we have been successful in securing co-marketing relationships
whereby Nettaxi bundles its sophisticated interactive Internet training CD-ROM
product, Nettaxi.com: The Experience(TM), with products of other companies.
In addition, we have entered into agreements with eCharge, InfoSpace.com,
Cybereps, and other companies for important service enhancements to our
community.
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INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
THE GROWTH OF THE INTERNET AND E-COMMERCE. The Internet has rapidly
become a significant global medium for communications, entertainment, news,
information and commerce. Commercialization of the Internet began in the
mid-1980s, with e-mail providing the primary means of communication.
However, it was the Internet's World Wide Web, which provided a means to
link text and pictures, that led to the blossoming of e-commerce and sparked the
explosive growth of the Internet in the 1990s. Today, millions of people around
the world have the capability to send and receive information, and
purchase products and services, through the Internet.
THE GROWTH OF ONLINE ADVERTISING. The Internet has become an attractive
medium for advertisers, offering a level of targetability, flexibility,
interactivity and measurability not available in traditional media. The web
enables advertisers to demographically target their messages to specific groups
of consumers as well as to change their advertisements frequently in
response to market factors, current events and consumer feedback. Moreover,
advertisers can track more accurately the effectiveness of their advertising
messages by receiving reports of the number of advertising impressions delivered
to consumers and the resulting click-through rate to their web sites.
THE EMERGENCE OF THE INTERNET AS A MARKETING TOOL. Over 50 million
companies and households around the world use the Internet as a
communications link through e-mail, interactive advertisement, bulletin
boards, research and online discussion groups. At its most basic level,
the Internet serves as a seemingly endless catalog of marketing messages and
advertising platforms presented in an interactive fashion. Companies like
IBM, Apple, AT&T, Microsoft and Lotus are investing millions of dollars to
develop new state-of-the-art tools and services aimed at helping companies
expand electronic business through the Internet.
Business is rapidly adopting the Internet as the means through which it can
efficiently and economically conduct marketing, research and customer support.
With the number of users growing monthly at an estimated rate of 10%, or one
million users, the Internet is the fastest growing global telecommunications
network in the world. Large and small companies are embracing the Internet as a
fundamental communication tool used to conduct daily business.
THE ADVANTAGES OF THE INTERNET FOR CONTENT COMPANIES. The Internet
offers content providers significant and attractive economic mechanisms that
combine cost advantages with practices that are conducive to revenue
generation or premiums. Significantly, the Internet provides information
dissemination at a materially lower cost than do other forms of media, notably,
both printed paper and private networks. The Internet also offers the
potential for easier access to content, which can expand market coverage.
We believe that by using the capabilities of the Internet to enrich the
convenience, utility, time, or entertainment value of content, Internet
content providers can garner significant and even premium revenues.
The Internet also enables providers to change and enhance the form and mass
delivery of content so that information is dynamic, interactive, real-time, and
personalized, as opposed to static, passive and bland as traditional media is
trending. The ability to personalize content on a mass scale promises to offer
compelling utility to subscribers as well as a mechanism for providers to
sustain those same subscribers. Otherwise static information can be made to
come alive by using the multiple forms of media, such as hyper-text, audio, and
graphics, that are all made possible through the Internet.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF ONLINE COMMUNITIES. As the Internet continues to
grow, users seek from the web the same opportunity for expression,
interaction, sharing, support and recognition they seek in the everyday
world. To date, a typical Internet user's experience surfing the web has
been essentially one-way-searching and viewing web sites containing
professionally created content on topics of general interest such as current
events, sports, finance, politics and weather. However, the Internet in
general does not provide a context for users to publish, promote, search and
view personal web pages. As a result, users publishing personal web sites have
had limited means of attracting visitors to their sites or interacting with or
receiving recognition from visitors. Internet search and navigational sites
serve a valuable function for users seeking to navigate the Internet for
aggregated web content; however, these sites are not primarily focused on
providing a platform for publishing and aggregating the rapidly increasing
volume of personalized content created by users or enabling such users to
interact with each other.
Similarly, web users engaged in passive browsing are increasingly seeking
ways of interacting and communicating with other individuals with similar
interests and accessing personalized content. While users are generally able to
obtain relevant professionally created content through traditional navigational
sites such as web directories and search engines, the source of such content is
usually the media and not fellow web users. Often, the most relevant content for
a user is generated by other users who share an interest in what is published;
however, most web sites are not dedicated to providing a platform for
aggregating and accessing user-created content.
An important response to the perceived needs of Internet users, and the
weaknesses of traditional web navigational or content sites, has been the
emergence of community web sites. Community sites provide a single online
destination where like-minded users can interact and quickly find pertinent
information, products and services related to their particular interests or
needs. Community sites generally offer free services including access to e-mail
accounts, chat rooms, message boards, news and entertainment. Through these
features, online communities seek to establish a close relationship with their
audience and evolve over time according to the interests of their members. As a
result, we believe that users tend to be loyal to and spend more time online at
community sites.
Online communities also provide advertisers an attractive means of
promoting their products and services and allow businesses to reach the growing
number of users who will be purchasing goods over the Internet in the future. To
date, advertisers and businesses have typically used traditional navigational
sites and professionally created content sites to promote their products and
services online. However, online communities allow advertisers and businesses to
reach highly targeted audiences within a more personalized context, thus
providing the opportunity to increase advertising efficiency and improve the
likelihood of a successful sale.
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OUR SOLUTION
The early success of our site validates our belief that we are well on the
way to creating an exciting economic and business model which integrates
thematic community-based content and ready-to-use e-commerce based capabilities.
Some of the powerful business tools and resources that are part of our solution
include the following:
EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY NETWORK. We have created an extensive community
network with a wide variety of themes and shared interests, thereby creating
exceptional marketing opportunities for media companies, Internet service
providers, and Internet content companies.
CRITICAL MASS. Nettaxi.com has achieved critical mass in terms of traffic
and registered users. Our site is one of the top Internet sites based on unique
visitors and we believe that our online community network and business services
are providing significant benefits to consumers, businesses, advertisers, and
other network participants.
USER PROFILE DATABASE. We are developing a substantial database of user
profiles, according to their interests, which enables us to offer large, highly
targeted audiences to our advertisers, and command the higher advertising rates
that demographically segmented audience profiles dictate.
META-SEARCH ENGINE AND TRAFFIC DRIVER. Our unique search engine enables
users to search multiple sites simultaneously and return the results, including
comparative product pricing and availability, to one page. Our search engine
creates opportunities for driving traffic Nettaxi subscriber web sites by first
searching and listing Nettaxi's premium providers' and subscribers' web sites
before scouring the World Wide Web for additional search matches. We believe
this feature will drive customers to Nettaxi community e-commerce sites, thereby
propelling transaction processing fees and drawing new e-commerce business to
our community.
CITIZEN SERVICES. Since our site was launched, we have continuously
expanded the range of services available to our citizens, including web site
hosting, web-based e-mail, personal home pages, chat and messages. Going
forward, we intend to provide our citizens with the tools required to establish
and maintain an e-commerce storefront, as well as access goods and services
offered by other online providers.
EXPANDED RELATIONSHIPS. Our ability to match premium content providers
with consumer bases increases the number of opportunities to develop an expanded
range of relationships. We believe that such a combination not only increases
the variety of revenue generating e-commerce services we offer to subscribers,
but also helps keep us at the forefront of new developments in products
and services that will attract additional subscribers, retain, current
subscribers, and encourage subscription upgrades.
POSITIVE PUBLIC PERCEPTION. We are building the goodwill, trust, and
loyalty of both parents and children by providing a site on the World Wide Web
where parents can feel comfortable about their children's participation, and
where children can enjoy their own privacy. We believe that providing parents
with filtering technologies that make adult-content sites "invisible" to
underage users will attract family subscribers and many of their friends and
relatives.
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OUR STRATEGY
We are now poised to build on our early success by implementing a growth
strategy that should make us a major ready-to-use e-commerce storefront host,
and allow us to meet our goal of becoming one of the most frequented
community-based portals on the Internet. Key elements of our strategic growth
plan include the following:
EXECUTE OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE BUSINESS MODEL
Content and commerce are well established online by many of the target
affinity-based communities. What they lack, however, is the ability for small
businesses, fans and consumers, professionals, and sponsors to all leverage
their interests within a community. Most individual sites are designed to
maximize the interests of the on-line site versus the interests of the
constituents or "citizens". For example, NASCAR and the NBA all have very
well-trafficked sites for content, but they fail to provide teams and drivers
with a way to promote themselves and engage fans. In addition, small and large
sponsors are not provided commercial opportunities outside of branding via
advertising programs. Today many small businesses are not on-line for a number
of reasons. Small businesses do not have a presence on the web that leverages
their interests or affinity base, which leaves them trying to compete in large
shopping arenas where their ability to extend and enhance their "brand" is
expensive and offers very little value-added to the consumer.
We will engage these small businesses through our Community Service Model,
which will include hosting services, and commerce-enabled back end systems to
sell merchandise and create commission opportunities. The Model calls for
location of businesses within affinity-based communities where these
businesses can differentiate themselves via their local presence and
specialized offerings to a highly targeted audience.
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COMMUNITY SERVICE MODEL
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Our strategy to create affinity-based communities leverages three key areas
of each community by:
1. Focusing on major community opportunities where the ability for
professionals, teams, experts, celebrities, and artists to extend themselves to
their base of constituents is untapped;
2. Utilizing our proprietary technologies and infrastructure to
facilitate private label development of individual and affinity group "brands".
We will provide the medium and tools to promote and establish an on-line
presence for these citizens; and
3. Incorporating content and commerce, with the community
infrastructure to create virtual communities and empower these communities to
grow by using our award- winning CD-ROM bundled with free Internet access.
The key to our success involves focusing on creating value for all of our
citizens. Critical among these is successfully establishing a model where
sports teams, professionals, experts, celebrities, and artists engage their fans
and audiences with rich content, entertainment, and commerce offerings in a
trusted, simple, easy, and fun way on the internet. With a focus on the value
delivered to each citizen, the community will develop through methods and
promotional efforts designed by us.
DEVELOP OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, BUILD PREMIUM CONTENT, LAUNCH E-COMMERCE.
Over the next 12 months, we are looking to further develop our managerial
and technical infrastructure, enhance the quality and depth of our content by
developing new relationships with premium content providers, develop and
customize e-commerce systems to meet our requirements, establish relationships
with fulfillment operations to support our e-commerce services, and launch our
e-commerce products and services. We expect that the launch of our e-commerce
services will creates several distinct revenues streams for us from the
following sources:
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- Direct sales of products, including products linked to events in
subscribers' Remind Me files, and products targeted to users and subscribers on
the basis of their interests and patterns of activity when surfing our site;
- Transaction processing fees from credit card and eCharge
processing services;
- Support service fees, where applicable, for providing specific
business services that support the e-commerce activities of our subscribers;
- Percentage splits with subscribers of the list price of goods sold
through their e-commerce storefronts in our communities; and
- Sales commissions negotiated with vendors for products sold directly
by us and through our subscribers' e-commerce storefronts.
INCREASE ADVERTISING REVENUES
To date, our revenues have been derived principally from the sale of
advertisements. We intend to increase our advertising revenues by focusing on a
number of key strategies, including expanding our community content
expanding our advertising customer base, increasing the cost per thousand
impressions charged to advertisers by continuing to improve our ability to
target advertisements to demographically distinct groups, increasing page
views, increasing the average size and length of our advertising
contracts, increasing the number of our direct sales representatives, and
continuing to invest in improving advertising serving and advertising
targeting technology. We also offer special sponsorship and promotional
advertising programs, including contests, sampling and couponing opportunities
to build brand awareness, generate leads and drive traffic to an advertiser's
site. We also intend to sell sponsorships of special interest pages where
topically focused content is aggregated on a permanent area within a
neighborhood.
SUBSCRIBER ACQUISITION PROGRAM
We intend to embark on an aggressive program to expand our citizen base,
thereby increasing our revenues from subscription fees for our premium account
services. The program will include a concerted effort to refine our offering of
products and services to expand demand and an aggressive marketing campaign to
create real excitement about our site. We hope to raise additional capital for
brand development and expansion of our operations. In addition, we intend to
seek new business relationships with select third parties for co-branding and
licensing of our CD-ROM product with free Internet access to assist our partners
in their customer acquisition strategies, educate computer users about the
Internet and introduce them to our site.
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GAIN SIGNIFICANT MARKET SHARE AND CONSOLIDATE COMPETITORS.
We hope to gain significant market share and consolidate our competitive
position by acquiring strategic online community companies and continue an
aggressive plan of infrastructure expansion. For example, in May 1999 we
acquired Plus Net, Inc., which operates a portal site with a robust search
engine that brings back the top ten results of the web's most popular search
engines and return results within a specific subject category, while enhancing
electronic commerce and advertising opportunities. Plus Net also has an
e-commerce processing engine which is compatible with interfaces enabling the
acceptance of online credit card transactions and the processing of these
transactions with banking institutions. The Plus Net e-commerce capabilities
also support consumer buying opportunities and programs designed to prevent
credit card fraud. These features will accelerate our research and
development efforts, and will enrich the Internet experience of our subscribers.
We intend to continue to implement and integrate the services offered by Plus
Net throughout 2000. The Plus Net merger also provides us with access to a large
pool of potential subscribers and provides us with an opportunity to
substantially increase the citizenship base within our community.
COMMUNITY AND BUSINESS SERVICES
OUR WEB SITE
Our web site, at http://www.nettaxi.com, is structured as a virtual
"urban" environment, populated by subscribers referred to as "citizens", that
is divided into broad "zones," which are further divided into thematic
"communities," and from there into "streets" and "homes."
When users first arrive at Nettaxi.com, they are in the broad "urban"
environment, where they find links to the "zones," which include categories such
as:
- Member Services, Registration, and Communities;
- Community information links such as Message Boards, and
- Links to premium content such as Sports Scores, Weather,
Stock Quotes, or Travel.
Clicking on one of the links -- for example, Communities -- takes users to
the next level, where they can choose from an extensive list of categories, or
"communities." Choosing one community, such as the Arena District which is
themed to sports events and activities, takes users to a list of
subcategories, or "streets," such as the basketball-oriented Hoops Avenue.
Once on the "street," users can select to visit any of the various "homes,"
which are the individual web pages of our subscribers.
Clicking on a premium content link in the "urban" environment follows a
similar pattern, but may differ in the number and types of category and
subcategory levels, depending on the content they offer. The premium content
links lead to the special web pages of our major content providers, as opposed
to subscriber pages.
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APPLICATIONS AND FEATURES
We offer a wide range of applications and features to our citizens through
our Web site, including the following:
OUR "TAXI". A key feature of our site is that users in a hurry to get
somewhere will be able to "step into" a "taxi", a specially configured search
engine, which they will find waiting in all areas and levels of our
environment. Users simply type in a "destination" such as "sports," and they
are immediately whisked first to our main sports areas which include the
relevant premium content provider's web site, followed by the Top 10 subscriber
sports "homes," and then on to other sports sites, including those on the rest
of the web. As a result, the search engine has the ability to drive traffic
to e-commerce sites in our community, including premium content providers'
sites, thereby propelling transaction processing fees and drawing new
e-commerce business to the community. In addition, our search engine
provides greater value to our users since it presents small, manageable
groups of "destination" choices in response to a search, as opposed to an
overwhelming volume of listings turned up by most other search engines.
We are exploring the possibility of eventually serving content to users
based on their preferences, which will be determined by tracking their
activities as they surf through our overall web site. The result will be
content that is automatically and seamlessly customized to a user's interests
and tastes so that, for example, two different users with differing interests
who take a "taxi" using the same search term might arrive at separate
destinations or, if at the same destination, are likely to be offered some
differences in content, based on their patterns of activity.
E-MAIL SERVICES. We believe that our e-mail services surpass those of
other portals and full-featured internet service providers by being available
though both Post Office Protocol, POP, and the web, IMAP. To the best of our
knowledge, ours is the only service today to simultaneously offer subscribers
both types of e-mail access for free. Nettaxi's e-mail service also allows its
citizens and small businesses to offer a free web-based email service with
a unique domain name, e.g., [email protected], giving the domain name free promotion
with every email sent. There is no software for the user to download and we
provide all mail and maintenance with no added inconvenience to the webmaster.
The look and feel can be customized to look like the subscriber's home page.
POP e-mail is the type most commonly used by Internet service providers.
Its primary advantage for users is that messages are sent and received quickly
and with more privacy, because they do not stay resident on a server for any
length of time. Its greatest disadvantage is that e-mail messages, once
delivered to a user, are generally no longer available for download again, so
that a user who downloads e-mail to a home computer, for example, will generally
not be able to download the same mail at a later time to another computer, such
as one at work.
IMAP, or web-based e-mail, most commonly used by portal services, allows
users to retrieve e-mail messages from any location that offers access to the
Internet and a specific web site. Sending and receiving messages may be a
bit slower than POP services, but messages are stored on a server, can be
retrieved multiple times, and remain available until they are either
specifically deleted by the user, or a set amount of time has passed.
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Subscribers to all levels of our services will have both POP and IMAP
e-mail capabilities, and a distinct @nettaxi.com address or @ their own custom
domain name.
REMIND ME SERVICE. As a special feature, we will offer our subscribers
Remind Me, a service that functions like an electronic datebook.
Subscribers can enter their important dates and appointments, with
requests to be reminded of them at specified times, which can be as far ahead
as a month or a few hours. Remind Me is structured to allow users to specify
the type of event being listed, such as a birthday or anniversary, by
simply entering important dates and their corresponding event. Keywords in
these fields trigger Remind Me to suggest event-appropriate products and/or
services. Some of these will be available at no charge to subscribers, e.g.,
electronic greeting cards and virtual flowers. Others will be available for
purchase or subscription directly through us or through our subscriber
"storefronts" and advertiser sites, driving traffic to both, and offering us
opportunities for generating revenues through transaction processing and other
fees, where appropriate.
CONTENT
A key component of our current and future plans is the continued
development of relationships with providers of premium content in a variety of
categories. The purpose of these relationships is not to directly generate
revenue, but rather to enhance the quantity and quality of information and
content on our web site. We believe that enhanced information and content may
lead to increased visitors to our site as well as increased subscriptions to our
services. To date, we have established formal relationships with some premium
content providers. The companies listed below provider substantially all of the
content on our web site that is currently provided by outside parties. The
providers are listed in order by the amount of content they provide to us.
- INFOSPACE.COM, INC. We have a nonexclusive content distribution
agreement with Infospace.com, an aggregator of a broad range of content
services, including sports scores, late-breaking news, weather, concerts,
public record searches, phone/address searches, classified ads, and daily
horoscopes, for syndication to Internet portals and destination sites. The term
of the agreement is one year. Although this agreement is technically a
revenue sharing agreement, it generates less than one percent of our
revenues. Infospace.com currently provides the majority of our outside
party content.
- SOLUTIONS MEDIA, INC. We have a non-exclusive agreement with
Solutions Media, Inc., the operator of the web site, SpinRecords.com to
co-brand its content, which includes digital audio/video music files in the MP3
format, which SpinRecords.com has licensed from independent artists. This
audio/video content is downloadable by our subscribers from
SpinRecords.com for banner advertisements shown on these co-branded content
pages, and e-commerce revenues for our citizens who purchase licensed content or
merchandise from these co-branded web pages. Also under the terms of this
agreement, both Spin Records.com and Nettaxi.com are required to co-market,
advertise and promote the other party's web site. This agreement has a term
of one year, and currently accounts for approximately 13% of our
revenues.
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- BIG NETWORK.COM. We have entered into a co-marketing agreement
with Big Network.com which will provide our subscribers with immediate
access to the BigNetwork.com suite of classic board and card games including
chess, checkers, backgammon, reversi, spades, morph and more. The
nonexclusive agreement will also allow our subscribers to interact in real time
with the 200,000 registered members of BigNetwork.com. This arrangement
also allows our subscribers to embed Java-based games into their own web
sites. For those subscribers who have developed and integrated their own
personal web pages into our community, they will be able to create an
interactive gaming environment suited to the specific needs of their
visitors. The term of the agreement is one year. This agreement is an expense
sharing agreement and generates less than one percent of our revenues.
- PI GRAPHIX. We have a nonexclusive linking agreement with PI
Graphix, a provider of an online community with e-commerce capabilities
and extensive graphics capabilities under which we have linked and co-branded
our site with theirs in order to increase traffic. The term of the
agreement is one year. Although this agreement is technically a revenue sharing
agreement, it generates less than one percent of our revenues.
- NETOPIA, INC. We have a nonexclusive agreement with Netopia, a
provider of next generation products including web site services and
high-speed connectivity to the Internet, under which Netopia provides us with
technology that enhances our ability to provide services to our subscribers.
The term of the agreement is two years. This agreement is an expense sharing
agreement and generates less than one percent of our revenues.
- SPIN MEDIA NETWORK, INC. We have entered into an exclusive
agreement, effective November 1999, with Spinway to offer a co-branded free
Internet Service Provider, or "ISP", service to our subscribers. Under the
terms of this agreement, we share advertising revenues with Spinway that are
derived from the sales to advertising clients of pop-up video advertisements
viewed by subscribers as they log on to this ISP service. Also under the terms
of this agreement, we are able to offer a paid ISP service through Spinway on a
non-exclusive basis. The term of this agreement is two years. This agreement
currently accounts for less than one percent of our revenues.
Under our agreements, we provide co-branding services to the content
providers listed above. The content included on our web site is branded with
the logo and similar brand features of the relevant providers. We also increase
the traffic to their own web sites by linking our sites so that end users can
easily move from our web site to theirs. We are also working to identify and
develop a selection of relationships with providers of proprietary information
content, particularly individuals and organizations with archives and databases
that could be easily rendered into digital format. We believe that a carefully
developed selection of such databases, would act as a powerful attraction to
the type and volume of subscribers that our advertisers find desirable.
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Our subscribers also provide personal or entrepreneurial/commercial content
that is available on our web site. We offer each of our subscribers, free
of charge, 25 megabytes of server space to use for a home page and e-mail.
In addition, subscribers have access to free, easy-to-use web site design
software to build their web home page, and they can designate the community
and street where they would like to have their home page located.
E-COMMERCE SERVICES
One of the key features that we will offer members is the opportunity to
become on-the-spot entrepreneurs. We are currently developing
ready-to-use-commerce capabilities that are aimed at providing members and
corporate clients who wish to launch an online e-business with a bundled
ready-to-use variety of services designed to meet their needs. These services
will include a customized storefront, customer order processing, account
management, credit card processing, and, in certain cases, back-end order
fulfillment needs. In conjunction with these product offerings, member or
corporate clients will be able to purchase advertising packages within their
communities to help market their products or services, as well as email tools
that will provide them the capability to direct market to their customer base.
These services have yet to be launched and we can provide no assurances as to
timing of introduction or the level of acceptance among current prospective
subscribers.
COMMERCIAL WEB SITE HOSTING. Premium account subscribers will be provided
with commercial web site hosting services, on top-of-the-line servers
with redundant capabilities, to maintain an online presence 24 hours a day, 7
days a week. Hosting services will include full commerce capability,
including major credit card and eCharge services, for secure online
transactions, driving traffic to the site, and a variety of other
commerce-related services, such as sourcing and fulfillment.
WHOLESALE SUPPLY OF PRODUCTS. As part of our ready-to-use e-commerce
business services, we intend to offer subscribers sourcing services to provide
them with the products they are marketing at wholesale prices and on a
just-in-time basis, eliminating the need for warehousing. Through negotiating
with vendors, we will be able to provide subscribers with the convenience of
access to a group of reputable, quality suppliers identified as appropriate to
their business, and the ability to source products at wholesale and discounted
price levels normally reserved for large commercial enterprises. These services
will be on an optional per transaction, or contract volume basis. We benefit by
receiving a pre-negotiated commission/transaction fee from the wholesale vendor
for each sale.
E-COMMERCE PROCESSING. Our acquisition of Plus Net provides use with
e-commerce processing operations that are compatible with interfaces
enabling the acceptance of online credit card transactions and the
processing of these transactions with banking institutions. These e-commerce
capabilities also support programs designed to prevent credit card fraud.
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SUBSCRIBER SERVICE PLANS AND ASSISTANCE
In order to provide subscribers, or "citizens," with choices that
suit their individual needs, we offer both free and premium accounts, on a
tiered basis similar to the way that cable systems do. Premium accounts are
configured from a large menu of options, to attract subscribers and address
the needs and desires of particular segments of online users. In each
case, subscribers are provided with free, easy-to-use software for
designing and building their web page, tips and techniques for making
their web sites attractive and exciting to visit, and our search engine to
drive traffic to their web site.
We also adhere to the principle that providing excellent customer service
is integral to attracting and, more importantly, retaining subscribers. To
that end, we have focused on development of a customer service organization
keenly focused on satisfying demand and creating customer loyalty.
BASIC FREE CITIZEN ACCOUNT. Like most portals, we offer a free basic
service package, the "free citizen" account, to attract a large number of
subscribers. We benefit through providing a broad variety of subscriber
web pages and a substantial database of user profiles, which enables us to
offer large, highly targeted audiences to our advertisers, and command the
higher advertising rates that demographically segmented audience profiles
dictate.
This account offers the following package of features and services:
- A four page Virtual Office, which allows users to build and
maintain their own virtual office through an easy-to-use web-based interface,
including their own message boards, chat rooms, calendar and task manager,
address book, etc.;
- Free Internet access
- MyNettaxi, personal start page;
- 25 Megs of disk space;
- Web Statistics - for analyzing who is coming to their site and when;
- E-mail service for one personal e-mail account with a
[email protected] address;
- Remind Me service, an electronic datebook;
- Web hosting services for a free web site - for personal or
entrepreneurial use -- with a /citizens/userID web address, or URL, located in
the subscriber's community of choice;
- Child protection tools;
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- Special discounts on selected Nettaxi merchandise; and
- Access to chat sessions, message boards, and shopping, as well as
premium content such as weather, sports scores, stock quotes, services such
as travel arrangements and packages, introductions to people who share common
interests, and more.
PREMIUM ACCOUNTS. Our premium accounts are especially attractive to
entrepreneurs who would like to establish an e-commerce storefront on a
ready-to-use basis. Citizens can build premium accounts from a menu of options,
allowing them the ability to pick and choose which items they are interested in.
Option can be added for additional fees. In addition to the services which are
provided to free service account subscribers, premium account holders are
provided with the following options:
- E-mail service for unlimited e-mail accounts, each with a distinct
@nettaxi.com address or your own domain and customized look and feel;
- Commerce capability, including major credit card and eCharge
services, for secure online transactions;
- Access to Nettaxi-sponsored advertising and banner ads, and
other cross-promotion opportunities;
- Unique domain name; and
- Disk space for web page hosting.
Premium subscribers are provided with professional web site services for
the initial web site's design and launch, to showcase the products and/or
services in an effective manner, as well as free, easy-to-use software for
updating the site at any time. In addition, subscribers are provided with
special tips and techniques for making their web sites attractive and exciting
to visit, as well as mechanisms to drive traffic to their web site, including
our search engine and strategically placed, highly visible links to the site
from other desirable web locations. Subscribers wishing to have their own
domain are charged a one-time fee to register the domain for a two-year
period.
CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. In order to maintain Nettaxi.com as a portal that
truly serves its subscribers and reflects their interests and needs, we
invite and encourage subscribers and visitors to send in their comments
and suggestions. We track visitor and subscriber activities, and carefully
monitor the nature and content of their comments, as part of our strategy
for continuing product refinement and development.
Regardless of the type of account selected, subscribers have access to free
online help at any time by simply clicking on our Help icon and by visiting the
Message Boards, where they can review information posted by other subscribers,
or post a query of their own. Subscribers can also find information on billing
matters, special promotions, upcoming events, etc., quickly and easily on the
Nettaxi.com home page.
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If they are unable to find what they are looking for, or if the information
they find is confusing, subscribers can submit queries, to which we will
actively and promptly respond with appropriate information or guidance. We are
also establishing and deploying subscriber-to-subscriber support services,
which are provided by online volunteers in exchange for free account
upgrades or other premiums.
INTERNET TRAINING CD-ROM
It is a well-recognized truism that technology, and personal computers
particularly, are typically not used to their fullest potential. Paradoxically,
while vast arrays of information and services are already available to
proficient Internet users, prospective or neophyte users typically postpone or
limit their usage due to their lack of understanding and experience in
navigating the Internet. While it is true that 42.9% of U.S. households owned
personal computers in 1998, less than half of those households are active
Internet users. Furthermore, trends indicate that the remaining 57.1% of
households still without computers are steadily joining the ranks of computer
users and potential Internet users.
Our Internet training CD-ROM was born from management's conviction
that an enormous untapped opportunity to capture the novice user lies in
effectively initiating and tutoring this huge market in a one-on-one,
interactive, entertaining way. The CD-ROM, called "Nettaxi.com: The
Experience TM," is a comprehensive, interactive training tool that enables new
and intermediate users to learn about and begin using the many powerful
capabilities and features of the Internet.
The professionally produced CD-ROM features an animated cyber-cabbie --
URLtm -- who takes users wherever they wish to go. During the tour, URLtm
explains and demonstrates how features such as e-mail, chat rooms, search
engines, web sites, etc., work and can actually connect the user to our web
site.
The CD-ROM, with its "front end" connection feature, is a key component of
our marketing and promotions plan. The CD-ROM serves as vehicle to drive
users to our web site in a manner that is far more efficient than
traditional means of advertising and promotion. We intend to explore a
variety of options for establishing co-branding and sponsorship
opportunities for promoting and distributing the CD-ROM.
We currently have an agreement with Media Technology Services to provide
CD-ROM duplication, delivery and packaging services. We also have an agreement
with Fountain Technologies, which bundles the CD-ROM with computer systems from
its Quantex Microsystems and Pionex Technologies subsidiaries. Under the
one-year agreement, we receive a per copy royalty of $0.45. With our targeted
approach to distribution, we potentially allow users of specific interests to
connect to a community which addresses their interests. We have established
an agreement with Apple Computer whereby Apple bundles the CD-ROM with its K-12
curriculum bundle and as an optional upgrade to its iMac computer. We receive a
$1.00 per copy royalty under this agreement which is currently in place until
November 2000. In the future, we plan to offer the CD-ROM to numerous computer
software and hardware manufacturers, as well as other types of manufacturers,
for bundling with their respective products.
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We have also entered into an agreement with eBay, an online trading
community, under which we will develop a customized version of our
instructional CD-ROM product designed to familiarize end users with the
services of eBay. This product is expected to include basic Internet
tutorials, a Nettaxi tour and step-by-step interactive instructions on how to
register on eBay, how to place a bid and how to list an item for sale on
the eBay site. Both companies will finance development of the product and market
and distribute it upon completion. We will receive cash payments based on the
number of new customers who use the CD-ROM to join eBay.
HOSTING SERVICES
We began providing Internet hosting and connectivity for corporate
customers in 1999. Our services are delivered through a state-of-the-art
Internet data center located in Southern California using a high-performance
Internet backbone network. Customers pay monthly fees for the professional
services utilized, one-time installation fees, and monthly connectivity charges.
These "hosting" revenues are recognized in the period the services were
provided. For the twelve months ended December 31, 1999, web hosting revenues
accounted for 19% of total revenues.
ADVERTISING CUSTOMERS
Our records indicate that our site had over 45.8 million visitors, 125
million page views and 180 million advertising impressions for the month of
December 1999. A visit by a user to a page on our web site represents one page
view and each advertisement that appears on that page to which a visitor is
exposed is called an advertisement impression. Additionally, we had a
membership base of over 1.8 million citizens in December 1999. Recently we have
begun to successfully attract both mass market consumer product companies as
well as technology-related businesses advertising on the Internet. Due to our
advantages as a community web site, we believe that we are well positioned to
capture a portion of the growing number of consumer product and service
companies seeking to advertise online.
Currently, advertisers and advertising agencies enter into short-term
agreements, on average one to two months, pursuant to which they receive a
guaranteed number of impressions for a fixed fee. Advertising on our site
currently consists primarily of banner-style advertisements that are prominently
displayed at the top of pages on a rotating basis throughout our online
community, including members' personal web sites. From each banner
advertisement, viewers can hyperlink directly to the advertiser's own web
site, thus providing the advertiser an opportunity to directly interact
with an interested customer. Our standard cost per thousand impressions
depends upon a number of factors including the location of the advertisement,
its size and the extent to which it is targeted for a particular
audience. Discounts from standard cost per thousand impressions rates may be
provided for higher volume, longer-term advertising contracts.
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To date, our revenues have been derived principally from the sale of
advertisments. In 1999, no single advertiser accounted for more than 10% of
total revenues and approximately 65% of our advertisers were repeat customers.
For the twelve months ended December 31, 1999, approximately 200 clients
advertised on our site running over 150 individual advertising campaigns.
ADVERTISING SALES AND DESIGN
We seek to distinguish ourselves from our competition through the creation
of advertising and sponsorship opportunities that are designed to build brand
loyalty for our corporate sponsors by seamlessly integrating their advertising
messages into our content. Through our close relationship with our subscribers,
we have the ability to deliver advertising to specific targets within our site's
theme content areas, allowing advertisers to single out and effectively deliver
their messages to their respective target audiences. For example, an advertiser
can target its message solely to women with an interest in recreation and
sports. We believe that such sophisticated targeting is a critical element for
capturing worldwide advertising budgets for the Internet. Additionally, we
intend to expand the amount and type of demographic information our site
collects from our members, which will allow us to offer specific data to our
advertising clients.
We intend to build a direct sales organization of professionals dedicated
to maintaining close relationships with advertisers and advertising agencies
nationwide. We also intend to enter into arrangements with a number of
third-party advertising sales representatives pursuant to short-term agreements
that in general may be terminated by either party, without notice or penalty.
The sales organization would consult regularly with advertisers and agencies on
design and placement of their web-based advertising, provide customers with
advertising measurement analysis and focus on providing a high level of customer
service and satisfaction.
To help support and drive traffic to the e-commerce storefronts of our
Premium Service account subscribers, and expand co-branding opportunities, we
intend to offer special cross-promotion opportunities, including periodic
Nettaxi-sponsored advertising and banner ads at a variety of locations
throughout our web site. The banners will be of the same high quality as
those sold at premium prices to outside advertisers. Placement of the banner
ads will be determined by a variety of factors, including appropriateness of
location, opportunities for co-branding, and eventually even the activity
patterns of visitors and subscribers to our site.
We intend to implement special software on our web site in the
immediate future. The software allows us to track a user surfing through
the overall web site, follow the user's patterns of activity, present ads that
are targeted and relevant to the user's interests, and recommend
particular products or services, based on the user's activity profile. In
addition, the software will be able to track the particular banner and other
advertising to which the user has been exposed while visiting our site. This
will provide us with a record of the number and type of advertisement views
accessed by users over a specified period of time, useful for determining rates
for outside advertisers wishing to have a presence on our web site. It
will also provide us with the opportunity to rotate the particular ads it
presents to a user to keep the ads "fresh" and appropriate in context.
Eventually, we hope to expand our activity tracking functions to include
serving content to users based on their preferences. The result will be content
that is customized for a user, automatically and seamlessly.
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We have also licensed advertisement management software from Accipiter
Technology, and written some custom code to extend the software's capabilities.
The software tracks how many ads are served on the web site, which areas
and which pages to which they were served, and how many people have
"clicked" on them. The software allows us to manage its advertisement
selection and placement by providing an accurate advertisement count on both a
real-time and a compiled-over-a-specified-time basis, information crucial to
billing an advertiser. The software also provides advertisers with the
ability to audit their advertisement performance on our web site on a real-time
basis. We provide a user ID and password to the advertiser, who can then come
onto the web site and track their ads at any time.
SALES AND MARKETING
In 1999, we committed approximately $4.8 million to sales and marketing
activities, including offline and online media advertising. Our sales and
marketing efforts are focused on:
- Generating additional traffic to our site;
- Building and defining a desirable online destination for consumers
and businesses; and
- Creating and enhancing our brand within the Internet and online
industries.
Among the key elements of our sales and marketing strategy are the following:
LINKING AGREEMENTS. We are continuously looking for opportunities to
connect our web site through links with other sites in a way that will
increase the number of visitors to, and potential new subscribers for, our
community. We have entered into a linking and promotion agreement with PI
Graphix, which provides e-commerce systems and related information services on
its own web site. Under the agreement, our web sites are linked and we work
with PI Graphix to develop methods of increasing cross traffic between the
sites. Our agreement with PI Graphix permits us to allow end users to
post three-dimensional descriptions of the products they wish to sell on
our web site.
ADVERTISING PROGRAMS. We plan to invest in online advertising to drive
traffic to our site by placing advertisements on selected high volume sites, as
well as purchasing targeted keywords on several popular search engines such as
Yahoo!, Excite, Lycos, Infoseek and others. We also plan to advertise in
traditional media such as print, radio and broadcast, on a selective, highly
targeted basis, to increase the awareness of our site.
PUBLIC RELATIONS SUPPORT. By virtue of its broad appeal and
"entrepreneurial" focus, we anticipate that a targeted public relations campaign
will yield material results in building both national and targeted local and
regional awareness for Nettaxi. We do not currently have an agreement with a
national public relations professional, but intend to enter into an arrangement
with a suitable public relations company in the future.
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TRADE PUBLICATIONS. An effective and extreme inexpensive method of
bolstering awareness of the Nettaxi brand is editorial inclusion in trade
publications that target the various industry groups with which we seek to do
business. We believe that several factors make us a prime candidate for
editorial coverage in trade publications for the Internet industry, as well as
the general media. They include:
- Our integration of online community with premium content and
ready-to-use e-commerce services;
- Our "entrepreneurial" focus; and
- The growth of traffic to our online community web site.
We will seek out high-impact editors and reporters at publications that
serve the Internet industry. We will also seek to place articles and columns
written by our staff and management in various publications. This will serve to
enhance our credibility and establish and promote our management and staff as
experts.
OPERATING INFRASTRUCTURE
The development of an infrastructure with an Internet-centered network and
database system that allows us to serve information and facilitate e-commerce
transactions on behalf of our subscribers' web sites is integral to the
implementation of our web community and ready-to-use e-commerce storefront
concept. to accommodate the substantial transaction volume that we anticipate as
we build our online community of citizens, vendors, and information. At
this time, the basic components of our technology infrastructure are
substantially in place and operational.
Our UNIX-based electronic network for Nettaxi.com operates on a one
terabyte Ethernet backbone, with two Cisco Systems Ethernet switches that
prevent collisions on the network. Traffic direction for the web servers is
handled by Arrowpoint's CS-100, which tracks server load conditions in real time
and sends traffic to the most appropriate server to spread around and balance
the load. The network is comprised primarily of Sun Microsystems high-capacity
servers, and include a mix of Enterprise 450s, Ultra 1, and Ultra 5 models, all
running the newest version of Sun's Solaris operating environment for network
systems. These servers collectively provide approximately 1.6 terabytes of hard
drive space for subscriber capacities.
In addition, the network currently includes NT servers to handle
registration and selected other database functions, using Microsoft's SQL
database software. However, we have embarked on an ambitious program to shift
our database functions over to a 3-tier database connectivity architecture that
relies heavily on Web Objects technology - database connectivity software
licensed from Apple Computer--to provide more robust and easier-to-use
capabilities for subscription registration, browsing through our communities,
and subscriber personalization of web pages, and to allow us to track and
extract user profile and activity data more easily and in more detail.
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Our electronic network is located both at Alchemy Communications in
Southern California and at the Exodus Communications Internet Data Center in
Santa Clara, California. Through our network co-location agreement with Exodus,
we are provided with a secure location for its network servers, multiple
high-speed Internet connections, and access to 24-hour-a-day, 7-day-a-week
technical support personnel and services. Exodus also provides critically
important routing, redundancy, and maintenance services for the network
and its Internet connections, as well as a back-up power supply capable of
continuing network operations for up to a week in the event of a
power failure.
COMPETITION
The markets in which we are engaged are new, rapidly evolving and intensely
competitive, and we expect competition to intensify further in the future.
Barriers to entry are relatively low, and current and new competitors can launch
new sites at a relatively low cost using commercially-available software. We
currently or potentially compete with a number of other companies for users,
advertisers and electronic commerce marketers, including a number of large
online communities and services that have expertise in developing online
commerce, and a number of other small services, including those that serve
specialty markets.
Other companies that are primarily focused on creating Internet online
communities include Delphi, theglobe.com, Yahoo, Xoom, Homestead.com, WBS.net,
Angelfire, Fortune City, iVillage, Tripod, Third Age, Alloy Online, and Talk
City and, in the future, Internet communities may be developed or acquired by
companies currently operating Internet directories, search engines, shareware
archives, content sites, Internet Service Providers and other entities,
which may have more resources than ours.
In addition, we currently and in the future face competition from
traditional media companies, a number of which, including Disney, CBS, Fox and
NBC, have recently made significant acquisitions or investments in Internet
companies.
Furthermore, we compete for users and advertisers with other content
providers and with thousands of web sites operated by individuals, the
government and educational institutions. Such providers and sites include AOL,
Angelfire, CNET, CNN/Time Warner, Excite, Hotmail, Infoseek, Lycos, Microsoft,
Netscape, Switchboard, Xoom, ESPN.com, ZDNet.com and Yahoo!
We believe that the following are the principal competitive factors for
companies seeking to create online communities on the Internet:
- community cohesion and interaction;
- customer service;
- brand recognition;
- web site convenience and accessibility;
- price;
- quality of search tools; and
- system reliability.
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Once our e-commerce functions become fully operational, we will also be
competing with companies in the online commerce market. This market is new,
rapidly evolving and intensely competitive. Current and new competitors can
launch new web sites at relatively low cost. The products and services that
might be offered through our site will compete with other retailers and direct
marketers, some of which may specifically target our potential customers. We
anticipate that we will compete with various mail-order and web-based retailers;
various traditional retailers, either in their physical or online stores;
various online service providers that offers products of interest to our
potential customers, including AOL, Microsoft, and other providers mentioned
above; and e-commerce web sites, such as Amazon.com, Etoys and CDnow.
We believe that the following are the principal competitive factors in the
online commerce market:
- brand recognition;
- quality of site content;
- merchandise selection;
- convenience;
- price;
- customer service; and
- reliability and speed of fulfillment.
Many of our current and potential competitors have longer operating
histories, larger customer bases, greater brand recognition in other business
and Internet markets and significantly greater financial, marketing,
technical and other resources than us. In addition, other online services
may be acquired by, receive investments from or enter into other commercial
relationships with larger, well-established and well-financed companies as use
of the Internet and other online services increases. Therefore, our competitors
with other revenue sources may be able to devote greater resources to
marketing and promotional campaigns, adopt more aggressive pricing policies and
devote substantially more resources to web site and systems development than us
or may try to attract traffic by offering services for free. Increased
competition may result in reduced operating margins, loss of market share and
diminished value of our brand.
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A key factor that will set us apart from other portals in the future is our
ability to offer subscribers of ready-to-use e-commerce capabilities, including
full hosting of a subscriber's domain, e-commerce storefront building, and
fulfillment and billing services. However, our e-commerce functions are not
yet fully operational, and there can be no assurance that we will
successfully develop these capabilities or that we will be able to compete
successfully against other e-commerce providers who may develop similar
services. Further, as a strategic response to changes in the competitive
environment, we may, from time to time, make pricing, service or marketing
decisions or acquisitions that could have a material adverse effect on our
business, results of operations and financial condition. New technologies and
the expansion of existing technologies may increase the competitive pressures on
us by enabling our competitors to offer a lower-cost service. Certain web-based
applications that direct Internet traffic to certain web sites may channel users
to services that compete with us. Any and all of these events could have a
material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial
condition.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
We currently have pending applications before the United States Patent and
Trademark Office for trademark and service mark protection for "Nettaxi", as a
brand name for our web site, "Nettaxi.com: The Experience TM," our CD-ROM
training product, "URL", our animated guide character, and the Nettaxi
"taxicab". If these applications are approved, protection will be available
for the periods prescribed by law.
We regard the protection of our copyrights, service marks, trademarks,
trade dress and trade secrets as critical to our future success and rely on a
combination of copyright, trademark, service mark and trade secret laws and
contractual restrictions to establish and protect our proprietary rights in
products and services. We have entered into confidentiality and invention
assignment agreements with our employees and contractors, and nondisclosure
agreements with our suppliers in order to limit access to and disclosure of our
proprietary information. There can be no assurance that these contractual
arrangements or the other steps taken by us to protect our intellectual property
will prove sufficient to prevent misappropriation of our technology or to deter
independent third-party development of similar technologies. While we intend
to pursue registration of our trademarks and service marks in the U.S. and
internationally, effective trademark, service mark, copyright and trade secret
protection may not be available in every country in which our services are made
available online.
We also rely on technologies that we license from third parties, such as
the suppliers of key database technology, the operating system and specific
hardware components for our products and services. These licenses extend for
terms ranging from one year to perpetuity and are subject to satisfaction of
conditions laid out in the specific licensing agreements. There can be no
assurance that these third-party technology licenses will continue to be
available to us on commercially reasonable terms. The loss of such technology
could require us to obtain substitute technology of lower quality or performance
standards or at greater cost, which could materially adversely affect our
business, results of operations and financial condition.
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Although we do not believe that we infringe the proprietary rights of third
parties, there can be no assurance that third parties will not claim
infringement by us with respect to past, current or future technologies. We
expect that participants in our markets will be increasingly subject to
infringement claims as the number of services and competitors in our industry
segment grows. Any such claim, whether meritorious or not, could be
time-consuming, result in costly litigation, cause service upgrade delays or
require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements. Such royalty or
licensing agreements might not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all.
As a result, any such claim could have a material adverse effect upon our
business, results of operations and financial condition.
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
Our company, operations and products and services are all subject to
regulations set forth by various federal, state and local regulatory agencies.
We take measures to ensure our compliance with all such regulations as
promulgated by these agencies from time to time. The Federal Communications
Commission sets standards and regulations regarding communications and related
equipment.
There are currently few laws and regulations directly applicable to the
Internet. It is possible that a number of laws and regulations may be adopted
with respect to the Internet covering issues such as user privacy, pricing,
content, copyrights, distribution, antitrust and characteristics and quality of
products and services. The growth of the market for online commerce may prompt
calls for more stringent consumer protection laws that may impose additional
burdens on those companies conducting business online. Tax authorities in a
number of states are currently reviewing the appropriate tax treatment of
companies engaged in online commerce, and new state tax regulations may subject
us to additional state sales and income taxes.
Several states have also proposed legislation that would limit the uses of
personal user information gathered online or require online services to
establish privacy policies. The Federal Trade Commission has also initiated
action against at least one online service regarding the manner in which
personal information is collected from users and provided to third parties.
Changes to existing laws or the passage of new laws intended to address these
issues, including some recently proposed changes, could create uncertainty in
the marketplace that could reduce demand for our products and services or
increase the cost of doing business as a result of litigation costs or increased
service delivery costs, or could in some other manner have a material adverse
effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In
addition, because our services are accessible worldwide and we facilitate sales
of goods to users worldwide, other jurisdictions may claim that we are required
to qualify to do business as a foreign corporation in a particular state or
foreign country. Our failure to qualify as a foreign corporation in a
jurisdiction where it is required to do so could subject us to taxes and
penalties for the failure to qualify and could result in our inability to
enforce contracts in such jurisdictions. Any such new legislation or regulation,
or the application of laws or regulations from jurisdictions whose laws do not
currently apply to our business, could have a material adverse effect on our
business, results of operations and financial condition.
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LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
RGC INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS. On March 31, 2000, we filed a Complaint in
the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Santa Clara
against RGC International Investors, LDC and certain RGC affiliates, seeking
declaratory relief regarding our ability to prepay the outstanding
balance of our 5% convertible debentures held by RGC. RGC is one of the
selling stockholders referred to in this prospectus. Prior to filing the
Complaint, we tendered to RGC the sum of $2,558,800 as payment in full of the
outstanding principal and interest of the convertible debentures. The Complaint
also sought damages in excess of $20,000,000 for alleged fraud and breach of
fiduciary duty and rescission of the underlying securities purchase agreement
and restitution, and requested injunctive relief against further wrongful
conduct by RGC as well as an award of attorneys' fees and costs.
Shortly after tendering the funds to RGC to repay the convertible
debentures and filing the Complaint, we received from RGC a mandatory redemption
notice demanding immediate redemption by us of RGC's outstanding convertible
debentures. In its notice, RGC claimed that its right to redemption is based
upon our alleged failure to maintain registration under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, of the shares of Nettaxi.com common stock underlying the
convertible debentures or otherwise issuable under the investment option.
RGC claimed that the mandatory redemption amount under the terms of the
convertible debentures, including penalties, equaled $33,239,116.41.
On April 13, 2000, RGC International Investors, LDC filed a Notice of
Removal which had the automatic effect of removing the litigation to the United
States District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No.
C-0020404 JF PVT). On April 14, 2000, RGC and certain of its affiliates filed a
complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (Case
No. 00-405) against us, seeking declaratory relief regarding the respective
rights of RGC and Nettaxi.com under the securities purchase agreement and the
convertible debentures. The Complaint also sought damages in an amount not
less than $33,239,116 for alleged breach of the securities purchase agreement
and the accompanying duty of good faith and fair dealing, breach of the
convertible debentures and the registration rights agreement, fraud, rescission
of our February 2000 private placement for the alleged breach of RGC's right of
first refusal in the securities purchase agreement and injunctive relief against
registration of Nettaxi.com common stock in accordance with the February 2000
private placement. The Complaint also requested damages for allegedly libelous
statements made by Nettaxi.com with reference to RGC in our registration
statement on Form S-1 filed on April 3, 2000 (File No. 333-30074).
In connection with the resolution of this matter on May 5, 2000, we
distributed the following press release describing the terms of the resolution:
"Nettaxi.com announced today the resolution of its litigation with Rose Glen.
The parties have agreed to a settlement whereby all litigation will be
dismissed, and Rose Glen will exchange its debentures for 1.75 million shares of
Nettaxi common stock and warrants to purchase 2.2 million shares of Nettaxi
common stock. The warrants will be exercisable for five years, at a fixed
exercise price of $1.50 per share. Pending effectiveness of a new registration
statement to be filed by Nettaxi registering the resale by Rose Glen of the
shares of common stock to be issued in the settlement, the shares of common
stock underlying the warrants to be issued in the settlement and the shares of
common stock underlying the warrants to purchase 150,000 shares of common stock
previously issued to Rose Glen, the Debenture will continue to be convertible at
a fixed price of $1.42 and any shares issued upon such conversions will be
subtracted from the 1.75 million shares to be issued in the settlement. Rose
Glen has also agreed to certain restrictions in the trading of Nettaxi
securities. Nettaxi and Rose Glen have also executed mutual general releases.
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"Since the commencement of the litigation by Nettaxi, Nettaxi has
discovered no reliable evidence supporting its allegations regarding Rose Glen's
conduct, as set forth in Nettaxi's complaint. In fact, the reliable evidence
supports Rose Glen's sworn declaration that Rose Glen did not sell short
Nettaxi's common stock at any time, and that Rose Glen did not in any way
manipulate the price of Nettaxi's common stock. Nettaxi also recognizes that
its complaint did not acknowledge that subsequent to Rose Glen's initial
investment in Nettaxi of $5 million, Rose Glen, at Nettaxi's request, invested
additional amounts, aggregating $3.9 million (for which it received stock and
warrants), and executed waivers on two occasions, that enabled Nettaxi to seek
capital from other sources during periods when there would otherwise have been
contractual limitations on the company's right to issue equity. Given the
foregoing, and the agreements of the parties to resolve all their disputes in an
amicable manner, Nettaxi and Rose Glen have agreed to withdraw their respective
allegations as part of an overall settlement.
"Nettaxi regrets any misunderstandings that led to the commencement of
litigation between the parties. It has agreed with Rose Glen to promptly
dismiss all litigation between the parties, in California and Delaware, and to
resolve all related claims. Nettaxi has also agreed to reimburse Rose Glen for
the legal fees it incurred in connection with the litigation."
We have issued Rose Glen the shares and warrants issuable in connection
with the settlement and have registered the shares, and the shares underlying
the warrants, pursuant to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No.
333-38538), declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on June
21, 2000. Accordingly, all litigation between the parties has been dismissed.
VENTRE GROUP. On July 9, 1999, after our public announcement of the
filing of our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-78129) four
disaffected shareholders in Simply Interactive, Inc., led by Ronald Ventre,
filed an action in the Santa Clara County Superior Court against Warren J.
Kaplan, Frank McGrath, Bruno Henry, Alan K. Fetzer, Robert Divenere, Robert A.
Rositano, Sr., Robert A. Rositano, Jr., Dean Rositano, Glenn Goelz,
Nettaxi.com, Nettaxi Online Communities, Inc., SSN Properties, LLC and others.
The case number is CV 783127. Other than the brief settlement negotiations
referred to below, there has been no activity on this matter since the action
was filed.
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Mr. Kaplan was formerly the chief executive officer and a director of
Simply Interactive. He also became a member of SSN Properties and is currently
the chief operating officer of AboveNet Communications, Inc. Mr. McGrath was a
director of Simply Interactive. He also became a member of SSN Properties and
is currently a vice president of MCI WorldCom. Messrs. Henry, Fetzer, and
DiVenere were all former officers of Simply Interactive, and Mr. Henry also
served as a director of Simply Interactive. Robert A. Rositano, Sr. was a
director of Simply Interactive and became the managing member of SSN Properties.
He currently owns more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock
following a distribution by SSN Properties to its members in March 1999. Robert
A. Rositano, Jr. was formerly an executive vice president of Simply Interactive
and served as a director until May 1996. He is currently chief executive
officer, secretary and a director of Nettaxi. Dean Rositano was formerly an
executive vice president of Simply Interactive and served as a director until
May 1996. He is currently president, chief operating officer and a director of
Nettaxi. Mr. Goelz was the chief financial officer of Simply Interactive from
August 1996 to July 1997 and joined us as chief financial officer in April 1999.
All individual defendants held shares, or options to purchase shares, of Simply
Interactive.
Distinctions can be made between the claims that the Ventre group is
pursuing against us and the other defendants. As to us, the suit claims that we
owed, and either intentionally or negligently breached, fiduciary duties to the
Ventre group. The suit also claims that we either intentionally or negligently
interfered with the Ventre group's contract or prospective advantage. The Ventre
group is seeking the following relief against us:
- an unstated amount of compensatory and special damages in the sum of
their investments in Simply Interactive, plus prejudgment interest;
- an accounting of profits;
- punitive damages; and
- costs of suit, including attorney fees as permitted by law.
The Ventre group's claims against the other defendants, while not clear,
include all of the claims described above with respect to us as well as other
claims of ineffective management, waste of assets and similar claims. In
addition to the relief described above with respect to us, the Ventre group
seeks the following from the other defendants:
- declaratory relief concerning the validity of the election of the
board of directors of Simply Interactive; and
- orders for the inspection of corporate records in, and the
holding of shareholder meetings for, Simply Interactive.
The factual basis for the proceedings as alleged by the Ventre group can be
summarized as follows. The Ventre group alleges that between February and April
1996, they made a series of investments in Simply Interactive and thereby became
minority shareholders. Thereafter, according to the complaint, the board of
directors of Simply Interactive, without due diligence and disclosure to the
minority shareholders, increased the debts and expenses of Simply Interactive.
The Ventre group then alleges that the defendants raised capital through the
sale of $5.5 million principal amount of convertible notes, secured by all the
assets and properties of Simply Interactive, to three of the defendants, that
the minority shareholders were not given notice of the proposed financing and an
opportunity to participate, and that the entire transaction is void or voidable
because the board of directors of Simply Interactive was improperly constituted
at the time. The Ventre group goes on to allege that SSN Properties, which
acquired the notes from the original purchaser, foreclosed on the assets of
Simply Interactive without reason in August 1997. Finally, the complaint
alleges that the assets formerly used by Simply Interactive were transferred to
us through a series of transactions in violation of fiduciary obligations owed
by the defendants to the minority shareholders of Simply Interactive.
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Our officers and directors believe that the Ventre group's claims are
without merit and that significant issues of proof exist with regard to the
relevant facts as alleged in the complaint. For example, the individual
defendants have advised that the issuance of the notes followed numerous
failed attempts to raise additional funds from outside sources, and that
foreclosure occurred only after Simply Interactive's default in its obligations
to make required interest payments. Moreover, while the complaint does
include us as defendants with respect to the allegations arising out of
the events described above, our current operating company, Nettaxi Online
Communities, was not launched until September 1997.
In fact, Nettaxi Online Communities did purchase certain assets from
SSN Properties in October 1997, including the original Internet the City
CD-ROM product; a domain name; furniture, fixtures, and equipment; plus
other assets which have since been abandoned. However, the assets acquired by
Nettaxi Online Communities from SSN Properties at that time represented less
than 50% of the value of the foreclosed assets. As described in the notes to
our financial statements, the aggregate value of the assets acquired by
Nettaxi Online Communities from SSN Properties was $2,000,000, which amount
was verified by an independent appraiser.
In 1998, we experienced several significant functional problems with portions of
a purchased technology program, namely the web to database software application,
due to those components incompatability with subsequent releases of upgraded
versions of its operating system. Following attempts to make these components
of the acquired technology compatible, we decided, in December 1998, not to
spend additional monies on these components but to replace them. We wrote off
the unamortized portion of this impaired technology that reduced the value of
the assets by approximately $700,000. Currently, the unamortized cost of the
remaining assets purchased from SSN Properties as a percentage of our total
assets is approximately 10%. Moreover, the role of these assets, which were
intended to be revenue-generating products in Simply Interactive's business
model, is substantially different for us in that we view them primarily as a
tool to drive traffic to our site and not necessarily as an independent revenue
source. It should also be noted that our business model for an online community
is substantially different than Simply Interactive's objective of licensing,
distribution, and sale of the CD-ROM product and marketing and sales of the
impaired software application described above.
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Since the action was filed, discussions regarding a possible settlement
have taken place. However, Ventre's group has demanded that Robert A. Rositano,
Sr., Dean Rositano and Robert A. Rositano, Jr. give them shares of our common
stock having an approximate value of $2.08 million. Given that the Ventre
group's original investment in Simply Interactive was approximately $675,000,
and that the officers and directors of Nettaxi believe that the Ventre group's
claims are without merit, the demand was rejected and the defendants intend to
vigorously defend the litigation. In its agreement with us for the original
sale and purchase of the assets, SSN Properties agreed to indemnify us against
claims that might be brought by Simply Interactive with respect to rights that
Simply Interactive might have in the transferred assets. We are currently
seeking confirmation of the indemnity obligation from SSN Properties.
An attempt at mediation is scheduled for August, 2000.
EMPLOYEES
As of May 1, 2000, we had 21 employees, including 3 in sales and marketing,
10 in customer service and business development, 5 in research and development
and 3 in general administration.
We believe that our future success will depend in part on our continued
ability to attract, integrate, retain and motivate highly qualified technical
and managerial personnel, and upon the continued service of our senior
management and key technical personnel. The competition for qualified personnel
in our industry and geographical location is intense, and there can be no
assurance that we will be successful in attracting, integrating, retaining and
motivating a sufficient number of qualified personnel to conduct our business in
the future. From time to time, we also engage independent contractors to support
our research and development, marketing, sales and support and administrative
organizations. We have never had a work stoppage, and no employees are
represented under collective bargaining agreements. We consider our relations
with our employees to be good.
FACILITIES
Our headquarters are currently located in a leased facility in Campbell,
California, consisting of approximately 8,600 square feet of office space to
accommodate management, operations, and research and development functions,
which is under a lease that expires in April 2002. We also lease 580 square
feet of office space in Las Vegas, Nevada which we use for general
administrative purposes. This lease was entered into on May 27, 1999 and has a
one-year term and we have an option to renew it for an additional two years. We
believe that our current facilities are adequate for our present needs.
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MANAGEMENT
DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND KEY EMPLOYEES
Our directors, executive officers and other key employees, and their ages,
as of May 1, 2000 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE POSITION
-------------------------- --- -------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Robert A. Rositano, Jr.(1) 30 Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Director
-------------------------- --- -------------------------------------------------------
Dean Rositano(1) 27 President, Interim Chief Financial Officer and Director
-------------------------- --- -------------------------------------------------------
Robert Speicher 44 Vice President of Sales and Marketing
-------------------------- --- -------------------------------------------------------
Brian Stroh 29 Vice President of Information Services
-------------------------- --- -------------------------------------------------------
Andrew Garroni(2) (3) 44 Director
-------------------------- --- -------------------------------------------------------
Ron R. Goldie (2) 48 Director
-------------------------- --- -------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
(1) Robert A. Rositano, Jr. and Dean Rositano are brothers.
(2) Member of Compensation Committee.
(3) Member of Audit Committee.
</TABLE>
Each director holds his office until the next annual meeting on the
stockholders and until his successor is elected and qualified. Executive
officers are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of our board of directors.
Robert A. Rositano, Jr. Mr. Rositano Jr. co-founded Nettaxi Online
Communities, Inc., a Delaware corporation , in October, 1997. He has served as
Chief Executive Officer and Secretary of Nettaxi since the reorganization with
Swan Valley and prior to that served in the same capacities with Nettaxi Online
Communities from its inception. He has over seven years of experience in the
internet service provider and Internet industry. In February 1995, he
co-founded Simply Interactive, Inc. , an Internet/intranet software company,
and served as Executive Vice President in the areas of Inside Sales, Customer
Service and Product Development until he co-founded Nettaxi Online
Communities. In January 1994, he co-founded Digital Data Express, a company
focused on beginner level Internet users, and served as Chief Executive Officer
until February 1995 when Digital Data Express was acquired by Simply
Interactive. From 1992 to 1994, Mr. Rositano was hired on as the third employee
at Netcom On-line Communications in 1992 and served as a senior sales and
account manager until 1993.
Dean Rositano. Mr. Rositano co-founded Nettaxi Online Communities in
October, 1997. He has served as President of Nettaxi since the reorganization
with Swan Valley and prior to that served in the same capacities with Nettaxi
Online Communities. He has over seven years of experience in the ISP and
Internet industry. In February 1995, he co-founded Simply Interactive, Inc., an
Internet/intranet software company, and served as Vice President of Technology
until he co-founded Nettaxi Online Communities. While at Simply Interactive, he
assembled a digital production studio and produced the Internet the City CD-ROM
in a three month time frame on three platforms, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, and
Macintosh. In January 1994, he co-founded Digital Data Express and served as
President and Chief Executive Officer until February 1995 when Digital Data
Express was acquired by Simply Interactive. At Digital Data Express, Mr.
Rositano co-produced and directed the world's first Internet training video
"Introduction to the Internet." Mr. Rositano has served as our Interim Chief
Financial Officer since April 30, 2000 when our Mr. Glenn Goelz resigned as our
Chief Financial Officer. We intend to appoint a new Chief Financial Officer as
soon as a qualified candidate is identified and retained.
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<PAGE>
Robert Speicher. Robert Speicher joined Nettaxi in October, 1999 to
serve as our Vice President of Sales and Marketing. From November, 1994 through
October, 1999; Speicher was Executive Vice President and General Manager at Wood
Associates, a marketing and promotions company. Prior to that, he served as
President of Plastech Marketing, Inc., a company that introduced biodegradable
polymer technologies to the promotional merchandise industry. He has also served
as Vice President of Sales at Multidate Corporation, a company dedicated to
providing automation solutions for the financial services industry. He earned
his Bachelor's degree from San Diego State University and his MBA from
Pepperdine University.
Brian Stroh. Mr. Stroh was appointed Vice President of Information
Services in October, 1997. He has close to four years of experience in the
Internet service provider and Internet industry. From December 1995 to June
1996 he was head of Customer Service of a customer service, inside sales
department which grew to eight employees. He assisted in the development of a
robust call center and customer database. He also served in a managerial role,
assisting in the development of the second edition to Ques Mega Web Directory.
Mr. Stroh earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado at
Boulder.
Andrew Garroni. Mr. Garroni has served as a director since completion of
our merger with Plus Net in May 1999. Under the terms of our merger agreement
with Plus Net, Mr. Garroni was appointed as a member of the board of directors.
Mr. Garroni has over 20 years experience in the development and management of
start-up entertainment companies. He currently serves as Executive Producer of
Showtime's movie series "Naked City," a position he has held since January,
1998. From 1990 to September, 1998 he served as President of Axis Films
International, Inc. supplying films to cable television networks such as Home
Box Office, Showtime Networks and DBS providers like Direct TV. He began his
career in New York as a principal partner in the motion picture Production
Company Cinerex Associates, Inc. whose clients included Twentieth Century Fox
and Orion Pictures. While in New York, he helped create Magnum Motion Pictures
and Magnum Entertainment. Mr. Garroni has a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from
Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Ron R. Goldie. Mr. Goldie has served as a director since completion of
our merger with Plus Net in May 1999. Under the terms of our merger agreement
with Plus Net, Mr. Goldie was appointed as a member of the board of directors.
From March 1990 to December 1995 he was a senior partner at the law firm of
Jeffer, Mangels, Butler and Marmaro. From March 1996 to February 1997 he was a
senior partner at Coudert Brothers. From February 1997 to March 1998 he was a
senior partner at Stroock and Lavan. In March, 1999 he became a senior member
of the corporate department of Mitchell Silberberg and Knupp, a ninety year old
Los Angeles based law firm. Mr. Goldie specializes in business planning and
transactions ranging from local to international matters. The practice includes
a range from mergers and acquisitions, securities practice, secured and asset
based lending transactions, advising regarding structure and development and
general and corporate business matters. Mr. Goldie received his Bachelor's
degree and Law degree from the University of Southern California, and was
admitted to the California Bar in 1975.
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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS AND TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND CHANGE OF CONTROL
ARRANGEMENTS
EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS. On August 1, 1998 Nettaxi Online
Communities, Inc. entered into executive employment agreements with Robert A.
Rositano, Jr. and Dean Rositano, and these agreements continued in effect after
the reorganization with Swan Valley Snowmobiles, Inc. Pursuant to the terms of
their individual executive employment agreements, Robert A. Rositano, Jr. is to
perform the duties Chief Executive Officer and serve as a member of the board of
directors, and Dean Rositano is to perform the duties of President and serve as
a member of the board of directors. Each executive employment agreement provides
for an annual base salary of $125,000 which may be increased by the board of
directors, in its discretion. The base salary also is to increase by ten
percent per annum, which increase shall be cumulative for each year. On August
1, 1999, the board of directors increased the annual base salary under the
agreements to $200,000. Under the executive employment agreements, each
executive is also eligible for annual bonus compensation in the minimum amount
of $50,000 up to a maximum amount equal to the base salary then payable.
The board of directors is to determine the amount of the annual bonus based
upon performance targets established by the board of directors. On August 1,
1999, the board of directors awarded bonus compensation of $132,500 for each
executive.
Under the executive employment agreements, Robert A. Rositano, Jr. and
Dean Rositano each received warrants to purchase up to 883,952 shares of the
common stock of Nettaxi Online Communities. The warrants were to vest over
three years and vesting was accelerated upon the reorganization with Swan
Valley. Robert A. Rositano, Jr. and Dean Rositano each exercised their
warrants in September, 1998. They have each been granted registration rights
with respect to shares of common stock issued upon exercise of the warrants and
they have each waived any such rights with respect to this registration
statement. Each executive is eligible to receive three weeks paid vacation for
the first year of employment and four weeks per year thereafter. They are also
eligible to participate in the health, life insurance, medical, retirement and
other benefit programs which we may offer from time to time. Each executive
receives a car allowance in an amount not to exceed $600 per month plus
insurance and costs of repair and may be reimbursed for other reasonable
expenses incurred during the course of performing their duties.
The term of the executive employment agreements is four years and they are
automatically renewed for successive periods of one year unless terminated prior
to such renewal. We may terminate either executive at any time with or without
cause. The term "cause" is defined in the executive employment agreements. If
any executive is terminated without cause, he is to receive severance pay
equal to the base salary for the remainder of the term, minimum bonus
plus any pro rata bonus in excess of the minimum bonus, pre payment of
all automobile allowance for the remaining period of the term and continued
coverage for life, health and disability insurance for the remainder of
the term. These amounts shall be due in one lump sum payment three days
following the termination of his employment without cause. If there is
a "change in control" with respect to Nettaxi, the executives may terminate
their executive employment agreements and be entitled to severance in the
amount of three years of annual benefits to be realized in accordance with the
terms of the executive employment agreements, payable in one lump sum. "Change
in control" is defined in the executive employment agreements as any
change of equity such that more than 50% of the outstanding shares of our
outstanding shares are transferred to a third party, debt ownership
such that more than 50% of our outstanding shares are transferred to a
third party, or a sale of 70% or more of our assets.
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<PAGE>
The executive employment agreements also contain covenants
restricting the disclosure of our confidential information, the solicitation of
our employees or agents and the ability of the executives to engage in
competing activities with us.
In the course of the previous year, as a result of our limited human
resources, both executives have performed other responsibilities not
necessarily within the scope of the definition of their positions under the
executive employment agreements.
OTHER EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS. We have also entered into an
employment agreement with Robert Speicher. The agreement has a term of three
years and automatically renews for successive periods of one year unless
terminated prior to such renewal. We may terminate the executive at any time
with or without cause. The term "cause" is defined in the executive employment
agreement. Mr. Speicher is eligible to receive severance pay if terminated
without cause or if Nettaxi experiences a change in control and the executive
elects to terminate the agreement or is terminated. The severance payment would
be equal to the base salary for the remainder of the term, minimum bonus plus
any pro rata bonus in excess of the minimum bonus and continued coverage for
health and other benefits for the remainder of the term. Additionally, the
vesting of all options to purchase our common stock would be accelerated
immediately. The severance payment would be due in one lump sum three days
following the termination of employment. "Change in control" is defined in
the employment agreements as any change of equity such that more than 50%
of our outstanding shares are transferred to a third party, debt ownership such
that more than 50% of our outstanding shares are transferred to a third party,
or a sale of substantially all of our assets.
The employment agreements also contain covenants regarding the
assignment of inventions, restricting the disclosure of our confidential
information, the solicitation of our employees or agents and the ability of
the executive to engage in competing activities.
Our agreement with Mr. Speicher was entered into as of September 1999.
Under the agreement, he is employed as Vice President of Sales and Marketing
and is expected to perform the duties consistent with the position
including the management and supervision of our sales and marketing operations
and duties and the hiring of personnel. Mr. Speicher receives an annual base
salary of $175,000. He is also eligible for annual bonus compensation in the
minimum amount of $50,000 up to a maximum amount equal to the base salary then
payable. The board of directors is to determine the amount of the annual bonus
based upon performance targets established by the board of directors. He also is
to receive options to purchase up to 250,000 shares of our common stock, which
vest over three years, under our 1998 Stock Option Plan. He receives three weeks
paid vacation for the first year of employment and four weeks per year
thereafter. He is also eligible to participate in the health and other benefit
program which we may offer from time to time.
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<PAGE>
BOARD COMMITTEES
The Compensation Committee of the board of directors determines the
salaries and incentive compensation of our officers and provides recommendations
for the salaries and incentive compensation of our other employees. The
compensation committee also administers our 1998 Stock Option Plan. There
are currently two members of the Compensation Committee, Messrs. Garroni and
Goldie.
The Audit Committee of the board of directors reviews, acts on and reports
to the board of directors with respect to various auditing and accounting
matters, including the selection of our independent auditors, the scope of the
annual audits, fees to be paid to the auditors, the performance of our
independent auditors and our accounting practices. Mr. Garroni is currently the
only member of the audit committee.
The board of directors does not have a nominating committee.
DIRECTORS' COMPENSATION
Directors who are also our employees receive no compensation for serving on
the board of directors. With respect to directors who are not employees, we
intend to reimburse such directors for all travel and other expenses incurred in
connection with attending meetings of the board of directors and any committees
of the board of directors. Non-employee directors are also eligible to
receive grants of non-qualified stock options under our 1998 Stock Option Plan
and 1999 Stock Option Plan. We intend to grant our non-employee directors,
subject to shareholder ratification, options to purchase common stock under our
stock option plans to provide us with an effective way to recruit and retain
qualified individuals to serve as members of the board of directors.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
We did not have a Compensation Committee or other committee of the board of
directors performing similar functions during the fiscal years ending December
31, 1997 and 1998. Messrs. Robert A. and Dean Rositano are each officers of
Nettaxi and, as members of the board of directors, participated in deliberations
of the board of directors relating to the compensation of our executive
officers. As indicated above, the board of directors established a Compensation
Committee as of May 3, 1999.
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<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth information concerning compensation for
services in all capacities awarded to, earned by or paid to our Chief Executive
Officer and President, collectively, the "Named Executives" during the years
ended December 31, 1998 and 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE(1)
ANNUAL COMPENSATION LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------
NAME AND NUMBER OF SECURITIES
PRINCIPAL UNDERLYING WARRANTS/
POSITION YEAR SALARY ($) BONUS ($) OPTIONS (#)
----------------------- --------------------- ------------------------ --------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert A. Rositano, Jr. 1998(2) $ 95,917(3) - 1,012,347
Chief Executive Officer --------------------- ------------------------ --------- -----------
1999 156,550 132,500 600,000
----------------------- --------------------- ------------------------ --------- -----------
Dean Rositano 1998(2) $ 95,917(3) - 1,012,347
President --------------------- ------------------------ --------- -----------
1999 156,550 132,500 600,000
----------------------- --------------------- ------------------------ --------- -----------
<FN>
(1) The columns for "Other Annual Compensation" "Restricted Stock Awards" "LTP Payouts"
and "All Other Compensation" have been omitted because there is no compensation required to be
reported. No other executive officer or employee received compensation in excess of
$100,000 during this period. Messrs. Robert Speicher and Brian Stroh, two of our executive
officers, each have annualized salaries that would allow them to earn in excess of $100,000 in
fiscal year 2000.
(2) Information set forth herein includes services rendered by the Named Executives
while employed by Nettaxi Online Communities, Inc. prior to the reorganization with
Swan Valley Snowmobiles, Inc. and by Nettaxi following the reorganization with Swan Valley.
(3) For each Named Executive, includes $93,000 in cash compensation and 16,574
shares of common stock issued to each of the Named Executives in February, 1998 in lieu of
salary earned in 1998 having an ascribed value of $2,198 as determined by the board
of directors.
</TABLE>
WARRANT AND OPTION GRANTS IN LAST YEAR
The following table sets forth information concerning warrants and options
granted to the Named Executives during 1999.
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
WARRANT AND OPTION GRANTS DURING YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1999
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name Number of
Securities
Underlying % of Total Exercise Expiration Potential Realizable Value at
Warrants/ Warrants/ Options Price Per Date Assumed Annual Rates of Stock
Options Granted to Share Price Appreciation for Option
Granted(#) Employees in 1998 ($/Sh) Term
------------ ---------------
5% 10%
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert A. 600,000 21.1% $8.125 8/07 $ 2,391,000 $ 5,937,000
Rositano,
Jr.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean 600,000 21.1% $8.125 8/07 $ 2,391,000 $ 5,937,000
Rositano
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
No SARs were granted to either of the Named Executives during
1999. Each warrant and option represents the right to purchase one share of our
common stock. In 1999, we granted officers, employees and consultants
warrants and options to purchase an aggregate of 2,614,000 shares of our
common stock. The options shown may terminate before their expiration dates if
the optionee's status as an employee or consultant is terminated or upon the
optionee's death or disability.
The options for each of the Named Executives were granted pursuant to our
1998 Stock Option Plan and vest in the following manner:
- options to purchase 100,000 shares vest in 12 monthly installments;
and
- options to purchase 500,000 shares vest upon our achievement of
specific business objectives which have been established by the board of
directors.
The amounts indicated in the columns under the heading "Potential
Realizable Value at Assumed Annual Rates of Stock Price Appreciation for Option
Term" Amounts represent hypothetical gains that could be achieved for the
respective warrants and options if exercised at their end of their respective
terms. The 5% and 10% assumed annual rates of compounded stock price
appreciation are mandated by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and
do not represent our estimate or projection of the future prices of the common
stock. Actual gains, if any, on any exercises of warrants and options are
dependent upon the future performance of our common stock and overall stock
market conditions. The amounts reflected in the table may not necessarily be
achieved.
WARRANT AND OPTION EXERCISES AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
The following table sets forth information with respect to the Named
Executives concerning their exercise of warrants during 1999 and exercisable and
unexercisable stock options held by them as of December 31, 1999.
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares
Acquired On Value Number of Unexercised Value of Unexercised In-the-
NAME Exercise (#) Realized ($) Options at Year End(#) Money Options at Year End($)
----------------------- ------------ --------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------
Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable Unexercisable
------------ --------------- ------------ -------------- ------------ --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert A. Rositano, Jr. 0 $ 0.00 43,333 596,667 $21,370 $64,110
------------ --------------- ------------ -------------- ------------ --------------
Dean Rositano
0 $ 0.00 43,333 596,667 $21,370 $64,110
------------ --------------- ------------ -------------- ------------ --------------
</TABLE>
The amounts shown in the columns under the heading "Value of Unexercised
In-the-Money Options at Year End" are based on a per share fair market value of
our common stock equal to $2.937 at December 31, 1999, the closing price for our
common stock on that date as reported by various market makers for our common
stock on the NASD O-T-C Market Bulletin Board. Each of the Named Executives has
options to purchase 40,000 shares of common stock which were "in the money" at
year end. Options to purchase 10,000 of these shares were exercisable and the
remaining options to purchase 30,000 had yet to become exercisable.
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN. Our 1999 Stock Option Plan was adopted by the
board of directors in January 2000, and amended the plan to increase the
number of shares reserved for issuance under the plan in April, 2000. It will
be presented to our stockholders for ratification at our annual meeting of
stockholders to be held in the summer of 2000. The following description of
our 1999 Stock Option Plan is a summary and qualified in its entirety by
the text of the plan, which is filed as an exhibit to the registration
statement of which this prospectus is a part. The purpose of the 1999
Stock Option Plan is to enhance our profitability and stockholder value by
enabling us to offer stock based incentives to employees, directors and
consultants. The 1999 Stock Option Plan authorizes the grant of options to
purchase shares of common stock to employees, directors and consultants of
Nettaxi and its affiliates. Under the 1999 Stock Option Plan, we may grant
incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 and non-qualified stock options. Incentive stock options
may only be granted our employees.
The number of shares available for options under the 1999 Stock Option Plan
was initially 3,300,000. The board of directors recently amended the plan to
increase the number of shares available for options to 8,900,000. As of April
20, 2000, options to purchase up to 3,257,200 shares of common stock had
been granted under the 1999 Stock Option Plan, and options to purchase
5,642,800 shares were available for future grants. The exercise prices of
the outstanding options ranged from $1.44 to $6.87. We have registered the
shares subject to issuance under our 1999 Stock Option Plan, pursuant to our
registration statement filed on Form S-8 (File No. 333-32678).
The 1999 Stock Option Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee
of the board. Subject to the provisions of the 1999 Stock Option Plan, the
Compensation Committee has authority to determine the employees, directors and
consultants of Nettaxi who are to be awarded options and the terms of such
awards, including the number of shares subject to such option, the fair
market value of the common stock subject to options, the exercise price per
share and other terms.
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<PAGE>
Incentive stock options must have an exercise price equal to at least 100%
of the fair market value of a share on the date of the award and generally
cannot have a duration of more than 10 years. If the grant is to a stockholder
holding more than 10% of our voting stock, the exercise price must be at least
110% of the fair market value on the date of grant. Terms and conditions of
awards are set forth in written agreements between Nettaxi and the respective
option holders. Awards under the 1999 Stock Option Plan may not be made after
the tenth anniversary of the date of its adoption but awards granted before that
date may extend beyond that date.
If the employment with Nettaxi of the holder of an incentive stock option
is terminated for any reason other than as a result of the holder's death or
disability or for "cause" as defined in the 1999 Stock Option Plan, the holder
may exercise the option, to the extent exercisable on the date of termination of
employment, until the earlier of the option's specified expiration date and 90
days after the date of termination. If an option holder dies or becomes
disabled, both incentive and non-qualified stock options may generally be
exercised, to the extent exercisable on the date of death or disability, by the
option holder or the option holder's survivors until the earlier of the
option's specified termination date and one year after the date of death or
disability.
Optionees have no rights as stockholders with respect to shares subject to
option prior to the issuance of shares pursuant to the exercise thereof. Options
issued to employees under the 1999 Stock Option Plan shall expire no later than
ten years after the date of grant. An option becomes exercisable at such time
and for such amounts as determined at the discretion of the board of directors
or the Compensation Committee at the time of the grant of the option. An
optionee may exercise a part of the option from the date that part first becomes
exercisable until the option expires. The purchase price for shares to be
issued to an employee upon his exercise of an option is determined by the board
of directors or the Compensation Committee on the date the option is granted.
The purchase price is payable in full in cash, by promissory note, by net
exercise or by delivery of shares of our common stock when the option is
exercised. The 1999 Stock Option Plan provides for adjustment as to the number
and kinds of shares covered by the outstanding options and the option price
therefor to give effect to any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or
other reorganization of or by Nettaxi.
1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN. Our 1998 Stock Option Plan was adopted by the
board of directors, and ratified and approved by our stockholders, as of
September 29, 1998. The following description of our 1998 Stock Option Plan is a
summary and qualified in its entirety by the text of the plan, which is filed as
an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
The purpose of the 1998 Stock Option Plan is to enhance our profitability and
stockholder value by enabling us to offer stock based incentives to
employees, directors and consultants. The 1998 Stock Option Plan authorizes the
grant of options to purchase shares of common stock to employees, directors and
consultants of Nettaxi and its affiliates. Under the 1998 Stock Option Plan, we
may grant incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and non-qualified stock options. Incentive stock
options may only be granted our employees.
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<PAGE>
The number of shares available for options under the 1998 Stock Option Plan
is 3,000,000. As of April 20, 2000, no shares had been issued as the
result of the exercise of options previously granted under the 1998
Stock Option Plan, 2,968,000 shares were subject to outstanding options and
32,000 shares were available for future grants. The exercise prices of the
outstanding options ranged from $0.80 to approximately $44.00. The options
under the 1998 Stock Option Plan vest over varying lengths of time
pursuant to various option agreements that we have entered into with the
grantees of such options. We have registered the shares subject to issuance
under our 1998 Stock Option Plan, pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933,
pursuant to our registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-32678).
The 1998 Stock Option Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee
of the board. Subject to the provisions of the 1998 Stock Option Plan, the
Compensation Committee has authority to determine the employees, directors
and consultants of Nettaxi who are to be awarded options and the terms of
such awards, including the number of shares subject to such option, the fair
market value of the common stock subject to options, the exercise price per
share and other terms.
Incentive stock options must have an exercise price equal to at least 100%
of the fair market value of a share on the date of the award and generally
cannot have a duration of more than 10 years. If the grant is to a stockholder
holding more than 10% of our voting stock, the exercise price must be at least
110% of the fair market value on the date of grant. Terms and conditions of
awards are set forth in written agreements between Nettaxi and the respective
option holders. Awards under the 1998 Stock Option Plan may not be made after
the tenth anniversary of the date of its adoption but awards granted before that
date may extend beyond that date.
If the employment with Nettaxi of the holder of an incentive stock option
is terminated for any reason other than as a result of the holder's death or
disability or for "cause" as defined in the 1998 Stock Option Plan, the holder
may exercise the option, to the extent exercisable on the date of termination of
employment, until the earlier of the option's specified expiration date and 90
days after the date of termination. If an option holder dies or becomes
disabled, both incentive and non-qualified stock options may generally be
exercised, to the extent exercisable on the date of death or disability, by the
option holder or the option holder's survivors until the earlier of the option's
specified termination date and one year after the date of death or disability.
Optionees have no rights as stockholders with respect to shares subject to
option prior to the issuance of shares pursuant to the exercise thereof. Options
issued to employees under the 1998 Stock Option Plan shall expire no later than
ten years after the date of grant. An option becomes exercisable at such time
and for such amounts as determined at the discretion of the board of directors
or the Compensation Committee at the time of the grant of the option. An
optionee may exercise a part of the option from the date that part first becomes
exercisable until the option expires. The purchase price for shares to be
issued to an employee upon his exercise of an option is determined by the board
of directors or the Compensation Committee on the date the option is granted.
The purchase price is payable in full in cash, by promissory note, by net
exercise or by delivery of shares of our common stock when the option is
exercised. The 1998 Stock Option Plan provides for adjustment as to the number
and kinds of shares covered by the outstanding options and the option price
therefor to give effect to any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination or
other reorganization of or by Nettaxi.
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<PAGE>
401(K) SAVINGS PLAN. Effective June 1, 1999 we instituted the Nettaxi
401(k) Savings Plan. Eligible employees may begin making deferrals under the
401(k) Savings Plan. The 401(k) Savings Plan is intended to be a qualified plan
under Internal Revenue Code Section 401(a), with a cash or deferred option
governed by Section 401(k) Savings of the Internal Revenue Code. Employees may
elect to defer their eligible current compensation up to the statutorily and
401(k) Savings Plan prescribed limits and have the amount of such deferral
contributed to the 401(k) Savings Plan. Contributions to the 401(k) Savings Plan
are invested in the investment funds described in the 401(k) Savings Plan. The
401(k) Savings Plan is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of
which this prospectus is a part.
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS
We intend to enter into indemnification agreements with our directors and
officers. These agreements will provide, in general, that we shall indemnify and
hold harmless such directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by law
against any judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement, and expenses incurred
in connection with, or in any way arising out of, any claim, action or
proceeding against, or affecting, such directors and officers resulting from,
relating to or in any way arising out of, the service of such persons as our
directors and officers. Currently, directors and officers are entitled to the
benefits of the limitation of liability provided under our charter documents and
the laws of the State of Nevada.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The following describes transactions to which we were or are a party and in
which any of our directors, officers, or significant stockholders, or members of
the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons, had or has a direct or
indirect material interest.
STOCK TRANSACTIONS BY NETTAXI ONLINE COMMUNITIES, INC.
ISSUANCES TO FOUNDERS. Nettaxi Online Communities, Inc. was formed in
October 1997 by Robert A. Rositano, Jr. and Dean Rositano. At the time of
formation, each of them was issued 1,288,044 shares of common stock of Nettaxi
Online Communities in consideration of their efforts in establishing that
company and developing its initial business strategy.
On February 12, 1998, Robert A. and Dean Rositano each were issued an
additional 66,297 shares of Nettaxi Online Communities common stock in lieu of
salary compensation earned by them between October 1997 and January 1998 in the
amount of $11,667.
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In March 1998, Robert A. and Dean Rositano each were issued warrants to
purchase 88,395 shares of Nettaxi Online Communities common stock. On August 1,
1998, they were each issued warrants to purchase 883,952 shares of Nettaxi
Online Communities common stock pursuant to the executive employment agreements.
All the warrants issued to Robert A. and Dean Rositano each were exercised in
September 1998.
During 1998, Robert A. and Dean Rositano transferred 129,435 and 137,012
shares, respectively, of Nettaxi Online Communities common stock by gift to
individuals.
All the shares of Nettaxi Online Communities common stock held by Robert A.
and Dean Rositano and their donees were converted into shares of our common
stock in the reorganization with Swan Valley Snowmobiles, Inc. described below.
SSN PROPERTIES, LLC. In October 1997, Nettaxi Online Communities
purchased the assets of Simply Interactive, Inc. from SSN Properties LLC
pursuant to an asset purchase agreement. The purchase price for the assets was
$2,000,000. $1,020,000 was paid pursuant to a convertible interest bearing
promissory note and the remainder of the purchase price was paid by the issuance
of 2,475,066 shares of Nettaxi Online Communities common stock. In September
1998, SSN Properties converted its promissory note with accrued interest in
exchange for 2,792,763 shares of Nettaxi Online Communities common stock. In
September, 1998 Nettaxi Online Communities also issued 176,790 shares of its
Nettaxi Online Communities common stock to SSN Properties in exchange for the
cancellation of a $70,000 accounts payable to SSN Properties. All the shares
of Nettaxi Online Communities common stock held by SSN Properties were converted
into shares of our common stock in the reorganization with Swan Valley
Snowmobiles, Inc. described below. In April, 1999 a pro rata distribution of
the shares of common stock held by SSN Properties was made to all of its
members. Robert Rositano, Sr., father of Robert A, and Dean Rositano, is a
managing member of SSN Properties.
REORGANIZATION WITH SWAN VALLEY SNOWMOBILES, INC.
In September 1998, Nettaxi Online Communities entered into the
reorganization with Swan Valley with a non-operating public company, Swan Valley
Snowmobiles, Inc., a Nevada corporation incorporated in October 1995. From its
incorporation, Swan Valley engaged in the business of snowmobile repair. During
the first half of 1997, Swan Valley determined that this line of business was no
longer feasible and discontinued its operations. Under the terms of the
reorganization, the Nettaxi Online Communities stockholders received
approximately 2.53 shares of common stock of Swan Valley in exchange for each of
their shares of Nettaxi Online Communities common stock, and Nettaxi Online
Communities became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Swan Valley. An aggregate of
12,000,000 shares were issued to the former Nettaxi Online Communities
stockholders in the reorganization with Swan Valley and the Nettaxi Online
Communities stockholders owned approximately 85% of Swan Valley immediately
after the reorganization. As part of the reorganization, all of the executive
officers and directors of Swan Valley resigned and the executive officers and
directors of Nettaxi Online Communities became the executive officers and
directors of Swan Valley which changed its name to Nettaxi, Inc. (and later
changed its name to Nettaxi.com) Immediately prior to the reorganization, Swan
Valley completed a limited public offering of its common stock which yielded
gross proceeds of $1,000,000 that was available to Nettaxi once the
reorganization was completed.
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<PAGE>
OTHER AGREEMENTS
In October 1998, each of Robert A. Rositano and Dean Rositano were granted
options to purchase up to 40,000 shares of our common stock under the 1998 Stock
Option Plan. As described above, we have entered into employment agreements
and other compensation arrangements with our officers.
As described above, in September 1999, we granted Mr. Robert Speicher, our
Vice President of Sales and Marketing options to purchase up to 250,000 shares
of common stock in accordance with our 1998 Stock Option Plan. The exercise
price for the options is equal to their fair market value on the date of grant.
Options to purchase up to 6,944 shares were immediately vested on the date of
grant and the remaining options vest in 12 equal quarterly installments.
As described above, in August 1999 each of Robert A. Rositano, Jr. and Dean
Rositano were granted options to purchase up to 600,000 shares of our common
stock under the 1998 Stock Option Plan. The exercise price for the options is
equal to 110% of their fair market value on the date of grant. Options to
purchase 100,000 shares vest in 12 monthly installments and options to purchase
the remaining 500,000 shares vest upon our achievement of specific business
objectives which have been established by the board of directors.
In January 2000, each of Robert A. Rositano and Dean Rositano were granted
options to purchase up to 256,000 shares of our common stock under our 1999
Stock Option Plan. The exercise price for these options was not less than 100%
of the fair market value on the date of grant. The right to purchase 40,000 of
these shares vests in 12 equal quarterly installments. The right to exercise
16,000 of the shares vests in 12 equal monthly installments. The right to
purchase the remaining shares vests upon our achievement of certain
business objectives.
In January 2000, we granted Robert Speicher options to purchase up to
100,000 shares of common stock under our 1999 Stock Option Plan. The exercise
price for these options was not less than the fair market value on the date
of grant. The right to purchase the shares vests in 12 equal quarterly
installments.
In January 2000, we granted each of our non employee directors at that
time, Andy Garonni, Ron R. Goldie and Steven Antebi, options to purchase up
to 150,000 shares of common stock under our 1999 Stock Option Plan. We also
granted options to purchase 150,000 shares of our common stock to Roger
Thornton, a former director. The exercise price for these options was not less
than the fair market value on the date of grant. The right to purchase these
shares was immediately vested.
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In February 2000, each of Robert A. Rositano, Jr. and Dean Rositano were
granted options to purchase up to 384,000 shares of our common stock under our
1999 stock option plan. The exercise price for these options was not less than
100% of the fair market value on the date of grant. The right to purchase
24,000 of these shares vests in 12 equal quarterly installments. The right to
purchase 60,000 of these shares vests in 12 equal monthly installments. The
right to purchase the remaining shares vests upon our achievement of certain
business objectives.
In February 2000, we granted Robert Speicher options to purchase up to
150,000 shares of common stock under our 1999 Stock Option Plan. The exercise
price for these options was not less than the fair market value on the date of
grant. The right to purchase the shares accrues in 12 equal quarterly
installments.
In October 1999, we granted Glenn Goelz, our former chief financial
officer, options to purchase up to 250,000 shares of common stock under the
1998 Stock Option Plan. In January 2000, we granted Mr. Goelz additional options
to purchase up to 112,000 shares of common stock under our 1999 Stock Option
Plan. The exercise price for these options was not less than the fair market
value on the date of grant. The right to purchase 12,000 of the options
issued were vested on the date of grant and the right to purchase the remaining
shares vested in 12 equal quarterly installments. In February 2000, we granted
Mr. Goetz, additional options to purchase up to 168,000 shares of common stock
under our 1999 Stock Option Plan. The exercise price for these options was not
less than the fair market value on the date of grant and the remainder accrued
in 12 quarterly installments. As of April 30, 2000, Mr. Goelz resigned and any
shares not vested on the date of his resignation terminated automatically.
We believe that all of the transactions set forth above were made on terms
no less favorable to us than could have been obtained from unaffiliated third
parties. We intend that all future transactions, including loans, between us and
our officers, directors, principal stockholders and their affiliates will be
approved by a majority of the board of directors, including a majority of the
independent and disinterested outside directors on the board of directors, and
be on terms no less favorable to us than could be obtained from unaffiliated
third parties.
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
This prospectus relates to the offering by the selling stockholders for
resale of shares of our common stock issued and or issuable to them upon
exercise of warrants which the selling stockholders received in private
placements and other transactions. All of the shares of common stock offered
by this prospectus are being offered by the selling stockholders for their own
accounts.
The following table sets forth information with respect to the common stock
beneficially owned by the selling stockholders as of the date of this
prospectus, including shares obtainable under warrants exercisable within 60
days of such date. The selling stockholders provided us the information
included in the table below. To our knowledge, each of the selling stockholders
has sole voting and investment power over the shares of common stock listed in
the table below. No selling stockholder, to our knowledge, has had a material
relationship with us during the last three years, other than as an owner of our
common stock or other securities.
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON
STOCK PRIOR TO THE OFFERING STOCK AFTER THE OFFERING
------------------------------ ------------------------------
NUMBER OF
SHARES TO BE
SELLING NUMBER OF SOLD UNDER NUMBER OF
STOCKHOLDER SHARES THIS PROSPECTUS SHARES PERCENT OF CLASS
------------------- ----------- ----------------- ----------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
RGC International
Investors 4,774,702 555,010 4,219,692 7.9%
------------------- ----------- ----------------- ----------- -----------------
Wall Street Trading
Group 125,000 125,000 -- --
------------------- ----------- ----------------- ----------- -----------------
Newport Capital
Consultants, Inc. 100,000 100,000 -- --
------------------- ----------- ----------------- ----------- -----------------
James D. Stubler 80,000 80,000 -- --
------------------- ----------- ----------------- ----------- -----------------
</TABLE>
The number of shares set forth in the table represents an estimate of
the number of shares of common stock to be offered by the selling stockholders.
However, as the selling stockholders can offer all, some or none of their
shares of common stock, no definitive estimate can be given as to the number
of shares that the selling stockholders will hold after
this offering.
The number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by RGC
International Investors consists of 555,010 currently outstanding shares
registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a
part, and also includes 269,692 shares underlying currently outstanding warrants
and an additional 3,950,000 shares, including 2,200,000 shares underlying
warrants which have been registered pursuant to our registration statement on
Form S-1 (File No. 333-38538). The actual number of shares of common stock
offered hereby, and included in the registration statement of which this
prospectus is a part, includes such additional number of shares of common stock
as may be issued by reason of any stock split, stock dividend or
similar transactions in accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities Act
of 1933.
RGC International Investors is a party to an investment management
agreement with Rose Glen Capital Management, L.P., a limited partnership of
which the general partner is RGC General Partner Corp. Messrs. Wayne Bloch,
Gary Kaminsky and Steven Katznelson own all of the outstanding capital stock of
RGC General Partner Corp. and are parties to a shareholders agreement pursuant
to which they collectively control RGC General Partner Corp. Through RGC
General Partner Corp., these individuals control Rose Glen Capital Management,
L.P. These individuals disclaim beneficial ownership of our common stock owned
by RGC International Investors.
WALL STREET TRADING GROUP. Wall Street Trading Group is entitled to
registration rights with respect to the 125,000 shares of our common stock that
Wall Street Trading Group may receive upon exercise of warrants previously
issued to Wall Street Trading Group. We have registered these shares
pursuant the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
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<PAGE>
NEWPORT CAPITAL CONSULTANTS, INC. In July, 2000 we entered into an
agreement with Newport Capital Consultants, Inc. under which Newport Capital
Consultants, Inc provided us with certain promotional services in exchange for
100,000 shares of common stock, having registration rights. The shares issued
pursuant to our agreement with Newport Capital Consultants, Inc are being
registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a
part.
James D.Stubler. In August 2000, we entered into an agreement with James D.
Stubler under which Mr. Stubler was to provide us with certain promotional
services in exchange for 80,000 shares of common stock, having registration
rights. The shares issued pursuant to our agreement with Mr. Stubler are being
registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a
part.
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth information with respect to the beneficial
ownership of our common stock as of April 30, 2000 and as adjusted to reflect
the sale of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus, by
each person, or group of affiliated persons, who we know beneficially owns 5%
or more of our common stock, each of our directors and executive
officers, and all of our directors and executive officers as a group.
The percentages of total shares of common stock set forth below assume that
only the indicated person or group has exercised options and warrants which are
exercisable within 60 days of April 30, 2000 and do not reflect the
percentage of common stock which would be calculated if all other holders of
currently exercisable options or warrants had exercised their securities.
Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to the table, (1) the following
individuals have sole vesting and sole investment control with respect to the
shares they beneficially own and (2) unless otherwise indicated, the address of
each beneficial owner listed below is c/o Nettaxi.com, 1696 Dell Avenue,
Campbell, California.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME OF BENEFICAL
OWNER
---------------------------------
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND NUMBER OF
DIRECTORS: SHARES NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIALLY PERCENT OF BENEFICIALLY
OWNED BEFORE CLASS BEFORE OWNED AFTER PERCENT OF CLASS
OFFERING OFFERING OFFERING AFTER OFFERING
--------------------------------- ------------ ----------------- ------------ -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert A. Rositano, Jr. 2,043,567 5.0% 2,043,567 4.0%
--------------------------------- ------------ ----------------- ------------ -----------------
Dean Rositano 1,965,244 4.8% 1,965,244 3.9%
--------------------------------- ------------ ----------------- ------------ -----------------
Robert Speicher 69,544 * 69,544 *
--------------------------------- ------------ ----------------- ------------ -----------------
Brian Stroh 132,617 * 132,617 *
--------------------------------- ------------ ----------------- ------------ -----------------
Andrew Garroni 225,000 * 225,000 *
--------------------------------- ------------ ----------------- ------------ -----------------
Ron R. Goldie 200,000 * 200,000 *
--------------------------------- ------------ ----------------- ------------ -----------------
All directors and executive
officers as a group (6
Persons) 4,635,973 10.4% 4,635,972 9.0%
--------------------------------- ------------ ----------------- ------------ -----------------
OTHER 5% STOCKHOLDERS:
---------------------------------
Robert A. Rositano, Sr. 2,368,070 5.8% 2,368,070 4.7%
--------------------------------- ------------ ----------------- ------------ -----------------
HBK Investments L.P. 3,000,000 7.4% 3,000,000 5.9%
--------------------------------- ------------ ----------------- ------------ -----------------
RGC International Investors, LDC 4,774,702 11.1% 4,219,692 7.9%
--------------------------------- ------------ ----------------- ------------ -----------------
</TABLE>
* Less than one percent.
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<PAGE>
The percentage of class owned after the offering has been calculated by
assuming the exercise of warrants outstanding and held by the selling
stockholders as of April 30, 2000.
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission. In computing the number of shares
beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person,
shares of common stock and options on April 30, 2000 are deemed outstanding.
Such shares, however, are not deemed outstanding for the purposes of
computing the percentage ownership of each other person.
Robert A. and Dean Rositano are brothers.
The number of shares shown for Robert A. Rositano, Jr. includes
148,333 shares of common stock subject to options that are currently
exercisable within 60 days of April 30, 2000. Excludes 1,131,667 shares of
common stock subject to options that will not be exercisable within 60 days of
April 30, 2000.
The number of shares shown for Dean Rositano includes 148,333 shares
of common stock subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of
April 30, 2000. Excludes 1,131,667 shares of common stock subject to options
that will not be exercisable within 60 days of April 30, 2000.
The number of shares shown for Robert Speicher includes 69,444 shares of
common stock subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of
April 30, 2000. Excludes 430,556 shares of common stock subject to options
that will not be exercisable within 60 days of April 30, 2000.
The number of shares shown for Brian Stroh includes 26,333 shares of
common stock subject to options that are exercisable within 60 days of April
30, 2000. Excludes 139,667 shares of common stock subject to options that will
not be exercisable within 60 days of April 30, 2000.
The number of shares shown for Andrew Garroni includes 150,000 shares of
common stock subject to options that are currently exercisable.
The number of shares shown for Ron Goldie includes 150,000 shares of common
stock subject to options that are currently exercisable.
The shares shown for Robert Rositano, Sr. were received as part of a
pro-rata distribution to the members of SSN Properties, LLC in April 1999. Mr.
Rositano is a managing member of SSN Properties and the father of Robert A.
Rositano, Jr. and Dean Rositano. Mr. Rositano's address is 14836 Three Oaks
Court, Saratoga, California 95070.
The shares shown for HBK Investments L.P. are held in the name of Montrose
Investments, Ltd. HBK Investments L.P. has sole voting and dispositive power
over these shares pursuant to an Investment Management Agreement with Montrose
Investments, Ltd. Accordingly, Montrose has no beneficial ownership of such
shares. The address for HBK Investments L.P. is 300 Crescent Ct. Ste 700,
Dallas, Texas 75201.
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<PAGE>
The number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by RGC
International Investors consists of 555,010 currently outstanding shares
registered pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a
part, and also includes 269,692 shares underlying currently outstanding warrants
and an additional 3,950,000 shares, including 2,200,000 shares underlying
warrants which have been registered pursuant to our registration statement on
Form S-1 (File No. 333-38538).
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following description of our securities and various provisions of our
articles of incorporation and our bylaws are summaries. Statements contained in
this prospectus relating to such provisions are not necessarily complete, and
reference is made to the articles of incorporation and bylaws, copies of which
have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as exhibits to our
registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part, and
provisions of applicable law. Our authorized capital stock consists of
200,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share , of which
40,753,658 shares were issued and outstanding as April 30, 2000, and
1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.001, of which no shares were
issued or outstanding as of April 30, 2000. As of April 30, 2000, we estimated
that there were approximately 398 holders of record of our common stock.
COMMON STOCK
The holders of outstanding shares of common stock are entitled to share
ratably in dividends declared out of assets legally available therefor at such
time and in such amounts as the board of directors may from time to time
lawfully determine. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each
share held. Cumulative voting in elections of directors and all other matters
brought before stockholders meetings, whether they be annual or special, is not
provided for under our articles of incorporation or bylaws. However, cumulative
voting rights in the election of our directors currently applies under
California law. California Corporations Code Section 2115 requires us to provide
our stockholders cumulative voting rights in the election of directors because
the average of our property factor, payroll factor and sales factor deemed to be
in California during our latest fiscal year was almost 100%, and over 60% of our
outstanding voting securities are held of record by persons having addresses in
California, and our securities do not currently qualify as a national market
security on NASDAQ. California Corporations Code Section 2115 is discussed in
greater detail below. The common stock is not entitled to conversion or
preemptive rights and is not subject to redemption or assessment. Upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Nettaxi, any assets legally available
for distribution to stockholders as such are to be distributed ratably among the
olders of the common stock at that time outstanding. The common stock
presently outstanding is fully paid and nonassessable. As described below, the
board of directors is authorized, without further stockholder approval, to issue
preferred stock. Such an issuance could potentially effect the rights and
preferences of holders of common stock. Other than by the issuance of preferred
stock by the board of directors, the rights of security holders may not be
modified otherwise than by a vote of a majority or more of the shares
outstanding.
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<PAGE>
Currently, our bylaws provide that stockholder action may be taken at a
meeting of stockholders and may be effected by a consent in writing if such
consent is signed by the holders of the majority of outstanding shares, unless
Nevada law requires a greater percentage. Our articles of incorporation provide
that they may be amended by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares
entitled to vote on such an amendment. These are the only provisions of our
bylaws or articles of incorporation that specify the vote required by security
holders to take action.
PREFERRED STOCK
The board of directors is authorized, without further stockholder approval,
to issue from time to time up to an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of preferred
stock. The preferred stock may be issued in one or more series and the board of
directors may fix the rights, preferences and designations thereof. No shares
of preferred stock are currently outstanding and we have no present plans to
issue any shares of preferred stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while
providing desirable flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and
other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for
a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from acquiring, a
majority of our outstanding voting stock.
WARRANTS
RGC INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS SHARES AND WARRANTS. On March 31, 1999, we
entered into a securities purchase agreement with RGC International Investors
under which we issued convertible debentures in the amount of $5,000,000 and
warrants to purchase 150,000 shares of our common stock. As described
elsewhere in this prospectus, we recently settled litigation with RGC
International Investors pursuant to which we issued and delivered 1,750,000
shares of common stock and five-year warrants to purchase up to 2,200,000 shares
of common stock, having an exercise price of $1.50 per share, in exchange for
the termination of the debentures previously held by RGC International
Investors.
The warrants to purchase up to 2,200,000 shares of common stock issued to
RGC International Investors may be exercised at any time during the five-year
period following their issuance. The exercise price for the warrants is subject
to adjustment for stock dividends, stock splits and consoldiations or
mergers. The warrants contain provisions which limit the number of shares of
common stock into which the warrants are exercisable. Under these provisions,
the number of shares of common stock into which the warrants are exercisable on
any given date, together with any additional shares of common stock held by RGC
International Investors, will not exceed 4.9% of our then outstanding common
stock.
In August 1999, we entered into an agreement with RGC International
Investors, LDC pursuant to which it exercised 150,000 warrants that were issued
to it on March 31, 1999 in connection with the issuance of convertible
debentures. In consideration for the early exercise of its warrants, the
exercise price for the warrants was decreased from $12.375 to $7.875 and we
issued RGC warrants to purchase an additional 150,000 shares of common stock
with an exercise price of $7.875. Subsequently, due to the resolution of a
dispute with the selling stockholder with regard to the appropriate adjustment
required under the anti-dilution provisions in such warrants, we agree to
decrease the exercise price to $4.38 per share, resulting in an increase in the
number of shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants to 269,692. We have
registered the shares issuable upon exercise of these warrants pursuant to our
registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-38538) declared effective by
the Securities Exchange Commission on June 21, 2000.
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<PAGE>
These warrants issued to RGC International Investors may be exercised at
any time during the five-year period following their issuance. The exercise
price for the warrants is subject to adjustment for stock dividends, stock
splits, recapitalizations, reclassifications, combinations, and dilutive
issuances of securities. The warrants contain provisions which limit the
number of shares of common stock in to which the warrants are exercisable.
Under these provisions, the number of shares of common stock into which the
warrants are exercisable on any given date, together with any additional
shares of common stock held by RGC International Investors, will not exceed
4.99% of our then outstanding common stock.
The foregoing has included a brief description of some of the terms of
the warrants. For a more detailed description of the rights of the holders of
the warrants, prospective investors are directed to the actual form of warrant
that has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this
prospectus is a part.
REGISTRATION RIGHTS
RGC INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS. As part of our settlement agreement with RGC
International Investors we entered into a Registration Rights Agreement on April
28, 2000. This agreement required us to register the the shares of common stock
issued to, and shares of common stock underlying the warrants to be issued, to
RGC International Investors under the settlement agreement. We have registered
these shares pursuant to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No.
333-38538).
2000 PRIVATE PLACEMENT. As previously described, we issued
approximately 15 million shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase an
equal number of shares of our common stock to investors in connection with a
private placement in which we raised approximately $23 million. The investors
received registration rights in connection with this private placement.
Accordingly, we have filed registration statement on Form S-1 on May 11, 2000
covering the shares issued in connection with the private placement and the
shares underlying the warrants issued in connection with the private placement.
SINCLAIR DAVIS TRADING CORP. We have previously issued 525,000 shares of
common stock to Sinclair Davis Trading Corp. in exchange for financial
consulting services. Sinclair Davis was granted registration rights in
connection with these shares. Accordingly, we have prepared the registration
statement on Form S-1 filed as of May 11, 2000 covering these shares.
BAYTREE CAPITAL. On September 3, 1998, Nettaxi Online Communities, Inc.
engaged Baytree Capital Associates to provide financial and business consulting
in connection with the reorganization with Swan Valley Snowmobiles, Inc. In
consideration of such services, Baytree was issued 200,000 shares of our common
stock in October 1998 and granted registration rights with respect to such
shares. Specifically, we must register the shares held by Baytree upon
receipt of a registration request after April 1, 1999. Baytree also has
piggyback registration rights for their shares, but has waived the right to
have such shares included in this prospectus.
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<PAGE>
WALL STREET TRADING GROUP. Wall Street Trading Group is entitled to
registration rights with respect to the 125,000 shares of our common stock that
Wall Street Trading Group may receive upon exercise of warrants previously
issued to Wall Street Trading Group. We have registered these shares
pursuant the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
PLUS NET. Under the terms of the merger between us and Plus Net,
shareholders of Plus Net were granted piggyback registration rights with respect
to the shares of our common stock which they received in the merger. Generally,
they receive registration rights on a pro rata basis with our other
shareholders. The registration rights do not have any impact or effect with
respect to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
In July and August 2000, we entered into agreement with Newport Capital
Consultants, Inc. and James D. Stubler pursuant to which we issued an aggregate
of 180,000 shares of common stock. The shares issued pursuant to these
agreements carried registration rights and are being registered pursuant to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. Pursuant to their executive employment agreements,
Robert A. Rositano, Jr. and Dean Rositano were granted registration rights
with respect to the registration of their shares of common stock. Each of them
have waived any registration rights they may have with respect to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF NEVADA LAW AND NETTAXI'S
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS
We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada and are therefore
subject to various provisions of the Nevada corporation laws which may have the
effect of delaying or deterring a change in the control or management of
Nettaxi.
Nevada's "Combination with Interested Stockholders Statute," Nevada
Revised Statutes 78.411-78.444, which applies to Nevada corporations like us
having at least 200 stockholders, prohibits an "interested stockholder" from
entering into a "combination" with the corporation, unless specific
conditions are met. A "combination" includes:
- any merger with an "interested stockholder," or any other
corporation which is or after the merger would be, an affiliate or
associate of the interested stockholder;
- any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or
other disposition of assets, in one transaction or a series of transactions,
to an "interested stockholder," having:
- an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the
aggregate market value of the corporation's assets,
- an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the
aggregate market value of all outstanding shares of the corporation, or
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- representing 10% or more of the earning power or net
income of the corporation;
- any issuance or transfer of shares of the corporation or
its subsidiaries, to the "interested stockholder," having an aggregate market
value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of all the
outstanding shares of the corporation,
- the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
dissolution of the corporation proposed by the "interested stockholder,"
- transactions which would have the effect of increasing the
proportionate share of outstanding shares of the corporation owned by
the "interested stockholder," or
- the receipt of benefits, except proportionately as a
stockholder, of any loans, advances or other financial benefits by an "
interested stockholder."
An "interested stockholder" is a person who
- directly or indirectly owns 10% or more of the voting power
of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation;
- an affiliate or associate of the corporation which at any time
within three years before the date in question was the beneficial owner,
directly or indirectly, of 10% or more of the voting power of the then
outstanding shares of the corporation.
A corporation to which the statute applies may not engage in a
"combination" within three years after the interested stockholder acquired its
shares, unless the combination or the interested stockholder's acquisition of
shares was approved by the board of directors before the interested stockholder
acquired the shares. If this approval was not obtained, then after the
three-year period expires, the combination may be consummated if all the
requirements in the articles of incorporation are met and either:
- the board of directors of the corporation approves, prior to such
person becoming an "interested stockholder," the combination or the
purchase of shares by the "interested stockholder" or the combination is
approved by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of voting power not
beneficially owned by the "interested stockholder" at a meeting called no
earlier than three years after the date the "interested stockholder"
became such; or
- the aggregate amount of cash and the market value of consideration
other than cash to be received by holders of common shares and holders of any
other class or series of shares meets the minimum requirements set forth in
Sections 78.411 through 78.443, inclusive, and prior to the consummation
of the combination, except in limited circumstances, the "interested
stockholder" will not have become the beneficial owner of additional
voting shares of the corporation.
82
<PAGE>
Nevada's "Control Share Acquisition Statute," Nevada Revised Statute
Sections 78.378-78.379, prohibits an acquiror, under some circumstances,
from voting shares of a target corporation's stock after crossing threshold
ownership percentages, unless the acquiror obtains the approval of the target
corporation's stockholders. The Control Share Acquisition Statute only applies
to Nevada corporations with at least 200 stockholders, including at least 100
record stockholders who are Nevada residents, and which do business directly or
indirectly in Nevada. While we do not currently exceed these thresholds, we may
well do so in the near future. In addition, although we do not presently "do
business" in Nevada within the meaning of the Control Share Acquisition Statute,
we may do so in the future. Therefore, it is likely that the Control Share
Acquisition Statute will apply to us in the future. The statute specifies three
thresholds: at least one-fifth but less than one-third, at least one-third but
less than a majority, and a majority or more, of all the outstanding voting
power. Once an acquiror crosses one of the above thresholds, shares which it
acquired in the transaction taking it over the threshold or within ninety days
become "Control Shares" which are deprived of the right to vote until a majority
of the disinterested stockholders restore that right. A special stockholders'
meeting may be called at the request of the acquiror to consider the voting
rights of the acquiror's shares no more than 50 days, unless the acquiror agrees
to a later date, after the delivery by the acquiror to the corporation of an
information statement which sets forth the range of voting power that the
acquiror has acquired or proposes to acquire and other information concerning
the acquiror and the proposed control share acquisition. If no such request for
a stockholders' meeting is made, consideration of the voting rights of the
acquiror's shares must be taken at the next special or annual stockholders'
meeting. If the stockholders fail to restore voting rights to the acquiror or
if the acquiror fails to timely deliver an information statement to the
corporation, then the corporation may, if so provided in its articles of
incorporation or bylaws, call some of the acquiror's shares for redemption. Our
articles of incorporation and bylaws do not currently permit us to call an
acquiror's shares for redemption under these circumstances. The Control Share
Acquisition Statute also provides that the stockholders who do not vote in favor
of restoring voting rights to the Control Shares may demand payment for the
"fair value" of their shares. This amount is generally equal to the highest
price paid in the transaction subjecting the stockholder to the statute.
Provisions of our bylaws which are summarized below may affect potential
changes in control of Nettaxi. The board of directors believes that these
provisions are in the best interests of stockholders because they will encourage
a potential acquiror to negotiate with the board of directors, which will be
able to consider the interests of all stockholders in a change in control
situation. However, the cumulative effect of these terms maybe to make it more
difficult to acquire and exercise control of Nettaxi and to make changes in
management more difficult.
The bylaws provide the number of directors of Nettaxi shall be established by
the board of directors, but shall be no less than one. Between stockholder
meetings, the board of directors may appoint new directors to fill vacancies or
newly created directorships. A director may be removed from office by the
affirmative vote of 66-2/3% of the combined voting power of the then
outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors.
83
<PAGE>
As discussed above, our bylaws further provide that stockholder action
may be taken at a meeting of stockholders and may be effected by a consent in
writing if such consent is signed by the holders of the majority of outstanding
shares, unless Nevada law requires a greater percentage.
We are not aware of any proposed takeover attempt or any proposed attempt
to acquire a large block of our common stock.
The provisions described above may have the effect of delaying or deterring
a change in the control or management of Nettaxi.
APPLICATION OF CALIFORNIA GENERAL CORPORATION LAW
Although we are incorporated in Nevada, our headquarters is in the State of
California. Section 2115 of the California General Corporation Law provides
that provisions of the California General Corporation Law shall be applicable to
a corporation organized under the laws of another state to the exclusion of
the law of the state in which it is incorporated, if the corporation meets
tests regarding the business done in California and the number of its
California stockholders.
An entity such as us can be subject to Section 2115 if the average of the
property factor, payroll factor and sales factor deemed to be in California
during its latest full income year is more than 50 percent and more than
one-half of its outstanding voting securities are held of record by persons
having addresses in California. Section 2115 does not apply to corporations
with outstanding securities listed on the New York or American Stock Exchange,
or with outstanding securities designated as qualified for trading as a national
market security on NASDAQ, if such corporation has at least 800 beneficial
holders of its equity securities. Since the average of our property factor,
payroll factor and sales factor deemed to be in California during our latest
fiscal year was almost 100%, and over 60% of our outstanding voting securities
are held of record by persons having addresses in California, and our securities
do not currently qualify as a national market security on NASDAQ, we are subject
to Section 2115.
During the period that we are subject to Section 2115, the provisions of
the California General Corporation Law regarding the following matters are made
applicable to the exclusion of the law of the State of Nevada:
- general provisions and definitions;
- annual election of directors;
- removal of directors without cause;
- removal of directors by court proceedings;
- filling of director vacancies where less than a majority in office
were elected by the stockholders
- directors' standard of care;
- liability of directors for unlawful distributions;
- indemnification of directors, officers and others;
- limitations on corporate distributions of cash or property;
- liability of a stockholder who receives an unlawful distribution;
- requirements for annual stockholders meetings;
- stockholders' right to cumulate votes at any election of directors;
- supermajority vote requirements;
- limitations on sales of assets;
- limitations on mergers;
- reorganizations;
- dissenters' rights in connection with reorganizations
- required records and papers;
- actions by the California Attorney General; and
- rights of inspection.
84
<PAGE>
We intend to take appropriate action to qualify our common stock as
a national market security on NASDAQ. If such qualification becomes
effective, and the other conditions for exemption from Section 2115 can
be satisfied, we would no longer be subject to Section 2115. There can be
no assurance that all the conditions from exemption, including successful
completion of the qualification of our common stock as a national market
security on NASDAQ, will be satisfied.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION MATTERS
We believe that provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws will
be useful to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers.
Our articles of incorporation limit the liability of directors and officers to
the fullest extent permitted by Nevada law. This is intended to allow our
directors and officers the benefit of Nevada's corporation law which provides
that directors and officers of Nevada corporations may be relieved of monetary
liabilities for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except under
circumstances which involve acts or omissions which involve intentional
misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law, or the payment of unlawful
distributions.
We have obtained officer and director liability insurance with respect to
liabilities arising out of certain matters, including matters arising under the
Securities Act of 1933.
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
Interwest Transfer Co., Inc. is the transfer agent and registrar for our
capital stock.
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
On July 12, 2000, 43,113,336 shares of our common stock were
outstanding, and 2,968,000 shares of common stock were subject to options
granted under our 1998 Stock Option Plan and 3,257,200 shares were subject to
options granted under our 1999 Stock Option Plan. In addition, approximately
15,953,484 shares of common stock were issuable upon exercise of warrants
outstanding. The shares underlying these warrants were registered pursuant to
our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-36826), declared effective
by the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 12, 2000. Additionally,
warrants to purchase 2,200,000 shares of common stock are outstanding and
exercisable by one of the selling stockholders. The shares underlying these
warrants have been registered pursuant to our registration statement on Form S-1
85
<PAGE>
(333-38538), declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on
June 21, 2000. We also filed a registration statement to register for resale
6,300,000 of the shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our Stock
Option Plan. That registration statement became effective immediately upon
filing. Accordingly, shares covered by that registration statement are
eligible for sale in the public market subject to vesting restrictions. As of
April 30, 2000, 1,170,704 of these options were exercisable. Additionally, we
intend to file a registration statement on form S-8 covering the 5,600,000
shares we added to our 1999 Stock Option Plan. Of the outstanding shares,
11,487,250 shares of common stock are immediately eligible for sale in the
public market without restriction or further registration under the Securities
Act of 1933, unless purchased by or issued to any "affiliate" of ours, as that
term is defined in Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933,
described below. All other outstanding shares of our common stock are
"restricted securities" as such term is defined under Rule 144, in that such
shares were issued in private transactions not involving a public offering and
may not be sold in the absence of registration other than in accordance with
Rule 144, 144(k) or 701 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933 or another
exemption from registration.
In general, under Rule 144, as currently in effect, a person, including
an affiliate, who has beneficially owned shares for at least one year is
entitled to sell, within any three-month period commencing 90 days after the
date of this prospectus, a number of shares that does not exceed the greater
of 1% of the then outstanding shares of our common, subject to various
restrictions. In addition, a person who is not deemed to have been an
affiliate of ours at any time during the 90 days preceding a sale and who
has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least two
years would be entitled to sell those shares under Rule 144(k) without
regard to the requirements described above. To the extent that shares were
acquired from an affiliate, such person's holding period for the purpose of
effecting a sale under Rule 144 commences on the date of transfer from the
affiliate. As of June 30, 2000 approximately 21,000,000 shares of common stock
were eligible for sale under Rule 144. Finally, some of our stockholders have
demand registration rights with to their shares of common stock.
Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock under Rule 144, this
Prospectus or otherwise could adversely affect the prevailing market price of
our common stock and could impair our ability to raise capital through the
future sale of our securities.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
This prospectus relates to the offer and sale of the shares of our common
stock held by the selling stockholders and to be received by the selling
stockholders when and if they exercise their warrants. We are registering the
shares of common stock to fulfill our obligations under various agreements
with the selling stockholders. The registration of the shares of common
stock does not necessarily mean that any of the shares will be offered or
sold by the selling stockholders under this prospectus.
86
<PAGE>
The selling stockholders or their respective their pledgees, donees,
transferees or other successors in interest may offer their shares at various
times in one or more of the following transactions, which may include block
trades on the O-T-C Market Bulletin Board or other market on which the common
stock may be traded in which the broker-dealer so engaged will attempt to
sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block
as principal to facilitate the transaction:
- purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by such
broker or dealer for its account pursuant to this prospectus;
- ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
broker solicits purchasers;
- privately negotiated, face-to-face transactions between the
selling stockholders and purchasers without a broker-dealer;
- through the writing of options or short sales; and
- any combination of the above.
The sale price to the public may be the market price prevailing at the time
of sale, a price related to such prevailing market price or such other price as
the selling stockholders or their respective their pledgees, donees, transferees
or other successors in interest determine from time to time.
The selling stockholders may also sell the shares directly to market makers
acting as principals or broker-dealers acting as agents for themselves or their
customers. Brokers acting as agents for the selling stockholders will receive
usual and customary commissions for brokerage transactions, and market makers
and block purchasers purchasing the shares will do so for their own account and
at their own risk. It is possible that the selling stockholders will attempt to
sell shares of our common stock in block transactions to market makers or other
purchasers at a price per share which may be below the then market price. There
can be no assurance that all or any of the shares offered hereby will be issued
to or sold by the selling stockholders. The selling stockholders and any
brokers, dealers or agents effecting the sale of any of the shares may be deemed
to be "underwriters" under the Securities Act of 1933. In addition, any
securities covered by this prospectus may also be sold under Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933 rather than pursuant to this
prospectus. The selling stockholders have the sole discretion not to accept any
offer to purchase shares or make any sale of shares if they conclude the
purchase price is inadequate.
The selling stockholders, alternatively, may sell the shares offered under
this prospectus through an underwriter. The selling stockholders have not
entered into any agreement with a prospective underwriter. We can not guarantee
that this type of agreement will not be entered into. If the selling
stockholders enter into this type of agreement, we will supplement or revise
this prospectus.
87
<PAGE>
Upon being notified by the selling stockholders that any material
arrangement has been entered into with a broker or dealer for the sale of shares
through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or secondary
distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, we will file a supplemented
prospectus, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(c) under the Securities Act
of 1933, disclosing:
- the name of each broker or dealer;
- the number of shares involved;
- the price at which the shares were sold;
- the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to the
broker(s) or dealer(s), where applicable;
- that the broker(s) or dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to
verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus,
as supplemented; and
- other facts material to the transaction.
To comply with the securities laws of various jurisdictions, the shares
offered by this prospectus may need to be offered or sold in such jurisdictions
only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.
The selling stockholders and any other persons participating in the sale or
distribution of the shares of common stock will be subject to the relevant
provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations
thereunder, including, without limitation, regulation M. These provisions may
restrict certain activities of, and limit the timing of purchases and s ales of
any of the shares by, the selling stockholders or any other such person.
Furthermore, under Regulation M, persons engaged in a distribution of securities
are prohibited from simultaneously engaging in market making and certain other
activities with respect to such securities for a specified period of time prior
to the commencement of such distributions, subject to specified exceptions or
exemptions. All of these limitations may affect the marketability of the
shares.
We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders, or their transferees
or assignees, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the selling stockholders or their
respective pledgees, donees, transferees or other successors in interest may be
required to make in respect of such liabilities.
We are bearing all costs relating to the registration of the shares. The
selling stockholders will pay any commissions, discounts or other fees payable
to broker-dealers in connection with any sale of the shares.
The selling stockholders have agreed to suspend sales for limited periods
upon notification that actions, such as amending or supplementing this
prospectus, are required in order to comply with federal or state securities
laws.
88
<PAGE>
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the issuance of the common stock offered hereby has been
passed upon for us by Silicon Valley Law Group, San Jose, California.
EXPERTS
The financial statements included in this propectus and in the registration
statement have been audited by BDO Seidman, LLP, independent certified public
accountants, to the extent and for the periods set forth in their report
appearing elsewhere herein and in the registration statement, and are included
in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of said firm as experts in
auditing and accounting.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a
registration statement on Form S-l. This prospectus, which is a part of the
registration statement, does not contain all of the information included in
the registration statement. Some information is omitted and you should refer to
the registration statement and its exhibits. With respect to references made in
this prospectus to any contract, agreement or other document of Nettaxi, such
references are not necessarily complete and you should refer to the exhibits
attached to the registration statement for copies of the actual contract,
agreement or other document. You may review a copy of the registration
statement, including exhibits, at the Securities and Exchange Commission's
public reference room at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549 or Seven World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048 or
Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661.
The public may obtain information on the operation of the public reference
room by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330.
We will also file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements
and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may
read and copy any reports, statements or other information on file at the
public reference rooms. You can also request copies of these documents, for
a copying fee, by writing to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Our Securities and Exchange Commission filings and the registration
statement can also be reviewed by accessing the Securities and Exchange
Commission's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy
and information statements and other information regarding registrants that
file electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
89
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS . . . . . . F-3
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Consolidated balance sheets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-4 - F-5
Consolidated statements of operations. . . . . . . . . . . . F-6
Consolidated statements of shareholders' (deficiency) equity F-7
Consolidated statements of cash flows. . . . . . . . . . . . F-8
Notes to consolidated financial statements . . . . . . . . . F-9 - F-30
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
To The Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Nettaxi.com
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Nettaxi.com as
of December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the related consolidated statements of
operations, shareholders' (deficiency) equity and cash flows for each of the two
years in the period ended December 31, 1999 and for the period from October 23,
1997 (Date of Inception) to 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 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 financial position of Nettaxi.com as of
December 31, 1999 and 1998, and the results of its operations and its cash flows
for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 1999 and for the
period from October 23, 1997 (Date of Inception) to December 31, 1997 in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
San Jose, California
February 15, 2000, except for matters discussed in Note 13 for which the date
is March 9, 2000.
F-3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NETTAXI.COM
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
MARCH 31, --------------------
2000 1999 1998
----------- ---------- --------
(UNAUDITED)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 9) $19,271,600 $ 987,700 $ 465,800
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for
doubtful accounts of $168,600, $83,600,
and $31,200, respectively (Note 9) 2,070,500 1,181,600 133,700
Prepaid expenses and other assets (Note 7) 863,000 609,200 16,100
-------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------- ----------
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 22,205,100 2,778,500 615,600
-------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------- ----------
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net (Note 2) 1,834,800 1,968,600 255,100
PURCHASED TECHNOLOGY, net (Note 3) 449,500 493,000 667,000
OTHER INTANGIBLES, net (Note 3) 77,500 85,000 115,000
DEFERRED EXPENSES (Note 7) 891,300 655,200 --
DEPOSITS 32,800 50,900 --
-------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------- ----------
$25,491,000 $6,031,200 $1,652,700
=================================================================================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NETTAXI.COM
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
MARCH 31, ---------------------------
2000 1999 1998
------------------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ------------
(UNAUDITED)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS(DEFICIENCY)
EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable $ 2,207,900 $ 4,041,400 $ 186,900
Accrued expenses (Note 4) 1,283,200 659,100 74,000
Deferred revenue -- -- 47,000
Income taxes payable (Note 8) 2,600 125,600 --
Current portion of capital lease obligations
(Note 5) 3,600 5,400 7,300
------------------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ------------
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 3,497,300 4,831,500 315,200
------------------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ------------
LONGLIABILITIES:
Capital lease obligations, less current portion -- -- 5,400
Convertible notes payable, related party
(Note 6) 2,400,000 3,200,000 --
------------------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ------------
TOTAL LONG-TERM LIABILITIES 2,400,000 3,200,000 5,400
------------------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES 5,897,300 8,031,500 320,600
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
(NOTES 5, 9 AND 12)
SHAREHOLDERS(DEFICIENCY) EQUITY
(NOTES 6, 7, AND 13):
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value;
1,000,000 shares authorized; -- -- --
no shares issued and outstandin.
Common stock subscribed (95,000) (95,000) (95,000)
Common stock, $0.001 par value;
50,000,000 shares authorized;
40,438,557, 23,214,446 and
21,110,000 shares issued and
outstanding, respectively 37,000 20,000 10,800
Additional paidcapital 36,629,800 11,902,500 4,872,100
Deferred Compensation (872,700) (491,400) --
Accumulated deficit (16,105,400) (13,336,400) (3,455,800)
------------------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ------------
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS(DEFICIENCY) EQUITY 19,593,700 (2,000,300) 1,332,100
------------------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ------------
$ 25,491,000 $ 6,031,200 $ 1,652,700
==================================================================================================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-5
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NETTAXI.COM
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the period
October 23,
Three months ended Years Ended December 31, (Date of
March 31, ------------------------ Inception) to
-------------------------- December 31,
2000 1999 1999 1998 1997
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
(UNAUDITED) (UNAUDITED)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NET REVENUES (NOTES 9 AND 10) $ 2,764,900 689,300 $ 5,032,800 $ 258,000 $ 144,900
COST OF REVENUES 1,773,500 323,400 4,003,800 239,800 87,400
---------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
GROSS PROFIT 991,400 365,900 1,029,000 18,200 57,500
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Sales and marketing 1,763,300 135,700 4,788,800 745,600 3,100
Research and development 457,100 217,800 2,186,700 634,700 36,500
General and administrative 1,467,500 422,800 3,456,000 1,053,200 160,000
Asset impairment (Note 3) -- -- -- 667,000 --
---------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES 3,687,900 776,300 10,431,500 3,100,500 199,600
---------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS (2,696,500) (410,400) (9,402,500) (3,082,300) (142,100)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest income 26,000 2,600 75,100 9,800
Interest expense (Notes 6 and 7) (97,700) (500) (426,200) (68,800) (17,000)
Other income -- -- -- 28,500 --
---------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES (2,768,200) (408,300) (9,753,600) (3,112,800) (159,100)
INCOME TAXES (Note 8) (800) (100,800) (126,800) (800) (600)
---------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
NET LOSS $(2,769,000) $ (509,100) $(9,880,400) $(3,113,600) $ (159,700)
---------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDEND -- -- -- (14,300) (167,500)
---------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
NET LOSS AVAILABLE TO COMMON
SHAREHOLDERS $(2,769,000) $ (509,100) $(9,880,400) $(3,127,900) $ (327,200)
======================================== ============ ============ ============ ============ ===========
BASIC AND DILUTED LOSS PER COMMON SHARE $ (0.09) $ (0.02) $ (0.46) $ (0.32) $ (0.06)
======================================== ============ ============ ============ ============ ===========
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES
OUTSTANDING 29,391,784 21,110,000 21,274,203 9,724,781 5,483,500
======================================== ============ ============ ============ ============ ===========
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NETTAXI.COM
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred Stock Common Stock Common
-------------------------- ------------------- Stock
Shares Amount Shares Amount Subscribed
------------ ------------ ---------- ------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
BALANCES, October 23, 1997 -- $ -- 2,576,088 $ 100 $ --
Issuance of common stock for services and salaries -- -- 187,837 -- --
Issuance of common stock for property, equipment and
technology (Note 3) -- -- 2,475,066 2,500 --
Proceeds from sale of preferred stock 134,000 100 -- -- --
Net loss available to common shareholders -- -- -- -- --
------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ---------- ------- -----------
BALANCES, December 31, 1997 134,000 100 5,238,991 2,600 --
Net proceeds from sale of preferred stock 11,400 -- -- -- --
Net proceeds from sale of common stock -- -- 1,756,378 1,800 --
Issuance of common stock for services and salaries -- -- 328,132 300 --
Exchange of convertible notes payable and accrued interest (Note 6) -- -- 2,792,763 2,800 --
Exchange of preferred stock for common stock (145,400) (100) 734,438 -- --
Compensation expense related to warrants granted (Note 7) -- -- -- -- --
Warrants exchanged for common stock -- -- 2,399,298 2,400 (95,000)
Issuance of common stock to Placement Agent -- -- 200,000 200 --
Common stock issued in connection with Reorganization -- -- 660,000 700 --
Net loss available to common shareholders -- -- -- -- --
------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ---------- ------- -----------
BALANCES, December 31, 1998 -- -- 14,110,000 10,800 (95,000)
Issuance of common stock in connection with pooling (Note 1) -- -- 7,000,000 7,000 --
Deferred compensation related to stock options (Note 7) -- -- -- -- --
Amortization of deferred compensation (Note 7) -- -- -- -- --
Interest related to issuance of warrants -- -- -- -- --
Warrants exercised for common stock -- -- 150,000 200 --
Exchange of convertible notes payable and accrued interest (Note 6) -- -- 802,223 800 --
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock -- -- 802,223 800 --
Issuance of common stock for services -- -- 350,000 400 --
Net loss available to common shareholders -- -- -- -- --
------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ---------- ------- -----------
BALANCES, December 31, 1999 -- -- 23,214,446 20,000 (95,000)
Balance of information is unaudited through March 31, 2000:
Exchange of convertible notes payable and accrued interest -- -- 632,472 600 --
Proceeds from sale of common stock -- -- 632,472 600 --
Deferred compensation -- -- -- -- --
Amortization of deferred compensation -- -- -- -- --
Conversion of trade payables to common stock -- -- 417,034 400 --
Issuance of common stock for services -- -- 175,000 200 --
Proceeds from sale of common stock, net of costs of $2,409,100 -- -- 15,367,133 15,200 --
Net loss -- -- -- -- --
------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ---------- ------- -----------
BALANCES, March 31, 2000 -- $ -- 40,438,557 $37,000 $ (95,000)
=================================================================== ============ ============ ========== ======= ===========
Additional
Paid Deferred Accumulated
Capital Compensation Deficit Total
------------ -------------- ------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
BALANCES, October 23, 1997 -- $ -- $ -- $ 100
Issuance of common stock for services and salaries 52,500 -- -- 52,500
Issuance of common stock for property, equipment and
technology (Note 3) 977,500 -- -- 980,000
Proceeds from sale of preferred stock 267,900 -- -- 268,000
Net loss available to common shareholders -- -- (327,200) (327,200)
------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------
BALANCES, December 31, 1997 1,297,900 -- (327,200) 973,400
Net proceeds from sale of preferred stock 22,900 -- -- 22,900
Net proceeds from sale of common stock 1,198,300 -- -- 1,200,100
Issuance of common stock for services and salaries 142,500 -- -- 142,800
Exchange of convertible notes payable and accrued interest (Note 6) 1,103,000 -- -- 1,105,800
Exchange of preferred stock for common stock 100 -- -- --
Compensation expense related to warrants granted (Note 7) 855,000 -- -- 855,000
Warrants exchanged for common stock 92,600 -- -- --
Issuance of common stock to Placement Agent 159,800 -- -- 160,000
Common stock issued in connection with Reorganization -- -- (700) --
Net loss available to common shareholders -- -- (3,127,900) (3,127,900)
------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------
BALANCES, December 31, 1998 4,872,100 -- (3,455,800) 4,460,000
Issuance of common stock in connection with pooling (Note 1) -- -- (200) 6,800
Deferred compensation related to stock options (Note 7) 702,700 (702,700) -- --
Amortization of deferred compensation (Note 7) -- 211,300 -- 211,300
Interest related to issuance of warrants 361,200 -- -- 361,200
Warrants exercised for common stock 1,181,100 -- -- 1,181,300
Exchange of convertible notes payable and accrued interest (Note 6) 1,862,500 -- -- 1,863,300
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock 1,862,500 -- -- 1,863,300
Issuance of common stock for services 1,060,400 -- -- 1,060,800
Net loss available to common shareholders -- -- (9,880,400) (9,880,400)
------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------
BALANCES, December 31, 1999 11,902,500 (491,400) (13,336,400) (2,000,300)
Balance of information is unaudited through March 31, 2000:
Exchange of convertible notes payable and accrued interest 834,300 -- -- 834,900
Proceeds from sale of common stock 834,300 -- -- 834,900
Deferred compensation 1,175,400 (1,175,400) -- --
Amortization of deferred compensation -- 794,100 -- 794,100
Conversion of trade payables to common stock 833,700 -- -- 834,100
Issuance of common stock for services 574,000 -- -- 574,200
Proceeds from sale of common stock, net of costs of 20,475,600 -- -- 20,490,800
Net loss -- -- (2,769,000) (2,769,000)
------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------ -------------- ------------- ------------
BALANCES, March 31, 2000 $ 36,629,800 $ (872,700) $(16,105,400) $19,593,700
=================================================================== ============ ============== ============= ============
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-7
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NETTAXI.COM
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the period
October 23,
Three months ended (Date of
March 31, Years Ended December 31, Inception) to
------------------------- ------------------------ December 31,
2000 1999 1999 1998 1997
------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ----------
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss $(2,769,000) $ (509,100) $(9,880,400) $(3,113,600) $(159,700)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used
in operating activities:
Gain on disposal of equipment -- -- -- (28,500) --
Depreciation and amortization 216,900 75,800 595,900 433,500 70,200
Allowance for doubtful accounts 85,000 (3,200) 52,400 31,200 --
Issuance of common stock for interest on
convertible notes 34,900 -- 63,300 68,800 --
Issuance of common stock for services (Note 7) 183,800 -- 34,200 302,800 52,500
Asset impairment (Note 3) -- -- -- 667,000 --
Compensation expense related to options granted 216,600 -- 211,300 855,000 --
Interest expense related to issuance of warrants 30,700 -- 202,200 -- --
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (973,900) (148,700) (1,100,300) (104,800) (60,000)
Prepaid expenses and other assets (130,200) (51,400) (62,700) (13,200) (2,900)
Accounts payable (999,500) 1,562,300 3,854,500 175,900 11,000
Accrued expenses 624,100 15,800 585,100 13,700 37,300
Deferred revenue -- (5,000) (47,000) 47,000 --
Income taxes payable (123,000) 100,000 125,600 (600) 600
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ----------
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES (3,603,600) 1,036,500 (5,365,900) (665,800) (51,000)
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ----------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from disposal of equipment -- -- -- 34,600 --
Deposits 18,100 (23,600) (50,900) -- --
Capital expenditures (32,100) (168,600) (2,105,400) (159,200) --
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ----------
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES (14,000) (192,200) (2,156,300) (124,600) --
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ----------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Payment on obligations under capital lease (1,800) (1,800) (7,300) (2,000) --
Proceeds from convertible notes payable -- 200,000 5,000,000 -- --
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock -- -- -- 8,600 100,500
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock 21,903,300 6,800 3,051,400 1,200,100 --
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ----------
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES 21,901,500 205,000 8,044,100 1,206,700 100,500
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ----------
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 18,283,900 1,049,300 521,900 416,300 49,500
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period 987,700 465,800 465,800 49,500 --
------------------------------------------------------- ------------ ----------- ------------ ------------ ----------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period $19,271,600 $1,515,100 $ 987,700 $ 465,800 $ 49,500
======================================================= ============ =========== ============ ============ ==========
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
F-8
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
1. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Company
Nettaxi.com (formerly Nettaxi, Inc and formerly Swan Valley
Snowmobiles, Inc.), the Company, is a Nevada Corporation, which was
incorporated on October 26, 1995.
On September 29, 1998 the Company completed the acquisition of 100% of
the outstanding common stock of Nettaxi OnLine Communities, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, and changed its name to Nettaxi, Inc. (now
Nettaxi.com). For accounting purposes, the acquisition has been
treated as the acquisition of the Company by Nettaxi OnLine
Communities, Inc. with Nettaxi OnLine Communities, Inc. as the
acquiror. All shares and per share data prior to the acquisition have
been restated to reflect the stock issuance and related stock split
(Note 7).
As the former shareholders of Nettaxi OnLine Communities, Inc.
received 85% of the shares in the Company immediately after the
acquisition, the financial statements for periods prior to the
reorganization are those of Nettaxi OnLine Communities, Inc.
Effective May 7, 1999, the Company completed a merger in a single
transaction with Plus Net, Inc. by exchanging 7 million shares of its
common stock for all of the common stock of Plus Net, Inc. Each share
of Plus Net was exchanged for 1,000 shares of Nettaxi common stock.
The merger constituted a tax-free reorganization and has been
accounted for as a pooling of interest under Accounting Principles
Board Opinion No. 16.
For periods proceeding the merger, there were no intercompany
transactions that require elimination from the combined consolidated
results of operations and there were no adjustments necessary to
conform the accounting practices of the two companies.
The merger with Plus Net, Inc. allowed the Company to provide its
customers with a web based e-mail program and a robust meta search
engine. Plus Net, Inc. also had an e-commerce processing engine that
enabled the acceptance and processing of online credit card
transactions.
Plus Net, Inc. reported no revenues and a net loss of $200 for the
period ended December 31, 1998. For the period from January 1 to May
7, 1999 Plus Net, Inc. had revenues of approximately $700,000 and net
income of approximately $413,600. Subsequent to the merger the Company
ceased its evaluation and processing of online credit card
transactions business. In 1999, this line of business accounted for
approximately $1,285,000 of the Company's revenues.
F-9
<PAGE>
Nettaxi OnLine Communities, Inc., was incorporated on October 23, 1997
to capitalize on a significant opportunity that exists today through
the convergence of the media and entertainment industries with the
vast communications power of the Internet. The Company's Web site,
http://www.nettaxi.com, is an online community designed to seamlessly
integrate content with e-commerce services for the Company's
subscribers, providing comprehensive information about news, sports,
entertainment, health, politics, finances, lifestyle, and areas of
interest to the growing number of Internet users. The Company's
mission is to establish nettaxi.com as an entry point, or portal, to
the Internet by continuing to develop premium online communities,
which are both content-rich to its subscribers and provide easy-to-use
e-commerce services to businesses which reside in these online
communities.
The Company's principal executive offices are located in Campbell,
California.
Consolidation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of Nettaxi.com (formerly Nettaxi, Inc. and formerly Swan
Valley Snowmobile, Inc.) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Nettaxi
OnLine Communities, Inc. All intercompany accounts and transactions
have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.
F-10
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
Use of Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and
the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting
period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
F-11
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments having original
maturities of 90 days or less to be cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable and Allowances For Doubtful Accounts
The Company grants credit to its customers after undertaking an
investigation of credit risk for all significant amounts. An allowance
for doubtful accounts is provided for estimated credit losses at a
level deemed appropriate to adequately provide for known and inherent
risks related to such amounts. The allowance is based on reviews of
losses, adjustment history, current economic conditions and other
factors that deserve recognition in estimating potential losses. While
management uses the best information available in making its
determination, the ultimate recovery of recorded accounts receivable
is also dependent upon future economic and other conditions that may
be beyond management's control.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided
using the straight-line method over the estimated economic useful
lives of the assets, as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Estimated useful lives
----------------------
<S> <C>
Furniture and fixtures. 5 years
Office equipment. . . . 5 years
Computers and equipment 3 years
</TABLE>
Assets held under capital leases are amortized on a straight-line
basis over the shorter of the lease term or the estimated useful lives
of the related assets.
F-12
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
Purchased Technology and Other Intangibles
The Company amortizes, on a straight-line basis, the cost of purchased
technology and other intangibles over the shorter of five (5) years or
the useful life of the related technology or underlying asset.
Software Development Costs
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 86,
Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software to be Sold, Leased, or
otherwise Marketed, software development costs are expensed as
incurred until technological feasibility has been established, at
which time such costs are capitalized until the product is available
for general release to customers. To date, the establishments of
technological feasibility of the Company's products and general
release of such software have substantially coincided. As a result,
software development costs qualifying for capitalization have been
insignificant, and therefore, the Company has not capitalized any
software development costs.
Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue
The Company's revenues are derived principally from the sale of
banner advertisements, web hosting services and from products from
its online malls. Advertising revenues are recognized in the period in
which the advertisement is delivered, provided that collection of
the resulting receivable is probable. Advertisers are charged on a
per impression or delivery basis up to a maximum as specified in the
contract. To date, the duration of the Company's advertising
commitments has not exceeded one year. When the Company guarantees a
minimum number of impressions or deliveries, revenue is recognized
ratably in proportion to the number of impressions or deliveries
recorded to the minimum number of impressions and deliveries
guaranteed. Deferred revenue resulting from advertising agreements
aggregated $0 and $47,000 as of December 31, 1999 and 1998, and
is amortized on a straight-line basis over the advertising agreement.
Web hosting revenues are recognized in the period in which the
Services are provided. Product revenue is recognized upon shipment,
provided no significant obligations remain and collectability is
probable.
F-13
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
Advertising revenue include barter revenues, which are the exchange by
Nettaxi.com of advertising space on Nettaxi.com's web sites for
reciprocal advertising space on other web sites. Revenues from these
barter transactions are recorded as advertising revenues at the lower
of the estimated fair value of the advertisements received or
delivered and are recognized when the advertisements are run on
Nettaxi.com's web sites. Barter expenses are recorded when
Nettaxi.com's advertisements are run on the reciprocal web sites,
which is typically in the same period as when advertisements are run
on Nettaxi.com's web sites. In 1999, barter revenues represented 7% of
net revenues. There was no barter revenue in the year ended December
31, 1998 and in the period ended December 31, 1997.
In November 1999, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
issued Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue 99-17 "Accounting for
Advertising Barter Transactions". Under EITF 99-17, revenues and
expenses should be recognized from advertising barter transactions at
the fair value of the advertising surrendered or received only when
the company has a historical practice of receiving or paying cash for
such transactions. As of December 31, 1999, the Company was in
compliance with EITF 99-17.
Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 109, Accounting for Income
Taxes, which requires an asset and liability approach. This approach
results in the recognition of deferred tax assets (future tax
benefits) and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of
temporary differences between the book carrying amounts and the tax
basis of assets and liabilities. The deferred tax assets and
liabilities represent the future tax return consequences of those
differences, which will either be deductible or taxable when the
assets and liabilities are recovered or settled. Future tax benefits
are subject to a valuation allowance when management believes it is
more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will not be
realized.
F-14
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
Advertising Costs
The cost of advertising is expensed as incurred. Advertising costs for
the year ended December 31, 1999, 1998, and for the period ended
December 31, 1997, were approximately $2,831,300, $3,100 and $300,
respectively.
Long-Lived Assets
The Company periodically reviews its long-lived assets for impairment.
When events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying
amount of an asset may not be recoverable, the Company writes the
asset down to its net realizable value.
Fair Values of Financial Instruments
The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in
estimating its fair value disclosures for financial instruments:
Cash and cash equivalents:
The carrying amount reported in the consolidated balance sheets for
cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value.
Short-term debt:
The fair value of short-term debt approximates cost because of the
short period of time to maturity.
Long-term debt:
The fair value of long-term debt is estimated based on current
interest rates available to the Company for debt instruments with
similar terms and remaining maturities.
Related party notes receivable and payable:
The fair value of the notes receivable and notes payable to
shareholders is based on arms-length transactions and bear interest at
rates comparable to similar debt obligations.
F-15
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
At December 31, 1999 and 1998, the fair values of the Company's debt
instruments approximate their historical carrying amounts.
Stock-Based Incentive Program
SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, encourages
entities to recognize compensation costs for stock-based employee
compensation plans using the fair value based method of accounting
defined in SFAS No. 123, but allows for the continued use of the
intrinsic value based method of accounting prescribed by Accounting
Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees. The Company continues to use the accounting prescribed by
APB Opinion No. 25 and as such is required to disclose pro forma net
income (loss) and earnings (loss) per share as if the fair value based
method of accounting had been applied (Note 7).
Basic and Diluted Loss Per Common Share
In February 1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 128, Earnings Per Share,
which was effective December 28, 1997. Conforming to SFAS No. 128, the
Company changed its method of computing earnings per share and
restated all prior periods included in the consolidated financial
statements. Basic loss per common share is determined by dividing loss
available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of
common shares outstanding. Diluted per-common-share amounts assume the
issuance of common stock for all potentially dilutive equivalent
shares outstanding. Anti-dilution provisions of SFAS 128 require
consistency between diluted per-common-share amounts and basic
per-common-share amounts in loss periods. For the periods reported,
there were no differences between basic and diluted earnings per
share. The number of potential common shares not included in diluted
earnigns per share, due to their being anti-dilutive, are 3,838,679,
280,000 and 0, for the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998, and for
the period ended December 31, 1997, respectively. All share and per
share information has been adjusted for the shares exchanged for the
common stock of Plus Net, Inc.
F-16
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements
In February 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
issued SFAS No. 132, Employer's Disclosure about Pensions and Other
Postretirement Benefits, which standardizes the disclosure
requirements for pension and other postretirement benefits. The
adoption of SFAS No. 132 had no impact on the Company's current
disclosures.
In June 1998, the FASB issued SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities. SFAS No. 133 requires companies to
recognize all derivatives contracts as either assets or liabilities in
the balance sheet and to measure them at fair value. If certain
conditions are met, a derivative may be specifically designated as a
hedge, the objective of which is to match the timing of gain or loss
recognition on the hedging derivative with the recognition of (i) the
changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are
attributable to the hedged risk or (ii) the earnings effect of the
hedged forecasted transaction. For a derivative not designated as a
hedging instrument, the gain or loss is recognized in income in the
period of change. In June 1999, the FASB issued SFAS No. 137,
Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities -
Deferral of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 133, which amends
SFAS No. 133 to be effective for all fiscal quarters of all fiscal
years beginning after June 15, 2000.
Historically, the Company has not entered into derivative contracts
either to hedge existing risks or for speculative purposes.
Accordingly, the Company does not expect adoption of the new standard
to have a material impact on the Company's results from operations,
financial position or cash flows.
F-17
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
2. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment consisted of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 1999 1998
---------- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Furniture and fixtures. . . . $ 196,200 $ 5,000
Office equipment. . . . . . . 59,700 59,700
Computers and equipment . . . 2,134,400 250,200
---------- --------
2,390,300 314,900
Less accumulated depreciation 421,700 59,800
---------- --------
$1,968,600 $255,100
========== ========
</TABLE>
Equipment under capital lease obligations aggregated $14,700 as of
December 31, 1999 and 1998, with related accumulated amortization of
$1,500 and $500, respectively.
3. PURCHASED TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER INTANGIBLES
In November 1997, the Company issued a convertible secured promissory
note in the amount of $1,020,000 (Note 6) and 2,475,066 shares of
common stock, valued at $980,000, to a related party in exchange for
certain fixed assets, liabilities and technology. Core to the
technology acquired was a web to database software application and the
underlying technology to the Company's Internet The City products.
Based on the fair market value of the consideration exchanged, as
determined by an independent appraisal service, the aggregate purchase
price was $2,000,000, and was allocated to the following respective
assets and liabilities based on their fair market value at the time of
the transaction:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Purchased technology . . . . . . . . . $1,740,000
Other intangibles. . . . . . . . . . . 150,000
Computers and equipment. . . . . . . . 100,000
Office equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 45,000
Furniture and fixtures . . . . . . . . 5,000
Contracts payable and accrued expenses (40,000)
---------------------------------------- -----------
$2,000,000
======================================== ===========
</TABLE>
F-18
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
In 1998, the Company experienced several functional problems with
portions of the purchased technology, namely the web to database
software application, due to those components incompatibility with
subsequent releases of upgraded versions of its operating system.
Following attempts to make these components compatible, the Company
decided, in December 1998, not to spend additional monies on these
components but to replace them. As approximately 50% of the components
of the acquired technology were no longer technically viable with the
upgraded versions of the Company's operating system and provided no
alternative future use, the Company wrote off the unamortized portion
of the impaired technology, resulting in a charge to expense of
$667,000.
Purchased technology and other intangibles consisted of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 1999 1998
------------------------------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Purchased technology. . . . . $870,000 $870,000
Less accumulated amortization 377,000 203,000
------------------------------- -------- --------
$493,000 $667,000
=============================== ======== ========
December 31,. . . . . . . . . 1999 1998
------------------------------- -------- --------
Other intangibles . . . . . . $150,000 $150,000
Less accumulated amortization 65,000 35,000
------------------------------- -------- --------
$ 85,000 $115,000
=============================== ======== ========
</TABLE>
F-19
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
4. ACCRUED EXPENSES
Accrued expenses consisted of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 1999 1998
--------------------------------- -------- -------
<S> <C> <C>
Payroll and related expenses. . $216,200 $10,000
Professional fees . . . . . . . 135,000 52,700
Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . 93,000 52,700
Accrued interest, related party 125,500 -
Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89,400 11,300
--------------------------------- -------- -------
$659,100 $74,000
================================= ======== =======
</TABLE>
5. LEASE COMMITMENTS
The Company leases its facility under an operating lease, which
expires on May 31, 2003. The facility lease requires the Company to
pay certain maintenance and operating expenses, such as taxes,
insurance, and utilities. Rent expense for the years ended December
31, 1999 and 1998, and for the period ended December 31, 1997, was
$178,000, $35,500 and $6,800, respectively.
In 1999, the Company entered into operating leases on certain
vehicles. For the year ended December 31, 1999, rent expense related
to the vehicle leases aggregated $2,600.
A summary of the future minimum lease payments under capitalized
leases together with the present value of such minimum lease payments
and future minimum payments required under non-cancelable operating
leases with terms in excess of one year follows:
F-20
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years Ending December 31, Operating Lease Capital Leases
------------------------------------------ ---------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C>
2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 276,080 $ 5,400
2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284,421 -
2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98,373 -
------------------------------------------ ---------------- ---------------
$ 658,874 5,400
================
---------------
Less amounts representing interest (8.00%) -
Present value of minimum lease payments 5,400
---------------
Less current maturities 5,400
---------------
$ -
===============
</TABLE>
6. CONVERTIBLE NOTES PAYABLE, RELATED PARTY
On November 1, 1997, the Company issued a 10% five-year convertible
secured promissory note in the amount of $1,020,000. In September
1998, this note, with accrued interest of $85,800, was converted into
2,792,763 shares of common stock. Interest expense on the note
aggregated $68,800 in 1998 and $17,000 in the period ended December
31, 1997.
On March 31, 1999 the Company entered into a $5,000,000 Convertible
Debt Financing Agreement (the Agreement) with RGC International
Investors, LDC (RGC). The convertible debenture bears interest at 5%
and matures on March 31, 2004. The debentures are convertible at the
option of the holder into that number of shares of common stock equal
to the principal amount of the debentures to be converted including
all accrued interest, divided by the conversion price specified in the
debentures. The conversion price is the lesser of a variable or fixed
conversion price. The variable conversion price is based on the
trading price of the Company's common stock over a fixed period to
conversion of the debentures, and the fixed conversion price is
$11.88. The fixed conversion price represents 120% of the average of
the three lowest trades ten days prior to the effective date of the
Agreement.
In November and December 1999, RGC converted $1,800,000 of the
debentures, with accrued interest of $63,300, into 802,223 shares of
common stock. As of December 31, 1999, accrued interest on the
remaining debentures aggregated $125,500.
F-21
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
7. SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
PREFERRED STOCK
In October 1997, the Company offered shares of its preferred stock
through a private placement offering. This offering established a
maximum of 150,000 shares of Series A preferred stock at $0.75 per
share, each share convertible into 5.05 shares of the Company's common
stock at any time.
During the year ended December 31, 1998 and the period ended December
31, 1997, the Company issued 11,400 and 134,000 shares of Series A
preferred stock in this offering for net cash proceeds of $8,600 and
$100,500, respectively. As these shares were issued at a discount from
the then fair market value of the stock the Company recorded deemed
preferred stock dividends of $14,300 and $167,500 in the year ended
December 31, 1998 and for the period ended December 31, 1997,
respectively.
In September 1998, all of the shares of Series A preferred stock were
converted into 734,438 shares of the Company's common stock.
COMMON STOCK
In October 1997, the Company offered shares of its common stock
through a private placement offering. This offering established a
maximum of 1,262,650 shares of common stock at $0.40 per share. During
1998, the Company issued 506,378 shares of common stock in this
offering for net proceeds of $200,500.
During the year ended December 31, 1998 and the period ended December
31, 1997, the Company issued 252,045 and 88,395 shares of common stock
with ascribed values of $120,000 and $35,000 as payments for services,
respectively. The shares issued in connection with payments for
services performed were valued at the then fair market value of the
share issued on the October 1997 private placement offering.
F-22
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
During the year ended December 31, 1998 and the period ended December
31, 1997, the Company issued 76,087 and 99,442 shares of common stock
with ascribed values of $22,800 and $17,500 to officers and employees
of the Company in lieu of salaries, respectively.
In September 1998, the Company's Board of Directors declared a 2.53 to
1 stock split, in connection with the Acquisition as discussed in Note
1. All references to number of shares of common stock and per share
data in the consolidated financial statements have been adjusted to
reflect the stock split on a retroactive basis.
In September 1998, in connection with the Acquisition, the Company
offered shares of its common stock through a private placement
offering (the Offering). The Offering established a maximum of
1,250,000 shares of common stock at $0.80 per share. The Placement
Agent received 200,000 shares of common stock with a fair market value
of $160,000. The Company issued 1,250,000 shares of common stock in
the Offering for net proceeds of $999,600.
In May 1999, the Company completed a merger in a single transaction
with Plus Net, Inc. by exchanging 7,000,000 shares of its common stock
for all of the common stock of Plus Net, Inc. Each share of Plus Net
was exchanged for 1,000 shares of Nettaxi common stock.
In accordance with the Convertible Debt Financing Agreement, entered
into between the Company and RGC International Investors, LDC on March
31, 1999, RGC has the option to purchase one additional share of
common stock for every share of common stock issuable as a result of a
conversion of the debenture, at a price equal to the applicable
conversion price. In November and December 1999, RGC exercised this
investment option right and purchased 802,223 shares of the Company's
common stock for proceeds of $1,863,300.
In December 1999, the Company issued 350,000 shares of common stock,
to a consulting group in exchange for a two-year agreement to provide
the Company with consulting services. Based on the then fair market
value of the shares issued the price of these services was determined
to be $1,060,800.
F-23
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
Included in prepaid expenses and deferred expenses is, as of December
31, 1999, $1,026,600 representing the unamortized portion of these
consulting services.
WARRANTS
In 1998, prior to the adoption of the Stock Option Plan as discussed
below, the Company granted warrants to officers, employees and
consultants of the Company, to purchase 2,399,298 shares of common
stock at $0.04.
In September 1998, these warrants were exchanged for 2,399,298 shares
of common stock via the issuance of promissory notes for $95,000,
concurrent with the reorganization of the Company. The promissory
notes have been accounted for as common stock subscribed and are an
offset to shareholders' equity until such notes are collected.
In accordance with APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees, the Company recorded $855,000 of compensation costs
associated with the above warrants.
In conjunction with the Agreement, entered into between the Company
and RGC on March 31, 1999, the Company issued warrants, which vested
immediately, to purchase 150,000 shares of common stock at $12.375.
The Company recognized an additional $115,500 of interest expense
associated with these warrants. In August 1999, the Company entered
into an agreement with RGC pursuant to which it exercised these
warrants.
In consideration for the early exercise of the warrants, the exercise
price for the warrants was decreased from $12.375 to $7.875 and the
Company issued RGC warrants to purchase an additional 150,000 shares
of common stock at $7.875. The Company will recognize an additional
$245,700 of interest expense associated with these warrants. In 1999,
the Company recognized $86,700 of this amount as interest expense.
F-24
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
STOCK OPTION PROGRAM
On September 29, 1998, the Company adopted a Stock Option Plan (the
Plan). The Plan is restricted to employees, officers, and consultants
of the Company. Options granted under the Plan generally vest over
three years and are exercisable over ten years. Non-stautory options
are granted at prices not less than 85% of the estimated fair value of
the stock on the date of grant as determined by the Board of
Directors. Incentive options are granted at prices not less than 100%
of the estimated fair value of the stock on the date of grant.
However, options granted to shareholders who own greater than 10% of
the outstanding stock are established at no less than 110% of the
estimated fair value of the stock on the date of grant.
The Company has reserved three million shares of common stock for
issuance under The Plan.
F-25
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
A summary of the status of the Company's stock option plan as of
December 31, 1999 and December 31, 1998, and changes during the years
then ended is presented in the following table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
--------------------------------------------
Options Outstanding
--------------------------------------------
December 31, 1999 December 31, 1998
Wtd. Avg. Wtd. Avg.
Shares Ex. Price Shares Ex. Price
--------- ---------- --------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Beginning . . . . . . . 280,000 $ 0.80 - $ -
Granted . . . . . . . . 2,614,000 $ 10.40 280,000 $ 0.80
Exercised . . . . . . . - $ - - $ -
Forfeited . . . . . . . 313,834 $ 9.45 - $ -
----------------------- --------- ---------
Ending. . . . . . . . . 2,580,166 $ 9.47 280,000 $ 0.80
======================= ========= ========== ========= ==========
Exercisable at year-end 640,499 23,333
======================= ========= =========
Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the period:
$ 5.71 $ 0.71
========== ==========
</TABLE>
The following table summarizes information about stock options
outstanding as of December 31, 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Options Outstanding Options Exercisable
------------------- -------------------
Wtd. Avg.
Range of Number Remaining Wtd. Avg. Number Wtd. Avg.
Exercise Outstanding Contractual Exercise Exercisable Exercise
Prices at 12/31/99 Life Price at 12/31/99 Price
------------ ----------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
0.80-5.00 . 280,000 8.00 Years $ 0.80 116,667 $ 0.80
5.01-10.00. 1,687,250 9.75 Years $ 8.67 177,583 $ 8.42
10.01-15.00 522,916 9.50 Years $ 12.68 256,249 $ 13.90
15.01-30.00 45,000 9.50 Years $ 25.60 45,000 $ 25.60
30.01-45.00 45,000 9.50 Years $ 40.22 45,000 $ 40.22
----------- -----------
2,580,166 $ 9.47 640,499 $ 12.67
=========== ========== =========== ==========
</TABLE>
F-26
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
In connection with the grant of certain stock options in 1999, the
Company recorded deferred compensation of $702,700, representing the
difference between the deemed fair market value and the exercise price
of the options as determined by the Board of Directors on the date of
grant. The deferred compensation is being amortized over the vesting
period of the underlying options. The amount recognized as
compensation expense in 1999 amounted to $211,300.
SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, requires the
Company to provide pro forma information regarding net (loss) income
and (loss) earnings per share as if compensation cost for the
Company's stock option plan had been determined in accordance with the
fair value based method prescribed in SFAS No.123. The Company
estimates the fair value of stock options at the grant date by using
the Black-Scholes option pricing-model with the following weighted
average assumptions used for grants in 1999 and 1998: dividend yield
of 0; expected volatility of 112% and 180%; risk-free interest rate of
6.2% and 5.7%; and expected lives of three years for all plan options.
The Company adopted its Stock Option Plan in September 1998 and
consequently had no stock options granted in 1997.
Under the accounting provisions of SFAS No. 123, the Company's net
loss and the basic and diluted net loss per common share would have
been adjusted to the pro forma amounts below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998
------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Net income (loss):
As reported. . . . . . . . $ (9,880,400) $(3,127,900)
Pro forma. . . . . . . . . $(11,516,600) $(3,144,500)
Basic and diluted earnings
(loss) per share:
As reported. . . . . . . . $ (0.46) $ (0.32)
Pro forma. . . . . . . . . $ (0.54) $ (0.32)
</TABLE>
F-27
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
8. INCOME TAXES
The provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 1999
relates to the earnings of Plus Net, Inc. prior to the merger. The
provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 1998 and
the period ended December 31, 1997 consisted of minimum state taxes.
The following summarizes the differences between income tax expense
and the amount computed applying the Federal income tax rate of 34%
for the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998, and for the period
ended December 31, 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999 1998 1997
-------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Federal income tax benefit at statutory rate $(3,316,200) $(1,058,400) $(54,100)
State income taxes, net of federal benefit . (566,500) (180,800) (9,800)
Tax benefit not currently recognizable . . . 3,884,100 835,400 64,500
Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125,400 404,600 -
-------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ---------
Provision for income taxes . . . . . . . . . $ 126,800 $ 800 $ 600
============================================ ============ ============ =========
</TABLE>
Deferred income taxes and benefits result from temporary timing
differences in the recognition of certain expenses and income items
for tax and financial reporting purposes, as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
December 31, 1999 1998 1997
--------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net operating loss carryforward . $ 4,558,900 $ 473,900 $ 67,400
Depreciation and amortization . . (216,800) (90,300) (10,100)
Accrued compensation and benefits 562,700 4,000 -
Reserves not currently deductible 33,300 316,200 200
--------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ---------
Total deferred tax asset. . . . . 4,938,100 703,800 57,500
Valuation allowance . . . . . . . (4,938,100) (783,800) (57,500)
--------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ---------
Net deferred tax asset. . . . . . $ - $ - $ -
================================= ============ ========== =========
</TABLE>
The Company has net operating loss carryforwards available to reduce
future taxable income, if any, of approximately $11,200,000 for
Federal income tax purposes. The benefits from these carryforwards
expire through 2019. As of December 31, 1999, management cannot
determine that it is more likely than not that these carryforwards and
other deferred tax assets will be realized, and accordingly, fully
reserved for these deferred tax assets.
F-28
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
Pursuant to the "change in ownership" provisions of the Tax Reform Act
of 1986, utilization of the Company's net operating loss and research
and development tax credit carryforwards may be limited, if a
cumulative change of ownership of more than 50% occurs within any
three-year period. The Company has not determined if an ownership
change has occurred.
9. CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK
Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to
concentration of credit risk, consist principally of cash and cash
equivalents and trade receivables. The Company places its cash and
cash equivalents with high quality financial institutions and, by
policy, limits the amounts of credit exposure to any one financial
institution.
The Company's accounts receivable are derived from many customers in
various industries. The Company believes any risk of accounting loss
is significantly reduced due to the diversity of its end-customers and
geographic sales areas. The Company performs credit evaluation of its
customers' financial condition whenever necessary, and generally does
not require cash collateral or other security to support customer
receivables.
10. MAJOR CUSTOMERS
For the year ended December 31, 1999, one customer accounted for
approximately 17% of revenues, with related account receivable as of
December 31, 1999 of $250,000.
For the year ended December 31, 1998, four customers accounted for
approximately 28%, 21%, 13% and 12% of revenues, respectively with
related accounts receivable as of December 31, 1998 of $52,100,
$38,100, $0 and $23,800, respectively.
For the period ended December 31, 1997, one customer accounted for
approximately 84% of revenues, with related account receivable at
December 31, 1997 of $59,100.
F-29
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
11. SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
The following is supplemental disclosure for the statements of cash
flows.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Three months ended Years ended For the Period
March 31, December 31, October 23, to
-------------------------- ---------------------- December 31,
2000 1999 1999 1998 1997
------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ---------- ---------- ----------
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Cash Paid:
-------------------------------------------
Income taxes $ 97,400 $ - $ 1,600 $ 1,040 $ -
Interest $ - $ 500 $ 3,000 $ 100 $ -
Noncash Operating, Investing
and Financing Activities:
-------------------------------------------
Issuance of common stock for
trade payables $ 834,700 $ - $ - $ - $ -
Note payable and common stock issued
for purchased technology and other assets $ - $ - $ - $ - $2,000,000
Purchase of equipment under capital lease $ - $ - $ - $ 14,700 $ -
Issuance of common stock for convertible
notes payable plus accrued interest $ 834,900 $ - $1,863,300 $1,020,000 $ -
Issuance of common stock for
consulting services $ 574,200 $ - $1,060,800 $ - $ -
Warrants issued in conjunction with
debt financing $ - $ - $ 361,200 $ - $ -
Options granted for finders fee $ 577,500 $ - $ - $ - $ -
Conversion of preferred stock to
common stock $ - $ - $ - $ 109,100 $ -
Promissory notes received for
common stock subscribed $ - $ - $ - $ 95,000 $ -
============ ============ ========== ========== ==========
</TABLE>
12. CONTINGENCIES
The Company is involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course
of business. In the opinion of management, after consulting with legal
counsel, these matters are without merit and will be resolved without
material adverse effect on the Company's financial position, results
of operations or cash flows.
13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
In January and February 2000, RGC converted $800,000 of the
debentures, with accrued interest of $35,000, into 631,932 shares of
common stock. In conjunction with the conversions, RGC also exercised
its investment option right and purchased 631,932 shares of the
Company's common stock for proceeds of $835,000.
In January 2000, the Company adopted a new Stock Option Plan, in
addition to the Plan adopted in 1998. The Company has reserved
3,300,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the new plan.
In January 2000, the Company granted options under the new Stock
Option Plan to purchase up to 1,508,800 shares of common stock, at an
exercise price of $2.44 per share, to certain members of its board of
directors and employees of the Company.
In November 1999, the Company retained the services of an investment
banking firm to assist in securing a private placement for additional
capital. As of March 9, 2000, the Company had issued 300,000 shares
for proceeds of $450,000. An additional $6,700,000 was being held by
the escrow agent for release to the company upon the issuance of
common stock, sold at $ 1.50 per share, to other subscribers of the
private placement. For their services, the investment bank is to
receive 350,000 shares of the company's common stock valued at
$525,000.
As of March 31, 2000 the Company had received approximately $23
million in the private placement in which the Company issued
approximately 15 million shares of common stock and warrants to
purchase an equal number of shares of common stock having an exercise
price of $4.00 per share. (Unaudited)
On April 28, 2000 the Company reached a settlement agreement with the
holder of the convertible debenture notes (RGC) whereby RGC will
exchange its debentures for 1.75 million shares of common stock and
warrants to purchase 2.2 million shares of common stock. The warrants
will be exercisable for five years, at a fixed exercise price of $1.50
per share. Pending effectiveness of a new registration statement to be
filed by the Company registering the resale by RGC of the shares of
common stock to be issued in the settlement, the shares of common
stock underlying the warrants to be issued in the settlement and the
shares of common stock underlying the warrants to purchase 150,000
shares of common stock previously issued to RGC, the debentures,
including accrued interest, will be convertible at a fixed price
of $1.42 and any shares issued upon such conversion will be subtracted
from the 1.75 million shares to be issued in the settlement. In
connection with the settlement agreement with RGC, the Company will
recognize a non-cash interest expense of approximately $2.4 million
arising from the implied beneficial conversion feature. Additionally,
the Company will recognize further interest expense based on the value
of the warrants to be issued upon debt conversion. (Unaudited)
F-30
<PAGE>
NETTAXI.COM
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
================================================================================
14. VALUATION AND
QUALIFYING
ACCOUNTS
ADDITIONS
BALANCE AT CHARGED TO BALANCE AT
BEGINNING COSTS AND END OF
DESCRIPTION OF PERIOD EXPENSES DEDUCTIONS PERIOD
----------- ---------- -------- ---------- -----------
1999:
ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL
ACCOUNTS $31,200 $52,400 $ - $83,600
1998:
ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL
ACCOUNTS $ - $31,200 $ - $31,200
1997:
ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL
ACCOUNTS $ - $ - $ - $ -
F-31
<PAGE>
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or
provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. Neither we nor the
selling stockholders have authorized anyone else to provide you with different
information. Neither we nor the selling stockholders are making an offer to
sell, or soliciting an offer to buy, these securities in any jurisdiction where
that would not be permitted or legal. Neither the delivery of this prospectus
nor any sales made hereunder after the date of this prospectus shall create an
implication that the information contained herein or our affairs have not
changed since the date hereof.
NETTAXI.COM
9,961,387 Shares of
Common Stock
____________________
PROSPECTUS
____________________
August 2, 2000
90